sweet lime and spiced tea

mid-week { sake } tasting

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:40:00 +0000

A Japanese sake master, a peppering of sake enthusiasts and a handful of sake newcomers gathered at the recently re-opened Wintergarden Wagamama restaurant last night for a rice wine affair.

Led by Toshi Maeda we started our night with a sparkling sake and continued with warm sake, chilled sake and sake on ice. My previous exposure to this traditional Japanese beverage is minimal and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed introducing my palette to the variety of sake flavours.

The top 4 things Toshi taught me about sake:

1. A.K.A Nihonshu: In Japan sake refers to the litany of alcoholic drinks: beer, whiskey, vodka etc etc. Looking for a glass of sake to match your Asian cuisine while dining in the land of the rising sun? Ask for Nihonshu and you’ll soon be advised of a range of rice wine drinks to choose from.

2. The lowdown: The two main ingredients of sake are rice (premium sake rice is used by Japanese brewers) and water. The flavour (and the amount of casholla you’ll have to part with) is influenced by the polishing ratio of the rice. The lower the polishing ratio, the less refined the flavour. The higher the polishing ratio, the better the flavour and the higher the price.

3. Warm up or cool down: The best sake is cold sake. Chilled sake amps up the flavours while warm sake dulls the strong tastes created by the fermentation process.

4. Put down your shochu: Didn’t think there was a sake you could toast with? The newest sake trend, sparkling sake, is the perfect drink to begin your foray into the world of sake. Sweeter (and less alcoholic) than its counterparts; the flavours are not as robust.

Though I’m unlikely to become a sake aficionado after one night of sake tasting I will be a little more daring in finding a sake to pair with my Japanese food experiences.

{ diane von furstenberg } NYC penthouse

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 09:48:00 +0000

Perched upon her workspace in the Meatpacking district of NYC, Diane von Furstenberg has dealt this penthouse a Furstenburg one-two punch: eclectic prints, splashes of colour and overflowing with glamour.

The building houses the designer's studio, her flagship store and this decadent personal space. Diane has brought a whole new meaning to bringing your work home with you!

(diane von furstenberg)

dogs in { blogs }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:37:00 +0000

I have two puppies and two kittens who I adore. I would actually have a whole menagerie if I didn't live in a house with no backyard and if I could stand any more white hair on every single black piece of clothing I own. So when I came across these doggy blogs I had to share.

Maddie on Things
Um I'm pretty sure these aren't photoshopped - how do Maddie's owners get her to stand on so many crazy things - a horse, a bike, her owners shoulders? Gorgeous photography too.

Food on my Dog
I thought this was an absolute crack up - the look on the puppy's face? Adorbs!

So now you know what I've been chuckling at this week. What crazy / different blogs have you been checking out on the interwebs?

ten things that are { awesome }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:27:00 +0000

It's all about the little things. Here are ten awesome things I'm digging this week:

Not matching your nail and toenail polish. I'm rockin' a disco glitter pedi and a hanging-on-to-the-last-dregs-of-summer coral on my digits.

2. Parting your hair on the opposite side for a no-mousse bouffant.

3. Accepting you love bad reality TV. I watch Biggest Loser every night and bawl my eyes out every time. I draw the line at My Kitchen Rules, however.

4. The iPhone thing where you press the top and bottom buttons and it captures your screen - my phone is fast filling up with take-anywhere inspiration.

5. Sunshine.

6. I know it's unbridled consumerism that it's only February and Easter eggs are in the shops - but there's something about the chocolate. It's different - thinner, creamer, and infinitely more delicious. Mmmmm.

7. Neon and neutrals - love a fresh new colour combination.

8. Lady Smaggle's 'Why Don't You?' posts.

9. Getting new magazine subscriptions in the mail.

10. This video clip.

(toes, bouffant, sunshine, neon)

what's your { style }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:27:00 +0000

Do you ever look into your wardrobe, at your piles and racks of clothes and think 'I have nothing to wear?' Yup, that's me at the moment (and it drives my boyfriend crazy!)

I was reading this post Nikki wrote over at Styling You and I thought 'yes - that's it!' Despite the fact that I have a wardrobe full of clothes, I've changed in the last few months and my old wardrobe just doesn't feel like me any more.

My old job was corporate and I worked with all males who had a propensity for elastic sided boots and chinos on casual Friday - I got (not flattering) comments whenever I ventured out with something as bold as a red lippy. Naturally, the place didn't really foster sartorial daring. However, now I work in an office filled with natural light, where we talk about clothes and where brightly coloured lips are the norm.

So, my old wardrobe doesn't fit with how I want to be perceived - the new me.

Naturally, the ol' interwebs has come to my rescue. I don't want to rush out and replace my entire wardrobe this week (well I do actually, but inconveniently have a mortgage to pay) so these steps are going to help me work what I've got by replacing a few staples:

Wardrobe Rehab
I'm a big chucker. I don't hold on to things and seasonally clean out my wardrobe but this time I held on to a few things I probably shouldn't have just to 'keep my options open'. I've actually realised it's a lot easier to have fewer options because not only does it make it easier to see what you've got hanging in your closet, it reduces your chances of trying on 37 different tops every morning only to decide on the first one you chose. So - less is more. If you haven't worn it in 3 months, chances are you won't. Chuck.

On the note of having more space in your wardrobe - once you've done a purge, hang up everything. And not on ratty, wire hangers either. Go out and get yourself some pretty hangers and hang up everything except for your underwear. I could never find my t-shirts when they were folded - ten white shirts look like one big mess when stacked. It's way easier to choose an outfit when things are hung up like you would find in a boutique.

