MSH Backup

Although I tend to regularly rotate between quite a limited colour palette in my day to day wardrobe (blue and black usually being the perpetual go-to uniform), sometimes it's lovely to inject a bit of energy into proceedings with a pop of bright colour here and there. Whilst the weather of late might not have proved to be particularly inspiring, I've been having a rummage through my wardrobe to dig out some colourful combinations- and one recent purchase in particular is well and truly proving to have been money well spent:  Blouse- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- ASOS  Bag- Oliver Bonas  Shoes- New Look  Pink isn't usually one of my staple shades, but this blouse from Marks and Spencer caught my eye as soon as I spotted it online. Not only is the bold colour an instant mood lifter, but the frill details on the sleeves and at the collar offer a lovely trend-led touch too. Here I teamed it with my basic black trousers from ASOS, but it's definitely a piece which I'...

When it comes to nail maintenance, as a rule I'm usually hugely lax in sticking to anything resembling a routine. Aside from making them look tidy and giving them a good polish after I've been up to my elbows in compost in the garden, I don't really tend to treat them to much else. Don't get me wrong, I've still got a drawer full of almost every shade of nail polish under the sun, but, as ever, having the time to paint them is another matter altogether. Having said that, over recent months, I've been treating myself to a manicure at Cheeky once a month or so- taking a bit of time during my lunch break to relax and deliberate over their treatment menu- some much needed 'me' time! With that in mind, I'm resolved to make some more time for treating my talons at home- and have picked out a handful of shades which are just perfect for the summer: Regular readers will know that I'm something of an Essie obsessive, and these colours are ones which are r...

Hurrah- time for another post in which I wax lyrical about my current (and future) literary loves! Whilst this might be long overdue, it's a sad incitement of my life that it now takes me so long to get through one book, whereas I used to be able to devour them at a rate of knots growing up. Having said that, back then I suppose I didn't have all of this 'being an adult' nonsense to worry about (growing up is rubbish), but one thing which hasn't changed is just how much I find myself enjoying the process of getting lost in a good read. Whilst I struggle to devote as much time to it as I would like to, it's always been a real form of therapy for me and one which, over recent months especially, has really helped in distracting me from lots of little anxieties here and there. So, without further ado- here's a peek a what my current reading list looks like: The Brownlee brothers' Swim Bike Run  was a birthday present which I got last year from the best girl ...

As I've posted about a handful of times in the past, when it comes to navigating my lunch break, I'm usually very much a creature of habit. Having said that, however, there are some occasions when it's just as important to break from the norm- turning your back on soggy sandwiches and sub-par salads in search of an altogether more satisfying midday meal. A few weeks ago, with a long day in progress, I made a long overdue debut trip to Chicken Shop, for some much needed comfort food: Having heard glowing reviews of Chicken Shop from friend after friend, this trip was somewhat spur of the moment, but well and truly worth it. Needless to say that the menu well and truly lived up to the hype, with succulent chicken quarters arriving at the table freshly cooked, and within minutes of being ordered. Sides wise, I plumped for sweet potato fries (classic!) and a bowl of coleslaw- a definite welcome distraction from my usual lunchtime menu! As well as offering delicious, really reas...

As much as I've settled on a solid day to day skincare routine over the last couple of years, it's always nice to shop around and have a look for some new discoveries to supplement those everyday essentials. What with contending with the ups and downs of the summer weather, over the last couple of weeks I've found my skin breaking out a little bit more than usual and in need of a touch of tlc. Luckily, some recent purchases from Lush have well and truly stepped up to the mark: I've had a couple of these fresh face masks in the past, but after popping into my local branch of Lush a couple of weekends ago, picked up both the Rosy Cheeks and BB Seaweed masks- more for the welcome relief of being able to soothe my face with something cold in thirty degree heat to be honest! Rosy Cheeks is perfect for targeting redness and irritated skin; with ingredients including calamine and rose oil gently soothing and cleansing without being at all abrasive. BB Seaweed is a real one s...

In an effort to explore some corners of London which I'm yet to visit, over the last year or so I've been heading away from my usual well beaten track, seeking out those places which I've yet to encounter in the capital. It' always really refreshing to do something different, and I always tend to forget just how many hidden treasures London is home to. Much like my trip to Kenwood House last autumn, a few weeks ago I ventured north of the river to take in the spectacular surroundings of Regent's Park: First and foremost, exploring somewhere on foot on one of the hottest days of the year isn't the wisest of ideas, but on a sticky June Saturday the shaded surroundings of the park were very welcome! I've whizzed through the area on my way to London Zoo once or twice before, but on this occasion it was lovely to have the luxury of a little bit more time to take in the peace and tranquility of such lovely surroundings. Needless to say that I fell head over heels...

Aaaah, there’s nothing quite like the Great British Summer to make you realise just how important it is to have a wardrobe of multipurpose sartorial marvels! After a week of sweltering temperatures, we’ve lately been subject to more than a handful of deluges- which, whilst providing a welcome break in the weather, have seen me scratching my head of a morning in puzzlement about what to wear. Accommodating such changeable weather calls for the sort of style staples which can be easily layered up, and which receive a big practical tick too: Jacket- Zara  Blouse- Next  Trousers- Zara  Shoes- Nike (via ASOS)  Bag- Oliver Bonas  I always find it a bit tricky to keep my weekday wardrobe feeling summer-worthy when it’s bucketing it down outside, but, thanks to the discovery of this bright blouse from Next, have been able to team a splash of colour with some of my simpler everyday basics. As well as being a real mood-booster, the loose fit makes it ideal for throwing o...

