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...