As people, we are bombarded with messages about how we should look and what we should wear. We are surrounded by the opinions of others, be they fashion gurus, celebrity trend-setters, or even our families and friends. And some of us pay attention to the messages we are given and dress ourselves up accordingly.

Yet here's the thing. When we are blindsided by the guidance of others, we can lose sight of our own identities. By falling prey to their 'wisdom,' we can be held back from finding our own personal style.

So, our message to you in this article is this one: Never underestimate the importance of finding your personal style. When browsing the fashion articles, and when shopping at your favourite boutique, pay attention to what you like, and not what other people might impose upon you.

By finding your own personal style, you will…

Positively affect the way you see your body

By finding those styles that will flatter the way your body looks, you will instantly feel better about yourself. It might be a skirt that allows you to embrace your curves or a colourful scarf that matches perfectly with the shade of your eyes. These are the style choices that will suit your body type and that will complement your natural assets. And these are the style choices that will raise your self-esteem every time you take them from your wardrobe.

Express your personality

Your personality is special and unique to you, so don't hide it away with ill-suiting fashion choices. If you're bubbly and gregarious, it would be a shame to hide your identity with plain and old-fashioned clothes. And if you're calm and serene, you won't feel comfortable if you wear something that is over-extravagant. By finding your own personal style, you will let people know more about who you are, and you will have that sense of freedom to be yourself. So, be it the latest in hippie clothes, something sexy and provocative, or fashion based around vintage styles, choose those outfits that match who you are, and not who other people think you should be.

Feel good about yourself

You won't feel good about yourself if you wear clothes that don't express who you are. You won't feel good about yourself if your outfit choices damage your self-confidence. And you won't feel good about yourself if you make little effort to dress yourself up occasionally. Finding your own personal style is about giving yourself self-love and respect. By wearing the clothes that both suit your body and your tastes, you will feel more comfortable when you are around others. By making an effort to wear clothes that flatter your body and suit your personality, you will have more confidence in social situations. And by controlling what you wear, you will be able to control how you feel about yourself. So, make an effort to find your personal style as, in terms of your mindset, you will start to spiral up instead of spiral down.

So, heed not what others think. Don't be afraid of being different. Choose your personal style, as you will start to feel the benefits that we mentioned if you do.

Thanks for reading.

TripAdvisor is one of the most renowned and reputable resources for avid travellers who want to find out where they should travel to next, places to eat and what to see and do.

While it’s an incredibly helpful platform, it does seem to only include the most popular tourist destinations, leaving almost every tourist and traveller to visit the same beaten paths.

If you’re looking for an alternative place to travel to this year, check out this list of 9 destinations for the young at heart that do not make it into the average TripAdvisor list.

Tonga

Despite being home to more than 170 islands, Tonga doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as other Oceania destinations such as Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.

However, it’s one of the only places in the entire world where you can enjoy an underwater experience like no other; swimming with humpback whales. These magnificent beasts can be found all around the islands of Tonga and it’s for that reason alone that it should be added straight to the top of your ‘off the beaten path’ destinations bucket list.

Olomouc, Czech Republic

When you think of must-visit places in the Czech Republic, your instant thought will probably be of Prague. However, the city of Olomouc is a place that’s often cited as the smaller version of the Czech capital and might even be dared to be deemed as more beautiful and eclectic.

The stunning streets of Olomouc are quintessentially European and there’s an abundance of delicious eateries, bars and cafes to enjoy, as well as plenty of amazing architecture to admire.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is definitely a great place to head to if you’re looking for a destination that is truly off the beaten path. It combines a heady mix of people from all walks of life, an expansive range of cuisines and intriguing history that you’ll be dying to learn about from various museums, temples and galleries.

Kyrgyzstan also has ample trekking opportunities, with many spectacular mountain ranges, all offering remarkable views of sunrise and sunset that so few people have enjoyed as it’s so remote.

Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is definitely a place you need to add to your list of places to visit that hasn’t been referred by TripAdvisor.

Home to one of the most remarkable religious pilgrimages in the world, the Camino offers beautiful views and a chance to immerse yourself in nature and spend time reflecting on yourself and your progress.