Define your Style
This is probably where I am struggling at the moment - basically because I change my mind every five minutes. One minute I'm feeling girly, full skirts, then it's leather and skulls, then classic french chic. Lucky for me, there are common elements across all of these styles, which is made easier to see when you create a bit of a mood board for yourself. I've started pinning images of fashionistas whose style I love to pinterest which makes it easy to see what I'm missing or how I can create the look with pieces from my own wardrobe. Checking out a ton of fashion blogs also helps with finding inspiration - I'd have to say I would love the wardrobe of Lucy Laucht, Atlantic-Pacific or Karla's Kloset (and her hair!) and I also follow some pretty stylish women on tumblr - so I have no shortage of style inspiration!

Mapping your Wardrobe
You might want to make sure you've got lots of time because you're going to have to pull eeeeverything out. And it also helps to have your inspiration pics at the ready. Basically, pull everything out of your wardrobe and put it in piles - shirts, skirts, shorts etc. Now comes the fun part - mixing and matching! Using your inspiration images as a guide, replicate some of the outfits using your own flair - don't forget to add jewellery and accessories too. I've then taken a bunch of polaroid pics of outfits I loved and stuck them on the door of my wardrobe - if I'm stuck for what to wear at 8.42 when I'm due to start work at 9, I know I've always got a backup plan! It's basically like Cher from Clueless - and what girl didn't want that computerised cupboard thing...

Stocking Up
If you thought mapping your wardrobe was fun (I did say that, didn't I) then this next step is even more so. Shopping! Now you've got an idea of what you're missing, it's a lot easier not to get lost in the shops with an armful of sequins when you really went in for a basic black singlet. I know I'm missing the perfect white tee (and black tee for that matter), a pair of tan wedges that will go with anything and a white button down. Any shopping destination tips for these elusive items much appreciated!

...

What's your style? How do you organise your wardrobe? Any tips for me in defining my personal style? Share your comments below - we love hearing from you!

(eep! Some of these images have been on my computer for a while - if they are yours please let me know! Other images from Lucy Laucht, Atlantic-Pacific, Gal Meets Glam)

{ 30 day } affirmation challenge update

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:13:00 +0000

We're well and truly into our affirmation challenge for January and it seems like plenty of you are joining us for the ride!

So what have we learned?

I have to admit, I've not found it easy to do affirmations every day, but I will say that I'm definitely more aware of my 'inner critic'. You know how I mentioned in my last post on affirmations that we'd never speak to our lovers or friends the way we speak to ourselves? I've found out I'm a real meany when it comes to my inner voice! However, while I can be a bit hard on myself, the affirmation challenge has certainly made me more aware of this tendency which is the first step towards kicking the habit.

One thing I've found is that it helps to have constant reminders, even attaching your affirmations to things you see everyday. I've found a few 'triggers' in my life that have reminded me to do my affirmations, because let's face it, when you're caught up in your daily life, things like these can be the first to go! One of my favourite triggers is a sign that I see every day on my way to work. I'm not sure if it's graffiti or art but, oddly positioned under an overpass in the Valley, giant red stenciled letters say: "The more I think about it, the bigger it gets." Seems like it was written just for me - a reminder that focusing on the good brings more good into my life. (On further research, it's a public art installation by Brisbane artist Sebastian Moody and it's goal is to "create a place for philosophical contemplation in urban environments.")

So would I keep going with affirmations? You know, it's actually really nice to have a cheerleader in your corner reminding you about how awesome you are. Regardless of whether you're reciting mantras in the mirror every morning or just appreciating a piece of public art and it's ability to make you smile, a little self love goes a long way.

....

Some bonus tips - I've been loving Jess from the Wellness Warrior's daily affirmations on twitter and Notes from The Universe are a daily dose of cute delivered to your inbox. One of my favourites?

If you were able to look back at your most brilliant successes, stunning comebacks, amazing catches, and smokin' ideas, Claire, and you were to find that virtually all of them seemed to materialize out of thin air, when you least expected them, and that they had exceeded even your greatest expectations at the time, how excited would you be about the new year and whatever else I've got up my sleeve?

Hubba, hubba -
The Universe

...

So how have you been keeping up with your affirmations? Any tips you've picked up that you want to share? We'd love to hear!

(Quote)

sweet lime and spiced tea on { the urban list }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:28:00 +0000

Hello lovely blog followers! Well it's been a touch quiet on the blogging front from me (not so much on the 'real life' front - I've started a new job that I couldn't be more excited about). I've missed you! While posting from me might be a little sporadic as I get into the groove of 2012, we've still got plenty on the go.

If you're not a regular on our Sweet Lime Facebook page or following us on Twitter, you might be wondering what we're doing with ourselves every Wednesday. Well, we're regular columnists on a fabuloso site, The Urban List where you can read all about goings on in Brisbane and beyond. Some of the things we've written about lately? We're so glad you asked:

New age fitness trends for 2012 - We spoke to the delightful Claire from Black Dove for her take on the fitness trends for 2012. Her thoughts? A return to nature (running, surfing, biking) and a focus on holistic health rather than weight loss.

Declutter you life - The new year is the perfect time to get your life in order. We spoke about our top tips for getting your wardrobe to look like the pic above!

Words of Wisdom - Instead of resolutions, we put together our words to live by for 2012 - starting with a dedication to being more awesome!

The 'it' drink of 2012 - We spoke to Kal, manager of the hip Laneway Bar on his top tips for the it drink of 2012. You heard it here first - prosecco, rose and German boutique beers!

