Happy Things #14

 

1. Today I fly back to London, which feels kind of bittersweet. I've missed London, but I know that when I'm in London I'll really miss Rzeszów. I'll miss not having to work and relaxing in general whilst spending time with my favourite person.

2. I'm working a lot this week, but after having ten days off I'm definitely up to the challenge and will secretly be counting down the days until my next day off, which won't be until next week, sadly. That said, I've made plans to meet up with my best friend soon so I have things to look forward to and help me get through this long week!

3. Last month was a really good month for me blogwise and I'm going to continue working hard at blogging and improving all areas of my blog. I want to improve my content and really push myself to get more active within the blogging community in terms of not only reading and liking other blogs, but also making comments and following more people on various social media networks.

4. After eating far, far too much whilst on holiday the time to change my bad habits is definitely now. If I'm completely honest with myself, I really need to start losing weight getting healthier for myself. As I'm not happy with myself at the moment... It was hard to hear, but Piotr is right and if I'm unhappy then only I can start to change myself. 

5. I want to focus on the good things and not fret over the not so good things. I'm slowly learning that time doesn't stand still and that life isn't limitless, like it feels when you're younger. As you get older, you realise that time is slipping away very quickly. This holiday has given me a lot of perspective on that; there's so many things that I want to do and see, although I'm still young time definitely isn't on anyone's side so I want to focus on happiness.

 

A Severe Case of Wanderlust

 

During the last couple of months, I've been almost chasing sunsets and sometimes the sunrise... as a result, I've realised the importance of experiencing and seeing things for myself, to the point that I really, really want to travel. Not necessarily in Europe or abroad, but also in the UK as well. For example, where I grew up is a massive tourist hotspot. They spend a great deal of money to experience things that I've taken for granted all my life and now I'm doing my best to try and experience all that I've not done or seen in my local areas before branching out further, to other areas of London.

It's so so inspiring when you see Instagrams or friends travels on Facebook, for example my best friend has been to the USA, Germany and the Czech Republic this year alone. Alongside that, I've seen others travelling to the Netherlands, Croatia, Hungary, Spain and Italy amongst so many other places. It's made me reconsider what I want to do with my life and what I want to save for. The problem with travelling is ultimately the expense of it. Without even ticket prices to travel to places, it's also hotel bills, food and general spending money. This year I went to Paris and it was shit because of the company being shit and an overall lack of money. It made me realise the importance of being able to afford to travel.

Even if you keep the prices as low as you possibly can, it's still a lot of money to find or save up for. Ultimately I'm at a point where I need to decide what I want to do. Especially as I now share my life, my money and my time with someone else. This is the key I guess; I'm independent but I do share my life with someone and that person will always and should always come first for me. That is the main reason that I want to continue exploring London. It's such a vast city, I feel as though I should celebrate growing up and living in such a fantastic city. I want to enjoy having someone to explore it with, and I'm grateful that I can travel through my home city and feel like I'm discovering something new without having to save for a long time and therefore, settle my desire for wanderlust on a tightly controlled budget.

Favourite Instagrammers - October

Yet another month has come and gone and my Instagram addiction is still going strong :) below are some of the lovely accounts that I've been loving recently and I've been njoyed following for various reasons, for example some of them love to travel, or love fashion and I like seeing what other people enjoy or what others are passionate about. All the images were taken using a simple Google search using the usernames detailed blow.

 

themagpiegirl

I adore Vicki's Instagram, it's so stunning photography it's amazing. She's currently pregnant and it's lovely watching her documenting her journey and what she's buying for the baby. She takes the nicest close ups of her homewares and decorations alongside her general lifestyle. Even the most basic photograph of a cake or a clock looks so fresh and interesting and I really do admire her 'country' style kitchen with its soft teal toned interior.

 

racheldarling_

Rachel's Instagram is definitely one to enjoy; I love the vintagey style of all of her photographs which also reflects her own personal style. A mix of landscape, interior and self portraits, her insta page almost transports you back to the 1950s. I love how dedicated she is to herself and her 'look'; her outfit posts are absolutely lovely as her clothes look so so beautiful. I have major wardrobe and figure envy, she defines the idea of the pinup era.

