Category: Lifestyle

Quotes are the cure

April 20, 2018

In my view, nothing picks me up more when I’m feeling upset or anxious than a motivating quote or poem. The power of words to help you gain a little perspective sometimes can be as helpful as any councillor or therapist could ever wish to be. It’s far too easy in our world of technology to get caught up in other people’s lives and find ourselves forgetting the basic facts of life: love, friendship, laughter and being present in the moment. Ironically Instagram is where I source a lot of good words and sayings, however there are some brilliant poetry books to delve into also. My favourites are Love Her Wild by Atticus as well as The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur. Here are a selection of my current quote obsessions…needless to say these are a select few and I’m always on the search for more words of wisdom.

Romwe Clothes Haul

April 19, 2018

Once again I find myself knee deep in another indulgent clothes order offline, this time from Romwe. This was a website I hadn’t tried before, but after my successful purchases from similar companies including Shein and Zaful I thought I’d give it a try. I was very impressed with how quickly my order arrived to Australia – within a week it was on my doorstep, far quicker than Zaful which took about 3 weeks to deliver to the UK. Unfortunately some of the jewellery arrived broken, however following my email to complain to the company, I was immediately refunded for the damaged items.

In total I spent $96.88 (£55.45) which got me 13 products. On the whole everything was reflective of the images shown on the website and some peices were even better quality than I expected! I was particularly pleased with a few of the accessories I chose including the palm leaf phone case $4.70, the ear cuff $1.79 and the minimalist drop earrings $1.87 all pictured below.

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As always, the bikinis were a great result too and I was really happy with the styles and colours I chose. The stone blue knot high leg bikini for $15.06 was one of my favourites and the green printed plunge bikini for $12.23 is a great addition to my bikini collection.

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I also purchased these wide leg striped pants which were $10.36, not something I would usually go for but very comfy and especially flattering worn with a pair of heels. Overall a very successful order from Romwe with swift delivery, great customer service and good quality products for the price paid!

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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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A Beautiful Bowlful

August 6, 2017

Scrolling my Pinterest feed this summer I’m always drawn to the rainbow colours of perfectly decorated smoothie bowls (alongside the dreamy photos of white sand beaches and paradise sunsets). So experimenting with my own recipes for these bowls of goodness, I found the key ingredient of frozen banana gives the creamy texture alongside chia seeds to thicken the smoothie. Using a dash of the Rude Health coconut milk adds delicious flavour and frozen berries result in a stunning pink colour.

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The method is very simple: Blend 1-2 frozen bananas, a handful of frozen berries, a teaspoon of chia seeds, a teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of coconut milk. Add the milk slowly as too much liquid will give a thinner consistency harder to decorate. Then pour the mixture into your bowl – these coconut shape bowls my brother brought in Vietnam compliment the tropical theme of this recipe. Finally decorate with your choice of toppings, which could be anything from granolas and seeds to nut butters and spices.

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I topped mine with fresh banana, strawberries, blueberries, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut chips and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This time I decorated it in lines but working in a circle towards the centre of the bowl also gives a nice finish (the symmetry of these bowls really satisfies my OCD eye!) Basically you can personalise the smoothie to your own taste – try adding cacao powder for a refreshing pudding – and have fun experimenting with different toppings to perfect that Instagram photo ❤

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Summer Slaw Recipe

May 29, 2017

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With summer here and BBQs at the ready, there’s nothing better than getting friends and family together to soak up the sun and enjoy a few Pimms. Everyone likes to make a contribution and has their signature dish – my auntie makes the most incredible celeriac roulade! So in search of a light dinner on these hot summer evenings, when scrolling a favourite blog of mine called Sheer Luxe, I came across this buttermilk chicken served with a homemade cabbage apple slaw.

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Whilst the buttermilk southern fried chicken was a delicious accompaniment, this slaw on its own would be the perfect addition to a BBQ, or could even be made in batches to have in the fridge for a quick lunch or dinner side dish. Healthy, cheap and easy to make I can’t recommend trying this recipe enough, and don’t be afraid to personalise it to your own taste too – I added mixed dried fruit or you could exchange the parsley for another mild herb such as coriander. I can’t wait for my first BBQ this summer to make this again and try mixing it up with something different.

