Chocolate Blog

Newsflash! Traumatised Non-Meat Eater Cooking Meat For Son!

Thu, 24 May 2012 01:06:00 GMT

Hunny time to ask how to get over cooking meat when you cant stand the smell of it? I have not eaten meat since I was 17years of age. I got hideously ill in Thailand (hospitalised in fact) for eating dog! Yes dog... I had no idea it was dog but OMG I was ill. And it makes my skin crawl thinking about it. Who the heck does that?

I also think as a young teenager staying on a farm traumatised me too. We thought we were going to watch sheep being shawn and when the farmer asked my brother to pick one we were all shocked, horrified and mortified to watch him slit its throat in front of us. Who on earth does that to children? He was excited to show us the insides and how the body of a sheep worked. I had planned to be a vet up until that point... End of a dream there and then I can tell you!

Anyway all good, therapy has helped and am still eating organic chicken and fish. My first baby was a challenge. I thought just because I dont eat red meat doesn't mean she shouldn't but in all honesty every time I tried to give her something with meat in it she turned her nose up at it! And still to this day at 14years of age does not eat red meat. Maybe that was law of attraction working at its best? My son however is another story. Like his dad he LOVES red meat. Every time they want a fix of dead cow or dead pig they have to cook it on the BBQ outside. Mean of me I know! But it has worked for us... Up until now!

Mr Chocolate has been in India for some time commentating the IPL Cricket. Our BBQ completely fell apart this summer due to the salt air rusting it to a crumbling mess and I have not got around to replacing it. My boy never complains... So I thought I would treat him - you being a meat eater love, will be so proud! I held my nose in the butchers (sniffing a tissue with a drop of Peppermint on it) and brought him 4 organic lamb chops and 2kgs high grade beef mince. They seriously thought I was a nutter - and that is a polite word for what they were truly thinking I could tell!! I seriously thought this will last the next few weeks. Ha! He is a 12year old boy playing sport most days and growing fast! Little did I know!

He arrived in the door the other night from rugby training and I told him I had made mashed potatoes. He smiled and said 'you're the best' and then I added - and I have some lamb chops for you. He just about fell to the floor hugging me like I was going away for months and said 'oh man you are the BEST mum ever'. Wow! That was easy!

And the poor wee lad downed that meal like it was the last meal he would ever have! He ate all 4 chops much to my amazement! He was grinning like a cheshire cat. I then told him I had a huge (and I mean huge) pot of Spag Bol (packed with truckloads of veges of course!) on the stove just for him... Well honestly it was like all his Christmases had come at once. I was going to freeze most of it but I have to say love... it was gone in a few days. He had it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My neighbour arrived yesterday to tell me she had made a lasagne (with meat) and did I think Jakob would like some for his dinner... See... even my beautiful friends feel sorry for him. And the boy was one happy wee chappy indeed. God I love my neighbour! Bless her heart!

Poor Mr Chocolate - I have never cooked him meat in our 22 years of being together and in one week I have made more meat than I ever care to look at for my son. He arrives home next week... and with puppy dog eyes has asked if I will do the same for him...

Oh God help me... I only did this as a once off and now look what I have got myself in for! More peppermint tissues and visits to the organic butcher in Forest Glen!!

And so my question today is what meat dishes does a non meat eater make?

Love Me xx

We're best friends and now live across the ditch from each other, these posts are a way of sharing what's going on in our lives with each other - and you, our beautiful Like Chocolate for Women and Twenty8 readers!

What Is It With Dance Mum's?

Sun, 20 May 2012 11:14:00 GMT

Hunny, as you know I have a daughter who is pretty committed to and in love with her dancing. I think what is so precious for a mother is to see her child have a passion and do all it takes to follow it through. Is it a worry that I am moved to tears every time she takes to the stage? Or for that matter any of the gorgeous girls I know and proudly watch? Well, we just attended our first Dance Eisteddfod here on the Sunshine Coast and OMG it was full on and amazing! So incredibly proud of all our girls and our new Dance School certainly deserved to be there. But here is the news... hunny I dont think I make a good dance mum!!

I mean for a start I dont sew. Can you imagine that in the dancing world? I will pay ANYONE whatever it takes to do whatever it needs, including hems. It stems from sewing the sleeve of my jacket to the hood accidentally in Home Ec when I was 12. I am still in therapy but as the counsellor said who on earth would attempt something so complicated with raincoat material first up? Up until that point I considered myself somewhat of a fashion designer. Clearly that ended abruptly and I have refused to go near any sort of needle, sewing machine or sequins for fear of humiliation since. Not even for my daughter.

I also cannot put on the false eyelashes. What's with that? Happy to do the makeup now that it is more classical, in fact love doing the makeup, (although I think I am constantly annoying everyone with trying to find more natural, mineral alternatives as I cannot stand what's in the everyday stage makeup kits... oh God help me or should that be God help them!) however, there is a scratching-nails-down-a-blackboard kinda feeling that has me reeling with fasle eyelashes. Just cant do it.

I am constantly horrified at what many dancers use for sustenance Fleur. I mean do they really think diet drinks, packets of chips and chocolate bars are good enough! Does that make me a bad dance mum?

At times I do not get the judging or adjudicating either. Ok so i am not a dance teacher or professional in any way shape or form... but I understand technique having danced into my teens. Well that qualifies me doesn't it?!! There were quite a few moments when I wanted to go up to the adjudicator and ask if she was watching the same competition as I was? See... bad dance mum.

However, I think I have turned a corner and now changed my mind... It wasn't until the last day when a few of us mum's went into to see the photos of our babes when we saw the gorgeous girl who placed first in the Classical Ballet section. Our girls told her how amazing she was and congratulated her wholeheartedly. She had two suitcases filled with 'dance stuff', makeup kit and her tutu bag. It was refreshing to see the sportsmanship shine through each of the girls as they admired her. We smiled at her mum and said 'you must be so proud, she's stunning'. She just looked at us with a can of Diet Pepsi (say no more!) and said 'She could have pointed her toes more.'

OMG dear Fleur... in that moment I looked around for the cameras as I truly thought we were being filmed as part of that American reality TV show called 'Dance Moms'. I wanted to give her a litre of 'De-stress and Revive'. And I realised there and then that maybe I aint such a bad dance mum after all!!

Love Kim xx

PS: Check out our girl!!

Two Raw Desserts That Will Blow You Away!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 03:03:00 GMT

Many of us have a sweet tooth and most of us love to finish a meal with something delicious but hopefully not fattening or too heavy. Well at last two incredible desserts that we at Like Chocolate For Women adore and have amazing comments every time we make them... Now you can share in the sweet delight knowing how good they are for you too!

First up is our Banana Blueberry Pie. This is the quickest and easiest to make. It does not take long to have a masterpiece on your table ready for serving... and with all those blueberries it is an anti-oxidant anti-aging haven! Gotta love that!

Raw Blueberry & Banana Pie

BASE

1 cup pecans or almonds or cashews or combination

1 cup raisins or dates

1/2 cup goji berries (optional)

1/2 cup coconut

FILLING

2-3 ripe bananas

4 cups blueberries (I use frozen thawed)

1 cup dates

Place nuts, raisins, goji berrries, coconut into a bowl and process until finely ground. The mixture will stick together when gently pressed between two fingers. Press the mixture (this is your base) into an 8-inch glass-baking pie dish.

Place sliced banana all over crust.

Place blueberries and dates into a blender until smooth.

Pour this mixture over the sliced banana. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours and serve as pie. (I actually freeze it for a few hours before serving).

Variations:

You can use any kinds of berries for this easy pie!

You can also use any kinds or combinations of nuts and seeds for the base.

Enjoy...

And the other is our divine Raspberry Macadamia & Cashew Tart. We got inspired for this from Olivia Newton John's book Livwise. We have tweaked it as follows and honestly this is so delicious it is not funny! The only thing that makes this a little more time consuming that the Banana Blueberry Pie is the fact you have to remember to soak the cashews overnight... Otherwise this is just as easy! Oh and did I say delicious?!

Raspberry Macadamia & Cashew Tart

BASE

25g (1/4 cup) desiccated coconut

320g (2cups) macadamia and cashew nuts

50g goji berries (optional)

90g (1/2 cup) pitted, dried dates

FILLING

310g (2cups) cashews soaked in water overnight, then drained

Freshly squeezed juice of lemon

60ml (1/4 cup) maple syrup

60ml (1/4 cup) coconut oil warmed

1 tsp natural vanilla extract

RASPBERRY TOPPING

250g (2cups) thawed frozen or raspberries

90g (1/2 cup) pitted dried dates

Lightly grease a round 22cm spring-form cake tin. Line the base with the coconut.

Put the macadamias, cashews and dates into a food processor and process until well combined. Press the mixture over the coconut in the base of the tin.

To make the filling, put the cashews, lemon juice, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract and 100mls water into a food processor and process until well combined and smooth. Pour over the date mixture in the tin. Lightly tap the tin on a work surface to remove any air bubbles. Freeze for at least 2hours or until filling is firm.

To make topping, put raspberries and dates in food processor and process until smooth.

Remove tart from the tin and transfer onto a serving plate. op with raspberry topping and serve in wedges.

DIVINE!!!

Love Kim & Fleur xx

www.likechocolateforwomen.com

How To Find Your Exercise Mojo!

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:16:00 GMT

I get asked questions like this a lot... "Just wondering if you can help - I want to get back into running and exercising again, and dont have the motivation anymore. Any suggestions how to get it back??" It's a biggie isn't it? How the heck in this time poor, full on and busy life do you find time to run for 5 minutes let alone exercise regularly? More importantly how do you get up each day and actually WANT to do it?

Well I hate to say it - I have tried to find the real secret, the most amazing insights and the best advice... I looked high and low for the best programmes and motivation techniques - but the truth is there is NO magic formula. There is no magic pill you can take. And there is no magic wand you can wave. Crikey if there was I would be a millionaire over and over! As corny as it sounds the only bit of magic exercise mojo comes from deep within YOU! And there's only one person who can tap into it.

So the only way I can describe what might work is what has worked for me. Personally, I have found the best place to start is to have a goal. And that needs to be closely followed up by a reason why and a plan? So aim to run a 5km road race or a half marathon or even a full one. Look at attempting your first triathlon, cycling race or yoga class... aim to have a toned athletic body and then ask yourself why you want to do it. Is it to get fit, lose weight, be more toned, wear a bikini by next summer, kick a ball with your kids without running out of breath or have more energy. Whatever your reason it has to be something that lights you up and means something.

The mind is incredibly powerful. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It can inspire you with loads of positive self-talk, it can fire you up and it can encourage you. Things like 'come on you can do this', 'so proud of you', 'you will feel fantastic when you do this', 'damn you're hot!' are wonderful. But often it is the negative voice that overrides it - 'oh its too cold - or too hot', 'go tomorrow', 'oh another day wont matter', 'no one cares anyway', 'as if you are ever going to look as hot as that', 'why was I born this way?', 'it's too hard', 'it hurts', 'I hate sweating' etc etc etc...

I used to work at a gym, I used to be a personal trainer. People would sign up and start with all the vim and vigor you would expect. Within a few weeks that had subsided somewhat and the bigger excuses came in. I really think people felt they could just 'buy' the abs, toned legs and fit lungs! They really didn't want to, or felt they had to, work for it. Then got disillusioned and quit. It is more common than you think!

Sadly though at the end of the day there is absolutely no one who can do it for you. Shame! No one can give you the health and fitness you desire. It takes work, it takes commitment and it takes persistence. And most of all guts and courage. No one said it would be easy. Love this quote by Gwyneth Paltrow.

'The reason that I can be 38 and have two kids and wear a bikini is because I work by (expletive) ass off. It's not an accident. It's not luck. It's not fairy dust, it's not good genes. It's killing myself for an hour and a half five days a week. But what I get out of it is relative to what I put into it. That's what I try to do in all areas of my life.'

When you look at anyone with a fantastic body, fitness levels you crave and what seems like an easily achieved look you need to know they work at it. The only time you can perhaps excuse it is on the youth. Often they can hammer their bodies, cope with lack of sleep and have skin that looks radiant no matter what they eat or do to it. However don't be fooled, time catches up and it does have an effect at some point sooner rather than later... Let's just leave it there with the youth!!

Back to you. Getting fit, finding your mojo and actually staying committed is a full time constant life challenge. This is why I really believe a programme or plan is the best starting point to finding your mojo and get into an exercise habit. Knowing what you have to get up and do each day is a great way to start a positive habit and get into a good healthy routine.

Hang around positive people. Don't let anyone crush your dream. Know that by you taking that first step is the most profound and exciting thing you could ever do. And know deep down anyone who knocks you is actually probably jealous of you and are gutted they don't have the mojo to do it themselves!

Get some new training gear no matter what your size or shape. It feels fantastic putting on a new pair of shoes, pants or sweat top. Reward yourself as you go too. The right clothing can make all the difference as silly as it seems!

Dont try to do it all at once. How easy is it to start with all the hope and energy in the world so you push it harder, run further or swim longer. Only to find you are exhausted and now probably too sore to get up the next day and do it again. You need to build up to get fit and toned. It does not happen overnight.. Shame I know!

Get some workout buddies. Find people with the same goals - or join a training group or gym or yoga class or swim group that are all doing what you want to do. Be careful as you get more into fitness and health your circle of friends may change too.

Have a chart on the wall or an exercise book that you tick off or fill in what you have done for the day. It feels so good as the book or chart fills.

Take before photos, preferably in a bikini.... seriously... Now stick that on your wall and see where the motivation comes from!

Every time you want to eat something sweet go get on your exercycle, get some running gear on and go for a walk, get into your room and do a 20minute intensity workout or brush your teeth. Do anything except stick that sugar in your mouth.

And most importantly... Be your own inspiration. The only real person you need praise from is YOU. So be that person you feel proud of. Your exercise mojo is in there... you just need to welcome it back into your life as your friend - not the enemy. So in the fine words of Nike... quit making excuses, putting it off, complaining about it, dreaming about it, whining about it, crying about it, believing you can't, worrying if you can, waiting until you are older, skinnier, richer, braver or all around better... Suck it up, hold on tight, say a prayer, make a plan and just do it!

Right... off for a run... Kim xx

Top 10 Tips For A Good Marriage

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:46:00 GMT

As I sit here quietly celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary thinking of my dear hubby who is away, it triggers thinking about a few questions I have been asked lately in my role as a Marriage Celebrant... So what makes a good marriage? Does it last? Is it a bed of roses? And is it everything you expected it to be? Oh if only it was a simple resounding yes to them all! But really, anyone would know that to have a good marriage it takes a massive amount of commitment, love, forgiveness, patience and oils of course!

I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. Each of us girls wore a drop of Rose oil on our hearts. Vaporisers filled with Romance & Intimacy were on every table... We were full of hope, romance, expectation and love, sweet young love. We even had the magazine cover story, we were travelling the world with my professional sporting husbands career, earning a great income, I had my own life and career... gosh maybe this is why I LOVE being a Marriage Celebrant - the beginning of a marriage - it's amazing... I mean how could this perfect life ever change or be altered?

I wonder now what the couples that were at our wedding who had been married a while were thinking, knowing, feeling. I have since heard people at weddings with tongue in cheek say things like... 'enjoy it while it lasts', 'this phase wont last', 'ha wait til they have kids'!!

The one thing we learnt in the pro sports arena was 'everything is subject to change' and I guess that you could say the same about a marriage. You have no idea when or how it could change... but when something is organic it always has the opportunity. Bring in things like children, money issues, stress, illness, guilt, worry and personal growth (or lack of) and see how a marriage alters.

Also take into account that often we are often attracted to our opposite. The things you find so endearing at the beginning of a relationship can become the very things that undo it. Unless there is a real understanding of our personality types, some even say an understanding of your love languages and what makes each other tick then a marriage can easily deteriorate and or fail.

And certainly we are no different. All of the challenges and struggles we have endured have made things change for sure. A few years back and following a number of personal tragedies and big challenges, it's fair to say we really nearly did lose ourselves and our marriage.

I remember writing my hubby a card though in the middle of it all... do you remember the movie 'Shall We Dance'? There is this scene in it where Susan Sarrandon is suspecting her husband is having an affair and the detective she has employed asks ''why do people get married? Her reply is phenomenal, andI had to put it in writing - it hits a chord every time I read it.

"We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness'."

Beautiful. Thanks to trusting and believing in love, witnessing each others highs and lows somehow we run, jump and crawl our way through this love maze. Our counsellor told us years ago "Your marriage will never stay the same... but if you both work on yourselves, love each other and grow together then a marriage has every chance to get better and better." And indeed it has.

Like becoming a new born parent, there is no manual on marriage, it doesn't matter what anyone says, or advice they may have or even what books you read... you have to experience it all for yourself to truly understand! Change does happen, issues are inevitable and life will throw curve balls every now and again. The question is how willing are you to see them through and are you prepared to trust that whatever the outcome everything is perfect.

And yes we have witnessed marriages that haven't survived and sometimes we just have to accept it is what it is, and it is ok. As Dr Brian Weiss says "It is a privilege to find a soul mate in this life, some are truly blessed to find more than one. Sometimes we have to appreciate a soul relationship that comes to an end may just mean it is time to take different classes. There is nothing wrong with that." A beautiful way to look at it. No judgement.

So what is the magic formula or the key then? Well according to many we have asked, and what we have experienced ourselves it's actually not too difficult. Simple actually. Problem is as human beings we often complicate issues way beyond what is necessary.

We hope you enjoy the advice we have collected! And maybe just maybe it may spur something in your relationship to take it to another level. Most importantly if it's not as good as it could be... work on it, nurture it, be something different, give it time and do everything with even more love... And remember if you do have a goodie... treasure it with all of your being.

Top 10 tips for a good Marriage!

1. Never take each other for granted. Count your blessings. Sounds so simple... but many forget about this settling into a life of comfort and habit or assuming the other will always be there. Remember everything is subject to change.

