Hey guys,
By Beauty Bay ( Beauty bays own makeup brand) has recently been killing it with all their eye makeup products. I have done a few posts now with their themed eyeshadow palettes and adored them. I have done tutorials using book of magic and new romantic which are glittery bright palettes so I decided to look into their brand more and see what they have to offer.
I found the cutest pure matte eyeshadow palette that is pretty much my colour story done to a tee. We have the Fiery Matte eyeshadow palette from £6.00 which as you can see by the colour story and name it’s a warm toned eyeshadow palette. This palette is just so dreamy for me to use. It has the perfect amount of soft nude toned eyeshadows to do a normal day look and then it has gorgeous pops of colour to brighten any eye look. I love using red / warm toned eyeshadows since using the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette I was just totally converted and ever since loved anything red. Kinda explains my hair colour probably too. The shades blend together beautifully and it’s crazy how pigmented this palette really is. Especially for £6.00 it’s honestly nuts and now I want to get loads more palettes from them.
I also picked up a product I have been recommended so much on my blog and Instagram that I gave in and decided why not. I love getting recommendations and if people all around the world recommend the same product it must be good. Let’s chat about the By Beauty Bay Eye Base, £6.00. This base comes in several shades designed to blend into your skin tone so you can’t even see the eye base. I wear shade 2 which is the lightest skin tone shade after shade 1 which is basically white. And then shade 5 is a lot deeper. This primer is the closest drugstore dupe I’ve ever found to the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Eye Primer. It basically works the same and makes pretty much every eyeshadow look more pigmented on my eyes and makes any glitter shadow work 10x better on my eyes. I love it and it’s now my holy grail product!!! So thank you for that recommendation and now saving my money in the newer future .
Basically moral of the story Beauty Bay is killing it and you need to check it out so head over to www.beautybay.com
Lots of love
Bella x x
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nancy drew name meanings
so this is the work i’ve been doing over the past couple days, I want to give you guys a heads up that list will contain spoilers for some of the characters/games so please be aware of all of that. if this garners interest, i’ll do maybe the penvellyn family tree (that thing could not fit in here) or last name origins!
Main Cast
Nancy Drew: Grace (Hebrew)
Bess Marvin: god of plenty (English)
Georgia “George” Fayne: farmer (English)
Edward “Ned” Nickerson: wealth, fortune, prosperous OR guardian, protector (English)
Joe Hardy: god will increase (English)
Frank “Franklin” Hardy: free landowner (English)
SCK/SCKR
Jacob “Jake” Rogers: supplanter (Hebrew)
Daryl Gray: open, from Airelle (English, French)
Connie Watson: strong willed, wise (Irish)
Hal Tanaka: army ruler (English)
Hector “Hulk” Sanchez: holding fast (Greek)
Mitch Dillon: Who is like God, gift from god (Hebrew)
Detective “Steve” Beech: crown, garland (Greek)
STFD
Mattie Jensen: lady, mistress of the house, might in battle (Aramaic or German)
Richard “Rick” Arlen: brave ruler (English)
Dwayne Powers: swarthy (Irish, Gaelic)
Lillian Weiss: lily, a flower (English)
Millie Strathorn: industrious (German)
William Pappas: resolute protector, strong willed warrior (German)
Ralph Guardino: counsel wolf, famous wolf (Norse, English)
MHM
Rose Green: rose, a flower (English)
Abby Sideris: father’s joy (Hebrew)
Charlie Murphy: free man (Charlie)
Louis Chandler: fame, warrior, famous in battle (French)
Hannah Gruen: favor, grace (Hebrew)
Emily Foxworth: rival, wily, persuasive (Latin, Greek)
TRT
Professor Beatrice Hotchkiss: she who makes happy, bringer of joy, blessings (Italian, French, Latin)
Dexter Egan: right handed, fortunate, one who dyes (Latin)
Lisa Ostrum: God’s promise (English, Hebrew)
Jacques Brunais: supplanter (French)
FIN
Brady Armstrong: spirited, broad (Irish)
Joseph Hughes: he will add (Hebrew)
Nicholas Falcone: victory of the people (Greek)
Simone Mueller: god has heard (Hebrew)
Maya Nguyen: good mother (Greek)
Eustacia Andropov: fruitful, productive (Greek)
Sherman Trout: shearer of woolen garments (English)
SSH
Joanna Riggs: god is gracious (Greek/Hebrew)
Alejandro Del Rio: defender of mankind (Spanish)
Taylor Sinclair: tailor (French)
Henrik Van Der Hune: ruler of the home, lord of the house (Swedish, Danish)
Franklin Rose: free landowner (English)
Poppy “Penelope” Dada: weaver (Greek)
Prudence Rutherford: prudence, good judgement (Latin)
DOG
Red Knott: person with red hair (English)
Jeff Akers: pledge of peace (English)
Emily Griffin: rival, persuasive, wily (Latin, Greek)
Sally McDonald: princess (Hebrew)
Vivian Whitmore: lively (Latin)
Mickey Malone: who is like god (Hebrew)
Lucy: as of light (English, French)
Iggy: fiery (Latin)
Vitus: lively (Latin)
Xander: defender of man (Greek)
Yogi: one who performs yoga (Indian, Hindu)
CAR
Harlan Bishop: army land (English)
Ingrid Corey: beloved, beautiful (Norse, German)
Elliot Chen: with strength and right, bravely and truly, boldly and rightly (English, Breton)
Joy Trent: joy, happiness (Latin)
Paula Santos: small (Latin)
K.J Perris: Petros-> the rock (Greek)
Tink Obermeier: love (English)
DDI
Jenna Deblin: white shadow, white wave (English, Welsh)
Katie Firestone: pure (English, Greek)
Andy Jason: manlike, brave (Greek)
Holt Scotto: woods, forest (English)
Casey Porterfield: vigilant, watchful (Irish, Gaelic)
Dr. Irina Predoviciu: peace (Greek)
Hilda Swenson: battle (Norse)
SHA
Dave Gregory: beloved (English)
Tex Britten: from Texas (American)
Mary Yazzie: bitter, beloved, rebelliousness, wished for child, marine, drop of the sea (Aramaic, Hebrew via Latin and Greek)
Shorty Thurmond: a short person (American)
Bet Rawley: god is my oath (Hebrew)
Ed Rawley: wealthy spear, protector, guard, frend (English)
Sheriff Hernandez: son of Hernando (Spanish)
Dirk Valentine: famous ruler (German)
France Humber: free one (French, English)
Meryl Humber: shining sea (English)
CUR
Linda Penvellyn: beautiful, pretty, cute OR clean (Spanish/Portugeuse, Italian)
Mrs. Leticia Drake: joy, gladness (Latin)
Jane Penvellyn: god is gracious/merciful (English)
Nigel Mookerjee: champion (Irish, Gaelic)
Ethel Bossiny: noble (English)
Hugh Penvellyn: mind, spirit (English)
Mrs. Petrov: petros-> rock (Greek to Russian)
CLK
Emily Crandall: rival, wily, persuasive (Latin, Greek)
Jane Willoughby: god is gracious/merciful (English)
Richard Topham: strong in rule (English, French, German, Czech)
Jim Archer: supplanter (English)
Carson Drew: son of marsh dwellers (Scandinavian)
Gloria Crandall: glory, fame, renown, praise, honor (Latin)
Marion Aborn: star of the sea (French)
Mrs Farthingham: a house supplying food (Scottish)
Josiah Crowley: god has healed (Hebrew)
TRN
Lori Girard: bay laurel (English)
Tino Balducci: little, junior (Italian)
Charleena Purcell: free man (German)
John Gray: graced by god (Hebrew)
Jake Hurley: supplanter (Hebrew)
Camille Hurley: helper to the priest (French)
Fatima: captivating, shining one (Arabic)
DAN
Minette: star of the sea, love, will helmet, protection (French)
Heather McKay: evergreen flowering plant (Middle English)
Jing Jing Ling: perfect essence (Chinese)
Dieter von Schwesterkrank: army of the people (German)
Jean-Michel Traquenard: god remits (Hebrew)
Lynn Manrique: pond, lake, pool, waterfall (Welsh)
Hugo Butterly: mind (German)
Zu: knowledgeable and voracious reader (French)
Tammy Barnes (Minette): palm tree (Hebrew)
Noisette Tornade: hazelnut (French)
the n*zi will not be appearing on this list
CRE
Pua Mapu: flower (Hawaiian)
Big Island Mike Mapu: who is like god, gift from god (Hebrew)
Dr. Quigley Kim: descendant of Coigleach or maybe messy hair (Irish)
Dr. Malachi Craven: messenger of god (Hebrew)
ICE
Ollie Randall: olive tree (Latin)
Yanni Volkstaia: god is gracious (Greek)
Bill Kessler: resolute protection (English)
Lou Talbot: renowned warrior (French)
Guadalupe Comillo: river of the wolf (Spanish)
Chantal Moique: stone (French)
Elsa Sibblehoth: pledged to god (German)
Freddie Randall: elf, magical counsel, peaceful ruler (English, German)
Isis: throne (Egyptian)
CRY
Henry Bolet Jr.: house ruler (French)
Dr. Gilbert Buford: bright pledge/promise (French)
Lamont Warrick: the mountain (French)
Renee Amande: reborn, born again (French)
Summer: season, half-year (German)
Bruno Bolet: brown (German)
Bernie: strong and brave bear (German, French)
Iggy: fiery (Latin)
VEN
Colin Baxter: whelp, cub, young creature (Irish, Scottish, Gaelic)
Margherita Faubourg: daisy (Italian)
Helena Berg: light/bright (Greek)
Enrico Tazza: homeowner, king (Italian)
Antonio Fango: priceless one (Spanish, Italian)
Sophia Leporace: wisdom (Greek)
HAU
Kyler Mallory: bowman, archer (Dutch)
Matt Simmons: gift of god (Hebrew)
Kit Foley: bearing Christ (Greek)
Donal Delany: world leader (Scottish)
Alan Payne: precious (German)
Fiona Malloy: white, fair (Gaelic)
RAN - Her Interactive refuses to acknowledge this game and so will I.
