TRAVEL VLOG: SOLO IN NEW YORK | Tiffany Cruz

VIDEO| NIAGARA FALLS DAY TRIP

VIDEO | First Impressions & Swatches

Ancient Ruins of Athens

Up and Down the Hills of Naxos

While tourists and giant cruise ships flock to the teeming, Instafamous Santorini, Naxos remains one of the Cyclades' best hidden gems. The island is still unheard of by many foreign visitors, despite being just an hour from Mykonos, but, trust me, it's more than worth your time. The island boasts ancient Byzantine history, authentic hilltop villages, mouth-watering local delicacies and endless, pristine sand beaches. So, take your time exploring this underrated treasure and you could soon feel yourself falling in love with an island that has every shade of blue under the sun.

For casual visitors, there's enough else on offer to keep you busy for a week or so. An easy place to start discovering Naxos’ charm is the old town – also known as “Chora”. It’s the first place you’ll see when hopping off the ferry at the main port. Here, I’d recommend wandering down the bustling sea front promenade, lined with vibrant shops and eateries which have unbeatable sunset views in the evenings. The steep lanes of the hilly main town provide an atmospheric wander, while out in the countryside loom the tower-mansions of the Venetians and their descendants, Byzantine country churches, and a few very ancient monuments. The biggest mainstream draw is Náxos entire southwest-facing coast which, from the resort of Agios Prokópios down to Agiassós near the island's southerly cape, essentially forms one great long beach.

Despite Naxos being the largest of the Cyclades, it’s surprisingly easy and cheap to get around. With such a varied landscape, Naxos offers a little more adventure than a standard, poolside island retreat. For travelers that like a challenge in the great outdoors, the plethora of mountainous hiking trails offer stunning vistas of green highlands dotted by quaint, white villages.

My Santorini Dream Come True

I've always loved the idea of travelling all around Europe. Doing something there must be way too expensive. Where are the "it" restaurants that I need to try? What areas of the city should I stay at? How would I know where the good spots to shoot? So many questions to consider before I pack my bags and get on the plane. Next thing I know, I've already landed my foot on the soil of the Greece Islands. Being the shutterbug that I am, I wasn't one to complain. I grabbed every opportunity and took a gazillion photos of all the traditional houses, churches, and stores lined up the narrow winding paths leading up the hillside. Each corner has its own story, has its own memory, and I could just get lost in it. Everything that I had imagined about this island was breathtaking! The only time I stopped clicking away was when I reached the top of the hill to take a moment to admire the panoramic view of the entire island and the vast sea. It's moments like that that remind me how truly lucky I am to be able to see and experience all that. Isn't the world so beautiful?

Wallet on standby. Passport ready. Finally my fantasy has now become reality.

Watch Me Snowboard (and Fall!)

VIDEO | Three Nights in Athens, Greece

VIDEO | One Weekend in Naxos, Greece

VIDEO | Two Days in Santorini, Greece

Waiting on Summer

May Showers, May Flowers ?

Mornings with Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'd like to think I'm a morning person... Until I decide to hit that snooze button. FOUR TIMES. Wake up an hour later. Get out of bed another hour after. It's terrible I'm telling you. I also like to take my time getting ready each day. Just hate the feeling of being rushed (although I still kind of do even when I start getting ready early)! When I used to work from home, I can tell you it was very tempting to sleep in during the week. There are days when getting up is just as big of a struggle as it was when I commuted to work. Now that I'm back in the retail world, I'm still adjusting on  how to get out of bed faster. So in order to stay productive and force myself to get up and moving, I set my alarm at 9AM every day even on weekends. No matter how late I sleep the night before.

My "Off Duty" Look

Whenever I have any downtime (which is pretty much all the time), I like to dress super casual. On this particular day, I happened to have a free afternoon, so I threw on my boyfriend jeans with an oversized cardigan layered over a turtleneck sweater. I've been really obsessed with all of these looks I've been seeing.. not only is it a really cool look, but it's also the epitome of warmth + style. I threw on this bright blue coat to give a pop of colour for the day. My sister and I ended up wandering in the art gallery, mainly because there was a special exhibit with some of Van Gogh's and Monet's work. Then we had dinner at a Filipino restaurant called Platito. I've been pairing turtleneck sweaters with everything this season. They're just my go-to pieces to keep me warm while still looking chic. Plus, it's great for layering!

