blogger – She Went Wear

Fashion Friday: Tayla Santos

Meet Tayla.

Hey there, my name is Tayla (pronounced like kayla but with a “T”) and I’m from Boston, Massachusetts. I started my blog not too long ago as a fun side thing to keep me motivated and absolutely fell in love with every aspect of it. I love the mini “self done” photoshoots, the shopping, the planning, the editing, the writing, the emails…all of it! Its a type of busy I don’t think I will ever get tired of! I also love meeting new people so if you come over to my little corner of the internet, be sure to say hi and introduce your self ❤

Do you blog full-time or as a hobby?

As of right now I am blogging as a hobby and I am literally obsessed with it!

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

I love looking back and seeing how far I’ve come! It’s like having a photo album and looking back at all the pictures you had taken years ago. It’s crazy how much my style alone has evolved in just one year and I can’t wait to see where I’ll be in years to come!

Are there any goals you wish to accomplish for the year?

YES! So many goals it’s crazy lol. I think my biggest goals are to obviously grow more but to grow into something that’s my own. I want to create something that’s recognizable. I don’t want to just be another fashion blogger. I want people to look at my outfits and my different pictures and be able to tell that it’s my post without even seeing that I’m the one that posted it. You know what I mean?? Does that even make sense?

How would you describe your style?

This is a question I get all the time. I have a very simple style. I always have a classic and simple base and then build with my accessories such as bags, scarfs, jewelry, and hairstyle! (hairstyle can make or break an outfit, btw). I also love mixing casual with more dressy pieces. For example wearing a black silk tank dress but pairing it with a graphic tee under, and throwing on some white vans! I love mixing styles and trends, what can i say; I’m diverse!! Loll. So I guess I would say my style is classic chic. Yeah, I like that!

Name your top 3 designers.

Giambattista Valli
Louis Vuitton
Versace

IN THAT ORDER lol

If you had a chance to go on a shopping spree at any retailer of your choice, where would you go? Why?

These are the types of tough questions I pray im never forced to face in reality. I guess I would have to say Nordstrom. They have everything!! Clothes, Shoes, Bags, Jewelry, and Makeup. I could get a whole makeover in that one store. I don’t usually shop there often but if it’s a shopping spree, why not!

Mary Kate or Ashley?

I used to watch them everyday when I was younger ( like I used to have all their VCR tapes) and debated this question for most of my life however, I think it’s now safe to say…Ashley! Don’t make me explain.

Is there a celebrity who best matches your style?

I honestly don’t know. If I had to choose I would say Shay Mitchell but you guys let me know. Check out my style and tell me if I resemble any celebs you follow. I’ll check them out and let you know what I think.

What is a staple piece everyone should have in their wardrobe?

Def a good pair of denim and a basic white tee (that fits you right. Not too oversized and not too fitted). You can do soooo much with just that. Dress it up with a pair of heels and a leather jacket and your good for date night. However, throw on some simple casual sneakers, a belt and a cute cross body and your good for a day out on the town. Don’t even get me started on all the possibilities that come with a good pair of jeans and a white tee.

With all the online retailers creating trendy pieces, who is your favorite?

Wow, this is a tough one. I have so many go to online shopping retailers. I would say my top three are Boohoo, Verge Girl, and the trusty old Zaful lol

What is your next must-have purchase?

110% a LV bag!! I need one and that just might be the real reason I opened a credit card lol. Shhh

Want to know more about Tayla?

@taylasnts

Tayla’s Closet

YouTube: itstaylasantos

Fashion Friday: Maite

Meet Maite Aramayo.

I am from Bolivia and I’m 24 years old. I am currently living in Milan because I’m doing my masters in Management and specializing in fashion. I have a blog that I started this year called “LA BOLIVIANA” where I write every week and give my insight into the fashion industry. Living in one of the fashion capitals of the world is a very exciting experience for me, and so I’m constantly curious about learning more about the fashion industry and willing to spread my ideas to inspire other people.

