Welcome Back to the 6

Last Day of Summer,Wassaga Beach, Ontario

"Welcome back!", words I have dreaded to hear since I left everything behind 10 months ago. I apologize in advance for disappearing from the blog the past weeks, but I've been trying to recover from some deep travel withdrawals,with a slight case of depression. How does one just jump back into a casual routine after spending the last few months exploring western Europe?.

As I sit here in front of my laptop and relive the best year of my life, I start to think to myself " but did that actually happen?.It seems like one big blur, you ever get that? When you go on vacation or go on the best date of your life and get home and lay on your bed like," Damn, was that even real?" yeah, that feeling. I know what you are all thinking, you live in Toronto it can't be all that bad? Right?, well Let me answer that for you. Nope it's not bad ,but to be honest waking up to an ocean view in Barcelone, and spending my weekends sipping sangria, and 3 euro mojitos  in El Born, sounds a

whole lot more romantic, than having to look forward to the next five thousand word essay due next week ( UOFT why you do this to me, give me that paper)

All jokes aside being back has made me realized how much I have changed and grown as a women.  Do you Remember months back when I wrote about my outlook on relationships and everything love? (relationships post). Well, for the first time in my life I feel like I'm ready to find my Prince Charming (where you at? Where is you hiding?, hit me up papi). I know people think it's cliché, but traveling has helped me figure out who I am. I now know where my head is at, where I see my life going and what I truly deserve, something I didn't prior to leaving. So, with that being said I encourage everyone reading this to let go of their fears and pack your bags and go out and explore the world. Chase that true feeling of happiness, you deserve it and owe it to yourself. Meanwhile, I will be here finishing up my degree ( it's okay go on without me)

Oh,p.s Prince Charming where ever you are at don't be shy slide

in my DMs (that's where you find true love, right?)

But, until my next adventure xo I want to thank you for reading,

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Italy, Much More than Just Rome

My aggressive uploads on social media this past month are all thanks to my recent travels to one of the most beautiful places in western Europe, Italy or Italia for all my Spanish speaking readers (I see you mami).Being this my second time in Italy I wanted to avoid revisiting  the main tourist attractions (failed) still ended up at the Coliseum, but can you really blame me?. Central Rome is spectacular, something straight out of a Disney movie ( s/o to Lizze Miguire) .When you think of Rome don’t you imagine yourself on the back of a Vespa holding onto an Italian boy name Marcangelo, who happens to know all the  best places to eat in the city and smells like the newest Paco Rabanne cologne? Okay maybe that’s just me.Its not that deep i'm sorry, Let’s get back on track, as I had previously mentioned I wanted to have a more authentic Italian experience and really explore other places outside from Rome. Thankfully, my aunt and her husband have an apartment in Sengi, a small ancient city two hours outside of Rome happened to be in the country at the same time as me, which made exploring much easier. Here are some of the places I encourage you to visit for yourself !

Castel Gandolfo

Fun Fact: Within the walls of this scenic town lies the Apostolic Palace Of Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Roman Catholic Pope

Terracina

Fun Fact: This breathtaking costal town has a sort of Greek aura, it serves the best gelato in the whole wide world!

Temple De Jove

Fun Fact: The temple resides on top of the city overlooking the coast and its surrounding towns. A perfect location for a glass of wine and some prosciutto.

Rome

Fun Fact: One word to describe this place magical

Other places you must see:

-Sengi & Cori

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The Top Five Place to Eat In Barcelona

What do I  love more than shopping and traveling ? If you guessed food, you are correct. Aside from the historic landmarks and the soccer team, Barcelona has become Catalonia’s capital of gastronomy; a symbol of Mediterranean cooking. When you visit Barcelona I want to make sure you get the full experience, and what better way to than by checking out my top five favorite eats within the city.

Brunch and Cakes by the Sea

Passeig de Joan de Borbó, 5

www.cupcakesbarcelona.com

This list would not be complete without a vegetarian and gluten free restaurant option. Brunch and Cake by the Sea is a tropical paradise, a burst of flavors and textures. It’s a unique restaurant located near the popular beach neighbour of Barceloneta. The food is served in wooden platers, decorated so beautifully that it makes you wonder if the food is going to taste as good as it look, and it does. Brunch and Cake has gained social media popularity, attracting tourist from all over the global. It’s not just the appealing food, or the decor that makes Brunch and Cake a prime location for tourist and locals, it’s the wide variety of healthy and affordable options this restaurant offers.

