Sunny Sunday Afternoon at Fremantle Harbour

Sometimes Perth's weather is absolutely PERFECT. The sun was shining, there was a cool sea breeze so my cousins and I headed to Fremantle harbour for our dose of oil, seafood and potatoe fried, in other words fish and chips, in particular, fish and chips at Kailis Brothers.

I've never had fish and chips at Kailis before, mainly because I usually go to Cicerellos. I have to say though their grilled bar selection is fantastic, especially for the grilled scallops!! ABSOLUTELY TO DIE FOR! The scallops were succulent, fresh and HUGE.

We also had the seafood basket HUGE. HUGE servings of beer battered fish, actual big fish fillet, with minimal batter (don't you just hate it when you get more batter than fish??), the way it should be. It was fresh, and crispy. Then there was also the scallops which were the same size as the grilled version but deep fried. As well as prawns. FRESH deep fried prawns. (yes I realise that is a bit of an oxymoran there!).

And to top if off, like all fish and chips places in Fremantle, Kailis brothers is located at Fremantle harbour waterfront, so we made the most of the sea breeze.

After stuffing our faces we tried to walk off some of our food by heading towards the Fremantle weekend markets and ended up getting a carton (dozen) of mangoes, yummy sweet, fresh mangoes. Before heading back home.

I think I need to visit Fremantle more often, especially to the markets, there were some interesting things that I found. Pity it takes so long to get there from my place.

when life throws you curveballs... just dodge and head to the nearest salon for a hairdo and footspa... ^_^

I've been trying to catch up with my old workmates, spending time with my cousins, my uni mates (which I have yet to do, I'm such a bad friend!), with my high school friends (i need to also work on seeing everyone, but then again most of them are on exams), and my boyfriend. On top of that booking everything and trying to organise party things for my birthday and anniversary with bf.

I'm so over eating out and running around, this weekend would definately be my last huge continuous eating spree, after that I'm thinking of reducing my carb intake, mixing a bit of Dukan diet with vegetarian like menu and increasing fiber uptake, I swear I never eat cereal and oats, should really start, and of course drink more water at work. But before that I feel like detoxing my bowels, I think it'd need it after this weekend.

Anyway, to just kind of get away from everything for a while and help clear my head (which unforunately didn't really happen), I went to my hairdressers and got my hair coloured. Not only that she gave me an awesome soothing head massage and got out the footspa. I was totally in heaven. Pity it was only 2 hours.

Sometimes, the best thing in life is just taking time out and getting your hair done and then going home and giving yourself a manicure. I couldn't ask for more.

Now i just need to survive this weekend of craziness but a lot of FUN and come out on the other side with no weight gain. Time to amp up the gym time I think.

When the AUS dollar is so good..

When the Australian dollar is so good, and the USA has opposite seasons to you, the best buys tends to be online.

I bought the cutest bathers (the kind of 60s style I've been eyeing on since August) from Modcloth.

It was absolute perfection. It fitted like a dime, made me feel fabulous, was damn outright sexy and just enough coverage for me not to wear anything else.

I love it.

It's got cute, it's got sexy, what more do you need?

I also got myself a gorgeous fascinator from Modcloth as well.

I really can't wait to wear both of them!

San Churros

One of the best things in life is having good ole hot great quality coco chocolate (or uber delicious cold chocolate shakes in summer!!)

And what better place than at San Churros - where you get churros to dip into hot melting chocolates too.

I really do love this place! ^_^

Their cute napkin - better to have made a mess than not enjoy it at all!!

It's a cafe, no a dessert haven, no it's both, specialising in churros and chocolatey goodness. And thank God, I don't have to go all the way to Fremantle for it - it's now in Subiaco and Leederville!! *HEARTS* ^______^

San Churro's ice-cream sundae -  consists of dark, milk and white chocolate topped with chocolate sauce that goes hard - kind of like ice-magic! (It's taken by a phone camera, so not the best quality!)

 

Their ice cream is just fab!

and then there was..

 

Churros for one (which we shared!) with hot melting chocolate... yummies ^_^

Hot and Cold - Chocolate Affagatto
 

Milkshakes
  

I feel the need to go keep going back - especially after a rough day/week at work.. - next time I'm trying their chocolate fondue and their limited summer desserts - like their Strawberry Bizcocho and Banana-Caramel Bomba... it's making me drool just thinking about it.

