Sydney Shops We Love

Sass and Bide, Oxford Street, Paddington (www.sassandbide.com)
Perhaps best known for their perfectly cut jeans, Sass and Bide is Australia fashion
at its best. Sleek yet relaxed, the jeans come in vibrant colours – I was particular
keen on a red pair with zips – and are skinny yet comfortable. As for the rest – bright
colours and tribal prints combine to create standout clothing that works for a range
of different functions.

Seed, various locations around Sydney (www.seedheritage.com)
Coastal meets cosy-chic at this gem of a shop that stocks fabulous linen dresses,
straw hats and beautiful yet simple cardigans. Clothes are comfortable yet smart
with clean lines and sleek edges. Right now they are channeling a more ‘on Safari
feel’ which is perfect for the summer months. It also has a beautiful baby and
toddler section.

Donna Hay, 40 Holdsworth Street, Woollahra (www.donnahay.com.au)
For aspiring chefs and those who like to nest. This is a great place to pick up a
gorgeous recipe book from a born and bred Australian, who, started off as a food
stylist and has now gone global with her recipes. You’ll also find some lovely home
furnishings, such as a huge box cushion that only costs $65 and will make a perfect
bed for your little pooch or great for casual home entertaining.

High Tea with Mrs Woo, 72b Oxford Street, Paddington (www.highteawithmrswoo.com.au)
Its wonderful slogan gives food for thought: “Life is like a cup of tea – it’s all in how
you make it”, and its lovely clothes and nick knacks give food for the soul. Wonderful
little notebooks, thick, fashionable clothes and bits and bobs that make perfect little
gifts.

Lulu Lemon, Various locations around Sydney (www.lululemon.com)
Since most Australian women in Sydney seem to bound around in running and yoga
clothes – this shop will help you to pull the look off with a chic and stylish edge. Easy-
to-wear and easy-to-love yoga and running wear, which is not yet available in the
UK. It also is one of the best places to buy yoga kit for men.


Tigerlily, Sydney airport Terminal 1, www.tigerlilyswimwear.com.au
Founded by an Australian 11 years ago this shop boasts exotic, trendy and achingly
cool clothes that I discovered. It is earth-friendly fashion that pulls out all the stops
– fantastic colours, bags made with organic fabrics and swim suits that will get you
jumping in the pool at any time of year – this shop really isn’t one to miss.


Enjoy!

Sicilian Holiday (Part 5): Modica & Ragusa - Day 5 & 6

We are finally reaching our last stop in this one week long Sicilian Holiday. From the splendid sea of Vendicari Natural reserve and the baroque of Noto, we are not heading south west to Modica and Ragusa.

Modica is the town of the 100 churches and it's renowned for its southern position and the Baroque style and architecture. The town consists of a lower part (Modica Bassa) and a higher, more ancient part, Modica Alta, connected through 130-m tall Ponte Guerrieri, one of the highest bridges in Europe.

WHAT TO SEE:

• The church of Madonna delle Grazie, who according to the tradition liberated the town from a plague in 1709, with a splendidly decorated facade, three naves and a dome. In the main altar is a statue in slate stone of the Virgin Mary.
• the 15th-century church of Santa Maria di Betlemme, renovated many times with additions from different periods of Sicilian history, from Norman times to the Renaissance.
• the Baroque church of San Giorgio, in a dominating position at the top of a flight of steps, with a spectacular facade, hosting inside a 16th-century painting by Girolamo Alibrandi; on the floor of the transept there is a meridian (sun-clock). 

WHERE TO STAY
 Stay at this cure b&b for a Sicilian experience: http://www.casatalia.it/casa_talia.htm

WHERE TO EAT
You must try a freshly made cannolo from Bonajuto. They are outstanding. Don't go anywhere else. This is the right place: http://www.bonajuto.it/

Spend the night in Modica and enjoy strolling in the streets of this ancient city.

