Smell the flowers

114. Top Five Things I LOVED This Week:

1. My husband’s eyes growing wide as he turned to me and asked “Was that the baby?!” Pretty special feeling the baby kick for the first time.
2. Walking down the hill from Bronte to the beach and admiring all the charming old houses and the abundance of Australian bush flowers: wisteria, bottlebrush, sea banksias, macrocarpa and wattle. *Photo by Brett the Physiologist*
3. The incredible jasmine vines that were draped from the ceiling beams at the wedding reception. The entire space smelled of Spring and looked magical. Congrats Mr and Mrs Satchwell, it was the most perfect day xx
4. A spontaneous morning involving the Bronte to Bondi headland walk, feasting at the farmers market, meeting up with friends at the chai tent, discovering Orchard St café (kombucha on tap!!) and spending time with more happy friends.
5. Ordering a chai bowl (yes a chai in a BOWL) from Pure Bronte this morning.

Emma the Naturopath xx

PS. “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before”.
-Dalai Lama

Invite adventure into your life!

*MATERNAL MONDAYS*

“Experiencing a child growing in your body just gives you such a newfound respect for the human body. It’s just fascinating! It gives you this sense and this feeling of timelessness, this sort of evolution of man and what a miracle it is that you get pregnant at all.

It’s not like you take a special pill and this pill makes the baby grow. The baby just grows, without you even doing anything but breathing and sleeping and eating. That is an amazing feeling. You feel so proud of your body.”

-Liv Tyler

Emma the Naturopath xx
(22 weeks -size of a papaya)

~*OCTOBER SPECIAL: 10% OFF ALL STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLES, INSULATED MUGS, LUNCHBOXES, LIDS & POUCHES*~ 

Water bottles are always the “go-to” present for that difficult person to buy for, or an awesome incentive for yourself to stay hydrated! Or come in and stock up on water bottles (and spare lids!) before the kiddo’s go back to school. We’ve got sizes from 350ml to 1.2L in lots of snazzy designs in all the best brands: EcoTanka, Cheeki and EarthLust!

Tag someone in this post who you think would get a bit excited about 10% off all water bottles!

"Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands"
-Japanese proverb

So high on Spring right now... What flowers are you loving? I'm all about the bottlebrush and calla lillies!

115. Top Five Things I LOVED This Week:

1. Hot gf chocolate and coconut pancakes cooked in salty butter. Just a little Tuesday night treat.
2. Whale sightings on a windy headland.
3. The name of my friend’s neighbour’s cat: Sophie PrettyToes. Best. Name. EVER.
4. Brand new bamboo sheets as well as a new king-size quilt and linen doona cover which have been washed and hanging in the sunshine all day. I am SO excited to go to bed tonight.
5. The fact that my overly house-proud husband finds it a necessity to have fresh flowers in the house at all times. No complaints here. *The wonderful picture is courtesy of lovely Sherrin from ST Images

Emma the Naturopath xx

PS. “It’s not how much love we give, but how much love we put into giving”
-Mother Theresa

When you give someone a compliment this week, mean it. And when you help someone out, do it cheerfully. Let’s genuinely care for one another

*MATERNAL MONDAYS*
NESTING

I’ve always loved cooking and baking (it's an Italian thing), but now that I’m pregnant I’ve really gone into overdrive! I have been scouring the library shelves for new cookbooks and saving recipes on blogs to a special folder entitled “TO BAKE”.

This morning I’ve made zucchini slice, bliss balls, toasted muesli as well as salt and vinegar almonds. Now I'm thinking about what I can cook for dinner... Did I mention it’s only 10:30am? I was at Coles at 7:30am to buy supplies. My husband is beside himself with joy.

When did nesting kick in for you? Were you madly rearranging the whole house or cooking up a storm like me?

