TEAM ZOELLA JUNE 7, 2021

15 Ways to Focaccia this Summer

The airy oven-baked Italian loaf is the pinnacle of summer carbs - fuss-free, delicious when served warm alongside a chicken salad or as the foundation of a sandwich itself and easy to tailor to your tastebuds. In other words, everyone needs a focaccia bosom for a pillow.

Listen, there’s bread and then there’s focaccia. The famous bread that TikTok built in peak lockdown, kind of.

The airy oven-baked Italian loaf is the pinnacle of summer carbs – fuss-free, delicious when served warm alongside a chicken salad or as the foundation of a sandwich itself and easy to tailor to your tastebuds. In other words, everyone needs a focaccia bosom for a pillow.

It’s shockingly simple to make from scratch with plenty of tasty toppings to try from your classic failsafe rosemary and sea salt combo to balsamic onion and thyme and mixed olives and gorgonzola. Ready to dimple ya dough (it’s better than slime ASMR) and play your bread like a piano? Of course you are. Here are 15 ways to focaccia this summer…

1. Three Cheese Focaccia

Because one cheese is never enough, get thrice the joy with this gorgonzola, mozzarella and parmesan triple threat.

Get the recipe from Tasty here!

2. Asparagus, Lemon & Feta Focaccia

Simple, seasonal and perfect for sharing (if you have to) this fresh take on focaccia makes for the perfect dish to celebrate outdoor season with your nearest and dearest. Drizzle with honey and tuck in. Anyone else feel like singing Martine McCutcheon?

Get the recipe from Sugar Loves Spices here!

3. Goat Cheese, Pistachio & Rosemary Focaccia

No-knead dense and chewy focaccia dough crowned with tangy goat cheese, salty pistachios and earthy rosemary. Sublime.

Get the recipe from No Spoon Necessary here!

4. Garden Focaccia

Forget beer gardens, bread gardens are where it’s at this summer. For any creative types looking to impress guests with an edible masterpiece, feast your eyes on this Vincent Van Dough recipe. Turns out feathery parsley, toms, bell peppers and onions can make for wonderful bread bouquets.

Get the recipe from Sugar Geek Show here!

5. Pesto, Garlic & Olive Focaccia

We will not tolerate olive slander round here, at least not until you’ve given this recipe a good go.

Get the recipe from Goot to Know here!

6. Sundried Tomato, Artichoke & Parmesan Focaccia

Smells a lot like quitting your job and opening a focaccia stand. You’ll see.

Get the recipe from Good Things Baking here!

7. Garlicky Potato “Potaccia”

Hands up if you’ve ever felt personally victimised by #Breadtok. Just when we thought yeast had peaked, this iconic crunchy potaccia came along. Just use garlic-infused oil to enhance the bread’s flavour and make sure you bake your potato slices for 10-15 minutes beforehand for extra crunch.

Get the recipe from @tomatoesinsummer here!

8. Sweet Focaccia with Figs, Plums & Hazelnuts

For something a little sweeter, try this caramelised plums, figs and hazelnuts iteration.

Get the recipe from the NY Times here!

9. Blood orange, Honey & Rosemary Focaccia

As classic focaccia toppings go, this recipe is as rebellious as they come. The herb ‘n’ fruit ship is unexpected but we’re on board with forward thinking.

Get the recipe from In The Mood For Food here!

10. Strawberry Focaccia with Maple Syrup Glaze

Focaccia but make it fruity. And cottagecore.

Get the recipe from The Flavours of Kitchen here!

11. Peach & Thyme Focaccia

Nothing says summer like baked peaches. Serve warm alongside a generous bowl of olive oil, balsamic vinegar sprinkled with salt and pepper for dipping for the perfect sweet and salty garden snack.

Get the recipe from Love and Olive Oil here!

12. Caramelised Sweet Potato Focaccia

Grated Gouda, toasted walnuts and caramelised sweet potato. We are deceased.

Get the recipe from Martha Stewart here!

13. Onion and Leek Focaccia

This is landscape gardening done right. Add caramelised onion into the dough and top with woodsy chives, leeks and rosemary for an unforgettable bake.

Get the recipe from Martha Stewart here!

14. Apple & Cinnamon Focaccia

Forever a winning dessert combo, apple and cinnamon make for a comforting non-traditional take on this savoury Italian favourite. Here. For. It.

Get the recipe from The Crazy Kitchen here!

15. Potato, Beetroot & Thyme Focaccia

This bloody lovely loaf deserves to come along to your next picnic. A healthy dollop of chutney comes highly recommended.

Get the recipe from Delicious Magazine here!

TEAM ZOELLA JUNE 6, 2021

Weekly Wants: Outfits For Going Out Out

The clinking of glasses, dimmed lights, sticky dance floors and ringing ears at the end of the night- that's right people, it's nearly time to head out out!

The clinking of glasses, dimmed lights, sticky dance floors and ringing ears at the end of the night- that’s right people, it’s nearly time to head out out! Whilst the option to drink with pals has been something we’ve made the most of since pubs opened in April, the one and only 21st of June is fast approaching, and with that comes dancing freely, touching hands (ooo la la), wearing lipstick without it being ruined by a mask and screaming club classics from the top of your lungs. It’s pure joy bottled and if you’re anything like us then looking the part is très important!

