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5 things I struggle with as a blogger

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Hi guys,

Hope you’re having a great weekend. I started mine off  with a delicious brunch at Ffiona’s with a group of bloggers from all around the world. We had such a fun meeting talking about our careers,plans, trips, patient partners and friends behind the camera and all that inspired me to write a blog post about what I struggle with the most as a blogger and all real stories behind all that I am doing.

First of all- as many of you ask- I am not a full time blogger yet (even though it feels like a real full time job already!) I have a full time job as Social Media Coordinator. Many of you ask why I am still working full time. Is it because I don’t make enough money from the blog? Or because I am scared of change? Is it because I just don’t want it to be a full time job? The answer may be a little bit surprising- it’s simply because I like my job! I know it may sound a bit weird, but I do respect position I am at. I was fighting for this job for very long time and done all I could to get it. I am finally doing what I love and it’s extremely important to me. I used to have a job that I hated so much that every morning I was waking up with the thought that I don’t wanna go to work. Nothing was making me more sad and frustrating. And one day, I finally found the courage to quit and promised myself I won’t ever stuck at the job I hate again. As now I have a job I enjoy doing, I will try to do both for as long as I can.

However I am not going to lie- it’s extremely hard to work full time and run my own business. So my main struggle as a blogger is time. Since I think November, I’ve been working crazy amount of hours to make it all work. What my week really looks like? When do I shoot campaigns and content?  If you’ve ever seen a blonde girl rushing around South Kensington and Portobello with a bouquet of flowers, balloons, suitcase (clothes and shoes to change if I need to shoot few outfits) and a tired looking boyfriend or a friend at 7 am in the morning – yes- more likely you’ve seen The Blonde Flamingo. I always have to shoot campaigns before going to work – plus I always have to beg my boyfriend or a friend to wake up with me and take my photos (omg I know it sounds mad!) I am always on a run, even though I have my shooting locations planned in advance. So many times the locations I planned to shoot at are still closed- this is when I start panicking and nervously looking for another pretty spot. I know it may sound funny but it really stresses me out when I know I only have an hour or two to get it done. After the shoot I am running to work. I am editing and responding to my emails on my lunch break. After work I am running home or to the cafe to finish editing, to write captions, plan trips, book tickets, plan outfits and locations for the next day. Most of the days the only “time off “I have is watching a movie with my boyfriend but most of the times I don’t last until the end of it as I am too tired. Why am I not doing that all in the weekend? The answer is simple- it wouldn’t be enough time. I need to spread the shoots between the days to not get mental ( well, to be honest I get mental most of the times anyway haha!) Also- the crowds! Shooting at the cute cafes is simply impossible in the weekend- if I had to wait 2 hours to sit down at Elan Cafe to take one photo or wait for people to move out of my shot (perfect example is my favourite pink spot- Peggy Porshen) I would never ever get my work done!

Second struggle I have as a London based blogger is the weather. Those of you who were following me for a long time already know my colourful and cheerful editing style. I never struggle that much with creating content during my tropical travels- this is actually when I get super creative. It’s warm, sunny and magical. My head is exploding with ideas and set ups. The real struggle started when I came back to London and I realised that because of work I would need to be here for a while. I’ll be honest with you- I didn’t know where to start. Most of the times I had to push myself to get out of bed at 5.30/6am to get ready for a 7am shoot. Couple of months ago it was still dark at this time so I had to wait for first ray of sunlight to take a photo. Now it’s a little bit easier as days are getting longer, but it’s still freezing! Last weekend I was shooting campaigns in a total blizzard (I just LOOOVE deadlines!) and I was changing my outfits and warming up in the phone box hahaha ( I swear- this Instagram story had the biggest amount of views ever!) but seriously speaking- I’ve been so cold and so sick in the last few months because of all that. I can’t wait for the spring to finally arrive and make my work at least a little bit easier!

