bloomzy /

A FEAST for The Eyes…and Mouth

For the last few years I have dreamt of visiting the handful of food festivals that pop up around London every year. However I was never able to because of work etc. So when I was offered tickets to FEAST (thank you Nuffnang) on a free weekend, I knew I couldn’t resist. FEAST features the best of street food, restaurants, marketplace and bars all cozied up in East London’s renovated Tobacco Docks.

I arrived with Alex around 12, ready for the Friday morning/afternoon slot. We were greeted by a small selection of stalls outside, such as: The Breakfast Club and Primrose Bakery. Nothing new, but still some tried and tested favourites. As we ventured inside we spotted even more restaurants and street food vendors, offering up a selection of tasty looking grub. It was a little bit of a ghost town but we had secretly been hoping this would be the case, as we wanted to make the most of our time there.

Alex and I didn’t need much convincing which stall to stop at first, as we spotted The Frenchie. I’ve been dying to try their confit duck brioche burgers, and I was not disappointed. I can’t describe how delicious it was, but I can tell you that I am now addicted. Next stop was Anna Mae’s Mac & Cheese, and although the portion was ridiculously large (we couldn’t even finish one between the two of us) we enjoyed the bacon and basil oil combo. After filling up on cheese, we decided that we would lay off the food for a bit, which is how we ended up at Comins Tea House for a tea masterclass. Being tea lovers we couldn’t resist it when we saw the amazing collection of loose leaf tea available. We sat down with Michelle and she talked us through a variety of teas and their origins. It was lovely to meet a fellow tea enthusiast, and one who has created a career out of it too. I really hope I can visit the Comins Tea House one day. After quenching our thirst we stopped by The Marshmallowists so I could buy one of their matcha coconut marshmallows for later, then it was off to Hutong for some tossed buckwheat noodles. I needed to cool my mouth down after enjoying their spicy and sour noodles, so we ended with a visit to Black Vanilla for some salted caramel gelato.

As a foodie I adore the idea of tons of street food vendors, small business and restaurants under one roof. However the concept of paying to enter FEAST (although my ticket was gifted) seemed a bit silly. Why would I want to pay to enter a venue where I have to spend money? The food we did try was amazing and I saw so many other dishes that I wanted to try, but my belly (and wallet) couldn’t handle it – I’d love to see cheaper bite size portions next time. There were a few stalls that were stated as attending on the website that weren’t actually there on the day, such as The Brulerie so I definitely need to track them down sometime. The vendors at FEAST were in abundance and they invited some really great companies to take part, many of whom I can’t wait to visit again. I certainly can’t pretend that I wouldn’t consider spending £10 to enter next time. Myself, and my stomach, left satisfied.

bloomzy /

Review: Collection x Little Mix All About The Eyes Palette

Collection Cosmetics x Little Mix All About The Eyes Eyeshadow Palette*

Collection are back again with another Little Mix collaboration, and this time round we’re being treated to a new eyeshadow palette. It’s great to see that this collection has evolved along with Little Mix’s personal style. Their look is a lot more mature now than it was when they first started, and this is reflected in their choice of colours for the palette. The 6 shades vary from Feather (a subtle cream) to Blackbird (an intense black), but are all centred around creating a nude/smokey eye.

Pros:
– Subtle, noticeable shades
– Applies well
– Long lasting
– Travel-friendly Packaging
– Perfect selection of shades

Cons:
– No matte shadows in the palette

Notes:
Nude palettes seem to be in abundance these days, but that hasn’t lessened my love for them. Little Mix and Collection’s offering is not much different to the others currently on sale, but the packaging alone drew me in. The travel-friendly size and flip lid make this the perfect palette for me to take away on holiday later this month. As for the shades, I love the choice of colours and even though I don’t often use black I know that I’ll definitely get plenty of use out of the others. The shades aren’t highly pigmented but I’m glad because I wouldn’t want that for my own personal use (in these colours). The lack of matte shadows in the palette did leave me a little sad, but this seems to be a regular occurrence with ‘drugstore’ brands as of late. That said, the glitter is quite subtle and is only noticeable (when worn) on the more yellow shades. I’ve been using this palette for the past few weeks (could you tell from the photos?) and I’m sold on it. At £3.19 this is the cheapest nude palette for this kind of quality. I’ll definitely be replacing it when this one runs out.

