Yummy and good for your tummy?

I am always on the hunt for good health and nutritional advice, whether it be from a magazine or book. Recently, I came across nutritionist Dr. Joanna McMillian Price's book, "Inner health, outer beauty", the title intrigued me because for some reason I never thought that looking good, could be attained by just eating right... could it be this simple?

McMillan Price says YES! Unlike other nutrition books, this one doesn't just tell you what you should be eating, but why and what's wrong with the crazy fad diets out there. I learnt that cutting out all carbs isn't necessarily the best for my body, it's choosing the right type of carbs to have. Yea for good carbs!

The information is also presented in big font and bright colours, which is a big help fause you don't feel like you're studying, you are indeed reading funsies! What also makes this book so darn enjoyable and realistic, are the recipes which consume half of the book. I'm talking about recipes like chicken with lemon and garlic and rosemary lamb backstrap with char-grilled sweet poatato with feta salad. Yum! There are also 15 minute meals, perfect for those of us who have had a really long day at work as well as lunches you won't get sick of. The ingredients involved are also realistic, they don't involve spices which was handpicked my monks from a country which sounds made up. s

The only minor annoyance with the book is that there are no pictures of the recipes. There are photos of Joanna with her dog, who is adorable! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great general overview of nutrition and also prove to many that food can be yummy and good for your tummy.

Retail price: $34.99
Available from Dr. Joanna McMillian Price's website or from leading bookstore

Din Tai Fung, translation... DEE-LICIOUS dumplings!

Din Tai Fung, is a Taipei-based global chain of dumpling houses that sees scores of people line up during their lunch hours. The restaurant runs like a well oiled machine, with workers in white hats and hygiene masks furiously working away in steam filled rooms.

This legendary establishment also prides itself on customer service, they actually have a service philosophy which I loved as they "meet customers expectations before they have even voiced them". Sounds crazy I know, but this is exactly what happens! For example, if they notice that you have hung a handbag on your chair, they come around with a fold out laundry-like-bag and stow away your handbag for you. Great! And that's just the service.

The food is also insanely awesome! The dumplings are made with such skill - each dumpling is made to the exact same size and thickness. There is also an art to eating these yummy dumplings. The first step is to create your own sauce with the shredded ginger that they provide for you. You mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part soy sauce. When you pick up a dumpling, dip it into the sauce, then into your ladle. Use your chopsticks to pierce the dumpling so the clear broth pours out (this will also give you a good indication if it is too hot to eat), then 'here comes the aeroplane', time to put to the dumpling in your mouth and savour the parcel of deliciousness!

I highly recommend Din Tai Fung to anyone who is a fan of dumplings and Chinese cuisine, it is Din Tai FUN!


Address: World Square Shopping Centre, 644 George St, Sydney
Phone: (02) 9264 6010

Fancy a vintage find?

The Red Cross have opened a chic boutique charity store on King Street in Newtown called 359 King and every time I walk by, the window calls out to me to enter - for me, the retro jewellery and cute vintage skirts scream the loudest.

The store also carries new items like shoes, so various sizes are available.

What makes the store so chic is the styling of the mannequins and its' overall presentation - you don't walk in and think you are in a charity store. The store blends so naturally with surrounding Newtown boutiques and it has a cool retro feel.

I encourage those of you who love to rediscover fashion to enter 359 King and spend til the cows come home because all proceeds go to Red Cross programs all over Australia (which help those in need).


Photo credit: Red Cross

Big ouchie! Mouth ulcher ONE. Kat ZERO.

The last couple of days I have been suffering from THE worst mouth ulcer I have ever had. I realise that I might sound like I'm being dramatic, but the location of ulcer was right next to my back teeth, so whenever I moved my mouth it would irritate my ulcer and incite a stinging pain.

I had tried Bonjela and putting salt directly on the ulcer in the past, but it would take a few days to heal and putting gel in my mouth just felt plain weird, like eating Vaseline. No thanks! So I looked for an alternative... And I found it! Oral B's Amosan Mouth Wash, it was just sitting on the shelf of my local chemist, waiting to relieve my pain. It comes in a box with 20 sachets of the powdered mouth wash for $12. You dissolve one sachet in 2 tablespoons of warm water and swish it in your mouth after meals. It is recommended that you don't eat 20 mins after you swish and you should swish 4 times a day.

