My Luxury Retreat

June 30, 2016

Photography – Bobby Bense

Creative Director/Model – Helen Janneson Bense

Location – Rose at Pandawa Cliff Estate, Pandawa Beach – Bali, Indonesia

Outfit Details

Long Perfect Dress

Lani Macrame Back Dress

“Dare to love yourself as if you were a rainbow with gold at both ends” Aberjhani

My family and I recently set out for some much needed retreat time to Bali with Luxury Retreats, and what we experienced was beyond all expectations. It was such an easy and seamless getaway from beginning to end. The concierge took care of every little detail, making this trip such a retreat for us all. As a mother juggling my own business, family, and rolling with the random curveballs that life has to offer, I am so very grateful when someone else takes over the reigns and plans the nitty gritty details. Luxury Retreats anticipated all our needs and created the perfect holiday for our family.

Our time at the Pandawa Cliff Estate was nothing short of total luxury. And absolute fun! The best part was having quality one on one time with our kids. Slow breakfasts with conversations about what adventures the day would bring, followed by frisby on the grass, tennis on the courts, pool time and more pool time, walks along the beach, silly games of Uno and fluffy favourites slots games, and so much amazing Balinese cuisine right there in our villa. Having our own personal chef cook all our meals, catering to our dietary needs/preferences, was just so wonderful. We all felt so well taken care of. This was truly a rejuvenating holiday for us, just as we intended it to be.

As you can see from these pictures our villa was beyond amazing. It’s definitely one of the best we’ve ever stayed in here in Bali. It was so spacious, light and luxuriously appointed, yet still maintained a homely feel, making it so comfortable and enjoyable for us. We stayed in the Rose Villa, which is one of 3 villas in the Pandawa Cliff Estate. You can even hire out all 3 villas and have the perfect destination wedding with all your friends and family, in total privacy and luxury. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak of a wedding in one of the adjacent villas and it looked spectacular! It was a gorgeous balmy evening filled with loving vibes, twinkling lights, happy music and a magical finale of fireworks over the ocean.

One of my personal highlights of our stay was waking up each morning for the sunrise. I am the biggest fan of waking up with the sun anywhere in the world. It starts my day off perfectly and energises me in a way that extra sleep doesn’t. It’s worth the early wake up, trust me. Witnessing beauty like that, so transient, and always so unique, is a very special and indescribable experience.

We are so thankful to Luxury Retreats for our perfect family holiday. They have an incredible selection of villas across the world and the best service and expertise I’ve dealt with to date. I highly recommend them for your next vacation. Follow them here for travel inspiration from all over this beautiful world.

With love and gratitude,

Helen xx

The Magic Within

June 1, 2016

Photography – Bobby Bense

Model/Creative Direction – Helen Janneson Bense

Location – Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

Outfit Details

Wearing my favourite mermaid treasures from Anna Kosturova, Her Empire + Embella Jewellery

Luxe Nomad Crochet Throw Over

Dreamscape Kimono

Deep Sea Roundie

Halterkini

Necklaces – Falling Leaves | Passionflower | Lotus Love | Lotus pod

Bracelets/Cuffs – Aztec | Silver leaf | Ocean Girl | Girl of the Ocean

Anklets – Ananda | Om | Coral Reef

Sunglasses | Hat (similar)

“You are the artist of your life, you are the author of your own story”

Every day I feel very blessed to live the life that I do. I am thankful for my beautiful tribe and all the angels who have played their part in the course of my life, guiding me, supporting me, reflecting love to me, as I create the life I’ve always dreamed of. Every day the dream changes a little as I learn and grow. I follow my joy, never quite knowing where that will take me. It’s such an exciting and empowering feeling knowing you can choose at any moment what you want to create and how you want to feel. You are the artist of your life, you are the author of your own story. Write the book that sparks your joy. Paint whatever beautiful painting your heart desires. Create the life of your dreams.

