Easy Honey Roasted Pumpkin

Now that I'm making a conscious effort to eat better, I'm constantly on the look out for healthier alternatives. On a night out a few weeks ago, I had an incredible roast pumpkin salad for dinner. Since I'm a complete sucker for salty treats, I thought roast pumpkin cubes make the perfect afternoon snack. While I guess it's pretty self explanatory, I thought I'd share my quick and easy recipe.

You will need...

1/2 butternut pumpkin (or variety of your choice)

2-3 tbsp olive oil

2-3 tbsp honey

Salt and pepper

Preheat your oven or grill to 200 degrees celcius. When I do mine in the grill, I use both the top and bottom elements.

Peel and cut your pumpkin into bite-size cubes.

In a bowl, add the oil and honey to the pumpkin and toss until all cubes are well coated.

Season with salt and pepper to your liking.

Spread the pumpkin cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pour any remaining liquid over the top.

Place into your oven or grill for 30-45 minutes, or until tender.

Serve with salad or feta cheese- or eat alone for a tasty snack like I do!

My favourite thing about this recipe is that the honey caramelises and gets crispy. It's also super easy to add whatever herbs or spices you like! What are your favourite healthy snacks? I'd love to try them out.

White to Bright

Image | Chairish

I love having inspiration to make a mood board. I love it even more when constructing one becomes a challenge, so when Chairish invited me to make style an accent chair, I couldn't resist. If you're a keen lover of all things vintage, then you should definitely pop over to the website and browse to your heart's content. If you want to find out more about how the company operates, you can read all about them here. Armed with the 'white to bright' concept, here's what I came up with!

I love the idea of incorporating colour and metallic accents, especially when working with a neutral palette. While I loved the boldness of the pink accent chair, I don't think my eyes would be very happy if it was all pink everywhere. So after aggressively stalking Pinterest, I fell in love with the idea of adding turquoise with rose gold/copper metals. I don't even know what to tell you- I'm obsessed with foiled prints right now.

Now I'm not about to bore you with my whole thought process, because I am by no means an interior designer and you probably do not want my advice. However, if you love a good accent (who doesn't?), then you can check out the whole range of accent chairs here.

I am a serious sucker for anything interior design, so if you have any favourite Pinterest boards or websites for me to obsess over, please do let me know!

Featured pieces: accent chair | sectional | coffee table | sunburst mirror | watercolour (background) | 'dream big gorgeous' print | 'hello' print

The Hometown Hunt

I like staying at home on a Friday night with Netflix for company as much as the next person. I’ve also been guilty of complaining that there is absolutely nothing interesting for me to do over the weekend, because let’s face it, my city seems to be pretty boring at the best of times. As a creature of habit, I often find myself at the same cafes or restaurants when I do choose to throw caution to the wind and actually leave the house.

If you’re anything like me, Eventbrite is an awesome resource for adding some fun back into your weekend (or any day of the week!). I’ve always said I’d rather spend money on experiences than on tangible things, and this website means I have no excuse not to make good on that statement. The Eventbrite website allows you to browse through events in your local area- festivals, screenings, performances and expos… Basically I never have an excuse to say there’s nothing to do. You can grab more information on any events that tickle your fancy, order your tickets and even contact the relevant organisers. Even better, if you're an event organiser, you can also pop onto the event management page for tools to help you manage your own event. 

As part of their Hometown Hunt project, I’m sharing two of my favourite Perth spots for local shenanigans. I’ve also got two event picks from the website that I can’t wait to attend.

Image | Choo Choo's 

Choo Choo’s is a small bar in the CBD that my cousin introduced me to at the start of the year- and it was love at first sight. While it’s great for a night out on the town (did someone say bar hopping?), they also have regular Unamped sessions. Atmosphere? Check. Awesome live music? Check.

Image | Padbury's Cafe Restaurant

On the opposite end of spectrum, I also love me a good high tea. Anyone will tell you that there are a number of places to enjoy the “finer things” in life, but Padbury’s Café Restaurant in Guildford has to be my favourite. You can book a high tea at your own convenience during the week, and my best friend and I have been known to make desperate dessert runs. This would have to be my pick for anyone who would rather get up early on a Sunday than stay out late on a Friday night.

