Jake and I met a while ago when he interviewed me for a series of videos he was doing. Our initial Skype call was like catching up with a long lost brother. We laughed and got really deep about all things life, self-love and our personal journeys.
I can’t wait for you guys to meet him.
Here’s Jake!
How young are you? 21
Where do you live? San Diego, California, USA
Current occupation: Author of “Into the Wind; My Six-Month Journey Wandering the World for Life’s Purpose,”
Tell us a little bit about your beautiful self: I was lost in the belief that I was my body, confined in the mindset that says “I will be or I will have,” which gave my power up to “someday in the future.” Then I left a life of partying, and a college basketball scholarship when I was nineteen to wander the world without a map; proving that anything is possible when we follow our hearts. I did this because Wayne Dyer said: “We are all God, and when we use the affirmation ‘I Am’ followed by our dream, then we connect to it in present time and it becomes a reality.”
I wasn’t sure whether he was blowing a bit of smoke, or if it was true. As a result, I decided that I’d test it, and either end up right back where I was, which was relatively confused, or I’d live my wildest dreams if he was telling the truth.
Thus, I quit school and basketball, packed a backpack and headed around the world without a map. About two years later, at twenty-one-years-old, I am sure it works and I am now releasing my first book in April and getting ready for an 8-month book tour around North America.
Why is fuelling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you? Because if you don’t, who will? If you love yourself, you’ll always be loved.
What does self-love mean to you and why is it important? Self-love means taking responsibility for your own well-being. It is important because you don’t get what you want, you get what you are. And if you aren’t treating yourself right, then the people and situations around you will exemplify that. If you are kind to yourself then the world will reflect kind people and pleasing situations. It’s that simple, and there’s no need to complicate it.
Tell us why you started your book and what it means to you? I started writing my book before I started blogging, but I started writing in general because all the thoughts in my head had to go somewhere or they would convolute my mind. I also continued to pursue writing because it’s one of the few “jobs” where you are permitted to use your imagination in any way you so choose. Blogging/writing means freedom of expression, which is the highest desire of our soul.
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
- Everything is a risk. It’s a risk to stay where we are in life as much as it is to step into the unknown. It’s most important to ask ourselves, “Which decisions have the highest reward?” (And follow that path)
- Worry less about what you eat (vegan, paleo, raw, vegetarian) and be more concerned with the PH level of your body. You can be a vegan or raw, and have a very, very acidic body. Your body is to be at 7.346 alkalinity. If your body is naturally alkalized, you will attract more pleasing experiences than if your body is acidic (hence the word “acid”). You don’t get what you want, you get what you are; acidic or not…
- Let go of futuristic outcomes and goals (it’s great to have them) but stop seeking self-worth in them. When we are content with where we are, we create the space for miracles to unfold towards those goals because we already are living from our personal power than seeking it through an accomplishment.
- Know that your deepest-self is no less than God, Source, or Love. You are the “I AM” presence, the changeless background behind all appearances and disappearances. You are the witness. You are God.
- It’s better to aim high and miss then to not aim at all.
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations?
- Into the Wind is a #1 New York Times Bestseller
- Into the Wind is a major motion picture
What’s your favourite live by affirmation, mantra or quote?
I AM GOD
&
”Let this mind be within you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Matthew 22:23
Where can we find you?
Last month I had the pleasure of meeting this beautiful soul when we were both speaking at The Greatest Gift Event. Therese and I had been following each other on social media for a while but meeting her in person I was blown away with her flawless completion, warm energy and open heart. This woman is the real deal! She exudes warmth, compassion and love. I am so excited for you guys to meet her. Let’s dive straight in.
- Meditate
- Drink plenty of filtered, pure water
- Eat only certified organic foods and use only certified organic products in your home.
- Eat plenty of greens to alkaline the body
- Get your thinking right. Get rid of the garbage and just be happy with you. Magic happens when you do that, a world of opportunity presents itself.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Pumpkin Soup
“This is a creamy and delicious soup filled with healthy ingredients that your whole family will enjoy. It’s a special recipe designed to honor my daughter Miranda’s grandfather, Peter “Pa” Kerr, who grows the most amazing pumpkins up in Gunnedah, Australia.”
