Tag: Lifestyle

Fall Fashion; Boots & Shorts Season

September 7, 2025

Whilst I’m never ready to say goodbye to Summer, I do love the transitional period for fashion as we can re-introduce layers and start tapping into the autumnal trends like suede jackets and rich chocolate brown tones.

But as we find ourselves in this sort of limbo between summer and fall, it’s a great opportunity to style cute shorts, skirts and dresses with boots.

I’ve been waiting for the right moment to style my Stradivarius Cowboy boots with my Tommy Hilfiger boyfriend jean shorts, so this Saturday’s date night was the perfect opportunity with the weather still mild enough to have my legs out in the evening.

I paired the shorts with a new babydoll style top I got from Zara recently. The feminine shape of the top with backless bow detail balanced out the boyish silhouette of the bottom half to create that countryside chic aesthetic.

To complete the outfit I took out my new US Polo Assn saddle style handbag in rich chocolate brown; another nod to autumn and the cute countryside look.

We went for post dinner cocktails at the Bel & The Dragon in Odiham where the interiors were also giving classic countryside chic.

I had a refreshing Hugo Spritz which was delightful. I can’t believe I hadn’t tried one before, it’s definitely a new fave cocktail for me.

I’m now on the lookout for a pair of long suede block heel boots in either a light sand colour or rich chocolate brown.

A killer pair of boots styled with shorts or a skirt and an oversized knit or jacket is such a vibe and looks so effortless yet chic.

I’m thinking for New York this kind of look for daytime will tick all the boxes , I just need to find the perfect pair of boots now!

The Emirates Business Class Experience

March 23, 2025

On our journey back from Singapore earlier this month, I had the pleasure of travelling Business Class with Emirates and it was an impressive experience travelling in such superior style. Disclaimer, we don’t usually travel Business Class but given my injured legs, our insurance company paid to fly me home Business to ensure I could move my legs regularly to avoid any potential blood clot.

For the first part of the journey from Singapore to Dubai, my boyfriend joined me in Business Class to get a taste of the high life too. Upon boarding the plane and settling into our seats, welcome drinks were served and I couldn’t say no to a crisp glass of champagne.

We had our own private pods with extra large screens and a fully reclinable seat to make a bed, the dream for long haul flights.

With our flight departing at midnight, we’d already had dinner before going to the airport, so I opted for the cheeseboard alongside more champagne of course.

I chose to watch one of my favourite films A Star Is Born whilst enjoying my delightful little cheeseboard. Dining in Business is certainly more refined as they lay a tablecloth with a proper napkin and cutlery like at a sophisticated restaurant.

Once the lights were out in the cabin and the ceiling lights twinkling, we were given thick blankets and even a small mattress topper to make our beds even comfier. We were also given complimentary wash bags with lots of useful toiletries for freshening up including Bvlgari products.

After a good few hours of undisturbed sleep in our cosy pods, we arrived in Dubai for our stopover. For the second part of our journey flying from Dubai to London, the Business Class interiors were even more elevated with luscious white leather seats and stylish brown table tops.

The welcome drinks soon came around so with it being morning local time now, I had a health juice with a glass of bubbles… because when you’re flying across time zones, who really knows what time of the day it is!

Following take off, breakfast was served and I kept it light with two fresh fruit bowls and juice whilst watching another old classic movie The Devil Wears Prada.

Having slept for the majority of the first flight, I wanted to make the most of this one and visit the on board bar and lounge.

They had an extensive cocktail list but I had to go for a traditional Bloody Mary, the ultimate travel beverage. It’s very impressive that they have a full size bar on board serving so many different cocktails to such a high standard.

Whilst visiting the bar I made friends with two lovely ladies from Australia who were travelling on business to London. Conversation started with them asking what I had done to my legs, so we got chatting and before I knew it, we were sat in the lounge for a few hours having drinks and laughing like we’d known each other for years. I love spontaneous interactions like this ❤

Back at my seat I had another Bloody Mary accompanied with some green olives to nibble on.

Soon lunch was served and I chose a delicious pea soup with a mezze plate of stuffed vine leaves, a lamb kofta, salsa, hummus, more olives and a side salad. The food in Business Class is certainly more fresh than the ready meals in Economy and there is also a lot more to choose from on the menu.

I was in my element watching iconic scenes of The Devil Wears Prada as I savoured every mouthful of this perfect lunch spread.

On the whole my Emirates Business Class experience was a 10/10. I don’t have anything else to compare to in terms of Business Class on other airlines, but from my research Emirates is renowned for being one of the best in the world.

