Self Love Comes In More Ways Than One

The message I promote and stick by always is surrounded by self-love. Whatever that means to you, for me it's completely loving yourself so that no one else can touch or influence your happiness. Self-reliant on you so that you know you're truly happy as the person you are, in the body you are in. Coming off (pun intended) from masturbating May, a month where we celebrate self-masturbation and self-pleasure, I want to continue the importance of self (masturbating) love.

The Big Summer Get Away With Jet2 - Now Flying From Bristol Airport

Travel hasn't been on most minds since the Pandemic hit. Almost trapped in our own countries whilst Covid made its way across the globe, now that there's some normality hitting and with a traffic light system enabling you to travel Jet 2 is having a big celebration.

The Big Summer get away is all about celebrating get away this year, and Jet 2 are now flying from Bristol airport to several top summer destinations including the Balerics, Croatia and Greece. 

Dating As A Plus Size Person In 2024

Dating as a plus-size person can be difficult. It is easy to understand why: a fear of fat bodies from society, sometimes a lack of self confidence from women who are fat. There's a variety of factors that do make dating as a plus women (and even man / whatever gender you are) hard.

Dating In The Modern World

 

The pandemic put a hault on most things, seeing friends and family, going shopping, even going to work but the hardest thing for myself was a world without dating face to face. Meeting people for a drink turned quickly to swiping across apps and arranging zoom call dates. I thought I was already adapted to a pretty big digital world but nothing braced me for the world of digital dating quite like being thrown in to it. Adapting to the challenge as a 30 something old woman, I decided to take the challenge head on but try help and inspire you to take the leap in to the world of dating. 

What to Leave at Home When You Go Camping

What feels like a lifetime, camping feels like a distant memory. Those muggy morning waking up with some stuck to you, peels yourself off the make shift bed, and wriggling out of your sleeping bag. Oh what I'd give to be outside and at a festival. 

There's some sure fire ways though to ruin a camping trip and that's by over packing 

It may feel like you need to bring everything but the kitchen sink but packing for camping is nothing like packing for example when moving ( is it me or am I the only one searching Whistler Homes for Sale right now?) Packing for a camping trip is a skill and I have a few tips below.

How I Got My First Mortgage In A Pandemic.

If I'm being completely honest with myself the move from London was long over due. 8 years of my life and the best part of my 20's were spent in that magnificent city. I'll forever be grateful for what it brought me, but heading towards my 30's something didn't sit right. The cost of living, the struggles. As brilliant as a city it is, it does tend to tear you down. I'd be fortunate to come in to some money, and with savings and I'd initially toyed with the idea of owning with a help to buy and how it'd be possible staying in London due to not wanting to give my career up. Thanks to the pandemic, a job change and flexibility with where I could work, I decided then was the time to move, and to seek out the opportunities to possibly own a home.

6 Months Until Christmas 2021 - Make Your Own Advent Calendar.

 

** Dare I say it Christmas is 6 months away WHAT?? Yes we’re half way through 2021 already, and Christmas is on the horizon. I love to be prepared and I love gifts and ideas that are personal and can be customised. Although I’m not counting down just yet, there’s nothing better (even in adult age) to have an advent calendar to open each day through Dec to the big day it’s self.

The Growth Of The Influencer 2021

My life over the last several years has been an adventure. I studied fashion in college with a nod to design, which swiftly moved to a love of marketing. I studied fashion marketing at university and through this discovered the up and coming trend of blogging. These blogs were popping up left right and center, and I discovered a world of other plus size babes with attitude, style and were people I could connect with. I knew immediately I wanted to join this and with that created Cardifforniagurl.

Dating in 2021 - A post pandemic world

Now that we're nearly living in a post pandemic world, and with normality in sight, everything we once knew we're finally able to do. A big one for the other singletons in the world is dating. Getting back out to that world safely and comfortably is the biggest challenge. Being able to get out to meet people, sit in a bar, communicate away from a screen. It really brings back a more personable approach. But that doesn't mean it won't start using online dating sites.

Dating After Divorce - A Guide to Online Dating

The pandemic put a hault on most things, but also saw us trapped inside and actually re looking at our relationships. Through the latest pandemic it was noted that Law firms saw a 40% increase on divorce enquires. With people sadly ending relationships and in a world without dating face to face. Meeting people for a drink has turned quickly to swiping across apps and arranging zoom call dates. I thought I was already adapted to a pretty big digital world but nothing braced me for the world of digital dating quite like being thrown in to it. 

Three Digital Side Hustles Which Will Help Boost Your Income

We're all living in a digital world these days, with technology readily available at our fingertips. I'm confident to say we're all looking for extra income streams alongside our main income, to treat ourselves or save for things we need. I've discovered three way's in which to boost that income (please note you will need to chat with HMRC to declare this properly) but who doesn't want or need a little extra passive cash flow that is easy to create.

