in the words of a whiz

SIX WEEKS OF SUMMER DETOX

2011-08-30T00:28:00.000-07:00

Okay I know what you're thinking. Another detox? Sara you failed miserably when you set out to attempt 100 days of detox (off the booze), why set yourself up to fail again?

Well, long story short, I'm not going to fail. Why?

For starters, this time I have motivation. In a few weeks I'm optimistic it's going to be warm enough to hop, skip and jump down to Bondi Beach and jump into those crystal blue waves. The dilemma? Traditionally to jump into the water, you're required to slip into something that closely resembles a bra and undies. Resembles? Who am I kidding? I have bras and undies that cover more flesh than my swimwear! So upon realising this on the weekend, I decided I needed to shed what we women call "winter weight" and shape the hell up! Some girls take to pinning up inspirational pics on their mirrors/walls. Me? I know my body and I know what it looks like at its best, that's what I want it to look like, not someone else's.

The other reason I know this is going to work? I'm not going without. You see, the reason I think I fail at detox is because I decide to go cold turkey. This self-designed diet is being fair to me, fair to my body, and it's achievable. The idea of never having something again is what forces you to give up. You want something so badly that you throw the towel in on the whole lot. best I get into my rules at this point...

1. No gluten - Why? Because deep down I know my daily exercise/activity does not require a substantial amount of carbs for energy. I sit at a desk for eight hours and do pilates when I get the time. (Yes, Elixr, I hope you appreciate my $120 a month donation.)

2. No meat - I've done this often. It's not a moral issue for me. I don't associate the slab of veal on my plate with a calf named Molly roaming in a grassy green field. For me, I associate it with bloating (much like the above)! Your body works so fricken' hard to digest meat and mine certainly feels it. I'm allowing myself seafood as it's much lighter, works well with my body, it's a source of protein, and I love it.

3. No obvious fats or sugar - Now this is a sketchy one. I use the word "obvious" because I'm not completely clued up when it comes to what is in which foods. So by saying this, I mean those that scream out, "Eat me and I'm going straight to your ass/thighs..." Yes, lollies, chocolates, ice-cream, excessive amounts of cheese, anything deep fried etc. This comes down to common sense for me. I'll still use a splash of oil if I'm cooking or what not.

Now, my favourite part. The exceptions! I love an exception to the rule, and as I've said, I believe this is what's going to make this little escapade work.

I get one cheat day per week. This means I can eat whatever I like, one day a week, should I choose to. I should add here, I LOVE CARBS. I don't feel like I've eaten a meal unless I've had carbs. Carbs for me are like meat for a male - they make the meal! So this is the most challenging part. I'm pretty adamant I'm going to stick to no meat even on cheat day, but knowing that one day a week I get to have toast, pasta, and mashed potato (my favourite carbs!) is what's going enable me to go without for the other six days.

The other allowance is that I get two nights per week to indulge in alcohol. For some that still may seem excessive, but in my profession, I assure you it's not! This week alone I have the launch of a Mexican restaurant (Tues), a venue's birthday (Weds), a magazine party (Thurs), and then a trip to the snow (Fri and Sat), so to cut my booze sessions from five to two per week is still a big change in my habits. And that's what this is about. Making some small (achievable!) changes to my dieting habits.

Bear in mind, I'm not a nutritionist. I've decided on these rules because after having so many messages thrown at us about good food, bad foods and superfoods, I'm choosing to apply those that have resonated with me. Each to their own, right? I'm going to post my daily menu on twitter because documenting it is going to keep me honest. Wish me luck :)

Oh PS. Must give a shout out to my buddies Heath and Dom for inspiring me...

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DATE A... PR CHICK

2011-08-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

I get told that I'm quite different to other PR chicks, but after reading t his article, I'm not so sure I am anymore.

From about 13 years of age I was raised by my dad because I chose to live with him over my mum after my parents split. Treated like "one of the boys" from puberty meant I was in for a future of BMX, motocross, touch football, fishing and camping. As a result, not only do I swear like a dirty sailor (I'm sure you've noticed this if you're on my facebook, twitter or blog) but I can ride motorbikes, drive a manual car, drive a boat, bait a hook, put up a tent, build a fire and pass a footy, amongst many other things usually left to the boys. Men? Who needs men? Kidding! I do! Anyway, when I first moved to the eastern suburbs in Sydney seven years ago, every single girl I met was a Princess. When I moved into the PR industry full time at 22, I thought so even more.

However, while I think I certainly swear more and play more sport than the average PR glamazon, this article sent to me via twitter has made me consider the fact that maybe us PR chicks share more in common than our career objectives.

About five years ago I became single after around 10 years of back to back relationships (yes, sadly, since I was 14 I had bounced from one relationship to another) and I began writing a book. I began dating and started to notice that each guy had quite strong characteristics which I would jokingly put down to their jobs. So I started banging out a book which I later named "What It's Like To Date A..." The book was going to be an A to Z of occupations and what a male in that particular profession was like to date. It was fun to write, but sadly my shitty old Compaq decided to stop breathing and I lost half the letters of the alphabet I'd completed. Devo. Oh, and I fell in love and stopped dating so research became a bit too challenging.

If a guy set out to write that same book (I'm full of free ideas by the way, just give me a category and I'll hit you back with one) then I reckon it would be a pretty cinch task to prepare a par on girls in PR. In addition to the three points that the NYC PR Girls point out in this article, I've summarised a few key personality traits that I reckon us good PRs share..

1. Our career comes first. And, quite often you'll also have to compete with it. And more often than not, you'll never win. To be in PR it takes a lot of hard work, long hours and a few years on really shitty pay. It's drive and determination that got us to where we are so please don't be offended if we don't want to compromise our careers and throw it all away for you. Pro? Our motivation and independence will turn you on. Con? The nights spent hanging on the couch will more than likely just be you, alone.

2. We're organised. Like nothing you've ever seen before. Borderline OCD. It's the most critical characteristic of a PR so it makes sense that this would be quite prominent in our personal lives too. Everything has a place, every task needs a checklist, every appointment time is confirmed. It's kind of freakish. Pro? You'll always have your lunch made, dry cleaning dropped off and remember your mum's birthday because she'll have your "to do" list in her diary too. Con? You'll probably (definitely) be yelled at if your side of the bedroom isn't spotless.

