Days at Cable Beach Broome
Broome is a beach resort town in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Along its Indian Ocean coastline, the white sands of 22km-long Cable Beach offer a dramatic backdrop for sunset camel rides. I was lucky enough to jet set off to the sunny beach of Broome last weekend for a few days of relaxation. If you decide to go to Broome be prepared for the scorching heat and humidity, but also a sense of calmness, serenity and beautiful scenery. An absolute must-do is riding along the beach on a camel at sunset. This was my favourite thing to do in Broome...and I sort of think I would do it every time I went there... Take a look at some of the photos I snapped.
Waking up in Vegas
So after my trip to New York, we decided to head to Las Vegas for a few days to see what all the fuss was about. To be completely honest, I'm much more of a New York girl myself but Vegas was definitely an eye opener. We only stayed a few days but that was enough for me- I'm not a big drinkers or gambler. The strip of Vegas was like being in a movie- the lights, fake Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower etc but it was pretty crazy to see. Here are some of my pics from my trip. And yes, the last picture is of giant toffee apples!
Welcome to New York
I have always wanted to go to New York and that dream finally became a reality in October. For two weeks I explored the beautiful city, trying to take in as much as possible and cramming everything I could into every minute of the day. I can honestly say I would live there and it has been one of my favourite destinations to visit. So I thought I'd share with you some of my must visit attractions and some of the photos I took on my trip.
NYC Top 10 Must See and Do
1. Carriage ride through Central Park
2. Visit the 9/11 Memorial
3. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
4. Visit Top of the Rock
5. Go to Greenwich Village
6. See a show on Broadway
7. See Times Square at night
8. Shop at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman
9. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
10. Go to an American Diner or buy a meal from the street trucks
More photos to come, plus stay tuned for my trip to Las Vegas!
The week that is Perth Fashion Festival
What a week!
Perth Fashion Festival is always a hectic time of the year. I was lucky enough to be able to go to five shows, including the opening and closing, so I thought I'd share with you some of the talent I saw over the week. Closing night was pretty special, with Dita Von Teese making an appearance on the catwalk.
Slouchy Sundays
I love Sundays. In my opinion, they're the one day you can sit around and do nothing and it's ok to do so. And with that, comes the slouchy fashion. Boyfriend jeans- tick. Oversized jumper- tick. Comfy slides- tick!
Jeans: Zara
Shoes: Dotti
Jumper: Veronika Maine
Dubai Dreaming
Dubai is one of the places I am dying to visit!
Desert moons, magic carpets, fashion. Home to the biggest shopping centre in the world, sandy beaches, culture, food, camels, safaris.... the list is endless.
So while I was dreaming about a Dubai escape, I thought why not create a Dubai inspired flat lay for you all. Ahh one day, one day!
Reminiscing on my winter getaway
It's a sad day when it's Tuesday, you're at work and all you can think about is travelling and holidays.
But yes, here I am- Tuesday morning, at work and thinking about travelling and holidays....
So I thought I'd share with you all a few snaps from my Victorian holiday...take me back please!
But yes, here I am- Tuesday morning, at work and thinking about travelling and holidays....
So I thought I'd share with you all a few snaps from my Victorian holiday...take me back please!
July Book Reviews
I used to read so much when I was a kid and as I've gotten older I found I slacked off a lot. But this year I'm back in the groove and rekindled my love for reading so I thought I'd share with you a few of my latest reads. I read these three books back to back and found I couldn't put any of them down. Sometimes there's nothing better than sitting down on a comfy couch, with a blanket and cup of tea to read a book. Everyone get on it!
#GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso
#GirlBoss is the story of Sophia Amoruso's life from petty thief to founder and CEO of Nasty Gal- one of the most successful fashion retailers around. This is an empowering, brutally honest read packed with useful tips on how to achieve your dreams.
