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Turning a Photograph Into a Piece of Art

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When my parent’s told me they planned to redecorate their lounge I knew I had to send them a little gift, and by ‘little gift’ I mean a gigantic canvas print of our family dog. It was the one item I could be confident they would make use of. Thankfully The Print Foundry were on hand to do all the hard work. All I had to do was sit back and choose a fitting photograph.

The one I finally went for is a personal favourite of mine, which was taken on the beach at Walcott, Norfolk. Now I realise that I’m biased, but I do happen to think my dog is pretty darn handsome. This photo of him just seems so majestic and regal that I couldn’t resist having it blown up for all to see. When it arrived I was in half a mind to keep it for myself. The quality of the canvas and printing is superb, it almost looks like an oil painting when the light hits it. As for the size, it was bigger than I had expected, but that certainly wasn’t a bad thing. I had been secretly hoping it would be large enough to take pride of place in my parent’s lounge. In fact my parent’s adore it so much that they have already put it up, even though they haven’t even started decorating yet. They told me that they fell in love with it as soon as they laid eyes on it, which makes for one successful gift if you ask me. Apparently my grandmother has plans to steal it and put it on her staircase…that’s one less Christmas gift to think of anyway.

You can turn your own photographs into works of art at The Print Foundry.

bloomzy /

Celebrate the Spirit of Summer with Rekorderlig

Rekorderlig have been bringing us a tiny piece of Sweden for a couple of years now, surprising isn’t it. It feels like this amazing brand of premium fruit cider have been around forever. They’re my staple drink when I go out (and I don’t fancy a cocktail). This Summer they decided to bring a touch of Scandinavia to Brixton at the Grand Union’s cider garden.

The event was open to the public, and you may have noticed me tweeting about tickets during the lead up to it. That’s because I felt that it was the perfect way to spend a relaxing Summer weekend with friends. We went along on the Saturday and were greeted with some coupons for food and drink (which came with the ticket). Heading straight to the bar we decided to grab a couple of bottles – Wild Berries for me. Grabbing seats in one of the floral shacks, we sipped away as we chatted and people watched. Then we were treated to a pair of sunglasses and a floral crown. To complete the look, Lucy (the MUA at the event) painted some flowers on my arm; to represent the Swedish myth that placing seven different flowers under your pillow will result in finding your true love. Whereas I’ve already found mine, it was fun to take part.

The drinks were great, with several of Rekorderlig’s best sellers on offer. There were cocktails too, and I do love a good Rekorderlig cocktail, but at £25 a pitcher it seemed a bit pricey. Instead we used the tokens given to us to grab a couple of bottles and some nibbles. There wasn’t much food going round for some reason, and we kept getting the same dish come round to us but it didn’t dampen any spirits. I think the food was so good at Rekorderlig’s Swedish Forest event that I constantly compare it at all of their events. I know, I need a slap on the wrist! Overall we had a really nice time and it was a great way to spend my Saturday afternoon.

You can recreate your own Spirit of Summer at home with Rekorderlig.

bloomzy /

A FEAST for The Eyes…and Mouth

For the last few years I have dreamt of visiting the handful of food festivals that pop up around London every year. However I was never able to because of work etc. So when I was offered tickets to FEAST (thank you Nuffnang) on a free weekend, I knew I couldn’t resist. FEAST features the best of street food, restaurants, marketplace and bars all cozied up in East London’s renovated Tobacco Docks.

I arrived with Alex around 12, ready for the Friday morning/afternoon slot. We were greeted by a small selection of stalls outside, such as: The Breakfast Club and Primrose Bakery. Nothing new, but still some tried and tested favourites. As we ventured inside we spotted even more restaurants and street food vendors, offering up a selection of tasty looking grub. It was a little bit of a ghost town but we had secretly been hoping this would be the case, as we wanted to make the most of our time there.