3. We're planners. We plan every day in our profession. We write communication strategies, timelines, and work on events and campaigns with strict deadlines. On occasion we've been known to make a plan to make plans. On average I'd say we're about three months ahead of everyone else in the planning stakes because that's where long lead media sit. Pro? When it comes time to take holidays together you don't have to think about a thing. It'll be booked and paid for and your run sheet, I mean itinerary, will be prepared down to the hour and presented to you in an excel spreadsheet. Con? Chances of spontaneity are slim, not being prepared would more than likely cause a nervous rash to break out on our necks.

4. Our attention to detail is second to none. We've been trained this way, okay?! If we miss vital details in the work we do it can have huge ramifications on the end result. Seemingly small or insignificant details to you are given hefty weighting by us. Pro? We'll remember your boss' wife's name for you. And your boss' pet dog's name for that matter. Con? We will correct your spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors in emails and texts. And we'll notice if you wear the same shirt on our second date.

5. We talk a lot. This is probably why we first embarked on a career in PR. At school we won toastmasters, we were always nominated to present the oral assignments to the class, and we still have a lot of friends who bag us for talking so darn much. The amount of times I've suffered of verbal diarrhea is a little embarrassing. I kick myself every time. Even when I know I'm doing it and just can't stop. It's kind of like a disease. You see what I just did there? Yep. Pro? You can take us anywhere - engagement, wedding, divorce party, bah mitzvah, birthday, family BBQ - and we'll be able to strike up a conversation with a wet mop. Con? We speak to everyone. Not ideal for insecure, jealous or possessive types. Plus we might exhaust you occasionally.

This is my favourite PR chick. Ever. Of all time. Shauna Roberts. She doesn't really exist, but if she did I'm certain we'd be friends.

MAGICAL SPLENDOUR MOMENTS

2011-08-02T05:32:00.000-07:00

In the beginning.

Where everyone secretly wanted to be.

Push It.

Joss and vodka. Breakfast of champions.

The longest my little legs will ever look.

Groupies.

Papa El-Bayeh.

We certainly did.

Tommy doing the Tipi warm up.

Chapman.

Jetson.

Ohhhh Rexy you're so sexy.

You know you're buckled when...

Cuteeeeee

That guy.

Nut bags at Cloud Control.

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

Words of wisdom from the water closet.

Poor girl.

Furry friend.

Shirts off. Pitsis would be proud.

The End.

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS

2011-08-02T02:21:00.000-07:00

My first Splendour In The Grass (SITG) experience was in 2009 when the festival was held at the Belongil fields, just outside of Byron Bay. Despite not remembering about 80% of the weekend and our car breaking down half way home, I still recall it as being one of the best times of my life.

Last year was the first time SITG was held at Woodfordia, their name for the grounds just outside Woodford in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Entrance to last year's SITG site was a shit fight. To give you an idea, our crew of about eight left Brisbane in the Winnebago at around 4pm on the Thursday and we didn't make it through the gates until 11pm that night. A one hour trip that took seven? Now there's an opportune time to break out "FML". Again though, we had an epic little crew, and it was another splendid few days.

Come 2011 and entry to the site went seamlessly. So seamlessly in fact that we managed to smuggle in a few cases of beer and about six bottles of vodka between us. Winning! I'm not sure why (I'm sure they have a super sensible reason for not allowing alcohol in the camp sites, other than that fact they don't make any moolah off it) but every year it's the same challenge... How do we get our grog inside?! Not because we're all bad asses who don't have respect for rules (although I'm sure it comes across this way), but because when the festival finishes up at around midnight each night, some of the most memorable moments happen when you're drinking in the wee hours, sharing stories around the campfire. Oh, hang on, we weren't meant to start fires either were we? Camp SITE. Sharing stories around the camp SITE, I mean.

While we're talking breaking rules (again, I swear we're not normally like this) special mention has to go to, um, let's call him Thomas, because that's actually his name. Thomas was kicked out of the Smirnoff Cocktail Bar on Friday night for being too intoxicated. Intoxicated? At Splendour? Surely not? Anyway, after being escorted out, young Thomas decided he really wasn't ready to wrap it up, so he went back. Copping a $400 fine for "trespassing" and having his passes taken from him a few moments later, Thomas would probably tell you it was worth every second. On Saturday, after an arts and crafts session constructing a new wrist band from the remnants of other people's - Thomas again decided to pop in to the Smirnoff Cocktail Bar where he was spotted, yet again, and this time was taken to the local cop shop at nearby Caboolture. After a night in lock up and released on the condition he doesn't show his head at Splendour again, brave Thomas found his way back to Woodfordia and accepted the challenge, heading back into the festival for the final night of play. Rounding up some spare passes and covered in what closely resembled a niqab, Thomas soldiered on throughout the Sunday night festivities and lives to tell his tale. Thomas has just been signed to write a book about his SITG 2011 experience. It is scheduled for release in early 2012. Watch this space...

Other than the VIP Gold Bar, which was convenient purely because you didn't have to queue too long for the bar or loo, our crew's favourite hang out was the Jagermeister Hunting Lodge. Totally NOT because our bestie is the Brand Manager for Jagermeister. Honestly! In all seriousness, the Jagermeister Hunting Lodge was another massive improvement this year. If you cast your mind back to 2010 I'm sure you'll remember "that smell" wafting from what used to be the Jager Cube. It had been raining all week prior to the festival and, very sadly for our favourite between-sets-pit-stop, once you stepped inside the Cube, all you could smell was a mixed scent of rubber and mud. Devastating really. Anyway, the Jagermeister Hunting Lodge this year was unreal. I think I was especially in love with it because it felt like both a ski lodge and an old Queenslander home at the same time. Throw in an avid snowboarder originally from the bush in Queensland and you have one happy little Vegemite. Well done Jager! Here's some of this year's posse looking totes relaxed at the Lodge...

Okay I know this is already turning into an essay so I best get to some chat about the beats. I have to say, I thought The Kills and James Blake were pretty disappointing. Each to their own. Just sayin, not the best start. Redemption, however, when Kanye stepped out on stage that night. Pretty sure he silenced any critics he may have had and, well, if he didn't, they're just mad haters who need to lighten the f*ck up because he was clearly killing it. Also on Kanye, I heard a rumour on the weekend that he turns up for international flights 20 mins before departure because he "doesn't like waiting around" ha! Such a cool cat... So anyway, nuff airtime for Mr West...

