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ashleighjade05 · 5 years

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HONG KONG 2019 - PAGE 148 HOTEL ♡

At the start of 2019 I had every intention of creating a vision board but it’s just one of those things that I never got around to doing. Instead all the goals that I think about stay locked up in my mind and i’m working in the background in hopes of those goals being achieved. One of those goals was for Alexander and I to be booked for an international job together and that happened sooner than we expected.

In June The Useless Travellers were packing their suitcases and were making their way back to one of their favourite places - HONG KONG to create content for a brand new boutique lifestyle hotel Page 148 in collaboration with APPELLES Apothecary and Lab.

As soon as we arrived at Page 148 we knew it was our kind of hotel. The staff were instantly welcoming, its trendiness was on another level and it was also the first minimalistic hotel that we’ve ever stayed in so you could really appreciate every detail in the decor from the reception area to the rooms.

When we travelled to Hong Kong in 2018 it was mission impossible to find a decent coffee and when we did find one, it was costing at least $9 AUD a day because we are #COFFEESNOBS. So you can only imagine how relieved we were to find out that in the reception area of Page 148 was their very own artisanal coffeehouse, Page Common. Every morning we would go straight downstairs to Page Common for our morning coffee and sit at their communal table. I love that in Hong Kong everyone sits at the same table, it creates a sense of community and is a great way to connect with new people. By the time we’d go back to our rooms to get ready for the day and go out exploring, the entire place is filled with people sharing the space together.

Now to our room. This was certainly the upgrade from our first experience in Hong Kong when we left it so last minute we only managed to secure a cheap AirBNB that was basically falling apart but we also found it quite hilarious. Let’s just say it had some…character. ANYWAYS….

There are over 7 million people living in Hong Kong which is why there are so many high rise buildings and everyone lives in an apartment and the rooms can be quite small. We were very impressed checking into our Superior Greenery Room at Page 148. It was the perfect size for 2 people and we instantly felt relaxed by the simplicity of the design and not to mention the floor to ceiling windows, that is always our favourite feature at a hotel. Our room looked out to beautiful greenery which we could never get sick of. Every morning I would lay in bed looking out and gazing into the mountains wondering what the day ahead would hold in store for us.

I also have to mention some of the very cool facilities in the room. You know when you upgrade to a new phone and you start discovering all the new features that make your life just that little bit easier? Well that’s what it felt like staying at Page 148. On each bedside we had our own USB powerpoint so there was no fighting over who got to charge their phone first. We made good use out of the Marshall Bluetooth Speaker because most mornings we listen to music while we get ready for our day so we really felt like we were at home. At the end of each day we were always so exhausted and we loved that we could unwind by connecting our YouTube or Netflix accounts to the TV, we haven’t seen this in ANY hotel before so this really impressed us.

Thankfully for this trip I knew that I didn’t have to pack the main bathroom amenities like moisturiser, body wash, shampoo or conditioner because our room was complete with APELLES Apothecary and Lab products. You may recognise APPELLES as it’s an Australian brand and their products contain essential oils and the highest of quality ingredients to ensure your hair and skin is kept clean, healthy and hydrated which is always a must especially when travelling. Oh and of course their range of products are all paraben free, not tested on animals and all their packaging is recyclable. I was lucky enough to be gifted a travel pack and a take home kit which we have nearly used all up.

Page 148 Hotel is located in Tsim Sha Tsui which is an urban area in southern Kowloon. There are cafes, restaurants, shops and nightlife surrounding the hotel so there is always so much to do and explore and the MTR is close by which makes navigating your way around very easy. The staff are very knowledgable and can also give you a wifi pack to take with you so you don’t get lost. They seriously think of EVERYTHING! I also want to mention how HONEST the staff were. After breakfast one morning Alex left his go pro and attachments on the table, we took off, went for a walk around the block, came back and they straight away told us we left something very important behind. If they didn’t say anything, it would have taken us a few days to realise it was all missing. So THANK YOU!

We stayed for a total of 4 nights which was more than enough for us, before moving to the main island for our final two nights. I would give our stay - ♥♥♥♥ hearts out of ♡♡♡♡♡

Everything was honestly perfect but we did find ourselves travelling to the main island for most days, add the humidity and the 20,000 + steps you’re doing each day it became quite exhausting. If we were in Hong Kong for a relaxing holiday, then we probably would have stayed put and explored Kowloon a lot more. That’s something I regret doing is not researching the area more and finding its hidden gems.

Check out Page 148 Hong Kong on their: ♡ Website ♡ Instagram ♡ Facebook Tip: Book directly on their website because you are guaranteed the best deal and a pop up usually appears on the screen for complimentary breakfast with your stay.

#hong kong #hong kong accomodation #the useless travellers #ashleigh jade #ashleigh munro smith #ashleigh howell #Lifestyle Blogger #boutique hotel #hong kong hotel

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ashleighjade05 · 5 years

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TICKLED PINK WITH MINKPINK ♡

When one of my favourite brands reached out to me earlier this year and asked if I wanted to work with them in 2019, you can only imagine my excitement that they even came across little ole me’s profile.

MINKPINK is one of those brands that has something for everybody. I love that just one piece of their clothing can be styled in so many different ways and you can get so much wear out of each item.

I’ve been wanting a pair of ‘mum jeans’ and these Locals Scandal Jeans were a perfect fit. It’s the first time i’ve owned a pair of high waisted jeans that are actually high waisted on me. The legs are fairly slim so the jeans don’t look or feel too baggy. I’ve worn them about 5 times already and they haven't stretched or lost their shape.

Some of you saw me wearing the top and blazer when I was chatting away on my Instagram Stories during the week and NEEDED to know where it was from. Well this is the whole outfit in full.

The Duchess Deep Scoop Crop that i’m wearing is a size 8 but I probably could have gotten away with going up a size as it’s slightly stretched across my TigOleBitties.

There is a matching skirt to the Misbehave Jacket which I think worn together will have super cute ‘Clueless’ vibes. I also have a feeling that matching sets are going to be BIG this year!

Now here’s the exciting part! MINKPINK are giving 5 lucky gals the chance to win an Easter Wardrobe worth $500. All you have to do is make a purchase on minkpinkworld.com before the 19th of April and you’ll receive a pink ticket in your order. If your ticket is hot pink then CONGRATULATIONS! You’re 1 of 5 winners of a $500 Easter Wardrobe. If your ticket is light pink, then that’s a-otaaaaay because you’ll receive a special discount code to use on your next order. I would love to see one of you girls win. If you do happen to place an order, you’ll have to let me know what colour ticket you get. Eeeeeeek!!! BEST OF LUCK! xx

♡ Ashiie xx

#MINKPINK #Ashleigh Jade #Perth Influencer #Perth Blogger #Australian Label #australian brand #alex howell photography #fremantle #perth #perth is ok #perth photographer

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ashleighjade05 · 6 years

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WHAT I WORE IN HONG KONG ♡

My wardrobe selection for my Hong Kong trip was a lot more organised than previous holidays and I can’t tell you enough how relieving that was. For once it felt like I had something together in my life.

I knew nothing about the fashion in Hong Kong so I went on Pinterest to get some inspiration. I decided to go with mainly a pastel colour scheme and began ordering pieces online to create my wardrobe capsule. As my orders gradually arrived, I hung them straight up on a separate clothes rail I have and wrote down in notes on my phone which outfits i’ll wear on what day (depending on the activity/weather). I really enjoyed doing this! It also meant I wouldn’t over pack or have the dreaded “what am I going to wear?” scenario. The only thing I ran out of was underwear..oops!

