Surry Hills Is BAE

SURRY HILLS IS BAE.

On May 15th I finished my Fashion Communications degree at Northumbria University. Three days later and I was on a flight to Sydney, Australia with a heart beat as fast as Usain Bolt. I was s*** scared because I had no idea what my plans were once I got there or what was waiting on me, but naturally, incredibly excited at the same time. 35 hours later - after a ridiculous amount of delays and cancellations - and I was staring out the window of the double decker train taking me into the CBD. On a serious note though, why don't we have double decker trains in the UK? Life changing.

Taken from the Sydney Tower Eye before our SKYWALK

I checked into Bounce Hostel just opposite Central Station in Surry Hills at 10am and the rest is history. I've been here for about five weeks now and i've had such an amazing time. The people you meet when you're in a hostel on your own are all in the same position as you, so they're immediately welcoming and want you to enjoy yourself. Of course it also helps when you're being forced goon down your throat - an Aussie vintage wine from 2015. It's really as great as it sounds *insert sarcasm* - and there's an event on every night at a local backpacking bar. I had a bucket list of things that I wanted to do once I got here, and i've ticked off a good few of them now, but there's still a few little ones on the list before I move back the UK. Here's what i've been getting upto so far!

Winter beach days at Bondi

@blacksmithsurryhills 

Breakfast burger and beer battered chips at @blacksmithsurryhills

Sydney Tower Eye

My dream house near Coogee Beach - Ocean Street.

@jasminedownling mural at Bondi Beach

Sunset at Coogee Beach - the end point of the eastern beaches coastal walk

@reubenhills - great food and even better looking waiters..

Vivid Sydney Light Festival

Chur Burger Surry Hills

The Notorious B.I.G - Chur Burger - The best thing i've ever put in my mouth

On the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly

My new best friend!

Sunday BBQ on the terrace with the CBD in the background

Lixie Chocolatier - Left here sick but satisfied

Bondi Icebergs

Group selfie with Kane the Koala at Featherdale Wildlife Park

SKYWALK at Sydney Tower Eye

The sunset from our terrace at Bounce

As sad as it sounds, the highlight so far has to be getting my photograph with a kangaroo - this was something I wanted to do for a while before I got to Australia, so I was over the moon when we got to feed them! I've loved finding new and exciting little coffee shops and eateries around Surry Hills, too. Instagram has been amazing for this, so long as you know what you're looking for. It's gotten to the point now that I'll see what a place looks like on Instagram before I decide whether or not it's worth the visit!

The plan when I came out here was to stick out my 12 month working holiday visa and work in Visual Merchandising. Although I've had a few interviews for jobs within this field, the restrictions on a 417 WHV mean that I can only work with any company for a max of six months and unfortunately this industry isn't a short term thing. As much as I love Surry Hills, there's something about it that stops me from feeling content. Especially when I can't work in my chosen field, so the plan now is to move somewhere in the UK and go from there so that I can establish my career. Saying that, the friends I've made out here will be with me for life - this I have no doubt of - so I may come back out and meet them in Melbourne or somewhere up the East Coast to spend Christmas with them.

Sometimes you have a certain plan for yourself and it doesn't work out quite the way you thought it would, but it doesn't mean you've failed. It just means you've tried plan A and now it's time for plan B. Or C, D or E. My gran always tells me that when one door closes, another opens. And it could be an even better opportunity, challenge, experience or person behind it. You just need to be open to change and embrace whatever life throws at you and not let it turn you into a pessimist.

I still have two weeks left with everyone in Sydney, so there will definitely be another post around then with some more photographs of what i've done - the aquarium, zoo, Boathouse Balmoral and the Blue Mountains will be on there so I can't wait to show you!

Photo's were all taken by myself on an iPhone 5C.

