Leaderboard ad

Passionfruit ads

Sunday 31 March 2013

Harris Farm: 'The Crop' - media famil

Visiting one of the Harris Farm Markets local farms as part of the launch of 'The Crop' initiative  - this one, at Kemps Creek in Sydney's West, along the stretch of semi-rural Mamre Road - was quite the treat.

Not only was it a great opportunity to get back to nature and see the root (get it!) of where it all begins, it was such fun to don old boots and get hands nice and dirty.

At the media famil we were met by Tristan Harris, one of three Harris brothers who work in the family business, and the son of the Harris Farm patriarch David who started this whole operation years ago - in 1971, in fact.

Here is the Harris Farm story:



In 1971 David and Cathy Harris opened up their first shop in suburban Villawood, NSW. The store was called Villawood Markets, and to this day David and Cathy Harris still remain hands on in the business. Harris Farm Markets employs over 1000 people and each year over 11 million customers are served across all their stores.

'The Crop' is the world’s first ever fan-grown harvest. It aims to help people understand the whole experience, from farm to store, so they can choose the freshest and best produce available to them.

Here's how it works: people who join the Facebook page can help cultivate a real crop of vegetables - broccoli, bok choy, or leek - and be involved in making choices from what crop is grown, to actual farming decisions like when to water or use fertiliser. They are then able to pick up their crop when its ready at their local Harris Farm store.

Here's a video to explain it further:



Tristan says that leafy green produce could be in store within 12 hours of being picked! He explained that Harris Farm has come to understand we're beginning to lose touch with how our food is grown and harvested.

After the tour around the farm - where we drudged through moist soil and picked our own crops and donned employees' hats to shield us from the sun - we were treated to a lunch cooked by one of the farmers using the fresh produce straight off the farm. It was the best, fastest, freshest Asian 'takeaway' I'd ever had!

Here are some snaps from the day:


All the glorious bok choy
Tristan Harris harvesting bok choy

Tristan proudly showing off the new bok choy crop

Our farmer picking some bok choy - which we later feast on
Grant Jones (News Limited) and I at our farm famil, and our farmer
See! I DID get my hands dirty! (Do you like my hat?)
Like what you see? You can 'like' it on Facebook here.

Friday 29 March 2013

If celebrities weren't famous... this is what they'd look like

If they weren't famous, celebrities would be a pretty ordinary-looking bunch of people.

Stripped of their personal trainers, top hairstylists, makeup magicians, live-in chefs, and the rest, they'd look kinda... normal-ish.

Behold these photo - from Planet Hiltron. My gosh they are entertaining... scroll down, and have a chuckle. Can you recognise all of them?

Johnny Depp
Not Brangelina here. Just Brad and Angie.
Not Jay-Z and Beyonce. Just The Carters.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Jenny from The Block
The Kardashian sisters and "mom"
Kristen and Robert - not KStew and RPatz
Lady Gaga
Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor
Zooey Deschanel
Nicky and Paris Hilton
Jennifer Aniston
Angelina Jolie
Britney Spears
Cameron Diaz
Bennifer? No, just Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
JLo and Marc? Nope, just Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Jessica Simpson and puppy
John Travolta
Kimye? No, just Kanye and Kimberley
Lohan mother and daughter
Nicole Kidman
Pammie Anderson
Posh and Becks? Nope. Plain ol' Dave and Vicky
The Simpson clan
Tommy Cruise high pants
Oh dear. Just too good. Share if you agree.

Kate Upton: men's grooming with Gillette

So. Men need to do some serious manscaping down there now.

We know, the metrosexual has been 'in' for eons, and the back, sack, and crack wax extravaganza has been dabbled in by the boys for a while, but now... well, Kate Upton demands your private parts be nice and neat, boys. And use some Gillette tools while you're at it.

Here is her take on it [she's obv mastered the giggle and jiggle]:



And here are her manscaping co-horts - Hannah Simone ['New Girl'] and Genesis Rodriguez - explaining further:





Time magazine: 'Gay Marriage Already Won'.

This magazine cover just in: the US Time magazine cover, celebrating the victory gay marriage has already won. Global awareness and support is at all all-time high.

