Thursday, April 03, 2014

J U I C E C L E A N S E

 
Ok ladies, get ready for a long blog post! I have had so many questions I want to get to as many as I can for you!
After a MAJOR sugar addiction over the past few months, I decided I was sick of feeling tired, sluggish and bloated. I can be very, very strict when I want to be with my diet planning and have previously lost about 8kg and toned up a lot - but I am a little all or nothing and when I fall off the wagon, I fall hard! I exercise at least 5 times a week, but the saying 'abs are made in the gym, but shown in the kitchen' couldn't ring more true for me right now and I decided it was time to get nice and healthy again and rid my body of all of the toxins and sugar (yes, Marvellous Chocolate and Cinnamon Donuts I'm talking about you!!)
I had spoken with a friend of mine, Felicity, owner of instagram @nutritionhealthlife about her thoughts after she did her own juice cleanse and I decided to give it a go! How hard could 3 days be, right?!
I researched a few different companies and found their pricing to be quite high. I was looking at $300+ for the 3 days and thought I could maybe research some prices of fruits myself at local shops and farmers markets and give it a try on my own.
After I posted a picture of my fruit haul on instagram I had a lot of people emailing in questions so decided to do a blog post all about it!
Here is a picture of what I purchased:

I wasn't overly specific with quantities, but I purchased a pineapple, a rockmelon, half a watermelon, 3 beetroots, a large bunch of kale and spinach, a few bunches of grapes, a bag each of apples, pears and oranges, 3 bananas, 6 kiwifruit, 3 avocados, a few punnets of strawberries, frozen blueberries, frozen mango pieces, pressed apple juice, coconut milk and coconut water (This was HEAPS and I definatly could have bought half the amount of each! Also, I bought about three quarters of this from Harris Farm and it was only $25!!! It's defiantly worth giving your local farmers market a go!)

Here are my tips and recipes for each day:
- I cut up all of the fruit into small '20c piece sizes' and divided it all into large zip lock bags according to the recipes for each meal. 
- I then put breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and dessert for each day into 3 separate 'bag days'. (I will mention now that I didn't get through each of these meals and it turns out I now have all of my snacks, 2 dinners and 2 desserts left over because I wasn't hungry at all!) 
- After putting all of the fruit into the zip lock bags I put them all into the freezer. Blending frozen fruit makes the juices super smooth - I would say similar to a 'Boost Juice' consistency!
- I made sure I put the kale and spinach in the zip lock bags last so that it was easy to get out and was frozen together, as you should blend the kale first by itself with your liquid
- I think because I blended my juices, rather than using a juicer, I had to add a lot more liquid. I was adding one extra glass of water at a time until it got to a drinkable consistency because they were quite thick using the recipes. But, this is up to you and how you like your juice! This is also another reason why I have so much left over, because each of my meals made about 1-2L of juice with my extra water added in (you can see why I wasn't hungry at all!)
- Put your kale and spinach in the blender first with the liquid needed for the juice. Blend it on the lowest setting for about 30 seconds. This creates a vortex and pulls the greens into the blades, chopping them super fine, rather than having it on a high setting and pushing them out to the sides and keeping it chunky and hard to drink.
- I dry brush my skin every day and also had a detox bath at the end of day 2 as well to make this a full body detox. You can read about the benefits of detox bath's in our post here

- Have a glass of warm lemon water each morning when you wake up (you should do this every morning, even when you're not juice cleansing) as it is a great detox for your system and gets your digestive system ready for the day.
- Try to have a cup of green tea with each meal as well as 2L of water a day (also something you should do every day!)
BREAKFAST
1 banana
1 cup mixed berries or your choice of berry (strawberry/blueberry etc.)
1 kiwi fruit
1 cup spinach/kale
1/2 an avocado
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup water
1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds
- Add kale and liquid into the blender and blend on lowest setting for 30sec - 1min. Turn blender off and add the rest of the frozen diced fruit and flax seeds. If it is thick, add more water or coconut milk - whatever your preference.

LUNCH 1
1 green apple
1 pair
1 cup kale
1 cup pineapple
1 cup watermelon
1 cup grapes
1 pear
1 kiwifruit
200mL pressed apple juice with no added sugar
2 cups water
(I loved the lunch one, the pressed apple juice made it nice and sweet! The brand I got was 'Juicy Isle, Tasmania's Own' from Coles, but you could get any pressed apple juice you can find, as long as it has no added sugar) 

LUNCH 2
Same as above, but with a whole, grated beetroot added.

