After two years — almost to the day — of Radical Self Love Bootcamp, it’s time for a change. Yes: my Bootcamp is on its way out.

Thousands of babes have taken the course… And loved it. My inbox overflows with sweet words from women who have completed Bootcamp, and it fills me with happiness.

So why am I pulling the plug?

Firstly, my vision of radical self love has changed a lot in the last two years. I’ve experienced so many things, talked with so many women, and learned so much. I believe it’s my responsibility to present you with a fully updated and refreshed view of radical self love, incorporating all I’ve discovered!

And secondly, from teaching over 200 women at The Blogcademy, I’ve uncovered a lot about how people learn, and the best way to communicate information. I have some great ideas about how to present information and new concepts in the future, and I’m eager to experiment with them!

It’s time to clear a bit of space for something new.

But before I do, I’m offering you the chance to get Radical Self Love Bootcamp for half price! Click below to snap it up!

Not sure what Radical Self Love Bootcamp is? It’s a 30 day course designed to get you from doldrums to delight!

Over the course of a month, you’ll learn how to fall in love with yourself, revitalise your view of who you are, realise how incredibly beautiful your body is, be encouraged to live spontaneously and karate-chop your limiting beliefs, start making essential changes, begin living with more integrity and truth, and get motivated, energised and excited again!

In addition to a whole month of reading and activities, Bootcamp comes bundled with videos, MP3s and even a forum where you can connect with other women on this same journey.

Here are a few testimonials from some Bootcamp babes!

“I chose to take part in your Radical Self-Love Bootcamp last year to help me address my self-esteem issues and issues I felt I had surrounding my father’s death in 2006, but instead of unearthing the dark feelings I thought I had and that I would need to then tackle, your words and suggestions made me realise that in fact my life is already amazing, I’m already pretty cool and I have so much to be grateful for. It made me realise that I was feeing a lot of fear that I labelled as ‘daddy issues’ when really it was simply fears. The Bootcamp was truly life-changing for me and I am so pleased I took part!” (Sarah Steffens)

“I’m really loving the course so far! I’m about halfway through now & my focus has drastically shifted. I already feel so much better about myself & everything around me. Thank you!” (Maraluce van Dijk)

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this journey you have created, to help me learn how to apply these great tools to love myself FINALLY!!!!! You are a brilliant fluorescent angel of love. Keep up the revolution! Cheers!” (Alyssa Gardner)

“After reading through Love & Sequins several times, I decided to take the big plunge and do the Bootcamp. I had made some strides in therapy, but the Bootcamp really helped give me concrete things to do on a daily basis. I’ve slowly started to put myself first, listen to my intuition, & blossom into a better version of who I was before. As you say, it’s not an overnight transformation. It’s a lifelong commitment to caring for the person who matters most, ME! I think I’ve improved leaps and bounds in the past 3 months. I can only imagine how much better things will get. Thank you for your commitment to radical self love and your willingness to share it with those of us who need it most.” (Emily Kelly)

“I love the book, and I think you have a lot of great advice in it! You have a wonderful energy and I love the joy that you bring to what you do. I feel like it is helping me move forward on my own journey. You are a real inspiration, and so thank you.” (Katheryn)

“For me, the best part of RSL Bootcamp was the encouragement (through activities, homework, and the forum) to write about my hopes, dreams, and fears in a journal. This really helped me to stop bottling up the thoughts that were stressing me out, and to tackle them on paper instead. I found I got the most out of the bootcamp when I followed through with the activities, wrote my gratitude lists, and wrote in my journal daily. The women on the forum are wonderful, kind, and helpful people. They are from all different types of backgrounds, all different ages, and each has something brilliant to bring to the table. Meeting and chatting with a number of these women has been a great experience.” (Meaghan)

“I love your blog, your RSL bootcamp, and the parts of Love & Sequins I’ve read/listened to so far. You are one of my biggest inspirations, not because you inspire me to be like you, but because you inspire me to be me.” (Susannah)

If you’d like to know more about Bootcamp, you can read the full details here!

Be sure to pounce on this offer… Come September, Radical Self Love Bootcamp will disappear into the ether!

Mega-love,

Note: I am not a doctor, and Bootcamp isn’t designed to treat serious psychological disorders. If you’re really struggling with your emotions, your eating or self-harm, please make seeing a competent medical professional your top priority.

Let’s take it way, way back to the time when I was 13 and my mother took me to see a psychic. I was intrigued but I also thought it was nonsense, probably because I was in my really goth, really cynical, really annoying phase.

I sat slumped over in this guy’s living room, listening intently — because who doesn’t love to be the topic of conversation? — but doing my very best to look disinterested.

Thinking back on it now, I only remember him saying two things. The first was that he said I had great natural psychic ability, and that if I worked on developing it, I could be “just like him”. (I’m pretty sure I rolled my eyes at this.) The second thing he said was that it was okay for me to wear all that black, but that I should wear colourful underwear; that wearing colourful underwear would make me happier and feel less depressed.

I remember scoffing, and relegating his advice to the growing pile of Actually Useful Stuff I’ve Been Told But Couldn’t Acknowledge Because Of My Own Ego.

Because as I get older, I’ve realised something crazy: the colour of your underwear MATTERS.

And if you got a peek into my lingerie drawer — which is truly spilling over with pink, purple, blue, polka-dot, leopard-print, crystal-covered and glittery unmentionables — you could draw some pretty strong parallels between my undergarments and my overall happiness.

I’m pretty sure we’ve talked about colour psychology before, but if you need a refresher, here’s the summary: different colours inspire different feelings and emotions. There’s a reason why hospitals are often painted a calming blue, and fast food restaurants feature a lot of get-yo’-pulse-racing, appetite-enhancing red. And there’s a reason why my site is splashed with pink: it’s playful, feminine and not too serious.

It makes perfect sense, then, that colours we wear on our body can impact our moods, too.

It’s for this reason that I am excited to let you know about the Hanes Undercover Color campaign. Hanes have long been known for making comfortable, easy-to-wear underwear… And now they’re stepping up their game, with bright new colours, sassy cuts and a handful of bold patterns!

To celebrate, Hanes is launching the Undercover Color discussion on Twitter by inviting women across the country to answer a simple question: “What color underwear are you wearing?”

