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We spoke to Shih Fen (@shihfengavala) about living in Bali and got her tops tips for travelling to this beautiful tropical destination.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hey I’m Shih Fen ( She-fun ) I am New Zealand Singaporean. I'm married to the most amazing guy and you've probably seen my two girls (Ilona and Mei Lan aka Mei Mei ) floating around with the cutest smiles on my Instagram. We live in New Zealand; it's such a beautiful country. I'm totally obsessing over Ete Swimwear’s new collection and my headtie label GAVALA and all the gorgeous babes who have been wearing them!

What drew you to live in Bali for part of the year?  

Before coming back to Bali this trip around, we lived in Bali for 3 years first moving there in 2013. Packing up everything and taking the girls with us.

Having a husband that loves to surf in his down time, moving to Bali was his idea. So of course we followed him there. I am so glad we did! It was suppose to only be a short trip, but we just fell in love with it.

I've heard so many stories like ours when people travel there for vacation but find it too hard to leave so they just end up living there. Bali is like a magnet. We love the warmth, tropical islands, the lifestyle, the friendships we made and the culture, and the experience we were able to give to our girls was soooo cool. We love not only Bali but other parts of Indonesia as well. So it’s always a place we Love to go back to.

Bali has so many different areas. What are your top 3 and why?

I love escaping to Nusa Lembongan, the island is quiet and has so many beautiful beaches to explore. I also love Amed, it’s quite a long drive up there but it is so peaceful and the views are just stunning. There's hardly any tourists and the snorkeling isn’t too bad there either.

But most of all we love the village we stay in which is in Badung. We have become friends with so many people here, it feels like home.

I believe The best thing to do is rent a bike and just drive around and explore, you’ll be amazed at the places you end up.

Where can we find the best views?

Oh wow, there are so many. Down in the Bukit there are many places with nice views. And you can get some pretty nice sunset views there too; it’s very picturesque with the golden beaches and blue water!

When is the best time to travel to Bali?

Me personally – I love travelling there around the end of the year, it’s off peak season, but it does get pretty wet. If you don't mind travelling in peak season, I think the best travel period is around middle of the year.

Do you have a favourite beach?

Yes I do and it’s a secret!

What’s your favourite activities to do on the island?

I love to just drive around on a scooter and try out different places to eat, relaxing at the Villa, and taking the girls down to the beach to watch the surf or have a play date. I just love to relax and do things day by day. 

Where’s the best place to grab a bite to eat?  

We usually eat Nasi Campur which is local Indonesian food. Nasi Campur is a serving of rice and a mix of different dishes on one plate. Yum!

Watercress is where Jhan and I go for our lunch dates – their menu is incredible. I would love to try Green House Bali, apparently they have delicious vegan meals.

There are so many nice cafes and restaurants that serve light healthy meals. I am always amazed at how many cafes/restaurants/bars that constantly pop up out of nowhere. I can’t keep up!

Where can we find some great retail therapy?

I have so many favorite boutiques on the island. Petitinget and Seminyak have plenty of shops. You'll have to pop into Beachgold Bali they have beautiful resort wear and have just released their first resort line for kids! Uma and Leopold have the most detailed hand beaded and lace garments that are to die for. I am totally in love with Kevala homeware pottery, if you’re searching for something to take back for the kitchen you must visit their store!

What are your must have beach day accessories?

I love my Bali Body tanning oil, sunscreen, Ete Swimwear bikini and of course Gavala headties!

Finally, what are your top 5 tips for traveling to Bali? 

1. Carry a big bottle of water around with you
2. Pack plenty of bikinis
3. Don’t forget your Bali Body
4. Enjoy the banana pancakes ;)
5. Rent a scooter and don’t forget to wear a helmet!

Check out @shihfengavala on Instagram for more Bali inspo!

Shop Shih Fen's look here: Talia Bralette bikini top & Ariel bottoms

For more travel guides read our Greek Island guide by @Matildadjerf or our Hawaii Guide by @miss.lendel!

