The December Diaries are here and I thought I’d split this month’s vlog into a two part ‘Vlogmas’. As soon as the festive season begins its all about celebrating the year that’s been and embracing the merry times with colleagues, friends and family.
It might only be the first two weeks of December, but in this instalment of Vlogmas I fully embrace the festive season with cute interiors decor, cosy winter date nights with old school Christmas movies and plenty of fun work parties.
So grab a warming cuppa or maybe a cheeky baileys, and come along with me for the silly season diaries!
Another weekend has come and gone and now the countdown to Christmas is on. We kicked off the festive season by putting our Christmas tree up on the 1st of the month and enjoyed a cute and cosy date night this first full weekend in December.
We braved the stormy conditions and ventured over to Farnham for Saturday evening reservations at Jack & Alice.
The town was bustling despite such adverse weather and the twinkling Christmas lights made it feel very festive indeed.
My fit for the evening was my favourite dark wash flared Stradivarius jeans, this long sleeve backless mushroom colour top from Bershka,Stradivarius cowboy boots, vintage inspired oversized gold ASOS earrings, a cute chocolate brown knitted beret from Urban Outfitters and my velvet green Sandro handbag.
To complete the fit I stayed warm in my new caramel brown faux fur which I brought a few sizes up to get that chic, oversized look.
As a family run business that prides itself on working with the best local suppliers to deliver high quality fresh food and drinks, I have been keen to try this place since it opened and we weren’t disappointed.
Greeted with a warm welcome from our lovely waitress, we were seated at a table for two by the window amongst many other diners on a busy Saturday night, making for a fabulous atmosphere.
I started with an Espresso Martini as I haven’t had one for a while and with it being date night, how could I not. Needless to say, that look of love in my eyes tells you this martini hit the spot.
Being our first time, the waitress explained the extensive menu offering lots of options including fish, meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes too. They recommend about three plates each, so we ordered two plates each plus two sides as well.
I chose the roasted butternut squash with Dorstone goats cheese, caramelised onion and hazelnuts, the padron peppers (of course) and a side salad, whilst my boyfriend had the buttermilk chicken tenders with kastu dip, the duck tacos with cucumber salsa and hoisin sauce, and a side of fries.
Everything came together and you could tell it was freshly prepared as it was all perfectly hot and beautifully presented. We agreed our favourite dish had to be the duck tacos which were a delicious mexican take on the classic duck pancakes.
We decided to order an additional plate as we had room for more and we wanted to try the wild boar tortellini with a rich red wine mushroom sauce. The pasta tasted homemade and the parmesan crisp garnish was the perfect cheesy pairing to complete this exquisite dish.
We were delighted with our experience at Jack & Alice from the friendly and attentive staff, to the tasty selection of light bites which you could tell were made from the freshest ingredients. A great date night spot for something a bit different with a varied menu to suit all tastes. Checkout their website here – https://jackandalice.co.uk/farnham/
Our cosy December evening continued back home as we lit the fire, opened a bottle of red and watched my favourite Christmas movie The Holiday; the festive season is in full swing! ❤
Winter season is here so its time to get cosy and embrace cute winter fashion, indulge in foodie delights and soak up the wonderful family time.
I might be a summer girl at heart, but I can certainly get on board when it comes to snuggling in front of a film on a cold winters night, or perhaps treating myself to a cheeky cheeseboard…or two!
So grab a hot choccie, a warming cuppa or even a glass of red, and enjoy coming along with me for a jam packed social month of November.
After almost four years with my trusty iPhone 12 Mini, I’ve finally upgraded to the newest iPhone model and this time I’ve gone pro. With the amount I use my iPhone for photos and filming I opted for the 16 Pro instead of investing in a new camera.
So come along as I setup my new fancy iPhone, get to grips with the upgraded features and most importantly test the highly rated camera including cinematic mode, slow motion, portrait mode and incredible HD & 4K quality. This is really going to up my photography and filming content game!
Classic, fun, sexy; animal print is a wardrobe staple and I find myself particularly drawn to it when picking my date night fit.
This Saturday we were heading into Farnham town for pre-dinner drinks at The Wine Yard before 8pm reservations at Cote.
I based my look around a new pair of leopard print kitten heel slingbacks which I wore with Stradivarius vintage style jeans, this leopard print aysemmetric top, statement gold chunky hoops and my Coach signature motif tan handbag to complete the look.
At The Wine Yard we shared a beautiful bottle of Primitivo red wine along with a small cheese board as a tasty appetiser.
I ordered the Breton fish stew with a side of fries and broccolini to share, whilst my boyfriend had the classic minute steak with peppercorn sauce and fries too.
The atmosphere was buzzing on a Saturday night and the service was friendly and attentive as always at Cote. I’d highly recommend the fish stew for any seafood lovers as a wonderfully warming and tasty dish which is fresh and healthy too.
Date night scenes like these make me so happy, nothing beats an old school evening of wining and dining with your loved one ❤
Cosy season is here which means the winter wardrobe is back so I can say hello again to my favourite chunky knits, fun faux fur coats and beloved collection of boots for all occasions.
