Blogtacular 2015, Annual Blogging Conference

June 14, 2015 in Business Tips, Life in London, London, UK, Blogging

Happy Sunday everyone!

Yesterday I was very lucky to attend the best blogging conference of the year, Blogtacular 2015. It felt like a TEDXTALK especially for blogging and crafting. Being surrounded by people that do similar things and who understand blogging achievements and struggles was priceless and not to mention FUNNNNN! :D

The day started with key notes from Grace Bonney AKA Design Sponge. She emphasised on the importance of expressing fear and taking risks. She also shared her journey and all the highs and lows. She was very encouraging. Afterwards there was a choice of three talks. I chose the travel blogging one given by Monica Stott from the Travel Hack. I must say that one was fully packed of very useful information. Lunch followed and it was waves of awesome networking and I even got to meet Christine from Thomson Holidays. Everyone was welcomed to pitch. Let's hope my pitch takes me places. Even if it doesn't, at least I got to try and that in its own was a great opportunity of being in Blogtacular.

After lunch, there were even more choices and it was hard to pick. I chose the Grow Your Audience Panel. It was an interesting discussion about attracting the right people to our blogs. Then came the Instagram panel. Like I am not obsessed enough with Instagram! The thing that everyone spoke about was the importance of engagement and being picky with the content. The last talk before the ending was from the ladies at Mollie Makes and they suggested few writing and thinking exercise such as writing the second you wake up three A4s without even thinking or editing, just writing. I can't wait to try all their tips out.

The concluding keynote speaker was Anthony Peters. He is a graphic designer and filmmaker. He told us how hard he tried to make his dream come reality and how it happened! His documentary is going to be launched in October. It was an inspiring ending that filled everyone with motivation. It was a proof that hard work does pay off even if it takes time.

The whole Blogtacular community was about sharing and helping each other. They strongly believe that EVERYONE has a place on the table and that the world could fit all of us, which was a very positive message to celebrate.

Credit: Mollie Makes photos taken by Piers MacDonald — Credit: Mollie Makes photos taken by Piers MacDonald

Everyone was AMAZING and we had to take MANY MANY selfies.

With Allison Sadler, The People Shop — With Allison Sadler, The People Shop

With Sonia Nicolson, LayoutLines — With Sonia Nicolson, LayoutLines

With Christine from Monsieur Torres — With Christine from Monsieur Torres

Top Things I learnt at Blogtacular:

1- VIDEOS, I need to start adding them to my blogs because they are the way to the future.

2-There are so many other people who are on the same creative boat, it's only a matter of finding them.

3- Instagram hashtags got to be relevant and even specific to attract the right type of audience.

Can you spot me? ;) Credit: Mollie Makes photos taken by Piers MacDonald — Can you spot me? ;) Credit: Mollie Makes photos taken by Piers MacDonald

After the conference ended, there was MORE! an afterparty at West Elm. We were all so tired by that point, but it was really worth going. I got to interact with even more bloggers who I didn't speak to during the day and we got to craft and chitchat. There were five different crafting stations and I had a finished product from most of them. It was so much fun. I don't think I had this much fun with people that completely get my passion and career choice like I did yesterday. Blogging is a very lonely job at times, where I am glued to my laptop, writing or editing photos, but Blogtacular made it possible for us all to connect and hangout in a very friendly and inspiring environment.

If you could not make the conference in person this year, that's ok! because you can still attend the virtual conference when it is live and get all the amazing tips and pointers :D Follow Blogtacular on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook for their latest updates and virtual conference release date.

Goodie bag & the things I crafted in the workshops

Where to eat Breakfast in Shoreditch, London?

June 08, 2015 in Life in London, London Halal Dining, London, UK

This is a post of my top four favourite breakfast restaurants in Shoreditch, London!

Life as a Blogger

April 20, 2015 in Business Tips, Life in London

Hi everyone,,

Hope you are all having a beautiful day full of productivity. Today, I decided to make a change. To leave the house and blog from another spot. I haven't left the house for three days and I was getting used to the PJ blogging routine, but I had to snap out of it because I simply cannot spend my days indoors when the wether is this beautiful. London + a good weather, that's not easy to come by!