Bondi, Bondi, Bondi

GOOD THINGS COME IN THREE'S

It's no secret to anyone if you've caught my recent updates on Instagram and Twitter that I'm relocating to the beauty that is Australia in the next ten weeks and four days - you know, not that i'm counting or anything. So in between planning everything and making bucket lists of the things I'm going to do as soon as I get there, i've been searching for new fashion and lifestyle brands that I want to involve myself with. It's true when people say that good things come in three's, because that's exactly the case for this post - and each one has something to do with Bondi/Sydney.

Photo credit: VDM instagram - @marialitiziaxo

The first one I want to rave about is Warpaint. In case you've been living under a rock for the past few months, charcoal has risen from the ashes - mind the pun - and into girls beauty cabinets everywhere. The activated properties in it prove amazing for not only your skin, but your teeth as well. And that's where Warpaint comes in. This little black pot is going to become your saviour for the remainder of time; especially if you're an avid coffee drinker like myself. I've only been using the product for five days now, but even from the first use I could tell my teeth seemed a lot brighter and felt surprisingly clean. Any annoying little stains I had on my teeth are now practically gone, so I can't wait to watch them get whiter the longer I use this product! 

So how do you use it? Well the charcoal is in a loose form within the tub; you take a wet toothbrush, dip the bristle tips into the powder and brush your teeth in circular motions for two minutes. Then spit carefully (it gets EVERYWHERE) rinse and that's you done. You can use it as often as you like (i've stuck to twice daily - morning and night) and there's no need for additional toothpaste as the charcoal has properties which strengthen enamel, get rid of bacteria and balances the ph in your mouth. The charcoal is tasteless, so if you're like me and like that fresh minty taste after brushing your teeth just use some mouthwash afterwards. The cost is $55 AUSD which works out about £29 or there abouts, but shipping is free and this is going to last you months, so it's definitely worth it. 

Photo: VDM instagram @marialitiziaxo

Next in my little trio of perfection is Bondi Sands. If you're a pale little ghost like myself, then you'll understand the absolute struggle of wanting to be tanned and lovely but burning to a crisp if you try sunbeds/sunbathing. Or you know, if you live in England where warm weather in nothing but a myth these days. Self tanner seems to be your only option, but they either make you smell like a digestive biscuit, or leave you looking like you've had a fight with some orange paint and the paint won. Well fear no more, because I've found the holy grail. Bondi Sands is the tanning range that dreams are made of. You can choose a lotion, mist or foam in either light/medium or dark and wash it off in as little as an hour if you're really in a hurry. I chose to try the light/medium foam, just because 1) foam is SO much easier to apply and dry and 2) I'm extremely pale and didn't want to go straight to dark in case it didn't mix well with me. After applying one coat, I had a bit of a dance around to Drake in my bedroom for 30 minutes and applied a second coat. My initial thoughts were that the product smelled of coconuts and was amazing. Like, seriously good. My flatmate/best friend even walked into the room and asked what I had just sprayed because she wanted some. After applying the foam I let it dry for another 40 minutes and went to bed to catch up on some beauty sleep. Eight hours later I wake up and can't get over how tanned I look - but not in an obvious 'oh she's just put fake tan on' kind of way. This really did look browner than any other foam i've tried so Bondi Sands was getting serious brownie points by this point. I also noticed that it still smelled amazing, even after developing. One other thing I noticed was that the tan on my hands looked as natural as self tanner can get, and wasn't clinging to my knuckles or wrists the way that other tans tend to do with me - no matter how much I moisturise prior to application. All in all, i've decided that this product is going to be my favourite thing for the remainder of time and I'm just so glad that it's now available in Superdrug in the UK so that I can pop into town whenever I run out. For £14.99 I can't get enough of it.

