Lifestyle - House Of Coco Magazine

Culture November 16, 2021

The Delicious Dolomites

Famous for its fantastic ski runs, the Dolomites may not be the first place that comes to mind for a foodie getaway however, this rugged, dramatic landscape is the backdrop to some of the finest Italian cuisine. I took an out of season trip to this beautiful corner of Italy and took a culinary journey up the mountains.

Lefay Resort and Spa Dolomiti

I checked into the luxurious Lefay Resort and Spa, a modern, mountain hideaway located in Pinzolo This oasis of calm is the perfect base to explore this gastronomic region, rich in tasty, unique dishes.

This expansive mountain range is dotted with restaurants. After a morning hiking up to Vallesinella in the Madonna de Campiglio region, I was ravenous and ready for lunch. Hugging the side of the mountains is Chalet Fogajard, an alpine lodge straight out of Heidi. This beautiful rustic retreat offers spectacular views of the Brenta Dolomites and is the perfect location for lunch. As the afternoon sun sneaks through the rugged rocks and clouds, I enjoy a well-earned, cold glass of Nosiola and soak up this outstanding location. The charismatic owner, Eduardo greets me and swiftly seats me opposite the fire in a snug nook of this charming restaurant. All the menu uses local in season produce. It’s simplistic, fresh but the finish and presentation of all the dishes makes it feel that bit more special than your run of the mill Italian mountain hut.

Views at Chalet Fogajard

Starter was a flan of ricotta cheese with fondue and cannelloni served with cabbage and beef Carne Salada – a classic Garde Trentino dish bursting with flavour. Now this is a bold statement, but I stand by what I say, the lasagne here is by far the most delicious I have ever tried. Unlike traditional lasagne this had no meat and was instead made with four simple local ingredients – homemade pasta, radicchio, butter and casolét, an Italian cheese produced in the mountains and valleys of Trentino-Alto Adige. This Italian staple was delicate yet rich in flavour. Desert was a light, fluffy chocolate mousse served with homemade biscuit followed by a selection of liqueurs made by Eduardo’s wife, using herbs and plants foraged from the local hills. Be warned, these fragrant sips pack a punch.

Alimentari Caola, Pinzolo

Back in Pinzolo, I head to Alimentari Caola, an Aladin’s cave of tasty morsels. Owner Antonio lives and breathes his business. This 100-year-old delicatessen has been in the family for three generations and stocks some of the best produce from the surrounding area. His passion for all things local is reflected in this modest two floor store that houses over 350 local wines, 167 types of Grappa (17 of which are from the region) as well as some of the finest cheeses including some produced by his son. Downstairs Antonio has created a space to sample these delectable wares. I got to try the delicious creamy Fiori, Crozzon and Malga cheeses as well as rich, juicy hams from the region. Nibbles of local bread and Carne Salada are served with oils from Lake Garda. This is accompanied by a glass (or two) of Ferrari Rose, a dry and delicate sparkling wine. Alimentari Caola is more than a delicatessen, it’s a hidden gem, a place you must go if you want to buy some authentic Italian produce. Pick up some amazing chocolate and wine or Italian oil and cheese while tapping into Antonio’s knowledge of all things local.

The tasting menu at Grual

I conclude my stay with a gastronomic treat back at Lefay Resort. There are so many great places to eat in the region but the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Grual, offers a unique, culinary experience that’s a real tribute to the Dolomites. Executive chef, Matteo Maenza, has designed an eight-course ‘altimetric’ tasting menu that reflects the territory and a specific altitude. The menu highlights the natural characteristics of the three mountain ranges, starting from the valley floor with ingredients such as red turnips and white fish, then moving up to alpine pastures with wild herbs, apple and brown trout then finally reaching the high mountains with char, deer, and roe deer. The menu is 100% seasonal and Maenza often takes mountain walks with his sous chef for inspiration. Every course was paired with an excellent wine and beautifully presented. I adored the Spaghetti Monograno Felicetti with smoked mountain butter, cornelian, and deer. The Arctic char, Trentino bread purée with wild broccoli was to die for but the pièce de resistance was desert which consisted of Caramel Tarte Tatin, puff pastry ice cream and almond chips as well as a final course of walnut emulsion, chocolate mousse, blackberry compote and mountain pepper ice cream. I finished the evening with a bespoke herbal tea made from herbs locally foraged. I was truly spent, while each course was modest in size by the time I finished my eighth I was full up.

Lefay Resort is a great location to explore this gastronomic region and experience a fusion of Italian and Alpine cooking.

