MSH Backup

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...