ABBOT KINNEY STROLLS

I finally got to explore more of Abbot Kinney on this trip to LA. It's always been a place thats had my heart from music videos, movies and friends recommendations. I think if I could live anywhere in LA it would be here. We parked up along one of the back streets and had a wonder around. Getting inspiration from all the different houses and fell in love with the vibe there.

I'll be doing a post on where to go, stay and eat in Santa Monica/Venice area soon so keep an eye out for that! 

    WEARING - TOPSHOP SLIP DRESS • CHANEL BOOTS • LACK OF COLOUR FEDORA • ACE & TATE SUNGLASSES

For exploring Abbot Kinney, I wanted to wear something thats easy to throw on as I knew I would be walking a lot but also feel comfortable too. A slip dress is always a key piece in my wardrobe so I opted for that. I'm obsessed with this polka dot one from Topshop! I even got the baby pink version as well! 

BALI POLAROIDS

A collection of my polaroids I took in Bali. I took these with the Polaroid One Step 2 and the Fuji instax mini & printed some with the fuji instax printer.

I missed it so much that I just booked my ticket back. Happy to say that I'll be back in May! 

BALI PHOTO DIARY

DAY 1

Checked into the Slow in Canggu for the next 2 nights! This hotel was in a great location in Canggu, close to the beach, loads of boutiques and day spas as well. (I recommend the spring spa down the road - really chic and service was amazing!) I fell in love with the decor, aesthetic and vibe - this is how I would decorate my dream home! The staff were so accommodating and helped us get around & offered some recommendations for the area. I can't wait to be back later on this year! I recommend the pool suite if you can book it. Unfortunately we wasn't able to book that one as the hotel was fully booked but I had a sneak peak at Joel's room & it was a little piece of heaven! 

The Lawn

We ended up arriving a bit later than planned so after we checked in we headed straight out for some food. We were recommended the Lawn down the road from the Slow. The food and cocktails were delicious that we ended going back on our last night too! I recommend the pork pizza, shrimp tacos and the summer rolls! It comes with the most amazing sauce! 

DAY 2

We had an early start on our first morning in Bali. We were picked up at 8am to catch the boat to Lembongan island. This is definitely a must when visiting Bali! We visited the secret beach and the blue lagoon with Island Time Bali! Check these guys out for a personalised guide around the island.

The blue lagoon was incredible! I've never seen the sea this blue before. Unfortunately we didn't go in as this was on a cliff!

The Sand bar, Lembongan

Stopped by the Sand beach bar over looking the ocean and treated ourselves to a beer and played around with the puppies of the bar! Couldn't of ended the day better!

DAY 3

Started the morning off at the Shady Shack! One of the go-to spots in Canggu. All the food on the menu is vegetarian, healthy and very instagramable! I ordered the big breakfast with a ginger zinger and a immunity shot which was much needed!

We then moved onto our second home of the trip - Villa Blanc. You guys would have seen this dream house on tumblr or on instagram for sure. It's actually a house/showroom which you can stay in & also purchase the furniture! I never thought Bali would be a destination for home decor and furniture but I would love to buy a place there just to furnish it! Here is there instagram if you guys want to check it out!

We spent the afternoon shooting some content, exploring the house, relaxing and settling in before heading out for the evening. 

MOTEL MEXICOLA

One of the places I knew I definitely had to cross off was Motel Mexicola! When I walked in it was pretty much one big fiesta! It was so vibrant, full of energy and the smell of the food was incredible! I would recommend the frozen margarita here and the fish tacos! Also a must if you are celebrating a birthday or a bachelorette/stag do!

PRETTY POISON

Another one on my list was the underground skate bowl and bar. Nothing better than watching guys skate in an empty swimming pool, sipping on Bintang (Bali bear) and dancing the night away to old school hip hop. We had so much fun here but they do close at 12pm! We ended up heading to a club in downtown Seminyak but will be heading back next time I'm in town!

DAY 4

Headed to Ubud to explore! We ended up driving past some local fruit stalls so we stopped by, took some pictures and took in the local scenery! We were craving some bakso (pork noodle soup) as well so we stopped off on the side of the road mid journey to eat!