Loved Architecture In Helsinki, plan on listening to more of their tunes in future. My favourite band of the moment, Foster the People, pretty much blew my mind. (Safe to safe I'm naming my first born Cubbie after one of the band members.) Actually pretty sure they blew everyone's mind who tried to pack into the Mix Up Tent for their set. Do yourself a favour and listen to their album "Torches" if you haven't already. Although I don't know a lot of their stuff yet, Friendly Fires were apparently ridic, as was Kele and Yelle, both whom I missed. I crashed early Saturday night and sadly missed Pnau too, which I am quietly (or not so quietly) devastated about. Fail Sara. When Sunday came around everyone was pumped and we kicked off the day with Cloud Control, definitely one to watch. Cut Copy are one of my all time faves and they didn't disappoint. Ripping, really. We finished the festival in the Amphitheatre with Coldplay. I didn't think I was a huge fan of theirs but their live performance put me in my place. This was at the finale... Epitome of epic...

Will leave you now with some of my pals' Most Memorable Splendour Moments. They may not make a lot of sense but, if you were there, you'll probably get it...

"Our mate strapped a GOLD branded bar of soap to his wrist and flashed it at security to gain entrance to the VIP Gold Bar. Band wise, Foster The People and Friendly Fires killed it." - Shannan Quinn, Brand Manager, Jagermeister

"The double whammy of the two best acts back to back - The Hives then Kanye. Best crew, best music, best times." - Maude Garrett, Hot 30 Countdown, 2DayFM

"Watching a fake porno play out, complete with a midget in a fake naked bodysuit. Is that inappropriate?" - Ruby Forrest, PR Coordinator, Sara Bray PR & Events

"Chris Martin's tribute to Amy Winehouse - very touching." - Richard Penny, Sales Manager, Zanerobe

"Cut Copy playing Hearts On Fire on the final night in the doof doof tent. The sax kicked in and about 15 of us were jumping around, screaming the lyrics, and fist pumping in perfect unison." - Tom O'Dwyer, Sales Manager, Lee

Til next year kids!!

GLASS BRASSERIE

2011-05-19T00:43:00.000-07:00

I treated my darling girlfriend Lisa-Shae to dinner at Luke Mangan's restaurant Glass Brasserie at The Hilton this week. It's a place I really should have been to by now ('cause you know, I'm a serious foodie, or so I think). Have you picked up on my love of food yet? I should have named this blog "in the words of someone who loves food".

Anyway, we ordered entrees and share dishes. I'll tell you why, and I'm sure I'm not alone here. I can't eat all that much, so give me a big main meal and I'm full. And what have I experienced? One dish. Mmm not good enough. But by ordering multiple entrees and/or share dishes you get to taste a multitude of dishes and a truckload of flavours! If you're budget conscious that's why tapas restaurants are great. If you like to splurge you can't go past a degustation, but allow a few hours to indulge if you choose that path.

At Glass Brasserie we ordered the smorgasbord of small dishes, two of which included spring bay scallop with xo sauce, tofu and pork scratchings (left) and tempura zucchini with ricotta and anchovy (right) which I felt compelled to photograph...

JAMES BLUNT "SOME KIND OF TROUBLE" TOUR

2011-05-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Four years ago I attended a Veurve Clicquot event with Jess and Chris. Here's a pic from that very night...

It was just an ordinary media/social event (albeit very a very glamorous one, my favourite event to date actually) and all of a sudden James Blunt and his entire band rolls in. The drummer, Karl Brazil, struck up a convo by telling me I looked like some chick from British girl group, Girls Aloud. I wonder which one he meant...

Anyway ever since then we've stayed in touch and caught up whenever they're touring in Oz. So I've been to many a James Blunt concert and I can tell you now, their Some Kind Of Trouble tour is definitely the best yet. It may also have had something to do with being held at the State Theatre because that place is jaw-droppingly beautiful.

James has the most insane voice and it's utterly brilliant live. He covers all of the songs you've loved over the years including You're Beautiful, 1973, Wisemen, Goodbye My Lover (remember the film clip starring Mischa Barton in her "hot" days, yeah well the whole of the State Theatre was singing along) and more recently his impossible-to-be-sad-when-you-listen-to-this tune, Stay The Night. Plus there are some cracking new ones too. They're in Melbourne next so if you're down that way, grab a ticket if they're not already sold out.

MY MELBOURNE SOJOURN

2011-05-18T02:52:00.000-07:00

I flew into Melbourne last Friday morning. Flying in on a Friday morning was kinda silly. You see, my friends aren't ladies who lunch, they have full time jobs and work 9-5, five days a week (Friday being one of said five). So I had to amuse myself for the day. I'm pretty easily amused. Anyway, I kicked off my Melbourne sojourn doing what the entirety of the female race would have done. I went to Chapel Street.

Now, everyone brags about Melbourne shopping and how great it is and how you find so many wonderful bargains and one-off pieces. But here's the problem, I don't do vintage. Insert gasp! I'm sorry but it just doesn't suit me! Some girls can spend $50 on an entire outfit that ends up looking just as good (if not better) than something I've pulled together for $500 plus! I just don't have the knack, so I'd rather not try and stick to what I know.

Anyway, my point here (yes, I have a point, I always have a point, it just usually takes me a while to get to it) is that because I don't do vintage, I usually end up buying labels I can purchase just as easily in Sydney. Fail. So after stepping into no more than a dozen boutiques, I stumbled across Sass & Bide and walked out with a pair of pants, a knit, and a dress. Entire shopping budget for the weekend = goneskis.

I had a work meeting scheduled in the afternoon which was to be held at The Langham. We sat and chatted in the ARIA bar and lounge over a high tea and it was A. Mazing. The scones, chicken ribbon sandwiches and chocolate souffle were seriously ridic. Do it next time you're in town, for morning or afternoon tea. Or if you need to add some enjoyment to what would otherwise be a dull meeting. My meeting wasn't dull though, nuh uh. I'd tell you more but then I'd have to kill you. And about 500 people read this blog a day so that's be mass murder. Not cool.

That night my girlfriend Liz was taking me out to see some of the city's best bars. We started our journey at Gingerboy, ordering up shared dishes including the prawn and ginger dumplings with chinese red vinegar, crispy chilli salt cuttlefish with lemon and roasted sesame, and the steamed silken tofu with asian mushrooms and xo sauce. Delish. We washed that down with a bottle of pinot noir. This might be an opportune time for me to mention that I didn't used to be a red wine drinker. NOT because I didn't love the stuff (because I do), I just don't love the purple lips and teeth stains that come with it. But it's almost winter, and it was cold, and I was craving a red, so I just figured that Melbourne could put up with my berry stained face for one night. Long story short (rare for me) Liz tells me the lighter the red wine, the less it will stain, so pinot noir became my new best friend.

