Week Three - 

 

I know it has been a while since I have last posted, which I lay blame to a saddening lack of inspiration on my part. However, I have finally overcome this writers block and have a new post to bring to you this week full of inspiration for all of you bohemian souls. 

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 Sometimes we all need a good quote to help us through the week. I found this on tumblr and wrote it in one of my notebooks ages ago. The things that are on this list are often things we easily forget in day to day life, so I thought I would post this particular quote this week just in case you all needed a little reminder to cut away all the excess unnecessary stress you might be feeling and make room for positive vibes.

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John William Waterhouse's art has captivated me for years, and for those seeking the ultimate bohemian inspiration this week - look no further!

His paintings are loaded with mesmerising colourful detail, often depicting gloriously ethereal women with flowers in their hair and dresses draped carelessly across their bodies. Much of his art is inspired by Arthurian legend, Shakespeare, myths from ancient Greece and Rome and Pagan symbolism. All of his work is truly captivating and beautiful and I do hope I get to see a few pieces in the flesh one day.

Below are a few of my favourites by Waterhouse.

 

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Oh Arrow Divine, you do know how to tease!

Waiting for their new SS14/15 collection is almost agonising! I need the quartz and silver arm cuff in this picture in my life and soon!

Arrow Divine are a beautiful jewellery and accessorie brand, procliamed as "an ode to the bohemian surf culture" and that they are! Their quartz crystals, stones, coins, silver, gold and ethnic prints all make me want to run away to the nearest tropical island.

With jewels that evoke such beauty and culture at the same time, it is hard to not want everything in their newest collection dropping in September.

Here is a link to their Instagram so you can all drool along with me over epic photos of their creations in magical exotic backdrops such as Bali.

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Being a tea addict like most people here in Britain I can easily drink over six cups of the stuff a day. However drinking the same stuff all of the time can get really boring, So when I was last up my local shopping centre I decided to take a trip to Whittards on a quest to find a new type of tea I would love. This Vannila Chai tea stood out to me, (more than likely because I probably spent most of my student loan on Costa Coffee's chai lattes last year) and it did not take me long to make my decision.

 This tea is perfect! It's spicy, creamy taste makes it ideal for the upcoming change of seasons.

I strongly suggest that if you find yourself suffering from a touch of Seasonal Affective Disorder, curled up in bed with a bunch of jumpers, socks and slippers on, feeling down about the cold. rain and wind this Autumn/Winter then you should give this tea a try! I swear it is just like a warm hug in a mug!

If you do not have a Whittards near you then I am sure that your local supermarket stocks something very similar. I know Pukka do teabags of organic vanilla, chai and cinnamon tea and this is a brand that is stocked in most supermarkets

All pictures are found via Google, Tumblr, Websites mentioned, or are my own, no copyrite intended

Week Two -

Lovely souls, last week I published my first ever blog post and I was so happy with how it turned out! Thank you all for taking the time to read it I feel truly blessed to be able to bring you this blog. 

I hope my post this week provides you all with the bohemian inspiration and happiness that it does for me :)

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coconut - as well as being the ultimate image for tropical paradises, beaches and being general bohemian eye candy they also have many other beneficial uses when included in daily diet, skin care routines, the fruit itself contains fiber, vitamins, amino acids and minerals, so it is not hard to see how useful they can be, even straight off the tree raw coconuts have range of benefits.

To be truthful coconuts can be used for hundreds of uses and indeed there are many blogs and websites dedicated to informing of these, this week I will include a few of my favorite uses for this super fruit!

Coconut Oil - The oil from the coconut is one of the mist versatile things I have ever encountered! No joke! It is good for your skin, hair, immune system, digestion, and my mother even uses it when cooking sometimes as a substitute for other oils. For me personally I find that coconut oil is a great skin care product, especially for those with spot prone skin (like me!) being able to moisturise and still lack any unwanted greaseyness that other moisturisers have.

