Pure Wholefoods Cafe and Sydney Harbour

Morning Beautifuls,

Just another Cafe review/post for you, including of drool worthy food and incredible scenery. Because, for this catch, we found ourselves catching a ferry – yay boats! – to Manly to try a new place we saw recommended on Instagram. Well, I say we, my friend didn’t actually tell me where we were going until we were about three steps away.

Now, I’m not for fancy ‘organic’ and ‘healthy’ food – I like eating well, but I think sometimes these ‘pure food’ places are a bit overrated. In saying that, I do try and avoid in my own life on a daily basis foods high in sugar, fat, preservatives, additives and anything artificial, so generally I do stay a bit health conscious of what I put in my body. Which kind of contradicts my uncertainty of ‘food-conscious, natural’ places.

Anyway, rambling.

This place, as you can probably tell by the name ‘Pure Wholefoods Cafe’ was one of these healthy options – the first cafe I have ever seen quinoa and chia seeds on a menu. As my friend is attempting to be healthy, I decided to give it all a go. Flicking through their menu, a few things tickled my fancy. First, the banana chocolate smoothie was a must to try. I love chocolate milkshakes and banana smoothies so I had to see what it was like to mix them both together. My friend opted for the mixed berry smoothie, which she very kindly let me snap a photo of as well.

Oh my gosh, was it amazing. The chocolate wasn’t too sickly sweet that it made it a really strong milkshake, and the banana added to the blend perfectly. Love, love, love it! Will definitely be tinkling in the kitchen later to try and replicate the taste. My friend’s also looked incredible and we did have a deep discussion about which one tasted better. As I finished mine first, it was obviously mine. But we’ll agree to disagree on that matter!

Then came the meal. After tossing up between having coconut pancakes or a wrap, and then a chicken wrap or haloumi wrap, I finally decided on the chicken schnitzel wrap. Then, because it is me, I decided to omit the tomato and onion, because I can’t stand either. Funnily enough, this was exactly what my friend order as well.

What is on it, you may ask? There is quinoa crumbed chicken, with lettuce, carrot, beetroot and avocado dressed with hummus. I never imaged hummus as a dressing, however it tasted incredible! Only issue is the struggle removing the paper – I literally took more time attempting to unwrap it than actually eating it. Plus, all the sauces made it extremely messy. But it was amazing and a very delicious lunch.

On the whole, I would probably go there again to try some of the different styles of food they have (they had on their menu a pumpkin salad that also looked incredible. Plus those pancakes!). Although, it is on a bit of the more expensive side, so maybe I’ll keep it to one of those ‘blue moon’ occasions.

We then ventured back to the ferry to go back home, only to find on the way a Gelatissimo. That wasn’t the exciting bit though! They had gelato donuts for only $5!!!!
For that price (take in mind, in Australia, one scoop of gelato costs about $7-$8), I had to try it, especially as it incorporated two of my favourite things into one. Donuts and ice-cream? Yes please!

After absolutely no deliberation at all, I picked to add cookies and cream into the centre of my donut. Because cookies and cream makes everything perfect.
And, oh boy, was it perfect. It was more than perfect, it was delicious! I mean, they somehow warmed the donut up and put the ice-cream inside and the mixture of the hot and cold and the two flavours was just, ahhh, words cannot explain!!! It wasn’t too strong but it was still ice-cream and donut tasting.

You know what? You just have to try it! Once in your life! It is one of those life changing foods!

So then we got on the ferry (thank goodness I don’t get seasick!). I know, this is kind of a food post but I have to finish it off with some of the shots I took of Sydney Harbour.

Look how pretty it was! After it rained the WHOLE WAY THERE, the sun finally sparkled on the way home which was so nice of it. Thank you Sun!

Keep smiling,

Kay Anne.

12th Blog of Christmas: Food!

Morning Beautifuls,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I honestly hope that you had/are having an incredible day however you are spending it!

Christmas is a time of joy, happiness and love, to understand what you have will never go away. It is a time for appreciation of 2014, of all the things that happened, because there are always incredible times for you to remember. It is a time of bonding, of saying ‘thank you’ to those around you, who have positively shaped you in every way possible. Who helped you become who you are today.

