Through the lens: Florence, Italy

Firenze

This is one city that should be on everyone's bucket list. Florence is as authentic as Italian culture gets! Whether you would like to travel back into Italian renaissance in the Uffizi gallery or simply people watch in the Piazza della Signoria, I recommend at least 3 or 4 days in this beautiful city. There is so much to see, especially as the Florentines are especially proud of their heritage, they have worked hard to preserve the gifts their elder generations have left them in the form of architecture, art and glorious food! 

Imitation of the famous David

If you would like to see the masterpieces of Michelangelo, Botticelli and Da Vinci be sure to buy tickets in advance as it gets awfully busy (we queued for over an hour in the freezing cold- although it was worth it). My favourite in the Uffizi gallery was Michelangelo's Doni Tondo, which must be seen for its intricate details in person. 

Also another one of my favourite highlights from Florence was the visit to Piazzale Michelangelo. This is a famous square with a phenomenal view of the city - photographs don't do it justice!

Floating Umbrellas on the way to the Boboli gardens

Authentic Florentine architecture

Enjoying the best Cappucino I've ever tasted!

Panorama from the Piazzale Michelangelo

Happy New Year!

Ponte Vecchio - the oldest bridge in Florence with in built shops still operating

If you missed out on Venice, catch up here.

Series: Monday Musings

1. If you are having savoury cravings why not make some Skinny green popcorn. I made some this weekend, and it was devoured in minutes! (Courtesy of the Londoner)

2. In a technology led world, one father reminds us how the simple things make the big differences. He made his kids the coolest packed lunches.

3. Building up on the thrill of Girls season 3 back on our screens - 10 reasons why we love Lena Dunham

4. Explore the magic of genuine and beautiful moments captured on a great new photo blog - Unposed Scenes

5. Get excited, the Wolf of Wall street is coming soon!

4 Reasons to Start a Journal now

Ever since I was little I kept a diary. When I was about 8 years old I had a big pink fluffy diary with a padlock where I used to write the silliest occurrences from primary school and complain about how I hated history class and wanted to be lead in the school nativity play ( I subsequently ended up playing Mary!).

The Typical 90's girly diary

Now it doesn't mean I've consistently written since then, in fact I'm pretty sure I didn't even finish that pink one. A few years later when I found it during a spring clean I was so embarrassed by my infantile writing I ripped up the pages and threw it away, in true drama queen style. 

During my teens I kept a diary irregularly on my computer but only ever wrote when something was troubling me - helpful advice given to me from a soul sister of mine. 

Recently however I've been reflecting upon my future goals and things I want to see and do, and I realised I should restart my journal - but this time the proper way. Even if its not writing everyday - writing in it when something makes me happy, excited, low, anxious. What's been on my mind? People who are positively influencing me and how they impact my life. Experiences I've enjoyed/ learnt from. Private thoughts. Places and people I'm loving. Events I've attended and delicious food I've devoured. These are things that I want to write about and I'll tell you why...

1. Make sense of your thoughts

There are times when you are so busy with work or family plans and so on that you don't even have time to really ponder the events taking place or decisions that have to be made. Nor do you appreciate the beauty in the little things that make you smile. Sometimes we're just on autopilot and when this happens things usually get messy in your mind, there's a blur of the time that has passed. By writing you can keep a record of what is actually happening in your life, journaling gives you the power to be the architect of your memories. When it comes to decision making, you can write down all the reasons you have for coming to that conclusion. Then, after time passes, if you doubt your choice somehow, you have a way to remind yourself of why you made that decision and feel reassured.  

2. Encourages positive thinking

Whatever state of mind you're in, when you have a written account of things that have made you happy in black and white, it is bound to encourage your inner sun to shine. Reflecting on good times can serve as a motivation or even simply put a smile on your face. 

3. One day my grandkids can read it

Now I know I'm getting ahead of myself but I personally didn't get to see much of my grandparents growing up due to distance and when I did see them, it was never for very long. On top of that, the little time I did manage to spend with them was when I was a child and I didn't care much for asking them questions about their life and experiences.  So I never got to learn valuable life lessons from them nor hear them recount stories of their youth. That's why I want to pass on my journals for my future grandkids to read, this way even if I can't personally tell them about my escapades, they'll have a piece of me and we can stay connected. 

