Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve grown up with animals. We had dogs, birds, bunnies and I always wanted a turtle, but I couldn’t wrangle that one with mum and dad.

I do remember, however, always having a really special bond with all my dogs. Rex the Labrador, Gordon the Beagle, Silje the Pomeranian and now my best buddy; Archie the Cocker Spaniel.

The difference between my three dogs growing up and Archie is where they all came from and the life they lived prior to joining our family. In Denmark dogs roam on farms mostly and are bred in good conditions. I was shocked to arrive in Australia to discover that you can actually ‘shop’ for a dog in a window. It blows my mind that this isn’t labelled as animal cruelty. Imagine being taken away from your mum and placed in a glass-box for hundreds of people to poke and prod you everyday until someone pays the (overpriced) price-tag for you?

When I wanted to look into getting a dog, my good friend Hazal instantly encouraged me to ‘adopt not shop’. It was such a strange concept for me, because it’s so different to Denmark, but nonetheless I took her advice and started the search for my next best friend. 

A few months later, I got a call from the pound telling me that and 8-month old Cocker Spaniel called Archie had become available because his family didn’t want him any longer. As soon as I saw him, I fell in love with him and knew he was meant to be by my side.

Archie was pretty traumatised from his last family, especially around hand-movements which led the Pound-staff to believe that his previous family had tried to raise him by hitting him. He was an extremely anxious dog and had severe attachment-issues. I worked with a Dog Behaviourist for a few months to settle Archie into a new space and get comfortable with me. It was like he had to learn to walk again, but a different walk. It took a while, but Archie is the most gentle-hearted and good-natured boy. He spreads so much love and is happy all day long. I’m so extremely happy that I went the adoption-route, because those animals will always have a sincere appreciation and love for you from rescuing them from death which is the reality of many left dogs in Australia.

If you are looking to adopt, then I wanted to share with you the amazing work that PETstock is doing across Australia in terms of adoption and saving animals that would otherwise be put down.

PETstock’s own charity foundation, PETstock Assist’s mission is to make a long-term difference and positive change in the lives of pets and humans. They do this through a number of initiatives including programs that assist abused, abandoned and neglected pets through rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming.

PETstock stores partner with local rescue groups to foster and adopt out animals in need. They also run adoptions days throughout the year, of which over 19,000 rescue pets have been re-homed to date

ALL pets deserve a safe and loving home and many pets enter the rescue cycle through no fault of their own. Working with PETstock, we hope to educate people to reconsider any biases or unfair stereotypes you might have about rescue pets and potentially give them a loving forever home.

Here are some benefits of adopting a rescue animal:

• • You are making a sustainable choice by choosing a pet from an existing population of animals needing a home. By choosing to adopt, you are reducing the demand for puppies or kittens bred by backyard breeders. 2020 estimated data indicates over 100,000 pets are killed in pounds annually – saving a life, what could feel better!
  • They comemicrochipped and desexed already.
  • They are generally socialised and have already received some training.
  • You get to find out about their individual personality, temperament, health,  and any special needs they might have up front. 

If you are serious about adding a furry friend to your own life or the life of your family, then the PETstock Adoption Hub contains loads of useful info for those looking to adopt or who have recently adopted.

It also has a section where you can search for adoptable pets ready to find their forever home.

I cannot encourage you highly enough to please consider adopting instead of shopping for a ‘new’ dog. There are so many loving animals out there that never got a chance at life and are simply waiting for you to grant them just that. 

To find your next forever-love please head to PETstock’s Adoption Hub here. 

The post Why you should ADOPT and not SHOP for your next furry friend.​ appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

Yes, there is an initial time when we adopt a new dog into our home – whether they’re puppies or older – that we need to allow them time and space to settle into life and a new routine, however dogs should be able to fit into our lives moving forward and not always the other way around.

I’m a Scandinavian through and through, and it really comes out if you look at how I decorate my home; I keep it simple with a monotone colour scheme, lots of light and spruce things up with a touch of colour. Even Archie is black and white, so he fits well into the colour scheme already (hehe).

The touches of colour I speak about normally comes through art, plants/flowers or Archie’s bedding, toys, leads and more. Because he is black and white, I love that he can wear a bit of colour and still look stylish.

I recently went into my local PETstock store to pick Archie up a bunch of new goodies, not only to spoil him in preparation for the cooler months, but to also co-ordinate my home. He’s utterly obsessed with his new warm beds and matching blankets.

As I work from home and have my office at home, Archie is used to me being home with him most of the day, and with his Cocker Spaniel attachment style, he likes to stay close to me at all times, so I find having a bed/blanket in each of the rooms is really handy, instead of moving everything around all the time.

OFFICE:

I’ve got lots of plants and natural light in my office with creme tiles and white walls, so adding something soft, fluffy and colourful to this room was exactly what it needed. The Grey/Amazon Green fluffy blanket fits perfectly into my office, underneath my monstera. Archie loves to sleep underneath plants and this way, he can snuggle up and keep warm in winter, as my office does tend to get cold.

BEDROOM:

Again, my bedroom is very simple with white bedding and a creme coloured base + lots of plants around. Archie sleeps in my bedroom next to me, so I wanted something he can be extra snug in and curl himself up into a croissant, as that’s his favourite sleeping position. The Buddy & Belle Bolster Bed in Amazon Green is soft and warm with a cool aztec green print which gives the bedroom a bit more oomph without it being too much. If it’s an extra cold night, I’ll add his fluffy blanket to his bed, so he can really snuggle up.

LIVING ROOM: 

My living room space is open and full of light. I like to keep it pretty tidy and simple as it’s the first room you walk into in my apartment. The Snooza Cuddler Dune Bed in the Dune colour is literally perfect for this. And because the place for his bed is in a strange angle, the roundness of the bed just works so well! This type of bed is also amazing for dogs suffering with anxiety as the soft material calms them right down which makes for a restful sleep for them.

KITCHEN:

Keeping in line with the simplicity and a burst of colour, I’m really into green at the moment, so I’m extending that into the kitchen with two new ripple bowls for Archie in a cute pastel-mint that are super easy to wash, and helps with his ears not getting into his food as they’re slightly raised. Additionally, I’ve added a Lexi & Me  feeding mat in the shape of a bone (how cute, huh?) to make sure his food/water doesn’t stain my floorboards.

I also got a big mint & cream ceramic treat jar because it just makes it easier than having to open/close plastic bags all the time. Now, they’re readily available. Which I’m sure Archie is thrilled about!

