This Is Teral

A Welcome Back

2023-08-09T13:04:00.001+01:00

Hello.

Allow me to reintroduce myself!

My name is Teral, and I've been an awful blogger! I haven't posted anything in almost 2 years and I've really stepped down from this whole world. But. I've missed it. I've really really missed writing. I started my entire career in social media as someone who loved writing and I'm really sad I gave up this part of my career.

The part of my world that started it all, but having taken off so much time, i've really learnt a lot about myself. I'm a super creative person, I love writing and I love having a creative outlet in the form of word.

I also love imagery, but my true passion is words. So I'm back. I'm not sure what I'll be divulging on here. I'm not sure how often I'll be writing, but what I can tell you is that it'll be authentically me. It'll be helpful, inspiring and it's sure to be a fun read!

I'm now at the ripe age of 31. I work as a Social Media Advocacy Manager for a heritage British brand. And that tends to spark up a lot of 'What's that?" questions. Essentially, I manage over 300+ employee run social media accounts, so I've still been working around social, just not the same way.

It's been a fun 2 years where I've really grown in my career, my style has changed and I just feel like a new person. I started my above role as a really timid, person who felt like their ideas were silly, to someone who has been single handedly been running the hugest employee advocacy programme in the UK, and if I do say so myself, bossing it.

I've always shyed away from my achievements, but one thing I've learnt is that you have to uplift yourself, and essentially PR yourself in order to get somewhere. And this was something I could never do with this blog. But I've changed now. The world has changed and here's to new beginnings!

Love Teral x

The hardest year

2020-12-07T16:54:00.002+00:00

It’s been so long; I don’t even know where to start with this one. Firstly, a little disclaimer, I know this year has been extremely tough for everyone. So much has changed, so much uncertainty and so much that we just can’t get our heads around, but this is my story. This is my 2020 and my grief, and how I am dealing with everything that has happened this year.

THE START OF 2020

Like many other people, I thought this was going to be my year. I started the year with my dream job, with such high expectations. I believed this was the year that things were going my way and I was finally going to feel like everything in my life was falling into place. But as 2020 draws to an end, I can confidently say, this has been the worst year I’ve ever experienced.

Covid-19 really shook things up and has brought about so much chaos and heartache that none of us could have ever predicted.

January feels so long ago now I can’t even remember how I spent New Year’s Eve, but I remember feeling extremely excited and overwhelmed with joy.

I was working for a celebrity chef doing their social media and marketing and I really thought this would be the place that my career would take off. I made the decision last year that I needed a break from blogging. My passion had gone, and I lacked motivation and felt like I needed a new challenge. I stopped posting on here, I stopped posting on my social media, I stopped making videos and I decided to change the life I knew. But I was happy.

And I truly was so happy. My boyfriend and I booked our dream holiday to Iceland for Valentine’s day (read here) and had discussed all the other places we wanted to travel to this year.

CORONA VIRUS

Shortly after we came back, the whole Corona Virus took a turn for the worst and the country didn’t know what to do. On Mach 10th (my mother’s birthday) I was essentially ‘let go’ from my job as they could no longer afford to pay me. The restaurants were having cancellations left right and centre, and as is always the case, last one in, first one out.

I was broken. I took it personally, and it really knocked my confidence. It took me a really long time to get back to myself and feel confident about my work. And to be honest, I still feel a lack of confidence. But I’m trying not to take things so personally.

But these things happen and as the lock down went on, more and more people were being made redundant and losing their jobs. People’s livelihoods have been taken from them and business all over the UK and world have really been struggling.

I was back to square one. No income, no support from the government, and the emails for my blog had really dried up and I didn’t really have any other options. I decided to try temping again, and managed to do 2 weeks working from home, until that also had to be cancelled as no business knew where they stood.

So, what was I to do now? I was 27, living at home with no source of income. Me being me, I managed to find the odd jobs here and there to stay afloat, however I still am unable to find something of a career, which is what I truly want. But that’s not what this post is about. This post is why this has been the worst year of my life. September 22nd 2020 is a day I will never forget.

THE CALL

It was the day that everything changed for me and my friends. If you’ve been following me for a while you will have seen that my friendship consists of myself and 5 other amazing women who I have known collectively since I was around 13 years old.

On August 7th one of my closest friend Zulfiye who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis received the long-awaited call for a double lung and liver transplant. She was so excited; she was so ready of the prospects for a new life. One final facetime of her saying she’ll probably be sent home because it isn’t likely to be a match and next thing we know; she was prepped and is in surgery.

Weeks went by. We couldn’t go visit her, we couldn’t call her or facetime her. We would send her mother voice notes to play but she couldn’t listen to them, she found it too hard and too sad. Our beautiful bubbly friend was not herself. She was feeling low, and tired and anxiety was taking over her. I can’t even imagine what she was going through, what her parents, sister, boyfriend and family were going through. The pain and suffering we were going through as her friends was enough. But just as we thought things had taken a turn, just as we thought she was recovering, I received a facetime that woke me up that changed all of our lives.

THE HEART ACHE

One of the girls called us and was saying they were going to switch the machines off and they’re giving her 2 hours. 2 hours I thought, 2 hours to breathe without any of the machines I thought, yes, we’re getting our girl back. She’ll be home again soon and we’ll sit outside her door telling her how much we all missed her and bringing her Chinese take away to make sure she’d keeping her weight up.

But how wrong was I. Our beautiful friend had been through so much, her bowels perforated overnight and after they rushed her to surgery, they realised there was nothing else they could do for her. As I type this, it doesn’t feel real. I still can’t believe this. I have never felt such an overwhelming pain come over me. I’ve lost people I loved before, my grandparents, a friend’s mum, but this. This was something else.

I don’t even know where to go from here. It’s been over 2 months now and it still doesn’t feel real. I still think every time I go to see the girls, or go to her mum’s house I’m going to hear her cheery ‘Hi guys’ or her calling me ‘my baby’. But no. There is only silence. The silence is deafening and the pain.

The pain is immeasurable.

She was such a special person who touched so many people. Our group is broken. We are missing a piece in our jigsaw. Nothing is the same, and it never will be.

TO MY ZUFFY

I feel so grateful for knowing you and having so many memories with you, but it doesn’t feel like enough. Every photo I look at I crave more, I wish we had more time to make more memories, I wish every time I saw you, I told you how much I loved you and how special you were.

You would be so upset seeing us all so broken, but the pain is too much to mask it with a fake smile. You were wonderful at putting your pain at the back of your mind and putting on a brave face and I wish I had your strength. You would always put other people’s feelings first; you’d never miss a special occasion and always did it looking so glamorous no matter what kind of pain you were in.

I just want to thank you for being my friend. I want to thank you for being the glue and the strength for all of us girls. The loss we feel for you has brought us closer than ever. Whenever we meet up now all we do is talk about you. How much we miss you and reminisce on all the crazy things you would do.

I miss you so much. Every time I visit your grave, I feel excited that I’m going to see you, then I remember…

GRIEIVING

It’s those moments that are the hardest. It’s when you forget and suddenly remember your loved one is gone that it hits the worst. In the shower, in the car, before bed. When you’re alone. When everyone thinks you are coping better and ‘getting over it’. It’s not that you’re getting over it, more so that you’re learning to hide it better. Just like Zuf. She suffered with so much pain throughout her entire life, she became a pro at hiding her pain, I guess we have learnt from the best.

And that’s exactly what grief is. It’s not something that can be measured, it doesn’t have a time scale and you can’t compare the way people grieve. No one’s pain is more than the others. Grief is such a personal thing, it’s so relative and loosing someone like Zuf, a person who touched so many people, made each and every conversation count and showed everyone the same amount of love, respect and compassion, has left so many people feeling so empty.

Covid took so much from us this year, but most importantly, it took time away from us. All those months we couldn’t come and see you. Those 2 months we couldn’t visit you in hospital is the hardest. Knowing what could have been but will not be is heart-breaking.

One thing I am certain of is that one day our children will know their Zuf Deyze and love her as much as we do. Your memory lives on inside us forever. You taught us so much and in passing you have given us strength we didn’t know we had.

Going through such a loss is so hard, I am forever grateful for my friends, for being my rock, my family for supporting me, and my boyfriend for being there when I need a shoulder to cry on. If it wasn’t for the support around me, I really don’t think I would have been able to do this.

Every day is a struggle and I know every day hereafter will also be a struggle. I miss you and love you. If you are also grieving the loss of someone, please don’t suffer alone.

There are so many different support groups out there. Some of my favourite grieving Instagram accounts to follow are @Untanglegrief @thatgoodgrief @thegriefcase.

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THE ONLY GUIDE TO ICELAND YOU WILL NEED

2020-03-02T08:33:00.000+00:00

This month I travelled to one of my bucket list destinations, Iceland. I have wanted to go here for at least the last five years, and we very nearly managed to go last year. But I’m glad we waited to go this year as it was the most perfect trip.

We spent the whole of last year planning when the best time to visit Iceland would be, and for us, we knew we wanted to go when it was snowy, when it was quiet and we wanted to spend at least a week there. So in January we decided to book our flights and hotel to Iceland for 10-17 February.

Over the next few weeks we tried to plan any excursions, but it all felt a little overwhelming. There were thousands and thousands of different tours, hosted by hundreds of different companies. We felt like we were a little out of our depth. Thus, writing this blog post became an apparent necessity, and if the responses from my stories on Instagram are anything to go by, you guys want it.

Before The Holiday

As mentioned above, the first thing we decided to book was out flights and hotel. Again, where to start. We knew we wanted to stay in Reykjavik. But where. We ended up using LoveHolidays website, and found a great deal for flights and hotel together. It took all the hard work of looking for them separately out of our hands and made it a little simpler. We were also ATOL protected and I paid for it all with a credit card.

