"I only wave the white flag when Real Madrid wins" - Rio , La Casa de Papel

Long time, no blogging, and when you write a travel story long time after the trip took place, it all comes out differently. Because you don't remember every single detail, but you know the feelings you had when you encountered certain places.

This is a very special post, and it took a lot for me to write it because there are a million ways I could do it. I could write it the day we took the photos, after Real Madrid beat PSG on Bernabeu, or when I got at home I thought about giving every single detail of the Bernabeu tour for the fans. As I am writing this, Real Madrid qualified for the third time in a row in the UCL final! Therefore, I decided to tell you a little story about my unconditional love for Real Madrid so you can understand why I'm smiling like a little kid at Disneyland in all these photos.

People tell me all the time " Don't you get bored of rooting for Real Madrid? What's the fun in being a fan for a team which is just expected to win everything?" Let's get one thing straight. When I became a Real Madrid fan, it was all about that Camerun effect they talk about in "La Casa de Papel" (meaning, when you see Brazil playing against Camerun at World Cup, you're always going to root for Camerun, it's human nature to root for the underdog). Real Madrid had a strong team, but weren't getting anywhere in the UCL. They were barely getting into 1/8 stage and losing there. And still, I fell in love with the team not just because of that, but I also saw they had something which represents me to the core: a strive for perfection.  I'm aware perfection isn't achievable, but the drive for it makes you the best in your field. And every single player to be presented at Bernabeu had that in his eyes and a fighting spirit! No matter how many years went by, the spirit and the need to win everything is there. And I think that's the core of Real Madrid's team spirit, I love how when we're a couple of goals down they motivate themselves and come back stronger.

And one more thing I need to point out for the ones that tell me "it's so easy when you have the most talented players in the world". I don't know how far talent gets you. There are way more talented people who never earned even 1/100 of what Real Madrid players make. And why? Because I think this team has the most hard-working players. That's the right word. And I don't mean just the amount of time they spend on the field and in the gym afterwards, but the fact they dedicate every single aspect of their life to their career at this club. See how Cristiano Ronaldo eats in order to still run like that on the field. See how Marco Asensio describes his usual days at just 22 years old (my age). I saw an interview in Spanish a while ago and I'll give you the summary: practice, lunch, a nap, dinner, some time spent with family (sometimes watching football games) & he doesn't really like to go out in clubs etc. That's someone who deserves to lift the UCL at 21, so let's not just let the newspapers praise their talent. Committing to your job with such determination gets you the trophies!

And speaking of trophies, let's get back to my Bernabeu tour. I've never been so emotional like the minute I walked into their UCL trophy room. Because I remembered every single final I saw them take the trophy home. In the last two years, it was during finals season (just like it will be this year as well) and it didn't matter. I couldn't study, I just had to live in the moment and cheer them on, even in front of my TV and with stacks of books around me. And I knew, looking at all those trophies, we deserve to get in the final this year as well, and I'm so happy to blog about this now. Just when I thought the tour couldn't get better, after the trophy room we entered a room with a short movie projected on a black wall (the players are like twice your size, to get the picture). This movie made me shed some tears of joy because it was basically the whole route we had to take in 2017 for the UCL - all the goals and big shots. Even my best friend who wasn't a Real Madrid fan per se got major goosebumps and we stayed there to watch it 3 times. Haters will say it's just common marketing, but I know I need some good fairytales in my life, and that movie was the best. Real Madrid, with all the magic goals, comebacks, secret handshakes, tough-love from the fans, fantasy records, is in my heart forever! When I hear the word "CHAMPION" the team pops into my mind first and I know it will always be like that.

PS: The outfit photos are all taken at the Bernabeu because I took so many photos on the tour my phone died and we had to rely on my bff's phone for the rest of the day. I'm wearing a H&M kimono dress because the blue details match the stadium and also because, being one of the most popular teams in the world, the Real Madrid jersey is too high-priced for me! I keep waiting for a season that will make me fall in LOVE with the jersey, because I know for a fact I'm only gonna buy one haha.

A POR LA 13!

♪ Drake- God's Plan ♪

Hello, I'm back and in the mood for blogging! Maybe my absence is because I took Drake's "I'll be back in 2018 to give you the summary" lyrics to heart haha. But there are 3 major reasons I couldn't find time to blog lately: 

1. Finals season- over now, and I'm not gonna lie, it was the most exhausting in my four years of Med School.

2.  There aren't any photographers available on finals season (obviously) plus it's hard to look fabulous in the snow, I don't know how so many girls do it, I just get a Rudolph nose 1 minute into the shoot haha.

