Tag: Holiday

Bored of Basics & Playing It Safe

The Style Rut

My style posts have been few and far between recently on my blog. I do regularly share OOTD’s over on my Instagram but lately I haven’t felt inspired to share more detailed outfit posts here on my blog. I talked about writer’s block of the blogging variety in my last post and it seems that my halt in creativity hadn’t just ended there, as I’ve found myself in a bit of a style rut too.

Now you may already know that I like to keep my style pretty simple and focus on basics and classic pieces that are easily interchangeable. It’s something that has worked for me for quite a while now and for the most part I’ve been really happy with my day to day outfits. However now I’m starting to feel the urge to further evolve my personal style.

Over the past couple of years I found a real love for denim and practically lived in jeans come rain or shine. However, I’ve felt more recently that this has led me to become less experimental with my dress sense and ultimately very safe. And lets face it, we all know that safe is usually pretty boring and I’ll admit, that is exactly how I’ve been feeling with my style as of late, bored.

Anyone who knew me before my blogging days, will know that I was once deemed as a walking rainbow who knew no limits when it came to trying something new with my style. It’s not that I want to go back to dressing the way I did years ago but I look back at my former self and admire my boldness for not being afraid to try something new.

I’m still very much into the idea of owning pieces that mix and match but that shouldn’t stop me from being a little bit experimental from time to time and stepping out of my comfort zone.

I’m currently finding myself being drawn to a lot of white and off white pieces, which is something I’ve often avoided too much of in the past, as let’s face it, it’s not the most practical shade. But, like I said before, safe isn’t always fun and whilst I still want to keep my wardrobe wearable, I need to bend my own rules from time to time in order to enjoy it.

Top – Brandy Melville (similar here) | Shorts – Asos | Belt – Asos (similar here) | Sandals – Asos | Cardigan – Asos | Bag – Kate Spade | Sunglasses – Taylor Morris | Jewellery – Pernille Corydon

This outfit I wore whilst in Malaga is pretty basic but Damien and I travelled light with one carryon case between us for the three nights whilst we were there. The trip was ultimately about relaxing and so I wanted to keep my outfits super simple on this trip.

One of my first purchases for the warmer weather however, was this white knitted crop top that I got in Brandy Melville whilst in London recently. On this occasion I did play it safe with denim shorts, however I can give myself Brownie points for the fact that I wasn’t just wearing jeans for once.

I also felt happy to not be wearing boots, which seem to be my footwear of choice when the weather in the UK isn’t on its best behaviour. I had a last minute sandal purchase before this trip, which actually turned out perfect for on holiday, but the hunt for the perfect summer sandals which I can wear frequently whilst at home, is definitely still on.

I’m aware this has been a bit of a jumbled blog post. Just a bit of a rambling mind dump about my thoughts on my person style with an outfit post thrown in. And I guess the fact that I’ve taken a good two weeks to post this outfit, shows that although I like it, I haven’t been THAT excited to share it, and so inevitably is a sign that I am so ready to spice things up a bit. We shall see. But for now, that is all. But I’d love to know your thoughts on the matter if you have ever found yourself in a bit of a style rut. Comment below and let me know. 🙂

Samio x

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April 14, 2017
A Travel Guide To Hamburg

What To Eat, See & Do In Hamburg

Germany is fast becoming one of my most visited European destinations. I’d actually been to Hamburg for the fist time a couple of years ago during the summer but this time I was ready to explore much more of the city and experience Hamburg in winter as something different. My friend Chloe and I decided on the trip at the start of January and after finding flights that suited us perfectly for only £35, we quickly booked our three day city break for the 13th to the 15th February.

Where We Stayed

Superbude

The super cool hotel/hostel Supebude kindly put us up for our two night stay in Hamburg. Located in St Pauli, it’s only a stone’s throw away from a large selection of coffee shops, bars and restaurants, in the super quirky hipster area of Sternschanze. We actually spent a lot of time around the local area and found several great places to eat and drink.

Superbude, labels itself a hostel and hotel, however right away I have to say it isn’t like any hostel I’ve ever stayed in before, as whilst being affordable it is definitely a lot more stylish than most accommodation that falls into the ‘hostel’ bracket.

You know when you walk into Supebude that you’re in a cool spot and all the staff are really friendly. To the right of the reception there’s a cool chill out area with a couple of refrigerators that serve as a self service bar and behind that is the area where breakfast is served. Breakfast was included and we were both pleased with the selection of food on offer. Of course being in Germany it’s the usual continental style breakfast selection but there was plenty to choose from and we left feeling satisfied each morning.

