Author: Danielle Aneka

A Beautiful Bowlful

August 6, 2017

Scrolling my Pinterest feed this summer I’m always drawn to the rainbow colours of perfectly decorated smoothie bowls (alongside the dreamy photos of white sand beaches and paradise sunsets). So experimenting with my own recipes for these bowls of goodness, I found the key ingredient of frozen banana gives the creamy texture alongside chia seeds to thicken the smoothie. Using a dash of the Rude Health coconut milk adds delicious flavour and frozen berries result in a stunning pink colour.

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The method is very simple: Blend 1-2 frozen bananas, a handful of frozen berries, a teaspoon of chia seeds, a teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of coconut milk. Add the milk slowly as too much liquid will give a thinner consistency harder to decorate. Then pour the mixture into your bowl – these coconut shape bowls my brother brought in Vietnam compliment the tropical theme of this recipe. Finally decorate with your choice of toppings, which could be anything from granolas and seeds to nut butters and spices.

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I topped mine with fresh banana, strawberries, blueberries, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut chips and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This time I decorated it in lines but working in a circle towards the centre of the bowl also gives a nice finish (the symmetry of these bowls really satisfies my OCD eye!) Basically you can personalise the smoothie to your own taste – try adding cacao powder for a refreshing pudding – and have fun experimenting with different toppings to perfect that Instagram photo ❤

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Summer Bikini Haul

July 8, 2017

Ok, I’ll admit that I too have always been sceptical of these cheap online stores – will the clothes actually arrive? Will they be any good? Is it just a scam? Having now ordered from Zaful.com and a similar website SheIn.com a few times now, I have been pleasantly surprised at the bargains I’ve managed to grab.

So with summer season here I decided it was time to order some swimsuits from Zaful.com given that bikinis on there average at £10 each! On the whole I was pleased with the quality and fit of my choices. However if I have been unsatisfied with a purchase from this website in the past, a quick email to explain my dissappointment and I was refunded the money without even having to return it – Fantastic customer service!

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The white edges and striking palm print give a luxe appearance and more expensive looking finish to this bikini.

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With the drawstring bottom and lattice back, this stunning auburn colour bikini is just as flattering from behind.

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I can’t get enough of mango orange hues this season – a clean and simple design lets the colour do the talking.

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With a wrap around tie design feature this bikini may not be the one for sunbathing, but the frilly crossover top is right on trend and very flattering.

Summer Slaw Recipe

May 29, 2017

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With summer here and BBQs at the ready, there’s nothing better than getting friends and family together to soak up the sun and enjoy a few Pimms. Everyone likes to make a contribution and has their signature dish – my auntie makes the most incredible celeriac roulade! So in search of a light dinner on these hot summer evenings, when scrolling a favourite blog of mine called Sheer Luxe, I came across this buttermilk chicken served with a homemade cabbage apple slaw.

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Whilst the buttermilk southern fried chicken was a delicious accompaniment, this slaw on its own would be the perfect addition to a BBQ, or could even be made in batches to have in the fridge for a quick lunch or dinner side dish. Healthy, cheap and easy to make I can’t recommend trying this recipe enough, and don’t be afraid to personalise it to your own taste too – I added mixed dried fruit or you could exchange the parsley for another mild herb such as coriander. I can’t wait for my first BBQ this summer to make this again and try mixing it up with something different.

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Recipe

  • 1/3 red cabbage, shredded
  • 5 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 granny smith apple, peeled and grated
  • bunch of fresh parsley leaves, chopped
  • 125g sour cream
  • juice of 1 lemon and a wedge to serve
  • sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Method

In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, spring onions, grated apple and most of the parsley. In a separate small bowl mix the sour cream and lemon juice before seasoning with sea salt and black pepper. Pour this dressing over the salad and toss to combine. You can then add any extras like sunflower seeds or dried fruit – apricots work particularly well – serve with a sprinkling of the remaining parsley and a wedge of lemon.

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Springtime Feels

April 7, 2017

There’s nothing better than those first few days of spring; the sun makes its debut, days get longer and the thought of summer festivals and sipping on Pimms all afternoon is close in sight. So with a Sunday coffee date followed by a late lunch at Brasserie Blanc, it was time to dip into the summer wardrobe.

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I wore my Bershka denim stud skirt, ASOS bardot top, Zara tan satchel and Zara silk print scarf as a neckerchief. Being in England there was of course still a nip in the air, so my Grenson ‘Alice’ Boots made the perfect spring footwear to keep my outfit casual and most importantly my feet warm! And with the sun shining I wasn’t going anywhere without my trusty Rayban ‘Lennon’ round sunglasses to complete my look.

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Finishing the afternoon with a lovely meal at Brasserie Blanc where the food was delicious with good wine and excellent service to match. A perfect springtime day.