NOTE: Cooking Time: 30 minutes plus stock cooking time: 2hrs.
INGREDIENTS:
- Water (to boil the pumpkin and sweet potato)
- 3 cup cooked pumpkin (squash) (4 cups raw, peeled and cut into 2.5cm / 1 inch cubes)
- 1 cup cooked sweet potato (1 1⁄4 cups raw, peeled and cut into 2.5cm / 1 inch cubes)
- 11⁄2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 cup coconut milk (or non dairy milk, almond milk works well)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
- 3 tablespoons agave or honey, to taste
- 4 thyme sprigs or parsley, for garnish (optional)
METHOD:
- Fill a large saucepan with water and add the pieces of pumpkin and sweet potato.
- Cover and bring to the boil.
- Cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender.
- Drain and set aside to cool prior to blending (approximately 10 minutes).
- Combine the pumpkin and sweet potato together with remainder of ingredients in a food processor fitted with the chopping blade or use a hand blender. You may need to process the soup mixture in two batches depending on the size of your machine.
- This soup can also be made in a blender. Again, depending on the size of the machine, you may need to blend in two batches.
- You may need to add a little more milk or stock while blending.
- The soup is now ready to gently reheat and serve, or it can be refrigerated to reheat later.
- Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat, and stir until heated thoroughly. Do not allow to boil.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme sprigs and enjoy.
NOTE:
The soup will keep for 3 days refrigerated.
You could double this recipe and freeze. To freeze, transfer to a freezer-proof container. Label, date and freeze for up to 3 months. Place in the fridge over- night to thaw.
Where can we find you?
This beautiful soul Jacqueline Alwill and I met a while back as I salivated over her delicious guilt free goodies at the Bondi markets one fine Saturday morning. With our combined passion and love for health and wellness we soon become soul sisters. Not only a beauty on the outside but a divine soul that makes you instantly feel warm in her presence. With the most stunning dewy skin I have ever seen and a smile that could kill, let me introduce you to the gorgeous Jacqueline.
How young are you?: 29
Live: in the best city in the world – Sydney!
Occupation : nutritionist and mother to an amazing little soul – Jet Decota
About : I am a Sydney based nutritionist, but have had the opportunity to live around the world which has been an important part of sculpting who I am today. My 3 year old boy, Jet, is incredible, and has taught me some of the greatest lessons in love and life.
Why is fuelling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you? If you live what you love, then you’ll love how you live. I love good energy, good food and feeling balanced. I am passionate about keeping life filled with positivity and happiness. If you live each day with this approach, it’s easier to rise, to smile, to love, to work, to sleep and to give. My work is about supporting others in finding this balance, and I must practice what I teach!
What does self-love mean to you and why is it important? To me self love means acceptance and peace. You can be eating like an angel, training like an athlete and have everything right on paper but still suffer inner conflict. Until you can accept yourself for who you truly are and the body you live in, it’s a challenge to feel self love. The day you can wake up and smile at yourself, feel a range of emotions, know your limits and when to step back and invest back into you, is when you have found self-love.
Tell us why you started your business and what it means to you? My love for food and health started when I was young. I was always doing sport, researching health articles, collecting recipes and cooking. This was the birth of The Brown Paper Bag. As I cooked I needed to share it with people, so I would bundle up my goodies, pop it in a brown paper bag and take it to friends or leave it on their doorstep. It was my way of giving to others, sharing my understanding of health and making myself happy in the process.
My first career in marketing didn’t quite fulfill my passion for health and so I made the most wonderful transition into the industry by first becoming a personal trainer which supported my studies in Nutritional Medicine. I had my beautiful son throughout this time and now have my own nutritional practice and organic food produce company ‘The Brown Paper Bag’.
To reach optimal health you need to have physical, emotional, mental and spiritual balance, and so my role and the focus of The Brown Paper Bag is to support clients on their path to achieving this.
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
- Wake up with gratitude and love
- Remind yourself in some way each day how wonderful you are
- Nourish yourself always, but don’t punish yourself when you step outside your usual habits of good health
- Express your creativity – mine is cooking!
- Smile at strangers – it is a simple practice that makes everyone feel great!
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations?
