26.01.21; Chapter 25 Over and Out

January 28, 2021

As a January baby born in the midst of winter here in England, I’ve always resented the date on which my birthday falls. Being a sun worshipping beach bum, my last few birthdays down under in Oz during the height of their summer and falling on their famous ‘Australia Day’ holiday, were far more my kinda vibe for a celebration. With plans to escape to Dubai for my birthday this year postponed due to lockdown, I had to settle with the reality of my 26th birthday back at the place I call home nestled in the quaint Hampshire countryside.

We were treated to a dusting of snow last weekend, turning our little village into a winter wonderland. A welcome change to the grey dreary days we’ve had most of this year so far and an excuse to get out amongst it and capture some snaps.

A few days later, January 26th came around and it was time to bid farewell to chapter 25 and officially enter my mid/late twenties. I was overwhelmed with so many kind messages and love sent my way wishing me a Happy Birthday. I spent the morning pampering, taking a long hot bubble bath and getting glammed up in my birthday suit of course.

It may have been yet another day at home in lockdown, but I can never resist any excuse to dress up and show my favourite clothes some love. So I wore my new split front flared pants from Topshop, white Zara square neck top and plenty of gold jewels, including these awesome statement rings from Cali Tiger and Cinco.

Hair loosely styled into a low bun and nails painted for the occasion, I was ready to pop the prosecco and dig into a cheese board! Treated to wonderful gifts from my family, friends and boyfriend, I feel very blessed to have been able to have such a special day despite circumstances.

I was over the moon with my new C’est Normal overshirt from the boyfriend and I’m obsessed with this pair of charcoal-blue square toe mules I got as a gift too. Ultra unique and stylish, I just can’t wait to wear these killer heels on a night out as soon as we are free again!

Soon enough it was time to get cracking on the cocktails and with a brand new kit from my sister, I was excited to see what magic I could create. First up on the menu it had to be Espresso Martinis, a speciality of mine when bartending back in the day, so we were in for a treat!

Following a few practice runs I would say I pretty much nailed my martinis. The perfect amount of sweetness combined with coffee liquor and decrotively finished with that thick creme – delish!

The family certainly enjoyed theirs too and later on we shook up some mojitos also. I was treated to Wagamama takeaway for dinner, so I ordered my favourite Kare Burosu Ramen – udon noodles with silken tofu and veggies in a curried broth.

A truly unique and much quieter than usual birthday for me this year, but no less enjoyable and fun regardless. I guess the biggest lesson I’ve learnt in my 25th year is to not take the little things in life for granted and enjoy the moments of each day…

Time is now and that is all we really have, so go get it ❤

Dani’s Daily Edit; My Passion Project

January 22, 2021

I’ve always been a busy bee and found it hard to not be doing something that gets my brain working, those creative juices flowing, or my body active and exerted physically. Even as a kid I remember asking my older sister to set me tasks and activities (often related to animals at this stage in life), then into my teenage years I would love scrapbooking and collecting magazine cutouts to make collages and inspire my fashion designs.

Later in life my focus became dancing and performing, a passion which kept me occupied every evening after school and took me on to train professionally in my degree at dance college in London. Inevitably I saw lockdown as an opportunity to get my teeth stuck into some new projects, the initial one being my YouTube fitness channel back in the summer. Now we find ourselves in lockdown 3.0 and with the new year upon us, so I decided to launch a fresh Instagram page devoted to my love for all things style and fashion – @danisdailyedit

With my wonderful wardrobe which I’ve fondly built and curated over the years, I thought it was time to show my clothes some love and embark on this fun little project. Not to mention we have nowhere to flaunt our newest garments at the moment, so its also a great excuse to get dressed up everyday and not hold back from experimentation out of my comfort zone.

I enjoy styling my pieces in different ways and revamping the old with the new as we continue to see trends come back around. Take this old tartan fleece skirt I had from years ago, worn simply with a modern square neck top, sheer tights and boot heels, this look channels that 90s chic yet minimalist style.

I continue to seek inspiration from magazines, blogs, Pinterest and Instagram as well as iconic film characters. After watching the new Wonder Woman 1984 movie, I was in awe of Diana Prince’s spin on 80s fashion. From an era of power dressing and bold silhouettes, Wonder Woman herself shows us how its done with tailored flares and collared shirt layered with a belted waistcoat and oversized blazer. Hair slicked back, sleeves rolled up, hands in pockets; we know this woman means business! I too certainly felt the power when recreating this killer look.