A stay at Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti costs from 350 Euros per room, per night including breakfast and taxes.

Lifestyle November 15, 2021

A look at cloud computing and how you’re already using cloud tech – probably without knowing

Over the last few years, much has been made about the potential of cloud technology and how it could represent a new frontier in computing. As more and more companies migrate their IT services to cloud providers, the sector has become one of the fastest-growing areas of the entire IT industry – but just what is the cloud and how can it benefit both companies and individuals?

The cloud – a simple definition

In essence, the term ‘the cloud’ can be thought of as any computing service that is handled remotely and delivered to clients, usually over the internet. Thus, cloud tech can be used for anything from storage to running apps or processing complex computing operations remotely – normally the kind of functions that are far beyond the scope of the local device.

Cloud services are often delivered in the form of subscription packages – particularly in business cloud computing – which can be upgraded or downgraded with ease and give companies greater agility when it comes to managing their IT provision. In addition, by relying on support from technicians with azure certification or similar, changes to the size and scope of digital services can be made at the touch of a button, improving the ability of firms to react to changing circumstances and market conditions.

However, while the cloud may sound as though it’s just the preserve of big corporations, its effects have been wide-ranging across all areas of society. Indeed, even if you aren’t aware of it, it’s highly likely you already use several cloud-based applications daily.

Examples of services you possibly didn’t know were cloud-based

In recent years, companies big and small in all sectors have migrated en masse to cloud tech as a way to speed up and improve their services. In fact, in some cases, these platforms wouldn’t exist were it not for the cloud. Below are just a few examples of platforms and services that rely on cloud-based technologies:

Online email services: If you use an online email service like Gmail, you’re actually logging into a cloud server to send and retrieve mail. This allows users to be able to search back through months – even years – of emails, all stored remotely.

Photo storage and editing apps: With the ubiquitous rise of mobile devices and phones, we’re taking more photos today than at any point in history. However, like our desire for ever-smaller gadgets persists, it’s simply not feasible to store all these photos locally – hence the rise in popularity of photo storage apps like Google Photos. Instead, these applications rely almost entirely on the remote capacity and processing power of dedicated servers for saving photos – as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to allow for retouching and editing tasks.

Social media: Any social media app that allows you to log in on different machines (for example, on your cell phone, laptop or desktop) will be cloud-based. Apps like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter make extensive use of cloud computing tech.

Streaming email services: Applications like Spotify and Netflix use cloud tech to deliver their vast swathes of content to users over the internet via streaming, thereby removing the need for users to store the files locally.

File-sharing and backup storage apps: Popular services like Dropbox and Google Drive use cloud storage to store and transfer files between users.

Lifestyle November 11, 2021

Festive Party Season Is Approaching: How To Look And Feel Your Best

Christmas is coming, which means festive celebrations are coming. Although this time means evening celebrations with family, friends and work colleagues, some will have reservations during this supposedly festive period. One of the most common reservations is wanting to look and feel their best.

However, with organising festive social events, buying presents and arranging family activities – taking care of yourself is often forgotten about.

With plans being put in place to celebrate, it is understandable that you will want to feel and look your best. There are things that you can do to help you achieve this. Fortunately, many of these are just small changes that can make a significant difference.

Consume Plenty Of Water

Possibly one of the most convenient and affordable ways to improve your skin is by drinking water. During the festive holidays, you might find yourself consuming more alcohol than usual. It might help you to feel merry. However, it can also impact your skin. Since alcohol is high in sugar, it may cause your skin to break out more. It can also be incredibly dehydrating, which causes the skin to look tired and dull. Over time, the build-up of toxins will also take its toll on your life and your ability to cleanse. As a result, this becomes visible to the face, affecting how radiant it should be looking.

To maintain a healthy glow, hydrate yourself by consuming 6-8 glasses of water every day. You can even try drinking warm water with fresh lemon juice mixed in. Keeping hydrated will help to prevent your skin from looking dull and lifeless, as well as help in improving how you feel. Additionally, it can help to reduce how painful the hangover is the next day.

Alternative health options include drinking coconut water, swapping caffeinated hot beverages for herbal teas and green teas. These are rich in skin-protective antioxidants.

Updating Your Skincare Routine

Healthy skin plays a big part in looking your best. It can also help you to look and feel healthier. Each day our skin is exposed to the sun and other environmental pollutants. Once the damage has been done, it can be challenging to reverse it. For this reason, it is essential to have a good skincare routine. Try to find out about your skin type and what ingredients are the best for helping to treat it. You can then find the products you can incorporate into your skincare routine to help brighten and give your skin an envious glow – especially in these colder months.

