travel – Page 2 – well hello lovie

How to get fat yet be happy in Italy!

April 20, 2017November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in eat | drink

Well hello lovie!

I’ve ready every kind of article there is over the past 15 years about how to lose weight and had my fair share of wins and losses. Well, I’m about to share with you my version on how to gain weight in 3 easy steps and do it all with a big, fat smile on your face!

Step 1.

Start the day with an espresso and brioche (what the Italians call a croissant). Now these are not just ordinary pastries as they come in all shapes/sizes/flavours & toppings. Check out a few examples of what I’ve consumed over the past few days…….

Step 2.

For lunch or dinner consume carbs. Lots of carbs. When they bring you the free bread – eat it. Order pasta or pizza because you know it’s going to be a-mazing and you probably won’t eat like this again for a very. long. time. Embrace the carbs!

Step 3.

Mid afternoon have gelato – try as many flavours as you can. And if you really want to step it up, you could alternatively partake of another form of pastry – no judgement here!

So this is my daily routine which I’ll be committing to for the better part of a month. I did weigh myself before I left and am placing a bet that I’ll easily hit the 5kg mark upon my return. Who am I kidding, closer to 10kg at this rate!

But you know what? As a wise woman in Milan said to me a few days ago – La Dolce Vita. It’s all about “the sweet life” and you’ve only got one so go ahead and buy new pants instead!

Be fabulous xx

Milan – 3 days of design, indulgence & food coma’s!

April 19, 2017November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in travel

Well hello lovie!

What a treat, 3 days in Milan and I’m leaving so inspired! Design….it’s everywhere. From the beautiful shop window displays, to the stunning architecture, to the way the women dress and to the food presentation….and I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ll certainly be taking away some new ideas and will fondly think of Milan as my design capital of the world. I based myself predominantly in Brera which is considered the artist district, so here’s some of my takeaways:

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Dry Bar – it’s part cocktail bar, part restaurant (specialising in pizza) and part aperitivo – make a booking or try your luck

Princi Bakery – this became my regular breakfast/lunch go to place. Cheap, friendly and incredibly tasty! Croissants to grilled topped focaccia to espresso.

Eataly – an Italian food hall on steroids – seriously! 3 levels of everything and anything Italian (cheese, meats, wine, fruit/veg, gelato, espresso to name a few). They also have 2 restaurants, one casual pizza/pasta, the other more upmarket. I could live in this place and die happy!

Proscuitto hanging at Eataly

3 levels of foodie heaven

Who doesn’t love chilli?

shop

Brera district – artisan jewellers, bespoke perfumeries, leather goods, boutique clothes and a few vintage shops thrown in. My top pick was the shop of Angela Caputi who is based in Florence and I’ll be revisiting when I arrive there – I did purchase some bold white/black earrings which I think will get a great price per wear ratio.

Quadrilatero d’Oro – if you’re cashed up this is the place to go. Known as the Golden Quadrilateral, it’s a fashion district in the streets north of the Duomo. Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbano – you get the idea!

do
Duomo – this goes without saying. The Italian Gothic style is incredibly intricate and you could spend hours just taking in the detail of the exterior. I understand now why it took six centuries to complete! (Just watch out for the men who offer to take a photo of you with your own camera who of course will then run off with it!)
Sforza Castle – I spent hours exploring the castle taking in the grandeur of the design along with the surrounding moat (now filled with grass) which took my breath away. I continued through the attached Sempione Park and loved seeing the Milanese exercising, having picnics, eating/drinking and celebrating the good life. A beautiful way to spend a few hours wandering.

stay
Personally, I prefer to stay away from the main tourist area and experience living in the region as authentically as possible. On this trip I stayed at Zebra Verde and the apartment exceeded my expectations! Original design and architecture, clean, stylishly decorated, large for a one bedroom and the bed was super comfy!

How did I spend most of my time? Literally walking the streets. No tourist bus or tour for me – I get my joy by wandering with no map, taking in the sights and coming upon the unexpected. Milan was a true delight – even the dogs strutted with style!

Be fabulous xx

From Melbourne to Milan

April 15, 2017November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in travel

Well hello lovie!

it’s 4am in the morning and I’m wide awake as I’m still adjusting my body clock after just completing my Melbourne to Milan journey – and what a journey it has been!

