bloomzy /

Where to Eat in London: Sketch

Sketch | European | All-day Menu | Mayfair | Website
– reservations available –
Sketch is arguably as tasty on the eyes, as it is the tummy.
As soon as you walk into the exquisite hallway, you know what to expect.
The decor is eclectic and rich – Sketch and it’s various rooms were designed by artists.
A restaurant that used to house the HQ of Christian Dior wouldn’t be expected of anything else though, no?
So what was the food like?
I didn’t think the food could be any better than the decor, I find that a restaurant usually excels in one or the other.
So as we were lead to our table in The Glade, I was certain that our afternoon lunch had climaxed already. Yet Sketch surprised me. We ordered their opulent (and largest) ‘Sketch Afternoon Tea’, to celebrate my friend’s graduation – nothing is more deserving of a luxurious lunch than 3 hard years at university. It comes per person, or there is a lighter version for two – we choose the ‘lighter’ version, as the menu seemed quite intimidating. Selections of beautiful cakes, scones, sandwiches and macarons fit for Marie Antoinette, layered the cake stand. Every bite was full of delicate, yet distinct flavour, leaving us wanting more. This is certainly no ordinary Afternoon Tea.
Eating at Sketch is an experience as much as it is a delight.
Taking into consideration the decadence and price, it certainly isn’t an everyday treat though.
However if you have the chance to go, snap it up, because bookings are taken months in advance.
Sketch lived up to it’s reputation – the food and surroundings were magnificent.
I’m already trying to figure out what to celebrate next, as an excuse to visit!
bloomzy /

OOTD: Dotty for Dots

(Blouse: Oasap*, Skirt: Topshop, Necklace: Tatty Devine, Watch: Marc Jacobs)

Finally this weekend I was able to go out and enjoy myself properly.
I’ve been sick for over a week now but I’m starting to feel more like myself.
That meant I had the energy to finally take some outfit shots.
Luckily my new shirt arrived in time to do just that.

The shirt is a recent find on Oasap that isn’t something I’d usually pick.
I’ve followed Jenny’s blog for years and I love her casual, feminine, pretty style.
I guess I had that in mind when I saw this, so I decided to try out something new.
I was pretty excited for the shirt to arrive and I’m genuinely glad that I choose it now.
It’s great for the muggy weather we’re having lately, and I can pair it with so many things.
I wore it with my Topshop skater skirt this time, and threw on a whole bunch of accessories.
Thankfully it turned out casual and fun, which is what I was going for.
Don’t forget to visit Oasap and use discount code: ‘bloomzy’ for 35% off!
bloomzy /

Animal Crossing New Leaf Diary: Week 1

Screencaps from my town ‘Blomzvil’ in Animal Crossing: New Leaf

A week has now passed since I started playing the new Animal Crossing game.
As you can see I’ve been busy socialising, shopping and travelling…pretty much an average day then!
So far I’ve found the game just as fun and addictive as the first, it’s also filled with a lot more hidden extras.
New Leaf puts you in the role of Mayor, of your own town.
I named mine ‘Blomzvil’ (because ‘Bloomzyville’ was apparently too long).
Ok it may not be an original name but Blomzvil sounds quite prosperous, no?
Moving in was exciting as it meant decorating my house – an ongoing mission, that’s also fun.
Since moving in I’ve expanded my house three times, and have even commissioned a new bridge.
That probably sounds incredibly boring but I am not kidding when I say that this is a great game.
I’ve enjoyed doing all the activities, and the new island feature, which is full of Kappas – I love Kappas!
My lovely Sami was the first visitor to my town last night (I’ve visited her a couple of times already).
I’m really bad at leaving the gates open for friends to come and visit. I just keep forgetting.
I really would like to have more visitors and to visit other people’s towns.
So leave your friend code if you’re playing too!
Another great feature of the 3DS XL is that you can use it as a pedometer.
You can keep track of how many steps you’ve taken as well as earning special credits to spend in your games.
I love this little incentive as it’s a fun way to encourage people to walk more, and take their console with them.
You can purchase Animal Crossing in stores on the high street, or online here.
bloomzy /

Review: Black 15-in-1 Miracle Shampoo & Conditioner

Black 15-in-1 Twice A Week Miracle Shampoo & Conditioner
The beauty section is always a favourite of mine in TK Maxx.
So when I recently paid a visit to the new TK Maxx in St Mary’s Axe (opposite The Gherkin), I was excited to check out their beauty section. My first impressions were that it’s quite small and it didn’t really carry many brands that I was interested in…in fact I barely noticed any well-known name brands. Anyway, I still had a peak at what they had to offer and one item that caught my eye was the Black 15-in-1 Twice A Week Miracle Shampoo & Conditioner which they had in large and small bottles. I was intrigued by the claim that this shampoo/conditioner was a ‘miracle’ treatment for hair. Not only that, but the original price tag (£20 per 600ml bottle) told me that this wasn’t kiddy’s stuff. TK Maxx were selling the 600ml bottle for half price, but I still didn’t want to spend £20 on some shampoo & conditoner that I’d never even heard of, so I went for the smaller 200ml option and paid £6 for both bottles. That’s less than I’d pay usually, so I was happy.
The ingredients include:
Panthenol B5 – protects and adds shine to chemically processed hair. 
Prodew 500 Amino Acid Blend – repairs surface damage & strengthens hair, preventing moisture loss.
Sunflower Seed Extract – UV protection, heat protection & protects hair color from fading. 
Argan Oil – nourishes the hair strands and helps reduce frizz and flyaways.
– It’s also Sulphate & Paraben free –
After using it, my hair was:
+ Shiny
+ Smooth
+ Soft
+ Tangle free
What did I think?
It pretty much did everything it said on the tin…or should I say bottle.
I didn’t feel that it was a ‘miracle treatment’ but it was certainly a good shampoo.
One major downside though is that this is an American brand, and I can’t seem to find a UK stockist.
There are plenty of sellers on eBay, but they’re selling it for extortionate prices, so I would avoid that.
Sure you might be able to find some at TK Maxx but for those who want to continue using it, a lack of stockists within the UK doesn’t make this a practical option. I enjoyed my love affair with it, but I think I’ll have to say goodbye for now.
Source; 1, 2 (No original photo as TK Maxx used a massive sticker, which ripped off the labelling when I tried to take a photo, and left the bottles looking like this).
bloomzy /

