Author: Danielle Aneka

Eat. Drink. Sleep. Repeat; Christmas Weekend 2022

December 27, 2022

And just like that, another year of Christmas celebrations is over and we find ourselves in that peculiar space of time between Christmas and New Year’s. After a marathon weekend of festivities, I’m embracing these few days to reset, enjoy some time to myself and regain normality with my usual routine including working out and cooking wholesome healthy meals for myself.

This year we were delighted to be spending Christmas Day at my brother and his wife’s gorgeous newly renovated house in Bromley. Whilst I love a Christmas at our family home hosted by my parents, these days they tend to find the pressures of this time of year a lot of stress, so having that weight off their shoulders this year was a blessing.

It has been a long awaited Christmas at the Bigwood-Nieuwenhys residence, so with the renovation of their home finally complete, it was a pleasure to be hosted by my brother and his wife in the beautiful surroundings of their wonderful new abode. They were fabulous hosts and pulled off the day seamlessly with no fuss, what a dream-team!

With the King’s speech over, the table laid and the Christmas tunes in full swing, I assisted my sister-in-law with the starter to be served at 4pm.

We were treated to an exquisite prawn cocktail starter made with crunchy gem lettuce leaves, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, fresh prawns and a homemade thousand island dressing garnished with a sprinkling of paprika.

Served in aesthetic cocktail glasses complete with the freshest prawns from the local fishmonger, this was the perfect light starter before our roast dinner feast.

My brother did a fantastic job of the deliciously succulent turkey meat accompanied by all the veggies including crispy roast potatoes, brussel sprouts, carrots, cinnamon infused red cabbage, and the star of the show, his homemade cauliflower cheese; indulgence at it’s finest.

Following our incredible meal which we finished at about 5pm, drinks continued flowing and we moved onto playing the fun Christmas games. Every year we play the classics like charades, the sticky note game and trivia, but our favourite Nieuwenhuys original is ‘Tap the Crack’. Basically we go around the table and each person has to tap a Christmas song or carol with their cracker for everyone else to guess and it never fails to have us in fits of laughter!

Later in the evening we served dessert of a Christmas pudding, a chocolate yule log and a cheeseboard. It always gets to this point on Christmas Day when as much as I love something sweet or a cheeseboard to finish, I really can’t fit much more in following the roast dinner. So here’s a photo of a cheeseboard spread I made on Christmas Eve complete with truffle flavoured parma ham, cranberry Wensleydale cheese and my favourite element, the pickled onions.

Having stayed up watching Love Actually until 1am, Boxing Day morning we took it slow and went for a walk at midday. We were then off to my Auntie and Uncle’s in Southsea to spend the afternoon and evening with wider family. I wore this new Cider grey knit middy dress with matching bolero sleeves, accessorised with plenty of gold jewellery and my new square toe perspex mules which were a gift from my mum.

Everyone was pretty knackered from all the festivities of the weekend passed, so it was a nice chilled affair catching up with family including their adorable dog Dolly, and enjoying leftover Christmas food with salads and more cheese of course!

We were also thrilled at my sister’s announcement that she and her partner are expecting a baby! What a wonderful way to conclude our Christmas weekend with news of the next generation on its way in the New Year.

Congratulation sis, can’t wait to meet the little one in 2023 ❤

Wholesome Winter Evening in Winchester

December 18, 2022

Happy Sunday, I can’t believe it’s already one week to go until Christmas! As schools breakup and businesses quieten down for the holiday season, I am lucky enough to have two weeks off of work from Tuesday this week. I’m looking forward to winding down and embracing the Christmas festivities before we enter the new year.

This past week has been full of fun social celebrations with my office Christmas party last Thursday, a dinner with my boyfriend’s parents on Friday and a night out to the Winchester markets with my best friend and her partner on Saturday evening.