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Recipe

  • 1/3 red cabbage, shredded
  • 5 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 granny smith apple, peeled and grated
  • bunch of fresh parsley leaves, chopped
  • 125g sour cream
  • juice of 1 lemon and a wedge to serve
  • sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Method

In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, spring onions, grated apple and most of the parsley. In a separate small bowl mix the sour cream and lemon juice before seasoning with sea salt and black pepper. Pour this dressing over the salad and toss to combine. You can then add any extras like sunflower seeds or dried fruit – apricots work particularly well – serve with a sprinkling of the remaining parsley and a wedge of lemon.

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Springtime Feels

April 7, 2017

There’s nothing better than those first few days of spring; the sun makes its debut, days get longer and the thought of summer festivals and sipping on Pimms all afternoon is close in sight. So with a Sunday coffee date followed by a late lunch at Brasserie Blanc, it was time to dip into the summer wardrobe.

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I wore my Bershka denim stud skirt, ASOS bardot top, Zara tan satchel and Zara silk print scarf as a neckerchief. Being in England there was of course still a nip in the air, so my Grenson ‘Alice’ Boots made the perfect spring footwear to keep my outfit casual and most importantly my feet warm! And with the sun shining I wasn’t going anywhere without my trusty Rayban ‘Lennon’ round sunglasses to complete my look.

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Finishing the afternoon with a lovely meal at Brasserie Blanc where the food was delicious with good wine and excellent service to match. A perfect springtime day.

Style Obsession: Bottle Green Faux Fur

March 9, 2017

With fashion week hitting London, New York, Milan and finally Paris, the street style of who’s who in fashion brought fresh inspiration for our spring wardrobes. Models, bloggers, designers and celebrities rubbed shoulders to welcome the new season of trends which includes classics from the past such as the pinstripe shirt, alongside slogan t-shirts promoting messages of feminism.

Whilst the catwalks teased us with pieces for the spring, as always English weather was still cold and wet meaning street style remained autumnal. Browsing Instagram and Pinterest I found myself back to this one obsession: the bottle green fur coat. And it seems fur coats, of course faux fur, are the wardrobe essential this season to throw on for any occasion as much as you would perhaps a leather jacket.

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After creating a mood board and searching for a high street alternative to this stunning outfit stealing piece, I found a similar version from Zara. Of course this was sold out…so eBay it was and pretty soon I found myself a very affordable £15.00 copy from China!

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Ok, it has taken a month to come in the post, but this great find is surprisingly good quality and has certainly satisfied my bottle green fur obsession. As a statement piece I’ll be wearing it casually to vamp up jeans and kicks, or to subtly add colour to simple black jeans and boot heels on a night out. And as someone who feels the cold, I know this coat will be well loved even for those chilly summer nights.

Happy Pancake Day

March 3, 2017

Ok, so I know it’s a few days late but I think it’s time we enjoyed pancakes all year round! There’s so many delicious ways to mix them up and with the ingredients being store cupboard basics, they’re cheap and easy too.

This pancake day I decided to try something new and have banana oat pancakes for breakfast. Sticking to four ingredients – mashed banana, jumbo oats, rice flour and almond milk – I whipped it all together to make one big pancake. Perhaps not the traditional method, however once I added lots of berries, yoghurt, more banana, my homemade granola and a sprinkling of cinnamon on top, this made one tasty and filling breakfast to keep me going throughout the morning.

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And with the weekend coming up, I’m sure my Dad will be sniffing after his favourite crepes topped with simple fresh lemon juice and sugar. My fail safe recipe for these comes from Delia Smith and can be used as the basis to sweet and savoury pancakes. With leftover batter I’ll be making savoury open pancake salads which can be embellished with whatever takes your fancy – mozzarella, tomato, basil and balsamic rocket salad is always a winning combination. Experiment with your pancakes and they can become a go to dinner or a healthy breakfast choice any time of the year.