Beautiful Ever After by Katie Piper
I saw the documentary on Katie Piper a few years ago and have continued to follow her story. Her extraordinary story of strength and courage are captured in this book as she tries to rebuild her life after the shocking acid attack that scarred her body and face. This is the sequel to her memoir that delves into how Katie has coped in the years after the attack and moving out of her parents home. An absolute must read in my opinion. Her story is truly remarkable. I would recommend reading her memoir Beautiful first.
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Still Alice by Lisa Genova was a New York Time's best selling novel....and I know why. I read this entire book on the way home from Melbourne. It was so captivating and heartbreaking at the same time. Alice Howland is a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard with a loving husband and beautiful children. One day she goes for her usual daily run but can't remember how to get home. Alice becomes increasingly disorientated and forgetful and is tragically diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 50. This book gives you an understanding of those affected by early-onset Alzheimer's and keeps you long inspired after you've put it down.
What are some of your favourite books?
I saw the documentary on Katie Piper a few years ago and have continued to follow her story. Her extraordinary story of strength and courage are captured in this book as she tries to rebuild her life after the shocking acid attack that scarred her body and face. This is the sequel to her memoir that delves into how Katie has coped in the years after the attack and moving out of her parents home. An absolute must read in my opinion. Her story is truly remarkable. I would recommend reading her memoir Beautiful first.
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Still Alice by Lisa Genova was a New York Time's best selling novel....and I know why. I read this entire book on the way home from Melbourne. It was so captivating and heartbreaking at the same time. Alice Howland is a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard with a loving husband and beautiful children. One day she goes for her usual daily run but can't remember how to get home. Alice becomes increasingly disorientated and forgetful and is tragically diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 50. This book gives you an understanding of those affected by early-onset Alzheimer's and keeps you long inspired after you've put it down.
What are some of your favourite books?
2015 Bucket List Continued...
So as you would have read from my post a few months back http://whattshesaid.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/2015-bucket-list.html I created a bucket list for 2015.
Last year was pretty tough in terms of having time to do anything fun and for myself. I had just landed my first full time job (wish I was very thankful for) and started the day after I finished my final exam at university. Working full time was a bit of an adjustment and one thing I found out very quickly was that 20 days of annual leave a year does A) not accrue fast enough and B) is purely not enough to span across 365 days! So I spent my first year working and not taking any time off. In 2015 I was determined to have some fun so devised a list of things I wanted to do. This included:
- Go jet skiing
- Go scuba diving
- Go stand up paddle-boarding
- Go to Serpentine Falls/See a waterfall
- Go kayaking
- See and explore New York City
- Ride a horse on the beach
- Participate a charity fun run (and actually run)
- Ride a camel
- Go rock climbing
- Go to a zoo
- Feed a giraffe
- Pat an elephant
- Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
- See a psychic
Considering it's only the start of July, I think I've done quite well! The items in pink are still yet to be completed but with that being said I've got my trip to America booked in October and Sydney (almost) booked in December for Christmas so they can almost be crossed off. Hard work paid off and I finally started doing all the things I wanted to do.
Here's my year in review so far.
Last year was pretty tough in terms of having time to do anything fun and for myself. I had just landed my first full time job (wish I was very thankful for) and started the day after I finished my final exam at university. Working full time was a bit of an adjustment and one thing I found out very quickly was that 20 days of annual leave a year does A) not accrue fast enough and B) is purely not enough to span across 365 days! So I spent my first year working and not taking any time off. In 2015 I was determined to have some fun so devised a list of things I wanted to do. This included:
- Go jet skiing
- Go scuba diving
- Go stand up paddle-boarding
- Go to Serpentine Falls/See a waterfall
- Go kayaking
- See and explore New York City
- Ride a horse on the beach
- Participate a charity fun run (and actually run)
- Ride a camel
- Go rock climbing
- Go to a zoo
- Feed a giraffe
- Pat an elephant
- Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
- See a psychic
Considering it's only the start of July, I think I've done quite well! The items in pink are still yet to be completed but with that being said I've got my trip to America booked in October and Sydney (almost) booked in December for Christmas so they can almost be crossed off. Hard work paid off and I finally started doing all the things I wanted to do.
