Tag: lockdowndiaries

Hope on the Horizon

February 24, 2021

In light of this week’s government announcement in the UK, it would seem there is a glimmer of hope for summer 2021. Bring on those Friday afternoons relaxing in pub gardens, weekend BBQs with friends and family and maybe even a few late summer festivals! Whilst it’s unclear right now how soon we will be able to travel internationally again, I can’t help but dream up a holiday hit list for when the world is free once more – I am and always will be consumed by wanderlust.

D U B A I

Number one destination has to be Dubai given our cancelled trip we had booked there for the beginning of this year. Known for its ultramodern architecture, luxury shopping and lively nightlife, the city truly is an adult’s playground. We will be sure to visit the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall, Dubai Eye, Dubai Marina and I would have to venture out to do a desert safari! There is a sense of magnificent futurism which fascinates me about Dubai and I can’t wait to experience it for myself.

S A N T O R I N I

This Greek island with its abundance of blazing white cliff-side buildings and those iconic deep blue roofs, makes for the picture-perfect European holiday destination. Steeped in history and places of outstanding natural beauty, there is plenty to explore on the island like visiting the volcanic hot springs and wine tasting the unique flavours this fertile volcanic landscape produces. Santorini seems to be the idyllic romantic getaway I’ve always dreamt of.

B A L I

So yes, I have already visited Bali, but it just wasn’t long enough and I left lusting for more of this awesomely diverse, mysterious paradise. I need to head to Ubud to discover my inner yogi with its many temples, holistic centres and of course the monkey forest! I never got to properly visit one of those lush green magical rice fields, as well as one of the many breathtaking waterfalls across Bali for that ultimate gram pic. Although I do feel like I could go back to Canggu for a long time to just surf all day and party all night, balanced out with morning yoga and plenty of wonderful healthy food. Bali life is nourishing for mind, body and soul.

Lets fly far away… I can already taste the delicious sweet cocktails and feel those salty skin beach bum days!

Festive Fuzzy Feels

December 29, 2020

Merry Christmas babes! It’s certainly been an unusual one this year as we’ve all had to sacrifice celebrating with loved ones in order to stay safe during such uncertain times. Whilst plans have had to change and our usual festive traditions around this time of year have been scuppered, I decided it was all the more reason to embrace those jolly festive vibes and soak up the magic of Christmas.

Since early December I’ve been making my way through all the Christmas movies in an attempt to escape the reality of this mad world right now! On Christmas day itself I always like to watch The Snowman and Father Christmas to get me fully in the festive spirit and feeling like a kid again before the fun and games begin. Thankfully I am very lucky to be back home this year and blessed with the company of my closest family and boyfriend, who spoilt me rotten.

One of the more unusual traditions in our household at Christmas is my Dad’s pride and joy of barbecuing the turkey. I know, it sounds a little nuts on a cold winters day in England to be firing up the BBQ, but this is a super quick method of cooking the bird and produces the most succulent meat too.

To accompany our turkey dinner we did crispy roast potatoes, honey glazed carrots and parsnips, sweet red cabbage with apple, brussel sprouts sautéed with chestnuts, stuffing balls, lashings of gravy and my favourite for this time of year, bread sauce. It was quite the feast, so I could only manage some chocolates for pudding and of course a few glasses of Baileys later in the evening 😉

We had a wonderful day sharing our prezzies, listening to Christmas music, enjoying our drinks and indulging in all that yummy, naughty food. And I always like to dress up for the occasion, so this year it was a sixties style Topshop mini dress with long socks and my favourite Windsor Smith chelsea boots. Champagne coupe in hand, I was ready for a party at home!

Following a healthy helping of turkey and all the trimmings, soon enough I found myself changing back into PJs for the evening and excited to try on my new Victoria’s Secret set from Santa. Then when it comes to Boxing Day it’s all about stylish comfort, so I wore my new Stradivarius long split cotton skirt with a vest and my super cosy Zara polo knit arm warmer.

So whilst we haven’t been able to celebrate quite in the same way as we’re used to, it has most definitely made me more grateful than ever for my amazing family and friends. We may not be able to see our pals down the pub for a drink this Christmas, but I haven’t let that dampen my spirits and I’m optimistic that we’ll be back smiling in each other’s company before we know it.

Winter Date Night; Cheese Platter Goals

December 9, 2020

It’s always fun to mix things up when it comes to date night and being in the events industry, there’s nothing I love more than playing the part of hostess of course! Taking a cosy corner of my bedroom, I lay down a fluffy throw, scattered plenty of cushions, setup my fairy lights, lit some candles, got the chilled tunes playing on Spotify… and voila, the cutest setting for an evening with the boyf. ❤

Whether it’s a night with the girls, entertaining family at Christmas or relaxing with your partner, a cheese board is the perfect winter essential to share and enjoy amongst friends and family.