3. I have a new passion project. Eating healthy is one of my major 2018 resolutions and I started an Instagram page to document my journey, plus I wanted to share with all of you my sugar-free, low calorie & sometimes gluten free recipes. You can find them all on DietAndDesserts.

This is the outfit I wore on one of my favorite December days of 2017. I was in Bucharest for a Medical Congress and I planned the best day with my best friend Simona- I finally had the famous American pancakes at Maison Des Crêpes and I got to hang out with S.'s close friends and I love the fact we bonded over medicine and food because they're both passionate cooks, I learned a lot of cool tips that day. After that, it was time for a stroll at the Romanian Athenaeum, my favorite place to take photos in Bucharest (thank you S. for these photos & patience) it always reminds me of Paris. Then came the highlight of the day, I finally got to see the National Museum Of Art and I was mesmerized with Stefan Luchian's flowers, as always, Nicolae Grigorescu's work and of course, Brancusi's "Wisdom of the Earth"- I really got the chills when I saw it. We ended the day with a trip to Ikea and I was just over the moon.

I wore the exact same outfit yesterday and I remembered I never posted these photos. I love this blush pink dress I got in the Black Friday sales at Zara, still can't believe how cheap it was! But the star of the outfit is the Forever21 backpack I got on that same trip in Bucharest from Forever 21 - I mean, the velvet, the color, the size! It's the backpack I've been looking for my whole life!

♪ Mama always told me - G-Eazy♪

I hope everyone had a joyful Christmas, full of love and surprises from family and friends! For me, Christmas always has that special impact and it was even more special this year because I got to host it in my own home. Let me know if you'd like a post on all the decorations and cakes I baked, although you must have seen them all on my Instagram profile ( @marymanaila) .

This holiday also meant watching the second season of "The Crown" (I wrote about how much I love the show in a previous post) and also two weeks prior to being released by Netflix I started watching tons of documentaries about the royal family (I'm behind with my TV shows because of them &if you don't know me: it's something major!). And just as I was about to start the 5th episode of "The Royal House of Windsor" I remembered I took these photos at the Palace of Culture this autumn and I totally forgot to post them. It's funny because I was attending a Medical Congress and I had no intention of doing a photoshoot, but when I saw this setting I couldn't help it. 

Also, I finally get to show you my favorite winter dress! I got it last year from Mango and I love its duality: last year I used to wear it with statement jewellery and  it would seem like a casual chic look (it has these cotton stripes which seem both elegant and easy-going at the same time) and this year I went for the classy version with these over the knee boots. The lenght is divine and it has these cuts on the sides, such a wow factor! Do you have that one item in your closet which you can wear on two totally different occasions?

Thanks to my dear friend Codrina for the photos, they were taken in a rush and still, these are some of my 2017 favorites.

♪ Hanni El Katib - Hearbreak Hotel ♪

I don't know if I also blogged about this, but I will say it one more time for those of you who are not following me on Instagram(@marymanaila): I haven't been in love with a fashion season the way I am with F/W 2017-2018 IN SO LONG! Today we're going to talk about my absolute favorite trend for this fall: DARK FLORALS. Zara is the best in this department, they have such a wide range of black dresses with floral prints on! I've been in a vicious circle of saving money and running to Zara afterwards, I might go tomorrow to buy one more floral dress. The thing is I'm not buying them just for the sake of the trend, but they're super classy and they work so well for the medical congresses I'm attending. 

My absolute favorite (and the most expensive one) is the dress I'm wearing in these photos. I bought it for a Cardiology Congress, it was just love at first sight and I've been wearing it on a daily basis. I loved it not just for the intricate floral details, but also because it showcases another major trend for this fall polka dots&see-through fabric. And what better place to shoot these photos than the Botanical Garden in Iasi? Every autumn they have a special exhibition with the most beautiful flowers and this year I finally got to visit it with my friends. Special thanks to Codrina for having the patience to shoot this (& my beloved friends), it was by far our hardest shoot because it was super crowded that day and everyone wanted to take photos with the flowers. It was honestly more chaotic than seeing Mona Lisa at the Louvre haha.

What trend are loving most this fall? Have you purchased any floral prints yet?

♪ Ruby Tuesday-  The Rolling Stones ♪

I had such a tiring first day of college- 12 hours that I was once again ready to surrender and not blog today. You see, I wanted to blog today because I love my new bordeaux/ruby jacket and the title "Ruby Tuesday" was such a good pun! Friends tried to prepare me for how many hours you spend in hospitals during the 4th year of Med School, but you can't really understand until you experience it. I was also at gone for 10 hours today, but I then I remembered I have as many hours in a day as Beyonce, so I'm writing this post!

