Flashing a Lifeguard in a Triangl Bikini*

I am a big fan of the swimwear brand, TRIANGL*. I don't think I know a girl who isn't, so my friends were most upset/jealous when I managed to get my hands on one. When it came to ordering one, I honestly didn't know which to choose - there is just so much choice; different shapes, colours and styles. I eventually settled for the Ruby - Paris Playground, a black bandeau top with zip detailing and hot pink bikini bottoms. The bikini itself is made from Neoprene, making it very comfortable, but you do have to be wary with sun cream as it can stain easily. Despite how pretty and comfortable it is, I would say to get yourself properly measured when ordering. Though my bottoms fitted perfectly, I had to exchange my top and, even now, it's a bit too small. I just have to make sure I'm sat still when wearing it and not kayaking or paddleboarding (been there, done that, flashed the lifeguards) I'd suggest perhaps going up a size or two when ordering the top, especially if, like me, you have a large chest, and maybe avoid the bandeau tops. I've been wearing this a lot over the Summer, and I'm so happy it hasn't faded in the sun. I've also been mix and matching the bottoms with other bikini tops that I own. The floral one pictured below is from H&M.

A Very Hungover Day at Bondi Beach.

A throwback... I'd like to say mine and Meg's day out to Bondi Beach went without a hitch. The plan was to leave early, get two buses down, do the Bondi to Coogee walk, visit the baths and to go paddleboarding but I think it's safe to say things didn't exactly go to plan. We were hungover. Very hungover. The two buses were (understandably and sensibly) substituted for an Uber, meaning our trip took 15 minutes instead of an hour and, instead of dropping us off at the beach front, we were dropped off in front of McDonalds. A strawberry milkshake, fries and one of the best Burgers I've ever had in my life (no, seriously. Mcdonalds in Australia is amazing) consisting of a beef burger, different types of cheese, guacamole, tomatoes, bacon, caramalised onions, mushrooms and lettuce (I am actually drooling) later, we were ready to hit the beach... And do absolutely nothing. We just lay there in our hoodies, taking in a bit of vitamin D and feeling a bit sorry for ourselves, but we were still fit and able enough to truly appreciate the views, reflect on how lucky we are and to dip our toes in the sea. 

I Was An Extra in Game Of Thrones?

Ronda; a historic town situated in the south of Málaga and one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. It's also where they film part of Game of Thrones. If I were to visit now, I know that I'd be taking photos of the famous bridges, mountains and dainty streets that it is known for. When I last visited, some four years ago, my friend, Meg, and I spend the day antagonizing Jed and Julia, photobombing and pretending to be bulls... as you do. I'd say this is one of my favourite holidays and best days ever.

I Want To Get Away.

It's wet and cold in England and I am ready for some sunshine. I'd put up with it all - the not buying any clothes so I could save for a ticket, an annoying kid behind me kicking my chair, the inflatable pillows and air-conditioning that's set to freezing and the awful plane food - if it meant being able to jet off another adventure, preferably somewhere tropical with sandy beaches, palm trees and crystal clear water. I feel a warm winter holiday coming on... Until I (hopefully) get around to going on one, I'm going to spend my time on Tumblr and Pinterest, searching for all things Summer and the perfect holiday destination for some sun in Winter...

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...

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...

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...

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. 

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...

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...

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.

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!

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!

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...

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...

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...

A Round of Shots & Summer Essentials.

When I first arrived in Australia way back in February, Summer had definitely arrived. 46 degrees is considered as summer, right? I arrived in tracksuit bottoms, a thick jumper, a hoodie, fluffy socks and my leather jacket (I had just left London, where the weather was anything but summery). Safe to say, those items of clothing soon came off. Flashforward five months and a few of them are only just starting to come out of my wardrobe, which is why it's now time that I plan my route back to the U.K., where I'll finally be attending university, and to Spain, where my family home is, meaning my Summer clothing is going to have to come straight back out. Not only that, but it'll be time to have a rotate my make-up and skincare around and dig out some of the old favourite Summer essentials, some of which I thought I'd share with you...

Botanical Blooms* and Planning the Perfect Picnic!

The transition from Winter to Spring and then again from Spring to Summer are my favourite times of year, especially in England. There's the strong scent of wisteria, the sound of ice-cream vans (you've got to love a 99 with a flake!), florals for Spring (#groundbreaking) and people are just generally happier. One of my favourite things upon the arrival of warmer weather is to have a picnic. I mean, who doesn't love a good picnic?! Whether it's at the park or in the comfort of your own home, there are plenty of ways to make picnics even more exciting than they already are. Here's how I would plan the perfect picnic, featuring a rather dreamy pair of D&G heels...

April Wishlist: Sunglasses.

It's very rare for me to be seen not wearing sunglasses. Come rain or shine, even when I'm not wearing some, I'll have a pair or two in my bag. My most worn sunglasses are probably a pair of Ray-Ban aviators and now I'm looking to add to my collection. Considering just how often I wear sunglasses, I don't actually own that many. They're just so expensive! Despite that, I've put together a list of some of my current favourites, both high-end and highstreet.

An Australian Sunset.

I think my overall favourite thing about Australia (other than the weather) is the sunset and the afterglow that they leave behind. Not a day goes by where I don't sit outside and appreciate them. The actual sunsets themselves only last about five minutes, but the afterglow just gets prettier and prettier over the course of about an hour. One of my favourite places to watch them is at the beach in Fremantle, where you only have to blink and the sun will have sunk even more.