Dancing Ledge; Rock Pool Reflections
It was time for another adventure last week as we hit the road to discover this hidden gem on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset.
A little off the beaten track and quite the scramble down a steep hill, Dancing Ledge is a flat area of rock at the base of the cliff where a small rock pool forms at low tide.
With the ledge being a straight drop off point into the sea deep enough for small ships, it was previously used for the quarrying of Purbeck stone. It’s now an ideal spot for divers and fisherman as well as those seeking a picture perfect moment by the ocean.
The swimming pool carved into the rock was originally created in the early twentieth century for a local school. It now remains a beautiful spot for a dip overlooking the sea without the danger of a vicious tide. As keen photographers and always on the hunt for epic content, me and my boyfriend were in our element capturing some unique shots.
I love playing with reflections and colour, so the rock pool was an incredible canvas to play with. Using Lightroom to edit, I focused on experimenting with different colour hues and exposures to enhance my images.
Here I added more green to the mix along with golden oranges to create a vintage effect. Alternatively with the photo below, I reduced the colour temperature and opted for an overexposed, ethereal style final picture.
I’m still learning a lot when it comes to editing my photos, so I often seek inspiration from my favourite Instagram pages or Influencers whose style I like. Having good quality photos in the first place is always key too and going out to explore new places never fails to get my creative juices flowing!
Practicing and trying different methods will improve editing skills and eventually you will find a signature style. I was really happy with the outcome of the edits in which I brought out those purple colours in the sky and turned down the exposure to achieve that moody tone.
But whilst you capture your life through the lens of the camera, always remember to enjoy those moments before they become memories. And upon reflection, that’s when a photograph will say a thousand words – when you are truly happy and living in that moment ❤
In celebration of my good news, we stopped at the local pub for drinks to enjoy this beautiful summers evening from the pub garden. Of course the McLaren never fails to turn heads as we pull up and exit the car feeling like celebrities 😉
Soon enough it was Monday morning and time to get back on that work grind. It felt nice to be smartly dressed again in a crisp blue shirt paired with a suit skirt and classic court heels, a welcome change to trackie pants and leggings!
What a joy it was to be reunited with my friends and colleagues and such a relief to see that business is continuing to thrive at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire. I was of course exhausted by the end of the day as my mind and body aren’t used to those 8 hour shifts following extended time in Furlough. Nevertheless, I am extremely thankful for my job and lucky to be working again after such an unpredictable period worldwide.
With a lot of hairdressers in England all booked up for the next month or so, I opted for the highstreet chain Supercuts who are now only taking bookings 24 hours in advance on a first come first serve basis. I was really happy with the last cut I had there and their prices are so reasonable too – starting at £15.99 for a wash and cut.
The salon took all the necessary precautions in regards to PPE and as always the service was lovely. I had the same hairdresser as last time who was a pleasure to chat with whilst doing a fabulous job of my hair. As I don’t need any colour treatment for my naturally very blonde locks, the total cost for my cut was just £22.99, a fraction of the price a lot of professional salons would charge.
At first I thought it was a little shorter than I had envisioned as she had taken off a good 5 inches! However looking at it from the back and the side, it has so much more shape and volume now and it’s so much easier to style. She added some choppy layers all through the back and also shaped the front around my face which I’m loving.
I’ve never had so many compliments after a haircut and I’m enjoying having a play around with the different up-dos I can create now too. With my hair being on the thinner side, shorter styles have always given it more volume and also suits my heart shaped face.
I couldn’t wait to show off my fresh chop this weekend as we hit the pub and even went for our first meal out since restaurants re-opened. If you’re in need of a haircut ASAP post lockdown, I would highly recommend Supercuts given their efficient, cheap service which doesn’t compromise on quality.
Despite my frustration of not working and being unable to indulge in my usual social activities, I’ve made the most of this time to work on some personal projects which have lead me to rediscover my creativity and imagination.
The other week me and my boyfriend ventured out to another awesome shoot location, this time heading into London at night to get the full city in lockdown experience. With deserted streets and nowhere open in the centre of town, it was super eerie and surreal to see the bustling city of London now a ghost town.
After getting a little lost around Canary Wharf, we finally reached this futuristic bridge located at One Canada Square underground station. It was the perfect moment to capture some epic shots as we had the entire place to ourselves.
Looking down the symmetrical lines of the tunnel echoed that view through the arches at Ouse Valley Viaduct bridge which we visited last month. In contrast to the viaduct, this modern walkway situated in the urban jungle of London, felt like we had left planet earth and were in some sort of a spaceship. It was a unique opportunity during lockdown to see the city of London so quiet and serene.
