I love any excuse to put together a classic cheeseboard alongside a delicious spread of nibbles and plenty of vino too of course! So with my bestie coming over on Saturday evening for a long overdue catchup, I set the table, lit the candles and cracked open a bottle of wine ready for our gals date night.
Hours of chatting and a few bottles of wine later, we could’ve continued nattering away into the early hours. My cheeseboard and perfectly paired nibbles went down a treat – grazing platters really are the best!
Whilst everyday life gets very hectic for us all, me and my bestie can always rely on each other no matter how much time passes. I’m lucky enough to have found my soul sister and cherish these times together very much so ❤
As the daylight hours get shorter and the dark nights grow longer, everyday seems to be flying by quicker than ever as we hurtle towards December and the end of the year already! During these winter months I enjoy nothing more than spending the long evenings snuggled up at home with a cuppa, reading a book or getting stuck into a new series. It’s all about self-care at this time of year; run a hot bath, have a glass of wine, indulge in your favourite sweet treats, just because you deserve it! Don’t forget to move your body everyday, even if it’s just a 30 minute pilates workout or quick walk outside to get some fresh air. Continue to live your life in balance and you will thank yourself later. These were just some thoughts I had this Sunday arvo as I sat and sipped my coffee… Happy Sunday ❤
The girls were back in town this weekend and we went full out with a boozy bottomless brunch at Lantana Cafe in Shoreditch, followed by a crazy night dancing on the tables at Bongo’s Bingo in London Bridge. There’s nothing like letting your hair down with your besties!
To kickoff our weekend in London, we had 2pm reservations at Lantana Cafe. Serving the renowned delicacies of Aussie brekky with the option to go bottomless on prosecco too, it was the perfect setting for catching up with the girls over good food and plenty of booze. I chose to have the corn fritters stacked with halloumi, spinach, roast tomato, smashed avocado and lemon creme fraiche – it was absolutely exquisite!
We all went for something different and thoroughly enjoyed our brunch dishes; it was clear plates all-round. The bubbles continued to flow and we certainly made the most of our 90 minute bottomless brunch deal.
After a tipsy tube journey back to my friend’s flat in Islington, it was time to get ready for the night ahead. Another bottle of prosecco and dancing outfits on, we were ready for an evening of craziness at Bongo’s Bingo!
I’d heard of this event before and seen the hectic videos online, but nothing could’ve prepared us for the madness of our night which unfolded. Wacky prizes, cheesy tunes and a hall full of drunken Brits…Bongo’s Bingo is a truly unique event not for the faint hearted.
Arriving at our table, we were greeted with the warning sign – ‘Dance on the benches at your own risk’. Of course everyone jumps up and has a good boogy on their benches every time a tune plays and the lucky few win their prizes. My best friend even won £100 cash!
I learn the hard way though as I left the bingo with a few war wounds following my clever decision to wear heels and dance on the benches, also slippery from the drinks spilt everywhere. Nevertheless, it was worth it for the memories made and hilarious stories to be told!
Our night-out ended classic style with a trip to Maccy D’s, before we all headed back to my friend’s for late night food, drinks, chats and giggles in her bedroom. What more could you want? Ladies, cheers to the next one!
As the sun sets on summertime here in the UK, I am making the most of these final days of summer with my favourite smoothie bowls for brekky.
Whilst frozen banana is a must for the base of any thick smoothie bowl, you can swap out different fruits according to your personal taste. My current favourite combo lately has been simply banana and blueberry. Blend together 1 frozen banana, a few handfuls of frozen blueberries, a splash of soya milk and a couple of ice cubes until that delicious super thick consistency is reached.
Best served in a coconut bowl, that deep purple colour from the blueberries makes for the most aesthetic bowl of goodness. Top with granola and more fresh blueberries and you have the most tasty, sweet brekky containing only natural sugars and healthy raw ingredients. You could even make your own granola, but my latest go-to store brought granola of choice is the Pret classic blend.
Sadly I will soon have to be swapping my colourful smoothies for warming bowls of porridge… Autumn is well and truly on the horizon babes!
Seasons Kitchen, Farm Shop & Street Food at Lavershot Barns, brings together fabulous food and drink all wrapped up in one unique experience. From organic, locally sourced produce used to create the Restaurant and Street Food menus, to the bespoke designers from Lush Landscapes and on site florist at Lilys Flowers, Seasons Surrey is your one-stop weekend destination to unwind, shop and dine in style.
