On the headphones: MØ - Say You'll Be There (cover)

Copenhagen native MØ is no stranger to fame, winning the award for 'Breakthrough Artist of the Year' at the Danish Music Awards and guesting on Iggy Azaelia's 'Beg For It'.

She's been stepping into the shoes of even bigger female pop royalty though, on this fab cover of the Spice Girls' 'Say You'll Be There'. One watch and you'll be donning your platforms and trackie bottoms, like we all know you did in your bedroom when you were ten (or was that just my friends?). Click below for a blast of 90s nostalgia..



For anyone who's missing their pre-teen heroes, Ripley's London are hosted SpiceWorld: The Exhibition until the end of May. Entry included with the general ticket price.

Pick Me Up, Somerset House

A festival of graphic design, Pick Me Up is a great chance to check out some of the upcoming talent, as well as known artists.

Downstairs is a gallery of hand picked artists' work, while upstairs hosts stalls from designers and collectives (including my favourites, the adorably cute Ohh Deer). Some even have tables where you can draw, colour or even scratch your own art, based on their designs.

This year's focus is on screen printing, with a stall showing you the process. It's worth a look, just to see the machine in action. 

Nearest tube: Embankment 

Fika, Brick Lane

Brick Lane may be famed for its Beigal stores, Indian restaurants and Turkish food, but there's a tiny corner that's bringing the Scandinavian cool, thanks to Fika bar and kitchen.

Named after the Swedish term for coffee break, by day it serves up strong coffees and cinnamon rolls, while by night it attracts a mixture of diners and young professionals looking for a peaceful alternative to the raring hipster bars.

The restaurant serves a mixture of nordic dishes, including Elk burgers and the classic Swedish meatballs, plus (surprisingly good!) vegetarian options. There's a good cocktail menu as well, with themed drink names and a unique presentation. All served on a wooden log platter, of course.

Find it at: 161 Brick Lane, E1 6SB

Yoga at Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium

Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium opened in London last year, to the joy of cat lovers citywide (especially those who's tenancy contracts don't allow pets!). There's a long waiting list for bookings though, as the cafe has strict short opening times to avoid overwhelming the furry felines.

As it's now open on Wednesday evenings for yoga classes, at 7 and 8pm, run by an experienced teacher from Stretch, I decided to go along and see the place for myself.

I've been doing yoga for over a year now, so it was a pleasant surprise to find the class a real challenge (it's quite energetic and you'll want a good sense of balance). It's suitable for beginners too though, and the teacher is very supportive if you're struggling. There was an exciting moment about halfway through as a cat tried to climb me during a pose!

After the class had finished, we were treated to a delicious afternoon tea, with scones, cupcakes and the nicest tea I've ever tasted.

The cats are free to roam about through the cafe, so we had some entertainment too. It's amazing how relaxed they seem, even around such a large group of visitors. Mostly they just liked to loll about, watching us eating, or run around the wheel. It's clear the staff care deeply about their happiness and do their best to accommodate them in the cafe space.

Top tip: there's only one bathroom to change in, so best to change at home first

Find it at:152-154 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 6DG

Strongroom, Shoreditch

With the weather being so nice, I've been spending my evenings with friends at pub gardens around East London. 

One of my favourites has to be Strongroom, in the heart of Shoreditch. It draws a good crowd on weekday evenings from the startup offices of Silicon Roundabout (that's Old Street, by the way), but hover in the courtyard for long enough and you should be able to grab a couple of seats, if not a space at a canopied table. 

The drinks might be on the expensive side, if you're not used to London prices (over £5 for a bottle of Kopparberg), but there's a buzzing atmosphere to make up for that, and plenty of space indoors if you're getting chilly. 

On the weekends, the outside bar opens and the courtyard is packed. Expect a queue to enter and tight security. Head over early though, for a quiet drink before a gig at one of Shoreditch's many music venues. 

Find it at: 120 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3SQ

The Horniman Museum, Forest Hill

It was such a beautiful weekend that there was nothing to so but go outside and enjoy the sunshine.

We decided to visit The Horniman Museum, founded in 1901, which has a collection of taxidermy, including some pretty scary looking exotic creatures, plus other cultural exhibitions.

There's an amazing view from the lovely gardens outside, being at the top of Forest Hill means you can see all the way from the London Eye to The Shard, all whilst enjoying music from the nearby bandstand.

The highlight for me though, was visiting the farm section, where the museum houses living animals, alpacas, rabbits, goats and chickens. You can't pet all the cuddlies as they're not so friendly, but it's fun to watch them bounding about. Even the alpacas seemed to be in a good mood..

The Diner, Shoreditch

Almost definitely THE best place in London to go if you're feeling a little rough from the night before, The Diner, a classic American themed burger bar will have you back on your feet in no time. 

On the other hand, if you're only starting the night off, you might want to try their 'hard shakes', thick frothy milkshake a with an alcoholic twist. 

Surprisingly, there are some amazing vegetarian options, from mushroom and halloumi burgers to soy dogs, plus a range of all-day breakfast food. 

Find it at: Angel, Shoreditch, Camden 

Easter traditions

It's been a beautiful Easter weekend and I've been home visiting my family. We're really keen on traditions, so as well as cooking a (veggie) roast dinner, we've been making cornflake cakes and painting hard boiled eggs. 

Once the eggs are painted, we roll them down the garden, which is on a slope luckily! The egg which goes the furthest without cracking is the winner. Unfortunately mine broke, but it was still lovely to be out in the sunshine, surrounded by daffodils in my parent's garden. 

How have you been enjoying your time off?

Ridley Road Market Bar, Dalston

A tropical themed bar in the heart of Dalston, you say? Yes, Ridley Road Market Bar may be a short walk from the concrete blocks of Kingsland Road, but it's fluorescent lighting, flamingo decorations and palm trees would have you believe you've been transported to the Bahamas. 

The bar plays everything from the cheesiest pop and serving up a selection of cocktails including delicious frozen piña coladas. On a weeknight it may be quiet, but this place packs out on weekends, with swarms of east London girls and boys partying away on the dance floor til the small hours. 

Nearest Tube: Dalston Kingsland