Fashion’s Finer Details …

Summer fashion to me is all about accessorising and adding small details to each outfit. When it comes to fashion, I have always believed in the quote that “less is always more”. Dainty little necklaces, small earrings and the perfect little shoulder bag is all you need to make an outfit pop and really come together.

I’ve picked up a few things in the last few weeks that I really want to share with you all! Along with most other people, I have really been loving everything rose gold- so of course most of my wardrobe this summer has included a touch of rose gold! I find rose gold really flattering on most people, as well as being a really versatile accessory colour (try matching it with browns, beiges and creams for something extra pretty!).

I don’t know about you guys, but I’d rather spend my money on other things besides accessories, it’s usually something that falls to the bottom of my list. BUT, this season it’s been easy to accessorise with the help of some smart online shopping. I’m ready to share with you all a little fashion secret – a one-stop place where all of my favourite brands are constantly on sale. It sounds too good to be true, right?

Fashion Lane. Check it out. Seriously. You’ll thank me later.

Some of my all time favourite online shops such as Beginning Boutique, ASOS, The Iconic, SurfStitch, All About Eve, and ShowPo all feature on this site with amazing deals. So basically you can quickly find the best sale for the day or week, instead of searching sale sections of each store’s website. You’re welcome 😉

Okay, time to show you my top 3 accessories I’ve picked up lately!

Fedora’s are out- straw hats are in! I adore these cute little straw hats for summer, I can’t get enough of them! They are actually practical too (which is always handy when it comes to fashion). Put this on when you’re heading to the beach with your fave bikini and you’ll be the envy of everyone. You can pick these up from a few places like Sportsgirl, or if you’re looking for somewhere cheaper (but just as good), check out somewhere like ASOS on Fashion Lane for super cute accessories and discount codes.

I’ve been looking for a good pair of gold earrings that I can wear everyday, that are still unique and stylish. I picked these ones up from Mimco, and am already eyeing off some other pairs from this brand! I’ve always viewed Mimco as quite upmarket and a little bit on the pricey side, so I was really surprised to see that their jewellery (especially earrings) are actually very reasonably priced! You should check them out for yourself.

This rose gold and beige THE HORSE watch is my everything right now. All of the watches in this range are absolutely beautiful and all made with real leather. I love to accessorise every outfit with a cute watch, and this one pretty much goes with every outfit! Check out the range at The Horse, although I picked mine up from Beginning Boutique, which also features on Fashion Lane (where you could grab it for a discounted price!).

Make sure you let me know what accessories you have been loving this summer! x

 

Welcome to the Sunshine Coast

I have big news – I’VE MOVED TO THE SUNSHINE COAST, QUEENSLAND! I was lucky enough to be given opportunity for work up in this beautiful part of the country, and now here I am- exploring a new part of the world and loving every minute of it. I have never travelled to the Sunshine Coast before (1 hour north of Queensland’s capital Brisbane), but have always heard such good things. I can honestly say it has exceeded every expectation I had, and is such a beautiful place of the world with some of the most spectacular beaches and coastal towns. I’m so eager to continue exploring my new home, and have so many places on my bucket list to tick off and show you all!

In my short time up here, I have already found some favourite spots of mine, and area’s that I think everyone MUST visit! I thought I would put together a post today showing you where I have ventured to, and places to add to your Queensland bucket list! Make sure you let me know in the comments any places I should explore, if you’ve been lucky to experience this beautiful place yourself.

• My go-to private beach

So I’ve already found my favourite strip of beach that I can officially call ‘my local’. This cute little area is right in between Alexandra Headlands and Mooloolaba Beach. If you walk up the hill, you will find a lookout (viewing platform? Perfect photo-taking platform?) and you will surely see heaps of surfers walking down a set of stairs here. If you walk down here, and continue to walk along the rocks for about 200 meters you will find a stretch of sand that NO ONE ever seems to be at! It’s absolutely perfect here- the water is crystal clear and calm, there’s shade, white sand and you’ve usually got it all to yourself.

• Montville

You’re probably already aware that the beach is my favourite place EVER, but I have to say I was really amazed by the beauty of the hinterland area of the Sunshine Coast, in particular the cute town of Montville. This small little town is located in the Blackall Range in Queensland, Australia, around 400 metres above sea level. It boasts some of the sweetest little boutiques and cafes, and has incredible views of the whole hinterland region. You can stop and have lunch or desert in one of the restaurants here and sit for hours looking at the view.

