Aussie Curves Sydney Meet

A few weeks ago I attended my first ever blogger meet......Is that even what you call them? I'm kinda decades behind everything in the blogger world. I just know what blogs I like and I share the things that I like with you all. 

I was really excited to meet some of the ladies that participate in the Aussie Curves weekly challenge. I had watched these ladies interpret themes, challenge themselves, encourage others and  confront social norms and expectations. It's really grown into a wonderful community of ladies who share everything from shopping tips and discount codes to personal advice on everyday trials and situations and I finally got to meet some of them in 'real-life'. 

I invited my cousin and my niece to attend. I wanted them to meet some fab ladies and experience one of the coolest things ever to come from the internet and blogging; the meeting of diverse, like-minded individuals who lives would never normally cross paths. When you share personal stories and experiences and read someone else's for an extended period of time, a openness and honesty develops and it's weird but you really do become friends without having met them. 

As I'm typing this my mind flips to that show Catfish when online lovers are excited to meet, usually only to be disappointed with lies and dishonesty. Don't get me wrong there are some crazy ass mofos out there but the difference between those people and the blogging community is that there is really nothing to gain from the lies okay so maybe people lie to get a gazillion followers and free shit and theres so many different blogs around you are really free to follow your tastes and interests.

Anyways we were late, we got caught in the rain (don't sweat it......we found some cardboard boxes and used them as umbrellas) and we were backwards in using our smart phones for accurate directions. To cut a long story short we found our way there EVENTUALLY and after a few quick hellos and some awkward moments thinking "I know them but I don't really know them" sorta deal.... I just decided to relax and chat. My sister and I did our usual tag-team story telling thing (we're famous for doing this amongst our friends) and we all started to relax and bust out laughing.

Back: Tay, Niva, Claire, Mele, Caitlin, Theresa Front: Dani & Jo

The glamorous Claire with my sissy and cousin Niva. Don't they look beautiful?

After we left the Aussie Curves meet up we walked to the casino to have a crazy buffet feed with my college girls. I miss them all the time. I was telling Dani that we all lived on the same floor in our dorm and it was the best ever. Rooms were always open. Clothes, food, dvds, shoes and harddrives were always mysteriously moved from room to room. We shared EVERYTHING and in all respects we became sisters. Try to imagine us reunited.
It was loud, and crazy with loads of mocking, giggles and food. Such a blessing.

Worn: Thrifted Polkadot Blazer $2 Thirfted Tie-Dyed Top $2 City Chic Skater Skirt $10

I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all the cool cats who made it out to the city in the rain. It was honestly really cool to meet you all and put your personalities to your blogs. 
I can't wait to do it again.



Big love,


Falala Mele xo

Boracay

 Last March I traveled to Boracay (one of the many islands in the Philippines) to watch two beautiful friends take their vows in perhaps one of the most beautiful places on earth. I had no idea it was such a tourist destination but when I arrived on the island I understood why more than a million people flocked to experience it's white sand, clear waters and friendly hosts last year.

There is so much to see and do and you can do as little or as much as your budget, interests and energy allows you. We ate copious amounts of delicious food and soaked up as much sun as we could handle. We participated in pub crawls, had late night sisha sessions, witnessed fire dancing and went water skiing. The other interested parties got tattoos (henna and permanent), body massages. Some bartered with the locals while others went snorkeling, helmet diving, island hopping and quad biking and hiking. The list goes on and on.

The most surprising thing was how affordable everything was. Most Australians flock to Bali or Thailand, but I have to be honest and say that I have never had a keen interest to visit those places. Not because these countries are not worthy of a visit. I guess so many people have been there it's almost as if they are another state of Australia and I guess I just want to be different. I would recommend you check out Boracay if you are thinking about booking a fairly inexpensive holiday. Total return flights to Manila and Caticlan to Melbourne were $1300. Accommodation including breakfast and transfers for 7 days in a family room at The Regency worked out to be about $70 per night per person with 4 of us sharing a room big enough for 6 people. Our dollar buys more than $200 pesos and you can buy meals around that price.

Tipping is not expected but I chose to tip with nearly everything I received service for. The workers are polite and efficient and the in grand scheme of things they work so hard and are paid so little. What may seem like a few pesos to you could make a real difference to them and their families.

