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 ❤
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 ❤
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. ❤
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!
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.
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. 😉
Following about a year and a half living in our house now, the spare room has gradually evolved into my dressing room. So given that we don’t have people to stay over for the night too often, we decided to replace the bed with this gorgeous white sofa bed kindly handed down from my boyfriend’s parents.
This fits perfectly with the other white furniture also in this room and lets the black and gold details on the cushions and in the art work hung on the wall do the talking. Minimal, simple and oh so chic!
Naturally this has now become my walk in wardrobe of dreams and I’m obsessed.
I’ve always had a passion for fashion and find dressing up and experimenting with my clothes a fun and creative outlet.
Now I have this gorgeous space to plan my outfits, play dress-up and take photos within the surroundings of my dreamy dressing room.
The newest addition to my wardrobe is this beautiful DKNY handbag, a classic staple which I know I’m going to get so much use from and love for years to come.
I wore this ensemble for my Dad’s birthday celebrations last weekend. It was giving me those polished, French Riviera vibes and was the perfect colour palette match for a photo in my elegant new dressing room; tres, tres chic ❤
Ahead of our holiday to Mallorca, I did my usual research on the area and found the popular hotspots on the food and drink scene using Instagram. With a number of fabulous looking restaurants and bars with great reviews in the town and marina, we were spoilt for choice.
On our first trip into town to do a spot of shopping and explore the area, we stopped off at this super chic cafe/bar called Noir.
I had planned to order a coffee to pick me up after all the shopping, but with it being a Friday arvo I couldn’t resist a cheeky Espresso Martini… and when you’re on holiday cocktails are a given, right!?
With such stylish, tasteful interiors and old school tunes playing from the bar, Noir was the perfect little spot to sit out in the sunshine and soak up the Spanish town atmosphere.
The town of Cala D’Or was a different picture by night, as the quiet streets we’d walked by day came alive and the bars packed out with locals and tourists alike.
I had on my list to tryout this vibrant bar Lola. With its Bali inspired beach style interiors and live DJ playing every night until the early hours, this was just my vibe for a cocktail date with the boyfriend.
As the drinks kept flowing and even the shots lined up too, soon we found ourselves at Club Tiempo for a drunken dance before we called it a night.
On a more civilised evening out, we went for a scenic date night at the Marina.
We found a lovely restaurant overlooking the harbour where we enjoyed a delicious dinner for two.
I couldn’t come to Spain and not have a traditional seafood paella and this didn’t disappoint, it was absolutely divine and just the refuel I needed following a day out on the water swimming and cliff jumping.
My boyfriend had a gorgeous cut of fillet steak with dauphinoise potatoes and we shared a salad too. Simple food done well, delicious!
There were lots of other places in town which we didn’t get time to visit, but I’m sure we’ll be back again soon as we loved the beautiful town of Cala D’Or. What I came to realise was these trendy cafes, bars and restaurants including Noir, Lola and Restaurant Different were all linked via an Instagram account called Mallorca Projects. They are a collective of openminded people promoting their passion for that dreamy life in a small Spanish town on the golden coast.
Having now visited these places myself I can see the attraction and why they have such a big following. Mallorca Projects is an awesome, eclectic vibe of lifestyle art and I’m here for it ❤
Last week we finally got away on our late summer holiday to Spain. Visiting the stunning island of Mallorca, we stayed in the Southern town of Cala D’or which literally translates to the coast of gold, and you can see why…
Our adult only hotel Alua Soul Mallorca Resort located in the cove of Cala Egos, had it’s very own little beach meaning dreamy ocean dips on the daily.
We explored the local town of Cala D’or by day and of course did a spot of shopping in the boutique shops lining those gorgeous Spanish streets.
Everyday we were treated to the incredible all inclusive buffet at our hotel including all the veggies and salad you could imagine, as well as live cooking stations and plenty of fresh fruits and desserts; we really were spoilt for choice!
Not to mention the numerous cocktails we had on repeat all day long, because that’s what holidays all about right?
My boyfriend took a liking to a Tequila Sunrise and needless to say, the Spanish measures certainly are generous.
We also experienced the local nightlife on Friday evening and visited some awesome spots I’d found using the location on Instagram. My favourite was this fun bar called Lola giving major Bali island life vibes, I’m obsessed.
On Saturday we were feeling a little delicate following a night on the town til the early hours, so we grabbed a floaty and snorkel and just spent the day soaking up the sun in that blue blue ocean.
That evening, we went for a quiet stroll around the picturesque streets with those pretty pink flower vine walls and typical Spanish style villas; dream holiday home goals right there.
