For me, I can’t think of a more perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon on holiday than to relax poolside at a beach club and soak up the sun whilst getting lost in a good book.
Being one of the more chilled beach clubs, as opposed to Taboo or Tantra where the music was so loud you wouldn’t be able to hear yourself speak, we decided to head to Mia which was just a 15 minute walk along the beachfront from our hotel.
We claimed a cabana by the pool where the soundtrack for the afternoon was waves rolling in, ice clinking in cans and music humming in the background.
The sun shimmered across the water, palm trees swayed lazily overhead, and somewhere beyond the infinity edge, the sea moved in a steady, soothing rhythm.
I stretched out under the sun on our cabana with my current book Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She’s one of my favourite authors and there’s something about reading her stories while on holiday that feels indulgent in the best way.
Book in one hand and a cold Coke Zero beading with condensation in the other, absolute bliss.
My boyfriend opted for a beer and we lay there for a few hours content as can be, holiday mode fully activated.
Between chapters and conversation we dipped in and out of the pool, letting the sun warm our shoulders before slipping back into the cool water.
It was one of those afternoons where nothing extraordinary happens, yet everything feels just perfect.
No rush, no plans, just golden sunlight, salty air, and that quiet happiness that settles in your chest when you realise you’re exactly where you’re meant to be ❤
There are some places you visit on holiday once and then there are the places you accidentally turn into a daily ritual; for us in Tulum, that place was Raw Love.
A fully vegan health café tucked right on the beach surrounded by palms giving serious Bali energy from the moment you walk in.
Barefoot in the sand, shaded by swaying palm trees with the ocean breeze rolling through, it’s the kind of spot that makes you want to slow down and stay a while.
The menu is an all-day breakfast lover’s paradise so this place was a dream for me.
Think vibrant smoothie bowls piled high with toppings, perfectly smashed avo toast, hearty nutrient-packed salads, and homemade raw desserts that somehow taste indulgent but wholesome at the same time.
Every dish looks like art and tastes even better.
Just an 8 minute walk from our hotel, it quickly became our go-to morning routine.
Most days started with one of their glorious smoothie bowls; colourful, refreshing, and packed full of goodness that made us feel energised for the day ahead.
Add a good strong coffee, friendly staff who genuinely make you feel welcome, and food that leaves your body feeling amazing, and it’s easy to see why we kept coming back.
A little slice of beachside wellness that turns breakfast into a ritual and makes you feel like you’re doing something kind for your mind, body and soul while on holiday. And honestly, that’s the best kind of souvenir to bring home.
If we ever find ourselves back in Tulum, we already know exactly where our first breakfast will be ❤
I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday early evening on holiday than taking a stroll down the playa at golden hour and breathing in every hue of the stunning skies as the sun sets.
We arrived at Bagatelle just in time for the horizon awash with pink candy floss tones before the twilight hours were upon us.
Set upon the iconic Playa Paraiso overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Bagatelle Tulum seamlessly mixes the luxury of its French brand with that boho chic Tulum vibe.
My Friday fit were these super cute ASOS butter yellow ruffle hot-pants, paired with a white cropped satin blouse layered over a cream bandeau bikini top, my Sol Concept ruffle heeled mules, and a Topshop butter yellow handbag to match the buttermilk tones of the fit.
And not forgetting plenty of gold and pearl summer themed jewellery and a pair of Celine sunnies to complete the look. I’m obsessed with the subtle ruffle details of this fit and you simply can’t go wrong with butter yellow for summer.
As we sipped our cocktails and watched dusk roll in, it felt like our very own little piece of the French Riviera in the heart of the Riviera Maya.
We enjoyed impeccable service and an electric ambiance that blends laid-back luxury with beachside party vibes.
We’re not usually ones to celebrate Valentines Day and would normally opt for a home cooked meal over going out, but with Valentines Day falling on a Saturday this year, it was an excuse to make our usual date night that little bit more special.
The Valentines outfit of the night was built around my killer snakeskin boot heels which did all the talking. I paired them with these Topshop black skinny jeans, a Missguided nude pink tie front blouse layered over this maroon lace bralet, my vintage gold heart necklace for a nod to the love theme, and my oversized brown fur coat to complete the look.
