Wednesday 14 December 2016

DressFashion* - Christmas and Party Dress Shopping.

Ah, the festive period - it's time to spend time with family, indulge a little too much, give gifts to the ones you love and, uh, stress about what you're going to wear? Don't worry, I've got you covered, thanks to a little help from DressFashion. DressFashion is a UK based online store who offer a wide range of prom dresses, special occasion dresses and wedding dresses, all of which come in a great variety of shapes, sizes and colours: long or short, sleeveless or full sleeves, backless or not... The list is endless. I've put together a list of some of my favourite dresses from their site to get you ready for any Christmas party...

Sunday 11 December 2016

But I Don't Want to Look Like Mrs. Claus.

It's official; the countdown is on and, in just fourteen days, I will be waking up much earlier than usual (mainly because I'm a massive child), throwing on a dress, probably something black, and, of course, a red lip and gold nail combo and I am definitely more than ready. Until then, I am going to make the most of Winter and wear as many wintry shades of nail polish as I can.


Thursday 8 December 2016

A Hangover, Baubles for Earrings and Why I'm Never Getting Out of Bed.

Remember back when I talked about how excited I was for Autumn, but how that I knew that the happiness wouldn't last because the days would get shorter and the weather more dreary? Yup, I've reached that stage. Someone please take me to the Maldives because I need, in no particular order; a tan, a bright lip, lots of bronzer and to not have to wear a coat. Until plane tickets are booked and accommodation sorted, I'll be making the most out of my top Winter essentials:

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Tyler Oakley & His Warby Parker Collection.

For those of you who perhaps live under a rock, Tyler Oakley is a YouTuber, internet personality, podcast-owning, author and presenter who has recently added something else to his repertoire: a glasses collection with Warby Parker. It started back in May 2013 with a simple tweet in which Tyler stated his love for brand. Flashforward three years to this video, and we have an incredible collection of both sunglasses and normal glasses. 

Saturday 3 December 2016

How to Avoid Looking Like a Christmas Bauble.

I seem to have a bit of an obsession with glitter. Whenever I see something with even the smallest amount of glitter, my magpie tendencies come to life and I am drawn to it. I say this, but I'm not quite the type to go out in a dress made entirely of sequins. No, I like to think I'm slightly more subtle than that. Instead, I like to incorporate small amounts into my outfits, using things like this...

Sunday 27 November 2016

Nail Care.

I wear a lot of nail varnish. In fact, there isn't a time when I don't have both my toe and my finger nails painted. When I don't have my nails painted, I feel the same way others feel when they aren't wearing their favourite piece of jewellery, like I'm missing something. Because of this, it's important that I take care of my nails, which is actually something I've only recently started doing...

Thursday 3 November 2016

My Perfume Collection.

I've always wanted to do a perfume collection post, I just never thought I had enough. That's probably down to the instagrams, tweets and blog posts from popular bloggers containing more perfumes than Duty Free. How do they even use them all?! When talking to a friend, she pointed out that I have more than the average person. I gathered up my perfumes, laid them out on the dining table and realised she was right. After all, there are some still in their plastic packaging. I've actually recently had a clear out and have been using up as many products as I can, so there are less than there were. Let's have a look through my current collection, shall we?...


Thursday 20 October 2016

What's On My Face and Nails - Autumn Edition.

It´s time to put away those dewy foundations, say goodbye to the lipglosses (I refuse to be the person that keeps using theirs and then complains every time their hair gets stuck in it thanks to that lovely Autumnal wind), reach for a more hydrating moisturiser and lip balm (#CrackedLips) and pack away the bronzer: Autumn has arrived. For someone who has spent the past year chasing Summer, I'm a little bit sad about this, but oh so happy to finally be digging out my trusty NARS Cruella lip pencil - SO DREAMY.


Thursday 13 October 2016

Skincare Staples & Suggestions.

"It's just a spot", she said, "you're a teenager, you'll get a few over the next few years but they'll disappear". Lies, Mother, LIES. This was some ten years ago, yet I still have a daily struggle with my skin. I don't plan on tells you all my skin story just yet (but just a heads up: don't take roaccutane). After ten years of diets, doctors visits and a few tears at how I wished and wished I could scratch off my skin, things are finally looking up. I'm no Phoebe Tonkin, the babe who only leaves her house in mascara or red lipstick, but I seem to have finally found products that, shock horror, actually work on me.

Sunday 9 October 2016

It's Time...

