Our afternoon exploring the West Village started long before we ever set foot in its leafy streets.
On the way downtown, we made a quick stop at the iconic Grand Central Station to grab some shots.
That celestial ceiling and the constant ballet of travellers moving beneath it makes this place feel magical.
As another location where many films are shot, it almost felt like we were on set starring in our own movie.
From there, we hopped on the subway and made our way to the West Village in search of the Friends apartment building on Bedford Street.
As a longtime Friends show fan seeing it in person was surreal, like stepping straight into the TV screen I grew up watching on repeat.
It’s funny how a simple building can hold so much nostalgia.
Every corner of this neighbourhood looks like it has been pulled from a movie set; brownstones with perfectly worn stoops, tree-lined streets, tiny cafés with outdoor tables, and endless photo-worthy pockets of charm.
We didn’t manage to find Carrie Bradshaw’s actual apartment from Sex and the City, but we did stumble across a stoop that looked almost identical.
Naturally, I couldn’t resist getting a few fun outfit snaps.
I was even wearing a Carrie Bradshaw inspired fit: a chic shift dress, my favourite sand coloured long boot heels, my new Polène handbag, and classic YSL black sunnies to complete the look.
As the afternoon went on, we kept discovering more of the West Village’s character. Quiet pockets of calm, stylish locals walking their dogs, bookstores tucked into corners, and that unmistakable creative buzz that only New York seems to have.
There’s so much more to see and I can’t wait to wander those streets again on our next trip, latte in hand, camera at the ready, soaking in every inch of that West Village charm ❤
When visiting a new city we always like to book the hop-on hop-off Big Bus Tours as they’re a cheap and easy way to get around to see all of the major tourist attractions. On the third day of our trip we booked the tickets which last 24 hours so we could split the tour across two days, so here is what we saw on the second half of the bus tour.
Just around the corner from our hotel was Times Square so we had to start by hopping off here to get some shots.
As expected, Times Square is a very busy and hectic tourist trap, so we got our photos and quickly got back on the bus.
Next we made a stop on Broadway as I wanted to visit the Polene store.
I’d had my eye on the Numero Neuf mini handbag for a while and so I finally made the purchase.
I opted for the colour Sable as a neutral tone to go with lots of outfits.
I even got the strap monogrammed with my initials as a complimentary service with purchase.
From Broadway we went a few more stops on the bus down to the Financial District where the new One World Trade Center stands.
I did find it quite upsetting to see the 911 memorial site where the twin towers used to stand, but it has to be done when in New York for the first time.
We hopped back on the bus and went up the west side of town where we got off at Hudson Yards to walk along The Highline.
The Highline is a 1.45 mile long elevated park and greenway created on a former New York Central Railroad.
Along the way we saw The Vessel, an impressive honeycomb like sculpture of interconnected staircases designed by British designer Thomas Heatherwick.
It’s a brilliant way to see the city as the path weaves between buildings to provide unique views and perspectives.
Towards the end of The Highline, we came off to go to Chelsea Market for some lunch.
A bit like Borough Market in London but inside a former factory building, Chelsea Market features many restaurants and food vendors from a wide variety of cuisines.
As soon as my boyfriend saw the Currywurst, that was decision made for his lunch.
You can take the boy out of Germany, but you can’t take the German out of the boy!
After lunch we then went for a stroll around the Chelsea neighbourhood as I wanted to get some aesthetic street style pics.
The exposed fire escapes and stoops on the houses in Chelsea are what characterises this part of Manhattan, making it the perfect spot to photograph street style.
With the weather still so mild and warm for October, I wore my smart white shorts paired with a brown tank from C’est Normal, a silk Le Scarf around my neck, Dior sliders, Marc Jacobs tote bag and YSL sunnies to complete this chic, daytime city look.
It was the perfect day to walk along The Highline and it’s something I definitely recommend doing if the weather permits during your trip to NYC.
As mentioned, Times Square is not my idea of fun but a great one to tick off the bucket list.
The Chelsea neighbourhood was so trendy and cool, so I would like to explore it more on another trip to the city as we only got to see the area around the market.
As always, the Big Bus Tours didn’t disappoint in providing a relatively cheap and convenient way to get around and see the sights of New York City ❤
With Central Park being right on our doorstep at the Park Lane Hotel, we decided to spend our Sunday afternoon exploring the park on bikes before enjoying some classic American bagels overlooking the lake.
