This trip was supported by Stansted Airport, the Moxy and the Pod hotels. Whilst I was required to write a blog post of my experience, all views are my own. Affiliate links have been used when linking to clothing and some travel info.
Affordable Manhattan
I flew to New York City with a group of internet peeps including Fashion and travel blogger Kavita, Vlogger Emily Canham and money blogger Charlotte of Lotty Earns. Our mission? To holiday as affordably as possible without compromising having a good time. Our trip started at London Stansted airport where you can treat yourself to loads of complimentary treatments like hand massages at Jo Malone and beauty treatments at Charlotte Tilbury plus a welcome cocktail and shopping at Oasis, Ted Baker and Next.
Once on the other side, our itinerary took us to central Manhattan for a day and then to Brooklyn for another before heading back. Here’s what we got up to!
![Forever fighting flyaways... 🙅🏻♀️Sometimes, especially when I exercise, the little baby hairs around my face expand and fluff up and I end up looking like I have koala ears. Am I the only one? 😅🐨 Thanks @sarahlouisebrand for my gorgeous clips to keep them in place! [#ihavethisthingwithpink#pinkonpink#millenialpink#happyselves#bodenbyme]](http://scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.179.1440.1440a/s640x640/81405081_2681626925284226_5730226140488525559_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=102&_nc_ohc=OIn3h7MsOtcAX_8Xu9X&oh=c83f0a0256ca48f236ca123b6b870061&oe=5EB76C39 "Forever fighting flyaways... 🙅🏻♀️Sometimes, especially when I exercise, the little baby hairs around my face expand and fluff up and I end up looking like I have koala ears. Am I the only one? 😅🐨 Thanks @sarahlouisebrand for my gorgeous clips to keep them in place! [#ihavethisthingwithpink#pinkonpink#millenialpink#happyselves#bodenbyme]")
![🌿 So how does one actually move house with loads of plants? 🌱 Asking for a friend... but seriously, what do I do with my trailing plants? How do I protect their tiddly little leaves from chipping off? 🍃😱 And my fiddle fig? How will he stay securely upright in the van without getting his leaves crushed? 🙅🏻♀️🌿 Maybe I need to get each one it’s own moving box. 📦 Or carry one at a time for over an hour to its new destination? 🤔 These are the most pressing and sleep-deprivation-worthy issues I face right now. Will we have a wardrobe? Who cares? Where do we do food prep? Dunno. Space for my sideboards? We’ll find some. Just SAVE MY PLANT BABIES! 🌿🍃🌱🌵Words of advice highly appreciated 😘 Thanks! [#plantsmakepeoplehappy#planthoarder#
Plantvibes#therentedabode#howirent]](http://scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.180.1440.1440a/s640x640/81489101_1663860870445725_2081709752512784900_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=Nw7ORthSsIUAX9ui5q5&oh=c1725dc5a9c0632691f767dfc773ee0a&oe=5EC038F8 "🌿 So how does one actually move house with loads of plants? 🌱 Asking for a friend... but seriously, what do I do with my trailing plants? How do I protect their tiddly little leaves from chipping off? 🍃😱 And my fiddle fig? How will he stay securely upright in the van without getting his leaves crushed? 🙅🏻♀️🌿 Maybe I need to get each one it’s own moving box. 📦 Or carry one at a time for over an hour to its new destination? 🤔 These are the most pressing and sleep-deprivation-worthy issues I face right now. Will we have a wardrobe? Who cares? Where do we do food prep? Dunno. Space for my sideboards? We’ll find some. Just SAVE MY PLANT BABIES! 🌿🍃🌱🌵Words of advice highly appreciated 😘 Thanks! [#plantsmakepeoplehappy#planthoarder#
Plantvibes#therentedabode#howirent]")
![💭 *First week back of proper work*... *Starts thinking about holidays*... Just me? This time last year, I beat the January blues by hopping off to Porto for a long weekend. 🇵🇹 This year I was thinking of going to Southern Spain but in reality, I should probably sit in my living room clutching my depleted purse strings whilst deciding whether to get bog standard baked beans or the fancy spicy ones. (You’ll never want to go back). 🥫 Turns out, moving into a smaller flat as a two is bloody spenny 🏠🤯 Still, we’ve been lucky enough to find somewhere already, so that‘s a relief! Thanks for your kind messages. :) Now, will I be able to live without sourdough though? 😅🍞 #FirstWorldProblems [#januaryblues#househunting#darlingadventures#porto#visitporto#hopefuladventures]](http://scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.178.1440.1440a/s640x640/80831654_2542165796066070_2134159533255518217_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=7aiYj6QdmD8AX_kHZRG&oh=68d80459d80d6b67bac8f82e46a89abe&oe=5EC2B59F "💭 *First week back of proper work*... *Starts thinking about holidays*... Just me? This time last year, I beat the January blues by hopping off to Porto for a long weekend. 🇵🇹 This year I was thinking of going to Southern Spain but in reality, I should probably sit in my living room clutching my depleted purse strings whilst deciding whether to get bog standard baked beans or the fancy spicy ones. (You’ll never want to go back). 🥫 Turns out, moving into a smaller flat as a two is bloody spenny 🏠🤯 Still, we’ve been lucky enough to find somewhere already, so that‘s a relief! Thanks for your kind messages. :) Now, will I be able to live without sourdough though? 😅🍞 #FirstWorldProblems [#januaryblues#househunting#darlingadventures#porto#visitporto#hopefuladventures]")
![🇦🇺 I’m not Australian, but you don’t need to be to feel horrified and scared by the fires raging on the other side of the world. They affect us all. 🌏 We’re already feeling the impacts of climate change so it literally feels like our future is burning away every second as our trees, our oxygen-makers, our homes, their homes deplete. Not to mention the native biodiversity and the people killed and displaced as a result. It was horrifying to see the Amazon burn and its horrifying to see this too. 🌳
I know that plants regenerate best in carbon-rich soil, but it’ll take years and years to get back to where we were and it’s already too late for some species. As countries work towards their carbon-neutral targets, these events are such huge set-backs at a time when we have no time.