The couples featured are Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson and Kristen Ellis-Henderson, who married in New York and are raising two children. The male couple are Russell Hart and Eric LaBonte, who are waiting for same-sex marriage to be legal to get hitched.


Read more here.


Social media is further strengthening support for the gay community, with many changing their Facebook and Twitter profile pics to this symbol:





It shows a solidarity among all sexualities. Or could it further fuel 'slacktivism'. Read this.

Where do you sit on this all? Comment below.

Kristen and Dax: baby girl. Plus, Ellen video

In baby news just in, actress Kristen Bell has given birth to a baby girl.

She and her fiance Dax Shepard have named her: Lincoln Bell Shepard.

He tweeted this just after the birth:

Lincoln Bell Shepard is here. She has mom’s beauty and dad’s obsession with breasts. Hooray!!!” the comedian tweeted on March 28.

And she uploaded this photo a month before the birth, with the couple's dog:



This duo is fast becoming one of my fave Hollywood couples, for many reasons.

First there was this beautiful gesture from Kristen to Dax's dying father.

And then, there was this declaration they made on why they won't marry... yet.

Then, Kristen's chat with Ellen on how she would like to approach childbirth [no Zen stuff here]. Watch:



Little Lincoln is the first child for the couple, who got engaged in 2009.

Wednesday 27 March 2013

Who magazine: 'Most Beautiful People' 2013

The annual Who magazine 'Most Beautiful People' edition is out - and it's a beauty.

Delta Goodrem and Nicole Richie feature on the cover for 2013, and the slew of beauties inside are, well... beautiful.

Here's the cover:


I am pleased to say my main man Bradley Cooper made the cut.

Here's a sneak peek of his pic. Drool.


The behind the scenes clips are always the best on these editions, capturing the true beauty of these insanely talented people at their exclusive shoots for the mag.

Like this one on all the mums and bubs in the issue: Sally Obermeder and Annabelle, Jules Sebastian and Hudson, and Ada Nicodemou and Johnas. Redefining 'adorable'.

And this one, of Delta and Nicole.

And this one, of Manu Feildel and Pete Evans from 'My Kitchen Rules'.

This special edition of Who is on-sale now.

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Chrissie Swan has baby girl: PHOTO

Aw, baby news just in!

Chrissie Swan - radio and TV personality - has had a baby girl.

And she has been named Peggy!

Here is the first photo of Chrissie with baby Peggy, courtesy radio station Mix 101.1 [broadcast in Sydney on radio station Mix 106.5], from Chrissie's daily radio program with Jane Hall, '3pm Pick-Up', which I listen to when I do the school run for my kindy twinnies.

How cute is Peggy?!


This is her third child, with partner "The Chippie." Chrissie is already mother to two sons, Leo and Kit.

Here is Chrissie expecting Kit. [Photo: Woman's Day].

And here she is with her partner, who she affectionately refers to as "The Chippie":


Huge congrats, Chrissie!

Monday 25 March 2013

Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, and his father's dying wish

I read this yesterday, and I cried.

It's a circle of life story, with a difference.

If you've ever nursed someone in hospital who either has a terminal disease, or in a very serious condition then somehow turns it around to make a full recovery, or already lost a parent, you will really, truly understand the fragility of life.

This story is about actress Kristen Bell, her fiance actor Dax Shepard, and his dying father.

You can read Dax's whole blog post here.

Kristen flew in to surprise Dax and his dying father. And this is what Dax wrote about the experience:

It was an amazing, incredible, perfectly timed surprise. She lifted her shirt up and he put his hand on her swollen stomach. He left it there for the better part of an hour. He was smiling from ear to ear, sitting contently, unable to put together a sentence, but still capable of connecting to the new family member we were creating. He wasn’t going to make it to the birth, but that didn’t get in the way of him meeting the new baby. It was an emotional and triumphant moment. One I will never forget. If I live to be a thousand, I will still be in debt to my wife for giving him that one last thrill.
Here is the accompanying photo Dax posted of the beautiful moment:



Dax calls Kristen his wife in the post, although the couple are still engaged - they have said they won't get married until their gay friends have the same right.
Any parent who has lost their own mother or father before their kids were born or old enough to know grandparents knows what kind of a gaping, deep hole it leaves inside you.
Dax's father has since passed away... but what a gift to give him.
Have you had an experience like this, where a dying family member just met a newborn, or died before a relative's child was born? Share your story below.

