bloomzy /

Tatty Devine Lucky Dip Box & Sample Sale

Did you really think I could resist the lure of the Tatty Devine lucky dip boxes? Well I managed to resist the sunglasses box and only buy one small one this year. I never seem to have much luck with lucky dip boxes so I decided not to go overboard. I think I got some good items in my box this time round, but not all are for me really. Even though I love all of the items they’re not really pieces I would get much wear from. I have put the necklace on the Tatty Devine Swap Shop and the rest is on eBay. If you’re interested in Tatty Devine you can find all my sales here on eBay.
The Tatty Devine Sample Sale takes place Saturday 3rd May in their Brick Lane store.
Doors are open from 11am-6pm – I’d suggest getting there about an hour before to join the queue!
bloomzy /

Review: Viktor & Rolf Bonbon Perfume

Viktor & Rolf Bonbon Perfume*

This is a different kind of review for me. I’ve not reviewed a perfume before, purely for how difficult it is. All perfumes smell different to each individual, but I thought I’d do my best. I really love this perfume so I wanted to share it with you all too. So here’s a short and sweet review of the fragrance. Viktor & Rolf are back again with another effortlessly enchanting fragrance.  At first glance the playfully pink box looks like it’s hiding something sweet, however what it actually hides is an elegantly gorgeous bottle. Bonbon is a subtly sweet scent with hints of caramel, mandarin and peach. For me it is reminiscent of sunny Spring afternoons spent cavorting around London cafes, browsing the endless selection of delicious cakes on offer. This is perfectly suited to those who enjoy a young, fun perfume. I also had a little fun and made a video about what the perfume feels like to me. It features me messing around in the park, with lots of blossoms and baby ducks. Yep, it is as random as it sounds. You can check it out on my Youtube channel.

Viktor & Rolf’s Bonbon retails at around £50-£94, depending on size.
You can purchase it at Debenhams and The Perfume Shop.

bloomzy /

Where to Eat in London: Fingers Crossed

Fingers Crossed | Cafe | Stoke Newington | Website
– reservations not available –

Fingers Crossed is a local cafe I came across in my London Coffee Guide. I don’t drink coffee but I know my stuff, thanks to an overly enthusiastic sibling. So when I read that they also offered amazing food, I knew I had to check them out. I headed there around midday on bank holiday Monday, with my fiancé.

Fingers Crossed is in a rather unexpected location. However thanks to the cleverly designed logo on the front window you’re unable to miss this hidden gem. Inside is a very basic rustic chic setting, with one long communal table and several single tables. I don’t mind the idea of communal tables so we sat down, next to the cakes. Of course. It was busy, with most of the tables being taken up by talkative groups, all who had ordered food. Originally we only went in for cake, but after seeing the food come out my fiance just couldn’t resist. I choose the brownie with a cheesecake topping, and he went for the tomatoes and eggs, with Sicilian sardines. Presentation wise, the food was similar to the cafe – providing a quality product that doesn’t need dressing up. The brownie was superb, and is the best invention to happen to cakes since…ever! The baked cheesecake topping added a texture and taste to the egg-less chocolate brownie that I just haven’t come across before. I was tempted to bring back a bag full, but managed to resist. The fiancé said his brunch option was delicious, and he loved that he could taste everything in the dish that had been mentioned on the menu. According to him it was the tangy sweet tomatoes that brought the whole dish together though. I asked him if he would eat it again. His answer? “Definitely”, and he wanted to try the other similar dishes too.

The barista came over to us after we’d eaten and asked us if we wanted to “…try something different”. Of course we said yes, and soon enough two espresso glasses were placed in front of us. “It’s iced coffee” he told us. He spoke about it with such enthusiasm that we weren’t surprised when we tasted how good it was. It was incredibly fruity and refreshing. I only had a few mouthfuls as I can’t drink coffee really, but I enjoyed it immensely. He told us it isn’t really popular in the coffee world yet, but if everyone was to try the one he gave us I know they’d be won over. After we had finished our iced coffee (I gave the rest of mine to the fiancé), we went up to pay. They don’t take cards here, so you will need to bring cash. Don’t worry, you won’t need to bring much though, as we were pleasantly surprised to see that it was pretty cheap.

I noticed that there were freshly cut flowers scattered around the cafe, which I always love. However it was the service that really made me smile. There were only 3 people working in the cafe: the hostess, barista and chef. All 3 of them were delightful and chatty, whilst making sure everyone had everything they needed. I will definitely be going back to Fingers Crossed, and I will be bringing everyone I know with me!

You can read more of my restaurant reviews on Zomato.

bloomzy /

Review: Playboy Lipstick in Playmate

Playboy Makeup Lipstick in Playmate*
Playboy would not be the first brand to pop into my mind when I think of make-up. However they recently challenged that idea and have released their own cosmetic line. The capsule collection consists of lipstick, bronzer, nail polish, liquid liner and more. I reviewed their liquid liner, and now I’m reviewing their lipstick.
Swatched on hand in natural light, and on lips in artificial light.
Pros:
+ Highly pigmented
+ Creamy texture
+ Applies easily

Cons:
– Slight transfer when eating/drinking
– Shade isn’t suited to my skin tone
– Scent doesn’t appeal to me

