INFUSED M A G A Z I N E T he
High Tea Party
Winter
fashion trends
The Work Lunchbox
ideas for making and taking your lunch to work
Wellbeing
How the Winter Blues affect you with Dr. Natalie Flatt
TINY SPACE STORAGE IDEAS
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June WOW Award Winner! Jodie Hughes is our WOW for June. Jodie is known for her kindness and compassion, offering reassurance and advice to those around her. Once a month Jodie delivers food to the homeless on Sydney streets and engages in encouraging, friendly discussion that helps build the self esteem of the people who see her. Such selfless devotion and concern for those less fortunate than her is typical of Jodie’s generous spirit. As an assistant principal, Jodie has helped countless teenagers through some very personal problems. She invests many hours thinking of ways to help her students overcome adversity by designing realistic and effective strategies that can be implemented by the students and their parents. Its our pleasure to honour and highlight Jodie’s story! We love hearing your stories! We are taking nominations for the WOW of the month for July. Nominating the special woman in your life is simple, email us at admin@thepeppermintgroup.com.au and tell us what makes this woman so special and why she deserves to win. We’ll contact you for further details if your nomination is successful.
*gift package shown is a true reflection of products that can be included in a WOW award. Products used can vary. Packaging may differ.
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FOOD & BEV E R AG E
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B EAUTY
JUNE/2019 6/HOME & LIFESTYLE Tiny house storage hacks.
8/ FOOD & BEVERAGE Save $$ with these great lunchbox ideas.
FASHION
10/ BEAUTY A home care nail regime to keep your nails beautiful.
14/HEALTH & WELLBEING How the ‘Winter Blues’ can affect your wellbeing.
16/ FASHION Winter is here, see what’s on trend this season
18/ ENTERTAINMENT What to listen to next. Podcasts worth a listen.
Welcome to the June issue of Infused. Thank you everyone who nominated a special person for our Woman of Worth Award. This month, we have chosen Jodie Hughes to receive a special pamper pack. You can read more about Jodie’s inspiring story on page 3. Don’t forget to nominate the woman of worth in your life for her chance to win a pamper pack in July. This month we bring you lots of tips and hacks to make life easier. From hijacking the tiny-house movement to get storage ideas, to scouring the internet for the best in home nail care tips, we’ve got you covered. I will also be presenting you with my favourite lunch box ideas for making lunch interesting and easy without buying it – you’ll be surprised at how much money you can save! Aren’t podcasts just the best invention? My sister-in-law certainly thinks so. After dinner, her husband (my brother) puts on a podcast and cleans the kitchen while she gets their boys ready for bed. I love them for making my daily walk more interesting or the commute to work fly by. This issue, I tell you my favourite new podcasts for news, gossip and gripping true-crime stories. As always, we’d love to hear from you if you’d like to see something in our e-magazine or if you have something you’d like to share, so get in touch at admin@thepeppermintgroup.com.au Best wishes, Sarah
Want to say hello, have a question or feedback? Drop us an email at admin@thepeppermintgroup.com.au
HOME & LIFESTYLE
Tiny house storage hacks for all of us
So you might be dreaming of giving it all away, becoming minimalist and living in a tiny house, floating around the countryside’s most beautiful vistas. But perhaps reality makes that dream a little unrealistic. That doesn’t mean we can’t steal some of those fabulous ideas and implement them in our own lives …
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Marie Kondo might say that you don’t have a storage problem, you have a hoarding problem. She’s probably right. Getting rid of a lot of our stuff can be a big step towards living that pretty, easy to tidy, minimalist lifestyle. Okay, now that we’ve done the boring thing, lets look at some of those cool ideas. Like a table that folds into the wall. Just the thing for a study nook that you don’t really have the space for. How about creating instant bench space in your kitchen by using a chopping board that fits over the sink? Or even better, one that slides out!
Image: www.coastalcollectiveco.com
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Stair storage – stairs are never wasted in tiny homes, and they are a fabulous source of space. You’re sitting on it! There are many couches and ottomans on the market now that lift up, allowing you to stash some extra blankets or pillows for those friendly couch surfers you might be entertaining every now and again. Or for nights when the snoring is too much to cope with.
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Similarly, look for tables that do double-duty. Either a coffee table with drawers or a dining table with storage underneath.
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Under-the-bed storage. This is one of my favourite hacks. It’s so incredibly cheap and if you’re organised it can be a perfect storage place. Use long flat plastic lidded boxes to keep out-ofseason clothing free of dust or, next time you invest in a bed, go for one with built-in drawers underneath.
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Built-ins. Tiny homes are full of cleverly hidden, built-in cupboards. There’s nothing like a wall that actually opens up to reveal your clothes.
