A Long-Overdue Life Update

Hey Owlets,

In what feels like the blink of an eye, another year has passed and it’s somehow now 2023 (anyone else still trying to process 2020?). Despite what you may be thinking this isn’t a thinly veiled “new year, new me” article. In fact, as I write this it’s almost March and life is hard enough without trying to kid yourself that this is finally the year where time won’t simply evaporate and you *WILL* make it to the gym on this trip around the sun. You probably won’t.

At the beginning of 2022 I set the personal goal of being kinder to myself, and the professional goal of creating more content. As you can see by the cobwebs I’m dusting off of my long-forgotten website, I only stuck to one of those mantras. 

Over the past few years I feel as if life has simply “happened” to me. Rather than living, being present and keeping my promise to make the most of my time on Earth, I’ve simply taken each day as it comes. While I’ve survived another year of chaos I must admit that I feel a little disappointed in myself for letting the time pass me by - maybe you can relate on some level.

So, what’s happened and why am I suddenly reviving my much-neglected website? A lot, actually, and it’s taken until now to feel inspired to write again. 

Why the Productivity Movement is Toxic

 Hey Owlets,

This past year has been the year of the side hustle. Saving hours of commuting time every day, multiple lockdowns and not being able to be social in our down time has led people to question what we do with all this free time? And the answer seems fairly obvious on the face of it. There’s so much content online about creating financial freedom and being your own boss - you’ve got all free now so why not start working on growing your brand/business/freelancing career so you never have to go back to the office when this is over with? It seems like an ideal plan, but it’s toxic.

What's Happening with The Owlet?

Hey Owlets,

It’s been such a long time since I last uploaded that I’m wondering if I can even still call you that? Let’s call it what it is - 2021 was a total train wreck for my blog. I think I uploaded maybe 10 blog posts, if that. I’ve had loads of messages asking if I’m still going to be a blogger, and even people coming up to me in the street and asking why I don’t post anymore. So, with that in mind I wanted to take some time now to catch you up and explain what’s been happening.

For three incredible years I was so lucky to call The Owlet my job - opening my emails to find someone asking me to review a cruise ship or fly to a random country for an epic road trip (here’s looking at you, Romania). Then 2020 happened. As much as I love my blog I’m sure you can understand that there isn’t a lot of call for a travel blogger in the middle of a pandemic. I woke up one morning (actually the morning I was supposed to be heading to Barcelona for a work trip - go figure) to find that my job was no longer required, along with the rest of the travel industry.

My options were go and get a normal job, hope the pandemic didn’t last too long or work something out - well winging it has worked for me so far so that seemed like the obvious choice. 

In Search of the "Cruise Ship Sparkle" Post-Pandemic

Hey Owlets,

If you read my post a few weeks ago you’ll know that I’ve been really struggling to find the motivation with my blog in the last few months. While I started my blog in 2016, it was in 2017 after just one chance encounter and an unplanned cruise got me hooked on travel that The Owlet was really born. For three glorious years I got to travel, see more of what was on my doorstep and what was further afield and I could finally say that I was doing something I loved. So in 2020 when my wings were unexpectedly clipped and I found myself tethered to a two mile radius in a seaside town that no one has ever heard of, I lost my “why”. It’s understandable - when your whole personality revolves around a love of exploring and adventure, a 2 mile radius is never going to be enough to fulfil you - anyway, how do you write about travel if no one is allowed to do it anymore?

One of the things I found hardest was not being able to cruise, so when the opportunity finally came up to be able to get back to doing what I love most I was more than a little surprised to find myself apprehensive. I’ve long spoken about the magic of cruising where everything feels like it’s straight out of a fairytale and you’re the princess. I love being able to make friends with guests and crew and see new places knowing that at the end of the day I get to re-board my floating home and quite literally sail into the sunset for the next destination.

How I Fought the Comparison Cliche

Hey Owlets,

They say that comparison is the thief of joy. I have no idea who “they” are exactly but they’re right.

It’s such a cliche phrase that even as I’m writing this I’m desperately trying to come up with a title that doesn’t have people rolling their eyes and scrolling past - the internet is all about clicks after all. The thing is, that’s the problem.

For five years now I’ve called The Owlet my home on the internet. I’ve been lucky to meet incredible people from across the globe, create a life that gives me freedom and makes me truly happy. I open my phone to an inbox flooded with kind messages and happy anecdotes that people just wanted to share with me. I’ve created content that I’m truly proud of and worked with brands that I could only dream of knowing I exist. I am so lucky and I have worked so hard to have these things in my life and yet this week I lost sight of it all. 

What I've Learnt from 5 Years on the Internet

Hey Owlets,

This February marked 5 years of The Owlet. I know it’s cliche to be like “I never imagined this would happen” but it’s true, I didn’t. I started this blog because I HATED my university and wanted a creative outlet. If I’m honest I didn’t expect anyone to actually read it, I just wanted something to do that wasn’t related to my studies. Now you may have noticed that it’s not February anymore and I’m a solid 4 months late to writing this article, but as I’m sure you can understand, multiple lockdowns kind of got in the way of me feeling creative. Regardless, 2021 is still the 5th year of The Owlet so I wanted to sit down with you and have a bit of a chat. 

