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5 reasons you should visit Trentino this winter

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Hi everyone!

I have spent the last couple of days in the region of Trentino in Northern Italy and I must say- I have absolutely loved it. You know I am usually a tropical flamingo and you see me running around the palm trees in bikinis and swimming in the ocean all year long but after 6 years break ( I still can’t believe its been this long!)  from a proper winter and snow, I have honestly started to miss it and crave it, so when the invite from Trentino Tourism Board came through my email I just couldn’t be more excited. I felt like someone is literally reading my mind! Also, I have never visited Italy in the winter so it seemed like a completely new experience for me and something new to write about.  In this article I would like to give you 5 reasons why you should visit Trentino this winter.

Perfect skiing conditions

One of the reasons we’ve visited Trentino was kicking off the skiing season! Trentino’s two biggest ski areas serve up hundreds of kilometres of pistes. As i have mentioned earlier- I had 6 years break from snowboarding so I was feeling a bit insecure but after getting the snowboard zipped in I felt like my love to it is back. The slopes where perfect- we were spread into two groups- beginners and advanced and they were perfect pistes for both. One of the reason I disliked winter trips in the past was the cold, but ohh, we had the most incredible sunny days on the slopes and honestly I didn’t feel the cold at all! The conditions where just perfect. Nothing gets more magical than snowboarding with this view! We even managed to witness the most beautiful pinky sunset!

Photos by Giacomo Podetti

Delicious food

I have never tried the food from the Northern Italy before and I must say- I loved it. It’s completely different from the food in the South but equally delicious. The cuisine of Trentino-Alto Adige is a tasty blend of Mediterranean flavors, mountain cooking and German and Austrian influences. There’s lots of meat, polenta (yumm!) , canederli (flour and bread dumplings, which can be eaten in broth or with butter and flavored with speck, or cheese) tortel di patate (potato pancakes)  -we actually make them in Poland too so I was super happy! There’s also lots of yummy hams ( speck was my favourite!) cheeses ( will never forget the Ricotta I had there, OH WOW) and wild mushrooms. Dessert wise you should try Torta con le mele – traditional apple cake from this region. We even attended cooking class at beautiful Agritur Solasna where we’ve learnt how to make it! That was the first cake I’ve ever made haha so you can probably imagine how fun it was!

Italian wine!

Let’s also not forget about the Italian wine- heaven. In this region it was absolutely incredible and I ended up drinking wine with every single meal, haha. There was also one drink I have tried for the first time, which is famous in this region- Bombardino ( by the way- how hilarious is this name) but it is actually a BOMB- brandy, eggnog, espresso and lots of whipped cream. It actually got me pretty tipsy haha but it was a perfect drink to warm up with after all day in a snow!

Image source : Google

Wellness and Spa paradise

In Trentino “wellness” is not a trend. Wellness is so much more than just relaxation. It’s a lifestyle. There’s numerous therapeutic springs spread all over the region which makes it also a perfect area for a relaxing wellness and spa vacation. We’ve stayed at Albergo Dimaro which is a  family and wellness hotel. What’s better than a dip in the pool, Finish Sauna or Turkish bath after all day skiing?

Image source : Google

Fairytale landscapes  

Trentino is known for its magical mountain scenery. The Dolomites dominate the landscape here and are dotted with mountain villages and wide streams and lakes. One of the highlights from this trip apart from beautiful views over Dolomites while snowboarding was a visit to Val di Rabbi – one of the most beautiful Trentino’s valleys. We went for a stroll and got to the Ragaiolo waterfall, which was absolutely magical and a beautiful Ponte Tibetano- a 100-metre-long rope bridge, 60 metres above the ground! Of course, it is not the best if you are afraid of heights, but crossing on the bridge is safe, and the view of the waterfalls from up there is incredible and so Insta-perfect!

Have you added Trentino to your bucket list yet?

The Blonde Flamingo

 

Post in partnership with Visit Trentino

Top 5 places you should visit to get into the festive mood in London

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Hi everyone!

As Christmas is slowly approaching (actually pretty fast, haha!) I have decided to write a blogpost and showcase my favourite places in London (where I’ve been living for 6 years now and nope- I am not bored at all, it actually gets more and more exciting here year by year!) I have done a similar post last year but I have discovered new places and wanted to share them with you too!

Churchill Bar at Hyatt Regency London

I have discovered this place last year and the first word that came to my mind to describe it was “oasis”. It’s a perfect escape from London’s noise and crowds. When I first walked in, I fallen in love at first sight. The decor is just stunning and really cosy –  a roaring fire, faux fur throws, pine trees and lanterns. Simply magical. If you’re looking for a perfect winter scenery and the most incredible cocktails- Churchill Bar is a place you should visit! Also, if you love sweets, I highly recommend trying their chocolate fondue – OH MY, will never forget this flavour! Not going to lie, it looks fabulous too!

