I've been pretty quiet on the blogging front since the holidays as I've been a bit unwell; still unsure quite what but it's majorly unsociable and means I haven't really felt like doing much. I'm going to try and make a conscious effort  to "get outside" so I decided I'd take a proper walk to get some fresh air into my lungs. I am most definitely the type to get cabin fever and after watching 300 episodes of The Good Wife and reorganising the cutlery drawer, I realised it might be time to leave the house. That and that the dog was about to wet himself...

I've felt pretty overwhelmed during 2017 so far; this year could be quite a big one for me if I put my head down. For the first time (over Christmas) I really felt affected by social media and it's made me think about what I'm projecting out to my followers. I was scrolling through the perfect feeds with the perfect outfits, lives, flat lays and houses and felt inadequate - Why would anyone read my blog? Was I good enough to write one? Was I thin enough to write one? Do I have enough followers? What if people don't like me? 

Then I got a grip of myself and took a good look. I'm healthy (ordinarily, not right now, but still) which is a bit of a miracle given I've spent more time in hospital than your average rugby side. My flat is tiny but lovely. I have wonderful friends and family, even if my sister and I do bicker like teenagers on a weekly basis. Gus rocks - I won't go into it as I know my single friends have a real thing about those who gush about their love lives on social media, and I totally get why. When I was single seeing couple-induced-happiness on Instagram used to really get me down...

I wasn't one of those who went into January with a to do list. I went in with a sick bucket, and (sadly) it wasn't because I'd stayed up all night partying. When you see all of these "10 Ways I Made Myself F*cking Awesome And Better Than You" posts on Twitter it just makes you want to scream. So, I'm giving you, me. I'm behind already and it's January the 5th. I haven't done my taxes yet, and I've lost my debit card. I hope thats ok... My posts in January will be more of the tone "Things to buy to get you through this dull AF month without killing yourself." In fact I think I might start that one right now...

All that said, this year for me is about consolidating and empowering myself. Two big words I know, but let me explain. I've been working for myself for nearly three years now and although on the surface of it I get to do some really cool stuff, see really cool places and work with really cool people, I'm ready to take it to the next level. I've never quite got there, at least in my opinion. You probably won't have heard of my little consultancy One Roof Social, but we're taking shape nicely and we're hoping this is our year. We did some work at the end of last year that I'm super proud of, and I've got the team I've always wanted to work with which feels really good. I'm also going to do some consulting for some very cool businesses, which as soon as I can, I'll share.

Blog wise, I'm going to try and work on my narrative a little as there's lots I think about and don't write about. I've seen through my Instagram Stories (here) that you guys seem to quite like my ramblings, so you're going to see a bit more of them. I'm going to write about how I'm getting on with my business as well as all the usual fashion, beauty and travel stuff. It's not going to work to a strict content schedule for a while because actually my blog exists because it's fun, it's a hobby and I'm keeping it that way. So there.

If you follow me or any sort of similar blogger/influencer on Instagram (pssst follow me here) you'll already know about Obonjan. In fact you probably got a bit sick of it last month as we all pranced around the island looking all relaxed and boho. Problem is, I don't think this is an issue that'll go away in years to come. Forget Ibiza, forget Mykonos, this place is going to be the next "it" destination.

Other reviews have had a mixed opinion, and in truth mine will be no different. This year was Obonjan's opening launch after five years redevelopment and planning. There were some issues, mainly around service and food supplies - but if that was year 1, the years to come really are going to be quite special...

We arrived in Obonjan after a flight to Split, a taxi transfer over to Sibernik (which I've just learned has a super cool new boutique hotel called The Admiral Zaton in which I'm so annoyed I didn't know about as I'd love to have spent more time there) where we waited for about an hour for our boat to the island.  We had read Monica's post here and got the sense it might be an idea to take a few supplies over, so the time in town was perfect to stock up on snacks, water and a few beers. 

Our boat transfer was only about 30 minutes and very exciting, perhaps a little too much as it was so windy and therefore pretty bumpy. I first visited Croatia last year and fell in love with it, Gus had been before too on Yacht Week carnage a sailing holiday and we both itching to get out to sea. 

To give you an idea of a day there, we'd wake up and make our way over to one of the two breakfast places; either a buffet style - not my favourite - place by the pool, or a slightly more avo-and-eggs spot by the port. Food was really good, when they had it. Delivery of supplies was clearly an issue and I'm sure will be fine next year... We'd then sit by the pool and have a swim for a few hours, most likely with an Aperol.

Afternoons were for napping, more sunbathing by the beach and once the temperature came down, a little yoga. We'd then pop over to one of the bars and have some drinks with new found friends, or swim whilst the sun goes down. After dinner (really good grub, same supply issue, but very good all the same) we'd head over to either the amphitheatre or the forest bar to set into some music, or go back to our tents and muck around playing Cards Against Humanity or watch back to back Narcos episodes... You really can choose how much you want to do, we had lazy day and crazy days...

