Following about a year and a half living in our house now, the spare room has gradually evolved into my dressing room. So given that we don’t have people to stay over for the night too often, we decided to replace the bed with this gorgeous white sofa bed kindly handed down from my boyfriend’s parents.
This fits perfectly with the other white furniture also in this room and lets the black and gold details on the cushions and in the art work hung on the wall do the talking. Minimal, simple and oh so chic!
Naturally this has now become my walk in wardrobe of dreams and I’m obsessed.
I’ve always had a passion for fashion and find dressing up and experimenting with my clothes a fun and creative outlet.
Now I have this gorgeous space to plan my outfits, play dress-up and take photos within the surroundings of my dreamy dressing room.
The newest addition to my wardrobe is this beautiful DKNY handbag, a classic staple which I know I’m going to get so much use from and love for years to come.
I wore this ensemble for my Dad’s birthday celebrations last weekend. It was giving me those polished, French Riviera vibes and was the perfect colour palette match for a photo in my elegant new dressing room; tres, tres chic ❤
This weekend I decided to go all out for our date night and booked The Ivy Castle View in Guildford. I had tried to book The Ivy Asia a few weeks back, but with a three month waiting list to get a reservation there, I was happy with the regular Ivy restaurant we know and always enjoy.
I’m obsessed with the art deco inspired interiors featuring eclectic artwork and a vibrant colour palette, I was definitely getting Alice in Wonderland vibes as soon as we arrived at The Ivy Castle View.
Even the ladies bathrooms were decorated with opulent wallpaper and this stunning ceiling of roses, they are just too beautiful not to take a picture of.
The place was buzzing on a Saturday night, yet we were still treated to the same friendly and attentive service from the hosts and our waiters who looked after us for the evening.
We had this lovely, romantic round table for two right by the window overlooking the castle. I was lusting over these gorgeous green palm leaf print sofa chairs too, it really is an interior lovers heaven, every corner of the place there is something different to admire.
To start, we had a cocktail each and of course I couldn’t resist my favourite Espresso Martini in their special salted caramel flavour. My boyfriend had the Surrey Passion made with passionfruit, vodka and rum, a super fruity sweet concoction and showstopper served with a flaming top!
Whilst we don’t usually get starters, we did order the salt-crusted sourdough bread to nibble alongside our cocktails. To our delight they served an entire loaf freshly warmed straight from the oven – sometimes the simple things done well are the most satisfying, it was exquisite.
For mains I actually went for two starters: Roasted Scallops served with crispy potato rösti, pea purée, parmesan sauce and grated truffle, accompanied by a big basket of the Zucchini Fritti. This was a tasty combination of flavours which I paired with a glass of their house white wine from Carinena, Spain.
My boyfriend ordered the Korean Glazed Chicken served with pickled mooli, sesame, avocado and jalapeño sauce, citrus mayonnaise as well as some thick cut chunky chips. Safe to say we devoured the lot and savoured every delectable bite.
Our evening at The Ivy Castle View was wonderful with everything from the drinks and food to the service and experience, it was a 10/10 for me.
The Ivy Collection has a number of restaurants in handpicked locations across the UK, serving modern British cuisine, reflecting the same inimitable service and vibrant surroundings for which The Ivy is loved and revered. A top destination for a boujee date night full of photo opportunities ❤
Having lived in our wonderful house for almost a year now, it was time to change up the spare room decor and finally get a dressing table in there for me too. We wanted to make this room more mature by introducing black and bronze tones to compliment this gorgeous new set of abstract pictures now above the bed.
After a lot of playing around with different pillow options and arrangements, we settled on these stunning black and gold feather scatter cushions which make a subtle statement, whilst also fitting in with the new bedding perfectly.
The dresser is from Ikea to match the other furniture in this room and fits just right in that corner by the natural light of the window. With a large singular drawer in the dresser, I can now store and organise all of my makeup properly without having to put it away in makeup bags all the time. The stool and mirror are both from Amazon and perfectly align with the colour palette of the renewed spare room.
