Comparisons between The City of Churches and The City that Never Sleeps might seem like a lost cause, but with Adelaide's fast gentrification, and my Netflix search history of "Titles: Set in New York City", let's at least give this a go, shall we?

1. Our over obsession with technology 
In New York in the 90s, it was all about the cell phone, the Palm Pilot and the Blackberry. Really, if you had a portable phone with people who actually wanted to talk to you, you were the highest level of “the shit”. Modern Adelaide life is no different, with citizens jumping on to any ‘start-up’ company or app that have the ability to plaster itself in the pages of GlamAdelaide, or promotionally get in your face on a drunken night out. But just like those out-dated bricky phones from the 90s, only the startups with substance will tick over into actual love from the new millennium/millennials.



2. Our love of Sport, and perpetual fear of the Sporting Greats
They have The Yankees, we’re lucky enough to have Port and The Crows. They have Yankee Stadium, okay well we really only have Adelaide Oval, the other one doesn’t even count anymore. But with a mutual love of watching sports, day drinking overpriced beers, and thinking you’re important on an delusional social scene because you have a members pass, our sporting icons get tricky when you spot them in the dating pool. The stories I’ve been told first hand involve hot tub one-night stands and “Coach doesn’t let us go to town” late night booty calls, all of which are firm no-no’s when you’re on quest for romance, Yankee or no. Seeya Jeter. 



3. Manhattan VS. Over The Bridge
Our cutesy bar culture is pulling the wool over your eyes to the real fun. Oh Peel St is nice? You’ve been to Leigh St? Great cocktails right? I’m sure… wait I do actually love it down there, but these streets are right off our main nightclub district where all kinds of hedonism, debauchery, and sin are happening on the reg. Even out of Hindley, if you haven’t ended up in a 70s Colombian style cocaine-esque mansion, where the inside water fountain’s being used as an esky and the lead singer of a band is telling you he used to be addicted to meth, you haven’t experienced Adelaide yet.


4. The Fashion
New York is synonymous with fashion. They have New York Fashion Week, we have The Adelaide Fashion Festival. In the 90s they had Linda, Cindy, Elle, and Helena, we have a still manageable amount of fashion bloggers who are yet to get under my skin. Despite that we’re still defined as a country town in the 1995 Britannia Encyclopedia (PC Edition), we have some pretty great and original fashion coming straight out of our TafeSA workshops, and walking off our very own runways.



5. Adelaide is “ “ this close to being Rent-Controlled
Who doesn’t have an opinion about the property market right now? So many overripe jokes about Avocados, and the crushing realisation when you know deep down you’ll probably be renting of someone else’s parents for the rest of your life while they get an allowance until they’re 25. How about we just go rent controlled? Take a page from our 90s paramour and cap our ever doubling renting fees to a “liveable” amount. Not sure where I can find an MP that would listen to this idea about rich people still getting richer, but just not as rich and as quickly at other peoples expense.

In all of its 20-years-behind glory, I still think we know we'd rather live in my little old home town than the concrete jungle of bagels, and people jerking off on you on public transport. All my love to you Adelaide,
Emma


Let me introduce to you, my new best friend; Selfie Glow.

For a bit of background, I've been on the hunt for a while now, looking for a new tanning product for my ridiculously pale skin. I LOVE false tanning, and I'm a huge advocate of keeping your skin healthy, cared-for, and sun-damage free. I've used a few different brands already, but for the basis of this review, I'll mainly be pulling comparisons between Selfie Glow and Bondi Sands foam. I've tried to love Bondi Sands for so long, but after marinating in the product overnight, I'd wash off the layer, and end up with barely stained skin. I have no idea why this is occurring, but I always seem to end up applying another layer, to not wash off, whenever I leave the house on the weekend to achieve my dreamy bronzed look.



Products Featured L-R

Why specifically these two brands? Well, from what I've recently learnt from Josie Gleeson, a fabulous Adelaide based beauty blogger, are that the well-known tans we use vary in one big way, and that is the ingredient erythrulose. It's more expensive to produce, but lasts longer and develops darker. Selfie Glow and Bondi Sands both don't contain erythrulose, so as drug-store, "cheaper" tanners from your Loving Tan or Vani-T "high-end" tanners, I'll be pulling comparisons from these two.



What first attracted me to Selfie Glow (apart from the adorable name), was the "No Tanning Scent" attribute. Sometimes I like to rub on, and not wash off, a layer of tan to really bronze up my weekend look, and Selfie Glow having no smell is amazingly refreshing from the dead-giveaway coconut and vanilla scent from Bondi Sands. Also Selfie Glow, which I'm sure is important to everyone who's tanning, is CRUELTY FREE! You just keep on getting better.

When I first started applying the product, I was scared. This is much thinner than I'm used to! I'm used to applying thick layers of tan, which can sometimes be hard to distribute evenly. All my woes came to an end when I realised that I really prefer a thinner product. Selfie Glow is thin, but doesn't lack pigment which makes rubbing in the tan for a streak free look, extremely easy.



