When we caught Emma Gannon speaking recently about ‘the multi-hyphen method’ we recognised amongst the House of Coco team and our friends how many women we knew were embracing their different interests and skills to create fuller and more rewarding lives for themselves. When we saw that super multi-hyphenate April Jackson (former Miss Jamaica Universe, food blogger & The Apprentice 2015 candidate!) was getting ready to open her second Three Little Birds (threelittlebirdsja.com) Jamaican restaurant in London we knew we had to sit down with her for a chat!
HOC: April, so lovely to meet you. Do you identify with the term multi-hyphenate and what does this mean to you?
April: To be honest I have never used the term multi-hyphenate but to me it would mean wearing multiple hats, which I feel every entrepreneur has to do, especially when operating an independent business. At Three Little Birds when people ask what is my role, I often answer that I am whoever they need me to be, or as they say head cook and bottle washer because I have to adapt to each circumstance.
HOC: Since leaving The Apprentice we’ve heard a lot about Three Little Birds, can you tell us more about the restaurant?
April: I opened Three Little Birds in 2015 because it allowed me to combine my love for Jamaica and my passion for food while creating a viable business. Whilst Caribbean culture has influenced London since the Windrush in 1948 our food has been most commonly served up in takeaways. There has been a new wave of Caribbean eateries but Three Little Birds gave me a voice; to show that Jamaica is more than a ghetto or a beach, whilst dishing up small sharing plates inspired by my upbringing, alongside creative cocktails and warm service.
HOC: Sounds awesome, what could we expect from an evening at Three Little Birds?
April: My regulars will tell you that Three Little Birds is unique with its menu offering, which changes seasonally although featuring many staples such as the ever popular curry goat and our rum punch. Traditionally Caribbean food is known for its hearty portions and we serve a tapas-style menu with memorable flavours. We are proud to stock premium spirits that we use to convert everyone into a rum drinker as there is truly a rum for everyone. Our service stands out because we care about you the individual; you are our guest and we enjoy welcoming you to our home.
HOC: We’re salivating already! What’s your favourite Jamaican dish or cocktail to whip up?
April: Choosing a single dish is difficult, I probably enjoy making ackee and saltfish the most. When people order our Jamaican Breakfast at brunch, it’s likely the first time that they’ll enjoy our national dish alongside bammy (think hash brown made from cassava!) with plantain and it makes me very proud to show them a taste of my culture that they haven’t experienced before. At the moment my favourite cocktail on the menu is the Miss J, because it’s perfectly sweet…. but I love making the Three Little Birds Rum Punch because I get to burn cinnamon on top and the fire excites me!
HOC: I’m sure many of our Girl Boss readers have considered applying for a business reality show, how did your experience on The Apprentice help you get to where you are today?
April: The Apprentice was very beneficial for me and my business because it gave me the exposure I needed to draw people to Three Little Birds in Brixton. Before The Apprentice I was living in Jamaica and moving to London to open a new restaurant without a network would have been much more difficult without the publicity that came along with my appearance on the show and for that I am extremely grateful.
HOC: What are your plans for Three Little Birds and the other projects you are working on?
April: Our second location on Battersea Rise has just opened and I am excited to spread some more Jamaican-inspired magic to a new area by becoming a beloved fixture in the local community. In addition my pepper jelly, which is served with our codfish fritters and halloumi sticks, is in high demand so I will be bottling it along with some other delicious recipes for retail…
HOC: We’re big fans of Sophia Amoroso and #GirlBoss , can you tell us about a ‘Girl Boss Moment’ you had recently?
April: I love that book! I feel like each time I engage into any negotiation, I come out feeling like I’ve had a ‘Girl Boss Moment’. Whilst sourcing equipment for the new site I have managed to save thousands by doing research, illustrating that I have other options, going out of my way to smile with the decision makers and asking for discounts nicely.
More recently I gave a talk to a group of children who participated in the Young Enterprise Company Program and I was nervous to speak to teenagers as they are harder to impress than adults but surprisingly they were really engaged and one of the organisers described my speech as the best he had heard in 16yrs of participating in the program. I left the event feeling like a #GirlBoss because it is a gift to be able to inspire others.
Thanks so much for your time with us April, you are a force to be reckoned with and we’re strangely feeling really hungry now, guess we’ll see you down at Three Little Birds really soon!
Find out more about Three Little Birds at threelittlebirdsja.com
Brixton: 412 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton, London SW9 8LF
When offered the chance to visit a restaurant championing Jamaican flavours in the heart of Brixton, I had to jump at the opportunity. Growing up with a Jamaican grandmother, a woman who was very much the matriarch of our family unit I was introduced to Jamaican flavours at an early age – the story goes my first solid food was curried goat. From as young as I can remember, every August bank holiday was spent on her stoop in Notting Hill watching the carnival go by – vats of that curry goat perched on a fold out table, ladelled into paper bowls to not only family and friends but any passers by that wanted a taste. To accompany the curry there were wash tubs and I mean wash tubs, of rum punch. This stuff started potent but as the day went on and Gran got more and more ‘loose’ , generous glugs of rum were replaced with whole bottles and before you knew it, most guests were putting on their own carnival.
As I entered my early twenties I moved to Brixton – this was the place we were warned of as kids. A bit rough with not much going on. I remember sneaking to a gig at the age of 16 at the Academy feeling like Mrs Big Balls until I emerged from from the tube station into a gust of cold wind, tentacles of pungent incense wrapping around me and muffled voices singing what sounded like sinister nursery rhymes advertising all the wares on offer. I was terrified. When a room came up in a house that was too good to turn down, I ventured back. Friends had been living there for a year and casually commented “it’s fine, I’ve only been mugged once and the police were really good that time we got broken into”. We were there before the gentrification came into full force. Brixton market was just that, a market selling giant african snails (I still don’t know why), pigs trotters (which my Gran made me buy a bag of every time I went to visit her – side note, my Gran and I’s meeting place was the 5th Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols. Do you know how weird you feel hiking a bag of pigs feet into Harvey Nichols?) and a hundred other things that I didn’t know what to do with. Walking down Brixton Hill felt like a hike to the ends of the earth, there was no scattering of coffee shops and low lit bars to break up the journey, just many many questionable off licenses. But with all that in mind, it truly was the most magical place to spend your uni years – the energy, the diversity, the peopler – I wouldn’t change a thing about it, not even the break ins because they made for some fantastic dinner party chat.