Whether you’re religious or not, hiking the Camino de Santiago is an absolutely incredible thing to add to your ‘off the beaten path’ bucket list.

Basel, Switzerland

Teeming with spectacular culture and an abundance of history, Basel is a beautiful city in Switzerland.

There are around 40 museums to keep you entertained during your time there, as well as incredible Botanical Gardens, quaint bookshops and vast parks to enjoy a picnic in.

It’s definitely one of the more underrated city breaks in Europe, with most people opting to visit places such as Zurich and Geneva instead. However, while Basel might be slightly less well known, it’s by no means less enchanting and you’re sure to have a wonderful time exploring everything that it has to offer.

Manchester, UK

When you think of the most highly rated places to visit in the UK on TripAdvisor, you’ll most likely come across the likes of London, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

However, the northern city of Manchester is also a happening and hip destination for the young at heart if you’re looking for something slightly different.

Manchester is home to so many wonderful museums, art galleries and restaurants, and while it might not be quite as heaving as London, for example, the lack of intense hustle is actually what makes it so appealing.

San Sebastián, Spain

If Santiago doesn’t take your fancy (although, it definitely should), then perhaps the vibes of San Sebastian, or ‘the Camino of the North’, might take your fancy instead.

Known for being one of the culinary capitals of Spain, San Sebastian is famed for its delectable offering of tapas dishes, stunning red wine and a plethora of Michelin starred restaurants to attract you. It also has an excellent nightlife scene if you would like to check out some of the best bars and clubs in Northern Spain.

Brunei

Despite being a relatively small country, Brunei is teeming with a rich history, culture and delightful areas of rainforest.

If you wish to experience Asia without crowds, Brunei is the place to be as you’ll enjoy all the wonderful architecture and cuisines, but without feeling like you’re being crushed by swarms of tourists.

Brunei is also home to one of the world’s largest water villages, so while you won’t quite get the charming vibes of Italy’s Venice, you will be greeted by warm and welcoming locals, delectable food and superbly stunning mosques.

Istria, Croatia

Croatia is by no means an off the beaten track destination but it is home to some places that many people wouldn’t think twice about visiting. The likes of Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb are the more renowned tourist hotspots, but Istria is the place to be if you’re looking for a much calmer vibe, exquisite cuisine and breath-taking sea views.

Istria is also famed for its black and white truffle production so you can expect the majority of dishes to be truffle-flavoured. Wine is also a popular delicacy in Istria so any wine connoisseur should plan a trip to this region of beatific Croatia!

Hopefully, this list will give you plenty of inspiration about the more remote destinations you should visit if you want to get off the beaten path and experience the places that TripAdvisor often omits from their round-ups.

This post is contributed by: Rebecca Brown
I’m Rebecca, a translator and avid traveller, a book worm and horror flick enthusiast. My job has given me the amazing opportunity to travel to dozens of countries around the world, and writing on Rough Draft gives me a chance to try to showcase some of them.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you may be looking for inspiration as to what gift to get for your loved one. Flowers are an excellent way to get into their good books. There're so many options when it comes to selecting flowers. And below you will find some ideas and options to help you express your love this Valentine’s Day.

Red Roses

Roses are always a popular choice for good reasons. The traditional red roses symbolize passion and fiery love. They can be seen everywhere from local florists to supermarkets during this time. If you aren't able to deliver the flowers in person, you can consider ordering online as well. Check out the best flower delivery in Bangkok.

Roses In A Variety Of Colours

Even though red roses are usually the go-to, you may wish to consider other colours that are not as common. For example, you can consider unique colours such as black and blue. With so many choices available, there is a colour for everyone. Here are some other choices:

• Yellow
• Orange
• Blue
• Black
• Purple
• Pink
• White
• Peach

Orchids

Orchids might not be the most popular choice for Valentine's day but its elegance and beauty make them a great option to give. The orchid is a symbol of love and also a symbol of delicateness, beauty, strength, and luxury. If that's not enough to convince you about orchids, know that they also come in a variety of colours. Choosing the colour of orchid that best fit your partner's taste can be as easy as 1,2,3.

