calling me

Feeling the itch. For the past 3 years I've been back to NYC for the summer. Feels legit weird to not have a ticket booked. I have to wait until September before I run away again but I'm heading in another direction. I've been getting my USA fix through my friends Hayden & Rhi who are driving across the States and are currently in New Orleans. I die. See a few of their images below but be sure to follow their travel blog Nostalgic Velocity for more of these beautiful images.

These images belong to Hayden & Rhi of Nostalgic Velocity

Big love,

Falala Mele.

NYC Summer: Mermaid Festival

Dear New York,

Even though it's been a while and you've had a million other bitches since me....I still miss you.

NYC Summer: Evening 4 & Day 5

After the Bloomingdales event at FFFW I scurried off to the hotel in the horrors. "What a waste of time!" I complained. I was pissed off because I thought I had missed the chance to catch up with Deja. Deja was my first ever blogger buddy and a total sweet heart. We have met up every time I have been to New York. It's a personal tradition. Come to New York, visit Deja. This year was a little harder to coordinate because she had just graduated from college and was busy with her job schedule. We would text and try and tee things up but sometimes it just wouldn't work. I also didn't have internet on my phone so messages came through with every free wireless port I could find.Things seemed to work out okay because we managed to find a place and a time to meet up. To view our previous adventures

Mele & Deja 2012 CLICK HERE.

Mele & Deja 2011 CLICK HERE. 

Check out Deja's blog here: http://www.imjustdaisy.us/

We were so excited to talk about graduation and friends and family and future plans. Shake shack was okay. Not gross but I don't think I'll be dying to go there on my next visit. It all seemed to the one texture, just all weirdly soft and fluffy and I wasn't a fan of the fries. The shakes were yummy though.

After dinner we headed over to Crumbs to see the huge cupcakes. Sia turned her swag on to take pics and chat with the cutie behind the counter and I decided to jump on the subway with Deja while Sia and Theresa stayed to hang out in Times Square. It was great evening and I forgot all about the Bloomingdales disaster. All was right again in New York.

1)OOTD Friday 2) Bubba Gump Shrimp 3) Goodbye Pod Hotel we're off to Brooklyn

1) Shopping Soiree 2) Thursday Night OOTE 3) Lollies galore

Blazer Thrifted / Top Best and Less / Tights Target

Friday morning was our last day at the Pod Hotel. We woke up and packed up. We took some more photos of our view and doing things that had become our usual routines. We caught a cab through the rush hour to attend the shopping soiree. Wasn't really impressed with it at all. There wasn't anything I wanted to buy and there was no real atmosphere. People just wandered in and out. My sister bought a few pair of earrings but I left after about 30 minutes. Waste of money really. Vendors pay to sell and shoppers pay to shop. The whole FFFW was pretty disappointing. I missed tickets to Indie runway show and I didn't like the other 2 events I attended. The White Cruise was cool fun but if I was ever to attend again it would be to support my friend Jen sell her Seraphim label.

After we left we made our way into Times Square. My cousin wanted to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp. I wasn't keen because I had it in Manila. It was nice but I felt it was the type of thing you only need to do once because it's quite expensive and there is so much better food around New York.

After we had lunch we organised a driver to take us to our new home in Brooklyn with Gabby and Candice. This is where our new adventures began. It was Candice's birthday and we celebrated by eating more at Dallas BBQ. The atmosphere was awesome. It was packed with families, graduation parties, birthdays and people on dates. Everyone was talking, eat and sipping on the signature frozen cocktails. We were full from lunch and decided to order one meal to share between the three of us. The meals are huge and we still had leftovers! It's definitely a place my family would love to go and eat at.

We ordered the Henney wings with corn bread and yellow rice. It's far from fine dining but that's why I loved it soooo much. Lots of hot crispy wings and rice and cornbread. The kind of food we grew up on. We drank virgin Pina Coladas and managed to pack two containers of leftovers to take home with us.

Big Love,

Falala Mele

NYC Summer: Day 4 (I think)

 Hi Falalas,

Just a quick post to share my ootd on my New York Summer Adventure.... Feels like an eternity ago now. My previous post said we had a pretty laid back day. After wondering around we came back and got changed to go to the Bloomingdales free event for FFFW. If you followed any of the FFFW events then you probably heard a lot of negative feedback for this one and that's because it wasn't really that good and the people who attended the event were mad.

