One of my favourite cities in the world! Tips on how you can explore the best of this eco-friendly city in just one day.
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What's fast & slow fashion? Find out how your clothes are made and by whom PLUS in what conditions... it will might make you think twice next time you go shopping.
It’s been a very busy couple of weeks since my last post because aside from the usual juggling of work commitments and catching up on the every-day duties that slip when you’ve been travelling abroad for 4 weeks (argh) I’ve also been moving house! Yep – that’s no small fry. So apologies for the silence on my feed, but I’m secretly hoping I can smooth that over with a little update on the move and some snaps from our new country home. Cheap attempt I know... but hey it’s all I’ve got right now as my head has been stuck in brown cardboard boxes for two weeks!
Dungarees: Ksubi, Hoodie: Kooples, Jacket: cheap vintage buy in Paris, Top: Joseph, Hat: Deus, Wellies: Hunter, Sunnies: Chanel
SO WHY THE MOVE? We’ve been hunting for a new house to call home for a good couple of years now, but for one reason or another we’ve never found ourselves being handed a new set of keys. We’ve become very good at consoling ourselves with a little Irish saying that my husbands mum used to say: “What’s meant for you will not pass you by” and I wont lie, it’s amazing how this one little sentence can pick you up and keep the dream alive when you're losing all hope (don’t you just love the Irish?!). Seriously there’s been times when I’ve just wanted to cry with frustration but then someone would say these magic little words and I’d not only dust myself off again, but also be completely convinced that our dream home was right around the corner... AND it was going to be worth the wait!
WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT? Hell yeah!!!
WHERE DID WE MOVE TO? The English countryside. It’s still only a quick drive into London and very convenient to Heathrow Airport (which was very important for us given the amount we travel) but when we’re at the house (which we've already started referring to as the farm) we feel like we’re miles away from everything #UtterBliss
WHY THE COUNTRY? Not really sure if anyone is actually wondering this… aren’t nearly all of us born with an appreciation of the simplicity that comes with being removed from it all? I know that I do… but then again I grew up on a farm and worked the land, so there’s every possibility that I’m a bit biased haha
NO SERIOUSLY… My husband and I are definitely one of those couples that move through life in the fast lane (the super dooper crazy fast lane). We work continuously, travel continuously, and cram way too many things into our days continuously… plus with no signs of this slowing down any time soon, we found ourselves craving more balance in our lives and knew that this would mean a serious adjudication of our living arrangements. Essentially this was the only thing that we knew we COULD slow down. We were pining a stripped back lifestyle in the fresh air… wide open spaces… peace and simplicity... all the things a home in the country could provide.
This move was a no-brainer for us, it was the perfect way to "earth" us amid all the chaos of our careers and nurture our souls in the most simplistic was possible.
HOW’S IT GOING SO FAR? One week in and it's already total bliss. Each morning I wake up to the sounds of birds chirping outside our window, then I pull back the curtains to stunning views of rolling green hills. It's a beautiful way to start the day and I don't think I'll ever take that for granted. It's magic!
THE PLAN? To grow our own veggies, harvest our own rainwater and renovate the house! Yep thar’s right… there’s one big reno plan being drawn up as I type. No doubt I’ll be keeping my feed updated with all of that too once the ball starts rolling! Exciting times.
WHAT HAVE I LEARNT? That the Irish were right… what’s meant for you won't pass you by. This was the home that was meant for us and although at one point we thought it was out of our reach, it surprisingly fell back into our laps and now we couldn't be happier. Everything happens for a reason (even if sometimes you can't see what it is at the time) and with a bit of patience, hard work, positivity and hope... you will get there in the end.
My husband and I may have been through the ringer to get here, but it was definitely worth all of it!
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Skirt: Club Monaco, Tee: Rag & Bone Hat: Seafolly
If you don’t really know much about golf then don’t worry, this post is still for you. I never thought I’d ever become a fan of golf, but when I was properly introduced to the game by my husband four years ago, it became an instant love affair. I’ve heard a lot of people tell a similar story! So who knows… maybe this little insight into my love of the game and some of my personal experiences, may be enough to kickstart your own interest into the sport? Lets see!