Another thing I am struggling with is finding the balance. Last few months all I was really doing was working, working and working. And all I can think of and talk about is work. This had a negative impact on my relationships. I’ve just been so busy! And I know it’s not really easy to be my partner right now. Building all that takes so much of my time and it’s something I think of 24/7. I am constantly reading, learning, researching, analysing, negotiating, planning and organising. Sometimes I get really stressed, down and tired and think of giving up as I know my lifestyle at the moment is not healthy but I promised to myself I’ll start working on it and look after my health and my family and friends better. I am so blessed I have them on my side!

Another problem is lack of real time off.  Since I’ve started to think of this blog more seriously, I’ve been devoting almost all my holidays allowance to building the content. I barely go home to see my family as I simply don’t have enough days to do so. The press trips are not really flexible dates wise so many times I had to decline because of not having enough holidays left ( always crying after that I swear! ) If I manage to make it, I work on every single trip that others call a “holiday” or my favourite comment a “free holiday” – nothing comes free and bloggers work days and nights to pay off the complimentary accommodation or trip they’ve been invited to. So may times my friends and colleagues were asking why am I so pale (after a tropical trip)- the answer is simple- I wasn’t on holidays! I went on a work trip!  At the beginning it wasn’t bothering me, but as now also being in London is so intense with work and shoots I started to dream of a trip or retreat that I could completely switch off. Turn off my phone, forget about Instagram, photos and simply lie down on a sun bed and do absolutely nothing for at least couple of days. I promised to my boyfriend we’ll do it this year- we both need it now more than ever.

And the last struggle – lack of space. Since I’ve became a blogger, I had a chance to work with a lot of amazing brands and designers so I became a lucky owner of so many beautiful clothes, bikinis, shoes, bags, accessories and cosmetics. Now, after not even a year our apartment (that we only moved to last year in May and it felt so spacious) is simply too small. I can barely close my wardrobe. My dressing table is totally full. The amount of shoes I have its simply unbelievable- I never though I’ll have so many pairs at this age ( but I am not going to lie it’s always been a dream of mine as I looove shoes!) so because of me and my business we have to change apartment for bigger. Isn’t that insane?

What do you struggle the most as a blogger?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 facts about The Blonde Flamingo

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Hi guys,

Slightly different post than usual, but I realised I don’t share enough with you (besides my travels) and would love you to get to know me better as a person! Hope you’re survive until the end, haha!

  1. I LOVE puppies I am literally a freak – all my family and close friends know that. I can play with puppies, touch puppies, talk about puppies, stare at puppies on the street and think of puppies all day long, haha. When I am stressed or in a bad mood- I watch videos of puppies and all my negativity and stress is gone in a second. I also have the names for my puppies chosen already! The only question is when am I going to have one?
  2. I am addicted to mangos– omg. I swear I can’t survive a day without eating a whole mango by myself. I prefer mangos more than any sweets in the world! I recently found that one shop that sells the sweetest and most juicy mangos I’ve ever had in my life( well maybe except those I had in Zanzibar!) and I go there almost every single day.
  3. I’ve always wanted to travel the world and move abroad At first, my parents were not very happy about it. They wanted me to finish off University in Poland – as every ‚normal’ person- as my dad called it. But deep inside I knew that following the system is not for me. I also wasn’t even sure what I wanted to study. All I knew was- I want to travel the world. During my last year at high school I was already working on the weekends (while others where partying) and saving money to get all courses and certificates I needed to be able to apply for an animator job abroad. I went for a casting- omg it was insane- I had to dance and sing in front of everyone on a proper stage, but I was one of the 17 people who got offered the job out of over 200. Signing that contact(my first proper job) was the happiest day of my life that time, haha! Imagine I was sitting on a plane to Greece one week after my final exams without even knowing if I passed them or not! The adventure was all I cared about.
  4. Blogging was always something I wanted to do Of course- 8-9 years ago it wasn’t as popular as it is right now and I didn’t think about it as future, dream job, but I just simply enjoyed it and had this idea in my mind. When I look back, already as a 15,16 years old girl I was going out with girls to take photos, shopping at second shops, doing some DIY, going on little summer trips abroad with my friends and I was sharing all my adventures and outfits on a platform called Stylio. However at 17, I had some personal issues and I’ve given up ( I wish I never have) and stopped working on it. It took me few years to get back to this vision of my life. Moving to London at 19 years old definitely helped me with that- it’s such an inspiring city! Here I started to believe that nothing is impossible.
  5. London is not my final destination Even though I love this city with all my heart. This is where my „real life” started. This is where all my ideas and dreams were born. This is where I’ve grew up, fallen in love, made friends, started my own business and I think the most important thing- this is where I found myself and started to believe in myself.  However somewhere deep inside I belong to the ocean breeze and sunshine. In the near future, I’d love to settle down somewhere more relaxing than busy London (where I run around all the time rather than walk) where I could wear summer dresses all year long, eat fresh seafood for dinner everyday and watch sunsets on the beach every evening. Not sure where that perfect place is yet, but I am not going to lie that Italy is the country that stolen my heart with all its beautiful traditions, delicious food, melodic language( have I ever mentioned I can speak a basic Italian? Don’t mind my bad grammar though!) and warm people and this is the place I am considering as my future home. Could I please have a little villa in Positano and a pink vespa, please?