Whether you’re all for showing off a little skin or prefer to let your hair and make-up do the talking, deciding on an outfit to hit the club is all about feeling comfortable, confident and shining bright for the inevitable Instagram Boomerangs and bling filters. At some point you will likely have a drink spilt on you, drop your phone, lose a friend in the crowd for a good 15 minutes and need to down some water after one too many tequilas, but hey, the moment is finally here and we’re going to be lapping it up in all its messy glory! Insert all the dancing lady emojis.

Have you got your June 21st look sorted yet?

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TEAM ZOELLA JUNE 5, 2021

Flower Therapy! 10 of the Most Instagrammable Flower Fields to Visit in the UK

From sunflower and lavender fields to wildflower meadows and woods carpeted with bluebells, here’s a list of picture-perfect spots right here on home turf.

Hands up if you’ve already completed a Google search of ‘flower fields near me’? Yep, us too. We are 100% that botanical bitch.

Now that we’re legally allowed to explore outside the periphery of our own postcodes (what a feeling), you might be thinking of going slightly further afield to get your fix of the great outdoors. Well, what better way to shake up your scenery than by frolicking amongst a sea of mood-boosting blooms?

Flower fields are one of life’s simple pleasures and luckily, you don’t need to travel quite as far as you’d think to enjoy them. From sunflower and lavender fields to wildflower meadows and woods carpeted with bluebells, here’s a list of picture-perfect spots right here on home turf.

Hitchin Lavender, Hertfordshire

A treat for the senses, this family-owned flower farm near Stevenage boasts 30 acres of the fragrant flower. Wander through row upon row of sweeping lilac and let the therapeutic properties of this healing herb work its magic on your mind.

In their shop, you’ll find all kinds of lavender products fro3m soaps and calming eye pillows to preserves and traditionally distilled lavender gin, should you fancy taking something home with you for the mems.

📍Cadwell Farm, Ickleford, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 3UA

The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company, Worcestershire

The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company have been handpicking petals since 1997 and are the UK’s original wedding petal growers. Just like blossom, their petals are natural and 100% biodegradable thanks to carefully developed methods of planting, growing and naturally drying their blooms.

Fields are open to the public during the summertime, usually around early July when the field on the Wyke Manor Estate is a riot of pastel-coloured petals and blooms. Visitors can usually expect to see delicate cornflowers, tudor pink and magnolia wildflowers and tall and elegant delphiniums.

If you’ve got an upcoming wedding in the diary and you’re looking for an eco-friendly confetti option, you can purchase their homegrown petals straight from their on-site shop, along with a selection of fresh seasonal flowers, too.

📍Wyke Manor, Wick, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3NZ

Norfolk Tulips

Wait a minute, there are tulip fields in the UK? We were today year’s old when we found out about Norfolk’s best-kept secret, too. Whist tulip season has been and gone already this year, this breathtaking place near King’s Lynn, is too good not to mention for all future floral pursuits.

The blousy flowers bloom in April, creating a sea of meticulously lined pinks, purples, yellows and reds that quite frankly deserve nothing more than to be the main character in our camera rolls all year round. Bookmark immediately for 2022.

📍 Near Belmont Nurseries, Gayton Road, East Winch, King’s Lynn, PE32 1LG

Cotswold Lavender Fields, Worcestershire

Set in the heart of the beautiful Cotswold hills overlooking Broadway and the Vale of Evesham, countryside views don’t get much better than this. One amble around this charming purple maze and you’ll forget the south of France even exists.

With over 40 different varieties of lavender and 140 miles of the stuff (500,000 plants in total), you’ll have a field day with this lovely lot.

📍Hill Barn Farm Snowshill, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7JY

The Pop Up Farm, Hertfordshire

For happiness in floral form, sunflowers really are the best of the bunch. Head to The Pop Up Farm to stroll through their fields of gold, capture the golden giants from above from their photography deck and snap up some of your own cheery stems to take home and gift to your dining table.

📍M1 Junction 9, St Albans AL3 8HT

Rhossili Bay, Wales

Located along the Gower peninsula in Wales, Rhossili Bay is a flowerhead’s dream. Set against the stunning coastal backdrop of the iconic National Trust site Worm’s Head, you can immerse yourself in the wild beauty of these extraordinary sun-drenched flowers whilst soaking up the sandy shorelines, too. Spectacular at any time of day but particularly magical during golden hour when the golden giants bathe in the softness of the setting sun.

📍 Gower Peninsula, SA3 1PN

Micheldever Woods, Hampshire

Technically it’s not a field but humour us for a minute. From April through to late May, the ancient woodland at Micheldever is the perfect spot to make the most of the fleeting summer bluebells. As well as these bulbous beauties, you might be lucky enough to spot roe and fallow deer and many species of butterflies.

NB: please do take care when photographing the bluebells as they will not grow back if they’re trampled on.

📍 Northington Lane, Near Winchester, Hants

Norfolk Lavender

With 100 acres of these beautiful, scented fellas, you’re sure to get a floral pick-me-up here. Book onto one of their guided tours in the summer when the lav is in full bloom or enjoy the 50 varieties in their National Collection to get inspo for your garden. PS don’t leave without trying their famous lavender cake and scones in their tearoom. Sublime.

📍 Caley Mill, Lynn Rd, Heacham PE31 7JE

Castle Farm, Kent

Home to the largest lavender field in England (130 acres to be exact), Castle Farm is a historical family-run farm situated in the beautiful Kent landscape.

