lifestyle Archives - Page 19 of 54

bloomzy / March 18, 2016

2 Lovely Gays x Secret Linen Store Collection

2 Lovely Gays Collaboration with Secret Linen Store

I love when I get an invitation to a press event that’s a little out of the ordinary. A slumber party…in an interior designers house? Where do I sign up?! Ok so the “slumber party” was more of a concept, than an actual sleep over. I knew that. I totally didn’t re-read the email 3 times and remove my silky pyjamas from my bag…

In all honesty though, I was pretty excited to be invited to the release of 2 Lovely Gays (2LG for short) new bed linen collection, in collaboration with the Secret Linen Store. The fact that the event was at their house was even cooler. I’ve always loved diving into magazines and seeing what interior designers homes look like. I mean if someone is gonna get it right, it’s gonna be them, yeah? Well I was right, because as soon as I stepped into the 2LG’s home, I was in awe of the sheer style that played out in front of me. Everything was effortlessly arranged, and there was a flow that moved throughout the house, linking each room to the other. Basically I wanted to move in straight away!

But what about the 2 Lovely Gays x Secret Linen Store Collection?

There are 3 sets in the collection:

All of the sets look gorgeous and feel lovely – these would be so wonderful to cuddle up in on a cold Sunday morning. Each set has a story behind the design, which makes them feel that little bit more special. My personal favourite story was about a sweet old lady called Mary – who used to live in 2LG’s house – and is now the namesake for one of the sets. It makes the sets feel like you own something personal, and unique. A nice touch.

However stories aside, the Moon Bed Set is my favourite by far. It’s everything I look for in a duvet set: a high thread count (260), quality cotton (50% Egyptian), affordability, and a contemporary-minimalist design. I plan to buy the set when I get back from my travels next month, because I just can’t stop thinking about it.

You can check out the full collection online, at Secret Linen Store.

bloomzy / March 11, 2016

I’m in Japan! | Japan Travel Diary

Yes, by the time this post goes live, I will be in Japan.

I have some posts lined up for you whilst I’m away, however I won’t be ~~live~~ blogging from Japan. I will however be keeping you all up to date on what I’m doing via my social media accounts. I’ll be posting photos, videos and sneak peeks! I’m even been asking people what kind of things they’d like to see during my travels, so hop on over to my Twitter and let me know yourself.

So if you fancy an insight into Japan, come follow me around Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and more…

Follow my Japan travel diaries on:

Instagram: @bloomzy
Twitter: @bloomzy_
Facebook: Bloomzy
Snapchat: emma.self

Don’t worry, I will be doing plenty of Japan travel posts when I’m back. In the meantime keep an eye out for new blog posts, and come say hi on social media!

Photos in this post are my own, from previous trips to Japan.
Check out my old post from living and travelling in Japan.

bloomzy / March 7, 2016

Where to Eat in London: Nosteagia

Nosteagia | Bubble Waffles & Bubble Tea | Nearest Tube: Shoreditch High Street

Every now and again I will complain about the lack of Taiwanese food in London. For some reason it’s a real rarity. So when I do find it, I hold onto it. Previously I’d found the delicious lunchbox offerings of Bian Dang, but a part of me was craving for something sweeter. Luckily, I happened upon Nosteagia whilst browsing Instagram one day. I noticed that they were located close to my office, at Pump on Shoreditch High Street, so I rushed down for one of their bubble waffles. Yes you heard me correctly, Taiwanese bubble waffles!

The Sweet…

On my first visit to Nosteagia I tried the King Chocolate Bubble Waffle; a mixture of M&Ms, Nutella, chocolate sauce and cream. It was delicious, and gave me a much needed sugar boost after a long morning. Since then I have tried waffles overflowing with coco pops, ones with matcha ice cream, peanut butter…even one with half a Snickers bar sticking out of it! These sweet treats are as delectable as they are Instagramable.