So I really do hope you are spending your Christmas in the best way possible. Obviously, including food. Lots and lots of food. I find it really cool how different families have different traditions at Christmas – it really does show the diversity and wonderfulness of this world!

Therefore, for the 12th and final blog of Christmas, the blog posts to see…

• Twelve Festive Foods
• Eleven Sparkly Lights
• Ten Christmas Bon Bons
• Nine Christmas Carols
• Eight Advent Samples
• Seven Beauty Products
• Six Christmas Outfits
• Five Festive Hairdos
• Four Present Ideas
• Three Homemade Cards
• Two Christmas Films
• And a pretty awesome Christmas Tree

Yup, today I’m going to share with you twelve of my family’s staple Christmas foods. It’s been ages since we have had a Christmas at home – usually we’re off on some crazy adventure, doing the mass family Christmas party on Boxing Day. See what I mean? Unusual traditions.

But this year, we changed it up, spending the days up to Christmas travelling, coming back for Christmas and Boxing Day before leaving again for another unknown adventure.

However, wherever we are, whether we’re in the middle of nowhere, up at Uncles’ and Aunts’ houses or stuck somewhere overseas, we always try to stick with some kind of traditional festive food. Seeming that it is 9:30 at night and I am practically boiling in my shirt and shorts, our Australian Christmas feast is going to be on the cold side of things. Yes, I’m talking about the shrimp on the barbie.

FYI, I have never heard anyone call them that here. They’re prawns. Not shrimp! But I guess that makes it food number one on our traditional Christmas food list. Prawns.

Going in a crazy weird order, we always have to have some kind of salad, usually consisting on the Christmas-y colours – our reds and greens. As it is Christmas, we might as well get all festive with our food just for corny, comedic effect. This means carrot, tomatoes, celery and cucumber!

Now I don’t actually have pictures for food number three and four. Mainly because they got eaten before I could take a picture. Thanks family. But another staple for Christmas is Mince Pies and Fruit Cake. I remember growing up my Grandma every year used to make us a Christmas Fruit Cake no matter where we were or where we were going. Before we went away, we would go over and pick it up, taking it with us just to eat on Christmas day. Oh, her house used to smell like fresh Fruit Cake, making Christmas seem so real, so perfect, so alive. Even now, both those traditional Christmas foods are a staple to our table. Just don’t forget the custard!

Cheese platter! You cannot have a Christmas at our house without a cheese platter! They are the best things in the world and usually consist of Gouda, Tasty, Camembert and some kind of cream cheese… usually chives! Yum, yum, yum! They disappear within seconds at my house!

I’m half way! Number six is our traditional Coconut Ice. Every year, at Christmas, someone in our house makes coconut ice – white and pink! It is the best! Again, it wouldn’t be Christmas without it! I am hoping you all know what coconut ice is… if not, you are definitely missing out!

Number seven is a healthy hit – usually because we feel a bit sweet-toothed after all the coconut ice we have managed to eat in record time.

It is tradition at our house that Christmas is the first time we usually buy and eat all the stone fruit – obviously spurting slightly from then on. Peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, apricots, you name it! This is the time of year we have them all! Breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Which ties in nicely with food (or drink) number eight. Punches. Every year I like to make a concoction of whatever drinks we bought for Christmas, adding fruits and ices and colours depending what the cupboards hold. This year I kept it simple – and cool – with a sparkling apple juice with cherries and a cloudy sparkling pear juice! These were really quick to make as they only consisted of the juice of my picking, soda water (for a fizz!) and some sliced fruit! Quick, easy and refreshing!

We up to nine? I think so. Ice-cream is a necessity in our house at Christmas. Usually, we eat so much at lunch that by dinner we don’t want anything to eat, settling down with a bowl full of our favourite ice-cream, watching a Christmas movie as a family. My favourite ice-cream, you ask? Hands down Cookies and Cream. Nothing can beat that!

Breakfast. My favourite meal of the day. Homemade pancakes.

