Living in a small country village in the heart of Hampshire, when a new pub opens its doors, naturally it becomes the talk of the town. This October saw the reopening of an old local haunt The Shoulder of Mutton, relaunching as a fine dining gastro pub The Mutton at Hazeley Heath.
This quaint countryside pub with its prime location overlooking Hazeley Farm, has undergone a major makeover with tasteful interiors to match the modern British menu featuring pub classics with a twist.
Diners can tuck into an exciting menu made with local produce like mutton crumpets with pickled red cabbage and torched mackerel pakoras; and main courses of venison with salt-baked celeriac and mushroom risotto with sweetcorn, blue cheese and crispy kale.
We stopped by this Saturday night to sample one of their delicious sounding cocktails. We both went for a Pisco Sour which certainly packed a punch, but was the perfect aperitif to kick start our Saturday evening in style. The pub was buzzing with a fully booked restaurant and locals from town like us popping by for a drink to see the place following its transformation.
I can’t wait to go back to sample the menu curated by chefs Nigel Sutcliffe and James McLean, whose recent projects include The Oarsman in Marlow and The Crown at Bray. For mains I like the look of the barbecued celeriac, apple, chicory, walnut, beurre noisette, and needless to say I’ll be sampling another one of their cocktails of course!
Mutton Mary anyone? I’ll report back once we’ve been again for dinner and drinks very soon I’m sure. This may well become my new local favourite; the plush, country chic interiors and stunning cocktails already have me won over ❤
Following about a year and a half living in our house now, the spare room has gradually evolved into my dressing room. So given that we don’t have people to stay over for the night too often, we decided to replace the bed with this gorgeous white sofa bed kindly handed down from my boyfriend’s parents.
This fits perfectly with the other white furniture also in this room and lets the black and gold details on the cushions and in the art work hung on the wall do the talking. Minimal, simple and oh so chic!
Naturally this has now become my walk in wardrobe of dreams and I’m obsessed.
I’ve always had a passion for fashion and find dressing up and experimenting with my clothes a fun and creative outlet.
Now I have this gorgeous space to plan my outfits, play dress-up and take photos within the surroundings of my dreamy dressing room.
The newest addition to my wardrobe is this beautiful DKNY handbag, a classic staple which I know I’m going to get so much use from and love for years to come.
I wore this ensemble for my Dad’s birthday celebrations last weekend. It was giving me those polished, French Riviera vibes and was the perfect colour palette match for a photo in my elegant new dressing room; tres, tres chic ❤
Ahead of our holiday to Mallorca, I did my usual research on the area and found the popular hotspots on the food and drink scene using Instagram. With a number of fabulous looking restaurants and bars with great reviews in the town and marina, we were spoilt for choice.
On our first trip into town to do a spot of shopping and explore the area, we stopped off at this super chic cafe/bar called Noir.
I had planned to order a coffee to pick me up after all the shopping, but with it being a Friday arvo I couldn’t resist a cheeky Espresso Martini… and when you’re on holiday cocktails are a given, right!?
With such stylish, tasteful interiors and old school tunes playing from the bar, Noir was the perfect little spot to sit out in the sunshine and soak up the Spanish town atmosphere.
The town of Cala D’Or was a different picture by night, as the quiet streets we’d walked by day came alive and the bars packed out with locals and tourists alike.
I had on my list to tryout this vibrant bar Lola. With its Bali inspired beach style interiors and live DJ playing every night until the early hours, this was just my vibe for a cocktail date with the boyfriend.
As the drinks kept flowing and even the shots lined up too, soon we found ourselves at Club Tiempo for a drunken dance before we called it a night.
On a more civilised evening out, we went for a scenic date night at the Marina.
We found a lovely restaurant overlooking the harbour where we enjoyed a delicious dinner for two.
I couldn’t come to Spain and not have a traditional seafood paella and this didn’t disappoint, it was absolutely divine and just the refuel I needed following a day out on the water swimming and cliff jumping.
My boyfriend had a gorgeous cut of fillet steak with dauphinoise potatoes and we shared a salad too. Simple food done well, delicious!
There were lots of other places in town which we didn’t get time to visit, but I’m sure we’ll be back again soon as we loved the beautiful town of Cala D’Or. What I came to realise was these trendy cafes, bars and restaurants including Noir, Lola and Restaurant Different were all linked via an Instagram account called Mallorca Projects. They are a collective of openminded people promoting their passion for that dreamy life in a small Spanish town on the golden coast.