• Mount Coolum and Second Bay

Coolum is a beautiful town on the Sunshine Coast, with a lot of really popular beaches. If you love the outdoors and are always on the lookout for good walks, then Mount Coolum is the place for you. I’ve got to admit; it is a pretty tough hike! Although the walk isn’t that long, it’s just really steep in some areas. I would say it takes roughly 40 minutes to walk to the top of the mountain, but the views are 100% worth it- you can see all of the Coolum coastline and hinterland areas.
I’m the type of person that would prefer smaller, less chaotic beaches than the ‘main beaches’ any day. So it makes me super happy to have found this adorable little area called Second Bay in Coolum. You walk down this rustic little track down to a perfect, very little bay. There are heaps of places to sit and settle in for the day, with lots of shady areas to pick from. There’s never usually many people here – so it’s a perfect spot to spend the whole day and even have a picnic!

• Maroochydore River

I’ve never come across a river as pretty as the one in Maroochydore. The water is so clear and SO BLUE, you just want to jump right in every time you pass it. There is a really great footpath that follows the whole river that is perfect for your morning walk. There are also heaps of fun water sports for you to try out here! If you’ve ever thought of hiring out a jetski, stand up paddleboard, or kayak – then this is the place to do it. The current can be a little strong depending on the time of the day (but hey, it’s a good workout), but for the main part it’s a really flat and calm place to test out these water sports. If you’re looking to just relax, don’t worry- there are lots of places to just jump straight in the water.

 

The Best of Portugal

Hello again! This week I’ll be telling you my travel tales from the beautiful country that is Portugal, and showing you some of the photo’s I captured of the stunning coastline. I feel as though Portugal isn’t as well known as most typical ‘European Summer’ holiday destination stops … And it definitely should be! The Algarve coast showcases some of the most amazing beaches and views I have ever seen, and is one of the most interesting and beautiful places I have travelled to. If you’re the kind of person that wants to wake up to amazing views, relax by the beach and do some adventuring – then Lagos is the place for you.

I started off my time in Portugal by spending a few days in the capital city, Lisbon. After spending so much time in busy capital cities, it was nice to see one that was a little bit different. The city definitely has a bit of a quirky vibe to it, it’s cute and just a little bit unlike other European cities. It’s a really hilly place, therefore you can get some great views across the city from places like the São Jorge Castle (a good visit in itself, too). Make sure you catch the iconic trams as well, that save you the effort of hiking up the hills. If you’re here for a few days, I would definitely recommend taking the train to Cascais, a little coastal town about 30 minutes from Lisbon. The beaches here are really nice, and the little town is worth having a walk around too.

The next stop in Portugal was 100% my favourite … Lagos! Located on the picturesque Algarve coast, this is one destination to add to your bucket list. I loved how you could walk along all of the super high cliffs, and get incredible views down below of all the little beaches and beautiful horizons. The town itself reminded me a little bit of Greece, with the narrow lanes and cobblestone streets boasting lots of restaurants and cafes. Kayaking is a must-do here, as well as taking a ‘tour’ with a local fisherman on his boat – venturing through all of the caves and grottos. I would recommend visiting Lagos in July/August so you can get the hot weather, perfect for the beach.

Have you ever been to Portugal? If so, let me know in the comments! Enjoy the photos, and I’ll be back again soon with another post x

 

Ola From España!

Hola bienvenidos de nuevo … Or welcome back for all the rest of you 😉 This week I am transporting you all to the fabulous country that is Spain. If you’re the kind of person who loves culture, adventure, and food, then this is definitely the place for you! The thing I will take away the most from my time in Spain is the lively nature and good vibes from the places and the people – Everything seems to be fast paced, happy, vivacious and full of positive energy, it’s contagious! 

I started off my adventure in Spain by joining a tour (Julia Tours, there’s tons of different tours all through Spain to choose from), which went for one week. It’s interesting to see the change of landscape and nature when travelling through a country by bus, as it varies so incredibly much from capital city to small town. On my adventure I stopped in Granada, Seville, Madrid, Zaragoza, Valencia and Cordoba – all amazing places with a ton of history and culture. I definitely recommend checking out some of the smaller towns in Spain, as they are just so authentic and really showcase the values of the Spanish culture. When you just visit the capital cities, you often don’t get a taste to what the country and people are really about. Out of all of these stops, Seville would probably be my favourite. Adorned by beautiful ceramic artwork and amazing architecture everywhere, this city is definitely one to add to your itinerary.

