Wednesday 21 June 2017

Queen's birthday weekend part 1


Life is such a strange thing. When you think about it, most of us are stuck in this pattern or routine which we can't seem to escape from. We live each day in this rhythm and most can't seem to drop a beat. They ride each wave as they come yet don't move when the sea is calm.

It's funny that I say this because I'm so guilty of it. I tend to stick to what I know and only work around some things rather than use all of my time efficiently. I used to see life as this massive adventure waiting for me but I've found myself doing things because I have to rather than because I want to.

It's a battle I have to deal as my lazy ass doesn't seem to have the energy to do things that I love and end up treating them as chores instead of hobbies. How silly does that sound now that I've put it down in words? RIGHT?

I did however end up finding a bit of time to actually go out there and enjoy the little things in life. With  the Queen's birthday public holiday, I grabbed that extra day with both hands and decided to put my exploring jacket on!

Next stop: DANDENONG RANGES!

Drove just over an hour to get to this beautiful and welcoming area full of green and wildlife. The first thing on our agenda was Sherbrooke Falls Walk!

Sherbrooke Falls Walk: A 2..4 Kilometres (return) track which is fairly easy with fairly flat gravel pathway. Started and ended at the Sherbrooke Pinic Ground.







Note: Slippery and muddy when wet including some deep shoe sinking areas along the track. Gumboots would be your best friend!


Very family friendly as tracks are suitable for all ages - just keep your kids from climbing on fallen trunks as they are slippery and they will end up with a muddy bum (saw it happen to this girl - the poor thing was freezing after)



After the hike we went down to Grants Picnic Ground (There's a lot of picnic areas around that place)

Grants Picnic Ground: Probably the biggest attraction of the Dandenong Ranges simply because it allows you to get closer to nature. You'd think that Cockatoos, Rosellas and Parrots would stay well away from loud humans but these guys know exactly where to come get a feed! Being only place where hand feeding native birds is permitted, it is a slice of heaven for animal lovers who would love to get greeted by a friendly pair of wings. A token from the gift shop gives you a tray of seeds to hold while the birds happily make themselves comfortable on your shoulder or head!


As it is winter, the night made an early appearance which meant one thing!

DINNER TIME!



A cute little restaurant/cafe (to be honest with you, I'm not quite sure as I am not fancy *struggles*)
Just the look of the place was enough to convince me to go in.


Located in the village of Sassafras, this classy establishment full of charm provided beautiful views of nature. Having natural light shine through made this place extremely relaxing and comfortable.

The friendly staff are accommodating in every way. Even though we got there late - we didn't realize that it was a breakfast to lunch place - they still worked around us and were able to provide us with an early dinner!



And don't even get me started on the food! Omg I'm still dreaming about it! It was delicious and left me wanting more! The cool thing is that they are a venue that provide services for special events like weddings, birthdays and functions!

Fortnums Restaurant
Opening times: 11:00am to 4:00pm
Location: Sassafras
Karine's rating: 8.9/10

So that's it from me for now, I thought I'd break up this trip into  two parts
Part 1 - Sunday and Part 2 - Monday

A big shoutout to my best mate Rob for tagging along and being my photographer! Much appreciated!

If you've ever wanted to visit Melbourne, I cannot recommend the Dandenong Ranges enough! Pure beauty and full of activities for the whole family!

Til next time, lots of love,

Karine xx


P.s. Stay tuned for part 2

Wednesday 14 June 2017


Ever heard the quote above?

To be honest with you, I never have until I searched "new hair quote" (I really like quotes okay!) and when I saw this quote I was so impressed because I could really relate to it!

As I sat at my desk like I do every single week with my blog on my mind and my cup of tea in my hand, I thought to myself that I needed a change! When I say change, I'm not talking like huge disruptions in my life like moving countries or adopting a pet llama but I just needed something small that could make me feel different from everyday. And that's when it hit me.... MY HAIR!!

At first I was just going to get the colour redone but then I was like nope... I want it gone! (well not completely gone but you get what I mean). I went two doors down and booked an appointment! I was nervous but also super excited at the same time!

