Author: Danielle Aneka

Coachella; Festival Fashion Runway

April 24, 2022

After 3 years away, the famous Coachella music festival has made a return this year with a show stopping lineup and as always, attracting many A-list stars and influencers out to Palm Springs for two weekends of live music in the desert.

Harry Styles took the crown for his performances both last weekend and this weekend, with his fabulous front man energy and quirky outfits reminiscent of the late great Freddie Mercury. What could be more rock n roll than that multicoloured sequin Gucci jumpsuit which of course only Harry could pull-off in such style!

The Revolve Festival took place within Coachella as well, bringing together all of the top influencers in their lavish festival ensembles. I’m obsessed with this cute look worn by Brigette Pheloung, giving me Latina vibes with the long flamenco skirt complete with statement cowboy boots and a neckerchief.

Amongst the celeb sightings at Coachella, there’s always a number of models taking the limelight in the most stunning designer pieces. Victoria’s Secret model Elsa Hosk looked like a desert princess in this FWRD sand coloured tassel dress with matching crochet mules, exquisite!

Elisha Herbert, an Aussie model and influencer, took it back to basics in this denim low rise mini, cropped vest, suede cowboy boots and Gucci bucket hat. An old school nineties inspired ensemble keeping it fresh and fun, I’m a fan of this cool-girl effortless look.

A headscarf, all in one body and mesh skirt is a failsafe festival outfit combo, I do always love Helen Owen’s timeless style. I’m a sucker for glitter when it comes to a festival and this sequin cutout skirt ticks all the boxes. To finish the look, it has to be a pair of cowboy boots, the shoe of the moment it would seem and I’m here for it!

Coachella 22′ has been the year to be together again, celebrating awesome live music and having fun with festival fashion which we’ve missed so much these past few years. I can’t wait for the UK summer festival season to kickoff soon, I’m already planning my most outrageous, glitzy outfits – let’s express ourselves babes ❤

Easter Weekend Wind Down

April 18, 2022

Happy bank holiday Monday babes! It’s the end of the long Easter weekend and I’ve really enjoyed the extra time off indulging in good food in the company of family and friends. The sun has been shining too, so I’ve had my soft top down on the Mini Cooper and been on a few countryside cruises, it’s such a good feeling!

On Good Friday, we kicked the weekend off with a pub meal at our favourite local with our parents. I had the chicken salad with a honey mustard dressing along with a side of sweet potato fries and white wine. It was a fabulous evening of catchups and laughs, we were at the table for over 3 hours.

Saturday was another beautiful day, so I went to spend a few hours at the bike jumps with my boyfriend and his mates soaking up the sun as we had some drinks and I watched them ride.

And just like that, it was Easter Sunday and we were off to my Auntie’s in Surrey for a roast dinner.

I always love to visit my Auntie’s home which was looking as gorgeous as ever with the exquisitely laid dining table ready for a feast.

We had a premium cut of beef with all the traditional roast dinner trimmings including crispy potatoes, sweet parsnips, buttered leeks, steamed cabbage, fresh peas and carrots, pickled onions and lashings of gravy – what a treat!

Before I knew it, we were back home breaking into our Lindor chocolate bunnies with a cuppa and ready for an early night. A truly wholesome Easter weekend spent with family indulging in yummy food, guzzling drinks and soaking up the glorious sunshine ❤

The Ivy; Alice in Wonderland Vibes

April 10, 2022

This weekend I decided to go all out for our date night and booked The Ivy Castle View in Guildford. I had tried to book The Ivy Asia a few weeks back, but with a three month waiting list to get a reservation there, I was happy with the regular Ivy restaurant we know and always enjoy.

I’m obsessed with the art deco inspired interiors featuring eclectic artwork and a vibrant colour palette, I was definitely getting Alice in Wonderland vibes as soon as we arrived at The Ivy Castle View.

Even the ladies bathrooms were decorated with opulent wallpaper and this stunning ceiling of roses, they are just too beautiful not to take a picture of.

The place was buzzing on a Saturday night, yet we were still treated to the same friendly and attentive service from the hosts and our waiters who looked after us for the evening.

We had this lovely, romantic round table for two right by the window overlooking the castle. I was lusting over these gorgeous green palm leaf print sofa chairs too, it really is an interior lovers heaven, every corner of the place there is something different to admire.

To start, we had a cocktail each and of course I couldn’t resist my favourite Espresso Martini in their special salted caramel flavour. My boyfriend had the Surrey Passion made with passionfruit, vodka and rum, a super fruity sweet concoction and showstopper served with a flaming top!

