We have now made these on a number of occasions and it’s always been a hit with everyone requesting the recipe. People are completely surprised when we tell them it is made with ingredients that are so good for you – especially when it tastes like a naughty chocolate treat

We discovered the recipe over a year ago and first made it for our son’s 18th birthday and have refined the recipe since. The great thing is they are easy to make!! Bonus!!

So here it is … spoil yourselves or someone special!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of either raw organic cashews (or mixed organic walnuts and cashews)
• 1/4 cup of raw organic cacao powder
• 1 cup of organic dates – pitted (preferably soaked so that they are moist and not hard)
• Some organic dessicated coconut (enough to roll balls in)

Combine all ingredients (except coconut) into a food processor.

Blend until you get the following consistency (Should take a minute or less)

Then comes the fun part … roll them into balls with your hands

Then roll them through the dessicated coconut to coat them. Dust off any excess.

Once you’re done, put them in the freezer for about 30 mins (it doesn’t matter if it is longer or shorter. It’s to your desired chillness. We find the more chilled, the yummier they are).

See it’s that easy!! Enjoy the scrumptious chocolatey taste of the bliss balls with no guilt!

~ Craig

For those of you who aren’t aware of the potential toxins in conventional lipsticks, here’s a good article

There are five colours available (from L to R are): Adam, Eve, Celebration, Rosella and Earth and the ingredients are listed below for those who love to read ingredient labels (like me).

Ingredients

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Mica (CI77019), Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnuaba) Wax, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (orange) Peel Oil, Tocopherol, may contain (+/-) Tin Oxide (CL 77861), Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Iron Oxides (CI77491, CI77499), Ultramarines (CI77007), Hippophae Rhamnoides (Arctic Sea Buckthorn), Australian Bush Flower Essences.

I have to say, when I found out that they were lip glosses and not lipsticks, I was like ‘uh-oh, I’m not really a glossy kinda girl’ but I am grateful that they aren’t too glossy! So after trialling the lippies, here are some of my PROS and CONS on them …

PROS

• Looooove that it’s all natural and good for my lips.
• Simplicity of a small range. I like the ability to create different colours by mixing them
• Leaves lips soft and dewy and definitely not too glossy (Yay!)
• Cool packaging

CONS

• Might be just what I’m used to, but I find the applicator a little harder to use than normal twist up lipsticks. I find it harder to stay in the contour of the lip shape and not go over (maybe that’s just the difference between a more solid lipstick vs. a liquid lipstick). Not a biggy, just might take a little practise.
• Doesn’t seem to be as long-wearing as I’d like. I drink a lot of water throughout the day at work and I find that sometimes by late morning the lip colour seems to have faded in its vibrancy a little. This might be being too picky as there still is enough colour but if it could be improved in any way, I’d love for it to be longer wearing or more ‘colour-stay’

As far as colour preferences go – I LOVE Adam and Eve!! (In foreground of image below). I Don’t mind Earth and Rosella but Celebration is definitely NOT for me – way too pink for my liking.

Here’s a closer look at each colour.

ADAM

– this is one of my favourite colours in the range. It gives a soft dewy natural look that is great on its own or over the top of one of the other colours to soften them. It is slightly darker than a nude look so still great for passive days but with a hint of colour.

EVE

– It’s got to be pretty obvious that this is also another one of my favourites. Not just because it’s purple , but because it is an earthy purple and looks terrfic on! Not loud or obtrusive, but deep and rich in highlight.

EARTH

– For me, this colour is waaaay too strong on it’s own. I am personally not a dark red lip girl but I found that having a small amount of this as a base with ‘Adam’ on top makes for a nice darker brown/earthy red that I really like.

ROSELLA

– this one is a really soft peachy colour. Can go well on it’s own for those who like a shade pinkier than nude. I love it with ‘Adam’ or ‘Eve’ as it makes it a dusty pink rather than a florally pink. As you can tell, I’m not really a florally kinda gal.

