Styling Puffer Jackets For Winter 2019

When it comes to winter style, my main concern is keeping warm. Like really warm. I am that person that is always cold. So the fact that puffer jackets are back in style makes me super happy. I can now be nice and cosy and still look fashionable and presentable. Puffer jackets are like going outside in your dressing gown. They make everything ok, and keep you toasty and warm.

I love styling my puffer jackets with a basic outfit. My go to look is all black or cream look. I love also pairing this look with a roll neck bodysuit as it means there's no chance of my mid-drift getting a hint of wind.

I have rounded up my top 15 puffer jackets from the high street, there's bound to be something for everyone's style in there. As you can tell, my favourite pieces are in neutral colours as I find them a lot easier to fit into my wardrobe.

This blog post features affiliate links.

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What Is Temping Really Like

As you all know, I've had a bit of a rough year when it comes to my mind this year. I love blogging and I love everything that social media represents and brings to my life, but I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I don't think I can work from home full time anymore, I've tried working in coffee shops, in shared offices, it's just not for me. So to my surprise, I have started temping. For the last week I have been temping as a receptionist.

The first thing that came to my mind when I thought of temping was Charmed (I was obsessed with the original version of this growing up). I remember the character Paige Mathews played by Rose McGowan was feeling unsure what what she wanted to do. She had a passion for full time witchcraft but needed money and wanted the freedom of uping and going when she had to. And in someway, I really do quite relate to her on this. Although my passion is blogging and not witchcraft. It's funny how life pushes you in places you never thought you'd be going.

I never thought I would temp, I never thought I'd work in reception as it's not a job that ever crossed my mind, but, you know what. This week has felt wonderful. Maybe because it's a temp role, maybe because it's a reception job, but my state of mind has drastically increased.

This got me thinking of two different reasons it could be. Firstly, have you ever met a receptionist that wasn't happy and smiley. Not really (except if they work in a the doctors surgeries/ hospitals, because they have a lot to deal with.) It might be that you spend the majority of the day greeting people, answering calls, receiving packages, there's not much to stress about is there. And you can spend the rest of your time on the internet, shopping, reading, doing whatever you like really. Crazy isn't it.

And the second reason might also be the fact that I am only temporarily here. I know there's an end date and I don't really have enough time to sit around and draw on everyone else's negative energy. It's quite a surreal experience to be honest. I believe that I am a super positive and excitable person, but I also wear my heart on my sleeve and I can absorb other people's energies. This may sound funny to you, but I really feel like that.

So by temping so far, I've really enjoyed the time I've spent being a receptionist. I've signed up with an agency, which have secured temporary work for me until Christmas. The pay isn't incredible, but you know what, I don't mind at this moment and time. I'm able to do my blog work, answer my emails and at the same time meet new people, have face to face contact with people and it's what I've been needing in my life for about two year I'd say.

So if you feel like you're in a similar situation, feeling yourself in a downward spiral, then please don't let it get worse, because trust me it does. There's something so beautiful about getting out the house and doing something, anything. And even if it's not your dream job or career, taking care of your mind/ anxiety is super important.

I really hope these blog posts can help just one person, because when I was going through my worst days, I turned to just feeling positive that things will change, and with one week done, things.

SHOP MY LOOK
Jumper: Asos (afflink)
Trousers: Zara
Heels: Jimmy Choo (afflink)

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Stop Worrying About Your Future

Turning 27 has probably been the hardest for me. Every year I usually love birthdays, I start planning things to do, what I want, what to wear at least a month ahead of time. But this year, I kind of wanted to shrug it all under the carpet.

There’s something so wonderful about getting older. With age comes respect, knowledge and wisdom. I also feel extremely grateful to wake up each birthday another year older knowing that I am healthy and lucky enough to have made it through another year.

But. A huge BUT. It can also be one of the most daunting days of your life. I feel like Rachel in Friends on her 30^th birthday. Feeling sad and sorry for herself that her life isn’t where she planned it to be when she turned 30. And although I haven’t turned 30 yet, I can feel the pressure that comes with it creeping up behind me.

And I don’t know why we set ourselves these targets in life. Why we think that 30 is the time we have to have achieved it all. It creates this unofficial tight timeline that everything has to be done by, and if we don’t achieve everything we dream of by that time we have somehow failed ourselves.

Even if we did achieve everything by 30, then what? Are we going to retire and move to Spain and relax on the beach for the next 50 odd years? No! So why do we create this sort of pressure for ourselves? Why does 30 act as a deadline in which we really need to have got our shit together?