I won't lie, I've had my Autumn fashion and beauty wishlist written for a while now, since probably even before Summer. I'm a virgo. I like to write lists, okay? That, and I have a shopping addiction. Though half of my family live by the mantra of "it's not about wanting it, it's about needing it", I clearly didn't get the memo on it. If I want something, then I obviously need it... I don't think I'll be purposefully following any trends this season, but I do feel like I'll be stocking up on metallics, chokers, mid length skirts and, of course, even more shirts. I've even put together a few images of looks I'll be looking to recreate, because I am very prepared (...and original).

Tuesday 4 October 2016

Orange Nails and Pumpkins.

If you're not excited about layering, switching up your make-up and Halloween, then you are lying to yourself and everyone around you. Yes, by this time next week I'll probably be sick of the cold and the wind but, for now, I'm going to make the post of it and take as many photos of the leaves as they slowly change colour as I can. Something I've been enjoying during Autumn is wearing nail polishes that I might wear during other seasons, such as...

Tuesday 20 September 2016

It Just Wouldn't Be Right...

Ardales Lakes is one of my favourite places to visit but, no matter how hard I try, photos just don't do it justice. The water is the bluest water I've ever seen and there are so many different things to do: kayaking, paddleboarding, pedalos with slides, cliff jumping, etc. It's so much better than the beach, and not just for the amount of activities you can do, it's fresh water so you don't have to worry about salt water getting in your eyes (am I a wuss?) and there's also no sand! Seriously though, what's worse than sand? I've been determined to make the most of my time in Spain, which is why my first day back was spent at the lakes. After all, what's a family holiday without a road trip to the lakes and me getting told off for wearing a bikini that's too "revealing"? It just wouldn't be right...

Sunday 18 September 2016

Autumn Essentials & The Dream Combo.

Having spent the past year travelling and basically chasing Summer, I'm actually looking forward to some cooler weather. I don't think I could ever pick a favourite season but there is something special about Autumn: the first evening curled up in bed with a good movie, Halloween & Bonefire night, being able to wear clothes or make-up that you haven't worn in a while and, of course, seeingthe leaves change colour and watching them fall to the ground. It's the best. Of course, I probably won't be saying that in a few months time when it's so windy that I get dreadlocks and my hair sticks to my lipstick, but still... Let's focus on the positive and take a look at what I'll be digging out for Autumn.


Thursday 15 September 2016

One to Remember.

You can't fly halfway across the world, all the way to Sydney, and not visit what are quite possibly the most touristy destinations in the world: the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I wouldn't say they were my favourite places that we visited while in Sydney, but I do think that they are worth the visit, even if it's just to say you've done it. We opted not to do the bridge climb and chose instead to walk around the botanic gardens, mainly so that we could sit in Mrs Macquerie's chair (which is bloody hard to find and even now I'm certain we didn't actually find it, we were just sat on a random rock), from where we got a great view of the bridge and Opera House together. As it was Winter in Australia, the day started off pretty cold and damp, but the clouds soon burnt out and we were left in short-sleeved t-shirts, so decided to head to the Chinese Garden of Friendship. After all, Meg and I have been best friends for seventeen years, so I'd say we're qualified to go there... While we, like most, did admire the architecture and beauty of the gardens, we did also spend an hour pretending to be Mulan. Good old Disney... 

Tuesday 13 September 2016

You're Taking WHAT?!

It's official: I am all packed up and off to university. Yep, this time next week I will be moving into my halls of residance, ready to start my Forensic Science and Criminology course. Though I do have two weeks of Freshers to look forward to first... Admittedly I should now be entering my third year of university, but have been putting it off to cuddle koalas and find monkeys in tropical rainforests, and it was worth every second. I was going to defer my offer for yet another year, but chose not to for fear of giving my family a heart attack. I spent the last month back at my family home in Spain, packing up suitcase after suitcase, and was amazed at just how much stuff I had packed that wasn't clothes. I want my room to feel homelike, so made sure to pack some special pieces from my room...

Sunday 11 September 2016

Travel Tips From the Only Backpacker With Two Suitcases.

Please appreciate my new nickname that my Gran very lovingly gave to me. We all know that I've done a lot of travelling this past year, but I didn't exactly do it the traditional backpacker kind of way (two pairs of pants and only one pair of shoes? No. Just no.). It all worked out well though, people would take pity on me and just carry my suitcases before me because I clearly looked like a weakling. Even so, I like to think I've managed to pick up a few hints and tips that a few of you might find come in handy...

