if i had 24 hours in sydney…

It’s been a year since I’ve been in Sydney and (go figure) I miss it so much! I can’t wait to visit again soon, but when I daydream all I think about are the top things I would do if I had one day to spend in Australia again….
IMG_3245First, I would go for my morning swim in Coogee. I lived right across the street from the beach and couldn’t go about my day without a fresh dip in the cool water.One day, a girl who worked at Love Juice in Coogee Pavillion told me she was very jealous of my morning routine, seeing as I would show up wrapped in a towel, with wet salty hair and sandy feet. I’ll never forget when she told me “you never regret a swim”…which takes me back to a time that I told myself that as I jumped into the rough, sea-weedy water on a stormy day… might have regretted that one.

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Wrapped in my towel and barefoot, I’d make my way over to Coogee Pavillion. I’d get an almond flat white and chat with my favorite people working there. Coogee Pavillion was one of my favorite Marivale restaurants–I’d do anything to go back for some pizza there too! I found myself sitting at he high tops for hours on end working on school work and my blog. It was peaceful to watch all of the people coming and going, and seeing people walk along the beach sidewalk.

IMG_1362I wouldn’t think twice about doing the coast walk! I love going on walks with friends or sometimes alone to clear my head. Each bay throughout the hike was so special and beautiful. The picture above is Gordon’s Bay, just at the beginning of my coast walk….

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…and at the end are the Bondi Icebergs! I never went for a swim in any of the ocean pools, but I was so fascinated by them! The water from the ocean would flow right into the pools.

IMG_2683And then there was brekky at Porch and Parlour at the very end of the walk! I could eat there for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I had my way! 
IMG_2835At some point in the day, I’d be sure to pay a visit to my Aussie family! Michelle is like my second mom (I love you too, mom!!) And her kids are like my younger sisters and brother. This was when we went to Opera Bar to see the sunset before seeing a show at the Opera House. It was such a beautiful night!IMG_2708And OF COURSE, I would go to Messina for the best ice cream in the entire world. I’m pretty sure Messina was the leading cause of my weight gain in Sydney, but it was so worth it! They have a list of specials every week, and the line is always down the block!

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Dinner would 100% be at Three Blue Ducks. I love sitting up at the bar and having hand made cocktails with kangaroo tartare and their pork belly! Yeah, you probably just read that and thought those both sounded equally disgusting, but don’t knock it till you try it! They also just opened The Farm at Byron Bay, which I will definitely be visiting next time I am there!

So there you go…I’ve hopefully sold you on Sydney, and successfully made myself want to cry after making this post. It is such an incredible place, I can’t wait to go back and explore more!

xx

still on vacation

wow–long overdue post is needed from my trip to bali, byron, and everything in between! Bali was incredible, I would do anything to go back again someday! Here’s a rundown of where we stayed, what we ate, beached, and adventured on our 9 day trip x

Seminyak: hands down my favorite part of the trip. Seminyak is super busy, with tons of fun shopping and amazing food. We had so much fun roaming the streets popping into boutiques and checking out other local venues.

stay: Sahana Villas– we had the most incredible stay at the Sahana Villas! when we walked into our three bedroom private villa it was like walking into a Pinterest pin. the staff was incredible, always available and became family in just three days. the owners were also incredible hospitable, friendly, and made every minute of our trip enjoyable–we even went back to see everyone again on the day we left Bali!   IMG_2274 IMG_1863 eat: MAMA San– AMAZING! the food is fresh and flavorful and the drinks are incredible. we went back on our last night before flying back to Sydney. definitely get the crispy pork, chow mien noodles and the fish cakes. you won’t be disappointed.

Sea Circus– a must. try the salt & pepper calimari and fish tacos. and since you’re on vacation, try a pitcher of the guava margarita–yum! IMG_2267 La Lucciola– the most fresh, delicious Italian food paired with an incredible view of the ocean. carbs AND the beach? heaven! IMG_1940 Cafe Bali-we went on our first night and it was great. great variety of fish plates, pad thai, etc.! Earth Cafe-great lunch spot. plenty of healthy options and some amazing raw/vegan desserts–less guilt!

drink: Potato Head, KU DE TA IMG_2309 Ubud: after all the hustle and bustle in Seminyak, Ubud was a nice, quiet escape in the jungle. we had so much fun visiting the monkey forest, practiced yoga at Yoga Barn, the Batuan temple, rice terraces, and relaxed!

