Welcome to my monthly diaries ❤ At the end of May we were treated with a heatwave over the bank holiday weekend, so we made the most of it and had our very first BBQ of the season. We also celebrated our friend’s Wedding in Liverpool at the breathtaking Cathedral, followed by a reception at the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire. From interiors updates and new pieces in my wardrobe, to spending quality time with our parents and lots of giggles with my friends, it’s been a fabulous month easing into the 2026 summer season.
Click the link here to watch the vlog over on my YouTube channel ❤
It’s the late May bank holiday here in the UK and I’m winding down following a wonderful weekend soaking up the heatwave sunshine.
Back on Friday evening, we met friends at The Mutton for sundown drinks in the pub garden.
I wore this cute asymmetric dress from ASOS with a pair of nude thong kitten heel mules, my Coach handbag and MiuMiu round sunnies to complete the smart-casual look.
Saturday was another scorching day, so when 5pm came I enjoyed a glass of wine and some olives in our garden, whilst watching Emz and Nick’s latest Greece vlog.
For date night that evening, I booked The Leather Bottle for dinner in their picturesque courtyard area.
Even at 8pm it was still a lovely temperature to be sat outside as the sun went down over the neighbouring fields.
To start we ordered the padron peppers because whenever they’re on a menu, my boyfriend and I simply cannot resist.
For mains my boyfriend opted for the Bavette steak frites, whilst I had the Gilt head bream fillet.
Served with potato terrine, courgette, heritage tomato, feta and a salsa verde, this dish was divine and presented so beautifully too.
As we enjoyed our meal, the stunning sunset skies turned shades of gorgeous deep oranges and pinks, before dusk eventually set in.
Back home we embraced the warm night air and had another drink in our garden, festoon lights glowing and the moon shining brightly up overhead.
Sunday we were off to my boyfriend’s parents’ house for our first BBQ of the summer season.
Temperatures were set to be over 30 degrees, so denim shorts and my new pink contrast vest from Stradivarius and classic Birkenstock sandals, were the perfect cute-casual outfit combo.
I also styled my hair in a French twist to keep it off my neck for the day, not to mention looking super chic and elegant too.
It was the first time using their barbecue and outdoor space in their new house and it was all absolutely perfect.
Every corner of their house is so aesthetic and I was particularly drawn to these stone faces in their garden which give boho-chic Tulum vibes.
On the grill we had chicken skewers, burgers, sausages, corns and asparagus.
Of course a barbecue for us is not complete without my signature Greek Salad, so I was very excited to be making my first one of the summer this weekend.
There was also a Caesar salad, beetroot salad, Jersey Royal potatoes and all the condiments necessary for such a feast.
And not forgetting the footy game which had to be on in the background for the boys!
After lunch, I sat with my boyfriend’s mum out on their cute bistro set with a glass of bubbles; it was like we were sat outside our very own Parisian wine bar, pure bliss.
Meanwhile, the boys were equally chuffed with their setup inside to finish watching the football game.
My boyfriend’s mum even treated us to our favourite dessert she introduced us to of frozen raspberries, melted white chocolate and cream.
Before we knew it the sun was beginning to set and it was time to leave, but on our way home we made a spontaneous detour.
As we passed through Farnham, my boyfriend said we should do the walk at Caesar’s Camp to catch sunset.
So we parked up the truck and made our way across the picturesque countryside.
After about a 25 minute walk, we found this incredible viewpoint from which we watched the sun go down over Caesar’s Camp.
Sunsets never fail to amaze me; I find it mesmerising to see the sun dip below the horizon so rapidly in realtime.
A majestic sunset stroll was the most idyllic ending to our long bank holiday weekend showered in sunshine ❤
For ultimate date night vibes complete with aesthetic interiors, delicious food and top service, we are never disappointed with an evening at The Ivy.
With 8:30pm reservations at The Ivy Asia located in Guildford, we popped next door first for an aperitif at The Ivy Castle View.
I had envisioned a picturesque sundown drink on their terrace overlooking the castle, but the rainy English weather had other plans, so instead we sat at their brilliant feature bar where the bartender made our cocktails in front of us.
My look for the evening was built around my new Stradivarius white flared jeans paired with this gorgeous denim corset from White Fox Boutique.
I’ve been loving the French twist up-do I’ve been seeing all over my Instagram explore page, so I had a go at recreating the style myself.
Thankfully my hair was cooperating and I was obsessed with the final result which felt so elegant and classy.