Coconut Water - found in the centre of young green coconuts, coconut water is often considered the master of hydration, apart from being ridiculously tasty, this amazing drink provides an excellent substitute to all those sugar filled sports drinks and fruit juices due to it having less sugar and less calories yet the same benefits of other drinks (and more). Coconut water is also naturally sweet, high in potassium and also cholesterol free - some even go as far to claim that coconut water is the ultimate hangover cure ;)

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This week the ultimate bohemian brand Spell and the Gypsy Collective have released their Fleetwood Lace range from their latest lookbook - 'White Dunes, Gypsy Hues' (I won't lie, I spent the two weeks before this lookbook dropped in some obsessed hyper state, glued to Spell's Instagram for any hint of the lushness they would be releasing!).

Here is a background of Spell's brand and the inspiration behind it that I have pulled from their website and  is way more eloquent then any words i could possibly write about them! (it's such a inspiring story of dream chasing!). -
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"For as long as sisters Elizabeth and Isabella can remember they’ve been enamored by the feeling created when you combine feathers, leather and turquoise.

In the 1960s and 70s their father was a leather craftsman and their mother was a potter, painter and wove brightly colored threads on a loom. It seems only natural that the sisters would end up here, in Byron Bay, Australia, living a creative passion that flows from their family.

The sisters started Spell (named after Isabella’s childhood nickname) five years ago when Isabella started making jewellery in her walk-in wardrobe and selling it at the local markets. Since then, their imaginations have been running wild – expanding into accessories, fashion, home wares and finally opening a flagship store in Byron Bay’s town center.

Inspired by far off places, vintage treasures and childhood memories, the sisters work in their Byron Bay design studio, channeling their inner gypsy spirits, creating all manner of adornments and sharing their inspiration with their friends around the globe through their blog"
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As you can see from the picture I included this wee, Spell shows a perfect understanding in applying the bohemian sun-worshiping lifestyle to their clothing and jewellery. Personally in my eyes Spell can do no wrong as time and time again they never fail at producing inspiring creations. I have been a faithful customer to them for around three years and they continue to amaze and inspire me with their work!
below are some more snaps from their Fleetwood lace collection, hope you enjoy! ;)

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I know I am over a week a week late, (sorry Sea Turtles!) but I still think it would be appropriate to dedicate some words this week to World Turtle Day 2014 which happened on May 23rd.

Sea Turtles are one of my favorite animal and if somehow reincarnation really does happen when we die being born again as a turtle would be epic! Unfortunately for these beautiful sea creatures there are many dangers that face them in the wild, the majority of which, I am sad to say, are the result of us humans. 

World Turtle Day began in 2000 after being created by the American Tortoise Rescue who sought to increase knowledge and respect for Turtles and Tortoises throughout the world in an effort to decrease harm to these species's. the efforts of the American Tortoise Rescue have been profound indeed, and today World Turtle Day is endorsed by many other well known nature and conservation charities such as Greenpeace in order to help spread the word of the plight of the Sea Turtles.

If like me you also love turtles and would like to do your bit to help preserve them you can donate to the American Tortoise Rescue here, or through the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) you can adopt a sea turtle, which would make a perfect gift if you know a Turtle lover or if you want to adopt one yourself. here is the WWF adoption link. 

  

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Amethysts have long fascinated me, and over the years, like many crystal lovers, I have collected a few here and there to decorate my room with (crystals make amazing decor pieces for those who love bohemian interiors), most recently I bought an amethyst candle holder from Ebay which I use pretty much every single day when I am at home. I think what draws me to them so much is their colour, which personally I find very soothing and calming to look at (and also very pretty!).

Like pretty much all crystals there are certain properties attributed to the amethyst which are meant to help our health, through wearing them in jewellery, or having them dotted around your home. Although there is no proof really behind crystal healing, I always still like to look at how certain crystals are meant to help us. Despite this lack of proof, many cultures and religions around the world do believe in the power of certain crystals, for example Hindu's who believe in the existence of chakras within the body say that if certain colour stones are placed over the chakras of the body to aid in healing, revitalizing and clearing. Also, some native Hawaiian Islanders, the Chinese and the Hopi Native Americans based in Arizona believe that crystals have healing or magical properties.

Just for the sake of knowledge then (as I am sure that many of you are skeptics on the power of crystals) I am going to talk about the properties of this particular crystal. Amethysts are widely considered to be powerful healing stones, and are said to have calming powers both to the mind and emotions, and is also said to aid in creative thinking and spiritual awareness and meditation. The healing powers of this crystal are also said to go beyond just emotional and spiritual and some even believe that they help reduce physical pain, swelling and bruises.