With a good skincare routine in place, you can keep your skin looking and feeling healthy. It can boost your confidence, as when you look good, you feel good – which is how many of us want to feel as we celebrate Christmas.

You might even want to treat yourself to an early Christmas present and go for a facial. Going for treatment could help to increase cell turnover. Additionally, it can help to treat any active acne and prevent further breakouts from occurring.

Changing Old Habits

You might feel like it is time to switch up old habits. It could be reducing sugar intake, cutting out caffeine or even quitting smoking. For instance, quitting smoking could improve the appearance of your skin. If cutting out smoking altogether might be challenging, switching to a vape can help you to stop smoking cigarettes. Using a vape will allow you to continue consuming nicotine. The benefit is that you will have more control over the amount that you intake. As such, you can reduce the amount you intake, gradually lowering it to the point where you no longer need nicotine. If you’ve never vaped before, we advise you to find some nice disposable bundle package vapes and give it a shot.

By changing old habits now and implementing new ones, you may find that you are more likely to stick with them going forward. Aside from helping you to feel and look good in time for Christmas, you will continue to feel that way for the new year and beyond.

Take Time To Exercise

The thought of exercising in these winter months can be off-putting. However, partaking in some form of exercise can help to change how you feel. Whether it be a long walk or a 20-minute run, you will feel good about yourself afterwards. Any form of physical activity that gets the body moving can help to change the way you feel about yourself. An additional benefit is that it can have physical changes to your body.

Incorporate Healthier Foods

Vitamins A, C, E and K are essential to healthy skin. They can also be effective when applied topically and well as including them in your diet. Vitamin C can help in strengthening your blood vessel walls, whilst vitamin A helps promote firm skin. Vitamin K can help to strengthen your capillary walls. When capillaries are broken they will leak deoxygenated blood to form dark circles.

Incorporating healthier foods into your diet can also help you with your sleeping pattern. Having a good night’s sleep is also a great way to look and feel your best. When you have had the recommended hours of sleep every night, you feel energised for the day ahead.

Look After Yourself

Feeling and looking good can bring out a confident side of you. It could be a side that you might not have realised you had. It will be one that will get noticed by others.

The festive season can be overwhelming at times. With so much to prepare and plan, it can be easy to push yourself and your needs aside. If you choose to put yourself first, it can sometimes leave you feeling a little guilty. However, you should not feel guilty about taking some time for yourself to recharge, re-energise and refocus. Time to yourself is needed to ensure that you do not get burnt out or overwhelmed with everything that needs completing.

Ultimately, the festive season should be enjoyable. When you feel and look your best, it can help you to enjoy the season. Something that you deserve to have.

Lifestyle November 10, 2021

5 Strategic tips to consider when deciding to rent or buy a home

Are you in two minds whether to rent or buy a new home? This is a dilemma many people face in the shifty post-COVID times. Buying a home is a huge step which many people are reluctant to take, and for quite a few reasons no less. Settling down means continuous investments in your home and usually mortgage in tow – but being a renter also has its downsides, along with the perks such as freedom to move whenever you want and less taxes to worry about. To help you plan your next home move, here are some strategic steps you ought to take into account if you want to get the biggest property bang for your buck.

Consider your financial standing

Buying a home entails extremely high costs. Settling down in your own four walls is probably one of the biggest investments you will ever make, and it entails a rather high financial standing. From the down payment, mortgage, and renovation expenses to the price of furnishings and taxes, being a homeowner does come with a pretty exorbitant price tag. Nevertheless, it might prove to be a worthwhile idea down the road as you will be able to save your money in the long run when paying a mortgage as opposed to monthly rent. When buying a home, location is even more important as you will have to live there a while to get a return on investment. Make sure to search for homes that will have a high return like a mortgage in Virginia Beach.

To settle down or to stay on the go

In case you are not a huge fan of living in the same place all your life, it is a better idea to remain a tenant for the foreseeable future. No strings attached may be costlier, but it does allow you to change place of residence whenever you decide. In addition to that, it is a better option in the short term since it will not require a life-binding financial commitment such as a loan against property or a mortgage. To get a better idea of the rent vs. buy ratio, you can look into the offer of Midland apartments for rent and Midland homes to buy and add up the figures and compare the costs on an annual basis.