My BFs family are in Aus sending updates and my phone background reminds me of my fortunate times over there (I was telling my friends yesterday that one of the highlights of my life was seeing a real life koala for the first time - I cried 🐨) and my hope to one day live there. It also reminds me of the reality right now. 🔥 If you’d like to use your phone background to help, my friend @martinamartian has illustrated downloads that you can buy for a donation to wildlife charities. You can also donate direct to charities on the front line. See @margaret__zhang for a brilliant list in her recent post. Thank you so much and Aus, we’re thinking of you ♥️🐨 [#australia#koalas#bushfirecrisis]](http://scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.180.1440.1440a/s640x640/80610259_2477978388995514_1433731578742762768_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=IsE08YJ5Bq4AX9chRKK&oh=4cb3b594ce3ff9422a7aea0c1930178e&oe=5ED5D3A8 "🇦🇺 I’m not Australian, but you don’t need to be to feel horrified and scared by the fires raging on the other side of the world. They affect us all. 🌏 We’re already feeling the impacts of climate change so it literally feels like our future is burning away every second as our trees, our oxygen-makers, our homes, their homes deplete. Not to mention the native biodiversity and the people killed and displaced as a result. It was horrifying to see the Amazon burn and its horrifying to see this too. 🌳
I know that plants regenerate best in carbon-rich soil, but it’ll take years and years to get back to where we were and it’s already too late for some species. As countries work towards their carbon-neutral targets, these events are such huge set-backs at a time when we have no time.
My BFs family are in Aus sending updates and my phone background reminds me of my fortunate times over there (I was telling my friends yesterday that one of the highlights of my life was seeing a real life koala for the first time - I cried 🐨) and my hope to one day live there. It also reminds me of the reality right now. 🔥 If you’d like to use your phone background to help, my friend @martinamartian has illustrated downloads that you can buy for a donation to wildlife charities. You can also donate direct to charities on the front line. See @margaret__zhang for a brilliant list in her recent post. Thank you so much and Aus, we’re thinking of you ♥️🐨 [#australia#koalas#bushfirecrisis]")
![[Ad] New year, new... heair..? 👩🏼🎤 Forget it... I love my new hair is what I’m trying to say. I had some subtle copper and lighter brown tones put in it just before Christmas from the lovely Zoe at @officialrushhairbeauty in Camden. It’s a balayage look (meaning ‘to sweep’ in French don’t you know 🧹) I’d always wanted and now I’m thoroughly enjoying spotting the different tones when I look in the mirror. If you’ve considered colouring your hair, why not pop into them for a consultation and they’ll happily explain each of the different techniques in a way that clueless people like me can ACTUALLY understand 💁🏻♀️🎨 what colour would you go for? [#rushhair#rushcamden#balayage#redhair#howihue#stscolourblocking#stsprints]](http://scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.179.1440.1440a/s640x640/79374442_546476122747410_8293966034936820941_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=DxkGj5YrCkAAX-pRPhj&oh=c4639a3e6855db108fea1d412ab76e5e&oe=5EBB73AD "[Ad] New year, new... heair..? 👩🏼🎤 Forget it... I love my new hair is what I’m trying to say. I had some subtle copper and lighter brown tones put in it just before Christmas from the lovely Zoe at @officialrushhairbeauty in Camden. It’s a balayage look (meaning ‘to sweep’ in French don’t you know 🧹) I’d always wanted and now I’m thoroughly enjoying spotting the different tones when I look in the mirror. If you’ve considered colouring your hair, why not pop into them for a consultation and they’ll happily explain each of the different techniques in a way that clueless people like me can ACTUALLY understand 💁🏻♀️🎨 what colour would you go for? [#rushhair#rushcamden#balayage#redhair#howihue#stscolourblocking#stsprints]")
![🏠 Let the house hunt commence! 🏡 Thanks for your kind comments about us having to move out next month. It’s a shitter but we’ll get there. 📦 I’ve signed up to every London rental email alert system, have a google sheet with 60 rows of properties and counting, and every estate agent around has my number. ☎️ The one thing I’m concerned might be a set back is the length of time I want to rent for. Has anyone else managed to rent with a short break clause? Any advice for people who want medium-term lets? [#gramminginlondon#currentlywearing#bodenbyme#stsanimalprint]](http://scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.179.1440.1440a/s640x640/79790830_493578624601376_8620356908714785297_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=aJYn1oGMDSoAX8YnbNW&oh=4731229590a27640573f95e4bd69c6b0&oe=5ECF2558 "🏠 Let the house hunt commence! 🏡 Thanks for your kind comments about us having to move out next month. It’s a shitter but we’ll get there. 📦 I’ve signed up to every London rental email alert system, have a google sheet with 60 rows of properties and counting, and every estate agent around has my number. ☎️ The one thing I’m concerned might be a set back is the length of time I want to rent for. Has anyone else managed to rent with a short break clause? Any advice for people who want medium-term lets? [#gramminginlondon#currentlywearing#bodenbyme#stsanimalprint]")