Link Love #27

1. The not so palatable truth about our avocado addiction {via The Guardian}


2. The hashtag #FirstSevenJobs proves it's all gonna work out {via Refinery 29}


3. Umm so they're going to release special house editions of the first Harry Potter book {via MuggleNet}


4. A couple of mood playlists Spotify is missing {via The New Yorker}


5. These twenty-two amazing quotes from J K Rowling {via Buzzfeed}


6. A great piece on the problem with watermelon pizzas and sweet potato toast {via New York Mag}


7. Thirteen ways Lizzie McGuire would be different in 2016 {via Cosmopolitan}


8. Heather Dubrow is ultimate #goals {via Instagram}


9. Nineteen of the world's best hotel pools {via Harpers Bazaar}


10. This 'Pantone Cafe' is a designers dream! {via My Modern Met}

Keep it real, amigos

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #26

1. How to get that perfect Instagram flat lay {via Refinery29}


2. Seven things successful women always say yes to {via Darling Magazine}


3. How handbags, and what we keep in them, have changed over the years {via Cosmopolitan}


4. This year's best drone photos, taken all over the world {via TIME}


5. An image that applies to every British person right now {via Instagram}


6. The greatest lessons we learnt from Legally Blonde {via Mashable}


7. On now simply changing your password, can completely change your life {via Huffington Post}


8. Pairing the right flowers to the right vase {via Domino}


9. A collection of the cutest succulent containers {via Brit + Co}


10. The new trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has got me so excited {via Warner Bros}

Keep it real, amigos.