Be aware of your living expenses

Staying a tenant is a good option if you are able to balance your income and living expenses as it allows you to avoid sometimes prohibitive expenses of buying and owning your own home. On the other hand, in case your living expenses are high and you are living from hand to mouth, you may want to reconsider your options and take out a mortgage to get a place of your own. Of course, you will need your credit score to be impeccable in the latter case and you will need to have at least some cash in savings to be able to fund the property purchase through to the end.

Think about home maintenance costs

If you’d rather not fuss with home upkeep and regular home maintenance costs, purchasing a piece of property might not be a good solution. Every home needs tender, love, and care, but as a homeowner, your responsibility will be higher and your costs might punch a hole in your long-term budget. As a renter, on the other hand, you can negotiate home upkeep costs with your landlord and have them take care of the maintenance expenses and works required for the place to remain functional and aesthetically pleasing, such as plumbing repairs and wall paint numbers.

Building equity over time

As a homeowner, you will have quite a few expenses to think about, but you will also be in for some tax relief and you will also be able to build equity as time goes by, which will allow you to improve your long-term credit rating. As a renter, your living costs and financial commitments may not be as high, but you stand a risk of your landlord terminating the lease at any moment of being evicted without a good reason. Both of these scenarios are pretty real in the shifty COVID-19 property market for both renters and landlords alike, so make sure to take all the details and small print into account before you bounce off to sign a property purchase contract or an apartment lease.

Buying a home sounds amazing, especially if you are a huge fan of security and settling down for years to come. Nevertheless, home ownership comes with a stack of risks in tow, and it might not be a good option for everyone. On the other hand, being a renter does come with a high level of freedom and flexibility, but it is not a good option in the long run as it entails high monthly expenses and little or no room for savings, especially if you are struggling to make ends meet. When deciding whether you should settle down in your own home or to remain a free flat-flier, there are quite a few things you will need to bear in mind – and if you are still here, now you know the basics of home owning vs. renting strategies. Good luck with decision-making, and be sure to count your blessings whichever call you eventually venture to make!

Arts November 9, 2021

International Elf Service shows us 12 Christmas crafts to make a magical December

With the festive season fast approaching, House of Coco caught up with the team behind International Elf Service to get their top tips on 12 Christmas craft ideas that can make this December Extra-Special for the children as well the planet.

Here at Elf Towers, we eat, sleep and breathe Christmas 365 days of the year and 24-7. But even for us, there’s nothing that quite beats the festive taste bud explosion of that first mince pie when December finally arrives. Or the thrill of opening the decoration boxes and singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town on constant repeat. We get tingly with excitement just thinking about it!

And we don’t stop there! Each year we add to the Christmas cheer by thinking up new traditions for our ever-expanding Christmas list. This year, we’re getting Christmas creative with all the children…

Festive activities and Eco-friendly Christmas traditions

At International Elf Service, we all agree that the best part of Christmas is being together and creating memories to treasure. After all, your children probably look forward to these times more than their presents or the food! And the simpler the tradition, the better – for you and for the environment! So why not try one or two of our “12 Ways of Christmas” – a list of fun and sustainable things to do with your chidren to make Christmas even more magical:

Make edible Christmas trees – cover upside-down ice-cream cones in green icing and sprinkles.
Create a Christmas collage using cut-outs from last year’s Christmas cards. Leave it as a surprise for someone to find.
Play Christmas charades with the whole family using only Christmas themes!
Make edible reindeer poo – dip raisins in chocolate, cool to harden and sprinkle them on your breakfast cereal.
Video each family member saying “My favourite thing about Christmas is …”. Put them together for a new Christmas memory.
Make a mini Christmas tree forest – forage for different-sized pine cones, paint them green and add colourful decorations and a cut out star for the top.
Make bird-friendly reindeer food – mix sunflower hearts, naked rolled oats, dried mealworms, yellow millet and kibbled peanuts. Sprinkle on your lawn or bird table, or leave outside in a bowl.
Create natural Christmas decorations – weave twigs together with strips of bright material or wool to make stars, snowflakes or mini Christmas trees.
Make homemade Christmas Crackers – wrap toilet roll tubes in leftover Christmas paper, tie the ends with colourful string, write your own joke, cut out a hat, and make or find a little gift for inside (no buying allowed!).
Bake Gingerbread biscuits and have a Christmas Cookie decorating party.
Design and decorate homemade Christmas cards using items from around the house – shiny buttons, tinsel, wrapping paper, ribbons, recycled material, colourful string etc.
Draw or paint Christmas pictures and put them in the window for passers-by to enjoy. Or take them to a local home for the elderly (staying to talk with some of the residents).

