Tag: summer

Friday Feels; A Summer’s Arvo in East London

July 30, 2023

Nothing beats that Friday feeling when you get to wrap up work tasks, close work emails and welcome in another weekend. This Friday my boyfriend and I went into East London to spend the afternoon at Spitalfields Market, before a dinner hosted by Epidemic Sounds at Ottolenghi Restaurant in Liverpool Street.

I love that summertime buzz in the city and it was fun to be back in the area of town which I used to live many years ago, back when I was doing my dance training.

Spitalfields Market has changed quite a lot since I last visited, so it was interesting to walk around and explore all the different markets and shops.

Cocktail hour was upon us, so we found this lovely looking restaurant and bar with outdoor seating just on the edge of the market, perfect for soaking up the atmosphere whilst people watching.

I couldn’t resist a Tommy’s Margarita which was perfectly sweet and salty with that spicy kick too, it was heavenly.

And what aperitif is complete without olives, right?

That right there is my ideal Friday arvo setup complete with live music playing in the market and that warm summer air, exquisite vibes.

My boyfriend got the fillet steak sandwich with caramelised onions and caesar dressed leaves.I had a taste and we both agreed this was absolutely outstanding, the best steak sandwich we’ve ever had!

Another round of drinks and before we knew it a few hours had passed, we were having such a wonderful time we didn’t want to leave.

For the occasion I wore this vibrant pink corset top from Zara, my straight cut Stradivarius jeans, a pair of khaki green mules from Next, a cropped grey blazer and my MiuMiu sunnies to complete the look.

We went for another stroll around the market as well as a few shops including All Saints, Nobody’s Child and Mulberry. Then before dinner we went for one more sunset drink at The Players Social.

We were kindly invited along to this influencer dinner by Epidemic Sounds who have collaborated with my boyfriend’s YouTube channel a lot over the years. It was a great opportunity to meet fellow creators and make some more connections in the YouTube community.

As I expected, the dinner was a mezze of small sharing plates including hummus, roasted vegetables, sea bream fillet and lamb koftas. The courgettes served with labneh, harissa tomato salsa and pine nuts was my favourite dish, accompanied with plenty of the hummus of course.

We finished with an assortment of cakes which were divine. Some great conversations were had and it was a fantastic networking opportunity meeting likeminded creators and influencers. Thanks again to Epidemic Sounds for inviting us along and hosting a wonderful dinner at Ottolenghi ❤

Turkish Tales; Balmy Nights

June 26, 2023

Whilst Balmy Beach Resort is a tropical paradise by day, it also comes alive at night with live music every evening and cocktails served until the early hours.

I love getting dressed up for evening dinners on holiday and having fun with cute outfits I wouldn’t get a chance to wear out at home.

With our first proper evening at the resort being a Friday night, weekend vibes were in the air from noon and by dusk the live DJ was getting the atmosphere buzzing at the beach bar.

I wore this Stradivarius skort paired with my favourite floral wrap frill blouse, these ASOS woven sliders and my new Dune white crochet handbag with gold chain which I brought in duty free at the airport.

When we were at the airport on our journey over to Turkey, I also decided to really splash out and treat myself to these magnificent MuiMui sunglasses.

I wanted to debut them for our special romantic dinner for two on Saturday evening at the Balmy a la carte restaurant.

First up though, it was sundowners at the beach bar where I enjoyed a glass of bubbly in this beautiful champagne flute looking so elegant next to by cute new bag.

Having got a golden glow from the first few days of sun, I decided to wear this white body con middy dress I got in Australia years ago paired with my pear detail sliders, a pair of oversized white shell earrings and my By Alona gold chain pearl necklace which I wore almost every night, the perfect holiday jewellery piece.

I was feeling very St Tropez in all white complete with those killer sunnies and sipping my champagne at that beautiful boho beach bar.

There’s nothing like dining al fresco on holiday with that salty sea air and mellow pink and blue sky as the sunsets and dusk draws in.

We had a wonderful evening together enjoying delicious food and being looked after so well by our lovely waiter; can you tell he was making me laugh here 😉

Sunday night I wore this tropical print maxi dress which is completely backless and features a flattering thigh split. Very little accessories needed with this number, the dress does all the talking.

That evening the live music was over at the garden bar, where we sat in the charming surroundings of the courtyard and could gaze up at the stars in the night sky.

