Tag: fridayfeels

A Night in the Cotswolds

April 14, 2024

This weekend I had the pleasure of being invited along with my boyfriend to stay at the De Vere Hotel Cotswold Water Park. Nestled in the heart of 152 lakes that spread across the unique Cotswolds Water Park, its the perfect escape from the city surrounded by the honey-coloured villages and gently rolling hills of The Cotswolds.

Arriving late on Friday afternoon, we were greeted with a bottle of English Sparkling wine and personalised robes in our room.

After a quick dip in the spa pool, we popped the bubbly and enjoyed a drink on our balcony overlooking the serene scenes of the lake.

A quick outfit change and I was ready for 7pm drinks. I wore a pair of white Topshop jeans, a lace peplum Miss Selfridge cami top, Django and Juliette black mules and my velvet green Sandro handbag.

Whilst enjoying our drinks and scrumptious canapés, we were shown around the gorgeous event spaces where we are looking to host an event later this year.

I really liked the main ballroom with exposed brickwork and lovely bright furnishings with a view over the lake.

At 8pm we were treated to a private seated dinner with our group of about 15 other clients. Starter was sharing antipasti boards which is my favourite kind of appetiser and they didn’t disappoint.

For main course I had the seabass with a miso broth and dessert was a delicious chocolate fondue. All the food was exquisite and the service impeccable.

Thank you to the sales team at De Vere Cotswold Water Park for hosting such a wonderful evening and looking after us so well during our stay.

I’d highly recommend a trip to The Cotswolds for a weekend staycay in the UK and this hotel is the perfect destination with plenty to do in the surrounding area too, including all the fun water-sports on the lakes during summer. To book, visit their website here – https://www.devere.co.uk/cotswold-water-park-hotel

Friday Fits; Day to Night

February 25, 2024

Happy Sunday! This week I’m sharing some outfit inspo for what feels like a never ending, rainy winter we find ourselves in here in England.

For my daytime look when working from home on Friday, I kept it very comfy and casual with a pair of grey flare leggings which I picked up in Primark this week and I’m loving, so now I’m keen to get a good quality pair from Alo or Tala. I then wore this camel knit jumper with cute backless detail and my Ugg platform slippers to complete the cosy fit.

To meet friends for drinks at the pub that evening, I changed into my Neuw black denim jeans tucked into these killer snake skin long boots, which I toned down with a simple knitted nude boxy fit cardigan with gold buttons. An oversized long grey trench coat from Na-kd kept me warm and dry from the rain.

I have to admit these boots are not my usual style, but they were on sale in Primark and I can see them being a fun piece for transitioning into spring paired with dresses, skirts and shorts. The key is to keep the rest of the outfit fairly simple and let the boots do the talking.
They’re giving Paris Texas vibes but at a fraction of the price, I’m obsessed ❤

Salty, Sweet & Always Spicy

February 11, 2024

When it comes to a cocktail, you can never go wrong with a classic Margarita. It’s definitely an acquired taste which I’ve grown to love as my palette has matured with age. Needless to say, but Margs are not for the faint hearted!

As I finished up work on Friday I had a Margarita on my mind, so me and my boyfriend decided to hit the local cocktail bar and welcome in the weekend with a few cheeky cocktails.

I prefer my Marg on the sweeter side with a strong kick of spice and this one didn’t disappoint, it was so delicious and satisfied my craving.

For our spontaneous date night I wore my Stradivarius dark wash flared jeans, a Cotton On tie front brown top, my cropped grey blazer and a pair of ASOS lace up maroon heels to complete the glam look.

Friday nights are my favourite so I was one happy girly with a Marg in hand and the whole weekend ahead of us.

Salty, sweet and always spicy; cheers to the weekend ❤

Friday Feels; A Summer’s Arvo in East London

July 30, 2023

Nothing beats that Friday feeling when you get to wrap up work tasks, close work emails and welcome in another weekend. This Friday my boyfriend and I went into East London to spend the afternoon at Spitalfields Market, before a dinner hosted by Epidemic Sounds at Ottolenghi Restaurant in Liverpool Street.

I love that summertime buzz in the city and it was fun to be back in the area of town which I used to live many years ago, back when I was doing my dance training.

Spitalfields Market has changed quite a lot since I last visited, so it was interesting to walk around and explore all the different markets and shops.

