Out and About in Notting Hill

So I know it seems a bit delayed, but I wanted to share with you all the fun I had out and about in Notting Hill two weeks back with one of my best friends. We found some great gems, including the best Gin & Tonic we have ever tried from The Distillery on Portobello Road, and the hustle and bustle of live acts and music whilst making our way through the famous market itself. 

We started off brunching at the Farm Girl cafe, which unfortunately was a bit of a let down. Yes, if you want a good instagram, sure go there, but the line was long, service slow and unpleasant, and the food was quite average for a brunch (my ultimate fave is still MILK in Balham). 

We then trotted through the markets and made our way to the Biscuiteers cafe, Notting Hill Bookshop (a dreams come true movie moment), and then off for a good old drink.

 It was a fab day exploring. I forgot the sheer experience of Notting Hill and The Portobello Market, the atmosphere is amazing, and SO many amazing street artists that you can stand and listen to for hours. 

If anybody has any recommendations around the area please let me know, I'm sure I'll be strolling around again soon!

 

Trying Out Magnitone's BareFaced Vibrasonic Cleansing Brush

It's taken me a while to test out this one, but after a month of using this beauty, I can now give an honest review on how the Barefaced Brush effects and cleans your skin. I have previously used other non-electronic cleansing brushes that have been tough on my skin, and instead of feeling the positives of brushing away oils, impurities and dead skin cells, the only thing that I could think about was how harsh and painful they left my skin. When I first used Magnitone's Vibrasonic brush, I was so wary of it being the same. I hesitantly put the brush head on my skin, scared it would leave my skin stinging and in pain...

I chose to go with the original brush head, rather than take a wack at the one designed for sensitive skin just so I could see a comparison, but because the original was so soft, I haven't had to use the other yet! I then grabbed the instruction manual to make sure that I was using the tool right...

1. Remove all makeup and apply your usual cleanser. In this case, I used the Dirty Works Creamy Cleanser, I love the smell and how soft it leaves your skin. 

2. Wet the brush and choose which mode you would like, normal or pulsing. 

3. Let the vibrations do the work and glide gently over your skin in small slow circles. 

4. Every 20 seconds the brush will beep, after which continue to another section of your face.

5. After 1 minute the brush will turn off and you're all set!

This cleanser and brush are an absolute match made in heaven. Although the day after use you may witness some spots coming to the surface of your skin, after a few weeks you will really see improvements all around. My skin has become less oily and blotchy, something I'm sure everyone would appreciate on a daily basis! 

Magnitone is such a fab brand, and I'm so lucky to have been able to review this product for them. If you are looking to try one out for yourself check out their website - HERE 

Rimmel London's new Stay Matte Lip Colours

So I've recently joined the Influenster gang, and luckily enough my first voxbox package was these lovely Rimmel London Stay Matte Lip Colours! These really have been a fab introduction to the Influenster programme, and have made me rethink my daily makeup routine. They are quick and easy to use, and last throughout the work day. 

I was sent 5 new beautiful shades; Midnight, Blink Pink, Rose & Shine, Blush, and Latte To Go. So far I have only worn Blink Pink, Rose & Shine, and Blush, for either a night out or to go to work, as I believe those are the three that are better suited to my complexion. Don't worry I will be sharing more pics of how to pull off those other daring shades soon on my Insta!

Whilst trialing these products I was slightly skeptical, as I had previously heard reviews that they flake and come off fairly easily. I have to say I completely disagree, and that even when wearing the Blink Pink on a night out drinking, it still remained on my lips when I ventured back at around 1 in the morning. I think that this may indeed be affected by the smoothness of your lips, due to the matte nature of the lips colours they do tend to dry them out, so if you have naturally dry lips I'd give them a quick exfoliation before wearing these, as it's likely to improve the chances of them staying on for longer. 

I usually steer away from any products that even slightly resemble lip gloss, but these are a must! 

K.x

Tea and Cake at Peggy's

Easter Monday was a great gal pal day out! I and a friend decided that we needed some well-deserved girl time and took ourselves for tea and cake at the Peggy Porschen Bakery. with so much to choose from, we ended up trying out two delicious cupcakes and two different pots of their finest flavoured teas. 

The whole aesthetic of the bakery is boutique and intricate, the inside and outside is pretty in pink, and who can deny it's a great backdrop for an insta-worthy photo!  

