About Mint Mocha Musings

I know, I know! Mint Mocha Musings — what’s that all about you may well ask? (Or maybe you don’t give two hoots and just stopped by this page to find out what news readers really wear under the desk!?)

If you stick around, all will be revealed! 😉 News reader’s bottom halves aside though – apart from struggling to think up a decent name for this blog, it was clear early on or (desperately) hoped, there would rarely be a sane blog written by me IF I didn’t have a Mint Mocha firmly within my grasp. That theory worked rather well until I left Hong Kong and found myself in the middle of North West China. No mint to be seen! 

In fact, (and no this blog is not endorsed by Starbucks, yet 😉 ) I knew I was in trouble early on in Hong Kong when the cashier began bellowing out my order before I’d even made it to the counter. “Tall Mint Mocha, skim milk, no whip!” These days I am struggling to order a coffee without whip, let alone my much-needed mint syrup! (Alas, first world problems!) 

So, semantics aside, a little bit about me and how Mint Mocha Musings came into being.

Arriving in the sparkling, energetic and slightly wild and unpredictable city of Hong Kong in 2010, from Sydney, it’s fair to say, since – there have been some pretty significant life changes. You can click on my post Not for all the tea in China for the beginning of this exhilarating and slightly manic journey. 

It was 2010, when (heavily pregnant)I decided to step outside the box (literally) and swap the Sky News desk and microphone for a change table and nappy bag –  a shock to the system for this career driven Aussie girl at best, but I managed to muddle through ‘expat 101’ and settled into what they like to describe as ‘the best of both worlds,’ striving for that ever so fashionable word ‘balance!’ (Is there such a thing?!)

As I continue to navigate the ever-changing pace of motherhood with a hyped-up blondie I also juggle my lap top to work as a freelance Journalist, Writer, Speaker, Media Trainer, Presenter and Master of Ceremonies (click here if I can help you) .

And of course, one of my biggest thrills, this blog, which I began two years into our expat journey!

Why write a blog in the first place? Don’t all journos like to think they’ve got a book in them? Well, this was the pre-cursor to my book!

Having survived and thrived in the land of chopsticks, dim sum and very tall buildings, in 2014 I found myself in Xi’an….one of China’s oldest and most revered cities – a land with history stretching as far back as you can imagine, a city of 9-million teetering on the edge of progression. It was a fascinating time to be there. 

Two and half years later, it was a journey I simply couldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams. I hope I’ve regaled many of you with our interesting, amusing and most definitely hair-raising tales along the way. My memoir  ‘China Blonde’ will reveal even more — all of those things I couldn’t say, from China and I’m so excited to say is set to be released in September 2020!

For your copy, check out the page MY BOOKS.I promise you won’t regret it.

My hope with the book and on this blog has always been to be ‘educationally entertaining’ as well as offering YOU tips on everything from expat life to living and travelling in Asia-Pacific and around the globe, motherhood moments and media matters and living in a 5-star hotel, naturally with a few hotel secrets (husband permitting). And now that we’ve arrived back Down Under, stories of our repatriation and adjusting, again, to our ‘new normal’ whilst still having an adventure. (Yes, it’s possible.)

Grab a coffee or a vino (or whatever quenches your thirst) and have a browse around Mint Mocha Musings for the ride thus far. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts and I’m always up for a chat, so please leave a comment, so I know you stopped by.

Feel free to shoot me any questions as well. Nicole@MintMochaMusings.com

Oh and have you signed up for my monthly newsletter yet? It’s free! Click here.You don’t want to miss it! I love a good giggle. 

Cheers,

Nicole x

PS News Readers can be known to wear board shorts/jeans/bare-feet and often not a whole lot under the desk! (It’s true!)

To order your signed copy of CHINA BLONDE, How a newsreader’s search for adventure led to friendships, acceptance…and peroxide pandemonium, click here.