Food Review: Tamper Coffee at Seller's Wheel

Hi guys!

I know I'm meant to be posting more reviews on food, but I haven't had the chance to try any new places out around my area. However I finally tried a new (not so new) cafe in Sheffield, UK, called Tamper Coffee. If any of you live in Sheffield, you'll love this quaint little cafe.

Tamper Coffee has 2 locations - One at Westfield Terrace and another bigger outlet at Arundel Street. The Arundel Street outlet serves a wider variety of food, offering brunch and lunch menus. 

The interior is almost industrial-like, red brick walls surround the area with wooden tables and chairs. It gives off a really chill vibe, with people sipping a cuppa and typing away furiously on their laptops.

They even have an outdoor area! It was too sunny so we decided to hide in the comfort of shade (aka inside)

Brunch is served from 8am - 12pm (Isn't brunch suppose to be from 11-2ish?) on weekdays. Anywho, the menu is relatively small, which I normally prefer as it helps me decide 10x faster than usual. I opted for the usual eggs benny with a side of chorizo. Mr Handsome was feeling exceptionally sweet-toothed and got the french toast.

Vanilla Milkshake - Left (3.50)

Iced Latte with Almond Milk - Right (2.80)

I'm a sucker for anything old school/vintage. I loved the jars they served the drinks in, and would you look at at that candy cane of a straw? It wasn't the most practical (it was made of paper), but I love the innovation. Props for that.

French Toast (6.50)

Egg dipped brioche, caramelised banana and coffee infused maple syrup with crispy bacon

Wasn't out of this world great, but I love how the bacon complements the dish. It was sweet yet crispy, and I'm not usually a fan of bacon. The brioche was fresh and is always a great bread to use for french toast! However, the bananas lacked sweetness and it lacked a certain 'awesome-ness' to it.

Eggs Benedict (7)

2 poached eggs, herbed potato hash brown, toasted muffin, buttered spinach and fresh hollandaise

with added chorizo (+1.50)

Okay, I expected nothing from the usual eggs benny. Of course one would expect the ever so famous runny egg, beautifully done hollandaise sauce, and a toasted muffin. But I really liked this version Tamper did by adding a herbed potato hash brown into the mix! The hollandaise sauce was pretty damn well done, and the egg was, tick, perfectly poached. Thumbs up:)

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Overall, I love the vibe over at Tamper Coffee. It's chill, the servers are friendly and the place is brimming with locals (always ideal). If you ever pop by Sheffield, give this a try.

Tamper Coffee Seller's Wheel

149 Arundel Street

Mon-Fri 8.00 am – 5pm

Sat 9am – 6pm

Sunday 10am – 5pm

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Stay beautiful, x. 

A Guide to Paris

Hello world!

I just came back from a 5 day trip to Paris and I absolutely loved it. Apart from the crappy weather which kept fluctuating from sun to rain (mostly rain), the sights and food made up for it. 

Today, I would like to share a few things I learnt in Paris with you guys if you ever get to visit this gorgeous city.

Although the most common airport is Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Ryanair only flies to Paris Beauvais Tille Airport. The bus into the city costs 17 euros / head and takes about 1h 15 mins, stopping at Porte Maillot. That wasn't a problem at all as I needed all the sleep I could get. The bus ride was comfy and safe too.

We found a nice quaint place right smack in the middle of the city with the nearest metro station, Châtelet, being 3 mins away. We found the place through airbnb and paid about £81/night excl. service fee (always annoying). But the place was extremely central, with pubs and shops located right below our house (including an AWESOME crepe place). The place was a storey house, with the bed being on the upper floor. It was small but it sufficed.

I do advise people booking through airbnb to liaise with your host on several occasions. E.g. where to meet and get the keys, directions to the place. I've encountered an incident where my host never got back to me on when/where I could collect my keys 2 weeks before my arrival. Thankfully, I was able to have a full refund. 

Metro signs are located with an 'M' or the world 'Metropolitan' which are easy to find and are almost everywhere.

These are metro stubs that can be bought in booklets of 10 for 13.70 euros. Technically speaking, you can buy the reduced fare (under 10 years old) for a slightly cheaper price without anyone noticing as nobody really patrols the metro to check your stubs. As we walked a lot and were quite central, we only bought the booklets twice.

Now, the most important part - The metro itself. This was taken around 10am so there wasn't much of a crowd, but it gets extremely packed during peak hours (around 4-6pm). I have heard stories of people being pickpocketed in such places but thankfully, I never encountered that myself. I did however see two gypsies (they are normally dressed in flowly clothes with a head dresses and come in pairs of 2 or more) entering the metro and sticking really close to both my boyfriend and I, even when there was space around us. 

