We all hear about the negative impact of Social Media these days. I’ve met many people recently who told me how down they feel after scrolling on Instagram. But do we actually do something to STOP? I know from my own experience how easy it is to get addicted to this app. I still find it a place full of inspirations. It also helped me to connect with many like-minded people and this is something I am forever grateful for. However now after doing it full-time for a while, I see many negative aspects of this space too and I had moments that I was feeling super down and frustrated. Why? Well my own fault! I’ve been spending way too much time scrolling and scrolling thousands of perfectly edited photographs , watching all the stories, one unboxing after another, another wow-looking hotel, another insta-perfect couple etc I know it can get pretty overwhelming and make you feel worst when you already have one of these bad days or generally going through some tough time. All that affected me a lot in the past but I’ve started to learn to deal with all that and look after my mental health better. Here’s my top 5 tips :
1. Unfollow negative people on Social Media
We all follow somebody who is super negative but for some reason we’re still watching these dramatic stories everyday. I stopped that and unfollowed/ muted stories of people I don’t want to keep seeing as:
a) they don’t bring any value into my life
b) they have negative impact on my mental health
c) I don’t need their drama in my life
Follow more accounts that make you happy, make you laugh and giving you the positive vibes instead. It honestly helped me!
2. Don’t compare yourself to others
That’s the hardest part. When you’re having a bad day, you’re logging into your Instagram and keep seeing all the paradise locations, unboxing, events, vacations and all that. After some time you’re starting to think your life’s crap. Remember- what people post on Social Media are mainly the highlights of their lives. Many don’t show the REAL life, the struggles, don’t talk about problems so on the outside it all looks perfect and it makes you feel worst about yourself and your life. But scroll down your own feed- maybe to somebody else it’s actually your life that looks GOALS. You know what I mean? 🙂 Remember it’s only a bad day, not a bad life!
3. Spent less time watching what others do and focus on yourself
This is something that I have been practicing a lot recently and I swear it feels so good. Now I am spending way less time online watching people’s stories and I’ve started to invest this time into my development , working on my blog, Pinterest, my projects and dreams. I’ve been also going out with friends more often and devote this “extra” time people I love. I’ve been spending more time outdoors with nature which makes me happier and more relaxed.
4. Ignore the trolls
Recently I’ve seen many people posting stories literally crying from some negative, bullying comments left on their posts or DMs. Well, we’ve all been there. The truth is, the moment we decide to put ourselves and our lives online we should be aware of the consequences. I do understand the constructive criticism however if the messages or comments are simply mean, aggressive, vulgar and make no sense- I simply just ignore and delete them. No point wasting time and nerves for anonymous online bullies.
5. Spread the positivity
Remember that the positive starts with you! You cannot dictate what other people share on their profiles however you’re in charge on what you share on yours! Be the positivity, the energy, the place where people would enjoy coming back to. Post inspiring content, places and positive thoughts and encourage others to do the same! Together you could create a positive space and empower one another!
How do you deal with the negativity on Social Media?
How have I ended up going on a retreat? Well, let’s start with saying that doing what I do is not always that colourful and easy as it seems on the photos. I do realise that to some people it may look like I am only having fun. And it’s true! Most of the time I do, but its also my own company, a real, full-time job and business. Business I’ve started from the scratch without even knowing that I am really building a business and a full-time career. As much as I absolutely love what I do and would never ever change any decision I’ve taken so far, after few months of working 7 days a week, constantly researching, learning, travelling non stop, being jet-lagged all the time, forever chasing on invoices, payments and deadlines, at the beginning of this year I started to feel really stressed, tired and overwhelmed. All the upcoming opportunities sounded incredible however it’s only me who really knows how much it costs me. I felt huge anxiety like I’ve never felt before. I was constantly worried about something and couldn’t make the deadlines and my work done. It was a very scary feeling knowing you’re completely on your own. I felt like I needed help as I also felt so lonely trying to explain my feelings to other people who really got no idea what my job is about. And then suddenly the incredible invitation came through my email – a retreat at Absolute Sanctuary in Koh Samui, Thailand Asia’s top wellness resort, located on the North Eastern side of Koh Samui, also known as the island of healing. I’ve felt like it was a destiny! This was exactly what I needed in my life! I said yes straight away!
