This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been.

It's not only the weekend again but OH YES it's another bank holiday weekend! With temperatures set to hit 17 degrees in London that can only mean one thing...

WE WISH!!! But I'm sure we can muster copious amounts of alfresco Pimms - one thing that London does better than anywhere else....!!

So when we haven't been counting down the days until fun can officially begin, The Mice have mostly been...

Lusting after the tasting menu at The Clove Club after dropping in for a few post-work cocktails.

Shoreditch Town Hall plays home to this little gem at number 380 Old Street, handily just skip across the way from our new fav 8 Hoxton Square. (If you missed it check our review out here). 

Spread across two rooms, you can either opt for a super tasty (or so I hear) meal in the beautifully high ceiling dining room or for a cosy cocktails in the laid back cocktail bar. We opted for the latter and although tempted by the bar snacks, we refrained mainly because we had already been for dinner and that would just be greedy!! 

If the cocktails are anything to go by then you're in for a treat - the espresso martinis were the perfect mix of sweet and rich and the amaretto sours so delicious I think we may have discreetly licked our glasses!! OK we didn't as I'm not sure that passes as Clove Club etiquette but if we could have, we mostly definitely would have! At £10 a pop the bar bill could easily creep up, but for an expertly shaken cocktail against a chic, beautiful backdrop I think it's definitely worth as a treat!

They're known for their 5 and 9 course tasting menu for £55/£85, using the best of British ingredients and has been heralded as a 'masterpiece of contemporary aspirations'. Without even seeing the menu I am sold...I now just need another excuse to trot on down!!

Truly embracing that summertime feeling and beadily eyeing up Gray Malin's fabulous iPhone covers. You may remember we raved about his incredible prints of jaw drooping beach scenes back in our August post. If not he simply takes the most beautiful photography from a completely different slant, focusing less on the image before the eye and instead capturing paradise from a bird's eye view. 

My dream is to own huge exposed brick walls adorned with Gray Malin beauties...gazing across at one of his pieces is like a dream world of everything I personally deem wonderful...

However in the meantime whilst I save for the walls and the photography, (this could take a while!!) we can all enjoy a slice of Malin at a fraction of the price. Head to his site where you can snap up these genius iPhone cases in a selection of his famous prints for just $45. 

Right on that note I must dash...there are people to see, drinks to sip and fun to be had.... ENJOYYYYYYYY!!

The Mice x

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

In London this week we've had a gorgeous glimpse of what summer has to bring (pretty please keep this up!)...warm weather, no coats or scarfs (come on it is April!) and the RayBans have been out in full force! Word is, it's set to be cool this weekend, but even after just that quick flash of sunshine we're ready for festivals, BBQ's, roof-top drinking and short sleeves right now...just in case that wasn't clear!  

 

We also need a reason to invest in the new Blackberry and Elderflower Pimms...how exciting! Winter Pimms is good, but can never quite steal my heart - I'm an original Pimms girl through and through...however the elderflower element in the new summer version could well make me waver! But it just isn't right to drinking Pimms unless the sun's out...so COME ONNNNN keep your hat on Mr Sun...permanently preferably!  

Image via www.thedrinksbusiness.com

 

When we haven't been catching a speed ray at lunch or praying every night for no more rain, this week the Mice have mostly been... 

 

Secretly raving about the best new brunch spot ever...A Little of What You Fancy. We've kept it quiet for a few weeks but I suppose it's only fair to share this delicious little secret! It isn't in the most convenient location (Kingsland Road, Hackney) which actually makes me quite happy as it does mean you won't find a queue and it's mainly locals and neighbourhood strangers in the know paying a visit. ALOWYF is a short walk from Dalston Junction overground or a supposed twenty minute bus journey from Mice Towers (which actually took far longer and made us 45 mins late) but despite this I'll be returning without a doubt!  

 

 

The space is filled with bare low hanging light bulbs, mismatched wooden chairs (the sort that we sat on at primary school), menus on clipboards and crates full of fresh juices and fruit and veg. Shabby chic at its best which immediately makes you feel welcome and relaxed, as does the divine smelling food and super friendly staff - this is easily my new favourite haunt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then there's the food, which is absolutely out of this world! The menu goes beyond standard brunch options of eggs on toast and eggs benedict and instead offers unusual combinations that just work! Scrambled eggs, tomatoes and basil on toasted sourdough; truffled field mushrooms on toast; and poached eggs, avocado, roast tomatoes, Greek yogurt, chili jam and chorizo! The latter was my choice and WOW is all I can say! The Greek yogurt and chili jam go perfectly together and offset the spicy chorizo perfectly, all piled a top fresh sourdough!  

 

 

Tempted?! We were! So much so that we couldn't resist pudding once we'd tasted their breakfast creations. The cheesecake was far too pretty to say no to and it's safe to say we gobbled down the whole lot!  

 

This is no one trick pony either, ALOWYF is open all day long serving up breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner...absolutely no excuse not to go! 

