Joy lives in the space where you are free to create by the will of your heart
Tapping into my divine feminine energy, layering inspiring multi wear pieces from Free People. Feeling ever inspired to create and express myself through these beautiful designs, silhouettes, embroidered details, colours and textures. I love these trans seasonal styles, making my wardrobe more versatile and sustainable. I’m obsessed with pieces that can be layered, worn multiple ways, and mixed and matched.
Free People is a brand I’ve loved for many moons. Their designs truly reflect my wild spirit and bohemian heart, and I’m so happy they are available in Australia. Make sure to check them out. For all my outfit details head to my Like to Know It profile. It’s an easy place to follow along and find all my favorite looks.
While international travel is still not on the cards for Australia, I’m finding gratitude for all the incredible adventures I’ve had, reminiscing and dreaming of these magical moments in paradise. I’m sending my love to all of these places I’ve been fortunate enough to visit. This island, like many, rely on tourism, and have really struggled this past year. If you are in a position to help, you can donate here to help feed a family.
Nusa Lembongan holds a special place in our hearts. It’s a place both Bobby and I have visited multiple times. It’s much quieter than Bali, and I always have a sense of really connecting to the beautiful Balinese culture when we visit.
Our last trip to Nusa Lembongan, we stayed at the lovely eco-conscious Batu Karang Resort, in the Occasion Wedding villa. A perfect, romantic, luxuriously appointed villa, equipped with a spa bath, private pool and breathtaking turquoise ocean views with the most incredible backdrop of Mount Agung. Bobby and I don’t have family who live close to us to help with our children, so when we get the opportunity to travel together, just the two of us, we absolutely treasure it. This was one of the most romantic trips we’ve had, making the most and best of our time together. We were surrounded by opportunities for stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling, island hopping, beach clubs and chatting with locals. Our days were spent exploring by motorcycle, learning about the locals, underwater adventures, balmy sunset beach dining, night swims, and enjoying the privacy of our villa.
Batu Karang is located only a stone’s throw from the boat harbour on Nusa Lembongan. You can in fact walk to the resort from the beach. It’s an easy boat ride from Sanur on the mainland of Bali, and well worth the effort. From the island you can also visit the sister islands, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida. Both are very accessible from here and have loads of experiences on offer. Crystal Bay beach is one of my favourite snorkelling spots in the area that can be accessed on a boat tour.
For those wanting to unwind and relax, the resort has 3 pools to choose from; an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, a lap pool for swimming, and one with a swim up bar, perfect for lounging with a coconut under the palm trees.
There are multiple dining options within the resort at Muntigs and also on the island. The resort restaurant is set around the infinity pool and a perfect spot to watch the sunset. The Deck also offers amazing ocean views and is a great spot for an afternoon cocktail. Around the island we also loved Hai Bar and Grill, Sandy Bay Beach Club and Nyomen’s Warung for a truly local experience. We had no issue eating plant based anywhere, and I often find Indonesia is one the easiest and most delicious places to enjoy plant based cuisine.
Writing about this place has brought back all those beautiful memories in a very visceral way. I hope to revisit again once it’s safe to do so, to explore this magical island and support the local community. And I recommend you put Nusa Lembongan on your travel list if you haven’t already.
With love and gratitude, Helen xx
Copyright Images and Text | Helen Janneson Bense 2021
A retreat at Smiths Beach was an idea that instantly felt right. Having spent so much time at this beach and this immaculate resort, it’s become a home away from home. It’s tranquillity and back to nature environment is something I’ve really needed this year, like so many of us.
The retreat was above and beyond everything we needed. We feasted, we shared, and we connected, with ourselves, with nature and one another. There is something so powerful about women sharing. When we create safe spaces, free of judgement, and find the courage to share, we instantly give permission for others to share. We begin a circle of hearing one another with compassion and empathy. The healing power of sharing in this way is immeasurable and incredibly profound. I always walk away from these experiences feeling empowered by the bonds of sisterhood, and awakened to my own inner courage to face my fears and step into discomfort. What I always discover is that on the other side of discomfort is absolute peace and joy. I’m learning how to make friends with my uncomfortable feelings, allowing and embracing my anxieties and fears. I loved being able to facilitate a safe sharing space and look forward to doing this more within our community.
Our days were filled with retreat activities from beach walks, meditation, aromatherapy, plant based cooking, abstract art, feasting, hiking, yoga, creative conversations, sharing sunsets and sound healing with the amazing Julian Silburn. Julian’s healing magic is something I hope everyone gets to experience. He truly is a modern day shaman.
I am so grateful to our amazing, talented chefs; Valerie and Jessica who created plant based deliciousness for us all, and shared their inspirational journeys. We enjoyed the most beautiful array of wholesome, real, soul foods, all presented so beautifully. It was nourishing and healing on all levels.