Here's my year in review so far.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
My highly anticipated holiday to Falls Creek has come to an end :( What a whirlwind of a trip it was.
My best friend and I were super excited to go on our first trip together and it couldn't have gone better.
Not gonna lie- the travelling to get there was pretty brutal (three hour plane trip at 1:45am and a five hour bus drive up a mountain) but it was so worth it.
Falls Creek is located in the Alpine National Park in the Victorian Alps, approximately 350 kilometres from Melbourne. When we started planning our trip, we knew one thing- WE WANTED SNOW! We deliberated going to New Zealand to ride the slopes but decided on staying in our own beautiful country for our first solo mission- and I'm glad we did.
For first time skiers Falls Creek was perfect. We went just before peak season and school holidays so there weren't too many people around and while initially we were disappointed there wasn't real snow falling, by the end we were so incredibly thankful. It would have been so difficult to get around.
Falls Creek has beautiful restaurants, the nicest people I have EVER met and some of the most glorious views I've ever encountered.
Here are some of my favourite photographs.
Travel Necessities
I've done a bit of a blog revamp so I hope you all like it! I just wanted something a bit more modern and fresh. People are always changing and I think this year has been a bit of a wake up, so I wanted my blog to change with me and reflect my style.
But in other news, I wanted to share with you some of my go-to travel necessities. I'm heading off to Victoria at the end of June to go skiing at Falls Creek. Cannot wait to see the snow! I'm going with my best friend and this will sort of be our first independent travel adventure, so while it's a bit nerve wracking we are also super excited. Some of my biggest concerns are keeping warm and protecting my skin from the harsh conditions. So here I wanted to give you an insight into just some of my essentials I'll be taking to combat the harsh climate.
But in other news, I wanted to share with you some of my go-to travel necessities. I'm heading off to Victoria at the end of June to go skiing at Falls Creek. Cannot wait to see the snow! I'm going with my best friend and this will sort of be our first independent travel adventure, so while it's a bit nerve wracking we are also super excited. Some of my biggest concerns are keeping warm and protecting my skin from the harsh conditions. So here I wanted to give you an insight into just some of my essentials I'll be taking to combat the harsh climate.
Nivea Fruity Shine Strawberry
Nivea Hydro Care SPF 15
Crabtree & Evelyn Summer Hill Hand Therapy
Crabtree & Evelyn Summer Hill Hand Therapy
Valleygirl Sunglasses
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Vera
Sun Sense Daily Fac
Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Vera
Sun Sense Daily Fac
Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum
Mimco watch
Pantene shampoo and conditioner
Benefit they're real eye makeup remover
Revlon colour stay lip gloss
L'occitane hand cream
Lancôme visionnaire
Nails of the Day
I bought this nail polish quite a while ago. It is Natio and the colour is called Blossom from the Pearl and Pop range. I loved the shade and wanted something slightly different to my every day nail polishes. This is the first time I've bought/used Natio nail polish and unfortunately for me, will be the last. To achieve this dense look required three coats. It was slightly streaky to apply and regrettably chipped within a few hours. With that being said, it was quite cheap at $5.95. The 9ml bottles are perfect for those who like to switch up their nail polish daily or for special occasions.
Melbourne City
Ahhh Melbourne. One of my favourite places to go for time away from work.
It was a long weekend over here in Perth, so we decided to take a girls trip and meet the rest of our family from Sydney in Melbourne.
Melbourne is a beautiful city; full of things to do, places to see and the atmosphere is electric. When we go on a girls trip away we focus on three main things:
1. Shopping
2. Coffee
3. Food
I also think that these three points are ones you should never have low standards about!
Melbourne has all of this and more.
So with this, I've devised a list of the best places to shop.