My Sandro green velvet handbag and these stunning Heaven Mayhem pearl statement earrings added an extra touch of glam to the fit; pearls are so chic and timeless, I’m obsessed.
We had early 6pm dinner reservations at Cosy Club in Basingstoke Festival Place.
Our preference for dinner would’ve been Cote, however they were fully booked so Cosy Club was our next best option and the vibes were on point for Valentines night.
I had the sticky Asian cauliflower salad with kimchi, shredded leaves, pickled mooli, edamame beans and a rice wine dressing which was delicious and full of spicy flavour.
My boyfriend opted for the flat iron steak served with peppercorn sauce, fries, caesar salad and a side of macaroni cheese.
The food came quickly, it was all nicely presented and the service from our waiter was very friendly. Overall a lovely dinner which exceeded our expectations.
Following dinner we had the cinema booked for 7:50pm and I was super excited to see the highly anticipated Wuthering Heights movie.
Fresh popcorn at the cinema is a must and some wine with the movie was another treat being our Valentines date night.
We don’t go to the cinema very often as we have such a great setup at home, so we booked the best seats in the house and felt very comfy indeed in our recliner premium seats.
Wuthering Heights was brilliant and the perfect romantic movie for a Valentines cinema trip.
It was nice to switch it up from our usual date night drill and fully switch off from the outside world for a few hours to enjoy the magic of the movie.
Being my first time in the Caribbean Sea off the shore of Mexico, I was super excited to go snorkelling with turtles in those iconic crystal clear waters. It was a bucket list moment and such a special memory we will cherish forever.
We discovered the tranquil village of Akumal beloved for its sea turtles grazing on seagrass in the shallow bay.
True to its Mayan name ‘place of the turtles’, Akumal welcomes visitors to swim side by side with the spectacular sea life including lots of tropical fish and stingrays too.
Only a 40-minute taxi ride from Tulum we arrived in the quaint village at midday, so started by grabbing a spot of lunch at an authentically whacky local Mexican restaurant.
I had a refreshing plateful of fruit with an iced coffee, whilst my boyfriend had a classic burrito which he claimed to be the best he had during our trip. Local food done well and at a fraction of the prices we were used to in Tulum!
We hadn’t pre-booked any particular tour but instead found a local guide when we arrived on the beach and it was only about £25 each for an hour long guide, lifejacket and snorkel equipment hire.
After a group briefing on the beach, we paddled out together and soon enough we encountered our first sea turtle; but the further we swam out, the clearer the water was and we were able to see the sea turtles in all of their glory.
Every few minutes they have to come up to surface for air and one of them popped up their head right by me! The coral reef and tropical fish were also mesmerising and we even got to see a sting ray on the bottom of the seabed.
In total we probably saw about 5 or 6 different turtles in the hour we were out there and it was a magical experience I’ll cherish forever.
After snorkelling we showered off the sand, changed into dry clothes and went to the beach bar where there was a band playing live music.
We ordered a portion of pico de gallo with tortilla chips as an afternoon snack along with a beer for my boyfriend and a crisp glass of white for me.
Sat there overlooking the white sand beach with the late afternoon sun glistening on the water and the band playing vibey tunes from the bar, I felt in full holiday mode bliss.
On our way back to the taxi rank I spotted a local gift shop where I couldn’t resist a cute little turtle figure for my niece and a fun sombrero hat fridge magnet for my mum.
I’d highly recommend visiting Akumal if you’re looking for somewhere in Mexico to snorkel with turtles as you can also make a day of it with the quaint town offering authentic local food, boutique shopping and a relaxed, beachside vibe perfect for holiday makers wanting to lap up the Mexican sun ❤
Happy Sunday! It’s been a week since we returned from 12 glorious days in the Mexican sun and I’m only just getting over the jet lag. I was thrown back in at the deep-end with work last week as we were hosting an event in London on Tuesday, but I do thrive on routine so it was good to get back to usual programming. As you can imagine, I have a shedload of content to share from Tulum so I will posting all of the aesthetic photos and reliving the highlights of our trip over the next series of posts on here…so do stay tuned!
Starting with our accommodation, we stayed at Hotelito Azul located on the popular Beach Road for the duration of our time in Tulum.