WAC
Corine Myers: maiden (American)
Danielle Hayes: god is my judge (Latin)
Mel Corbalis: council protector (English)
Megan Vargas: pearl (Greek)
Izzy Romero: god’s promise (Hebrew)
Leela Yadav: play OR night beauty (Sanskrit or Arabic)
Rachel Hubbard: ewe, one with purity (Hebrew)
Kim Hubbard: of the clearing of the royal fortress (Old English)
Rebecca Sawyer (Nancy): join, tie, snare (Hebrew)
Rita Hallowell: pearl (Spanish)
TOT
Scott Varnell: from Scotland, a Scotsman (old English)
Debbie Kircum: bee (Hebrew)
Tobias “Frosty” Harlow: god is good (Hebrew)
Chase Releford: to hunt (French)
SAW
Shimizu Yumi: reason/cause, beauty; abundant, beauty; evening, fruit; tenderness, beauty (Japanese)
Shimizu Miwako: child of beautiful harmony (Japanese)
Shimizu Kasumi: mist, clear, pure (Japanese)
Nagai Takae: filial piety, obedience and large river (Japanese)
Aihara Rentaro: dependant on kanji used (Japanese)
Savannah Woodham: treeless plain (Spanish)
CAP
Karl Weschler: free man, strong man, man, manly (German)
Anja Mittelmeier: grace (German, Russian)
Lukas Mittelmeier: man from Lucanus (German, Greek, Swedish)
Renate Stoller: Reborn (Latin)
Markus Boehm: dedicated to Mars (Latin)
ASH
Chief McGinnis: son of Angus (Irish)
Deirdre Shannon: broken hearted, sorrowful (Irish, Gaelic)
Brenda Carlton: sword (Norse)
Alexei Markovic: defender (Russian)
Antonia “Toni” Scallari: priceless, praiseworthy, beautiful (Roman)
TMB
Abdullah Bakhoum: servant of Allah (Arabic)
Lily Crewe: lily, a flower
Jamila El-Dine: beauty (Arabic)
Dylan Carter: son of the sea, son of the wave, born from the ocean (Welsh)
Jon Boyle: God is gracious, gift of Jehovah (Hebrew)
DED
Victor Lossett: winner, conqueror (Latin)
Ryan Kilpatrick: descendant of the king, little king (Irish, Gaelic)
Mason Quinto: one who works with stone (English)
Ellie York: shining light (Greek)
Gray Cortright: color, black mixed with white (English)
Niko Jovic: people of victory (Greek, English, Slavic)
GTH
Jessalyn Thornton: he sees (Hebrew)
Clara Thornton: clear, bright, famous (Latin)
Wade Thornton: to go, ford (Anglo-Saxon English)
Harper Thornton: harp, son of the harper (Scottish, Irish, English)
Colton Birchfield: swarthy person, coal town, settlement (Old English)
Charlotte Thornton: free man, petite (French)
Addison Hammond: son of Adam, son of Addi (Old English, Scottish)
SPY
Alec Fell: defender of the people (English)
Bridget Shaw: power, strength, virtue, vigor, noble or exalted one (Gaelic, Irish)
Ewan Macleod: born of the mountain (Scottish, Gaelic)
Moira Chisholm: destiny, share, fate (English)
Kate Drew: pure (English)
Samantha Quick: listens well, as told by god (Aramaic, Hebrew)
MED
Sonny Joon: son (English)
Patrick Dowsett: nobleman, patrician (Latin)
Leena Patel: young palm tree, tender, delicate (Qunaric Arabic)
Kiri Nind: skin, bark, rind (Māori)
Jin Seung: rise, ascent, victory, excel, inherit (Sino-Korean)
LIE
Xenia Doukas: foreigner, outlander, welcomed guest, hospitality (Greek)
Niobe Papadaki: fern (Greek)
Thanos Ganas: immortal (Greek)
Grigor Karakinos: vigilant (Greek)
Melina Rosi: honey, god’s gift (Greek)
SEA
Soren Bergursson: severe (Scandinavian)
Dagny Silva: new day (Old Norse)
Elisabet Grimursdottir: pledged to god (Hebrew)
Magnus Kiljansson: great (Latin)
Gunnar Tonnisson: fighter, soldier, attacker, brave and bold warrior (Nordic)
Burt Eddleton: bright, glorious (Old English)
Alex Trang: man’s defender, warrior (Greek)
MID
Mei Parry: beautiful (Chinese)
Teegan Parry: special thing, little poet (Cornish, Gaelic)
Olivia Ravencraft: olive, olive tree (Latin)
Judge Danforth: hidden ford (Old English) [Last name]
Lauren Corey: laurel tree, sweet of honor, wisdom (English, french)
Alicia Cole: noble natured (Germanic)
Jason Danforth: healer (Greek)
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Red lipstick on melanin skin tones >>>>👏🏾❤️
makeup details🥰
Eyes:
Beauty bay 42 colour fiery palette
Gavissi beauty water activated retro eye liner in the color buttermilk
Lashes:
iEnvy by Kiss Extreme 3D lashes in #43
Base:
Elf camo concealer in deep cinnamon
LA Girl HD Pro concealer in toast
Kylie cosmetics skin concealer in clove (for contour)
James Charles palette (for blush)
Lips:
Red lip liner
Mac Cosmetics ruby woo retro matte lipstick (MY FAVVV at the moment!)
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Best of DC: Week of March 25th, 2020
Best of this Week: Batman: Curse of the White Knight Book Eight - Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsworth and AndWorld Design
And here we are at the end of the road.
The original Batman: White Knight gave us a tale of a hero who refused to see the error of his ways - a man that would lie to his friends and destroy his treasured city as long as villains received the justice that they deserved, but he never saw that he was becoming one of them. Enter Jack Napier, the former Joker, cured of the madness that led him down the path of costumed villainy for a time. He became a symbol for the change that Batman refused by offering to rebuild the broken down parts of Gotham and stopping Batman once and for all.
Unfortunately for Napier, he couldn’t keep the Joker at bay long enough to see his dream Gotham come to fruition, but he did manage to inspire, not only the people of Gotham and its police force, but Batman himself. Of course, not everything could remain peaceful. Soon after all of that happened, Azrael and the Order of St. Dumas cropped up to cause trouble and save Gotham from its false protector: Batman. Azrael serves as the logical conclusion to what Batman’s war on crime could have been.
After several issues of cat and mouse, Batman is finally on the trail of Azrael with the Gotham Terrorism Oppression Unit (GTO) at his side. Initially, Sean Murphy makes the chase look like a team effort with Dick Grayson leading the charge, but Matt Hollingsworth gives slight hints at Batman’s state of mind with an orange glow around the Batmobile before getting close enough to remote shut off the rest of their cars. AndWorld Design excellently captures the slowing down of the cars with their lettering going from high energy “VvvvvvvVvvvvvs” to slow, sputtering “Pkk, Pkk” sounds as the wheels begin to stop.
Dick, being the one closest to Bruce, had a conversation with him in the last issue and anticipated that he might have done something like this and tells the rest of them that it was because he didn’t want them to stop him from killing Azrael. Batman then zooms off to chase Azrael on his own, catching the villains foot with the cars grappling hook and hilariously swinging him around while drifting the car before reeling him in and reversing the car into a plane - all the way at the Gotham Airport.
Sean Murphy is known to be a big car guy and he showcases the 1989 Batmobile with beautiful side shots, powerful flames blasting out of the exhaust right into Azrael’s face and even a single panel of Batman using a six gear shift to reverse. All of this badass car action results in a massive and fiery explosion. The big panel is beautifully shot with the plane being small in the background, the huge, orange pyro coming out of it, a big “BOOM” lettering in red to accentuate the power and Batman wielding some kind of assault rifle.
Of course, this is a betrayal of everything Batman is about and Azrael even acknowledges Bruce’s “No Killing” rule as the bullets bounce off of his armor before easily gaining the upper hand on this desperate Batman. Azrael then holds him by the collar of his cape and thoroughly dresses down Batman’s mindset for this entire fight, comparing the struggles of Bruce’s war on crime and futile search for peace as being the same as his own.
Murphy and Hollingsworth draw the scene with a palpable sense of intensity as the fire rages around them while they stand on the debris of the plane and the Batmobile. The shot is pulled out, allowing for AndWorld to utilize the empty space for Azrael’s monologue while the hot oranges paint everything around them. As Batman fears his own end, Murphy draws him with terror in his eyes and a defiant gritting of his teeth as he tells Azrael to “go to hell,” for saying that they are one in the same and threatening to flood the city before Dick’s car barrels into the villain and causes another explosion.
Initially, I questioned why Murphy decided to invert the timelines of Jason and Dick as Robins, but this book understandably gives good reason. One of the things that Dick had been dealing with over the course of both of these stories is his conflict with Batman over what the proper course of action should be when it comes to Gotham. He’s been Bruce’s biggest critic when he was destroying Gotham and didn’t want to be another casualty like Jason was, so he joined the GTO to stop Batman.
Murphy draws on this when Dick confronts Batman on his recklessness and Batman recognizes that everything he’s done, including adopting Dick and dragging him into this never ending battle all played a part in ruining his life as well as the lives of everyone close to him. Jason’s dark cloud has always hovered over Dick, but with tears in his eyes, he tells Bruce that he still believes in him and that he needs to end this fight as Batman, not as Azrael. Hollingsworth lowers the intensity of the orange backgrounds to make the scene more somber before Batman rushes off to do things the right way.
With the Rapiers of Edmond Wayne by his side, Murphy and Hollingsworth give readers an excellent double page spread of the Batmobile VROOOMing down the streets while various panels of Bruce’s interactions with Alfred, Victor Fries and Jim Gordon remind use that there’s a good man under that cape and cowl, a man that yearns for justice and peace in Gotham City.
Knowing that Azrael plans to flood the city, Batman tells the GTO to shore up defenses and get everyone off the streets as he goes to finish the fight at the Gotham Reservoir and pops out of the Batmobile in an AMAZINGLY heroic pose with double rapiers sans cape, beckoning Azrael to take him in a sword fight. Murphy leans into Batman’s Zorro roots as he chooses to fight with honor, calling out Azrael’s faith, knowing that his sword’s Arabic name is God’s Will and that it is all that a God fearing man like Azrael should need and they duel valiantly.
Murphy, Hollingsworth and AndWorld Design give readers an amazing scene of Batman disarming Azrael rather than trying to kill him, removing one of his gauntlets with a deft flick, giving it a “HRRN” sound, removing his cape to get a rapier between his armor with a “WOOSH,” indicating the speed and flow of his movements. Bruce even goes so far as to let Azrael knock the rapiers from his hands so that he could knock the helmet off of his head by trapping it between the “CLINKing” panels of the Batmobile as they close before taking the villains sword.