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #25

1. If you love yourself a bathtub, you're going to love this {via MyDomaine}


2. Twenty jobs that will let you travel the world {via Travelletes}


3. What happens when a supermarket's carrot batons simply aren't up to scratch {via Mashable}


4. Thanks to science, here's ten ways your BFF actually improves your health {via Huffington Post}


5. What it's like to attend Royal Ascot {via Town & Country}


6. A nutritionist reveals the fruits lowest in sugar {via The New Potato}


7. Vogue breaks down the best suncream for your skin type {via Vogue}


8. This beautiful all-in-one home, dubbed the 'über shed' {via Homes to Love}


9. Fifty-five things that happen during every Real Housewives episode. Never a truer word spoken {via Buzzfeed}


10. Totally feeling this piece on 'Instagram versus real life' {via Covering The Bases}

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #24

1. A guide to all the different nut butters and how to use them {via Huffington Post}


2. Take a look inside the newly renovated Ritz hotel in Paris {via MyDomaine}


3. A super summery nail art tutorial {via Paper & Stitch}


4. Seven tips for email etiquette {via Cupcakes & Cashmere}


5. The ten things we should thank 'The Hills' for, besides everything {via Entertainment Weekly}


6. I love this quote from Alain De Botton {via Clementine Daily}


7. This video of a labrador standing on two legs in a swimming pool is too much {via Woman's Day}


8. What happens to your body when you give up dairy {via Well + Good}


9. Ten furnished tents to stay in around the world #Glamping {via The Every Girl}


10. The best stretches you can do at your desk {via The New Potato}

Keep it real, amigos

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #23

1. Ten things you probably didn't know about sunscreen {via Well + Good}


2. The Rich Kids of Instagram, London edition {via Town & Country}


3. Seven storylines in 'The Hills' that were totally fake *sob* {via Glamour}


4. A sneaky trick to help prevent blisters. I've yet to pluck up the courage to try it {via PureWow}


5. Move over Humans of New York, the Millennials of New York have got something to say {via My Modern Met}


6. Ten foods that will help keep you hydrated all summer long {via Domino}


7. This french Château is just too much {via This is Glamourous}


8. A piece on why we'll marry the wrong person, and why it's ok {via New York Times}


9. One of the most motivational things I've ever read {via Instagram}


10. Wanderlust worthy road trip photos {via NY Mag}

Keep it real

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #22

1. This spoof of MTV Cribs by Hostelworld (featuring 50 Cent) is an amazing piece of advertising {via Campaign}


2. The Boden A/W 2016 press day in numbers {via Boden}


3. What happened when American Eagle stopped photoshopping its Aerie models {via Us Weekly}


4. Three ways to use honey in your skincare routine {via Darling Magazine}


5. This amazing bathroom {via Architectural Digest}


6. Are you living for the weekend? {via Free People}


7. These brilliant wallpapers for your phone to remind you to unplug {via Innocent}


8. Five ways to improve your skin using food {via Food and Wine}


9. The most colourful moments from this year's Chelsea Flower Show {via TIME}


10. All the juicy secrets from 'The Hills', shared by the people who know it best {via InStyle}

Until next time,

~ Eleanor xo

One Whole Year

Huzzah huzzah! Today officially marks a complete 365 days since I opened my laptop and published this blog post. You don't have to click the link, it basically just says some weird, largely incoherent stuff about how I've forgotten how to be a human being after completing my final year of uni and that I was now, with my new found free-time, super committed to like blogging and stuff. Words. I'm great at them.

Obviously, I ten-thousand percent was all like "yeah, this is going to last for about five minutes and then I'm going to run out of inspiration and give up". But alas, this was not to be a repeat of the Professor Layton Nintendo DS game which I gave up on after I couldn't complete level five, this was to be different. Mucho mucho different.

And lo-and-behold, 113 blog posts later, here we are. Happy unofficial first birthday, Life as Eleanor! What, if the Queen's allowed to do it, why can't I? So, to mark this exciting day, I've complied a list of some of my favourite blog posts from the last year. Some of them even make sense.

1. That time I announced my comeback tour (and 100% did not believe a word I wrote about sticking to it)


2. That time my two best pals and I explored Albufeira, in the sunny sub-continent of Portugal


3. That time I went to Bill's for breakfast and ate pumpkin seeds on eggs benedict 


4. That time I contemplated what I'd learnt in my twenty-one years of life


5. That time I had a birthday


6. That time I had a monstrous afternoon tea and almost passed out


7. That time I got a job and kickstarted my career *dances*


8. That time I admitted I'd become middle-aged


9. That time I graduated while wearing sky high heels 


10. One of those times where I shared a sneak-peak into my daily working life


11. That time Windsor dressed up in its Christmas finery


12. That time I decided to make some resolutions for the new year


13. That time I admitted that I am so totally not a morning person


14. That time I went to the London Coffee Festival


15. That time the Queen of England turned ninety and let everyone know about it


16. That time we all realised I have a thing with Wisteria

Happy birthday, Life as Eleanor. Time to drink champagne and dance on the table!

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #21

1. The history of mobile phones, as told by Paris Hilton {via BuzzFeed} 


2. So Oreo bagels are a thing {via Glamour}


3. TIME has devised a quiz to help you find out what country you sleep like. Apparently I sleep like a Belgian woman... {via TIME}


4. What parents think their kids do for a living. Oh how I empathize {via Food52}


5. Exactly what Jessica Alba eats in a day {via Delish}


6. How to use your time wisely {via TIME} 


7. What life is like on three hours of sleep {via Refinery29}


8. A recipe for a delicious looking caprese salad {via Hello Glow}


9. The all-natural ingredients that can make you prettier {via Byrdie}


10. Twenty-four hours in Cannes with Kendall Jenner {via Glamour}

Keep it real, amigos.