My goal is to continue to spread the message of balanced living and good health. In doing so I would love to be amongst the leaders in the industry (take a bow beautiful Melissa) guiding the masses into a better quality of life.
With my family, if my son can grow up feeling happy, healthy and radiating positive energy for life, I know I am achieving my goal to be the best mother I can be.
What’s your favourite live by affirmation, mantra or quote?
There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow. So today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.
- Dalai Lama
Fav recipe:
Turmeric quinoa, kale and corn salad
the goods:
serves 6 as a side
- 1.5 cups quinoa
- 3 cups water
- 1tsp turmeric
- ½ cup currants
- 1tsp mustard seeds
- 1tsp fenugreek
- ½ bunch coriander, leaves picked + stalks finely chopped
- 2 cobs corn, kernels removed from husk
- ¼ bunch kale, stems trimmed + leaves roughly torn
- 14 cup shaved almonds, lightly toasted
dressing:
- tbsp lemon juice
- 3tbsp natural organic yogurt
- 1 pinch chilli powder
- salt + pepper to taste
+ combine quinoa, water, turmeric, fenugreek, mustard seeds + currants in a saucepan + cook according to absorb water + usual quinoa cooking methods
+ once cooked turn into a large bowl to cool slightly
+ add coriander stalks + corn into quinoa bowl + toss to combine
+ to make dressing place all ingredients in a bowl + whisk with a fork to combine
+ toss kale + coriander leaves through quinoa mix with half the almonds
+ drizzle yogurt dressing over the top of the salad + top with remaining almonds
turmeric quinoa, kale + corn salad : featured in this salad is raw corn : corn is a great source of complex carbs, fatty acids, fibre + the carotenoid ‘lutein’ which is protective against heart disease + macular degeneration : always select non-gmo or organic corn : enjoy this salad at any time of year : the flavours of the turmeric, fenugreek + mustard seed are particularly warming
Where can we find you?
Facebook : The Brown Paper Bag Nutrition and Wellness
Instagram : @BrownPaperNutrition
Email : jacqueline@thebrownpaperbag.com.au
What do you think of this beautiful soul?
I am so excited and proud to introduce you to my beautiful friend Nicole Daboul today. Nicole and I met a few years ago through yoga and have been hanging out eating high vibrational food, doing yoga, sipping green juice and coconuts since.
Nicole and one of my other good buddies Tyler Atkins have just launched their new business The Living Lunchbox which I can’t wait to tell you about.
Let’s dive in!
How young are you? 34
Where do you live? Woollahra, Sydney.
Current occupation: Art Director, Kundalini Yoga Teacher and half of ‘The Living Lunchbox’
Why is fuelling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you? Back in my mid twenties my friends recommended I see a naturopath to help me with some stomach troubles I was having. I didn’t realise it at the time but I was quite unwell. This time marked the beginning of my personal healing journey (physically and emotionally)and a new awareness of what I was putting in my body. Was it of a high vibration? Was it nourishing me? Supporting me? I’ve worked as a creative in advertising and publishing for years which was taxing on the body and nervous system, especially my adrenals. Charging myself up with healthy food and positivity, ensuring I was healthy from the inside out, helped me to function in a fast paced and often cut throat environment.
What does self-love mean to you and why is it important? The work I do on myself and share with others through Kundalini Yoga teaches us that this concept is not about ‘fixing’ ourselves but rather coming to a deeper place of acceptance of ourselves. That inner knowing that all the love we need is within and that we do the work to uncover all the layers and blocks that prevent us from loving ourselves fully and sharing this source of infinite love with others. My favourite poet Rumi sums this up beautifully with this quote: “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
Tell us why you started your blog/business and what it means to you? My business partner and close friend Tyler (Atkins) and I had been hanging out doing yoga and talking about some ideas and visions for the future. Turns out that we both shared the dream to start a healthy lunchbox delivery. We decided to do just take the plunge and do it. There wasn’t any real planning involved, it evolved (and continues to evolve) quite organically. we are coming up to our third week on Monday and we’ve been overwhelmed and humbled by the support and how it’s taken off. It’s evidence for me that when you’re in alignment with your truth, and doing the work on yourself, if you have a vision and you vibrate that vision – you will manifest and accomplish that with complete support from the universe. It will blow your mind. This came to be from a complete letting go and surrendering on my part of what I thought I was ‘meant to be’ doing and making some space for this seed to grow. I can’t explain the thrill and the high I get from making this beautiful, living food every Monday with my friend and delivering it to people all over Sydney! It’s so much fun and such a blessing do be doing something I feel so passionately about.