Last but not least, Archie loves soft-toys. He’s not big on plastic and, in general, hard toys. He finds soft toys very soothing, so an array of squishy ones that all provides different sensory experiences, is his favourite. I might even steal one to cuddle at night, myself.

This blog-post was created in collaboration with PETstock.

The post How To: Decorate a dog friendly & stylish home. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

Basically, we could apply sustainability to everything in this world and today I want you to take a moment to think about one of the biggest issues we’re facing and that is landfill.

A huge contributor to landfill is furniture – did you ever think about that? Furniture waste is a growing problem and like the rest of the issues we’re facing in this world, it’s here to stay unless we choose to do something proactive about it.

We’ve become a throw-away society with so much cheap furniture available that isn’t built to last, and over 85% of furniture we put on the curb isn’t recycled and is instead simply sent to landfill.

Based on a compositional survey of more than 2,500 households in metropolitan areas, on average each household disposes around 24kg of wooden furniture per year. Approximately a third of this are soft furnishings like sofas and armchairs, and two-thirds other wooden furniture.

“If you think of a population of 2 million households in the Greater Sydney Region, this could add up to 48,000 tonnes of used furniture per year disposed at the kerbside,” Kevin Morgan, Managing Director of EC Sustainable says.

To put that into furniture terms – and figuring in average furniture weights – that’s the equivalent of 800,000 three-seater sofas, 1.65 million dining tables, 3.4 million coffee tables or 6.85 million chairs, thrown away every year.

These numbers are for Sydney only and don’t include other furniture delivered directly to tips by households and businesses or illegal dumping. And the problem is getting worse.

Writing this actually sends chills down my spine. When I started doing research for this article, I got deeper and deeper into this wormhole – a very uncomfortable one, might I add.

Nonetheless, these problems won’t go away simply because we turn a blind eye to what is happening, not only in Australia, but all over the world and no one can fix the problem unless we all collectively add to the solution that is, thinking twice about purchasing new furniture, the lifespan we can utilise it for and, if we need to get rid of it, can we upcycle it in the sense of handing it down to someone who’s in need of furniture and can’t afford to buy new ones themselves?

I want to introduce you to a man whom I met a few months ago. A man who’s very different from anyone else in the furniture business I’ve ever come across. Very down to earth and very passionate about building a lifestyle and home that’ll last you for tens of years to come.

Justin –  owner of Crafted Furniture in Rushcutters Bay (Sydney) –  can be a key-player en helping solve the issues of fast furniture as he is replacing the term with SLOW FURNITURE.

What is Crafted Furniture’s philosophy behind Slow Furniture? Well, there’s a lot of sides to this, but below I’ll name a few:

1. Handmade in Sydney: which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil pollution drastically and turn-over time is much quicker
2. Sustainable Wood Source: all wood is ethically sourced from environmentally sustainable forests.
3. Local Made Foams: foams made here in Sydney by Dunlop foams
4. Sustainable & Natural Fabrics: Crafted Furniture lean towards fabric of natural fibre content and suggest these where possible – Crafted fully understand where the fabrics come from and their sustainability.
5. Recyclable Schemes: Crafted Furniture takes pride in recycling your old sofa or furniture to people in need. They will gladly take your sofa and get it re-upholstered and cleaned to be passed onto a new home where it’s highly needed.
6. Creating local jobs: by doing all of the above, Crafted Furniture also helps to create jobs for more people onshore and keeps the economy in Australia for Australians.

The heart of Crafted Furniture’s ambition is to curate unrivalled experiences and quality that places accessible lifestyle design in reach for everyday enthusiasts and designers alike. Every piece is created with human touch and celebrates the essence of craftsmanship & sustainability.

Crafted Furniture has a story that has evolved over 15 years of passionate experience in the design industry, working alongside a number of Australia’s leading designers. Justin and the team continues to be fuelled by their inspired purpose to craft lifestyles, serving clients and the community through impeccable design that is personal to them.

Working with customers on a one-to-one basis allows Crafted Furniture to deliver a product that’s exactly what the customer is looking for. And backing this up with a service-led experience means that customers get access to a huge depth of product knowledge.

As Justin says: “We’re not trying to sell the same sofa to thousands of different customers – our retail experience means that you
get personalised service and a piece of furniture that’s exactly right for you”.

See more about the Furniture at Crafted Furniture here.

The post Why Sustainable Living Is More Important Than Ever. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

So let’s bring it back to basics so we can actually fully understand what the Microbiome is and what it actually does for us.

What is the Gut Microbiome?

The post 101 Gut Microbiome – A Beginners Guide To Understanding Your Gut. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

The so-called ‘Influencer’ landscape (I really don’t like the word, TBH!) is only growing bigger and bigger as the years go by, however, what you may not know from an outsiders perspective, is the fact that it’s also becoming harder and harder to work within this field because of the many changes that Instagram continue to roll out.

Especially after Instagram was bought by Facebook, the platform has really changed. The reach you have (how many people see your posts on their timeline) continues to go down across the border, because Instagram (FB run & owned) wants you to invest your dollars into advertising for yourself on your platform. It makes sense; everything is a business these days, and just like Facebook transitioned into becoming, not only a social media platform, but also a medium for a more targeted advertising platform – they are now trying to do the same thing with Instagram.. Sadly, yes.

Now, I am here to bust all the myths and tell you all the truths about how we Influencers ACTUALLY work. Now, a fair amount of my friends do work as an influencer or blogger, and I’ve done this for about 6 years now, so I do know how most people work across the border – this goes for influencers AND brands as I have a background & 12 years experience in Digital Marketing & Social Media.

Are you ready? Let’s clear up all the questions you have about being an ‘influencer’..

1. How did I get here?

Well, for me, it sort of just happened. After my cancer diagnosis, I truly wanted to change my life in a healthy way. I wanted to be better at taking care of myself – both mentally and physically – so I gave my life an ‘overhaul’, if you can say so.

As I was returning to everyday life, after my diagnosis and treatment, I found it really hard to be a 24-year old that had no interest in partying or living a ‘normal’ youth-like lifestyle anymore. And, also, I couldn’t physically do so. So I turned my attention inwards. I focused on me. What I loved; training, cooking, learning. And I just started my own blog, photographing my food creations and uploading them to there including the recipes. Then I started an Instagram in late 2013 and shared on there too.

