Cyprus Scenes; Dancing with the Flamingos

Last week I squeezed in my third holiday of the summer to Cyprus with my boyfriend. September is always a great time to get away as the kids have gone back to school so everywhere is much quieter.

We stayed at Mercure Beach Resort Larnaca as part of a collaboration project with All Accor Hotels.

We were treated to a deluxe double room with a lovely big bathroom and large balcony overlooking that dreamy deep blue ocean.

For this trip I decided to plan my outfits for each day and evening which made packing super easy and seamless. It was so satisfying to see my capsule wardrobe hung up in the spacious closet.

Friday morning we woke fresh and ready for a day of shooting around the hotel, and by midday it was time for a cocktail in my cabana.

I bought this big floppy hat in Mallorca last month and I’m obsessed, it’s so chic!

That afternoon we were given access by the General Manager of the hotel to film in one of the impressive villas they have on site.

Don’t mind me just living my private villa dream as I lounged in the hanging egg chair on the villa terrace.

Sundown drinks on the balcony were a picture perfect moment every evening on repeat.

Friday evening we went to a lovely seafood restaurant just a short walk from our hotel and right on the water called Mer Bleue.

We had classic Greek tatziki and pitta to start, followed by grilled octopus and fries for me and the fillet steak for my boyfriend.

On Saturday morning we explored the old town of Larnaca where we visited the Greek Orthodox Church of St Lazarus.

Later that day we captured some underwater shots poolside and enjoyed an iced coffee afternoon pick me up.

We’d certainly worked up an appetite for lunch, so we ordered a much needed pizza at the Mercure hotel where they have an authentic stone bake pizza oven.

Another evening rolled around and it was yet another stunning sunset complete with orange and pink hues on the horizon.

Before dinner we went to the smart hotel Lobby Bar for an aperativo and I was channeling my inner Flamingo in this cute colourful mini dress from Stradivarius.

Larnanca is known for the Flamingos which flock to the salt lake during Autumn, hence the Flamingo theme throughout the hotel.

A local taxi driver recommended a great Greek restaurant near our hotel called Vlachos Tavern, so we headed there for some dinner and of course I had my favourite Greek feta salad.

Sunday morning we were up bright and early for the breakfast buffet which I setup to shoot for aesthetic hotel content.

Following shooting we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast spread of sweet and savoury plates; the pancakes were the winning dish!

Fuelled and ready for the day, we headed to Ayia Napa for a beach day and day on the water.

I’ve wanted to do paddle boarding for so long and this was the ideal place to give it a go it for the first time.

Calm crystal clear waters and a gloriously sunny day, our first experience paddle boarding was perfect and a lot of fun.

Nissa Beach was buzzing on a Sunday arvo and it was time to hit the beach clubs.

I had a pretty pink Paloma followed by the Tropical State of Mind house special cocktail.

It was giving cool Bali vibes at Isola Beach Bar; I was in my element with these beach style interiors complete with delicious cocktails and salty sea air.

Back in Larnaca, we took a sundown stroll at golden hour along the seafront.

Soon enough it was dusk and the crescent moon was glowing against the deep blue sky.

Those short few moments between night and day are so beautiful and unique, the way the colours of the sky change so swiftly yet fluidly is nature’s art.

For our final night we ate back at the Kyma Restaurant within our hotel where the food was always top quality and delicious.

After dinner, we couldn’t resist a final night cap at the hotel Lobby Bar with their enticing spirit wall glowing as it lit up at night.

And just like that, it was our final day in Cyprus and I soaked up very last minute of sunshine on our balcony with that magnificent view.

Our time in Cyprus was short but superbly sweet, I can’t wait to visit again and explore more of everything it has to offer.

Ciao for now Cyprus ❤

My Dressing Room of Dreams

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 ❤

The Ivy; Alice in Wonderland Vibes

This weekend I decided to go all out for our date night and booked The Ivy Castle View in Guildford. I had tried to book The Ivy Asia a few weeks back, but with a three month waiting list to get a reservation there, I was happy with the regular Ivy restaurant we know and always enjoy.

I’m obsessed with the art deco inspired interiors featuring eclectic artwork and a vibrant colour palette, I was definitely getting Alice in Wonderland vibes as soon as we arrived at The Ivy Castle View.

Even the ladies bathrooms were decorated with opulent wallpaper and this stunning ceiling of roses, they are just too beautiful not to take a picture of.

The place was buzzing on a Saturday night, yet we were still treated to the same friendly and attentive service from the hosts and our waiters who looked after us for the evening.

We had this lovely, romantic round table for two right by the window overlooking the castle. I was lusting over these gorgeous green palm leaf print sofa chairs too, it really is an interior lovers heaven, every corner of the place there is something different to admire.

To start, we had a cocktail each and of course I couldn’t resist my favourite Espresso Martini in their special salted caramel flavour. My boyfriend had the Surrey Passion made with passionfruit, vodka and rum, a super fruity sweet concoction and showstopper served with a flaming top!

Whilst we don’t usually get starters, we did order the salt-crusted sourdough bread to nibble alongside our cocktails. To our delight they served an entire loaf freshly warmed straight from the oven – sometimes the simple things done well are the most satisfying, it was exquisite.

For mains I actually went for two starters: Roasted Scallops served with crispy potato rösti, pea purée, parmesan sauce and grated truffle, accompanied by a big basket of the Zucchini Fritti. This was a tasty combination of flavours which I paired with a glass of their house white wine from Carinena, Spain.

My boyfriend ordered the Korean Glazed Chicken served with pickled mooli, sesame, avocado and jalapeño sauce, citrus mayonnaise as well as some thick cut chunky chips. Safe to say we devoured the lot and savoured every delectable bite.

Our evening at The Ivy Castle View was wonderful with everything from the drinks and food to the service and experience, it was a 10/10 for me.

The Ivy Collection has a number of restaurants in handpicked locations across the UK, serving modern British cuisine, reflecting the same inimitable service and vibrant surroundings for which The Ivy is loved and revered. A top destination for a boujee date night full of photo opportunities ❤

My Bubble Bath Moment

Now more than ever, self-care and prioritising our own well-being is crucial to surviving what has been a pretty rubbish year for us all. Whilst I’ve maintained a basic daily routine and kept active everyday in lockdown, I’ve also learnt to let myself rest, relax and just chill the hell out for once in my life!

When it comes to having a daily routine, it’s unattainable to be so strict and aim to live that perfect life every single day, something I’ve often expected of myself. This just results in further stress and disappointment when you’re not feeling up to it and can’t reach ambitious goals set upon yourself. Instead, aim to work towards a simple structure each day and make sure to have a little treat to look forward to too.

I’ve been loving baths lately as they aren’t something I usually have the time to enjoy properly. I set the mood with some scented candles, flowers and my Spotify ‘Chilled Tunes’ playlist for ultimate relaxation. My drink of choice is often a glass of wine as a weekend indulgence, otherwise a comforting mug of tea or hot chocolate is just perfect too.

A truly wonderful winter warmer, this is my heavenly bubble bath moment and I love every second of it ❤

What will be your self-care moment?