Rachel McAlley - House Of Coco Magazine

Beauty March 13, 2024

4 Healthy Hair Tips & Temperature Calculator

Our writer, Rachel McAlley recently attended a seminar in London with a number of top hair experts in the UK. She was there to learn about new technology by CLOUD NINE, along with healthy hair, pregnancy hair, menopausal hair and so much more.

There were a number of panel experts who went into great detail about everything hair related at the event. Moreover, they discussed how to correctly wash hair, which vitamins and supplements are good for hair, and what heat temperature straighteners should be set at.

Marie Nieuwoudt, award-winning Group Education Manager at CLOUD NINE was one expert who suggested that the best person to ask about your hair is your hairdresser. This is because your hairdresser will know exactly how often you should be washing your hair, and what products you should be using. So, your first port of call should always be your own knowledgeable hairdresser.

CLOUD NINE recently released a Temperature Calculator on their website, enabling users to find out the exact temperature they should be using for hair straighteners. There are a number of hair related questions that you will need to answer in order to find out the optimal temperature for your hair straighteners. Furthermore, the result will depend on your hair colour, the condition it’s currently in, and whether it’s naturally curly or straight. Once all the questions have been answered you will find out what your hair type is and the ideal heat setting.

Panel Host Gabby Logan

The seminar was hosted by Gabby Logan, TV presenter. Gabby has shared some of her top healthy hair tips (for midlife) in a blog for CLOUD NINE. We have used just 4 of Gabby’s top tips below, if you want to read all her top tips then check out the blog (highlighted above).

Gabby says: Embrace the beauty of your evolving hair.
We agree: Go with the flow and enjoy your changing hair.

Gabby suggests: Turn down the heat.
We agree: Try using the Temperature Calculator to find out what your heat setting should be.

Gabby mindfully says: Give your hair a break.
We agree: Let your hair dry naturally every once in a while.

Gabby offers: Trim your ends regularly.
We agree: Visit your hairdresser as they understand your hair requirements.

For more of Gabby Logan’s top tips visit the CLOUD NINE blog page, and don’t forget to try out the CLOUD NINE Temperature Calculator online. You can thank us later!

Healthy Hair Tips & New Temperature Calculator – Words by Rachel McAlley

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Lifestyle March 5, 2024

Fantastic Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Just a few days until we should all be treating our Mum’s and mother figures to something special. Yes, it’s Mother’s Day this Sunday, 10th March, so we have compiled a few Fantastic Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas to help you decide.

If you haven’t splashed out yet don’t worry because we’ve got a great selection of gifts for you to choose from to suit all budgets. She’ll be spoilt for choice with beauty products, food and drink gifts, jewellery, tech and gadgets, housewares, clothing and accessories.

We’ve listed everything from the lowest priced gifts to the more expensive gifts below, and we hope you find something perfect for Mother’s Day.

Gifts Under £20

Milk Chocolate, Hazelnut & Sea Salt Heart, £8 from Dormouse Chocolates

Smooth, mellow 55% Peruvian milk chocolate swirled with hazelnut white chocolate and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt. Weighs approximately 55g.

Gold/Kraft Corner Purse, £14.50 from Caroline Gardner

A pretty gold and Kraft paper fabric pocket coin and card purse. Made from natural paper fibre that has been tanned, resulting in a very durable material that will age like leather.

Passionfruit Martini, £20 from World of Zing

It comes in a recyclable paper bottle, and is made with Sapling Sustainable Vodka. The zingy passionfruit and rich vanilla combine to create a traditional version of this classic passionfruit martini cocktail. 70cl bottle.

Gifts Under £60

Aveeno Skin Relief Gift Set, £24 from Amazon

Cleanse, moisturise and soothe skin with the Skin Relief Gift Set. The perfect gift for mums or mother figures with very dry skin. The set contains Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion (300ml), Skin Relief Body Oil Spray (200ml) and Skin Relief Moisturising Hand Cream (75ml).

Embroidered Floral Pouch, £25 from FatFace

Beautiful florals adorn this mustard-coloured pouch with contrasting tassels to add brightness. Both practical and gorgeous, this little pouch is ideal for Mum’s mini must-haves. Size 20 x 26cm. Made from cotton and polyester.

Fresh Lavender Scarf, £29.99 from Kiwi & Co

From the Love Letters from Amsterdam collection at Kiwi & Co, this lavender coloured chunky scarf makes a statement, keeps the cold at bay, and adds style to any outfit.

Chocolate-coated Liquorice, Love Collection, £31 from Lakrids by Bülow

The limited edition Love Collection Duo features a range of delicious chocolate-coated liquorice, and serves as a unique treat for Mother’s Day. It includes Strawberry & Cream flavour, and the new fruity Peaches flavour.

