Ainsley DS Creative

30/05/2026

I had so much lovely feedback from this story I’ve decided to throw it on the main grid. 🧡

It’s amazing how many of you struggle with this same thing! The pressure we put on ourselves that might be doing more harm than good.

So this is your reminder to take a break and check in with your body! 🧡

28/05/2026

NEW on the website - A deeply personal documentary photography series exploring return, memory, and belonging in Tunisia. Revisiting the home, family, and landscapes of La Soukra where I lived as a 16-year-old exchange student, these images capture everyday rituals, warmth, and the enduring meaning of home beyond travel.

More than travel photography, this documentary series captures a return to Tunisia as home. Photographed in La Soukra, where I lived during a teenage student exchange, these intimate images explore family, culture, ritual, nostalgia, and the lasting connections that shape identity and belonging.

24/05/2026

Life update: I started a new job! A big one! A really important one!✨

After years of no- work, freelance work, being on a sickness benefit, and doing odd jobs to get by, its a huge excitement to have some financial security in a stable position, for an organisation that I truly love.

Before anyone asks, no, I’m not disappearing. This page isn’t going anywhere, I’ll still be doing advocacy work, photography, empowerment shoots and working on the Endo Empowerment Project.

I may just be posting a little less while I settle into the world of full-time work + chronic illness balancing act 🫠

It’s also opened up a new topic I’m keen to explore more: what does working full-time with chronic illness actually look like?
The practical side, messy side, realistic side. full of its ups and downs.

Stay tuned for the usual chronic illness content… plus some fresh perspectives from this new chapter 👀.

I'm excited to see it all come together.

20/05/2026

Friends….!

I can’t believe I’m saying this after so many years of struggling…. But I’ve just started a new job in a role that felt like it was made for me, and I’m so happy 🩷

This obviously means there might be some changes around here, but I’m not going anywhere. Advocacy is so important to me, and this community is a big part of my life. I will continue to work on here and complete my various projects, it might just be a little more infrequent than the last few months 🩷

Thank you all for your support and I can’t wait to take you with me on this new adventure!! 🧡🧡

05/05/2026

Genuinely shocked that I found a supplement I can actually drink without it instantly making me feel 🤢

Huge shout out to for making the most delicious and effective tummy friendly powder! The packaging is so gorgeous too.

I have adhesions on my bowel from endometriosis so slippery elm has been a necessary addition to my diet. The chamomile, ginger and probiotics in this is the perfect addition and I’ve noticed a real difference while taking it. It also doesn’t make me bloat like some probiotics do (yes SIBO issues).

Now I know how good this is I’m keen to try some of their other products 👀🩷

Not an ad but they did send me this as a thank you after I shared my Endo story on their website- you can also find this on my profile 🩷🧡

04/05/2026

In the last few weeks I’ve had DOZENS of people unfollow me…. And honestly, that’s okay!

My content has changed dramatically from who I used to be, and not everyone will be on board with these new changes. Becoming chronically ill is a life-changing event, and I’m done hiding away from it. I’ve also never been shy about boldly showing who I am and what I believe in, and I don’t plan to start making myself or my content smaller in order to appeal who people who I probably wouldn’t want to hang out with IRL anyway.

So if you’re unsure where this account is at right now, here are ten reasons for you to consider whether you’re on this journey with me or not 🩷🧡🤎

02/05/2026

I’m bringing some of my older travel content back… for a reason.

Years ago, I wrote about falling in love with Lebanon- a country that completely surprised me. I arrived knowing very little and left deeply moved by its warmth, culture, history, food, and the incredible generosity of the people I met. From the temples of Baalbek to the streets of Beirut and the coastal beauty of Byblos, it quickly became one of the most underrated and memorable destinations I’ve ever visited.

Right now, Lebanon is once again caught in the middle of escalating conflict and attacks from Israel. Watching this unfold is heartbreaking, especially when you’ve experienced firsthand the kindness, resilience, and everyday life of the people who call this place home. It’s a reminder that behind the headlines are communities, families, cafés, bookstores, ancient sites, and ordinary moments that deserve to be seen and remembered.

Travel has always been about more than ticking destinations off a list. It builds empathy. It challenges stereotypes. It humanises places that are too often reduced to conflict zones. When we travel, we connect, and those connections stay with us long after we leave.

Sharing this piece again feels important right now. To highlight the beauty of Lebanon, to remember the people, and to hold space for a country that has given so much to those lucky enough to visit.

Read the full article here: https://www.ainsleydscreative.com/blog/falling-in-love-with-lebanonnbs

From beautiful beaches to ancient roman ruins, Lebanon has it all. Find out everything you need to know about underrated Beirut and it’s surrounding activities including the best place to stay, what to do and what to see.

02/05/2026

Trying to find my style again as a mid-size chronic illness girly 🩷✨

Honestly the last few years have left me feeling so lost when it comes to my wardrobe and it’s been a mission trying to find myself again. I used to love fashion and getting dressed up so much, but when you become basically bed bound for months at a time what you wear is the last thing on your mind (apart from pyjamas). My bloating used to be so bad I would have to wear maternity leggings to uni.

Now though, I’m finally settling in to this new body and I’m starting to figure things out. Most of this is still vintage/ opshop bargains with a bit of thrown in. Bra by 🩷🧡🤎

Hit me with your tips, tricks, advice and please send me your favorite mid size creators! X

30/04/2026

Sometimes the smallest moments end up changing everything.

When I was 14, I met a silver-haired woman selling raffle tickets outside a grocery store. Her name was Nina, and she was volunteering for a student exchange program. That brief conversation led me to apply… and not long after, I found out I’d be spending a year living in Tunisia - a country I barely knew anything about at the time.

That year shaped who I am in ways I never could have imagined. I gained a second family, learned new languages, experienced a completely different culture, and developed the confidence to step into the unknown. But it wasn’t all easy, returning home brought reverse culture shock, loneliness, and the difficult realization that I had changed in ways my old world didn’t quite understand.

In this piece, I reflect on how that chance encounter sparked a lifelong love of travel, shaped my worldview, and ultimately set me on the path I’m still following today.
It’s a story about saying yes to opportunities, embracing discomfort, and how one conversation can quietly redirect your entire life.

Read the full article here:

How meeting an AFS Exchange volunteer set my life on an adventurous path filled with travel and cultural curiosity. Doing an exchange in Tunisia at the age of 16 something I never regretted. Find out why.