C.A.L.I.F.O.R.N.I.A

Summer is fast approaching...well, at least in my mind anyway so I thought I would share with you some inspirational photos from California, the destination of my next holiday.

I am so excited as I have never been to America before and I would love to explore everything this country has to offer. If you have any hints and tips, I would love to hear from you, just leave a comment below.

Goodbye Summer...

I feel that now the days are getting shorter, and a lot lot colder, it is time to say farewell to summer. Gone are the days of swanning around in bikinis, summer vacations and the times you get sand in your shoes. We are entering a new stage in the year, one which promises the magic of Narnia, warm winter coats, cute knitted hats and scarves and much much more. 


To say goodbye to summer I have compiled a collection of photos that I feel best sums up that summer feeling we all love. 


Enjoy x

Craving the Winter....

It is summer and each year I moan about the cold weather, waiting for summer to arrive and when it does....I crave the winter. It is unreal! I just think of the long walks in the park, kicking up the golden leaves, the crisp winter air that you can feel deep inside you, the sight of your breath in the air, cute knit wear, winter boots, curling up by the fire to read books etc.....


It is as if my sense of wanderlust extends as far as seasons too. Anyway, it is a hot day and I am sheltering inside so I thought I would share with you some gorgeous winter inspired photos.....

Freedom....End Of College And Exams

Yesterday I finished college forever with my final exam being Spanish. I am now free to do what ever I want which means a whole lot of blogging, partying, seeing friends but most importantly working on my online magazine...Moda de la Mode Magazine. Anyway...here are some photos to celebrate my new found freedom. Enjoy x

Travel Inspiration For This Rainy Day Of Revision

For all of you who are stuck in cold, grey, windy, cold or rainy countries at the moment or for those of you stuck inside revising for exams. This post is for you. I hope these photos inspire you and make you smile. Enjoy x

Beach Books...The Best Reads For This Summer

There is nothing better than sitting on a beach, the sun beating down on you and the sea creating a relaxing rhythmic soundtrack for the day. To make this moment even more magical, I have selected my three favourite beach reads, they are not necessarily the best travel books but when you are lying on the beach these books are perfect for setting the scene for the perfect holiday.


Beach Babylon, written by Imogen Edwards Jones and a team of people specializing in the private beach island resorts which are so popular with the rich and famous, allows you to dip your toes in the water of this fascinating industry. Written through the eyes of an employee of the island, this books details the highs and lows of life in a beach resort. It is a light, easy and entertaining read which will have you laughing out loud as you read it. 


The Life of Pi, written by Yann Martel defies categories due to its unique and outstanding quality. The book details the oceanic wanderings of a young, enthusiastic Piscine Patel (Pi). Being raised in the luscious, gorgeously hued India, he sets off with his family to start a new life in Canada, sailing across the Pacific until his boat is scuppered halfway through the voyage.This unfortunate set of circumstances gets worse when he finds himself stuck in a life raft along with a hyena, a monkey, a zebra and a tiger called Richard. This book may sound like a strange messed up fantasy but in reality, it is a work of art with its poetic language and lyrical sentences it is a must read for summer and possibly one of the best books ever written.


The Beach Book is basically what it says on the cover, a collection of beach related short stories from some of the best writers of our time. What drew me to it however was the waterproof cover and pages which feel just like normal pages in a book but they are made extra magical by the waterproofing. It is also conveniently sized so that it can fit easily into your bag for your trips to the beach. The stories are so beautifully written and are funny, memorable and examples of some of the gems written by the literary geniuses of our time. 

Summer 2011 Baby!!

I found this video whilst looking at the beautiful shoes on the Soludos website. It just screams everything I love about summer and now I cannot wait to finish my exams and go exploring! They also have a free download of their summer playlist full of amazing summer songs-not to be missed!!

A Perfect Summer Day - Soludos from SOLUDOS on Vimeo.

Philippe Roucou Scarves...the must have item of the season!!

Check out these fantastic polaroid scarves from French designer Philippe Roucou...these will be the must have item of the season and you heard it here first!! A summer will not be complete without one of these fantastic creations.

Beach Tomato-The Only Website You Will Need This Summer (besides One Girls Wanderlust, of course)

According to John Fitzgerald Kennedy, "all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean and therefore we have salt in our blood, in our sweat and in our tears. We are tied to the ocean and when we go back to the sea-whether it is to sail or to watch it-we are going back from whence we came." so it is no surprise that so many of us dream of holidays on hot sandy beaches and that each year the main summer holiday consists of a trip to the beach no matter where you are in the world.