Cheeky? Yes! Awesome? Even more so! The campaign’s dedicated hub, UndercoverColor.com, will be showcasing underwear color trends by region… And every week, Hanes is giving away stylish fashion finds, chosen by yours truly! I was personally asked by Hanes to curate these prizes especially for you, and I think I chose some goodies… To participate, you simply tweet and share one of the playful tiles from the site.

Are you brave enough to share?!

To get into the spirit, Hanes asked me to dress up in my favourite colour and ponce about (my words, not theirs). And while I love pink, I’m definitely having a bit of a blue moment.

“Don’t bore your wardrobe with white. Pick your new neutral, and make it bright!” (Robert Verdi)

Plus, this Nasty Gal sequin eyeball crop top is too fantastic not to show you. So bizarre; so brilliant. I paired it with a “sock cap” (as my husband calls it), Celine sunglasses, a blue skirt from Nanette Lepore and a pair of Lacoste sneaker wedges which I am obsessed with (Shauna has the same ones).

...And I think this outfit was a certified hit, since while we were shooting it, Simon Doonan walked past and told me how much he loved it. Swoon!

But back to the subject at hand: will you be taking part in the Undercover Color challenge? Let’s make it our mission to get pink knickers trending!

Saucy!

This post was made possible with the support of Hanes and Style Coalition.

filed under: daily outfit

You probably know by now that I’m a little bit obsessed with Kate Spade. From their handbags to their t-shirts to their two-piece suits, I can’t get enough of their quirky — but grown-up — style.

So I almost did a back-handspring of delight in February, when I saw their collaboration with Darcel. I made a Vine (geez, remember Vine?!) of the presentation and tried not to swoon onto a total stranger.

Now the collection is dribbling into stores and it’s even cuter than I remembered. Best of all, it has a major NYC theme. Talk about knowing the way to my heart!

After much deliberation and back-and-forth, I have decided that these are the 10 pieces I absolutely must have or I will die a grisly death. They are definitely easing my angst re: the briskly-approaching fall.

Without further ado…

KSNY x Darcel Pretzel Belt. Let’s begin here, because I never knew I needed (needed) a belt with a pretzel on it until I saw this glorious cincher. You know, I don’t even eat pretzels, and I find the whole thing bizarre and unappealing. But for some curious reason, a pretzel belt is just… perfect. Sublime in its silliness. If you want to buy me something for my birthday, this would be top of my list. (Just saying.)

KSNY x Darcel Donut Bangle. Other things I don’t eat? Donuts. But a donut bangle?! It’s so wrong it’s right. It makes me think of The Simpsons, which I was obsessed with as a child, and we already know that I can’t resist anything pink or covered in sprinkles. Conclusion? I just gotta have this swinging from my wrist.

KSNY x Darcel Hot Dog Coin Purse. Pretzels, hot dogs, the Empire State Building, yellow cabs and Notorious B.I.G… These are true New York icons. Pretzels and hot dogs are mostly sold via little carts on street corners, offering a quick and inexpensive snack for the famished femme. Dodgy? Yes. Delicious? Also, yes. Switch out the real thing for this coin purse and you probably won’t get food poisoning. Bonus!

Go Taxi Flats. Did someone say “yellow cab”?! I am practically allergic to flats, but I would make an exception for these. They are hilarious and adorable!

Bow Terrace Small Fulton. I don’t know about you, but I can never really have too many pink bags. They go with everything in my wardrobe, and of course you need a pink bag for every occasion: a quick dash across town, an oversized version which holds a camera, an overnight bag, a suitcase… You know, the list just goes on and on. I fancy the hell out of the Bow Terrace Small Fulton: it’s simple and chic but sassy and fun. It doesn’t get better than that.

Far From The Tree Resin Apple Bag. No New York-themed collection would be complete without something apple-shaped, and so, this glorious, PINK apple bag fills the gap nicely. Shockingly small? Why, yes. I don’t even know if it would hold your phone. But it’s a fantastic novelty clutch for spontaneous nights out… And quite kawaii meets Gossip Girl, n’est-ce pas?

Twist And Shout Hinge Bangle. Why is this so alluring?! I have no idea. This pretzel bangle inspires me to mix metals in a major way, and add some food-themed pieces to my collection of arm candy.

KSNY x Darcel Donut Coin Purse. If you can’t quite get enough of donut-mania, and a bangle doesn’t really fit your aesthetic, it’s okay. Kate has you covered with this donut-shaped coin purse. If loving this is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.

KSNY x Darcel Hot Dog Earrings. Want to prove your devotion to junk food but not totally shove it in peoples’ faces? Then these hot dog earrings are perfect. They’re subtle but still surreal. I mean, you could have little snacks dangling from your earlobes! These might be the weirdest things Kate Spade have ever produced… And I back it.

Gooey Flats. OKAY. These are unabashedly fantastic. Channel your inner Homer and get up close and personal with these babies. As the great man himself says, “Life is like a box of donuts… Mmm, donuts…”

Wait… I’m already at ten?! Okay, well, you can’t stop me… I have to shout about the fact that I’m also quite in love with the Shelley top (a shirt covered in NY icons? Who could say no?!), and the Coreen skirt. (It was my favourite thing at the presentation, and the thrill has certainly not worn off!)

Sigh. There’s so much to love!

Dreaming of gooey accessories,

filed under: aesthetic, consumption

We were just about ready to drop when Chellise said, “Come up to the roof with me.” Several flights later, we flung open the door and were greeted with a vast silver landscape, surrounded by the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn’s iconic water towers, and thousands of miles of blue sky.

The rooftop was painted silvery-white — like many other rooftops in NY — but in the extreme heat, was melting and sticky. My heels stuck to it as I walked across.

“Stand there,” Chellise said, “And let the balloons go.”

So we did.

I’m wearing ASOS cat ears, a dress from Shareen Collection, and Alice + Olivia heels.

Kat’s necklace is from H&M, her dress is Biba for House of Fraser, and her boots are All Saints.

Shauna’s dress is from Zara, her headband is from H&M and her boots are All Saints.

A silver rooftop always feels very David Bowie to me.

We sure love rooftops!

Much love,

This was a team effort and we couldn’t be more thrilled with how it turned out! Thank you so much to our photographer, Chellise Michael, our videographer Courtney Arcese, our flower and decor geniuses Erica and Adette at Tinsel & Twine, our makeup artist Regan Rabanal, our hairdresser Kristin Jackson, our assistants Jen and Kathryn, and of course, to Patina for making this all happen! MWAH!

filed under: daily outfit

I’ve always been fascinated with Madonna. Her music, her image, her courage and work ethic all inspire me in countless ways. If you’ve ever seen either of her documentaries, Truth Or Dare or I’m Going To Tell You A Secret, you know that she’s a sublimely complicated and enchanting woman.

