Do-able detox with Dietlicous Cleanse

It's been a couple of weeks now since I did the Dietlicious Gluten Free Cleanse and I am still missing the delish breaky smoothies and tasty lunches and dinners.  After a period of retoxing once more (isn't that why we detox?), I take a look back at the cleanse and what I got out of it.

What is the Dietlicious Cleanse?
This is a five or ten day detox using delicious, already-prepared, delivered food supplied frozen or fresh for you to whip up with ease and convenience.  It's designed to help you revitalise, detox and lose weight with healthy, all-natural meals and is ideal for those who lead a busy, demanding life.  The menu gives your digestive system a holiday from the effects of wheat, gluten, dairy, red meat, preservatives, additives and highly processed foods.



What kind of food do you get?
I've done detox many times before using fresh, natural ingredients but it's always left me with a sense of deprivation - not to mention nearby malnutrition in some cases (the lemon detox diet springs to mind).  To get detox really working for you, it needs to be less about glorifying the distant memory of a quarter-pounder with fries, and more about empowering yourself with tasty, balanced, nutritious food.  This is exactly what the Dietlicious Cleanse offers.  The packed lunches were mostly microwaved meals (making it super easy for work) and some of the dinners required a bit of minimal cooking in the pan or oven.  You also get fruit and mixed nuts for between meals to make sure you don't think about cheating with the cookies from the kitchen at work.

Some of the meals include:
  • Provencal risotto with tuna
  • Thai red tofu curry
  • Ocean trout with vegetable ratatouille
  • Salmon chermoula with seasonal vegetables
  • Gluten free toast with hummus and tomato (breakfast)
  • Chicken cacciatore with quinoa

Microwaved?  Did that taste ok?
Yes. It was YUMMY.  The flavours in each meal were unreal and you can tell they've been prepared with care and skill by an ex michegan restaurant chef.  Nuff said.

Salmon chermoula with season veggies
The difficulty factor
As far as surviving the cleanse goes, it's very, very easy.  There's more than ample food and I'd be surprised if someone was left feeling hungry at the end of the each day or between meals.  The hardest part is simply committing every single meal over five days to the cleanse.  That being said, if you do need to cheat on the plan (I had a business lunch I needed to attend) simply opt for the healthier options of fish or chicken with salad or veg - no wheat, gluten, red meat and all the other things you're trying to give your bod a break from.

Chicken tagine with quinoa - nomtastic
What did I dig the most?
Not at any stage did I feel hungry, deprived, or as if I was actually on detox at all.  The breakfast smoothies were very tasty and as someone who doesn't make a habit of eating "the most important meal of the day" grabbing a smoothie out of the fridge was quick and easy.  I also liked how effortless the meals were, while also getting to do a bit of the cooking yourself.  Loved the addition of lemon for hot water in the morning and ginger tea for the afternoon.

GF toast with hummus, tomato and hot lemon water mmm

The worst bits?
Besides the fact you can't have coffee, wine, red meat or sugar (it IS a cleanse), dedicating each meal to the cleanse was the hardest part.

All in all
At the end of the five days I did feel revitalised, detoxified and I'd even lost a bit of weight - which utterly surprised me given how much food it felt like I was eating.  So maybe it's good for speeding up the metabolism, too.  Initially I thought it might be a bit expensive but at around $9 a meal plus the snacks, it works out to be quite good, particularly given the level of quality and how convenient the plan is.

If you're looking to kick-start a new health regime or just do a cleanse to re-boot your system, the Dietlicious Cleanse is a great option.

Dietlicious Five Day Gluten Free Cleanse

All meals included for five days
$185 excluding delivery
Other plans available
www.dietlicious.com.au

BUNNY The Movie (and how to win a $5,000 gold bunny)

I recently attended the premiere of Annika Glac's BUNNY at Cinema Como in South Yarra.  We were promised a movie launch 'with a twist' and they weren't lying. We enjoyed the likes of carrots made out of marzipan (I actually thought it was real until I took a bunny nibble), a dove, bunny and guinea pig weilding magician - oh and around $5,000 worth of treasure...

The masterminds behind BUNNY have launched an Australia-wide treasure hunt of an elusive gold bunny to the value of nearly $5,000.  Clues are being released throughout October to help you determine its exact whereabouts and claim the gold prize.  After it's debut in Australia, the release and treasure hunt will also take place in Poland, the US and Japan creating a global treasure hunt worth more than $20,000.

Sounds shiny and exciting - but what about the movie?

Here's the synopsis:

ALEX, fresh out of prison dreams of an uncomplicated life. Unfortunately within an hour, he’s entangled with a very pretty out of work actress, BLANKA, dressed as a BUNNY giving out pamphlets on the street. Desperate to earn some cash Alex gets the job dressed as the giant brown fox. Now they work together as the BUNNY and the FOX and their act stinks. But something bigger holds these two outsiders together, a squirmy secret that will change their lives. BUNNY charts similar territory to Michel Gondrys’, Science of Sleep and Kieslowskis’s Three Colours White.


Now, it takes a lot for a movie to impress me so it means something when I say that I really liked BUNNY.  It was warm, funny, emotional and human.  Blanka's kindness, naivety and vulnerability is in stark contrast to the history of ex-criminal Alex - and yet they seem to fit - so well.  Will the bunny that saved the fox be safe from all the bad news that he brings?  Download the movie through iTunes and find out.  I really loved it - I hope you do too.