That was it.. It started growing from there on in. I didn’t have any plans as to growing into being an ‘influencer’. Back then, that wasn’t even a word and the print publication industry was still thriving. Now, it’s probably the other way around.

I think, because it was never my aim to do what I’m doing today, and I purely did it out of a passion whilst I was working full-time jobs, I’ve been lucky to build up a very nurturing, kind and loving community of followers who I adore and love to speak with adn to every single day.

I’ve bene doing this for 6 years now, but it’s been far from easy, I’ll tell you that.

2. How do I make a living of it?

Well, let me remind you about the above again; I’ve done this for 6 years now. The first 3 years or so, I didn’t get anything for it. I’d be lucky to sometimes be gifted some product or ‘lend’ some. Yep, that’s right. All those people you see on Instagram that flashes all their high-end purchases? Please remember that they don’t always own all of these themselves or have even purchased them. A lot of the time, PR agencies will send influencers items to wear or ‘model’ for events, photographs etc. but expect it back afterwards, which I’m not a big fan of, unless it’s for the below.

For example; if I have an event on, sometimes I’ll ‘borrow’ a dress (or something else) from a PR agency because I don’t want to go out and spend money on a new dress that I won’t wear again, and you end up helping a brand with exposure because people will see you in it – it’s simply a thing of helping each other out. And there’s no money involved, although sometimes a brand can and will pay you to wear a pieces of clothes to an event – I’ve never been asked to do this. (more about this later)

So back to the money part of it, because I know that’s what you all really want to know about..

Because I’ve been doing it for such a long time now, I’ve built lots of great and strong relationships with businesses, brands and PR agencies across Australia. But that’s a big part of it. Being able to build genuine relationships I think is what makes you stand out. I do pride myself on my relationships, because I think there need to be a mutual respects across the border when you work with someone.

A brand might approach me to see if I’d be interested in working together with them.. But just hold up: I know you’re all thinking “how easy is that!”. Well, not exactly. Lots of brands approach you and always want to ‘collaborate’ – this term is more known as; ‘Create content for me for free & brand our products to your audience and we’ll pay you in products’..

Sometimes that’s awesome, but most of the time; it won’t pay my rent or my bills, you know? And, I’m sorry to burst your bubble if you think I’m exempt from those, but I’m not! (Lol, I wish!).

From my point of view, and I can only speak for myself; My integrity is everything to me. When a brand approaches me to work with them we have a long and lengthy conversation about the vision, mission, ideas, what they want out of it, how I want to approach it and how long I want to trial it before I speak about it.. IF I will speak about it. I’ve tried products and services before that I turned down, because, again, my integrity is everything and I will not EVER speak or present you with a product or service that I don’t believe in or think deserve the exposure. Remember this; this is what will set you apart from others if you want to work within this field. 

Then we agree on a budget and payment for the agreed amount of work.

Something that I’d love for brands to understand and for you who follows me is how much work actually goes into those few images and stories you see; sometimes it’ could be days of work.

You have to understand – whether you’re a brand or a person – this is what’s being paid for when you ‘hire’ an influencer for a campaign:

1. Time; the time it takes to setup a shoot and create the content. The editing. The photography. The cutting. The location scouting. The surroundings. It all takes hours on end. If you’d do this for someone, didn’t you want to be paid?
2. Photographers: yep, we pay for photographers to help us out too. We don’t get them for free. Sometimes I’m lucky to have Pash helping me with a photo but he’s not interested in spending his time taking photos of me, which is completely reasonable. A photographer can charge somewhat up to (and above) $2000/day if you get a professional. However, I do have some friends who are photographers and will give me a discounted rate of $250 for 2 hours. I then do the editing myself (hours on end).
3. Expenses: there are loads of those. No one wants to just see you sitting in front of a white wall. So, we need to drive to places which costs petrol, tolls and the time. We might need to buy props. Or we need to spend a whole day eating out because we’re out shooting all day long which doesn’t get paid for. As an FYI; brands often do pay you until 30-90 days AFTER the content is live on your platform, so you need to be able to have a cashflow which barely ANYONE has and it sucks. I am totally against this and I think brands need to reconsider this severely.
4. My platforms: Just like I’ve spent time, blood, sweat and tears building up my audience, brands need to understand that they pay for the platforms too. It’s somewhat of the same as if they were to buy a half-page spread in Vogue. You pay for the circulation, reach and engagement.
5. Content: Again to the above, when booking an influencer for a campaign, it’s a little like booking an agency to create content back in the days. We come up with the ideas, the flow, the storytelling, the briefs and the execution. This takes a long time too. Again, hours.
6. Invoicing and management: Once content is created, you spend lots of time liaising with the brand of agencies across phone and email on approval of the content. Sometimes they want things to change and so you need to do so, which again will incur another cost and extra hours added. Most people also do their own invoicing and management of accounts etc. which is far from fun but obviously has to be done. Invoicing and CHASING invoices is something I hate the most. It’s sad that brands sometimes disrespect you and don’t adhere to payment policies. For example, once I wasn’t paid for 6 months from a brand and I had to chase them and chase them for payment. Do you think it’s far if you were to go to work for a whole week and not be paid? Just putting it into perspective :)
7. Agent Management: some people have agent because they get sooo many enquiries through and don’t like speaking about money. If you have an agent they normally take 20% of your cut and add an extra 15% on top as an agency fee. I’ve had that as well, but am now agent-less and am doing everything myself which is another huge fish to swallow. I’m very grateful to be getting so many enquiries daily, but I also would like to spend more of my time balancing out giving you free content that I do for the love of it and you.

As you may be able to see, there’s lots of facets to creating campaigns and content for brands, and it’s a lot of hard work. It’s not for the faint-hearted and you have to develop a bit of a thick skin in order to work in the industry, at least that’s what I think :)

But, this industry has also helped show me what’s really important in life. Even though I do this for a living, it will never take away my core values and knowing what’s truly the most important things in life. At the end of the day; nothing beats coming home to my dog Archie, my boyfriend Pash and just running around in daggy pyjamas. Because that’s real life.

3. How will I know what I’ll earn weekly or monthly?

Short answer; I don’t. Ever.. Unless you have ambassador-contracts.I have two of those. With Abundant Natural Health and Ole Henriksen. Otherwise it’s pretty much totally unknown what you’ll earn that month.

To give you an idea of how I ‘got this’; I’ve used Ole Henriksen products since I was 13 years old. Even before I knew Ole personally (I met him for the first time in 2014), I would buy his products monthly out of my own wage. Because I’ve always talked openly and honestly about how I’ve used his products, I think the brand noticed this and saw that it was a good fit. Brands will always want people who authentically use their products – it’s too easy to see through it otherwise these days.

