A Living Social Valentines Day

This year was my turn to plan Valentines day- Dan did such a great job last year, so this year I was determine to make it special.

I was sick on the Monday (week before Valentines day)- and while laying in bed with a sore throat, fever and wild toddler running around wild with a black sharpie (thats another story..)- I decided I needed to just book something before it got too late.  Lucky for me- in that instance I got an email from none other than living social.  The daily deal was perfect- Tapas for 2 with a bottle of wine for only $29- at a restaurant called Vue in Bondi (where Dan works)!  So I purchased it instantly- and called up to make our Valentines Day reservations.  Of course they told me they were all booked up for their Living Social vouchers on Valentines Day.. but after a little negotiating- we made a deal that if we arrived by 6pm and were done by 7:30pm we could come... phew!  We are losers early birds anyway- and that time was actually perfect.

It was a great night- food was amazing, view spectacular, and we had a ball people watching all the lovey dovey couples down on Bondi Beach with picnic baskets and blankets.. bean bag chairs on the lawn, guys with big bouquets of flowers walking home from work... we were surrounded by awkward first (or second) dates.. fake laughs, too much cologne, and romantic candles and music...

After dinner we walked over to Smooch for a frozen yogurt before heading home....what a perfect night.

Frozen Yogurt comes to Bondi

Last weekend we went to Bondi to check out the markets and do the Bondi to Bronti walk.  As soon as we parked the car though, we spotted this... and bagged the walk (it was too hot anyway)



Twisted 

Yes, frozen yogurt has finally hit Australia.  I knew it was only a matter of time before it would start popping up everywhere...We had to check it out.



 

First stop was Twist- we ordered a yogurt (with toppings of course) and started picking the manager's brain on yogurt shops in the area and how business was going. He didn't want to give us too much information, but did tell us that there were 2 other new yogurt shops on the same road that had also opened in the last 6 months...

So guess what? We tried them ALL. Twist was good. A little too heavy and filling .. Smooch was great. Tart and light and the kind of frozen yogurt you could have every single day and not get sick of it.    And the third- I don't even remember the name- but the sample was so bad that we didn't even buy a cup!

We ended up getting the name and number of the owner of Smooch- and gave her a call.  We told her that we loved her yogurt and that we were thinking about going into the business- in Manly Beach.  She sounded excited and agreed to meet up with us later that afternoon.  We met up with her and her husband. and hit it off right away.  They a were super nice- South African couple that we got along with great.  Nevil explained to us that their daughter had done a semester at the University of Arizona a few years ago- and came back raving about frozen yogurt- insisting that they open a yogurt shop in Bondi.  So... the start of Smooch (in a nutshell).  What a crazy coincidence huh?  I am dying to meet their daughter- she is in S. Africa right now for a friends wedding- but we will plan on meeting up when she returns. 

In the mean time- Dan and I have been SUPER busy- working on our business plan, scoping out commercial real estate in Manly, observing the ice cream shops (our competition) and networking... WE ARE GONNA DO THIS!  Seriously.  We are opening a yogurt shop and.....We are so excited!! 




Dyllan had her first "Smooch"  and she LOVED it!  (Wish i got a picture..or Video!! What a mess.)



 brainstorming...

Bondi Markets- have to go back here! Great booths.