Next up was my request, a beautiful rooftop bar called Siglo. Legendary booze (specifically wine) connoisseur Stuart Gregor took me there once so I know it's good. Nowhere in Australia does rooftop bars like Melbourne. Seriously. I didn't get there this time 'round but Madame Brussels is a favourite rooftop spot too. Why aren't there more rooftop bars in Sydney? Hmm... I could be onto something... This is Liz and I, and our Amaretto Sours...

Sorry but the rest of the night was a bit of a blur. We ventured to The Toff for a cider. That was cool. Next up was Secret Garden in St Kilda. Pretty sweet there too. We took the opportunity to jump up on a coffee table here for some Beach Haus inspired antics. Fun times. That got me geared up for some d-floor action at Boutique. I'm sorry but I'm an 80s baby. ANYWHERE in Australia that plays 80s music gets a big tick in my little black book of fun. I had to drag Liz there, kicking and screaming. But she came, bless.

Onward to One Six One where downstairs reminded me very much of Ruby Rabbit ground floor in the good ol' days, before it was turned into a diner. This was where I smashed my head into the plate glass door. I swear it came out of nowhere! Nowhere I tell you! It was so bloody heavy and thick I'm surprised it left me standing. But it did. With a little egg on my forehead that Liz refused to acknowledge because she was too drunk to see straight. I made her feel it in the morning when I woke with a pounding headache.

I'm going to leave our last stop off the list because I do NOT recommend it, not unless you've had twenty pingas (then I'm sure it'd be awesome). Liz likes it because she likes "minimal" music. Spew. Give me Bieber any day. You can see the website HERE but it has no pics because pics would probably do it far too much justice.

On Saturday we went for breakky (does 1pm still count as breakfast?) at little place called The Lawson Grove Shop. I probably shouldn't be telling you about it 'cause it's one of those secret places with kick ass food that you can always get a table at. I was never great at keeping secrets. I ordered their equivalent of a big breakky which was yummo, but if you go for lunch you MUST MUST MUST order this fricken' orgasmic pork sandwich thingy...

I noticed a big trend in Melbourne too, red and navy plaid. Hmm awkward much?

After breakky/lunch/whatever you wanna call it, I had some more time to kill while Soph (on the left) had her hair did, so I raped my credit card once again and picked up some heels from Zomp, a belt from Scanlan & Theodore, and a top from Olrik.

After that it was time for my facial at The Lyall. It looked like a beautiful place to stay, but my visit was only 75 mins, bummer. The facial was bliss. What I remember of it anyway. I fell asleep about five minutes in and woke myself up flinching about half way through. There's something magical about facials and massages. You have someone's soft hands all over you and get to completely zone out. Reminds me of something else... G-rated! G-rated Sara! I was in a comatose state then so we ordered possibly the best baked ricotta gnocchi I have ever tasted from Rococo in Hawthorn, and ate in.

Sunday we went for lunch at Stokehouse in St Kilda. I'd been to dinner upstairs in the past but we opted for casual dining downstairs in the Beach Bar & Grill and it did not disappoint. We started with the softshell crab with chilli, garlic and salsa verde and also a carpaccio of salmon with capers. Both beaut. For mains I ordered the risotto of prawn and confit fennel and Liz ordered the lamb backstrap with zucchini scarpece and blasamic, but dish of the day went to Soph who ordered the pumpkin and amaretti tortellini with sage and burnt butter. I had major order envy. The menu should've said it was oversized tortellini because I order anything that's oversized. It's a novelty. Here's a pic...

After our late, long lunch we trekked off to Global Studios for a live episode of Dancing With The Stars. That was a lot of fun and even Liz, who is the furtherest thing from a commercial/mainstream/pop culture kid you could imagine, seemed to enjoy it (she'd never tell me otherwise though). I hit the hay early and before I knew it was waking up to my 6am alarm for a flight back to Syd. Don't worry Melbourne, I'll be back to eat more of your fine food and drink at another long list of your bars soon...

FUCK YEAH FLURO!

2011-05-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

Okay one last post for the day! And that will be the end of Fashion Week I promise!

But... I said it yesterday on twitter and now I want to scream it out loud... Fuck yeah fluro!!

There has been a LOT of it on the runway at RAFW and I couldn't be happier. There were accents of it at Camilla & Marc, my client Bless'ed Are The Meek featured it, and last night Josh Goot went gangbusters with it. THEN, Who What Wear Daily hits my inbox and voila!

As you can see below, I'm a huge fan of fluro from way back. This is a trend I will be embracing with wide open arms. This was at Shore Thing circa 2008...

THE ROSEMOUNT BAR

2011-05-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Following on from my post about the discovery of Rosemount Botanicals, I thought I'd give you a sneak peek inside the Rosemount Bar at RAFW...

Sitting on the rooftop of the Overseas Passenger terminal, you can image the view too. The Opera House to one side, Circular Quay and The Rocks to the other. It's pretty spesh. And here's that darn incredible Sauvignon Blanc which I'm going to sneak in a glass of pre or post Bowie show this afternoon...

Top job by NAC and big thanks to the hospitable Simon Willis.

ALEX PERRY'S CUBAN PRINCESS

2011-05-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

Also this week at RAFW, I went to check out Alex Perry.

Alex is the King of, well, I'd like to say he's the King of haute couture in Australia but, as the fashion pack know, even though haute couture by definition is French for "high dressmaking" and the creation of high-quality custom-fitted clothing, it is actually a protected name by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and the French fashion industry governing body (the name of which I cannot pronounce) must officially enlist the design house if they're to be referred to as haute couture. They pretty much have to meet these standards:

Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings
Have an atelier in Paris that employs at least 15 people full-time
Each season (i.e. twice a year) present a collection to the Paris press, comprising of at least 35 looks for both daytime and evening wear

Anyway, that's a little off track but though you may find it interesting to know. Now, back to AP. His collection, Cuban Princess, was gorgeous. You wouldn't expect anything less. Here are some standout designs...

