Keeping with my "summer favourites" themed posts I've been having for the past few months, I thought I'd share with you a few pictures and a (rather brief) review of my summer holiday this year. We always try to go somewhere for a few days each year around the start of the New Year, and this year we stayed in Cairns, North Queensland for a few days. Perhaps this isn't interesting to you fellow North Queenslanders who've undoubtedly been to Cairns before, but I just really like Cairns and who knows, maybe it'll help you plan your next weekend getaway!
So firstly,
Where I stayed: Rydges Tradewinds, Cairns

 I really like Rydges Tradewinds. It's right on the esplanade, and literally a 30 second walk to the beach...so the view from the hotel grounds are amazing (especially at sunrise/sunset). There's a pool and spa, a restaurant and bar, underground valet parking, and an indoor day spa/massage area. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, each with a little balcony that looks out over the swimming pool and spa area. We were lucky enough to have an amazing room right on the top floor, and facing out over the ocean. The above photo was taken from our balcony, so as you can see, we had a pretty good view! The rooms have televisions, air conditioning, a bath... and pretty much everything else you need to have a wonderful time. Rooms are priced from $90 a night upwards, but we were lucky enough to get a cheap special deal through findaroom.com ... findaroom.com is my favourite website to book hotels through, it's super easy to use, and every now and then they have crazy sales on rooms at certain hotels. So if you plan on going away anytime soon, I'd keep an eye on that website for sure.  There were a few negative reviews on the findaroom website for Rydges Tradewinds, such as people saying that the hotel was a bit "old and outdated"... but honestly, I didn't have any issues with anything at all. My stay there was entirely positive, and I'd go back again. I mean, Rydges Tradewinds isn't a 5 star hotel or anything like that, but it is perfect for a weekend getaway.


What I did: 

Kuranda Markets:

 I love Kuranda. I've been there several times before, and every time I go, I seem to love it a little bit more. Kuranda is kind of like a small town/village  in the rainforest, located up in the hills about 30 mins out from Cairns. There's a market that runs during the day, every single day of the week, where they sell a wide range of jewellery and arts and crafts. I think the markets are more aimed at people that are new to Australia, as there are a lot of Australiana souvenirs and things, but I love it anyway. I'm especially a fan of all the handmade jewellery. There's also a bird zoo and a reptile zoo, which is perfect for children and tourists. If you've been to Cairns before but haven't seen Kuranda, I definitely recommend it next time you go.
 

The Lagoon on The Esplanade:
 

I also love the lagoon a lot. The water is always a perfect escape from the humid weather, and it's really nice if you go in the afternoon on a weekend, as they usually have bands playing. So you can pretty much just float around in the cool water and listen to some music and it is the perfect way to relax. The Lagoon is also very close to a whole heap of shops and restaurants, so everything you need is all in the one spot. The Lagoon is open til 9pm every night of the year.

What I ate: 

Fresh Seafood in a coconut broth from the Raw Prawn, located on the esplanade.

Fresh and locally-sourced seafood from Splash, located on the esplanade. Splash is probably my favourite Cairns restaurant. They specialise in seafood, and everything is fresh and from the local ocean and reefs. They also have amazing cocktails.

Burgers from Grill'd, located on the esplanade.

 
What I wore:

Playsuits are a summer must-have. Playsuit from Lucy in the Sky Store, shoes from Therapy, and hat from Cotton On.

Dress from Lucy in the Sky Store

Skirt from Tiger Mist, top from Supre

Dress from Boutique by Bel, flower headband from Lovisa.

That's all for now, hope you're all having a fantastic summer (or winter for my overseas friends!).
Peace,
Lucy.

My Favourites for Summer (Part Three)

I've been a bit slack lately, and for that I apologise. I haven't written a post since mid-December, and so I guess I should begin with: Happy New Year! I hope 2014 is an amazing year for all of you, and even if you don't stick to any of your resolutions, aim to have more fun and push yourself to do more exciting things this year. 2014 will be a big year for me. I'm entering my third year at uni (yay, past the halfway line!), working more, and will also be going to the USA in December. It'll be my second time visiting the USA, and I am already so excited and planning outfits.

I apologise in advance for the quality of the following images - I was silly enough to not take a proper camera with me on my holiday!

Anyway, without further ado, here is my favourites for summer (part three): bikinis!
Or more specifically, bikinis from Sheridyn Swim.

I actually bought two pairs of Sheridyn Swim bikinis on a whim during winter, and I haven't had a chance to wear them up until now. I just arrived home today from a (short but much-needed) holiday in Cairns, and I pretty much lived in my bikinis whilst I was away.

