How to be beautiful.

You feel spectacular! The best you've felt for awhile. Your hair is 'modern glam', your makeup pretty much perfect and you have spent weeks finding the most beautiful dress - You're actually out of jeans or worse 'trackies' for once and sticky finger or nose marks from the kids that usually accessories your outfits are nowhere in sight. 

You feel gorgeous, elegant, stunning, hot in your own right and... ...Oh my, across the room is another women wearing the same dress!!!!!

Your heart sinks instantly, you feel that beautiful feeling you had just a second ago disappear, "does she look better in it?" -You can't help think. 

You look around to see if anyone has noticed yet. You have a second to work out what you are going to do, and you:

a) Get out of there as fast as possible, race home and change into something, anything, else...

b) Laugh at it, declare that the other women has impeccable taste and get on with enjoying yourself and congratulation the other women on fine taste...

c) Cringe and spend the rest of the evening hiding behind your friends or hubby with one eye on 'that women' while trying to stay at all times at opposite ends of the room from her...

...Well what ever you do it doesn’t really matter, because the real question is: Why do we care so much when this happens???? 

We've all had this moment and we all feel a touch deflated when it happens. Why? - Because every women wants to feel and be beautiful as her own unique and diverse beauty.

Truth Moment: You already have been created: beautiful, diverse and unique, valuable, important... and we need to embrace it.

It is so easy to feel, and quite unknowingly, that we are competing with every other beauty out there and it doesn't help living in a media age with 'beauty bombardment' every where you turn. 

Competing is all about comparing. When you compare yourself to another you always come up short because it's your flaws that you see which only serve to overwhelm, depress and suppress you. 

Embracing you, your own beauty, your own uniqueness, and your own value may not come easily, especially if that chocolate bar you ate last night is bulging out of your hips right now, but when you do, you have within the essence of being free. 

Free to be: you, happy, being able to stand confident, to not have to be absolutely perfect, to be proud of what you do love about you, and not being bothered deep inside by other beautiful women around you. 

The only way to embrace you is by choice. It is a choice to accept you, by you.

When you choose you, and choose to believe you are 'the above Truth Moment', you can: smile, know you really do light up the world, and you realize this world needs your diverse, unique, beautiful self, and that you are the only one who can take your place as the beauty you are amongst the beauty of it all.

There is nothing more beautiful, rare, original, elegant and stunning as a women who has embraced herself.


How to be beautiful? It's a choice.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! Psalm 139

Top 5 fun!

1) Check out these cute meal time fun plates for the kids. Face plates to inspire your children to eat while having fun at the same
time. http://www.alfrescoemporium.com.au/index.asp?p=store&l=2134&r=142

2) Overnight hair moisturising! Banish the dry winter season away and get your hair into spring silky shape with: Pantene Night Miracle Cream http://www.pantene.com.au/en-AU/product/PANTENE_NIGHT_MIRACLE.jspx


3) Ever forgot to pick up 'that card' for a friend's event, birthday or life happening moment, well never fear just get your self a emergency box of cards to cover any occasion.
http://www.papierdamour.com.au/index.phpPCID=7688&PSO=188&PSID=VB03&PSV=Primary&CDO=


4) Feather jewelry! So whimsical, soft and very spring! Check out these soft pink feather earring from Diva http://www.diva.net.au/#/product/1775


5) Vanilla. The smell of vanilla is gorgeous. Simply fill a spray bottle with metho add some vanilla essence and you have a beautiful surface spray that will fill your house with the smell of cupcakes, candles, love and fresh peace.


Tell us what you love. Send your ideas, hints and beautiful things to fradazmag@westnet.com.au
Check out these earrings I found, and that you can purchase too.

It's time for some Food!

These days it seems like everywhere you go people are talking gluten free, lactose intolerant and more. Below Amanda Bradford shares with us some insights into this world...  

Are you one of these people who don’t understand why other people would want to be or have to be Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Vegan, etc, etc, etc…..

