MSH Backup

Brr! Things have definitely taken a turn for the chillier over the last few weeks, haven't they? Whilst I've been using as much spare time as possible to hibernate, sadly I've also been battling to and from work too, contending with cancelled trains and trying not to turn into a block of ice waiting on the platform! At this time of the year (and particularly bearing in mind the eating-centric activities in my diary of late!), I've been keen to combine the practicalities of keeping warm with staying as comfortable as possible too. Luckily, some recent additions to my wardrobe are practically perfect for both purposes: Hat- Oliver Bonas Bonas Jumper- J.Crew  Dress- Monki  Coat- c/o Very  Shoes- Gap This pinafore dress from Monki is the darker wash of the style which I featured in my last style post , and I'm not exaggerating when I say that they are probably the most worn pieces in my wardrobe at the moment- they're just so easy to sling on first thing in the morn...

As far as Christmas traditions go, there are few more enjoyable (or perhaps more indulgent) than a spot of festive afternoon tea. It’s become a little bit of a ritual for our little group, and, particularly with people travelling from further afield, it’s always lovely to have a dedicated time in the diary for catching up over tea and cake! This year, we opted for Dominique Ansel Bakery, and their festive afternoon tea option- which served up a plethora of treats which were as flavoursome as they were photogenic:  Starting with the savoury, we tucked into a unique, Christmas tree shaped version of sandwiches, individually filled with salmon, egg salad and turkey, as well as wild mushrooms- delicious, and well worth the gold and silver tinted lips! Next up, scones served warm at the table with the most adorable jam and cream stars- injecting another lovely festive touch. Finally, the sweet treats, including a mince pie snowman, caramelised apples served with a cinnamon ganache and a...

In terms of day to day dressing, I’m very much a fully paid up patron of the comfort is king school of thinking- especially given that I always tend to find myself in something of a rush when I’m getting ready first thing in the morning. Now that my alarm is going off when it’s still dark, I’m regularly rotating between a steady selection of staples, bolstered by a new addition to my wardrobe which I’ve been living in of late: Coat- c/o Very  Top- Commes des Garçons at Dover Street Market  Dress- Monki  Shoes- Gap  This dress from Monki is a real find, and just the sort of addition I’ve been searching for for what feel like ages now. Usually I find that anything pinafore shaped is a tad too small around the hips, but no such problems with this style, which is loosely cut and super comfortable. The pockets are a really practical added bonus too, and as well as this lighter wash, I’ve snapped up a darker denim style too- I’ve genuinely been living in them morning, noo...

Well, here we are- on the home stretch towards the end of the year. 2018 seems to have flown by in the blink of an eye, and I'm sure that when I come to penning my final roundup of the year I'll be similarly flabbergasted at just where the year has gone! As much as this time of the year is a real struggle (particularly last week when it was more or less constantly dark!), I've been conscious to enjoy things as much as possible: Flowers in full bloom!/Autumn veg hauling!/Beautiful blue sky.../...and a stunning sunset/Discovering some new independent shops/11.11.18/Pretty in pink/ Winter skincare heroes/ New friends!/Christmas at Kew Gardens/Covent Garden looking festive/Celebrating my birthday! The next few weeks are shaping up to be very busy but should be pretty fun too- see you on the other side! What have you been up to recently? (Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

Now that December is just peeking over the horizon, I’m sure that I’m not alone in wanting to power through my Christmas shopping so that I can coast towards the holidays with my feet up! I’m almost there, and with just a handful of extra bits to pick up, I’m hopeful that I won’t be such a last-minute Linda this year! With that in mind, I’ve rounded up a selection of heavenly homeware to get inspired by- whether it’s for gifting or to treat your own winter den to a bit of a facelift: Pom Pom Knitted Blanket, £35, Laura Ashley/Round Marble Dressing Table Mirror, £125, Oliver Bonas/Overrose Scented Candle in Ultraflora, £45, Workshop Living/Allium in Vase, £9.50, Marks and Spencer/Ceramic Tiger, £18, Oliver Bonas/Scalloped Pink Glass Bowl, £16, Oliver Bonas/Mini Eco Tote, £21, Tidy Street Store/Follow Your Heart Wall Art, £69, Oliver Bonas/Set of two Stoneware vases, £12, Att Pynta/Polka Dot Cat Spoon Rest, £12, Anthropologie/Rifle Paper Company Appointment Notebook, £14, Anthropologie/M...

At this time of the year, you're most likely to find me wrapped up from head to toe in a combination of knits and thermals, but up until quite recently we've been really lucky with the weather, with mild temperatures and bursts of sunshine prolonging the mild autumn just that little bit longer. In the sartorial stakes, this has afforded me the perfect opportunity to inject a splash of new colour and character into my seasonal wardrobe, thanks to a new piece which has become a real firm favourite over recent weeks: Dress- Oliver Bonas  Bag- Zara  Shoes- Gap  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (c/o John Lewis) How lovely is this dress from Oliver Bonas? I held off snapping it up until the payday before last, by which time of course it had sold out online! Luckily enough, I tracked one down in store and am so happy to have found one in my size- with the perfect winter floral feel I can see why it's been so popular. As well as the lovely print, the style is a dream too, with the midi design...

With Christmas Day a little over a month away, I’m using this coming weekend very much as a ‘get my shopping all wrapped up’ one. With lots of Black Friday discounts on the go, it pays to be prepared, and I’ve lot a selection of prospective purchases all bookmarked and ready to buy. If you’re keen to get similarly organised- and especially if you’re shopping around for beauty bits- keep scrolling for a peek at my pick the goodies in the shops now: This Works Sleep Tight Kit, £13, Space NK/ Bobbi Brown Crystal Starlight Eyeshadow Palette, £35, Liberty/Skin Laundry Rejuvenation Essentials Kit, £110, Liberty/Diptyque Fragrance Surprise Pocket, £38, Liberty/Space NK Travel Bag in Champagne, £24, Space NK/Stila Liquid Glow Eyeshadow Set, £49, Space NK/Liberty London Beauty Cracker, £18, Liberty/Laura Mercier Magic Hour Face Illuminator Palette, £45, Space NK/Stars in Your Eyes Palette, £60, Charlotte Tilbury/Royal Lipstick Trio, £60, Charlotte Tilbury/Generation G Lipstick, £14, Glossier/Oi...