Spring has officially sprung and we already find ourselves in April with Easter weekend rolling around once again. I might not be religious, but I do love Easter time as an excuse to gather together with family and enjoy copious amounts of delicious food and chocolate, whilst getting merry on bubbles of course!
With lockdown measures gradually beginning to ease in the UK, we were allowed to meet in groups of six outdoors in gardens, the perfect excuse for our family to reunite at my brother’s new house over in London. Having moved at the end of last year, we were yet to visit and very excited to all be in each other’s company again after so long. There were many belated celebrations to be toasted including Birthdays, Housewarmings, New Years and even Christmas as we exchanged gifts to one another at last…
My brother did an outstanding job on his new Weber BBQ which we had all chipped in for for his Birthday back in March. We were treated to an absolute feast including king prawns from the fish market, wagyu burgers, lamb chops and marinated chicken wings from the local butcher, classic bangers and beautiful veggie skewers in my honour! Not forgetting the exquisite salads made by his wonderful wife – I had to steal the recipe for this Mexican style asparagus avocado salad topped with a mountain of parmesan cheese, delish 🙂
Finally I had a social occasion to get dressed up for, however being outside in early April meant we did have to get wrapped up. So I wore my favourite Stradivarius jeans and this new ASOS pearl button through white jumper, accessorised with my cute moon star gold earrings and matching Fossil moon necklace. Completing the look with classic Chelsea boots in maroon for a pop of colour and my floor length tie waist knitted cardigan which is super cosy and on trend for the season, I’m obsessed.
What a glorious occasion to be reunited with my loved ones following such a difficult winter in lockdown. We’re so lucky here in the UK to have the vaccine which will be our golden ticket to freedom and some sort of normal life again soon. There’s a lot to look forward to and I’m so ready for summer 2021 with plenty more social occasions and belated celebrations still to be had! Happy Easter everyone ❤
Hey guys! Just coming at you from the comfort of our new home currently sat in our stunning kitchen at the breakfast bar – how civilised! After a hectic few days moving last week, we finally had our first official night in the house last Friday, complete with a bottle of celebratory bubbles of course 😉
The kitchen is one of the almost complete rooms at this stage with just a few pictures and maybe a clock yet to go up on the wall. I’m so happy with the bar table and perfectly matched white stools which are as comfortable as they are stylish. This will be where we eat the majority of the time, however we do also have a gorgeous Dining Room which we will be using for special occasions and dinner parties.
It’s already taking shape in here, we are just waiting on a nice sideboard to store our best crockery and glasses. I want to keep the simple and sleek aesthetic in this room, so we’ve ordered a black dinner set with copper cutlery to match the tones of the abstract artwork. That early evening light is just glorious as it bursts through those french doors, I’m obsessed!
As for the rest of the house, it’s all a work in progress at the moment. Like with any new house and especially a new build, there is a lot to think about and it’s taken us to get in here and actually see the space, before finalising our furniture orders. We are still waiting for most of our bedroom furniture, so currently we are sleeping in the spare bedroom. The lounge is coming together too as we already had a nice big grey corner sofa and big TV of course, we’re just in need of a rug, some sort of cabinet and again we need to choose some nice pictures for the wall. I have already made use of the many candles and reed diffusers I had saved, this one from Stonewood is my favourite scent and the blue bottle looks great on the landing windowsill.
We were even lucky enough to enjoy our first BBQ at the house this week as England was treated to its first proper day of sunshine this year, hitting highs of 22 degrees. Whilst we don’t have our outdoor furniture just yet, we do have the Weber BBQ setup and made do with some camping chairs on the patio as we sipped our beer and cooked the burgers. We then ate at our dining table with the french doors wide open letting that early evening sun shine through. It really got me excited for summer and many more BBQs to come when we can finally welcome friends and family into our new abode.
So there’s no denying it, moving into a new house for the first time is a long process and takes patience to get everything just as you need. However it’s super exciting to see it all come together and I can’t wait to share the journey as we create our dream home! Fresh start, new chapter – cheers to that!
It’s been a long time coming following two other properties falling through last year, but it was third time lucky as my boyfriend finally exchanged on a stunning new build which we move into this week! It’s all very exciting and an absolute dream to be moving to our own four bed house complete with a huge driveway, garage, front lawn and lovely south facing garden – bring on those summer BBQs!