The colour came out perfectly. I used the Medium Dark foam, and look for yourself, I'd say I look a very glowy form of Medium Dark bronze. Somehow the tan doesn't step into the orange or dirt brown territory, but leaves your skin looking sun-kissed and fresh.


Washed off and two days after applying Selfie Glow

I've used a lot of bad tans in my day (looking at you Le Tan/Australis/Garnier), but now I'm always looking forward to my Selfie Glow tan, to give me a glam, bronzey look, that I love throughout Summer. For a drug-store, cheaper tan that will give you amazing results, I recommend Selfie Glow available from Chemist Warehouse. I really want to try the darker range from Selfie Glow, and I'm throwing out all of my Bondi Sands in favour for it!







*The products featured were gifted to me by the business, this has no impact on what I write as the author of The Iconic Blonde*

The Candle Establishment has explosively burst on to the Adelaide scene since its launch in the midst of the Adelaide 2016 State-Wide Blackout. The Candle Establishment has partnered with Adelaide Fashion Festival this year to unveil their premier line of hand-made, fine artisan candles, all crafted and owned in South Australia.


The founders behind the brand launched the product when seeing a gap in the market for luxury candles with simple, yet sophisticated scents for all occasions, crafted with quality and love in South Australia. 



Partnering with The Adelaide Fashion Festival, you may have seen the products burning in the powder rooms at events, or found the product tucked away in a gift bag from the Paolo Sebastian runway show. It's so glamorous I can't handle it.


I was lucky enough to try two scents from their range, Pomegranate, which carries fruity and feminine scents throughout, and Basil, Lime & Mandarin, a zesty, light Summer fragrance, perfect if you like earthy and citrus scents. The candles have an extensive range of smells that carry themselves around your home, with beautifully designed packaging and easy to spot quality fragrant wax, The Candle Establishment is an SA product I personally recommend you keep an eye out for 
(and snap some up before they sell out!)



Because I adore these candles so much, I have a very special offer for my followers! Jump through to the link below, and create your very own account to receive  $10 off your first purchase. 


You're more than welcome to use that to buy me one for Christmas! 
Jokes... So not joking.

Hand-Made and Owned in South Australia

Website

Facebook
Instagram


*The products featured were gifted to me by the business, this has no impact on what I write as the author of The Iconic Blonde*


Brilliant ideas are only able to be fulfilled when they have two factors working for them; identifying a need in the market, and a determined leader who can develop that idea into a reality. In this case, Mathew D'Onofrio has successfully combined these factors.  

I was lucky enough to have a chat with Adelaide local and Nightlife First Aid's Owner and sole Operator, Mathew D'Onofrio. Currently studying Nursing at Flinders University with a hope to transfer into Paramedics, D'Onofrio already has an established background as a fully accredited first responder from his five years with the St John Ambulance Services.


Mathew, pictured Top Middle

When presented with the opportunity to put his knowledge into action, he was asked by his peers to provide First Aid assistance at his Year 12 afterparty. D'Onofrio, fully supporting to facilitate his friends, fun, responsible and safe night out, oversaw the party. And so, here the concept of Nightlife First Aid first came to fruition. 


"In 20 minutes, anything can happen"
- Mathew D'Onofrio

There is no doubt why D'Onofrio is making a splash by impressing the Adelaide business community, most recently being the winner of Brand South Australia's 2016 Entrepreneur's Week Pass and the Awesome Foundation Adelaide's July Micro-Grant. This multi-event service covers not only parties, but sporting events, dance concerts, or any private event needing extra medical assistance. 


Mathew, pictured Right


The road to a startup hasn't been paved smoothly, even with D'Onofrio's good intentions. D'Onofrio started with the St John Ambulance Service in memory of his Uncle, who passed away in an accident and was remembered as an active member in the Ambulance ServiceWhen St Johns discovered D'Onofrio was behind Nightlife First Aid, they gave him an ultimatum, shutdown Nightlife or quit the service. D'Onofrio was willing to give up his new venture for the organisation who had helped him learn so much through the years, if they agreed to consider starting a service within the organisation that could cover the youth events Nightlife had as their target market. Since, D'Onofrio has left the Ambulance Service to fully commit himself to Nightlife, a mission driven by helping others. 


"The amount of people that wouldn't be alive today if not for Nightlife" 
- Mathew D'Onofrio

D'Onofrio sees a huge possibility for the organisations expansion in the future. With returning clients like Limelight Entertainment, and new clientele contacting him weekly, Nightlife First Aid will soon be a (party) household name. 


If you are planning on organising an event, contact Mathew for a chat about involving Nightlife First Aid in the future. 


Nightlife First Aid
Mathew D'Onofrio LinkedIn
Founder, CEO and Owner

Website www.nightlifefirstaid.com.au
Facebook Facebook.com/NightlifeFirstAid
Email nightlifefirstaid@outlook.com



“You’re Welcome”

…Is what Mawali means in traditional Balinese. And this ideology of willingness to help, and giving back is what encapsulates local Adelaide brand, Mawali Bali.