After my usual “Good Morning Instagram” stories, I would receive a lot of messages asking where my outfits were from so I promised to get a blog post up as soon as i’m home. So let’s get straight into it. PS - Accessories and discount codes will be at the end x

DAY 1 - Walking the streets. Of course our luggage didn’t arrive with us because a trip wouldn’t be complete without a story from The Useless Travellers to tell. Thankfully it was there at the hotel in the morning when we woke up. We were just going to roam the streets to take it all in until we were able to check into our Air BnB so I opted for a basic white tee and denim skirt. The tee comes in 4 colours, are great quality and wash REALLY well so i’ll be buying all 4. Caasi Boutique Tee here (other colours available) // Pockets Clothing Skirt here

DAY 2 - Hello Kitty Secret Garden and Victoria Peak This was probably my favourite outfit I wore which i’m sure you can tell by the amount of photos i’ve posted in it. Very light and breathable considering hot damn hot it was that day. I wore a little crop underneath because I didn’t realise how see-through it was going to be. The white espadrilles were SO comfortable I wore them nearly every day, I think i’m going to get sparkly ones next. Cassi Boutique Pants here // Billy J Cami here (other colours available)

DAY 3 - Nan Lian Garden and Choi Hung Estate We met up with a friend of Alex’s on this day so we hadn’t properly planned our activities. If I knew we were going to the gardens I would have worn a softer outfit and packed something separate for Choi Hung Estate. It’s so colourful that a plain outfit would have worked better against the backdrop. The dress I wore was comfortable though and kept me warm when it rained on and off that day. I’m definitely going to get a lot of wear out of it. Something Trendi Boutique Dress here

DAY 4 - Big Buddha on Lantau Island Back to basics because I wanted earthy tones in my images. A long sleeved shirt was a bad choice though because we ended up doing A LOT of walking, I should have packed a singlet. On the plus side I was the only one that didn’t get sun burnt. PS - with the skirt they are quite generous, mine is a size 8 and it’s quite big on me so I need to get a belt, or I may have been able to get a size 6. Cassi Boutique Shirt here // Pockets Clothing Skirt here

DAY 5 - Lok Wah South Estate This day was dedicated purely for visiting all the top Instagram locations and we only made it out to one. It was by far the HOTTEST day we experienced that we got the shots we needed and left before we passed out. Top was a basic cami from Zara // Billy J Pants here

DAY 6 - Ladies Markets I pack a play suit or a jumpsuit on EVERY trip I go on. They’re so comfortable and easy to wear. I couldn’t wait to wear this one and thought it was a fun choice for the colourful and busy ladies markets. Something Trendi Jumpsuit here

DAY 7 - Typhoon Mangkhut A not so glamour day for obvious reasons. Even though we should have stayed in doors we went out exploring and ended up at Graham Street which is famous for their street artwork.

DAY 8 - Strokes Indoor Golf We went here purely for the pink walls then decided to stay and play golf which was SO much fun! I chose my outfit to match the interior but wish I packed a second choice for the rainbow coloured golf course. Cassi Boutique Shirt here // Style Palace Skirt here

DAY 9 - Coffee Hopping and Shopping If there’s anywhere you’re going to get away with wearing gingham styles, it’s in Hong Kong. Pair it with a teddy bear face mask and wallah! You look like you’re off to a teddy bears picnic. Secretly this was another favourite look of mine. Basic White Tee // Pockets Clothing Pinafore Dress here

DAY 10 - Alexander’s Birthday in Macau Outfit repeater (except for the top) because we may have had a late night and I wasn’t feeling too great. The casinos in Macau were cold though so I wish I bought a little jacket with me.

DAY 11 - Disneyland OH MY GOSH IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOO FREAKING HOT ON THIS DAY! Disneyland is literally in the jungle, there was no cloud in sight and the sun was beaming right down on us. My shirt was drenched and I regretted not wearing a cami instead. It also made sense to wear my “Minnie Skirt” for the occasion. I wanted a black bumbag for this outfit but couldn’t find one I liked anywhere. Forever New Basic Tee // Caasi Boutique Skirt here

ACCESSORIES ♡ Straw Hat - Lack of Colour ♡ Pink Hat - Lack of Colour ♡ Amalfi Bracelet - Bianko Jewelry ♡ Pink Glasses - Le Specs ♡ White Glasses - Le Specs ♡ White Espadrilles - El Raco Australia ♡ Rose Gold Sneakers - Holster ♡ Pink Round Bag - Sportsgirl ♡ Pink Mini Backpack - Betts

DISCOUNT CODES ♡ Caasi Boutique - ASHLEIGH10 ♡ Pockets Clothing - ASHLEIGH15 (valid for 48 hours after post goes live) ♡ Something Trendi - ASHLEIGH10 ♡ El Raco Australia - Ashleigh (15% off until 31st October)

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ashleighjade05 · 6 years

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I GOT MY VERY FIRST TATTOO! ♡

I’ve been meaning to share this for a very long time but the wedding and all that jazz got in the way of me having any spare time to put any blog posts together. So here it is.....

Do you remember at the start of the year when I decided to have major dental surgery in the same week that I was having my hens party? Well I also decided to get my eyebrows tattooed amongst a zillion other appointments in between as well.

This decision took a while for me to make. As majority of you all know, I have been a loyal client of Melanie Marris Eyebrow Stylist since 2012. I’m very particular about who I have my beauty treatments with, I like who I like because they’re great at what they do and I build a special bond with them. The MMES brand has exploded internationally and I am so proud of Melanie for reaching this level in her career. Unfortunately our schedules don’t always align with me doing shift work and her running the business behind the scenes to make more magic happen so I wanted a more permanent solution. I sat down with Melanie some time last year, told her I was thinking of having my eyebrows tattooed and we both agreed that if anybody was going to touch my brows, it was going to be Gabi from Gabriella Brow Studio. I know I don't have to explain myself but I felt I had to include this disclaimer so no one makes any other assumptions.

I did A LOT of research before I contacted Gabi and what made her work stand out to me is that the results were very natural and the tattooing looked like it was actually their brow. I spent hours flicking through her Instagram and was impressed by all the work shown. I love looking at before and afters and there’s plenty of examples that show the results months later, even a year. This was important as I didn’t want them to be too dark incase I ever changed my hair colour or i’ve seen others where it can bleed pink or purple into the skin.

I recommend having an initial consult so you can discuss whether the procedure is right for you. You can contact the team at Gabriella Brow Studio and they will provide you with the information you need prior to your appointment then you can go prepared with any questions you need answering. Your consult also includes waxing, tinting and shaping.

My tattooing appointment went for approx 2 hours and I had the touch up appointment 4 weeks later. I spaced it out so that I was able to get a tidy up just before the wedding. Thank goodness for numbing cream. Don’t be shy to say you can feel it, it just means you need to allow the numbing cream to settle a little longer otherwise it’ll feel like little pricks going over your eyebrows. I compare it to nails on a chalk board haha! Sometimes my body only numbs on one side but this only lasted for about 15 minutes, each individual will experience it differently. It didn't hurt though, it just makes you sneeze a lot!

I cannot tell you enough how much of a game changer it is having tattooed eyebrows. Prior to having them, I would still get up earlier just to fill my brows in to go and work out. I would not leave the house without my brows looking on fleek, as i’m sure many of you would understand. Getting ready for work and events now is a breeze and saves so much time. I also see it as an investment. Yes at first it can be quite pricey but the way I justified it was by adding up the cost of having your brows styled and tinted every 4-6 weeks over a year and it works out to be cheaper or on par, depending on how much you pay to have them done.

I find that they’re much easier now to maintain and i’m confident to pluck away any stray hairs that may grow out. Since the wedding in March, i’ve only had one other style and tint appointment which was only a week ago (picture below) and we did henna tint. This has many benefits, it’s a natural product and also last longer on your skin and brow hairs.

This is one of the best beauty decisions I have made. I know the word “tattooing” can be quite daunting, especially on your face but it’s so not like what you’d think it’s going to be. My advice is to please do your research, don’t be afraid to ask questions and be confident with your decision. As always, I am more than happy to answer any further questions you may have.

Check out more of what Gabriella Brow Studio has to offer here. The GBS Instagram account is also one of my favourites to follow. With great content and interesting stories, you can really sense the positive and fun vibe that they share in the studio which is very welcoming.

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ashleighjade05 · 6 years

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A-TEAM WEDDING 2018 ♡

Welcome to the wedding of Alexander and Ashleigh ♡

On Saturday the 10th March 2018 I finally married my partner in crime and the love of my life in an intimate ceremony with our closest friends and family. Every single detail about our wedding day was kept a secret from EVERYONE, including our bridal party. We created a website and an app with all the information our guests needed to book their accommodation and we organised buses to take them to and from the destination. The Secret Garden is a magical venue that we instantly fell in love with. We were originally going to get married overseas but after visiting Margaret River’s Secret Garden, we knew that this was where we needed to say our vows. The day was everything that we could have imagined and more, we both wish we could do it all again!

