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! ❤
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 ❤
Celebrating Valentines isn’t something we’ve always got involved with, however with it falling on hump-day this year, it felt like the perfect excuse for a midweek date night at home.
My boyfriend surprised me with this gorgeous bunch of red roses and the cutest card with a pop-out teddy bear.
Inspired by some stunning hairstyles I’d found on Pinterest, I decided to try putting my hair into a French Roll and it turned out so well. It was giving chic and sophisticated vibes for our date night, I’m obsessed.
I set the romantic mood in our dining room with candles and music whilst I set the table ready for dinner. It’s the little touches that make dinner for two at home special, like using our nicest gold cutlery with lovely napkins and putting condiments into aesthetic serving dishes.
It was midweek Mexican night, so we made our favourite burrito bowls with a side of chilli cheese nachos and all the dips of course. A bottle of red wine, candles lit and dinner served, we felt like we were in our own restaurant.
Mexican feast devoured, we moved to the lounge to watch ‘How to loose a guy in 10 days’, a romantic comedy classic perfect for V-day night.
I love a cosy date night at home and this was the perfect way to spend our Valentines evening together; simple and fuss-free, yet super cute and romantic ❤
When it comes to a cocktail, you can never go wrong with a classic Margarita. It’s definitely an acquired taste which I’ve grown to love as my palette has matured with age. Needless to say, but Margs are not for the faint hearted!
As I finished up work on Friday I had a Margarita on my mind, so me and my boyfriend decided to hit the local cocktail bar and welcome in the weekend with a few cheeky cocktails.
I prefer my Marg on the sweeter side with a strong kick of spice and this one didn’t disappoint, it was so delicious and satisfied my craving.
For our spontaneous date night I wore my Stradivarius dark wash flared jeans, a Cotton On tie front brown top, my cropped grey blazer and a pair of ASOS lace up maroon heels to complete the glam look.
Friday nights are my favourite so I was one happy girly with a Marg in hand and the whole weekend ahead of us.
Salty, sweet and always spicy; cheers to the weekend ❤
Happy Sunday! We’ve made it into February and I’m so excited to be jetting off to Bali with my boyfriend at the end of this month. Having been before and fallen in love with this palm-fringed island, there are many places I want to go back to as well as lots of new areas I’d like to explore. We’ll be staying in the bustling beachside town of Canguu, Bali’s rapidly developing hedonistic paradise with it’s world-class waves, eclectic boutiques and markets, beautifully aesthetic beach bars and flourishing foodie scene.
Our hotel Zin in Canguu, is a stunning boutique hotel resort situated right by the beach and in the heart of Berawa with the best shops, restaurants and bars right on our doorstep.
We’ll have to visit my favourite beach club La Brisa on Echo Beach for sundowners, and not forgetting The Lawn and Finns which are both nearby too.
My inner foodie can’t wait to go back to Shady Shack for the incredible salad nourish bowls and also Crate Cafe for their stunning smoothie bowls.
Penny Lane is also a must for the wonderfully aesthetic interiors and extensive menu of vegan delights to enjoy whilst taking in those gorgeous surroundings.
Having read more recent blogs and watching YouTube vlogs from influencers in Canguu, I’ve got a whole bunch of new spots to try out in the area too. I particularly like the look of Mason restaurant for a date night and SKOOL Kitchen for some fine dining with a view.
Beyond Canguu, there are two other areas of the island I would like to visit during our time in Bali. A day trip to the central jungle terrine of Ubud is an absolute must. Here you will find the lush green rice paddies and ethereal waterfalls which will undoubtedly be picture perfect moments for the ‘gram.
Another day trip I have mapped out is to Uluwatu on the south coast, where the white sand beaches and cliff faced coastlines are breathtaking.
This is where the infamous beach club Savaya is located with its seemingly floating balcony dance floor and DJ deck. Sundowners with that magnificent view and live music will be the dream pinch me moment.
As always, I’m doing my research using Instagram, YouTube and blogs to save the very best places for us to visit and make the most of our time in Bali. A Pinterest board is another great way to get inspired and discover hidden gems – https://www.pinterest.co.uk/danielleaneka/bali/
Using Google maps I have also put together my own map for Bali, pinning the places to go in each region of the island we plan on visiting. I do this anytime I am travelling abroad as its a quick and easy way to save everything in one place and visually see where they are on the map. Checkout my Bali map here – https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1IAltwIQuNtqsH3oXXDRz0DVF2pi3w1s&usp=sharing
So the countdown to Bali ’24 is on and I’m absolutely thrilled to be going back to magical beach bum days in island paradise ❤
Friday 26th January 2024, my 29th Birthday and entering the final year of my twenties!
Waking up on Friday morning, it was a gloriously sunny day with clear blue skies and a crisp winters chill in the air as I took my morning walk.
I was working from home for the day, so I decided to move to the sofa for the afternoon and put ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ on as I enjoyed my coffee and answered emails.
Once 5pm rolled around and work was wrapped up for the week, I got myself glammed up and ready for an evening of celebrations.
