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COVE R
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BEAUTY
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WEL L BEING
DECEMBER/2019 6/COVER
10/ BEAUTY
We talk to sisters Sally Obermeder and Maha Corbett, who share the secrets to their success.
Red hot lips! How to incorporate a sexy red lip into your beauty arsenal.
8/ FOOD & BEVERAGE
12/WELLBEING
DIY homemade tea
#GOALS, what it really takes to stick to your New Year's resolutions.
14/ENTERTAINMENT Apps to help you stick to your New Year's resolutions.
Dear Reader, Welcome to the December issue of Infused. It’s so hard to believe that we’re about to start a brand new year but we at Infused are very excited about the year ahead. Our new events coming in 2020 are like an extension of Infused. If you love carving out twenty minutes every month to enjoy the content we bring you on food, wine, health, beauty, lifestyle and wellbeing, you will love our handcrafted new events. They will allow you to spend time with the special people in your life over a beautiful meal while you enjoy exclusive masterclasses run by experts in their fields. For example, a wellness masterclass run by Dr Natalie Flatt (see page 12 for Nat’s advice this on starting the New Year right). Or a beauty seminar by celebrity makeup artist Melli (this month, Melli tells us how to rock red lipstick. See page 10 for her wise words). Or lifestyle classes by the gorgeous women on our cover this month, Sally Obermeder and Maha Corbett (for more information on these brilliant sisters, see page 6). We are dedicated to getting you the self-care you need, and helping you find a gorgeous excuse to do just that! And here’s my best tip for 2020 – you must sign up to A Gorgeous Excuse or risk missing out on getting intel on our new exclusive events. Even if you have been to our previous events, you will need to express interest in A Gorgeous Excuse for us to be able to give you the latest updates, exclusive deals and competitions. More information here.
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Want to say hello, have a question or feedback? Drop us an email at admin@thepeppermintgroup.com.au
COVER
SisterAct
Sisters Sally Obermeder and Maha Corbett share the secrets to their successful business partnership and some top wellbeing tips for the new year. We are so excited to be teaming up with the amazing duo behind SWIISH with our Gorgeous Excuse events in 2020!
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V personality Sally Obermeder and her sister Maha Corbett are the brains behind SWIISH. It’s a lifestyle blog, online boutique and the place to find the sisters’ delicious and carefully blended smoothie and nutrient powders. The motivating force for SWIISH is to help women feel amazing, inside and out. It’s a mission that Sally and Maha are absolutely passionate about, which makes them perfect additions to the team at A Gorgeous Excuse. We can’t wait to have them share their wellness secrets at masterclasses at our intimate Gorgeous Excuse events in 2020. For this issue of Infused, we talked
to Sally and Maha about ideas, working with your sister, and some tips for the new year with your best foot forward. Infused: You seem to be always having ideas. Is it hard to slow them down? Sally: Yes, it is hard to slow them down. It probably seems like there are a lot of facets to our business but we’re really just driven to just helping women feel amazing, inside and out. It’s actually a running gag that Maha dreads when I go on holidays because after about three days of winding down, I can’t turn off the ideas faucet and I’ll call her a million times a day with ideas!
Maha: That’s actually where we balance each other out. When Sally calls me with an idea I will try to work out, operationally, how we could make it work, if at all. Sally: And Maha has ideas too, but she’s risk-averse. So she sometimes needs me to push her along, let her know the risk is worth it. It is a good balance. Infused: Seems like your personalities are a perfect match. So what’s good and bad about working with your sister? Sally: Well, because we see each other so much, we often forget to talk to each other about things outside of work. It becomes all-consuming. Sometimes if we catch up with mutual friends, Maha will be telling a story about her life and I’ll be like, “Are you serious? When did that happen?” And it’s because we forget to switch off from work when we’re together. But I think we’ve gotten better at it over the last 18 months or so. Maha: I adore Sally – there are not enough words for how much I adore her – and I’m so grateful I get to work with her and do this every day. But, yes, the downside is that we’re both not great at switching off from work. We need to get better at encouraging each other to take a break – to find the off button. Infused: What are your tips for our readers for starting off the New Year in the best possible way? Sally: Just start as you mean to go on. And don’t give yourself a hundred different unmanageable goals – just pick two things. Maybe it’s “I really want to look after my skin and I’m going to take collagen every day, and I’m going to get a meditation app.” Then, come
March, after these simple habits are ingrained, you can add two more things. Just choose something meaningful and simple, and go from there. Maha: I agree. And I would also say, think about something that you can take away from your life as well as something you could add. For example, so many women tell me, “I just want to make everyone happy” – and they burn out. I think women should feel comfortable with more boundaries. You don’t have to say yes to everything. To add something, you might choose something simple like “I’m going to drink more water or add to my uptake of nutrients”. These are small things that are easy to achieve. Also – don’t be too hard on yourself! TV presenter Sally Obermeder and her sister Maha Corbett run SWIISH – an online destination helping women feel and look amazing. Sally and Maha will be joining A Gorgous Excuse in 2020, sharing their wellbeing and beauty advice in exclusive masterclasses. Click here for more information.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Yummy, Healthy & Homemade For a truly delicious tea you might consider the DIY path. Here are five ideas to try.