Monday night I went a little more casual with these black crochet Zara shorts, my boho print bardot style croptop, those timeless ASOS plaited sliders and my usual gold jewellery to complete the look.

And once again we found ourselves down at the buzzing beach bar for post dinner drinks and another live band session.

For the final night we got dressed up and ready for dinner in time for golden hour down by the pool and beach bar.

I had to get out my favourite summer minidress from Abercrombie & Fitch, paired with this pastel pink shell detail ASOS clutch for a pop of colour, and of course my new MuiMui babies.

That golden hour glow was giving me all the fuzzy feels and I just wanted to bottle that magical moment forever.

Once the sun hid behind the mountains and the pastel pink sky set in, we went for pre-dinner cocktails at the beach bar.

We couldn’t have wished for a more exquisite setting for our final dinner at Balmy Beach.

Later in the evening the crescent moon came out to sit just above the mountains at dusk; how peaceful and spiritual this moment felt.

And so that marked the end of our stay at Balmy Beach Resort and we couldn’t be more grateful to the staff who were so kind and friendly in making our time there an absolute joy and pleasure.

Sunset views and moonlit hues; goodnight Balmy Beach ❤

Turkish Tales; Balmy Days Like These

June 26, 2023

Ahhh what I would give to be back in the paradise of Balmy Beach Resort Kemar. Following a week of sunshine, relaxing poolside, eating exquisite food and drinking all kinds of delicious cocktails, we returned from our wonderful week away in Turkey last Wednesday evening.

Set between the mountains and the beach on the coast of Kemar in Turkey, the views at Balmy Beach Resort make for the most picture perfect backdrop.

When you exit the reception, you are greeted with this spectacular walkway with the hotel rooms and palm trees framing that breathtaking view of the mountains.

We had a lovely spacious room overlooking the main walkway complete with a large balcony, a super comfy bed, double wardrobes, a large bathroom with walk in waterfall shower and complimentary mini bar stocked with all the flavoured sodas you could wish for.

The interiors and decor of Balmy Beach are very Grecian meets Bali vibes and I’m obsessed!

On Sunday I was having a pink moment in my Bond Eye Swim candy pink bikini and those cherry pink cocktails to match.

One of my favourite spots to sip my cocktail and read my book was at the beach bar where they had these cute egg chairs, which I now need to get at home for our garden too.

Alongside all the amazing cocktails, we ate like king and queen being on the all inclusive deal.

The buffet selection was always so fresh and superbly presented.

From whole grilled fish and chicken kebabs, to colourful salads with exotic dips and deliciously prepared vegetable dishes, there was something for everyone.

There was even a whole deli counter where you could plate yourself a cheese platter or charcuterie board, right up my street.

Our all inclusive deal even included dining at the a la carte restaurant.

We had dinner here on the Saturday night and were so impressed, we went again for dinner and a few lunches too.

Whilst the dinner was fine dining, the lunch menu included pastas, pizzas, burgers, salads and more traditional lunch options.

My boyfriend was obsessed with the chicken schnitzel and had it on two occasions, which being part German is saying something for sure!

There is even a Balmy Cafe with a wide selection of coffee options served hot or cold. Our daily afternoon poolside treat was an iced coffee with one of their sugar free syrups.

Of course we like to stay fit and active on holiday too, so we made an effort to use their excellent gym facilities as well as the tennis court for a few games.

Handstand practice with this backdrop was a dream, wish I could workout in front of the mountains everyday.

These massive beanbag chairs out on the pontoon were super comfy and another picturesque spot to relax and soak up the hot Turkish sun.

Being out by the sea is my favourite place to be and so peaceful just listening to the waves lapping by the shore.

I’m such a water baby and had to take a dip in the ocean whilst we were out on the pontoon.

Sunset was a little earlier given the sun dipped behind the mountains by about 7pm every evening.

So sundown poolside when most people had left to get ready for dinner was the best way to make the most of my favourite time of day; tranquil bliss for golden hour.

Now these are my kinda Monday blues sitting poolside after a long lunch, sipping an iced coffee and reading my book.

We even treated ourselves to a much needed couples massage at their stunning spa with the most tranquil setting overlooking this pebbled pool and luscious palm trees.

I loved every minute of our time at the beautiful Balmy Beach Beach Resort and left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, not to mention wanting to redecorate our own house balmy beach style.