To complete the elevated date night fit, I wore my By Alona pearl necklace, statement round gold earrings, my Abbott Lyon gold bangle, Sandro green velvet handbag and my favourite vintage oversized green Jaegar blazer.
The touches of green in my fit were the perfect little nod to the green accents at The Ivy.
Pre-dinner cocktails of choice were a Strawberry Mojito for my boyfriend.
And a Tommy’s Margarita for me with that perfectly sweet but spicy hit I’m looking for in my Marg.
Sitting at the central bar amongst fellow dinners as the busy Saturday night service unfolds, makes for a fun atmosphere to kick off date night right.
Soon it was time to hop back next door for our dinner booking at The Ivy Asia.
The vibe here is made for evenings out as the place comes into its own by night.
With a live DJ and the amazing green lighted floor, it always brings a fun and buzzing atmosphere for those Saturday night vibes.
We were seated at the bar whilst our table was being relaid, so we started by ordering some drinks.
A glass white in hand and ready for an Asian feast, we were taken to our booth table.
I requested the booth seating as it feels more plush and is often that bit more comfortable.
We even had the beautiful blossom tree overhead, perfect for those Instagram shots.
To start we had the edamame beans served with a spicy sauce for added flavour and a fiery kick.
For mains we ordered lots of the smaller plates to share between us and it turned out to be quite the spread.
Of course I had to have a plate of sushi so I opted for the salmon avocado roll and it was divine.
My boyfriend had his favourite glazed chicken karaage dish as well as the satay chicken skewers.
The cucumber peanut salad side dish is another must whenever we visit.
We also had the steamed rice, chilli noodles and wok fried greens for the table.
As ever the food was beautifully presented and tasted delightful, we were certainly very full and satisfied following our mini feast.
With its brilliant service, outstanding food and opulent interiors, complete with a buzzing atmosphere that makes you feel more like you’re in a trendy Manhattan hotspot, The Ivy is always a good idea for date night ❤
Come along for a weekend with me as I spend a wholesome few days at home in the countryside. I cook a delicious Singaporean takeaway style dinner for date night in, I show you some recent interiors updates and I indulge in a lovely pamper evening. Whilst I love travelling and creating all the fun content that comes with it, I also enjoy a slower paced weekend at home doing wholesome things like cooking and treating myself to a bubble bath. Sometimes embracing the simplest of things in life can help you reset and fully recharge🤍
It’s become a weekly ritual for us to have a date night every Saturday, so this week I decided to put my chef hat on and cook a delicious spread of Asian food for an at home ‘fakeaway’ style feast for two. But first, I started my evening wind-down with a bubble bath complete with candles, a cup of tea, a book and my iPad for some Pinterest scrolling.
Relaxed and rested following my luscious bath time moment, it was time to get dressed for date night and ready to cook.
Inspired by some sauce packets which my brother bought back from Singapore, I thought it would be nice to try something different and create my own healthy version of a takeaway at home.
I fried off chicken thigh pieces with some onion before stirring through the laksa sauce paste and letting it all cook through. The other sauce was a chicken stock which I stir fried into the cooked rice along with some chopped onion and yellow pepper.
For the other dishes I kept it simple with tamari soy sauce for the stir fried vegetables, a touch of hoisin and soy for the cucumber carrot sesame salad, and fresh plain egg noodles.
And of course we had all the condiments on the side, as well as some prawn crackers with sweet chilli sauce as an appetiser.
Everything was delicious and my boyfriend was very impressed with our feast. We both agreed the standout dish was the stir fried rice in the stock sauce from Singapore, it just elevated the rice to make it so tasty.
Candles lit, music playing and wine poured, the romantic at home date night aesthetics were on point.
After dinner we watched the final heartbreaking episode of ‘Love Story’.
Wholesome, cosy and romantic, what more could you want from a date night at home ❤
We stumbled across Checkpoint Ciao Osteria following a lovely dinner at their sister pizzeria just down the beach road in Tulum. It was a place so charming that one visit simply wasn’t enough.
We first wandered in for a pre-dinner drink, taking two seats at the bar with no intention of ordering much more. But the moment we spotted the bread basket on the menu, curiosity got the better of us.
This was far from your standard bread and butter situation. Instead it arrived as a beautifully elevated appetiser: warm sourdough bread accompanied by creamy burrata cucumber salad, a delightful mini parmigiana, and of course a side of olives.
Simple ingredients thoughtfully done, the kind of sharing plate that makes you slow down and savour each bite. That little taste of the menu was all it took to convince us we needed to come back for a proper dinner.