Azrael, knowing that he’s going to lose and trying to throw Bruce off of his game for a moral victory, starts insulting Thomas and Martha’s deaths, calling them leeches of Gotham's wealth. This causes Bruce, in a rage, to “HACK” across Azrael’s neck, slitting his throat. Murphy makes it look so sudden, Hollingsworth ratchets up the intensity of the flames in the background and emphasizes Azrael’s blood as it pours out onto the ground, proclaiming that Bruce “eliminated the last Wayne.”
Murphy and Hollingsworth treat readers to a beautiful panel of Bruce looking at his beloved city, shadowed in the night sky with orange glows coming from the streets while Azrael bleed out on the boat, Batman quickly decides to suture his throat and use his blood to keep it flowing into Azrael while proclaiming that being the protector of Gotham has always been about more than being a Wayne or a Bakkar. It’s bigger than blood and that’s why Jason Blood gave Edmond’s Journal to Bruce, because Batman was always Gotham’s true hope.
The series then starts winding down with Bruce saying his goodbyes to Dick and Barbara and the rest of the GTO with varying levels of banter. Even Harleen has a moment where we think she’s going to drive Bruce away as he allows himself to be arrested for his vigilantism, but he convinces her that she’s done all that she needs to and that she saved his soul when he was at one of his lowest moments just like he did for her after leaving The Joker. It’s sad and sobering, especially as these scenes are given a blue hue and these characters have a mutual love and respect for each other.
Murphy also drops in some political commentary at the end where the City of Gotham argues over Bruce giving away all of his fortune to the City and whether or not it goes far enough or veers too far into socialism. While this particular White Knight story has been focused on the heroism side of Batman, I might have liked more of this commentary throughout the book, much like it was focused on in the original series. Though, who’s to say that that’s not where Murphy is going as this book ends on something of a cliffhanger with a SURPRISING reveal.
For the end of such a phenomenal book, I can gladly say that this was absolutely worth it. From the compelling story, to the amazing art, coloring and lettering, almost everything about this was perfect in every way. I really enjoyed seeing Batman’s journey from angry vigilante to true savior of Gotham and the dichotomy between him and Azrael as an angry war veteran. Knowing that Sean Gordon Murphy has been given free reign to start his own White Knight Imprint, I’m ultra excited for what the future holds!
Also, support me on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/join/TyTalksComics
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my worth is the look in your eyes
//
my price is the smile playing tricks on your lips
***
He hadn't really thought about it, when he'd given her his card.
Simple, matte grey, made of something that he can't identify, but which absolutely isn't anything as pedestrian as paper. With his intials and his family's name and a single phone number embossed on the surface. This number, if called, wouldn't actually have reached him, personally, but would've gone to the private secretary employed on his behalf by Tracy Industries, who would've known how to handle the call.
He'd had vague expectations that the cargo company she worked for might have hassled her about the loss of her cargo and the plane associated with it, and he just wanted her to have the assurance that IR (and TI, by extension), had her back. All too often Scott's seen these kinds of industrial accidents blow back and get blamed on the people who were put in the most danger during their course. He hadn't wanted to see the same thing happen to Captain Jane Carter. He'd given her his card just in case, almost as an afterthought. By the way she'd taken it with a slightly bemused expression and an arched eyebrow, as a paramedic draped a bright orange blanket around her shoulders, she hadn't entirely taken him seriously.
And after that, he hadn't given her a second thought. She was a rescue victim, and rescue victims just don't blip on Scott's radar. In the context that he'd last seen her, she might as well have been a duck or a hair brush or a bucket of golf balls. Certainly not a woman he'd left in posession of his number, before remanding her to the care of newly arrived medics and local emergency services. And then departing with vaguely affected little salute off the edge of his temple, before climbing back aboard his Thunderbird, rocketing off into the clear blue sky.
Six months later, and his card comes back to him, across the top of a bar in Tokyo. It's pinned between a coaster and a double Scotch, thirty year old McCallan. Already more than enough to get his attention, considering what had brought him to Tokyo in the first place, but the card had sealed the deal. Scott hands his card out so rarely he's not even sure why he carries them in the first place, tucked into a slim, barely there pocket in the lining of his sash. The last one he'd handed out to anyone had been---
He looks up, then, in the direction indicated by the bartender, to the woman at the end of the bar.
The last time he'd seen her, she had been moderately disheveled and lately deprived of a whole entire plane, and nearly her life along with it. The jet had plummeted off a cliffisde into an explosion of fiery doom that would've killed them both, and it had only been a madcap cocktail of luck, reflexes, and pure nerve that had gotten them out of it. It had been visceral, when it happened, the way she'd latched onto him when he'd told her to, and held on for dear life as her shattered cargo plane had fallen around them. A one in a million shot with his grappling hook, threading their lives out the blown open back of the cargo bay, like the line of fate through the eye of a needle. There's an undeniable intimacy to that sort of narrow miss, followed by a shared moment of vaguely hysterical laughter, and Scott remembers introducing himself, for lack of anything more sensible to say. He'd gotten her name in return.
Captain Jane Carter.
He doesn't recognize her, at first. She hadn't blipped on his radar, after all. And here and now, she's no longer a disheveled rescue victim, but a woman across the bar, in a slinky black cocktail dress and dark red lipstick. It's the feeling of his card between his fingers and not the sight of her face that jogs his memory, because rescue victims just don't make an impression.
And there are a few glorious moments before he'd manages to place her, where it's permissible to find her intensely, incredibly attractive. Tawny blonde hair, the faintest sprinkling of freckles across a pert little nose, and eyes of an almost alarming shade of green, which he wouldn't have noticed if they hadn't been staring at him. The ability to detect his drink of choice at a distance, a match to her own, lifted in acknowledgment of his gaze upon her. For a few moments of tantalizing possibility, she's the answer to the question he'd come out tonight, hoping to ask.
And then he remembers.
Protocol hits like a bucket of cold water, and Scott's pretty sure he feels disappointment like a punch in the chest, because a beautiful woman is no less beautiful, just because you happened to pull her out of a burning plane, even if those are the grounds upon which she is ethically, morally, tragically unavailable.
But it would be rude not to at least say hello.
***
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Game of Thrones has literally taken over the world and if you’re a devoted fan like myself, you’re probably more than happy about this. Therefore, when Urban Decay announced their latest collaboration would be a whole collection of Game of Thrones officially licensed makeup products, it was like Winter had finally arrived – get it? The Collection consists of a variety of items; an Eyeshadow Palette, Highlighter Palette, four Vice Lipsticks, four 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, a Lip & Cheek Stain and the complete Vault Set which also contains two Eyeshadow Brushes in the shape of Arya’s Needle and Jon’s Longclaw.
As much as I dream of owning the entire collection, my bank account reminded me that I had to choose only my favourite products, therefore I picked the Eyeshadow Palette and the Daenerys Targaryen Vice Lipstick. I do have my eyes on the Mother of Dragons Highlighter Palette – it is simply a dream collectors item but, that will sadly have to wait.
The Game of Thrones Eyeshadow Palette is quite possibly the most intricately designed packaging I’ve ever seen, whoever came up with the concept deserves an award, it is absolutely stunning. No photo can emphasize how beautiful it really is, it literally comes to life, especially with the 3D pop up Iron Throne. The palette is split into four sections with the central theme being the three Houses vying for the Iron Throne and The North. Furthermore, the Westeros map is displayed throughout the product featuring two iconic quotes said by Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister – which just happen to be my two favourite characters!
I was actually pleasantly surprised by the price of the Palette, at £45 it is in the higher range price of makeup products, however with it being a Game of Thrones collaboration, I was expecting it to be around £60. Altogether there are twenty shades; three mattes and seventeen shimmery metallics, with each theme containing five signature colours associated with them. It would be nice to have had a couple of more matte shades, however, with such a versatile collection of colours – I’m still incredibly happy!
The North; features cool toned icy blues, silvers and a midnight black.
Take The Black – jet black with silver sparkles.
White Walker – opalescent white.
Frozen North – midnight metallic blue.
Free Folk – cool ice silver.
Hard Home – blondish silvery gold.
House Stark; features earthy autumnal shades.
“Winter Is Coming.”
Nymeria – warm matte mid brown.
Winter Is Here – dark metallic brown.
Weirwood Leaves – deep metallic muted purple.
The Sight – vibrant forest green.
Winterfell – warm bold gold.
House Lannister; features warm rustic coppers and golds.
“Hear Me Roar!”
Red Keep – metallic orange copper.
Casterly Rock – muted metallic gold.
House Lannister – matte cool peach.
Lannister Red – muted matte red brown.
Kings Landing – vibrant cool blonde.
House Targaryen; features cool pastels and bold metallics.
“Fire and Blood.”
Stormborn -metallic cool purple.
House Targaryen – metallic warm gold.
Dothraki – vibrant yellow gold.
Bend The Knee – metallic lilac.
Bay of Dragons – metallic pastel mid pink.
Out of the four Vice Lipsticks available, the one I knew I had to have was Daenerys Targaryen, which just so happened to be the red lipstick! This shade is described as a, “fiery metallic red” and is a clear nod to her fire breathing dragons and House Targaryen. All four Vice Lipsticks are created with the metallic formula, meaning they’re sadly not fully matte, but they do create a beautiful 3D effect. At £17.50, these are the same prices as Urban Decay’s other stick lipsticks, which once again is a pleasant surprise considering the exclusive packaging.
Each shade features the sigil and colour of the House it is made for and once again, is truly a work of art. The other two shades are as follows; Sansa Stark, a “warm peach nude” and Lannister Gold, a “metallic bronze“. I came close to purchasing the final shade in the collection, the White Walker lipstick, which is described as a, “deep berry wine” but as silly as it seems to a non fan, felt like I was being a traitor to Daenerys! However, I did swatch the shade and it was very pigmented and super creamy – just as advertised.
Overall, I think Urban Decay have created a Collection which truly does justice to the incredible TV Show which Game of Thrones is. I honestly cannot stop staring at the Eyeshadow Palette especially, each shade is incredible and so magnetic. I also really love how the packaging is created to look like a book, which as most will know is the original source for Game of Thrones – thank you Mr George R. R. Martin!