 

New Year in the Maldives

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Hi guys!

Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I have celebrated the New Year with my bestie in my favourite place on Earth- Maldives. I still can’t believe it actually happened.  It passed soooo quickly! But we had absolutely the best time and would love to share more with you!

So Siobhan and I were trying to meet each other for like a year. We’ve connected via Instagram and something really clicked between us and we continued talking to each other every single day since November 2016 –  when I was in Maldives for the first time and Siobhan was getting ready for her trip there. We kept in touch all these months. We even had a dinner in Zanzibar arranged once and her connecting flight got cancelled – can you imagine how unlucky we were? That was February. Then in May we were meant to see each other in Mykonos where I’ve celebrated my birthday and Siobhan at the end and very last minute changed her mind and flew to Aruba. Again we didn’t meet, but kept in touch and kept inspiring and motivating each other through the year. Until Maldives, our dream trip. Together. Our favourite destination on Earth! It was all very last minute and chaotic but when we had our tickets booked I thought “Omg, this is destiny! It was meant to be”

What I mean by chaotic is that I have almost missed my connecting flight- we both flew from different cities- Siobhan from Dublin and myself from London and we were meant to meet in Turkey and catch our connecting flight to Male. My flight was over an hour delayed and when I looked at my phone and time when I landed I realised I had 10 minutes to departure time! OMG. I have never been so stressed- sorry to all people I pushed that evening but I just didn’t think- I HAD TO MAKE IT. I literally flew through the whole airport to the gate and saw this little girl in a pink fur (she looked like a flamingo I swear to God!)- the only person standing there as everyone was already sitting on the plane. Omg, I couldn’t breath! But I made it. We hugged like old friends all ready for our first adventure together! As it was all just crazy we didn’t even think to buy the seats next to each other and our tickets showed Siobhan in the front and myself in the back of the plane – brilliant. But we decided to sit next to each other anyway haha, we literally pushed it, I am still laughing when I think about it- big thanks to the guy who changed his seat for us and let us talk and laugh all flight! Yup, we were exhausted but talked and laugh all 9 hours flight. I felt like I knew her all my life! Isn’t crazy?

We were literally dead when we got to the Maldives- zero sleep, jet lag and hunger haha, but I knew I am not allowed to sleep as we were getting on the seaplane straight after and it was my deepest dream! WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. I can’t  even find right words to explain how incredible that was. You HAVE TO experience it yourself. The view was just unbelievable. Yes, we were in paradise. My heart was beating so fast, I had tears in my eyes the entire time and I was holding Siobhan’s hand as I couldn’t believe this was really happening!