Here in Bali, in this quiet space, where clarity prevails, I gained a glimpse of the expansive ability of my mind. I felt the infinite possibilities of my imagination and all that I could create. I felt limitless. I realised at the crux of it all was a need to fully embrace myself for all my unique ways…to know I was already enough. To see myself with eyes of love and compassion, and feel the magic within. To remember I was special. That we all are. We are all amazing, and somehow we forget our beauty, our shining light. Even in the depths of despair and tragedy, never forget who you are. You have the power to decide who you are, what you want to be, and what you want to create in this life.

With love and gratitude,

Helen xx

Lunar Love

February 15, 2016

Photography – Bobby Bense

Model/Creative Director – Helen Janneson Bense

Location – Western Australia

Shop Lunar Love HERE….the first 250 packs will come with a very special gift inside of genuine stick on Swarovski® crystals to add even more sparkle to your look. They are so much fun to wear on your face, around your eyes, fingers, hands, or anywhere you like!

I’m so very excited to announce my Flash Tattoos collaboration today!!! Together we have created this lunar inspired pack of fun and festive flash tats for all you boho babes out there! What a joy it has been to bring my vision and hand drawn designs to life with the help of the original, one and only, awesome metallic tattoo creators – Flash Tattoos.

In this pack you’ll see my love of the moon etched through all these lunar loving designs. I hope they will inspire you guys to get super creative with the possibilities these designs offer…create body chains, leg chains, neckpieces, back pieces, line your feet, ankles, and don’t forget your hands and fingers. Let your imagination soar free as you adorn your entire body! Wear these moon inspired designs to remind you of your divine feminine nature and connection to the lunar phases. Go simple with a little crescent moon popping out from your low armhole tee, or bold with the entire moon phase lining your spine! There is a little something for everyone!

Make sure you tag @flashtattoos #flashtat + @helen_jannesonbense in all your festival pics on social media. We will be sharing our favourites over the upcoming festive season :)

With love and gratitude,

Helen xx

Outfit Details

Ipanema Bikini

Grecian Bikini

Somedays Lovin Top

Arizona Hat

Always in Style Hat

Ocean Lovers

February 1, 2016

Photography – Bobby Bense

Model/Stylist – Helen Janneson Bense

Location – North Beach, Western Australia

Outfit Details

Coco Romper – Spell

Boho Blossom Necklace – Spell

Cuffs – Don Biu | Embella

Kimono – Vintage Spell – Shop Spell Kimonos

Sienna Stone Fedora

Nails (Atlantic) – Sienna Byron Bay – Use discount code GYPSYLOVINLIGHT at checkout

Hair – The Nest Hair Boutique + Blakk Extensions

I’m forever inspired by the ocean…she is my medicine and nourishes me on every level of my being. I simply have to step barefoot on her shores and I instantly feel better. She provides my balance in life as a busy mum, business owner and creative director.

My outfits are definitely heavily influenced by my beach lifestyle and love of the ocean – white sands, white wash and every shade of blue you could imagine. I’m so obsessed with this Spell romper, the perfect canvas for layering up and heading out on long beach walks, boat adventures, and pretty much mermaid living. Some healing turquoise is always my favourite accessory to replenish and balance my energy.

I feel so blessed every day I get to create my dreams with my precious husband/photographer and our children, in a space that I love, that continues to inspire me so much.

With love and gratitude,

Helen xx

Fade to White

January 28, 2016

Photography – Bobby Bense

Model/Styling– Helen Janneson Bense

Location – Northshore, Oahu, Hawaii

Outfit Details

Billabong – Fade to White 2016 Collection

Hippie Hooray Crop Halter

Hippie Hooray Biarritz

Accessories

GypsyLovinLight – Bella Leg Chain | Bella Bodychain | OOAK Turquoise Ring | Cosmic Moon Necklace | Cosmic Moon Cuff

Anna Beck – Silver Saddle Ring | Stacking Rings

Embella – OOAK Turquoise Rings | Tribal Rings + Cuffs

Bodychain

Tribal Necklace

Sunglasses

“Dream big with all the love and joy in your heart and pave the way for all the wondrous magic and miracles of life”

I’m so excited to share this photo shoot Bobby and I created in Hawaii for Billabong Australia for their January Fade to White collection. We had a whole day to play in the sunshine and salt water, soak up all the Aloha, as we explored the incredible northshore coastline. We felt so far removed from the world, in our own creative bubble. It was all so dreamy.

