Instagram Issues

Processed with VSCO with c8 presetProcessed with VSCO with c8 presetProcessed with VSCO with c8 presetProcessed with VSCO with c8 presetI’ve wanted to write this post about Instagram for a long time now because for a period of time this was a such a big thing in my life that kept me awake at night, which is ridiculous, losing sleep over an app!

The conversation about Instagram themes, followers, and bots has been pretty popular recently. Some people are concerned where this is all going, including Instagram and blogging.

Everyone I speak to has the same view. Instagram has taken such prominence over blogging that it can feel overwhelming. Every square you decide to share is carefully curated with the aim to get engagement and to increase the numbers because numbers mean success.

I realized a few weeks ago that I’m spending too much time thinking about the theme of my grid and if my next photo will fit into (at the moment) a pastel feed. It went so far that I started photoshopping colours and ended up ditching some amazing photos. Dark tables? Nah! Colourful umbrellas? Nah. Some beautiful moments in my life simply didn’t make the cut to be featured on my Instagram.

I realized that if I don’t move from London to some Greek island anytime soon I’m doomed. I wanted my Instagram to be completely me, a place where I’m showing the world what I’m up to, where I travel, what I eat…but then it turned out the grid decides for me what to do next so it fits into the theme.

Why am I trying to theme my life? My love for photography and capturing beauty in everyday life is suffering because I’m imposing limitations on myself for the sake of numbers.

Another problem is the new and ridiculous Instagram algorithm so if there is no #ootd or #travel is highly likely your picture won’t be shown to too many people.

I’m not sure whose fault it is, the bloggers’ or Instagram’s but I’m going to stop doing it, stop stressing my self over the next picture and just post what and when I want.

On a brighter note, here are some pictures with the last breath of Autumn.  Now when everything starts to look Christmasy (and I gave up on bare legs) this tree next to my building was a true gem to find.

I’m not sure how this jumper looks on the pictures but in real life, it’s the softest thing ever. It’s a mohair blend and I found it for a bargain at H&M (not an advert btw). Did I mention that I’m obsessed with jumpers?

What I wore: Skirt: Next | Jumper: H&M | Boots: Dorothy Perkins (similar)| Coat: Zara(old) | Bag: Zara(old) | Tights: Accessorize 

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A love story – How to socialise in London

Being a fashion blogger in London is truly one of the best things that I have ever done.  The city of London is one of the most diverse and cultural places that I have ever lived, from the museums and art galleries to the varied night life in Central London, right the way down to the cultural pockets that exist of communities in various parts of the city, ranging from the subcontinental Asians from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in East London, to the vibrancy and colourfulness of China town, however i’ve also noticed…..

London scene by night
The people of London always have a story to tell

London has a massive problem!

People don’t seem to want to talk to each other in London! and when you do attempt to talk to someone, a complete stranger in London, you get looked at like a complete weirdo! 😦  Having lived in Croatia all my life up until a couple of years ago, and having recently gone on a trip to Barcelona, I realised how much of a London problem this was, when I was able to talk to the local people in Barcelona, and have an open and free conversation with them about how they found the city, and what they liked and disliked about it, and, you know, just talk about life in general really.  I thought all hope was lost, until one day.

Something amazing happened:

I was on the last train home and was on the train to go home, sitting on a seat in the carriage, I was minding my own business when a young(ish) couple came and sat down opposite me, they were holding hands, and we exchanged glances, I had nothing else to do and my phone had run out of battery so I took one attempt to speak to this couple, but I thought, let me sound like a complete weirdo, and say “You guys look very much in Love, are you?”

The response could have been from a Hollywood writer, nothing would have prepared me for their love story….

They looked like a regular couple, but the first thing that the guy (Michael) showed me was a necklace that he wore with the name Rob on it, I looked at him completely puzzled.  The girl, Helen then spoke, she said “Rob was my brother, we grew up together in the North of England and did everything together, learning to ride bikes, going to school, drinking in university, we were completely inseparable” she continued, “After my parents divorced, I moved to London, and Rob who was living with my mum at the time called me and asked if he could move in with me, and I told him to come!”.

This love story was really confusing I thought, till I heard some tragic news:

Helen explained, 6 years ago Rob passed away, after a tragic car accident, it turned my world upside down she said, and I just never felt the same about anything again.  She told me how she remembered the day that she went to the hospital after the accident, and Rob was comatose, she remembers speaking to the Doctor who told her that Rob was an organ donor, which she felt indifferent to at the time, the next day he died.  However:

This would trigger another chain of events in this love story

Michael had lived in London all his life, and had been diagnosed with a heart defect at a young age, he got tired doing basic things, and medication helped for a while but the effects were starting to wear off, so he was put on a heart transplant list, days went by, and one day Michael was told that he had a heart, he went to the hospital and had surgery, he woke up a new man.

Slowly this love story was starting to make sense

As Micheal recovered, he wrote a letter to Helen’s family thanking them for the organ donation, and for giving him a second chance at life.  Helen told me how it felt like it was Rob speaking to them, after some time exchanging letters, they agreed to meet in person. He drove up to Manchester to meet Helen and the rest of the family as she had moved back there.  Helen said that initially she felt uncomfortable about it, but her family and boyfriend (at the time) showed Rob around Manchester and admitted that there was some sort of connection.  They agreed to keep in touch over time.

So what happened next??

Helen and Michael saw each other infrequently, and by this time, Helen had broken up with her boyfriend.  After Michael had graduated, he took one last trip to Manchester to see Helen, and she said it was at that time when she realised that she had feelings for him, the rest as they say is history, Helen said it was hard at first, but they soon worked things out and have been together ever since.  The story ended, and I got off the train at my stop (which I almost missed), and remember just feeling so invigorated and alive, what a great story, and a great way to prove that people in London are truly sociable and you can have a conversation with them.