Balmy Beach June23, what a dream ❤

Summer Holiday Countdown

June 11, 2023

We’re almost halfway through the year and I’ve only taken one day of annual leave off work, so a holiday is well overdue and needed at this point. With that in mind, last week me and my boyfriend booked a summer holiday to Turkey which we’ll be jetting off to on Thursday and I can’t wait!

We usually like to get a holiday in earlier in the year to escape the long winter here in England, but with my work schedule having been very busy, we haven’t had the opportunity to get away properly until now.

We’ve booked an all inclusive stay at Balmy Beach Resort Kemar, located right on the Turkish coastline of the Mediterranean sea with the mountains just behind.

This is a brand new hotel having only opened this summer, so I’ve got high hopes for this adult only luxury resort.

The interiors and decor of the resort are giving Bali/Greek vibes and I’m obsessed. I can see myself spending a lot of time relaxing in those hammocks reading my book before cooling off in the pool, absolute bliss.

The grounds of the resort look stunning and they have everything to offer from a fully equipped gym, a beautiful spa, water sports on the beach and evening entertainment. I’m keen to try out paddle boarding on this holiday as it would be the perfect sunset activity.

The food on offer at the resort looks incredible with six different outlets to choose from including an a la carte restaurant, the barmy beach bar and a chef’s table fine dining experience which we might have to try for ourselves.

Of course I have my eye on the fabulous selection of cocktails too which I’ll have served poolside or by the beach bar at sundown.

I’m very much looking forward to a break at this gorgeous luxury resort soaking up the sunshine, relaxing with my boyfriend, eating delicious food and experiencing life the Turkish way. Balmy Beach Resort awaits… ❤

Life Lately; Sunshine State of Mind

June 4, 2023

English summer is well and truly here and I couldn’t be happier for my favourite season of the year ahead. There’s already lots of social events in the calendar for July and we’re kicking off our summer with a holiday to Kemar in Turkey at the end of this month, I can’t wait!

Friday evenings recently often look like this; we head to our local pub The Mutton where they have a stunning newly renovated garden overlooking the gorgeous Hampshire countryside. It really is the ideal setting for sundown drinks and the food is amazing too.

This week we celebrated my boyfriend’s mum’s birthday and so we invited his parents and grandma over to try our favourite vegan Mexican chilli bowls for a midweek dinner.

Our Mexican night went down a treat and we enjoyed a wonderful evening together as the sunset showered our dining room during golden hour.

I’ve also treated myself to some new pieces in my wardrobe this month which always gets me excited to try new outfits and looks. I’m loving my new velvet square toe mules perfect for wearing with flares, and this new taupe coloured top which is completely backless. Elevated basics are my go-to currently.

And of course next month my sister is due her baby and I’m thrilled to be an Auntie very soon. On Friday I invited her and her partner over for drinks in the garden to catchup and enjoy the evening sunshine. She’s looking radiant even now almost full term in pregnancy, I’m a very proud sister.

Today we went over to Farnham to see a car show which was a lovely weekend activity to get us up and out on a Sunday morning. It wasn’t as big as we’d anticipated, but the line up of red Ferraris basking in the sunshine was incredible.

I find summer is also a great opportunity to switch up my workout routine and get outside more. Moving my body everyday is a non-negotiable and with the warmer weather and longer days, I find myself more active with bike rides and walks as well as my daily home workouts.

So that pretty much sums up my life lately; lots of social occasions, family time, Fridays at the pub with friends, planning our summer holiday, getting outside and moving my body differently everyday, and enjoying those long summer evenings sipping a delicious drink in the garden at golden hour. You can’t go wrong with the Moth drinks for a good quality cocktail at home, perfection!

It’s a sunshine state of mind ❤

Baby Shower Scenes; Congratulations Sis

May 29, 2023

With my sister’s due date just over a month away, I organised and threw her a baby shower yesterday which was a huge success and beautiful occasion catching up with wider family too.

Before our table booking at 4pm, I invited my aunties, uncles and cousins over to our house for pre-drinks in the garden. House prepped, nibbles out and prosseco chilling, I was ready for my guests.

My mum gifted me this gorgeous bunch of roses which made a stunning centre piece in the dining room showered in the sunlight of the afternoon.

