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 ❤
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 ❤
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 ❤
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 ❤
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 ❤
On Wednesday 26th January 2022 I officially entered my late twenties and welcomed in chapter 27 of my life. It’s been quite the week of celebrations and so amazing to be with my family and friends again following a lockdown birthday last year.
I had a wonderful family birthday dinner on the big day at Giggling Squid in Farnham. I was even surprised by my brother who I didn’t know was coming all the way from London to join us for the occasion.
I’m very lucky to be so close to my family and it was the best birthday present I could wish for to have us all there celebrating together.
After our cocktails to kick off the evening, we shared a selection of starters including delicious squid and duck spring rolls. For mains I opted for a traditional vegetable red Thai curry which was exquisite.
At the end of our meal I was presented with this gorgeous birthday desert and everyone sang Happy Birthday. It was a joy to be with my family just chatting, laughing and enjoying the moment over fantastic food and drinks, we didn’t leave the restaurant until they were closing!
With my birthday being midweek, I decided to invite my girlfriends over for an evening at my house on Saturday.
My birthday fit for the night was this stunning backless silver blouse along with my stretchy flared pants and cute fluffy slider slippers – dressy but comfy.
I absolutely love hosting so I was super excited to setup the dining room and prepare a spread of nibbles as well as my famous cheeseboard platter of course. Candles lit, music playing and prosecco popped, I was ready to welcome the girls for a fun cosy evening at home.
A number of bottles of bubbly and wine later, we’d had such a beautiful night full of catchups and plenty of laughs, those girls really are my soulmates.
Now its Sunday evening and I’m feeling so content and happy following such a fabulous birthday week. It’s certainly been an epic start to the year already and I can’t wait to see what chapter twenty seven of my lift has in store.
With our feet safely back on UK soil last Tuesday, I’ve been spending this week catching up with myself following our dreamy whirlwind of an adventure in Dubai. We certainly made the most of our 10 day holiday and experienced so many of the wonderful things this vibrant and exciting futuristic city has to offer.
Having researched extensively through blogs, vlogs and influencers prior to our visit, we knew all the things we wanted to pack into our time there and everyday was another thrilling experience.
Given the extensive amount of things there are to do in Dubai, I thought I’d share my favourite hotspots and activities which are in my opinion an absolute must do when visiting the city.
Starting with one of the most popular areas of Dubai for tourists and expats, Dubai Marina offers a fabulous array of beach bars, restaurants, shops and residences.
After a walk along the beach, we stopped for lunch at a great little English inspired bar The Scene by Dubai Mall overlooking the Marina. Here we had our new fave cocktails which we discovered on our trip, passionfruit Mojitos!
From the beach you are looking across the bay at Dubai Eye located over on Blue Island. Later that evening we then met an old friend of mine nearby at the popular beach club Bla Bla and enjoyed the nightly drone show and fireworks.
He recommended we go to his favourite restaurant for dinner over on Blue Island called Alici. So after drinks we walked over the footbridge to our dinner spot as we admired Dubai Marina skyline lit up at night.
Arriving at Alici for our 8:30pm reservation in the name of my friend, we were greeted with a glass of champagne each upon arrival.
Overlooking the Dubai cityscape, it was the most fantastic dinner spot along with the most attentive and friendly of service. With mediterranean inspired cuisine, we were also treated to complimentary starters of burrata and beef carpaccio which was just exquisite.
For mains we both went for pasta, I had a tuna dish whilst my boyfriend had the lamb ragu. Another delicious course finished with the second drone show and firework display of the evening over the marina!
I would have to say this was up there as one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Beautiful setting, 5* service and delectable food. To finish we were even spoilt with another complimentary course of homemade truffles and freshly made pistachio cream cannolis.
I was so very grateful for my friends goodwill and kind gesture to ensure we were well looked after for our meal at Alici – a must visit for a romantic dinner date setting in Dubai.
Next up on my hitlist is making sure you spend a day at a rooftop pool in Dubai. With many throughout the city to choose from, I thought the views from our hotel rooftop pool at The Gevora amongst those towering buildings was pretty insane.
The Gevora hotel where we stayed is in fact the tallest hotel in the world and located in the trendy and lively financial district. We went for dinner at the Highest View Lounge up on The Gevora rooftop for our final night, a perfect location to soak up that glorious Dubai cityscape by night for one last time.
With a minimum spend of only £30 each, this restaurant is very reasonable for such breathtaking views. I had a delightful fillet of seabass with truffle mash potato and stir fried veggies – a much needed healthy meal after all the food we’d consumed on this trip!