About International Elf Service

International Elf Service is passionate about extending those precious believing years for longer, while supporting children’s well-being and literacy. Their unique, eco-friendly personalised letters combine magical and captivating stories with whimsical, handcrafted illustrations from the worlds of the Christmas Elves of the North Pole!

Featuring new adventures every time, each letter delivers the most fantastical surprise, sparking children’s imaginations, promoting one-to-one time and creating childhood memories and family traditions to be cherished for years to come.

Elfie’s Christmas Advent Letter Bundles are a multi-award-winning way to deliver Extra-Sparkly Christmas Spirit to your home. The Ultimate Story Bundle (link) acts just like an Advent Calendar, with 26 personalised daily letters bringing brand new updates from the North Pole, for your children to discover hidden mysteriously around their home! It also includes a North Pole Village Map and an Extra-Special Letter from the man himself (Father Christmas or Santa Claus – you choose)! And everything’s printed on 100% recycled paper, tied together with natural jute twine or biodegradable cotton candy-cane cord, and presented in compostable gift boxes filled with natural wood shavings from the Elves’ workshop (and sustainably managed forests, of course!).

For younger children, there’s a bundle of 7 handcrafted and personalised Christmas Elf letters, bursting with Christmassy activities for 3-5 year olds (link), and a Baby’s First Christmas Certificate for new additions to the family. (link) And everything can be paired with our Christmas Memory Box – 20 beautifully illustrated pages, one for each year for the next 20 years, for you to record the most magical moments, memories and traditions from Christmas Day – an enchanting gift for everyone in the family.

House of Coco recently caught up with Emily Beckloff, Founder & Chief Elf at International Elf Service, who told us all about her journey to becoming Chief Elf. Check out our interview with Emily here.

For further information on more Extra-Magical Christmas traditions, visit internationalelfservice.com

Art November 7, 2021

M+ – The contemporary visual culture museum that is destined to rival Tate Modern

There are few museum openings as highly anticipated as M+ in Hong Kong. The construction started almost 10 years ago and it’s been designed by Herzog & de Meuron, who famously converted Bankside Power Station into Tate Modern. At 65,000 square-metre, this has become another jewel in the architectural highlights of Hong Kong. The most prominent feature is undoubtedly the stupendous LED system display facing Victoria Harbour which will be displaying M+ content.

You might be wondering what we can expect to see in their 17,000 square-metre of exhibition space, which spans over 33 exhibition galleries. There will be in excess of 1,500 pieces of artwork from M+ collections. They will have six thematic exhibitions that will focus on Hong Kong and Chinese pieces from the 1960s and 1970s respectively to the present day to work that might be familiar to a British audience in the form of Anthony Gormley: Asian Field. He famously created Angel of the North and in this installation, the famous British sculptor has created tens of thousands of clay figurines along with over 300 villagers from a Guangdong village in just five days back in 2003. A masterpiece that highlights the vastness and populous nature of the country.

And no modern-day museum is complete without commissioned pieces which they’ll be displaying in their public spaces such as on their roof garden, their grand staircase, etc. They are two museum shops, a café, and a particularly innovative sounding Korean restaurant in the form of Mosu. Much like Tate Modern, they run a membership scheme to help support their work and continue developing the museum in the coming decades.

The whole project is part of the expansive West Kowloon Cultural District Development that will include a Hong Kong Palace Museum which opens in 2022 with items from the Forbidden City Museum in Beijing that are rarely allowed to leave the country. And the whole area is a must-visit destination for all cultural aficionados, making Hong Kong stand out as a cultural hub as well as the financial centre which is it renowned for.

Online registrations for tickets opened recently leading to an immediate crashing of the booking system which is always a sure-fire sign you have a commercial hit on your hands. The admission fee for non-residents is $120 for adults and $60 for children aged between 7 and 17, seniors aged 60 or over, full-time students, and guests with access requirements

The museum opens officially on the 12th of November.

https://www.mplus.org.hk/en/

Accessories November 7, 2021

Stubble & Co’s Ben Watkiss on creating the perfect Adventure Bag

“The problem was the perfect bag was elusive,” says Stubble & Co Co-Founder Ben Watkiss as he looks back on the pivotal moment that led to the creation of, what we consider to be the sturdiest and most versatile bag brand in the market today. “I just couldn’t find one bag that would do it all and those I did find either broke pretty quickly or came with an eye-watering price tag.”

Following an idyllic three-week adventure in the Philippines, Ben set out to create a range of highly-functional bags that people would never stop using, no matter where the destination and two years later, Stubble & Co was born.

