Saturday 12 September 2020
15 Ways to Wear Florals This Autumn
As summer has met September, I've been considering how my current wardrobe can now transition from Summer into Autumn. This year I've embraced floral prints more than ever and I for one think its about time that we challenge the assumption that florals are just for Spring.
If like me, you're thinking of that 'Devil Wears Prada' quote that put me off wearing florals in my teenage years, I'm here to prove to you that yes, florals really are "groundbreaking". Here's 15 ways to wear florals this Autumn.
THE FLORAL MIDI DRESS
THE FLORAL MAXI DRESS
THE FLORAL SKIRT
THE FLORAL TOP
THE FLORAL ACCESSORY
Share your favourite floral looks with me by tagging #styledbyevie and @evieroselane on Instagram or let me know what they are in the comments section below.
This post contains affiliate links.
Saturday 5 September 2020
7 Ways to Stop Comparing Yourself On Social Media
We've all been there - not feeling yourself, demotivated, perhaps doubting your successes in life. Then you log on to Instagram, and there it is, hundreds of highly edited photos from those travelling the world; modelling bikinis with the figure you've always wanted looking undeniably "perfect"; those getting the keys to their first home and having children in their perfect marriages; those moving to the big city to pursue your dream career; or even those sharing their expensive handbag collection which might be worth more than your life savings. Whilst I'm very much a person who loves seeing others thrive and share their content with the world, on days when you're not feeling quite right these posts can give your inner saboteur the fuel to make you feel ten times more worthless. Of course, it's not the other person's fault that you're having these feelings. 99% of the time, I feel empowered and inspired to set my own goals and I must like their content enough to follow them in the first place. However, it's always okay to admit that it's become too much and take temporary action to step away from it, even without the other party knowing.
Why do we compare?
Often we find ourselves stuck in a comparison trap because we compare our behind-the-scenes mundane everyday moments with someone else's success and highlight reel. We each have our own insecurities which can often feel triggered by things we observe or see and that's no different on social media. We may question our accomplishments, appearance and even personality traits.
I recently shared a poll on my Instagram stories of which 92% of you agreed that you had compared yourself on social media to someone you didn't even know. 70% of you had unfollowed someone due to these feelings of comparison, and 57% of you mostly compared your lifestyle whereas 43% mostly compared their looks.
So how can we stop comparing ourselves and our lives to others on social media?
There is a few actions you can take.
- Mute Instagram accounts that you are finding triggering. You can do this either temporarily or for the longer term. The other party won't even know you have muted their account as they won't lose you as a follower. By muting them, you won't be seeing posts from them on your feeds anymore. You take more control and you only see their content if you search for it. To mute an account, head to their profile. Click 'Following', then select 'Mute' from the menu, choose whether you'd like to mute posts and/or stories.
- Limit your time on social media. Instagram has a handy tool which allows you to set a timer for your daily usage on the platform. You'll get a notification once you've reached that set amount of time for the day and you can decide if it's now time to come off the app. To set your daily activity reminder, head to 'Settings', then 'Your Activity', and 'Set Daily Reminder' choosing an amount of time that suits you. Alternatively, you could consider deleting social media apps from your phone all together. You keep your accounts live but you won't be spending time scrolling as the temptation has gone from your fingertips. You can always re-install whenever you feel like it.
- Unfollow accounts that make you feel more negative than positive. This is a longer term solution which will remove that account from your following list and you'll no longer see posts from them on your feed.
- Redirect your focus onto the things that really matter to you. Take time out to spend time on things that matter to you. This could be anything from practicing yoga or growing your own to volunteering at the local dog's home. These things that you do that help yourself or others can feel super rewarding and humbling. You'll remember that it's not all about what you have or how you look, but more how you feel and how you help others.
- Remind yourself that everybody is on different journeys. You never know what anybody is going through behind closed doors so always, be kind.
- Learn to celebrate other people's successes with them rather than compare to your own. Instead of seeing a post and feeling down about yourself, why not comment a compliment and some love heart emojis. They'll hopefully reciprocate and you'll feel good that you were there to support them and be a part of their positive moment.
- Try to only follow accounts that inspire you or that you find relatable.
"Never compare your chapter 1 to somebody else's chapter 20"
When talking about social media comparison, it is easy to forget that there are other aspects of social media which make it an incredible tool. Right now it's connecting us socially more than ever. I can think of so many inspiring people who are using these platforms to share their voice; freelancers who've felt more empowered to take the plunge into self employment; and start ups utilising the power of social media advertising and user generated content to build their brand. As a consumer, it can motivate us, inspire us, connect us and entertain us. We just need to ensure that we use social media in a way that works for us.
Hopefully, the tips that I've listed above have helped you and given you some things to try next time you feel overwhelmed by social media comparison. Please continue the conversation by leaving a comment below or sharing this post to your social channels. I'd love to know how you control social media comparison in your own life and the steps you are taking to minimise it.
Continue the conversation with me over on Instagram @evieroselane or by posting a comment below.
Friday 28 August 2020
How to Make a Flower Crown
What you'll need:
- Flowers & foliage (I used "The Maya" by Bloom&Wild)
- Wax floristry tape, like this
- Wire, like this
- 1 metre of ribbon
- Scissors
Step by step guide:
Wednesday 15 July 2020
Life After Lockdown & How It's Changed Me
Who would have thought we'd be spending 2020 like this?