I feel like the general public got the idea that we all weren't happy and even Gwen DeVoe responded to Jassifer's post on it HERE. Running a huge event like the FFFW is bound to have holes because there is just so much to do and I don't want to be negative and nit pick so I'm just gonna say that I didn't like this event and I wouldn't attend it again.

The best thing about being stuck in a small confined space was that I got to meet some awesome plus sized beauties. Some models, bloggers and of course regular people like me who just wanted to have a little look around.

This is what I wore. I thought it was about time I get out of my Chucks and after meeting Kiah from THE REZ TO THE CITY I was ready to roll outta there. On my way out I stumbled into the Magnolia bakery and picked up some ice tea and a peanut ice box. FROTH! Lol it was so nice but I couldn't finish it. Too rich and decedent but definitely worth it just to say I did.

Check out my sister's comprehensive post the Bloomingdales event HERE.

Shorts Avella (originally pants but I cut them) / Singlet Factory / Blazer Thrifted / Chain Gifted/ Shoes Target

Big Love,

Falala Mele

Sonsi FFFW White Cruise: NY Summer

Sia, Jen of Seraphim Clothing & I

After figuring out that we wouldn't be able to make it to Europe this summer, there was something that seemed to soften that blow. The thought of meeting up with fellow bloggers to party in NYC on the harbour excited me immensely. Ever since I first watched Honey Daniels all those years ago attend that deliciously cool black and white party I've always wanted to go to one (ha ha LAME I know). During my early college years I organised a black and white party for my friends; one was celebrating her 18th birthday and the other was celebrating her 21st birthday. It was a crazy night. We caught the train into the city with cases of those cheap vodka premixes....I think they were called "Voodoos" or something. We ran a muck through the city screaming our "Cheeeeeeehoooooooo" calls letting everybody know the Polynesians were out to play. But something was missing. Oh of course. NEW YORK CITY!

It's crazy to think that these Poly girls have grown up into young *coughs* ladies and that we dress in white and attend events in New York. No I'm not bragging. I'm legit just thinking "How the hell did that happen?"

Still being that proud Niuean & Australian girl that I am, I wanted to wear something that let everybody know who I am and where I'm from. My accent had the Australian heritage covered so I wore a fou-fou (a floral headpiece worn on special events or when one dances). My mother gave it to my sister and I. I also packed the other for our cousin Sia. My Mum brought them back from New Zealand after our family reunion last April. You didn't see this because I didn't post this up.

But ultimately I wanted to be comfortable and to feel pretty. At home (Australia) my hair was being good but in New York it was fizzy as hell. UGHH. Oh well. YOLOd that shit. I also wore my coconut earrings that my friend Malo got me when she went to Samoa and the bracelet I got from Ruth when she went to Samoa. I actually didn't realise this until now :) Wore my trusty Moda dress that I picked up like 3 years ago and my pearl cluster ring when I was in Broome. For the shoes I chose the comfy Rivers low-heeled sandals.

It was so weird because I had been looking forward to this event ever since I found out about it. When I arrived I met up with the Aussie girls I had been talking to on our own Facebook forum. It was nice to know some people there. It was also the first time I had caught up with Gabby and Candice since our arrival so we were all excited and had a million questions and things to catch up on.

I started to recognise many other bloggers and didn't really know to approach them. I was torn between excitement (and wanting to dance as soon as I got on the boat) and nerves. When I'm nervous I just talk too much. But I met Kellie B and Jassifer. Two bloggers whose style I admire. From then it was all sort of a blur. The boat was packed and almost impossible to mingle with everyone. I ultimately chose to hang out with my girls because I didn't want to waste a beautiful evening getting caught up trying to do 'everything' and have no real memories of the night.

Instead we danced, laughed and tried with all our might to win a door prize. I went off to find food and ended up dancing with another lady whom I met in the line outside and promised that I would dance with her when we got inside.

I met Bec (her dress was my favourite of the white party) and boogied with Olivia and pulled pretty ugly faces with Sam. I hugged Dani and chatted with Ashley and met Inez of Style Chic 360 and Sandra of La Precosa Preciosa. The overall night was not exactly what I expected, but it was still great. We had our own little after party and Pie Face so no complaints here. Check out my instragram account @mele2541 for more photos under #melenyc.