Of course, something had to go wrong at the start of this new change. I locked myself out of the house and left the keys inside! :O of all days! Thankfully, my landlord agreed to meet me and give me a replacement otherwise my beautiful day would have turned to a very sad one. I went to the closest place that I usually enjoy, Greenwich! I love the interior of Jamie's Italian and I was starving, so I didn't have to think twice. Full review about Jamie's coming soon!

Enough of all that, today I want to tell you all about life as a blogger.

Blogging, highs & lows

I recently graduated with a master's degree in Interior Architecture and started yet another research degree about geometry and interior spaces. You can say I have all the creative outlets I needed, but I still had more to say and more to share, so I decided to be a full time blogger as well. My favourite things about blogging is having the flexibility to use my time as I please, the ability to write about what interest me and to bring awareness to different subjects. It all sounds wonderful until you start doing it and see how much hard work it really is. I usually roll out of bed and start right away. It is constantly on my mind. In fact, I cannot just sit still without blogging or planning posts anymore. Not to mention the endless hours I spend editing photos.

Blogging is a real job with lots to do without the immediate benefit of having a typical job with a salary, paid holidays, retirement plan and a heath insurance. It really bothers me when some of my friends think I am just strolling in this life without having to work super hard. Some comments get under my skin like: "so what are you going to do today while I slave at work." I am trying so hard to be understanding of people's perspective and their constant comparison of their work life of 9 to 5 to mine.

Blogging could be a very lonely business, especially at the start when you are trying to build your blog and content. This is where I am right now. I spend many hours just by myself typing away or editing pictures. While I enjoy it, I miss human interaction. The good thing is once I am known and out there, collaboration could start happening *fingers crossed*. Few months ago I started chatting with a group of blogger on twitter and that really has been valuable and encouraging. The blogging community is definitely a plus.

Although it is hard, but really worth taking the leap of faith. I am fully enjoying being my own boss, sharing my own stories and connecting with many readers from all over the world. I feel like I am helping shape people's opinions about unknown places such as Saudi and other travel spots. It is also great to include everyone in my interior design passion and the other interests I blog about.

I am really looking forward to more of this blogging life. Feel free to share any tips or ideas to make my blogging life a happier one! :)

Photos of Greenwich, South London

April 16, 2015 in London, UK, Life in London, London Living

Last year, I blogged about one of my favourite spots in London, Greenwich in the Beauty of the Surroundings: Greenwich post. By the start of April last year, most flowers bloomed and brightened the city. This year, the Spring start has been a little slower. but, it is coming along. My first thing I did when the weather warmed up a little was go again to greenwich to walk around the city. I went around the beautiful University of Greenwich. It is located in a world heritage site. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren at the end of the 17th century. From the university I went to the banks of the River Thames, where central London was sparkling beautifully on the other side. At the end of the walk, I passed by the Cutty Sark Clipper Ship from the outside. There are lots of restaurants around there and the greenwich market, which I will do a special post on in the future. Enjoy these few snaps I took there! :)

Stax Diner, Halal Burger to Remember

December 07, 2014 in Life in London, London, UK, London Halal Dining

Happy Sunday everyone!

It's getting so close to winter these days and with this cold weather all I can do is indulge in really good warming food. Yesterday, I found my new favourite halal burger joint in London by accident. It was so good that it's all I can think of today! :D It was located in Kingly Court, which is proving to be a really nice place to eat, although with Christmas coming really soon, it's crazy crowded there.

Stax Diner is in the first floor and it was SO crowded.

The place is really small, which means the queue is outside, which is a little awkward.

The menu had American choices from fried chicken and waffles to great burgers and shakes.

To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the interior space. The light fixtures were really cool but the tables and the chairs weren't comfortable, but I guess that's because of the very tiny space.

The food was AMAZING and did I mention Halal. The burgers were so fresh and delicious. SUPER GOOD. Will surly come back for the burgers.

My Boston Float, which is ginger bear and ice cream. It went so well with the burger

Loved the burgers. Go try them and let me know what you think when you try it! :D

Dishoom

November 23, 2014 in Life in London, London, UK, London Halal Dining

Happy sunday beautiful people!