We also knew that we wanted to drive around and do our own expeditions. My boyfriend does a lot of driving around the UK and Europe so I was confident that he would be ok. He on the other hand, was a little worried, as he’d never driven in that much snow before. So I decided to take it to twitter and ask people for their advice. A lot of people come back to me saying that the roads are really good and that we will be fine. So I convinced him to book a car, with FULL Insurance. And I say that loud and clear. When hiring a car abroad, there is no point in taking any risks, cover yourselves fully. On our second full day, we found our back window smashed in, the people at Sixt told us to come by and swap the car over. No need to pay anything else as we had covered ourselves. So I can’t recommend full insurance enough.

One of the most important things to do in Iceland for me was to visit the Blue Lagoon. We decided to book the standard Comfort tickets, as there really wasn’t that much point in booking the premium tickets. If there was one criticism I could make about the Blue Lagoon the standard should offer bathrobes.

Once we had these main things booked, we sat down and made a list of everything we wanted to visit and researched their locations. We then grouped them in terms of location and which destinations were close to each other. We decided the furthest we were willing to travel was maximum three hours from our hotel as that would mean 6 hours driving, and with daylight from around 9.30- 5.30, that would mean a lot of driving in the dark, in icy snowy conditions and we just didn’t want to do that.

ARRIVAL

Our flight was at 12pm, but by the time we picked up our car and checked in to our hotel room we were shattered.

DRIVING

Driving in Iceland is not as hard as we initially thought it would be. The cars you hire come equip with winter tyres, and our car even had studded tyres that help grip better in icy conditions.

They drive on the right side of the road as does the rest of Europe, and the roads are pretty good. There is essentially one road that goes all around Iceland. Most if not all places are located on, or just off of this main road.

We used Google maps throughout our whole time there, with great GPS and 4G; we were never out of range. Even at the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere!

My boyfriend done most of the driving, I drove back a few times in the evening from the restaurants, but in order to drive in the snow and ice, you have to be extremely vigilant, more so than everyday driving in the UK.

The systems out there are fantastic. Friday 15^th, there was a huge storm, throughout our time in Iceland, from the car rental, to the people at reception, to signs posted at touristic destinations, there were warnings telling people not to drive out of town that day. The night before, as we were driving back, the storm had started and it was difficult enough. Whilst out there check daily the www.icelandtravel.is website for weather and driving updates.

FOOD

When travelling, food really makes or breaks my holiday. We are big foodies, and I was really worried about the cuisine in Iceland as my boyfriend doesn’t eat any fish, and I’m a little fussy with it. But to my surprise, the food was incredible.

Everyone warned us that Iceland is really expensive and that the food is where most our money would be spent on, so be prepared to spend £40 for two sandwiches and hot drinks.

Some of the memorable places that we dined were Caruso, we both love Italian food and my boyfriend found this restaurant a 10-minute drive away from our hotel. We loved it so much we went there twice. It’s has a really cosy romantic atmosphere. I highly recommend their prawn starter along with the Portobello mushroom, which was insane. We also really enjoyed the chicken alfredo pasta.

During our days out, we decided to bring snacks with us, but most of the ‘touristic’ places have restaurants located where you’ll be able to get a good hearty meal. One of our favourites was a Skogarfoss Waterfall. They had a great menu and had the best hot chocolates I’ve ever had. Again, we decided to go back here (just because of the hot chocolate) as it was on our way back from the black sand beach.

Another of our favourites was Svarta Kaffid. Come here for delicious soup in a bread bowl. They have a small restaurant in the city centre of Reykjavik, where you have to queue to get into, and the extremely small menu changes daily. We were lucky to have the creamed mushroom soup in brown bread, and it’s so worth the wait!

The last place I recommend visiting it Hlemmur-Matholl. We went here on our first and last day, just because there are so many different cuisines under one roof. It’s a little like Dinnerama, or street food markets, just not on the street. There’s something for everyone from pizza, tacos, Vietnamese vegetable spring rolls, a Michelin star Icelandic fish restaurant and many more. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re after a quick bite to eat and not sure what you fancy.

PLACES TO SEE

Where to even start! There is so much to see. Our 7 days in Iceland were the perfect amount to see the east and south east of the country, but there is still so much more to see. It’s a lot bigger than we initially thought. Some of the ice caves that we wanted to visit would have been a four-five hour journey each way, and we just didn’t want to be spending that much time doing it, so another time, we would probably stay in a different area.

But if you’re looking to do the usual Iceland tour, then Reykjavik is the place to be. If you haven’t hired a car, there are so many tours to do. Book anyone and they are usually very similar, so don’t be overwhelmed.

Golden Circle

If you have a car though, it’s a lot easier. We done the Golden Circle which is starts with the Thingvellir National Park, then you move on to the Geysirs, Gullfloss waterfall and the crater (we had to do this last one on a different day as it we took our time enjoying the other sites). All of them were incredible, but I think Gullfloss was our wow moment. We just stood there for 15 minutes getting soaked from the water splashes admiring the beauty and general vastness of it. All of the touristic attractions have great trails where you can walk around looking at the waterfalls from different locations and I highly recommend doing this. Don’t just go get the photo and move on. Iceland is the sort of place you stop and take a real good look at because it is all just so incredible.

Blue Lagoon

If you want a truly relaxing experience then make sure you head to the Blue Lagoon. I’ve already stated above what I recommend booking, but the entire experience is so wonderful. We happened to hear that a guy named Alexander was giving a talk about the Blue lagoon and 2pm, and I think he does these talks daily, definitely go and have a listen. He’s extremely charming and funny, and gives you a deep understanding about Iceland, Icelandic people and The Blue Lagoon.

Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Vik and Black Sand Beach are another tour you can do in the same day. These waterfalls were extremely beautiful, and the beach was just wow. Although it was extremely windy and we had sand hitting our faces at 40mph, it was still so beautiful. A lot of places were also used in the filming of Game of Thrones, so it's always worth having a little look to see. There's also a Plane Wreck on the Black Sand Beach that's worth a visit as it's so fascinating.

Porufoss is another waterfall we found by simply searing maps and looking for waterfalls, again, this was just off of the main road that goes around Iceland so was so easy to go to.

I highly recommend sitting down with a printed map and circling all the things you want to do to be able to visualise your trip. We also sat with our phones and worked out the distance between everything and were able to find more locations nearby. Your phone will be your best friend on your trip, alongside this blog post!

Most of these trips can be done by either group tours, or driving. If you have hired a car however, there is no point in doing these particular tours as you can just drive yourselves.

Northern Lights

Now we didn’t have a great experience. Not that we didn’t see them because we were fortunate enough to have seen them, we were just a little disappointed. It wasn’t the dancing magical lights show we expected. Instead, it was a slightly greener sky that come and went in about 15 minutes. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t try to look for them again, but I just want everyone’s reality to be adjusted, as it’s not always going to be as magical as the pictures.

GOOD TO KNOW

Iceland is expensive, so be prepared to spend money, we spent the majority of our money on food

Local Currency- Icelandic Króna- We changed up cash, but most places accept card. Most car parks only accept card. If we realised this, we would have changed up a lot less cash and just used my Monzo card.

Transport: Car. I would recommend driving if you can, but, Iceland is so organised, they have great shuttle services for excursions, and hotels and restaurants can book cabs for you.

Fact: Viking's built set up their homes near the edge of the country as this is where most of the hot springs are located. They used to bathe in hot springs to keep themselves warm, thus, bathing in the Blue Lagoon is one of the most touristic things you will do, yet it is the most traditional Icelandic thing too.

How I booked: We booked flights and hotels through LoveHolidays. We booked everything else ourselves.

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The Perfect Gift For Christmas With Astley Clarke

2019-12-15T13:14:00.002+00:00

This blog post features gifted products and affiliate links.

When it comes to gifting this year, I feel like it's so hard to by something someone needs, wants and will love.

With all of the sales around this time of year, people are more frivolous with their money and tend to get what they want already, and I'm there stuck thinking what am I supposed to get for you?

When Astley Clarke gifted me these gorgeous pieces, I thought this would make the perfect Christmas present for those who want to surprise their partner, mother, daughter etc.

These gorgeous pieces are a little bit of luxury for everyday. Over the last few year, I have really been enjoying gold jewellery. I feel like there are so many different tones of gold and each one looks lovely on every skin tone.

Astley Clarke pieces are a mix of 14 & 18 carat golf plated vermeil and solid gold, making them more durable than other gold-plated pieces on the market.

For me, luxury pieces are all bout the quality of an item, and that's exactly what Astley Clarke is. I've been wearing their pieces for a few years now and I always receive compliments on how gorgeous the pieces are.

Arriving beautifully gift wrapped, all you need to do is pick the right style for your loved one.

So this Christmas, give the gift of jewellery, it's a safe bet that she will love the piece, and will always remember you when she puts that piece on.

Shop my pieces

Earrings

Bracelet

Ring

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BLACK FRIDAY SALES

2019-11-25T18:12:00.002+00:00

And just like that, Black Friday has started almost a week earlier than the actual day, but hey, it's the perfect time to pick up your Christmas presents and something special for yourself. Down below I have listed the best discounts for you and will be updating everyday.

