MSH Backup

Like most of the you, a few weeks back I (for once!) woke up without that Monday morning dread- purely because the 9th October marked the official launch of Glossier in the UK! Much hyped, much anticipated, the prospect of being able to finally shop the acclaimed selection of products created by Emily Weiss and co. is one which made the alarm going off slightly more bearable. I've been quite restrained in my ordering so far, plumping for a handful of products which I've been keen to try for ages. I've got a post on their mask duo in the planning for the next few weeks, so for now here are my first impressions of two of their signature colour cosmetics:  If I'm completely honest, I never really give all that much thought to blusher, usually preferring to reach for a signature shade first thing in the morning before legging it out of the front door. However, after hearing nothing but good things about Cloud Paint, I took the plunge and added a shade to my basket- namely B...

As I touched on in one of my most recent outfit posts, a new fashion favourite has crept into my wardrobe over recent weeks in the shape of Arket. More often than not, I find myself spending my lunch break having a browse of their Covent Garden store, drawing up a dream shopping list of their latest stock. Needless to say, with winter more or less upon us, I've got my eye on a fair few favourites: Wool Boucle Blue Coat, £190/Mohair Blend V-Neck Jumper, £79/Ditsy Print Midi Dress, £79/Fitted Overdyed Pink Jeans, £55/Embroidered Wool Top, £99/Woven Silk & Wool Scarf, £45/Dobby Dot Pyjama Shirt, £45/Flat Leather Crossbody, £55 How gorgeous is this blue coat? Not only is it a really refreshing choice of shade for the new season, but it's also a real high-quality classic in the making too, and one of those staples which would prove a perennial favourite year after year. Another pretty pastel comes in the shape of this pale pink knit, which would lend itself just as well to weeke...

It's always great to have the opportunity to discover something new in a city which you think you know, and even better when it's a spontaneous find too. A couple of weekends back, a leisurely autumnal walk around north London afforded me the opportunity to explore a spot which I'd never encountered before- namely Hampstead Pergola and Gardens. A real hidden treasure, this gem affords weary walkers and photographic fiends alike the perfect tranquil spot to stop and reflect: Unfolding like a location from Game of Thrones (think Highgarden meets Dorne), the Pergola and Gardens were created in the early 1900s, cannily using surplus material from the Northern Line extension to create a luxurious spot from which to spend summer evenings and enjoy the general splendour of the gardens. Today the Pergola is peppered with an eerie quiet, making it a dream destination if you're looking for some much needed peace and quiet only a short way out of central London. In autumn, it'...

It feels like forever since I've posted about anything foodie, but things have been so hectic of late that in all honesty I haven't had all that much time to explore anywhere new. I'm definitely preparing to hit hibernation mode, especially as the clocks go back at the weekend- meaning a blissful extra hour in bed but the prospect of it getting dark at teatime. Roll on spring! Anyway, a few weekends back, in celebration of Hannah's birthday, we all made our way up to a suitably Scandinavian themed eatery in the shape of the Curious Yellow Kafe: Just a short walk from Old Street, the Curious Yellow Kafe offers an array of Swedish dishes, from open rye sandwiches to some seriously tempting home cooked sweet treats. Naturally, Sophie, Hannah and I opted for the meatballs, mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam which was the perfect warming antidote on a blustery Saturday afternoon, and one of those homely dishes which is a real comfort blanket too. Michelle sampled the veggie...

As I touched on in my post from last week , about a fortnight or so ago my mum and I treated ourselves to a little bit of a staycation, booking an overnight stay in the Covent Garden Hotel after a trip to the theatre and in celebration of her birthday. It's really rare that we get the time or opportunity to indulge in something so luxurious, but this special occasion demanded something equally special in terms of an experience- meaning that we didn't have to dash for the train home and could make the most of being tourists in our own city for a couple of days too. After doing some serious TripAdvisor research, I settled on the Covent Garden Hotel- just a stone's throw away from the theatre and perfect for some peace and tranquility in the midst of central London:    Pretty spectacular right?! After checking in, we were whisked up to our room- which had been upgraded, making it even more of a treat! Instantly impressive from the moment we set foot through the door, the suite...

Whilst we're sliding towards winter quite speedily, over the last couple of weeks I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been making the most of the late autumn sunshine and slightly milder temperatures. It's always lovely to be able to give some summer favourites one final hurrah before packing them away for the next six months or so, and luckily an outing a few weeks ago offered a great chance to get another wear out of one of my favourite purchases of the year: Blouse- Sister Jane (via ASOS) Jeans- BDG (via Urban Outfitters)  Shoes- Vans (c/o Spartoo)  Bag- & Other Stories   I picked up this blouse from Sister Jane at the start of the summer, and it's become a real favourite. Whilst it's a bit more over the top than some of the usual staples which populate my wardrobe, it's one of those wonderful pieces which always puts a smile on my face and which I always feel really happy wearing too. Whilst the floral embroidery lends itself more obviously to spri...

