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Final day of the year claxon! We made it! *Confetti drop* It seems odd to be celebrating the passing of time when I feel like all I do sometimes is worry about how fleeting it is, but I'm very glad to have made it through this year in one piece. Having said that, I've never really been one for celebrating on New Year's Eve, preferring instead to settle down in front of the telly and opt for an early night. 28 going on 82, but it's always worth making the most of some quality sleep hours when you can, especially if you, like me, are dreading the sound of your alarm going off on Tuesday morning. Even if you are having a quiet night it, that doesn't mean that a little bit of celebratory sparkle is off limits- and I've amassed a little stash of goodies to help see out the year in style: Over the last year, I've been pleasantly reminded of just how much of a lovely treat it is to get have your nails painted, and have made a few lunchtime trips to Cheeky for a spe...

2017 hey? What a completely upside down time it's been. I couldn't let the year pass without reflecting on the last twelve months, especially as they've been something of a rollercoaster for me. It's always difficult to put things like this into words without sounding too cryptic, but I can genuinely say that the last year has probably been one of the most difficult so far, and it's taught me some serious lessons about just how unpredictable life can be. One day, you're happily thinking about nothing more important than what to have for lunch, and then the next- BAM- big life thing comes at you with a force you can't control or anticipate, pulling the rug out from under you completely.  Working through grief, stress and all sorts of other associated trauma is tough. Really tough. Tough in a way that nobody can explain or prepare you for. For most of this year, I've felt like all I've been able to do is just get through one day at a time- whether that...

Hello from Crimbo Limbo! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas Day and have spent the last few days safely ensconced in front of the television, whether glued to back to back films or binging on a box set or two (I've got The Crown and Game of Thrones  waiting for me, hurrah!) As well as enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation, I've also made a point of having a good old (and long overdue) sort out, rummaging through my stash of old hair and beauty bits, clearing out anything which has gone beyond its shelf life and making space for some new favourites- one of which comes in the shape of a recent purchase from Aesop: Aesop is one of those brands which I've always loved and I'm resolved to try more of their products in 2018- especially as they are cruelty free, and offer such a broad selection to target a whole host of different skincare concerns. As we near the end of the year, it's fair to say that my skin has definitely taken a fair old punishing of late, wh...

There's no escaping the fact that things tend to turn a little bit starry at this time of the year, whether it's across your Christmas decorations, on cards and across all of your other festive favourites. Needless to say, I'm steadily counting down the minutes until I can pop my out of office on (so, so close!), and over the next week or so I'm really looking forward to what I hope will be some much needed rest and relaxation time after a completely topsy-turvy year. At the top of my Christmas holiday to-do list is tomorrow's trip to the cinema to catch The Last Jedi - the source of yet more suitably starry sartorial inspiration: Constellation Sweatshirt, £75, Whistles/Origami Star Tuck Neck Blouse, £18, Topshop/Blossom Scatter Dress, £75, Hush (via John Lewis)/Star Constellation Trousers, £75, Whistles (via John Lewis)/Crescent Moon Necklace, £17, & Other Stories/Lace Up Star Trainers, £29.50, Marks and Spencer/Missoma Cocktail Ring, £55, John Lewis/Star Ankle...

If there's one thing which seems synonymous with this time of the year it is, for me at least, indulging in a new perfume. Whether it's because the telly is choc-a-bloc with adverts for series upon series of scents, or having researched plenty of festive gift options, treating yourself to a new fragrance always feels like a lovely ritual to indulge in as the year bows out. A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to unwrap a special birthday delivery in the shape of a new Chanel offering which is proving perfect for feeling festive: I first encountered Gabrielle Chanel at the London pop up towards the end of the summer, and it's something which has been on my shopping list ever since. The newest addition to Chanel's family of fragrances, it's a delicately balanced floral option, with heart notes of jasmine and ylang-ylang. With orange blossom mixed with a bespoke Grasse tuberose, it's light and fresh yet still identifiable as classically Chanel, with echoes of the ...

With the weather having been as chilly as it have over the last week or so, I'm sure that I'm not the only one finding it hard to resist the urge to stay hibernating under a pile of blankets at the moment! With the Christmas break within touching distance, this last push towards some time away from my daily commute is proving to be a pretty wearying one, especially with that infamous combination of cold weather and notoriously unreliable transport..! Anyway, in an attempt to keep as warm and cosy as possible I've snapped up a new essential which I'm already getting plenty of wear out of... Coat- Whistles Jumper- Zara Jeans- & Other Stories Trainers- Adidas (c/o Spartoo) This coat from Whistles is a piece which I spotted in store way back at the start of the autumn, and, luckily for me, last week it made it into their end of season sale-hurrah! With a saving of just under £100, it was far too much of a bargain to turn down, and thankfully my local store still had one...