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #20

1. Watch an adorable seventy year old lady experience Tesla self drive for the first time {via NY Mag}


2. Turns out flowers really can improve your health and well-being. Score! {via Elle Decor}


3. Why your twenties are not like the movies, and why it's totally a-okay {via The Haute Mess}


4. What does your 'go-to' flavour say about you? {via Pure Wow}


5. The biggest misconceptions about perfume and cologne {via The Independent} 


6. A round-up of some of the best post-dental-surgery viral videos {via Teen Vogue}


7. Tips and tricks to keep fresh produce going for longer {via Cosmopolitan}


8. In-keeping with a lasting longer theme, tips to prolong the life of cut flowers {via Lark & Linen}


9. An interesting article on what sugar-free substitutes really do to our bodies {via Darling Magazine}


10. A note on why you should be risk taking this year {via Career Girl Daily}

Se realista, friends.
~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #19

1. An interesting read from one woman who took inspiration from bloggers and ate 'instagram style' food for a week {via Elle} 


2. Five picturesque properties up for sale right now {via Country Life}


3. Ten super easy ways to kick-start a healthier lifestyle {The Glitter Guide}


4. Nineteen facts about tulips (the best flower in existence) {via Country Living}


5. The town of Storybrooke actually exists. Spontaneous trip to Canada, anyone? {via Brit + Co}


6. Ruin every movie plot line ever with this website {via Mashable}


7. Fancy taking a break from adulting? These guys want to help {via AdWeek} 


8. A short history of the Facebook status. We're all guilty of it! {via Elle}  


9. Definitely want to try out this recipe {via The New York Times}


10. You can now turn your Instagram pictures into a colouring book because obvs {via Teen Vogue}

Keep it real, amigos.

~ Eleanor xo

Ten Favourite Spring-stagrammers

You cannot begin to fathom how pleased I am with that title. I should stay up late on Saturday nights more often if this is the sort of amazing inspiration I get!

Seeing as I love me some seasonal content (if you're not up to speed, Spring is my second favourite season of the year), I thought it'd be fun to do an Instagram round up of sorts, seeing as they're all the rage. I guess it's because there's suddenly actual light during several hours of the day, but Spring is so super pretty and it's near impossible not to take cute pictures of absolutely everything. Am I right or am I right?

Here are the top ten insta feeds I love going to for some springtime inspiration:

1. JULIA - @humphreyandgrace

"pictures here | words there | England"

2. JAMIE JAMISON - @alajamie

"•photo stylist • visual storyteller • social media content creator • mixed media artist"

3. BRITTNI MEHLHOFF - @brittnimehlhoff

"Craft stylist and founder of Paper & Stitch. Atlanta, GA"

4. KATE ARENDS - @witanddelight_

"Snapchat: @witinreallife"

5. CATCOOEE - @catcooee

"designer @cooee |ig ambassador for royal copenhagen|get a glimpse of cooee world, my inspiration"

6. SARAH KYLE CLOSE - @kyle.and.co

"Stylist + event & tablescape designer formerly "ladygolightly" Pacific Northwest ↟↟↟" 

7. MARINA - @lightpoem

"wife • mama • life enthusiast • Germany based"

8. MY PROVENCE STORY - @myprovencestory

"Provence behind the scenes. Wedding and event planner in Provence."

9. ABBIE MELLE - @abbie_melle

"photographer // believer // australian"

10. Benedicte - @Kardemomme1
"All the little things"

Happy springing!

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #18

1. This amazing backyard {via Instagram}


2. Hands down one of the funniest tweets sent in the last ten years {via Twitter}


3. This TV spot advertising hands-free Siri (featuring the Cookie Monster) is all kinds of hilarious {via Youtube}


4. Ok so Macaron Donuts (or Macaronuts) are now officially a thing... {via Town & Country}


5. Three reasons why it's cool to have a day job {via Being Boss Club}


6. Think your first email address was embarrassing? Wait till you see the registered names of the Kardashians' many corporations {via Racked}


7. A recipe for super easy overnight rye bread rolls {via Baking Magique}


8. Twelve natural remedies for when you're suffering from an upset stomach {via Chalkboard Mag}


9. Kinda wanna print off this quote and frame it in every room of my house {via Instagram}


10. Behind the scenes of Anthropologie's Spring Wisteria store display {via Anthropologie}

Keep it real, amigos.