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Urban Decay x Game of Thrones Collection. Game of Thrones has literally taken over the world and if you're a devoted fan like myself, you're probably more than happy about this.
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THIRD YEAR SHOW ARTIST STATEMENTS
Christine Alba (@thehappilyeverafter): I started my instagram account nearly six years ago so that I could have a place to document my days with iPhone photos of people, places and things that I love, including playful flatlays of food and objects from nature. I think with patience and careful attention, we can find beauty in simple, ordinary subjects, and I try to capture and share such beautiful simplicity in my photos. I take pride in being able to say that even after all these years, 99.9% the photos I post to instagram are taken and edited on my iPhone.
Kayleigh Ann Archbold (@herheartlaughs) is the owner of Laughing Heart Photography. She was raised in Hewitt, New Jersey but has called Montclair home for the past six years. She’s a soul-baring wife, artist, photographer, chaser of light, and adventurer. She spends most of her time daydreaming about being a mermaid and traveling this beautiful planet with her husband Jason.
Bobby Bates*
Lauren Bowers*
Alessandra Agabiti Braghelli (@unaromanainamerica): Born in Rome, moved to NJ for love. Mom, lifestyle blogger. Loves Autumn, healthy food, coffee, old fashioned houses. Her happy places are libraries and Wildwood. Wanderlust.
T. J. Brown (@photobyteresa): Mama Bear, Earth child, dedicated steward of the environment, Educator, Biologist in training, Dance Instructor, Writer, SJ native. If you find me under the sun or stars, dancing to a great band, with wild curly hair, and my shoes nowhere to be found, you've caught me in my most lively element.
Theresa Campbell (@tcampbell210) is a hobbyist who loves to travel, take photos, and share them with the Instagram community. She runs several hubs on IG including @just_unitedstates (in its 5th year!) and @just_newjersey.
Rey Caparros*
Meaghan Cross (@ohkichan195): Being able to share my perspective through a lens is fun for me. Others get to share in my experiences and I get to document them to look at them later. More often than not, my friends have come to me to ask if I still have pictures from a particular outing or party; the answer is always yes. I like it for it's documentation purposes and that it's also a form of art I get to experiment with. I've tried painting and drawing, but I've always circled back to photography more often than not. I think it's partially what influenced my job choice; Radiologic Technologist (or X-ray tech for short).
Zevilla Dahliana (@zezefox) is an Outdoor Advocate. She supports positive change within her community by promoting an active lifestyle. She is passionate about the outdoors; you can often find her hiking mountains, kayaking, biking, and snapping photos in between.
Gina Danza (@wildginaa) is an outdoor and food photographer who is always looking for new places. Her mission is the make the outdoors more diverse and healthy.
Craig DeCicco (@macaloin) is a photographer and real estate agent from Jersey City who enjoys shooting landscapes/cityscapes and traveling in his free time. Craig is a published photographer whose work has been exhibited in galleries throughout New York and New Jersey.
Jessica Defabritis (@jessica.def): Photography is such an interpretive art form that is so fun to share. It leaves it up to the viewer to decipher what the story is behind each shot. Whether it be a person experiencing a wonderful new place or a tiny heart shaped leaf in the middle of the woods. You decide why those things matter most as you gaze at them. It's what makes it special, you get to tell a story but only you know the true plot. Making them beautiful to look at is just the fun part.
Keith Drennan (@mrblackthorn) is a photographer from Jersey. He generally focuses on landscape and portrait photography.
Sarah Erbe (@saraherbe3) is a 24 year old from Bay Head, New Jersey. She works in retail as an Assistant Buyer. Her hobbies include photography, traveling, and blogging.
Bart Everts (@bartlehe) is a librarian at the Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers University-Camden and a historian of the Philadelphia region. He has written articles on South Jersey and the Philadelphia area for Hidden City Philadelphia, The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, Camden County Heritage, and Pennsylvania History. In addition to his personal Instagram, he also manages the account South Jersey Vegan @sjpvegan, which features vegan food in South Jersey, Philadelphia, and beyond. A native of Collingswood, he now lives in West Philadelphia.
Scott Faytok (@sfaytok78) is a photographer in Central NJ who loves the shore and traveling. His favorite spot is Bay Head. He loves showing off his state.
Jamie Ferrugiaro (@missjamiekaren) is a sort of jack-of-all trades creative who is passionate about the outdoors, traveling, and art. She has lived in Jersey her whole life, and loves the East Coast.
Mike Forgie (@prestonlogan) is a Digital Marketing Specialist. He would love for you to figure out what his username is from.
Olivia Frawley (@livfreddy): I am a mid-20s high school biology and marine biology teacher. I love teaching my students concepts they can both observe and apply when they go out in the real world! In the meantime, I try to capture as much beauty as possible right here in NJ; from the hidden oases in the middle of the woods to fiery sunrises at the beach during fishing season. Maybe we will just let everyone else keep thinking it's "dirty" here - and the beauty can be our little secret.
Jessica Grennen (@Simply_jessg87) was born and raised in New Jersey and has always been the creative type. She likes to think she followed in her dad's love of photography and hasn't stopped since. She’s drawn to nature and architecture mostly, “one being fluid and the other bold, hard lines; my ying and yang I guess you could say.” In the future she would love to start selling her art but for now she is content sharing it with friends and family.
Danielle Grubb*
Michael Guccione (@michaelguccionephoto) spends most of his time photographing at the beach in Monmouth and Ocean counties. He has been a New Jersey resident for 9 years now, and loves showing people how beautiful this state is.
Emily Anne Harber*
Kate Hausman (@Khaus11):I am a Park Naturalist from Ocean County, but I spent the past two years living and working in Stokes State Forest in Sussex County. I've enjoyed documenting the differences between my southern and northern homes, particularly the natural/ecological ones.
Andrea Hayes (@andreas.photos): I believe there is so much beauty to be found in our surroundings, you just have to look for it. That is one of the reasons why I explore New Jersey. The other is that I love photography. Instagram has been a wonderful way to connect both.
Cristal Johnson (@cristalinaj): Mama. Teacher. Sunchaser. Dreamer. The skies, the seas, and the world around me.
Adam K*
Youn Lee (@yjbunnylee) has been living in Basking Ridge, NJ (Somerset County) for over four years. She is currently a graduate student at Pratt Institute and a freelance UX designer. She loves traveling up and down the I-95 corridor with her husband. She was born and raised in South Korea.
Micael Lopes (@billyoliver) is a self-taught photographer and instagramer from Brazil. He considers New Jersey his home because it is where he grew as an artist and it has shaped his photography skills in the way he sees light, color, and natural elements. He often likes to incorporate nature with a twist of urban style in his photos in light settings. As an artist he strives to create work that will evoke emotions and inspire others.
Matt Marcheski (@mattmarcheski) is a portrait and landscape photographer from the Atlantic City area. Traveling and meeting new people is his thing!
David McGraw Jr. (@ddmcgrawjr): I've worked as a concert and nightclub photographer for the past four years. Having grown up in New Jersey it's been great to come back and take photos, especially during my Jersey Collective week last year (election week in November). I hope to cover emerging music scenes in Newark and Trenton in the future.
Matt Murawinski (@mattmurawinski) is a 20-something nomad-at-heart. Producer for CNN by day and photographer by night (and weekends).
Donovan Myers (@stryfe2103): Storyteller and Wanderer from South Jersey. I've lived in New Jersey since I was 5, but only recently began to discover the hidden wonders of this place. I've spent the last few years wandering the state with camera in hand, discovering parts of this state I never imagined, and trying to tell a bit about these places through my pictures and my stories.
Arati Patel (@aratip05) has a background in Environmental Law and Policy. She has had a passion for the outdoors since she was young. She enjoys discovering small pockets of nature within urban areas and always had an appreciation of how resilient urban ecosystems are. She thinks that Jersey Collective is a wonderful community to help photo enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds have a chance to showcase their talent and the beauty of New Jersey and is thankful for this opportunity.
Natalie Pereira (@rockbeertravel): I have been fascinated with photo documenting my life and the world around me since I got my first LeClic camera in the 80s! I am completely self-taught and just focus on what I see and how I see it. In my professional life, I run a series of artisan markets in Jersey City called Marketplace JC and am lucky enough to be part of a network of artists in artisans in New Jersey.
Corrie Peterson (@upbeatlibrarian): i'm upbeat. i'm a librarian. i'm corrie peterson, just a human animal living alongside the atlantic ocean in new jersey, spending my time growing & stretching, learning & reading, taking walks, swimming laps, writing poems, looking for treasure & making art out of books that nobody else wanted.
Amy Petrie*
Artyom Pocapinskis (@art_poca) is inspired by nature and always in search of new adventures and experiences.
Cindy Price (@mostlymaplewood) has written extensively about food and travel for the New York Times and the American Michelin Guides. Her Mostly Maplewood photography project began when she moved to Maplewood, NJ with her husband and two young sons and began exploring the area. She shoots solely on her iPhone 7.
Jennifer Rojas (@digital.concepts) was born and raised in upstate NY. She moved to NJ about 13 years ago. She began photographing and exploring NJ and the surrounding areas about four years ago and hasn’t stopped since.
Jason M. Schack (@jmschack_photography) is a nature and landscape photographer from Waretown NJ, located in Southern Ocean County. You can find him anywhere along the Jersey Coast for sunrise and sunset. Fall and Winter are his favorite seasons for photography, and he hopes to see you out there!
Blaise Scott-Miller*
Ana Mo Shoshin (@madcat1) is a hand-quilter and artist living in Asbury Park, NJ with her husband and cats. She enjoys taking photos, coffee, rocks, and bones. See her work at madcatquilts.com.
Michelle Simone (@michelle.simone) is a multimedia artist who specializes in photography, deejaying, and filmmaking. New Jersey is very inspirational to her--from its culture to its geography to all of the hidden treasures it has to offer.
Jaclyn Sovern (@jsovs) is a 24-year-old based in the Tri-State area, with a BFA in Photography from The School of Visual Arts. In 2016 she launched her own company, Socially Relevant, a full-service agency providing day-to-day social media management, content creation, website design, and more. Visit her websites www.jaclynsovern.com & www.sociallyrelevantt.com.
Diana Van Horn (@dianavanfarley) is a portrait and lifestyle photographer based out of Asbury Park and has lived in various parts of New Jersey her entire life. When she’s not out photographing the cute @AnimalsofAsbury, she enjoys documenting local events & politics.
