Everything I've loved lately (and the £7.99 purchase that has changed my life)

It’s been an exciting and busy six weeks and I seem to have quite a few things to tell you about! We went to a wedding in France via my fave city (probably ever) Bordeaux - I have a guide here if you’re going there this summer. Over at The House Upstairs we launched an armchair with Max Hurd and had a fun cocktail party to celebrate. The house reno is getting closer and closer to bursting into action and I’m really trying to not moan too much about how much I hate living in the ‘before’ version of the house.

Right let’s get into it……...

For me, a good blow-dry is almost a religious experience. It can change my entire mood and make me look about 50 times better. I am not that good at doing my own hair and since I discovered Maisie at Josh Wood salon, any time I have an event in London, I do a detour here on the way. She is a delight and we have a good old gossip for 40 minutes.

She did mention on my last visit that the ends of my hair were, in her direct words, “fried” (I’m very much due a haircut) and she recommended this mask which I have to say has so far worked wonders.

At this point i’m probably wearing With Nothing Underneath 2 to 3 times a week. Previously I almost didn’t think shirts were for me because of my (.)(.) but they just fit so well and I feel great in all of their pieces. Two new acquirements are my favourite shirt in this beautiful pinky red and these boys boxer shorts which they’ve got in tons of colours. I also have my eyes on this shirt.

I wasn’t totally sure that the If Only If was going to suit me but having been kindly sent the Clover in this gorgeous red check. I can’t think of anything I want to wear more in a heat wave, it is so airy and light. The easiest thing to put on.

If you see a good, well priced suede jacket, you should buy the suede jacket (even if you might put it away until September but god it will be soooo good in Autumn and will also definitely sell out).

Splurge of the quarter were these shoes (am i only the person that thinks that brick red suede flatforms are versatile - ha!), they’re supremely comfortable and I will wear them forever.

They also have them in black or nude should you be more sensible than me. On another note the Net a porter sale is still worth checking out, there’s some bobby dazzlers in there.

Swimwear is not my favourite category to shop but I bought these two swimsuits and both are easy, flattering and comfortable

I’m not really a believer utensils or kitchen equipment changing your life but I have to say this pan has improved how my scrambled eggs taste (it does such an even and soft cook). It’s so good for finishing pasta in sauce and it’s a dream for risotto. One of my most favourite possessions that I’m quite attached to and don’t want anyone else to use in case they scratch it(!)

In other kitchen news, if you’re a big Maldon Salt user like me I highly recommend getting this size tub. I’ve also been enjoying using these taco stands for this viral smashburger taco recipe but they’re also useful for standing up wraps, kebabs, tortillas and pittas. Great for BBQ season.

A close friend in her 40s (who I very much trust her opinion) has been taking creatine and thinks it has made a huge difference to her alertness and brain function so I am back on a teaspoon in my smoothie every day. I use this one.

I've been taking lion's mane for about three weeks now. It's a mushroom supplement . and I started looking into it because of the focus angle. It stimulates something called Nerve Growth Factor, which supports how your neurons function, and there's actually decent evidence behind it for cognitive clarity and mood. I'm taking Real Mushrooms two capsules in the morning. It's too early to make grand claims but I'm paying attention. I'll report back.

If you are looking for gifts this year I think Flamingo Estate is such a beautiful brand. The packaging is gorgeous and the quality of the products are fab. If you think that we would like the same kind of smells then this candle and hand wash (in a chic glass bottle) are absolutely divine. A special olive oil is such a great hostess gift if you’re staying with friends this summer and this one is peppery and bright in a pretty bottle.

Medik8 is my most used skincare brand i’ve been using Total Moisture for the last year which just makes my skin look juicy and fresh ( and it’s a good alternative to Sunday Reilly ICE cream which is almost always out of stock) I’ve also been trying their new serum. It’s a PDRN serum, the active ingredient you’d normally get from a clinic injection, but in a topical form. The idea is that it supports your skin’s natural repair processes: less redness, better texture, more luminosity. They claim results in 7 days, clinically tested on 60 people. The ingredients are credible, we shall see.

We had a lovely time staying at the Berkeley Hotel last week and they have the most delicious products in their bathrooms. As soon as I have a finished bathroom, post reno, this is definitely the shower gel I’ll be treating myself to.

For most of this year, anxious feelings have been bubbling away and I haven’t been able to get a handle on them. I bought this body-sized Gua Sha (I’m sure it has a more official name) for £7.99 on a whim. Using it on my neck and shoulders actually brought me to tears.

Not just for the physical release (hello tech neck from embarrassingly high phone usage), but for the mental one too. The tension I was holding in those areas was remarkable, and it released something I can’t quite explain but felt absolutely incredible but also quite sad that my body was holding on to so much. If you’re like me and you wear your stress across your body, I CAN NOT recommend this enough. I don’t even use it with an oil, it’s a light, shiny metal and it just slips across the skin. Five stars. Ten out of ten. Highly recommend.

I also swear by a gua sha for my face and as I find the stone ones easily shatter I now use this one.

The nostalgia! Kylie was my first ever live concert and some of her songs took me tumbling right back to forgotten moments of my life (eg working in Harvey Nichols hungover on a Saturday with Spinnin’ Around playing once every 40mins) She’s a little prickly, hard to get a grasp of but a true pop icon. Loved.

The Crash

The Crash is worth an evening. On the morning of July 31st 2022, a car travelling at 100 mph crashed into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio, killing two young passengers and leaving the driver, 7-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla as the sole survivor. What looked like a tragic accident became a murder case, and the documentary's big draw is Mackenzie's first interview since her arrest. It's 92 minutes, directed by Gareth Johnson, and it doesn't drag. More about what was happening in a toxic teenage relationship beforehand. Personally, I think guilty.

Summer House

Please leave a comment if you’re also obsessed/doing a full psychological assessment of the cast of the Summer house drama. Juicy, brilliant, silly reality TV

I’m enjoying Loretta Rothschild’s book Finding Grace. She’s also a great follow on instagram (ex page 3 girl now married to a Rothschild billionaire - excellent personal plot)

If you follow French Family Food on insta she’s written a cook book. Brava to Alexandra!

Like every other female in the Western world I loved the Lena Dunham memoir (I listened to enjoy her reading it on Audible) and I started watching Girls again from season one to reflect on her experiences of making it.

In podcast world I enjoyed this Georgie Coleridge Cole interview and this Thomas Straker interview.

That’s all for now, see you next time xxx