What inspired you to start blogging about fashion?

I made the decision to start blogging when I moved to Milan. It was a huge change for me because everybody expected me to keep pursuing a career in finance (I have a bachelor and experience in that industry) but I figured that if I really wanted to start making my way into the fashion industry, I had to start somewhere, and for me blogging was the way to go; apart from the fact that I love writing.When it comes to content and what inspired me, I saw that there’s this ongoing stereotype about fashion being the most superficial and frivolous industry in the world. And so, when I started my blog my mission became to get people informed for them to realize that it’s not just an industry about dressing people up, but that there’s a whole business strategy behind every brand and moreover a huge world of unique processes where people combine their business knowledge with creative mindsets. Believe it or not, fashion is something very complex that can represent anything you want, be able to move the crowds and ultimately fuel an economy.

Do you blog full-time or as a hobby?

I don’t blog full-time because I only post once a week, but I don’t like how the word hobby sounds either! Since I’m doing a masters in Milan, being able to blog all the time is almost impossible for now, but I am constantly looking for new ideas for my next blog every day. I try to get people’s input all the time, and strangely my best ideas have been inspired by people who have no idea about the industry, so blogging has become quite entertaining. For me, being in fashion is a 24/7 job so I am always with my eyes wide open looking for new inspiring ideas.

Describe a typical day as a fashion blogger.

Like any person that loves fashion, I wake up and the first thing I always do is to check fashion news on my phone while having breakfast. After that, I usually get ready for my classes and spend half of my day at university, but I always have my phone and a notebook with me, in case something interesting happens. Through the day I also take time to get in touch with other bloggers, stay active on Instagram because of how important that platform has become, I go and read some other bloggers’posts usually from the ones posted on Facebook groups and try to brainstorm all day. Also, part of being a fashion blogger is to always have a good outfit put together when you’re out, and so if I get the chance, I take some pictures.

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What is your favorite thing about blogging?

My favorite thing about blogging is definitely the freedom to have a voice in the industry I love. Although being a blogger is so hard these days because there are thousands out there, what satisfies me the most is that my content is finally out there for some people to read it. Also, I like how much my mindset has changed ever since I’ve started blogging, because I’m constantly curious and on an“analysis mode” on a daily basis.

Are there any goals you wish to accomplish for the year?

Like any blogger out there, I think my main goal would be to increase my audience, of course. But I’d have to say that by the end of the year I would like to have better knowledge about blogging and also to have a bigger blogger network that I can reach out to.

How would you describe your style?

Someone once told me that my style is very “contemporary”, and I never knew what that meant because there are so many ways of dressing in a “contemporary” way these days! But when it comes to styling, I look for outfits that make me feel comfortable in my own skin and so I like to play with layers, always have a little bit of movement with the fabrics I choose and usually I try to wear something interesting that pops out in my outfit, like a cool accessory, a statement shirt or blouse, or anything that truly reflects my mood on that day.

Name your top 3 designers.

My top one has definitely become Alessandro Michele, and I like him as a designer because he’s always playing it hard and risky. He’s taken Gucci into this imaginative and transformative phase that everyone seems to be buying into, and also he is not afraid of going without filter on his collections.

My second is Olivier Rousteing because I love how he changed Balmain and by being so young and a black French designer, I really enjoy seeing him break the rules and taking his inspiration a step forward, always bringing new diversity into the fashion world.

My third is Riccardo Tisci, because he has a contemporary street-style way of designing that in my opinion is very unique. He combines street wear with high-end fashion and he’s one of the designers that actually pays attention to the consumer. I’m beyond excited for his debut collection for Burberry on September.

What is the best fashion advice you have ever received?

I’ve been advised to not be afraid to stand out, speak up and be risky, and that goes not only with clothing choices but also when it comes to spreading ideas. I’m always worried that because I have studied finance, I don’t know enough about fashion like the ones that dedicated their lives to it from the beginning. But I realized that not even the people who are deep inside the industry know everything because there’s always space to keep learning, so I’m learning each day to put my opinion out there, even if it gets criticized. It is all a learning process.

