You probably try to teach your dog many things, and there are probably many skills you wish your dog could master. Recognizing his name, walking on leash and being home alone are some of the first skills that every pet owner teaches his puppy. And these are very important skills because they help dogs understand our human world, but they’re equally important to the relationship between you and your dog.

Besides teaching your dog how to interact with the world around him, it’s also important that you provide things that will keep him happy and healthy. Every dog needs a few essentials to enjoy his life, just like humans do. [Read more…]

Dog food is so cheap nowadays, isn’t it? Even in Australia, which is known as one of the most expensive countries to live, there is plenty of variety, and you can find even tasty, nutritious food that doesn’t cost too much.

In Australia, more than half of all people own a pet, dog or cat. And if you’re among the Australians with a picky furry companion, then you’re in quite a bit of trouble. But you already know this. Because how many times haven’t you watched your dog only sniff and lick the food that you so meticulously selected? And how many times haven’t you tried one dog food after another only to experience the same results? [Read more…]

If there was a time when the idea of cheap, basic cleaning supplies appealed to so many Australian homeowners, it’s less and less the case now because so many people are developing an awareness in regards to the many negative effects associated with chemicals.

Chemicals affect both humans and the environment, which is why many Australians are now more inclined to purchase natural cleaning products instead of the conventional types.

Think about it: if we avoid applying chemicals to our skin, why then should we be using chemical agents for cleaning our homes?  We come in contact with every surface we’ve cleaned using nasty products, so our body is going to absorb those toxins. [Read more…]

Irish people living in Australia look forward to the St. Paddy’s celebration much like the Irish-Americans. This is a day when Irish heritage is celebrated all over the world, and Australia is not an exception considering that 30 percent of the population – give or take – is of Irish ancestry.

The Irish in Australia

Ever since the recession in Ireland, more and more of the Irish population has flocked the country to move to Australia in search of something better, a better job, a better life. [Read more…]

Noodles are quite the popular food in Australia, instant and authentic alike. And if you think only students and bachelor’s gorge on these little death traps, think again. Noodles are a favorite among many regardless the age or gender.

What’s so good about noodles anyway?

If you’ve never tried instant noodles, best to keep away from them because they’ll turn you into an addict faster than chocolate. Noodles are good, there’s no argument here. Chewy and fluffy, flavorful and tasty, they come at a price though, and it’s not money concerned. They are very unhealthy due to being made of low-quality flour and containing an extremely high amount of salt. [Read more…]

What makes olive oil stand out? What is it about olive oil that makes one superior to another? Some people argue it’s the fertile soil and the growing conditions that make fine olive oils. Others say it’s the pressing.

The truth is that more than one thing alone makes top quality olive oil. And it is more than one thing alone that marks the difference between good and great too.

When it comes to exceptional olive oil, it’s about everything: the soil, the environmental factors, the harvesting, the pressing, and the bottling. The bottling isn’t something that many people think about, but this is actually a very important factor since the bottle protects and preserves the integrity of the product. [Read more…]

The grocery market in Australia is supersaturated with retailers, big or small players that supply shoppers all around the country with a variety of products and foods, from in-store made to Australian made or sourced.

We’re talking about supermarkets that sell anything from hardware to milk but also about independent grocers that make up the neighborhood-style stores in the country. These supermarkets may not have a selection as big as the likes of Woolworths or Coles, but you will always be able to find good foods here too. [Read more…]

France’s Brie cheese. Normandy’s Camembert. Italy’s traditional mozzarella. Let’s see. What other cheese legends? Oh yes, Australia’s blue-veined cheese, of course.

For more than 70 years, Australian cheese makers have been producing this blue veined cheese that comes in over 22 styles.

Though part of the same family, and thus essentially the same, Australian blue cheese are quite unique one intense characteristic to another. If to pick two words that best describe all these blue varieties, those would be “sharp,” as in sharp flavor and “strong,” as in strong aroma. Many people just call them stinky, and they’re not far from the truth. Australian veined cheese come carrying an array of odors and smelly features. All deliciously tasting, nevertheless, that is if you’re into stinky cheese. [Read more…]

In March, the Australian government passed a legal definition to what “free-range” eggs constitute. As of March, free-range eggs are eggs from chickens with regular access to the outdoors, and chickens provided with square meter space.

In addition, new regulations concerning housing facilities for hens, and specifications include the size of barns and the design, was adopted as a result of more and more people concerned with animal welfare and voicing their opinions over the abusive treatment of chickens in egg farming. [Read more…]

Before Madura introduced green tea into Australia about thirty years ago, Aussies were already enjoying a fair share of herbal tea along with black varieties. Back in the time of the colonies, Australians were drinking tea in a frenzy, so much so that they were consuming the drink more than any other population in the world. And it wasn’t until the mid-1900s that the British dethroned Australians, but even so the latter followed closely from behind and remained the second most avid tea drinkers until later into the 1940s. [Read more…]

Ever wanted to shop at supermarkets without being in doubt as to whether or not this or that store carries gluten-free products? When on a strict gluten-free diet, you can’t afford so much a “may contain gluten” ingredient in your food, let along buying a product that is not explicitly labeled “gluten free”. In Australia, about 1 in 70 people is affected by the celiac disease, which is the disease that manifests as an abnormal reaction of the immune system to gluten. [Read more…]