Ed Waldron (@edwaldrons): I try to capture the built environment we have created within the natural beauty of the state. Pictures that incorporate architecture, constructed environments, and their placement in nature give a true sense to how we live and what makes New Jersey a great place to be.
David Warner (@davidwarnerphotography) grew up in New Jersey and has called it home all his life. When he was 12 years old, he had a darkroom in his parents’ basement and was hooked ever since. Although he does headshots, weddings, and much more, he really loves capturing the history and nature that we have all around us in the Garden State.
Sean Whener*
Kyle Willis*
Ben Wurst (@reclaimednj) is a field biologist who is happily married with two young children. He works with rare wildlife along the southeastern coast of New Jersey. He’s into everything related to the outdoors, including photography. He tries to use his creative skills in his work to highlight the need for conservation of wildlife and habitat preservation. In 2011 he started a small business centered around reducing wood waste being sent to landfills and use that salvaged wood to create picture frames and other creations.
*no statement supplied
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PHOTO: COURTESY @BETINA_GOLDSTEIN VIA INSTAGRAM Fall is the best time of year for being creative with our nails. With inspired color palettes in the most fabulous muted shades, the season gets our blood pumping. Falling leaves, pumpkin spice and monsters, oh my! Check out these nail designs that will be everywhere this fall. Fall Nail Designs View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Nail Room & Co (@thenailroomchats) on Aug 18, 2019 at 9:45am PDT How can you incorporate fall greens into your favorite trendy nail art? The Nail Room & Co. (@thenailroomchats on Instagram) demonstrates with this calming double-wave design. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein) on Aug 12, 2019 at 12:15pm PDT While these nails aren’t painted with an actual color-- other than clear-- the nude is essential to their design. Betina Goldstein (@betina_goldstein on Instagram) creates these rhinestone cuffs with Swarovski crystals. If we had these nails, we’d never look back. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nails_Ruby💎 (@nails_ruby) on Mar 19, 2019 at 9:39am PDT Ruby (@nails_ruby on Instagram) puts the gradient nail trend to the test using these soft browns with slight purple undertones. I am absolutely a fan of these and hope to see them more often. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nail Stylist // Luxe press-ons (@perfect10customnails) on Jul 29, 2019 at 12:10pm PDT Jessica Harris’s (@perfect10customnails on Instagram) jade stone nails are press-on and fit for any gemstone lover. The intricate balance of the teal with the white is iconic. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Designed By Tony Ly (@tonysnail) on Aug 17, 2019 at 6:13am PDT Tony Ly’s (@tonysnail on Instagram) deep red suspended-glitter nails are flawless and we love them. The fiery glow of the sequins excites me and reminds me of a cool evening with a burning sunset. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chaun P. 🇰🇭 (@chaunlegend) on Aug 4, 2019 at 7:55am PDT Chaun P. (@chaunlegend on Instagram) has a knack for fade nails and these are no different. He uses bright, rust-orange polish to complete this fall nail look. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ˗ˏˋ𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞ˊˎ˗ (@nailart_bygracie) on Nov 10, 2018 at 7:21pm PST Nail artist Gracie (@nailart_bygracie on Instagram) introduces pumpkin spice season with these beautiful olive and nude nails. The pumpkin tips are the perfect accent for fall. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🅛🅐🅡🅡🅔🅖🅤🅘 🅝🅐🅘🅛🅢 (@larreguinails) on Aug 14, 2019 at 12:12am PDT These wood resin nails are incredible. Nail guru Luma Larregui (@larreguinails on Instagram) gets our hearts pumping with this unique blue and brown design. She actually embeds tiny bits of wood inside the nails. View this post on Instagram A post shared by L (@elleaseen) on Oct 12, 2018 at 3:34pm PDT Candy corn is totally underrated, so these gorgeous rusty candy corn nails by L (@elleaseen on Instagram) are IT. They blend four shades of rust into one delectable set of fall nail inspiration. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein) on Oct 10, 2018 at 8:54am PDT Spooky eyeballs are one of my favorite Halloween-inspired candies. These half moon spooky eyes by Betina Goldstein (@betina_goldstein on Instagram) get us ready for the witching hour in the most satisfying way. Fall Nail Color Trends I was ready for summer to be over within the first few weeks of it (for us Floridians, that means April-- four. MONTHS. AGO). Let me tell you, it was a LONG summer. We had dripping hot temperatures close to 100 degrees, and the inability to cool off because the beaches were out of order (Tampa Bay had flesh-eating bacteria, yikes). But, here we are with the taste of fall on our tongues, soon to be officially christened as of Labor Day weekend-- we’re almost there! Fall 2019 is sure to be an epic season because DUH, our favorite colors are back and bigger than ever. Yes, sure, they look a little different than they did a year ago, but so do we! Speaking of new shades, here are six of our favorite fall colors that are brand-new for Fall 2019. Green Fall Nail Color Trends Green nails are difficult to pull off on a good day, but these fall-toned greens are perfect for the 2019 season. They are much darker and more muted than average, so anyone can pull them off. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein) on Oct 10, 2018 at 8:54am PDT Nail artist Vlora (@rajanas_nails on Instagram) loves this satin-finished green shade and we can see why. The color is rich and streak-free, a major plus in the nail world. It’s the perfect green and we love the single matte nail on each hand. Nice choice, girl! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nail Love by Kylie (@naillovebykylie) on Aug 17, 2019 at 7:25am PDT Utah-based nail artist Kylie (@naillovebykylie on Instagram) is ready for fall with these sublime, matte army-green nails. The shade is pretty neutral as far as greens go, so you don’t even have to worry about them matching your outfits. This is the ideal green for fall. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓪 𝓑 (@nailsonthames) on Aug 15, 2019 at 9:05am PDT British nail guru Marta B. (@nailsonthames on Instagram) shows off the next big green for fall, straight from OPI’s Scotland collection. Shade Things I’ve Seen in Aber-green is described as an edgy green with brown undertones. Fall 2019 better be ready because this color is one of my favorites. This deep emerald green nail polish by Marc Jacobs Beauty will be your new fall favorite. While green nail color is can be daunting, this sweet green is deep and sensual. It will make you feel sexy, elegant and alluring. Take your power and get this nail color at Sephora . Nude Fall Nail Color Trends Nudes and neutrals are ordinarily straight-forward and mostly the same year to year. We have more of a variety now though. The fall 2019 season is meant for nudes with brown and pink undertones and other less common neutral shades. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MILLENNIAL BEAUTY (@millennialbeauty) on Jul 8, 2019 at 8:04am PDT Millennial Beauty (@millennialbeauty on Instagram) gives us a taste of the pink nude trend for fall. These creamy, pink-nude nails with gold-glitter accents are the perfect accessory for an autumn wedding. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓪 𝓑 (@nailsonthames) on Aug 14, 2019 at 9:00am PDT Marta B. (@nailsonthames on Instagram) showcases these bewitching, dusty-mauve nails by OPI. Another color from their fall 2019 Scotland collection, shade You’ve Got that Glas-glow is as enchanting as it is creamy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valori Boss (@gaudyoctopus) on Aug 11, 2019 at 11:16am PDT These soft tan and yellow nude nails by Valori Boss (@gaudyoctopus on Instagram) are enticing and the fitting accent to a fall wardrobe. Because every color involved is a neutral (even the black), they match anything and everything. Essie’s Wild Nudes nail polish collection is only available online through Ulta , but it brings the ultimate definition to the phrase “unusual nudes.” Nude colors are typically pretty basic, but these babies come out of left-field with their color choices, and it couldn’t be better. Color Clothing Optional is the ideal shade of pinky-brown nude for the fall 2019 season. Plum & Brown Fall Nail Color Trends Purples and browns are some of the most popular nail colors year-round, so why should fall be any different? These plum purples and nude browns are ravishing and command attention. View this post on Instagram A post shared by All The Nail Polish Things (@polish.lab.rat) on Aug 16, 2019 at 7:37am PDT Nail artist Larissa (@polish.lab.rat on Instagram) tests out one of OPI’s new Scotland Infinite Shine shades for her Instagram post. We adore the perfection of the glowy plum tone. Shade Boys Be Thistle-ing at Me is available at Ulta Beauty. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rachel AT Schmitz (@rachels.nailsparation.station) on Aug 16, 2019 at 1:00pm PDT Rachel (@rachels.nailspiration.station on Instagram) is a self-proclaimed “dip-powder enthusiast” and loves to use the powders in her nail looks. This pretty purple-toned red and rose-gold combination is in our book of fall ‘19 looks to try. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JoLinn (@jolinncreates) on Aug 10, 2019 at 4:35pm PDT Nail enthusiast JoLinn (@jolinncreates on Instagram) takes fall nails to the next level with these matte pinkish, coffee-colored nails. The matte quality of the color makes them appear almost velvety and we think it is incredible. Purple shades don’t have to be difficult to embrace this fall season with this combination of purple mini polishes by Deborah Lippman. Available at Sephora , this set combines inky plum with soft lavender and literally every purple shade in-between. Deep Blue & Dark Teal Fall Nail Color Trends Blue is a popular shade for summer, but darker versions of blue and teal are essential to your fall color palette. Here are some of our favorite shades. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓪 𝓑 (@nailsonthames) on Aug 17, 2019 at 8:57am PDT Marta B. (@nailsonthames on Instagram) is on point with her color-testing. This shade from OPI’s Scotland Infinite Shine collection for fall 2019 is the crown jewel. Shade Nessie Plays Hide and Sea-k ’s glitter is multi-faceted and deep, although it does appear to be a much brighter color on the Ulta website. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ›◈‹ Antonia ›◈‹ (@mausigrau) on May 12, 2019 at 7:37am PDT While navy blue is a foolproof transitional shade for fall, Antonia (@mausigrau on Instagram) featured this deep Essie blue in mid-May. The color is hot and definitively perfect for both seasons, but particularly for fall. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vixxen Nailz🥀 (@vixxen_nailz) on Aug 17, 2019 at 8:37pm PDT Vixxen Nails (@vixxen_nailz on Instagram) knows how to work fall blues with this sexy set. Her blue shade is rich and decorated with golden gems and a gold-glitter underside. Get your favorite fall 2019 blue nail polish at Target for the low. Essie nail polish is long-lasting and insanely good quality to boost your manicure for the autumn months. After School Boy Blazer is a gorgeous shade of navy, a perfect transition from summer to fall. Maroon & Wine Fall Nail Color Trends As I’m a redhead, I tend to wear wine and maroon all year long. Everyone else? Well, the best time for maroon is autumn! Fall is here and so are these sexy reds. Check out our favorite shades. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Dye (@chroma_nails) on Aug 15, 2019 at 4:19pm PDT This pretty wine shade, worn by Jennifer Dye (@chroma_nails on Instagram), is the irrefutable winner for best fall reds. The color is sweet and really does resemble a glass of wine. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Erika’s Nail Studio (@erikasnailstudio) on Aug 16, 2019 at 10:23am PDT These nails by Erika (@erikasnailstudio on Instagram) are giving us major fall vibes. She alternates the design on each nail, featuring watercolor, glitter and a regular satin-finish. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Lee (@heymichellelee) on Aug 16, 2019 at 5:33pm PDT Michelle Lee’s (@heymichellelee on Instagram) geometric, negative-space nails feature a solid maroon shade. It looks brilliant in its simplicity. Mischo Beauty’s Front Row Creme nail polish is the obvious choice for a toxin-free nail color with durability fit for a queen. Their Scarlet shade is the all-around best shade of deep red for the autumn months. Don’t just let us tell you this, get it at Macy’s and try it yourself . Rust Orange Fall Nail Color Trends Orange reminds me of Halloween, and Halloween is right around the corner. These rusty orange shades are impeccably suited for the current fall season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IBD South Africa (@ibdnailsa) on Jul 2, 2019 at 1:21am PDT IBD South Africa (@ibdnailsa on Instagram) has the right idea with these rust orange stiletto nails. Not only is the color attractive, but they are extremely eye-catching when paired with the stiletto length. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Delphine🧸 (@delphine_debray) on Aug 16, 2019 at 2:35am PDT Delphine (@delphine_debray on Instagram) is winning with her short, rust orange nails for fall. We are here for it, girl! OPI’s Scotland collection has us covered for this year’s fall favorites . Available at Ulta Beauty , shade Suzi Needs a Loch-Smith is a “copper-kissed orange” that will wow anyone who sees it. The color is the perfect rusty orange to get your autumn leaves on, seen here on Marta B. (@nailsonthames on Instagram). So What Do We Think? Fall is our favorite time of year, and we cannot wait to see these gorgeous colors in action. The deeper shades of purple, teal and blue are quintessential to the summer-fall transitional period and add a bit of depth to the traditional fall color palette. Every year rusty shades of orange, olive and maroon come back full force with slight variations. We love each one more than the last, and couldn’t be more excited to give them a try ourselves.
