A trip to New York isn’t complete without seeing the Statue of Liberty, so we decided the best way to see her for the first time was from the water on a boat.
We booked online for a ferry tour which departed from Hudson River Park and lasted about an hour and a half.
Leaving the dock we went down the West side of Manhattan and past the Financial District.
The tour went up past Manhattan with DUMBO and Brooklyn on our right side.
We went under the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge and it was amazing to see these magnificent structures from a different angle
The boat then turned so Manhattan was on our right hand side and we got a great view of midtown including the Empire State building.
The tour took us back past downtown where we saw the famous Staten Island Ferry.
We then made our way towards the Statue of Liberty which was the highlight of the tour.
In all honesty, it is a lot smaller than I expected in comparison to all the the skyscrapers in the city, but it is a stunning structure which is so iconic to New York.
The boat finally made its way back up the West side of Manhattan and to the pier at Hudson Yards.
This was a fantastic way to see the city from the water and a brilliant bucket list moment to see the Statue of Liberty in all of her glory ❤
If you’ve been here for a while, you know that I love getting dressed up in a cute outfit and going on a fancy little date night with my boyfriend. So this Saturday night we booked one of our favourite spots for a romantic dinner complete with all the vibes and also tried a new bar for pre-dinner cocktails.
For the occasion I wore my white Zara miniskirt, asymmetric gold ring detail taupe coloured top, Next square toe nude mule heels, my By Alona pearl necklace and an ASOS khaki oversized clutch bag to complete the look.
It was another warm summers evening so I wore my Miu Miu statement sunglasses for the short walk to the bar and didn’t need a jacket all evening.
First stop was The Guilford Townhouse which has recently been taken over and renovated by the Coppa Club chain. We headed up to their rooftop where you’ll find The Burton Bar, a cocktail bar with style, substance and lively evening energy.
My cocktail of choice was a classic Margarita and we enjoyed our drinks in front of the glamorous feature bar in the super comfy, plush sofa seating.
It wasn’t too busy at 7pm, but I imagine it’s the kind of place that’s more popular later in the evening when the DJ sets start at about 9pm. With its elegant interiors inspired by the 1920s art deco style, this was the perfect setting to enjoy a cocktail and set the vibes for night ahead.
Our reservation at The Ivy Asia was at 8:15pm, so we made the short walk up Guildford Highstreet to Castle Street where the Ivy is located. My heels might have been quite high, but I swear by the Next forever comfort range which are always the comfiest and easiest to walk in heels.
Every inch of The Ivy Asia decor is exquisite and so beautifully aesthetic, even the bathrooms are a must visit when you’re there.
The restaurant was buzzing on a Saturday night with a live DJ and even a live electric violinist walking around the restaurant floor to entertain guests, how brilliant!
Whilst the gorgeous emerald green luminous flooring might grab your attention first, never forget to look up at the wonderful ceiling murals and pretty cherry blossom flowers overhead.
Having been quite a few times to The Ivy Asia now, we had a good idea of what we wanted and one thing that was top of our list, was the golden aromatic half duck traditionally served with the pancakes and all the condiments including hoisin sauce.
I had to have a plate of their fresh house-made sushi so I opted for the spicy tuna sesame roll.
The cucumber peanut chilli coriander lime salad was also a must for me and it didn’t disappoint. The creamy nutty sauce combines so well with the fresh crunch of the cucumber, whilst the chilli adds a subtle hint of spice.
My boyfriend also ordered the chilli noodles, wok fried greens and Gochujang glazed chicken which he really rated and remembered as another highlight from our last visit.
We ordered well and savoured every bite of our delectable Asian spread.
Needless to say we didn’t hold back and definitely over ordered, so we took our leftovers home in the fanciest doggy bag I’ve ever seen, how adorable!
The Ivy Asia is always such a brilliant option for all occasions from date nights and girly dinners, to birthday parties and celebrations, vibes are on point and the food is divine.
To find your closest Ivy Asia and experience all the fun and glamour for yourself, checkout their website here.