I feel like I’ve learnt a lot in the past 5 years, not just about blogging but just more generally about how to be a half-decent human. My family will laugh as I tell you this but I was always well known as the most sensitive of souls growing up - really not the best fit to be a blogger. I would constantly get upset about some keyboard warrior leaving a stupid comment, or I’d accidentally end up in an argument on Twitter because its all too easy to take someone the wrong way and I would try to explain what I meant but it was too late because that person had already decided to take offence. I’ve spoken very openly about my revelation after being in a really bad place back in 2017 but that really was the defining moment. If I’m totally honest, I think it was at that point that I decided I didn’t give a toss what anyone thought of me anymore. 

Let’s Catch Up

Hey Owlets,

A while ago I uploaded a post called “It’s Been a While” and the irony hasn’t escaped me that it’s actually been a while since I uploaded again after that post. In case you missed it, I talked about struggling to find inspiration in lockdown and coasting by doing the minimum each day to continue to keep a roof over our heads - inspiring content, I know. In that sense things haven’t changed a lot, but other things have so I thought we were due a catch up because I actually miss sitting down to put my thoughts on a page with you.

So, what happened in the last few months?

5 Things I’m Loving (or Not) Right Now

Hey Owlets,

I’ve seen this trend going around Youtube recently where people talk about the things they’ve bought over lockdown and rate their purchases. I know I haven’t done trendy posts for a good few years but with the launch of my new websites coming up it’s allowing me a bit more freedom to post whatever I want instead rather than focusing on what’s going to do well. In all honesty I’m not one of those people that buys a lot of things - I tend to save my money and then treat myself to a trip or a more pricey object that I really want later on. Instead, I wanted to bring back a little 2016 Owlet with an updated version of favourites, sharing things that have come into my life that I’ve absolutely loved, and some that I haven’t as much - because let’s be real, everyone enjoys hearing about the fails, don’t they?

Hello, It's Been a While

Hi! Remember me? 

That girl who used to be obsessed with writing essays on her little corner of the internet? I still am, but let's be honest - at best my uploading schedule has been sporadic, at worst it's been absolutely abysmal. It's not that I haven't been writing - I have tonnes of posts sitting in my drafts just waiting for their time to shine, but the actual uploading has been a little allusive. 

Let me be frank - 2020 was meant to be the best year ever for me and The Owlet, and instead calling it a trainwreck seems a little too nice. 2020 was hard for everyone - I'm not even going to pretend that it wasn't and I know I was not even close to one of the worst affected people in the world. "You had a few holidays cancelled, boohoo, poor you" - I mean they were mainly work trips but the point still stands.

What 2020 has Taught Me

Hey Owlets,

2020 was the year that no one expected, could prepare for or even knew how to even survive. It’s undoubtably been one of the hardest years for everyone, but while so many people are wishing this awful year would be erased from their memories I’m not entirely mad at it. Don’t get me wrong, this year has been pretty horrific, but there are a few saving graces for me just from the fact that I’ve learnt so much. I’ve done a few of these “What this year has taught me” so it probably looks like I’m just doing it for clicks, but I genuinely do write these from a place of learning something about myself. I think the last one I wrote was in 2018 when a close friend died, because he definitely taught me a lot. I’ve been lucky enough to not know anyone who has contracted COVID and I am a little conscious that I’m writing this when compared to some people I’ve really not had the worst year. However, I do believe that we can all take something away from this year, even if we’ve been lucky enough to not be badly affected.

Good Things that Happened in 2020

Hey Owlets,

This year has been a whirlwind, not in terms of time going fast but in everything that’s happened. Recently I’ve noticed online that it’s become cool to hate this year, and yes this year has been pretty terrible, but I’m a firm believer of trying to find the positives in everything. Growing up with my Dad’s poor health I’ve always been taught to make the most of every day, and jumping on the “I hate this year” bandwagon totally goes against that. Instead, I wanted to spread a little positivity by discussing a few good things that have happened to me this year, and I hope that this will encourage you to look for some positives too.

Desenio: An Honest Review

Hey Owlets,

I am so excited to bring you this review today. If you’ve been anywhere on the homewares/fashion blogger internet circle then you’ve probably heard of Desenio. It feels as if they just popped up out of nowhere one day and every single blogger I followed had Desenio artwork in their homes. I can’t lie, I’m quite easily influenced if a blogger I really like is talking about something, and having seen so many people mention Desenio I desperately wanted some of their prints. At the time as a 15 year old girl with only pocket money in my bank it wasn’t a priority purchase but I still loved going through the website just because I enjoyed looking at pretty pieces. Fast forward almost a decade and, having just moved into my first home, I was so excited to finally be able to shop on Desenio and fill my walls with the beautiful artwork that I’d been staring at for years!

Travel Mishaps: Part 2

Hey Owlets,

A while ago I wrote an article called “Travel Mishaps: Everything that Happened” and in that I mentioned that I could’ve gone on for days about other stupid mistakes I’d made. However, not everything that’s happened while travelling was avoidable - either due to lack of experience, lack of knowledge or it was just one of those things. With that in mind, I wanted to make a part two to that article, but this time I want to focus on the things that have gone wrong, so you can have a laugh at my expense but also hopefully learn from them.