Highlight of my 22 hour trip was absolutely being upgraded to Business Class from Melbourne to Dubai. Now, I’ve never been able to afford to fly business before, however after that experience, I’m willing to start a swear jar, sacrifice organic for normal fruit/veg, walk more/uber less – whatever it takes to save enough money to always travel this way – it’s a game changer! If you’ve never done it before, let me give you the highlights:

picked up by a chauffeur and driven to the airport – yes, this really happened
the seating is so incredibly generous in size (you get a 2m skybed with massage controls) and this made all the difference for me. Even though I had a someone beside me, the privacy screen made it feel like I was in my own little world.
the kate spade vanity kit – ear plugs, eye mask, lip gloss, hand & face moisturiser, toothbrush/toothpaste and it’s all presented in the cutest bag! Qantas just announced their kits have new artwork on them as they are collaborating with 16 Australian artists, photographers and digital influencers – challenge to collect them all accepted!!!!
you get the most relaxing, soft qantas branded pjs and socks. If I could’ve walked off the plane in those things I would’ve – super comfy.
the food and wine is clearly the best I’ve ever had on a plane – the quality, the choices were very cool – all created by Neil Perry.
finally, the service. The team on board were delightful and I got a kick out of the fact they knew my name and would use it repeatedly. Even when I was just walking around they’d say – Ms Pratt are you ok? What can we get you? I’d reply, “nothing thanks, just going for a walk”, give them a smile and shuffle off in my pjs all the while thinking – ‘economy class is now dead to me’

You’re probably wondering – where are the photos of this trip? To be honest, I was a bit like Alice in Wonderland – so caught up with it all and taking it in that I seriously didn’t take any photos! Fingers crossed I get my upgrade on the way home then I’ll be snap happy then.

So continuing the story – my flight in Melb was initially delayed 2 hours which meant I was potentially going to miss my connection. Arriving in Dubai however I was quickly escorted by an Emirates staff member to my connecting flight to Milan. This was gold as I not only got to skip to the front of security but that airport was so massive I seriously would’ve gotten lost figuring it out myself. Having said that, the shopping looked pretty fab so maybe on the way back I can get lost in that section….

Onwards to Milan and it was all quite uneventful as I was flying Economy for my last leg (did I mention, never again?) but arriving in Milan I was greeted by Roberto. Who is Roberto? Roberto was a treat I gave myself……..a driver to meet me and take me to my hotel instead of a taxi/train. I always wanted to be greeted by a gorgeous man holding a sign with my name – yes, I paid for the pleasure but 100% worth it!

Roberto then whisked me to my apartment, I checked in and immediately walked outside, looked around me and said to myself, “you made it – you’re in freaking Milan!” then skipped across the road to buy an espresso.

Be Fabulous xx

What’s a girl to pack?

April 10, 2017November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in travel

Well hello lovie!

It’s a few days to go until I head overseas for my fabulous Italy jaunt and although I travel most weeks for work, a 22 hour journey requires a bit more planning! I wanted to take a snap shot of what I’m packing for my carry-on bag so that when I take my next trip I can just jump on this page and repack.
Here’s the breakdown:

Let’s start with entertainment.

I never travel without my Beats Solo headphones – love them!
I’m going old school with a motivational book, Lisa Messenger always seems to hit the spot for me.
My trusty MacBook – so I can keep up to date with wellhellolovie and fulfil my fantasy of spending a day sitting in a cafe, drinking coffee and tapping away on my laptop.

The beauty essentials next.

No one wants to arrive at their holiday destination feeling like a piece of crap! I’ve packed my Oroton case with pressed powder, lipstick, gloss, deodorant, hand cream, a travel toothbrush and toothpaste and my rollerball fragrance which is perfect for travelling (check them out at Sephora).
Then a cute little Corban & Blair wallet with my makeshift first aid kit. Bandaids, nurofen, diarrhoea tablets (let’s face it – we’ve all been there!), refresh eye drops, hand sanitiser and my roll on magnesium oil which I adore as it helps me relax and fall asleep quickly.

The necessities.

A good old fashioned notepad. I love my LV notebook that was a beautiful gift which I’ve had for years now – always by my side for that random thought.
A fabulous wallet that can fit all my cards, cash, passport and is also big enough to slip in my mobile – it’s the ultimate day to night accessory! I just bought this one from Oroton.
My phone….can’t live without it – enough said.
Reading glasses, as I woke up one day and realised I was squinting trying to read menus – can’t have that! I’m obsessed with Bailey Nelson, a great Aussie company that makes fashion forward yet affordable eyewear – too many to choose from!

And finally – creature comforts.

I always, always, always have a lightweight scarf with me. This one from Witchery has been a great addition to my scarf wardrobe as it’s a mix of cool and warm colours and goes with absolutely everything.
Fun socks with little bobbles on them. Practical yet cute 🙂

That just about wraps everything up into one great carry on bag. I’m currently using a multipurpose tote bag from Lululemon. It’s got pockets galore to separate my bits and bobs, a great little section for my water bottle, is quite light and big enough to fit everything in which means I don’t need to carry a handbag as well.

I’d love to hear anything else you think I should throw in!

Be fabulous xx

Sydney – boutique hotel discovery

April 5, 2017November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in travel

Well Hello Lovie!

On a recent work trip to Sydney my usual CBD corporate cookie cutter hotels were all booked out so lucky for me I was forced to explore a new option. I stumbled across Ovolo at Woolloomooloo on the outskirts of the CBD right on the water. What a discovery!