Post Pandemic Dating - Glasgow

The pandemic put a hault on most things, seeing friends and family, going shopping, hell even going to work (with most still not back in the office) but the hardest thing for myself was a world without dating face to face. Meeting people for a drink turned quickly to swiping across apps and arranging zoom call dates. I thought I was already adapted to a pretty big digital world but nothing braced me for the world of digital dating quite like being thrown in to it. 

Post Pandemic Dating - How To Get Back In The Swing

The pandemic really put a hault on most things, seeing friends and family, going shopping, hell even going to work (with most still not back in the office) but the hardest thing for myself was a world without dating face to face. Meeting people for a drink turned quickly to swipping across apps and arranging zoom call dates. I thought I was already adapted to a pretty big digital world but nothing braced me for the world of digital dating quite like being thrown in to it. 


Adapting to the challenge as a young 20 something I decided to take the challenge head on. What else was there to do other than one walk a day and binging that Netflix series over and over again.



Using a site like the Cambridgeshire Dating Site I set my location ( for example for anyone in Cambridgeshire Dating head straight here for that location to search singles in that area), update my preferences, I'd add some cute photos of me traveling, at a festival with friends, with the family pets, in my fave outfit........ you know the happy and positive ones that show you in your best light. Armed with a essay bio listing out my passions, what I like in someone, the messages came rolling in. But it didn't stop in the messages, along came zoom calls. Much like work you could have a party up the top, and pjs at the bottom to sit in comfort and relax, the bill was always split so no awkward end of date back and forth who was paying, and the drinks and food weren't half bad either if I do say so. 


To make it more fun I planned a few things which I think are perfect to connect and find out about one another.



This or that:

Before meeting virtually I'd normally arrange some sort of thing to bring. Much like in normal circumstances I found this or that a real quick fire way to find out more about the other person. And it would be a great way to bounce off one another and trickle down to other conversations about their likes or dislikes.

Themed dates

I then started getting really creative trying to arrange themes. It normally came down to the food of choice, for example chinese you'd get chinese take out and then there was another conversation opener on the lack of or not lack of creativity in your dates chosen dishes.


Quiz night

Another fun one was quiz night – Taking in turns to ask general knowledge questions to find out out clued up your date was on the wider world. If like me you watch far too much tv and your heads in the celeb gossip type websites you’re sure to maybe not perform too well, but again it opens up the conversation and eases you both in.



Now the world has began to open a little, there’s still no reason to not maybe take the first step digitally. With apps becoming the norm, I did and still do miss the connection with someone in person. But seeing someone in their natural world digitally was the next best thing and really opened my mind up to dating in digital world. And Who’s not to say prince charming may be coming to a screen near you soon.

And remember do what feels comfortable and do only what makes you happy and safe.

Love

Cardifforniagurl

xo

Top Tips For Decorating Your House For A Birthday Celebration

 

 

If you know Cardifforniagurl you know I love to get creative. From my style, right down to my very first home, I am forever looking at ways to channel that passion. And if there is an opportunity to decorate for an occasion I am there. I have so many birthdays coming up, including my very own thirtieth and I intend to make the most of my second lockdown birthday and my friends. I’ll be throwing celebrations (covid safe of course) and making the most of celebrating with friends and finally being home near my loved ones.

Lovehoney plus size lingerie new season collection - LoveHoney Discount Inside

 

Shop 15% off love honey now. Use this exclusive lovehoney discount by clicking the link. No code needed! Just click through that link and shop ;).

Confidence is something all of us have at certain degrees. Some have little, some have a lot, but one thing I'm certain of is we all have it. The one way that I love to express my confidence is lingerie. I wear it for myself, and of course share with my partner (and the world on social media.) There's just something about a good piece of lingerie that shows off your body that's empowering, sexy and fierce.

The Smileo Teeth Whitening Kit Review

Teeth hygiene is so important but also ensuring my pearly whites are indeed that, white.

Tuttirouge - Perfect Plus Size Lingerie

Someone once said to me "Michaela you're signature style and go to look for me is always a piece of lingerie, either on it's own or teamed with jeans.' And well Tutti Rouge certainly make it easy to not step away from that opinion. Their comfy but modern styles are an absolute must for your lingerie draw.

Yet Again LoveHoney Plus Is A Winner

Okay okay, some of you are sickkkkkk of seeing me in lingerie, where as the majority probably aren't. But hey, this is work, and I want other women/men/whatever gender you identify with to feel FABULOUS whatever they wear. And well I don't push or promote anything I don't love. 

Peak District Get Away With Buy A Gift

Just the other week I treated my friend and myself to a spa getaway courtesy of Buy A Gift. Tucked away in the Peak District, Lose Hill House is the perfect place to escape, with everything you could need on site.

Hidden Secrets Of London Bridge

So whenever anyone mentions London Bridge, The Shard or borough market spring to mind. London land marks that can been seen from the skyline and below. But my favourite part of London Bridge is in the opposite direction. Hayes galleria and nearer tower bridge (the bridge tourists often mistake for London) the views, atmosphere are incredible. A city vibe near the mayors office . There's plenty of hotels in London Bridge , restaurants, views and cool historic things to see.