So I had to laugh when I read this, from Interview magazine. Too good not to share.

Mike Myers: Do you believe in psychics?

Madonna: Sometimes I believe them and sometimes I don’t, depending on how well their eyebrows are plucked.

With love,

filed under: quote

When we told people we were going to Texas in August, they all — understandably — looked at us like we were nuts. I would typically make a joke about how it was “all the work of our friend from Britain” who clearly “had NO IDEA”, but actually, I think Shauna and I have to take equal ownership of that brilliant decision!

And yeah… It was hot. Really, really hot. But we lived to tell the tale… And The Blogcademy Austin was so fantastic that it was totally worth it!

I have to admit that when we first walked into VUKA, a kickass co-working space in Austin, we were a little intimidated. Clocking in at a whopping 3200 square feet — not counting the loft space or enormous backyard — we kinda wondered if this time we had finally overshot the mark. But as soon as our babes started strutting in, we realized that — just like all the others — the space would fill up quickly.

And fill up it did.

In they sauntered, one by one, two by two, and in little groups. On Friday night, during a stroll down South Congress, we were stopped by Becky, who was on her way to meet some of the other blogcadettes for dinner. If you’re planning on coming to a class, we definitely recommend meeting up with some other girls in your city beforehand! It’s so much fun to walk into a class full of familiar faces!

This was our first time setting up the room with tables. It was awesome, and gave it much more of a classroom vibe!

My friend Ed, who I met at Burning Man in 2006, was the perfect intern. (You can’t see it, but his shirt had glittery thread throughout.) And Jenna has the best smile!

We love to give out prizes at the end of class. Becky won 4 tickets to Austin City Limits!

Cupcakes, cookies and baked treats from Sugarmama’s Bakeshop were a massive hit!

We were obsessed with VUKA’s rustic warehouse aesthetic… Check out those amazing lampshades!

Our goodie bag was stuffed with (sparkly) treats: Handbag mirrors from The Aviary, an assortment of vegan soaps from Strawberry Hedgehog, Big Jon greeting cards, Zevia soda, rainbow glitter hair clips from GG’s Pin Up Couture, and sparkly ears from — who else?! — Crown and Glory. We were delighted to add Reeta Krishna’s completely brilliant Wordpress For Beginners book to the mix, too!

Plus, their custom tote bag featured a turquoise map of Texas with a big heart in the middle. Shauna really outdid herself!

Getting our learn on with Reeta’s fantastic book! We know it will so helpful for our blogcadettes!

Shauna freaked out over the perfectly-branded cookies from Patty at Fine Art Bakery! And Katie looks pretty happy about ‘em, too…

...I mean, can you blame them?!

Elizabeth’s dress was like a discoball come to life, and she is a sweetheart to boot. (We met in a bathroom two years ago!)

We decked out VUKA with Studio Mucci tassels, balls and goodies!

Brittany cracked me up. And Shauna was made for those stockings!

Kiriko is so adorable. I kinda love her. A bunch.

All three of us agreed that this was, hands down, our best class ever. The combination of the space, our comfort level with the material, and the enthusiasm level of our students conspired to make a magical weekend.

For our last US class of the year, it was a fab blowout. With babes from San Francisco, Washington DC, New York, Canada and all over the fair state of Texas, it was such a keen group of women and we appreciated them bringing their energy, A-game and dazzling smiles!

It was sad to say goodbye to these loons at the crack of dawn on Monday morning… But all is not lost. I’ll be reunited with them in five days! Europe, here we come!

We have a handful of seats left at our second London class, so if you’d like to join us, well… You know what to do!

Thank you so much to Jessica Monnich for the photos!

filed under: the blogcademy

Phew! I’m sitting in my office, staring out at a thunderstorm. I just unpacked my suitcase… And am starting to fill it up again!

I came back from Austin on Tuesday and, as always, had a great time. In addition to teaching The Blogcademy to 30 enthusiastic babes, there was also green juice excursions, my very first Hobby Lobby experience (extreme!), and a trip to a vegan ice-cream parlour being usurped by John Mueller giving me an entire brisket to take home in my suitcase! (Let’s just say, I am wife of the year.)

Here are five things I noticed during my time in Austin…

1. Everyone in this city is obsessed with food, and everyone has their favourite restaurant that you simply must visit.
2. There are no plastic bags allowed! If you don’t bring your own with you, you’ll have to pay extra for a paper bag. Amazing!
3. After a week, you will start to surprise yourself by saying things like “Howdy”.
4. IT’S REALLY HOT.
5. Just say no to queso!

Haha. But I had a fantastic time, and I’m already getting ready to hit the road again. I fly to Europe on Monday!

While I was sitting at JFK waiting for Kat to arrive and drinking some tea, I was suddenly overwhelmed with excitement as I thought about meeting 30 brand spankin’ new blogcadettes to put through the Blogcademy wringer! I feel so blessed to be teaching regularly… After six years of relative isolation, sitting in my office tap-tapping away at my keyboard, being thrust into a teeming social environment full of like-minded and excitable babes is so salubrious!

It’s vital to give thanks for the blessings in your life: that’s what this column is about, after all. I think people assume I am exaggerating when I say that gratitude can literally transform your existence… But I’m not. It is the fastest way I know to nip stinkin’ thinkin’ (shoutout to Kris Carr for that choice phrase!) in the bud. It is always worth a try, at the very least.

J’adore… Australia’s Next Top Model... I think my top 3 are Dajana, Ashley and Melissa. So good! Turkey burgers Glitter gradation manicures #sweatdroplets Spilling juice on planes Tarot card readings mid-flight I came, I saw, I taco’d Waking up at 5am Really amazing juice from Juicebox & Soup Peddler Air conditioning Neon orange short-shorts Reunited, and it feels so good Visiting the Hobby Lobby and being completely overwhelmed (donut Christmas ornaments for the win!) Finding perfect presents for Mike Putting a brisket and an ice-pack into a cake carrier in my suitcase! Psychic energy tune-ups after class So much Mexican food Passing out in my own bed Coming up with terrible hashtags that will never see the light of the internet Kate Spade outlet stores! Going on an iTunes spree and finding so much great new music Pink sequinned kaftans (just you wait) ...And the overwhelming anticipation of going to the Greek Islands! This time next week, I’ll be all up in it… Divine.