Tuesday 6 September 2016

Exploring Sydney & Meeting Ryan Gosling.

I could have included the Royal family, Rebel Wilson, Brad Pitt, Harold from Neighbours and many other celebrities in the title of this post, but the babe that is Ryan Gosling just holds a special place in my heart, and me including his name definitely wasn't clickbait... Taking a photo with a waxwork figure of someone at Madame Tussauds still counts as meeting them, right?? As well as visiting Madame Tussauds, we also visited other tourist attractions such as two different aquariums (which I liked), the zoo (which I hated and was awful) and, my personal favourite, the Sky Tower, where we were treated to a 4D cinema experience before visiting the tower itself, with 360º views of the city. We also visited Hyde Park (I swear everywhere in Australia is just named after places in England. #ORIGINALITY), the ANZAC Museum, which was incredibly moving, St Mary's cathedral, where we got to witness the joy and randomness that is Christmas in July, Cadmans Cottage (the oldest building in Sydney), and quite a few museums, my favourite thing to do when visiting a new place. My favourite was the Powerhouse museum, mainly because I'm a geek who loves anything and everything to do with Science. Who else would take a photo with a giant periodic table just because she knows it off by heart (I'm still proud of that)? They also had a fashion exhibition on at the time, meaning they were combining my two favourite things: fashion and science. It was so fascinating to find out all about Isabella Blow's work and the years she spent mentoring Alexander McQueen, even if it did come to a tragic end. 

Sunday 4 September 2016

Current Hopes & Goals + Talking About Anxiety.

It's hard to believe that there are just four months of 2016 left. I know we say this year after year, but I really do feel like time has flown. Just two months ago, I was beginning my last week in Australia, but even that trip seems like a dream, and I was there for six months! I like to think that I've achieved a lot this year: I moved out, went travelling, made new friends, reconnected with old ones, worked hard, blogged three times a week without fail... I'd say that's pretty good going, right? Even so, there are still a few other hopes and goals I'd like to achieve before the year is out...

Thursday 1 September 2016

September Wishlist: It's My Birthday!

I feel like 20, which I will be I turning in just 16 days, is an acceptable age to have a month long birthday. I don't quite know how I'll top that when I turn 21, but I'll be sure to give it a go. I absolutely adore celebrating and planning other people's birthdays, I'm just not that much of a fan of my own, mainly because the thought of getting older terrifies me. I know most people are scared about turning 30, but 20 seems just as scary. Just the thought of going from 19 to 20 seems like such a big step. I just don't want to get rid of that one, I want to hold onto it forever... Though I would still like some presents. ðŸ˜Ž

Tuesday 30 August 2016

August Favourites Feat. Fruity Fragrances.

Can we appreciate the alliteration in the title of this post please because I honestly think it's something that my Year 7, and potentially Year 12, teacher would have been proud of. Can we also please talk about how it's the end of August and there are only four months left until 2017? I haven't had to write the date this year so I'm still not quite in a 2016 frame of mind, but seriously... 2017?! I don't even want to talk about it, so let's instead talk about what I've been loving this month...

Sunday 28 August 2016

I Got (Another) Tattoo & The Highest Cablecar in the World...

Hugging kangaroos and koalas, taking the scenic Karanda railway up through the mountains to see the whole of Cairns and the amazing waterfall up in the mountains and then the highest cable car in the world over Cairns rainforest... I couldn't think of a better way to spend my penultimate day in Cairns. Actually, I can, and Meg and I definitely topped it. As well as doing all of that, we piled on the make-up to hide our hideous sunburn and decided it was time for a night out, especially as it was the 4th of July (because, you know, Australia definitely celebrate that). Now I'm known for being quite spontaneous, but even I didn't expect to stop off and get a tattoo on my way to the bar. I didn't even know what I wanted until I was sat in the chair, and that's when I realised that I wanted something to commemorate my travels, so I got a plane on my wrist. This is my second tattoo and, just like with the first, my family didn't speak to me for about a week. Who wants to tell them that I have two more booked in for September? At the bar, we were treated to goldfish racing (Nemo won), wet t-shirt competitions, a group of Japenese people that wouldn't leave us alone (story time: I was in the middle of making out with someone and he kept tapping me on the shoulder), plenty of fit Australians and half price vodkas; eight vodkas for $32, plus drinks bought by other people and a few shots, yet I still wondered why I had a sore head the next day. Good times. 