And so this year I’ve signed on as an ambassador for the brand; this means I know what I’ll be paid every month from them when I invoice them. This is where you all need to understand that I get paid for doing this, but I’d hope you know me well enough by now to understand that I’d still use and speak about the products even if I didn’t.

With Abundant Natural Health – they reached out to me last year because Liz who works there had heard about me through friends and we both live in Bondi. After I met both Liz and Shannan (founder) I started trialling and testing out the products. This year, the asked me to be their ambassador because I adore, and wholeheartedly believe in their products and the huge impact they’ve had on my gut-healing journey. Again, with this I know what I’ll get in monthly as I’ve signed on for 12 months with them for now.

But other than that? You don’t know. Ever.. Never! 

This industry is a gamble, and if you want to do it full time, you’ve gotta understand and be okay with that some months you’ll be swamped with work and other months you may not get anything through at all. So you need to make your ‘salary’ last.

I’m sure some people get paid the big bucks, no doubt about it, but I’m deemed as a ‘Medium Tiered’ Influencer and to give you an idea; I earn about 1/2 of what I used to when I held my full-time role as Head of Ecommerce for Unilever. I’m definitely NOT doing this for the money side of it, that’s for sure :) I’m doing it for the love and freedom of it. For the connections with people. For the creative outlet.

4. Do I get paid to attend events?

Nope. Not for me. I’ve been paid to attend 2 events in my entire ‘career’, but that’s because it’s been tied in with creating content and a campaign with the brand and they needed me to attend the event as part of it.

Some people will definitely be paid to attend events, but I’m not one of those (hah).

I solemnly attend events because:

1. I have a genuine interested in the brand or event.
2. It’s relationship building and networking
3. I get to catch-up with my friends who are also influencers
4. I broaden my horizon and learn something new
5. I get new inspiration.

Those are my top 5 reasons as to why I go. If you end up getting work out of it in the long run, that’s of course an added bonus. But it’s certainly not the norm. Also, keep in mind that when we do go to events we take a few hours of our own time to do so, we pay for parking or taxi’s, petrol etc. So events are full-on expenses for us. On average, I’d be spending about $50 going to events + if I’d have to think about the time (avg. 4 hours per event). I had 5 events this week; that’s an expense of $250 in petrol, parking, tolls etc. Just to give you an idea.

5. All the brands I tag on Instagram Stories, are they sponsored or paid for?

Again, nope. I’d say 5% of what I tag on my Instagram Stories are actually paid campaign’s that’s been ‘booked in’ with Instagram Grid Content. The remainder – 95% – is just organic.

This means when I do all my ‘unboxing’ and tag brands, it’s not paid for. I simply want to say thank you to the brands or agencies for considering me, and also show you guys because I think you’ll find it interesting/helpful/beneficial to your lifestyle or health.

6. How much of my content is paid?

I’d say my ratio is about 30% paid work and 70% organic content I simply create for the love of it, and because I want to give back to you all for following me, along with sharing my knowledge in the areas that interest me or that is present in my life.

I want to again, reiterate, that even though I do get paid to do some work, I’d never compromise on my integrity or beliefs, this means that when you do see my sponsored content, please don’t just swipe over it and think negatively about it. Please engage with it, because it’s just as honest and truthful as any other content I create.

I’d love for you to please consider and understand, that in order for me to create that 70% FREE CONTENT I need to be able to pay my bills and live by creating the remainder for money. And not just because of it, because I also love to be creative and help bring brands visions to life.

I know what some of you are thinking now;

“But then why don’t you just take a full-time job and just do free content?!”

Well, because of two things: 1. I love working with brands, and even if I was rich and didn’t have to, I’d still work with the brands I absolutely adore, because it’s fun and it helps their hard work.

and 2. because of aaaaalll the behind the scenes communications you don’t see that I need to and want to dedicate my time to.

To give you an idea; on average I get anything between 75 – 150 direct messagers PER DAY with questions about health/lifestyle/advice/direction/struggles etc. etc. I also get about 25 emails from people everyday where I offer my support those in need who struggle mentally and physically. All of that combined takes a few hours everyday to get back to. I have phone-calls with some women because I believe in helping each other and I will always be a listening ear if you are struggling!

But, please understand that with the above, and if I want to continue to do that, and YOU want me to be there for your questions etc. I am not able to hold down a top-leadership role as I did prior, whilst still doing this.

Which will take me to the next points..

7. Is working as an influencer easy?

Easy? No! Are you free? Yes, if you’re full-time you set your own schedule – HOWEVER….

To give you an idea; I get up every morning around 6am. I start working around 7am. I don’t close my laptop and phone until I go to bed at 10pm.. I work 7 days a week, almost 365 days a year. When I’m travelling I’m working. When it’s public holidays, I’m working. When you clock off, I’m working. I AM ALWAYS ONLINE.. This isn’t always a good thing, and I do need to learn to be able to say no to somethings, and let it be okay with getting back to some of your queries the next day.

But, I know you think, from the outside that the Instagram life looks glam and easy – it’s not, honeys. It’s hard work every single day. It’s a lot of ‘hustling’ and not in the dishonest way, but it’s about being at the forefront of someone’s mind whenever new campaigns come out if you want to be able to support yourself. It’s thinking ahead. It’s creating great content all the time. It’s engaging with your following.

Also, as I mentioned further up; this landscape is changing. And that’s why I’m also asking for your help if you do want me to continue to share these things and free content; you then have to engage and be open to my sponsored posts :) Because it comes with it.

8. Do we get everything for free?

This is a big misconception; just because we tag brand in stories or instagram posts, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we get stuff given for free. Sometimes it does, but not all the time. I think it’s also up to YOU to follow people whom you think is honest and genuine.

That said; yes some of us do get sent some stuff for free; but in all honesty – do we need it? No. Is it a necessity in life? No. Nothing really is. Do I like to try new products? Yes, definitely.

But, I wish that brands would tell you or ask you when they send you stuff first. Because I can then tell them whether it would be my vibe or not – it would be much more sustainable with packaging and un-used products if I don’t like it. This is definitely something I wish brands would think more about.

9. What’s a collaboration?

I touched on this further up, but a collab is normally where services or products are exchanged for exposure. This means that the brand doesn’t pay the influencer, but ‘pays’ them in services or products instead.