In July, they handpick over 50,000 bunches of fresh lavender from their fields and hang them to dry in their specialist hot air kilns so you’ll be able to take home the best kind of souvenir to remember your visit.

For a 10/10 cottagecore experience, snap up some tickets to their pre-booked walks and lavender picnic events, released mid-June.

📍Redmans Ln, Sevenoaks TN14 7UB

Lordington Lavender

A Sussex gem! This family-run lavender farm in the heart of Sussex opens to the public for one week only every year, so if you want to soak up the stunning views, don’t sleep on this perfumed patch. From August onwards, you can also find whimsical sunflowers here and pick your own for 50p per stem.

📍 Lordington Farm, Chichester PO18 9DX

TEAM ZOELLA JUNE 4, 2021

From Bumble to Thursday, A Guide to the Best Dating Apps for 2021

Let’s not waste another hot vax summer minute! From OG faves to game-changing newcomers, here are the dating apps that make using up all your valuable storage space totally worth it.

After a long and limp year of social distanced everything, dating IRL is gradually coming back to us. Fire up the dating apps (and your burning lockdown loins ofc), love and super likes are not cancelled guys.

When it comes to dating apps, it’s wild out there and like most things in life, it’s not one size fits all. Maybe you’re newly single and don’t know where to start or who to swipe, or perhaps you’re stuck in a romance rut and looking to expand your digital dating horizons – whatever your reason for landing here, you’re destined to walk away with a match. Still talking about dating apps FYI, not lovers. Sorry, we’re not that good.

Let’s not waste another hot vax summer minute! From OG faves to game-changing newcomers, here are the dating apps that make using up all your valuable storage space totally worth it.

Tinder

Founded in 2013 to help students meet each other, it started out as a social networking for both friendship and dating. My oh my, how things escalated. Tinder is now best known for casual meet-ups and bedfellows but that’s not to say you can’t find long-term love there, too. It’s particularly good for anyone looking to stick to the local love interests, be it the cute coffee guy or the distinguished gentleman on the train. Suit. Nice watch. Neat nails. Great taste in pens. Yeah, him.

A quick note on the post-Tinder life. If you do find a forever match on there, you’ll need to delete your profile and the app for your dating profile to fully disappear otherwise you’ll still be out there looking for love, according to Tinder.

Best for: keeping it casual.

Bumble

Created by women for women, it’s all power to the ladies in this hive. Praise be.

Much like Tinder, it’s a location-based app where daters can swipe through potential suitors – right means yes you like what you see, left means thank you, next. When both parties swipe right, a match is made, but – and here’s the cool part – it’s down to the woman to make the first move. She must send a message within 24-hours or (dramatic music) the match is lost. With same-sex matches, either person can make the first move. You can also determine the age range of people you want to match with as well as a radius.

Another cool feature on Bumble is the option to ‘verify’ yourself to prove you are who you say you are and prevent catfishing. This is done by taking a photo of yourself in a specific pose. Bumble then verifies that photo against the other photos you’ve uploaded and provides you with a blue tick once it decides you are the same person.

Best for: women who want to make the first move and relationship-minded people.

OkCupid

This OG dating app has been around since 2004. Its USP? Getting you noticed for who you are, not what you look like. In 2021, it shouldn’t be that ground-breaking, alas it is.

It’s also the most inclusive of all the apps, with 22 gender identities and 20 orientation options for members to choose from. OkC weeds out the users who would not be compatible for you, based on important deal-breaker questions covering everything from gun-crime and climate change to women’s issues and vaccines. No small talk here, they’re going straight for the subject matter we really care about. We love to see it!

When you’re done with mindless swiping, OkCupid’s the app to tap.

Best for: informed millennials.

Thursday

Thursday is reinventing the way we date by dedicating one day a week to finding romance. On the other six days of the week, it quite literally tells you to f*ck off because there’s more to life than dating apps. How refreshing.

In true Cinderella style, all matches and conversations disappear at the stroke of midnight, so you have to be proactive if you want to secure a date. It’s currently only available for users in London and New York with plans to roll out to Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester and Dublin later this year.

Best for: Swerving the small talk and getting sh*t done.

Her

Her was created by and for queer women and non-binary people. Much like Tinder, you swipe left if you’re not interested and right if you want to get to know someone. Even if you’re not looking to date someone right now per se, Her is the perfect platform to meet a community of like-minded people and chat LGBTQ+ news and events in a safe and respectful space.

Best for: LGBTQ+ dating.

Jigsaw

Jigsaw is disrupting the superficial status quo by covering people’s faces with jigsaw pieces so their personality can do the talking. Clever stuff. Only when you swap messages and really connect with someone will the jigsaw pieces fall away revealing the face behind the conversation. Kinda like a 90s game show.

Best for: anyone frustrated with the superficial nature of online dating.

Playdate

The UK’s first dating app catering solely to single parents. Dating as a single parent can be daunting but Playdate allows solo mums and dads to find meaningful connections and relationships which work alongside their lifestyle and commitments.

This dating app takes the stress out of dating, facilitating connections with fellow single parents who know the responsibility that comes with being a parent first-hand. You can be matched with other single parents based on the filters you choose, whether it’s location, number and age of children, fellow widows or whether they want to have more children or not. It also makes arranging dates that little bit easier with its integrated babysitting service in partnership Bubble, the UK’s number one sitter and nanny app.

