The sand between toes.. BBQ's with friends on the beach.. the sun disappearing into the horizon.. let's face it there's just something about summer.

Wherever you are in the world the warm relaxed days carry a feeling in the air.

In Australia we have some of the most amazing beaches to enjoy through the sunshine months. World famous spots like 'Noosa Beach' (pictured below) with it's white sand, cafe's, welcoming vibe, becomes a hive of activity as people flock to enjoy one of the best times of year. 

Further South at the iconic 'Bondi Beach' the energetic are out early, making the most of the cool start to the day and breathing in the fresh air. The walk around Bondi beach is one of the best in Australia and whether you're out and about or people watching from across the road in the cafe, you can't help but feel on holiday in that place.

Wherever you are this summer make sure you take some time, look around for a spot by yourself or with others, and truly appreciate what is all around you. They say 'an ocean breeze puts the mind at ease', so slow down, enjoy the view and stop and breathe. 

140 Glenayr Ave, Bondi Beach

This modern deli is exactly what a cafe should be. A place where the necessity for coffee is met with a healthy and delicious choice of food. Seasonal picks that are cooked from the heart.

SONOMA

10/178 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

With divine loaves of freshly baked bread peeking out from every corner the Sonoma café is one of our faves!  Selling gourmet pastries, breads and sandwiches, plus brekkie and coffee blends. Perfect!

17-18/110 Ramsgate Ave, North Bondi

Uber chic cafe serving creative breakfasts, light lunches and mains. This is the place to be seen or catch up with those hipster buddies. Oh and excellent coffee!

1/16 Hall Street, Bondi Beach

At this bustling Bondi café there is an emphasis on the exact art of coffee making. Owner Rafi Aruch has built 12 years of trust amongst the community. With a delicious menu and wooden stools perched at the window bar this café and its coffee is a MUST!

2/136 Wairoa Ave, Bondi Beach

With rave reviews on the delicious coffee, a must-do coffee stop is Harry's Espresso Bar. With a name like that how could they not do great coffee! Yummy modern Australian offerings and a great breakfast menu are the highlights. Bring on the brew we say! 

Have you made your bucket list? Maybe it’s the fact that time keeps speeding on by, but last week I was reflecting on my life and realising that time stops for no one. I have read numerous passages and books that reference to that moment when someone is lying on their death bed and they rattle off the things they regret. There is a common theme, typically it’s the fact they wished they had taken more risks. Keeping in the spirit of this I decided the time to construct my bucket list was NOW! So here are my top 10 things to do before I die. I hope this inspires you to create your own list!

1. Take a Pilgrimage. This may not hold the meaning it used to in the spiritual sense, but think of that place which makes your heart sing. For me I have always longed to visit the great wall of China. At 7m high, 7m thick and over 8000km long it blows my mind that this structure was made by human efforts. 
   
   
2. Forgive. Something that sounds so simple yet can be so hard. In the end unforgiveness is something that poisons your spirit not the person you are mad at. 
   
   
3. See the Pyramids. I have always longed to see this Egyptian marvel. Once again I am in awe of what human brilliance can accomplish! 
   
   
4. Go Skinny Dipping. The scaredy cat in me has never shed all my clothing and bravely jumped into the sea. One day I am going to take a shot of something, be extra brave, carefree and all of that..one day I shall skinny-dip.
   
   
5. Get Engaged on top of the Eiffel Tower. Ok so many of you know I’m already married. This is a dream I would love to reenact one day. But to all you dreamers out there, this is definitely #goals.
   
   
6. Float in the Dead Sea. This is just plain cool. I would love to know what this salt dense body of water feels like, one day I am determined I will!
   
   
7. See the Northern Lights. Something again I have always longed to do. The earth is an amazing place, what a creation! 
   
   
8. Finish a Journal. I am a self-confessed journal-a-holic. I love paper, crafts and stickers. Planning in my planner, writing down thoughts in my journal and numerous to-do lists. I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever finished a journal, I always get to the middle and excitedly buy another and start that one. One day I shall have a complete journal!
   
   
9. Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride. Sipping on some champagne, watching the sunset from a Hot Air Balloon, sigh. It would be absolute magic to float silently across the skyline!
   
   
10. Love Deeply. Tell the people in my world whether it be family or not…tell I love them. It's so easy to assume that people can read our minds and they should know, but do they? Spread a little love around, it will cost you nothing but will give so much!

Now that I have started my list I realise I could actually make this 50 or 100 things to do before you die. I think more than going out there, taking out a loan and ticking off the list, just putting these thoughts down gives you a sense of something more. A sense of not just living a 9-5 existence but searching for more and longing for not just material things but experiences. Let it never be said of us that we had regrets! 

The Noosa is our bestseller here at John Taylor Watches. A combination of Rose Gold casing and a Blush leather strap makes this a feminine combination. Yet whilst being feminine its minimal design makes it not overly fussy. Below are some ways you can style your very own Noosa timepiece.

 A little background behind the name. The Noosa is named after one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, Noosa Beach. Having been to Noosa many times I am always taken back by its beauty. Noosa as a whole is a blend of the Australian beach lifestyle and upper class elegance. The streets team with tourists shopping at the exclusive boutiques, coffee in hand, scoping out the best spot for lunch. There are certainly relaxed vibes but it takes a pretty penny to live in Noosa.

