Issus Cafe, Melbourne CBD | Review

It's been a while since I've sat down to a great meal out, so over the weekend mum and I made our way into the city and did just that. We hadn't pre-planned where we'd be going, but rather had decided to have a stroll around the many laneways of Melbourne city until we found something we liked the look of.

It didn't take long for us to make our choice, and we took our seats in the cosy back corner of Issus Cafe (just off Flinders Lane). The cafe is a lovely, comfortably intimate, low-lit space - perfect as an escape on a cold and busy day, or as a casual but romantic setting for a date.

We arrived at midday and were seated at one of only two remaining tables. While the table out front seated two, we didn't want to sit out in the cold and so requested an inside table. As I mentioned before, we were seated in the back corner of the cafe - a long table that could easily seat 6 or more people. The staff didn't even hesitate to seat us at such a large table, which we were very grateful for.

As the place was quite busy, we didn't expect to be served for some time. However to our surprise we were served within minutes, and after a short wait we received our meals.

I chose to go with one of the all-day breakfast options - House made granola mix with greek yoghurt and rhubarb. I love a good breakfast, and this one definitely hit the spot. Healthy and tasty, the rhubarb definitely made this meal for me! At $11.99, I'm not sure I'd order this again, but that may just be because I'm quite frugal and couldn't justify another $11.99 on a simple granola & yoghurt.

Mum decided on the pulled pork and eggs on potato hash cakes, which was an amazing decision. I literally cannot fault this dish - I'm so glad mum was kind enough to share some of this one with me, definitely the tastier choice! The pulled pork was only the slightest bit dry, but that was made up for by the delicious mustard and poached eggs, which blended perfectly with the hash cakes (which were literally to-die-for)! At $16.99, this dish was well worth it and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has a chance to visit Issus Cafe.

We also decided to order these delicious Eggplant chips to share, and boy am I glad we did! These were freakin' incredible! I love me some eggplant and the way these were prepared, with a delicious sauce to top it all off was just perfect! At $6.99, these eggplant chips are the perfect side to share (or have all to yourself, zero judgement here)!

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Issus Cafe - lovely atmosphere, friendly staff, comfortable seating, good service, and great food! Not to mention, a great location in one of Melbourne's busiest laneways! I'll definitely be coming back here in the future, once I've had the chance to try some of the other cafes/restaurants around Melbourne's CBD.

I hope you've enjoyed my review of Issus Cafe - if you live in Melbourne or are planning to visit and would like to check out Issus Cafe for yourself, you can find it at 8 Centre Place, Melbourne City (just off Flinders Lane).

Have you been to Issus Cafe? Would you try these meals? Let me know in the comments below!

xx Chontelle Louise

Street Style - Basics

My Outfit:

Grey Knit Beanie - Cotton On

Denim Jacket - Alcott Italy

Grey Crop Tee - Cotton On

Black Shorts - Sophie Charlotte Italy

Black Boots - Famous Footwear

I love this outfit. As you can probably tell by now, I have a thing for casual street-style fashion, and this outfit is no exception. I've worn it at least 3 times in the last week and despite the looks I get from people up at the shops who know that I've worn the same thing literally the day before, I have No Ragrets. *if you didn't get the reference, I'm judging you*

The denim jacket is a year-round staple for me, it looks amazing, cute, and works with just about any look! Another staple in this outfit is my lovely pair of boots which you may recognise from, well actually, almost every OOTD so far! :) To be honest the outfit is pretty much made up entirely of basic wardrobe staples!

The grey tee is so comfy, and only cost me $5 on sale so complaints here! And the shorts are just a simple pair of black high-ish waist shorts with a soft, semi velvety feel to them. The beanie is actually my favourite part of this outfit, it's so thick and chunky and cosy, I just love it!

Yesterday I had acting class with trainer of the week Damian Walshe-Howling. This guy knows his stuff, I (and everyone else in the class) learned so much from the day and we all really broke through our own personal barriers and really improved our craft. Awesome, awesome day!