In the morning, head to Ragusa, one of the most fascinating towns in Sicily, Ragusa has caused many a visitor’s jaw to drop as they first set eyes on the lower part of the town. Essentially Baroque, the Ragusa you will see today dates almost entirely from 1693.

While the upper part has its fair share of architectural delights, it is the smaller Ragusa Ibla down below that really draws visitors. Whether you approach it from Modica to the south or from Ragusa Superiore, the sight of the jumble of houses, churches and civic palazzi piled on top of each other, clinging to the walls of the gorge, is really quite breathtaking. Although seemingly Mediaeval from a distance, once you enter the town’s heart, the Baroque logic of its plan becomes more obvious.

The town is part of the Val di Noto UNESCO Heritage site and 18 of its buildings are protected by UNESCO patronage.

WHAT TO SEE:

In Ragusa Ibla: - the Basilica di San Giorgio, built in 1738 by Rosario Gagliardo. It lies at the top of some 200 steps and has an impressive neoclassical dome that was added in 1820.
 - “Giardino lbleo". The Hyblean Gardens offer some fantastic views of the town.
 - the Chiesa di Maria delle Scale (St. Mary of the Stairs) lies between Ragusa Superiore and Ragusa Ibla. It was not totally destroyed by the 1693 earthquake as can be seen from the Gothic Catalan-style arches in the right aisle. As its name might suggest, the church is reached via 242 steps, though the reward at the top is worth it.

In Ragusa Superiore:
The Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, previously situated under the walls of the Mediaeval castle, was rebuilt twice, as the first version was deemed unsuitable. The version that you will see today was built in 1718 in an archetypal, extravagant Sicilian Baroque style.

WHERE TO EAT:
Duomo Restaurant - via Capitano Bocchierei 31 - 2 star Michelin restaurant and it's considered one of the best restaurant in Italy
La locanda di Don Serafino and La Fenice: 1 star Michelin restaurant

 
Also, have a granita in one of the local bars (it's our typical breakfast). Order a pistacchio granita or a gelsi granita. Add panna (whipped cream) and brioche for a finishing touch. It's a caloric bomb but you cannot leave Sicily without having one.

Ragusa is the Sicilian capital of fine dining

WHERE TO STAY:
For a bit of Sicilian traditionalism,  rent this villa: http://www.thinksicily.com/Volo.aspx

And that's all for now. E-mail us if you need more info!
Enjoy.
xx




For inspiration, thanks to: http://www.italyworldclub.com/sicilia/ragusa/modica.htm and http://www.thinksicily.com/guide-to-sicily/towns-and-cities-in-sicily/ragusa.aspx








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How to be healthy like a Sydneysider

It could be something to do with the year round sunshine, unrivalled surf
beaches or dedicated running paths that make Sydney one of the hippest and
healthiest places to be but whatever it is, having been on holiday here for the
last couple of days I have already made a promise to myself that I will return
a cooler, calmer and healthier version of myself. The dress code is sporty, the
cafés healthy and chic and the vibe active and friendly... We could all do with
taking a leaf out of a Sydneysider's book.

Relax: read the paper, have a coffee in a chic café and watch the world go by
or read a book in the bath, for example. Whatever you decide to do, do it guilt
free and add a cube of dark chocolate on top (for the endorphins, of course).
A recent survey found that people who eat chocolate everyday tend to have
above average levels of wellbeing (our favourite is Willie’s Caoco). Relaxing
isn't a treat in Sydney, it's a way of life.

Drink lots of water: as soon as you sit down, whether in a friend's house or
restaurant, you are immediately presented with some water. Drink it and order
some more. Everyone knows that you can never be too hydrated. And… Tap
is fine!

Wear suncream: as a place that is directly located under the hole in the o
zone layer, young Sydneysiders are very cautious when it comes to sun
care and are often found wearing SPF 30, even in the winter. The ones who
haven't are easy to spot since they look weathered, leathered and about
100 years old. We love Aesop's sage and zinc Facial Hydrating Cream that
contains SPF 15.