The first hotel we checked into was The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. This is where we were celebrating New Years Eve! We have fallen love straight away! Take a peek!

The last night of 2017 was absolutely incredible. At midnight, we just stood by the ocean, watched fireworks and cried from happiness. We were just so happy and grateful for what we have achieved so far. It’s been an extremely hard working and stressful year for both of us and we felt like this was a prize for all these struggles and hard work- celebrating the New Year in paradise. We danced, we laugh, we cried, we had a swim at the ocean at 3am, loads bubbles and chocolate! What a night. The most magical New Years Eve in my life so far.

Hello 2018!

Highlights of 2017

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As the year is coming to an end I thought it would be great to sum it up. First of all I would like to say how quick this year was! I can’t believe it’s almost over!

What a year it has been though…

Started with ticking Portugal off my bucket list. I had the most magical time in Lisbon and also made it to by dream palace in Sintra which was even more beautiful than I expected!

In February we travelled to another bucket list destination of mine- Zanzibar. It’s one of my top destinations I’ve visited this year. Apart from its endless blue oceans, stunning white sand beaches, delicious food and warm people it had also taught me a great lesson. It is truly a beautiful and luxury destination, but if you leave the resort everything changes and you see the real Africa. It’s so sad and overwhelming, however seeing the people so happy and grateful for what they have, seeing them loving the simple life with ‘hakuna matata’ problem free philosophy made me start being more grateful for things I haven’t appreciated before.

After this trip I was already getting ready for another adventure- my boyfriend treated me to the best birthday trip to beautiful Mykonos and Santorini! I’d love a gift like that every year, please!

While in Greece, I found out I am travelling to Morocco with my best friends 2 weeks after! Isn’t it crazy? It was the best birthday gift ever- travelling to my dream destination- Chefchaouen with people I love! This city will always have a special place in my heart.

After this trip I was selected a blogger of a month by SkinnyDip London. It was my first and very special interview that made me believe in my blogging career even more!

Few weeks later I was boarding to Italy- this year I have visited my dream Genova, Cinque Terre and Portofino and Napoli and Amalfi Coast after that. I had a chance to visit my favourite place in Europe- Positano for the third time and I fallen in love even more! 2018, could you please take me back there again?

In August this year was offered the Social Media job I was fighting for for months! What a big change that was! I am grateful to be growing and learning something new every single day and be surrounded by passionate, ambitious and creative people.

That month was also very special to me as my boyfriend and I treated each other to a magical weekend getaway to Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire to celebrate our 4th anniversary. We couldn’t have chosen a more unique place to celebrate!

Few weeks after that I treated my mum to the birthday escape to Mallorca. I have been planning our daughter and mother trip for months and couldn’t be happier we made it happen! She literally cried! Hopefully the New Year will bring us more trips like that! We had the best time ever.

At the end of September we flew to Barcelona to celebrate my boyfriend’s birthday) I will never forget his magical birthday dinner at Soho House Barcelona rooftop restaurant.

Month later we were already packing for our dream trip to Seychelles!

We have finished this crazy intensive year with a peaceful Christmas in London, just two of us, loads of Italian food and Christmas movies. We both needed to recharge the batteries!

You may think I am crazy, but I am blogging from the plane now! Will spent NYE with my bestie Siobhan from They Wanderlust in the Maldives. Can’t wait to see her! I am so so so so so excited!

Thank you 2017! You’ve been one of the most intensive and stressful but also the most incredible and progressive year of my life. In 2017 TheBlondeFlamingo officially became a business and a job. I am finishing the year with amazing audience of 50 000 of you around the world   Thank you for believing in me, thank you for your love, support and to the people who’re by my side everyday- a very special thank you for your patience and kicking my bum everyday- I know I’ve been such a pain this year with all my travels, lack of time, constant stress and ups and downs. But we made it together! I would never be where I am without you and your help! Thank you for still being by my side!  I love you.