Best for: single parents looking for a long-term meaningful relationship.

Feeld

Aimed at open-minded individuals interested in a bit of kink, Feeld is the dating platform designed to explore your deepest desires without shame. Colloquially known as ‘the threesome app’, it’s a sex-positive space for curious minds to explore their sexuality and tap into their fantasies, safely with boundaries and consent.

Best for: anyone open to group play or anything beyond the vanilla.

POM

Forget the power of love, this app is all about the power of beats. POM (Power of Music) uses your music library to match you with fellow users based on compatibility, so now you can find a soul mate who’s well and truly on your wavelength. It’s at times like this we really regret the fact that we listen to Hilary Duff So Yesterday once a week.

Best for: anyone looking to meet their musical match.

Hinge

In their words, Hinge is the dating app designed to be deleted. It puts the meaning back into the match-making process and prioritises finding real, genuine, warm-the-cockles-of-your-heart connection.

You’ll get to know potential dates through personality-revealing prompts from their go-to karaoke song to their love language, immediately breaking the ice and making those initial awkward conversations that little bit easier.

Your pool of potential matches is gleaned from your Facebook account which means there’s a pretty good chance you, or at least someone you know, will be familiar with your match. Bye bye stranger danger.

Best for: witty types with funny bones.

Curtn

For anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable rushing out to date in person, you’ve got a match right here. Curtn is a video-first dating app that allows users to connect in a more authentic way, beyond filtered photos and small talk. It’s all about honest dating, sharing your authentic self and getting a real sense of the person on the other side of the screen. Simply choose a prompt and hit record to start finding matches.

Best for: interactive vibes.

Happn

Banking on a meet-cute? Happn is your best chance of brushing shoulders with that hot DPD driver or making that intense eye contact in queue at the post office actually go somewhere. The app is designed for you to meet someone close-by but rather than trying to figure out a way to cobble together a sentence in real life, you can just do it digitally right here. What a relief.

Best for: convenience and laid-back dating.

Grindr

Grindr is marketed as the social networking app for “gay, bi, trans and queer people” though it’s mostly frequented by gay men. Whilst it’s best known for its hook-up culture, it’s not impossible to find a LTR or meet your forever person on there. Just know that it really excels at the quick and casual thing.

Much like Tinder, users are able to search for potential dates around their area so if you spot a hottie in a mask at the bus stop and you immediately want to see what lies beneath, consider Grindr the best place to begin your search, my friend.

Best for: we’re just gonna come out and say it… hot gay sex.

Raya

Think private members club frequented by famous folk and influencers. Basically, the Soho House of dating apps, without the picante. It’s an invite-only app with a highly selective application process. You also need a referral from someone else already on the app via a ‘friend’s pass’ so it’s not exactly the most user-friendly experience but it comes in handy for professional athletes, renowned CEOs and A-listers.

Best for: the rich ‘n’ famous. Oh, and stans.

TEAM ZOELLA JUNE 3, 2021

How to Reclaim your Menstrual Cycle & Harness the Power of your Hormones

If you’re exhausted by period problems and wondering if there’s another way to live in harmony with your menstrual cycle, you’re in the right place.

Behold, the familiar impending doom of the monthly bleed. What. A. Hoot.

Like the meeting that could have been an email, our periods are the pinnacle of inconvenience. The doorbell that rings mid-poo, the dress pocket that catches on a door handle and immediately indicates how the rest of your day is going to go, the reflection of your boobs on the bath taps when you’re just trying to capture an innocent zen bath photo. None of them, however, match up to menstrual cycle misfortune, or at least the perceived misfortune.

If you’re exhausted by period problems and wondering if there’s another way to live in harmony with your menstrual cycle, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re contending with debilitating period pain or you simply want to understand the inner workings of your cycle to benefit from a stronger connection with your body, we’re going to take a deep dive into our cycles right here in a place free from stigma and shame.

The cycle basics

Given the lack of menstrual and sex education, it’s no wonder so many of us are left mystified by our cycles and completely out of touch with our hormones. Understanding the cycle basics can provide a great foundation for a better relationship with it, simply by being aware of what your body is going through at each phase of your cycle.

Many menstruators would be forgiven for thinking our cycle refers exclusively to the phase when we bleed, however, our cycles affect us all through the month

Many menstruators would be forgiven for thinking our menstrual cycle refers exclusively to the phase when we bleed, however, our cycles affect us all through the month – from the start of one period (day one of your cycle) to the next – and can be responsible for everything from energy levels to mood and productivity. This is often referred to as a 28-day cycle, though many menstruators have shorter or longer cycles. From day one (the first day of your period and significant blood loss) to ovulation, you’re in the first half of your cycle which is referred to as the follicular phase.

Then, from ovulation to the start of your next period or pregnancy, you’re in the second phase of your cycle known as the luteal phase, and those are the two key halves that make up the sequence of your menstrual cycle.

Image Credit: drbrighten.com

Cycle tracking

It’s no secret that women’s health is seriously underfunded and overlooked, leaving many people feeling completely isolated and ignored. Despite the fact one in three women or vulva-having people will suffer from a gynaecological or reproductive health problem, less than 2.5% of publicly funded research is dedicated solely to reproductive health. There is five times more research into erectile dysfunction, which affects 19% of men, than into premenstrual syndrome which effects 90% of women. When it comes to pain and health, women and vulva owners continue to be woefully neglected, and even more so if those people are people of colour, non-binary or trans.