...

{ homemade } olive oil & sugar exfoliant

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:15:00 +0000

My Saturday afternoon project involved making my own exfoliant. It's the one product that has been missing from my beauty routine. And since we love all things chemical free here at Sweet Lime I thought I would try out a simple, all-natural recipe.

I made a little video to share the process - my video skills are sketchy but it was fun to give it a go!

{ friday streetstyle } trousers

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:34:00 +0000

Men's style trousers. Comfy, coloured, dressed down with a white tee, warmed up with a coat.

Wear them any which way.

a little bit of { chevron }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:18:00 +0000

I'm seeing chevron everywhere at the moment. Chevron nails, decor, DIY and plenty of outfit posts are circling the interwebs and it's fun to be a little less straight and a lot more zig-zaggin'.

Here are a couple of my fav pics.

...

Have you been rocking chevron in your wardrobe or home?

(chevron shirt, nails, curtains, table, bag, holga, couch, bedroom,

{ running } for beginners

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:41:00 +0000

I’ve blogged previously about my switch from an avid runner to a yoga lover. I confess I haven’t been doing much of either lately. However, with a new year I have answered the call of my yoga mat and made my way back to yoga classes. My well worn running shoes have also been taunting me as I walk past them each morning – so I am taking up the challenge, leveraging the new year momentum and pounding the early morning pavement once again.

Since it’s been a while since I laced up my runners I thought I would share some of my tips for starting on the running path.

1. Ditch the memories of your old exercise habits – good or bad. I tend to frame my exercise memories in two ways: either as horrible memories of P.E classes in the 9th grade where I couldn’t stand the idea of running 100m nevertheless 20km or as joyous memories of endorphin highs from Sunday afternoon long runs in my mid 20s. Neither of the memories are motivating, one fills me with dread, the other scares me into thinking that I can’t ever reach that level of fitness fabulousness again. Better to start afresh: make some new memories.

2. Plan your runs & don’t overdo it. I want to be out there running 12 kms on my first day. But I know that’s not possible. Better to start at 2km (or run for a minute, walk for a minute and build up from there). And book it in. Diarise it, schedule it, make it happen!

3. Find a friend. I am a bit of a lone runner – I treat it as a meditation tool, time to clear my mind and focus only on my breathing. But I enjoy scheduling a once a week run with a friend/family member/my husband. There’s no better motivation than knowing that someone else is waiting to hit the track with you.

4. Do some reading. We’re fans of chi running here at Sweet Lime and I also love reading other bloggers who chat about their running trials and tribulations (I especially love this post at Zen Habits). It’s inspiring to read about what other runners are up to & get some info on how to deal with injuries.

5. And while we’re on the topic of injuries. Don’t let them discourage you. There are lots of resources out there to help you (personal trainers, physios, medical professionals) –sometimes all you need is to adjust your running style, get a massage or take a break.

6. Bask in getting your mojo back! Speaking from personal experience there is not a lot that makes me feel as alive as running. The rush of reaching your goal kms and watching your fitness improve is well worth the pain.

And more important than anything, be proud of yourself for just showing up. Because that's a pretty good place to start.

{ spring }

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:15:00 +0000

Spring is a marketplace, cooking school, gourmet deli, coffee shop, restaurant and emporium of delectables (their sweet treats are to die for) all rolled into one.

Brisbane's newest CBD eatery opened late last year on the corner of Mary and Felix St and lucky for me it is just around the corner from my day job (I'll admit I'd been patiently waiting for it to open - glimpsing in the windows, watching it come to life). Even luckier for me: they stock a range of heavenly lunch options. There's eggplant caviar and mint chutney sandwiches, pisaladiere and a range of salads to choose from.

I don't have a penchant for coffee but am squarely a lover of hot chocolates. And their hot chocolates have my tick of approval: creamy and silky smooth.

Their cooking school will be run by chef Joshue Lopez and the classes will allow for lunchtime cooking lessons. Something I'm looking forward to trying out.

There's been a shortage of CBD coffee spots and I'm hoping Spring kicks off a city cafe revolution.

(spring)

2012 { golden globes }

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:50:00 +0000

As much as last season was all about crayon-box brights and orange and fuscia hues this season’s threads are drenched in jewel tones. Hollywood’s fashionistas aren’t shying away from this rich colour palette, rocking sapphire, emerald and ruby fabrics on the 2012 Golden Globes red carpet.

From Freida Pinto to Sofia Vergara, there wasn’t any pale shades in sight (I swoon after Sofia Vergara's gown).

I’m looking forward to this trend making its way to the Southern Hemisphere this Autumn!

(images via popsugar)

have you met { miss jones }

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:10:00 +0000

My search for some new, cute & simple jewellery has come to an end.

Have you met miss jones primarily create beautiful interior pieces made from bone china, clay pottery and capiz shell but they've embarked on a contemporary & fun jewellery line. Each piece is handmade in Australia and I am particularly enamoured with the threaded spool.

Drop into their online store and let us know what you think!

a splash of { blue }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:27:00 +0000

They say change is as good as a holiday and since I'm still on holidays (until Monday when I start my new job - yay!) I've been changing up my home decor in a bid to keep things fresh and new well into 2012.

I'm starting with the living room and have been shifting couches left, right and centre. The biggest change has been to my bookshelves, which were previously a murky shade of brown and way too matchy - matchy with my TV cabinet and couches.

I was inspired by the image below, which has a similar layout to my lounge / kitchen (which made it extra easy to visualise!) and while I couldn't convince the Mr to reupholster our couch in turquoise, I did manage to bring him around to the idea of adding a splash of colour to our otherwise neutral abode.