CELEBRATION

– the funny thing about this one is, when first looking at the colour on the box, Craig said this would be the best one. When I put it on, my first thoughts were “Woooaaaah! So not me. Way toooo pink!” I tried putting ‘Adam’ over the top, but I don’t think I liked it very much even then and ended up removing it. It is definitely a standout pink for those who like their lips to be the centre of attention and very pink.

Evohe are also running a campaign with a great cause, where 50% of their net profit for sales in September and October are going towards supporting a woman with breast cancer. Check it out further if you want to learn more about EVOHE Sisters Breast Cancer Campaign and find out how you can contribute towards this worthy cause.

Another bonus if you want to grab some of these new lip glosses is that Evohe have a current special where you can purchase 3 lip glosses and get a free gift of a blush or bronze powder. I blogged about their mineral makeup some time ago and I have to say I still absolutely love their makeup! It is so versatile and feels great on. My skin loves it!

So there you have it, to visit Evohe’s site, either click on the Evohe banner image to the right of this post or click here.

Over to you. Anybody else tried these lippies? What did you think?

~ Diana

We decided to catch up with Charlie to glean his thoughts on this whole running and active lifestyle deal. Here’s what the doctor had to say …

Q: So how long have you been running and why did you start?

I have been a jogger for many yrs , but started running more seriously in 2009, when I joined the Saturday morning running group. Actually Bob Wells, who was my daughter’s school teacher found out I ran and, through my daughter, invited me to join the group. I think the initial invitation was 12 months previous, but it took me 12 months to work up the courage as I thought a running group meant fast, serious runners. Now I know!

Q: What inspires you to keep running?

The reason I run is to catch up with the group and have coffee after the runs and gossip. On a more serious note, I find running, to me, is a form of meditation, breathing, moving and just the peace and quiet that one feels, especially on those early mornings just at daybreak when the rest of the world is just starting the day.

Q: What do you most dislike about running?

Running day in day out in the rain [something that has been a constant feature here in Lismore the last 3 yrs!] whilst training for an event.

Q: Do you want to share about any big event(s) you’ve recently done?

I really enjoyed the 50 km ultra in Canberra 2013, where I paced the run perfectly and enjoyed every minute of it.

Q: What’s your next big goal?

My dream is to run Comrades in june 2014, but I will try a few intermediate runs in the next 6 months to see how I perform. The next big run I will focus on is the BullRun – 70 km in Melbourne in December and if  things go well, then I will start training seriously for Comrades.

Q: Why do you think it is so hard for some people to get active?

I feel there is time pressures on everyone and it takes determination and commitment to get out there initially. The initial few months are harder, but once the routine is set, it is like brushing your teeth. When you run in a group, it certainly helps, as others will be  waiting for you to turn up before they leave for the run so lying in bed, thinking of excuses for the next time you see them, is  a lot harder than just turning up and doing it.

Q: Why do you think there’s so much noise about diets rather than lifestyle change?

I think a lifestyle change, which means looking at all facets of one’s life, including  diet, exercise, work practices, smoking, drinking habits etc. is too challenging for a  lot of people. Popular press makes out that if the diet is good then everything else will just fall into place, but we all know it is only one facet of a good and healthy life.

Q: In your profession, do you see many patients that could have prevented, or treat, their conditions with better nutrition and/or active more active lifestyle?

I feel that most of the illnesses/complaints I deal with on a daily basis , can be significantly improved with better lifestyle choices. This ranges from the more obvious problems like  cancer, diabetes and hypertension to the less evident ones like osteoarthritis, depression, anxiety and a whole range of musculoskeletal afflictions that is rife in Western society.

Q: Are there any running myths you want to bust?

Only one… and that is you don’t have to be fast, flashy, slim or beautiful to be a runner as one sees all sizes, shapes and builds when we run in races and even in our Saturday morning running group.

