SOME THINGS I’M LOVING RN

It occurred to me today, that I very rarely just generally chat about things I'm enjoying in life right now, over here on my blog. I seem to save that kind of thing for my YouTube channel and for Twitter, with the occasional musing over on Instagram and this is definitely something I want to change.
My blog is my baby, it's my first and foremost, it's my absolutely favourite thing in the world and I want to put as much love into my old pal that I do into my newer friends Mr YouTube and Miss Instagram, you here me!?

I love rambling on every week twice a week and chatting all things fashion here, however, from time to time I think it's nice to have a good ole chin wag about whats floating my boat, tickling my pickle and ticking all those boxes when it comes to the outside world of fashion (yeah, I know, there is a world outside of fashion!)

So with that, and as I have A LOT of things I am totally loving right now, however big or small they may be, I thought I'd share them with you, with an outfit of course, in case you're after some news things to listen to, watch or to just generally make life that little bit easier, calmer and well rounded. Please let me know what you think of this style of post also, I share my fashion favourites every month on my YouTube channel, which you can see in the playlist here, so this may well become a regular thing, just a few things I'm enjoying rn.

So first up I have to start with something I've been completely and utterly obsessed with since it launched a month or two ago now and that is At Home With...
At Home With... Is a podcast by Lily Pebbles and Anna Newton, two girls I absolutely adore, where they visit the homes of key ladies in the beauty, fashion, food and blogging industry and basically have a chin wag about anything from business, babies, hobbies and life in general. It's a really interesting and totally insightful listen, something I've really been enjoying listening to on the endless train journey's I've been taking recently or whilst getting ready in a morning when I want something to listen to without having to watch (I get distracted easily.)
I've never listened to podcast's before but since At Home With... I've become obsessed! I find it really lovely settling into my train or plane seat listening to people I love talk about the things I love. At Home With... Has taught me a lot about some truly inspiring and influential women and I am honestly devastated that season one has come to a close. 
Some faves from the podcast series have got to be Zoe Sugg, Jo Elvin, Madeline Shaw, Giovanna Fletcher and Kate La Vie, give it a listen it'll make your commute that hell of a lot better.

Some more love for your ears comes in the form of two albums I've been playing alternatively on repeat since they were released and I reckon you could take a good guess right now about which albums they are...
First up, we have Harry Style's self titled and debut album! My goodness, I was not ready for this album. 
I've always had a little soft spot for Harry Styles I must say, those curls and those eyes just get me, not to mention his absolutely awesome style! But, that being said, when I learnt he was releasing a solo album I didn't hold out much hope for actually liking it. But alas, once two singles were released I just had to give it a go and my goodness am I obsessed! Each song on the ten track album is truly fantastic and insanely catchy, definitely inspired by some of the greats such as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Paul McCartney plus more, all of which is hinted at from track to track, but I think that's why I'm enjoying it so much. It reminds me of some of my favourite songs and that is never something to turn your nose up at. It's a really easy listen with some slow, chill out tracks, combined with some good ole pop rock, it's a fantastic record, one that George and I have been loving listening to around the flat. 
He even played the track "Only Angel" in his bar on a busy Saturday night, and when I turned and saw four serious indie boys rocking out and singing every single word, thats when I knew that Harry had nailed it! Make sure to give it a listen here, I think you'll bloody love it!

When I've not been listening to Mr Styles, it's three sisters that I am ALL EARS FOR right now!
Haim, my goodness how I love Haim. I completely adored their debut album Days Are Gone, but there second eleven track album Something To Tell You is next level! From first listen I was completely and utterly hooked and after three consecutive listens (yeah I'm that kind of person) I knew each song word for word. It's a catchy one with every song making you want to do THAT Haim dance routine.  A few fave songs include, Little Of Your Love, Kept Me Crying, You Never Knew and Found it In Silence.  All of which, I think you'll agree are totally different from one another but oh so groovy in their own way, I'm OBSESSED! I'm also completely obsessed with how they're absolutely nailing their marketing campaign for this album; as a fashion promotion graduate, marketing is something I'm extremely intrigued by and they have completely rocked this campaign, everything from the artwork, the dance routine and the clever sponsored Insta stories, I salute you ladies and the rest of team Haim.