A Moment In Time

As a twenty-something working in retail, I sometimes feel guilty that I can't spend the kind of long and drawn out quality time with my family and friends. Everyone wants to be able to fit everything into their schedules: have a stellar career, see the people they love, have a social life, etc. However,it's impossible for me to do a multitude of things and do them well. This is obviously no way to live long-term, and no matter how busy I am I know it's crucial to spend quality time with the people I care about. Whether it’s hanging with family, friends, colleagues, or old friends you don’t get to see often, it’s important to make sure the time you get to spend with them is as meaningful as possible. I've come up with simple and easy ways to make sure that the time you spend with loved ones feels fulfilling. Everyone has their own way of turning off and tuning out the stressors of daily life, and these are the ones that I feel would work best.

The Classic Black Leather Jacket

I've been coveting for a black leather jacket for ages now. It's not that I haven't found the one, or haven't been hunting for it. It's more of a price issue for me. In my opinion, black leather jackets are a staple in your wardrobe. And good quality pieces come with a steep price point. So I was very excited when I received an email from Tobi and wanted to collaborate with me. Obviously, I scrolled through the outerwear section first and fell in love with the Wynn Quilted Moto Jacket.

Since it hasn't been crazy cold out, I decided to show some skin by creating a knot at the bottom of my maxi dress. This is also to show off my silver Chelsea boots that I'm currently obsessing with. Topped it off with a light grey scarf for warmth.

Emotional Day for an Unemotional Me

In the past, I have been told to have a cold heart; and honestly, I'm not one bit offended by it. I am very much aware that I tend to keep my feelings to myself and not let just anyone see it. Showing any signs of feelings makes you vulnerable, and I don't like feeling vulnerable. I hate to think how people gets to have power over me that way. Note to self: I need to learn that being vulnerable can also have it's positive sides. It makes me realize that I'm able to feel anything after all. Today, I decided to share with you one of the topics I rarely talk about. Even with the closest of my friends. I don't think I've ever mentioned this in any of my blog posts so here goes..

FOOD FRIDAYS | One Pot Eggplant and Rice

For the Love of Tacos

Writing this post during lunch because it's Taco Tuesday! For me, anyway. Or possibly just in my head. I'm currently NOT eating tacos right now, but I feel like I SHOULD be eating tacos right now. So as I type words away, I'm debating whether to order takeout and get it delivered, or be active and pick it up myself. Hm.. Pizza sounds amazing. Or maybe I should have pasta instead. Oh, I wonder what's new on Zara and Forever 21. And I need to check for train tickets!! (list goes on)

FOUR HOURS LATER...

I haven't eaten a thing, and haven't finished writing. This is just a glimpse of my day-to-day routine. Fun, right? So many distractions! Anyway, this photos are long overdue. I really wasn't planning on posting them because I didn't think it was "blog-worthy," tbh. I changed my mind; if that's not obvious yet. I decided to edit them because tacos. Yes, I had a sudden craving for tacos. Now I introduce you #TacoFestTO, which happened in the summer. June 17-19, to be exact. Told you. Expired photos haha but I thought I'd share it with you anyway. Who doesn't love tacos? Definitely not me.

First Day of Fall

I cannot believe it.. Summer is officially over, although temperatures haven't dropped drastically as of yet (Thankfully!). We are currently still on those hot and humid days, but finally manageable. It's that time when you would need to pack a light jacket for those cool mornings and chilly nights. And the best part, I am no longer melting whenever I'm about and about in the city. Kind of. While I'm a bit sad that summer is over, I am also very excited for fall. In case you don't know, fall is my absolute favourite season. And no, I'm not about that "basic" lifestyle - pumpkin spice lattes, flannel shirts, apple picking, Halloween. You know. Those. Reason is.. I'm thrilled about fall fashion (can't wait to wear all the layers!), and every year I am amazed at the leaves changing colours. There's something about nature preparing itself to hibernate for winter that fascinates me more than seeing all the flowers blossom in the spring. What's your favourite season?