For example we needed  washing machine for our new apartment, and last year I bought a Beko fridge for my own money which I really love, so I thought I’d reach out to the brand itself to ask if they’d potentially want to work together on some content in return for me trying out their washing machine and if I like it, I’d create some imagery.

Luckily I liked it, because sometimes it can definitely be awkward when you go back and have to tell brands that their products are just not for you. Eeek. And so I received a washing machine in return for creating imagery for them, which I’m very grateful for.

10. Is this forever?

No, friends. it’s definitely not forever. Neither do I want it to be. I’m also getting older – I’m turning 30 in October and I’ve done this since I was 23. It’s fun, but I know it won’t always last. It’s a lot of hard work and it takes it toll on my health. It’s a very go-go-go industry and my aim is to build something FROM this platform.

My wish is to build my community, a group of likeminded beings who want to focus on their health, good times in life, products than can help them, self expansion and connections. As you may know, I’ve also recently started studying with IIN and I’m starting my own Gut-Health Workshops – taking my community offline – to connect in real life.

I hope neither of this comes across ‘too harsh’, I simply want to lay the facts on the table. I am very grateful for what I do, but I also know that I’ve worked very hard to be where I’m at and nothing has come easily to me.

At the end of the day; my life may look and seem glamorous, but it’s far from it. Trust me when I say that I go through the exact same things, struggles and sufferings as yourself, I am not exempt to these. I suffer heartbreaks and family tragedies, too. I have bad days where I hate what I do, question the future, question myself, question whether people want to listen to me. It doesn’t just go away because you’re on Instagram.

Coming home to my own little modest apartment, with Pash my boyfriend, Archie my dog and skyping my family back home, seeing my friends when I can, creating real and honest communities from Instagram, THAT is truly what matters the most to me, and when I am the happiest in life.

Thank you for listening to me, and please do comment below if there’s anything you’d like me to update on here.

The post A ‘Behind The Scenes’ of How an Instagram Influencer Actually Works.. By an ‘Influencer’. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

I’m here to change your perception and judgment of the humble brussels sprouts and if you’re already a brussels lover? Well, then I might even make you fall even harder and deeper in love with them with this recipe.

I’ve got to let you in on the secret to getting crispy brussels sprouts in a matter of minutes though – it’s all thanks to the new Ninja Foodi which is literally a comprehensive ‘kitchen-system’ that includes the multiple cooking functions like; grilling, steaming, baking, roasting, pressure cooking, air frying and slow cooking up to 70% faster than traditional methods, without losing the integrity of your favourite flavour-filled dishes.

And although Ninja did contact me to try this new compact kitchen machine out, initially I was sceptic, but I can genuinely say I’ve fallen head over heels with the ease, efficacy and taste that this machine brings to my meals. I’m especially looking forward to using it for winter to cook soups, casseroles and stews that are hearty and warm – especially gut-friendly ones, as cooked vegetables and cooked meats are a must if you’re dealing with a poor digestion (raw food is simply too hard on it) – to come home to after a long day out.

The smart thing about the Ninja Foodi is that it has several functions as described above. But, the other really clever things is that you can cook a whole meal in one go. This is a super smart thing for anyone who doesn’t have extensive time to spend in the kitchen or maybe just don’t want to? It truly does seal in the flavour and moisture like nothing else, and the salmon fillet I cooked with this recipe (below) is one of the most moist fillets I’ve ever tasted.

The one thing I’ve also come to discover is this; the manual is a little overwhelming in the beginning because there are so many different functions and uses to this machine (hence why it’s so comprehensive), but once you actually just start playing around with it, you’ll quickly realise it’s really darn hard to mess it up, even if you try to be really ‘fancy’ and make an inventive meal, it just somehow works. Even Pash can figure out how to operate it and cook when I’m not home to ‘put the bacon on the table’, and it takes only a few minutes to clean with soap & warm water.

I wanted to showcase a recipe that’s in season, because I believe it’s so important to eat what’s seasonally fresh and available to us – both for our bodies but also for the environment around us as it has far less impact on it that way.

In Australia, its’ Brussels Sprouts season currently and they’re super duper cheap – I’m talking a kilo for $5-$7. The same goes for broccoli and then simply adding a (skin off) fillet of salmon to the pot and you have yourself a healthy, gut-friendly and easy meal that can be prepared by anyone.

Ingredients:

• 1 piece of skin-off salmon fillet
• 150 grams of brussels sprouts (stems removed, halved)
• 4 florets of broccoli
• 1/4 avocado
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp flaxseed oil
• 2 cups of water
• 1/2 lemon
• Hemp Seeds
• Pepitas

Directions:

1. Pre-heat your Ninja Foodi on air-crisping mode for 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the brussels sprouts to a bowl and lightly coat in a little toasted sesame oil & salt and pepper.
3. Add them to the AIR FRYING basket, and set the Air Crisper Setting to 15 minutes.
4. After 7 minutes, toss the brussels sprouts in the air frying basket, and create a little ‘hole’ in the middle.
5. Add the salmon fillet (with salt & pepper) in between the brussels sprouts and keep air-crisping for another 7-8 minutes.
6. Add 2 cups of water to the POT and add the AIR-FRYING basket.
7. Add your broccoli & put on the steaming-lid. Keep the vent open.
8. Hit steam & leave it for about 5 minutes so it’s lightly steamed, but still with a slight crunch to the bite.
9. Arrange all on a plate, and add avocado, 1/2 lemon, hemp seeds & pepitas, drizzle with flaxseed oil.

With Mother’s Day Coming Up, This Is The PERFECT Gift.

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to receive $60 off RRP + Free Delivery x

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The post The Crispiest & Gut Friendly Brussels Sprouts You’ll Ever Taste – Ready in 15! appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

It was my best girlfriend who really introduced me to angel-cards a few years ago, and now, not a week goes by where I haven’t pulled a card or done a spread at least a few times a week. I find myself gravitating towards asking the angels and spirits for guidance when I feel I need some clarity and understanding as to my circumstances around me, the feelings I’m currently experiencing or something completely third – the questions are completely up to yourself and no question is too much or little to ask the angels.

I think many people are intrigued by angel-cards, but don’t really know what to do with them, how to use them or even feel slightly torn as to whether they actually ‘work’ or not.. My answer to to this is; the more open and inquisitive you are towards the universe and the angels, the more space you’re allowing for the universe to give you answers and guidance.