During our wonderful retreat we stayed in the amazing 3-bed ocean view villa with breathtaking ocean views overlooking the pool. Each evening I’d watch the sunset from the comfort of my villa, enjoy a long luxurious bath, sip on delicious tea by the fire, and melt into a deep sleep in the most peaceful bed. Smiths Beach Resort really is the perfect place for retreat and relaxation.
After the retreat my family and I stayed on for a few more days to explore some local spots. We hiked the Cape to Cape trail once again, though this time we had an entirely new experience. We encountered a colourful array of wildflowers, a very friendly echidna and a bobtail lizard. The trail hugs the coastline and all paths lead to turquoise water. We always stop at our favourite lagoon, the Aquarium, for a snorkel and to enjoy the views. All you need are good walking shoes, lots of water, some nutrient dense snacks, wetsuit, towel, warm clothes, snorkel gear and first aid is always important whenever you travel remote. And don’t forget your camera because there are so many spots to take photos along the walk and when you arrive at the beach.
Another amazing spot we enjoyed was Castle Rock in Dunsborough, a 20 minute drive from Smiths Beach Resort. The weather was in our favour this day. Calm seas, crystal clear water, and sunshine made for the perfect combination for some stand up paddle boarding. While I paddled and looked for whales, my family enjoyed climbing all the giant boulders. They are all really into bouldering, something they do multiple times per week at home, so this was such a happy spot for us all. And while I didn’t see any whales, the views, the warmth, and the family connection were all filling me with so much gratitude for this day.
In between sunsets, hikes, supping and climbing, were all the quieter moments; moments of connection like preparing food together as a family, playing cards by the fireplace, sharing jokes, and braiding each others hair. It was so wonderful to enjoy this slow time together in the luxurious ambience of Smiths Beach Resort.
I’m filled with the deepest gratitude as always to the wonderful Smiths Beach Resort for hosting us. It’s always a phenomenal experience staying with you and we love you! Thank you to the amazing Amy from Bare and Wilde for organising and holding space for such a smooth, healing, empowering and relaxing retreat. My heart is overflowing with love. Sending a huge wave of love vibes out to you all :)
This year our family decided to do something a little different over the school holidays than our usual tropical escape. We headed down south of Western Australia to experience the wet, wild, wintery wilderness, or so we thought. Our days were filled with sunshine exploring the pristine beaches and even braving the invigorating, cold water of the Indian Ocean. Our nights were spent cosy by the fire, rugged up watching the starry night sky. It was the perfect family adventure to celebrate Bobby’s birthday week.
This was out third visit to Smiths Beach resort and it definitely won’t be our last. It’s our favourite place to stay in Margaret River. It’s close to everything we love to visit – Indijup Natural Spa, The Aquarium (natural lagoon), Hamelin Bay (sting rays), Whale watching in Augusta, the surf, the food and those incredible pastel sunsets that are hands down the best at Smiths Beach.
We loved the light, open space and view from our 4 bed beach house. It was so dreamy waking up to the sounds of crashing waves each day. Not to mention soaking in the beautiful bath tub each evening and melting into their luxurious bed each night. We enjoyed so many culinary delights including the most delicious vegan offerings from Lamonts. They provided us with the best vegan tapas platter we’ve ever had. They even made Bobby a vegan birthday cake which was just incredible! If you head to Smiths Beach you must stop by for the yummiest all day breakfast at Lamonts.
One the highlights of this trip was spending a day with Whale Watch amongst the gentle giants of the ocean. The northern Humback whale migration is happening right now and we had a front row seat to witness all the magic. We were lucky enough to enjoy the VIP Captains Lounge experience and it was wonderful to hear first hand information from the crew about all their whale encounters. This is a beautiful family owned and run business that truly understand the whales, sharing their insights and research along the way. We were so inspired by their stories and their passion for the whales. If you choose to go whale watching in WA then definitely go out with Whale Watch.
From Margaret River we ventured further south to Denmark. We wanted to get closer to the ancient trees and the rugged coast that reminds us a little of California. For Bobby’s birthday week it felt appropriate to find a little reminder of home.
We stayed at the beautiful Parry Beach Breaks in one of their luxurious beach houses called Land’s End. The sweeping views over Parry Beach along with the sounds of nature and kangaroos hopping about made it the most ideal spot to completely unwind. And unwind we did. We completely unplugged and switched off from work, emails, wifi and deeply immersed ourselves in nature. Our family had so much fun, from swimming at Greens Pool, to walking in the treetops amongst the old growth forest, bouldering at Elephant rocks, slow cooking meals together, and quiet moments by the fire. We spent these few days connecting with one another, having deep conversations about the universe, and laughing so much we cried.