But of course there was a yin & yang aspect to the day - the class was amazing, but the day started out everything but. I was early for my bus (my error) and had to wait standing in the rain and wind for 30 minutes, not to mention the additional 10 minutes because the bus was freakin' late! But it still managed to get to the train station on time for my train! Except the train was cancelled at the last minute. And it was 45 minutes before the next train.

So my day could only get better from there! 

I hope you enjoyed this outfit post! How was your weekend - the yin, & the yang? 

xx Chontelle Louise

The Autumn TAG

                  

So I found this Tag on another blog (Emily Likes Makeup) and thought it seemed like a fun idea. This Tag was originally created by Makeup Pixi3, who has tagged anyone that's a blogger to do it too! So definitely check those two out! 

Anyway, here's the Autumn TAG! By the way, if you're reading this, then I Tag YOU to do the Autumn TAG next! xx

For Autumn, what is your...

1.  Favourite thing about it?  It's a tie between the fact that I can break out the baggy knit jumpers and knee-high socks, and the way the leaves fall from the trees and scatter the grounds. This is actually my very first Autumn being able to experience this in person!!! In Brisbane, it's basically a constant cycle of Summer/Spring/Summer/Spring, meaning we'd miss out on all of the perks of the cooler seasons! So as lame as it is, I'm super excited as the Autumn leaves fall this year!

2.  Favourite drink?  I'm still not over the fact that this isn't available here in Australia (it's criminal!), but my absolute favourite drink for Autumn is the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. To. Die. For. But as far as my favourite available drink for Autumn, I'd have to say it's a Caramel or Hazelnut Latte!

3.  Favourite scent/candle?  It's a tie between my Vanilla Caramel Candle from Peter Alexander, or my Reeces Peanut Butter Cup scented Candle. I love sweet, creamy scents over Autumn/Winter!

4.  Best lipstick?  I have only tried this once before but I'm planning to order three beautiful autumn/winter shades from Lime Crime's Velvetine collection - Red Velvet (tried & loved) and Wicked are lovely red shades, while Cashmere is a beautiful, soft pink/cashmere shade. They go on liquid, but dry in a beautiful matte that literally makes your lips look like velvet. 

5.  Go to moisturiser?  I really can't choose just one moisturiser for even a month, let alone an entire season! It changes all the time, however as a general rule I like something very hydrating for the cooler months because my skin gets dry quite easily when it's too cold.

6.  Go to colours for the eyes?  I like to stick to natural shades, so creams, golds, and browns - perfect for Autumn imho.

7.  Favourite music or band/singer to listen to?  I don't really have any specific seasonal favourite or general favourites haha, but I guess I enjoy softer music or like, less upbeat? I'm loving Style (T Swift), Take Me To Church (Hozier), Jealous (Nick Jonas), Don't Tell Em (Jeremiah), and Earned It (The Weeknd), right now!

8.  Favourite outfit to wear (i.e. boots & a scarf combo)?  I don't have a favourite outfit in particular, but rather favourite looks. Baggy sweaters, high-waist jeans, and skirts or dresses with stockings - all paired with cute matching boots! Did I mention I'm obsessed with boots?

9.  Autumn treat (i.e. a new scarf or bag you have your eye on)?  I'm really loving this chunky plaid scarf that's at Cotton On at the moment, so I'm hoping to grab that one sometime soon!

10.  Favourite place to be?  Either rugged up in bed with my cat on one side and some food on the other, or sitting in the back corner of a cosy little cafe enjoying a hot drink and some yummy cafe food!

xx Chontelle Louise

Knee High Knits & Leather

My Outfit:

Denim Vest - Valley Girl

Red Floral Blouse - Sophie Charlotte Italy

Black Leather Skirt - Mombasa Rose

Knee-High Socks - Cotton On

Boots - Famous Footwear

I'm obsessed with knee-high socks at the moment - they're my favourite thing! Perfect for the cooler weather we're experiencing down here in Melbourne at the moment. I colour matched the socks with my floral blouse from Sophie Charlotte (one of my favourite tops to date), and I think it worked out pretty well!