A golden hour twilight twinkle, palms and a sick Jeep, I was in heaven.
Brekky with a view everyday and I was in my element with all of the fresh fruits and different yoghurt flavours the hotel had to offer. Equally my boyfriend was pleased with the full english breakfast options.
The weather in early September is still scorching in Mallorca, so there was plenty of salty beach bum days basking in that balmy Spanish sun.
On Sunday we booked a boat trip for only £25 each which turned out to be fantastic value for 4 hours out on the water.
Getting picked up from the bay of our hotel, we visited another town along the coast (where I proceeded to jump a 10 meter cliff!), stopped off in the middle of the ocean for a swim and slides off the boat, and got dropped back to our hotel by sundown. A top day out at sea!
Sunday evening we treated ourselves to dinner out at the Marina where we had a wonderful meal complete with a scenic view of the bay too.
I had a delicious traditional seafood Paella which has to be done when in Spain, whilst my boyfriend enjoyed an exquisite cut of fillet steak.
I really do love island life, I’m thinking my next tattoo might just have to be a palm tree or a wave.
Our final day we spent making the most of the beach and hotel pools.
Not forgetting a final few cocktails of course…
And savouring our last meals from that tremendous array of food for our all inclusive package.
Freshly cooked fish, beautifully presented charcuterie boards at lunch, and a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit every night were my personal highlights from the buffet.
And just like that, it was sundown over our final day in Mallorca.
We had the most fabulous holiday together experiencing the best of Cala D’or and the lovely hospitality of Alua Soul Mallorca Resort.
These are our magical moments made in Mallorca, love from the golden coast xx
Happy Sunday babes! I can’t believe it’s September already but we’re still enjoying those late summer days here in the UK. With the bank holiday last weekend, me and my boyfriend went on a picturesque countryside walk and shot some outfit pics along the way too.
As we transition into Autumn, the weather remains warm enough to continue wearing cute summer dresses but with boots and a jacket for the cooler evenings.
I’m obsessed with my Stradivarius cowboy boots, they were definitely my favourite purchase this summer and the best thing is, I’ll be able to wear them into the winter season too!
I channelled my inner country girl roots by pairing this daisy print tea dress from H&M with my cowboy boots and Lack of Colour Rancher hat. We even found some horses to complete that countryside chic aesthetic.
Throughout the month of September we will begin to see signs of Autumn looming and those endless summer days getting shorter. However my summer isn’t over yet as me and my boyfriend finally jet off to Mallorca this week for our late summer holiday. I can’t wait to jump in the ocean and top up my golden glow whilst sipping cocktails by the pool – summer isn’t over yet!
Summer festival season was in full swing down south of the UK this weekend with Reading, Victorious and All Points East all kicking off over the late August bank holiday. Me and my girlfriends joined the crowds heading to All Points East in London this Saturday dressed in our festival gear and glittered up, ready to party summer festi style again.
After getting ready together at my friend’s flat in Islington, we arrived at Victoria Park where the afternoon sun was shining and good vibes were in the air; it felt great to be back at a festival again soaking up that awesome atmosphere.
I love festival fashion as an excuse to go all out and express yourself with fun outfits and different accessories. I kept the base of my outfit simple with denim Levi shorts and a layered crop-top, leaving my statement Stradivarius cowboy boots to do the talking. A cute lace choker, coin chain belt, curly hair with a gold leave headband and glitter eye gems completed my look.
My girlfriends looked fabulous in their stunning outfits too, it was so fun getting all dressed up and hyped for a festival together again. Tinnies in hand and golden hour upon us, you couldn’t wipe the grins off our faces as we grooved along to Charlie XCX.
My festival fuel of choice was Island Poke where I got their classic ahi tuna bowl with all the toppings. This nutritious, colourful meal was so delicious and provided me with all the good energy for a night of more dancing ahead.
At 8pm one of my favourite DJs Fred Again was playing in the tented stage. Unfortunately the venue was packed out and it was near impossible to get inside without being pushed and shoved. Now I know what crowds are like and I’ve been to my fair share of big festivals, but this year’s All Points East festival was clearly overbooked and there shouldn’t have been that many tickets issued.
Thankfully Disclosure headlining on the main stage made up for our experience at Fred Again as we finally had the space to dance together in our group without being pushed all over the place. Sam Smith made an appearance and they put on a fantastic show to close the evening. Overall a wonderful day out with my girls partying at a music festival altogether again like old times; cheers to the memories ❤
Dani Aneka 