We had the lovely pleasure of spending a few incredible days down at Smiths Beach earlier this year and it is by far one of our favourite WA beaches. We fell in love with Smiths Beach resort which was perfectly located just a few hours drive from Perth and is hands down the best place we have stayed in this region. It’s luxurious, peaceful and located right on this amazing beach. It’s a fantastic surf spot and has some of my favourite wineries just minutes away. It also has some of best sunsets I’ve seen all year! The sky lights up in the most beautiful candy coloured shades of pink and purple, and the ocean sparkles like turquoise diamonds.
Our family stayed in the 3 bedroom villa which was simply stunning. So luxuriously appointed, neutral and light, with beautiful Indian ocean views. I loved starting each day cosy in my robe, a cup of tea in hand, watching the surf. We had everything we needed right there, and when we felt like eating out, Lamonts was just a few steps away and served up one delicious feast for our family. After each salty ocean adventure we enjoyed the beautiful sparkling pool and soaked all our worries away in the villa’s amazing bathtub.
We packed in a few days of adventure and fun while we were here and headed out with Mr Chauffeurs and Experience Smith. We started our day on route to the Aquarium, a super secret lagoon spot that I’ll probably never be able to find again. We were lucky to have our guide show us the way for our gourmet picnic and snorkel. We were so grateful for the help as it’s about a 20 minute walk down the cliff with all your gear. Once we arrived it was complete magic. The snorkelling was phenomenal and the entire lagoon is protected from the ocean, so no need to be worried about sharks here. It has the most gentle current that you can float along with, and it’s filled with vibrant marine life. Our kids loved it and we all felt so safe snorkelling for hours.
After a wonderful snorkel and picnic we headed to Aravina Estate. I had no idea what heaven we were in store for here. The most picturesque winery on the lake’s edge with blooming gardens in all shades of the rainbow. They served up the most delicious feast. Vegan for me of course and catered for so wonderfully. We stayed to share some champagne by the lake, and relax in the peaceful vibes of this place.
The biggest highlight of this trip was our visit to Injidup Natural Spa. An absolute natural wonder of the world here. Nature has basically carved out an ocean spa equipped with multiple massaging waterfalls as each wave crashes over the rocks and spills into the lagoon. It can get pretty wild during high tide and wild weather so definitely be mindful visiting this spot. On a calm, hot summer’s day it’s pure magic.
Each day we ended up on the beach, tuning into the magical Smith’s beach sunset. When I think of my busy year, it was here on the beach each day that left me feeling the most relaxed I have felt. It’s a truly special place that I can’t quite put into words. You will just have to visit and experience it for yourself.
“Nature is inherently healing. You simply need to immerse yourself in it”
Exploring the north west of WA was like traveling back through time. We learnt about the history of the land, the people who came before, the natural changes that took place to create this majestic landscape. It was within this ancient billion year old land that I felt the beginning of a healing transformation. This is one of the many wonderful gifts of travel. It opens your eyes, your mind, your heart. It allows you to breathe in new life and ignites the fire and passion within. As I lay upon these warm rocks, and swam in the deep blue, I could feel my connection to everything. I was reminded of what’s most important in life…love, compassion, kindness, connection and presence.
This trip was beyond anything I have experienced. And I highly recommend it to those who crave the open road. Western Australia has so much to offer and is honestly one of the most beautiful places to explore by road. And if you want to do it comfortably like we did, then make sure you check out Apollo Campers. We traveled in the Euro Deluxe motor home and it was such a great way to cover a lot of miles in a short time, and still immerse yourself in each place…AND do it in style. It was ultra spacious for our family of 4 that we were able to bring a few home comforts along for the ride. Each night we cooked delicious vegan meals inside our motorhome, made pancakes and smoothies in our thermomix, and feasted with our fellow campers.
