In a whirlwind of general Sweaty Betty excitment this afternoon; Roxy and I left SB HQ to get our ‘behind the scenes’ fix and be treated to a sneak peak on location at the Diva campaign shoot.

Surrounded by a buzz of creativity at the concealed studios tucked away at the back of Chippendale, we got a glimpse of the boho chic collection to come – think oversize earrings, turqoise feature rings and the head piece to end all head pieces (it’s THAT good!!).

With a creative team second to none; and a model that made us green with envy (stunning!) we’re waiting with baited breath to see the finished product; and even more excited to get out hands on the gorgeous new collection; dropping into stores around August.

www.diva.net.au

The best part? We discovered that even models eat lollies!

Mon xx

It was early to bed and early to rise this morning for the Sweaty Betty team, as we hit the city streets for a spot of alfresco yoga on the revolutionary Shakti Mat.

Over 10 yoga enthusiasts, led by Bondi guru Simon Borg-Olivier, limbered up in the chilly temperatures and performed their flexible routines to an audience of suits and city workers in Martin Place, which was filmed by Channel 7’s Sunrise Show. Click here to watch the yoga masters in action!

Presenters Kochie and Mel are the latest to try out the modern ‘bed of nails’ – the Shakti Mat is the ultimate yoga partner, featuring 600 acupressure points to ease tension, stimulate blood circulation, and produce a huge rush of endorphins (the feel-good hormones) to elevate you into a blissful state of relaxation. Designed to be used alone, as a meditation tool, or as an accessory for simple yoga steps, the Shakti Mat is already causing a stir in the holistic community and has a dedicated following throughout Australia.

Even standing on the sidelines, we felt the calming auras wash over us, and headed back to the office feeling serene, calm, and ready to tackle the week ahead!

Shake up your yoga routines with the Shakti Mat – click here for more information.

It is fair to say you have an addiction to something when you start rationalizing why you purchased it.
On shoes: “They were on sale”…….“cost per wear they are actually quite cheap”….let’s face it we have all been there. Sadly I am now using the same thought process to rationalize my long term addiction to chocolate…..

“The Tim Tam was broken therefore the fat has fallen out”… “Cadbury washed down with water flushes the calories out”…. “1 x apple + 1 x ice cream = 0 guilt”
So it is only fitting that someone has recognized that these too addictions fit together like summer and spray tanning! I present you… The Elat M&M’s.

For those not clued up in all things Sneaker Freaker the Elat is the iconic Le Coq Sportif trainer that started a cult following in the 80’s, it was the ultimate for those with a need for a little dance floor speed! Le Coq Sportif’s off-the-wall humour sets the pace on the fashion-forward trainer front for the discerning shopper wanting to make a statement not join the masses.

This irreverent take on sporting style is perfectly partnered with Red M&M’s and Yellow M&M’s, the quirky M&M’s characters that have helped spread the M&M’s word with hysterical TV campaigns.

So what happens when you mix two cheeky chocolates with a saucy sneaker? A wild explosion of colour!
From the dark chocolate dripped suede detail to the succulent sunset of red, yellow and orange and the M&M’s colour squish on the sole – you have to have a pair!

But you better get on your running shoes (the old daggy ones that seriously need an upgrade) as there are only 500 pairs available in the ENTIRE world! That’s right, like a limited edition Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton bag or the Balmain structured shoulder jacket you better get moving!

The difference between those designers and the Elat M&M’s sneaker is that at only $159.95 you will not need to sell your soul to get a pair! Now…..with all this talk of chocolate I am heading to the corner store, mid-morning choccie fix….here I come!

The ECLAT M&M’s will be sold in Laced, Footage and flagship Footlocker stores – George St in Sydney and Chapel Street in Melbourne. www.lecoqsportif.com.au

Who says that you can’t look fabulous in thongs? The new Popits are an essential for your next European summer holiday. Channel resort chic with thongs that can be customised to match your bathers, boho maxi dress or your latest Birkin.

This fashion forward collection is the latest phenomenon from the US and boasts a variety of jewel designs that are sure to turn heads as you strut the islands of Greece or stroll the beaches of St Tropez.  Tie it back with a glamourous Camilla kaftan (hire yours now from www.dressedup.com.au ) and your favourite Jimmy Choo bag  and  you’ll be the ultimate fashionista!! Here at the office we are all going popit mad!! To buy yours visit – www.popits.com.au

As quintessentially English as Big Ben, Glastonbury and afternoon tea, the Wimbledon tennis tournament grips me from day one every year.