You can purchase the Collection Little Mix All About The Eyes Palette at Boots.

bloomzy /

Cocktails and Dim Sum at Ping Pong

An invitation to dine on dim sum and cocktails for an evening is something I could never turn down, hence my attendance at Ping Pong’s Summer menu event last week. I was joined by some likeminded bloggers for a cocktail masterclass at the Stratford Westfield restaurant, where we would be making our own variations on the class Mojito, whilst nibbling on some of their best dishes.

We were hosted by Ping Pong‘s own mixologist Daniele, who showed us how to make the perfect mojito, and talked us through the tips and tricks of the cocktail trade. Then suddenly we were thrown into the deep end. We were asked to compete against each other to create our own Mojitos, which we would be judged on. At this point I’d already started eating and was so overwhelmed by the tastiness of the food that I’d completely forgotten all of the measurements. Not a great start. Still I tried my best and even though I felt mine was a little weak, I was given a 7/10, which I’m pretty happy with considering it was my first ever time making a Mojito. After some more dim sum (you MUST try the chicken and cashew dumplings!) I went back for round two, and tried making a Chambord Mojito…which was too strong. This cocktail malarky isn’t as easy as it looks! Still, I happily sipped away at my creations whilst chatting to everyone, and before I knew it they were all gone!

Ping Pong has been on my list of ‘go to places’ since I moved to London, but I can never find anyone who wants to go for dim sum with me. I’m not sure if it’s because the concept of sharing food is still a little lost on some people, or just because I don’t know enough people who enjoy the dishes. Either way I’m glad I went to Ping Pong’s event with V.A (a fellow Dim Sum lover) as she was the perfect foodie companion, as always. I had a wonderful evening and the food was absolutely delicious, I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re not a fan of sharing food then Ping Pong is the best way to get out of that habit. Although the food is so good you’ll probably end up fighting each other for the last dumpling. As for the cocktails, the Lychee Rose cocktail is now a favourite of mine (and exclusive to Ping Pong) and I would go back purely for another glass…or two.

Check out Ping Pong for your closest restaurant, and don’t forget to check out their new Summer menu.

Thanks to V.A (Chopstickpanorama) for taking the photos of me.

bloomzy /

Wonderound: South Korean Designer Fashion Pop-Up in Shoreditch

It’s not everyday you find a store that encompasses your style to perfection. Yet that’s exactly how I felt when I walked into Wonderound. The store started online, stocking pieces from South Korean designers in a variety of styles. Now that concept has been realised in the form of their pop-up shop in Shoreditch, which is currently open 7 days a week, until December.

Good quality, minimalistic clothing that isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is – I like that. In fact that’s pretty much Wonderound’s concept “…we believe that simple and comfortable clothing makes the person look effortlessly beautiful.” The items for sale reflect this idea, featuring a variety of shapes, sizes, cuts and colours. I’ve always admired South Korean fashion, and Wonderound has managed to showcase some of the best current trends. Although fashion isn’t the only thing you’ll find, as lifestyle items are littered throughout the store also. The mix of complimentary lifestyle and fashion goods is a refreshing idea, and something I was all too happy to see. We all love a good pair of shoes, but sometimes you just want a nice smelling candle – at Wonderound you can buy all of these things, because they understand that fashion and style don’t end with clothing. They want to help you accessorise your life, as well as your wardrobe.


You can find Wonderound on Calvert Avenue, Shoreditch or you can shop online at Wonderound.

bloomzy /

OOTD: Playing Pretend to The Waltz

Dress* – Oasap | Shoes – Primark | Necklace – Tatty Devine | Sunglasses* – Playn | Bag: A friends

If an outfit had a soundtrack, this one would be Yann Tiersen’s whimsically beautiful compositions from the movie Amelie. ‘La Valse D’Amelie‘ came on whilst I walked through the streets of Brick Lane, and everything just seemed so in tune. The cut and colour of my dress, the way the skirt of it fell into motion with the music. The vintage/curiosity shops and cafés lining my path. Trust me when I say it was a little magical. As I neared the cafe where I would meet some friends for lunch, I wished that every day could start like this.

Later we headed to Spitalfields where my dress seemed perfectly at home with the antiques that littered the stalls. Gramophones, faded postcards and vintage jewellery called out to me. I’ve always admired vintage fashion, more specifically pre-1950s fashion. Unfortunately the modern accessories (those sunglasses, the necklace and that bag) gave me away, but it was nice to play pretend for a little bit.