Tulips

Source

Tulips are beautiful to give on Valentine’s Day, and they also come in many colours as well. Instead of paying for premium flowers, you can get red tulips that will look just as striking to express your feelings. For example, you can choose red-coloured tulips because they symbolize true love. Choose yellow ones to offer cheerful thoughts and sunshine. Tulips are also cheaper than roses, so they are an excellent option if you are on a tight budget but still want to show your partner how much you care.

Wildflowers

If you are looking for something a little bit different but still has the same sentiment, then you may want to consider wildflowers for your loved one this Valentine’s Day. You will find that they come in an array of styles and foliage and you can mix and match with different colours and texture to create a beautiful bouquet.

Something Homegrown or Handmade 

As an alternative to buying flowers that will wilt in a week or so, consider growing flowers on your own in a cute pot. Dahlia and daisies are both easy and beautiful homegrown. They'll last for as long as your partner takes care of it. And when they do, they'll get reminded of you. You can also make your own bouquet with chocolates! It is the sweetest gift that shows effort and thought and your love for them.

Check Out My Valentine's Gift Ideas

Quick and Easy Valentine's Strawberry Pocky Cheesecake

Ferrero Chocolate Bouquet for Valentine's Tutorial

DIY Valentine's Day Love Coupon Printable

Towards the end of my first trimester, my energy level had gotten back up. I could carry on my regular activities a lot more easily. I didn't notice much difference or changes in my second trimester. Sometimes I even forgot that I was preggo and had a baby growing inside my body.

Regular Exercise and Yoga

I still continued with my regular habit of exercising but started to take yoga classes. Yoga was said to help ease pains and help with delivery. I was careful with the different moves. I avoided moves that work out my abs and core. I also stopped doing the overhead press.

Going on a Babymoon

Will and I booked a trip just shortly after I passed my 3 months and after I got a clearance from my doctor. It took us a while to decide on where to go. The destination needed to be pregnant-women friendly and safe from Zika virus. We ultimately decided on Europe for a more tame and relaxing babymoon since I wouldn't be able to do anything adventurous like this and this.

I bought pregnancy compression pantyhose to help with my flight in case of leg cramps or swelling. Even though our trip was supposed to be relaxing, we were ambitious and visited Paris, Strasbourg, Colmar, Dusseldorf, Koln and Amsterdam all within just 2 weeks (post to come!). Despite going from places to places in a short period of time, it was still manageable. On average, we walked about 30,000 steps each day and I still felt great! My belly started to show a little bit but I was still able to hide it inside my regular clothes.

Eating was tough in Europe, especially in France. Although I had gained back the appetite that I lost in my first trimester, there was a lot of food that I needed to avoid. I couldn't eat any of their cheese, wine, deli meat, beef tartare, escargot -  basically most of the things that France was known for.

Keeping the Gender a Surprise

At about 20 weeks, my doctor was able to tell me the gender of my baby. But I really wanted to keep it as a surprise and do a gender reveal. What's more important for me was the baby's health and growth. Besides, I was so entertained whenever someone guessed the gender and shared me their theories.

Will and I also started keeping a list of names for both genders. But it was difficult to find a name that we both liked, not taken and worked well for our culture. We had fun picking out a few nicknames though.

First Flutters

I wasn’t sure when I actually felt my baby’s first flutters. I couldn’t tell if it was my baby kicking or just me feeling gassy at first. But when I started feeling it more frequently, I knew that must be it. The baby kicks that I was so curious about. It was really a special feeling. They felt like big bubbles or something was twitching from inside my belly. The flutters would occur in the middle of the night or when I lied on a certain position or when I ate a certain food. I thought maybe my baby was trying to tell me something.

Growing Out of My Clothes 

During this time, my belly was always itchy from the winter dryness. I had to put more bio-oil and moisturizer to soothe the skin. My clothes no longer fit me anymore. My go-to jeans would not buckle. So I had to start wearing maternity jeans and leggings and more dresses. Eventually, I was more comfortable wearing a more fitted silhouette and shape to embrace my growing belly.