There are so many ‘new’ titles for food allergies these days that it’s hard to know what they all are and not to mention do they really exist or is it all just in our heads.

I was one of these people who would secretly scoff when someone ordered a soy latte… why would you want to drink that stuff!

Ok, I am making a formal apology to all persons who fit into the above category because I was judging you from my ignorance. Recently I was not feeling myself and I visited a naturopath who put me on a good old liver cleanse. Not only did she prescribe a really disgusting herbal mixture morning and night but my diet for 3 weeks includes no wheat, dairy, gluten, red meat… oh, let’s just say ‘everything yummy’! And just to top it off - no caffeine - so I hide in the pantry, sniffing the coffee beans…. feels like I’m doing something naughty J

The first week my body ached and a number of other unmentionable changes invaded or maybe better described as escaped my body. It was not nice but then neither was the way I was feeling before all this began. There is 10 days remaining and have to say that I do have more energy and I have started to wake up before the alarm… what’s with that! It certainly is still a work in progress but along this journey the meals I have had to invent have actually been tasty and if only we could continue to incorporate a few of these healthier options into the normal weekly meal plan, our bodies might just thank us!

Manda’s Meal Plan for a day

Breakfast: Brown Rice Flake porridge

Lunch: Salad - cabbage, carrot, capsicum, shallots, celery, olives & pumpkin seeds with dressing of: - Gluten Free soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and honey

Dinner:  Lots of free range chicken done a number of ways but my favorite:

Chicken with Tomatoes & Olives

Marinate 800g diced Chicken for 30 - 60 mins in 3tbls olive oil, 3tbls lemon juice & 2tsp

garlic.

In the meantime - roast a capsicum (I did this directly on the gas burner - continue turning every few minutes until totally black then when cooled, rub off the blackened skin and dice the beautiful soft red capsicum.

Cook 1 diced onion in 1tbls olive oil till soft but not brown. Stir in 2tbls of Tomato paste & cook till it begins to darken in color - few of minutes. Add a 400g can of chopped Roma tomatoes in juice and bring to a simmer. Drain chicken and discard marinade, then add chicken to the sauce - add 1tbls of fresh oregano or a tsp of dried oregano, the diced capsicum, half a cup of green olives and season with ground pepper. Simmer for 15mins or till chicken is cooked through. Serves 4-6 YUM YUM!

Extra Tips: Eat bananas and tropical fruits in between meals and drink plenty of water!

Amanda Bradford: 30 years old, 15 years working career = long service, 8 weeks

holiday, caravan, car, awesome hubby, doggy, NSW, VIC, SA, QLD and all this to enjoy

my hobbies of reading, painting, drawing, drinking 'good' black coffee and delicious

Food!

Why not follow Fradaz own writer, Elizabeth, on her 30day challenge to better health.

http://fradazhealth.blogspot.com/

Got any recipes to share? Email them to fradazmag@westnet.com.au - We'd love to

hear from you and share your stuff.

How to make friends!

We love friendships and doing life with other people but sometimes it can be tricky making new friends and we can feel a little lost at how to go about it. Below Amanda shares with us how to be a great friend and get the friendship 'ball rolling'.

Friendship from the start.... it doesn’t matter what age, gender or type of person you are, we all need friendships and we all need advise at times in how to make friends and how to keep them.

I personally had an advantage growing up that forced me to make friends. Approx every year my family moved to a new house, meaning I had to change schools constantly. It can be so difficult being in a new place with no friends and having to figure out how to make them as the new girl!!!
Growing up like this I learnt that I simply had to be the one who would go up to people and talk! BUT, that seems to be where it can stop.... u meet them, u introduce yourself to them and start a conversation...but how do we go from the ‘initial introduction’ to a friendship?

When making friends there is always that bit of nervousness. You’re wondering if they want to get to know you also, if they think you are weird, or if they are wishing you would leave them alone...and how often do we finish our introduction, or second, or third meeting, with “we should have a coffee sometime!”