SNACK 1
1 apple
2 cup watermelon
1 cup grapes
1 cup orange
2 cups coconut water

SNACK 2
1 carrot
1 cup watermelon
1/2 cup frozen berries
1 cup grapes
1 cup orange
Ginger to taste
2 cups water

DINNER
1/2 cup mango
1/2 an avocado
1 cup blueberries
1 cup baby spinach
Pinch of cayanne pepper (I added a quarter of a teaspoon and it was super spicy!!)
1 tablespoon lemon juice 
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 cup coconut water
1 cup water

DESSERT 1
 1/2 cup greek or coconut yoghurt
1/2 cup coconut or almond milk
2 tablespoons cacao powder (not coco)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

DESSERT 2
1/2 cup greek or coconut yoghurt
1/2 cup coconut or almond milk
1 tablespoon chia mix (recipe below)
1 banana
1 cup crushed ice

CHIA SPICE RECIPE
5 tablespoons of ground cinnamon
5 teaspoons of ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 tablespoon stevia or similar

Now to answer some of your questions!
- Was I hungry?
Surprisingly, no! I was worried how I would feel, as I normally meal plan and eat every 3 hours so I thought I would be starving! I did notice at around 4-5 pm on the first day I was feeling a little hungry so could have had a smaller juice to tie me through from Lunch to Dinner

- Did the juices taste nice?
Yes! Don't let the fluro green colouring put you off! They were all delicious! 

-Did I lose weight?
I wasn't doing this cleanse to lose weight, but yes I did. After a few days of eating normal (and healthy) food again I have put most of it back on, so it's quite obvious that it was water weight that was lost. I am still however, much less bloated and feeling better than I have in a long time! I have also noticed I am not craving lollies or chocolate at all anymore (those who know me, know this is no mean feat!) And I am also eating smaller portion sizes. I feel like it has really reset my brain and how I think about food. It is fuel for our bodies and we don't need to over indulge and bloat ourselves!

- Would I do it again?
Definatly! Because I have so much left over I am actually thinking of doing it one day a week for a while because I love how I'm feeling!

- Can I vary the recipes?
Yes. Add in or take out anything you like. I got these recipes after scouring through many different websites and finding recipes I thought I would like and could stick to for 3 days without getting bored

Feel free to post any other questions below or to our facebook page!
Happy Juicing! Ami x



Sunday, March 30, 2014

P A S T E L S P L A S H E S


The Skort...Not a skirt, not shorts. A mix of the 2, paired with this Season's hottest trend - the asymmetrical hemline, has gone cray cray for us here at Unwritten! Asymmetrical hemlines give the illusion of longer, slimmer legs (who can say no to that!) and Skorts are the perfect addition to your tran-season wardrobe, matching them with a loose fit tee or collared shirt while the weather is a little warmer, and then with a knit, floppy hat and ankle boots when the weather cools down!
We are also loving the mid-rise design of this skort, it's oh so flattering!
Havannah Skort and Lacey Love Top both online now!
Model: Amy Hunter
Photography: Josephine Willcox
Location: Hunter Valley Gardens

Friday, February 28, 2014

C H E R R Y B L O S S O M






We are in TOTAL denial that Summer is over and are still totally crushing on florals!
A little bit cute and a lot sexy, the Cherry Blossom Dress is our newest favourite pick! Cute, girly pink and purple florals matched with a plunging neckline and scooping cut away back make this dress the perfect 'look at me' piece for your upcoming party or event! Or catch that cute guy's eye out at the club!
Photography: Josephine Willcox
Model: Amy Hunter
Location: Hunter Valley Gardens

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

B L U E H A W A I I








The Blue Hawaii Dress is our new favourite at Unwritten HQ! The gorgeous shift-style is flattering on every body shape and lightly flows in all the right places to reveal long, lengthy looking legs.
And it's no secret that we are totally obsessed with all things white AND floral at the moment, so this piece combines the two perfectly!
Be quick - we only have 4 of the Blue Hawaii Dress left available!
Photography: Josephine Willcox
Model: Amy Hunter
Location: Hunter Valley Gardens

Monday, February 17, 2014

E B A Y

We are excited to announce Unwritten Clothing's eBay page!
We get lots of enquiry from International customers and want to give you all the opportunity to shop with us!
Our eBay primarily features our sale pieces and is updated with new items every week! Prices start from $5 and the option to Bid in the Auctions or Buy It Now! You can check out the fun right here!

Sunday, February 09, 2014

2 0 1 4 S O F A R

We promised to take you behind the scenes of Unwritten Clothing and our last 'Week at Unwritten HQ post has been one of our most popular posts ever viewed! So why not let you in on the favourite parts of 2014 so far!

Of course, we always love our new arrivals. It's the start of the year, which for us in Aus means warm weather is still here for a few months! So we are focusing on flirty florals and banging brights!
Stock shopping is exciting (as usual!) which means our new arrivals photoshoots are lots of fun to style. It looks like cute dresses and playsuits are still very much on trend!

You probably also know that we are big on being fit and healthy (with the occasional cheat of course!!) so we want to share our favourite workout, meal, song and instagram pics with you every few weeks! If your aren't already following us, come by to @unwrittenclothing and take a look!