Overall what an incredible experience. I'll be back next year for sure. We loved going as a couple as we're pretty sociable and as much as we love each other's company by about day 3 we kind of want some time to ourselves, so this was perfect. For that reason it would be great to go with a bunch of people too, or even stop off there whilst doing a sailing trip (you'd have to check you can moor up, but I can't see that being an issue). See you there.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking the dog past Bimba y Lola in Hampstead and spied this dress in the window. For some unknown reason I had never gone into one of their stores before, but for the following few days I "oohed" at the window and by the weekend I popped in to try it on. I had completely assumed the brand was very expensive, but it really isn't. Whats more the dress was very reduced in the sale, find it here.

Lopez had a great time with the lovely staff who were very happy to mind him whilst I proceeded to try on everything in the shop. I very nearly walked out with 200 things (this dress and this dress were seriously close purchases) but managed to limit it to just the yellow dress and some brilliant little sandals which were all reduced - to £19 - find them here.

Yellow is a really tricky colour to wear unless you have darker skin, so as soon as I get the slightest hint of a tan I bring it all out of the cupboard. I don't know if it's an actual "thing" but I feel so happy when wearing yellow, there is something really liberating and brave about it. The cut of this dress is so classic too, I know I'm going to have it for years and years...

I really would recommend taking a closer look at Bimba y Lola, I'm kicking myself for not giving it a go sooner. They have some really good basic sweaters, work-suitable dresses and this shirt is a dead ringer for a much more expensive Equipment one I spotted in Berlin (where these photos were taken). Check out the whole collection here.

These photos were taken on our break to Scotland last week, which was a much needed detox from the stresses and strains of London life. Both of us have been very busy balancing work with work, with a little bit of play sprinkled on the top. We were exhausted, and arrived happily at the beach with Lopez for an evening stroll. I thought these pictures of pure bliss were the perfect backdrop to a recent new discovery...


A few months ago I was asked to go and review a Chinese Medicine practitioner. I was dubious. Having really been put through it the last few years health wise, I had visions of someone trying to encourage me to look at the stars whilst chewing monkey genitalia and chanting. I really didn't think it would help me in any way whatsoever. How wrong I was.

Firstly, when Katie opened the door I was pretty surprised. Wash away all preconceptions of the type of person you'd expect to do this kind of thing - Katie is the type of person you'd want to know where she gets her blow dries as much as you would want information about health and wellbeing. Her own journey to Chinese Medicine is a fascinating one, and more importantly to me, entirely logical. She watched western medicine continuously fail those around her and looked for alternatives.

In simple form, the Chinese believe that every human has a unique balance in their body controlled by 5 core organs; liver, lungs, digestive system, heart and kidneys (note that the brain isn't one of them...) and that your balance is set based on when you were born - down to the time of day and position of the moon. It does make sense - if you think that the moon controls the tides of the world's oceans we'd be ignorant not to consider it has some pull over our bodies too, no?

When I saw Katie I was in the thick of a frustrating process with our health system. Having had a cocktail of digestive issues, the NHS was really struggling to know what to do with me - despite having seen the top people in 3 departments across 3 hospitals. Katie instantly gave me a perspective on my health history that had never been thought of before - connecting my brittle asthma to my tumour in a simple and matter of fact fashion that left me feeling somewhat daft to not have considered it before. In a weird way despite still feeling sickly it gave me a huge sense of calm - feeling like I knew what was going on. As Katie says "sometimes a diagnosis is half the cure."

There are years worth of books on Chinese Medicine, but Katie vehemently believes that simple yoga-like practices each day can ward off the majority of illnesses. Stress causes a huge % of  health problems, and so making an effort to calm and relax the mind and body each day can make the world of difference. Two months in, I'm hastened to agree. Katie has just launched Hayo'U as a way for people to benefit from her 1 minute methods online. Take a look at them here.

If you (like me) are a bit of a sceptic, I challenge you not to feel the benefits after a week. After a month, despite still being stuck in "emergency waiting lists" through the NHS, the Hayo'U practises are massively helping me stream a balance between feeling unwell and managing to work, and play. I really do recommend you take a look, full information here.

I'd been holding this post back for a rainy day so today couldn't be more apt. This is the first post written from my new place and am typing from a pile of boxes, surrounded by mess and general chaos. I have no idea where my shoes are and can't remember the last time I saw a hairbrush. Things are looking good though, other than the bleak winter cold I've managed to pick up...