What is the best fashion advice you would give?

Always be informed about the industry. I think I’ve gotten the habit of getting informed all the time because in some way I like to compare fashion with finance (more specifically, the stock market). If you don’t know what is currently happening in the industry you love, you’re not going to be updated and be able to come up with ideas of your own. Being informed about fashion is key, because just like the stock market, it is an industry that changes constantly and it’s very volatile.

If you had the chance to sit front row at any designer’s show during NYFW who would you see?

Alexander Wang, because I’ve been following him ever since he got started and it’s amazing how much he has evolved as a designer. Also, to me all of his collections are perfection and I would wear everything that he designs because of how edgy he is.

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Want to know more about Maite?

Instagram| La Boliviana|Facebook

My Favorite Looks of Budapest

Unexpectedly spent a few days in Budapest. I don’t know how I got there (by plane, of course) but after 2 days I decided I should extend my trip. This might be the one time overpacking worked in my favor.

If you’d like to read more on my experience -> click here.

If you want to see some of my looks from the trip, you’re just a scroll away.

Above was one of my favorite looks. It same together effortlessly and the most expensive item was the mini YSL bag. I also loved this look because every item was purchased on one of my random trips so I felt like a Woman of the World wearing this outfit.

The YSL Anita crossbody is sold out at many retailers but you can try your luck at online resale shops like: Tradesy , Fashionphile, or The RealReal.

Similar snake skin booties can be found here.

This was the perfect dress/sandal combo for shopping and exploring the city of Pest. My friend and I wandered into this “luxury” ice cream parlor called Moritz Eis. What’s better than grabbing ice cream after a day of shopping? Taking advantage of their cute ice cream tricycle and having your dainty red dress from Zara contrast perfectly with it. Ice cream anyone?

Similar dress can be found here or here.

And to the famous baths. We visited the Gellért Baths. I chose a simple, somewhat modest, black two piece and paired it with a gold tone scarf acting as a cover up.

Similar bikini can be purchased here.

Ciao

You’re the Best, Budapest

Hello Budapest,

As you may not know, I make it a mission to blend in wherever I go, even though standing at 5’10” its pretty hard to do. But in places like London, Milan, even Cologne, I blended in pretty well. You didn’t realize I wasn’t a local until I opened my mouth and you heard my “American Midwestern Accent”.

Well, in Budapest, as soon as I stepped onto the plane at LHR to BUD, I received stares, glares, and anything else you could think of. The stewardess even asked me “so what brings you to Budapest?”. I stumbled a bit with my answer, other than the famous baths, I knew nothing of the city. All I knew was that I was meeting one of my best friends there and we were prepared to see what Budapest was about.

Night 1 was definitely interesting. We stayed in Buda, which to my knowledge is the older part of the city, its separated by a river and once you make it to this side its a pretty steep hike to the top. Buda is home to many museums, castles, and cathedrals, as well as the occasional gothic-style architecture that makes you think you left the 2000s and stepped into Dracula’s lair.

Aah, don’t fret, Dracula is Romanian, so technically not his lair but definitely a cousin whom was twice removed.

It was also the night Hungarians celebrated St. Stephens day. There I was thinking it’s completely normal to greet every American with fireworks… This party was not for me, I was the girl who showed up uninvited… but I had my dancing shoes on and I was going to dance!

Walking around Buda felt a lot like being transported into a portable time capsule. While everything was somewhat modern, there were so many remnants of the past. Like these vintage Houdini posters for a magic show that was held at the shop we refused to go into. (Sorry not sorry, those flyers did not look very welcoming)

Actually, now that I think about it. The statues didn’t look very friendly either but I assume that’s the point. Cool to look at, but don’t touch! Fear invoked, good job.

One thing we thoroughly enjoyed was visiting the Gellért Baths. A must if you plan on visiting!

