lifestyle Archives - Page 23 of 54

bloomzy / July 22, 2015

Music to My Ears… Sudio Sweden Klang Earphones

Once upon a time, somebody told me that they didn’t like music. I couldn’t believe it. How could someone not enjoy music? From as far back as I can recall, I remember music being a big part of my life. Whether that was singing along with my dad to 70s American rock, or dancing to the latest Backstreet Boys song with my friends. It’s amazing how music can unite people. However as I grew older music became more of a personal thing. I realised my tastes weren’t always going to match that of others, so more and more I found myself listening to it alone.

Fast forward to present day, and this actually works out for the best in my office. On one side of me I have a colleague who loves house/dance (probably the only music I genuinely don’t like), and the other side a lover of 60s-influenced rock (I can take it or leave it). Clearly these are people who don’t want to listen to my eclectic taste in music either. Therefore earphones have become a must for me. However the struggle to find decent earphones has been rather difficult. It would seem that in the world of music, style does not always equal substance. That was until Sudio came in to my life.

Sudio is a Swedish brand of earphones that focus simultaneously on design and sound. The earphones themselves come in several colours – I love the white and gold – with a matching leather pouch. The full-feature 3-buttons give you the ability to switch songs and change volume easily (as well as answering calls). Admittedly I had to get used to the in-ear style of earphones, but it’s growing on me. I’ve also realised that it means better sound quality, and less chance of my music bleeding out. This was made even better by the inclusion of several different sizes of earphone sleeves. Usually these are too big for my ears, however Sudio’s small ones fit perfectly. All of these add up to create a better listening experience…and I get to look good, whilst I bop along in my office chair to my latest K-pop playlist.

Like what you see? You can purchase the Sudio Klang Earphones at Sudio Earphones.
Use code: Bloomzy15 for 15% off your order!

bloomzy / July 15, 2015

A London Life… at The Canary Wharf Sky Garden

The Canary Wharf Sky Garden | Crossrail Place | Nearest Tube: Canary Wharf

Finding tranquility in London is a lot easier than some might think. Although I’m sure most of you would scoff at me if I said you could find it smack bang in the middle of Canary Wharf. An area known for it’s skyscrapers is the last place you’d expect to find a bounty of greenery. However a few weeks ago I made it my mission to find this hidden gem.

With V.A in tow, we battled the crowds of shoppers and made it out to the new Crossrail Place complex. It was eerily quiet outside amongst the skyscrapers, and I half thought we’d taken the wrong exit. However we soon realised we were in the right place, and so we crossed the bridge and rode the escalators to the heavens. Heavens is maybe a slight exaggeration here as the sky garden isn’t particularly high, although it does offer a lovely view over London. However what I enjoyed most was how serene the garden was. Everything has been carefully landscaped, and laid out alongside spacious paths. As we weaved in and out of the tropical plants, it was easy to forget that we were still in London.

Unfortunately the garden doesn’t go on forever, but there’s plenty to see (and Instagram). The variety of plants on display is amazing, and the contemporary architecture is astonishing – just look at that roof! I’m a big architecture/plant geek and I have to say, this is now one of my favourite spots in London. I could easily find myself relaxing here for the afternoon with a book, or sharing a coffee with some friends.

View more of the ‘A London Life…’ series

bloomzy / July 13, 2015

Introducing… EarlyBird Healthy Snacks

EarlyBird Healthy Snacks

We all know I have a penchant for subscription boxes, be them beauty or lifestyle. Healthy snack boxes are no different. The anticipation of receiving a variety of different snacks every week is just too much for me to pass up on. I’ve tried that well known snack box before, but became bored of it quickly. It also wasn’t too economical for me. However recently I heard about a new box on the block – EarlyBird.

What’s it all about?
EarlyBird “deliver you 5 healthy tasty snacks and some delicious tea to help you through the working week. Keeping those 3pm craves at bay!” EarlyBird isn’t only about the food though. There is a lifestyle/design aspect to the boxes as well. You’ll find a different artist illustrating the box every month, and a different featured musician every other week (the music track is free to download via a code inside the box). All-in-all EB is quite different to the other snack subscription boxes out there.

