Category: Uncategorized

A Night Glamping In Devon

September 8, 2024

This weekend me and my girl friends took a road trip down to Devon to celebrate with our friends who eloped in lockdown. Given the small, intimate ceremony they had a few years ago due to the social distancing laws at the time, they invited their friends and family for a big party at Farway Countryside Park in Devon.

Leaving early on Saturday morning, me and my two best friends packed the car ready to ‘glamp’ in a teepee for the night. We hit the road and didn’t come across too much traffic, so we stopped at a picturesque farm cafe called Otter Valley for a spot of lunch and coffee.

Arriving early afternoon, we got ourselves setup in the teepee we had booked for the night. Unfortunately the rain was relentless all weekend so it wasn’t the most ideal conditions for camping, but certainly made for a funny experience!

Safe to say the teepee was very basic with just the three beds together in the middle, so we had to improvise in making a nice space for getting ready with pre-drinks and snacks. Thankfully we had our camping chairs to use inside then we used the plastic bin upside down as a small table…

I came prepared with plastic wine glasses and inflatable flamingo drinks holders which I actually used as bowls for the snacks! With the mini speaker playing some tunes and the prosecco popped, we had fun getting glammed up and ready together for the party.

I wore this chocolate brown low back mini dress with long flared sleeves from ASOS, paired with these super platform flower detail H&M sliders, and my oversized gold pearl flower earrings also from ASOS.

The girls looked gorgeous too and I think we nailed the dress code which was ‘dress to impress’, however we were in a field with gravel and grass so we had to keep this in mind particularly for footwear.

It was a fabulous afternoon and evening celebrating the marriage of our friends and a great opportunity to catchup with so many old acquaintances from school too. My friend even made her handbag into a prosecco bottle holder for handsfree pouring, genius 😉

There was a hearty Thai Green Curry for dinner which was served at 6pm, then later in the evening they brought out some delicious desserts and cakes.

After lots of dancing and celebrating with friends, the party wrapped up at 11pm and we made our way back to our teepee to get cosy for the night as the rain continued to pour. Despite the rain ,we were snuggled up in our layers and got a good nights sleep. It might have not been ‘glamping’ as I’d envisioned it, but having a proper bed to sleep in made all the difference.

Cheers to a fun weekend away in Devon full of many hilarious moments with my besties as we celebrated the marriage of our wonderful friends ❤

Santorini Calling

July 14, 2024

It’s Euros finals day and we’re about to order pizza before watching the big game on TV; come on England! Football aside, I’m super excited to be jetting off to the stunning Greek island of Santorini on Wednesday. Packing is well underway and I’ve spent today planning some cute outfits and making the tough decision on which bikinis to pack from my ever growing swimwear collection.

I’ve done my usual research on the area we are staying and put together an aesthetic Pinterest board for photo opportunity inspo. We will be staying at Crescent Luxury Suites located within the small town of Imerovigli, just in between Fira and Oia.

We have treated ourselves to a junior suite so we will have our own private plunge pool with a view, how magnificent! – https://cresantoluxurysuites.com

I was advised that booking a table for a view at sunset is a must, so I’ve lined up our dinner spots for the first three evenings. The night we arrive we have 8pm reservations at The Wine Bar in Imerovigli, only a 10 minute walk away from our hotel. Then I have booked Veranda Aperitivo Bar for sundown drinks in Oia on Thursday, and our Friday night dinner date at The Vine in Fira, a very highly rated restaurant and winery with breathtaking views.

Other activities we are keen to do during our time in Santorini is quad biking around the island, a boat day and visiting the black sand beaches.

Needless to say it’s going to be a beautiful week soaking up the scorching sun, indulging in the most delicious Greek food and wine, and enjoying picture perfect sunset views on Greece’s most romantic island of Santorini ❤

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 ❤

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 ❤

Kickstarting New Year; Motivation Tips & Tricks

January 7, 2024

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 ❤

2023 Reflections; 2024 Resolutions

December 28, 2023

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 ❤

Events Life; Organising, Executing & Celebrating

November 26, 2023

Happy Sunday! I’ve had a super chilled weekend following a busy few days hosting an event in Manchester last week. Whilst working in events certainly is good fun and very rewarding, there’s a huge amount of careful planning and prep which goes into pulling them off as seamlessly as possible.

My week started with a long road trip up to Manchester with my colleagues to setup at the venue the afternoon before. We finally checked into our hotel at 6:30pm that evening and I opted to stay in and order Uber Eats to my hotel room.

I ordered a feast from Itsu of miso soup, a veggie gyoza noodle bowl, crispy seaweed thins, chilli prawn crackers and a refreshing peach lychee zen water. It was a much needed cosy night in ahead of the event day enjoying my noodles and watching some YouTube on my iPad.

We stayed at The Alan Hotel which I booked for the team upon recommendation from my friend as a newly renovated space, featuring art deco style interiors with an industrial, urban edge.

The next morning we were back bright and early at the venue to setup for our showcase and meet with the 12 suppliers who had stands too. We had exclusive use of the National Football Museum located in the heart of Manchester, the perfect space for our Innovation Showcase.

Registration setup, 150 goodie bags packed, supplier stands in situ, and AV tested ready for the showcase, it was all systems go awaiting our guests to arrive from 9am. This Xite natural energy drink from one of the supplier entries, fuelled me for a morning of running around as the event got underway.

There are always last minute changes and issues potentially arising on the day which comes hand in hand with event management, but it’s all about being prepared for everything and calling on experience to come up with a solution whatever the situation.

