Month: March 2018

Perfect Night In Paddo’

March 29, 2018

Sometimes there is nothing less lonely than being on your own. In a world caught up on social media and sharing every moment of the day online, it’s easy to forget that a little time spent in your own company is just what you need. As a Dancer/Actress I would spend most of my working days at castings and auditions, being sent different places and meeting new people, so I’m used to being on my own and enjoy that freedom. However since being here in Sydney living with my Auntie and Uncle, I’ve had less time to myself as I’m either out with friends or spending the evening catching up with my family, usually over a glass of wine or two!

So last weekend when my Auntie and Uncle were away, instead of going out to explore yet another one of Sydney’s beach bars and nightlife, I decided to take the time to myself and have the evening in. I began by putting on some music and having a browse of YouTube to find some more good tunes from channels such as The Sound You Need and La Belle Musique (these are great for chilled house mixes). I was really craving a good drink, so I decided to make an Espresso Martini with what tools and ingredients I had to hand. I ended up creating a twist on the traditional Martini using gin instead of vodka and shaking the mixture in a large drinks bottle! The ingredients were: 1 shot of espresso, 1 shot of coffee liquor, 1 shot of gin, shaken over a whole load of ice and strained into a tall glass. The result was pretty good and I even achieved a good creme on top!

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Later on one of my favourite movies Save the Last Dance was on TV, so I prepped my dinner to enjoy whilst watching that. I made a healthy bowl of goodness filled with veggies and protein; I put together kale, pepper, mushrooms, fresh salad, giant couscous with mint and peas, chicken, kimchi and finished it off with a sprinkling of walnuts, Worcestershire sauce and fiery Sriracha. I would make these healthy bowls all the time back at home when I cooked for myself, and they’re great for using up whatever’s going in the fridge. I guzzled on a glass of red whilst watching the movie and finished the night with a cheeky episode of Sex and the City; the perfect end to my evening in Paddington.

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Bondi Beach Blues

March 17, 2018

Everyone said that Bondi is overrated and so touristy that I wouldn’t like it, but I couldn’t disagree more. The view on the approach from the top of the hill on South Bondi is just breathtaking and never fails to make me smile. I admit it is very busy, however I think this is part of what makes Bondi and in fact Sydney as a whole so great too – the diversity of people from all walks of life who find themselves in this paradise.

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On the weekends during summer there’s always events happening on the front and nothing beats a Sunday afternoon drink at one of the many bustling bars after a day on the beach. My favourite hangout is the popular Bucketlist, located right in the centre of Bondi Beach with casual dining and fantastic cocktail pitchers. Later into the evening there are a number of other cool hangouts to party into the early hours including Hotel Bondi and the highly rated Ravesis. Not forgetting the famous Icebergs Bar on the cliff at South Bondi overlooking the expanse of the beach and blue ocean, perfect for sunset drinks whilst watching the surfers catch the last waves of the day.

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How could I not mention the abundance of health food cafes and restaurants in Bondi too, selling beautiful foods that are as much of an art to look at as they are delicious to eat. Of course my favourite smoothie bowls and particularly acai bowls are sold everywhere and it’s hard to go wrong in choosing where to go. My favourite for an acai on the run is Acai Brothers Bondi. This gem is hidden in the neighbourhood of North Bondi and attracts locals with its friendly staff and super yummy, thick acai bowls which can be personalised to your taste with all sorts of toppings. My favourite is the original acai topped with banana, strawberries, kiwis and burkini grain. For a more substantial bowl to graze over when you have more time, Bare Bowls located in Bronte and Manly is the other place I choose to get my acai fix.

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The Bondi beach walk is another absolute must! Simply follow the coast path and beach hop around to Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Gordans Bay and finally Coogee. It’s the best way to enjoy the stunning coastline with hidden rocks and caves to explore and if you’re lucky you might even spot dolphins or a whale. A trip to the Coogee Pavillion for drinks and dinner would be the ideal way to complete the day and soak up those final rays of sun at golden hour.

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Never too late to begin again

March 16, 2018

You know when you think ‘What if?’…’What if I accept that job?’ ‘What if I fail?’ ‘What if I don’t like it?’. Well I suppose these are all possible predictions of the future, but if we’re honest with ourselves, we don’t really know until we try. So that’s what I’m here doing, I moved to Sydney Australia 2 months ago to live and work and experience another lifestyle. I’ll be honest, it was a long time in the planning and I did have a lot of ‘What if’ thoughts flying around my control freak head. But once it came down to it, I just had to let go of all those reservations and enjoy the journey.

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I’m very lucky to be staying with my Auntie and Uncle in Paddington whilst I get work secured and figure out how long I want to stay in Sydney. I can confidently say already though, one of my ‘What if’ scenarios has already come true within the short space of time I’ve been here – ‘What if I love it and want to stay?’. Of course I knew I would enjoy the sun and city life, but it’s so much more than that – lovely people from all walks of life, fantastic work opportunities, glorious sunshine and the cosmopolitan lifestyle next-door to beach bum life is just perfect.

I guess it’s early days and too soon to decide exactly how long I will be here, but one thing it has given me already is a new perspective and approach to life. I haven’t had the inspiration to write on this blog for a while, but being in a new city on the other side of the world seems a better time than ever to write again. I’ve already been lucky enough to create some amazing memories with family and new friends in the past few months. So now I feel inspired to write about and share some of these awesome experiences here in Australia – food, health, fitness, fashion, lifestyle and travel…lets begin again.

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