After my tour I was able to spend some time in the world famous city of Barcelona! I absolutely fell in love with Barcelona and everything it encompassed. As it is the capital city of the Catalonia region, it is quite a big place, with so much to see and do. In my opinion, Barcelona beats Madrid in every aspect. There is so much quirky art and architecture, imaginative food and vibrant street life to be seen here. It also boasts a great contrast between old and new, and has everything you need for an amazing holiday – including a fantastic strip of beach! Barcelona beach is definitely the craziest beach I’ve ever been to, there is so much happening there and so much personality to it, that one day we just sat there and watched the people around us all day. Other things in Barcelona I would recommend are: Park Guell, the Fountain of Montjuïc, and La Rambla Street and Markets.

Now time to enjoy the photo’s I snapped throughout my days here. Warning, there are quite a few food photos – it’s hard to resist when the food is so different and amazing! Make sure you let me know in the comments if you have ever been to Spain and what you’re favourite places are x

Cruising Through Croatia

Welcome back! A new week means a new adventure I have to share with you all .. And this time I’m taking you to the magical country that is CROATIA! Anyone that knows me, knows that I love all things nature and adventure, so Croatia was definitely at the top of my list when deciding where to venture for my European Summer. I didn’t know too much about Croatia, but I had seen a few pictures here and there and knew that there was so much natural beauty; including national parks, waterfalls and of course beaches, that it just seemed like the ideal holiday spot for a week.

I spent 8 days in Croatia, with a tour company called G Adventures, where we ventured around the country and visited all of the hotspots. If you’re looking for a cheap way to see a lot of places in a short amount of time, then definitely check out G Adventures – they have tons of cool tours available! I started off my week with 2 nights in the capital city, Zagreb. To be completely honest, this definitely wasn’t my favourite place. Zagreb is a nice place, don’t get me wrong, but it’s fairly quiet for a capital city and there isn’t that much to do (besides your typical European checklist: visit church, visit museum, visit another cathedral). If I had my time again I would definitely spend those nights elsewhere, such as in Dubrovnik.

After that, the real adventure took off! Next stop was Split, which is a cute city on the coast that is most known for it’s palace town, which is definitely worth checking out. There’s also an array of beaches and beautiful spots along the harbour. I would recommend visiting Split, but if you’re crazy for beautiful beaches, maybe spend majority of your time in Hvar or Dubrovnik instead (the beaches there are just UNREAL!). The next destination was Plitvice Lakes National Park. Honestly, I don’t even have any words to describe how amazing and breathtaking this place is. The national park itself is absolutely huge, and you could easily venture around it for a few days. The natural beauty in this park is something you will never forget – it just blows your mind. Never in my life have I seen so many waterfalls and such crystal clear water everywhere I turned. Check out the first few photo’s down below to see what I’m talking about! A similar place to this is Krka National Park, which I would also love to check out one day (I’ll be going back to Croatia one day – that’s for sure!).

The best was definitely kept til last on this journey. Hvar is an island located just off the mainland, and boasts some of the clearest, bluest water ever! There’s heaps of day trips you can take from Hvar as well, that take you to other islands and secluded beaches (again, I’ll be going back to visit a ton of these one day!). I fell in love with this island, it’s just so beautiful. It’s also great for young people, as there is heaps of boat parties and cruises to choose from, and has a great nightlife. Last but not least was Dubrovnik, a city in southern Croatia fronting the Adriatic Sea. It’s most known for its distinctive Old Town, encircled with massive stone walls completed in the 16th century … Some of the best views are seen from a top of this wall! There is also lots of cute and tiny beaches all along the coastline here, I could easily spend a week here without getting sick of it.

I hope you have a little bit more of an insight into the beautiful country of Croatia, and enjoy the photo’s I’ve posted! Let me know if you’ve been to Croatia, and where abouts. I’ll be back again next week telling you my tales from SPAIN! x

Adventuring through Amalfi

The next stop on my European adventure was South Italy. I have to admit, I was most excited to spend a week on the South coast of Italy than any other destination. Of course, this is because I have a great love with Italy after spending so much time there last year, where my passion for travel and all things Italian really hit off. Last year I was lucky enough to be able to explore the North of Italy, including Rome, Florence, Pisa and Venice … Which was absolutely incredible and the best time of my life (You can read the blog posts here, here, and here!).  In that time, I soaked in so much history, architecture and religion and really immersed myself in the heart of Italian culture. This time around, I was so keen to see a different side to my much loved Italy: the famous and beautiful Amalfi coastline.