There are moments in nature that leave a mark on you forever. And this was one of them. We were all cosy by the fire, playing cards, whilst keeping an eye on the stormy sky. The sun rays began filtering through the clouds, everything was glistening, and it looked like a rainbow would appear at any moment. I decided to get changed into a colourful outfit in preparation, just in case a rainbow did appear and we could take some beautiful photos to share. As I was getting ready I was singing a little rainbow song I made up, willing and hoping one would come. The kids were of course laughing at me. I felt like a little kid, so full of joy and anticipation. I had no idea if a rainbow would actually appear. Moments later we watched the most beautiful rainbow we’ve ever seen form right in front of us. We could see both magical golden ends of the rainbow. We made wishes and danced in the euphoric exhilaration of this moment. To our disbelief and absolute delight a second one appeared. A double rainbow! It was so unbelievably magical. We were all stunned. We were all in awe. What a special moment this was. And I was so happy we could all fully enjoy this and capture this beauty to share with you.
I’m always looking at life through a magical lens. And putting myself out there in nature, anticipating, searching, exploring. It reminds me we are all connected. We are all made of the same star stuff. We are all ONE. You never know what you’re going to discover. We love leaving our comfort zone to seek these priceless treasures, these moments that build bonds and family memories we will cherish forever.
It’s a funny thing getting older. You start to notice every part of your body like never before. You start to remind yourself of your parents! The aching joints begin, the need to go to bed at 9pm starts, along with the early rising, and for me in particular the ability to metabolise alcohol has diminished. For the past few years my tolerance has reduced significantly. And I really love to enjoy a fancy cocktail or 2. I was thrilled when I recently discovered Recoverthol, a liquid formulation that you add to your first drink, that helps to reduce the symptoms of a hangover. And I was even happier when it actually worked :)
Recoverthol is a nutrient formulation that assists in the metabolism of alcohol. It provides the body with the essential nutrient co-factors required for the enzyme, Alcohol dehydrogenase, which is responsible for breaking down alcohol. The nutrient co-factors required by this enzyme are already present in our body, however we only have enough to process 1-2 standard drinks. If we replenish these co-factors with Recoverthol, then we can assist the body to process alcohol more efficiently.
And it’s so simple to use, you simply snap and squeeze the liquid into your first drink, allowing the co-factors to reach the enzyme right away. Your drink will look and taste exactly the same. If you drink moderately and responsibly, you’ll wake up feeling fresh and ready for your day.
This innovative product is not about drinking to excess and trying to find a way to counter that. To me this product is a way of giving back to your body what it actually needs, so you have a choice to enjoy a few drinks without the hangover.
I am always looking for balance in life. I’m always looking for ways to be healthier and enjoy some small indulgences on occasion. I have a lot of self discipline when it comes to my diet and lifestyle and it seems the older I get the more I’m unable to compromise on that. I’m grateful to have discovered Recoverthol that I can 100% stand behind as the perfect adjunct for your next cocktail party so you and your guests can enjoy a few drinks and enjoy your tomorrow as well. Because tomorrow matters and there is so much life to enjoy.
If you’d like to trial this product use my discount code GLL30%off to purchase online.
I’ve been on a mission this past year to find new beauty products that are 100% cruelty free. That means PETA certified. I’m almost there in finding the best of the best…and I’ll be sharing more with you over the coming months on all my finds. I am discovering products that are not only cruelty free but that I absolutely love to wear! I have a very minimalist style when it comes to make up. I like soft, pastel tones and a little bit of shimmer. I have never been into a heavy or bold lipstick look but I really love a little colour and gloss. And I love a product that nourishes my lips keeping them soft and happy.
I recently discovered Kate Heussler’s bespoke range of ‘Purfectly Chic’ lip glosses which are now my number 1 choice for any occasion. She’s created the ideal pack for the minimalist that contains 5 colours, plus the limited edition pack has an extra colour available for the first 100 orders! There is a lipgloss to suit my every day look to date night. My teenage daughter has also raided by beauty drawer and found that she loves them too. I love how health conscious and aware she is already about choosing cruelty free, ethical products. She is always inspiring me to make better choices, and vice versa, and I love that so much!
What also matters to me when choosing a great product are the people behind the brand. The inspirational Kate Heussler is the mastermind behind this beautiful lip gloss pack, along with a carefully curated collection of health conscious beauty and lifestyle products. Kate is so down to earth, a super real and authentic woman (check out her instagram), who has been a strong women’s advocate in tackling self esteem and body confidence issues with today’s youth. With her extensive worldly travels, modelling career, and reign as Mrs Australia, she has shared so much insight, and has used this platform to empower and inspire. I love that so much! And I love supporting women doing awesome things just like this.
If you’re needing a make up update, and want to choose a more ethical, cruelty free, and healthy option, I highly recommend these lip glosses. I love them and I’m feeling happier than ever with my choices.
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