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New Post has been published on https://travelonlinetips.com/5-queensland-restaurants-owned-by-celebrity-chefs-2/
5 Queensland restaurants owned by celebrity chefs
It’s a tantalising prospect – dining at a great restaurant while also getting a sneak peak at the celebrity chef who owns the venue.
But eating at restaurants owned by celebrity chefs is not just about getting a selfie with a well-known identity. Although they are backed by star power, these eateries are also some of the best places to grab a bite in Queensland.
SUM YUNG GUYS (MATT SINCLAIR)
Growing up, Noosa was a favourite holiday spot for Matt Sinclair and his family, so when the ex-Masterchef contestant wanted to set up a restaurant with his three best mates, Sunshine Beach was top of the list. Sum Yung Guys is a fun and funky restaurant that takes food very seriously.
The dressings, pastes and sauces are all made from scratch and it shows in the bold, punchy flavours of the southeast Asian-inspired dishes, such as the sesame encrusted king prawn toast with gochujang mayo and the tangy yellow curry with roast pumpkin, snake beans and silken tofu.
But whatever you do, don’t miss the handmade, hand stretched roti – it’s flaky, crispy, salty and worth the trip alone.
A: 8/46 Duke St, Sunshine Beach
FAT NOODLE (LUKE NGUYEN)
Brisbane’s food scene has come of age in the last few years and chef Luke Nguyen wanted to capitalise on the local hunger for all things Vietnamese.
Fat Noodle, a buzzing restaurant at the top end of the Queen Street Mall, serves Luke’s traditional family recipes and champions fresh local produce, such as local king prawns and grouper fish.
A: Treasury Brisbane, George St & Queen St, Brisbane
MODA (JAVIER CODINA)
It’s not uncommon to see chef Javier Codina, known for his appearances on Channel 10’s The Living Room, trawling Brisbane’s markets before the sun rises in order to find the best and freshest produce for his Spanish-inspired restaurant Moda.
Local ingredients feature heavily on the menu, such as the Brisbane Valley quail served with a creamy parsnip and vanilla puree, and the blini with Moreton Bay prawn and avocado rillettes.
Depending on your mood, you can sit upstairs in the more formal but secluded mezzanine, or dine outside in the tranquil courtyard.
A: The Barracks, 61 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane
NOOSA BEACH HOUSE (PETER KURUVITA)
With a passion for the ocean and seafood, it makes sense that after enormous success in Sydney and Fiji, chef Peter Kuruvita would open a restaurant just a stone’s throw from one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
Fresh, local seafood is the speciality here – try the plump koji glazed Hervey Bay scallops or delicate Noosa spanner crab served with an aromatic and fiery egg yolk curry. With exceptional food, cascading greenery, white walls and warm timber accents, Kuruvita has created the kind of place that will make you want to extend your holiday.
Luckily you can maximise your time here as they do a killer buffet breakfast too.
A: 16 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads
ALCHEMY (BRAD JOLLY)
He may not necessarily be a household name, but Brad Jolly is a superstar amongst many in the restaurant business. The former personal chef to the Queen Mother, Brad has also worked alongside Marco Pierre White and Jamie Oliver.
After working abroad, Brad wanted to make the most of Australia’s incredible produce and so returned to open Alchemy in Brisbane.
The menu showcases the best, seasonal produce, such as in the impossibly light Queensland blue swimmer crab soufflé. And if all that doesn’t impress you (which it should), if you spot Brad in his chef’s whites ask him about being the world record holder for the highest number of flips of a pancake in 60 seconds (he clocked up 140).
A: 175 Eagle Street, Brisbane
Who are your favourite celebrity chefs? Tell us in the comments below.
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Today I'm helping InkSlingerPR with the excerpt reveal for ALL BECAUSE OF YOU by Theresa Paolo! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!
Title: All Because of You
Title: Theresa Paolo
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 13th
About ALL BECAUSE OF YOU
Sometimes you have to lose everything to find your happy ending.
Olivia Green had the picture-perfect life. Dating one of the most successful businessmen in New York City, living in a penthouse over Manhattan and a budding career, until one dreadful night when it was all ripped out from under her. If only she'd gone home like she was supposed to, she wouldn't have known her future fiancé was a two-timing jerk. Now with no choice she is leaving the city to move back in with her parents in the small town of Morgan's Bay.
Shane McConnell believed he had no family other than his mother, but on her death bed, she revealed the father who died before he was born, came from a large wealthy family. With nothing to lose he sets out to the east end of Long Island to spend a summer with his newly discovered family. What he doesn’t expect is the secrets and lies dating back to long before his father’s death. Nor could he predict the beautiful hot mess he met on the train would find a way into his closed off heart.
Both struggling with the realities of their new lives they unintentionally lean on each other. As their attraction builds and their undeniable chemistry explodes into passion, Shane holds onto his own secret that threatens his chance at love.
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EXCERPT
“Kissing me out in the open on Main Street? Do you know what that means?”
He stepped closer, heat coming off him in delicious waves that surrounded her in a fiery blanket of desire. “What does it mean?” His voice dipped to a sultry whisper that had her desperate to throw her inhibitions to the curb.
“Next thing you know, the whole town is planning our relationship down to the wedding day and how many kids we’ll have. Probably twins. A boy and a girl.”
“Kids?”
Olivia snickered at the squeak in his voice. “Don’t worry. You won’t impregnate me by kissing me.”
“But the town will think you’re carrying twins.”
“You’re learning.” She tapped his chest, and an electric current jolted through her veins. Shane wrapped his hand around her wrist and yanked her into the alley between Pie in the Sky and Book Nook. He backed her into the wall, strong male consuming her. His arms caged her in, and she arched toward him, desperate for his touch.
In one fell swoop, he captured her lips, and lava exploded in her chest and dispersed in heated waves. His mouth moved against hers with a carnal lust so passionate and demanding, she lost sight of everything else. All she could focus on was the hard press of Shane’s lips and the hard bulge in his pants meeting the apex of her thighs.
A moan escaped her throat as his hands cupped her face and tilted her head. His tongue swiped lovingly at the crease between her lips, and she parted, welcoming the slick feel. It was a sensual dance of tongue and teeth, licking and nipping, giving and taking. He tasted of sweet coconut and confidence, kissing her with a potency she would never forget.
The way he kissed her, ravenous and precise, it was as if he’d been doing it for years. She melted in to his lips, letting him take control, and not because she felt he needed to dominate, but because she wanted him to.
His body pressed into her, her back melding to the cool brick wall. It was fire and ice, heaven and hell, and she didn’t want it to end. She grabbed his t-shirt, holding him close, absorbing every sensation flooding her body.
He kissed a trail from the corner of her mouth down her neck and back. The stubble on his face left tracks of passion. She didn’t care. Tonight, when she was in her bed, all she would be thinking about was this kiss.
A giggle broke the cloud that surrounded them. “Don’t mind me. Continue just as you were.” Olivia didn’t need to turn to know whose voice that was—Jean Kelly, owner of Book Nook.
Olivia dropped her head to Shane’s shoulder, embarrassed heat prickling her neck and cheeks. Shane held her, and Olivia felt his arm raise in a wave.
“Have a good day, you love birds,” Jean said, and Olivia covered her face with her hands.
“Is she gone?” Olivia asked a few seconds later.
“She’s gone.” Shane’s warm breath caressed her ear. “So… what do you want to name our twins?”
About Theresa Paolo:
Theresa Paolo lives on Long Island, NY with her fiancé and their fish. She is the author of NA and Adult contemporary romances. Her debut novel (NEVER) AGAIN, released in Fall 2013 with Berkley (Penguin) and the companion novel (ONCE) AGAIN released Summer 2014. Mad About Matt, the first book in her new Red Maple Falls series, released March 2017.