The Swing

I had no idea that there was more than one Bali swing so definitely do your research before going! The one we went to is called Uma Pakel. They usually have the same lay out where you do some Bali coffee tasting (which is usually free) and then you get a choice of going on the swing (payable fee). 

This was a moment of fear for me. I told the men pushing the swing to only swing me 3 times but once I did the first go - it was actually ok! I didn't have the balls to do the swing backwards though!

What you don't see on instagram - that you're actually strapped in by big belts and ropes. I've seen so many pictures where it looks like you're just on there by yourself but be warned! Those images were photoshopped! I was so confused before visiting as to how you don't fall off! 

There was also some extra photo ops at this location! Me and Isabel ended up in a birds nest over looking the fields and also on the look out point over the jungle! 

Rice Field

Down the road from the swing was the rice fields which is one of the main attractions in Bali. Fun fact, this isn't the actual rice field where the rice is harvested. Theres a giant one in another location where all the rice comes from. This one is just for the tourists to take photo! It is free to explore but down the paths of the fields are huts where you make donations if you want to keep heading on. Theres plenty of cafes and market stalls around it too as you're not secluded and don't have to bring drinks or snacks with you as you'll be hiking up and down the hills!

GETTING AROUND TIP

When you visit Bali, it's best if you have a driver for your trip or ask around for a local to help you get around! They aren't big on uber but do have a similar app called go jek. I only used it a few times when I couldn't get a taxi as I was in the middle of know where at Villa Blanc. Luckily, Isabel had a driver that she has been using for four years and he ended up being our photographer on our day in Ubud! His name is Ketut and he was the sweetest! I recommend messaging him if you are planning to visit Bali as he knows the best locations and times to visit the tourist places! His instagram is here.

Unfortunately thats all for this trip! It was very short and sweet but I'm already planning a trip back there for my birthday towards the end of the year! I will be sure to add more places to eat, things to do and see for you all! But I'm going to leave some other cafes I wanted to visit down below so you guys can check them out when you visit!

•Nalu bowls

•Watercress cafe

•Jungle fish

•La laguna

•Naughty Nuris

•Strawberry fields

•Milk & Madu

Seychelles with Qatar airways

Exploring Seychelles with Qatar airways

IMAGES BY ME

In December, I was invited to visit Seychelles by Qatar airways and the Seychelles tourism board as part of a new route introduced by Qatar airways. I jumped at the chance of course! Who wouldn't want to visit paradise? It was going to be a long flight to Seychelles but I was completely oblivious when I got onto the plane and slept away the nerves and time in business class. Thanks to the lovely guys at Qatar, I got to fly business class on route which stops over in Doha airport. I've only flown business class a few times and feel very blessed when I do. I sleep like a baby, eat till my heart is content and make new friends along the way. Unlike other airlines, Qatar airways really tailor to your every need. From dining whenever you want, pj's on board for the flight, a huge selection of movies and entertainment and even a lounge! By far my favourite airline to fly business class on - especially with the friendly and helpful staff on board. 

We finally arrived in Seychelles 14 hours later and was greeted with such a  beautiful celebration with music, dancers and local school kids welcoming us. Literally felt like royalty! I must point out though, this was a one off entrance as it was Qatar airways first flight back to the Seychelles in a few years! We also went to the Qatar airways party in the evening for the official launch of the new route!

Our first hotel we checked into was the H resort which offered this beautiful view from my room below. It was such a beautiful home away from home. I fell in love with the friendly staff, location, the food they had to offer and also the vibe of the hotel. With only 100 rooms on the resort it makes it such an intimate place to spend some quality time with a loved one. Next time though, I would definitely love to stay in the beach pool vila! 

We headed off to explore the local market in the town, full of fresh fruit, fish, spices and clothes.

In the evening we were treated to dinner on the property at Seyshima. A Japanese infused restaurant with a bit of a twist. The open kitchen was such a breath of fresh air and watching the chefs (who were super entertaining) cook your dinner was another highlight of the trip. I ended up eating so much again that evening - no regrets.

We even visited the La Digue which had breath taking beaches. It was definitely one of my favourite places to visit and I could honestly stay there for days. Hidden in the palm trees and rocks was this beach. I've never seen the sea that blue before and I was in awe the whole time. It really was a little secret patch of paradise!There was even a coconut hut down the path which was perfect for a refreshing drink.