Of course there are times when I prefer to keep things a little more casual and comfier for those days spent at home and running errands. You can never go wrong with a pair of ripped boyfriend jeans paired with a baseball jumper, sneakers and a classic cap – ideal for bad hair days 😉

I tend to keep my look simple yet cool and chic. Quality jeans in a few different fits are a must in my wardrobe as I feel most comfortable in trousers. However a basic maxi skirt or dress is also essential for achieving cool girl vibes with minimal effort, but maximum comfort.

I should note at this point that yes, I do own far too many clothes and perhaps it’s time to streamline my staple pieces using a capsule wardrobe approach. I do admit though, I find this very tricky as I’ve collected some of my most unique items from various resources such as when I lived in Australia, numerous holidays abroad or vintage markets in London. I like my pieces to have a story to tell and bring me the joy of when I first purchased or got gifted them.

Alongside the fashion I’ve also been inserting snippets of my jewellery, accessories and interiors on the daily edit. I want my aesthetic to reflect my creative mind influenced by the eclectic, exciting life I’ve led so far. This is where style and fashion prove themselves as separate entities; fashion is for a time, style is for life.

I believe each day we put together an outfit, we almost embody a new persona depending on the fit, shape, length, material, colour etc. Whilst I’m more likely to choose my default ripped skinny jeans and chunky boots with a tee layered under an oversized shirt, I like to mix it up and feel a bit more feminine occasionally too, in a cute dress or fitted cigarette pants and smart blazer.

It’s always super exciting and motivating to get started on something new, I can barely help myself thinking of the next outfit post. I like a challenge and this definitely keeps me on my toes as I aim to post every single day, even if I am just wearing sweats and a hoody or workout gear!

Dani’s Daily Edit may be young, but I like to think this little passion project is an expression of my past and present self in the language of fashion.

Kicking those January Blues

January 18, 2021

Happy Blue Monday… a contradiction in itself, but I won’t let statistics and the media tell me to feel my most depressed on this one specific day!? I have happy days, I have productive days, I have lazy days, I have low days; they come and go in ebbs and flows, it’s called life. January is always seen as a month to start fresh, set new goals and almost repent for the fun you have had over the festive period. However I would like to share a different perspective on this seemingly dark, unwelcome month to help kick those blues.

I guess the simplest way of putting it, is to let yourself be. Depriving yourself of the things you love during these winter months is of course going to make you sad and depressed. Setting unrealistic goals which are unreachable will only result in disappointment and feelings of failure. Instead be kind to yourself by feeding the mind, body and soul with all the good stuff: take a bubble bath, read a good book, go for a walk in nature, buy a bunch of flowers, dress up in your favourite clothes, go grab a coffee from the drive-thru, have a glass of wine, indulge in a yummy bar of chocolate – whatever brings you pleasure in life. It’s important to strike a balance and get an abundance of nutrients during the winter, so make sure to maintain a healthy diet whilst treating yourself to these goodies too!

I like to come up with a list of intentions for the week ahead as opposed to solid goals and targets. These are usually things which focus on self-care to navigate my day and help nourish my future self. I want to be more present in my day, so aiming to do more meditation, reading and journaling on the daily is a must. Getting outside during daylight hours is always a mood booster and great for practicing complete presence in nature and appreciation for your surroundings.

So don’t be blue this Monday, simply write out a few weekly intentions and go do something today that brings you happiness and joy ❤

Soul Sunday; For the Magic Makers

January 11, 2021

For me, there’s few things more soul soothing and mood lifting than reading poetry and finding inspiration in beautiful photography. So I was thrilled to receive my copy of Sjana Elise Earp’s hardback book ‘You Will Rise’ all the way from Australia.

Having suffered from anxiety and depression, Sjana has rediscovered compassion and love through yoga, travel photography and writing. I’ve been a longtime follower of her journey through Instagram, where she shares her words of wisdom and incredible travel and yoga photos. Hence the book is a stunning collection of these pictures and her poetry collated from some of the most challenging and dark times in life, through to her moments of love, acceptance and enlightenment.

When the package finally arrived in the post, I couldn’t wait to enjoy my Sunday evening diving deep into this magical book. I set the mood with some candles, fairy lights and a glass of French rose wine to help ‘seek, soothe and soar’ into the realms of my imagination.

And of course, I dressed comfy and cosy for a cold English winter’s evening in my Puma essential joggers, South Beach cropped green hoody and fluffy socks – comfort is key!

This is going to be a wonderful addition to my coffee table book collection. Full of incredible photography as well as thought provoking and uplifting words, it’s perfect for dipping in and out of to get that dose of magic you may need to guide you at anytime in life.

As Sjana writes, this book is for the light seekers, the sensitive souls, anyone who has ever loved and lost and the magic makers. Her words dig deep into the spiritual connection we have to this earth and illuminate a path of guidance back to ones own truth.

Link to buy the book – https://www.bookdepository.com/You-Will-Rise-Sjana-Elise-Earp/9781760897864

NYE 2020; We Will Rise

January 4, 2021

We may have waved farewell to the challenging year that was 2020, but we still have a way to go before the world can find balance once again. That said, the past year has taught us a number of valuable lessons, the most signifiant for me being not to take the little things in life for granted. Whether its simply taking a trip to the shops and grabbing a coffee with a girlfriend, or getting together with family and friends to share all the wonderful festivities of Christmas, I will cherish these times that bit more now that we’ve experienced a life without those moments of joy.

Like most of the rest of the UK, we celebrated our New Years Eve at home and the Nieuwenhuys family know how to party, so we were in for an evening of fun with plenty of booze at the ready! I love any excuse to dress up too, so I spent the day pampering myself and getting glammed up for the night. I wore this cute seventies inspired outfit: ASOS flared jeans, Topshop lace bralet, Stradivarius check blazer, ASOS maroon lace-up heels and my favourite accessory pieces, including a new ring from Cali Tiger.

I know it’s been a tough year for many which makes me even more thankful for my secure family home, supportive friends, amazing boyfriend and of course my job. I may not have been able to progress to where I’d of hoped to in my career by this point, but maintaining my role as Events Assistant at the Four Seasons Hotel with the hope that business will return, is something I’m proud of during such unstable economical times. It’s important we celebrate the little wins like this and focus on the positive knowing that things could always be worse.

Crystal coupes lined up on the gold mirror tray and champagne chilled and ready to pop, I couldn’t wait to get the evening started! We ordered takeout from our favourite local Italian Mama Mia and following our pizza and pasta feast, we got Jools Holland’s Hootenanny show on the TV to get us fully in the party spirit.

The night went in a flash and before we knew it the countdown to 2021 was on. My Dad and boyfriend had an absolute blast setting off the fireworks, it was practically our own private show with all the boxes they had purchased – we certainly saw in 2021 with a bang!

So before we say hello to 2021, let’s take a moment to reflect on the year that’s been and not forget the lessons we have learnt from the most unique and challenging year for the entire world… from this I’m hopeful, we will rise. HNY ❤

Year End and My 2021 Vision Board

December 30, 2020

It’s that time of year again when we look back over the last twelve months and reflect upon the highs and the lows. Here’s a little round up of what 2020 has taught me:

Looking forward to 2021 now, I’ve listed out a number of intentions and goals for the year ahead…

I find a vision board with images that inspire and spark imagination helps manifest the life you want to lead.

Pinterest is the easiest platform on which to create a vision board as there’s so much creative content including awesome photography, fashion, interiors, food, art and so much more.

Thought provoking quotes and words of wisdom add depth and motivation to your vision board.

The more eclectic and random your board, the better I think. By pulling together all those things which inspire you to one place visually, helps focus our objectives and reminds us of the bigger picture when times get tough.

Festive Fuzzy Feels

December 29, 2020

Merry Christmas babes! It’s certainly been an unusual one this year as we’ve all had to sacrifice celebrating with loved ones in order to stay safe during such uncertain times. Whilst plans have had to change and our usual festive traditions around this time of year have been scuppered, I decided it was all the more reason to embrace those jolly festive vibes and soak up the magic of Christmas.

Since early December I’ve been making my way through all the Christmas movies in an attempt to escape the reality of this mad world right now! On Christmas day itself I always like to watch The Snowman and Father Christmas to get me fully in the festive spirit and feeling like a kid again before the fun and games begin. Thankfully I am very lucky to be back home this year and blessed with the company of my closest family and boyfriend, who spoilt me rotten.

One of the more unusual traditions in our household at Christmas is my Dad’s pride and joy of barbecuing the turkey. I know, it sounds a little nuts on a cold winters day in England to be firing up the BBQ, but this is a super quick method of cooking the bird and produces the most succulent meat too.

To accompany our turkey dinner we did crispy roast potatoes, honey glazed carrots and parsnips, sweet red cabbage with apple, brussel sprouts sautéed with chestnuts, stuffing balls, lashings of gravy and my favourite for this time of year, bread sauce. It was quite the feast, so I could only manage some chocolates for pudding and of course a few glasses of Baileys later in the evening 😉

We had a wonderful day sharing our prezzies, listening to Christmas music, enjoying our drinks and indulging in all that yummy, naughty food. And I always like to dress up for the occasion, so this year it was a sixties style Topshop mini dress with long socks and my favourite Windsor Smith chelsea boots. Champagne coupe in hand, I was ready for a party at home!

Following a healthy helping of turkey and all the trimmings, soon enough I found myself changing back into PJs for the evening and excited to try on my new Victoria’s Secret set from Santa. Then when it comes to Boxing Day it’s all about stylish comfort, so I wore my new Stradivarius long split cotton skirt with a vest and my super cosy Zara polo knit arm warmer.

