#startandendyourdaywithdairy and be @Legendairy

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I was thrilled to be invited to a recent blogging event organised by Louisa from Brand Meets Blog where I got to meet up with some of my favourite Brisbane bloggers and learn all about starting and ending my day with dairy products from Dairy Australia.

On arrival, we were handed a pair of gorgeous, comfortably soft, faux fur, cow print slippers to wear. So much more comfortable than heels and it set the tone for an easy relaxed night learning about how to incorporate more healthy dairy products into our diet.

Also, as I entered the Hemingway Room of the Alfred & Constance, I noticed the table to my left, heavily laden with a gorgeous array of desserts. It was after all, all about celebrating dairy. There's cheese in cheesecake, right? (All in moderation of course!)

My wonderful blogging friend, Amanda from Cooking for Busy Mums, started off the evening telling us all about how she incorporates more dairy into her family's diet. (Rockin' the cow print slippers Amanda!)

Besides the wonderful staff on hand from Dairy Australia, we were treated to a special visit from "Mr Cheese" himself (previous contest on My Kitchen Rules) from Hunter Belle Cheese.

There was also plenty of cheese to go around.

Did you know, if you’re a woman over the age of 50, four serves from the dairy foods group are recommended every day. A serve from the dairy foods group is a cup (250ml) of milk, three-quarters of a cup (200g) yogurt, two slices (40g) of cheese, half a cup (120g) of ricotta cheese or alternatives. (Source)

I could quite easily incorporate that into my daily intake of dairy. Milk, yogurt, cheese and ricotta are some of my favourite foods.

I love to start my day with muesli and yoghurt and this Apple & Cinnamon yogurt from Maleny Dairies we received in our goodie bag was just gorgeous.

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My kids love dairy products (thank goodness) so this is easy to incorporate into their daily diet. I always try to start and end their day with dairy with breakfast cereal with milk or toast and a smoothie, yogurt or cheese cubes in their lunchbox and a dairy dessert after dinner.

We received heaps of other cool stuff, courtesy of Dairy Australia, including some great recipe books and a range of beauty products from Milk, a company started up by Australian champion swimmer Michael Klim and his wife Lindy.

It was a great night and just the reminder I needed to keep up my dairy intake. Stay tuned for some lovely recipes featuring dairy products and a back to school giveaway coming up in January.

Disclaimer:  I was gifted a bag of dairy related and beauty products by attending this blogging function courtesy of Dairy Australia. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#startandendyourdaywithdairy and be @Legendairy

source

I was thrilled to be invited to a recent blogging event organised by Louisa from Brand Meets Blog where I got to meet up with some of my favourite Brisbane bloggers and learn all about starting and ending my day with dairy products from Dairy Australia.

On arrival, we were handed a pair of gorgeous, comfortably soft, faux fur, cow print slippers to wear. So much more comfortable than heels and it set the tone for an easy relaxed night learning about how to incorporate more healthy dairy products into our diet.

Also, as I entered the Hemingway Room of the Alfred & Constance, I noticed the table to my left, heavily laden with a gorgeous array of desserts. It was after all, all about celebrating dairy. There’s cheese in cheesecake, right? (All in moderation of course!)

My wonderful blogging friend, Amanda from Cooking for Busy Mums, started off the evening telling us all about how she incorporates more dairy into her family’s diet. (Rockin’ the cow print slippers Amanda!)

Besides the wonderful staff on hand from Dairy Australia, we were treated to a special visit from “Mr Cheese” himself (previous contest on My Kitchen Rules) from Hunter Belle Cheese.

There was also plenty of cheese to go around.

Did you know, if you’re a woman over the age of 50, four serves from the dairy foods group are recommended every day. A serve from the dairy foods group is a cup (250ml) of milk, three-quarters of a cup (200g) yogurt, two slices (40g) of cheese, half a cup (120g) of ricotta cheese or alternatives. (Source)

I could quite easily incorporate that into my daily intake of dairy. Milk, yogurt, cheese and ricotta are some of my favourite foods.

I love to start my day with muesli and yoghurt and this Apple & Cinnamon yogurt from Maleny Dairies we received in our goodie bag was just gorgeous.

Source

My kids love dairy products (thank goodness) so this is easy to incorporate into their daily diet. I always try to start and end their day with dairy with breakfast cereal with milk or toast and a smoothie, yogurt or cheese cubes in their lunchbox and a dairy dessert after dinner.

We received heaps of other cool stuff, courtesy of Dairy Australia, including some great recipe books and a range of beauty products from Milk, a company started up by Australian champion swimmer Michael Klim and his wife Lindy.

It was a great night and just the reminder I needed to keep up my dairy intake. Stay tuned for some lovely recipes featuring dairy products and a back to school giveaway coming up in January.

Disclaimer:  I was gifted a bag of dairy related and beauty products by attending this blogging function courtesy of Dairy Australia. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Button Bliss Spa & Cup Cafe

I've learnt that if I receive any emails with the word 'mushroom' and 'invitation' in them to open them quickly and reply asap. This time last year I was spoilt with an indulgent Asian inspired lunch hosted by the Australian Mushroom Growers Association and cooked by Ed ("Fast Ed") Halmagyi, Alistair McLeod and Katrina Ryan. This year I was in store for a special treat when the students of COTAH (College of Tourism and Hospitality) at Southbank would be cooking the lunch at the TAFE's fully functioning restaurant, Ernest on 66 with spa treatments provided by the beauty therapy students of TAFE.

Before lunch we were treated to deluxe hand massages using Waterlily Skin-Body-Spa products and the Moroccan Rose & Guava hand treatment cream was just gorgeous. It really soaked into my dry, wrinkly hands and smelt delicious.