Saturday 27 August 2016

Cover up, Fix and Prevent: Dealing with Face Imperfections - Guest Post.

Whether it’s the enlarged pores, blackheads, or dull looking skin, imperfections make you avoid any mirrors in your surroundings. Have no fear, because there’s a solution for everything. Read on to find out how you can make face flaws barely visible, but also how to fix them and ensure they don’t reappear.

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Finding Nemo & Dory at The Great Barrier Reef!

I've definitely ticked off a fair few things off my bucket list this year, including visting the Great Barrier Reef. After years of watching David Attenborough documentaries (don't tell me you've never done the same), I was determined to see it for myself. We booked ourselves onto a day trip to Green Island and it was on the journey there that we both discovered that we don't get seasick, unlike half the population of Asia, who also seemed to be on the boat, who spent the hour long trip throwing up over the side of the boat and sucking on ice. Nice. We were booked to go far out into the reef to go scuba-diving and snorkelling, but a storm unfortunately put an end to that, so we had to stay a little bit more inland. Because we stayed reasonably close to shore, where everyone is allowed to swim and explore, we really noticed just how much had changed. It wasn't the vibrant and colourful place it once was, but brown and, well, a bit dead... Don't get me wrong, it was still an amazing experience, I just wish we could have gone further out! There was still plenty of sealife to see though, and we even managed to see Nemo and Dory. It started off as a pretty cloudy day, and Meg and I made the rookie error of not wearing sunblock. Massive mistake. We both fell asleep and woke up to full sun. We have never been so sunburnt in our entire lives. I actually wanted to cry. The fit lifeguard made everything a little better though...

Thursday 18 August 2016

Surrounded by Wild Dolphins...

My last day in Perth was definitely one to remember, mainly because I was joined by my best friend, who had flown all the way from the UK to join me for the final two weeks of my adventure. I had been in Western Australia for six months and even I hadn't seen anything, so my Aunt and I hatched a plan to show Meg the best of what Perth, where I was based, had to offer. We drove quite far up the coast, stopping off at various beaches (the beaches in Perth are some of the best I've ever seen), stopped off for some lunch with a view, went into the city, watched Perth's famous orange sunsets and spent the final few hours before our flight to Cairns kayaking. One of the main things I'd wanted to do in Perth was see wild dolphins. I'd seen them briefly, but not as close as I'd have liked. Clearly Meg is my lucky charm as, whilst kayaking, a whole pod of dolphins surrounded us and started jumping in and out of the water! Both of us were so mesmerised and shocked that we didn't even reach for our phones or cameras, we just lived in the moment... Definitely an amazing way to end a great trip!

Tuesday 16 August 2016

A London Adventure.

Despite having visited some amazing places this past year, there is something about London that I just love and can never get out of my head. I think it'll always be the city that I want to come back to. One of my favourite things to do is to just go out with no objective in mind and explore, which is exactly what Diana and I did recently. Brunch was of course on the agenda. We ended up going to Farm Girl in Notting Hill, where we both enjoyed avocado and strawberry on toast with a poached egg. It was amazing - I love brunch. Next we decided to do something that, surprisingly, neither of us had done, and that was hire bikes and cycle around the city. We ended up cycling all through Hyde Park, where we visited the new entrance to a temporary pavilion (a must for architect lovers), and Kensington Gardens, mainly because Diana is slightly in love with Prince Harry and I consider myself to be a Queen. We also took a fair few outfit photos, because who wouldn't take advantage of the coloured houses in Notting Hill and amazing street art in Carnaby Street? Unlike me, Diana has her posing game down. We ended our day out in the only way we know how; prosecco and vodka. 

Sunday 14 August 2016

Top 5 Nail Polishes for Summer.

Remember when, a few days ago, I mentioned that I was slightly obsessed with stationary? Yeah, well, I happen to feel the same way about nail polish. I own a massive box of it and, when I headed off on my travels, it was suggested to me (I was vehemently told) to only take four with me, and that decision was hard. Now that I'm back at home, I am more than making the most of all of my nail polishes. I think it's safe to say that my nails will be needing plenty of TLC in a few weeks time. Here are the top five that I've been wearing and will be wearing most over the next few Summer months...

Friday 12 August 2016

Cheap Dresses for Summer*

As August is drawing to an end (I know we're only half way through but I'm slightly prone to overexaggerating), I am determined to make the most of what is left of Summer and all my Summer clothing, with some help from the lovely people over at FashionMia, who offer a great range of cheap dresses, leaving me with more money to spend on those spontaneous Summer adventures that I love so much, all while looking slightly more stylish and put together than usual, By that, I mean I've actually gotten out of my pyjamas and potentially even brushed my hair, as you do...