Christmas and the holiday season is always a fun time but we understand the struggle to find the perfect gift; let's be real, there is no one-gift-fits-all so we have hand picked some of our favourite items to help you find the perfect gift for that special friend or relative… or to treat yourself.

1. Mermaid Crowns

Who doesn’t want to be a mermaid?! These amazing hand-made Mermaid Crowns by @miss.lendel use the highest quality materials. This is the ultimate gift they never knew they needed until now. 

2. Boracay Glow Bundle - Sun & Body Oil

This bundle from Boracay Skin will be your ‘go-to’ this summer. Including both the Natural Sun & Body Oil and Bronze Shimmering Body Oil, Boracay Skin will help you achieve a deep tan in the sun and make you glow day or night with their shimmering body oil.

3. Resort Bundle – Swimwear + beach cover up

The Resort Bundle is all you need for a summer getaway! Select your favourite Ete Swimwear swimsuit and get the Ophelia beach cover up dress in this essential bundle & save!

4. Beach Waves Styling Spray 

Inspired by effortless beach waves. This styling spray is made from a hydrating blend of coconut oil and sea salt to give hair a tousled "just spent the day at the beach" texture. A perfect stocking stuffer for your favourite beach beauties.

5. Coffee& Coconut Exfoliating Mask

Bare Babe is a facial treatment formulated with organic, natural and raw ingredients for all of you coffee and coconut lovers. This product is 99% natural, vegan friendly and cruelty free so there’s no excuse to get your hands on one, or more!

6. Turkish Towel 

The must-have item this summer is a Turkish towel by Indigo & Co! No matter whom you’re buying for, we have a variety of colours to please the fussiest of people.

7. Jewellery

What girl doesn’t love jewellery!?! This stunning gold choker is the perfect gift for that friend who is always on trend. Be sure to check out the range of jewellery from Sun Fox Label online now!

8. Coconut Body scrub

A luxe, coconut body scrub that gives you instantly smooth skin after just 1 use and smells like an island getaway. This stocking stuffer is guaranteed to please.

9. Ete Swimwear Gift Card

Shopping for someone else but not sure what to get them? Give them the gift of choice with an Ete Swimwear gift card. Gift cards are delivered by email so are the perfect last minute gift idea!

SHOP GIFTS!

Who doesn't love chocolate brownies, especially when they're guilt free!? This raw brownie recipe from @coconutandbliss is drool-worthy.

Ingredients

Raw Brownies
1 cup hazelnut meal
½ cup desiccated coconut
1/3 cup walnuts
1 packed cup medjool dates, soaked in hot water
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
½ cup cacao
1 tsp vanilla bean powder
Dash water (if required)

Ganache
½ cup coconut milk
130g vegan dark chocolate, chopped

Method

1. Place all brownie ingredients into a high speed blender. Blend until well combined.
2. Press into a small rectangular tin lined with baking paper.
3. Place in the freezer
4. For the ganache, place the coconut milk in a small saucepan and over medium- high heat until it reaches boiling point.
5. Place the chopped chocolate in a small bowl. Pour over the boiling milk and leave for a few minutes without stirring.
6. Once the chocolate looks fairly melted, stir until smooth.
7. Pour over the brownie and place back in the freezer to set for at least 20 minutes or until firm then transfer to the fridge.

Makes 10 brownies.

Enjoy! xx

More from Coconut and Bliss:

@coconutandbliss

https://coconutandbliss.com

A summer getaway is the best way to the spend your vacation! We all dream of the sand in our toes, the sun glow on our face and all the beautiful sites to experience. But before those dreams become a reality, you need to pack and we have the top 5 essentials to pack on your summer getaway!

1. Good Luggage

Light weight luggage is a must! Gone are the days when you will struggle with a heavy suitcase when you invest in a roller carry on from American Tourister. Don’t forget to pack the bare necessities so there is plenty of room for your vacation shopping and gifts!

2. Great Tan

To achieve a perfect sun kissed glow, bring Boracay Sun & Body Oil. Formulated with all natural ingredients to hydrate and nourish your skin which makes it ideal to use as a moisturiser after a day in the sun. Remember to be sun smart and always cover up with SPF when planning a day out!