First up on the trek was the Shark bay World Heritage area. We took an amazing day trip to Dirk Hartog Island with Shark Bay Dive. A day filled with so many highlights – the blowholes at full steam, home made scones at the homestead, mind blowing ocean views, humpback whales breaching right by our boat. They actually swam around us for what felt like an eternity! It was the closest I’ve ever been to whales, and I felt like I could almost touch them. It was the most magical experience of our lives. The kids especially couldn’t stop squealing and smiling.
Next we ventured further north to Wooramel River Retreat. A wonderful outback station stay where you’ll get some of the best night time views of the stars. They also have artesian bore baths naturally filled with magnesium to relax and restore. It was such a treat after driving for long stretches to soak in these warm baths. A short drive later we arrived in Carnarvon and camped out at Wintersun caravan park for a few days so we could explore the food trail, helicopter to the Blowholes and watch brilliant sunsets over the ocean. One balmy evening I saw the sky light up, and within a few seconds I gathered the family, packed up the camper, and off we set to watch the sunset. We pulled up at Pelican point on Babbage island and it was one of the best sunset spots right on the beach. We watched the sky change from golden to pastel pink to deep purple from the comfort of our motor home while the salty ocean air filled our lungs :) We finished our stay here with a must do Helicopter trip along the coast. We lucked out with perfect still conditions so Bobby decided to take the door off his side! It was definitely a bucket list adventure for him :) We saw dolphins, whales and turtles along the entire coast. Seeing these gentle beings swimming within the glassy turquoise pristine waters reminded me how important it is to take care of our beautiful oceans.
Our next stop was much further north. Driving into the night we came across so much wildlife on the road. Dingos, kangaroos, emus, and even sheep! We finally reached Exmouth and couldn’t wait to wake up and explore Cape Range National Park. We headed off early to avoid the school holiday crowds and enjoyed a lovely beach day at Sandy bay. The water was like diamonds, glistening and clear. It reminded me of the Maldives. Our time here was so short as we just couldn’t wait to get to Karijini National park. We had built up our expectations of this place. Everyone we spoke to said you must go, it’s amazing. And it truly was! It exceeded our expectations and we are still dreaming of going back. We camped just on the outskirts of the national park in Tom Price so we could power up the motorhome. We fell in love with Fortescue falls and Fern pool, which is an easy place to travel with the kids. And a great place to picnic and lay on the 2.5 billion year old rocks. This is where I felt totally transformed. As I dove into the freezing cold waters it was like a rebirth process. Somehow everything I had been holding onto, all those fears and limitations were released. I never felt more free than in this moment. This will always be my happy place, holding an anchor for these memories.
After driving and exploring for a couple of weeks we were ready to stay put in one place. Next up was Coral Bay and we spent 6 amazing nights here. And to our surprise some of our really good friends were also camping nearby which made this part of our trip so special. The kids all happily played and us adults had some time to relax and play too. Each day we snorkelled, we supped, we swam, we kayaked, we cooked together and enjoyed sunset cocktails with our tribe. We barely looked at our phones. We forgot what day it was and we were ruled by the sun rising and setting, attuned to nature :) It reminded me of my childhood camping trips, which always brought so much joy to my days.
The Ningaloo reef which stretches along Coral bay and Exmouth is one very special place. It’s worth spending more time here to explore all the incredible snorkelling spots. On Bobby’s birthday we celebrated and spent an entire day with Ningaloo reef and dive in the ocean and it was magic. We saw whales, dolphins, turtles and we swam with a manta ray! It was my first time and it was incredible! They are the most graceful and majestic beings.
Our trek continued south, slowly but surely we made our way back home. Some of the most spectacular moments of our trip happened in these last few days. Our time at Monkey Mia was particularly amazing thanks to the family of dolphins who visited each day. The dolphin experience is such a unique aspect of this area. We watched them hydroplaning (a term I never even knew existed) trying to catch fish along the shore. They were almost on top of us, yet so graceful and fast as they chased the fish. Later we took a catamaran out with Perfect Nature Cruises to experience the marine life up close and personal. It was insane! And I highly recommend this tour. It’s affordable and fun for the whole family. We saw dolphins, turtles and a dugong in the clearest and calmest water I think I’m ever seen. On the way back the kids had a blast in the boom net as the ocean created a spa experience for them! Each evening we sat by the beach enjoying the sunset reflections in the super still waters. This made for the most relaxing stand up paddle boarding experience of my life. There was no wind, just pastel skies and dolphins swimming all around me. I’m not sure there is any experience on this planet that will top this now.
