Watermelon, Strawberry & Basil Cooler

Since it’s Canada Day tomorrow, I thought I would celebrate by posting a “red” recipe. With the hot weather we’ve been experiencing lately, this watermelon, strawberry and basil cooler is the perfect thirst-quencher to cool you down. Watermelon is one of my favourite summer fruits, and this drink just screams summertime on the patio. The specks of basil add a pretty touch and pairs nicely with the watermelon and strawberry.

Watermelon, Strawberry & Basil Cooler (Serves 2):

Ingredients:

- 2 cups cubed watermelon

- 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries

- 6 basil leaves
- 1 cup of coconut water

- 2 cups of ice

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Happy Canada Day!

Morning Green Juice

I love starting my mornings with this healthy green juice filled with kale, celery, green apples, pears, lime and ginger. Click here for the full recipe.

Sydney Glow

I absolutely loved Sydney. From the beautiful beaches and hot surf spots, to the fresh seafood, there is something magical about this city. One evening we went to the Opera Bar, a popular bar on the lower level of the Sydney Opera House. As we waited for our food and drinks to arrive (more about that in a future post), we went up to the Opera House to snap a few photos. The sun was casting a nice warm glow before it set and the view overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge was spectacular.

Dress with belt: Mendocino | Shoes: Guess (Australia) | Necklace: Joe Fresh

Seafood Caesar Salad

A scrumptious lunch: shrimp and scallop Caesar salad from Stoney's Bread Company. Great cafe in downtown Oakville that serves amazing salads, sandwiches and pizzas.

Naked in the Sky

I went bar hopping with my cousin and cousin-in-law one afternoon and the first stop was a place called Naked in the Sky, a trendy hipster bar with a rooftop terrace that overlooks Melbourne. The bar has an impressive array of infused vodkas with flavours such as pineapple, lychee and ginger, and green apple and cherry. My cousin and I ordered a watermelon and mint infused vodka and it was nice and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness. I could barely taste the alcohol in it which is my kind of drink. We sat on the rooftop and enjoyed the great views of the city, before we hopped off to our next bar destination.

Hot Pink for Spring

It's a pink blazer, leopard shoes and a yummy donut kinda day. Although every day could be a donut day for me.

Blazer: Zara | Blouse: Guess | Jeans: Guess | Shoes: from Hong Kong | Donut: Jelly Modern

Sweet Delights at Brunetti

After a day of fun sightseeing in Melbourne, my cousins and cousin-in-law took me to Brunetti, a popular and charming Italian café where they have the most delicious and decadent looking cakes, pastries, gelato and desserts. I was like a kid in a candy store; I had entered sweet tooth heaven. As much as I wanted to devour everything in sight (believe me it was tempting), I ended up getting a yummy gelato with a biscuit and a mini cake to go. The next time I am back in Melbourne, some Brunetti bingeing is definitely in order as an entire day will likely be spent eating here.  

Matcha Madness

My new obsession: matcha lattes. I am planning on doing a post on how I make this deliciously frothy drink at home, but in the meantime, here's a little teaser.

Sangeet Festivities

Before my cousin's Chindian wedding in Melbourne and before I even knew that Chindian was actually a thing (Chinese-Indian hybrid), there were several pre-wedding events that took place. And in true Indian form they were big, grand and festive. As my second Indian wedding (the first being at my friend’s in London last summer), I knew a bit of what to expect. Although similar in some ways, they were also different in others.

The first event was the sangeet and it was a fun-filled night with plenty of dancing, food and more dancing. My favourite part was seeing my cousin dance to Indian music. Picture a Chinese guy busting out full Bollywood style moves and you’ll know what I mean. To my surprise, he was actually pretty good, hitting the moves with such conviction and looking like he just stepped out of a Bollywood movie. I was seriously impressed. Not to be outshined, the bride-to-be was also fabulous and it was definitely entertaining watching them dance together.

Little Luxuries

Luxury finds at Chapters Indigo. Add a touch of indulgence to your life. Happy Friday!

Great Ocean Road

One of my favourite parts of Melbourne is one of the most picturesque: the Great Ocean Road. A stretch of road along the southeastern coast of Australia, it was built by returned soldiers from World War I and is the world’s largest war memorial. Driving along the narrow cliffs overlooking the ocean, every winding turn revealed a more beautiful sight. I couldn’t get enough of the scenery -- it was truly stunning. 

We drove all the way to the iconic 12 Apostles, a collection of limestone rocks that formed from erosion years ago. A definite must-see, its majestic view against the Southern Ocean is nothing short of breathtaking. Along the way, we stopped at several towns and picture perfect spots, soaking in the surroundings and basking in its serenity. Though it proved to be a long and tedious drive (good thing I was the passenger), it was absolutely worth it and more than lived up to its great name.