Basically, we could apply sustainability to everything in this world and today I want you to take a moment to think about one of the biggest issues we’re facing and that is landfill.

A huge contributor to landfill is furniture – did you ever think about that? Furniture waste is a growing problem and like the rest of the issues we’re facing in this world, it’s here to stay unless we choose to do something proactive about it.

We’ve become a throw-away society with so much cheap furniture available that isn’t built to last, and over 85% of furniture we put on the curb isn’t recycled and is instead simply sent to landfill.

Based on a compositional survey of more than 2,500 households in metropolitan areas, on average each household disposes around 24kg of wooden furniture per year. Approximately a third of this are soft furnishings like sofas and armchairs, and two-thirds other wooden furniture.

“If you think of a population of 2 million households in the Greater Sydney Region, this could add up to 48,000 tonnes of used furniture per year disposed at the kerbside,” Kevin Morgan, Managing Director of EC Sustainable says.

To put that into furniture terms – and figuring in average furniture weights – that’s the equivalent of 800,000 three-seater sofas, 1.65 million dining tables, 3.4 million coffee tables or 6.85 million chairs, thrown away every year.

These numbers are for Sydney only and don’t include other furniture delivered directly to tips by households and businesses or illegal dumping. And the problem is getting worse.

Writing this actually sends chills down my spine. When I started doing research for this article, I got deeper and deeper into this wormhole – a very uncomfortable one, might I add.

Nonetheless, these problems won’t go away simply because we turn a blind eye to what is happening, not only in Australia, but all over the world and no one can fix the problem unless we all collectively add to the solution that is, thinking twice about purchasing new furniture, the lifespan we can utilise it for and, if we need to get rid of it, can we upcycle it in the sense of handing it down to someone who’s in need of furniture and can’t afford to buy new ones themselves?

I want to introduce you to a man whom I met a few months ago. A man who’s very different from anyone else in the furniture business I’ve ever come across. Very down to earth and very passionate about building a lifestyle and home that’ll last you for tens of years to come.

Justin –  owner of Crafted Furniture in Rushcutters Bay (Sydney) –  can be a key-player en helping solve the issues of fast furniture as he is replacing the term with SLOW FURNITURE.

What is Crafted Furniture’s philosophy behind Slow Furniture? Well, there’s a lot of sides to this, but below I’ll name a few:

1. Handmade in Sydney: which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil pollution drastically and turn-over time is much quicker
2. Sustainable Wood Source: all wood is ethically sourced from environmentally sustainable forests.
3. Local Made Foams: foams made here in Sydney by Dunlop foams
4. Sustainable & Natural Fabrics: Crafted Furniture lean towards fabric of natural fibre content and suggest these where possible – Crafted fully understand where the fabrics come from and their sustainability.
5. Recyclable Schemes: Crafted Furniture takes pride in recycling your old sofa or furniture to people in need. They will gladly take your sofa and get it re-upholstered and cleaned to be passed onto a new home where it’s highly needed.
6. Creating local jobs: by doing all of the above, Crafted Furniture also helps to create jobs for more people onshore and keeps the economy in Australia for Australians.

The heart of Crafted Furniture’s ambition is to curate unrivalled experiences and quality that places accessible lifestyle design in reach for everyday enthusiasts and designers alike. Every piece is created with human touch and celebrates the essence of craftsmanship & sustainability.

Crafted Furniture has a story that has evolved over 15 years of passionate experience in the design industry, working alongside a number of Australia’s leading designers. Justin and the team continues to be fuelled by their inspired purpose to craft lifestyles, serving clients and the community through impeccable design that is personal to them.

Working with customers on a one-to-one basis allows Crafted Furniture to deliver a product that’s exactly what the customer is looking for. And backing this up with a service-led experience means that customers get access to a huge depth of product knowledge.

As Justin says: “We’re not trying to sell the same sofa to thousands of different customers – our retail experience means that you
get personalised service and a piece of furniture that’s exactly right for you”.

See more about the Furniture at Crafted Furniture here.

The post Why Sustainable Living Is More Important Than Ever. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

But what has collagen got to do with this? Well, a lot more than you probably knew or ever thought about.

What is Collagen?

Endogenous collagen is natural collagen, synthesised by the body. Exogenous collagen is synthetic which means it comes from an outside source, such as supplements.

These collagen fibres along with elastic fibres in the deep layers of your skin allow you to contract your muscles and ligaments, and help the skin to bounce back. The decline in collagen and elastin in your skin results in the skin sagging and becoming looser while losing the ability to contract back as it used to.

However, for the body to use the endogenous collagen we’re ‘feeding’ it, it has to be taken with the vitamin C for it to be used by our bodies the way we want it to.

This also goes for the gut, as all good gut-health starts with good bacteria, a good working digestion and enzymes that can break down the collagen to help build up the gut-lining and further portray itself throughout our bodies.

Remember the gut-lining is made-up of soft tissue that can easily break-down if we don’t nourish it with what it needs e.g. collagen, vitamins and minerals, so it’s important for us to strengthen it however we can.

What does Collagen do?

From the mid 20’s, the body’s own natural collagen production starts to decline at a rate of 1.0% – 1.7% per year and is not replenished. There is an even more pronounced decline in collagen production around the age of menopause due to the drop in oestrogen. Oestrogen levels are directly correlated with collagen formation.

Over time this diminishing supply of collagen causes the skin to lose its’ suppleness and in turn your skin can begin to wrinkle and sag, hence why we want to feed our bodies with collagen through supplements & good whole foods.

A good Collagen Supplement like Inessa Collagen+ Beauty Boost will help with vision, skin health, cardiovascular health, bone & joint health and so much more. In particular, if you have wrinkles, dull skin, tummy issues, leaky gut or even acne-scarring, collagen can help you significantly.

Especially, if your diet is more plant-based, collagen supplements can really help you take your game up a notch.

What & how should I take Collagen?

One thing is for sure; the skincare products like lotions and creme’s that contains collagen and promises you less wrinkles, more plump skin and much more, isn’t true; it’s simply impossible to absorb collagen molecules through the skin as they are too large to be absorbed that way.

I’ve trialled Inessa Collagen+ Beauty Boost for a few weeks, and I’ve noticed a difference in my joints especially, as I get very tight hip-flexors and back muscles from sitting down for long periods of time to work. People have also been commenting further on my skin, and it’s been a great addition to my skincare and also whole foods diet.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’d also know that I am a big on gut-health and anything I can do to repair and strengthen my own, I’m on board with! My tummy has been feeling great on these tablets, it’s been by no means irritated or given me reflux, meaning they are very gentle on the system.

Inessa Beauty Boost and the entire collagen-range was developed understanding that the superior way to enhance collagen production is to provide the body with the nutrients it needs to create its own natural collagen and support the body with with all other necessary supplements.

The entire range is also TGA approved which is a huge bonus, meaning it’s ingredients are proven to work and the claims they are making are actually factual and proven.

All you need is 2 x tablets with food in the morning and evening. Easy peasy!

The post Why you need COLLAGEN for your skin & gut-health. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

Sally O’neil or just Sal has, in a short period of time, become one of my very dear and close friends. We have ‘known of each other’ for years, as we both reside in Sydney, are both in the health world, and both dap in the field of ‘bloggers & influencers’, so when we finally started connecting ‘properly’, I knew Sally was a keeper.. But in many more ways than I could ever imagine.

Sally is not only an incredibly talented business-woman, entrepreneur, author, photographer and influencer and founder of The Fit Foodie  – she’s also a girl with the kindest, most giving heart, and incredibly loyal friend, and the biggest supporter of (personally, my own) dreams.

Hence why I think Sally has so many facets to her that many more people should know about, and she has some great advice for you to take away..

Happy reading x

Sally O’neil

Founder of The Fit Foodie, Fit Mixes & Author of Love, Move, Eat.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

I’m a health food blogger, Author, photographer in stylist based in Sydney. Originally from the UK about 6 years ago, I moved to Australia to enjoy a little more sunshine. After switching from a diet of processed foods in the UK to a more fresh, balanced approach in Australia, I lost 14 kilos and started to share my recipes online.

How did The Fit Foodie brand start and what idea was it born from?

The recipes were written online as a place for my mum to find them. She’d send me some recipes to get me started with cooking in Australia (so I didn’t starve!!) and I recreated them with better, local ingredients. My then-boyfriend set up a website for me to send those recipes back to her without thousands of emails bouncing back and forth between us.

You work full-time for yourself and on The Fit Foodie business – have you always done so, or when did you take the jump?

I jumped to full-time blogging back in July 2014. Whilst I was at work as a project manager, all I could think about was recipe development and what blog post to write next. I knew I would never forgive myself if I didn’t give it a shot, so I worked day and night to make it happen. Lots of tears and tantrums ensued, but I backed myself every step of the way. I never lost sight of what I was trying to achieve and I was living out my dream. When you want something enough, the universe conspires to bring it to you.

You’re originally from England; was it hard moving to Australia and the transition? Do you feel like The Fit Foodie would’ve been as successful if you were still living in England?

I definitely don’t think I would have had the motivation to be as fit and health-driven back in England, which definitely would have affected the development of the blog. I’m from the north where accessible health food is a bit more difficult, and cacao is sold only in specialty health food stores. The transition was actually really easy for me, because Australia was better in every way. The sunshine, the food, the outdoor lifestyle. I love it all.

What is the hardest part about working for yourself?

Finding a balance between working enough and not working too much. When there’s no office hours, and you’re so passionate about what you do, it can be really hard to know when to switch off. Sometimes I do get burnt-out, and then take a few days off to re-coup.

What are your top 3 tips for anyone wanting to work for themselves?

1. Only work in an industry you are passionate about. You might have the best business idea for an app, but if technology isn’t your passion, that’s going to show at some point.

2. Surround yourself with likeminded entrepreneurs and businesses. A support network who can help advise you on the many intricacies of running a business is imperative to success. Expect to impart some of your wisdom, too, in exchange.

3. Don’t get hung up on your business being perfect before launch. There are so many things you are supposed to learn along the way, and until you launch you just won’t know what they are. The sooner you get your service or product out there, the sooner you can be earning money and refining what it is that you do.

You’re all about health and a shining example of it yourself; how do you like to eat and exercise throughout the week?

I workout 6 days a week. At the moment I’m focused on weight training at the gym – I love the feeling of getting stronger. It also works well for me because I have a few knee injuries that are hard to manage with cardio. I always workout first thing in the morning when I have the focus and motivation. For food, I stick to simple foods like fish, salad, veggies and the occasional dark chocolate. Eating that way gives me a clear mind and makes me feel great.

Where do you find inspiration from to create all your beautiful dishes?

Pinterest is a massive inspiration for me – though I do find I’m not super productive when I get lost down that rabbit hole. I also have a an entire bookshelf of cookbooks that offer plenty of inspo – I generally look at the unhealthier, indulgent dishes and re-work them to include all my favourite whole foods.

You’re also a keen photographer and you shoot all your content yourself; are you self-taught or can you give an insight into how to become a better photographer?

I’ve never taken a photography course, but there’s definitely something in the adage ‘practice makes perfect’. I still take 30 photos to get the perfect one, but that’s probably a third of what I used to take! I watched how the pro’s were doing it on Youtube and spent hours playing with my editing techniques in Lightroom. I studied food images for hours on Pinterest looking at composition and plating, and whilst I still have so much to learn with styling and shooting, I cooked, styled, photographed and edited my entire cookbook without assistance. If I can do that, anyone can.

What is next for The Fit Foodie or Sally O’neil?

In January, I enrolled with Endeavour College in a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Nutrition + Dietetics, so in 6 years I will be a qualified nutritionist. I’m studying part-tome to fit the degree around Fit Mixes and The Fit Foodie work, but that will be a big focus for me moving forward. I’m also working more as a food and lifestyle photographer and stylist, so am working with lots of clients on beautiful new in-store + online menus to make their food come to life!

What’s the best advice you were ever given?

You have the power to achieve things beyond your wildest dreams.

Want to follow Sally’s lifestyle and keep getting inspired?

See below:

http://the-fit-foodie.com/ Instagram
Pinterest

The post Inspirational Women Series – Sally O’neil appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

Over the years I have become more and more of a frequent flyer, and I know the importance of being comfortable, especially on a long-distance flight. Feeling refreshed, well-rested and in good spirit when you step off that plane makes a big difference for my first few days in the foreign country I’ll be spending a bit of time in.

I have chosen to fly American Airlines a fair bit over the past few years. I love their great service and kindness that is always received from staff whichever class you fly, the options of dietary requirements you are presented with and the planes are up-to-date, modern and comfortable.

Below is a review of the SYD to LAX route which I flew in April (of this year).

*Disclaimer: I paid for my own economy ticket & was lucky to be upgraded to Business by American Airlines upon arrival at SYD Airport. All views & opinions are that of my own.

American Air SYD to LAX

Plane: Boeing 777-300ER

Seat: 13J (window seat)

Layout: Middle-seats face each other on an angle (great for couples), window seats face windows for more privacy – 52 business class seats in total.

When you board, you’ll be walked to your seat by a cabin attendant, who will immediately offer a beverage (champagne, perhaps?) and offer to take your carry-on luggage as well as handing out the menu. Shortly after takeoff the crew came by to take my menu-order for the length of the flight

Also, after takeoff I was offered my choice of beverage and a snack of warm nuts whilst waiting for the first course. Orange Juice all the way because alcohol dries out my skin on the flight. (Sorry!)

* Note: If you do have any dietary requirements you can inform AA about this prior to your flight (vegan, kosher, etc.)

I opted for the following:

Dinner: Red Snapper with honey-roasted pumpkin and green beans

Dessert: Chocolate Sundae (yeah I did!)

Breakfast: Traditional American Breakfast

Snacks: Cheese Plate & fruit

The overall quality & cook of the food was delicious. I really liked the red snapper with the vegetables and it’s nice to see that airlines are starting to include many more greens instead of huge portions of animal protein.

What I love is that American Airlines try to incorporate organic produce wherever they can. Massive brownie points!

The breakfast was nice, but I found it could’ve been a bit more inventive on that front.

Ultimately, one of the best things about flying business class is that you get to sleep comfortably.

The seats lay completely flat and the armrest on the aisle can pop up or down, so the up position grants you a little more privacy. The pillow was soft and the blanket was nice and had good weight. The cabin temperature was pretty warm, so sleeping with the blanket was optional. Overall it was very comfortable and an excellent option for an overnight flight.

You also get PJ’s handed out as you onboard the flight along with a cute little amenity kit packed with everything you need in order to keep you refreshed and for a good nights sleep.

I’m not a huge movie-watcher, however there is a large screen to watch all the entertainment your heart desire including the newest releases of films and series.

You also get a pair of Bose noise-cancelling headphones so you can watch in privacy and comfort of your own seat.

I was very excited to fly business class on American Airlines’ 777-300er and overall it lived up to my expectations. A fine international product, with decent food, good entertainment and a very comfortable seat/bed.

Thanks for getting me to LA safe and sound, AA.

Fingers crossed I am lucky to get an upgrade on the way home, too!

Caroline x

The post American Airlines Review: SYD to LAX (Business Class) appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

Or maybe, it was really the combination of acupuncture and the person I was introduced to who changed my life..

I’m talking about a man named Mitch Patience.

I was introduced to Mitch back in November of 2015 when one of my best friends, Ashley, dragged me along to try acupuncture. My very first time I was treated my Martine which runs the Acupuncture Collective in Bondi, but my second time was when I met Mitch and he treated me..

Right then and there, I felt connected to Mitch. I felt safe, supported, understood, and LOVED from a stranger I had just met. It’s something that is so hard to explain in words, but his energy just matched mine, and so did his good heart..

The best possible way I can describe Mitch is being a light-bearer with the most generous, selfless, loving heart you can ever imagine. I have never felt as safe as I do in his hands, and a beautiful friendship has flourished from this. I’ve always thought Mitch’s surname (Patience) was the perfect reflection of one of the biggest qualities I think he possesses – I have never been rushed, or felt like I was a burden – whether that has been a meltdown at 4pm in the afternoon , 11.30 at night or 6am in the morning.

Mitch has helped me, and continues to do so, on my journey to reaching and connecting with my higher self.
My main focus with Mitch is on acupuncture and kinesiology supplemented with Chinese Herbs.

Now, so many of you are on the same path, and intrigued and want to know more about these areas of acupuncture and kinesiology, so I did a little interview with Mitch Patience  so you can understand these holistic treatment options better, or perhaps even incorporate a few of those elements to your life, or even better, go see Mitch if you’re lucky enough to live in Sydney.

Enjoy – C xxx

1. Tell us about yourself? What do you ‘categorise’ yourself as?

I would describe myself as a wellness facilitator. I prefer to focus on wellness rather than illness. There are loads of amazing practitioners working with illness however its often about refining the body to be well – This does mean clearing dis-ease to create the wellness I think we all desire. A lot of people, including myself at times, just don’t know how good they really can feel when they are truly well. I feel that many people accept their current state of health as good, when it can be really amazing! Being a ‘facilitator’, this is about empowering people to take responsibility for their own health and putting themselves as their priority.

2. How did you get into this holistic approach to life and the wish to help others?

In some ways I was pretty lucky. I didn’t know any other way!

I remember my mum taking me to Chinese Medicine Doctors when I was maybe 4 and being given different concoctions for middle ear infections or whatever else was going on at the time. I never really went to doctors if I was ever a bit unwell. I think that most of the time, going to a doctor it’s probably not the best course of treatment.

Between this and my mum being a Chef when I was growing up, who also studied a whole range of alternate therapies from Iridology, Naturopathy and eventually Kinesiology, perhaps this sparked my love for alternate therapies, food and cooking. So after a short attempt at professional golf when I was 18 and 19, I studied massage and alternate spiritual healing and Transformational Kinesiology.
Finally I started my Chinese Medicine Degree in 2008, as I would say, to do something ‘mainstream’.

When I was young before I was crazy about golf, I loved to play in the kitchen, cooking or trying to make crazy things to see if they tasted good, but if asked, I wanted to be a Doctor. So I guess it was just always there from the beginning which was nurtured by having an alternate mother.

There is nothing better in my world (other than my Son’s smile and laugh) than to see the face of someone when their pain is gone instantly with a couple of needles, or when a client tells you for the first time in over 10 years, they haven’t had a migraine for a week! 

3. What is your philosophy? What do you believe in?

Maybe its the Libran in me, its all about creating balance. Thats what acupuncture is doing when we give a client needles.

This means everything in moderation, including moderation! For me, its about eating well 90% of the time, consciously having positive thoughts 90% of the time. Doing what you can, when you can and as much as you can.
Its about being conscious of making the effort to have that positive thought or having the apple instead of the donut. But not worrying about what you eat or how you feel sometimes.
Having a night off and eating out or having a few drinks is important. It also means that everyone feels down at times and thats ok, too.
Make the conscious choice to make the effort to do it differently as much as you can.

4. Can you give us a short explanation of what the treatments you offer entails and what they’re beneficial for?

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is a natural and effective form of health care, dating back to China over 2000 years, it’s one of the oldest health care practices in the world. Acupuncture takes a wholistic approach to much deeper understanding of the normal function of the body and disease processes. Acupuncture focuses on the prevention of illness as much as on the treatment. 

When healthy, an abundant supply of qi (pronounced chee) or “life energy” flows through the body’s meridians (a network of invisible channels through the body). If the flow of qi in the meridians becomes blocked or there is an inadequate supply of qi, then the body fails to maintain harmony, balance and order, and disease or illness follows. This can result from stress, overwork, poor diet, disease pathogens, weather and environmental conditions, and other lifestyle factors and becomes evident to TCM practitioners through observable signs of bodily dysfunction. TCM practitioners look carefully for these signs of health and dysfunction, paying particular attention not only to the presenting signs and symptoms, but also to the medical history, general constitution, and the pulse and tongue.

An Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into points along the body’s meridians to clear energy blockages and encourage the normal flow of qi. Acupuncture is very gentle and generally painless.

Kinesiology

TK (Transformational Kinesiology) is a practical application of The Ageless Wisdom, the essence of all the spiritual traditions and is a profound healing modality. It is a method of specialised kinesiology developed since 1983 by international facilitators and researchers Grethe Fremming and Rolf Havsboel, founders of the Polaris International Institute in Denmark.

The purpose of Transformational Kinesiology is to facilitate a process which allows the individual to take responsibility for him/herself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. This includes finding one’s true self and utilising the Soul power realised through expansion of consciousness. Most people want at a certain point in their life ‘to be who I am’. Transformational Kinesiology facilitates this process.

During a TK balance, the client and practitioner work in harmony with the Soul as it ‘speaks’ through muscle monitoring (Kinesilology) and subtle energies. Together we identify the goal that is most appropriate at that time and any blockages. Blockages such as limiting beliefs, negative programming or physical symptoms, which might be standing in the way of the goal fulfillment. A TK balance approximately lasts 1.5 hours and facilitates the clearing of hidden blockages that may be preventing the attainment of cherished dreams and goals. Clearing blocks and energy that undermine health or inhibit full alignment with the Soul’s purpose. Choosing from an extensive menu, the client then participates in a TK balance where, in the light of consciousness, limiting patterns and beliefs are replaced by deeper wisdom.

5. How can all of these treatments be combined to form a powerful approach to health – both mentally and physically?

As with my philosophy, the combination of these and other alternate medicine can create balance. Acupuncture and herbs will create balance the meridians which in turn can, from a TCM perspective balance out the internal organs. Research has shown that this can have many benefits from balancing hormones, reducing cortisol and adrenaline and more!
In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), its all about balancing Yin and Yang. When we can assist someone to create the Yin/Yang balance, the body functions well and at it’s prime. This then allows the “Shen” (or mind) a place to reside in the body (this is sometimes how we can see the mental distress some people may experience, we create a place for their mind to reside rather than off in the clouds with thoughts and emotions taking over).

I use Kinesiology to help remove the blocks to the life we want to live. When I feel really stuck with a situation or just cant move a thought process or emotion and unable to discover why on my own. We can re-write the sub-conscious soundtracks that drives our thoughts and emotions and being in situations we would prefer to change.

6. What is the biggest misconception about acupuncture, kinesiology and Chinese Medicine?

I think the biggest misconception a lot of people have with Acupuncture is just what it can be used for. That its only good for relaxation or for sore muscles. Whilst it is great for these, it can actually treat pretty much everything from colds and flu, stress and migraines all the way to the most serious of cancers. I have a client I have seen for over 12 months now with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. With the combination of western medicine and acupuncture and herbs, we have seen their health improve out of slight, including their blood cancer markers reduce from a staggering 6000 to now down to around 200. Its’ still too high but its significant results.
(Disclaimer: everyone is unique, and this is one case, please consult with your GP and specialists before starting any treatments if you are going through cancer)

7. Are these treatments for anyone?

Yes, everyone responds differently but if can be beneficial to everyone! Even if you think there is nothing needing support. According to TCM, there is probably less than 5% of people who are in absolute optimal health. There are obviously those that have conditions they would like to improve, the rest (the huge majority) are what would be classified as ‘sub-clinical’. This is where, like most people, they feel good most of the time, however there is greater health that can be achieved, more balance. This is where TCM is the best, at creating this deeper balance and perhaps preventing future dis-ease.

8. Can you give us some examples of what the treatments can help with?

The treatments really can help with anything and everything! Everyone will respond differently and will experience a differently feeling afterwards. A lot of the time you really don’t need to go to a doctor for yourself and your loved ones, especially kids. Acupuncture and kinesiology and alternate therapies can help with colds/flu, migraines, pain, muscular skeletal problems all the way to auto-immune disease and especially hormonal imbalance, menstruation difficulties and fertility.
I have a client who I have seen for over 2 years now. When he came to me he was having migraines almost every week which would last for 2-3 days – this had been going on for 10 years. He had tried everything western medicine could offer with almost no result other than slight pain relief when a migraine would hit. Within a month of starting his sessions with me, his migraines stopped and he hasn’t had a migraine since. He still has minor headaches which we’re still working on but he’s still over the moon with the results!

9. What do people need to be aware of?

The main thing to be aware of is finding a suitably qualified practitioner and finding someone that you resonate with. Having a great client – practitioner relationship is possibly one of the most important factors. The other side is having someone who really knows what they’re doing! This also includes dry needling! Some people can be ‘qualified’ in dry needling after a weekend course and then they can be inserting needles into people. It took me almost 5 years full time to complete my degree and be a qualified acupuncturist. Thousands of hours vs. 40 hours makes a huge difference!

10. But it’s so much more than just ‘being treated’, right? We have to want to get better and make a conscious effort before anything can happen, is that correct?

In my experience, yes. If you’re really not ready to be healthier for what ever reason, there is no amount of treatments that will be completely successful. It usually just means there might be more to learn from that situation or disharmony. On the other side, treatments can still help with the journey and help assist the person to be ready to make the shift.

11. Now, you and I have personally worked and continue to do so, on a lot of topics that I struggle with to enhance my self development, especially on the mental & emotional side, but if you could put down in words, could you share the top 5 tips you’d give to people around being mentally happy?

• The joy is in the journey
• It’s usually about consistency. A little each day. Like meditation, its better to do one little thing each day rather than doing something spiritual once a month.
• There’s no cookie cutter approach. Everyone is individual so the approach to their mental, emotional and physical health should be individual too. A good practitioner can help you build an individual health plan.
• Keep on keeping on
• Don’t beat yourself up if (when) you trip up occasionally. It will happen so learn from it for next time and this will bring growth

12. What do you think are the key things that ultimately hinders people in experiencing self enlightenment & happiness?

Two things – not trying and giving up!!

Start, there is no benefit in suffering in silence. The journey to happiness doesn’t have to be painful or difficult and certainly far more enjoyable than living with emotional, mental or physical disharmony.

It really is a journey and it can take years, its part of the journey of life, so make it the way of your life.

People also tend to give up when the going gets tough. This is the most important time to keep going! The Universe never gives you anything you cant handle so it’s important to remember you are strong enough! After the darkness comes the light, through the greatest struggles comes the greatest learnings and awakenings

13. How do ‘newbies’ start if they want to explore these fields and try this holistic approach to life and healing? Do you have an advice to a ‘first step’?

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results” – Albert Einstein.

It’s a little difficult as everyone is different. As when we’re diagnosing in Chinese Medicine, two people can present with a similar looking flu, however they’ll both possibly have very different treatments.

The important thing to remember is to make the change. Change something. Even if its just a small change like which hand you brush your teeth with or which hand you open the door with.

You can find Mitch’s contact details and read more about him on his website here – I urge to get in contact with Mitch if you’re in the surrounding area in Sydney, or if you’re somewhere else in Australia, try if Acupuncture is for you :)

The post My Life Changing Meeting With Acupuncture & Mitch Patience appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

– The Average woman will use more than 12.000 tampons in her lifetime?

– When using conventional tampons you are left with chemically treated fibres inside of you when removing the tampon?

– Most tampons contains Viscose, Rayon and Synthetics?

I’m sure most women don’t know. I certainly didn’t and I consider myself an intelligent, smart and knowledgable woman who likes to take care of my body.

The worst part is, that even though we live in 2016, it still seems to be slightly ‘tabu’ to talk about tampons, liners and womens menstrual cycle. Why? It’s the most natural thing in the world, just like a child’s birth or a broken leg.

I’m a very luck woman to have close & caring friends. One of those are Sarah. I met Sarah through a friend of mine and we instantly connected. Sarah also happens to be the Social & Community Manager for Tom Organic  which is an Australian Company creating Certified Organic Feminine Hygiene Products.

I was gifted some tampons and liners from Tom Organic and at this point in my life my, I wasn’t having a regular period due to past illness, continuous medicine and being underweight. In the past I have always suffered from extreme period pains. It runs in my family. Try having a mum, an older sister and me – 3 girls – ALL having their period, with cramps, unable to go to school or work, because of the pain. All I can say now is; POOR STEPDAD!

However, when I started using Toms I noticed (when I would get my period), with time, my pains and cramps significantly minimising.

There would be less pain, less cramps, a more steady blood-flow and, in time, my menstrual cycle also became more regular through periods – and I truly, and wholeheartedly believe, that this is because I started using Tom Organic tampons and liners instead of conventional supermarket brands that are full of toxins and chemicals.

Here’s a bit more about Tom Organic and WHY it’s important to take care of our bodies on the inside, and NOT just through food.

“Many of us are quick to read the ingredient list on the foods we buy, yet we don’t often think about what is in the products we use on our bodies.
It may come as a surprise to learn that most feminine hygiene products are made from synthetics like rayon and polyester, and that the cotton has been grown using pesticides.

TOM products are unique in that they’re made from pure organic cotton. They’re softer, breathable and more gentle on the skin, which is important given pads and tampons come into direct contact with one of the most absorbent, delicate parts of a woman’s body.
Organic tampons and pads decompose much faster than conventional products. Plus, organic cotton ensures we’re keeping synthetic pesticides, chemicals and genetically modified materials out of the air, water and soil.”

So isn’t it time to love yourself enough to take care of such an intimate and feminine area? I think so! #BossLady

Read more about Tom Organic

– Love Caroline xx

*This is NOT a sponsored article, simply what I believe in and use myself.

The post If you’re buying Organic Produce, why aren’t you buying Organic Tampons? appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

So, if you know me, you’d know I’m massively dependant on my phone for everything I do. It use it to take numerous pictures throughout the day, update social media, manage my calendar & events, phone-calls, texts, paying with pay-pass when I’ve forgotten my purse.. You name it, I use my phone for it.. Which means, as you can imagine, I had a minor meltdown when I dropped my phone only to pick it back up and see the screen had shattered in a thousand pieces.

The worst part about cracking your screen (apart from the huge cost associated with getting repaired) is, to me, that I always break it doing silly things; like just being plain clumsy, not paying attention and tripping over my feet, or putting it in a space where I’ll knock it off a desk or surface. I mean, I would generally feel better about a cracked screen if something bad happened to it, like being run over by a car (sorry phone!).

Well, I’ve got all of that sorted now, and I can tell you I’m now a recovering iPhone-cracked-screen offender thanks to Belkin and their Belkin ScreenCare+ protector!

InvisiGlass is real flexible glass that has been engineered with FluidFlex technology to give it a unique elasticity. This flexibility allows it to absorb the shock of impact without breaking, while protecting the glass screen beneath. Despite this added strength, the characteristics of glass remain to ensure it retains the smooth feel and glide of a naked screen.

It’s so easy. You just go to any Apple Store and ask to get the Belkin ScreenCare+ applied to your iPhone and it’s only around the $40 mark.

A LOT cheaper than fixing a cracked screen, that’s for sure!

Now, to show you how I could picture myself cracking my screen (and have done so before!), see the below video I did with my iPhone 6S WITHOUT it cracking. YAY! (And yes I did in-fact drop it – multiple times!)

Protect your iPhone screen. Have ScreenCare+ expertly applied only at Apple Stores. Learn more: http://bit.ly/1TZmFoO. #PeopleInspiredProducts

The post How to avoid cracking your iPhone Screen with Belkin ScreenCare+ appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

Eat Fit Food is a fresh-meals-to-your-door delivery service that is prepared by professional chefs. The meals consist of the finest quality produce, including locally farmed, ethically sourced meat and fish. All meals are portion and calorie controlled with zero additives, no refined sugar and plenty of healthy fats and superfoods. The EFF programs are nutritionally balanced and approved by experienced dietitians to promote optimal health and balance in life.

(PS: Keep reading to the very bottom and you can see how YOU can try Eat Fit Food for yourself!)

This is what Eat Fit Food says about their 5-day cleanse in their own words:

“Our 5 Day Cleanse has been designed to clear out stored toxins, built up chemicals, or any other inflammatory disease-causing agents that have made home in our digestive system. By introducing nutrient-dense foods back into your diet you will feel healthier and more vibrant than ever before.”

Some of the benefits EFF mentions you can look forward to after the cleanse is:

• Helps remove toxins from the blood, organs and digestive system
• Provides better absorption of vital nutrients from food
• Sustainable weight loss through lower calorie meal choices
• Strengthens your immune system
• Increased physical health and energy levels
• Improves sleep quality and mental clarity
• Rejuvenated skin, shiny hair and brighter eyes
• Reduced sugar, caffeine and unhealthy food cravings
• Reset eating behaviours
• No more processed food

I can throughly nod YES to experiencing, first hand, the things outlined above.

I’m so blown away by the freshness, the flavour, the ease and the variety of the Eat Fit Food Cleanse. I wish I could live on this every single day. I never felt like I was on a cleanse (a part from when I would be asked out for lunch or dinner!), I never felt like it was a strict and punishing diet, but really felt like I was doing something nice for myself and my body by taking the time to nurture it with all the right nutrients and vitamins that’ve gone into creating these meals.

An example of a day of eating looks like this:

Upon rising: EFF Cleanse Juice – REJUVENATE with apple, cucumber, celery, lemon, watercress, beetroot & ginger
Breakfast: Pumpkin, pine nut, kale & broccoli scrambled eggs
Snack: Piece of fruit
Lunch: Vegetable Stack with green salad
Snack: Protein Balls
Dinner: Chicken with cauliflower, parsnip puree, silverbeet & rocket pesto

The post Eat Fit Food 5 Day Cleanse REVIEW + Your chance to try it! appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

Either way, my Vietnamese love-feast continues. I hope you share my love for this cuisine? :) One of the reasons why I love Vietnamese/Asian so much is because of the freshness of the food. It’s so vibrant with the vegetables and gorgeous flavours, it all comes together on a higher level. Not to mention, it’s normally quick and easy to whip up because the produce speaks for itself and don’t need much cooking time at all. My goal with my cooking is keeping the ingredients and produce as fresh and close to it’s natural state as possible. Because, really, who wants to be spending 2 hours on cooking once they get home from work late at night? I hear ya’ sister!

Vegan, Gluten-free, Diary-free, Refined Sugar-free.

This portion with serve 4 people as a main or 6 people if you have it as a side-salad.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of shredded white cabbage (you can use wombok or red cabbage, too)
• 1 & 1/2 cup fresh snow-peas, julienne
• 2 carrots, julienne
• 1 medium red onion, halved and sliced
• 1 & 1/2 cup chickpeas, drained
• 1/2 handful fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1/2 handful fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 packet bean vermicelli noodles
• 1 handful raw cashews, chopped

Dressing:

• 4 tbsp virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp rice malt syrup
• 1 tbsp tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp sesame seed oil

Directions:

1. In a heatproof bowl, add the bean vermicelli noodles and cover them with boiling water – set aside and leave for 5-8 minutes, or until soft. Drain.
2. Chop all the different vegetables and add them to the bean vermicelli noodles. Leave the mint, basil and cashews out for now.
3. In a maison jar or airtight container, combine all the ingredients for the dressing and shake well. Add more sweet and/or sour to align the taste to your taste-buds.
4. Add the dressing to the bean vermicelli noodles and vegetables, add the basil, mint & cashews and toss well.
5. Serve in small bowls as mains, and decorate with fresh mint leaves and a few extra chopped cashews.

Enjoy :)

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