Me, being extra kiasu, padlocked my bag so that noone could open it without my knowing. It definitely worked, and although it might have been a bit tedious, it paid off. And luckily, they got off 2 stops after (I think they realised we weren't their ideal targets :p)

The metro itself will also have maps indicating where which stations are. I took the RER once (however I don't know if you can use the same ticket, it did work for mine) but mostly used the metro. 

Several attractions like the Effiel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Montmarte are key areas for pickpockets and gypsies to try to rip you of your money/steal. There were several times I encountered perusian women coming up to us with a petition board and asking us to sign a petition. They would walk towards you asking if you speak English and usually leave if you say no. They travel in groups too.

There was one incident below the Montmarte where there were a bunch of dark skinned men blocking both exits of the main entrance up/down and would stop you, saying they want to put a 'bracelet' around your hand and repeatedly mentioning they aren't bad people. Even when my boyfriend said no, he grabbed his shoulder forcing him to stop. My boyfriend got so pissed he shoved him away. I'm not saying all men like these are bad, but if your gut tells you something is wrong, there probably is.

My friend experienced one of them putting it on her wrist (especially if you're a girl) and cornered her, forcing her to pay an exorbitant amount before they left her alone. 

My one advice to girls who wish to travel alone - Have a guy along with you. Paris isn't the best place to travel alone.

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We have all heard that the French are snobbish people who turn their noses up when they see you don't speak their language. While not all are like that, it is mostly true.

It's important to know basic French. I made an extra effort to learn how to speak the basics. I used this app called Duolingo which teaches you the abc's of French. Trust me when I say this app helped me A LOT. Although I did use other resources, if you keep up with this app you're sure to learn French within 2 weeks. You get to match the words to the French words, speak French to see if you're fluent and learn through pictures! Best of all? It's FREEEEEEEEEEEE.

I noticed if you start off with a simple 'Bonjour', many become much friendlier to you. If you can't speak in complete sentences like I, ask a simple 'parlez-vous anglais?' and most would say yes and help you out with a friendlier tone. I believe France is one of the countries where if you're willing to learn, they're willing to help.

So this is all I have to offer you guys! My foodie post during my time in Paris will be up within the week (obviously we need food yes?) so keep a lookout for that:)

Stay beautiful, x. 

Review: Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask by Lush

Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask, 75g - £6.25 

A calming and moisturising fresh face mask packed with blueberries, calamine and chamomile, rose, and almond oils to soothe and soften the skin. We use wholesome blueberries as they are rich in vitamins and minerals, including the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E that help to protect the skin from damage. Smoothe a generous layer of this mask onto clean skin and leave for 10 to 15 minutes.

I've always loved the after effects of a lush face mask. It leaves your face moisturized, bouncy and as smooth as a baby's butt! I'll definitely be trying out more of their face masks when the need arises.

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

Review: Regen 2 Step Synergy Effect Mask - Pore Care

Hello beautifuls!

I thought I'd share my two cents worth on how I found the Regen: 2 Step Synergy Effect Mask that quite a number of people have found to be effective.

As much as I love how elegant a V-shaped face is, I never really bothered to search for masks that produce such a result. When a friend of mine recommended I try this out, I contemplated between the 'pore care' or 'moisturizing' mask but ended up purchasing 'pore care'.

Regen 2 Step Synergy Effect Mask (5 in a pack) - USD26.70 from Honestskin

The instructions are all in Korean (and for people like me who only understand half of korean dramas) I had to google the instructions. That wasn't a problem as you can easily find them online!

The mask comes in 2 stages:

1st Step - Apply the mask to the top of your forehead, ending above your lips. It is said to contain calendula flower extract which controls excess sebum production, shrinking pores to deliver tighter, more refined skin. The mineral rich alpine water also maintains the moisture in the skin!

2nd Step - Apply the mask across your face from ear to ear whilst using the side 'loops' to hook across your ears. There are extracts called halophyte, which help in reducing bloating and water retention. The pressure apparently lifts out excess water that bulks your face, resulting in a more defined V-shape.

Exhibit A. I have no idea how this picture became much more blurrier but I assure you no photoshop effects were used! (My boyfriend commented saying I could pull off as someone who had just undergone surgery -_-)

So you leave it on for 20 mins and once done, remove and massage the remaining contents into your skin.

This bare face was taken the next day (excuse the morning i-need-more-sleep face). My skin definitely feels much smoother and more evenly moisturized. My pores feel tighter but not to the point where my skin is dry. How much more can I praise this product? It delivers, it even leaves the skin feeling rejuvenated and bouncy!

However I didn't notice my chin becoming way more 'defined' or V-shaped. And even if it did, the result isn't life-changing, but negligible. It's not a big deal to me though. Perhaps with constant use, it would leave better results.

Would I repurchase this? Yes. I'm keen on trying out the different types of masks and will do so once I'm done with these! :) The price might be a tad steep but I believe taking care of your skin is extremely important, especially for women in their 20's.

Stay beautiful, x. 

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.