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The Bright Lights of Soho (and How to Shine) | Style

Lights of SohoBiker Jacket: Zara| Dress: Zara | Bag: Knomo London* | Boots: ASOS

We all want to shine. Whether it’s within our friendship groups, our career, or when walking down the street (bad examples are bad). But how can we stand out when everyone else is trying to do the same? I thought this recently whilst lost in the bright lights of Soho, during London Fashion Week. At this time of year London is awash with people wanting to be snapped in their latest garments. Everyone is hoping to shine a little brighter than usual, but it’s so easy to get lost in the crowd. At least that’s how it can feel for a lot of people.

The Bright Lights of Soho

London can be a confusing place. At the worst of times it feels like you’re just one small cog in a big machine. But at the best of times it can feel like the city was made for you, and only you. As though you are your own Holly Golightly, and if you just walk around that next corner you’ll find the beginning to your story.

Sure we can’t all be Audrey Hepburn (if only), but we don’t need to be. I happen to think that we all shine in our own way. Whether that’s because you feel damn confident in your new Zara dress, and you won’t have anyone tell you otherwise. Or maybe it’s because you returned someone’s wallet, and brought a little hope back to their day. Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean we should all walk around like special snowflakes. No one likes a special snowflake. But it does mean that we should delight in what makes us different, channel it, and work it.

Check out my previous style posts here.
Photos of me are by Van Anh Le Thi

Lights of Soho Lights of SohoLights of Soho

 

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A Self Help Guide for Taking Better Care of You

self help guideA Self Help Guide for Taking Better Care of You

Things are changing. We’re only two months into 2017, and I’ve already come across a pretty big road block. And at a time when there’s lots for me to think about, I’m being extra mindful of my mental and physical health. This means thinking about myself for once – something most of us neglect – and it isn’t easy. For me that might mean shutting myself away for a few hours to watch my favourite Let’s Plays on YouTube, or spending an afternoon in my favourite cafe with friends. Truth be told there are many ways to take better care of yourself, and that’s why I wanted to write up a mini self help guide for those who might also be in need.

A Self Help Guide

Now I’m not a doctor, and of course I’m not about to start sprouting silly advice left right and centre. Instead I’m going to offer up a few tips and tricks that I’ve tried and tested myself. My aim here is to help people take some time out of their busy schedule and take a moment to relax. This isn’t anything life changing. However if done often, it really can make a difference. Life can be stressful, and sometimes being able to take the time to look after YOU can really help.

Relax Yourself

  • Treat yourself to some good food
  • Take some time out with a friend to talk about how you’re doing
  • Read a book and transport yourself into another world
  • Have a hot drink (they’re scientifically proven to reduce stress)
  • Get outside and go for a walk
  • Meditate (if you can/enjoy it)
  • Exercise
  • Take a day off

Have some ‘Me Time’

  • Have some ‘me time’
    • Spend some time by yourself, doing what you love
  • Sit down and watch a silly movie
    • Laughing is good for the soul, and your body
  • Listen to your favourite music
  • On that note, listen to some natural sounds
  • Allow yourself a guilty pleasure every now and again
    • For me it’s a square (or two) of chocolate in the evening

Please note that you don’t have to do all of these at once (or at all if you don’t fancy it). Just doing one or two can often help bring your stress levels down. Remember, what de-stresses one person may not work for another. It’s all about finding what fits into your lifestyle, and makes you happy. Because at the end of the day, what’s most important is your health and happiness.

Check out more of my self help articles.

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What’s in My Make-up Bag | 2017 Beauty Favourites

My Make-up Bag

What’s in A Make-up Bag | 2017 Beauty Favourites

I really do love giving a shout-out to my favourite brands. However I’ve fallen behind a little bit from doing it on my blog (I mainly save that for my Instagram & Twitter), especially with beauty products. Now I don’t wear make-up most days, mainly because I don’t feel the need to. But if I’m heading out for an occasion, I do enjoy playing around with it. For me make-up is very much an art, albeit one I’m constantly trying to perfect.

My 2017 Beauty Favourites

I love messing around with new products, and trying out different techniques. So when a product worms its way into my permanent collection, you know it’s a good ‘un. The brands and items I’m featuring in this post have been tried and tested by yours truly for at least several months. In fact I have bought duplicates (hence the pristine packaging) for most of these. Purely because I love them so much.

Without further ado, here are my 2017 Beauty Favourites!