When you book directly with Ovolo they promise you the best things in life are FREE and included in the price is breakfast, wifi, happy hour, self-laundry, mini bar and a heap of cute and quirky items in the room!

On top of all of this the staff are dressed in stylish, original outfits (not staid uniforms), they’re super friendly and helpful and the decor is to die for.

This is now my number 1 pick for a special stay in Sydney – trust me, you won’t regret it!

Has anyone stayed here before – thoughts?

Be fabulous xx

Lisa

NY: East Village

May 31, 2015November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in travel

Well hello lovie!

I thought it was time to share with you another one of my favourite little pockets of New York – the East Village! Grungy, cool and casual, in that laid back way, but you know there’s a buzz humming underneath it all. We based ourselves in “the village” for two weeks and immersed ourselves quickly in the local culture. It’s an eclectic mix of venues and people with an upmarket wine bar sharing real estate with an underground hot dog den with an ice cream van parked out front!

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The East Village is foodie heaven! Wall to wall choices which make the prices competitive and the quality fabulous. My top picks are:

Crif Dogs – once you make your way in from the basement entrance you can customise your own dogs or pick one of the favourites like the “Philly Tubesteak”

Yuca Bar – fabulous Latin fusion cuisine with a great crowd. Make sure you go on a Tuesday when the food is half price and don’t miss the cocktail specials.

9th Street Espresso – free WiFi, tasty treats, chilled atmosphere and the coffee is divine!

The Summit Bar – you can’t go past the bargain brunch on a Sunday or the happy hour cocktails – try the Governess, you’ll thank me!

shop

In between all the bars and cafes are a lovely collection of Bohemian shops with a trend towards vintage, homewares and books/records. If you’re short on time and you want to check out a cute collection then focus your shopping on 9th Street.

Meg – loved this place – basics with a twist in real women’s sizes! My pick…the jumpsuits.

PInk Olive – cute, cute, cute!! Homewares, paper products, accessories and NY goodies serviced up with a dash of pink confetti & sparkles.

Duo NYC – curated emerging designers and accessories in a beautifully whitewashed wall boutique with rich wooden timber floors. I could move in here!

Stay in the East Village! We were lucky enough to snag a fabulous AirBNB apartment for a bargain price and live like locals.

Wander through Tompkins Square Park and listen to the live jazz on weekends, watch the puppies play in the dog park and when the sun is out, giggle at the locals sunbaking on every spare blade of grass.

Exercise by going for a run or walk along the East Village Promenade. Just head to 10th Street and walk over the flyover and enjoy the fresh air and river views of Williamsburg.

The East Village is a fun melting pot with enough to see and do over a few hours to several days. Enjoy!

Lisa xx

NY: West Village

May 15, 2015November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in travel

Well hello lovie!

I was lucky enough to recently spend my birthday wandering around the West Village and it’s definitely my favourite little piece of Manhattan! I love the tree-lined streets, the cobblestones and the vibrant yet elegant architecture. Here’s a few of my favourites that I wanted to share with you:

eat/drink

Magnolia Bakery – you can’t go past the red velvet cupcake – divine!

Murray’s Cheese Shop – a cheese slice of heaven! Get the experts to help you put together a cheese platter, grab a bottle of red and settle in for the night.

Bluestone Lane Coffee – Come and say G’day to the Aussies bringing the Melbourne coffee culture to NY. Great coffee and the classic – avocado smash.

shop

Studio Manhattan – a funky mix of bags, accessories and decor with a modern, New York, non-tourist slant.

Jonathan Adler – check out the beautiful candle range from this style guru. I couldn’t go past the Champagne Pop followed closely by the Havana!

Diptyque – clearly I have a passion for candles! I could have bought a dozen different fragrances here but my favourite find was the glass, mouth blown candle holders.

Walk the High Line – this was a highlight! Wander along this disused railway track that is now a fabulous urban park as it winds between the old warehouses and apartments giving great views and a different perspective of NY life.

Visit Carrie Bradshaw’s stoop – for those of us that were SATC fans, this is a fun photo-op! If you’re not a fan then still wander the local streets and be charmed by the beautiful architecture.

Window Shop – my favourite street is Bleecker Street and even though I couldn’t afford the crazy prices, it was free for me to admire the beautiful and innovative window displays. A girl can dream!

The West Village is a must-do on any New York trip and I can’t wait to get back to eat more of those cupcakes!

Lisa xx

Well hello lovie!

March 14, 2015November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in design, eat | drink, travel, wellness

Thanks for dropping by!

Let me introduce myself. I’m a lover of beautiful design, rich experiences, unique opportunities and I can’t wait to share them with you.

Join me as we catch up over a coffee where I can tell you about my latest design discoveries, favourite places to go and what has inspired me.

Why am I doing this? Because I am, at heart, a communicator and have always needed a creative outlet in my life. Previously I’ve shared my stories and images with family and friends and I felt there may be kindred spirits out there who would also want to come over for a catch up.

Well hello lovie – great to see you here!

Lisa xx