GREAT WOMEN//GREAT PLACES: JAHARN GILES // NOOSA
She's one of the most engaging, accomplished and determined women I have had the pleasure of meeting. Jaharn Giles is inspiring, organised, personable, creative and driven and she is taking the rhetoric of women supporting women, and putting real action behind the words to build a tribe of women who respect, support and encourage one another. Boasting a plethora of skills and interests, Jaharn has created several successful businesses including Mister Weekender, The Longhouse and Your Creative Start, through which Jaharn releases podcasts to help inspire others on their business journey.
As the creator of outdoor-minded travel guide, Mister Weekender, I knew Jaharn would be just the person to give you the insider scoop on the must-dos when exploring beautiful Noosa and surrounding areas.
What does an ordinary day in the life of Jaharn Giles look like?
What's exciting for me is that no two days are ever the same, especially with a six month old baby boy in tow. But my day always starts out with exercise - whether it's F45, a run with Dusty in the pram (yes I am one of those people), laps at our local 50m pool or hot pilates, working out first thing in the morning is my religion. I'll then make breakfast at home and have recently stopped eating red meat, chicken and carbohydrates, which has made me feel like a million dollars. I am no longer sluggish or bloated and my energy levels have increased significantly, which is important being a working mum. Because of this, we've brought a nanny on board to help me one day a week and on those days I am usually out meeting clients, directing content shoots, recording podcast episodes and meeting with my team on current projects. On the other days, in between Dusty's feeds and naps, I can be found in my studio answering emails, editing podcast episodes, creating social media content, developing client websites, organising shoots, putting together new business proposals, working on workshop content, creating client marketing plans and strategies, and on the phone with clients - it's really so varied, which I love. Jason is a primary school teacher, so he heads to the gym after work and when he gets home he takes over looking after Dusty so I can get more work done. I usually stop working around 5pm because I want to spend time with the boys. This is where we'll usually go for a beach walk, an ocean swim or head to one of our favourite spots for a drink and an early dinner.
Home for you now is the Noosa area, the perfect place for a sun-drenched escape. Can we get the inside scoop on the greatest places to soak up the atmosphere and beauty that is unique to Noosa and its surrounds?
Eat: Sum Yung Guys at Sunshine Beach
Coffee: Chalet & Co at Sunrise Beach
People watch: Catalina Noosa on Sunday afternoons
Shop: Clo Studios
Explore: I love hiking through the Noosa National Park (it never gets old to me), exploring the markets at Yandina, jumping in the car and enjoying a hinterland road trip through Cooroy, Pamona and Kin Kin, getting in our friends 4WD and camping at Double Island Point. I also want to get up to Teewah, it looks beautiful!
Relax: The lookout at Sunrise Beach is our favourite spot to relax and you'll find it north up the road and at the top of the hill from Chalet & Co.
Stay: The Longhouse! We've recently put our house up on Airbnb and are looking to buy another property within three to five years, which we plan to put on Airbnb full time.
Only the locals know about: Us locals know not to go to Hastings Street in December or January because of all the tourists and traffic! Also, Blue Plum in Noosaville does the BEST Japanese on the coast. And because Jason loves to cook (his food knowledge and knife skills is mind blowing), he's always in the know when a new cafe or restaurant opens on the Sunshine Coast. Lately we have loved getting in the car and going to Raw & Rice in Mooloolaba, and Ol' Cactus in Alex Heads.
Top 10 summer essentials:
- The Great State balm (obviously). We take it everywhere with us and recommend it to everyone. It's also Dusty's cure all cream for mosquito bites, nappy rash and dry skin. We love it and it's perfect to take with us on our travels because of it's handy compact tin.
- Linen anything and everything because it really is the best fabric to wear in summer on the Sunshine Coast. I love jumpsuits from Nice Martin and I am obsessed with wearing linen pants because I couldn't wear them when I was pregnant, so I am making up for it now. Posse also does some beautiful linen pieces and is without a doubt, my favourite fashion brand.
- Fish of any kind - sashimi, miso cured ocean trout, smoked salmon. Fish in summer is just always so fresh and tasty! And oysters. Cafe Le Monde on Hastings St does $1 oysters from 5pm to 6pm on Thursdays, so you'll often find me there haha.
- Rattan visors from Before Anyone Else and straw bags.
- Iced lattes in summer are the best; in fact I drink iced lattes all year round. Yum.
- Sunscreen, of course!
- I've never worn a lot of make up, and raw cold pressed coconut oil is my go to summer moisturiser. I've also recently discovered Mecca Cosmetica's Lit From Within Illuminating Primer and Balm, and wear them both every day with a super light foundation from Maybelline for a fresh, dewy summer complexion. And if I am feeling super snazzy, I'll throw on some Nars blush in Orgasm, a lick of mascara from Clinique and my favourite red lipstick from Topshop.
- Workout gear by P.E.Nation.
- Summer fruit, especially pineapple and plums.
- An ocean swim every, single, day.