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
1. Don’t believe everything you think.
2. Surround yourself with people and places that are vibrationally aligned, and UPLIFT you.
3. Fill yourself with LOVE: loving food, loving thoughts &ideas, loving friends, dreams and visions.
4. Do what you love, and if you don’t know what it is don’t give up until you find it.
5. Be humble, compassionate and kind. Forgive readily. Love infinitely.
Be silly on a daily basis. It keeps you young.
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations? I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in the present moment that I am today. I only wish to continue to follow my path where I am guided, and to share beautiful uplifting food and yoga with people as much as I can. Wherever in the world that takes me.
What’s your favourite live by affirmation, mantra or quote?
“Vibrate the Cosmos; the Cosmos shall clear the path.”
This is one of Yogi Bhajan’s Five Sutras for The Aquarian Age.
Share your favourite recipes? Today I’m in love with a Golden Goodness smoothie that I tasted at the Health Emporium (Bondi) yesterday. I slightly added to it for my smoothie today. Made from: Frozen bananas, frozen mangos, coconut flesh and water, fresh ginger, turmeric powder, cinnamon, ovvio vanilla bean powder, macadamia nuts, chia seeds, maca powder. It’s so ridiculously good.
Where can we find you?
Website – www.thelivinglunchbox .com (coming soon)
Instagram – @thelivinglunchbox and also @i_am_yoga
Warning: For all you super foodies out there be prepared to salivate over Jacqueline’s amazing recipes.
Let’s dive straight in.
How young are you? 28
Where do you call home? Sydney
Current occupation: TV Producer
Tell us a little bit about your beautiful self. I’m a 28 year old who grew up in coastal Newcastle and spent my teenage years in the kitchen making a mess. A move to Sydney and a bigger choice of culinary experiences helped fuel my foodie obsession. But it wasn’t until I headed into my mid 20’s that I really started looking at food and where it came from. TheGoodPlate is my journal of rediscovering the good stuff about food without sacrificing the flavour or the experience. It’s a blog for those who love to eat but also want to stay on the healthy side of the plate.
Why is fueling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you? I want to give myself and my family the best chance at life and to me that starts with the simple philosophy “You are what you eat”. If I can give my body and my mind the best chance at a happy and healthy life than I think that’s as successful as you can get.
What does self-love mean to you? To me it’s all about giving yourself the best chance at life, fuelling your body with good food that makes you happy but also living your life, having great experiences and not being too hard on yourself.
Tell us why you started your blog and what it means to you? I started my blog in October 2012 after a few people close to me got sick, for me at the time the only thing I knew how to help was to cook. So I started looking at food that was both good for you but also super tasty that still made food an experience. I was always a massive foodie and loved to eat and cook, but I started taking my favourite recipes and tweaking them into healthier versions free of preservatives and as close to the source as possible.
TheGoodPlate is not about getting fancy pants, or cooking for 6 hours with 40,000 ingredients.
It’s good, honest, simple home cooking on the table, filling you up and making you feel GOOD!
I think we would all love to eat organic all the time, spend hours at the farmers markets on the weekend and grow a fantastic vege patch in the backyard. When the reality is I work full time, live in an inner city terrace and have a busy social life. TheGoodPlate is about doing the best you can with your resources, it’s good cooking for busy people who are conscious about what they put in their bodies. TheGoodPlate doesn’t use the words diet, calories, fat – it’s simply about fuelling your body with the good stuff but also enjoying food, enjoying life and not feeling guilty about it.
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
1.) Fuel your body with the good stuff which means trying to stay away from preservatives and ‘fake food’ and cooking with food as close to the source as possible. And if you can move you body a little bit as well than I think you are doing pretty good.
2.) Surround yourself with good people – I’m such a people person and have always loved being around good people. I’m really lucky that the people in my life are wonderful beautiful creative people who inspire me daily.