We also got to hung out and feed giant tortoises on the Island! I've never seen them this big before and they were such gentle giants. 

Another activity I ended up loving was a helicopter ride of the the Seychelles Island. Believe me when I say I was speechless at what mother nature had created. It was also my first time in a helicopter and it was such an incredible experience. I would recommend doing this when you visit Seychelles! You get to see everything and even maybe some dolphins!

It's safe to say Seychelles was magical. Even though I didn't spend a lot of time there it gives me an excuse to go back and visit. Hopefully with Oli next time - he would love the food! I met the most amazing and down to earth people and it was really one of the best trips to date. Here to more travelling this year, to more friendships and exploring what the world has to offer. Again, thank you so much to Qatar Airways and the Seychelles tourism board for welcoming us with a smile - I'm very grateful to of been able to experience the island. I can't wait to be back! 

Disclaimer - This trip was part of a press trip and I was kindly invited along with Qatar Airways. All thoughts are my own.

Athens city guide!

I got to finally visit the beautiful city of Athens and as soon as I got back, I couldn't wait to put together a guide for you all! Athens has definitely become one of my favourite cities to visit - Oli & I can't wait to go back! We decided not to use any maps but instead just wondered around and explore the city. I quickly made sense of where we were and we stumbled across some amazing restaurants and shops! Athens definitely live up to my expectations but surprised me at how 'young' the vibe of the city really is! There were so many young people around and so much nightlife to satisfy your needs! With having spent only 3 days there - I've put together the main hotspots we went to/did!

How to get there

I suggest looking on Aegean Airline's website to search for flights. We traveled with them and was surprised at how roomy the seats were and that we were served a meal! (It was only a 4 hour flight!) The site is really straight forward and you can see which month you can grab a bargain flight. October - November is the perfect time to visit as the weather is a tad cooler (still hot for us brits) and the city is in off peak season which is great for grabbing some awesome hotel & flight deals! They also fly directly to Athens from London 3 times a day! You can search for flights here.

Where to stay

For the first 2 days of the trip we stayed at the newly opened Electra Metropolis Athens. This hotel is in such a perfect location - being a street down from Ermou street (famous for its shopping) and about a 15 minute walk up to Acropolis. It's also surrounded by great restaurants and cafes but also serves great room service too! Oh, we can't forget the view! We ended up staying in the Acropolis Suite & it really was one of the best views I could possible asked for. There was enough space in the room and a large marble bathroom which was a dream! You can see it in my vlog here.

For the last 2 nights, we stayed at the NEW HOTEL. It's part of the DESIGN HOTEL group (they create beautiful architecture around the world!) so you know you're in for a treat! We stayed in the standard room which had plenty of space & a private balcony. The bed was super comfy and not bad for location too! It's about 5 minute walk from Electra Metropolis Athens & is about a 5 minute walk into Plaka. My favourite part of town! Full of souvenir shops, cafes, art stores and restaurants! 

Image courtesy of Yes Hotels

What to do

I suggest you leave your map at the room & explore the city only on foot! It's the best way to meet the locals, get to know the city and get lost in it's beautiful culture. Head into Plaka, this is my favourite part of town! It literally makes you feel like you're walking around a greek island! Some restaurants are hidden but those are the best ones. You can find some amazing vintage bargains too along with your classic souvenir pieces. My favourite is that you have so many little stores selling olive oil, greek honey, olives and of course baklavas to take home! Every corner is such a photo perfect moment so don't forget to charge your camera and snap away! 

Hike up to Acropolis

We thought it would be a trek but it only took us 15 minutes to hike up there. Along the way were small souvenir shops which we stopped and wondered around. We also grabbed some ice cream as a little treat to ourselves & it was the freshest ice cream I've ever eaten. Be sure to grab the pistachio or coconut one! Once at Acropolis, grab your ticket and head up. The best time to visit is either early morning or after lunch time! We unfortunately went around 10.30am and had to que about 30 minutes to get tickets. You can either opt for the €20 ticket which just lets you into Acropolis and the theatre or the €30 ticket which lets you into all the monuments. Take in the view every step of the way and admire the ruins! 