Skirt- Mamai Boutique

Sweater – Mamai Boutique

 

Annabel’s Mayfair

It’s one of the most stunning places I have ever been to! Annabel’s a private club located at 46 Berkeley Street, Mayfair. Until very recently I’ve only heard stories about this place but this last month I was very lucky to be invited for an event there. I can’t even explain the feeling you have when you walk in. Everything is just out of this world! The decor is absolutely gorgeous. My favourite is garden restaurant inspired by the quintessential English Garden. It’s just magical! Also, this time of the year, Annabel’s put up the most incredible Christmas decoration at the entrance. I don’t think London ever seen such a stunning installation before! PS. Don’t be surprised when you get there at 9am and there’s already a line of bloggers with suitcases shooting their outfits, haha. But I mean, how could we possibly miss THIS shot?

Boots- Renee

Faux Fur Coat- Renee

Polo-neck jumper – H&M

Gloves – Primark 

Ivy Chelsea Garden

That has to be my favourite restaurant not just at Christmas but all year long. But this winter, they got their Christmas decoration to even higher level. Isn’t just the cutest little Gingerbread House? I literally died from excitement when I first saw it! Also, there’s a little box there where you can grab a Christmas candy cane! I just couldn’t resist, ha! Food recommendation- I usually go there for brunch and order avocado on toast with pomegranate seeds! So so good!

Sketch

I have visited this place couple of times already and I think what I love it for the most is their stunning Afternoon Tea at the Gallery. But they’re also famous for their incredible decorations. I passed by recently and when how gorgeous the entrance is I couldn’t resist taking a photo with it!

 

Covent Garden

This place always get me in a festive mood. I love strolling around with a cup of mulled wine, especially in the evening, ahh! Covent Garden also has all my favourite stores so I love buying Christmas presents there rather than with the entire crazy crowd on Oxford Street! Every season they change the decor and I swear I am in love with every single display. It’s so hard to decide which one was my favourite. Take a peek on how does it look this year! Isn’t gorgeous? Gotta be the biggest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen!

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I still have few places on my list tot tick off so hopefully I will add more spots for you soon!

What’s your favourite?

XOXO,

The Blonde Flamingo

 

Pink Lady Apple Harvest in Avignon

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Hello everyone!

I have recently been invited to Avignon to celebrate a very special event – the start of the northern hemisphere’s Pink Lady apple harvest. When I got the invitation I literally couldn’t believe it- I felt like somebody sneaked into my fridge! I always buy Pink Lady apples! It couldn’t be a coincidence! I just found it hard to describe why these are my favourite apples. What makes them this special and better than any other apple types I have eaten before? I have decided to join the trip to find out!

 

We flew from London to Marseille and already on the plane I got very excited. I had a feeling this trip will bring so many incredible experiences and new flavours. I also only visited Paris in France so I was also super happy to explore beautiful region of Provence that has been on my bucket list forever. From Marseille we had a car pick up and got transferred to the hotel in Avignon. Already on the way I could see so many incredible views. Yes, this is exactly how I’ve imagined a gold autumn in France. It was magical. I couldn’t stop starring at all the rolling vineyards and the colourful trees. It only got me more excited for visiting the Pink Lady orchards. I already had a picture of this place in my head.

The morning after we got up early, had breakfast (could we appreciate freshly baked French croissants for a second please?)  and headed to the orchards. The weather forecast was showing us heavy rains so we got all prepared with raincoats and wellies. It was raining a lot while we were driving but when we got there- surprise. The sky beautifully cleared out and we suddenly felt the sun rays on our faces. We stopped for a second to admire the most idyllic view – the trees covered in pink apples gently moving with the wind.   “Ohh wow” – I thought. It was even prettier than I ever imaged. Ohh forgotten to mention the smell in the air…it was beautiful!

We’ve started with a little tour around the orchards where we found out more about Pink Lady apples and its history. So why Pink Lady? Pink Lady apple is the brand name of cultivar of apples called a Cripps Pink. The Pink Lady apple original came about by a man named John Cripps-  the plant-breeder who created the first ever Pink Lady apple in Australia. He took the Pink Lady name from his favourite novel, Nicholas Monsarrat’s The Cruel Sea. In this story, the hero savours a cocktail called ‘Pink Lady’. It’s a perfectly fitting name for an apple with such a beautiful blush.

Why are the Pink Lady apples so special? First of all, Pink Lady apples are the first apple to blossom and the last to be hand-picked. This extra time in the sun gives the apples their special pink blush, sweeter crunch and a wonderful fizz. That was the word missing in my dictionary to explain the flavour! The fizz… it makes them so different from any apples I’ve ever tried before! Also it’s all about the location. Pink Lady apples are grown in the world’s finest wine regions from France to Italy and South Africa to Australia.

A Pink Lady apple’s unique flavour and qualities are not an accident. The way the rows of trees are orientated, the positioning of the branches and the amount of greenery on the trees is carefully considered, all to ensure the apples receive as many rays of sun as possible. Also, only the best of best apples are selected, hand-picked and given the Pink Lady seal of approval- the pink heart-shaped sticker you find on every Pink Lady is a symbol of its authenticity and guarantees consistent quality.