Clues to location of the gold bunny in Australia will be released progressively on the website www.bunnythemovie.com between the 2nd of October to the 21st. 



Downloaded BUNNY through iTunes Australia and New Zealand from 2.10.2013.
www.bunnythemovie.com
www.bunnythemovie.com/the-bunny-hunt/ 


Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

The universal tales of dating and love

A contact from the Twitter world recently got in touch to introduce me to her very much aligned book, Je T'aime, Me Neither - a collection of the dating misadventures of a Canadian girl in Paris experiencing the highs and lows of love, in the city that is meant to be all about just that.  

After a series of emails with author April Lily Heise I am now eagerly awaiting a copy of Je T'aime, Me Neither and can't wait to curl up on the couch with a nice glass of vin rouge to take in Lily's dating stories from afar.

But as I wait for Je T'aime, Me Neither to find its way to Melbourne, it was Lily's recent blog post that struck a chord with me and resonated with my own experiences of dating and love in the last year.  In fact, our stories are almost identical.

For both Lily and I, our dating adventures were put on hold when we each met someone late last year - people not based in the same city as our own.  Love came, love almost conquered, but in the end love wasn't enough, and all that's left to do is accept the lessons learned, soothe our souls and heal our hearts, then move on, stronger and wiser than before.  As Lily was turning over a new proverbial leaf for Autumn in Paris, here in the southern hemisphere I was stepping into Spring, feeling fresh, light, and also ready for new beginnings and life.

The connection with Lily has brought to light the universal tales of dating and love that happen every day, everywhere.  There's something mildly amusing and comforting that as my story was unfolding one side of the world, so was Lily's on the other, in a similar yet respectfully different way.

It seems wherever we are, whichever season we may be passing through, we are never alone in love.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

PS: I'll be telling you all about Je T'aime, Me Neither very soon. #excited. 

Let the Dietlicious food cleanse begin

It's been weeks, if not months, of burning the candle at both ends and eating a lot of wax along the way.  I don't consider myself an unhealthy sort but it does seem that I have a penchant for hot chips, mid-week dinners and long lunches; mostly devoid of the fruit and veg required to qualify for the elusive 'two and five'.

When I recently sent out a tweet craving some simple, fresh vegetables, Dietlicious came to the rescue offering me their Five Day Gluten Free Cleanse to get me back on track with all the good stuff.  The food plan - which gives you breakfast, lunch and dinner with salad, fruit, nuts and seeds, for all five days - is designed to help you revitalise, detox and lose weight to re-boot your healthy-living self.  That means no wheat, no dairy, no red meat, no caffeine - no wine.

As it stands, I've needed to put off the diet for nearly a week because of plans and events prohibiting me from "eating clean". What a terrible thought (and a terrible first world problem).  But therein lies the issue with our modern day lives that so often surround convenience and events rather than doing what's best for our poor long suffering bods.  Hence why Dietlicious is here to help us get some of this balance back without having to invest the time and effort of hitting the markets every 2-3 days for fresh, GM/pesticide/additive-free food. 

My Dietlicious delivery - all packed up
All the meals from Dietlicious are prepared for you by a chef with a Michelen star restaurant background and made from scratch using only seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.  You can choose either fresh or frozen meals and I've opted for frozen to help with when I could start the cleanse plan (the meals sat in my freezer for 4 days...).  Everything is delivered to you by courier and in insulated boxes to keep the good stuff nice and chilled. 

Admittedly, I already know I'll have to 'cheat' on the plan on Tuesday for a booked lunch event.  I appease my guilt only with the fact that I don't eat wheat - so I'll just have to avoid any red meat, dairy, caffeine and 
Today's breakfast - watermelon & acai smoothie
wine on the day too.  Damn.  BUT if it means finally shifting this cold I've had for two weeks and getting my energy levels back again with the help of fresh, natural food, bring it on.

So let the cleanse begin. There will be no pizza, cheese, duck, burgers, steak, wine or coffee for the next five days.  Instead, there'll be risotto, chicken tagine, Thai red tofu curry, ocean trout with vegetable ratatouille, salmon chermoula with seasonal vegetables - to name but a few meals.  Not so bad.  In fact, this is very different to any cleanse diet I've ever done before - and going on the risotto provencale with tuna I've had thus far, it's a great deal more tasty.  I also like the added touch of lemon for hot water in the morning and ginger tea for the afternoon. 

I'll be posting my food cleanse adventures and progress on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #dfoodcleanse - here's to a healthy start to the week!

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo


Dietlicious Five Day Gluten Free Cleanse
All meals included for five days
$185 excluding delivery
Other plans available
www.dietlicious.com.au
 

TEQUILA!

Now that I have your attention, I wanted to share with you a few things about our North American hombre, Mexico.  Why?  Well, not just because I love Mexican, tequila, or some of the awesome Mexican restaurants that have emerged in Melbourne, but rather because this Sunday marks Mission's Mexican Festival in Melbourne. 

A celebration of Mexican Independence Day, the free festival is set to bring Federation Square alive in an array of Mexican brilliance.  As the culture that brought us the likes of tomatoes, avocados, burritos and tequila - not to mention piñatas, ponchos and sombreros - it is definitely something worth celebrating!  