We've had the opportunity to slow down and realise what truly matters. Before this, our modern world was crammed full of stressful commutes, overtime, hectic crowds, selfishness, greed, air pollution and a constantly buzzing mobile phone.
Friday 19 June 2020
Comforting Soft and Chewy Flapjacks Recipe
Ingredients
185g baking margarine
Equipment you'll need
Prep time: 10 mins
Baking time: 20 mins
Oven setting: 160 degrees or gas mark 3
Instructions
Tuesday 16 June 2020
My Care Tips for Cut Peonies
From buds to blooms
Before they go for another year, I thought I'd pull together my top tips for how I get the most out of my cut peonies. If you've bought or grown peonies before, you'll know they begin as tightly formed buds, typically covered in a little sap. Within a few days, they'll begin to blossom into big bountiful blooms and give you the biggest surprise. Peony buds can actually expand 3x the size of the bud once fully opened up. Don't worry if the buds have a few dark spots or look a little stained, this is completely normal. You can encourage your buds to open if you're growing impatient by gently wiping the sap off with a damp cloth and placing in a warmer sunnier spot.
Keep them for longer
Although stunning, peonies tend to last for around 5 days or more once cut and placed in an arrangement. To help your peonies last longer, keep them cool in cold water when you first bring them home or cut them from your garden. Prepare them for arranging by stripping the leaves below the waterline or further up depending on your desired style. Cut the stems 3-5cm from the bottom in a diagonal chop. This will help the peonies absorb more water as soon as they get put into the vase. After three days, trim the stems down a few cm again and top up the water. Remove any petals that may look brown, dead or mushy as these will rapidly encourage your peonies to go over.
Clean vases for happier blooms
Ensure you have a clean vase ready as any bacteria may cause the peonies to die off quicker than normal. Fill your vase with cool water and mix in flower food to give the flowers the best chance for surviving indoors for longer.
Where to buy?
You could partner your peonies with other flowers, such as roses, lisianthus, or freesias for a seasonal bouquet or enjoy them as a stand alone statement. You can usually buy peonies in the supermarket with your weekly shop but if you're currently unable to go due to the lockdown rules, you can also order them as letterbox delivered flowers online from websites such as Bloom&Wild. For £10 off your first Bloom&Wild order, click here.
Sunday 3 May 2020
How I Stay Fit and Motivated at Home
Morning Yoga
Practice Mindfulness
Workout at Home
This blog post was guest featured on The Avenue, Boux Avenue's blog platform, view it here.
Sunday 12 April 2020
Go-To Peanut Butter Brownie Recipe
Ingredients
200g dark chocolate
Equipment you'll need
Prep time: 20 mins
Baking time: 35 mins
Oven setting: 180 degrees
Instructions
Sunday 5 April 2020
Tips For Working from Home Effectively
Stay as organised as possible
Keep a clean, creative workspace
On days I feel particularly unfocused, I'll light a candle on my desk. The comforting scent is pleasant and enables me to settle down far easier than the smell of what we've cooked for breakfast!
Stay comfortable but professional
It's so important to have the right posture support when you're working in a desk job. Most of us will have specifically designed office chairs or back supports at work so why settle for back problems when working from home? I'd encourage you to look for the most comfortable seating option or even look to invest in a back support for your chair to avoid back problems. I'd also advise stretching your back and neck often when seated for long periods. There are some great yoga stretches out there that will massively help, try googling "desk yoga" for ideas.
Lastly, I'd avoid staying in your pyjamas. I know so many of us will wake up feeling totally sluggish and unmotivated to get dressed when we are home all day long. I'm not suggesting you need to get your heels on and a face full of make up, but I do believe that our brains switch into 'work mode' when we feel like we are in work mode. For me, that's partly wearing clothes that I would normally wear to work, even when I am at home. It also means that you'll never be caught out in your pjs on video conference calls! If I do feel particularly sluggish, then I'll compromise for a casual outfit like a sweater and comfortable jeans. We all have down days, the important thing is to not pressure yourself or feel guilty for it, but to try your best to boost your day instead.
Wednesday 1 April 2020
How to Bake the Blogger Favourite Banana Bread
Ingredients
2 over-ripe bananas
Equipment you'll need
Prep time: 15 mins
Baking time: 25-30 mins
Oven setting: 175 degrees
Saturday 14 March 2020
A Full Face of Makeup | Urban Decay 'Naked Honey' Eyeshadow Palette
Since the first palette launched in 2010, Urban Decay have since launched seven twelve shade 'Naked' eyeshadow palettes. After a decade of these popular palettes, I thought I'd pull together my thoughts on the latest Naked Honey set of shades, alongside a very wearable makeup look that you can achieve at home.
As a perfect curation of classic golds, warm ambers and rich chocolate browns, this palette will suit any eye colour. At a first glance, I definitely had my favourites: Flyby, Sweet, Hive, and Hbic. However, as I've used the palette more and more, I've developed an individual love for how each and every shade can create a different look. From sweet summertime honey to a sultry smokey eye, the Naked Honey palette oozes experimental creativity and is everything you want as a beauty fan.
Get the look
Shop the look
Sunday 9 February 2020
The Outfit Inspired By the 90s
Shop the look
Wednesday 22 January 2020
How I Style the Printed Blouse
I would suggest to pair any bold prints with one similar colour for a full outfit. Here, I have picked out black as a core colour choice, wearing it with my black skinny jeans, black faux leather jacket and black biker boots. Partnering the printed top with a solid colour will draw more attention to the pattern, and avoid any clashing print partnerships.