And The Savoury…

Believe it or not, Nosteagia offer savoury dishes as well. In fact when I popped by on my first visit I brought a friend, who ordered the Gyudon (Japanese dish of rice and seasoned beef). It was so authentic and delicious, that he comes back with me every time, and he always orders the Gyudon. In fact quite a few of my work buddies sing the praises of Nosteagia’s savoury dishes.

Final thoughts on : Nosteagia

Nosteagia may be offering up Instagram worthy foodporn for the people of East London, but there’s more to this street food vendor than meets the eye. It is run by two of the loveliest people I’ve met in the London street food scene – two students who wanted to bring Taiwanese Bubble Tea to London. The ingredients used are fresh, and the food is made on the spot. The introduction of a weekly special has also been a real treat. I always look forward to seeing what they will come up with next. In my opinion, the savoury dishes are just as worthy of your lunch money as the waffles. However if I had to give one tip, it would be to come here for a savoury lunch…and stop by later for dessert!

Read more in my Where to Eat in London series.

bloomzy / February 3, 2016

Where to Eat in London: Wa Cafe

Wa Cafe | Japanese Patisserie | Nearest Tube: Ealing Broadway

Some may say that France has the best patisseries in the world, however I would have to disagree. Japan has learnt from it’s European counterparts and created something altogether unique – fusing traditional ingredients with modern techniques. I’m sure you won’t find it odd when I say I miss Japanese food. However you may be surprised that a lover of savoury items such as myself, misses Japanese pastries. I can’t begin to explain how delicious and light they are. It’s something sweet and savoury fans alike should experience at least once in their life. So when I heard that Wa Cafe (an authentic Japanese patisserie) had opened in Ealing Broadway, I knew I had to try it. Skip ahead almost a year, and I was back again for my birthday weekend.

The Savoury…

The first time I visited Wa Cafe they had run out of sandwiches, so I knew I had to grab one this visit. Two soft, chunky slices of bread encompass the Chicken Katsu Sandwich. Inside, the breaded chicken is accompanied by lettuce and a delicious salad dressing. This is one gigantic sandwich; perfect for sharing. However a dish this delicious may leave you wanting a whole one for yourself.

And The Sweet…

The savoury dishes here may be wonderful, but I know you’re all wondering how the cakes are! This visit I had the Strawberry Shortcake, and I was not disappointed. Japan’s Strawberry Shortcake is very different to the UK kind. A light sponge is layered with cream and strawberries. It’s very popular as a birthday cake in Japan, so it seemed fitting for this particular visit. Wa Cafe’s is just as light and airy as those I ate in Japan. The cream is sweet, but not sickeningly so. And even as someone who dislikes strawberries (yes, I’m weird), I enjoyed this cake immensely.

Final thoughts on : Wa Cafe

Wa Cafe is well worth the journey (around an hour from my East London dwellings), and well worth the wait. The cakes are as delectable as they are aesthetically pleasing. I spent around £17 on this particular visit, and I don’t regret spending a penny of it. Previously I tried the Matcha Swiss Roll, Curry Pan and the Melon Pan – all of which I would have again…once I’ve worked my way through the rest of the dishes. Of course. I could easily have breakfast, lunch and dinner here. In fact I’m not even upset that visiting means becoming more acquainted with my gym membership.

Read more in my Where to Eat in London series.

bloomzy / January 25, 2016

Conscious Living, with Love from Berlin

Today I’d like to talk a little bit about lifestyle, conscious living and friendship. I’ve been reading my friend Rae’s blog (Love from Berlin) for several years, in fact it’s how we became friends in the first place. Last year we finally met in Berlin, and the most amazing thing happened. We sat and talked for hours on topics ranging from fashion, to travel, culture and feminism. Even though we had spoken on social media in the past, it was still wonderful to know that our views were so similar. She has such a positive outlook on life. So when she re-branded her blog late last year, it made a lot of sense that the theme was ‘conscious lifestyle and creation’:

“A conscious lifestyle is all about being aware and present while making decisions and choices about how we live our lives and treat ourselves, others, and the world around us. This concept is the backbone of everything that you will find here on LFB.”