Raspberry & Wildflower Honey Gin, £36 from Ramsbury Estates

Ramsbury Distillery produce all their drinks on their own Wiltshire estate, where sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. The gin is fruity, floral and packed with honey, making this an ideal gift for a gin fan.

Calora Ceramic Photo Frames (set of 3), £38 from La Redoute

Crafted from ceramic, accented with colourful checkered designs, the Calora frames are a perfect addition to any room of the house. Medium frame is L14 x H18 x D1.1 cm, and small sized frames (x 2) are L10.5 x H12.5 x D1.1cm.

Mother’s Day Treat Box by Rick Stein, £45 from Rick Stein

Full of sweet and savoury Cornish goods for Mum. Including; chocolate chip shortbread, caramel sea salt chocolate, bottle of Rick Stein crisp Spanish white wine, and a scented Jill Stein Padstow candle.

Reflex Active Series 22 Smart Watch in Rose Gold, £55 from Reflex Active

A thoughtful gift that enables mothers to stay effortlessly in touch through hands-free calls while also functioning as a personal wellness companion. This innovative user-friendly watch monitors essential aspects of wellbeing including; hydration, fitness, steps, calories, and heart rate.

Gifts Under £100

Moët & Chandon, Rose Imperial Bespoke Gift Tin, £66.50 from Clos19

To celebrate the women in your life this Mother’s Day, Moët & Chandon lovers can share heartfelt messages with loved ones with personalised tins of Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial, the perfect gift for mums, grandmothers and mother figures.

Electric Milk Frother, £67 – £78 from Illy

The perfect coffee companion, the illy Electric Milk Frother allows Mum to prepare her favourite milk (or milk substitute) hot or cold beverages. Created with coffee lovers in mind it can produce different froth styles including hot cappuccino, iced latte, or creamy hot chocolate. Available in white or black.

Gifts Over £100

Verden D’Orangerie Bath Oil & Scented Candle Gift Set, £120 from Counter Culture Store

An uplifting, and bright infusion of citrus and orange blossom, plus passion fruit seed oil and grape seed oil. This is the perfect bath oil and candle gift set for Mum. Counter Culture Store offers many more beauty products for Mum this Mother’s Day, check it out.

Caroline Jewellery Portfolio Travel Case, £159 from WOLF

Caroline is a timeless classic quilted leather jewellery case for travel. With elegant soft lines and gold hardware it is the embodiment of sophistication and style. Offering 13 earring holes, 1 ring roll, 2 compartments, and 4 necklace holders with pocket. LusterLoc™ allows the fabric lining to absorb the hostile gases known to cause tarnishing.

Fantastic Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas – Words by Rachel McAlley

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Food & Drink March 4, 2024

Exciting Food And Drink Round-Up

We’ve got so much to celebrate in the world of food and drink at the moment. This includes our Exciting Food And Drink Round-Up, plus it’s almost Mother’s Day here in the UK, and there’s lots of delicious things to gift to your mum or the mother figure in your life.

We’ve included some outstanding drinks that can be for yourself or gifted to others, especially mum! There’s even some foodie bits and pieces that you’ll probably want to keep to yourself but they should be shared.

Mother’s Day Food & Drink Gift Ideas

Crosstown Doughnuts

Treating mum to a box of doughnut delights is sure to put a smile on her face this Mother’s Day. Indulge in this perfect treat – a box of six or 12 handcrafted Crosstown doughnuts, complete with ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ edible toppers. Includes Dark Chocolate Truffle Sourdough Doughnuts filled with a rich and indulgent chocolate truffle, coated in luxurious dark chocolate ganache. Also includes Homemade Raspberry Jam Sourdough Doughnuts, with fresh, fruity raspberries and comforting vanilla, filled with raspberry jam and topped with vanilla glaze and freeze-dried raspberries. Priced at £29.95 for 6, and £49.95 for 12 from Crosstown.

Belvoir, Limited Edition Elderflower & Rose Cordial

Belvoir’s Elderflower & Rose Cordial is made to their traditional family recipe, crafted from masses of hand-picked elderflowers with rose petal extract for a delicately floral taste. The limited edition Mother’s Day bottle say’s Happy Mother’s Day on the label and with Love From on the label too, which makes it the perfect gift for Mum. Priced at £4 (500ml bottle), from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Booths.

Category is: Cocktails, by David Dodge and David Orton with Prestel Publishing

If Mum’s a cocktail lover and a fan of Drag performers then this book is for her. The book is filled with sixty delicious, easy to make cocktails and zero-proof drinks, inspired by iconic drag queens. Learn how to make the ‘Donut Come For Me’, named after RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Kim Chi, or why not try a ‘Tingly Crangrarita’ made for UK drag queen Tayce. Each recipe is accompanied by a beautifully-rendered illustration and profile of the queen, king or non-binary performers who inspired them. Category Is: Cocktails! is packed with brilliant concoctions and deep-dive diva trivia. Priced at £12.99 from Waterstones, Amazon, Blackwell’s and more.