So whilst we haven’t been able to celebrate quite in the same way as we’re used to, it has most definitely made me more grateful than ever for my amazing family and friends. We may not be able to see our pals down the pub for a drink this Christmas, but I haven’t let that dampen my spirits and I’m optimistic that we’ll be back smiling in each other’s company before we know it.

Cote Brasserie; A Little Piece Of Paris

December 17, 2020

So we may not be able to travel abroad at the moment, but indulging in some delicious cuisine from our European neighbours never fails to tantalise my tastebuds and remind me of my love for travel.

Cote Brasseries have always been a favourite of mine for high quality food and sophisticated dining atmosphere without the expensive price tag. With their new Christmas menu and Prestige set menu at only £16.95 for two courses, we decided to treat ourselves to a midweek dinner at Cote in Farnham.

I was keen to sample the Espresso Martini as my Aperitif for the evening – a hit of coffee, sugar syrup and strong liquor, you can’t go wrong with this classic cocktail! To follow, we dived straight into our mains and I simply couldn’t resist ordering an old favourite of mine, the Plates Rapides of Steak Frites and side salad. This thinly beaten minute beef cut is served pink for the most succulent taste, alongside classic french fries and dijon mustard as the perfect accompaniment.

My boyfriend chose the Roasted Pork Belly served with gratin potato, braised savoy cabbage, apples, thyme and calvados jus. The meat was beautifully cooked to a pulled texture, whilst the sweet bed of cabbage provided a contrast of flavour to the salty pork belly.

To pair with our meal we chose a bottle of the French Lagarde Rouge 2018, a medium bodied and smooth red to compliment our meaty yet refined dishes. As I savoured every last bite and sipped on my red wine amongst the bustle of the brasserie, I felt transported from that dark rainy winters night in Surrey to a cosy corner of Paris.

Delivering authentic French cuisine alongside excellent service, Cote is always a good idea for anytime of the day. Inspired by the brasseries of Paris, this relaxed all day dining culture with cosy booth seating will have you booking a trip to the city of love in a heartbeat ❤

Winter Date Night; Cheese Platter Goals

December 9, 2020

It’s always fun to mix things up when it comes to date night and being in the events industry, there’s nothing I love more than playing the part of hostess of course! Taking a cosy corner of my bedroom, I lay down a fluffy throw, scattered plenty of cushions, setup my fairy lights, lit some candles, got the chilled tunes playing on Spotify… and voila, the cutest setting for an evening with the boyf. ❤

Whether it’s a night with the girls, entertaining family at Christmas or relaxing with your partner, a cheese board is the perfect winter essential to share and enjoy amongst friends and family.

Having had plenty of practice making numerous grazing platters on the weekly at my old PR agency in Australia, I have become quite the pro at putting together a good spread. The concept is pretty straight forward – take your board and ensemble starting with the basics: a variety of cheeses of your choice, crackers and biscuits, chutney, fresh fruits including grapes, dried fruits such as dates, olives, pickles and a sprinkling of nuts.

Now the benefit of doing this at home is that you can personalise everything to your taste, so feel free to swap and change accordingly and embellish your board however you wish. My favourite cheese this time of year is the Wensleydale with Cranberry and I’ve also recently discovered the delicious combo of honey with cheese, a must if you have a sweet tooth! The key is to fill your board as much as possible and then have extra little bowls or platters for anything which doesn’t quite fit on.

Our wine of choice had to be a French red Cotes Du Rhone to perfectly pair with all the cheese. We felt super cosy and festive as we sipped our wine and indulged in the wonderful platter packed full of so many different tastes to savour.

So grab your boyfriend, housemate, sister or whoever you live with, and treat them to the ultimate night-in together featuring wine, cheese, nibbles and even a snuggly den for those aesthetic goals.

Comfy Casuals and Cosy Cuppas

December 1, 2020

December dawn has broken and we’re officially on the countdown to Christmas. I love the festivities during this time of year and I enjoy nothing more than cosying up with a yummy hot drink in hand, ready to watch Christmas movie classics – The Holiday, Love Actually, Elf, The Grinch – just to name a few!

I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting loungewear has definitely been my daily uniform during lockdown. These super soft Zara camel track pants are my current obsession along with a hair clamp for a fuss-free, stylish home hairdo.

Despite that brisk cold chill in the air outside, I find bright fresh flowers in my bedroom always cheer me up and bring a bit of colour to the greyest of days. So embrace those beautiful blooms, snuggle up in your comfy casuals and grab a warming cuppa to soothe your soul during these dull winter months.