My Bali

Portrait of Man selling hats. His smile is contagious.

I was standing at one of the peaks of Mt Agung and caught this man in prayer overlooking the crater.

I was a bit sceptical of what Bali had to offer. Having heard from friends and reading forums that"Kuta" was the bogan state of Australia was discomforting to say the least. Then you read books like eat pray love by Elizabeth Gilbert, you conjure wonderful scenes in your head of rice paddies and herbal healers that made me question....can the real Bali please stand up!

From the verdant rice paddies of Ubud, rocky cool Ayung river, treacherous climb to Gunung Agung, Arty vibe of Sanur, luxuries of Nusa Dua, Surplus of seafood and smoke in Jimbaran....Bali is what you make of it. Yes Kuta can be an experience too.

My photo journal...more to come....

Life

After a While
After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
and company doesn’t always mean security.
And you begin to learn
that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead.
With the grace of a woman
not the grief of a child.
And you learn
to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is
too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way
of falling down in mid flight.
After a while you learn
that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul
instead of waiting
for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn
that you really can endure.
That you are really strong.
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and you learn
with every good bye you learn.

VERONICA A. SHOFFSTALL

Were on Stylemepretty.com + Bridalbook.ph

Who would have thought. Thanks Stylemepretty.com... woopeeee!

Southern Treat: Grandma's Bakery

Ever since moving to Canberra, I'm constantly comparing it back to Sydney. From Food, coffee, places, people. In the first 6 months I complained my dear husbands ear off ( feeling sorry for him now....no sympathy). However from time time I find myself very lucky to have found middle ground....I have a really cool YOGA studio i attend regularly, found a hairdresser just last month, just yesterday I was fixated on making philly cheesesteaks that I scoured for a local butcher that would shave sirloin for me and voila...new bestfriend! The list can go on and I will most likely continue to show Canberra through a Sydneysiders eyes....

A couple of months back my dear mother in law (MIL) took me to Grandma's Bakery along the federal highway. It's got this country charm mish mash with Italian influence...very weird design wise but the food is yum. Here a few photos I took.

Mezze Plate

They grow their own olives, bought a litre of their olive oil, deliciously smooth!

Geese in parade

I had the pasta, perfect on a chilly winters day

Hong Kong Flash

The gradually noises abate
and ghostly shadow congregate
on city streets.

For some few hours peace will reign
before the noise will start again
on city streets.

The early morning traffic sounds
start with the milkmen on their rounds
on city streets

We went to Hong Kong for the second half of our honeymoon, I've never been to HK but heard so many things about. Some were good, others were not. I was excited to see for myself. We stayed at the Mira Hotel in TST. It was such a cool place, the comfiest bed ever, excellent room service and spa as well....swoon

The egg chair in our room, I really want one.

One of the nights we went to Hong Kong Island.

This Caviar with gold leaf from Liberty Private Works....you need to go here.

Hong Kong can be a little overwhelming. However Agnes B cafe at the IFC can help you get over it. Yummy coffee and pastries. Don't forget to stop and check out the Agnes B florist shop with the most luscious blooms.

A sumptuous lunch was had a wooloomooloo . The views aren't bad either

Awesome views.

If you're ever in HK and looking for an awesome place to eat for next to nothing. Pay a visit to Tim Ho Wan. The cheapest michelin restaurant....salivating.

A Beautiful Dream

A beautiful magnificent dream, It was magic. I close my eyes to relive the memory … snapshots of each scene of our very special day. The smell, sound and feel for the day. I was told to take it all in , it will happen all too fast …..All true.

Paper Love and balloons

Inspired by a poem by E.E Cummings....I carry your heart

Happy New Year to everybody, so glad to be blogging again. I'm just so busy organizing all things related to "bridal" that I haven't had any time to blog whatsoever. I thought I'd share my love for letterpress....yes you heard me right letterpress.

For those of you who don't know much about letterpress, I stumbled across it during my wedding invitation research. Letterpress printing is truly the most beautiful craftsmanship - It is a centuries old art form, which is timeless, classic and results in a beautiful tactile impression into the paper.

Letterpress is the oldest and one of the most exquisite forms of printing available. Letterpress hasn't changed much since 1440 when Gutenberg developed movable type and the first ever printing press was invented. For the last 520 odd years, letterpress was the most common form of printing, it was a craft of masters, it was something terribly precious. However during the last century the development of faster, motorised offset printing presses meant that centuries of knowledge and craftsmanship were lost in an instant. However revival of such art is getting more popular today. Although expensive,it makes a beautiful lasting impression...pardon the pun

I love the history and ofcourse how beautiful it is.. enjoy

These were my Save the dates...don't you just love the bridesmaid cards from Mr Boddington

My world custom made world map liners

sneak peek of my wedding invitations....custom made by craftmaster

Smock Letterpress

Atlas and Campbell

Finally Bella Figura....my fave letterpress company