3.) Keep learning – I can’t think of anything worse than not being surprised and learning everyday, I think that its important to keep your mind active and keep learning about the things you love and for me that’s good food.
4.) Laugh – I love a good chat and good laugh, especially around the table whilst sharing a meal. A good laugh can take a bad day and make it the best.
5.) Laugh some more – rinse and repeat as above
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations?
It’s pretty simple for me – live well, eat well, stay healthy and laugh!
What are your favourite recipes?
-
Quinoa-Salad-w-Roasted-Cauliflower-Zucchini-Pomegranate
Where can we find you?
I am very excited to introduce you to today’s Friday Friend Christian Miranda. Not only does Christian train me three times a week but he is also a very dear friend of mine and a valued member of my tribe. If you live in Sydney get in touch with him for the best workout of your life.
Let me introduce you to Christian.
How young are you? 27
Where do you live? Padstow, south west of Sydney
Current occupation: Personal Trainer, Trainer Manager and Gym Owner
Tell us a little bit about your beautiful self: I’m a health conscious guy that loves sharing what I know and continue to learn about health and fitness. Living the life that allows me to do what I do, meeting new people and learning what they do and how they came to be the person that they are is something I really enjoy and learn a lot from. I surround myself with amazing people that continue to inspire and motivate me to be the best person I can be.
Why is fuelling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you? I’ve learnt over the years of working toward optimal health, that sleep, hydration, nutrition and exercise are the key components toward physical and mental health for me. By consciously doing all of these things as well as I can, it allows me to do all that I want to do to the best of my ability.
What does self-love mean to you and why is it important? Self-love means having an understanding of who you are, the unlimited amount of potential that you have, where you want to be heading and doing all that you can to allow the continual development of yourself. In having this understanding, it allows us to have purpose toward all that we do, ensuring we continue to grow and develop as people both individually and with those around us.
Tell us why you started your business and what it means to you? My Personal Training business evolved from training my own clients in a park, to identifying talent in and recruiting my own team of trainers from my social network – childhood friends, old training partners from swimming, past clients – to a point where I now manage a team of Personal Trainers that each conduct their own business from within my gym environment under the ONE Personal Training Solutions banner.
The culture of success that exists amongst the trainers and their clients is one I take great pride in being a part of and the satisfaction I receive from knowing that this environment has been the catalyst for positive change in so many peoples lives is such that I’m continually driven to keep doing what I do.
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
- Live with purpose
- Continually work toward developing and growing as a person
- Take pride in and celebrate your achievements
- Challenge yourself – embrace ‘failure’ as an opportunity to learn
- Be the best possible version of yourself – always
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations? To continue working with my clients and friends to a point where they no longer ‘need’ me but keep coming back due to the pure enjoyment and ongoing motivation that our relationship provides to their life. I want to have this impact on as many lives as possible through all forms – face to face, social media, workshops, talks and presentations and positively influence change in the health and fitness industry.
What’s your favourite live by affirmation, mantra or quote? Whatever it is that you choose to do – do it well. Do all things with purpose.
Share your favourite training types? High Intensity Interval Training, Strength Training, Core Stability and Flexibility, Sprints – Rowing, Swimming, Running – a balance of these types makes up my weekly training program.
Where can we find you?
Instagram – @christianmiranda
I am so excited to introduce you to the beautiful Belinda Davidson. Although we have never met in person (unlike a lot of my other Friday Friends) I feel a deep soul sister connection to this beautiful being. And I am sure you will too after reading all about her.
Let’s get stuck in!
Where do you live? Gold Coast, Australia.
Current occupation: Medical Intuitive, Coach & Author.
Tell us a little bit about your beautiful self. I was born being able to ‘see into people.’ I always knew that people were thinking and feeling. But this got me into loads of trouble when I was a child because I quickly learnt that most people don’t like it that you can see the truth about them.
I was also brought up Christian so I tried as much as I could to suppress my gift. This all changed in my early twenties. When I was 20 my deceased grandmother contacted me from the other side and told me that I needed to speak to one of her children. (she has 7 and one of them in my Mum).
I was hesitant to do this because I didn’t want to see weird, but she was really persistent, so I called my uncle, and that phone call saved his life. He was suicidal.
That was the beginning of my acceptance of my gift and very quickly after this, I began giving many people energy field readings.