Alex and I didn’t need much convincing which stall to stop at first, as we spotted The Frenchie. I’ve been dying to try their confit duck brioche burgers, and I was not disappointed. I can’t describe how delicious it was, but I can tell you that I am now addicted. Next stop was Anna Mae’s Mac & Cheese, and although the portion was ridiculously large (we couldn’t even finish one between the two of us) we enjoyed the bacon and basil oil combo. After filling up on cheese, we decided that we would lay off the food for a bit, which is how we ended up at Comins Tea House for a tea masterclass. Being tea lovers we couldn’t resist it when we saw the amazing collection of loose leaf tea available. We sat down with Michelle and she talked us through a variety of teas and their origins. It was lovely to meet a fellow tea enthusiast, and one who has created a career out of it too. I really hope I can visit the Comins Tea House one day. After quenching our thirst we stopped by The Marshmallowists so I could buy one of their matcha coconut marshmallows for later, then it was off to Hutong for some tossed buckwheat noodles. I needed to cool my mouth down after enjoying their spicy and sour noodles, so we ended with a visit to Black Vanilla for some salted caramel gelato.

As a foodie I adore the idea of tons of street food vendors, small business and restaurants under one roof. However the concept of paying to enter FEAST (although my ticket was gifted) seemed a bit silly. Why would I want to pay to enter a venue where I have to spend money? The food we did try was amazing and I saw so many other dishes that I wanted to try, but my belly (and wallet) couldn’t handle it – I’d love to see cheaper bite size portions next time. There were a few stalls that were stated as attending on the website that weren’t actually there on the day, such as The Brulerie so I definitely need to track them down sometime. The vendors at FEAST were in abundance and they invited some really great companies to take part, many of whom I can’t wait to visit again. I certainly can’t pretend that I wouldn’t consider spending £10 to enter next time. Myself, and my stomach, left satisfied.

bloomzy /

Cocktails and Dim Sum at Ping Pong

An invitation to dine on dim sum and cocktails for an evening is something I could never turn down, hence my attendance at Ping Pong’s Summer menu event last week. I was joined by some likeminded bloggers for a cocktail masterclass at the Stratford Westfield restaurant, where we would be making our own variations on the class Mojito, whilst nibbling on some of their best dishes.

We were hosted by Ping Pong‘s own mixologist Daniele, who showed us how to make the perfect mojito, and talked us through the tips and tricks of the cocktail trade. Then suddenly we were thrown into the deep end. We were asked to compete against each other to create our own Mojitos, which we would be judged on. At this point I’d already started eating and was so overwhelmed by the tastiness of the food that I’d completely forgotten all of the measurements. Not a great start. Still I tried my best and even though I felt mine was a little weak, I was given a 7/10, which I’m pretty happy with considering it was my first ever time making a Mojito. After some more dim sum (you MUST try the chicken and cashew dumplings!) I went back for round two, and tried making a Chambord Mojito…which was too strong. This cocktail malarky isn’t as easy as it looks! Still, I happily sipped away at my creations whilst chatting to everyone, and before I knew it they were all gone!

Ping Pong has been on my list of ‘go to places’ since I moved to London, but I can never find anyone who wants to go for dim sum with me. I’m not sure if it’s because the concept of sharing food is still a little lost on some people, or just because I don’t know enough people who enjoy the dishes. Either way I’m glad I went to Ping Pong’s event with V.A (a fellow Dim Sum lover) as she was the perfect foodie companion, as always. I had a wonderful evening and the food was absolutely delicious, I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re not a fan of sharing food then Ping Pong is the best way to get out of that habit. Although the food is so good you’ll probably end up fighting each other for the last dumpling. As for the cocktails, the Lychee Rose cocktail is now a favourite of mine (and exclusive to Ping Pong) and I would go back purely for another glass…or two.

Check out Ping Pong for your closest restaurant, and don’t forget to check out their new Summer menu.