I was based in the beautiful little town of Sorrento for the week, which I highly recommend. It’s quite a modern town, though it has also kept a lot of traditional Italian values and culture. I found this to be a good spot to base myself for the week, as it was pretty central to everywhere you need to go. After exploring Sorrento, we got straight into organising our days and filling up our schedule. The plan was: Climb up Mount Vesuvius, visit the ancient city of Pompeii, drive along the Amalfi Coast for the day, and take a trip to the Island of Capri and visit the grotto’s. I can honestly say I loved all of these things, and that the South Coast definitely didn’t disappoint.

Out of everything, the Island of Capri was definitely my favourite place on the Italian coast. We booked a private tour which took us speeding through the beautiful crystal clear waters, stopping along the way to see the famous grottos and of course to have a swim and snorkel. Capri itself is a beautiful town, with some of the most stunning views from the top. If you’re ever visiting the South, make sure you add this place to your bucket list! The only thing I would do different from my time here is spend a night in another smaller town such as Positano, which we didn’t really have a chance to explore (you could spend a day here from Sorrento if you had the time, though).

I hope you guys enjoy the photos I snapped from my week here, it’s true that they really don’t do the place justice at all though! Let me know if you have been here and what you thought, and of course stay tuned for next week’s post! x

 

Spectacular Santorini and Ios: Greek Islands Part II

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog! You’re in for a treat today, as this is definitely my favourite blog post of my European Summer. I love sharing all of my photos with you all, I think photos are so special and personal and really tell a story of how YOU experienced something, depending on what you capture in the frame. The photos I snapped during my stay in the Greek Islands still blow me away when I look at them now, I LOVE them! Luckily in a place like Santorini, it’s pretty close to impossible to take a bad photo, ever. Every street you turn down, and at the end of each cobblestone path you will find a new picturesque view that just takes your breath away. It is honestly a photographer’s heaven: from the iconic white and blue buildings, to the famous Santorini sunsets – you just can’t get better than this.

Starting off with Ios, I spent a few nights on this acclaimed party island. If you’re looking for a good time, then definitely head to this little island! I stayed at Far Out Beach Club, which had a different pool party on every night … You have to go and check it out during your stay, it’s such a fun atmosphere. Another place worthy of a look is a place called ‘Pathos Lounge Bar’, where you watch the incredible sunset while sipping on a cocktail surrounded by a luxury bar and infinity pool. Ios is also super popular for it’s water sports – there are so many to choose from! We did an amazing day trip which included swimming through caves and snorkelling above old shipwrecks. If you’re looking for some fun and adventure on your European getaway, definitely add Ios to your itinerary!

Our next location was the absolutely stunning island of Santorini. This is the place that most people picture when they think of Greece … And let me tell you, you will not be disappointed, it’s even more stunning in real life! Because the whole island is built up on the cliffs, you are literally surrounded by 360 degree views of the ocean everywhere you turn. I find it difficult to even put into words the views that I came across – It is one of the most fascinating and beautiful places in the whole world. I stayed in the town of Thira, which is the main little town of Santorini. Thira was amazing in itself, with beautiful views, delicious food and cute shopping. If you’re after those famous views and sunsets, you probably would want to stay in Oia (the other main town of the island). However, we hired out a quad bike and visited Oia during the day and zoomed back up for a yummy dinner and to view the amazing sunset (make sure you get a good spot early on, it gets super packed!).

Another really cool thing about Santorini are the cliffs themselves. The island is made up of black, white and red lava pebbles which make for some really unique beaches. We rode our quad to Red Beach for the day, and it was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The contrast of the red sand and cliff faces against the vibrant clear blue water is absolutely amazing and definitely a sight to see.
It is now my dream to return to Greece, and visit even more of the Greek Islands like Crete, Corfu, Paros, Zakynthos and SO SO many more! Let me know if you have been to any of the Greek Islands, and what you loved the most about them. Enough talking, time to enjoy the photos … Hope you enjoy! x

Follow me to the Greek Islands … Mykonos

Have you ever travelled somewhere that’s had such an impact on you that you feel like you should never leave? Like you are meant to be there in that exact moment? And that no matter how much you see, you just can’t get enough? This is the Greek Islands for me. After exploring the best of Europe two years in a row now, I definitely feel like I have conquered the continent and am ready to explore new places. In saying that, the one place I would go back to in a heartbeat is Greece. I honestly feel like Greece is made for me … I loved every single thing about it and would love more than anything to explore the other, smaller islands that make up this incredible part of the world.

