MSH Backup

Regular perusers of these pages will be well aware of the fact that one of my favourite pursuits in life is eating. Whether it's rustling up something at home or visiting a new restaurant, there's always something lovely and relaxing about enjoying something truly tasty- especially when it's something which is for a good cause too. You might remember that I visited Spring at Somerset House for the first time about a year or so ago, shortly after it had opened. Since then, the team there have launched an evening Scratch Menu- a specifically curated selection of dishes made from ingredients which would otherwise not be used- with the aim of drawing attention to how much food is wasted around the world every year...enough to feed over 800 million people! Last week, I was lucky enough to pop along to sample the menu and enjoy the ambiance of this beautiful venue: With the dishes on offer on the Scratch Menu changing every day, you're guaranteed something unique, perfectly p...

Whilst I'm always reluctant to spend more than is strictly necessary on everyday essentials, sometimes it's really nice to take the opportunity to treat yourself to something a little bit more luxurious than the run-of-the-mill basics which are usually the order of the day. Having more or less cracked my skincare with a combination of various different basics (predominantly purchased from Kiehl's), over recent months I've diverted my energies towards shopping around for a new shampoo and conditioner combination. Having used up the remnants of every old bottle sitting at the back of the bathroom cupboard, I took the opportunity to splash out and treat myself to a classic duo from Aesop:  As I touched on in a post at the end of last year, a little while ago I started to notice that my hair was falling out in rather large handfuls in the shower- something which I put to down to stress, but which rang enough alarm bells to make me just that little bit more mindful about wha...

I don't know about you, but I can't quite believe that there's only a week left of February- and hopefully only a little while left of winter too. Whilst I've got a feeling that we haven't quite seen the last of the chilly weather just yet, it is lovely to see everything slowly springing back to life as the seasons shift, as well as lighter evenings being a brilliant energy boost too. Over the last month or so, I've amassed a collection of rather miscellaneous acquisitions, ranging from beauty to everyday essentials which have come in really handy as I've been dashing hither and thither: I posted about L'Occitane's collaboration with Rifle Paper Co. a little while ago , and since then I've been regularly reaching for this shea butter hand cream. As well as being a real handbag hero, I've also got some stashed on my bedside table to use in the evenings- perfect as it's so fast absorbing and smells heavenly. This card holder was a lovely gi...

At this time of the year, perhaps more than any other, I tend to find myself stuck in something of a style rut, especially as the chilly weather doesn't really lend itself to all that much variety or adventure. Having been living in a succession of jumpers (all with a varying itch factor!) for what feels like an eternity, over the last week or so (boosted by the sight of some sunshine!), I've been switching things up a little bit with a pop of print here and there, as well as unearthing some long neglected wardrobe heroes: Coat- & Other Stories Blouse- Vintage Trousers- Espirit (via ASOS) Shoes- c/o Boden Bag- & Other Stories This gorgeous blouse was a piece which I inherited from my beautiful grandmother, and, if I'm honest, up until now, I've really struggled in terms of knowing how to style it. It's one of those pieces which I've definitely grown in to, and over recent weeks has been something of a smart style saviour- ideal for incorporating into my ...

With the weather having taken another chilly turn of late, I'm sure I'm not the only one who is finding their skin feeling a little bit on the sensitive side. Whether it's contending with wind, rain (and everything in between!), or feeling defeated by dryness, winter always packs something of a last brutal punch before spring arrives. With some serious tlc needed, I've been rummaging through my skincare stash- and have been reaching for a selection of sheet masks: I'm a recent convert to sheet masks, and have amassed a lovely little selection over recent months- thanks mostly to Elodie bringing back a serious skincare haul from her Korean adventure! This dry mask from Charlotte Tilbury was a spur-of-the-moment purchase one lunchtime about a week or so ago, and was an instant radiance booster, as well as being really easy to deploy thanks to the handy ear hooks (seriously, what an innovation!) As well as that, it can be used up to three times, so is pretty good value...

Whether you're single, in a relationship or a confirmed cat lady for life, I'm sure the fact that it's Valentine's Day today certainly won't have passed you by. The shops are full of heart-festooned displays, and any foray into Paperchase runs the risk of being absorbed into a sinkhole of card upon card, each inscribed with messages ranging from soppy to seriously sassy. Don't get me wrong, any festivity which puts love above everything else is something to be celebrated (especially at the moment, am I right?!), but I suppose I always tend to grow a little bit weary of how singledom can feel oddly alienating at this time of the year, especially in the face of such crazy commercialisation.  Keeping up with what you're supposed to be celebrating and when- can be pretty exhausting at the best of times- is it Galentine's or Valentine's?! Can I legitimately buy a card for my cat whilst treating myself to a box of chocolates the size of a small house, dire...

With the chilly weather showing no signs of abating just yet, I'm sure I'm not the only one living on a more or less constant rotation of knitwear, speeding from washing machine to wardrobe and back again. Although I hope I'll only have need of them for a little while longer, there's something very comforting about reaching for a really snuggly woolly- especially if you, like me, are always in something of a rush first thing in the morning and find yourself more often than not grabbing the first thing to hand. With my lack of preparation in mind, I've been very pleased with a number of knitwear purchases which I've made recently- chief among them is this statement style from Marks and Spencer:  Coat- & Other Stories  Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- Espirit (via ASOS)  Bag- & Other Stories  Shoes- Vans (c/o Spartoo) Comfort is the order of the day for me at the moment, and this statement block colour knit which I picked up back in October is a real w...