Caribbean, cocktails and then cuzina

With everything going on last week I wasn't really in the mood to write about my latest date night so the past two weekends are being rolled into one (lucky you!). I have to say that, having now had 10 successful at-home date nights, I will miss them when things eventually go back to normal (if they ever do). You can pig out in the privacy of your home, you can choose the exact music and mood that you want and you can get as drunk as you want without spending very much and without having to think about a taxi home. Positives all round!

Chronological order (of course) so let's start with last week, when it was lovely and sunny (which now already feels like a distant memory thanks to the classic British weather). After a day of tanning in the garden, I chose a nice summery outfit and I wanted the bright makeup to match. Opting for another of my gorgeous Juvia's place palettes (yes, I own a lot okay), this time using The Zulu. They annoyingly don't have shade names but I think it's pretty clear which colours I used. I gradually built the middle-left green through my crease, making it darker in the corner with the top-right brown (ideally I would've used something cooler but I wanted to stick to my one palette thing). I then pressed the top-middle yellow onto my lid, which I liked as a nice change because it's matte and I usually use a shimmer on my lid. I did finish with a shimmer on my lower lash line though, as I went with the centre green shade. Obviously with an eye this bright, I couldn't very well add a bright lip (without looking like I was in drag) so I finished with YSL Rouge Volupte, which is a really nice buttery lipstick without being as shiny or sticky as a gloss.

The summery outfit I'd chosen was this lemon print playsuit which I bought for my America trip last summer and loved! I haven't worn it since so putting it on took me straight back to New Orleans (especially given the nice weather). I love the flared 3/4 sleeves and the way it's kind of flouncy on the bottom half. It was from boohoo and I finished it off with black belt and strappy black heels. 

The cuisine is one that me and Ollie had decided on the week before and had been looking forward to ever since. Not because I'm massively crazy about Caribbean food (obviously it's good but doesn't hit my top faves), but because Turtle Bay do cocktails on Deliveroo! One of the things I love about Ollie is that he's always happy to split food with me. I don't think I've ever looked at a restaurant menu and only fancied one thing so I needed someone in my life who would always want to split two mains (even on foods you wouldn't typically share). That's soul mate material right there. So this time, we split jerk chicken with spicy chips and 'sunshine' salad, curry goat, jerk beef pattie and sweet plantain. All of it was amazing, especially the salad actually. But the best part (that we also halved), was the cocktails. We went with a reggae rum punch and a zombie and both of them were amazing and properly strong. They even sent a cute little pot of ice with them! One thing I will also say for Turtle Bay's delivery service is that I was very impressed by the presentation - all branded pots and containers and the cocktails carefully packaged so they wouldn't spill. I'd highly recommend if you're lucky enough to be in their delivery parameter (like me).

On to this weekend and although the temperature has dropped, our spirits certainly haven't (or our appetites). After a quick freshen up of my hair colour (getting birthday ready for next weekend), I was onto the makeup. This time I mildly cheated on my one palette rule but only a tiny bit - I used a single pan No7 colour for my lid highlight, but only because I knew I was wearing silver jewellery and didn't want a warm gold to clash! Other than the slight cheat, I went with my Zoeva love is a story palette and started by running over you in a wide arch through my crease (lol "running over you"). Then I started to build some colour with ladylike, which I also took along my lower lashline. I darkened the corners with flirt and then finished with my *off palette* shade on the lid and in the tear duct. Even though it wasn't a particularly bright eye look this time, I still fancied a shiny finish and went with a nude gloss.

I wasn't 100% on whether my outfit necessarily matched but I liked it enough to risk it anyway. I have this puff-sleeved top in two different colours and love them both, but I particularly wanted to wear the baby blue one to offset my newly-refreshed red hair. I added slinky champagne skirt... which I also have in two colours. It's just so flattering and figure hugging without being plain or simple! The outfit could've easily looked clashy if I didn't have the right shoes to go with it but these nude caged babies (a long-time favourite) went perfectly. I finished with lots of sparkly silver and rose gold jewellery and then I was all set - with a glass of prosecco in hand of course.

We're now 10 weeks into our lockdown date nights so naturally we're starting to run out of new cuisines to go with. We were tempted to go with tapas again (having done it first on week two) before remembering an amazing Greek restaurant in West Bridgford. And luckily, they were doing takeaway service! Cuzina is somewhere we went for date night back in December and all the food was just incredible - plus their small plates lend themselves perfectly to my love of sharing and trying a bit of everything. We went with meatballs, rustic chips, pitta and dip, lamb chops, halloumi, sweet chilli chicken and pork and halloumi gyros. Everything was incredible and again, I'd highly recommend. They're not operating through deliveroo or justeat or anyone (as far as I'm aware) which means you're not restricted by location - you just place the order on their website and then choose your pickup slot. I'd recommend choosing one in the pretty near future!