5 things I love about London

I owe London an apology.

I've been here for almost five months now and after an initial struggle with homesickness and a difficult time settling in, I've decided to focus on the positives and finally embrace everything this city has to offer.

So, here are the top 5 things I love about London:

1. There is always something to do. If you find yourself with nothing to do, then you're not doing London right! There are so many museums, shows, parks, restaurants and shops to look at and with so many public transport options available, you have no excuse to stay at home.

2. The trains run frequently so you're not wasting your time underground. If you miss a train, don't panic, the next one is only 1-3 minutes away! No stress! 

3. You are in the centre of Europe. There are so many surrounding countries to visit, so why not treat yourself to a long weekend in Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Portugal or even Paris :)

4. London is one of the fashion capitals of the world! There are shops everywhere, fashion everywhere and the streets of London are like a fashion runway. If you love fashion, this is a great place to experience the latest in the industry.

5. It's a great place to put your foot in the door for your chosen career. It's such a big city so there is always a possibility for evolution in your chosen field.

What do you love about London?

Coming up next: Spring is in the air

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Where did March go?

Does it scare you how quick time is flying by?

It feels like only yesterday we were celebrating Christmas but in actual fact, Christmas has come and gone and now, so has Easter.

I've been in London for close to 5 months now and it has been a difficult time. London is a very busy city. There are millions and millions of locals and millions of tourists, so everywhere is crowded.

And, the working days seem extra long here in London. I work 9 hours with an hour lunch break and then add on commuting to a from work, my 8 hour shift, turns into an 11 hour day. It has been difficult to try and find my work/life balance!

But, I've decided to find the positives in this city and try and enjoy my time.

For the passed 6 weeks, I have missed my blogging. I have been struggling in London, settling into my work and missing my friends and family, that I have neglected my real passion.

My blogging.

I will be managing my time better so I can blog more often and share with you my real passion...

[W R I T I N G  ,  F A S H I O N  &  T R A V E L]

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So be sure to check back for the London fashion and more from the London series.

Coming up next... The 5 things I love about London.

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Top 5 places to get coffee in London

Ever since I started studying at University, I began to drink coffee. Every time I drink coffee, I think back to my first year at University. I was fresh out of high school, excited to be an adult and eager to learn.  

I remember the people I met, my lecturers and the units I studied. I also remember all the coffee I drank and to this day, I can't function properly without at least one cup of coffee in my system.

I have to confess, since being in Europe I miss Australian coffee. I miss the coffee art on my morning flat white and most of all, I miss the taste of the perfected brew. I loved my time in France and I still want to return again, but the one thing I don't miss, is the coffee. 

I was excited to travel to a new country, to explore and discover new things. I have been in London for over 3 months now and I spend most of my free time finding the best coffee in London.

So, I've compiled a list of my top 5 places to get coffee in London.

1. Kaffeine in Soho. A café inspired by the coffee culture of Australia and New Zealand. Being Australian myself, this was one of the first cafés I tried in London. I loved everything about this café. My flat white was delicious and smooth and my tasty treats were indulgent.

2. The Coffee Works Project. We stumbled upon this café after walking along Southwark from the London Eye. We were tired from walking and in need of a caffeine fix! The industrial interior made it feel quirky and fun. The flat white was smooth and deliciously strong and the cakes were pretty delicious too.

3. Prufrock Coffee. After an afternoon of exploring London, it was time for some caffeination! This café was highly recommended so we decided to try it out! The people were friendly and welcoming and enjoyed a good conversation. Although, my Frenchy didn't get the coffee he ordered, we still enjoyed the experience and the coffee. With free Wifi, the modern café is a great place for an afternoon coffee or business meeting.

4. Wired Co in West Hampstead. This was one of the first coffees I had in London. I was heading to a job interview and arrived plenty early, so I had time to stop for a coffee. I stumbled passed this little café, so I decided to go in. The small café made it warm and cozy and my coffee was smooth and creamy.  The food menu looked interesting with fresh ingredients, so I'll definitely return to try!

5.  Flat White in Soho. Another Australian inspired café in London. I loved the small and intimate interior of Flat White. As soon as you walk in, you are hit with the smell of freshly brewed coffee. It's warm, cozy and the latte art is almost too nice to drink... almost!

Where is your favourite place to get coffee in London?

Head to the London Series for more tips from London.

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A day in the life...

I've wanted to start a new segment on my blog for a few years now.

Since starting my blog, I have met many savvy fashionistas, wonderful stylists and inspirational women. So I thought, why not interview and share "a day in the life..." of the people who inspire and influence me for my loyal readers!

And to kick off the series, I thought I would start with a day in the life of me.

I wanted to share some of my personal life with you, to help you understand what motivates me!

A typical day off for me, means I get a sleep in, I run some errands and then go window shopping for fashion inspiration.

A day in the life of me!

9:00 I know it's not the best way to start the day but my day doesn't begin until I scroll through my fashion Instagram page! I love checking out the latest fashion and admiring other bloggers' outfits. After I've had my fashion fix, it's time for my coffee and breakfast. A typical breakfast for me is natural oats sweetened with vanilla essence and of course...coffee!

11:00 After doing some errands, it's time for a mid morning pick me up. I've recently been enjoying home made smoothies! I've been experimenting with different ingredients but my favourite combination at the moment is mango and strawberry. The fresh produce doesn't last so long here in London so I use frozen fruits. As a benefit, your smoothie is instantly chilled and ready to drink! 

My recipe:

1/2 frozen mango

1/2 frozen strawberry

1 1/2 cup of skim milk

Vanilla essence to taste

It's such a simple recipe but oh so tasty!

12:00 Once my brain has woken up, I usually spend a couple of hours doing my blogging and networking. I come up with new post ideas and share my blog archives on my Social Media platforms.... or I get distracted and browse other fashion bloggers!

2:00 This is when I take some time for myself. After I've picked my outfit and applied my makeup, I go exploring the city. I like to find great places to go shopping and enjoy a warm beverage while I do. I enjoy studying the latest fashion and getting inspiration for blog posts or to understand the latest trends. Sometimes I'm guilty of indulging, otherwise I enjoy "window shopping" and dreaming of the day when I can buy everything I want!

6:00 After 4 months of holidays and 3 months of settling into London life... I've just started getting back into my exercise. I spend 40 - 60 minutes doing body weight exercises.

My routine:
5 minutes of warm up stretching/exercises
5 sets of 20 squats
5 sets of 20 sit ups
5 sets of 20 lunges
5 sets of 10 push ups
5 sets of 10 tricep dips
10 minutes of stretching to cool down

As I regain my strength, I will be increasing my repetitions and slowly add some weights for resistance. At the moment, I am focusing on regaining my flexibility. The strength will come back later!

8:00 Dinner time! My Frenchy and I have different food schedules. I hate eating dinner after 8:30 but he never gets hungry! So when he's working, it's dinner for one at 8:00pm! I've always been difficult with food so dinner is usually something simple and it usually consists of chicken!

After dinner, I unwind by reading or doing some more blogging... Or watching re runs of Modern Family!

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