I repainted our previously black/brown ikea bookshelves in waterlily, after a couple of good coats of primer. I didn't even have to sand and the result is even, rich colour with no show through of the darker colour underneath. Now it's a matter of filling the shelves with coffee table books and the vintage cameras bought on ebay that have been waiting for a place to shine!

I'm planning on pairing the newly colour popping bookshelves with some really basic cushions (like the image below - love the 3 cushion) and some accessories in bright orange and navy.

And if you're looking for some inspiration on how to bring a splash of summer colour to your home, check out these beauties:

...

Have you been doing any redecorating over the holidays? Are you into bright colours or prefer a more neutral living space? Let us know in the comments below!

(inspiration, real living mag, collage - pinterest, interiors porn, saved on my computer - let us know if they are yours!)

30 day { affirmation } challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0000

There's no doubt there's something in this. Some of the most amazing women in the world swear by it. So what better way to start off the year than with challenging myself to tap into a practice undertaken by people who have changed their own lives and those of people around them.

I'm talkin' about affirmations.

Whether it's standing in front of the mirror and declaring your undying love for yourself or just stopping patterns of negative thoughts, affirmations are about putting positive energy out into the universe. Sounds a bit airy fairy, but if it's good enough for Oprah, one of the most successful and vocal proponents of affirmations, then it's good enough for me.

Whatever you think of her, Oprah has come from nothing to be a pretty amazing woman who inspires people everywhere to live their best life. What's not to love? I was recently sent a link to her online life classes, and by chance the first video I watched was an interview with Cheryl Richardson on the topic of You Are What You Believe. Because I am a sucker for product placement, I immediately bought Cheryl's book, You Can Create An Exceptional Life, and devoured it in one sitting. The biggest wake up call for me was a line which makes sense: "We make ourselves right. Our beliefs become the rules we live by". Basically it all comes back to 'extreme self care', as Cheryl puts it. You'd never say to your best friend or your lover "you'll never be able to do that" or "you look terrible today" so why do we say it to ourselves? And when you're constantly receiving positive affirmations about yourself and your abilities, while quashing those pesky negative thoughts, you can't help but react to situations more openly.

When you think about it, it actually makes a whole lotta sense. Regardless of whether or not it's completely realistic that you'll be earning a million dollars a year, putting the message out to the universe that you're ready to prosper and be rewarded for your hard work is guaranteed to make you more receptive to opportunities that may lead to this.

So, we've decided to challenge ourselves and put the challenge out to all of you, lovely readers. Thirty days, just you and your mirror and some words that make you feel like you can achieve anything.

The Challenge
For the next month, we'll be using affirmations in our day to day lives. From the moment we get up in the morning, we'll be replacing negativity with positive words, focussing on a few key mantras to stimulate the laws of attraction. Personally, I'm going to be taking Jas's lead and starting a journal. The experts say spending just a few minutes journalling each morning, finishing with a few affirmations for the day, will set you up for positivity in every encounter.

A few of our lovely bloggy friends have written about how they bring positivity to their day to day lives (which is really how we see these affirmations):

Sian from Twelve by One has some awesome tips on how to start off the day on the right side of the bed.
Brooke from The Style Net talks about a negative reinforcement trick of wearing an elastic band on your wrist and giving it a ping every time a negative thought creeps into your head.
Louise Hay, affirmations guru (can you believe how good she looks for a woman in her 80's??) believes self awareness is vital - when you catch yourself ruminating on a negative thought, simply send some positive energy to the person or issue.

How-to Affirmations

In order to make sure your affirmations resonate, here's a couple of hot tips:

They have to be present tense. Danielle La Porte calls them Done Deals and Cheryl calls it Acting As If. There's nothing more exciting than visualizing yourself already reaching those goals, none of this whimpy 'what if'.
Definitely throw an 'I love you' to yourself in there too. There's nothing nicer than hearing those three little words, now is there?
Get out a pen and paper - it's been proven that we're more likely to achieve our goals if we've got them scribbled down (and displayed in a prominent place) - what better excuse to break out the coloured pens or do what I've always wanted to do and scrawl yourself a love note in lippy on the bathroom mirror!

My final comment comes again from the notes I frantically scribbled when watching the Oprah life class. Affirmations plus action equal miracles. My skepticism immediately disappeared when I heard this line. There's no suggestion that sitting around eating lindt chocolate balls and affirming that you're going to be your healthiest self is going to work. We still have to show up. But how awesome is it to have a little self love helping us along the way.

...

And to make it even easier to start an affirmation habit this year, we've created some free affirmation cards (a few of which you can see in the image above) for you to download and print (low resolution affirmation cards can be downloaded here). They're business card sized so you can keep them in your purse, on the fridge or your mirror, even stuck to your computer screen at work!

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Are you already using affirmations in your daily life? Do you have any tips for Jas and I? What affirmations make you super duper excited to live life?

{ maison & mode } julie from shri yoga

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:30:00 +0000

We all feel more inspired and motivated at the beginning of a new year. There's something about a fresh start that encourages us to take better care of both our bodies and spirits. And so it felt fitting to have our much loved yoga teacher, Julie Smerdon (owner of the amazing Shri yoga studio), be the first visitor for Maison & Mode this year.

Her story is a reminder that we should all seek out/chase/hunt down (!!) things in our lives that make us feel awakened and joyful!

Who, what, when, where, why?