Having had plenty of practice making numerous grazing platters on the weekly at my old PR agency in Australia, I have become quite the pro at putting together a good spread. The concept is pretty straight forward – take your board and ensemble starting with the basics: a variety of cheeses of your choice, crackers and biscuits, chutney, fresh fruits including grapes, dried fruits such as dates, olives, pickles and a sprinkling of nuts.

Now the benefit of doing this at home is that you can personalise everything to your taste, so feel free to swap and change accordingly and embellish your board however you wish. My favourite cheese this time of year is the Wensleydale with Cranberry and I’ve also recently discovered the delicious combo of honey with cheese, a must if you have a sweet tooth! The key is to fill your board as much as possible and then have extra little bowls or platters for anything which doesn’t quite fit on.

Our wine of choice had to be a French red Cotes Du Rhone to perfectly pair with all the cheese. We felt super cosy and festive as we sipped our wine and indulged in the wonderful platter packed full of so many different tastes to savour.

So grab your boyfriend, housemate, sister or whoever you live with, and treat them to the ultimate night-in together featuring wine, cheese, nibbles and even a snuggly den for those aesthetic goals.

Comfy Casuals and Cosy Cuppas

December 1, 2020

December dawn has broken and we’re officially on the countdown to Christmas. I love the festivities during this time of year and I enjoy nothing more than cosying up with a yummy hot drink in hand, ready to watch Christmas movie classics – The Holiday, Love Actually, Elf, The Grinch – just to name a few!

I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting loungewear has definitely been my daily uniform during lockdown. These super soft Zara camel track pants are my current obsession along with a hair clamp for a fuss-free, stylish home hairdo.

Despite that brisk cold chill in the air outside, I find bright fresh flowers in my bedroom always cheer me up and bring a bit of colour to the greyest of days. So embrace those beautiful blooms, snuggle up in your comfy casuals and grab a warming cuppa to soothe your soul during these dull winter months.

My Bubble Bath Moment

November 27, 2020

Now more than ever, self-care and prioritising our own well-being is crucial to surviving what has been a pretty rubbish year for us all. Whilst I’ve maintained a basic daily routine and kept active everyday in lockdown, I’ve also learnt to let myself rest, relax and just chill the hell out for once in my life!

When it comes to having a daily routine, it’s unattainable to be so strict and aim to live that perfect life every single day, something I’ve often expected of myself. This just results in further stress and disappointment when you’re not feeling up to it and can’t reach ambitious goals set upon yourself. Instead, aim to work towards a simple structure each day and make sure to have a little treat to look forward to too.

I’ve been loving baths lately as they aren’t something I usually have the time to enjoy properly. I set the mood with some scented candles, flowers and my Spotify ‘Chilled Tunes’ playlist for ultimate relaxation. My drink of choice is often a glass of wine as a weekend indulgence, otherwise a comforting mug of tea or hot chocolate is just perfect too.

A truly wonderful winter warmer, this is my heavenly bubble bath moment and I love every second of it ❤

What will be your self-care moment?

Lockdown Diaries; Recapturing Childhood Magic

November 25, 2020

Happy Humpday Babes! It’s halfway through the week and finally looks like there’s an end in sight for this second lockdown here in England. I’ve embraced the time off after a hectic couple of months working this summer at the hotel as it’s a perfect opportunity to rest. It’s been fun taking life back to basics and enjoying the simple pleasures of things like baking and visiting the sweet shop, just like when we were kids.

Each week I’ve been making sure to get a couple of longer walks in and exploring new places in my local area has kept it interesting. Me and the boyfriend decided to investigate a local walking trial on Basingstoke Common last week and we were excited to discover a playground with a zip wire too!

Walking through the woodlands, it was stunning as the sun low in the sky cast long shadows off the trees. This takes me back to childhood memories of Christmas time walks with my family on our local heath; life was a lot less complicated in those days.

Another local gem we visited on this week’s walk was Odiham Castle which is just a short walk down the canal. We’ve been lucky with the winter sun recently too which has been taking the brisk chill out of the air, a blessing as I really do hate the cold.

I’m so lucky to live in a village surrounded by countryside and plenty of places to explore. My mum, sister and I particularly enjoyed indulging our childhood dreams and treating ourselves at the local sweet shop after our walk the other day. Just like the traditional old school candy stores, sweeties are sold ‘pick n mix’ style in jars for you to create your own personal bag. I also couldn’t resist getting one bag purely of white chocolate Jazzles, a true bag of happiness this is to me 😀

Unlike the first lockdown in the UK when I got stuck into lots of projects and longer term jobs at home, this time I’ve been focusing more on self-care and maintaining my mental well-being. I’ve found that being a bit like a kid again by indulging in what makes me happy in mind, body and soul, keeps me sane during such uncertain times. So go on, recapture the magic of childhood and enjoy the little things which make you smile in each day.