I know you have all been waiting so patiently for a glimpse at our wedding photos so for now, here is a preview along with all the vendors that we used which will be shared at the bottom with all the links to their websites. The next blog post i’ll share the story of the day and walk you through it, plus answer any questions you may have along with any advice I think others may benefit from. I hope you enjoy these and love them just as much as we do.

♡ Ashleigh, Alexander and Honey xx

As promised, here is a list of all the vendors that we used who all worked together to bring our fairytale to life...

Organisation

♡ Venue - Margaret River’s Secret Garden | Instagram

♡ Coordinating - The Original Wedding Company | Instagram

♡ Styling - The Original Event Company (Sister Company to TOWC)

♡ Hire Items - Hire In Style WA | Instagram & The Tailored Table

♡ Website & App - Appy Couple

♡ Stationary and Signs - Wedding and Colour | Instagram

♡ Table Setting Acrylics - Foote and Flame | Instagram

♡ Bus Company - Gannaways

♡ The Getaway Car - Mercedes Benz Diesel Motors | Instagram

Wedding Party

♡ Dress - Custom Pallas Haute Couture | Instagram

♡ Suits - MJ Bale

♡ Bridesmaids Dresses - Custom Made by Reign The Label

♡ Bridal Party Robes - Lace Robes

♡ Bridal Party Pyjamas - Sleeping With The Enemy

♡ Brides Reception Dress - Custom Made by Reign The Label

Beauty

♡ Hair Stylists - Bo Blonde Hairdressing | Instagram

♡ Makeup Artist - Taylah Jackson Makeup Artistry

♡ Nail Technician - Glamour Nail Bar | Instagram

♡ Skin Treatments - The Skiin Boutique

♡ Brows - Gabriella Brow Studio | Instagram

♡ Spray Tans - Bronzed & Beautiful Spray Tanning in Bella Bronze

♡ Face - Mira Clinic Perth | Instagram

♡ Teeth - Advanced Dental Artistry | Instagram

Talented Vendors

♡ Celebrant - Brooke Amanda | Facebook

♡ Photographer - Adam Levi Browne Photography | Instagram

♡ Videographer - Rolling Stills | Instagram

♡ Masters of Ceremony - Paula Woods & Irene Hopkinson | Instagram

♡ DJ - Zel Basic

♡ Intro into Reception Audio - Martin Lundmark | Script by Ashleigh

♡ Food & Alcohol - Food by the Chef | Instagram

♡ Cake - The Cake & I | Instagram

♡ Flowers - Poppy’s Flowers | Instagram

♡ Wedding Bands - Stefan Diamonds | Instagram Thank you to each and every one of the vendors who were a part of our special day. You were all involved because we fell in love with your talent and after hours of researching, you were the perfect choice! We would highly recommend all of our vendors in a heart beat without hesitation. Again, thank you for being a part of the best day of our lives.

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ashleighjade05 · 6 years

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HONEYMOON (PART 2) ♡

Villa Sal Canggu - THE MOST INSTAGRAMABLE PLACE YOU COULD EVER STAY IN BALI!

Feeling absolutely shattered from the wedding we escaped the next day on a plane to one of our favourite places in the world, Bali. That’s one piece of advice I would give is to go somewhere on a Honeymoon that is relaxing and doesn’t require you to go sight seeing. Weddings absolutely suck the life out of you so allow your body to relax and your mind to unwind. Sounds cliche but you’ll thank me later. When we arrived at Villa Sal it took our breath away!

Firstly, this place is fricken HUGE!!!! The private pool is MASSIVE! It’s half undercover and half outside so you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Our room was the suite with pool view and the bed was absolute bliss! There are 4 bedrooms and could sleep up to 8 people which is perfect if you have a group of friends travelling together. So what do we do when it’s just the two of us and so much room for activities? PHOTOSHOOTS OF COURSE!

I’m not even kidding, every single room and area across this villa is an Instagrammers dream. We made sure to get all the shooting out the way on the first day though so we could actually enjoy our honeymoon. It was so weird because both of us have not stopped since god knows when. We were both sitting by the pool in silence then looked at each other and said “now what?’. I could start to hear my own thoughts clearly again which hadn't happened in a long, long time.

We made best friends with the staff, they are so lovely and will pretty much do anything you need. They were very helpful when we needed to organise taxi’s to go on adventures. If you’re up for riding a scooter, they also had one on site but we opted for the taxi’s. Each morning they prepared breakfast for us and there’s quite a few options to choose from. Yes they cater to vegans and vegetarians too!

Villa Sal is somewhere that we would 100% go back to in the future but with a group of friends. We obviously had the best time together and it was very romantic but with so much space, we felt it was wasted and would love to share it with friends next time so they can experience it too. We stayed for 2 nights which was not enough, we will definitely be back again but for longer.

Now I was unable to find the booking details for the Villa Sal house on their direct website. It only has the information for their other resort which is very similar to this if you were travelling with less people. I managed to find it on Booking.com and there’s a few other websites that have it too. I’ll provide the links below:

♡ Villa Sal Booking.com ♡ Villa Sal Instagram ♡ Sal Secret Spot Website ♡ Sal Secret Spot Facebook

Yes we moved around quite a bit during our time in Bali. We usually do this each time we visit because there’s so much the island has to offer we want to get as much out of it as possible. So next up we moved to a hotel that we’ve always driven past and pointed out how cute the giant upside down red bunnies are. Yep, you know the one... Dash Hotel in Seminyak.

When we arrived to our room i’m not going to lie, I was slightly disappointed as i’d previously seen other people post online in a bigger room that had a lot more space, larger bathroom area and even a big bath tub which I so desperately wanted to enjoy. I built up the courage to go down stairs and ask reception if it’s possible to pay for an upgrade and it was no problem at all. They were very accommodating and it was absolutely worth it to ask, our new room was a million times better. Later that day when we came back to our room they decorated the bed with a honeymoon celebration, so cute!

We spent a lot of the time on the roof top where there’s a bar “The Shack” and a mini pool. Each time we went there were only a few people which was nice and relaxing. When you check in the staff give you some vouchers for buy 1 cocktail get 1 free (or half price..I can't remember). You absolutely need to go up at sunset! By this time the clouds are usually settled and you can see all the volcanos and mountains in the distance.

The location is perfect! You are spoilt for choice on bars, restaurants and shopping along the street. Just a short walk away is Mrs Sippy Beach Bar where we spent a whole afternoon and would highly recommend visiting. The passionfruit cocktails are the bomb dot com! The hotel also offers a free shuttle bus service that takes you into Seminyak Square which is very convenient especially on those stupidly hot days.

BREAKFAST! Our most favourite meal of the day and of course the most important. Our stay came with complimentary breakfast each morning from MYA. The menu is the size of a newspaper and you can select anything from the menu...and I mean ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Our eyes were a lot bigger than our stomachs because there is no way we could finish it all. They even do juices and smoothie bowls, YAY!

All in all we liked this hotel but when staying in Bali we think we are going to stick to that Villa life. Dash Hotel is great for the young peeps and also if you’re travelling on a budget. We’d recommend if you’re wanting to be walking distance to some of the most popular beach bars and restaurants. The rooms are very clean and comfortable also which is a major thing we look for when booking accommodation.

♡ Dash Hotel Website ♡ Dash Hotel Instagram ♡ Dash Hotel Facebook

One last tip! If you’re ever travelling to Bali and want to know where all the trendy hot spots are to enjoy that you see splashed all over Instagram. Do yourself a favour and purchase the Hungry in Bali e-book or hard copy. It’s basically like an entertainment booklet but for Bali and you get exclusive offers such as buy one main get one free, 20% off, complimentary cocktails etc. Whether we were in Canggu, Ubud or Seminyak, we just looked up in the booklet what was nearby and it made deciding where to go so much more easier which is something we typically waste a lot of time doing. It honestly is the best food guide and you will save so much money too, WINNING!

Shop the Hungry in Bali book here.

Thanks for reading and I hope this is useful for some of you! Feel free to ask me anything x

♡ Ashiie xx

#Ashleigh Jade #Ashleigh Munro-Smith #The Useless Travellers #Alex Howell Photography #Bali #Hungry In Bali #Canggu #Seminyak #Dash Hotel #Strawberry Fields #Sal Secret Spot #Villa Sal Bali #Bali Villas #The Asia Collective #Instagram Walls

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ashleighjade05 · 6 years

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HONEYMOON (PART ONE) ♡

It’s been a very long time since my last blog post and so much has happened during that time. I have ALOT to catch up on and sometimes I work better if I work my way backwards (cause that makes total sense lol!). So i’m going to start off with..OUR HONEYMOON!

