Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts

I’m pretty sure Venice is on most people’s bucket list. If it isn’t, it definitely should be a place you visit before you die. It’s a phenomenal city built on stilts over the Adriatic Sea in northern Italy. There are more than 100 small islands that make up Venice and they are all connected by bridges. There is almost like a one-way system as you often have to go around other islands. Through the middle of Venice is the Grand Canal which is what the river Thames is to London. There are only three bridges that cross the canal so be sure to plan your journey when navigating the islands. It's not as simple as crossing the road.

Venice is a beautiful city and is absolutely stunning during the day and night. There is something calming about being surrounded by water and watching the current bob. The Venice film festival was on so we took the boat out to Lido where it is held. Timothée Chalamet was there for his screening of The King. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see him.

Where to stay in Venice…

Venice can be really expensive, but it can also be done affordably. Mestre is located on the mainland and is at the end of the road that’ll take you to the Venice islands. It is often cheaper to stay here and travel into Venice will cost you no more than €3 on the bus or train. My friend and I stayed in a small one bed AirBnB not far from Mestre station.


Travelling in Venice…

Travelling around and between the islands can get quite expensive. I'd recommend buying a three-day pass at the train station. It came to €30 each. The pass allows unlimited travel around Venice and access to all the museums. You can ride the Vaporettos (water buses) and have a mini-tour of the main islands and surrounding islands.

What to do…

There are lots to do in Venice. Expect lots of walking around, exploring and getting lost. When you first arrive, take your time getting to explore what’s around you. There are lots of narrow passageways but they all have signs pointing you in the direction of the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square.

Doge’s Palace is stunning not only from the outside but inside too. The palace dates back to 1340 and was residence to the supreme authority of the former Venetian Republic (Doge). It can get really busy during the day but the crowds lighten in the evening. We went in the evening and it felt like we were the only ones there. You can get in free under the travel pass I mentioned above or pay for entry.

During your stay, I’d recommend visiting the Murano and Burano islands. They are about 20 minutes from Venice and are definitely worth the trip. Burano is the furthest island so I’d suggest going there first. You’ll probably recognise it from all the pictures of multi-coloured houses. I read that the houses are in different colours so the fishing men could locate their houses better. Burano has a rich history of lace and there are plenty of shops where you can pick up some lace. Murano is famous for its glass and is something you’ll see all over Venice. When I went, we visited the glass museum. Just a warning if you’re not sure whether to go or not- it mostly contained numerous cabinets of glass. 

If you're looking to escape and the crowds and want to relax on the beach, take a Vaporetto to Lido. It has a long strip of soft sand and looks out into the Adriatic sea.



Where to eat…

We indulged ourselves in dairy-free ice cream and stuffed our faces with pizza. A lot of restaurants around the Venice islands are accommodating to different dietary requirements. We were quite fortunate in being able to buy dairy-free ice cream and also eat a gluten-free pizza and pasta. Just look out for ‘senza glutine’ on the signs. On most days, we would share a pizza for lunch and head back to the flat to make dinner.

Katie Bucknell wrote a post called Gluten-Free Venice and it was really helpful in finding restaurants we could eat at. Restaurants in Venice can be quite expensive but there are tons listed in the post including ones tucked in little alleyways. 

Enjoy your holiday and I hope this post has helped

Love, Aoife xo


My Mum and I arrived on Thursday morning and left Saturday evening. Meaning after all the travelling, Friday was the only day we had a full day. We stayed in a cute AirBnB in Porto Romano which was a couple of stops on the Metro from Duomo Square. It was a couple of minutes from the station and also near the tram stop to get to the Navigli canals. Which we visited on Thursday evening.

Duomo Square is the main square in Milan as it's where the cathedral is located. On the left of the cathedral is Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel II which you'll know by the high glass ceiling and impressive architecture. Surprisingly, it was actually quite cool underneath the glass while the weather was hitting 30 degrees outside. 

The floor is covered in mosaics and we found the famous bull. The myth goes that if you spin on your heel on the Bull's balls you receive good luck. We both had a little spin and whether you believe in the myth or not, I found out I had passed my media law exam after thinking I'd failed it. So I did receive a little bit of good luck!


Friday was spent wandering around Milan as much as we could on foot. Coming out of the Galleria, we took a little trip through the fashion district. The centre of Milan is filled with narrow roads and all the designers had set up shop in the old buildings. I don't think I've ever seen such a large concentration of designer stores in one area before. It was quite something. Even though we window shopped, it was nice to explore a quieter side of Milan and look at the old buildings. 

After strolling past the Montragoni school of fashion, we stumbled across a free museum hidden behind the street. It had a mixture of art, lace and sculptures. We also took a trip to the Castelo Sforzesco where we crashed in the park for an hour or two under a tree to avoid the heat.


There aren't many touristy things to do in Milan. At least, not things we were interested in doing. However, going to the top of the cathedral was definitely on our list of things to do. We originally planned to go in the morning but the sun was shining brightly above us so we decided to leave it until later. Buying the tickets were a little tricky and confusing, I'd recommend going a little later in the day when the surge of tourists (even though you are one) has gone down. We chose not to do the fast track tickets and it turned out to be fine. There were no queues. 