With an invite to a private event hosted this Friday by Lush Landscapes, I was lucky enough to experience Surrey’s latest hotspot for an after work cocktail accompanied with some delicious street food too. Kicking off with a glass of bubbly, we explored the gorgeous grounds designed by the team at Lush Landscapes; how idealic to sit in front of this chic fire pit with a glass of prosecco as the sun went down over the farm.
As the saxophone played into the evening, we took our seats at our table and ordered some street food from the extensive menu inspired by worldwide cuisine. From a healthy Chinese dragon rice bowl, to a German hotdog and Greek lamb flatbread, there was something for everyone. I opted for the plant based American style burger with fries – a classic which certainly didn’t disappoint.
Once the sun went down, the Ministry of Sound DJ took to the decks and I was feeling those Ibiza vibes as we sipped our cocktails amongst such gorgeous surroundings. I’m already planning our next trip to Seasons Surrey to browse some special treats in the Farm Shop and of course sample their Michelin star Restaurant.
Thank you Lush Landscapes for hosting such a wonderful event! Visit Seasons Surrey and explore all that they have to offer for yourself here – https://www.seasonssurrey.co.uk
Whilst I would much rather be writing about a holiday abroad to sunny Ibiza right now, I have had a lovely weekend staycation just relaxing and chilling out enjoying quality time with my boyfriend. And although on this occasion we’ve had to stay in the UK, we have now rebooked our trip to Dubai early next year, as well as getting tickets for an Ocean Alley gig in March and Secret Garden Party festival next summer with the girls!
Following an intense and busy first five months at my new job as a PA, it was certainly time for a well deserved proper break. Taking a long weekend holiday from work, me and my boyfriend booked for a night’s stay at a local spa hotel which we had a gift voucher for, bonus!
The Crowne Plaza in Reading East is a 4 star hotel featuring a stunning spa, gym, cocktail bar and a 2AA rosette restaurant and terrace. Arriving in the early afternoon on Friday, we made the most of the hotel facilities and headed straight for the gym and pool.
After a steam in the sauna and dip in the pool, it was time to head back to the room and get ready for drinks and dinner. I felt like getting a little dressed up for our dinner date in this backless leopard print blouse, black wrap mini skirt and my gorgeous smoky blue square toe mules – the perfect opportunity to wear these towering stilettos as it was only room to bar in a matter of a few steps!
Starting in Monty’s Bar & Lounge, we had an aperitif before our dinner reservations at 8pm in the Caprice Restaurant. And as part of our gift voucher we had a full three course dinner and glass of fizz each all included.
I started with the Super Salad; a delicious flavour combination of spinach, charred tender-stem broccoli, quinoa, chia seeds, candied walnuts, pickled wild mushroom, golden raisins and an avocado ranch dressing. My boyfriend had the Chicken Satay served with peanut sauce, lime gel and watercress.
For our main course I opted for the Cod Fillet on a bed of mash potato accompanied with samphire, cucumber spring onion and Verjus Beurre Blanc. This dish was absolutely exquisite and cooked to perfection, I couldn’t fault it. My boyfriend also really enjoyed his classic Sirloin Steak with cherry tomatoes and triple cooked chips.
To finish the meal I had a simple fruit platter with a refreshing sorbet and delicate sweet chocolate soil. The warm chocolate brownie served with white chocolate and pistachio ice cream was my boyfriend’s desert of choice. Needless to say, we both cleaned our plates and went to bed feeling content and satisfied from such a fantastic three course dinner at Caprice Restaurant.
After a nice long sleep, we awoke rested and ready for the the weekend ahead. I went for a quick gym session before we headed down for brekky at 10:30am. I do love a hotel breakfast buffet and this one didn’t disappoint. The fruit salad and pineapple was so fresh and I was set for the day following a yummy little bowl of granola with all that fruit! My boyfriend opted for a full English which from the happy look on his face, was also very good indeed 🙂
So despite not jetting off abroad this summer, I was grateful for some timeout from work and an indulgent little staycation at a lovely hotel with my boyfriend. I am super excited to have some holiday plans and events in the diary for next year now, but this relaxing weekend without the stress of travelling was actually just what I needed to recharge my batteries.
I may have been in cloudy old England, but here I am envisioning Ibiza and manifesting future holiday plans to come…my moto is ‘go to bed with a dream, wake up with a purpose.’ ❤
Happy Sunday Babes. I’ve just been chilling in the garden all afternoon today as the UK is finally greeted with some sunshine again. Yesterday we ventured into London for a lovely day strolling around town and exploring new places, before heading to the Shard for sunset.