Thursday 11 August 2016

It's Coming to an End... - My Time in Perth.

This post was due to go up almost a month ago now but due to some... issues, shall we say, it got a bit delayed. When living on planes and island hopping, sometimes things just don't go to plan, and I'm okay with that! But yes, after a five month adventure, my time in Perth, and Western Australia in general, came to an end. I met some amazing people, made some amazing memories and, all in all, had a great time. I got to meet and truly bond with family that I didn't even know existed, and we all ended up having a bit of a cry at the airport (I blame the fact that I'd accidentally took too much cough syrup...). Because it's now been over a month since I left Perth, I thought it would be nice to look back on some photos from my time there. I'm sure this will be a blog post that I come back to in  a few years time, or probably even in just a few months!

Tuesday 9 August 2016

I Finally Did It...

I'm one of those people who hates jumping on the bandwagon. I deleted Snapchat a few days before all the filters were released and have never looked back. Yes, I'm probably the only person in the modern world who hasn't used the dog filter or vomited rainbows and no, I haven't downloaded the Pokemon app, something my brother is most upset about. But, there always comes a time, once the initial hype has died down  bit when my FOMO gets the better of me and I need to see what everyone was raving about which is why, on my recent(ish) trip to Singapore, I finally purchased MAC Velvet Teddy, and I'm so glad I did...

Sunday 7 August 2016

They Know Me So Well!

Okay, I'll admit it, I am an addict. A stationary addict. Pens, pencils, magazine holders... you name it, I want it. I think my biggest vice would have to be notebooks. My obsession with stationary didn't exactly go unmissed when I was in Australia, with my aunt and friend, both of whom I lived with on separate occasions, noticing pretty much straight away. This was probably due to the fact that I dragged them both into Kikki K, AKA my favourite store in the world, at every given opportunity. I'm actually pretty glad they noticed because, if they hadn't, I wouldn't have received some of the amazing leaving gifts from them that I did. These gifts just happened to include a laptop (in a Kikki K bag) and I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried. Here's what I received...


Thursday 4 August 2016

Let's Have a Chat...

It's weird to think that, this time three weeks ago, I was on a fifteen hour and then a nine hour flight back from Australia. It's hard to believe that my six month Australian adventure has come to an end. I spent my last day in the most touristy way possible; on Bondi Beach in my Aussie hoodie and in a very hungover state. I left with new tattoos, new friends and plenty of new (some slightly fuzzy) memories and exciting stories to tell. Unfortunately for me, I came down incredibly ill on the plane. My best friend arrived at Heathrow airport and came running towards me, ready for a happy reunion, only for me to sink to the floor in hysterics, demanding to be taken to A&E.

Tuesday 2 August 2016

August Wishlist: Interior Design.

I can't believe that my gap year, a year of adventures, is coming to an end. If everything goes to plan, I have another month of travelling and basically doing no work or studying, before attending university. Admittedly I'll be attending three years later than planned, but that's not the point (though someone should probably tell my family that). I'm excited though slightly nervous about this new chapter in my life and excited to meet new people, but I'm mainly excited to decorate my university room. I seriously love interior design. After all, this is the person who spent an hour sat in a library reading a book about lightbulbs. I'm in Spain at the moment and, while most people read a book or sleep whilst lying on a sunlounger, I have a browse on various websites such as IKEA, NotOnTheHighStreet, H&M Home, NEXT, etc. Will people judge me for buying placemats, house plants and salt & pepper shakers? I think I need to remember that I am attending university, not moving to South Kensington. I plan on keeping everything pretty basic, and then adding plenty of colourful details. Either way, here are a few things I have my eye on to make my room a home...

Sunday 31 July 2016

July Favourites.

(...) Can time please slow down?! I don't understand how it's going so fast. I've loved my time in Australia so much that I should have just gotten married just so that I could stay there for longer than my VISA allowed and so that I don't have to pay international university fees. One thing I've been loved about my time there is that I've been wearing less make-up and, when I do wear make-up, I've only been wearing my holy-grail products. So, here's some of the beauty (and also non-beauty) products that I've been loving recently...

Thursday 28 July 2016

The Dior Sunglasses Dupe.