Non-alcoholic and Soft Drinks

Mariage Frères, UME CHA 2024 Tea

Luxury French tea purveyor Mariage Frères celebrates its 170th anniversary this year with the launch of vintage blue tea UME CHA 2024. Championing the French Art of Tea since 1854, Mariage Frères has launched this delicate blue tea with notes of blossoming plum trees. A comforting and silky tea with round, floral notes inspiring sweet reverie. Extraordinarily blue in colour when brewed, the loose-leaf tea is encased in a collectible cannister adorned with gold flakes. Priced at £28 per 80g tin, from Mariage Frères.

Belvoir, Brand New Lemonades

If you’re looking to switch up everyday hydration for something that’s lighter on sugar, contains nothing artificial and brings new flavour to savour, say hello to Belvoir Farm’s Sicilian Blood Orange Lemonade and Elderflower Lemonade. Destined to become your zestie besties this summer, they contain fewer than 20 calories per 100ml and come in smaller 500ml bottles (two serves) to keep handy in the fridge for an everyday treat without the sugar. Priced at £2 per bottle from Waitrose.

Alcoholic Drinks

SERVED, Pre-mixed Cocktails by Ellie Goulding

SERVED, the award-winning premixed cocktails brought to you by Ellie Goulding are the perfect fit for BBQ’s, summer drinks, and alfresco dining moments. These bar quality cocktails in a can are crafted with 100% natural ingredients, a double measure of premium spirit and real fruit to give an authentic but exquisitely refreshing flavour, setting them up to be the affordable luxury of 2024! With Mojito, Passionfruit Martini, Margarita, and Pina Colada offering some crowd-pleasing cocktail favourites, SERVED cocktails are also made with wonky fruit to help reduce food waste. They are also vegan, gluten-free and have no added sugar. Priced at £26 for a Taster Pack (8 x cans), from Served Drinks.

Don Julio, Blanco Tequila

Don Julio Blanco Tequila is made from the finest blue agave plant though a time-honoured distillation process. A smooth, fresh tasting tequila, Blanco is the heart and soul of Don Julio and the base for all their tequilas. Offering a crisp agave flavour and hints of citrus, this is tequila in its truest form. The spirit can be enjoyed in a variety of innovative cocktails. Priced at £47.85 from Amazon.

The Drinks Bureau Cocktails in Cans

Serving up seriously tasty cocktails in cans, party boxes and soon to add frozen cocktail pops to their collection. Made with premium quality ingredients, which are vegan and allergen free, their award-winning ready-to-drink cocktails taste like bar-made drinks without the faff and in fabulous little packs! Cocktails include Spicy Margarita, Passionfruit Martini, and Espresso Martini. Equally, new no and low cans have been added, which include Shirley Temple, non-alcoholic made with cherry, ginger, lemon and bitters. Also, Dirty Shirley is a 5% abv, with a moreish ginger zing! Keep any eye out for frozen cocktail pops in both G&T and Passionfruit Martini. Priced between £12 to £15 for 4 cans, from The Drinks Bureau.

Food

Häagen-Dazs, Limited Edition Vanilla Pint for Charity

The iconic Häagen-Dazs Vanilla pint undergoes a fresh new look to celebrate its iconic female founder, Rose Mattus and The Rose Project, with proceeds being donated to The Prince’s Trust Change a Girl’s Life campaign. Launched just in time for International Women’s Day it will have a fresh new look tub. Priced at £5.15 from Sainsbury’s.

Melora, Manuka Honey

The Manuka honey from Melora is harvested from New Zealand’s super plant and can be used in many dishes. Breakfast is the perfect time to add Melora’s Manuka Honey into your porridge, or have on your toast. It can even be added to hot drinks for both health reasons and to replace sugar. You can buy the Manuka Honey either as honey, or as flavoured honey, or even as lozenges to help fight colds and flu viruses. Priced from £7 for Honey, £12.50 for flavoured squeezy honey bottles, and £6.39 for lozenges, from Melora.

Jelly Belly Bubble Tea

Calling all bubble tea enthusiasts! Jelly Belly introduces the Bubble Tea Collection, the perfect blend of tea, tapioca and sweetness in jelly bean form. Hitting shelves this month, bubble tea buffs will soon be able to enjoy five unforgettable flavours inspired by the beloved beverage – Mango Milk Tea, Taro Milk Tea, Matcha Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea, and Thai Milk Tea. Priced between £0.95 – £6.50, from Jelly Belly.

Exciting Food And Drink Round-Up – Words by Rachel McAlley

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Food & Drink March 1, 2024

Exquisite Winter Dining Menu At Harvey Nichols

What better venue than Harvey Nichols Fourth Floor Brasserie in Leeds to enjoy a leisurely meal with friends or family? Try for yourself the Exquisite Winter Dining Menu.

The Winter Dining Menu at Harvey Nichols offers a selection of starters, mains and desserts, plus a cocktail for just £30 per person. A 3-course menu that is running until 17th March, which means that you’ve still got plenty of time to book yourself in for this wonderful treat.

Guests can choose to dine at any of the Harvey Nichols restaurants including Leeds, where we dined, or Knightsbridge, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh.

The menu offers dishes such as warm onion and potato hash with whipped goats cheese, and chilli tomato jam, which we tried. Or, escabeche of sea bass with potato, confit shallot, and smoked paprika aioli, another dish we tried. There are two other starters on the menu including chicken liver parfait or charred smoked haddock too.

As you can imagine everything was served beautifully, presented immaculately, and tasted divine. We even had food envy as the table opposite tucked into starters we hadn’t opted for, and the haddock looked extremely delicious.

Exquisite Winter Dining Menu

With five mains courses to choose from, there’s something for all tastes. We decided upon the pan-fried sea bream, served with crushed potatoes, baby gem lettuce, crispy onions and salsa verde. Our other main was the braised shoulder of lamb, with black olive mashed potato, roasted red pepper, whipped goats cheese, and tenderstem broccoli, with a rosemary sauce.

We couldn’t call it between the mains because the fish was flaky and delicate, yet the lamb was hearty and flavoursome. Both were quite outstanding from start to finish.

The dessert menu showcased some wonderful options including whipped milk chocolate ganache, or rhubarb and custard mille feuille. Equally, there was the dessert of all desserts, sticky toffee pudding, or selection of cheeses with crackers and chutney.

Exquisite Winter Dining Menu

One of us was too full to indulge, the other tried the cheeses which were supplied from Yorkshire cheesemonger Cryer & Stott of Allerton Bywater. The cheese was so good, and such a great way to end the meal at Harvey Nichols Fourth Floor Brasserie in Leeds.

We would suggest you book now before the 17th March as this limited time menu will cease to exist past this date, and you don’t want to miss out!

Winter Dining Menu here, book yourself a table here.

Huge thanks to the wonderful front of house team at Harvey Nichols Fourth Floor Brasserie for looking after us perfectly.

Exquisite Winter Dining Menu At Harvey Nichols written by Rachel McAlley

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Beauty February 6, 2024

10 Beauty Must Haves For A Solo Traveller

As more and more of us are choosing to travel the world solo, we thought we’d put a few ideas together for the ideal beauty must haves for a solo adventurer.

You’ll find a number of skincare products, haircare products, make-up products, and fragrances that are great for travelling with.

Skincare

Green People, Nordic Roots Hyaluronic Booster Serum

Quench dry, tight, thirsty skin with drops of instant, intense hydration. This powerhouse serum is designed to intensely hydrate and plump the skin, promoting a more youthful and radiant appearance. A fast-absorbing serum that plumps the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Fragrance free, suitable for very sensitive skin. Priced at £32, available from Green People.

Elemental Herbology, Kombucha Infusion Sheet Mask

Rich in probiotics and antioxidants to plump the skin and fortify the skin barrier. To instantly brighten your complexion, with nourishing botanicals, vitamins and enzymes, which help lift the complexion and promote healthy skin. A beauty must haves essential. Priced at £9, from Elemental Herbology.

FaceWise Skincare, Essential Eye Cream

A must-have in your daily routine our Essential Eye Cream offers a lift to tired eyes. A combination of vitamins A, E and F, all found in shea butter, aid the skin in producing collagen. Hyaluronic acid hydrates, helping to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin feeling refreshed. Priced at £18.95, from FaceWise Skincare.

Haircare

HASK, Keratin Protein Smoothing Shampoo

The shampoo that leaves frizzy and unruly hair smooth, full of life, and with incredible shine. Free from sulphates, parabens, phthalates, alcohol, and artificial colours as well and being gluten free. Infused with keratin to help reduce the frizz. This is the perfect travel companion to keep your hair as clean and healthy as possible. Priced at £7.40, from Amazon.

HASK, Keratin Protein Smoothing Conditioner

The miracle cure for over-processed hair, this conditioner is infused with hydrolysed keratin to block humidity and reduce unruly frizz. It softens, renews, and detangles dry hair or colour-treated hair. Free from sulphates, parabens, phthalates, artificial colours and alcohol, as well as being free from gluten. Priced at £7.40, from Waitrose.