Now how many of you have had that offer...or made that offer....and NEVER organised something??? Yep!! My hand is up!!!
One of the keys to friendship is following through on our ‘sometime’ moments - from both ends.

We invite people to “coffee”, we get invited to “coffee” and we need to make an effort to go through with it. 

When you get an invite I have learnt that you need to organise something then!! Not say “yeah that will be great sometime” but “yes, I am free fri...when suits you?”

Sure sitting down together might be awkward at first and those silences where you don’t know what to say are uncomfortable, but it’s the same for everyone starting out.

Here are some tips that can help get the ball rolling:

1) Ask appropriate questions about the other’s life i.e. Do you work? Do you enjoy your work? How long have you lived in this area? Are you married? Do your children do sport or dance, Have you seen any movies lately? If there is an awkward pause simply ask another question. Don’t interrogate though – not what we are going for!!! lol

2) Really listen to what they share.

3) Simply encourage, care, and compliment the other person in their life and experiences.

4) Organize another "coffee". - Keep building the friendship.

You’ll soon find familiar ground and a friendship blooming.

CHALLANGE.
So, I make you this challenge, and yes I am setting it for myself also!

In the next fortnight, I want you to invite someone for coffee (someone you haven’t yet established a close friendship with). Then follow through and organise it too!

Don’t let the usual “sometime when we are less busy” excuses get you: make time, and this fortnight!
Also, if you are invited by someone you too want to get to know, don’t just say ok, organise a day and time in the next fortnight!

I would love to hear about how people go with it, so share with us your experience in the comment box at Fradaz.
I am hoping out of this challenge many of us will meet a new friend or finally get to know that friend we were meant to 6 months ago!!!

Amanda. xx

To Tattoo or Not?

Ever seriously contemplated if you should get a tattoo? - What about a fleeting thought of: what it would be like or what you would have?
 Katherine, who designs tattoos, shares with us just what it is about this 'skin art' that is so very trendy, and if your brave enough to bare your flesh - what to do.

Tattoos can be 'taboo' to many, and to others an exciting ' always wanted one' subject. 
This 'skin art' form is becoming more and more popular: business men, house wives and even the younger generation seem to be popping up with them.

There are so many different types of tattoos: plain black and white, color, grey or even a UV tattoo.


Tattoos are all about expression, an express of you,  and thats why I love them. I don’t have one yet, but  I have already designed and picked two tattoos that I want to get…so far.

My Sister got her first tattoo on her trip to America. 
It is Kanji (Japanese text) that means Small Branch. When I asked her why she got it, she replied ever so wisely; “Small Branch comes from John 15, "I am the vine and you are the branches, remain in me" The 'Small part' is to remind me that I am a small part of a bigger picture.” 
Her tattoo is really tasteful and sits on top of her foot. 
These, day tattoos are not all about great big pieces that cover your whole body but rather tasteful pictures, symbols, and text.


Tattoos not only serve as art, but also as reminders. For the majority of people who have tattoos, it’s a sometimes painful, but pleasant memory of a chapter in their lives.  

In getting one and baring my flesh, I have to admit, I’ve thought and thought about the consequences, “what if I don’t like it?” “What will it look like when I get older?” - we all think these thoughts, so here are my 'I'm getting a tattoo tips:

1. Choose your tattoo. If you can’t find a specific design you want, All you need now is an arty friend, who can draw one for you, or you can go into the tattoo parlor and most will design one for you.


2. Research is the key! First mistake in tattoo’s is not researching! I’m very adamant about this because no one wants to end up with something they regret. If you are getting script make sure you have the spelling right and if it is in a different language make sure you get someone who actually speaks that language to make sure it means what it means.
 
3. Here is an important thing, PLACING! A fun experiment is to get some fake tattoos and place them where you think you want your real one.
 
4. More Research, this time research Tattoo parlors. Look around on the internet, go visit the shop and talk to your tattooed friends about where they got their’s done. You will never get a hundred percent great feedback on one place, but all you need to do is ask why? 

