...can we get some sunshine, Sydney?

The last day of winter and Sydney sure delivered. I briefly stepped outside in an attempt to go for my weekend run and instead, found myself heading straight back inside to the warmth and comfort of a heater, copious cups of tea and chocolate Digestives. What can I say? The thought of exercise was there. Just not today.

The past few days have been freezing, and yes, I use that term loosely as I know that our winter is relatively mild in comparison to other cities. The temperature drops below 20°C and before you know it, Sydney-siders are commenting about the miserable state of the weather. Bless.

As I spent the afternoon indulging in some self-care (face mask on, reruns of TOWIE, more cups of tea, you catch my drift ... ), I realised there have been a few products which I have found myself gravitating towards this winter. These products have become firm favourites, though truth be told, I have a feeling I'll still be reaching for them during the warmer months as well.

Well, well, well

... it's been awhile, Happy New Year :)

Two thoughts crossed my mind when I logged into my account this evening:

1. Do people still read blogs?
2. Is this even worth blogging?

It seems in a world of insta-social media, blogging has taken a bit of a backseat. Why read through a blog post when you can simply scroll through a handful of pictures with one-line captions and a few hashtags thrown in?

As outdated as blogging seems to be, I still love reading them - and clearly, I've missed it because why else would I be back after two years of letting dust and cobwebs gather in this tiny corner of the web ... Oops! :)

Truthfully, I've found myself trawling through blogs in the past few months. In between breaks at work, on my morning and evening commute, when I'm looking for reviews on products, before I consider purchasing items online ... I always end up on one blog or another. There's something different about reading entries and knowing the time, thought and effort a person has put into it. I've noticed that blogging still has a personal element to it and I appreciate reading material that doesn't involve advertisements so often associated with other social media platforms.

I'm hoping that 2019 will see me logging on more often as I really do miss the creativity behind blogging and regardless of whether people still read blogs, I enjoy it and I am grateful for the friendships I've made in the blogging community in the short time that I've been online.

In addition to setting aside more time for A-Z | Life & Style, I'm aiming for the following in the year ahead.

Lunch at Culinary Boutique, Dubai

Earlier this year, I visited family and friends in Dubai. It had been three years since I had last been to the UAE and I knew to expect some changes to the country, particularly to Dubai. However, I did not expect to see so many changes.

There are no words to describe just how fast Dubai has grown during the last couple of decades. Each time I am back in the city, I am almost overwhelmed by the latest developments and the number of new places to see. I find myself on the lookout for new shopping centres to explore, new hotels to visit and of course, exciting, new restaurants and cafes to dine at. The city is innovative, extravagant, and quite simply, larger than life.

One of my favourite things about Dubai is that it's rare, if not, impossible, to find two places that are similar. Every mall and hotel has it's own charm and style, and the same rings true for the city's dining scene. Culinary Boutique is one such place. After seeing a few pictures on social media, I knew that I had to visit this cafe in Jumeirah, a coastal residential area of Dubai.

Spring nail polish favourites

I love nail polish.

I love collecting nail polish, I love having my nails done, and I can't leave a beauty supply store without having a quick look at their nail polish selection.

Surely, I'm not the only one ... :)

It's currently spring in Australia and that means I tend to reach more towards bright, pastel shades during this time of the year.

I thought I would share with you some of my favourite Essie shades for the season.

Weekend ramble

It's hard to believe that, just a week ago, I was doing the Bondi to Bronte walk and viewing the 2016 Sculpture by the Sea.

This weekend is rather gloomy with a forecast of storms and cloudy weather for the most part. Thankfully, it seems like these grey skies are a one-off and we are set for some gorgeous weather this coming week.

I had initially intended to post about my favourite Spring nail polish shades, but I think I will save that post for another time when I am more inclined to reach for brights and pastel colours. This time, you are getting a weekend ramble - enjoy!