Pop Up Stores + Christmas Tree Highs

We had some great nights lately at a colourful wild little pop up vintage store in Surry Hills.
That's where we met up with the lovely Trishie, were discovering quite some talented Sydney
bands (playing live in front of the store) and finding some really fun vintage bargains.
We have been enjoying the warm summer nights, chatting along to just met friends and no longer strangers.
Thanks everyone, for being so inviting and so much fun to hang out with!

Did I say I wasn't quite in Christmas mood yet?
Srsly, how on earth could I not be with all this incredible colours around?
There are red trees blossoming everywhere, and I came across a giant Christmas tree in the center of the city too.
I am actually very excited about this Christmas in Summer, and I will
try and make my own and first ever Pavlova!
So if any of you have any tips or recipes how to get it right, feel free and drop them down in the comment box! I would love to hear your suggestions.
I am collecting ideas for a wonderful Summer Christmas and bells are already jingel-lingel-lingin' in my head.

Ferry Rides and Rock Pools: Summer is here!

Things that make us really happy right now:

The smell of Eucalyptus Trees
Fresh smoothies
Rock pools, I just love that word
Eating (Mexican) outdoors
That Ferries are part of public transport here
Great coffee with banana bread
The cold clear ocean water on the skin
Christmas decoration in palm trees
Cold drinks at our favourite bar: Arcadia Liquors in Redfern.
Mangoes
Warm summer nights
Receiving parcels from London: Dave got quite some awesome farewell gifts from his work sent here: Thanks so much!!!
Going for a swim after work
Collecting interior ideas for our new place
Taking a ferry anywhere
The smell of summer rain after a storm

We have done so much in so little time it feels like we have been here way longer than just four weeks. Summer is here! We had a heatwave over the weekend, and the nights are very nice and warm now. We took a ferry up to northern Sydney and had a swim at Shelly beach, the most beautiful little place. I am so grateful to call this city our home.
It's only two more weeks until we are moving into our new place, we can't wait and are constantly collecting ideas to make the new apartment homey.

The only challenge for me his how to get into Christmas mood!?
This will be my first Christmas in Summer, fun and weird at the same time.

Cabramatta: Sydneys little Vietnam and the West

Besides the all the the pretty and beachy Eastern Suburbs and the cool urban Inner West, there is another very inspiring yet much rougher and very unexpected area in Sydney: The West.
Most areas here are very suburban and while the area has plenty or affordable housing it certainly hasn't the best reputation.
We found many interesting multicultural things to discover spending a Sunday wandering around Cabramatta. The mainly Vietnamese neighborhood, full of fresh exotic fruit, vegetables, fabrics and pound stores. I mean: 87% off!?! This is the uniquest offer I have seen in my life!
By day it was very vibrant and buzzing. It felt like we are actually in Asia.
I had an Avocado shake and we stocked up on groceries for plenty of stir-fries.
Oh food is too delicious over here, we got to watch ourselves before we know it we will double our size ; )
We also got to meet our little nephew Marcus, who is the cutest thing.
I am looking forward to seeing him growing up and playing with him.

Sydney is exciting. I am feeling so lucky and happy about our new little life we started to set up over here. I could write endless happy-lists.
P.S: We now both have jobs and an apartment confirmed! We'll tell you more soon.
Have a great week everyone!

A Sunday by the beach

We had another great week, with new challenges and new discoveries.
For the first time, since we got here we made it to the beach.
It felt like an instant recharge. Just seeing the water... and walk.
Walking by the ocean from Bondi to Clovelly.
We spent the whole day outdoors strolling, talking, dreaming...taking pictures, slurping smoothies.
In the evening we grabbed some delicious veggie burgers and salads and had dinner by the beach.
And here is to a new week, packed with more things to do, interviews, meeting more people,
looking for places and cars. Settling in one step at a time.
Hope you guys had a good weekend too.

Hello Sydney! We love you.

Sydney has been good to us!
I am feeling very lucky having the chance to live in such a beautiful city.
Daves family is just the best, welcoming us in their home and being so helpful.
His brother Mark is the best Pizza dough maker on the planet and his little sister Rebecca got us tickets for one of her dance performances one night.
And his Mum just constantly fills up the fridge with all sorts of delicious vegetarian food for us.
Thanks Guys, you are all awesome.

We have been exploring different neighborhoods, in the search of the best matching suburbs to call our home. Walking around the warm Spring air, soaking in all the incredible smells and colours we are recharging and taking plenty of photos.
Spring is purple here in Sydney! Thanks to plenty of blossoming jacaranda trees everywhere.
I get excited each time I am spotting one, they are one of the prettiest things I have ever seen.
The coffee over here is even better than in Italy.
Also we had the chance to meet some lovely people from the blog-sphere in person.
Gaby showed me round her beautiful hood and Trishie joined us for a fun night out at a pop up vintage store. I am looking forward to seeing more of these two.