Conscious Living…

LFB’s re-brand came with several new features, one being the Conscious Living Interview series. And guess who Rae asked to help kick off the series? Me! Of course I was delighted, and accepted straight away. The interview tackles questions on topics such as empathy, social media, blogging and of course, conscious living. Here’s a little sneak peak at one of my answers:

In the blogging world, many bloggers feel the pressure to stay on top of trends, purchase new things for reviews, accept gifts etc. How do you balance the mass consumption and product selling side of blogging with living consciously?

“It certainly isn’t easy, and I’ll be the first to admit that I succumbed to the pressure when I first started blogging. I found myself buying excessive amounts of beauty products “for the blog”, and writing about everything and anything, just to keep up with people and “the trends”. Pretty soon I realised that this wasn’t any way to continue. I try to live consciously, and I think my recent lifestyle change has really helped with this. Finding my own blog voice, and feeling confident in myself are big contributing factors.”

You can find out my feelings on all of these and more, at Love from Berlin.

bloomzy / January 6, 2016

New Year, New You…?

I’ve always found the concept of “new year, new you” interesting. In some ways it’s quite a grand, romantic gesture. The idea that you will become a better person and achieve all of your goals; like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. On the other hand it’s really rather silly to think that you can change as a person at the wave of a hand. I’m forever stuck on the fence, fighting my inner optimist and pessimist.

So for me it’s a mixture of both. I don’t intend to create a “new me” or anything like that. But I do like the idea of resolutions, as you may have noticed. So instead I like to make realistic resolutions. This year, much like last, the new year had me thinking about my blog. It’s such a big part of my life. I’ve had some amazing experiences, and made some truly wonderful friends thanks to it. Therefore it seems only natural that I should want to concentrate on this part of my life.

So what are my plans for Bloomzy in 2016?

Well I had a good long think (you may have seen me tweeting my thoughts), and I have come to a conclusion. This year I plan to only post quality photography and written content on the blog – no “posting for the sake of it”. Generally I am pretty good at this. However sometimes I do feel pressured to get posts out quicker etc, and it bugs me. This may all sound silly, and honestly I’m my own worst enemy. I’m quite a perfectionist when it comes to photography/my blog. So this kind of resolution will help inspire me to better myself and my skills. At the same time it will remind me that I write this blog for fun, and I shouldn’t worry so much about it.

I’d like to say a big thank you to all of my readers, the brands I work with, and the friends and family who continue to support me. You all drive me to do my best, and without you, I don’t think this blog would be what it is today.

bloomzy / January 2, 2016

A Travel Resolution for 2016

Travel Highlights from 2015

Part of the reason I’m so excited about the New Year finally being here, is thanks to some pretty awesome moments in 2015. Last year I made a resolution to visit as many new countries (ones I had never been to before) as possible. Well I don’t think I did too bad; I visited Germany, The Netherlands and Italy. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had, and it has spurred me on to work even harder in 2016.

I will be returning to Japan in March. It’s been almost five years since I was there last, so naturally I am already planning all of the things I want to see/do. Of course I intend to reunite with all of my friends. I also hope to eat ALL of the delicious food, and take plenty of photos. My inner photography geek is pretty excited about this, because when I was living in Tokyo I only took snapshots on my mobile phone/digital camera. Oh hey there, my name is: the annoying tourist in the corner with the DSLR.

I’d also like to take more long weekends away from London, and discover more European countries I’ve yet to visit. On my travel wish list this year? Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. I wonder if I can best 2015 and manage to do those alongside Japan… I’ll certainly try my best.

You can check out my 2015 travel posts here.
Send me your travel recommendations in the comments below.