MSH Backup

With a warm couple of weeks in prospect from today onwards, I've had a pre-emptive rummage through my wardrobe in an attempt to keep as cool as possible- here's hoping for success! It goes without saying that this time of the year offers the perfect excuse to embrace colour like no other season, and recently I've really enjoyed styling some of my more vibrant pieces and incorporating them into my everyday wardrobe: Top- & Other Stories Trousers- Espirit (via ASOS) Bag- Cath Kidston Shoes- Gap First and foremost, how pretty is this backdrop? Tucked just around the corner from Waterloo Station, it's one of those rare corners of London which hasn't changed all that much since it was first built- and it's even more special at this time of the year when its series of brightly coloured doors is punctuated by beautiful blooms at every turn. With a vibrant flavour in mind, this top from & Other Stories which I picked up way back at the start of the spring, but w...

As summer progresses and thoughts inevitably turn towards the holiday season, I’m sure that I’m not the only one eager to get my suitcase packed and jet off at the earliest possible moment. Whether you’re counting down to a long haul trip or are segueing towards a short haul holiday, it’s always a relief to get on top of your preparation and packing- and, with that in mind, I’ve been collecting an array of beauty buys built with travel at heart: Origins’ Ginzing moisturiser is one of those wonder products which is perfect for stashing away in your suitcase or hand luggage, especially if you’ve got a long flight in prospect and want to keep your skin hydrated. It’s a real instant booster and perfect for a quick pep up- as well as smelling fantastic! The Percy and Reed Shine & Fragrance Mist is another hero too, especially at this time of the year when I always tend to find my hair flagging in the heat. It’s another great option for using on-the-go as well, especially if you’re packi...

In spite of the perils which come with hayfever season, over the last couple of weeks I’ve really been enjoying getting back out in the garden and spending some time on a few new growing projects. The older I get, the more I’m starting to realise that my spiritual home is actually the garden centre (heaven on earth, am I right?!), and it’s always really rewarding to see things flourishing, especially after the long winter. I always tend to forget just how calming it is to spend time outside too- and any patch of green can be a real oasis of peace and quiet, well worth cultivating to counteract the chaos of Monday to Friday life:   A new addition to the garden this year comes in the shape of these Delphiniums! Growing them from seed last year was something of a futile effort, so picking up a nursery plant has been an investment well made, especially given that it hasn’t really needed much maintenance apart from a good drink of water every now and then. Even better than that, it’s a ...

Whilst the weather is still a little bit hit and miss (and I'm contending with the most annoying hayfever I think I've ever had!), over recent weeks I've really been enjoying digging out some seasonal favourites and pairing them with some new purchases. Summer, perhaps more than any other season, lends itself perfectly to a slightly more relaxed, casual approach, which is perfect if you're prioritsing comfort and practicality. Recently, I've been keeping my daily combinations pretty simple: Jacket- Zara Tee- Bella Freud for War Child Jeans- Whistles Shoes- Gap Bag- Cath Kidston This jacket from Zara is a piece which I picked up about two years ago now, and it's a real summer favourite- especially as it's so light and easy to wear- perfect for those mornings and evening when there's a bit of a chill in the air. This tee is recent buy, and comes from War Child's latest series of designer collaborations- I love the colourful message in Bella Freud's...

As I touched on in my post from the start of last week, recently I’ve been switching up my skincare for summer, in an attempt to keep things as fresh faced as possible. As well as adding a few new favourites to my daily essentials, I’ve also been getting into the habit of treating my skin to face masks more regularly- a commitment which is really paying off. A few weeks back, on a something spur-of-the-moment lunchtime visit to The Body Shop, I picked up another addition to my arsenal which I’ve had an eye on for a good while now: This Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask is a product which I’ve read lots of good things about, and after using it for a little while I can confidently report that it more than lives up to the hype. With green tea leaves and tea tree, it draws out impurities and absorbs excess oil, which makes it perfect for targeting those pesky visible pores, as well as tackling breakouts. As well as that, it’s wonderfully practical too- fast drying  (ideal if you'r...