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #17

1. Nine surprising facts about coffee {via Harper's Bazaar}


2. A recipe for skinny chocolate mug cakes {via The Sunday Chapter}


3. Five tips for making better (and faster) decisions {via Ivanka Trump}


4. Tips for creating brighter, whiter Instagram pictures {via Couture Girl}


5. Motivational quotes to help get you through any week {via Career Girl Daily}


6. A recipe for a paleo spinach bread {via Emilie Haaber}


7. Nineteen canine Instagram accounts you should be following {via Buzzfeed}


8. Thanks to Vanity Fair, we get to watch celebrities recite Kanye West's craziest tweets {via Refinery 29}


9. Kate Middleton's first solo interview is all kinds of cute {via Redbook}


10. Amazing photos of Highclere Castle, AKA, Downton Abbey {via Town & Country}

Keep it real, amigos

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #16

1. What classic books look like with only punctuation {via Wired}


2. A great piece on why you should be fearless in your twenties {via The Haute Mess}


3. A list of words you're probably pronouncing wrong. I don't care what anyone says, it's 100% pronounced "GIF" {via Pure Wow}


4. An article on how hard it is to give up coffee {via Refinery 29}


5. A DIY for colorful egg candles {via Hello Glow}


6. The real world locations that inspired Disney Movies {via Condé Nast Traveler}


7. 50 totally delicious sounding cookie recipes *drools* {via Town and Country}


8. Simple ways to alkalize your body each day, keeping it ship shape and shiny (apparently) {via Chalkboard} 


9. Sweet (and sound) relationship advice from a couple who have been happily married for seventy-two years {via TIME}


10. Great time saving tips we all need to get on {via Cupcakes + Cashmere}

Keep it real.
~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #15

1. A sneaky look inside Lauren Conrad's pink penthouse {via Glamour}


2. Ummm healthy recipes for peanut butter lovers can I get a hell yeah {via Carrots N Cake}


3. Twelve ways to mix up the culinary delight that is toasted bread {via Shutter Bean}


4. The husbands of Instagram have their own Tumblr account and it's hilarious {via Tumblr}


5. How flirty emojis are used around the world {via Glamour}


6. Eight ways to eat avocado toast. As we all know, I love me some toast and I love me some avocado {via XOBENZO}


7. This hella true quote {via Pinterest}


8. The candles you'll want to burn to help improve your mood and boost productivity. Candles are great like that {via My Domaine} 


9. The most Instagrammed restaurants in London {via Refinery 29}


10. Apparently there's a juice recipe to suit every star-sign. Whodda thunk it? {via Brit + Co}

Keep it real, amigos.

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #14

1. The winter morning struggle is real. And here's twenty-one totally honest coffee mugs to get you through {via Huffington Post}


2. Those immense times when J K Rowling totally won at Twitter, and frankly, life {via Pure Wow}


3. The top slang words we were all guilty of using in 2015 {via Vogue}


4. This quote {via Clementine Daily}


5. The six stages of cancelling plans. The accuracy is astonishing {via The Every Girl}


6. Five ways to be productive before 9am {via Glitter Guide}


7. Thirteen easy ways to quickly improve your mood {via Thirteen Thoughts}


8. Twelve bakeries across Europe that everyone needs to visit {via World of Wanderlust}


9. Seven ways to de-stress after work {via Because I'm Addicted}


10. I mean, of course you've already seen the wonder that is Carpool Karaoke with Adele. I feel like it's our duty to get James Corden and Adele their own show {via Youtube}

Keep it real

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #13

Happy January 1st, and hola to the first Link Love installment of 2016! May your coming year be filled with love, laughter and links!