Thoughts?
I’m a savoury gal, so for me there were just too many sweet snacks in this box. The menu features a lot of savoury options though, so I think I will stick around and see what I get next time. Right now there are no customisation options, but it is coming soon! In my opinion the art and music aspect of the box is an added bonus. This is no longer a regular snack box, it’s a lifestyle box. Price wise, £4.50 for one box a week – suggested by EarlyBird – is not bad at all. Of course if you’re like me you’ll probably get too excited and eat everything within a couple of days. Fear not though, you can order more than one box at a time. All boxes arrive on a Monday morning, so it’s worth having them delivered to your office. Maybe you can even create a little stockpile on your desk. I’m a serial snack hoarder, so it’s certainly something I would consider.

Fancy trying it for yourself? Visit EarlyBird and use code: emma-0548 – to get your first box free!

bloomzy / July 10, 2015

Where to Eat in London: BIRD

BIRD | Fried Chicken | Hackney | Website
– reservations available –

Fried chicken is my guilty pleasure. In fact it’s one of the few things I think I could eat everyday…without growing sick of it. Even though it’s relatively common in the UK, it can be difficult to find good fried chicken. BIRD isn’t exactly the new kid on the block. But in the short time it has been open, it has made a pretty good name for itself. I’ve been a few times myself, what with the restaurant being only a 10min walk from my office. So when BIRD invited me back to try their new lunch menu of course I said yes.

I had been drooling over some of the new additions to the menu, such as the Korean Burger (fried chicken, gochujang glaze and kimchi slaw) and the Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich (freshly baked buttermilk biscuit, fried chicken, honey butter & hot sauce). Naturally we ordered both when we arrived, alongside some fries and pickled cucumber. I had been excited for the biscuit as it’s something I have only had in America (and loved). It was crunchy outside and soft inside, with a slightly oily aftertaste. Although I felt it definitely could have been bigger, it was pretty authentic. The chicken was moist in both the sandwich and the burger, with a slightly crispy outer. The Kimchi Burger boasted a delicious slaw and oozed hot sauce. This is one messy burger. Over all it’s wasn’t the best fried chicken I’ve had, but it made for a good lunch. I saved my doughnut for later, and boy was it worth the wait. I honestly think BIRD make the best doughnut dough in London. This one was bigger than my hand, and I finished every last bit of it.

Our lunches came to £10 each (without drink), which included a main, side and a doughnut – or £8 with a side or doughnut. The difference between BIRD and other fried chicken restaurants is definitely in the ingredients. The chicken is brought in fresh everyday, and cooked twice to make sure that it is perfectly done. The doughnuts are made daily in-store, and the flavours change to match. The fresh, quality ingredients are definitely reflected in the taste, right down to the special seasoning on the fries. In fact I loved the little details so much that I ended up taking away the recipe for the seasoning, and jotting down the name of the hot sauce. BIRD may look like a hipster joint, but it the food feels more like home cooking. This may mean a few mishaps here and there, but more often than not they get it right.

If you liked this, why not check out the rest of my Where to Eat in London series.

bloomzy / July 1, 2015

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival*

I think it’s fair to say that Britain goes a little festival crazy during the Summer. But I’m not in to camping, so I was all set for another festival-less year. That was until I was invited to the Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival. So on the longest day of the year I headed to Hackney Wick to celebrate the Summer Solstice – Swedish style.

I wasn’t entirely certain what to expect from Kopparberg, as I’d missed last year’s offering. The venue might have been slightly smaller than Glastonbury, but it had all the essentials. There were street food trucks, a photo booth, a couple of bars, hair braiding and even a DJ booth. I headed straight to the bar for a frozen Kopparberg. It sounds a little odd, but it’s perfectly refreshing on a hot Summer’s day. Next we went for food…we have our priorities straight. I chose Le Bun, a French twist on the typical American Burger. I went for Le Duck Frites; a duck confit burger with straw fries and champagne slaw. Ben went for a more Scandinavian affair with The Hackney Pearl’s Swedish Meatball Sandwich. We shared our dishes, and truth be told, we couldn’t decide whose was better. Both were delicious, and perfect alongside our ciders. After our mini feast, I decided to join the queue for the braid bar. The Braid Bar is pretty well known among beauty enthusiasts, and celebrities alike. With my short, thin hair, I wasn’t sure if they would be able to do anything. Luckily they cater for all hair types, as I saw whilst watching others have their hair braided. I went for the Eva – two small side braids. It didn’t take too long and I was pretty happy with the result (although I wouldn’t pay £10 for it in-store).

