Simplicity

shirt: h&m shorts: topshop shoes: zara

The past week has been a strange mix of being busy catching up with friends or applying for numerous internships but also spending hours laying in my garden or near pools with the temperatures having gone up to 35 degrees. Somewhere along the way, I popped into ZARA (obviously) and picked up these stunning powder pink trainers. They immediately caught my eye and I figured a pair of trainers would be a good investment (my favourite word to use when buying something I don't actually "need") for my time in London when I'll be walking around all day and not willing to wear heels. The crazy heatwave has inspired me to borrow my dad's straw hat for tanning sessions (aka hiding it my room, hoping he forgets about it someday and it magically becomeing mine) and it once again reminded me of how great of an accessory hats are. Note to self: finally invest in a nice hat and actually wear it. 

On another note, I'll be off to Rome for a few days in the early hours on Friday, which I yet have to pack for (5 days - hand luggage only - interesting to say the least) but I'm beyond excited as I've spent my entire summer in either Brighton or Luxembourg, so it'll be nice to play tourist for a few days again soon. I will probably live off pizza and sorbet and do all the touristy stuff, but on the odd chance that you have any recommendations for me, make sure to drop them in the comments!

Mustard

top: bershka pants: miss selfridge jacket: zara shoes: h&m

As I'm working on my shopping habits, being more selective and buying pieces I know I'll get a lot of wear out of, this beauty of a (fake) leather jacket is beyond perfect. Don't get me wrong, I still buy silly t-shirts (I bought a t-shirt with a pizza slice on it the other day - don't ask) but eye catching, yet somewhat versatile pieces like a mustard coloured leather jacket are something I can never say no to. During the move out of my Brighton home, I came face to face to the fact that I really do have a shoe problem (my dad just shook his head in disbelief for three days) and I definitely have a weak spot for coats and jackets, but then again, those are the things I seem to get most wear out of! A pair of shoes or an interesting jacket are complete game changers. Exhibit A: I've had these striped pants for over a year now and only wore them a handful of times but the simple adding of a colourful leather jacket immediately gave the whole look that extra oomph.

Vegan Eats | Brighton: The Almond Tree

Even though I've finally moved out of my Brighton home for good last week (cue the waterfalls), I haven't quite finished - and probably never will - with the city that was my home for 3 years just yet. I'm already planning trips down to the most charming seaside city but meanwhile, I thought I'd share my latest food discovery for those of you that are lucky enough to pay Brighton a visit soon or just enjoy my posts about mouth watering vegan food (anyone?). 

5 things University has taught me

Even though it's been almost two weeks since my big graduation ceremony, it still hasn't quite hit me that my time as an (undergraduate) student has come to an end. It seems like only yesterday that I moved into my tiny on-campus room, experienced Freshers' week and got lost in Brighton's busy streets. Whilst I'm still trying to figure out what my next steps are, I can't help but compare my 18 year old pre-Uni self to 21 year old me now, having just finished her Bachelor's degree abroad. University has changed and shaped me, which sounds oh so cliché but it's also taught me a few things that I thought I'd share, including bits that might help you get through your own studies or work life.

Second hand finds

t-shirt: asos skirt: secondhand shoes: h&m bag: primark

Even though eating a plantbased/vegan helps towards living a more ethical and environmentally friendly life, I yet have to work on my shopping attitude. Even though I know that the fashion industry has more than just a few faults - excluding things like the use of leather, fur or silk, which I avoid already - I'm easily sucked into high street shops like Topshop and ZARA and the vast majority of my clothing is "made in China" or Bangladesh. I've been able to adapt my shopping habits slightly by being more selective with the clothes I buy, so that I at least end up buying less, but it's still a work in progress for sure. One thing that I'd been doing in the past and which I picked up again a bit recently, is going to second hand stores instead of H&M and during my last stroll through some of Brighton's best second hand and vintage stores (Brighton is quite literally heaven for second hand lovers), I picked up what is now one of my favourite skirts. I'm not sure how authentic the Tennis look to it is (any fashion experts want to chime in?) but I love everything about it, from the colour and style to its ridiculous shortness - inviting me to wear shorts underneath to avoid flashing half the city when Brighton's being windy again. And to add to its awesomeness, the skirt's waist is adjustable, so you can make some space for a food baby, he he he...

Vegan Eats | Brighton: Brunch at Brewed

With being free from any kind of Uni work and only working a few days a week, comes the urge to go out for brunch, coffee or dinner as many times as my bank account allows me. Over the past few weeks, I've been discovering and trying out places I hadn't eaten at yet in Brighton (there's just so many!) and with things like vegan doughnuts still on my to-do list, I had the chance to try out a new uber cute place on Lewes Road last week. It's situated dangerously close to my place here, as it's only a 10-15 min walk away and even though it's not a vegan (or even veggie) place, their vegan options are amazing.

Environmentally friendly, safe & comfortable periods: menstrual cups

Periods are a tricky business. On top of their monthly visits making you feel uncomfortable, moody, hungry, tired or simply in pain, they are also really damn expensive and wasteful. Whether you use tampons or pads (or a combination of both), the amount of waste that is produced every month, resulting not only from the product itself but also its packaging, isn't only potentially icky to dispose off but extremely bad for the environment. Apparently, the average woman uses up to 11 000 tampons during her lifetime, which all take centuries to degrade! With a box of tampons or pads costing between £2 and £5, the use of disposable feminine hygiene products amounts to a lot of money spent on periods during a lifetime, money that would definitely be more enjoyable to spend on a cup of coffee or a magazine.