The interiors alone are reason enough to visit. The design feels like a dreamy blend of Bali and Morocco, yet somehow still perfectly suited to the laidback spirit of Tulum.
One of my favourite details was the striking sun sculpture above the arched entrance, instantly setting the tone for that Mediterranean meets Mexico atmosphere you are welcomed with inside.
When we returned a few nights later, we were seated in the restaurant’s beautiful indoor-outdoor dining space where the palms sway above and warm evening air drifts through the room.
The central open kitchen feature, something we noticed was a theme across many restaurants in Tulum, gives the whole place an inviting, lively energy.
Naturally, we couldn’t resist ordering the bread again to start. This time it arrived with a slightly different accompaniment, swapping the mini parmigiana for marinated peppers with tonnato sauce, equally delicious and just as indulgent.
For mains I chose the homemade pasta topped with a generously creamy burrata that melted beautifully into the sauce, whilst my boyfriend went for a classic lasagne layered with rich bolognese ragù, a comforting and hearty dish.
And because pasta always calls for something fresh alongside it, we shared the Checkpoint salad of crisp lettuce, tangy orange, sweet apple and crunchy walnuts.
Everything was genuinely divine, from the flavours to the presentation. The experience was made even more memorable with the wonderfully friendly and attentive service, the kind of hospitality that makes you feel welcomed and at ease.
Beautiful interiors, exceptional food, and warm, thoughtful service, Checkpoint Ciao Osteria delivers all three effortlessly. If you’re craving Italian cuisine with a Mediterranean soul while in Tulum, this new spot is absolutely worth a visit ❤
Happy Sunday! It’s been a week since we returned from 12 glorious days in the Mexican sun and I’m only just getting over the jet lag. I was thrown back in at the deep-end with work last week as we were hosting an event in London on Tuesday, but I do thrive on routine so it was good to get back to usual programming. As you can imagine, I have a shedload of content to share from Tulum so I will posting all of the aesthetic photos and reliving the highlights of our trip over the next series of posts on here…so do stay tuned!
Starting with our accommodation, we stayed at Hotelito Azul located on the popular Beach Road for the duration of our time in Tulum.
We booked one of their garden view villas which was very spacious with a double sink ensuite and aesthetic boho-chic decor.
I particularly liked the tall ceilings and the bed was so big and very comfy indeed.
Our maid Griselda was absolutely lovely and went to the effort of making us a different towel animal every day.
One of the biggest draws to this hotel was the infinity pool on the rooftop overlooking the beach one side, and the luscious green jungle on the other.
Unfortunately the rooftop was out of action for food and drinks service during our stay which was such a shame as the views were spectacular.
We made the most of it though and took our own bottle of wine and nibbles up for sunsets as this really is such a gorgeous and unique spot for sundown in Tulum.
On our first day we wanted to familiarise ourselves with the area, so we went for a walk back down the road towards the town and found a perfect local cafe for delicious smoothie bowls.
Raw Love vegan cafe soon became our favourite place for the most healthy and yummy all day breakfast bowls.
Further up the road was a cluster of cute restaurants, bars and shops.
Seeing this soft top Mini Cooper driving through town made me wish I could have my own Mini there to scoot around in.
Later that afternoon we decided to hire push bikes to explore the rest of the beach road on the other side of our hotel.
We road all along the beach road through the most popular part where Bagatelle, Ilios and Casa Banana are located alongside lots of chic boutique shops.
I was thrilled to find the iconic ‘Follow That Dream’ road sign which is quite far up the road where it seems a lot less busy nowadays.
Before heading back to our hotel, we stopped by Mia beach club on our way back to have a bite to eat overlooking the beach.
I indulged in my first Margarita of the trip and it didn’t disappoint with a perfectly sweet and spicy finish.
My boyfriend had a pepperoni pizza which I had a slice of too. Not exactly an authentic Mexican dish, but you can’t go wrong with a pizza sometimes.
That evening I wore an all white fit for our first meal out in town.
We ended up at Ilios restaurant which I had pinned as the best place for Greek food in the area and it certainly met those expectations.
The interiors here are on point and we were even treated to a brilliant fire show performance!
We had the hummus with flatbread to start, my boyfriend opted for the chicken gyros and of course I ordered the Greek salad which was divine.
With a time difference of minus 5 hours, we were absolutely knackered and got an early night ready to wake up fresh on Mexican time.
So that’s an overview of our first day in Tulum and I can’t wait to share all of the amazing adventures and memories we made together during our two weeks in tropical paradise ❤
As we find ourselves in this no mans land between Christmas and New Years, I’m grateful for a few days of rest and reset before it all kicks off again for NYE celebrations. Whilst I love celebrating with friends and spending quality time with family, I’m in need of some down time after four days of back to back festive fun.