I’m in my element hosting and love getting all my best bowls and crockery out for a spread of nibbles which included nuts, crisps, pastry twists, sour cream dip, pesto hummus, sweet chilli graze, giant corn, sun-dried tomatoes and nocellera olives. Simple but crowd pleading snacks.

Such picture perfect scenes as we sat outside soaking up the sunshine whilst sipping our prosecco and catching up with each other. Moments like these are very special and I’m so grateful for my family who I’m very close with.

My outfit was giving summer chic vibes with a pair of flared cropped white Zara jeans, brown C’est Normal cami, this cute cropped Channel inspired blazer, square toe velvet mules, my gold Cinco anklet, a gold pearl By Alona necklace and classic cat eye sunnies to complete the look.

At 4pm we arrived at the pub where we met the other half of the party who had been at my parents for pre-drinks. Both my sister and sister-in-law are pregnant now, so I organised for a non-alcoholic cocktail upon arrival for them, along with a few bottles of bubbles ready on ice to serve for everyone else.

I chose our local pub The Leather Bottle as they have this lovely courtyard area which we basically had all to ourselves. With a pre-order placed before the day, as soon as we sat down the food was served and everyone enjoyed their meals. Lots of people opted for the roast dinner with it being a Sunday, whilst I had the smoked salmon salad but couldn’t resists a taste of the cauliflower cheese side which comes with the roasts.

It was a hugely successful afternoon celebrating the arrival of the baby next month and also my sister’s birthday which is today. With 17 guests to keep happy and the pre-drinks at our house beforehand, there was a lot to organise but working in events, I have plenty of experience and it is my passion.

Happy Birthday and many congratulations to my superstar sis! ❤

Cocktails and Besties Q&A

May 21, 2023

Happy Sunday! The sun is finally shining here in Hampshire, so yesterday afternoon I invited my best friend over for drinks in the garden and we decided to film a besties Q&A for my YouTube channel.

We had such a laugh and it was a lot of fun reminiscing on memories together. We also did some quick fire ‘This or That’ and ‘Would you rather’ which we found inspo for on Pinterest.

Later that evening we ordered Dominos pizzas with our boyfriends and enjoyed a cute double date night in our dining room. A picture perfect afternoon and evening together.

What a wholesome evening with my bestie and our boyfriends and I’m looking forward to editing the Q&A which will be out on my YouTube channel (@Dani Aneka) next week, so stay tuned!

Cala D’Or; Mallorca Project Vibes

September 25, 2022

Ahead of our holiday to Mallorca, I did my usual research on the area and found the popular hotspots on the food and drink scene using Instagram. With a number of fabulous looking restaurants and bars with great reviews in the town and marina, we were spoilt for choice.

On our first trip into town to do a spot of shopping and explore the area, we stopped off at this super chic cafe/bar called Noir.

I had planned to order a coffee to pick me up after all the shopping, but with it being a Friday arvo I couldn’t resist a cheeky Espresso Martini… and when you’re on holiday cocktails are a given, right!?

With such stylish, tasteful interiors and old school tunes playing from the bar, Noir was the perfect little spot to sit out in the sunshine and soak up the Spanish town atmosphere.

The town of Cala D’Or was a different picture by night, as the quiet streets we’d walked by day came alive and the bars packed out with locals and tourists alike.

I had on my list to tryout this vibrant bar Lola. With its Bali inspired beach style interiors and live DJ playing every night until the early hours, this was just my vibe for a cocktail date with the boyfriend.

As the drinks kept flowing and even the shots lined up too, soon we found ourselves at Club Tiempo for a drunken dance before we called it a night.

On a more civilised evening out, we went for a scenic date night at the Marina.

We found a lovely restaurant overlooking the harbour where we enjoyed a delicious dinner for two.

I couldn’t come to Spain and not have a traditional seafood paella and this didn’t disappoint, it was absolutely divine and just the refuel I needed following a day out on the water swimming and cliff jumping.

My boyfriend had a gorgeous cut of fillet steak with dauphinoise potatoes and we shared a salad too. Simple food done well, delicious!

There were lots of other places in town which we didn’t get time to visit, but I’m sure we’ll be back again soon as we loved the beautiful town of Cala D’Or. What I came to realise was these trendy cafes, bars and restaurants including Noir, Lola and Restaurant Different were all linked via an Instagram account called Mallorca Projects. They are a collective of openminded people promoting their passion for that dreamy life in a small Spanish town on the golden coast.