Why is fueling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you? Because I want to keep my vibrations raised! The key to a beautiful life, is having all your chakras work properly, and eating well and thinking well, aids this process.
What does self-love mean to you? It means everything to me. Every day in every moment I can either choose to be in alignment with my soul (love), or with my ego (fear). Choosing love and to love ourselves creates a magical life.
Tell us why you started your blog and what it means to you? I started my blog last year in November because so many people were asking me about 2012, and the great shift in consciousness and what was going to happen in 2013. So I decided I needed to address people’s fears and concerns. The series is called What Really Happened in 2012, and what’s to come in 2013.
It talks about all those juicy topics that people want to know about: how to become psychic, how to discover your life’s purpose, what these ‘times’ are really about etc.
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
- Work with the White Light
- Daily Chakra Cleanse Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Live/raw foods. Foods that have a high energy content
- Gratitude
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations? I’ve just founded an online school called School of the Modern Mystic. We’ll be showing people how to become psychic, heal themselves and others, discover their life purpose, as well as become magicians.
It is kind of like Harry Potter, without the death eaters and much more modern. We love very high heels, and hip hop (without the bitches and hoes references!)
Your favourite live by affirmation, mantra or quote?
My daily mantra is, “Soul, show me how I can show up and serve the world in my unique way.”
I also actively practice gratitude (but who doesn’t! we know that being grateful for what we have just draws more of it in)
What are your favourite recipes? Actually, giggle, giggle, I LOVE your raw chocolate brownie with cherry recipe.
And fresh pineapple juice with mint.
Where can we find you?
Blog
One more thing before we go. Belinda has been kind enough to often you all a free White Light healing and access to the 7 day chakra course when you sign up here.
Brenda came into my life via a mutual friend last year and we instantly hit it off. Her infectious smile, nurturing energy and big, warm, open heart makes it hard not to fall in love with this incredible women.
I am so excited for you guys to meet Brenda Janschek.
Where do you live? I am blessed to live at beautiful Coogee Beach in Sydney. I feel like a tree with my roots deeply imbedded in this area. Love it!
Current occupation: I’m a holistic health coach with a passion for helping busy mums raise happy, healthy families. Through my various programs I support busy families to achieve optimal nutrition and to find balance, peace and joy in their lives.
I am also a speaker and wellness blogger, and a committed spokesperson for children’s health, organic living and family wellbeing.
Tell us a little bit about your beautiful self: I’m a busy mum myself with two beautiful kids & a sweet, supportive husband and they all mean the absolute world to me.
I’m addicted to my morning walks around my gorgeous local beaches, it’s such a refreshing way to start my day. I love fashion, food, friends , film & theatre, music (especially funk!), dancing, books, art and I’m very interested in psychology.
Why is fueling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you? As a busy mum raising a family and running my own business, fueling my body with beautiful food is important to allow me to sustain my energy levels to make it through the day. My motto is “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” wise words by Hippocrates. Beautiful food will support my current and future health, help me to maintain a healthy weight and a better quality of life. And beautiful clean wholefoods makes me just plain happy!
Beautiful thoughts are extremely important for someone like me who has suffered anxiety disorder. Learning to observe my thoughts and gently change them to more realistic, positive thoughts, helps me everyday to avoid the extreme anxiety and sometimes panic that I used to experience. It is a practise I need to do daily to stay on track and to achieve optimum well-being. On the occasions when I find that I become derailed, focusing on my thoughts (& breathing) & reassuring myself that “this to will pass”, brings me safely back to equilibrium again.
What does self-love mean to you? Self-love means accepting & knowing oneself, and not comparing yourself to others and treating ourselves kindly. We are all individual, we are all unique, there is no one else in the world like me or you!
If we love ourselves, this allows us to connect with others in meaningful ways, we feel positive, energetic and happy and gives us the ability to support others on their personal journey’s.
Achieving self-love is a process and requires ongoing practise & inner-work.
Tell us why you started your blog and what it means to you? I started my business because my heart felt like it was going to explode with passion & my head was going to explode with information, which had been building steadily over the years. I wanted to be able to share this passion and information with as many people as possible. The well being of children is my true passion. I want to share with parents that with simple changes, we can have proper fuel and nourishment, and our bodies can be strong and healthy to prevent illness & disease, which is sadly on the rise.