Photo credit: B O N D I V E N U S instagram - @bondivenus

Lastly, a Bondi piece inspired by foreign shores. Bondi Venus is the Aussie swimwear brand that I've been lusting over ever since I planned the move down under a few months ago. From the models they choose for shoots, to the location and the one piece/bikinis on offer, everything about the brand is sexy, stylish and everything I would want in a swimwear brand. There were so many styles to choose from, but in the end I went for the black (obviously) MIAMI one piece, which has super low V back/sides. I don't normally wear a one piece if i'm on holiday etc, but I fell in love when I saw this and thought that it would look really great as part of an outfit as well as just something to wear to the beach. It's priced at $49, with a $22 shipping charge to the UK, but if you use the promo code CHEERS at checkout it should take off $25 for you; so you are effectively getting free shipping a little extra off the price too. I can already tell that I'm going to have so much fun with this little number already - and probably other pieces that I'll undoubtedly be buying.

SRSLY

SRSLY.

Image is my own via IG: @marialetiziaxo

What is life. No, I don't mean it in a deep philosophical way, I mean it in the most basic 21st century way of saying what is going on. I feel as though my life has gone from one extreme to the other, and all within the space of around 10 weeks. So allow me to gather my series of post it notes (it seems like any idea I have is written on one these days) and fill you in on the chaos that is my life.

Let's go back 10 weeks and see where it all started; first of all I was seeing boy. Yes. A real life, human boy. And he was wonderful - is wonderful - but he was moving to Australia. If you've read my previous few posts you'll notice a general theme of Australia in them and that was because I was so inspired by his move. I think I ended up looking into it more than he did, and he was the one moving. But anyway, he was moving and it was just a little bit heart breaking. Typical luck to finally find someone that you feel that you could potentially be with, only for them to then leave you alone and crying in a corner. Well, the last part was an exaggeration, but it wasn't a nice feeling. So this is what triggered the next chapter - we decided to stay together to see how it would work out, but then I got my friend on board and we booked visa's and one way flights for Sydney (18/6/2015). Ok, I know what you're thinking, "you're moving across the world to be with a boy ARE YOU INSANE?!". I might be? Maybe? Who knows! The fact is I always said that after university I would move to America or Australia. So maybe his move did edge my decision towards the Aussie coast a little more in the end, but at least I'm doing something that isn't exactly a new idea to me. I'm setting up my own life and not depending on anyone else, so it is perfectly acceptable. And anyway, you have to take some risks in life, otherwise you're stuck in the same position twenty five years down the line, wishing you had done something differently. I really trust my impulsiveness; it hasn't lead me astray just yet - and without sounding too nauseating he's a keeper. I can feel it.

Renzo Piano, Sydney by @dianakbui via VSCO

Around this same time I was also beginning to think about what I wanted to do with my career in fashion and which avenues I was going to go down. I didn't have a clue. For someone who normally has everything figured out, this was difficult for me to deal with. Not having a vision is truly fk@!ing terrifying. However now that I've been back at uni and diving into my final ever semester of my degree I have seen the light. And let me tell you, it's marvellous. It's glittering and brilliant and shaped like visual merchandising. I've always had a love for it, but now that i've been thinking about my final major project (FMP) i've decided that it really is the career path for me and the goal is now firmly in sight. So now i'm going to have three sketch books, a note pad and about 1000 post it notes in various colours to attract my attention whenever I walk by them. 

If you've ever done a degree in fashion, you'll realise just how chaotic life gets when you're thinking about the end result - what you're going to do for not only that, but what's going to happen when you leave the comfort that is university. It's funny how we look at it now as though riding a bike in the Sahara Desert would be an easier option, but I'm trying to slow down and savour every piece of it. I'm never going to get another first chance at it and afterwards I know i'm really going to miss this little bubble. So although i'm now the worlds biggest insomniac and I've swapped Newcastle's treble vodkas for triple shot latte's in the morning, this new level of determination and absolute will to succeed has got me both excited and scared. The latter isn't a bad thing though - if something doesn't scare you, then it isn't worth doing. True story.

Wanderlust | Where Will Instagram Take You?

WANDERLUST.

n. the wish to travel far away and to many different places.

I think it's safe to say that the above term describes me to a T at the moment. Maybe it's the cold, wet weather creeping through the apartment this afternoon, or the fact that everyone I know has been talking about traveling plans after graduation in 2015; all I know is that I'm bored of the same old sights of England and I want more. More sunshine, more heat and more adventure.