1. Bourke Street Mall
In my opinion, this is one of the best places to start your shopping adventure. Filled with a variety of shops and treasures, this is considered the heart of Melbourne's retail therapy. Located between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street, it is only accessible by tram or on foot. We took the free City Circle tram from our apartment straight up Flinders Street and walked up to this shopping haven. Housing a fantastic David Jones, Myer, H&M and so much more, this mall is impressive from the get go. There is also access to the new Emporium which is full of great retail stores from Chanel to Uniqlo.
2. Chadstone Shopping Centre
With its status as Australia's largest shopping centre, the Chadstone complex on Melbourne's outskirts is a massive, sprawling and modern hub of shopping activity that's big enough to dwarf Perth city. High end retail mixes with boutique shops and department stores to ensure that almost every shop you've heard of is represented here. If you've got money to burn and are happy to spend an entire day (or three!) shopping here, Chadstone is easy to recommend. We spent one whole day here and got through maybe a third of what it had to offer.
3. Chapel Street
We didn't make it to Chapel Street on this trip but it certainly is a great place to visit. If you're going in winter, make sure to rug up as it is street shopping and it is quite chilly out in the open. Chapel Street is part of Melbourne's premier retail fashion districts where you will find a range of great boutiques as well as some ritzy cafes and restaurants.
4. Melbourne Central
Home to over 300 retail shops, Melbourne Central is a stylish destination for shopping, eating and entertainment. The architecture is beautiful and it is so easy to get to. Public transport drops you right out the front so you don't need to stress about getting to your favourite shop!
Melbourne has so much to offer and is such a fun and exciting place to visit....especially with people you love and don't get to see often.
In terms of what I purchased....I won't list everything as it's a bit embarrassing the amount I bought. But I will let you in on one of my favourites; courtesy of my Aunty G who wore this amazing piece on her wrist that I copied!
Getting ready for the winter months
Part of me is a little bit sad about summer coming to an end, but the other part of me is so excited to get into a new season of clothing! I find winter so much easier to dress for and love being able to have staple pieces in my wardrobe that I can mix up with a few different accessories to make it look like a whole new outfit.
So I thought I'd share with you some of my tips for winter and what I think are must haves for the colder months!
1. Invest in a decent coat
I absolutely adore jackets and coats. In my opinion you can never have to many. I love structured tailoring- I find it very flattering on pretty much every body type. That being said this winter I will be taking out some of my coats from last year as I think they will continue to stand the test of time!
One of my personal favourites is this military inspired coat from Forever New I purchased a few years ago. Despite many fashion editors saying double breasted coats are a go-to piece for winter I find them difficult to wear unless they are buttoned up (which I hardly ever do) and feel they overwhelm a lot of figures. What I like about this coat is that it gives the illusion of being double breasted without the excess material. Classic military looks like this continue to be fashionable each season, it's a trend that won't go out of style, and one we see popping up on the runway each winter.
2. Learn to layer
It can be absolutely freezing outside but as soon as you walk into a room the heated air conditioning can make you swelter. So you need to learn to layer. I make sure that when I layer, I can take pieces off and still love what I'm wearing. Whether that be by putting a chunky sweater over a form fitting top or adding a belt around a cardigan if you don't want to look too bulky there's plenty of ways to make that happen.
Make a knit look more interesting by adding a patterned shirt underneath and letting the collar peek out. Or make a cropped sweater warmer by wearing it over a button up. One look I like is wearing a faux fur vest over a long cardigan or fitted top. The options are endless!
3. A good pair of boots are the key to keeping warm.
I think it's important to have a comfy pair of flat boots and a pair with a heel for the more dressy occasions. I love that with boots you can wear them with pretty much everything, whether that be a nice pair of jeans, with a dress and stockings or leggings with cute socks.
4. Accessorise it up
Ahhh the scarf! One of my favourite additions in the winter. A scarf not only keeps you warm but it adds a little something-something. Invest in a few scarves and you can update any outfit. I love a little pop of colour or print a scarf can bring to the table.
