THREE things

Published on August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 by Mocha & ChaiLeave a comment

How often this week have you stopped to smell the roses?

Well for this blog post I wanted to share with you one of the most amazing things that I have learned over the years. Something that has really helped both Adam and I on days when we’ve found ourselves deflated and weary, and something that has given us the most joy. And the best thing is that ANYONE – including you – can do this!

We call it…Three Things.

I have to say that I can’t take complete credit. It was my mum who gave us inspiration for this routine that we now have. You see, every night at the dinner table she would ask my sisters, dad and I what our three favourite things were about our day. We didn’t record them or anything like that, and although it was repetitive from time to time, it really gave us an insight into how we were all doing on a daily basis. Fast forward many years away from home and Adam and I found ourselves in need of something like this. So one day we just decided to begin jotting our Three Things down just before bed in Apple’s iPhone App Pages. We began on the 1st of April 2016 and now have a document 451 pages long.

There are many reasons I think you should do this, but here are my top three…

Looking back at your highlights from past days, is one of the most encouraging and enlightening experiences! Every now and then we look back to what we wrote a year or two ago, and it really takes us back to a different time and season – and the BEST thing is that everything you’ve recorded is positive so there’s nothing to bum you out!
It takes almost no time to do each night – literally 5 minutes!
Anyone can do this! No matter who you are or what you have this is possible. Get your kids involved as well and start a family one, or if you’re loving the single life why not share yours with a close friend? Collaboration tools these days are amazing and even on nights where Adam and I weren’t together we were able to fill it in and read each other’s highlights.

You will find that some days will be the easiest to write, and you will have a myriad of options to jot down – and on those days we sometimes have eight dot points instead of three! But then again there can and probably will be tough days. Days where focusing on three of your favourite things will seem like the toughest job in the world. On those days – and yes we have had many of them over the years – you need to appreciate the little things…a funny text message, a great cup of tea, something warm to wear when it was blustery and cold outside, or in my case extra APT!

The bottom line is that if you want something simple and easy to refocus your mind and give you the best chance of a good nights sleep then start Three Things today! I promise that you won’t be disappointed because Three Things restores you, refreshes you, and helps you to see sunshine and light in the darkness.

Blessings and chat soon,

m&c

P.S. Thanks mum for this gift and being the sunshine and constant source of joy in our lives. We love you more than all the words. Forever and always.

Photo by Secret Garden from Pexels

RELAY for Life

Published on July 31, 2019August 2, 2019 by Mocha & ChaiLeave a comment

Relay for Life is definitely something special. It’s a time when you can come together with others who have been touched by cancer, talk about your journey, and be there for each other in a way that is unexplainable.

My family has definitely been and continues to be touched by cancer to this day. We have gone through many things that maybe you have too – triumph, loss, and hope. Triumph for those who have overcome it. Loss for those who we have painfully lost. And hope for those who continue to fight this day. I always knew that it affected me, and over time I really thought I had moved forward from the hurt, sadness, and struggle during that time – until going to Relay for Life. There’s something that happens to you when you physically do something which represents emotion and feelings. Most of the time people cry who would never cry, and laughs are had by those who would usually struggle to do so. It’s like there’s something in the air. Something that heals.

My amazing dad – a two time cancer survivor.
Love family.

The best thing about Relay for Life is that everybody – and I mean everybody can get involved. It is held during different times of the year, at all different locations, so I’m sure there’s one near you. People gather in teams to either walk, run, stroll, or roll to complete laps around ovals or tracks for 12 hours straight. Each lap represents that cancer never rests – and so neither do we. Most venues have different things to remember each lap you have completed. Our has beads, which means that after you have finished you have a special memento of the event – and better yet you can wear them again the next year! You will also find entertainment, food trucks, activities, music, performances, and special laps to signify certain people. The first lap is for the survivors, and a candle-lit lap is for all those lost. You can register early or just come on the day and join a team. Bring the whole family, work colleagues, or just yourself – the possibilities are endless. You can also pitch tents to nap in, bring shelters to stay warm in, or have places to go for somewhere cool to retreat to.