First stop was Covent Garden and the Seven Dials area for a spot of shopping. I love the vintage stores and boutique shops around here as there is always something new to discover.
For a late lunch we went into the buzzing Seven Dials Market for vegan burritos from Club Mexicana. These were by far the best tasting burritos me and my boyfriend had ever tried – the BBQ jackfruit ‘ribs’ combo was incredible!
Before leaving we went via Neals Yard for that classic Insta worthy shot and a quick coffee to get our caffeine kick for the rest of the arvo.
Next stop was Tower Bridge where I was keen to try Coppa Club for an aperitif. Famous for its outdoor igloos intended for larger parties, we sat inside at the gorgeous bar where I sipped my champagne and felt very fancy indeed.
As sundown drew closer, we headed over to the Shard where we were transported up into the clouds on the 72nd floor…thank fully I’m not too afraid of heights.
The views were spectacular and so interesting to see London from above, all the buildings looked tiny from up there.
Unfortunately sunset was only short given that it was an overcast day, but then seeing the city light up at dusk was still beautiful regardless.
To complete our day out, we had reservations at Cote Brasserie on Southbank. I’m never disappointed at Cote as they deliver such delicious, authentic French food with brilliant service to match too. I had the Paillard Chicken Salad with Frites whilst my boyfriend had the Poulet Breton with Frites. Clean plates all around, it was an exquisite end to the perfect day.
Following our meal we were right by Waterloo station ready to hop onto the next train home. I had the most fabulous day being a tourist in my own city and trying out new places through my guiltiest of pleasures – shopping, eating and drinking ❤ ❤ ❤
It’s already the end of August and I can’t quite believe how quickly summer has gone! With the bank holiday long weekend finally here, it was the perfect opportunity to get out in the garden and make the most of the late summer sun.
Whilst the weather is warm and mild here in the UK, that late season heatwave we were promised still hasn’t made an appearance. This time of year I find myself swapping the shorts for jeans and these Lee jeans are my favourite light wash shade of summer denim blue.
With a girly catchup and drinks with my bestie in the diary for Saturday night, I laid out a yummy spread of nibbles including popchips, crudités, dips, olive bread and cheese. Prosecco popped and candles lit, we had a wonderful evening chatting and giggling for hours.
Now it’s Sunday and I’m currently watching Disney movies whilst researching a holiday in Ibiza! I am so hoping we can get away next month and catch those last few weeks of Euro summer ❤
Nothing welcomes in the weekend better than after work drinks followed by a Friday evening dinner reservation. And in honour of my favourite day of the week, I wore this fun pair of flared pants with these cute ruffle mules.
Keeping it local, we went to a nearby pub The Crown and Cushion for drinks and dinner. I had a delicious cajun salmon served on a bed of salad, cherry tomatoes, beetroot, olives and sour cream dip, whilst my boyfriend went for his usual rack of ribs and chips, a failsafe classic.
After our dinner date we continued into town for a few more drinks with friends. We even hit the club until the early hours…I don’t think I’ll ever be too old for throwing shapes in the club!
Whilst Friday 13th is seen as unlucky for some, my two best friends went against the odds and chose Friday 13th August 2021 to tie the knot. With ongoing Covid restrictions forcing them to reschedule three times, this date was a long time coming in the diary and it sure didn’t disappoint as we were treated to the most fabulous of Wedding celebrations.
The stunning bride was absolutely breathtaking alongside her beautiful bridesmaids and gorgeous bouquet arrangements featuring one of my favourite flowers, Gypsophilas. The excitement and anticipation in the air made for a buzzing atmosphere and happy smiles all around and all day long.
After capturing that token confetti throwing shot, we waved off the newlyweds in their Rolls-Royce followed by the bridesmaids loving life in their super cool VW camper van!
At Tylney Hall we were greeted with bubbles and canapés on the terrace over looking the picturesque grounds, perfect for photo opportunities with my favourite girls.
It was a truly idyllic setting as the live acoustic musicians played and we sipped our bubbly savouring the moment.
What a joy it was to be back in the company of so many old friends from school and sharing such a special day together amongst the most beautiful backdrop of Tylney Hall.
Soon we were ushered to the Wedding Breakfast where we could finally give our feet a rest and indulge in a delicious three course meal.
Everything was just exquisite and every detail thought out and perfectly executed. The day went far too quickly and once we got on the dance floor, the night ran away with us as we had the time of our lives celebrating together like we were teenagers again!
Thank you Jess and Ryan for pulling off a truly magnificent day and wishing you both a lifetime of happiness together ❤
Dani Aneka 