Heading back ten years later, I knew the Brixton I had fallen in love with had changed. I was prepared for the glaring lights of Foxtons estate agents, although I can’t tell you how happy I was to see the clothes shop ‘RISKY’ is still steadfast right next door to them. From the tube I walked down Electric Avenue but instead of following the familiar path into the market, nipped out onto Coldharbour Lane and into the warm, welcoming arms of Wood and Water.
I’m not quite sure how they’ve done it but the two things I feared the most – the loss of heritage and the over the top ‘place to be’ vibe – they have managed to amalgamate into a near perfect setting. The restaurant is small – perhaps twenty covers in the main seating area with a long bar with additional high tops for those looking for a cocktail and a snack – for which I applaud you, the cocktails are worth the trip alone but I’ll get onto that in a minute. A combination of low lighting, sumptuous velvet chairs and gorgeous dark wood accents can only be described as a hug. This place literally hugs you as you walk in. Totally juxtaposed from the bustle that is going on a mere twenty feet away – here is sanctuary and intimacy. It is the kind of place you get lost in a date and only realise once the staff gently start sweeping around you. April Jackson has truly created something magic here.
Jackson told Sophie Witts of The Caterer that “After a hard year, it is time to go back to the reason I started six years ago, which was to share my love for Jamaica through delicious food, rum cocktails and warm hospitality.” And in summary, she’s bloody nailed it. We were welcomed in with warm arms by Julien, perhaps the best mixologist south of the river. Instantly you could feel what April has strived to create oozing out of every part of the set up – the menu, the cocktail list, the staff – I was sitting in a boujee restaurant in Brixton but I had been transported to memories of my wonderful Gran and my Jamaican roots.
The cocktail menu was a work of art in itself. My dining partner and I settled on one each, the Pistachio Sour and Birds of Paradise – two very different offerings but both laced with artisanal rum. The Pistachio Sour creamy from the nut milk with a refreshing hit of lemon, the Birds of Paradise, long and fruity with everything you would expect from a drink with such a name – passion fruit and pineapple aplenty. This guy certainly had notes of that infamous rum punch I grew up with but rest assured, there were no wash tubs to be seen. To compliment our cocktails we were offered some snacks – let it be known, I NEVER turn down a snack. Paella popcorn laced with prawn jus & chorizo. I was a little confused when I saw this on the menu, I couldn’t tell you why my head instantly went to the weird chicken popcorn the colonel down the road sells but turns out it was the regular popcorn – for which I am pretty grateful. Packed with a deep prawn flavour that you only really get through roasting the shells and straining of the juices – for something as ‘simple’ as a popcorn bar snack, the bar had been raised. To get this much flavour into such a tiny morsel of food is nothing short of impressive and I was beyond excited for what was to come next. We also snacked on Cancha, a roasted corn nut which was also delicious and moreish.
When taking in the main menu it was apparent that fusion was a key component, Jackson went on to explain to Sophie Witts that “Brixton is still changing and we are eager to change with it. I am excited to serve small plates that have familiar ingredients alongside some less familiar Jamaican elements, in a newly renovated space, with an interesting collection of rums and an energy that keeps you wanting more.”
I am always a little suspicious when the word ‘fusion’ raises its head but here April has identified a need so accurately that I can’t see how this restaurant wouldn’t succeed. Hopping on the trend of small plates for those busy bees that are a simply too pressed for time to eat a full course meal, bringing together familiar ingredients to appease the less adventurous diners and gently introduce them to Jamaican ingredients in a safe and secure setting such as a pumpkin veloute and roast poussin served up like a roast dinner is inspired.
We were advised that four or five plates would suffice. So of course, true to form, we went for seven – no regrets.
To start, slow cooked goat croquettes with plantain ketchup and king prawns with scotch bonnet, lemongrass and ginger. The croquettes. Oh my days. That was it. I was back in Notting Hill living my best life. Meltingly soft meat, crispy coating, the plantain ketchup was perfectly balanced offering sweetness and heat. They were a revelation and I could have eaten a whole bowl full. The prawns came shelled but with their heads (I like to think the shells were used to flavour the popcorn). Perfectly cooked and again, the perfect balance of heat and sweet which is a theme throughout this menu. Again, this dish took me right back to my Gran who I remember would order fresh shellfish when we were in Jamaica and suck the heads within an inch of their life.
For our ‘mains’ we feasted and I mean feasted on the roasted pouisson, braised short rib with potato puree & petit pois. Salted cod, breadfruit, ackee and more of that plantain ketchup (which they really do need to bottle and sell) plantain in a honey and ginger glaze with pineapple salsa and charred baby gem.
The stand out dish for me was the shortrib – April’s take on a cottage pie was nothing short of perfect. Rich, deep braised beef and peas, topped with creamy mash – someone that can elevate the humblest of dishes to that level is pretty spesh. The salted cod and breadfruit is an acquired taste and quite unusual to the English palette. I have eaten it when in Jamaica but I wanted to try it in a more refined environment, for me it didn’t quite hit the mark but that’s not to say it wasn’t great. I would encourage anyone trying this restaurant to sample it given how important it is within Jamaican cuisine – if you are going to try it anywhere, try it here. The veg dishes of plantain and charred baby gem were fantastic – I have had many an experience with plantain some definite hits, some definite misses. This was a hit, caramalised to perfection to create a sweet crust encasing the soft fruit, and of course, perfectly paired with a subtle heat running through the salsa and ginger glaze. My least favourite dish was the pouisson, unfortunately the skin was not crisp as it should be meaning it had to be removed from the legs which is not ideal. However, the flavours were there and seeing the dish plated like a twist on a chicken roast dinner next to the humble (not really humble) cottage pie, it was clear what April was doing here.