 

Thanks Charlie for your insight and sharing of experience. Thank you also for your friendship, treating some of our injuries and continuing to set the bar higher for us! Everyone needs someone to set new goals for them We wish you all the best with your running and know that Comrades will be a reality for you one day

Here’s one from a 10km Time trial almost 2 years ago – not fast or flashy, but a true runner

~Di

Just to help you see the lighter side and be encouraged to get out there, here’s a few more pics of us in action on course – thanks to the photographers at the GC marathon this year (with a little bit of editing work from us).

All smiles at around the 30km mark – He’s so happy he’s levitating

The triage of classic fist pumps – soaking in the finishing chute glory

My look of pained determination

Sometimes they catch you at your most flattering .. hammy and glute cramps just over the finish line – ouch!

The above image goes well with this MUST WATCH video footage from the Marathon-Photos site (at bottom right hand side). Watch, turn up the volume on the player and listen out for the D’munchkin grunts (before and after the finish line). It cracks me up every time.

And finally… the crowd support from Team SCU for Craig as he enters the finishing chute in style! Thanks to Jesse Perkins for filming using my iphone.

So whether you are thinking of running the 2km, 5.7km, 10km, half marathon or full marathon next year, make sure you remember to draw in the atmosphere and smile for the cameras!! Makes for some great memories.

~Di

we both made it   … keep reading for the detailed report

It was an early start – although our race didn’t kick off until 7:20am we wanted to be all ready and at the race precinct to watch the 10,000+ competitors start the half marathon at 6am.  It was an amazing start – watching what seemed like an endless flow of runners trail out on an epic 21.1km journey.  We had many friends taking on this challenge and many of them attempting their first half marathon. To all who started ‘well done’, to all who finished ‘WELL DONE !’

OK, now the half marathon is underway …. we’re next.  I was a little nervous, my preparation this year was last minute and underdone due to niggly injuries, but excitement and anticipation was overtaking nervousness.  My primary objective this year was to get Diana up to the 30km mark and set up for a sub 4hr marathon with nice even pacing. All going well after that, I would stick with her and we could finish ‘fairytale ending’ hand in hand under 4 hrs.  Diana seemed calmer than expected, so things were looking great.  We headed over to the start line and self seeded ourselves ahead of the 4hr pacer.  The Gold Coast turned it on with wonderful weather conditions and streets lined with supporters and entertainers.  We relaxed into a rhythm and were even pacing mostly between a 5:30-5:40 min / km pace.  Di got quite relaxed and enjoyed ‘high-fiving’ all the kids cheering along our southern journey.

We turned around at Burleigh (15.6km mark) still feeling comfortable and began our journey back north. Conditions were still comfortable and everything was going to plan  …. thus far.  I know to some it sounds crazy, but the first 30k of the marathon is actually quite an enjoyable experience.  If you have been running with plenty left in the tank earlier in the race you cross the halfway point (21.1km) feeling comfortable and like you could keep running all day.  We hit the half way mark in 1hr 57min (or 1hr 59min gun time)

This put us on target for our sub 4hr marathon, with the 2min lag time at the start made up, but still not trying to go too fast at this stage.  If we could average a 5:40 min / km pace for the second half we had it in the bag.  Di was definitely still running within herself and heading north towards our start point she was still taking any opportunity to ‘high-five’ excited supporters (especially young kids).  We were both very comfortable as this following image demonstrates …..

…this was taken at about the 27km mark (that big tall building in the background – the Q1 – was where we were going to spoil ourselves as a reward the next 5 days).  It was just after the 29km mark that I started to have some early problem signs.  Some mild cramping was starting to show itself

Despite the early signs of danger for me, Di was still feeling very strong so I suggested she still hold back until 32km and then spend whatever was left in the tank in the last 10km.  Well, I was able to maintain a pace in the low 5:30’s up to the 32km mark and checked in with Di again.  She knew the reserve tank didn’t have much left in it so she was happy to just continue with the same pace we had been setting all day.  Unfortunately my cramps got worse, but I found (for a while at least) that if I didn’t slow down, speed up or do any significant turning they weren’t making me stop …. until …. just after the 35k mark.