Cocktail hour was upon us, so we found this lovely looking restaurant and bar with outdoor seating just on the edge of the market, perfect for soaking up the atmosphere whilst people watching.

I couldn’t resist a Tommy’s Margarita which was perfectly sweet and salty with that spicy kick too, it was heavenly.

And what aperitif is complete without olives, right?

That right there is my ideal Friday arvo setup complete with live music playing in the market and that warm summer air, exquisite vibes.

My boyfriend got the fillet steak sandwich with caramelised onions and caesar dressed leaves.I had a taste and we both agreed this was absolutely outstanding, the best steak sandwich we’ve ever had!

Another round of drinks and before we knew it a few hours had passed, we were having such a wonderful time we didn’t want to leave.

For the occasion I wore this vibrant pink corset top from Zara, my straight cut Stradivarius jeans, a pair of khaki green mules from Next, a cropped grey blazer and my MiuMiu sunnies to complete the look.

We went for another stroll around the market as well as a few shops including All Saints, Nobody’s Child and Mulberry. Then before dinner we went for one more sunset drink at The Players Social.

We were kindly invited along to this influencer dinner by Epidemic Sounds who have collaborated with my boyfriend’s YouTube channel a lot over the years. It was a great opportunity to meet fellow creators and make some more connections in the YouTube community.

As I expected, the dinner was a mezze of small sharing plates including hummus, roasted vegetables, sea bream fillet and lamb koftas. The courgettes served with labneh, harissa tomato salsa and pine nuts was my favourite dish, accompanied with plenty of the hummus of course.

We finished with an assortment of cakes which were divine. Some great conversations were had and it was a fantastic networking opportunity meeting likeminded creators and influencers. Thanks again to Epidemic Sounds for inviting us along and hosting a wonderful dinner at Ottolenghi ❤

Life Lately; Sunshine State of Mind

June 4, 2023

English summer is well and truly here and I couldn’t be happier for my favourite season of the year ahead. There’s already lots of social events in the calendar for July and we’re kicking off our summer with a holiday to Kemar in Turkey at the end of this month, I can’t wait!

Friday evenings recently often look like this; we head to our local pub The Mutton where they have a stunning newly renovated garden overlooking the gorgeous Hampshire countryside. It really is the ideal setting for sundown drinks and the food is amazing too.

This week we celebrated my boyfriend’s mum’s birthday and so we invited his parents and grandma over to try our favourite vegan Mexican chilli bowls for a midweek dinner.

Our Mexican night went down a treat and we enjoyed a wonderful evening together as the sunset showered our dining room during golden hour.

I’ve also treated myself to some new pieces in my wardrobe this month which always gets me excited to try new outfits and looks. I’m loving my new velvet square toe mules perfect for wearing with flares, and this new taupe coloured top which is completely backless. Elevated basics are my go-to currently.

And of course next month my sister is due her baby and I’m thrilled to be an Auntie very soon. On Friday I invited her and her partner over for drinks in the garden to catchup and enjoy the evening sunshine. She’s looking radiant even now almost full term in pregnancy, I’m a very proud sister.

Today we went over to Farnham to see a car show which was a lovely weekend activity to get us up and out on a Sunday morning. It wasn’t as big as we’d anticipated, but the line up of red Ferraris basking in the sunshine was incredible.

I find summer is also a great opportunity to switch up my workout routine and get outside more. Moving my body everyday is a non-negotiable and with the warmer weather and longer days, I find myself more active with bike rides and walks as well as my daily home workouts.

So that pretty much sums up my life lately; lots of social occasions, family time, Fridays at the pub with friends, planning our summer holiday, getting outside and moving my body differently everyday, and enjoying those long summer evenings sipping a delicious drink in the garden at golden hour. You can’t go wrong with the Moth drinks for a good quality cocktail at home, perfection!

It’s a sunshine state of mind ❤

Raving; It’s a State of Mind

August 1, 2021

With it being the legend that is Annie Mac’s last ever show on BBC Radio One on Friday night, it was time to head back to the club finally and put on my dancing shoes for the first time since lockdown.

Stepping foot back into our local club sure was surreal but then again felt like no time had passed. Whilst we’ve been unable to party together over the past year and a half, music has continued to unite us and keep us sane during such difficult times. Whether you’re in a club surrounded by friends or dancing alone in your bedroom, in the words of Annie Mac – ‘Raving is a state of mind.’ Now let’s dance!