If the middle dress looks familiar that's because it was worn by Esther Anderson to the Logies last week. See the one to the right? They call it a cut away neckline but I call it reverse racerback. I love a racerback. Why? Because they suit girls (like me) with smaller busts. I find that they tend to enhance toned arms and I absolutely love a clearly defined and visible clavicle. That's your collar bone, in case you're wondering. I always loved the word clavicle in PE. There I go again...

With colours in the collection including tamale red, curacao blue, pomegranate, blood orange and pepper, it makes makes me want to drag a daybed poolside in the Caribbean and order a fruit platter and some delicious cocktails. Mmm... cocktails...

Ahem! Concentrate Sara. But it's so hard, it's Friday! Here are some more of my pretty faves...

BLESS'ED RAFW DEBUT A FAR CRY FROM MEEK

2011-05-05T02:41:00.000-07:00

Okay so my fashion client, Bless'ed Are The Meek (pronounced bless-ed), took to the runway at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week on Tuesday. It was their first RAFW appearance so they chose to show as part of the Ready To Wear group show.

The collection, A Persian Lust, was killer. It's such an easy, wearable range (as are all of their collections) and they're stocked in David Jones so it's very accessible ladies! Here are a couple of looks from the show...

Our front row fans were Gracie Otto, Emma Booth, April Rose Pengilly, Annalise Braakensiek, Didier Cohen and Nacho Pop... all hot young things, very reflective of the label.

Kicking off the show was an incredible film by the very talented Alex Goddard and featuring one super stunning Avril Alexander. The show was also the first solo styled show for Creative Director Bex Sheers. Check it out HERE!

Bless'ed sent 15 looks down the runway with the final show-stopper being modelled by Alexander herself.

Pics by Tito Media

THE DEATH OF DETOX & DISCOVERY OF ROSEMOUNT BOTANICALS

2011-05-04T23:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I broke detox.

Yes, I am disappointed. Yes, I genuinely thought I was going to make it!

But hey, let's not dwell on the negative, let's focus on the positive here! And there is a positive, believe it or not. I found the World's Best Wine. To help explain how this came about, read the transcript of my thought process below...

Scene: Rosemount Bar at Fashion Week - meeting friends before a show

Day: Monday 2 May

Time: Approx. 11am

My thought process: Ohhhhh I see Rosemount has a new wine range, Botanicals. Pity the Sav Blanc is only available in that Botanical flavour. If you don't want the Botanicals Sauv Blanc you can opt for non-Botanicals Chardonnay. Yuck. Anyway, I'm on detox, woo!

Scene: Rosemount Bar at Fashion Week - after client's show

Day: Tuesday 3 May

Time: Approx. 5pm

My thought process: Amazing show! Now, time to write a post show release while my photographer loads the pics onto a USB for me. Screw the media room, that place is a shit fight! Hmm... the Rosemount Bar! [Heads off to Rosemount Bar. Pulls up a chair and table in the corner. Enter sexy bartender offering wine.] Ohhhh why not? I've been working hard. It'll take the edge off and help me write quicker. Hmm, Chardonnay? Yuck. I'll try the Botanicals Sauv Blanc. Mmm, delish! Sip slowly Sara! A drip feed is all you're getting, you're on detox!

Scene: Rosemount Bar at Fashion Week - missed a show

Day: Wednesday 4 May

Time: Approx. 4pm

My thought process: Damn it! Since when does Fashion Week run on time? It IS the end of the day. I HAVE been working hard. Lie. I've been in client meetings and shows all day. RUBY wants to stay. SHE has been working hard. WE deserve a drink. [Heads off to Rosemount Bar. Finds bunch of friends. Bondi boys. And Juzzy. Love her.]
Definitely staying, definitely having a drink. All I can think about is that Sauv Blanc. MUST. FIND. BOTANICALS. SAUV. BLANC. [One. Two. Three later.] Time to head back to Bondi, shower and rug up. Or should I go to Burrito and Revolver with everyone?
Hmm...

Hahaha I was never good with temptation. BUT! I didn't go out. Thankfully, because everyone who did is in a world of pain today. Not me! Nuh uh! Winning!

Anyway, back to the little wonder potion! I googled it, and here's what I found...

"The floral and tropical aromas of this Botanical Sauvignon Blanc are lifted by a delicate lemon sensation and balanced by the spicy herbal influence of elderflower. A light and refreshing style with generous flavour and balanced sweetness on the palate."

I stole that from the Dan Murphy's website where it costs around $15 a pop.

My translation...

Rosemount Botanicals Sauvignon Blanc infused with lemon and elderflower is ridic. You'll find yourself at the bottom of the bottle within the hour because it tastes like lemonade and goes down just as easy (I blame that on the elderflower). It's chic, modern day Passion Pop. West Coast Coolers eat your heart out.

Try it, and thank me later.

"THE IMPORTANCE OF DETOXING" BY JESSICA AINSCOUGH

2011-05-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

Up until a few years ago, my beautiful friend Jess was one of my party pals. That was, until she was diagnosed with cancer. This is her contribution to my blog about the importance of detoxing...

I have had a long, complex and, up until just over a year ago, faithful relationship with alcohol. We fell in love when I had my first taste of a West Coast Cooler aged 14. Things got really heated when I was 15, 16 and 17, during the period my parents regretfully tout as “Jessica’s Binge-Drinking Phase.” What parent doesn’t like being called by the coppers while they’re in fancy dress at a toga party after their daughter has just been arrested for underage drinking in public? And resisting arrest?

When I turned 18 and was legally permitted to drink, we had a slight (and I mean slight) cooling off period. I was in my first year of uni, had a steady boyfriend, and liked to stay home and play house. But then when things with the boyfriend ended, alcohol and I picked up right where we left off, and we welcomed a few other recreational substances into the relationship.

After I finished uni and moved to Sydney to start my first real job as a social reporter for Nine to Five magazine, my courtship with booze matured. I was introduced to the wonderful world of complimentary champagne and cocktails and started drinking four or five nights a week. I still managed to make it to work the next day though (apart from one particularly fun party thrown by Social Diary where I threw up on the way to work and was forced to turn around and go home). It didn’t matter how trollied I got the night before, work was priority. Plus, there wasn’t usually anything a greasy bacon and egg roll couldn’t fix.

This all feels like it was another lifetime ago, and if you saw the way I live now you would swear I’m talking about someone else all together. Someone like my close friend and former party pal, Sara. Or one of the countless other PR and media people living the dream and feeding themselves a diet of champagne and canapés on the social circuit. This was me, until I was forced to change.