This blog uses affiliate links

Designer

Mytheresa UK
30% off sale items (discount will apply automatically at check out)
T&C's: valid from 24/11 until 26/11

The Outnet
Up to 80% off
T&C's: valid from 19/11
Extra discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday with code: FINAL

LuisaViaRoma
40% off discounted items with promo code EX40
T&C's: valid from 22/11 - 2/12

High Street Fashion

Missguided
Different deals daily
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Boohoo
30% off everything. Deals changing throughout week
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Matalan
Up to 50% off selected lines
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

In The Style
50% off winter essentials, 30% off everything
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Heist
25% off everything
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

FitFlop
50% off + extra 20% off with BLACK20
T&Cs: valid from 22/11

Nasty Gal
50% off everything
T&Cs: valid 22/11

MissPap
50% off everything
T&Cs: valid 25/11

I Saw It First
60% off everything & free delivery
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

NA-KD
30% off evrything with code BLACKWEEK
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

French Connection
30% off all full price with code BLACKOUT
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Whistles
30% off Everything
T&Cs: valid from 22/11

John Lewis
Black Friday Event
T&Cs: valid from 22/11, different discount each day

Superdry
Up to 30% off selected lines
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Arket
20% off discounted Color Week products, different discount each day
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Karen Millen
30% off everything, 10% extra 25/11 with KARENMILLENGOLD
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Aspinal of London
30% of selected styles
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Public Desire
25% off Everything with code CYBER25
T&Cs: valid 25/11-26/11, codes changing throughout week

Beauty

Look Fantastic
Different codes each day per region
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Cult Beauty

Up to 40% off selected items only

T&Cs: Valid from 25/11

Charlotte Tilbury
Selected items only.
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Feel Unique
Up to 35% off on over 350 brands + free beauty bags and limited time steals
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

By Terry
30% off selected lines
T&Cs: valid from Mon 25th – Wed 27th

Home

La Redoute
Up to 60% off everything
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

MADE
20% off selected lines + free delivery
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Amazon
Multiple offers across the site
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Jewellery

Missoma
25% off sitewide with early access code: VIP25
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Monica Vinader
30% off jewellery and up to 50% off daily flash sales
T&Cs: valid from 25/11

Fitness

NIKE
30% off selected lines,
Valid from 24/11 – 26/11

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Styling Puffer Jackets For Winter 2019

2019-11-20T19:03:00.000+00:00

When it comes to winter style, my main concern is keeping warm. Like really warm. I am that person that is always cold. So the fact that puffer jackets are back in style makes me super happy. I can now be nice and cosy and still look fashionable and presentable. Puffer jackets are like going outside in your dressing gown. They make everything ok, and keep you toasty and warm.

I love styling my puffer jackets with a basic outfit. My go to look is all black or cream look. I love also pairing this look with a roll neck bodysuit as it means there's no chance of my mid-drift getting a hint of wind.

I have rounded up my top 15 puffer jackets from the high street, there's bound to be something for everyone's style in there. As you can tell, my favourite pieces are in neutral colours as I find them a lot easier to fit into my wardrobe.

This blog post features affiliate links.

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How To Shop For Black Friday Deals Without The Hassle

2019-11-14T15:30:00.000+00:00

When it comes to Black Friday, organisation is key. I always end up getting the main bulk Christmas presents sorted and also pick up a designer piece I've been eyeing up for a while.

Shopping on Black Friday can get super overwhelming. So many more shops are taking part each year, and it's easy to get distracted. This year I have decided to be organised with you all and show you how I tend to shop the Black Friday Sales.

1) Make a list of what you want and need. I always have a rough idea of what I want to snag in the discounts. It's a great time to get electrical items that never usually go on sale. One year I bought my mum a kitchen aid for almost half price.

2) When it comes to any type of discount shopping, I much prefer online shopping. I can not deal with crowds, and if I'm shopping for heavy items, I'd much rather have it delivered home than trying to bring it home with me. So shop online, it's so much easier.

3) Once you've got your list written down, go to each website and either add to basket (places like amazon let you do this) or add to wish list. The latter is my preferred choice. That way I know each item I am after is safe in there and I can have a look and see if any of the items I was after have managed to be reduced.

4) In the UK Black Friday has somehow become Cyber Week, so start checking your favourite website's a few days before to see if they have started yet.

5) Pay attention to your emails, a lot of brands will be sending out email bulletins to let you know when their sale has started. You don't want to miss out on a bargain.

6) I will be putting together wish lists of items that I want in the run up to Black Friday, so keep an eye out on here and my Instagram as I'll be uploading regularly.

7) When buying designer, try to buy timeless pieces/ items you know will fit into your wardrobe easily. It's so tempting to buy a designer item because it's on sale, but we don't want to spend our money on things we don't actually want do we.

8) Once you've secured all the items you wanted, feel free to have a browse at the Black Friday pages on your favourite brands. You may find an item you hadn't thought about/ or the perfect gift in there. But once again, think about your purchases, I don't want to encourage people to be shopping aimlessly this time of year!

9) Finally, have fun. You might snag a great bargain, or you might not, but the most important thing about shopping is to enjoy yourself while doing it.

Below are a few of my favourite items I am hoping will be reduced. What are you hoping to pick up this Black Friday?

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What Is Temping Really Like

2019-11-11T14:26:00.001+00:00

As you all know, I've had a bit of a rough year when it comes to my mind this year. I love blogging and I love everything that social media represents and brings to my life, but I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I don't think I can work from home full time anymore, I've tried working in coffee shops, in shared offices, it's just not for me. So to my surprise, I have started temping. For the last week I have been temping as a receptionist.

The first thing that came to my mind when I thought of temping was Charmed (I was obsessed with the original version of this growing up). I remember the character Paige Mathews played by Rose McGowan was feeling unsure what what she wanted to do. She had a passion for full time witchcraft but needed money and wanted the freedom of uping and going when she had to. And in someway, I really do quite relate to her on this. Although my passion is blogging and not witchcraft. It's funny how life pushes you in places you never thought you'd be going.

I never thought I would temp, I never thought I'd work in reception as it's not a job that ever crossed my mind, but, you know what. This week has felt wonderful. Maybe because it's a temp role, maybe because it's a reception job, but my state of mind has drastically increased.

This got me thinking of two different reasons it could be. Firstly, have you ever met a receptionist that wasn't happy and smiley. Not really (except if they work in a the doctors surgeries/ hospitals, because they have a lot to deal with.) It might be that you spend the majority of the day greeting people, answering calls, receiving packages, there's not much to stress about is there. And you can spend the rest of your time on the internet, shopping, reading, doing whatever you like really. Crazy isn't it.

And the second reason might also be the fact that I am only temporarily here. I know there's an end date and I don't really have enough time to sit around and draw on everyone else's negative energy. It's quite a surreal experience to be honest. I believe that I am a super positive and excitable person, but I also wear my heart on my sleeve and I can absorb other people's energies. This may sound funny to you, but I really feel like that.

So by temping so far, I've really enjoyed the time I've spent being a receptionist. I've signed up with an agency, which have secured temporary work for me until Christmas. The pay isn't incredible, but you know what, I don't mind at this moment and time. I'm able to do my blog work, answer my emails and at the same time meet new people, have face to face contact with people and it's what I've been needing in my life for about two year I'd say.

So if you feel like you're in a similar situation, feeling yourself in a downward spiral, then please don't let it get worse, because trust me it does. There's something so beautiful about getting out the house and doing something, anything. And even if it's not your dream job or career, taking care of your mind/ anxiety is super important.

I really hope these blog posts can help just one person, because when I was going through my worst days, I turned to just feeling positive that things will change, and with one week done, things.

SHOP MY LOOK
Jumper: Asos (afflink)
Trousers: Zara
Heels: Jimmy Choo (afflink)

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Non Surgical Nose Job

2019-10-29T09:41:00.001+00:00

Before I start this blog post I want to write a few disclaimers. Firstly, when it comes to any cosmetic procedure, whether it be non surgical or surgical, please always make your own decision, I am only here to offer my opinion, and recommendations based on where I have been. Secondly, this treatment was gifted and I work with Longevita on a commission basis for the people I recommend. As a customer, this will not affect your price I simply take a small finders fee commission.

Now, on to the good stuff. Last year I had this procedure done and I filmed it on YouTube, however this time I felt like writing it all out.

Recently I have had a non-surgical nose job. What’s that I hear you ask. Well, it’s essentially having filler in your nose to straighten it out. I have a slight hook on my nose. It’s noticeable from certain angles, and although it’s never made me feel super insecure, I have always noticed it in photos and videos.

I am absolutely petrified of surgery, I’ve been fortunate enough to not have any, and the though of going under the knife because there’s a slight hook on my nose makes me feel really nervous. That said, I actually like my nose. I like the length and the shape of it. It suits my face, and if I did go for a Rhinopasty, I feel like I will no longer look like myself. Therefore, I done some research and came about the procedure that is called a non-surgical nose job, or a three-point nose job.

When you have this procedure, you have filler injected into certain points of your nose (which actually make the nose bigger) that help contour the nose and create straight lines, thus, removing the look of a hooked nose.

I was super excited to have this procedure done. I would be able to keep my nose, have no downtime and have a straight looking nose. I was sold.

So a two weeks ago I went to Longevita to have a top up done. The procedure lasts between 15 to 18 months, which is a little longer than my previous treatment.

I went to visit Dr Gizem Seymenoglu in St Pauls to have my treatment done. She was extremely friendly and helped me achieve the nose I really wanted to. She explained each step and kept checking my nose from different angles making sure she was sculpting my nose correctly.

We focused a lot of the product on the tip of the nose and then evened it out by adding more of the filler right in the centre on the bridge of the nose. By doing this she was able to create the perfect contouring of my nose.

That evening no one noticed what treatment I had had done. It wasn’t until I uploaded on my IG Stories that the questions came flooding in.

My nose did start to feel a little tender, tight and swollen the next day. It started to bruise (which she warned me about) and the swelling didn’t subside until a few days later.

After a week I would say all side effects had gone, there was no signs of my treatment being done however, Dr Gizem did tell me to not touch and to be cautious of my nose for two weeks.

After two weeks I have moments where I have forgotten the treatment. It is not until I take a glance at myself in the mirror that I notice the difference in my nose.

A non surgical nose job creates an alternative for those like me, who are scared of operations and not wanting to change their nose too much. The change in my nose shape helps me feel more confident and happy with myself.

Longevita offer so many different cosmetic procedures, some can be carried out in the UK, but others like Rhinoplasty, breast implants and hair transplants all take place in Izmir and Istanbul. Longevita packages offer flights, accommodation and procedures to make your treatment a lot easier and hassle free.

As stated in the beginning of this post, please make sure you do your research, have conversations with the people/person doing your treatment and are going through with something on your own choices.

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Styling Cute Grandma Cardigans

2019-09-30T16:36:00.003+01:00

It’s been a while since I’ve done a fashion blog post, but I feel like the time is right to get back into it.

This season’s trend is all about the iddy bitty cardigans. Those cardigans that a year ago we would of said our grandmas would wear them. But now, all the fashion girls are wearing them and in an unconvential way. With only one of two buttons done up.

