blog everyday in May - life teaches you more than school

I personally think school is a really small part of life. Ok it is your foundation for education and somewhat kick starts your learning. But overall, I think living life teaches you more things through experience than school ever can. I mean who even uses the periodic table on a daily basis unless your a scientist! 

Life teaches you....

To take responsibility for your actions.
When to say sorry.
To work hard and play hard.
Manners go a long way.
The meaning of love and loss.
To appreciate what you have.
That friendships are forever.

midweek mix 22/05/2013

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blog everyday in May - My rant!

My rant was originally going to be focused on manners and how people lack them. Then today when I was walking the dog I was nearly ran over 3 times, yes 3 times so I decided to rant about drivers in Cyprus and their lack of awareness for pedestrians. 

And then I flicked onto the BBC news website and read about the horrific incident that took place in London this afternoon and decided this post would be a better place to talk about the meaningless violence that occurred this afternoon. 

I grew up in London and remember as a kid, playing in the street on a summer evening, running around in shorts and flip flops with the neighbours kids without a care in the world. My mum would occasionally come and check on us to make sure no bones were broken and no fights over barbie had errupted, but all in all we were left to enjoy our childhood play time. 

As I got older, London has become less safe every year. I am now 25 and everytime I return to London, I am constantly thinking about the dangers. In my head I am always aware of where I am, who is around me and what possessions I have on display. Because in London, anyone can be a victim. 

I think the thing that makes me the most upset and in fact angry, is the way people are more and more, using violence to express themselves. I kind of horrifies me that in such a dynamic and technologically advanced country such as the UK, people can be so barbaric. 

And it's always the innocent people that suffer. A man today, who might be a soldier (this hasn't been confirmed yet) was run over by a car and then attacked in daylight, with a machete. Its possible the incident was a terrorist attack with political or religious motivations. 

One of the things I love about London is the diversity; the huge mix of cultures and nationalities and lifestyles that all combine to make London such an exciting and eclectic place. But its those same things, that are increasingly fragmenting the country. I don't live through rose-tinted glasses and know that the world is an awful place where bad things happen everyday and every one can't get along. 

But it makes it so much more real when it's on your doorstep right!?

Rant over.

blog everyday in May - my favourite posts

Today is an easy one over on the blog everyday in May challenge and I fine with that after the crazy few weeks I have had. So we are going to step back in time and browse my archive to find some of my favourite posts. *note the layout and style has not always been so sophisticate and professional as it is now so I apologise in advance* 

I am going to go from the oldest to the newest and while they arent maybe my favourite posts, they are some I really enjoyed.


Wheres the silver lining? - as a fresh faced graduate with a degree in Fashion Writing, I was somewhat disillusioned with what the world had to offer me.

The world of an intern - read on if you have ever been an intern or worked for free, but not in the volunteer kind of sense, in the professional business world being somewhat exploited kind of sense.

The death of fashion - a more serious post about fashion (my earlier blog years were more fashion focused as I was a fresh graduate with a fashion writing degree, but I have since diversified and found other areas that interest me just as much). If you think you can write seriously about fashion, you are so wrong!

Sunshine makes the world go round - although in the case of London, it usually makes everything stop. Sweaty tube - no thank you!

A long time coming - the start of our adventures in Cyprus and what I thought would be a permanent suntan. I was wrong. Cyprus has seasons too. And winter is darn cold!

A lot can happen in a year - my favourite video by my favourite image site, comprising the best images of 2011. 

The obligatory post holiday photo post - my favourite place in Cyprus and I got some great photos!

8 years feels like 8 minutes - relationships.

Kathara Deftera - its all about the food in Cyprus!

Expat Issues - because long distance relationships are just as hard as long distance friendships.

Life in 250 words or less - and we are back to the present, last but not least my favourite from the blog everyday in May challenge. Trying to sum up my life in 250 words. Very challenging.

blog everyday in May - something I am struggling with.

Day 20 of blog everyday in May with Jenni and today we are about to get real as we discuss something we are struggling with right now.

Im not sure if this is good timing or bad timing; I mean I have something I am really struggling with which means content for this post, but it also means putting my feelings down into actual words on-screen for all to see and more importantly for me to see (do you have that thing that sometimes everything is so much clearer when you see words in front of you instead of thinking about them all jumbled in your head). 

Recently the boyfriend and I embarked on a long distance relationship as his work has taken him to Germany. We have done several periods of distance (which I talked about before here) so it is nothing new and we both agree that the time apart actually makes our relationship better. We also have a pretty regular communication pattern involving whatsapp and skype so it never really feels like we are that far apart; I really believe seeing the person that you are away from makes a huge difference. 

But this time I am struggling. Quite a lot. 

Maybe it's because I now feel somewhat alone in Cyprus without him here. Maybe it is because I am living alone, something which I always knew I wouldn't be great at, and something which I am currently grinning and bearing for the greater good. Or maybe because he is setting up in Germany without me and having all these exciting adventures that I am quite jealous of actually. 

Having my birthday and Greek orthodox East roll around right after he left didn't help with my mental stability either and while my friends here have been fantastic and totally supportive, I really feel the void that is now apparent without him here. 