4. Gift to your future self

As each year passes pixels of our memories burn out and haze. By the time you're retired and chilling on your beach cabana in Cuba, you'll likely be remembering the faintest outlines of the big things that happened to you. Keep a journal, "taste life twice" (Anais Nin).

Series: Monday Musings

After a strenuous couple of weeks I finally had the weekend I've been craving. 

Staying in. Movies. Pizza. Make Up tutorials. Spending time with my loved ones. Tumbling. Reading. And everything in between. These snaps depict my ideal weekend marvellously.

Breaking Bad marathon! 

Throwing in some Eye candy for good measure

Advice from a Tree

Sea Therapy

When it comes to matters of the heart it's tricky to be wise, so you must tread lightly. A million questions run through your mind, thoughts, flashbacks... but it's established that life's complications are impossible to escape but it's how you handle these curve balls that makes the difference in the healing process.

In the presence of such circumstances some kind of therapy must be sought in order to rehabilitate your mind, body and soul. For myself, this was in the form of flying away somewhere dreamy, right on the beach, with sunshine, books, and serenity.

Supper Time Sunset

Creating a sanctuary somewhere far away from crowds of people, internet connections, phone calls, and unsolicited advice. Just my own private retreat with books I was glued to and the deep blue sea to keep me company.

One special moment during this time was breakfast with an old friend of my fathers - in a way I think of him as my ethereal guru. He helped me to see things in a new light and for that I am forever grateful to him. One of those things was that he taught me the importance of reading signs and seeing the charm in the simple things in life, not getting caught up in worries and problems that relentlessly burden our everyday lives. For example for the first time in a long time I saw and appreciated the beauty in nature. The way the leaves danced in the wind, the way the soft blue ripples of the sea caressed me, the way the salty air washed through my hair. Natural things we tend not to pay attention to.

Whilst swimming for hours and floating around in this liquid sapphire,  it felt as if with each and every wave the sea was washing away my negative thoughts and reinvigorating my soul.

The sea taught me to not go against the tide. When a force inside signals that something isn't right for you, you shouldn't go against it. The intuition or 'gut feeling' each individual holds are almost always right and its crucial to act on it rather than deluding oneself for the sake of flawed contentment.

Say it with Song

I received a very special gift yesterday. A three-volume mixtape, and I love every single track on it.

 And it isn't just a bunch of songs jumbled together, they've been carefully divided according to different tempos and themes.

 There's just something incredibly romantic about the notion of someone searching through their music library to pick out songs that make them think of you. Call me cheesy, but I'm going to keep these forever...

A Little Less Conversation, a Little More Action Please

For most, it may seem like a peculiar time to be looking forward to fresh starts -  as that kind of thinking is usually reserved for the gregorian calendar's new year, January 1st. However, with the whirlwind arrival and departure of Ramadan, the holy month in the Islamic calendar (for those who don't know), it really gets a person thinking as to how one can perform to their maximum potential, in all aspects of everyday life. 


I'm a to-do list kinda gal, and without fail, twice a year I sit down and formulate all my thoughts and goals into my journal. Eagerly scribbling down one after the other, they range from the classic 'must go to the gym 3 x a week' to the broader 'spend more time with my loved ones'. Of course having all these wonderful objectives on a piece of paper is easy peasy, but reaching those targets can get somewhat tricky when we lose sight of them on a day-to-day basis.


As a result, more than halfway through the year, you wake up and realise  - wow, I've hardly gotten anything done *insert quivering*. So, I suggest, in moments like these, rather than dwell on the fact that you haven't gone as far as you had imagined in achieving what your heart desires, use it as a source of motivation to put your words to action and re-energise yourself. If you find those goals too scary for the time frame you had in mind, adapt them a tiny bit, there's no danger in modifying them. This way its likely you'll stick to it, rather than cross it out altogether. 

During exam season, when panic would take over me for the declining amount of time I had left to study, my best friend N would calm me down with her wise advice, saying 'you can get anything done as long as you put your mind to it'. And she sure was right, as the proof was in the pudding (in this case - my exam results)!

                         "The best way out is always through - Robert Frost"