Now, I’m a little larger on the chest area so I wanted to try these out and have found and styled my favourite cardigan for you all. I have also attached a video of my trying about 15 different ones from Asos, so sit back and have a little look as I try to pull these cardigans off.

For me, I really loved the style as soon as I saw it. Although I’m not quite sure about wearing it as open as some people there are many different ways to wear it.

Firstly, you can style it as your grandma would; doing only the top button up and wearing a vest top underneath. This is a very practical and versatile way of wearing it. You could wear it with smart trousers, or a satin skirt for the office, or with jeans for the weekend.

This is possibly the easiest way for ladies with a larger chest to buy into this trend. You don’t have to worry about the material peeping open from each button, nor them bursting open. This way you can go for your size or even a size smaller.

Secondly, which is my favourite way to wear it. Get it one size larger you’re your normal size and have the top and bottom buttons undone. As shown in the pictures you can see just how this hones into the trend.

Lastly, you can wear it with all the buttons done up. Again, I recommend going up a size as it’ll feel safer and secure that way.

I have also tagged all of my favourite pieces below. How would you style them?

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Stop Worrying About Your Future

2019-09-26T14:05:00.001+01:00

Turning 27 has probably been the hardest for me. Every year I usually love birthdays, I start planning things to do, what I want, what to wear at least a month ahead of time. But this year, I kind of wanted to shrug it all under the carpet.

There’s something so wonderful about getting older. With age comes respect, knowledge and wisdom. I also feel extremely grateful to wake up each birthday another year older knowing that I am healthy and lucky enough to have made it through another year.

But. A huge BUT. It can also be one of the most daunting days of your life. I feel like Rachel in Friends on her 30^th birthday. Feeling sad and sorry for herself that her life isn’t where she planned it to be when she turned 30. And although I haven’t turned 30 yet, I can feel the pressure that comes with it creeping up behind me.

And I don’t know why we set ourselves these targets in life. Why we think that 30 is the time we have to have achieved it all. It creates this unofficial tight timeline that everything has to be done by, and if we don’t achieve everything we dream of by that time we have somehow failed ourselves.

Even if we did achieve everything by 30, then what? Are we going to retire and move to Spain and relax on the beach for the next 50 odd years? No! So why do we create this sort of pressure for ourselves? Why does 30 act as a deadline in which we really need to have got our shit together?

So many successful people (and successful means something different to everyone) achieved their success after 30/40 or even 50. We need to stop adding pressure to ourselves. I believe it’s great to have a plan in life, and all the things I want to achieve by 30 are things that I know I will achieve, just maybe not by 30. And that’s ok. It’s ok to not be on the property ladder by 30, it’s ok to not be married or have kids, or have that dream job by 30. 30 is not the be all end all.

After three months of being 27, I have come to be content with my plans. I have realised that I do not need to worry about achieving everything in the next three years because life doesn’t stop at 30.

SUIT: NISSE

BAG: HELMER

SHOES: GLAMOROUS

SUNGLASSES: STEVE MADDEN

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Hello September, I'ts Time For A Change

2019-09-22T13:35:00.000+01:00

It’s been about a year that I haven’t really been enjoying my platforms. I haven’t enjoyed blogging, being on Instagram nor have I enjoyed creating content for video on Youtube. Truth be told, I’m not sure that there’s one reason as to why, but a many small issues that have resulted in this huge slump.

I’ve noticed that for the last year I have merely been going through the motions, uploading just to upload, not really striving for greatness and it’s not a great area to be in. Because I haven’t been putting in as much effort as I used to brand collabs have reached an all time low on my channel and there’s no one to blame but myself.

I simply haven’t been enjoying the content I’ve been putting out there. I felt like one of a million instead of one in a million in this industry and lack of effort and motivation has left me really struggling to stay positive and find things that make me feel excited.

And because of this, I’ve been comparing every aspect of my life to others which we all know isn’t great. So from today onwards I am looking to change my content. Finding something that makes me really happy, engage more with you all via stories and create a really positive happy space online that I can call my own once again.

If you follow me on Instagram you will notice that I’ve been posting more on my stories about food (I always have and always will be a massive foodie) but more on the cooking and baking side of it all. I’ve really been enjoying sharing that and you are all loving my recipes so far. This doesn’t mean that I will suddenly become a cooking channel; I am just enjoying this part a lot more right now. I will always be more fashion focused, but will continue to share cooking tips on stories for you all.

So with it being September, a new school year, and Autumn a time for all the trees to shed the extra weight they’ve been carrying on their shoulders, and start a new, it’s time for me to do the same. Time to get up, re-inspire myself and fall back in love with creating content.

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Press Trips: Stranded With Strangers

2019-09-17T16:04:00.003+01:00

Press trips have always been a thing. But the last five years or so the popularity of brands taking bloggers/ influencers abroad on press trips has vastly increased. Whether you call them blogger/ press trips. They are essentially, brands taking people with a platform away to represent and promote their brand.

I am so fortunate that over the last three years I have managed to secure press trips all over the world from Dubai to Mexico and many European destinations. A lot of these trips have been sponsored by brands including fashion, beauty and travel brands. Where I get to experience things I probably never would have.

I am extremely grateful for these opportunities; honestly, I don’t think any one can imagine how grateful and overwhelmed I am every time I receive an email of such. It makes me feel so chosen and so seen in an industry filled with successful like minded females.

But, there’s one thing about press trips that is never really spoken about. And that is when you go on a trip with people you don’t really know. A lot of times I am with my blogger friends or I get to bring a plus one, but for the majority of the trips that I have been on, I don’t know ANYONE. Not the PR taking us on the trip, nor any of the influencers, and that my friend, is absolutely daunting.

I’ve mentioned many times before that I was never the confident girl growing up, and I’d never go out my way to make friends as I was so shy, but being in this industry has made me grow confidence to the point where I can go away for a week with people I have never met, never spoken to and have a really enjoyable experience.

I am so lucky that each trip I have been on I have been surrounded by like minded, friendly people who are willing to help take my images, willing to speak to me, and for us all to have a truly wonderful time.

I have learnt to make conversations with people out of nothing and this is a skill that I will be able to carry into the rest of my life. But, it does make me think.

Going on these press trips can be so daunting. I mean, I flew out to Mexico, on my own, without a group chat, without a phone number and then loosing my driver. Luckily, by the time I arrived in Mexico the group chat was set up and I had managed to find my driver (he had waved at me as I was leaving the airport, but I just thought it was a friendly guy).

It takes a lot of courage to do this, and it is like going on a girl’s holiday where you get to do these amazing things and create these wonderful experiences and memories, but instead of your girls from back home, you’re with people from all around the world, which you may never see again…

It’s like a holiday romance, except without the romance and a lot of pictures, a lot of deep meaningful discussions about politics, religion, life and culture. It’s so hard to explain, and on a lot of these trips I wish I was able to bring someone from back home along with me, so that I am able to relive the experience with them.

Even though I generally do not get to see these wonderful people again, I tend to try and stay in touch via Instagram, and those that are in London, I try to meet up and catch up with.

Have you ever been on a press trip, what has been the hardest thing about it for you? Have you ever declined a trip because you felt too nervous to go on one? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

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Why You Should Visit Istria In Croatia

2019-07-04T00:16:00.002+01:00

At the beginning of the June I travelled to Croatia with Jet2holidays and Visit Istria. I’ve visited Croatia before in 2017 but this was a completely different experience. Last time I went to Dubrovnik and it was for a friends hen party. So my two experiences in Croatia couldn’t have been more different from each other.

Our flights were to and from London Stanstead with Jet 2, which is one of the closest airports to me. We set off on Sunday morning so that we could spend a full five days at Park Plaza Histria Pula with Jet2holidays.

On arrival to Pula Airport we met out Istrian guide who took us to our Hotel where we explored the grounds before checking in. As I had been to Croatia before, I was shocked to see just how different the Pula area was. Dubrovnik had more stone buildings and Istria felt more familiar to me. It felt extremely Mediterranean; like Cyprus or Italy. I was then told that this part of Croatia used to be part of Italy up until the end of the Second World War.

This explained the Roman influence found all around Pula, including the food, buildings and languages spoken. Our guide explained that the people of Pula are very mixed and they are brought up knowing all of the different languages and cultures from Italy, Yugoslavia and Croatia.

Over the five days we visited various different parts of Istria and experienced many different activities Pula had to offer. As we managed to explore so much I felt a little overwhelmed trying to narrow it down to a single blog post, but I managed to section it down into different activities that best show what Pula has to offer and to help you finally book that flight to Pula with Jet2holidays.

Visit the historic Landmarks

Pula has so much history dating all the way back to the first century, that you are bound to find something that takes your fancy. For me, I fell in love with the Roman Amphitheatre. Having visited the one in Rome, I was shocked to see how the walls surrounding the amphitheatre were still standing.

If you prefer slightly more modern history then make your way to Motovun. It’s a small medieval walled town situated on the top of a hill. It makes for gorgeous views overlooking Croatia.

The city of Rovinj makes for a great walking guided tour. The fishing port city has gorgeous buildings and sea front restaurants. It makes for the perfect romantic evening.

Visit the town of Poreč. This area was completely different to all of the other places we visited in Istria. Here you can visit the Euphrasian Basilica, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Porec also offers lots of different bars and restaurants, but make sure you have cash on you as most places don’t accept card in this town.

Visit the different islands

The great thing about visiting the Pula area is that there are so many small islands that you can go out and visit for the day.

Make your way to Brijuni National Park, where you can see over 200 dinosaur foot prints, visit the animals and go around in buggy’s visiting the Roman Villa Remains.

If you are looking for peace and quiet then make your way to St Andrew’s Island. Here you will find the Island Hotel Istria, which has everything you, could ask for. A gorgeous beach, multiple swimming pools, delicious restaurants and it’s even connected to a second island, which has a monastery. Perfect for those looking to do more walking.

Explore The Food Scene.

Food is a major part of any travel for me, so I was pleasantly surprised to see how much food plays a part of Croatian culture.