Whilst we don’t usually get starters, we did order the salt-crusted sourdough bread to nibble alongside our cocktails. To our delight they served an entire loaf freshly warmed straight from the oven – sometimes the simple things done well are the most satisfying, it was exquisite.

For mains I actually went for two starters: Roasted Scallops served with crispy potato rösti, pea purée, parmesan sauce and grated truffle, accompanied by a big basket of the Zucchini Fritti. This was a tasty combination of flavours which I paired with a glass of their house white wine from Carinena, Spain.

My boyfriend ordered the Korean Glazed Chicken served with pickled mooli, sesame, avocado and jalapeño sauce, citrus mayonnaise as well as some thick cut chunky chips. Safe to say we devoured the lot and savoured every delectable bite.

Our evening at The Ivy Castle View was wonderful with everything from the drinks and food to the service and experience, it was a 10/10 for me.

The Ivy Collection has a number of restaurants in handpicked locations across the UK, serving modern British cuisine, reflecting the same inimitable service and vibrant surroundings for which The Ivy is loved and revered. A top destination for a boujee date night full of photo opportunities ❤

Parisian Aesthetic

April 3, 2022

It’s official, we have our tickets booked for Paris next month! Taking the Eurostar from St. Pancras London, we’ll be staying in the centre of the city for a long weekend in May.

I’ve always wanted to visit the famous city of Paris, so with summer just around the corner it was time to get our trip booked. I’m anticipating a romantic weekend together with my boyfriend, indulging in delicious Parisian cuisine and guzzling fine French wines from afternoon through to evening, when the Eiffel Tower sparkles by night.

A picnic by the Eiffel Tower complete with croissants, a baguette, fruit, cheese and champagne is a must. Of course I’ll have to visit some designer shops on our trip and I’m also keen to discover local bars and restaurants for the most authentic Parisian experience.

I can’t wait to stroll the beautiful streets of Paris and explore the many famous city landmarks; I’ve already got my beret packed and ready for those picture perfect shots! See you soon Paris ❤

Gig; Ocean Alley at the Engine Rooms Southampton

March 27, 2022

Happy Sunday and the official first day of British summertime – bring on those long sunny days! Yesterday I was so excited to be going to my first gig back post covid down in Southampton to see Ocean Alley. Being an Aussie band, I heard their song Confidence for the first time a few years ago when I was living in Aus and I’ve been a big fan of their music ever since.

With a group of my friends all coming along to the gig, we met for an early dinner and drinks at Bills in West Quey at 5pm. We enjoyed a spread of delicious food including these exquisite chicken dumplings and my favourite miso padron peppers, the perfect pre-gig nibble.

I couldn’t resist a cheeky espresso martini to finish and it didn’t disappoint. Nothing like that wicked combo of caffeine, sugar and alcohol to set me up for a night of dancing ahead.

We made our way around the corner to the Engine Rooms just in time for the gig already kicking off with the support band at 7pm. Beer in hand, I was ready for some much missed live music and a good old boogie with my friends.

Ocean Alley put on a fantastic show and sounded so great live, it was like listening their original tracks! I felt like I was back down under in a room full of fellow fans many of which had that typical Aussie bogan moustache long haired look going on… if you know, you know.

What a night and novelty to be at a live gig once again without any social distancing restrictions. I forgot how many awesome songs Ocean Alley have under their belt too; highlights for me were Knees, Baby Come Back, Happy Sad and of course Confidence. I definitely felt a pang of nostalgia for my Australia life down under. What a time that was with so many unforgettable memories, I’ll have to take a trip back to my spirit land again soon ❤

Women, Ladies, Girls; Let’s Unite

March 13, 2022

With it being International Women’s Day last week, me and the girls decided to get together on Thursday for a ladies night complete with fine wine, good food, plenty of chats and countless giggles.

We went over to our friend’s house who welcomed us with vino and nibbles before a delicious dinner. She served baked salmon fillets in a ginger and garlic marinade alongside greens and veggie dumplings, it was delicious.

I don’t know what I’d do without my girlfriends to guide and support me along the confusing journey we call life. I’m so very lucky to have such strong friendships that go back to childhood, so we really do know each other inside out and can tell each other anything.

This short excerpt on female friendships perfectly sums up the special bond I have with my girlies. Cheers to my ladies and soul sisters for life ❤

For the Foodies; Local Gems

February 27, 2022

Being a self-confessed foodie, I always like to try new places for weekend date nights and dinners with friends. Having visited some great restaurants recently, I’m glad to have discovered some local gems just a short drive from our house.