She loves to write heartfelt romances with a dash of fun and a side of spice. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, brewery hopping, daydreaming, wasting time on Pinterest, trying to get 10k steps on her FitBit or can be found chatting away on Twitter and Facebook. She also writes YA romance under Tessa Marie and has no idea how to smile for a picture.
Connect with Theresa:
Facebook | Facebook Reader Group | Bookbub | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Books And Main | Goodreads | Website
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Coral Bay: My Beach Paradise
Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018
We all have our own version of The Beach — that spot in the world where all is perfect and all is paradise. I found my version back in 2007. It’s a small town in Western Australia called Coral Bay. It’s a one-road town with one bar, one supermarket, three restaurants, and three hotels. This is a small town. There’s not much to do. And that’s why I love it.
Coral Bay is my paradise. From the first time, I visited, I fell in love with this idyllic little beach town in the middle of nowhere. On one side of Coral Bay, it’s barren, arid cattle country, where sheep roam and truckers dodge kangaroos. On the other side, it’s blue water, sandy beaches, and the Ningaloo Reef and its abundance of marine life.
And, in between that, is a little town that’s home to one hotel, an RV site, a bunch of backpackers, and some beach bums enjoy the tropical beauty at the end of the world.
Everything in this town revolves around one giant white sand beach with turquoise blue water that stretches until infinity and a reef system so close to the land, you can swim to it. There are so many turtles, fish, and stingrays, it’s too much to handle. When I was there in 2007, I woke up every day, swam with turtles, relaxed on the beach, and worked on my tan. At night, the setting sun would light up the sky in fiery tones of red and orange while I cooled off with a cold beer and good friends.
Life in Coral Bay is perfection, and my time there went way too fast. I could have stayed for weeks, and I longed to go back and visit because a quiet beach town is all I want in life. When Tourism Australia invited me to Australia last month, I declined the offer at first. After all, I just went to Australia at the beginning of the year. But when they told me I could go back to Coral Bay, I jumped at the chance.
I wondered what the town would look like after three years. Tourism in Western Australia has grown in recent years, and I wondered if this sleepy town had been spoiled. Would I return to my one-road paradise just to find multiple roads, more hotels, and more restaurants? After three years away, I was glad to see the town was still quiet and peaceful.
Whatever Coral Bay looked like now, I planned on doing more this visit than just sitting on the beach. To begin with, it was off to explore the outback that surrounds Coral Bay. While I was in the countryside, kangaroos jumped all around, eagles and other birds flew above, and there was wildlife everywhere.
Then we went down to the beach and spotted parrotfish jumping in the shallows and reef sharks circling for food. Snorkeling and swimming around the reef for a second time, I realized this is the best reef in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef gets all the attention, but the Ningaloo Reef is much better. There’s brighter coral and more wildlife, including whale sharks, turtles, and dolphins. It hasn’t been spoiled by overdevelopment or overfishing. While the Great Barrier Reef looks amazing from the air, it’s what we see underwater that matters, and I see far more underwater action here than I do on the Great Barrier Reef.
During March and April, whale sharks migrate up the coast, and large manta rays can be found around the reef. It being off-season, I had to settle for the manta rays. I took a half-day snorkeling trip around the reef; about an hour outside of Coral Bay, we spotted some large manta rays.
These creatures were huge! It was amazing to swim with them and watch them glide effortlessly through the water. I never realized how big these creatures were. In my mind, they were as big as a person. In real life, they’re as big as three!
This isn’t your standard Aussie tourist destination. It’s that very isolation that keeps most tourists away, leaving the place so peaceful and detached from the rest of the world. This is a spot for mostly Australian and people driving around in campervans. There are no hordes of people ruining the beaches or the wildlife. It’s a world away from the busy East Coast.
If you ask me, there’s nothing in eastern Australia that equals the beauty of Coral Bay. Forget Cairns, Noosa, Magnetic Island, or Bondi Beach. If you want to experience the beaches you see in ads for Australia, come to Coral Bay.
While part of me wants you to go there, part of me wants it all to myself. Paradises are all eventually lost, but I want to hold onto mine just a bit longer. If you make it there, you’ll see what I mean. You’ll want to tell others, but you won’t really want to tell others. Then again, maybe you’ll find the sign pointing to Coral Bay has suddenly disappeared, and I can keep my version of heaven just a bit longer.
How to Visit Coral Bay
Coral Bay isn’t an easy place to get to. By car, it’s almost 5,000km from Sydney — literally across the entire continent. It’s located in the middle of the western coast, making it far off the beaten trail. The closest airport is located a couple of hours away in Learmonth. If you plan to drive from Perth, expect the journey to take at least 12 hours each way. If you’re coming from the other direction, the trip is a solid 14-hour drive from Broome.
As for accommodation, there are a couple of hotels in the area as well as a hostel to stay at. If you’re driving, you’ll find some RV parks too.
Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3
The post Coral Bay: My Beach Paradise appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
source https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/my-beach-paradise/
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Coral Bay: My Beach Paradise
Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018
We all have our own version of The Beach — that spot in the world where all is perfect and all is paradise. I found my version back in 2007. It’s a small town in Western Australia called Coral Bay. It’s a one-road town with one bar, one supermarket, three restaurants, and three hotels. This is a small town. There’s not much to do. And that’s why I love it.
Coral Bay is my paradise. From the first time, I visited, I fell in love with this idyllic little beach town in the middle of nowhere. On one side of Coral Bay, it’s barren, arid cattle country, where sheep roam and truckers dodge kangaroos. On the other side, it’s blue water, sandy beaches, and the Ningaloo Reef and its abundance of marine life.
And, in between that, is a little town that’s home to one hotel, an RV site, a bunch of backpackers, and some beach bums enjoy the tropical beauty at the end of the world.
Everything in this town revolves around one giant white sand beach with turquoise blue water that stretches until infinity and a reef system so close to the land, you can swim to it. There are so many turtles, fish, and stingrays, it’s too much to handle. When I was there in 2007, I woke up every day, swam with turtles, relaxed on the beach, and worked on my tan. At night, the setting sun would light up the sky in fiery tones of red and orange while I cooled off with a cold beer and good friends.
Life in Coral Bay is perfection, and my time there went way too fast. I could have stayed for weeks, and I longed to go back and visit because a quiet beach town is all I want in life. When Tourism Australia invited me to Australia last month, I declined the offer at first. After all, I just went to Australia at the beginning of the year. But when they told me I could go back to Coral Bay, I jumped at the chance.
I wondered what the town would look like after three years. Tourism in Western Australia has grown in recent years, and I wondered if this sleepy town had been spoiled. Would I return to my one-road paradise just to find multiple roads, more hotels, and more restaurants? After three years away, I was glad to see the town was still quiet and peaceful.
Whatever Coral Bay looked like now, I planned on doing more this visit than just sitting on the beach. To begin with, it was off to explore the outback that surrounds Coral Bay. While I was in the countryside, kangaroos jumped all around, eagles and other birds flew above, and there was wildlife everywhere.
Then we went down to the beach and spotted parrotfish jumping in the shallows and reef sharks circling for food. Snorkeling and swimming around the reef for a second time, I realized this is the best reef in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef gets all the attention, but the Ningaloo Reef is much better. There’s brighter coral and more wildlife, including whale sharks, turtles, and dolphins. It hasn’t been spoiled by overdevelopment or overfishing. While the Great Barrier Reef looks amazing from the air, it’s what we see underwater that matters, and I see far more underwater action here than I do on the Great Barrier Reef.
During March and April, whale sharks migrate up the coast, and large manta rays can be found around the reef. It being off-season, I had to settle for the manta rays. I took a half-day snorkeling trip around the reef; about an hour outside of Coral Bay, we spotted some large manta rays.
These creatures were huge! It was amazing to swim with them and watch them glide effortlessly through the water. I never realized how big these creatures were. In my mind, they were as big as a person. In real life, they’re as big as three!
This isn’t your standard Aussie tourist destination. It’s that very isolation that keeps most tourists away, leaving the place so peaceful and detached from the rest of the world. This is a spot for mostly Australian and people driving around in campervans. There are no hordes of people ruining the beaches or the wildlife. It’s a world away from the busy East Coast.
If you ask me, there’s nothing in eastern Australia that equals the beauty of Coral Bay. Forget Cairns, Noosa, Magnetic Island, or Bondi Beach. If you want to experience the beaches you see in ads for Australia, come to Coral Bay.
While part of me wants you to go there, part of me wants it all to myself. Paradises are all eventually lost, but I want to hold onto mine just a bit longer. If you make it there, you’ll see what I mean. You’ll want to tell others, but you won’t really want to tell others. Then again, maybe you’ll find the sign pointing to Coral Bay has suddenly disappeared, and I can keep my version of heaven just a bit longer.
How to Visit Coral Bay
Coral Bay isn’t an easy place to get to. By car, it’s almost 5,000km from Sydney — literally across the entire continent. It’s located in the middle of the western coast, making it far off the beaten trail. The closest airport is located a couple of hours away in Learmonth. If you plan to drive from Perth, expect the journey to take at least 12 hours each way. If you’re coming from the other direction, the trip is a solid 14-hour drive from Broome.
As for accommodation, there are a couple of hotels in the area as well as a hostel to stay at. If you’re driving, you’ll find some RV parks too.
Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3
The post Coral Bay: My Beach Paradise appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/my-beach-paradise/
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Coral Bay: My Beach Paradise
Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018
We all have our own version of The Beach — that spot in the world where all is perfect and all is paradise. I found my version back in 2007. It’s a small town in Western Australia called Coral Bay. It’s a one-road town with one bar, one supermarket, three restaurants, and three hotels. This is a small town. There’s not much to do. And that’s why I love it.
Coral Bay is my paradise. From the first time, I visited, I fell in love with this idyllic little beach town in the middle of nowhere. On one side of Coral Bay, it’s barren, arid cattle country, where sheep roam and truckers dodge kangaroos. On the other side, it’s blue water, sandy beaches, and the Ningaloo Reef and its abundance of marine life.
And, in between that, is a little town that’s home to one hotel, an RV site, a bunch of backpackers, and some beach bums enjoy the tropical beauty at the end of the world.
Everything in this town revolves around one giant white sand beach with turquoise blue water that stretches until infinity and a reef system so close to the land, you can swim to it. There are so many turtles, fish, and stingrays, it’s too much to handle. When I was there in 2007, I woke up every day, swam with turtles, relaxed on the beach, and worked on my tan. At night, the setting sun would light up the sky in fiery tones of red and orange while I cooled off with a cold beer and good friends.