With everything I have going on at the minute, the only sense of adventure I've had has been spent scrolling through profile upon profile on Instagram. Type in one hashtag and the next minute you're on something completely irrelevant to your first search. It's kind of like when you're on one person's profile and the next minute you know their cousins boyfriend's aunt's cat's name. Talk about going off on a tangent.  But it's from doing this at 2am when i'm in the tight grip of my insomnia that I've discovered so many amazing brands and places that are now firmly on my bucket list of travel destinations.

Photo Credit: via @caitstadler

First up, the Rock Bar located within Bali's Ayana Resort and Spa. Situated literally on the rocks lining the sea, this bar boasts insanely stylish outdoor seating with a view that you'd give a kidney for.  There's nothing more calming for me than sitting at a seaside bar with a nice drink to one side, and a burning sunset to the other. And this is exactly what you would get here. Bali has always been somewhere that I've lusted after in the travel brochures, but now I've decided that it needs to happen if I am to ever find an inner sense of contentment. 

Photo Credit: @alexmarksphotography

Photo Credit: @photosbyjessieann

Next is a little cafe that speaks to me on so many levels. It's The Boathouse at Balmoral Beach, NSW. The location itself is beautiful situated right on the water, but its the interiors and rustic look of the place that has me wanting to visit for a spot of lunch. Surrounded by flowers, plants and wooden fixtures, this little cafe just oozes serenity for those interested in an artsy scene. Looking at their IG profile and website, you can expect anchors stencilled onto your afternoon cappuccino, or a berry smoothie served in the cutest bear-shaped glass i've ever seen. After having an array of fruit platters, croissants and eggs for breakfast, you can then move on to a selection of seafood dishes, salads or burgers from their lunch menu. There really is something to suit everyone's tastes and it all looks amazing. 

Ive come across quite a few places on my IG travels that I want to visit, however the above two have really hit the spot in terms of making me want to spontaneously book a ticket and go right away. Having explored what Sydney has to offer, I've been introduced to lots of new ideals, brands and aesthetics with a very clean, minimalistic feel to them but that is something for another post.

What's On Your Christmas List?

Christmas Wish List:
Black Milk Clothing

Well that's all of my hand in's completed and submitted for my first semester and I could not be happier. It's such a relief to know that I now have five weeks over the festive period to eat, drink, be merry and start work on my new sleeve tattoo (yes, I'm getting one!). I hope you're all having a relaxed few weeks and that Christmas shopping/preparation isn't getting you all too highly strung!

The skeleton print is on both sides from hip to ankle.
Image taken via instagram - follow me at @vitadimoda

This Christmas, as an early gift, I was given two pairs of Black Milk leggings from someone who I am now afraid to say is my ex. I've had my eye on their leggings and bodysuits for about a year and a half now due to Tumblr being flooded with people wearing them, but I never seemed to actually get my hands on any of their products - that is until they had their lovely Cyber Monday deal: 50% off selected products and luckily for me, the leggings I wanted were in that category!

So, as a gift I was asked if I wanted them for Christmas and now I am the proud new owner of some Black Milk leggings. I went for the bone printed leggings and just a plain matte black pair. I love the material that they use (polyester bright & spandex mix) because it's nice and thick like dance leggings, so no transparency issues or a constant need to keep pulling them up or make adjustments. They're insanely comfortable and although not classed as high waisted, they do come up as far as my belly button, so I can wear a crop top with them and they'll look good. 

The problem I now have though, is that I want near enough every single style on offer on their website, so I thought I'd put together a little wish list - just in case Santa is reading this and is wondering what to bring me on Christmas morning!

The leggings range in price from $50 to $90, which is why as a student I've been unable to have a wardrobe full of them. I definitely recommend them though and will be purchasing another pair of two with some Christmas money if I have any left over from my tattoo! Fancy a pair for yourself? Get them at www.blackmilkclothing.com

What do you think of Black Milk? Do you own any of their products?