Jasmyne Tea

The Beauty Products Every Foodie Needs

I find that as I get older, I learn to fully appreciate the more luxurious, sensual things in life; long gone are the days when I'd buy the cheapest things because it meant I could have more of them. However, as someone on a modest wage, I usually can't afford the $945 Alexander McQueen dress that I've had my eye on. So in keeping with my budget, I tend to splurge on more affordable beauty products in an effort to feel pampered - this is particularly important when one has a stressful job.

Now, over the last couple of years or so I noticed an odd trend in the types of scents I was buying. I started off with the same old jasmine, rose and lavender scents because I though to be feminine, one had to smell like a plant's reproductive organs. I slowly started going for scents I actually liked, but it wasn't until the other day that I realised (after a shower) that my bathroom smelled like my pantry.

Yes, apparently I like to smell like food.

With that little personal discovery, I decided to share my absolute favourite beauty products with the world. Here you'll find awesome products that actually smell like what the labels describe, but more than that: they actually do the job they're meant to. So, in no particular order:

P & S Pure Glycerin Soap (Lemongrass, Mandarin, Frangipani, Raspberry, Apple, Lemon Myrtle) - $5.00 each

The Perfume & Skin Care Company is based out in Robertson, NSW, but there is also a store in Berrima, which is where I obtained these beautiful soap bars. The single-note scents are pure and strong, and they're incredibly accurate - there's no trace of the usual soapy, astringent scent one normally gets. The soap gives a lovely lather, and doesn't dry out my skin, which is something I always have a problem with.

P & S Ginger Milk 10 mL Roll On Perfume - $23.50
P & S Lemon Myrtle Body Wash - $19.50

The Ginger Milk perfume is my all-time favourite perfume oil - a little dab on each wrist and you're immersed in a spicy mixture of invigorating ginger and soothing, sweet vanilla milk.

MOR Italian Blood Orange Roll-On Perfume - $19.95
MOR Marshmallow Roll-On Perfume - $19.95

These little vials contain the most luxurious scents I possess. The Italian Blood Orange is a stimulating perfume, whilst the Marshmallow variety is soothing and sweet, and actually smells like marshmallow!

The Body Shop Chocomania Body Scrub - $29.95
Banana Shampoo - $17.95
Banana Conditioner - $17.95
Strawberry Body Polish - $16.95
Earth Lovers Watermelon & Eucalyptus Shower Gel - $14.95

I do love a company that supports fair-trade and is against animal testing - and it's always a bonus when the products are amazing too. Special mention for the limited edition Chocomania body scrub - it's really hard not to scoop up a handful and eat it!

Evodia Coconut & Lime Body Mist - $23.95
Evodia Coconut & Lime Hand Lotion - $17.95

Found in Myers and David Jones, one whiff of this body spray and you'll think you're on the beach, sipping a cocktail served in a coconut. The hand cream has the added bonus of leaving your hands beautifully smooth and not at all greasy.

LUSH Flying Fox Shower Gel 250mL - $21.50
LUSH Turkish Delight Shower Smoothie - $32.95
LUSH Ultrabalm - $7.90
LUSH Dragon's Egg Bath Ballistics - $5.95

LUSH products are made from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, which are bought only from companies with no connections to animal testing, and they use minimal or recyclable packaging. I particularly enjoy the Turkish Delight Shower Smoothie - it smells like I should be stepping out of the shower covered in a dusting of sugar!

 

Perfume & Skin Care Co.

Shop 4, 74-76 Hoddle Street
Robertson NSW 2577
Phone: 02.4885 1377
http://www.perfumeandskincare.com.au

MOR Cosmetics

e-boutique: http://www.morcosmetics.com
Enquiries: +61 3 9600 4599

The Body Shop

http://www.thebodyshop.com.au

Evodia Australia

http://www.evodia.com.au

LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

http://www.lush.com.au
Phone: 1300 587 428

This Is What Happens When I'm Sick.

So last Friday I hurt my back. I've been off work ever since, and just as I felt able to go back, I got the flu. I've LITERALLY been bed-ridden for a week, which is f-ing horrible.

So, what does one do when one is stuck in bed, with no window to the outside world except my laptop?

I'll give you a clue: it starts with 's' and ends with 'hopping'.

Kimchi Blue Canvas Print Pumps - US$49.00

MinkPink Confused & Dazed Mini Dress - $76.30

Deena & Ozzy Spike-Stud Platform Wedge - US$69.00

Deer Antler Ring in Solid White Bronze by Moon Raven Designs - $58.38

ASOS Skater Skirt in Leather Look - $59.34

Happy Hippy Shower Gel by LUSH - $12.50

 

Awww yeah. Can't wait until I'm well enough to enjoy my purchases! :)

Caramel Chicken

Yes sirree bob, you read that right:

Caramel. Chicken.

This dish is the bomb.com. The bees knees. The cat's meow. It's awesome, it's radical, groovy, neat and hip.

It's simply splendid.

But don't take my word for it. Try it out yourself! It's quick and easy, the ingredients are cheap, and the recipe results in choice morsels of chicken smothered in a thick, syrupy sauce that's balanced perfectly between sweet and savoury.

Caramel Chicken
*Adapted from Bill Granger's Best of Bill

INGREDIENTS

8 chicken thigh fillets, skinless, quartered
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 brown onion, sliced
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cm piece of ginger, finely grated
freshly ground black pepper
60 mL (1/4 cup) dark soy sauce
115 g (1/2 cup) soft brown sugar   
60 mL (1/7 cup) fish sauce

to serve
steamed rice
steamed snow peas, asparagus, or chinese broccoli

1. Combine the oil and chicken together in a bowl and toss. Heat a large frying pan over a high heat, then cook the chicken in batches - 2 minutes on each side until browned. Remove from the pan.

2. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion, ginger and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, adding more oil if needed. Return the chicken to the pan, sprinkle liberally with pepper, add the soy sauce and stir to combine.

3. Cover the pan, reduce the heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase the heat to high, add the sugar and stir. Cook uncovered for 3-5 minutes until sauce is dark and syrupy and the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

4. Add the fish sauce and stir to combine. Take off the heat, and serve with steamed rice and veggies.

So I Had The Craziest Dream EVER...

So in this dream, my friend Ahlam and I were bored and so we decided to try acid (which is definitely something we'd NEVER do. Ahem.). And we didn't know how to "prepare it", as it were, so we put it in a casserole dish and shoved it in an oven at 180 degrees Celsius (fan-forced). Anyway, it magically turned into some sort of stew, and we spent the rest of the dream fighting over who was going to eat it first. I'm pretty sure I screamed "you can't eat it, it's not halal!" out loud whilst asleep.

Now, I agree with the theory that dreams are a way for the brain to process information, but I'd like to hear your theories on what my dream means, because I never remember mine and this one was a doozy. Hilarious/trippy dream stories are also welcome!

Finally, you should really watch this video, it's epic: