Mental Health & Social Media

Some things unexpectedly just come to you, the best being ideas for blog posts. Am I right.

Mental Health & Social Media. This isn't a new thing. There have been plenty of posts & articles about this destructive relationship. For me it has been up and down and not so long ago I sort of did a cull. I went through my Twitter & Instagram and unfollowed the accounts that were just clogging up my feed. I deleted Snapchat altogether; I barely used it and it was just another thing I was wasting my time on. Facebook is something I'm still on the fence with. On one hand, I'm sick of seeing all the crap on there while on the other I have my blog page as well as being a part of blogging groups which is really helpful.

The problem with social media is that most of the time (especially on Instagram) it's everybody's highlights. So while you are having a bad day it makes it 10x worse to see other people showing how great their lives are.

With this blog, social media is kind of necessity. You gotta get out there and promote what you're creating in order to get readers. Brands, as well as PR companies, are also interested in it. Especially the numbers side of it. The bigger your audience is the more likely it is you'll get approached or they'll be more receptive to you. This aspect for me also messes with my head and just makes me feel low.

I have a quite a small amount of numbers on social media. Around 500 on Twitter, 360 on Instagram and 80 on Facebook. I find Facebook the hardest as with the other two you can use hashtags while if you want to attract likes you have to pay to advertise which sucks. I've been blogging for just over four years and it is something I really work hard on and at times it can get a bit depressing to see low numbers. It's also hard when you approach brands/PR companies and they tell you to come back to them when your following is bigger. It's definitely a 'goal', something to strive for but at times can get me down.

Things that make this worse is when other bloggers buy their followers or copy other bloggers work and get recognised by brands/PRs. It's heartbreaking to work hard at something only to get passed over by someone who is essentially cheating. This is what inspired me to write this post as I saw on Twitter that a blogger was buying followers as well as another blogger blatantly passing off another's post as their work. It's infuriating. At school/university, this would have most likely resulted in expulsion, a serious consequence. Why is it then that this has no real consequence. Thankfully there are tools to see if someone is buying followers. You can search someone's username on Social Blade and if you see numbers going up in big chunks, it's suspicious.

At the end of the day, I just have to remind myself that social media is not that vitally important. The world doesn't end if I lose followers. For me I know I have to take breaks from it in order to keep my sanity. I'll leave my phone in my room, go off and read a book, watch TV. Going out also helps especially if you don't have data on your phone. Especially for a walk, walks are good.

So yeah, that's my little spiel.

Ashley xx

Vintage Finds

I've always viewed op-shopping through rose tinted glasses. I'd always imagine going in and being surround by amazing one-off pieces of clothing. Off course that never really happens and the chances of it being in your size is a miracle. In the past, I haven't done much op-shopping but now I'm really into it. 

Ok, skip to a couple of weeks ago or so and I'd just finished up at the museum. I was just wandering up and down the Great South Road when I happen to glance towards Selwyn Arcade and saw a second-hand shop which I'm pretty sure was not there before. I decided to go over and have a look through the clothing racks. I saw some things which took my fancy but then I discovered this gem and honestly couldn't believe my luck. Blazers are an item which I'm obsessed with and I've been hunting for one for the longest time. 

It's navy blue and is a bit longer than a regular blazer (I'm pretty sure it's a mens one but who cares). There are shoulder pads and it's got pockets at the front and also inside which is great cause who doesn't love places to put stuff.

The buttons look as though they've got seahorses on them which is cool. On one side of the breast pockets, it has an 'Oxford' patch on it. I'm not sure if this is the brand or something. There's also a rowing picture so maybe it's a club jacket?? The size wasn't on it so I quickly tried it on, it's a bit tight but the fact it was $10 and amazing I, of course, had to have it. 

Now that I've got a taste for it I'm eager to hunt out my next gem.

Have you found any op-shop gems?

Ashley xx

October Favourites

This gets repeated at the start of every month but the fact that it's the second to last month of the year doesn't feel real. I don't really have a feel for what time of the year it is really, just that it's nowhere near the end. As usual, my favourites are a bit random so sit back and enjoy.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor*

The size of this book did intimidate me at first but once I started getting into it I almost could'nt put it down. The story is told from the perspective of two characters mostly. Lazlo, an orphan librarian who grabs the chance to travel to a place he's been fascinated with his whole life & Sarai, godspawn, who as well as her friends have been hiding most of their lives. The story has a fantastical element to it which is elevated with the heavy descriptive language. I'll do a review later on sometime in the near future.