When it comes to summer fashion, there’s a few non-negotiable pieces I find myself reaching for time and again throughout the summer months. Whilst I don’t have a capsule wardrobe as such, I’ve refined my essential items which form the base for most of my summer outfits.
1. Denim Shorts
Taking it back to basics and starting with a timeless classic, high waisted denim shorts. My favourite cuts are of course vintage Levis in dark and light washes, but there’s lots of great options on the highstreet for all shapes and sizes. Wear them with a tank top and Birkenstocks for a casual daytime look, throw them over a bikini with an oversized shirt on holiday, or even dress them up with a cute floral top and strappy mules for those warm summer nights.
2. White Jeans
Living in England of course the summertime can be unpredictable with the weather, so having a pair of white jeans on hand is always a great cooler temperature option. I’m obsessed with this pair from Zara with a subtle flare to enhance the shape and cropped to compliment a gorgeous pair of summer sandals. Pair a flared pair of white jeans with pretty blouses for that girly Chloe aesthetic, or keep it pared back with a colour block tank and matching accessories for that effortless yet pulled together look.
3. Tea Dress
Nothing beats a beautiful Tea Dress which you can throw on for a summer weekend with very little effort. I’ve had this daisy flower print one from H&M for years and it’s the perfect flattering shape with traditional cap sleeves and button front detail. Keep it casual with a pair of sliders for the daytime, or dress it up with ruffle trim heeled mules, gold jewellery and statement sunnies.
4. Printed Body
I’m a sucker for pretty summer tops and flattering bodies with a low back. I brought this leopard print body from Zara a few months back and it’s the perfect piece to dress up a pair of jeans or even a skirt for date night. For a summer evening out with the girls in London I wore it with a white skort, low heeled mules, statement earrings and Celine sunnies. I can also see this looking great with well cut denim jeans, heels and an oversized blazer for those cooler summer date nights.
5. White Tops
How could I go through my summer essentials list without mentioning white tops; tanks, tie front, bardot, backless, strappy, floaty, I have every style you could think of when it comes to a white top. It might seem like a very obvious choice, but with all the fun and colourful skirts, shorts and other accessories I have in my wardrobe for summer, a white top is key to completing a look without too much going on. This cropped ruffle cap sleeve white top was the perfect match for my striped blue boxer shorts which I wore to the pub this weekend. Clean, crisp & timeless, you can never have too many white tops for summer!
Having never flown Business Class before, this was my first experience and I was very impressed. Emirates are renowned for being one of the best airlines to fly Business with and I can see why, my overall experience was 10/10. Flying long-haul from Singapore to London, our journey had two legs so I had the pleasure of trying two different planes. It was clear upon boarding the second aircraft with its plush white leather seats that it was a newer one, but aside from the more aesthetic interior, everything was equally excellent on both planes. From the friendly and attentive staff providing 5* service and delicious food for all tastes, to the cosy private pods with fully reclinable chairs making a bed so we could sleep comfortably and land feeling rested and refreshed. Not forgetting the glamorous on board lounge bar serving an extensive option of classic cocktails and drinks.
I appreciate travelling Business is a luxury, but with my insurance company offering to pay this for me given my legs still healing from the dog bites, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make the most of it. I have to admit that for a long haul journey which can be very uncomfortable in economy, this was a treat and something I would consider again if the cost to upgrade isn’t too pricey. Top tip, enquire for an upgrade at the desk upon checkin for your flight as sometimes special offers can make it far cheaper to purchase it on the day, as opposed to getting the Business Class ticket at full price in advance.
Checkout the full vlog to see me living my best life travelling Business on YouTube here.
Being considered the most picturesque village on the island of Santorini, we had to visit Oia to experience this world famous sunset spot for ourselves.
Catching the bus from Imerovigli was very easy and only takes 20 minutes or so to get to the central square of Oia where we were dropped off. Arriving early evening at around 5pm, we had a few hours of sunlight left to explore the stunning maze of hilly streets lined with shops and restaurants.
