YES to adventure

Monday 28 April 2014

Style: Homie

Wearing

Noisy May top

Asos heels

H&M skirt

RayBan sunglasses

Zara necklace

Nars lipstick

Bag from Bosnia

Faux fur tail from Japan

(Similar items below)

Photos taken by Miles Blayden Ryall

Beauty: April Birchbox (Good Enough to Eat)

I was really excited to try Birchbox when they contacted me and sent me April's 'Good enough to eat' package. I've heard a lot about these monthly beauty/lifestyle subscription boxes but never tried one myself, as I was always a little sceptical about them. I never really knew what would be inside, and if I would get my money's worth. I also thought that I wouldn't benefit from most of the products as I am personally not a big 'beauty junkie'. Well, I was wrong!

This month, inspiration was taken from local food marked, the kitchen and favourite eateries. April's samples (mini sized versions of the actual full priced products) feature delicious scents and foodie elements...

I got my cute little (but decent sized!) box in the post, and as soon as I opened it I got a rather pleasant surprise...

The box was beautifully packaged with all the mini contents inside of a Birchbox branded cloth pouch. I opened the soft pouch and inside was a lovely selection of really cool products!

It contained TheBalm Cosmetics Cheek & Lip Cream, Yes to Cucumber face wipes, Color Club nail varnish, Lord & Berry kohl eye pencil, and (drum roll please...) a Laura Mercier Souffle Body cream!!!! Uhhmm helloooo this stuff is EXPENSIVE...and I couldn't believe it's in this little box of goodies!

Even though the sample is small, it's big enough to last for weeks...

This Birchbox-exclusive candy coloured nail varnish is from a collection of 4, and from a collaboration with fashion blogger Gala Gonzalez - plus it came in one of my favourite summer colours!

I've already tested the eyeliner and it didn't smudge as much as my other ones during the day so I loved it.

The cheek & lip cream came in an adorable little vintage-inspired magnet palette, and was surprisingly strong in colour. Perfect for handbags and girls on-the-go as it's so handy. It was the one product that I wouldn't personally use, but the great thing about Birchbox is that they can personalise your boxes based on your tastes.

The cucumber wipes were great to pop into my bag and use to soothe and cleanse my skin when staying at a friends house or if I needed to re-apply my make-up.

Another really cute sample in the Birchbox was a ProperCorn bag, Sweet Coconut & Vanilla flavoured. Rather strange but yummy taste!! I must say that I wouldn't have bought this in the store but having tried it now I definitely would.

And it doesn't end there...Birchbox pack all the product info in your goody box, as well as fun postcards with things like recipes, beauty tips, events, activity suggestions and a chance for you to win the contents of the box in full size.

Their website is engaging too...with a blog detailing more info about the products, a magazine, and a shop where you can buy them in full size.

I was really pleased and pleasantly surprised with my little box, and I think this is a really great gift for a friend, mum or auntie (or you!). At only £10 a month, anyone could afford it and their friend would get a lovely surprise every month...brilliant idea.

A Birchbox is £10 a month (+£2.95 p&p) and you can subscribe for yourself or a friend on www.birchbox.co.uk for as long or as little as you want (and cancel any time).

New Finds: March

OK we're in April...this one's a wee bit late...check out what I bought last month!

I finally had an eye test done, at new brand KITE's Westfield Stratford store, and got these gorgeous 60's inspired cat eye glasses called Broadway in Marrakesh Diva (RRP £145). Surprisingly, they go with everything! They feel amazing, and look fab.

Pairing my new comfy shoes with Balenciaga, All Saints, Isabel Marant and Topshop (see similar items below)

I love the packaging! KITE optical glasses and sunglasses are available at their Westfield Stratford store or online on www.kitegb.com

Travel: What will travel look like in 2024?

Global travel website Skyscanner just launched an exciting three part report on the future of travel…involving virtual reality, wearable google glass contact lenses, a digital travel buddy and facial coding algorithms.

I attended an event high up in the London skies at Altitude 360, where they described what role they think the trends and tech will play in the travel industry by 2024, including how easy it will become to plan and book your holiday.

The report was produced in association with The Future Laboratory and 56 trend experts and futurologists in travel and tech industries…so you know they are not messing about.

Google Glasses actually look quite stylish...look, no glass! Wah!!

In the first of the three part future-gazing report, which focuses on planning and booking, Skyscanner has identified three key emerging trends which will make the process seamless, immersive and stress-free with a trip being researched, sampled and booked in less than an hour.

The future, according to Skyscanner, will see wearable technology evolve from the recently launched Google Glass to a mobile device so small that it will fit onto a contact lens and can provide immediate translations, breaking down language barriers and the need to learn the holiday lingo.

The freaky thing is, Washington Uni have already developed a wearable Google Glass eye lens that has facial recognition...can you believe it?!

At the event, we were shown the incredible tech of Google Glasses, demonstrating to us how easy it will be to have a guide book at your fingertips (or eyelids?) at all times…even whilst hiking, cycling, running. For example, as you are cycling through the forest, your lens will be showing you snippets of information about the area, significant points of interest and facts about the flora and fauna. The possibilities are limitless.

Wearing the Oculus Rift, falling through space...not for people with fear of heights

We were also shown the Oculus Rift, which is a pretty cool head device that enables you to enter a virtual reality. I got to experience what it would be like to jump off of a space station whilst gazing down on planet earth…and then visited a Tuscan villa. It felt really odd, actually ‘walking’ through the house and gazing out of the window…feeling like I was really there, to the point where I stumbled as I attempted to take a step (the virtual reality reacts to where you gaze, so no need to ACTUALLY move!).

This is all part of the predicted ‘try before you buy’ trend…where Skyscanner claim that travellers will be able to 'test drive' their trips and dream destinations, before deciding quicker and easier where they really want to go.

Lovely views of London town from Altitude 360

They also predict that in 2024, voice and gesture controlled online tools will further help travellers book a bespoke trip based on their responses or even through facial coding algorithms that will enable search engines to read and react to human expressions and adjust results based on the user’s response. Sounds pretty epic, and scary at the same time! All those 80’s Schwarzenegger movies seem to be coming true…

The Skyscanner report can be downloaded at www.skyscanner2024.com , where you can also sign up to get sections two and three will launch this summer and autumn respectively. Looking forward to seeing what’s next!

Style: Mary Franck S/S14

I came across this designer a little while ago, and posted about one of her collections here...If I ever wear a fascinator/formal hat anywhere (and I am not a fan!) it would be hers!

For SS14, Mary has launched a collection of 21 hats and headpieces inspired by spices and their colours, warmth and origins. Each unique piece is beautifully constructed combining millinery fabrics and trimmings such as hand-dyed straws, ceiling and feathers.

Mary practices from her East London studio, and is also available for private commissions (a girl can dream...)

Check out these amazing SS14 campaign images...

Images from the brand website

Home Proud: Awesome Etsy planters

I've expressed my love for Etsy here before, but I've just come across something really cool I wanted to share with you all...vertical planters! What's that, you say? Have a little look below...best present ever, right??

Price per letter from SucculentWonderland (Check on the website)

£39.88 from VerticalFlora

£36.81 from VerticalFlora

£30.67 from VerticallyVerdant

£24.54 from VerticallyVerdant

£61.35 from LoliviaGifts (shutters for planting only)

£24.54 from VerticallyVerdant

Style: Cozy

It was one of those cold days...when I love to wear my super cozy Topshop military and mongolian fur parka. Sadly it's not available anymore as they sold out pretty quickly, but scroll down to see where you can buy a similar one...