MSH Backup

Goodness me, another month down! Here we are as April is almost ready to unfurl, and I’m sure that I’m not the only one eager to see the back of winter for the time being. For me, the last month has really flown by, but has been punctuated by lots of lovely goings on, and accompanied by lots of opportunities to snap spring coming into full bloom: Rainbow days/Spring tulips/Hidden corners/A beautiful bouquet/Fields of gold/Spring in the air/St. Patrick's Day pride!/Brunching at Plum + Spilt Milk / Hamlet at the Almeida/Sunset over London last Wednesday/#HopeNotHate/A tale as old as time... April is already shaping up to be quite a busy one, so I’m sure I’ll be sharing all of those adventure soon!  What have you been up to recently?  (Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

Whilst I very rarely steer away from my favourite day to day beauty bits and bobs, on occasion there are a handful of purchases which I find myself reaching for, especially at this time of the year when I'm looking to switch things up a little bit as the seasons shift. Whether it's test driving a new hue of lipstick or giving some fresh skincare favourites a try, it's always nice to stumble across a miscellany of new must-haves: Whilst I'm fairly confident that I've now got my cleansing routine fairly sorted, there are still a few occasions when a little bit of targeted extra protection goes a long way. After the harsh conditions of winter, my skin has been feeling a little bit more sensitive than it would ordinarily, which is why I've been reaching for this lip and eye cream from The Organic Pharmacy rather religiously. As a little bit of extra nourishment and protection, it's very welcome, especially as it's so light and perfect for using on the go. I ...

There are few things better about this time of the year than the re-emergence of the sunshine and some long overdue warmth after a winter which has seemed to last for an eternity. Whilst I'm still erring on the side of caution and haven't packed away all of my knits just yet, the jump in temperature over the last few weeks has been very welcome, particularly as it's given me the opportunity to get to grips with remixing some of my favourite wardrobe basics:  Jacket- Zara  Shirt- & Other Stories  Jeans- Weekday (via ASOS)  Bag- French Connection  Shoes- Adidas (via Surfdome) Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (c/o John Lewis) This outfit was my go-to a few weeks ago for a brunch date at Somerset House with Michelle, Sophie and Hannah, and it's a real classic weekend combination. These jeans from Weekday are more or less on a constant rotation from my wardrobe to the washing machine, and they're seriously some of the most comfortable I've ever owned- definitely worth a repe...

With the arrival of the new season, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who is eager to invest in some fresh fashion favourites. I'm always on the lookout for new places to invest in some style staples, and have recently come across a real hero brand- step forward, KITRI: Odette Petal Cuff Shirt, £65/Roland Pinstripe Jumpsuit, £125/Manon Ivory Scarf Tunic, £85/Deborah Lace Panel Top, £75, all KITRI Offering simple, wonderfully stylish essentials, KITRI is a real gem of a discovery. This petal cuff shirt is a versatile basic which would lend itself perfectly to so many styling options, and a real holiday wardrobe hero too, don't you think? The Roland pinstripe jumpsuit is a fabulously smart alternative to trousers and a shirt, and again is one of those brilliant investment buys which would pay long term wardrobe dividends. Capturing a perfectly minimalist vibe, this tunic is another great option for a work as well as a weekend wardrobe, and I love the slightly longer line...

Whilst I've got a restaurant bucket list which I'm working through at a slow but steady pace, sometimes it's lovely to stumble upon some new foodie destinations by complete accident. Last Saturday, prior to an afternoon trip to the theatre and a leisurely potter around St. Pancras, my Mum and I stopped off at a spur of the moment brunch spot- Plum + Spilt Milk: Offering impeccably presented modern British cuisine as delivered by Mark Sargeant, the menus are wonderfully varied, offering a plethora of options to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters. We ordered from the extensive Saturday brunch selection, and needless to say that both of us were well and truly impressed by our choices- smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (Mum) and crab and avocado on toast (me). Both dishes were delicious, cooked with care and prepared with the freshest of ingredients so absolutely full of flavour. To finish, I ordered the dark chocolate mousse, served with pralines and pecans- as delicious as it...

I don't know about you, but as I've grown older (and tried to downsize my wardrobe!), I've become a real fan of fuss free dressing. Practicality always wins out in my book these days, particularly when it comes to pulling together a selection of go-to staples which I know will work in almost any combination. Whilst I'm still a long way away from mastering anything near what could be classified as a capsule wardrobe, over the last few months I've been regularly reaching for a selection of essentials on a really regular basis: Coat- Marks and Spencer  Blouse- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Trainers- c/o Boden  Bag- Skinnydip London  You can't ever really go wrong with basic block colours, can you? This coat has been a regular fixture in my wardrobe for a fair few years now, and it's a staple which I always find myself digging out at this time of the year- a real investment buy! Speaking of staples, I more or less live in these trousers from ASOS- especially as I'm ...