Sisters, Judi and Naomi, are on the forefront of charitable business, with a unique business model, beautiful product selection, and commitment to helping others; they are able to accomplish something truly great between our two countries.

Established in 2014, Mawali Bali came about through another charitable event, Bras for Bali. This project saw an increased interest in those wanting to provide aide to Northern Balinese villages, where as Mawali Bali was born and the true beginnings of charitable work began. This grew to raise funds to cover the costs of luggage’s full of donations, bulk rice, toiletries, and live piglets for families in need to raise.
Mawali Bali's Logo recreated in the sand by @sueoznz

After visiting Bali on multiple occasions, Judi was warmly welcomed into the community, herself witnessing the living conditions throughout villages in Northern Bali. Now, that Mawali Bali is fully established, Judi meets with the artists, designers and suppliers in their villages, sourcing the goods to be sold, and returns proceeds back into the artists communities, something Mawali Bali likes to call “The Full Circle of Love”.

A small selection of bags available through Mawali

Their wares are where they are truly unique as a brand. Handcrafted by artists and designers in Northern Bali, you can find an array of home wares, eye-catching jewellery, leather clutches, wallets, handbags, unique tin products such as mirror and placemats, easy to wear women’s clothing, children’s tutus, handmade toys, and a hell of a lot more!

If you want to have the chance to snap up some of these exceptional items, head to their Facebook page, but be warned, some items sell out only minutes after being released!
Unique coin purses from Mawali Bali

Mawali Bali’s main form of marketing has been word-of-mouth, but have quickly jumped upon the social media wagon, sporting growing Facebook and Instagram pages. Their followers from all over Australia can expect unique visual content of their wares and information on upcoming events. They host home-based mini markets, and hope to expand to new markets in the future. Stay connect on their Facebook page here for upcoming events and their imminent website launch!
One of Mawali's famous markets!

Judi and Naomi would like to thank the support of their wonderful volunteers, both in Adelaide and Bali, who without their help, they wouldn’t have achieved their goals. The brand is fast becoming a favourite amongst Adelaidians, with messages of support continuously flowing in.


The sisters hope to continue helping and supporting the artists, designers, suppliers and overall communities in Northern Bali as much as they can.

#SupportLocal #SouthAustralianOwned



   Mawali Bali
   Facebook Mawali Bali
   Instagram @MawaliBali 

   Henley Beach South 5022
   P 0408 853 981










It’s not unlike me to spend a good time researching potential date locations and suitors alike, but those who need solid first date-worthy options (that have you leaving your pre-emptive ‘questions to ask if the date gets quiet’ list at home), need to get yourself in the know, and follow one of these fool-proof Winter options. 

YOGA SILENT NIGHTS
Photo: Clique Magazine

Fitness junkie? Spend your Friday night right with Yoga Silent Nights! This evening party yoga sesh, hosted by the Cosmic Yoga Studio, brings the music and atmosphere to a glow in the dark, headphone experience, perfect for investigating if your buddy is on your level.

Got the moves? Check
Zen with one and the world including the DJ? Check
Owns as many variations of active gear as you do? CHECK

When: Friday 22 July 2016, 6-9pm
Where: Plant 4 Bowden, Third Street, Bowden, Adelaide

#yogasilentnights


The Art Gallery of South Australia keeps their doors open for the artistically inclined on the first Friday of every month. Enjoy art, guided tours, live performance, food and wine from 5-9pm, guaranteeing conversation igniters all night long!

When: 5th August 2016, and the First Friday of every month
Where: The Art Gallery of South Australia, North Tce, Adelaide
FREE

@artgalleryofsa


Photo: @bonjourstella

Years of watching Gossip Girl has conditioned me to long for a cold and beautiful winter to bask in the Christmasy goodness. I would never trade in Aussie Xmas BBQ's and cocktails, but I'm ecstatic we have something close to joy and fairy lights in these winter months. The Alpine Winter Village hosts Ice-Skating, mulled wine, a ski lodge, markets, food and live entertainment for all ages to enjoy. Wrap up, Blair Waldorf style, and head down for an unforgettable day or night. 

When: 7th - 31 July 2016
Tickets: Sunday to Thursday, 10am till Midnight, FREE 
Friday to Saturday, 10am till 1am, FREE or $5 after 7pm

THE ADELAIDE ZOO
Photo: @meianm


Nothing pleases my inner child more than frolicking within the walls of The Adelaide Zoo! Grab yourself a Day Pass and spend a few hours wandering through the lovely scenery, admiring the beautiful animals, and thinking way too much about if you should reach out to hold their hand during this romantic stroll.

When: 9.30am-5pm everyday


PERSONAL PUBCRAWL
Photo: Adelady

Would you like your first date to come with a bit more liquid courage? Make your own personal pub-crawl and zigzag down through the East Ends best pubs and bars to experience all Adelaide has to offer. Rundle St offers unique eats from Restaurant Blackwood and classic Schnitty’s at The Schnithouse, to Cocktails at BRKLYN and Happy Hour specials at The Elephant – any night of the week, there’s something to please everyone.


Where's your fool-proof First Date spot?