INFUSED M A G A Z I N E
A Gorgeous Excuse to catch up with the girls
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
Transformative . Transformative. Clean.. Clean Beauty.. Beauty
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Perfect Anytime, Anywhere. AVA I L A B L E A T
Botanical
Floral
Aromatic Botanicals & Orange Peel
Primrose, Honeybush & Citrus Blossom
Follow The Duchess on Instagram & Facebook @drinktheduchess for some of our amazing serving suggestions.
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FOOD & BEVE RAGE
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FASHION
BEAU TY
NOVEMBER/2019 6/BEAUTY
12/FASHION
Festive make-up tips from celebrity make-up artist, Melli.
Q&A with stylist, Carolina Giraldo
8/WELLBEING Taking care of your mental health during the busy holiday season.
14/LIFESTYLE Some seriously good seasonal hacks to help you get through Christmas.
16/FOOD AND BEVERAGE What is the difference between champagne and sparkling wine?
Dear Reader, Welcome to the November issue of Infused. This month is all about gorgeous excuses! We’d like you to give yourself a gorgeous excuse to catch up with your friends, a gorgeous excuse to learn more about wine, to up your style game, to learn some cool make-up hacks and to survive the wonderful but hectic Christmas season with some tried and true tricks. In 2020 we will have a reboot and will be bringing you some fantastic new events that are all about having that gorgeous excuse to catch up with your friends and invest some time in yourself. So, this issue we are bringing you exclusive content from some of the experts you will be hearing from next year.
We’d love to see you at one of our Gorgeous Excuse events. For a sneak preview, check out our new website. And then gather some mates, lock in a date and book a special day or night out! Enjoy $20 off tickets to A Gorgeous Excuse events by the High Tea Party with code EARLYBIRD.
We’ve got party season make-up tips from celebrity make-up artist Melli, style advice from the incomparable Carolina Giralda, an introduction to what make a good sparkling wine from our sparkling sommelier Kate Day and some sound advice for coping with stress at Christmas time from our wellbeing expert, Dr Natalie Flatt. Throw in some Christmas hacks and a shopping guide and you’ve got your cuppa reading all sorted!
Want to say hello, have a question or feedback? Drop us an email at admin@thepeppermintgroup.com.au
BEAUTY
FESTIVE MAKE-UP TIPS As we head into the party season, celebrity make-up artist Melli gives us tips to take our make-up look from work-day to wow with minimal fuss.
Melissa “Melli” Carter is a celebrity make-up artist with her own line of cosmetics and she will be bringing her expertise to Gorgeous Excuse events in 2020. Check out our website for more info on Melli’s make-up workshops coming soon.
There have been times at work that I’ve helped TV presenters transform their look from serious talk-show host to red-carpet glam with just minutes to spare! So I’ve got lots of tricks up my sleeve to help you prepare for the evening parties of silly season. Here are some of my favourites. •
Don’t try anything out of the ordinary when you’re in a rush. Trying to wrestle with false lashes and a tube of glue generally won’t end well if you have never done it before. For an easy killer lashes look, give them a really good curl with a professional style lash curler that will lift, curl and open the eye. Then stretch those lashes upwards & outwards with a mascara that lifts, defines and lengthens. Let the first coat dry before going in with the tip of the wand to really stretch out those lashes to new dimensions. • Metallic eyeshadows deliver instant “party eye”. The way to really make a metallic pop is to use a damp brush when applying the shadow. Not only will it give the shadow a paintlike effect, but it also guarantees no fallout or mess. • There’s nothing like a glowing cheek colour to lift even the flattest foundation. Apply straight to the apples of the cheeks by looking directly into the mirror and smiling, then feather out to the cheekbones. Instant glowy glam! • Remember your décolletage when wearing a low or v-neck top. Place tissues around the neckline to protect your clothing and lightly stipple in your foundation to cover blemishes & redness. Set with a light powder. • Now’s the time to wear that fun statement lip you’ve been wanting to show off and lift your lipstick game! Line your lips first, then shade the whole lip in with the liner before applying lipstick for a longlasting effect. Blot with a tissue, then apply a second layer. Why not layer two complementary shades together? Bam – new lippy shade! • The dress is on and your legs are lily white – no time for faux tanning now! Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs saves the day. For a smooth, easier application, moisturise your legs first, then spray on lightly, working the product into the skin quickly Now, do me a favour look in that mirror and know you are one gorgeous woman! Go and dance like no-one’s watching and shine your light.
WELLBEING
Keeping sane in the silly season With Christmas around the corner you might be feeling overwhelmed by competing demands and expectations. Dr Natalie Flatt has some tips on protecting yourself and your relationships at this wonderful, but stressful, time of year.
