Mediamarmalade

Year: 2019

  • WHY I AM ENJOYING SHOOTING FILM SO MUCH

    WHY I AM ENJOYING SHOOTING FILM SO MUCH

    SHOOTING FILM

    Why Shooting Film Is My New Favourite Things

    You’ll have no doubt noticed a lot more film over here and on my instagram. It’s a really interesting evolution, as a few years back i’d see peoples less than perfectly focused and clear film photos and wondered why they’d share something so sub standard (in my anal obsession), but here I am a few years on and I not only love that grainy ‘less than perfect’ feel but I’ve also started to pack my film camera on trips away over both my Canon and my Fuji. As I’ve got into the swing of it, I’ve fallen more and more in love with every roll of film I’ve got back and of course, more and more in love with the process of shooting film. For me, this ever growing love affair, seems to be driven by three key things:

    –

    HASSLE FREE

    –

    It’s fair to say that I’ve been known to be a pain in the butt with my camera. Consistent ‘one more photo’ requests resulting in hundreds of the same thing all because i’m obsessing over the image i’m getting back on the digital screen – let me try a different composition, different location, different pose, eyes are shut so let me go again … with digital you end up taking more and more photos, never quite satisfied and always seeking that ‘perfect’ one. It’s frustrating for the people i’m roping in to take photos, and in turn I get wound up because I worry I don’t have what I need. Film has completely revolutionized that agonising trap and inevitable argument.

    Firstly I can’t see what’s been taken, it is what it is. Secondly I don’t want to waste half a 36 film roll on the same thing, let alone a 120mm which only takes 16 on my medium format fuji. Thirdly, it’s often more fun to shoot than digital, the process of using an old film camera is somewhat charming and a novelty, making it enjoyable even for those who don’t really want to be stood there taking photos of me as I prance around. And finally … compared to my Canon 5Diii and prime lenses, my god is it light and easy to carry around.

    I’ve found myself seeking convenience a lot more lately, a blend of wanting to take more photos and wondering if something more light weight, smaller in size and without gigantic interchangeable lenses might help that. I’ve even been researching the Fuji X100F as a camera I can keep on me at all times becomes more appealing than scheduling a ‘shoot day’ with my canon – whenever I feel the urge to get creative, it often coincides with an urge to buy something new to try and facilitate what I want to be doing (my brain works in clever ways). Right now my film camera feels like the perfect balance between the two, and in part that’s made me opt for it more and more.

    –

    THE EDIT

    –

    The edit, or the lack their of, is another thing I love. I shoot entirely on Porta and the colour tones are always pure magic. The film and film process adds so much character, warmth and charm to each shot that you barely need to do a thing before sharing each snap. That character and vibe you work so hard to bring out in digital editing, is almost unnecessary on film, and the more I shoot the more I adore that warm, grainy somewhat soft focus visual my camera produces each time.

    –

    MORE MINDFUL

    –

    Of course the other benefit of not taking 100 images of everything, is that you spend more time in the moment, more time simply enjoying what you’re doing and what you’re seeing. The film camera doesn’t take over the occasion, instead it provides a simple, subtle and enjoyable way to capture just one moment, you take time over that shot because it has to be the right one. Film is really expensive (I pay about £49 for a pack of 5 film and around £14 per film for development) and so you really do have to be choiceful, stop and think about what you want to capture, and really spend time in the moment appreciating every detail.

    –

    Below you’ll find a whole host of film photos i’ve not shared with you yet, dating back to early summer. As they weren’t created with a blog post in mind, they’re random and they didn’t really have a ‘purpose’ in mind. I thought sharing them in a little diary format like this might be an enjoyable thing to look back on, and hopefully nice for you to see too?

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0″][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]  [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last] [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last] [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]            [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][/one_half_last]   [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    I hope you enjoyed the film, I’ve got film from both Greece and Mallorca to share next. In fact some of my film from Mallorca is my favourite yet x

  • DISCOVER NORTH ZAKYNTHOS

    DISCOVER NORTH ZAKYNTHOS

    NORTH ZAKYNTHOS

    Secrets Of Zakynthos

    This year I headed back to North Zakynthos for the third year running. As much as I love to explore as much of the world as possible, and am continually striving to tick off my bucket list, there are some places in the world I can’t help but want to return to, New York, The Cotswolds, Val D’Isere are all places I want to go home to time and time again, and North Zakynthos has fast become another place on that list.

    The North of the island is home to not just my favourite Peligoni club, but also beautiful untouched coves, the bluest water you could ever imagine and some of the most wonderful sunsets you’ll ever see.

    A few years back I shared my chance discovery of the incredible secret beach, which I managed to find again this year much to my delight, but I also got the chance to explore a few more areas of the Island and got to explore more by sea too (a must for secret beach discovery and cave swimming). So I thought i’d share a few of these spots with you today, incase you’re looking to visit Zakynthos any time too.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    SECRET BEACH

    –

    The secret beach isn’t a new one I know, but I couldn’t share a post about the North Zakynthos and not remind you of this beautiful place. The first time I visited it was pure chance, a total accident on a trip home from the shipwreck, a wrong turn that turned into pure magic. The cove stole my heart, so secluded, so beautiful and just so so blue. It’s a tricksy drive down the one way track from near Volimes (it’s a little road as you approach Volimes right by the Graveyard), and the rocky dead end is one to watch on your car, but once you’re parked and climbing down those rocks to the water, there’s truly nothing like it.

    I highly recommend swimming across to the beach, it’s the only way to access it, and once you’re there looking out, it’s like something from The Beach.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    PORTO VROMI

    –

    This trip we also visited Porto Vromi, stopping for a greek salad and grilled prawns at the top of the hill, with views across the bay, before taking the long winding road down into Porto Vromi beach.

    What was only a few years ago empty and almost entirely untouched, it’s beauty has since attracted a few more visitors and boat tours, but it’s still worth a visit and a dip. Porto Vromi isn’t much more than a little beach and boat port, with a few sun loungers and brollies to decorate its white sands. The two little huts on the hill are so charming and really encapsulate the local feel so much of North Zakynthos has.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    NAVAGIO BEACH

    –

    The Shipwreck is one of Zakynthos’s most visited areas, and the views from the top of the cliffs over the shipwreck in Navagio beach are quite something. But truth be told, it’s less the shipwreck and more the crystal clear blue waters that steal the show. The view over the beach, the white cliffs and the aqua blue water is spectacular – and definitely worth the hike to the furthest viewing point to see. If you have vertigo it’s definitely not one for you, the lack of safety precautions and the sheer drop takes your breath away, but it’s definitely a site to behold.

    I highly recommend avoiding a visit at peak daytime or on a tourist bus. Instead hire a car and pop along at 430pm and you’ll get the place (almost) to yourself and it’ll be far more enjoyable than the midday heat and mass of coaches that swarm the tiny area.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 05px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 5px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    BLUE CAVES

    –

    There are lots of tours to the blue caves and Navagio beach, but if you can, opting for a small, locally run, private boat is your best port of call. We were lucky enough that the owners of the villa we stayed in had a fab boat, and offered to take us around to see the sites by sea – it meant we didn’t have to wait for hoards of people or share the boat with others, we just got to explore the bits we wanted and stop and dive in as many times as we wanted (a lot). The blue seas from the cliffs of shipwreck bay were just as magical when you were down swimming in them, and the blue caves were also beautiful, especially those smaller ones which are just big enough for a couple of you to swim into. With the reflecting sun, white sand bottom, and crystal clear water, it’s really incredible.

    I’d highly recommend hiring a boat and using it to not only see the shipwreck and blue caves, but also to stop off at a few of the many secret beaches that you can only access by boat.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    AGIOS NIKOLAOS & KORITHI

    –

    Agios Nikolaos is the area of North Zakynthos where we’ve spent most of our trips, with our Villa this year just around the corner in Korithi, and the Peligoni and a few of our favourite restaurants being based in the Agios Nikolaos bay area (Sophias Art Cafe, Nobelos & the little fishermans restaurant tucked in around the far east corner of the port).

    By day the port and beach front rivals some of the white sands and blue seas of Palawan, a high claim but the pictures above could easily be mistaken for a few of my shots taken in the Philippines, and by night its the most magical spot to sit and watch the pink skies set over the sea.

    MIKRO NISI BEACH & XIGIA

    –

    Mikro Nisi and Xigia have always been parts of the island we’ve driven past on route from the airport to the Peligoni club, but this year have made the effort to visit for dinner and an afternoon dip. Mikro Nisi is a fab little beach with yet more blue seas and a pebble beach. It’s a great spot to stop for an afternoon dip and drink, or if you’re big into cycling a rest break on a trip around the whole Island.

    We visited Xigia for dinner twice during our trip this time around, the food at the Taverna on the top of the hill was fantastic, and only seconded by the incredible views over the east of the Island, it made for a perfect sunset watching spot.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    North Zakynthos truly is so beautiful and has so many magical coves, beaches, ports and villages to discover. There’s nothing big, developed or commercial about the area and that’s what makes me love it so much, that local charm and Greek magic.

  • SUNSET IN AGIOS NIKOLAOS ZAKYNTHOS

    SUNSET IN AGIOS NIKOLAOS ZAKYNTHOS

    mediamarmalade boho dress (more…)

  • A NEW DRESS (& WHY PERSISTENCE PAID OFF)

    A NEW DRESS (& WHY PERSISTENCE PAID OFF)

    Mediamarmalade Whistles Dress

    A NEW WHISTLES DRESS

    And Why Persistence Paid Off With This Particular Purchase

    I’m back from Greece and have so much content to share with you. You’ll no doubt remember me mentioning how I had a big wardrobe clear out this summer, and spent a bit of money replenishing my wardrobe with pieces more to my style and pieces that will hopefully stand the test of time from a quality and personal style point of view. Going away was the perfect opportunity to give lots of my new dresses a spin, and after much begging and persistence snap a few pics of each look whilst we were out and about – including this new Whistles dress.

    I still feel a little ‘bad’ posting just an outfit with little more than a few words to frame the occasion or piece, but it was how this blog started and I want to share them with you (and the photographs which I’m quite pleased with).

    This particular look I wasn’t going to post as the photos weren’t 100% crisp, but like I said, I feel these days like i’d rather share more day to day content, than sporadic editorial style posts – and based on a few polls with you guys, I think that’s what you’d all prefer too. Both on mediamarmalade.com but also on my instagram feed?

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”]Mediamarmalade Whistles Dress[/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]Mediamarmalade Whistles Dress[one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”]Mediamarmalade Whistles Dress[/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]Mediamarmalade Whistles Dress[one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”]Mediamarmalade Whistles Dress[/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]Mediamarmalade Whistles Dress

    This Whistles dress, as well as the nearly binned photos, has a good story!

    It was something I spotted someone wearing in Shoreditch House one lunch time, and I immediately became fixated on seeking it out. Once I worked out it was a Whistles number, I began the hunt and was gutted when I realised it was sold out everywhere. I checked all the stores that stocked Whistles and kept going back every few days just in case – I finally was in my local store one day and thought i’d mention it just in case, and to my delight they mentioned that often the websites don’t accurately show stock levels (especially returns) and that their system showed one in stock in another Whilstles store. I immediately phoned them and asked to buy it over the phone … but you won’t believe it, 2 minutes before I called someone in store picked it up and was currently in the changing room trying it on. The lady on the end of the phone promised to call back once the other customer had (hopefully) left it so I could buy it … but within minutes I had the call to say she had in fact purchased it. Neither of us could believe the chances. The woman in the store asked me to leave it with her, and behind the scenes she hunted down the dress in my size in Selfridges and promptly put me in touch to order. And a week or so later, it arrived. Two months of hunting and one dress in the right size at the end of it. Persistence is one of my biggest strengths.

    I’m really pleased with it, and think it can be styled both up for events or parties, but also styled down for a slightly more low key day time look like I wore here in Greece with my Stories beaded bag & Whistles espadrilles (now in the sale – typical). I bought a few pieces from Whistles this summer with the frilled skirt, and I really like how it sits and flows as you walk (or dance into the night), you may remember this skirt and i’ve also got another dress that’s a similar cut (which i’ll share soon – you can see a lot of the other pieces I bought on my shop page in the meantime, sadly this one is sold out in most sizes).

    What do you think? Do you like the look?

  • THE LITTLE WHITE DRESS

    THE LITTLE WHITE DRESS

    THE LITTLE WHITE DRESS

    A Midi Length Linen Dress For Every Occasion

    I’ll let you into a little secret, I actually shot these photos and bought this dress last summer, I just somehow didn’t ever get round to sharing it with you. But seeing as I’m back in the same spot, and still wearing the same dress, I thought better late than never, I hope you agree?

    I don’t often wear black or white. Black because it doesn’t match my personality and truthfully I find it dull, and white because, well i’m not the most delicate of beings. It’s never long before theres something down the front of it. But it’s fair to say in Summer, white becomes a colour we all go to more. It reflects the light, keeping us cool, and it shows off our sun kissed skin to perfection, and make it white cotton … well then, now you’re talking.

    I actually bought this dress in Spring 2018 from Massimo Duti, not somewhere I usually shop but this particular number caught my eye and I’m glad it did. I wore it to Wimbledon for the Evian Suite & centre court last season (my client and event, so very lucky to go each year) and then of course it was packed in my suitcase ready for sunshine in Zakynthos.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    The midi length is ideal and my preference these days, the tortoiseshell buttons work perfectly with the soft white cotton and even though I’m not a fan of V necks or cut off shoulders, the dress won me over regardless. It’s a classic piece and one that I pull out the cupboard for all sorts of occasions, holidays, summer events and perhaps even a Christening when I’m back next week (assuming England is warm enough, I’m hoping for an Indian summer).

    It’s not long until I head out for more sun in Mallorca either, and I’ll definitely be bringing this along with me then too. In the meantime, I have so much NEW content from this holiday to share with you, hopefully this posts gets the ball rolling (sorry about the inconsistent posting, I gave you my sob story already here, so I won’t bore you with it again just promise theres lots more to come).

    I’ve got a new Zakynthos travel post (an updated and expanded version of this post from three years ago), round two of the Peligoni House Party to share, plus five (maybe six) new outfit posts featuring new pieces I invested in this summer. If you’re interested of course?

  • ZAKYNTHOS: A GREEK ISLAND THAT FEELS LIKE COMING HOME

    ZAKYNTHOS: A GREEK ISLAND THAT FEELS LIKE COMING HOME

    A GREEK ISLAND THAT FEELS LIKE COMING HOME

    Zakynthos 

    The moment I touch down in Zakynthos, my body relaxes, stress dissolves at the instant feel of heat on my skin and the view of the ocean around me. The windy coastal journey from airport to villa is unlike any other commute, it’s a calming ride full of pink skies and blue skies. Magical.

    It’s funny. I am a traveller, it’s in my soul. Even my grandad, when I was a small child, said I was an explorer, a future ‘news travel reporter’ (a career I didn’t quite fall into, but like to think of my blog as this side of me coming to fruition). Despite not travelling like I do now, all those year backs, there was something in me that he saw, and he couldn’t have predicted it better.

    My urge to see more and more new things, only rests when it comes to a few places in the world, where I long to return to at the sacrifice of experiencing something new. Places i’ve been to and fallen in love with, places I’ve visited and left a piece of my soul, and a couple of places that over time, feel a little like home. You could count these places on one hand. Val D’isere, a place i’ve skiied every year since I was 6 or so years old, Cornwall and Devon where I spent many summer holidays growing up, New York a city that in another world I’d call home, the Cotswolds and over the last few years, Zakynthos.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    Returning to North Zakynthos and the Peligoni club, the same place I’ve spent some of summer for the last few years, already feels a bit like coming back to a home and it’s made my want to come back to the island summer after summer even more true. The welcome backs from the local restauranteurs, the happy hellos from the Peligoni Club, and the much needed sight of that beautiful greek blue sea makes my heart instantly swell. A Place and a feeling I know i’ll have many more summers over.

    I love Greece, and I’ve certainly fallen in love with the island of Zakynthos over the years.

  • THE GRAPPLES OF MODERN DAY BLOGGING

    THE GRAPPLES OF MODERN DAY BLOGGING

    THE GRAPPLES OF MODERN DAY BLOGGING

    Meaningful Content Versus Everyday Musings. What Works Today and the Grapples of modern day blogging? 

    Sorry for the radio silence over here, i’m not sure what’s happened lately but it’s fair to say despite having loads to share with you, i’ve struggled to put the proverbial ‘pen to paper’.

    It’s actually down to not having the time to make every post ‘meaningful’ and the shackles of wanting to only producing meaningful content creates for me. I’ve asked you time and time again what you enjoy, and I know the mix of purpose driven content (tips, guides, advise whether it be styling, career, photography etc, and informative posts) with everyday posts with little to know meaning or purpose is what you say time and time again (let me know in the comments?). I often just feel like ‘why would anyone visit’ if I wasn’t sharing something useful?

    It’s silly really because half the blogs I love and read daily actually often post a blend of content too, and I’m as interested in a random style post with no tips or structure as I am an in depth article on their blogging careers or photography tips.

    I think because the industry has changed so much since 2011 when I started, it often makes you feel bad going back to those ‘basic’ roots of simple diary edits and non-perfect, non-editorial style photos. But perhaps more than ever, that’s actually what people want, seek out and find appealing about the bloggers they choose to engage with. The strive for editorial quality, perhaps took the personal touch away, and that ‘realness’ is what drove the industry in the first place.

    The grapple of modern day blogging!

    That all said, the positive feeling of sharing a post (like my last one for example), can soon become overshadowed with my worries that i’ve ‘let myself and my site down’ because the imagery / content wasn’t truly my best. Like I have let it slip with something of no value or with images that aren’t ‘perfect’. A constant grapple …. be more real, share more, get back to basics  versus content i’m proud of, editorial with meaning, visuals worthy of vogue.

    It’s no doubt a common feeling, whether you’re a blogger or not, it’s that self doubt in your delivery. Is it good enough, should I have done more, is this what people want, will people like it, did I fail. It’s a rather boring and cyclical mental grapple. It holds true of instagram too … although whilst I worry about what I’m doing there, I’ve learnt that it doesn’t matter anyway, whatever photo I put out it never ‘succeeds’. Images i’ve spent hours on, the perfect photo in my eyes, could get barely seen in the mass void that is instagram. Equally an image I ‘hate’, that took no effort and that in technical terms is pretty poor, will still fail, but might fail less than the image I thought was better. It’s a very confusing thing.

    It makes me worried for future generations. For young people and their mental health. I have a full time career i’m proud of outside of my blog and instagram, and i’m 31 years old, but even for me I can see how the ‘social approval’ impacts me, my self assurance and drive to create and share.

    Recently i’ve taken to producing and sharing anyway, letting go a bit I guess (like my last post I mentioned). But like I said, then we go back to the shackles of worrying i’ve let things go too much, that I should have kept things editorial.

    You see the grapples? Exhausting.

    Regardless though, I still adore having my space on the internet. I’m more obsessed with photography and broadening my work than I’ve ever been before, it’s something I am hugely passionate about and my blog is, if anything, a chance to share my visuals.  I’ve definitely started to share more ‘diary style’ content and not just editorial style features, i’d love to know how you find the blend? Whether you prefer the editorial focus or welcome the balance. I shan’t be stopping any time soon, and always love to hear what you want to see more of.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    I’d love to know what you think? As a reader of mediamarmalade, as a blogger perhaps yourself? What content do you enjoy reading these days? Do you prefer the perfect tutorial, or sometimes just an emotional download like todays post? I’m forever interested … and want to continue sharing here and on my instagram.

  • FUELLING YOUR CREATIVE SPARK

    FUELLING YOUR CREATIVE SPARK

    FUELLING YOUR CREATIVE SPARK

    Leaning Into Your Creative Desires For The Fun Of It

    Every now and then I get this deep longing in my belly, a longing to create, to capture, to make something. It’s like a little lost part of myself longing to come back to the surface, to be nurtured and to be played with .It comes more often than not when my creative hobbies have taken a back seat in exchange for long hours and little to no time spent on my blog.

    The piece of me that loves to create needs a bit of focus.

    The tricky thing is, I often have such high standards for what I want to create and share on my blog, I want the perfect outfit in the visuals, I want my hair done and makeup on, I want the locations, compositions and lighting to be spot on, and to have all of that is often a rarity and takes a lot of work and effort. But this bank holiday weekend, after spending the day chilling in the garden, I really felt a longing to do something creative and so I decided to bring my fuji camera on a little walk in the forrest outside my house. I was sweaty, and wearing nothing special, but it was beautiful light and the golden hour tones lit up the forrest beautifully.

    Whilst I didn’t expect to do anything with some of the photos I took – this would normally stop me taking them, as I’d focus on shooting for my blog rather than just playing with my camera (the shackles of meaningful content n’ that)- the process gave my inner creative a little bit of love. I shared a few of the photos on my stories, and you guys said you’d love to see a post with them. So here we are.

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    READ MORE

    – HOW TO SURVIVE A CREATIVE RUT – HOW TO GET INSPIRED AGAIN –

    So whilst these shots aren’t my usual style, and most definitely not my best photos by any means either, I wanted to share them anyway because it was the principle behind them that meant something more. Listening to my body and knowing I needed to fuel my creativity, and spend a little bit of time creating something. I didn’t think I had anything to shoot in particular, and I certainly wasn’t prepared to have photos of me after a long day in the sunshine wearing an old dress and my hair swept up, but going for a walk and taking my camera with me was enough to fill that gap and longing I had. And whilst the plan wasn’t to create a blog with the images, it turned into something anyway.

    So the lesson learnt, pick up that camera, paint brush, book or pen. Even creating without purpose has it’s purpose in fuelling your creative spark x

     

  • BACK TO BLOGGING BASICS: LIFE LATELY

    BACK TO BLOGGING BASICS: LIFE LATELY

    IT’S BEEN A WHILE …

    Back To Blogging Basics: A Little Note, From Me, To You.

    Hello.

    Remember me?

    I used to once write to you daily, we’d talk travel, I’d share my daily fashion, i’d even share some tips with you about blogging or work.

    It was excellent. I loved sharing my life and recommendations with you, I loved your comments and hearing your thoughts too.

    Somewhere along the way, ‘life’, got a little in the way of my updates to you. It started with a few busy weeks here or there, and I managed to juggle things and keep up our contact, but then it got more frequent, the busy patches that is, and they got longer. Before I knew it weeks had passed at a time, I’d check in here or there, but we lost contact a little. I didn’t stop thinking about you or longing to write, but I couldn’t find the time to put pen to paper. When I did have a spare moment, I was so exhausted the thought of writing something meaningful was too daunting, and I always felt like you’d want something meaningful versus a sporadic hi once every few weeks, and so more time passed …

    You know how it is right? We’re all so busy these days.

    I’m working hard to get some balance and make some time, not just for us but for myself too. Time to rest, think, be creative and most of all to LIVE so that I have more stories to share with you.

    I’ve got some great trips coming up, Greece, Mallorca, NYC and LA are all on the cards, and I just cannot wait to have time to be creative, to get inspired, and most of all ‘brain space’ to sit and write to you about it all.

    We’re also about to start our renovation which I’d love to share with you, I don’t know about you but all I think about these days is interiors, and I’d love to share our ideas and our home with you. I’m nervous to have my ‘safe space’ pulled apart ready for something new, I know it’ll be better and incredible when it’s done, but there’s something a little unsettling about the process all the same.

    In the meantime, i’ve been busy at work. I got promoted, did I tell you? I’m so pleased, but naturally works been taking up more time and i’ve been a busy bee on that front. I’ve been keeping up my acupuncture and yoga, I absolutely love them and am so pleased to have some routine there. I’ve been spending loads more energy on my film photography and am loving the spirit of it all, I even bought a new film camera when I got promoted. Any excuse. You know me. And finally … I had a bit of a wardrobe clear out and made space for some new investment pieces I decided to buy, one of those pieces is this amazing frilly skirt which I literally adore. It’s very me, don’t you think? As always, i’m styling it down with trainers and a tee, I much prefer wearing things in a slightly more toned down style plus it’s more comfy. And comfort, as we know, is key.

    Anyway, i’ve rambled on at you enough. What have you been up to? Would you like me to keep writing and be in touch a little more regularly? Ask me any questions? And stay in touch with me too, i’m always sharing more of the mundane stuff over here.

    Speak soon, I’ve missed you

    Mel x

    [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last] [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last] [one_half padding=”0 5px 0 0px”][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”][/one_half_last]

    SHOP MY LOOK

    . WHISTLES SKIRT . VEJA TRAINERS . COS TEE . ZARA BLAZER (OLD) . SAINT LAURENT BAG .

    [show_shopthepost_widget id=”3697511″]

    Speak soon x