2. Celebrate, keep the romance alive - especially when kids come along! Date nights are a must!

3. According to our grandmother - and this is a goodie girls! All you have to do is give him a quickie!!!! It will do you - and him - the world of good! She was adamant this was the secret to a good marriage! God love her! She's probably right you know!!! Can hear the boys going yeah yeah!! Perhaps this is a good time to say live, love, laugh! A good sense of humour is paramount!

4. Continue to grow and learn. Be inspired and most important - BE inspiring. Be someone your partner is proud of and would love to look up to. Love yourself... its pretty hard to love someone else if you dont love you first.

5. Show respect. Don't shout, be mean or blame. Be honest. Be trusting. Watch what you say - always.

6. Get to know yourself and your partner. Understand personality types, your love languages and appreciate no one is perfect... including you. Florence Littauer has a fantastic book called 'Personality Types For Couples, Gary Chapman wrote 'The 5 Love Languages' and Dr Brian Weiss wrote 'Only Love Is Real'. All very worthwhile relationship enhancers and certainly helps to bring more understanding into your relationship.

7. Walk in your partners shoes every now and then... Try to understand things from their point of view. If they are willing, give them a chance to make things right or even better. Be the person you want to have in a relationship, we all know actions speak louder than words.

8. Don't take anything personally - this sounds easy but its a toughie. Anything said without love is often a sign of what is going on for the other person. Sometimes just saying "Are you ok?' is enough to disperse any argument.

9. Listen... perhaps more important than talking. Never go to bed on an argument. Each night get into a ritual of saying 5 things you are each grateful for - this is especially amazing on those challenging days.

10. Write love letters, poems, cards, texts, emails... show your love with beautiful words and actions. Even if you are not a wordy or romantic type become one! Telling your partner what they mean to you is one of the most beautiful gifts you could ever give. And of course the choccy chicks would say do it with your essential oils! Love is emotional. Smell is closely linked to our emotions. It makes sense then that this 4000 year old modality can play a big part in love and romance. Certain smells can become aromatic anchors to fantastic experiences. Rose is without doubt one of our love favourites.

A beautiful friend gave some great advice as we were walking up the side of the Himalayas a few years back... He said remember the 'devil' or whatever you want to call it is always at play, always testing and challenging a relationship. Don't let it win. He then said history is something you can never buy or make happen now... treasure the history and memories you have made together and dont give up on each other. And finally, forgiveness is one of the toughest of human traits to master, and yet when you truly forgive another it is one of the most humbling, rewarding and self-fulfilling feelings of all. We are both eternally grateful for this advice.

As our dear MC said at our wedding 'Remember if you can wake up each day and say you married your BEST friend then you are indeed truly blessed.'

Now for goodness sake get off this blog and go and tell them!!!!

Jojoba - A Stunning Liquid Wax Ester - Perfect For The HCG

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:40:00 GMT

In all our research, questioning, testing, reading and sourcing we had a major a-ha the day we looked more closely at what natural products we could use on the skin during the HCG. Of course the best delivery system which supports skin hydration and protection from the environment without allowing the body to ingest fatty oils during the HCG Diet is beautiful Jojoba. This stunning liquid wax ester does not get absorbed into the body or processed like normal oils. This is what Megan Larsen (one of the world’s most sought after natural skincare creators and manufacturer’s) says:

‘Jojoba oil is about 97% unsaturated waxy (not fatty) esters. These waxy esters are very similar in composition to a number of the compounds found in our natural skin sebum (which contains about 22% of waxy esters). Therefore it can closely mimic our own natural skin oil. Also the molecular structure of jojoba oil is too large to permeate in to the blood stream, but the plant essence/essential oil synergy blends will permeate through to the skin cells to help to keep the skin looking alive, hydrated and plumped, hence limiting any skin deterioration or unnecessary aging.

Jojoba oil is unique because the oil is not composed of fat but of liquid wax. In scientific terms, waxes are esters of long chain fatty acids with long chain monohydroxyl alcohols, whereas fats are esters of long chain fatty acids with glycerine. Being composed of mostly wax esters means there is little likelihood of the oil's deteriorating. Jojoba is ideal for use in cosmetics because of its molecular stability and its natural moisturising and healing properties. Jojoba's resistance to oxidation means that it does not require additional chemical preservatives. It is suitable for ALL skin types, whether dry, oily or sensitive. Out of all of the compounds in nature, this wax ester is the most similar to human skin oil (sebum). It is theorized that applying jojoba to the skin can 'trick' the skin into thinking it is producing enough oil, thus balancing oil production. Jojoba is also classified as non-comedogenic - it does not clog skin pores. It is the most ideal natural chemical free product with huge benefits to the skin and body whilst undergoing something like the HCG Diet.’

Because Jojoba sits in the skin and acts the same as the skins natural sebum, it can stabilise and protect the skin from moisture loss and environmental stress, while not interfering with the HCG diet. It is the perfect 100% natural chemical free skincare medium to help deliver powerful plant essences to the skin and boost your transformation to one of optimum health!

There is a lot of confusion with what oils are and what can be used during the HCG diet, many HCG advocates and doctors will avoid any ingredients they class as an oil and opt for synthetic ingredients instead, like a mineral oil. We are passionate about skin health and providing the best natural chemical-free nutrition for the skin. If you are going to go to the trouble of doing something as radical as the HCG Protocol which basically takes you back to a hunter gatherer type of nature diet then it makes sense to use products in the same way - from nature - for the skin. Jojoba is one of nature's magic ingredients and research now shows us and proves how effective it is as a skin protectant. In our work with leading scientist and skincare specialist Dr Greg Clark (PhD in Plant Biology and Bio-Chemistry) we discovered exactly how amazing this plant oil is. This is how Dr Greg describes it:

‘Perhaps the easiest way to describe what Jojoba oil is, is to highlight what it is not.

Although composed of lipids Jojoba oil is not composed of triglyceride fats or oils, the most abundant lipids in nature, but rather is composed almost entirely of high molecular weight, long chained, unsaturated liquid wax esters.

Unlike triglyceride fats and oils primarily stored in plant and animal fat cells as readily hydrolyzed and oxidizied energy stores, the liquid wax esters of Jojoba seeds are not easily oxidised and can remain chemically stable for years. In general the high degree of stability of wax esters appears to underpin their role in nature being primarily involved in moisture control and photo-protection in both animal skin and plant surfaces.

An example in human skin is the wax ester composition of sebum which functionally serves an important role in maintaining skin hydration levels. Used on the skin the wax esters of Jojoba seeds are readily miscible with sebum to impart a non-oclusive dry emolliency that reduces transdermal water loss without blocking trans-epidermal respiration. Being unsaturated, the long chained wax esters of Jojoba seeds are able to penetrate deep into the surface of the skin but due to their high average molecular weight do not permeate through the stratum corneum and are unable to enter the capillary network of the cutaneous blood system. Thus the wax esters of jojoba are not absorbed into the body or circulated through the blood stream but remain in the skin to support the function of sebum to maintain moisture, suppleness and enhance the flexibility of the skin.

The role of the wax esters is in the protection of plant surfaces and animal skin, as opposed to the role of the usual triglyceride based seed oils used as storage fats and oils. The products Kim and Fleur have created - the Ester Plus (+) Face Serum and Ester Plus (+) Body Serum and the Toner Concentrate are perfect for helping to support the role of the skin’s natural esters - or sebum - in the skin whilst on a no-fat diet. In other words these products will not only nourish the skin without penetrating into the blood stream, but they will also protect it from moisture loss.’

If you are keen to use natural products whilst on the HCG then we cannot recommend these beautiful products more highly. We are incredibly proud of how they feel, smell and work on the skin. Here is what a couple are saying about the Ester Plus (+) Face Serum and Ester Plus (+) Body Serum.

'I've been using the HCG Ester plus(+) Face serum from Like Chocolate for Women and it's brilliant. Very happy...VERY HAPPY. I'm only sorry I didn't order the toner at the same time. Waiting for it to arrive.'

Ann-Marie Benson

'Just to let everyone know I had the absolute privilege of trialling the new Ester plus face & body serum that Kim & Fleur created. It is absolutely divine, my skin hasn't looked this good in a very long time. Yes I am sure the hcg has helped with my skin but I know that these products have been a major contributor as well. The essential oils that are in the face and the body serums smell absolutely beautiful even my husband & children commented on them. They also gave me some spritzer to try which is fabulous to use during the day, especially when you are starting to feel a little hungry they are a great distraction. I would highly, highly recommend them. Thanks Kim & Fleur it's great to have such good skincare on a program like the hcg xx'

Karen Passingham

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Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:55:00 GMT

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New Natural HCG Skincare - Ester Plus (+) Face and Body Serum

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:31:00 GMT

Well we have done it... today we launched our new skincare range for the HCG Diet. For the thousands of people who have completed the protocol - or for those embarking on it - you will know it is unacceptable to use skincare products on the face or body that has oil in it... and guess what? The majority of skincare ranges out there definitely have what is considered to be 'oil' as the base, including ours.

