Category: Fashion

Santorini Diaries; Oia

August 11, 2024

Being considered the most picturesque village on the island of Santorini, we had to visit Oia to experience this world famous sunset spot for ourselves.

Catching the bus from Imerovigli was very easy and only takes 20 minutes or so to get to the central square of Oia where we were dropped off. Arriving early evening at around 5pm, we had a few hours of sunlight left to explore the stunning maze of hilly streets lined with shops and restaurants.

There’s no denying how busy this village becomes during the summer with all the tourists, but we did manage to find some quieter corners off the beaten track like this old windmill.

We stopped to get some shots down this cute side street framed with pink flowers too.

The white wash buildings against the volcanic rock they are built into is so unique and breathtaking to see in real life, it really is like a postcard painting.

It’s the blue top churches and old windmills dotted amongst the white buildings which make that distinctive Santorini landscape so iconic.

I wore this patterned bow back detail dress paired with white buckle sliders, a classic basket bag and my MiuMiu sunnies, the perfect afternoon into evening look for strolling the hilly streets of Oia.

I made 7:30pm reservations for sundown drinks at Veranda Aperitivo, a rooftop bar part of the Canaves Sunday Collection.

With sunset views and away from the crowds of tourists, this was an ideal spot to enjoy golden hour with a drink in hand.

I ordered an exquisite Tommy’s Margarita, whilst my boyfriend had his usual classic Mojito cocktail.

Once the sun went below the horizon, we wondered over to a famous viewing point overlooking Oia to see the village lit up by night.

We then caught the bus back to Fira where we found a lovely Italian restaurant called Da Vinci for a late dinner.

I had my favourite linguine vongole which was divine and my boyfriend had a penne arrabbiata he devoured too; we needed carbs after all that walking!

Whilst the village of Oia was beautiful and amazing to experience at sunset, we didn’t go back again as it was by far the busiest of places we visited on the island.

There are so many other equally incredible places around the island to see Santorini’s magnificent golden hour away from the crowds. Checkout my other posts in my Santorini Diaries series to learn where our top locations are for the best views of sunset ❤

Santorini Diaries; Imerovigli

August 4, 2024

When looking into where was best to stay in Santorini, we settled on the smaller town of Imerovigli situated between the capital Fira and popular larger town of Oia. This turned out to be the best decision not only because it avoids the busy tourist hotspots, but this area has some of the most stunning, uninterrupted views off the beaten track at sunset.

On night one I booked a table at The Wine Bar in the centre of Imerovigli, to have drinks and dinner as we watched our first sundown over the Caldera.

Whilst this was on the pricier side of places we ate, the wine was divine and we enjoyed our selection of dishes including pitta bread, olives, pulled pork sliders and a Greek feta salad of course.

Just next door to the bar was a white rooftop, simply perfect for those gorgeous golden hour shots.

We spent our afternoons soaking up the scorching Greek sun on our private balcony with plunge pool at Cresanto Luxury Suites, just a 5 minute walk from the town of Imerovigli.

The hotel also had a main infinity pool with loungers where we could order cocktails poolside too.

Now these are the kind of Monday blues I’m talking about!

Our private balcony provided the ultimate spot for handstand practice and I would often do my workout routine in the mornings here, before jumping straight in the pool to cool off.

One of the most incredible locations for sunset away from the crowds was Skaros Rock on the cliffside of Imerovigli.

We hiked over to the other side of the rock where there is a deserted church with the most breathtaking sweeping views of the Caldera at sundown.

Unlike the tourist hotspots in Oia and Fira, we had the place all to ourselves making this a hidden gem for golden hour.

Strolling around the town, we finally found the famous spot overlooking those iconic blue top churches.

Once the sun went down each night, the moon came out to glow over the white wash buildings of Santorini.

One evening we decided to take a sunset stroll to this church on the hill which we could see from our hotel.

Walking along this coastal path on the outskirts of Imerovigli was so peaceful and once again, away from any crowds of tourists.