 

sophierosie._

Sophie manages to make a lazy day in bed or a visit to a coffee shop look interesting, somehow. Her page has a definitive style, of mostly crisp whites and high contrast, which I admire as I can never stick to a theme. She documents even the little things, like have a breakfast in bed or editing on her laptop. I love her soft and comfy interior style, with knitwear and cushions everywhere. She's proof that even the ordinary is extraordinary photography wise.

 

lucieloves 

This girl really loves to travel the world, as a result of that her posts are pretty addictive. She finds beauty in the smallest of details, such as tiled flooring, bricks or plants. I like how she takes photographs from interesting and unusual angles and has a clear taste for adventure. She's also very pro positive thinking and thoughts and posts positive life quotes fairly regularly across her feed, which if you do struggle with mental health does give you a push to keep on the right track to happiness.

 

underthehutch

Ffion's feed has a slightly hipster aesthetic about it; full of landscapes, sunsets and close ups of outfits. It's a bit of a random collection of photographs but I like that about it, there's no rigid theme and her selfies show how physically beautiful she is. Her cheekbones are very pleasing :) she often posts photos of of rabbits, cameras and her room which has photographs all over it, showing how much photography is a part of her life.

Favourite Blogs! - September

Hello again :)

It feels like literally every month I find more blogs to enjoy and this month I've already found several that I've found really enjoyable to read, to the extent that I've been going back over their old posts as well as new. All of the images belong to the blog owners below and were found using a simple google search.

 

palomaindisguise.com

I love her style so much, and knowing that the majority of her Wardbrobe is purchased from affordable charity shops such as Oxfam makes it even better as it makes me feel like I can afford to look that nice too! Definitely a niche fashion blogger, I really love her style and the way she photographs her outfits is really lovely as well. Like me, she's also an Instagram addict and her posts representing that are enjoyable to read as they're a recap of what she's done recently which I like.

 

aclotheshorse.co.uk

One of my more recent favourites, Rebecca's blog has become a fast favourite of mine; I literally adore everything about it... The style, her personal style and the photography is just amazing. 'An American living in Northern Ireland' is her tagline and sums up her blog entirely. As Autumn (my favourite season) is coming, her blog is great as the colours of her photographs and her personal style is very autumnal and so a fantastic inspiration for cooler weather dressing.

 

thelittleplum.co.uk

Another newer favourite of mine, Chloe often tackles some fairly unusual topics for bloggers, such as contraception, things that make you happy and that its ok to have no idea what to do with yourself or your life. She's really down to earth and relatable, as I enjoy reading about topics such as feminism and weight as they're things that many women struggle with. As a bonus, her blog looks so aesthetically pretty and her personal style posts are always interesting too.

 

daintydressdiaries.com

Catherine's blog leaves a lot to be desired; as a lover of all things pretty myself, I love her homeware hauls and room/house DIYs and renovations. I love her vintage country kitsch style and her love of cute tea dresses matches mine so her blog was obviously going to become a favourite! She's so crafty, and her little handmade teddy bears are the cutest. Alongside home and fashion, she does talk about lifestyle and working on happiness was an interesting read.

 

livingmystyle.co.uk

Laura's posts are very lifestyle orientated, with a clear interest in travel, beauty and personal style. As she lives in London (so do I) it's nice to see places that are familiar to me and see how her colourful outfits contrast against the grey buildings and streets. Her blog has an explorative feel, as though she is constantly on the lookout for new discoveries. Her most recent posts from Greece look so nice and really make you want to travel more.

My Travel Bucket List - UK

 

St Ives, Cornwall

I've always wanted to visit St. Ives for a number of reasons, but the main reason being that I love going to galleries and museums and there are many to visit such as  the Tate, Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. However I love the peaceful feel of the English countryside and Cornwall is a seaside town surrounding by breathtaking views and the local fishing ports. There are so many beaches, coastal paths and harbours to explore, alongside seals and other wildlife. I'm also interested in visiting the local potteries and a boat or ghost tour. There's something incredibly relaxing about spending time in rural landscapes and this is one of the most popular tourist destinations for a reason.

