Introducing: Jacqueline Evans
Tuesday May 14, 2013
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jacqueline evans

We fell in love with Jacqueline Evans at first sight, her skincare range is incredibly beautiful, feels divine & smells amazing, oh yes, and it’s entirely chemical free! Jacqueline is the kind of woman you could easily sit and talk to for hours, her wealth of knowledge extends far beyond her skincare line, she’s a practising naturopath who keeps one foot firmly planted in the pharmaceutical science camp. We like to think of her as our resident heath and wellbeing guru! Which is why we were all super excited when she agreed to come on board as a regular on the TOM blog, over the coming months Jacqueline will be sharing her insights with you all – from battling PMS the natural way to eating for clearer skin. We’re kicking off with a few questions so that you can get to know her a little better, and we’re sure you’ll love her just as much as we do!

 

How did the Jacqueline Evans skincare range come into being?

After graduating as a Naturopath, I headed to the UK to work in private practise, it was here that I was privileged to work under a renowned pharmacist and homeopath.  I was already acutely aware of the level of poisonous pesticides used in our foods, but was shocked that I had been unaware of the level of questionable ingredients used in cosmetics.  It was here that I learned all about the potential risks and benefits of skin care ingredients.  When I was not treating patients I was in the laboratory formulating natural cosmetics –  I was obsessed – I had found a way to combine my passion for science and for nature.  In 2002, I returned to Melbourne and obtained qualifications in Cosmetic Chemistry.  And finally, after 8 years in formulation Jacqueline Evans was born.  Jacqueline Evans is committed to creating skin care products founded on naturopathic philosophies. We use only the purest and highest grade natural and certified organic ingredients and continue to research and scientifically test every ingredient to make sure it is both safe and effective. We really are doing something different in a very cluttered and confusing industry; we are keeping it simple, honest and natural.

 

What exactly is naturopathic skincare?

Jacqueline Evans philosophy is founded on the writings of Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

First Do No Harm – Primum No Nocere

Healing Power of Nature – Vis Mediatrix Naturae

Identify and Treat the Cause – Tolle Causam

Heal the Whole Person – Tolle Totum

Physician as Teacher – Docere

Prevention is the Best Cure

It is impossible for me to talk about improving health, without discussing the benefits of natural cosmetics. Remember that the skin is the body’s largest organ, and we should treat it with the same respect we treat our other organs – we carefully consider what we put into our bodies, and so we should carefully consider what we put onto our bodies.  Ingredients found in many skin care products are cocktails of chemicals and have been known to cause allergies. Some say that plant-based ingredients are better able to mimic the skin’s structure and support its health.

We believe that through informed choice, the consumer should be empowered by knowledge so that they decide what products to buy.  To this end we strive to give you as much information as possible. We encourage all our customers to ask as many questions as they need to in their quest for optimal health.

 

If you could only choose 3 things to improve overall health and wellness what they be?

Three? OK. I believe you are what you eat, think and do.  So eat to nourish your body, think positive to nourish your mind and get out there and make your life happen.

Below is my guideline to maintain a radiant complexion:

- eat a protein rich food with each meal to improve appetite and dietary satisfaction

- eat a minimum of 3 cups of vegetables daily to increased fibre and antioxidants

- keep refined carbohydrates to a minimum

- include nuts, seeds and healthy oils in your diet

- avoid excess alcohol, added sugar and salt

- drink a minimum of eight glasses of filtered water daily

- undertake a minimum of 30 minutes of light to moderate exercise most days of the week.  Gentle to brisk walking is recommended

 

When was the last time you did something for the first time?
I have chronic back issues for years, and as such I have never been a runner. Never. I have always preferred to take in a class of pilates than pound the pavement, but just last night I ran 2km without stopping.  Although thats not very far for most of you, for me that was my goal and my challenge. And boy did I feel good when I achieved it.

Connect with Jacqueline on…jacqueline evans products

Website: jacquelineevans.com.au

Facebook: facebook.com/jacquelineevansskincare

Twitter: @jevansskincare

Instagram: @jevansskincare

Pearl Barley with Baked Figs & Pumpkin
Wednesday May 1, 2013
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Pearl Barley Fig & Pumpkin Salad

This super simple salad lovingly shared with us by Bannie from the The Healthy Ingredient

 

Recipe (serves 1)

½ cup of cooked organic pearl barley

1 fig sliced and sprinkled with 1tsp of brown sugar and baked until soft

4 wedges of organic pumpkin sprayed with coconut oil and baked until tender (approx 45mins on 180 degrees)

1/2 ripe avocado sliced

1 large handful of washed rocket

1TBS fresh firm ricotta

 

Place all ingredients on a plate/bowl and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar

If making for a group of people as a side, increase the quantities to: 1 cup of pearl barley, 3 figs, 6-8 wedges of baked organic pumpkin, 1 whole avocado & 3TBS firm ricotta.

 

Founded by Bannie Williams, The Healthy Ingredient is a Melbourne based Nutrition consulting business. After completing a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Nutrition, Bannie is now a qualified Nutritionist and Melbourne based model represented by Chadwick and Priscilla’s Model Management.

The Healthy Ingredient is driven by Bannie’s passion for healthy eating, organic produce and devising recipes. Bannie regularly photographs her nutritious creations and posts them on her personal blog, Bannie is extremely excited to be regularly sharing her recipes with the readers of the TOM Organic blog!

