Greetings from Bali

One thing about holidays and me is that time seems to go very slow.  I'm unable to sleep much more than I usually sleep, and since nothing in Asia seems to open before 11am I find myself looking at my watch and thinking, is it REALLY only 8:45am?  Did I really only leave Melbourne 4 days ago?

I have been in Bali about 16 hours now, and it has rained for about 15 of those hours.  Maybe a bit more.  And when she I say rain, I mean rain.  Monsoon.  Perfect excuse to splurge a whole USD11 for the best massage I've had in my whole entire life.  I don't think the forecast is looking any better for the remainder of the week that I am here.  Not to worry, there's always facials and reflexology and cocktails and pedicures to keep me occupied.

While Singapore was all about order with a lot of shopping, trust Bali to bring you down to earth.  This place really is the best and the worst of everything in this world.  From amazing food and hospitality to amazing 6 star resorts tucked away behind a street full of extreme poverty, unsafe driving, drugs, prostitution and stray diseased dogs. 

I had the longest list of sights and sounds I wanted to see, but I don't think the monsoon is likely to let me do that, so I may as well go back to bed and watch the discovery channel and write those postcards I promised.

I decided at the very last minute, not to bring my laptop, so no live updates or photos until I return to Melbourne.  I wish I had the time to visit each and every one of your blogs and write each and every one of you an email, but I don't, so with this post, I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and I wish you all a happy, healthy, successful and adventerous new year.


M xxx

Winter weather...

I know I promised a delightful, summery post over the weekend but it was not meant to be.  On Sunday it was 11C in Melbourne - less than a week before Christmas!!

I had every intention of visiting the botanic gardens, shooting some photos and having a sorbet, but as soon as I stepped out of church, I made a bee line for the blanket and couch, which is where I remained for the rest of the day until I had to pick up a friend who is visiting from Canada to promote his new film down under.  He had spent the previous few days enjoying the sunshine in Perth and the wintry weather was a real shock, both to me and him!  Curse you Melbourne.

I so very much need a tan!

Zayt dress

Scanlan Theodore sweater

Witchery shoes

Various accessories - T&Co, Witchery, Tag

I managed to pull out my suitcase from amongst the boxes in the spare room that B has already diligently packed in anticipation of our move, which isn't for another 7-8 weeks! (he's clearly happy that we're leaving this place that we've very much out grown) and I have started to make a packing list for the trip (and a last minute shopping list - thank you 24 hour Christmas trading, you will come in handy tomorrow night when I realise I forgot to buy cotton balls.. or something).  People, trust me, the only way to pack light is to plan every activity and every outfit and only pack those things and nothing else.  And I think with that sentence, I've convinced you all that I am a complete and utter control freak.  But I like it! I take B to every corner of every city we visit until he cannot be taken any more.  Poor guy.

Once I actually got to packing, I got to 3 bikinis, 3 beach dresses and a tub of sunscreen and gave up.  Will that do me for 2 weeks?

I hate packing!  

And it's so cold, I'm going to turn the heater on.

Brandy & Melville St. Tropez Top (love)

About a month ago, while insomnia was reigning and I was attempting to cure it with late night internet window shopping, it dawned on me that I really, really, really wanted some new plain basics (because, you know, I don't have enough).  Behold my excitement when I stumbled across the cheap and cheerful brand called Brandy & Melville on Revolve.

Unfortunately almost everything was sold out, so in the hope of my favourite items being restocked, I sent a special order enquiry and received word that it was restocked this morning.  With a 20% discount code and ultra cheap shipping, who could resist?

“When a woman falls in love with something so much that she wants to wear it - it's at that point that it becomes fashion” Oscar de la Renta

Sincere apologies for my lack of meaningful posts of late and lack of return visits and comments on your blogs.  What with washing and packing, social Christmas engagements and friends to see before my extended leave, I am left very little by way of me time.  After house hunting for almost 12 months where my weekends were spent trawling real estate websites, going to open houses, frowning at the lack of sunlight, poor plans and lay outs for 90% of the properties I saw and at times pulling my hair out in frustration I am glad to be having a break. 

I love living in Melbourne during the warmer months, so some outfit posts and scenery and favourite spots are coming up this weekend, I promise!

In the mean time, some gorgeous shots and wishes for a happy weekend X

via tumblr

Maryna Linchuck in Chanel - Vogue Germany January 2011

I am completely mesmerised by this cover.  One of the best Vogue covers I've seen in a long time.  Exactly what Vogue is all about.  I'm sure Maryna is set for a big year in 2011.  As much as I love and can relate to the content of American and Australian Vogue, I love the almost unattainable high fashion of their European counter parts.  Picking up a cover like this is infinitely more inspiring than a Jennifer Aniston cover.  It's a dream.

images from fashionspot user scans



Natalie Portman - US Vogue January 2011

"I swear, I eat. I ate a bagel an hour ago. I consume my own weight in hummus every day. I cook a lot, and I even do vegan baking.