For dessert we shared the cheesecake laced with ginger and rhum agricole – sugarcane juice rum. Again, putting a clear Jamaican stamp on an otherwise very American pud. It was punchy but holy moly it worked. Along with this we had banana bread with rum caramel, the notes of rum so strong it was almost medicinal but when drizzled over the sweet cake, perfectly balanced. By this point my liver had admitted defeat – we washed down our meal with the most delicious rosé – so threw caution to the wind and signed off the night with a couple more cocktails. Enter the Bounty Killer – a very Jamaican twist on an espresso martini which was TO DIE FOR and the Showstopper, so named because of its effervescent gold bubbles – very instagrammable, very delicious.
Wood and Water is the perfect escapism from the fast-paced outside world. It’s a place where you can relax, unwind and gently be cradled into the world of Jamaican cuisine. A couple of dishes perhaps need a bit of refinement to take this place from amazing to out of this world but all is forgiven when it managed to transport me back to one of the happiest times of my life.
Here at House of Coco we feel most at home in the Caribbean because, there’s no two ways about it: life is better by the beach. The salty warm air, the sound of the waves, the feeling of the sun on the skin and, above all, the relaxed way of life. GoldenEye is no ordinary hotel, it is a collection of 49 villas, cottages, and huts scattered throughout tropical gardens, along a tranquil lagoon, beaches and a Snorkeler’s Cove.
The Beach Huts were created to match the style of Chris Blackwell’s own GoldenEye Hut and to mirror the way he likes to live, which is about casualness and simplicity; while offering the most relaxing, “barefoot experience” – organically connected to nature. Handmade touches equate to wooden floors and high ceilings to allow for the natural ocean air to filter though with simple clean lines, married with harmonious furniture built by skilled artisans carefully sourced from around Jamaica.
Guests can enjoy having an outdoor shower in the beach huts or a unique immersive open concept wet room with double rain shower heads, and all the Huts have Caribbean styled terraces for a sensory experience, in symbiosis with nature.
The village of Beach Huts are built at various heights and scattered around a tropical garden that stretches between the unique Snorkeler’s Cove and Shabeen – (an outdoor lounge with a whimsically designed freshwater pool) on one side and Button Beach with its’ gentle, almost wave-less waters on the other side.
Not only the unique accommodations, but the expansive spaces at GoldenEye are carefully designed for respite and relaxation, and for enjoying the relaxed beachy way of life. Guests can feel the sand, safely swim everywhere, enjoy the sunsets from the stunning Shabeen Bar, take a Yoga class at Playscape, listen to Drummers or paddle-board down the lagoon.
GoldenEye is the perfect place to experience a low-key escape, simply and harmoniously connected to nature, in a wonderfully expansive environment.
EXPERIENCE THE SIMPLISTIC BEAUTY OF JAMAICAN HUT LIFE AT GOLDENEYE. RESERVE 4 NIGHTS FOR THE PRICE OF 3 OR 7 NIGHTS FOR THE PRICE OF 5 IN A BEACH HUT. FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY.
We recently interviewed Irene Moore of Light Garden and what a fantastic interview it is. Irene’s passion for dealing head on with burnout and anxieties lead her to launch her CBD wellness company whilst combating many personal hurdles. We have the pleasure of letting you find out about Irene through this wonderful insight into her life, career, future plans and wellbeing journey.
Tell us more about the path that led you to launch your brand Light Garden…
Like most ambitious women, I climbed the corporate ladder in my 20’s with determination and focus. I got the promotions, the pay rises and used to pride myself on being able to take on more and get great results. Even if it meant neglecting my own self-care. I carried most of these bad habits into entrepreneurship when I started my branding agency and subsequent coaching company SavvyStartupClub.com I soon realised that myself and many of my peers in this space were struggling with serious burnout.
Home life was challenging as I cared for family members with disabilities so for me sustained stress, unexpected emergencies and having to juggle multiple projects was the norm. So was anxiety.
It was like I was living a double life, killing it at work and struggling behind the scenes CBD played a huge role in helping me manage my anxiety (and related hormone pain!) so I was already recommending it to anyone who would listen.
After launching over 100 brands throughout my career and working with some of the biggest names in beauty & luxury I always dreamed of starting my own brand, but I’m no Kylie Jenner haha!
I found that the CBD world felt very underground at the time and the go-getting women I spoke with about it almost felt embarrassed or ashamed about their struggles with anxiety. To me launching a CBD brand that would not only help women like me practically, but also provide me with a platform to normalise the conversation about high functioning anxiety was the perfect brand to launch.
Light Garden was born!
In your website video you talk about helping people that live with high func-tioning anxieties, can you tell us what you mean by high functioning anxieties?
Thanks for bringing this up as it’s an important question.
Even though high functioning anxiety isn’t an official medical term I feel it’s important that we acknowledge that people experience anxiety and burnout in different ways.
Not everyone can’t leave the house or has constant panic attacks. There are a lot of women out there who appear to have everything put together and still achieve amazing things yet are struggling with anxiety behind the scenes, especially in business.
CBD wellness products like CBD gummies, CBD capsules or CBD oil can help these women find inner calm, more focus and enjoy better sleep, which are often some of the biggest struggles they face.
High functioning anxiety can look like the person who appears to effortlessly juggle a million projects but secretly struggles to unwind or is irritable with loved ones at home.
It can look like being the most organised person in the board room, but spending an unnecessary amount of hours planning, triple checking, perfecting work than is truly necessary because you simply don’t trust yourself.
It can look like being the picture of calm in super stressful situations, but when things are ‘calm’ feeling deeply unmotivated or unable to process the trauma.
I’ve personally experienced all of these things and so have many of our customers. To an extent I think society actually encourages some of the more toxic behaviors in certain workplace hustle cultures.
Take it from me, it’s not sustainable and is definitely not good for your mental and physical health.
The sad thing is that most women don’t even recognise their high functioning anxiety until it starts to negatively impact their work performance or health. I’d love for this to change through raising more awareness.