Who am I...sheesh! Like most women, I have lots of ‘labels’ that define me: wife, mum, teacher, girlfriend, sister, lover, business owner, confidante to name a few. I’m from Chicago originally, but have lived here with my Brissy-born husband and three kids for 2.5 years now. I first dabbled in Yoga in the 1990s, when I was an aerobics teacher and personal trainer. I used Yoga mainly as cross training and I loved it, but didn’t take it too seriously.

I was really fortunate in that my first teacher was a classically trained and very knowledgeable teacher, which you don’t often find in a gym setting. In 1999, a 24-year battle with an autoimmune disorder culminated in a flare-up so severe that I nearly died. I had heart surgery in July, 1999 followed by the removal of my entire colon 5 weeks later, and would need yet another major surgery in early 2000.

I turned to Yoga during my recovery, thinking it would be a good ‘stepping stone’ back to my rather punishing fitness regime. You see, having battled with illness since the age of 13, my way of dealing with the disappointment I had with my body was to literally ‘beat my body into submission’ through exercise.

During the time post-surgery, I practiced Yoga faithfully, although in the beginning my yoga consisted of lying on the floor, stretching my arms overhead and breathing. I felt so good after I practiced. Each session gave me a feeling of being expanded and full of vitality. I had no idea why, but I knew that I was on to something. I did eventually recover and briefly went back to teaching fitness classes, but I never stopped practicing Yoga. Yoga had had such a profound impact on my life that I decided to pursue teacher training so I could share it.

Not surprisingly, the first styles of Yoga I was drawn to were the styles where the body is seen as a ‘problem’, and through a severe sort of practice, subjugated. Not long after I began teaching Yoga in 2002, I happened into the class of a local Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher I knew. I typically avoided his classes because they left me feeling ‘small’ and frustrated, but he was filling in for another teacher that evening and there was no way I could gracefully make an exit. This guy’s class was SO totally different that night, I will never forget it. In one class he showed me how to relieve the constant pain I had in my hamstring attachments, and he was light and loving, and actually fun! He had been completely transformed. I stayed after class to ask him about the change and he told me about John Friend and Anusara, and invited me to go to Boston with him and a group to a workshop that John was doing.

So I went, and at the end of the first class that weekend I knew I had found my home and my teacher. John has taught me that life and embodiment are gifts to be savoured, not problems to be overcome. That first weekend John’s theme was ‘Celebrating Diversity’. I think I did 5 or 6 poses that I never dreamed I’d be able to do over the course of those first two days with him, all the while celebrating life, and taking my first baby steps toward learning to love a body that I felt had let me down.

What made you decide to run your own yoga studio?

By the time I moved to Brisbane I had been teaching Yoga for 8 years back in the US, but it was not originally my intention to open a studio in here. I began my career here by teaching at another local studio, which enabled me, as one of only 4 certified Anusara teachers in Australia, to travel around Australia teaching workshops and working with teachers interested in learning the method. In Brisbane, I was looking to connect into a local Yoga ‘community’, and I was becoming frustrated by my inability to do so. I had this vision in my head of what it should be like.

One day, when I was talking (read: complaining) to my husband Layne about this, he looked up from his laptop and said “If you’re not finding the Yoga community you want here, why don’t you just CREATE one?”. Duh. It made total sense, but we had put ourselves in somewhat of a precarious financial position by moving an entire family across the world at age 47, and Layne had a fledgling business of his own at that time, which made the idea of a studio seem even more risky.

I was scared, and very seriously looked into the idea of getting a full-time desk job and just teaching an evening class or two each week. About this time, I went to Hawaii where I would be teaching two retreats that had been on my schedule for over a year. I was also about halfway through the interview process with Virgin Australia and things were looking promising with them.

The retreat centre where I taught was run by a beautiful native Hawaiian woman; very tuned in spiritually and an expert on the indigenous practices of the Hawaiian people. She took our group on a tour of some sacred sites on Maui, not the touristy ones, but places that very few people knew about. One of them was a place where 4 streams converged as they travelled down a mountain. It was considered a high holy place. After she talked to the group, most of them wandered off to look around and she and I began to talk. We found that we shared several common areas of unsettledness in our lives. She told me that the ancient Hawaiians used the place we were visiting as a place to seek answers. She told me to go the the stream and find a place on the banks to meditate. She said to bring my ‘issues’ to the river and ask for clarity, and then to get into the water (which was FREEZING), try and get myself into a position where the water was rushing over my head, and let the water wash away anything that was hindering my ability to clearly see my path.

So I did. I sat embraced in the roots of a tree on the banks, and immediately began to cry as I brought my frustrations and issues to mind. After a time I got in the water and stayed there as long as I could handle the cold. Then I got out again and sat and meditated.

There were two things that were sparkling and clear to me:

1. was to trust Layne, and that his business would prosper.

2. was that I am a Yoga teacher and I need to go back and focus on teaching Yoga, and the best way to do that would be to take the leap of faith to open a studio.

That was two years ago this March and the journey has been incredibly rich and rewarding. I tell people all the time I have never worked this hard in my entire life, but at no time have I ever felt like it was a struggle, or like I was swimming upstream, so to speak.

This past May I went back to Maui for a retreat with John Friend, and I visited that same place in the stream to offer thanks for the tremendous adventure this has been. At the end of my time there, I reached into the river asking for a memento I could take home with me. I pulled up a rock from the riverbed in the perfect shape of a heart, which now sits on the altar at the studio.

What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

I have lots of favourites; probably right now it’s handstand – super invigorating and empowering! I don’t think I ever come down from handstand not feeling better than I did before I went up.

Favourite place in Australia?