Last year, over 25,000 people flocked to the fiesta and this year is anticipated to be even bigger.  You can expect markets, Mexican entertainment, a kids corner for the niño pequeños, Spanish lessons, even some zumba.  You'll also be joining the tasty likes of Touche Hombre, Mamasita, Los Amates, Dos Diablos, and more.  With 15,000 tacos and more than 5,000 packets of corn chips ready at the stand-by, will they have enough?  I don't know about you, but I've never left a Mexican restaurant hungry...

I attended the official launch of Mission's Mexican Festival this week at Mad Mex in QV - there was tequila, there was DIY burrito making, there were margaritas.  Here's a snap shot of the night to get you in the mood for this weekend's Mex fiesta!

Ole!



Mission's Mexican Festival
September 15, 2013
10am to 6pm
Federation Square, Melbourne
Cost: FREE
You can also find the festival on Facebook

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

An emotional ride at Cavalia

For us lucky little Melburnian's, Cavalia is here, in all it's glory.  I've been asked by a few people what I thought of the large scale equestrian and performing arts show and, on occasion, I've been lost for words to explain just how magical I found the night (instead using mad waving hand gestures).  I loved it.  For me, the night was an exhilarating experience and actually quite emotional at times with the sheer beauty and skill of the horses and their long haired, two legged, acrobatic counterparts. 

If you haven't heard about Cavalia yet (where have you been), think Cirque du Soleil but in English and with beautiful, galloping equine. 

Here are a few snaps of the show from their Social Media night a few weeks back.  Cavalia has been extended to the 15th September in Melbourne, so giddy up and get yourself down to Docklands.

You can also find a couple of videos on my Instagram profile:
http://instagram.com/p/ctfnpjvkOo/
http://instagram.com/p/cthRkMPkPy/

Cavalia is held at Docklands, Melbourne

Pre-show engagement

The show takes you through horses in history

 

and the seasons

They made it rain

Then they made it snow!

Acrobats, horses and long haired men

Loved the set design and lighting




Tickets start from $64 and if you buy 5, you can get 5 free. Buy online or buzz them on 1800 765 955.

Cavalia
White Big Top
Docklands Drive, Docklands
www.cavalia.net 


Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Supper Safari in Melbourne: three venues, one night

Last week, I had the fortunate opportunity of experiencing The Publican Group's Supper Safari.  The name is fun and so is a night that includes cocktails, bubbly, tapas, a two course meal and wine, across three venues in Melbourne CBD.

Quack!
Tapas and bubbles
Crème Brulee
Your Supper Safari itinerary begins at Terra Rossa on Flinders Lane for a glass of sparkling and tapas.  I quite like the space at Terra Rossa, it's intimate enough where it needs to be but also suitable for a social setting and group events - like a Supper Safari.  The space is warm, cosy and comfortable.  Perfect for winter.  

Two course meal with wine
Next stop is the lovely, French inspired Mr Mason on Collins Street.  A Francophile at heart, I was excited to finally head here for the first time.  Just as it should be, the French influence at Mr Mason is subtle and understated.  This part of your Supper Safari offers a two course meal (main and dessert) matched with a glass of red or white wine (French, of course).  I opted for the duck and I've been craving it ever since.  As for mashed potato with liver parfait?  Yumtastic.  They chose to steer clear of using foie gras because, let's face it, it's just plain cruel (but cruelly delicious).  My glass of Beaujolais went down a treat as did the fireplace behind our table keeping us toasty warm.  The dessert was an array of sweet treats from chocolate soufflé to lemon tart, and I didn't hear anyone complaining at all - besides how full they were.  We waddled out to head to our next stop.

Cocktails
Campari House, on our infamous Hardware Lane, is four levels of food and drink.  At your final Supper Safari stop, indulge in a specially designed cocktail in a private booth in the lounge, then choose to continue your night from there perhaps with a few more on the rooftop upstairs.

Louis Jadot Beaujolais
In transit
The three venues on the Supper Safari are a comfortable 10-15 minute walk between each so if you're partial to heels like I am, or just not up for the walk, I'd suggest a taxi or enquire about their upgrade options like limos (swanky).  There are a range of other upgrades too like pre-paid bar tabs, cheese platters, and sparkling wine in your limo.

All in all
Personally, I like a bit of variety in one night.  Supper Safari is a nice balance of this with no waiting in lines, choosing where to go on the night, or scheduling several bookings.  At $95pp it's a good idea for special events, hens parties or birthdays, or a different way to show visitors around our city with all the work done for you.

Cheers!

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo


Supper Safari
$95.00 per person
Terra Rossa, Mr Mason, Campari House
Bookings: (03) 9614 4500
elly@mrmason.com.au




Turning a negative into a positive


I believe everything happens for a reason.  This includes meeting the people we meet, the people we have a relationship with, and the people we lose along the way.  I also believe that things happen just as they are meant to.  “You are right where you are meant to be, right now”, is one of my favourite remarks, especially for friends (and myself) when they need some extra reassurance in life. 

Unfortunately, it can be hard to remember this when “where you are right now” seems the furthest from where you’d rather be.

A friend of mine recently and unexpectedly went separate ways with someone they loved.  As a result, and understandably, they’ve been very upset.  Unfortunately, I’ve just been through something similar.  So I know, as will you, that despite support from friends and their helpful words all you actually really want is for things to go back to being fun, awesome and happy.  Which, of course, is not how life works.  There is no rewind and pause. 

You want to keep holding on to what could have been and don’t want to accept the reasons for why it wasn’t.  You forget that you weren’t actually happy with the status quo.  Or that you simply needed more of what you weren’t getting.  You forget to graciously consider the positives you got from the situation, and the positives you get from moving on.