Stubble & Co’s design-led approach and dedication to excellent customer experience and true sustainability means that every product was designed to suit the needs of every kind of traveller. “We believe our products are exceptional and our promises are bold, but we still do everything we can to over deliver on them and put the customer first in every single decision,” Ben says. Having sampled a Stubble & Co Roll Top Backpack myself, I can confidently say, that while Ben’s promises may indeed be bold, he certainly delivers on them too.

We sit down with Ben and talk about what makes Stubble & Co’s bags just so much better than other fast-fashion options in the market today, how a change in mindset helped him navigate the troubles of COVID-19 and what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur in his own terms.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start Stubble and Co

Before founding the brand, I spent 10 years travelling almost every week for work. In and out of airports, on planes, trains and buses, and went through a bunch of bags doing so. The problem was the perfect bag was elusive, I just couldn’t find one bag that would do it all and those I did find either broke quickly or came with an eye-watering price tag. That seemed crazy but it also gave me an idea, one that happened while exploring the Philippines.

It was three idyllic weeks in paradise. No office jobs to think about and no hectic London life, just a chance to really think about the future and how to make the leap into bags. The vision was to create a range of bags that people would never stop using, wherever the destination. Bags that could go anywhere and do anything because they had been designed to last.

Then in March of 2017, after two years of researching, prototyping and planning, we sold our first Stubble & Co bags.

I love the tagline ‘The Only Bag You’ll Ever Need’. In your opinion what sets Stubble & Co apart from other bag brands today? What have been the biggest milestones so far?

Our design-first approach and the fact we put quality at the very centre of everything we do. Materials, techniques, layouts, features and every little detail in between. We focus on it all so that we’re left with a product of exceptional quality and, one that we sell at the most affordable price possible.

The other key focus is the customer experience. We want to exceed every expectation from the moment someone discovers our brand, all the way through, so that we’re still part of their experience years after they’ve purchased one of our products.

We believe our products are exceptional and our promises are bold, but we still do everything we can to over deliver on them and put the customer first in every single decision. That’s the most important factor in our entire brand and we’ve now sold bags to over 25,000 customers.

Stubble & Co is all about blending functionality and performance with a strong sustainable and ethical ethos. Could you tell us more about your sustainable practices?

We’ve got a long way to go before we’re perfect, but we’re constantly looking for ways to make our entire process more sustainable. That’s always been our mission. First and foremost, we want to produce bags that make every journey easier, but if we don’t look after our planet and environment at the same time, we’re not doing all we can as a business. That’s why we’ve made sustainability an inherent part of our vision, working hard on every aspect to become more sustainable than we were yesterday.

To do this, we’ve made sure our bag designs are timeless over ‘fast-fashion’ and we’ve begun launching even more products made from recycled-plastics. We also offer an in-house repair service, offset our transportation carbon footprint, work out of a carbon negative warehouse and make sure all our packaging is 100% recyclable.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an entrepreneur so far?

As you can probably imagine, 2020 was a pretty big challenge. Our whole ethos has been to make bags that are built for travel, whether that’s a commute to work, a road trip into the wilderness, a weekend away and every other type of journey, all of which were grounded at the start of 2020.

So we flipped our mindset and changed our attitude. Rather than worrying about how many bags we were selling in the short term, we doubled down on creating inspirational and educational content that would help people get ready for when travel was possible again. We also looked deeper into the changing market and found ways to develop even more essential products, like our Roll Top backpack. Agile, versatile, functional, sustainable, we wanted to design a bag that would let our customers explore the world on their doorsteps by foot and by bike.

Do you have a favourite piece in the Stubble & Co line? If so – why?

We’re proud of every product we’ve ever designed, but the Adventure Bag has to be our favourite. It’s the Swiss Army knife of bags. The kind of bag the 10 year old adventurer in us would have designed in a treehouse, while imagining we were explorers going from sea level streets to snow-capped peaks. That was the passion that fuelled the Adventure Bag.

Made from seriously robust recycled materials, this 42L bag combines the utility of a holdall with the functionality of our most practical backpack. But it wasn’t until we read the first customer reviews that we realised just how special this design was. On one hand it is tough, durable and enhanced with 8 purpose-built compartments so that every journey is made easier and on the other it is exceptionally lightweight and comfortable, with nothing rigid within the bag, so that it can be packed to the limits of any airline. It’s the ultimate sidekick.

Stubble & Co has a decidedly streamlined range – how do you go about designing a Stubble & Co bag?