My sister recently reminded me that Buddha refers to work like this as Right Livelihood.
“To practice Right Livelihood (samyag ajiva), you have to find a way to earn your living without transgressing your ideals of love and compassion. The way you support yourself can be an expression of your deepest self, or it can be a source of suffering for you and others. ” … Our vocation can nourish our understanding and compassion, or erode them. We should be awake to the consequences, far and near, of the way we earn our living.”
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
- Be grateful
- Eat healthy & exercise
- Drink water, lots
- Have fun, lots
- Relax
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations? My big dream is that parents and teachers start to become educated about health, nutrition and well-being for humans and the earth, so that we can teach our precious children how to achieve the happiest, healthiest life they could ever dream of! Then they can pass it on to their children and down it goes through generations. This is my ultimate dream and I consider myself a foot soldier on this path.
I dream a lot about travelling more with my family. These times are the best times for us. We are all relaxed & together excitedly discovering a new world with all its little surprises!
What’s your favourite live by affirmation, mantra or quote?
This one is easy! I discovered this famous quote by Marianne Williamson and I immediately printed it out, and blue-tacked to the fridge where it never left. Whenever I moved house I would find that I had brought that old tattered printed quote with me & I’d stick it up on a pinboard or fridge again and again. The quote is so full of joy and hope and it resonates deeply for me. Here it is:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
What are your favourite recipes?
My favourite recipes are whatever is quick, easy, nutritious and delicious for my family. Some recipes on high rotation in our home would be kale chips; sweet potato wedges; raw cacao balls; spelt and buckwheat pancakes; stir frys with grass-fed meat, chicken or prawns; hearty salads with haloumi, egg, tuna or chicken plus seeds and nuts; sheeps yoghurt with nuts, seeds, berries, dessicated coconut and cinnamon; and any variation of my healthy smoothies.
Where can we find you?
Amber is a dear friend of mine whom I love greatly. I first met Ambi when I was 18 back in my modelling and acting days. She reminds me to play more, let go, have fun and to run around like a 6 year old. It’s brilliant!
Be prepared to be mesmerized by her beauty.
How old are you? 29
Where do you live? Between Los Angeles and Sydney
Current occupation: Actress, lecturer at FBI Fashion College and Product Consultant for doTERRA essential Oils.
Tell us a little bit about your beautiful self: I am currently living in Venice Beach, Los Angeles in a sweet cottage by the sea. My focus is acting, yoga, sharing doTERRA Oils and getting creative in whatever form inspires me in that moment! I am a great studier of the human mind, spirituality and love. I aspire to be the best human I can be and in turn, hopefully inspire others to do the same.
Why is fueling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you? When I feel good in my body/mind I feel capable of achieving anything I dream of!! My focus becomes less on ‘trying to feel better’ and more on creating/enjoying life and contributing to changing the world 
Life is too short and beautiful to spend in a body/mind that weighs you down or keeps you from radiating/creating to your fullest potential.
Taking responsibility of my own health is truly powerful and a great exercise in commitment and discipline!!
What does self-love mean to you? TOTAL ACCEPTANCE of every little part of myself. Knowing and connecting to my unique beauty (not comparing myself to others!) Holding myself as sacred and nourishing my soul/body/mind with healthy people, food and ideas.
Knowing that all the goodness I am searching for can only be found within myself and in turn is reflected in the world around me.
Tell us why you started your blog and what it means to you? I started my blog as a creative outlet as well as a way to empower and inspire others to live fully expressed. My blog is a window into my mind and interests, encouraging others to play, get creative, walk in their power, experiment with cooking, go on adventures, dance, laugh, get into their cities culture and learn about the profound benefits of health and yoga.
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
- LAUGH. FORGIVE. LISTEN.
- Listen to your body/live by your instinct
- Have a diet as clean and basic as possible
- Move your body daily (swim, dance, run, whatever tickles your fancy)
- Be light hearted about life/love and the pressures that come with living in this day and age.
- Sorry, I had to put a 6th in ALWAYS follow you dreams. And dream big!!
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations? To act in films and be involved in other creative projects that move people, wake people up to their greater self and bring joy and connectedness into peoples lives.