In other words, it’s hard to see the silver lining when it’s clouded by negative thought. 

However…

If things happen for a reason, and just as they are meant to, there must be something for us to take from everything we go through.  It might be a better understanding of other people, learning more about who you are, or realising that there’s something better yet to come.  A new opportunity waiting just for you to help make things fun, awesome and happy all over again.  All it takes is some rational reflection and to let things be the way they are meant to be.  Possibly also wine.  Possibly not...

For me, I had some great times, the chance to enjoy a rare connection with someone pretty awesome, and the realisation that I did a reasonably good job on the patience front (usually not my strong point).

But what will be, will be. 

I am right where I am meant to be, right now. 

And so are you.

Optimistically yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

The joys of being difficult

Is that bagel gluten free?
It’s not easy being green.  I’m hearing ya, Kermit.  It’s not easy being difficult, either, when asking for a decaf soy latte and a ham and cheese sandwich on gluten free bread.  Then there’s being indecisive when there are too many options on the menu plus the fact that you just want things the way you like them.  Dressing on the side, chutney with your poached eggs, and yes of course I want butter and cheese.  Yes, I am hospitality’s worst nightmare.  Needless to say, there are many renditions of “sorry for being a hassle”, always waved off by lovely wait staff offering that it’s not any trouble at all (which I am happy to ignorantly believe…). 

The joys of being difficult with your order knows no bounds.  Besides the fact that you feel like a constant royal pain in the arse, you also get to pay for the privilege.  Gluten free?  Add $2.  Soy?  Add 50c.  Decaf?  Add another 50c.  The pinnacle is a café who wishes to charge you for hot water (rare but it’s been known to happen).  It seems the more ingredients we take out, the more expensive it gets.  And I understand that this is thanks to a supply demand model, but the more people I speak to the more there are opting for gluten free or decaf.  

So when will the cost of being a pain ala derrière start getting a little more, erm, consumable?  Fortunately, we have come a long way as mentioned by Sarah Kempson, previously forced to take her own bread to cafes and ask for it to be toasted.  But it’s time to…get with the times, and have suppliers of such GF or decaf options offer a more realistic pricing model so the hospitality industry doesn’t have to pass this cost on to us. 

Let me assure you, being difficult is not through a desire to eat smaller pieces of cakey ‘bread’ or the quirky taste that comes with decaf.  It is actually usually for a reason.  The indecisiveness of course is all home-grown and down to a bad case of FOMO and FOFE (fear of food envy).  But I guess that’s just the joys of being difficult. 

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

image source: www.kermit-on-tour.com

Going, going...gone! Singles Auction for charity

You all know how much I love a charity event with a twist, and tonight's Singles Auction at Charlie's Bar looks set to promise just that.  

A group of volunteer singles will be auctioned off for a dinner date with the highest bidder from the crowd (and you thought dating was putting yourself out there).  All funds raised from the night will be dedicated to children's charity, Very Special Kids. 

The philanthropist lot behind the event is Hi-Life Raisers - a group of social people raising funds for a selected charity each year.  This will be the biggest event they've done to date.

Entry is $10 and rumour has it that Charlie's will be offering drink specials including a unique cocktail created just for the night.  Raffle tickets and prizes will also be going around, all with the aim of raising as much money as possible for Very Special Kids. 

Of course, you don't have to be single to come along - and be rest assured you wont be up for auction as part of the crowd.  Grab some mates, throw in a tenner and support Hi-Life Raisers as they do their thing for charity.

Singles Auction
Wednesday, 31 July 2013 - 6.30pm
Charlie's Bar
Hardware Lane, Melbourne 
$10 entry (all funds to charity)

Yours, 

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Special thanks to lovely Sarah Kempson who brought this to my attention. 



GAZI: Modern Greek with a bit of cheek

Today's late lunch catch up was at the somewhat new Gazi on the corner of Exhibition and Flinders Streets in the city.  I took an instant liking to the place when the waitress made a point of running through the cocktail menu as a matter of priority.  Winner.
Duck & chips and soft shell crab souvlakis (GF)

Alas, cocktails weren't on the agenda today so instead we went straight onto foodies and opted to share a couple of souvlakis (duck and crab), plus what we coined the 'meat salad' (baked Jerusalem artichoke, pancetta, tyrokafteri pistachio dressing) and roast bull horn peppers with chargrilled cuttlefish, witlof and garlic dressing dish from the "dirty food" items.

Baked Jerusalem artichoke and pancetta salad
The souvas were a good size and came with a gluten free option; a little tricky to share which our waitress did warn us about but we stubbornly persisted and apparently didn't have too much trouble seeing as we left nothing behind.  The duck was very good although I personally wasn't a fan of the soft shell crab; not so much a reflection of the food but more my ridiculous aversion for eating meat which resembles its original form...it was the crabs  legs that did it.


With them removed (and rapidly devoured) by my lunch companion, I did try the crab souva and it was nice; crispy, salty - crab-like.  Much preferred the duck - tender, not dry, a well balanced dressing WITH CHIPS.  Yum.  The meat salad was a tasty addition, nothing hearty but a good accompaniment.  And our "dirty food" dish was littered with evenly cooked cuttlefish (not rubbery) and delicately populated with witlof.  Nothing dirty or street food about it.