If you're looking to update your interiors, you don't always have to break the bank to achieve some surprisingly simple yet effective results. Don't get me wrong, I love perusing the pages of West Elm and Anthropologie as much as the next person (I mean, who doesn't?!), but sometimes having a crack at getting creative yourself can yield the most rewarding results. You might remember that I started practicing some calligraphy last year , and since then I've been quite keen to frame some of my efforts, if only to commemorate those little moments of calm which I've been very consciously trying to carve out since the start of the year. Surprisingly enough, it's only recently that I've found a spare moment to sit down and get round to it- and I'm really pleasantly pleased with the results! Once I'd had a few practice attempts at copying the piece of text which I wanted to use, I put pen to paper in earnest. It's always tricky not to make mistakes,...

One of the highlights in my calendar each year is, without doubt, making an annual pilgrimage to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Since I first visited back in 2014, it's been a place which has become semi-sacred in a way- a plant lover's paradise, and one which is really worth seeking out- even in sweltering hot temperatures. This year the show was, as ever, full to the brim with beautiful blooms, inspiring installations and an abundance of glorious gardens- and visiting on a weekday gave us lots of opportunity to explore with a bit more time, avoiding the crowds of the weekend to take it all in at a more leisurely pace: Starting off with our now customary jaunt across the river from Hampton Court Station to the showground, it was lovely to see (even from a distance), so many exhibits- most notably, The Butterfly Dome, making a welcome return to the show after debuting last year. It's a wonderful space, and one which I think is really well positioned near the begi...

As I mentioned in my last outfit post, I don't really tend to get on all that well with warm weather dressing. Don't get me wrong, I'm as fond of sitting out in the garden decked out in a pair of shorts and a tee as the next girl, but dressing for work during the warm weather is another matter altogether- and usually a very sticky one! London, in particular, isn't the best place to be when the temperatures rise, especially if you're contending with oven-like public transport and very few ways to keep cool during the day. With that in mind, over the last few weeks, I've been rummaging through my wardrobe, digging out some work-ready summer staples in an attempt to avoiding turning into the angry red faced emoji when faced with the prospect of getting onto the Underground:   Kimono- Oasis  Dress- Mango  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (via John Lewis) Shoes- New Look Bag (just seen)- Oliver Bonas This kimono is a real old favourite from Oasis which I picked up a few years ago...

Phew! Another month down! June was a flurry of rather sweaty days, don't you think? Whilst we seem to be in the midst of another mini-heatwave, I'm trying (albeit in an effort which is proving quite futile!) to keep cool and avoid turning into a dripping mess- please do send any cooling down tips my way pronto! As well as being punctuated by my exasperated exaltations of how hot I am, the last month has seen some rather lovely goings-on too: Beautiful blooms!/Blue skies/An Honest Burger/ Exploring autumn at Cath Kidston /A weekend enjoying the countryside on my doorstep/Dreamy dahlias!/ Exploring Villa Noailles /New London favourites/A cactus collective/ Spritzing a Jo Malone favourite /Trying to cool off at Somerset House/ Lunching at 26 Grains /Monday morning made better by this glorious sight!/An evening at the theatre/ Making the most of the garden !/Pops of colour in sunny Croydon. All in all, not too shabby! The month ahead is shaping up to be pretty lovely too- watch thi...

If there's one thing in life which I'm not made for (as well as long division), it's the heat. If the temperatures veer towards the top of the twenties on the thermometer, then I'm generally reduced to a sweaty mess, who seems only to be able to repeat the phrase 'It's too hot!' on a loop. Don't get me wrong, lovely sunny weather is glorious- and a real treat in this part of the world- but there's something about being hot and sticky which sends me into a literal meltdown. Such was the case a few weeks ago when we were in the midst of that little heatwave- deprived of sleep and any opportunity to cool down properly, short of diving head first into the fountains in Trafalgar Square! Necessity being the mother of invention at times like these, I found myself rummaging around in my wardrobe for some warm weather ready attire, happening upon an old favourite which I picked up for my last beach holiday: Dress- F&F at Tesco  Shoes- New Look  Sunglasses...

Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I’m usually at my happiest when I’m out in the garden. It’s a space which has always felt especially sacred, and, as well as holding lots of special childhood memories (usually involving me chasing one cat or the other!), as I’ve grown older it’s become a place which I’ve come to recognise as a real sanctuary too- the space I always go to when I need a bit of a reset, or even if I’m just after a moment or two of tranquility. Embracing all things green-fingered has become a serious stress-buster over the last couple of years too- and there’s something really rewarding about seeing all of your hard work blooming away during the summer months. Of course, there are always planting projects which don’t quite work out, whether blighted by the weather (or by the slugs!), but having setbacks always tends to make those little blossoming victories feel all the sweeter. With that in mind, here’s a whistle-stop tour of some of the blooms which are bright...