El Nacional

Passeig de Gràcia, 24 Bis, 08007 Barcelona

www.elnacionalbcn.com

 El Nacional is an upscale Iberian Peninsula food market with four specialized restaurants and four unique bars. The interior and architectural design of the restaurant is unlike anything you have seen before. From the gated entrance to the edgy bathroom lights, the detail at Nacional is sure to leave you in awh. The extremely beautiful building is complemented perfectly by the mouth-watering food served within. It’s a gastronomic experience you will surely only find in Barcelona.

Artte

all images retrieved from instagram

Carrer de Muntaner, 83C, 08011 Barcelona

www.artte.es

The restaurant name says it all-Artte meaning art in English, is a masterpiece of its own. The unique fusion between cuisine inspired from all areas of the global and live art makes this restaurant a must see in Barcelona.  The restaurant is composed of two separate rooms. The dining room is the main stage for live music and art, where one can appreciate local talent while enjoying a fantastic meal. The other room is dedicated to all things tea, with over 80 varieties of teas from China, Vietnam, Sir Lanka, India, Japan, Nepal and Africa. This restaurant is unlike any other within the city. Whether you simply want to relax and enjoy an exotic cup of tea or you are looking  for an authentic place to dine, arrte is the place to go.

 La Xampanyeria

Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 7, 08003 Barcelona

www.laxampanyeria.com

If culture is what you seek, La Xampanyeria is the ideal place for you. It has gained popularity throughout the years for both locals and tourist alike. The restaurant offers a wide range of famous champagnes and sparkling wines, as well as delicious tapes.

Martínez Barcelona

Ctra. de Miramar, 38, 08038 Barcelona

www.martinezbarcelona.com

More than just an amazing view, Martinez is a rooftop restaurant specialized in rice and paella. It’s an ideal place to dine with your significant other or with a group of friends on a lovely Saturday afternoon.

As published on www.drivemebarcelona.com

Travelling on a Budget | Marrakech, Morocco

Travelling on a budget, yes please!
Finding  travel deals has become one of my strongest qualities (highly, considering putting it on my resume). It's almost as addicting as extreme couponing , expect I am not saving on laundry  detergent or getting a two for one deal on toothpaste ( although, that may be exhilarating to some) to me finding a flight to Morocco for 120 euros gets my heart racing . This time around I wanted to travel outside of Europe and  experience a culture  completely different from anything I have ever been exposed to. I knew before I began  to plan my trip to Morocco  that it wouldn't be as cheap  as my France trip ( although, I wish I could pull some  next Houdini movements and find an extremely crazy deal, especially during easter weekend) but at the end of the day Marrakech was worth the $350.00

My urge to travel to Morocco began one night when I stumble upon a picture on Pinterest of Marrakech's  most luxuries resort La Mmounia ( Christiano Ronaldo has stayed  there before but I mean our annual income is  "slightly" different). The five start resort was definitely outside of my price range, but luxury was not what I was in search for.  I choice to travel to Morocco for its captivating culture and unique landscapes. I wanted to immerse myself into the culture, and experience it  the traditional Moroccan way, and let me tell you the people and the city exceeded my expectations.

Morocco Vblog on the Channel

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How did we get there

As, I previously mention on my traveling on a budget France addition my go to  ticket site is fareandcompare.com. This time around I found a flight for 120 euros with Ibiera airlines, but there was a catch we had a 10 hour lay over in Madrid.We choice to fly on easter weekend and due to the high demand of flights the prices were more expensive than usual. Typically ,you can fly from Barcelone to Marrakech for as low as 75-85 euros. Our lovely host arranged for our transportation from the airport to our location for  15euros (I think we got overcharged ). In Marrakech you can honestly bargain your life so if you choose to take a taxi make sure you negotiate a fair rate , locals tend to jack up the prices for tourist, 50-60 dirham  is typically what they should be charging you (about 4-6 euros). Locals speak french and Arabic but most people are able to communicate in English as well.

Where did we Stay?

As my friend Derek and I made the exciting decision to travel to Marrakech together  we started looking online for accommodations and came across an article that suggested staying at a Riad - a traditional Moroccan home. If you truly want to get the full Moroccan experience I highly suggest avoiding traditional hotels. We booked through air bnb  for  three days, two nights and stayed at the beautiful Raid 22 for $120cCAD which included breakfast as well. The host are exceptional  ( s/o to Ahmed and Valeria) the entire Raid was extremely beautiful and clean, I would 100% stay there again if I find myself in Marrakech in the future.Riad 22.

Where did we Eat?