But as with any struggle I have good days and bad days; sometimes I relish my own space and sometimes that same space highlights the loneliness I feel. 

I do have one companion left  in my little apartment that I am so thankful for. 

blog everyday in May - my 5 favourite blogs

I am still a little shocked that I made it this far in the blog everyday in May challenge and quite proud of myself for sticking with it. I think the whole thing has been a major motivating factor and couldn't have come at a better time - I was beginning to get a little bit stuck in a blogging rut and this has given me a fresh pair of eyes when it comes to blog content. 

Today it's all about these lovely ladies though...

See what I see designs - this lady was my first Cyprus blog find when I moved over to this little island. Reading her posts about her experiences in Cyprus made me feel a little more at ease with my new surroundings and she is a wonderful artist, so there are many pretty things to feast your eyes on.

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Lost and Found - I studied with Laura way back in our university days (which feels like a very long time ago now) and she is such a lovely person, something which exudes from her blog! I always feel at home here and love her food posts and updates on her adventures, often wedding related (ones she attends as a guest, not the bride) with her boy in my home town of London. And if you follow her on instagram you will see her daily outfit photos; all outfits I want to steal! 

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Unlost - I have a special love for this lady because she did my blog design a while back. But I mostly I love Daryl's way of blogging, I always feel like she is sitting next to me over coffee when I read her posts. And she covers a whole host of things from life situations, to fashion and as a photographer, has some great images over there. Plus she was an expat for a while and I can totally relate to that!

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Vanisha's Life in Australia - I found this lady by accident. You know when your scanning blog comments and something just pings out at you and you know you must follow your eyes to that blog. Well I think that is what happened here. I love Vanishas blog for the pretty design and her painfully honest posts about life as an expat and in a long distance relationship. She has the style that I can totally relate to her and reading her posts induces a huge sense of empathy in me. Plus she is totally gorgeous (which I am rather jealous of). 

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The Arizona Russums - I think this lady is just fabulous. She has a totally honest way of depicting her life and shares so selflessly with her readers. I found her a while back through Jennis blog and have been hooked every since on her journey through life as a newlywed and now an expectant mother! She is super sweet and always includes great photographs of her adventures with her husband. 

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sunday sound #20

warning: this video has a take your breath away kind of ending. I warned you ok.

Blog everyday in May - a story from my childhood

A little later than planned but I am still holding true to the blog everyday in May challenge. 

Every year, my mum always made (from scratch; she was an awesome baker, a trait I didn't inherit) me a birthday cake. Every year was a different theme; princess, animals, whatever my fancy was come the beginning of May. 

I always remember the week running up to my birthday, a large lump sitting on the kitchen work top with a tea towel covering it. This lump would be the source of my excitement until the morning of my birthday when it was uncovered and I could marvel at the wonders underneath. 

Each cake was prepared with so much love that one year, when I was still quite young, I decided I wanted to prepare a cake for my mums birthday. A friend of the family was babysitting me one evening  and since I was too young to be in the kitchen, baking unaided, she agreed to help. 

My mum was the sort of person that always had full cupboards with all possible ingredients required for absolutely anything that took your fancy. 

So finding ingredients for cake was no problem. 

After so many years, I still remember what happened next; said babysitter drops all the eggs on the kitchen floor and we are left with a big mess  and eggy feet. And no other alternative but to scrap the cake plan.

Im not sure if my mum ever really knew what went on in her kitchen whilst she was gone, but my intentions were good right.

I still laugh about this today, every-time I break eggs into a bowl.

blog everyday in May - a favourite photo of me

I picked this picture, mainly because it is one of the most recent. But also because it is so up close and personal. I really love portrait photographs; they show the subject in all their glory. And recently I have started embracing myself a little more and accepting my flaws.

midweek mix (a day late)

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blog everyday in May: my lot in life

My lot in life. Hmmm where to start. 

It is actually one of the harder topics I have come across since we started the blog everyday in May challenge. 

I think the main think I struggle with on a daily basis is making decisions on my own. Let me elaborate. 

Growing up I didn't have my mum and as a girl, there are certain milestones in your life where your mothers advice, guidance and support are kind of essential. Even now, as a young women I have so many questions that continue to go unanswered and in the future there will definitely be steep learning curves as I battle my way through without those words of wisdom every mum can provide. 

Don't get me wrong, I have some amazing women in my life who are perfectly adept at guiding me through the pitfalls of life as a women. 

But I guess more so as an adult, I think about all the situations that will be missing an important person and thats a difficult demon to overcome. 

blog everyday in May - a day in pictures

We are basically half way through the blog everyday in May challenge - I made it! I am super impressed with myself that I made it this far. I think the next 16 days will be a breeze *hope I didn't speak to soon*. 
My typical day goes a little something like this; wake up, walk the dog, go to work, eat breakfast at my desk, tackle my ever growing pending list, have lunch, re-write said pending list because it grew out of control, walk home, walk the dog, prepare dinner, blog and browse pinterest, do other miscellaneous task until my head can barely hold itself up from the pillow.