In 2008 I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and after realising that the only way to reverse and manage my disease was by overhauling my diet and lifestyle, I had to start living very differently. As much fun as it is to reminisce about the good old days, the point of this post is to alert you to the importance of detoxing your body.

We all have issues with our health, whether they come in the form of cancer, some other diagnosis or even something as seemingly unimportant as bad skin or constipation. I come across so many people who have trouble pooping. And if you can’t raise your hand for anything now, chances are you will in the future. That is unless you perk up, listen to what I have to say and start treating your body with the respect it deserves and needs to carry you through to your grey-hair years.

Don’t freak out, I’m not going to tell you to stop drinking or to give up all of your favourite foods. I’m also not going to recommend doing a two, three or even seven day detox where you would usually go back to indulging in old habits straight after. There’s no point in that. I’m just going to give you some tips and hints for balancing the bad with a whole lot more good. These are things you can integrate into your daily routine, so that when you do indulge it won’t be so bad. Your liver, kidneys and other vital organs will be given the support they need to cope with the myriad of unpleasant substances forced upon them. Doing things every day to cleanse your body will provide you with more energy, reduced headaches, weight loss, clearer skin, less bloating and a clearer, more focused mind. Among many, many other benefits.

Here are some things you can do to help clear out the gunk:

· 1. CHOOSE WINE. Particularly organic or biodynamic wine with no added sulfites. Wine is a lot easier on the liver than hard liquor like rum and tequila. Your next best bet is vodka.

· 2. EAT MORE WHOLE FOODS. You will eliminate a whole host of liver-straining toxins from your diet by switching from processed and packaged food-like substances to fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains. It may take a little longer to prepare, but there is a bigger price to pay for convenience than you may think.

· 3. START YOUR DAY WITH A TEASPOON OF ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR IN WARM WATER. The unique acids in apple cider vinegar can bind to toxins and help the body eliminate them more effectively. Another way apple cider vinegar aids detoxification is by breaking up mucus throughout the body and cleansing the lymph nodes to allow for better lymph circulation.

· 4. TAKE A MILK THISTLE SUPPLEMENT. This herb has awesome detoxifying and liver protective qualities. Research has shown that Milk Thistle can protect against some severe liver toxins.

· 5. DRINK DANDELION/CHICORY ROOT TEA. This stuff is so good for your liver. It stimulates the flow of bile (a good thing when it comes to helping your liver out), acts as a blood purifier, decreases inflammation and cleanses the kidneys.

· 6. LOAD YOUR PLATE WITH PLANTS. All of the important, liver-nourishing nutrients your body needs come from plants. Particularly cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, radishes and green leafy veggies like spinach, bok choy, kale and mustard greens.

· 7. DRINK FRESH VEGIE JUICES AND SMOOTHIES. The easiest way to inject your system with a nice, big dose of detoxifying nutrients is through fresh juices and smoothies. With juices the fibre is removed and with smoothies it is broken down, so the nutrients are delivered practically straight into your blood stream.

· 8. SOURCE A GOOD QUALITY VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENT. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant for the liver and it reduces toxic damage caused by chemical overload. It also helps the liver to regulate cholesterol levels and improves immunity. It is much better to get vitamin C from our food, but because this important nutrient is destroyed by heat, many of us are deficient. Bottled, pasteurised OJ doesn’t count I’m afraid.

· 9. LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON YOUR SKIN. Commercial cosmetics and self-care products are usually loaded with toxic chemicals, all of which are absorbed through your skin, scalp and nails and are delivered into your blood stream and through to your liver. These are added poisons we just don’t need. Try to source certified organic, all natural products.

· 10. MAKE FRIENDS WITH COFFEE ENEMAS. Enemas are nothing to fear, so you can go ahead and unclench your butt cheeks. Coffee enemas are probably the best and most efficient way to detoxify your liver. Click HERE for more enema information.

Bio: Jessica Ainscough is a Sunshine Coast based writer, blogger and holistic health coach. She is the founder of the online natural health sanctuary, The Wellness Warrior (www.thewellnesswarrior.com.au). In her spare time, Jess can be found on her yoga mat, on her meditation stool, at her juicer or in the bathroom.

100 DAY DETOX

2011-05-02T03:11:00.000-07:00

I started detox on Tuesday 26 April 2011. The detox was an idea initially agreed on by me and my good friend Matt Saville. Matty and I both work for Beach Haus. I do their PR, he DJs there, and we both do a fantastic job of destroying ourselves until at least 4am most weekends. We both wanted to change for the better.

Further down the track, another chap I know challenged me to make it 100 days of detox with him. I accepted, on the condition I received three "pass outs". Why three? Roughly one for each month. Really? Because I already had three occasions lined up that I'd require them for. My girlfriends said I was setting myself up to fail because they doubted it was possible. I didn't understand why they thought it was so unrealistic, until I actually sat down and worked out just how much alcohol I drank.

On any given week I would consume an average of around 20-30 standard drinks. Mid-week my evenings consist of work events, social occasions, dinners, birthdays, catch-ups, and meetings. And if I have the odd night off, I think nothing of cracking open a bottle of wine or a cider and enjoying it at home. Add to that my weekend benders and you've got yourself the healthy little appetite of an alcoholic (I'm not really, but it sounds like it).

I don't drink destructively. I know this because I don't wake up wanting to slit my wrists or hating my life. I do, however, get angry with myself for wasting a whole morning sleeping! I don't get messy either, I should point that out. Okay I love to pretend the coffee tables at Beach Haus are my own private podiums, but I can still balance on their slippery 30cm surface which says a lot! (That I have incredible balance, perhaps?) I really just enjoy the taste of alcohol and the social element of drinking.

Anyway that said, last week my dear friend Liz sent me this for a laugh...

I don't smoke by the way! Ew!

Enter, detox...

It's Day 8 for me today and so far I've had just one Cosmopolitan and two Smirnoff Mules (at a music festival when I thought I was going to use a "pass out" but ended up deciding against it), a Bloody Mary (accidentally, because I actually asked for a Virgin Mary!) and a glass of Chandon (come on, it was a baby shower and even the mum-to-be had one in her hand!). We're still firming up the rules of the 100 Day Detox but I'm pretty sure if I donate $100 to our chosen charity (to be decided) then they don't count. That's what I'm sticking with anyway...