Lakeside; Dinner with a View

June 27, 2021

Al fresco dining is always such a wonderful luxury this time of year, so I’ll always opt for a table outside at the pub when the sun does decide to show up here in the UK. Whilst I do love a classic English pub garden, nothing quite beats a good view and a spot over looking the water.

One of the best destinations in the Hampshire area for a beautiful backdrop has to be Heron on the Lake in Fleet. Their outdoor terrace right on the water is stunning and made for the perfect Friday night dinner date this week. The atmosphere was buzzing as the pub filled up with locals winding down after the working week and the late summer sun slowly set over the lake. I enjoyed a few glasses of vino with my boyfriend and we had a delicious dinner with top service from our waiter too. I had the summer salad containing a mix of asparagus, cucumber ribbons, peas, radish, pomegranate seeds, green leaves, a lemongrass dressing and a chargrilled chicken breast on top. Light and delicate with a fresh assortment of seasonal vegetables, this was an exquisite dish.

We continued to enjoy our drinks whilst taking in that beautiful view and soaking up the social atmosphere once more. It sure does feel good to be wining and dining again, the way a Friday night should be spent.

Cheers to the weekend babes!

Friday Feels; All Black Everything

May 23, 2021

As I get back into the swing of full-time work again and we can finally socialise once more, I was truly feeling those Friday high vibes as my second week back to work came to a close.

No messing about, I was at the pub by 6pm with a drink in hand and ready for an overdue catchup with my girls. The place was buzzing and it was amazing to get a taste of normal life again!

I opted to go back to black for my Friday night look. Simple, classic and sexy, you just can’t go wrong in all black everything.

A few hours later and a couple glasses of wine down, it was time to go for dinner with my boyfriend. We went to another one of our favourite pubs ‘The Crown and Cushion’, funnily enough the last place we ate out at during Christmas before this lockdown!

This pub does my boyfriend’s favourite ribs in the area, so it was a must to visit as soon as restaurant dining opened back up. I got a chicken caesar salad and sweet potato fries accompanied with more vino of course…

Then to finish I simply couldn’t resist my guilty pleasure, an Espresso Martini. Coffee, sugar and alcohol all in one, I really have missed the dark temptation of my favourite night-cap. Bring on the Friyay feels ❤

New Horizons

May 16, 2021

‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone’ – a quote that could be applicable to many areas of life, but at this moment for me personally, it’s led to me pursuing a new career path. Following almost two years in my role as Events Assistant at the Four Seasons, unfortunately the pandemic has meant I’ve actually been working elsewhere in the hotel as Hostess in the restaurant for more time than I’d been doing my events job… and there was still no sign of the assistant role coming back anytime soon!

It was time to take matters into my own hands as I was unfulfilled Hostessing at the hotel, a job I hadn’t signed up for and was only meant to be doing for a short while until events finally opened back up. However this pandemic continues to disrupt all areas of life over a year on and it remains unclear how soon events will be back to full capacity at the hotel. So whilst I’m extremely grateful for my ongoing employment at the Four Seasons during such pressing times, I’ve taken the plunge and resigned from my position to embark on another exciting opportunity which has come my way.

After sending out numerous CVs to administrational and assistant roles in my local area, I was thrilled to get an interview for a Personal Assistant job just a five minute drive down the road. With both a highly successful vintage fashion label and property investments to be managed, it sounded like the varied and diverse role I was looking for. With my many years of experience in the field of admin assistance and being a proactive, super organised individual with a passion for style, it was meant to be!

Whilst leaving the security of a great job was daunting, I had my next move all lined up and left the Four Seasons on great terms as they fully understood the unique circumstances Covid has caused. I certainly did time it just right as the hotel reopens on May 17th which would’ve been a gruelling return to work on those horrendous shift hours I used to loath. I much prefer a regular 9-5 job as I like to unwind in the evenings and truly live for my weekends 😉

Week one down as PA and whilst there’s a lot to learn at this stage, I’m already finding my groove and loving the varied nature of the role as no day is ever the same. Friday finally rolled around and after leaving the office a little later to get on top of my tasks ready for Monday, that Friyay glass of vino at the pub tasted better than ever before.

Cheers to fresh beginnings and new horizons ❤