Other than getting the occasional leg cramps, my second trimester was indeed a smooth-sailing like most people said. I was able to do so much and go everywhere with ease.

How was the second trimester for you? Did you enjoy it more than other trimesters?

Check out my other posts on my pregnancy

Pregnancy Journal: First Trimester (Week 1-13)

If you read my latest post, Decade in Review, you might know that Will and I have a baby on the way for 2020!  I wanted to document this entire journey and share with you my experience throughout the trimesters, starting with the first one.

Low in Energy

I still remembered the feeling when I first found out my pregnancy blood test result was positive. It was a mix of feeling skeptical, surprised, relieved and joy. I couldn't believe we were finally expecting our newborn after months of trying. The thought of being pregnant didn't hit me until I started feeling extremely tired. I would be doing absolutely nothing the entire day but would still feel like I had no energy and just wanted to nap. I was also expecting to experience some morning sickness or nausea. But I actually didn't experience any (so lucky!). This was probably why the pregnancy felt surreal to me. And in the back of my head, I was afraid the joy would be short-lived. So I had been extra cautious for the first 3 months and declined invites to activities like skating, snowboarding and lazy tubing. I didn't want to take any risks.

Lost in Appetite

I did, however, lost my appetite. As you know, I had always been a food lover. But I noticed during this time, I had lost interest in eating. I turned away from the food that I used to like. As a result, I actually lost some weight.

Cautious of Food

Speaking of food, I had to be extra careful with my diet. I cut down the bad food items that were not recommended by doctors. And these included all the soft or unpasteurized cheese, honey and milk, deli meat, salad, raw meat, runny egg yolks and sushi! It was a lot harder than I thought. I had to google every time before I put food in my mouth. On top of that, in my culture, I was told to avoid certain fruits and shellfish. They believed that eating shellfish would cause the baby to have allergies. And fruits like papaya, banana and watermelon would cause miscarriage or early birth. So that limited me on what I could eat. I also started to take more vitamins and supplements after each meal. But with what they called a "baby brain", I sometimes forgot if I even took them.

Cautious of Chemicals

I started replacing my regular skincare and beauty products to products with natural ingredients, just to avoid chemicals and fragrance that might harm the baby. At one point, I even wanted to swap out my shampoo to something that is meant for pregnant women. But I had been told that was a bit extreme. There were two things that I missed doing: getting my nails done and dying my hair :(

Dewy Skin

Even though I might not get to doll up like how I used to, I noticed my skin got more glowy, dewy and soft. The hormones or estrogen might have been a contributor to this which I won't complain about.

My First Ultrasound

I had my first ultrasound when I almost hit 6 weeks. They showed me an image of a marble-looking shadow inside my belly. I didn't know what it was. A gestational sac? I had no clue what that even means. It sure didn't look like a baby to me.

At my second ultrasound which was about 8 weeks, the sac had gotten bigger. By my 12-week scan in which Will was able to join me, the baby was all formed! We could see the profile of the baby very clearly. Everything seemed more real at this point. Will even told me he got a bit emotional when he saw the image of our baby for the first time.

As soon as my doctor said everything looked fine and normal, I started thinking about travelling. I needed to travel one more time before the baby arrives!

My parents completely opposed that idea though. They thought I should take more rest because this was my first pregnancy and I should be very careful. But I was a rebel. I'd prefer travelling now than after the baby is born. Besides, my tiredness had gotten a lot better towards the end of my first trimester. It convinced me that I would be physically capable to go on a trip with Will together one last time, just the two of us.

Now that I finished writing this post, I felt very grateful that everything was so smooth and easy for me during my first trimester. I couldn't imagine how it would be like to suffer from morning sickness and nausea throughout the first few months.

What was your first trimester like? Would love to hear your experience.

Check out my other posts on my pregnancy

Pregnancy Journal: Second Trimester (Week 14-27)

Happy New Year! I hope 2019 was everything that you wanted and dreamed of and I also hope that 2020 is better than all your previous years! Looking back the past decade (can you believe that a decade has passed?!), I've grown so much in person and have achieved so much. So I really wanted to do a recap of this past decade with today's post.