FUL London, Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush

For an extra bit of TLC whilst travelling, take the FUL scalp massager tool to help massage the scalp when applying your shampoo. It helps with a deeper clean and producing added foam. Easy to grip handle, and the tips are made from malleable silicone for a gentle and relaxing massage. Priced at £9.50, from FUL London.

Beauty Must Haves For A Solo Traveller

Makeup

Emolyne, The Classic Kit

Look no further than this amazing kit from Emolyne Cosmetics, for the perfect trio of make-up. Available in 30 different shades, there is a colour for everyone. The Classic Kit consists of Velvet Lip, Defining Lip, and Nail Lacquer. Not only do the products glide on the lips and nails perfectly, but they are beautifully packaged too. A definite beauty must haves essential! Priced at £39 for the kit, available from Emolyne.

Odylique, Mascara

Odylique’s Organic Mascara is packed with conditioning plant extracts including aloe vera, calendula, and sea buckthorn fruit. It is free from toxic metals, solvents, fibres, and plasticisers, meaning it’s suitable for sensitive eyes and contact wearers. Defines lashes naturally without clumping, doesn’t damage the lashes, and conditions and cares for each individual lash. Available in black and brown. Priced at £18, from Odylique.

Fragrance

Sabrina Carpenter, Sweet Tooth

The ideal daytime fragrance for your travels, by singer, songwriter, actress, designer and producer Sabrina Carpenter. Inspired by her love of desserts, “Sweet Tooth” by Sabrina Carpenter Eau de Parfum indulges with a fragrance good enough to eat. The gourmand fragrance, developed in partnership with Firmenich, features notes of chocolate marshmallow, vanilla, Chantilly cream, and sugared musk. A beauty must haves sweet yet sophisticated scent. Priced from £24.99, at Superdrug.

Thameen, Peacock Throne Eau de Parfum

A rich, warming and luxurious fragrance, Peacock Throne brings the heat with top notes of Sicilian lemon oil, pink pepper, and nutmeg. Taif Rose is the key flower in the heart notes along with Turkish rose and jasmine sambac. A base of patchouli, vetiver, vanilla and sandalwood. Inspired by the legendary Peacock Throne, which was created for the Mughal Emperor of India in the early 17th Century. An absolutely beautiful scent to wear morning, noon, and night. Priced at £180 from Harrods and Thameen London.

Here are some Travel Ideas for a solo traveller. Wherever you decide to visit, enjoy yourself, take care of your skin, and most importantly take care of yourself.

10 Beauty Must Haves For A Solo Traveller – Feature written by Rachel McAlley

Travel January 18, 2024

Escape To The Maynard in The Peak District

Escape To The Maynard in The Peak District is exactly what our girl, Rachel McAlley did. She fancied a little January weekend away, and the Peak District had been put on her radar by some friends. Only a couple of hours drive from her home in North Yorkshire she packed up her family in the car and set off for a few days in Derbyshire.

The Peak District National Park is extremely picturesque, filled with hills and green spaces for miles. It’s a great place for walkers and cyclists as it’s got some excellent bespoke walks and paths for bikes. There’s plenty to see and do, like visit Chatsworth House, or the quaint town of Bakewell.

They Maynard from above — Escape To The Maynard in The Peak District – The Maynard Aerial View

We stayed at the recently revamped The Maynard Hotel, in Grindleford, which is situated in the Hope Valley. A gorgeous 3* Hotel that is 165 years old, which offers boutique-style accommodation and has an excellent onsite restaurant.

Restaurant Lower Floor — Upper Floor Restaurant

Escape To The Maynard in The Peak District

After our drive, which took in Meadowhall Shopping Centre, and Sheffield city centre, we checked in at around 6pm and the bar and restaurant were already buzzing with drinkers and diners.

You’d be mistaken if you thought January was going to be quiet at The Maynard. The restaurant is currently offering customers 30% off all meals from the main menu (Monday to Saturday until 29th Feb excluding Valentine’s Day), and every table was busy enjoying this great offer.

Our family room was located on the 2nd floor, and we embarked up the steps with our luggage. The first-floor landing has the most beautiful ornate window, and the décor of the whole hotel is beautifully put together. Rustic and charming with some wonderful contemporary additions.

We had a huge room with loads of space, perfect for my family of three. With two separate bedrooms and a large bathroom, complete with massive bath we unpacked and descended the stairs to dinner in the restaurant.

After checking out the menu, we ordered the hummus and baba ganoush with artisan breads, twice-baked cheddar cheese souffle with Hartington stilton sauce, and wild mushroom soup as starters. Our mains included roasted vegetable and quinoa salad with satay chicken skewers, bacon and cheese burger in a pretzel bun with triple-cooked chips, and chicken supreme with dauphinoise potatoes, spinach and bacon cream sauce. The desserts we chose were, apple, cinnamon and golden syrup sponge pudding, pavlova with mulled plums and Chantilly cream, plus a scoop of orange sorbet.