I’ve been floating in that bubble ever since and rather than looking to the next holiday, next break, next satisfying fulfilling distraction, my every day has become an ongoing stream of all that I love. It’s work and play all rolled into one. I don’t feel the need to escape my life, my work, my heartaches or my reality. I’m learning to simply be, accept all that comes, all that I create, love what is, and ride the wave. I’m thankful for each miraculous experience, even if it’s painful at times.

Hawaii definitely stole my heart and amplified my dreams to new heights. The energy of this land is just so magnetic and healing and brought so many insights to me simply be being there. I’m so grateful for my opportunities to travel and experience so much in this beautiful world.

With love and gratitude,

Helen xx

Hawaiian Love Story

December 21, 2015

Photography – Bobby Bense

Model/Creative Director – Helen Janneson Bense

Location – Turtle Bay Resort, Pipeline, Waimea Bay – Oahu, Hawaii

Outfit Details

Moon Date Top

Coral Coast Tropic Pant + Coral Coast Top

Coral Coast Cape

The Tropics Panama Hat

Wild Again Cowboy Hat

Sail Away Market Bag

Sail Away Slide

Memory Lane Trashed Shorts

Coral Coast One piece

Dear Hawaii,

You have blown me away. I can’t explain how beautiful you are in words. I look at your pristine beaches, roaring ocean and mysterious mountains and I cry over the immense beauty of it all. You are pure magic. One of the greatest energy spots I’ve visited on my time here on earth.

Mahalo.

Our recent wanderlust adventures took us to the fabled Northshore, on the idyllic island of Oahu. The tropical scents, the mouth watering food, the warm hearted people, the breathtaking landscape, the pulse and vitality that you can literally feel the moment you step off the plane….aahhhh let’s just say we found our island paradise and we are ready to pack our bags and move ;) There is something so raw about the immense waves at Northshore that open your heart allowing deeper connections to yourself, to nature and to all those around you. It was such a sensory and soul experience all in one.

My highlight was definitely hanging out at the Billabong House at Pipeline, acai bowl in hand, watching the incredible surfers riding those massive waves. I was in complete awe the entire time and I had to remind myself to breathe! It was one of the most inspirational experiences of my life. We were lucky enough to attend the Surfer Poll Awards and honour these amazing athletes that brave the power of the ocean. A few other awesome highlights – food truck stops along north shore for some of the best tacos and acai bowls of my life! Balmy sunsets at Turtle bay watching the surfers catch those last waves of the day. So many rejuvenating ocean swims in those magical turquoise waters. And pretty much every moment in between!

We seriously can’t thank Billabong Womens Australia enough for inviting us on one of the best trips of our lives. It is etched forever in our hearts and we are so grateful for all the belly laughs, dining and dancing, and above all the connections we made with you all. Nothing makes travelling better than meeting awesome people who open your heart up even more.

With love and gratitude,

Helen xx

Helen Janneson Bense

My Luxury Retreat

June 30, 2016

The Magic Within

June 1, 2016

Lunar Love

February 15, 2016

Ocean Lovers

February 1, 2016

Fade to White

January 28, 2016

Hawaiian Love Story

December 21, 2015

Join the

Tribe

Helen Janneson Bense

My Luxury Retreat

June 30, 2016

Share this:

The Magic Within

June 1, 2016

Share this:

Lunar Love

February 15, 2016

Share this:

Ocean Lovers

February 1, 2016

Share this:

Fade to White

January 28, 2016

Share this:

Hawaiian Love Story

December 21, 2015

Share this:

Join the

Tribe