2010

I started the decade by landing a job in an advertising agency. The competition was tough in the design world and every designer dreamed of working at an advertising agency downtown. So the opportunity was very much coveted among my peers. I had “friends” who I rarely talked to approaching me on Facebook and asked me to review and give feedback to their portfolios. It was a digital producer position, a role that I was unfamiliar with and had no experience for. I didn’t want to give credit to my luck though. I worked hard in networking, building my portfolio, website and resume. I took it as a deserving reward from my perseverance and commitment.

Popular posts:

• Make Your Own Felt Cherry Blossoms
• Back to High School Birthday Party

Student cosplay for my "Back to High School" Birthday party

2011

The agency lost one of their major clients and so the entire team working on that account was laid off. And I was one of them. It was short but definitely a memorable experience. I had learned that I really hated commuting downtown to the city every morning and that the agency life was not as glamourous as it seemed. So I wanted my next job to be more stable and corporate with a shorter commute. I ended up getting a designer job in a bank working in Marketing and started a side hustle with a colleague doing custom baked goods.

Popular posts:

• Mad Men Makeover
• Felt Rose Ring Tutorial
• Cupcakes Bouquet Tutorial

Makeover for a Mad Men themed party

2012

Travelled to China and Taiwan with my family in May. Then I went on a trip to New York with some friends via Megabus. Lesson learned that year: Never take the Megabus to New York again.

Popular posts:

• My Birthday Gift Card Spending Spree
• Make Your Own Timbits at Home
• All You Can Eat in New York City
• Bullet Bill Costume Tutorial

2013

Went on an all-inclusive trip to Cuba with my family for the first time. Started playing more badminton. And met the love of my life through numerous rounds of friendly games. Highest record was playing 8 hours straight. Oh the energy!

Popular posts:

• Alice in Wonderland White Rabbit Costume Tutorial
• Candy Crush Birthday Cake Tutorial
• DIY Minion iPhone Cozy

2014

Flew back to my hometown, Hong Kong to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday milestone and reunited with my extended families. My grandmother passed away a few months later. It was a tough time for our family.

Popular posts:

• What to Wear to a Baseball Game
• Wedding Cake Gift Box Tutorial
• What is Bubble Soccer
• Sushi Halloween Costume Tutorial

2015

I bought a house with Will and went to Punta Cana together. Career-wise, I transitioned to a digital marketing role with a focus on content creation.

Started an annual tradition of our #HosGoGlobal trip with the extended family in honour of our grandmother. Our first destination was to the Mediterranean. Later that year, Will proposed in our new home!

Popular posts:

• Han Ba Tang Restaurant Review
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cake Pops Tutorial

2016

Best Year Ever! This was the year when we tied the knot as Mr. and Mrs. Although, I didn’t share many details of our wedding on the blog here but it was a day to remember. Planning a wedding was a LOT of work. Thankfully, there won’t be a second time. LOL!

Went on our Honeymoon to Japan a month later. Visited Tokyo and boarded on a cruise to Hokkaido then took the train to visit Osaka and Kyoto.

Popular posts:

• What to Wear for an Engagement Photoshoot
• Kitchen Reno Diary 3 - Before and After
• My Flirty Fall Essentials

2017

This year was mostly about travelling as well. Flew to Banff, Alberta early in the year and hit the slopes with Will together. I was very thankful that I actually survived the cold and the Rockies. Later the year, we travelled 22 hours across the planet to Australia and New Zealand. This was our longest flight yet! We visited Sydney and tried our first scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

Popular posts:

• The Must Eat, Drink, Play in Tokyo
• What to Wear for Formal Nights on a Cruise
• DIY Gold Handlettering Christmas Ornaments
• SueFestive Holiday and a Year in Review
• Spice Girls Halloween Group Costume Tutorial
• How We Upgraded Our Kitchen on a Budget
• Ferrero Chocolate Bouquet Tutorial

2018

Was definitely an interesting year for me. Lots of ups and downs. I got promoted to a senior at work but felt that my passion was elsewhere. So I diverted my focus to creating content for the blog and started my Etsy shop selling digital products.