So what is the HCG and why have we done it, endorsing it and creating products for it? As many of you will know we are not particularly into doing 'diets' as such. But we do love the discipline of a cleanse or detox - and that is how we approached the HCG. After seeing our dear friend Cyndi O'Meara decide to do it due to all the results she was seeing with close friends - well we figured we had to have a go at it and see what the buzz was all about, so we joined her escapade. Many said we were mad doing it leading up to Christmas and at first we thought we were mad too. But what was so satisfying was losing weight, toning up and actually feel light over this incredibly busy and social time. In fact we would go as far to say it was the BEST time to do the programme.

The best thing that has occurred out of this protocol is seeing people question what they put into their mouths and what they put onto their skin? Even having people question the ingredients for the first time is phenomenal. It is life changing and it is simple if you have the courage to undertake it.

You can check it all out by clicking here!

The 3 Categories Of Natural Skincare

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:20:00 GMT

It is becoming less and less easy to determine what companies are actually 'natural' out there. When the packaging says such amazing things as '100% herbal extracts', 'organic', 'all natural essences' and 'chemical-free' you expect that the product would be all these things and more. Don't be fooled. Many brands now use these sorts of words as a marketing ploy to 'trick' you into thinking you are using natural products and that their company is aware and natural.

In our opinion there are three categories of ‘natural’ now available. While these categories are based on our own experience, research and the information available to us, it is important to note that many companies are ‘working their way up the ladder’, so to speak. As companies make decisions such as deleting parabens or synthetic fragrances from their products, they obviously move from one category to another.

1. The ethically naturals: these companies, very aware of questionable and harmful ingredients, offer the highest quality natural ingredients possible, the majority of their ingredients are certified organic and blended with great skill to produce potent botanical products that not only feel and smell good but they deliver results.

2. The naturals: these companies focus on the majority of their range being natural, often producing a sizeable range that works with key ingredients from nature. However, they still use synthetic preservatives or fragrance to enhance their products, slightly compromising their natural offering.

3. The pseudo-naturals: these are big brands out there in the market. Luxurious, highly fragrant, with a long shelf life, they are a manufacturer’s and department store’s dream. They use clever ploys such as ‘herbal extracts’ or ‘key natural ingredients’, they usually offer miraculous results in a matter of hours or days and they entice the public to buy with very attractive giveaways or gifts with purchase!

We would always steer people away from the pseudo-naturals and while the naturals are a great stepping stone for many, why settle for anything but the best?

Become an informed consumer and avoid ingredients that are questionable. The following outlines the questionable/harmful ingredients, followed by an explanation of the most common ones we see. We were blown away when we started researching this information over twenty years ago and continue to be blown away at the fact they are still allowed. The above card is what we carry in our wallets. It means we don't have to remember all these names. They are available here - Additive Cards.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these and why they are used in our beauty and skincare products.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS): it may originate from coconut but the final product after all the chemical processes contains nothing natural at all. It can be a skin irritant but more disturbing is its ability to allow the skin to absorb other chemicals readily.

Mineral oils: derived from petrolatum, cover the skin like a plastic film, interfering with the skin’s normal functioning, yet their action is even more sinister. Mineral oils are what scientists use on rats to bring about arthritis in order to test possible remedies! The scientific community is encouraging studies on the effects of long term mineral oil use on humans.

Isopropyl alcohol: this is a denatured alcohol which is highly poisonous if ingested or inhaled in large doses. It is used in cosmetics, hair colours, body lotions and anti-freeze solutions. Its safety for use in skincare is under serious question.

Paraben preservatives: used to give products a long shelf life, these preservatives are also known as endocrine disrupters, meaning they can interfere with the fine balance of the hormonal system and may cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Propylene Glycol and Butylene Glycol: can be a strong skin irritant. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on Propylene Glycol warn to avoid skin contact as it is systemic and can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage. Do you even want small doses of this on your body?

PEGs: a synthetic binder and potentially carcinogenic, they may leave the immune system compromised.

Diethanolamine (DEA) and Tiethanolamine (TEA): these are emulsifiers and detergents. Studies show they can be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. Both are under question due to the possible link to cancer in laboratory animals.

Imadazolidinyl Urea: a commonly used preservative which may cause irritation and dermatitis. It has been shown to form formaldehyde in the cells of animals. Used in baby products, skincare and makeup.

Amines: these are organic compounds derived from ammonia. Mainly used in hair dyes, they are under serious investigation by the American Cancer Society.

Artificial colours: usually listed as ‘pigment’ or ‘dye’ on the label, it should be noted that all artificial colours may be detrimental to your health. Many of them are found in children’s personal care products and makeup. They are synthetically produced and can cause many skin irritations. Natural Iron Oxides are the safe alternative.

Aluminium: most commonly used in deodorants. Aluminium blocks the sweat glands, preventing the body’s normal perspiration and elimination processes. There is question as to how much the body absorbs this ingredient, particularly as it is placed directly into the lymph node area under the arm, not to mention the fact that it is mixed with other chemicals and preservatives to create the final product.

Animal products: manufacturers avoid writing ‘animal’ on ingredients lists. Animal products are also known as Collagen amino acids, Elastin amino acids or Epiderm Oil R. These ingredients are made from the tissue, cartilage, bone and connective tissue of animals: usually cows, pigs and sheep.

Our intention is not to be all doom and gloom, but it is important for you to know that the products sold to us with promises of hope are not all they are cracked up to be! In fact we would go as far to say that we wish women would stop buying into the whole ‘anti-ageing’ scam. We are all ageing, so why does our society treat it like some sort of disease to avoid at all costs? America alone annually spends over $12.2 billion on cosmetic procedures — this shows us there is definitely something out of balance.

Many cultures embrace ageing. In Japan and China, the elderly are treated with utmost respect as older age is considered with honour and is held with prestige. In fact the Japanese philosophy is that it is not until middle age that one can become a master at anything.

Confucius offered this: ‘At 40 I was free from doubts. At 50 I understood the laws of Heaven. At 60 my ear was docile. At 70 I could follow the desire of my heart without transgressing the right.’

In Botswana there is celebration on finding the first grey hair which is considered to be lucky. Here the elderly are considered to be wise and therefore treated with dignity and honour.

Among the Sherbro people of Sierra Leone, incoherent speech signifies close communication between the old person and their ancestors — the ultimate source of social blessings and good fortune. Older people are cared for reverently as they grow into sacredness.

In a study done of Pacific Island and Maori cultures, the words ‘stays at home’, ‘sits’, ‘respected’, ‘runs the family’, and ‘dignity’ were used to describe the ageing generation. The results lead to an interesting conclusion. Even though the elders are perceived to be less active and more at home, they are still perceived to have dignityand respect and are still held as head of the family.

The Western culture needs to change. Switch from ‘anti-ageing’ to ‘ageing gracefully’, and take on a more wholistic approach. Understand that what you eat, how you exercise, how you handle stress, what you put onto your skin and how you view life all affects how you age. No single cream or injection can undo ageing, for ageing is inevitable. However, we can slow the process and we can even reverse some signs of ageing with real, natural products that our skin has a far more synergistic response to.

If embraced and nurtured and we take care of ourselves ageing is an honour. The worse thing about getting old is not getting old! As a wise male friend of ours once said to us ‘the vitality and spark in a woman’s eyes is far more attractive than fake boobs and wrinkle-free skin!’ We think that says it all!

Kim & Fleur

Stress Is A Major Ager - 5 Ways To Beat It!

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:46:00 GMT

A lot of stress research is focused on the impact of major life events, but some psychologists believe there is another type of stress that is equally damaging to already over-burdened people. It is the ‘daily stress’ in life: getting children out the door to school, trying to get too many things done in not enough time, inconveniences such as a bus running late, being stuck in traffic when trying to get to a meeting or constantly chasing bad debts.

Things that drain your energy take up a lot of time and leave you feeling frustrated, annoyed or angry. Often by attempting to do too much and not get things finished you are left feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled. This ‘time stress’ or, as the Japanese call it, ‘hurry sickness’ can create all kinds of stress-related problems: premature aging, eczema, dermatitis and acne, which are common skin disorders, irritable bowel, muscular aches and pains, chronic fatigue and migraines. If stress is constant and you feel like you are always ‘full on’, then that is where it starts to affect our health, how we look and how we age!

When we're under stress, our body naturally produces hormones from our adrenal glands to give us increased energy to meet the ‘challenge’. This is natural and all good! It's what we call the fight or flight response. However constantly live in that ‘fight or flight’ mode and you will start to see fine lines and wrinkles due to the stress of premature aging; muscle loss and saggy skin; fatty accumulation contributing to cellulite; belly fat and other health problems.

The stress response originates in the hypothalamus deep inside the brain. The hypothalamus also processes emotions, memories, basic feelings and desires such as hunger, thirst, anger, panic and pain; that is, it processes both physical and emotional sensations. It makes sense that an event which threatens your sense of confidence or security — like losing your job or receiving news that your child is in trouble — can throw your hormones into the same response as a broken bone or a near-miss accident.

