Indonesia In Pictures

I wanted to do a quick post about my amazing trip to Indonesia.

I really hope the pictures give some idea of what its like there. 

After a bit of trouble with the friends I went with, I went off on my own, met some great people and had such a fantastic time. By the end, I didn't want to leave.

I would now recommend travelling to anyone, there is no better way to really experience a place than when you're with travellers like yourself, visiting new places, exploring and enjoying the culture.

We started off in Kuta, Bali. This had to be the craziest place I've been. Scooters, cars and people fill the tiny roads of Poppies, a complex packed with shops, bars, hostels and restaurants, as well as young people from everywhere you can imagine. Kuta beach is close by, and the nightlife is everywhere, so if you like chilling by day and partying by night, this is for you. I think a week there was enough for me, the hectic streets and constant crowds got to me, so we organised a day trip around Bali. We visited Ubud, the main cultural place, where there were temples and monkey forrest. Soon after, we all went to Gilli T, a small island of paradise just a short boat ride away. No cars, no scooters, just beaches, bikes and horses. It was so chilled out here, and so beautiful. There were only two main bars which became packed each night. The snorkelling was amazing, and we cycled round the island. Chilling by the beach all day, then listening to the live music in the reggae bar with a few cocktails at night was the usual routine. 

We headed back to Kuta for a couple more nights out before I had to leave. 

I would definitely go back, or at least stop over on my travels through the rest of Asia. 

Fun, new experiences mixed with rich culture and stunning places just make this place a great place for any traveller. 

IOTW #5

I am going to do a separate post about my trip to Indonesia, but I've still got loads of Instagram photos over the last few weeks to update you all on! The first is of a new outfit I bought after my very long trip back to blighty, I love the giraffe print top and I was dying for some new jeans (both Topshop). The tan loafers were an absolute find in Primark at just £12! 

The next is a roast I was served in the hotel I was staying at. My first proper english meal in 3 weeks, it couldn't have tasted better! 

My nails for my holiday. These falsies had lasted since my graduation which was about 3 weeks prior! I used my new matte top coat to finish off the design.

The next few are from my trip to Cayman in July, the mug was at my aunties house (where we stayed before our flight). She has loads of them with sayings on but I somehow always end up with this one! love it! 

As I was eating my cereal that morning, one of her cats stared at me the entire time. I gave in and gave her a cheerio, or two. 

Just one of the amazing sunsets we experience out in Cayman, they definitely rival that of my hometown in Jersey! 

Me and my sister went out a few times while we were there, and considering most of the tourists and residents there are American, we got native and played some beer pong! Turns out we were doing it wrong.

The next photo has to be the most spectacular photo of a sunset I've taken so far, with a bit of editing I must admit, but still pretty amazing! Every time I show someone, their reaction is "wowww". 

Blackbeard's vodka, the stuff of pirates and rather lethal at that. 

This lizard was a friend of ours, he hung out by the pool every day and we called him Yoshi. He even jumped in and came swimming with us once. 

I love this key ring I bought out there. The whole ethos of the island just seems to be this saying. Its so chilled out and everyone is always happy, I bought this to remind myself to be the same! 

And finally, my little sister went to Turkey shortly after Cayman, I've been before and therefore know all about the fake goods they import there. I asked for a Mulberry purse and this is what she got me, its so beautiful I almost can't believe its not real!

Best Dressed for Less No.9

The Court by emilyrodgers18 featuring high heel pumps

I decided to kick off my 'back to blogging' saga with a new Best Dressed for Less, because not only have I not posted one in a while, but with all the excitement of fashion weeks happening, there are a host of juicy best dressed celebrities to choose from. I haven't focused specifically on one muse this time, as I noticed amongst basically EVERY celebrity that each were wearing court shoes. I have never seen this before, in all of my 8 best dressed for less..es, meaning this trend is a bigg'un, its huge, and it can be worn a million and one different ways. This is even greater news for all you tall folk out there like myself, as the court doesn't pack much platform, and has a relatively low heel, depending on which you pick, and can be placed with any outfit and bought on the cheap! Aces all round! 

So I made two outfits, one casual, one dressy. One inspired by Olivia Palermo walking her pooch there, and the other is just something I liked. I love the pop of colour that these courts can bring, and the jumpsuit could be mixed with some bright pumps but I just loved the mesh on the black ones!