This is such an amazing community event and one of the most beautiful and wonderful things I have ever participated in. So if you have been touched by cancer, and want to be a part of something bigger, something that will give you so much more than what you think, then visit the website below and register TODAY.

If you also need more information about cancer, or need support, please visit the Cancer Council online at: https://www.cancer.org.au/

Bringing your bookcase to LIFE

Published on July 28, 2019July 28, 2019 by Mocha & ChaiLeave a comment

When Adam and I moved into our new apartment I finally had room to bring my many books…and I’m not exaggerating, there were many many books!

It was such an amazing feeling to be immersed in an environment full of knowledge and possibilities again, but I was faced with an interesting dilemma…how could I possibly make them look good on mass?

I feel like there are many homes out there with many amazing bookcases filled with the most interesting reads, but they don’t do their occupants justice in their appearance. So I had an idea – an idea that might just provide that design solution that some might be after…I colour coded them!

before
after

I think the results speak for themselves.

My bookcase didn’t look terrible beforehand, but afterwards it took on such life and boldness! When people look around our home now they see a vibrant display with amazing colours, rather than a piece of furniture that is just a part of the space. It draws people in to discover that which it holds…stories, poems, facts, love, loss, travel and inspiration.

So guys I encourage you to take the brave step and colour code the bookcases of the world! Be bold, daring, and give them a new life…in doing so you might just discover a world of inspiration, fun and love that you forgot you had.

HOW TO COLOUR CODE YOUR BOOKCASE:

Make some space on the floor because you’ll need a bit of room.
Group each colour together from the lightest to darkest.

Depending on your shelving unit, try to stack them in their colour blocks.
To give a smooth and modern appearance, push all the spines up to each other so they appear as one seamless block.

For the love of GIN

Published on July 7, 2019August 2, 2019 by Mocha & ChaiLeave a comment

I have to be honest – I’ve never been a big drinker.

From time to time I do enjoy some cider, mojitos, moscato and I’m learning to love red wine. But never have I ever gravitated towards having some Gin…until now.

You see, not long ago Adam and I set off with some family, on a surprise expedition to Healsville’s very own gin distillery – Four Pillars. From the moment we arrived we had the most amazing time. The outside glistened in the sunshine from the copper signs and decor, and it was just as beautiful when going inside. We were welcomed by a staff member who explained what they offered, and then showed us around. After much deliberation we chose the $10 tasting experience – yes, only $10!

The four of us spent about 40 minutes with our server, in a private tasting area, where he explained the whole distillery process and showed us some of the machines used to do so. Each tasting of gin was explained, and with the selection of complimentary herbs and spices to smell, we really felt like distilling gin ourselves!

At the end of the day though, it all comes down to the taste – and boy did it not disappoint! As I mentioned earlier, I’ve never been one to gravitate towards gin, but now I do love what Four Pillars has to offer. Ranging in alcohol content and taste, you could really tell the difference in flavours and the various techniques used to create those one-off batches. We also loved the fact that they operate under a ‘zero waste’ policy, which means that all of the aromats used in the gin process, are cooked down to make various jams, jellies, and preserves (all available in their shop).

So if you decide to head out, why not go for a drive to the beautiful town of Healsville, through the Yarra Valley, and pop in to Four Pillars. Reignite or even develop a new taste and love for gin – it will be well worth it!

Let us know if you have any favourite places to visit in the Yarra Valley too! We’d love to share them with everyone for more adventures!

For more information about Four Pillars, visit their website at: https://www.fourpillarsgin.com.au/

Your new best friend – DJI’s MAVIC AIR DRONE

Published on July 5, 2019August 2, 2019 by Mocha & ChaiLeave a comment

In early 2018, DJI brought out its most advanced personal drone yet. A hybrid of both the Spark and the Phantom, it provided a way for those who wanted to be their own movie-makers, to do just that. They had all the best elements of each drone – and an amazing editing app to boot!