You know those Dior sunglasses that nearly everyone has or wants to have? Yeah, well, I want them. I could go out and buy a pair but, now that I'm technically an adult (scary) and growing up (even scarier), I'm a little more money conscious. Plus, I wouldn't have as much money to spend on travelling, which really is my one true love. Luckily for me, I've found the perfect dupe and they're even available in multiple colours! I'll take ever pair colour available please, and a few spares for good luck. You can find them here, and they're only $1.95!

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Exploring a Tropical Island - Singapore #6.

If you've read my Meet KC post, then you'll know that, while in Singapore, I spent a day at Pulua Ubin, a tropical island located between Singapore and Malaysia. Your data provider actually switches  from a company from each place, so just buy going to Pulua Ubin you can say you were in two countries in one day! One thing's for sure though, I don't think I've ever breathed air as clean or felt so free as when cycling and hiking around this tiny island, exploring everything it has to offer. From palm trees to lily-pads, wild boar to monkeys, lakes to streams... Everything was just incredible. Definitely one for the bucket list, and a place I hope to return to one day. Though if I do return, I'll have to remember to take the mosquito repellent with me - a month late and I've still got bites!

Sunday 24 July 2016

I Put WHAT On My Lashes?!

Okay, this is your official warning, I'm about to big myself up, toot my own horn, etc, etc. - I'm one of those annoying people that has naturally good eyelashes. Like, people comment on them and ask what mascara I'm wearing, only to look seriously pissed off when I tell them I'm not wearing them and they're my natural lashes, so you can probably imagine how people look when they see me a few days later when wearing make-up. If people didn't look at me with such disgruntled faces, I'd probably share how my enhance my lashes with two easy beauty products, something they could so easily achieve too. Instead, I'll share them with you...

Thursday 21 July 2016

Crying Over a Perfume & Plenty of Empties.

While on my gap year, I've been determined not to spend so much money on anything beauty and fashion related and, after five months of travelling, I'd say I've done pretty well. There have certainly been a lot less transactions on my bank statements anyway, even if the same amount of money is coming out each money (Can Richard Branson please adopt me because I can't keep spending so much on air travel). Because I've been on an economy drive, I've been rediscovering plenty of beauty and skincare products that I had floating around in various drawers and make-up bags, so many in fact, that I'm probably going to end up having to repurchase everything at once (swings and roundabouts...), but that can wait until I'm back on British soil, just so that I don't have to pay so much for extra baggage... Now that my suitcase is probably about seven kilos lighter, here are some of my empties...

Tuesday 19 July 2016

Hiking in a Tropical Rainstorm - Singapore #5.

It's official, after my trip to Singapore, I could survive on a deserted island with crazy rain and smoke monsters like the one in LOST. I've done it all. I've had my hair bobble break and had to tie my hair up with a piece of string I found in a tree, and I was even running on a treetop walkway through the jungle when it suddenly started to rain, heavier than I've ever seen, so much that I could barely see and had to shelter in a tree (100% had to refrain from shouting "JAAAAAACK". Kate Auston, eat your heart out)...  Before I let my imagination run wild and imagined just how I was going to kill a polar bear, my aunt and I visited the Botanic Gardens & Orchid Garden of Singapore. I don't know a lot about flowers and plants, but I can tell you that it was beautiful. We actually chose to go on what was the hottest and most humid day of the week, so just seeing the words 'cool house' was enough to help me ignore the sweat dripping down my neck and send me to a happier place. One too many selfies were taken but, with such a perfect backdrop it was hard not to...

Sunday 17 July 2016

Tips for Nervous Flyers.

I'm actually writing this while sat some 30,000ft in the air, on my way from Perth to Singapore. For someone that does a heck of a lot of travelling, you'd think I'd find flying a lot easier than I do. It never used to bother me, it would play on my mind a bit before the flight, but I'd soon be over it and be asleep before the plane even took off, only to wake up to someone prodding me, telling me we'd landed and that it was time to pack up my stuff. Now that I'm older and my anxiety has gotten worse, I find flying just that little bit more scary. I think it's the build up of it and generally over-thinking things. It's not the turbulence that bothers me, or being with strangers (I'm that annoying person that'll spend the whole flight talking to you, if you let me), I think it's the thought of being trapped, being in an accident and just the fact that planes are weird. Metal cylinders that somehow stay up in the air? Okay. Totally normal. But with the amount of flights I've been on in my life, especially in the last year (flying from London to Australia takes a bloody long time), I've slowly been finding ways to cope with it, so thought I'd share some of them with you...