There’s no denying how busy this village becomes during the summer with all the tourists, but we did manage to find some quieter corners off the beaten track like this old windmill.
We stopped to get some shots down this cute side street framed with pink flowers too.
The white wash buildings against the volcanic rock they are built into is so unique and breathtaking to see in real life, it really is like a postcard painting.
It’s the blue top churches and old windmills dotted amongst the white buildings which make that distinctive Santorini landscape so iconic.
I wore this patterned bow back detail dress paired with white buckle sliders, a classic basket bag and my MiuMiu sunnies, the perfect afternoon into evening look for strolling the hilly streets of Oia.
I made 7:30pm reservations for sundown drinks at Veranda Aperitivo, a rooftop bar part of the Canaves Sunday Collection.
With sunset views and away from the crowds of tourists, this was an ideal spot to enjoy golden hour with a drink in hand.
I ordered an exquisite Tommy’s Margarita, whilst my boyfriend had his usual classic Mojito cocktail.
Once the sun went below the horizon, we wondered over to a famous viewing point overlooking Oia to see the village lit up by night.
We then caught the bus back to Fira where we found a lovely Italian restaurant called Da Vinci for a late dinner.
I had my favourite linguine vongole which was divine and my boyfriend had a penne arrabbiata he devoured too; we needed carbs after all that walking!
Whilst the village of Oia was beautiful and amazing to experience at sunset, we didn’t go back again as it was by far the busiest of places we visited on the island.
There are so many other equally incredible places around the island to see Santorini’s magnificent golden hour away from the crowds. Checkout my other posts in my Santorini Diaries series to learn where our top locations are for the best views of sunset ❤
When looking into where was best to stay in Santorini, we settled on the smaller town of Imerovigli situated between the capital Fira and popular larger town of Oia. This turned out to be the best decision not only because it avoids the busy tourist hotspots, but this area has some of the most stunning, uninterrupted views off the beaten track at sunset.
On night one I booked a table at The Wine Bar in the centre of Imerovigli, to have drinks and dinner as we watched our first sundown over the Caldera.
Whilst this was on the pricier side of places we ate, the wine was divine and we enjoyed our selection of dishes including pitta bread, olives, pulled pork sliders and a Greek feta salad of course.
Just next door to the bar was a white rooftop, simply perfect for those gorgeous golden hour shots.
We spent our afternoons soaking up the scorching Greek sun on our private balcony with plunge pool at Cresanto Luxury Suites, just a 5 minute walk from the town of Imerovigli.
The hotel also had a main infinity pool with loungers where we could order cocktails poolside too.
Now these are the kind of Monday blues I’m talking about!
Our private balcony provided the ultimate spot for handstand practice and I would often do my workout routine in the mornings here, before jumping straight in the pool to cool off.
One of the most incredible locations for sunset away from the crowds was Skaros Rock on the cliffside of Imerovigli.
We hiked over to the other side of the rock where there is a deserted church with the most breathtaking sweeping views of the Caldera at sundown.
Unlike the tourist hotspots in Oia and Fira, we had the place all to ourselves making this a hidden gem for golden hour.
Strolling around the town, we finally found the famous spot overlooking those iconic blue top churches.
Once the sun went down each night, the moon came out to glow over the white wash buildings of Santorini.
One evening we decided to take a sunset stroll to this church on the hill which we could see from our hotel.
Walking along this coastal path on the outskirts of Imerovigli was so peaceful and once again, away from any crowds of tourists.
Along the way we stumbled across the super luxurious CavoTagoo hotel where there is currently a Roka Restaurant popup.
Here we stopped to enjoy sundown cocktails with yet more spectacular views of the Caldera and sun dipping below the horizon.
This was a more popular spot in Imerovigli, but we got a table and soaked up the sunset whilst sipping our delicious cocktails.
That evening we strolled into the centre of Imerovigli and ended up at a local restaurant called Mama Lena.
We had courgette fritters with tzatziki to start, followed by rice stuffed peppers for me and a vegetable tomato linguine for my boyfriend. A much more reasonably priced restaurant serving traditional Greek food.
