My Youtuber Picks- Seven Gals and their top notch lifestyle, travel, wellness and design channels!

 

Believe me when I say that all I want in life is to be able to stay on top of my YouTube subscriptions. Content creation is serious business, as is content consumption. How can one find inspiration if they do not seek it from many sources? I went from being someone who never sat down and watched YouTube to setting aside special time for at least three videos, a cup of coffee and a slice of cheesecake. There you have it- the perfect afternoon for a homebody like myself! On the upside, I will likely never experience boredom again. Ah, to be a part of the internet generation. Not going to lie.. I’m not sure I’d have it any other way!

 

 

Allison Bickerstaff

This lady has the most angelic nature. I genuinely have yet to encounter someone as wholesome and innocent as Allison in my day to day. She has a cheery, hopeful outlook and a deeply cultivated sense of gratitude for the small things in life. I could gush about her for hours because she is a truly beautiful soul who never fails to put a smile on my face. She is no ordinary twenty something- the relationship she has with her husband is so sweet to watch. The pair clearly mesh well together, spend a lot of time bonding and nurture their partnership on a regular basis. It is so refreshing to see a young couple who aren’t caught up in the craziness of the world and simply focus on building a joyful life alongside each other. I say this figuratively and literally- the Bickerstaffs are currently watching their dream home renovation come together. I remember watching a house build vlog of theirs a couple of weeks ago. At that point, their home was still in the foundational stages. They brought along markers and wrote bible verses and messages of gratitude on different planks and pillars as a token of thanks to the builders. How lovely is that?

Whether she is glamping, visiting a pumpkin patch, frolicking in a sunflower field, running errands or filming a cosy apartment day in the life, Allison never fails to spread uplifting messages and engage her community. She is an all round talent with her chic sense of style, baking achievements and inspiring videos. She is genuine and a person I’d love to be friends with in real life. Allison’s cooking endeavours are a significant part of her channel- she eats well but keeps a healthy balance. If you’ve always wanted to know how to make garden focaccia or goat cheese linguine with croutons and salad, you’ve come to the right place. Then there’s her adoration for iced coffee- each vlog features a short segment where Allison creates a brew of the day for her and the husband. Simply put, the aesthetic is impeccable.

 

 

 

 

Aaliyah Samuels

Another sweetheart with the most aesthetically pleasing videos you could imagine! Watching her clips fills me with a sense of encouragement and motivation to get out and about. Aaliyah is a content creator on Instagram, her blog and this youtube channel, although the latter of the two are no longer updated. However, she has more than enough quirky, vibrant content up to keep you going for a while. Aaliyah’s socials are little slices of heaven. They are an absolute treat for all your senses- such a creative queen and total boss gal. Her photoshoots are incredibly diverse, thrifted outfits bright and hipster inspired and her love for a good brunch scene evident. Aaliyah’s foodie snaps will never count as filler pictures- they stand alone and they make a statement! She is a Vegan and has eaten this way throughout her teen years. She quickly dispels the false notion that veganism is restrictive or boring. Think Peach Pancakes, Mediterranean Tofu and Avocado Scramble and Apple + Peanut Butter Granola Bowls.

Aaliyah is a passionate activist and enthusiast of living life to the full. Her Sydney vlogs remind me of the beauty my hometown holds. She is a tourist in her own city and doesn’t seem to mind it one bit. In fact, she never fails to find a new, awe inspiring location. Besides, the view of Sydney Opera House and The Harbour Bridge will never get old. She has certainly changed my perspective- I try to look with new eyes and see the sights as if it’s my first time.

 

 

 

 

Alex Miotto

Alex is a faith driven fellow minimalist, plant mama, conscious consumer and fan of the capsule wardrobe. Her videos provide pockets of peace in my day and invite me to breathe deeper and embrace a slower pace. She is down to earth, soft spoken and blissfully content with her simple life. She is everything I believe in and epitomises a mindful existence. Her channel revolves around devotionals, intentional rhythms and is just so calming. How can you get past this earthy, neutral palette? I first discovered Alex amongst other creators ethical wardrobe tours. I was immediately drawn to her channel and fell in love. She is a breath of fresh air amongst so many creatives that are stuck in a cycle of being and wanting more. She has a sense of quiet, innate confidence that is so pure and beautiful to see. It shines through all that she does.

 

 

 

 

Elena Taber

Elena and New York. A match made in heaven. A dream come true. What I wouldn’t do to visit this particular Urban Jungle. I am absolutely obsessed with the culture, the skyscrapers, the bold energy, the colour and those darn cute fire escapes. Where else would you go to get in on all the action? It genuinely feels as if all the best movies and tv shows are set in New York. You, Brooklyn Nine Nine, Friends- the list goes on. Elena Taber is another very lucky twenty something. I’ve been following her journey long enough to know that she worked for it all though.

Elena lived with her parents a while, moved out to share a place with flatmates in California and then moved to New York for good. She spoke quite honestly about her humble beginnings and how she learned to properly adult, you could say. Initially, she’d grossly underestimated the cost of living, let alone doing so in one of the most expensive cities in the world and could only afford a little attic space in a house shared with five other tenants. It was so cramped she couldn’t even begin to stand up- she had to crawl. No easy feat for a gal that is six foot tall. It is so moving watching other people transforms their lives, learn from teachable moments and progress to becoming fuller versions of themselves. It gives you enough confidence to know that you can do the same.

