by Candice DeVille | Jan 15, 2015 | Home & Garden, sponsors
This post is brought to you by Nuffnang and Zodiac Australia
The decision to build a pool at home was a big one, and one that has been a long time coming. When Zodiac contacted me a couple of weeks ago to see if we’d like to trial and review their MagnaPool mineral salts pool system, I laughed, as this is exactly what we’d already installed so I knew I’d be happy to write about it. I’m already sold.
When we first bought this property over seven years ago, one of the key reasons we chose it was for the space it had to put in a fantastic pool area to our own design. I love looking at water, I love its calming sounds and rippled surface, but I’m really not much of a swimmer.
My swimming experiences all make it somewhat of a hassle for me. Firstly I have coloured hair and I hate the damage lots of chlorine does to it. I also hate the damage it does to my swimsuits and my skin. I have very sensitive eyes and even sitting by indoor chlorinated pools causes my eyes to become so red it makes it hard to see. Choosing the right pool set up became a big research project for us.
Putting in a pool is a huge investment and one we really wanted to get right, so when we heard about MagnaPool from our builder, it was something I consulted both online reviews and my resident chemist (Dad), about.
In a nutshell, a MagnaPool uses magnesium (a natural mineral) to detoxify and balance the water. Magnesium is what you find in all those amazing mineral baths and spas around the world; know for their ability to sooth aches and pains, relieving stress and anxiety. I’ve had arthritis in my legs for years and years, sometimes to the point where I just can’t be on my legs, so this idea that as a non-swimmer, I can just rest, relax and float in a pool that is going to help relieve this is amazing!
Magnesium and potassium (the two minerals found in the MagnaPool system), are also credited with relieving skin ailments, helping with sensitivity issues and also being far safer for my coloured hair, (superficial I know).
As far as the filter system goes, MagnaPool uses a glass filter system instead of sand or other media. These Zodiac Glass beads are made from recycled glass and discourage bacteria from attaching to them, which is a known issue with sand filters. So the overall water quality is cleaner, more sanitary and also due to the minerals, much better to use on the garden when it is changed over!
Making the decision on this one was really important, but we also found out that pools that were currently using a chlorination system could be changed over to MagnaPool. We vacillated a bit in making the decision due to the initial extra set up cost and our tightly stretched budget, but when all the chips were down, there was no second guessing just how good a decision this would be. It is one of the best things we’ve done with this whole renovation.
Not only is the water absolutely stunning to look at, but it leaves my skin actually feeling better than when I got in; smooth and silky, not stinging or stinking of heavy chlorination.
Pools are such a big part of the Australian backyard lifestyle, and finding ways to make our experiences with them even better is something I see advertised all the time. Fancy sofas and lovely accessories, all wonderful of course, but if I can suggest one thing to start with; it would be converting to a MagnaPool.
I’d like you to experience of what it is like to bathe in this type of water, so Zodiac have provided me with 50 sachets (2 per winner) of their MagnaPool mineral bath salts to help you create your own mini experience.
Given, it isn’t the same as floating around under the sunset, but add these to a bath soak and see just how it feels. Let your entire body relax, aches and pains drift away, while your skin soaks up the detoxifying minerals.
All you need to do is be one of the first 25 to leave me a comment about why you think MagnaPool mineral salts would be right for you.
Terms and conditions apply
The competition is open until 5:00 pm AEDST on 6th February 2015
by Candice DeVille | Jan 5, 2015 | Home & Garden, Self
As I stood looking at it all prior to Christmas, I realised something, that light bulb went off. I don’t actually need to declutter. Clearly, the “definition of insanity is doing the same things time and time again and expecting a different result”. What I actually needed was drastic action, an apocalypse of the domestic kind. The kind that can only happen when something monumental shifts in your mind and in your heart. Perhaps following a comprehensive room by room de-cluttering, the type you do when you are moving houses would come in handy.
Either that or you get completely jack of the crap.
While I am only in the first throws of this process, it is moving along at a screaming pace, with the intent to be complete by the end of January when school goes back. All the thoughts and ideas that have come to mind while my hands are at work, are things I want to share with you. Some of these tips you may have read before, others may be totally new to you. Either way, if this helps you on your own personal journey to clear out the crap, I want to know!
The First Step
Know why you want to declutter or minimise.
- Is your stuff stressing you out? Is it causing arguments, yelling, tension, wasted time?