We hired push bikes from a kiosk just outside of the park and cycled up the east side on the dedicated bike lanes they have all around the park.
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon in late September and the weather was still warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt, so I wore my Tommy Hilfigure boyfriend style shorts, a stripy low back top, my Stradivarius cage toe mules, my Coach handbag worn across body and MiuMiu sunnies to complete the look.
We took a short detour out of the park to the Upper East Side where I wanted to go for the famous Tompkins Square Bagels.
The choice of bagel flavours and different fillings was incredible, so the server kindly let us try some different cream cheeses to help make our decision.
With the bagels secured, we packed them in the bike basket and cycled back to Central Park.
We made our way around to the west side of the park where we found the big lake looking glorious in the afternoon sun.
After finding a bench with a nice view, we unwrapped our bagels and savoured every last bite as we soaked up the wonderful views of Central Park.
For our bagels we ordered one savoury and one sweet.
Our savoury choice was the everything seasoning bagel lightly toasted with a scallion and red onion cream cheese filling.
The sweet bagel was blueberry flavoured with a nutella and peanut butter cream cheese filling which was divine!
I couldn’t wait to try my first Poppi drink which I’ve seen lots of American influencers rave about and we were not disappointed, the orange flavour was delish.
Bagels devoured and tummies full, we hopped back on the bikes and made our way to the South end of the park to return the bikes.
This was the perfect way to spend a glorious Sunday afternoon in New York and I’d highly recommend renting bikes to explore Central Park as it is so big! I would say it was one of my favourite parts of New York ❤
Every year I like to book in a city break as part of our travel diary, so this year we decided on a trip to New York at the end of September. I’ve never been to NYC and my boyfriend went when he was much younger, so it’s a place we are super excited to explore together.
We’ll be staying at The Park Lane Hotel right by Central Park with a gorgeous rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline and the park.
I’ve grown up watching Friends and I’m now in my Sex & The City era, so I’ll definitely be channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw prancing around the city in cute outfits.
As one of the fashion capitals of the world, shopping in New York is a must and top of my list is the iconic Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue for some ultra luxury retail therapy, and Chelsea for markets and thrift shops.
Being a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, a Breakfast at Tiffany’s moment would be my dream; pretending I’m Holly Golightly with my takeaway coffee and croissant browsing the glistening windows of Tiffany’s.
The food scene in NYC is incredible too with so much to choose from whether its street food like bagels and pizza slices, or aesthetic brunch spots and glamorous rooftop bars.
Some places I’ve pinned to try so far are Leon’s Bagels, L’Industrie Pizza, Saddle’s for brunch and 230 Fifth Rooftop for drinks with a view.
My favourite way to explore a new city is on foot, so I can’t wait to discover the many different neighbourhoods for ourselves. And not forgetting the most famous spots we’ll have to visit during our time in the city including Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Empire State, Grand Central Station and Central Park.
We only have a week there, so planning our days will be key to seeing as much as possible. I’m sure it’s going to be an intense but fabulous time in NYC which will leave us wanting to go back to see more ❤
With my brother and his family having moved to Singapore at the beginning of this year, we decided to reschedule our flights home from Bali and stopover for two days in the city. It was a joy to see them settled into their new home and so exciting to explore this brilliant city for ourselves.
We were so impressed with how clean everywhere is and the minimal amount of cars on the roads means there’s barely any traffic throughout the day.
To see as much of the city as possible, we went on the open top tour bus which was glorious in the sunshine.
For lunch we stopped at the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel and went to their rooftop Italian restaurant Lavo.
That evening we were given the authentic Singapore local experience with dinner at a hawker centre called Lau Pa Sat in the centre of town.
There are lots of different food vendors serving street food which you can eat in a community dining space together in the middle. We had some dumplings and then shared this massive plate of crispy vegetable noodles, washed down with a few jugs of beer of course.
That night we went back to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel for rooftop cocktails at C’est La Vie bar, before walking around Gardens By The Bay all lit up at night, making us feel like we’d been transported to outer space.
This was a truly unique, other worldly experience which I’d say is a must to see if you’re visiting Singapore.
The next day was a little overcast so instead of going to the orchid garden as planned, we went down to the Marina Square Shopping Centre to browse the luxurious designer shops.