So, where to start…
First thing I had to do is to choose the program for me. How did I know what program would be the right fit? Before the arrival I had a phone consultation that helped me to choose the right programme that would suit my needs. As I’ve been going through some tough time we both agreed that what I really needed was to relax. That’s why I decided to go for an Anti Stress & Burnout program which is designed to those who are in need to escape from their hectic lives, recharge and rebalance their mind, body & spirit through a combination of relaxing & healing spa treatments and massages, healthy foods and supportive emotional therapies.
As everyone is a need or something different, Absolute Sanctuary introduced 6 new wellness and fitness programs to make sure everyone will find something they truly need wether is a rest, rebalance, weight loss, increasing the fitness level or changing the lifestyle. The 6 new programs are : Women’s Holistic Health, Men’s Vitality, Body Realignment, Sleep Well, Mindfulness, Rest and Rebalance. You can find all the details about the programs here.
Couple of weeks later after the phone call I was already sitting on a plane to Thailand with my friend Bonnie both super excited for this incredible trip.
I’ve fallen in love with the Absolute Sanctuary at first sight. It had this incredible energy that is really hard to describe. We’ve arrived in the late evening, we’ve checked in, our schedules were all ready for us. We’ve been shown around the Sanctuary and taken to our beautiful rooms.
Accommodation
They have 38 rooms in total inspired by architecture of Morocco with bright colours and moroccan tiles. You can choose between Sanctuary Suite, Sanctuary Deluxe and Sanctuary Superior rooms– whatever matches your budget and comfort level. I personally stayed at Deluxe room with a beautiful moroccan bathroom and a large bathtub.
Schedule
So how my daily schedule looked like? I would normally start my morning with a ginger tea by the pool watching the sunrise and listening to the birds sing. It felt so incredible to be there completely on my own, at peace and contact with nature. Will never forget this view!
After that I would head for a group meditation and yoga class. That was the perfect way to really wake up.
Myself and Bonnie who I went on this incredible retreat with. We both needed it so much! We’re wearing matchy activewear from Evveervital
And then time for breakfast served at Love Kitchen ( where you could seriously feel the love with every dish and every smile from the staff members. I am still smiling when I think of them!) The food was delicious. There was seriously not a single thing I did not like. Everything was super fresh, high in nutrients, low in calories, enriched with superfoods and wholefoods. They also served healthy juices, smoothies and herbal teas ( my favourite was goji berries, honey and lime).
After breakfast I was usually soaking up the sun that I’ve missed so much, relaxing by the pool and enjoying coconut water or super juices.
Then I would head to their beautiful spa to enjoy a massage and spa treatments. My favourite and was 60 mins Indian Head Massage and 90 min Traditional Thai Massage with Herbal Heat Compress.
Usually after that I had lunch, a little nap and attended another yoga session in the late afternoon. My favourite but also a very hard experience (for the beginner as myself) was a group hot yoga session. It was my first time and I honestly really enjoyed it even though my muscles felt really painful the day after. However that was not a problem at all. They were very accommodating and let me change the schedule the way my mind and body was happy at all times. One day I skipped some of the classes and gave myself more relaxing time, longer sleep and a stroll at the beach nearby the hotel.
Here’s some photos of the Absolute Sanctuary. Ahh just looking at it brings all the positive energy and peace back!
Juice bar located by the pool
5 days spent in this place honestly changed me and my life. The stress management session with a therapist helped me a lot too as I found a real reason where is my stress and anxiety coming from. I’ve found my inner peace, I’ve rested, I’ve finally had enough sleep, exercised, ate super healthy and set the new goals. My skin also got better. As some of you know I am dealing with adult acne that has been such a pain since couple of years now and I left Absolute Sanctuary with cleaner, healthier looking skin. I came back to London new-born and by saying new-born I really mean it! I’ve started to wake up earlier which gave me more time in a day. I’ve started to exercise regularly, I’ve stopped skipping breakfast and I’ve started to listen to relaxing music in the morning (rather then getting into my Instagram and emails straight away) to get me in a good mood before a busy day. This trip honestly changed my lifestyle so much! I am forever grateful! Thank you so much to all team at Absolute Sanctuary for incredible hospitality and looking after us so well! I can’t find words to describe how much I miss this place every single day. I promised myself I will return one day as I haven’t found a place that has such an incredible energy. I can’t recommend it enough!