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stay: Five Elements-just outside town, off the beaten path, lies the most incredible, spiritual and serene retreat. we loved our cabana overlooking the water (with an outdoor tub and shower!). the raw/vegan cuisine was exceptional, as well as the spa services. i tried an energy massage and soaked in a coconut milk bath while looking at the moon rise over the water–is this real life?? IMG_2052IMG_2054 eat:  The Yoga Barn cafe: the perfect pairing after a challenging vinyasa class. there was a wide selection of vegan dishes and sweet desserts. be sure to grab the coconut “bacon” at the checkout–it was out of this world!

Viceroy– on our way to Padang Padang, we stopped for lunch at the Viceroy. woah! it was incredible. the food was super fresh and delicious, paired with a ping pong cocktail! the most incredible part was the view overlooking the forest. if it’s in your budget, i would definitely stay in a villa at the Viceroy. the architecture and landscape are breathtaking, and the service is wonderful. IMG_2065IMG_2070 Jimbaran/Uluwatu: stay: The Rimba at The Ayana– The Rimba was a great place for the ‘resort’ experience. truth be told, we didn’t spend too much time there. don’t get me wrong the resort was amazing, but we were in ‘villa’ mode and wanted to go see the quieter surf beaches. the perks of staying at either one of the hotels here is priority access to Rock Bar, which is definitely a must go! we watched the most breathtaking sunset while sipping on some drinks…i will never forget how beautiful that was!

IMG_2107IMG_2586 eat: since we spent most of our time in Uluwatu, here’s some of our favorite places!

Buddha Soul– hands down, the best breakfast of our entire trip–we went both mornings (and for lunch too!) fresh juices, coffee, and the best omelet. lunch was just as great, laurie had an incredible coconut curry and we had a hand rolled sushi as well. you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

Single Fin– we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and sipped wine while overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean for lunch and for the sunset. it was fun watching the surfers paddle out in the beautiful water. we spent the entire day there!

escape: Suluban Beach- after lunch at Single Fin, we ventured down through the rocks onto this little hidden getaway. it was a fun spot to watch surfers trek out and catch fun waves!we watched the beginning of the sunset from the beach and ended it up top (back at Single Fin) with Sangria and some yummy appetizers! IMG_2160IMG_2138 Padang Padang Beach-the perfect end to a wonderful trip (before going back to Seminyak!) we went for two days in a row, venturing past the beach-goers and vendors over to our own little private hideaway in the rocks. definitely check it out. you won’t be disappointed! IMG_2234

acai addiction

Happy Monday! Ever since I got home for the summer, I’ve been going to 3 Natives for my daily acai bowl fix. I’m pretty sure the people working there think I’m crazy considering I’m there almost every morning… So, in an attempt to save time and money, I found the Sambazon acai sorbet and created my own breakfast bowl! This is super fun to make with friends or family and can be personalized to any of your favorite fruit and topping preferences:

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Just stir the softened acai in a bowl (mix in peanut or almond butter if you prefer) and add as many toppings as you want! I added some organic peaches (hint hint, 3 Natives!). I also mixed in a little bit of raw honey and dang coconut chips. If you haven’t tried dang, you haven’t truly lived..just saying. I also like to add some bee pollen, maca powder, and vanilla granola too.

I will say, this bowl was almost exactly the same as 3 Natives. So for those of you who don’t live in the area, you can try it out or yourselves in your own home! However, for me, I just love making the trip there after yoga with friends and family! I also just remembered I have a free acai bowl from my 10 punch card (don’t ask me how many of those cards I’ve been through…)

Hope you all have a great week! : )

 

I’m going to miss this place…

Although I spend most of my time wishing I was home, at the beach with my friends and family, I really will miss Dallas! I just realized that I won’t be back until January, which means I’ll be gone for eight months! I can’t believe it… Here are a few things I’m going to miss about this place:

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My favorite almond milk lattes at Number One Cafe in Highland Park.  The atmosphere is so relaxing, and the people who work there are so fun to talk to.  Not to mention, Chapter Two has the best coffee table books next door!

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Adventures with my roommate, Kate.  She’s always finding new places to go explore!  This was our latest brunch trip to Oddfellows.  You could say we were pretty hungry!

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Roots. Juices. I don’t know what I’ll do without you!  They always have the best Seasonal Smash, and the Go Green is the best green juice that won’t make you cringe!  These are my all-time favorite cold pressed juices.  You can sample as many flavors as you want!

ImageThe gluten free mushroom pizza from True Food Kitchen–the ultimate comfort food. This picture doesn’t do it justice, but it is a must try!  Also, be sure to try the chia seed pudding, it will become your newest obsession.

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 Forty Five Ten’s restaurant, T-Room is a great lunch experience!  The seasonal veggie quiche with the pecan-crusted chicken salad is the best.  The restaurant and boutique make for a fun lunching date with friends.  Make sure you make a reservation, and if its a beautiful day, definitely opt for the covered patio!