This Friday I am off to one of my favourite places, Melbourne. I can't wait. It's one of those cities I can just lose myself in and find myself gazing heart-eyed around every corner. They pride themselves on their creativity there and I love it. Today I thought I'd share some of the things I want to get up to. I'd love your recommendations too. It's been three years since I was there last so no doubt a lot has changed.

-Watch a musical. So I am cheating a bit here because this is actually happening. On Sunday I'm going to see Matilda and I am so excited. Not only is this my favourite Roald Dahl book but it's a musical I have wanted to see for a long, long time. Hopefully it does not disappoint.

-Gaze at art and fashion. I've done a bit of research in this area and I'm really excited that there's a Viktor & Rolf exhibit on at the NGV when I am there. So that is a given. Also on at the NGV is the Italian Bulgari jewels exhibition, featuring pieces worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Keira Knightley among others. 

-Shop! Again, another given. I've been told I need to go to the Aesop store in Melbourne. Also on the to-visit list; Kate Spade, Muji, Zara, Sephora etc. Recommendations in this category are welcome please! Particularly if you have independent stores I should visit.

-Eat delicious food. Again, send them recommendations in please. N2 Gelato is on my wishlist, simply for the fact I'm intrigued by the combination of liquid nitrogen and icecream. I also want to go to Transformer Fitzroy after seeing it on Kate's blog as well as Market Lane Coffee. Queen Vic Markets will happen too because I am still thinking about the amazing berries I got there on one of my trips. 

*What are your must-visit places and things to do in Melbourne? Let me know your suggestions! Be sure to follow me along on snapchat and Instagram for photos of what I get up to.

So in case you've not heard, and it's not like I've made it incredibly obvious over the last couple of months *ahem*, I'm going to Sydney at the beginning of May. It's honestly come around so quickly and I am very excited. I've only been to Sydney a couple of times before, and only for a couple of days each time so I feel like I've not really seen a lot of it. This time I'm going for five days and I plan to make the most of it. Here's what's on my list of things I want to do but if you have any suggestions or recommendations of places to visit, bookstores I need to frequent, food I need to eat and the like, let me know!

Visit the Mothership, more commonly known as Sephora-Does this even need explaining? Y'all know I am probably going to be here right when it opens the day we arrive. I'm not even kidding. I have been to Sephoras in America and Europe before, but that was far too long ago and back in my not so makeup-enthusiastic days. Pray for my wallet and know that I very possibly might go a bit wild in here. 

Take a trip out to Bondi Beach-and that "amazing natural pool thing" as I've written in my notes. So technical. Yep, I've never been to Bondi Beach which is quite criminal of me. The photos I have seen always make it look stunning. Hopefully it's a nice day when I visit so I can get all artsy with my camera and take a lil' stroll down the waterfront. 

Devour amazing macarons from Laduree and maybe the best Italian ever from Jamie's Italian-Now I have had Laduree macarons before but that was ages ago. I remember thinking they were the best macarons on earth so a revisit needs to happen. Obviously. As for the Italian, I always see bloggers/vloggers raving about Jamie's Italian. I've already looked at the menu and that alone has me hopeful it'll go down a treat. 

Visit some art museums-This is something I always like to do whenever I'm in a city I've not been to before. Not only are they a great place to seek out some inspiration, they're also often not as noisy as the busy streets. A tranquil oasis, if you will.

Feel all the feels and visit the barricade at Les Miserables-This is definitely happening, given I bought my ticket a couple of months ago. I have wanted to see a professional production of Les Miserables for the longest time and I've heard the current Australian one does not disappoint. Note to self: pack tissues and don't wear mascara.

Visit the secondary motherships, more commonly known as Priceline and Mecca Maxima-Again, these ones don't really need explaining. I'm sure Priceline must find us tourists who get excited by a very well stocked pharmacy weird but whatevs. Priceline have such a diverse range of beauty brands, including European favourites like Bourjois and La Roche Posay. They often have great deals on too. Mecca Maxima is like a beefed up version of Mecca Cosmetica and they have their very own aisle of doom (miniatures) to rival Sephora's. They also are home to Soap and Glory, a brand that I love and more recently, Urban Decay. I'm looking forward to seeing some of their much hyped products in the flesh.

Get far too interior design inspired at H&M-Sydney's H&M is a little way out of the cbd but it's inside a rather well-stocked shopping mall so that makes up for it. As well as their awesome homewares I'll definitely be taking the time to check out their womenswear section and hopefully coming home with some new threads. See also Topshop and Zara.

Take all the photos-That doesn't really require an explanation. I always feel like I don't take as many pictures as I thought I would on holidays so I am going to try to document a lot this time. Not only for blog posts but also the memories to look back on. Cheesy but true.

*Have you been to Sydney before? Let me know your recommendations.

I'm currently in Melbourne as you read this which means I am probably doing a combination of shopping, drinking amazing coffee, taking loads of pictures and behaving like a lovestruck tourist. Today I thought I'd talk you through what is in my travel makeup bag. Believe it or not this is quite minimal for me. Aside from some skincare bits and my eye brushes this will be it. On holidays I tend to wear less makeup anyhow. This is a more streamlined version of what I use daily in other words. 

Palettes and Powders With palettes I try to take ones that are relatively flat so that they fit into my makeup bag more easily. The Hourglass palette and my Mac quad are multi-use. My favourite Benefit blush Coralista is coming even though it's not so travel friendly, it's my go-to Summer blush right now.

Eyeshadows While I have my eyeshadow quad I also packed my two favourite neutrals, All That Glitters and A Natural Flirt. Eyeshadow is something I don't fuss as much with on holidays so these blendable, subtle wash of colour shades are perfect.

Primers Standard. My travel-sized Hourglass primer is coming because it has the best lasting-power and my Benefit one is close to running out. I may be eyeing up the Laura Mercier counter looking for a replacement primer. Watch this space..

Pencils My two Rimmel pencils are so easy for everyday makeup, a quick swipe along the lashline and a little bit of smudging with a brush or finger has you sorted. The flesh-toned pencil is for the waterline and my pink-lip pencil is what I pair with my brighter lipstick. 

♥ Chanel La Ligne De Chanel Professional Eyeliner Duo #10 Noir Lamé. 

♥ Nars Eyeshadow in Night Star to line the inner corners of my eyes.

♥ Jo Malone Basil, Lime & Mandarin Cologne mini size that was part of their 2012 Christmas Crackers.

♥ MAC Eyeshadow Duo in Satin Taupe. I'm not too sure what the matte brown colour is but I'm using it to fill in my brows at the moment.

♥ MAC Extra Dimension Eyeshadow in A Natural Flirt.

♥ Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine.