Have you ever reached a point where you feel you’re living life on repeat? Silencing the alarm only to wake and follow the same routine each day? Every day passing much the same with little to set each apart? Last month, I felt this way. I’d return home from work to spend time blogging reviewing search engine ranking positions, noting how many unique visitors I’d had that day and thinking of search engine friendly titles. I decided to take a blogging break, which also turned into a social media hiatus, to spend time outside of work switching off. I spent evenings engrossed in mindless television programmes, shopping and buying new clothes, drinking coffee catching up with friends and decluttering our home to plan interior projects. In general, living a less digital life.

A Little Birdie Told Me… ft. Joanie Clothing

I simply took a step back to remind myself of what had driven me start this blog in the first place- way back in 2012 when professional blogging was almost unheard of and I was in the first few years of teaching. I missed a creative outlet, my journalism degree was going to waste and I wanted to document life with words. But most of all, I took a break to prove to myself that traffic, SEO and statistics have their place, but ultimately, writing content you enjoy is at the heart of a successful blog. It was the best decision I could have made.

It was during this time away, I realised that two years had passed since I left teaching. (If you’re new here and want to know the full story, here are the posts that explain it all : Leaving Teaching, Leaving Teaching One Year On) When you take time away to reflect, does it make you sentimental too? I realised how far I’d come and honestly, when I think of where I was at the start of the 2015, working 60+ hours a week teaching, to where I am now- I still struggle to get my head around how different the two careers are.

As some of you may know, in March I started my dream job as a senior social media executive. I said goodbye to my job as a social media assessor, and learners (sob) to join an exciting new company launching two fashion labels. The first being I Saw It First which saw me travel to Ibiza for their launch at Ocean Beach (the dream, I know) and LOTD  which is coming soon (remember La Muralla Roja on Instagram? Wait until you see their first campaign shoot!)

Last month, I also travelled to Portugal and spent 10 days visiting different towns on the Algarve, crossing the border into Spain, as well as visiting Lisbon for 4 days. Medieval towns, fishing towns, beach resorts… we saw so many places, in such a short time! It’s been years since I vacationed in warmer climates, felt sand between my toes and enjoyed swimming in the sea.

I’m planning to write about this year’s travels in numerous posts: Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Calpe, Ibiza, Portugal…it’s safe to say, this year has been dominated by travel! I’m also planning to document the every day, which will see me branching out from personal style posts and return to the lifestyle blog Polkadot Pink once was. What do you say? Are you with me?

Outfit Details // Birdie bird print tea dress – Joanie Clothing // Pink Bibi heels – Orla Kiely x Clarks // Watch – Olivia Burton // Sunglasses – Orla Kiely //