The past 6 months have been the biggest whirlwind of my life. If you’ve followed my Snapchat or Instagram stories you would have seen at least one of my many meltdowns. I wasn’t far off from going Britney 2007 on y’all! Haha, but in saying that there were many highlights too of course.

Alexander and I could not decide for the life of us on where we should go for our honeymoon. We then realised that all we wanted was to escape somewhere familiar to just be together and eat, sleep, drink REPEAT! To let it sink in that we are now HUSBAND AND WIFE….craaaaaazy! What better place to go than good ole' Balz darl (Bali for those of you who don’t understand my lingo).

We were lucky enough to be the very first to experience the brand new Manca Villa in Canggu. We haven’t ever stayed in Canggu before and it has so much to offer. We were walking distance from a day spa, cafes and a DONUT SHOP! Uber is ridiculously cheap but an absolute pain to organise as they’re meant to be banned in most of the area. So it’s best to order a taxi as they’re reliable and it’s just a short drive away to many restaurants and laid-back venues including the ever so popular, Finns Beach Club.

Manca Villa couldn’t have been any more perfect for our honeymoon. As soon as we were checked into our villa, we felt very calm and relaxed. It was the first time in a long time that we were able to just stop and enjoy each others company without the distractions of the outside world.

When you first walk in there is a fully equipped kitchen outside where the staff come and prepare your breakfast each morning. You can also have the option to have the floating breakfast in the private pool but I didn’t trust myself enough with that, we all know that would most likely end badly for me. My favourite feature of the kitchen was the water dispenser (small things, small minds right! But it’s very handy if you didn’t purchase extra water bottles. I suggest stocking up the fridge and bringing lots of snacks so then there really is no reason to leave.

Alex and I are not romantic people at all so it was lovely having the staff add special touches to create a memorable stay for us. When you stay in Bali we all secretly hope that there is an adorable towel animal and rose petals laid out on the bed and then run straight to the bathroom to see what the amenities are like because who doesn’t love freebies!?! I of course was squealing over the massive bathtub and loved the fact that I could step right into the private pool from the bedroom door.

Underneath the mountain of cushions is the most comfiest bed, I wanted to take the pillows home. I slept like a baby! Speaking of babies…NO there will not be a baby expected in November 2018. Just had to put that out there now. Ok? Good. I’m glad we got that out the way. Moving along…

We are so glad we saved Manca Villa for the end of our trip. Away from any hustle and bustle we felt fresh AF, all loved up and were more than ready to come home to our fur-baby Honey. Alex and I have stayed at villas within the Ini Vie Hospitality group on several occasions and will always go back because we know we are guaranteed a positive experience each time.

If you are planning a trip to Bali and want to stay somewhere that’s intimate and romantic, I highly recommend considering Manca Villa. Like always, i’ll include all the social media links below so you can explore.

Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon.

♡ Ashiie xx

All photos taken by Alex, hence why he isn't in any of them.

♡ Manca Villa Website ♡ Manca Villa Instagram ♡ Manca Villa Facebook ♡ Manca Villa Email

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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My Bridesmaids Proposal ♡

I cannot tell you how excited I am to write this blog post! I feel like i’m reliving the day all over again. When Alexander and I got engaged I got obsessed with the idea of a Bridesmaid Proposal. I spent hours on Google trying to get inspo from what other brides-to-be had done for theirs and I really wanted to create something very personal for each girl and make it into an actual event, one they couldn’t forget.

With two months out I messaged each girl individually so they didn’t know the others were going to be there and asked her to keep brunch time free on Sunday the 10th September, which also happened to be 6 months until the wedding date. The only girl who raised her suspicions with me was Lucy who constantly hounded me asking what we were doing, if I was going to ask her to be my Maid of Honour and what would we be eating for “brunch” because I can’t cook…brutal! It’s not like me to plan something so far in advance as I’m such a last minute Larry so I don’t blame her for the grilling.

I reached out to my friend Chrystal from Carnival Creations and pitched my Bridesmaid Proposal idea. Straight away our creative minds exploded and we got planning. She sorted out all the styling and I organised the gift boxes for the girls.

THE GIFTS

I found a small business on Instagram called Partie Co who make personalised boxes for special occasions. I ordered the white medium gift box with the magnetic and ribbon closure and that was a perfect size to fit all the gifts inside. You need to allow between 2-4 weeks for your order to arrive, mine arrived rather quickly though. At Spotlight I found pink shredded tissue paper which I used as the base for each box and needed 1 bag per box.

Next I did a call out to find a local business who could make ROSE GOLD custom labels. I received many recommendations for The Gifting Collective so I had the lovely Hannah make 4x candles that had “Will You Be My Bridesmaid/Maid of Honour” and 4x mini bottles of rosé with “Bride Tribe” written on them. You can also choose from several different flavour scents for the candles so I sneakily found out what flavours my girls like most and ordered vanilla/caramel and peony.

The next gift was a custom rose gold necklace from Melodee Design who specialise in Bespoke Handmade Jewellery. They each have their own initial on the flat disc with a heart added behind it. I also own one so I thought it would be special if we all had a piece that was matching. The necklaces arrive in a little pink bag but I bought tiny white gift boxes from David Jones to put them into so it really looked like a proposal. The mini bow on top of the boxes were purchased from Spotlight and are taped double sided for easy stick.

The final gift was the hardest to get because the website was constantly out of stock! I even signed up for the alert when it was restocked but never received it. Just by luck I got in quick and ordered 4x Pale Pink Tassel Keyrings from The Daily Edited. Each keyring had the girls initials on them and an emoji that represented something personal from our friendship. These arrived EXTREMELY quickly! Like, two days later quickly! I loved the gift box they arrived in and you can also choose a gift card to put with it.

THE PROPOSAL

I was nervous AF! I thought I was going to vomit and had the shakes so bad. I was so scared that the girls would say no. I had been imagining this day for MONTHS and wanted everything to go perfectly.

As each girl started arriving at my house they were all wondering why the others were there as well. They could all see how nervous I was…so nervous I made them all scull a glass of champagne with me. I then told them that I had heard about a really special event that was coming up and thought it would be nice if we could all go together, but I didn’t want them knowing where we were going so I handed them a blind fold and told them our ride had arrived.

Carnival Creations had put together the most incredible setting in my backyard. I lead the girls to the grazing table and told them to remove their blind folds. The sound of their squeals then turned to shock, followed by tears and “OH MY GOD!” being the only words that they could manage to say. It was exactly the reactions I was hoping for and that moment will be with me forever. I mean...these photos speak for themselves.... (and someone needs to award Jaleesa with an Academy Award already!!!!)

Watching the girls open their gifts was like Christmas morning. They all read their cards first which had “Will you be my bridesmaid/Maid of Honour?” written inside with a polaroid photo of us, as soon as they all read that they each jumped up again and screamed their heads off. Through tears, I asked “soooo….is that a yes?” - THEY ALL SAID YES!!!

I know it’s not always about the gifts and the fancy things, but I hadn’t seen anything like this be done before and they all joked about how I don’t do things in halves. I really wanted to celebrate them and the friendship that we share. The whole entire set up was like a dream!

ASHIIE’S BRIDE TRIBE

Each of the girls are so special to Alex and I and are such a significant part of our story. There is no way in the world that I could walk the most important runway of my life and not have them by my side.

♡ Lucy - Maid of Honour

♡ Kristy - Bridesmaid

♡ Jaleesa - Bridesmaid

♡ Ena - Bridesmaid

THE BUSINESSES

Again I can’t thank Carnival Creations enough for helping me organise and put together this Bridesmaid Proposal. Bringing our ideas to life and creating such a magical moment.

Across all of our social media profiles, we’ve been receiving messages asking where everything was from and who was involved so I thought it would be easier to put it all in one place to make it easier. Make sure you check out their work and give these talented businesses some digital love!

