Wendy's Secret Garden - Lavender Bay.

Today was magnificent. Sydney was all blue skies, warm sunshine and good vibes. As soon as I woke up and felt the spring warmth, saw the sunshine, I knew it was a day too good to be spent anywhere other than outside. After a quick Google Maps search to find somewhere we hadn't been before we stumbled upon a spot near the water on the north side of the bridge called "Wendy's Secret Garden". Naturally we had to go and see what was there. Wendy's Secret Garden semi-belongs to Wendy Whitely, wife of the late renowned Australian artist Brett Whitely, and also to Rail Corp who own the train tracks it backs on to. Therefore it is part public and part private land. Before Wendy the garden was a run down, derelict and overgrown with weeds and rubbish. Wendy and Brett had moved into the home that overlooked the garden, and the rest of Lavender Bay, Luna Park and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, after returning to Sydney from a decade long stint overseas. They both lived there with their daughter until they would divorce and Brett would move out in to his studio in Surry Hills. After Brett's untimely death of a drug overdose in 1992 Wendy channelled her grief and began rejuvenating the defunct garden her home overlooked.

Today, the garden is filled with a variety of flowers, trees, natives and shrubs, all different shapes, colours and sizes; an eclectic mix - much like her and Brett's relationship. There are sculptures scattered throughout and many a spot to sit and relax amongst the serenity of the trees. The view from the dominating fig tree that looks out onto the harbour is breathtaking. I always stand in awe of the bridge and it never fails to remind me that I actually live in Sydney, something that I have wanted to do for a very long time.

A little adventure goes a long way sometimes. Unearthing this peaceful, and surprisingly unpopulated, piece of Sydney was like finding a treasure. I can't wait to go back - next time it will be with a fully stocked picnic basket, blanket, a good book and some even better company.

Blue jeans.

Images via Pinterest

There is no doubt that a pair of blue jeans are a girls best friend. They are effortless, versatile and never outdated and always make for a trusted ally when you are not sure what to wear. I am loving the true blue shade of jean paired with a simple shirt, some cool shoes and tote for easy spring days. 

Monthly Beauty Buys: September

As a sneaky way of getting myself back into a blogging routine I have decided to start a monthly beauty buys series where I share a few of my favourite products both new and regularly used. By nature I am pretty low maintenance so when it comes to beauty it's safe to say that my regular regime is pretty basic. Therefore I see this series as not only a way to document my favourite products but to also experiment with trying out new products. This is my first instalment of what I hope to be many more to come!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water After reading multiple articles about micellar water in the space of a couple of days curiosity got the better of me and I knew I needed to try it out. Unlike other facial cleansers micellar water contains little micelles - oil molecules - which act as magnets to impurities on the skin, e.g. make-up, oil and sebum (which causes pimples), and dissolve them without any extra work. I suffer from regular breakouts and since starting to use this micellar water my skin has shown improvement in not only a reduction of breakouts but it also feels more hydrated and less congested. It's so simple to use as all you need to do is put the water on to a cotton pad, wipe all over your face and you're done!

Benefit Gimme Brow gel Arriving early to the airports has its perks. I picked up this little gem while wandering the make-up counters at Sydney Airport before departing to Melbourne recently. Having well manicured and maintained brows is important for me as I feel they set the frame and structure your face. Plus they help you get away with wearing a lot less make-up! I was looking for a product that would make my brows look fuller without too much fuss and voila, that's exactly what this little bad boy does thanks to the mini fibers that gel to the hair and skin on application. I also find it to never smudge and last me the whole working day.

Rimmel 60 Seconds nail polish in Rapid Ruby For someone with as little patience as me this nail polish is a godsend! The thick brush allows for quick and easy application and it sets within 60 seconds which means a greater decrease in smudges for those who can't bare to watch paint dry. 

Chloe Signature EDP Fresh, floral and feminine, the perfect scent to get into the spring spirit!