Did you spot any of your favourite products in my 2017 Beauty Favourites list?
Let me know which products you couldn’t live without, and whether you agree with my choices!

Don’t forget to check out more of my beauty posts.

My Make-up Bag My Make-up Bag My Make-up Bag My Make-up Bag

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Living Like a Local | Slovenia Travel Diary

slovenia travelHello & Hvala – Slovenia Travel Diary

Whether it’s foregoing a rain coat, or getting rid of a gigantic backpack, we all try to avoid looking like a tourist when we travel. Not only for safety, but because we want to experience a country like a local. Well, at least I do anyway. I don’t mind doing all the usual tourist sights when I visit a new city. But I also want to eat where the locals eat, visit the galleries hidden down side streets, and while away my day in the little coffee shop that only the coolest “millennials” know about.

It was this – among other things – that led me to me saying yes, when my friend invited me to join him for his birthday party in Slovenia.

Living Like a Local – Slovenia Travel Diary

I was lucky enough to travel with a big group of friends this time, which meant plenty of laughs, and some new travel companions. We all hopped on a plane from London, and in less than 2 hours we were in Trieste, Italy. Wait, what? Well my friend’s hometown is actually right by the border of Italy. The neighbouring villages/towns in Slovenia reminded me of a mix of Italy and the region around the French Alps. Lots of cute cafes, local food, mountains, sun and sea. The perfect combination!

I’ve not travelled to Eastern Europe, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of Slovenia. I really enjoyed my trip though. Maybe it was because I got to spend time with my friends and with my Slovenian friend’s families. It felt comfortable, and casual. With no pressure to “make the most of the holiday” or anything like that. Highlights included: home-cooked meals, as well as trying local delicacies in some well-loved restaurants. Tip: be prepared to eat a ton of meat! We were chauffeured around some of the prettiest sights I’ve ever seen. I tried a lot of homemade alcohol (…yeah). And we partied. What better way is there to spend a holiday with friends?

In a way it felt like Slovenia was a home-away-from-home. I’ll definitely be going back, and I’ll be taking my thanksgiving eating pants with me!

Don’t forget to check out more of my travel posts.

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Old Friends & New Beginnings | Cyprus Travel Diary

cyprus travelOld Friends & New Beginnings – Cyprus Travel Diary

Friendship is a funny thing. There are the acquaintances you meet once a year, the work colleagues, close friends, uni friends, best friends… The list goes on.

My recent trip to Cyprus was for a university friend’s wedding. This urged me to get in touch with some old friends who were also invited. You see even though we all live in London – albeit it opposite ends – we hadn’t seen each other since we graduated. I believe that friendships last the test of time, and that you don’t need to see someone everyday in order to stay friends. If you can meet someone once in a while, but it feels like nothing has changed, and you pick up exactly where you left off…well that’s ‘real friendship’. Still, part of me wondered whether the “banter” would be the same. Would we still get each other, especially with us all being at different stages in our life?

Old Friends – Cyprus Travel Diary

Weddings are always emotionally charged, but this one was different. We laughed, we even shed a few tears (read: I shed a few tears) – thanks to a beautiful ceremony/reception, and the father of the Bride’s speech. But more than that, it felt good to be amongst people I’d spent 3 days a week with for almost 4 years. It was as though things had never changed, although in actuality things had changed a lot.

New Beginnings – Cyprus Travel Diary

Seeing old friends made me realise just how far I’ve come in the past few years. I’ve moved to a new city, had some wonderful experiences, and created some awesome memories with the people closest to me.

It also got me thinking about where I’ll go next. What’s in store for little ol’ me? Maybe I’ll finally get round to planning my own wedding (I know, I’ve been lazy). Perhaps I’ll do that whilst flying around the world and creating some new memories. Whatever happens, I know that I’ll be doing it with some of the best friends anyone could ask for.

Don’t forget that you can also check out my Cyprus Travel Guide.