So if you're hitting any fashion events for this coming season (like me..post coming soon to explain) make sure you're strutting around in a pair of these, you literally have no excuse not to (unless you hate them, of course). 

Official Grad

If you're around my age, and have friends at uni, your FB newsfeed over the last few weeks will have been filled with flying mortar boards, happy families and robes. If not, you can only imagine how annoying it is after the first few, but after hundreds of 'friends' graduating, it is just too much. 

However, I'm going to bore you all with my special day pictures, because after three long years, and so much stress and hard work, I finally graduated with a 2:1 in International Fashion Marketing (with a 1st in Financial Management) and I couldn't be prouder of myself. 

As soon as my mum saw me in my attire she burst into tears crying "My little baby!" which was sweet. 

There was laughter and gaiety amongst friends, champagne and ceremony selfies. It was just the best day and I didn't want it to end. 

I am currently on holiday (back in the cayman islands) so I won't be posting for a week or so, but I will have plenty of photos to bore you all with next!

Interview blues

This post is going to be half rant, half 'name and shame', all about Monsoon. 

I thought I would put this out there because I found the way I was treated by this company was degrading and frankly disgusting, especially as a struggling grad looking for work, like many others. 

So, at the moment I'm applying for jobs in London for my big move there in September. I have a degree in International Fashion Marketing and so applied for the Merchandising Admin Assistant role for Monsoon on the off chance, knowing that I have studied merchandising roles (so I know what they involve) and have experience in admin. 

I was surprised and excited when I received an email for the Monsoon careers office asking me when I'd be available for a telephone interview. After booking the time slot, re arranging my work shifts around this and then spending hours preparing standard interview answers to what I thought would be an interview, I did not expect to be treated the way I was. 

After answering the call from my 'interviewer' she immediately asked me why I even wanted the merchandising role as I have a marketing degree. I replied because I'm interested in the field, have studied it as a module, and want to work for a large company. She told me that I would find the role boring, questioned what I knew about it (and when I answered told me I was wrong) and with a very patronising tone suggested that I try for marketing positions in future as I 'clearly' do not have a passion or an understanding of merchandising. 

Before I even put the phone down I was in tears. Not only because I'd been made to feel small, insignificant and had all my confidence battered out of me in one swift phone call but mainly because I was in shock. 

After being told I was to have an 'interview' for the position, I did not get asked one interview question but instead was basically asked why I had even bothered to apply for the role. 

Maybe it was fair of her to ask why I thought I was qualified, maybe she didn't think I had a genuine passion for the role, but then if so, WHY ASK ME FOR AN INTERVIEW?! This is the thing that really bugged me. Why even ask me for an interview when you don't think I'm qualified or passionate! 

The whole thing really upset me, and I have written a strongly worded email about it to them. However I highly doubt that this made a spot of difference to how they are treating candidates who have shown a genuine interest in the company. The whole situation has surprised and baffled me to my very core. 

But like all other graduates struggling to find a good job, that is worthy of the constant rejection and your time, I have to keep my head up and keep trying. But I can tell you all now, I will never step foot into Monsoon again. 

Do you think I was treated unfairly? Please leave comments below!

Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl

I got my hair done today, finally. I hadn't had it highlighted since May, so yes, I was sporting the badger look with my roots which as we all know is never very attractive. 

When my lovely dresser was done blowdrying, she said "I'm going to show you my new toy". Now I was slightly hesitant as we never want to be experiments in the hair department, those of you who are very attached to your locks would sympathise. Anyway, she bought out this long black plastic thing with a cylinder on the end, explaining that it was a curler. 

In fact, (after a bit of investigating) I found out it was the Babyliss Pro Curl curler, which costs a whopping £165!!

Apparently, it's going down a treat in the UK, (we're a bit behind the times here in Jersey) and have sold out practically everywhere, and I can see why!

My hair is so thick and so long that it usually takes a good hour to curl the whole thing, but with this product, it took roughly ten minutes. 

I have posted a video below so you can see how it works, but the device sort of traps and wraps your hair, heats it in the cylinder and when you release it, theres a curl!

Now Babyliss haven't always had the best track record with these sorts of things, especially with this product, as you can see how your hair could easily get caught whilst being wound up, but I was actually very impressed! 

Here are some snaps of my hair after using the Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl. 

Have you tried this product? What did you think? I would love to hear feedback from others.

Thanks guys!