Golden

 

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Dress: Tree of Life rayon

Top: Tree of Life cotton, organza

Sandals: Wittner leather

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles silver

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I'm so elated to finally be sharing all of the pictures from our recent eight day stay at Rainbow Bay on the beautiful Gold Coast. For dinner on the balcony the first night I wore this stunning navy & white spotted rayon bias-cut maxi slip dress with matching printed cotton & organza voluminous sleeved cropped top with tie from my local Tree of Life store, a pair of tan leather strappy molded sandals from Wittner, a stack of vintage Mexican silver bangles that were given to me by some dear friends & a vintage silver bangle that my brother bought for me from (sadly now defunct) 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles.

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Dress: Steele broderie cotton, shirring, embellishment

Bag: Soul Nook Collective vinyl, wood

Hat: Princess Highway woven straw, embroidery

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Bangle: Gift, crochet, wooden bead

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Making the most of a beautiful, sunny morning on the beach wearing a delicate white broderie cotton cap-sleeve midi dress with shirred bodice & floral embellishment (added by me) from Australian label Steele, a tan vinyl crossbody bag with wooden clasp that I picked up at Soul Nook Collective in Marburg, a woven straw sunhat with daisy embroidery around the brim from Princess Highway, the same Mexican silver bangle stack & vintage silver bangle as the night before & a crochet bangle with wooden bead that I found at a stall at the Coolangatta Markets many years ago now.

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Dress: Steele textured cotton

Sandals: Wittner leather

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Bangle: Gift, crochet, wooden bead

Bracelet: Tree of Life wooden beads, shell, tassels

Sunglasses: Sportsgirl faux tortoiseshell

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Ignoring the construction work behind me (honestly, the Gold Coast just seems to keep on changing every time I visit) in favour of the stunning view of Snapper Rocks & Point Danger wearing a vibrant pink textured cotton maxi dress with shirred bodice & tiered hemline from Steele, a pair of tan leather strappy molded sandals from Wittner, the same Mexican silver bangle stack & vintage silver bangle as before, a crochet bangle with wooden bead from the Coolangatta Markets, a wooden beaded bracelet with pink tassels & shells from my local Tree of Life store & a pair of faux tortoiseshell sunglasses from Sportsgirl to complete the look & protect my eyes from the sun's harmful rays. 

Now to tuck into my delicious late lunch from O Sushi Coolangatta... vegetarian spring rolls with sweet chili sauce & teriyaki salmon with rice & salad on the side!

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Togs: Taking Shape elastane

Hat: Billabong woven straw, toggle

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles silver

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Taking a dip (well, trying to do so) in the freezing cold waters of Greenmount Beach wearing a gorgeous tropical floral elastane swimsuit from Taking Shape, a woven straw sunhat from Billabong & my every-present Mexican silver bangle stack & vintage silver bangle.

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Filling my downtime with the latest Phryne Fisher mystery from Kerry Greenwood & some melt-in-the-mouth, smooth chocolate...

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Dress: Retrospec'd cotton sateen

Shirt: Preview by Target linen

Sandals: Blowfish Malibu via Williams vegan leather

Bag: City Beach crochet

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Sunglasses: Sportsgirl faux tortoiseshell

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Mistaking the Tweed River for the Italian Riviera in this vintage-inspired delight - the stunning barrier reef printed cotton sateen fit-to-flare midi dress from Retrospec'd, a soft, white linen shirt from Preview by Target over the top, tied in a knot at the smallest part of my waist, a pair of silver, gold & rose gold vegan leather strappy flat sandals from Blowfish Malibu via Williams on my feet & a taupe crochet crossbody bag from City Beach to carry all the essentials while keeping my hands free. As you've probably worked out by now, the Mexican silver bangle stack, vintage silver bangle & faux tortoiseshell sunglasses from Sportsgirl are the same as before.

Walking around to Duranbah Beach in the morning sunshine...

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Making new friends... who may or may not be after your toast...

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Dress: Bohemian Traders cotton voile, shirring

Scarf: Princess Highway cotton

Bag: City Beach crochet

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Bracelet: Tree of Life wooden beads, shells, tassels

Bracelet: Gift, volcanic beads (from Greece)

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Relishing a leisurely brunch with my mother at the wonderful Social Brew on James Street, Burleigh Heads wearing a summery floral cotton voile midi dress with puff sleeves & shirred bodice from Bohemian Traders, a sea life printed cotton scarf from Princess Highway to ward off the slight chill on the ocean breeze, a taupe crochet crossbody bag from City Beach & the usual jewellery with the addition of a blue volcanic beaded bracelet that some dear family friends brought back from a trip to Greece a few years ago.

Our verdict on the food, the service & the atmosphere? It was wonderful all round. We ordered the confit heirloom bruschetta & shared it between us (a good choice because it was a large portion & very filling) with crispy hash browns on the side as well as an iced chocolate with ice cream & an iced coffee with cream, respectively. All were utterly delicious. The service was great, the food arrived promptly and the atmosphere - sitting in individual booths separated by rainforest-like greenery - was something special & at a time when Covid cases were rising again, the spacing was an absolute gift. Can't wait to return & eat something else from the extensive menu!

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The view of the pool from the seventh floor... 

Can you spot this blogger & her mother enjoying the heated pool in the sunshine?

