Hawaii - The Shopping

No holiday is complete without great shopping! Specially for a shopaholic like me, that's number one on my agenda. Hawaii has amazing shopping whether you go to the Ala Moana Mall or if you prefer a shopping strip like the Kalakaua Avenue where shops are open till 11pm every night (H&M till midnight) for post-dinner shopping - win! But one place that's a must-visit for bargain-loving shoppers is the Waikele Premium Outlets Centre. Even though its a fair way away from Waikiki where most of the hotels are, its definitely worth setting aside an entire day to go here. You won't be disappointed. This is where I did my best work as you can see below ;)...

Waikele Outlets house outlets for brands like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, Banana Republic, Michael Kors just to name a few and also larger specialty stores for Sports goods, Perfumes, Sunglasses etc. Something for everyone.

Change-rooms at Kate Spade New York

My shopping from the Outlets

Inside the shopping bags- From top Left to Right: Prada Sunglasses at 50% off, Kate Spade cos bag $11.79, Kate Spade Bangle $17, Kate Spade top (as seen in photo above) $62, Michael Kors Gold Watch at 50% off, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks (not from Outlets - bought at Nordstrom) $40 each (price is Aus $76).

Some more shopping -Turquoise & White Striped Maxi Dress $12 and Paisley Print High-waist Shorts $17 from Forever 21, Grey & White Sequins Striped Tank and Cream with Gold Sequins Tank from Banana Republic $7 each (Waikele Outlet), 2 for 1 Body by Victoria Fragrance Mists from Victoria's Secret $15, Daisy by Marc Jacobs 100ml perfume from Duty Free shop at Hawaii Airport $75 (comparable price in Aus $120) 

Given that I had just 2 hours at Waikele (because we had to make it back in time for the last shuttle out to Waikiki) I think I did pretty well, although I do recommend taking the earliest shuttle to get there and the last shuttle back so you can take your time because there is lots to see. I was pretty chuffed with the bargains I got. My new favourite shopping destination ;). What I would give to go back!

Hawaii - The Sights

We flew to Hawaii for a week last week. It was absolutely wonderful! The weather, the shopping, the relaxing by the pool and beach - it was all perfect. A much needed break. And I hear we avoided some really cold days in Melbourne, so that was a bonus. I'll be putting up some of our photos from the trip in a series of posts. I thought instead of a travel diary by day, I'd do posts by theme, so this is the first - The Sights of Hawaii.

Waikiki Beach

Driving around Oahu Island

Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay Resort

Chinaman's Hat

 Arizona Memorial & King Kamehameha's Palace

Battleship Missouri

"The Ultimate Surrender" Statue

King's Statue & Palace (as seen in opening credits of Hawaii 5.0)

Atlantis Submarine Tour

Heading to the Submarine in a Ferry - Diamond head Crater in the background

111ft deep in the ocean

  Such beautiful sights! Day or night, Hawaii doesn't disappoint. I miss it already!

Coming up next posts on Shopping, Our Hotel & Food, My Outifts....

Holiday...

If you've checked out my Instagram lately, you would know that I've been on a (short but beautiful) summer holiday! To find out where and for a sneak preview click here.

Details coming soon...

One night at Crown

So, if you read my previous post, you would have realised that Mr. Pre works with an awesome company - the chocolate tour was part of their annual conference and so was staying the night at Crown Metropol with dinner at Rockpool Bar & Grill for employees and their spouses/partners. We got to stay the night on the highest floor with a city-view room! What a great way to spend the weekend. It was like a mini-vacation. Even just one night at a nice hotel even if you don't leave town with great food, wine and a good view can help recharge those batteries. I highly recommend it. Here's a glimpse of our stay on the 26th floor and dinner...

This photo doesn't do justice to the beautiful piece of meat that was on my plate. Also, since we were so many of us, we got all the sides on the menu, this was just my first serve. 

What a great weekend it was of good food, wine, chocolate and all things indulgent! 

But now time to stop looking back and start looking ahead. I'm going away for a bit this weekend. This time on a proper getaway not just a mini one (still short though, only a week, but holidays are never long enough). Watch this space for updates...

The Chocolate Tour - 2

It's a cold, wintry night and I'm sitting on my couch, snuggled up next to the heater, sipping coffee and watching Confessions of a Shopaholic. Quite a perfect setup. But I can't help but think about this amazing weekend I had a few weeks ago...I've been meaning to share but just haven't gotten around to it. Until tonight, because all that's missing in this perfect setup of mine tonight is some chocolate! Which brings me to the Chocolate Tour I went on, again (remember I did this last year?). No, I'm not a crazy chocoholic (just a shopaholic). It was organised as a team-bonding activity by Mr.Pre's work. Fun idea, isn't it! So here are some pics from the day...

Statutory Warning: Below images contain some decadent delights and are not suitable for persons with a delicate willpower and trying desperately to shed winter weight by avoiding and not consuming decadent delights (this includes me) - so what the heck, go ahead and enjoy this eye-candy...