There’s nothing like the annual Christmas markets to get me well and truly in the festive spirit. Wrapped up in my oversized green trench coat, a mulled wine in hand and the smell of hot roasted chestnuts in the air, I had all the fuzzy festive feels as we wondered around Winchester Cathedral grounds lined with the eclectic market stalls.

Winchester was very busy and all the restaurants packed out, but luckily I grabbed us a spot in Overdraft for the best beers on tap alongside the most delicious Mexican food in town.

A casual bar and diner with a live DJ on the decks, Overdraft is the perfect vibe for a low-key date night, double date or grabbing drinks and food with friends.

With a Margarita special on the board, I couldn’t resist a cheeky cocktail to accompany our Mexican feast.

I ordered the smoked pulled aubergine tacos served with lime slaw, crispy courgettes and coriander, whilst my boyfriend opted for the classic chipotle roast chicken burrito with sour cream, red rice, lime slaw, pico de gallo, refried beans and cheese.

Given the tapas sharing style nature of these dishes, we also got some loaded nachos and lime salt fries to share between us all. Everything was super tasty and authentic, you just can’t go wrong with classic Mexican cuisine, it was all delish!

Having finished our food, we went for drinks at another bar in town before heading home. It certainly was a chilly winters night so I was very glad I wore my warmest long trench coat layered over a thick knit jumper, skinny jeans, chelsea boots and my baker boy hat to keep me cosy.

What a wonderful few days of festivities I’ve had complete with the perfect double date night with my best friend and our boyfriends. Bring on another week of Christmas fun in the lead up to the big day; the countdown is on ❤

My Spotify Wrapped

December 11, 2022

It’s that time of the year again when Spotify reveals our true music taste by rounding up those artists and genres we have listened to the most over the past 12 months.

I’m always intrigued by people’s wrap for the year and tend to find even my own a surprise as I don’t realise how much I lean towards certain genres. It would seem I’m a big Indie and House lover with a bit of Soul and Pop mixed in there too.

I didn’t expect Ocean Alley to be my number 1 artist this year, but I guess I did go to their gig back in February which got me hooked on their albums. Their music gives me major summer vibes, so I remember playing them a lot during those stunning summer days we had this year.

Spotify identified my listening style as ‘The Deep Diver’. I’d say this is an accurate summary for me as I use Spotify to discover new artists through those I already know and love. That’s how I discovered Fred Again earlier this year just before he had a big summer playing heaps of festivals and firmly establishing himself within the Dance – House music scene.

So there’s my Spotify all wrapped up for the year. I made some great new artist discoveries along the way whilst still going back to my old favourites including Odesza and Lane 8. Now I need to get some gigs and festivals booked for the new year, top on my list is to see Fred Again ❤

Festive Feels; Let’s Deck the Halls

December 4, 2022

December is here and the countdown to Christmas is on! The festive season always flies by in a flash so I’m all for getting the tree up and decorating our home as soon as we enter December.

With the Christmas tunes on and a Tia Maria tipple in hand, we were ready to assemble our tree and get decorating. We have an artificial tree with frosted branches which fits perfectly in front of the french doors in our living room.

Simple elegance is the aesthetic I like to go for with white and gold baubles complimented by cute crystal blue snowflake lights. And not forgetting the all important statement gold light star to top the tree.

Tree complete, the first present to put beneath it this year is an old school gigantic white Toblerone block, iconic.

Feeling festive and cosy at home, we finished the evening with a classic heart-warming Christmas movie, The Holiday. Festive vibes in full swing, love it ❤

Sky Bar; Honey Sweet Cocktail Hues

November 27, 2022

Date night this weekend with my boyfriend was at our favourite local destination for cocktails, Sky Bar at the Aviator Hotel in Hampshire. We love everything about this place, from the stunning feature staircase and glamorous bar overlooking Farnborough Airport, to the extensive menu of extravagant cocktails which every time we visit, we always say are the best we’ve ever had…and I know my cocktails!

Arriving at 8pm, it was a buzzing Saturday evening at the Aviator Hotel, so we were lucky to get a table in the bar. I was drawn to the sweet sounding honey and ginger based cocktail which came in an extra tall glass, complete with a honey dipper and garnished with a cute flower.

This decadently sweet concoction got a 10/10 from me, I was in honey heaven. Meanwhile my boyfriend went for his usual choice the ‘Air Mail’ which is a variation on a classic whiskey sour. Date night was off to a fabulous start!

Upon every visit to the Sky Bar, I can never resist an outfit photo on their iconic spiral staircase. On this occasion I wore my green ruffle bandeau top, black split hem flared leggings, green knotted mules styled with my cute little gingham shoulder handbag and usual gold jewellery to complete the look.

Whilst there is a brasserie in the hotel which we’re yet to try, they also serve food in the Sky Bar offering a varied selection of starters, salads, burgers, pizzas and other classic British dishes. I was craving a simple chicken Caesar salad, whilst my boyfriend opted for a Margarita pizza and honey drizzled chicken wings. Everything was delicious especially the honey wings, but there’s a number of other tasty looking salads on the menu which I’ll have to try next time, including a Mexican style rice salad or poke bowl, both right up my street!

Full of indulgent cocktails and wonderful food, we headed home to finish our date night with a movie. We watched Slumberland on Netflix, a heart-warming film which we enjoyed with some wine and popcorn – a perfect end to our perfect date night ❤

Winter Staycay; Two Days in Beautiful Brighton

November 20, 2022

After four holidays abroad this year, my boyfriend and I opted for a fun little staycation in Brighton this November. We spent two days exploring the wonders of this glorious city down by the coast of England.

Arriving at midday on Thursday last week, we got settled in our room at the Square Townhouse hotel located on New Steine Street in the heart of Brighton. We loved our little room the ‘Bubble Snug’ and we couldn’t have been looked after better by the staff at this gorgeous boutique hotel complete with chic, art deco inspired interiors.

That afternoon we ventured out to explore the centre of town and the famous Lanes which were all right on our doorstep. We stopped by a cute coffee shop which happened to be next door to the Ivy Asia, so being somewhere we’ve been wanting to try, we made a reservation for that evening’s dinner.

After coffee it was nearing sunset time already, so we headed to the beach for a sundown stroll along the shore. Stunning scenes but it sure was very blustery, I almost lost my hat numerous times!

A walk along the pier is a must when coming to Brighton too. Back in the day I would visit my sister who went to university in Sussex and we would always take a trip to the pier, it’s a kids dream!

Now as adults the novelty has worn off and the precarious, rickety looking rides don’t seem as appealing. So soon enough we headed back to our hotel for some downtime in our super cosy room and an aperitif from the bar, before getting ready for dinner.

I wore my new White Fox Boutique chocolate colour playsuit, over the knee boots, gingham blazer, long trench coat and a beret to complete the look. Feeling tres chic for our dinner at the Ivy Asia!

With reservations at 8:30pm, we arrived a bit earlier to enjoy a drink at the bar first. The place was buzzing and the opulent interiors were just exquisite. Everything about The Ivy restaurants is always such a magnificent experience, from the amazing decor and detailed place settings, to the attentive service and killer cocktails.

The dinner spread we chose was on point and everything so tasty, it was all divine. We had chicken satay style skewers, tender stem broccolini in a tahini sauce, hot and sour plum flavoured chicken, sticky jasmine rice and a platter of sushi of course.

The look of love for my tuna maki roll, I was in heaven! A truly wonderful and memorable experience at the Ivy Asia, highly recommend for a special date night or evening with the girls.

The next day we woke feeling fresh and ready for another day strolling around Brighton. I wore my new Zara aviator jacket with flared jeans, Grenson Boots and my beret ready for the chilly, windy weather.

I love exploring cities on foot and Brighton really is perfect for strolling around and getting lost in the Lanes. Every corner you turn there’s another street to explore lined with historic buildings and wall murals. Brighton is the place to be for artists and creatives alike.