Your gratitude prompt: What’s your favourite part of the day? Click through to Facebook to tell me... And read my answer!

Kisses,

filed under: things i love thursday

We had such a damn good time on our Rent Patina shoot that I couldn’t resist sharing this behind-the-scenes video with you!

Shot by Courtney Arcese of Love + Brain Films, it features gigantic arrows, confetti, disco balls, excited firefighters, spinning parasols, and more Pinterest-worthy moments than you can shake a stick at!

Enough preamble… Roll the clip!

Always throwing confetti in my mind,

P.S. Radical Self Love Bootcamp is on sale for ONE MORE WEEK before it disappears into the ether! Don’t miss out!

filed under: behind the scenes, video

I’m obsessed with my bob, but sometimes it’s nice to do something different! On really hot days it’s such a relief to tie your hair up, but if your hair is short, sometimes the resulting ponytail isn’t so cute. (My husband refers to my ponytail affectionately as “the nub”.)

Thankfully, even us short haired babes have cute options. I had genius hairdresser Kristin Jackson give me two waterfall braids, and best of all, it’s so easy to do!

All you need are hair elastics, which makes the following offer so awesome! Buy U by Kotex at Target, and you’ll receive FREE Goody Hair Elastics! (Look for the tampons/pads in the little black box!) Text KOTEX to TARGET (827438) to get the coupon.

How to do it…

Start with a small piece of hair split into three equal sections (just like you would for a French braid).

Cross the top strand over the middle, then the bottom strand over the middle to start the braid.

Now, drop the bottom strand and pick up a piece of hair from behind the dropped strand. Use this as your new bottom strand!

Before you cross the top strand over the middle strand, add in another section (just as you would for a French braid).

Again, cross the new bottom strand over the middle strand. Then drop it, and grab another new bottom strand behind the section you dropped.

Continue these steps until you get your braid to where you’d like it to end! Then, simply tie it off with an elastic.

We ended up doing the same thing on the other side, then tying the two ends together. You’re left with a super-cute waterfall braid that transforms your summer hair from drab to fab!

Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy! I’m pretty sure this will be my default hairstyle in the Greek Islands!

Much love,

This post is sponsored by U by Kotex for Target. Buy U by Kotex at Target, and you’ll receive FREE Goody Hair Elastics! (Look for the tampons/pads in the little black box!) Text KOTEX to TARGET (827438) to get the coupon.

filed under: beauty

Even though my whole purpose is around teaching women to love themselves, I am far from perfect. All the work I have done over the years has gotten me to a place where I’m able to point at images in media, say, “That’s messed up”, and not internalise it or apply it to my own body. But there are still times where I fall down.

For example, my thighs.

Oh, my thighs.

Thighs thighs thighs. Thighs thighs thighs. Thighs thighs thighs.

I swear for all the energy I put into hating them, obsessing over them, and wishing they were different, I could have been Donald Trump, three times over. (Without the combover or the controversy… Hopefully.)

I don’t know where it started, or what kicked it off. But my thighs were the concentration point and the locus of my self-loathing, for so long. It was like one day I woke up, and I realised my thighs were not Olsen-size. And I couldn’t stand it.

This went on for years. It contributed to my eating disorder, and even once I started eating again, they was never my favourite part of my body. They didn’t disgust me anymore, but I certainly didn’t want to show them off.

I avoided jeans for years, but was forced to start wearing them again when I started dating Mike. Jeans on the back of the motorcycle became a necessity, one that I never hesitated to grumble about.

I finally had an epiphany moment when I was in New Orleans last year. My friend Jess and I were shopping when I told her I really wanted to own a pair of black pants. They’re so easy and versatile; I felt like I was missing a key part of my wardrobe.

And as I tried them on, I finally realised that no magical pair of black pants was going to make my thighs look any smaller. It’s the ultimate test, really. You can’t fake the funk, or the size of your thighs, in a pair of black jeans.

Standing there in a J.Crew fitting room, I was forced to face my thighs. And with Jess outside the fitting room, I knew I had to face her, too.

“How do they look?” she asked.

“Well,” I started to mumble. I rustled the curtain open and stepped out.

I was wearing a pink cashmere button-up cardigan with black Toothpick skinny jeans. Jess looked me up and down, before saying, “Oh my god! You look so cute; totally 1950s. Cuff those jeans and throw on a heel and you’re a bonified sex kitten!”

Isn’t it funny what other people see, versus our own so-called reality?

Long story short: I bought the jeans. I wore them all winter. I bought some other jeans, too: dark ink blue skinnies, and a pair of black jeans with white polka-dots. I love them, and I love wearing them.

But it ain’t all perfect. Sometimes when I put them on and look in the mirror, I feel that familiar old sense of self-loathing rising. If I allow it to keep ascending, I know it will consume me. I know I will feel overcome, exhausted, disgusted with myself. I know I will take my jeans off and hide my legs in a maxi skirt. And that disgusting feeling will permeate my day.

Not good enough, not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not successful enough, not smart enough, not cool enough…

Instead, when I feel that familiar sense of self-loathing getting stirred up, I take a deep breath. I look at my own eyes in the mirror. And I run a positive interior monologue.

“Listen to me. You are a righteous babe. You may not be Candice Swanepoel, but you’re awesome to the core. You are not what you look like, and you don’t have to be ‘perfect’ to live a full, fabulous, exciting, and adventurous life. You do not have to have thighs like matchsticks to be loved or to contribute to the world. Plus, you look cute. So get over it, and get out there.”

And then I turn away from the mirror. I stop obsessing. I put on some bright lipstick, I grab my bag, and I walk out the door.

The truth is this. We all have our body challenges and our self-image issues. We all have “ugly days”. But it’s how you respond that counts.

This post was made possible with the generous support of Hanes and Style Coalition. Since Hanes is all about loving the skin you’re in, you can continue to do so by tweeting your undercover colour as a mini declaration of your ongoing radical self love! Apparently, pink underwear is most popular on Wednesday. In my world, it’s popular every day! #undercovercolor

Photo by Made U Look.

filed under: the playgirls guide to radical self love

We touched down in the Greek Islands yesterday, and it’s my first legitimate holiday in ages. I cannot adequately express my happiness!

