Faded Spring

    Craving Hearty Italian Cuisine At Carluccios Spitalfields

    It was exactly what mama ordered; an evening dedicated to good food, drink and excellent company.The drinks were poured with gusto and aplomb, while the buzz of the nearby customers, who spoke in animated tones, added a liveliness to Carluccios Spitafield, from the moment that we had walked in. The air was bitter outside, but despite the weather our hearts were warmed by delicious food, that wafted under our noses like an aphrodisiac drug. The restaurant smelled like fresh baked bread and while the decor was simple, it was authentically Italian. Rustic wooden beams juxtaposed with modern booths and tables, that looked out onto Spitafields market, as we people watched from the comfort of our ... read more

    7 Cruelty Free Budget Makeup Brands

    I have been a vegetarian for quite some time, but my cruelty free journey began 11 months ago, when I watched documentaries that shed light on animal testing in the make up industry and I was horrified. I thought that being a vegetarian made me automatically cruelty free, but I had no idea how the suede and leather I was wearing impacted animals and immediately I threw out all animal materials that I had in my wardrobe, giving them to friends and family who were not opposed to animal products. I never wore fur, as I saw it as 'cruel' but when I realized how cruel wearing animal products like leather and suede were, I ensured that I would never buy an animal product again. I must have thrown ... read more

    What Not To Say To Someone Struggling With Depression

    Having been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD two years ago, I have heard the most laughable reactions to my mental health issues, that have either tried to 'trivialize and downplay' my mental health struggles or make me seem like I was just 'acting depressed' to get attention. But here's the 'real T'; because people's reactions to me getting upset over the years or feeling numb was to 'tell me to get over it' or to 'stop being a drama queen', it wasn't until I was 22 that I even had the strength or 'desire' to seek help for the mental health struggles and crack the code as to why-as others put it- I was so God Damn emotional all the time. So not only did friends and families ... read more

    Celebrating The Power Of True Friendship With Park Plaza

    The night was young but Park Plaza awaited us, reaching out its warm welcoming hand in the distance, just a stones throw away. The air was chilled but a rampant energy coursed through our veins, as we arrived as one, armed with suitcases to make the most of our stay in Lambeth North, Waterloo. The wind whipped our hair into a clouded ball of mess, but like children we ran into the night, scraping the pavement with the heavy clonk of our stiletto heels. I was dressed in a fifties ballgown, emblazoned with flowers that danced with delight and wonder, while my hair was tucked into a flower crown, in an attempt to withhold the tempestuous winds of change. L was more casual than I, a beautiful ... read more

    Escaping The Big City Of London With Drivy UK

    Despite the snow that swirls menacingly around my window sill and the bitter frost that glazes my windows, I crave an escape. The world would stand still and I would walk into another dimension, where time and space would draw to a halt, where time would stand still. In the dead of night, a mystery itinerary would be drawn up, escaping the big city, one click at a time. No one would be none the wiser, but us two, who would leave behind our grown up responsibilities and plunge into a magical irreality, where the concept of 'adulting' would be left behind in the past. We would see stretches of golden sand, juxtaposed by crystal blue waters, where children would gasp with delight on nearby ... read more

    Countryside Art:The Quest For Beautiful Printed Giftware

    It is no secret that I am somewhat of 'quirky character'; from my incessant need to colour-ordinate every outfit to the unique trinkets that I pick up on my travels, there is something so deliciously creative about quirky gifts. When I was younger (and had more disposable income) I had a reputation of being someone who would buy gifts that 'weren't mainstream' and was suited to the person I was buying gifts for. For example I would create personalized canvases and mugs, with photo collages to represent all the memories that we had shared together, and I was so delighted with one gift from a friend that followed the same vein of thought. It was a beautiful photobook, chronicling all the ... read more

    5 Top Tips On Creating An Energy Efficient Home

    For many of us who are battling the snow, the urge to turn up our thermostats or leave on our radiators for longer periods of time can be an easy solution to follow, unaware that our use of energy has a dramatic impact on both our energy bills and of course the environment. It is little wonder why 'Blue Planet' became 2017's most watched programme, drawing attention to how our use of plastic was affecting the oceans and the fishes and mammals habitat. And while it is great that more people are paying attention to their 'plastic consumption' we should also take into account how our use of energy sources like 'heated showers' or radiators are also having an impact on the environment. In fact ... read more

    Renovating My Bedroom With Taskers The Home Store

    For those of you who have followed my 'housing journey', you will know that over the last 4 years I have moved a grand total of 8 times, and three times in the year and a half that I have been in London. From house to house I would move, not because I wanted to but out of necessity, while working long hours and having next to no social life. But then when I found my current place, I was 'tired of moving' and wanted a room where I could feel at home and didn't have to hide myself away from others. I loved the area, I loved my room and most importantly, despite its ups and downs, my room I am in now is the best room I have had since I was in my third year of university and that is saying a ... read more

    What To Wear To The Races With Pretty Little Thing

    With Ascot and Ladies Day around the corner, the hunt for what to wear to the races has never been so tantalizing. With women reaching for the most bizarre mushroom shaped hats, with the concept that 'bigger really is better', you will be forgiven for thinking that 'Race Day' is nothing more than a large fancy dress party that the entire population has been invited to attend. And unlike those snobby high school biatches, who wouldn't invite you to their 'exclusive house parties' as you weren't cool or pretty enough to be part of their 'squad', race day is open to everyone, no matter what you look like. Because let's face it, I don't know about you but I sure as hell don't want to be part of ... read more

    My First Taste Of Authentic Spanish Cuisine: Iberica

    Authentic Spanish Cuisine, is hard to come by. The last Spanish 'inspired meal' I had was at a dodgy Spanish chain restaurant, who made me violently ill with their 'greasy' paella, that was practically swimming in 'oil'. But as someone whose background is Mediterranean (my parents are from Madeira), I knew that there was more to 'Authentic Spanish cuisine' than the oily vegetarian paella dish I was served at the Spanish chain restaurant. I craved a dish that would salivate my senses and send me into a food related stupor, that would permeate my dreams so deliciously at night. I dreamed of Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes with aoli) dancing on beds of light and fluffy paella, while I drenched ... read more