Following lots of shopping and walking around town, we headed back to the coastline for sunset and enjoyed a coffee at Brighton Beach Club during golden hour; simply sublime.

As dusk drew in and the lights of Brighton Pier lit up, we made our way back along the seafront to our hotel before dinner.

We had 8pm reservations at Burnt Orange, a grown-up, late-night hangout with a menu centred around seasonal ingredients cooked predominantly over fire and designed for sharing.

From the brilliant reviews and tapas style dining which I love, I had high hopes for our evening here.

Seated at the counter-top overlooking the kitchen and bar, we had the best seats in the house. What a fantastic atmosphere seeing the kitchen at work and the head chef plating the dishes in front of us, we could even do some window shopping to decide on our dinner choices.

To start we had the wood fired flatbread and my absolute obsession when it comes to tapas, padron peppers. Smokey, salty and sweet, absolutely delicious!

For our mains it was a superb fillet of flamed sea bream with basil yoghurt and a mango dressing for me, and the BBQ chicken thigh with watermelon hot sauce and kohl rabi slaw for my boyfriend.

To accompany our dishes, we shared the indulgent skillet-baked potatoes drizzled with herb cream and sheep’s cheese. Wow, I need to recreate these at home.

And not forgetting our favourite vegetable side, broccolini, and this pimped up version charred and finished with a lemon tahini dressing was a winner.

We both agreed this was some of the most flavourful food we’ve ever had and a fabulous dining experience we won’t forget. Burnt Orange gets a 10/10 on all counts from me given the outstanding service, bustling ambience, great drinks and exceptional food!

So that was our whistle stop two days down in Brighton exploring the best of what this eclectic, fun and friendly city has to offer; thanks for having us Brighton ❤

Cosy Winter Weekends

November 13, 2022

Happy Sunday! We’re well and truly into the winter months here in England as I sit writing this at 4:30pm and it’s already dark… whilst I am definitely a summer girl at heart, there is something so comforting and heart-warming about cosying up inside on these long winter evenings.

For me winter is all about the good TV and film which comes out this time of year, enjoying indulgent food (in particular a cheeseboard of course) and going to the pub to sit in front of the fire with friends whilst lapping up the red wine and maybe even a cocktail or two.

November also brings with it firework night alongside my Mum’s birthday too, so for our family it’s always a time to celebrate. A yearly tradition has evolved recently where my boyfriend and Dad have the time of their lives letting off the crazy firework boxes from Costco which is both exciting and terrifying!

For my Mum’s birthday celebrations on the 6th November, we went over to my brother and his wife’s gorgeous newly renovated house in Bromley. They have a wonderful entertaining space there now with an open plan dining kitchen area finished with touches of Scandi style furniture and details; I particularly love the deep fern green kitchen cupboards and marble work top.

They always put on an incredible spread of food and on this occasion we were treated to a classic, hearty chilli con carne with all the accompaniments which was delicious. They also made this Mexican inspired salad including a mix of greens, asparagus, avocado, a creamy homemade dressing and heaps of parmesan. I need to get the full recipe, I’m obsessed!

We had a fabulous day celebrating Mum’s birthday. These special moments with family are so precious and I can’t wait for more fun times together as we dive into the festive season ahead ❤

Heckfield Place; Secret Cellar Cinema

October 30, 2022

Having just been named one of the top 10 UK Hotels by the Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers Choice Awards for 2022, Heckfield Place is a true hidden gem for local villagers of the area. Alongside the highly acclaimed Marle Restaurant headed by famous chef Skye Gyngell, also the lady behind Petersham Nurseries and Spring at Somerset House London, Heckfield Events welcomes members of the public to enjoy an exciting programme of activities around the grounds nestled in the quaint Hampshire countryside.

The Dolby Atmos Screening Room located underground by the manor house of Heckfield, hosts talks and cinema screenings of old school movie classics as well as new releases. With tickets priced at £18 per adult, this is an affordable alternative to your usual cinema visit and worth the extra few pounds for such an exclusive, premium cinema experience.