Of course, a holiday isn’t a holiday without good tunes… So I created this mix to inspire Shauna, Kat and I to relax and have a great time!

What can you expect to hear? Lorde, Aluna George, Diplo, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding and a lot of others. It’s sweet, soft, pretty and funky, all at once.

You don’t have to be in the Cyclades to enjoy this, though. It will be just as great to listen to while sitting under a tree, lying down for a mid-afternoon nap or unwinding in a bathtub.

If you love it, let me know!

φιλιά,

filed under: mixtape

We have only been in Santorini for two nights and already we feel irrevocably changed. It’s all about whitewashed everything, cobblestone streets, eternal staircases and the bluest oceans we’ve ever seen. I have wanted to come to the Greek Islands for such a long time and it is absolutely everything I thought it’d be… And then some. Photos can’t even come close to capturing the intense beauty of this island. It is absolutely incredible.

Of course, it helps to be visiting with two of my best friends ever. This trip has already been unbelievably different to our usual pitstops: with extremely spotty internet access, we’ve been forced to let go of the reins of social media and actually exist. God, it is so great.

Mostly, we’ve been spending a lot of time on our terrace, lurking under umbrellas and stopping for gelato at every possible moment. Bottled water has become a hot commodity, we’ve been wearing white every day and making plans to go on boat trips. We’ve eaten our weight in feta cheese, and my legs are practically made of cucumber and tomato at this point. What could be better than that?

In a couple of days, we head to Mykonos for a change of pace. We can’t wait to splash in turquoise pools, lounge on beaches and rock sequin kaftans!

...By the way, you can follow along with our antics at #greecetopia!

J’adore… Brainstorming sessions on airplanes Maltesers Slumber parties at Kat’s parents’ house Awkward mid-air yoga poses Reminiscing about nu metal (and crowd-surfing) The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Day-glo yellow travelling ensembles Really heavy sequinned kaftans Lolita’s gelato Neverending flights of stairs Daytime naps Our favourite porter, Vassilis Air-conditioning Wifi glee Trying on sunglasses “Rent A Cat, 5 Euros” Incredible sunsets George Michael lookalikes around every corner Record-breaking tans Fashion TV Cold showers Wandering cats and dogs Having nothing to do, and nowhere to go… Perfection!

Your gratitude prompt: What’s the best holiday you’ve ever had? Tell me on Facebook!

Kisses,

filed under: things i love thursday

Photo by Anairam, and found on Pinterest!

Some months are better than others, and I don’t know about you, but for me, August was a banger! There was a lot of really cool content created this month, too… Here are my favourite bits and bobs from around le web.

New Research Shows Success Doesn’t Make Women Less Likable. So go for it!

Madonna’s Diet Is the Hardest I Have Ever Tried. No huge surprises there, I gotta say!

5 Reasons You’re Earning More Money but You’re Still Miserable. Thought-provoking and dead-on, I’d say.

“Even in the heart of middle America, housing seems to play a surprisingly small role in the successful pursuit of happiness,” Dunn and Norton write. “If the largest material purchase most of us will ever make provides no detectable benefit for our overall happiness, then it may be time to rethink our fundamental assumptions about how we use money.”

Rabbit went to a death cafe and had some conversations about the afterlife.

I’m always forced to reexamine the way I look at things when I read anything by Molly. It Don’t Gitmo Better Than This: inside the dark heart of Guantánamo Bay, is no exception.

40 Days Of Dating is an experiment between two friends… And it’s so cool.

I adore Lisa Devlin — both as a photographer and as a person — and I think you’ll love her post on why she’s not giving up.

Sugar Love: A not-so-sweet story. Ouch.

Johnson summed up the conventional wisdom this way: Americans are fat because they eat too much and exercise too little. But they eat too much and exercise too little because they’re addicted to sugar, which not only makes them fatter but, after the initial sugar rush, also saps their energy, beaching them on the couch. “The reason you’re watching TV is not because TV is so good,” he said, “but because you have no energy to exercise, because you’re eating too much sugar.”

If you’re obsessed with Orange Is The New Black or loved But I’m A Cheerleader (so good!), I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy apartment hunting with Natasha Lyonne. And I can’t lie, I’m pretty excited that she lives in my neighbourhood!

Your worst case scenario is probably not that bad. Here’s proof.

Fantasy, Reality, and the Myth of ‘Real Sex’: What ‘Porn Sex vs. Real Sex’ Gets Wrong.

Marriage can be awesome… But it can also be a wake-up call. Here are 3 things this guy wishes he knew before he got married.

James Altucher is an odd one, so it makes sense that he wrote 33 unusual tips to being a better writer.

Here’s how to build a career worth having.

Everyone says they want a virtual assistant, but when push comes to shove, sometimes we just don’t know what to DO with them! Never fear, here are 101 tasks to outsource.

Want to know how to get more money in your piggy bank? Start here.

Zooey Deschanel is awesome as shit.

“My theory is that people in this day and age want to dismiss things. So they want to be able to dismiss you,” Deschanel says. “They say, ‘You don’t belong, you don’t deserve this because here’s why, and let me find an intellectual argument for why you wearing pink or cuff sleeves or a bow makes you not worthy of your accomplishments. Everything you’ve done doesn’t matter because you wore the wrong thing or you speak in a way that’s feminine or you identify yourself as feminine.’ And I just think that’s bullshit. And smart people are doing it, and that’s surprising to me. I’ll give them being smart, but they’re being very shortsighted.”

I’m a bit obsessed with Blogcast FM. Check out Srini’s interview with Linda Siversten on the birth of books that lie within us.

Louise Hay tells her self-publishing story.

Absolutely fascinating: Lings Cars and the art of persuading visitors to buy. Even if you have the ugliest design ever — on purpose! — the psychology of marketing is still effective!

Adoring this: 30 confidence vitamins to pump you up. Also, how to end your relationship on a high note. I love Alexandra!

Sarah Wilson has a guide to eating paleo in New York City. Even if you’re not paleo, this guide is helpful for anyone who wants to eat good, healthy food!

A fascinating voyage into the life of artist and mystic Brion Gysin and his legendary invention the dream machine, a device that projects stroboscopic light, provoking a “drugless high” and cinematic hallucinations.

Srini on truth, art and interviews.

Restaurants in Paris are taking their cues from California?! This is weird!

Aching to get away? Here are the 10 best wellness retreats for summer and fall.

International playgirls take note: here are 11 ways to get home faster if your flight is delayed.