We booked one of their garden view villas which was very spacious with a double sink ensuite and aesthetic boho-chic decor.
I particularly liked the tall ceilings and the bed was so big and very comfy indeed.
Our maid Griselda was absolutely lovely and went to the effort of making us a different towel animal every day.
One of the biggest draws to this hotel was the infinity pool on the rooftop overlooking the beach one side, and the luscious green jungle on the other.
Unfortunately the rooftop was out of action for food and drinks service during our stay which was such a shame as the views were spectacular.
We made the most of it though and took our own bottle of wine and nibbles up for sunsets as this really is such a gorgeous and unique spot for sundown in Tulum.
On our first day we wanted to familiarise ourselves with the area, so we went for a walk back down the road towards the town and found a perfect local cafe for delicious smoothie bowls.
Raw Love vegan cafe soon became our favourite place for the most healthy and yummy all day breakfast bowls.
Further up the road was a cluster of cute restaurants, bars and shops.
Seeing this soft top Mini Cooper driving through town made me wish I could have my own Mini there to scoot around in.
Later that afternoon we decided to hire push bikes to explore the rest of the beach road on the other side of our hotel.
We road all along the beach road through the most popular part where Bagatelle, Ilios and Casa Banana are located alongside lots of chic boutique shops.
I was thrilled to find the iconic ‘Follow That Dream’ road sign which is quite far up the road where it seems a lot less busy nowadays.
Before heading back to our hotel, we stopped by Mia beach club on our way back to have a bite to eat overlooking the beach.
I indulged in my first Margarita of the trip and it didn’t disappoint with a perfectly sweet and spicy finish.
My boyfriend had a pepperoni pizza which I had a slice of too. Not exactly an authentic Mexican dish, but you can’t go wrong with a pizza sometimes.
That evening I wore an all white fit for our first meal out in town.
We ended up at Ilios restaurant which I had pinned as the best place for Greek food in the area and it certainly met those expectations.
The interiors here are on point and we were even treated to a brilliant fire show performance!
We had the hummus with flatbread to start, my boyfriend opted for the chicken gyros and of course I ordered the Greek salad which was divine.
With a time difference of minus 5 hours, we were absolutely knackered and got an early night ready to wake up fresh on Mexican time.
So that’s an overview of our first day in Tulum and I can’t wait to share all of the amazing adventures and memories we made together during our two weeks in tropical paradise ❤
And so we find ourselves; it’s mid January, the weather is miserable here in the uk, so we are jetting off in search of sunshine this week. On Tuesday morning we’ll be heading to the airport and boarding the plane to Mexico and I cannot wait for some much needed winter sun on my skin.
We’ll be staying in the coastal town of Tulum known for its ultra cool, boho-chic vibes and picturesque, palm lined, white sand beaches.
My birthday is at the end of January and my boyfriend’s is the beginning of February, so getting away at this time of year is a must for us. Why be in cold, rainy England where everyone is on diets and doing Dry Jan, when we can hop on a plane and escape to warmer climates and tropical beachside living!?
We will be there for just under two weeks so the tan will be tanning and being a beach bum will become my full personality!
Hotelito Azul is where we will be staying for the two weeks, located right on the beach amongst all the best beach clubs and aesthetic restaurants.
I’m thinking fresh coconuts by the sea, a good book in hand and tapping into that boho-chic vibe with all of my cutest holiday wardrobe pieces.
As always I’ve made a Pinterest board for our trip and also have an extensive list of all the top spots nearby our hotel including Papaya Playa, Bagatelle, Ziggy, Taboo and Ilios.
Mexican cuisine is one of our favourites so my inner foodie is super excited for all the delicious authentic food we have to tantalise our tastebuds.
And not forgetting it being the home of the classic margarita, so my hopes are high for some epic beachside cocktails.
I plan on consuming bucket loads of guac with tortilla chips, plenty of fresh tropical fruits and all the seafood including fish tacos and the freshest ceviche.
Aside from all the relaxing beach time, we will definitely be going on a few day trips further afield to see the amazing landscape and nature Mexico has to offer.
We already have booked snorkelling with turtles which was on my goals list for 2026, such a special and unique opportunity in Mexico.