Will started a new job and couldn’t take any days off, so we only did a road trip together to Montreal this year.

This was also my strongest year in terms of achieving my physical goals. I accomplished a personal milestone by finishing my first 10K run and also a 50 km bicycle charity ride.

Things then hit a wild turn when I fell down the stairs at a restaurant which resulted in a mild concussion. But it gave me a reason to finally do a digital detox and rest. After recovery, I spent the last bit of summer in Muskoka but fell out of an ATV in the woods. I thought I broke my leg and got sent to the hospital for the second time. Lesson learned this year: always wrap myself in a bubble wrap.

Later the year, I still travelled (of course) to Spain and Italy (post still to come!) and then flew back to Hong Kong for a wedding with a side trip to Seoul, Korea.

Popular posts:

• My Scuba Diving Experience in Great Barrier Reef
• How to Make Your Instagram Story Highlights
• DIY Spring Wreath for Your Front Door Tutorial
• Free Mother's Day Card Printable

2019

Started mediocre but had gotten better towards the end as we found out that we are expecting our first baby! YES. You read that right! Our baby will arrive in Spring 2020. So, we quickly went on a babymoon to Europe (post to come!) as soon as I passed the 3-month mark and am now spending the rest of my pregnancy preparing for our little one and motherhood.

Thank you so much for all the support you had given me throughout this whole journey. I can’t wait to see what 2020 and the new decade have in store for us! Have a happy New Year!

It's less than a week away until Christmas! As part of my holiday gift-giving series, I'm sharing 5 downloadable SVG design files that you can use to create these beautiful cutout Christmas cards shown here (the last one is a mystery design)! If you haven't had a chance to pick up some cards for the holidays, consider making your own. You can customize this by adding a layer of coloured paper to change up the look and feel. If you have a cutting machine, then you can easily cut out the lettering so that it becomes hollow. Just upload the SVG files into your machine's design space and make it away! The cards are measured 4"x6" but you can also size it up or down as you wish. If you're good with using a craft knife/blade, you can also cut the lettering out to make it hollow. I glued a piece of tissue paper inside the card to create a stained glass effect. When you put it against the light, and the light shines through, it's absolutely gorgeous!

I'm in love with these paper cutout cards! I've made a few different designs using this cutout technique and I'll be sending these away for the holidays. Here's another design that I've created and it is available in my shop for you to download instantly as well.

Check out my other Christmas DIY ideas!

Rudolph the Reindeer Christmas Cake Pops (Tutorial)

DIY Gold Hand Lettering Christmas Ornament (Tutorial)

Sweetest Present to Give: Christmas Cupcakes Bouquet (Tutorial)

Tis' the Season to Make Gingerbread Cookies

Holly Jolly Chocolate Cake Pops (Tutorial)

You've probably already started counting down the days until Christmas (only a week away!) and finishing up the holiday shopping. But you can't really spend the holidays without making something adorable for your family and friends, right? Every year, I tried to make something special for the holidays. And today, I'm sharing this tutorial on how to make these adorable looking Rudolph Reindeer Christmas cake pops! If you have a Christmas party or pot luck coming up, these are great to make ahead of time. And plus, both kids and adults would love them too! I like to wrap these with a small cellophane bag so the kiddos can take them home and eat them later.

For the base, I used a classic vanilla recipe and dipped the pops in S'mores candy melt. The S'mores flavour tasted great and gave a little more than the typical chocolate. Plus, it's also brown in colour which is just what I needed for the reindeers.

Check out my other Christmas DIY ideas!

Make Your Own Christmas Cutout Card (Free Download)
DIY Gold Hand Lettering Christmas Ornament (Tutorial)

Sweetest Present to Give: Christmas Cupcakes Bouquet (Tutorial)

Holly Jolly Chocolate Cake Pops (Tutorial)

Tis' the Season to Make Gingerbread Cookies