Fascinating stuff… The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding.

If I had to leave Earth, I’d want to go and live on this pink planet.

This is probably the most epic Craigslist Missed Connection ad ever written.

Kirstie Clements, ex-Vogue, on size zero. Of course, it’s easy to denounce it once you’re not getting paid to promote it, no?

I enjoyed this… Toward a Theory of Creativity in Diverse Creative Women by Sally M. Reis from University of Connecticut.

Other explanations of why there are so few eminent women creators have to do with time commitments. Researchers who have offered historical explanations about the limited number of women creators argue that women were burdened with family responsibilities, child bearing, and limited educational opportunities. Contemporary researchers argue that creative women may have too many demands on their time, feel guilty if they attempt to do creative work in time that should be spent with their family, or in some cases, dislike working alone for the periods of time necessary for creative accomplishment (Callahan, 1979; Kerr, 1985; Ochse, 1991; Piirto, 1991; Reis, 1987, 1998). Some researchers have noted that the same years in which Lehman (1953) found the height of male creative productivity to occur characterize the peak period of women’s responsibilities to children (Reis, 1998). Some contemporary researchers have noted that in our society, exceptionally able women experience considerable stress related to role conflict and overload, which many reduce creative urges. (Ochse, 1991; Piirto, 1991; Reis, 1987, 1998).

Personality traits emerging from interviews or other primary source data included determination, motivation, various ways of manifesting creativity, patience, and the ability to take — and in some cases thrive on — risks. Determination was clearly exhibited by every study participant throughout her life. The ability to strive for success and to continue to work hard, sometimes under adverse odds, with or without the support of family, was evident in most cases. The participants explained their motivation and their creative processes differently. Some were certain it had developed from the positive role modeling of their parents. Others believed they developed their motivation because of their strong need for a purpose in life such as preserving the environment, being a successful female composer, or bringing theater to disadvantaged urban youth. Still others believe that their motivation came from a desire to produce, to leave a mark upon the world, or from the sheer joy of the creative act. Their creativity is also evident in their love for their work, the sheer volume of their work, and their persistent evolution into higher and more challenging talent forms.

You get what you expect!

I love this: The Hilarious, Poignant Humanity of eBay Auction Listings.

I worked with Ellie Brett — the Media Bombshell — and it was transformative. Her blog is full of useful stuff, too, like what’s the secret to giving a great media interview?

What a Supermodel Taught Me About Comparing Yourself to Others. “A few months ago, I walked in to my yoga class and discovered that the woman on the mat next to me was a famous lingerie supermodel. Gulp.”

Have you ever wondered why 11:11 pops up so often? A great video from Gabrielle Bernstein. So good!

Man with OCD Blows Internet Away with Hauntingly Stirring Love Poem.

Inspiration Point with Jonathan Adler is a new show. “Love and chakra-tingling shit” is the first episode.

Wow! Five Things You NEED to Know Before Buying a House.

It’s a prison. The white picket fence is the prison bars. The bank is the guards looking in. And the need to protect your family keeps you in a solitary confinement of guilt and anxiety and stress.

Nicolette checked out Tarina Tarantino’s studio and, well, it’s glorious.

Fascinating: Do you have any interest in swapping eating for Soylent?

We should talk to strangers.

The so-called lies of lifestyle design (+ the secret truth about tim ferriss). So good… We’re very proud to have Justine Musk as a blogcadette! Justine’s post was in response to this, which is also worth a read.

101 fashion tips and tricks every girl should know. Some of these are completely genius!

I love Victoria Beckham. This profile is a goodie.

Ever wondered how success spoiled and saved David Bowie?

These alternate brand slogans cracked me up.

The true story of a seven year marriage is touching and true.

7 Book Dedications that Basically Say “Screw You”. Quelle lol!

They Tried To Make This Pop Star Dress And Sing A Certain Way. She Refused And Said These Words.

Want to know what Valentino gets up to over a 24-hour period? Now you know. (Calling your closest friends to say goodnight is so cute!)

Much love,

filed under: carousel

I’ve been having so much fun writing and creating my Radical Self Love Letters, and — thankfully! — the babes who subscribed are enjoying the experience, too!

I wanted to share an email and a few tweets that have made me blush with pride!

“I’ve been through a pretty rough time lately which has lead to me becoming estranged from my family, with no confidence in myself whatsoever. It’s been tough and has left me feeling at an all time low, but your daily emails and Love & Sequins has really really helped me through this difficult stage in my life and I really feel like the the amazing, shiny, sparkling Steff is starting to resurface again. A mere “thank you” really cannot express the gratitude I feel for everything you’ve done. You have literally been a life saver! Hope you don’t mind but I’ve been printing your Radical Self Love Letters out and sticking them in my RSLBible which I’ve now started…” (Steff)

Frequently asked questions

Q. I signed up yesterday, but haven’t received my first Love Letter yet… Where is it?!
A. You will get your first Love Letter exactly 24 hours after you sign up! Keep this in mind if you have a preference as to what time you receive your emails… Sign up in the morning if you’d like to start your day with a Love Letter!

Q. Can I buy Radical Self Love Letters for my BFF?
A. Of course! When you get your confirmation email, click the link at the bottom of the email to manage your subscription information. You can switch your address with your BFF’s!

Q. Wait, somehow I missed this! What are Radical Self Love Letters?!
A. No worries! You can learn more about Radical Self Love Letters here.

Do you want in?!

Endless love,

Excellent envelope and hand-lettering by Em Dash Paper Co.

Hand-lettering by Kelly Cummings.

After a truly glorious week in Greece, I understand the meaning of this phrase on a deep and true level! I’ve been hopping between islands with my two best friends, soaking in sunsets and splashing in salty blue water.

It has been, in a word, divine.

Tomorrow we head back to London, and then teach two Blogcademy classes back-to-back, before heading back to our respective homes. I’m feeling so inspired and reinvigorated; this was the absolutely perfect way to kiss goodbye to my twenties. In ten days, I turn 30… And I’m more than ready to kick off the grandest decade of my life.

With love,

I believe that one of the major reasons people feel lost, sad and disconnected from reality is because we’ve replaced nature (getting outside, walking on the grass, enjoying a cool breeze or splashing in the ocean) with technology (sitting inside, in the air conditioning, staring at a screen for hours on end). In a lot of ways, I think we’re detached from the seasons, and I believe it has a much greater negative effect on us than we realise.