♡ Carnival Creations - Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Website ♡

♡ Kingdom Cupcakes - Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡

♡ Bloss & Co - Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Website ♡

♡ The Little Balloonery - Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Website ♡

♡ Foote and Flame - Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Website ♡

♡ Beautiful by Design - Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Website ♡

With a very special mention to Jana from Billie and Peaches who photographed the priceless moment so last minute. Unfortunately Alexander has been bedridden but Jana saved the day with only 24 hours notice and had the photos back to me the very next day. I will definitely be working with Jana again in the near future and absolutely LOVED her work!

♡ Billie and Peaches - Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Website ♡

I had so much fun planning this for my girls and it was really special watching them all bond with one another and create new friendships. They are all such strong, smart and beautiful women who I am so lucky to have in my life. The next 6 months are going to be one hell of a ride and I can’t wait to share this with my tribe!

♡ Ashiie xx

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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Bye Bye Blondie ♡

At the beginning of the year I wrote a blog post “OMG I CUT OFF MY HAIR”. For years I had dark hair with extensions and decided to take a break and go back blonde. For 8 months I have been on a blonde hair journey and now it’s time to say goodbye!

I’m sure many of you have seen this image or similar posted on hairdresser’s pages of Khloe Kardashian’s hair journey from Brunette to Blonde. It really is true that you can’t expect to walk into a salon and achieve the final result in one visit. It takes several visits, high quality products and a lot of patience. You need to be realistic with your goals and be willing to invest in the after care.

As mentioned previously I literally stalked my hair goddess Aimee Jean down and was reunited with her as she is the only one I would trust to make this transition. Aimee Jean is a hair colourist GENIUS and you can check out some of her work over on her Instagram.

Aimee Jean is now located at the most funky salon in East Fremantle - [Bo] Blonde. It’s a one stop shop for all your hair needs, make-up services and spray tanning. They also stock my favourite hair products Kevin Murphy which are cruelty free and you only need the smallest amount so your products last a lot longer. I’ve just booked myself in for my wedding trial eeeeeek!!!!! Which brings me to why I wanted to write this post.

At my last appointment AJ asked what colour I want to be on my wedding day. If I want to be brunette I need to start making that transition to dark now so that come the wedding day, it is super strong and healthy. I won’t be putting extensions back in anytime soon but I need to put a bit of love and care in after being blonde for the past 8 months.

So I thought I would share a thread of images from each appointment that i’ve had with Aimee over the year to show the change from Brunette to Blonde before revealing my “new do” at the end.

I certainly had a lot of fun being blonde but i’m so excited to go back to the dark side (insert evil laugh here). Don’t be fooled by the name [Bo] Blonde. Yes they specialise in perfecting blondes but the team are all so talented at creating any look. Several of my friends who are now clients at [Bo] Blonde couldn’t be happier with their new hair.

There is a brand new [Bo] Blonde salon which has just opened up in Dalkeith and it is TO DIE FOR!!! Completely different lay out to the East Fremantle salon but both give you the most luxurious hair experience. Hot tip! Both salons are located on the cutest streets with organic cafes nearby that you must try.

ANYHOO!!! While writing this post i’ve been waiting for my colour to set so it’s now time to wash, trim the dead ends away and blow dry. This is the end result....TA-DAAAAA!

I LOVE IT! Coming into my appointment I told Aimee to just do whatever she needs to do to start the process of going back dark as it’ll take a couple of appointments to achieve the desired look I'm going for in the end.

Like always i’ll leave all the socials below so you can check out their work and you never know, I might see you at [Bo] Blonde soon!

[Bo] Blonde // Instagram ♡ Website ♡ Facebook ♡ Aimee Jean // Instagram ♡

#Bo Blonde Hairdressing #Bo Blonde #hairbyaimeejean #ashleigh jade #olaplex #hair #short hair #waves #khloe kardashian #khloe #hair transformation #hair journey

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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SOUTH CALI SUNNIES ♡

If you were to ask me what is the one thing I cannot leave the house without, it’s a pair of sunglasses. Oh and of course they totally have to match my outfit!

I don’t know about anyone else but I cannot bring myself to splurge on a super expensive pair of sunglasses because my accident prone self WILL find a way to lose or crush them. I’ll admit that I don’t even use the case that they come in either which is SO bad and then I just throw them into the depths of my Mary Poppins handbag. Instead when I find a pair I LOVE I usually will buy several pairs if they come in different colours or similar styles.

My usual go to styles are the “mirror like” coloured polarised lenses as I think the bright colours add a unique touch to your personal style. But most importantly, they protect your eyes from the UV rays.

Every time I am wearing bright sunglasses on Snapchat, I get flooded with questions on where they are from..even from the guys! So I did a little research to find some uni-sex brands and WALLAH! I found South Cali Sunnies.

The sunnies i’m wearing here are the MALIBU - Tortoise Aqua Set and I think they're the third pair of sunnies I own that have the blue polarised lenses. You can’t go wrong with blue! It’s a gorgeous colour that simply looks good on everyone...if I do say so myself. The blue looks greats against the turquoise frame and the arms are made out of bamboo.

The next pair I chose are the VENICE - Black Palm Green and i’m not going to lie, it was the name of the sunnies that caught my eye before I actually looked at the style. I’ve been to Venice Beach before and it’s such a “trendy” place where people dare to be different. Everyone is extremely unique and aren’t afraid to stand out in a crowd. To me, this pair represents exactly that and I haven’t ever seen a style like this before.

When they arrived they were a lot more green in person which I loved. They reflect beautifully off the sunlight and water. I’ve never owned anything like this so it’s a nice addition to my forever growing collection of sunglasses.

Now when I find something I love and especially when it’s a small Australian business, I like to find out if I can get a discount code to share with you all. The guys at South Cali Sunnies were more than happy to do that so make sure you take advantage of the very generous 30% off offer by using the code ‘ASHLEIGHJ’ at checkout.

If you would like to stalk their socials, click on the tabs below! ♡ Website ♡ Facebook ♡ Instagram

Thanks for reading lovelies and happy shopping. P.S - If you liked this post don't forget to let me know on my Instagram post or i’d love to hear what you’d like me to write about next.

♡ Ashiie xx

#ashleigh jade #ashleigh munro smith #south cali sunnies #south cali #sunglasses #polarised #fitness #perth #perth blogger #perth model #running bare #lily bod

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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BEND AND XTEND ♡

I had not stepped foot in a gym in nearly a year and was even sent free memberships as part of a PR package but I couldn’t bring myself to commit and attend any classes. I think because it had been so long since I had last worked out, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up and would just make a fool of myself.

After attending Dr Katherine’s Body Confidence retreat back in March, I made a promise to myself to start trying new things that are completely out of my comfort zone. As soon as I was faced with a “I can’t do that” moment, I would stop and tell myself “what have I got to lose, just give it a go!”. This is probably one of the best decisions I have made for myself this year because not only am I trying new things but I am meeting so many new people and creating new memories.

There is so much I have to thank Dr Katherine for this year and one of those is when she twisted my arm and told me I HAD to come along to her workshop at Xtend Barre Osborne Park. At first I ummed and ahhh’d about going because naturally I started doubting if I would be any good at it, but I dragged a friend along with me and to my surprise, I fell in love with working out all over again.

Walking into Xtend Barre I instantly felt welcomed by the beautiful staff and there was such a positive energy buzzing through the room. The studio itself is very spacious, professional and has the natural sunlight beaming through. Now I am as beginner as they come with no experience in dance or pilates so I was afraid of looking like a frog in a blender with my lack of coordination. Turns out I wasn’t as bad as I thought I’d be, I became addicted, started attending the 6am classes to get it done before work (crazy right! Like who even am I?) and now I have been announced as the very first Studio Ambassador for Xtend Barre Osborne Park. EEEEEEEK!!!!!!

One of the reasons I have stayed so committed to the classes is because you simply book them on the Xtend Barre app. Sure there have been moments where I have felt like cancelling because I didn’t want to set my alarm but then I think of how lovely the instructors are and I don’t want to let them down, as well as myself. A little trick I would tell myself is “if you can get up to catch an early flight for a holiday, you can get up early to nourish your body”.

Once I am there and I get myself moving I am so thankful that I attended and can really feel my body strengthening with each class that I attend.

I want to do something special for those who have ever felt like I did, who need that extra push and encouragement to try something new.