Style Obsession: Bottle Green Faux Fur

March 9, 2017

With fashion week hitting London, New York, Milan and finally Paris, the street style of who’s who in fashion brought fresh inspiration for our spring wardrobes. Models, bloggers, designers and celebrities rubbed shoulders to welcome the new season of trends which includes classics from the past such as the pinstripe shirt, alongside slogan t-shirts promoting messages of feminism.

Whilst the catwalks teased us with pieces for the spring, as always English weather was still cold and wet meaning street style remained autumnal. Browsing Instagram and Pinterest I found myself back to this one obsession: the bottle green fur coat. And it seems fur coats, of course faux fur, are the wardrobe essential this season to throw on for any occasion as much as you would perhaps a leather jacket.

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After creating a mood board and searching for a high street alternative to this stunning outfit stealing piece, I found a similar version from Zara. Of course this was sold out…so eBay it was and pretty soon I found myself a very affordable £15.00 copy from China!

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Ok, it has taken a month to come in the post, but this great find is surprisingly good quality and has certainly satisfied my bottle green fur obsession. As a statement piece I’ll be wearing it casually to vamp up jeans and kicks, or to subtly add colour to simple black jeans and boot heels on a night out. And as someone who feels the cold, I know this coat will be well loved even for those chilly summer nights.

Happy Pancake Day

March 3, 2017

Ok, so I know it’s a few days late but I think it’s time we enjoyed pancakes all year round! There’s so many delicious ways to mix them up and with the ingredients being store cupboard basics, they’re cheap and easy too.

This pancake day I decided to try something new and have banana oat pancakes for breakfast. Sticking to four ingredients – mashed banana, jumbo oats, rice flour and almond milk – I whipped it all together to make one big pancake. Perhaps not the traditional method, however once I added lots of berries, yoghurt, more banana, my homemade granola and a sprinkling of cinnamon on top, this made one tasty and filling breakfast to keep me going throughout the morning.

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And with the weekend coming up, I’m sure my Dad will be sniffing after his favourite crepes topped with simple fresh lemon juice and sugar. My fail safe recipe for these comes from Delia Smith and can be used as the basis to sweet and savoury pancakes. With leftover batter I’ll be making savoury open pancake salads which can be embellished with whatever takes your fancy – mozzarella, tomato, basil and balsamic rocket salad is always a winning combination. Experiment with your pancakes and they can become a go to dinner or a healthy breakfast choice any time of the year.

Escapism

February 24, 2017

You can never pick up a book and put it back down having not learnt anything. With technology encompassing our lives, I find the simple pleasure of getting lost in the journey of a book or magazine a perfect way to switch off from my phone…true escapism into the depths of imagination a million miles from this world that never stops.

So here is what I’m reading now. First up the books and Elizabeth Gilbert is an author I can’t get enough of at the moment. Eat Pray Love is both inspirational and frank about her unique road to finding peace within. Whilst a story of self discovery and learning the art of meditation may be a whimsical concept, Gilbert’s style of writing is down to earth and frank in her outlook on life, making this a relatable and often humorous read.

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Having enjoyed Eat Pray Love so much I was recommended Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. Being in a creative field of work myself, this book opened my mind to the curiosities of imagination which we often shy away from. Gilbert encourages us to embrace our inner ambitions and face challenges we may have deferred, whether that is a hidden talent or simply a task at work. Living creatively doesn’t necessarily mean having a job in the arts, but leading a life fuelled more by curiosity than fear.

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Now onto my favourite magazines. I’ll be honest, I find many magazines full of advertisements and high end fashion which is pretentious and unecessary. However I do appreciate good articles on lifestyle, fashion, food and travel. I’ve been an Elle reader for many years now and find the styling tips and fashion articles relatable. The cover star is always well interviewed in a colloquial manner to give a realistic impression of their personality, alongside a beautiful spread of photos which showcase some enviable clothes.

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Finally Company is a magazine I’ve only recently began reading, especially since its new larger size and cheaper price (£1!). The lifestyle articles by Dawn O’Porter and Hey It’s Ok section never fail to make me smile – I can always relate some tragic situation to my own. And like with every magazine, I turn straight to the travel hotlist and swoon at the white sand beaches I dream of jetting off to…

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About

February 16, 2017

Danielle Aneka Nieuwenhuys, 23 year old from Hampshire forging a career as an actress, dancer and model. Having trained in London for three years I find myself back in the countryside dipping in and out of the city for castings.

Life has come with its ups and downs, but this blog is to remind me of the little things that make me smile – what problem can’t be solved with a theraputic shopping trip, a good cuppa coffee or even a simple takeaway night guzzling wine and laughing with your best friend?

Don’t take life too seriously (as I have been guilty of in the past) Just be a little more self indulgent sometimes and learn to let things be…because lets face it, no one makes it out alive.

Dani x

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