Estée & Aslan's Santorini vlogs

Estée & Aslan went on a little trip to Greece and OMG Santorini is one of the most beautiful places ever. I'm obsessed and I need to go there. The whole place is Instagramable. Estée vlogged the first day of the trip on her channel while Aslan did a video of the second day. These have to be the best vlogs I've watched in a while.

Recycled Movie Costumes on Tumblr

I discovered this account/blog during one of my mindless wanders through Tumblr. Recycled Movie Costumes just basically shows dresses, accessories etc that have been reused for different TV shows or movies. I don't know, I just find it interesting seeing costumes pop up in multiple shows.

Paolo Sebastian Spring/Summer 2018

As you all know anything Disney related I absolutely love. So of course when I saw that Paolo Sebastian had created Disney inspired gowns I fell in love instantly. They're all so gorgeous & whimsical, I would be the happiest person on earth if I ever got a dress like those. 

What are your October Favourites?

Ashley xx

*Review copy from Hachette NZ

Sunglasses for Any Occasion

I hadn't planned for what today's post was so had to quickly brainstorm (as per usual). I've been wanting to do this post for a while so now seems good. I rarely leave the house meaning I don't have the need to put on some sunnies so I'm surprised I actually have this many pairs. Most of them are just cheap ones while the other was a bit of a splurge.

These two are from Farmers and I've had them for what seems like ages. The tortoise-shell pair were my go-to glasses when I needed them and are just your typical sunglasses style. One of the legs is bent because I dropped it but you only notice it when it's folded. The other pair to me look like 'movie star' glasses with the shape and also the colour. I don't wear these as often as I'm always casual while these are not.

Up next is my current go-to pair. They're from Mirrou and were only $12 I think. They're a nice round shape but what really got me was the gold detailing which kind of makes them a bit cat-eye-ish. The rose gold pair was a bit of a departure from the black I usually go for but I just couldn't resist. I got them from Once'it and I just loved the unique shape of them and of course, them being rose gold.

I got these from Once'it as well and they're a bit more pricey than the rest of them combined. These are Sass & Bide and I think they are the Sapporo glasses in blush. Of course, the colour was the first thing that caught my eye and I just loved the shape of them as well. I internally debated over getting them or not but I went for it cause who knows where else I'll find a gorgeous pair of designer sunglasses at a great discounted price. 

How big is your collection of sunglasses?

Ashley xx

Wishlist | Colette by Colette Hayman

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has dreamed of one day owning a designer handbag. I'm always interested in seeing the new collections but until that time comes my eyes are set towards ones which are more in my price range. Colette Hayman is an Australian designer who has designed stunning bags which are affordable. I had a look through the online store and found some which caught my eye. Hopefully, they'll be in a physical store.

In terms of smaller handbags, I prefer cross body as I find straps just fall off my shoulder. I also feel more secure when it's crossbody. I liked the Sophie Quilt Crossbody as it is a bit different to what I would usually go for. It's a rounded rectangular shape and is an Ivory shade with a quilted feature. The gold tone hardware accents also add a little more luxury which I like.

The Zoey Zip 3-In-1 Crossbody is different as it comes with three interchangeable covers; black, snakeskin & ivory. I personally like it just with the black cover. It looks more sleek and simple and the gold chain detailing stops it from being too boring.

For bigger bags, I really like the style of totes. I also like to make sure they have a decently long strap due to the aforementioned problem above. I really liked how stylishly classic (if that's a thing) the Jackie Medium Tote is. It's black with gold tone hardware. The only thing I'm not sure about is the shoulder strap. To me, it looks a different style to the bag itself. I don't know.

The Steph Tassel Mini is Burgundy, velvet and all round gorgeous. It's more of a round shape than a rectangle and is also a bit smaller. While I'm more into black as well as neutrals for handbags the colour of this is darker and could be both a day & night bag.