But how do you know where the best beaches are? Or even what are the latest must have items for the beach holiday this season? Former GQ, British Vogue and Company Fashion Editor and now Founder/Editor of Beach Tomato, Kirsty Hathaway has all the answers for you along with her boyfriend and Co-Founder of Beach Tomato, Tom Marchant, on the fun, interesting, unique and even a little quirky website Beach Tomato.

Beach Tomato was launched last month and has enjoyed huge success since, being deemed by Vogue as "a great new website that will add a new dimension to your summery imaginings", it is now a popular haunt for for anyone wanting to bring a little of the beach to their desk. The websites layout is enough to draw anyone to take a closer look as it emanates that boho/hippy cool vibe that is so addictive and inviting. All the articles and features are displayed on a backdrop of torn watercolour paper, which is quite fitting seeing as Beach Tomato brings a shot of colour to the waterfront worldwide.

The website prides itself on being able to plan your whole beach holiday from where you will be going, what you will be wearing to even what you will be listening to and it doesn't disappoint. The content is out of this world, it is so informative and engaging whilst being original at the same time. The mixture of information on the hottest beach locations along with extensive style guides such as the 48 hour suitcase and advice on making key trends beach friendly is just breathtaking, and I find myself thinking: "How can anyone be so on the ball-this website has absolutely everything you could possible need?!!"  My favourite feature is the "My Life As A Beach" feature which runs with a new person every time detailing their interesting and sometimes funny connections to the beach, however, it is so hard to pick a favourite as you keep discovering new features on every click of the mouse.

Overall, I would whole heartily recommend this website, it is amazing for planning your holidays and perfect for satisfying that sense of wanderlust that haunts so many of us who live too far from the beach. It is a fantastic and faultless website, please please check it out by clicking the link here.

Fashion DIY: Handmade Beach Bag

Everyone needs a beach bag for the beach, so why not make your own beach bag?? This bag I made is so simple but is super useful and really easy to make. All you need is two rectangular pieces of fabric to make the two sides, a small rectangle to make the base and two long strips of fabric to make the straps, plus any embellishment you would like. I have reworked the nautical theme and instead of using blue, used my favourite colour, pink!!! I look forward to seeing your creations!!!

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside-Places You Must Visit In Cornwall

Cornwall has been a haven for holiday makers for centuries, attracting thousands of tourists each summer to it's sandy shoreline and luscious green fields. But with all the hype, how do you know where is a must see and where is best to avoid?

Of course not everybody wants the same thing for their holidays but there are some places everyone can agree are a must see when you visit the West Country.

The first place on my list is the Minack Theatre, an open air theatre, carved high into the granite cliffs looking over Porthcurno Bay. It was built by Rowena Cade between 1931-1983 when she carried the bricks up the cliff and constructed the theatre herself. The theatre has a very interesting museum detailing its history but what really draws in the crowds are its performances which take place on a small circular stage just inches away from the audience and with a sheer drop down the cliff behind it. These intimate performances range from anything from Shakespeare to the comic farce of Charley's Aunt and the theatre is packed, rain or shine, with people and their picnics eager to experience this magical piece of theatre.

After being entertained, you will probably want some food and what is better when you are at the seaside than fish and chips? Rick Stein's fish and chip shop in northern Cornish town of Padstow (renamed Padstein by the locals due to the number of his restaurants in the town) is the best fish and chips ever. This fish is so fresh and the batter is so light and crispy that it just out rules any other fish and chips you have tasted in your lives. It is the food of the God's!

You cannot visit Cornwall without visiting a beach and I cannot recommend Daymer Bay enough. The golden sand and the blue sea make it seem that you are on some far away tropical island and it was even used in the adverts for the clothes company Jack Wills. This beach emanates a laid back, relaxed vibe and attracts the young, stylish and boho, as well as families, to its shores. Bikinis, Breton tops and denim shorts are a must at this beach.

And if this still isn't enough for you, in the fashionable town of St Ives is home to a Tate art gallery full of modern and contemporary art, mostly from Cornwall but there are also many big names on display too. It is the perfect place to while away a few hours and they also have a lovely tea room where you can enjoy a traditional Cornish cream tea.

 These are just some of my favourite spots in the West Country, I would be here all day if I listed all my favourites, but I know that anyone who visits these places immediately falls in love with them. These places really capture the charm, the culture and the atmosphere which makes Cornwall such a popular holiday destination all year round.

Summer Songs....

Now that we have had some super sunny weather, I have found myself listening to some summer music...here are just 5 songs from a long long playlist of summery tunes. I hope you like them and feel free to suggest your own summery songs.