5. Look after your skin
I know this isn't quite fashion related but your skin regime needs to change for the colder months. Winter does little favours to our skin, from sore eyes to cracked lips, exposure to the harsh elements such a biting winds and dry central heating creates a range of problems. It's important to keep up the SPF as your skin is still vulnerable to ultra-violet rays and invest in a heavy moisturiser as the wind strips the skin of its natural moisture.
So I thought I'd share with you some of my tips for winter and what I think are must haves for the colder months!
1. Invest in a decent coat
I absolutely adore jackets and coats. In my opinion you can never have to many. I love structured tailoring- I find it very flattering on pretty much every body type. That being said this winter I will be taking out some of my coats from last year as I think they will continue to stand the test of time!One of my personal favourites is this military inspired coat from Forever New I purchased a few years ago. Despite many fashion editors saying double breasted coats are a go-to piece for winter I find them difficult to wear unless they are buttoned up (which I hardly ever do) and feel they overwhelm a lot of figures. What I like about this coat is that it gives the illusion of being double breasted without the excess material. Classic military looks like this continue to be fashionable each season, it's a trend that won't go out of style, and one we see popping up on the runway each winter.
2. Learn to layer
Make a knit look more interesting by adding a patterned shirt underneath and letting the collar peek out. Or make a cropped sweater warmer by wearing it over a button up. One look I like is wearing a faux fur vest over a long cardigan or fitted top. The options are endless!
3. A good pair of boots are the key to keeping warm.
I think it's important to have a comfy pair of flat boots and a pair with a heel for the more dressy occasions. I love that with boots you can wear them with pretty much everything, whether that be a nice pair of jeans, with a dress and stockings or leggings with cute socks.
4. Accessorise it up
Ahhh the scarf! One of my favourite additions in the winter. A scarf not only keeps you warm but it adds a little something-something. Invest in a few scarves and you can update any outfit. I love a little pop of colour or print a scarf can bring to the table.
5. Look after your skin
I know this isn't quite fashion related but your skin regime needs to change for the colder months. Winter does little favours to our skin, from sore eyes to cracked lips, exposure to the harsh elements such a biting winds and dry central heating creates a range of problems. It's important to keep up the SPF as your skin is still vulnerable to ultra-violet rays and invest in a heavy moisturiser as the wind strips the skin of its natural moisture.
2015 Bucket List
I know it's been a while since I've posted, but I can assure you I have been extremely busy but now it's time to fill you in on what's been happening!
At the start of February, I came up with the idea of creating a bucket list for 2015 of things I want do. I've decided that this is going to be my year. I'm sick of waiting around for things to happen/not happen, so from now on I'm going to do what I want to do.
With that being said, the first five things on my bucket list involved the water, sunshine and a bit of courage. So with summer coming to an end, I made the quick decision to jet set to the Sunshine Coast- the ultimate destination for water activities and good times. I'm a grade A planner so I had each day mapped out from start to finish. Weather permitting, all was set. The week before we left Queensland went through a pretty dangerous cyclone, so I was a bit skeptical, but so pleased when we arrived and it was a beautiful, sunny 30 degrees.
One activity I wanted to try was stand up paddle boarding. I read it was great for increasing general fitness and also improving your core strength, plus it was fun! It was a bit tricky at first, but I got the hang of it. It's quite relaxing actually!
I've also always wanted to ride a horse on the beach and through the water.
I found Equathon on the internet and saw it had great reviews, so I booked in a session. We had to take our car onto a car ferry to get to the island where the horses were. Finding the place was an adventure in itself, but totally worth it. I was quite surprised that when the lady knew I could ride she said to me 'Ok off you go, do whatever you like!' It was so exciting to have no restrictions and do whatever I wanted, so naturally I went flying down the beach with my horsey pal and had a great time. The horses were very well behaved, it was a gorgeous sunny day and so much fun. The beach was deserted so we had it all to ourselves. I think the picture really says it all...who could not enjoy that!