First of all, we sit down and think about the sort of problems we want to solve with each bag and then we brief our epic designer — who has worked with some of the best known bag brands out there — to come up with exciting new ways to make the little details exceptional.

After that, we put out surveys and talk to our customers because they know our bags better than anyone. That’s how we are constantly able to improve. Every single product we have brought out has featured an improvement, whether that’s something big and obvious or small and essential.

What’s next for you and Stubble & Co? Any new exciting projects in the pipeline

Hopefully a lot more travel and everyday adventures. We started Stubble & Co to solve a problem we were struggling with, so we’d love to get back to living the brand day in day out, getting out into the wilderness, testing our products and finding even cooler ways to improve them. And while we envisage always having a small permanent collection of bags, we want to keep finding ways to stretch what’s possible in every perspective: the materials we use, the features we offer and the ways in which we build each bag. There’s only one way to do that: get out there and test them in the wild.

What advice do you have for those looking to take the leap and start their own businesses too?

The first step is always the hardest part… and the scariest, especially at the beginning. You suddenly realise how much effort and time is actually required as you start working hours that are far, far longer than you ever imagined, with numerous sacrifices dotted along the way. All the late-nights, stressful moments, nervy decisions, everything. When you start seeing your product worn by strangers on the street, everything just becomes worth it and you’re left feeling incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved. So, hang in there, because if you’ve got passion and a love for what you’re building, you’ll make a success of it and that’s worth all the hardships.

WWW.STUBBLEANDCO.COM

Food & Drink November 3, 2021

Celebrate Diwali with the snack that gives back

Make sure your Diwali celebrations include Howdah, a mission-led brand that makes deliciously moreish and authentic, Indian snacks that give back; every pack it sells buys a free school lunch for a child in need in India. Howdah snacks are bursting with all the vibrant flavours of India, curated for the modern British palate. Its eclectic range is crafted with ayurvedic ingredients, such as turmeric, coriander and ginger, made from its Founder’s centuries-old family recipes and brand-new innovations, inspired by the most exciting Indian street food.

Their Bombay Mix is packed with flavour. It is made with over 10 unique ingredients, tossed with zingy, zesty and exotic spices, such as caraway seeds, ground turmeric, cumin, ginger, mango and coriander powder. Howdah’s Bombay Mix is made from Founder Falu’s family recipe, which was created and refined by generations of women and passed down to Falu. It is a unique, crunchy jumble of roasted peanuts, cashews, lentils and more, all tossed in a sweet and salty signature blend of aromatic spices. Growing up, Falu would see her family make this Bombay Mix once a week. It would be stored in a large jar for everyone to eat along with their afternoon chai or given to the kids to take to school to snack on during their break.

Ensure your celebrations feature their Onion Bhaji half-moons, an aromatic, crunchy crescent-shaped snack made from a lively blend of mellow onion, zesty turmeric, and a little kick of chilli. The nibble is inspired by that UK favourite, the onion bhaji. Often called bhajji, bhajiya or bajji, they are traditionally deep-fried snacks originating in the Indian state of Maharashtra, where they are still eaten during the monsoon season, when the climate cools after a hot summer.

All products are 100% plant-based and free from artificial flavours and preservatives.

Howdah was founded by Indian entrepreneur Falu Shah, who wanted to create a snack that would give back. Falu’s vision was to combine a great product with a good cause.

Millions of children miss out on education because of hunger. The brand’s one-snack-one-meal initiative encourages children to attend school and gain an education, by providing free meals. Falu’s mission is to give away one million meals by the end of 2021, with 260,000 delivered so far.

They work in partnership with The Akshaya Patra Foundation, an Indian NGO, that strives to eliminate classroom hunger. Hunger is one of the biggest barriers to education and many parents can’t afford to educate their children because of the cost of school meals. India alone is home to a third of the world’s malnourished children – 3,000 of whom die every day from hunger-related illnesses. Akshaya Patra often provide the only nutritious meal a child will get that day. It gives parents the motivation to support their children’s education, which in turn gives the children the vital skills they need to build a better futures for themselves and their families.

Howdah’s Onion Bhaji half-moons and Bombay Mix are available to buy from Sainsbury’s.

Lifestyle November 2, 2021

Tips for getting better deals while shopping online

Online shopping offers some of the best shopping experiences one can imagine; talk of convenience, flexibility, and honesty, online shopping is undisputedly the best. However, if you are not careful, this new trend can give you a run for your money. There are several ways you can save money, get Shop For Credit Before You Buy tips from Gordon Simmons to make the most of your purchases.