We were a bit peckish so grabbed a late lunch at Yardbird overlooking the Marina. We shared a deliciously hearty steak sandwich with yummy pickles and salty chippies.
Whilst the endless options of designer shops was tempting, I ended up making a small purchase in Zara and treated myself to this cute, pink skort.
Our final meal with my brother and his family was at their favourite local Greek restaurant Bakalaki Tavern.
I wore my new pink skort and we had the most wonderful evening celebrating our short but sweet visit to Singapore.
My niece is growing so quickly and she was as adorable as ever practicing her words at the table.
We had dips and pitta to start and I opted for a traditional Greek feta salad for main which was divine. I’ve had my fair share of Greek salads and they never come close to my own homemade recipe, but this one was certainly up there.
And so we said our goodbyes and I had my final snuggles with my beautiful niece, before we grabbed our suitcases and got a taxi to the airport.
Our experience of Singapore was fantastic and we will no doubt be returning again soon for a longer trip to see more of the city and spend time with my family too ❤
And so we find ourselves commencing the final week of our time here in Canggu. I knew the few months we are here would fly by and it definitely has, but it also feels like we’ve been here forever and its become a place we call home.
We’ve certainly made the most of this adventure and experienced the very best that Bali has to offer.
From exciting day trips to see the most breathtaking natural beauty at Leke Leke Waterfall,
and trekking around the luscious green jungle at Teglalang Rice Terrace in Ubud,
to working from the many gorgeously aesthetic cafes,
serving the most delicious healthy vegan food,
and scooting down to watch sunset on the iconic Echo Beach.
I have an extensive list of our favourite cafes, restaurants, bars and beach clubs, so I’ll have to do a future blog post on my personal recommendations for if you’re visiting Canggu too.
But for now we have a whole week ahead of us to enjoy and soak up every moment of the blissful Bali life before we return to the UK via Singapore.
Happy Sunday! We’re winding down after another awesome week here in Bali, so I thought I’d share some highlights of our trip to the island of Nusa Penida yesterday. I booked the trip with a local via Instagram and the total cost was 950k IDR per person, which is just under £50. Comparing this to prices online it seemed the best deal which is usually the case if you book through the locals.
Our day started bright and early with pickup from our villa at 6am to get to the port where the boat was departing at 7am. It took about 45 minutes to get over to the island of Penida where our driver for the day was ready to greet us.
First stop was Diamond Beach, an absolute paradise on earth with the white sand beach and crystal clear turquoise water. We trekked down the precarious stairs to walk along the beach, but you are not allowed to swim as the tide is too dangerous.
Salty toes and that warm ocean breeze was heavenly.
Next stop was the Thousand Island viewpoint where there is the famous instagram spot Tree House Molenteng. Unfortunately they make you pay for a photo here and there was a very long wait, so with the peak midday humidity we decided to pass on this.
It was then a long hour and a half car journey through the jungle roads to Kelingking Beach.
Another jaw dropping view out over the cliffs where many tourists come to get that iconic Instagram snap.
The tropical rain had started at this point so we didn’t walk very far down, but the view from the top overlooking Kelingking cliff faces was magnificent.
1:30pm and it was time for a well deserved lunch at a local Warung, also included in the cost of our trip. I had a fresh garden salad with a coffee and my boyfriend had a tasty sweet and sour chicken dish with rice.
With a long journey back to Bali mainland ahead of us, we caught the fast boat back from the island at 3pm and were driven home to our villa again. Bali traffic, particularly in Canggu gets hectic at rush hour, so it was 5:30pm by the time we arrived back at Casa Cherish.
A long day of travelling and hiking, but very much worth it to have seen these iconic natural wonders of Bali.
Diamond Beach was the highlight for me; it’s pure paradise which got me in a tropical state of mind ❤
As a haven for the super rich and a playground for tourists, Monaco is a truly unique country located on the picturesque Cote d’Azur.
Visiting in late September, the weather was mild but still warm making it the perfect temperature for walking around and exploring the city on foot.
We stayed in an Air BnB on the boarder in Beausoleil, just a 10 minute walk to the central square of Monte Carlo and equally close to Monaco Beach.
On our first evening we strolled to the famous Monte Carlo Casino Square where there was a line-up of supercars including a Rolls Royce and a classic red Ferrari.
We then made our way down to the harbour to spot those mega yachts as the sunset over the mountains.