As regular readers well know, when it comes to everyday beauty essentials, it's very rare that I switch up my old favourites for something new. There's something about the ease and routine of picking up the same products most mornings which seems oddly comforting, especially when it's dark and gloomy outside and the last thing you want to do is be parted from your duvet. Having said that, a few weeks ago the opportunity arose to road test a new everyday staple in the shape of L'Oréal's Paradise mascara: With mascara perhaps more than anything else I tend to be a creature of habit, especially as I'm always reluctant to find myself confronted by an unwieldy wand when I'm sitting in front of the mirror in a bleary eyed state of a morning. I've been repurchasing the same products for a good few years now, never really thinking that much about changing my routine, but when an old favourite ran out a little while ago, I took the plunge and snapped up a recent...

Living just outside of London as I do, it's rare that I get the opportunity to enjoy the luxury of an overnight stay in the city- booking into a hotel always feels like a little bit too indulgent when home is just over an hour away on the train. Having said that, with Southern Rail being as unpredictable as ever (leopard, spots etc etc.), sometimes it's worth saving the stress just to be able to relax and enjoy a lovely evening out. Once such occasion arose last week when, in celebration of my gorgeous mum's birthday, I booked us tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and an overnight stay in the beautiful Covent Garden Hotel. Packing for a single night away can be a bit of a puzzle, especially if you're looking to travel as lightly as possible, but I've now accumulated a stash of essentials which make the process as hassle-free as possible: In the beauty stakes, it will come as no surprise that I'm a huge fan of using Glossier's products when I...

Another month down! As always, I'm struggling to compute just where on earth the time is going, and it's slightly terrifying that another year is almost over already. Having said that, over the last couple of weeks I've been determined to make the most of the autumn sunshine, and have also been a little more spur of the moment than usual with my plans, which has been a really refreshing change: A new jolly purchase from Topshop/Autumn hues/An incredible sunset/Visiting Espace Gabrielle Chanel/ Motivational purchase from & Other Stories/Beautiful blooms/Exploring Flowers & Flea in Flat Iron Square /Monday essentials/New shoes/An afternoon at Burberry's London Fashion Week exhibition / Much Ado About Nothing at The Globe- utter perfection/Dreamy skies A pretty perfect month all in all! The next couple of weeks are shaping up to be quite busy, so I don't doubt that you'll find me in the same headspace next month- wondering where the days are going! What hav...

As I mentioned in my last post, over recent weeks I've been rummaging through my knitwear stash in search of those staples which will make the transition towards winter that little bit easier. Whilst I'm yet to commit fully to retrieving my winter coat from the back of the wardrobe (it's probably on the way to Narnia by now!), I've got a steady rotation of knits on the go at the moment, in an attempt to avoid heading headlong into top-to-toe winterwear too early. Additionally, I've been keen to avoid retreating into dark colours too much of the time, so have been on the hunt for some bolder hues to contrast with my usual winter darks: Jumper- Arket  Jeans- & Other Stories  Shoes- Vans (c/o Spartoo)  Bag- Oliver Bonas  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (via John Lewis)  How amazing is this knit?! It's my first purchase from Arket, and, suffice it to say that I've been more or less living in it since I snapped it up from their newly opened Covent Garden store a few week...

As much as the last few weeks have been peppered with attempts (however futile) to dodge rain shower after rain shower, we've also been lucky enough to have a few days here and there of glorious autumn sunshine. Knowing that it won't be long before the sun bids us farewell for another few months, I've been determined to make the most of the bright spells as and when they appear, and a few weeks ago, on a particularly glorious Friday morning, I avoided my usual route on the Tube in favour of a brisk walk to work through St James's Park: I've adored St James's Park since I first visited when I was kneehigh to a grasshopper- and it's one of those wonderfully tranquil spaces which makes you feel calmer the moment you step into it. It's beautiful in spring and summer, but there's something about autumn in this area which makes it all the more magical- particularly first thing in the morning when it's not too busy. I love the walk from Victoria as it t...

As Autumn unfolds and I find myself switching up my seasonal wardrobe, I'm also investing in and testing out some new makeup purchases too. As well as trialing some winter-ready skincare, I've also found myself drawn to some new colour cosmetics, reflecting the shift in seasons. The most notable of these investment buys comes in the shape of Christopher Kane's Hardwired eyeshadow palette, created in collaboration with Nars and released just a couple of weeks ago, following the label's latest London Fashion Week presentation: Small but perfectly formed, this palette incorporates an array of autumnal shades, all of which have a great colour payoff and can be teamed in lots of different combinations. The iridescent finish is perfect for creating a buildable look- packing a punch without proving too extreme for everyday. The shimmering gold of shade I acts as the perfect base, with the chrome and rose of shades II and III combining to create a pink-tinged eye with a slightl...

Now that autumn has arrived in earnest, I've had a long overdue rummage through my colder weather clothing collection, digging out some old favourites in preparation for the arrival of the chillier temperatures. Whilst I love the transitional aspect of autumn, as a rule I much prefer dressing for spring and summer- there's something about living in the same rotation of knits week after week which gets a little bit tedious after a while, don't you think? With that in mind, and in an attempt to avoid arriving at a style stalemate too soon, I've been experimenting with switching up some of my seasonal staples:   Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Skirt- Oliver Bonas  Shoes- Vans (c/o Spartoo) Bag- Oliver Bonas Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (via John Lewis)  Eagle eyed readers will remember this knit from last winter, and it's one of those failsafe pieces which is really easy to reach for first thing on a chilly morning. In an attempt to embrace the final days of late summer sunshine, he...