To go inside the cathedral you need your legs and shoulders covered. As you can see from the pictures, I had both out on full display so I was made to buy a paper kimono for a few euros. The cathedral had very high ceilings but the chill you get in most cathedrals wasn't there. I think visiting the rooftop was one of my favourite parts as you could see all the other rooftops of Milan. It was quite stunning.

Views from the Airbnb.
Love, Aoife xo

Welcome to my French Riviera Inspired Lookbook! The French Riviera is a magical coastline with sparkly rich blue seas and an aura of wealth. One of my favourite things about going on holiday is piecing together looks that are influenced by the local culture. Harper's Bazaar describes the French coastline's style as "somewhere between nautical and Parisian chic." Here is my take.



Top - H&M
Shorts - H&M

This is my favourite look from the whole trip! Mostly because I feel it captures the essence of the French Riviera more than the other outfits did. I wore it whilst visiting the beautiful town of Cannes and felt very chic walking around. I love the simplicity of the black crop top with it's the straight neckline. The linen shorts add a nautical feel to the outfit, blending in to the heavy yacht scene along the blue coast.

Top - Forever 21
Shorts - H&M

This is the kind of outift I picture when I imagine myself cycling along the promenade; shorts and a cute top. Although it can be a little fiddly, I love this wrap top. The frills on the sleeves and the long wrap belt add a sense of youth to the outfit that is emphasised by the large floppy hat. And everyone looks cute in a good pair of shorts.

Top - H&M
Shorts - H&M
Sunnies - My own

When exploring any place you need to wear something comfy and practical but that doesn't mean you have to skip on style. Exploring cities are easier to dress for as you don't have to worry about mud and dirt. I really like this top as it has tie shoulder straps and a peplum bottom. It's cute, easy to pair with and the smocking detail at the top means a bra is not necessary. A nice change from being squashed into a bikini.

Dress - New Look (shop Similar)

You can never go wrong with a plain white dress. I wore this whilst visiting Monaco and simplicity (in fashion) is key over there. The buttons down the middle add a little character to the dress and allow you to play with the style, such as leaving the last few buttons open to create a slit in the dress. I paired it with my straw floppy hat from Accessorize and my brown gladiator sandals from New Look.


I also filmed a Lookbook which I'd love for you to check out! Watch it here.

Love, Aoife xo



One of my favourite memories about Christmas is that every year on the first weekend of December, we’d take out all the Christmas decorations from the attic and spend the rest of the evening putting up the tree, decorating the house with tinsel and mini Santa’s. It was a tradition that started the official countdown; once the tree was up, the countdown to Christmas Day began!

In my second Blogmas post, I wrote about how I was getting into the Christmas spirit whilst living in uni halls and did a little haul of all the decorations I had bought. But that wasn’t enough for me and I somehow managed to encourage all my flatmates to build a tree together. 

We only had two weeks left before we all went home and as we’re too poor to buy a proper tree, I thought it would be cool to make one out of all the plastic bottles. Since we’re all drinking bottled water (the tap water here is gross), it was the perfect thing to use. Our tree is probably the most student thing you’ve ever seen! 

It’s now sitting in the corner of our kitchen, with lights draped over it and it’s the cutest thing you’ve seen!

In life, we’re not always given everything and I’ve always been taught to make do with what we’ve got. I know this tree isn’t the same and doesn’t compare to life’s problems but it’s an example of using what you’ve got and turned it into something positive.

Anyway, I made a video of us constructing our magical and eco-friendly tree. Check it out below or watch it here.


Like articles on sustainability and eco-friendly resources? Read my review of reusable cotton pads here, or how I got on with using a natural deodorant here. Or, if you're interested in becoming part of the sustainable conversation, read some tips here.


It's almost Christmas! For this Blogmas post, I wanted to do something a little different. It's the most magical time of the year and I thought I'd share this post since it's about a magical place I visited in the summer. Enjoy! x

It felt like I'd stepped into a fairy tale. I'd never seen anything like it. It was so beautiful; magical. Sintra is like a real-life version of the animated Disney Princess films. You just have to walk around the village and look at the view of the mountain front of you, to feel how awe-inspiring this place is. Sintra, for sure, is one of the most magical places I've ever visited.



My Friend and I walked around the National Palace of Sintra and I remember looking out of one of the windows onto the village in front, on the side of this mountain. I had to stop for a moment and just stare at the scene in front of me. It was like I was living in a fairy tale. As if any moment Belle or Cinderella or Aurora were going to pop out from a side road and walk down the road swinging their basket of fresh bread. The view from the window was breathtakingly beautiful and I wish I could live in a fairytale land. I could picture the life behind the window, people walking around the village, horse and carts on the road.

And the magic didn't stop there. About 15 minutes from the main village, we came to the gates of Quinta da Regaleiara. It had been suggested by one of my friends that it would be more worthwhile to visit this palace and gardens than the Pena Palace and I'm so happy we ended up going here. It was exactly like Beauty and the Beast. Every part of the gardens and the architecture on the house reminded me of the Beasts Castle.