The local kebab shop called Jimmy’s Souvlaki on the main street of Imerovigli, became my boyfriend’s favourite place to grab a classic Greek lunch of chicken gyros.
On reflection we would choose to stay in the town of Imerovigli again given there’s far less tourists, there’s plenty of 5* luxury hotels and suites to choose from, and there’s no denying the outstanding sweeping views of the iconic Caldera ❤
This weekend I had the pleasure of being invited along with my boyfriend to stay at the De Vere Hotel Cotswold Water Park. Nestled in the heart of 152 lakes that spread across the unique Cotswolds Water Park, its the perfect escape from the city surrounded by the honey-coloured villages and gently rolling hills of The Cotswolds.
Arriving late on Friday afternoon, we were greeted with a bottle of English Sparkling wine and personalised robes in our room.
After a quick dip in the spa pool, we popped the bubbly and enjoyed a drink on our balcony overlooking the serene scenes of the lake.
A quick outfit change and I was ready for 7pm drinks. I wore a pair of white Topshop jeans, a lace peplum Miss Selfridge cami top, Django and Juliette black mules and my velvet green Sandro handbag.
Whilst enjoying our drinks and scrumptious canapés, we were shown around the gorgeous event spaces where we are looking to host an event later this year.
I really liked the main ballroom with exposed brickwork and lovely bright furnishings with a view over the lake.
At 8pm we were treated to a private seated dinner with our group of about 15 other clients. Starter was sharing antipasti boards which is my favourite kind of appetiser and they didn’t disappoint.
For main course I had the seabass with a miso broth and dessert was a delicious chocolate fondue. All the food was exquisite and the service impeccable.
Thank you to the sales team at De Vere Cotswold Water Park for hosting such a wonderful evening and looking after us so well during our stay.
I’d highly recommend a trip to The Cotswolds for a weekend staycay in the UK and this hotel is the perfect destination with plenty to do in the surrounding area too, including all the fun water-sports on the lakes during summer. To book, visit their website here – https://www.devere.co.uk/cotswold-water-park-hotel
Sunsets in Bali are always a spectacle; rain or shine, the sky always manages to put on a show. Canggu is known for its world famous beach bars & clubs, so here are my top five spots to chase sunset on the west coast of Bali.
The epitome of Bali beach aesthetic, it doesn’t get better than sundowners at La Brisa. With its maze of bamboo tree houses and pools amongst the jungle of green luscious palms, it feels like you’re on a remote tropical island paradise.
From day to night, you can take a dip in the pools and sip cocktails as the sunsets over Echo Beach.
Even at dusk and into the evening, the warm glow of fairy lights and orange hue lanterns set the jungle aglow.
There is a minimum spend for a table if you want food and a good view for sundown, but you can spend hours there to make the most of it.
We spent two evenings here during our stay, the second of which was our final night when there was a magnificent thunderstorm. Not the final golden hour we had envisioned, but certainly an exciting way to bring our time in Bali to a close.
Just down the beach from our hotel, we headed here for our first evening sundowners and it didn’t disappoint. Life was pretty peachy as I sipped my Paloma cocktail watching the perfect sunset of orange and pink hues.
Again, this is a beach club where you can spend the whole day into the evening on a sunbed or table with a view for a minimum spend, which is easily made back on delicious food and wonderful cocktails.
We only visited The Lawn once for cocktails, but they often have events and special guest DJs which would be the ultimate vibe to accompany a killer sunset.
Claiming itself as the ‘World’s best beach club’, this is one for the party goers in search for that dancing til dawn destination.
It was a little overcast when we visited Finns, however we still enjoyed cocktails at dusk on their 2 for 1 offer and soaked up the party vibes from the comfort of our own table with no minimum spend. There are also a number of different cuisine food outlets situated around the venue to suit everyone’s tastes.
Whilst I know sunset framing their iconic Finns sign lit up with lanterns over the pools is picture a perfect moment, the interiors inside with this gorgeous cluster of bamboo shades made for fabulous Friday night vibes shared with other winers and diners.