CBD products can be found all over at the moment, what differentiates yours from others in the marketplace?
The market has grown substantially and it’s exciting to see CBD becoming more mainstream.
Light Garden is all about helping our customers ‘find the light in their day’ so we are centered as much on the lifestyle shifts that our customers can make to help manage their burnout as well as creating fun CBD products.
We also pride ourselves on CBD education and offer a wide range of CBD strengths (the lightest not just the strongest) so that those who are new to CBD world can confidently navigate it and find the relief they need.
We want our customers to feel seen and heard and their struggles not dismissed as ‘as just an off day’ is often the case with high functioning anxiety.
When you are usually the strongest person in the room, people expect you to stay ‘shiny’ and don’t know how to handle difficult times, we often forget that that sometimes the carer also needs to be cared for.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge building this brand has definitely been the stigma that some people have when it comes to cannabis-derived products.
Even though our CBD is independently lab tasted for potency and purity and contains ZERO THC (the psychoactive stuff that gives you the munchies!) I think that some people still have a perception that CBD will make you high when it just doesn’t!
I find the best way to overcome most problems in business to stay focused on the bigger picture. We’re not here to convince people to buy into CBD, but to create an aspirational brand that supports those who are ready to prioritise their own self-care as much as their success.
I’m blown away by all the new research emerging about the many ways that CBD helps a number of different ailments, and I’m excited to help educate in this space with our marketing, social communities and wellness workshops.
If you were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?
Badasses Banishing Burnout
Talk us through an average business day in your life…
I recently moved to the Caribbean with my husband, so most days start with a long walk to clear our head, get the blood moving and get clear on our priorities for the day before the onslaught of emails and meetings.
I’m originally from the UK so most my client meetings take place over zoom in the mornings, then I usually spend some time over lunch engaging with our Instagram community at @LightGardenShop before heading outside for another walk. If I’m particularly busy I’ll sit outside in our fruit garden and do a 5min mediation to get recentered.
The rest of the day could be doing anything from working on new product development for Light Garden, reaching out to new collaborators and retail partners or doing anxiety awareness on other people’s platforms. I have a 20 year career in brand marketing, so I also mentor other new product based entrepreneurs who are building purpose driven brands at SavvyStartupClub.com a couple of times a week, which I absolutely love!
I’m all about helping founders realise that they can build a successful brand without the burnout.
Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?
Firstly, I lose the attachment to staying positive haha! I think every emotion is valid and some days you just need to have a little pitty party with some chocolate in front of Netflix all day and allow yourself to feel whatever you’re feeling. There’s nothing wrong with that at all!
However, if that’s not an option, I find that on days I am in my head too much, finding a way to get back in my body can help change my state really quickly.
It doesn’t have to be a huge workout either, sometimes a quick private dance party to my fave track or phone call to someone I love as I take a brisk walk around the block is enough.
More long-term I find having a daily gratitude & journal practice, mediation and managing my energy levels with good sleep hygiene, EFT and regular healings really help me.
What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.”
I’m not sure who said it, but it’s stuck since the first day I read it.
How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?
Social media provides a great playground to connect with our ideal customers, share our brand story and even educate and entertain our community so for us it’s pretty important, especially on Instagram & TikTok (both @LightGardenShop).
The reality is though that it’s just one part to building a brand and the activities we do offline, such as our wellness experiences and emailing our community special surprises is what really keeps them engaged.
It’s more intimate and I think our community feel like there can share their struggles more openly in these environments too.
How do you want people to feel when they first purchase one of your Light Garden CBD products?
We always want our customers to feel empowered by making the powerful decision to prioritise their self-care. That’s the most important thing.
Then we want them to feel excited about trying something natural and finally finding the relief that they need from their anxiety, lack of focus or poor sleep.
Finally, we want them to feel like they are part of a community of ambitious humans who know that their success relies on their self-care, which ultimately drives their self-worth.
Everything is linked and there’s no shame in putting yourself first when you need to.
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list and which of your products would you take in your travels?
Ooooh now were are talking! I feel a little smug saying this, but I already feel like I’m lucky to now live in paradise out here in Jamaica and we moved not too long ago when the country was pretty locked down, so I feel there is still so much more to explore of this beautiful island.
That said, I have Bali and Ghana on my bucket list too though.
My travel buddy from the brand would be the Light Garden CBD Gummies – they are just a simple, tasty, and fun way to enjoy CBD on the go.
Do you have a personal favourite from your CBD wellness collection?
I don’t have a favourite child haha! I guess if I had to choose it would be the Light Garden Dream Big CBD Oil Drops as poor sleep is one of my biggest tell tale signs when I’m approaching burnout.
I tried so many natural and over the counter sleep solutions before discovering CBD and I love that with Dream Big I feel completely rested and refreshed, not groggy, when I wake up the next day.
What’s next for you and your brand?
So many exciting things planned! We’re introducing new wellness workshops with some of the best health & wellness experts in the business and also some new, non CBD offerings to support our customers with self-care in alternative and fun ways.
We also have some new skincare in the pipes and a pop-up store in NYC to look forward to this year.
Where can people find out more about Light Garden?
This interview is such a powerful story. Amy Anastassia changed the trajectory of her life by cultivating something she was passionate about. Amy turned her passion into a business, and she has never looked back. We delve deep into the background of Amy’s life before finding out about her meaningful brand.
Tell us about the journey that led you to launch your brand Astro Stassia…
I moved out of London at 18 to pursue a degree in Southampton and was met with a major culture shock experiencing racism on a more intense level than I had ever experienced before. I was the only black person on my degree course and the only black person in several work places where I experienced and witnessed racial abuse and bullying.
It became clear to me very quickly while I was experiencing this trauma that this would be my experience in all workplaces as a dark skinned black woman because unfortunately we do not live in a post racial world.
I come from a family of black people who have had to simply put up with workplace racism in order to have a secure financial future and I decided to end this generational curse by empowering myself to create a business and practice self preservation through pursuing my lifetime passion and study in crystal healing and occultism.