WHAT’S TO LOVE ABOUT GOLF?
1. ANYONE CAN PLAY IT – Age is not a barrier and it’s actually one of the few sports we can enjoy in our older years, when our bodies start to slow down.
2. IT’S BOTH A PHYSICAL & MENTAL CHALLENGE – the game requires skill and strategy plus a huge amount of focus away from the usual noise of modern day society. Like meditation, the golf headspace is a discipline and one that I believe is valuable for all aspects of your life.
3. IT’S NOT EASY – Golf is one of those sports that will always have you on your toes – you can’t just pick up a club and be amazing at it - I love this because I love a good challenge! It’s like all the stars have to align to master it: fitness, calm, precision, focus plus an understanding of your own strengths & weaknesses. It’s one of those sports where trying too hard can work against you (it’s a head game) plus you don’t need to be the fittest person in the room to be good at it. Everyone has a shot when it comes to golf because there are so many other factors that are just as important as your physical ability.
4. IT’S FUN EVEN IF YOU’RE PLAYING A PRO – Because of the handicap system used in golf, players with varying abilities can compete against each other and still have a competitive game. Which basically means you can play against anyone you like and still enjoy it.
5. A GREAT WAY TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER – golf is a great way to spend time with family and friends because you can walk-and-talk your way around the course in a relaxed environment. Plus you can soak up some fresh air and sunshine at the same time.
THE BUCKET LIST
Happy hubby and Gary Player having banter outside before heading off to the course.
For over twenty years my hubby has dreamed of one day attending the Masters in Augusta (USA) it’s the greatest golf tournament of them all and anyone who has an interest in the game, has an interest in this tournament. On his birthday this year I surprised him and announced that we’re ticking this off his bucket list (finally) – his reply was “best birthday present ever!”. To be honest I was amazed I could even make it happen – finding 4 free days in our diary is no easy feat (at this point big thanks go to Mark Plunkett who helped shuffle things around so I could squeeze it into our schedule) and as soon as we concluded our work commitments in Sydney, we jumped on the first plane direct to the USA and managed to catch the final three days of the tournament with the beautiful Player family, who so generously also helped me make this dream a reality for him.
If you haven’t heard of Gary Player, Black Knight International, or The Player Foundation please take a moment to google… Gary is one of the greatest legends in golf and all of his family (as well as the team around them) are nothing short of inspiring. We have been so spoilt these last few days, not just because we attended the Masters, but because we got to experience it with these wonderful people who made it extra special for us.
HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS:
Driving down Magnolia Lane.
** Arriving via the infamous Mangolia Lane – a magnolia tree lined avenue that few people get to drive down. It’s how the players and and their families arrive – final destination being outside the Augusta National clubhouse.
** Seeing my hubby teary after Gary Player took him to visit the Champions Locker Room… the very place where golfing legends have hung their coat and changed their shoes. Few people get to experience something so special and he was completely overwhelmed (very sweet).
** Following our friend, Lee Westwood, around the course & watching him fight his way to the top - finishing the tournament in second place! His eagle on the 15th had us all jumping around and screaming like teenage girls at a One Direction concert.
Victorious Danny Willett wearing his green jacket at the winners presentation.
** Lee was paired on the final day with fellow Brit, Danny Willett, so we also got to witness Danny’s steady climb to victory and being awarded his very first green jacket.
** Sipping G&T’s in the glorious sunshine and taking in the sweeping views of perfectly manicured green grass speckled with thousands of spectators.
** Although it’s the pimento cheese sandwich that’s synonymous with the Masters and over the years has become an institution… for me it was the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches that took the trophy. They were definitely a highlight!
THE WARDROBE
PHOTO LEFT Jeans: Frame, Top: Club Monaco, Scarf: Tom Ford, Watch: IWC, Bangle: Hermes, Bracelet: Cartier, Bag: Louis Vuitton, Sunnies: Moncler PHOTO MIDDLE Nike head-to-toe PHOTO RIGHT Jeans: Paige, Sweater: Moncler, Blazer: Maje, Shirt: Zara, Bag: Louis Vuitton, Bangle: Hermes, Bracelet: Cartier, Sunnies: Yves Saint Laurent, Hat: Inverni
SPECTATOR WARDROBE
Some people took the sporty approach at the Masters, but unless I’m playing I prefer to keep things more summertime chic. COMFY SHOES and a HAT are the most important things to work into your outfit, plus I advise dressing in layers as the temperature can drastically change across the day.