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Dress: Steele seersucker, shirring

Thongs: Rusty rubber

Bag: Esteems Boutique woven paper, leather

Hat: Princess Highway woven straw, embroidery

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Poppie: Rotary handmade/crochet

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Spending Remembrance Day being thankful for all who sacrificed so that others could be free & fully embracing the unique Australian beachside in front of us. The walk from Rainbow Bay to Greenmount & back again is one of the most scenic that the Gold Coast has to offer & I'm posing on the wooden steps down to the beach in an orange checked seersucker midi dress with shirred sweetheart bodice & sweet cap sleeves from Steele, a pair of rubber thongs from Rusty, a woven paper crossbody bag with blue circle detailing & tan leather strap from Esteems Boutique, my woven straw sunhat with daisy embroidery on the brim from Princess Highway, the usual silver jewellery pieces & a hand-crochet red poppy from the Rotary stand at Burleigh Heads.

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Dress: Retrospec'd cotton poplin

Bag: Esteems Boutique woven paper, leather

Hat: Princess Highway woven straw, embroidery

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Bracelet: Gift, volcanic beads (from Greece)

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Another walk along the Rainbow Bay to Greenmount track, another beautiful, retro-inspired dress & opportunity for a photo shoot in the great outdoors! This stunning boat printed cotton poplin fit-to-flare number is once again from Retrospec'd & I've styled it up with a woven paper crossbody bag with blue circle detailing & tan leather strap from Esteems Boutique, my woven straw sunhat with daisy embroidered brim from Princess Highway, my usual silver jewellery items & the blue volcanic beaded bracelet that friends bought back from Greece.

We all scream for ice cream!

Jamoca Almond Fudge is my forever flavour of choice...

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The smiling face of someone who was finally able to return with her younger brother to one of her all-time favourite brunch places, 52 Espresso at Nobby's Beach, a few stores down from the superlative record store (where I always find some absolute gems at competitive prices) Rare Groove Records. A creature of habit, as always I ordered the corn fritter stack with sweet chili relish & avocado with a hash brown on the side as well as an ice cold banana smoothie to wash it all down...

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Dress: Sass via Sabah Lifestyle viscose

Sandals: Blowfish Malibu via Williams vegan leather

Bag: Esteems Boutique woven paper, leather

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

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Next stop after brunch was Gold Coast Antiques at Miami for a little browse & I couldn't resist the opportunity to take some pictures underneath their unique glass light display in my new floral viscose midi dress with elasticated waist & drawstring sides from a label called Sass via Sabah Lifestyle boutique, styled up with a pair of silver, gold & rose gold vegan leather strappy flat sandals from Blowfish Malibu via Williams, a green woven paper crossbody bag with brown leather strap from Esteems Boutique & my beloved silver jewellery pieces to complete the look.

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Never met a condense milk tart that I didn't like... this one from Coolangatta Pie Shop even has a very thin layer of milk chocolate & a dark chocolate star on top...

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Dress: Kitten D'Amour cotton

Shirt: Preview by Target linen

Thongs: Ripcurl rubber

Bag: Esteems Boutique woven paper, leather

Hat: Princess Highway woven straw, embroidery

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

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A hot & sunny Sunday morning at the Coolangatta Markets with my parents, my younger brother & my sister-in-law wearing a stunning floral cotton midi dress with shirred bodice & tiered hemline from retro-inspired label Kitten D'Amour, white linen shirt tied into a bow at the smallest part of my waist from Preview by Target, striped rubber thongs from Ripcurl, woven paper crossbody bag with blue circle detailing & tan leather strap from Esteems Boutique to carry all the essentials, woven straw sunhat with daisy embroidery from Princess Highway & silver jewellery pieces to complete the look. 

It wasn't long before the wind really picked up & we walked around to the Tweed River to watch the dragonboat races before returning to the apartment for what I consider to be the best fish & chips that I've ever eaten from The Happy Snapper, washed down with some alcoholic ginger beer... it is a holiday, after all...

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Dress: Gorman textured cotton

Bag: City Beach crochet

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Anklet: Sabah Lifestyle shell, twine, silver beads

Sunglasses: Sportsgirl faux tortoiseshell

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Exploring the rock pools around Snapper Rocks in a bright & breezy rainbow checked textured cotton midi dress with faux wrap detailing from funky Australian label Gorman, a taupe crochet crossbody bag from City Beach to carry all the essentials, my usual silver jewellery pieces, a shell, twine & silver beaded anklet from Sabah Lifestyle & my faux tortoiseshell sunglasses from Sportsgirl to protect my eyes from the sun's harmful rays.

We all scream for... gelato?!

Absolutely divine pistachio & macadamia gelato from Gelatissimo certainly hits the spot on a warm afternoon by the water.

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Dress: Retrospec'd cotton poplin

Shirt: Preview by Target linen

Thongs: Ripcurl rubber, diamante

Bag: Esteems Boutique woven paper, leather

Hat: Princess Highway woven straw, embroidery

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Sunglasses: Sunglass Hut resin

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Walking around the old remains of Jack Evans' Pet Porpoise Pool to Froggy's Beach in the breeze wearing another delightful retro-inspired tropical print cotton poplin fit-to-flare midi dress from Retrospec'd, white linen shirt tied into a knot from Preview by Target, black rubber thongs with diamante detailing from Ripcurl, green woven paper crossbody bag with brown leather strap from Esteems Boutique to keep my hands free, woven straw sunhat with daisy embroidered brim from Princess Highway, previously mentioned silver jewellery pieces & a pair of clear resin sunglasses from Sunglass Hut to complete the look.