The "stress hormones" we're referring to are the three main hormones that are released by the adrenal glands, sometimes it can be hard to know what exactly they do so here is a brief overview:

Adrenaline, or epinephrine, was the first hormone discovered and is the one most people are familiar with. In moments of stress, adrenaline is responsible for increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and for increasing blood flow to the muscles, including the heart. Once the stressful moment has passed, the adrenals should be signaled to stop production of adrenaline and the body returns to normal - unless of course we are living in a constant full on and stressful state.

Cortisol, along with adrenaline, is the hormone that helps the body cope with stressful events. Cortisol produces quick bursts of energy, increases memory function, and lowers pain sensitivity. Unfortunately, with the continued and heightened levels of stress that many people face today, cortisol levels can constantly remain high. This negatively affects the body by impairing brain function, decreasing muscle tissue that causes saggy skin, lowering immunity and inflammatory responses, and increasing abdominal fat. It is not uncommon to notice an increase in belly fat when you are under a lot of stress - this can be caused by a marked and continual increase in cortisol.

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is the hormone that works to balance the potential adverse effects on the body that can be seen with higher levels of cortisol. In research studies, DHEA has been shown to improve memory function, boost energy levels, and reduce fat production. Most importantly, DHEA appears to protect the immune system from some of the cell damage caused by aging and disease. It is known as the anti-aging or youth hormone.

A few more points to consider when it comes to DHEA:

DHEA exists in the body in higher quantities than any other hormone. Levels in the body peak around age 21 and slowly decline over the years. DHEA production can decrease 80-90 percent by the age of 75.

Levels of DHEA production in the body vary according to stress, fever, sudden low blood sugar, and disease states. DHEA levels are lower among smokers than among nonsmokers, and lower among heavy drinkers than among non-drinkers. Birth control pills and other synthetic hormones also deplete DHEA.

Abnormal patterns of DHEA accompany and often underlie several disease states and dysfunction.

DHEA regulates diabetes, obesity, carcinogenesis, tumor growth, virus and bacterial infection, stress, pregnancy, hypertension, collagen and skin integrity, fatigue, depression, memory and immune responses.

HIGH ADRENALINE levels interfere with sleep and can actually result in feeling fatigued or run-down. HIGH CORTISOL levels increase belly fat, and hampers regeneration of new, healthy skin cells. LOW DHEA levels contribute to premature aging and muscle mass loss. Optimum health comes ideally, from a balance of these three stress hormones! It helps us stay younger, leaner and have healthier more glowing skin.

Both our physical and emotional health is adversely affected by stress. Because stress cannot be completely eliminated, we must learn how to guard our bodies and minds against the harmful effects of stress.

So what can we do to balance these hormones?

This could be an entire book in itself! So we have summarised it for you in 5 simple but very practical steps:

1. Eat foods close to their natural source. It is clearly researched that what you eat dramatically affects the way you look, feel and age! Processed foods create inflammation in the body increasing cortisol production, causing us to gain weight and age quicker. That is why we love working with Cyndi. Cyndi does the research for you, trust her, follow her principles and get your body into a more alkaline state rather than acidic, this is very important!

2. Get emotional support! Life is like a bit of a roller coaster at times, and you may feel like you are being run by your emotions rather then being the one in control of them. For these times we turn to nature and our amazing Essential Oils. Smell has direct access to our brain, and triggers a response within the body within seconds. Imagine if you could inhale a synergy blend of essential oils that could calm and soothe the nervous system and with a few deep breaths you could feel more in control - well that is what the TWENTY8 Instant Calm blend does using a combination of Chamomile, Frankincense, Lavender, Sweet and Bitter Orange and Mandarin. But these are not just your common oils, these are high grade therapeutic organic oils and that is the key to getting results, you must be working with high quality oils. To find out more about the different Synergies that could greatly help your emotional health go to http://www.likechocolateforwomen.com/store

3. Be grateful! When you are in a state of gratefulness your whole nervous system is affected, your adrenals start to balance and you feel more joy and happiness in your life. Creating that state takes practice. Start everyday spending a few minutes thinking about what you are grateful for in your life, this is a good practice to do before going to bed each night, you may want to start a grateful journal. It may seem like a bit of an almost too simple to be true - but we know helping your mind focus on what is good rather than what is bad or stressing you can have a profound effect on your life.

4. Exercise! Goodness there is so much to say about the benefits of exercise and relieving stress in the body, it could be summed up by saying JUST DO IT!!! Every system of the body benefits when you exercise and you get a massive release of feel good hormones within the brain. The key with exercise is consistency. Do something everyday and also do something that is a little challenging. So if you are going to go for a 20 minute walk, make the last 2 minutes a jog, challenge yourself and you will want to continue as you will see results fast! We created a 5 minute strength exercise routine called The Fab4 In 5. Done everyday it is quick, easy and results driven. You can get it free online here at Like Chocolate for Women at the bottom of of this page:

http://www.likechocolateforwomen.com/insidelcfw. There is no excuse not to move everyday - our bodies were designed to be active and functioning, its as simple as move it or lose it!

5. Nurture yourself! How can you really love and care for others around you when you are not loving and caring for you first! You owe it to the people you love to look after yourself. In our book Like Chocolate for Women we give you over 500 tips and strategies for self-care, taking little moments of the day within your normal routines to care for yourself. We also believe in the incredible healing power of touch, when you receive nurturing in the form of a massage or facial or any form of touch therapy you are allowing yourself to let go! When you ‘let go’ and receive you are restored. From ancient times we read how healing oils and herbs were used to restore the skins health. So to undo some of the damage stress may be doing to your skin, make selfcare part of your health and wellbeing program for life.

So there you have it, 5 calls to action, 5 steps that will greatly enhance your life and highly effect the way you look and feel. It is all about creating new habits and viewing health form a wholistic approach. Its easy, its fun and its so rewarding! And guess what... you will look and feel 10years younger in the process! Don't take our word for it... just do it!

Kim & Fleur xx

Natural Remedies For Babies

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:42:00 GMT

As mothers we get to enjoy the wonderful stages of our babies like, the first smile, the gurgles and giggles, the first words and first steps, and the never ending pleasures they bring to our lives. But there are all the little problems to endure as well, like cradle cap, nappy rash, colic, teething, coughs and colds, bumps and bruises. And if you manage to get through these unscathed, then in our eyes you are definitely a mummy heroine!

Here is your baby guide to get you through that first year and beyond. Just a note we have found that the most important thing you can give your babes or as gifts for friends with babies are products that are natural and safe for baby’s skin. We recommend some of the best natural remedies!

Cradle Cap: This is not an uncommon condition in babies. Keep your baby’s head lightly oiled with the wonderful healing properties of Calendula Oil or any cold pressed carrier oil can help. Calendula Oil contains vitamins A, E, B & D, Zinc and fatty acids will restore and balance the scalp. Massage into the head daily after bathing and lightly comb or rub a towel across the head to remove the surface flakes.

Nappy Rash: Frequent nappy changes will help reduce this problem but if it persists start with a gentle cleansing of the area in a bath with a drop of Lavender (in a tablespoon of milk as this helps to disperse the oil more easily into the water). Gently pat dry and then apply the Twenty8 Healing Skin Boost - it is stunning. Use a drop of Lavender into a cold pressed carrier oil as a healing barrier cream. And try to air your baby’s bottom with their nappy off as often as possible.

Colic: This is an unsettling condition for both baby and parents, as your little one can get very distressed. Use your Lavender Massage oil or Lavender Everyday Body Lotion massaging in circular motions across the tummy area in a clockwise direction. This can help soothe and settle baby. Warm compresses are also very relaxing. Take a flannel and immerse into warm water with a drop of Lavender Oil. Squeeze out excess water and compress onto the abdomen. Repeat 3-4 times. Homeopathic remedies can also be most helpful – consult your local homeopath, pharmacy or health food shop.

Teething: Some babies breeze through this while others can really suffer. To calm and soothe a child upset by teething relax them in a warm Lavender bath by adding one drop to a drawn bath. A loving massage afterwards using Calendula Oil or Lavender Massage oil can work wonders. Homeopathic teething remedies can also be most helpful – check them out at your health food shop or pharmacy.

Coughs and Colds: As baby’s immune systems are still developing, it is hard to avoid coughs and colds, but you can certainly help relieve symptoms, and speed up their recovery. Have a vaporizer going in the house and in their bedroom with essential oils of Lavender and Orange. The antibacterial, antiseptic and relaxing properties of these oils will support healing and also help calm and soothe. Lavender Everyday Body Lotion is excellent to help baby relax for a good night sleep. The healing hands of loved ones can do wonders. Rub a bit on mum and dad and anyone else in the family willing to offer their bodies! There are also some great herbal and homeopathic remedies for children, consult your local health store for guidance.

Bumps and Bruises: An inevitable part of being an infant! Arnica Oil is a must have for any Mummy heroine. For bumps and bruises massage gently into the effected area. For a wound that is open apply that amazing Healing Skin Boost. A drop of Lavender on a favourite toy or cuddly – ‘Angel Drops’ as we call it - and big cuddles do wonders.