Thanks to V.A (Chopstickpanorama) for taking the photos of me.

bloomzy /

Kawaii at Hyper Japan 2014

The kawaii life is a tough life. You constantly find yourself clasping your cheeks and screeching at the top of your lungs, all because something features a loveable mascot, or is fluffier than usual (etc etc). Yes, kawaii really is a lifestyle choice in Japan, and it’s everywhere. Whereas the term doesn’t really have a literal translation, the closest we can come to understanding it in English is: cute or adorable. The concept has become so big that recently Western cultures have picked up on the phenomenon – you’ll even find it in the Oxford dictionary. So I was pretty impressed when I saw just how well Hyper Japan embraced the idea this year. 
‘Hyper Kawaii’ was a special section of the exhibition that probably took up half of the venue. It featured a variety of British and Japanese fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, as well as live performances and activities. The rise of kawaii in London was showcased by brands such as: Tofu Cute (snacks and lifestyle goods), Dreamy Bows (clothes, plushies and accessories), Doki (Japanese tableware), Glitterbomb (jewellery), Artbox (stationary and goods), Cutesykink (clothing) and so much more. 
Fashion and beauty are big parts of the kawaii lifestyle, but I plan to feature those separately in upcoming posts as I just couldn’t fit all of the photos and content into one post. ちょっと待って下さい！
bloomzy /

An Alternative Guide to Coffee in East London


Living in East London it seems as though a new coffee shop is popping up every five minutes. With so many cafes vying for your affections it can be a little confusing which one you should visit. There are books out there and even festivals, all hoping to point you in the right direction. So I thought I’d add my two cents and let you know about my favourite coffee spots in East London. The one thing that makes this post stand out from all the others? I can’t drink caffeine. You’re probably sat there with a look of shock on your face, wondering how I can even begin to explain myself. Well I’ve actually come upon some amazing cafes that also offer decaffeinated coffee. In the self-confessed land of coffee snobs, that’s a pretty big feat! It’s also not that easy to find decafe coffee that actually tastes like, well, coffee. Ben is usually in tow too though, and he does drink coffee, so I always end up asking him “Hows’ the coffee?” Boy do I miss coffee!
Anyway, sit back, relax and enjoy my alternative guide to coffee in East London.

Yellow Warbler – Northwold Road, Stoke Newington
YW is new to the world of coffee and to Stoke Newington. It’s off the main high street but that doesn’t mean that it packs any less of a punch. Looking at the menu you wouldn’t expect any decafe, however their table menu would prove you wrong. I ordered a cappuccino and found it to be chocolatey and sweet. Still, it had a genuine coffee taste to it, rather than an artificial flavour like some decafe. The South American street food on offer is also worth a mention, although it is a little on the pricey side.

Brick Lane Coffee – Brick Lane
Whilst you’re browsing the numerous vintage clothing stores on Brick Lane you may find yourself a little thirsty. Luckily, Brick Lane Coffee is smack bang in the middle of all the excitement. Their choice of coffee is impressive, ranging from banana frappes (which are amazing in the current heatwave) to a dirty chai (that’s a chai latte with a shot of espresso). They do also offer decafe and soya milk options for those who may not want to partake though. The coffee ‘alternatives’ are delicious and are definitely worth trying out.

Beyond Retro Cafe – Stoke Newington High St, Dalston
Beyond Retro don’t only cater to vintage loving fashionistas. Their Dalston store also offers somewhere for you to put your feet up after you’ve had a tough day shopping. They offer a variety of coffee-centric drinks, as well as decafe and soya options. The drinks are reasonably priced without forgoing quality. I also love their gluten-free food options, and the free Wi-Fi, of course.

The Hawkhurst Vault – Brick Lane
Ok ok, THV is actually a tea room, but it does also sell coffee. So what better alternative for the non-coffee drinker than tea? That way you and your coffee loving friends can enjoy the best of both worlds. Shhh don’t tell the coffee lovers I mentioned tea.

Ozone Coffee Roasters – Leonard St, Shoreditch
Ozone take coffee pretty seriously, which can be a little daunting for those who don’t drink it regularly. However the surroundings in Ozone’s Shoreditch cafe will definitely put any worries to rest. With two massive floors there’s plenty of space and atmosphere to soak up. I couldn’t see any decafe options on their menu, but I did love their inclusion of hot chocolate – my caffeine-free choice when decafe isn’t around. The chilli hot chocolate is to die for, and their coffee certainly impressed my friends.

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed my mini round-up of the best alternative coffee stops in East London. If you’ve enjoyed it and are still on somewhat of a caffeine high, check out Currys post about the UK’s love for coffee.