bloomzy /

Photo Diary: The London Coffee Festival

On Saturday I headed to the London Coffee Festival with Nuffnang. That probably sounds a bit odd as I don’t drink caffeinated drinks, right? Well I wanted to find out what other options were available, such as decafe etc. However the rest of the Nuffnang crew had avoided coffee all morning in preparation. Luckily for me I wasn’t let down and there was much more than just coffee on show. There was art, food, music and even fashion stalls on display.

I headed round with some of the girls to get all the info on the exhibitors. Amongst the various brands there were more than a few that stood out for me: One Water, Sprinkled Magic Cupcakes, Impossible iPhone Printer, Novus Tea, Nut Shot Peanut Butter, Joco Reusable Cups, and Evoni Design.

Yes, I do feel bad that I headed to the coffee festival and couldn’t fully enjoy the coffee. However I did catch some amazing smells, and I even had a cheeky little latte at one point. It was a day of laughs, learning and discovery, and I would definitely recommend it.

You can find out more at The London Coffee Festival.

bloomzy /

The Secret of Avène Eau Thermale

On Thursday I was invited to breakfast with my favourite skincare brand – Avène.
They had cryptically told me that I would be finding out the secret behind their products.
As the brand has made such an impact on my skincare routine I couldn’t wait to find out.
Amongst the gorgeous bouquets of flowers and delicious food were some new products.
Avène is now releasing their ‘XeraCalm A.D’ range, which is aimed at those with eczema.
As someone who suffers from eczema from time to time, this came as a delightful surprise.
But wait, didn’t I mention a special little secret? Well luckily for you I’m going to share it.
So what is the secret of Avène?
The lovely representative told us that it is all down to nature. A long time ago, the founder of Avène found a spring that had special healing properties. The locals also knew about it and used it to bathe in and to help ease their skin conditions. It sounds as though it could be something from a fairytale, right? At least that’s how I imagined it. 
Now, do you remember your geography children? Then you might recall how springs come about. Rain falls down into the soil and makes a magnificent journey through the earth before creating a spring. It is this process that allows Avène to gather their eau thermale, as it rises from a hot spring under the earth. The water in this spring takes all the minerals and a unique microflora ‘dolomiae’ from the earth and soil. This process takes over 50 years, so the eau thermale in all your Avène products really is special. It is a science that the Avène team have been working on, and perfecting, for many years. Luckily for us they are now sharing their secret, so we can all benefit!
So it’s no wonder why Avène’s products are soothing, anti-free radical and anti-irritating. It’s amazing to think that a spring discovered in 1736 is still helping us, and our skin woes today. Avène have put a lot of research, thought and care into their products and I love that about them. I also think it’s wonderful that the eau thermale in their products comes from a natural spring. How many people can say they use the water from a thermal spring in their skincare routine? Their products aren’t only for those with eczema or sensitive-skin, anyone can use them. If you want to be converted, like I was, then you need to try out Avène. 
You can purchase Avène’s new range from selected Boots stores, from April 2014.
bloomzy /

Video & Photo Diary: Look Again SS14 Press Day

A few weeks ago I headed to the Look Again SS14 Press Day. I apologise for the tardiness of this post, but I was waiting on a video. Yes, that rather slick, classy video at the top was well worth waiting for. It features some of my favourite picks from the current SS14 collection. I also talk about the lovely Stacey Solomon, the new face of Look Again.
No, I didn’t spend my entire day giggling obnoxiously to a camera crew. I also met up with Lorna of Studs & Dreams, and Georgina of Georgina Does. Both are lovely ladies and the perfect company for any kind of blogger event. We caught up over champagne as we checked out the stunning items on show. The collection was put together perfectly and the pieces chosen very well. My personal favourite out of everything had to be the Lipsy Floral Chiffon Dress. It certainly wasn’t easy to choose though, surrounded by so many gorgeous items. We also chatted to Stacey Solomon about the collection, and yummy canapés. She was so sweet, and I loved that she changed into her favourite outfit later on.
If you fancy checking out some of the lovely items in this post you can find them on Look Again.
bloomzy /

