Happy Sunday from a beautiful spring summer day in Hampshire. We landed back in the UK on Thursday following a two day stopover in Singapore to see my brother and his family. We had a wonderful time exploring the city and spending quality time with my family which was very much needed, following a very unlucky and terrifying incident which took place during our final week in Bali…
On Wednesday 26th February, I was attacked by a pack of approximately 20 dogs on Batu Bolong Beach at sunset and bitten three times on the calves of my legs. Thankfully I managed to limp away and we got to a hospital to get my legs stitched up and the necessary vaccinations. We are still shocked at this incident which was unprovoked and caught us completely by surprise, but it’s opened our eyes to the ongoing issues they have with the stray dogs in Bali.
In spite of the dog incident, nothing can takeaway from the awesome two months we spent in Bali and the incredible memories we made there. I suppose I can be grateful that this did happen in the final week of our trip so we didn’t have to sacrifice any planned activities and didn’t have to cut our stay short either.
It was very inconvenient to not be able to walk properly for those final days in Canggu and we spent a lot of time at the hospital getting my treatment following the attack, but we didn’t let that stop us enjoying our favourite cafes, beach clubs and restaurants during our last weekend on the island.
On Monday 3rd March we checked out of our gorgeous Villa Casa Cherish and took a short flight over to Singapore for our two day stopover with family. I will share more about our few days exploring Singapore in next week’s post and there will be a Singapore Vlog over on my YouTube channel soon too – https://youtube.com/@danianeka6142?si=4QX_kc38umVrcCvH
So whilst our two month stay in Bali ended on an upsetting note, it doesn’t taint the dream experience we had of living on the island of paradise for two months.
From the fun surf sessions and breathtaking sunsets, to the delicious foodie scene and lovely locals, Bali will always hold a special place in our hearts ❤
26.01.25; celebrating my 30th year around the sun on the wonderful Island of Gods, Bali.
I might be entering my thirties but I really do feel like a twenty year old at heart still.
We kicked off celebrations on Friday evening with a stunning sunset at the iconic La Brisa on Echo Beach.
For dinner we went to another awesomely aesthetic spot in Canggu Penny Lane.
It was the Ubud health bowl for me and a hearty buttermilk chicken burger for my boyfriend.
On Saturday I treated myself to a blow dry at The Rustic Sun Canggu as it’s less than £15 pounds here in Bali!
That afternoon we went to a new beach club Luna and soaked up the scorching sunshine, whilst dipping in and out of pools and lounging in our private pod sipping cocktails.
For dinner I changed into my new Flook The Label beach dress, a birthday gift from my boyfriend which I chose last week in their boutique in Pererenan.
Luna beach club comes alive at night too with spectacular lights and even a fire show.
Sunday 26th January, my actual birthday, I awoke to the cutest surprise from my boyfriend.
He organised with the villa manager to decorate the pool with a happy birthday message, balloons and even a floating breakfast.
This was truly the best way to welcome in my 30th birthday.
After a very chilled day relaxing at the villa my the pool, we headed down to Batu Bolong Beach to catch sundown.
Our third magnificent sunset in a row and the perfect way to see out my big birthday weekend.
We enjoyed a nice dinner at The Lawn where I had my favourite classic Caesar salad with prawns.
The night finished at Deus Ex Machina Sunday sessions live music and 241 cocktails of course.
Mood for my thirties; Happy. Content. Staying in my own lane. Healing. Freeing. Flourishing. Growing. Glowing ❤
January is here and with it comes the opportunity to reflect on the year that’s been, celebrate achievements and set new goals for the year ahead. Before drawing up my resolutions for 2025, I took a moment to review my 2024 list by annotating each point to highlight my successes.
Moving onto my 2025 resolutions, I have decided to keep this year’s list simple with a handful of important intentions as opposed to specific goals to reach. It can be daunting to look at the year ahead and know exactly what you would like to achieve, so instead I have chosen to focus on more significant habits and intentions to guide me through the next twelve months.
I have also made my 2025 mood board to gain a visual resource of inspiration for 2025. This year’s board includes more travel, health, fitness, reading, love, happiness and plenty of positive affirmations.
Screenshot
So that’s my reflection on 2024 and new goals set for 2025; I can’t wait to see what the new year has in store for me in my 30th year ❤
Friday 26th January 2024, my 29th Birthday and entering the final year of my twenties!
Waking up on Friday morning, it was a gloriously sunny day with clear blue skies and a crisp winters chill in the air as I took my morning walk.
I was working from home for the day, so I decided to move to the sofa for the afternoon and put ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ on as I enjoyed my coffee and answered emails.
Once 5pm rolled around and work was wrapped up for the week, I got myself glammed up and ready for an evening of celebrations.
My Birthday fit was a pair of flared tailored black trousers from Zara, a dusty pink bandeau also from Zara, my silk Le Scarf neckerchief, a cropped nude cardigan with gold buttons, my ASOS lace up maroon heels, plenty of gold jewellery to accessorise, a vintage Jaegar green oversized blazer to keep me warm and my Sandro velvet green handbag to complete the look.