PLAYER STYLE
My golfing wardrobe is predominantly Nike and Ralph Lauren. The way I see it is Nike offers fun colours, trendy styles and good fits using technical fabrics and design, while Ralph Lauren offers elegance and class. Both are great quality and super comfortable on the course. Other good brands to try are: Calvin Klein, Golfino, Tommy Hilfiger and Callaway.
TIP: If you can’t find what you’re looking for in a brands golf range – check out what they're offering in their tennis range OR take a look at what tennis brands like Babalot, Head, Yonex, Wilson and Lacoste are offering (Asics & Nike do a great tennis range too). Compared to golf, tennis seems to be ahead of the game when it comes to blending fashion & sport plus their sizing is less traditional to compliment the modern fit.
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Bikini: Melissa Obadash Towel: Hermes
I say… once a foodie always a foodie and since I produced Masterchef Australia back in 2011 (and was exposed to some of the best chefs and culinary experiences the world has to offer) not a meal goes by without my attention being diverted to it’s flavours, textures, quality and presentation (except on occasion when I’m pulling into a KFC or Maccas of course haha).
Food genuinely excites me and subsequently it also has the power to put me in a good mood or a bad one (don’t even ask what happens to me when I’m hungry eeeeek). That’s why living in Bondi is so brilliant - there's a great food scene and so I’m always in a good mood. Well most of the time anyway… it's definitely one of the best aspect of #BondiLife
Ronan - Shirt: James Perse Sunnies: Persol
BONDI BRUNCH
My favourite meal of the day is brunch - that window of time between brekky and lunch which is late enough that you can have a sleep-in before having to meet up with anybody, but still early enough to give you the rest of the afternoon off after you’ve caught up. Aussies do it really well (especially in Bondi) and these days going for brunch on the weekend in Oz, is as normal as an Irishman going to the pub for a pint. The best brunch spots to hit are:
1. Chapter One for the ‘Hungry Chaps’
2. Porch & Parlour for the ‘Devil’s Breakfast’
3. Harry’s for the ‘Crispy Rolled Egg, Black Beans, Chorizo, Avocado & Lime'
Over the last number of weeks Chapter One has become my ‘go to’ café overall. They have a perfect little spot at the top of the hill, slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of Bondi but with lovely views over the beach. The décor is rustic and non-pretentious… the staff are super lovely… the food and coffee are great… plus they offer free wifi which allows me to multitask my meal times with my work. It ticks all the boxes really.
SMOOTHIE O’CLOCK
No where else in the world do I ever say “Do you want to go out for a smoothie?”… it’s like the days of socialising over an alcoholic beverage are being challenged by a sunnier and more nutritious option. Especially in Bondi where health + fitness are as integrated into the lifestyle as black cabs are to the streets of London.
Smoothies and juices are big business now – especially the ‘cold pressed’ variety which retail for around AU$12 each (which I still can’t get my head around?!) and although there are so many options, I’ve become totally hooked on GREEN smoothies!! #Addicted. Green smoothies are generally thick like a normal smoothie plus taste like a normal smoothie, but they’re packed with spinach or kale which means you’re also getting a good dose of green veg into your diet. So imagine the same yummy taste but with an extra injection of goodness and you can't even taste it.
The best green smoothie I’ve had so far is from the David Jones food court in Westfield. It has kale (which I substitute with spinach), banana, mango, coconut water and ice. I also love the DS2 smoothie at Scari Berri on Campbell Parade which is a combination of kale (again I substitute with spinach), blueberries, banana, spirullina, coconut water and ice. For cold pressed smoothies or juices try CaliPress on Hall Street – very trendy, very heathy but with a higher price point to most of the other options.
It's really so easy to be healthy in Bondi... When I'm here, I feel a million times healthier without even trying. Everywhere you go you're surrounded by creative and nutritious food that's not only nutritious but tastes delicious too #LoveIt
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