Inez of Style 360, Jen of Seraphim Clothing and my sister Theresa of He called her Siki-Lou.

The Curvy and Curly Closet, Fatshion Insider & my girls.

Curvy Sam, Plus Side of Me, Jassifer Lion's Club & Wait until the Sunset

Check my beautiful sister's post HERE. Don't these two look like mermaids?

Big Love,


Falala Mele.

NYC Summer Day 3 MOMA

Thrifted Skirt $2 / Knitted Tank Factory $5 / Converse $50 / Hat $2 Ken Done Bag $2

Hiiiii! Guys I'm so excited because I'm back and I officially have the internet at home now!!! Seriously we have spent the last year living on prepaid net that barely loaded a page. Now I have the net I'll be able to keep up to date with blogs and shows and all the important things.

So now that I'm back online I thought I'd get right back to posting up my New York trip. I'm hoping that now I have my net back on I will be more inclined to post and share with you guys. So this was day 3. We wanted to have a kick back day because we had the White Cruise that evening and we have the worst habit of going ALL DAY and leaving only about 20 minutes left to get ready.

So we decided to head off to the MOMA and soak up all the greatness that is within it's doors. I have been 2 years earlier but it was so nice to watch my cousin Sia walk around and see all the art she had studied in high school. She was like "I don't remember the names of the art but I remember the artwork and this is awesome."

I'm always excited to see Gauguin's works especially his art with strong Micronesian themes from his time spent in French Polynesia.

 

I miss this. 6 more months. 6 more months.







Big Love,

Falala Mele

Summer NYC 2 Night

Okay so we were supposed to stop off at Little Italy for cannoli that afternoon but we had arranged to have dinner with Jen from Seraphim Clothing at MOMOFUKU noodle bar. We waited outside for 30 minutes because it's really popular and full of locals. I knew that the food was going to be AWESOME and Jen raved about the pork buns and ramen. It also gave us a chance to chat and get to know each other as we only had a few online conversations previously.

Jen was such a good time. Conversation flowed easily and we spoke about our basic backgrounds and our love for good food. Even though we were tired she told me about what she had been attending for FFFW and about the other Aussies she had met. It was honestly and freaking brilliant first full day in New York and I was so glad to be sharing it with new friends and my sisters.

Worn: Colour Blocked Top Supre / Shorts Target / Necklace Sportsgirl / Shoes Target

Sia & Jen enjoying Momofuku's famous pork buns

Ladies looking fabulous with tummies full of ramen. Who can complain?

Big Love,

Falala Mele

Summer NYC 1

So it's my first morning back. I'm in Australia and my New York summer is over yet again and now all I have is the post-travel blues. I awoke at 2:30am today and I tried to go back to sleep but I was hungry and wide awake so I thought I may as well use this time to get a post up.

I've decided to recap day by day cause it's easier that way. So here's the first recount from my adventure. Day 1 started off in Brisbane because the cheapest flights available at the time of booking had a layover in Brisbane. It was perfect because it allowed a sleepover with my fabulous Ruthie. It was a bittersweet reunion because this time last year WE were getting ready to leave for New York. Work commitments would not allow for another adventure just yet but we put into place plans for next year and it's pretty exciting! Travel, moving, changes in jobs. This shot is a preview of 2014 solo crew.

So our first day went like this. Early start. Forget the only essential item necessary to long haul flights. Run around Brisbane trying to purchase a damn pillow. Leaving Brisbane and saying goodbye to Ruth. Sitting on a plane. Walking around LAX trying to make sense of the backwards service and airport = 2 hours of hell. Eating. Back on a plane. Waiting. Arriving. Check in. Shower. Walk to Grand Central Terminal. Pizza= Hell Yes! Shuttle to Times Square. Shopping. Subway with a friendly hustler selling $2 swipes onto the subway. Duane Reed for supplies (aka JUNK and black cherry ice teas). Instagram uploads. Sleep.

1. Night Flyer 2. Travel OOTD 3. Arrival in NY 4. Food in LA 

1. We 3 2. Shoe shopping 3. Times Square 4. Grand Central Terminal

1. Wandering Times Square 2. Beer the size of ones head 3. Junk run 4. Cabs

We were so happy to get our very own little balcony at the Pod Hotel. Oh shit. I miss this view.



Big Love,


Falala Mele x