Friday 22 March 2013

Ellen DeGeneres: Sophia Grace and Rosie, with Sonia and David on 'Mornings'

This must be one of the funniest clips I have seen of Ellen regulars Sophia Grace and Rosie.

Except, it's not Sophia Grace and Rosie. It's 'Mornings' hosts Sonia Kruger and David Campbell.

Watch and laugh:



Photo: Josie's Juice



Welcome to Australia, Ellen DeGeneres. Best Australian Moments

Here are some of Ellen's best clips, starting with prepping for her trip to Australia:







Welcome to Australia, Ellen!


Here is Ellen touching down in Australia with Australian wife Portia De Rossi.

Photo: Channel Nine.

Thursday 21 March 2013

'Noodlies': Thang Ngo's Food Blog + Pork Roll Picks. Plus, Fairfield Food Tour

Now this here is a food blog you simply must follow. That's if you like your food with an eclectic twist, if you like reading about hidden gems, and little known local haunts... yes, this is your blog.

Called 'Noodlies', it's Australia's top video food blog written by Thang Ngo, with over half a million views on the Noodlies YouTube channel.



Noodlies food blog is all about wonderful, exciting culturally diverse food with a special focus on Sydney's west (and hurrah for that... it's not all about city eats, y'know).

Currently, Thang works at UM, one of Australia's largest and most awarded media agencies, and prior to that, Thang was at TV channel SBS, where he came up with 'SBS PopAsia TV' which featured the best in Asian pop (he's evidently also a trailblazer - the show began a year before Psy's smash hit 'Gangnam Style').

Because of his busy day job, Thang and his partner Walter rarely cook or eat at home and they don't have to - they live in Cabramatta! If you know and love 'Cabra', you'll be well aware it's the heart of delicious, fresh and inexpensive food.

Thang started Noodlies three years ago to showcase the wonderful food and people of Sydney's west.

And this fantastic segment just featured on Channel 9's 'Today' show, showcasing the ridiculously delicious (and absurdly cheap Vietnamese pork roll (traditionally called 'Banh Mi Thit'):



He also conducts popular food tours of Cabramatta and Fairfield, again promoting his local community. For nine years, Thang served on Fairfield Council (1999-2008) and was credited with helping to make Cabramatta a safer and more vibrant community.

Thang is also a prolific food writer and social commentator - his work has been published in 'Feast Magazine', Sydney Morning HeraldDaily Telegraph and The Drum. Thang is currently #2 on the list of top 100 Australian food people on Twitter - follow him here: @thangngo

And: Thang is opening up another of his beloved food tours! This time, in the fantastically diverse (and vastly underrated) district of Fairfield. You can submit a comment to join in the day right here.

Oh, and he was the very first to review 'Green Peppercorn', the JUST announced 2013 Sydney Morning Herald 'Good Food Under $30 Best New Restaurant' award. Read more about that here.

Same Power, Different Attitude: New Zealand Advertising Campaign

This. Is. Sensational.

A friend alerted me to this brilliant New Zealand advertising campaign called 'Same Power, Different Attitude'. Check out the images:






Here's what it's all about, from the campaign site:

"What “Same Power, Different Attitude” means to us.

Powershop has always supported the idea of individual choice and control. Our founding principle was to liberate New Zealanders from their enforced passivity as electricity consumers. Our brilliant customers have demonstrated that everyone’s happier when they can do things their way, so it’s not too much of a stretch to extend that philosophy to life in general.

The latest version of Powershop’s long-running campaign is intended to be both thought provoking and satirical. Kiwis have widely debated the issue of marriage equality over the last year, so we’ve used the issue to point out that large institutions can sometimes lose touch with their modern constituents. The power industry is dominated by crusty utilities, many of whom remain resistant to the changes happening in our world.
We live in a world that has embraced freedom and equality. If something’s working for you and it’s not hurting anyone else, then we support your right to do it. We also believe it’s the responsibility of anybody in a position of power to consider whether their exercise of that power is bringing a greater or lesser happiness to the world. And we know that applies to us as much as anyone.
Power to the people
The Powershop Crew."

For more, and to go online to discuss the campaign, click here.

How good is this campaign?