Support local and boutique: Sydney is all about the independent rather
than chain restaurants, cafés and shops. I have often found myself in the
past purchasing a coffee that was cheaper from a chain store rather than
supporting an independent, and consequently much nicer coffee house. The
coffee house then closes and I get upset but I can only blame myself. Coffee
houses, boutiques and the like wouldn't have to charge such high prices if we
all supported them a little bit more. If you do get over to Sydney make time
for Hemmingway’s - a quaint little coffeehouse that overlooks the ocean on
Manley's famous walkway.

Smile: maybe all that sunshine has gone to their heads but Sydneysiders love
to smile. Smiling more will not only lift the spirits of those around you but also
your own. It causes a chain reaction and you'll be surprised with how great it
makes you feel. Try it now and reap the rewards.

Have a glass of red: it was recently revealed that Australians who have
a drink everyday are happier than those who don't drink anything at all.
However, stick to less than two glasses a day as their level of happiness
takes a nosedive after three!

 Enjoy!

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Review: iPad apps of women's life style magazines II

Marie Claire (US): Tester - June 2011 issue

Price: GBP 2.49 per issue / GBP 9.95 for 12 issues

Pages: 217

Layout & Interface:

The app was developed by the digital media Zinio and it has a "library" page to achive your purchased issues and a "shop" for all the issues for sale. So far, it stocks all issues from Jan 2009.

It follows mostly the traditional format of paper magazine however for the purpose of better graphic illustration, instead of small prints, some pages have separated texts and photos. In the bottom of the screen, it also provides a sliding bar for you to browse the thumbnails of all pages with page numbers.

Multi-media:

I like this bit of MC the most. Not only the featured videos in the cover stories and so on, it also provides media such as: "Tap for Tips" to give you tips for the makeup or hairstyle on the page, "Tap for slideshow" for a quoted story, "360 degree views" for the editor picked shoes. Furthermore, you can simply click for trailers and audio clips of the recommended film and music list of the month. Thinking about how much time it would save you and the smooth operation it offers, you will certainly love it.



Things need to improve:
- I would like to see a zoom-in version of selected products in their fashion pages
- Now we have to wonder when the British version comes for sale

Bonues:
For the recent three issues, it offers free "featured" pages for you to browse.

===

After reviewing a few magazines, I am amazed that most of the well known titles only offer the US edition and hence I said the British Vogue offers something unique even others seem more fun to read and play with.

In addition to the titles above, I would also recommend:

Allure: for beauty lovers.

Elle Collections:
The iPad version of the Elle Collection


This free apps is released every season for a collection of top 10 catwalks. It picks up 10 desingers for each one, the Collections offers images, videos of the catwalk, Elle Opinions and sometimes back stage clips. The latest issue for AW2011 was just released and you just can't miss it.

ELLE Taiwan: If you happen to speak the language, this edition is sleek and fun.

I also happen to sew a few titles only offer the Russion edition, e.g. Harper's Bazaar. More fashion magazines such as i-D, Another simply do not have an iPad app for you. But who said they have to?

Happy iPadding!

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Moor Spanish Tapas

On the way to a friend's party, I read some of the newspaper pages that I hadn't got around to yet and discovered not far from the office was El Cantara - a fusion Spanish and Moroccan restaurant, reminiscent of morish occupied southern Spain. So I decided to try it at my earliest convenience, that being the next week, drawn by the fact that it had a roof - or more aptly named - shisha terrace.

When in Rome...so we started off with a few drinks and an apple shisha, trying the variety where it comes through fruit to give it a better flavour and make it smoother. Better that than the one through alocohol which apart from being treble the price, the waitress said made you lightheaded and dizzy...i think the glasses of wine would do that anyway!