I'm not going to focus on the negatives, like prioritizing making sandwiches at 6am over my makeup routine, but I'm going to point out some positive aspects in my life:

1. I'm in love with athleisure right now. I found these pants the same day I also found this top and for me they're both perfect examples of this trend. I love the pants because they're so comfy and these white stripes on the sides make you look so slim and tall. As for this ruby satin top, I love the fact it has a zipper and you can also wear it as a jacket, it's the perfect fall investment, so easy to match with jeans, sport pants or even a bodycon dress.

2. College may be back, but so are my friends!! It's great to share your hardship with eight wonderful people, I'm lucky to have such a support system.

3. I'm hosting a giveaway on my Instagram @marymanaila because I really feel the need to give some of my favorite products- I thought of this because maybe some of you are not excited about going back to uni so maybe the #GIRLBOSS book and some L'Occitane products will cheer you up!

4. I discovered the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino last week and it blew my mind, I called it my best coffee of 2017 and I still stand by my choice.

5. I started cooking 'sugar-free' (not with sweeteners, but with honey/maple syrup, all about that natural sweetness right now) and I made the best banana bread I could ever imagine, it's divine when I put peanut butter on top of it!

6.  The same day I found the best coffee in the world, I was lucky to find the last MAC x Nicki Minaj "Spice" lip stain in the store. It matches my Naked Heat makeup so well, just what I needed!

Have a productive week & remember to always find time for what you love!

Wearing: Zara pants, C&A top, Converse shoes, Pandora bracelet, Jord watch

♪ Flume- Never be like you ♪

I've always been very passionate about standing by my fashion choices, because I'm the type of person to try some things before they are cool or embrace the craziest trends. Most of the times, the first person to question my choices is my mom, because she is quite conservative when it comes to fashion. Ever since I got into Med School, there is a new phrase she uses "I'm not saying I don't like it, it's just something a doctor shouldn't wear". This is, of course, also what she said when she saw these boyfriend ripped jeans. I love my mom, but this is where we agree to disagree. The thing is, I'm in LOVE with these jeans not just because I found them on a major sale when I most neeeded them (on the last day of Untold it rained and I had no jeans in my luggage so I just went to the mall and found them in a heartbeat), but also for the fact they have the best glitter game, exquisite fabric and they fit my curves! I'm not saying I would wear them to the hospital, but I don't get why society virtually sets these crazy rules, I see it fit to wear them whenever I please in my spare time.

I'm obviously thinking on a larger scale right now, there is always a general opinion you shouldn't wear something if you have a certain profession, or dye your hair a certain way or have tattoos. I have decided I will never judge a person by their style, because I believe everyone should feel comfortable in their clothes. There are always these high standards, but society has to evolve at some point. Take  pants for example, what would it be like if women never started wearing them? Can you imagine going everywhere wearing a big fluffy skirt and a dreadful corset?

I'm honestly grateful I'm a regular woman and that I'm able to make my own choices, I don't mind the scrutiny. I've been really passionate about the history of the British monarchy lately and I finally had the courage to watch "The Crown" on Netflix. I'm using  the term "courage" because portraying history on television is a really delicate matter. I never expected it to be so raw and emotional, to show the events in every small detail- the resemblance with the actual photos and films of the time is spectacular! As most little girls, I used to dream and admire the concept of royals when I was young (Prince Charming was my absolute favorite haha). The fascination never faded away, but I see it with such different eyes right now.  I mean, here I am, talking about being free to choose my glitter-y ripped jeans and HRH Princess Margaret had to choose between the love of her life and keeping her title and family. It really puts things in perspective.

PS: You absolutely have to watch the show "Victoria" as well, it's fascinating! 

Photo credit: My bff Simona ♥

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THE GIVEAWAY RUNS: 8th of September- 30th of September and it is INTERNATIONALLY OPEN.

I turned 22 this weekend and it turned out to be so much more exciting than I would have expected! The same goes for the Untold festival I attended again this summer! Last year, I didn't know what to expect, but I loved every minute of it: good music, great fun and amazing food! This year I came with certain expectation: I wondered if the DJs I loved last year would have better sets or I would be disappointed. Not only my favorite artists were better this year, but I also finally got to see some live acts I've been dreaming for ages: Tinnie Tempah, MO, Ellie Goulding, Hurts. I also discovered Marshmello this year, and he made my top 3 (along with Afrojack and Martin Garrix) because I found 10 of my favorite rap songs remixed in his set (he seems like a K Lamar fan, I loved this!).

I don't normally post photos on the blog with people in the background (I've been taught since my early blogging days this is a major faux pas) but I had to share with you the outfit I wore on the first day because the message on my T-shirt is my favorite! The fact that it matched my number one skirt was also a plus, I don't think I ever got to post any photos of this skirt on my blog.