“I like pleasure, I like joy. I’d never get to the point where I would starve or injure myself like Nina does. I’m the opposite—when I’m hungry, I eat, and I always make sure I’m eating something delicious. I’m tough on myself in terms of the standards I want to live up to, but that’s also part of my pleasure: knowing you are being your fullest self. Being your fullest self is a lot of work.”

The mystery illness strikes again...

As I was sitting at my desk yesterday at around 3pm the illness struck again.  The chest tightened, the throat swelled up and my head was about to explode.  I was in bed by 9.  I honestly don't know the cause of all this.  Is it exhaustion?  Is it stress?  A poor immune system?

I would love a couple of days bed rest, but it's a luxury I cannot afford.  Or maybe a detoxing infra red sauna treatment?  Maybe all I need is some sunshine, as opposed to fluro lights and giant dual computer screens contributing to my ever deteriorating eye sight.

I have about 9 days until my break (not that I am counting) and in that time I have more tasks to action than I care to think about.  Oh why oh why can't the phone be disconnected and the email bounce while I'm away so I can come back to zero urgent tasks, zero angry clients, zero co workers who need help, zero office politics, zero policy changes?  Would it be bad if my out of office read 'sorry I am on holidays and this email will not wait for to be actioned upon my return, so just do it yourself'?  I'm absolutely not the girl who compains about life all the time, I promise I'm not, but after being ill 4 times in the space of 2 months, feeling sorry for myself is a feeling that's on autopilot at the moment.  Somebody please heal me, since the doctor and naturopath are unable to.

I am counting on a month by the sea to cure me.... 

images all via tumblr

Vegan delights...

With Christmas lent well and truly underway, I am feeling fantastic.  No animal product consumption agrees with me and I'm waking up in the morning without an alarm clock.  My favourites to cook and eat...

Vegetable relish.. Brown an onion and some garlic in vegetable oil and add finely diced capsicum, tomato, eggplant, mushroom.. anything you like and reduce it with some salk, pepper, vegeta and paprika on medium heat for around 20 minutes.  Served hot with mash potato or rice...  I virtually eat variations of it daily!

Corn bread.  2 cups polenta, 1 cup plain flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder  Combined with 2 cups of soy milk and 1/3 cup vegetable oil.  I like to add a teaspoon of tea and 3 table spoons of sugar.

A well-cultivated mind is, so to speak, made up of all the minds of preceding ages; it is only one single mind which has been educated during all this time. - Bernard de Bovier de Fontenelle

Continuing on from my previous post, here aresome more things that I am loving at the moment.  Thing that are inspiring me and things that I am looking forward to.

Cold mangoes

Drinks at the Rock Bar at sunset at Ayana Resort in Bali

Mac Prep+Prime

Updating my Moleskine with 2011 events (HELLO PARIS!)

Fresh flowers in short vases

Wearing whites and creams all summer long!

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE! xxx

Gifts that give back - Witchery OCRF range

If you're still stuck for gifts or some stocking stuffers, may I draw your attention to the Witchery range benefiting the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.   There's something for everyone in a very wallet friendly price range ($9.95 for a pendant to $89.95 for a bathrobe), and best of all $5 from each purchase benefits OCRF.  The stuff really is gorgeous, as well as useful.  Jewellery that's very wearable.  Have nabbed myself (and a couple more to gift) of the solid bangles as well as the gorgeous travel wallet for my upcoming trip.. and best of all, guilt free as a portion is donated towards women's health issue research.

Flat Oval Bangle

Flat Brushed Ring

Waffle Cos Case

Cocoon Vase

Metallic Travel Wallet

Luggage Tag

Word Disc Necklace

Charm

Cord Necklace

Marbella Tie

images via witchery

Balmain sale - The Outnet

Despite the 70% off, can any of us really afford to pay AUD5,000 for a cotton sequined top?  I think not.

But how exquisite is this whole look?  The white, the bow, the sequins?

Postcards from paradise...

With only 17 sleeps until my trip (and me being very close to deciding to leave my phone and macbook behind in order to have a proper break) I thought of no better way to keep connected with my blogging friends than via postcards.

If you'd like a postcard from one, or many, of the places I will be visiting during my month long trip, drop me an email with your address and expect things in the mail in the new year!  It's very rare to get anything in the mail these days, apart from bills, so join in the fun!

sheworeitwell.blog@gmail.com

Starting summer in Sydney..

It's fair to say the entire eastern seaboard of Australia had a real summer weekend.  The iPhone lied and made me believe that it would be raining all weekend, but alas the sun was shining in Sydney and it was too hot to wear jeans.  Not that I'm complaining.  I was blissfully happy even if suffering in the heat.  But one must suffer when they travel with a tiny carry on bag.

Sportsgirl top

Raspberry AND pistachio 

Sydney Harbour bridge, with Jim Clark's $100 million yacht spoiling the view.  It's apparently the world's largest privately owned sail boat - and hosted the who's who of Sydney society yesterday.

Fleur Wood top, sass & bide jeans, Witchery sandals

Hope you all had a splendid weekend, whatever it was that you were doing.  I must prepare for Christmas this week.  I must!