On our visit down to the South coast of Bali in Uluwatu, I had seen incredible photos of this place on Instagram and had to experience it for myself.
Unfortunately there wasn’t much of a sunset and also an event featuring Jamie Jones on the evening we went meaning a hefty entry cost, but it was still an awesome place to see in person.
I would be super keen to go back here when the sun is promising to put on a show, so I highly recommend this spot for sundowners if you are staying in Uluwatu.
My fifth favourite spot for golden hour is of course, Echo Beach itself. There are lots of bars along the front offering drinks and a seat right on the sand to sit back and enjoy the view of surfers catching waves at sunset.
With each minute that passes as the sun dips on the horizon of Echo Beach, the colours grow even richer and deeper until the moonlight finally takes place of the sun.
I’ve mentioned Old Man’s as a fun club which I visited during my last stay in Bali after Bintangs on the beach at sunset, but these days me and my boyfriend prefer a nice dinner and sophisticated cocktails at Billy Ho or Mason.
So that’s my roundup of the best places to enjoy a cocktail or local Bintang whilst watching a beautiful Bali sundown.
Bali sunsets have my heart and chasing them is my favourite time of the day when in Bali ❤
As an orginally German founded company, Huf Haus UK hosted their own Oktoberfest last weekend complete with all the fun traditions including strong German beer, freshly baked pretzels, Currywurst, a German Oompah band and lots more!
I was invited along by my boyfriend’s parents as they work for Huf Haus here in the UK. They also extended the invite to my parents as they love Huf Haus architecture and were keen to see around the show home too.
Lots of people dressed up for the occasion in traditional German attire, however my Dad went rogue with a quirky outfit featuring his antique cane.
My parents were given their first experience of Currywurst, an authentic German fast-food consisting of fried pork sausage, typically cut into bite-sized chunks and seasoned with curry ketchup, which my dad very much enjoyed for his lunch.
Me and my mum were on the gin and tonic cocktails served from the G&T van by a London based gin company called Jim & Tonic.
The Huf Haus feeling by definition, is essentially the unique living atmosphere created by panoramic views of the outdoors, emphasised by natural light to create calm.
We were given a tour of the Huf Haus featuring my dream walk in wardrobe setup and this stunning bathroom with a free standing bath tub.
It was a fabulous afternoon celebrating Oktoberfest and showing my parents the beautiful Huf Haus show home located in Weybridge. Perhaps one day we will be able to own our very own Huf Haus…never say never, big dreams can come true ❤
Working in events, I am involved in organising lots of exciting occasions which often take place at different and unique venues. This month ACS hosted their Heart of the Community Conference at One Great George Street, followed by a drinks reception in the Terrace Pavilion at the famous Houses of Parliament.
With over 180 delegates registered to attend, me and the team were prepped and ready to welcome our guests to the conference within the stunning surroundings of the elegant and historical building that is One Great George Street.
From the grand staircase and magnificent dome roof window feature, to the exquisite details of the ceiling mural with gold accents throughout the Great Hall, this grade II listed Edwardian building in the heart of London just of Parliament Square, is the perfect venue for our biggest yearly political conference.
Following a highly successful and insightful conference, the event moved over to Parliament for the afternoon reception drinks taking place in the Terrace Pavilion at the House of Commons.
It was exciting to be inside Parliament where so much important politics takes place everyday. Steeped in history and buzzing with activity all day long as the UK government continues to battle through current affairs, it was a fascinating experience to be amongst it.
It was a beautiful sunny autumnal afternoon for our drinks reception overlooking those iconic scenes of the River Thames with the grandeur of Parliament in the background; a perfect end to a highly successful event.
I wore my smart fern green chinos, this corset style gingham print square neck blouse, a peplum blazer and court heels for the occasion. Polished and smart with a touch of chic, this is what I call working woman power dressing. Well done to the ACS team for pulling off another fabulous event!
Dani Aneka 