Amazonia Acai products - all sorts of goodness and yum wrapped into one

By now, you've very likely heard of the amazing properties of the acai berry, and Amazonia is the only certified fair trade source in Australia of acai (or 'purpleberry'). A 100% Australian company owned by three young, dynamic men (Dwayne Martens, Jesse Kaniecki, and Chris Norden), they supply the purest form and highest grade of acai possible through an extensive product range www.purpleberry.com.au.

All products are natural whole foods with no preservatives or artificial additives, gluten free, wild harvested, raw, vegan and fair trade*.

I was sent some Amazonia products to try - the capsules and some bars - and I swear popping some of those capsules (you can take six daily!) in particular helped ward off an imminent cold, pre-holiday.

Next on my list to try is the acai chocolate (helllllooo! How delicious does that look?) and the freeze dried version to throw into a smoothie. The taste is a blend of chocolate and berries – delicious. And you can also add it water, juice, yoghurt, over fruit salad or breakfast cereal.

Amazonia acai also comes in puree form; with 2 x 25 ml shots recommended per day. You can also pour the liquid form on ice cream, in yoghurt or drizzle over fruit salad, or in a healthy smoothie.

My fave (so far) are the Amazonia acai health bars. They are seriously good, and with every bite you get a whole lotta goodness: filling, delicious, and low GI snack each bar contains six grams of freeze dried scai berries, cranberries, sunflower oil, organic rice malt, organic dates, tahini, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, organic coconut, rice protein, blackberry concentrate, and natural citric acid.

(*Amazonia products by law are not intended to diagnose treat, cure or prevent disease).

For more, and to buy this purple goodness, see: http://www.purpleberry.com.au/

And for a clip on the Amazonia story, watch this:

The Stoli Original Fund

If you have an innovative idea that hasn't been seen before or a burning desire to showcase your creative concept, Stolichnaya (Stoli) want to hear from you.

With the launch of the 2011 Stoli Original Fund, genuine originality is set to be rewarded.

Whether it’s launching a unique recyclable fashion label, starting a vertical neighbourhood garden, or building a new musical instrument, as long as it’s original, you’re in with a chance to win cash from the Stoli Original Fund to help realise your dream.

Over the next five months (May-September 2011), The Stoli Original Fund will give three people the chance to put $1000 each towards their original idea.

Frederick Duarte, Brand Manager, Suntory Australia says: “Stoli is the world’s most original vodka and we want to reward the genuine originalityof Australians with the 2011 Stoli Original Fund. We’re excited to uncover some real talent and by offering a platform to showcase original ideas, we hope to help original people unleash their dream idea and turn it into a reality.”

To enter, entrants must upload to the Stoli Vodka Australia Facebook page an image that captures their original idea, along with a 200 word (or less) blurb explaining what the original idea is, why it is original, and how a $1000 Stoli Fund could help make it happen. The Stoli team will shortlist the five best and most original ideas of each three rounds and the Facebook community will decide the winner by voting for their favourite – the entry that most exemplifies originality, creativity and general genius.

To enter and for full details visit http://facebook.com/stolivodkaaustralia

Nespresso Pixie: new coffee obsession

Attending the launch of a new coffee machine...

So Sydney!

This wasn't any ol' coffee machine launch - it was a Nespresso. The relatively recent marketing phenomenon has made a Nespresso coffee maker an essential kitchen accoutrement.

That - and the promise of a sneak peek - ensured an excellent turn out to this mid-week event.

The name of the new lust-have?

The Nespresso PIXIE.

The event was a star-studded line-up of guests from fashion, design and entertainment including Nicola Finetti, Carla Zampatti, Fernando Frisoni, Nikki Philips, Dion Lee, James Tobin, Nate ‘Nacho Pop’ Mendelsohn, and Elke Kramer, who, amongst others came together at the Pavilion on the Park for a fabulous night.

Guests were greeted with French bubbles on arrival to find scantily clad Pixies sleeping in lit zorbs throughout the venue. The Pixies slowly emerged and gathered for a spectacular dance moment involving a Swarovski crystal embellished Pixie machine (I want that one in my kitchen!)

Delicious canapés by Stephan Mueller were served on bright trays made from LEGO pieces and complemented by colourful PIXIE-inspired cocktails designed by Marco Faraone. DJ Little C provided the beats for the evening which had a brilliant vibe throughout.

Each guest received a hand-crafted gift created by designer Kate McCoy - she collaborated exclusively with Nespresso to design a beautiful aluminium cuff and Nespresso capsule key ring for guests. The machine itself? The Nespresso PIXIE is smart, fast and intuitive.

Thanks to breakthrough technological innovations, PIXIE enables its users to minimise time, space and energy consumption while still creating the perfect cup of coffee.

And that's what it's all about, isn't it?

For more info, see: http://www.nespresso.com/#/au/en/

Beyond 100% Coconut Water and KIT Cosmetics collaborate

As far as collabs go, this one's certainly different: a partnership with Australian Beyond 100% coconut water and cosmetics haven KIT.

The sale of every KIT Coconut Body Lotion - which is divine, slathered all over your parched body - comes from a freebie Beyond 100% coconut water worth $3.50 (I have tried a few waters in this new category and this one is hands down the most delish, palatable version around.)

You can buy this duo from KIT and MECCA stores now for $29.95.

For more, see: http://www.beyondcoconutwater.com/ and http://www.kitcosmetics.com/

Competition: Moonlight Cinema tickets, thanks to Fiji Water

Fiji Water is offering 4 complimentary double passes to any Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema around Australia.

The season is in its last week, and here is what you can watch between now and this Saturday:

Tue 15 Mar: BURLESQUE
Wed 16 Mar: BLACK SWAN
Thu 17 Mar: SANCTUM 3D
Fri 18 Mar: TOP GUN
Sat 19 Mar: TRUE GRIT

For more info, see www.moonlight.com.au

It's so simple to enter! Tell us in 25 words or less what your favourite water themed movie and why?

Think Splash, Waterworld, Jaws, Blue Crush, Titanic...

Be quick! Answer today and the double pass will be posted out to you today, to receive tomorrow.

Some interesting facts about Fiji water: it's bottled in Fiji, far from pollution, acid rain or industrial waste. Fiji Water's aquifer is in a virgin ecosystem at the edge of a primitive rainforest. In fact, Fiji Water is an artesian water that comes from a source deep within the earth, protected by layers of clay and rock, in the remote Yaqara Valley of Viti Levu, Fiji island.

Fiji Water begins as rainfall filtering through layers of ancient volcanic rock over hundreds of years gathering silica. Silica is an essential mineral for the human body that may help strengthen bones, connective tissue, teeth, skin, nails, nails and hair. Silica is what gives the soft taste to the Fiji Water.

The brand is committed to reducing the amount of packaging they use to make their products by at least 20%, and to reducing manufacturing waste at the Fiji bottling facility by 33%.

For more information on Fiji Water green initiatives, see: http://www.fijiwater.com.au/

And for more info on Moonlight, see: http://www.moonlight.com.au/

ENTER NOW!