It’s not difficult to get back in touch with the elements, though: all it takes is a decision and then a little bit of effort. For example, using the Moon to guide you is simple. You do see it in the sky most nights, after all!

Below, I’ve gone through each phase of the Moon, in addition to explaining what to do at each time. You might want to print it out and put it on your wall for easy reference.

By the way, for thoroughly modern magic, you can add the phases of the Moon to Google Calendar! It’s really easy to do. Open Google Calendar in your browser, and on the left hand side, you’ll see a month view, a heading which says My Calendars and a heading which says Other Calendars. Click on Other Calendars, and select Browse Interesting Calendars from the menu. Under More is the Phases of the Moon calendar. Click Subscribe and your calendar will show the phases! Brilliant!

The New Moon

As the Moon phases move from new to full, the Moon appears to get bigger and brighter. This period is called “waxing”, and is the most fertile time in the Moon’s cycle. It’s a great time to try and get pregnant, but if babies aren’t on your list, it’s also a fantastic time to create and conceive of new projects.

In Kundalini yoga, they say that the New Moon is the time when we have the lowest energy levels. Yogi Bhajan recommends fasting on water and lemon on this day.

The New Moon is the absolute best time to write a list of goals or things you’d like to manifest. Read it aloud to yourself, light a candle and then put the list under a mirror. It’s nice to do this in a space where you know your list won’t be disturbed, if possible.

The Crescent Moon

The Crescent Moon corresponds with Gemini, so think of your favourite Gemini and some of their most positive attributes! Geminis have active minds and love to think on many levels at once. They’re popular, avid readers, and excel in many things. During the Crescent Moon, act like a Gemini! Bring new things, people and relationships into your life, and focus on accelerating the progress of any projects you’re working on.

As the Moon builds up to be full, manifesting power increases as well as personal energy. If you want to manifest like a badass, intention is key. Great intentions are a combination of focus, attitude, and energy, and this is one of the best articles I’ve read on how to kill it with your intention! Once you’ve read that, see how you can add intention to the list you made during the New Moon.

The First Quarter

The First Quarter corresponds with Cancer. If you know any Cancers, you’re tuned into the fact that they can be emotional but are also excellent planners. You might be feeling the same way.

This is a time to be ambitious, and to think about what you’re building. At the Crescent Moon you added intention to your list; during the First Quarter you should make an action plan to help capitalise on your manifesting power. You can’t manifest by just sitting on your booty and thinking about it. It is essential to take action and make forward strides!

The Gibbous Moon

The Gibbous Moon occurs three days before the Full Moon, which is the time of fruition. You can increase your ability to actually receive what you’ve manifested by visualising it happening. Grab your list, read it, sit down with it, and then close your eyes to envision those things happening for you. Creative visualisation is immensely powerful. Hey, if it works for Olympic athletes, why not for you?!

Even though the Full Moon is just around the corner, that doesn’t mean you go rushing around at full speed, ignoring everyone around you. On the contrary: the Gibbous Moon is a time to be constructive, caring and to help others. What goes around comes around, after all. The Gibbous Moon is linked to the sign of Virgo, which naturally wants to be of service and to help the world. Think like a Virgo!

The Full Moon

The Full Moon is time when things come to conclusion. Take a look at the list you wrote during the New Moon and acknowledge what you were able to manifest! It’s a great time to give thanks, and writing a gratitude list at this time is very powerful. Once you’ve done this, take your original list and bury it in dirt; this is a symbol of what is growing for you!

This is also a time to make important decisions. Sometimes it can feel like everything is coming to a head during the Full Moon, and we often realise that it’s time to make a change or leave things behind.

In Kundalini yoga, it is said that you are “naturally accelerated” during a Full Moon, and at your peak energy levels. Again, yogis recommend fasting on this day.

The Disseminating Moon

Once you’ve made some of those difficult decisions, the time between the Full Moon and the New Moon — which is called “waning” — is the best possible time to remove anything from your life that is no longer serving you. This might include the discarding of old habits, saying goodbye to toxic friendships, closing a business or leaving a relationship. It’s not usually considered the best time to start a project during this time, it’s more about tying up loose ends and filing things away.

The Disseminating Moon is a time to teach others, to release past influences, to retreat and rest. It’s also a great time to undergo any kind of beauty treatment which reduces hair growth. Weird but true!

The Last Quarter

This is the second-to-last phase of the Moon, and during this time, you want to take those loose ends from the last cycle and really and truly finish ‘em up! The Last Quarter is associated with Capricorn, a very serious, ambitious and determined sign. Capricorns aren’t necessarily the best at being “in the moment”; instead, they prefer to focus on finishing things so they can move onto the next phase of their grand plan. Channel those attributes during this phase! In other words: get ‘er done!

During the time from the New Moon to now, you will have become aware of certain things in your life that could be released. The Last Quarter gives us fantastic energetic support to halt old habits and break negative patterns, so this is a great time to do that.

The Balsamic Moon

...Not to be mistaken for my favourite salad dressing!

The Balsamic Moon occurs 72 hours before the New Moon, and it’s a time to get ready for the next phase. This Moon phase is related to the sign of Pisces, who are known to be dreamy, private, contemplative and creative. Do your best Pisces impression during this time! Take some out to meditate and clear your head before we launch into the New Moon.

You might want to burn your list from the last New Moon to allow space to bring new things into your life, clean your house, and spend some time alone as you get ready for this next cycle.

Soon, it will be the New Moon… And we’ll start all over again!

Extra For Experts
Yes, the Moon phases really do affect your sleep! Here’s some more information on the Moon phases.

With love,

filed under: magic

It feels beyond surreal to be back in the United Kingdom after a sublime week in the Greek Islands. I have been banging on about how I wanted to visit them for years, and now that I’ve finally been, I know I’m going to be recommending the Cyclades to everyone I meet.

Shauna, Kat and I keep looking at each other and asking, “How can we possibly top this?” But you know us: we love a challenge. I’m sure that whatever we come up with in 2014 will be bigger and better!

Mykonos was a definite change of pace from Santorini. Most people go to Mykonos to party and dance on beaches. Not us. We ventured into Mykonos town, and wandered along the beach, but mostly we spent the time relaxing intently. We stayed at the Hotel Grace, and they spoiled us rotten. We drank champagne in the swimming pool at 3am, lounged under umbrellas, luxuriated with olive oil massages, and slept for 12 hours at a stretch. We definitely needed the rest. It has been a big year — and it’s not over yet!

