Life Lately; Borough Market, Covent Garden & Shake Shack

I love reading these kind of day-in-the-life posts on other peoples blogs so thought I would give one a whirl & share a lovely day I had around London earlier this week.

Having started my day very early with a sunrise workout near London Bridge, I found myself with a free morning in what had turned into one of those gorgeous low lying sun-filled days with bright blue  skies.

Being around London Bridge means one thing to me, Borough Market & Monmouth coffee. We arrived at the market just as it was setting up & it was really relaxing to wander around without all the hustle & bustle of the crowds.

We grabbed a couple of cappuccinos & sat on the benches outside Monmouth making the most of the sunshine.

 

The stalls that seem to open the earliest are the fruit & veg sellers. I was in fruit heaven & would have bought a whole baskets worth if we had been heading home straight after.

Instead I got some delicious antioxidant packed blueberries to have as a post-workout snack. 

We were heading into Covent Garden to pick up something from the Apple Store & since it was such a beautiful day we decided to walk. It's only about thirty minutes from London Bridge & a beautiful route along the Southbank, across Blackfriars Bridge, past Somerset House & onto The Strand. Doing things like this really makes me appreciate living in London as normally I would just jump on the tube & miss out on seeing how beautiful the City can be.

 

I can't get enough of those autumn colours! I have developed a slight obsession with the changing leaves this year.

After queuing for a lifetime at the genius bar, we left the Apple Store feeling like we deserved some lunch. There was one place I've been wanting to try out for a while, & seeing as I had already done a workout that day... It seemed a good time to try Shake Shack.

Located inside the piazza of Covent Garden market, the whole place was looking extremely Christmasy with huge red & silver baubles hanging from the arched ceiling of the market. 

 

The frozen custard & shakes sounded (and looked) amazing but I wasn't feeling quite indulgent enough for one that day. I love idea of the little doggy section on the menu! I might have to return before Christmas & buy Ajax some red velvet dog biscuits.

 

We both went for the shack-made lemonade, Daniel ordered a triple SmokeShack whilst I got a single ShackBurger & fries. The burgers looked very appetising with lots of fresh salad poking out of the bun & overall we both really enjoyed them. My only complaint would be that the cheese sauce is a little artificial tasting. The chips were really good, super fluffy inside, light & non-greasy. For me Shake Shack doesn't compare to Honest or Patty&Bun for a really amazing burger but it did have the advantage of being a lot less filling & without the queues of Honest & P&B it's better for a quick bite to eat.

To walk off our lunch we had a long wander round the markets & up to Seven Dials. Covent Garden is probably the most Christmasy place in London, they really go to town on the decorations & you just can't help getting in the festive spirit after spending an afternoon here.

After lots of window-shopping & planning Christmas presents we hopped on the tube home in time to walk Ajax just as the sun was setting & the sky turned the most wonderful shade of pink.

Harriet x

Muriel's Kitchen

A couple of days ago Harriet & I met up for a pre-work/gym breakfast. We had both been wanting to try Muriel's Kitchen in South Kensington for ages after spending many mornings ogling over the sumptuous looking cakes that they always present so beautifully in the window. 

After having a little peruse of the rather sexy looking menu Harriet decided on Eggs Florentine & I decided on Eggs Benedict...

   

My eggs were absolutely gorgeous with perfectly runny, orange egg yolks. I loved the cutesy decor complete with quaint chicken print plates that truly made me feel I was sitting in Muriel's actual kitchen.   

And of course I couldn't help myself eyeing up the mouthwatering selection of cakes and as if I wasn't full enough from the breakfast feast I walked out with a (gigantic) slice of red velvet cake which I ate later...and it was delicious!

Hope you enjoyed the post, and mainly the various food porn!

Have a lovely Sunday.

Izzy x

J.Crew Comes to the UK

This morning I happened to be across the road from the immense new J Crew store on Regent Street. Today is actually the first day the store was open to the public & the colourful gem-filled emporium beckoned me in from the rain & grey.

As I had a quick browse I couldn't help delving into the jewellery & cashmere rooms, yes whole rooms dedicated to trinkets & snuggly cashmere in every shade you could dream of. A beautifully decorated fashion-junkies dream, with modern-art lined walls & vintage sofas scattered about, it is a lovely place to kill some time.

A little pricer than the average high-street shop, it is definitely Christmas wish-list material & this beautiful charcoal grey duffle coat went straight to the top of mine. The slightly shrunken silhouette gives a smarter, modern update on the cosy classic design & I love the grey colour-way.