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24 Hours in Limassol | A Cyprus Travel Guide

cyprus travel guide

I always have so much fun when writing my ’24 Hours In…’ posts. Of course most of us choose to spend slightly more than one day in a city, when travelling. However I like the idea of compressing everything into such a short amount of time. After all, if it doesn’t make it into my 24 Hour guide, is it even worth doing at all? So here is my Cyprus travel guide, and my recommendations for spending 24 hours in the city of Limassol!

cyprus travel guide

24 Hours in Limassol: A Cyprus Travel Guide

  1. Grab breakfast from a kiosk
    • The streets of Cyprus are lined with kiosks (mini supermarkets), that sell anything and everything. My go-to is a can of iced coffee & a doughnut for breakfast. The doughnuts in Cyprus are some of the best you’ll ever have!
  2. Walk along the beach
    • The promenade in Limassol is very people-friendly. Long stretches of footpath take you along the sea front, which is lined with cafes and the chance to dive into the crystal clear water whenever you fancy it.
  3. If you get tired, hop in a taxi
    • It shouldn’t cost more than €10 to get around the city, and it’s much easier to flag down a taxi than navigate the complicated bus system.
  4. Walk around Limassol Marina
  5. Have lunch at Pixida 
    • Fresh seafood…by the sea. What more could you ask for?
  6. Check out the modern architecture at Limassol Marina
    • Form meets function in the city’s newest development. It will certainly please your inner minimalist.
  7. Walk back through the old town
    • The old buildings are a stark contrast to the modern architecture of LM, but equally as beautiful (and with a history to match).
  8. Do dinner at a local taverna
    • You can’t come all this way without having a mezze!
  9. Finish the night at a local bar with drinks & shisha 
    • I’d suggest the Amathus hotel or Coya, but there are many accommodating bars & hotels along the strip.

cyprus travel guide

Cyprus Travel Guide – Helpful Tips

  • Hire a car or take a shuttle from Paphos/Larnaca airport – You’ll find the usual hire car companies, but if you don’t drive I’d suggest Shuttle Direct. SD is an affordable taxi service that makes you feel at ease.
  • There are LOTS of friendly stray cats, and they’re all fed well by the local residents. As adorable as they are, some of them are sick/carry fleas, so if you do touch them, make sure you wash your hands afterwards.
  • Toilet roll doesn’t go down the toilet in Cyprus. The pipes can’t handle toilet roll, and so you need to put it in the bins located next to the toilets. It might seem gross, but it’s really not that bad.
  • Drinking water from the tap isn’t really encouraged, and tap water isn’t a thing in restaurants here. Just make sure you have a bottle on hand (it’s super cheap at around €0.50).

Well there you have it, my Cyprus travel guide to 24 Hours in Limassol!
Don’t forget to check out the my other 24 Hours In… guides.

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Is This The Death of Instagram & Can We Save It?

death of instagramIs This The Death of Instagram & Can We Save It?

Instagram is going through a bit a shit storm as of late, and that’s putting it nicely (sorry for the expletives). First it started with people liking old photos, then the confusing off topic comments came along, and suddenly a new algorithm. And now, well now we’ve got the constant following and unfollowing. And it’s left a lot of us feeling pretty jaded. Am I right, or am I right?

How & Why is it happening?

I’ve seen a lot of confusion on social, and people aren’t entirely certain what is going on. They’re seeing their follower numbers increase and decrease daily, whilst not actually moving at all. Big accounts have seen engagement drop (in fact we all have), and it’s left everyone asking why and how.

  • The New Algorithm Ever since Facebook bought out Instagram, they’ve constantly been adding and taking away features. The latest big addition was the new FB-feed style algorithm. Meaning we don’t get to see a chronological feed anymore. Instead we see the people Instagram thinks we want to see.
  • Follow, Unfollow Tools Yes, those people are not manually following and unfollowing 100 people a day. Well not the savvy ones anyway. For those of you that are up to date on your social tools, you’ll already know all about this. There are tons of sites and apps out there offering free or paid services that will automatically follow, unfollow, like, comment or send DMs for you via Instagram.
  • People Buying Followers This has become all too common. You’d be surprised at how many of the 10K+ crowd have actually earned their followers naturally and organically. The tell-tale sign is when someone has a lot of ‘ghost followers’. A ghost follower is an account that doesn’t have many photos, isn’t very active, but follows an awful lot of people. You can usually spot them by the lack of profile photo.
  • It’s Become Saturated There are just too many accounts now (over 600 million), which means it’s harder than ever to get yourself noticed.
  • But It’s Still a Big Accounts Game Even if people did want to get themselves noticed, it’s still pretty difficult when the big accounts are the ones being featured and mentioned.

Is This The Death of Instagram & Can We Save It?

Well this may not be the official death of Instagram, but it has definitely taken a fair few blows. It’s not safe to say yet whether it will come out of this whole, but with over 300 million daily users* it seems as though people aren’t completely tired of Instagram just yet.

Keep an eye out for my post on how you can save your Instagram account!

death of instagram