Pavlova with mulled Plums — Pavlova wth Mulled Plums

It’s good to note here that almost everything on the menu is Gluten Free, or can be made GF. This is because the Managing Director, Rob Hattersley is coeliac, and the Executive Head Chef, Adrian Gagea and the Head Chef, Greg Robinson have adapted the dishes to be naturally GF. This is a great additional pull for many people as the food is all created fresh in-house and everything is completely adaptable for any kind of food intolerance.

Everything we ate was delicious, and sourced locally, but the outstanding dishes were the cheese soufflé (the best I have ever eaten), the homemade mushroom soup, the chicken supreme, and finally the pavlova with divine mulled plums. We were insanely full after each having 3-courses, stuffed you might even say!

The atmosphere in the restaurant was excellent, the staff were attentive and knowledgeable, and everyone was friendly including both staff and customers.

We ventured up the stairs (which were quite difficult after the amount of food we’d consumed), and literally collapsed on to the bed. After a little Saturday night TV, we fiddled with the futon (which wasn’t the most comfortable bed) for our daughter, and then climbed into our super comfy king-sized bed and happily slept until morning.

Escape To The Maynard in The Peak District

Up early and opening the hotel room curtains to see lots of sunshine over the Peak District hills, and plenty of walkers already out walking with their dogs. It was really nice to see people enjoying the area around the hotel taking a brisk walk on a Sunday morning.

Breakfast beckoned and we strolled down to the restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely, hearty full English, sausage sandwich, and salmon with scrambled eggs and cream cheese muffin. Plenty of coffee, tea, and juice later and we were ready to check out and head to our next port of call.

I must give an extra special mention to the outstanding black pudding that came with the full English, as my fiancé drooled over every mouthful and said it was the best he’d ever tasted.

The reception team were lovely to deal with, happy to answer any questions I had about the local area, and eager to ask about our meal the night before. It’s always a pleasure to tell the reception staff how amazing the food is, especially when it’s as good as it is at The Maynard.

The family room we stayed in was priced at around £135 for our family of three and included breakfast. Dinner was priced individually and our meal plus drinks came to £97, this included the 30% new year discount offer.

After leaving The Maynard we headed to Bakewell (just 15 minutes away) to pick up a famous Bakewell Tart to take home, and enjoyed an afternoon shopping and walking on the riverside before driving home to North Yorkshire.

Huge thanks to the entire team at The Maynard for making us feel extremely welcome, and the hospitality was second to none.

Here are the details to visit The Maynard to book a room in the hotel or a table in the restaurant.

Where are you planning on visiting in 2024? Escape To The Maynard in The Peak District words by Rachel McAlley.

Food & Drink December 15, 2023

December’s Delicious Food & Drink Round-Up

As we are in December, what better month to highlight the amazing food and drink produce that has recently launched, or is about to launch.

It’s the time of over indulgence, but that doesn’t have to mean eating and drinking all bad things in December. There is so much to enjoy from locally produced frozen meals to super-healthy mushroom matcha. Outstanding ice creams and barista-style syrups to limited edition sausages also feature in this round-up.

Food This December

Strong Roots, Good Made Easy Meals, £3.50 each from Ocado

Strong Roots, the pioneers in plant-based frozen food, have done it again! Setting out the next step in their mission to make tasty, plant-based food for busy people, they have launched five bold, veggie-packed meals. Strong Roots meals currently at Ocado include; Creamy Mac, and Thai Green Veg Curry, Veggie Masala, White Bean & Lentil Stew, and Mediterranean Orzo Bake. Plus, soon to launch at Sainsbury’s in January will be the Thai Green Veg Curry and the Veggie Masala, so keep your eyes peeled.

Boursin, Truffle Flavoured, £2.95 (150g) from Tesco

New limited-edition Boursin Truffle Flavoured! A delicious puck combining the classic, creamy and crumbly texture of Boursin cheese infused with a truffle flavour. This adds depth and richness to the classic Boursin, elevating homemade recipes to a whole new level.

Nairn’s X Marmite, Marmite & Cheese Oatcakes, £1.95 (200g) from Waitrose

Nairn’s best-selling Cheese Oatcakes are a firm family favourite for a reason and have now been taken to new levels with an added dose of Marmite’s iconic flavour for the ultimate savoury taste sensation. Made with real cheese, wholegrain oats, a dollop of Marmite, and very little else.