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Create your to-do list and prioritise tasks. Write down all the tasks you wish to achieve before Christmas. Once you get a visual of all your commitments, decide which to eliminate, or which can be pushed into 2020. The psychological relief of clearing your mental clutter and then removing some burdens is immense.
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Find out what increases your energy. Women often make themselves last priority. Try to aim for eight hours of quality sleep and watch your sugar and alcohol intake as these two items are the culprit for poor sleep quality. Exercising, playing with your pet or five minutes of mindfulness during this time will also help to burn off that exhausted energy and maintain those endorphin levels; providing more motivation in the morning to fight another day.
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Be strict on compartmentalising your time. Focus on work when you are at work and try not to multi-task. If you do need to get those last-minute Christmas gifts, aim to leave work a little earlier rather than trying to do it in the middle of the day to avoid distractions. Or, even better, shop online! Normally there is free shipping at this time, you avoid crowds and you will usually find better specials!
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Say no to that event you’re not too keen on. Be sure to prioritise and balance your Christmas activities with your work and personal obligations. It can be scary, however, if you are in a period of extreme fatigue, those who know you will understand that you need to recharge your batteries.
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Let go of unreasonable standards. Accept that no-one can do it all. When others do step in to help, show them appreciation rather than criticising them. Let your kids make their beds their own way. Don’t rearrange cupboards when someone else puts the dishes away. Thank your partner for shopping for groceries.
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Look forward to next year. The new year is just around the corner. Buy a 2020 calendar and start to write down ideas for next year – budgets and projects, along with personal holidays and goals which will keep you motivated for what you’re doing now.
So, slow down. Soak in the magical sights, sounds and experiences which makes Christmas special. Make sure to rejuvenate and share quality time with family and friends and you’ll be ready to take on the challenges of the next year with renewed energy.
Dr Natalie Flatt Ph.D is the co-founder of Connect Psych and Connect Wellness. She is passionate about wellness and support for all women; wives, mums, women in the workplace, women of leadership, sportswomen and adventurers. Natalie will be one of our special expert presenters at workshops for Gorgeous Excuse events in 2020, so watch out for her name on our website!
! e v o gift ideas we l Christmas
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Arty Hearts | hand watercoloured illustrations on stationery and home, bath and interiors design product ranges. Select from silky eye masks and accessories, notebooks, planners, home textiles, and prints.
Shop online and receive 10% off your purchase with the code: HIGHTEA20 Receive free Australian metro shipping on orders over $75. www.artyhearts.com 2. LyndalT | beautiful tea and tableware. Buy 2 red or green XL teacups and receive 15% OFF and FREE SHIPPING. Promocode: XLChristmas www.lyndalt.com 3. Giselle Collection | Fine jewellery, daytime, evening and bridal. Including the 14k Rose Gold plated Angel Wings necklace delicately crafted with the finest cubic zirconia crystals. This protective piece is also available in 925 Sterling Silver and 16k Gold Plating. www.giselecollection.com.au 4. Sandals and Sunsets | Spanish Avarca Sandals! Handmade from leather in Spain sold with love in Oz! Use code infused for a $10 discount on the website price www.sandalsandsunsets.com.au 5. Living with essential oils | dōTERRA (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils represent the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today. Use promo code INF2019 to receive 10% off store-wide, valid until 31 Dec 19. www.livingwithessentialoils.com.au 6. Maria Nicola | The 10 Way Necklace can be worn in ten elegant styles. Please use code “High Tea” to receive 15% off. www.marianicola.com
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FASHION
summer e c i v d A e l y t S
We talk to Gorgeous Excuse’s resident stylist, Carolina Giraldo, founder of Carolina Lifestyle, for an insight into her best ideas for styling yourself like an expert this summer.
Q. What is your number one tip for taking daytime work clothes to evening parties? A. Accessorising is the key. For work we wear more elegant and subtle clothing but at night you want a more eye-catching outfit. So convert your daytime outfit into evening wear by adding accessories such as jewellery, a metallic belt or a small evening clutch. A pop of colour is always a great idea. Q. What’s your advice for dressing to suit our body shape, be it curvaceous or slim? A. Know and love your body. Feeling confident is the key to looking great whatever your body shape.