5. Last but MOST IMPORTANT! Don’t be hasty! My number one rule for tattoos is I have to have a picture of the tattoo and put it somewhere i can see it everyday and if I still like it after six to eight months, then I will get it. Try that and see, if after six months you don’t like it, throw it away, and if your sure, then make an appointment and go for it!

I guess in the end its all about personal preference, which is Aok! 


Your body is a temple, but how long can you live in the same house before you redecorate? -- Author Unknown

Baby Steps to Better Health

Sandy our nutritionist shares how easy it is to move in the right direction to having great health - the body you want. Take a step with Sandy:

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Confucius

We’re all on our own journey to having better health (eating well and moving more) – whether it’s as simple as eating less chocolate (sigh!), or running for thirty minutes or even in a 10km fun run.

The problem is that sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. How do I lose all those kilos? How do I run when even walking around the block can sometimes be a struggle? (phew!)

You just need to know where to START. And the good news is that starting begins with something very small: a single STEP.

“But something small isn’t going to make any difference!” I hear you say. “Not when my favourite form of physical activity is walking up and down the confectionery aisle in the supermarket…” ;)

The key here is doing something small over time. That means making one small change, and repeating it every day, and every day after that. Have a look at the facts:

- Eating one less 50g chocolate bar a week equals around  4,500kJ saved a month – resulting in weight loss of 1.5 kg in a year!

- Simply switching to reduced fat milk from full cream (2 glasses a day) can help you lose two kg in a year!

- Walking for fifteen minutes extra a day adds up to almost 7,000kJ burnt per month, or loss of over two kg of excess fat a year!

Can you make any (or all) of the above small changes, or baby steps? Sure you can! And I bet you can think of several others – especially if you’ve been completing a food and exercise diary, as recommended in my previous post: (http://fradaz.blogspot.com/2010/06/first-steps-to-healthier-more-visible.html ).

So join today with all of us Fradaz girls in beginning your own baby steps to feeling better and moving more. All you’ve gotta do is START. :)    

© Sandra Peut 2010   

Sandra Peut keeps busy juggling her varied roles as a wife, mother (to four children aged 6 and under!), nutritionist and health promotion officer in women's health, and writer. Blue Freedom, a romantic thriller and her first novel, is due to be published by Rose and Crown Books later this year.

For more info, visit http://www.sandrapeut.com/

Her first romantic thriller Blue Freedom                                                                

Going Nude!

How good are shoes = goooood!!! 

I love how shoes can take an outfit and simply make it! Why do a pair of shoes make us women feel beautiful? – Who knows but they do, so coming into Spring look out for a pair of ‘nude’ colored shoes.

Nude shoes are in. They are sophisticated, not over the top, and classy.

Heels, wedge, strappy, flats - they come in all styles.

Why wear:

- They lengthen your leg.

- They take a dark outfit and lighten  

  the look which is great as you 

  transition from colder months to 

  warmer weather wardrobe.

- They are sexy summery goodness.

Tips on how to wear:

1) Look for really plain ones and avoid HUGE buckles and embellishment on the toe area.

2) Shinny finish will allow the shoe to stand out more than matte finish but the choice is yours.

3) Look for a color that is slightly darker than your skin tone as you don’t want them disappearing into your leg.

4) Try one with a heel to make your legs appear really long.

5) If you’re not sure what color outfits to pair them with start with with dark denim, dark or strong colors i.e. green, red, blue, pinks, black. They also go really well white and with a bit of beige/nude.

6) In summer pair them with lighter denim and or pastel colors for a light and fresh summer look.

7) Yes you can wear them with flowery patterns.

8) Don’t wear all beige with nude shoes, make sure you add a block color to break up the beige – too much beige is not a good thing.

Have fun with Nude shoes. - Go Nude!

Elizabeth xx

Do share with us: Why do you love shoes???