Thank you to V.A (Chopstickpanorama) for taking the photos of me.

bloomzy /

Review: Glamour Beauty Edit Box July 2014

For this particular beauty box I have enlisted the help of my bestie Jemi. She recently received the ‘Glamour Beauty Edit Box July 2014’ and has written a very thorough review for it. In fact it’s so amazing that it puts mine to shame! So feel free to let her know what you thought over on her Twitter or Instagram.

Beauty boxes are a big thing right now. I’d only known of them through bloggers, but they seem to be everywhere at the moment. I’d never bought one before, and then I stumbled upon Latest In Beauty, who are currently offering two kinds of boxes: a build your own beauty box, where you can mix and match products to create a custom box of your choice, or the Glamour Beauty Edit box, a box collaborated in conjunction with Alessandra Steinherr, Beauty Director of Glamour magazine, offering 9 pre-selected beauty products to set you up for the summer ahead. After seeing one particular item listed in the Glamour Beauty Edit box, I knew which one I was going to go for…

The box as it arrived was similar in size to other beauty box brands, with the title of the box and Glamour’s logo. The presentation is simple and clean, which I like. I was impressed at the presentation when I first opened the box, given that these are batch produced, I was pleased that everything was packed in neatly, elegantly wrapped, and sealed with a kiss.

Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer in Petal Pink, (£6.00 RRP, full size product)
Okay… hands up, who actually knew Crabtree & Evelyn did nail polishes? I certainly didn’t. There was a choice of either an apple red, or petal pink, both of which I’d classify as classic, and dare I say, safe colours. I will personally be gifting this as I’ve no need for yet another nude pink so I couldn’t possibly comment on the application, but it does look a little sheer upon inspection.

Bourjois Paris Cream Blush in Rose Tender, (£7.99 RRP, full size product)
I have recently just switched over to cream blusher, and whilst I’ve used Bourjois products in the past, I can’t say I’ve used theirs. Like their eyeshadows, it comes in a make-up bag friendly size and doubles up as a compact. I have to say, I’m impressed. It has a somewhat velvety consistency which glides on beautifully. It blends superbly and has good staying power. The colour is a lovely peachy pink, which when applied has a slight sheen, and feels very light on the skin. I have a quite rosy cheeks naturally so I don’t liked to be bogged down with a heavy blusher, but this is a nice, subtle blush that can be built up for a more dramatic look, should you want to. I’ve actually discontinued using my previous cream blush in favour of this one in the mean time, but I’m not sure if I’m willing to carry on paying £7.99 for this product, as lovely as it may be. I think that will be dictated on how long the product itself lasts.

DHC – Deep Cleansing Oil, (£4.50 RRP, travel size product)
DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil make up remover boasts to completely dissolve all traces of cosmetics and makeup (including waterproof mascara), whilst nourishing your complexion, regardless of your skin type. I’ll confess I was sceptical about using this product, as I do suffer from combination skin, preferring to use cleansers with salicilyic acid in them to keep the grease at bay. However after doing some reading about this online, it’s received rave reviews, both as a cleanser and for it’s moisturising properties. I’ll keep it with the intension of using it in winter, when my skin will be more in need of a hydration fix.

Hawaiian Tropic – Satin Protection Ultra Radiance SPF 30 (High), (£5.49 RRP, full size product)
This, along with the Velvotan mitt, were the least exciting products in the Glamour box. I understand that the theme is around summer essentials, and it is a good idea to promote looking after your skin in the sun… but really? Hawaiian Tropic is a well known brand, and I hear positive things about it, but at the end of the day it’s just a sun cream, and I can get larger (despite being full size, the bottle is no bigger than a teacup), higher factor sun creams for the same price or cheaper. I would have personally preferred to have received a more unique product.