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nce, I went to an Algerian friend’s house for lunch. After lunch she got a container full of mint that she kept in her freezer and made me a delicious, sweet, minty cup of tea. I had honestly never considered making tea that didn’t come in a prepared bag from the supermarket before. But of course there are lots of ways you can make tea at home, either from herbs you buy or herbs you grow. And there’s nothing better than custom tea. Here are five ideas: 1. Mint – my friend taught me that to make it last you can freeze the leaves and just use it as needed. An alternative is to dry out the mint by hanging it in a warm, dry place and then keep it in an airtight container. And this is a lovely one because you can grow it in your own backyard (or balcony). The North African version is short and sweetened with sugar, but make a blend that suits you. It’s supposed to be very good for digestion problems. 2. Lemon balm – another really easy-to-grow herb, lemon balm makes for a delicious, zingy tea. Use the same method as for mint tea, above. 3. Ginger – grate a tablespoon of fresh ginger and steep in freshly boiled water for 5-10 minutes, then strain and serve. Some people like it with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, and a dash of honey can be nice too. Ginger tea is said to be good for upset tummies. 4. Fruit tea – you can dehydrate your orange, lemon or apple in the oven and add to black tea, or have it by itself. A squeeze of fresh juice in your tea will add a zing of flavour, too. 5. Blend with bought tea – buy some good-quality loose-leaf tea and blend it with cloves, cinnamon, or dried orange peel and store in airtight containers. That way you can make your own delicious blend.
BEAUTY
red hot
Red Lipstick is iconic, powerful and sexy. Our resident celebrity make-up artist, Melli, gives us some tips on how to go bold with red lippie in 2020. There are two kinds of people in this world: those who rock a red lip on a regular basis, and those who wish they could.
Then, complete the look with just a smudge of a taupe eye-shadow underneath the lower lash line to balance it out. Keep blush minimal for an understated classic look.
Generally speaking, if you’re hesitant about red lipstick, it’s because you’re unsure which shade will work for you – or because you don’t want to stand out. I totally get it. There are so many reds out there and the cosmetic counters can be confusing at the best of times. I’m here to help!
Red is an empowering shade. They say that if you are in the boardroom at work or in a situation where you really need people to listen to you then a red lipstick will command attention. So why not make a simple New Year’s resolution to give it a try!
What’s great about a red lip is that you can keep the rest of your makeup quite minimal. I love pairing a red lip with lashings of mascara and definition on the top lash line, using a gel cream pot liner which is waterproof and smudge proof, keeping the lower lash line bare.
rules for red I always say with makeup: there are no rules, only techniques. So, if you want to rock a red that breaks the ‘rules’ because you feel mighty fine wearing it – I say go all out. But if you’re wondering about colour theory, then here’s the lowdown. • Fairer skin tones work best with blue toned reds – think of your cherry reds. • Warmer skin tones work best with warm reds. • Then there’s a neutral red. Just about everyone suits a neutral red. That’s the oldworld Hollywood Glamour red. It’s not quite a blue red and not quite an orange red but somewhere in between. If you’ve never gone down the ‘Red Road’ before, here are my tricks. • Start off wearing it as a stain. To do this, coat your lips ever so lightly then blot down with a tissue. This will sheer out the shade and give you the chance to get used to it. • Or, layer a red lipstick on top of one of your neutral lippies. This will also help to ease you into a red. • I love layering a red over a bright pink – it creates a cherry statement shade that really brightens the face. • Line your lips and use a lip brush. You will achieve a much more polished finish – especially helpful if you are going out. • I recommend exfoliating the lips with a lip scrub first, followed with a swipe of lip balm to prep. Lush has some really yummy lip exfoliators. I love the Cookie Dough flavour! The number one thing with a red lip is to own it! Wear it proudly and confidently.
When not creating addictive wearable shades and pretty packaging for her Cruelty Free Makeup Range, Melissa “Melli” Carter freelances as a makeup artist looking after some of Australia’s best-known faces in the TV and film industry. Her favourite thing to do is to share the ‘magic tricks’ she has collected over the last few decades with everyday women to bring out their confidence and natural beauty. Meet her at our exclusive Gorgeous Excuse events in 2020. Click here for more details.
WELLBEING
s ' r a e Y New Dr Natalie Flatt gives us the best advice for setting and achieving New Year’s goals in 2020!