I honestly think that Brisbane is Australia’s best-kept secret. I LOVE it here, the people, the ease of getting around, the weather. It is a vibrant, very up-and-coming city, and I’m proud to call it home now.

What book/magazine is on your bedside table?

LOL (it’s a big stack)– my journal, Book of Secrets by Osho, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda, and The Brain that Changes itself by Norman Doidge.

What are your tips on being spiritually fit in the new year?

I look at spiritual ‘fitness’ as a routine or practice that consistently connects you not only with a bigger energy that enlivens the best and deepest parts of you, but connects you with others – as human beings we all possess the same potential to be lit up in this way. That kind practice can certainly be Yoga and meditation, but also anything you do that leaves you feeling alive and spacious and fully connected to life!

...

(sunrise yoga)

{ where and wear } sono

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:07:00 +0000

It's officially 2012 and I was lucky enough to ring in the new year with my nearest and dearest at Sono, Portside Wharf. A prime position for fireworks (my favourite are the gold glitter ones that 'pop'), easily accessible via public transport (no 4 hour cab waits for us) and my favourite food (Japanese) it was the perfect way to say sayonara to the year that was and konnichi wa to what I am positive is going to be a stellar 2012!

Where:

Sono, Portside Wharf is arguably one of the best Japanese restaurants in Brisbane (and I think I am a bit of a connoisseur). It's traditional Japanese food, unlike some of the more modern twists you will find at some Japanese restaurants in the city. The menu can be a little overwhelming, with pages of sashimi, seafood and my boyfriend's favourite, wagyu steak, so we opted for the tasting menu. Six courses of the best the chef has to offer, we also loved that we could choose anything off the a la carte menu, despite it being New Years Eve. Throw in a couple of bowls of edamame and a few bottles of sake and we were pretty happy campers. Not only was the food to die for, the timing of the tasting menu was perfection. We were seated at 9, just in time to see the fireworks, and finished our last dessert course just before the clock struck 12, leaving us with ample time to pay our bill and head out under the stars to see the start of 2012.

Wear:

It was all glitz and glamour - there's no other way to celebrate, is there? I was planning on being sensible and pulling out one of the many party dresses already in my wardrobe, but at 4pm on Saturday afternoon, I decided 'nuts to that' and went on a whirlwind shopping spree. I picked up a new dress, new shoes and a new necklace - not good for the budget but I felt like a million bucks as we watched the shower of fireworks at midnight. I picked up the Nine West pumps (just the right nude - more pinkish rather than that beige colour nude) on sale for half price and they'll be perfect for my classic work wardrobe when I head back to the office next week.

...

Where did you ring in the New Year? What did you wear? Have you made any habit shifts (instead of resolutions)? What did you learn in 2011?

(sono, fireworks)

{ 2012 } is here

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:14:00 +0000

The bells have chimed midnight and 2012 has begun!

For the first time in many years I don't have a list of resolutions. My resolutions never seem to make it past ~~February~~ January, so this year I am focusing on habits I can shift or create. Positive habits will stick around longer and will help make room in my life for me to chase my bigger dreams!

I'm in no rush to pencil a long lineup of habits I want to change (all that ever does is make me feel worse when I can't achieve everything on the list!). But I am committed to sitting down weekly and coming up with a new habit I want to work on for the next month. The habits will be as simple as hanging my jacket up in the right spot when I get home everyday, to those requiring more commitment (like daily exercise). Some weeks I may not be able to come up with a habit I want to change, other weeks there may be more than one.

To kick off I started January '12 with these two habit shifts:

1. Reading: I admitted to Claire today that I haven't read an entire book in 4 months (!!). I have a book obsession and usually fly through several a month. My new habit? Reading every night before I hit the sack. To help me along I've bought myself a few fun (& not too serious) novels.

2. Journalling: For half an hour each day (that seems doable...) I'm going to sit with my new Orange Circle Studio vintage floral journal and scrawl my thoughts for the day. Perfectionist tendencies will be left at the door, and whatever comes to mind will find it's way to paper. The aim is a safe harbour to explore new ideas and find fresh insight - with no censorship!

Did you make a list of resolutions? What changes do you have planned for 2012?

(habit)

11 things { we } learnt in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:54:00 +0000

Before we slip into our highest heels and pour a glass of Moet Claire and I are marking the start of another 365 days by doing a little reflecting about the year gone by. Here are 11 things we've learnt in 2011...

Claire

1. Sounds a bit new age, but trust that the universe (fate, whatever you want to call it) will provide. Particularly in the last few weeks, I’ve realised that some things are just meant to be. They feel right, making you want to skip down the street wearing rainbow colours. What will be, will be, everything happens for a reason… you get the picture.

2. How to code CSS in blogger - no mean feat!

3. How to push up into a handstand from crow pose. It’s all about prana (life force / energy) in your legs and feet – and keeping those stomach muscles in nice and tight.

4. How to cook quinoa (and that I really don’t like quinoa. At all.)

5. That I really do love meeting inspiring people and brainstorming ideas with them. Not sure why it took me as long as this to work it out, but 2011 was the year!

6. “We’re more loyal to our fears than to our dreams.” This quote is from the amazing Tara Sophia Mohr (sent to me from the lovely Rach at In Spaces Between) and it’s just so freakin’ true. Hearing it put this way really made me think about whether I was “going for it or not”. Thanks to this post, I now think I’m definitely moving in the right direction.

7. The best ways to get cat/dog hair off everything.single.thing.I.own.

8. The amount of chemicals in every day beauty products. And that I don’t particularly want them near my face. But that I will never give up dying my hair.