I highly encourage spending a little bit more and treating yourself to a dinner at the  Jad Mahal Resturant. The dinner  including a starter, drinks, main and a dessert for $200CAD (our most expensive expense during our trip). The food was exquisite but what made it worth the money  was the atmosphere. The restaurant looked like a Moroccan castle with beautiful chandeliers and candles everywhere. There was live music and belly dancer throughout the night, and fire breathers as well. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of our trip. We got to see a whole other side of Marrakech a more westernized type of lifestyle, where habibi's were popping bottles and dancing all night long.There was definitely a  contrast  between the new city and the  conservative and religious life  within  the Medina ( the old city).  We also checked out various local restaurants within the Medina which were extremely affordable and super yummy (fyi, you need to try freshly baked Moroccan bread and couscous when you visit Marrakech)

What did we Do?

We definitely did not experience everything Marrakech had to offer. Unfortunately   we were only staying for three short days ( I had an exam back in Barcelona so it cut our trip short), but we were able to see everything within the Medina from the famous Souks (Moroccan Market, which by the way you have to be aware the locals are known for harassing tourist into buying their goods) the central Medina Plaza ( if a local comes up to you holding a snake or a monkey don't be surprised they expect money in exchange for a picture) But all of it was part of the experience I was in search for. We also visited some beautiful Mosques and religious landmarks within the old city and spent an hour walking around the new city ( which was unreal, the architecture was so unique ), but  my favorite part of the whole trip was visiting the  Yves Saint Laurent Jardin Majorelle. The gardens were honestly straight out of a fairytale with rich colors and exotic funa ( the perfect location for an instagram picture)  even then the pictures do not do it justice, Jardin Majorelle is something you need to experience for yourself.

Too Much Dreaming Is Never a Bad Thing

I’m at a stage in my life where I am  focused on making myself happy and the only sort of commitment I see in my near future are those that will help me reach my goals.  I have realized that the only person standing between my dreams is myself. The fear of being judged and the fear of failure is what keeps us from going out and chasing our dreams, but it shouldn't hold us back. You are capable of achieving anything you set your heart and soul to. When I started ' Estilo Lau' I was terrified of what people might think of me, but why would I ever let anyone dictate my happiness?. Whether your dreams are to start your own blog, or become a doctor no dream is unreachable.  Do whatever it takes to make your dreams a reality. Don't let 'fear' stop you from getting there. Taking the first step is  the hardest part but trust me once you start living out your dreams you will begin to question why you didn't do it sooner.

Departure Date: January 12, 2016

Destination: Barcelona, Spain

I'm chasing my dreams, what are you waiting for?

Outfit details

Top: Forever 21

Sunglasses: Aldo

Leather Jacket: Zara

Shorts: Forever 21 

Sneakers: Adidas Originals 

The Best Kind of Art is Raw

Some of the best artists are self-taught and to me,
 the best kind of art is raw-EstiloLau

Peonies and Libo
Suzy Lake
50'' x 37'', 34 1/2',37''
Chromagenic print

If art is meant to be something, could it be nothing at all? What if it's just that- art, no meaning behind it just a simple square frame on a wall?

It's questions like this that ran through my mind as I walked among the crowd at the Art Gallery of Ontario this past Wednesday. The art gallery is a place where I love to go to, whether it is to sketch, find inspiration or simply attend the latest exhibition with my friends.  For my lovely readers who do not know me personally, art was where I found my love for fashion. Studying art and creating art are in two complete opposite spectrum's. I personally think just because you understand art from an institutional perspective,  it doesn't automatically categorizes you as an ' artist'. Art can and is created by everyone every day. It can be seen in the doodles of a child, the outfit an individual chooses to wear on any particular day, to the lyrics of an inspiring songwriter. None of these 'artist' have attended a prestigious intuition to acquire their right to be called an 'artist'; some of the best artists are self-taught and to me, the best kind of art is raw. Society intoxicates our minds and traps us in a consumer culture that is very hard to escape from and our only way of liberation is through our unique form of self-expression. Art would be much easier to comprehend and appreciate if we did not have a preconceived notion of the world around us, where we see no race or social class and just see each other as people. 

For those who are unfamiliar with the Art Gallery of Ontario, I would highly recommend visiting. Wednesday after 6:00pm general admission is free

On exhibit Right Now

Jean-Michel Basquiat

This is Toronto 

This series of photographs by Suzy Lake really captivated me as I walk passed her exhibition.
 The use of pinks and blues created a powerful contrast against the white wall,
H&M turtle neck
Forever 21 jogger trousers
Adidas SuperStar black on white 

One of my  favourite designer pieces in my closet
Sem Vaccaro Blazer
by Mario Sem
Design and Produced In Italy 

Never let anyone discourage you from doing what you love,
there is someone out there who will fall in love with your true essence.