Workout: So, last post we told you about the c-2-5k app. I can now proudly say we have completed the challenge and can run 5 kilometres! (When I started I could barely run 1 minute)
I am also massively crushing on Body Pump classes at the moment. If you are a member of a gym and find it hard to keep motivated, give a class a go! It's a one hour workout over in what seems like half the time because you are being pushed along by all of your other class mates and instructor!

Meal: our instagram followers will know we are obsessed with the blog A Lil Less Sugar, (also on instagram @alillesssugar) which is run by one of our gorgeous models, Sarah. She is a healthy eating fanatic who is always coming up with little tweaks and changes to your favourite meals and snacks to make the healthy, and delicious! This weeks top pick: Poached chicken and Soba Noodle salad. SO quick and easy! You can find the recipe here.

Song: Happy by Pharrell Williams. We love it so much we even named our newest playsuit after it!
Have a listen and tell us you don't want to be dancing around your bedroom!! 

Our favourite pictures:




Our favourite flatlays: 
Piper Lane Enlightened Tee matched with Pulp Shoes and Sass & Bide Bralette











Behind the scenes of our latest lookbook shoot in the Hunter Valley Gardens with Josephine Willcox and Amy Hunter!

Some sneak peeks into our new arrivals shoots!

And last but not least for this week, a little snapshot of our Happy Playsuit, online now!





Thursday, February 06, 2014

H A P P Y


We travelled to the Hunter Valley for our latest lookbook shoot and found ourselves in the magical Hunter Valley Gardens. If you have never been before, we highly recommend the trip. The gardens are breath-taking and we can promise you will have just found the perfect place to plan your dream Wedding! Keep an eye out for our lookbook over the next few weeks on facebook featuring our newest arrivals in bright florals and watercolours - just perfect for the end of Summer!!

We have named this playsuit the Happy Playsuit because it is just that...happy!
We are so in love with the vibrant floral pastels and the too-cute-to-be-true frills. Not to mention the plunging neckline that can be worn low if you dare to reveal, or match with our Lovely Lace Bralette (which has just been re-stocked, AGAIN! And will also be available in white, online in 2 weeks)
It's the perfect day-to-night outfit - matched with cute white sandals and a flower headband during the day and carry it through to the night with nude or white heels and a statement necklace.
Photography: Josephine Willcox
Model: Amy Hunter
Shoes: Blair from Pulp Shoes

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

D E T O X B A T H




Feeling a little stressed and sluggish after the Holiday Season?
Dreading the thought of being back at work for the New Year?
Started your New Years Resolution of getting fit and have tired and sore muscles?
Well ladies, this blog post is for you!
We love to keep you updated on all things Unwritten Clothing (of course!) but, we are girls...and we understand beauty and health is just as important as fashion & style! Read on for some tips we have been googling:
- Fill a bath with warm water.
- Add a handful of Epsom Salt
- Add half a cup of baking soda
- Add 10-15 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
- Relax in your bath for at least 20 minutes (and play out chill playlist on Spotify!)
- Moisturise your skin when you are out of the bath and dry

This will help your body to flush away toxins, ease stress and can help to improve sleep, relieve pain and reduce muscle cramps

You can add any variations you like...here are some more tips we have come across in our 'relaxation research'

- Add Peppermint Essential Oil if you are feeling tired and fatigued
- Add grated Ginger or Ginger Powder to help you to sweat more (similar to a sauna or steam room) and release more toxins from the body
- Add Sweet Orange or Rose Geranium to moisturise and soothe the skin and also help improve hormone balance
- Add Pine to help clear up skin problems including psoriasis and eczema, 


* You may need to do a patch test on your skin first if you have sensitive skin to ensure no irritation will occur.
* Some oils and ingredients are not suitable for pregnancy






Tuesday, January 14, 2014

D R E A M C A T C H E R






Our favourite Summer post yet!
Crochet - the perfect wardrobe addition!
Our Dreamcatcher Top is perfect to chuck over your bikini after a relaxing day at the beach or match with high waisted denim shorts, nude wedges and you're ready for a Sunday Sesh' with the girls!
Photography - Josephine Willcox
Model - Amy Hunter
Bikini bottoms by Baku

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

M E X I C A N A






We are loving all things bright, bold and colourful at Unwritten HQ!
Our Mexicana edit features amazingly bright new arrivals with bold patterns and fun prints.
Amy wears the SASS Crystalised dress, which is the perfect go-to dress...wear it casually with some detailed sandals and stacked up bracelets or dress it up with black heels, a messy pony and a red lip!

It's time to enjoy the warm Summer air and get outside! A catch up with the girls and a jug of Sangria sounds just perfect to us!
Not wanting to go TOO bold? Check out out latest arrivals and opt for the Tequila Top and match back with black shorts to tone the look down and make your top the feature piece. Add a little red nail polish and a peach lip to finish off the look!
Model: Amy Hunter
Photography: Josephine Willcox
Shoes: Pulp Shoes