Going back to Christmas Eve, I went to the local church to watch the children’s Nativity with my niece and they even had live donkeys!
I wore my new ASOS brown faux suede trench coat with the statement collar buttoned across and it looked super chic.
My Oliver Bonas leopard print beret was the finishing touch to this stylish fit.
That evening we went to the local pub where my Dad was dressing up as Santa Claus!
He made a very convincing Santa in his extra fancy costume and everyone thought he was great.
Soon lots of our friends arrived and I even treated myself to a cheeky Espresso Martini to finish the night.
On Christmas morning, my boyfriend and I exchanged gifts by the Christmas tree and I felt like a very lucky lady indeed when I opened my new MacBook.
My outfit of the day was this stunning New Look maroon puff sleeve top which just screams Christmas Day vibes paired with my Zara black straight leg jeans, ASOS square toe boot heels, my Sandro green velvet handbag, and a beautiful new By Alona pearl necklace, another generous gift from my boyfriend.
We spent Christmas Day at my boyfriend’s parents gorgeous new home along with my parents who they invited too.
I was in charge of canapés for which I made three different ones. First of all, smoked salmon cream cheese blinis are an absolute must on Christmas Day for me.
I also did honey glazed cocktail sausages and a goats cheese, walnut, prosciutto, honey bruschetta inspired by an appetiser we had in Mallorca earlier this year.
My boyfriend’s Dad did a top job cooking a delicious turkey roast complete with all the trimmings.
We had such a laugh playing games and getting competitive with the pub quiz which my Dad and I drew!
My Dad always likes to have a Christmas Pudding to dowse in brandy and light before serving for dessert.
It was a brilliant afternoon and evening with our parents who get along so well, it’s such a joy to see.
Boxing Day was our turn to host so I got the house prepped and ready for the family arriving at 1pm.
I went a little more casual with my fit on this day with a cute frill trim tie front cream cardigan, Stradivarius dark wash flared jeans, Topshop brown pointed toe boot heels, Heaven Mayhem statement gold earrings and my Polene Handbag for a touch of quiet luxury.
We were heading to the pub for a late lunch following our gift exchange, so I put out some nibbles as well as another batch of the leftover smoked salmon blinis.
There was a lot of presents to open and the girls were in their element being treated to so many new toys.
I love welcoming family and friends into our home and hosting at Christmas time is always particularly special.
We had a laugh seeing my nieces run riot in the back of my boyfriend’s truck; girls just wanna have fun!
We had 3pm reservations at a new local favourite pub, The Falcon in Rotherwick.
After a few sharing boards for a starter, I opted for my favourite vegan Durban jackfruit curry, a nice change from all the traditional festive food.
It was a superb afternoon with the family catching up, enjoying more good food and seeing my nieces having such fun together.
And don’t think the festivities ended there, the next day I was hosting again for my friends with their partners and kids.
Being an evening do starting at 5pm, it was nice to have the day to myself and plenty of time to get the house ready with drinks chilled, glasses out and nibbles served.
I decided to try making this crisps nacho plate I’d seen on TikTok and it turned out well with the combination of different textures and flavours, it was divine.
I used truffle flavoured crisps as the base topped with slices of prosciutto, torn up mozzarella, crunchy pickles and a drizzle of olive oil and black pepper to finish.
Soon everyone arrived and it was such a joy to have all my closest friends together again for more Christmas celebrations.
Everyone contributed and we ended up with lots of yummy party food to serve including hot canapés of battered prawn tails, breaded cheese bites, vegan nuggets and of course some oven pizzas.
Later in the evening once those with kids had left, the adults got a little excited and stayed up way past their bedtime….
But its moments like these when you’re back with your besties feeling like you’re kids again, which are so special and we always look back on fondly.
I’m extremely grateful to be surrounded by so many brilliant family and friends and I will never take for granted what a blessing that is.
So that sums up a very social Christmas period and now we hurtle towards the New Year. 2025 has been another brilliant year and now 2026 is on the horizon and I can’t wait to see what the universe has in store for me next ❤
Since opening a few years ago, The Mutton at Hazeley Heath has been a firm favourite local pub for Friday drinks as well as their award winning menu of traditional pub dishes done to a five star standard.
So this Saturday we decided to book a table in the restaurant for date night and as always enjoyed a delectable meal complete with top service.