I have quite a few shots on my phone so I will upload soon.




Big Love,

Falala Mele

Dan Sultan

 Dear Readers,
Let me introduce you to my celebrity crush. Mr. Dan Sultan.

An Indigenous singer/songwriter/ actor and all round cool dude (in my opinion anyways).

I first saw Dan appear in the movie Bran Nue Dae(a musical inspired and written by an Aboriginal man from Broome in Western Australia). While the film looks at Indigenous issues in sometimes a "light hearted" manner, it struck a chord with me as to how accurate its portrayal of certain issues were; especially for the Western Australian Indigenous peoples. I worked in W.A. for almost two years with Indigenous students and my class (well the entire school) couldn't get enough of Bran Nue Dae and in particular Dan Sultan's song "Black Girl".

Anyways before I rave on forever I was so very delighted to hear that he would be performing at the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Land Rights Celebrations.
I made sure I trudged through the mud to get a front row seat!

 Can I just say that he is an AHHHHMAZZZING performer. He is raw and his voice is just mesmerising. He sang my favourite song from Bran Nue Dae and he sang one of my all time favourite songs "Your Mine" by Richie Valens so beautifully that it brought tears to my sister's eyes.
I also admire the fact that he makes an effort to support Indigenous events and the indigenous communities nation wide.  So I was totally shy but I had to walk up all confident and ask for a photo.

I got to wear my $3 vintage oversized cardigan. I <3 it, that's my sister Theresa with our friends Teesha and Eliza

 I'm not sure if I have made this clear but Wreck Bay is a beautiful Aboriginal community on the South Coast of NSW. This is the place where I take most of my beautiful beach shots. I grew up here and it's always nice to come back and see all my old childhood friends and family. It was such a special night.

I was also proud as punch to see some of my old students perform their Land Rights Rap. Repping Jervis Bay Public School and their awesome performance.


Big Love,


Falala Mele xo

Eat Pray Love

Bonjour Friends!

How are you all? Well it has been a long week since my last post...actually its been over a week but I have been busy packing up and preparing for my inevitable return to the bush..... so here I am, back in the middle of nowhere in Western Australia and I am so happy to be back in my house :) My roommate is still enjoying all the bright lights and wonderful food that Sydney has to offer... so she won't be back until Thursday.... I loved being back home and being able to attend things... birthdays, movies, food and shopping....

Although not much shopping occurred (I was busy with family and all my duties as a niuean girl during a funeral) so most of my time home was spent driving back and forth to the airport, buying food, cooking and feeding family and friends and cleaning and crying with loved ones over the loss of my dear Uncle.

Emo much? try having your aunty telling you that she wants you to sing at the funeral..... "It doesn't matter if you cry, it doesn't matter if you can't sing properly... I want you to sing for your Uncle"...........

*DEEP BREATH*

So aside from all that.... I managed to find this sweet little top at big w for about $25 AUD.... oh and if I could have found the next size up it would have made the sweetest dress..... but I still love the colour, the lil detailing in the sleeves....it's lovely and light and I'm sure I will get a lot of good use out of it during the hot Australian summer.... So sad I missed out on the little black cherry dress :( DAMN IT!

So back to the eat pray love. I managed to catch the movie on the night before I flew out to Perth. The first part of the movie left us all feeling giddy at the sight of the beautiful italian buildings..... we tried repeating each Italian phrase as she was being tutored in the language and we longed to eat pasta, pizza, prosciutto and melon..... GAAAHHHH! Can I please be there right now? You see, my sister and cousin (who is basically my sister) are approximately a year off graduating. The plan is to move to London for approximately 6-12months to work and travel all around europe.... on my brief visit to london, paris and amsterdam... I basically fell in love with europe and wish to have a longer affair over there!! First stop after we arrive into London.... Italy :) as for the rest of the movie? Yeah I kinda wanted to rewind the first part and watch italy over again.... gotta love the "eat" part of the movie.....the pray and the love part kinda had me wanting to hit myself over the head so that I could snap out of my boredom.

So here a few pics of the outfit..... I really need to take time out for better pics... but I usually only have time for a quick few shots cause I am always running late... note to self.... take better pics of the outfit so people can see what Im wearing..... DONE... thats noted ;)

I hope you are all well.....

Many blessings coming from Karalundi,

Falala Mele