Babe Brag: Hayley Hoskin

 I was completely chuffed when Hayley (aka Hosko) took time out of her busy schedule of being a High School English teacher, dancing for JMDC, and planning her nuptials to Joshua, which are just around the corner, and agreed to let me grill her on her health and fitness routine and other musings.

  

DIYIYD (Do it Yourself if You Dare): Geometric Tray

I had a wooden tray given to me years ago that was gathering dust in the cupboard and was screaming for a makeover. Given my current obsession for all things gold, geometric and chevron print, I was inspired to take this boring little tray to the next level. I knew I didn't want to spend much on this project, so thought the easiest way to recreate the look I had in mind was to get creative with some tape and acrylic paints. On a steamy Saturday I headed to Spotlight and bought a tube of metallic gold and matte white acrylic paints for $3.50 each (I didn't even use half of these), so the total cost of the project is around $3, what a score! Here's what you'll need:

• Wooden Tray (or tray of any kind, melamine, plastic, acrylic)
• 2 colours of acrylic paint
• tape (preferably painters tape, but I only had the smooth opaque plastic kind and it worked fine, just make sure you press it down really tight when you are doing your initial design)
• scissors
• paint brush + paint sponge

Weekend Snapshot

* Making pumpkin bread * helping a friend pack to move house, but spending the majority of time listening to hip hop and dancing like tools/laughing * Heading to Riot & Spotlight to stock up on craft supplies for a few projects * Cracking open my "Vegas Baby" savings jar and being pleasantly surprised to find $31, about $21 more than expected * Using said funds to buy coffees for me and the President and read mags, talk about finical priorities! * Exploring an abandoned lot nearby and admiring the cool graffiti * Forcing myself to go for a run * Watching the sky show from the end of our street #luckybastards * Filling my outdoor beanbag given to me for Christmas by my folks, sitting under the mulberry tree reading a book and sipping on a homemade iced chai

Superfood of The Month: Chia Seeds

Don’t be mistaken!, these poppy-seed-looking mo fo’s are a nutritional powerhouse, typically containing approximately 20% protein, 35% good fats (including a 65% omega 3 fatty acid) and 25% dietary fibre.

Easily digested and packed full of nutrients including vitamins A, B, D, E, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium. They fill you up (with the addition of liquid they swell to 17 times their original size) and slow the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar.

If you are a vegetarian, feeling a bit, ahem, backed up in the bowel department or are simply wanting to start including superfoods into your diet, then BAM! Chia Seeds are where it’s at.

Chia has no flavour, so are easy to incorporate into both sweet and savoury dishes, and can even be used as an egg replacement in baking (soak 1 Tbsp chia in 3 Tbsp water for 15mins = 1 “egg”).

My Fave ways to use them?

Berry Jam – put roughly 2 cups of raspberries, strawberries or any berry mix into a blender/food processor

I Heart New York - What to see & do in NYC

There are only a few days left in this beautiful city we have called home for the last month, sob! I have loved every single freezing cold thing about this place, however I am looking forward to getting back to my friends, family and routine back in sunny Perth. I'm bracing for quite a change from the minus 30 degrees celsius wind chill that the polar vortex has brought through, into the 44 degree weather waiting for us a home.

I wanted to put together a must-do list for anyone coming to New York City that's not your stock standard Times Square/Empire State touristy stuff, although these attractions are wonderful, I wanted to share some of the places to go that you may have not heard of that you can do in between the main attractions.

See
The High Line - A free public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattans West Side with stunning views over the Hudson River and the city. A photographers dream! grab a coffee and stroll across it on a fresh winter morning.
Runs from Gansevort St in the Meatpacking District to West 34th St
www.thehighline.org

Big Apple: Week 1

Greetings from the city that never sleeps! Since I can remember, I have been fascinated by New York City. I has remained at the top of my travel wish list, and whilst I have travelled throughout Europe and most of Asia, I have never made the journey to the US of A. I feel incredibly blessed to finally explore the city of my dreams with the man of my dreams.

I simply cannot describe how magical this place is. Words simply cannot do it justice. There is just something about the vibe, the buzz, the people, the architecture, the food, everything. We are staying in a cute little studio in the West Village, close to the Chelsea Markets, High Line, Pastis and plenty of great shops, cafes and restaurants.

About Me...

Let me introduce myself. I am a research assistant, makeup artist and reality TV addict who lives in sunny Western Australia, in West Perth with my wonderful boyfriend Linken, aka "The President" in our charming little house built in 1903.

I believe in karma, keeping it real & treating others the way you would like to be treated. I don't claim to have a perfect life or have all the answers, but I am inspired to be the best person I can be, live life to the fullest and to follow my dreams and I'd love you to come on the journey with me.

This blog will not be a place for me to toot my own horn or pretend to be something I'm not. I promise to be honest and bring all of me to the table, whether it be good or not so great. It is a place to share knowledge and inspiration and hopefully make you laugh from time to time.