I had achieved my primary goal of setting a restrained even pace to this point and Di was looking strong for her sub 4hr goal.  With only 7km to go I had to let go of the ‘fairytale’ ending – Di had to push on to nail her 3hr ??min marathon debut, and I had to reset my goal to managing these crazy cramps and just securing a finish.  I think it was a tough call for Di when she looked back and saw me walking but she made the call I was hoping she would and pushed on.  With all the injury niggles I had been having, we had discussed this being a probable situation. For Di to run sub 4hrs and for me to just finish was the next best thing to the ‘fairytale’ ….. and it was looking probable.

Even though we had a tough head wind from 38km to 41km, Di still managed to run her second half in 1hr 59min.  Coming through the fininshing shoot, she was focused on the goal and the elation of finishing her first marathon under 4hrs was being realised …

The cramping might have slowed me down (a lot), but it didn’t stop me, I still finished – 17min behind the dynamic D’Muchkin (Di), but not too shabby considering the challenges I had through training this time round…

Finally, we are both marathoners … and both get to sport these bad boys…

So, dear readers, should we go again? A marathon in Disney World – Florida, or the Athens Marathon perhaps?  What is your opinion?  “D’Munchkin” Di showed promise and could probably better her maiden marathon time if she goes again? Should I take the hint from my recurring marathon cramping issues and just specialise in half marathons or shorter?  It’s obvious we are both good at hamming it up for the cameras, so should we just ‘marathon up’ to go for the ‘fairytale’ finish? Let us know your thoughts

~ Craig

Crazy x 2 =

One started with finishing a marathon and the other wears a smile after running on a sub 5 degree morning

What’s ironic is that 2 years ago, the thought of running such distances was like anticipating a trip to the moon – never going to happen! Even after having run 2 half marathons last year, I was too scared to face doubling the distance … I mean I was well stuffed after each race, how could I run that distance again right??? I have to say, I don’t think any of us realise how much our bodies are capable of. With the right training, it can do amazing things! As it was designed!!

Now I’m looking forward with excitement and nerves. Part of me wants it over with so I can relax but the other part wants to savour the moment and ‘enjoy’ the experience, not knowing what the last 8-10km would bring. Then the competitor in me says, ‘It would be so great to get my time goal of under 4 hours.. have I done enough training??’. Sooo many thoughts racing through my head, as my heartrate begins to rise in anticipation… but I know I need to keep calm and focussed and remember to breathe . In any case, I think the last 10kms will really be a test of mental strength.

I’ve envisaged it for sometime now, Craig and I running together and crossing the finish line hand-in-hand, victorious in our quest and taking in the euphoria of having run such a distance – me for the first time, and Craig his second, but all the while, by my side and supporting me! Hopefully we’ll be able to walk afterwards

The faces of crazy … We do everything together

As I write this, Craig has got a physio appointment tomorrow to look into a really sore soleus muscle in behind his left calf and I am waiting for the pain in my right ankle to go away. So I guess we are going to be running on faith that God almighty will see us through! If anyone can, He can!

Here’s to the countdown – 13 days to go!!

And because we thought this was funny …

~Di

Even though I have never tried any of the commercial goos or gels, Craig has. The main concerns he had were:

• It wasn’t very friendly on the gut and created queasiness – the last thing you want while running a marathon (many runners and cyclists have shared similar experiences)
• One of the main ingredients being Maltodextrin (a corn syrup, which in most cases is genetically modified)
• The use of artificial flavours and preservatives.

This was enough to put me off. So, in true Purple Tiger fashion, I set out to find a natural alternative that was better for us. After having searched for a while, I was SUPER excited to find Derek Nolek’s “homebrew power goop”  Yes we aren’t that clever to have made up our own, although we came close, given we knew what the main ingredients needed to be. We did alter his recipe by adding an extra ingredient.

The super simple recipe is:

• 7 and 1/3 tablespoons of honey
• 3/4 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses
• 1/10 teaspoon of table salt (finely ground)
• 1/4 – 1/2 lemon or lime juice *

* This was our added extra to loosen the very thick paste as well as take the edge off the sweetness of the formula. Tasted great! If you want to experiement even further, like we are going to do, you could add cinnamon, or cacao powder or any other natural food sources that contain magnesium, potassium or other beneficial minerals and vitamins. But don’t go overboard. I like to keep things simple. The formula above works a treat.