GO SHOPPING

You can pretty much spend hours on Ermou street looking through the shops, grabbing a coffee at a cafe and even a huge pretzel! They have such a great selection of stores and it really is one of the best places to shop! I picked up some bits from H&M (they had such great stock of everything) and Bershka but there are also Pull & Bear, Zara & H&M and Sephora too! 

Take the Bohemian tales of the city tour with Urban Adventures

Far from the usual boring historical tours - Urban Adventures  focuses on the modern twists the city has to offer. This tour was more focused on street art which was so interesting & you get to walk around and know the city. Highly recommend you do this on the 1st evening if you have time. Especially if you have never been to Athens before. We were taken to all the art hotspots and bars only known to locals. Definitely make sure your camera is all charged up for all the photo ops too!

Where to eat

MOMA CAFE, Monastiraki - Be sure to try out their pizzas! We went for the Greek pizza and Moma pizza. It was really filling and all ingredients were really fresh. We chowed down with some homemade lemonade as well! Their desserts sounded good too but we were stuffed so didn't get a chance to try any. 

New Art lounge, New hotel

We went for dinner on our first night there. Such a beautiful space on the roof top with great views of Athens. You can even see Acropolis as well. The food was delicious and quality was superb. I went for the seafood linguini and Oli went for the steak. Also try out their signature cocktails over looking the breath taking view!

OTTO Restaurant

This was our favourite restaurant we went to. Everything from the decor to service and food was incredible. The menu was really fun and interesting, combining a lot of ingredients that sounds like they wouldn't go together to the presentation. We had a great tasting menu with a few cocktails and it was genuinely the best way to end the trip. I'm hoping we get to go back and we are planning on bringing a load of friends too! I recommend the casserole and the beef marinated in coffee! But anything on the menu is to die for! 

Diogenes, Plaka

We stumbled upon this place on our first night of walking around Plaka. The atmosphere was super chilled but lively. With the place being such a big restaurant it filled up pretty quick with lots of couples, families and friends. The menu was easy to read and I went for the shrimp linguini (love a good pasta dish!). I think this was the best linguini I've had on the trip. The size of the shrimps on my plate were huge and there was a big enough portion to make me not want dessert! 

Six Dogs

A go to place for the locals. This quirky little hidden gem is picture perfect and different from any other bars I've been to in Athens. Having the setting out doors and through an underground entrance is pretty interesting! You have the try the frozen cappuccino! They also serve food as well! Definitely a must stop whenever you are in Athens!

So I hope you guys enjoyed my guide to Athens! I can't wait to go back & hopefully be able to visit the islands too! Any more questions just leave them below! Thank you to  Discover Greece for making this trip possible! 

Who's next X The Apartment visual diary | Part 3

Last day of the Paris trip was super chilled. We got to Villa M to see who had won the Tokyo trip. It was Andreea!   Much congrats to this babe! enjoy Tokyo!  We spent the rest of the day shooting some photos by the Eiffel tower. There will be a full outfit post featuring what I wore on the last day coming in the next few days too so don't worry! It just ended up with being such a chilled day and then a super quick train ride home back to London. Even though it was such a short trip, I'm so happy and grateful I got to go on and meet such amazing people. I also got closer to the Eiffel tower and see more of Paris. Forever one of my favourite cities. I also have Greece coming up next month and Thailand in November - so be sure I'll be documenting those adventures too! Thanks again to the Apartment and Who's Next for taking us all out there! 

Photos taken by Kris Atomic & Derek Bremner

Who's next X The Apartment visual diary | Part 2

Started the day with creating mood boards for the Tom Greyhound buyer challenge. I unfortunately wouldn't of been able to make the trip if I had won so didn't take part. Instead, I just helped out the others that could go!

Shope working away on her master piece! 

We then headed to Kiliwatch to score some vintage pieces to customised in a workshop

It was vintage denim heaven! So happy with my pair of levi's! 

Street style shot of me & Zoe :) Wearing

BrenandCel

top with

Revolve jeans 

Dinner at the hotel. It was AMAZING. I had the truffle burger and I'm totally dreaming about it everyday...

That's it for day 2! Keep an eye out for the last set of photos coming tomorrow! 

