Heat Wave.

It's mid-September in London, which technically implies that temps should be cooling down and rain should be falling. Instead, we've been boiled with an intense heat waves with temperatures bubbling into the eighties.

It's unbearable. While I should be pleased that the hot weather was luckily placed upon us, I have instead been sweating profusely and dying in the 50% humid city heat. What's worse is that I didn't bring any of my summer clothes and air conditioning doesn't seem to exist here.

You can imagine my pain. On the (literal) bright side, my roommate Siobhan and I have chosen to brave these hot days and continue to explore, as we know cold weather is just around the corner.

So the other day, we tubed on down to South Kensington. Both of us have a fancy for used clothing shopping and so we did some research and discovered that South Kensington, although very fancy and upper class, has quite a few red cross and donation centers, like US Salvation Army's.

And we scored. Both of us walked away with quite a few treasures and were feeling awfully stylish and proud, considering our finds were used. And Fashion Week has just arrived in London...

Siobhan's new Pinko skirt, looking fabulous...

And my new Ted Baker romper!

Secret Spot: Daisy Green.

We've walked past it nearly everyday in our jaunts to school. It sits there on New Quebec Street, enticing us with it's promise of fulfillment and happiness.

Is it a store? A handsome gent dressed to the nines? A garden of greenery, an escape from the bustling city of London?

Even better. It's a brunch spot!

I know, we're such starving college students over here, how could we bring ourselves to spend fifteen pounds on brunch?

Well I'll tell you how: life is short. I've found myself budgeting and constantly in a bit of a tizzy over expenses, as it is quite pricey over here, but throughout it all, I've also realized that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, living here in London Town. And whilst I must be aware of my spending, I also deserve to dine out a little and treat myself. I won't get opportunities like this at home!

That being said, Kat and I treated ourselves to one of the best brunches I have had the pleasure of consuming. And it was extra eggcellent because it was after a painful 8:30 lecture.

Plus, a post-brunch nap followed and you simply can't beat that.

Ladies & Gents, I give you Daisy Green

The actual coolest little spot I've seen yet!

Throughout the meal, I couldn't help but feel that this bunny checking me out. At least somebunny finds me cute!

Kat told me that her coffee was most appealing, like the bananas behind her...

Fifteen pounds spent was well worth it. Just check out the size of that breakfast plate!

We will definitely be returning soon. They have a brunch offer with bottomless mimosas and that is enticement enough!

P.S. As if the food wasn't good enough, they also had the best playlist. Everything from Drake, MIA, Phil Collins, Pat Benatar, Tove Lo, and Miley Cyrus. They also used the f-word on their menu.

Identity: You.

I couldn't quite place my finger on it. I thought that after being in London a few weeks, I would acclimatize and become, as they say, a "Londoner"; however, I instead found myself in a rather peculiar position.

I wasn't feeling myself.

It only hit me recently. I've been so distracted, and so busy running around, but there was something always just a little bit off within me that I couldn't ascertain. But then the loads of observations and happenings began to fall into place.

First, it was the distress at not having my entire closet here. Living in London only a short while, I was limited to only a few suitcases and even that wasn't enough to bring out the full elan style. I brought the classics, what I could wear with multiple pieces, and left most of the showstoppers and vintage at home. But then I realized, after living here a few weeks, that if there's anywhere to wear the showstoppers and funky clothing, it's London! So every day, I walk out the door not quite feeling the full charge of elan because I feel incomplete without a full wardrobe to choose from.

Silly, I know, but whenever I'm not feeling 100%, my outfit shows and my demeanor is just a little bit off.

Then I noticed the beauty everywhere. I have never been to a city that has such a broad and eclectic array of beautiful and unique people. I found myself comparing myself to them, losing a little piece of myself whenever I deemed in my head that I wasn't pretty enough, or stylish enough, or confident enough.

And then there was the boys. All around me, stylish and handsome men. It is the mecca of attractiveness and even as I put myself out of my comfort zone, I found that I got little in return. My friends all around me continued to get numbers, attention, flattery, and I was once again the tall shy girl in middle school, an invisible wallpaper figure wondering what was wrong with her. I felt lonely and neglected and felt as though I were missing out on an experience that so many girls around me were having.

Horrible! All of it. How did I go from 100-0 real quick?

I was having a little bit of an identity crisis, wondering what made me unique, constantly comparing myself, and feeling just short about who I was.

But you know what it was? Change. I just moved some 4500 miles across the world to live in a different city, a different country, and a different culture. I remember my teacher Fifi telling us this on one of our lectures. She said that this experience will change you. She said that every day, you will grow just a little bit differently, from the experiences you have, to the people you meet, to the walk you have to school, to perhaps a new observation that you never thought of before.