Magnifibres – Brush-On False Lashes, (£21.00 RRP, full size product)
When I skimmed the contents of this box, I originally thought that these were just false eyelashes, and was going to gift them. I have a love hate relationship with falsies, I love how they look, but I just can’t be bothered with the faffing around that comes with applying them, to have them start peeling off a few hours after application (I will hold my hands up and admit at this point that the fault probably lies with me, rather than the lashes!). I have quite naturally dark eyelashes, but they are short and stubby, and I am forever on a search for the false lash effect without actually wearing them. All you need to do is apply your mascara as you would normally, and then whilst it’s still wet, apply a layer of Magnifibres, which claims to instantly lengthen your eyelashes by up to 5mm. I am very excited to try this product, but I hope that it thickens as well as lengthens. Given it’s recommended retail price I wouldn’t see myself using this for every day occasions, but I am impressed that a full size product was included.

Toni & Guy – Volume Plumping Whip, (£7.00 RRP, full size product)
How devvo’d are you when you spend ages styling your hair, to have it fall flat before the day is done? I have very fine hair, and whilst I have lots of it, volume of any kind is absolutely out of the question. I’ve used root boosting products in the past, to find they have made absolutely no difference to my hair in the slightest. But Toni & Guy, despite being a well known and trusted hair brand, is one I’ve not tried, so again I’m looking forward to trying this. I’ve seen mixed reviews online; the positives seeming to focus on the smell (which I actually didn’t care for that much), and the negatives being that it weighs the hair down, giving a greasy appearance (the texture doesn’t feel particularly sticky though, I will add). Toni & Guy suggest applying a walnut sized amount, but this to me seems extreme on the roots so I will be trying a smaller portion.

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan BB Skin Perfector in Light, (£6.99 RRP, full size product)
This is Rimmel’s first instant tan, with ’skin perfector powers’ and 9-in-1 results: softens, smoothes, moisturises, gives an instant tan, creates a healthy looking glow, evens skin tone, covers, perfects, and lasts for up to 24 hours. It supposedly blends easily and can be easily removed with soap and water. As somebody who isn’t a fan of summer, and is a bit of a sun dodger, I am permanently pale, but I did discover fake tan this year, and I love it a little more than I probably should. It comes as a light or medium, with Glamour shipping out both shades so there was a 50/50 chance I’d be gifting this product to friends that can get away with a darker tan, but I’ve lucked out and received the light shade, so I will be using this for my own personal use. I tested out a little on my hands just to check the shade, and oh my days, it smells gorgeous, I can’t stop smelling my hands! I genuinely believe it ticks all 9 boxes. I plan on keeping this for my weekend away in Liverpool next month, which is the only time I really make an effort with my appearance when I go out (and can justify being a bronze goddess for 24 hours).

Velvotan – The Original Tanning Mitt, (£2.99 RRP, full size product)
There’s not a lot I can say about this product really. It’s a tanning mitt. We sell them where I work. I don’t plan on using this. I’ll be giving it to a friend who uses fake tan more than I do. This feels like a filler item to me, very disappointing.

Now for the product I am most excited about….
Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Naked, (£18.50 RRP, full size product)
Can I just start by saying I absolutely love Illamasqua, I could wax lyrical about them all day (don’t even get me started on their perfume, which is my signature scent) and their lipsticks are phenomenal. They don’t give up without a fight! I won’t wear any other brand of lipstick now. However, when I saw their latest collection of lipsticks were nudes, I had an ‘..oh’, moment. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good nude lipstick, however, they do not love me. Brand is absolutely irrelevant, whether it’s MAC or MUA, nudes are a no no. My lips are naturally quite darkly pigmented, and nudes are, quite frankly, out of the question. They have absolutely no staying power on me whatsoever, and if I even so much as look at food and drink, it’s off. Foundation and primer’s don’t help either (if anything they’re a hindrance), so I had resigned myself to a life without nude lipsticks. However, if anyone was going to convert me, it was going to be Illamasqua!

“The Glamore Nude lipsticks offer seven versatile shades that work well with every complexion. However if you need a little guidance, it’s very simple to find out what is the best match for you.
For those with a cooler skin tone, the right nude lipstick will have a high percentage of pink – this is normally found in nudes that include a rosy tone (Rosepout, Starkers). Those with warmer skin tones would suit a higher percentage of browns and this is found in earthy rose shades (Tease, Naked, Buff).
If you are after nudes with a kick of colour to it, nude coral colours would be the best match as you still get the balance of warm and cool tones with a slight pop of colour (Minx, Cherub)”

As great as it is that Illamasqua offer a shade selector, it is absolutely lost on me. I still struggle to find a foundation that matches my skin tone. My skin tone is quite troublesome; it’s a warm skin tone, but I have very rosy cheeks, and am prone to flushing on my face and neck. Combine that with being pale, and you have a nightmare on your hands. Sadly there is no Illamasqua counter in Norwich, meaning I only get my fix when I’m in London (and I didn’t really fancy doing the trip JUST for a lipstick) or up north, and I wasn’t prepared to blind buy one of their nudes given my bad luck in the past. Then when I saw that Glamour box were not only offering full size nudes, but that it was cheaper than the RRP. It’d be silly not to take the gamble.