Photos taken by Kris Atomic & Derek Bremner

Who's next X The Apartment Visual diary | Part 1

Boarding the Eurostar with Joel! Getting up at 5am to make this train was a nightmare! 

Arrived at Hotel Molitor

We stayed at Hotel Molitor! It was different but absolutely stunning & the food was so good! 

All the goodies we got in our totes! Was obsessed with the nail polishes, hand made lingerie and the leather clutch! 

Arrived at Villa M to have a look around the venue

Me & Zoe browsing the Nailmatic vending machine! 

Enjoying the trend talk with the rest of the guys!

Of course I had to grab an OOTD before we headed off to dinner!

Private dinner with the other influencers and press in the hall! 

Had such a great (but also tiring) first day at Villa M with everyone, exploring the venue and even had a private dinner in one of the halls! It was so nice catching up with everyone and making new friends. We were prepping for the buyers challenge that would be happening the following day to win a trip to Tokyo! The Villa M space was filled with a little showroom and beauty area where we could get our nails & hair done. Catch up on emails and hang out with the other bloggers! Keep an eye out for part 2 of the visual diary! 

Photos taken by Kris Atomic & Derek Bremner

Falling in love with Mon Paris

So about a month ago I was invited back to Paris for the launch of the new YSL fragrance 'Mon Paris' inspired by the city of lovers, Paris. We were invited to see Paris upside down in 24 hours! (yes, you read that correctly!). To discover another side from the regular spots you would be familiar with and see the city upside down. The whole trip was inspired by the new fragrances back story of falling head over heels for someone that your world is turned upside down. It was such a world wind 24 hours but it honestly was one of the best trips I've ever been on. 

We started with a lunch visit to HAI KAI. A hidden organic dishes wonderland that definitely cured served up some amazing food. Highly recommend to go with a few friends and try pretty much all the dishes! Also don't forget to try the anchovy! Next it was straight into the perfume workshop where we learned about the ingredients that went into the production of this perfume. I never learned so much in an hour! All of the ingredients, how they are sourced and where they all come from was so interesting to me that it gave me another insight into the fragrance industry. I also learned that there was some jasmine flowers in the mix - that's why I was so drawn to this scent! You guys know how much I love jasmine! It's such a strong feline floral scent which is something I'm not used to but I quickly fell in love with it for sure. Such a great scent for summer thats totally going to turn your world upside down! I've never come across a fragrance so uplifting before! 

After our workshop - we headed straight out around the city on these moto taxis! Such an incredible experience and it was definitely the highlight of the trip. Something I need to do again when I'm back in Paris. We got to see a lot of the city and stopped at the Eiffel tower for 5 minutes for photos. I was happy as I finally got to see it close up! (deffo could of gotten closer but next time for sure!) I literally was riding around the city with a huge smile underneath the heavy but comfy helmets! I really record you flag those guys down whenever you're in the city next. I think from that experience, it just made me sure even more than I really do love Paris and it's for sure one of my favourite cities.

We finished the night with the YSL 'Mon Paris' fragrance launch dinner and the party on top of the Centre Pompidou! Such an incredible building, space and view all rolled into one! To see the whole city at night from the usual day light was definitely the goal of seeing Paris upside down. 

From this trip I've discovered so many new places, people and vibe that paris has to offer and I can't wait to go back! Already trying to see if I can squeeze in a quick weekend away! You can get your hands on the fragrance here...

Created in collaboration with YSL Beauty

Photos taken with iPhone 6 and Panasonic Lumix LX100

Grand Central market

So last Tuesday I ended back up in LA with Visit California! We were going to explore a bit more of LA and headed straight to grand Central Market. I've actually never been to GCM and I'll definitely be heading back next time I'm in town. 

If you've never heard of this place, it's a mixture of an indoor open market where you can pick up your groceries and also grab some food! We headed there during breakfast time so I grabbed an ice chai latte from G&B coffee and a chocolate chip cookie. One of the best chai lattes I've had too! It was just the perfect spiciness and lightness to it. Highly recommend those guys if you are looking for coffee! Can't wait to head back and try out more of the food that's available there. You can find out more about Grand Central Market HERE Keep an eye out for more of my trip!

Photos taken on Panasonic Lumix LX100