Lyme Regis, Dorset

Having spent many summer holidays here as a child, I would absolutely love to revisit Lyme Regis as an adult. There are literally so many sights to take in, including the Jurassic Coast, Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, the Cobb Harbour and the Town Mill, alongside many beaches. It's the best feeling to wake up to the sounds of the sea slapping against the rocks of the beaches. It's probably the most famous place in the UK for fossil finds due it's extensively beautiful coastline. It's also been written about by many novelists, including Jane Austen and even boasts a Banksy artwork; it has been described as 'The Pearl of Dorset' due to its picturesque sea views that are visible from all areas of the town.

Ventnor, Isle of Wight

Some of the best memories I have from university is spending a summer on the island with a friend and so I've got some really lovely memories that I would like to revisit. Ventnor is a primarily a seaside resort and essentially is built upon cliffs and hills to the side of the sea. Home to a number of beaches, it also boasts of converted Victorians baths, a harbour, a bandstand and Ventnor Park and Botanic Gardens. Ventnor was one of the nicest places I visited due to spending a day at Steephill Cove, a really soothing beach. More or less empty, it was rocky and sandy with privacy to just enjoy the views of the sea.

Portmeirion, North Wales

A tourist village designed to look like an Italian village, it's another place that I went to as a child and would like to revisit. It's got some lovely quirky architecture, alongside ornamental gardens and breathtaking views from the seafront. It's surrounded by cafés, restaurants, spas and quaint little cottages set sgainst cobbled streets. There's a woodland and Edwardian garden ready to explore, as well as a gothic castle, railway and pottery. Overall there are many things to do in this scenic place.

Wiltshire, England

The main reason for my want to visit Wiltshire is to see Stonehenge; however there are many other sights to see in the county including Avebury neolithic stone circle, Stourhead Gardens, Museum of the Great Western Railway, Lacock Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral and Nunney Castle. I've always loved history, art and architecture and there's so much to see in this area. I'm sure its a perfect place to walk and enjoy the landscape.

Edinburgh, Scotland

As the capital, its no surprise that there are so many things to do in Edinburgh, such as visiting the Castle, Holyrood Palace, Arthur's Seat, Scottish National Gallery, Royal Botanic Gardens, St Giles' Cathedral, Museum of Childhood, National War Museum and Edinburgh Zoo. I've always wanted to visit Scotland because of my godson being Scottish and lived there for several years now. I want to see the culture and the architecture of Scotland as well as compare the city life there.

Favourite Instagrammers - August

Hello again! As I said last month, I'm definitely addicted to Instagram; I love the simplicity of it, how you can express yourself visually and just explore it. It's a really easy way to connect with people that you don't know and also find topics that you're interested in. I'm always scrolling through Instagram without even thinking about it, but there are always some people who I look at more than others and these ladies have lovely feeds. Please note that all of these images belong to them and were found using a simple Google search. 

 

lottiepearce

I actually found Lottie's Instagram after she liked one of my photos; I literally looked at her feed out of curiosity and followed her. As she's a similar skin tone to me I love her make-up posts as I know that the majority of the products will suit my skin tone. She also posts a lot of outfits and her photos are simply stunning, they're so detailed and rich in colour and focus.

 

megsays

After seeing a YouTube video by Meg, I noticed she had an Instagram account as well and followed her almost immediately. Her photos are always beautifully taken and look amazing, but also she often posts photos of her enjoying herself with friends alongside her more standard blogger beauty photos.

 

superlativelylj

Laura is an incredibly inspiring woman and has a definite power about her posts, often encouraging other women to love themselves regardless of their size, age or intelligence level. I also really want to read the book she's written as she seems to have a level headed approach to every aspect of life.

 

fireflyfiphie

Sophie's Instagram is definitely more related to my love of the arts, as she's an illustrator and poet. Her feed is full of her journals and how she fills them with thoughts, words and visual feelings. I like how she mixed words and poetry with visual imagery across the page, as well as how her style is so clear; always in pen and mostly black lines. 

 

rosietheginger

After seeing one of her photos on the 'explore' page of Instagram, I scrolled through her feed and instantly liked it. Often posting beautifully arranged photos of food, her cat and herself, she also makes the most ordinary things seem extraordinary, such as having a milkshake. It's her enthusiasm for life that makes her enjoyable to follow.