Our tour began this time at the new Cacao Lab at the Strand where we were given Hot Chocolate Shots.

Hot Milk Chocolate Shot

We went to Koko Black in the Royal Arcarde, of course.

Taking a little break from all the chocolate, I stopped to admire the beauty of the architecture of the Royal Arcade. I love this place. Makes me feel like I'm living in the 1920s.

There were a few other choco-licious stops we made along the way including Haighs and the Fair Trade store. We ended the tour with a complimentary hot drink and dessert at Theobroma in Melbourne Central (I took my dessert in a take-away container as I had had enough chocolate for the day - yes, there is such a thing as too much chocolate).

Mocha at Theobroma

But after all that sweetness, I needed something savoury. What better than Jimmy Grant's chips with oregano, garlic oil and feta right next door at the Emporium foodcourt! Yumm!

I'm in love with these chips! They're my new guilty-pleasure! (Now you know why I'm trying so desperately to shed those winter-kilos!)

Alright, now for the decadent delight I promised....just kidding ;) - it's my outfit for the day.

Floral Bomber Jacket: *$25 (Portmans)

Grey Marle Tee: *$10 (Dotti)

Bow Necklace in Soft-Gold: $19.95 (Portmans)

Embossed Jeans: $49.95 (Zara)

Bag: *$53 (Forever New)

Black Ballet Flats: $12 (H&M)

Outfit Total: $169.90

* = sale prices

The Chocoholics Tour was just as enjoyable the second time around as well. I highly recommend doing it just as a fun weekend activity with your friends if you are looking to do something different without spending a fortune or travelling far and wide.

You can find their details here.

Happy Mid-Year Sales!

 Omg these sales are amazing! They are some of the best ever deals! Is anyone else as excited as I am? I was in my element this weekend, shopping up a storm. And I could have kept going...but I had to stop myself because I'm going on holidays next month. Here are my finds:

Witchery (7 days of Sales - every day a new offer): Buy a sale item & get the second one for further 50% off

Always wanted a Bretton Stripe Top - bought this one originally $49.95 down to $34.95

Got this necklace which was originally $69.95 for a further 50% off the sale price of $29.95

French Connection: further 20% off Sale prices 

Originally $79.95 down to $39.95 and further 20% off

Fits like a dream - these pants originally $129.95 down to $64.95 less 20% 

Scarf originally $39.95 down to $19.95 and further 20% off

 Sportsgirl: 50%off Selected Styles 

Wouldn't be my wardrobe without some colour: Originally $69.95, got it at 50% off

Last one in my size - was $69.95 down to $39.95

Some of these offers are still available online. Now the challenge is stopping myself from buying any more as these sales will continue next week while Myer begins their Stocktake Sale on Wednesday and Zara will be on sale soon, too.

Some other exciting offers I had to resist were...

Steve Madden: 50% off selected styles

Country Road: Buy 2 sale items, get the 3rd free

Seed: Further 25% off Sale Knitwear

Kookai: Futher 50% off selected styles

Happy Sale Shopping!

Wombat Hill and the Outfit Blunder

The (much needed) long weekend is here! And so we decided to get out of Melbourne for the day (genius plan, I know!) for some fresh air. So, we drove upto Daylesford and decided to wander around the Wombat Hill Gardens and grab a bite at the Cafe.

I had the Cottage Pie with salad (it came with a green salad but I swapped it for the Quinoa & pumpkin salad they had on display as it looked beautiful) and tomato chutney. Perfect meal for a wintery day.

Mr. Pre had the yummy beef roll with chips, salad and tomato chutney.

So, the air was fresher than I expected up there and the blunder I made was not carrying a warm enough jacket. Rookie mistake. The chivalrous Mr. Pre came to my rescue and like the hero of a mushy, romantic movie, took off his own hoodie just so I could be warm (and so that he wouldn't have to listen to anymore whinging about how cold I was). I, however, felt too guilty making him pay for my mistake and like the heroine of a movie yet to be made, took off the jacket and gave it back to him and continued to suffer in the cold with just a cardigan over my top (and continued to whinge about it). But we didn't stay outdoors for too long so it was fine. I kept it on for long enough to take an outfit photo, though. May have started a new trend here with the "Husband Hoodie" (sophisticated twist on the "Boyfriend Blazer").

My Blunder-ful Outfit:

Navy & White Stripe top: *$10 (Valleygirl)

Black Cardigan (not visible in the photo): *$15 

Red Chinos: *$25 (Zara)

Black Ballet Flats: $12 (H&M)

Tote Bag: *$71.96 (Seed)

Husband Hoodie: *$49 (Gap)

Outfit Total: $182.96

* = sale prices

 For a little more warmth we went into this cozy bakery on Vincent St. to have another coffee accompanies buy a Vanilla Slice and Lamington to share...mmm...I want to go back. Soon hopefully and well equipped this time for the nippy weather.