As I'm writing this post and seeing the photos,  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's voice from Beyonce's "Flawless" comes to mind:

"Feminist: the person who believes in the social,

Political, and economic equality of the sexes"

♪ B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas ♪

I discovered my myopia when I was in 7th grade and ever since I got into Med School I keep needing stronger lenses ( I wonder if this will ever stop before I graduate!). I've also never been able to wear contact lenses because my eyes are super sensitive. Therefore, summer has always been a struggle. Because it's so sunny, yet the prescription sunglasses were so expensive that I couldn't make myself buy a pair. Needless to say, this also bothered me while I was driving. Every single year I would say I'd buy myself a pair for my birthday but my mom made a good point: what if you'll need stronger lenses next summer?

This year, as I'm turning 22, I thought life's too short to dream about prescription sunglasses haha. So I went and got myself a pair. From my favorite brand when it comes to eyewear: Carolina Herrera. I love the cat-eye shape and the golden details, it's just the perfect pair for me. I asked my bff Simona to take a couple shots of me so I can show them to you because I'm just so happy that I can finally see while it's super bright outside! I realized we never discussed this topic on this blog, how many of you wear glasses/ contact lenses? Do you find it hard in terms of fashion?

Another thing I absolutely LOVE these days- "Baby Driver" -the movie!! Honestly, it has everything I want from a movie- perfect cast, lots of action, good music, fine jokes, romance and a good ending.  I keep listening to the soundtrack and remembering all the scenes, it's one of those movies which goes straight to your soul. Did you see it? What did you think?

♪ Bam - Jay Z, Damian Marley ♪

Sorry for the lack of posts, I wanted to post regularly now that I'm on vacation, but I've had a really busy week with the christening of my goddaughter, I love helping with the party planning (&spending time with our little one)!

This summer has been treating me great, in terms of sales (my bank account strongly disagrees haha). One of the things I love most is this ZARA dotted jumpsuit I found on sale, and I'll tell you why it's my ideal purchase for summer:

1. It respects the "shoulderless top" summer trend, while those side ruffles also hide my arms which I tend to be insecure about sometimes.

2. It emphasizes my waist.

3. You can swear it's a dress, but you have the comfy benefit of pants.

4. I've always loved polka dots.

5. Its lenght is so chic & the fabric is so light!

6. It's super versatile- you can wear it on a daily basis, or you can pair it with some nude pumps& clutch and some statement earrings and it's perfect for a party.

 These are the reason why this statement jumpsuit has become my number one choice when I leave the house. Do you have one item in your closet that you just can't part ways with in the summer?  

Special thanks to my cousin Ioana for struggling to take these photos during the sunset, the light is super tricky.

♪ Hard Feelings/Loveless - Lorde ♪

I'm officially done with 50% of Med School! It has been a hell of a ride, especially this semester because our exams were programmed in an unfortunate manner. Still, this year was the best because we got to go into hospitals and the objects we studied were all intertwined. I was so happy about the summer ahead of me that I practically did tons of summer holidays activities in the span of my first free day. This photoshoot for the blog was not planned at all (nor were the other things I did) but I'm so happy about it because I get to show you my favorite bag in the best way!

I got this bag as a birthday gift from my aunt, uncle & cousins last year because I was attending the Untold festival and my aunt thought I should have the perfect festival bag: both fashionable and practical (yes, you can fit a bottle of water in it). It's from Accessorize and the really exciting thing about this beautiful floral print is the fact that it's hand-painted! The ZARA dress I'm wearing is also a gift from them, I got it this Easter and I love it so much!

Not to end this post on a sad note, but right now on my playlist you can find Lorde's "Hard Feelings/Loveless" song from her new album "Melodrama" because it touches the subject Aziz Ansari so accurately portrays in his book, "Modern Romance". Something's fundamentally changed with our generation and our perception of love, and I can't say it's for the better.

Special thanks to my awesome cousin Ioana for getting behind the lens for this post, she used to shoot most of my looks back when I started the blog and it was such a cool bonding activity!

ZARA dress, Accessorize bag, Musette flats, Jord watch, Pandora bracelet

♪ Unforgettable- French Montana ft. Swae Lee ♪

One more exam to go. Currently happy and grateful for the people I have in my life. For my family's constant support. For Codrina for taking these incredible photos. For Iustina (&letting me use her lovely balcony setting). For this lovely weather. For my brand new pocket ballerina from Scholl (so glittery!!). For cherries. For good music. 

Cherish life and its unforgettable moments!

Zara 70s style jumpsuit, Zara crop top, Scholl pocket ballerina, Pandora bracelet

“She wasn't doing a thing that I could see, except standing there leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together.”