1. Whether you call them 'journals' or 'notebooks', here's ten super cute receptacles for all your deepest thoughts {via My Domaine}


2. The ten most popular recipes searched for in 2015, according to Google {via Country Living}


3. The whole 411 (do people still say that?) on how to wash your jeans. And I thought I didn't wash mine enough... {via Pure Wow}


4. The sixteen top reaction gifs from the last year. Because obviously, this is something we all need to know {via Brit + Co}


5. A recipe for frozen hot chocolate with sea salt. I feel like I need to be in Iceland or something to drink this... {via Lexi's Clean Kitchen} 


6. Sixteen tricks to getting beautiful clear skin from people who know {via Mind Body Green}


7. The ten worst songs of 2015. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who isn't down with 'Hotline Bling' {via Helene in Between}


8. Three of the Downton Abbey cast members play Cards Against Humanity {via Entertainment Weekly}


9. The most popular holiday drinks at Starbucks by US state. I know I'm not from America, but I'm lame enough that I find this interesting {via Refinery29}


10. Center Parcs new TV ad featuring a family of bears is just too much *wipes away tear* {via Youtube}

Que sera, sera amigos!
~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #12

1. The most popular dog names of 2015. Whatever happened to Fido? {via Town and Country} 


2. Twenty-one things you didn't know about movie White Christmas {via Good Housekeeping}


3. Ten of the biggest things J K Rowling revealed about Harry Potter in 2015. I love that even now, we're still learning new info {via Mashable}


4. The low-down on some of the best Christmas markets in Europe {via The Sunday Chapter}


5. The best Dowager Countess reactions from Downton Abbey. Maggie Smith gives me life {via Refinery 29}


6. The keys to staying healthy in the office {via The Chalkboard} 


7. This tutorial for DIY pine snowflake wreaths. Seriously cute, and super easy! {via Camille Styles}


8. Fifteen people you'll definitely see at your work Christmas shin-dig. If you don't see all fifteen, that probably means you are one... {via Pure Wow}


9. Paris is a wonderland at Christmas and here's ten reasons why {via Town and Country}


10. A frankly brilliant tutorial on how to DIY emoji wrapping paper {via Studio DIY}

Keep it real, amigos.

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #11

1. A collection of gifs showing the hilarious reactions of people who don't know they're on camera. Ok, it's funnier than it sounds {via Mashable}


2. Ten questions for people who love winter {via Self}


3. This video showing Adele pranking a bunch of Adele impersonators is hilarious {via Vanity Fair}


4. Buzzfeed surprised a group of drunk girls with a load of puppies and the outcome is glorious {via Buzzfeed}


5. Hilarious movie titles that have been altered for overseas. Oh yeah, I totally loved "Armed and Dangerous Women" {via Refinery29}


6. The cutest DIY for an advent village. If only I had the time (and the patience) {via A Beautiful Mess}


7. The most adorable new pictures of Princess Charlotte. The royals are a beautiful bunch {via Vanity Fair}


8. Eight of the most stylish kids on Instagram. I have never felt so inferior {via Pure Wow}


9. The fifty most beautiful places in the world. I need to visit the Ashikaga Flower Park in Japan like, right now {via Condé Nast Traveler}


10. Nail art inspired by chunky knit sweaters. I can't help but totally dig this {via Brit + Co}

Keep it toasty, amigos

~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #10

1. Ten places to visit when you want to relive your childhood. Though sadly, they're not all so accessible {via Brit + Co}


2. A recipe for homemade pumpkin ice cream. Is this genius or an autumn overkill? {via The Gracious Pantry}


3. An amazing array of pictures showing how amazing Obama is around kids. He is so cool {via Buzzfeed}


4. Twenty-five of the best things Anna Kendrick has ever said. She is goals {via Divine Caroline}


5. What to do in the morning if you want to boost your creativity. Bet you never thought you'd have a scientist telling you to watch a cat video on a Monday morning {via Brit + Co}


6. Five things that are (apparently) total normal occurrences after university. I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing these! {via Career Girl Daily}


7. A recipe for kale Caesar salad which looks hella tasty {via PureWow}


8. This original Vogue short featuring Jennifer Lawrence is yet another reason to wish she was your BFF {via Vogue}


9. Quite literal handy tips for this time of year; 13 ways to help strengthen your nails {via Hello Natural Co.}


10. Thirteen life lessons we learnt from The Simple Life. I miss this show! {via Who What Wear}

Keep it real, amigos.

~ Eleanor xo