It's the best after a long hard week at work to catch up with friends over chocolate - let chocolate be your salvation!!

life's little pleasures..

In between all the chaos, the pump/combat/boxing/yoga classes it's nice to just have little sweet pleasures...

nothing is better than krispy kreme and cookie crumble Connoisseur ice cream (which by the way has the best cookie crumble!.. well according to me anyway)..

Rottnest Island

Life's been so busy, I can't seem to keep up with it or with everyone. I feel rather isolated and yet I'm trying so hard to catch up with everyone. It's so hard. I don't know which function I'm going next, I really need a diary. Other times I wish I had more time at home, sitting doing nothing much, relaxing, taking time out for myself. I really need a day at a spa and get a facial, my eyebrows done, my hair done, a nice massage. OH wouldn't that be wonderful?

I guess instead of doing that I went to Rottnest for an island getaway from just everything. Just to try and slow life down. I worked for that one weekend and it was just absolutely beautiful. I've been living in Perth for over 16 years and my first experience at Rottnest was just wonderful. The beautiful blue and green waters with white sands and ocean filled with wildlife. To top it off, the weather was absolutely sublime, perfect sunny warm, not too hot weather.

Thirty minute ferry ride and i'm at my island getaway, away from the hustle bustle of the city.. love soaking in the sun getting a tan on the beautiful pristine white sandy beaches with fantastic blue crystal clear waters.. life couldn't be better.

I took the late ferry with JT on Friday after work, it was cold and windy there and Chris was nice enough to have put the bbq on and Ian was there to greet us at the dock.

Our accommodation during the daytime.

We ended up playing cards until 2am, and explored the island at night, including walking up to the lighthouse with the wind howling and the only light coming from the lighthouse, it was just like out the movies, you expect to see a ghost. Then there was also a council meeting of the quokkas aka lots and lots of quokkas (the only place to find the creatures!). Life was good.

The boys making friends with the quokka!

I realise that is a lot of photos of the quokkas but they are everywhere and the little baby ones are so cute, but they aren't as daring as the older ones and run away when you get too close, unlike the bigger ones, who just likes to come right up to the camera and sniff it.

The next day work up bright and early to make breakfast for the boys before Mish arrived and we went to the beach.

The lighthouse near our accommodation.

Awesome views from there.

At the Basin Bay - Lounging and soaking on the beach and in the water.

Then we had to meet up with Andrea and Amanda at the airport (yes Rottnest has a small airstrip), where Andrea's dad flew their small plane down to Rottnest for the afternoon. Mish cooked her homemade burgers (which were fab) then more beach time. Soaking in the much needed sunshine and Vitamin D.

We then went to the Rottnest Pub, where there was a band playing old school music, it was just nice to spend the night outdoors listening and singing along to old songs before heading back and playing cards. Life really couldn't be more perfect.

Saw a pelican resting on the pillar on our way to the pub

JT striking a pose for the camera

Randoms at the pub waving at my SLR camera.

Views from the pub

Sunset on one of Rottnest's many beaches and bays.

The next day was pretty much the same except we explored more of the island as well, via bus, seeing as I can't ride a bike. EPIC fail i know. I will learn one day, but hey bus is at least air-coned and the weather on Sunday was rather hot.

Mish and I having fun in the sun.

Gotta have all the posey photos right. After all the sun is shining, the water is beautiful, you're on holidays and you have an SLR camera so why not yeh?

To top it, Rottnest isn't complete without seeing some wildlife from the depths of the sea.

Some random funny looking fish.

Crab!

Sea slug!!

The weekend was exactly what I needed! and I got so tanned from the weekend away, but it's a nice sort of tan, not too dark, just right.

 

Unfortunately the weekend getaway was way too short because, this weekend, I been busy too, JT's birthday was today, yesterday I had brunch with my parents; Yum Cha at Northbridge Chinese Restaurant and gorcery shopping then today cleaned in the morning, then Fremantle for late lunch and to go to the markets (where I got dozen fresh yummy huge mangoes for cheapness!). Next coming weekend, I use my haircut opportunity to also get a pedicure, manicure and facial done (even if it is done at home).

