First Airbnb Experience

This was my first time using Airbnb* - I mean I'd previously used it in New York but it was an aparthotel kinda thing, so not the same!*. Its something I'd known about for years but just never found the right place to stay in before now.

 I'm always slightly apprehensive about staying somewhere like this, manically checking the reviews and making sure we don't turn up to some shady flat.

 But I have to say, this was one of the best places I've stayed in and we were so happy with our choice.

We stayed in the cutest little apartment in Croatia (Zadar to be exact). It ticked all the boxes - cute decor, great location, cheap, in a safe place and had good reviews. The lovely lady who owned it was great at getting back to us and letting us know the best ways to get there from the airport, she also met us there to give us the keys etc. She was the sweetest! She had put together a little welcome pack for us with maps, things to do, she'd even marked on the map where was the best to eat/drink etc., left us a bottle of wine and fresh fruit in the fridge. What a cutie!

Everything was super clean and lovely, Sonja our host was always available if we needed any help or had any questions, we couldn't of asked for a better host! We had to leave for the airport at around 7pm and usual checkout was around 11 I think? But she kindly let us leave our cases and come back to change into our comfy clothes when we needed to :).

Over all, we had an amazing stay, this apartment definitely played a huge part in our holiday being so amazing! Which might sound a bit dramatic, but if we had turned up to a dingy old flat then it definitely would've put a damper on things!
Staying in an apartment like this just has so much more character than a bog standard hotel room, it was our own little home for the week that we looked forward to coming back to every day. It was cosy, comfortable and in the best place. Because old town Zadar is quite small, we loved it because everything became familiar and we knew where we were going within a couple of days, we loved being able to leave for dinner 5 minutes before because we were just so close to everything. Can't rave about this place enough! If I ever go back to Zadar (which I totally would!) then I would stay here again 100%.

My advice to anyone wanting to book an airbnb for the first time is the obvious really - do your research, look into the area, take note of the photos - a good apartment will have good quality photos, if you're looking at one with 3 pics of the whole place taken on an iphone with dodgy lighting, stay away! And most importantly, as with anything, make sure you read enough reviews! & Contact the host for any further questions you may have. Do this and you should be all good!

x

A Day At Plitvice Lakes

If you're looking for a place worthy of the word breathtaking, then look no further than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Having never been to Croatia before, I had no idea what was even there, let alone if there was anything like this! Truly one of the most insanely beautiful places I have seen. I felt like I spent the whole day saying wow and woahhh at everything!!

This was my first ever experience of a National Park where there are different trails you can take depending on how long you want to be walking around for. We chose the 3-4 hour one so that we were back in time for our coach and also because that was just enough for us! The park is well sign posted & easy to navigate, you can also pick up a map to bring around with you at the entrance.

I don't think I can explain to you the scale of this place, even looking at the pictures doesn't do it justice! As soon as you walk in you are greeted with the view of a massssive waterfall and its just incredible. Its one of those places you have to go and see for yourself to experience the magic of it. It had the most crystal clear, turquoise blue water, so much greenery, waterfalls everywhere you looked, there were even a few caves and some up hill areas!

I have to say, this was my favourite park we went to, Krka was amazing (read about that here!) but this one took first place for me! Its absolutely huge and there are so many different areas to see, it really is breathtaking like I said. There were cute little areas, for example a place where you could rent a boat and go out on it! We did go on a boat but only to get to the other side of the park, it was beautiful and the views honestly looked like you could be in Thailand or something, so amazing!!

 I don't have too many tips for it, the only things are the obvious but -

Plan your journey - knowing the times of your travel plans are important to know how long you can stay for

Bring water and snacks - the food options here arn't great and they're expensive too, I'd recommend bringing your own if you can!

Wear comfortable clothes/shoes - you'll most likely be doing a lot of walking! As I said, Plitvice is much bigger than Krka so I advise you wear something super comfy!

As always, I'd say get there early to avoid queing etc, but its a little is to be expected and usually goes rather quick. Depending on where you're staying in Croatia, the times of getting there will vary of course. We stayed in Zadar and it took about 2 hours to get there, so quite long but so worth it!!

I could go on forever about how pretty it is, so I'll leave it here but I hope you enjoyed having a look and maybe helped you decide where to visit next, I would HIGHLY! recommend!

Corina Fay x

Turning 25 (and a look back through the years)

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Hey! If you didn't know, I turned 25 recently (HOW?!). I had the bestttt day and night and rest assured, I was VERY hungover on Saturday, turning a year older definitely doesn't mean turning a year wiser, I never learn *flash backs to vodka being poured in my mouth from the bottle ~shudders~*

 I wasn't sure what to post about it, so I thought a look back through the years would be good to see how I've changed and also a great opportunity to laugh at how thin my eye brows were (amongst other things to laugh at). ENJOY!

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To be fair, this birthday seems like yesterday! As you can see, I consumed about 1000+ calories with a good old birthday cake shake from Home Sweet Home, played cards against humanity with my favourite people and ate home made cake, it was super fun.

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I think this was the last birthday I had the was actually sunny and hot all day! You wouldn't think that having a June birthday would mean rain, but unfortunately in the UK, it pretty much does.

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Ahhh 22, I remember wanting that vintage dress I'm wearing from COW so much (it was a reconstructed Ralph Lauren shirt dress thing) and was so happy to have it. This was at the end of uni which is crazy. My best friends decorated our kitchen into some kind of red carpet event with an ACTUAL red carpet :') and party poppers when I walked in, playing 22 by Taylor Swift, ha! Cuties.

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21! A big birthday, I remember thinking 21 was so adult-y and now looking back I'm like what, I was a baby! I went for afternoon tea (a long with about 10 other celebrations, I'm a real birthday person, can you tell?) and felt like a princess!

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Now we're getting a bit further back! Clearly loving a side parting, I also feel I look so pale here?! Ahhh, the days when I could stand being in Hula past 12am without wanting to hit everyone that bumps into me (if you've been there you'll know how busy and tiny it is!).

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I think I was just about coming out of my "vintage" phase here, hahaha!! I had that blonde chunk in my hair for about 3 years, I did love it at the time tbh ha! My eyebrows seem to be really long for some reason, I'd filled them in...but a little bit longer that they should be, but they are an improvement on 18 let me tell ya!!

18

Oh god, 18. Yep, thats me, v proud of the fact I could use my own ID. I have the most intense comb over and a ridiculous amount of Tresemme freeze hold hair spray in there. Was also v happy as I had just had my braces off. My hair had remnants of the purple dye I had on it for years (believe me, that  shit took YEARS TO GROW OUT), my eyebrows are so tiny oh god. And the Henry Holland tights, oh wow. Again, at the time I absolutely loved them!! Also got some nice stick on french tip nails there. It would also would appear at this age that I used to think blusher was used for contouring and bronzing? Because looking back, my face just is permanently pink ahhh!!

I unfortunately can't find my 17th birthday but you arn't missing much, braces and reddish/purpley hair, I know, fashion goddess.

Thanks for taking a look back through the years with me!

x