Elena is very well travelled and has been to an incredibly amount of places- Paris, Italy, Switzerland, Oman, India, Norway, Sweden, Korea, Germany, Qatar, Denmark, Japan, Lebanon, Cuba, Bali, Budapest and Austria, to name a few. She is such a sweet soul and has the best upclass street style- I have no doubt it is much coveted! She is a talented guitarist, surfer and has a talent for decking out her home with the most colourful and funky trinkets. I’m sold.

 

 

 

Julia K Crist

Julia’s channel is that nice, casual hangout spot for me. There’s no frills, no fuss. Just a twenty something sharing youtube worthy moments from college and her personal life. Julia is bright, upbeat and has plenty of everyday adventures. She hangs out frequently with friends, successfully reminding me that yes, I do need a social life, and has plenty of fun along the way. Her vlogs are light hearted, chatty and the perfect way to spend a couple of hours downtime. I find her to be a transparent, honest creator- she isn’t afraid to admit there are upsides and downsides to life. Sprinkled in amongst the many incredible collaborations she lands, the trips away and the gorgeous photoshoots, it’s most welcome. It’s a great thing to see more creatives embrace their whole, messy selves.

As a teen who is soon to enter college, I find her study vlogs to be relatable and reassuring. I’m sure they’ll come in handy when I have little motivation to keep to a timetable and find myself procrastinating! Julia is one example of many gals that have realised they can have it all. It is possible to be exactly who and what you want as long as you work smart and believe in yourself. Apart from this, Julia is exactly the right person to educate you on American culture. If you’ve ever had an interest in how this country works, you know where to go. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learnt from her. Numerous new words and that America has an abundance of fast food joints and snacks that I’ve never heard of before. What’s even better is that I finally understand the concept of college sororities. As a foreigner, this was incredibly confusing. Even my American boyfriend was little help in explaining it to me! Julia is part of the Chi Omega Sorority- an initial google search revealed just how famous the group really is and for the most unexpected reason. Apparently, back in the eighties or nineties, Ted Bundy found his way there.

 

 

 

Sarah’s Day

Sarah, her partner Kurt and toddler son Fox make the sweetest little family. The couple are perfectly matched and share a myriad of moments that make life most worth living on Sarah’s channel. They are a ball of laughs, have relaxed, easy going personalities and are authentic through and through. I’ve been following Sarah’s journey for a couple of years now and have seen her go through many major transitions in life. The arrival of Fox a little over a year ago, the couple’s engagement and upcoming wedding and their recently completed home build. Sarah and Kurt enlisted an interior design firm to bring to life their beachy, boho home vision. In under a year, they completely transformed an average, run of the mill house and made use of its potential. The finished product is an absolutely oasis- they have a fabulous backyard with a gym, content creation room, pool and an enviable garden. The family live in Cronulla, a swoon worthy inner City Sydney suburb.

Cronulla is incredibly scenic, home to a beautiful beach and has the best cafes hands down. Through Sarah’s channel I was introduced to Blackwood Pantry, a spot the family frequent. Since discovering the place two years ago I’ve been a couple of times and always hoped to run into Sarah! No such luck yet, however. Anyhow, I digress. If you’re a Sydney sider or happen to find yourself in the area, you must stop in and try this brunch spot for yourself. They have flavourful, fresh and tasty dishes that always veer from the ordinary. You can be sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck!

On her Youtube channel, Sarah shares her lifestyle, family, work, fitness regimen and holistic health journey. She is a great role model and never fails to inject reality into all that she shares- it’s this authenticity that I admire so much. Despite this, she is bubbly and has a lovable personality that always comes through in her videos. Sarah has released an activewear line, two eight week fitness guides, a loving earth x sarah’s day deluxe mix and has a cookbook currently in the works!

 

 

 

Lucy Moon

Lucy has the dreamiest channel- I adore her one hundred and sixty eight hours segment where she films parts of her week and compiles them into a video. So many good chats, meal ideas casual outings! She is such an effortlessly cool, authentic creator. Be still my heart! Lucy is a cruelty free, gluten free gal who adores light and dark neutrals and anything with an R&B soundtrack. Style icon alert. By the way, surprise- as it turns out, she also runs a blog and is host of the Sunday Social Podcast.

The Sunday Social is a culture podcast hosted by Lucy Moon, designed specifically to be listened to at brunch. In each episode, Lucy chats to her guests about an overarching pop culture trend relevant in music, film and entertainment over the past year. From the future of youtube to the me too movement in the music industry, the Sunday Social offers a unique perspective from relevant voices in the entertainment, music and social media industries.

On her Youtube channel, Lucy speaks about all things lifestyle, fashion, ethical beauty, digital wellness and social change. It’s her thoughtful and sincere approach that has helped her amass such a large and diverse audience. She is a skincare and makeup aficionado who is happiest listening to a new album or trying out a different brand of moisturiser. When she’s not working, you’ll most likely find her eating paneer curry, shopping at London’s famed Space.NK apothecary or wandering around Saatchi Gallery. Lucy has worked with countless brands the like of 02, Bumble, Glossier, Ikea, BareMinerals, Spotify and more. She has been featured in The Guardian, BBC News and Bustle.