You have to be receptive towards this practice. You have to dive within. You have to feel the moment, feel the connection to yourself and the question you’re wishing to find guidance for, for this to unfold its magic..

How To Read Angel Cards:

There are so many beautiful Angel Cards out there, but I suggest picking up a deck that you find yourself connecting to or are drawn to when ‘shopping’ around for one. You might feel extra drawn to the colours or the drawings. You might feel warmth in your fingers when picking a deck of cards up or your heart beating a little faster, stronger.

Choose a deck of cards that feel’s right for you, and don’t overanalyse it. Go with your intuition which is normally our first feeling, before we let our brains in on our decision.

Preparing Your Cards:

First, check your cards for any blank cards & remove those.

Then shuffle them delicately a few times whilst connecting with the question you want guidance with or an answer to.

Recite this question in your mind and make it clear to yourself and the angels what it is you need their help with.

Divide the deck of cards into 3 piles, then gather them again into one pile, knock the deck of cards 3 times with your right hand and then spread them out like a fan.

You’re now ready to pick your cards, depending on the spread you’d like to read.

1 Card Spread:

The most basic reading you can do, but a beautiful one to pull every single day if you just need a little guidance for your day ahead. Simply follow the above instructions under ‘Preparing your cards’ and then pull one card from the set of cards. Tune into your intuition and notice what this means to you and what you’re currently facing.

Three Card Spread:

1st card: Mind, Past, Background

2nd card: Body, Present, Problem

3rd card: Spirit, Future, Advice

5 Card Spread:

Card 1 (centre): Situation, Present

Card 2 (left of centre): Challenge, Past

Card 3 (right of centre): Guidance, Future

Card 4 (down of centre): Focus, Reason

Card 5 (up of centre): Outcome, Potential

Full Moon Spread:

1. Where are you in your life right now? (current)

2. How do you project yourself into the world? (truth, perception)

3. What is blocking your desires & goals? (stagnancy)

4. What do you need to do to overcome those obstacles? (acknowledgement)

5. What can you do within yourself to achieve your desires? (internal action/truth)

6. What can you learn from the outside world/others to help you manifest your goals & dreams? (seek)

7. The Projected Outcome (future)

There are so many spreads that can be done with angel cards, and you can’t really ‘operate’ them in a wrong way, as mostly you’ll be guided by your intuition and what’s true for you in that very moment.

Just remember; angel-cards are very powerful so don’t shrug them off or their messages. Angels are always among us to deliver us messages from the universe that we need to receive in order for our next step in this human-life.

How To Care For Your Angel Cards:

Don’t forget that angel-cards absorb all energies, spirits, thoughts and feelings. This means that you shouldn’t be lending out your deck to others, and if you do complete a reading for a friend or family member using your own cards, then remember to ‘cleanse’ them afterwards.

You can cleanse your deck of cards by sage’ing (smudging) them or using Palo Santo. You can also recite verbs or sayings that banishes all evil spirits or negative energies that may have found their way to your cards. Another great idea is to leave your cards out under the full moon when it’s high and mighty as the cards will be even more powerful and accurate when absorbing positive and forceful energy.

How To Incorporate Angel Cards Into Your Life:

As I mentioned before, angel-cards are, and can be, very powerful messages in your life. Trust your intuition when handling your cards and trust that your deck of cards are there to support you on your journey and helps spiral you towards your greater good.

When pulling your angel-cards make sure that you both look at the drawings on the card and also read the booklet where the card is described. Both angel-cards can have negative and positive connotations with a question, so it’s important for you to feel where this angel-card fits into your life currently.

But most of all, ENJOY engaging and connecting with your angels. It truly is such a profound and beautiful practice that can really help you towards your intentions, goals and dreams in this life.

Lots of love, Caroline xx

The post A Guide To Reading Angel Cards & How To Incorporate Them Into Your Life appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

So, with that in mind, I wanted to collate all my favourite sandals into one easy article, complete with links, so you can find the ones that are just right for you.

I know we’re in Autumn here in Summer, but if you’re on the East Coast or further up, you know it’ll be sandal-weather for another few months still. If you’re in Europe, well, then get onto these asap so you’re ready for summer when it hits.

The style that we all wore when we were little (if you were born in the late 80’s or 90’s), made of criss-crossing velcro straps, will be everywhere this year. It’s like the dad-sneaker of the sandal.

So without further ado, below are my favourite ones:

The OG: Teva – Original Universal:

Suicoke: Depa-cab Sandal

Fila: Disruptor Sandal

Dr. Martens: Blaire Sandal

ASOS: For Real Chunky Sporty Flat Sandals:

ASOS: Faster Leather Chunky Tie Leg Sandals:

Marc Jacobs: Somewhere Sport Sandals:

KENZO: Lynn Flat Sandals

Melissa: Papete + Rider Sandals

CHLOÉ: Sonnie Canvas Sandals:

Which is your favourite? x

The post The Sandals You All Ask About + My Favourite Utilitarian Sandal Styles. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

I love podcasts, because they’re so easy to listen to whilst you’re going for a walk, sitting on the train, driving to a meeting or simply just being at home doing something as simple as cooking or cleaning. My favourite though, is to simply walk and be present with the words and learnings from the podcast episode so that I can really go away and implement these learnings afterwards.

That’s another point; implementation. What are the key points you take away from the Podcast Episode you’ve listened to? And how can you implement it into your own life. It’s all great & dandy for us to read 100’s of self-help or spiritual books and listen to the same in podcasts, but if we do not utilise the knowledge for anything, haven’t we just really wasted our time?

That’s also why, if an episode doesn’t catch my ‘attention’ and peak my interested within the first 10 minutes, I won’t spend another 1-2 hours on it. But that’s up to the individual.

Here are the podcasts that I really love & are currently listening to:

The Lifestylist Podcast by Luke Storey:

I accidentally came across this Podcast through another podcast, but oh am I glad I did.

I’ll be completely honest; it takes a few episodes to get used to Luke’s interviewing style because he’s so laidback and pretty ‘rock n’ roll’ – I absolutely love this now though. This guy is actually an ex-addict, but to me comes across like an absolute genius and has an incredible amount of knowledge in the areas of bio-hacking, spiritualism, relationships, technology & health.

I’m obsessed with the depth that Luke goes into when interviewing teachers and leaders within their field and his episodes are often 2 hours long. Sounds like a lot, but you’re left wanting more at the end.

