Hair Tips:

Ombre Hair! Yes it is still the trend!

The beautiful trend ofOmbré hair shows no signs of slowing down. And there are very few rules involved. All this trendy style requires is one hair colour at the roots that eventually becomes a different shade at the ends. Looks fabulous, google search a picture and take to your stylist!

Perms are officially back in style! But with a modern 2019 Twist!

Sure, the bushy perms of the 80s might be out of vogue, but there are plenty of modern hair perms that are actually gorgeous. These days, you can perm your hair into effortless waves or even make it look like you just walked out of the hair salon!

Perms work by using chemicals to change hair texture, either creating waves or curls. Traditionally, a stylist will wrap hair in rods before putting a perm lotion on to set the curl.

What's different about modern perms?

It’s all in the technique. Traditionally, stylists use plastic perm rods all over a client’s head, but today, instead of using a traditional perm rod, fabric is used or you can do a finger wave, or rollers.

These new techniques create different types of curls, from spiral coils to wavy hair. Modern perms today, are women who typically get perms to enhance their natural texture, whether that’s an S-pattern curl (think: taking your hair out of a braid) or an undone wave.

Some Good Reads – perfect for those Wintery lazy Sundays

Sit back with a good book, hot chocolate (with all the trimmings) and enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

THE LOST MAN Author Jane Harper
Synopsis
Three brothers, one death, a fenceline stretching to the horizon. Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelenting sun of outback Queensland. They are at the stockman's grave, a landmark so old, no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. The Bright family's quiet existence is thrown into grief and anguish. Something had been troubling Cam. Did he lose hope and walk to his death? Because if he didn't, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects... For readers who loved The Dry and Force of Nature, Jane Harper has once again created a powerful story of suspense, set against a dazzling landscape.

SCRUBLANDS by Chris Hammer
Synopsis
In an isolated country town brought to its knees by endless drought, a charismatic and dedicated young priest calmly opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners before being shot dead himself.A year later, troubled journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in Riversend to write a feature on the anniversary of the tragedy. But the stories he hears from the locals about the priest and incidents leading up to the shooting don't fit with the accepted version of events his own newspaper reported in an award-winning investigation. Martin finds himself risking everything to discover a truth that becomes darker and more complex with every twist. But there are powerful forces determined to stop him, and he has no idea how far they will go to make sure the town's secrets stay buried.

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY - Author Lily Allen
Synopsis
For over a decade, Lily Allen has been painted as a caricature in the British press: a drunk, wild, party girl. She redefines herself in this brutally honest memoir, writing, “So, this is me. Lily Allen. I am a woman. I am a mother. I was a wife. I drink. I have taken drugs. I have loved and been let down. I am a success and a failure. I am a songwriter. I am a singer. I am all these things and more.” Despite making headlines for admitting she hired female sex-workers when she married and touring the US, the real story in this book is one of vulnerability, heartache and strength. Lily writes openly about her unconventional childhood as the daughter of comedian Keith Allen and producer Alison Owen, her traumatic stillbirth, the breakdown of her marriage and her stalking ordeal. It’s a fascinating story.

BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE by Trent Dalton Synopsis Eli Bell has unfortunate circumstances. His brother is mute, his dad is drunk, his mum is headed for jail, his step-dad deals heroin, his babysitter is a convicted murderer and his only friend seems to be his pen pal… who’s in prison. When he tries to improve these circumstances, things go from bad to horrific and suddenly this novel opens up a whole universe on the page. It’s a book without comparison that Australia, and the world, will fall in love with.

Diving into Glass - Author Caro Llewellyn
Synopsis
Caro Llewellyn was living her dream life in her adopted home of New York, directing an international literary festival. Then one day, running in Central Park, she lost all sensation in her legs. Two days later she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Caro was no stranger to tragedy. Her father Richard contracted polio at the age of twenty and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Only by looking back at her father's extraordinary example was she able to rediscover her own grit and find a way forward, rebuilding her life shard by shard.