No doubt it will take some time for us to settle and get everything just the way we want it as we are starting from scratch. But what a beautiful blank canvas to be working with, I can finally live out my ultimate interior goals from hours scrolling Pinterest and creating vision boards.
Outdoor entertaining will be a big focus this summer following lockdown measures easing, so I’m keen to have a sociable area on the patio for lounging and soaking up the sun whilst firing up the BBQ. I’m obsessed in the corner sofas with a fire-pit table to keep us warm late into the evenings. Fairy lights and outdoor string bulb lighting are also a must for that atmospheric nighttime ambience.
I will of course miss my cosy little bedroom back home with its eclectic style and many wonderful memories in particularly captured in my photos. I’ve always taken pride in organising and displaying my favourite pictures from special times throughout my life, it never fails to make a house a home. I’m a sucker for inspirational quotes as well, so my favourite ‘Stay Wild’ gold text print from Maggs London years ago will definitely need a feature in the new place.
That classic Audrey poster from Breakfast At Tiffany’s is another timeless piece which I think might be a classy photo to go in the new dining room. My collection of treasured books will take pride of place on a bookshelf perhaps in the lounge, as I have some great coffee table style hard backs too.
Then there is the wardrobe which is going to be the biggest task of all! Being a self-confessed shopaholic and shoe addict, I’ve curated quite the collection of garments during my 26 years. Whilst moving is an opportunity to get rid of those less worn items, I do love it when trends come back around and I can give older pieces some love once again. However I want to aim towards a more minimalistic approach to my style, so keeping only what I wear most of the time will help to establish a refined capsule wardrobe…it’s going to be a process that’s for sure!
Focusing on the initial move however, I want to get the furniture and each room arranged perfectly before putting too much stuff in there. I have the luxury that I can leave what I want at my parent’s at least for now, then once I know how much storage we actually have in the new place, I can get organised and donate or bin anything which will be clutter. I’m looking at this as a fresh start and opportunity to live a more minimalistic lifestyle, free of the burden and stress of too many material things.
I guess it’s time to be a proper adult and say goodbye to my teenage room for now. My parent’s home isn’t going anywhere though, so my perfect little den will remain the spare bedroom and home to so many special memories.
Needless to say, Miss Hepburn is the epitome of timeless style, grace and beauty. I became infatuated with Audrey Hepburn’s captivating screen presence when I first watched her running around New York in one of her most famous roles as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Only Audrey could depict an otherwise frivolous, superficial character with such charismatic charm.
Having collected numerous coffee table books and reading up about her childhood and background, I’ve become obsessed in the humble story of Audrey Hepburn. From deprived war child to Hollywood icon of the century, her journey to stardom was not an easy road, but certainly proof of her unique talent and enchanting demure.
Her catalogue of blockbuster movies is extensive and in each film she never fails to bring with her that Hepburn sparkle. No wonder she was picked out back in her early career on stage as the ‘chorus girl with the eyes’.
A new Friday evening tradition has been to sit down with my mum and watch a different Audrey Hepburn movie each week, accompanied with a glass of wine or G&T to see in the weekend of course 😉 In fact a few years ago we had a glorious day in London together attending the Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, I was in my element!
Week one of our marathon we began with the classic Breakfast At Tiffany‘s, followed by Roman Holiday and last Friday Sabrina. With each movie comes a fabulous array of outfits as Hepburn found herself collaborating with world famous designers throughout her career, in particular the French designer Givenchy. This show stopping gown worn as Sabrina is a personal favourite of mine – isn’t it just breath-taking!?
Away from the screen Hepburn dressed a little more casual, but nevertheless maintaining that effortless class and elegance. She was the trend-setter for timeless fashion and she remains a style icon to this day.
I love recreating her off-duty minimalistic, but equally chic looks. So in honour of this Friday’s movie I went all Audrey in a pair of cropped cargo pants, an oversized tied shirt to accentuate the feminine silhouette, little neckerchief scarf and a pair of mules. Simple yet classy and always stylish.
Miss Hepburn will forever and always be my icon for all that she achieved and gave back to the world with her movies, fashion and even her devotion to UNICEF in later life; a true to testament to her beautiful soul beyond that pretty face, she certainly was an angel ❤
As a self-confessed foodie and keen home cook, I do love browsing books, magazines and blogs for new recipes to try out and have the freedom to experiment with. For this reason I’ve never signed up to any of the popular food delivery services as my evenings spent in the kitchen cooking are how I like to wind down for the day. However we all find ourselves short of time on many occasions but still wanting to have a wholesome, home cooked meal, hence when these recipe boxes would come in super handy. So after having a number of wonderful Gousto dinners at my boyfriend’s (like this exquisite spicy beef noodle dish pictured below) and hearing nothing but praise from my sister also, I was intrigued to give it a go for myself.
Signing up to Gousto is so easy and if recommended by a current customer, you can get fabulous discounts including 50% off your first box! They even have a handy app from which you can manage everything on your account including delivery days, pausing your subscription if required and of course selecting your recipes each week. In your box comes absolutely everything you need portioned out for your meals, taking the hassle out of finding obscure ingredients or having to buy those things you may only use for one particular recipe.
This was my favourite dinner from our first week’s box, a pomegranate chicken and beetroot tabbouleh salad. Whilst I was under the impression that meals would be basic and not that adventurous, I’ve already been inspired by different flavours and seasonings, such as the marinade for this chicken made of ground sumac, soy sauce and pomegranate molasses. Although I eat like a rabbit and need a ton of salad with my dinner, I would say that portions are just right meaning no waste too.
Each recipe comes with easy to follow step-by-step instructions, so really anyone can put their hand to cooking and learn along the way. I was even able to hand over the chef hat to my boyfriend the other evening as he rustled up these tasty veggie tostadas with red kidney beans, roasted peppers and a zesty sour cream. He did a great job and I really enjoyed this healthy twist on traditional Mexican cuisine.
Serving up another salad at home this week, I savoured every mouthful of this colourful plate packed full of goodness. The salty flavours of the smoked mackerel and pickled red cabbage were balanced out by the creamy butterbeans and crisp sweet slices of apple. Again, this is a combination which I wouldn’t have thought to try, but was really yummy and inspired me to experiment beyond my usual salad ingredients.
So far I’m really enjoying the wide variety of cuisines and meal ideas Gousto has to offer, and I will certainly be carrying on my subscription as life returns to normal and I have less time on my hands during the week. It’s fun to try new dishes and I’m excited to see my boyfriend expand on his chef skills and perhaps love cooking as much as I do. Gousto is a must try for anyone wanting healthy, homemade food which is fuss-free yet delicious!
Whenever I feel a little unmotivated or need to fight those blues, I always find music lifts my spirits and pulls me out of that funk. Whether you’re driving along in the car belting out to those old school tunes, or raving solo to Radio 1 on a Friday night in your bedroom, music has the power to move the soul and open the door to your imagination. Escapism is a wonderful effect of music as a certain song can take us back instantly to a memory, or a place, or even a person.
I tend to go through cycles of finding new music either on Spotify or via mixes on YouTube. My taste is very much eclectic as I love the old school classics and current hits as much as I do those lesser known artists, however deep house and electric dance are my most popular preference. I’m constantly using the artist radio feature on Spotify as well to discover new music, my favourites right now being Ocean Alley Radio or Harry Styles Radio – two very alternative genres! So here are some of my current most listened to tunes that you may find me dancing to in my bedroom as we see out lockdown 3.0:
In light of this week’s government announcement in the UK, it would seem there is a glimmer of hope for summer 2021. Bring on those Friday afternoons relaxing in pub gardens, weekend BBQs with friends and family and maybe even a few late summer festivals! Whilst it’s unclear right now how soon we will be able to travel internationally again, I can’t help but dream up a holiday hit list for when the world is free once more – I am and always will be consumed by wanderlust.
D U B A I
Number one destination has to be Dubai given our cancelled trip we had booked there for the beginning of this year. Known for its ultramodern architecture, luxury shopping and lively nightlife, the city truly is an adult’s playground. We will be sure to visit the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall, Dubai Eye, Dubai Marina and I would have to venture out to do a desert safari! There is a sense of magnificent futurism which fascinates me about Dubai and I can’t wait to experience it for myself.
S A N T O R I N I
This Greek island with its abundance of blazing white cliff-side buildings and those iconic deep blue roofs, makes for the picture-perfect European holiday destination. Steeped in history and places of outstanding natural beauty, there is plenty to explore on the island like visiting the volcanic hot springs and wine tasting the unique flavours this fertile volcanic landscape produces. Santorini seems to be the idyllic romantic getaway I’ve always dreamt of.
