bloomzy /

OOTD: Well kinda…

Lipstick: Chanel | Earrings: Topshop | Ring: Primark
I do apologise, but there won’t be an outfit of the day, today. I fell over in the road, on my way to lecture and I’ve hurt my leg and hip. My knee has also swollen up, so you can probably tell that I’m not really feeling at my best right now.
I did however take this photo of my make-up and jewellery this morning. I really love these earrings by Topshop and my favourite Rouge Coco lipstick, by Chanel. All topped off with an overly decadent ring from Primark.
bloomzy /

Photo Diary; Paris, I Love You

Le Mur Des Je T’aime (I Love You : The Wall), Montmatre, Paris

I was all prepared to finally do my ‘Amelie Adventure’ photo diary post, but then I found these.
These photos were taken on the same day, and feature the popular ‘I Love You Wall’ in Montmatre.
Situated in a small park just outside the metro entrance, you could easily miss it if you weren’t looking for it.
The park itself is a lovely tiny place to relax in, especially if it’s a particularly hot day, as it was when we went.
Luckily there are plenty of trees to offer shade.

If I remember correctly it wasn’t particularly busy, there were only 3 other people there at the time.
I love little places like this that make you feel as though you have stumbled upon something magnificent.
If anyone was wondering, these were taken in July 2011, hence the longer hair.

Frédéric Baron created this mural along with Claire Kito and Daniel Boulogne.
With over 300 languages on the wall, each reads ‘I Love You’ or the equivalent in that language.

Can you spot your language?
bloomzy /

Review: MUA Lipstick #15 & #16

MUA Lipsticks; #16 & #15
Here is the first review of several from my recent MUA make-up haul.
I choose to review the lipsticks as a friend asked for a swatch, and I do like to please.
Left to Right; #15 & #16
You may be curious as to why there are 4 swatches. Well I noticed that the colours needed a few coats, so I first swatched one coat of the colour, and then several coats of the same shade. So the first two swatches are of shade #15, and the second two are of shade #16.
Not much difference in #15 but #16 is quite different after several coats.
I also noticed some residue (??) when I first applied #16 but not after the initial swatch.
Pros:
+ Only £1!
+ Didn’t dry my lips out.
+ Colour applies evenly.
+ Coverage on #16 was good for a cheap lipstick.
+ Nice, regular colours which will work well in Spring/Summer.
Cons:
– #15 didn’t have great coverage; showed lines etc.
– Several coats were needed for me to achieve the colour I wanted on both.

Top to Bottom; #15 & #16
Notes:
For £1 I have no complaints.
These aren’t as good as my Chanel or MAC lipsticks but I never expected them to be.
I do wish #15 had been more pigmented/true to colour but that’s my only disappointment.
I ended up preferring Shade#16; Nectar (the one they accidentally sent me) to the one I had ordered.
Honestly, I think these are great if: 
1. You’re not sure whether a colour will suit you, and you want to try it out before investing.
2. If you just want to expand the colours in your lipstick collection, but don’t have lots of money.
You can shop the collection here.
bloomzy /

MUA Make-up Haul

Love Hearts Lip Balm Collection, Lipsticks; #15 & #16 , Professional Eye Primer
MUA is a brand I never really looked at in the past.
To be honest I was put off by the cheap price, which I thought meant the products would be cheap.
However, lately I’ve found some amazing reviews on the brand. So after my success with their Love Hearts Nail Polishes I decided to give some of their other items a go.
The Love Hearts Lip Balms were on my list from the beginning. I had seen some amazing reviews on them, so I wanted in! Whereas the packaging isn’t appealing to me, the colours look pigmented and apparently they’re very moisturising.
I was actually only supposed to receive one lipstick and an eyeshadow but they accidentally sent me another lipstick instead. I’m not sure if I will wear shade #16; Nectar, as it looks a little too orangey for me, but I’m willing to try it out. Shade #15; Juicy looked nice, but once again not sure if it will suit me.
Finally the primer. UK Beauty bloggers have been raving about this lately, some have even said it rivals the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer potion. This I am looking forward to trying, as I have both.
I’m really looking forward to reviewing all of these on the blog very soon.
I’m not a big fan of ‘haul posts’ but you guys asked, so you shall receive…so would you like to keep seeing them?
bloomzy /

Glossybox Harrods Edition

Glossybox Harrods Edition

Some of you may have heard of Glossybox before, or similar companies. For £10 (plus p&p) a month you receive 5 new beauty products to try. This month Glossybox have teamed up with Harrods and are releasing a special edition box. Unlike previous boxes the contents of this one are not secret and have been released online and to press. This box will include luxury beauty products, such as: Burberry, YSL and Clarins. Check out a preview of the products here from Gh0stparties.

I haven’t subscribed to these kind of things in the past as I know I wouldn’t use half the items I was sent, even though I do think that 90% of the time they’re worth the money. However I was first in-line this morning when the box went live at 10am, and I ordered mine straight away! I just couldn’t resist such a bargain (still only £10!), and I’m pretty certain I will use all the products.
So expect a review once it arrives later this month!

You can subscribe to Glossybox here.
Be quick and you may be able to grab the March Harrods Edition!

Source; 1

bloomzy /

A Source of Inspiration

You can find me on Tumblr, here
I feel you can usually read my current style from what’s on my Tumblr. 
Ever since I started my Tumblr it has been a place for me to store & share my loves & inspirations.
I don’t do it for followers, although I adore the ones I do have, I do it for me.
Simply put, it’s a visual fashion/lifestyle diary, and I love it.
Where do you store your inspiration?
bloomzy /

Photo Diary; Life in Japan

My neighbourhood in Japan

This time I wanted to show you a bit more of suburban Japan.
When I first moved to Tokyo I spent a couple of weeks exploring the neighbourhood. 
I loved the area I lived in, and the people, so I wanted to share it with you.
I think these photos really show how calm and serene a place it was, and probably still is.
It was always lovely to come home to somewhere like this, after a long day in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. 

My favourite of these though has to be the sleeping kitten. It was a stray that suddenly turned up in a nearby park, frail and alone. The nearby residents fed and took care of it, making it a home from some polystyrene and a bathtub cover. After a few weeks, one of the old ladies took him in and gave him a collar.
To me it really helps summarise the sense of community and family I felt when staying there.