ABBOT KINNEY STROLLS
EXPLORING MORE OF ABBOT KINNEY IN POLKA DOTS
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!
BUSINESS CASUAL
KEEPING THINGS COMFY AND CASUAL
Keeping my meeting outfit fun and casual.
I've paired this blazer dress with my favourite pair of Reeboks and the tiny glasses everyones been loving! Keeping it minimal and casual for a day full of meetings in London! Hopefully the weather will warm up soon!
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
SEE WHAT I GOT UP TO AND WHERE TO EAT IN BALI!
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
CLASSIC MONOCHROME
A QUICK SNAP OF ONE OF MY FAVOURITE LOOKS AT LFW
IMAGES TAKEN BY CHLOE HELEN MILES
TOPSHOP BLAZER • TOPSHOP JEANS • TOPSHOP HEELS • HOUSE OF HOLLAND JUMPER
A quick snap of one of my favourite looks from LFW! I paired a classic blazer jacket I had in my wardrobe for years with my new denim + kitty heeled boots. I chose to break it up with this fun House of Holland sweater in a polka dot print. I'm having a moment for anything polka dot at the moment!
POP OF BLUE
THE PERFECT TRANSITIONAL PIECE FOR SPRING
IMAGES SHOT BY CHLOE HELEN MILES
This checkered blazer has got to be one of my favourite transitional pieces for spring. Keeping it suited to the weather but with a lighter, more refreshing colour will uplift your mood and spirit.
Keep it classic but vamp up with edginess with a slick pair of leather trousers and an over accessorised bag. The metals bounce off the leather fabric so well & creates such a fun vibe to the outfit. Ive kept it casual with the Reebok Classic Club C too! My go-to trainers of the moment.
I've even played on the textures more and added a velvet pyjama style blouse. Obsessed with this blouse as its super comfy & very chic! Plus its on sale at the moment!
MY SKIN ELIXIR
SHARING WITH YOU GUYS MY RECIPE TO NOURISH YOUR SKIN FROM WITHIN
Ever since I shared my skin elixir recipe on my instagram stories I've had many requests to do a blog post on it! So here it is! I actually learned this recipe off Violette from her youtube channel. If you haven't discovered her, then cancel your day because you'll going to get hooked on all her videos!
INGREDIENTS
•1 TBSP SUN POTION TOCOS
•1 CUP OF ALMOND MILK OR WATER
•1/4 TSP OF HE SHOU WU
•1 TSP OF ALMOND BUTTER OR COCONUT BUTTER
• AGAVE NECTAR TO SWEETEN IF YOU WANT!
STEP 1. ADD THE DRY INGREDIENTS, ALMOND BUTTER & A SQUIRT OF AGAVE NECTAR INTO THE NUTRIBULET
TIP - A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY WITH THE HE SHOU WU! SO DON'T OVER USE IT.
STEP 2 - HEAT UP THE ALMOND MILK (OR WATER) & ADD IT TO YOUR MIXTURE
STEP 3 -WHIZ FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE AND POUR INTO A MUG! THATS IT! ALL DONE!
I've been having this skin elixir everyday since the beginning of November and its helped maintain my skin to look youthful and glowing! I'm a big believer in nourishing beauty from within too & this is the perfect delicious drink that encourages healthy skin, hair & nails. The benefits of tocos is the boost in vitamin E, promotes healthy skin & connective tissues may facilitate removals of toxins from the body. Also with the he shou wu there are so many benefits too - helps with the nervous system, blood building, anti-aging, promoted red blood cells to name a few. If you would like to know more about the products then head over to the Sun potion website! At the end of the day I'm not a nutritionist but just thought I'd share with you guys a part of my skin routine!
Disclaimer: This post was not sponsored by any brand. All thoughts are my own.
HOW I BECAME A BLOGGER & TIPS
SHARING HOW I GOT STARTED AND SOME TIPS
I know I've answered this question a few times but wanted to share with you how I turned documenting my outfits into a career. I want to do more blog posts like this in the future so please feel free to write blog topic ideas in the comments section below!
How did I get started?
I started 8 years ago on tumblr - good old days! When blogging wasn't taken seriously and nobody knew how big of an industry it would get to. Instead of waking up super early to get ready for college I decided to store my outfits onto my imac. This was just taking photos on the photobooth and posting it on tumblr so I could have my outfits there ready for me to choose in the morning. Totally stole the ideas from clueless!