The cupcakes were honestly some of the best I've ever tried. We shared their strawberry champagne and the salted caramel, both of which had an exploding delicious gooey center! We also tried out their summer berries, and earl grey and orange teas, which were refreshing and light, complimenting our flavorsome and heavy cake choice. If any of my friends or family are reading this... please grab my next Birthday cake from here!

Binging On A Budget: My Top Cheap And Cheerful London Restaurants

It's January, and lets be honest we are all trying to not even think about the hole in our pocket that December's antics has caused! But, despite having little money, January is also one of the most depressing months of the year, and for this reason I believe we should treat ourselves. So I've put together a small list of my favourite places in London to binge on a budget (with a few extras that I am dying to try out soon). Hope you guys enjoy and this helps you save an extra few dollar this Jan! 

Chicken Liquor

If you're looking for some finger lickin' chicken, then this is the place! Chicken Liquor, owned and run by the massively famous Meat Liquor, is a small restaurant in Brixton. We tried the Korean Wings and the Chicken Shop Boneless Bites, my favourites would have to have been the wings, which is probably because I prefer that type of meat. For sides, we ordered the Hippie Fries... OMG these were a party in my mouth, absolutely scrumptious. We also ordered the Hot Mess, which was a lovely spicy addition. I usually avoid blue cheese because of its pungent taste, but the dish wasn't overwhelmed by it and definitely hit the spot. 

Bang Bang Vietnamese

After much deliberation over what restaurant to try at Boxpark Croydon, we tried Bang Bang Vietnamese, and it was an absolute treat! I'm really into my Asian food, spices are my thing, so this was the perfect choice for our meal. The food was exceptional. I chose the Pho Bo Gau: A Classic Vietnamese Soup with Beef Brisket, and my friend went for the Pho Tom, which is the same but with king prawns. As you can see below each of us got plenty, and it was the perfect amount of spice for my taste buds, which is a big bonus as I usually have to add extra chili sauce. I believe both of these dishes were around the £8 mark, an absolute steal!

Milk

A cafe that I fell in love with the moment I walked in (or maybe the day before when I was looking at the menu). They have fun and exciting dishes which put a spin on old classics, with their hangover sauce, burnt butter hollandaise, and woodfired sourdough, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. It's definitely a place for those hipsters seeking the best brunch spot. I bought my food, smoothie, and coffee for a mere £12. Here's a fun fact, the most used hashtag in Balham is #brunch, so get over there and enjoy!

Franco Manca

I'm pretty sure that by now most people have heard of Franco Manca, but I was first introduced to these heavenly sourdough pizzas just over a year ago as they catered for my auntie and uncles wedding! They were absolutely delicious, no wonder sourdough brick oven pizzas are now a massive craze, and I'm pretty sure these were the guys that triggered it. They have multiple stores where you can try their classics, and guess what? All of their pizzas are under £7... BARGAIN! 

Here are a few that I'm desperate to try out within the next few months...

Padella

A pasta bar serving hand-rolled pasta with sauces and fillings inspired from the owners trips to Italy, and just look at those prices! 

BAO

I think I'm one of the only bloggers left who hasn't tried out BAO. They serve up delicious BAOs, steamed buns, and a range of Taiwanese dishes. It's right up my street, and only around £4 per BAO!

 

Brother Marcus

Okay, so this one may have initially sparked because I indeed have the owners brother... Marcus on Facebook and in fact used to go to school with their other brother, but I have also looked up the reviews and this place is supposed to be the next big place for brunch... and who doesn't love brunch?!

Falling Back Into Love: Fat Buddha Yoga

It's been a while since I've spent my time in deep breathing, relaxing, and finding my inner core, but Wednesday evening I fell back in love with an old flame, yoga. Not only did I spend approximately 75 minutes in my first ever Fat Buddha Yoga Jam, allowing my mind to be truly at ease and focus purely on my body in it's simplest form, this special session was raising money for Breast Cancer, a cause that is close to my own- and I'm sure many other people's- heart. 

I've followed Fat Buddha on Instagram for quite a while now, and this special session enticed me to take out my old yoga mat and try again, and to be honest I don't know why I ever stopped! I know it's not everybody's cup of tea, but I find that it's the perfect way to destress and give my mind a break from whatever is going on in life. When it all started I feared that it was going to be a bit to 'hippie' for me, but the instructor was amazing and focussed mostly on breath and 'surrendering' yourself to each movement. I didn't quite have an out of body experience, but I allowed myself to connect with all of my senses and truly relax for an hour- and if you know me that's a big deal! I'm already looking to book my next class, and although I won't be able to attend a session once a week, I will be trying to book onto one at least once a month. 