Now we are well into September, it felt like the last weekend I could get away with white jeans and mules, so I wore my Topshop white slim fit jeans paired with a ruched detail backless top, my gorgeous Senso pink satin mules and a Cult Gia dupe mini box bag.
Blush pink hues for date night is a timeless classic and I would’ve worn my pearls to complete the look, but with a nigh neck top on I opted for statement gold drop earrings which I recently got from Na-kd.
With 8:15pm reservations, we arrived at The Mutton for 8pm to have an aperitif. I sipped a classic Dirty Martini which was delightful; I felt very Carrie Bradshaw from Sex & The City ❤
The interiors at The Mutton are very classic countryside chic with a subtle modern twist, and the low lighting in the restaurant makes for the perfect sophisticated evening atmosphere.
To start we shared the sourdough bread with charcoal butter and homemade spicy pickles which were divine.
For main course I ordered the chargrilled sea bream, crushed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and white wine sauce with a side salad, whilst my boyfriend had the sirloin steak with nduja butter, fries, pickled shallot, parmesan and rocket salad.
I had a glass of the Gyotaku, Christophe Mittnacht Alsace, French white wine upon recommendation from the waitress as a pairing to my fish dish.
As always it was a 10/10 meal presented beautifully, cooked to perfection and full of incredible flavour.
We savoured every last bite and with clean plates all round, we left very satisfied indeed.
The bill came to just under £150 so its certainly on the pricier side for a meal out, but definitely worth it for a special occasion or a treat for date night.
The Mutton at Hazeley Heath remains our top spot for fine dining in Hampshire, so be sure to try it for yourself if you’re in the area – https://themuttonathazeleyheath.co.uk
Nothing is more typically English than going for Afternoon Tea in London followed by a shopping trip to Selfridges, then finishing the evening in Covent Garden at Seven Dials Market. We only live an hour train ride from London Waterloo, so a day trip into the city is always a fun way to spend a Saturday.
Our Afternoon Tea was booked for 3pm at The Bloomsbury Hotel on their gorgeously aesthetic Dalloway Terrace.
We met my colleague and his partner as this occasion was kindly gifted from the hotel following a number of events we have hosted there previously .
All of us opted for the Champagne Afternoon Tea menu and so we started with a lovely glass of Champagne to kick things off.
We also chose our tea and I went for the classic English Breakfast blend, because nothing beats a proper brew from a silverware teapot and cute teacup with saucer.
They then brought out the finger sandwich selection which was a classic mix of smoked salmon with mascarpone, coronation chicken, cucumber with cream cheese, devilled egg mayonnaise and toasted emmental cheese with tomato chutney.
Next up were the sweet treats including a strawberry & lemon tart, blueberry & vanilla choux, dark chocolate ganache, rum punch baba and blackcurrant madeleines.
Served on the classic cake tower they were wonderfully presented and tasted amazing, but it was a lot of sugar to manage in one go, so I had a taste of everything but couldn’t finish them.
And not forgetting the iconic scones which were served warm at the bottom of the cake tower complete with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and it was nice to do something different as I’m not a big Afternoon Tea person, but it is a nice treat every once in a while.
After finishing up at The Bloomsbury, we hopped on the bus down Oxford Street to Selfridges for some early evening retail therapy.
I love going to Selfridges with my boyfriend as there’s so much to explore for both of us from the designer clothes and shoes, to the fancy food hall and lower ground tech section.
My boyfriend bought his Dad an awesome Hugo Boss X Aston Martin t-shirt for his birthday, whilst I resisted buying more Celine jewellery. Of course a Celine handbag is always high on my wish-list but that needs some real thought on which style to go for, as it would be a timeless piece I’d have in my wardrobe forever.
We then found ourselves having a glass of Champagne at The Fount Bar nestled amongst the designer bags on the ground floor of Selfridges.
What a chic location for a glass of Champagne, I was in heaven!
To finish our day we headed on the Tube over to Covent Garden where we went to the Seven Dials food market.
It was buzzing on a Saturday evening so we got a drink from the bar and wandered around to choose from the wide variety of street food vendors.
We were still quite full from the Afternoon Tea, so my boyfriend ordered a Thai Penang Curry with rice and prawn crackers which we shared.
Before we knew it it had already gone 9pm and it was time to get the train back, so I grabbed a mini bottle of vino and a fruit pot from M&S at Waterloo Station and we caught the 9:42 back home.
We had a wonderful afternoon and evening in London and whilst it is exhausting spending a day in the city, there is so much to do there and it’s always an exciting day out ❤
Dani Aneka 