Ah, I can feel the taste of them while writing this post for you! But what I must say is- they tasted even better when I hand-picked them from the tree by myself! I managed to fill up the entire bag for the journey home- so satisfying, ha! Every time I have a bite, I have the picture of these magical orchards in my head! Believe me or not, photos do not justify the beauty of this place but we’ve tried our best to show you how incredible it was! Thank you Wendy for snapping these pics of me!

Have you tried the Pink Lady apples yet?

Post in collaboration with Pink Lady Apples

 

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My fashion wishlist for winter

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Hi everyone!

As winter is slowly approaching ( and I am actually very excited even though you know already how much I love all the tropical places) I have started to crave a little winter shopping to get myself ready for the season. There’s top 5 things on my list at the moment that I absolutely must get!

 

1.Teddy coat

Long, warm and cosy. I own one already from Miss Selfridges and I am loving it but I feel like I need another one slightly longer for the colder days. Here’s what I am currently looking at! Can’t decide between getting a brown one or a nude/ cream colour. What would you go for?

 

 

2.  Cosy turtleneck sweater

Probably my most favourite thing to wear in the winter. With a cosy, warm scarf, tights and high-waisted shorts,  jeans and over-the-knee boots. So warm, comfortable, easy to wear really and with the right accessories they can be very elegant too! I am hunting for the cream, nude or grey one. Here’s some of my favs

 

 

3. Wide-brim hat

As you know already- I adore hats ( I even have one in my logo!)  I own so many beautiful summer, straw hats in all kind of shapes and colours- I bring one from every tropical place I go to. However I’ve never had a winter style hat and this is what I am really dreaming of right now! I have been crazy obsessed with the one from Lack of Color but I also found few other options and honestly it’s so hard to choose and I just want them all, ha!

 

 

4. Over the knee boots

As you have probably seen on my Instagram – I love wearing over the knee boots. I own 2 pairs at the moment but every year I go for affordable ones, which normally last maximum a season or two. This year I am considering to invest in a pair of Stuart Weitzman. I am between classic black or the grey ones.

 

 

5.  Cosy scarf

Something I never go out without in the winter. I have recently treated myself to my dream logo mania Pearl Grey scarf from LV  that I have been dreaming of for ages ( you can see it on the image at the top) but I am also thinking of getting one more scarf this season. I am loving Acne Studio ones! I am thinking to get one in either nude, beige or grey colour.

 

 

 

 

 

What have you got on your winter Wishlist?

The Blonde Flamingo

6 years in London

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It’s been 6 years!

6 years since I decided to leave everything behind and move to London. Why am I writting about it? Yesterday I attended Mary Kay event to celebrate the Beauty of Confidence. Part of the event was the coaching session with the International Life Coach Liz Wilde who asked us few questions. One of them really got me emotional. We were ask to write down 3 things we’re the most proud of. For me the top one was the decision to pack my pink suitcase and move to London on my own at the age of 19. Second part of the exercise was to close our eyes and play the movie of this moment. I got so into this session and literally this entire period of the past 6 years came through my head.  My pink suitcase that got broken at the airport, my crying mum who wasn’t ready to let me go, the moment of saying bye to my little brother, my friends, my pink bedroom, my comfort zone. I saw all the struggle- finding the first job, struggle with money, with finding real friends. The first crappy job that I literally don’t want to remember but now I know it all happened for a reason and it was meant to be a part of this journey. I then remembered the most painful break up with my first love, feeling lonely and lost in London. I remembered the ridiculously small room I was renting. I remembered falling in love again. I remembered the moment I decided to quit the job I hated and move forward with my career. I remembered moving the flats every single year and first visit of my family. I had all these flashes of my first blogpost and first 100 of followers on my Instagram. I remembered the first blogger event and first people I’ve met in the industry who inspired me and helped me to believe in myself and spread my wings. I remembered my first written interview and very recent moment ( that now honestly feels so far away as I had too much going on these months!) of leaving my full time Social Media job and moving blogging full-time. All these moments kept flashing in my head, I am not gonna lie I had tears falling like crazy! These were the hardest and most challenging years in my life. But do you know what? If I had to do it all again, I would. 6 years ago when I moved here, I had a vision of what I have today but I never really knew if this dream will come true. But I listened to the voice of my heart and never took anything for granted. I pushed, I worked hard, and I won’t stop. Some people say I am lucky, but I don’t agree. Nothing ever came easy in my life. It was all hard work, dedication and not listening to people who told me to stop or to “be normal”. Maybe you’re not where you’d like to be today, but continue pushing for what you really want in life and don’t stop even when others tell you it makes no sense! We live in such a beautiful world full of opportunities and there’s enough space for everyone out here! All we need is the confidence, vision and the power to fight for our dreams.

During the event I also written down one very important quote. “Love starts with loving yourself”. I couldn’t agree more. This is where you need to start. Thank you Mary Kay for having me at this wonderful event. I will keep reading the notes I’ve taken in the moments of self-doubt.

What are you the most proud of?

The Blonde Flamingo