Insect Stings and Bites: The Healing Skin Boost or a drop of Lavender works a treat. Apply regularly to the effected areas.

Baby’s Dry Skin: Babies can often experience skin changes as their skin adapts to the outside world. Calendula oil is wonderful for balancing and soothing especially when massaged daily after their bath as is the Lavender Everyday Body Lotion. You may also want to consider your diet if breast feeding. Make sure you are getting plenty Essential Fatty Acids in the way of fish oils or supplementing with flax seed oil. This can positively enhance your baby’s skin.

Sleeping: Lavender into a Cold Pressed Massage oil or Everyday Body Lotion massaged onto baby prior to sleep can work like magic. Your touch helps soothe and nurture whilst the smell helps calm and relax.

Eczema and Skin Irritations: Small areas of eczema and irritation are common with children. Essential oils are a perfect alternative to harsh baby soaps as it is a gently cleansing and balancing to the skin. The Healing Skin Boost would also be good for nappy rash as you want to avoid all skin irritants. Soothing Evening Primrose oil is wonderfully healing on irritated areas. The Lavender Everyday Body Lotion helps to nourish and soothe dry irritated skin and is lovely to use when massaging baby. For any inflamed areas use a little Healing Skin Boost. Make sure baby (and you if breastfeeding) are getting your essential fatty acids into the diet.

Fever: Use Lavender Oil in a cold compress and apply to the face, chest and neck areas regularly. Place 6-8 drops of Lavender in a vaporizer in their room. 1 drop of Peppermint with Lavender is also quite a lovely way to bring down a temperature. Seek medical advice if at all concerned. Baby’s can go down with illness very quickly…and in the same breath they can improve quickly. There is nothing like a Mummy hug to help heal and nurture baby.

Gifts: We believe one of the nicest things you can do is to give your new mum friends something natural and healing, something pure and something that will help the whole family. Essential oils are a perfect choice. And here are a couple of baby gifts packages that we have. So beautiful.

The Healing Baby Gift Pack for $87.00

And the Precious Baby Gift Pack for just $39.00

To all you Mums out there – each and everyone of you are indeed heroines!

The 12 Stepping Stones to being a good lover! - Guest Blog - AMANDA GORE

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:24:00 GMT

I woke up with a HUGE AH HA this morning! That the12 steps to JOY are the same 12 steps we need to be a great lover! Hopefully this article will make it into Cosmopolitan and the other magazines that target young people and focus so much on being ‘great in bed’ rather than great lovers.

Or maybe you can show it to all your teens and discuss with your children!

If you do not have a partner or ‘lover’ in your life – YOU are your lover!

This is the most important part of this whole blog – until we love and unconditionally accept ourselves, we will never really be spectacular lovers! You ARE good enough and you ARE worth loving – no matter what your beliefs.

So use all these steps on yourselves – as well as your partners! Or friends, family, colleagues – anyone!

WHY STEPPING STONES?

Because if you follow them they take you through all sorts of rough areas – over water, through jungles or wooded areas, through muddy, slushy soil or through beautiful gardens…and they usually take you somewhere beautiful!

The first one is always – and has to be – gratitude.

It’s difficult to start your journey to RE-discovering your joy unless you begin there.

We are born with joy – we just spend the rest of our lives trying to rediscover it by looking for ‘happiness’ in all the wrong places!

JOY is already inside you. Look inside – not outside as we do for happiness.

We are ‘in pursuit’ of happiness. We think we will find it ‘when’ something else happens.

Even when that something happens, our happiness only lasts a short time until we find the next thing that will make us happy. It could be a new relationship, getting out of the relationship we are in, a new job, a new boss, a new family – anything but looking inside ourselves!

We think we want happiness – but what we really NEED is JOY! We just don’t know it!

So lets start!

STEPPING STONE 1

GRATITUDE.

It is impossible to have a heart full of misery and a heart full of gratitude at the same time! Focus on gratitude every day – particularly gratitude for your partner or loved ones. Despite all their warts, which you could choose to focus on, they truly are astonishing beings of light and they have brought you many gifts!

The more grateful you are for your partner – with all the lessons they bring you, the more spectacular a lover you will be!

STEPPING STONE 2

COMPASSION AND GRACE

We are given endless compassion and grace from God or the Spiritual Realms if you prefer – but how often as humans do we give it to others? Especially our partners! Or ourselves!

Be compassionate with yourself AND your partner today – give yourselves grace for all the many mistakes we make daily. Give yourselves grace for being who you are and where you are – we are all works in progress!

If you were enlightened or perfect, you’d be dead!

Being consciously compassionate with yourself AND your partner makes you a tender lover!

STEPPING STONE 3

HOPE

People feel hopeless when they ‘close their eyes’! They don’t see or feel the constant help being given to them from the spiritual realms – if only they would listen! There is ALWAYS hope – always! For you – and your partner and your relationship.

Hope makes us resilient. If you give up hope on a relationship, or person, by constantly telling yourself negative stories about it or your partner, you are not a great lover!

Fear destroys hope. Face your fears first – they are rarely real – shine a light on them and watch them disappear. Stop projecting them onto your lover. You will find hope follows.

With hope, you will be a resilient lover and bounce back with love from the normal hiccups of any relationship.

STEPPING STONE 4

REVERENCE

Imagine every person you meet has an invisible sign on their foreheads “The Divine Lives Here!” When Indians and Tibetans say ‘namaste’ they are saying ‘my spirit salutes your spirit’.

You LOOK for their spirit – rather than getting caught up in the battle of the egos!

Every day when you wake up, either silently or out loud say ‘namaste’ to your partner. It will remind you of the wonderful people and spiritual beings you really are! It will set the tone for the rest of the day.

Look every day with awe and wonder and reverence at your partner and all the blessings you have. Familiarity breeds complacency – we take each other for granted and stop making an effort.

A reverent lover who is AWE – FILLED sees their partner as AWE-SOME!

STEPPING STONE 5

GENEROSITY, GIVING AND RECEIVING

Be generous with your spirit and your time with your lover. You were in the early days!

Remember how you wanted to spend ALL your time with your new partner then? As time goes by, we become busy, life takes over and making an effort to be generous with time slides away.

We were MUCH more generous with our spirit in the early days as well. We didn’t expect the worst, or problems; we gave them the benefit of the doubt; we laughed instead of growing frustrated; we truly listened to understand instead of vaguely paying attention and saying ‘uh hu’ in a distracted voice!

We were ‘good finders’. We found the good in them and everything they did – automatically! We didn’t even know the ‘bad’ existed!

Your capacity to receive love, and give love through a generous spirit will make you a ‘flowing lover’ - love will flow THROUGH you and TO you is so many ways!

STEPPING STONE 6

FORGIVENESS

Forgiving yourself is one of the most important parts of your life!

Forgiving your partner is a daily, ongoing activity of love! We ALL need forgiveness ALL the time! Make the decision, choose to forgive. You may not feel better immediately, but it will help your heart heal!

Remember the Biblical quote “forgive them for they know not what they do” - how true! How often are YOU conscious of your ‘transgressions’? Do you do things on purpose to hurt your partner? Usually not! Nor do they. Remember that.

Repeatedly say to yourself “I will forgive him or her, for they know not what they do”!

A forgiving partner is a truly joyful lover!

STEPPING STONE 7

ENERGY AND VITALITY

Many polls have shown that energy, enthusiasm and vitality are three of the top indicators of sex appeal! True! People find energetic people, full of the joys of life very sexy!

Taking care of your energy levels means you need to be aware of what you eat and drink; how much you rest and relax; what quality of water you drink and how much; how much sleep you have; what rhythms and routines you follow to bring order to your life; and how much exercise you have. Just as a beginning!

Then you need to think about spiritual renewal in whatever way works for you. Prayer, meditation, being in nature, reading inspirational books or just sitting in silence being connected to oneness! You will never find inner peace and harmony without this balance.

An energetic, vibrant person full of ‘joie de vie’ (the joys of life) is a sexy lover!

STEPPING STONE 8

LISTENING

Truly listening to someone else, being present and genuinely wanting to understand their point of view and how they feel is HUGE! HUGE!

This is called listening with your heart. Your heart uses wisdom and discernment – it doesn’t perceive and judge!

It’s a very powerful way to let others know you really care for them. They feel heard and acknowledged – and special. We ALL want to feel special.

Listen to anyone you love in this way and watch how the relationship transforms. Have conversations that involve listening and sharing – not impatiently waiting and telling!

A lover who truly listens with (and speaks from) their heart is a great catch!

STEPPING STONE 9

LAUGHTER

Probably the most consistent comment I hear happily married women say about their partners is “he makes me laugh’!

If you can both make each other laugh you give each other a rare and wonderful gift.

No laughing at each other – unless it’s in a loving way! You don’t have to be a funny person – you just need to look for the funny things in life – and it is full of them. Look for the funny side of all situations.

Consider all the blessings in your life. Lighten up, be optimistic and actively look for things to laugh about!

A laughing lover is an angel!

STEPPING STONE 10

LOVE

Firstly, love yourself!