At the start of February, I came up with the idea of creating a bucket list for 2015 of things I want do. I've decided that this is going to be my year. I'm sick of waiting around for things to happen/not happen, so from now on I'm going to do what I want to do.
With that being said, the first five things on my bucket list involved the water, sunshine and a bit of courage. So with summer coming to an end, I made the quick decision to jet set to the Sunshine Coast- the ultimate destination for water activities and good times. I'm a grade A planner so I had each day mapped out from start to finish. Weather permitting, all was set. The week before we left Queensland went through a pretty dangerous cyclone, so I was a bit skeptical, but so pleased when we arrived and it was a beautiful, sunny 30 degrees.
One activity I wanted to try was stand up paddle boarding. I read it was great for increasing general fitness and also improving your core strength, plus it was fun! It was a bit tricky at first, but I got the hang of it. It's quite relaxing actually!
One major extreme sport on my bucket list was scuba diving! I've never done it before, so therefore not a certified diver :( but I was lucky enough that Underwater World allows those without their certificate to swim with the sharks!!!! This was probably one of the best things I've ever done, I will remember it forever. Inside the tank were sharks, stingrays, massive gropers, all kinds of fish and underwater life...it was pretty magical and I highly recommend it!
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I've also always wanted to ride a horse on the beach and through the water.
I found Equathon on the internet and saw it had great reviews, so I booked in a session. We had to take our car onto a car ferry to get to the island where the horses were. Finding the place was an adventure in itself, but totally worth it. I was quite surprised that when the lady knew I could ride she said to me 'Ok off you go, do whatever you like!' It was so exciting to have no restrictions and do whatever I wanted, so naturally I went flying down the beach with my horsey pal and had a great time. The horses were very well behaved, it was a gorgeous sunny day and so much fun. The beach was deserted so we had it all to ourselves. I think the picture really says it all...who could not enjoy that!
All the food we had was delicious and by the end of each day we were exhausted from all the physical activity we did. I made sure that each day we went down to Coolum Beach for a swim. The water is divine, so warm and welcoming- I could have swum in it all day, every day.
So, after four days in the Sunshine Coast I can tick the following off my bucket list
- Scuba diving
- Jet Skiing
- Stand up paddle boarding
- Riding a horse on the beach
Not bad in my opinion!
A little new year cheer: Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibition
To take full advantage of my holiday this summer, we decided to take a short trip to Melbourne to get away from the house for a bit.
We stayed at the gorgeous Crown Towers in Southbank. I'm all for a view and it was incredible; sitting on my bed I could see the beautiful city lights, it was even better at night.
One of the things I really wanted to do on my stay in Melbourne (aside from shopping, which I will share in my next post) was visit the National Gallery of Victoria which hosted the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition. Gaultier is a French Haute Couture and Pret-a-Porter fashion designer.
His first individual collection was released in 1976- he has long been known as the enfant terrible of French fashion. His creativity and mastery of tailoring made him a stand out in his field. In 1985 he introduced man-skirts and produced sculptured costumes for Madonna during the nineties, starting with the infamous cone bra. He regularly caused shock by using unconventional models, like older men and full-figured women, pierced and heavily tattooed which earned him both criticism and enormous popularity.
The exhibition was one of the most incredible displays I've ever seen and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Melbourne. When you first walk in, you are overcome by a number of figures dressed in Gaultier ensembles.
What is striking though, is that it is hard to tell whether the models are real or mannequins. On closer inspection you can see they are in fact mannequins, but they have used digital imaging to make them appear real- including moving eyes, lips and eyebrows. Pretty freaky actually! Then there is Gaultier himself welcoming everyone to his exhibition. You continue on to a number of creatively decorated rooms filled with past collections, including a rotating catwalk and outfits from floor to ceiling. Take a look at some of the photos I snapped.