An example of this was when one of our suppliers couldn’t make it to the event on the day, but their products and stand were still delivered to the venue. So me and the team worked together to get their many Twirl Extra bars out on display ready for guests to grab their sweet treat freebie.

After lunch at the National Football Museum, we walked over to the next venue to setup for our Hosted 121s session, during which retailers and suppliers get the opportunity to meet one on one in quick 10 minute meetings, much like speed dating but for business.

I booked a fun bar called BLVD where again, we had the entire venue as our event had grown so big this year, we were at double the numbers to what we usually have for our 121s! The venue was perfect with a casual yet buzzing atmosphere, as our members met and discussed all things business.

My fit for the event day was a pair of navy chinos from Next paired with this matching Zara navy waistcoat, a white Topshop polo neck worn beneath, my trusty flat black chelsea boots and a black velvet headband to complete the look. As the mirror says, it’s giving ‘Girl Boss’ vibes ready for a long day of hard work!

To finish the day, we hosted a Networking Dinner for 120 of our guests at James Martin’s Restaurant within the 235 Casino in central Manchester.

Me and my colleague made the short 10 minute walk over from the bar at 5:30pm to get everything setup and before we knew it, guests were arriving at 6pm.

This ‘Let’s Party’ prosecco wall was a fabulous welcome for our guests to the reception drinks.

At 6:45pm, we took our guests through to seat for dinner and we could finally enjoy and celebrate the success of our event, over a delicious three course meal.

To start was a cauliflower veloute served with focaccia bread and it was divine.

For main course I had the vegetarian option of BBQ curried cauliflower with a lentil dahl, coriander yoghurt and fermented potato flat bread.

To finish was a dessert of hot sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce and salted caramel ice cream, the ultimate sweet treat, everything was exquisite.

On the whole, a hugely successful event which we organised with precision, resulting in a very seamless execution on the day and a well deserved evening of celebrations with my colleagues that night; life is never boring working in events!

Handstand Training Progress

November 6, 2023

So you want to learn how to hold a handstand but you don’t know where to start?🤸🏼
Balancing in a handstand is something I’ve always aspired to do and I can proudly say that after years of practice, I can now hold it for over a minute!💪🏼
So how did I achieve my goal? First and foremost, it takes CONSISTENCY, PATIENCE & TIME…
It won’t happen over night and you must be disciplined, but soon enough you will begin to notice progress.

At the start of my handstand journey, I used a wall to find my balance and test how long I could push away from the wall to stand freely. It was also necessary in these early stages to build my upper body strength, particularly in my wrists. I would occasionally feel the strain in my wrists but I would never push to the point of pain.
After about a year of daily training like this, I found I was able to find my balance for a few seconds or more without the wall. As I got more confident, I continued to experiment with finding my handstand stance unassisted. This can be the most frustrating stage as gauging that optimal position for balance and executing it without help, is the trickiest bit. However, with trial and error I learnt how it felt in my body when I did successfully find balance, and soon enough I was doing 20-30 second holds. Into my second year of daily practice, I discovered that by holding my legs in a split position, I could maintain the handstand longer. It’s important to note that this technique does require a very flexible and strong back, so it was all about strengthening the entire upper body as well.
Continued daily practice led to holding the handstand for about a minute every time. I had finally reached a level of stability at which I could experiment with different shapes within the balance and I found myself recreating the incredible yogi poses I’ve always admired on Instagram. 

It’s now three years on and I can hold my handstand for a minute on demand and even demonstrate my party trick in fun locations for awesome scenic shots on holiday.
By following these tips and tricks, you too can achieve your handstand balancing goals!🏅

Checkout my Instagram Reel here – https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzGMRmpMh55/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Barcode Festival 2023

July 9, 2023

Another week, another festival! Last Thursday I attended Barcode Festival with colleagues from work for our summer social. Barcode is hosted by GroceryAid taking place every year at Magazine in Greenwich London and is an industry charity event for those who work in the grocery sector.

This really is an event like no other featuring celebrity chefs and A-list headline acts, this year being Sam Ryder, Sugababes and my favourite, Fatboy Slim!

All drinks and food are included with your ticket, so your spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing which drink to have next. Quite often we’d end up with a drink in each hand…

I was excited to find Moth Cocktails had a stand serving their fabulous canned cocktails on ice, perfect for a sunny day, I’m obsessed.

There’s so much to explore at Barcode; we even found this secret rooftop to enjoy our drinks overlooking the festival with amazing views of the Greenwich skyline at golden hour.

I was giving Barbiecore vibes wearing my pink flared Stradivarius jeans, an open back white vest, a pair of white Reebok trainers and my big cat eye Kenzo sunnies.

Me and the girls were loving the 3D camera complete with fun inflatables and quirky accessories.

Later on the music started on the main stage kicking off with Sam Ryder, then major throwback vibes with Sugababes and finally the one and only Fatboy Slim to close the night. What an awesome team day just having fun and being silly with my colleagues; until next year Barcode ❤

Cocktails and Besties Q&A

May 21, 2023

Happy Sunday! The sun is finally shining here in Hampshire, so yesterday afternoon I invited my best friend over for drinks in the garden and we decided to film a besties Q&A for my YouTube channel.

We had such a laugh and it was a lot of fun reminiscing on memories together. We also did some quick fire ‘This or That’ and ‘Would you rather’ which we found inspo for on Pinterest.

Later that evening we ordered Dominos pizzas with our boyfriends and enjoyed a cute double date night in our dining room. A picture perfect afternoon and evening together.

What a wholesome evening with my bestie and our boyfriends and I’m looking forward to editing the Q&A which will be out on my YouTube channel (@Dani Aneka) next week, so stay tuned!