There is a huge disparity between the number of people with hormonal and reproductive issues and the amount of funding and research that goes into them.

In the frankly rare instances when women and vulva owners can access reproductive and gynaecological health care, their experience is often misdiagnosed or undermined due to lack of education amongst health care professionals and the fact that women and people with vulvas are not believed when they share their experiences, whether it be symptoms that point to perimenopause, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or endometriosis. Often these issues are only deemed worthy of investigation when you’re trying to conceive because only then when our ovaries are going to be used in a reproductive capacity are our concerns heard and validated.

Cycle tracking, then, is one simple way to trust your body, get your answers and obtain the data needed to bolster your experience and should you experience reproductive health issues, you can share these insights to prioritise and advocate for yourself in order to get the professional care you deserve.

Tracking your cycle enables you to live in harmony with your mind and body, adjusting your behaviour according to what you need, physically and emotionally, within each phase. It dismantles the belief that you need to be productive on the days when your body is really fighting for its right to rest without guilt.

Learning to listen to your body & respect what it needs from you

We talk a lot about practising mindfulness in our lives but when it comes to our cycles, we’re completely disconnected.

The constant shift in our hormones impacts the way we feel throughout our entire cycle.

At the start of your cycle, when you have a period, hormone levels are low which explains why you may feel a dip in energy levels and an intuitive desire to rest and retreat. Pair that with menstrual cramps and tender breasts and it’s a recipe for pizza in the bath. This is the part when we need to listen to our bodies. If we’re tired, we rest, if we’re hungrier than usual, we eat more calories and if we don’t want to socialise, we stay home and get an early night.

As we move through the first phase of our cycles, oestrogen gradually increases and peaks just before ovulation and this can cause us to feel more sociable, light-hearted and energised. Our behaviour syncs up with our cycles in a way that encourages us to make the most of our fertile window when conception is possible. In the days leading up to ovulation, testosterone is also prominent in our bodies and can increase our sexual desire, motivation and productivity.

Once you ovulate, there’s a hormonal drop off and you may feel completely different from the days when you were transitioning through your fertile window, or you may feel just a subtle difference in your state of being (not everyone feels the changes so acutely).

About a week before your next period is due, you’ll probably feel more interested in your internal world than the external world and this is largely down to progesterone. For the most part, the presence of progesterone in the second half of your cycle has a calming effect on the nervous system and chills you out, though some people may respond to it differently like those with PMDD. This is the time to hibernate and embrace that deep and restful sleep ahead of your next period.

You can tune into your feelings, recognise them, own them and harness their power.

Understanding how the different phases of your cycle affect you in your day-to-day life, whether those changes are subtle or substantial, arms you with the knowledge, self-compassion and awareness of your fluctuating biology and how your hormones may be responsible for everything from your ability to focus, your mood, sex drive and energy levels. From here, you can begin to tune into your feelings, recognise them, own them and harness their power. The more we tap into why we’re feeling a certain way during our cycles, the more we can adjust our behaviour accordingly and go easy on ourselves.

Knowing this information and connecting with the intrinsic wisdom of your cycle in this way is a simple but incredibly effective tool that can make a huge difference when it comes to understanding how every nuance of our cycle affects our ability to work, socialise, concentrate, sleep, eat and exercise. It allows us to make sense of our feelings and channel their energy in a way that’s beneficial for us, which is always going to be conducive to a better, more empowering cycle.

The relationship with your cycle

Working on the relationship you have with your cycle demands an openness around making changes, acknowledging your cycle’s presence and communicating with it in a helpful way.

Perhaps for those with long cycles, you spend the majority of that time frustrated at your period’s infrequency and thus, your relationship with your cycle is based around feelings of relief when it shows up but resentment for its irregularity. For anyone trying to conceive, you might be at loggerheads with your cycle right now because for every month it insists on arriving, it’s preventing you from achieving the very thing the cycle is functioning for in the first place. Frustrating much?

What is your cycle telling you and how can you use those signals to strengthen your relationship?

Acknowledging the ever-changing relationship you have with your cycle allows you to approach it from a loving place, whatever obstacles you face each month. It creates positive change to rework the dynamic of the relationship you have with your cycle so that you’re working together. This paves the way for communication and invites perspective. For example, instead of berating it for its sporadic nature, you might feel curious to know more, what is your cycle telling you in those instances and how can you use those signals to strengthen your relationship?

You enter the chat. You listen, lean in, invite conversation and establish the kind of boundaries that allow you to respect your cycle, even if it has its challenges. You don’t have to be in love with your cycle, neutrality can be just as instrumental and just as empowering.

Your thoughts inform your relationship with your cycle and all thoughts are optional. You get to choose how you perceive your cycle.

If your cycle-based symptoms are really impacting you, having this communication line enables you to take care of yourself with love and compassion. You’re conversing with your cycle in a more helpful and encouraging way, and that’s an important approach.

It is possible to feel empathy for your cycle, even if it’s not plain sailing and that in itself is an empowering realisation. Nobody’s asking for it to be a perfect relationship but if you can get to a place where it feels amicable and respectful, it can still serve you. You don’t have to celebrate it but you can find a way to honour it with your own thoughts.

