Infused Magazine April 2019 Issue

INFUSED M A G A Z I N E T he

High Tea Party

COSY UP WITH A NEW BOOK!

Our Autumn book review is here

BEAUTY TERMS

Fleek, spoolie, baking?

EASTER CHOCOLATE What to do with all that chocolate!

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April WOW Award Winner!

This month we celebrate Saalihah Seedat.

Anissa Johnson has been mentored by Saalihah and nominated her as a Woman of Worth for her work in her community as a mentor to many young women. Anissa says, “She is an active volunteer in the community and always gives, wholeheartedly and generously.” And, on a personal level, “She made me believe in myself, and she helped bring out the best in me and many other ladies.”

Thank you, Saalihah, for your work empowering young women. Congratulations and we hope you enjoy your pamper pack.

We love hearing your stories! We are taking nominations for the WOW of the month for May. Nominating the special woman in your life is simple, email us at admin@thepeppermintgroup.com.au and tell us what makes this woman so special and why she deserves to win. Nominations close on the 3rd Sunday of every month.

We’ll contact you for further details if your nomination is successful.

*gift package shown is a true reflection of products that can be included in a WOW award. Products used can vary.

Packaging may differ.

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FOOD & BEV E RAG E

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ENT ERTA IN ME NT

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HOM E & LIF ESTY LE

APR/2019 6/ FOOD & BEVERAGE Ideas for leftover Easter chocolate.

8/ BEAUTY Fleek means what?!

10/ HOME & LIFESTYLE Conquering the IKEA flat pack without ruining your relationship.

12/ FASHION Scarves!

14/ ENTERTAINMENT Settle in because we’ve got some great book reviews just in time for the cold weather.

16/ LIFESTYLE Embracing 40!

accessorise

Dear Reader, Welcome to the April issue of Infused. Thank you everyone who nominated a special person for our Woman of Worth Award. This month, we have chosen Saalihah Seedat to receive a special pamper pack. You can read more about Saalihah’s story on page 3. Don’t forget to nominate the woman of worth in your life for her chance to win a pamper pack in May. This month we have a very controversial article: How to use leftover chocolate. Some people have demanded to know what leftover chocolate is. They’ve never actually seen it in their house! But if you have small children who receive chocolate eggs from two grandmas, several aunties, at least three Easter egg hunts and the Easter Bunny to boot, you might be grateful for some ideas to transform the chocolate into share-able treats, rather than have it taunting you from the kitchen for days after Easter. Ideas and recipes on page 6.

Also this month we reveal the meaning behind some mysterious beauty terms, offer some great book ideas and tips on how to put together flatpack furniture without compromising your sanity or relationship.

As always, we’d love to hear from you if you’d like to see something in our e-magazine or if you have something you’d like to share, so get in touch at admin@thepeppermintgroup.com.au Best wishes, Sarah

Want to say hello, have a question or feedback? Drop us an email at admin@thepeppermintgroup.com.au

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Left-over chocolate?

Ideas for post-Easter goodies

Some people will laugh and ask “what is left-over chocolate?” Others will nod and gratefully note down the recipes. After Easter or a children’s birthday party or some other family celebration, many of us will have more chocolate than we know what to do with, so here are my ideas for sharing the joy of chocolate.

• I love breaking up chocolates and using them as the chips for choc-chip cookies (my recipe here), so that’s one solution.

• If you’re into adding some nutritious value to your chocolate, you could always consider making a fonduestyle dip and dipping fruit in.

• Melt it all down into a delicious rocky road slice – just add cut up snake lollies, marshmallows and crushed scotch-finger biscuits and add them to the melty chocolate. Then pour into a slice tin and refrigerate until set.

Share with neighbours and friends before you get the chance to eat it all.

• By far the easiest thing to do is to crush it all up and mix it in with icecream (the only way to make vanilla ice-cream palatable, in my opinion.

• Hot chocolate – perhaps the traditional Easter is celebrated in spring, but here in the Southern Hemisphere it’s an autumnal affair, meaning it’s the perfect time to start thinking about warm drinks and this hot chocolate recipe is a good way to use up Easter eggs and get a bit of calcium at the same time.

• If you want to get really fancy you could think about Easter egg brownies, Easter egg cheesecake, or chocolate cake.

Good luck with the consuming/attempting not to consume your body weight in chocolate, and wishing you all a happy and peaceful Easter.

BEAUTY

y t u a e B

Terminology Explained

Do you use a bit of lippy and hope for the best? You’re not alone. But if you’ve always wanted to know the meaning of those mysterious beauty industry words, read on.

W

hen I first saw Tanya Hennessy’s hilarious online video in which she gives a realistic make-up tutorial, I felt that at least I wasn’t the only person out there who didn’t quite understand why we do what we do when it comes to make-up and beauty.