The Carlie Hardware Tag Tote was the first bag to catch my eye and I'm sure it's obvious why. It's a gorgeous pink shade and is a great size to fit everything you need for the day. I know I said I prefer black & neutrals but pink is the exception.

Are there any Colette bags you have your eye on?

Ashley xx

May Favourites

Well I did it, I survived. That could be one of the favourites, I survived a week on my own. It was nerve-wracking to say the least, especially at night. Honestly, the worst thing was my own paranoia and believe me I was constantly on the edge of a panic attack throughout. And now the whole fam is back and I've got some new stuff. I'll share what I got in a video. Also is anyone else freaking out it's now the middle of the year?

L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Mask & Lioele A.C Control Night Spot

I wrote about these two products in my New in Skincare post and am really loving them. The face mask works really well and it also smells so nice which is a plus. I'm pretty sure the Night Spot treatment works. I've used it numerous times, I don't see an immediate change but I think it clears them away faster which is great.

Grey Oversized Cardigan 

I showed this on my latest clothing haul video and is from The Warehouse. I ended up getting a size too big but it's still a nice item to throw on over whatever you're wearing. It's got some tie detailing on the sides and has a hood.

The Firemaker, The Fourth Sacrifice & The Killing Room by Peter May*

As you can imagine these three took me a while to get through. These are part of the China Thriller series and follows a Chinese cop and an American pathologist. I'm going to do a review on them next week so keep an eye out for that.

What have you been loving in May?

Ashley xx

*Review copies

The Warehouse Fashion Haul

I have recently gotten some new clothes from The Warehouse and thought it would be easier to show them on video rather than a post. I think these are from the Autumn/Winter range. I really like the pieces I got and would be great for an Autumn look.

Ashley xx

Autumn/Winter Fashion Wishlist

Supposedly we are well into Autumn at the moment. There have been times where it's been chilly enough to start looking at coats but overall it still feels like summer is still grasping on and does not want to let go. I love Autumn/Winter fashion, in particular boots & coats. At the moment I'm trying hard to steer my wardrobe in a certain style direction which I hope is reflected in the items I picked. I really love the European/Parisian style and as such am trying to be selective with the clothes I buy (hopefully). Here are some fashion picks which are top of my wishlist. 

Garage Pleat Chiffon Midi Skirt from The Warehouse / NZD $29.00

I've been wanting a skirt in this style ever since I saw Liv wearing one while in Venice. In her post, she linked to a similar one from Asos which again is on my wishlist. The colour of the skirt that Liv was wearing is the other thing that attracted me to it, I love the deep wine red colour. I'm tempted to get it but I'm always unsure of sizing and the whole process of returning it doesn't appeal to me. I've seen other shops have this type of skirt as well so I assume it's coming back in style.

Double Breasted Mini Skirt from Country Road / NZD $179.00

This is the most expensive thing on my wishlist so hopefully some day I'll stumble across something similar with a smaller price tag. I'm a big fan of anything double-breasted (especially coats) and I also love that it is in navy blue and has gold buttons. It's simple yet sophisticated. 

Frilled Dress from H&M / NZD $69.99
The rest of the items are from H&M and are pieces I spotted while I was at Sylvia Park last week. I love how simple this dress is with the ruffles/frills adding something to it. It's also black as well which just makes it easier to wear.

Cotton Shirt with a Tie from H&M / NZD $29.99
Plain white blouses are a staple item which I want to get a couple of. When I saw this I became absolutely obsessed with it. I love the tie detail as well as the gold buttons.

Double-breasted jacket from H&M / NZD $79.99
Remember what I said about loving everything double-breasted. This was on one of the models in the window display and was the reason I had to go in. I love blazers and I was particularly attracted by the fact that it is longer that the average blazer which I liked. They didn't have my size on the rack, I'm considering going back and be more serious about buying stuff.

Long Cotton Shirt from H&M / NZD $39.99
Again this is another plain white blouse this time with a Peter Pan collar which is something else I'm really into. It would be really cute underneath a black dress or paired with a nice skirt.

What items are on your fashion wishlist?