Our final day we took the best 4WD tour to Francois Peron national park. The contrast between the turquoise water and red cliffs was unbelievable and truly magnificent. We ventured along the cliffs, watching the marine life below spotting dugongs, sting rays, sharks, turtles and dolphins. The waters here are filled with life! And they are so clear you can see everything! After a beautiful lunch overlooking the ocean, some 4WDing along the beach, kangaroo spotting, we ended the most perfect day soaking in the artesian bore bath at the homestead. It was one of our favourite days of our trip. The whole family was happy, our explorer hearts filled with joy.
On our journey back home we stopped at some of our favourite places. Kalbarri national park is such a beautiful part of WA and still so close to Perth. At the natural bridge you can spend hours watching whales. We spotted one within a few minutes of arriving and it was hard to leave. I could have stayed there all day :) Nature has always surprised me, though our stop at Pink Lake in Port Gregory was mind blowing. I couldn’t believe how pink the lake was. The colour is caused by an algae rich in beta carotene and it can actually change from deep crimson red all the way through to lilac. During our visit it was super candy pink and the water was absolutely so still. We were lucky enough to enjoy this spot for about half an hour before a huge storm rolled in ever so quickly. We packed up and hit the road all the way back home.
This trip, the memories, the lessons, the connections, have all changed me. Being immersed in nature in this way has a profound healing effect. It forces you to connect, to remember who you are, to feel alive!
If you’re ever in need of a reboot, a jump start, a push out of your comfort zone, then take this trip. Head into nature, connect with the earth, explore the wondrous mysteries of the world. Fill your soul and your heart with the magic. Put yourself in front of the beauty each and every single day until you remember this same beauty is also you.
I love watching people create with all their hearts and bring to life their dreams. Purity Lace Designs epitomises everything I love about fashion and working together to share something beautiful with the world. It’s an inspirational label by a gorgeous mother and daughter duo, who have created some timeless, elegant pieces that absolutely flatter the female form in all her divine feminine glory. Nothing will make you feel more like a goddess than a little piece of their collection. Jade and I had such a lovely time styling their pieces in different ways; the scarves as wrap tops, the headbands as belts, and a little cheeky off shoulder with the Santorini Dress. Either way they are just so amazing!
Shooting with my children was so much fun and they even helped me style the set. We collected beautiful pieces from the lovely Zest Group and Pretty Willow to create our magical sunset tea party. The kids were so adorably cute and Jacob even suited up for the occasion and served us tea! What a sweetheart! Jade’s Isabelle Lace Dress was absolutely so gorgeous that I’m already wishing Purity Lace Designs would make it in an adult size ;) It’s become one of her wardrobe favourites. After many giggles, we watched the glorious sunset over the ocean and enjoyed our little tea party. And how amazing were these sunsets! Honestly if you get the chance to visit Smith’s Beach resort I think it might be my favourite place in all of WA!
Juggling motherhood and a full time business has always been a challenge for me, and I’m sure for many other mothers out there. Though I’ve realised in recent years the gift of living your purpose and passions, and how this impacts our children. They watch and learn from us, through modelling our behaviours, and I feel like by living to be my best self I will be teaching them to be exactly that. Every day they teach me, they remind me to follow my joy and to be authentic. This is what children do, and this is why they are so happy. We sometimes forget as adults to take care of ourselves, and follow what we love. Life is far more peaceful and enjoyable when we start living from our heart’s call. To all the mothers out there, please remember you are enough, more than enough, you are everything, and you deserve everything. You can be anything you want to be! And do anything you want to do! Believe and know you are worth the time and space to be heard and to live what you truly love. Follow that spark inside that energises you. See where it leads and know that you are also doing something wonderful for your children at the same time. Think of the gift you teach them through your own transformation. Sending out so much love to all the mother’s today! Happy Mother’s Day today and every day!