Life in Coral Bay is perfection, and my time there went way too fast. I could have stayed for weeks, and I longed to go back and visit because a quiet beach town is all I want in life. When Tourism Australia invited me to Australia last month, I declined the offer at first. After all, I just went to Australia at the beginning of the year. But when they told me I could go back to Coral Bay, I jumped at the chance.
I wondered what the town would look like after three years. Tourism in Western Australia has grown in recent years, and I wondered if this sleepy town had been spoiled. Would I return to my one-road paradise just to find multiple roads, more hotels, and more restaurants? After three years away, I was glad to see the town was still quiet and peaceful.
Whatever Coral Bay looked like now, I planned on doing more this visit than just sitting on the beach. To begin with, it was off to explore the outback that surrounds Coral Bay. While I was in the countryside, kangaroos jumped all around, eagles and other birds flew above, and there was wildlife everywhere.
Then we went down to the beach and spotted parrotfish jumping in the shallows and reef sharks circling for food. Snorkeling and swimming around the reef for a second time, I realized this is the best reef in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef gets all the attention, but the Ningaloo Reef is much better. There’s brighter coral and more wildlife, including whale sharks, turtles, and dolphins. It hasn’t been spoiled by overdevelopment or overfishing. While the Great Barrier Reef looks amazing from the air, it’s what we see underwater that matters, and I see far more underwater action here than I do on the Great Barrier Reef.
During March and April, whale sharks migrate up the coast, and large manta rays can be found around the reef. It being off-season, I had to settle for the manta rays. I took a half-day snorkeling trip around the reef; about an hour outside of Coral Bay, we spotted some large manta rays.
These creatures were huge! It was amazing to swim with them and watch them glide effortlessly through the water. I never realized how big these creatures were. In my mind, they were as big as a person. In real life, they’re as big as three!
This isn’t your standard Aussie tourist destination. It’s that very isolation that keeps most tourists away, leaving the place so peaceful and detached from the rest of the world. This is a spot for mostly Australian and people driving around in campervans. There are no hordes of people ruining the beaches or the wildlife. It’s a world away from the busy East Coast.
If you ask me, there’s nothing in eastern Australia that equals the beauty of Coral Bay. Forget Cairns, Noosa, Magnetic Island, or Bondi Beach. If you want to experience the beaches you see in ads for Australia, come to Coral Bay.
While part of me wants you to go there, part of me wants it all to myself. Paradises are all eventually lost, but I want to hold onto mine just a bit longer. If you make it there, you’ll see what I mean. You’ll want to tell others, but you won’t really want to tell others. Then again, maybe you’ll find the sign pointing to Coral Bay has suddenly disappeared, and I can keep my version of heaven just a bit longer.
How to Visit Coral Bay
Coral Bay isn’t an easy place to get to. By car, it’s almost 5,000km from Sydney — literally across the entire continent. It’s located in the middle of the western coast, making it far off the beaten trail. The closest airport is located a couple of hours away in Learmonth. If you plan to drive from Perth, expect the journey to take at least 12 hours each way. If you’re coming from the other direction, the trip is a solid 14-hour drive from Broome.
As for accommodation, there are a couple of hotels in the area as well as a hostel to stay at. If you’re driving, you’ll find some RV parks too.
Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3
The post Coral Bay: My Beach Paradise appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
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Broome – The Sleepy Western Australia Town of Aboriginal Secrets
Broome is described as sleepy and charming. Yet it conceals centuries old stories and a 22km long peninsula landscape so wild and coated in a spectrum of fierce colours, that you’ll be completely sucked into this tiny town instantly.
A two and a half hour flight brought me straight from Perth to Broome – known more affectionately as the ‘pearl of the north’. It was the second stop that was part of my ‘Just Another Day in WA’ experience where I spent one week travelling around this little-known side of Australia. From city to the wilds, Broome is where nature dominates – in the picturesque curves of its 22km coastline, the rocky peninsula walls and hidden in its tropical outback.
Gantheaume Point in Minyirr Park was our starting point – a collection of fiery ochre orange sands and red rock formations such as ‘Anastasia’s pool’. At the bottom of the cliff-face are sands that conceal 120 million years old preserved dinosaur footprints said to relate to TREX.
You’ll find avid prehistoric buffs out looking for the evidence when the reef is at a low tide of 2.16m or less, as well as at the connecting Cable Beach where more footprints were recently discovered. For those, like myself, who are not so lucky to find the prehistoric markings, a plaster copy is on shown at the top of Gantheaume Point.
Broome is the beholder of a sunset I consider to be one of the most beautiful I have seen in the world. The sky is alight in majestic reds and purples that repaint the daytime vivid blue skies that watch over the peninsula said to ‘move to the rhythm of the tides’.
To mark the occasion, the long white sand stretch of Cable Beach plays host to a fleet of camels each evening, who have come to mark the famous picture of the setting of the sun out across the Indian Ocean.
A town where lodgings-turned-retail hubs and old wooden jetty planks lead you to a pearling trade past; Broome is the centre of a significant period of Australian history. Broome is where Malay, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, European and Aboriginal cultures blended together in the early 1880s, working as pearl luggers who lived in what is now the central Chinatown retail hub.
This history is still present, in Carnarvon Street’s remaining white corrugated iron Pearling Master’s houses that now conceal pearl shops, eateries and cafes that still bear the distinctive red and green paintwork (the left over paint from the undercoat of the luggers). There’s also the still operating Sun Pictures, which stands as the oldest outdoor movie theatre in the world, which you can still look around even if you are not planning to watch a movie. You will see old pictures of the time when there was segregated seating and separate entrances for the Aboriginal people.
Just a few metres away is Streeter’s Jetty – the pivotal point of the Pearling industry in early 1900’s when the luggers dropped off their shells amongst the mangroves. There’s something about being on that jetty in solitude that makes you think deeply about such dark days.
Statues and streets are named after places in Asia, like Taiji Road after Taiji in Japan (Broome’s sister city). This small touches mark a remembrance of the many people who never made it back home during this dangerous trade known for prolifically hard work. Cable beach is also named because of telegraph cable linking Broome to Java in 1889 that allowed the pearling masters to the get the best shell price from Singapore. History is never forgotten here.
Town Beach is a pocket-sized beach in comparison, where we found a quiet spot with the fisherman and had the chance to chat to the local people.
And while we had a whole host of eateries at our disposal staying at the Cable Beach Club resort overlooking the infamous sands, we ventured out into town to test some hip culinary hangouts that are popping up.
This included the all-day dining darling that is The Aarli and Matso’s Brewery, where award-winning craft beer is produced within one of the oldest heritage buildings in Broome (at over 100 years old). Here you can enjoy my favourite brew – the Matsos Ginger Beer – before viewing the ‘Staircase to the Moon’ natural illusion that shines down on Roebuck Bay, which the brewery overlooks.
While Broome is becoming a hotspot centrally which a lot to explore, my best memories came from unplanned, off-track exploring. Travel to Broome is not only a gateway to the Kimberly (which I got to explore) but also a window to the wilderness Outback of the north fringes of Western Australia. For those who are more curious about getting off track here, you’ll need to enlist the help of a true insider of both the land and the culture. After meeting Brad – an Aboriginal guide from Narlijia Cultural Tours – and telling him of our plans to make the use of our last day with our hired 4×4 and really get off-road, he offered to take us himself.
Brad is a born-and-bred Broome local who was eager to share the secrets and multi-perspectives of the land of his ancestors – the saltwater Yawuru people and later, a long line of pearling workers. It was the chance to dig dipper into a side of Broome that needs to be understood away from its surface level tourism. As we began our journey in the very heart of the town, he told the stories of how the pearling trade changed the town significantly in terms of wealth and lawlessness and how rapid multi-cultural integration, settlement and modernisation have led to the present-day issues of change and integration for the Aboriginal people. This is something you will see first-hand and is the shocking reminder of the current affairs aside from the natural beauty of the destination.
We were then taken on a wild ride out on the orange outback roads whose isolation heightened the senses that you feel when you are in the throes of nature’s majestic power. To unmarked points that only someone like Brad would know. First, through the shrubbery of unmarked roads that led to the secluded Bard Creek where Brad fished as we stood in awe of the absolute stillness, before making our way to a huge sand dune mound that is the place of a sacred aboriginal burial site.
The day ended on the Mars-like landscape of Riddle Beach and the neighbouring James Price Point – the far-stretching and secluded cliff top view to watch the sun set on another day in Western Australia.
I’ve never felt so transfixed by a small place. One that on the surface attracts a lot of visitors eager to soak up the sun in resorts and enjoy the endless coastline. The other sparks a curiosity as you venture into the fringes of a still-pristine wilderness area of Western Australia.
While Broome attracts those eager to understand its history, it is not to be easily known by everyone who passes through. You soon learn that you must connect with those at one with the land, in order to find the parts that remain the most sacred and as they have been for millennia.
I left, only more eager to return.
Things to Know:
Introduction to Broome
Brad also helps to run the Nyamba Buru Yawuru language and cultural centre, which aims to spread awareness and keep alive the traditions of this aboriginal Yawuru country. Brad guides visitors to local sites to increase this understanding amongst locals and visitors.
Unique Kimberley pull together bespoke itineraries of Broome and Kimberly cruises. The owner, Robyn Maher can provide everything from an introduction to Broome’s hotspots including Chinatown, Gantheaume Point and Matsos Brewery or trips that cover more of the peninsula, on land and sea.
Booking a Camel Ride on Cable Beach
The top choice is Broome Camel Safaris, or quite simply remembered as ‘the camels in blue’. It is run by Matt Morton-Deakin, a Brit who has been calling Broome home for years and knows all the photogenic spots.
Weather in Broome
The weather in Broome is consistently hot and on average of 30 degrees all year round. The Dry season is May-October and Wet Season (which sees a more tropical climate) is November-April.
It is advised, when sightseeing, to go out early morning or late afternoon to escape the intense heat.
Seasonal Events and Activities in Broome
The Broome Advertiser is one of the main sources of entertainment listings and events if you are in town for a few days.
Turtle nesting season in Broome is between 1st October to 28th The best time for whale spotting in Broome is between June and October.
For further information on planning your trip
Visit the Western Australia tourism website.
First time in Western Australia and want to include Broome in a larger itinerary? Read about my adventures in Western Australia, especially for first-timers to the state.
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