Thursday 14 July 2016

Liberty London Lovin'...

If there's one thing I love to do in London, it's window shopping. With department stores like Liberty, Selfridges & Harrods on every corner, it's hard not to. No matter where I am or who I'm with, I make it my mission to head into one of these stores to lust after one of the many items that I have my eyes on. During a visit to Liberty on one of my last days in London, the particular item I wanted to try on was a pair of the Valentino Rockstud pumps that everyone other than me seems to have. Unfortuntely for me, a UK size 7 & 8 (my shoe size varies) seem to be the most popular sizes, meaning every colour I wanted to try on was unavailable. The only pair left in my size were white, though thankfully they weren't the kitten heel version. Despite being very high and having such a thin heel, they were pretty easy to walk in, and even with a pointed toe, they were pretty comfy, though I don't know just how long that would last for. Though I wouldn't buy these in white, I'll take one in every other colour, please.


Tuesday 12 July 2016

The Highest Roof-Top Bar in the World - Singapore #4.

While in Singapore, I got the chance to see two sides to the country. Half of my time was spent in poorer, rural areas, while the rest was spent in areas that make it easy to understand just why there are so many millionaires in Singapore. As people have mentioned, it's safe to say I had a gentle introduction to Asia. While I enjoyed visiting the poorer areas, with some of the most welcoming and open people I've ever met, I'm glad I got to explore the other side to it too. One of these places was the designer shop filled shopping centre located near the Marina Bay Sands hotel (an amazing experience in itself). From here, you see the entire skyline of the city, including various different old-fashioned hotels, the Lotus building and Louis Vuitton Island. Being a girl who loves her labels, I obviously had to visit LV Island, which is basically just a giant LV store located in the middle of the river, with a boardwalk leading to it. It's made of glass so the first thing you notice is the reflection of the water, lily-pads and lights reflected on it. We wanted to see the area both at night and during the day, so went back twice. It's safe to say we did plenty of walking, so much that I actually had to just have a lie down on the floor outside the shopping centre (lying and sitting down on the floor is actually illegal in Singapore, so I feel like I should point out that I was just watching a light show!)

Sunday 10 July 2016

The Best Day.

You know when you visit a new place and just know that you will visit again and again, and never tire of it? That's how I felt about Seville. I grew up in Malaga and thought that Seville would be similar, and it definitely was, but it also might have been a bit better. I love going to the beach, but historic towns and cities are definitely more my thing. Seville is home to some of the most beautiful architecure and historic sites I have ever seen. You immediately know that if they film Game of Thrones there, then it's going to be pretty special. The best part? I got to experience it with some of my favourite people. If you're ever there, you need to visit Alcazar. Word of advice: don't hold hands with your favourite person and walk/skip/run down the alter at the cathedral with your favourite person, pretending you're getting married, because they will threaten to kick you out and also bar you from one of the oldest cathedrals in the world. Probably wasn't my finest moment. The best part was seeing my History & Music teacher, both of whom came with us, getting extremely angry as they defended us and the security guard slowly going redder and redder, not realising that there was Chinese tourist behind him doing ballet with an extremely long selfie stick in her hands. SERIOUSLY?!

Tuesday 5 July 2016

The Best Place You'll Ever Visit - Singapore #3.

I am a massive fan of museums: Science, History, Fashion, Art... You name it, I'm there. I especially love visiting them in new countries. So, when researching the best things to do in Singapore, one of the things that most caught my eye was the Art Science museum, in particular the Big Bang Data exhibition, and another entitled Future World. I think it's safe to say that I wasn't disappointed. The first was all about the concept of The Cloud, the buildings where all of our data, internet and every detail that we consider private is stored, the theories and devastating effect this could have on us, and just how people are using this power. It was actually incredibly moving and really made you think about what you share on the Internet. A few highlights were someone's entire Facebook history (messages, statuses, every time he signed in, etc.), so easily accessible, and a room filled with every single photo uploaded to Flickr in 24 hours. Next up was Future World, and this is the one that I had been most excited for.

Sunday 3 July 2016

July Wishlist - MAC Lipsticks.

Can someone please tell me how it's July because I seriously do not understand. I know everyone has been saying this, and people say it year after year but this year has seriously flown by. July for me will be spent on the east coast of Australia and I will be spending a lot of time on planes (nothing new there...), flying up and down the country, so I'll be spending a lot of time in airports and, of course, duty free. One stand that I always have to stop and have a browse at is the MAC stand, mainly for the lipsticks. I'll often end up having multiple swatches on both hands and having to repeatedly wash my hands before getting on the plane in order to get them off. Here are a few that I'm hoping to pick up while at various duty frees...