This is my favourite day of the week when I am in London. The atmosphere is so relaxed and everyone is taking it easy. Plus, it's quiet in the morning. This day is appreciated by the whole nation I think.

This week I finally went to the famous Dishoom for breakfast, so if you are looking for a place for today's breakfast or brunch then look no further! By the way, this place gets crazy busy, so I would advice you to book in advance. I went during a weekday's morning. That's why it was quiet and just amazing.

The Shoerditch brand is where I went. They have a main resturant hall + bar that has a contemporary industrial look with a funky geometric floor pattern. It's louder there and very lively. The designers of the space wanted to tell a story with the details they chose, a story inspired by Iranian cafés that took a place in India in the 1960s and mix it with the current atmosphere of London. Read more on the design process in Dishoom's journal. I loved the fact they wrote about it.

Part of Dishoom is the veranda. I loved the design so much. I can see myself there daily just drinking their delicious chai, writing and enjoying the coziness of the space. The design is indoors because of the London weather conditions, but has an outdoors feel. It's shabby chic with a rustic feel that makes you feel comfortable at once.

Another thing I liked about the space is the different light choices, the artwork that tells a number of stories and the green plants.

Enough design talk! I know you are dying to know about the food! It was ready in empakisble timing and tasted amazing! You can tell how yummy the food is from the photos alone. Something I liked in the menu is that it tells you the farms where food come from, which gives a sense of community.

We got the Aukri eggs, fire-y toasts, house porridge topped with dates and bananas, egg naan roll, fruit juice and chocolate chai. The naan roll was so good. The thought is just mouthwatering. The naan was very fresh, the eggs were tasty. The chocolate chai made it on my very favourite beverages list. It was the right level of sweet. I highly recommend their food. Note, the menu serves ham, but there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Their dinner menu includes halal choices as well.

On one of the plates, the sweetest story was written. I forgot to take a picture, but I will just share it from memory: once in Bombay, I went to a cafe. The nicest girl greeted me and talked to me for half an hour before I realized that she worked there. I went there every day for the remaining time of the trip and now the girl and I got engaged, moved to London to open our Bombay cafe and soon to be married.

That adorable romantic story was surly a plus!

If you go there based on this recommendation, please comment and tell me all about your experience.

Enjoy the rest of the day!

Yumchaa Cafe

August 28, 2014 in Life in London, London, UK, London Afternoon Tea, London Halal Dining

When I was younger the only hot drink I liked was hot chocolate and as I grew older, my taste buds enjoyed tea and with being in the UK -Tea Capital of the world- my love for tea has been growing. Now, everyone who tries a new tea place tells me about it and even suggests meeting up in tea shops! win win. Few weeks ago, my classmate tried Yumchaa tea shop in Camden and instead that I go with her. She didn't have to ask twice!

What I found different in Yumchaa is they have all the types they offer laid out in lovely small cups with the names, so you can smell the tea and see it before choosing it. I thought it was cool and it gives each person a more hands on approach to tea. It was a good way to start a conversation as well. My classmates and I, compared the different types, laughed at the names and enjoyed that experience.

The teas were also catgrorized and separated based on their types in a lovely way. Instead of having it written in menu pages.

There was a good selection of deserts as well, which is always needed with a good cuppa!

The interior space was quirky, cozy and casual.

In the center of the cafe, they had an glass ceiling that allowed access to natural light in the cafe, which brightened up the space. There were different chairs and sofas around. The mix was fun. Overall, it's a nice place to have tea, read a book or meet friends. Check it out when you are in Camden next. They have other locations as well. Details on their website.

Royal Teas, Greenwich

June 01, 2014 in Life in London, London, UK, London Afternoon Tea, London Halal Dining

Greenwich is such a lovely place. While taking a machine knitting course in the greenwich community college. I found this little place, Royal Teas, and totally loved it! The colours of the interior are warm and quirky with the hanging flower and different art work.

Simple & Cozy

Decor with coffee and old tins

Their menu was all vegetarian, which was great and it tasted so good! They also served loose teas and yummy milkshakes. I recommend eating lunch their.

First Time I went + Second time I went

Did I mention they have they most gorgeous homemade cakes? really worth a try. Worth every calorie ;)

Coconut cake and chocolate cake!

If you are ever in Greenwich, you must try this place :)