Thank you for bringing back the happy, healthy me!
It’s been a while! I really missed writing on my blog! I have been very busy with travelling- I have recently been to Thailand ( I will write a separate post about that trip) , London Fashion week and organising upcoming trip to Dubai- can’t wait!
In the meantime I have decided to prepare a second photo editing guide for you as you are always asking me about it ( you can see the first one here) This time I would like to show you my new favourite editing apps that help me to add a little magic to my photos!
1. PicsArt
My number one app at the moment it’s PicsArt. You can honestly do everything with it. There’s plenty of beautiful presets and effects- from fairytale lights, snow, adding hearts, fireworks, stars, galaxy skies and many others! Literally Instagram dream! Here’s some of the examples of my edits with the Pics Art app. The app it’s not free- it costs few pounds a month but I have bought a whole year subscribtion as I really enjoy using it for either Instagram photos or stories.
2. Snowing Pic
Another app I would recommend if you only need the tool to add the snow to your photos (I am mentioning it as I had so many people asking) it’s app called Snowing Pics. It’s totally free and it takes seconds to add the snow. There are different types so you can see which one works best with your shot.
See the example below :
3. Canvas
If you’re looking for a tool to help you out with cute design, there is an app I am honestly loving at the moment- Canvas. I use it for either Instagram stories or boards for my Pinterest. Great news- it’s awesome and it’s free of charge! There are some extras you may need to pay for but I promise it’s worth it, however basic option is honestly enough. You can design so many incredible things using it – logos, flyers, posters, invitations, blog and Pinterest graphics, recipe cards and many more. I am honestly loving it and still exploring how to use it!
Here’s few examples :
4. Facetune 2
Almost forgot to mention the app I am using frequently- Facetune 2. This is the app I am using to make my skin look smother and to make my photos more “glossy” I use the tool called glow on all my photos.
5. Unfold
I have already mentioned this app here but I continue using Unfold app as I am loving it for the Instagram stories! I don’t know if you’ve seen but they have added a new Valentine’s / love theme now and it’s been working so well and made the stories way more interesting! If you haven’t got this app yet you should definitely invest few pounds a month! It’s honestly a game- changer!
Here’s some examples :
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little editing guide! Let me know what are you favourite editing tools!
As the year has just started I have spent the last few days relaxing and recovering after crazy NYE party ( i havent had a party like that for ages- it was awesome!) and I spent the time thinking of new goals, resolutions and destinations. I have so many plans in my head and I still struggle to seriously write them down as honestly my problem is – I want to go EVERYWHERE! Can anyone relate?
However after thinking deeply about where I really want to go RIGHT Now i created a list of 10 places I am seriously dreaming of and hoping I can visit some of them in 2019!
1. Bahamas
I know this place is currently quite popular destination but I seriously would looooove to visit in 2019! I have been thinking of that place for years now! And I am sure tropical flamingo couldn’t imagine better friends than couple of sharks and swimming pigs haha!
2. Hawaii
Another destination I have honestly been dreaming of! This would be a dream place to take my first surfing lesson! Also as a tropical flamingo, how could I miss the real aloha vibes? I would love to swim with turles, visit all the incredible beaches, waterfalls and if possible ( please please please!) stay at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel- the real tropical pink paradise and experience the Honolulu Latern Festival!
3. Dubai
This place seems just so unique and different from any other places I’ve travelled to. Dubai became my obsession and I am really really hoping to tick this destination off my bucketlist in 2019. Not gonna lie I am already making some serious plans! Fingers crossed! I would also love to visit Abu Dhabi, experience the Desert ( my dream since forever!) beautiful Dubai Miracle Garden, visit the absolutely insane Zaya Nurai Island and dine in the underwater restaurant – Ossiano. That would be GOALS!
4. Bora Bora
Probably this place should be at the top of my list as it’s the most far one and the most expensive destination to travel to. However I am being positive and thinking that If I work hard this year, it can take me anywhere I want! Going to Bora Bora would be honestly the biggest travel dream come true( after Maldives, Seychelles and Aruba that I also had on the top of my bucketlist and I have managed to visit last year!)