Letting go of the pressure to have the ‘perfect’ cycle

Part of having a relationship with your cycle and reaching a place of neutrality with it means letting go of perfect and making peace with pain. That’s not to say that those who are experiencing debilitating pain and misdiagnoses should not seek professional help, it means that we, as menstruators, don’t run away from feelings of discomfort or sedate them with forced positivity. All emotion is valid and appropriate and to tell someone with chronic pain that they should be embracing their period is unreasonable and unhelpful.

In some situations, processing what we’re feeling is the positive approach we need in order to form a deeper and more kind-hearted connection with our cycle. By practising neutral thought work, you make room for improvement. You open your mind to another possibility and maybe from there, you take another step towards positivity when it’s helpful for you to do so. When we understand ourselves and grant ourselves the love and respect to feel what we need to feel in any given moment, you can’t undermine the tremendous impact that has on your quality of life and the ripple effect that self-compassion has on your cycle.

The power of conversation & shared experience

Periods are still subject to stigma, shame and misogynist gibes. They are hidden from view; a dark and under-researched mystery shoved up a tactical long sleeve to spare us the walk of shame to the bathroom; a bathroom where we sit on a throne of humiliation, trying to menstruate quietly. We try to bleed silently, without disrupting the WC ambience with our tampon rustling and that is a symptom of patriarchy.

Perhaps the best way to have agency over our cycles is simply by talking about them in the right way. Acknowledging the pain of our bleeds, paying attention, being attentive with our bodies and instead of recoiling at the thought of another cycle, or feeling guilty because we aren’t productive, shift our mindsets to embrace each phase of cyclical living and stop othering this experience.

Maybe we simply need to stop acting like being hormonal is something to dread and make way for the conversation that says it’s something to accept openly, compassionately and without shame.

Just like the seasons, you will bloom and bleed in a riot of human feelings, from the wild through to the wonderful; winter through to spring – and every one of these expressions of cyclical living has the potential to liberate you.

There is a certain power that comes from having this monthly experience and getting to know your cycle is not only the greatest act of self-care but one of the most untapped resources for improving your mental health.

TEAM ZOELLA JUNE 3, 2021

Puff Sleeve Styles To Continue Your Cottagecore Obsession

Whilst last summer you were wafting around the house twiddling your thumbs and wondering how many takeaways was too many takeaways, this time around you can waft OUTSIDE, with friends, and look fabulous doing so!

Let’s be real, Cottagecore never really left the special place it found in our heart’s back in 2020, but the trend really does show no signs of slowing does as whimsical puff sleeves are IN right now. Whilst last summer you were wafting around the house twiddling your thumbs and wondering how many takeaways was too many takeaways, this time around you can waft OUTSIDE, with friends, and look fabulous doing so! 

Dreamy pastels are normally never far away when it comes to puff sleeves, as their romantic, feminine feel is a match made in heaven with the likes of an Easter egg colour palette- add in some gingham and you’re really onto a winner! Having said that, brands such as Rixo who favour a more statement colour wheel also nail puff sleeve drama too, proving the trend need not be exclusively for those who drool at the sight of pastel pink everything upon entering the shops. 

Serving peak bottomless brunch realness, keep scrolling for the creme de la creme of puff sleeve offerings!

*This post contains ad-affiliate links

TEAM ZOELLA JUNE 2, 2021

May Book Club: The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary

Read the team’s reviews and block out a couple of hours in the diary to sit down with O’Leary’s latest drop because trust us, that’s all you’ll need.

As a team of Beth O’Leary stans, we’re never not waiting for her to write another book. Luckily for us (and you) she just has and true to form, it’s bloody glorious stuff.

The Road Trip is a sexy, page-turning, uproariously funny gem of a book, complete with a full tank of characters so expertly made, you’re convinced you’ve met them on a hard shoulder somewhere in a previous life.

Mistress of feel-good fiction and queen of Up Lit – a book trend with empathy and kindness at its core – there’s no one we’d rather get stuck in a car with tbh. Addie, Dylon, Marcus and Deb were in v good hands here.

Laced with that signature O’Leary wit and dynamite dialogue, you could say The Road Trip is Beth’s best work yet, and if you’ve read The Flatshare and The Switch, then you’ll know that’s a pretty bold statement to make.

Read the team’s reviews and block out a couple of hours in the diary to sit down with O’Leary’s latest drop because trust us, that’s all you’ll need.

Purchase the Road Trip here and cue the book hangover.

TEAM ZOELLA JUNE 1, 2021

13 Questions with George M. Johnson

We caught up with the incredible George M. Johnson, author of our Zoella Book Club pick for June: All Boys Aren't Blue.

First off, how are you and how is your 2021 going?

I’m pretty well. I’m in a great space spiritually and mentally. 2021 has brought many great opportunities my way with the catalyst being my book All Boys Aren’t Blue. I’m excited about how my work is now expanding beyond publishing into film and tv spaces, and looking forward to doing more work throughout 2021.

We’re super excited to be reading All Boys Aren’t Blue for our June Book Club, can you tell us about the process for writing this memoir-manifesto?

The process wasn’t easy. I wanted to tell all the stories but had to pick the ones that best fit the overall themes of the book. I decided that I wanted to be as vulnerable and transparent as possible in telling this story. That caused me to have to open up old wounds and heal certain traumas I hadn’t gotten over. But in the end, I knew it was important for the total story to be told.

Can you tell us more about becoming a journalist and how your career as a writer started?