This was our first trip to Darwin, NT and hopefully won’t be our last. What an absolutely beautiful and vibrant place. The candy sunset skies, the turquoise beaches, the abundant wildlife, flowing waterfalls, the sense of adventure and excitement, perfect balmy summer nights and the best hosts anyone could wish for. Big thanks to Sally and Ross from Embella for this experience. We have made memories for life with our gorgeous new friends.
Straight off the plane our first stop was to the beach of course, which was only a 10 minute drive from the airport. Perfect recharge after a flight! We arrived to witness thousands of dragonflies fluttering about casting rainbows with their wings in the light. From here we spent the evening perched upon a cliff overlooking the ocean, inhaling the sunset beauty and cliff jumping into the turquoise waters.
We had some seriously amazing note worthy food experiences during our stay. Peewees on the point is a definite must visit. The service and food are of the highest standard and the views from here are spectacular. For the best breakfast in town head to Sweet Brew & Co andfor something decadently indulgent and a little naughty, but oh so good, try the gluten free pancake!
For some shopping and community fun definitely check out Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. Beautiful Embella have an awesome stall here too, and there is just so much to eat, experience and see! Stop by Croc, Stock and Barra and hear some fascinating stories about life in the tropics with crocodiles. When you’re in town, definitely check out the very special Embella store. The entire shop has been created with so much love, and there is a beautiful story behind every piece of hand made furniture and jewels. You’ll feel it all the moment you step inside this divine space.
My highlights were definitely sunset dinner sailing with the most jaw dropping candy coloured sky backdrop, and our visit to Litchfield National Park. Beautiful Sally and Ross took us on a hiking adventure to one of their favourite waterfalls. It was so worth every step once we arrived to this secluded lagoon, with waterfall upon waterfall, and wildlife buzzing all around us. I even faced one of my biggest fears as I came face to face with about 10 giant spiders in the most gigantic web I think I’ve ever seen. This place was filled with energy and so alive…butterflies were fluttering all around, ants scurrying, and the goannas were having a lovely sunbathing sesh on the rocks. I was in pure heaven with the loveliest people ever and never wanted to leave this healing space.
I’m so grateful for this experience of a lifetime, and to see more of this beautiful country I call home. The very best part was meeting some of the most genuine, kind hearted people ever, making kindred friendships for life. We love you Sally, Ross and gorgeous little Nalu!
One pieces – Alena | Sittana | Handers Hold | Singing Wells | Baja
Lace Kimono | Lace Dress
Anse Bikini Top + Bottoms
Towels – Eberlanzia | Gypset
Hat | Sunglasses | Aviators
Jewelry – Bodychain | Choker | Rings
This summer I’ve looked no further than my very own home town of Perth, and it’s easy travel destinations, for that beautiful turquoise inspiration and those endless summer vibes. Just a hop, skip and ferry ride away is the idyllic island known as Wadjemup/Rottnest. With some of the most breathtaking landscape I’ve ever seen, it’s home to the adorable Quokka, the cutest and friendliest marsupial you’ll ever meet. It’s the island of a thousand stories, told through the geographical history and formation of unique salt lakes and limestone coral reefs.
I highly recommend taking some time out for a visit to the museum to learn all about tragic history of the Aboriginal penal settlement, the military involvement in world war 1 and 2, and the early Aboriginal origins when Wadjemup/Rottnest was actually part of the mainland. This history is heartbreaking, though I do feel it’s important to hear, acknowledge and respect the true history and traditional owners of the land, especially when we go there to enjoy all that it has to offer us.