My Christmas Wishlist

*Contains Affiliate Links*

Hey Owlets,

2020 has thrown a lot our way, and personally it's made life as a blogger pretty difficult. If you follow me on Instagram you'll already know but, in case you missed it, I announced I wouldn't be doing my usual gift guide. There's a lot of different reasons for this, but it wasn't an easy decision and I've really missed writing about my favourite products. I've decided to get in the spirit of 2020 and do things differently. I can't afford to buy all of the products to review in my gift guide, so instead I thought it might be interesting for you to see what's on my wish list. Hopefully if you're wondering what to get someone you care about, or you're looking to treat yourself after a hard year, then this might provide some inspiration. You're going to have to bear with me for the first few items - I did say this was an ultimate wish list, so while there are some more affordable items on here, there's also a few things that I can't necessarily afford but would absolutely love!!

Ultimate Black Friday & Christmas Shopping Guide: My Top Picks

Hey Owlets,

I will freely admit, I'm not usually Black Friday obsessed despite being on the internet for the last four years to witness the hype. Having said that, something about being at home for almost the entirety of this year has resulted in somewhat of an addiction to online shopping so this year I am completely sold! I've been planning Christmas gifts since August out of sheer boredom, so I have a list of things ready to buy (both for myself and my family) so I can fully take advantage of the best deals. I've already done way too much research on this for myself so I thought I could justify the time I spent scrolling by sharing the best Black Friday deals with you. I imagine this blog post is going to be quite a long one so I've split them into categories, and I've tried to include something for every budget from high street to high end; if you're looking for the perfect present for yourself or your family then I've absolutely got you covered with this list!

Heads up: This post contains affiliate links and some paid-for content, but my opinions are my own as always!

How to Deal with Feeling Overwhelmed

Hey Owlets,

With the Prime Minister’s most recent announcement about the second wave, lockdown 2.0 and all the new rules it’s totally understandable for your head to be spinning - I know mine is! However, having worked from home since before the pandemic I’m no stranger to the feeling of being totally overwhelmed and not knowing where to start, whether it’s about work, friends or general life. Having had some experience in dealing with overwhelm pre-pandemic I wanted to share my tips to hopefully help you to calm down and feel a little more grounded.

How I’m Planning My Time in Lockdown 2.0

Hey Owlets,

As I write this, the government have just announced a new national lockdown in England. I know that for a lot of you this is absolutely terrifying - I remember the feeling of dread I had when they announced the first lockdown and although I feel better about this one, I’m still nervous so I can only imagine how some of you are feeling. During the first lockdown I spent everyday wondering what to do and I got to the end of it annoyed that I’d not done anything productive for 3 months when everyone else was posting pictures of their baking, the new language they’d learnt or the musical instrument they taught themselves to play. If you need to just get through it on survival mode that’s totally fine and understandable. However, I’m personally feeling a little more positive about Lockdown 2.0 now I know what to expect, so I thought sharing how I plan to use my time might be helpful if you’re wanting to do something but not knowing where to start.

Travel Mishaps: Everything that Happened

Hey Owlets,

It’s fair to say that over the last few years I’ve come a long way from being a totally clueless 20-year-old. I’ve been fortunate enough to clock up a lot of miles travelled over the last few years, and during this time I’ve also learnt a lot. Having said that, it took a lot of trying my best and in all honesty a lot of stupid situations and me putting my foot in my mouth! I feel like we all need a bit of a laugh right now, so here’s some of the stupid things that have made me laugh, made me want the floor to swallow me up, or just stuck in my mind over the past few years.

What I Wish I'd Known Before Renting My First Flat

Hey Owlets,

In case you missed the news, I recently moved in with my boyfriend. It's actually the first time I've lived anywhere other than my family home so even though I was excited it was incredibly daunting. I am one of those people that will plan myself into oblivion. When we were moving in to our flat I had already calculated my share of the rent each month, allowed way over the top of what I estimated our bills to actually be, researched how much council tax was going to cost, budget for our furniture, busses to different areas of Bristol.... you name it, I'd probably already thought of it and put it in the spread sheet, yet somehow I still felt unprepared. As much as planning ahead can help, you'll never be prepared for absolutely everything and there will always be something that catches you off guard. I thought this could be a good opportunity for my younger readers to learn from some of the mistakes I've made, and if you're a more mature reader I'm hoping you might also be able to set me straight on some things that I've probably still forgotten!!

What Being an Influencer is REALLY Like

*contains sponsored content*

Hey Owlets,

There’s no doubting that starting a blog has changed my life. I’ve written a different post for every anniversary of starting my blog - they normally look back at some of the amazing things I’ve done that year or what I’ve learnt as a blogger, but this year I decided to take a step back and talk about some of the articles that changed my life from my first post to the dream cruise ship press trip. I talked about how I got there, what happened and some of the amazing experiences I’ve had along the way, but what I didn’t mention is what it’s like behind the scenes of being a blogger.