Summer Wedding Scenes; The Shack Revolution

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bali Guide; My Favourite Sundowner Spots

Sunsets in Bali are always a spectacle; rain or shine, the sky always manages to put on a show. Canggu is known for its world famous beach bars & clubs, so here are my top five spots to chase sunset on the west coast of Bali.

  1. La Brisa, Canggu – https://labrisa-bali.com

The epitome of Bali beach aesthetic, it doesn’t get better than sundowners at La Brisa. With its maze of bamboo tree houses and pools amongst the jungle of green luscious palms, it feels like you’re on a remote tropical island paradise.

From day to night, you can take a dip in the pools and sip cocktails as the sunsets over Echo Beach.

Even at dusk and into the evening, the warm glow of fairy lights and orange hue lanterns set the jungle aglow.

There is a minimum spend for a table if you want food and a good view for sundown, but you can spend hours there to make the most of it.

We spent two evenings here during our stay, the second of which was our final night when there was a magnificent thunderstorm. Not the final golden hour we had envisioned, but certainly an exciting way to bring our time in Bali to a close.

2. The Lawn, Canggu – https://www.thelawncanggu.com

Just down the beach from our hotel, we headed here for our first evening sundowners and it didn’t disappoint. Life was pretty peachy as I sipped my Paloma cocktail watching the perfect sunset of orange and pink hues.

Again, this is a beach club where you can spend the whole day into the evening on a sunbed or table with a view for a minimum spend, which is easily made back on delicious food and wonderful cocktails.

We only visited The Lawn once for cocktails, but they often have events and special guest DJs which would be the ultimate vibe to accompany a killer sunset.

3. Finns, Canggu – https://finnsbeachclub.com

Claiming itself as the ‘World’s best beach club’, this is one for the party goers in search for that dancing til dawn destination.

It was a little overcast when we visited Finns, however we still enjoyed cocktails at dusk on their 2 for 1 offer and soaked up the party vibes from the comfort of our own table with no minimum spend. There are also a number of different cuisine food outlets situated around the venue to suit everyone’s tastes.

Whilst I know sunset framing their iconic Finns sign lit up with lanterns over the pools is picture a perfect moment, the interiors inside with this gorgeous cluster of bamboo shades made for fabulous Friday night vibes shared with other winers and diners.

4. Savaya, Uluwatu – https://www.savaya.com

On our visit down to the South coast of Bali in Uluwatu, I had seen incredible photos of this place on Instagram and had to experience it for myself.

Unfortunately there wasn’t much of a sunset and also an event featuring Jamie Jones on the evening we went meaning a hefty entry cost, but it was still an awesome place to see in person.

I would be super keen to go back here when the sun is promising to put on a show, so I highly recommend this spot for sundowners if you are staying in Uluwatu.

5. Echo Beach, Canggu – https://www.oldmans.net

My fifth favourite spot for golden hour is of course, Echo Beach itself. There are lots of bars along the front offering drinks and a seat right on the sand to sit back and enjoy the view of surfers catching waves at sunset.

With each minute that passes as the sun dips on the horizon of Echo Beach, the colours grow even richer and deeper until the moonlight finally takes place of the sun.

I’ve mentioned Old Man’s as a fun club which I visited during my last stay in Bali after Bintangs on the beach at sunset, but these days me and my boyfriend prefer a nice dinner and sophisticated cocktails at Billy Ho or Mason.

So that’s my roundup of the best places to enjoy a cocktail or local Bintang whilst watching a beautiful Bali sundown.

Bali sunsets have my heart and chasing them is my favourite time of the day when in Bali ❤

Bali Calling; Back Soon

Friday is here and after being back at work this week following a dreamy holiday in Bali, I’m very glad to be welcoming in the weekend. We landed back in London on Saturday evening and whilst our jet lag wasn’t bad out in Bali, coming back has been a challenge and the extreme fatigue set in. Thankfully after a few days back in routine, we’re feeling a lot more alive and I can’t wait to share all of the Bali content from our awesome trip back to my favourite island.

From chasing sunsets whilst beach bar hopping and sampling the best of Bali’s foodie scene, to exploring the rainforest and rice terraces in Ubud and surfing on Echo Beach, we certainly made the most of our 10 days in Bali.

Over the next month or so, I have an exciting schedule of posts about our trip including where we stayed, what we got up to, my favourite places for sundowners, the creme de la creme of restaurants in Canggu, how much things cost and my top tips for visiting Bali.

So stay tuned as I soothe my Bali blues by reliving our holiday with lots of exciting Bali content to come! ❤

Friday Fits; Day to Night

Happy Sunday! This week I’m sharing some outfit inspo for what feels like a never ending, rainy winter we find ourselves in here in England.

For my daytime look when working from home on Friday, I kept it very comfy and casual with a pair of grey flare leggings which I picked up in Primark this week and I’m loving, so now I’m keen to get a good quality pair from Alo or Tala. I then wore this camel knit jumper with cute backless detail and my Ugg platform slippers to complete the cosy fit.

To meet friends for drinks at the pub that evening, I changed into my Neuw black denim jeans tucked into these killer snake skin long boots, which I toned down with a simple knitted nude boxy fit cardigan with gold buttons. An oversized long grey trench coat from Na-kd kept me warm and dry from the rain.

I have to admit these boots are not my usual style, but they were on sale in Primark and I can see them being a fun piece for transitioning into spring paired with dresses, skirts and shorts. The key is to keep the rest of the outfit fairly simple and let the boots do the talking.
They’re giving Paris Texas vibes but at a fraction of the price, I’m obsessed ❤