Along the way we stumbled across the super luxurious CavoTagoo hotel where there is currently a Roka Restaurant popup.

Here we stopped to enjoy sundown cocktails with yet more spectacular views of the Caldera and sun dipping below the horizon.

This was a more popular spot in Imerovigli, but we got a table and soaked up the sunset whilst sipping our delicious cocktails.

That evening we strolled into the centre of Imerovigli and ended up at a local restaurant called Mama Lena.

We had courgette fritters with tzatziki to start, followed by rice stuffed peppers for me and a vegetable tomato linguine for my boyfriend. A much more reasonably priced restaurant serving traditional Greek food.

The local kebab shop called Jimmy’s Souvlaki on the main street of Imerovigli, became my boyfriend’s favourite place to grab a classic Greek lunch of chicken gyros.

On reflection we would choose to stay in the town of Imerovigli again given there’s far less tourists, there’s plenty of 5* luxury hotels and suites to choose from, and there’s no denying the outstanding sweeping views of the iconic Caldera ❤

Santorini Diaries; You, Me & Santorini

July 28, 2024

Upon returning from our holiday to Santorini last week, I can definitely put it up there as one of the most beautiful, picture perfect places I’ve ever had the fortune to visit.

From the aesthetic white wash towns built into the cliffs of the volcanic rock overlooking the caldera, to the stunning sunsets every evening showering the island in golden orange hues, I can see why Santorini is a world famous destination for couples in search of a romantic vacation.

During our week we explored most of the island including the capital Fira and the Instagram famous Oia. We even did a sunset boat cruise and had plenty of time for relaxing at our hotel by the pool too, so a week away turned out to be just right.

We stayed at Cresanto Luxury Suites in the town of Imerovigli situated between Fira and Oia. Whilst this is a newly opened hotel which is still finding its feet in terms of delivering a 5* service, it was a great location and our spacious room with the private balcony and plunge pool with sea view was fantastic.

Dinners and drinks out were fairly expensive which we expected, however my boyfriend’s favourite gyros spot Jimmy’s Souvlaki was less than 10 euros for a meal and drink. When in Greece it’s local gyros for lunch most days!

We enjoyed lots of delicious meals together including wonderful fresh seafood, my favourite Greek feta salad on repeat of course, and even some great Italian cuisine too.

Over the next few posts I will look back on each area of the island we explored and share my top tips along with my food and drink recommendations.

Having been to Santorini before, my boyfriend already knew of some hidden gems for sunset which avoid the crowds and provide uninterrupted, panoramic views at golden hour.

So stay posted for all the picturesque Santorini content to come as I relive our incredible week on this breathtaking Greek island of love ❤

Summer Wedding Scenes; The Shack Revolution

July 8, 2024

Wedding season is well and truly underway and this weekend we had the pleasure of joining our very close friends to celebrate them tying the knot in style at The Shack Revolution.

Nestled in the heart of Hereford, The Shack Revolution is a contemporary wedding venue which prides itself on encouraging couples to have creativity and freedom in planning their dream wedding – https://www.theshackrevolution.co.uk

The day was truly one of a kind reflecting the couple’s fun loving hearts and beautiful personalities.

From the gorgeous pink bouquets of flowers and matching pink napkins, which we waved in the air as the couple entered their wedding breakfast as newlyweds; to the fun games including ping pong and the beer van where you could pour your own pint, every moment of the day was a joy and had guests entertained.

The three course dinner was a delicious feast, starting with seared Celtic king scallop on a bed of pea puree and chorizo.

To follow I had the vegetarian main of smoked oyster mushroom risotto with sage as well as a few of the sides including salad, roasted cherry vine tomatoes and the most decadent mac and cheese which me and my boyfriend couldn’t get enough of!

For dessert it was my favourite deconstructed Eton mess, the perfect little sweet treat to end the meal.

We certainly weren’t left hungry when more food came later in the evening too… a cheeseboard with mountains of caramelised onion chutney (we love to see it) and then stacks of fresh stone baked pizzas complete with garlic bread and truffle fries. Not forgetting also the snack table of crisps and giant sweetie jars for guests to help themselves, fuelling us with that extra energy as we danced the night away!