3. Statement Hat

A nice big floppy hat will not only save your face from the heat but also look great in your insta pics!

4. Comfy shoes

It’s important to always bring a pair of comfy flats or sneakers for when you go site seeing! Also handy to bring when you're going from the beach to the bar!

5. Bikinis

Lastly, never go one a summer getaway without fabulous bikinis! Bring out your true vacay vibes with our gorgeous swimwear here at Ete swimwear.

For more summer getaway inspo check out our last blog of the Top 10 Beach Babes Your Should be Following on Instagram!

Model Credits:

Jorjah Murgatroyd

Elly Sharp

We all want effortless beach waves and our friends at Coast Beauty Co teach us how with a super easy tutorial.

S T E P 1

Start with nearly dry hair and spritz Beach Waves styling spray by Coast throughout ends and mid-section of hair.

S T E P 2

Divide hair into two sections and twist each section away from your face, pinning into two low buns near the nape of your neck (think princess Leia).

S T E P 3

Allow them to dry naturally or, if you’re pressed for time, use a hair dryer on a low setting. Allow the hair to cool afterwards.

S T E P  4

Once hair is dry, let the pins out, then run fingers through to break up the twists. 

S T E P 5

Use a comb to back comb random sections of hair starting at the ends. Keep it messy to add lots of volume then spray with hairspray to hold. 

S T E P 6

Flip head upside down and tousle hair with hands. If you want to add a little extra volume, disperse Style Extend dry shampoo by Coast into palms and then fluff hair.

S T E P 7

For extra curls, wrap a few small sections of hair around a curling barrel and set with hairspray.

Voila! Bombshell beach waves. Try it for yourself!

For more tips check out our previous blog 5 Tips for a Summer Glow Makeup Look!

We have just returned from our very first New York Fashion Week and want to take you behind the scenes with us! It was just 1 week after launching Ete Swimwear in February 2016 that we were approached by Fashion Palette to be a part of their Australian showcase. This was both an exciting and nerve wracking opportunity but of course we said yes! It’s NYFW after all…

Then, after just 7 months we were finally in New York! 

Show day

We arrived at Pier 59 Studios with our collection in hand ready for a whirlwind of a day.

Backstage was an organised chaos, as expected, but the show was amazing and everything went to plan.

  

The models wore our newest collection, An Island Dream, that features exclusive hand painted prints in blue and pink tones, finished with soft crochet lace trims. The collection also features our crochet bikinis for the ultimate bohemian-luxe look.

The models wore beautiful tie-up white heels from Forever Soles and stunning mermaid crowns created for us by Miss Nadia Lendel (@miss.lendel) to finish off the look.

 

Our friends at American Tourister had our backs throughout the whole journey with their beautiful suitcases used to transport our collection to fittings, meetings and the show.

The show was more than a success and now you can shop the looks available on our website eteswimwear.com

Shop Now!

Tell us a bit about yourself?

What drew you to live in that particular part of Hawaii?  

I love the city life mixed in with the beach. You get to have the best of both worlds!

Which island is your favourite?

This is a hard one! I haven't been to all of them yet but definitely something I'm planning on doing. Have to say I really enjoyed my stay on Maui and looking forward to exploring Kauai. Each island is unique in its own way so each one will have breathtaking views. If you have the chance, I would recommend exploring them all!

Do you have a favourite beach?

Lanikai!! it's so Beautiful! The sand is white and the water is turquoise (no filter needed) It’s the perfect place for snorkelling since the water is so crystal clear with many fish and coral. Little tip if you're going there: I would say go on a weekday. Saturday & Sunday is way too packed.  

What’s your favourite activities to do with your family or by yourself?

Doing nothing is probably my favourite! But honestly just sitting at the beach in the sunshine is wonderful. Otherwise we love to hike, swim, explore and snorkel. Before I had my girls I did a lot of Body Boarding with my husband and I'm trying to get back to that again. But when I have a day off taking a moment to myself and working on accessories (hair pieces) as well as lounging by the pool or reading a good book.