Ashley xx

Fashion Haul | Postie+, Nike & Mirrou

As you can see it's another haul video which will be the last for a while as I've got no more new stuff to share. I want to come up with some creative video ideas aside from books/fashion/beauty etc. If you've got any ideas of what you would like to see feel free to comment as I would love to know.

Ashley xx

2017 Birthday Gifts

My birthday was early last week and this was almost everything I got. I also got some chocolate/lollies which are gone let's be honest as well as some pyjamas which I completely forgot about. The bottoms had Paris themed images so needless to say I love them.

Hope you enjoy this video, if you haven't already I would really love if you subscribed to my YouTube channel. It's linked on the sidebar and also the menu at the top.

Ashley xx

My Pinterest Life

My obsession with Pinterest comes and goes but you can't deny you almost always get sucked down a black hole and before you know it hours have passed. In an effort to be more creative this post is just made up of a series of pictures from pinterest that I would love my life to look like hence 'My Pinterest Life'. You can check out my Pinterest here to see all the things that are my aesthetic. 

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What would your Pinterest Life look like?

Ashley xx

Farmers Fashion Haul

It's been a long while since I've done a video on something other than books so I thought I would branch out. In this video I share some new purchases from Farmers.

Let me know if you enjoy these types of videos. I'm planning on doing another clothing haul and to come up with some other creative fashion video ideas.

Ashley xx

January Favourites

Hello again. So the whole getting back into blogging for 2017 failed to get started. Some stuff went down including doing a programme so basically I couldn't be motivated to come up with ideas, photograph and write. January I feel has always been messy and unorganised; at the start you're on holiday and then you have to figure out what your going to do and then it's February. This might just be me. One thing I did manage this month though was keeping note of my favourites.

2017 Diary

I got this diary from Typo and it's a weekly planner. I'm attempting to be more organised this year hence the diary. So far it's going ok, I sometimes forget to write in it/actually look through it... there's room for improvement.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Micellar Gel to Foam*
I've done a post about this product last year and my love for it has not dwindled. It's just so easy to use and also very convenient in that you just take the bottle and that's it. It's the only cleanser I've used since I received it and I'll probably won't use another till this is gone.

Purple Dressing Gown from Farmers
I got this for Christmas and it's one of my favourite pieces of clothing I have. It's soft, warm and I when I wear it I feel like I've turned into Anna. Safe to say it was one of the best gifts I got this Christmas.

Duolingo
Learning languages is something I'm really passionate about. I'm not sure what's the best way to learn a language, there's Rosetta Stone & Rocket Languages, but for now I'm trying out Duolingo. Italian has been the language I want to learn the most, I did do an intro course at uni but didn't got so well. I have started to notice I'm remembering things so that's good. I attempted to do French as well but ended up getting confused, I can't do two things at a time especially languages. It's takes me a while to learn.

What have you been loving in January?

Ashley xx

*PR Sample

Wardrobe Goals - Blogger Edition

For a while now I've been feeling bored with all the clothes that I own. I often feel like just throwing them all out and starting fresh. I've always wanted to have a style that is consistent and not all over the place, I don't always think about the 'bigger picture' and just get clothes that I like.

The style that really excites me about fashion is Parisian/preppy/classic/kind of casual. That probably makes so sense, I find it hard to describe these things. Since getting into blogging I've come across other blogs/bloggers and have discovered two which pretty much embody my wardrobe goals.

The first is Olivia from What Olivia Did... Pretty much every outfit post has me quickly adding clothes to my wishlist and longing to be somewhere were magical.  Since a picture is worth a thousand words here are some outfits of Olivia's which I adore.

Photos from Pinterest/What Olivia Did...

P.S | I absolutely love her post On Comparison. It's something I struggle with all the time, everyone should have a read.

The other blogger whose fashion I adore (or should I say J'adore) is Daphne from Mode and The City. Daphne is French as is her blog and while I can't understand what's written (a part from the somewhat help from Google translate) pictures need no translation and I've fallen in love with her style. 

Photos from Mode and the City

A part from the fashion another reason I love her photos is that Paris is the backdrop which just makes them even more magical.

While my description might of been a bit confusing hopefully the pictures clearly illustrate my wardrobe goals.

What are your wardrobe goals/style inspiration?

Ashley xx