It’s always tricky finding the right wedding guest outfit, so me and my best friend were back and forth with lots of options in the run up to the date.

I finally settled on a sophisticated floral swing dress, something I actually already had in my wardrobe from when I worked for the vintage dress company Lady V London.

Whilst this isn’t my usual style of dress, I felt really feminine and lady like in this number and it matched the vibe of the venue super well.

To accessorise it up I wore this statement neck corsage, oversized gold flower earrings from ASOS, satin baby pink heels to match the corsage and my new olive green Moncrief shoulder bag, subtly reflecting the floral tones of the dress.

I also took my boyfriend shopping to Next where we got him this smart, pinstriped, oatmeal suit which I styled for him with the light blue shirt and satin pocket handkerchief. I think the muted blue and green tones of our outfits complimented each other well. Couples dressing must be carefully considered for weddings so as to pair perfectly for photos ❤

Needless to say that as an Events Executive, I absolutely adore attending weddings, especially when it’s family or very close friends getting hitched. Tears of joy and pride were certainly flowing for the happiness of my beautiful friends.

Nothing matches the feeling of celebrating together with loved ones and letting your hair down in honour of the happy couple, I’m still on such a high.

What a truly magical day shared with the most fabulous friends who are like family.

Cheers to forever girls ❤

June Diaries; Summer Scenes

June 30, 2024

Coming at you this week with another vlog as I dive into the summer season with lots of entertaining, time outside soaking up the sunshine and making memories with the family.

I’m in my element when hostessing and entertaining, so I was thrilled to welcome lots of visitors into our home these past few weeks.

To wrap up a busy week, it was a treat to be wined and dined with my boyfriend at the stunning Ivy Asia complete with a gorgeous sunset over Guildford.

Watch the full vlog here for all the summer vibes! ❤

Date Night Perfection; Pub Garden, Paloma Cocktail & Pasta Bolognese

June 2, 2024

This Saturday evening we kicked off date night in a local pub garden sipping cocktails and discussing plans for a trip we’re taking to Monaco in September.

It wasn’t the warmest of summer evenings, so I wore this asymmetric oatmeal sweater from Bershka paired with these Abercrombie & Fitch dark wash jeans tucked into my Stradivarius cowboy boots.

A silk neckerchief from Le Scarf and my Coach cross body signature print handbag completed the country girl chic aesthetic this ensemble was giving.

With a Paloma as a special on the aperitifs menu, I couldn’t resist one of my favourite cocktails ideal for an early summer’s evening.

Consisting of tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda, a Paloma is the perfect twist of sweet and sour whilst being aesthetically pleasing with its gorgeous pastel pink hue.

Earlier that afternoon I had already cooked a beef bolognese from scratch which was waiting on the hob ready to dish up when we got home.

Leaving it to sit for a few hours allowed the flavours to develop and made for a deliciously rich bolognese sauce.

Whist the linguine boiled, I laid the table and prepared the rocket, parmesan and pickled onion salad dressed in balsamic vinegar.

The final dish went down a treat and we had plenty leftover for the fridge and freezer. I didn’t follow a recipe but I’ve cooked bolognese with my mum many times and the secret is lots of garlic, plenty of basil and a generous few splashes of red wine whilst it cooks down.

Bellies full of linguine bolognese, we reclined on the sofa to watch a movie as we enjoyed the rest of our red wine and some choccie for dessert.

A cute country pub garden, pretty pink cocktails, a hearty pasta dinner and our favourite red wine whilst cosying up on the sofa, what more could you want from date night? Cheers to the weekend ❤

May Diaries; A Weekend in my Life

May 27, 2024

Happy May Day Bank Holiday! Come along with me for a fun little weekend in my life vlog as I make the most of this glorious springtime sunshine with family and friends.

I show you some new updates from our house and garden, before taking my Mini for a roof-down spin and visiting our local pub garden blossoming at this time of year.