Having now visited these places myself I can see the attraction and why they have such a big following. Mallorca Projects is an awesome, eclectic vibe of lifestyle art and I’m here for it ❤
Last week we finally got away on our late summer holiday to Spain. Visiting the stunning island of Mallorca, we stayed in the Southern town of Cala D’or which literally translates to the coast of gold, and you can see why…
Our adult only hotel Alua Soul Mallorca Resort located in the cove of Cala Egos, had it’s very own little beach meaning dreamy ocean dips on the daily.
We explored the local town of Cala D’or by day and of course did a spot of shopping in the boutique shops lining those gorgeous Spanish streets.
Everyday we were treated to the incredible all inclusive buffet at our hotel including all the veggies and salad you could imagine, as well as live cooking stations and plenty of fresh fruits and desserts; we really were spoilt for choice!
Not to mention the numerous cocktails we had on repeat all day long, because that’s what holidays all about right?
My boyfriend took a liking to a Tequila Sunrise and needless to say, the Spanish measures certainly are generous.
We also experienced the local nightlife on Friday evening and visited some awesome spots I’d found using the location on Instagram. My favourite was this fun bar called Lola giving major Bali island life vibes, I’m obsessed.
On Saturday we were feeling a little delicate following a night on the town til the early hours, so we grabbed a floaty and snorkel and just spent the day soaking up the sun in that blue blue ocean.
That evening, we went for a quiet stroll around the picturesque streets with those pretty pink flower vine walls and typical Spanish style villas; dream holiday home goals right there.
A golden hour twilight twinkle, palms and a sick Jeep, I was in heaven.
Brekky with a view everyday and I was in my element with all of the fresh fruits and different yoghurt flavours the hotel had to offer. Equally my boyfriend was pleased with the full english breakfast options.
The weather in early September is still scorching in Mallorca, so there was plenty of salty beach bum days basking in that balmy Spanish sun.
On Sunday we booked a boat trip for only £25 each which turned out to be fantastic value for 4 hours out on the water.
Getting picked up from the bay of our hotel, we visited another town along the coast (where I proceeded to jump a 10 meter cliff!), stopped off in the middle of the ocean for a swim and slides off the boat, and got dropped back to our hotel by sundown. A top day out at sea!
Sunday evening we treated ourselves to dinner out at the Marina where we had a wonderful meal complete with a scenic view of the bay too.
I had a delicious traditional seafood Paella which has to be done when in Spain, whilst my boyfriend enjoyed an exquisite cut of fillet steak.
I really do love island life, I’m thinking my next tattoo might just have to be a palm tree or a wave.
Our final day we spent making the most of the beach and hotel pools.
Not forgetting a final few cocktails of course…
And savouring our last meals from that tremendous array of food for our all inclusive package.
Freshly cooked fish, beautifully presented charcuterie boards at lunch, and a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit every night were my personal highlights from the buffet.
And just like that, it was sundown over our final day in Mallorca.
We had the most fabulous holiday together experiencing the best of Cala D’or and the lovely hospitality of Alua Soul Mallorca Resort.
These are our magical moments made in Mallorca, love from the golden coast xx
Happy Sunday babes! I can’t believe it’s September already but we’re still enjoying those late summer days here in the UK. With the bank holiday last weekend, me and my boyfriend went on a picturesque countryside walk and shot some outfit pics along the way too.
As we transition into Autumn, the weather remains warm enough to continue wearing cute summer dresses but with boots and a jacket for the cooler evenings.
I’m obsessed with my Stradivarius cowboy boots, they were definitely my favourite purchase this summer and the best thing is, I’ll be able to wear them into the winter season too!
I channelled my inner country girl roots by pairing this daisy print tea dress from H&M with my cowboy boots and Lack of Colour Rancher hat. We even found some horses to complete that countryside chic aesthetic.
Throughout the month of September we will begin to see signs of Autumn looming and those endless summer days getting shorter. However my summer isn’t over yet as me and my boyfriend finally jet off to Mallorca this week for our late summer holiday. I can’t wait to jump in the ocean and top up my golden glow whilst sipping cocktails by the pool – summer isn’t over yet!
Summer festival season was in full swing down south of the UK this weekend with Reading, Victorious and All Points East all kicking off over the late August bank holiday. Me and my girlfriends joined the crowds heading to All Points East in London this Saturday dressed in our festival gear and glittered up, ready to party summer festi style again.
After getting ready together at my friend’s flat in Islington, we arrived at Victoria Park where the afternoon sun was shining and good vibes were in the air; it felt great to be back at a festival again soaking up that awesome atmosphere.
I love festival fashion as an excuse to go all out and express yourself with fun outfits and different accessories. I kept the base of my outfit simple with denim Levi shorts and a layered crop-top, leaving my statement Stradivarius cowboy boots to do the talking. A cute lace choker, coin chain belt, curly hair with a gold leave headband and glitter eye gems completed my look.
My girlfriends looked fabulous in their stunning outfits too, it was so fun getting all dressed up and hyped for a festival together again. Tinnies in hand and golden hour upon us, you couldn’t wipe the grins off our faces as we grooved along to Charlie XCX.
My festival fuel of choice was Island Poke where I got their classic ahi tuna bowl with all the toppings. This nutritious, colourful meal was so delicious and provided me with all the good energy for a night of more dancing ahead.
At 8pm one of my favourite DJs Fred Again was playing in the tented stage. Unfortunately the venue was packed out and it was near impossible to get inside without being pushed and shoved. Now I know what crowds are like and I’ve been to my fair share of big festivals, but this year’s All Points East festival was clearly overbooked and there shouldn’t have been that many tickets issued.
Thankfully Disclosure headlining on the main stage made up for our experience at Fred Again as we finally had the space to dance together in our group without being pushed all over the place. Sam Smith made an appearance and they put on a fantastic show to close the evening. Overall a wonderful day out with my girls partying at a music festival altogether again like old times; cheers to the memories ❤
Who doesn’t love a good wedding? A whole day spent with family and friends celebrating together whilst enjoying plenty of food, drinks and entertainment. Not to mention it’s a great opportunity to get dressed up and put on those dancing shoes ready for a boogy on the dance floor.
This weekend we joined my boyfreind’s family for a beautiful wedding in Stoke-on-Trent. The sun was shining and everyone was in happy spirits for the joyous occassion.
I resisted buying a new outfit and instead put together this colourful and summery ensemble. I wore my American Apparel electric blue pencil skirt paired with this cute ruffle sleeve crop floral blouse.
To complete the look I wore these Public Desire white strap sandal heels to match my chain handle white mini handbag. Jewellery details included my brand new By Alona gold chain pearl choker as well as my favourite Cinco gold anklet and rings.
After the church ceremony the bubbles were flowing back at the reception which was held at the Burnside Hotel, a stunning boutique hotel where we also stayed for the night. It was just glorious basking in the golden sunshine as we nibbled on some canapés whilst chatting and laughing with family and friends.
After the delicious dinner buffet the band kicked off and we danced late into the night. Fuelled by many glasses of prosecco and a cheeky Espresso Martini of course, the evening flew by as we sang and danced our hearts out.
After a catchup and debrief with the family over breakfast at the hotel this morning, we made our way back home this afternoon. Now it’s Sunday arvo and I’m taking it easy as I’m feeling a little delicate after all the fun of yesterday. What an awesome time we had though making beautiful memories together; cheers to those summertime wedding vibe highs ❤
These past few weeks in the UK have been a scorcher with temperatures hitting over 33 degrees on many days and the humidity pretty unbearable when you don’t have a pool to jump into! With this ongoing heatwave I’ve eaten even more fresh fruits, colourful salads and delicious seafood, so I thought I’d share a few of my favourite meals from this week to give you some yummy inspo too.
During summer I tend to swap my usual oatmeal bowl for a refreshing smoothie bowl. Just take a frozen banana, frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, a splash of soya milk and blend to make the most dreamy purple bowl of sweet goodness, best served in a coconut bowl for that aesthetic photo. I topped mine with more blueberries, strawberries, nana chips and toasted nut mix, but you can top your bowl with whatever you have going in the cupboard really.