I got this leather skirt on clearance at the beginning of the year from a local Brisbane store Mombasa Rose, it only cost me $5 down from $35 so it was one heck of a bargain! I haven't worn it much because I've just been a bit confused on how exactly I was going to style it. I decided to be brave and wear it for this look with my staple black leather shoes (obviously neither are real leather). I finished the look off with a splash of denim in the form of this vest from Valley girl, which I think really adds something special/different to this look!

I've been super busy finishing up and submitting my resume to a huge number of retail stores, and also a few cafes (but fingers crossed for retail!!). Here's hoping something happens soon! It's getting a lot cooler here, Winter is well and truly on its way! I'm a mix of happy because I love colder weather (and all the winter fashions that come with it), and dying because oh my gosh, I am not used to this weather! Right now, Brisbane is like an average of 25-30 degrees, but Melbourne is more like 15-20 if that. So a good 10 degree decrease in temperature for this Brisbane born & raised girl. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be away from that terrible, humid heat, but my body is not sure how to deal with the cold just yet and I wish it would just get with the program! Haha!

Anyway, what did you think of this look? Love it? Or hate it? How's your week going? Let me know below!

xx Chontelle Louise

8 Cities I Need To Visit

Lately my wanderlust has been scratching around in my head, taking over many of my thoughts to the point that I've caught myself researching flights and travel to different cities all over the world - predominantly Europe. So as a bit of a release for my wanderlust I've compiled a list of cities that I'm dying to visit!

1. Amsterdam, Holland (Netherlands)
I've wanted to visit Amsterdam for a long time. The beautiful buildings (including those crooked houses!), the cafe culture, the canals, the bridges, the food, the art culture, and the way everyone's riding around on cute bicycles all the time! Everything about Amsterdam is just me. I'm hoping to visit this amazing city in my next trip to Europe!

2. Cape Town, South Africa
Such. A Beautiful. City. It's not even the city itself that's beautiful, but it's natural beauty, the natural beauty of South Africa. I'm half South African on my mothers side, and have always wanted to visit the country but understandably mum isn't too sure after all of the issues this beautiful country has suffered. However Cape Town is one of the safest parts of SA and the most beautiful. It's got a lovely seaside village feel to it and so vibrant and interesting - also the cable cars up to Cable Mountain are a must.

3. Prague, Czech Republic
It's such a colourful and interesting city in a country with so much history. Previously under Communist control, the Czech Republic (prev. Czechoslovakia) is an amazing place to visit for those who are interested in communist and European history - or just history in general! And where better to do so than in the capital, Prague!

4. Warsaw, Poland
I think Warsaw, and in general Poland, is really underrated as far as 'list of cities to visit' go. I don't know where I first got the interest to visit Poland, but once I did it just got stronger and stronger. I still don't know much about the city or country but what I do know is that it looks absolutely gorgeous and I'd love to learn more!

5. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is to Germany what Melbourne is to Australia. It's an urban city full of fashion and graffiti and really good coffee. It could be seen as a little bit ugly what with all of the big city buildings, but that's part of the allure. It's fun, it's grunge, and it's a city I would really love to visit one day!

6. Marrakech, Morocco
I've always had an interest in visiting Morocco. I love new and different experiences, and Marrakech is an explosion of colourful, glorious difference! I can see myself draining the bank on all sorts of interesting colourful items from the rows and rows of stalls and having to purchase another suitcase to lug it all back home in!

7. Bruges, Belgium
From what I can gather, Bruges looks like the most beautiful, small old European city with a stunningly haunting look to it. My mum visited Bruges a long time ago and always said that we should visit, and pick up some of the lace and little trinkets that she wants to get for me to pass down in generations. So for me, visiting Bruges is more of a personal desire. It doesn't hurt that it's an absolutely gorgeous city, often referred to as the 'Venice of the North' due to its canals. I seem to have a thing for cities with canals, they're just so mystical and breathtaking!

8. Dublin, Ireland
I've got Irish blood on both sides of my family so I may be a little bit biased, but Ireland is somewhere I've wanted to go for a while now. I love that Dublin seems to be a bit quieter than many other major European cities, and it (along with the rest Ireland) seems like something out of a fairytale! So cute and quaint and beautiful greenery, Dublin is defintely a place I plan to visit!

I hope you've enjoyed this post! Let me know below, what cities do YOU need to visit?

xx Chontelle Louise

*please note images are not my own*

Lazy Days

My Outfit:

Black cardigan - Cotton On

Black printed muscle top - Melrose Avenue

Denim ripped boyfriend jeans - Cotton On

Black leather style boots - Famous Footwear

I'm gonna be honest, I've been pretty lazy so far this week. I spent the weekend pretty much in bed, stuffing my face with chocolates and all the other unhealthy food cooked up for Easter lunch, and watching TV. So obviously not the greatest start to the week (or possibly the greatest, hmm)!

I had to run up to the shops today to pick up some food (and snatch up those 50% off post-Easter goodies!!) so the goal was quick, simple & casual. I love this cardigan, it's so warm and cosy and I love the slouchy fit. I threw on this simple muscle print tee, it's got a cross with luxe and a bunch of other words printed on it and I just think it's really cute and simple! Nothing says comfy better than a pair of boyfriend jeans! I'd had my eyes on these for a while and finally picked them up at 30% off not too long ago, the only drama is that they're a bit too big (like I need to pull em' up a bit) but I don't think it's too obvious, they're meant to look big anyhow, so!

It's school holidays right now, meaning that all of the managers and well adults have gone off with their children and left the schoolios in charge. Which is totally fine, but means that I'll have to wait until next week to stand a chance of my resume not being lost or thrown straight into the bin. So as a result I've got a few more days of laziness to soak up before mad-job-hunting once more. Fingers crossed I'll find something soon!

I've decided that I'm going back to uni in the mid-year intake, but in a course I actually want to do this time. I'm just trying to decide which one - I've narrowed it down to either Fashion Merchandising or Professional Writing and Editing. Decisions, decisions! 

What have you been up to this week readers? How was your easter?

xx Chontelle Louise

7 Ways to Cope With Anxiety

Anxiety is more than just stress, worry or nervousness - it's a combination of all three and more, immensely intensified. When someone who suffers from anxiety is having an attack, it can be an incredibly frightening experience. Your breathing quickens, your chest tightens, your heart starts to burn as if you could be having a heart attack, your mind is all over the place, you may even get dizzy or blurred vision.

Here in Australia, more than 2 million adults suffer from anxiety. Having an anxiety (or panic) attack is an awful, scary and distressing thing to experience. It can feel like the world is closing in on you and with nowhere to run you're going to suffocate. And I would know, because I am one of those 2 million Australian's that suffer from anxiety.

Over several years I have learnt new ways to cope with my anxiety, so today I'm going to share with you seven of those coping methods. Even if you don't have anxiety, these tips can still be really useful for dealing with things like stress and nerves.

Go for a walk. Getting outside and breathing in some fresh air is always a sure-fire way to calm yourself down and clear your head. Exercise is scientifically proven to release endorphins (ie. happy hormones) as well as make you feel fitter and healthier, making it a great stress-reliever.

Drink some tea. While many herbal teas are highly regarded for their calming qualities (chamomile, ) I personally find that any sort of tea is helpful in combatting anxiety. My favourite is a Toasty Nougat tea from T2 with a little milk and sugar.

Write. Whether it be in a journal, a letter, a story, or even a blog - just write. Being able to release everything that you're feeling, and everything that's running through your head can be such a relaxing and therapeutic exercise to help relieve stress and cope with anxiety.

Take a bath (or shower). This is something I always find relaxes me quite easily. Having some time to yourself to just clear your mind and gather your thoughts is really helpful in dealing with anxiety, and what better way to do so that with a nice, warm bath or shower?

Light a candle. The smell of a burning candle is possibly one of the most beautiful and relaxing things, to be honest. I love creamy and sweet smelling candles, my favourite is my Vanilla Noel candle from Bath and Body Works - absolutely delicious and makes you feel warm, cosy and peaceful almost immediately.