So this got me thinking….

Everyone must have at least one amazing story about love in their life, no matter how big or small something that perhaps you want to share with everyone in the world because it just makes you feel so good about life.  Perhaps you have married your childhood sweetheart, or you are recently in a new relationship, so no matter how big or small your story is, come on London, leave a comment and tell me about it 🙂

Sunday Reading List

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1.Laura Ruof , a fashion and beauty blogger at Call To Style talk about why she stopped dressing “hot”

2.The best restaurants with a garden in London.

3.Elie Saab one again impressed with his new couture collection autumn/winter 2015-2016

4.Lets peek inside wardrobe of Olivia Palermo , Suki Waterhouse and Lilly Allen  

5.Learn how to decorate like a designer in 10 steps

6.The Top 10 Summers in fiction.

7.Stylist.co.uk writer Sejal Kapadia challenges the tried and tested formula for big fat Indian weddings 

8.Audrey Hepburn, from her son’s perspective. Also, who else is getting excited for the National Portrait Gallery exhibition?!

Sunday Reading List

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1.An Australian TV show about fashion bloggers , featuring Sara Donaldson from  Harper and Harley,which is available to watch on youtube

2. The most inspiring life lessons from Humans of New York

3. The prettiest picnic I’ve ever seen.

4.  Incredible photographs of windows around the world

5.  For hot days in London iced green tea

6. All the best fashion highlights from this year’s Glastonbury festival

7. Vogue presented short movie At home with Poppy Delevingne in partnership with Cartier

8. 5 ways how to decorate with books

Friday Favourites- Barcelona

Favourite Tapas

La Pepita

I’m tapas monster 🙂 Even in London I want to have tapas every week. So first thing I did when we arrived to Barcelona was to ask our hosts were is the best tapas place. They recommended La Pepita ,small but lovely restaurant and bar in Gràcia. It was the best tapas I ever had!  From patatas bravas,croquettes to Spanish ham and even fried egg with crisps…everything was amazing.

After delicious dinner we ordered dessert which was definitely something that I didn’t know it exist – Corn Ice Cream with Popcorns and Raspberries. Surprisingly it was delicious just like everything .Good thing is it not too busy and guest are mostly Spanish so you can be sure it’s good 🙂  I would recommend everyone to go there when they visiting Barcelona

La-Pepita

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http://www.lapepitabcn.com

Favourite Outfit

I was already writing about this outfit and my first day in Barcelona but here it is again. I was feeling so comfy and good and this and I’m sorry that I can’t really wear it more often because you know… London

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Favourite Blogger

Trendy Taste -Natalia Cabezas

One of my favourite bloggers is Spanish and is from Barcelona. So this is opportunity to introduce her . Her style is mostly bohemian and inspiring .

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MEET THE BLOGGER Trendy Taste

Follow her here

http://trendytaste.com

Favourite Place

Barcelona is now definitely my favourite city and everything is so nice there but the most amazing thing is Montjuic. I can’t even decide when it’s better ,during the day when the view is amazing or during the night when the lights and colours of fountain are amazing. And it’s so romantic

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Favourite Shopping

Like a real Zara fan only thing I was thinking is Zara. And I have to say it’s much better than London Zara. It’s much bigger with much more choice(they say better quality as well). Mango,Stradivarius,Pull&Bear and Bershka are everywhere. Literally everywhere. Best part for shopping spree is Passeig de Gràcia where you can choose from high street brand to exclusive designer stores.

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If you are weird and you are not into clothes 😉 there is a amazing colour coordinated market ,famous La Boqueria . Everything is fresh and delicious . It’s good that I had breakfast before,otherwise I would buy everything 🙂

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Friday Favourites

Favourite Coffee and Tea

2 Love Coffee and Tea House

Almost every week I find new great place for coffee ,tea and cake so this week I found cute little place just 5 min walking form Clapham Junction station- 2 Love Coffee and Tea House

They have wide selection of teas and they are serving famous manmouth  coffee,fresh orange juice and all kinds of pastries and cakes

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Favourite Shoes

Zara is that kind of store that when you get in you can’t get out empty handed. Clothes is great,and shoes…oh shoes. Zara always has amazing shoes,all off them.But here are my favourites for spring/summer

Zara Shoes

Favourite Outfit

Even though it’s still windy and cold in London my mind is somewhere warmer. I like to browse through this bloggers outfits. Her name is Jessie Chanes and she’s from Malaga,Spain. Because they are blessed with warm weather her clothes is always summerly

Seems for Desire

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Favourite Scent

Giorgio Armani Sì

One of the most unusual fragrances I’ve ever tried . The top notes are Sicilian bergamot, mandarin oil and liqueur de Cassis, so that’s where the citrus smell comes from. The heart notes are Rose de Mai, Neroli and Egyptian Jasmine, which gives it a bit of a floral component. The base notes are Patchouli Oil, Blond Woods, Amber, Orcanox and Vanille Absolute, and that is what gives this fragrance a sweet woody warmth.

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Favourite Book

Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat

The book about Karl Lagerfeld beloved cat. She has it all, from her own iPad to private jet. here, for the first time, she shares her complete lifestyle guide. Humorously themed chapters cover diet, beauty, healthcare, fashion tips, secret loves along with observations and advice from Madame Horn (her vet), and Madame Françoise (her lady’s maid) . I’m sure cat fans will love this book but also Karl’s fans 🙂

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