Greek wine and a "dirty food" dish
We had a couple of Greek wines to swish it down (with help from our waitress - Greek wines are confusing) and couldn't resist the impressionable Turkish delight, carved off something like a gyro.  We were told it took 2 months just for Gazi to get it in the country.  No chocolate on this
baby.  Our whole meal with a wine each came to just shy of $80.  

I did like the creative, suggestive menu - who doesn't love a good innuendo?  The Bend Over Box offers a quick lunch option, 'savoury to sweet', for $27.50pp available Monday to Friday from lunch til 3.  If you have a larger appetite you may be more up for 'Doing It Greek Style'; 10 dish sharing menu for $69pp.  Cheeky.

Turkish delight! So many pistachios and chestnuts.
With terracotta pots that hang from the ceiling, food that matches your drinks, and a good play on words, this just seems like a fun kind of place to enjoy good company and soak up an afternoon or evening (or both).

  • Gluten free friendly
  • Take away menu 
  • Bookings available - but not required 



GAZI
2 Exhibition Street
Melbourne 
(03) 9207 7444
http://gazirestaurant.com.au/














Aging gracefully (with a little bit of help...)


One thing that’s absolutely certain in this crazy life is that we are all, inevitably, getting older.  Yes, that is the harsh reality my friends.  And as a single, 30-something, self-employed city girl who rents her apartment and holds higher equity in handbags than in her share portfolio, society might say that I’m doing it all wrong.  But that’s the great thing about being in your 30’s; more confident in who you are, where you’re at and what you want.  Less likely to actually care about what life is “supposed” to look like.  And a great deal more stubborn.

In saying this, one of the things I do care about with getting older, is aging gracefully on the outside.  Actually, I just want to be mistaken for being in my 30s, when I’m really well into my 40s (wish me luck...).  I love nutrition and fitness so as far as self-preservation goes from the inside out, I feel pretty clued up.  That’s a good start, right?  However, seeing as I can probably count on two hands the number of facials I’ve had in my life, I feel more clue-less when it comes to knowing what salon treatments are available for self-preservation from the outside; something which has been bugging me for a while and without being quite sure of exactly where to start.

So when I was invited to a beauty clinic in central Melbourne for a skin assessment and treatment, it felt like the universe had listened to my cries of vanity and delivered in kind.  How lucky for little me!  What followed was an insightful and beneficial experience at Minoos Beauty Clinic in central Melbourne.    

Minoos has been established for nearly 30 years and is a sophisticated hidden gem in the Manchester Unity Building – I have walked past this building hundreds of times completely unawares of what was waiting above. As for aging gracefully, the clinic itself holds classic charm with a reception area that portrays a timeless beauty in itself.  Most importantly, it’s a warm, welcoming space which will put any salon novice (or pro) at ease.  From the outset, Minoos gives you the reassurance you need that they know exactly what they are talking about when it comes to self-preservation.
First up was my skin assessment and consult with the lovely (and health-science degree qualified) Rebeccah.   Rebeccah used the Visia Digital Skin Analysis System to photograph my skin and assess it for a range of things from pigmentation to collagen levels.  This is compared against a database of other people from a similar demographic, which can make you feel great if you’re doing well, or relieved that you’re in the clinic if not.

For my skin, Rebeccah felt the best treatment would be a microdermabrasion, using fine crystals to work on removing layers of dead and damaged skin cells. It wasn’t harsh or uncomfortable and I actually found it quite relaxing.  It’s like an advanced form of exfoliating scrub concentrated at a round broad tip, leaving behind delicate crystals which are progressively removed by your consultant.

After my microdermabrasion came the refreshing Jetpeel;  concentrated fluids jetted onto your skin through a very fine nozzle and in a cooling, sweeping spray of air and liquid.  It would be divine to have this done on a hot summer’s day.  Essentially what it does is exfoliate the outer layer of your skin and allow for better penetration of the treatment into your skin.  It’s resurfacing and hydration without any scary needle-wielding cosmetic surgery (eep). 

As for the results (the important bit), my skin looked plumped, smooth and fresh immediately after the treatment, with a soft glow and even reduced pigmentation.  Some basic mineral make up was applied so I could carry on with my day and whatever it had in store (although make up was far from necessary).  I was in and out within hour, fresh faced and ready to take on the world.

It’s worth noting that a week or so after the treatment I did have some breakout as a result of impurities making their inevitably ugly way to the surface, so perhaps book your treatment at a time which doesn’t see an important event coming up in the next week or so.

I loved that Minoos Beauty Clinic were accommodating, professional, and very patient with all of my questions.  Their level of knowledge and experience was very reassuring and I felt confident about being in their capable hands and the advice they had to give.  There are other treatments available too, plus skin care products which I completely succumbed to, in aid of my aging gracefully vision ‘n all ;)

You can find Minoos online or visit them at Level 2 of the Manchester Unity Building in Melbourne.

Gracefully yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo  

Top 10 tips for getting your sleep back

Some ideas for getting a better night's sleep and a better you the next day. xoxo

 

Today is a good day. 
 
Last night, I slept.

It may not sound like much, but for an insomniac, it is huge.  For the first time in nearly a week, there was slumber before 3am.  There were more than four hours sleep.  And, finally, there were dreams (yippee!).

A night of no sleep is not so bad - actually, it's great to be 'one of those people' who can bounce through the day on only a few hours shut-eye and no caffeine.  But a whole week?  Killer. 

