Aupair Wardrobe Barcelona

The outfits which I have planned for Barcelona are more suitable for the beach and have a chilled, laid back feel. I have had to be careful when choosing bikinis as they can't be too skimpy as I will be looking after kids all day!

My Motto

"Free yourself from negative people. Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and like-minded. Relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. When you free yourself from negative people, you free yourself to be YOU – and being YOU is the only way to truly live."

Madrid Aupair Outfit 5

Madrid Aupair Outfit 4

Madrid Aupair Outfit 3

Madrid Aupair Outfit 2

Aupair Wardrobe Madrid

For the past week or so I have been sorting out my wardrobe, putting together outfits which are child friendly, practical, but still cool enough to wear in the 35 degree heat of Madrid! The next couple of posts will give future Aupairs ideas on what to pack if they are working abroad. 

El Campo de Cebada

Taken by Giselle Helene Elizabeth Boxer and Mia Georgevic 

A MUST SEE IN THE LA LATINA DISTRICT!

In 1861, this area used to home one of Madrid's largest outdoor and indoor markets. In the 20th century, the government had plans to rebuild this area, but plans fell through due to the Spanish economic crisis and lack of investment. However, in 2011, the residents of La Latina grouped together to create plans for the unused space. It is now a public area for social gatherings and outdoor activities. If you go on the website, http://elcampodecebada.org, you can see the listings of debates, theatre performances and musical gatherings which are held here.

The space was quickly cleaned up and equipped with basic equipment, and basketball and football pitches were installed. The grey of the cement was soon replaced by colours and graffiti produced by volunteer painters and local artists. The concrete ground provides children with a safe area for skating and riding their bicycles. Street furniture was created out of recycled materials and this activity then gave rise to “handmade temporary urban design” workshops. In the summer there is even a huge inflatable pool for public use! 

Instead of being left as an indefinitely abandoned, inaccessible empty space, it is now a modern, urban area which promotes freedom of expression. For the local residents, “El Campo de Cebada” is a way of speaking out against indifference, proving that it is possible to shape a city together, and that there is life beyond urban planning. 

The area is just outside La Latina station, but is rather hidden. If you look through the peep holes in the wall, you won't believe what is in front of your eyes!

Instagram Shots of Madrid

Taken by Laura Molineux 

Madrid Farmers Market

Madrid’s Cámera Agraria located in the stunning area of Casa del Campo is held on the first weekend of every month, and shouldn't be missed! There are many vendors selling fresh, delicious produce from the region. 

It was a glorious summers day, and despite the sore heads and icky tummies (we were hungover again…only on your year abroad once though ey!) we ventured to Lago metro stop in search of the June Farmers Market. The area was beautiful, so green and peaceful, despite only being 20 minutes from the centre of the capital. We were greeted with a stand that allowed us to buy vouchers in exchange for multiple glasses of wine from the local vineyards. IDEAL! The only thing to get rid of a sore head is to drink more! We walked round each stand, sampling cheese, meats, fruits, pastries, liquors, honey and some other bits and bobs which I had never tried before. I'm a bit of a fussy eater, but since being in Madrid, I have really opened up my horizons to new foods. Everything was so yummy, apart from the anchovies on toast. (YUK!) There are also stands selling the best quality meat and vegetables from the local farms. It's a real shame that I didn't visit the market before, because I would have loved to create some dishes with these ingredients. 

Definitely worth a visit if you are in Madrid. One tip, get down early if you are greedy like me and want to make the most of the samples! 

Bloglovin

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/8446063/?claim=5fuf5t8575x">Follow my blog with Bloglovi</a>

What do you think of my new design!? I'm not that much of a computer wizz kid, but I've been fiddling around with my blog for a couple of hours this morning. I tend to change my mind a lot, so next week it'll probably look completely different... but for now I'm pretty happy with it! I've also decided to sign up to Bloglovin so people can follow my blog more easily.

Click on the cute wee Gadget to the right of this post to follow me on Bloglovin. Cheers! 

Madrid Snaps

Taken By Sarah Rebecca Wilkie

Best Vintage Denim In Madrid

If you are looking for Vintage denim in Madrid, head straight to The The Storage on Calle Velarde. 

The owner Tito lived in Seattle for many years and is an expert when it comes to grunge chic. He bought the trend over to Spain in 1989 when he set up this vintage store. The shop is small, but bursting with character, and houses a huge collection of vintage denim jackets, shorts, dungarees and shirts. In the past, I have always struggled to find Levi denim shorts that fit perfectly, but then I found this little beauty! You can find any size, in a variety of colours, for a price which rivals Urban Outfitters. 

Once you've found your pair of shorts, they can be customised in the shop with studs, buttons and fabrics. 

I'll definitely be re-visiting The The Storage when I go back to Madrid in a couple of weeks! 

How To Eat Like A Queen On A Student Budget In Madrid

El Tenedor is a website where you can reserve tables in restaurants all over Spain. For those that know me, I love a good bargain! I get it from my mama...her nickname is actually Bargain Boxer! I also love good food. It is really hard in Madrid not to get sucked into the touristy restaurants. They end up costing you a small fortune, and the food is usually not that great. So when I found El Tenedor I was over the moon. They handpick some of the best restaurants in the area, and give you a discount up to 50% off if you reserve a table online. You need to order a minimum of 2 dishes per person, and it doesn't include drinks, however, I have had some pretty tasty meals in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, for a fraction of the usual price.

If you totally love gourmet food, but can't afford going for pricey meals all the time, then check out El Tenedor.  

http://www.eltenedor.es