Image | Perth Upmarket Facebook

Surprise, surprise- my number one Eventbrite pick is a market. Because I obviously like throwing my money at pretty, hand made things. The Perth Upmarket is a quarterly event held at UWA that “brings together over 150 of Perth’s most talented artists, designers, craftsmen and gourmets.” Did I mention entry and parking is free? I’m so there.

My second pick is the Spring Celebration Charity High Tea. All the proceeds go to Destiny Rescue, a not for profit organisation that fights against sex trafficking and child slavery. There will always be jewellery for sale at the event made by those who have been rescued. It sounds like a lovely way to support an amazing cause!

Just goes to show that you don't necessarily have to be a partier or night owl to enjoy all your city has to offer. I'd love to know what kind of local events are your favourite!

Melbourne Girls Weekend | Travel Journal

 

Neither my best friend or I are what you would call spontaneous. Everything we decide to do is preceded by copious amounts of planning and this trip was no exception. Our four day weekend was about a year and a half in the making, but the wait was well worth it.

Melbourne is probably one of my favourite places I'd visited in terms of two of my favourite activities: eating and shopping. Since these were the two main aims of our trip, I didn't get to indulge in many (or really, any!) touristy adventures, but these were my top three places to shop:

• Chapel Street is absolutely amazing for boutique shopping. Though there is a Target and Topshop, I fell in love with it for all the smaller stores you'd struggle to find anywhere else. I had to refrain from buying a whole new closet- the quality of most of the clothes I drooled over was amazing and though the prices weren't cheap, they were not unreasonable either. I'd recommend making a girls day out of this if you can- there's plenty of cafes and restaurants to grab a bite to eat and a tasty coffee.
  
  
• South Wharf DFO appealed to my inner bargain hunter. I know factory outlets tend to be pretty hit and miss as far as stock is concerned, but I struggled not to blow my shopping budget during this visit. Since I'm used to having only one, relatively small factory outlet centre near me, I was definitely spoiled for choice.
  
  
• H&M. Okay so this may seem a bit odd to people who live in Melbourne or who have regular access to the store, but we don't have it where I live. I think we made an obligatory H&M visit every day we were there- and I'm slightly sheepish to admit I bought new things every single time. I also spent an unhealthy amount of time browsing the home section, which was awesome. And completely freakout-worthy. 

 

I can't count the number of cafes and restaurants we stopped at during the trip, but I will say we did have a penchant for Italian food. There's nothing quite like being able to dine alfresco in the middle of winter and share a glass of wine with your best friend. Though Hardware Lane was one of my favourite dining experiences, dinner at Ca De Vin takes the cake. It was a beautiful, atmospheric dining area. And there are not enough adjectives to tell you how incredible the food was. If you do happen to stop by, I would 100% recommend the saganaki with honey and fig jam for entree. You can visit their website here. 

This city definitely stole my heart. When I went to put this post together, I realised I'd been having way too much fun and didn't take nearly enough photos. Though I'm sure my bank account would disagree, I cannot wait for the next time I have the opportunity to go. 

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University Degrees & Other Torturous Things

I can barely remember the last time I had a minute to sit down and write a blog post. I knew this semester at uni was probably going to be the toughest so far, but after the past two months of endless due dates, that somehow seems like an understatement. In the midst of sleepless nights and empty coffee cups, I will say that this semester has probably taught me more in terms of life skills than before, and now that it's almost at its end, I can appreciate those lessons:

1. It's all about balance. I feel like this has been the most difficult aspect of the past few months, because while uni isn't high school, it is still school. That means that classes must be attended and there is always work to complete. It did take me a few weeks to get into the swing of balancing a heavier course load with my social life (which conveniently- or inconveniently- has also gotten significantly busier lately), but being sensible with my time has lessened the probability of a complete mental break down.

2. Some things have to be sacrificed. For me, those sacrifices have mostly occurred in the sleep department. Personally, I feel that I'm most productive late at night, which means there has been an exponential increase in my coffee intake. It's also meant that blogging has slipped down in my priorities. It's important to remember that these don't have to be permanent measures- once the craziness of exams has passed, my time distribution will probably be completely different (read: I'm going to sleep for a week!).