One of those everyday gripes which I have to be very careful about, especially at this time of the year, is my super sensitive teeth. Whether it's slurping tea and hot chocolate or having a cold drink over dinner, my poor enamel is often barraged by extreme changes in temperature, and, given that my teeth are quite sensitive anyway, it's always something which is at the back of my mind. Needless to say that the facial expressions which I pull when (slowly!) devouring ice cream are something to behold, and I'm always on the lookout for products which help to alleviate some of the shooting sensations which are so synonymous with sensitivity. A few weeks back, I was lucky enough to receive a sample of a new product from Sensodyne which is proving to be a source of some serious dental deliverance: This Pronamel Strong and Bright Enamel toothpaste has been formulated to target erosion and subsequent sensitivity, delivering minerals to help strengthen teeth. As well as that, it a...

There's something about this time of the year which is somehow synonymous with the calming glow of a candle, don't you think? As December is my birthday month, it starts with a bounty of candles on cakes, and as we inch closer to Christmas I'm finding myself contemplating options for the table too. To top it all off, this chilly snap has got me seriously embracing those Hygge sensibilities and cosying up in front of the fire, complete with a batch of reading material and a calming candle. And, as if by magic, a birthday gift from Diptyque courtesy of some of my blogging babes is proving the perfect option for these winter evenings:    This limited edition Forêt givrée from Diptyque's festive collection is inspired by the constellation of the unicorn, which features at its nebula a star called the Christmas Tree- pretty perfect, don't you think? As well as being beautifully decorative, this candle encompasses fir needles, mint and Hinoki wood, evoking a real forest f...

The week before last, I found myself heading somewhere completely new for the first time- Birmingham! Making use of a day off of work, I braved Euston (perhaps the most stress-inducing station known to man!) to catch the 10:03 train to Birmingham New Street. The purpose? Other than attempting to channel some Peaky Blinders inspired attitude, I was catching up with my lovely friend Kate, who I don't get to see nearly as often now she's living in Liverpool. Opting to meet more or less halfway between our two home cities, we settled on Brum- something of a no-brainer to be honest, as it gave us the chance to visit their wonderful Christmas market too: Although it was a truly chilly day weather wise, it was wonderful to visit somewhere I'd never been before- and I can't quite believe it's taken me quite to so long to discover this beautiful city. A quick peek inside the Bullring had me eager to book a return trip to suss out the shopping situation proper, and it was gre...

Regular perusers of these pages will be well aware of the fact that, on the whole, my day to day wardrobe is more functional than anything else. In short, give me a comfortable pair of jeans and the chances are that I'll find myself living in them. Having said that, it's always lovely to have an excuse to break away from the norm a little bit and opt for something snazzy for special occasions. In celebration of my birthday last weekend, I snapped up something new which seemed perfect to celebrate in: Dress- Monki (via ASOS)  Coat- c/o Very  Bag- & Other Stories  Shoes- Marks and Spencer  How great is this dress? A new Monki design, it's perfect for this time of the year without being too over the top, and it's ultra-comfortable too, with the loose fit keeping things fabulously fuss-free. Keeping cosy, here I layered it under my staple Very coat, which I think is probably the most worn item of clothing I own, and a piece which I can't ever see myself getting tire...

There’s nothing quite like using a special occasion as an excuse to road test a new foodie destination, and, last weekend, in celebration of my birthday myself, Sophie, Michelle and Hannah all headed to a destination which has been on our collective radars for a little while now- Bun House in Soho. Small but perfectly formed, it offers a selection of freshly prepared Canton-style steamed buns, as well as smaller dishes which were perfect for sharing:    Ordering a selection of side dishes between us, including curried fish balls, chicken wings and noodle salad, we also all opted for an array of buns. I devoured the fish, pork and chicken options, all of which were mouthwatering and moreish enough to make me seriously consider ordering second helpings! Whilst space at Bun House might be limited to four tables (get there early!), they also offer a super speedy takeaway service, so I’m sure I’ll be popping back soon for lunch!  Have you tested any new foodie destinations rec...

Another month down! Phew! As always, I can't seem to keep track of just how quickly time is passing at the moment, and it's even more mind-boggling that we're almost at the end of another year too. The last month or so has been a pretty busy one, but filled with lots of lovely activities- including my birthday last Saturday. More on that soon, but for now here's a peek at what my November looked like:  Road testing some new Glossier favourites/A misty morning/Green shoots/Weekend reading/Garden centre gains/Christmas lights in Covent Garden/More greenery/Festive feeling at Polpo/Petersham Nurseries looking glorious/Sunny days/Window shopping at Aesop/Hanging around at the Tate Modern! I'm sure I'll be posting my December round up in what feels like no time- see you on the other side of the festive season!  How was your November?  (Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)