Monday, November 22, 2010

Curlin' up in Curl Curl

Currently addicted to:
John LegendAnother Again / Ordinary People / Save Room


I've been working all week (literally all week - I'm rostered for 9 days straight) so I didn't have much time to retouch my pictures from last weekend. Laurent and I were supposed to make a day trip to Palm Beach last Saturday, but because it would've taken us ages to get there and he had to work that night, we decided to go to Curl Curl instead. Everything was so pretty and peaceful - the weather, the beach, the cliffs, the ocean water pool, the breaking waves. I felt like I was on holiday.

























Looking at these pictures makes me think of some words I've picked up from all those times holding the line when I tried to reach Marriott Reservations: refreshed, revived and reenergised. I hope I picked them up correctly though.

I'm hardly at home these days; I love it when both my work and social lives are busy, but I'm kinda looking forward to having a few lazy days soon some time. I miss sleeping in, having big fat brunches, strolling around Manly and lying at the beach all day. But I'm not complaining at all, I enjoy work :) and Christmas is coming up soon so I need to save some money!

Just a few random pictures from my phone - Chelsea is so right; there are moments that just won't wait for you to grab a proper camera.

Prep for our favourite pasta

Tiramisu I made last week

Polly, Diego and me at Wharf Bar. Diegi is going back to Brazil soon :( we're gonna miss him so much.

Manly wharf, the place I fall in love with over and over again.

Me at the Ivy Changeroom

Tamara's studio in sun light

On my way home after work tonight



My eyes are getting heavy. And I'm hungry. Time to sleep.

Oh I forgot - this was my Curl Curl outfit. :) Yes, still lookbooking.


Friday, November 12, 2010

Recent happenings

Just a quick update on things I've been up to these days.

*In the kitchen

Curtis Stone is brilliant man. As simple as his food might seem, they couldn't be any yummier. I made two trays of raspberry almond muffins the other day - they were gone in a blink of an eye. Also did I try making his corn and bacon muffins; Polly calls them "morning life savers". Heated up with lots of butter - hhmyuuum. Will share the recipes when I more have time - the love has to be spread.




*Sing until your lungs give out

I went to see Ingrid Michaelson last night (yes, I did grab tickets after all!). I would've missed out on some serious magic if I hadn't - she should just get paid to play music and hypnotise people. (Well, she does get paid to play music already. But you know what I mean.) I wish all concerts were as amazing as hers - her voice was incredibly rich, and the band harmonised so perfectly that when I closed my eyes I thought I was listening to a fine tuned acoustic record. I wanted to slap myself for forgetting my camera at home; but I don't think I'd ever forget that sensational, breathtaking vibe at the show, and the happiness that filled my little soul.



Who else I've been listening to:
Sia / CocoRosie / The Chemical Brothers / Eliza Doolittle / Washington / Meaghan Smith / Rock Mafia / Empire Of The Sun


*Friends

Polly, Benny and I had this really fun night out at Sugar Lounge. At some point we started talking about what we like about one another. I'm not gonna publicise our top secret discussion here on my blog :P but I can tell you I was near my tears. I absolutely enjoy my time with you, know I can rely on you and that we're always around for one another. You guys are awesome.


[pictures taken by Phong da Playa. Love you too! :D]


*Out and About

I went to Flugtag last weekend - I remember seeing similar competitions online or in the papers some time (maybe it was Flugtag, somewhere else in the world), so I was curious. It was a sunny day, and there couldn't have been a better location than Mrs Macquarie's Point for an event like this - the backdrop was stunning. I wish someone would've come with me to enjoy this fun day a bit longer - it wasn't exactly something to go alone to. But I absolutely loved the first team with their deadmau5-ish heads and the one crew member who jumped after their plane :)


The "plane" quite looks like the Red Bull hey.



Also I've been enjoying the markets in Manly; the other day I went to the market held at the primary school, and came home with some lovely findings.

My "new" second hand satchel with my beloved Mooloola bag.

So true.