5. California
Honestly, I don’t understand why I haven’t been there yet! I felt like I have as my Pinterest is just full of inspo, pinned cafes and places I want to visit. I really hope this year my Big Californian dream can come true! I feel like this place is literally calling my name! All the palms, magical sunsets, cacti and THAT pink door! Dying to go!
6. Cape Town
Mama Africa will forever scream my name! After visiting Zanzibar, Kenya, Morocco and Tunisia, I feel like I would love to also experience a different side of Africa and head to the South. Cape Town has been on my bucket list forever but recently I am seriously obsessed! I guess I don’t even need to explain how much I would love to visit the famous penguin beach! Flamingo and penguin- can you imagine?! Awww! Please, please, please 2019!
7. Capadoccia, Turkey
Those of you who follow me on Instagram since the beginning already know how long I’ve been planning a trip there! And I almost went in October 2018 however due to some personal and health issues I had to cancel the trip. I really hope 2019 will finally bring me to this magical place. Would love to experience the ballon ride at sunrise. Ah, what a dream!
8. Cayman Islands
Another exotic destination so high on my bucket list! I have been following my bloggers friends who went there on a Press Trip in 2018 and they got me even more obsessed. I would love to experience the helicopter ride for the first time ( I guess that would be a perfect spot!), the stingrays city- it looks absolutely unbelievable and the starfish point- wow! Also the food and the most insane looking beaches. How could The Blonde Flamingo missed that? 2019- teleport me right there!
9. Tulum, Mexico
Tulum is forever somewhere in my head. I would love to visit all the adorable cafes, also my dream Azulik Hotel, snorkel at cenotes, buy all the boho accessories from my flat ( let’s just stop for a second and imagine the size of that suitcase haha!) and eat tacos!
10. New York
I guess i don’t have to explain why I would love to ( finally!) visit New York. Even though I live in the big city- London, I have a feeling that NY is completely different and experiencing it would be absolutely incredible. I already have a list and Pinterest board of all the cute and Instagrammy spots I would love to tick off. My huge dream would be to visit New York during New York Fashion Week ( after attending London and Paris one in 2018!) Ahh, bring on 2019!
Images source- Pinterest
As you can see my bucket list is never-ending haha and I was limiting myself to really think of the Top 10 places! I really hope I will manage to visit at least few of these incredible places. I am sure they would inspire me to create more and more for you!
What places do you have on the bucketlist for 2019?
Can’t believe this year is coming to an end. It has literally flown! I thought it would be a great to sum it up a little. It’s been a HUGE and very challenging year for me and it’s hard not to get emotional.
I honestly don’t know where to start and how to describe this year. But surely 2018 was a year of huge growth- and no, I am not talking about the growth of my blog or Instagram followers here but growing as a person. It was a year of very difficult decisions and hard choices, year of probably the biggest amount of stress but also the year of a huge progress, big changes (that I would have never ever predicted) and big dreams coming true.
As you probably remember 2018 started in the most blissful way for me- I have celebrated NYE and spent the first week of a January 2018 in so far- my favourite place on Earth ( next to the Seychelles!) – The Maldives. Stay there truly helped me to recharge the batteries and inspired me so much. I started the year with a new super positive energy that definitely helped me to push forward.
Together with Siobhan from They.Wanderlust
February has been a very busy month for me as it’s a Fashion Week month. I have been working a lot, attending shows, events and working on various campaigns and creating lots of content. I have spent the entire month working in London.
March was also a crazy month and my last one working full-time 9-5 as a Social Media and Marketing Coordinator ( but in March obviously I had no idea what was going to happen after!) This month I also met someone I have been following since I was a teenager- Eliza from Fashionelka.pl and she was so kind and so inspiring. It was so funny but after we’ve met I had a feeling like I always knew her. Eliza really gave me a kick that was needed! We’ve stayed friends and kept seeing each other during the year. It was really one of the highlights of 2018 for me. It’s a miracle to be surrounded and supported by a person like Eliza and I am forever grateful that we connected.