My career in writing started back in 2013. My best friend Preston Mitchum had written an article for Ebony magazine and I told him “I always wanted to be a writer”. He looked at me and said “well write.” Since that day I decided to do that. Realistically, if went searching for something and couldn’t find it, then I knew that I had to be the one to write it. I focused on the communities closest to my intersections and simply built upon that into my career.

Your next book We Are Not Broken is coming out in September what can readers expect?

They can expect to hear more of the heartwarming stories of a Black family that operated from a place of love. My grandmother “Nanny” was a show stealer in my first book, so I wanted to give people more of her story. She is represented in every chapter of the book. I also took the letter writing technique up a notch in a really cool way. It’s a book about Black boyhood, imagination and the totality of the existence of the Black child.

We love that you write about gender identity, toxic masculinity, consent, marginalization and so much more through your own stories. Why do you think story telling through personal experience is so powerful?

People like when they can connect with a character. It makes it even better when the character is a real person. People get to see themselves in someone and even more the possibility model of what can become. The personal experience is part of the human condition and is what ties us today.

Your books have the ability to inspire, change and possibly save lives, is that something you set out to achieve?

Yes. I try to write in the mindset of centering Black people first, knowing that the message will essentially be universal and benefit all. I wish I had books like this when I was learning about who I was. My story isn’t unique. It is one that has always existed but rarely given the space and access to be told. So I knew putting it out there would resonate with those who needed it with the goal of shifting actions and thoughts and minds.

What are you currently working on?

Whew. My second book “We Are Not Broken” comes out September 7th. I am also working on a non-fiction book where I will be writing letters to my enslaved ancestors. Working on my first fiction Middle-Grade book called Five Second Violation. Also working on the tv adaptation of All Boys Aren’t Blue with Gabrielle Union’s production company. And some stuff I can’t say yet lol.

Can you share any tips for people who are keen to write personal essays?

To keep writing. It can be very easy to get deterred from writing. You simply have to keep writing. No two stories are the same. My book is a book of personal essays and although they resonate with thousands of people, their stories are still different and deserve to be told.

Who are some of your current favourite authors?

Hari Ziyad, Robert Jones, and Sesali Bowen. Loved all their work prior to their book releases and they have all created some amazing debut books this year.

What does your perfect weekend look like?

I’m a lowkey person in many ways so for me the perfect weekend is the beach with some friends. Drinks, games, and maybe some dancing. Not doing any work for sure lol.

What do you always carry with you?

Phone, Keys, Wallet. I do the pat down before I walk out the door lol.

What would your last ever meal be?

It would likely be seafood, Alaskan Crab Legs, Lobster in garlic butter, mussels and shrimp.

What is one positive piece of advice you could give to our audience?

Have grace with yourself. We can all be so self-critical at times that we forget to give ourselves space to right, wrong, indifferent, happy or sad. It’s okay to not be okay at times. So have grace with yourself.

TEAM ZOELLA MAY 30, 2021

Weekly Wants: Pieces We Are Loving From & Other Stories

Dream wardrobe incoming: one scroll of the & Other Stories website and boom, your basket is full, you have 5 packages en route and your bank manager is on the phone wondering what the f*ck is going on.

Dream wardrobe incoming: one scroll of the & Other Stories website and boom, your basket is full, you have 5 packages en route and your bank manager is on the phone wondering what the f*ck is going on. Their irresistible combination of design influences from Paris, L.A and Stockholm means they nail new-in, on-trend yet classic styles every time, and you can shop safe in the knowledge that you can’t go far wrong where & Other Stories is concerned. 

This week the team are running you through their favourite ‘add to basket’ picks as the dreaminess of June 21st approaches and hugs, kisses, parties and picnics become the new, ‘new normal’. Insert all the heart eye emojis.

*This post contains ad-affiliate links

TEAM ZOELLA MAY 29, 2021

A 10/10 Weekend in Margate & Broadstairs

Both Margate - dubbed Shoreditch-on-Sea - and Broadstairs offer plenty of iconic sandy beaches, vintage shops, quirky cafes, art galleries and world-class fish and chips.

Like the sound of old school seaside charm, Instagrammable sunsets and a blossoming street food scene? Then you’ve got a couple of scenic soulmates in these charming Thanet towns. Both Margate – dubbed Shoreditch-on-Sea – and Broadstairs offer plenty of iconic sandy beaches, vintage shops, quirky cafes, art galleries and world-class fish and chips.

Fancy a weekend getaway that’s just an hour ½ from London? Here’s how to get the best of England’s creative coast.

Check out the current exhibitions at Turner Contemporary

Margate is fizzing with artistic energy and frankly, no trip to this coastal gem is complete without experiencing the Turner Contemporary, named after Romantic artist JMW Turner. Widely recognised as the catalyst for the regeneration of Margate & East Kent, its ever-changing programme means there’s always something new to see, whether you’re a local or a visitor.

📍 Rendezvous, Margate, CT9 1HG

Pick up a coffee at Storeroom by Curve Roasters

For a solid cup of Joe and a delicious lunch menu, head 10 minutes down the road from Turner Contemporary to Storeroom by Curve Roasters. Their menu changes depending on the seasons and what’s fresh in from their most recent harvests. If you like your coffee with a story, this is the good place.

📍 1D Print Works, Union Row, Margate, CT9 1PP

Pop into Mar Mar Margate

A café-cum-shop full of house plants, stationery and homewares. When you’re done flexing your green fingers, grab a pastry and a brew for the road.