When you can accept yourself unconditionally and love yourself as best you can – aiming for unconditional which is a tad challenging for most – then you are the BEST lover! You ARE good enough – remember that. And you ARE worth loving!

Until we truly love ourselves, and can dance between all of the 12 stepping stones above we can love others, but not fully! In the early days of a new and fabulous relationship, we feel so wonderful because we are not just ‘in love’ with the other person. We are in love with ourselves!

We see ourselves as they see us (in all our wonderfulness!) at that time, and it’s all fabulous until ……they see our warts.

Then we see our warts again – and we fall out of love with ourselves and in conditional love with them!

Love yourself unconditionally and you will be a lover who has a VERY happy partner!

STEPPING STONE 11

CHEERFUL ENTHUSIASM

The ability to be cheerfully enthusiastic, no matter what happens, is a quality to be cherished and developed! It’s also a choice.

We can choose be optimistic – it’s not genetic! Ok, it is a tiny bit genetic but we can all learn optimism – if we want to.

It’s always sunny above the clouds – have you noticed that? No matter how stormy or cloudy or bad the weather is on earth, if we burst through the clouds, the sun is always shining and filling everything with light.

Life is full of clouds and storms and rain squalls. But the sun always returns; it always ‘peeks’ through; it brings rainbows; you know it is ALWAYS there. That by itself is enough reason to remain cheerfully enthusiastic!

We never see the true, big picture. How many times – with the power of ‘hindsight’ – do things that seemed a nightmare at the time turn out to be your greatest blessings?

A person who is cheerfully enthusiastic is a fun lover!

STEPPING STONE 12

INNER PEACE

Finding that space of peace and calm inside you is like being in the center of a tornado.

There is a vast, silent, gentle, loving space inside your heart, which is where your connection to the spiritual realms lives. And it is full of extraordinary love, peace and joy, no matter what is happening in the tornado of life around you.

Find this heart place every day. Sit down quietly and rest there. It will renew you in more ways than you can imagine. It will give you that connection that is the destination of all your stepping stones!

No matter what is happening outside you or around you, that place of stillness and peace isalways in you and available to you. Become really good at finding it because it was make you a lover that is incomparable!

A lover who has connected with the vast, peaceful interior of their spiritual heart, is what we are all looking for!

Until next time,

Zooties,

Amanda

This is all based on the book The Gospel of Joy by Amanda Gore available from the following websites:

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT:

WWW.THEJOYPROJECT.COM <http://WWW.THEJOYPROJECT.COM/>

WWW.AMANDAGORE.COM <http://WWW.AMANDAGORE.COM/>

You can also watch AMANDAGORETV ON YOUTUBE <http://www.youtube.com/amandagoretv>

Amanda is a dear and very special friend of ours who we LOVE to bits. We feel so fortunate she is willing to share her gospels of joy with us here at Like Chocolate For Women. We encourage you to join her newsletter, FB page and if you ever get a chance to hear her speak... GET there! She is gold!!

Love Kim & Fleur xx

Your Invitation To RAPID Manifestation...For Love, Romance, Happiness, Weight-Loss, Wealth & Health

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:32:00 GMT

If you’re still struggling with creating a life of your choosing, a “dreamed-of” life rather than a “settled-for” one, a life filled with good things in abundance...then we want to tell you about this ground-breaking event happening NOW. (And we are SO excited about it!)

You see, our dear friend Kim Serafini – author of the best-selling book “i am gr8ful for you” – is presenting an online seminar (known as a webinar) that could literally transform your beliefs about how quickly and easily you can begin creating a new life – manifesting whatever changes you desire.

It’s FREE - and you’re invited!

We’ve had a “sneak peek” at some of what’s being covered, and we honestly believe ... this could easily be the most powerfully life-changing 2 hours you’ll ever spend online.

You can register now, if you’d like, by clicking here at the I Am Grateful Webinar

...or continue reading, for more information.

(Yes, you may think 2 hours makes for a long webinar ... but let’s put it in perspective. This information has the power to positively, permanently, and radically change your life. Who could honestly expect to get all that in 30 minutes?!)

No matter how many setbacks and frustrations you’ve suffered, we want you to know your life holds INFINITE possibilities for achieving Joy, abundance, and success on your terms.

We are confident this webinar, titled “8 Steps To RAPID Manifestation” – could very well be THE key to unlocking those possibilities for yourself.

These 8 steps, or principles, are so simple ... you may be tempted to dismiss any number of them as unimportant. Yet, according to Kim, every one has been absolutely critical in turning her own life around in record time ... financially, romantically, and in all other areas.

You’ll hear how Kim used these same 8 steps to “create” her dream lover – right down to the car he drove her home in, from their first date.

And you’ll hear from some of today’s MASTERS of manifestation, Law of Attraction, and human potential...

We want to make this perfectly clear: These 8 steps are incredibly powerful, in and of themselves. Apply them to your dreams and goals right away...

...and you just might AMAZE yourself with the rapid transformation you could soon begin seeing in your life.

But Kim and her team at i am gr8ful have also created an incredible tool for leveraging the universal laws of success, as well as the latest research findings in the field of Positive Psychology, in a way that can shift your results into overdrive. It's super-exciting and perfect for those of us who are BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

The immediate results – greater feelings of peace, love, gratitude, confidence, one-ness, and more – are often noticeable after just your first experience with Enriching Visions. The long-term results can be truly amazing!

This revolutionary technology is already being used by hundreds (if not THOUSANDS) of people around the world, to produce surprisingly fast results.

You’ll be hearing more about this tool, known as Enriching Visions, during the webinar. (Including how the idea for it grew out of Kim’s experience with the “8 Steps For Rapid Transformation”, and how it has grown in power while getting easier and easier to use.)

Then, for anyone who would like to use it in their own manifestation efforts, Kim is making an insanely generous, LIMITED-TIME offer. Quite frankly ... we were astonished when we heard about it! She’s darned near giving it away ... AND throwing in a bunch of extra bonuses, too.

We fully appreciate the trust you’ve placed in us and our advice – we certainly don’t take it lightly. So we ask that YOU not take lightly our recommending this to you.

This absolutely not-to-be-missed presentation is being recorded too, and rebroadcast on several occasions ... allowing you to choose the most convenient time for YOU. Now is the BEST TIME!

But you MUST register, to ensure access. (This could be one of the biggest events of its kind, this year. It’s being promoted to HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of people around the world by most of our friends in this industry... yet, due to bandwidth limitations, only so many people can be accommodated for each presentation.)

Guarantee yourself a seat – and perhaps a whole new future of YOUR creating – by registering here today at the I Am Grateful Webinar

Wishing YOU the most rapid manifestation of your dreams...

Love Kim & Fleur xx

P.S. – Remember, even though this FREE event is being re-broadcast on several occasions, there is STILL a limit to how many people can be accommodated. Please don’t miss this opportunity, just because you figured you could “do it later”. It's available only for a couple of days before they 'STOP'!

Click HERE to register now, before the pressures of your day push this onto “the back burner”.

Aromatherapy For Lovers

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:31:00 GMT

Who needs a day in the year to tell your soul mate you love them? Is it a great reminder? And a special chance to do something nice? Or is Valentines Day just some big marketing ploy to get you to spend truck loads on flowers, chocolates and champagne!! Whatever your thoughts and regardless of February the 14th as a date - it is a reminder about a divine truth and that is LOVE!

So here is your chance to celebrate the romantic love between two people. Why not go one step further than the aphrodisiac and mood enhancing qualities of dark chocolate and delve into the timeless art of Aromatherapy.

Aphrodite, the goddess of LOVE, is said to have used exquisite Rose petals as she knew they were uplifting and had a wonderful aroma that helped connect to her own femininity. Rose is also ruled by the planet Venus, which represents all things love and beautiful. The essential oil of Rose can help open the heart and support deep emotional wounds or fears to heal.

In ancient Indian traditions, one in particular, Ayeurvedic Medicine there are seven energy centres or chakras in the body. The heart chakra is related to love and is the integrator of opposites within the psyche. For example - mind and body, light and dark, male and female, ego and unity. It is well known that those with a healthy heart chakra love more freely and have a deeper sense of self and centredness.

High quality therapeutic grade essential oils can be used to help bring awareness to the heart. And what better time to make the time to do it than in the month of love. The simple act of lighting your vaporiser, or even a candle, creating a beautiful blend especially for your lover, putting on special music, creating an exquisite meal or running an aromatic bath are all euphoric and powerful aphrodisiacs for the soul.

The most potent aphrodisiac oils are Rose, Jasmine, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood.

Rose has a very strong, dense and rich aroma. It blends beautifully with most oils in particular Patchouli and Sandalwood. Rose is known as the Queen Of Essential Oils and is especially amazing for women. It can help balance hormones, has a tonifying effect on the reproductive organs and can certainly enhance sexuality. Although it carries a high price tag only one drop is needed to enjoy the healing and very nurturing effects of this oil. As a perfume it is exhilarating.