Now, I understand a lot of women don't particularly feel confident or at their best in a bikini, but this is why I love Sheridyn Swim's range. There are bikinis to suit every body shape, and there are endless styles to choose from. There's everything from your standard teenie tiny triangle bikini, to high-waisted, padded tops, tops to enhance or cover cleavage, one piece bikinis, as well as some accessories like wraps to wear over the top. It's all about finding your perfect style and fit. I've never truly felt comfortable strolling down the beach or poolside in just a bikini, but upon discovering Sheridyn Swim's "ATV RACER" (pictured above) my confidence and attitude has completely changed. I wore this bikini for most of my holiday, and not once did I even feel a slight urge to cover up with shorts or a shirt. I just felt happy and confident... what more could a person want?

"Kylie" Two Piece - Perfect two piece with that wonderful "vintage" feel. Top has removable padding, and the bottoms are perfect to create shape, or squeeze in your belly!

Also, I'm a bit in love with these bikinis for several other reasons -
1. I love the website. It's easy to use, and everything just looks so pretty and lovely and I want to buy it all.
2. The prices are pretty standard for swimwear (around $50-$100), but there are amazing sales, and quite frequently, too. If you follow Sheridyn Swim on instagram, you'll always be informed of the sales before they happen, so you won't miss out.
3. The material is really durable and long lasting.
4. Sheridyn Fisher (the wonderful woman behind the label) is actually a bit of an idol to me. She's a model, actress and ex-Playboy Bunny, and an avid advocate for healthy living and lifestyle. She's also super lovely. She personally communicates with her followers through instagram, and I really appreciate that.
5. Once again, there's styles to suit all shapes, needs and desires. I particularly love all the vintage-inspired high-waisted two piece sets. They're super unique and cute, and are perfect for either creating shape, or hiding any unflattering areas.

* Please note: all bikinis are true to size. If you're between sizes with bottoms (like I am), go for the smaller size, because there is nothing worse than having a bikini that is too big or baggy when you go in the water. It does explain sizing on the website if you're unsure of what size to pick!

Sheridyn Fisher - how could you not love her?

Anyway, whether you're an avid bikini/swimwear lover, or somebody who cringes at the thought of wearing a bikini, I really really urge you to take a look at Sheridyn Swim. I can confidently and honestly say I'll probably always buy my swimwear from there from now on.

Check out the website at: http://sheridynswim.com.au/
or alternatively, check out their instagram: sheridynswim

"ATV Racer" Bikini

I'm such a fan of the mesh detail on the ATV Racer bikini, plus the top can double as a cute crop top with a pair of shorts.

I'll probably post another blog soon-ish with all the goss on my tropical summer holiday. Also, I made a new banner/title thing for my blog, please let me know if you like it! I'm rather un-creative so it was the best I could do hahah

 Please follow me on instagram: perksofbeinglucyrose

Stay safe, and enjoy life!
Lucy Rose. xox.

My Favourites for Summer 2013/14 (part one)

For all of us here in Australia, our summer season has just begun! To me, summer is all about the beach. The waves, the sand, the sun - nothing beats hanging out by the beach with friends and family. I try to incorporate that beachy vibe into my summer wardrobe as much as possible. I like to wear things that are not only suited for the hot summer months, but are also inspired by all things beach-related. So, for the next month, I've decided to share with you some of my favourite items for this summer season.

Summer Favourite #1: Maxi Dresses

I don't think maxi dresses will ever go out of style. They're so easy to wear and ever so versatile. All it takes is a change of shoes and/or accessories, and you can so simply dress your maxi dress down for the day time, or add some heels and dress it up for the night time. And the best part? They suit ALL body shapes and sizes. When it comes to maxis, it doesn't matter what your height or weight is, you're bound to look wonderful. Especially in maxis with a tight-fitting top with a loose fitting skirt - they manage to simultaneously create shape and hide any unflattering areas.

Dress: Lucy in The Sky Store, Shoes: Therapy (Newport Sandals)

My Advice? Keep it simple. Look for a maxi dress with a minimal and simplistic print. A dress with only one or two colours is much easier to dress up or down, and wear both day and night. I do like maxis with crazy prints too, however, these dresses do become rather limited in where and how you can wear them.

Dress: Lucy in The Sky Store, Shoes: Betts, Clutch: Colette by Colette Hayman

The dip-dyed ombre style is really in-style at the moment, and it's also one of my most favourite trends. It gives everything a boho/hippy vibe, which is another reason why I find it perfect for summer. Ombre basically means that the colour is graduated from light to dark, or dark to light. You can find these styles of maxis almost anywhere, but my favourite online places are: Lucy in the Sky Store, Beginning Boutique and St Frock.

Gold Accessories: Colette by Colette Hayman

Keep an eye out for part two of my summer favourites coming within the next week or so.
I hope you're all having a wonderful summer, or an amazing winter in other parts of the world.

xo Lucy Rose



All photos were taken by the lovely Kristy Hammelswang, leave a comment for details.