Just across the highway from our hotel was another great rooftop cocktail bar Level 43 Lounge. Again for only £30 minimum spend you are treated to one of the best views of Dubai by night accompanied with live music and fabulous cocktails too of course.
It was an absolute must that we visited old Dubai and the souk markets during our stay. Once we found the less touristy part of the spice souk, it was so peaceful strolling around the stunning streets with their ancient architecture and magnificent mosques.
The spice souk sold traditional homewares including gorgeous lamps and pots as well as spices too. I couldn’t resist grabbing a pair of garishly decorated handmade leather pointy toe slipper shoes. I was having a Carrie from the Sex and the City movie moment when she’s in Abu Dhabi and buys the shoes for ten dollars at the souk.
If we’d had more time this day we would’ve liked to have taken a water taxi over Dubai Creek to the gold souk. Otherwise, I would say a leisurely stroll around the spice souk one morning or afternoon is the best way to take in the local culture.
We had to get back to our hotel as that evening we had sundown drinks booked at Jetty Lounge over on Jumeriah Beach.
Located within the One & Only hotel complex, we arrived via a little buggy to our sunset cocktail reservation at 5:30pm.
Every sundowner in Dubai is a breathtaking spectacle and the Jetty Lounge is definitely the best spot in town to take in this magical moment whilst sipping a cocktail or two.
Delicious cocktails and picture perfect views of the Dubai skyline twinkling at dusk, it felt like we were in our own private oasis as we admired the deep pastel hues of sundown.
Following cocktails on the jetty, we made our way over to Dukes Hotel on the Palm where we had 8pm dinner reservations for Ula.
With its casual chic ambience and live DJ playing chilled tunes, we had another beautiful dinner at Ula with yet more views of Dubai skyline by night.
Simple yet super tasty food, I had a greek salad with rosemary frites and my boyfriend had a classic margarita pizza – the best he’s ever had he said!
The moment we stepped foot in Ula I knew I had to visit this place by day. So, on our final day in Dubai we went to Ula beach club to soak up the sun in style one more time.
With it being our final day, we went all out and had a boat trip over to the Burj Al Arab at noon.
From here we hired a jet ski and went for an hour long ride around the Palm and over towards the city centre of Dubai.
I rode on the back of my boyfriend’s jet ski and it was such a great way to explore the Palm. Having seen it from the air too in the helicopter, this allowed us to get closer to the main attractions including the Burj Al Arab and famous Atlantis Hotel.
After our exhilarating time on the jet ski, we had a golden hour boat ride back to the beach club. It was the ultimate way to end our adventures in Dubai.
So those are my top recommendations for anyone visiting Dubai. Of course there was also the desert safari, helicopter ride and beach clubs which were all highlights too, there’s just so much to do! It was a long awaited trip we had planned and it didn’t disappoint; I’ll never forget the many magical moments and memories we made together…until next time Dubai ❤
When it comes to beach clubs in Dubai, you really are spoilt for choice. From the glamorous and Insta famous complex at Drift on The Palm, to the fun party til dawn vibes at BlaBla in Dubai Marina, there is a destination for every occasion.
One of my favourite spots was KoKo Bay beach club at the foot of The Palm on Jumeirah beach. We spent a whole afternoon here sunning ourselves until golden hour.
For just 150AED (£30) per sun bed which was redeemable on food and drink, we had the most perfect spot to enjoy all day long.
We went for a stroll down the beach as we took in those magnificent sweeping views of the Dubai Marina skyline. Just along from here was in fact the renowned beach club Five, however the laid back chilled vibes at KoKo were more our scene for a Wednesday arvo.
Cocktails at noon on holiday are a must, so I got started with a refreshing rum and pineapple concoction.
Later in the arvo we ordered some food and another round of cocktails. With such an extensive menu of seafood, sushi, poke bowls and curries, I opted for the bean chilli loaded nachos which made for the perfect beach nibble.
My boyfriend chose the Chinese Kung Po chicken which he admitted was the best he’d ever had of his favourite dish. Colourful cocktails, yummy food and a beautiful sunset, what more could you want!?
I would highly recommend KoKo Bay for its casual chic atmosphere combined with delicious food, amongst the most awesome beach setting overlooking one of the best views in Dubai.
My other personal favourite beach club was Ula at DukesHotel on The Palm. We visited here twice, once in the evening for dinner and again on our final day to lap up the sunshine.
With it’s Bali inspired interiors featuring gorgeous hanging lampshades, Ula strikes the perfect balance of tasteful decor to create a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere for a wonderful evening supper setting.
I had to come back to experience this gorgeous oasis in the daytime too. Those Bali vibes continue down to the beach bar with fantastic tall teepee loungers and cute cabanas.