So many successful people (and successful means something different to everyone) achieved their success after 30/40 or even 50. We need to stop adding pressure to ourselves. I believe it’s great to have a plan in life, and all the things I want to achieve by 30 are things that I know I will achieve, just maybe not by 30. And that’s ok. It’s ok to not be on the property ladder by 30, it’s ok to not be married or have kids, or have that dream job by 30. 30 is not the be all end all.

After three months of being 27, I have come to be content with my plans. I have realised that I do not need to worry about achieving everything in the next three years because life doesn’t stop at 30.

SUIT: NISSE

BAG: HELMER

SHOES: GLAMOROUS

SUNGLASSES: STEVE MADDEN

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Hello September, I'ts Time For A Change

It’s been about a year that I haven’t really been enjoying my platforms. I haven’t enjoyed blogging, being on Instagram nor have I enjoyed creating content for video on Youtube. Truth be told, I’m not sure that there’s one reason as to why, but a many small issues that have resulted in this huge slump.

I’ve noticed that for the last year I have merely been going through the motions, uploading just to upload, not really striving for greatness and it’s not a great area to be in. Because I haven’t been putting in as much effort as I used to brand collabs have reached an all time low on my channel and there’s no one to blame but myself.

I simply haven’t been enjoying the content I’ve been putting out there. I felt like one of a million instead of one in a million in this industry and lack of effort and motivation has left me really struggling to stay positive and find things that make me feel excited.

And because of this, I’ve been comparing every aspect of my life to others which we all know isn’t great. So from today onwards I am looking to change my content. Finding something that makes me really happy, engage more with you all via stories and create a really positive happy space online that I can call my own once again.

If you follow me on Instagram you will notice that I’ve been posting more on my stories about food (I always have and always will be a massive foodie) but more on the cooking and baking side of it all. I’ve really been enjoying sharing that and you are all loving my recipes so far. This doesn’t mean that I will suddenly become a cooking channel; I am just enjoying this part a lot more right now. I will always be more fashion focused, but will continue to share cooking tips on stories for you all.

So with it being September, a new school year, and Autumn a time for all the trees to shed the extra weight they’ve been carrying on their shoulders, and start a new, it’s time for me to do the same. Time to get up, re-inspire myself and fall back in love with creating content.

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Press Trips: Stranded With Strangers

Press trips have always been a thing. But the last five years or so the popularity of brands taking bloggers/ influencers abroad on press trips has vastly increased. Whether you call them blogger/ press trips. They are essentially, brands taking people with a platform away to represent and promote their brand.

I am so fortunate that over the last three years I have managed to secure press trips all over the world from Dubai to Mexico and many European destinations. A lot of these trips have been sponsored by brands including fashion, beauty and travel brands. Where I get to experience things I probably never would have.

I am extremely grateful for these opportunities; honestly, I don’t think any one can imagine how grateful and overwhelmed I am every time I receive an email of such. It makes me feel so chosen and so seen in an industry filled with successful like minded females.

But, there’s one thing about press trips that is never really spoken about. And that is when you go on a trip with people you don’t really know. A lot of times I am with my blogger friends or I get to bring a plus one, but for the majority of the trips that I have been on, I don’t know ANYONE. Not the PR taking us on the trip, nor any of the influencers, and that my friend, is absolutely daunting.

I’ve mentioned many times before that I was never the confident girl growing up, and I’d never go out my way to make friends as I was so shy, but being in this industry has made me grow confidence to the point where I can go away for a week with people I have never met, never spoken to and have a really enjoyable experience.

I am so lucky that each trip I have been on I have been surrounded by like minded, friendly people who are willing to help take my images, willing to speak to me, and for us all to have a truly wonderful time.

I have learnt to make conversations with people out of nothing and this is a skill that I will be able to carry into the rest of my life. But, it does make me think.

Going on these press trips can be so daunting. I mean, I flew out to Mexico, on my own, without a group chat, without a phone number and then loosing my driver. Luckily, by the time I arrived in Mexico the group chat was set up and I had managed to find my driver (he had waved at me as I was leaving the airport, but I just thought it was a friendly guy).

It takes a lot of courage to do this, and it is like going on a girl’s holiday where you get to do these amazing things and create these wonderful experiences and memories, but instead of your girls from back home, you’re with people from all around the world, which you may never see again…

It’s like a holiday romance, except without the romance and a lot of pictures, a lot of deep meaningful discussions about politics, religion, life and culture. It’s so hard to explain, and on a lot of these trips I wish I was able to bring someone from back home along with me, so that I am able to relive the experience with them.

Even though I generally do not get to see these wonderful people again, I tend to try and stay in touch via Instagram, and those that are in London, I try to meet up and catch up with.

Have you ever been on a press trip, what has been the hardest thing about it for you? Have you ever declined a trip because you felt too nervous to go on one? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

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