My Birthday fit was a pair of flared tailored black trousers from Zara, a dusty pink bandeau also from Zara, my silk Le Scarf neckerchief, a cropped nude cardigan with gold buttons, my ASOS lace up maroon heels, plenty of gold jewellery to accessorise, a vintage Jaegar green oversized blazer to keep me warm and my Sandro velvet green handbag to complete the look.
At 6pm I went to our local pub for a drink with my Dad, where they gave me a glass of bubbles on the house and even brought out a Happy Birthday brownie.
We then had 8:30pm reservations at The Ivy Asia in Guildford, so my boyfriend kindly drove me and my parents there after we finished catching up with friends at the pub.
I always love visiting The Ivy Asia with its opulent interiors and buzzing atmosphere, especially on a Friday night.
We started with duck pancakes for the table before ordering a number of their smaller sharer plates.
We had all sorts of dishes from spicy tuna sushi rolls and king prawn skewers, to Korean fried chicken bites and claypot chickpea pepper curry. Every mouthful was so delicously flavoursome and my parents even said it was the best Asian meal they’d ever had!
Saturday morning we got out early to go to Bicester Village designer outlet in Oxford.
The shopping day cute and cosy look was a pair of Stradivarius blue flared jeans, an off shoulder brown jumper, my platform Ugg boots, an earthy tone wool scarf which I got for my Birthday, my Coach signature print cross body bag, a faux fur black Ugg coat and my favourite khaki baker boy hat from Mango.
Being a weekend, the shops were quite busy and unlike my previous visit to Bicester, there wasn’t much that was particularly jumping out at me.
We couldn’t leave empty handed though and I needed a Birthday gift from my boyfriend, so I was thrilled to find a the perfect gold ring from Monica Vinader to add to my jewellery collection.
Later that evening we were invited over to my parents house with my brother, his wife and my adorable niece Layla who I had lots of cuddles with, I just love being an Auntie!
My mum cooked her famous Spaghetti Bolognese and I did what I do best making a big salad of rocket, cherry tomatoes, avocado, parmesan shavings and balsamic vinegar. Good company, home cooked food and divine red wine, this made me a very happy girly.
Before I knew it, Sunday was here and I spent the afternoon with more family including my other darling niece and my wonderful Grandma. This card from my sister was brilliant, it’ll be a right laugh trying those poses next time I’m having a cocktail.
So that concludes my 29th Birthday celebrations and I couldn’t be more grateful of where I am at this time in my life. I want to embrace this final year of my twenties and look forward to another 12 months of growth, learning and achievements; cheers to chapter 29 ❤
Winter season is all about the oversized coats and layering with jumpers, shirts and scarves, not to mention the choice of cute hats which I’m a sucker for; I just love a hat moment! This lookbook demonstrates how I would style my outfit for four different occasions this season, from a winter walk and running errands, to drinks at the pub and cosy date nights with my boyfriend or the ladies. Whilst I’m a summer girl at heart, Winter brings with it a whole new dimension to my wardrobe as I get to experiment with knits, oversized fits and statement coats which take centre stage this time of year. Keep reading for outfit details of each look.
Outfit #1 Running Errands
Camel tailored trousers – H&M
White fluffy polo neck vest – Cider
Stone trench coat – H&M
Knitted beanie hat – Ganni
Platform boots – Ugg
Cross body tan bag – Coach
Brown leather gloves – H&M
Gold signature logo ring (worn throughout) – Celine
Gold dome ring (worn throughout) – Cali Tiger
Gold signet ring (worn throughout) – Cinco
Topaz stone gold ring (worn throughout) – Vintage
Gold ear cuff (worn throughout) – Astrid & Miyu
Gold chain ring necklace – Vintage
Gold hoop earrings – ASOS Design
Outfit #2 Date Night
Black straight cut jeans – NEUW Denim
Striped off shoulder sweater – ASOS Design
Black cropped aviator coat – Zara
Camel wool scarf – Zara
Black heeled chelsea boots – Windsor Smith
Green velvet chain handbag – Senso
Blue tartan bow worn in hair – Fabric Shop
Gold signature logo ring (worn throughout) – Celine
Gold dome ring (worn throughout) – Cali Tiger
Gold signet ring (worn throughout) – Cinco
Topaz stone gold ring (worn throughout) – Vintage
Gold ear cuff (worn throughout) – Astrid & Miyu
Gold chain statement necklace – Abbott Lyon
Gold twist detail hoop earrings – Cali Tiger
Outfit #3 Winter Walk
Black skinny ripped jeans – Topshop
One sleeve tie waist sweater – NA-KD
Green oversized trench coat – Missguided
Check print scarf – Zara
Khaki wool baker boy hat – Mango
Maroon chelsea boots – Soletrader
Cross body tan bag – Coach
Gold signature logo ring (worn throughout) – Celine
Gold dome ring (worn throughout) – Cali Tiger
Gold signet ring (worn throughout) – Cinco
Topaz stone gold ring (worn throughout) – Vintage
Gold ear cuff (worn throughout) – Astrid & Miyu
Gold chain ring necklace – Vintage
Gold chain heart necklace – Vintage
Gold hoop earrings – ASOS Design
Outfit #4 Pub Drinks
Blue vintage style flared jeans – Stradivarius
White pearl button sweater – ASOS Design
Black fur teddy coat – Ugg
Brown knitted beret hat – Urban Outfitters
Rusty brown square toe boot heels – ASOS Design
Green velvet chain handbag – Senso
Gold signature logo ring (worn throughout) – Celine
Happy Sunday! It’s been another cosy winter weekend spent snuggled on the sofa watching movies, enjoying warming cups of tea and taking time in the kitchen to cook hearty, nutritious meals. As we find ourselves in this coldest part of the year, I embrace the slower pace of life and really appreciate the small things like getting wrapped up and heading for a drink at the local pub on a Friday night.