My all white fit with a touch of blue stripes was giving nautical vibes, very fitting for our first evening in Monaco harbour.
On our second day we took an open top bus tour to explore the entire country and see the most iconic tourist attractions.
Whenever we visit a new city we always try to take a hop-on hop-off tour, as they are the best way to discover the best spots and helps get our bearings.
It was amazing to see Monte Carlo from above when walking around the palace grounds.
We wandered around the Prince’s palace and surrounding area where we also stumbled upon the Cathedral and Monaco Museum.
Continuing on the bus tour, we saw the second harbour with yet more incredible super yachts and epic boats.
We completed the tour back towards the centre of Monte Carlo where we found the famed hair pin corner on the route of the F1 track.
People gather on this corner to spot the many supercars casually driving around Monaco; I’ve never seen so many Lamborghinis and Ferraris in one place!
Despite it being a built up city, Monaco has many stunning gardens providing a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds.
There is even a beautiful Japanese Garden complete with serene seating areas overlooking the ponds and waterfalls.
I felt very European, French Riviera in my striped shorts, white babydoll crop top, silk neck scarf and basket bag.
The streets of Monaco are so clean and pristine, there’s not an inch out of place.
On the Saturday night we went down to the beach front for golden hour drinks and date night dinner.
I wore this figure hugging floor length floral dress paired with my Senso heeled mules, By Alona pearl necklace, oversized floral earrings and crochet clutch bag.
Feeling very sophisticated, very demure ❤
We were told that the French village of Eze was a must to visit during our time in Monaco too.
Just a 15 minute bus ride out of Monaco, Eze was easy to get to and a lovely day trip out of the city.
We walked around the historic streets of the small village built upon a hill above Monaco and visited Le Jardin Exotique with sweeping views of the South coast.
We concluded our day trip to Eze with lunch at a traditional brasserie complete with gorgeous wine and sunshine of course.
There’s no denying it, Monaco is literally an adult’s playground for the rich and wealthy.
Everywhere you turn there’s another supercar and the price to eat and drink out certainly matched the calibre of guests!
On our final night we browsed the car dealership windows lusting after the awesome new models gleaming back at us.
I wore my C’est Normal forever pants paired with a backless halter neck top, my Abbott Lyon gold chain necklace, square toe nude mule heels and Sandro green velvet handbag.
We had to take a final stroll to Monte Carlo Casino Square on our last night and see what supercars were in the lineup.
And with that I strutted out of Monte Carlo Square in style marking the end to an amazing long weekend in Monaco.
We loved our short but sweet time in the unique principality of Monaco. Perhaps next time we’ll drive from the UK to the South of France in our very own supercar… that would be the dream ❤
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 ❤
Working in events, part of my job involves venue finding and hotel visits to scope out the best suited venues for our guests. This weekend I was kindly invited for a two night complimentary stay along with a guest to Cheshire’s Country Estate, Carden Park Hotel & Spa. With an itinerary of outdoor activities including zip lining, a gameshow gala dinner with drinks reception, and a full spa morning at their award winning spa, we were in for a fun few days experiencing the very best of Carden Park.
Arriving on Friday evening after a long four hour drive all the way from Hampshire, me and my boyfriend checked in and were greeted with a bag of treats, a bottle of their own estate sparkling wine, and this delightful dessert platter.
We unpacked and headed straight for the pool to relax and unwind following our long road trip.
A pre-dinner jacuzzi dip was the perfect way to welcome in the weekend ahead.
Soon it was time to get ready for our dinner date in Redmond’s Brasserie at 8pm.
I wore my Topshop flared split hem black trousers with this blue corset bardot top, my Boohoo electric blue mules and my new green velvet Sandro handbag.
We were generously gifted our meal along with a bottle of wine too, so we had the house red and started with the spiced butternut squash soup whilst we browsed the menu.
I opted for a favourite of mine, Caesar salad served with king prawns, whilst my boyfriend had the steak burger topped with onion rings and served with thin fries.
The restaurant was buzzing on a Friday night and despite being fully booked, the staff were attentive and the food was very nice indeed.
After dinner we went for a nightcap at the bar where we got cocktails, before heading to our room to watch Graham Norton on TV; can’t miss out on our Friday night winter tradition!
Saturday morning we awoke to the most gorgeous sunny day in Cheshire and this picture perfect view over the estate grounds from our hotel room.
