Australia’s Newest Fashion Event Premieres in Sydney this May

When you hear the story of how Sonya Mefaddi (pictured) created Australia’s newest fashion event, you can’t help but be impressed by this softly spoken, 26 year old business dynamo! With no previous experience in event management or the inner workings of the fashion industry, Sonya took up the challenge to create a premiere fashion event two years ago. Confident there were others like herself who would like to get a look at the inner workings of the fashion world and not just the finished product, Sonya came up with Fashion Palette.

Sonya Meffadi told Australian Women Online, “From my perspective when fashion week comes around it’s a bit disappointing in that there’s not an event that is open to the public. I also found there was a lack of support in the fashion community for up and coming designers.” Read more

The Most Attractive Celebrity Lips Uncovered

Lesser known Italian actress Monica Bellucci has beaten Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson for the title of the most attractive celebrity lips in the world. The contest for the world’s most attractive celebrity lips was judged by unique Baileys Lip Attractiveness Software developed by Baileys ‘Lipologist’ Dr Kendra Schmid (pictured) who says when it comes to luscious lips – a more natural look is best.

Dr Kendra Schmid is a biometrics specialist in face recognition and facial attractiveness from the USA, recruited by Baileys to determine how attractive lips are according to scientific formulas. The software Dr Schmid developed with Baileys rates lips on a 10-point attractiveness scale, assessing lip proportions, size and fullness, texture, colour and shape. Read more

HIA Home Show in Sydney

Home owners and enthusiasts will get new ideas to transform even the most modest room into an escape they won’t want to leave when the HIA Sydney Home Show comes to the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre from Thursday 30 April to Sunday 3 May 2009.

While an exotic holiday might not be on the cards in the current economic climate, there is greater focus on inspiring decorating ideas that can effectively transform a home into a retreat-style escape you won’t want to leave – making the home a destination in itself! Read more

Cherry Tomato Pastries with Persillade

We often hear about people having too much salt in their diet, however most people don’t realise that salt is essential for our bodies to function – in fact we can’t live without it!

Due to pollution in the ocean, most types of salt require stringent processing that can remove elements such as calcium and magnesium, which are naturally occurring in sea salt. Lake Crystal Salt is simply skimmed from the surface of a lake and harvested, making it one of Australia’s most pure and natural salts.

Lake Crystal Salt is distributed through Pacchini & Sons and can be purchased from Woolworths Supermarkets, Coles Supermarkets, independent grocers, fruiterers and delicatessens from RRP $3.95. Lake Crystal Salt is available as a 100g grinder and a 250g zip-lock pouch in fine or coarse salt granules.

INGREDIENTS Read more

Keeping Yourself Sane and Your Kids Busy in the Easter School Holidays

As busy parents, we always have different ideas about school holidays from our kids. For grown-ups, holidays are about relaxing and taking time out and getting a much needed break. For the kids it’s a time for excitement, mischief and adventure. So how can we relax while the nagging is constantly drilling through our brains: “Mum, I’m sooooo bored…”?

According to Simone Chen, founder of ourkidz.com.au “If the parents start to think about the holiday and plan for it from now, the chance is that both the parents and the kids will have a great time
together,” she said.

“There are so many activities and programs around that are specially designed for kids during the April holiday, and a lot of them are either free of charge or low-cost.” Read more

How to Afford a Husband or Any Other Live-In Lover by Justine Davies

Financial planner and blogger Justine Davies tackles everything you could possibly need to know about living in financial harmony with the one you love in her practical new book How to Afford a Husband.

Finding a soul-mate is one thing – love, laughter, great times! – but getting joined at the hip pocket – stress, rows, resentment! – can be another.

“Opposites attract” the saying goes, and along with different opinions on food, television programs and hobbies, couples can also have quite different attitudes towards money. No wonder finances are one of the main reasons for relationship conflict.

But in How to Afford a Husband…or any other live-in lover, Justine Davies shows couples how they can avoid all the usual money traps and arguments.

This new book will not only help people to run their day-to-day finances more successfully, but enable them to make „big picture‟ financial decisions with confidence. It includes advice for couples on: Setting goals and working together Budgeting, saving and debt strategies Insurance, investing and estate planning Buying a house, setting up a business and starting a family. Read more

Anzac Day around the world

At dawn across Australia and around the world, Australians gather on 25 April to honour the men and women who have served our nation in times of war and peace.

Attending a Dawn Service on Anzac Day is a very Australian tradition and no matter where in the world you find yourself on this special day, there can often be a gathering of Australians ready to commemorate our veterans. Whether bracing against the cold winds at Gallipoli, crunching through the frost in Northern France or retracing the route of the Burma-Thai railway, Australian travellers will be gathering together on Anzac Day.

This year the Australian Government will be holding services at the sites of some of Australia’s more-recognised battles and greatest losses around the world—at Hellfire Pass in Thailand, Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, Sandakan in Malaysia, Villers-Bretonneux in France, and of course Gallipoli in Turkey where the Anzac legend was born. Read more

Thousands to take part in National Close the Gap Day

Thousands of Australians will take part in events to mark the third annual National Close the Gap Day on Thursday 2 April, to urge State and Federal Governments to end the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health crisis.

More than 400 events taking place in schools, workplaces, shopping centres, community halls, churches and public spaces throughout the country include bush tucker days, Indigenous music performances, school children spelling out CLOSE THE GAP, preview screenings of the new Indigenous film Samson and Delilah, mural painting and Aboriginal community controlled health service open days.

Chair of the Close the Gap steering committee and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma, whose 2005 Social Justice Report laid the groundwork for the Close the Gap campaign, said the day was about celebrating the achievements of the campaign to close the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Read more

Bullying and Sexual Harrassment in the Workplace

According to the latest CareerOne.com.au survey, Australians being bullied and sexually harassed in the workplace are not reporting the incidents because they fear ruining their career.

Of the 788 respondents surveyed, 62 per cent had been bullied and 29 per cent had been sexually harassed. Most of the respondents who had been bullied (59 per cent) or sexually harassed (74 per cent) didn’t report the incident.

Kate Southam, editor of CareerOne.com.au said workers could find themselves more vulnerable in this cost cutting climate. Read more

Fish with Chilli & Cumin

Fish is a popular choice on Good Friday and Australians have a great range of fish to choose from. Among the traditional favourites are barramundi and John Dory (also know as St Peter’s fish in Europe), a mild and delicate white flesh fish best when grilled whole or roasted in the oven. If you want to give your omega 3 levels a boost, then choose oily fish such as salmon or ocean trout.

Fish with Chilli is a simple recipe. Marinade fillets in a combination of lime juice, cumin, olive oil, Gourmet Garden Coriander and Chilli; season with salt and pepper; then add tomato, corn and onion to the marinade before BBQ or char-grilling.

Ingredients
800g (30oz) firm white-fleshed fillets (suggest dory, perch or snapper)
1 1/2 cups fresh or canned corn kernels
2 green onions, finely diced
Chilli & Cumin Marinade
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp Gourmet Garden Coriander
2 tsp Gourmet Garden Chilli

Procedure
Step 1: For marinade: Combine lime juice, oil, cumin, Gourmet Garden Coriander and Chilli. Season with salt and pepper. Pour half the mixture over fillets in shallow dish, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Place corn, onion, tomato in a bowl (keep aside). Add remaining marinade to mixture, mix to combine.

Step 3: Preheat BBQ or char-grill. Cook fish over moderate heat for 2-3 mins each side or until cooked to your liking. Serve with corn mixture.

Gourmet Garden has over 150 recipes to see you through the holiday season and beyond at www.gourmetgarden.com

Next Page »