Häagen-Dazs, Caramel Biscuit & Cream with Biscoff®, £5.40 (460ml) from Tesco & other major retailers

The collaboration we’ve all been waiting for, Häagen-Dazs Caramel, Biscuit & Cream crafted with Biscoff® is a match made in biscuity heaven. The mouth-watering flavour offers a delightful combination of Belgium caramelised biscuit, delicately paired with deliciously rich and sleek caramel ice cream, full of flavour and texture.

MAXI Babybel, £3.25 (200g), from Asda

After a long-anticipated arrival, the NEW Maxi Babybel has arrived. This 200g version of the nation’s favourite cheese snack, has just rolled out in the UK and unveiled as a limited edition!

HECK, Limited Edition Pork, Wensleydale & Cranberry Cocktail Sausages, £3 from Tesco

Three favourite Christmas flavours into one deliciously festive cocktail sausage bite. Pork, Wensleydale and Cranberry flavours, with 20 mini sausages in the pack. The limited-edition packs ae only available until 2nd January, so get yours now!

Graham’s Family Dairy, Protein Pots

Brand new launch of confectionery flavoured Protein Yogurt Pots from Graham’s Family Dairy in Scotland. New flavours include; Lemon Cheesecake, Chocolate Caramel, and Stracciatella. Each pot is sweetener free, has 22 grams of protein per pot, and relys on all-natural goodness. Currently available in Scotland only.

Drinks This December

Belvoir, Fruit Cordials £4 each, and Delicious Light Cans £4.75 (x 4) from Waitrose

If you’re looking for a deliciously healthy kickstart to the new year that’s naturally low in sugar and calories, and contains absolutely nothing artificial, fill up on Belvoir Farm’s two new fruit-packed thirst quenchers: Delicious & Light reduced sugar, low-calorie cans and the UK’s first No Added Sugar Pure Fruit Cordials. The light cans include; Raspberry Lemonade, Mango & Peach, and Elderflower Lemonade. Belvoir’s no added sugar cordials include; Sicilian Lemon & Lime, Exotic Mango & Passionfruit, and Elderflower & Apple.

BZZD, Energy Drinks, £15 (24 x 150ml cans), from Amazon

BZZD Energy Tonic Water is expertly crafted to lift spirits. BZZD Energy is the ultimate guilt free pick me up as it boasts more caffeine per 100ml that the UK’s leading energy brand, while being only 18kcals per can. What’s more, BZZD Energy is powered by nature, with caffeine extracted from 100% natural plant sources to give the ultimate all-natural, uplifting buzz. Can be used as a mixer or enjoyed on its own.

Tate & Lyle, Barista Syrups, £2.79 each from Morrisons

Create barista-style drinks at home with the new Tate & Lyle syrups, including Caramel, Vanilla, and Hazelnut flavours. Al made from pure cane sugar.

DIRTEA, Mushroom Match Super Blend, £53.99 per month

DIRTEA’s Mushroom Matcha is made using the world’s finest functional mushrooms sourced from the fruiting body which contains the highest concentration of active ingredients, including beta-glucans, triterpenes, and other active compounds.

Citizen Spritz, Non-alcoholic Spritz Mixers, £20 (500ml)

Crafted for special moments, these spritz mixes allow you to effortlessly create drinks similar to pornstar martinis or mojitos in an instant. Plus, as each bottle offers 20 servings, drinks can be made in bigger quantities which is perfect for hosting. All you have to do is add 175ml of soda or sparkling water to 25ml of Citizen Spritz and voila! The range includes 4 flavours including; Bitter Orange, Cool Lime, Pink Grapefruit, and Passionfruit.

December’s Delicious Food & Drink Round-Up – Words by Rachel McAlley

Check out more Food & Drink at House of Coco

Gift Guide December 13, 2023

Amazing Christmas Gifts On A Budget

We’ve all done it, left our Christmas shopping until the last minute, and it’s potentially too late to get the best bargains. However, we’ve got you covered this year with our budget gifts for under £10, under £20, and under £30.

What are you waiting for, get online and order some of these amazing gifts for your friends and family today.

Gifts £10 and under

Divine, Limited Edition Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, £5

Get this limited-edition hot chocolate before it goes! Barista-style, vegan friendly Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate is thick and irresistibly luxurious. Equally it’s Fairtrade, and palm oil free, we just know that you’re going to love it.

Radox, Cleanse & Revive Gift Set with Shower Steamer, £8 from Amazon

The ideal wake-me-up shower and bath kit, includes; Radox Blueberry Bath Bomb (100g) or Radox Raspberry Bath Bomb (100g). Plus, and Radox Shower Steamer and Radox Mineral Therapy Feel Radiant Shower Gel (225ml).

Prezzee Gift Card, £10+

Making gifting fun, personalised and seamless – a digital gift that can be sent via text or email. For him, for her, for the kids, for anyone! Can be used in 190 major retailers across the UK.