📍80 Northdown Rd, Margate, CT9 2RE

Inhale a seaside snack at Po’ boy

Deep-fried scallop sub anyone? The dream team behind Po’boy have transformed the seaside tradition of fish and chips to a gourmet delight, served with fresh mango and lime sauce. Bib me up already.

📍The Sun Deck, Royal Crescent Promenade, Westbrook, Margate, CT9 5AJ

Step back in time at Dickens House Museum

Dickens House Museum celebrates the author’s connections with Broadstairs from 1837 to 1851. Housed in the real-life cottage that was Dickens’ inspiration for the home of the legendary character Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield, you’ll find work by H.K Browne, the famous illustrator of the original Dickens novels, on display here alongside furniture owned by the man himself.

Please note, the museum is temporarily closed keep your eyes peeled for reopening times.

📍Dickens House Museum, 2 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, CT10 1QS

Have a sup lesson at Joss Bay Surf School

Surf’s up! If you want to work on your water sports and learn to sup ‘n’ surf, there’s no better teacher than Joss Bay Surf School. The instructors are ISA qualified and all your equipment is included. For stand-up paddling, you’ll have one full hour of coaching before hitting the water for another 60 minutes of free practice (price £40 for a group lesson). If catching waves is more your thing, you can have 1 ½ hours of contact time, 30 minutes free practice (price £40 for a group lesson). Have a splash around on the baby waves and get a much-needed dose of vitamin sea.

📍 N Foreland Hill, Broadstairs, CT10 3PG

Tuck into famous ice cream at Morelli’s

This famous ice cream parlour has been serving sweet-toothed customers since the 1900s and if the queues are anything to go by, the hype is still real. Scoop up the best gelato of all the land, made in-store daily.

📍 14 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, CT10 1QS

Get your sushi fix at Hantverk & Found

When in Margate, you simply have to try to get a table at Hantverk & Found. Serving fresh handmade sushi, scallop ramen, gyoza and bao bun. They also offer takeaway so you can box it all up and head to the beach for a seaside picnic.

📍18 King Street (in the Old Town), Margate, CT9

Swim like a local at Walpole Bay

For safer sea swimming with plenty of wildlife, have a paddle at Walpole Bay – one of just 13 tidal pools in England. Designed in 1937, it’s now grade II listed and covers over four whopping acres, so you’re guaranteed to have a proper interrupted swim here. It has all the allure of the wide-open sea without the crowds, just check tide times as the sand is entirely covered at high tide.

📍 Walpole Bay, Margate, Cliftonville, CT9 2JN

For all the fun of the fair, head to Dreamland

Dubbed the heartbeat of Margate, Dreamland is the oldest surviving theme park in Great Britain. Experience retro rides (some of which date back to the 1920s), an indoor roller room, art installations, street food and a programme packed with live music and events for all the family. When you’re done on the Chair-O-Planes and the Pendulum, have a paddle at the beach and come back for a night of dancing under the stars at one of their iconic gigs. Dreamland, indeed.

📍49-51 Marine Terrace, Margate, CT9 1XJ

Stay at the bougie Reading Rooms

Get some kip in this Grade II listed Georgian town house, situated just a short walk away from the beach, historic Old Town and vintage shops. Featuring floor to ceiling windows, ornate plaster cornicing, a hand-carved bed and a double-ended cast-iron roll-top bath, you’re guaranteed a sound night’s sleep in the Salon room (our personal fave). In the morning, roll out of bed and tuck into fresh pastries, fruit and freshly baked sourdough delivered straight to your room upon your request.

📍31 Hawley Sq, Margate, CT9 1PH

Discover the famous mystery of Margate at the Shell Grotto

These mysterious winding passages have been covered head-to-toe with over four million shells and nobody knows why. How curious. Discovered by chance in 1835 by a man digging for a duck pond, the underground cave has been elaborately decorated with treasures of the sea from mussels, oysters, cockles and whelks and its origins remain unexplained to this day. Some people suspect it was a secret temple, others say séances were held there. We like to think it was all a dark mermaid’s doing. Grab yourself a ticket and see for yourselves.

📍31 Grotto Hill, Margate, CT9 2BU

Pop by The Kentish Pantry

Located in Margate’s Old Town, The Kentish Pantry sells the finest artisan products from wines, cheeses, chutneys and handmade pottery, all sourced in Kent. Grab a pastry and a coffee from their in-store bakery and you’ll be all set for a day of exploring glorious Marg.

📍 1 Duke Street, Margate, CT9 1EP

Snap up some second-hand outfits at Handsome Freaks

Handpicked in LA, this place sells a bunch of handsome vintage pieces with a streetwear edge. Drop in. Spend all your wages. Don’t look back.

📍 10 Broad Street, Margate, CTN 1BN

Shop sustainably at Haeckels

Based in a clifftop lab in sandy Margate, this sustainable beauty brand was created to enthuse people about the health-giving benefits of the sea. Using natural ingredients such as ocean mud, local botanicals and seaweed, Haeckels’ Founder Dom Bridges and his team have developed a range of cruelty-free skincare products from the ocean, for the ocean. They are one of only two companies licensed to harvest seaweed from the English coast.

They also offer bespoke treatments designed to revitalise the mind and body, from seaweed baths to reflexology and full body massage. Never. Coming. Home.

📍18 Cliff Terrace, Margate, CT9 1RU