Beauty: Marc Jacobs does Make-up

It’s highly likely by now that you’ve already heard this news.
Well guess what? I’m gonna tell you all over again because I want to!
I am a big big big Marc Jacobs fan…if you hadn’t already guessed by now.
The man can do no wrong in my eyes. Ok I lied, sometimes I’ll think ‘Really Marc?’ 
That doesn’t happen often though so I like to think of myself as a Marc Jacobs fangirl.

Marc Jacobs Beauty will be a line of around 120 products!
There will be foundations, powders, eyeliner, eyeshadow, lip stick, blush, nail polish and more.
Not only that but it will be featuring some products it calls unisex, such as lip balm, brow gel and concealer.
They’ve pretty much managed to pop a bit of everything into the collection. 
Well played Marc, well played.

The preview snaps of the collection look amazing so far.
This is the first beauty line I’ve been really excited about for a while.
Prices are said to be around $24 (£15) for a lip balm and $59 (£38) for a palette.
Unfortunately they seem to be going with designer prices rather than Sephora prices.
I’m not too upset though as I expected something along those lines, it is Marc Jacobs afterall.
That said, I’d gladly invest in a few pieces if the price reflects the quality, and I think it will.
The beauty line is going to be released on 9th August in Sephora in the US, with a preview on July 19.
No word right now if it will come to the UK but I’m hoping that, and it probably will, come here.

Source; 1, 2
bloomzy /

Photo Diary: OOTD Catch-up

In the last couple of weeks I’ve been having some fun with my outfits.
I was finally able to pop to my parent’s house and bring back my Summer wardrobe.
You know your country has a problem with weather when you store your seasonal clothing away.
Typically English whining aside, I loved being able to wear some dresses and show my legs off again.
I was also pretty ecstatic as I found my infamous ‘Purple Paris Trousers’ amongst my Summer clothes.
I love them to pieces but some people just don’t seem to be able to understand just how amazing they are.
So I intend to rep them on the blog as much as possible this Summer!
On the darker days I was able to shine with the help of accessories and my amazingly bright red hair.
I’ve been wearing a lot of accessories by Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tatty Devine and indie brands recently.
As gorgeous as they all are though, I don’t think anything is as good an accessory as my hair is right now.
Don’t worry I’m not becoming bigheaded, I’m just super happy (and pretty proud) of my hair for once.
Ever since I had it done at Bleach I’ve had people stopping me to tell me how much they love the colour.
It’s a silly little compliment but it boosts my confidence and makes me glad I went back to red.
You can follow me on Instagram: @bloomzy
bloomzy /

Introducing: Animal Crossing New Leaf

Animal Crossing: New Leaf for Nintendo 3DS

Earlier this week Nintendo sent me over a new 3DS XL as a gift.
Of course I was very excited, but what it came with was even more exciting.
If you haven’t already guessed, it was the Animal Crossing: New Leaf game!
The original Animal Crossing came out over 12 years ago – can you believe it?!
I had the first game and loved it to pieces so I was very happy to receive this.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is nothing new to avid gamers, or those living in Japan.
However the game was not released in America, Europe and Australia until this month!
The new game goes along similar lines as the first, but with lots of extras and new gameplay.
So what does Nintendo have to say about it? 
“As mayor of your own town, you make the decisions that shape your town and your life. Experience a living, breathing world where new friends and new discoveries await every day. Express yourself by customizing your character, your house, and your town as you create your own ideal world (loaded with characters, items, and activities). Customise outfits in countless ways. Furnish your house with an extensive variety of furniture, carpet, and wall decorations to reflect your personality. Visit the Main Street Shopping area and Happy Home showcase. Swim in the ocean to find rare shell fish. Collect insects and fossils all year long. As mayor, make the big decisions about what build, business hours for shops, and other new ways to customize your town to your liking. Then connect with friends to show off what makes your character, your house, and your town unique.”

Recently I’ve been wanting to take on new territories on the blog.
Therefore I will be writing a few posts on my progress with the game, and possibly posting videos.
I was really happy with the response that my last game post received, so I’m hoping that you will all enjoy these too.
Please feel free to leave your friend codes if you would like me to come visit you!
You can purchase Animal Crossing in stores on the high street, or online here.