Having now visited these places myself I can see the attraction and why they have such a big following. Mallorca Projects is an awesome, eclectic vibe of lifestyle art and I’m here for it ❤

Mallorca Diaries; Love from the Golden Cost

September 18, 2022

Last week we finally got away on our late summer holiday to Spain. Visiting the stunning island of Mallorca, we stayed in the Southern town of Cala D’or which literally translates to the coast of gold, and you can see why…

Our adult only hotel Alua Soul Mallorca Resort located in the cove of Cala Egos, had it’s very own little beach meaning dreamy ocean dips on the daily.

We explored the local town of Cala D’or by day and of course did a spot of shopping in the boutique shops lining those gorgeous Spanish streets.

Everyday we were treated to the incredible all inclusive buffet at our hotel including all the veggies and salad you could imagine, as well as live cooking stations and plenty of fresh fruits and desserts; we really were spoilt for choice!

Not to mention the numerous cocktails we had on repeat all day long, because that’s what holidays all about right?

My boyfriend took a liking to a Tequila Sunrise and needless to say, the Spanish measures certainly are generous.

We also experienced the local nightlife on Friday evening and visited some awesome spots I’d found using the location on Instagram. My favourite was this fun bar called Lola giving major Bali island life vibes, I’m obsessed.

On Saturday we were feeling a little delicate following a night on the town til the early hours, so we grabbed a floaty and snorkel and just spent the day soaking up the sun in that blue blue ocean.

That evening, we went for a quiet stroll around the picturesque streets with those pretty pink flower vine walls and typical Spanish style villas; dream holiday home goals right there.

A golden hour twilight twinkle, palms and a sick Jeep, I was in heaven.

Brekky with a view everyday and I was in my element with all of the fresh fruits and different yoghurt flavours the hotel had to offer. Equally my boyfriend was pleased with the full english breakfast options.

The weather in early September is still scorching in Mallorca, so there was plenty of salty beach bum days basking in that balmy Spanish sun.

On Sunday we booked a boat trip for only £25 each which turned out to be fantastic value for 4 hours out on the water.

Getting picked up from the bay of our hotel, we visited another town along the coast (where I proceeded to jump a 10 meter cliff!), stopped off in the middle of the ocean for a swim and slides off the boat, and got dropped back to our hotel by sundown. A top day out at sea!

Sunday evening we treated ourselves to dinner out at the Marina where we had a wonderful meal complete with a scenic view of the bay too.

I had a delicious traditional seafood Paella which has to be done when in Spain, whilst my boyfriend enjoyed an exquisite cut of fillet steak.

I really do love island life, I’m thinking my next tattoo might just have to be a palm tree or a wave.

Our final day we spent making the most of the beach and hotel pools.

Not forgetting a final few cocktails of course…

And savouring our last meals from that tremendous array of food for our all inclusive package.

Freshly cooked fish, beautifully presented charcuterie boards at lunch, and a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit every night were my personal highlights from the buffet.

And just like that, it was sundown over our final day in Mallorca.

We had the most fabulous holiday together experiencing the best of Cala D’or and the lovely hospitality of Alua Soul Mallorca Resort.

These are our magical moments made in Mallorca, love from the golden coast xx

We’ll be back soon ❤

Late Summer on Film

September 4, 2022

Happy Sunday babes! I can’t believe it’s September already but we’re still enjoying those late summer days here in the UK. With the bank holiday last weekend, me and my boyfriend went on a picturesque countryside walk and shot some outfit pics along the way too.

As we transition into Autumn, the weather remains warm enough to continue wearing cute summer dresses but with boots and a jacket for the cooler evenings.

I’m obsessed with my Stradivarius cowboy boots, they were definitely my favourite purchase this summer and the best thing is, I’ll be able to wear them into the winter season too!

I channelled my inner country girl roots by pairing this daisy print tea dress from H&M with my cowboy boots and Lack of Colour Rancher hat. We even found some horses to complete that countryside chic aesthetic.

Throughout the month of September we will begin to see signs of Autumn looming and those endless summer days getting shorter. However my summer isn’t over yet as me and my boyfriend finally jet off to Mallorca this week for our late summer holiday. I can’t wait to jump in the ocean and top up my golden glow whilst sipping cocktails by the pool – summer isn’t over yet!