Tulum Travel Diaries; Follow That Dream

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 ❤

A Wonderful Winter Wedding

It’s only three days to go until Christmas now and I can’t believe how quickly December has gone! This weekend we were invited to a friend’s wedding over in the Cotswolds and I was so excited to be going to my first ever winter wedding.

With the ceremony starting at 4:30pm, they fully leaned into the romantic winter vibes as we arrived at the church with the sun setting on a crisp, chilly Friday afternoon in December.

The church was glowing at sundown from the candles warmly inviting guests in, setting a dreamy, intimate backdrop for the bride and groom to take their vows.

Following the ceremony, wedding guests were transported in an old fashioned English red bus back to the reception taking place at The Feathered Nest County Inn, Oxfordshire.

With the grand Christmas tree, roaring fireplace and traditional English pub interiors, it was a wholesome and cosy venue ideal for a winter wedding reception.

For the occasion I wore a long sleeve, off the shoulder, long brown dress from ASOS, a pair of silver platform heels, my new vintage style pearl earrings from Heaven Mayhem, my timeless By Alona pearl detail necklace, Abbott Lyon gold bangle, and an iridescent Cult Gia inspired boxy handbag from Amazon.

After a champagne reception and delicious canapés, they proceeded with the speeches which were very well delivered and kept the guests entertained.

My favourite canapé was the whipped goats cheese and beetroot tartlet; a delightful bite of tasty, tangy flavours to whet the appetite.

Instead of the traditional sit-down wedding reception meal, they served a buffet of hearty dishes including beef bourguignon, vegetable dhal and a fish pie which was divine.

Later on the cake was cut and served alongside an impressive tower of cheese, so naturally I had a lovely plate of cheese, crackers and grapes to finish the night.

We stayed over nearby at The Lamb Inn, Great Rissington. We didn’t get time to experience much there other than sleeping in the very comfy bed, but the room was nicely done and the staff super friendly.

Having never experienced a winter wedding before I wasn’t sure what to expect, but with the backdrop of the picturesque Cotswolds and all the Christmas vibes in the air, it was a truly romantic celebration right out of a fairytale ❤

NYC Diaries; Times Square, The Highline & Chelsea Market

When visiting a new city we always like to book the hop-on hop-off Big Bus Tours as they’re a cheap and easy way to get around to see all of the major tourist attractions. On the third day of our trip we booked the tickets which last 24 hours so we could split the tour across two days, so here is what we saw on the second half of the bus tour.

Just around the corner from our hotel was Times Square so we had to start by hopping off here to get some shots.

As expected, Times Square is a very busy and hectic tourist trap, so we got our photos and quickly got back on the bus.

Next we made a stop on Broadway as I wanted to visit the Polene store.

I’d had my eye on the Numero Neuf mini handbag for a while and so I finally made the purchase.

I opted for the colour Sable as a neutral tone to go with lots of outfits.

I even got the strap monogrammed with my initials as a complimentary service with purchase.

From Broadway we went a few more stops on the bus down to the Financial District where the new One World Trade Center stands.

I did find it quite upsetting to see the 911 memorial site where the twin towers used to stand, but it has to be done when in New York for the first time.

We hopped back on the bus and went up the west side of town where we got off at Hudson Yards to walk along The Highline.

The Highline is a 1.45 mile long elevated park and greenway created on a former New York Central Railroad.

Along the way we saw The Vessel, an impressive honeycomb like sculpture of interconnected staircases designed by British designer Thomas Heatherwick.

It’s a brilliant way to see the city as the path weaves between buildings to provide unique views and perspectives.

Towards the end of The Highline, we came off to go to Chelsea Market for some lunch.

A bit like Borough Market in London but inside a former factory building, Chelsea Market features many restaurants and food vendors from a wide variety of cuisines.

As soon as my boyfriend saw the Currywurst, that was decision made for his lunch.

You can take the boy out of Germany, but you can’t take the German out of the boy!

After lunch we then went for a stroll around the Chelsea neighbourhood as I wanted to get some aesthetic street style pics.

The exposed fire escapes and stoops on the houses in Chelsea are what characterises this part of Manhattan, making it the perfect spot to photograph street style.

With the weather still so mild and warm for October, I wore my smart white shorts paired with a brown tank from C’est Normal, a silk Le Scarf around my neck, Dior sliders, Marc Jacobs tote bag and YSL sunnies to complete this chic, daytime city look.

It was the perfect day to walk along The Highline and it’s something I definitely recommend doing if the weather permits during your trip to NYC.

As mentioned, Times Square is not my idea of fun but a great one to tick off the bucket list.

The Chelsea neighbourhood was so trendy and cool, so I would like to explore it more on another trip to the city as we only got to see the area around the market.

As always, the Big Bus Tours didn’t disappoint in providing a relatively cheap and convenient way to get around and see the sights of New York City ❤

English Country Pub Fine Dining; The Mutton

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

It’s Date Night Darling

Following a month full of busy weekends hosting guests and attending other social events, this Saturday we could finally enjoy a romantic date night just us two. Me and my boyfriend love a nice dinner out so I booked Megan’s On West Street in Farnham, a cute spot for a romantic evening together.

It was the perfect opportunity to debut my new Zara black halter neck top with gold detail, paired with Stradivarius straight leg jeans and my Next khaki mule heels.

To complete the look I wore my oversized vintage Jaegar blazer and this gorgeous East-West style baguette handbag, another new piece in my wardrobe from H&M.

Farnham is such a picturesque town with pretty corners perfect for street style photos; cue my boyfriend being the best Instagram hubby getting all my good angles!

I love the aesthetic interiors at Megan’s giving Mediterranean chic vibes and there’s always a wonderfully buzzing atmosphere in the restaurant on a weekend.

For food I opted for the chicken avocado salad whilst my boyfriend had the chicken thigh kebab plate. We shared some charred broccoli, blistered padron peppers of course and ordered a side of their date bbq dip which is a delicious twist on the traditional recipe.

We finished the night with cocktails at The Luxe, a newer cocktail bar and restaurant in Farnham tucked away in the Lion and Lamb Yard. With ornate interiors and plush seating, they offer a very different dining experience with fun themed events such as MaMa Mia nights and bottomless brunches with live music.

I had a classic Tommy’s Margarita and my boyfriend chose the Lychee Martini. Well made cocktails, lovely service and lavish interiors for that elevated experience, a fabulous spot for a night cap or two.

Nothing makes me happier than a charming old school date night with my love ❤