At 6pm I went to our local pub for a drink with my Dad, where they gave me a glass of bubbles on the house and even brought out a Happy Birthday brownie.
We then had 8:30pm reservations at The Ivy Asia in Guildford, so my boyfriend kindly drove me and my parents there after we finished catching up with friends at the pub.
I always love visiting The Ivy Asia with its opulent interiors and buzzing atmosphere, especially on a Friday night.
We started with duck pancakes for the table before ordering a number of their smaller sharer plates.
We had all sorts of dishes from spicy tuna sushi rolls and king prawn skewers, to Korean fried chicken bites and claypot chickpea pepper curry. Every mouthful was so delicously flavoursome and my parents even said it was the best Asian meal they’d ever had!
Saturday morning we got out early to go to Bicester Village designer outlet in Oxford.
The shopping day cute and cosy look was a pair of Stradivarius blue flared jeans, an off shoulder brown jumper, my platform Ugg boots, an earthy tone wool scarf which I got for my Birthday, my Coach signature print cross body bag, a faux fur black Ugg coat and my favourite khaki baker boy hat from Mango.
Being a weekend, the shops were quite busy and unlike my previous visit to Bicester, there wasn’t much that was particularly jumping out at me.
We couldn’t leave empty handed though and I needed a Birthday gift from my boyfriend, so I was thrilled to find a the perfect gold ring from Monica Vinader to add to my jewellery collection.
Later that evening we were invited over to my parents house with my brother, his wife and my adorable niece Layla who I had lots of cuddles with, I just love being an Auntie!
My mum cooked her famous Spaghetti Bolognese and I did what I do best making a big salad of rocket, cherry tomatoes, avocado, parmesan shavings and balsamic vinegar. Good company, home cooked food and divine red wine, this made me a very happy girly.
Before I knew it, Sunday was here and I spent the afternoon with more family including my other darling niece and my wonderful Grandma. This card from my sister was brilliant, it’ll be a right laugh trying those poses next time I’m having a cocktail.
So that concludes my 29th Birthday celebrations and I couldn’t be more grateful of where I am at this time in my life. I want to embrace this final year of my twenties and look forward to another 12 months of growth, learning and achievements; cheers to chapter 29 ❤
If like the majority of people you find the start of January a struggling time to get motivated, then I’ve got some tips on how to set realistic goals and take the steps to successfully achieve them.
Whilst being ambitious and moving the goal posts for yourself in the new year is brilliant, it’s key to remember that doing your best looks different every day. So if you have particular fitness aspirations or you are learning a new skill which takes time, there will be positive days when you find yourself feeling really strong or creatively inspired, but inevitably there will also be those periods of time you lack energy or enthusiasm. Just trust the process and be kind to yourself when you’re having one of those dips in motivation because it will return.
Don’t let any obstacles become an excuse for not showing up everyday. For example if your goal is to workout 6 times a week, plan ahead and schedule your workouts, know what exercises or routine you are doing each day in the upcoming week, and have your gym gear out and ready the night before. It’s all about setting yourself up for success.
So ask yourself, what is stopping me from reaching my goals? Break it down and set achievable steps towards making your dreams a reality. The journey won’t be linear and you have to be ready for all the ups and downs along the road, but know exactly what you want, envision getting it, and never give up on yourself; a positive mindset will never fail you.
Go get it girls and lets make 2024 another year of growth, success and fulfilment ❤
And so we find ourselves in that strange time between Christmas and New Years when you don’t know what day of the week it is and we hurtle towards the end of the year. During this time I like to take a moment to reflect on the year that has passed and celebrate my achievements, before setting my goals for the next 12 months ahead.
Looking back over the year I’ve achieved a lot; from getting laser eye surgery and investing more in my health, to reading books again and visiting lots of amazing corners of the world I’ve never been before.
It’s not all about specific goals though, I like to include general resolutions on my list for the year ahead like nurturing relationships and remaining grateful.
I also use Pinterest to create a visual mood board for my aspirations and goals. Here I find inspiring and motivational quotes to refer back to over the year too, such as ‘we are creators of our own luck.’
Whilst I didn’t quite tick off every single goal for 2023, sometimes the universe might have alternative plans for you, so I always just trust the timing of my life.
A lot changes in a year too, so never be hard on yourself if resolutions from the year past no longer align with your overall goals in life.
I’ve also found journalling this year a really helpful tool for getting my thoughts in order and accepting everyday is not perfect, but there is always something to be grateful for.
So upon sitting down this afternoon and writing up my resolutions and goals for 2024, I wanted to make my list ambitious yet achievable and not overwhelming.
The majority of these resolutions are things I already do, I just want to continue the growth and progression I’ve made in 2023 and thrive even more in 2024.
I have a feeling 2024 is going to be my happiest year yet living life on my terms with a loving heart and grateful soul; see you in the New Year ❤
It’s now just two weeks until Christmas and the festivities were in full swing this weekend as I hosted my friends for our very own ‘Friendsmas’ on Saturday evening.
