Hello fashion babes!

You might be looking at the title of this post and thinking I have gone crazy. I assure you I haven't.

Let's address the elephant in the room. Obviously there is currently a global pandemic and a lot of people are feeling hopeless and depressed. In this blog post I wanted to write about something different, but I changed my mind because of everything that's happening. I want everyone who reads this post to get information and also hope for the future. As long as we all believe that the worst has already happened and that from now on things will get better, we will be fine.

We all know what's happening in the world. Coronavirus has done a lot of damage, especially in some countries. It's also important to mention that some countries were a lot more prepared than the others. Obviously in those countries the consequences haven't been so devastating. This is something that we can actually stop from spreading if we choose to listen to the people who are smarter than us in this field. I would advise everyone to listen to the officials in your country; your government, the doctors, pandemic experts... Whoever is in charge of this issue in your country... Listen to them.

Don't listen to bulls*it on social media, forums, read all kinds of shady websites... These sources are full of fake information and are designed to create a mass panic which is the most dangerous thing at this moment. We really have to stay inside as much as possible at the moment so this goes away as soon as possible and we can get back to our normal lives.

In case you didn't know, I'm from Croatia and I have to say I have been impressed by how the officials in my country have been handling the coronavirus outbreak. We are very well prepared and I feel safe in my country thanks to the people who are handling this. They have prepared hundreds of beds and facilities for potential patients even though the situation in my country is still not that dramatic; especially compared to some other countries. These beds will probably never even see patients, but we are prepared just in case. There are many people who have been cured and not a lot of people have died from this disease in the country. I think right now there are only about 30 people on respirators in the entire country because of coronavirus, and all the others mostly show minor symptoms. I truly believe this is only because of how prepared we were. Also, the situation is getting better each day, and this week more and more shops are allowed to open their doors if they respect all the rules that the government has given them. Next week so cafes and restaurants will open as well.

I will also inform you about another natural disaster that hit my city recently. On Sunday, March 22, 2020 my city Zagreb was hit by an earthquake. This was the biggest earthquake in Zagreb since 1880, so you can imagine how shocked everyone was. The earthquake was 5,3 on the Richter scale and it was really scary. It happened around 6:25 AM so we were all woken up by this on a Sunday and we literally had to jump out of our beds, grab a jacket and run outside. Also, it snowed in Zagreb that Sunday... LOL! During the last few weeks before the earthquake it was already super warm every day, and now all of a sudden the temperature dramatically dropped, the wind was blowing like crazy and it started snowing... So now try to imagine dealing with the earthquake and coronavirus at the same time!

After that big earthquake there was another smaller one, while in some parts of the city the people kept feeling small earthquakes even a few weeks later! Because of this, a lot of people were too scared to even go back inside of their house or apartment, and some people couldn't go back because their homes were almost completely destroyed. I have to tell you, it's all extremely scary and devastating to watch.

Thankfully, my parents and I live in a new building so there was no damage, but thousands of people weren't that lucky. The center of Zagreb is full of these beautiful historic buildings (as you can see in these photos) dating back to the beginning of the 20th century or even the 19th century, so obviously these buildings were not built to withstand an earthquake like this. I can't tell you how much it breaks my heart to see these beautiful places where I have gone a million times in my life now in ruins... Basically every other building in the center is damaged - the roofs collapsed on some buildings, the chimneys fell, the walls collapsed... It's really sad. One 15-year-old girl died and probably around 20 were injured, but it could have been a lot worse... Imagine if there was no coronavirus outbreak and everyone was outside?! These roofs and walls were collapsing on the sidewalks, on the streets... Literally dozens or even hundreds of people could have died! It's crazy how everything is connected when you look at it and how literally everything happens for a reason.

The earthquake's epicenter was in a part of the city called Markusevec. A lot of my family members live there, but they are thankfully all fine. My grandma's house is there and it has been damaged severely. Thank God she doesn't live there anymore because she has been in a retirement home for the last 5 or 6 months but her house is probably beyond repair. The chimney collapsed, half of the roof collapsed, the walls cracked in many parts or the house, inside the ceiling fell, etc. My grandma's house is very old, as are most houses in the area (probably built in the 1950's) and these houses can't withstand an earthquake like this. They were literally just built with brick and no iron anywhere or concrete. I am just grateful that she wasn't in the house when that happened, but almost every house in that street was damaged. A lot of people had to leave their homes. It's truly devastating.

You may be wondering how I can stay positive after all of this... Well, I can and I have to. A lot of people in my country are on the verge of a nervous breakdown these days, but I will never allow myself to be in that state. Unlike before, nowadays I know how to deal with stress and anxiety, so whenever I feel like I'm slipping into one of these holes, I immediately pull myself out of it. Last year I wrote a blog post about how I stay positive in life and how you can as well. Everything I wrote in that post is still valid, so I definitely recommend it to you. You might find some helpful tips. Btw these photos were taken right before the quarantine started.
The best way to look at all of this is that the worst is behind us and that better times are ahead.
Keep the faith and stay fabulous!
xoxo Sienna

Image source: Unsplash

When it comes to antiques, there is a world of choice available with many different types on offer. No matter what type of antiques you like, you will be able to find plenty of online retailers if you look hard enough. However, you must stay safe when purchasing antiques online, as you could end up losing a lot of money or even having your identity and bank details possibly stolen. Below are some of the things that you should look out for when buying antiques online, which will help to keep you safe and ensure that you are dealing with a reputable dealer that sells genuine antiques.  

Do Your Research Before You Shop

If you are looking for something in particular and you are new to the world of antiques, you will want to do some research before you go shopping and learn about what you are going to buy. There are many free to access informative websites out there, as well as a lot of website forums where fellow collectors are happy to talk and offer their knowledge. Once you have some idea about what you are looking to purchase, you can then start shopping.

Shop Till You Drop

With the advent of the internet, you can shop from the comfort of home and browse as many items that you want to without having your other half complain at you. A quick search using your favourite search engine will return thousands of different online retailers, many of whom specialise in specific areas. You will want to make a list of the top ten or fifteen websites that you find that has the style of antiques you are after, and then go into a bit more detail. 

Only Purchase From Reputable Dealers

When you are looking for a great piece, antique jewellery online store Kalmar Antiques is one of the most reputable antique dealers in Australia. When you go on their website, you will see that there is a small padlock to the left of the URL, and if you come across a website that does not have this, it is not secure. Make sure that when you are narrowing down your list of antique dealers that you look for this padlock on their website. You can also research the reputation of the dealer online, and there are many different independent review websites where you can read previous customers accounts of their experiences, both good and bad.

Talk Before You Buy

When you have a short list of dealers to talk to, you will then want to speak to each one and ask them about the specific antiques that you are interested in purchasing. It is often best to do this over the telephone as you can usually haggle on the price easier, and potentially get a bargain. 

Pay By Card

For added security when you make a purchase, use your credit card even if you have the cash to pay for it. Using your credit card will usually have higher insurance levels, and you can pay for the items in full when you receive the bill. 

Take your time and do not rush into making a purchase, and make sure that you only deal with highly reputable antique dealers who will help to ensure that you get a fair deal and a genuine antique.