9. Yellow split peas are delicious, particularly in dumpling form. And that I am addicted to dumplings in pretty much any form.

10. I can run at least 5 kms without stopping.

11. There are some amazing, brilliant, beautiful women out there who freely offer their time, expertise and fabulousness. It is much appreciated ladies.

Jas

1. I love yoga. Ok, so I haven't made as much time for it over the last few months as I would like but I know I will go back to a regular practice soon enough.

2. Being a vegan is tough. Really tough.

3. Instragram is addictive. Claire always has to talk me into trying anything tech related but this is one thing I've latched on to & love using.

4. Worry about myself less, live more. It's that simple. I can be my own worst critic and this year I worked on letting go of some of my perfectionist tendencies.

5. The seating capacity of every wedding venue in Brisbane. Louis & I hadn't planned on a big wedding but my Indian heritage won out and we ended up with a huge celebration. It was stressful and rewarding all at the same time. Looking back I wouldn't change a thing.

6. De-cluttering is therapeutic. I ditched all the clothes that don't fit me, that I hadn't worn in the last two seasons, or still had their tags on.

7. I can't live without books. At the beginning of the year I gave all of my books to friends or second hand bookstores. Louis and I even gave away our bookshelves. I had a romantic notion that I would be happy with just my kindle. Not possible. We braved the holiday crowds at Ikea today and picked up some new shelves :)

8. Nothing can make a signature hot chocolate from Starbucks more divine. Except for toffee nut syrup at Christmas time of course.

9. Fashion is my first love (after Louis).

10. There is no point in keeping up with the Jones' because the Jones' aren't necessarily happy. It's important to run your own race & figure out what it is that floats your boat and puts a sparkle in your eye.

11. Sometimes you have to feel the fear and do what you're scared of anyway!

Bring on 2012!

(new year)

all that { glitters }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:18:00 +0000

We're off enjoying some much needed r&r, but I'm loving the sparks of gold in these images. They may just be inspiring a splash of gold in my New Years outfit!

(gold lamp, spots, gold pig, pillows, frames, streamers, bike, ornament, table)

maison and mode { lucent imagery }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:41:00 +0000

Most of us can't even comprehend what it would be like to be blind. When today's Maison & Mode beauty found out her eyesight was deteriorating to the point of legal blindness, she didn't just accept it. Instead, she picked up a camera and travelled the world with her gorgeous puppy and intrepid husband. We're inspired by Lucent Imagery and are in awe of her photographs 'from inside the tunnel'.

Who, what, when, where, why?

Lucent Imagery is where I share my perspective as a legally blind woman through my own photos and words. Photography allows me to simultaneously feel that I’m not legally blind and yet celebrate that very part of me that makes my perspective unique. I blog photos and words about daily life, travel to USA & Europe & around Australia, food, celebrations, dogs, gardens, urban life and the occasional fashion purchase. I love that a little community is developing where I’m constantly inspired, meeting amazing people (in real life too) and sharing in special milestones together. This year I realised my dream of opening an online shop to sell my photo cards!

One word to describe your personal style?
My photographic style is about the details - the little things you might miss if you’re rushing through life blindly. (Oh the puns!) My fashion style is more classic, although in reality, comfort comes first and foremost.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

A desire to live my life passionately with moments of overwhelming appreciation for the little things every single day. The smell of the flowers, the breeze, cuddles, giggles, food, long lunches in cafes, walks to the movies, a message from a loved one etc.

My husband inspires me with his knowledge and support and long walks holding my hand. Together we’re also discovering new foods all the time.

Having my dog beside me reminds me to raise my nose to the air and smell the breeze. He also makes me not care that anyone around me sees me talking to him or laughing at something he’s doing.

The blog world is fascinating and there are some wonderful people who inspire me in many ways.

My desire to share my perspective with loved ones and the gift of discovering more of the world around me through the camera lens.

Favourite place anywhere in the world?
I do adore our home and city life and never mind coming back after a holiday. I love that we can walk to restaurants, parks, the waterfront and the movies.

But if we’re talking about places away from Australia, it is New York. We fell deeply in love with this city last year. Paris is a close second and we hope to spend long stints in both cities in the future.

What book/magazine is on your bedside table?
I am now an avid e-book fan. It suits my minimalist side and is more comfortable for my eyes to read. I have begun to re-read one of my favourite books The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton.

Just beside the bedside table is my dog’s bed so I can reach down and pat him or fluff up his pillow. Yep. He’s spoilt.

...

Doesn't she just make you feel like anything is possible?

five things I'll be wearing these { holidays }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:31:00 +0000

We're on the homeward stretch! In less than 15 hours (yes, I'm counting), I will be switching off my computer, kicking off my shoes and scrubbing off my makeup for two whole weeks of rest and relaxation.What am I planning to do for two whole weeks at home, I hear you ask? Well lovely Spiced Tea-ers, I'm hoping to do as little as possible. Except maybe get through the stack of books on my bedside table. Now, I know your second question was "what will you be wearing while doing as little as possible?" Luckily for you, I've put together a list of the 5 things that will be high on my wardrobe rotation for the next few weeks.

1. Denim shorts - Jas recently posted about her denim shorts related fears, but I was lucky enough to find a not-too-skimpy pair for 30% off at Jeans West. They're the perfect length (no frayed pockets showing for this late-twenties girl) and I think I can safely get away with not taking them off for two whole weeks.

2. A good pair of sunnies - cat eyes and red lips are the ultimate in classic dressing and I'm lusting after a pair to keep my eyes squint free this summer.

