Food

Thanks to my part time position, time is free to cook, and I love nothing more than cooking sweet delights. But tonight, dinner called for mushroom, lemon & tarragon tagliatelle... YUM! And it's easy to make too. Heat 2tbs olive oil and 30g unsalted butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a clove of thinly sliced garlic and cook for one minute, stirring until softened slightly. Add 800g sliced flat mushrooms, 1/2 cup white wine, and 1tbs chopped tarragon, then season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 2 minutes or until the wine has reduced by half. Cover and simmer a further 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water. Drain, then return the pasta to the pan and toss with the mushroom mixture and any cooking liquid. Add the zest and juice of 1 lemon and 30g unsalted butter. Now I can't have cheese as I'm lactose intolerant, but if you're making it for yourself and everyone else, fold through 2/3 cup grated parmesan and serve immediately, garnished with tarragon leaves. I'll include more yummy lactose free recipes in the future, I've found the most delicious dairy free choc chip cookie recipe, and even if you're not lactose intolerant, it tastes great!! Bon apetit.

Fashion

I'm sourcing females and males with a desire to inject personal style into the way they dress, and they're just afraid or don't know the correct way to go about it. Before and after shots coming... Stay tuned.

Body

Hot, hot, hot.... there's no other word for it. And I love it. I started a form of yoga a couple of months ago called Power Vinyasa for 10 unlimited days and felt the instant detox effects from day one. It's performed in a room set to 38C, and it's only about 5 minutes into the 1 1/2 hour class before the sweat literally starts running from top to toe. But I'm not painting a very glamorous picture here... It's the health benefits of core strength and mental stability, as well as the improved flexibility and reduced pressure on my muscles that's got me hooked. If you've always wanted to try it, give some thought as to how comfortable you are with dripping perspiration for an hour before considering this form of yoga. Normal yoga is just as beneficial and much more comfortable. I was just impressed with how much more relaxed my muscles felt in the heat. Good luck!

Beauty

I have a secret. I have really sensitive skin and until recently I've always trusted Clarins... But with a desire to find something that works just as well without compromising the bank balance, I've found the answer is Simple, literally. It's fragrance and alcohol free, and the price tag is incredibly affordable... the proof is evident too. My skin hasn't looked as clear or fresh and I owe it to a regime consisting of Simple Cleanser, Simple Toner and Simple Rich Moisturiser every night. By day, I use the moisturiser as a base, and Megan Gale Invisible Zinc Tinted Moisturiser all available at Priceline. I've realised that the best thing for my skin is to keep everything light weight and the results show... Pass it on.

Invitation

I invite you to follow PROFILE, it's about fashion and beauty, photography and travel... PROFILE started as a magazine about fashion, travel, photography and issues. The premise behind it initially focused on the 'uniform' that people create for themselves as a reaction to perception; how people perceive them and how they want to be perceived. But this blog is simplifying that and taking a more realistic approach. It's about attainable inspiration rather than unattainable aspiration, with budgets and personal style in mind. Welcome.