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A big HELLO to Hello Fresh

Published on May 20, 2018July 28, 2019 by Mocha & ChaiLeave a comment

From one friend to another, I’m sure you’ve heard by now about Hello Fresh – the amazing and convenient way to cook healthy meals – all delivered to your door!

Well this week was our first Hello Fresh week and honestly, we couldn’t have been more excited! In the past we’d tried other options for convenient cooking, but nothing had really ‘hit the spot’. Fortunately for us though, I stumbled onto a Hello Fresh voucher at work. So after checking it out I did what everyone else would do, and signed us up! Once I was done our little experiment would only cost us $19.85 – a bargain considering it would give us ten dinners and ten lunches for the week ahead!

Long story short – all aspects of Hello Fresh have really exceeded our expectations! It all began with the friendly text I received on Saturday morning that our box had been delivered. I woke up, opened our front door, and there it was – very big and heavy!

I have to say that I was very skeptical at first given that we were getting raw ingredients – I mean, how could a company ensure that level of freshness – well they certainly did a good job! Everything was well packed, easy to understand, and there was a chilled insulated bag for all of the perishable items (meat, cheese, sauces etc.).

This is what was in our box, which was the ‘Family plan, 4 people, 5 meal kits’ option – usually $159.80 for 20 servings, at $7.99 per serving.

I have to say it looked so warm and inviting! Each meal kits vegetables were in brown paper bags. They also came with a meal card, double-sided, with all the information you needed to make that perfect, delectable dish. As an avid home cook, I thought the the detail in the menu cards was amazing – ranging from cook times, to a list of ingredients, what you would need from home (which was barely anything), and step-by-step instructions with photos to boot! There were even some ‘thanks for choosing us’ discounts as well for other lifestyle companies, and a ‘Getting Started’ magazine!

Now you may be wondering (as was I) whether it would fit into your fridge – after all it was a lot of food! Well I thought I would help out and show you some pics – after all, what are friends for! Our Samsung fridge (which is AMAZING) is your regular sized fridge, and in the end I would say that it took up about 1.5 shelves worth.

Check it out…

Okay – so far so good! We got the great looking box, filled with scrumptious ingredients, it was all packed away and ready to go – now all we had to do was cook! Haha!

For our first meal we chose ‘Speedy Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken with Sesame Fries’. The recipe said 35 mins total, but by the time I finished, understood what their processes were, and followed EVERY instruction, it was about 55 mins.

Here are some pics we took along the way.

And the end result. Drum roll please…

Two gourmet dinners, two gourmet lunches, and a successful new recipe idea for the future!

Three reasons to say HELLO to Hello Fresh…

1. Convenience

Hello Fresh is exceptionally convenient. Firstly, setting up delivery is so simple, and with their custom notes section, they can even take on challenges of finding units and apartments. Everything should also fit in your fridge, and with the best laid-out recipes I’ve seen, cooking will be simple and not complicated.

2. New ideas

The variety they have available is quite big and growing all the time. These recipes are great ways of learning new cooking techniques and flavour combinations, which you can add to any off your existing meals you love to cook – or better yet, use them in combination with each other and have fun experimenting!

3. It’s fun!

Hear this – cooking is NOT meant to be a chore. It’s a time to get comfy, chill out, and relax. Use this time, even though your day may be busy, to just have FUN! Hello Fresh is so laid out and simple you just can’t get it wrong. Bottom line – it’s fail safe, so all you have to do it focus on enjoying yourself!

So with that all being said I had better dash as it’s getting quite late. It’s been so great sharing this adventure with you, and I hope to see you again soon!

Until next time – stay passionate, and remember to live life with adventure.

M & C

If you’re interested in Hello Fresh, or want more information, please check out the link below.

hellofresh.com.au