What can I say except yum! Especially with banana, drizzled in maple syrup and cream…

Number eleven is something I always have, regardless of the weather (and is probably a factor contributing to my overheating at the moment). You cannot, and I repeat cannot, have a Christmas without a warm beverage of some type. Mine, you’ve probably guessed it, is a hot chocolate – extra marshmallows! I mean, Christmas only comes around once a year!

Number twelve is my favourite! Cupcakes!!! This is one thing I always bake for Christmas every year, making certain I make enough to take anywhere we plan on going around Christmas. If you invite me over, don’t be surprised if I come armed with cupcakes.

I have to admit, some of my favourites this year are not that Christmas-y, but they sure do look cute! Sheep cupcakes! I can pass them off as Christmas cupcakes, I’ll argue with you if you try and disagree. The shepherds who visited Jesus had sheep. Hence they are Christmas. I mean, how cute do they look!

I guess, that is it. I have come to the end of my final Christmas blog. wow, I’m going to miss doing these blogs.

I really hope you have had the most amazing Christmas, wherever you are, however you celebrate.

Merry Christmas! May it be the best one yet!

Kay Anne

xx

Lunch & Cooking with Fire

Morning Beautifuls!

Today, I was invited by one of my amazing friends to lunch at her house – her treat! Usually when we organise these lunch events, we plan a day out at for either a bright brunch or lovely lunch. However, we decided to do this one differently, instead going for a ‘lunch-in’ with a home-cooked meal and a movie – sounds perfect to me!

For my outfit, I chose something slightly more casual and comfy than I usually go. At the moment, I am loving collared items – especially over knit jumpers – hence, the long collared shirt I decided to wear. I paired this with a pair of leggings and my favourite red coat (from Kmart). For a Kmart coat, it is incredible! It was around $20 and has been my favourite winter coat for three winters already. It looks especially good over black dresses, giving that extra colour to a dark outfit. Shoes were just a simple pair of flat ankle boots – nothing special there.

My makeup was just a little more than my normal look. This included:

• W7 ‘Hide It!’ Concealer: This concealer is really good for under the eyes and around the nose as it has a peachy tinge in its colour, however, I don’t find it that good in hiding spots and blemishes.
• W7 Luxury Pressed Powder: I absolutely adore this powder! It gives my face a fresh and bright look without looking orange or glossy as it blends well with my skin. Another positive is that it is quite cheap for a decent powder! (I think I got it for $3 or something)
• BYS Metallics Eye Shadow: This is my ‘go-to’ pallet on a night out when I want a bit of sparkle on my face. The colours are quite dark, so I try to apply them thinly.
• NYX Black Eyeliner: This is my necessity when it comes to my basic makeups. It is a pencil eyeliner and is really easy to apply both thinly and thicker. It is waterproof and smudge-proof, making it the perfect eyeliner for me to use nearly every day!
• W7 Double-Up Mascara: Okay, this isn’t my favourite mascara. Sometimes it gets very chunky, making it hard to apply nicely. As I do like the concealer of the same brand, I did want to give it a try. I wouldn’t buy it again and I will be happy when it finishes…
• Maybelline Colour Sensational ‘Nearly There’ (No. 205) Lipstick: This is incredible lipstick! I don’t usually wear lipstick, however this stuff is hands-down my favourite lip application so far. It is literally the same colour as my lips, just making them look a bit brighter! Definitely do look into these lipsticks if you are thinking of buying some.

It was a great day, with my friend cooking up chicken schnitzel for lunch served with a lovely side salad. As for our movie, we decided to re-watch the incredible Catching Fire – we were in the mood for some teenage action. This movie is one of my favourites at the moment and is, in my opinion, slightly better than Hunger Games (which I also loved!). If you still haven’t seen it, do. It is fantastic!

However, the excitement of today didn’t end there as when I arrived home my father spontaneously decided to start a small campfire in the backyard. 

This grew into something more elaborate as we decided for dinner to cook some potatoes in the ashes…

Never tried cooking potatoes this way? You must – it is extremely fun and gives that extra something to a meal – they only take around 20-30mins to cook (and you don’t have to watch them, just leave them and come back). I decided to pair my ash-cooked potatoes with some mince meat, peas and carrot, melting a bit of cheese on top. Yum!

I think that is enough excitement for one day!

Keep Smiling,

Kay Anne