I’ve always been a lover of all shades of browns from lighter camel and tan tones, to deeper rich hues and even maroon. So you can imagine my delight when the Autumn/Winter 24 runways displayed a luscious palette of delicious brown hues throughout many collections, reflected in the fashion week street style too.
A recent order from ASOS reflects my current obsession for earthy tones with this stone coloured maxi cardigan, a deep dark brown backless long sleeve top by Stradivarius, and this stylish button through peplum waistcoat in a classic brown stripe fabric.
I styled my new long cardigan by ASOS Design with a pair of khaki Jamie jeans by Topshop, a striped bandeau top from H&M and this cute chocolate brown knitted beret from Urban Outfitters a few years ago; a chic accessory which will never go out of style.
Another new addition to my wardrobe recently was also this oversized rich brown knitted vest featuring statement gold buttons and large front pockets, super handy for popping my phone in too.
I channeled my inner country cowgirl with a pair of brown cowboy boots from Stradivarius tucked into a pair of high waisted dark wash ripped jeans by Abercrombie & Fitch. A simple outfit combo which nods to the current trends but tailored to my personal style.
We’re even seeing chocolate brown replacing black interiors as it pairs perfectly with so many neutral tones and creates a cosy vibe for spaces inside the home. Needless to say, chocolate brown is here to stay as the go-to neutral shade, elevating even the simplest of outfits to give your look that effortless, cool girl aesthetic ❤
Majestic; having or showing impressive beauty or scale…and Monaco sure was that in every way!
From the grand beauty of the famous Monte-Carlo Casino Square, to the magnificent Prince’s Palace overlooking the stunning harbour filled with millionaire’s super yachts, every corner of the city is a spotless, picture perfect moment.
So here is a completion of those cinematic scenes from our holiday to Monaco, complete with slow motion clips to fully channel my inner Bond Girl starring in her own music video.
During our time in Monaco we dived into the Monegasque way of life and indulged in a spot of luxury shopping around the Avenue Des Beaux-Arts area.
It was in Dior that my boyfriend made his special purchase of the trip and treated himself to an awesome pair of Dior trainers.
I found myself also tempted by the glamorous boutique of Christian Dior and before I knew it, I was trying on the classic Dior printed slides I’ve always lusted after.
With our two months in Bali coming up in the new year, it seemed the perfect excuse to invest in a beautiful pair of statement shoes for the evenings.
The benefit of designer shopping abroad is you get the tax back on your purchases at the airport, which in France is 12%. I paid 690 euros for my Dior Slides which came to about £580, then I received £63 tax back when I returned to the UK.
It’s very easy to process the refund as the shop fills out all of the forms which you then validate by simply scanning at the machine in the airport, you just have to have your passport on you when you make the purchase in store.
I couldn’t wait to wear my new Diors and they matched my outfit perfectly, so changed into them straight away for a photo in Monte-Carlo Casino Square.
On our first day in Monaco, we needed some supplies and snacks to have at our Airbnb so we went to the local supermarket.
To our delight, the local Le Marche U was a brilliant store much like a Wholefoods market with numerous fresh food counters and wonderful organic fruits and vegetables.
We got plenty of goodies including a generous portion of homemade lasagne for my boyfriend and a pot of Greek salad which we had for lunch on our balcony at the Airbnb.
I also couldn’t resist some French cheese from the gloriously large cheese counter. A jar of fig chutney, rustic sourdough crackers and a pot of olives was the perfect pairing for our cheese.
I had to have a photo back at the Dior shop in my evening dress as they had a cute seating area just outside, complete with palms and statement Dior printed cushions.
I did browse a few vintage shops around Monte-Carlo too and there were some great, unique designer pieces, but I still couldn’t justify a Chanel handbag for 8,000 euros…!
We were chuffed with our designer shoes from Christian Dior and I can’t wait to match with my boyfriend on evenings out in Bali.
Cheers to experiencing the ultra luxurious and lavish Monegasque way of life ❤
As a haven for the super rich and a playground for tourists, Monaco is a truly unique country located on the picturesque Cote d’Azur.
Visiting in late September, the weather was mild but still warm making it the perfect temperature for walking around and exploring the city on foot.
We stayed in an Air BnB on the boarder in Beausoleil, just a 10 minute walk to the central square of Monte Carlo and equally close to Monaco Beach.
On our first evening we strolled to the famous Monte Carlo Casino Square where there was a line-up of supercars including a Rolls Royce and a classic red Ferrari.
We then made our way down to the harbour to spot those mega yachts as the sunset over the mountains.
My all white fit with a touch of blue stripes was giving nautical vibes, very fitting for our first evening in Monaco harbour.
On our second day we took an open top bus tour to explore the entire country and see the most iconic tourist attractions.
Whenever we visit a new city we always try to take a hop-on hop-off tour, as they are the best way to discover the best spots and helps get our bearings.
It was amazing to see Monte Carlo from above when walking around the palace grounds.
We wandered around the Prince’s palace and surrounding area where we also stumbled upon the Cathedral and Monaco Museum.
Continuing on the bus tour, we saw the second harbour with yet more incredible super yachts and epic boats.
We completed the tour back towards the centre of Monte Carlo where we found the famed hair pin corner on the route of the F1 track.
People gather on this corner to spot the many supercars casually driving around Monaco; I’ve never seen so many Lamborghinis and Ferraris in one place!
Despite it being a built up city, Monaco has many stunning gardens providing a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds.
There is even a beautiful Japanese Garden complete with serene seating areas overlooking the ponds and waterfalls.
I felt very European, French Riviera in my striped shorts, white babydoll crop top, silk neck scarf and basket bag.
The streets of Monaco are so clean and pristine, there’s not an inch out of place.
On the Saturday night we went down to the beach front for golden hour drinks and date night dinner.
I wore this figure hugging floor length floral dress paired with my Senso heeled mules, By Alona pearl necklace, oversized floral earrings and crochet clutch bag.
Feeling very sophisticated, very demure ❤
We were told that the French village of Eze was a must to visit during our time in Monaco too.
Just a 15 minute bus ride out of Monaco, Eze was easy to get to and a lovely day trip out of the city.
We walked around the historic streets of the small village built upon a hill above Monaco and visited Le Jardin Exotique with sweeping views of the South coast.
We concluded our day trip to Eze with lunch at a traditional brasserie complete with gorgeous wine and sunshine of course.
There’s no denying it, Monaco is literally an adult’s playground for the rich and wealthy.
Everywhere you turn there’s another supercar and the price to eat and drink out certainly matched the calibre of guests!
On our final night we browsed the car dealership windows lusting after the awesome new models gleaming back at us.
I wore my C’est Normal forever pants paired with a backless halter neck top, my Abbott Lyon gold chain necklace, square toe nude mule heels and Sandro green velvet handbag.
We had to take a final stroll to Monte Carlo Casino Square on our last night and see what supercars were in the lineup.
And with that I strutted out of Monte Carlo Square in style marking the end to an amazing long weekend in Monaco.
We loved our short but sweet time in the unique principality of Monaco. Perhaps next time we’ll drive from the UK to the South of France in our very own supercar… that would be the dream ❤
Living in the quaint countryside of Hampshire, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a pub which serves great food too. From more traditional pubs serving up hearty homemade, traditional dishes, to the fantastic array of gastro pubs offering high quality, premium restaurant standard dishes, there’s a variety of options for all occasions.
One of our local pubs The Mutton, has become a favourite of ours for date night when we’re looking for something more premium than your average pub restaurant. Having reopened following a full renovation a few years ago, it’s made its mark on the food scene in Hampshire and has become known as one of the best gastro pubs in the area.
With a 7pm reservation on the final day in August, we were hoping to dine outside on their stunning terrace with sunset views over the neighbouring fields. Unfortunately the overcast evening scuppered our hopes of an al fresco date night dinner.
Regardless, we had a wonderful dining experience in the cosy restaurant area of the pub along with my parents who joined us for the meal as well. We started with drinks in the bar area so I kicked the evening off with my go-to cocktail of choice, a Margarita.
I couldn’t resist a picture with my margs which matched the green details of my outfit just perfectly; we love a green moment ❤
At 7:30pm we were seated at our table which was a super cute and cosy corner with sofa bench seating and plenty of cushions for extra comfort.
We started with a few small plates to share including the bang bang cauliflower, the beef spring roll with pack choi and a basket of sourdough bread with smoked butter.
This bang bang cauliflower was exquisite, the perfect blend of Chinese spices without the heavy coating of batter you might expect from a dish like that.
My main course was the chargrilled sea bass served with crushed potatoes, locally grown market vegetables and a white wine sauce.
They do fish really well at The Mutton and this sea bass was made particularly special by the white wine sauce which we poured over the dish ourselves upon it being served.
My boyfriend had his usual order of the sirloin steak served with fries and this delicious salad of rocket, parmesan and pink pickled shallot.
For my parents it was the pesto gnocchi with burrata for my mum, then my dad had the sea bass too as well as a side order of the irresistible parmesan truffle fries.
We skipped dessert and just had some coffees to finish as we’d had starters. All of the food was as usual a 10/10 and service very friendly and attentive. We were enjoying ourselves so much we were the last ones out of the restaurant at 10:30pm!
Whilst I think the food is very well priced for the incredible standard, it’s the wine which tends to make the final bill on the pricier side compared to the average pub.
However we are never disappointed with our experience at The Mutton and it is amazing to have such a brilliant pub right on our doorstep for when we do fancy spoiling ourselves.
The Mutton combines creative seasonal dishes with more traditional pub favourites, all made using the very best of British ingredients. If you’re in the area you must visit The Mutton for lunch or dinner for an elevated, quintessential British pub experience – https://themuttonathazeleyheath.co.uk
Dani Aneka 