The food scene is heavily influenced by their surrounding of Italy and the Mediterranean with lots of pasta, fish and meat dishes. Most of the meals we ate consisted of four course meals, a starter, pasta or risotto dish, a meat dish and a desert. Some of my favourite places we ate were Pješčana Uvala, which is a close to the Amphitheatre. At Alla beccacia we tried meat that was grilled on a wood fire, and ricotta cheese with honey and ice cream for desert.

If you find yourself on St Andrew’s Island make sure you eat at restaurant Lanterna. Here I ate a delicious salad starter that convinced me salads don’t have to be boring.

Punutlina is one of the most popular restraunts on Rovinj. As I said earlier, this restaurant is right on the edge of the sea, making it a romatic spot to watch the sunset, eat good food and drink delicious wine all evening.

Finally you should check out Sv. Nikola, Poreč, try their meat special menu as it comes with the most delicious steak and truffle pasta dish I’ve ever eaten.

All of the above restaurants were extremely accommodating for vegetarians and vegans. The kitchens were super efficient in creating meals suitable for those with dietary requirements.

Other Activities

If you are still looking for something even more unique then you’ll love the other activities that Istria has to offer. Throughout our time here, we sampled lot’s of local wine and olive oil.; something that Istrians are super proud of.

Head to Chiavalon for some extra olive oil tasting in Vodnjan. Here you can learn all about the different olive oils, how to spot the fake ones, and buy a few gallons to take home.

Finally, if you have time you must make your way to Karlic Tartufi to go truffle hunting with dogs. Here they have a demonstration kitchen where you are able to sample different foods with truffle. Some of the highlights for me were the truffle scrambled eggs, truffle cheese and truffle honey.

You can also head out with one of the many volunteers and dogs to go and hunt for truffles, it was truly an honour to be able to spend this time with the sweet doggies, and it was incredible to see how loved and well looked after they were.

I would highly recommend booking your flights to Pula with Jet2.

Disclaimer: This content was created from a press trip Jet2. They did not review or approve the content and all views remain my own.

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How To Work From Home And Not Feel Suffocated

2019-05-28T12:46:00.001+01:00

The hardest part about working full time on your blog is working from home. At first when you tell people your working office is your bed/ small office from home it sounds ideal. That is until the motivation drops you haven’t seen anyone in a week and you’re constantly having naps because your bed and dressing gown in just so comfy.

After doing this for over four years I feel like I’m a pro at working at home. Although I still have those days where I can’t help but binge a new Netflix series, but that’s inevitable, that’s just who I am. The most important thing about working from home is to have a great balance. Between working hours and time for yourself.

I’ve found that having a clear working schedule helps keep me motivated and productive whilst after that I hardly even look at Instagram.

Here are a few tips I’ve learnt to practice over the years to help keep me on top of everything.

Set regular working hours and days and stick to them

Personally, I like to do a 9-6/9-5. It’s the same hours that all my friends do so I am able to fit in with their working schedules too. It’s also a great way to feel like you’re the same as everyone else. Holding yourself accountable to your working hours helps you really switch off after 6pm.

Find a reason to get out the house

When I’m not attending events or shooting new outfits, I find it a huge struggle to get out of the house. Although my work can be carried out with a laptop anywhere I much prefer working at home because it’s just so much more comfortable. And then before I know it, it’s been three days since I last left the house and interacted with the outside world. Make sure you head out at least once a day. Whether that be to go to the local coffee shop/ pick up some milk it doesn’t matter. I find my biggest excuse to get out of the house is to visit the post office. There’s always something that needs to be picked up or sent out. But if you can’t find a reason, simply go for a walk around you streets/ local park. Getting fresh air will do you the world of good, and once you get back you’ll be able to get straight back to work with a clear head.

Make your bed get dressed in the morning and have a good breakfast

When I was working a normal 9-5 I always found myself in a rush. Having to get ready, have breakfast, catch the train all to be on work on time was stressful, and I’d end up rushing out the house without making my bed and putting on the first pieces of clothes I could find. Now that I’m not spending hours of my day travelling, I have more time to do these. I can have a proper breakfast, I can make my bed and I get ready for the day ahead. I’m not suggesting you wear a suit and sit at home, but getting out of your pyjamas is a great way to put your mind in the working stage. Get out of super comfy clothes and put something a little more rigid on. I tend to put on a pair of stretch jeans and a top/ jumper on and since doing this, I have noticed that my mind-set has changed and I’m ready to work. Although it’s so easy to stay in your pyjamas all day (I mean they’re super comfy and warm) it’s not a great habit to keep you motivated to work.

Open a window

This one is super simple, but effective. Open a window; get fresh air into the house and you’ll thank yourself you did when it’s time for bed. Having fresh air circulate your home is something that you should constantly do. Especially if you find it hard to actually get out the house.

Take days off.

The great thing about working from home is having the freedom to be able to do what you want when you want. This may sound really counter intuitive considering everything I’ve listed above. But there’s such a thrill that you can take a day off when you want. And sometimes you need it. I like to take days off liberally, and I usually spend these days with my boyfriend, family or friends with babies (as they are usually the only ones off of work). I always make sure that I’ve finished anything urgent before I take these days off and that the next day I make up for it, but it always does wonders to my mental health. Having the chance to just say I need time off is so important.

If you find yourself struggling working at home, I hope these tips work for you as much as they have worked for me. I’d love to hear what you do to stay motivated and sane working from home.

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Graduating: Six Years On

2019-05-21T10:55:00.000+01:00

This morning as I was scheduling tweets I happened to go all the way back to some of my first blog posts. I went all the way back to May 2013, when I had just handed in my dissertation and had finished university. Thinking back it feels like just yesterday, but it dawned on me that it has actually been six years since then.

So much has happened, so much has changed, yet at the same time, it feels the same. Graduating six years ago I had NO idea what I was going to do. During the course of my degree magazines and newspapers had a huge hit; and studying journalism felt a bit pointless. Where was I going to find a job if there were no outlets anymore?

I had a solution that I didn’t even realise I was one at that point. I had my blog. My small slice of the internet. Little did I know that it would end up being a fully functioning job for me, where I’d get to write about things that I loved and that inspired me.

Graduating from university felt like the be all end all for me. At the time it was all I really wanted. I wanted to make my parents proud, prove to myself that I could do it and I did. But that was the easy part. Studying was so enjoyable for me, I loved learning new skills and meeting new people.

In my life after university, my degree has popped up a few times. Initially when looking for mainstream jobs the mention of a degree gives helped give me a slight upper hand. But what I’ve noticed is that it’s experience that employers are looking for.

If you can show that you have the experience and the right qualifications then there’s no stopping you. I’ve been working on my blog as my main income for over four years now. Six years ago I would have laughed if someone said that that’s what I’ll be doing today. And although my degree has helped me, it’s never been as important in my life as I always thought it would be.

Growing up there was always pressure from family and school to go and study, and although I think it was the perfect thing for me, it’s not an option for everyone and looking back, the job I currently have (running my own blog) I didn’t really need a degree.

The last six years have been a whirlwind. So many ups and downs since graduating. So many things I thought I’d have had and done by now, and so many things I could have never dreamed of have happened. Life after university has been incredible. It’s been challenging, and it’s definitely helped me become the woman I am today.

So for all of you out there graduating this year. Congratulations. You’ve done it. You’ve come this far and you’ve worked so hard for it. But now the real challenge begins. Life really starts once you’ve stopped learning from tutors and books and learn from the people around you and the experiences you will inevitably experience.

Here’s to the next six years. May it be eventful.

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THE REALITY OF BLOGGING AND WHERE HAVE I BEEN

2019-05-11T21:40:00.000+01:00

Firstly, I know this blog post is overdue, like months overdue! But I had fallen so out of love with my blog, uninspired and simply didn’t know what to talk about for the entire of 2019. But I’m making it my mission to make time up and create regular posts again.

I feel like I have finally learnt how to manage my time and to prioritise the more important things on a daily basis. This has taken six long years to get here but that’s what blogging is all about. It’s about learning new things, growing and in return, sharing it with an audience who enjoys reading your weird internet thoughts. So, thank you to everyone who has stuck around over the last year.

I know I haven’t been putting in 100% effort and that really shows throughout my work. And I think it’s totally normal in this line of work. Being a blogger/ social media person really takes everything out of you. To the point where sometimes you feel like you don’t have anything left to give.

I’ve felt deflated, I felt uninspired and I’ve felt extremely inadequate. All topics that I have written numerous times about overcoming. These were all feelings myself and my other blogger friends have felt over the years, but this time it felt different. No matter what I tried to do I just couldn’t snap out of it. I couldn’t re-motivate myself or get inspired again and I fell into a pit of pulling myself away from everyone and everything I cared about.

Over December, I reached a real low and felt like I needed a change. I needed a huge change that would push me to my limits and that change came in the form of a full-time job.

I worked full time for four months as a social media manager for a luxury brand. And I feel like having that opportunity really inspired me and helped me get back to me. It gave me a reason to get out of the house, it inspired me, it taught me and above all, I had something else to focus on for a while.

It took my mind off of my blog and gave me room to breathe. I didn’t have to think about Instagram or writing or even creating videos. Although I was still active on most of these platforms, I knew I was letting it all slide and I think that was probably the best decision for me.

At this new job I experienced the other side of blogging and Instagram. I met new people and I learnt new skills. Although I really enjoyed what I was doing in this role, I knew it was only a temporary role. I don’t know if I’ll start looking again for a full-time role, or stick back to the blog, but I just wanted to come on here and let you all know what I’ve been up to. Why I’ve been really quiet.

Life has a really funny way of pushing us to what we need. I needed to take a break from blogging to show me how much I love my platforms and engaging with all of you. I want you all to know that we all have ups and downs, we all experience hardships and that we have to go through these to be able to realise what we really want in life.

If you made it this far down the post thank you. Thank you for your support thank you for sticking around. I’d love to hear if any of you have gone through anything similar. Please feel free to leave a comment down below or message me on twitter or Instagram @teralatilan.