3. A basic black one piece - my last swimwear purchase was a black Cozi frill neck number and in a pinch it can double as a body suit. I told you this summer was all about low maintenance!

4. Berry lip gloss - according to beauty goddess, Zoe Foster, berry lips are the look of the season. Complete with piles of bronzer and plenty of mascara, it's the ultimate no-makeup makeup. Lanolips mulberry keeps cropping up on the interwebs as a blogger fav so if anyone (mum, boyfriend) is reading this and looking for a stocking filler...

5. The perfect white t-shirt - this mythical beast seems to be as elusive as Big Foot. While I continue my quest, I have a couple of cheapie options from Sportsgirl in my wardrobe but never fear, when I find the perfect specimen (soft, not too white, non-pilling) I will be sure to let you know!

Oh and number 6 - A blingin' bangin' party dress - well it will be New Years Eve after all! After a long year, I'm ready to bust out my most sparkliest dress and shimmy out on the town with some fab friends!

...

What will you be living in this summer?

(swimmers, sequins, sunglasses)

wardrobe makeover { workwear }

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:05:00 +0000

Well I am super excited for 2012. I am starting a new job in January and I couldn't be more thrilled! It's the perfect excuse to comb through my wardrobe and start a new year with a fresh new look. This job will be less corporate than what I'm used to (and I'm going to be working with some seriously stylish girls) so I'm coveting a look that will be flexible and comfy for any late nights in the office, chic and versatile enough that I don't look like I'm constantly wearing things (shock horror) more than once. My new style direction? Classic.

I wouldn't necessarily say I have a 'style'. Unless you count random... I buy things I like, usually without regard for whether I have the right shoes / bra / feather boa to match. I have plenty of items languishing in my wardrobe that rarely get worn thanks to my eclectic shopping habits. Well no more. In the interests of zen, and moving away from disposable fashion towards more sustainably sourced and quality pieces, I'm giving up on random and embracing Parisian chic.

I'll also be considering the fact that I don't want a wardrobe full of black. I have two (white) cats and two (white) dogs and don't really relish walking around looking like I am wearing a fur coat. Also, with all the fun brights gracing the shops at the moment, why settle just for black?

Mix and match also will be the order of the day. I recently read an article in a magazine which talked about how it's a lot more sustainable (read: easy on the wallet) to mix up the jewellery than consistently buy a new dress for every occasion.

Not only am I going to be sourcing a few new classic pieces, I'm planning on conducting a strict auditioning process for my current wardrobe. If you haven't been worn in 6 months, off to goodwill you go. And any items that do maintain their place in the wardrobe will be sorted according to the following regime:

No more dodgy, dry cleaning wire hangers. Yes, I am guilty of hanging my clothes on these abominations. Not any more!
Occasion coordination - I'll be sorting my outfits by where to wear, namely workwear in one section, casual in another and a separate section for sparkles.
Seasonal dressing - I'm usually pretty good at this, but I've got a new dresser with plenty of space for winter woolies.

...

Do you have any tips for me on classic dressing or wardrobe organisation? How do you keep your closet under control?

(Images from love.love.love, that kind of woman, cupcakes and cashmere, atlantic pacific, pinterest)

{ 2011 } our favourite posts

noreply@blogger.com (Jas) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:45:00 +0000

With 2011 drawing to a close Claire and I are taking stock of the year gone by. Our blog has come a long way and one of the main things we've learnt from starting it is that we find it hugely rewarding to meet, collaborate with, partner with, and learn from savvy, enthusiastic women (& men!).

That's really why we started this blog: we love brainstorming and learning from each other. And we have learnt a lot from each others posts. So we thought we would list off 3 of our favourite posts that the other has written....

My fave posts by Claire

firsts

This post spoke volumes on how Claire & I felt about the birth of our blog. We were scared and nervous yet equally excited. After making a pact to keep our blog honest & fun we jumped in feet first. Claire did an amazing job summing up how we were feeling and it was the perfect post to start our journey with.

10 ways to heart your job even if it's not your passion

If you’re like Claire & I you've had moments in your day job where you wonder how to keep it from feeling mundane. The list Claire put together in her post was perfect for those moments. Not focused on ‘jump ship’, ‘change your career’ advice but practical, here and now shake up your daily job routine tips.

breaking the career rules

Claire's post had me thinking about the amount of emphasis put on the '9 to 5' job. Who decided that was what a normal job looked like? Her posts (and a lot of our subsequent chats) have been the catalyst to us searching for different ways to feed our passions. Success doesn't have to look the same for everyone.

Claire's fave posts by me

yoga shifts

For me, this post is what this blog is all about. Sure, we love filling it’s pages with fashion and frivolity, but the reason we started Sweet Lime and Spiced Tea is to learn a little about ourselves and document the process along the way for readers out there who might be feeling the same. Not only that, the message is one that’s been repeated and revealed to me by the universe multiple times since Jas wrote this post. It rings as true as it did when we first started this blog - 'Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line.'

bringing me joy

I love that Jas looks to the little things to bring more joy into her life and it’s definitely something I have started to do more of since she started this series on Sweet Lime and Spiced Tea. I know how much time and effort went into choosing just the right messages and images for this post – and in the words of Oprah "The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today would be to start being grateful for what you have right now. And the more grateful you are, the more you get."

my go to dress

OK so maybe it’s not a deep and meaningful post, but this is one of my favourite posts by Jas because I think this go-to dress really represents her personality and the personality of this blog. Fun, fashion forward and just a little bit frivolous, we’re having such a good time – and what better way to play than in mountains of tulle?
....

What Sweet Lime posts have you enjoyed reading this year?