Welcome to the vibrant and hip side, Pest. I feel like once we moved to our Airbnb in Pest our attitudes changed immediately. Moving to Pest reminded me of spending the summer at your Gran’s house, then a week later your cousins show up. Pest = Cousins. It was so refreshing and felt less vampy. Even the people hosted more smiles on their face.

After being acclimated to the change in culture, the days and nights were filled with adventure, fun, and lots of Rośe.

All in all it was a great trip for us. Thanks for keeping it weird Budapest, we’ll be back 🙂

Ciao

What They Don’t Tell You About Traveling

This shit is exhausting. Like, seriously. You don’t hear that though. You just hear about the places and the cool things that happened there. What travelers don’t tell you is that the actual traveling part sucks. It’s time to call BS.

I travel for work and leisure. My job is sending me to 5 different states all within the span of 1 week, that’s only 7 days! You do that math. I love my job but after this contract is up, consider me Houdini because I’m disappearing. Actually, consider me Nefertiti because I’m a Queen. ha.

I’m asked so many times “how I get to travel so often”, and how people would love to trade places with me. No baby, you don’t want to.

There was a trip where I went from Chicago, IL, USA – Bonn, Germany – Milan, Italy – Marrakech, Morrocco – Agadir, Morocco – Essaouira, Morocco – Marrakech, Morocco – Madrid, Spain – Bonn, Germany – Chicago, IL, USA- Miami, FL – The Bahamas – St. Thomas – San Juan, Puerto Rico – Grand Turks – Miami, FL – Chicago for a week & a half then back to Bonn, Germany.

Sounds like a lot, right? But on Instagram it looked like I was living the dream. A little like this :

But I wasn’t. I can’t even begin to tell you how tired I was after that month. I was sluggish. I just wanted to sleep, every day, all the time. Your body needs time to heal after all of that. Honestly, I still haven’t really sat down since then, and that’s my own fault. It illustrates so differently on social media, but if you were to bump into me after any of my extensive trips you would see the bags under my eyes and how I turn every outing into something I can walk into with yoga pants and t-shirt.

It illustrates so differently on social media, but if you were to bump into me after any of my extensive trips you would see the bags under my eyes and how I turn every outing into something I can walk into with yoga pants and t-shirt.

And when I’m traveling for leisure, I usually need a vacation from my vacation. Ha. I’m not even joking.

It’s just funny that I write for a travel blog, I travel for work, I travel for fun, yet I only share the surface about traveling. I want when I write to feel like I’m talking to Muneek, Dean or one of my other close friends. I want it to be candid and raw and real.

And all my friends know that I’m a bit of a drama queen, so sometimes when I talk I just go a little overboard then dial it back down and say ” I still wouldn’t trade it anything else” and that’s true.

Yeah, I’m tired as hell, I don’t feel like unpacking, don’t feel like packing, don’t feel like taking a taxi to the freaking airport, don’t feel like paying for an upgrade to get out of sitting in that damn middle seat, don’t feel like putting my phone on airplane mode, and I don’t feel like searching for wifi so I can use WhatsApp.

But as soon as I step off that plane I go from DRAMA QUEEN to Woman of the The World, and I am so grateful for every opportunity and every piece of land that I get to walk on. I just had to complain a little before.

All jokes aside, I do realize how blessed and favored I am to be in this situation. Which is why you don’t hear me complain about it. I don’t take any of this for granted, at all. I just wanted to make light of the situation and tell you ( my readers) that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Ci sentiamo, Ciao ❤

Birthday in Cancun

It’s my birthdayyyyyy, I can fly to Cancun if I want to!

It’s only right to celebrate your birthday in Cancun at a 5-star resort! Because where else would I spend my birthday? Don’t answer that.

I travel a lot. But rarely do I travel to 5-star luxury resorts where everything is all inclusive! Maybe 24 will be that year for me *cheers to luxury* haha.