Seeing the main feature bar area with that spectacular tree in the middle was even more glorious by day with the shadows casting patterns through the bamboo awning.
From their mediterranean inspired menu, we ordered a light lunch which we ate down at the beach bar amongst the palm trees overlooking Dubai Eye and the Marina. I had a simple but tasty house salad whilst my boyfriend had a classic Greek chicken gyros. Ahhhh, if only we could enjoy every lunch like this!
Soon the sun was setting on our final day in Dubai and the city skyline twinkled in the night.
There’s nothing like a barmy beach club day and a real must for anyone visiting Dubai. My top recommendations are of course KoKo Bay and Ula, as well as Drift, Five, Address Beach Resort and Twiggy. I just love those beach bum blues and that salty skin feeling ❤
Happy Sunday Babes! I can’t believe how quickly the week has passed here in Dubai and I’ll be very sad to be flying home to the UK on Tuesday morning. We’ve done so much during our time here, I really can’t choose a favourite day from our holiday. Taking a helicopter ride over the city was however a very special highlight and an incredible experience I’ll never forget.
On Wednesday morning we were out bright and early for our 10am helicopter tour. Before flying we had a safety briefing to prepare us for the flight and soon enough we were boarding the heli!
Having never been in a helicopter I was super excited for our flight. It’s amazing how it banks up and out to take to the air, I couldn’t help but squeal as we left the ground and took to the sky!
It was amazing to see all of Dubai from above so clearly. We went out over the Burj Al Arab and back past the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Financial District.
Taking a loop in our tour, on the way back to base I had a brilliant view out over The Palm. It’s just so perfectly shaped and seems surreal to see from the sky like that.
What an adrenaline rush the helicopter tour was, I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Dubai. We booked with https://helitoursdubai.com.
After our exciting morning, we headed over to the Madinat Jumeirah for brunch in the sunshine amongst the most stunning surroundings.
I couldn’t resist a cheeky Bloody Mary to kickstart my day. When on holiday 11am cocktails are a must, am I right?
We had fun exploring the Madinat Jumeirah hotel complex with it’s picturesque bridges and gorgeous details at every corner.
We did go up the Burj Khalifa on another evening to see Dubai from the sky by night also.
Whilst this was a different experience to the helicopter tour, I would recommend the helicopter over going up the Burj as you see so much more from the sky and with uninterrupted views too.
Now it’s Sunday evening and we’re planning on a beach day tomorrow for our final 24 hours here in Dubai. What a time we’ve had and I can’t quite believe how much we’ve packed in during our 10 day stay.
Get ready for more blog posts on our experience here including my top recommendations for anyone visiting the incredible city of Dubai – It certainly is worth the hype and exceeded my expectations ❤
You can’t visit Dubai and not take a trip into the desert, it truly is a unique experience worlds away from the cosmopolitan city life. Before our trip I did my research and booked with Rayna Tours Dubai for a desert safari including all the best activities out in the sands and it didn’t disappoint.
With pickup arranged from our hotel at 3pm, it was an hour drive into the desert where we began the tour with dune bashing… not for the faint hearted, it’s not far off being in a bumper car!
We then stopped off for some photos in the heart of the desert where we got classic fun jumping pics together. Our guide then showed us around the desert camp where we setup base at our table ready for the evening of entertainment ahead.
We decided to kick off our activities with the quad biking where we had so much fun tearing up the sand and racing each other around – quads really are sick!
Following our adrenaline rush, we had a right laugh riding the camels. They were making some peculiar mooing noises but were very friendly and mild creatures despite my reservations.
Soon enough the sun was going down and golden hour was upon us. Every sunset in Dubai is a breathtaking moment.
With my photographer boyfriend, we couldn’t resist going up on the hill away from the camp to get some epic sundown shots.
As the evening chill came in, I layered my desert safari look with a long blouse perfect for those scenic snaps with the breeze. I felt very Arabian nights with my camel flared pants, kaki toned outfit and tied headband.
The dark drew in and it was time to head back to camp and take our seats for the evenings entertainment. We even had 2 hours of unlimited alcohol included in our package and we had certainly worked up a thirst after all the fun of the afternoon.
The performances were very impressive, from fire breathing to belly dancing and traditional Arabian dancing, it was quite a show!
Between the entertainment a buffet BBQ was served. The extensive spread of traditional local cuisine including curries, salads, hummus and freshly made bread was delicious, I even went back for seconds.
Before we knew it, the evening had come to an end and it was time to head back to the city. What a fabulous experience with Rayna Tours Dubai, I would highly recommend this package for getting a taste of all the best the beautiful desert has to offer – I’m still in a desert daze ❤
