This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Another week has zoomed by, after a slightly shaky start caused by a rather out of control Sunday champagne brunch! 

However we made it through (it was touch and go) and have yet another jam packed weekend ahead! 

When we haven't been drinking gallons of water to soothe our pounding heads, this week the Mice have mostly been...

Racing out to do last minute Fathers' Day shopping...you may have been fooled by what month it is with this grey stormy weather, but it is in fact mid June! Which means only one thing...Fathers' Day! Of course it's only right to spoil our Dad's rotten for being so sensible in times of panic, knowing how to fix bathroom leaks and being the best form filler outers ever, however when they already own everything they could want or need, it becomes rather tricky! 

So we thought a Fathers' Day gift list may help some of you that are slightly last minute and intend to purchase this weekend! 

With the rising popularity of male lotions and potions it's clear that men are actually far more vain than us women! So, this OSPREY LONDON leather wash bag is the ideal gift for the modern man... 

Image via www.ospreylondon.com, £55

Dads can never have too many socks, but rather than another boring black pair why not opt for these jazzy Paul Smith beauties? 

Image via www.mrporter.com, £17

For the more outdoorsy Dad, a foraging food course is your golden ticket! Fergus Drennan runs immersive courses lasting approx twelve hours exploring in woodlands, seashores, fields and rivers to produce two foraged three course meals! 

Image via http://fergustheforager.co.uk, £150

Update his eye wear with those super chic Illestva sunglasses, with their retro style they're a safe bet - in fact, he probably used to wear a similar style back in his younger days...!!

Image via www.mrporter.com, £130

For the grumpy Dad who needs a good shot of caffeine to kick start his day (and mood), then this Smartcafe Cafetiere Hot Mug is ideal! Complete with a plunger this inventions means he can sip on his favourite ground coffee on the go...

Image via www.amazon.co.uk, £6.80

Diarising a visit to Hawksmoor Spitafields to try out their brand new bar menu with an added bonus of 50% off! From now until the end of June you can go in as many time as you like and get half price bar food and if you have a group larger than six thankfully you can make a reservation! 

New additions include...ox cheek, chicken wings tossed with Hong Kong's dried-shrimp-heavy XO sauce, fillet-o-fish with jalapeno tartare, pulled pork bun with vinegar slaw and Seoul ribs! The space is rumoured to be beautifully designed, super buzzy and serving up some of the meanest cocktails in London! 

I'll see you at the bar!

Images via http://thehawksmoor.com/spitalfieldsbar

Uncontrollably jumping up and down at the news of H&M's brand new collaboration with the one and only Isabel Marant! Yes you heard correctly, Hitting stores on 14th November, the queen of effortless style with a sprinkle of attitude deserves a place in every girl's wardrobe! 

Her range will cover both clothing and accessories and represent her trademark style, in her own words "...you dress up, but do not pay too much attention and still look sexy." Famed for designing the original wedge high top trainer, just imagine the creations we have to look forward to....eeeeeekkkk we can hardly contain our excitement at this one! 

To get you all in the mood, let's take a look at some of our favourite Isabel Marant designs...

Image via http://4.bp.blogspot.com

Image via www.style.com

Image via blog.stylesight.com 

Image via www.style.com

Image via www.net-a-porter.com

Image via www.marieclairvoyant.com

 

Date penned in your diary?! Don't worry we won't let you forget, as with all the best highstreet x designer collaborations, there'll be an official 3BM count down!

On that exciting note, we'll leave you to your two luxurious lie-in's, cocktails, friends and general weekend funnnnnn, ENJOY!!

The Mice x

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Week two of 2013 down and it's now pretty much just the same as 2012 again...back to the grind! London Towers has not been the most fun this week with late nights in the office and early moaning mornings, however as always we've managed to fit in at least a bit of light relief! 

Sadly it's been the week that HMV and Blockbusters went into administration...I hear a cry of joy from Amazon and Lovefilm, however this has set off some hilarious Twitter pleas to rich celeb businessmen of the moment...Sir Alan Sugar, Bill Gates, Dragons Den stars and even Richard Branson...Virgin Megastores ring any bells anybody?! So far all the tweets suggesting that Bill & Co might like to buy HMV/Blockbusters and #SaveTheHighstreet, seem to have been rebuffed (strange that...!) But let's keep our fingers crossed that Twitter has the power, and all those vouchers received as Christmas pressies for HMV can still be redeemed!!

When the Mice haven't been rubbing their bleary, tired eyes or eating work-induced midnight feasts, we have mostly been...

Blubbering...at the tragic news of Alan, Tatler magazine's office dog, dying in a revolving door accident on Monday. For anyone not familiar with Alan, we're referring to a miniature long-haired dachshund who belonged to the editor's assistant. Alan used to go into the Tatler offices daily and became a twitter legend with his own account @TatlerAlan giving the Twitter world an insight into the magazine world! 

