Faded Spring

    Learning To Be Body Positive With Simply Beach Swimwear

    From a young age I have struggled with my body image; I have a disorder known as BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder ) which alters my perception of how I see myself in the mirror and how I 'believe' others see me. I grew up with poor self confidence; I was abused by my stepmother and bullied throughout my teenage and young adult years, for the way that I looked, including being 'too skinny' for societies personal tastes. I was called anorexic, skinny, scrawny and a bag of bones to name a few and was often taunted for having 'small boobs' because according to the bullies I looked like a 'boy'. The more people were negative about my weight, the more I became obsessed about the way I looked, ... read more

    Dating Disasters With Faded Spring: My Worst First Date

    Have you ever been on a date so hilariously bad, that the only solution was to bury your head deep in the sand and pretend that the date never existed? Or perhaps your date was going swimmingly well until the ‘dicksand’ erupted and your date showed his/her true colours? Or maybe you didn’t even get to a first date, after being ghosted and finding out months later that the geezer was married all along? Whether your first date was grim, cringe or downright creepy, Faded Spring wants to hear from you. But first grab yourself some strong gin and settle down for a drinking game I like to call ‘my worst first date’. Every time I mention ‘worst first date’ give yourself a well-deserved drink, ... read more

    5 Occasion Wear Trends That Are Hot This Summer

    Whether you are an 'extra' at a wedding, that you have been forced to attend or are getting your funk on at a retro disco, this summer occasion wear just got rad. Gone are the ballgowns (sob) and in its place are jumpsuits, co-ords and metallic sci-fi inspired wear. While the usual wedding ettiquite would inspire breathtaking gowns or ornate dresses, Faded Spring has done her research and found 5 key occasion wear trends that are hot this summer, even if you haven't been 'lucky enough' to have been invited to a wedding. So if your idea of an occasion is to go hang out with your guys and gals and get royally pissed, or you are off to the derby (to get royally pissed) or if... well lets face ... read more

    Faded Spring’s Thoughts On Marriage

    I was never one who dreamed of having a fairytale wedding growing up and in fact was quite the opposite. I opposed the idea of 'marriage' because I believed that you didn't need a piece of paper to prove that you loved someone. I saw marriage as a 'money trap' but as I grew older I realized that my opposition against marriage was because of how A. I had never been in love, B. saw how disastrous the majority of marriages had turned out in my family and C. was never taught to see marriage in a positive light. With the exception of my dad, my uncle and my distant cousin, marriages were violent, damaging and dramatic in my family. Even the marriages that have stood the test of time have been a ... read more

    Why I’m Quitting My Job To Go Blogging Full Time

    I'd never thought I would get to the point, where I would have the strength to up and leave but as of today I am officially a full time blogger. You may think I am crazy; after all I have little money to my name, am currently in debt and have on ongoing stream of bills to pay, that my blog income will fail to supplement. Yet, for the first time in two years, I am making my own creative decisions and being able to wake up one day and realize that you should follow your dreams is inspiring. As Elizabeth wisely said 'dare to dream' and dare to dream I did. No longer will I wake up each morning, wishing that I didn't have to get out of bed, dreading another day where I am in a job that doesn't ... read more

    Faded Spring’s 48 Hour Paris Itinerary

    Nothing says summer more than a romantic getaway to the 'City of Love' Paris, blessed by the love gods themselves. From a river cruise along the Seine river to a stroll round the 'Gourmet Chocolate Museum', Paris is infamous for its grand gestures of lurve, but as a proud singleton I say f**k it, why not either A. enjoy 48 hours in Paris on your own exploring the infamous 'love attractions', B. go with your mates and become kids again or C. get your inner geek on and drink your fill of culture, museums and sightseeing in a fun filled 48 hours? I guarantee that your 48 hour Paris Itineraries will be 'exhausting' but nevertheless enriching, fun and nuanced. Read on below for how I would ... read more

    35 Blogging Groups & Platforms That Pay You To Blog

    The blogging industry has become saturated and in a world where over 345 million blogs are vying for recognition, it can be difficult to get your foot in the door. Learning how to monetize your blog is difficult, but as stated in 'How To Turn Your Blog Into A Money Making Business' platforms like sponsored posts, affiliate marketing and creating your own valuable e-course or workshop are great ways of earning money from your blog. The issue is with so little coverage of 'influencer agencies' or platforms' catered to boosting blogger and brand presence, it can be difficult to find agencies that 'pay you to write'. But fear not, Faded Spring has rounded up 35 blogging groups and platforms that ... read more

    How To Turn Your Blog Into A Money Making Business

    When I first started blogging in 2015, I had no idea how to make money from my blog. In fact I was totally clueless and saw blogging purely as an outlet to express my personal interests and passions. The more that I became passionate about blogging, the more I became determined to become a full time blogger. The only trouble was that I had no concept of ‘monetization’ and struggled to make my brand stand out from the crowd. Six months after I started blogging I was approached by a company to write a sponsored post for 10 dollars, which I turned down, because I felt I was worth more than that. At the time my blog was purely focused on just fashion and personal diaries and it wasn’t until I ... read more

    Chi Kitchen Pan Asian Restaurant Review

    Inspired by five main elements- water, fire, wood, metal and earth-, Chi Kitchen incorporates the five elements and transforms them into a 'source of energy' that nourishes and sustains their customers needs. 'Chi' translates as 'energy' in Chinese and interlinked with their 'fire' symbol, the combination of 'fire' and 'energy' is a play on words, relating to how 'fire' or in Chi's case 'passion' can energize us into 'feeling good'. It is Chi's heady mix of spiritualism and Pan Asian cuisine, that makes its brand all the more mysterious and curious to find out more, I decided to get my 'food critic' hat on and head down to its London branch, situated in Oxford Street, Debenhams. A small ... read more

    How To Capture The True Essence Of Tuscan Style

    Tuscany is known for its lush green landscapes, religious and cultural traditions, artistic legacy and its influence on 'high culture'. Regarded as the founder of the 'Italian Renaissance' , this Central Italian region has long been lauded for its contributions to the 'art' and 'fashion' world, where the two merge to create a spectacular 'fashion orientated economy'. The fashion and textile industry are the pillars of the Florentine economy, with a turnover of 25 billion euros, with 60 % of its profit intake deriving from abroad.From Tuscany's plethora of unique boutiques, markets and malls to its historic fashion houses (Pucci, Gucci, Cavalli), Tuscany's identity as being the founder of ... read more