I’m obsessed with this Moroccan style bronze tray which I am using to hold my many perfume bottles. The spare room has had a fabulous makeover with just these few elements which have been changed up and I’m very grateful for the dresser gifted from my boyfriend for my birthday. Hope you’ve had a great weekend babes and Happy Valentines for tomorrow – Kiss, kiss ❤
It’s one week until Christmas and I’m feeling those warm fuzzy festive vibes! This weekend we wrapped up in our winter coats to visit the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Markets and I couldn’t help but get excited by the glistening lights twinkling by night all over the city.
The Cathedral looked magnificent all lit up as we enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the markets whilst we sipped a warming cup of mulled wine.
The streets of Winchester were just beautiful showered in gold fairy lights and I got that leading lady movie moment feeling as me and my boyfriend explored the city in all its glory.
With 8:30pm reservations at The Ivy, we stumbled upon an awesome bar called Overdraft where we enjoyed some pre-dinner drinks.
Arriving at The Ivy, we were escorted to our table amongst the wonderfully eclectic and intricate interiors which make this place so iconic, I’m obsessed!
The atmosphere was buzzing on a Saturday night and the festive cheer was in full swing. We got started with a few Christmas cocktail specials, so I had a Candyfloss concoction served in a champagne flute with a side of pink floss.
As well as the fabulous decor and lovely service, our meals were just as spectacular. I opted for the roasted butternut squash served with buckwheat, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, sesame and pomegranate with crumbled feta cheese, harissa sauce and coriander dressing. My boyfriend had the classic beef burger which I had a taste of too and can confirm was equally exquisite as my own delicious dish.
A final stroll through the picturesque streets of Winchester before we cosied up in the warmth of the car for the journey home. What a perfect date night getting in the festive mood and feeling like we were on set starring in our very own romantic Christmas movie…*Cue The Holiday soundtrack* ❤
As the sun sets on summertime here in the UK, I am making the most of these final days of summer with my favourite smoothie bowls for brekky.
Whilst frozen banana is a must for the base of any thick smoothie bowl, you can swap out different fruits according to your personal taste. My current favourite combo lately has been simply banana and blueberry. Blend together 1 frozen banana, a few handfuls of frozen blueberries, a splash of soya milk and a couple of ice cubes until that delicious super thick consistency is reached.
Best served in a coconut bowl, that deep purple colour from the blueberries makes for the most aesthetic bowl of goodness. Top with granola and more fresh blueberries and you have the most tasty, sweet brekky containing only natural sugars and healthy raw ingredients. You could even make your own granola, but my latest go-to store brought granola of choice is the Pret classic blend.
Sadly I will soon have to be swapping my colourful smoothies for warming bowls of porridge… Autumn is well and truly on the horizon babes!
Whilst Friday 13th is seen as unlucky for some, my two best friends went against the odds and chose Friday 13th August 2021 to tie the knot. With ongoing Covid restrictions forcing them to reschedule three times, this date was a long time coming in the diary and it sure didn’t disappoint as we were treated to the most fabulous of Wedding celebrations.
The stunning bride was absolutely breathtaking alongside her beautiful bridesmaids and gorgeous bouquet arrangements featuring one of my favourite flowers, Gypsophilas. The excitement and anticipation in the air made for a buzzing atmosphere and happy smiles all around and all day long.
After capturing that token confetti throwing shot, we waved off the newlyweds in their Rolls-Royce followed by the bridesmaids loving life in their super cool VW camper van!
At Tylney Hall we were greeted with bubbles and canapés on the terrace over looking the picturesque grounds, perfect for photo opportunities with my favourite girls.
It was a truly idyllic setting as the live acoustic musicians played and we sipped our bubbly savouring the moment.
What a joy it was to be back in the company of so many old friends from school and sharing such a special day together amongst the most beautiful backdrop of Tylney Hall.
Soon we were ushered to the Wedding Breakfast where we could finally give our feet a rest and indulge in a delicious three course meal.
Everything was just exquisite and every detail thought out and perfectly executed. The day went far too quickly and once we got on the dance floor, the night ran away with us as we had the time of our lives celebrating together like we were teenagers again!
Thank you Jess and Ryan for pulling off a truly magnificent day and wishing you both a lifetime of happiness together ❤
Dani Aneka 