My first stop in Greece, besides the one night we spent in Athens (which is an incredible place by the way), was the famous island of Mykonos. Whenever someone says “Greek Islands” I think all of us immediately picture those amazing tumblr and instagram photos that look too good to be true – with the unique white and blue buildings and incredible crystal clear beaches. Let me just tell you, you won’t be disappointed in the slightest, everything you see is exactly like a postcard. Those instagram pictures you’ve been lusting over can actually become your reality.

Hiring a quad bike (or ATV), is an absolute MUST when visiting any of the greek islands. As all of the islands are pretty small, there is no better way to explore the whole island then hiring out a bike and visiting all of the hidden gems and beaches across the coast line. The most incredible and fun-filled day for me was zipping around with my bestfriend to all of the beautiful little beaches, only stopping for a gyros (the most amazing 2 euro kebab you will ever eat) and to snap some incredible photos. Most of the beaches in Mykonos have great entertainment on them as well, so you could easily set yourself up with a mojito in one hand, the beach in your eyes and the beats in your ears for hours. Make sure to also check out Little Venice, a cute little area right near those famous windmills where you can have an amazing meal with an even more incredible sunset view over the water.

I just don’t have enough words to describe how incredible this place is. You HAVE to add it to your bucketlist. I hope you enjoy the photo’s I captured in my few days here … Be prepared to see a lot of blue and white. As always, make sure to leave me a comment and let me know if you’ve ever been to the Greek Islands, and stay tuned for next week’s post about part two of Greece: Ios and Santorini.

I’m Back! Let’s start off with Switzerland …

It’s good to be back!

I know it’s been a while … A little too long I know, but I’m back from my amazing European adventure and I’m ready to fill you all in on the incredible adventures that I’ve had. Although I said to myself “Of course I’ll still make time to write up travel posts when I’m gone”, I guess I just got too caught up in the moment and was far too distracted by all of the beauty and adventure surrounding me. Over the next few weeks I will be posting snippets of all of my favourite locations that I visited this summer, and will share all of the incredible photos I managed to snap. I feel that my blog will slowly turn into a travel blog rather than a fashion blog, which I hope you all don’t mind. I will still be posting outfit details when I can, and do the occasional fashion or beauty related post, but travel is really where my heart lies right now.

Today I am going to take you to the rolling green hills of Switzerland, and bring you up the top of the incredible Swiss Alps in Engelberg. Although my visit here was short, it definitely made a lasting impression on me. Never have I been anywhere where I can be soaking up the 30 degree rays one minute, and the next be up the top of an alpine range in 5 degree weather! If you are the type of person who loves nature, then you NEED to add Switzerland to the top of your bucket list. This country boasts some of the most picturesque views my eyes have ever seen, as well as some of the friendliest people … I’m sure after taking a look at my photos you will agree. I would absolutely love to venture back here in the Winter, and take full advantage of the beautiful ski slopes – yet another place on my to do list!

 

 

 

First Stop – London & Paris!

Bonjour!

I’m currently in Paris with some decent WiFi, so I thought I would start my first of many blog posts about my European adventure! I landed in London a few days, and got to do a little bit of sightseeing before my Topdeck adventure began. I spent a week in London last year, so was already familiar with the sights – nonetheless it was still incredible and it’s great to see things a second time round. Let me know if you guys have been to London and what you think, I’m still undecided as to whether I love it (probably because the culture isn’t too different to Australia, and I love places that are new and exciting/different).

I was soooo excited to be able to spend 2 nights in Paris for the first leg of my Topdeck tour. The city of lights and love … It is an absolute gem. I also visited Paris last year and fell in love, and it’s safe to say that I love it even more now. My absolute favourite thing about this city is the buildings and architecture throughout the streets. It’s so rare to see a major capital city that isn’t filled with huge sky scrapers and modern buildings – the streets of Paris are lined with incredible buildings that look so delicate and pretty, with no buildings towering over about 7 floors high. I also got to ride through these beautiful streets on a bike tour which was such a great experience, I would definitely recommend doing this as everything in Paris is in riding distance. I was so blessed with beautiful sunshine and warmth as well, which is a great break from the Australian Winter right now!

I feel like pictures really do tell a thousand words, so I’ll leave you all with a bunch of snaps I took from my adventures in London and Paris x