Anyone who knows me would know just how impatient I am and getting foils can take from 2 hours to 5 hour depending on what you're doing! It was actually torture having to sit in this chair while my head was wrapped in foil but the end result is always so worth it! I actually feel bad for my hairdresser as she's had to put up with my constant whining and hearing "how long left" every 15 minutes.

Although sitting there for so long is probably one of the worst things I can ever imagine doing, it does have it's perks. Great chats with hairdressers and amazing coffee! Why do coffees at the hairdressers taste better than coffee you buy from some cafes? - it makes no sense to me!

Taking baby steps, I will eventually get my hair to what I want (yes I'm trying to go lighter) so that will take a few goes but for now i'm quite happy with what it looks like.I completely forgot to take before and after pictures so I tried to scroll through all my pictures on my phone to try find a few to compare.

BEFORE

AFTER

I've had long hair my whole life so even having it just a tad shorter feels so different! My head is light and I have a lot less knots! It's so crazy! I was told that I should style it now that it's healthy enough to work with it and to be honest with you, I actually do want to! 

Since I'm hopeless at doing girl things, I've had to YouTube search and scroll through Pinterest to figure out how to style hair and do something other than straighten it and put it in a bun - It's a hard life really - 

I also got a few tips and tricks on the hotstylers website. If you haven't heard of hotstylers before, you definitely have to check it out! It's a new site which features amazing hair advice to help you get that salon finish at home! I don't know about you but I say yes to getting help on how to keep my hair always looking amazing! Check it out by clicking on HERE

And last but not least, just want to say a MASSIVE THANKYOU to Luxe Cutters in Point Cook for being legends and making my hair look amazing! They're actually a really cool crew with such a welcoming vibe! Also - HOW CAN A HAIR SALON MAKE COFFEE THAT TASTES SO AMAZING?? 

Lots of love, 

Karine xx

Friday 9 June 2017

Ever thought of what it would be like to live in the 50s?

You may not know that I was actually not born in Australia. In fact, I only moved over to Melbourne when I was 11 years old (10 years ago). Having moved countries meant leaving family and friends behind to a new and clean start.

Although some people may find it hard to be so far away from family, it also brings such an excitement and a chance to allow them to be part of your new environment when they come over to visit! One of my favourite things to do is to actually show people around.... hmm maybe I should be a tour guide.... yeah I don't think so!

The greatest thing about living in Melbourne is being to go to places which are overflowing with history. Learning about what took place years and years back at the very spot you are now standing on, is actually one of the craziest feelings ever. And my favourite place to experience that would have to be Sovereign Hills in Ballarat.

Even though I have been to Sovereign Hill at least 4 times, I would probably still go every time I get asked because it is so rich in history and traditions.

Sovereign Hill is basically an open museum where the site and era of the  discovery of gold took place. The main street used in the 1850s has been reconstructed along with the buildings and equipment.




 














P.s. they actually let you and teach you how to dig and look for gold! 

How cool is that?!?!






While strolling down the main street, you will see ladies and gentlemen of the 1850s going about their day. Whether it'd be playing music with mates, working, being at the pub, finding gold or getting arrested, this theatre packed town will make you feel like you have been dropped in the middle of the 1850s with no choice but to try blend in!

The activities are incredible. Speaking to the goldfield characters, you learn what it was like for someone like them back in day.






My favourite part of the trip was definitely getting to have a chat with the characters and learning a bit more about them.






AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST... do not.. and I repeat do NOT forget t grab yourself a packet of their delicious lollies!!!

I'm pretty sure I spent over 15 minutes choosing the right combination for me!


Overall it was actually such an awesome and very successful day as I did not step in horses poop at all! Yay me!

Everytime I go is like the first time as there are so many things to see and learn! Other things like I didn't mention earlier are tours which are really worth doing and presentation worth watching!

Have you ever been to Melbourne or are you from Melbourne? If yes, what are your favourite places to visit? But if Melbourne is on your bucket list, please ensure that you leave a day for you to go to Sovereign Hill because trust me, you will not regret it!

Lots of Love,

Karine xx