As nature flourishes and we as humans take a break from our usual busy lives, its significant to note how hectic our pre-covid lifestyles were. The compassion and kindness which has come to light during this time is also overwhelming and proves our resilience as human beings. So as we plummet back towards our ‘normal’ way of life, lets remember how this time in isolation brought us together and proved that not everyday has to be go, go ,go!
The set also came with a handy recipe guide full of useful tips and tricks for making the most of this versatile machine. I was excited to learn you can even make cocktails with it! Anyway, here are some of my own creations for some healthy food inspo.
Starting with the most basic of recipes I have tried so far, I decided to make my own almond butter from scratch. The principle is simple: roast a bag of plain unsalted almonds, pour into the processor and blend until a nut butter consistency is formed.
Now this does take some time and patience, so I would allow about 10-15 minutes of processing and every so often opening the cup to combine all of the almonds. It’s very satisfying when the butter does finally come together and seeing the consistency progress until a super creamy almond butter is formed.
You can see from this series of photos as the texture changed – the more you blend it, the more creamy and smooth it becomes. It is however important to note that the Magic Bullet did seem to get very hot during this whole process, so do make sure to take regular breaks for it to cool down.
I was surprised at how well this turned out and the amount it made from just 200 grams of almonds. You can of course try this method to make any kind of nut butter and perhaps experiment adding some flavourings such as salt or honey to enhance the taste. This is such a pure and wholesome home made alternative to store brought nut butters, which often come packed with unnecessary sugars and oils.
My next recipe is another simple 3 ingredient store cupboard staple useful for breakfasts or a sweet snack anytime of day. Rawnola is a stripped back healthy take on granola using only dates, oats and coconut. For a single serve I just used 2 medjool dates, half a cup of rolled oats and a quarter of a cup of desiccated coconut.
Blitz the dates a few times before adding the other ingredients, then just a few more 10 second pulses and the rawnola is formed. Be careful not to over blend it though as it will become too dusty, whereas the desired consistency is little clusters like a granola. Believe it or not, this actually tastes like cookie dough!
The original creator of this recipe, Loni Jane, became an Instagram sensation with her creation back in 2012 and ever since people have gone mad for this nutritious delicious snack. Whilst I enjoy using rawnola in a cereal bowl soaked in coconut milk and topped with plenty of fruit, the possibilities don’t end there. Try rolling the mixture into bliss balls, enjoy sprinkled on top of smoothie bowls, bake in the oven for a crunch or even add chocolate for an extra sweet treat.
Rawnola can be made in single batches as I have done here, or alternatively multiply the ingredients to make a larger batch which can be stored in a jar for up to a week in the fridge. No additives, no preservatives or artificial flavours, just a pure wholesome snack which will have you reaching for more!
With summer heating up here in England, my go-to recipe with the Magic Bullet has definitely been smoothie bowls. There are numerous combinations and flavours to try with smoothies and with just a few simple tips, you’re sure to have a super thick bowlful every time. Frozen banana, ice cubes and of course the work of the Magic Bullet will provide you with the basis for a perfect consistency whatever combo you opt for.
Frozen fruits are preferable and I’ve even tried adding a little bit of frozen cauliflower to fluff up my smoothies, which actually worked really well and added volume to my bowl. Serve in a coconut for those tropical aesthetic vibes and don’t skimp on those toppings, particularly the rawnola!
Finally, moving onto a savoury recipe, I decided to make a roasted butternut squash and carrot puree. This is another useful one for meal prep, as the mixture can be stored in a jar and kept in the fridge for a ready made sauce or even just a dip.
Once again this is a super simple process using minimal ingredients. For 1 jar full, cut about half of a butternut squash and 1 carrot for roasting. Bake for around 20 minutes, then place in the food processor along with garlic powder, salt, pepper, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and a dash of almond milk. Begin to blend and gradually add a little water to loosen the mixture until a thick puree is formed. Taste and adjust seasoning as required, perhaps adding more nutritional yeast if you would like a cheesy sauce.
I used a tablespoon of this batch straight away for a creamy pasta and stored the rest in a jar for the week. Again, I would encourage you to get creative with this idea as you could use many other combinations of vegetables and seasonings, such as sweet potato and chipotle or cauliflower and cheese.
Upon review of the Magic Bullet, I am extremely impressed with the diversity of ways in which you can utilise it’s functions. Having one small and compact device which blends, mixes and processes food all in one makes food prep quick, easy and fuss free. I can’t wait to try some of the suggested recipes in the booklet and I know those handy on the go lids will come in useful when I finally return to work.
Dani Aneka 