There’s no denying the hefty price tag on this experience, but I would say for a long haul journey when you can get it for £1k or less, it is worth it. We were lucky to get the first part of our journey at the reduced rate of about £900 each at the desk on the day, hence my boyfriend joined me in Business for that flight. However there were no special rates from Dubai to London, so that upgrade cost over £2.5k for me alone which the insurance are of course covering. My advice would be it’s worth going to the airline desk before checking in on the day to see if there are any special rates for upgrading.

From the refined wine list and large selection of cocktails made to order on board, to the delectable menu of fresh meals and snacks delivered with a five star standard of service, Emirates Business Class offers a premium level of luxury travel with wonderful comfort and privacy. Cheers to the next adventure ❤

Bali Trip Planning; One Month To Go

February 4, 2024

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 ❤

Kickstarting New Year; Motivation Tips & Tricks

January 7, 2024

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 ❤

Late Summer Pastel Hues

September 22, 2020

So as we find ourselves almost at the end of September and already nearing the end of what has been a pretty rubbish year for us all (cheers Covid, you really shat all over 2020!), I’m thankful for these late summer days.

This time of year tends to bring some surprisingly warm weather in the UK just before the autumn months roll in and daylight hours swiftly shorten.

We had to make the most of such glorious days of sunshine last week, so we headed down the coast to my favourite beach in the south, West Witterings in Chichester.

Arriving in the late afternoon, we setup a spot with our picnic and enjoyed sundown whilst grazing on a mezze of nibbles and sipping on some beers.

Not much beats the simplicity of a stunning sunset complete with an ice cold beer and good company. This is what I did everyday when I was in Bali, it was a dream!

I have many fond memories of visiting the Witterings as a kid when I would come down with the girls and our mums. We would spend the whole day down here swimming in the sea, playing games and even having a barbecue using those little deposable ones that always burnt the grass!

Feeling the sand between my toes and listening to the calm of the sea never fails to make me smile and helps me find a little peace at times when I’m stressed and anxious. Living by the coast and being able to go to the beach everyday is definitely the thing I miss most about living in Sydney.

I find it fascinating how every sunset is so unique and different and we were treated to one of the most beautiful sundowns I’ve ever seen at the Witterings on this visit. The pastel pink and blue hues of the sky soon turned a deeper coral colour, just before the sun dipped below the horizon and went to sleep.

The magical wonder created by nature gives me goosebumps and uplifts my soul from within. It gets me thinking about where I am in life and what I want my purpose to be; a loaded thought which inspires my creativity and motivates my passion to stay a wild.

Another summer may be almost over, but the seasons progress and so must we. As life continues and my mid-twenty year old self still feels eighteen at heart, I believe now more than ever that life is for living in these moments, here and now. Too many times have I longed for the past or hoped for the future, when I all I needed to do to be happy was to live and be present in the universe.

These are just some thoughts I had when I was able to take a step back and breath in the beauty of the world around me. Life doesn’t have to be as complicated as we often make it; sometimes we just need to ground ourselves back down to earth and live in the moment.

‘Stay wild moon child.’

Australian Eats: Poke Bowls

May 27, 2018

When it comes to health food trends and the latest fitness movements, Australia is constantly leading the way. Sydney isn’t short of its health food cafes offering all day breakfast menus with delicious superfood dishes, including eggs done anyway you could imagine, beautifully presented acai bowls and tempting sweet treats made from raw, natural ingredients. One of the newest cuisines which has pleased the palette of Australians this year is Poke bowls, a traditional Hawaiian dish originally made by fisherman using the trimmings from their catch of ‘ahi’ tuna. Despite the authentic fresh fish sashimi topping, shops offer Poke bowls anyway you like with different meat alternatives such as chicken and numerous fresh toppings of salads, seeds, pickles and dressings.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASo with my $10 promo code for Uber Eats and having never tried the local Poke shop here in Paddington, I decided to order in from the comfort of my own home! Taking inspiration from the imaginative street favourites on the menu, I decided to build my own bowl which consisted of the following: Cabbage (You can have noodles, rice or quinoa as alternative bases), Yellow Fin Tuna, Radish, Cucumber, Edamame, Yellow Beetroot, Toasted Sesame Seeds and a Coconut and Chilli Lime Dressing.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe delivery was super quick and came accompanied with all the essentials including chop sticks and extra dressing on the side. All of the salad was fresh and beautifully presented in the bowl, making it almost too good to eat! I enjoyed my Poke bowl sat out in the evening sun of Paddington, revitalising me with all the essential vitamins and goodness my body needed after a long week of work and perhaps a few too many glasses of red wine on Friday night!

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