Friday 1 July 2016

A Letter to Heather and Tim.

Before arriving in Australia, I'd only met Heather and Tim once. It was the first time Heather and my Mam, who are cousins, had seen each other in 30 years but, unfortunately, we only got to spend a few hours together. During that visit, we talked briefly about how much I'd love to visit Australia, but it wasn't until two years later that I finally made the jump and booked tickets to Perth, where they have spent the past twenty years. Fast forward four months and I'm still here. Anyone else would probably have gotten sick off my constant singing (only Heather would join in when I told her that I had the Pink Panther theme tune stuck in my head) or how I talk about my eyebrows more than I talk about my own family, but not them. They have been my adventure buddies and taken me up, down & all around Western Australia and even on a trip to Singapore. You can tell just how many adventures we've been on just by looking on Heather's Facebook page, which is filled with photos of our escapades (and my selfies). 

Thursday 30 June 2016

The Nicest Person Ever - Meet KC.

Meet KC. He is a 65 year old man, originally from Malaysia, who now lives in Singapore. We met through a mutual friend, and he immediately offered to take my aunt and I to the tropical island of Pulua Ubin, situated between Malaysia and Singapore. He used to volunteer at the island, collecting samples and showing people around, so knows it pretty well. We arrived by boat and spent the day cycling & hiking around the island, sheltering from the tropic and torrential rain and just having fun. He even brought a picnic for us. The world needs more people like KC and, if I turn out to be half the person he is, I think I'l be pretty happy.


Tuesday 28 June 2016

I Visited HOW Many Countries in a Day?! - Singapore #2.

Okay, okay, that title was definitely massive clickbait, but why bother visiting India, China and the Middle East when you can visit Singapore and go to Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street? Admittedly India and China are two places that I'd love to visit, but this will definitely do for now. The three are full of mosques, temples and streets upon streets of food and market stalls - right up my ally. My favourite of the three was probably Chinatown as it combined the modern with the old. You can be in the most beautiful ancient temple, only to look up and see the most amazing modern buildings that Singapore is known for. While in Chinatown, I was also treated to the local delicacy of Durian fruit, something described as having the taste of "strawberry toilet cleaner". Delicious. Safe to say I wasn't the biggest fan, but definitely worth the experience. Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street are so colourful & vibrant and extremely busy, but filled with incredibly friendly people. Definitely worth the visit!

Sunday 26 June 2016

What I Wore in Singapore.

I was originally planning on doing a lookbook in Singapore but, when it came down to it, I decided I couldn't be bothered and that I just wanted to enjoy my holiday. And if you end up taking over a thousand photos like we did, chances are, what you're wearing will be seen anyway. Mosquito bites, humidity that makes you feel like you're in a shower and my hair bobble snapping as soon as I left the house and then having to tie my hair up with a piece of string were also contributing factors, but at least I know I'd be able to survive in a LOST stranded on a desert island type scenario. I took four pairs of shoes with me, but after a 15 hour day in Converse and another in sandals, I knew heels would be a no go and that the rest of my trip would be spent in my Nike 'feels like you're walking on air' Free Runs 5.0, whether they went with my outfit or not. So, here's a few outfits what I wore in Singapore...

Saturday 25 June 2016

The Better Version of 27 Dresses.*

You know those Katherine Heigl rom-coms that everyone denies having seen when we've actually watched far more than we should have? Yeah, well, when I refer to 27 Dresses, I'll no longer be talking about that film. Instead, I'll be talking about 27Dress, an online fashion store that ships to over 232 countries (I don't think I can even name that many countries) and doesn't just sell (27)Dresses - they offer a great range of dresses, t-shirts and accessories, and all for great prices too. The site is easy to navigate (I would know, I've spent a few hours having a good browse...) and most of the dresses can be seen on real people, making it so much easier when it comes to picking your size. Oh, and if you have any questions, you can just ask in the 24 hour chatline they have on their page! One of the pages I'm currently loving on their site is their Summer Clothing page. I'm flying back to Spain soon, so am currently on the lookout for some new summer wear, especially dresses, which I love to just throw on in the Summer. Whether you're at the beach, pool or out with friends, Summer is definitely the time to wear a dress. Here are some of my favourites that 27Dress.com.com has to offer...