I love these pipes and was utterly happy to sit there chatting and puffing away. The only things spoiling this idyll were the helicopters circling in the sky making a little noise as well as the fact that I had managed to sit on the only part of the waterproof bench that had a small hole in it, so I felt like I had sat in a puddle and my pale caramel leather jacket ended up with a wet patch also. A few more drinks though and I was distracted enough and thought it wise to order some food.



So tapas seemed the obvious choice - especially since I have been finding that gluten products bloat me, which cous-cous was likely to do. We chose a mix of meat including albondigas - declared the favourite dish as they were the meatiest - and a selection of fish dishes - calamares, king prawans in garlic - as well as old favourites - tortilla, croquetas and new ones - aubergine , which I think is a nectar of the gods.

A great new find in the heart of Soho, especially when the sun is shining and you want to find a spot in the sun in which to sip your vino!

El Cantara, 45 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4SD Tel: 0871-961-9528

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Sicilian Holiday (Part 4): Noto - Day 5

We continue to travel south and from the Greek-style Syracuse we head down to the Baroque Noto.
Noto is the finest example of Sicilian Baroque style and for this reason it has been included by UNESCO in their prestigious, coveted World Heritage List. The city is about 32 km from Syracuse and by Bus it should take maximum 40 minutes.

Noto strikes you immediately due to the extraordinary homogeneity of its town-planning: it was built to an octagonal plan and is crossed through by the main streets. This “stone garden”, as it is commonly called come, contains a never-ending number of Baroque monuments that appear on the streets and squares. The material most commonly used is limestone, which creates an extremely spectacular effect at sunset, when the sunlight brings out a pinkish hue from the majestic façades.

What to see/do:

·        Piazza Municipio: with its wonderful staircase that takes you up to the Cathedral of San Giorgio, surrounded by imposing Baroque buildings such as Palazzo Vescovile and Palazzo Landolina di Sant'Alfano.

·        Palazzo Ducezio: now the seat of the Town Council. An admission fee of €1 admits you to one of the reception rooms within, the Sala degli Specchi ('hall of mirrors'), a palatial room with mildly interesting 19th Century frescoes;

·        walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Cavour to admire the masterpieces of the late Baroque period

·        Palazzo Nicolaci: where chubby beasts and cherubs stare down at Via Nicolaci. This is a masterpiece.

      Spare the afternoon (or at list a couple of hours) to visit the Natural reserve of Vendicari. It's a bliss for the senses. So secluded and quite and the sea is really Carribean style. Please note that if you go in the summer months when Italians are on holiday, you will have to share the beach with other locals. It is still well worth a visit. Fishes are very friendly as they are not scared of humans. It's a really nice experience!

      Where to stay:

1. B&B Noto: http://www.venere.com/bandb/noto/bandb-noto/?ref=2960#overview

2. Villa Dorata: http://www.7roomsvilladorata.it/ -

3. Eremo della Giubiliana: http://www.eremodellagiubiliana.it/

Next week we write about the last part of the 1 week Sicilian holiday. Don’t miss it! Enjoy.




Above article inspired by: http://www.nozio.com/europe/italy/sicily/syracuse/itineraries/syracuse_:_noto.htm


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Cabbages and Roses are a brand perhaps best known for their association with Jigsaw, but did you know they have an online store as well?

Distinctly British, their clothes and homeware items evoke the style of how you imagine Beatrix Potter might have lived.

Perfect for summer picnics or a day spent languorously on a boat, their beautiful dresses are casual enough to be ‘every day’ but special enough that you would be forgiven for crying if you accidently spilt some jam down the front of one! And their cushions add the perfect country touch to any urban home.

This blog is more a feast for the eyes rather than being anything useful or informative, as I just had to share the beautiful photography of Cabbages and Roses, online site – so wonderful I would rather like to live in it. They make me want to run off into a wood full of bluebells, barefoot, with a Roberts radio playing Corinne Bailey Rae…. What do they make you want to do?

They have a sale online right now so check it out… it would be rude not to. www.cabbagesandroses.com

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