Turns out, I'm not the only one who feels this way. When I spoke up about it at dinner last night (quite an adventure indeed, as all of our drinks were kindly paid for by the gentlemen sitting behind us), I found out that some of my friends were feeling the same way. It's totally normal!

And so I'm sitting on the tube this morning, on my way to a fashion photography class, and of course Rupi Kaur's milk & honey would have the perfect quote for each of my recent feelings.

For the lack of confidence in myself & my silly closet: accept yourself as you were designed. how you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.

For the beauty and comparison: we are all born so beautiful. the greatest tragedy is being convinced we are not. we all move forward when we recognize how resilient and striking the women around us are.

For boys & loneliness: you are your own soul mate. if you are not enough for yourself you will never be enough for someone else.

For change & accepting the new: you deserve to be completely found in your surroundings, not lost within them.

To top off the amazing revelation I've had, in my fashion photography class, our subjects were our classmates. And as we were photographing each other, I was just stunned at how beautiful and exquisite these girls were. Now this is the celebration of each other that needs to happen more! Looking at them, laughing with them, and celebrating each other is far more healing on the soul then hatred, jealousy, judgement, or comparison.

Back and forth we went and when I left, I felt exhilarated and at peace. Change is good and the struggle to move along with it is a learning process, one that will expand who you are and change you all for the better...

What an honor to be around such extraordinary women...

From Bad to Good.

A positive mindset is the perfect way to start any day. It is imperative to set the mood right. Unfortunately, some mornings just don't go your way.

Today was one of those starts. Waking up from a very little night's sleep (we spent way too much time last night jamming to It's Been Awhile and laughing our faces off), I headed off to my morning class, which was to meet in Camden Town. Normally, I would be thrilled at the prospect of wandering around the streets of London for a lecture, but today wasn't one of those days. Upon getting off the bus, I was hit with the smell of weed, garbage, and mixed foods, and the streets were littered with just those things. Trying to keep a positive attitude, I turned my thoughts around and kept myself occupied by looking out for things that caught my eye. In Camden, there was no lack of that!

Although Camden is not exactly my vibe (more urban and hipster), I thoroughly enjoyed wandering the streets and I know I'll be back to explore more, particularly the food markets and vintage stores. With that, my roommate Cassio and I ran to catch the bus (literally, we ran) and returned home.

Just to catch you up, my roommate and I (her name is Kat, by the way) happened to meet two of the most charming gentlemen a few nights back. Naturally, both of us are enamored and have been in the throes of crushing for the past couple of days. Today was one of those emotional days in which we went from 0-100 real quick, imagining and over-thinking every possible outcome and scenario. We're girls, what can we say? Anyhow, because we were in such moods, retail therapy and chocolate were much needed and so that's precisely what we did...

At Harrods!!

Kat happens to be a bona fide bra fitter and so we spent our shopping time in the lingerie department. Of course, we both found matching sets, which made us most pleased indeed.

To accompany this purchase, champagne truffles in Hyde Park!

We had the whole place to ourselves!

How fortunate for our lingerie to match...

From bad to good, from sour to sweet, Kat and I had the nicest day indeed.

Tedtastic Start.

Although school hasn't officially started, this week is for the full on induction and orientation into the London College of Fashion. Second day in, we're already tired, but luckily, there are a million places around for espresso and any type of pick-me-up you could imagine.

Included in this orientation were introductions to two of our classes. Because it's only a ten week program (including a few weeks for Paris trips), we have quite a lot to go over before the courses commence and so today was for going over some of the finer details.

British Cultural Studies and Fashion History & Artefact are two very unique classes. Instead of traditional classroom work, we meet at a different location each week to connect the relationship between fashion, history, and what's going on culturally, economically, and politically. How exciting does this sound?

Also included in these two particular classes are journal assignments. Journal. Assignments. It's actually heaven for me. We are to write down our observaions, notes, draw sketches, and keep a record of all of our experiences in London. That's essentially what I do on a daily basis and so you can only imagine the height of my enthusiasm!

School hasn't even begun and yet I'm already enthused beyond belief to get it rolling. There are already so many similarities between FIDM and LCF. Located in downtown shopping centers, one block away from Ted Baker, artsy schools with a curriculum fit to my tastes, and access to such amazing resources are just a few things they both have in common.

It's going to be an amazing couple of months, I just know it.

My roomie and I have decided that instead of braving Oxford Street after classes (it's madness, I tell you), we will be exploring behind the scenes. There are dozens upon dozens of backstreets that we've only just discovered and so we're naturally finding all sorts of photographic opportunities...

And you never know who might be joining you!

Also included in our after school field trip was an unexpecTED stop at the lovely Ted Baker. My roomie was intrigued and so naturally, I got her captivaTED and now interesTED in the ways of Baker.

I was wearing Ted already. I represenTED.