My favourite episodes thus far have been:

1. Episode 96: Free + Native; Manifesting The Metaphysical with Lacy Phillips
2. Episode 189: Buddha, Karma & The Gradual Awakening with Miles Neale
3. Episode 187: Building a Health & Wellness Empire with MindBodyGreen’s Jason Wachob
4. Episode 183: Spiritual Wisdom From Channeled Masters with Paul Selig
5. Episode 180: Manifestation Magic: The Missing Link with Free+Native Lacy Phillips
6. Episode 179: Kabbalah: Finding Freedom From Fear with Monica Berg

The Melissa Ambrosini Show:

I’ve known Melissa personally for many years, and that time I’ve most certainly seen her go through the many stages of life, but with each one of them, only growing stronger because of it.

I love Melissa’s Podcasts because they’re easy to follow. The interview style is normally the same layout every single time, so you quickly get into what the episode is about and you’re left with key-take aways that inspires you to make changes to your life.

It was also through Melissa’s podcast I had my first encounter with Dr. Josh Axe back in December, which was like a guiding light when I was so sick from my inflamed gut & didn’t know what to do, who to turn to or what steps to take.

I found my first baby-steps through Melissa & Dr. Josh Axe and for that, I’m forever grateful.

My favourite episodes:

1. Episode 33: Overcoming Anxiety & Depression with Nora Gedgaudas
2. Episode 73; How To Heal Leaky Gut with Dr. Josh Axe
3. Episode 75: A Course In Miracles with Marianne Williamson
4. Episode 123: How To Achieve Everything YoU Desire with Emma Isaacs
5. Episode 125: The Archetype Diet with Dana James
6. Episode 131: Crystal Healing with Heather Askinosie
7. Episode 141: Balancing Hormones, Clearing Acne & Boosting Energy with Dr. Libby Weaver

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations:

Maybe I’m bias, but can you ever go wrong with any Oprah Winfrey? 

The reason I love Oprah’s Podcast is mostly because she’s so well-known, admired & respected, that she attracts and calls in great leaders & teachers within their fields. Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Elizabeth Lesser, Wayne Dyer.. The list goes on.

I am not, however, a huge fan of Oprah’s interviewing style as she very often cuts people off when they talk. It get’s a little bit frustrating after a while, but if you can learn to love & let go of that, then you’ll love the diversity of people she has on the podcast.

My favourite episodes:

1. Wayne Dyer: The Art of Manifestation
2. Elizabeth Lesser: The Healing Power of Love
3. Marianne Williamson: A Return To Love
4. Jack Kornfield: Buddhism 101
5. Paul Williams & Tracey Jackson: A Better You Through Trust & Gratitude
6. Jack Canfield: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Purpose
7. Elizabeth Gilbert: Your Life’s Calling + What is a Soul Mate?
8. Paulo Coelho: What If The Universe Conspired In Your Favour?

The Ultimate Health Podcast:

Marni Wasserman & Dr. Jesse Chappus is behind this podcast and is actually a couple in real life. This is one of the most popular and successful podcasts out there and I can see why.

They make health very simple and easy to ‘digest’ (no pun intended). The people whom they interview are highly regarded within their fields, but Marni & Jesse do a great job at extracting the necessary information in a tone & voice that is easily understood.

They have a new podcast-episode every week and they’ve been doing this for a couple of years now.

My favourite episodes:

1. Episode 259: Dr. Gabor Maté – Trauma, Addiction & The Use of Psyhedelics
2. Episode 158: Dr. Trevor Cates – Clean Skin From Within – The Stress Skin Connection – Should We Be Using Sunblock?
3. Episode 275: Drew Canole – You Be You – What is Lucid Dreaming – You Are Enough
4. Episode 265: Neil Pasricha – How To Be Happy – Untouchable Days – Find Your Authentic Self
5. Episode 248: Evan Brand – Parasites, H. Pylori & Candida – Cavitation Surgery – Addressing Mental Health

The Healthy Hustlers:

I was actually interview by Madelyn only about a week ago and am about to air on the podcast – it’ll most definitely be my most in-depth, raw and real interview I’ve ever done, so I hope you’ll tune in when it’s out (shortly).

The Healthy Hustlers combine health, wellbeing and business with a fresh perspective to share the stories of normal people with inspiring lives who are dedicated to making their hustle healthy. Whether you’re looking for advice and guidance for leading your best life, an engaging easy to digest pep talk OR a boost of healthy enthusiasm to fuel your health and wellness goals, The Healthy Hustlers is a great podcast for just that.

My favourite episodes:

1. Emma Carey – The Girl Who Fell From The Sky
2. Elyse Knowles – Be Yourself And Don’t Change For Anyone
3. Lisa Messenger
4. Elle Halliwell
5. Lola Berry

What’s your favourite podcast show?

Let me know in the comments below x

The post The Podcasts I’m Currently Listening To + My Favourite Episodes. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.

I’m here to let you in on all the best things to do in Bondi (read; life), so that you can escape the masses (mostly) and spend your day(s) living more like a local and experience why us residents never really leave the Bondi Bubble that we so dearly & die-hard call home.

Eat:

You know my favourite thing to do is eat & anything that’s got to do with food; count me in!

Organic Republic Bakery:

Because this is tucked away further back from the main-strip in more of a local area, you don’t get too many tourists wandering down here. It’s a very humble and simple bakery with a big personality. You can catch locals enjoying their ritual morning-coffee and breakfast here most mornings, and staff is always up for a good chat. They also serve the absolute best avo-smash on their homemade bread which I crave on a daily basis. Even better is that they have outdoor seating, so basking in the sun & reading the paper with a cuppa could be your morning-highlight.

The Depot:

Well, this one has been around for quite some time, but still, nothing really beats their lunches there. It’s only a short stroll from the north end of Bondi Beach, but I still find that it doesn’t get too touristy as it’s off the main strip in Bondi. Pop in and have lunch or breakfast that’s fresh, vibrant and uber-delicious any day of the week. I love the staff who’s always super chatty & friendly. They’re also great at catering for dietary requirements, just FYI.

Orchard St.:

This is the cutest little whimsical & magical elixir bar you’ll ever set foot in. Owned by Kirsten Shanks, a naturopath, herbalist & nutritionist, who’ve created a little sanctuary along with a full product-line of herbs, tonics, juices and more. I can’t express enough how wonderful, loving and calming this little place is. The staff are some of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet, and if you’re into meditation, a morning or afternoon medi on their large Turkish Pillows outside in the sun (or shade) is just divine. You truly feel whole after you walk out there – raw cacao/salted caramel tonic in one hand and raw bounty-bar in the other.