In true Scandinavian style there were plenty of fresh flowers. But instead of crowns, these flowers were being weaved into our braids, and the mens beards. As my braids were so petite and tight, I went for a more delicate look. I really loved how it complimented the style of the braids. Ben had actually had his hair and beard cut that morning, so I was a bit sad that we couldn’t adorn his hair too. We still had plenty of time left though, so we headed to the photobooth and snapped some memories. After a couple more Kopparbergs, the heavens began to open, so we scarpered. It’s fair to say that this is one festival I can definitely see myself going back to.

The Kopparberg Urban Forest is on until July 12th – entry is free.

bloomzy / June 29, 2015

Where to Eat in London: Toconoco Japanese Cafe

Toconoco | Japanese Cafe | Hackney | Website
– reservations not available –

It’s difficult to explain the serenity I felt in the cafe’s of Tokyo. It really feels as though you are being whisked away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A cafe is no longer just somewhere to eat and drink. It’s a sanctuary from modern life. It is this feeling I have been craving ever since I returned from Japan. I didn’t think I’d find it again, until I happened upon Toconoco.

Toconoco is a child-friendly Japanese cafe on Kingsland Basin, Regents Canal. Surrounded by canal boats and wildlife, this little sun trap feels miles away from the streets of Shoreditch. I headed there on a weekday afternoon around 12:30. They had tweeted their daily lunch set photo, and it looked too perfect to miss out on (only 15 lunch sets are made each day). Lunch sets are very popular in Japan, and I miss the concept here. It varies depending on the restaurant, but they usually come with a main, a side salad, rice and a miso soup. Toconoco’s lunch set on that particular day was ham croquettes, and it was every bit the same as those I’d had in Japan. The ingredients were fresh and delicious, complimenting each other perfectly. The delicate use of sauces and dressings is something I have yet to master in my Japanese cooking. However Toconoco are clearly skilled in this art. We also ordered a side of Egg Miso-Mayo Toast with spring onion, sesame oil and chilli flake. How could I pass on something that sounds so intriguing? The toast had a distinct Japanese flavour to it and was lighter (and less rich) than regular egg mayo.

The main thing I took away from my visit to Toconoco, was how authentic it is. The food is prepared fresh everyday, and is fitting to the weather and season. This is real Japanese food. Not the hyped up, overpriced kind you find in restaurants in Soho. This is home-cooking style, made with love and care. It reminded me that we should all take some time to relax, and that eating should be seen as one of life’s simple pleasures. Because eating at Toconoco is certainly no chore.

bloomzy / June 24, 2015

Interior Design | In The Window

As a child I loved wandering around showrooms and home stores with my parents. I would make imaginary wish lists in my head, choosing pieces for my dream bedroom. As a little girl, that was as far as I got. As an adult moving away to university, I started taking interior design a little more seriously. Although I still hadn’t quite found my style yet – my uni dorm was a jumble of pink bed sheets and Korean boyband posters. After university the next big move was London, and my own little apartment. No more house sharing. However a small flat in Stoke Newington doesn’t really offer up much of a blank canvas. Still, I decorated the walls with art prints, and the tables with carefully placed trinkets. I had so many ideas of what I wanted to do to the flat, but realistically I knew it wouldn’t work. So when we moved in April this year to a bigger, brighter apartment, I was over the moon. I went into interior design overdrive. Luckily I had a little friend to help me – In The Window.

In The Window enables designers, makers, and brands to share their stories and collections in a uniquely visual way. It is about giving the designers and their products the spotlight. I personally prefer this to a company whose goal is only to sell to you. Of course if you like what you see, you can click through to a stockist where you can purchase your object of desire.

But the real point of In The Window are the stories – delving into the worlds of the designers. Each window showcases the work and story behind the designer, maker or brand. Users can take part too. In The Window’s community can discover, experience, and meaningfully interact with the content via curation, sharing, and conversations. My favourite aspect are the labels. By simply selecting any product or window, you can add them to custom labels you have created under your account. Other users can view these and comment on them, or add them to their own labels. You can even interact with the designers themselves. For creatives, and those who just adore interior design, In The Window is an innovative way to discover via a new, unique social network.

You can view my labels at In The Window.

Thank you to V.A who took the photos of me.