I’m only slightly kidding.
We flew United, cautiously, and headed to Cancun from Ohare. The flight wasn’t that bad, honestly. A little less than 4 hours and a 20-minute cab ride to the hotel to be greeted with Moët and a few other surprises unbeknownst to me 🙂 it was worth it.

I just wanted to share a few pictures/videos from my vacay as I’m not sure when I’ll post again about Cancun.

Thank you, Mommy! 💗💗💗

Wednesday Women: Elle from Dressing Danishly

Meet Elle.

Hey, I’m Elle, currently working as a digital marketer in Nottingham in the UK, but dreaming (and saving up!) for a move to Copenhagen, my favourite city in the world!

My two main passions in life are travel and fashion, and I love combining the two wherever I can. During the weekends, you’ll often find me travelling through Europe, searching out the best shopping, and sipping some amazing cocktails!

What inspired you to go travelling?

When I was growing up, my parents would take my brother and me on holiday every year – usually, it was your standard fortnight summer holiday in Greece.

Then, when I got a bit older, we discovered the joy of cheap flights that is Ryanair and went on our first city break to Gothenburg, Sweden.

I loved being able to explore a new city – there was so much more to do than just simply lying around on a beach. After school, I’d spend a lot of time on Ryanair pricing up flights to different destinations and convincing my parents we just HAD to visit all of these different countries… and usually they’d cave in and agree with me!

Living in the UK, we have the rest of Europe right on our doorstep, so why would we waste that opportunity of getting to travel and see different cultures, even if it’s just for a weekend at a time?!

What is your travel style?

I wouldn’t say I’m budget or luxury: I fall right in between. Personally, I don’t like roughing it and have never stayed in a hostel (and never will!).

So I’d say my travel style is a mixture – I like luxury for less: if I’m going away somewhere, I’ll book a nice, reasonably priced hotel or apartment (a private bathroom is a must!).

As I travel quite a lot, I’m quite savvy when it comes to accommodation costs, and know roughly what price to expect in different European cities. For instance, when I’m in Eastern Europe I’ll usually book an apartment, as they’re a fraction of the price of hotel rooms, and you get so much more space – and your own cooking facilities.

When it comes to physically travelling, I’m a huge advocate of budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizzair. I know a lot of people who turn their noses up at the likes of these; but these airlines opened up the ability for me to travel to a range of city destinations.

There’s no way I could have afforded to have done as many trips as I have done on a national carrier (I would, however, LOVE to fly first class one day!).

If you had a one-way ticket, where would you go?

Without a doubt, Copenhagen, even though it’s only 90 minutes away! I’m absolutely in love with the city and am making plans to move there. So a one-way ticket would convince me that I may as well make the move now!

What’s your favourite destination?

Aside from Copenhagen… it’s a tough one!

I’d probably say Oslo – especially in the summer. It has such a lovely, laidback atmosphere, the nightlife is good and the locals are friendly. I just got a really nice feeling about it when I visited for the first time.

I’d also give a special mention to Vilnius in Lithuania. Whilst the city may not be as pretty as Tallinn or Riga, again the nightlife is amazing, and it’s such a cute little place. I’ve been twice, and I’d love to go back again!

Do you prefer solo travel or with a group?

I’ve yet to travel solo by myself, and whilst I’ve heard amazing things from solo travellers, I’m not sure it’s my thing… I think I’d like to share those experiences when travelling with family or friends.

Saying that, I don’t particularly enjoy travelling with a large group of people because I think you have to make a lot of compromises and if you’ve only got a short amount of time whilst on holiday, it can get quite frustrating.

My favourite way to travel is with a close friend who has similar interests to me – that way, we both get to do everything we want to, without worrying we’re boring the other one!

Who’s your ideal travel mate?

My ideal travel mate would have similar interests to me, so we wouldn’t be arguing where to go and what to do!

I’m quite organised and like to plan in advance what I’d like to do, but I appreciate it when others help too and don’t expect you to do all of the work!

