Archive for the ‘Green & Gorgeous’ Category
November 9, 2009
by Megan Faulkner
The Australian Institute of Health and Wellness (www.aihw.gov.au) has recently published (11 September 2009) health expenditure data for arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders in Australia for 2004-05.
More than 6 million Australians are effected by these conditions and direct health care expenditure was $4billion which equates to 7.5% of the total allocated health expenditure in Australia http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10699.
Osteoarthritis accounted for one third of the costs and alot of it is associated with hospital expenditure for hip and knee replacements, and medications.
As someone who suffers from mild Osteoarthritis and who is always looking for the most natural solution to the problem, Read the rest of this entry »
October 21, 2009
Interview with Terces and Matthew Engelhart by Megan Faulkner
Cafe Gratitude - San Francisco
I have always been a healthy eater, I am a vegetarian and try to be conscious of getting a fairly good balance of fresh fruit and vegetables in my diet, one of my favorite places to eat in Sydney is IKU for it’s creative raw and macrobiotic meals.
Since moving to San Francisco I have really appreciated it’s focus on sourcing local produce, much of it organically grown. I was intrigued when I first visited Cafe Gratitude, a cafe dedicated to healthy vegan and raw food meals, drinks and delicious desserts.
However, as I have discovered there is so much more to the ‘Cafe Gratitude’ phenomenon than just the food, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to interview the founders of Cafe Gratitude, Matthew and Terces Engelhart.
Tell ‘Gorgeous Things’ readers about the philosophy behind Cafe Gratitude?
Matthew Engelhart I met Terces in September 2000, and about six months later we realised we wanted to have a life together, our children were grown. We said “what’s this life going to look like that we’re going to create”, and we somehow concluded that “how about we just live our life from inner guidence”.
It’s not about strategising how to get to the beach with a Pina Colada and a retirement nest egg, but what if we just followed inner guidence and surrendered to that.
One of the first insights we got was to invent a board game. This board game was to train people in what we call ‘the being of abundence’, to extract people from the ’scarcity paradigm’, not enough money, not enough time, not enough beauty, not enough love, not enough, not enough, not enough….that human beings have found themselves in.
So we spent a year kind of just sitting down at a blank canvas so to speak, with some dice and some index cards, and we spent a year creating this game. About a year into that we got the idea to develop a workshop around the game, to write a book around the game, then finally because we saw how difficult it was to inspire people to take time to do a workshop…everyone has to eat, lets have a gaming parlour where people come and have coffee, eat a croissant and play this game.
In the mean time we tried to experiment with a raw food diet on Terces insight. We tried it for thirty days and felt so good and so alive, and so clear that we said “Oh I guess it’s going to be a raw food gaming parlour. I would say that’s the humble beginnings.
So the Cafe actually started out of the game?
Terces Engelhart Yes, we created the game first
And the name of the game is…?
ME ‘The Abounding River’. That game and there is also a book with a 42 day practice in it that are for sale on Amazon and CafeGratitude.com.
Is a raw food diet safe?
October 12, 2009
In a single moment I felt the deep inner wisdom of what it really means to be a woman. The moment was a simple interaction between myself and an incredibly charming man - and this simply is how it went.
I was part of a group who’d been listening to the aforementioned gentleman speak on a subject he seemed incredibly passionate about. At the end of his presentation I decided to go over and personally thank him for sharing his knowledge in such an inspiring way. He saw me approach him and smiled as he put his hand out to shake mine – I could feel the energy build between us as I approached and decided I’d just smile and continue to breath calmly and fully. I chose to be present – and I now actually know what that really means.
As our hands touched and our fingers folded to clasp firmly, I met his gaze at closer than usual quarters, then thanked and praised him for his presentation. He beamed a warm smile and thanked me for coming along. At which point it would have been quite natural for him to release my hand and acknowledge the person behind me waiting to thank him also. Instead we stood for a moment, held each others gaze and seemingly enjoyed the exchange of energy.
Now I don’t know what you’d call that in the Tantric world but to me it was something quite beautiful. A passionate, present man, standing together with a calm, present woman – now that’s an experience I will cherish and re-create at any opportunity.
I felt like a woman – that’s the only way I can describe it.
“Thanks Martina…it was something special to be part of your Day for Women…and without a doubt – a life altering experience.”
Related Posts
www.gorgeousthings.com.au/blog/waaaaay-outside-my-comfort-zone/
www.gorgeousthings.com.au/blog/natural-way-to-better-sex/
September 28, 2009
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- Maybe you have sensitive skin that reacts to conventional beauty products?
- Or, perhaps you want to know how to bring your abundant inner beauty to the outside?
Here’s 32 Tips & Tricks to do all of that and so much more!