I would love to live an eco friendly, sustainable life, working with nature and the elements to regenerate our planet.
I would also love to live in New York City one day soon and build a yoga spot/tea house!!!
Your favourite live by affirmation, mantra or quote?
Sat Nam
A Kundalini Yoga Mantra which means ‘I am Truth’ or ‘Truth is my essence’. This reminds me to always be in my heart. Be and create from an authentic place.
What are your favourite recipes?
At the moment im going bananas with smoothie/superfood recipes and chia seed pudding.
‘Café Gratitude’ cook book has a zillion recipes that are raw/vegan and DELISH! I trust every recipe in that book so I often turn to it when I feel like getting messy
Where can we find you?
Today’s Friday Friend is someone so special to me, Tegian Nash. Teg’s and I met years ago in an acting class and became instant besties. What attracted me to her was her free spirit, playfulness and ability to live in the present moment. Teg’s really does live in the flow and is a massive believer everything happens for a reason. This is why I love her so much.
Let me introude you to Teigan Nash.
Age: 23
Where do you live? Cronulla
Current occupation: Presenter, Founder of A.T.
Tell us a little bit about your beautiful self.
I live in beautiful Cronulla, I love sunrises, sunsets, unircorns, mermaids and the moon fascinates me. I feel like I live in a fantasy, I love all things beautiful! I’m a massive fitness freak and love to get creative in the kitchen. I work as a presenter and have toured and travelled around the world hosting live shows.
Why is fuelling your body with beautiful food and thoughts important to you?
Fuelling your body with beautiful foods and beautiful positive thoughts is imperative to maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle. I am constantly on the go, driving, flying, working but I manage to maintain a healthy lifestyle by what fuels my body. Putting goodness into my body helps me to stay healthy, positive and most importantly happy!
What does self-love mean to you and why is it important?
Self love to me means truly believing in your self and loving yourself unconditionally. It means accepting those so-called flaws you think you have, looking in the mirror and loving what you see. Self love isn’t just about the exterior its mostly about the inner self. How we express our love and emotions for our self and for those we care about. LOVE YOURSELF INSIDE AND OUT!!! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL
Tell us why you started your blog/ business and what it means to you?
My business partner Amé and I came up with the idea at A.T. one day when we were out paddle boarding. Basically A.T. is a Youtube channel where we cover lifestyle, charity, music and fashion events. A.T. is about creating a new way to communicate through visual mediums. We want to collaborate with beautiful like minded people. Amé is a Choreographer/ dancer and I am a Presenter/Journalist, we both have a passion for health, love, fitness, creating, videography and photography.
Your top 5 tips to stay healthy and happy?
Tip 1- Exercise regularly
Tip 2- Laugh uncontrollably and allow yourself to let go and find your inner child/ soul. Open your heart.
Tip 3- Live in the present
Tip 4- Put good nutritious food into your body
Tip 5- Daydream! (The mind is a wonderful powerful tool)
What are your big dreams, goal and aspirations?
I want to change the world. I know that’s a massive goal, aspiration and dream! But why not, even if it is something so small. I love working with children and after traveling through Asia, and other third world countries I would love to contribute and do something to help.
I want to spread laughter.
Happiness.
Joy.
Peace.
Health.
Fitness.
Fun.
I want to spread the SMILE!
What’s your favourite live by affirmation, mantra or quote?
“WE ARE SHAPED BY OUR THOUGHTS, WE BECOME WHAT WE THINK. WHEN THE MIND IS PURE, JOY FOLLOWS. LIKE A SHADOW THAT NEVER LEAVES” Buddha
You may say im a dreamer but im not the only one.
Never say goodbye, because saying goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.. Peter Pan.
All you need is faith, Trust and a little bit of pixie dust.. Peter Pan
Share your favourite recipes?
Love a BLISS BALL!
Raw Cacao balls
Dates, Almonds, Coconut, Coconut oil.
Quinoa Sushi
Avocado, Quinoa, lettuce, mint, coriander, cucumber… any vegetables! Roll in seaweed for fresh delicious homemade sushi rolls! =)
Where can we find you?
Email: ameteigan@gmail.com
Instagram @Teigan_jen