The true gentlemen of the tennis grand slam tournaments, Wimbledon thrives on tradition – from the ‘all white’ dress code and genteel noise restrictions, to the inevitable rain and hilarious ‘wheeling out’ of the umpire after summer showers, for two weeks of the year the population of the UK goes sports crazy and London turns into an homage of all things tennis. I tune in not only for the fantastic sporting action, but mainly for the fabulous fashion displayed on centre court!

Today’s Wimbledon style star is the suave Swiss Roger Federer – striding out on to court for his first match of the tournament in a dazzling military style gold-trim jacket, waistcoat and trousers embossed with his initials and designed by his sponsor Nike, complete with white and gold man bag, Rog’s attention to detail was masterful – even his trainers came with matchy matchy gold swishes.

Me thinks Roger’s taken style tips from his good friends Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani – and thankfully he ditched his grandad cardigan from last year’s competition.

More tennis trend spotting to come!

Amy xxx

Picture this – a beautiful ice rink surrounded by 30 tonnes of real snow, ice hockey matches and professional ice dance performances…if only us Sydney siders could have our sunny beaches as well as a winter wonderland!

Well guess what…us Betties prayers have been answered!

The Sydney Winter Festival arrived in Sydney’s CBD and we don’t know anyone who wasn’t raving about the districts first EVER outdoor ice skating rink.

The ice skating rink recreated the splendor of alpine winter celebrations. The magical winter wonderland enticed us out of our winter hibernation and onto the ice.  As you all know nothing gets the Betties going like an environment set up for mingling with family and friends.

For those of you out there who missed out on the winter festivities don’t worry… as ice skating is the Betties new favorite winter sport we went on the hunt for another ice skating rink and found one very close to home! – The Entertainment Quarter.

The Entertainment Quarter is home to an ice skating rink all winter through till October. So watch out for the Betties as we will be strapping our skates on as much as possible this winter for some ice skating fun!

Montarna xx

I often daydream about my meteoric rise to fame and fortune (yes, I read too many celebrity magazines!) and my favourite fantasy goes something like this: unleashing my creative talents, I pen a book in record time, involving a young wizard/vampire/boarding school class/babysitters club, said book grips readers throughout the world, becomes a best-selling saga, film rights are sold and screenplay drafted and before you know it, Universal have turned it into a worldwide blockbuster, I get a cameo, and retire to my Malibu mansion to enjoy my millions.

Slightly far fetched I know, but the JK Rowlings, Enid Blytons, Terry Pratchetts and Stephanie Meyers of the world had to start somewhere! And the next big writing talent could be here on our Australian shores, preparing to attend the Byron Bay Writers Festival this August.

Held over three days at Belongil Fields (scene of many a music festival), the celebration of the written word features a huge programme of discussions and workshops on subjects including ‘Facts Wilder than Fiction’, ‘Making the Transition to Film’, and ‘What it Takes to Market a Book’. Featuring amateur and professional writers of fiction, non-fiction, film, theatre, and song, plus a few famous faces and surprise guests, this year’s writers festival is shaping up to be an exciting platform for any writer on the cusp of their big break.

Budding poets also have the chance to read their prose alongside some of Australia’s most respected poets, including Robert Adamson, Robert Gray, David Stavanger and Mark Tredinnick, at the Byron Bay Writers Festival 2009 Poetry Prize – closing date for entries is 1 July.

Pen’s at the ready for Byron Bay Writers Festival – www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au

Amy xx

Serves 6

Ingredients

150g (1 cup) organic self-raising flour

2 tablespoons baking cocoa

115g (1/2 cup) CSR Organic Sugar

80g butter, melted, cooled

125ml (1/2 cup) milk

1 large free range egg, lightly beaten

50g organic dark chocolate, roughly chopped

Sauce:

3/4 cup CSR Organic Sugar

2 tablespoons baking cocoa, sifted

1¼ cups boiling water

Cream, for serving

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C conventional or 160º fan forced. Grease a 5 cup capacity ovenproof dish.

2. Sift flour and cocoa into a large bowl. Stir in CSR Organic Sugar. 3. Whisk butter, milk and egg in a jug. Add to flour mixture with dark chocolate and mix until combined. Spoon into dish.

To make sauce combine CSR Organic Sugar and extra cocoa and sift over pudding. Pour boiling water over the back of a large metal spoon to cover pudding. (This avoids large indentations in the pudding).

Place dish onto a baking tray. Bake for 50 minutes – 1 hour or until pudding bounces back when pressed gently in centre. Rest for 15 minutes & enjoy with cream.

Note: If organic ingredients are not available, the recipe can still be made with non organic ingredients.