Category: Uncategorized

The Next Step

May 24, 2018

So here I find myself moving onto my next adventure here in Sydney. Life has been in fifth gear the past month as I took on a temporary full time job as Office Assistant at my auntie’s PR company, whilst continuing to work at the pub part time also. Although this was a challenge for me having never worked in an office before, I learnt so much and really enjoyed every minute. Despite finishing my position in that role last week, I got a call from my Manger this week offering me the receptionist job for the next month whilst they find someone permanent for that role too.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHaving got this brilliant news that I will be back in the office for another month, I new exactly how to treat myself in celebration: shoes! The local shoe store Zomp here in Paddington on Oxford Street is a shoeaholic’s dream, stocked with covetable brands including Senso, Django & Juliette and Beau Coops. The sale is always fantastic and I was lusting after another pair of mules which I could wear in the office. I had my eye on a pair of studded Senso heels, however they didn’t have my size and they were too high for work. So I spotted these black velvet mules by Django & Juliette; perfectly stylish and chic, yet still comfortable and practical for the office. Reduced from $160 to $65 I couldn’t resist!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThese gorgeous shoes made a perfect addition to my current mule obsession. A few months back when it was my birthday, I purchased these almond ruffle mules by 2 Baia Vista from the Zomp store too. The suede ruffle detail on these are super cute and the quality of the shoes are worth the price tag. Finally I gained a pair of Prada heels from my auntie who brought them second hand for only $70! She got the cobbler to add the ankle strap which makes these high heels easier to walk in and far more comfortable.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASo with my updated collection of stunning shoes, I can’t wait to pair these with outfits for the office. I’m a true shoeaholic so I can’t think of a better way I could’ve treated myself. Now here’s to the next step of my Australian adventure most definitely made in style in my fabulous new kicks!

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Back to my roots

April 28, 2018

Sometimes it takes a little distance from something to realise how much you enjoy it. Once I began full time training and dancing became my job, I lost the passion for my skill and no longer danced with any intention or feeling. As hedonistic as it sounds, it really is essential to love your art and pursue it with true intent if you’re going to make a career of it. So having been in Sydney for a few months now, aside from a weekly ballet class, I hadn’t done a Lyrical or Contemporary class for a couple months! This is where my devotion to dancing lies as I find these styles allow me to express more freely, especially when accompanied by a good song. Recently attending a Lyrical class at Sydney Dance Company gave me a renewed sense of satisfaction and positive energy from dancing which I haven’t felt for a long time. The teacher was fantastic, starting the class with a technical warm up and stretch, followed by a beautiful routine to Sia’s remix of ‘We don’t have to take our clothes off’. Nothing beats a well choreographed routine which reflects the lyrics of the music and gives you the movements to truly reflect the mood of the song. I loved every minute of the class and it really did take me back to my roots of dancing with true joy and sentiment.

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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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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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Summer Bikini Haul

July 8, 2017

Ok, I’ll admit that I too have always been sceptical of these cheap online stores – will the clothes actually arrive? Will they be any good? Is it just a scam? Having now ordered from Zaful.com and a similar website SheIn.com a few times now, I have been pleasantly surprised at the bargains I’ve managed to grab.

So with summer season here I decided it was time to order some swimsuits from Zaful.com given that bikinis on there average at £10 each! On the whole I was pleased with the quality and fit of my choices. However if I have been unsatisfied with a purchase from this website in the past, a quick email to explain my dissappointment and I was refunded the money without even having to return it – Fantastic customer service!

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The white edges and striking palm print give a luxe appearance and more expensive looking finish to this bikini.

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With the drawstring bottom and lattice back, this stunning auburn colour bikini is just as flattering from behind.

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I can’t get enough of mango orange hues this season – a clean and simple design lets the colour do the talking.

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With a wrap around tie design feature this bikini may not be the one for sunbathing, but the frilly crossover top is right on trend and very flattering.

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.