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.

Travel Thursday - Girls weekend - Rotorua 10k, desertgasm, friendly kitty visitor, excellent coffee and a nice scenic stroll

1. Rotorua, known for its geothermal activity and traditional Maori village settlement, it's a major tourist trap hence the helipad and multiple sea plans waiting for rich sight seers. Rotorua is also known for stinking of rotten eggs from all the sulfur!
2. Check out this sweet bicycle tree: made from bicycles gifted from residents in Rotorua it's designed to highlight the city's growing reputation as the southern hemisphere's mountain biking capital. Plus it just looks cool.
3. The garden outside the restaurant Atticus Finch is next level awesome.
4. the INSANE deserts at Ciccio

Us four girls were in Rotorua for the Half Marathon (Angela did the 21k walk, Michelle and I the 10k run and Gillian the 4k walk) but we only enter events for the deserts. These pictures don't show how RIDICULOUSLY MASSIVE the slices of cake are, like 5 inches tall!

Apple and custard doughnut - it tasted a billion times better than it looks and it looks GOOD!

They do cake orders too - I had to take a picture of these cute sugar paste shoes.

We stayed at a Holiday park and received a visit from this little friend (left) He kept walking away and making me follow along to pat him, he looks just like our pusscat Norman on the left.

After the event Michelle had to go but Angela, Gillian and I went BACK to Ciccio for one of their fabulous Freakshakes. The 3 of us shared this cookies and cream one and it was still too much, imagine having one to yourself!

After our shakes we headed back to Tauranga, the girls stayed another night at my place. We got delicious coffees from the food van along the boardwalk and then headed out around the base track of Mauao - a big hill at the end of town that forms a natural harbour with an adjoining island Matakana - Mauao means "caught by the rising sun" read the legend here.

Look at those views!

We got medals but forgot to take a selfie with all of us! Never mind, we have our memories.

Happy travels everyone.

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Travel Thursday: Winter sunshine - Warm sunny winter days at the beach in Tauranga, New Zealand. When you're reminded how beautiful your city is.

It's winter at the moment here in Tauranga New Zealand and we've been through a massive cold snap! There was snow on the Mamaku Ranges just 100 kilometers down the road! However, Tauranga is mainly a beach town and we generally have lovely warm weather with a cool sea breeze. We decided to take an impromtu drive down to Sulfur Point and take a few snaps around the Marina there.

Shag's (cormorant to the rest of the world) don't have water repellent feathers so after diving for food have to sun their wings to dry them off.

This is the view from the top of Mauao -

That hill on the horizon.

Do you live somewhere amazing that you take for granted?

I can't wait for summer now, we're going to come back and take a dip, the water is so clear!

♥ 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.