When I wear the Noosa I am always surprised by how many different ways I can style the Noosa timepiece. The Blush makes it’s perfect for jeans and t-shirt casual yet it’s a great date night look too.

 Creating a distinct woman’s watch, the Noosa is one of my favourite designs.  I believe the Noosa will remain a core product for John Taylor Watches for a very long time. Make sure you show us how you style your Noosa timepiece using the hashtags #myjtstory & #johntaylorwatches.

As a teenager I just couldn’t understand the lure of coffee.  The smell was vaguely appealing, the taste was truly disgusting and at the time the only benefit I could see was its ability to keep you awake.  This was enough to get me to try it.. and years later I can well and truly say I am a convert.

 Words like crema, roast and bean get my taste buds tingling and my senses stirred.

That feeling of walking into a cafe, you look across at the Barista and clearly by the signs of his dreads and piercings knowing it’s gonna be great! You glance at the trendy decor which screams…we are the new breed of hipster.

The seats are few because the place is jammed with twenty-somethings spending their hard earned cash on a weekend breakfast out. There are gluten free offerings in the cabinet and ‘raw’ brownies…when did they need to be raw I ask myself? I glance at the price…$5 for a regular coffee….ah well it’s not just the coffee after all is it…we are paying for the experience.

The first few sips are glorious and the drive was all worth it.  We are emerged in the coffee culture and thankfully for us it doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.

From a coffee lover xo

As the last days of Summer move on by in the Southern Hemisphere it’s time to begin the layering process. Coats, quilts, scarves and beanie’s will all take up permanent residence in my house very soon. So I’ve put together a little list of cosy additions to make their way out of storage to your home.

 Pull out the extra bedding. My lovely summer quilt has just not been keeping up with the chill that drifts through the windows in the early hours of the morning. Get that winter weight quilt out now and give it a good airing. All ready for snuggling up on those chilled mornings.

One of the best things about Winter I think are the hot drinks. Coffee is my jam but why not change things up mid-afternoon and try that hot chocolate with a cookie. Embrace the cosy culture and order the hot drink.

Put on the woolly socks and beanie. There is nothing that robs your body of heat fast than losing it from your head and your feet! So buy those cute fluffy socks and grab an inexpensive beanie…just think one more day to not have to wash your hair!  

No better time to read. Winter means early nights in the warm covers and dark mornings. Why not this winter grab yourself a copy of the latest bestseller or even that biography you’ve had in mind for months. Despite the age of Netflix and YouTube clips sometimes you just gotta get old school and grab a book.

As 2016 rapidly accelerates to a close, it’s a great time to grab your favourite cocktail and take some time to reflect on the upcoming year.

I would say 99% of people I talk to say how fast 2016 has flown. I often ask them did they achieve all they wanted to? And most often the answer is absolutely not! I’m first to put my hand up of someone who has lists upon lists of things I wanted to achieve.

When I think about this further I am struck by my how many of my decisions are career/ money based. However, when I think about what truly matters in life I believe experiences will be what I take with me as times marches on.

 Let’s make 2017 our year to say YES to new adventures! Let’s finally start that hobby…let’s go on that road trip! Let’s make that tricky cocktail we have been longing to try but didn’t want to splurge on the $50 spirits. Let’s book that trip to Europe!

I guess this is all easy to talk about, specially heading into the New Year’s resolution zone...but hey let’s take some practical steps too. First make a list…yes I hear what you’re saying, another list but unless it’s down on paper it’s unlikely it will ever happen.

Tell your significant other, a partner, a sibling, a parent…make it official and declare ‘I’m going to Paris’…even more fun burst into their room at 6am to do it.

Make an attempt to put your money where your mouth is...start saving even if it’s a small amount every pay packet.

Let’s say YES to new adventures! If you have an adventure that you are moving towards let the JT Team know all about it! Tag us in your pictures using #myjtstory…come on team let’s do this!

Whenever I head off on a trip I spend probably two weeks prior stressing over what I will pack. It becomes so overwhelming that I tend to wait until two days prior before I put anything into a suitcase.

Where will I be going? Is there a pool? Are we going out to dinner? All these various occasions require different outfits, different footwear and different accessories. A first world problem I know, yet still one I have to deal with time to time. 

On recent travels to Hong Kong I had an epiphany with my packing and I have some thoughts on dressing for travels and what to pack that might be helpful to some. 

My first thought is let your accessories do the talking. Whether it’s your John Taylor watch, pair of converse sneakers or in my case Louis Vuitton cross body speedy, that’s what makes the travel outfit chic. A diamond bracelet teamed with your John Taylor Watch adds an immediate element of class for a dinner out. 

Keeping the outfit simple is important, as it needs to be when walking extensive amounts. By keeping it simple you have more freedom to change things up with your accessory game. 

Another tip is to keep everything in a similar tone or shade. For this trip I packed a lot of white and blue, crisp and cool shades. Outfits were easier to style when things were similar in tone. By wearing say a white t-shirt and slacks, you can always pop on a floral cover up to completely change the look of the outfit, and it weighs next to nothing in your luggage, bonus! 

Fit was the important factor. Hong Kong is a city that requires a lot of walking so keeping my outfits cool, breezy and a comfortable fit was important. I chose flowy dresses, loose blouses and black comfy tights. 

A major part of enjoying my travels is feeling comfortable, chic and put together. With just a little bit of planning and some clever accessories this is made a whole lot easier.