Good To See You Too Babe!

After spending a lazy morning watching an interview between Tony Martin and Alan Davies I hauled myself up off the couch to get some vitamin D. If I know I have the day to myself I love going out for a walk. Seeing as I was back in Melbourne from Gippsland for the weekend I decided to go to the Botanical Gardens. I used to always walk around there when I lived on St Kilda Rd and it was nice to revisit my usually stomping ground. It was such a nice day after I finished my walk I went into a quiet bit and laid out like a starfish.

Later that night I went to Dave Gorman's Powerpoint Presentation, a show which is a part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Comedy shows are always the worst things to be late to - comedians must spend so much time, sitting at home, trying to figure out how to embarrass people. And as predicted we were late! Another failure of the Melbourne transport system - it took 50 minutes to get from south yarra to the city... ridiculous!

Anyway the show was really funny and in our celebratory mood we went out got some thai food (tiny tiny place called Lotus Thai Cafe but amazing), bubble tea and Max Brenner. Tas and I spent ages on the astroturf in the middle of the QV building contemplating life and how well some asian guys dress.

1+2+3+4/ Botanical Gardens
5+6+7/ Fondue for two!
8+9+10/ Stargazing on the astroturf
11/ Graffiti in Hosier Lane
12/ Flinders street station
13/ At Fed Square.. There was more astroturf there!

Outfit
Blood orange dress - Sandro from Paris
Bling necklace - Diva
Cream sandals - Zomp
Green leather bag - Zara
Friendship bracelets - Mathias Chaize

Bec xx

Indian Summer

Yesterday I went for a stroll out around Chapel in this unusually sunny weather. But like any good Melburnian, I know that you should expect the exact opposite of what you see when you look out the window - you see, Melbourne weather can change faster than you can say "Hey, is that Ryan Gosling over there?" Which is a stupid example anyway because I would never finish that question. Instead I would be hysterically running and screaming behind him, with complete disregard of my athletic abilities.

I'm a big believer in 'if you can't decide then do both' - thats why when I was 7 my favourite hairstyle was the old "half up, half, down."Or why my car has fluffy dice and a bobble head on the dash. Or why I mixed champagne and red bull the other night.

So today I went for winter on the bottom and summer on top. Nothing says summer like a clean loose white tee and minimalist, bright necklace. But nothing says I don't trust this weather like jeans and thick leather boots (and a jacket in the bag).

I'll be enjoying the day when it's freezing cold and I know it will be freezing cold all day and I can drink hot chocolate and wear all the clothes I own.

Speaking of hot chocolate, I am moving to Gippsland for 6 weeks... today! How is that related to hot chocolate you ask? Well I have this idea that in the country people sit by fires and drink hot chocolate. So I'm pretty sure that will be my life for the next 6 weeks.

Outfit
White cotton tee - Sportsgirl
Navy skinny jeans - Cotton On
Fluoro yellow collar necklace - Diva
Black leather boots - Country Road
Green leather bag  - Zara
Sunglasses - Sportsgirl
Friendship bracelets - Mathias Chaize

Coogee Babies - Day One In Sydney

First Morning we headed down to Globe on Coogee Beach. So yum! I cant believe I didn't take a picture of my mango smoothie.. it was freshest stuff. We also took Shereen's new puppy, Barclay, out for a little stroll!

1/ Scarmbled eggs, avocado and bacon on sourdough @ Globe
2/ Walking around Coogee
3/ Coogee has the best beachy vibe.. something I miss in Melbourne
4/ Beach
5/ My friend Shereen!
6/ Such a vibrant shade of blue
7/ Walking Baclay the puppy!
8/ Shereen enjoying the sun
9/ Little Barclay! So little!
10/ Pug party
11/ Barclay's favourite toy

Outfit
Stripe t-shirt - Witchery
Navy skinny jeans - Cotton On
Metal collar necklace - Sportsgirl
Cream sandals - Zomp
Freindship bracelets - Mathias Chaize
Plastic Sunglasses - Sportsgirl
Green and black leather bag - Zara

Bec xx

"I Never Read, I Just Look At Pictures"

Loving that Net-a-Porter stocks the beautifully simple jewellery of Mathias Chaize - especially this baby.

I own lots of photography books... that counts as reading right? If a picture tells a thousand words then that makes me a super efficient reader.

Bec xx

Lady of Leisure

A family weekend.