Now that spring is in full swing, I'm hastily packing away some of my heavy duty winter skincare and switching things up with some new essentials. Seeing the sunshine again over the last week or so has felt like a real (long overdue!) treat, and as well as topping up those Vitamin D levels, lighter days are definitely making it easier to feel motivated, don't you think? These days I'm finding myself (sort of!) springing out of bed as soon as my alarm goes off, which is paying dividends in terms of not having to make a mad dash to the train station of a morning, as well as allowing myself a little bit more time to get to grips with a new cleansing companion:  This Calendula Foaming Face Wash has been a real boon to my routine over the last few weeks, as it's wonderfully gentle whilst offering a much more thorough cleanse than most of my usual go-to products. It's one of those wonder buys which yields noticeable improvements even after the first use, and, as always wi...

With the shift in seasons well and truly in the air, surely there is no better time to embrace the spirit of the new, whether that be switching up your wardrobe or sampling the menu at a fresh dining destination. For me, one such opportunity arose last weekend, in celebration of Michelle's birthday. Accompanied by Sophie and Hannah, we made our way to the beautiful Spring at Somerset House- the perfect place to visit on such a glorious day: Incorporating a daily-changing menu of seasonal British food, Spring is the brainchild of Skye Gyngell, who transformed Petersham Nurseries into a foodie favourite in sunny south west London. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th century drawing room in the New Wing of Somerset House, the interior design is seriously inspiring, and instantly calming- much needed amidst the hustle and bustle of the West End. The food is hearty and delicious, and if you (like me!) are watching the pennies, then I'd recommend ordering from the set menu, where t...

Well, it seems that spring has finally sprung, doesn't it?! After a glorious day on Saturday (followed somewhat predictably by a showery Sunday!), I'm hedging my bets that this is the start of the new season proper, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who is ecstatic to see the back of the winter for another year. Here's to the evenings drawing out, spring blooms popping up left, right and centre in the garden, as well as the opportunity to embrace some new wardrobe wonders, with a suitably seasonal combination of colours: Coat- c/o Boden  Jumper- & Other Stories  Trousers- ASOS  Trainers- c/o Boden  Bag- Skinny Dip London This pink coat from Boden has become a regular fixture on these pages of late, and it's one of those great pieces which feels like a real breath of fresh air, especially at this time of the year- particularly as the colour is a real mood booster too. Here I co-ordinated it with a recent purchase in the shape of this jumper from & Other S...

Regular readers will be well aware that I'm a huge fan of anything floral, so when the lovely people at Blossoming Gifts got in touch with the opportunity to sample one of their beautiful spring bouquets, I jumped at the chance. Keeping fresh flowers in the house is a real mood booster all year round, and over the summer I'm lucky enough to have a bountiful supply of blooms in the garden to keep my vases occupied. As everything is springing back to life after the winter, I'll have a little while longer to wait until I can get picking, so with that in mind, having some fresh flowers delivered to my doorstep a few weeks ago was a real treat: Belfi Large Bouquet, c/o Blossoming Gifts  What a beautiful selection of blooms! With gerberas, snapdragons and freesias, it captures the spirit of spring perfectly, and has lasted really well too. With complementary seasonal colours delicately arranged, this bouquet has looked right at home in my room, and has got me well and truly read...

As part of my ongoing quest to make the most of my lunch breaks, I've been making a concerted effort to try as many new eating options as possible- and, working in Covent Garden, there certainly is plenty of choice on offer. It's always lovely to spot a new dining destination popping up in the piazza, and a few weeks ago I popped along to one of the newest openings- the Aubaine Deli:  Having walked past the tantalising treats of the pastry counter every day for a fair few months now, it was wonderful to have the chance to sit down and enjoy a leisurely lunch and a pot of tea! I opted for a delicious ham and cheese baguette, followed by a raspberry and pistachio sponge cake- both of which were delicious. I'm already making plans for a return visit, and can't recommend the Aubaine Deli as the perfect pitstop in the middle of a busy day!  Have you tried any new lunch spots recently?  (Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

I've posted a few times in the past about how, as a rule, I'm usually fairly reluctant to jump on trend bandwagons these days- preferring instead to stick to the styles which I know suit me and which I'll be able to keep as part of my wardrobe for the long haul. For example, I know I'll never ever look good in dungarees, and have more than happily accepted that I'll never need (or want to) embrace high heels. One of the great things about getting older is being able to arrive at these decisions fairly organically, and after having a wardrobe clear out over the weekend, I'm extolling the virtues of only investing my pennies in pieces which I know I'll still want to wear 365 days from now- and beyond. With that in mind, I've been getting to grips with restyling some of my older style staples: Jacket- Ark  Blouse- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- Adidas (via Surfdome) Clashing prints is never something which I'd fully embraced before, but with the spirit of...

Another month bites the dust! Whilst February is the shortest of the year, for some reason it always seems to feel longer than it should- especially if, like me, you're always eager for spring to get kick started. The good news is that winter is (in theory at least!) behind us for the time being- and I for one can't wait for everything to start coming back to life. Whilst I'm making plans for the month ahead, here's a little look back at what I've been up to over the last few weeks: Brunching at Honey & Co/Wishing this was my front door!/Sightseeing in my own city../Some new beauty favourites/A selection of spring pieces from Boden/Another pink bicycle of dreams.../A Liberty pit-stop/Burberry Makers House/A Blossoming Gifts delivery- full post coming soon.  All in all a fairly relaxed month! The next few weeks are shaping up to be fairly busy for me with lots of lovely goings on- catch you on the flip side!  What have you been up to recently?  (Image credit: Sar...