Instagram Stories I have to say, is something that took me a while to get to grips with. I had only just got on board with Snapchat when people were moving across to Insta Stories and I simply was not happy. A few weeks in I began to LOVE it and adored finding new accounts that I loved purely for their stories. I wanted to share with you some ladies that have been keeping my spirits high, making me LOL and just generally inspiring me on the reg, but I think I'll save that for another post if you're keen? But today, I'll share just one or two.
First up we have Mother Pukka, an absolutely wonderful woman and someone I look up to greatly, her Instagram stories are nothing short of hilarious, following her life as she "parents the shit out of" it. Journalist and Mother of two, Anna Whitehouse is pretty much wonder woman in my eyes, she is in the process of writing a book (it may well be complete?) which you can preorder here (I already have, sans children) she has a HILARIOUS Podcast series (another firm fave for my ears) and just nails life being a mother to Mae and Eve. Honestly my words cannot do this lady justice, she's absolutely hilarious and I simply adore her honest daily life that she shares with her doting community on Instagram stories.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Caroline Jones aka Knickers Models Own over at The British Style Collective a few weeks back and admittedly I hadn't come across her channels before, but I cannot tell you what a joy it was to meet her. One of those people that oozes style, sophistication and true beauty inside and out. She was so warm, welcoming and made me feel a heck load more at ease with the impending panel talk we were doing together. I've since been fixated with her Instagram and the way in which she puts looks together, not to mention her insanely colourful and vibrant make up looks, she's simply such a joy to follow and wath on Insta stories. She's a new inspiration for me and someone I look up to immensely. 

George and I have been watching Prison Break recently and we are absolutely HOOKED! It's an oldie, I know, and we are SO very late to the party, but my goodness is it awesome! You guys have probably already watched it in it's entirety, but we're now half way through season 4 (I believe there are 6 seasons AMIRITE?) and it's getting juicier and juicier by the episode. I have a true soft spot for Lincoln Burrows with his hard man ways and snappy *hilarious* retorts, it's a series that gets you from the get go and if you enjoyed the likes of Breaking Bad and Peaky Blinders I would highly suggest you give it a go... But be warned, you will be rushing home early to get in an episode before bed!

Now for something totally menial but something that is making me a heck load happier, brighter and breezier and that is the Apple Bedtime Alarm Clock, yeah I know, I can't believe I'm talking about this either. But seriously, it's making those early mornings SO much easier since I started using it to it's full potential a few weeks back. Basically you tell the app how many hours sleep you would like, I normally go for between seven and ten, depending on how cheeky I'm feeling, and it tells you when you should be getting yourself into bed. A notification pops up when it's 15 minutes before your suggested bed time and usually it gets me off the sofa, from where I'm watching Prison Break (obvz) and into bed ready for a good nights sleep. The app then wakes you up on or before the time you want to wake up when you're sleeping at your lightest, so it's all the more easy to get up and go. 
A really small thing thats been making my day that little bit easier, you know, it's all about those small things in life. 

And finally I have to talk about the beauty of biting the bullet and getting a cleaner! Something I NEVER EVER thought I would say or do. 
I work from home, so it's essential that my work space and my home is clean and tidy in order to motivate me with my work. I've been travelling an awful lot recently and returning home hasn't been all that wonderful due to our home being a little bit out of sorts. It's SO hard to keep on top of housework when you're on the go all the time and when I do have some free time, the last thing I want to do is clean when I could be outside enjoying the sunshine with my friends. George is also super busy so rather than arguing about who's turn it is to clean the bathroom we decided to go all princess and hire a cleaner. 
And my goodness has it changed the game, in just 3 hours our flat was beautifully clean and tidy and the perfect creative space to work and live from. I would honestly highly recommend going for it if, like me you're struggling to fit it in to your work schedule, it's just a small outgoing that makes everything much more relaxed and of course clean. 

I hope you've enjoyed hearing about a couple of things I've been digging recently and I'd LOVE to hear yours too, lets chat honeys!
Have a great week 

x M

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOPHIE TRAYNOR