Gravity Is The Thing - AuthorJaclyn Moriarty
Synopsis
Abigail Sorensen has spent her life trying to unwrap the events of 1990. It was the year she started receiving random chapters from a self-help book called The Guidebook in the post. It was also the year Robert, her brother, disappeared on the eve of her sixteenth birthday. She believes the absurdity of The Guidebook and the mystery of her brother's disappearance must be connected. Now thirty-five, owner of The Happiness Café and mother of four-year-old Oscar, Abigail has been invited to learn the truth behind The Guidebook at an all-expenses-paid retreat. What she finds will be unexpected, life-affirming, and heartbreaking. A story with extraordinary heart, warmth and wisdom

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Author Gail Honeyman
Synopsis
Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy.

Under the Midnight Sky - Author Anna Romer
Synopsis
Chilling secrets buried deep in wild bushland drive this thrilling new novel from bestseller Anna Romer. When an injured teenager goes missing at a remote bushland campground, local journalist Abby Bardot is determined to expose the area’s dark history. The girl bears a striking resemblance to the victims of three brutal murders that occurred twenty years ago and Abby fears the killer is still on the loose. But the newspaper Abby works for wants to suppress the story for fear it will scare off tourists to the struggling township. Haunted by her own turbulent memories, Abby is desperate to learn the truth and enlists the help of Tom Gabriel, a reclusive crime writer. The quest has drawn out a killer, someone with a shocking secret who will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

PS - I Love You' Sequel Is Happening

We're SO ready for this!

Author Cecilia Ahern has confirmed she has written a sequel to her debut novel, PS, I Love You. Yippee!

Postscript will be published later in the year and continues the love story of Holly Kennedy and Gerry Clarke. The original book focused on Holly and Gerry's relationship and ten envelopes Holly received after Gerry's death - one for each month after he died.

The envelopes contained messages from Gerry to his wife, all ending with "PS I Love You".

WINTER RECIPES:

A Quick Tip for Hot Drinks

Cold days call for hot drinks and nothing will warm you up faster than a spiked cup of coffee, cocoa or tea. From a new take on the famous Irish coffee to a fresh spin on the hot toddy - there is sure to be a comfy cocktail that's right for you.

Before we get to the drinks, let's discuss the mug. That steaming hot drink is great, but it can become a lukewarm mess before you finish. You can keep your hot cocktails warm longer by pre-heating the glass. It's very easy, takes just a minute and there are a few ways to go about it.

• Heat water in a teapot and pour it into the glass while you prepare the drink.

• Warm a water-filled glass in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds.

• As a last resort, run hot water over the mug.

HOT CHOCOLATE - yummmmmmmm

INGREDIENTS

• 100g Cadbury white chocolate baking block, finely chopped

• 100g Cadbury milk chocolate baking block, finely chopped

• 100g Cadbury dark chocolate baking block, finely chopped

• 2 litres (8 cups) milk

• 300ml thickened cream

• Vanilla marshmallows, to serve

• Cocoa, to dust

METHOD

Step 1
Divide the chocolates evenly among heatproof serving glasses.

Step 2
Place the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. Pour the hot milk over the chocolate and stir until chocolate melts.

Step 3
Meanwhile, use an electric mixer to whisk the cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form.

Step 4
Sprinkle the marshmallows over the hot chocolates. Dollop with cream. Sprinkle with cocoa or chocolate shavings and serve immediately.

NUTELLA HOT CHOCOLATE:

INGREDIENTS

• 310ml (1 1/4 cups) milk

• 1 1/2 teaspoon cornflour

• 60g dark cooking chocolate, chopped

• 75g (1/4 cup) Nutella

• Splash of Frangelico liqueur (optional)

• Whipped cream, to serve

• Chocolate sauce, to serve

• Mini doughnuts, to serve

METHOD

Step 1
Place 1/4 cup milk in a small saucepan. Slowly whisk in cornflour until smooth and combined. Gradually whisk in the remaining 1 cup milk. Add chocolate. Cook, stirring, over low heat for 2-3 minutes or until smooth. Bring to the boil. Simmer for 30-60 seconds or until thickened. Stir in Nutella. Add a splash of Frangelico liqueur, if using, and stir well. Divide among 2 glasses.

Step 2
Top with whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate sauce and serve with doughnut holes or mini doughnuts

Dutch Hot Chocolate
WarmeChocolademelk (Dutch for "hot chocolate") is fun to say, and a joy to drink! A steaming mug of Dutch Hot Chocolate is a favourite drink all year round in the Netherlands, enjoyed by children and adults alike (for the latter, often with an added glug of brandy or rum). There's nothing quite like homemade hot chocolate made with good quality dark chocolateand whole milk, topped with real whipped cream and dusted with cinnamon.

Authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate
Authentic Mexican chocolate hot chocolate, known in Mexico as Chocolate Caliente, is warm, comforting but also surprisingly refreshing for those who are used to North American hot chocolate. The classic Mexican recipe uses a rustic chocolate called "chocolate de mesa" (literally, "table chocolate") that is made with cinnamon, adding a lovely spiced taste to this frothy, hot milk-based drink.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate
This awesome grown-up winter drink for chocolate-mint lovers features your favourite hot chocolate, spiked with Peppermint Schanpps.. It's the perfect hot cocktail for cozy nights by the fire, chilly days in the ski lodge, or anytime you want delicious comfort in a mug

Hot Buttered Rum - the perfect hot cocktail for Winter

Hot Buttered Rum is a classic drink that’s been around for a long time, a combination of butter, rum and spices that makes an ultimate cold weather drink or Christmas in July cocktail.

Hot Buttered Rum isn’t made by simply adding butter and spices to a glass. The first step involves making a spiced batter which consists of softened butter mixed with brown sugar and warm spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and clove. The batter can be stored in the fridge until ready to use or frozen into small logs on wax paper or in individual sized portions. To make the drink, dark rum is poured in a heatproof glass with a little of the spiced batter then it’s topped with boiling water and stirred well to combine. It’s normal to have a little residue at the bottom which can be stirred with the cinnamon quill garnish.

Hot Buttered Rum Recipe

Ingredients

For the Spiced Batter:

• 120g butter, softened

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

For the Hot Buttered Rum:

• 60 ml dark or aged rum

• 2 tablespoons of spiced butter mixture

• Boiling water to top

Glassware: heatproofglass or mug

Garnish: cinnamon quill

METHOD

Step 1
To make the spiced batter, combine butter, vanilla extract, sugar and spices in mixing bowl and mix until well combined. The batter can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container or even in portions in the freezer.

Step 2
To make the drink, in a heatproof glass or mug, combine the rum with 2 tablespoons of the spiced batter. Top with hot water and stir well until all the ingredients are incorporated. Garnish with a cinnamon stick which can also be used as a stirrer.

Winter Dinner:

Slow-cooked Italian beef stew with cheesy garlic bread bombs

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

• 900g beef brisket, cut into 5cm pieces

• 1 brown onion, chopped

• 1 large carrot, chopped

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed

• 90g (1/3 cup) tomato paste

• 125ml (1/2 cup) red wine

• 2 x 400g cans MuttiPolpa Finely Chopped Tomatoes

• 1.75L (7 cups) salt-reduced chicken stock

• 3 fresh bay leaves

• 5 sprigs fresh rosemary

• Fresh continental parsley leaves, finely chopped, to serve

BREAD BOMBS

• 300g (2 cups) self-raising flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 120g unsalted butter, chilled

• 185ml (3/4 cup) buttermilk

• 150g mozzarella, cut into 15 even pieces

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed

METHOD

Step 1
Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole dish over high heat. In batches, add the beef and cook, turning halfway, for 5 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining beef. Set aside.

Step 2
Add the onion, carrot and garlic to the dish. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the tomato paste and stir to coat. Add the wine and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until reduced. Add the beef, tomatoes, stock, bay leaves and rosemary. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 1.5 hours or until starting to become tender. Uncover and cook for a further 30 minutes or until the beef is very tender. Set aside to cool slightly.

Step 3
For the bread bombs, whisk together the flour and baking powder in a bowl. Coarsely grate 80g of the butter and add to the bowl. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Make a well in the centre. Pour in the buttermilk. Use a flat-bladed knife to stir until the dough just comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Shape the dough into a 2cm-thick square. Cut into 15 pieces. Flatten a piece of dough on the palm of your hand. Place 1 piece of mozzarella in the middle. Bring the edges up to enclose and press to seal. Roll into a ball. Place, seam-side down, on a plate. Continue with the remaining dough and mozzarella until you have 15 bread bombs.

Step 4
Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan-forced. Place the garlic and remaining butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Arrange the bread bombs on top of the soup. Brush the bread bombs with the garlic butter. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle with parsley to serve.

EA QUOTES (!)

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