I started off on tumblr about 8 years ago
One morning I woke up & checked my tumblr account to found that my outfits were being reblogged like hot cakes and I was getting messages asking if I could post more. Long story short, I did so and become your go-to girl for styling advice. I was helping girls with what to wear to prom, birthday parties and events. I guess it was like having a virtual stylist on hand!
From there I decided to move onto a proper blogging platform. I started doing things more professionally, creating content everyday and started my youtube channel for those who wanted to hear my voice. Another personal connection in the form of video helped me grow a lot and I think a lot of new content creators and now seeing that also! My blog grew from a community of girls who were figuring out there style and I was happy to help. I then started to get approached by brands that lead to collaborations and started earning a living from it. Blogging has given me such a wide insight in the fashion industry and I'm incredibly grateful for the position I'm in now. You can definitely be in the fashion industry not having studied it at all. You have the option of making your own rules and be your own boss - thats my favourite part of the job. So in this post I wanted to share some tips with you guys for creating an authentic blog or if you are thinking of starting a blog yourself!
Tip #1 - Don't wait for the knowledge, go out and get it!
If you have a question about something say photography, ask a friend or google! I've learned 85% of what I know now from googling everything and figuring it all out by myself. Thats how I like to work and grow too. I think with maintaining and growing a following is knowing what works best for you. I love when me and my blogger friends come together to discuss ideas, share with each other and help each other grow. Theres nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. I also find that researching things myself actually pays off more in the long run as you learn how you work and network independantly.
Tip #2 - Grow at your own pace
Don't be so caught up in the numbers game. As long as you are creating authentic content then you don't need to worry. Engage with your readers and build a steady and strong community. I hold my hand up that I was caught up with it all when instagram changed the algorithm but trust me, its worth more being yourself than jumping on any 'trends' that you think will boost your following eg. international giveaways - the followers will only follow you till the giveaway is over and then will unfollow you. Then you're back to square one!
Tip #3 - You don't need fancy equiptment to start
For the past 7 years people always ask me what equipment I used and the answer was my iPhone! I still edit on my phone too and only edit a few posts on my laptop. When I started I used the iMac photo booth. Just make the most of what you have around you and thats all you need! I also still edit my videos on iMovie cause I have no idea how to use final cut pro. I mean now I've just finally invested in a professional camera but I'm in my 7th year guys. So don't feel the need to have the top of the range technology to start anything! I will do a post on what equipment I use and what apps I use to edit my content very soon so keep an eye out.
I hope you guys enjoyed this quick insight on my journey and that the tips are helpful too! Please feel free to leave some topics down below that you would like me to write a post on. Thanks for reading guys!
-XOXO
IMAGES TAKEN BY MICHAELA TORNARITIS
THE JOY OF SELF LOVE
LOVE YOURSELF LIKE NO ONE ELSE
One of the biggest obstacles growing up as a young woman in this day and age is the acceptance of our body and how not only do others view it but how we ourselves do also. Being relocated from a very young age into a new western world opened my eyes up really quick. I never did understood the concept of beauty, make up or even knew what a magazine was at age 7 - when I was moved over. Everything fascinated me and scared me at the same time.
One of the biggest obstacles growing up as a young woman in this day and age is the acceptance of our body and how not only do others view it but how we ourselves do also. Being relocated from a very young age into a new western world opened my eyes up really quick. I never did understood the concept of beauty, make up or even knew what a magazine was at age 7 - when I was moved over. Everything fascinated me and scared me at the same time. Growing up in a society where a magazine or a beauty product campaign was a standard structure of how we as woman are meant to look or be like really frustrated me. You shouldn't be told how to look, dress or think. One of the founding ethics of my blogging platform was to show everyone that you have the power to wear what you want. Show your creativity and express however you feel in any form of way. The name 'IDRESSMYSELFF' was a powerful step out of a shell I was in where I didn't accept myself - how I look and felt. Before my blogging start I was in such a dark state of mind where nothing could help how I felt about my appearance. No oversized sweater could cover the annoying voice inside my head telling me 'you need to go to the gym'. Of course I look back at the images of teenage self now and think 'I'm I mental?' I was perfectly fine and healthy. So why did I think of those things? How could I of changed that?