However, I think it’s important that alongside the planning, my ideal travel mate would also have a sense of adventure and like to be spontaneous sometimes because that’s often when you have the most fun.

… So not too much to ask for then!

How long have you been a blogger?

Not very long! I set up my own blog when I was at University back in 2012 (it was a .wordpress blog), but my posts were very sporadic, and I didn’t have a content plan in mind – I was merely blogging for blogging’s sake.

I decided to give it a proper go at the beginning of the year, and Dressing Danishly was set up in February 2017 with the help of a friend.

Having worked in digital marketing for the last few years, I’ve managed company blogs in all of my jobs, so I’ve had plenty of experience and know the do’s and don’ts in terms of writing interesting copy, SEO optimisation and the importance of social media.

It’s been nice to be able to take what I’ve learnt professionally; and create my own blog where I can write about what I’m truly passionate about: travel and fashion.

It is however, a lot of hard work and long hours – but you kind of forget about that when you enjoy it! I’m really looking forward to building my blog over the coming months and years.

How do you like to plan adventures?

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m quite an organised person; and because the majority of my trips are short city breaks, I like to have a clear plan in mind as to the things I’d like to see, so I don’t waste my time.

I’ll do some research a few weeks before I go away: the sights to see, the shopping, the bars… to be honest, I spend most of my time researching the best cocktail bars! Then I Google map the distance of the bar from my hotel so I can plan which heels to take with me, and whether I can walk or will need to order a taxi!

I hate not being able to go on holiday for any longer than three months at a time; and I always make sure that I’ve booked another trip so that I don’t go away on holiday with nothing to look forward to when I’m back!

I spend a lot of time researching where to go next and trying to convince people to come with me… I’d love to go to Kiev, it’s just a case of finding someone else who wants to go too!

Do you think there is any difference travelling as a woman?

As a woman, you’re taught to be more careful when you travel: but I think in terms of a different experience, it all depends on the countries you visit and the culture there.

My family went on holiday to Morocco when I was 14 and I hated it – despite being a child, men in the streets leered at me, made rude gestures and even spat at me. It was awful, and I hated leaving the hotel. My dad and brother however, had a completely different experience, and weren’t treated with such disgust.

Visiting European cities however, I can’t imagine that I would have any different experience to men. I think you need to be careful about things like walking alone at night and getting into taxis by yourself – but that’s just the same as being back at home.

Do you have any advice for female travellers?

I’m aware I’m sounding like a broken record, but I think you just need to be careful! Let friends and family know where you’re travelling to, and don’t put yourself in a situation where you could be vulnerable.

I think the worst thing you can do is be put off travelling (especially solo travelling), as it’s such an exciting thing to do. But be careful!

Want to learn more about Elle?

Wednesday Women: Lauren

Meet Lauren.

Lauren is a Mexico City based travel blogger at Northern Lauren who writes (mainly) about Mexico, food, and feminism. While she loves writing about other people and places, she thinks there’s really nothing more horrifying than putting together a humble yet engaging personal bio. Find her rainbow coloured pictures and pins on Instagram and Pinterest, or follow her irreverent thoughts on Facebook and Twitter.

How long have you been traveling?

I don’t really know if you can class what I’m currently doing as traveling – I would say I’m more of an expat! However, I definitely first caught the travel bug when I moved to Mexico for my year abroad. Ever since then, all I’ve wanted to do is see more of the world and that was in 2014.

What is your travel style? Budget, First class, etc…

I’m a budget gal all the way. I cringe a bit when I see people dropping hundreds of pounds on hotel rooms or fancy flights, or overpriced tours because for me that’s not traveling. I’d rather explore on foot, get around myself (without tours if at all possible) and stay in low price hostels. That’s not to say I don’t like my home comforts, but I’ll just wait til I actually am at home to enjoy them rather than when I’m in another country.

Tell us your favorite destination. Why?