- How often can’t you find things?
- How much money are you wasting on things you don’t need or looking after all the excess you have?
Really, ask yourself these questions because when you get tired or your resolves starts to break, you only need to be reminded of the truth here.
My personal answers are ‘yes’ to all of the above. The biggest factor is the amount of time I spend looking after stuff, both mine and the rest of the family’s. And it drives me fricken nuts! Collecting vintage has been a wonderful pastime, but when you consider how much time it takes to restore, clean, mend etc.. Then add two primary school kids into the mix, everything becomes a burden and the beauty fades.
by Candice DeVille | Dec 18, 2014 | Christmas, Food & Drinks
Time for your tastebuds to feel the light and the dark side with this new cocktail recipe.
Here’s my new Christmas Cocktail Recipie creation; The Ginger Swinger!
You will need
- Martini glass
- 1Tbsp Nutella
- 1 measure of ginger cordial
- 2 measures vodka
- crushed ice
- coconut water
- 1 tsp lime juice
Method
- Coat the bottom half of your glass with the tbsp of Nutella or other hazelnut chocolate spread
- Add 1 measure of ginger cordial
- Add 2 measures vodka
- Crushed Ice and lime juice
- Serve separated, stir before drinking
Having Christmas in Summer means that entertaining takes on a different twist and we need to come up with catering ideas that help us cope with the heat.
This Christmas cocktail recipie has both the sweetness and freshness that gives it a decadent, yet light finish.
Perfect for impressing your guests in no time at all!
by Candice DeVille | Dec 4, 2014 | Food & Drinks
The perfect summer cocktail recipe for a tropical moment.
Dear tastebuds, you need a holiday. You need a new Summer cocktail recipe!
Here is one I prepared earlier….
You will need
- Martini Glass
- 1 tbsp Papaya – Fresh or tinned
- 2 measures Cointreau
- Crushed Ice
- Coconut Water
- 1 tsp Lime juice
Method
- Muddle the Papaya into the base of the martini glass.
- Add two measures of Cointreau and allow to rest for five minutes so the Papaya can absorb some of the liquor.
- Add crushed ice.
- Top off with Coconut water and lime juice.
- Garnish
by Helen McLean | Apr 17, 2014 | Food & Drinks
There’s something quite indulgent about the thick hot chocolates you can get at Max Brenner. There’s also something a little amusing about ordering a Dark Italian from the menu!
I discovered a more indulgent European style hot chocolate at The Polish Place in Mt Tamborine, Queensland. The food, the service, the picturesque view, the inquisitive and insatiable rosella’s, were all amazing. But the hot chocolates were something out of this world. And I wanted to find out how I could create this at home, so I could have it anytime without the travel.
Max Brenner’s retail shop does sell it in powdered form, however it contains all manner of ingredients. There must be a better and more simplistic way of making this, and pre-packaged powder is not the way for me.
So after a bit of research online, I found that it was simply three ingredients – with cornflour used as the thickener. Perfect!
The amount of milk, chocolate and cornflour ratio will depend on your personal preference. I love a lot of dark chocolate and quite a bit of cornflour to make for a very rich and very thick drink.
European Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients (per person):
1 cup (250ml) cold milk
30-50g chocolate blocks, chopped
1/2tsp cornflour (thick) or 1tsp cornflour (very thick)
Method:
1. Heat up most of the milk in a saucepan over medium heat (about 200ml).
2. Prepare the cornflour mixture by stirring in the cornflour to the remaining cold milk (about 50ml). The cornflour will dissolve into the milk. Put aside.
2. Once the milk is warm, add the chopped chocolate pieces to the milk and keep stirring.
3. Once the chocolate has melted, add your cornflour mixture to the saucepan and keep stirring until the mixture thickens.
Important! If you stop stirring during the thickening process, you’ll get clumps. You need to keep the mixture moving.
Alternatives: (yum!!)
1. Try adding 1 drop of orange essence for a Jaffa flavoured hot chocolate, and top with candied or grated orange rind.
2. For an extra warming sensation, add a sprinkling of chili powder to your mixture. Ay, caramba!
Have you ever tried thick European style hot chocolate? If you have, tell me where you’ve had yours – it’d be great to build up a little location list below in the comments! And if you’ve made this before, feel free to share your recipe alternatives.
Styling notes:
Orange plate & Green cup, both from Daiso