It just means that we have to go again very soon!

Sailing

I've taken up sailing. Learning to sail at the UWA yacht club and I'm loving it.

It's been really nice to spend beautiful Saturday mornings on the Swan River and making new friends. I be sad to see the end of the course, which is in about 2 weeks time (it's a 5 weeks course).

Although, the only bad thing would be having to wake up early on a Saturday morning, other than that, it's been fantastic. Learning new skills, loving the water, and learning to read the winds and water. Hey, I get a certificate after this, so it's not all lost.

I'm thinking I might do the following course. It's so much fun.

weekend island getaway

Tomorrow I leave straight after work with bags in hand and head towards Rottnest Island, home of the Quokkas and beautiful beaches.

I be bringing my dslr and having fun in the sun (and possible be freezing my butt off seeing as the nights are still really cold).

Can't wait.

Until then, have a lovely weekend, and I shall be finishing off the rest of my posts which are on hold at the moment.

ps. Jackson's Restaurant is OVERRATED. Never again. Will tell you another time.

Told to save..

So my lovely father just informed me that I have save $x__,___ of dollars (that gap btw is a comma not a decimal place) until 2012 so I can afford my lovely apartment by then.

Which means the following cuts:

As of tonight:

** NO coffees from cafes - sorry sweeties if you want me at a cafe I'll come for the goss and to see you lovelies, but I must stay away from buying any.. (Only occasional allowances)  $4.50 x 300 = $1350 (65 days for any off days).

** MUST not have cakes/churros/sweets at cafe shops $6.50 x 52 = $338 (again approximate, i'm sure I don't go and have cake/churros/sweets at cafe 52 times a year, definately less than that, but that's just for any odd circumstances).

** MUST find cheaper means of parking at work, most likely taking the bus - MUST get smart rider to save even more $10.40 x 260 = $2704 vs. $1.33 x 2 (return journey) x 260 = $691.60 therefore, saving $2012.40 (and that's not even including the cost of petrol, this is just the cost of parking).

** MUST not be tempted to buy chocolate/ice-cream/eat at work/go out to eat for lunch at work $10 x 260 = $2600

** MUST not by magazines $8 x 52 = $416

TOTAL SAVINGS (from only cutting down these unneccessary expenses) = $7408

WOW!!

Eventually I must cut down on the amount of shopping trips I do and the amount of fine dining that I do (which is probably the hardest thing ever). Nevertheless, the above already shows how much it costs. It's ridiculous. If I can cut down on this it'd be terrific, because I would have saved a lot, plus I won't get fat, because I'm cutting the junk.

I figured I allow my self at least once a month of fine dining, and once every fortnight of eating out. I mean if I actually calculator the amount of money I spend eating out I'm sure it'd be in THOUSANDS. Scary thought. So I will try, however, tonight I have a S's 23rd Birthday and it's a degustation at Jackson's restaurant. A premium restaurant. So how can I say no to that? Plus, it's a birthday.

But after today I get my gymming back on track (the last two weeks have been bad, I've only been going once a week instead of at least twice a week, plus I've been pigging out. Starting this new job has totally impacted on my waist line and my gucci wallet line) and I WILL SAVE LOTS.

Cancer Coucil - Relay For Life Fundraiser

Nothing is better than raising money for the Cancer Council on a bright and sunny weekend. This involved walking around the Oak Lawn at UWA for 24 hours with family and friends sponsoring your cause. I was part of Chris's time the "Unbreakables" but unfortunately I couldn't do the walk for 24 hours as I had a full day Saturday and again a pretty busy Sunday but I did spend a few hours walking around. Of course you don't have to work the whole 24 hours that's why you in teams and you get to camp out on the Oak Lawn.

There was also a candle ceremony which defined what the Relay for Life is, which is to provide hope for the future, to hopefully find a cure or at least better treatment options for the patients. It was also to remember the loved ones that have died from cancer.

Overall, the candle ceremony was touching and thought provoking. I have lost a grandmother to colon cancer, grandfather who battled prostate cancer last year and my other grandmother who had liver cancer which resulted in a liver transplant. So raising funds for causes like these is close to my heart.