Exploring the breathtaking cenotes is another must while we’re there. A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole, formed from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes a pool of crystal-clear groundwater, common in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and sacred to the ancient Maya as portals to the underworld.
Seeing these natural pools and swimming in their vibrant turquoise waters will be other worldly, like we’re in a dream fantasy world!
The Mayan ruins are another spectacular historical attraction we will have to visit during our stay.
This walled pre-Columbian city perches on 12 meter cliffs overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea, known for its dramatic coastal setting, unique walled fortifications, and status as one of the last Mayan cities built.
I’ve already brought a few pieces to add to my ever growing holiday wardrobe, but I’m also excited to shop the boho chic boutiques and bazars when we get there to achieve the ultimate Tulum beach girl aesthetic.
I have a feeling we’re going to love Tulum with its aesthetic charm, cool coastal vibes and stunning white sand beaches of dreams; nos vemos pronto México! ❤
It might be a new year but it was the same Saturday drill for us last night as we went out for our first proper date night of 2026. Last weekend was spent recovering from all the Christmas celebrations, but this Saturday we were ready for a cute and cosy date night out again in the local town.
My look for the evening was this gorgeous backless top from Stradivarius in that luscious chocolate brown colour, a pair of flared dark wash jeans also from Stradivarius, pointed brown boot heels by Topshop and my favourite green velvet evening handbag by Sandro.
With the temperatures dropping below zero degrees here in the UK, I wrapped up in this oversized grey trench coat from NA-KD and completed the look with my trusty brown knitted beret from Urban Outfitters.
And not forgetting my stunning new clip-on earrings by Heaven Mayhem featuring the statement maroon stone and gold hardware; the perfect finishing touch for my winter date night look.
We decided to try a new Thai restaurant which has recently opened on Fleet highstreet called Tay Tar Thai.
Thai cuisine is one of our favourites so we were excited to experience somewhere new and see how it compared to our usual Thai locals.
I had a glass of red, my boyfriend ordered a beer and of course we ordered the prawn crackers with sweet chilli dip to nibble on as we browsed the menu.
My boyfriend had his usual chicken Penang curry with coconut rice, whilst I went for something a bit different and braved the fiery hot jungle curry with vegetables.
It was nice to have a lighter curry without the creaminess of the traditional coconut based dishes and despite the challenging heat, I really enjoyed my dish packed full of authentic veggies.
Whilst the food was good and the restaurant had a nice atmosphere, the service was very slow on a busy Saturday night and the prices more expensive than usual in comparison to our other local Thai restaurants.
With the weather absolutely freezing, we headed straight home for a cosy night on the sofa with the warming fire and a brilliant new romcom on Netflix ‘People We Meet On Vacation’.
A simple, wholesome date night was just what we needed on this dark, bitterly cold Saturday evening in early January ❤
Happy New Year! January is upon us and I can’t wait to see what the year ahead has in store for me. Whilst 2025 was full of amazing travel opportunities and happy memories with family and friends, it certainly came with a number of unexpected challenges and heartbreaking moments. Yet it taught me to never take life for granted as you don’t know what’s around the corner. It showed me how resilient and brave I can in fact be when faced with some of the scariest and upsetting of situations. Life is not perfect and we cannot control that, but it’s how we deal with the unknown that builds our strength and character.
My resolutions list from last year was fairly generic as I was unsure of where the year was going to take me. Turns out it was full of difficult bumps in the road, so I’m proud of myself to have worked towards and improved on these small goals I set myself regardless.
Looking forward to 2026, I am feeling a pull towards a shift in my energy and I can see myself this time next year being in a more rewarding place creatively and professionally. With it being the year of the rare Fire Horse, according to Chinese astrology this signifies intense ambition, a powerful drive for success and leveraging natural strength for achievement. Therefore I have more direction for my 2026 resolutions with some more specific goals which I will hold myself accountable to reaching.
Lest we forget our lessons from last year though, life’s path is not linear and we should never take it for granted. I aim to work towards and achieve my goals throughout the year as and when the time is right, removing the perfectionist within for this to become just another checklist.
I move forward into 2026 with intention and purpose behind my actions, allowing me to be more present in each moment instead of rushing through life and constantly thinking about the next thing.
