MSH Backup

And here we are at the start of another month....what a whirlwind this year is turning into! My April was a fairly manic one to be honest, with lots of ups and downs- more of that to come in future posts, I'm sure. As always, when things spin a little bit off kilter, I'm always eternally thankful for the support of my friends and especially the Dream Team- and I'm really looking forward to our little break later this month. Let's just say, the prospect of a beach and some sunshine is a long overdue one! Anyway, without willing time to fly by any quicker than it has been of late, here's a little peek at how I've been spending the last few weeks: Taking a reflective moment or two at the start of the month/Blooms in the garden/Making some new friends/A feast at Hannah's Putney/St. James' Park first thing in the morning/ An Easter bake /More blooms/Words of wisdom/A beautiful evening in some truly inspiring surroundings/Theatre trip!/Admiring the view/First ...

Although I've got a selection of trusty style staples which I tend to reach for on a fairly regular rotation, there are definitely still some instances when I wake up and have no idea what to put on of a morning. Delving into my wardrobe is a bit of a battle at the best of times, and the topsy turvy weather which we're experiencing at the moment definitely doesn't make outfit planning any easier. With that in mind, I've recently been on the lookout for some additional everyday essentials to bolster my work wardrobe, and have happened upon a lovely selection in the shape of John Lewis' Kin collection: Back Tie Top, £49/Oversized Print Top, £55/Reverse Seam Cardigan, £55/White Leather Backpack, £89/Silver Slingback Pumps, £69, all by Kin by John Lewis. Minimalist wardrobe goals, am I right?!! You really can't go wrong with a basic black top, and this tie back style ticks all of the right cost per wear boxes, as well as being a great versatile investment too. This ...

As I've touched on on a few occasions in the past, as I've grown older I've become a lot more focused on collecting a wardrobe full of piece which I know I'll wear time and time again, rather than the trend-led styles which I used to pick up on impulse in my teens. These are the sort of staples which tend to form the crux of my day to day wardrobe, and which I'm pleased to report are still going strong after several years- including this colour block style: Coat- & Other Stories  Tunic- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- Adidas (via Surfdome)  Bag- Skinny Dip London I picked up this tunic from Zara about three years or so ago, and it's a real perennial favourite. The contrasting colours lend it a really smart edge, and the longer line is great for switching up silhouettes too- for some reason I always feel that little bit taller when I've got a longer top on! Here I teamed it with my much love wide-legged trousers from Zara and & Other Stories trench coat-...

I've posted on several occasions in the past about how I don't really tend to deviate from my day to day beauty routine, so it seemed like it was high time to introduce you to some of the essentials which I use religiously. These are products which have become part of every day for me- those favourites which would come with me to a desert island (as well as the factor 50, of course!) These hero buys aren't all that expensive, but make a real difference to my routine- whether it's rushing in a bleary eyed haze first thing in the morning, or keeping things fresh faced at the weekend:    If there's an item any more trusty than a humble pot of Vaseline, I'm yet to discover it. It's a product I've been using every day since I was a teenager, predominantly as a lip balm, but also on unruly eyebrows and to combat dry skin during the winter. This limited edition Lulu Guinness tin sits on my dressing table and it something I reach for every morning and every even...

There are few style staples which are more synonymous with spring than the humble trench coat, are there? I've had a handful which have come and gone from my wardrobe since I was a teenager, but there's no denying that as far as classic pieces go, it's well at the top of the 'essentials' list. Whilst I've got a cropped style from Whistles which has been with me since I turned 21, this year I was on the hunt for a new, longer line design with a slightly more relaxed feel- and happened across the perfect purchase from & Other Stories:  Coat- & Other Stories  Top- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- c/o Boden Bag- Skinny Dip London Sunglasees- Ray Ban c/o John Lewis Regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of & Other Stories, and, after spotting this coat in store a few weeks ago, I snapped it up on the spot. It's the perfect essential with which to bridge the gap in seasons, and versatile enough to style in plenty of different combinations. The lo...

If you're still swimming in a deluge of Easter chocolate, and are looking for something to bake on this Bank Holiday Monday, then search no further! In anticipation of the long weekend, I hit the kitchen on Friday to road test a new addition to my recipe repertoire in the shape of Mary Berry's Definitive Chocolate Cake from BBC Food . Considering it's been a little while since I've had time to indulge in any baking, I was expecting it all to end in disaster, but was pleasantly surprised with the results- all pulled together in just over an hour!  Mary Berry's Definitive Chocolate Cake Ingredients For the sponge:  225g unsalted butter, 225g caster sugar, 4 free range eggs, 220g self raising flour, 50g cocoa powder, 2 tsp baking powder For the filling: 4 tbsp apricot conserve (or a jam of your choice- I used some quince jam from Honey & Co), 300ml whipping cream, decorations of choice Method 1) Preheat the oven to 180 degrees fan. 2) Mix the flour, butter, sugar, ...

Sometimes, when it feels like everything is getting a little bit too much, the perfect antidote is devouring your bodyweight in chicken with some of your best buddies. In celebration of Elodie's flying visit to London, last Thursday we all made our way to Chick 'n' Sours in Covent Garden, to sample the menu and indulge in some much needed (and long overdue!) belly laughs: The menu is, in short, the stuff that dreams are made of. Hailing from Croydon, I'm no stranger to fried chicken (#represent), but the offerings at Chick 'n' Sours are in a different league altogether. We indulged in sharing plates of wings and aubergine, before I opted for the house fry served with pickled walnut and a side of fries. Everything was cooked to absolute perfection - expertly seasoned and still perfectly tender- all the more enjoyable in such glorious company. I'm already trying to make another sneaky lunchtime trip!  Have you tried any new foodie favourites?  (Image credit: S...