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Level up. Hanging space is valuable – and how many of your clothes do you really need to hang? We put Ikea Kallax shelving units into our built-ins wardrobes where the hanging space is, creating much more space for my daughters’ clothing.
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Loft beds. Recently on holiday in a two-bedroom house, we were delighted to discover two extra loft beds in the study, on top of the bookshelves! The beds were actually forming part of the ceiling of the rooms next door, so didn’t take up any extra floor space or much vertical space, either. If you’re not afraid of heights, consider this fun space hack.
Image: tinyhouse.com
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Lunch Box Favourites
BYO lunch with these healthy, money-saving tips If you’re heading to work all or most days of the week, you could be spending upwards of $50 a week on lunch – $2600 per year! Save all those precious dollar-bucks and BYO. Here are my tips. 1. Leftovers! As much as possible, bring leftovers in from dinner the night before. It’s a great way to avoid food wastage. Also, you can reinvent what you’ve had for dinner, for example, if you’re having pasta, make extra for a nice pasta salad (just add cherry tomatoes, parmesan and olive oil). 2. Pre-made supermarket soups. While more pricey than a Vegemite sandwich, these are still cheaper than buying lunch at the deli. For $3-$4 and two minutes in the office microwave, you can have a lovely hot soup for lunch in winter. 3. Bento Banquet. If you want your lunch to make you smile, put the time into a Bento box the night before. There are lots of creative ideas online for sandwich-alternatives to enjoy and be the envy of your office-mates. 4. Build your sandwich at work. Bring your “wet” ingredients, like tomatoes, separately in ziplock bags or Tupperware and build your sambo at work to avoid sad soggy sambos.
5. Bring a sandwich press to work. Starting at around $20, you can really afford to donate a sandwich press to the lunch room. And you’ll be smiling every time you enjoy melty cheesy toasty goodness for lunch. 6. Savoury muffins. Don’t just go with sandwiches – try a healthy vegie savoury muffin. You can bake them in advance and keep them in the freezer, saving time in the mornings. 7. Cheese and dips! Why not treat yourself to a cheese and dip platter for lunch? A couple of easy dips like hummous or beetroot, some slices of cheese, some crackers and slices of carrots. Healthy, easy and something different.
BEAUTY
Nail Hacks
you can do at home Going to the nail bar is a lovely treat but here’s how to keep your nails looking good between visits: Our top ten hacks for keeping your nails beautiful at home.
USE A TOOTHBRUSH! Yes, use a toothbrush and soap to thoroughly clean your nails and cuticles at least once a week. This is a nice, chem-free exfoliation as well as a good thorough clean. GIVE THE CUTICLES A BREAK Leave them alone and let them do their job of preventing bacteria from entering your nail base. Your nails will be stronger and healthier for it. MOISTURISE BEFORE BED After you do your facial routine, rub some hand cream into your hands and nails to keep your skin soft and smooth.
PROTEIN Ensuring that you are eating a healthy diet with enough protein is an excellent way to keep your nails looking beautiful. BUFF Give your nails a break from the chemicals in polish by buffing them to a healthy shine and going au naturale for a week or so. PAPER TOWELS Paper towelling is a good alternative to cotton balls when it comes to removing nail polish, as it doesn’t leave small pieces of fluff on your nails. GLITTER Fill out your grown-out nail polish gaps with clear glitter polish to save you for a few days. NO-REMOVER? NO WORRIES It’s annoying to suddenly realise you’re out of nail-polish remover and you’ve got chipped nails and have to be somewhere the chipped look would be bad. You could try using clear polish over the top and quickly wiping it off. The solvent in the nail polish will take off the layer below. It’s time-consuming but better than nothing. PAINTING IN THE LINES A little Vaseline around your nails when you paint will help you contain any mistakes because after your nails dry you can wipe off the jelly with any extra nail polish with it. CLEAR NAIL POLISH HAS MANY USES It might not be a nail hack, but remember clear nail polish is helpful for runs in stockings, keeping buttons on shirts (a dab keeps the thread in place), sealing labels on jars. Always have a bottle for emergencies.
FASHION
Winter Fashion,
what’s on trend this year? Before we go all crazy with what’s on trend for the new winter season, let’s remember not all trends are good trends. So we’re sticking to the ones that you will actually want in your wardrobe.
Tom Ford Getty Images
Burberry
Animal Print, for those who are little less inclined to go on the wild side, here’s your chance to give it a go!
Texture, think silks, velvets or tweed living harmoniously together.
Ultra fluffy coats, well this just looks lush and cozy.
Brandon Maxwell Getty Images
Full coverage, ok so being winter this is kind of an obvious one... but still loving the look.
Bringing back the tote, to be honest, we didn’t know the tote left. Love a good tote! Happy to know we’re back on trend.