Last weekend we managed to get tickets to see the only screening of the latest blockbuster release Don’t Worry Darling staring Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde and Chris Pine, to name a few. I kept my outfit comfy yet stylish wearing my Grenson boots, denim jeans, a knitted polo-neck, gold jewellery and check blazer layered with my new H&M wool-blend cream trench coat, which I’m loving right now.

With the film starting at 7:30pm, we decided to grab a curry beforehand at our favourite local Thai The Spice Merchant. It was the perfect Sunday night hearty dinner for two, packed full of nutritious veggies and those delicious creamy Thai flavours, it never fails to impress.

Arriving on a stormy, dark, autumnal evening at Heckfield Place, the atmosphere was very fitting for this psychological thriller film. Drinks acquired from the bar, we found our seats and made ourselves at home in the plush sofa chairs ready for the movie.

I’m not usually one for watching horrors and following this film I remember why. It was fantastic and I thought Oliva Wilde was a brilliant leading lady supported by Harry Styles, but yikes did I have some scary nightmares that night!

Regardless, it was another fabulous movie experience at the Heckfield Place secret cinema. We’ll definitely be back again this winter season to cosy up in front of another film in superior style. I’m thinking a lighter hearted movie is in order next time as well as a couple of cocktails from the bar beforehand too. ❤

Event Day; One Great George Street & Parliament

October 23, 2022

Working in events, I am involved in organising lots of exciting occasions which often take place at different and unique venues. This month ACS hosted their Heart of the Community Conference at One Great George Street, followed by a drinks reception in the Terrace Pavilion at the famous Houses of Parliament.

With over 180 delegates registered to attend, me and the team were prepped and ready to welcome our guests to the conference within the stunning surroundings of the elegant and historical building that is One Great George Street.

From the grand staircase and magnificent dome roof window feature, to the exquisite details of the ceiling mural with gold accents throughout the Great Hall, this grade II listed Edwardian building in the heart of London just of Parliament Square, is the perfect venue for our biggest yearly political conference.

Following a highly successful and insightful conference, the event moved over to Parliament for the afternoon reception drinks taking place in the Terrace Pavilion at the House of Commons.

It was exciting to be inside Parliament where so much important politics takes place everyday. Steeped in history and buzzing with activity all day long as the UK government continues to battle through current affairs, it was a fascinating experience to be amongst it.

It was a beautiful sunny autumnal afternoon for our drinks reception overlooking those iconic scenes of the River Thames with the grandeur of Parliament in the background; a perfect end to a highly successful event.

I wore my smart fern green chinos, this corset style gingham print square neck blouse, a peplum blazer and court heels for the occasion. Polished and smart with a touch of chic, this is what I call working woman power dressing. Well done to the ACS team for pulling off another fabulous event!

Fall Fashion; Baker Boy Moment

October 16, 2022

I’ve always been a hat girl with a collection to prove it, so each season I tend to find myself purchasing yet another one to add to the wardrobe…

I love fall as an opportunity to play with fashion and layer up again in the cooler weather. It’s also the perfect time to wear a cute hat which for me these days tends to be in the form of a beret, fedora or of course, my favourite baker boy.

So my newest addition to the hat collection is this gorgeous deep khaki green wool cap from Mango, available here – https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/hats-and-gloves/wool-cap-with-visor_37064020.html

I couldn’t wait to wear this out to the pub last Friday. I styled my new baker boy with a pair of black skinny jeans, a check shirt, my classic leather jacker, a cosy scarf and my Grenson boots; effortless, cool-girl, chic vibes.

After the pub I made us a steak dinner for two back at home. We had fillet steaks cooked medium rare, my special crispy new potatoes, sautéed onions, mushrooms, broccolini and asparagus, peppercorn sauce and plenty of salad, because no meal is complete without a heap of greens. A stunning meal too good not to share with you here! Hats off to the chef, moi. 😉