I would love to invite YOU to come and work out with me at Xtend Barre Osborne Park on Saturday the 29th of July at 10:30am. It’s a complimentary class and I will be there with you along the way. So here’s what you need to do:

Step 1 – Download the Xtend Barre app Step 2 – Create a Log In Step 3 – Select the calendar in the top right corner Step 4 – Search 29th July and select the 10:30am class Step 5 – Book Class and show up on the day!

You don’t need any experience at all and this class will be perfect for beginners. I know there’s a few of you out there who have told me you’d like to come along to a class, well here’s your perfect opportunity.

Let’s do this TOGETHER and hopefully I’ll meet you at the barre!

Love Ashiie xx

Xtend Barre Osborne Park //

Website ♡ Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡ App

Alex Howell Photography // Website ♡ Instagram

Wearing Toned By Ashy Bines and Lilybod

Hair & Makeup by Claire Randall Creative // Website ♡ Instagram ♡ Facebook PS! Mention this post to receive 20% off services with Claire!

#xtend #xtend barre #xtend barre osborne park #ambassador #toned by ashy bines #ashleigh jade #perth #perth workouts #fitspo #activewear #lilybod #bend and xtend #barre #pilates #dance #strength

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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SURPRISE DATE NIGHT ♡

Sometimes it can be quite a struggle finding a good balance between work, socialising, all things in between and of course, the love life! We can get so caught up in everything else that before you know it, you can't remember the last time you had a date night. I had this realisation and thought to myself, why wait for it to happen when I can just make it happen? So I did exactly that!

THE PLANNING

Usually I wait for Alexander to plan everything or we wait until there’s a special event and if we are both available, there’s our date night...real romantic huh!

I went through our calendar for April and May to find a date we both didn't have work, sent him a calendar invite so it was blocked out in our phones which left him very intrigued by the title “Surprise Date Night” and refused to give him any inkling to what it could be.

I have been following Picnics By Design on Instagram for quite sometime and thought it would be the perfect set up for a date night, they’re so in demand I had to book two months in advance but it was well worth the wait.

Next I posted a Facebook status reaching out to my photographer friends to see if anyone was available for a “special event” in May and of course I blocked Alex from seeing the post. Usually Alexander is the one capturing everyones special moments so it was important to me that he could have the night completely off. It still didn't stop him from bringing his camera in the car though!

I was very lucky that Perry Mclaughlan was available and his style was exactly what I was after.

ON THE WAY

The most important question Alexander could ask was “what the hell do I wear?”. I told him relaxed casual but to also dress warm. When it was time to get dressed he did a mini fashion show to make sure it was ok and we were complimenting so it was a thumbs up from me.

When we got in the car I gave Alexander a sleep mask to wear and his sunglasses so there was absolutely NO PEEKING! During the ride he made a comment that got me nervous, “I think I know what you’ve organised”. I was then lucky because Google Maps took me a different direction to the South Perth Foreshore to beat the traffic, which helped Alex lose his sense of direction.

THE SURPRISE

We arrived and I refused to let him take off his mask or bring his camera with him, I told him “they don't allow cameras here”. I then slowly lead him by hand to our beautiful set up, meanwhile onlookers are stopping in their tracks taking photos of the moment as well. Alex could hear the photographer snapping away so I told him on the count of 3, he could take his blind fold off..

1....2.....3!!!!!!

GREAT SUCCESS!

This is probably the first time ever where I have successfully planned a surprise without dropping any hints or ruining it altogether. I can keep a secret but god help me when I know about a surprise, it finds a way to leave my mouth and leaves me in all sorts of trouble.

Alex admitted he thought I had organised a helicopter ride over the sunset so I was relieved his guess was completely off THANK GAWWWD!

THE DETAILS

Picnics By Design went above and beyond and every single bit of attention to detail had been thought of. The weather was thankfully on our side and as it got cooler we had blankets to wrap ourselves in. I lost my marbles over the sparkling water (ahh the small things!) and there was even a pot of hot water with a selection of teas to choose from. The graze platter...HOLY MOLY SO MUCH FOOD!!! I usually smash through platters but our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. One of my favourite things though was the wooden box that you could lock your phones in to enjoy the romantic evening together. We did exactly that after taking a few selfies together and played our music through the box.

CONTACTS

After sharing a few Snapchats and Instagram Stories I got inundated with messages asking about Picnics By Design so I thought it would be easier to share the details with you all here: Picnics By Design // Website ♡ Email ♡ Facebook ♡ Instagram Perry McLaughlan // Website ♡ Facebook ♡ Instagram Keep in mind they’re a small business so to be patient when waiting for a response ☺

The set up was more than what I could have imagined and it wowed everyone walking by as well. Many stopped to ask if Alex had just proposed or if we had just gotten married, elderly people were getting photos with us...it was quite adorable. It was a night together that we certainly needed to simply just enjoy one another, especially before things start to get crazy with our wedding planning.

I honestly can’t thank Picnics By Design enough for all the effort they went into and for making our date night one to remember forever.

♡ Ashiie xx

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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WHAT I WORE IN LANGKAWI ♡

In February we had a very short trip to Langkawi for a close friends wedding which meant for the first time ever, I packed more playful outfits for each day. Usually I go with a colour theme so I can travel smarter and get more combinations from each item but this time, I didn’t want to be so basic. One thing I noticed while writing this post is that all businesses featured are LOCAL, winning!!!

One of my most favourite boutique’s is Bonnie + Clyde Clothing and Accessories located in the heart of North Perth. It’s one of those stores that you walk into knowing that you will definitely find something you love. But most importantly, the staff provide such impeccable service. Genuine and honest customer service is quite rare these days so I am more inclined to shop somewhere that I have been made to feel appreciated and built a good rapport with the staff. I had so much fun with the girls at Bonnie + Clyde I was literally in there for hours while they styled me from head to toe.

Outfit #1

I’m not usually a fan of maxi dresses but I fell absolutely in love with the back and thought I would give the maxi a chance. Plus, it’s perfect to hide that holiday bloat from the one too many cocktails ;) Not that I had any guilt from that because how could one pass up happy hour!

The Oracle Maxi Dress - $91 The Padre Hat - $69.95 All My Love Quay Sunglasses - $60

Outfit #2

I call this look “The Banana in Pyjamas!”

This is actually a two piece set that you probably wouldn’t look twice at being on the hanger but I also had my heart set on wearing something nautical. Having worked in retail previously, I know that sometimes you just have to give certain items a chance and have a little play to see how you can make it work for you. I have since gotten so much wear out of both pieces separately.

Runaway Azure Top - $79.95 Runaway Azure Bottoms - $79.95

Outfit 3

I clearly can’t get enough of the Quay sunglasses! I need them though otherwise my little squinty blue eyes shrink as soon as I step out in the sun. ANYHOOOOOO….. When I walked into Bonnie + Clyde Clothing this outfit was actually on a mannequin so this was the easiest purchase as I knew I would get plenty of wear out of it.

Linen Tie Top (Blue) - $59.95 Runaway Shorts - $89.95 Outfit 1, 2 & 3 all from Bonnie + Clyde Clothing and Accessories ♡ Facebook ♡ Instagram ♡

Outfit #4

There have been a couple of bloggers snapped in this dress and I was able to hunt one down through my friends at Lock and Key Clothing who are also based in Perth. Good news for everyone else is that they have an online store and also offer After Pay!

Runaway Second Chance Dress in Mango - $89.95 ♡ Lock and Key Clothing ♡ Instagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Website ♡

Outfit #5

I was SO excited to hear that Ela & Jackson have expanded their range and added resort wear to their collection. P.S - I already own one too many of their bikinis! This cute little playsuit was so easy to throw on going to and from the beach/pool and i’m also OBSESSED with anything Khaki. How cool is the back of it! P.P.S - Speaking of cool, the girls at Ela & Jackson are SO COOL they have given you guys a discount code to use SITEWIDE! Use ♡ ASHIIE20 ♡ for 20% off.

Kiri Playsuit in Khaki - $89.95

♡ Facebook ♡ Instagram ♡ Website ♡

ONE LAST THING! A shoutout to my girl Loren at Bronzed & Beautiful North for always tanning me. It literally lasted the entirety of the trip! Perth girls hit her up for a tan and a counselling session haha!

I also want to show my appreciation to my partner in crime Alexander for taking all these images! If you want to see more of his work and encourage him to use his damn Instagram more, please show him some love here.

I can proudly take the photo credit for this one!

