MSH Backup

And here we are at the start of another month....what a whirlwind this year is turning into! My April was a fairly manic one to be honest, with lots of ups and downs- more of that to come in future posts, I'm sure. As always, when things spin a little bit off kilter, I'm always eternally thankful for the support of my friends and especially the Dream Team- and I'm really looking forward to our little break later this month. Let's just say, the prospect of a beach and some sunshine is a long overdue one! Anyway, without willing time to fly by any quicker than it has been of late, here's a little peek at how I've been spending the last few weeks: Taking a reflective moment or two at the start of the month/Blooms in the garden/Making some new friends/A feast at Hannah's Putney/St. James' Park first thing in the morning/ An Easter bake /More blooms/Words of wisdom/A beautiful evening in some truly inspiring surroundings/Theatre trip!/Admiring the view/First ...

Although I've got a selection of trusty style staples which I tend to reach for on a fairly regular rotation, there are definitely still some instances when I wake up and have no idea what to put on of a morning. Delving into my wardrobe is a bit of a battle at the best of times, and the topsy turvy weather which we're experiencing at the moment definitely doesn't make outfit planning any easier. With that in mind, I've recently been on the lookout for some additional everyday essentials to bolster my work wardrobe, and have happened upon a lovely selection in the shape of John Lewis' Kin collection: Back Tie Top, £49/Oversized Print Top, £55/Reverse Seam Cardigan, £55/White Leather Backpack, £89/Silver Slingback Pumps, £69, all by Kin by John Lewis. Minimalist wardrobe goals, am I right?!! You really can't go wrong with a basic black top, and this tie back style ticks all of the right cost per wear boxes, as well as being a great versatile investment too. This ...

As I've touched on on a few occasions in the past, as I've grown older I've become a lot more focused on collecting a wardrobe full of piece which I know I'll wear time and time again, rather than the trend-led styles which I used to pick up on impulse in my teens. These are the sort of staples which tend to form the crux of my day to day wardrobe, and which I'm pleased to report are still going strong after several years- including this colour block style: Coat- & Other Stories  Tunic- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- Adidas (via Surfdome)  Bag- Skinny Dip London I picked up this tunic from Zara about three years or so ago, and it's a real perennial favourite. The contrasting colours lend it a really smart edge, and the longer line is great for switching up silhouettes too- for some reason I always feel that little bit taller when I've got a longer top on! Here I teamed it with my much love wide-legged trousers from Zara and & Other Stories trench coat-...

I've posted on several occasions in the past about how I don't really tend to deviate from my day to day beauty routine, so it seemed like it was high time to introduce you to some of the essentials which I use religiously. These are products which have become part of every day for me- those favourites which would come with me to a desert island (as well as the factor 50, of course!) These hero buys aren't all that expensive, but make a real difference to my routine- whether it's rushing in a bleary eyed haze first thing in the morning, or keeping things fresh faced at the weekend:    If there's an item any more trusty than a humble pot of Vaseline, I'm yet to discover it. It's a product I've been using every day since I was a teenager, predominantly as a lip balm, but also on unruly eyebrows and to combat dry skin during the winter. This limited edition Lulu Guinness tin sits on my dressing table and it something I reach for every morning and every even...

There are few style staples which are more synonymous with spring than the humble trench coat, are there? I've had a handful which have come and gone from my wardrobe since I was a teenager, but there's no denying that as far as classic pieces go, it's well at the top of the 'essentials' list. Whilst I've got a cropped style from Whistles which has been with me since I turned 21, this year I was on the hunt for a new, longer line design with a slightly more relaxed feel- and happened across the perfect purchase from & Other Stories:  Coat- & Other Stories  Top- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- c/o Boden Bag- Skinny Dip London Sunglasees- Ray Ban c/o John Lewis Regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of & Other Stories, and, after spotting this coat in store a few weeks ago, I snapped it up on the spot. It's the perfect essential with which to bridge the gap in seasons, and versatile enough to style in plenty of different combinations. The lo...

If you're still swimming in a deluge of Easter chocolate, and are looking for something to bake on this Bank Holiday Monday, then search no further! In anticipation of the long weekend, I hit the kitchen on Friday to road test a new addition to my recipe repertoire in the shape of Mary Berry's Definitive Chocolate Cake from BBC Food . Considering it's been a little while since I've had time to indulge in any baking, I was expecting it all to end in disaster, but was pleasantly surprised with the results- all pulled together in just over an hour!  Mary Berry's Definitive Chocolate Cake Ingredients For the sponge:  225g unsalted butter, 225g caster sugar, 4 free range eggs, 220g self raising flour, 50g cocoa powder, 2 tsp baking powder For the filling: 4 tbsp apricot conserve (or a jam of your choice- I used some quince jam from Honey & Co), 300ml whipping cream, decorations of choice Method 1) Preheat the oven to 180 degrees fan. 2) Mix the flour, butter, sugar, ...