1/ Cider at Hairy Canary on Lt Collins
2/ Ceiling of the Capitol Theatre before Melbourne comedy festival show
3/ Breakfast at Picnic Cafe on Toorak Rd with old Don
4/ Cover of Dapper Dan Magazine after some good time spent at Magnation
5/ Old Don with a dog
6/ Old Don drinking Strawberry Calpis
7/ Getting excited for sushi at Kanpai on Chapel St
8/ Buffet breakfast at the Langham. Eggs on demand, chocolate fountain, pancake man, bacon, bowls of strawberries... Heavenly
9/ Nicola Finetti tribal skirt that I'm dangerously close to buying since getting a $100 Myer voucher.
10/ Nicola Finetti skirt up close
11/ Chillin on Greville

Outfit
Grey t-shirt - Sass and Bide
Navy skinny jeans - Cotton On
Green leather handbag - Zara
Metal collar necklace - Sportsgirl
Cognac leather cowboy boots - Zomp
Leather belt - Witchery
Friendship bracelets - Mathias Chaize

Bec xx

Winning Friends With Salad

The other day I was super excited to go to the much hyped Hanoi Hannah on High St. We thought a Tuesday lunch might mean we could actually get a table as every time I've walked past this place it's been a bit too pumping. 


We arrived around 1pm and straightaway were helped to the last spot at the bar. The inside of this place is pretty cool - the exposed brick, industrial style pendant lights and wooden ceiling all work to make this place feel nice and homely. The front of the place is almost completely open with some street seating too so it felt pretty 'nam minus the miniature plastic kiddie chairs - at least it was comforting to know that I would be able to get up from my chair.

Interior of Hanoi Hannah

Its littered with little trinkets that reminded me of my time in vietnam - although I don't recall multiple tin cow statues as being a big thing while I was there.

The menu was pretty standard vietnamese. Everything sounded pretty amazing and peeking around the restaurant at everyones food, it looked good too. The menu was divided up into pho, rice paper rolls and then other street food which was more your meat + vegetable kind of dishes. I was pleased to see my old favourite, ba-ba-ba beer making an appearance on the drinks menu and the cocktail menu got me in a tropical mood.

One of the Happy Cows

I made sure I got my blessing from the tin cows before I ordered Vermicelli Salad with Lemongrass Beef ($10). Vermicelli salad is one of my favourite dishes of all time. It's always so fresh and light but still hearty without being too heavy. I've tried my fair share of vermicelli salads so I came into the challenge with lots of experience and high expectations.

In typical 'nam style the food came out fresh and fast. It was covered in vegetables which I was really craving and had plenty of mint to keep me happy. Mine was a really good and I'd order it again.

Vermicelli Salad with Lemongrass Beef

 

My friends got the chilli prawn and papaya salad and the vietnamese slaw with chicken. They both enjoyed the flavours of their dishes but found the servings too small and the vegetable to meat ratios were a little high. This is not the kind of place you would want to come if you're super hungry.

Afterwards we went and got cake.

It ain't 'nam without a bike.

Outfit

- White sheer cotton embroider top - Zara

- Turquoise camisole (underneath) - Witchery

- Dark navy skinny jeans - Cotton On

- Tan tassel bow ballet flats - Zomp

- Rose gold metal headband - H&M

- Orange leather clutch - Oroton

- "Avec Le Temps" friendship bracelets - Mathias Chaize

- Turquoise and silver ring - from vietnam markets (not planned!)

I love the detail in this top from Zara I got it while I was away in Europe. With the neon top underneath, it's got a bit of a Alexander Wang SS12 vibe for me.

So back to Hanoi Hannah:

Pros:

- Good atmosphere

- Good flavours

- Well priced menu

- Drinks menu was impressive

Cons:

- Portions too small. I think my friends would have appreciated if the waiters had advised them that they should get more food or even order some rice with it or something. If this please is meant to be asian tapas style then they certainly didn't make it clear.

- Service could be better. We weren't exactly demanding customers but after they served us our food that was the end of that. It was difficult to get their attention to get our water refilled or even get the bill.

This makes me wanna have business cards.

Hanoi Hannah

180 High Street

Windsor, VIC 3181

Hanoi Hannah on Urbanspoon

Rating: 7/10

Would I come here again: I would come here again but with a big group of people for dinner, getting lots of dishes to share. If I didn't live around the corner I don't think I would bother. It's no Victoria St.

Bec xx

P.S A picture of my friend Tas and I after cake - finally satisfied!