Here is the bikkie recipe I baked on Saturday afternoon:

SPICY OAT COOKIES
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup cashews
1 cup gluten-free SR flour (I use a box of Orgran from the health food aisle of Coles)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ginger (ground or fresh)
¼ tsp pink salt
½ cup honey/rice malt/maple syrup (or 100g coconut sugar)
½ cup coconut oil or organic butter (melted)
1 Tbsp chia seeds

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Throw oats and cashews in food processor and grind coarsely.
3. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
4. Roll mixture into walnut sized balls and place on a lined baking tray.
5. Bake for 10 mins or until slightly golden. Store in airtight container.

How easy is that? You can be eating hot chewy biscuits in 20 mins from now! Perfect for school lunchboxes, afternoon tea with a cuppa or at 2 in the morning when you’re STARVING!

(Recipe adapted from The Vegan Baker by Dunja Gulin)

Emma the Naturopath xx
(23 weeks –the length of a shallot)

Essential Health

0266 514 533

carrots_and_apples@hotmail.com

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Let go

Hello beauties!

We got a MASSIVE delivery of 28 new Butter London nail polishes on Friday!! Everything from creamy apricot (Kerfuffle) to electric purple (Indigo Punk) to baby blue (Poole) to multi coloured sparkles (Lovely Jubbley)! 

We also stock their acetone-free nail polish removers, base coat, top coat, cuticle oil and nail fertiliser! The RRP is $22.95 but Essential Health sells them for $16.95!!

A safer choice when painting your little ones nails (as well as your own)! Plus is not tested on animals, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phtalate!

Come in and have a play!! 

Really focus on *LETTING GO* this weekend. Let go of the people and scenarios this week that didn’t serve your life in a positive way and show gratitude for the ones that did. Because all that exists right now and the only thing you have control over is the present moment.

 Inhale slowly. Exhaaaale deeply and let it all go.

Top 5 Things I LOVED This Wk:

1. Following Lonely Planet on Instagram.
2. Diving fully clothed into the ocean at 6pm after a sweaty workout.
3. Flicking back through the history on the pedometer on my iPod and seeing one walk that I apparently did back in 1970...? Didn’t know many iPods were around back then...
4. Going on an adventure with my husband on our paddle boards. We strapped a picnic basket and fishing rod to the front of the board and stopped half way at our own little private beach eating apples and some gluten-free muffins I baked.
5. Something For Kate’s cover of Sweet Nothing by Calvin Harris and Florence. Actually, Elmo could probably sing that song and I’d still love it.

Emma the Naturopath xx

PS. My husband and I were chatting today (while paddling down the river over MASSIVE sting rays) about how much we love experiencing new places. One of my favourite sayings is “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten”.

It’s applicable to many aspects of life. I see it frequently as a naturopath: people want to lose 10 kilos but are not willing to improve their diet and lifestyle. Or on the weekends if you just keep going to the same beaches, cafes, etc you can miss out on new experiences, opportunities and inspiration.

This week have a go at pushing the boundaries and inviting adventure into your daily life.

Lots of new Earth Lust stainless steels water bottles arriving this week!

Top Five Things I LOVED This Wk:
1. A rainy afternoon making raw vegan choc mint bounty! I’ll put the recipe up this week!
2. Those nose pore strips. Am I the only one fascinated by these?
3. My new definition of heaven: floating down a river on our stand up paddle boards at high tide, looking meters down below through the turquoise water. Fish darting everywhere. Not another soul in sight.
4. Flipping channels last night to find Dirty Dancing!
5. Eating dinner in the bath while watching a DVD. I love my life!!

Emma the Naturopath xx

PS.
“Great minds discuss ideas.
Average minds discuss events.
Small minds discuss people” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Watch your words this week.

*RAW VEGAN CHOC MINT BOUNTY BARS*

These little pups are soooo wonderful! I whipped up a batch over the wkend and every time we took a bite of one, one of us would exclaim rather loudly "these things are fricken mental!!"