As we find ourselves in this no mans land between Christmas and New Years, I’m grateful for a few days of rest and reset before it all kicks off again for NYE celebrations. Whilst I love celebrating with friends and spending quality time with family, I’m in need of some down time after four days of back to back festive fun.
Going back to Christmas Eve, I went to the local church to watch the children’s Nativity with my niece and they even had live donkeys!
I wore my new ASOS brown faux suede trench coat with the statement collar buttoned across and it looked super chic.
My Oliver Bonas leopard print beret was the finishing touch to this stylish fit.
That evening we went to the local pub where my Dad was dressing up as Santa Claus!
He made a very convincing Santa in his extra fancy costume and everyone thought he was great.
Soon lots of our friends arrived and I even treated myself to a cheeky Espresso Martini to finish the night.
On Christmas morning, my boyfriend and I exchanged gifts by the Christmas tree and I felt like a very lucky lady indeed when I opened my new MacBook.
My outfit of the day was this stunning New Look maroon puff sleeve top which just screams Christmas Day vibes paired with my Zara black straight leg jeans, ASOS square toe boot heels, my Sandro green velvet handbag, and a beautiful new By Alona pearl necklace, another generous gift from my boyfriend.
We spent Christmas Day at my boyfriend’s parents gorgeous new home along with my parents who they invited too.
I was in charge of canapés for which I made three different ones. First of all, smoked salmon cream cheese blinis are an absolute must on Christmas Day for me.
I also did honey glazed cocktail sausages and a goats cheese, walnut, prosciutto, honey bruschetta inspired by an appetiser we had in Mallorca earlier this year.
My boyfriend’s Dad did a top job cooking a delicious turkey roast complete with all the trimmings.
We had such a laugh playing games and getting competitive with the pub quiz which my Dad and I drew!
My Dad always likes to have a Christmas Pudding to dowse in brandy and light before serving for dessert.
It was a brilliant afternoon and evening with our parents who get along so well, it’s such a joy to see.
Boxing Day was our turn to host so I got the house prepped and ready for the family arriving at 1pm.
I went a little more casual with my fit on this day with a cute frill trim tie front cream cardigan, Stradivarius dark wash flared jeans, Topshop brown pointed toe boot heels, Heaven Mayhem statement gold earrings and my Polene Handbag for a touch of quiet luxury.
We were heading to the pub for a late lunch following our gift exchange, so I put out some nibbles as well as another batch of the leftover smoked salmon blinis.
There was a lot of presents to open and the girls were in their element being treated to so many new toys.
I love welcoming family and friends into our home and hosting at Christmas time is always particularly special.
We had a laugh seeing my nieces run riot in the back of my boyfriend’s truck; girls just wanna have fun!
We had 3pm reservations at a new local favourite pub, The Falcon in Rotherwick.
After a few sharing boards for a starter, I opted for my favourite vegan Durban jackfruit curry, a nice change from all the traditional festive food.
It was a superb afternoon with the family catching up, enjoying more good food and seeing my nieces having such fun together.
And don’t think the festivities ended there, the next day I was hosting again for my friends with their partners and kids.
Being an evening do starting at 5pm, it was nice to have the day to myself and plenty of time to get the house ready with drinks chilled, glasses out and nibbles served.
I decided to try making this crisps nacho plate I’d seen on TikTok and it turned out well with the combination of different textures and flavours, it was divine.
I used truffle flavoured crisps as the base topped with slices of prosciutto, torn up mozzarella, crunchy pickles and a drizzle of olive oil and black pepper to finish.
Soon everyone arrived and it was such a joy to have all my closest friends together again for more Christmas celebrations.
Everyone contributed and we ended up with lots of yummy party food to serve including hot canapés of battered prawn tails, breaded cheese bites, vegan nuggets and of course some oven pizzas.
Later in the evening once those with kids had left, the adults got a little excited and stayed up way past their bedtime….
But its moments like these when you’re back with your besties feeling like you’re kids again, which are so special and we always look back on fondly.
I’m extremely grateful to be surrounded by so many brilliant family and friends and I will never take for granted what a blessing that is.
So that sums up a very social Christmas period and now we hurtle towards the New Year. 2025 has been another brilliant year and now 2026 is on the horizon and I can’t wait to see what the universe has in store for me next ❤
Dani Aneka 