It has recently been brought to my attention that Travel Journalling isn't quite all it's made out to be; and that maybe I'd overlooked the benefits of Travel Blogging as an alternative. Anyways, here are my thoughts on both, to enlighten your little minds, you're welcome. xx

Images taken from Pinterest

Don't get me wrong, I love a good notebook. There's a certain novelty that comes with writing in a brand new notebook and sticking in Polaroids with travel themed washi tapes... but it takes time, and if you've spent the entire day adventuring are you really going to want to return to your hotel to spend an hour or so writing everything down. I suppose you could write as you go along, it would split up your day and you could write a little more 'in the moment.' But realistically are you going to get the chance? I suppose you'll have the time during the day if you maybe have an hour long train journey either side of your outing, but if not, then it's a little annoying to have to spend ages documenting everything down when you just want to shower and sleep. It's at this point that the novelty wears off.

Travel blogging is a little easier, you can just upload the photos from your phone and type up your thoughts as and when you can - it's less time consuming as typing is often quicker than writing, and can be a little more chatty and a little less formal. It's also cheaper due to the not having to buy washi tapes and pens and notebooks and a Polaroid camera and any other stickers or decorative fabrics you may need for a journal. Travel blogging also comes with the benefit of having your thoughts actually being read by other people, whereas travel journals often just end up sitting on a dusty bookshelf for years. 

Earlier this summer, I tried to spend a few days both Travel Journalling and Travel Blogging - blogging the bigger, more adventurous days, and journaling every bit of every day. Personally, even after only a few days, I established that I definitely prefer blogging; purely because it's less time consuming and more practical as I can blog wherever and whenever as long as I have my phone on me. However the novelty of the travel journal still remains, it would be lovely to look back on each summer and see what I got up to through the means of flicking through a notebook filled with leaflets and Polaroids. But at the end of the day, I think I'm going to have to ditch the travel journal and stick to the blogging, but hey, maybe I'll give it another go in the future.

Let me know your thoughts on this very serious matter in the comments pls xx

Can we please just appreciate the sky in this photo

Loving the Floridian flora

Fancy bridge

Cruising along the highway

Me

Again, the sky in this photo, can we just.

On a pier

I'm honestly so good at crazy golf like I never knew I was so talented

Definitely feeling those beach withdrawal symptoms smh

July kicked off with a week spent in Lilo di Jesolo, near Venice, with my dearest mother and my younger brother. We spent a day in Venice, spent a few days relaxing on the beach, and went up the Dolomites for a little adventure.

It was honestly such an incredible week and Venice is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

After a couple days spent back at home doing nothing apart from sleeping and binge-watching Netflix, as well as a quick lunch with the girls, myself and my brother hopped on a plane with my dad to Florida which is where I am currently.

Again, the majority of our trip so far has already been documented through the gazillion travel posts I've published recently, and that will no doubt continue into August, but here's just a quick update.

We spent a couple of days in Tampa, doing a bit of shopping and seeing some family friends. After Tampa we waddled on down to Anna Maria Island which sits itself on the Gulf Coast. We've just finished spending a week there on the island and on Saturday we drove down to Naples which is where we are now.

We're in Naples for a week before heading back home to London, where finally, I will be able to return to my preferred Netflix binge-watching lifestyle.

July has been a bunch of giggles but it has also kinda stressy and it has been a while since I've seen most of my friends. Hopefully, that will change in August.

Pretty chuffed about how July has turned out, despite having a couple of really rough days where I couldn't seem to keep my head above the water.

Currently pretty hyped for August, although I'm definitely dreading results day...

Nothing makes a holiday quite like a trip up the Alps. Personally, I'm not the type of person to enjoy lying on a beach relaxing for days on end, I mean it's great for a few days, but eventually, the urge to explore takes over.

So when we were in Italy, myself and the fam took a trip to Cortina and then onto the Dolomites to add a few mountains to our holiday experience.