SHOP MY LOOK

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A Luxury Night At Royal Lancaster Hotel Review

2019-03-01T12:54:00.000+00:00

Over the Valentine’s Weekend, Royal Lancaster kindly offered to host my boyfriend and I for the night.

When it comes to staycations you guys know how much I love exploring London and trying different hotels out. So when Royal Lancaster kindly offered to host my boyfriend and I over the Valentine’s weekend, you know I couldn’t resist.

I’d never stayed in the hotel before and it was one of my must visit hotels. Everything about the hotel draws me in. I love the fact that it’s location is so central. The views are incredible and the hotel has gorgeous white marble all throughout the entrance.

Location

The location for Royal Lancaster is a travellers dream. It’s right next to a tube station, a ten-minute walk to marble arch and right on the front doorstep is Hyde Park and the Kensington Gardens.

It’s a little surreal having such a large park in central London, and from Royal Lancaster you have some of the most incredible views of the park and the rest of London.

Our room was on the 15^th floor and we could see right across London to the.

Room

We stayed in one of Royal Lancaster's Double Deluxe rooms. The room came with a huge fluffy double bed, a great bathroom and the most incredible views over Hyde Park.

I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels all over the world, but I’ve never felt as comfortable as I did in this particular room. I loved the fact that at the foot of the bed was a couch. I find that rooms this size usually have an armchair and a desk chair, but nowhere to unwind and relax other than the bed.

Food

The hotel has two in-house restaurants, Island Grill a gastro American menu and Nipa Thai I will try to book into the Thai restaurant another time as the concierge had highly recommended it to us.

My boyfriend loves hotel breakfasts, I much prefer having breakfast in the room, in my robe relaxing, but he absolutely loves buffets as he likes to try a little bit of everything he likes. So this time, I we decided to go down to the breakfast on the second floor. But next hotel we stay at, we’re having it in the room! It’s a compromise we’ve come up with to make us both happy.

Despite my initial wishes, I’m really glad he convinced me to make the short journey down the lift as it was absolutely spectacular drinking my latte people watching in Hyde Park. As it was a beautiful sunny morning there were a lot of people walking around and embracing the sun. It really felt like I was away somewhere and not in central London.

We decided to go for poached eggs on muffins, I had smoked salmon and he went for ham. As well as the A La Cart menu there was a range of different fruits and baked goods which we also thoroughly enjoyed.

The Service.

As always I was impressed with the overall service at the hotel. Although we were only there for a day, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful to.

The lovely receptionist came up to show us to our room and make sure everything was ok. I always find that it makes such a huge difference as some times hotel hallways can get a little confusing and when you’ve refused any help downstairs by the bellman, traipsing around a hotel looking for your room is not ideal.

Overall, we had a wonderful time at Royal Lancaster and would definitely come back and stay here again.

Thank you to Royal Lancaster for hosting us and this gifted experience in exchange for coverage.

HOTEL SANTA CATERINA | LUXURY IN AMALFI

2018-10-26T09:04:00.001+01:00

If you’ve read my An Italian Road Trip To Remember blog post you would have noticed that I mentioned the last hotel we stayed in in the Amalfi Coast as a key place to visit. I decided to give this particular hotel it’s own blog post as it was the most incredible hotel I have ever stayed at.

Hotel Santa Caterina really stood out for me on this trip, as I believe it was the perfect end to our holiday. It was luxurious, relaxing and beautiful. After busy few days in Naples, and driving down from Salerno, spending a few nights in Amalfi was just what we needed.

Hotel

The hotel itself is on the coast just past Amalfi, which means the majority of it is built along the edge of the mountain resulting in breath taking views of the sea, sunset and the rest of Amalfi. Although the hotel is set on the main road (access to positano, amalfi and ravello) the rest of the hotel is extremely quiet in comparison.

Our room was on the first floor. That said, we still had one of the most beautiful views. The majority of the hotel is built up with the beach bar and beach itself the lowest part of the grounds (sea level). Although the rooms are white, each room has so much character; from the beautiful tiled floors to the Mediterranean style bathrooms you can tell you are in an authentic Italian hotel.

For me, my favourite part of our room was the balcony. Waking up and walking to the balcony to see the views of Amalfi was just out of this world. I think the position of this hotel serves great as it’s a 10-minute shuttle bus away from the main Amalfi so you have the best of both worlds. You can easily get to and from, yet you’re far away to feel completely private.

Service

As a family run hotel the staff are incredible. From the cleaners to the concierge, each member of staff greets and wishes you a pleasant day. I’ve been lucky enough to stay in many 5* hotels all around the world, but none compare to Hotel Santa Caterina. One of the most thoughtful hotels with meticulous attention to details shines above anything else.

Having decided to drive around in Italy we rented a car and had the valet park the car over night for us. The next day when we decided to make our way to Positano we were greeted by the same guy who remembered us, our car, and brought it to the front in a matter of seconds. He also put a bottle of cold water for each of us in the cup holders which just sums up Hotel Santa Caterina for me. They go above and beyond making you feel welcome, accommodated and comfortable.

The staff pre-empt your next move and are constantly working hard to make your stay be hassle free. As the hotel is quite small it allows staff to become personable with guests and offer their services at a high rate.

Food

We initially were going to spend one evening in the hotel and make our way to Positano for dinner on the last night but decided to stay both nights as we were impressed by the food and service.

The hotel has two restaurants and a beach bar that also serves food. Breakfast and dinner are served in the main terrace restaurant where you are greeted by friendly staff. We were extremely lucky that each meal we went to have we managed to have a beautiful view overlooking the sea.

If you’ve ever seen Charlie and the chocolate factory then you’ll appreciate the fact that this hotel has a glass elevator that takes you from the main part of the hotel to the lower grounds where you’ll find the second restaurant, pool and beach area. It’s a sight not to be missed as you can see exactly where you’ll be heading whilst still admiring the views.

Pool/Beach

The pool is relatively small but for the size of the hotel itself, it doesn’t need to be bigger. The pool is salt water which is great for those days it’s a little too choppy to actually get into the sea.

The beach doesn’t have a shore, so if you’re not a strong swimmer stick to the pool. The beach is easy to access with steps but as it was too windy while we were there the staff had blocked it off and asked us not to swim as it’s a little dangerous.

Although the hotels along the coast are relatively small, Hotel Santa Caterina never felt too cramped or too busy. There are so many different areas in the hotel to go and explore that you don't feel like it's too small.

A huge thank you for Hotel Santa Caterina for hosting us [gifted]. We had such a wonderful time here and I am looking forward to returning back to Santa Caterina one day. I managed to fit my entire wardrobe in the Samsonite Medium Cosmolite [gifted] which made is super lightweight and durable for travelling from location to location.

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AN ITALIAN ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER

2018-10-18T16:43:00.001+01:00

Italy. Oh Italy, you became my favourite place back in 2008 when I first visited you and ten years you welcomed me gracefully for my favourite trip ever.

2008 I fell in love with Italy. The food, the culture and the people had me mesmerised. I went with my dance group and we toured Cortona, Florence and Pisa. Over the years I visited other areas and fell more and more in Love with the country.

Over the last few years there was one trip that I couldn't stop thinking about taking. I wanted to do a road trip from Naples through Pompei and down to the Amalfi coast. The only problem was I had to convince someone to come on this trip with me. Luckily, my boyfriend was up for it so we started planning it back in June.

NAPLES

Our first stop would be Naples. We would spend two nights here before heading to our next stop. I wanted to visit the Naples as I knew it was famous for one thing I particularly loved. Pizza. Naples being the birthplace of my favourite food, I knew I had to stop off there and visit the best Pizzaria in town. L'Antica Pizzaria da Michelle, which was also featured in the 2006 book and movie Eat Pray Love (2010).

I've had a lot of great pizza in my life, in Milan, Rome and even my first night in Naples, but the pizza at L'Antica is out of this world. Named the best pizza in the world, there is always a queue to get in. Luckily, all our first attempts to go here failed as it's closed on a Sunday, Monday we were far too tired so I bargained with my boyfriend and said let's skip breakfast on Tuesday and head straight there as they open at 11 for an early lunch and then we'll make our way to our next hotel in Salerno.

Arriving just before 12pm we grabbed a ticket and was told the wait would be 20-30 minutes. By the time we left, people were being told that the wait would be over and hour and forty minutes. I highly recommend coming early for lunch if you're not prepared to wait that long.

The pizza here was one of my favourite things in Naples. We both went for a classic margarita as they only serve two types of pizza; margarita or marinara. I don't want this whole post to be about pizza, but honestly, if you're ever in the area I highly recommend visiting here.

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS

There’s so much history in Italy. Wherever you visit you will always find beautiful architecture and historical landmarks. Near Naples is Vesuvius, an active volcano that destroyed nearby towns back in 79AD. I really wanted to visit Pompei and Herculaneum. Growing up and learning about ancient Italy was something that I loved. I’ve always loved history and in year 7&8 I learnt Latin. I know extremely random, and totally not me, and although I wasn’t very good at the subject, I thoroughly enjoyed it and always dreamed of visiting Pompei. And fourteen years later I made that dream a reality.

Our first stop was mount Vesuvius. We wanted to hike to the top and see the crater. When climbing it was quite a cloudy day and we didn’t manage to see too much as it wasn’t very clear. However on our way down the clouds started to clear and we managed to get a better view. We really enjoyed this climb as it wasn’t too difficult and the paths are clearly marked.

After Vesuvius, we took a short ride over to Pompei to explore the ruins. If I’m honest, Pompei was a wonderful experience, but, it’s a little overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time.

It’s incredible to see how much of it is still in tact as the ashes created a layer of protection, but that said. There is so much of it. We kept walking and walking and it all started to merge and look the same. After heading back to the hotel we sat down and ended up watching a few good documentaries about the town, which gave us a lot more information than actually being there. We didn’t have enough time to visit Herculaneum but I’ve heard it’s a lot smaller and would probably be better to visit over Pompei.

SALERNO

Being that the first few days were touristic and extremely busy, I thought it would be best to stop off in the mountains for the next few days to relax. We booked a small boutique hotel up in the mountains a 15 minutes drive from the city of Salerno.