INGREDIENTS

Filling
1 cup of organic dates soaked for 20 mins in 1/2 cup boiling water
3 cups of desiccated coconut
¼ cup melted coconut oil
3 tbs cashews (or macadamias)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Choc Coating
½ cup melted coconut oil
½ cup cacao powder
¼ cup agave syrup
Pinch salt
(I also added a tsp of mint essence!)

DIRECTIONS

Filling
*Blend dates and water to make a paste
*Add the rest of the ingredients and process until well combined
*Shape the mixture into desired shapes (I used a heart shaped ice cube tray as well as a few "traditional" bounty shapes)
*Place in the fridge for about 2 hours to set

Chocolate Coating
*Mix all ingredients together

Assembly
*Place the firm coconut shape on a fork and place in the chocolate mix
*Remove from the chocolate and place on grease proof paper
*Place in fridge until the chocolate has set. Store in the fridge.

So fricken mental!!

Emma the Naturopath xx

Head over to Facebook and 'like' us at: Essential Health Coffs
Boulevard Arcade (opp. Blush), Coffs Mall
0266 514 533

Best $9.84 I've spent in a while

We have an awesome black board apple at the shop which I write a weekly tip on. 

I'm going to start sharing our Tip of the Week with you guys on here :)

High five to Big W for providing me with a pair of banging pink leopard print tights 

from the little girls section for $9.84. Hello new yoga tights!!

There’s something special that I wanted to share with you guys.... 

Today is actually Essential Health’s birthday!!! 8 years –can you believe it!?

It all started back in 2005 when mama and papa bear got sick of customers asking if they sold vitamin C and lavender oil in their gourmet ingredients shop. In 2009 I finished my last uni exam and three days later I was behind the counter. Did I mention that I used to wag my business subjects at uni? “I’ll never need that”! Ahhh, ignorance is bliss!

So a massive massive masssssssive thankyou beyond measure to all our gorgeous customers and clients!!  Thanks for all the gardening, cooking and life advice you’ve so kindly shared. Thanks for inspiring me and challenging me. Thanks to those who chose to spend their hand earned dollars at our sole trading shop over a discount day at a franchise store so that I can continue doing what I love.

So much love guys,

Emma the Naturopath xx

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision” -Peter F. Drucker

 Top 5 Things I LOVED This Wk:

1. Gardening binges. When you go outside just to give the garden a water... Then you start repotting plant, pulling out a mountain of weeds and pruning trees.

2. Seeing a double rainbow while sitting on the beach drinking homemade blueberry kombucha tea with a friend of mine who’s a yoga teacher. (Yep, even I just re-read that and couldn’t believe how hippie I sounded).

3. Going for a walk along the jetty and glancing down to see two wild dolphins flocking below! They stayed for over 20mins playing between the pylons and rolling onto their belly looking up at me! 

4. Our first Japanese lesson over hot miso. Watashi no namae wa Emma desu!

5. Five dollar flanno’s from Coles.

Emma the Naturopath xx

PS. I have to be honest… The past couple of weeks I kind of lost my food mojo. Which is seriously out of character for me. My husband calls me the “Midnight Chef” because I spent most evenings experimenting with new creations. The change of seasons just didn’t inspire me. But I’m back baby!! I finally bought Gwenyth Paltrow’s stunning hardcover cookbook It’s All Good which I’d been lusting over since I bought it for a girlfriend a month ago. It’s such a practical book for anyone who’s keen on preparing simple and delicious wholefood based recipes.

So my tip for you this week is to rekindle the food flame inside yourself. Visit farmers markets and check out the fresh seasonal produce or even grow your own. Swap a recipe book with one of your friends. Keep the food inspiration alive –your family will taste it in your cooking!

20% off all stainless steel water bottles for the month of June!!!

Come and say hello to use over on Facebook at 'Essential Health Coffs'!!!

Nourish yourself, Top 5 & hangover cures

I didn’t go to my pilates class tonight. I’m at home eating a tofu stirfry that my husband cooked. Then I’m going to have a hot bath, do some yoga and read a book in bed. I had a big day at work and I know that if I push myself today, that tomorrow I won’t have much to give to my clients, but more importantly, to myself.

