July Favourites

Homemade Greek Coffee Frappe:

I tend to go through fazes. I will drink 2 cups of coffee for 10 days and then all of a sudden I won’t like it for a month or so. Very odd, but regardless of whether I will be off coffee again in the next few days I love Greek Coffee Frappes. So damn good and so much cheaper than Starbucks!

Makeup at ALDI Supermarkets:

Lacura is the brand and it is brilliant. I think it is stocked in all the ALDI stores. On a recent shopping adventure I bought the Lacura Mineral Foundation, and the blush. I think it is up for the best foundation I have tried since Rimmel’s Wake me up foundation. The Lacura line is so pigmented and the most you will pay for the makeup is $4. Bargain!! The Voluminous mascara could be better than Maybellines 'The Falsies' mascara. That is quite a big statement considering I am a mascara hoarder and have tried nearly every one out there in an attempt to get stunningly long and full lashes 

Rimmel 'Kate' Lipstick in 107: 

Until 2 years ago I never bought a lipstick. When I was a kid I would raid my Mum's makeup drawer and try all the bits and bob's in there. I hated lipsticks, they always felt so dry and almost chalky. I hated lipstick until one day I was brave enough to try a 'fire hydrant' red lipstick by Revlon. I loved the way it felt and would just glide on like a balm. I was converted. I made my first MAC lipstick purchase with the cult classic 'Russian Red'. Somehow I didn't think that was brave enough, so I tired 107 from the Rimmel range. What a beautiful colour?!?! A gorgeous, deep ox-blood/plum colour. And it is so smooth to apply and so long lasting! I wish I didn't have to save this colour for Autumn and Winter but somehow I think plum in summer doesn't go together too well.

St Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Moisturising Lotion:

This lotion is so long lasting and so hydrating. It soothes any redness after shaving and prolongs your shave or wax if you use it twice daily. 

Miss Mac xxx

The Kim Kardashian Butt Workout

Health and Beauty Benefits of Oils

I love Rosehip Oil. I use it on my face at night about four times a week. I love it. I love the feeling of waking up with beautiful, hydrated, glowing skin.

Rosehip Oil is full of Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids which is essential for skin health. They help to repair the skin’s surface and damaged tissue. It is also rich with antioxidants that help defend the skin against air pollution, sun damage and the effect of a poor diet.  Rosehip oil is also proven to help repair and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Rosehip is an excellent source of Vitamin A, which has been proven to prevent premature aging cause by sun exposure.

It is certainly a miracle in a bottle.

While on the theme of omega fatty acids is another miracle- Cold pressed flaxseed oil. I take a supplement of flaxseed oil every day. Flaxseed oil is known to improve heart and circulation health, so it is no surprise that it also does wonders for the skin. Flaxseed oil is brilliant for lowering cholesterol as well.  Whole flaxseeds are also a great way to incorporate fibre into your diet.

Coconut oil is also a great new love of mine. I put it in my protein smoothie after the gym, mix it with raw coconut sugar and make a Homemade Scrub. I also use it in my hair for a hydrating hair mask. I have found that my ends are not nearly as dry and damaged as they used to be and it also makes brushing your hair a dream- something that I am not used to, I have naturally curly/frizzy/ knotted hair.

I love oils, even using olive oil for moisturiser give my skin a beautiful holiday glow and is mega hydrating.

Using oils in beauty has so many amazing benefits and your skin will love you for it in winter!!

Miss Mac xxx

Homemade Chai Concerntrate

4 1/2 cups water
8 bags black tea – I used orange pekoe
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean, split in half (or 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract added at the very end)
1/2 cup coconut sugar, date sugar or raw cane sugar (you can add more or less depending on how sweet you like your chai)
1 – 3-inch section of fresh ginger, cut into pieces
10 whole cloves
8 cardamom pods
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 whole star anise pods
1/2 teaspoon of whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 tablespoon raw honey (optional, leave off to make vegan, if you want it to be sweeter without the honey, add a bit more sugar in at the beginning)

1 small square section of cheesecloth, approximately 6″ square (if you don’t want to mess with cheesecloth, make sure you have a good strainer you can use at the end)
kitchen twine

Prepare the teabags by removing any tags if there are any and tying them all together. Prepare the spices, vanilla bean and orange zest by laying them in your cheesecloth, I leave my cinnamon sticks out to make the little pouch of spices a bit more compact. Tie the cheesecloth pouch shut with a small piece of kitchen twine. If you leave the cinnamon sticks out, just tie them together with kitchen twine.

*If you don’t wish to use cheesecloth, you will just add all of your spices directly to the pan when the time comes and strain them out after.

Add the water and sugar to a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and put in the tea bags, cheesecloth pouch and cinnamon sticks. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat strain the concentrate through a sieve or just remove the tea bags, cheesecloth pouch and cinnamon sticks. At this point if you want a bit more sweetness you can add a tablespoon of honey, stir to dissolve. I don’t always do this, but it is a really nice touch. Additionally, if you didn’t use a whole vanilla bean, add your vanilla extract now. Stir to combine.

Allow the mixture to cool before pouring it into an airtight jar or container. This amount fits perfectly into a 1-quart mason jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

** To serve, mix 1 part concentrate with 1 part milk of your choice. I personally love unsweeteened almond milk . Heat for a warm beverage or serve over ice for a cold drink.

http://tasty-yummies.com/2011/11/07/homemade-chai-tea-concentrate/

Miss Mac xxx 

Lorna Jane Raw, Clean-Eating, Vegan Carrot Cake