Salerno is a lot smaller than Naples, but I still recommend coming to visit here on your drive down to Amalfi. It’s another beautiful coastal city that’s vibrant, full of delicious food and beautiful views.

Here we found a wonderful gelateria called Punto Freddo. We loved it here so much that we went three times in less than 24 hours. Definitely try the lemon and the pineapple gelato. Prices are extremely cheap too, it worked out to be around 1 euro a scoop. In London, ice cream that good would cost 2/3 pounds a scoop.

AMALFI

Our final stop, the Amalfi coast. I’ve been dreaming of visiting here for the last four years as I haven’t stopped seeing it on Instagram. Amalfi is possibly the most romantic place I’ve been to so far and I’m so happy I got to go here with my boyfriend. I can’t imagine have come here with anyone else.

We stayed in the beautiful Hotel Santa Caterina (full review to follow) which meant we were only an hour drive away from visiting Positano; another dream destination of mine. Upon arrival to Amalfi we decided to spend the day at the hotel because it was absolutely incredible and driving from Salerno was around an hour and half so we wanted to stretch our legs out a little.

The next day we drove down to Positano to visit the beaches and walk around the town. We found a parking garage as close as we could however if you can find roadside parking do, as the car parks are quite expensive.

Positano is absolutely breath taking. We took in the views in total silence, as it was incredible. If you want to see authentic Italy, look up and take in the views. The buildings and architecture is insane. It’s something you have to see for yourself to understand just how beautiful it really is.

The only thing about Positano was that prices were unnecessarily expensive. The car parks, the toilets and the clothing shops, everything was a tourist trap. Dresses that would normally be between 20-50 euros were over 200 euros. So be prepared that this will be your most expensive stop on the trip in comparison to the other towns.

DRIVING IN ITALY

When I initially suggested hiring a car everyone told me not to. My boyfriend himself was a little hesitant, as he had heard from friends who have driven in Italy before that they ‘drive like crazy’ out there. And the reality is, they do, you have to be extremely alert while driving. Personally I chose not to drive out there and just be in charge of navigation.

While driving in Italy is completely different to the UK, it is still doable. We rented a car from the airport and used Google maps to get us around. In the streets of Naples there are so many cars, every car and moped has the right of way so you have to be extremely vigilant while driving, not only watching the roads, but watching what every other car is doing too.

Heading up and down the mountains weren’t too bad to be honest. Although the roads are narrow, drivers become automatically more careful beacause of this. We were extremely lucky in the fact that we decided to head from Amalfi to Positano at times that weren’t too busy. Most tours and buses head out early in the morning so skip the morning rush and head out your hotel around 11am. Also head back way before these buses are on their way back.

Renting a car gave us so much freedom, we were able to go and travel to the places that we wanted to without wasting time waiting for buses and taxis. For us it made the whole hotel hopping so much easier too. Just make sure you purchase the extra cover while booking the car and make sure that your hotels have their own private car parks for over night parking.

LUGGAGE

For my trip to Italy I opted to use my Samsonite Red Cosmolite in medium. I decided to go for a medium suitcase as I knew we would be travelling around quite a bit and didn't want to have to lug around a huge suitcase like I normally do.

The cosmolite is super lightweight in comparison to other hard shell cases. This meant that I wouldn't struggle with luggage allowance like I normally do and was able to add more of the heavier items I usually end up leaving back home.

In terms of space, It looked a lot smaller to what I'm used to but I still managed to fit so many different outfits and extra bits in the suitcase, plus more because it was so light weight.

I feel like I have gone really in depth on this trip because it really was one that I spent a lot of time planning and researching. Having experienced it all first hand, I can tell you that it was an absolute dream and I’m already planning my next visit. This time I’ll fly in to Rome as my boyfriend has never been, stop off in Naples for THE BEST PIZZA in the world, then down to explore the rest of the coast such as Capri, Sorrento and Ravello.

Would you want to do this trip? Does driving in Italy sound fun to you?

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IS SOCIAL MEDIA RUINING MY MENTAL HEALTH?

2018-10-12T18:06:00.001+01:00

With it being world mental health awareness day earlier this week it had me thinking about my own mental health. I don't want people thinking I'm jumping on the mental health bandwagon as they like to say. It's just something I felt compelled to share today.

In my late teens and early twenties I was confident, very strong minded and was never afraid of speaking my mind. But over the last year or so I have noticed a big change in myself. And I really think blogging and social media has a big part in it.

In the beginning, my blog gave me so much confidence. It was something I started as a hobby over five years ago and people around me never understood. I always felt like it was a constant battle. My blog against everyone else and their snide remarks. Slowly, my hard work had started to pay off. Brands started contacting me and I started getting free clothes and make up. Later, I'd start partnering with brands and making money, until I took the plunge and made blogging my full time job.

Fast forward three years later; my confidence is completely lacking in comparison. Over the last few years blogging has come along by leaps and bounds. More and more people are bloggers and with the introduction of Instagram people started to become influencers.

In the grand scheme of everything this is amazing. But for my mental health it's really been something I've struggled with over the last year. I feel more doubtful of myself than ever.

When I first started blogging I'd go to all these events alone and come back having made 3-5 new friends. I'd just talk to anyone and I started to have this huge group of friends that I could meet up with, take pictures and talk all things blogging with. And it was fantastic. I'd be on such a high after an event, I'd meet up with these new friends weekly and was always out of the house doing cool new things.

But the last year or so, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Do I still enjoy blogging? Yes. Do I still want to continue my career as a blogger? Definitely. But I need to share how I'm feeling in order to be able to move on and hopefully, by sharing this, others who feel the same way know that they too are not alone. It's not that I feel like this all the time. But these feelings seem to creep up on me more so now than ever.

I've noticed that slowly I've stopped going to events, I've stopped meeting up with friends and I no longer reach out to people like I used to.

My job means I spend a lot of my time in my room, alone, looking on social media. And I have spent many a times comparing myself to every single other blogger out there. I micro analyse everything, their engagement, their collabs, their opportunities, and it just brought out this side of me I've never seen before. And I don't like it.

I've always been happy for anyone doing great in this industry as I know how hard everyone works. So why am I suddenly feeling this way? Is it that social media has made me insecure, has it made me bitter and jealous, is social media ruining my mental health? I don't know, possibly.

And the crazy thing about all of this. The sensible me knows what's going on and that I only feel like this every now and then. I also know that there are people who look at me and think the same things about me and my career/life. But for some reason, I still can't stop myself from feeling this way. My rational self tries to reason, but my insecurities take over.

Comparison is a dreadful thing. It keeps you up at night, making you think you're not good enough. Telling you you're not pretty enough, slim enough, popular enough. People don't enjoy your content, that's why you're not getting invited to X,Y,Z. You're just not good enough. It has you having breakdowns out of nowhere, and for me, it makes me pull away.

I always pull away from people I love and people who care about me, because I don't want to burden them with my problems. As I write this blog post, I find myself breaking down again. This time not because of my insecurities, but unburdening myself and pouring everything into this blog post is like a weight is being lifted over my shoulders.

I know my loved ones will all read this and worry about me, and that scares me. But I started this blog as a way to help all the girls out there who need it and this is just something else I have to share.

A month ago I was with a family friend who's 13 years old. She was telling me how she can't leave the house because she has so much anxiety about the way she looks, that she'll never be as pretty as the girls on Instagram and never live the life that bloggers live. And it really upset me. It made me reevaluate everything. If I have these feelings as a strong 26 year old woman. What chance does a 13 year old girl have?

Social media is such a wonderful thing, it's bought so many opportunities to myself and so many other people around the world. But it's all built on this pretence of perfection. And i've had enough of it.

I am mentally drained and tired of seeing so much fakeness online. It's hard to imagine the mental state of the next generation. I'm not surprised to see so many high profile people fed up, so many bloggers and youtubers talking about their issues. This industry is so brutal. Your brain is constantly working, I haven't had a day off in five years. It's been about two months now that I don't post on Instagram everyday, but even when I'm not posting, I'm still online, engaging, interacting, creating new content, and it's so tiring.

I don't want you all to leave here thinking that I'm fed up and blogging is all bad. It's not, there's so many great things, but we get to see all the great things everyday. So I thought today I'd share the other side of me you don't get to see. And finish with one of my favourite quotes.

"This too shall pass"

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TRYING LVL LASHES FOR THE FIRST TIME | PERMING MY LASHES

2018-09-26T17:13:00.001+01:00

When it comes to my eyelashes, I've never really given it much thought. I mean, I'd put mascara on and when I remember I use an eyelash curler. But the reality was, they weren't a focal point of my makeup routine.

Around a year and a half ago I tried eyelash extensions and I absolutely hated it. The length, the feeling, the fact I couldn't wash my eyes properly, so a week later with a lot of coconut oil I ended up removing them.

The one thing I liked about the eyelash extensions were the fact that my eyes looked wider and more awake, so when I heard about LVL lashes I knew it was something I needed to look into.

LVL lashes stand for length, volume, lift. And that's exactly what the treatment does. I recently headed to Marshall Street Spa in near Carnaby Street for my first ever LVL treatment. A week later and I can't stop raving about it to everyone.

The treatment itself takes around 40 minutes and the results are instant. Think of LVL as a perm for your eyelashes, for the next 24 hours you are not allowed to get they eyelashes wet (like a regular hair perm). But after that, you can go about your normal life.

When you get LVL done to your lashes they also tint the lashes themselves so they appear thicker and fuller. If you're someone who loves going for that no make up look, this is the perfect treatment for you. Your lashes look really long and curled while still appearing super natural.

I was told there were two different types of LVL styles I could choose from, natural or dramatic. I went for the dramatic, but in all honesty, I don't think my lashes look dramatic. It simply means the material they curled my lashes on was smaller, meaning the lift of the lash would be more dramatic. And I am so glad I went for this one. I have never received as many compliments about my lashes.

