Travel Diary: Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Second on the list of my Travel Diary Series  is Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Srebrenica is my home town. This is where I was born, I have very vague memories as a kid  of what it used to look like before the war. It is a small, town located on bottom of a mountain. Srebrenica is made up with the official town and lot of little villages in surrounding area.

Srebrenica, along with rest of Bosnia got hit with the devastating war that thorn it apart. In 21st Century Srebrenica is most know for mostly know for the Srebrenica Massacre and Memorial Centre in Potocari.

Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery for the Victims of the 1995 Genocide. Each July 11th thousands of people come together to pay their respects for all those lost.

Part of the memorial centre is an exhibit featuring artifacts, stories and pictures of those whose remains were found in over hundred different mass burial graves.

This is one exception where I won't give you 5 restaurants, 5 activities and must do list. If you are in Bosnia, especially in July, please go and visit. The amazing story of Srebrenica in itself is worth hearing and seeing. The history, the story and the pain this place alone has felt warrants a visit. Other then learning a lot, the views themselves aren't bad… With endless mountains, beautiful lakes, rives and little local restaurants it is worth the visit. 

People from all over the world have visited, and I have had a pleasure of meeting and chatting with people  from Sweden, Canada, USA, Germany and Japan .. just to name a few. Recently, Angelina Jolie was in Srebrenica to pay her respects.

(image via CN News) March 2014.

Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think of my adventures.

Best chocolate chip cookies..

I am more of a baker then I am a cook, I think that has been establish on this blog by now. I love to make all dessert form scratch... Saying that not all of them turn out as Pinterest sometimes makes it look a lot easier then it actually is.  I used this recipe from Chef in training except I used  milk chocolate chips and baked the cookies for 8 minutes at 350.

I think chocolate chip cookies might be one of my all time favourite desserts.

Funny story ... I turned around to go grab my camera and half the cookies were gone (Thanks siblings). The recipe does make about a dozen  medium size cookies, which were perfect with a glass of milk.

What is your favourite cookie?

Happy family day

Hope you have a wonderful day.

XO Nermisa 

FABULOUS & FEARLESS FEATURE

Today, I am talking to wonderful Maddy from Cassidylou(dot)com. She is a  relatively new blogger with great style and a very inspiring story behind her blog name.  Hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I did. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Full name = Madeline, nickname = Maddy

Currently living in Grand Rapids, MI, but originally from Toledo, OH

Favorite dessert = chocolate chip banana bread

Job = Digital Marketing

Guilty pleasure = One Direction music videos

I teach SPINNING classes

I race triathlons

Go to meal = filet mignon!

I was a child model for one photo shoot!

How would you best describe your own personal style?

I like to take risks with funky pieces, such as sequin pants, faux fur, blazer capes, leather, neon and mixing prints. None of these seem that crazy to a fashion blogger, but I have gotten some pretty strange looks in Grand Rapids, MI.I stick with classic cuts, because I find them most flattering, but I love to play around with color, print and fabric. My style reflects my mood, which can change daily. Some days it will be a dress, heels + pearls, other days ripped jeans, slip on sneakers + a leather jacket.

Do you think there is a difference between “fashion” and “style”?

I believe there is a HUGE difference between “fashion” and “style.” Fashion, to me, is what is popular or trending in the market currently, whether it be pastels, feathers, studs, etc. Style is how someone chooses to express their personality and emotions

Do you stick to conventional fashion or like to try and be original?

I like to try to add my own twist to change conventional to original. I know what shapes and silhouettes work for me, so I stick to those but add in fun elements such as print and texture. I’m not afraid to mix completely opposite pieces together.

What advice could you give to someone aspiring to get into blogging?

Even though I have been blogging for a year and a half I still feel like a newbie most of the time! I would tell them to be prepared to devote a good amount of time to their blog and network, network, network!

Your blog name has an inspiring story, can you tell me more about that?

Of course! My grandma passed in March 2013 and she and I were very close. Part of our relationship revolved around fashion. She helped me sew my own skirts and tote bags, and sewed almost all her own clothing. I considered her to be a close friend and we always had a special bond. When I decided to start blogging in July of that year, I wanted to choose a name that had meaning but was unique. Her last name was Cassidy, and my mom (her daughter) always called her Martha Lou; which is how I created Cassidy Lou.

What is your favorite thing about your chosen career? Why?

Currently I work for a company doing digital marketing and my favorite part is probably the people I work with

Is there a person that is an inspiration to you? Why?

My parents. Completely cliché but they truly are amazing, selfless, hilarious and generous people. Ask anyone.

What advice could you give to someone who wants to feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin?

You are in control of your happiness.

What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. I struggle with comparing myself to others in both the blog world and real life. Everyone has their successes and failures at different times in their life and you don’t need to be on anyone’s timeline but yours!

If you didn’t need to work for income, what would you do with your time?

I would travel extensively and be a stylist (although I am in the process of starting my own styling company…more to come later.)

If you met a Genie who offered you three wishes, what would you wish for?

Such a tough question! I would wish for enough money to my parents to finish paying for my siblings college tuition and retire now and travel wherever they want .I would wish for the time and funds for me to take the next few years and travel And this isn’t possible, but I would wish for an end to the violence all over the world. It is something that breaks my heart

THANK YOU so much for sharing your answers with me and Letters to LALA land readers.

You can stay in touch with Maddy and Cassidy lou (dot) com via Instagram and Facebook 

*all images of provided by Cassidylou.com and Madeline

FABULOUS & FEARLESS FEATURE

Today, I would love to introduce Lyndsay, a Canadian blogger and creative mind behind Over My Styled Body. She is very talented fashionista from Edmonton. Her unique and cutting edge style is amazing and her Instagram game in on point. I actually first met Lyndsay when her and my sister played volleyball for their University but then years later found her blog (small world right?). Hope you enjoy getting to know Lyndsay as much as I did.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

My name is Lyndsey Forest and I'm the creative mind behind the fashion and lifestyle blog, Over My Styled Body. I recently said goodbye to my home in the burbs (Sherwood Park) as we just bought our first home in the big city of YEG! So when I'm not having fun decorating our new place I spend a lot of my working on my blog, brainstorming, and 'instagramming'. Yes, I am an instagram addict and not even ashamed to admit it!

Fashion has always been a driving force in my life. My mom always tells me how picky I was as a little girl and wouldn't leave the house if my outfit wasn't just right. Knowing the direction I wanted to take, I started out working in small boutiques and soaked up as much knowledge as I could about the fashion industry. I then went on to get my business degree and have been working as a visual merchandiser ever since graduating.

When instagram came around I started using the app to share pictures of my ootd's and fashion inspiration. I slowly started gaining a following and had people ask me all the time if I had a blog. It was from there that Over My Styled Body was born!

I started blogging as merely a hobby but it hasn't been until the last year or so that I could see myself doing this as a career. I love the creative outlet it offers and I always have so much fun putting looks together and sharing them with the fashion community!

How would you best describe your own personal style?

To be honest, I can't really pin point what my style would be as it all depends on the day and changes like the wind! But I think that's kind of a good thing, as there's no limits as to what I might wear next. I will say thought that I love a lot of colour, fun accessories, and high heels! Oh ya, and I definitely consider leopard a neutral and wear it religiously. 

Do you think there is a difference between “fashion” and “style”?

To me, fashion is all about what's happening on the runways, what we see in the magazines, and what's "trending". But style is how you take those fashion moments and make them your own. It's unique to everyone.

Do you stick to conventional fashion or like to try and be original?

I wouldn't say I stick to conventional fashion and I'd like to think I'm somewhat original! I like to pick and choose which trends work me and try and put my own spin on them. I have fun with fashion and don't think there are any rules. For me, it's all about wearing what makes me feel good, not necessarily if it's on 'on trend". Cause what's the fun in that!?

If you were a fashion designer, what style of clothing or accessories would you design?

I am a total shoe addict so needless to say I would love to design some type of footwear. If only I could draw...#thestruggle

What advice could you give to someone aspiring to get into blogging and world of fashion?

Like anything in life if you love what you do it will show in your work and at the end of the day it won't even feel like a real job. So if fashion is where you'd love to be, I say go for it! Work hard, be persistent, and never forget to have fun!

What is your favorite thing about your chosen career? Why?

I love that whether I'm heading to my day job or blogging at home, I'm always in a creative environment that allows me to express myself.

What advice could you give to someone who wants to feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin?

I would say take baby steps. If you always wear black and want to start wearing colour, don't feel like you need to wear a red one piece suit! Maybe opt for a coloured scarf or a fun necklace. It's in those moments where you step out of your comfort zone just a little bit that we start to grow and gain that confidence. 

In your opinion what is the biggest challenge women face today?

There will always be challenges no matter what gender, colour, or race you might be. But when it comes to women in the fashion industry I think there's an underlying competition that starts to happen. Like who has the hottest new handbag? How many followers do you have? That type of thing. For me, I think it's about surrounding yourself with amazing people and counting your blessings everyday. Like they always say, "girls compete against each other, women empower one another!"

What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

Have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you

Oh and...

Never go to bed mad, it's all about the peace and happiness :)

If you didn’t need to work for income, what would you do with your time?

Honestly, I think I would still be blogging but I'd love to take it international! I love travelling so I would definitely be doing a lot of that.

Lyndsay, THANK YOU so much for sharing your answers with me and Letters to LALA land readers.

You can stay in touch with Lyndsay and Over My Styled Body via Instagram and Twitter 

*all images of provided by Overmystyledbody.com and Lyndsay

What blogging has taught me...

If you read "about me" section you have an idea of why I started blogging... Aside from having a creative outlet it was to help me be more confident and comfortable in my own skin. Decision to be a life and style blogger had its down side, having to be photographed being the biggest. At the beginning my fashion posts were more about recreating outfits rather then wearing my own, however over time I slowly forced myself to actually take pictures which took us to today... what blogging taught me: confidence has nothing to do with what you look like, but it does have everything to do with having confidence in one self. 

So what if I can't take a good photo most of the time & if I laugh 90% of the time I m taking photos; at least I had fun taking pictures.

So never let the fear of what someone might say, or what you think they might say stop you from doing what you want; Blogging and my style have changed and keep evolving because thanks to all of you I m learning that being different (& taking somewhat ridiculous photos) is just fine.

xo Nermisa