It is so incredibly important right now to take extra care of ourselves. Everyone seems to be rushing around, constantly overcommitted having one too many late nights infused with alcohol. Then having an extra flat white the next day to make it through til 5pm.

The most frequent condition I see each February in my clinic is adrenal exhaustion. Simply because people push themselves beyond their limits though the silly season and then they get to February and collapse in a heap. Their body has pumped out all the adrenaline it can and they have to drag themselves again and start catching every cold that goes around.

So let this year be different! Live in the present moment because it’s still 2012. Listen to how your body is feeling and have an early night if you feel like you need it. Learn to put yourself first by knowing your limits.

But most importantly NOURSISH YOURSELF!!  Regularly pause and take ten deep cleansing breaths. Sit yourself down with a pot of tea and read a good book. Put your gardening gloves on and play around in your backyard. Book in a massage or reflexology treatment. Listen to your fave CD and dance around the room.

I let out a little squeal when I unpacked this amazingly beautiful stainless steel water bottle this afternoon! Get in quick! 

Top 5 Things I LOVED This Wk:

1. Going for a walk around the block just before dark and seeing all the twinkling Christmas tree lights in people’s homes. (In a totally non-stalkerish way of course!)

2. The smell of incense and fresh rain while I sat at my desk (the coffee table) and did bookwork.

3. Walking from the bathroom to the bedroom and catching a glimpse of my husband vacuuming the kitchen table.

4. Going on a spontaneous camping trip down the coast on Friday night. We left home at 7pm and arrived at the national park after 9. I woke up early Sat morning and drew back the (pirate print) curtains in the vans and was overwhelmed by our beautiful surrounds.

5. Roadside fruit stalls that sell stone fruit that are as cheap as chips.

When your head is racing, stop. Take a deep breath and remind yourself to live in the present moment.

We’re currently (eye)balls deep in the silly season. For a lot of people the celebrations start the first week on Summer and carry on til mid Jan. So it seemed appropriate to share with you my top 5 hangover tips.

1. Spirulina: Before hitting the sack take a six 500mg spirulina tablets to top up your nutrient levels that get depleted while drinking. The chlorophyll which gives spirulina it’s vibrant green colour is a fantastic blood cleanser. The other option is to throw a teaspoon into your banana smoothie the next day.

2. Nux vomica: Pop these little homeopathic pills under your tongue if you're feeling queasy and they'll set you on the right track.

3. Hydration: This is your time to drink (water) like a fish. Water is going to flush out all those nasty toxins from the alcohol. Booze turns off ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) in our brain therefore you pee more than normal which is dehydrating. The trick is to add a pinch of pink Himalayan salt to your glass of water to replace your electrolytes. It’s got over 100 different minerals in it and will help you absorb more water.

4. Avoid coffee: Caffeine is going to dehydrate you even more which is the last thing you need at this stage. Get into dandelion tea or some green tea.

5. Ginger tea: Grate or slice up some fresh ginger, throw in a slice of lemon and a little honey. The ginger acts as an anti-emetic (anti-spew) and the lemon will help to stimulate liver function.

So have fun kids and don't do anything I wouldn't do...

Emma the Naturopath xx

PS Don't forget to follow 'Essential Health Coffs' on Facebook!

How big is your eco?

“Water? Hate the stuff!” This is what a customer exclaimed the other day when I asked her how much she was drinking. She then continued to recount her headaches, muscle cramps, foggy mind and dry skin…

For everyone else out there, stay hydrated with EarthLust water bottles! They are made from high quality food grade stainless steel, are decorated with non-toxic paints and have BPA-free polypropylene caps. Sizes include 380ml ($17.95), 600ml ($19.95) and 1L ($22.95).

Stainless steel bottles help to preserve the environment by eliminating waste and protect your health as they don’t allow xenoestrogens to be leached into your water from the plastic.

Oh and did I mention that they look ridiculously good?

Click here for more Essential Health goodness on h20!