Friday evening was a night with my girls and my friend made the most delicious teriyaki salmon buddha bowls for us. In the bowls she started with a bed of grains layered with the edamame beans, spring onion, cucumber, avocado and then topped it off with the crispy baked salmon pieces marinated in soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, lime and sriracha. Paired with a few bottles of bubbles whilst catching up with the girls, this was a simply divine way to wind down from the work week.
You can’t let a heatwave pass by in England without doing a classic BBQ, so that’s exactly what we did this weekend back at my parents house. As always it was a team effort to put together this wonderful spread of incredible food.
Dad was on the Weber barbecuing the chicken, sausages, trout, prawns, corns, mushrooms and courgettes, whilst my mum and I were in the kitchen assembling all of the accompaniments. We had new potatoes, an artichoke parma ham salad, and my speciality as always was the greek salad. I even roasted up some padron peppers to graze on whilst we cooked and sipped our rose wine in the sunshine – this is what summer is all about!
So that’s a taster of what I’ve been eating this week and as you can see, my meals are always full of colour to pack in those nutrients and make me feel good. Whilst I like a glass or two of wine over the weekend, I also make sure to nourish my body with healthy, fresh, wholesome food as this is what makes me feel amazing from the inside out; balance is key 🙂
There are so many options when it comes to a summer holiday over in Europe and whilst I’m lucky enough to have visited many of them before, there are still plenty of destinations I am yet to discover. This September we will be taking a late summer break to the beautiful island of Mallorca, Spain.
I went to Mallorca about 5 years ago on a family holiday and stayed in the gorgeous town of Pollenca located in the north. This time we are going south of the island to visit Cala D’or which translated to English literally means ‘Golden Bay’.
The crystal blue water really is breathtaking on that southern coastline and from our hotel we will have direct access to a secluded beach cove with undisrupted views out to the ocean.
We chose to treat ourselves to an all inclusive deal at the highly acclaimed Alua Soul adults only resort hotel. I can’t wait to be sat by the pool bar with an ice-cold colourful cocktail in hand, soaking up that scorching Spanish sun.
With Cala D’or and the marina just a short walk from our hotel, I’ll be keen to take a wonder around and explore the local town. I’ve already got my eye on a few fun looking bars and clubs around the area, one of which is this awesome spot called Lola with its aesthetic decor giving me Bali meets Morocco vibes.
Whilst I always do my research before travelling somewhere new, I find the best way to discover local gems is by strolling around or even asking a local, they’ll always have a good recommendation.
We might have a day in Palma at the end of our stay, but most of all we are looking for this holiday to be time to relax, bathe in the sun, swim in the ocean, indulge in delicious food and drink and just have fun together. We are in need of a chill holiday after all the action packed adventures we’ve had abroad so far this year.
Bring on those salty skin sandy beach bum days on the golden coast of Mallorca with my love ❤
Happy Sunday babes! I can’t believe it’s already the final day of July… where is summer going? This Saturday me and my boyfriend took a little day trip into London town to make use of our Buy A Gift vouchers we had for a Thames river cruise and the London Eye.
We started the day with a quick browse on Bond Street before heading to Carnaby Street for lunch at Kingly Court. We had our favourite vegan burritos in town from Club Mexicana, a fully vegan Mexican restaurant chain which even meat eaters will love.
From Westminster Pier we then caught a City Cruise boat for a tour down the river. It was great to see the city from a different perspective on the river and the live tour guide commentary was very interesting and actually quite amusing too.
Despite it being overcast, it was in fact a very warm and pleasant summers day in London. Following our cruise down the Thames, unfortunately we didn’t make it in time for the London Eye which to our surprise, closes at 6pm! So instead we went to Between the Bridges on Southbank for pre-dinner drinks, naughty chippies and some live music.
For dinner I booked us a table at Cote located at Hays Galleria with a terrace over looking London Bridge. It was lovely warm summers evening perfect for an al fresco dinner riverside.
I had my favourite Paillard Salad served with chargrilled chicken breast, French beans, endive, lettuce, hazelnuts, croûtons, tarragon and caper dressing. My boyfriend had the classic minute steak served pink with garlic butter, peppercorn sauce and frites. As usual the food at Cote was divine and service was fantastic, French cuisine at its finest!
I couldn’t resist a cheeky Espresso Martini to finish my meal. We had a long train journey back so this was more than necessary and the perfect way to end our summers day in the city, as those stunning golden hues showered the sky at sundown ❤
Dani Aneka 