the wonder of the alhambra

if you ever have the pleasure of visiting southern spain, you must go to granada.  surrounded by the sierra nevada mountains and only an hour drive from the coast, you will fall in love with the diverse beauty of the landscape.  and of course no visit to granada would be complete without visiting la alhambra, the moorish citadel and palace.  the architecture and craftsmanship of the sultan's palace will leave you speechless and the views from the city of granada looking out over the alhambra with the sierra nevada mountains in the backdrop are truly special.

claudine xo

rainbow sequins

rainbow sequin t-shirt by Sass & Bide, rocco duffle bag by Alexander Wang, arty ring by YSL, spike bracelet by CC Skye, black cuff by Colette, aviator sunglasses by Rayban

bubblegum tie dye

tie dye dress by Miss Cherry, black & white ethnic scarf from Witchery

everything looks better on a canvas of blue and white, santorini is one of the greatest backdrops in the world.

hope you are all enjoying the weekend xo

joyeux noel

such a cool christmas tree

the chanel windows with marionette puppets - printemps

mini karl's - love!

this photo just makes me smile, what a cutie!

chez hanna or l'as du falafel make the best falafels in the marais

le marais, one of my fave spots in paris

putting up the christmas tree in front of notre dame (it looks a little small dontcha think?!)

sorry for the lack of posts everyone but to make up for it here are some of my favourite paris photos.  i love being in europe in the lead up to christmas.  it is such a wonderful feeling to snuggle up in chunky knits, suede  boots (*ahem* isabel marant) and lots of leather and eat warm, comfort food without having to worry about wearing a bikini for at least 3 months!  the christmas windows at printemps and galleries lafayette were the best i have ever seen and i am still dreaming about the chanel matryoshka doll handbag - genius!

claudine xo

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turkish delight

enjoying an apple tea

topkapi palace, istanbul

mosaic tiles at ephesus

an ephesus local

library of celsus, ephesus

library of celsus, ephesus

turkish sweets, druel....

local flavour

turkey is one of the most intriguing countries that i have ever visited.  rich with history and culture and a vast and varied landscape, it is a feast for the senses and a traveller's dream destination.  in istanbul we spent hours trawling through the grand bazaar, haggling with shopkeepers in one moment and drinking turkish tea with them in the next.  i loved the decadence of the topkapi palace and the hustle bustle on the sultanahmet streets. i was blown away by ancient ruins, ephesus in particular (see photos above) so well maintained that you could imagine life at the peak of the roman empire.  best history lesson i ever had.

claudine xo

a sneak peak

my collection of bracelets and rings from turkey 

 my favourite pair of heels which have been re-soled and re-heeled twice

shoes, shoes glorious shoes 

one of my most prized possessions - blog post on this soon! 

sparkles and miu miu are a girl's best friend

as i prepare some outfits for my weekend outings, i thought i would snap a few shots to give you a sneak peak into my wardrobe.  i am a sucker for studs, embellishment and all things sparkly...oh and i'm not afraid of a little colour ;)

only one more day till the weekend - yeehaa!

xo

five lands...a world apart

 a delicious local seafood lunch at manarola

 the breathtaking views over vernazza

the money shot 

a shy cat turning away from the camera (check out his lunch beneath the chair!) 

vivid stripes in monterosso

cinque terre, italy

one place everyone must visit. walk the trail between monterosso and vernazza for the most spectacular views and reward yourself with a fresh seafood lunch.

claudine xo

garden party

floral dress by Rodeo Show, tan suede belt by Rodeo Show, handbag by Miu Miu, arty ring by YSL, white cuff by Colette, silver ballet flats by Witchery

this is my "go-to" combo for the weekend...print dress/ ballet flats/ statement jewellery & an oversize handbag (black mascara and pink lip gloss)...comfort with a touch of style!

claudine xo

p.s. if you like anything that i am wearing i have added links to buy these items online (where possible), just click on the brand name.  the witchery flats are on sale at the moment - bargain!

dreamy santorini

while the sydney summer continues to elude us, i will be dreaming of sun-filled days and balmy nights on santorini.  hope you all have a fun-filled weekend no matter what mother nature decides to serve up!

claudine xo