To cheer myself up, today's post is from one of the happiest days of 2016 so far. I was with Emma and Lindsey in Morocco on one of the funnest holidays I've ever been on. We'd woken up in beds the size of oceans, giggled around by the pool all morning before heading to La Mamounia. Voted the best hotel in the world by Conde Nast Traveller, we knew it was going to be good! We'd been invited for lunch, to try their French restaurant Le Marocain.

I've become a little bit fond of jumpsuits this summer. Before now I'd ruled them out as an option for me as I'm a fairly curvy, short person. But after finding this Zimmermann one (post here) I'm a full on convert. They're perfect holiday outfits as all you need is a pair of sandals and  hair tie and you're set to go... I've bought (and am yet to post) this Madewell striped one (so many of you have bought this since I mentioned it in last week's post) and this ASOS denim one - which I am loving wearing around town since spotting on Mel, here (NB I bought my regular size and it was super oversize, which I love, but if you want a better fit go a size down).

I paired mine with my new Havaianas espadrilles. Yes, they do espadrilles. I was a bit dubious at the beginning, but they're the most comfortable things in the world. I'm making excuses to wear them every day, and everyone asks where I got them. They're £30, but I found them for cheaper at Sarenza here. I love them so much I've just ordered these too...

Accessories wise, I never really stray far from Astley Clarke. Their biography collection is fantastic, and the perfect addition to any summer wrist... I have quite a few now, but my favourites are my turquoise stone moon bracelet followed by the bright green agate snowdrop charm. They make gorgeous presents, a friend just bought one for all her bridesmaids... Such a nice idea. My watch is from Mondaine, the Swiss watchmaker. I've worn these since I was little, so this orange strapped version is a welcome summer addition. My sunglasses, as is becoming the norm, are from Fendi. They're old season, but you can find pretty much identical ones here... 

Annnnd somehow it's February! I realised at the weekend that last month I was a terrible blogger and only blogged three times. Oops. I'm going to try and get a bit better this month, aided a lot by the number of shoots I did in January - meaning you guys can actually see some half decent photography rather than the usual iPhone snaps...



Any way, the main reason for the lack of postings was that we took a very last minute break to the Dominican Republic for a fortnight. We'd set aside the time off but didn't book until Boxing Day. We (ok he, not me) found some amazing last minute flights on with Thomson (not sponsored, for the record) and before we knew it we were sitting on a beach sipping cold beer with sand between our toes... (when we say amazing flights, we mean £250 each - here).

We spent the first few nights in a hostel in Bavaro, 20km from the airport to get our groundings and to see in the New Year. The town was essentially built for tourism, so besides the coconuts on the beach and a few rum huts it was more "burger and chips" than "rice and peas." That said, I did eat the best quesadilla of my life at a tiny little cafe called "Kat's Corner" which I really, really recommend.


The beaches are beautiful, but the Atlantic coast makes them a little choppier... Most of the people in the area are in all inclusives and don't leave their hotels, so restaurants are quite quiet. It became clear that the more picturesque places are on the South coast of the island so we plotted a way (through two new friends armed with questionable "cigarettes" and an open top Jeep) to get down to Bayahibe on New Years Day...

After a day of travelling through the centre of the island we arrived in paradise, quite literally. Bayahibe is a quaint little fishing town which lives up to every Caribbean cliche you can imagine; bright coloured boats, sandy rum shacks and lots of local character. We knew as soon as we arrived that we'd be staying here a while. We found an apartment for a week in Dominicus (the next town down, walkable in 15 minutes from Bayahibe) at the Marina.


This was where the holiday started to come into it's own. We made several incredible local discoveries, including a tiny shack of a restaurant run by a Frenchman called Didier. The kitchen comprises of an enormous barbecue and only serves lobster and rum. It was without a doubt the best seafood I've ever eaten.


We took one day out to visit Saona, a relatively uninhabited island to the south of the Dominican Republic. You can take your pick of either a "party boat" or an old fisherman's boat to get there (you can guess which one we picked). To say it is beautiful just doesn't do it any justice. The beaches there were used for the Bounty adverts if that helps set the scene... We lay in our hammocks in between snorkelling with stingrays for most of the day, before heading back through a stretch of warm (like a bath) sea water covered in starfish. One of the most incredible days of my life.

For the last few nights we decided to treat ourselves and stayed at Tracadero. The all-white hotel and very Italian hotel is absolute bliss. When we got into our room it was so lovely we burst out laughing as we only paid $100 a night for the room. It very much has a beach club feel, anyone who has been to a Puro Beach or Blue Marlin - it's the same kind of thing but a fraction of the cost. Sipping Pina Coladas by the salt pools overlooking the sea, we felt a million miles from home... Firmly recommend the rose champagne too... ;)


To anyone looking for a complete break, I really recommend the DR. It has a reputation for being solely an all inclusive style destination, but with a little bit of planning you can have the total opposite. Book it NOW.

Find flights to Punta Cana here.