Now’s the time to create your New Year’s resolution. But did you know that less than 25% of resolutions make it past the first month? In fact, only 8% of people accomplish them. So what’s the secret to really creating new habits? People tend to make long lists of big habits they want to change, and we can overwhelm ourselves by focusing on substantial changes down the road rather than on small changes in the here and now. So here are ten ideas for making changes you can stick to. 1. Identify the habits you want to change, then prioritise. Select one habit that will be your key focus for the next few weeks. Don’t do them all at once or you’ll lose focus and willpower. 2. Visualise yourself changing. Visualisation retrains neural networking in your brain. Spend some time every day envisioning yourself with new habits. Picture yourself eating healthy foods, having the freedom from cigarettes or being confident to meet new people.
3. What are you getting out of your habit? Are you looking for comfort in sugary or fatty foods? Numbness in alcohol? Stress and anxiety reduction through nail biting or smoking? Thinking about this begins the process of ‘replacement’ habits. Next time you catch yourself not hungry but standing in front of the fridge, or reaching for a glass of wine, try a replacement behaviour. Some ideas: have a glass of water, read a chapter of a book or look up a new app.
4. Acknowledge. When you have had a successful day or week creating your new habit, acknowledge it and bring it to the conscious mind so that you can emphasise your ability to change.
8. Keeping a journal each day will help you track both your good and bad days and the attached emotions. It’s a great way to reflect and problem-solve other ways you may reach your goal.
5. Remove triggers. If chocolate is a trigger, throw away all your chocolate. If you crave a cigarette when you drink socially, avoid social triggers – restaurants, bars, nights out with friends. This isn’t forever – just for a while, until you feel confident that you can be around temptation.
9. Take baby steps. Even if you can’t fully follow through with a new habit right away, do something small to keep yourself on track. You might want to learn to run 10km. Begin with 500 metres per day. It’s a great start and you can acknowledge that you’re on your way.
6. Stocktake your relationships. Sometimes certain people are our triggers. We can set ourselves up for success by seeking out supportive people. When you declare your goal to someone supportive, they will be there to enquire about your progress and celebrate your wins along the way.
10. Accept that you will sometimes falter. We all do. Habits don’t change overnight, so don’t beat yourself up about it. Love yourself each time you do and remind yourself that you are human.
7. Reframe your negative self-talk. The refrain in your brain can seriously affect your default behaviours. So when you catch yourself saying, “I’m fat” or “I’m so awkward,” reframe it or redirect it. Replace it with, “I’m getting healthy, or “I’m working on growing my confidence.” Or redirect with, “But I’m working my way into a healthier lifestyle.” Judging yourself only keeps you stuck.
At first, all new habits seem hard. You may doubt if you’ll be able to continue in the long term. But don’t worry, these thoughts are normal. It’s a good sign that you’re making efforts and facing challenges to get what you want in life. The only way to get to Day 365 is to start with Day 1. Because you deserve it.
Dr Natalie Flatt is the co-founder of Connect Psych and Connect Wellness. She is passionate about wellness and support for all women. Dr Natalie is one of our wellbeing experts at our 2020 Gorgeous Excuse events. Check out the website for more information!
ENTERTAINMENT
APPS TO HELP YOU STICK TO YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS We’ve all got great intentions at the start of each year – but sometimes we need a little help to stick to them. There’s an app for that. 1. Monitor your nutrition I’m not above trying out a cleansing diet or an Atkins diet or the 5:2 diet or any other novel way to keep in a healthy weight range, especially if there’s a special event coming up or if we happen to be in January and I’ve just put on a bit of Christmas pudding (ahem). But there’s one tried and true method of shedding kilos, and that’s to count calories. My favourite app for this is by SparkPeople. It is pretty easy to use – you just enter the food you eat and it calculates the calories for you, letting you know where you need to improve and helping you stay motivated along the way.
2. Exercise more Almost all of us are tracking our activity in one way or another these days. At the moment my favourite step counting app is called StepsApp. There is a simple free version which exports your steps to your home screen and also tells you how many calories you’ve burned. 3. Quit smoking What? You’re still smoking?! If you are, the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health is to quit. There’s a great free app created by the Australian Government called My QuitBuddy which provides lots of ongoing motivation, like telling you how much money you’re saving by not buying cigarettes and all the health benefits you’re getting each day you stay a non-smoker. 4. Read More Books A worthy resolution and an easy and enjoyable one too. My best tip is to just read anything. Once you get started, even with potboilers or romances (which I happen to love!) you’ll find yourself pacing the house looking for more books to read. Use the Kindle or iBooks app on your smartphone, that way you’ll have a book with you wherever you are. 5. Learn a New Language Still the best app for language learning is Duolingo, and it’s still free, although there are more ads than when I first started using this app a few years ago. There are now dozens of languages available and the content is fun and game-ified. You won’t even know you’re working.
It’s time for A Gorgeous Excuse to catch up and explore the world of beauty, lifestyle and wellness with our industry experts.
tapas | wine | masterclasses | fashion
$79
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SHOP HERE
*Promo Code EARLYBIRD. Offer ends 31 December 2019.
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