Cortina

Cortina is this adorable little town at the bottom of the mountains. In the winter it kind of morphs into the base of a ski resort but in summer it's this quiet little town filled with adorable coffee shops and insane views.
Legit would love to live somewhere like this one day. I mean who wouldn't? There are very few people, so avoidance of human interaction would be very possible, there's green literally everywhere, and there are lakes, so like, what more could you want?

Currently sporting an army green halter neck top from H&M, and black denim shorts also from H&M. fyi I'm not sponsored at all by H&M, but like if they'd want to, I'd so be up for that.

We got two cable cars up to the top of the ski resort and in between taking photos and experiencing that thinner air we grabbed some grub and I had some killer spaghetti bolognese, so you know, if you're ever up in the Dolomites, try and find that lone restaurant on the mountains and try the spag bol cos trust me, you won't  regret it.

My face, again. This time, I'm also wearing a flannel shirt from TKMaxx that's 3 sizes too big cos I've sort of stopped looking at sizes when I shop now.

I may or may not have sprinted up this hill the second I saw it... did it for the lols didn't I

Honestly, feel so at home in places like these. Reminds me of skiing a few years ago and how much I miss it. It's honestly a whole other world up here, separate from everything else.

You know you're a true adventurer when you fangirl over the landforms like a 12-year-old girl meeting 1D for the first time.

After spending some quality time on the very large rocks, we headed back down the two cable cars and headed back to the hotel, twas a fun day, possibly the best day of our week in Venice, would recommend to all.

Lake appreciation

Currently in Italy with the fam, lying on a sunbed in 30-degree heat.

Observations - I'm not a fan of heat, at least not without a fan present.

- As much as lying on the beach is hella fun, I'd prefer to be hiking or abseiling or cycling or just up in the mountains somewhere experiencing those picturesque landforms.

- Deffo not a fan of sun cream. Deffo don't appreciate the fact that my thighs stick together when I walk whilst covered in sun cream. 

- The lack of internet available to me at this current moment is deeply traumatic, however, it's nice to not talk to people cos people can be hella annoying when they grace you with their presence every minute of every day via the means of snapchat, insta and the twitosphere.

- I'm about as white as a piece of paper reflecting sunlight. I have the inability to tan. Instead, I just burn and peel. Not fun. Although the peeling part is a tad satisfying. #dontjudge.

- Currently obsessed with using #'s in everyday conversation; think I'm morphing into what is commonly known as a hipster, although let's be honest, take one look at my aesthetic and you know I'm above that lyf.

Pretty convinced I've just about got my shit together, pretty much know what subjects I want to be taking next year and where I want to be educated, pretty much know how I want to spend the rest of summer, pretty much have my priorities in check, pretty much got life sussed at this current moment in time. Pretty chuffed.

Currently 18 full days clean and counting. Applaud my success pls #killingthislivingthing #lovinlyf. 

Currently not quite knowing where I stand with at least 4 people, but not thinking about that rn cos did you hear I'm 18 days clean? Ain't nothing gonna bring me down *touch wood.*

Currently missing rain, and the cold. Heat is great but it feels a lil unnatural. Still don't quite understand what the giant yellow plasma ball in the sky is doing #whatisthisheat #whereistherainandmisery.

Definitely going to binge watch a bunch of movies and tv shows when I get home. Also, plan to blog a lot more since the whole excuse of having exams and having to revise has sailed over the horizon. 

Desperately in need of exercise. I miss running. Never thought I'd say that but I genuinely do feel out of place not being in my sports bra. I also just bought some new weights so hella excited to start using those. 

Currently debating what my favourite flavour of ice cream is. Used to be strawberry, now I'm not sure. All I know is that I hate chocolate ice cream. This uncertainty in my life has brought me to a bit of a mental standstill; can't move on with my life without knowing, you know? Anyways, watch this space cos I'll keep you updated on the ice cream front. 

Xx bye fans