Estimated cost per serving of gel is approximately $0.50. Compared to about $2.50 a hit from the commercial gels – Now that is ssswweeet!!

We took it out for a test run today on our 2hr 20 long run and it went down well with no issues at all. I was really surprised as I half expected some sort of upset tummy, given I have never trained my body to take any sort of carbs or begin digestion during a run. Amazingly all went well with no hitches and after having knocked out 25km, I still felt really fresh and legs felt great. I’m not completely attributing that to the gel alone, but I think it had a part to play.

I know this isn’t me running… but this is how I felt today

Packaging wise, we are still experimenting. While our temporary solution was to store it in ziplock bags, we have ordered 2 Endura gel flasks (on recommendation from a friend) and we’ll see how that goes.

Let us know if you try the gel and how you went with it!! Love to hear your experience.

~ Diana

Yes I said mouthwash!

Conventional store bought mouthwashes can contain alcohol, which actually dries out the mucous membranes in your mouth and can cause bad breath as a result. Some contain flavouring and other ingredients that I find way too strong. Anyhow, I found an ingredient that is pleasant and minty and sooooo easy to make it only takes 1-2 mins.

Just clean out a glass bottle  (300ml). You can get a pack of 4 or 6 of Schweppes Soda or spring water and re-use.

• 250 ml water (Use filtered if possible)
• 1 teaspoon aloe vera juice
• 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• 6 drops peppermint essential oil

Shake it up and voila!

Peppermint essential oil helps fight odour-causing bacteria and the aloe vera juice soothes gums. Has a surprising little kick in it!

Try it for yourself and let me know how you go.

~ Diana

Sorry we’ve been so quiet.  We have been busy winding up our photography business and various other side ventures.  Now we have a little more time we are setting more goals and toying with some new adventures.

Some interesting (or not) facts since we last posted:

• Di has run 521km
• I have run 263km
• Christmas came and went … with 2012 not far behind
• The Australian government is still mayhem
• We feel holiday deprived
• Di caught her biggest Bass
• We have continued investigating healther eating (more to be revealed later)

In general, it’s been busy …. but good

So it feels like a new chapter, season or day for the Purple tiger crew.   ** Do you have any thoughts on what challenges or adventures we should look at next? **

Let us know your ideas in the comments – you might inspire us

 ~ Craig

Anyway, to make up for it, here’s a post on what to do when a runner cannot run .. it is a bit tragic when a runner can’t run (or not very far) due to injury. Those of you out there who have been running for some time or have been doing any regular exercise routine, know that if you are unable to do it to the extent you previously had, it is extremely frustrating!!

Since the middle of July I’ve been experiencing sharp knee pains when running anything beyond 2-4km. So my running routine came to almost a halt. Wait – STOP! Before all you exercise skeptics out there go on a rant about how running is bad for your knees etc. hear me out.

This knee pain has not left me decrepit in anyway but has actually highlighted a muscle weakness I am grateful to know about and even more grateful to know that it can be fixed and I can still run! Since attending some physio sessions with Rachael Paxton from PhysioPlus, I have been gradually building it back up to a point where I am currently running 13km with no pain and am weening off knee strapping. Yayyyy! Not only did she diagnose the problem that I had a weak VMO (Vastus Medialis Oblique – or for us laymen, the inner quad) but has given me some great exercises to strengthen and prevent further issues. I was thrilled to see my distance increase after each visit with her. I now often look down at that muscle and smile because the little bulk has grown into a ‘bigger’ little bulk

So what have I been doing while I’ve been rehabbing? Maybe the pictures below will tell the story better than me …

So those of you with sporting injuries – don’t despair, find an alternate way to stay fit and healthy while you are rehabbing! It beats sitting on the couch and whinging I tell you.

Until next time … see  you out there!

– Di