Remembrance Day 2014

Hey guys!

In honour of Remembrance Day here in England, here are some of the photos I took of the poppies display when we visited and did a tour at the Tower of London a few months ago. As you can see, it wasn't finished yet but still an awesome sight. I am guilty of being lazy and taking advantage of the handiness of my iPhone camera. Luckily it wasn't raining and the sky wasn't too grey!

Hope you're all doing well! I can't believe it's almost Christmas! Steve and I are hitting up Qlimax in Holland before heading to the Philippines to chase the summer! I am hoping to get one more post up, but if not, my Instagram will have some snippets.

xoxo 'ella

Gypsy Warrior

Hi guys!

Short of filming a haul video (which, no, I won't), here are some of the awesome pieces I got from Gypsy Warrior. I can't remember who on Instagram got me into this store, but I loveeee their stuff. Anyone into the boho-chic style should definitely check this store out. 

 

-x-

Delevigne Crop (I went back to the website but I can't find it! Here is the link to the Moss Crop though, which is pretty similar) - http://gypsywarrior.com/moss-crop-top.html
Psychic Readings Tank - http://gypsywarrior.com/clothes/tops/tanks-tees/psychic-readings-muscle-tank.html

Not pictured:
Lola Peplum Skirt - http://gypsywarrior.com/clothes/bottoms/lola-peplum-skirt-crimson.html
Salem Star Shorts (it's too cold for shorts at the moment though =( ) - http://gypsywarrior.com/salem-star-shorts-13698.html

-x-

That's all for now. What's everyone got planned for Halloween?!

xoxo 'ella

Housekeeping!

Hi guys!

Gosh, I feel bad for the lack of posts, I should really get into the habit of content scheduling. I've been trying to edit videos and have actually got a few saved on my computer, but unfortunately when I try to save them for viewing, they lag! Such is the life of an amateur vlogger. It sucks, but I've put the videos on hold for the moment pending a solution/better computer, so you guys will have to make do with Instagram and blog posts for the moment.

I enjoy snapping pics of coffee on my Instagram, lol.

August Favourites!

Hi guys!

Wow, I can't believe it's almost September!

Fun fact of this post: August 5th came and went and it wasn't actually until recently that Steve and I remembered that that date marked our 6th month in London! So crazy how the time flew by like nothing and our to-do list isn't getting any shorter!
 

I've been trying to list down all the blog ideas that come to my mind but if there's one thing any creative person would know about, it's how ideas come to you at the most random times and sometimes you just have to satisfy yourself with oh I'll just file that away for later...and then never remembering it again.

Story of my life.

Anyway, so recently Steve and I have been doing a lot of traveling. Nothing major, just some small trips here and there, Stonehenge and Bath and Paris, (not including sightseeing around London). And between the never ending job hunt and playing 'tourist' I've discovered a lot of new bloggers out there that I've recently come to love and keep track of religiously, thank you, Instagram.
So in the spirit of the beauty/book/photo blogger concept, I've decided to try my hand at the Monthly Favourites theme. (I may or may not have also been looking for advice on some things girly seeing as my sisters and girlfriends are mostly now a half a world away, insert crying face here).

And so, without further ado and in no particular order - actually that's a lie because number 1 is probably my favourite and those of you who know me can easily tell why - let's kick things off with number 5! 

'Riverside' Brought Me Here!

Hi guys,

Another month gone by, I can't believe it's already August!

It's true what they say about time when you're having fun.

As someone who's a bit OCD about remembering everything in minute detail you can imagine how skitzo my brain gets as I struggle to document every. single. little. thing. we do. I hope you all know that I'm trying my best to write about all most of Stella's awesome adventures and we're always wishing that you all could share it with us.

So in saying that, here's another video recap of our first...concert? at Somerset House - which was an amazing venue, by the way. Being the 'foreigners' that we were, we actually didn't think to bring a mat like everyone who planned to sit on the cobbled floor (the place was open air - standing only). But the vibe was awesome. 

I never thought I'd see Agnes Obel in concert but thanks to Steve being the most awesome fiance, my thoughts have been proven wrong. Despite not being familiar with her new album, Aventine - which I am very familiar with now - I enjoyed it a lot.

Check out our recap video on

youtube:
Agnes Obel, Somerset House 2014

xoxx

Summer Bling Rings.

Hey everyone!

It is the most unfortunate thing to have small hands and fingers especially for someone such as myself who loves all things pretty and shiny.

I've never really been much for wearing rings, not because I don't like them but more because none of them ever fit me! I've had numerous occasions where I'm shopping and see so many cute accessories and get all excited about how pretty they are only to try on the smallest size and be disappointed that it's still too big.

Recently though, a really awesome trend has been surfacing. Or resurfacing? I'm not sure. Anyway...

Mid-rings!

Well, mid-rings for everyone else, but normal rings for me. Yay! 

Photo originally for my insta but what the hey. Come and visit me! @miss_3lla

Got this pretty thing at one of the accessory stalls in the market at Brick Lane. The guy kept trying to tell me it's a mid-ring and I replied by putting it on and showing him my tiny fingers, haha.

Hope this post finds you well for the weekend!

xoxx 'ella

Recap! Stella in Amsterdam, June 2014.