Notes:
I was pretty excited by this shade when I first saw it – it looked like an affordable dupe for Lime Crime’s Great Pink Planet lipstick. After swatching it, I was convinced. The lipstick is highly pigmented and has a creamy texture that makes it easy to apply, and it isn’t drying. I was very impressed with the pigmentation on this as so many lipsticks get it wrong. So for a new brand to bring out something like this, it’s impressive. Unfortunately after applying it I realised the shade isn’t suited to my pale skin tone, which is a shame. I still really love this colour though. It does transfer when eating/drinking, but not as much as some lipsticks I’ve worn. It’s still annoying, but at least you won’t be left completely bare lipped afterwards. As for the scent, I can’t quite pin it down as it’s quite generic, but I dislike my lipsticks having a scent so it doesn’t really matter anyway – it’s nothing personal against this brand. I’m on the fence about this lipstick as I love the pigmentation, the texture and I can appreciate the shade, however I wouldn’t purchase it as it just doesn’t suit me. These lipsticks rrp at £7.95 which isn’t too bad, and I would be tempted to buy another shade, however there is currently a sale on at Direct Cosmetics, and the lipsticks are now only £3.95 – bargain!
You can purchase Playboy Lipstick in Playmate at Direct Cosmetics.
bloomzy /

OOTD: Hear Me Roar!

Top – Sugar & Style | Trousers – Uniqlo | Shoes – New Look | Bag* – Heritage & Harlequin

Yesterday saw the sun rear it’s head again, and shine down on us. It was the perfect chance to take a long walk around Stoke Newington. So I quickly threw something light and casual on, and grabbed some cute accessories. No one wants to be wearing layers of clothes when they go walking. Yet I still wanted to look bright and colourful.
You may have guessed the point, and main focus of this outfit. Yes, my new bag from Disaster Designs was calling to be taken out. I love yellow, tiger print, and I love clutches that can be turned into shoulder bags. So as you may have guessed, I can’t get enough of this little beauty. It’s pretty awesome. I matched the yellow of the bag with the neon flecks in my top from Sugar & Style. When paired with my Uniqlo jean trouser leggings, it’s an easy Spring look. I did realise though that I need some light coloured comfortable shoes. 99% of my shoes are black, so I only have myself to blame. I think white sneakers would have perfected this.
Unfortunately I forgot where I bought the headband from.
I bought it last year at the Spirit of Summer fair, and I can’t remember who from, sorry!
bloomzy /

Review: Organix OGX Tea Tree & Peppermint Shampoo & Conditioner

Every time my hair needed a sleek pick-me-up I’d head to Organix. Their Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner would leave my hair shiny and smooth. Well now they’ve changed their name from Organix to OGX, without changing their products. I tested out their Tea Tree Mint Shampoo & Conditioner to see just how good they are.
Pros:
+ Smells lovely
+ Nourishing
+ Left my hair moisturised
+ Gentle on hair
 
Cons:
– Jelly texture to shampoo
– Doesn’t lather easily
 
Notes:
I haven’t reviewed too many shampoos and conditioners on the blog, mainly because I stick to my tried and tested favourites. However over the last few months I’ve been eager to try new brands and switch between them, so OGX came along at the right time. I’m not a fan of tea tree oil so I was happy when I opened these and was greeted by a delicious peppermint scent. The jelly-like texture of the shampoo is a bit odd, and it also made it slightly harder to lather, but this didn’t bother me too much. Of course with shampoo and conditioner it’s all about the outcome. Luckily for me the outcome was good. My hair didn’t feel dry like it can so often do after I’ve washed it. It felt nourished and hydrated. These don’t help get rid of frizzy hair like the Argan Oil, but then they never claimed to. After styling my hair it felt even better and my hair stayed like that for a couple of days. As a fan of Organix, I can say that just because they’ve changed their name it doesn’t mean they’ve lost any of the quality in their products. They have such a great variety of products in their hair care range, and I’d love to try more. For £6.99 these aren’t cheap but they’re worth the money!
You can buy OGX’s Tea Tree & Peppermint Shampoo & Conditioner at Boots.
You can also find some of the other varieties at Superdrug.
bloomzy /

Introducing: Playn Eyewear @ Boxpark

Playn eyewear are back at Boxpark, and I went along to check them out. Now before I get too far ahead of myself, I should probably introduce the brand. Playn Eyewear is a German company founded by the designer Denis Beyer. They design and sell their own unique sunglasses and glasses frames. They first came to Boxpark in Shoreditch in 2013, and now they’re back!

When I visited with V.A to check out their frames, I was impressed with their clean-cut feel. The whole store felt very serene, and cool – the perfect place to pick out a pair of sunnies. Now I just got a new pair of glasses and sunglasses, however I was still keen to try everything on. I know, I’m terrible, but the range of frames on offer are just too tempting. I fell head over heels with the Miami Vice – Sarah frames (pink gradient) as soon as I put them on. You can see me wearing them above, and I like to think they suit me pretty well. It’s the amazingly subtle rose tint on the lenses that drew me in though. It makes everything look so romantic and fun! These are the perfect instagram filter…for life. I can definitely see myself wearing these whilst lounging in London Fields with friends, or browsing Brick Lane’s street food stalls. Of course you can wear them outside of East London, if you fancy.

Spring has brought out the sunshine so there’s no better time than now to grab a pair of sunglasses. Or maybe you feel your prescription specs are looking a bit dull, and you could do with an update?

Head over to Playn to browse their frames and see if something catches your eye!