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32 Natural Beauty Tips & Tricks from Gorgeous Things
Hey there pretty lady! While you’re here – why not join the Gorgeous Things Facebook page and mailing list for regular NEW TIPS & TRICKS
September 4, 2009
With summer approaching and ‘brown outs’ being tipped as a regular occurance in the more densely populated areas of our glorious sunburnt country – it’s encouraging to see so many people wanting to know how to make their homes more energy efficient. We’ve made giant leaps with conserving water and switching to compact flourescent light bulbs. Now, it’s time to go that one step further and really think about resource (water & energy) conservation when building and renovating our homes.
http://www.sustainablehouseday.com/
160 amazing homes are being opened to the public to inspire and motivate us all to think sustainability and energy efficiency. Just go along for a mooch around – I’m going to.
Thanks to our gorgeous friends at Eco Voice for the reminder of this great event – we love their newsletter. Check it out for great tips and eco friendly events, products and services.
http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-66/eco-news-6.php
August 15, 2009
Hi Gorgeous Things Fans,
My name is Megan, and I am really excited about joining Lesley-Ann and the Gorgeous Things Team. I am a proud little Aussie, Occupational Therapist, student, wife, yoga devotee, healthy living junkie (with the odd glass of Sauv Blanc for good measure), and hopefully in the not too distant future, mother. I have recently moved to California, and whilst soaking up the sunshine and studying for my Masters in Occupational Therapy, I look forward to spreading the word about the fabulous products and lifestyle education Gorgeous Things supports. I also look forward sharing some of my experiences from the other side of the pond.
I have decided to start off with something I believe strongly in, though am not always the best at committing to…A Regular Meditation Practice. When practiced consistently, the benefits definitely do exist. Whether it is establishing a personal practice independently or through group sitting, it can be simpler than you think. The hardest part is starting and discovering what works best for you, and that can also be the ‘fun’ part.
Whenever life gets busy it seems to be harder to maintain a practice even though it is the time we need it the most.
The benefits of meditation can include:
- Improved sleep, and possibly need for less sleep
- Improved concentration
- More general peace in daily life and a more positive outlook
- A calmer way of dealing with challenging and stressful situations. Problem solving becomes easier
- Meditation enables a higher state of alertness and consciousness
The last can often be the most surprising for us, when you first see yourself NOT explode at the sign of trouble. Phew what a relief! Read the rest of this entry »
July 28, 2009
Applications for the first ever Australian School for Social Entrepreneurs close on Monday August 3rd – if you’ve got a fabulous idea to help make the world a better place then what are you waiting for!
The school has been running in the UK since 1997 and for the first time – the course is available here in Australia. Very exciting – check it out…
www.sse.org.au
From the School for Social Entrepreneurs website:
“The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Australia is excited to announce the launch of its first School in Sydney in 2009. Read the rest of this entry »
June 11, 2009
The Gorgeous Things Winter Survival Guide is now available online.
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What you’ll find in the June Edition of Beauty & Brains:
- Natural Winter Skincare Tips
- How to Whiten & Brighten your clothes without Bleach
- Latest Videos on the TED site
- Anti-viral Aromtherapy to keep you Healthy
- How to make your Bedroom Allergy Free
>> Read the latest Edition of Beauty & Brains
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May 10, 2009
Take a break with the Gorgeous Things – Beauty & Brains Newsletter
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- Autumn Skincare
- Winter Vegetable Gardening Tips
- What’s on for Fairtrade Fortnight
- Curl up with a Great Book – choose from our reviews
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April 12, 2009
When I tell people I grow Orchids, they usually give me a bit of a weird look. As my dear friend Nell would say, it’s my ‘nerd sport.’
Orchids are likely to be considered the domain of retired Bank Managers and other such types who have the time and inclination to put the effort that’s thought needed to successfully grow these notoriously fickle plants. I have a slightly more relaxed attitude to my Orchids, and as you can see…they too produce divine blooms.
It got me to thinking that my approach to Orchid growing could really be a metaphor for my approach to life – that’s of course only when, I remember not to ‘over-analyse’ and resist my urge to ‘push things along’ a bit too much. The best outcomes do tend to materialise when I just ‘let things be.’
As the heading would suggest, I don’t really spend that much time fussing over my Orchids. I just allow them to ‘do their thing’, while I do mine. They get watered when it rains, and perhaps once a week when it doesn’t. I buy Orchid potting mix that contains a slow release fertiliser so I don’t need to ‘feed’ them. I re-pot them about once every 2-3 years so that they have room to grow. And, I keep them in a spot that gives them a bit of morning sun, which they seem to like.
I’m not suggesting that ‘ambivalence’ is the way to get the best results in life or Orchid growing, but once you’ve put the solid foundations down in either pursuit, it’s often best to resist the urge to push things along in the hope of getting enhanced results.
I bought my first Orchid when I moved into my first ’share-house’ at 19 years old. Fifteen years later, I have 11 pots of Orchids; ten of those have come from that one original plant from all those years ago. Not bad going by anyone’s standards!