Apparently poor Alan got caught in the revolving doors at Vogue House on his way out for his lunchtime walk...very sad indeed, I will leave you with his Twitter profile picture :-( 

Image via www.twitter.com

In tribute to Alan I am taking extra care of my office pet, Rufus, a porcelain dog that HK Mouse picked up in Tokyo and gave to me for Christmas. Rufus is not only the sweetest little puppy ever, he also grows plants out of his rucksack! He is amazing, after only a week of planting the seeds, look how well he has come along....I will keep you all posted!!

Speedily filling up my new raspberry Filofax with drinks to banish January blues, holidays and anything that involves having fun!  An email that recently dropped into my inbox and immediately caught my attention was a chic BYOB venue! I am forever searching for a BYOB restaurant where you don't have to eat whilst sitting on plastic chairs, from tables covered in paper sheets and windows dripping with condensation...ok this might be a slight exaggeration but my experiences are of pretty scrappy interiors and definitely not somewhere you'd be proud to take a visitor to London or a date!

However this week I heard about the Hawksmoor BYOB Monday. I must admit I somehow haven't managed to visit a Hawksmoor yet as they are always fully booked but this is news enough to get me into gear and start some forward planning! I can safely say from rave reviews and the fact that they're constantly chocka block full, the food will not disappoint and the decor and atmosphere is spot on! Think amazing steak, seafood, buttery lobster, creamed spinach and peanut butter shortbread with salted caramel ice cream...all alongside a bottle of your favourite wine minus a £20 markup and just a £5 corkage instead! YUM!!! I can't think of a better way to start the week can you?!

Image via http://thehawksmoor.com

Performing the snow dance at every opportunity to make the daily promises of snow inches come true! Our hopes for a day all snug in bed, with 'How to make it in America' on continuous play, whilst sipping mugs of steaming tea, are ever building! Temperatures have officially plummeted to an all time low for this Winter which calls for a bit of cosy snow dayshopping from your sofa! Cashmere, chunky knits, uber long scarves and lots of layers are a definite YES right now and we've found the best of the best just for you! Check out 3BM's must have Freezing Five...

Zara Boucle Knit Mohair Sweater

£45.99

www.zara.com

Donna Karan Draped Front Cashmere Sweater

£991

Image via www.net-a-porter.com

ASOS Faux Fur Snood

£22

Image via www.asos.com

Zara Sweater with Faux Leather Sleeves

£45.99

www.zara.com

Urban Outfitters Sheer Back Knit

£38

Image via www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

That's it for another week my blog buds, make sure you stay warm, cosy and wrapped up this weekend...unless we get the promised substantial snowfall and in that case...build snowmen and snow dogs and scream like a child again whilst dodging flying snow balls!!!!

The Mice xxx

Mice Advice: Date Night London....

A recent Mice Advice request…the perfect date location in London, the initial idea is daunting as you want to get it spot on, but we really are spoilt for choice…restaurants serving every cuisine, pop up bars, secret bars, tequila bars, even a bar based around garlic (hmmm maybe not going to be conducive to a good night kiss…) you name it, we have it!!!

Although the Mice Advice was for the perfect venue for date number four or five, I thought I would cover off all date type / requirements below! See my quick London lowdown...

No pressure with a quirky twist

Want something a bit different and quirky then this The Breakfast Club Spitalfields is your place...a diner with really tasty food and cocktails, cool retro interior, upbeat happy music and a fun atmosphere. To top it all off there is also a secret bar behind a smeg fridge, all you have to say is 'I'm here to see the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town' and you're straight into a world of even better cocktails and can continue the 'romance' well into the night!!!! Laid back fun with a twist, you will also totally impress with your secret knowledge of London!

Image via www.themayorofscaredycattown.com

12-16 Artillery Lane

E1 7LS

0227 0789 633

http://www.themayorofscaredycattown.com/

Cosy and intimate

Gordon's Wine Bar is the ultimate date place in my eyes - dimly lit, cosy, lots of coves and windy walkways for whispering sweet nothings (haha) and stacks of good wine and cheese boards! Don't panic it's cosy and romantic without being cringe, with lots of exposed brick walls, candles and mismatch chairs it's got enough cool to not be cheesy (no pun intended!)

Image via www.gordonswinebar.com

Gordon's Wine Bar

47 Villers Street

London

WC2N 6NE

0207 930 1408

First date buzzy

If you're looking for more of a first date place The Folly will win hands down. Its buzzy with lots going on and tonnes of people watching so que a conversation if there's an awkward silence! it's nicer than your average high street chain with amazing interior full of armchairs, rugs, bird cages, exposed pipe works, the list is endless. Plus with good, strong cocktails and picky food it scores highly in the date venues stakes, actually it scores highly in the general bar stakes too!

Image via www.thefollybar.co.uk

41 Gracechurch Street

London

EC3V 0BT

0845 468 0102

Secret Rendezvous

I haven't been to drink at Happiness Forgets yet but I have poked my head round the door and recommended to a friend, who loved it. Hidden away from busy Hoxton Square, located beneath a Chinese restaurant, if you didn't know about it you wouldn't stumble across it! Skip down some steps and enter the cosy, candlelit gem , its small, beautifully done and apparently the cocktails are killer!!  

