2023 favourites

2023 was a year full of highlights. From finally finishing my A-Levels to concerts to trips taken without parents to birthdays to first kisses. Important events, experiences and trips happened last year that I know I’ll never forget. So, as the new year begins, I wanted to take this time to reflect on 2023. Please enjoy a list of highlights of things I tried for the first time in 2023 from restaurants to unforgettable moments abroad to wardrobe staples and more.

holiday highlights:

• watching the sunset at Dwejra, Gozo with Maya & Ale

• bar hopping & clubbing in Malta

• annual barbecue with the whole family at my Uncle Carm’s

• sunset swims at Prva Voda in Split, Croatia

• live music in Diocletian’s Palace

• boat trip around the Croatian blue lagoon

• pistachio latte & cheesecake from Naji Specialty Coffee in Madrid, Spain

• listening to the trumpet & saxophone buskers in Retiro Park

• Picasso: Sin Título exhibit at La Casa Encendida

mouth-watering restaurants & coffee shops (and recommendations):

• lina stores (focaccia, truffle pasta, amaretto sour, tiramisu & cannoli)

• los mochis (carne asada & chicken asado tacos, yuzu martini and spicy hiramasa maki rolls)

• mina’s (zucchini fritti & lychee velvet cocktail)

• oka

• scott’s

• blank street coffee (seasonal chocolate orange mocha)

• chacarero empanada house

• dumpling shack

• elsewhere

• zuma madrid

• sweet carolina

• bao (classic & fried chicken bao)

• ćiri biri bela

• naji specialty coffee (pistachio latte & pistachio cheesecake)

• SAKU izakaya

• osteria scottadito

• takos al pastor

things i’ve done that i will happily go to / do again:

• Rooftop Club outdoor cinema in Peckham to watch old rom-coms

• celebrating end of A-Levels at Primrose Hill with Maya & a bottle of wine :)

• pottery painting at Art 4 Fun

• The Weeknd concert

• paddle-boarding on the river thames (specifically in the Kingston/ Hampton Court area)

• shopping at Coal Drops Yard

• Chanel exhibit at the V&A museum

• ice skating at Battersea Power Station

• ABBA voyage concert for my dad’s birthday

• getting to watch ‘Love Actually’ in cinema for its 20 year anniversary

wardrobe staples i’ll cherish till they hopefully never fall apart:

• black knee high boots from Alohas

• my official lucky dress: a black satin mini from House of CB

• dark-green Adidas Gazelles

• Naomi Campbell & Kate Moss tee from In Print We Trust

• powder blue swimsuit from Rat Boi

• white & mixed fruit pattern bikini from My Mum Made It

• faux leather bomber jacket from Zara

• gumamela earrings from Mais x Frida

• silver hoop earrings from Monica Vinader

• blue ‘Ever-Ready’ zip tote from Tory Burch

beauty items i’ll repurchase:

• playtint blush & lip stain from Benefit

• gentle facial cleanser from Cowshed

• shampoo & conditioner from Moroccan Oil

• exfoliating scrub from Frank Body

• replica: ‘coffee break’ perfume from Maison Margiela

• contour stick from Rare Beauty

• ‘walk of no shame’ lip liner from Charlotte Tilbury & lip gloss in ‘hot cherry’ from Fenty Beauty

• ‘cookies n clean’ face mask from Fenty Beauty

• eyelash curler from Shiseido

books & films i wish i could read / watch again for the first time:

• Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins-Reid

• A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly A. Jackson

• Barbie

• Derry Girls (tv series)

• The Other Guys

• Snatch

• The Big Short

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3

• The Hunger Games: the Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

2023 was a year full of firsts, and this list is only a brief summary of all the wonderful things that happened last year. I hope 2024 will continues to be a year full of trying new things and exploring new places. Thank you for reading <3