B A L I
So yes, I have already visited Bali, but it just wasn’t long enough and I left lusting for more of this awesomely diverse, mysterious paradise. I need to head to Ubud to discover my inner yogi with its many temples, holistic centres and of course the monkey forest! I never got to properly visit one of those lush green magical rice fields, as well as one of the many breathtaking waterfalls across Bali for that ultimate gram pic. Although I do feel like I could go back to Canggu for a long time to just surf all day and party all night, balanced out with morning yoga and plenty of wonderful healthy food. Bali life is nourishing for mind, body and soul.
Lets fly far away… I can already taste the delicious sweet cocktails and feel those salty skin beach bum days!
I don’t know if it’s because we’re in lockdown so we’ll take any excuse to celebrate, or if it’s just because I’m batting for the other team this year, but I certainly felt the love shared globally this Valentines Day. Having another half to spoil and cuddle is of course a bonus, however it’s also all about letting your family and friends know how much they’re loved and most importantly indulging in some self love too.
With date night booked in for the evening with my boyfriend, I spent the day pampering and pruning which was as much about making me feel good, as it was to be looking my best for my man. In honour of V Day I stayed comfy but cute in my Victoria’s Secret silk pink stripe pyjama set complete with those super soft fluffy slides. I felt like a VS angel backstage getting ready for the show!
Despite it being another Sunday night staying in at home, it was the perfect excuse to get dolled up and feel glam for an evening of romance. I had a few options when it came to my outfit, option one being the ultimate backless moment in that high-neck cut-away body simply worn with a figure hugging pencil skirt and matching electric blue mules. Not the warmest for freezing mid February weather, so option two was these leather look skinny pants, blush pink asymmetric tie-up blouse and killer red wrap stilettos.
Sophisticated with a hint of dominatrix vibes, this would’ve been a great outfit for hitting a bar in town, but not the comfiest for an evening watching movies on the sofa. So option number three and final look of choice, was this floral low-cut playsuit paired with those sexy thigh-high black suede boots. Effortless and comfortable yet dressy and cute vamped up with awesome booties, this was the ideal combo for a Valentines night at home.
Candles lit, romantic playlist on, nibbles laid out and Italian takeaway on order, it was time to shake up some cocktails. Inspired by a recipe for a French Kiss cocktail I found on SheereLuxe.com, I put my own spin on this sweet concoction. Shook over ice I mixed together orange and mango juice, a squeeze of lime, Vodka and Chombord, resulting in that very fitting pale pink colour like it was our love potion 😉
Our Italian from the restaurant down the road La Casa soon arrived and we weren’t disappointed. I had a deliciously tasty Arrabbiata Tortiglioni with added spinach and mushrooms, whilst my boyfriend had a Caprino pizza loaded with goats cheese, caramelised onions and sweet peppers.
To balance out the carb fest I made a side salad of lettuce, rocket, cucumber and tomatoes. We enjoyed every single bite whilst sipping away at our perfectly paired full bodied Australian Shiraz red wine – Bellissimo!
Full of cheese and wine we resided to the sofa and opted for a romantic, heart-warming movie classic P.S I Love You. We then shared a cheeky piece of strawberry cheesecake, followed by a few more cocktails and some naughty chocolates to end the night.
And in honour of pancake day coming up, I spoilt my man with crepes for brunch the next morning – girlfriend goals or what? So although we couldn’t spend our Valentines wining and dining out as usual, we still shared a wonderfully romantic date night at home complete with restaurant quality food and themed cocktails made by moi. I hope you all indulged this Valentines Day too, whether that meant treating a loved one, or just spending the day loving yourself because you deserve it ❤
Sometimes we have to inject a little fantasy to not die from reality…
Life is a journey, not a destination. Equilibrium will never be reached, it’s about embracing each chapter and enjoying the ride of the rollercoaster that is our existence. You are a continuous work in progress, be curious and dive passionately into your future.
The dreamers are the saviours of this world, so go to the window and look at the stars. Dreams don’t only come true, they can exceed your wildest imagination; stay wild moon child.