Since then I’ve realised that there is a whole dictionary of beauty-related words that I have no idea of. What is baking? What is ombré? So here are a few answers to some questions you may not even know you wanted to ask:

Baking. The most mysterious to me is the idea of ‘baking’, which means dusting translucent powder over your made-up face, then waiting for ten minutes for the heat of your skin to melt all the make-up just a little, before dusting off the excess powder. Apparently this allows for a ‘flawless finish’.

Root stamping: It means to hold the mascara wand at the base of the eyelid to get a darker effect at the “root” of the eyelashes.

Fleek. This is one for the young’uns. It means perfectly formed eyebrows. A relatively young word, it was coined in 2014.

Ombré: This is the technique of dying hair so that it gradually fades from dark to light.

It’s also become popular in home decorating.

BB-Cream: It was huge last year and I think there was even an advertisement in which Carrie Bickmore wondered what the Bs stood for. So what is it? It originated in Germany in the 1960s as a make-up that was also a soothing and protective cream for patients who had just had surgery. Very popular in Korea, the idea is that it provides a sunblock, anti-ageing properties and foundation. It might stand for beauty balm, blemish base or blemish balm.

A spoolie looks like a mascara brush but it’s sold separately to mascara, and it’s used to comb eyebrows and lashes after make-up has been applied.

HOME & LIFESTYLE

Unpacking the Flatpacks How to assemble IKEA-style, flatpacked furniture without compromising your relationship or losing your sanity

A

fter a big IKEA frenzy I was left with what felt like thousands of boxes of flatbacked furniture. Many neighbours, friends and family offered to help with the assembly, but in my heart I knew it was mostly a two-person job. Also, I’m a control freak. So my response was, “No, I think we’ve got the furniture assembly covered, but we may need some marriage counselling afterwards.”

Here are my tips for assembling all your new furniture without killing your spouse.

1. Clear a space to work. Take out all the old furniture, if there is some. You need room to work, peeps.

2. Count. It’s totally worth it.

You’ll have confidence later that all your nuts and bolts are there and it will save you time and frustration down the track in the unlikely event that something is missing.

3. We got plastic lunch containers and sorted the screws and bolts accordingly. This is especially helpful if there are some that look similar and you don’t want to get them confused.

4. Get a drill. Every seasoned IKEA person I spoke to over the weekend advised that we get a drill. I found one in my Dad’s shed and also a box full of drill bits. There are drill bits for Allen keys. Did you know that?

It will save you HOURS (Note that there are some occasions when a drill isn’t suitable, especially if you don’t want to go too deeply into the wood or splinter it, so be judicious with this step. But a drill. Heaven.

Don’t manually wind with the Allen key until your arm falls off.)

5. Two people. No more, no less.

One of these people should be detail-oriented. This is the person who carefully examines the pictures and ensures you use the bolt without the pointy bit for the appropriate places

and the bolt with the flat bit for the other appropriate places. The other person can work the drill.

I’m not going to make any sexist suggestions about who does what.

You work it out according to your personalities.

6. If you’ve got children, get them looked after. If you don’t have a babysitter at the ready, do what we did and banish them to their rooms and also use them to make regular trips to the recycling bin after you’ve unpacked stuff.

7. Be kind. If you have to alert your assembly partner to a mistake (he) has made, say it in a nice way. Avoid phrases like “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” and “WHY DID YOU PUT THIS ON UPSIDE DOWN?” and “WHY DID YOU GET SUCH A BIG TABLE?” 8. Keep your sense of humour! This too will pass. And then you’ll have a lovely new couch to sit on.

SCARVES

FASHION

Wrap Yourself in Colour

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ne thing I love about moving into cooler weather is the chance to wear scarves. Here are ten things I love about scarves (including websites with ideas for tying scarves in interesting ways).

1. They lighten things up. I have to confess, my wardrobe is largely comprised of black clothing. I love a scarf (or a brightly coloured set of beads) to bring my outfit to life and allow me wear a lot of black without looking too washed away.

2. They really set off a jacket. I’m a Sydney gal, so I have to confess that for me, in winter, scarves are more ornamental than functional. But I just love the look of a chunky scarf with a jacket or coat, even if I only need it in the early morning in the depths of winter. It just looks cute.

3. They’ll keep your shoulders warm. If you’re at a special occasion and you don’t want to ruin the look of your elegant frock with a cardigan or jacket, a pashmina does the trick nicely. From a block jewel colour to something a bit more intricate, there are so many beautiful choices out there.

4. They work with so many cute vintage looks. A handkerchief scarf in your high pony looks adorably 1950s or the doubleFrench knot at a jaunty angle works for a sexy 1970s look. Not to mention a boho scarf worn over the head with a long hippie frock. Scarves complement everything.

5. They are a cheap way of updating your wardrobe. One great secret to keeping your clothing budget in check is to accessorise instead of updating your main pieces. Keep that coat for a few winters but change the scarves around so you have a fresh look.

6. The internet is a well of inspiration. A casual search will show you loads of videos and tutorials for tying and wearing scarves in different ways. I love this site: https://www.scarves.net for a great library of over 50 different ways to tie a scarf. I also liked this blog, https://www.diys.com/ways-to-tie-a-scarf/ for a few more adventurous ideas.

