MSH Backup

I don’t know about you, but for me summer somehow seems synonymous with getting lost in a good book. Perhaps it’s something ingrained from the days of holidays past, where I used to get through a new tome every day and a half or so (often resulting in a suitcase laden with prospective reads!), and would always relish being more or less completely cut off from the world and as a result being able to get completely lost in a good story. Looking back, it seems almost impossible to imagine being that disconnected these days- indeed, as I type this my Instagram feed is undoubtedly filling up with images of people on their early summer breaks- but there’s something fantastic to be said for being able to resist checking your phone so regularly when you’re in holiday- in fact, the experience would be a welcome diversion from constantly feeling the need to be reachable, no matter where in the world you might be. Indeed, the breadth of imagining which came from reading so much on those childhood...

Having worked in Covent Garden for almost four years now, it’s always lovely to make the most of being in the area, whether that be window shopping on my lunch break, or enjoying a new foodie favourite. The area has undergone a really speedy period of transformation of late too, with the sad departure of some much-loved shops (I’m still coming to terms with Marks and Spencer closing!), as well as the arrival of some new faces too. One of the newest, a familiar London brand but new to the area is Chelsea native The Shop at Bluebird: Set across two floors on Floral Street, The Shop at Bluebird is housed in a freshly finished development which has been years in the making. There’s no denying that on first arrival, it’s seriously impressive- light, airy and with plenty of space to accommodate a mixed offer of fashion, beauty and homeware. Look up, and a vast mirrored installation adds to the feeling of infinite space, with carefully considered planting creating a very relaxed atmosphere. ...

Phew! What a warm long weekend we're having! Having good weather over the course of a Bank Holiday is usually so rare that I feel dreadful about complaining about it, but as I type this I'm frantically checking the weather forecast to see how soon this clammy spell will conclude- even if it's just for the sake of some fresh air! Muggy weather aside, and with the end of the month in sight, I think it's safe to say that we're now well and truly on the home straight towards summer. And, if you're looking for a seasonal style spruce up, or are shopping around for a special occasion, you'd be hard pushed to go wrong with that most faithful of high summer heroes- the midi dress: Colour Block Floral Wrap Print Midi Dress, £45, Marks and Spencer/Climbing Bamboo Midi Dress, £46, Warehouse/Vichy Check Dress, £49.99, Mango/Studio by Preen Bright Blue Silk Shirt Dress, £200, Debenhams/Tropical Print Dress, £29.99, Mango What a crop of beauties! This little selection is ...

When it comes to everyday beauty essentials, I'm always a bit reluctant to spend more pennies than I need to- particularly on new additions to my makeup bag. I used to regularly drop £25 here and £20 there on high end mascaras in particular, until my regular purchase was discontinued and I was lured back to Boots (probably by one of those magical 3 for 2 offers when I was a student!) Recently, I've been using L'Oréal's Paris Paradise, but with that running low and a new Glossier product launching at the most opportune of moments, it seemed like a serendipitous opportunity to try something new, as well as giving me the chance to finally pick up Boy Brow (all about that free delivery!) First up- Lash Slick. For £14, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this mascara is seriously impressive. I've got quite long lashes anyway so wasn't completely convinced that I would notice a great degree of difference after using this, but goodness me, it's a keeper! Th...

Tomorrow sees the launch of & Other Stories' latest collaboration- a very special team up with House of Hackney! Injecting an array of prints and patterns to & Other Stories' signature shapes, the collection is inspired by The Bloomsbury Group, taking Victorian florals and amping them up with a truly modern feel- a real marriage made in design heaven: Blouse, £69/Kimono, £79/Trousers, £69/Dress, £79/Swimsuit, £35/Bag, £59/Dress, £69/Scarf, £27, all & Other Stories If you're in the market for some summer holiday ready wardrobe hits, then you'd be hard pushed to go wrong with anything from this collection. This teal blouse is a great investment option, with the relaxed cut offering plenty of styling options, whether layered with a skirt for maximum boho impact, or teamed with jeans for a more practical look. I always find that kimonos are a great option for summer too, and this delicately printed style really captures the essence of the design era and aestheti...

Day to day (and especially if I'm in a rush first thing in the morning!), I tend to find myself rotating a selection of style staples- a sort of essential everyday uniform if you like. Whilst I'd love to be one of those people who plans what they're going to wear for the week on a Sunday night, I don't think I'll ever be organised enough to find the time- and, with the weather being a movable feast at the best of times, it's always something which feels a bit futile anyway! With that in mind, it's always a nice change to have a bit more time to think about what to put on for the day, especially if I'm not racing against the clock and want to give something new a whirl, as was the case recently: Dress- c/o Boden Bag- Cath Kidston Shoes- Adidas (c/o Spartoo) Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (c/o John Lewis) How beautiful is this Boden dress?! I've had it stashed away in my wardrobe for a good few months now, waiting for the perfect opportunity to give it an airing,...