I learned the act of self love from Tumblr in my early days on the web. I was searching for a way of expressing my creativity and found the site that opened so many doors for me. I was so amazed at so many people from different backgrounds and ethnicity connecting and admiring each others uniqueness. It opened me to a world where everyone was accepted for experimenting with their appearance that I started experimenting with mine straight away! I started dying my hair, my clothes, reworking the items in my wardrobe and it made me so happy that I found a way of expressing myself. Through this process I found out who I was becoming and I fell in love with that girl. The girl who didn't give a shit about what people though. The girl who could hear others speaking negatively about her behind her back but was too busy getting lost of this new journey of becoming someone to look up to. I finally accepted myself and my own uniqueness that I documented everything and is now very grateful that I turned my self discovery into a full time job and to be able to inspire and help others along their own journey too.
I quickly learned that to be loved you have to love yourself too. I had finally fully understood that quote and at the age of 17, I had found someone who accepted me for and my flaws. But they were not flaws to him, they were the little things that made me 'me'.
When I get messages from girls who are trying to figure out their style or asking me if they should get something that isn't 'in style' or 'on trend' anymore - I simply reply 'fuck it! If you love it then get it!'. You should just follow your heart at the end of the day and really not give a shit about what others think. Self love also involves being a little selfish so don't feel guilty about saying 'no' to things to have some me time. You need time to relax, shut down, unwind and re-connect with your mind. Self love is all about accepting your physical and mental self and knowing what you are worth. Owning your confidence and and unique personality and stop comparing yourself to others. They are too celebrating their own uniqueness and we should all be accepting and applauding but competing for negative attention.
LOVE YOURSELF LIKE NO ONE ELSE
“ACCEPTANCE PLAYS A BIG PART IN SELF LOVE. ONCE YOU ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE UNIQUE, POWERFUL AND DESIRABLE - YOU ARE READY TO LOVE & BE LOVED”
I am not a writer (accepted this a long time ago! LOL) and trust me it took me about 2 hours for this post but I hope that it all makes sense and could help anyone struggling with their journey to self acceptance. Feel free to leave a comment below and exchange stories on your journey to self acceptance too! I would love to hear them!
IMAGES BY FONG MIN LIAO
Wearing a vintage green slip dress from Elia Vintage , personalised name plate necklace from M jewellers & Bagatiba necklace
HELLO 2018
3 Tips on staying motivated
SHOT BY CHLOE HELEN MILES & GALLUCKS
Happy new year everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year full of food, laughter and quality time with your loved ones. I actually shut off this holiday for once and enjoyed my down time without the constant need to reach for my phone to update everything. It's been such a long time since I had some down time but I knew I needed it. Ever since my holiday back in November I've been slowing down and made sure everything that needed to be done was crossed off the list so I could start on a clean slate in 2018.
Since its the 1st January, I wanted to start off the new year with a post on motivation. You guys may have noticed that I have my periods of consistency and then I go on mini breaks. My creativity comes and goes and I try to make the most of it when it does spark in my head. I wanted to share some tips on how to stay motivated and how to accomplish your goals in 2018!
3 TIPS TO STAY MOTIVATED
1. Make lists. The more the better. This is my most efficient way of being motivated and staying organised. Write down what you need to do today, week or even the year. Bullet point some goals you want to achieve this year and remember nothing is out of reach if you work hard for it!
2.Create a vision board - cut out everything you wish to achieve and things that inspire you. Having it physically in front of you will motivate you even more. Fill it with public figures that inspire you, quotes or images! Or keep a pintrest board if you don't have the time to get crafty! Great for keeping it on you all the time to glance at if you're feeling a bit lost!
3. Surround yourself with positive energy - cut out toxic relationships out of your life and focus on the positive. You need to be in the right head space to achieve your goals. I've even gone a step further into investing in sage and palo santos to clean any negative energy in my home and travel with crystals.
TOPSHOP TRENCH JACKET
(SIMILAR) • ARKET TEE •
DANIEL PATRICK JOGGERS • GUCCI SUNNIES •
ISABEL MARANT TRAINERS
I hope that this helps you a wee bit! I get so many messages asking about how I stay motivated so I thought that I would share my tips with you. But don't forget that its normal to have days when you aren't motivated and thats totally fine! Don't force anything as that will also reflect in your work and energy. Just keep peeking at your vision/pintrest board for that spark!