Watch your favourite light-hearted movie. I say light-hearted because if your favourite movie is a horror, thriller, murder mystery or anything along those lines, it's probably not going to help you in coping with anxiety. A fun comedy, romance or even - in my case - a classic Disney movie, on the other hand is a great way to relax and occupy your mind with something fun and not so serious.

Take a deep breath. It may seem obvious, but when you're stressed out, nervous, or having an anxiety attack, it can be easy to forget to just breathe. So it's worth remembering to do so. A simple breath in and out can do wonders in relieving anxiety, and sometimes it's the simplest things we forget that can make a world of difference.

And there we have it - 7 ways to cope with anxiety. I hope that these have been helpful to you in some way or another, and if you feel that you or someone you know may need help, or you'd simply like to learn more about anxiety you can find some great information here.

Let me know - do you suffer from anxiety? Do you know someone that does? And what are some of your tips on how to cope with anxiety?

xx Chontelle Louise

Delicious, Liplicious!

I'd like to take this chance to profess my love for the perfection that is Bath & Body Works! I'm actually obsessed with their products, and really wish they would just open up shop down under! Until then, however, I've been making do with online ordering (through eBay sellers, as Bath & Body Works sadly does not ship outside of the Americas).

Today, as I begin to look into purchasing some new B&BW lip gloss tubes, I decided it would be a good time to review my favourites (after all, I should be a fairly reliable source for their review considering I've had them for more than 2 years)!

It's important to note that the following flavours have since been retired from the B&BW shelves, however you can still find them floating around on eBay quite a bit! I purchased these three (along with several others, oops!) in Hollywood over Christmas week back in 2012, and despite having purchased many more since then, these remain my all-time favourites (for now, anyway)!

Sugared Cupcake
First of all I love cupcakes, so the whole idea of a cupcake flavoured lip gloss literally had me squealing in excitement. This is a cute, fun & girly gloss. It has a sweet & creamy vanilla scent, sort of like a vanilla cupcake so relatively true to it's name. The taste however, isn't that great (I know it's a lip gloss, but considering that most of the liplicious glosses do actually taste quite good, it was a bit of a let down). The gloss is a sheer, clear and subtle shimmer look, perfect for a basic, casual look or to wear over lipstick to add a little shine!

Winter Candy Apple
Ah, the Christmas themed gloss. Christmas is my absolute favourite holiday, so of course a Christmas scent would make it onto my favourites list. The scent of this one is strong and smells exactly like candy apple, and it tastes sweet like candy or syrup. I love this scent during the autumn/winter period, however I still break it out over Christmas because hey, it's not my fault Christmas is in Summer here in Oz! Like Sugared Cupcake, it is a clear & sheer shimmery gloss, perfect for a casual look.

Cookies & Cream
The first thing that came to mind when I smelt this one for the first time was: OREOES! It literally smells just like oreo cookies, with its strong and creamy chocolately scent, and yes - it even tastes like it (it's just so good, but please, do not actually eat the lip gloss)!! It's a beautiful, warm bronze and white shimmering shade perfect for the colder months. The only small issue with this gloss is that on pale girls (like myself), it can be a bit too dark and wash you out. I like to wear this very thin with a darker wardrobe, or over some lipstick, to make it a bit more natural looking! However, I also simply like to smell it (in private, of course, otherwise I'd look a wee bit wierd)! This one is definitely my favourite of them all.

The entire Bath & Body Works 'Liplicious' Glosses Collection is thich, smooth & long lasting. The lip gloss leaves your lips feeling smoother and softer than before, and is perfect to avoid chapping while looking glam over the cooler season. I'm certainly looking forward to putting in my next order for B&BW lipgloss' galore!

Have you tried any of the liplicious glosses? What's you favourite(s) from the collection?

Also, I'd just like to say a MASSIVE thankyou to everyone that's been reading and has followed my blog - In just over a week since getting my first follower, I now have over 100 followers! I couldn't be more excited and thankful if I tried - and I have you guys to thank! So, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU! <3 xxx

xx Chontelle Louise

Pout About It! in 'Pretty Please' by Sportsgirl | Review

For a long time I've been strictly a gloss & balm kinda girl, always feeling that any kind of lipstick was just 'too much' for me. Well, recently I've had a change of heart. I've been really getting into lipstick lately, especially pink and nude colours.