With an extensive menu of pub classics, I was keen to try The Waterwitch pub in Odiham. I opted for an old favourite, caesar salad and it didn’t disappoint. Fresh baby gem lettuce, homemade sourdough croutons, Italian hard cheese, free-range boiled egg, anchovies and a chargrilled chicken breast, this was one of the best caesar salads I’ve ever had…and I’ve had a fair few to compare to!

This weekend we tried Menu Thai in Fleet having heard great things from my sister and her partner. As my boyfriend’s favourite cuisine, we were eager to sample this place for ourselves in hope this will become our local spot for Thai food. I had the vegetable green curry whilst my boyfriend had the chicken penang curry with coconut rice.

Authentic, wonderfully tasty and served steaming hot, this is Thai food done to perfection. A cosy restaurant with excellent service and a buzzing atmosphere too, they even deliver to our postcode. No doubt we will be visiting again very soon as well as making use of their delivery service to satisfy those Thai cravings at home.

It’s always nice to try somewhere different and even better to be supporting local businesses. Going out for dinner is something I used to take for granted before Covid, now I’m even more grateful to be able to indulge in wining and dining freely once again – Cheers to that!

Book Club; Me Before You

February 20, 2022

This year I am challenging myself to read more books and reduce so much screen time spent mindlessly scrolling Instagram in exchange for reading. I have always loved getting lost in the story of a good book, but over the past few years it isn’t something I’ve been making enough time for. Together with my friend we have decided to do an informal book club in which we recommend each other books and discuss what we have been reading. First on my list was Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, a fantastic suggestion from my friend as I found myself unable to put this book down. A truly captivating love story with a heartbreaking twist, Moyes writing flows without sacrificing on detail and description to fully emerse the reader into the narrative.

My next read will be Normal People by Sally Rooney, a gift from my brother and his wife for Christmas. I’m excited to get stuck into another novel and continue my goal of reading again this year. I’m not setting out to read a certain number of books necessarily, but instead easing myself back into the literacy world with some enjoyable reads before I consider delving into the more heavy topics.

‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body; it keeps the imagination stimulated, active and alive.’

Interiors Update; My Little Dresser Corner

February 13, 2022

Having lived in our wonderful house for almost a year now, it was time to change up the spare room decor and finally get a dressing table in there for me too. We wanted to make this room more mature by introducing black and bronze tones to compliment this gorgeous new set of abstract pictures now above the bed.

After a lot of playing around with different pillow options and arrangements, we settled on these stunning black and gold feather scatter cushions which make a subtle statement, whilst also fitting in with the new bedding perfectly.

The dresser is from Ikea to match the other furniture in this room and fits just right in that corner by the natural light of the window. With a large singular drawer in the dresser, I can now store and organise all of my makeup properly without having to put it away in makeup bags all the time. The stool and mirror are both from Amazon and perfectly align with the colour palette of the renewed spare room.

I’m obsessed with this Moroccan style bronze tray which I am using to hold my many perfume bottles. The spare room has had a fabulous makeover with just these few elements which have been changed up and I’m very grateful for the dresser gifted from my boyfriend for my birthday. Hope you’ve had a great weekend babes and Happy Valentines for tomorrow – Kiss, kiss ❤

Par-Tee Time; Let’s Celebrate

February 6, 2022

It’s been a slow Sunday for me here at home following a fun evening out in Reading with my boyfriend and his mates last night. With my boyfriend’s birthday tomorrow we organised early celebrations this weekend and I was so ready for a proper night out on the town!

Starting with dinner, I made 8pm reservations at Thai Corner in Reading. We absolutely love Thai food and this place didn’t disappoint, my prawn pad thai noodles were delicious. The restaurant was buzzing on a Saturday night and the service was fantastic too. No doubt we will be returning for a date night there again soon when I will have to try one of their yummy curries too.

After our meal we went to Brewdog for drinks before heading over to Spinners for our 10pm booking at the mini golf.

A few drinks down and with more drinks as we played, we had a right laugh as we took on the mini golf course. I actually managed a number of hole in ones even after all of the prosecco I’d been guzzling!

After finishing our game, we continued the par-tee spirit and decided to hit a few bars and clubs in town. It ended up being a late one as we found ourselves still dancing in the club until 3am!

Everyone had an awesome evening in celebration of my boyfriend’s birthday, only this morning’s hangover was less enjoyable…but this is how we roll, making memories and embracing the moments together because life is for living ❤