My travel bucket list

 

Rome, Italy

I've always dreamt of visiting Italy, ever since studying the Romans at primary school, strange as that sounds. I'm in love with the architecture of Rome and the deep history, I really enjoy visiting museums and galleries, as well the opportunity to learn more about a place and Rome has such a rich history I know that I could do all of those things with ease. One obvious sight to see is the Colosseum, as well as others such as the Vatican, Trevi Fountain and the Sistine Chapel. I studied art at university and Rome has so many pieces of art I would literally be spoils for choice of what to see, and obviously the food and drink would be incredible, Italian ice cream anyone?

Tromsø, Norway

The reason I want to visit Norway is primarily to see the natural phenomenon that is the Northern Lights, but I'm also interested in the Polar Park, Lutheran Cathedral and the Cable Car which runs through a mountain range. There's also many museums and art galleries to see but ultimately the main pull of Tromsø its the breathtaking views you see throughout the city; it's rare to see such natural sights such as the sea, mountains and the night sky all at the same time and truly appreciate it.

Sydney, Australia

It's going to sound a bit strange, but in short; during primary school my best friend emigrated to Australia with her family. Like many childhood friendships, it fizzled out but we still have each other on Facebook and wish each other happy birthday every year. But ever since then, I've always had a wish to travel to Australia. From a tourist point of view, I really want to see Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, The Royal Botanic Garden, The Rocks and Taronga Zoo.

Budapest, Hungary

I've always wanted to explore more in Europe, particularly as I've always been interested in architecture. Budapest is home to some really spectacular pieces of architecture, especially in gothically styled churches. There are so many beautiful buildings to visit, such as Buda Castle, Chain Bridge, Hősök tere, Fisherman's Bastion, St. Stephen's Basillica and the Hungarian Parliament Building. It's one of the largest cities in Europe and a has some strange but interesting things to do, for example the Budapest Pinball Museum and I would be tempted to indulge in a buffet-style night time river cruise.

San Francisco, USA

The Golden Gate Bridge is probably the most well known architectural reason to visit San Francisco, but there are also many other highlights, includin Land's End, San Francisco Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts and Alcatraz Island. Aside from that, it's also a massively populated and busy city as the main commercial and financial centre of Northern California; therefore skyscrapers are everywhere and make for a beautiful viewing, particularly at sunset.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Ever since reading 'The Fault in our Stars' by John Green I've always had a passion to see the city of Amsterdam (and yes, I am aware that it is a fictional book!) the main reason the being the huge artistic culture of the city. There are so many things to see, some sad and some really enjoyable. These include The Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Oude Kerk, Heineken Experience and the Joods Historisch Museum. I have to admit I'm not fan of cycling though, but I'm sure walking would do just fine :)

Stockholm, Sweden

Sat next to the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is the capital but I mainly want to visit and see the areas that I've read about so much in the 'Millenium Trilogy' by Steig Larsson, strange as that may sound. I particularly want to see the medieval town of Gamla Stan, as well as other sights and attractions such as The Vasa Museum, Djurgården, Drottningholm Palace, Fotografiska, Nobel Museum, Livrustkammaren, Nordic Museum and Långholmen. Plus there are so many little hidden cafes and bookshops to explore.

Prague, Czech Republic

By far the ultimate destination for architectural beauty, Prague is made up of gothic churches and medieval buildings. Some of the main tourist attractions are the Charles Bridge, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Astronomical Clock, the Old Town Square, Museum of Decorative Arts and Prague Castle. Another reason to visit Prague is my childhood love of Ballet; Prague is famously home to the First International Ballet School and there are many performances to be seen at the National Theatre.

Barcelona, Spain

Atoni Gaudi's architectural creations are famous throughout the world and the Sagrada Família is definitely an excuse to visit Barcelona alone; however there are so many sights and attractions to see its almost impossible to decide where to go and what to see. There is the Gothic Quarter, Casa Milà, Park Güell, The Picasso Museum, MACBA Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum, Barcelona Cathedral and Santa Maria del Mar. Not forgetting the beaches and natural sights as well.

Geneva, Switzerland

I can't even fully explain why Geneva is on my wish list; but there are some really beautiful places to visit, such as the St. Pierre Cathedral, Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, the Natural History Museum of Geneva, Jet d'Eau, Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain and a Grand Théâtre de Genève. It seems like the kind of place which would be perfect to wind down and generally relax in.