HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY, SEQUIN CAT!

Smokey crispbreads! Can you believe that I've been posting here for four years?!


What started as a summer project while my boyfriend was interstate has accompanied me across the oceans many a time, watched me complete further education and become a young professional. Now the blog continues chronicling the adventures while I figure out the next steps over in Bordeaux, France.

New Year's Day on the beach in Portugal. What a perfect start to 2013!

Some highlights from a wonderful life (and there are a lot!):


An impromptu trip to Finland to watch my favourite band ever play their last ever gig before breaking up at a music festival on a forested island.

Camping at Mont St. Michel.

Meeting Noel Fielding and the Borrell brothers at Paris Fashion Week and partying on at a Razorlight concert and the Ritz Hotel.

Having a job interview for Dior at Galeries Lafayette, after befriending my fashion fairy godmother who worked at Bvlgari.

Getting photographed for Vogue (online) during New York Fashion Week after spontaneously quitting my Parisian waitressing job and heading across the ocean with an amazing crew of girlfriends. (proof!)

Seeing Massive Attack play in Paris (by myself! How brave!)

Getting back to nature in the Pyrenées.

Finding my feet and finally feeling like I belong in Paris.

Bull-fighting and wild flamingos in the South of France.

Seeing Air play in Paris under chandeliers.

Working a wonderful three months at the happiest place on Earth, Disneyland Paris.

Visiting CERN, outside of Geneva in the snow (geek alert!)

Finally heading home, after my European adventures.

A really great first date, and the start of romance.

Pushed myself by moving to the country for a five-week practicum.

A family holiday in Darwin.

Finishing uni, (hopefully?) for good. And Graduation Ball.

Tour of Friendship through Australia.

Bought my very own brand new car!

Doing some serious interpreting for visiting French musicians.

1000 Blog Posts! Wow!

Began running, something I'd been thinking about for years.

Moved out of home for the first time (excepting overseas).

My sister got married. It was amazing.

Successfully completing my first year of (serious) work as a high school teacher. Yes!

Acting (&singing &dancing!) in my school's musical.

A very big 26th year, with a lot of personal growth.

A great birthday send-off, before flying to France. Then settling in here.

Toussaints, French style.

Much red wine.

A quick, spontaneous trip to Barcelona.

My first video post!


Still to come? Christmas in Madrid and New Year's Eve in Portugal, and then next holidays will take me all the way up to Sweden (I hope!) to stay in an ice hotel and (fingers crossed) dream under the aurora borealis. Bucket list.


Thank you, thank you, thank you sweetest friends for being a part of this journey. Your love and support mean so much to me. Let's hope for another happy four years!

Have I missed out one of your favourites? Leave a comment below!

Daily Outfit: Gorillas in the Mist

I feel like my gorilla vest probably doesn't get as much wear as it deserves.

Turns out I waxed about the film Gorillas in the Mist in my first ever blog post! How about that.

Daily Outfit: Jean Genie

For somebody who professes to not really being into jeans, I sure do seem to wear a lot of them. PANTS PATROL!

What can I say. They make an easy option when I'm in a hurry to get going.

Daily Outfit: Art Appreciating

It's been a cultured kind of month (amongst all the wine, let's be honest).

I try and get out and about to all types of exhibitions (and sometimes even get papped at them!)


This outfit's a little old (a lot!) but I (re)discovered it when going through my photos this evening. The exhibition is still on in Bordeaux if you're keen (perhaps only till this weekend though...)

I have since shrunk this skirt in the washing machine... oops.

Daily Outfit: Superpouvoirs

One of the topics that my final year students have to converse in English about is heroes.

I thought I'd try to inspire them by dressing reminiscent of our favourite Superheroes.

Not really. You know I just like to wear blue and red.

Daily Outfit: More spots

Another spotty day! Maybe I'm coming down with something? The ICan'tDecideIfIPreferSpotsorStripes Fever? (I think I fall on the stripes side of the fence, fyi)

Also: I'm wearing jeans! AGAIN! Sound the alarm, people, there's something so not right about this whole situation.

Fromage Friday: Finally

A long time between calcium hits, huh?

In no particular order:

Sundays mean markets in Bordeaux. Which means cheese, really.

Feta salad in Porto over New Year's.

Goat's cheese parcels in Porto.

Showing off my hands-free Christmas gift (I know you're all jealous) and some fromage blanc in Madrid.

Amazing mozzarella tapas in Madrid.

Cheesey crêpe deliciousness in Bordeaux.

More market cheese.

I made some cheese last year. Didn't look as good as this.

Casual cheese-eating with friends on a Saturday night in Bordeaux.

Being hungover on a school day (me?!) calls for a brie baguette.

Wonderful ashed goat's salad.

Cheese and broccoli (homemade) pizza - this counts, right?

Chèvre and vegetable soup. So good.

Market stall in Périgueux.

The French know how to do novel chip flavours.

Any favourites here?

Daily Outfit: Spot around the clock!

Black and white and keeping it sensible for work.

I may or may not be listening to the Joy the Baker podcast!

Happy to be home!

Daily Outfit: Red (red) wine

How did you go with yesterday's onslaught? Back for more punishment? Oh, you kids.


It's been well documented that I do like me some wine (when in France/Rome, right?)


So when friends come to visit, I just have to escort them to the wine-soaked region of St. Emilion. Have to.

And of course I dress to match the red wine.

Keeping warm in those temperature-regulated caves.

This church carved out of the rock face BLEW MY MIND.

Happy for patting catties.

Tip-top day!

Daily Outfit: Blast off!

Being weeks (months?) behind on the "Daily" Outfit shtick, I thought I'd hit you with a big blast of dress-up goodness. Because I know you're sitting there on your holidays with nothing to do (just like me....)

So happy about going to work (actual).

Work and then makeup artistry for my first theatre production in France!

It was an über success. Love my cast.

Looking seriously unhappy (but probably just a little boozed).

A second night of working my hair and make-up magic. Maybe that should be "magic".

Having a chat with this man and his black cat during my DIY punk tour of adorable Périgueux.

I am want to hang out in vine-covered Roman amphitheatres.

in deliciously shiny shoes. Hoorah!

Taking advantage of the first Sunday of the month to climb this amazing tower!

And enjoy some modern art.

Another weekend, another visitor! Strolling through jardin public.

Love the Portuguese vibe of this square (given that I'm currently in the North of this interesting country!)

Had enough? I think I'd better give you a breather...

Wednesday Wrap-up

Hello Wednesday (again)! You sure do seem to come around quickly.


Yep, I'm still on holidays. After Madrid I ushered in the New Year (good riddance, 2012!) with friends in the craziest apartment in Porto, before joining the masses in the streets to dance, sing in Portugese and drink bubbles while watching heavy metal fireworks. Fantastic!

Jumping for joy in the streets of Porto!

Hope you are all excited for fresh, clean starts and new chapters. Much love and see you back in Bordeaux, for what is sure to be a crazy January!