Stoke Newington | East London | Nearest Tube: Dalston Kingsland Overground
As I prepare to say goodbye to the part of London that I’ve spent the 3 years in, I decided to take one last long photo walk around Dalston and Stoke Newington. I will still be living in East London, but I’m moving on to greener pastures (or something like that). I’ll miss this part of London, but I’m excited to start a new adventure and see even more of this amazing city.
View more of the ‘A London Life…’ series
Jacket: Primark | T-shirt: COS | Jeans: Topshop | Trainers: New Balance | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban*
Looking at me now, you’d never guess that my teenage years were spent mixing patterns and colours like an overly eccentric cat lady. In fact I imagine 15 year old me would have detested the clothing I wear now. It’s funny really how our tastes and looks change. Just a quick peek at my Style Evolution post from a few years ago will show you how much my look has changed in recent years.
That doesn’t mean I’m unhappy with my current personal style at all though. In fact I love my more minimalist approach, as of late. It’s nice to feel stylish without having to worry about trying too hard. I like the idea of grabbing a t-shirt and jeans, and pulling on a leather jacket before rushing out the door (which is exactly what I did the morning these photos were taken). Knowing that actually you’re still going to feel pretty cool even though you didn’t stop to think about it. At the end of the day, I guess it says more about my wardrobe than anything. My resolution of “quality over quantity” (style AND substance) really is working.
Photos of me by V.A (chopstickpanorama)
L’atelier Dalston | East London | Nearest Tube: Dalston Kingsland/Dalston Junction
As I prepare to say goodbye to the part of London that I’ve spent the last 3 years in, I decided to take one last long photo walk around Dalston and Stoke Newington (the Stoke Newington post will be up later this week). I will still be living in East London, but I’m moving on to greener pastures (or something like that). I’ll miss this part of London, but I’m excited to start a new adventure and see even more of this amazing city.
It’s been a while since I reviewed a new Avène product, hasn’t it. That’s not for lack of trying though, she says as she furiously writes an email to Avene HQ, begging them to release new products. Joking aside, I actually spotted the Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum at a beauty showcase last Summer, and I made a mental note that I would have to try it during the harsher Winter months. After doing just that I thought now was as good a time as any to review it. I mean, this review was inevitable, right?
Pros:
+ Good consistency
+ Feels soothing on skin
+ Nicely packaged
+ Works well as a primer
+ Mildly hydrating
Cons:
– A bigger bottle would be nice
Notes:
This is a good, trusty facial serum. I’ve been applying it in the morning and sometimes in the evening, and I have yet to say anything bad about it…apart from the size of the bottle being too small for my liking. At £17 though I’m really not 100% certain that I would purchase this. It’s a nice serum, but it just doesn’t have that wow factor. Yes, me the Avène fangirl hasn’t fallen head over heels for one of their products. I think that says enough really. It’s a good product, but I honestly can’t say there is any reason for me to purchase it over another facial serum.
You can purchase Avene’s Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum at Boots.
On The Bab | Korean Street Food | Covent Garden | Website
– reservations not available –
You may be blinking right now, wondering if you’re seeing double. Well yes, I have featured On The Bab before in my “Where to Eat in London” series. However that was their Shoreditch location, and last week saw the official opening of their new Covent Garden restaurant. But how is it different to the original? Well there’s a whole new menu that you won’t find anywhere else, and it’s perfect for Spring.
On The Bab is a special place for me. I first visited it (with my now best foodie buddy V.A) last April, and I instantly fell in love with the menu. So with V.A alongside, we naturally wanted to sample everything from the new menu this time. We started perusing the menu with a sweet Cherry Blossom Cocktail. This culminated in us ordering: Korimari with Bulgogi Beef, Spring Onion Fried Chicken, Pumpkin & Potato Salad, Fried Chicken On The Roll, Seaweed Salad with citrus dressing, and Rice Poppers.
The Fried Chicken On The Roll was definitely my favourite dish of the evening – something similar to gimbap, it has been amusingly named Korean Burrito. The mixture of textures and flavours work incredibly well together, and left me wanting the whole two rolls to myself. The Spring Onion Fried Chicken was a drier version of one of my favourite dishes at OTB. Whereas the flavours were strong, it was the crispier texture that I enjoyed. The Korimari came with a tender well-marinated side of bulgogi beef and vegetables. I loved the sesame oil aftertaste, and the simplistic way of eating – this is definitely one for Summer! The light, refreshing salads were thoughtful sides to the mains, and whereas the Pumpkin & Potato Salad was a little bland, I liked the sweetness of it. The Seaweed Salad was the better of the two though, with a tangy citrus dressing that paired well with the stringy vegetable. The rice poppers weren’t to my liking, but I think they’d be pretty good if you were drinking more than you were eating…you know what I mean.
Of course when you love a restaurant so much there is always the chance that you may not enjoy a new menu. However I had faith in OTB, and thanks to the chefs wonderfully modern take on authentic Korean cuisine, I need not worry. The new Covent Garden location has a serene ambience, and the usual superb service. This is one restaurant I would make the commute from East to West for.
Thank you so much to On The Bab who invited me and V.A to dinner to celebrate their opening. On The Bab is one of my favourite restaurants in London, so it meant a lot to be invited before the restaurant had even opened. As always with these kind of post, my views and words are my own – I truly love this food.
You can read more of my restaurant reviews on Zomato
I don’t know why there hasn’t been a nail polish subscription box before. Clearly nailbox have also picked up on this gap in the market, as they have brought us a brand new nail polish subscription box. The April box is limited to only 100 boxes, and it contains four full-size nail polishes from iconic industry brands: OPI, China Glaze, Essie and Revlon.
Inside the box is…
+ Essie nail file (£1.99)
+ China Glaze Peachy Keen nail polish (around £5)
+ Revlon Buttercup nail polish (£7.99)
+ OPI Kiss Me On My Tulips nail polish (£12)
+ Essie Muchi, Muchi nail polish (£7.99)
Thoughts?
For a nail polish addict like me – or those who just want to discover some new polishes – this is a wonderful idea. The packaging of the box was pretty plain (a brown cardboard box), but the polishes were packaged safely inside at least. I noticed that the nail polishes included are from past collections (yet still on sale), but the shades are all pretty on-trend right now. I mean there are only so many colours, and the usual shades are on-trend year on year. So it doesn’t really matter whether these polishes are brand new to the market or not.
The total value of the box comes to £34.97, so you’re obviously getting your £15 back! At the end of the day, all I could ask for from a nail polish subscription box is in nailbox. Well known, quality brands: check. On-trend shades: check. Value for money: check. Would I purchase this? Yes, I definitely would!
You can purchase the April 2015 box at nailbox.
Remember all the fairytales you read as a child? The ones of magical villages whose alleyways were lined with bookstores, and curiosity shops filled with trinkets and oddities. What if I told you all of that was real, and you could re-discover it as an adult? All you have to do is go to Wales. Yes, this town really does exist, and it’s called Hay-on-Wye – The Town of Books.
You would think that such a fantastical introduction would make for a pretty boring visit. That certainly wasn’t the case when I headed to this lively town last weekend. I found myself running away from everyone, eager to get lost in the small alleys. Ducking my head into antiques stores and galleries. Rummaging through dusty books and maps in a bookstore straight out of Harry Potter. It’s not everyday that you reclaim that special wonderment you felt as a child. That’s why my trip to Hay-on-Wye felt so wonderful. I actually can’t stop talking about it to people. I know that my photos and words can’t do it justice, so I can only hope that you will be inspired and visit the town for yourself. Your inner child will thank you.
You can find out more at Visit Wales.