7. Birdsnest has some beauties. I had a little peek on the website of our friends at Birdsnest and there are some gorgeous scarves in stock right now, so why not check it out? Or treat yourself at your next High Tea Party?

ENTERTAINMENT

BOOKS! Autumn Book Reviews

Some of the best new releases for you to check out.

I

love it when the weather starts to change and we get chilly mornings.

On the weekends when I wake up, I like to reach down for my book and stay in bed for a while and read. I have many happy autumn and winter memories of doing just that! Here are some recent picks for your weekend autumn reading.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka

The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan

Murata

Like another of my favourite novelists,

This very slim volume was chosen for

Adrian McKinty, McTiernan is an expat

my most recent book club meeting. It’s a

living in Australia, and setting her novels

different book and when I finished reading

back home. But while McKinty’s books are

it I decided I needed some time to consider

set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles

if I liked it or not, because it did not go

of the 1980s, McTiernan’s are set in the

where I expected it to. I decided that I did

Republic in the present day. (With a cute

like it! It’s about Keiko Furukura, a woman

nod to her colleague, McTiernan actually

who has not ever felt as though she fits

has one of her characters in The Scholar

in, or understands the society in which

reading a McKinty novel.) If you haven’t

she lives. That is, until she finds a job in

read McTiernan’s first novel The Ruin, do

a convenience store. This novel explores

yourself a favour and get a copy, but you

what it’s like to be an outsider in Japan,

won’t need to read it to follow the plot of

and one woman’s quest to stay true to her

The Scholar. In any case, it’s just as good as

unique identity, even if it isn’t quite what

its predecessor. Terrific characters, well-

everyone expects of her. A great book

plotted crime, lots of twists and turns – this

for a lively

is the sort of

book club

book you stay

conversation

in to read.

or a bit of contemplation yourself.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough I have mixed feelings about this novel due to the very unexpected ending, which I can’t give away in a review. However, I have to admit it was a creepy and intriguing idea for a story (although I will warn you: it’s a bit “out there”). It did keep me engaged while I read it and Netflix is currently adapting it for TV, which usually points to an addictive read. Read it for a fun distraction but remember to suspend your disbelief.

Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend It’s a kids’ book, but sometimes I really like to read a kids’ book, partly to know what my girls are up to and partly because I love YA literature. If you enjoyed Harry Potter you’ll love being taken to Nevermoor with Morrigan Crow and her gorgeous patron Jupiter North. There is so much delightful detail of magic and wonder in this book which has rightfully become a worldwide bestseller, but is home-grown – Townsend is from Queensland. So buy it for the kids/grandkids/niece or nephew, but read it yourself first. It’s lots of fun and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff For something with a little more meat on the bones, I recommend this novel. It’s a big tome that tells the story of a marriage, first from the husband’s perspective and then from the wife’s. And let me tell you, when you get to the wife things really get interesting. It’s also a meditation on revenge, true love and survival, and it really gets to the heart of how a man and woman can experience life and love differently. I think it would be terrific for a book club because there is lots to discuss – I felt a bit lost that I didn’t have someone to talk to about it after I finished. But, hey, that’s what Google is for, right?

LIFESTYLE

t u o b A s g n i h T t s e B e Th 0 4 g n i n r u T

Here’s my list of the good things about turning 40.

1. You’ve spent the last five years dreading turning 40 and guess what? Actually being 40 isn’t nearly as bad as worrying about turning 40.

5. No more BS. Being older brings a wealth of perspective. You can stop putting up with bullying and negativity when you realise you don’t need it anymore.

2. For the first time in ages, it’s all about you. You can legitimately claim this birthday as a VERY SPECIAL one, and the kids, siblings, parents and partners can shower you with gifts, love and attention. This doesn’t happen very often, and all too often our birthdays are glossed over BUT NOT THIS TIME BABY!

6. Got kids? Chances are, they’re now old enough to help with chores/look after themselves/go to the movies with you to see something enjoyable. Sure, they still need you, but the exhausting 24/7 nature of babies and toddlers is probably behind you at this point (if not – hang in there! It can’t be much longer!)

3. Turning 40 can be clarifying. You’re approaching the second half of your life, so you might as well make the most of it. Not happy in your career? Change it! Hate your home? Move! Now is the time to make big changes that will have a lasting, positive impact on your life. I went back to uni and couldn’t be happier.

7. All the love from the other ladies who’ve been there before. They’re all telling us the 40s are the best! Listen to them and start to enjoy yourself.

4. Look at your friends. They are probably the ones you’re going to keep forever. If you can stay in touch with your friends right now: in the midst of career, raising kids and keeping house, you’ll manage it for years to come.

And happy birthday to all the beautiful women turning 40 this year or in the very near future. xx

I’m a modern Australian... with a Mediterranean heritage.

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