Gifts £20 and under

Philip Kingsley, Super Strength Stocking Filler, £12

Christmas gift box with Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment (40ml), and Elasti-Styler 5-in-1 Treatment (40ml). Worth £22, this gift makes a perfect stocking filler. Furthermore, this gift helps your hair to feel healthier and stronger than ever before!

Skin Proud, Clear Off Makeup Remover Pads, £12.95

A wonderful gift for a makeup lover. Reusable, washable, and made with microfibre strands to help remove makeup. Can be used with cleanser or without, 100% vegan and PETA approved.

Cheatwell, Charades Board Game, £15 from Amazon

It’s the classic parlour board game packed with instant family fun and entertainment. The aim of the game is to move your playing counters across the board from ‘start’ to ‘finish’ whilst acting and guessing mimes from the six categories. The box contains: Charades Card Decks, Sand Timer, Counters, Playing Board, Rules. Age 12+

VARU, Lip Food Lip Oil, £18

VARU’s lip oils offer a full-bodied, rich colour, and a soft, moisturising application that leaves the lips softer for longer. It provides a lusciously glowy finish. Infused with key ingredients like Shea Butter for moisture and suppleness. Available in 9 shades.

Gifts £30 and under

Russell & Atwell, Caramel & Milk Fresh Chocolates, £30

Containing two jars of Russell & Atwell’s bestsellers; Outrageously Creamy Milk and Scrumptious Salted Caramel Fresh Chocolates. Hand finished chocolate shells, which release a slow-melting creamy centre. The most amazingly delicious Christmas gift!

The Pickle House, Ultimate Bloody Mary Kit, £30

The most revered recovery cocktail, the Bloody Mary is a sure-fire winning gift this Christmas. Gift set includes; The Pickle House Bloody Mary (7% 2 x 200ml), Bloody Mary Salt Rim, Mini Tabasco (2 x 3.7ml), LifeBio Miracle vitamin pouches, Serious Pig Pickles Garnish, and recipe card.

We hope that you have picked a few fabulous treats for your loved ones. All that’s left to say is to have a wonderful festive season, and enjoy every minute with the people that mean the most to you. Christmas is a time to relax, have fun, and be in the moment.

Merry Christmas!

Amazing Christmas Gifts On A Budget – Words by Rachel McAlley

For more Christmas Gift Ideas from House of Coco Magazine

Beauty November 9, 2023

#CocoBeauty: Wunder2

We’re sure that #TeamCoco aren’t the only girls in the world that are raving about WUNDER2 and their products, are we?

Autumn is always a great chance to update our makeup collections and we start with the all-important foundation. The true testament to anyone’s daily makeup longevity is whether your choice of foundation stays put all day or whether it slowly falls from your face at any given moment. We are all about the seriousness of all-day foundation.

Look no further than this little beaut, WUNDER2 Last & Found(ation) 24+ Hour Flawless Coverage.

WUNDER2 specialises in high tech beauty that is made to stand the test of time. And this little tube of wonderment is waterproof and transfer-proof, plus it’s comfortable to wear and lightweight which also deeply nourishes the skin giving a fab complexion as a result.

Available in a choice of 7 different shades for light through to dark skin tones. Priced at £24.95 for 30ml, available from Wunder2 online.

Beauty November 9, 2023

#CocoBeauty: World Afro Day

Yes, listen up y’all it’s World Afro Day this Saturday 15th of September and we are loving the sass that comes with it. Our very own Editor-in-Chief Laura Bartlett has the best afro curly hair you have ever seen, we all swoon after her locks.

The afro has been around since as far back as we can remember, and it evolves beautifully over time. Famous afro’s over the decades include those of Nina Simone, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Mel B, Lenny Kravitz, Jamelia, Beyonce, Solange Knowles and so many more.

We are into Cantu’s full collection of products that help maintain the beauty, strength and style of a great afro in 2018.

To achieve a full fro we recommend Cantu Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment. It prevents breakage and conditions fragile hair whilst replacing vital moisture lost through styling damage. Priced at £5.49.

For a smooth and enhanced natural curl pattern we love Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream as it reveals fizz-free volume with a subtle hold. Priced at £7.99.

Cantu Define & Shine Custard elongates curls and gives long lasting hold, perfect to achieve a natural textured curl. We adore this product for curly hair. Priced at £5.49.

To keep a fro on point we’re into Cantu Coconut Oil Shine & Hold Mist. It seals in moisture and tames frizz and flyaways. This is a must have product for all afro wearers. Priced at £6.99.

If it’s serious curl definition that you are looking for with your fro then our go to is Cantu Coconut Curling Cream, it leaves the hair super soft and super shiny. Priced at £7.99.

All Cantu products can be purchased at high street Boots stores, Superdrug stores, and online via FeelUnique.