In April, together with a first bloom of flowers I felt like my business started to bloom too. This is when all the invites for my first press trips started to go through my emails and I was feeling very overwhelmed as I still had a full-time job. It started to get harder and harder to do both- work full-time and run my business. Also this month I had a phone call that nobody ever wishes to receive- my dear Grandma was dying. It was heartbreaking. Few hours after I was already sitting on the plane back to Poland to see her. I made it on time to say bye to my beloved Grandma who showed me the world and gave me so much love and care. I couldn’t put myself together after she passed away. She died in the most horrible way and it was all happening on my eyes and I just can’t get it off my head (even now). But I had to let go…
I came back home to London feeling so bad. Stressed, scared, exhausted. I’ve felt like I couldn’t push forward after loosing her. I started to think to cancel all the upcoming press trips but my mum said grandma would be so sad if I would do that and encouraged me to continue doing what I love so she could see that. I was still a bit off at work but thankfully the director of the company I worked for for was very helpful and he allowed me to do my job remotely after I explained what happened and what business I am running on the side ( I was so afraid to tell him!). I will never forget his words „ You go go go go! You need to take every opportunity now”. That opened many doors for me as I was finally able to accept the invitations, travel the world and build my Social Media presence. and by travel I mean TRAVEL A LOT, TRAVEL ALL THE TIME! I have started with a first Press Trip to Mykonos with Rocabella Hotel- one of my favourite places in Europe. Mykonos always gives me energy and inspiration. I hope I will have a chance to visit in 2019 too.
May is always my happiest month as it’s my birthday month! It started with another incredible press trip to Turkey with Hillside Beach Club where I got to meet many inspiring Influencers from all over the world and celebrate my birthday!
This trip was followed by another insane Press Trip to Mykonos ( how lucky to be there twice this year!) with my favourite Polish Brand Renee Girls ( this year we’ve also celebrated a year of working together!) and this trip was a very special one as I got to be a part of their summer campaign( my first ever Magazine Shoot and Filming! It was so scary but so incredible! I had to get out my comfort zone and break many barriers but I ended up feeling more confident, more comfortable in front of the camera and I was feeling proud of myself! I also loved the results of our work. You can see it here.
June was the most extreme month for me. This month I travelled non- stop. From a trip with my best friends to Marrakesh, through the Italian Road trip with Hertz Europe ending up in the place I have been dreaming to visit forever- Kenya – one of the most incredible experiences in 2018 – Luxury Safari with Fairmont Hotels – still can’t believe I have been there! Here I also met someone that I truly admire and I am so grateful this trip brought us together. Meeting Bonnie from TheStyleTraveller.com was one of the highlights of this year too. After these trips the amount of work was simply insane and I was super busy, jet-lagged and always stressed ( I was still working as Social Media Coordinator at Soho House while travelling to all these places!) Kenya opened my eyes and helped me to realise what really makes me happy. With that saying, after Kenya I have decided to GO for it, to live my dream full-time and I handed my notice in. I have finished working for Soho House on the 30.06.2018. That was a HUGE change in my life. Today I know it was a right decision.
July started with a well-deserved holiday. I have headed to Fuerteventura to visit my childhood bestie Marta from Martabrezo.com and we’ve spent the most wonderful 2 weeks chilling, exploring the island, dancing, singing, surfing ( well she was, haha!) It was truly one of the most favourite times of this year for me. I slowed down, recharged and got myself ready for running my business full-time. I came back new-born that really helped our relationship with Salvo- because of all the stress I was facing it was extremely hard 6 months for our relationship. I struggled to find the balance, I became a real workaholic- not a loving and supportive girlfriend I used to be. Trip with Marta helped me to relax a bit, forget about the most difficult months and start off fresh.
I got back to London in the Mid July and yet, my bofriend made my biggest dream come true- we’ve booked a trip to Aruba to see flamingos ( crying writing this as it was honestly my biggest dream!) 4 days later we were on the plane, holding hands and we felt closer than ever before. It was honestly such a wonderful trip. I started to learn the balance – I was still working and creating content for you but at the same time I gave myself time to tan, relax and enjoy time as a NORMAL couple on holidays without recording every single thing. We promised each other to take more trips like that! Travelling only for work is not always easy!