Tory Burch Getty Images
Tom Ford Getty Images
HEALTH & WELLNESS
S E U L B r e t n i W
As the days get shorter and we get ready to hibernate, we can find ourselves withdrawing from social events or feeling a drop in energy levels, craving more starchy calories, feeling melancholic and, at times, disconnected from life. What might this mean? What is SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a form of depression that comes along with the change of seasons. Symptoms of SAD typically begin and end at the same times every year. Symptoms may start out mild and become more intense as the season progresses. The change appears to be the main trigger affecting the rise of body’s melatonin production (which encourages sleep) and less serotonin (which fights depression). Signs and symptoms of SAD may include: • Losing interest in social or recreational activities you once enjoyed • Having low energy • Sleep issues • Carb cravings • Appetite or weight changes • Feeling sluggish or agitated • Concentration and attention issues • Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
How to overcome SAD Bringing more sunlight into your life is the most natural treatment for SAD. Morning or early afternoon walks, regular exercise and a healthy diet rich in Vitamin D and magnesium can help to overcome SAD. Treating yourself to magnesium baths have been found to assist in the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Magnesium will increase body temperature, warming your body and alleviating stress. The sulphate in Epsom salt is a calming ingredient that helps release magnesium ions. Changing your social catch-ups from night-time to daytime excursions might help you commit to social activities. Create a gratitude journal and, each evening, note five things you are grateful for. Creating recipes rich in Vitamin B, D and magnesium can assist with mood elevation in these colder months. Rug up and take one of these yummy afternoon snacks outside to gain some of those extra rays! Remember to take off your sunglasses, even if glary, as one of the strongest entry points for Vitamin D absorption is under the eyes.
PUMPKIN, ALMOND and DATE LOAF INGREDIENTS 2 cups mashed kent pumpkin 2 cups almond meal ¼ cup coconut oil 1 pitted date, chopped 3 eggs 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon ginger ½ teaspoon bicarb soda Pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin (wash and bake seeds for 15 min) METHOD • Boil pumpkin until soft. • Mixed all ingredients together (except the seeds) and place in loaf tin. • Sprinkle seeds on top of mixture and bake for 1 hour at 150-170 degrees. Enjoy with good quality butter!
Dr Natalie Flatt Ph.D is the Founder of Connect Psych and Connect Wellness; platforms which support and educate leaders and teams. Natalie has extensive experience in both academia and solution-focussed intervention to assist leaders and teams of all industries manage anxiety, resilience, stress, relationships, workplace conflict and compassion fatigue. Her companies offer practical, evidence-based solutions to assist professionals to overcome a wide variety of difficulties to ensure ongoing emotional resilience, wellbeing, and improved self-confidence; resulting in higher work life satisfaction and productivity.
ENTERTAINMENT
What to Listen to Next I’m always looking for a good podcast to liven up my daily walk or commute. Here’s what I’ve been loving lately.
CHAT 10, LOOKS 3. This much-loved podcast has clever Australian journalists Leigh Sales and Annabel Crab talking about books, TV shows and baking. It’s like listening to your cleverest, most favourite girlfriends banter on. The only shame is you’d like to join in. My favourite podcast for a giggle and great tips on what to read next. They also give good advice on what podcasts you should check out. HEAVYWEIGHT Jonathan Goldstein goes about helping people resolve or reduce emotional baggage that has been weighing them down. This podcast is funny and touching, especially the episode in which he encourages his father and uncle to reconcile, learning sad family truths along the way. MYSTERY SHOW A few years old now, I still enjoy re-listening to these episodes from this short-lived podcast. Similar to Heavyweight and produced by the same company (Gimlet media) it explores little mysteries. The best episode tackles the mystery of how tall Jake Gyllenhaal really is. HIDDEN BRAIN I love this show from PBS in the US. It explores the latest in Social Science research and gets to the heart of what makes us behave the way we do, and if there is anything we can do to change it. There’s always something interesting to discover. TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA I have not listened to this one yet, but it’s the latest viral podcast for those who like their true-crime. Can 15 million listeners be wrong? I’ll be finding out this week while I ride the train to work.
Melbourne
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
For the first time ever, The High Tea Party is coming to Melbourne for Christmas! One day only, 14 December. Enjoy a gorgeous high tea experience with your best girlfriends and discover the amazing Christmas shopping.
Introductory ticket offer
55
$
SHOP HERE
PROMO CODE CHRISTMAS
EXCITING NEWS! Sam will be joining us in Melbourne, Perth & Sydney in 2019! Tickets only $59
Simply purchase your High Tea Party tickets using promo code LOVE and $5 from every ticket goes to Love Your Sister. SHOP HERE