Sunday Instagram catch-up - Cats, Baking, baking, baking, Throwback Thursday to a warmer time, Macarons... Street art, views of the sea and a RIDICULOUS dessertgasm

Good day sensation seekers.

How was our week?

A little Instagram Catch-up while we sip our coffee/teas.

1. Norman looking ever suave in his tuxedo.

2. Lemon passion fruit Melting Moments... recipe coming soon!

3. #Throwback Thusday to the Gold Coast July 2016

4. #Throwback Thursday to Melbourne Zoo March 2017.

5. Macarons all packaged and ready to sell for charity!

6. New Water Tower up Mauao (our local hill) by Mr. G.

7. View from Mauao - Look at that sea!

8. Coffee and an Oaty caramel slice at 'the Bach' Cafe

9. Some stories I snapped through the week.

And the Piece de resistance - The baked cookie and vanilla ice cream at Good Neighbour pub in Hamilton - was so freshly amazing it's making me wanna go make one right now.

How was your week?
Do anything fun?

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Brisbane - Queensland Australia - NEW SHOES, Polly the dog, Wheel, Paleo cafe,

Wheel of Brisbane - amazing views, as you would expect.

Didn't do much shop-trawling in Brisbane, although they do have amazing shopping.

Just picked up these heeled wedge sandals from H&M.

Caught up with my Best friend Katy for a PALEO lunch at Wilde kitchen.

We had the Green pancakes, which were more like patties than pancakes but still yum.

It was my first time meeting her adorable dog Polly, she's so quiet and cuddly.

I had to get a selfie with this random sheep lady - Teneriffe used to be a busy wool trading hub.

 I definitely recommend a visit to the City Botanical Garden

We weren't really expecting much but were so impressed by the beautiful presentation.

If you're in Brisbane you ABSOLUTELY MUST pay a visit to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

But beware - You may die of the cuteness!

Kangaroo: You can walk right up and feed and touch them if you so wish.

a lazy Dingo and a koala, the dirty patch on his chest is a scent gland!

OMIGOD the baby koalas were SO CUTE! And sooooo cuddly.

Because of their poor energy diet (gum tree leaves) koalas sleep up to 22 hours a day!

For a little extra you can hold a koala and get your picture taken! I didn't want to though, it just didn't feel right on the day.

If you're staying in the CBD you can take a ferry there and back to the sanctuary from the south bank which is a great attraction in itself. The friendly informative guides will point out things along the way, it's another great way to see the city.

Another ferry from the south bank will take you to eagle pier, a newly established dining precinct with massive restaurants and picturesque views of the river.

Brisbane also has a really good train system, we stayed at Roma Street Serviced Apartments across from the Roma Street Station - we caught the train to Chinatown and had a delicious meal. The area around Chinatown is also home to a bit of an alternative culture, saw a lot of tartan, studs and Mohawks!

Have you ever visited Brisbane?
Any travel tips?

Happy travel Thursday everyone.

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Online shopping - Topshop boots, Bardot dress at the Iconic and Glassons shoes - is online shopping a disease? I may have it

I CANNOT WAAAIT until these studded 'Madness' boots from Topshop arrive!!! I've been stalking them for months, they just went on sale and were getting very low (according to them) so I bit the bullet and bought them... They'll be able to do double duty year round as they're a boot, but still kind of a sandal!

Also this DIVINE slip dress by Bardot Australia from The Iconic (like an Australian ASOS)

Look at the PRINT. It'll be so perfect for summer and as it's pretty sunny here in Tauranga I'll get A LOT of wear out of it. I already have a plain black dress exactly like this and it ROCKS... so I can't go wrong?

I also just LAST WEEK picked up these 2 pairs, Black velvet ankle boots and some Rose Gold peep toe mules from Glassons - Like New Zealand's Topshop. I REALLY need to cut up my debit card now or I wont be able to afford our November trip to AUSTRALIA!!!!

Have you guys bought anything cute lately?
Happy shopping everyone.

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Travelling with me: Tauranga NZ, Melbourne & Sydney AUS, Wellington NZ, Paradox Street Art festival

1. View from our back yard - Motuopae Island, tapu (sacred) Maori burial site.

We've lived here about 4 years and the view is always spectacular, even now in winter.

2. Melbourne CBD at dusk from the Spencer st Bridge across the Yarra River.

Dusk is my favourite time of night to take photographs, so moody.

3. View of Fireworks in the Melbourne CBD from our apartment in the Docklands.

Randomly one night there were some fireworks sprouting out of this high rise in the city.

4. The Sydney Harbour Bridge from Hickson Rd.

I like the pictures that show you a more industrious side to a city. Everyone takes a picture of the harbour bridge, but make it look more interesting/new in some way.

5. View across the estuary from Maxwells road.

I loved the light and colour in this shot - with the little brown dinghy framed by a Pohutukawa Tree.

6. Tauranga: Street art by Jacob Yikes. How to make a boring parking building a destination.

I LOVE this guys work - check him out.

7. Wellington waterfront boat sheds.

There are a million pictures of these sheds but I just loved the old church up there on the hill and the reflection of the cloud on the water. Wellington may be my all time FAVOURITE city.

While travelling I try to balance taking some good shots with really absorbing where I am. There could be nothing worse than taking 1,000 photos while not really immersing yourself in the experience of travel.

I'm going to write a post about the recent street art festival we just held here in Tauranga NZ (pictured above) So many great artists transformed uninspiring walls in our city into magnificent pieces of thought provoking art works we can be proud of for decades to come.

Happy travelling everyone.

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.