After 24hours I decided to put on mascara to see what my lashes look like with them on and I was so impressed. It was as if I had fake lashes on without the discomfort. Lashes looked long, wispy and curled. And even better, after I removed the mascara, my lashes still looked as good as when I had just had them done.

In the photos above I have shown the before and after images with and without mascara on. As you can see the results are phenomenal. This treatment is currently £35 for an introductory price at Marshall Street Spa

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Why You Need To Go On A Yoga Retreat In Austria | Holzhotel Forsthofalm

2018-07-20T15:13:00.000+01:00

The last few months have been filled with so much. I found myself travelling back to back with one day in London here and one day abroad there. They say travelling is good for the mind body and soul which is is. But I've found myself so exhausted from constant travelling that when my latest travel opportunity came around I couldn't resist it.

Those who know me know that I'm not much of an exerciser. I don't go to the gym and I sure don't do yoga. So I was very skeptical about a yoga/exercise retreat in Austria. That said, the moment I landed I knew this was exactly what I needed.

When it comes to exercise, I would much rather sit at home on the sofa with a large pizza so I thought I would really struggle when it came to the classes at the retreat. But instead I was surprised. I was surprised at firstly, how much I enjoyed it and secondly, how much motivation I had. Especially on the last day.

In early July we headed to Holzhotel Forsthofalm in Austria which felt like a million miles away from the noise and overcrowding in London.

Landing early in the morning, we headed to the hotel 1050m up in the mountains where we were greeted by the lovely owners. A brother and sister who live and breathe everything to do with the hotel. They are so passionate about their hotel, their beliefs and making each of their visitors feel at home that they are always found doing one job or another around the hotel.

We started our day with a walking tour lunch of the hotel. This entailed viewing different rooms around the hotel and each room offerring a different dish; salad, soup, ravioli and salmon...followed by a three course sit down full on lunch. One thing you will notice with Forsthofalm is that they are very keen on food. The food is absolutely delicious and there is so much choice.

After lunch we checked into our rooms and got ready for our first session of yoga. As a yoga novice, I can't believe how comfortable and relaxed I automatically felt. A week of yoga sounded quite daunting, but heading to the exercise class room and looking out the window to the beautiful mountains just made it all feel 100% right. Each of the exercise classes and hikes are free of charge. So if you're feeling adventurous, you can book yourself into any of the classes and not worry about any additional fees.

Yoga was followed by a quick shower and another four course meal. The menus change everyday as they use fresh ingredients. You have the option of meat dishes or vegan dishes as they cater to everyone. If you do not fancy the set menu, you can choose from the a la carte for an additional fee.

The next morning I woke up early to do a few shoots around the hotel and also to sit on my balcony and just take in where I am. Nestled in the trees on a mountain with views of other mountains is just insane!

Breakfast was followed by a hike on the ski mountain. During the winter Forsthofalm is a ski destination. During the summer or warmer months, once the snow has all melted, that same mountain becomes a sport for hiking, and the local farmer brings his cows there to feed on the grass. Once we arrived midway, we stopped and done some outdoor yoga. I never knew there were lots of different yoga methods. But I now know there are loads of different exercises and each create a different mood.

Another class we attended that day was jumping fitness. Although it looks super fun it is extremely difficult! I only managed to make half of the class as my hay fever was killing me, but I was exhausted after. We then headed to the outdoor fire area for a bbq that we got to cook ourselves. There was a large fire pit which they cleaned and added oil in which we could then lay our food on and cook. This is available for all guests to do, you just need to book it in advance. After the bbq, we made vegan pancakes with vegan toppings which were absolutely delicious.

Another thing that the hotel offers is a wonderful spa. The spa consists of massages and treatments two saunas, an outdoor heated swimming pool and a chill out room that has the most incredible views. When selecting your massage there are a range of different things to choose from and each choice results into the type of massage you will then receive. Usually spas are quite dark and lights are turned off, however at Forsthofalm, there are large glass windows in the spa rooms overlooking the beautiful scenery which made for a wonderful change.

That evening we again sat down for a delicious four course meal followed by cocktail making at the bar. The hotel bar is very rustic and cosy, I would love to visit in the winter during the skii months to see the large fire place set alight and drinking and Irish hot chocolate.

Each morning we started our day with a relaxing yoga session to help us wake up and stretch our muscles in preparation for the day. We then headed to Leoganger Klettersteig for a hike up 2160m. I thought this would be my least favourite activity, however it turned out to be my favourite. Hiking up a mountain, in between the clouds, listening to the fresh streams and looking at the vast greeeny and glacier just makes you feel super overwhelmed. I never thought I'd be doing something like this and I am so grateful for such an amazing opportunity. We filled our water bottles with the fresh stream and water never tasted sweeter to me.

We arrived back to the hotel to an outdoor picnic set up for us. So many delicious sandwiches, cheeses and sweet treats you can imagine. This was followed by our last class, bootcamp. By this point, we were all shattered and a few of our group decided not to join in. I myself was planning on skipping, but my legs took me to the class before I ever realised where I was going. Does this mean I was actually enjoying physical activity? Who knows, but I left feeling so energised and ready to take on the world.

I then headed back to my room for a wonderful bubble bath to relax my muscles and get ready for our last dinner.

The hotel itself is mainly built of timber wood. Each room has the wood on show and just makes you feel super calm. I usually struggle to sleep, I usually go to bed very late and end up laying in bed struggling to fall asleep. But since visiting this hotel my sleeping pattern has improved a lot more and it doesn't take me that long to fall asleep anymore.

Overall, the hotel is perfect during the winter for skiing, but during the warmer climate it has so much more to offer. From exercise, to hiking, to the relaxing spa, there is something for everyone. As someone who's not very outdoorsy, I highly recommend visiting Forsthofalm, even if it's just to look at the views because it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.

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TEL AVIV FASHION WEEK 2018

2018-07-16T13:10:00.003+01:00

Last month I was lucky enough to attend Tel Aviv fashion week. Firstly, I've only ever attended London fashion week. And this year, I was a little over it all. I was fed up of seeing the same things over and over again and was looking for something new and exciting. That's excatly what Tel Aviv Fashion Week was. A breath of fresh air.

One of my goals this year was to say yes to things that scare me. On this trip I managed to conquer many things that scare me. First and foremost. Travelling alone. I've flown alone many times, but I am usually met at the other end by my mum to have a family holiday. So travelling to Tel Aviv alone and not knowing anyone on the other end was extremely petrifying for me. But, it was great! I got to spend the time on the plane working, and not knowing anyone else attending made me step out of my comfort zone and meet so many amazing people that I am lucky to say I have built a genuine friendship with.

Now to the main reason of travelling to Tel Aviv was for their fashion week. Something that has been running for seven years now. I didn't know what to expect from the country let alone the fashion scene out there.

For three days Tel Aviv was taken over by some of the most inspiring fashion I have ever seen. Taking place in an old Train station that has now been renovated into a complex filled with cute cafes, restaurants and boutiques, it was a hot spot this season.

When I think back to the shows, there's one thing that I remember with a huge fondness in my heart. That word is diversity. From the minute I arrived in Tel Aviv I was greeted by a range of different publishers from all over the world, to the models on the catwalk. All a range of different races, shapes and sizes. A true inspiration for other fashion weeks around the world.

My entire experience in Tel Aviv was a whirlwind. Between shows we were taken to dinners and trips to some of the most luxurious hotels the Tel Aviv has to offer. Having seen the best of fashion from Tel Aviv, their designers each created a different ambiance during each of their shows. However, there was one thing each show had in common. It was the excitement to be there, the excitement to show their designs and to represent their country.

Since coming back there's so many reasons I want to travel back. Fashion, food and history being one of the few reasons.

Before heading out to Tel Aviv I ordered a bespoke handbag from SolaMia. On the SolaMia website you can customise three different bags into anything you desire. I decided to go for an all black shopper style bag that would be great for all my travelling. You can customise straps, colour, interior, material and so much more. As each of the bags are individually designed, there are no exact same bags out there which is exactly why I love my new SolaMia handbag.

I would like to thank the team at Tel Aviv for giving this opportunity to me. I can not wait to come back to Tel Aviv one day.

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Gillham Vineyard North Cyprus

2018-07-06T12:35:00.000+01:00

When it comes to travelling there’s so much to see in this world. But one place I find myself travelling back to year after year (sometimes twice a year) is North Cyprus. It’s my home away from home. My family were born there and a lot of them are still out there so there’s always something pulling me back to this small island I call home.

This June, I headed out to North Cyprus for a family engagement. While out there I had the opportunity to visit Gillham Vineyard in Ilgaz Kyrenia. The first of it’s kind in North Cyprus and only open for just over a month; the hotel stands out compared to the rest on the island.

Gillham Vineyard is in itself a vineyard that offers to bring a new lease of wine tasting to the island. With wine tours including tasting sessions the hotel looks at offering more than just another bottle of wine. They’re looking to bring more wine culture to the island and to educate those interested in wine further.

Alongside this over the next few months they are working to finish building the spa area that will offer a range of different wine treatments. Something I am intrigued about and will definitely be heading back to check out once it’s open.

The Hotel

Gillham Vineyard also hosts 60 people in their boutique hotel. The hotel is an adult’s only facility up in the mountains offering you the most peaceful of breaks you can imagine.

If you’re looking for an escape from everyday Gillham Vineyard is the perfect spot for you. You’re up in the mountains with a view of the Vineyard, the mountains and the sea.

Even if you’re not a huge drinker, there’s still a lot to do in Gillham Vineyard. There’s an outdoor pool with the most incredible view overlooking North Cyprus. There’s a chef restaurant that offers some of the most delicious local ingredients found in North Cyprus with a twist. This is fine dining at it’s finest in North Cyprus.

If you’re travelling to North Cyprus this year I recommend spending a few nights here for utter relaxation. If you’re not looking to stay here then make sure you take a wine tour and learn more about the wine they make and serve at Gillham Vineyard.

I’d never been wine tasting before and the staff at Gillham are so knowledgeable that they have shown me what to look for and how to truly taste wine for the best experience.

Have you ever been wine tasting before? Have you visited North Cyprus before?