Where’s the best place to grab a bite to eat?  

If you're staying in Waikiki, breakfast at "Cream pot" is amazing! The soufflé pancakes are sooo good! Keep in mind they are a bit pricey. For lunch we love 'teddys bigger burgers' and if you want to go for a fancy dinner, top of Waikiki is worth a visit with it’s stunning views of the city. If you want to go out for yummy drinks and light food, RumFire is the place to go.

What’s the first thing someone should do as soon as they arrive in Hawaii? 

Go straight to the beach! Grab some Hawaiian shaved ice and just chill! Soak in the sun and dip in the ocean, it's the best thing you can do! 

Where’s the best place to stay?

Waikiki beach has many great hotels with lots of activities, parades, shopping and fun nightlife. If you're looking for a more private stay, turtle bay resort on North Shore is the place for you.  

As a local what would you recommend tourists do to see the ‘real’ Hawaii? 

Rent a car or Moped and go exploring! Take an island tour, hike some waterfalls. Also many of the hikes here like 'koko head, diamond head and makapuu' have the best views! Try some local food spots like Seven Brothers, Papa Ole and Banan for some soft serve bowls. Also try surfing or paddle boarding.

What are your top 5 tips for travelling to Hawaii? 

#1 Don't forget your swimsuit! But if you do tip #2 will help 
#2 Have savings and bring extra money! You will most likely end up doing a lot of shopping.. At least if you're a girl because everywhere you go there are shops shops and more shops!! 
#3 Have sunscreen on hand because most likely, at some point, you will get a sunburn if you don't use any. 
#4 Best time to travel is in the off season, which is in May and October. You'll get the best for what you pay for.  
#5 Try something new! Hawaii offers many awesome activities, Zip-lining, Sky diving, scuba diving, Sand diving (joking)! Any kinda diving is good. There are also many water sports to choose from, parasailing, catamaran, kayaking and surfing. If you're able to splurge, do more than one. 

What are your travel accessories must haves?  

Gotta say Diapers are my kinda thing can't go anywhere without those and a bag full of baby food. But other than that a pair of sunnies, tanning oil and a swimsuit from Ete Swimwear are my go to accessories

To see more stunning Hawaii inspo check out @miss.lendel on Instagram!

If you enjoyed this, check out our last blog on Matlida’s Greek Island Guide!

Tell us a little about yourself

My name is Matilda and I'm 19 years old. I’m based in Sweden but I make sure to travel enough to say I don't live there. Hmm my favourite things to do? Ah laying on a beach and going for dips in the ocean. Shooting pictures and everything that has to do with social media, I love it. Right now I'm obsessing over bikinis (as always) and midi dresses, so HOT.

What islands did you travel to?

I recently went to IOS for two nights, Santorini and Mykonos for both four nights as well.

What island had the best beaches?

MYKONOS!! We found the cutest beach with the clearest water used by only the locals. Sounds like heaven right? 

What island had the best views?

Oh Santorini for sure, watching the sun go down in Oia is something special. The town is so high up and with all the houses along the cliffs you cannot help but fall in love.

What island had the best places to eat and drink? 

Santorini had the best Sangria for sure. Then again, popping a bottle of champagne in our hotel room in Mykonos was pretty great as well. As for food, I tried gyros on all islands, and Mykonos had the best. So cheap too!! And so yummy.

How many days did you spend in Greece? Was it long enough?

I spent 10. Hmm, I'm not the person to ask. I barely ever feel that I've had time to do it all. But YES, it was enough after all.

What was your favourite island?

Mykonos!! I was so pleasantly surprised with this island. I thought Santorini would take the cake, but the town in Mykonos, with its beaches and laid back vibe, I was instantly won over.

What was the first thing you wanted to do when you arrived?

Go for a dip in the ocean, and feel the sun on my skin! I arrived at night though, so I did the next best thing - ordered a glass of wine.

Greek island style: what did you pack to be so stylish on your trip? 