 

 

Restraining the almighty urge to buy up the majority of Zara's new Summer shoe range...it's just all oh so pretty! Revolving around multi textures and vivid colours, Zara once again has got it seriously spot on! Aztec monochrome, shiny gold mixed with vibrant colours, cut out designs, patterned fabric mix and all without blowing the budget! Get yourself down there before we snap them ALL up....

£39.99

£29.99

£69.99

£29.99

£39.99

£49.99

 

Vowing to never buy cheap bikinis again after getting to Sri Lanka and realising half of mine were faded and misshapen, resulted in me binning half of them immediately! I'm all for some H&M and Topshop bargains but no more in the swimwear stakes! To look bikini beautiful I am now a strong believer in putting the time and money in to gain the rewards...on that note, some gym visits might not go amiss either...!  

 

With summer holiday number one booked, I started my mission, I didn't want to spend a fortune, but just enough so that my bikinis won't fall apart or look washed out after a week's wear. When I found Insight on ASOS I knew I had struck gold...good quality and fit, fun AND flattering! So far I have snapped up this aztec number...

Image via www.asos.com, £45

 

I love it so much that temptation is definitely going to get the better of me come pay day, watch this space....

Image via www.asos.com, Top £35 & Knickers £25

 

Image via www.asos.com, Top £30 & Knickers £20

Image via www.asos.com, £55

Image via www.asos.com, £55

Well that's it for another week! I'll leave you all dreaming of Pimms, bikinis and a super fun summer! Here's hoping for another scorcher next week....

The Mice x

 

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Wowza what a week and what a weekend ahead!! Last weekend I had one of my best friend's wedding and it was well and truly amazing! We had brilliant sunshine, amazing hog roast, yummy Marlborough and watched our bestie's tie the knot in the most idyllic barn and celebrated well into the night!! Perfect!! 


I rocked my H&M fashion conscious dress (I blogged about the range previously), I saved it especially for the occasion and am happy to say I was the only one wearing it...well worth 2 months of waiting!!! I unfortunately got a bit overzealous dancing when the Take That tribute band came on and ripped the skirt, but I was having too much fun!!!

This weekend it is all about the Jubilee and the four day weekend...eeeeee I cannot wait, much needed!! I have another wedding to attend, this time at Luton Hoo with our friends flying in from all over the world to come, I am so excited!!!! Other than that I will be making the most of the sleep in's and joyous celebrations taking place all over london, all topped off by a Robbo roast dinner in St.Albans! 

Anyway....this week the mice have mostly been...

Being VERY bad Mice and upsetting all the men at Lord's cricket.  The London Mice spent the day yesterday relaxing in the Pavilion, sipping pimms and perving on the HOT cricket players...who knew it was such an enjoyable sport! We had lots of fun, were totally spoilt and had Pimms bought for us all day, however we got a few disapproving glances! Until two years ago the Pavilion and Long Bar only allowed men in, however now woman are invited but with a nightmare dress code! Only skirts / dresses below the knew are allowed, bare arms or any skin is frowned upon and you have to wear shoes that are closed! If I didn't break the code with my jumpsuit and open toe wedges, Melissa definitely did!!! 


A fabulously fun day out and if you don't have anything planned for Tuesday this Bank Holiday weekend, there is Lady's day at Lord's! Free entry for girls, a champagne reception, BBQ and beauty treatments...PERFECTION! Check out the details on the website and get involved!!

Hot cricketer Joe Gatting, http://sarahcanterbury.com

Intrigued..by the new unveiling of Topshop's Bridal range - 'Tie the Knot!'. Now everyone that knows me can immediately tell you I am Topshop's BIGGEST fan...I would safely say 80% of my wardrobe is from the store! However I cannot imagine myself going in there to buy my wedding dress...but I could be proved wrong...I hope I am!! 

Richard Nicoll has designed a capsule range of seven dresses, comprising of your typical wedding elements...silk and lace, pink and white, but then mixing in cool and quirky twists, all at affordable prices between £75 and £350.

I'm not convinced that you would wear them as an actual wedding dress however I am definitely loving them as cocktail dresses! They are gorgeous simple designs that also look simply hot, take a peak and see what you think...

All Images via Image via www.graziadaily.co.uk

Loving...a gem of a website I came across when looking for a new fun bar to try out in London...Barchick! 

Firstly I love it because it has a real mix of places reviewed, from pop-up bars to diners, from posh cocktail bars to late night watering holes, NO sign of cheesy high street chains or The Loop bar!! And secondly I LOVE LOVE LOVE the filter sections on it! You can specify 'Where?' e.g. North London, 'What you're after?' options such as... 'speakeasy' 'Kissing' 'Debauchery', 'Who?' e.g 'Take a Date' 'Take a Cheapskate' and finally 'When?' e.g 'Daytime 'Evening' 'Late'. How useful and amazing is that!?! You search all your requirements and it brings back your options to pick from...what did I do without it!!!!

I am obsessed, THANKS Barchick you're the best online black book of bars!!

Image via www.barchick.com

HAPPY JUBILEE WEEKEND blog friends....enjoy yourselvessssssss!!!!


x The Mice