Today we kick off the first of our London Blogcademy classes, and we teach all the way through to Sunday night. Shauna and I return to the USA on Tuesday, just in time for both of our birthdays. Virgo power!

J’adore… Caprice (best snack of all time!) Blue doors Friendly neighbourhood dogs Mastika Generous bartenders Colonel Mustard Handsome innkeepers Christina, best hostess in Mykonos Poolside lounging Inappropriate dancing at all times Matching swimsuits Watching stupid home videos over and over and over again Club Tropicana drinks are freeeeeeeeeeeee Boat-rides from hell Mr Pelekanos Vasillus, the strongest porter in Santorini Bougainvillea Ping-pong players in neon Speedos The PhotoWonder app (very funny and very evil) Cute puppies Mermen Olive oil massages Sleeping for 12 hours at a time Coconut body lotion Sea bass for dinner Hotel Grace Mykonos “When shipwrecked John Galliano invites you to sit at the bar, you sit at the bar!” “Should we sit by the pool and drink free champagne, or go upstairs and browse ASOS?” Boomshakalaka Shauna: “I hate when photographers post crooked pictures, they have no attention to detail.” Kat: “Or a wooden leg.” “Alcohol and swimming, that sounds like a good idea.” Annoying the entire world with our greecetopia hashtag Discussing cannibals at length Sleeping three to a bed

Your gratitude prompt: What aspect of your personality are you most proud of? Is it your resilience, optimism, or daydreaming ability? Is it your chameleonesque nature, the way you make other people feel at ease, or your peace-making skills? Jot it down in your Radical Self Love Bible!

Much love from this tanned gal,

filed under: things i love thursday

I think it’s fair to say that the three of us — Shauna, Kat and myself — had the time of our lives in Santorini. It is, without question, the most beautiful place I have ever clapped eyes on, and a few days relaxing were just what the doctor ordered.

Even before we landed, I decided that I was going to make a little “home movie” of our experiences in the Greek Islands… And this is part one of what we came up with…

Santorini was absolutely gorgeous… But Mykonos was brilliant. Our video featuring some of the highlights is comin’ at you next Friday!

Love and feta,

P.S. The song is Lorde’s Million Dollar Bills!

filed under: video

Last month, I fired up Skype and sat down for a little chat with Srinivas Rao of BlogcastFM. It was very informal, but we began circling around a few topics and going pretty deep. Srinivas ended up giving our discussion the title of ‘Developing a Bold and Authentic Brand’. We had a great and very real chat about what it means to live online.

Some of the highlights include…

My mission to live out loud and have a great time on the planet
Looking at early online journalling platforms
Rediscovering the freedom to be your weird self
How to figure out when and where you can cross the line
Finding a unique angle on a generic topic like fashion
Why pushing the boundaries of what you post raises confidence
The importance of having a bold point of view
Why you must incorporate lessons into provocative content
How to uncover your branding and messaging
The power of writing to the younger version of yourself
The business fundamentals that are important to your success
A look at how the Blogcademy was created from nothing
The role that consistency plays in your success

It’s a goodie, especially for anyone who has a blog or would like to get into blogging.

Let’s listen!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:33 — 77.7MB)

Wanna tweet it out? Just click the pink bird!

There’s a fine line between being a car crash blogger and being vulnerable from time to time
The only way to cultivate a strong voice is to practice it
After a certain point, perfection is procrastination

Mad love (!) to Srinivas for having me on the show, and of course, for being so rad in general. Check out BlogcastFM for regular, badass interviews with the most interesting people in the blogosphere.

Kisses,

Photo by Made U Look Photography.

filed under: blogging

First things first: today is Chocolate Milkshake Day, and of course I would be remiss if I failed to mention this extremely important day of honour. I don’t know about you, but I plan on celebrating with a scrumptious vegan version. Sounds about perfect!

Phew. It feels weird to be back in my office, working. I could have happily remained in Greece, splashing around in the pool and being a lady of leisure for much longer!

No matter where you live, it’s so great to leave your street, your neighbourhood, your city, your state, or your country. Get out of your usual groove and see what else is out there.

So many of our blogcadettes told me that our trip to the Greek Islands looked amazing, and I always replied that it was, and mostly because it was just so different to everything we’d ever experienced.

In London, after four days of teaching class back-to-back — a pretty massive triumph for us — I looked across the dinner table at Shauna and Kat, and was filled with an overwhelming sense of love, appreciation and adoration. I am crazy about them, and I am so thankful to have them in my life in this way. I don’t say this to brag or boast, but simply to show you — in case you doubt it — that this kind of friendship exists, is real, and is possible. Begin to expect the best for yourself and you will inevitably get it!

My insane crop top is from Topshop, my ears are the Liberace from the Crown and Glory x Rock N Roll Bride collaboration, and my skirt is Tibi.

J’adore… Getting to sleep in a little bit on Monday morning! Dancing around with bunny masks (a gift from adorable blogcadette Fifi Scarlett) Crazed late-night shopping missions which result in white sequin motorcycle jackets and discoball tank tops Discovering Itsu in Shoreditch (so amazing!) Climbing up a ricketty ladder to take photos on a precarious rooftop Blogcadette paparazzi! Sophie and Gareth from Crown And Glory who saved our collective tooshes a million times over — THANK YOU SO MUCH! Sleeping like a log The inimitable Shell De Mar who documented our Grecian adventures (and made us look so gorgeous!) The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (still funny, even on the third viewing) Major brainstorming sessions with Shauna Running into Molly Crabapple at Heathrow Inhaling helium and talking in a silly voice Birthday boots! Pod toilets and rainbow ceilings at Sketch The way Shauna eats hard-boiled eggs Magical light streaming through windows Celebrating the end of class with party poppers Lip-synching to Club Tropicana New music Flat Out Fabulous matte lipstick by MAC (hello, winter lip!) Tom Ford’s fragrances (but oh, the expense!!!) Wearing false eyelashes every day Cotton candy pink skies from airplane windows Selfridges’ candy department Sesame Chicken wraps at Pret-A-Manger… Can we also bring those to the USA?! Seeing my aunt and cousin for coffee and howling with laughter Already researching for our next grand trip… New York City: today, tomorrow, forever

Your gratitude prompt: A few people have sung, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” What’s something you have greater appreciation for today than you did this time last year?

I love you,

filed under: things i love thursday