HAUL: Voucher Codes Blogger Swap Shop ’14

So this is a rather odd haul post, as I didn’t actually pay for any of this stuff. 
Wait! What? How? Yep, these are the beauties I picked up at the swap shop I went to. I kind of just grabbed everything that looked nice and was in a size I thought might fit. Well I was lucky because these items are gorgeous and I’m so happy with my mini haul.
What did I get? I managed to grab two dresses, a pair of trousers, a t-shirt, a shirt and a hat. Although I’m not bothered whether something is branded, it’s nice to know what you’re getting. This little collection of items are from ASOS, Topshop, H&M, Dorothy Perkins and River Island. Those are all tried and tested brands that I know and love, and have bought stuff from in the past. I’ve already worn the ASOS smock dress and H&M hat, because I couldn’t wait!
I’m so happy with everything I swapped at the event, it was such a great idea! I’m really interested to know if anyone got any of my items and is now workin’ them. If you happen to read my post and did attend the event, link me to your haul post!
The items that didn’t get picked up at the end of the night were donated to charity.
bloomzy /

Event: Voucher Codes Blogger Swap Shop ’14

Monday evening I headed off with my friend Anna to the Voucher Codes Swap Shop. I couldn’t make it last year, so I was really excited to swap some unused clothes and meet people. The concept behind the swap shop is that you bring up to 5 items of clothing or accessories with you. You then get stamps, which you in turn use to purchase items that others have brought to the event. I brought 5 items and got 11 stamps, and picked up 5 items too…only to be left with more stamps! The stamp system was great and it meant that anyone could pick up a great piece for next to nothing.
Of course that wasn’t all there was at the event, oh no! There were activities and food also. Food was supplied by Mother Clucker (yes I know, that’s an awesome name) and was delicious. There were also cupcakes, pick and mix, and cocktails to nibble and slurp on whilst we mingled. A few lovely ladies from Pinned It! Made It! were there to help us DIY our own pair of tights. Of course I had to make a pair for myself, which I can’t wait to show you in an upcoming post. The amazing Twistina was also there to make us balloon creations, and leave us in awe of her skills. She made me a floral head crown, and Anna a moose – well, she is Norwegian after all.
Apart from swapping items, and having a lovely time, I met some great people! I discovered a lot of new blogs and chatted with some lovely ladies at the event. Connecting with likeminded people is one of the great joys of blogger events. Thanks so much for hosting a wonderful event Voucher Codes!
bloomzy /

Press Event: Collection Spring Summer ’14 Range


Yesterday I woke up bright and early for a very colourful breakfast with Collection.
I was excited to hear all about their Spring/Summer 2014 collections, and to check them out.
Amongst the adorable mini eggs florentine, and the delightful macarons was something even more wonderful.

The new Collection range for Spring/Summer 14 features a whole new range of products.
The most inciting for me is the new range of 24 nail polish shades that will hit stores soon.
With neons, pastels and colours ranging from sea green to nude, there’s a colour for most tastes.
I was really impressed with the selection of shades and the colours they had chosen to work with.
There are some great fun, basic shades but there are also a few gorgeous hard-to-find shades included.
It’s always good to see on-trend colours, but I like unique shades too, and Collection have delivered.
The Lasting Perfection range was also on show, and I got to find my foundation match – not easy!
I have used the concealer and powders before, so I have a lot of faith in this particular range.
The new Bronzer range, will leave you looking super sun kissed, even if we don’t see the sun.
The stand-out product for me though is the soon to be released Work The Colour Eyebrow Kit.
The set includes 3 eyebrow shadows, a combo angled/blending brush and a clear eyebrow mascara.
The possibilities are endless with this little kit and the demo held by Francesca Neill sealed the deal.

These are products to keep an eye out for, and I know I can’t wait to try them all!
The Lasting Perfection range is in-stores now, as are the Work The Colour Eyeshadow palettes.
The Work The Colour Eyebrow Kit, nail polishes and bronzers will be available from March/April.

You can find Collection products in Superdrug and Boots.