JOURNAL

Let's be honest. Smoothie Bowls are basically dessert for breakfast.

And since our arrival back to the tropics last month, I have been absolutely loving making my morning Smoothie Bowl. Here in Bali we're pretty spoilt for fresh, delicious tropical fruit (Dragonfruit, Mango's, Papaya's, Pineapple and Bananas are on every street corner!) it's rude not to make the most out using them.

I'm not going to lie, if breakfast isn't a quick whip easy to make situation (ie Weetbix) I'm probably going to skip it. That's why I have been making a solid routine of hitting the local fruit markets on a Sunday morning and prepping the fruit in advance. With a big fat stash of frozen fruit in the freezer ready for a week-long of delicious and nutritious breakfasts, your smoothie bowls are only a blend away!

We're all about hooking you up with ideas and inspiration for an epic holiday getaway and local North Shore Hawaiian beauty Casey Evans is here to let you in on her island hot spots - Yuss!

For me, just the word Hawaii is a huge weak spot. Although I am yet to travel to this island paradise, in my mind, 10 years from now I will be curled up in a rad little beach shack that has epic views our over the ocean, our vege patch growing on steroids from the lush humid weather and the beautiful crystal clear warm ocean just across the road.... To me, Hawaii seems like the perfect mash of NZ and Bali, my 2 'homes'. (Did I mention I have yet to visit this 'Hawaii'? I'm not even sure if these paradise's exist!?) Anyway when we recently connected with beach beauty Casey Evans, she kind confirmed everything I have pictured in my dreams. And, well, she's living it! Grab a coconut / Cuppa Tea & dive in (Warning, may provoke Holiday planning... just sayin')

With the launch of our latest BON VOYAGE collection of charm jewellery, we've put together a few photos from Behind the Scenes on shoot day. Always a crazy mad and slightly stressfull day, we managed to overcome the 37degree mid-day heat and produce some pretty rad photos!

Our latest collection BON VOYAGEis the second addition to our 'Essentials' range - Collectible keepsake charms as a way to remember life’s endless adventures and unforgettable moments.

Serving up mini-sized travel themed charms as a way to share adventures you have been on or wish to go on together in the future, these pint-sized momento's will have you weak at the knees and adding to your charm collection in no time at all.

Designed with the travellers and adventurers in mind BON VOYAGEalso launches with 2 new additions of chains to stack your charms onto. Our Everyday chain is, well, perfect for your everyday outfits will our Ball Chain adds both texture and luxe to your necklace game.

Book your plane ticket Chica's - keepsake jewellery has never looked so fine (Even in the tropical sunshine HEAT!) x

On holiday from Melbourne but still can’t quite kick your craving for a perfectly poured mid-morning Latte? I feel you.

And this is where I can confidently say – we’ve got your back! Introducing to you, the Bali institution and world-class-coffee offerings of Revolver Café. Conveniently located in the heart of Jl. Laksma a.k.a the main strip of Seminyak, this tiny door located down a back alley can be a bit of a trick to find. (Look for the tiny Black ‘REVOLVER’ sign about 20 metres down an alleyway, on the left as you head to the beach and opposite Seminyak Square). But once you’re there, you will be glad you made the mission – sweat, tears and all!

Whether you are preparing for your first trip to Bali or consider yourself a seasoned traveler, packing for a trip to the tropics can feel like a pretty fun-sponge activity. From the "Say what, I'll be wearing a bikini in 48 hours?!" overwhelming realisation to the "I'm pretty sure I'll need 2 pairs of jeans" thoughts....we hear you. Every day leading up to your holiday should bring excitement and eager anticipation, not stress and 'WTF do I pack-do-I-even-own-an-appropriate-bikini thoughts!

Western Australian based bikini brand Ete Swimwear fell into our lives like many good things have - through instagram.  I was deep in the 'gram one day when one of their gorgeous bikini designs with lacy detailing fell under one of my frantic thumb taps. Since then, I have been following the brands journey and seeing increasingly must-haveof her beautiful swimwear brand develop - most recently, joining her on an epic Summer Giveaway (You can enter to win here, competition ends this Sunday so skip to it!) We caught up with Jess and heard a little more about her life in Western Australia and how Ete Swimwear came to be.

When we first met Sophie back in 2012 it was like I met my future self in my younger body. Clear to say we had a fair few things in common. From launching her own label at just 21, to traveling the world by herself to NYC where she currently lives and works in the digital industry, Sophie is one go-getting lady that doesn't let anything get in her way of world domination. Between plane rides and cross time-zone messenger chats, we managed to catch up with Sophie for 5 minutes and hear more about what motivated and inspired the beautiful soul behind Sophocles Adventures.

In typical me style, we are off to Vietnam in just 2 days time and are still yet to book a something…anything…For our 10 day trip. If you know me, I’m quite confident that this will not surprise you. After a little last minute stress and a quick flick through the pages of air b n b, my anxiety has been put at bay. The accommodation on offer, served up by local Vietnamese hosts is next to nothing I’ve seen before. Team this with my love of Caffeine and Rice Paper Rolls and I couldn’t be more excited to jump on a plane and hit the streets of Vietnam later this week! With the launch of our new ‘Bon Voyage’ travel collection later this month, It felt only natural to get you Chica’s in the mood for a little travel adventure for yourself. Check out these super cute Air B n B’s located throughout Vietnam that I have found on my research - Did I mention they are all under $100?

We're at it again. Scoping out those 'Must Eat' places on this beautiful island of Bali! Today we're introducing you to Crate Cafe - If you havn't already seen it online already that is....

I'm constantly asked by my pals where they should stay and what that should do on their visit to Bali. And while that guide would take a few days (or weeks!) to write, I'm starting with here with my personal top 5 places to stay on the Bukit Penninsula - one of my absolute favourite areas of Bali.

Let's go:

Behind the Scenes Part 2, let's get stuck in.

We’ve taken you through our jewellery design process in our ‘Behind The Scenes Part 1’ blog post we wrote a couple of months back (You can find this here to refresh your memory) and now it’s time to introduce you to the dirty work – quite literally! When the pretty designs are all signed off, this is where the real stuff starts happening…

One lazy Sunday afternoon (let's be honest, it was probably more a mid-Monday morning I-don't want-to-start-the-week situation) we were 27 profiles deep in the instagram bubble and we discovered this beautiful soul. Ellie Gorgeous Hayden.

With her endless Summer-loving snaps, endless travel and carefree attitude oozing through every photo in her feed, we knew she was one of us. Next minute, we're chatting all things island life from tropical afternoons on Hamilton Island to working the seasons on Rottnest Island - we found our match!