I grew up in a Jamaican household where I would hear the adults around me speaking seriously about subjects like Obeah, dream decoding and witchcraft which was my first introduction into the spiritual world, by time I was in high school I was obsessed with studying crystals and astrology! The esoteric world of crystal healing has been an inspiring, mind opening and cathartic space for me during my trauma and I wanted to share that healing energy with likeminded people by launching Astro Stassia.
If you were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?
“Trust in yourself” – An important part to self esteem and self confidence means trusting yourself, you won’t go far in business if you don’t trust yourself or your decisions.
What advice would you offer anyone interested in venturing into the world of crystals?
Follow the crystals you are drawn to not what is popular, your experiences with crystals are unique to you and what works for some people won’t work for others. Curating your crystal collection is a deeply personal experience, there is a reason and relationship with every crystal piece you own, the crystals you own each have a purpose to be with you at this moment. Do your own research on crystals you are drawn to and record your experiences with them.
Astro Stassia Crystals
Business can be an upward struggle at times, how do you stay positive?
I honestly don’t stay positive. I find it healthier for me to acknowledge the ebbs and flows in my life and take breaks as needed. I reject the idea that I have to stay in positivity because it is unsustainable due to life’s uncontrollable nuances and leads to burnout.
I am still in the early days of growing Astro Stassia and can easily fall into overworking so it is important for me to remind myself it is ok to take time to reach my business goals in order to acknowledge the importance of recharging my spiritual and mental energy. This mindset allows me to enjoy the process of building my business and be kind to myself even through the hard times. In my mind I’m playing the long game for long-term success because success means not only money to me but also happiness and peace.
Do you have a go to quote when lacking motivation?
“Mek it happen”
Coral L (my Mum)
How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?
Astro Stassia is truly built off our social media community. Social media has meant that I could build a successful online business while experiencing low confidence and struggles that would have held me back if I had to have a physical presence in a shop.
The crystal community on social media has been so kind and integral in supporting the growth of Astro Stassia, it was through our social media that landed us our first magazine feature with British Vogue and now this interview with House of Coco. Social media really has been the nucleus of Astro Stassia’s opportunities so far!
Do you have a favourite crystal, and what do you use it for?
My favourite crystal of all time is Optical Calcite aka Icelandic Spar, this is one of the first crystals I researched when I launched Astro Stassia, it is a crystal with a rich history of use reaching back to the Vikings and it quickly became one of my bestsellers. Opitical Calcite is great for optimism and success and I can honestly say that has been my experience with this crystal.
How do you want people to feel when they first purchase a crystal from you?
I am Libra rising which astrologically means I live a Venusian life and I want my customers to have a truly magical Venusian experience when purchasing crystals from me, each package is actually rose scented with the crystals individually wrapped in our pink eco friendly bubble wrap. I carefully consider each step in the journey of our customers, from first seeing the image of their desired crystal on my website to receiving the package and unwrapping their new crystal! Happy customers fulfil me!
Astro Stassia Crystals
If someone were to ask you for a crystal to help with his or her general wellbeing, what would you suggest?
Girasol Quartz, it gets its name from the Italian word “Girasol” which means “sunflower” or “turn to the sun” which beautifully represents how this stone brings light in it’s owners life. It has a similar appearance to Clear Quartz however it has a milky glow throughout the crystal that intensifies as light touches it.
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list, and which crystal would you take with you?
Benin, West Africa is top of my bucket list! I apparently have strong ancestral roots in Benin and it is the birthplace of Voodoo so I feel a special draw to this country! I would definitely bring Black Tourmaline and Hematoid Quartz along with me to keep myself grounded and protected in such a spiritual destination.
What’s next for you and your brand?
Astro Stassia in 2022 will be expanding our inventory and adding exciting new product lines outside of crystals! Inshallah continuing more growth and success year on year!
Where can people find out more about Astro Stassia?
We interviewed Nino Oniani and Irina Keidia via zoom recently for our Women Worldwide series. These female entrepreneurs have shown us that passion, determination, and knowledge can lead to a dream vocation in life. Read on to find out more about Zeg Skincare and what goes into running the business.
Tell us about the journey that led you both to launch your brand Zeg Skincare…
I have always been committed to giving best care to my skin. I was researching the most powerful formulas available on the market, however the more I researched the more I understood potential harm of some of the ingredients in those formulas. For the past few years I opted for the best botanical products available on the market, however I soon realised they didn’t meet my expectations in terms of delivering results, no matter how expensive the botanical brand was. That was when I decided to look around and research properly how could botanicals really work when you add proper scientific knowledge to it.
I was lucky to know some of worlds’ best scientists in the field who created custom made formulas for my skin. The result was tremendous. This period coincides with my true passion with entrepreneurship and the credit goes to Imperial College Business School where I had just graduated from my MBA and met some incredibly successful entrepreneurs who had started up just a few years before, and had successfully grown their companies. They not only inspired me, but they actually taught me. I decided to dedicate my career to entrepreneurship, and I had two conditions for it, one was, the business I would start should be scalable and another was it should definitely be my passion. Skincare and Beauty ticked all those boxes, in addition I had access to the yet undiscovered Georgian nature, a country that is nestled between Europe and Asia, which has tremendously diverse climate zones and a wide variety of potent medicinal botanicals. I then approached longtime friend Irina, who shared my passion about skincare, she is also one of the leading marketing specialists in Georgia. We both had individual expertise which would work perfectly together to deliver the best possible product. We set to create an independent beauty company, with clean, potent ingredients that deliver results.
Our strategy is accessibility; and we want all our products to be affordable to as many people as possible. – Nino Oniani
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
The Pandemic has been our biggest challenge so far, especially with product development which slowed the process down. Uncertainty is probably one of our biggest issues as well. – Irina Keidia
If you to were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?
Results-Driven Forward-Looking Honest
What advice would you offer anyone interested in venturing into the skincare business?