Feels like half of my packing was maxi dresses, I had this vision of me walking in the streets of Greece with a flowing skirt and I made that happen. So stylish and comfy! Plus I had lots of bikinis from Ete Swimwear, of course. 

Natural tanning oil is not only a great way to get that dark summer glow but also for beauty as well! Our friends at Boracay Skin have shown us the light with their amazing natural sun and body oil made with coconut oil. So we have decided to share the illuminating health benefits that coconut oil has for you and your beautiful skin.

Hydration

When coconut oil is applied to the skin, it creates a protective barrier which locks in moisture keeping it smooth.

Nourishment

The all natural oil can all be incorporated into your daily beauty routine as it is an effective moisturiser on all skin types. Coconut oil includes Vitamin E which makes it a safe solution for preventing dryness and the flaking of skin.

Repairing and Protecting

All the time spent in the harsh sunlight can have harmful impact on your delicate skin. But by using tanning solutions with coconut oil, it holds antioxidant and Vitamin E properties that can prevent skin problems such as premature ageing, acne and eczema. Keeping your beautiful skin flawless for longer!

Stress Relieving

Not only is coconut oil great for you physically but also mentally! According to research when coconut oil is gently massaged into your body, it helps eliminate mental fatigue and its antioxidants gives relief from stress.

Deep Tan

Lastly, coconut oil is great for achieving a natural and glowing tan! Oils reflect light which increases tanning speed and gives the illusion of a darker tan.
So thanks to the miracle of coconut oil, we can hit the beach and get that flawless summer tan, whilst it does wonders for our skin! I call that a win, win! 

Makeup - how do celebrities make it look so easy? Well, they have people to help with that so we have teamed up with make up artist Sophie Knox to help us get our glow on! Together, we have created our top 5 tips for maintaining a natural summer glow all year long. 

1. Hydrate

We don't just mean by drinking water (Although you should definitely do that too!), Sophie suggests to work essential oils into the skin to ensure its hydrated to achieve that natural glow. For this she uses MAC Prep & Prime Essential Oils. Oils create a natural barrier that locks in moisture keeping your face smooth and improves comfort of wearing make up. 

2. Prime the Skin

A primer should be applied before foundation to minimise imperfections whilst allowing foundation to glide on easily and stay fresh for hours. Sophie uses Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance. A light weight, vitamin-rich cream that is suitable for all skin types to give you a luminous appearance! 

3. Conceal

A little secret is to apply your foundation first, then your concealer! Who knew? This is so you won’t have to use as much. Put in areas where you feel its needed such as blemishes or under your eyes. 

4. Add a Bronze Touch 

To ensure that sun-kissed look, apply your bronzer gently and then build it up in light layers. According to our expert Sophie you should use a powder brush to work bronzer over your skin. Using a sweeping motion dust under your cheek bone and jawline. 

5. Highlight 

Highlighters are used to add an extra shimmer to areas that would reflect the natural light. Take an angled brush to apply powder to the inner eye lid, tops of your cheek bones and the bridge of your nose. 

With these simple tips, you will ready to flaunt your glowing natural look any time of year. 

 

For more tips check out our previous blog Top 10 Tips for a Flawless Fake Tan!

Check out Sophie Knox for more makeup inspo!

@makeupbysophieknox 

Model : Emily Nash  

If you like Piña Coladas... then we have just the thing for you – packed full of good stuff of course. The Pina Colada is an all time favourite and now you can sip on your favourite summer drink without the guilt! This recipe from our friends at Made by Fressko is super easy and delicious.

 

Ingredients

250ml pineapple coconut water
1 Frozen ripe banana
1tsp honey (optional) 
2tbs coconut cream (optional) 

Method

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until combined and pour into your Fressko Flask. Enjoy!

If you don’t have Fressko Flask, you can use any glass water bottle, or get yours from www.madebyfressko.com

Get 20% Off the entire Made by Fressko range for all Ete Swimwear customers in the month of May!

SHOP BIKINIS

*Offer valid worldwide 1/5/16 – 30/6/16. Customers who purchase from Ete Swimwear in May will receive the code via email.