On the Bab is a destination which has been on my lunchtime radar for what feels like absolutely ages now, and I’m ashamed to say that it’s taken me so long to visit, especially given that I only work about a two minute walk up the road! This oversight was thankfully put right last Friday, as I headed along for a lovely lunch date- the perfect excuse to try their menu for the first time: The menu offers exactly what you need for a speedy lunchtime pit stop, with kimchi and Bibimbap on offer alongside signature steamed buns. I opted for the spicy chicken and spicy pork options which were absolutely delicious- perfectly prepared and deliciously seasoned without being too hot to handle. As well as that, they arrived super speedily after ordering which makes them a brilliant fast food option- especially if you’re opting for a takeaway too. And, if that wasn’t enough, they’re under £5 each too- what more could you want for your midday meal?! It’ll come as no surprise that I’m already plannin...

It might seem strange to the be looking ahead to autumn and winter when it feels like summer has only really kicked into gear, but last week I was lucky enough to be invited along to the Cath Kidston AW18 press day to preview the collections which will be hitting the shops over the next couple of months. It's always lovely to have a sneak peek of what's in store for the new season, and it was lovely to see a fantastic array of floral infused favourites carrying through to autumn: With a new selection of signature designs on offer, next season is shaping up to be a beautiful one at Cath Kidston. From equestrian inspired accessories to painterly prints, the fashion offering marries wonderfully practical purchases (such as cross-body bags and chunky knits) with an elegant aesthetic- I particularly loved the tailored dresses and pastel palette. With keeping cosy in mind, there's plenty of printed pyjamas in prospect- perfect for reigniting those Hygge vibes when (whisper it!) t...

In terms of clothes shopping, I usually tend to visit a series of stores on rotation, and predominantly out of habit. With ease in mind, I tend to alternate between the shops which I can easily flit to on my lunch break, which can sometimes mean that I get stuck in something of a routine of not shopping around to make my pennies stretch as far as they can. With that in mind, recently I’ve been making an effort to revisit some old fashion favourites- and top of the crop with a fantastic SS18 drop is Whistles: Merci Beau Coup Logo T-Shirt, £49/Easy Basic Vest Top, £32/Embroidered Floral Shirt, £109/High Waist Barrel Jeans, £95/Cordilla Pleated Skirt, £139/Vive Les Vacances Pouch, £35/Daisy Print Bikini Briefs, £40/Daisy Print Bikini Top, £40/Cara Slouchy Everyday, £199, all Whistles Slogan tees from Whistles are always well worth investing in, and the handful which I’ve picked up from Whistles in the past are still some of my most-worn items. This French fancy is perfect for stashing in ...

Phew! Another month down, and now we're halfway through the year- time really is flying, isn't it? May for me was a fairly quiet month, most of which was spent at home recuperating after an operation I had at the end of April...more on that to come soon, I'm sure. In a strange way, being forced to rest for longer than I ever have before in my adult was really helpful, and much needed- proof that pressing reset can sometimes be the best thing, for both mind and body alike. Towards the end of the month, I found myself getting back to a slow sort of normal, with some lovely sights thrown in: Fresh bed linen from H&M/Whistles window shopping/Village wandering/Wisteria season/Blue skies/Covent Garden in Bloom/Sampling the menu at Sarona Eatery /Relaxed weekends/ A new Boden addition / Exploring The Shop at Bluebird /Mayfair madness/ Glossier goodies /Very proud of Repealing the Eighth in Ireland!/More flowers.../...plus the compulsory peonies/ Summer reading June looks like ...

With the onset of summer, I’m sure that I’m not the only one taking the opportunity to remix some of my skincare staples. The warmer weather that we’ve had over the last few weeks has definitely caught me a little bit by surprise, and year after year, I always tend to forget just how much the heat disagrees with me! Don’t get me wrong, I love the sunshine as much as the next person, but when you’re dashing from one sweaty, airless space (the Tube) to another (the office), it can sometimes be a battle to keep cool and carry on- give me a trip to the beach pronto! Whilst I’m now really careful about using SPF all year (especially on my face), adjusting my skincare routine for summer is definitely something of a work in progress- and over the last few years it’s been a case of trial and error to find those products which are light enough to use when it’s warm but which don’t compromise on care. As well as migrating to a new moisturiser, over the last few weeks I’ve been using some hero pr...