However I shall leave it up to you to decide whether you believe that certain crystals like amethysts really have healing or spiritual powers ;) 

All pictures are found via Google, Tumblr, Websites mentioned, or are my own, no copyrite intended

Week One -

Dearest lovely souls, it is summer again, well not quite but it is for me. Exams are over and my second year at university finished it is finally time to put the hammock up again, relax 

and bring you this blog I am creating week by week.

The first picture I chose to share with you all this week is of me in my hammock last summer, something which holds so many happy memories, and now that I am here in my hammock once again I hope to make more of those memories and at the same time provide you all with some inspiration and a greater appreciation for life. This blog can include anything I feel will make your week more interesting, from fashion, to culture, food, astrology , poems, quotes books, myths, art and those little blissful moments that we tend to forget the beauty of in life - much like the happiness just lying in a hammock and thinking of nothing can bring, which this photo encapsulates for me. 

So here goes my first blog post, and remember this is for all you flowerchildren, wild ones, she-wolves, sunworshippers, moon gazers, and bohemian souls xx

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The second picture I chose for this week, and to properly start my blog off with a bang, is my favourite shot of Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen. Having read the books and watch the TV series almost obsessively, it is safe to say that I am smitten by Daenerys! Her person, her actions, her hair, and oh my don't get me started on all that amazing fashion eye candy! 

Another thing I love about her character is how George R R Martin spent so much time showing readers the personal development she went through as a character. Comparing the first time you are introduced to her to her character in the latest books and episodes is really amazing to look at. For me is also shows the development we all go through growing up and becoming who we are, albeit without dragons, seven kingdoms and Khal Drogo! But still there is definitely some inspiration for women to gain from Daenerys, even if it is just to remind us that we all have some Khaleesi in us! Just to prove my point on how awesome she truly is I will end this segment with an another amazing snapshot of her.

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The next picture I chose for this week comes from an amazing company with an even more amazing message, and all in just one product, the awesome bracelet pictured. This creation comes from the beautiful minds of Live Lokai. The black bead on the bracelet contains mud from the Dead Sea, which is also the lowest point on earth. Directly opposite is a white bead containing water from Mount Everest, the highest point on earth. These two beads are to remind us that when we have hit a low in life, stay hopeful, and when we are feeling on top of the world to stay humble. I find the message behind the bracelet truly beautiful and inspiring as everybody has moments when it is hard to stay balanced and hard to remember to be hopeful or humble in everyday situations.
 

The words of Steven Izen, the founder of Live Lokai really encapsulate the philosophy of wearing these beads - "Life is full of joy and sadness, and we can all relate to its highs and lows. I hope that the Lokai bracelet will remind you to stay balanced and centered along your journey"

To purchase your own Live Lokai bracelet click here it's only $18 too! Also, 10% of that goes back to the community through charities Live Lokai support.

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The final picture of inspiration this week is a snap of a bluebell woodland. Bluebells are one of my favourite flowers, and coming from the UK it is not uncommon to see them in peoples gardens or chance upon a cluster of them when walking through the woods and around 49-50% of the worlds bluebell population is found in the UK. The wild bluebells like the ones pictured however are a protected species here and it is illegal to sell any of their bulbs or seeds, and it would be truly tragic for sights such as bluebell woodlands and the wild bluebells to disappear. 

However, although how much I love emphasising the importance of wild bluebells to britain this last segment of my post is not dedicated to that but the english folklore and myths that surround woodlands like these. Ever since being a child, myths and legends have always fascinated me, even now i still pick up books containing collections of world stories. Although there is one that has always been a favourite of mine and which i wish to share with you all. 

When I was younger I was told that bluebells were flowers of the fairies and so 

 they were attributed with many magical qualities, and were considered to be precious by the fairies who lived in the woods. It was said that if you were to be walking in their woods and accidently stumble into a glade of bluebells then you would disappear never to be seen again, some think it was the magic put around the bluebells that made you disappear, others think that the fairies were angry that you had discovered their flowers and so took you away. I will leave it up to you guys to decide which version you prefer :P

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Alice xx