THE ART OF HAPPINESS

2011-04-28T23:43:00.000-07:00

I get told all the time that I'm always happy. And I am. Not the fake oh-my-god-look-at-me-and-my-amazing-life-it's-like-totally-awesome-I-am-unreal-and-I-have-the-best-life-ever kind of happiness (cue everyone else feeling inadequate), I am genuinely happy about 98% of the time.

No kidding, an ex boyfriend bought me this book when we first met

I definitely haven't always been like this.

Three years ago a crew of my closest friends and I travelled Europe together. We were sitting in a restaurant in Ibiza and I don't recall how the conversation came about, but basically what stemmed from it was their fascination with my inability to show feelings, emotion, sensitivity, or say the word "love" with seriousness. In hindsight I put this down to an extremely tough breakup which I completely turned off after. At the time I thought that was just me. Recent boyfriends would probably argue that's still me.

Now, I know there are countless books about how to be happy. This isn't an excerpt. This is just me, taking a moment to think about how I do it. And sharing it with you so that even if it helps just one of you, that's going to make me even happier!

For starters, I'm optimistic. I choose to be optimistic. I choose to see the silver lining. I choose to see the glass half full. I choose to see light at the end of the tunnel, even when it's not visible yet. Why? Because there is always a solution to a problem. It may take a lot of time, energy and a bunch of other problem-solving skills to work out, but there will be a solution. The issue for some people is that they refuse to look past the problem and find the solution. This applies to work and personal life for me. When a problem arises, don't focus your attention on it because it will only harbour negativity. My dad always reminds me "control what you can control". How many times do you say, or have you heard someone else say, "If only I hadn't..." or "If only that hadn't happened..." Don't dwell on the problem, it's now in the past, let it go! Now, what's the solution? How can you turn the negative into a positive?

When one of my closest friends (Jess) was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, suddenly, my problems seemed insignificant. Boy troubles? No biggie. Bad day at the office? Pft. Compare this to dealing with cancer in your daily life. Jess goes through this same thought process. For her, an episode of Oprah usually reminds her that there are other people worse off. Putting your life in perspective is a great thing because it reminds you that, no matter how bad you think you have it, someone always has it tougher than you. In turn, you learn to appreciate and be grateful for the things in life you do have.

I asked Jess why she thinks I'm generally so happy and she says it's because I don't seem to have any insecurities. I do, trust me. I just think I'm good at ignoring them! Nothing positive comes from having insecurities. If people don't like you the way you are, move on. Have faith in yourself and be confident that you're doing the best you can to be the best person you can be. While it's normal to have insecurities, it's how you choose to deal with them that determines if it's your insecurities that are making you unhappy. It's amazing how much confidence you can gain when you let go of your insecurities. And be able to laugh at yourself! Kick Serious Sally to the kerb and have a good ol' laugh about something stupidly silly. Be a complete clown, as I'm affectionately referred to by one good friend.

I surround myself with positive people. I have no time for Negative Nancy or Alexander Downer. You've probably met them at some stage. At breakfast they probably told you about how their dishwasher broke and their favourite top ran in the wash. Your lunch conversation probably consisted of how their boss is a jerk, they never have enough money, and their car got a flat tyre. By dinner time you probably look at your phone with their number popping up and have enough sense to screen it. I mean seriously, be grateful you have a dishwasher, nice clothes, a job and own a car!

Now don't get me wrong, everyone has bad days, and bad life experiences. And I know what that feels like too. Waking up and not wanting to get out of bed. Ever. Realising it's dinner time (all you feel like is a piece of toast) and you haven't eaten breakfast or lunch yet (and not because you've been busy all day). Remember Carrie in the Sex & The City movie when Big brushes the wedding? She's sitting in Mexico and says, "Will I ever laugh again?" We've all been there. And you're allowed to visit that place whenever you like. It's your life and you can choose how you want to feel. But, well, life is just a lot nicer in Happyland.

This is my outlook :)

GUEST BLOG

2011-04-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

I have done a guest post today for my beautiful friend Jess Ainscough, founder and creator of The Wellness Warrior. Jess also taught me how to blog. I love her. Dearly.

You can read my piece HERE.

I hope you enjoy it!

MY PATH TO PR

2011-04-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

Ever feel as though you want to do/achieve a million things in this lifetime and are disheartened when you realise you won't be able to? Not because you're not talented enough, but because we only have a limited time in this life? And life is short. The problem with high achievers is that we're never satisfied. Yes, I'm calling myself a high achiever. This affects our personal life sometimes too. We're always searching for the next challenge, what will stretch our minds, push us beyond our capabilities and comfort zones, and what is next to conquer? When will we ever be satisfied?

From the very start of high school I was adamant I wanted to be an architect because I had an absurd fascination with houses and their structures. By year 11 I was sure I was going to be a school teacher, I even did a week's work experience as an Art Teacher at a high school on the Sunshine Coast. It was boring, and art is so subjective which I didn't feel suited someone so opinionated. So when it came time to apply for uni courses I had no fucking idea. (Don't even mention the idea of not going to uni, because that was never going to happen. I was always going to uni, I just didn't know what I was going to do.) So I did what anyone (and it seems everyone) did in this predicament, found the most general courses and applied for them! For anyone not in the know, they are Arts and Business degrees (Science students loved to make fun of us).

I have always been incredibly inquisitive. Even now, if someone uses a word in conversation that I haven't heard before or that I don't know the meaning of, I'm first to ask "what does that mean?" Either that or I whip out my crackberry and google it. So it didn't take long to find a little direction and I started off taking journalism subjects because I thought I'd make a great sports reporter. Around this time PR was becoming increasingly popular (they even introduced a major in it by the time I graduated) so I took a few of those classes too. My grades in the PR subjects were abolishing those in journalism, and to top it off one day a journalism tutor told me if I wanted to break into the industry I'd need to be prepared to work 100 hour weeks, get paid peanuts, and have no life, for at least a few years. Um, okay... Call me Gen Y here but no thanks! A few months after that I started dating a sports person who was dead against me being a journalist. Mind made up. Weak I know, but when I'm in love I'll move mountains. Or move to Sydney, as I did.

Changing universities isn't easy but I managed to find a loophole called Cross-Institutional Study which meant that I didn't have to transfer my entire degree and risk losing some subjects being counted. It meant that I completed subjects at the new university and the grades were sent back to my host university. All I had to do was write a letter to the Head of Faculty and plead my case. If you know me, you know how convincing I can be.