My favourite destination…that’s a tough one. I obviously love Mexico as I’ve lived here nearly two years, but I would say that Porto was a really amazing place to visit. I went with a group of friends to celebrate our final year university exams and it was just the perfect goodbye as we all went off into the big wide world. Not to mention that it’s one of the rare cheap, picturesque European destinations outside of Eastern Europe. Plus, the pasteis de nata are to die for.

Any horror/funny stories while traveling?

All my travel horror stories involve unexpected upset stomachs. Honestly, the list goes on and on, but the funniest (or most horrible, depending how much you do or don’t like oversharing) had to be the time I got struck with an urgent need for a bathroom when I was in the middle of a crowded bus in Guadalajara. If you’ve ever traveled on buses in Mexico, you know how crammed they get. Anyway, this was right after I’d just got to the country, so I shoved my way to the front and demanded to be let off in the middle of the road. After a frantic and unsuccessful search for a toilet, I ended up in a grotty men’s gym. It was after I’d sat down and gone to town that I realized there was no toilet roll. Let’s just say my socks laid down their lives for me that day…

Are you married? Single? A mom? How do you think your status affects your traveling?

I’m in a long-term relationship and I do think that, even if you don’t necessarily want it to, it affects how and when and where you travel to. For example, I feel a pang of guilt every time I go somewhere without my boyfriend because I know he’d love to come too. Realistically though, my job has far more flexibility than his does at the moment and I have to take advantage of that while I can.

Being in a relationship also means I travel far more frequently to the place he’s currently living, Monterrey, Mexico when ordinarily I probably would have only gone there once and had done with it.

Describe your ideal travel mate.

Someone who has similar, but not the same, tastes as me in terms of things they like to do when traveling. For example, ideally someone who doesn’t mind hostels, who enjoys wandering around the city rather than ligging on the beach all day and would rather blow their budget on great street food and constant snacking than going to a fancy bar or all-inclusive resort. Having said all that, it’s also important to have someone who does have different tastes to you, because they’re the type of people who push you out your comfort zone and make you try new things.

It goes without saying that my ideal travel mate has to be skilled at capturing that perfect not-candid-candid shot of me though…

How long have you been a travel blogger?

I’ve been a blogger since 2013, sporadically, but only really dealing with my inane thoughts on a bunch of different (mostly uni life related) subjects. I’ve really dedicated myself to travel blogging in particular in these last few months, so my blog has been undergoing a complete overhaul. It’s tiring and challenging but totally worth it.

Any tips for aspiring travel bloggers?

Don’t give up easily and don’t go into it half-heartedly. If you do, you’ll never get anywhere, because the whole process of travel blogging, from the research to the promotion of your pieces can be frustrating, tiring and garner you very little recognition at first. In short, it’s complex and disheartening at times, but when it all pays off you realize why you do it in the first place.

Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?

Yes, a multitude of differences. I think you feel far more vulnerable traveling as a woman. I find myself questioning and wondering about whether something or somewhere is safe for me to go, whereas I imagine there are far fewer men who have this kind of internal doubt dialogue over travel.

Do you have any dos/don’ts when it comes to traveling as a woman?

Try not to worry too much, because that can really impact your travels in a negative way, but also stay aware and don’t get complacent. That’s what happened to me and I ended up getting mugged for being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Enjoy yourself, above anything. If you have the privilege to travel the world and see new people, things, and cultures, don’t waste that opportunity.

Want to learn more about Lauren?

I Ditched the City for Hell…

Not literally, of course.

But I did drive 3 hours to hike a few trails at Devil’s Lake State Park. Its been on my agenda for a very long time but I struggle with procrastination. So on one of Chicago’s warmer days, I decided to flee the city and its “Sunday Funday” shenanigans in exchange for a nice hike in nature with awesome company!

I wont bore you with why I wanted to get out the city, but I think nature has a good way of helping you find peace and hitting reset. Maybe you can find peace by looking at these photos, hopefully it’ll motivate you to plan your own hike.

P.S. As I’m typing this my legs are still sore, but I regret nothing. 🙂