We were also pleased with our room. Whilst being simple it provided everything we needed for our two nights stay. I’m happy as long as my bed is comfy, the shower is hot and overall everything is clean. I’m happy to say that it ticked all the boxes. Chloe and I both had good sleeps and agreed that we’d happily stay at Superbude again.

What We Ate

Eating Our Way Around Hamburg

It’s probably easier to compile a list of things we didn’t eat on this trip than the things that we did. In fact, I can go as far as to say that we didn’t stop eating for the entire three days. This was much to the delight of Chloe who is vegan and has mentioned how she often struggles finding food options when she’s away. We quickly noticed lots of vegan options close by to where we were staying, in Sternschanze. We managed to get our hands on everything from vegan cherry pie, to vegan donna kebab! Even I was in my element with it all and all the food we tried was so, so good!

A few favourites included:

Bullerei – A popular restaurant where we went for lunch on our first day. I had the salmon risotto which I thoroughly enjoyed. They didn’t have any vegan dishes but they made one of the dishes dairy free for Chloe on request.
ElbGold – A cute coffee shop serving great cakes and pastries and even better coffee. We had a vegan apple slice & a vegan cherry pie with coffee. It was all very good.
Cafe Piya – A restaurant on Schanzenstraße where we went for dinner one evening. We both went for the vegan burger and it was really good. The wine was good too.

We also had vegan Currywurst at a fast food place round the corner from our hotel. I unfortunately forgot to take note of the name of the place but it was either on or close by to Schanzenstraße.

What We Saw

Being Tourists

Aside from eating out…A LOT…We also managed to fit in quite a bit of sight seeing too. Although this was my second time in Hamburg, I ended up discovering a whole other side to the city that I hadn’t previously. I learnt that Hamburg is a creatively vibrant and artistic city. On first appearances you don’t see it’s quirks and unique flare but take a walk around an area like Sternschanze and you’ll see unique graffiti on every building. Whilst looking edgy I have to say that it still felt safe whilst wondering around these parts and overall there was a really chilled and pleasant vibe to the city, especially in the area mentioned. It had been Chloe’s first time in Hamburg and the second day into our trip she was already saying how she wanted to come back.

On our first day we took a two hour bike ride around the city on one of the StadtRAD rental bikes. Whilst it was absolutely freezing that day, I couldn’t have thought of a better way for us to explore the city. There are bike lanes on every single side walk, so there’s no need to worry about biking on the road. The hop on, hop off bikes are such an easy way to get around and when you’re done you can just hook them back up at one of the many bike docks around the city.

We also went on a boat tour and a bus tour during our trip but I have to say that the bikes were still my favourite mode of transport and a great way to see everything too. We also did a great deal of walking, which is so easy to do when you’re in a place like Hamburg which is very relaxed compared to other more crowded cities. There’s also a great deal of greenery in Hamburg with parks dotted throughout the city.

One tourist attraction I would recommend is the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in the HafenCity quarter. It’s free to go up and from the viewing deck you’re able to take in the views of Hamburg. Also, if you’re into architecture the building itself is pretty stunning and it cost a pretty penny too, which definitely shows. Even the inside of the Elbphilharmonie impressive, and I’d say it’s worth stopping by if you get the chance.

The Low Down

When we visited: February 2017
Weather: Average minus two degrees – Cold and crisp with blue sky.
How long we stayed: Monday to Wednesday – Two nights
Where we stayed: St Pauli
Accommodation: Superbude Hotel Hostel
Food To Try: Vegan Currywurst (if you can find the takeout we went to on Schanzenstraße), otherwise just look out for Currywurst in general.
Suggestions: Layer up if you’re visiting during the winter.
Recommendations: Go up the Elbphilharmonie, it’s free and you can see great views of Hamburg from up there!
Also, rent one of the StadtRAD bikes and cycle around Hamburg.
Would I go again: Yes!
Would I go again in February: Yes, however I’d love to go again in the summer too.

Chloe and I both loved our three days in Hamburg. I enjoyed myself the first time I visited but it’s the second time around that I really grew to love the city. We both liked the easy going vibe and Chloe has already said how much she is in love with Hamburg after our visit.

If you enjoy good food, street art and a city with a creative vibe, then Hamburg could be just the place for you and I certainly recommend the visit.

Samio x

*Our accommodation was kindly provided by Superbude along with thanks to Hamburg Tourism who organised it also provided our travel whilst in Hamburg.