Q. What’s your favourite fabric coming into this Summer season? A. Tencel and Linen with an emphasis on Floral linens. They are both natural fabrics that breathe beautifully, giving you that fresh feel that we all look for during the warmer months. Q. Are there any on-trend colours coming up this season that you particularly recommend? A. For us this season it is all about the prints, bold and bright prints are a must. When choosing colours it is very important to consider your complexion. Choosing the right colour helps you look fresher and brighter. Q. Is there someone whose style you’ve always admired? A. Olivia Palermo – I love everything about her. She has a sophisticated chic style which embraces a fusion of timeless and classic looks, wherever she goes she always looks great!
Carolina Giraldo is the creative director of Carolina Lifestyle. She will be giving masterclasses in personal styling at various Gorgeous Excuse events throughout 2020, so watch out for her name for your chance to learn more about upping your styling game.
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LIFESTYLE
awesome
S I L LY season celebrations
HACKS
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There are so many options for Christmas/ fairy lights. And with more and more devices occupying prime power-point real estate, consider getting battery or solar operated fairy lights to make life a little easier.
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Start saving your egg cartons – they are a great way to safely store fragile ornaments.
Wrap a cardboard box in Christmas paper and use it as a recycling bin on Christmas morning for all that wrapping paper that gets thrown around the room.
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Decorating Christmas cookies? Use your (clean) tomato sauce bottle (aka ‘condiment bottle’) to squeeze neat lines of icing onto your cookies!
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Bulk buy your wine for the silly season to save money – then use the divided wine box to store wrapping paper!
Use double-sided tape for a more professional wrap!
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Giving a gift card? Put a self-adhesive label on it so the recipient can track the balance in case they don’t want to spend it all at once. Another idea is to put a magnet on it so they can pop it on the fridge and not lose it!
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Dark green cable ties can make great hangers for ornaments if you’ve run out …
Keep a paperclip in your sticky-tape to keep track of where the end is (and save your fingernails)
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Going shopping for Christmas? Take a photo of the inside of your fridge and pantry and you won’t find yourself asking, “Do we have caster sugar…?” while you’re browsing the aisles.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
All That Glitters
the sparkly season
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With the party season fast approaching, Kate Day gives us a crash course in sparkling wine – just what is the difference between Champagne and sparkling? And when should we drink it? (Any time!)
I drink it when I am happy – Madame Bollinger
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To be labelled as Champagne, the wine must have originated from the Champagne region in France and is usually only made of three varieties: Chardonnay (white), Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier (red varieties). Or, it can be a mixture of both. Champagne undergoes two fermentations in a process known as Méthode Traditionelle. The first ferment occurs in tank or barrel producing what is called the base wine. The second ferment occurs in the bottle after some extra sugar and yeast is added. Capturing the carbon dioxide that is released during ferment in the bottle is what adds the all-important fizz we love.
So, I hear you ask, what is the difference between Champagne and good Aussie Sparkling wine? Not much in the way of the process and the varieties used. The only real difference is, to be labelled as Champagne, the wine must come from the region of Champagne. This means you have a choice when you go to your local bottle shop to pick up some bubbles. You can buy French Champagne from where the style originated, or you can look for good Aussie Sparkling. If the latter, I suggest choosing a sparkling wine from cooler climate regions such as Tasmania, which has a comparable climate to the Champagne region.
The Champagne is then aged in the bottle with the yeast lees, which adds a layer of creaminess and texture to the wine. The bottles are gradually tilted on riddling racks, using gravity to finally draw the sediment into the neck. Following this ageing, the champagne is disgorged, which put simply is the process of removing the yeast lees from the bottle. This is usually done by placing the bottle upside down, freezing the lees into a hard mass and popping the seal to remove it.
So at your next Christmas do, or at the next birthday, anniversary, mother’s day, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, grab a tray of Bellinis and a bottle of bubbles and remember the very wise words of the Grande Dame Madame Bollinger:
The champagne base wines are usually very acidic so, following disgorgement, they are generally “dosed” with a level of liqueur to balance the acidity with a level of sweetness. The level of sugar added determines the category of champagne. Non or zero-dosage (wines with no sugar added), Brut (wines with a hint of sugar to balance the acidity – the most common in Champagne) and DemiSec (wines with more sugar than your Nan’s lolly jar). Another thing you may encounter on the label is non-vintage. This just means that the champagne or sparkling wine is a blend of multiple vintages, which I don’t think is a bad thing as you get a blend of numerous years and thus complexities.
“I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes, I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it if I am; otherwise I never touch it - unless I’m thirsty.” Here here!
Kate Day is a sommelier and wine making expert who will be presenting special workshops at various Gorgeous Excuse events in 2020 – watch our website to see when she is on next!
Spoil your loved ones this year! Gather your best girlfriends together for a day of fun and decadence.
Join us in 2020 Exclu sive ticket offer
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79
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