Just a little re-cap of our Amsterdam trip back in June for Defqon1! I realise that this video makes it look like we did all this in one day, but no no, all my footage just happened to be in the day time but we actually spent a few days in Nieuwmarkt before heading to Biddinghuizen.

And yes, I've been (slowly) experimenting with videos. What else am I going to do with all the footage and photos I've been hoarding throughout our adventures? Please excuse my editing-noobness!

xoxx

Music: 'Watch the Sun Come Up' - Example

No copyright intended.

Click here!

Stella in Amsterdam!

Age is Just a Number...

...That can't be changed!

So, I've been a bit neglectful I know. But I was aware, so there's a difference. If you know me in real life you'd know that it's been a hectic 30 days since my last post.

One of the reasons being another birthday. Yay!...Not.

I've certainly had my fair share of awesome birthdays and in the years past, I've been (mentally) giving myself a few pats on the back for each one I've celebrated without feeling that sense of impending doom that comes with...getting old. I hate to say it, but bearing witness to a fair few friends who's celebrations have become more and more low key as they cry and moan on the inside (and outside) about turning 25 (for the third time) has had me priding myself on continuing to be confused about why I haven't had that same urge yet.

I'm a late bloomer.

Feeling the Frump.

If it's one thing about the travel life that's a pain in my...neck, it's the luggage limitations. There's just something about wearing the same clothes over and over again for three months and not being able to shop that makes one feel so blaaaaaahhh about one's self.

In addition to that, Winter isn't exactly my best season. There's just something about the cold that invokes the sloth in me (not that I'm not a sloth in Summer, but at least it's a less frumpy one!). Despite the eternal struggle of trying to keep in the latest trends, there's just something about Winter that, oh, I don't know, makes you want to walk around in blanket-esque clothing that does nothing for one's figure. And I'm a small, Asian girl. Trust me, I know!

Camden Town, ily.

The place, the people, the vibe, all the pretty things you can find here as well as all the yummy food you can eat is what makes this one of my favourite places in London. 

Pic spam about to ensue, mostly from the Stable Markets from the first time we were there. So awesome! Although walking on cobblestones for me is a totally different story. I have spastic feet!

Colours!

Hail Sunshine!

View from the top of the hill at Greenwich Park.

This past weekend gave us a taste of Summer in London and it was awesome. If we were deficient in Vitamin D before, we are certainly overdosed on it on the weekend. Steve and I spent most of it outdoors - yes, in nature - and laying out in the sun (just like all the other Brits!). 

British Museum

Front view

Oh London, I Knew You Couldn't Be ALL Good!

Yes, it's true. As they all say, what goes up must eventually come down and after such an awesome month, it's only fair that we finally experience the down side.

Cue long rant full of loathing.

Laziness, London & Life

Oh lawdy lawd. As much as I talked and inner monologued myself into regulating the blog posting...it's just so damn hard! >insert weeping emoji face from whatsapp here< Don't knock me though because I'm still hanging on by the hairs, barely. Usually, I'd drop a few more lines about why I haven't been posting, but - and others who've kept/keep blogs know of this - brainstorming posts and finding the time to write them are two completely different things. I can come up with a prompt on the tube, easy as! But then finding the time to write it? Not so much. And between full-time work, keeping up the touristy tendencies while living in a different country and all the other fun things in between, well, the struggle is real, people!

Day 2 in Beijing

Despite the early morning wake up call, we were lucky enough to be greeted with another wonderful, sunny day!
 
Our itinerary looked a little something like this:

Day 1 in Beijing

After flying 11 hours from Sydney to Beijing, let me just take this moment to let you all know that our experience with Air China was pretty alright! Considering we were flying economy and through the night (and from my previous traveling experiences) I was expecting worse in the form of uncomfortable seats, old or malfunctioning entertainment equipment and other unfortunate mishaps (as my luck has always been with these types of things), but I was pleasantly surprised at the smoothness of it all. Granted, I slept most of the way, so that may have been a contributor, but anyway, moving on!

Finally!

Good afternoon, beautiful people!

It is 12:43PM London time and I’m happy to say that since our departure on March 5^th, we have successfully survived our stopover in Beijing (which I’ll fill you all in on in another post), landed in London, spent 10 days scrambling (which I will fill you in on also) and have finally “settled”. YAY!

It’s been one crazy, hectic month so far but I don’t think I would’ve handled it just as easily if I were on my own. Team Stella has been working overtime getting our bank accounts sorted, getting our bearings and familiarising ourselves with the area, oh! And I don’t know, maybe sussing out a place to live as well? Ha! But it’s all worked out wonderfully so far and we’ve ended up with some bomb roommates as a bonus too!

It’s been exactly 18 days since we’ve flown the coop, and I’d like to say that I haven’t been lazy in getting this blog up and running, but then I’d be lying. But, with no further ado, I present to you, Once More with Feeling! I’ve spent a good couple of days and nights in my head with this blog and throwing around a whole bunch of names, and after discovering that my top two choices were already taken or didn’t quite feel right, I guess we’ve (I’ve) finally decided that “once more with feeling!” felt like it was ever so appropriate.

So, come one, come all! Join Steve and me on our crazy “derpy” adventures as we’d actually really love to be sharing them with you all. 

xoxx