Embellished dress: Miss Selfridge
Stud earrings: Swarovski
Lipstick: Tom Ford 'Cherry Lush'
Follow me on Instagram: @paintingrachelred for more updates.
What better time to bring out the glitz than on New Years Eve? I'll be ringing in the new year in this sparkly number by Miss Selfridge, because nothing says 'ready to party' quite like a heavily embellished dress, hey? ;) My hair is in a low ponytail, and I wrapped a section of my hair around the ponytail to secure it. That's all from me for now -- I'm headed to Eau De Vie, an old-world cocktail bar to sip on magical elixirs and enjoy the company of some friends. Till next time! :-)
Embellished dress: Miss Selfridge Stud earrings: Swarovski Lipstick: Tom Ford 'Cherry Lush' Follow me on Instagram: @paintingrachelred for more updates.
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Two of my friends from Singapore were visiting Melbourne, so we decided to get together at the famed Mamasita on the corner of Collins and Spring St. We arrived early at 5.30pm, because that's the only way to avoid the crowds that this restaurant is known for. I had learnt my lesson -- I actually came on a separate occasion at 7.30pm, hoping to get a table, only to be told by the maitre d' that the next available timing that we could get in was between 9pm - 9.30pm (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) (no way am I waiting that long for dinner). This time, we were seated immediately, and ordered a round of drinks to start. Sangria to celebrate! We had a variety of tacos - the steak tacos, the braised ox-tongue and the Al Pastor-style pig's cheek. I actually ordered the prawn tacos, but the waiter must have gotten my order wrong and served me the pig's cheek. I didn't realise it until I bit in, and didn't make a fuss because the pig's cheek was in fact, really good as well -- but that still doesn't justify getting my order wrong. What we were really here for though, was the pescado tacos - grilled fish in lime, achiate paste, red onion salsa and chipotle mayo. This is the star of the show. It's fresh, tangy and zingy from the sharpness of the chipotle mayo. My god. THIS IS SO GOOD. We also tried the Esquites de malz, which is a mixture of sauteed sweet corn, chipotle mayonnaise with queso fresco, epazote and a dash of chilli and lime. The waiter seemed to have forgotten our order (yet again) because despite having ordered this the first time around, we were not served this until we asked another waitstaff to check on our order. Flavour-wise, this was a knockout dish too and I loved that it was served piping hot from the kitchen. All in all, the food was truly fantastic, and it's the place to go if you're in the mood for Mexican cuisine. Expect busy crowds, and not-great service. I should also add that if you're feeling hungry, Mamasita's is probably not the place to go...the food here comes in tapas sizes, and are fairly small. You'll have to be prepared to splurge a little in order to feel full. Mamasita 11 Collins St Melbourne, VIC 3000 Tel: 03 9650 3821 Follow me on Instagram: @paintingrachelred for more updates.
I'm just gonna put it out there right now: Hammer & Tong is my new favourite brunch place in Melbourne. Cafés are a dime a dozen in this part of town, and it's easy to feel tired and unimpressed with the offerings at most cafés. But not at Hammer & Tong. The menu tempts the most jaded of appetites, and they serve up a bloody fantastic brunch, in my opinion. Helmed by two Vue De Monde alumni, the café is one of Brunswick's many gastronomic attractions, and for good reason... With its open concept kitchen and eclectic mish mash of items on display, this is one joint that's certainly eating its way into people's hearts. I had the French toast with peanut butter, raspberry yoghurt ice cream and banana caramel (AUD$16). This was delicious. The french toast was light and fluffy, and popping candy was sprinkled over the sweet offering, which was a playful and interesting touch! Amos had the signature soft shell crab burger (AUD$16). Man, the flavours!!! This was incredible. The sriracha mayonnaise lent a good kick to the burger, and a generous handful of coriander gave it an earthy spiciness. Needless to say, this was gone in minutes. One other thing that's great about Hammer & Tong is that it manages to keep its prices in the mid-range, while providing fresh and great quality food. The menu is also fairly varied, which allows it to cater to a wide range of diners, and it is honestly one of the few cafés that has excited me in awhile. Hammer & Tong 412 Eating House Rear 412 Brunswick St Fitzroy, VIC 3065 Tel: 03 9041 6033 Tues - Sat: 7AM - late Sun: 8AM - 5PM Follow me on Instagram: @paintingrachelred for more updates.