Based on their shade collector, I was secretly hoping I’d get either Minx or Cherub. Okay, they’re not a true nude, but it’s okay, I wasn’t expecting to be able to ever wear a real nude anyway. C’mon, Minx or Cherub… Minx or Cherub…I got Naked. Oh. It’s the second darkest nude in the collection. Ah Crap. I swatched, I winced. I’d already mentally decided I was going to keep this lipstick. It’s Illamasqua. I love my friends, but I don’t love them enough to give them my Illamasqua products (I’m kidding! Kind of.) On the plus side, it wasn’t going to look like I’ve rubbed foundation all over my lips. But on the downside, I was possibly going to look like a 90’s throwback, and not in the good way…


Well blow me down with a feather. I actually really like it. With my discovery of instant tan came a discovery of bronzer, so I think I can just about pull off the shade. I’ve been wearing it at work for the last week and have received nothing but compliments, and does it stay in place? Of course it does, it’s Illamasqua. I apply it in the morning and it lasts all day, no problem. It doesn’t transfer when I eat or drink, and my natural lip colour doesn’t show through either. I am thoroughly impressed, and most importantly, I have discovered that I can indeed wear nudes. I’m thrilled I took the gamble, and discovered a shade I may not have dared tried had it not been chosen for me at random.

My Verdict: If you hadn’t worked it out already, I’ll admit I was bias and I did buy this box solely for the Illamasqua lipstick. Anything else was just an added bonus. However it’s only fair I look at the box overall.

Pros: Overall I’m pleased with the Glamour Beauty Edit box, there are a few products I am looking forward to trying out. I think there is a good mix of products, from hair care to make up, to skin care, and brands, from well known to the not so known.
I also can’t fault this box for value for money. LatestInBeauty bills the contents at £86.15, and at £16.95 for the whole box, including delivery, that’s an incredible saving. It’s also worth pointing out that out of the 9 items in the box, 8 of them were full size, which is a fantastic selling point and something I was very impressed with. It serves as a great introduction to beauty boxes.

Cons: I am still disappointed with a few choices. I really can’t overlook the Velvomitt in there. Is it really a summer essential? Personally, I’d have preferred to have seen a fragrance sample instead, especially if you like to switch up your perfumes depending on the season, like I do. I do think that the box does spell out summer though. Some other reviews of this box have mentioned that they received beauty offers for discount on products/brands that were featured in the box, though I didn’t get that. Hmm…

Conclusion: Would I buy a Glamour Beauty Edit box again? Absolutely, but only if the products grabbed me enough.

bloomzy /

Kawaii at Hyper Japan 2014

The kawaii life is a tough life. You constantly find yourself clasping your cheeks and screeching at the top of your lungs, all because something features a loveable mascot, or is fluffier than usual (etc etc). Yes, kawaii really is a lifestyle choice in Japan, and it’s everywhere. Whereas the term doesn’t really have a literal translation, the closest we can come to understanding it in English is: cute or adorable. The concept has become so big that recently Western cultures have picked up on the phenomenon – you’ll even find it in the Oxford dictionary. So I was pretty impressed when I saw just how well Hyper Japan embraced the idea this year. 
‘Hyper Kawaii’ was a special section of the exhibition that probably took up half of the venue. It featured a variety of British and Japanese fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, as well as live performances and activities. The rise of kawaii in London was showcased by brands such as: Tofu Cute (snacks and lifestyle goods), Dreamy Bows (clothes, plushies and accessories), Doki (Japanese tableware), Glitterbomb (jewellery), Artbox (stationary and goods), Cutesykink (clothing) and so much more. 
Fashion and beauty are big parts of the kawaii lifestyle, but I plan to feature those separately in upcoming posts as I just couldn’t fit all of the photos and content into one post. ちょっと待って下さい！