When I initially picked up the box and read the instructions, I was skeptical. Then after my first swish I was still a little skeptical because the smell and taste of the mouthwash was just like Macleans toothpaste. It was my third swish that I realised my ulcer was healing and eating was fun again!

Does your hair need a hug?

During one of my Priceline rampages I came across Andrew Collinge's salon treatment, it was in a sachet so I figured I can use it once just to see what Andrew has to offer. My hair was a little dull and sad, it was in desperate need of a hair hug.

So I opened the packet and to my surprise it wasn't like opening a chip packet and finding that you had just purchased a packet of air, there was at least 2 decent dollops of treatment in that one packet-my hair is shoulder length so it was definitely plenty for me!

You apply the salon treatment after shampooing your hair, I like to concentrate on the ends just to avoid any chance of getting split ends. Then I whack on a sexy shower cap (doesn't have to be sexy, but I like to accessorize in the shower) to just help with the process, it helps lock in moisture and replenish the hair. Then after 5-10 minutes (depends on what your hair needs) rinse with warm water and dry as usual.

The end result is a mane which has just had a big salon hair hug, your hair becomes glossy and so soft that you won't want to stop touching it!

How much? It's only $12.99 for a 150 mL tub

I'm just going to be blunt... What happened to THE CLARE?!?!?!

So last Saturday I went back to The Clare at Ultimo (after a long hiatus) - this place is pretty much a rite of passage for Uni students who have attended UTS or Sydney Uni or anyone who works/worked for the ABC.

Back in the day, when you walked in you would usually be slapped in the face by the smell of stale beer and a room full of students (who should be in class or have just failed a subject), you would sink into the 'much-loved' (and 'overly-loved) couches and the staff were aware of your exact drinking needs and would serve you with as many beers as you could afford (within the rules of RSA of course). The atmosphere would be filled with delightful banter, intellectual (and un-intellectual) debate and unknown, underground music filled the remainder of the space.

But now, the staff have become so disdained and jaded with the idea that they (the Clare) are 'too cool for school' and have begun neglecting the basic essences that made the Clare, 'the Clare'. Most noticeable was the vapid blonde who actively mocked customers (along with ignoring them) as she sat at the end of the bar with other staff members and 'friends'.

The staff failed to inform us that there was free pool on a Saturday night, after 6 games - it kinda would've been nice to know. Then there was the music - it was different to say the least - (I know I must sound really old right now reminiscing about the past, but seriously it's not like what it use to be). The DJ would play music from his laptop and then sit down and join the blonde for a chat at the end of the bar. YES people, and he got PAID to do this. And it wasn't the underground stuff from before, it was Beyonce and all your top 40 hits of today. Can you believe it? Maybe they should just put the radio on, or whack someone's iPod on instead.

This is just not right. Bring back the old Clare! And bring on staff that want to 'want' to add to the Clare and its' colourful history.

Where is The Clare? 20 Broadway, Ultimo
Photo Credit: smh.com.au

Salycilic acid it to me!

So I've had a giant pimple on my chin for the last few days. And i've tried all your typical MacGyver solutions; toothpaste, tea tree oil and other products which promises to zap my zits into oblivion 'instantly'.

So I hit the blogosphere and it seemed like any product with salycilic acid was the solution. This has changed my life. I purchased 2 products Garnier's Pure Pore Purifying Astringent (RRP $8.85) and Garnier's Pure Active Roll-On (RRP $12.55 ). The astringent is a pore tightening toner which removes surface bacteria and the salycilic acid dries out the pimple. The Active Roll- On reduces redness and drys out the pimple as it is 2% purifying salicylic acid, it also contains Herbasoothe which is derived from blueberries and helps heal the skin.

Available at selected pharmacies, supermarkets, department and variety stores.
Picture Credit: Primped