Enter this Pout About It! lipstick in 'Pretty Please' pink from Sportsgirl. I found this recently while having a bit of a wander around Sportsgirl - I love the clothes, but the prices at this store are a bit out of my reach. However, when I spotted this lipstick I just knew I had to have it, and at $9.95, it was definitely worth it!

I'm a sucker for anything pink, and this soft, dusky pink is exactly what I like to use on my lips. The lipstick is quite smooth and hydrating on the lips, however after about 4 or 5 hours it drys a little and starts sticking to dry skin, so it'll need a bit of re-applying throughout the day. It's not too bright that it looks tacky, and it's not too dark that it makes my face look even more washed out than it already is. I do think that if you've got a more tan/olive complexion or darker that this may be a bit too light for you and wash you out a bit, but it's perfect for the pale faces!

This isn't the very best lipstick I've used, but it most certainly isn't the worst! It's definitely a nice everyday lipstick for a simple look, and at only $9.95, it's better than I expected! 

Have you tried this lipstick - or any other - in the Pout About It! range? Let me know below!

xx Chontelle Louise

OOTD: Grunge Chic

My Outfit:

Denim jacket - Alcott (Italy)

Shoulderless crop - ICE

Plaid skort - ICE

Black leather style boots - Famous Footwear

Depending on how long you've been reading my blog, or how far back in my post history you've been, you may have already seen a couple of these photos in my post on My Photoshoot with Christopher Robert Photography. 

Well here's a few more! I actually hand picked this outfit for the shoot because I really love how it looks - casual, fun, with a bit of a rocker chic edge to it. I guess you could even say it borders on grunge, possibly!

I bought the jacket last October when I was in Rome for only €30, or $45AUD. I'd been wanting to get myself a denim jacket to add to my staple closet items for a long time, but when I want something so much I can be really picky - nothing back home was right for me! When I saw this in the shop window on the walk back to the hotel I just knew I'd found what I was looking for!

The shoulderless crop and plaid skort are from ICE, I tried them on together and fell in love with the pair. They're both really comfy and at only $15 each (pretty sure the skort was reduced, mind me you) definitely value for money. I've really been loving plaid lately, I have a sort of on-again off-again love affair with the print!

The boots I've had for about 2 years already, and they're beginning to look a bit worn but they're so comfy and I just adore them! They can bring some attitude to the simplest or girliest of looks, or add to the grunge rocker look as they've done with this look!

So yeah, that's my OOTD. I actually wore it today but didn't get any pictures, and then I remembered these and - problem solved!

What do you think of my outfit - what's your favourite piece?

xx Chontelle Louise

Nails of the Day: Easter Edition!

I picked up this cute nail colour today for only a dollar in the sale bin at Target. I really love the soft, creamy light green colour of this polish, it really reminds me of all the bright colours of Easter so I figured my finding this polish was perfect timing! I almost hesitated at the check out, thinking 'I won't really be wearing this much for a while now that it's Autumn'. But at only $1 I figured it was totally worth it for the weekend, and it would look cute with some softer colours over winter if I feel like brightening things up for the day!

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from a dollar nail polish, usually they're clumpy or overly watery. Well, this one is the complete opposite! The Ulta 3 Kiwi Chaos nail polish was a whole lot better than I expected! There wasn't a clump in site, but still quite a thick and smooth texture to it. I found that it was still a bit too transparent for my liking with only one coat, so I added a second, which gave it a thick block colour that I adore!

Tomorrow is Good Friday, meaning the official start of the Easter long weekend (meaning the official start of having a valid excuse to eat lots of chocolate)! I'm gonna be spending the day at home, eating chocolate and other yummy Easter treats - what else?!

What are your plans for the Easter long weekend? And what do you think of my choice for Easter nails? Leave a comment below, I love hearing from you all!

Have a very Happy Easter! <3

xx Chontelle Louise