We stayed on the beach in North Thomson Bay, which was so quiet and serene, yet still close enough to walk or ride into the main strip. Here you’ll find everything you need – island information, general store, pharmacy, bakery and shopping. We started our days with a hearty breakfast sitting on our balcony overlooking the ocean. With our beach essentials all packed, we were on our bikes and round the island we rode, stopping at one glorious beach after the next. And with no cars allowed it’s such a wonderful and safe place for kids. And when their little legs get tired, or for the mamas with prams, there’s a hop on, hop off coach that will circumnavigate the entire island. My favourite spots were definitely Salmon bay and The Basin for snorkelling and swimming. Parakeet bay is always good fun with the whitest of white sand dunes and fantastic ocean views. Or try stand up paddle boarding at Just4Fun Aqua park. While the kids played on the floating bouncy toys I got my work out done and had so much fun at the same time. Make sure you stop off for breakfast or lunch at Geordie Bay for some of the most delicious and hearty, healthy food going around. As someone who has food intolerances and eats a largely plant based diet it was perfect for our family, although I brought my supplements to eat more healthy. Finish your perfect day in paradise watching the sunset at Fay’s Bay for those magical pastel unicorn skies.
Rottnest is such a quiet and peaceful haven, and it slows you down without you even realising it. All that fresh salty air, white sand and turquoise water will bring vitality and bounce back into your step. It’s invigorating, rejuvenating and relaxing all in one. We loved it so much and can’t wait to go back!
Why Summer is The Best Season to Lose Weight?
Trying to lose weight? Well, there is good news. It is possible to lose weight more effectively and rapidly during the summer season.
Season can play a tremendous role in losing weight more effectively. Weight loss in the right season requires less effort compared to the exertion during other seasons. For more information about healthy supplements visit Observer.com/.
During summer, days are the longer and nights are shorter; therefore, it is considered to be the most proficient season to lose weight as people can be involved in multiple activities. The prominent reasons for considering summer to lose weight are as follows:
A decrease in consumption of calories: We all are familiar with the fact that weight loss means burning calories. During summer the average calorie intake decreases by 200 calories per day due to the hot season. Therefore, it is easier to lose weight during the summer.
Digestion becomes slower during summer: A study reveals that during the hot weather digestion process is slower and we feel fuller for a longer time during the day. So, automatically the craving for food decreases which helps to reduce weight. Check out the latest java burn reviews.
You tend to drink more liquids during summer due to high temperature: It is obvious to feel thirsty during summer due to the hot climate. The frequent intake of liquid also makes you feel fuller for a longer time. Naturally, the appetite takes a back seat, curbing the hunger pangs.
Sweat burns fat: It is easier to reduce weight during summer one tends to work out or exercise more during summer due to the weather. During winter, cycling, jogging and going to the gym becomes difficult due to the cold weather and sweat doesn’t come easily during winter. Therefore, losing weight during winter becomes difficult which is contrary to losing weight in summer. This is how phenq works as a healthy supplement.
Your happy hormones remain activated: The serotonin levels or the happy hormones are said to remain at its peak during summer due to the sunlight. Therefore, you feel the urge to look good which makes you remain focused on the exercises for burning calories and getting in good shape.
I’m still on cloud nine after an amazing midweek trip to Sydney, where I was lucky enough to meet a few of my all time favourite designers and inspirational women – Samantha Wills + Elizabeth and Isabella from Spell Designs. It really was a dream come true for me to connect with these lovely ladies and thank them in person for their endless inspiration. I’ve felt incredibly blessed throughout my blogging journey to work with authentic and genuine people, who also happen to design such beautiful jewellery, clothing and accessories.
I’m also incredibly thankful to my husband, Bobby Bense, for supporting me and taking care of our gorgeous children, while I galavant across country. It was a much needed time out for me, a moment of pause to enjoy all that I’ve created and celebrate with like hearted kindred souls.
Here is a little collection of pictures from the events I attended – Samantha Wills Pania Showcase and Spell Designs book launch, and hanging out at QT hotels with the lovely Suzie + Jenna from Turquoise Lane. I also managed to squeeze in a very last minute trip to Bondi just so I could get my feet in the sand ;)
Now I’m back and gearing up for the next adventure to one of my favourite holiday destinations ;)
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