On arrival we were greeted with a cold drink and duck liver and mushroom pate on brioche and orange jam and deep fried sesame mushrooms and Camembert with sauce Cumberland.

Entree (starter) was double strength chicken and mushroom consomme with mushroom and shallot dumpling with chervil.

The main meal was whole roasted veal tenderloin with forest mushroom cream sauce, pommes dauphinoise and a melody of glazed sugar snap peas, baby carrots and baby beetroot.

Dessert, which was absolutely gorgeous and complemented the meal fantastically, was dark chocolate mousse, chocolate 'soil', mushroom meringues, raspberry sorbet and gold leaf.

At the end of the meal, we were treated to a special performance by visiting member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, didgeridoo player William Barton. Great food, great company, first class service from the students and another well organised event by the team at JKPR for the Australian Mushroom Growers Association. I can't wait for next year and I'll be watching my Inbox like a hawk.



Disclaimer:  I was invited to attend this lunch for the Australian Mushroom Growers Association free of charge. All thoughts, photos and opinions are my own.

Button Bliss Spa & Cup Cafe

I’ve learnt that if I receive any emails with the word ‘mushroom’ and ‘invitation’ in them to open them quickly and reply asap. This time last year I was spoilt with an indulgent Asian inspired lunch hosted by the Australian Mushroom Growers Association and cooked by Ed (“Fast Ed”) Halmagyi, Alistair McLeod and Katrina Ryan. This year I was in store for a special treat when the students of COTAH (College of Tourism and Hospitality) at Southbank would be cooking the lunch at the TAFE’s fully functioning restaurant, Ernest on 66 with spa treatments provided by the beauty therapy students of TAFE.

Before lunch we were treated to deluxe hand massages using Waterlily Skin-Body-Spa products and the Moroccan Rose & Guava hand treatment cream was just gorgeous. It really soaked into my dry, wrinkly hands and smelt delicious.

On arrival we were greeted with a cold drink and duck liver and mushroom pate on brioche and orange jam and deep fried sesame mushrooms and Camembert with sauce Cumberland.

Entree (starter) was double strength chicken and mushroom consomme with mushroom and shallot dumpling with chervil.

The main meal was whole roasted veal tenderloin with forest mushroom cream sauce, pommes dauphinoise and a melody of glazed sugar snap peas, baby carrots and baby beetroot.

Dessert, which was absolutely gorgeous and complemented the meal fantastically, was dark chocolate mousse, chocolate ‘soil’, mushroom meringues, raspberry sorbet and gold leaf.

At the end of the meal, we were treated to a special performance by visiting member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, didgeridoo player William Barton. Great food, great company, first class service from the students and another well organised event by the team at JKPR for the Australian Mushroom Growers Association. I can’t wait for next year and I’ll be watching my Inbox like a hawk.

Disclaimer:  I was invited to attend this lunch for the Australian Mushroom Growers Association free of charge. All thoughts, photos and opinions are my own.

The #Giftorium @Myer

MYER GIFTORIUM GRAND OPENING
SATURDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2014

Christmas has to be my MOST favourite time of the year. I still get a kick out of seeing Santa, watching my kid's faces light up when they open their presents, receiving and giving presents, preparing food for the day and Christmas present shopping. Well, sort of. Every year, I try to get in early but by the time Christmas comes around, my kids have changed their minds about what they want or I find I have a dozen or so presents to buy at the last minute.

This year, all 67 Myer stores across Australia have introduced a Giftorium. A one-stop destination for all festive gift giving needs.  On weekends and selective dates from 8 November, every Myer store will have a whole host of fun activities for the entire family including  children’s face painting, balloon artists, musical performances, Christmas tree and table dressing demonstrations, appearances from children’s characters, cosmetic workshops and children’s Christmas book readings.

 Myer has developed an extensive Personal Shopping Service centred on expertly trained Gifticians and Producticians. Gifticians are on hand to help you choose the perfect gift for any age group, interest or budget. Producticians will be on hand to provide product demonstrations and reveal the latest must-have Christmas gift ideas, sourced from around the world. 

In select stores around the country, there will be demonstrations by major brands including Marvin’s Magic, SodaStream, Mr Men and Little Miss, Plumm wine glasses, Dilmah Teas and Vista Print.

I was absolutely 'tickled pink' to receive my own personalised gift in my goodie bag from Myer and Mr Men and Little Miss. They have a whole range of personalised items available.

To get a head start, you can select from any of the Myer 12 Themes of Christmas gift categories, which include some of the following.

Food Fanatic (for any of my friends reading this, you can start Christmas shopping here for me)

 

Kid's Cubby (for young boys and girls)

Trendy Young Things (I could've spent my entire Christmas budget on my daughter in this section)

Miracle Mum (okay kids, you can start here for me)

Dapper Dad

There's also your usual high standard of Christmas decorations and adornments you'd expect from Myer.

There is also a beautiful range of (my) favourite cookbooks and homewares available.

On the morning, we were also treated to a sumptuous array of refreshments including this gorgeous sweets table created by Sensationally Sweet Events.

Myer has you covered with everything from gift selection to wrapping to same day 'elf' delivery service. You can start shopping in the comfort of your own home here from the Myer Giftorium website. I can't wait to get back into the store, with the kids, to experience all the sights and sounds of Christmas again. Make sure you book your visit with Santa online here to save you waiting in line on the day.

Disclaimer:  I was gifted a generous 'goodie' bag from Myer containing a Sodastream PLAY softdrink maker and a $50 voucher to spend on the day. All photos, thoughts and opinions are my own.