Connect with Bannie:

Email: bannie@thehealthyingredient.com.au
Blog: www.thehealthyingredient.com.au
Instagram: bannie_wills

The INIKA Story + Special Offer
Thursday April 25, 2013
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We invited INIKA founder Miranda Bond to share her inspiring story with you:

I’m delighted to be sharing the Inika story with the TOM community.  I met TOM founder Aimee at a conference last year and was blown away by this incredible and inspiring woman.  I love the TOM products and think Aimee has created such a beautiful and worthwhile brand.

 

Miranda Bond

This is the story of Inika and how our prestige natural cosmetics brand came to be.  My background is not in cosmetics.  I migrated to Australia from the UK in 1997. Having struggled with endometriosis and associated infertility for many years, in my mid 30s I had all but resigned myself to the fact that I would not conceive naturally when I came across a book called The Hormone Heresy. Written by American holistic wellness guru Dr. Sherill Sellman, the book suggested that women like me could restore balance to our endocrine systems by changing our diet, eliminating chemicals in the daily products we use, and using natural progesterone cream.

 

Figuring I had nothing to lose, I resolved to follow the guidelines in the book – which included throwing out all my makeup – and within three months I was pregnant, and suitably overjoyed ! After the birth of my healthy daughter Lola in 2002, my endometriosis cleared up completely, after years of being told by doctors that there was no solution other than surgery. I was amazed, and resolved to focus my life on helping to educate and empower other women to take control of their health by limiting the toxins they put into their bodies and by seeking out natural options wherever possible.

 

Shortly after, I presented community workshops on Toxic Free Living, and went on to form the not for profit website www.thrivinghealthywomen.com.au, dedicated to providing information and resources on women’s health and toxic free living.

 

After being bombarded by emails from women around the globe searching for all-natural makeup, and finding there were so few options out there, I decided to create my own range. The result was INIKA, a 100 percent natural makeup brand incorporating organic and vegan products that were devoid of synthetic chemicals, containing only the finest natural ingredients.

 

We have won numerous awards since our inception in 2006, over 30 awards for product excellence and innovation including the prestigious ACP Magazine award for Best Foundation and we were nominated for the Marie Claire Prix de Beaute award for Best Product, sitting alongside Dior and Chanel.

 

Unlike many so called ‘natural’ brands, INIKA products are guaranteed to be completely free from harsh petrochemicals, fillers, talc, bismuth oxychloride, GMO ingredients, parabens, preservatives, mineral oils, phthalates and fragrances. In an industry that is still largely unregulated and rife with ‘green washing’, I believe it can be difficult for consumers to make informed choices about what to use on their skin. That’s why all our INIKA products carry the triple consumer guarantee: to be cruelty-free, to be vegan, to be Halal, in addition half of our products range is CERTIFED Organic by Australia’s OFC body, which ensures that they contain between 75-95% certified organic content.

 

I believe in glamour that is good for you, natural does not have to be boring!

 

We are so excited to be sharing INIKA with TOM customers that we are offering an amazing introductory $20 voucher for all TOM customers, simply check out the TOM Facebook page for details. INIKA products

 

Do try our NO COMPROMISE makeup and discover a whole new world of organic cosmetics..

Enjoy!

All my love,
Miranda
CEO and founder INIKA

Superfood Healthy ANZAC Biscuits
Wednesday April 24, 2013
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anzac biscuits

It’s ANZAC day tomorrow (April 25th) so we though it might be nice to share with you one our favourite office ANZAC biscuit recipes.

 

ANZAC BISCUITS: INVENTED BY INCREDIBLE WOMEN.

The wives and mothers of Australian soldiers first came up with the recipe for these biscuits during World War 1. The original ingredients were chosen because they didn’t spoil and didn’t need refidgeration: rolled oats, sugar, plain flour, coconut, butter, golden syrup or treacle, bi-carbonate of soda and boiling water – this meant the biscuits travelled well over the long boat trip from Australia to Europe. As the war continued many women’s groups spent a great deal of time making ANZAC biscuits to send to the troops. And they’ve been made every April since (but they’re good all year round!).

 

We’ve given our recipe of this classic Aussie treat a twist by using some of our favourite superfoods! These biscuits still taste delicious and are a little bit guilt free. As always, it’s best to buy organic wherever you can!

 

Ingredients 

This recipe makes about 30 medium sized biscuits

 

1 cup of Organic Wholemeal or Spelt Plain Flour sifted

1 Cup of Organic Rolled Oats

1/2 Cup of Organic Coconut Sugar

1/2 cup of Organic Desiccated Coconut

2 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds

125gm of Organic Coconut Oil (in liquid form – heat to melt if necessary)

1-2 Tablespoon of Rice Bran Syrup

1/2 Teaspoon of Bicarb Soda

2-3 Tablespoons of boiling water

 

Method

1. Preheat Oven to 175 degrees Celsius (347 F).

2. In a large bowl mix the Flour, Oats, Sugar, Coconut and Chia Seeds.

3. In a smaller bowl, combine the Coconut oil and the Rice Bran Syrup.

4. Dissolve the baking soda into 2 tablespoons of the boiling water then add this carefully to the Coconut Oil mix.

5. Stir the liquid mix into the dry ingredients, if the mixture is still crumbly add another tablespoon of water. Note: If the ingredients are too dry the biscuits will fall apart, so the wetter the better!   

6. Roll into balls and place on lined baking tray and squish them down a little so they’re a bit flat. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool – if you want crunchy ANZACS leave them on the baking tray until they’re cool – for chewy ones leave them for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack.

7. Enjoy with a cup of your favourite tea!