Today there is no need to hold my eyes open with toothpicks.  Or hold fear of retribution from drinking a coffee at ten o'clock in the morning.  Energy and motivation are back.  Things are happening.

Today is a good day.  Here's how I got my sleep back:

My top 10 tips for a better you the next day

1. Turn everything off.  Phone, laptop, bedroom TV, bedroom stereo, anything emitting electricity in your room: die.   If you need your alarm, leave your phone on silent outside your room.  I list this as number one as it's my biggest weakness.

2. Don't drink coffee.  I love coffee.  LOVE.  But I know that if I need a good night's sleep, I need to kill the caffeine.  Sob!  I'm not suggesting permanently (god forbid) - maybe just give it a rest for a day, or choose decaf (I know, I know). 

3.  Exercise lightly in the afternoon.  Not a few hours before bed.  Not strenuously.  The point is to get the blood moving but without messing with your cortisol levels too much (the stress hormone that comes out to play when we exercise).

4. Turn to the Dark Side.  Make your room as dark as possible.  If it's still light, wear an eye mask.  
Wear an eye mask if your eyes just hate staying closed.

5. Breathe.  Besides the obvious, I mean deep breathing just as you settle into bed (not of the sexy kind...although this also has its benefits!).  Breathe down into your stomach, hold it for a second, then exhale slowly.  Clear your mind completely and push out thoughts with your breath.  Use that time to do some meditation.  Then switch to light, diaphragm breathing and drift off to sleep.  Mmm.    

6. Pop a pill.  I hate sleeping tablets.  I'm convinced they are going to give me cancer, and only take them when absolutely necessary.  Instead, I'm talking about supplements.  Specifically, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.  Calcium helps with relaxing your bod and magnesium helps absorb the calcium.  Vit D helps with regulation of both, and god knows we are all deficient in that.  Read more about this here.

7. Warm milk.  Not just an old wives' tale!  Milk contains tryptophan, and if turkey at Christmas time has taught us anything, it's that tryptophan makes us sleepy.  The warm part is just a bit more soothing and comforting - make it a slow process that makes you relaxed and feeling cosy.

9.  Bed is for sleeping...and...  Make the time you spend in your bed for sleeping and sexy time only.  Not for reading, laptop or TV time.

10. Get up.  If sleep just aint happening, get up and do something else.  Something light, just for a while, and try bed again when you feel sleepy.

zzz

In addition to the above (I'm going to be a complete hypocrite here because I've never done it) I'd suggest that if you're not sleeping for a period of time, go and see your doc.

Also, I'm not a health practitioner (yet!) - all of the above is some of what I've accumulated over 32 fun years of insomnia, crazy cortisol activity, and what has helped me personally.  Use them of your own accord.  Disclaimer complete.

Sweet dreams, 

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo




OMIGOD! Legally Blonde The Musical - ends 14 July

This week I had the pleasure of breaking out my hot-pink clutch and attending a matinee performance of Legally Blonde The Musical.


Drinks and chats were with the cast before hand; I discovered Cameron Daddo (Professor Callahan) is even taller and more charming in real life, and it's easy to have a laugh with David Harris (Emmett), despite his shock horror at my first ever visit to Princess Theatre (which is gorgeous, if you haven't been).  Well, there's a first time for everything and this was certainly a fabulous way to get started.

As a fan of the movie I was intrigued to see how it was going to come to life as a musical.  The production follows the same plot as the big screen and features many favourites such as the plentiful use of "omigod you guys!", essential handbag pet pooch, and the "bend...and snap!".  What would it be without these?  But it really came to life with the use of clever lyrics, creative set design, adorable canines, and a talented cast.  There is definitely new found respect for anyone who can sing and dance that well in a pair of heels.

The show was funny, warm and inspiring like the movie but with that fresh edge that comes with theatre. I left Legally Blonde The Musical feeling considerably perky with the reminder that women can wear pink and enjoy success, at the same time.  Like, seriously.
 

Legally Blonde The Musical is finishing its Australian Tour on July 14 so get yourself to the Princess Theatre in Melbourne stat.  Bookings are through Ticketmaster or on 1300 111 011.



High tea Waiting at Crown


An afternoon of sophisticated yum and bubbles at The Waiting Room: high tea at Crown.


  
Pretty petite treats.

A few weeks ago when I was invited to the launch of Crown's new high tea at The Waiting Room, I jumped at the chance. 

Not only do I LOVE high tea, it also fell on a Friday afternoon making it the perfect Freelancer Friday outing; a new tradition to account for the overtime and weekend work that accompanies freelance life.
100% gluten free amazingness.

 Aptly named with its location just adjacent to the lobby of the Crown Towers hotel, The Waiting Room offers a decadent yet chic venue for high tea in Melbourne. We enjoyed a glass (or more) of Chandon with our delicious afternoon tea which catered blissfully for gluten free.    
Gin tonic jelly with sweet cucumber.

 With new high tea offerings emerging all across Melbourne, what sets The Waiting Room apart from the rest?  The intricate detail of its petite treats designed by Executive Pastry Chef, Roberto Molleman, the glittering 1940's inspired surroundings, and (for the anti-gluten amongst us) amazing gluten free sandwiches and sweets.   

 We thought for a moment that we hadn’t received gluten free but were assured that it was, indeed, free of the gluten.  That’s the level of amazing I’m talking about.      