Having done the food shop earlier in the week, I had the day to clean and prep the house, before collecting the chicken from our local village butchers that afternoon.
I laid the table using my favourite gold cutlery and black dinnerware from Next. I brought these pretty mistletoe napkins from Waitrose and the traditional red crackers from Sainsbury’s to complete the festive place settings.
In the lounge I laid out some trays of nibbles and set the festive mood with our Christmas tree lights and a Christmas playlist from Spotify; cosy and welcoming ready for my guests arriving at 5pm.
I kept my outfit simple with a pair of Topshop black flared pants, a brown tie front top, my favourite maxi cardigan, fluffy slider slippers and a cute bow in my hair to bring the look together. With a night of cooking and hosting ahead of me, comfort was key.
First course was the cheeseboards and with everyone having brought a cheese each, there was plenty to go around. In my opinion, a Christmas cheeseboard isn’t complete without a Wensleydale and cranberry, a soft cheese like brie and a super strong aged cheddar.
The main event was of course a traditional English roast dinner with all the trimmings. Everyone was assigned a dish or two to bring for the dinner which made my job as host so much easier, I could just focus on cooking the chicken. I loosely followed a recipe I found online which included roasting it with onion, garlic, lemon, rosemary, thyme and a mixture of melted butter, white wine and lemon juice which I poured on top of the chicken right before cooking. I cooked it for an hour covered in tin foil, then a further half an hour uncovered, before leaving it to rest for 20 minutes.
Once all the dishes were heated, we kept them warm on the hotplate and everyone helped themselves, before we carved the magnificent chicken at the table. It was an absolute feast and everyone’s contribution was very much appreciated, fabulous team work girlies!
We had a delightful spread of crispy roast potatoes, creamy cauliflower cheese, sweet honey roast parsnips & carrots, spiced red cabbage, chestnut stuffing, garlic butter broccoli, sprouts sautéed with bacon, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire puds, lots of gravy and I even made my favourite accompaniment to a roast, bread sauce. Safe to say, we were all in a food coma after dinner and had to retreat back into the living room for a break before our final course.
Dessert was courtesy of my friend Jess who made the most deliciously indulgent apple crumble and custard, it was divine. More drinks and chats and soon it was time for my friends to leave; it was over too soon but I loved every minute of our time together.
Evenings like these spent in the company of my closest friends become memories I treasure forever. I’m so grateful to have such wonderful friends who I’ve known since childhood and still to this day, despite our lives having branched out different ways and becoming adults with families of our own, we still hold a strong bond as best friends ❤
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 ❤
‘Be the energy you want to attract.’ These past few months I’ve been investing more of my spare time into those things which perhaps in the past I’ve put off for fear of not being good enough. However at the beginning of March I felt something shift and my creative energy was flowing again. Since then I’ve been inspired to vlog more, film my workout routines and even take on the challenge of securing collaborations for travel trips alongside my boyfriend’s business. As soon as I believed I was capable of doing all these things which constantly play on my mind, I have been able to accomplish goals I previously thought were unachievable for me.
Other habits I’ve incorporated into my daily routine is reading, journalling and positive affirmations. Being a moon child at heart, I believe the cosmic movements of the moon and the stars strongly impacts our own energy flow. The Moonly app I have keeps me in touch with the phases of the moon and also offers daily affirmations which are always uplifting and inspiring.
Remaining present and grateful is another key contributor to feeling happy and fulfilled everyday. Even if I’m not having as much of a productive or positive day mentally, remaining grateful for the little things keeps me grounded, present and thankful.
It feels great to be creating content I am passionate about and I’m excited to continue seeing where this energy flow takes me both personally and professionally. Aura glowing; energy flowing. ❤
Happy New Year! It’s the first day of 2023 and I’m ready for a reset following a few weeks of fabulous festivities and celebrations this Christmas. Whilst I’ve enjoyed a wonderful holiday season spending lots of cherished time with friends and family, I always crave routine and look forward to getting back into the flow of daily life.
So having seen in the New Year last night with close friends and my boyfriend, I took a quiet few moments on this first day of January to write my resolutions for the year ahead. I always try to make goals on my resolutions list realistic and attainable to avoid feeling disappointed in myself if I don’t achieve them by the end of the year, but equally I want to hold myself accountable for those things I say I am going to do but may have pushed aside in the past.
My list also contains a mixture of specific goals such as starting my PT course and getting a second tattoo, as well as more general actions I would like to take forward into the new year like nurturing relationships and simply just staying sane!
A few days before NYE I also put together my yearly Pinterest vision board for 2023. I love using photos of art, fashion, food, travel and quotes to envision my aspirations and goals as well as gaining inspiration for the kind of aesthetic I picture my life embodying.
Cheers to another year ahead full of achieving more great goals, travelling exciting new places, being grateful for the everyday small things and being present whilst living in the moment with loved ones ❤
Dani Aneka 