Sometimes, when it feels like everything is getting a little bit too much, the perfect antidote is devouring your bodyweight in chicken with some of your best buddies. In celebration of Elodie's flying visit to London, last Thursday we all made our way to Chick 'n' Sours in Covent Garden, to sample the menu and indulge in some much needed (and long overdue!) belly laughs: The menu is, in short, the stuff that dreams are made of. Hailing from Croydon, I'm no stranger to fried chicken (#represent), but the offerings at Chick 'n' Sours are in a different league altogether. We indulged in sharing plates of wings and aubergine, before I opted for the house fry served with pickled walnut and a side of fries. Everything was cooked to absolute perfection - expertly seasoned and still perfectly tender- all the more enjoyable in such glorious company. I'm already trying to make another sneaky lunchtime trip!  Have you tried any new foodie favourites?  (Image credit: S...

Aaah the great British springtime...23 degrees one day and then 10 degrees cooler the next! Whilst variety is the spice of life, this topsy turvy weather does make anticipating what to wear day to day a little bit tricky, especially if, like me, you're legging it out of the house when it's teeming down with rain only for it to brighten up the moment that you battle your way onto the train! In an attempt to try and outwit the weather, over the last few weeks I've been sticking to some failsafe wardrobe favourites: Coat- COS  Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- Adidas (via Surfdome) This COS coat has been a solid spring wardrobe favourite for a fair few years now, and it's one of those simple statement pieces which is perfect for reaching for if you're in a hurry first thing, as well as for layering. The pale pink hue never fails to bring a smile to my face either! Here I paired it with some staples which I've more or less been living in of late- thi...

No matter how many different beauty brands I try, over the last year or so I've come to realise that there are few which I get on with as well as Kiehl's. Whether it's pepping up my complexion with some of their skincare heroes or treating myself to something new, whenever I pop into store I'm rarely disappointed with the products I end up purchasing. The service is always fantastic too, which makes such a huge difference, don't you think? Anyway, in short, post payday I splashed out and treated myself to a mixture of marvels, all of which I've been getting on famously with: This starter size of the oil free facial cleanser is a great boon to my current skincare routine and is a staple which I'll definitely be packing in my suitcase ahead of my summer holidays. The ultimate strength hand salve is a product which has been on my shopping list for what feels like forever, and after only a few uses I'm well and truly converted- it's a real miracle worker...

Now that April is here in all of her showery glory, it's definitely time to start getting excited about next month's holiday to France! Sophie, Michelle, Hannah and I will be paying Elodie a visit at her sunny seaside home, and I'm really looking forward to it- particularly as it gives us all the opportunity to explore somewhere new. I haven't been on a beach holiday for a fair few years, so I'm also embracing the chance to invest in some new holiday wardrobe heroes:  Embroidered Top, £29.99, Zara/Tie Front Culottes, £45, Warehouse/V Neck Swimsuit, £45, & Other Stories/Cut Work Dress, £45, Marks and Spencer/Floppy Hat, £22, Accessorize/Naomi Sunglasses, £69, Jigsaw/Converse, £62.99, Office/Mango Metallic Backpack, £29.99, ASOS I've been eyeing up this top from Zara for what feels like months now, and I'm sure it won't be long until I snap it up for my suitcase. I love the folksy feel, and the blue and white colour combination is synonymous with the s...

Happy April! Whilst I can't quite get my head around the fact that we're already four months into 2017, it's lovely to embrace the arrival of spring after so long. As I type this, I'm looking out at a blue sky and celebrating the fact that the lighter evenings have given me a much needed boost of energy- it's amazing what a spurt of sunshine can do isn't it?! With spring in mind, I've been embracing a slightly more mellow colour palette in my wardrobe over the last few weeks- whilst (of course!) keeping things practical in anticipation of those April showers... Jacket- Zara  Top- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- c/o Boden  Bag- Skinny Dip London Co-ordination claxon! Out of habit I tend to always veer towards black and navy hues for work wear, but teaming these grey pieces has definitely helped to inject a fresh feel into my weekday wardrobe! These trousers and this top are staples which I've posted about on plenty of occasions in the past, but this jacket i...