Be persistent, be patient, and be hard working, but most of all have a deep passion for what you’re doing. Science knowledge is probably one of the biggest assets if you want to deliver a good product. – Nino Oniani & Irina Keidia
Talk us through an average business day in your life…
Almost every day starts following up our ongoing tests, trials and research. Because we are in the active NPD phase this is an essential part of our business. I think it is a very exciting time right now to be in this business; science advances, including opportunities given by BioTech gives us lots of possibilities to move forward.
This process is followed up by meeting with our scientists most days who are based in the UK near London. These meetings are probably the most important ones for us at the moment as this is where we have the chance to deliver some truly great products, by tweaking, testing, and altering even slightly you can get something completely new.
Recap on sales and marketing activity is also part of our daily activity. We decided to go down the route of having our own state of the art online store, to us this means daily review of the sales channel. While Irina might be doing that, some days I might be engaged with the investor zoom meetings. – Nino Oniani
Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?
This whole journey is rather difficult, I will not sugarcoat this for you. Problem solving on a daily basis is part of the process. The value chain in our business involves many stakeholders, meaning there are many things that can go wrong. Staying positive is probably not part of our strategy, I would say that actually solving problems is. Being an early bird probably helps us both! – Irina Keidia
What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?
To be honest situations vary and so do our motivational approaches. What helps most is encouragement from one another. But if there are any quotes we can think of, then these two are probably the ones that make us think big to not lose motivation. – Nino Oniani & Irina Keidia
“If you can’t do it with feeling, don’t.”
by Patsy Cline
“For those who dare to dream, there is a whole world to win.”
by Dhirubhai Ambani
How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?
Nowadays social media is a key consumer marketing tool, it allows us to connect and engage with potential customers, easily reach them, share directly updated information about products and their benefits, and allows us immediate interaction and customer feedback. It is quite Important to make engaging content to get attention. Our target customers are professional skintelligent women who have money to spend and want to keep their skin looking good. They are self confident, passionate about skincare and a healthy lifestyle, they have ‘Digital First’ attitude, with social media a primary source of brand reviews and product information.– Irina Keidia
How do you want people to feel when they first see and try your products?
We want people to feel empowered when they use our products. We want to emphasis their natural beauty. We don’t want our users to live up to a standard of none existent beauty. We can promise to help make better versions of themselves with long term health in mind. – Irina Keidia
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list, and which of your products would you take traveling with you?
There are a few favourite destinations, they include Italy and Montenegro, but desirable locations would probably be Jamaica or Mexico. We would always take our Oxygen Serum and Eye Patches with us wherever we visit in the world. But we would also like intrepid travellers to come and visit our very own Georgia to see the beautiful mountains and the nature that surrounds us. – Irina Keidia
What’s next for you and your brand?
We are going in to a speciality and SPA product market, keep your eyes peeled as you might see ZEG Spa in a number of places around the world soon. – Nino Oniani
Where can people find out more about Zeg Skincare?
A getaway to the Caribbean can mean more than kicking back with a cool drink and sitting in the sand – it’s a great goal but there are also many water adventures to be had in Central America and the Caribbean. The region offers unique opportunities for unforgettable moments of fun and amazement, and especially to enlarge a child’s world – even more so if you’re raising water babies who’ve had swimming lessons since they were infants. Whichever your destination, be it Belize, Honduras, Aruba, Jamaica or any of the other countless islands and nations, here are some opportunities for family fun that engage with the natural world.
Swimming with Whale Sharks or Manatees
Swimming with these gentle giants is the opportunity of a lifetime. Your family can experience whale sharks off of Holbox Island, Mexico and Utila, Honduras. These are massive plankton feeding animals so it’s safe to take a tour and swim along beside of them. Their massive size and gentleness will impress you. While they seem to swim slowly, you’ll find yourself challenged to keep up with them. The manatee is another gentle giant and also a plant eater. Manatees can be found in the waters of Mexico, Belize and other portions of Central and South America. A guided tour will help ensure that you succeed in meeting this often shy creature.
Explore the Second Largest Reef System in the World
While the Great Barrier Reef of Australia is well known, the second largest reef system in the world is in the Caribbean and offers similar opportunities for sea exploration. Whether you and your family snorkel or scuba, you’ll enjoy the riches of marine life on the reef. The reef extends from Mexico down to Honduras, so you’ll have your choice of places to visit. When heading out with your family, a good tour guide will be able to explain the marine life and corals that you are viewing. You’ll see tropical fish and bright corals. You might even catch a glimpse of a timid moray eel, or dolphins frolicking in the afternoon sun. Every outing will bring a new discovery. Also, from several Caribbean islands, such as Ambergris Caye in Belize, you can see the extent of the reef from the shoreline.
To get started wakesurfing, you’ll need to have access to a boat with a wakeboard tower, a wakesurf board, a rope, and a patient driver who can gradually increase the boat speed as you get comfortable riding the wake.
Visit Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Marine Park
Many of us enjoy visiting national parks during our travels. Did you know that in the Caribbean, many places have national marine parks? These are designated places that seek to introduce visitors to the wonders of the reef system and marine life, as well as teaching how to help preserve these fragile ecosystems. Two of these are located off the islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker in Belize. A tour guide will lead you around Hol Chan Marine Park pointing out the reef elements and talking about the fish and aquatic life that you encounter. Within the park, you’ll swim closely with brightly colored fish, as well as three different types of sea turtles. Here, children can learn that it’s important to watch but not to touch, even if the turtles or fish come very close.
Often coupled with the visit to Hol Chan is a visit to Shark Ray Alley. While swimming with sharks may seem very intimidating, it shouldn’t be. It’s an incredible opportunity to swim with nurse sharks. When your guide brings the boat into the park, he will pay the park warden then begin to chum the water. The sharks will clamor for the snacks while your guide urges you to dive in. Don’t worry, the nurse sharks are more interested in the snacks than you, so you have an up-close opportunity to share their watery environment with them. In the frenzy, they may bump into you but that is the biggest risk you and your family members face. While watching the sharks, you will also see a variety of rays gliding elegantly through the water. Turtles also enjoy the area. During one outing, a shark and a stingray were seen tussling over the rights to a conch. Ultimately, the ray won but these are just not the experiences one expects to see every day. Both Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley are adventure opportunities that are appropriate for all members of your family who can snorkel.
