City Slickers - Part 3

Apart from shopping and sight seeing, the next most important part of a holiday is food and drinking, of course. I think I have gained about 2 kgs from my week away - but it was so worth it! After being starved of options out here in the country, I was ready to eat, eat, eat!

Probably the most memorable part of the trip involved the world famous "Tetsuya" restaurant. Anything I say about it will never do it justice. This ten course degustation menu was insane-out-of-this-world amazing! A part of me wishes I took a photo of each dish, but then again, my tastebuds will serve better for my memory then any photo. The service was immaculate, the food, the wine (!) I can't even begin to describe. All I know is that if you ever want a food experience of a lifetime, then save your dollars (really, save your dollars) and experience it for yourself. Incredible!

We also discovered the best burritos in town! I am a huge mexican fan - all throughout America we were on the search for authentic Mexican - and the burritos at Guzman Y Gomez were the best I have tried in Australia. Delicious! As soon  as Franco and I got home, we tried to recreate them and I must say Franco, you did a fantastic job!

As for bars - we went to the 'Lowenbrau' at The Rocks - I sampled a delicious mango beer - yum! That was a very cool place - all staff were dressed in German attire. Loved it!

My awesome mango beer - and Franco's 'little' beer. He was jealous!

The Opera Bar at the Opera House - also very popular. Great views of the Harbour, but so so busy! It's quite a hip place to be but very difficult to get a seat anywhere, especially on a Friday/Saturday night. Worth a look however!

We also went to a few bars in Newtown, and spent alot of time in the Intercontinental hotel bar, naturally!

Other things we did in Sydney: Visited Taronga Zoo. I actually was this close to smuggling this little fella into my handbag....

He is saying "Pick me! Pick me! Put me in your handbag!"

Manly Ferry - it is such a lovely ferry ride and you can perve on all the rich houses along the Harbour!

Some lucky sailors I snapped while we were riding the ferry

We roamed the Botanical Gardens, and went to the Art Gallery to see the Archibald Prize exhibition. Relaxed at coffee shops, drinking delicious coffee and the odd Bloody Mary in the morning to perk us up! Caught up with dear friends and family and drank too much red wine...

It was such a lovely week away. We are so quick to dream of going overseas - but here is a stunning city right in Australia, with so much to do, so much to offer, so much to eat and see.

Love Annie xoxoxox

City Slickers - Part 2

Now, back to this wonderful city...

3. Shopping

I think we have established that Darling Harbour is a top spot for accomodation - but what I didn't mention was that it's really close to George st and Pitt st - which is the hot spot for shopping!!!!
Being so far away from shopping here in Cloncurry, I bet you all can picture my reaction. I was in heaven. I almost had the urge to dive into the rows of clothes and roll around in them. That would have been quite embarrassing for poor Franco - who mind you, was a very good shopping partner up until I made him come into Sportsgirl with me for the fourth time in one day (I was worried I might have missed something in there - something only us females understand!)

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3- I wish! I loved that dress!!!

Other great spots for shopping - Bondi Junction, Manly Beach (the shop Nordic Fusion is to die for!!!) and Rose Bay (also Double Bay apparently is too, but unfortunately I didn't get to check it out!) My wardrobe is so full now. I am a happy girl!

I got these funky items in Bondi - I adore the cuff!

The Rocks Markets on Saturdays are also worth a look - handmade woven scarfs, clothing, handmade soaps, jewellery, woodcrafts...I could go on and on..it really is fun to wander through! I bought this sweet floral print to get framed...

With all the big shopping centres, it's easy to forget there are some great little streets that have funky clothes, interior decorations, jewellery etc...but finding them can be the challenge. I guess it's just a matter of walking around, asking locals and doing a bit of research. One place I would have loved to check out is Oxford st, Paddington. Sigh, sometimes there is just not enough time in the day.

More Sydney blogs to come!

Annie xoxox

City Slickers - Part 1

Sydney - I think I love you.

After just returning from a wonderful week away, I am feeling great. Credit card and bank balance - not so great however. But I am still on a high from re-discovering this wonderful city so I am not even going to worry about finances. At all!

It has been approximately 15 years or so since I last visited my new favourite place in Australia. Way cooler to visit this time then when I was under 10 years old. So I will show you all a few piccies from my adventure, and give you some tips and ideas if you are planning a holiday away...

1. Circular Quay - perfect place for accommodation!
I guess it all depends on what you are wanting out of Sydney - but it is honestly right in the middle of all the action! We stayed at the Intercontinental. I highly recommend this hotel! Wonderful service, stunning views and you might even run into the odd celeb while you are there (I happened to bump into old school rapper 'Flavor Flav'.) Yes, I was star struck! haha!
We were on Circular Quay - which has the ferry and train terminal - so you can get anywhere you want quite easily. Stress free transport - perfect. Also, views include the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Oh dear, writing this is making me miss it already!