Colourblock Duffle Coat £350.00

The perfect coat to pair with my winter uniform of jeans & ankle boots (though I wouldn't say no to one of their jewelled necklaces either!)

Harriet x

Winter Skin Cleansing

I've been really enjoying Autumn this year. Getting up most days to crisp sunny weather, wrapping up in big tartan scarves & sipping hot chocolate on long dog walks. Unfortunately a downside to the dropping temperature is often that our skin gets quite abused & products that were fine for summer are no longer keeping up.

 

I have definitely noticed this in the last couple of weeks with my skin getting pretty dry on my forehead & cheeks. Taking this as my cue I have begun updating my skincare routine, making the transition into the winter months with richer more hydrating products.

First up; cleansers! I find using a rich cleansing cream or balm to be the most effective step in maintaining good winter skin. It preps your skin with a good amount of moisture & removes any dead skin or flakes that can make applying makeup later-on a nightmare!

So far I've picked up two new cleansers the illustrious Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm & the Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser from Superdrug. So far I've been using the purse-friendly Superdrug option, anticipating the more potent Emma Hardie will be better served for when the temperature truly plummets.

So far I've been so impressed with the £5.99 Superdrug find. I've used (& loved) Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish in the past & think that this holds its own against the multi-award winner. 

A thick, rich textured cream with a natural botanical scent it leaves skin feeling baby soft, clean & nourished. I don't ask much more from a cleanser!

It's also worth noting that I have pretty sensitive, combination skin, prone to redness & irritation. This doesn't aggravate my skin in anyway & actually feels calming & soothing. A big thumbs up from me, I'm very happy to find such an affordable & effective product!

I'll let you know how I get on with this in the coming months & also the results of the EH cleansing balm. 

What are your winter skincare must-haves?

Harriet x

NARS One Night Stand Cheek Palette

Its been a long time since I've been really excited about a new beauty purchase. So enamoured with this release I made a slight detour to my nearest Space NK the day it came out & got my hands on one before they even had them out on display. I've been pretty restrained with makeup purchases this year so I happily handed over the £45 without guilt.

I've always wanted to try NARS 'Orgasm' & 'Deep Throat' blushes, so to have them both in one palette, plus a bronzer, highlight & two bonus blush shades it was an easy sell for me. Each shade is right up my street, very natural & perfect for giving you a little helping hand creating that glowing healthy complexion.

(top left-right) Devotee highlight, Mistinguette blush, Orgasm blush

(bottom left-right) Laguna bronzer, Deep Throat blush, Goulue blush

Devotee is a warm champagne highlight with quite a glossy finish, it would double up as a fantastic brightening eyeshadow. Mistinguette the bright pink is a lot like MAC's 'Well Dressed', a cool toned pink that is far more subtle on than it looks in the pan, incidentally I've worn the MAC dupe almost every day for the last two years. Orgasm is the peachy pink shade with golden shimmer. On the bottom row there’s the famous Laguna bronzer which I've never actually owned having purchased the darker shade 'Casino' years ago during a tanned period. Deep Throat the paler peachier take on 'Orgasm' is my favourite so far, easy to wear & very flattering. Finally Goulue the berry pink is the most pigmented of the bunch & will be great for creating a rosy Winter glow.

The palette is a Space NK exclusive & judging by previous NARS limited editions it's sure to sell out pretty fast. Find it here & take care of your blush purchases for the next couple of years!

Ps. If you need some help justifying the £45 price tag, just tell yourself/ partner/ Mum that it works out at £7.50 per blush. That's much less scary isn't it :)

Harriet x

Deer Stalking

I don't know what it is about this time of year that makes me want to go on walks. A couple of Sundays ago my Mum and I decided it was perfect Autumnal weather for a stroll amongst the deer in Richmond Park.

I went suitably dressed in country-esq attire. I channelled my inner Scot with these tartan leggings and Arran Knit cream jumper both from Asos. I paired this with a bowler hat from H&M that I wear constantly at the moment and my Black Nike Air Max 1s. Perfect for a bit of deer spotting!  

I couldn't help taking some arty snaps (or at least attempting to) of the lovely chopped down trees and logs that scattered the landscape with their beautiful colours. 

In perfect timing, before it started to rain, we took shelter in the Cafe. I had a cream tea with an Earl Grey...delicious but almost heart attack inducing! Cue sugar coma!

We then rolled sleepily back into the car - a perfect day had. Hope you enjoyed the post!

Izzy x