Cenotes
The Yucatan Peninsula offers the unique water adventure of cenotes. Essentially, these sites are sinkholes that connect with underground rivers and water sources. While the peninsula is primarily dry, the ancient Mayans relied on cenotes for reliable water sources. Whether you choose to vacation in the coastal Cancun or the inland cities of Merida or Valladolid, there are mystical cenotes to experience nearby. It is also possible to combine these water activities with a visit to an ancient Mayan site. During the journey to these locations, you’ll have the opportunity to see exotic birds and wildlife, such as parrots, toucans, pecorinos or jaguars.
Even though international travel is still changeable, the USA’s southern neighbors are close and easy to get to – plan to get your vaccinations and/or rapid test before you leave home – and these are just a few water sports adventures that you can experience when you vacation in the Caribbean or Central America. Additional water sports include stand up paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking and parasailing. While you want to take advantage of all of the available water sports in the location you choose it’s also an opportunity to explore some of the more unusual water adventures in the area, and gain mind-opening and unforgettable memories for all the family.
There is nothing more energising and restorative than a spa break; and with a year like we’ve had – we certainly deserve one.
They say that just the act of planning a holiday does wonders for your mental health, so even if we can’t hit ‘book now’ just yet – we’ve curated some of the most luxurious spa breaks in the world to inspire all of your future travel plans and hopefully restore a little bit of your wanderlust too.
The five-star Culloden Estate & Spa — flagship property of Hastings Hotels — has just completed a £750,000 renovation of its wellness space. The new spa now boasts a linear vitality pool with floor-to-ceiling views of the hotel’s breathtaking gardens. It also features a ‘Tylarium,’ which combines the benefits of both a sauna and a steam room. The Spa at Culloden has also revealed a new purpose-built facility called ‘The Hollywood Private Clinic’ which features a physio room and offers laser and advanced cosmetic treatments too. Not to mention, the hotel has also launched a Bridgerton Inspired Afternoon Tea – which offers a delectable menu that would surely impress even the great Lady Whistledown herself.
A new Relais & Chateaux property, the Maslina Resort in Hvar Croatia is a mindful luxury oasis, further enhanced by the opening of its new ‘Pharomatiq Spa.’ The 650 sqm wellness space was designed with a ‘garden-to-skin’ concept that maximises locally-sourced herbs, essential oils and natural healing techniques.
The spa offers five treatment rooms including a sound healing room, fitness rooms, and activated LED light therapy showers. It also offers treatments by luxury skincare specialists L’aventure en Primitivance. In addition, all products are 100% natural and cruelty-free in-line with the hotel’s sustainable luxury philosophy too.
For those looking for a wellness overhaul, the Pharomatiq spa also offers the immersive ‘The Cure of the Adriatic Sea’ package, a four or nine-day programme which includes full-body assessment, mindfulness & movement sessions, and daily therapies tailor-made to suit each guests wellness needs.
Maison Pariente’s stylish Hotel Lou Pinet has just unveiled a new wellness partnership that adds more lustre to its already stellar Tata Harper spa. Ahead of its reopening on 13 May, the Saint Tropez hotel is welcoming Parisian beautician Martine De Richeville to offer her iconic ‘Remodelage technique’ to lucky guests. The treatment has been coined as the beauty world’s ‘secret weapon’ to a youthful and energised physique. It is non-invasive and releases the body’s cellulite strongholds and gets rid of toxins too. Perfect for ridding yourself of all your COVID-19 sins.
While Qatar is not yet open to tourism, there’s no reason we can’t pre-pre-plan an epic wellness getaway to a hotel that has been hailed as the ‘World’s Best New Wellness Retreat 2020’ by the World Spa Awards UK. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva Som is spread across 280,000 sqm within a private enclave north of Doha and promises a fully immersive and transformative wellness experience. We can’t wait to give it a try.
With the Caribbean well on its way to the UK’s green travel list, the Jamaica Inn should certainly be on your radar when booking your next spa getaway.
The property sits just east of Ocho Rios on a striking 700-foot white sand beach. Beyond the beach, it also offers plenty of relaxation at the Ocean Spa, where guests can enjoy treatments while hanging over the sea. One of the highlights is a new CBD Massage, which will certainly wash away all of your COVID-19-related anxieties. The hotel also has a digital detox philosophy and foregoes hi-tech amenities for Jamaica’s natural wonders – and we’re all for it.
The Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang is part of the world-renowned Zannier Hotels portfolio and was designed to pay homage to Angkor Wat’s ancient architecture. The Spa Temple has seven treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, yoga pavilion and 50-metre outdoor infinity pool. The treatments are all designed to help rebalance the mind and body and were inspired by the culture of the Khmer Empire. One of the highlights is the ‘Touch of Cambodia Massage’ which combines lime leaves and lemongrass with deep-tissue massage therapy to improve flexibility.
This past week has been a rollercoaster for women all over the world but hearing about positive initiatives is always a great reminder that there is always good to be found in this world. Our friends at Sandals Resorts are calling for guests to bring sanitary towels, tampons, and hand sanitiser with them on holiday to help vulnerable women in the Caribbean.
Guests visiting the brand’s resorts in Jamaica, Barbados and The Bahamas, when international travel resumes, are urged to bring a small number of products with them in their luggage which can be donated to local women’s centres via the Pack for a Purpose initiative.
Heidi Clarke, Director of the Sandals Foundation, the Company’s non-profit organisation, says: “Period poverty is a problem all over the world and now, more than ever, disadvantaged women in the Caribbean are finding it difficult to access the products they need. By bringing one or two packs of sanitary towels or tampons with them and signing up to the Pack for a Purpose programme, Sandals guests can do their bit to help women who are living difficult lives. What’s more, they weigh next to nothing, so guests don’t need to worry about exceeding their luggage weight allowance.”
The Sandals Foundation distributes products donated by guests chosen from the Pack for a Purpose site to local women’s centres and programmes in the Caribbean, giving them much needed support.
The Women’s Centre of Jamaica provides a second chance at education for adolescent mothers. With seven main centres and 11 outreach stations across the island, the facilities serve 200 young mothers through continued educational instruction, group and individual counselling, mentorship programmes and vocational training. Holidaymakers can help young mothers secure a better future by bringing feminine products that are a necessity but can sometimes be inaccessible due to no or low-income.
The PACE Foundation in Nassau, The Bahamas provides access to continued education programs for 25 teen mothers. In addition to helping with coping mechanisms, the Centre prepares its student mothers academically and socially for re-entry into secondary school, a technical and vocational centre or the job market. Guests can help prevent absenteeism that can interrupt their developmental progress by donating feminine care products, which are sometimes expensive and out of their reach.
In Barbados, Jabez House, a non-profit partner of The Sandals Foundation serves as a haven of hope and empowerment for female sex workers, facilitating their transition from the sex industry through educational and vocational training. As the women of Jabez House carefully map the road to their new lives, lowered earning power can prevent them from adequately meeting their basic needs. Guests’ donations of feminine products on their next trip can help eliminate one more barrier.
To take part in the programme, travellers just need to visit the Pack for a Purpose website, select the resort that they’re visiting from the ‘destinations’ list and pack the chosen items they wish to donate before they travel. Items are then delivered to the hotel’s front desk on arrival.
For more information about the Sandals Foundation and other projects supported by it, visit www.sandalsfoundation.org. For more information about Sandals Resorts visit www.sandals.co.uk.
After such a tumultuous year we’re sure we’re not the only ones who want to make the most of eating out while we can. This time of year London’s dining scene comes alive with festive menus and winter terraces and while we’re still unable to dine indoors with anyone outside our household or bubble, there’s still plenty of options for booking some fun this festive season and a glut of new openings to try out.
There’s A New Head Chef at Fenchurch
Sky Garden’s contemporary British fine dining restaurant Fenchurch, with its imposing views over London from the 37th floor, has a new head chef in the form of Michael Carr, bringing with him fresh new menus and vibrant dishes with innovative flavour combinations.
Having recently paid a visit myself I can very much vouch for the Scottish scallops with cauliflower puree, bacon jam and coriander dressing – an absolute explosion of flavour – and the sumptuous aged beef fillet with braised cheek, bone marrow, carrot purée and thyme jus,
Inspired by the diverse cultures that make up Australia’s cuisine, Queen’s Park’s Milk Beach serves all day brunch and a menu of seasonal sharing plates in the evenings. Speciality coffees are sourced from all over the world, as are the wines it handpicks from independent winemakers, making for a truly varied menu.
The kitchen is led by Aussie Head Chef Darren Leadbeater hailing from Mackay, Queensland. With dishes like banana bread with espresso cream cheese, smashed avocado with confit cherry tomatoes, whipped goat’s curd and pumpkin seed crumble and a sourdough english muffin with xo confit duck, korean coleslaw and a fried egg, it’s a tasty alternative to a bog standard brunch.
We may not be jetting off to Cuba for the time being, but luckily October saw the opening of Bar Bolivar, a vibrant cocktail bar with Cuban-inspired cocktails and Venezualan street food heroes, Pabellón serving up a spread of mouthwatering grub. Opening on the 20th October in Reuters Plaza at Canary Wharf, it comes from the team behind Casa de Frango and the bars at Vinegar Yard and Pop Brixton, and transports guests to 1950s Havana.
We can’t wait to try The Hemingway Highball, a cocktail inspired by the writer’s favourite drink at institution El Floridita, while food comes courtesy of Pabellón, winners of the British Street Food Awards in 2019, will be serving up south American street food, with signature dishes like Arepas, grilled corn bread filled with cheddar cheese; Pico de Gallo salad, avocado chunks and sweet fried plantains and slow cooked beef brisket, winner of the British Street Food Awards ‘Sandwich of the Year 2019’.
Bring London’s Best Restaurants Home With Dishpatch
If you’re still not keen on venturing out, revolutionary home delivery service Dispatch works with some of London’s best restaurants to deliver their dishes to you with all the cooking and prep work done by the chefs. December’s menu includes a Parsi Feast from Farokh Talati, Thai Tasting Menu by Farang, a West African Feast by Chishuru and a Classic Fish Suppe ray Parsons, not to mention three stunning Christmas menus from Andrew Edmunds, 10 Greek Street and Bubala.
Brixton Village is the latest location from Rudie’s Jerk Shack, the third site from husband and wife team Matin and Michelle Miah. Situated in Market Row, the 50 cover restaurant (with both indoor and outdoor seating) serves an innovative menu including their famed ‘Real Jerk’, marinated for 24 hours in their secret blend of herbs and spices, before being grilled and smoked slowly over charcoal in a steel drum.
From ‘climate positive burgers’ and Thai comfort food, to chimney cakes that will take you back to the European Christmas markets of yesteryear (or… you know… last year…) South Molton Street plays host to street food market KERB’s latest venture, opening on 9th December for two weeks before Christmas.
Visitors can expect an array of street food that caters to every palette and dietary requirement from climate positive burgers from GROUND, artisan baked treats from Sweet Chimney Bakers, signature crispy seafood from Calamari Canteen and Thai comfort dishes from Yaay Yaay, all fully compliant with the latest government guidelines and bathed in South Molton’s Street’s twinkling Christmas lights. It will be open from 12pm-7pm on Wednesdays – Fridays and 12pm-4pm on Saturdays.
A honey-based restaurant launched at Selfridges last week, resplendent with on-site bee hives and keepers. Diners can experience an immersive honey-inspired environment while enjoying an all-day menu of innovative dishes and a range of honey and cheese pairings, including Comte and Chestnut Honey and Fourme d’Ambers with Buckwheat Honey. The range of honeys utilised in Hive’s menu is harvested on-site from the restaurant’s own rooftop hives as well as procured by the artisanal farm Le Miel des Français.