Packed weekend coming up - you guys have a good one too! x

Thursday, November 11, 2010

My world through a lense





Photography is my literature.


My pictures tell stories,
make you smile,
hide my tears,
and drown us in dreams.









Tuesday, November 9, 2010

And the sun will set for you

Once again: Manly is the best place to be.

Pssh, don't argue. This is all I have to "say".




















Oh I know you wanna be here too.



MELB burns





I know it's been way too long. Let me just have a look at my flight ticket... 23rd to the 25th of October. It's just that since I got back from Melbs I've been so crazy busy at work, and looking at the 7874690582304 photos I took (jokes) and thinking about deciding which to edit AND editing got me all unmotivated. But you know what it's like - once you start you can't really stop anymore.

So the whole point of going to Melbourne was to meet my auntie, who flew down from Ho Chi Minh with a group of her colleagues to attend a short course at the RMIT. I couldn't contact her at all before booking my flight and hotel room, and then when I finally reached her, she told me that she was going to fly up to Gold Coast that weekend, which of course were super exciting news. We met for like half an hour the day I left - it was great to see her after such a long time; I still wish we would've been able to spend more time together though.

Still I had an amazing trip thanks to my friends Anh and Bia, who took me around the city to see "essential Melbs". :)



Vodka lemon lime bitters at Cookie




At the NGV






Very embarrassing, but I have no memory of the name of this place. Although it was adorable.


Melbourne Central


I loved how the "Glen Iris" was glowing on my photo while everything else was a bit blurry. Don't see too much of that here anymore. :(


Who said school's uncool?


Crown Casino. So much cooler than Star City man.








Somewhere in the lanes. ;)



Southbank. Reminded me of Amsterdam.


The candy girl and boy. Look at that amount of sugar!






At the Hopetoun Tea Room


Anh and I also had this really really fabulous lunch at Ca de Vin, just next door to the GPO in that small lane way. Their style, the vibe, the food and their staff were just amazing - it was the best two hours of that day.




This was the best bread + dips. Ever.






Steve who served us rather looked like a rock star than a waiter. I was talking to Anh and she just couldn't take her eyes off his gorgeous rings, which he later told us he made them himself. And we could've bought them straight off him! He gave us his website, but it's with Anh right now - I'll keep you guys updated.


Monday I was on my own so I decided to go to St Kilda and Fitzroy in the morning before meeting my auntie for lunch (that's what she suggested the night before). As much as I love good company, I do enjoy getting around alone every now and then - it's nice to take your time to take things in and let your mind wander; there's this certain feel of happiness that overcomes me when I'm exploring things on my own.



Acland Street, St Kilda


Zetta Florence in Fitzroy

"Polly's bike!" :P



So because my aunt told me that she was staying and "going to school" somewhere on Exhibition Street, I made my way back to Collins and Exhibition, trying to call her (that's what she asked me to do as well) and to find a place to have lunch. I figured she might still be in class as she didn't pick up at all, so I decided to go to Cumulus Inc, which was just around the corner from Collins Place, and wait for her there - if she wouldn't show up I'd just have lunch by myself because I wanted to eat there anyway. And yes, I did have a lonely lunch (auntie left her phone at the hotel and had to go to a compulsory last-minute lunch meeting as well. Oh well.) but it was well worth it. Again - cool place, cool people and mad yummy food: it's always the whole package isn't it.










I was extremely bored (eating alone is way different to strolling around alone, unfortunately) and took a massive amount of pictures there (people must have thought I'm this creepy lonesome tourist, which I unfortunately was - abandoned by her own aunt :P), but I was overly satisfied with my meal: wagyu tongue, cracked wheat salad, and absolutely delicious petit fours - to die for. Even the bread and butter made me happy.


I guess I'll be back some day - I really fell in love with the Melbourne laneways with their hundreds of funky cafes, restaurants and shops; there's such a relaxed and comfy atmosphere going on. I definitely wish I could have stayed longer to eat out more! :) But it was good to come back "home", to Sydney and to our dear Manly. Yes, it did very much feel like coming home.