See more of what we got up to in my Hamburg Vlog:

February 20, 2017
A Weekend In Lisbon, Portugal

Making Plans

It was a dreary day in November and I scrolled through my Twitter feed in search of some mild entertainment. As my eyes flitted down the screen I spotted my friend, L’Oréal, had tweeted expressing how she was keen to go to Berlin again for a city break. This instantly caught my attention! I’d been feeling a strong desire to take more trips in the new year, especially to places I was yet to explore in Europe…Although I knew it would be a long shot that we’d actually end up going anywhere, I thought I’d put it out there that I was eager to go on a city break too. And so without hesitation I tweeted back…Because you never know, right!

I’m often reminded that not everyone is quite as spontaneous as I am, but when L’Oréal tweeted back agreeing that we should make the trip happen, I was on Skyscanner before we’d even had a chance to discuss things properly.

I was happy to see that L’Oréal was just as enthusiastic as I was when we got round to properly discussing our trip over private message. We both decided on January for our time to travel. Then Berlin quickly evolved into Lisbon with L’Oréal’s suggestion and the slightly warmer weather in mind.

Lisbon had never been somewhere I’d thought of going to before, but I quickly got enthused about the idea when I found flights for £40 each, to go over on the second weekend in January. Of course we couldn’t say no to that and so Lisbon was booked and my first trip of 2017 was set in motion.

The Important Stuff

Rather than rambling on too much (more) in this blog post, I’d rather give you the important details that may help/benefit you if you’re panning a trip to Lisbon during the winter…Or any time for that matter. I must admit that L’Oréal and I didn’t do much touristy stuff, with the focus of our trip being on relaxing, eating and generally just hanging out and enjoying the laid back city.

That’s one thing I can tell you, that Lisbon has a super chilled and laid back vibe for a city. You don’t feel in a particular rush to go, or be anywhere and people seem to slowly ease into the day without much rush – that’s how it felt on the weekend at least.

Transport

In terms of transport, the subway is affordable and easy to navigate (if you’re use to the London Underground, you’ll find Lisbon’s version a doddle). We only used the subway once during our weekend, and that was to get us from the airport when we arrived, to Baixa-Chiado – Although I’m sure we’d use it more if we were to go back during the summer and explore more areas. Our tickets cost less than two euro each and were easy to buy from the ticket machines at the subway station.

Accommodation

For our accommodation we stayed in an AirBnb, which we’d actually booked pretty last minute (the week before), although I wouldn’t recommend organising it so last minute during the summer, as you may find many of the best place have sold out. I’ve noticed the AirBnb that we stayed in is already starting to fill up fast!

I’m saying all of this presuming you’ve heard of AirBnb and at least know what it’s all about but I do realise not everyone has used it yet. It’s a great alternative to staying in a hotel, whereby you stay in someone’s home instead. Not to worry if you don’t fancy shaking up with a random family, there are plenty of Airbnb’s available where you can rent the entire home to yourself (like the one we stayed in here)…Overall it generally works out affordable and pretty good value for money. Our AirBnb was excellent and right in Bairro Alto, which is an area I’d stay again if/when I were to go back. Also, if you’re new to AirBnb you can get £25 worth of travel credit if you sign up using my link here…You’re welcome. 😉

The Weather

The weather when we were in Lisbon was thankfully much milder than in the UK! We left England with snow and arrived to blue sky and sunshine. The average temperature was thirteen degrees celsius, which actually felt warm compared to back home. The sky was clear and blue for the whole of our trip and we even managed to eat al fresco for lunch on the Saturday!

The Nightlife

The nightlife in Lisbon is really good fun – from what we experienced anyway. Although we only made it out, out, one night of our trip, which was the Saturday, we found that there were plenty of bars to choose from which seem to get busier later into the evening. Later into the night you’re likely to find groups spilling out onto the streets, with plastic cups in hand giving the city a summer type vibe even in the winter. The only downside to the Lisbon nightlife (and also the only negative thing I can say about the entire trip), is that it’s still legal to smoke in bars over there, so if you’re not use to the smoke it can get a little overpowering! However, after getting over the fact that you feel like you’re back in 2006, you’re likely to get use to it and happily dance away into the early hours, especially when you’ve had a few drinks like I had.

Food

And last but not least…(my favourite) Food…If you’re going for somewhere that’s offering the local cuisine, you’re likely to find a lot of meat, fish and potatoes on the menu, usually with the one vegetarian option of lasagne. The local cuisine is very tasty though if you do happen to try it but not to threat if it’s not for you, there is lots to chose from! Even in the small radius from where we stayed we found a verity of different restaurants, with everything from vegetarian to vegan options, so there really is something for everyone and overall I found the food to be really good!

Also whilst in Lisbon I do recommend you try the Pasteis De Nata, which I insisted on calling a ‘Lisbon Pie’ for the entirety of the trip when I didn’t know the proper name. Whilst in Lisbon someone on my Instagram recommended we try Manteigaria (a pastry shop/cafe selling only Pasteis De Nata), and it was an excellent suggestion!

The Low Down

When we visited: January 2017
Weather: Average 13 Degrees C – Mild with blue sky.
How long we stayed: Friday to Monday – 3 nights.
Where we stayed: Bairro Alto.
Accommodation: Airbnb.
Food To Try: Pasteis De Nata.
Suggestions: Take Comfortable Shoes.
What we spent there: Roughly €160 each on food, drink and transport for the entire weekend.
Would I go again: Yes!
Would I go again in January: Most certainly!

I think it’s pretty clear to say that we both LOVED Lisbon. The people, the vibe of the place, the colourful buildings, the blue sky in January, were all brilliant! We’ve been told by almost everyone that we should visit again in summer, which I would certainly love to do, but I’d also strongly recommend Lisbon for a winter getaway destination too. If you’re from the UK especially, jetting off to Lisbon for a weekend of blue sky and slightly milder weather over January or February, is the perfect way to beat the winter blues. It certainly helped me beat mine!

Have you ever visited Lisbon? What city breaks do you recommend?

Samio x

January 25, 2017
6 Things I Did On My Beach Holiday

I’m back from the Greek island of Kos, after a week away that I can only describe as relaxed, peaceful and self-indulgent. I allowed myself to fully wind down and do a few things that I very rarely get to do…

I Switched Off

I put my phone onto airplane mode for the majority of the trip. By the middle of the trip (and strategically timed on a Saturday), I couldn’t help but check my emails (just incase), as being self employed gives you the fear of missing out on work anytime you decide to ‘switch off’, which is usually never in my case. I did however allow myself to wait to reply to emails after I returned home – any guesses what I’ll be doing today?

I Sunbathed

For the first time in years I actually lay in the sun, not under the shade or wrapped in layers, and I fully let the sun bronze my skin – whilst covered in head to toe factor 50 of course – don’t get me started on skin protection.

I Swam in the Sea

I actually got to do this once whilst still in England over the summer but it had been a long time since I dipped into the sea whilst abroad…and lets face it, it’s always better swimming in the sea in a country that has a much warmer climate than the UK.

I ate a ridiculous amount of cheese

Okay so this is something I tend to do a lot whilst at home as well – hello, my favourite food is pizza! – But I wouldn’t usually opt for cheese with breakfast, lunch and dinner…But there was just so much of it and I couldn’t stop myself. I’m talking edam and cheddar for breakfast, pizza and feta for lunch and after dinner cheese and crackers with blue cheese every night. Yep, I’m going on a dairy free detox.

I Read a Book

I finally got to read the book that I’d meant to finish a long while ago. I’d bought A Little Life for my flights to Cape Town earlier this year and then found myself occupied watching the entire final series of Downton Abbey, along with a selection of old movies on the plane instead…Fast forward to a week ago and I finally picked it back up again and found myself hooked. In fact I found myself crying at the end. Actual tears, which was a bit embarrassing whilst sat in the hotel lobby but I definitely recommend the read, even if it may leave you a little heart broken.

I thought of nothing and did nothing

With an overactive brain like mine, that is somewhat impossible, but I did manage to zone out from the rest of the world (airplane mode definitely helped) and not think about the usual things that may rattle through my brain. I barely thought about my blog and didn’t even feel bad about not posting on social media. Sometimes it’s nice to switch off…It was also nice just being really lazy.

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It’s fair to say I had a great week away. I hope that you have had a great week so far and enjoy a great rest of the week too!

Samio x

October 26, 2016
😀 is for Düsseldorf

The weekend before last I headed to Dusseldorf for the weekend. It was my second time visiting Germany and my first time visiting Dusseldorf and I loved it! The nightlife was amazing and to say we partied the nights away is an understatement. We managed to fit in some sight seeing too and I got to visit the fabulous pink palace, Schloss Benrath.

Samio x

August 30, 2013