In August I have decided to spent time with my family, as through the year I really struggled to find the time to go home. I also felt like my mum needs me after grandma passed away. I spent almost 3 weeks of August with my mum and brother- firstly in Poland and then in Crete, Greece. It became a little tradition to explore a new place every year with my mum ( last year we celebrated her birthday in Mallorca). We truly loved our little trip together. It was actually the gift from my mum for my 25th birthday so it was very special. I hope we will travel together again in 2019!
September started with a big BOOM. Again a Fashion Week month! This time I haven’t only attended London Fashion Week but I was also invited to attend a couple of shows in Paris! It was honestly incredible. I have seen so many beautiful shows, attended many fabulous events, connected with lots of inspiring boss babes I have been always following on Instagram but never met in real life so it was so nice to finally meet and enjoy this busy time together!
What a dream, Paris Fashion Week, wow wow wow! I was really blessed to head there with my friends – Klaudia and Aleksander who took the most magical photos for us! If you ever need photographer you should definitely hire Alex! He does the magic!
This month I have also flew to Ibizafor a big press trip with Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza to celebrate the opening of Hard Rock Hotel in London in spring 2019. Really looking forward to it! It was such a fun trip full of parties, beach clubs, incredible dining and night out experiences. I have stayed at places I could never wish for! It was INSANE!
20.09.2018 was also a big day for us as we have moved to the new beautiful apartment in London (after MONTHS of constant search for THAT dream place). It was a huge success and happiness for me and Salvo. We’re slowly working on it but we’re already grateful and happy for a bigger homie! I finally have my dream The Blonde Flamingo office, yay! What a big dream coming true for me! Finally have my little space to create for you.
October started with an insane invitation to Grenada from Grenada Tourism Board- goals! I was crying from happiness! I couldn’t be more excited to explore another incredible Caribbean island and let’s be honest- escape the horrible London’s weather, haha! This trip gave me so much energy, we had a great Influencer team on Board – Taylor, Scott and Dave– we honestly had so much fun together! I hope we will travel together again in 2019!
November brought 2 fantastic Press trips that I am forever grateful for! I have headed with Pink Lady Apples to Avignon and also to the House of Laurent Perrier with Laurent Perrier ( I couldn’t believe my eyes when these invites came through my email) I had the best time learning about these incredible brands while being surrounded by the most talented and inspiring UK Influencers ( It was my fourth press trip with Bonnie, how lucky we were to travel together so much this year? I couldn’t be happier)
December was another busy month. I have created lots of Christmas content in London, I have travelled to beautiful Zakopane, Poland with Klaudia that brought many childhood memories. It was so magical to experience snow and the mountains after so many years! I have finished off the month with a amazing Press trip to Trentino – I have been snowboarding after 6 years break. It was a little bit challenging but oh wow, how beautiful! I really, really missed it and I want to do more snowboarding this winter for sure.
From Trentino I got on the plane to Naples, Italy where I’ve spent Christmas with my boyfriend’s family. It was so lovely. My family back home in Poland is quite small so it was so nice to experience the big Italian Christmas ( still thinking of all the food haha!) I was surrounded by so much love I can’t put in words. I am actually sad now to be back in London. I wish we could have stayed longer! Also the weather was so beautiful! ( how lucky they are for a 18 degrees and sun in December!?) We’ve spent the time relaxing, eating ( all the seafood OMG), I have also brought one of my favourite things we do in Poland and I was teaching Salvo’s cousins how to make gingerbread cookies! They had so much fun, my heart was melting! We’ve also had strolls and breakfasts by the beach, we even found time to visit my favourite beach club. Ahhh, such a wonderful time!
These two gave me so much love this Christmas!
As you can see this year was huge for me. I had to break it down by months and it actually helped me to really see the growth and the progress. It was one of the busiest, most stressful year of my life but after visiting all these incredible destinations, meeting so many inspiring people, growing my company, learning and experiencing so many incredible things I think all the stress and hard work was worth it and I feel ready to push even more in 2019. Thank you so much for all the support you gave me this year. All this would never ever happen without YOU. Thank you so much for being here! Promise more content, more travels and more inspirations in 2019.
Don’t ever be afraid to chase your dreams! They are waiting for you.
Here’s your favourite TOP 9 posts from my Instagram in 2018! Over half milion likes! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am now getting ready for chasing more dreams and more flamingos in 2019!