My personal favourite though was the gin tonic jelly with sweet cucumber; refreshing with a bit of a kick and a fantastic modern twist to cucumber at high tea.  Not just for sandwiches, kids!  


The info:


High tea at The Waiting Room runs daily from 12pm to 5pm and bookings are a must.  

  • $49 for a tiered stand with Jing Tea and Vittoria coffee
  • $59 with a flute of Chandon Brut
  • If champagne is a must (I empathise with this completely), $69 with a flute of Louis Roederer Champagne.  Yumness.
Frock up and fill out, Melbourne.  I feel confident saying you won’t be disappointed by high tea at The Waiting Room.  

 Delightful and delicious.


Yours,

Fresh, detailed and very delicious.
Little Miss Melbourne








The Waiting Room

 Crown Towers lobby

 Southbank, Melbourne

 03 9292 5545 





All images by Little Miss Melbourne. Also at www.instagram.com/littlemissmelbourne  

Find the time - just for you

Normally, my days are filled with rushing, pushing, noise, pace, stress, working, writing, tweeting.  Every day.  Including weekends.  And I love it.  Although seldom do I find the time to just sit and read a book or watch a movie, and even when I’m traveling the laptop is out and I’m putting together a strategy, working on client content, or hatching some grand master plan in line with my latest light bulb moment idea.  I’m also usually running late (to everything). 

But today is different. 

The country is calling my name and I’m on a trip away from my city living love for a much overdue visit to see the parents.  I wasn’t running late.  I haven’t brought any work with me.  I even managed breakfast at Federation Square before ducking over to Flinders Street Station to jump on the vline.  And now, I’m going to sit.  And read my book.  All the way there.  It’s time to stop and smell the proverbial roses.  Right after I’ve posted this blog…
 
This weekend, find the time - just for you.

Y

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo
 
 


 

L'heure du The: tea time in French! From Le Style


"Dress up and feel good. Release your inner Parisian." Le Style


I absolutely love events that offer something fun and different while giving something back to others.  It's a concept which resonates beautifully with my own values and morals - a win-win for all using fun vibes to generate a positive outcome.  Add to that a touch of French allure and you have L'heure du Thé.

Well actually, L'heure du Thé is 'tea time' in French.  But this weekend it also means high tea at Sofitel Melbourne.  This will be an afternoon of French delights and entertainment, while also raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). 

The soon-to-be international high tea is the brain child of travel and style mag, Le Style.  I recently caught up with Sha Anderson, Editor of Le Style and founder of L'heure du Thé, to get the low down on high tea and she has promised an amazing afternoon.

Besides getting dressed up in my Sunday best, THIS is why I'm oh-so-excited to be going, and feel very proud to be one of this year's media partners:
  • Buffet-style French-menu afternoon tea  yum
  • Sparkling white wine on arrival   yum part II
  • Complimentary goody bag   yay!
  • Manicures & hand massages   thank god someone thought of this
  • Prize giveaways   I never win these things, so that's more chances for everyone else
  • Entertainment   including ballet and piano performances (j'adore) 
  • Raise money for charity   YES!
I should mention here too that prize sponsors are Le Petit Gateau (I believe Pierrick has been very generous) and The French Organic Company.  Fab.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, tickets are available online.  Last minute tickets have been reduced from $100 to $85 which makes it even easier to have your cake and eat it too.  Plus raise money for charity at the same time.  Win-win.


The low down on high tea:
L'heure du Thé
16th June (Sun) 1-6pm
Tea sessions: 1-3pm and 4-6pm
Sofi's Lounge Level 1
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
Tickets: $100 $85
A percentage of ticket sales go to NBCF
Dress code: Parisian Chic (of course)







Positivity, generosity and fun!





A little thanks from a Little Miss

Little Miss Melbourne is super excited to be an official media partner of this year's L'heure du The - thank you to the wonderful team at Le Style for inviting me to be a part of this important and inspiring event.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo


Eat Street 2013 for Red Kite

This year's foodie fundraiser for Red Kite.


Phew - what a crazy busy time of year!  Fortunately, none of it's pointless, particularly tonight's very exciting event at the Sofitel Melbourne, Eat Street 2013.

I'm so excited about this event because it involves food, Melbourne's top chefs, signature dishes, wine, socialising - ALL FOR CHARITY!  Food doesn't feel much better than this.

This year's Eat Street will see the Sofitel transformed into a big circus top to house over 800 guests and raise funds for children's cancer charity, Red Kite.

It's kicking off at 6pm TONIGHT so keep your eyes on Twitter and Instagram for vibrant pictorials, and take some time to check out Red Kite and all the awesome work they do.

http://www.redkite.org.au/eat-street-2013




Freelancer Friday: Pizza!



Freelancer Friday is fast becoming a tradition for me (we don't get the customary office based wine-o-clock so have to invent our own...).  After a long week, myself and freelancer friend Sarah Kempson made our way to Pinocchio in South Yarra for Friday, our way.  I'd heard they offered a gluten free friendly menu and Sarah had heard that it was - quote - an "institution".  Despite all that, I'm always keen to try new pizza (who isn't?).

After a few champs at The Lyall we arrived at Pinocchio's, starving and in need of serious indulgence.  We told our waiter about our aversion to wheat and gluten and he seemed very educated about it all. 