2. Manly Beach
We caught the ferry over - and it was such a funky little beach town! Great shopping too. Fell in love with this divine shop called Nordic Fusion. I am glad Franco pulled me away from it eventually, otherwise I would have needed to hire a private jet to take everything home with me. Everyone, do yourself a favour and check it out! nordicfusion.com.au

I bought this gorgeous print - definately getting it framed!

I really wanted to buy these candy dishes - so many cute colours - but wasn't overly confident that they wouldn't get broken in transit! They are still on my wishlist... I want them in pink!

Manly beach has a real Santa Monica feel to it - the set out was quite similiar. But I must say, our beaches are way better. Pity it was to cold for a swim!

Giant lollie store!

So many more great things to blog about...but I think I best get some rest! I can't wait to show you all my other purchases and pictures.

Annie xox

Reflecting under the stars

I had a very memorable night last night, here in the outback.


I just want you all to remember how beautiful the sky at night is. As there is no pollution, no skyscrapers, no city lights out here, you can peer up at the sky at night and see all the stars twinkling away, not overshadowed by a thing. A group of us lit of fire, cooked a lovely meal and sat around drinking wine and beer, laughing and joking, dancing, then moving on to in-depth conversations the more the alcohol flowed into our cups. What has made me want to write about this, and why I will remember this night is because it has brought up a question for me - are humans designed to live in small country towns?
I wonder this because last night, the group consisted of so many different people. We are all from different parts of the country, have different interests, different desires...some have only been here for 2 weeks, some for years. We don't have a closed off circle of friends anymore, what we have now is each other.
I feel satisfied and happy when I surround myself with all these different people. There's no time to be shy, or have the prolonged getting to know someone period. You just say hello and that's it. You're friends. I've found that there is a lot less judgement out here, and you see the real person straight up. I feel like after 3 months, I truly am gaining a lot from out here. Once one to shy away from meeting new people, now I'm a pro. I feel like a friendlier person and I embrace any new friendships that cross my way. Somewhere along the way, we as humans have become more sheltered or even lazy, maybe as our cities have expanded. Would we all be better off in a smaller town? Would someone who is lost in the crowds, find themselves in a place like this?

Maybe Cloncurry has more opportunities for me then I imagined, professionally and personally?

Annie xo

A different way to store your jewellery

If you are anything like me, you will have lots of jewellery. My favourite jewellery to collect is earrings - I love dangly, bright, gold, silver, hoops, teardrop as well as classic simple types like pearls and studs. 

My question is though, how do you display yours? I'm ashamed to admit it, but at the moment none of my jewels are on display...they are all in draws in my bathroom. I'm lacking in space here unfortunately, but when I lived in the city, I had them all in different vintage bowls on my white dresser alongside the vintage perfume bottles I collect. It looked so pretty. I've been looking on the internet for some new ideas, and I found some great ways to display those much loved pieces, one which is DIY!

This one is from weheartit blog - an old photoframe transformed into a shabby chic jewellery holder!

I love how they are hanging on the wall, and the different sized frames!

Etsy.com

etsy.com

ebay.com - I have ones like this at home!

You could hang your earrings from the old frames, and pop all your bracelets, bangles, rings and necklaces into the vintage bowls. Please check out etsy.com - there is so much to see!

I can feel a project coming on! Oh yes! 

Annie xo

A squirrel is just a rat in a cuter outfit..

We have just had AUSTAR installed at home, so obviously I am loving it! After having only 4 channels out here, it's so great having all these channels to choose from. I guess it is making me watch TV more, which is never a good thing but at least I enjoy the treadmill a lot more now that I have a distraction.

I spent all day Sunday watching re-runs of the wonderful Sex and the City and I fell in love with Carrie's weird and wonderful outfits all over again! I had to post some of them on hear, so we can all think back and remember the amazing show, and the oh-so-incredible fashion.

I still miss that show. Sigh....

"I like my money right where I can see it..hanging in my closet"

Annie xo

Photos from : www.fabsugar.com

Rodeo Runway

I experienced what I like to call, a real 'country day' yesterday.
I went to my first ever Rodeo!

After a short 130 km drive, we found ourselves in a colourful country town called Julia Creek. I would describe it as one of the little towns that you dream of stopping through while on a road trip - it had gorgeous character with its little country cafe and local pub/hotel and friendly residents.

We started the day with lunch at the cafe, then checked out the race day. The afternoon was spent at the pub, and then the real country fun started - the rodeo! I loved watching the professional bull riders..although a few of them ended up in the hospital (!) Ouch..

I couldn't help but feel that I wanted to dress the part! This morning I went straight online and started to check out all the flannels and plaid shirts I could buy to get right into the country spirit of things. I'm going to be prepared for when the local show is on!

I'm still going to have a fashionable spin on the outfit, of course. Here are some ideas....

Maybe not a good idea to show the abdo - but it looks cute!

Bright coloured plaid

I love MKOs flannel style!

Megan Fox

Ralph Lauren

Tommy Hilfiger

It's true what they say, life is what you make it. I will look back at these years of my life, living out in the country, and think about all the experiences...and be glad I embraced it!
Annie xo