It's a shame to admit, but over the last couple of months I've become a real creature of (very boring!) habit in terms of eating out- predominantly due to not having all that much time (or spare cash!) to get to anywhere new, or try anything more experimental than the old favourites which I've come to rely on so regularly for a quick and easy pit stop. Now that summer is well on the way, however, the promise of visiting some freshly opened options is one which I'm determined to keep- so watch this space for updates on that front! Heading away from my usual haunts, I recently caught up with Hannah for a quick spot of lunch in Clerkenwell, heading to the Sarona Eatery to sample their brand new menu- complete with 25% off: Offering a small but perfectly formed Middle Eastern menu, Sarona Eatery is the ideal spot for sampling a variety of delicious sharing plates and catching up amidst a really relaxed atmosphere. We ploughed our way through a selection of dishes which cam...

Given that I spend most of the working week in London, when the weekend arrives I'm always keen to make the most of the time away from town. Don't get me wrong, I can always be lured into jumping on the train for brunch, a visit to an exhibition or a trip to the theatre, but sometimes it's lovely to stay a little bit closer to home and explore the plethora of places which are right on my doorstep. A short hop away on the bus from me is Reigate, a medieval market town which I know really well from my college days, and which is also home to my spiritual home- The Tea House . Over the last couple of years, the town has seen a lovely selection of new shops spring up, with recognisable high street favourites including Whistles and Jo Malone sitting alongside the independent treasures which are always well worth exploring. One of the latest additions is a brand new Oliver Bonas, which opened last month: Occupying what was once an old haberdashery, this branch is one of the bigges...

If you've got already got a holiday in the planning or are just debating on where to head off to on a short break this summer, if you're anything like me then the chances are that you'll already be planning on how to make the most of the space in your carry-on bag! There's no doubt that shunning a bigger suitcase is a no brainier if you're heading away for the weekend or a mini-break, and since I've been doing it more regularly I've found it really liberating to streamline what I actually need to take away with me vs all of the superfluous bits and pieces which never see the sunshine. Gone are the days of coming home with suitcase full of unworn, pristinely folded clothes, substituted instead for a handful of versatile essentials which lend themselves really well to all eventualities. Similarly, over recent trips I've made a really concerted effort to only take toiletries which I know I'll end up using and which tick all of the right boxes, particula...

As I touched on in last week’s post, this year things in the garden have been quite slow to get started, but now that spring has arrived (and thanks to that Bank Holiday heatwave!) things are definitely on the way to full bloom. After a really long and gloomy winter, it’s been lovely to get back out into to fresh air and take some time to give everything a long overdue spruce up, complete with some new additions too:    Ranunculus are always firm favourites whenever I happen upon them in bouquets, so when I spotted this two-tone variety at the garden centre a couple of weeks ago, I took the plunge and picked it up. Growing and looking after something for the first time can always feel like a bit of an uncharted voyage, but more often than not it’s a choice which really pays off. Since re-potting this plant it’s come on leaps and bounds with very little looking after- so much so that I’m now keen to get some more!  Seed wise, there are plenty more cornflowers on the go- ho...

Slightly later than originally planned, it's time to round up the month just gone! April whizzed by in something of a blur for me to be honest, and it's hard to believe that we're almost halfway through the year already. At least May is kind enough to gift us with two bonus Bank Holidays, topping and tailing the month with the opportunity for some much-needed rest and relaxation- and, if the Monday just gone was anything to go by, glorious weather to boot! Here's a whistlestop tour of my last month in pictures:  Beautiful blooms/An Easter bake/Incredible sky/Magnolia in full bloom/ A new favourite duo from Olivia Burton /Trafalgar Square's newest resident/Morning views/A new motivational purchase / Visiting the Skinny Dip Nail Club /Millicent Fawcett in Westminster/ Infinity War  squad goals/ Peonies by post from Bloom & Wild . This month is looking like a pretty relaxed one for me- I've got no real plans to speak of which is just perfect! As I type this, I...

There are few things more synonymous with the arrival of spring than seeing everything burst into bloom again. Only a few weeks ago, I was thinking about what to start potting up in the garden, and now find myself pleasantly surprised at how many flowers from last year have made it through the winter! Whilst I’m still waiting for some of my favourite blooms to re-emerge after hibernation, I’ve been keenly keeping things floral inside the house too, thanks, as ever to Bloom & Wild’s wonderful selection. Last Friday's delivery- still going strong after a week- is the one of the first of their peony drops of the year: How beautiful are these? The mood-boosting power of plants never ceases to amaze me, and these coral peonies are happiness in floral form. The colour is fantastic, and they sprung to life so quickly too- definitely worth sizing up on the vase front! The whole bouquet is just as beautiful as you’d expect, with Sweet Williams, Snapdragons and Scabiosa all sitting toget...