In the last six months of my degree I did an internship and, at the end of the internship an Admin/PR Assistant role came up. The Owner/Director said it was mine if I wanted it, but that in her opinion I'd get bored and I needed/deserved more. I love her to this day for giving me that advice and confidence.

After this I struggled to find a job. I don't pity all of the young ones out there hoping to crack into the industry. I had a degree and was incredibly determined and even I found it difficult. I had a job offer in Brisbane but was at least a year into a relationship that I really didn't want to end. I told my boyfriend I was giving myself one month and if I didn't get a job I'd move back to Queensland short term until I had some more experience.

Less than two weeks later I had landed it. On one condition. That I lose my "Queensland accent". WTF? Haha it was quite funny at the time. I wasn't aware I HAD a Queensland accent. What WAS a Queensland accent? Well now I know. From that point it was onward and upward.

Going back to my intro... I think we will find satisfaction. In everyday happiness. Once we stop putting the pressure on ourselves to fit everything we think we are capable of into the one lifetime, we'll learn to appreciate what we have achieved already. And arguably more importantly, the people we love and have had the privilege of sharing our lives with on the journey.

"ORGANISED SOUND" BY ERIC GROTHE JNR

2011-04-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

I heart Eric. He is one of the ugliest men I know. He's 6 ft something, dark hair, big brown eyes, megawatt smile, you get the picture. His heinous appearance aside though, he's actually incredibly funny. Not funny as in slapstick. Funny as in witty. He's intelligent and he uses his intelligence in his humour, which I find just brilliant. I hope you enjoy hearing his thoughts as much as I do...

Pic courtesy of Pepper Ingham

Organised sound. It's everywhere. In everything. It soothes. It heals. It provokes emotions. It adds to a visual. It sparks memories. I could go on forever... and I will!!

Everything that's happened in my life thus far has a soundtrack attached to it. I'm positive I'm not alone on this one. Music's effects are both obvious and subliminal.

I'll never forget my 4th birthday. Mum and dad bought me a drum kit (idiots!!) and I bashed them 'til they were broken. My blisters were like flesh wounds because I'd continually play the opening drum beat of the Twisted Sister's tune "We're not gonna take it" (me: you MUST look at the hilarious 80s video clip for this HERE). It was the best "toy" I'd ever owned. Mum was stoked as it meant her pots and pans were now safe.

That drum kit taught me rhythm. A skill that would later help me a lot in life, even in my career as a sports person. And now, I'm completely obsessed with music. I must admit that in some ways that isn't always a positive thing. I've been out at night and a great song will come on and suddenly that's all I can think about. The Queen herself could be telling me about a three day bender she went on with Jim Morrison and it just wouldn't matter. In actual fact, I'd be dirty on her for gas bagging and ruining my moment... the old bag... (If you're reading this Queen... sorry... but seriously... stop talking during a cool song)...

Only in the last decade have I been brutally honest with my music taste. I don't care if it's not cool to like a song (me: true, Eric carves up the d-floor to Tik Tok by Ke$ha) after all, we are not the boss of our ears!! (me: clearly, or you would tell them you fucking hate Ke$ha and I would tell mine I hate Bieber). They like what they like. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, in a world so full of hate and plastic values, we need to make time to immerse ourselves in something that consumes us for the better!

At a time when nobody is sure of what's around the corner for us (and for our planet for that matter) now more than ever we need to be able to press the pause button on the mayhem in our lives and "live in the moment" (me: Carpe Diem kids). Take the time to shut your eyes and feel your favourite song. It's great for the soul and paints masterpieces in our minds.

Sting says that when he shuts his eyes and listens to pieces from Bach and Beethoven, he sees enormous architectural structures of fantastic complexity. Keith Richards says that he believes every piece of music is already out there in the universe and, as songwriters, we just reach out and borrow them. Personally, I see unexplainable shapes and colours that no words in our vocabulary could possibly begin to explain (me: did you take acid at the same time?). All I know is that I don't feel right if I haven't heard it each day.

So tune out and tune in people, music is therapy for the soul. Below, in no particular order (me: actually they are Eric, I put them in alphabetical order according to track title, because I'm anal like that), are five older songs out of thousands of other amazing songs that I've been listening to lately. Turn 'em up loud!!

1. Ants in the kitchen - Masters Of Reality

2. Diamonds and Pearls - Prince

3. Love in an elevator - Aerosmith
4. Love will find a way - Yes
5. Ramble on - Led Zeppelin

Here's a kick ass track by Eric's band, Shinobi...

And here's some funny stuff he did for The Matty Johns Show last year...

30 BARS IN 30 DAYS

2011-03-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

In 2010 I was approached by Sun-Herald columnist Amy Cooper to assist with a spanking new initiative she was pioneering, called Parched March. A month-long celebration of Sydney's unique bar culture and vibrant nightlife, Parched March began as a journey for Amy and and former Bartender magazine Deputy Ed, Simon McGoram.

The month-long odyssey saw them visit 30 different bars in 30 days and on the 31st day we threw them a big bash to mark the end of the first ever Parched March.

You see, the hospitality industry cops the brunt of increasing anti-alcohol initiatives such as FebFast, Dry July and Ocsober, so as a lifestyle publicist who represents various bars and clubs, Parched March is something that I really wanted to champion. Plus, all of the funds raised are donated to various animal charities. Win.

In 2011, there are 10 ambassadors/teams all aiming to hit the mark by visiting 30 bars in 30 days, one of which is me, The Cocktail Crusader.

My journey began last night on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, at a beautiful little spot called Marble Bar at Sunshine Beach. It doesn't have a website but trust me, it's good. Intimate, chic decor, surf footage on the flat screen, good talent (Stephen Curry, James Tobin and Daniel Macpherson have all visited recently) and the owner tells me they won an award for Best Casual Dining Restaurant. Delish.

Now, in order to ensure I also promote drinking [reasonably] responsibly, my aim is to sample the one cocktail from the menu that jumps out at me the most. Last night it was the 'Frenchmen'. Mmm.. such a tasty little treat.. like liquid Cherry Ripe in a martini glass (raspberry vodka, parfait amour, cassis, strawberries, lime, apple juice). Highly recommended. Gold Star. Most of all, a great start to Parched March 2011.