Sep
04
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
Aug
30
When all else fails…Meditate
by Megan Faulkner
I’m sure we have all had those nights before an important event, lying awake sleepless, thinking of things to do, to then check off in the morning. During one such evening recently, where reading provided no respite, I came back to the basic principles of meditation I had learnt.
I focused on the simple act of breathing slowly…in, and…out, and after a few rounds found myself feeling sleepy, my consciousness shifted and because I was lying down I fell asleep.
This led me to ponder the question – ‘Can meditating be better than sleep?’ I have heard that some Buddhist Monks can go without sleep for days by practicing extended periods of meditation, with the result being a clearer and more efficient and effective mind.
The difference is that sleep is a state where the conscious mind is no longer active, the body rests and the senses no longer respond to external stimuli. The brain remains active but in a subconscious state. Read the rest of this entry »
Aug
15
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 »
Jul
28
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 »
Jul
26
There was that cute line in Legally Blonde where Luke Wilson says something to Reece Witherspoon about the Day Spa being her character’s ‘Mothership’. I loved that film and had a good giggle at that particular exchange between the seemingly frivolous Elle Woods and her endearingly besotted supervisor.
Anyway, we all know there was nothing frivolous about Elle Woods in Legally Blonde – and there’s nothing frivolous about wanting to take care of your skin and presenting yourself in the way that’s increases your confidence.
We know it’s tough times ladies, money is tight and something’s gotta give. So I thought I’d share with you how I’ve cut back trips to the salon by doing some treatments at home. There’s 3 recipies your can DIY for salon quality results and save yourself a packet in the process.
What I’ve had to do is divide the procedures and treatments that I enjoy into 3 categories.
- Essential Professional
- Essential DIY
- Treats
Essential Professional Treatments & Procedures
We all have different levels of skill when it comes to DIY beauty treatments and I’ve decided that these are my ‘don’t kid yourself’ procedures. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul
11
I really do feel for our gorgeous men – they have to listen to those undignified ‘impotence’ and ‘nasal delivery’ radio ads; and of course none of us are safe from the demoralising billboards that bellow at us in big bold letters as we drive our cars along any major thoroughfare – that the answer to any of our self-esteem problems, is to make sex last longer with the help of a nasal spray.
It’s not unexpected that companies are now targeting womens’ libido too. An ad in The Sunday Telegraph’s Body & Soul section announced to me that I could increase my libido, thus enjoying more sex, more often – by taking a little pill. Great! Perhaps the pill works, but like every other miracle pill on the market – what happens when you stop taking it? Personally, I’d rather get some insight into perhaps why my libido may have faded, or why sex with my partner isn’t meeting my expectations and go from there. I can though, understand why the pill or the ‘nasal spray’ seems like a much easier solution to many people.
After seeing an inspiring TV program about Tantra that featured Martina Hughes from Tantric Blossoming; much to my delight, about a week later she happened to stop by the Gorgeous Things stand at the Mind, Body, Spirit Festival. I’m not one to waste an opportunity so I was thrilled when she agreed to share her insights here on the Gorgeous Things blog.
Martina Hughes – Tantric Blossoming
Most people are engaging sexually via the mind, using fantasy and role-play with very little sensation or feeling in the bodies. Over time, the capacity of the mind to create arousal becomes limited, as sexual energy belongs in the body. In tantra we use breathing, feeling, movement, communication and the natural polarity of masculine and feminine to bring sex into the body. Tantric Blossoming creates experiences for men and women to engage more deeply with sexual energy and feeling in the body.
Tantra and feeling sex in the body arises from the connection between masculine and feminine polarities. A woman’s positive polarity is her heart Read the rest of this entry »
Jun
28
Can you believe the rate at which 2009 is flying by?
At the outset of this year our youngest two started school – I naively believed that I would have all the time in the world to myself. As it happens the exact opposite has occurred – just until the last week or so it has felt like I have been constantly coming and going – I was considering installing a revolving door.
However, today circumstances have finally conspired in my favour and I find myself quietly pottering around the house in my pj’s at 9:30am! Yay!!! As I am enjoying the peace and quiet I remember the concept of a ‘mental health day’ – in the past when my world has been far too busy and intense I had taken a day out here and there to be pampered or go out for lunch or shop or anything that I wanted to do. Read the rest of this entry »
Jun
27
When I want information about skincare ingredients - one of the first places I go to get informed is the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website.
Their latest offering is a guide to reading the label of skincare products, which I’ll admit can be a pretty confusing exercise at times. So, if like me you don’t have a chemistry degree – here’s the facts you need to know.
Read the EWG article about Choosing better body care products here >>
Jun
21
Thankfully my formative years were spent listening to The Clash, and not Britney Spears. If that had been the case, I’m pretty sure my life would have turned out to be very different, and it’s probably safe to say - my company Gorgeous Things would not exist.
Punk was over by the time I was old enough to be forming my own preferences in music - Sid Vicous was dead, the safety pins and mohawks were thin on the ground and Malcolm McLaren had released, ’Buffalo Girls’. Those who lived to tell the tale, such as Henry Rollins and the Ramones kept making records with continued success. But the one man who stood out to me as more philosopher than musician was the lead singer of The Clash, Joe Strummer.
What I learnt from Joe Strummer has very little to do with Punk, and much more to do with being a compassionate and engaged human being – so I thought I share what he taught me.
Read the rest of this entry »
Jun
19
Wake-up Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed Blend
This blend kicks some serious butt when it comes to blasting out the cob webs – prepare to be productive!
1 drop Lemon
1 drop Rosemary
1 drop Lemongrass
1 drop Peppermint
Get Cosy with your Significant Other Blend
Maybe use this one if you’ve given the credit card a bit of a workout and need to break the news – good luck!
Read the rest of this entry »