3. Calendars/Diaries/Lists/Sticky notes are your best friend. They have saved my butt so many times when it comes to remembering all my important dates. When you've got assignments due, tests to study for, friends' social events and work commitments every week, things start to get a little hectic. Writing things down means I always have something to refer back to and everything gets done on time.

4. Remember to have fun. There's nothing worse than having your head stuck in a book or having to sit in front of your laptop multiple hours a day, seven days a week. Having some time to yourself to just read, or go for a walk, or binge watch some Netflix, is a valuable thing. Make some time to relax, and you'll probably feel more able to tackle all the hard stuff.

Though I constantly whine about how much work I have to do, I will grudgingly admit that I love the degree I'm studying. Even though it feels like it's always blood, sweat and tears, it's important to remember the positives that come out of it.

Also, periodically reward study with chocolate.

Viva Venezia

When I was little, I always used to dream about going on a great traveling adventure. My desire to travel to Italy was only fuelled by watching the Lizzie McGuire movie countless times, and I finally realised that dream a couple of years ago. Venice was one of the most interesting cities I've ever visited- the architecture is beautiful and its history is so rich. Not only that, I swear I found something photograph-worthy around every corner I looked.

The surrounding islands were amazing in their own right. Burano with its little colourful houses and gorgeous views was definitely my favourite. I couldn't resist stopping to snap photos of almost every house I saw because they were just so quirky and unlike anything I'd ever seen or have seen since. Definitely a place to fall in love with.

Giftspiration | The Beauty Queen

This has probably been my favourite giftspiration post to put together so far because we're talking all things beauty. I rarely receive anything beauty related as a gift, but it's one of my favourite areas to shop in come Christmas time. Most companies come out with awesome value gift sets at this time of year, so if you've been eyeing anything off for yourself, now might be the time to buy it. Everything featured in this post is either something I've tried and adored, or is on my own wishlist this year.  

{ too faced lipstick trio | by terry ombre blackstar creme shadow | bite beauty high pigment pencil | hourglass ambient powder wardrobe | ted baker bow makeup bag | tom ford lipstick | charlotte tilbury fallen angel quad | urban decay naked palette | nars and god created woman set | anastasia contour palette }

You can read my review on the Bite Beauty high pigment pencils here!

Giftspiration | Coffee & Tea Connoisseurs

Such is my life that I rarely go a day without treating myself to a cup of coffee or tea. For my fellow caffeine addicts, I present to you a post filled with everything that I now really want to buy for myself to assist in the quest for the perfect coffee/tea/hot beverage experience. And yes, I am drinking coffee as I write this!

{ kate spade insulated tumbler | coffee framed print | stamped coffee spoon | butterfly print cup & saucer | nespresso dolce gusto machine | nespresso capsule cube | coffee mug | novelty thermal mug | floral teapot | t2 triple treat sampler | milk frother }

Giftspiration | The Bakerella

Coming home to a freshly baked chocolate cake is one of my favourite things, and thanks to my mum, it happens pretty often. Walking into a specialist store can be a little overwhelming for someone who doesn't really have a clue what to look for, so I asked my mum to help me. Down below is a collage along with links of what we came up with- may your chocolate cakes be plentiful!

{ french fancies cookbook | birdy cake stand | electric handmixer | 12 pc piping tip set | patterned acrylic fondant roller | decorating turntable | chef's torch | granite pastry board | little piggy measuring cups | silicone baking mat | ceramic mixing bowl set}

Giftspiration | The Foodie

Got someone in your life with an ardent (and according to Google, refined) taste in food and alcoholic beverages? For this giftspiration post, I annoyed asked my own resident foodie for some input on a couple of gift ideas. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go eat a burger. Or three. 

{ herb mill | pizza stone & cutting wheel | one touch salt & pepper mill | corkcicle wine chiller | gift voucher | recipe planner | cheese board | cheese knife set | wine decanter }

Hot Chocolate Bar | Easy DIY Gift Idea

Beginners Tips For The Gym- From A Beginner!

