Happy Easter!!!
UPDATES coming soon.
Aussie Life
The best thing about being a wife to an artist is that I get to be his muse. I giggle with glee whenever he gifts me with his art. Whether it may be art designs or photographs, whether I’m in it or not, I appreciate receiving them. I’m proud of his talent and I’m his number one fan.
We had a very busy long weekend which started with visit to the Korean Consulate. And while our thoughts were preoccupied with a million things to do, we made it a point to have fun too.
We recently got an olloclip for the Husband’s iPhone 5. Since we’ll be travelling soon and saw the potential of the iPhone 5’s camera in capturing good, clear photos, we decided to invest on an olloclip. The olloclip is a 3-in-1 lens which includes a fisheye, wide angle and macro lens. We were amazed with the capability of an olloclip as it enhances capturing photographs via an iPhone. We love it!
Last Friday, the Husband gifted me with his photographs, some of which he captured using an olloclip. Here are some of them.
The Train’s Here. He used the fisheye lens for this and then processed it into monochome via the Snapseed app.
In Transit. Again in monochrome…because the Husband knows I love monochrome photographs.
All Ours. Caught a different train when we arrived at Central and what a nice blessing to have the carriage just to ourselves. This one’s just a normal phone photo. No olloclip involved.
Levitation. Jump when no one’s watching. I think this was my best photo that day. And the of the most fun photos we’ve created. To levitate inside a train carriage – check! 🙂
Train leaving. Still in fisheye lens. This is one of Sydney’s old underground stations. There’s a something dreamy and spooky about this photograph.
Husband’s Got My Back. Me walking out the tunnel in St James Train Station. So lucky that for one moment, we got this tunnel all to ourselves. The Husband told me to walk ahead of him and took of snap of me.
In Between Buildings. This was Pitt Street in wide angle lens.
The Husband made a monochrome version and posted it on his instagram.
Those were just a few photographs that made me very happy on Friday. Grateful for a Husband who thinks of me while he creates his art.
Sydney starts the year with a festival. Every January, Sydney Festival lightens up the city with cultural celebrations based on art, music and ideas. For three weeks, the city is treated to around 80 events which involves a thousand artists from here and abroad in the field of visual arts, dance, music, theatre, cross media and forums.
This year’s major attraction is the Rubber Duck, a gigantic inflatable duck created by Florentijn Hofman. The giant rubber duck’s purpose is to relieve everyday tensions, as well as define them. The rubber duck is there to create a new perspective in a public place and simply amaze people. It will continue to fascinate at Darling Harbour until 23rd January.
It’s HUGE!!! But it’s one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I’ve seen photos of it a few days before we went to Darling Harbour but when I saw it in person, I was shocked at the enormity of it. I was in awe and can’t get over how something as huge as this Rubber Duck can be as cute! I wanted to hug it!!!
Shared some of photos of this Rubber Duck in twitter, FB and instagram and I’m glad it made our family friends from around the world smile too. They were even reminded of Ernie and Bert’s (of Sesame Street) Rubber Duckie song:
Rubber Duckie, you’re the one,
You make bathtime lots of fun,
You make bathtime lots of fun,
Rubber Duckie, I’m awfully fond of you…
It’s amazing how an experience such as seeing a giant rubber duck will bring cheer to anyone and even remind them of their childhood. To the organisers of Sydney Festival, thank you for bringing the Rubber Duck to our city.
-oOo-
It was fortunate that we got to meet up a few friends after work on Friday. They too wanted to see and have a photo with the Rubber Duck so we met up at Lindt Cafe (located at Cockle Bay Wharf) for afternoon tea. It was a hot day so we all had a Iced Chocolates and a few pieces of Salted Caramel macarons. It was the perfect way to say hello to our weekend.
“Sydney is the New Year’s Eve Capital of the World.
There is no better place to countdown a New Year.”
– Lord Mayor Clover Moore
Happy New Year from Sydney!
This year’s theme is EMBRACE.
“Embrace” reflects a positive attitude of openness and connection. It is about acceptance and tolerance, the past and the future, warmth and love. It is the bringing together of elements, where each is influenced by the other, yet all still retain their individuality and integrity.
In a city of great diversity, we come together at NYE to embrace the future in a unified celebration of all that we are and the potential that tomorrow holds for every one of us.
Whether it’s embracing new ideas, change and opportunities or just giving a big hug to our family and friends, it’s an inclusive theme that everyone can get involved in.
From this overarching theme stems four subthemes, each representing a facet of the grander design. Locals and visitors to the city on New Year’s Eve are encouraged to Embrace Love, Embrace the Moment, Embrace the Possibility and Embrace Sydney as part of their celebrations. These subthemes reflect the positive spirit of the New Year, the opportunities that the future holds for everyone, as well as the warmth and generosity of Sydney’s people.
Photo from www.sydneynewyearseve.com
Boxing Day (26th December) is the favourite day of shoppers in Australia where all retail shops offer great sales to buyers. The sales range from 20%-70% off on all or selected items. The Husband and I look forward to Boxing Day because we really wait out for the prices to go down before we buy anything. When shopping in Australia, the tip is not to buy full price–just wait for the item to go on sale because it will.
Every year, the Husband and I make a list of things we need, both personal and for the home. From Boxing Day onwards, we have a look at the shops for the prices. If we get good deals, we buy them.
It is always better to have a list. During sales, it’s tempting to buy one thing after another because it’s on sale. Having a list serves as a guide and reminder that we only buy the things we need. In case we find some thing on sale which was not on the list, we think about it first before buying.
This recent Boxing Day sales our goal was to find a new suitcase for me (my old one is slowly dying with every travel), a set of Corelle plates, Nespresso coffee pod dispenser, work clothes for the Husband, gift wrappers for the next Christmas season and cosmetics for me.
Since the biggest item on our list was the the suitcase, we went to the Travel Section of Myer first thing in the morning. Before Christmas, we already looked at options and prices so we knew what we were looking for when we got there. I chose a red Antler 72cm suitcase, on sale at 40% off, which cut me back $111.00 (big discount!).
We got what we needed and more! The Nespresso coffee pods dispenser and Corelle dining set at 20% off; Christmas gift wrappers at 50% off. Maxwell Williams Flower Power Collection, set of 4 mugs, at 50% off (will give to my Parents).
Boxing Day sales extend til the first few weeks of January. We don’t buy everything in one go. During one of our lunch dates with friends last week, we had a chance to check out Westfield Parramatta. That’s where the Husband found a few shirts at 40%-50% discount.
As for me, I was able to buy a few cosmetics and nail polishes. I usually buy my supply of beauty products at the end of the year and use them for the next 6-12 months (depending on expiry). I do this because it’s easier for me to track their validity. Plus, I don’t want to bother myself buying them from time to time. The only exception would be when we travel because I shop for cosmetics when overseas.
I got Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara for $10 and Sally Hansen nail polishes, 3 pieces all for only $10 (A Sally Hansen nail polish cost about $7 each).
We were at Strathfield last weekend and we found a store that has Missha products on sale. I had no plans of buying BB Cream at this time but it was such a great deal. Also, I’ve one BB Cream tube that’s nearly empty so I took this chance to buy a new tube. It was also an opportunity to try a different Missha BB Cream.
I visited kikki.K, a stationery and gift shop. Their products has this sweet and dainty designs that women love. I found a book called “Happy” which compiles inspiring quotes and beautiful artworks on happiness. They were on sale at 30% off. The minute I saw them, I instantly thought of my dear friends in Manila so I got them a copy each and bought one for myself too.
Boxing day sales shopping, sorted! The Husband and I are very happy with our discounted purchases.