Winter fashion is all about layering and brings with it opportunity for accessorising with cute hats and scarves too. I was channelling my inner French girl on Friday with my brown knitted beret to complete this casual chic look I put together. I’m living in neutral tones and rich browns this season.
Stopping by our local pub The Mutton to catchup with my parents on Friday evening, I decided to treat myself to an indulgent Baileys Espresso Martini by the fire.
This was the perfect concoction of smooth roasted coffee mixed with sweet creamy Baileys, a delicious drink to sip as I warmed up by the fire.
Saturday soon rolled around and after finishing my weekly house clean, I curled up on the sofa with a book and hot cup of tea. For me January is about self-care and doing things which bring me happiness, not restriction and punishment which is what society has taught us to engage in during this month of the year.
Instead I choose to indulge in the little things like buying fresh flowers for the house and saying yes to a cocktail at the pub. Life’s too short to be denying ourselves anything which might bring us joy.
Date night this weekend we chose to stay in at home and I cooked us a healthy nutritious meal for two. Cod with a white Pinos Gris wine for her, sirloin steak with a red Malbec wine for him, both served with my special crispy roasted new potatoes, stir fried asparagus tips, broccoli and a rocket salad.
I personally love spending time in the kitchen and feeding myself whole foods which I’ve made from scratch. This meal was hearty, nutritious and super yummy, we both finished every last morsel on our plates before cuddling on the sofa and watching a movie.
So lets change the perspective on January being the month of dieting and removing things we actually enjoy from our weekly routines, and instead think about adding things which nourish your mind, body and soul to bring you pleasure and help you thrive throughout the winter season. Whether it’s adding more colourful vegetables to your meals or simply enjoying a glass of wine on a Sunday evening, be kind to yourself this month and don’t let the pressures of society make you think otherwise. Join the self love club babes ❤
If like the majority of people you find the start of January a struggling time to get motivated, then I’ve got some tips on how to set realistic goals and take the steps to successfully achieve them.
Whilst being ambitious and moving the goal posts for yourself in the new year is brilliant, it’s key to remember that doing your best looks different every day. So if you have particular fitness aspirations or you are learning a new skill which takes time, there will be positive days when you find yourself feeling really strong or creatively inspired, but inevitably there will also be those periods of time you lack energy or enthusiasm. Just trust the process and be kind to yourself when you’re having one of those dips in motivation because it will return.
Don’t let any obstacles become an excuse for not showing up everyday. For example if your goal is to workout 6 times a week, plan ahead and schedule your workouts, know what exercises or routine you are doing each day in the upcoming week, and have your gym gear out and ready the night before. It’s all about setting yourself up for success.
So ask yourself, what is stopping me from reaching my goals? Break it down and set achievable steps towards making your dreams a reality. The journey won’t be linear and you have to be ready for all the ups and downs along the road, but know exactly what you want, envision getting it, and never give up on yourself; a positive mindset will never fail you.
Go get it girls and lets make 2024 another year of growth, success and fulfilment ❤
And so we find ourselves in that strange time between Christmas and New Years when you don’t know what day of the week it is and we hurtle towards the end of the year. During this time I like to take a moment to reflect on the year that has passed and celebrate my achievements, before setting my goals for the next 12 months ahead.
Looking back over the year I’ve achieved a lot; from getting laser eye surgery and investing more in my health, to reading books again and visiting lots of amazing corners of the world I’ve never been before.
It’s not all about specific goals though, I like to include general resolutions on my list for the year ahead like nurturing relationships and remaining grateful.
I also use Pinterest to create a visual mood board for my aspirations and goals. Here I find inspiring and motivational quotes to refer back to over the year too, such as ‘we are creators of our own luck.’
Whilst I didn’t quite tick off every single goal for 2023, sometimes the universe might have alternative plans for you, so I always just trust the timing of my life.
A lot changes in a year too, so never be hard on yourself if resolutions from the year past no longer align with your overall goals in life.
I’ve also found journalling this year a really helpful tool for getting my thoughts in order and accepting everyday is not perfect, but there is always something to be grateful for.
So upon sitting down this afternoon and writing up my resolutions and goals for 2024, I wanted to make my list ambitious yet achievable and not overwhelming.
The majority of these resolutions are things I already do, I just want to continue the growth and progression I’ve made in 2023 and thrive even more in 2024.
I have a feeling 2024 is going to be my happiest year yet living life on my terms with a loving heart and grateful soul; see you in the New Year ❤
Dani Aneka 