There’s no denying it, we simply couldn’t have survived each and every lockdown without the holy grail that is Netflix. From the first UK lockdown when we were enthralled by the kooky, mysterious life of the infamous Tiger King, to the much anticipated season four of The Crown and exciting early blockbuster release of Wonder Woman 1984, Netflix has certainly heightened the stakes when it comes to keeping us entertained. With cinemas currently closed, the film industry has had no choice but to turn to Netflix to debut new works and keep Hollywood moving despite the world coming to a halt. And whilst we are kept on our toes with the plethora of new releases every month, Netflix doesn’t let us forget the wondrous catalogue of fantastic film and TV from the archives. So here’s my quick round up of February favourites to snuggle up to on the sofa this month.
FILMS
Wonder Woman 1984
When the radiant goddess Diana Prince hit our screens in the first film back in 2017, it was a thrilling breath of fresh air offering a perfect balance of muscle and heart amongst a dazzling spectacle of compelling action. Whilst this sequel draws out a much longer plot line, the most riveting visual cohesion is the flashback to a young Diana back on the magical island of Themiscrya, when the fearless youngster competes in an arduous challenge of strength and skill against women twice her age and stature. The powerful yet glamorous and elegant Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot, maintains heartfelt audience connection as she teaches us that the nature of the truth will always win.
The Dig
Set back in the summer of 1939 just before the outbreak of war, Edith Pretty hires amateur archaeologist Basil Brown to excavate the mounds of her Suffolk property. Upon discovering the skeleton of an 88-foot Anglo-Saxon ship, the next phase uncovers the burial chamber within the ship containing a treasure-trove of perfectly preserved artefacts. Soon enough news has spread and people descend upon the land to jostle for credit, whilst there is an ongoing passionate urgency to complete the dig before the onset of World War II.
SERIES
Bridgerton
Wealth, lust and betrayal set against the backdrop of Regency-era England, this period drama follows the most affluent families of the town during the competitive Ton season, when debutantes are presented at court before the Queen. Narrated by the legendary Julie Andrews playing the gossip-girl columnist Lady Whistledow, this fluffy, humorous and beautifully costumed drama makes for easy watching. Not to mention how it will leave you yearning to go back in time to wear one of those exquisite ballgowns and attend a glamorous party, where your prince charming may well sweep you off your feet!
Tiny Pretty Things
With a dark and contemporary edge set amongst the gruelling, ruthless world of a Manhattan dance academy, this Netflix original series is no ordinary twinkle toes story. When the star pupil Cassie Shore stumbles, or is pushed in a scuffle with a hooded figure, and falls four storeys from the school roof plunging to her death, in her stead comes Neveah Stroyer. Despite being from the wrong side of the tracks and not properly trained, Neveah turns out to be stunningly talented, throwing the pecking order of the establishment into disarray. This gritty teenage drama depicts the highly competitive and brutal reality behind the curtain of classical ballet in a modern world.
OLD SCHOOL
F.r.i.e.n.d.s
An absolute classic which never fails to cheer me up and give me a good chuckle. As an OG Friends fan from back in the days, I’ve seen every single episode many a times and will still never get bored of watching those six eccentric characters as they fumble their way through life in New York City. At the moment I’m throwing it way back to the mid-nineties with the early seasons, when the fashion was experimental to say the least and hair dos even more questionable! I know my obsession is real when I start singing along to Phoebe’s rather peculiar yet comically genius songs.
Mean Girls
Arguably one of the most quotable films ever, 16 years on and this is still one of the greatest teen movies around with its accurate depiction of the jungle that is high-school. Thrown amongst a world of cliques and hierarchy, new-comer Cady Heron is quickly drawn into life as one of the Plastics and soon remarks herself as spiteful as queen bee Regina George, loosing her individuality and sacrificing her real friendships along the way. Comical and smart without the shrill edge of many teen movies, Mean Girls cleverly portrays the true culture of popularity, hierarchy and gossip entrenched in every high-school.
Needless to say the list is ever-changing, as you can see from my most updated homepage including those unashamedly guilty pleasures: Friends, Real Housewives, Clueless, Magic Mike… to name a few 😉
Netflix undoubtedly continues to reign when it comes to exciting new releases, catching up on popular TV series, or simply harping back to those classic movies that will just never get old. Whilst I do miss the thrill of taking a trip to the cinema and getting lost in the special effects of the big screen, Netflix is keeping the magic alive by bringing the joys of TV and film to the comfort of our homes as we wait-out yet another lockdown in the UK!
Dani Aneka 