Next up i’m thinking a bikini edition of all the swimwear I wore in Langkwai. Yes, I packed one for each day. I hope you enjoyed this entry and I would love to hear your thoughts!

♡ Ashiie xx

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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The Little Box of Happiness ♡

I’m SUPER addicted to watching unboxing videos on YouTube lately. I just love finding out with the person what it is that they’re receiving and seeing their reactions excites me too. I’m sure most of you will agree with me that the best part of ordering things online is receiving it in the mail. So in saying that I decided to get myself a Little Box of Happiness.

While scrolling through Instagram one night I came across a local Perth company called, Little Box of Happiness and I was immediately drawn to their page. Each post is filled with so much colour, brightness and positivity and that’s exactly what their message is, to spread happiness to everyone. The Little Box of Happiness is a collaboration of all different brands all put together in a box to bring a smile to your face and try new products.

I was having a bit of a shit time that week so I placed my order and not even kidding you, I received it the VERY NEXT DAY! Even though the contents of the box are listed on the website I covered my hand on the screen because I wanted my unboxing to be a complete surprise.

Kind of regretting not filming this so i’ll just have to describe it to you as I reveal each item. When I opened my Little Box of Happiness it smelt absolutely delicious that even Honey (my dog) came to inspect what’s in the box. Inside the lid greets me with “HELLO SUNSHINE” and each item has been perfectly placed inside.

HOLY MOLY IT’S A TURKISH TOWEL! I have been wanting one of these for ages. But now I need to find out what smells so damn good and can I eat it now because i’m hungry. Ooooh a hair masque from Bambi & Sammi *, i’ll definitely be treating my hair to this while in Langkawi this month.

Haha random! There’s a packet of sunflower seeds with instructions on how to care for them and watch them grow. Alex is really getting into his plants lately so maybe that can be a task for him to do.

Yum!!! A box of KOJA* breakfast toppers and apparently they were on that TV show Shark Tank. It’s also got instructions on how to make a smoothie bowl and all the ingredients are RAW which I love because we all know I can't cook to save my life. But surely a smoothie bowl can't be that hard? We’ll see!

COOOOUIIITE! Two samples of Butt Naked Skinfood*. I actually like that it’s in a sample size because less mess and I can throw away the packets as soon as i’m done. Usually with body scrubs I leave them to get mouldy in the shower.. yep..

Next up is the smallest little jar i’ve ever seen, it’s natural scented mandarin flavoured play dough from Happy Hands Happy Heart*. It says it’s safe for kids to eat so maybe I should try it? Haha jokes! I think i’m going to put this on my desk in my getting ready room and when I feel like procrastinating, i’ll just make awesome play dough creations because adult-ing is too hard.

I FOUND THE DELICIOUS SCENT!!!! A vanilla scented candle from Nina Bailey* The way to my heart is by candles because let’s face it, chicks love candles! I have one or two in every room of the house. I just stalked the website and turns out i’m already following her on Instagram. Nina’s products are absolutely DEVINE! See, this is why these boxes are so good because you get to sample products and discover what you actually like.

The next item I just tried to search if it’s vegan or cruelty free but wasn't able to find any information on it, but it’s the Pure Paw Paw ointment in strawberry flavour. It looks cute but i’ll give this to Alex as well because he’s always stealing my lip balms. Oh and there’s a lollipop too he can have!

The most simple gifts can be the most precious ones. Next is a little set of affirmation cards. My most favourite one out of them reads “LIFE is a circle full of happiness, sadness, hard times and good. If you are going through a hard time, know that good times are on their way”. This is something I try to remember whenever i’m going through a challenging time. Now this is adorable, a hand painted rock! It may sound silly to some but the fact that someone has gone out to find a particular pebble style rock, paint it and write a message that says “YOU ARE LOVED” is so damn special. I’ve always been quite crafty so I think that’s a lovely idea for a gift because it comes from the heart.

Down to the very bottom of the box now and a beautiful hand drawn print from Ink & Ivy meets my eyes with a final message, “Believe in yourself and amazing things will happen”. I think I might frame this because it’s too pretty not to be seen and it’s always nice to have inspirational quotes displayed around the home.

A Little Box of Happiness would be a PERFECT gift idea to send spontaneously to someone special whether that be a friend, family member or work colleague. I actually think it would be an adorable Valentines Day surprise. Why should couples get all the fun? Friends can be Valentines too!

Plus you’d be supporting small businesses and spreading so much love around. Any brands listed with an asterisks* next it means it’s a vegan product.

To read more about Little Box of Happiness, click here and you can also check out their Instagram.

And remember, be sure to always spread a little bit of happiness.

♡ Ashiie xx

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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OMG I CUT OFF MY HAIR ♡

For months I have been wanting a fresh new look but it’s always daunting committing to such a big change...

Then recently whilst scrolling through Instagram one of my favourite girls to follow, Pia Muehlenbeck uploaded the greatest selfie to solve my dilemma. SHE CUT OFF HER LONG LOCKS! I absolutely fell in love and couldn't stop thinking about it. Then I thought you know what, YOLO! I can always just put extensions back in.

I got in contact with my friend Aimee who use to colour my hair. She has changed me from Black to Blonde, to Pink, to Brown, to Blue, all by my request of course! The only reason I stopped going to her was because the Ashiie-Mobile could not make the distance to her salon. So she is the only person who I was going to trust with my colour change. As soon as I contacted Aimee she was more excited than I was and couldn't wait to make the change.

First thing was first, remove my hair extensions! I have been going to Bec Walker for my AVANI hair extensions for the past 7 years and depending how I go with my new do, I may add a weave of extensions for thickness but we’ll see. My natural hair was super long as you saw in the first image to this post but it certainly needed a good cut.

The whole process took 3.5 hours with first applying a full head of balyage foils, colour to the roots then free hand pieces (which is some kind of lighting technique). She left my hair to process for a bit before rinsing, shampooing and putting a toner through it along with Olaplex #2 Bond which brings all the colours together. Finally we conditioned, blow waved, CUT and styled with Pia being my absolute #HairInspo.

I was surprisingly quite calm, usually i’m a nervous wreck and repeat every curse word under the sun until the transformation is complete. After the first cut and much to Aimee’s shock I said “no, lets go shorter” but keeping it as a lob because c’mon now i’m not that crazy.

So anyways... HERE IT IS!!!!! I absolutely LOVE it! What do y’all think?

On the way home I stopped off at Price Attack and Shampoo Shop to pick up these babies to help me with styling my new look. This was of course with Aimee’s recommendations as I have no clue when it comes to hair products. Click each link below for info on how to use these products. L’oreal Tecni Art - VOLUME LIFT Spray Mousse L’oreal Tecni Art - PLI Thermo Modelling Spray Matrix - Texture Builder

I’m so excited to be reunited with Aimee again and look forward to creating more looks in the future. If you would like to check out her work and want someone who you can completely trust with your hair, LIKE her Facebook page and FOLLOW her Instagram. Thanks again gorgeous girl, I had a blast! ♡

♡ Ashiie xx

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ashleighjade05 · 7 years

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M.I.A in 2016 ♡

To be real with y’all, in late 2015 I went through a series of events that I wasn't quite sure how to deal with and so in 2016 I lacked inspiration and motivation to post as much. In fact, in 2016 there was not one single post on my blog because I basically couldn’t be assed and I neglected it altogether. In the words of Kylie Jenner “2016 will be the year of realising stuff” (LOL!) and with that being said, I am now refocused and ready to tackle 2017.

To make up for no posts in 2016 I thought it would be fun to recap and share the biggest moments from each month including the high’s and lows. We shall call it “Ashiie’s Year in Review 2016″ and yes, I am aware we are half way through January 2017 but hey, better late than never 😉

JANUARY - I WENT VEGAN

I had always been super fussy with my foods and if someone was talking about something I didn't like whilst eating, it would completely put me off my meal. I didn't care how expensive it was, it would play on my conscience too much! The turning point for me was I was having burgers with my friends and I could literally taste the blood of an animal in my mouth. That night I could not sleep and reached out to a few bloggers who gave me some very helpful advice. The very next day I started my journey and i’ve definitely struggled at times and haven't always been perfect but i’ve done the very best that I can do. I think you instantly receive a label once you announce something to the world and people are always quick to point out when you do “wrong” but don't ever praise when you’re doing something well.