Raw Bar:

The best sushi & Japanese you’ll eat in a long, long time. Raw Bar has been around since 1997 which is an achievement in itself due to the high turn-over of restaurants in the hospitality industry in Sydney, and Bondi in particular. They’re definitely doing something very right, because Raw Bar continuously draws locals down for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Weekends are especially busy, ant there’s nothing quite like a set of chopsticks, a Tommy’s Margherita & the afternoon sun on their table & chairs outside for you to enjoy.

The Shop & Wine Bar:

Just at the name states; this is a one stop shop for all your favourite #FoodGoals. A breakfast, lunch & dinner watering-hole all in-one. You’ll mostly find locals here roaming around for their coffee or wine fox – all depending on the time of the day. It serves salads, delicious (huge) sandwiches and tapas-platters. It’s a very tiny place, so most of the seating is outside which is perfect for the summer-days and in winter, you get to sit outside snuggled up in blankets with a big heater over your head. Absolute perfection, because, really, Australians have a hard time letting go of Summer no matter how cold it gets… #truth

North Bondi Fish:

Ok, this definitely get’s a bit more touristy, but you’d still find a fair bit of locals heading down, especially for a Sunday arvo session. You cannot beat the view from North Bondi Fish. It’s beautifully situated at the North end of Bondi, and it get’s an amazing amount of sun during the day, and a beautiful sunset at night. Spritzs, drinks and seafood is there absolute specialties paired with some good music and kind staff. Make sure you book ahead, and get a table on the balcony so you can bask in all of Bondi’s gloriousness.

Porch & Parlour:

If you were unlucky to be in Bondi when Porch was closed, I’m so sorry for your loss. If you’re here now, or planning to visit soon; don’t miss this one. The wonderful people of Porch are loved amongst so many of the locals, which also means it’s always busy and packed. Go a little outside of the standard breakfast and lunch hours, and you’ll be able to get a seat a bit quicker. Although Porch is mostly known for their breakfast & lunches (which are YUM!), I actually really love to come up for dinner (Wednesday to Sunday), because it has a beautiful view over Bondi, it’s a great people-watching space and their dinner is just to die for. They also serve some pretty epic wines, so really, it’s all just a match-made in heaven TBH.

Do:

Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk:

Okay, this is very touristy, but it’s really beautiful and should be one of those ‘bucket-list’ things that you want to experience if you’re ever in Sydney. From South Bondi to Bronte and back, is around 6 kilometres in total. It’ll take you around Bondi, Mackenzies Bay, Tamarama & Bronte – you can even continue to Clovelly, Gordon’s Bay and Coogee if you’re up fora . challenge.
Definitely wear walking shoes/trainers otherwise you’ll end up with blisters, and if it’ set to be a hot day, I suggest doing this in the morning around sunrise or in the arvo around sunset – both to avoid the sweltering heat (in summer) and the masses.

Insider tip: remember to walk on the left side in Australia, it really frustrates locals who run or power-walk the coastal walk when they have to basically dodge people all the time ;)

Bondi Icebergs Pool;

Don’t go on a hot & sunny day if you’re here in Summer, go on an overcast & rainy day, and do the Sauna & fit in a swim (or two) in the pool. It’s such a refreshing way to quicken up and a great health-kick for your body. If you’re here in winter, do the same thing. We love to swim and sauna in winter because it gets the blood flowing. Entrance is $7 (as of Jan 2019) and lets you use the sauna, pool and change-rooms with showers. FYI; on Thursdays the pool is closed for cleaning.

Lean Bean Fitness & PowerLiving Yoga:

If you’re anything like me, you probably still want to stay fit & healthy as well as move your body even if you’re on holidays. Get amongst the locals and sign-up for a few introductory classes at either Lean Bean Fitness or PowerLiving Yoga which both has discounted passes available for people who are holidaying or simply want to try a new studio before a long-term commitment. If you’re travelling around Australia, I suggest even looking into downloading and buying a membership with ClassPass as it’ll give you access to thousands of studios around Australia.

North Bondi Boatramp:

Get out here for a late afternoon/early nighttime swim and watch the sunset. It’s so beautiful and the water is amazing at this time of the day. You’ll find locals going for an after-work swim with friends or/and their dogs and the atmosphere is just beautiful.
Grab some Fish & Chips either from Fishmongers or Bondi’s Best and say ‘Hasta La Vista’ to another day in Paradise.

Bondi Farmer’s Market:

Every Sunday – Rain, Hail or Shine – The Bondi Farmer’s Market will be on (9am to 1pm). Here you can buy organic, fresh vegetables & fruit from various farms along with a multitude of other amazing produce & fresh flowers for your home.
You can also eat breakfast here which is normally something deliciously healthy, but there’ll also be a few naughty things in there to suit everyone #balance. It’s a beautiful atmosphere to soak up, and whenever I personally travel, I love to see what other people purchase and eat in different cultures.

Gould St:

If you’re into shopping, then Gould St. in Bondi is the place for you. Shops I absolutely adore includes Tuchuzy, Love Stories, Lucy Folk, Magali Pascal, Miss Brown’s Vintage, Watson x Watson , Bailey Nelson and probably a few more, but you get the gist of it. Round it off with a coffee at Drake Eatery and perhaps even a cheeky cheese-platter and some more people-watching.

Stay:

QT Bondi:

This is by far my favourite place to stay in Bondi. So much so, I sometimes have a staycation here. I love the genuine and kind staff here who are always super helpful and available at any time. I also love that the rooms feel more like small apartments, and genuinely make you feel like you’re in a home away from home. Most of the rooms also have beautiful balcony’s so you can either enjoy the sunrise or sunsets.

AirBnB:

There’s no way around it. Living in Bondi is expensive, and so is holidaying. If you wanna save some coin, and especially if you’re travelling a few of you together, look up AirBnB and find an apartment with everything you need. This also means you can save on dining out so much and buy produce from the Farmer’s Market to cook at home.
There are so many great AirBnB’s in Bondi, you’ll hardly have a hard time finding something, however definitely suggest booking well in advance in the summer-periods as Bondi does get very crowded.

Hope you enjoyed this little collection of nuggets in Bondi.

You can always email me or catch me on my Instagram if you want more suggestions.

Lots of love, Caroline xx

The post A Local’s Guide To Bondi Beach; What To Eat, What To Do, Where To Stay.. appeared first on Caroline Høgh Groth.