If Rose is the Queen then Jasmine is the King of essential oils. A rather exotic and fruity aroma it helps to relieve tension and relax the mind. With beautiful euphoric qualities it is said to help enhance sexual confidence. Only a very small amount is needed of this very intense but intoxicating aroma. It is arousing and transforming and helps one to feel connected and in the moment.

Patchouli has always been associated with love. This sensual, harmonising oil has a rich, earthy scent that is captivating without a doubt. It blends beautifully with Orange and Ylang Ylang and is known to help us feel in the present and connected to source.

Ylang Ylang is a beautiful soul connecting and love making oil. A strong, dense floral and fruity aroma only a small amount is needed for effect. Rather tranquilising and calming it helps bring confidence with ease. The perfect oil to have in a massage blend or a few drops in the bath.

The deep, woody and rich aroma of Sandalwood is highly concentrated and grounding. It helps induce a sense of calm, strength and serenity. It is considered a sexual restorative for both men and women. It is a delight to wear on its own or in a combination of other oils like Lavender or Geranium.

We are excited to say that our amazing Romance and Intimacy blend is one of the most amazing aphrodisiac and self-nurturing oils we have. With oils of Rose, Ylang Ylang, Orange, Rosewood, Patchouli and Sandalwood here are some special ways you can use it for your loved one.

Make up a loving Massage Blend using 30ml Carrier Oil and 15 drops Romance & Intimacy and combine together. Create a beautiful environment, light candles and put on some music that means something to you both. Invite your partner in. There is no right or wrong in how you massage your partner. As long as you touch with love and care there is a lot of communication without words. It is the most precious way to tell someone you care. The Love Me Tender gift pack is ideal!

Run an Aromatic Bath... Fill a bath with warm to hot water. Set the room - light candles, put on some music, roll up a towel for each of you. Add 6 drops of Romance & Intimacy into the bath and agitate to disperse the oils. Pour a glass of bubbles or a cup of herbal tea and immerse yourselves at opposite ends to enjoy an aromatic indulgence.

Create a beautiful loving, sensual aromatic environment. Fill the top of your ceramic or glass Vaporiser with water, add 6-8 drops of Romance & Intimacy and light the candle. Place this on the table over a beautiful meal together - it is a magical way to create a romantic mood. You can also place a vaporiser in the bedroom and make it a love making haven. We have a very popular Ultimate Romance Gift Pack that might just be perfect here!!

The fact our sense of smell is so closely linked to our emotions shows reason why Aromatherapy is the perfect mood enhancer. Contrary to popular belief we are attracted to our lovers through their smell more than their looks. What better way to seduce, nurture and love your partner by incorporating these beautiful gifts from nature into these romantic rituals.

Love Is In The Air

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:32:00 GMT

With Valentines Day just around the corner now is the time to look closely at your relationship, take some time to do something special and give it a good old fashioned dose of ROMANCE! Like the relationship with yourself, a good loving relationship with a partner requires regular care, nurturing, time and attention. It needs constant check-ups and check-ins with one another. Often people say they wish they had that excitement and thrill they had at the beginning of their relationship; understand that while you can still work at creating the excitement, what you are gaining as your relationship grows with time is something a lot deeper. Unfortunately we live in a consumer society and this is often reflected in our relationships. If someone is not happy, without much thought they just up and leave.

But what we all need to realise is that relationships are a chance to not only accept love but to learn about many virtues, like patience, understanding, forgiveness, tolerance and respect. A relationship is a place where you can grow individually and together and by allowing each other to do just that you create a very powerful, truthful bond.

'Love is the free exercise of choice. Two people love each other only when they are quite capable of living without each other but choose to live with each other.' M. Scott Peck

Gorgeous and so true! So how can we possibly keep the flames burning? How do we keep that spark and ability to feel that closeness throughout a long-lasting relationship? Here we are going to delve into some tried and true tips and suggestions that many have told to us are the keys to their successful long standing relationship! We love them all.

One point to remember... when things feel a little tired, or you sense there are changes talk, talk and make sure you do more talk. Don’t expect things to stay the same and always make time to work on and improve your relationship and most importantly - listen. One thing we have also learned is you cannot change another person. Sometimes we have to accept that there is an end point to some relationships and that is ok. As Dr Brian Weiss so eloquently says in his book 'Only Love Is Real' - 'Sometimes couples need to move on. This is not a tragedy, only a matter of learning. You have eternal life together, but sometimes you may need to take separate classes.' We LOVE this. It doesn't make anyone wrong.

Many say try doing some of those extra special things for one another that you did at the beginning of your relationship. Don't expect that the other knows you love them. NEVER stop telling your special flame how much you love them! For special anniversaries or memories, make time once a year to really splash out on each other. This is not necessarily about spending lots of money — it’s more important that you splash out with your time, energy and attention.

Remember that you are both going through life together through good times and bad. Be willing to work on your relationship, keep it exciting and fun. Here’s some things to think about especially in the month of LOVE!

• Don’t take each other for granted, appreciate each other. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ go a long way.

• Go on regular dates. Just the two of you. Dinner, movies, theatre, why not try ten-pin bowling, hot pools, private spas, picnic, art galleries etc ... Don’t get boring — keep some fun happening in there! Try different things!

• Turn the television off and spend some time together.

• Communicate what is going on in your lives. Talk about your future, set goals and plan together. Even setting budgets and planning your year is important.

• While you both may have different goals and desires, remember a partnership built on love will support and encourage each other. Be each other’s fan club!

• Keep the romance alive, be adventurous. Set aside time for lovemaking — for some couples life can get so busy you have to actually make a date and time for this connection! It may not have to be at night and in bed either; it could be a daytime encounter! Surprise one another! One of our grandmother's favourite piece of advice to us was 'give him a quickie, it'll do wonders for your relationship!' Ha! We still chuckle at that one!

• Aromatherapy can stir and arouse passion and there are certain essential oils that increase our sexual response. This is because they work on the limbic part of our brain which is responsible for our sex drive. Oils with aphrodisiac qualities are: Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Clary Sage, Neroli, Rose, Sandalwood, and Orange. Of course you can go no further than our exceptional Romance & Intimacy Blend for the perfect combination!

• Touch is a powerful communicator, so give each other a shoulder or foot massage once a week. One of the best ways to spice up your love life is through an aromatherapy massage. Let the following recipes inspire you:

‘In The Mood’: Ylang Ylang, Orange, Neroli

‘Magic Moments’: Patchouli, Orange, Ylang Ylang

‘Romantic Melt’: Rose, Sandalwood, Jasmine

‘Weekend Away’: Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood

Blend a total of 10 drops of essential oils into 20ml of massage base oil or use 6–8 drops total in your vaporiser.

• Start the day with a kiss, no matter how busy the day ahead is.

• Be open to learning relationship skills; there are some great books and courses around. Check out relationships specialists who can help teach you fantastic tools and skills together.

• Think about what your partner would like — you don’t have to spend a fortune, it can be cooking his favourite meal, buying her a bottle of wine or getting a video for the night.

• Small surprises are the ultimate — a note under a pillow or an essential oil bath can make one another feel cared for and special. Sharing an aromatic bath is a wonderfully sensual way to relax with your partner. Set the scene by lighting candles around the bath and choose 3 aphrodisiac oils (e.g. Orange, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang or the Romance & Intimacy Blend). Add a total of 6 drops to your bath.

• Never go to sleep on an argument — talking it out clears the mind, allowing a more restful sleep. And then you can start the new day with fresh possibilities.

• Spend time on your own — relationship experts agree that we all need time out alone to pursue your own thoughts and interests, and time with your own friends. Allow time and space just for you and encourage your partner to do the same.

• Learn something new together — it may be golf, kayaking, art classes, dancing. Share your interests and discover what you could do together outside what you both already know.

• According to Alan Pease, women have a much greater need to talk than men. If you feel like your man doesn’t talk enough, it could just be that he has spent his ‘talk quota’ for the day. Run him a bath, place four drops of Lavender (to relax) and four drops of Orange (to enhance communication) in the water. Give him some time to enjoy it, then see how willing he is to chat!

• Always remember birthdays and anniversaries — a perpetual calendar, PDA, smartphone or iPhone does the trick here!

• New lingerie goes a long way!

• Laugh together!

• The bedroom or ‘boudoir’ is your sanctuary to share together. They say one should never argue in this room — anywhere else, but not in the bedroom! Set the ambience in your bedroom by lighting your vaporiser at least half an hour before going to bed and switching off the lights. Play some soft music to create a truly romantic environment and a complete change of state from your busy day. Truth is after many years together you really do need to make an effort here. Don't take it for granted. Don't wait for your partner to do it - you might be waiting a long way. Sometimes they need prompting... Lead the way!

Lastly, remember that you and your partner are different. You may have different personalities, priorities, drives and desires. Understanding and accepting these differences will allow your relationship to grow. Relationships are a full- time job, so take time to invest in learning about yourself and each other. Attend relationship counselling if you need to work through things and there are some great relationship books out there like the oldie but goodie Mars and Venus in the bedroom by John Gray Ph.D. A good, loving relationship is worth the effort.

Happy Valentines Day everyone!!