We met our hosts from the hotel at 9am in the library and made our way over to the activity centre for a morning of team building games.
The activities were a mixture of logical puzzles and physical games, so there was something for everyone and it was a brilliant ice breaker to get to know everyone else on the FAM trip.
After a hot chocolate back inside to warm up, we got geared up and ready to take on the giant zip line.
Whilst it was a little nerve racking jumping off the platform, this was an awesome experience and amazing way to see right across the estate from up there. We couldn’t have been more lucky with the sunshine too, what a day for it!
At midday we had a buffet lunch and then we went back to our room to freshen up, before heading out for the afternoon to explore the local area.
For our trip into Chester I wore my Stradivarius vintage flared jeans paired with a white long sleeve pearl button through top, my Le Scarf neckerchief, a Zara cropped aviator shearling jacket, classic DKNY handbag, and my platform chelsea boot Uggs which I’m living in this winter.
Carden Park even has its own sculpture garden which we had to take a look around before heading into town.
Just a short 20 minute drive away from the hotel is the historical city of Chester with its picturesque streets lined with boutique shops, cute cafes, eclectic bars and different restaurants.
After a stroll around the magnificent Cathedral and a spot of shopping too, we stumbled across this hidden bar located down one of the many quaint alleyways which are tucked away off the main high-street.
Weekend vibes were in full swing and I was in my element sipping my bubbly as we soaked up our surroundings and the buzzing atmosphere of Chester on a Saturday arvo.
My purchase of the day was this Ganni beanie from Flannels which I’ve had my eye on for a while, so it was meant to be when I saw it.
Back at the hotel, we got ready for the drinks reception in the Shooting Suite at 7pm.
I loved the smart, tonal colours of my outfit on this evening featuring my C’est Normal brown tailored trousers, Missguided blush pink tie front blouse, a pair of Next square toe nude mules, these fabulous gold statement earrings, and not forgetting my velvet green Sandro handbag to complete the glam look.
Upon arrival to the drinks reception we were served a pink gin fizz cocktail and canapés to whet our appetite.
The dinner was hosted gameshow style, so the four tables of ten went up against each other throughout the evening to be crowned winners. Unfortunately our table didn’t win, but we gave it a good shot with second place and had a laugh together in the process.
We were treated to a four course menu curated by Executive Chef Graham Tinsley MBE, who talked us through the journey and details of each course too.
To start was a fish dish of pan fried mullet with bouillabaisse sauce, saffron potatoes, rouille emulsion, garlic croutes and tempura mussels.
Main course was this exquisite roast rack of Welsh lamb with a dijon mustard and herb crust, caramelised Chou rave puree, confit Chou rave, turned carrot and Navarin sauce.
Chef even carved this in the room and it smelt divine, what a showstopper!
Dessert was a delectable reverse chocolate fondant with a liquid Cointreau centre and a yoghurt sorbet.
And not forgetting the cheese course of brie a la truffe with a savoury pain perdu, quince jelly and puree. A serious tasting experience which I won’t be forgetting anytime soon, hats off to the chef!
The next day we had a morning session at the award winning Spa at Carden Park.
Whilst it was a cold and rainy day outside, the thermal outdoor pools and jacuzzis kept us warm.
Back inside I relaxed on a lounger with my favourite high fashion magazines.
Warmed in a panoramic sauna or basking in the outdoor vitality pool, this was the perfect Sunday morning reset.
The sleek, scandi style design is very aesthetically pleasing and creates the ideal atmosphere of calm and zen you want from a spa.
A final champagne brunch was then served at 12pm in the Elements restaurant, where we dined in our robes and regrouped with the other guests.
I had a refreshing mix of red berries, melon and pineapple with greek yoghurt and a long black coffee. I also tried the Carden estate sparkling wine which was delicious, a lot smoother than a typical champagne or prosecco.
It was then time to checkout and say our farewells to the wonderful team at Carden and our lovely fellow attendees on the FAM stay.
We had a truly tremendous weekend being treated to the very best that Carden Park Hotel & Spa has to offer. From the friendly staff and exceptional culinary experiences, to the plethora of fun activities and charming Cheshire countryside surroundings, I would highly recommend a stay at Carden Park Hotel & Spa.
Thanks again to the team for their kind hospitality this weekend ❤
Dani Aneka 