Bye 2017. Thank you for all your lessons. Bring on 2018! Can’t wait to see what you hold!

Seychelles- Paradise on Earth

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I have been dreaming of visiting the Seychelles since I can remember. It was my bucket destination for 2017 and I still can’t believe I have managed to tick this place off my list considering I have travelled to so many destinations this year already! Writing this post is taking me forever as I literally can’t find the words to describe this paradise! Hopefully my photos will help out!

But let’s start with where the Seychelles are located and how did we get there. So, the Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa. We flew there from London, with a quick stop in Ethiopia and landed on Mahé Island where we’ve spent first few days. We stayed at Bliss Hotel located on the northern shores of the island, in a sheltered cove, set between white sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation. This hotel was so beautiful, minimalistic, chic and had a bohemian feel I absolutely adore.

After couple of days in Mahe we took a Cat Cocos ferry to Praslin. It took us a little bit over an hour to get there. In Praslin we have decided to rent a car and go a on a little road trip around the island. What a dream! Talcum-powder sands, turquoise waters, lush hills, granite rocks all over,tropical flowers, colourful birds. Absolutely unbelievable! Wish I could teleport back right now!

After couple of days we took a ferry to another bucket list island- La Digue. The journey was only 15 minutes and we were in completely different world. No cars, no noice, just pure nature and the ocean. The best way to move around the island is to rent a bike. I am not gonna lie it took me ages and still didn’t manage to find the pink one ( haha, what a drama!) but got a pretty blue one so I was happy at the end! The roads and views around the islands were absolutely breathtaking.

We have also ticked the famous Anse Source D’Argent off my bucket list and I have to admit it was the most beautiful beach I’ve seen in my life so far. Believe me, the photos do not justify the beauty of this place!

We have finished off our incredible stay on La Digue Island with a romantic, sunset dinner at Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie hotel. What a magical setting! Will never ever forget this beautiful evening!

After visiting Praslin and La Digue we went back to the main island- Mahé and spent our last two days at Hilton Northolme Resort & Spa- I fallen in love at first sight! It was one of the most charming hotel I’ve stayed at. Located in the North of Mahé , only 30 mins away from Victoria airport, nestled into the hillside with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. Surrounded by white-sand beaches, lush tropical gardens and turquoise waters- ahhh, a true escape from everyday life. It’s also an adult only hotel which makes it a perfect romantic getaway or a honeymoon destination.

Our villa was just perfect. Very private, spacious, with a king size beautifully- decorated bed and all wooden interior. I loved the woody scents all over the place. We also had the dreamiest walk-in shower and a whirlpool bath. Yup, I’ve spent most of my time in there!

My second favourite place at the resort was the pool area. It was just a perfect place to relax and forget about the world. We’ve been also lucky to witness one of the most incredible sunset ever!

When talking about Hilton Northolme Resort & Spa you definitely can’t forget mentioning how incredible and private the beach is! I felt like I had it all to myself. Look at these endless blues! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I will also never forget this place as it’s was the first time I tried paddle-boarding! Omg, so much fun! (especially when you feel like you’re the only person in the ocean!)

It was so hard to leave this beautiful hotel! Wish we could stay longer! PS. My flamingo loved it too! We will miss you, Hilton Northolme Resort & Spa!

All these experiences, incredible views, magical sunsets and lovely people we’ve met during our trip- especially Judith from Hilton’s Social Media Team but also a very talented Fashion and Travel Journalist and the cutest travel couple- Stuart and Helianna  made me love the Seychelles. Due to some health issues we experienced during the trip and also crushed drone ( Thank you Stuart for letting me use your photo!) we were not able to see and shoot as much as we planned but still tried our best to do as much as possible during our stay and showcase our favourite places around these magical islands. What I know is- we have to come back as soon as we can and explore more!

Seychelles, we love you!