To start we opted for the red wine braised baby octopus with Italian style chorizo sausage tossed with roasted peppers and light mint dressing ($12).  Ours came sans-chorizo as our waiter was concerned the sausage might contain gluten.  So we threw in a side of hot chips instead.  The octopus was tender, minus any chewiness, and while octopus heads do somewhat freak me out, the dressing (I would call it a sauce) was thick enough to cover the octopus well; no irkyness at all.  I can imagine it would be a fairly rich dish with the chorizo but it's not overly huge so I wouldn't see this as a problem.

Octopus - and chippies!
Prosecco and entree inhaled and it was onto the pizza and wine.  Many GF pizza bases become soggy, fall apart easily, are too sweet, or simply fail to hold an adequate amount of toppings - for all the above reasons.  As a result, GF pizza can be vastly less enjoyable than eating pizza should ever be (sacrilege).  This was not the case at Pinocchio's.  The base was crisp and firm, but not chewy, and did a good job of holding highly satisfactory amounts of said toppings (as per the images). 

We opted for the pumpkin pizza - or eloquently put, the "Zucca": Fior di latte, wood roasted butternut pumpkin, ricotta pesto pancetta vin cotto "(R $19 L $22).  I'd describe this as fresh, buttery and light.  Seeing as the GF pizza only comes in regular size, we felt it more than reasonable to order two. 

Our second pizza was the Prosciutto: San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, San Daniele Prosciutto, rocket, parmesan and balsamic (R $20 L $24) - and we added chicken.  This one had a bit more oomph with the tomato base and sharp flavours of the stronger toppings which worked perfectly together.  The two pizzas balanced each other very nicely and we ate the lot, bar two slices (which we succumbed to taking away).

As far as ambiance goes, it was a comfortably busy Friday.  We could chat without feeling like we needed to yell; a refreshing change to some of the hot spots in town.  The interior is modern and comfortable with the right amount of lighting.  Maybe that's why we stayed until close without realising we were the only ones left...
I liked the Pinocchio figures throughout the venue too, from the walls to the plates - very classic and very cute.  Character.

Whether we caught them on a very good night or whether this is standard fare from the "new" Pinocchio I've heard about, I found it a welcoming, warming space with friendly, helpful service and fresh, wholesome food. 

No word of a lie.

Enjoy - LMM xoxo





Pinocchio
152 Toorak Road, South Yarra
03 9867 2772

http://www.pinocchiopizza.com.au/southyarrahome.html
Twitter: @pinocchiorest
Facebook


Lonely Freelancer Days - and how to fix 'em

 
I have a confession to make.  Today, I felt lonely.  All of my freelancer-business-owning friends were tied up or out of the city and everyone else works full time.  On the days when you just feel like a bit of company, working for yourself can, at times, get a little bleak.

So, like any other right minded individual would do when friends can’t give you an answer, I turned to Google.  When it comes to lonely freelancer days it seems I’m not so alone after all.  There’s a stack of material and tips on what to do when you’re still in love with your business but craving companionship.

If you like the freedom and flexibility of running your own show, but more consumed by lonesome self-pity than doing your job, here’s a collection of tips to get you going again. 

I’ve only listed points which you can still do while also being productive.  Just because you’re feeling a case of the lonelies doesn’t mean you don’t have work to do…
freelanceswitch.com lists some great, practical tips – 11 to be exact.  I found most of them quite relevant – speshly the ‘express it’ one.  Here are my faves:

Microblog. Use Twitter, Plurk, Pownce, or your Facebook status and spend a few minutes sharing your thoughts, a link or whatever. Just don’t let it get too addictive.
Chat via IM. Unlike a phone call that ends as soon as you hang up, IM software allows you a permanent background connectedness to other people. If you need to ask a question or share something, it’s easy to do, get a response, and move on.
Express it. You’re a creative person. Write about it the loneliness of freelancing, draw a funny cartoon, paint “happy” colors, take an inspiring picture or come up with a logo or web design that is uplifting. Find a way to express your feelings first, then counteract that with a positive action.

Get the rest here: http://freelanceswitch.com/working/11-ways-to-banish-lonely-freelancer-syndrome/


onepageonly.net – I loved reading this highly amusing piece written by Jan – excerpts and link below.

You may be home alone, but you’re not the only freelancer out there.  Don’t just stand there in your pyjamas. Network, stupid!
Location, location, location.  …grab your phone and your laptop, find the nearest coffee place and sit on your butt on a cosy sofa, staring at other people.
Get a wife/husband.  Ok, sorry. That’s just bad advice.
Seriously though. This may sound like a trivial thing to say, but you need to remember that you are not alone.

Read the full post (I enjoyed it): http://onepageonly.net/blog/freelancers-are-not-loners-socialize-at-work/

Freelancem.ag had lots of tips, but many of them required getting away from your job which is not always practical.  They did have some good ones though:

Send an email to a friend, client, or colleague. Reach out to someone else with a friendly, newsy email. Chances are good that they’ll appreciate hearing from you.
Connect through social media. There is some evidence that staying in touch with friends through social media can help you to feel less lonely.
Be the first one to say “hello.” One of the biggest obstacles to connecting with others is the fear of the initial action. If you make the first move, others will likely reciprocate.
If you've got more time on your hands, you might like the rest: http://freelancem.ag/freelancing-basics/lonely/


My own personal remedy?  Write, write, write.  Work from a cafe with free wifi, good food and great people watching (like 1000 Pound Bend).  And get yourself a cupcake.  Immediately.

Now: time to get back to being a fabulous freelancer.

Yours,  

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo