STORY OF STEPHANIE

Monday, May 13, 2013

Be your own inspiration!

4 WAYS to be a the best possible version of YOU:

1. Don't EVER measure yourself against others. Instead, measure yourself against who you were yesterday. Its YOU against YOU. Be your own fitness inspiration!

2. Embrace yourself - the strengths as well as the weaknesses. Avoid defining yourself by a particular strength or a particular weakness. YOU are unique, individual and AMAZING just as you are.

3. Learn to be in control of all things that mean something to you. Let go of what you can't control and don't need to control! You CAN control your attitude towards fitness.. remember that a one hour workout is only 2% of your total day!

4. GROW. Never ever stop being an open book. Do not ever declare yourself a finished product until the day you die!!

We're all 'busy' - but it's no excuse. Be stronger than your excuses. It’s absolutely NEVER too late to become what you might have been. xx

Shellac nails: a healthier option to acrylic!

Say hello to the future of nails. Shellac is the newest nail trend to hit the beauty salons! It is patent-pending UV3 technology that is said to “go on like polish, but wear like a gel.” Shellac is the first hybrid nail color to hit the market and is said to last for 14 solid days. No chipping, no smudging, and no cracking are a guarantee. No false nails glued on to your nail - just your natural nails, shaped the way you want, with an uber shiny finish. The UV technology allows for zero dry time, plus, it’s hypo-allergenic.

When I first heard about Shellac nails, I was skeptical about the difference between shellac and acrylic. But alas, although it sounded too good to be true, I decided to give it a go. For $30 for a full set of polished paws (not bad, eh?), I was impressed. Not only are they cheaper and longer-lasting then false acrylic nails - they are also tonnes healthier for you!

Check out my Vogue inspired 'dusk grey' shellac paws below. I'm hooked on this stuff! xx

Sunday, May 12, 2013

If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you.

Thought of the day, thought it was worth sharing with all my fellow fitness enthusiasts. xx

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Quinoa: the hipster superfood grain with health benefits

Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) is a highly nutritious gluten-free grain. This ancient grain contains more protein than any other grain available, with a good balance of all 8 essential amino acids, making it a good viable choice for vegetarians. Quinoa is also high in fibre and is really low-GI, making it beneficial for keeping blood sugar levels stable.

I was first sceptical when hearing about this superfood ‘quinoa’ and its amazing beneficial properties. But after careful assessment, we think it deserves its title. Did you know that 1 cup of quinoa will give you around 127 calories, 2 grams of fat, 23.4 grams of carbohydrates (2 of those being fibre), and 4.5 grams of protein. It has a pretty similar nutritional profile to that of brown rice, except it’s slightly higher in overall protein content. If you're looking for a highly nutritious carbohydrate, that’s not only going to help you stay lean, but will also maximize your energy levels, then you’re looking in the right place… quinoa really does have it all!

3 main health benefits of quinoa:

1. Complete source of protein (provides the full spectrum of nine essential amino acids

2. Great for cardiovascular health (it’s exceptionally high in magnesium

3. Provides antioxidant support (can help ward off the damaging effects of free radicals)

How to cook:

Cooking quinoa is similar to cooking rice, or couscous.

1. Soak 1 cup quinoa in 2 cups water for 5-10 minutes (to dissolve any remaining bitter coating)

2. Drain and rinse

3. Pour into a pot and add 1.5 cups of water and half a teaspoon of salt

4. Boil, then cover with a tight-fitting lid

5. Simmer for 15 minutes

6. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes, covered

7. Fluff with a fork and serve

Quinoa can be served on its own as a side dish, with a bit of butter or coconut oil, salt and pepper, or other seasonings. It also makes a great breakfast dish mixed with dried fruit, cinnamon, milk and maple syrup or honey. Paired with chilli, stir fry or curry, quinoa can be a healthy substitute for rice! It is delicious tossed through a cold salad, or hot served with a stir-fry, stew or casserole. Also try adding it to soups, frittatas, or veggie patties. Can also be used for baking gluten-free cakes, muffins, cookies, pancakes or bread.

You can find quinoa in the health food section of supermarkets or from health food stores and costs under $10.00 for a 500g packet.

The coconut oil craze: why everyone's going loco for the coco!

Coconut oil really is a miracle food. It is incredible nourishing, healing, protective and delicious. If you're not already on board the coconut oil band wagon, we'd like to remind you why you should be!

The health benefits of this wonderfood include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism control, high blood pressure, natural remedy for HIV and cancer. These benefits can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid, as well as its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing etc. Coconut oil is simply amazing.

And it's so easy to add this oil into your diet. Replace vegetable oil, butter or margarine with coconut oil. Replace your fancy moisturizers with coconut oil. Replace your morning cup of tea with hot water and coconut oil. Get it in there. It is delicious and uber healthy!

Featuring: my three favourite coconut oils, Artisana (RRP $15.00), Tropical Traditions (RRP $20.00) , and Nutiva (RRP $19.00)

Health benefits of coconut oil include the following:

Hair Care: It helps in healthy growth of hair providing a shinny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, even if your scalp is dry. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth and nourishing of damaged hair.

Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.

Skin Care: It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins. Coconut oil is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections.

Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy.

Healing/Infections: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.

So go on - go loco for the coco! xx

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

DIY Katniss Hallooween Costume

The festivities of Hallooween are nearly upon us! What are you going to wear to celebrate this spooky occasion? We're got some fabulous tips for a DYI Katniss from Hunger Games Hallooween costume!