There was no escaping it with the large foresty gardens and distinctive architecture, that this place contained something so beautiful, it was almost magical. I could picture beast living inside the palace, swinging from the roof as he landed on a foresty path with statues. Every corner of the gardens was a new place to explore; they had underground passageways, wells, ponds and waterfalls. Don't even get me started on the decor inside the castle. There were little tea cups that reminded me of Chip and the dresser in the bedroom looked exactly like the one in the film, Madame de La Grand Bouche.




It was a great day out and I'd recommend it to anyone who's visiting Lisbon to travel up to Sintra and explore the magical village on the side of the mountain. Have you ever visited somewhere almost magical too?

Love, Aoife x


Dare I ask the question- have you started present shopping yet? Getting your Christmas present shopping done early is the best thing as you can be nice and relaxed by the time Christmas Day comes along. The key to a great Christmas gift is that it’s heartfelt and there was thought put into it.

Being obsessed with everything fashion, beauty and lifestyle, it made sense that I put together a wishlist of my top picks for what to get for Christmas. My edit includes a few must-haves for any fashion lover and those interested in Style, Beauty and personal appearance.

Books

Apologies for the colours, having issues with backgrounds in my uni room
How to be a Parisian- I have been obsessed with everything French lately. They just do everything better from romance to fashion to skincare. How to be a Parisian is a book written by a group of French women who write about every aspect of life. This is definitely one of those of books that anyone interested in Lifestyle would love and for those interested in French living.

Love x Style x LifeGarance Dore - This is definitely on my wishlist for Christmas. I’m going to say it’s somewhat similar to How to be a Parisian as it’s like a guide that takes you through different parts with personal stories weaved in. Nicknamed the French Grace Coddington, this book is guaranteed to set hearts racing and provide an insightful guide to the life of a fashion blogger.

Inside Vogue, Alexandra Shulman- For those who have ever wondered what being the editor at Vogue is like, this book is one for you. It’s a diary by the fabulous and former editor Alexandra Shulman taking the reader through the centenary year. She talks about the Fashion Weeks and Designers to the business of running a magazine and all the work behind the scenes. This book is not only perfect for those interested in fashion but also those interested in magazine journalism too.

The Bare Essentials, Tracy Martin- The perfect stocking filler! For anyone with a love of lingerie and the relationship we have with it, this book is perfect. It’s a short and sweet little book examining the history and how underwear has evolved through the years.

Films

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Confessions of a Shopaholic- For all my shopaholics out there, this is your film! It’s the perfect girls night in film or for when you just need a good laugh. Based on Sophie Kinsella’s novel, Confessions of a Shopaholic (you should read that too), the film featuring Isla Fisher is perfect for anyone obsessed with fashion and shopping. The laugh out loud comedy is full of clothes, shopping and more clothes! A dream, right?

Sex and The City- Friends, Fashion, Manhatten and Sex! The perfect combination. The Sex and the City series and films are a must see!

Devil Wears Prada- Nothing beats a Meryl Streep film especially when she's playing Miranda Priestly. Featuring Anne Hathaway, this film makes the list of films you have to watch at least once and know about.

If you're looking to spend a little more cash, a Jo Malone candle, like this one, is the perfect gift! It smells heavenly and is loved by everyone!

It's a short little edit but those are just a few ideas of what you can get a fashion/ beauty/ lifestyle obsessed fanatic. Some of them I even have on my own wish list!

Love, Aoife x




It’s Blogmas day 2 and the festivities have hit me in full force! I spent the first day sick in bed and it was horrible! But I’ve taken some medicine and I’m on the path to recovery. I woke up feeling much better and it’s like a light has been switched on inside- the countdown has officially begun! 

I find putting up Christmas decorations is definitely something that gets me in the festive mood. It’s a great feeling and gets my excitement up for the month. Christmas atmosphere is the best! I love walking through the Christmas markets and going to see the lights. The atmosphere is made up of good times and happiness and it's good to carry that through into your home.

I love putting Christmas decorations up around the house. It gives life to the dark, making the cold winter nights that much cosier and warmer. I went out yesterday to buy some decorations to make my uni room feel a little bit more Christmassy. I’m only here for two more weeks before I go home so I didn’t want to go overboard. I ended up picking up a few bits in Primark.





LED light Tree, £8- I love this tree; It’s so cute and minimalist! The metal frame is simple making it the perfect Christmas decoration that doesn’t make the room look overcrowded. It’s the perfect touch for a bedroom decoration.

LED firefly lights (40), £2.50- I have been obsessed with these lights lately! I already have two sets up in my room and bought another set to hang over my bed. With all the lights hung up and switched on means my room looks super cosy. The perfect winter atmosphere!

Large Cream Throw, £9- Primark throws are the best; they’re warm and oh so affordable. I had a grey one previously but I decided to get a cream one as it brightens the room up and softens the atmosphere. Plus, it makes my bed look gloriously, inviting which is a dream!

Those are just a few little pieces I've bought and surprisingly they have made such a big impact. 

Have you started decorating yet? If so, what have you bought?

Love, Aoife x