'You don't know how strong you are until you have to be' 

I would recommend these classes to anyone looking to get fit, relax or just meet some really nice people! 

Love,

K.

A Night Out On The Town At Buster Mantis

I was lucky enough to attend the press launch of the amazing bar, club, art space-come restaurant Buster Mantis on Wednesday Evening. Hidden in the depths of the Deptford railway arches, it's definitely a gem worth seeking out. 

Firstly, let's talk about the name: Buster Mantis. The name of the restaurant has taken inspiration from its roots, Jamaica, and has been named after Jamaica's first Prime Minister Alexander Busatmante. We only found this out after having a nice chat with the owner and asking for ourselves, but for those of you who are looking at going here, you'll soon be able to see a dollar note with his face on framed within its confines. I like it when a unique restaurant that grasps the delicious drinks and food from a culture, has thought, meaning and love behind it, rather than just being a businessman's concept and marketing. 

Second, the cocktails. This one is a key highlight of the evening, and I myself sampled three different cocktails. But as well as these tasty drinks, they also stock local bears such as Peckham Pils. For any who are looking for a cultural experience, you'll want the Rum Punch, and it's not called punch for no reason! It's definitely got a kick to it, with a great fusion of fruity essences and gorgeous blood orange. A gin lover? No worries! Try out their Pear & Ginger Gin Sour, this wasn't my cup of tea, but my boyfriend who is a big gin fan absolutely loved it. The Harmoniser was also delicious, East London Vodka, Coconut Rum, Pineapple, Cranberry, Lime and Sugar, this was my favourite as I love fruity cocktails. 

Third, the food. Well, we tried just about everything, and let me say it's far better than any other Caribbean/Jamaican chain I've tried. The jerk chicken was great, I even asked for extra sauce and tipped all the other dishes in it because it was so tasty! It was pretty spicy though, so be careful if you aren't a fan of chili. The fish patties were great, and I'm not massive of fish, in fact, their swordfish dumplings were great too! They managed to balance the fresh fish taste with herbs and spices, along with a sweet tasty pastry. Next was the prawn skewers with mango salsa... one word amazing. So there you go, the food was perfect, not one fault, delicious, crisp and a great fusion of flavours that shows all the great aspects of Jamaican cooking. 

So there you have it! A great night with cocktails, food, and most evenings they also have live DJs, entertainment, art exhibitions and talks. It's definitely my type of place, I just wish it was closer to home! If they opened one around Wimbledon way I'd be there every weekend! 

Love,

K.

Life as a Fashion Intern

After having an interview for a paid internship the other day (which sadly I did not get) and speaking to 6 other girls at the assessment day, I've realised that all fashion interns have experienced the same soul-crushing treatment over and over. We chatted about this whilst eyeing up our competition and secretly thinking 'oh god please let it be me getting my first proper paid job.'

So here are just a few of the situations fashion interns are faced with every day ...

1. Trying to look like the latest Vuitton, Acne and Chloe cookbooks when you are skint trying to style out last years Primark.

2. Having to eat last nights dinner left-overs for your packed lunch whilst surrounded by Pret, Itsu and Benugo.

3.Having to look your employed friends in the eye when they ask 'do you enjoy interning?'and silently nod and smile because they just won't understand. 

4.Going to multiple interviews and being told that you are overqualified by some and under qualified by others! Will the vicious cycle ever end...

5. Finding yourself drooling over the samples that get thrown around the office like thrift-store garments.

6. Having to style out the comfiest flats you own as your bound to be sent out on a 40 minute wild goose chase around London.

7. Knowing you could go and apply for any regular office job but don't because you're so desperate for your dream job that you'll live with mum and dad until your 30.

8. Having to pretend that you haven't just seen Kate Moss enter the building, it's no big deal, and you haven't just texted your entire contact list to record the incident. 

9.Remembering when you thought that interning would be glamorous but have now come to terms with the reality that sometimes you even have to take the boss's dog out to do a number two (this one might have just been me)

10. Thinking it's the end of the day, oh no you silly intern you've just been given 4 more tasks to do before tomorrow morning, hurry along you little unpaid being...