FEBRUARY - OUR ENGAGEMENT PARTY

One of the most stressful weeks i’ve had in my life but all the hard work of organising was very well worth it. We celebrated our Engagement at Steve’s Bar in Nedlands. We both remember looking up at the crowd of our friends and family and we could not comprehend that they were all there to share in this special moment with us. One hilarious memory of the night, well perhaps a low point in my life was being found hiding underneath my boss’s table and drinking the half empty wine glasses off the top because I was too overwhelmed to hear speeches. I then proceeded to repeat parts of my speech three times but apparently is was very entertaining? So note to self, don't drink before speeches and enjoy the moment for what it is.

MARCH - A SURGEON SAVED MY BFF’S LIFE

In November 2015 whilst getting ready for work, my best friend Lucy suffered a stroke. She had no idea what was happening to her and being too scared to call in sick to work, she drove the 35km distance for her shift. All we can say is thank god for the medics on site! In March 2016 and may I add, at the very young age of 24 she had life saving surgery. Lucy was flown to Melbourne for a triple heart valve replacement and what the surgeon didn't realise until he basically cut her open, was that there was an aneurysm behind her heart. If this had been left just one more month, well..i’m not even going to complete that sentence. That day was THE longest and hardest day of my life to date, for all of us who love and adore our Lucy we just wanted to know she was going to be ok. Who are we kidding, she’s LUCY GOD DAMN SIMPSON and has absolutely powered through her recovery. She’s so fearless that she’s signed up to do the Karma Resorts Rottnest Channel Swim in February and is currently raising money for the Heart Foundation. You can watch her story here.

APRIL - WE WERE REUNITED WITH LUCY

After being in Melbourne for way too many weeks, The Wolfpack were on a mission to surprise Lucy on her return home to Perth. Being a Thursday night we came up with every excuse under the sun why we “couldn't be there” to welcome her home. Some girls pretended they needed to go to bed early so they said goodnight in the group chat, life commitments, work etc got in the way and we even turned off our locations on Find My Friends. The moment Lucy walked through those airport doors had us all in hysterics. As you can see in the image above, I filmed the emotional reunion here.

MAY - 1ST RUNNER UP AT MAXIM ASMY

I competed at the Maxim Australian Swimwear Model of the Year national finals in 2013 and placed 5th, in 2015 I placed 4th so to achieve a podium position with 1st Runner Up in 2016 was such a huge accomplishment. The finals week was probably the most enjoyable i’ve experienced to date and we all have Procon Leisure to thank. All 30 contestants had media exposure, dinners, activities, networking and of course the photo shoot with Wayne Daniels with a feature in the 2017 MAXIM Calendar. Oh and my highlight was meeting my room mate Gabbie! I would highly recommend this competition to all aspiring models wanting to make their mark in the industry.

JUNE -I GOT A NEW CAR & THE SALESMEN WERE DICKS

I said goodbye to my beloved pink Nissan Micra aka The Ashiie Mobile and upgraded to a Qashqai. Before any of you ask, NO THIS IS NOT A PLUG. As exciting as it is to purchase a new car the whole process was nothing but a dragged out, excruciating, long and painful one.

The salesman told me my new car was ready and to bring my old one in so they can swap over the personalised number plates and sign the finance papers. He confirmed this would only take 15 minutes as I informed him I was on a strict time schedule. I waited 45 minutes while I watched him and his manager scatter back and fourth achieving nothing but my plates being swapped over. I marched into their office, said a few words then ran to my car and drove out, now being 30 minutes late to an appointment for an event that night. They continued to keep on calling me throughout the night and next day trying to make it right and pressure me into signing papers, when i caught them lying about the finishing date of their sale at the time. He was clearly just trying to lock in the sale before the end of the month to get his bonus.

In the next few days I go back there with Alexander to have a meeting with the finance guys. Finance Guy #1 was very professional the whole time, Finance Guy #2 was the biggest douche bag i’ve ever met in the sales industry. Alex assumes that Douche Bag Guy did his research before we arrived because he named dropped mutual friends and had the nerve to imply that one of my friends husbands is not attractive by making very rude and smug comments. Alex then had to leave for work and thats when guy #2 upped his douche bag game. It had been mentioned in conversation that I was vegan so for the entirety of our meeting, he made fun of me for my lifestyle choice. Little did he know I was live commentating the comments being made in the Vegans in Perth Facebook group. I should have just listened to them when they told me to get up and leave. ANYWAYS, I left that meeting not achieving anything ONCE AGAIN because they screwed up the finance papers and I had to go to work.

Now I was just pissed off. My friend Michelle who sometimes helps with my PR dragged me in with her to speak with the Principle of Dealership. He wasn't in so we got the next best thing, the manager. Michelle worked her magic because that’s what Michelle does. The manager could not understand why what normally would be a 48 hour process had dragged on for over 3 weeks and I was still without a car. His jaw dropped when I told him of my encounters.

The whole experience was just bizarre, it’s the only way to describe it. I now can't help but resent my car. I love it. But I resent it. P.S - The only reason i’m happy in the photo is because I was about to drive the fudge out of there!

JULY - I WAS WELCOMED INTO KYLIE’S KLOSET

Kylie emailed me to be a part of her story for The West Australian and I am so grateful she did because ever since, her whole family have treated me like one of their own. For those of you who don’t know, Kylie’s Kloset is a dress hire boutique with a difference. I drive 50 minutes to her because not only does Kylie have a stunning collection of dresses, she makes the whole experience a memorable one. I’m very lucky to now have a beautiful friend for life!

AUGUST - I WON A BEAUTY PAGEANT

My closest friends and family know how hectic I get when i’m about to compete in a competition #SorryNotSorry. What made this one even more special was that they were all there on the night to see me do my thing and their support gave me that extra confidence to give it my all and it’s probably the best i’ve felt on stage for a long time. I won the title of Miss British Empire Australia along with Best Evening Wear, Best in Interview, Best After 5 Wear and Best Swimwear. This was my ticket to compete at the international pageant in London the following month where I placed 1st Runner Up and People’s Choice.

SEPTEMBER - FREE TRIP TO EUROPE

The Useless Travellers strike again! This time joined by our good friend Alice. We nearly missed the Miss British Empire pageant because of flight delays and competed on no sleep in 48 hours. Hours after the pageant we left London for Tuscany, followed by Barcelona and ending in Dubrovnik. We learned that in Dubrovnik you can definitely NOT just walk around freely in your bikinis.

OCTOBER - $3,600 RAISED FOR THE CANCER COUNCIL

I am so proud of my friend Frances Papalia and her team of sponsors who put together a wonderful event to raise money for the Cancer Council of WA. Held at Ambrose Estate, The Pink Ribbon Champagne Brunch was a beautiful event with inspiring women sharing their stories, you could’ve heard a pin drop. The energy in the room was electric and we were all there for a great cause. I can’t wait to be a part of it in 2017. Good on you girls!

NOVEMBER - ALEX BROKE MY CAMERA IN BALI

This trip was meant to be the beginning of my vlogs as I have been meaning to start my YouTube channel. I began with one vlog of our Euro Trip and then couldn't be bothered finishing the rest. I’m sure i’ll get to it one day. I was on such a role! I had documented every day perfectly and half way through the trip Alexander was playing with my camera and all of a sudden the memory card began formatting...GOODBYEEEEEE DIGITAL MEMORIES! I started a hashtag #PrayForAlex but unfortunately this did not save him or my memory card. We are still engaged to this day.

DECEMBER - HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO HONEY

Yes, Honey is my dog and yes we may have had a puppy party in the park for her very first birthday with her fur-friends. I got Honey for my birthday in March and her birthday falls on Christmas Day, so this date will now always be extra special to us. I now would much rather be at home with my dog than being out on a Saturday night because #MumLife

GOODBYE 2016 AND HELLO 2017

There’s a couple of these posts that I really want to elaborate on especially the travel mentions so i’ll endeavour to get this done over the next week if that’s something y’all are interested in?

In 2017 I have a much more positive and clear mindset. I have listened to my instincts and am very surprised at the impact this has already had in my life. If you’ve read The Secret then you’ll know what i’m talking about.

I’m looking forward to new challenges, new opportunities, oh! and planning a wedding. Stay tuned...

♡ Ashiie xx

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