Spotlight

The TV is calling: 7 shows you should watch this weekFrustrated that every bar and restaurant is now booked-out until Christmas? Well, don't stress: the entertainment is just as good indoors. Pour yourself a gin and grab the remote.
Waffles for breakfast? Yes please!What do you get when you cross a chocolate brownie, a waffle maker and a handful of strawberries? Heaven on a plate! Sate your sweet tooth with this delicious recipe.
58 things to glam up your gardenGarden parties are go, people! But, oh God — is that really the state of the patio? Glam up the garden and impress your guests with these 58 must-have garden objects.
Downsizing in later life? 9 things to considerGot aging parents thinking to downsize? It pays to do your research. Here are 9 key things to look out for when you’re helping your parents find their next home
Kitchens 2021: the latest designs and coloursGadget garages, working kitchens and unfitted units... This year, says new design company Huckleberry, we're witnessing a kitchen revolution. Here's what it looks like.

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I'm Hero, founder of Muddy Stilettos, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable across the counties.

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Gotta Have It

Out with the scratched melamine, in with stylish cups, cocktail shakers, candelabra, and cutlery. Here's our guide to the wow accessories that will make your alfresco meal sparkle

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HomeView more

- The Muddy Stilettos guide to hangover cures
  
  Socialising is back (and so are the hangovers). From gravy granules to cold lager, we asked some Muddy hell-raisers for their emergency remedies.
- Waffles for breakfast? Yes please!
  
  What do you get when you cross a chocolate brownie, a waffle maker and a handful of strawberries? Heaven on a plate! Sate your sweet tooth with this delicious recipe.
Wellbeing
- Easy! Buy these, and sleep better
  
  Having trouble sleeping? Us and half the world right now! Here's what the Muddy team have in their shopping baskets to help with some much-needed shut-eye.
- Fitness niggles and injuries, begone!
  
  From knee strains to pelvic floor dysfunction. There are a host of injuries that affect sporty women more than men. Here are the culprits and how best to tackle them

Arts & CultureView more

17 of the best podcasts to listen to now

Whether you’re after an informative deep-dive or a mindless laugh, we’ve compiled the best podcasts to listen to for downtime, me-time or just pass-the-time.
- The TV is calling: 7 shows you should watch this week
  
  Frustrated that every bar and restaurant is now booked-out until Christmas? Well, don't stress: the entertainment is just as good indoors. Pour yourself a gin and grab the remote.
- Muddy meets actor Zoe Lambert
  
  Zoe Lambert is making her RSC debut in The Winter’s Tale which never opened on stage due to Covid but has been adapted for telly on Sunday April 25, as part of BBC Lights Up.
- Best outfits from The Winter’s Tale – the RSC’s first TV premiere
  
  Muddy takes a first look at the gorgeous Mad Men-inspired costumes and stage design of this postponed RSC period piece for BBC Lights up.
- Best new books out this April
  
  What better way to embrace a new season that with a new slew of books? Our friends at The Book House, Thame, have offered up their favourites of the month.

EatView more

Top 50 Gastropubs 2021 revealed

What better week for the reveal of the country’s best gastropubs than the start of lockdown easing? Here are the four winners in Berkshire – phones at the ready to bag your table.
- Pimp your roast this weekend
  
  Give your cooking some welly with a zingy springy herb crust. We've twisted the arm of the Wellington Farm Shop butchers to reveal their secret recipe that'll rub your roast up the right way.
- Try this light but warming spring supper
  
  Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's healthy take on this Scottish fish soup makes for a quick and hearty but healthy supper that's perfect for cool spring evenings.
- 48 Mother’s Day afternoon teas that deliver
  
  Can't give mum a hug? This is a close second: tiny sandwiches, a lot of clotted cream, and an optional bottle of fizz. Here are the 48 best afternoon teas for delivery and takeaway around the country.
- Comforting classics from The Pie Room
  
  Ooh, is there anything more satisfying than good flaky pastry? These two tasty recipes from Calum Franklin's new cookbook The Pie Room are just the ticket.

WorkView more

- How to get your finances into shape for 2021
  
  The fallout from Covid has shown how financial wellbeing is vital - and too often overlooked. Muddy limbers up for a money MOT in 2021.
- Introducing The Indie Store
  
  How do you 'shop small' when you're in lockdown? Our latest launch, The Indie Store, is all about supporting brilliant local retail - here's how you can help.
Kids
- Ashfold School, Dorton, Mid Bucks
  
  This bucolic co-ed prep school for day pupils and boarders in the rolling hills of Buckinghamshire is family-oriented with a deserved reputation for its all-rounder offering.
- The 7 questions everyone asks about online schools
  
  Where does the social side, sport and extra-curricular come in to virtual education, and what about a timetable and exams? We tackle the big questions about online schools

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FashionView more

Green age kicks! 8 eco-cool trainers

There’s nothing like box fresh white trainers to put a spring in your step. The good news for the planet is that this lot tick the stylish and sustainable box too — just in time for Earth Day.
- Word up! Slogan sweats to buy now
  
  Can't find the words to say it yourself? Say it with a sweater! Here are eight cool slogan jumpers we're coveting right now, all from indie shops and brands.
- 2021 fashion collabs you need to know
  
  When high fashion met high street. Here are the new season fashion collabs we're lusting after this month (with surprisingly affordable price tags).

BeautyView more

- Get ready to go outside: SPFs for every skin type
  
  The sun is (just) starting to make itself felt and while that brings happiness, joy and vitamin D, it also means more time outdoors. Get prepped with the best facial SPFs.
- Skincare SOS – your winter essentials
  
  Zoom close-ups making you wince? Cold winter days and dry central heating are playing havoc with our skin. Try these hero products for a dose of much-needed hydration.

People

See-through suits and Marvin Gaye: Leee John talks.

The Imagination front man and 1980’s all-round soul funk hero is here to answer our rather silly questions ahead of his performance at Chilfest this summer.
- Muddy Meets: Soprano Laura Wright
  
  The rugby-loving opera A-lister tells all about singing for the crowds, royal encounters and post-lockdown footwear dilemmas.
- My favourite places: designer Chloe Kempster
  
  The Chalk Paint® queen and furniture designer behind Maisie's House on TV's Money for Nothing let us in on her top local spots in Leicestershire - how many do you know?

TravelView more

Day at the beach, anyone?

The sun’s making an appearance this weekend (at long last) so we’re thinking impromptu, socially-distanced daytrip to the coast. Who’s in?
- 96 ultimate outdoor meet-ups
  
  Walking is sooo Lockdown 3. Come March 29, we’re ready for some new outdoors activities with friends or family. Try one of these fresh ideas from the Muddy counties.
- Grab the sunnies: our 2021 travel bucket list
  
  It's been so long, holidays have taken on a rather emotional hue. So we asked our editors how they really want to spend their annual leave. Expect cocktails, cities, and plenty of sun.