We then had a social Saturday with an afternoon drinks do at a friend’s, followed by our first BBQ of the year at home which we invited my parents to join us for… get ready for some tipsy salad making by my mum!

So grab a wine or perhaps a cocktail this evening and get in the springtime mood with this fun and wholesome weekend vlog – https://youtu.be/go00tDUGNg8?si=zNDilTaXOL2YPJXk

Springtime Feels; Summer on the Horizon

May 12, 2024

I’m a Summer girl through and through, so nothing makes me happier than gloriously sunny Springtime days knowing Summer is just around the corner.

With little signs of Spring throughout April, here in the UK we’ve been anticipating the warmer weather for a long time now. Finally our wishes came true earlier this week and over the weekend, as we’ve been showered with stunning sunshine and temperatures we usually only get in the height of Summer.

Our local pub The Mutton opened their garden on Friday and treated us regulars to a spread of their new garden bites menu, the most delightful way to welcome in the weekend!

I was so excited to be getting the garden furniture out at home too and enjoying al fresco drinks soaking up the sun over the weekend.

Soon we’ll be going on countryside bike rides again, firing up the BBQ and celebrating the summer with friends and family; bring on those euphoric summertime vibes ❤

The Weekend Wine Down

April 21, 2024

Happy Sunday! As quickly as the weekend rolls around, it’s coming to an end before you know it. Saturday evening is date night for us, so we enjoyed a weekend wine down at the local wine bar followed by an Indian for dinner.

At 7pm we headed for sundown drinks at Auriol Wines, a local wine shop in our village which recently expanded into a wine bar; I’m thrilled to finally have a sophisticated wine bar just on our doorstep.

It might be April, but there is still very much a chill in the air so I wrapped up warm for al fresco pre-dinner drinks.

I wore my oversized grey trench coat from Nakd with a pair of dark wash Hollister jeans, a black off the shoulder blouse from Pretty Little Thing, Maroon square toe ASOS boot heels, a Stradivarius check print baker boy hat and my signature print Coach Mira handbag.

With the light spring evening and pretty sunset, we decided to sit out in the cosy huts and stayed warm with the heated fur blankets.

I enjoyed a delicious glass of Sicilian white wine, whilst my boyfriend sampled three different reds with the flight taster.

We walked over the road for our 8pm reservations at the Monsoon Indian restaurant in Hartley Wintney where it was buzzing on a Saturday night. After some popadoms to start as we browsed the menu, I had a vegetable bhuna curry with green salad, whilst my boyfriend had his usual chicken korma with peshwari naan and coconut rice to share.

Sometimes the simplest of date nights are the most wholesome and fun and every once in a while nothing beats indulging in a classic curry at the local Indian. Cheers to the weekend wine down ❤

Bali Lookbook; Six Summer Holiday Outfits

April 7, 2024

Summer holidays are the perfect time to have fun with fashion and get creative with pieces you might not get much chance to wear back home. I’m a sucker for boho beachwear and cute bikinis so naturally these become my everyday essentials on holiday, as well as summer hats and always a pair of statement sunnies to complete the look. From a casual coffee date look to the more glam beach club fit, I want to feel my very best everyday on holiday and it’s a chance to switch things up with different accessories like shell earrings and stacked beaded bracelets. Every night is date night when you’re on vacation too, so there’s always an excuse to get dolled up and show off that glowing holiday tan.

As we can finally get excited for the summer season ahead, I hope this lookbook I filmed in Bali gives you some inspiration for your next holiday. Continue reading to get the details of each look, and don’t forget to watch the full edit on my YouTube channel here – https://youtu.be/QMJs0h4XnYY?si=2YI06phcVMj6CIIV

Outfit #1 – Cafe Brunch Date

Outfit #2 – Beach Club Day

Outfit #3 – Vacation Date Night

Outfit #4 – Poolside Chill

Outfit #5 – Sunset Stroll

Outfit #6 – Beach Bar Dinner