Image via www.happinessforgets.com/

8-9 Hoxton Square

0207 613 0325

A Real Man's Playground...

If so far my selection has been too girly or too cosy then why not opt for Hawksmoor - this one will no doubt impress any guy! Slick, modern and chic with unbeatable steak and once again amazo cocktails! I tried to visit the Shoreditch branch a few weeks ago as the lobster roll from the bar menu is supposed to be unreal but it was fully booked, sniff sniff!! Perfect opportunity for him to gnaw on real man meat while you sup cocktails and delicately nibble on a lobster roll...dainty yet tasty!

For Him...

For you...

Images via www.thehawksmoor.com

There is one in Guildhall, Spitalfields and Seven Dials - check out the website for addresses and phone numbers!

There is definitely more to come on this one...with pop up bars opening left, right and centre it is only fair to keep you all updated! BUT for now here are a few to be getting on with, don't do anything I wouldn't do...!

This Week the Mice have Mostly Been…

TFIF is all I can say...how can a four day week be so exhausting and why aren't there enough hours in the day for work, play, socialising, eating, cocktails, Internet shopping...something has to give, I think I'll pick work! 


Anyway, a little Friday round-up of the week just gone, this week the mice have mostly been...

Loving....H&M Selfridges Concession! Surprise surprise, I spent my Bank Holiday Monday on an impromptu shopping spree...I thought what better way to rid back to work blues!! We spent about 10 hours in Selfridges - ohhing, ahhing, shopping, trying on and even eating, it was my temporary home for the day!! In the past I've never really paid that much attention to the H&M section in Selfridges but you really should - they literally select the highlights of all the ranges and display it all together for easy peasy shopping! I was drawn to the Fashion Against Aids section - I've read loads about it and seen it all over the press but hadn't had a second to snap anything up! I remember loving last years festival chic range, i fell for the leopard print tent...which thinking about it is still under my desk at work! 

H&M are back with their fifth collection to create awareness and raise funds for AIDS/HIV, 25% of every sale is donated directly to a variety of youth HIV/AIDS projects. The designs are amazing, incorporating numerous global styles with a fabulous ethic theme and patterns through out. Check out a few of my favourites...

Images via www.hm.com

I obviously couldn't buy everything, so for once I put on my sensible hat and bought just two pieces from the range!! I fell in love with this chunky black and silver collar necklace, £9.99 AMAZO...

Image via www.hm.com

And this quirky extreme stepped hem top with a very cool pink ombre print only £14.99....

Image via www.hm.com

And Middle Mouse fell head over heals for these amazing sunnies, could they be any cooler and only £5.99?!!

Image via www.hm.com

Head down there sharp'ish as the range has been out for two weeks...festival fever has arrived at perfect prices!! 

Lusting after...the re-stocked Ciate Caviar Manicure Set! After selling out earlier this year and kicking up such a storm that a waiting list of 14,000 people formed, they have done the good thing and brought it back into our lives! 

A chic 3D nail trend creating a dramatic, feminine yet fun look, which I for one, am desperate to recreate and jump on the bandwagon! This idea was all down to the Creative Director of Ciate, who was after something a bit different for a magazine shoot and has now started the craze of all crazes!! 

The three new colours - Rainbow, Black Pearl and Mother of Pearl, went available to the public yesterday and you can get your mits a set for £18! Even better, trot on down to my second-home Selfridges and get yourself an appointment at the pop-up Ciate's nail bar, to have your recently purchased manicure set applied for free!! It'll only be there until 16th May so don't miss out!

Images via www.ciate.co.uk

Fallen for...the new Limited Edition Jo Malone Plum Blossom Cologne. It is simply amazing - sweet yet not sickly, fresh yet lasts all day, floral yet crisp and it also comes in a limited edition bottle all tied up with a sweet lilac rope! Middle mouse couldn't resist and now each morning I plan discreet ways to go into her bathroom and steal a few sprays!! 

Image via www.jomalone.co.uk

Celebrating the weekend...even though a long bank holiday break has just passed and it was only a short week...my oh my has it been a painful one!! Working hard, catching up with friends and gym training...I am officially in need of a holiday, However for now a good weekend will have to suffice! 

Tonight I'm trying out the Hawksmoor in Spitafields (apparently the Lobster Rolls and cocktails are to die for - I'll report back!), lots of blog writing, seeing the fabulous Ellie for a WELL overdue wine catch up and all topped off by...a BBQ of course! To kick off Summer time we're heading to a friends for a BBQ'ing get together...apparently come rain or shine it will go ahead! Sun dances at the ready please....! 

How can I also forget...London Sevens at Twickenham (boo hoo I'm missing out on the fancy dress extravaganza, damn the Internet repair man but a mouse has to blog!), Buy My Wardrobe comes to Notting Hill for a fabulous fashion soiree and wait for it....The Britain's got Talent Final...totes rooting for Pudsy the dog!! 

On that note hope you've all had a fabulous week and have an even more FABULOUS weekend!