THIS IS IT. Today people throng the streets, and hit the malls in the wee hours of the morning to snag the best deals! It's Boxing Day!!!!!! My brother and I hit the stores at 7AM, because obviously we take the Boxing Day sales very seriously. We started with Bourke St Mall, before continuing our rampage across Chapel St. Here's the damage that was done: Can't wait to show the pieces on the blog soon! Stay tuned ;-)
Follow me on Instagram: @paintingrachelred for more updates. Since we're fast approaching the end of 2013, I wanted to spend some time to reflect on the year I've had.
As with any other year, 2013 was filled with ups and downs, highs and lows...but above all, I will remember it as a year of growth. There were some painful moments; but if there's anything that I've learnt, it's that time will wash away the pain, if you let it. Moving to Melbourne has changed me immensely. I have never felt more stable, or more sure of who I am in my life, and I have become more independent. While I am incredibly proud that I can now do household chores, and I am independent in that respect, I'm referring to a more emotional kind of independence. Moving abroad has forced me to become more emotionally independent, simply because I have no one that I can depend on. I learnt not to invest too much in people emotionally, because it can open you up to disappointment. And while it has made me a little more guarded, I would not consider myself a "guarded" person... I find myself more balanced now, that despite my natural inclination to open up to people, I am armed with careful sensibilities about who I open up to. I learnt to compartmentalise my thoughts, and put my feelings aside to focus on the present - happiness is, truly, but a choice, and I choose to embrace it. Looking back, I feel rather sombre thinking about how different my life is this Christmas. However, it is a happy kind of change, and 2013 threw me the best kind of struggles. I have grown so much as a person; and it is precisely because I know what I was like then and what I'm like now, that I can say I am exactly where I need to be in life right now. I am so thankful for the most supportive and encouraging parents I could ask for, the most brilliant friends who never fail to amaze me with their wit and insight, and for my endlessly tolerant and loving younger brother. I am so blessed to have you all in my life. Merry Christmas, everyone! x Follow me on Instagram: @paintingrachelred for more updates. What better way to unwind than with a satisfying Italian meal, complete with wine? My brother and I spent the day strolling along the Chapel St shopping precinct and stopped for lunch at La Camera, a cosy restaurant with both indoor seating as well as an al fresco dining area. We rested our feet and chatted a bit with the friendly waiter, who was perfectly attentive. We had the lunch special, and I ordered the Risotto Pollo with steamed chicken fillet, sauteed mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and baby spinach. This, together with the wine, was priced at just AUD$12. Such a good deal! We waited quite awhile for our food to be served, despite the fact that the restaurant was mostly empty at that time, but the food was well worth the wait. The food was delicious, and really, you can't go wrong with such great prices. Amos had the AUD$15 pizza special, and settled on the prosciutto and rocket pizza. We both loved the thin crust of the pizza and thoroughly enjoyed polishing off both dishes. It was a beautifully idle afternoon, people watching over a relaxing lunch. To sum it up, I'd sayLa Camera offers one of the best and most value-for-money lunch deals I know of, and I would certainly recommend this place if you're looking for a place with decent food that's easy on the pocket. A wide variety of mains are also offered under the lunch special, so you'll have plenty of choices to pick from. Most of all, I'm so pleased I've discovered a new and affordable lunch option in Melbourne! :-) La Camera 446 Chapel St South Yarra, VIC 3141 Tel: 03 9827 8531 Follow me on Instagram: @paintingrachelred for more updates.
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