I'm not naturally inclined towards physical activity. I'm actually pretty sure that a giant squid has better coordination than I do. So you can probably imagine me furiously searching Youtube for tutorials on how to use gym equipment the night before my first session. If my experience is anything to go by, it can be pretty intimidating- especially for someone who's got next to no clue how to use 99% of the machinery and is usually too shy to ask for help. Fast forward a few weeks and I'm by no means an expert, but I definitely feel more confident! Practice definitely makes perfect.

1. Ease yourself into it.
This probably depends how fit you are, but if you're anything like me, I don't advise sprinting on the treadmill your first time. To be quite honest, I was pretty terrified I was going to go flying off the back of it, and it wasn't until my third or fourth visit that I finally worked up the courage to give running a go.

2. Ignore everyone else.
Keep in mind that health and fitness is about you. So what if people can lift more weight or run faster than you can? Do what you can, then work your way up to being better. The only person you should be competing with is yourself!

3. If you're unsure, ask. 
There is no such thing as a dumb question- no, really. If there's something you're not sure how to use, your best bet is to ask one of the fitness trainers who generally hang around- that's what they're there for! You're better off asking than using something incorrectly and hurting yourself.

4. Try something new every session.
Even if it's only taking a minute to figure out how something works, it's worth it. I found that the more things I took the time to learn, the more confident and comfortable I became. It's also given me the chance to mix up my workouts more so I don't get bored.

5. Track your progress.
After every session, I like to make note of how long I spent on each machine, the resistance level or weight I used, or the number of reps I did. It makes a world of difference when you're lacking motivation to look back and see how far you've come.

6. Have fun!
If you hate what you're doing, there is no way you're ever going to be motivated to continue. If running's not your thing, try the cross trainer or stationary bike. If you're not super keen on weights, then try some exercises that just use your body for resistance. Once you find the exercises you like doing, you'll probably find yourself actually wanting to commit.

7. Have a work out playlist.
I find music really helps get me pumped up, particularly when it's 6 in the morning and there are other places I'd rather be (name: in bed, preferably asleep). Spotify's a really good place to start looking for some awesome running tunes.

I feel compelled to end this post with a bunch of motivational quotes, but I feel like everyone's probably heard them a hundred times already. Just keep a look out for people's shirts at the gym- there's always at least one person who's wearing one with an awesome slogan!

Chairish the Moment | The Inspo Post

I'm one of those people who can intend to browse Pinterest for a few minutes between college lectures and end up completely engulfed for hours (goodbye, productivity!). Despite the fact that I'm still living at home, drooling over beautiful interior designs is one of my favourite things to do. With the amount of time I spend doing that, you can only imagine the lists I've formulated consisting of things I just have to have in my future abode.

So with that obsession in mind, I was totally excited when Chairish invited me to create a style board surrounding my ideal home bar. Needless to say, after spending hours browsing the website and changing my mind of what I wanted to create, I managed to add a billion and one more things to that aforementioned list. So without further ado, here's what I came up with!

Easy Owl Cupcake Toppers

Last week, I mentioned in my inspiration post that I'd decorated the cupcakes for a first birthday party. I figured if I could do it, they were definitely something any body could take a stab at. For how simple they are, I think they're super cute- and you can change up the colour scheme to suit your needs.

Have A Mint Birthday!

Kids' birthday parties always bring about a huge wave of nostalgia for me, and I've gone from being a willing participant in party games to being content to sit back and watch. My cousin has a knack for throwing beautiful parties, so naturally when her daughter turned one, I had to play paparazzi for the day.

Chelsea Gets Healthy: Green Smoothie Recipe

I've been really getting into making smoothies recently- they're such an easy and portable option for breakfast and lunch. I just make a huge batch the night before, and save myself the time and stress for the next day. Having said that, I've been experimenting with what I throw into the blender and I thought I'd share my favourite recipe so far.

This recipe actually came about accidentally, and I was so surprised with how good it tasted. To be honest, when I first drank it, it tasted a little bit like cake! Don't ask me how or why, because my best guess is probably as good as yours. Needless to say, I drank it all up without any problem or guilt.