Canary Wharf Voyage on the London RIB With Experience Days

On Saturday my husband and I were treated by the lovely folks at Experience Days to a speedboat tour of the Thames via London RIB. It was absolutely amazing - I was reeling afterwards for hours. We arrived at our meeting point about 15 minutes before we were due to depart and greeted by charming, funny, happy people who seem to really love their job. I don't know about you, but when I'm trying out an attraction or any service really, a smiling face always makes a big difference. We were quickly kitted out in waterproof jackets and life vests, ready to go on our journey.

The pier where we met the RIB (or Rigid Inflatable Boat) overlooks Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and is situated right on Southbank, about a 5 minute walk or so from Waterloo Station.

The tour begins with the boat going at a very mild pace while the tour guide (ours was called James and he was ever so charming) gives lots of fun information about what you see while sailing down the Thames. We started by going up to the Houses of Parliament, then making a U-turn and heading back down towards Canary Wharf.

Once the boat passes the speed limit restricted area, they pick up the pace a bit, but it's only after passing the on-water police station that the real fun begins. A bit of fun music starts to play as the boats speeds up and the driver does dips and turns to make it more exciting. If you're a speed freak, it's definitely a fun way to see the sites of London!

What are the odds that a Southern gal like me would see a boat called 'Dixie Queen' on the River Thames in London?

All in the tour lasts for about 50 minutes, but it certainly doesn't feel like it. The tour guide was funny, the speed was invigorating and as I'm sure was the desired effect, every person on our boat was saying how much they'd like to do it again! We were extremely pleased with our London RIB experience and it's definitely on our list of things to do when we have visitors in town. I'd definitely recommend the London RIB tour for anyone visiting London whether it be couples, groups of friends or families. It would be a great way to get the old adrenaline going too before heading to the pub on a stag or hen night! I would also recommend this speedy little tour as a gift to people living in or visiting London.

The London RIB along with many other exciting attractions and experiences all over the UK can be booked through Experience Days.

And then there was an unexpected surprise...

When we got off the boat, we were treated to a bit of an air show since it was the Queen's Birthday - total coincidence - we didn't plan it that way. Several planes flew over with a finale of Red Arrows at the end. It was very exciting to see!

What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander (or Shopping at Mr. Porter)

Hartford Linen Shirt / Mulberry Bag / Ivy League Book / Polo Book

Vintage Cocktails Book / Cecil Beaton Book / Globe-Trotter Carry-on Case

Ray-ban Clubmasters / Visionaire LV Case / Miansai Bracelet

Alfred Dunhill Flask / Alexander McQueen Socks / Uniform Wares Watch 

Etro Belt / Loro Piana Suede Belt

My granny always used to say "What's good for the goose is good for the gander" and truer words couldn't be spoken with regards to fashion these days. Fashionable ladies have been borrowing from the boys for decades and a few of the lads are raiding the womenswear sections of shops these days (Marc Jacobs in a pink dress for one) and I say... Why not? I often go searching through my husband's closet when I need a quick wardrobe solution, borrowing sweaters, vests, belts and socks... Whatever I can get my hands on that will fit well and look good. When borrowing from the boys you can go whole hog with a full-on androgynous statement or just take advantage of a few accessories to add a different dimension to your look... The addition of a simple belt from the menswear department of your favorite store can take your outfit to a whole new level. All of the items above are from menswear powerhouse Mr. Porter and I wouldn't mind having each and every piece! 

With that being said, the items above are no less stylish for the gentlemen! There's nothing hotter than a man in a pair of Clubmasters and a linen shirt who's comfortable enough to carry a fabulous man bag... Dead sexy!

Charles Fish Finders Keepers Launch Party & Competition

Designer jewellery powerhouse Charles Fish is celebrating its new look online store with a Finders Keepers competition giving participants multiple chances to win sparkling baubles by some amazing designers! To get things rolling, the folks at Charles Fish hosted a fabulous fete at Somerset House last night. Guests enjoyed glasses of fizz and manicures, while one lucky attendee went home with the gorgeous Stephen Webster ring pictured above. Tres chic!

The Finders Keepers competition starts soon, so be sure to follow Charles Fish on Facebook to get the clues you'll need to participate! You could win some seriously fabulous jewelry or at the very least, have a bit of fun trying! For more information, visit www.charlesfish.co.uk.

A Look Inside the June Box From Boxdelux

The fabulous folks at Boxdelux have offered a peak inside the June box and it's looking pretty amazing! Featuring a range of products from nail polish to sunscreen, snack bars to tea bags, it's a well-rounded surprise for Boxdelux subscribers.

In case you're not familiar with Boxdelux, it's a monthly subscription service geared towards lovers of luxury lifestyle. Membership is limited, so exclusivity is just one of the benefits of this new box subscription service. Let's have a look at what June subscribers are getting....

2 We Are Tea teabags 

RevitaLash Eyelash Conditioner 

Propercorn Sour Cream & Chive 

Ultrasun SPF 30 and Ultralip SPF 15 

 Aden Cosmetics: Liquid Lipstick and 3 Nail Polishes

2 Nakd Bars

The contents of the June box are worth over £50. Considering the membership is £35 per month and there's a £20 voucher to use in the online shop, it's a bargain! Personally, I like the June box a little better than the May box, though they're both great and so different, it's hard to compare them. I'm looking forward to trying out all these products and revisiting Propercorn, a personal favorite!

For more information, read my previous post on Boxdelux. 

* This sample box was provided by Boxdelux, however all views are my own and in no way effected by my relationship with the associated vendors or PR's.

Right Now: The Best Mac & Cheese in London, Galliano on TV & Passion for Pimm's

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Right Now on Pink Julep, this is my weekly report of what's new and what I'm currently loving. Paired with a weekly updated playlist on Spotify called the Weekly Tune-up, it's a comprehensive weekly review encompassing fashion, beauty, lifestyle & entertainment! Everything from my new favorite beauty products to concert reviews can be found here every week. I've be Random, honest & sometimes a bit crazy, this is what's on the radar this week at Pink Julep!

1. While at Polo in the Park over the weekend, I took the opportunity to indulge in one of my all-time favorite foods... Macaroni & cheese! Anna Mae's serves up the best cheesy mac I've had in a long, long time and definitely the best I've tasted in London! If you see Anna Mae's on the street or at a festival this summer, I definitely recommend trying it. I had mine with crispy bacon and it was delicious!
2. Pimm's is the ultimate in British traditions, not to mention a summer staple here in the UK. I'm a fan and looking forward to making the perfect Pimm's concoction... Might take some practice, which will be thoroughly enjoyable I suppose!
3. I visited the Anglesea Arms in South Kensington about a week ago and it's an absolutely delightful pub with a great outdoor area as well. A true gem of London, the Anglesea Arms is conveniently located for meeting all the people who visit London and undoubtedly stay in South Kensington hotels or at the very least, visit the museums nearby. Great spot!
4. It was confirmed this week that John Galliano will be appearing on Charlie Rose and this news has me and every other fashion fanatic reeling. What will he say? Will it help to restart his career? How will the general public react? It's definitely an interview to be on the lookout for if you're a dedicated follower of fashion.
5. I've been watching History of the Eagles on BBC iPlayer and it's great - really fascinating. I remember when my musician uncle bought me their Greatest Hits album back in the 90's and I was immediately hooked. To me, the Eagles are one of America's greatest bands and their break-up spawned some amazing solo careers as well from the likes of Glen Frey and Don Henley. In honor of this amazing documentary, I've added some worthy covers of my favorite Eagles songs by artists such as Michael Buble, Alan Jackson, Linda Ronstadt and The Hollies to the Weekly Tune-up so be sure to check it out and see which ones you recognize!

That's it for this week! Don't forget to check out the Weekly Tune-up on Spotify!

Polo in the Park Finals with Coast

On Sunday I headed to Polo in the Park for a 2nd time to watch the finals as a guest of Coast alongside some other fabulous bloggers. Sadly, the sun went away on Sunday and it was a bit chilly, but it didn't rain, so we were all smiles. The polo was exciting, the crowd was buzzing and the atmosphere was really exciting, yet relaxed. We started the day in the Mahiki where we could wet our whistle with PIMM's between matches and enjoyed watching some invigorating polo from the grandstand. It was a wonderful day that I'll definitely remember for a long time!

Coast had some lovely ladies on the scene snapping shots of the best dressed people over the three days of Polo in the Park. Check out the fabulous fashion on the Coast Facebook page.

With the lovely Briony of A Girl, A Style in the Mahiki tent.

 The MINT London team looking fierce!

 Stomping the divots, a time-honored polo tradition!

 Fancy feet on the polo pitch...

 Team IG Sydney in yellow vs. City AM Abu Dhabi in Green

 Stomping the divots... Again... 

 Nacho Gonzales signing autographs between chukkahs

Team IG Sydney (including Jamie Morrison, my polo teacher at a Gaucho Polo master class a few weeks ago) claimed the victory after winning a very exciting, very close match with Abu Dhabi. It was the most exciting polo match I've seen so far with the players really going for it! I'm sad that Polo in the Park is over now, but I'm already looking forward to going again next year!

Thanks so much to the lovely folks at Coast for such a brilliant day out!