So, how can you avoid compromising your budget while doing online shopping and still get quality products? There is the obvious such as using discount codes, for example, these sams club coupons. This post outlines various tips you can use to get better deals online that you may not have thought of. Read on for more.

Shop incognito.

Usually, most online shopping sites practice dynamic pricing models based on location, past shopping, or browsing history. Therefore, it means that when you shop incognito, the site will identify you as a new client, and the rates will change accordingly, most likely in your favor.

However, there are different ways you can achieve this. You can shop incognito by constantly clearing your browsing data and cookies, opening a new window, use separate email addresses or phone numbers to list as a new customer.

Use cart abandonment trick.

This is one of the common strategies for most online shoppers for getting rebates. It works by loading all the products you need into the shopping basket then walking away without paying for them.

While it may not sound like a good shopping habit, the idea is to get the ecommerce owners to get back to you with a discounted offer on your already purchased items.

Though not every site will respond to your cart abandonment or even offer you the expected discount offer, it is still important to try it out.

Enroll as a reward member.

Generally, online business depends on repeat customers. And to maintain this loyalty, they offer several reward programs to keep clients coming back to their businesses.

Their baits commonly include a promise of an additional discount when you subscribe to their various programs, fill out a form, or join their buyer’s club. Giving out different information like buying habits and your email contacts may qualify you for a better deal or gift on your next shopping.

If you are sure of coming back to shop from a particular online shopping platform and don’t have a problem sharing some of your details, joining a reward club can offer more benefits to you.

Apart from the rewards, you’ll get important notifications about new products, services, or any promotional message before it is released to the public.

Take advantage of other rebate sites.

An e-commerce membership reward program is not the only available method you can accumulate rebates. There are several rebate sites that you can use to link you with your preferred online shopping platforms.

Such portals do not sell or offer any services, but they get commissions by directing links to sites that provide e-commerce services. To keep you loyal to their sites, they split the commission with you on any purchase ranging from 2-20%.

There are a lot of rebate sites with varied terms and conditions, but, to be eligible for rebate payout, you must collect an agreed amount of commission. So the best thing to do is to enroll in more than one rebate site.

Use e-commerce’s recommended credit cards or payment options.

Giant online retailers usually offer credit card discounts, including rewards or double points, by using their preferred cards or other payment methods.

A great example of this is Amazon. When you combine a card and a site having variety and decent options, you can earn points or make extra savings on products you’ll purchase on their platform.

If you are not a good bargainer, you may design your online shopping to leverage the benefits of the extra points with these programs and still get better deals on all that you need with a one-stop shopping experience.

Conclusion.

Online shopping is undoubtedly the best owing to its flexibility, convenience, and hassle-free experience. However, getting better deals or low-priced items online need thorough research and patience.

Once you decide on the items you want and which sites offer them, apply the tricks and tips discussed herein to get discounts while shopping online. Lastly, don’t drag the discussion; call it quits if you find the talks heading nowhere.

Fitness November 2, 2021

The Rise of the Micro Gym – the latest wellness trend to hit the high street

Lockdown saw virtual gym sessions soar in popularity and as a result people are now looking for a new way to work out. Expensive monthly gym subscriptions are being cancelled and replaced with more flexible options like Osaki pro admiral that provide a private, professional space to train in with state-of-the-art equipment.

Founded by London-based personal trainer Guido Basola, ELYSIUM caters to PTs looking for a professional space to train clients as well as those looking for somewhere to do a solo or group workout with friends. Coming from a luxury fitness background, Guido has taken his previous experiences and created a dynamic space that will change the way people view fitness and personal training.

With sites in Aldgate and Seven Dials and plans to open in Clapham, Battersea and London Bridge, the micro gyms are priced at £25 per hour and need to be pre-booked prior to arrival via the ELYSIUM app.

The boutique training spaces are routinely cleaned throughout the day and aim to cultivate a safe and inviting community feel, this includes an SOS function on their app, which enables members to access any site 24/7 in case of emergency. The micro gym equipment you will find here are easy to use and operate. Even as a working mom you can make most of your time here without any hassle and the worries of breaking the bank.

Don’t be mistaken – the ‘micro gym’ isn’t just a scaled down version of your local big gym. ELYSIUM boasts top of the range exercise equipment. From a cardio perspective, guests can work with the Concept2 Rower, SkiErg and BikeErg to improve lower-body conditioning and aerobic fitness. For strengthening workouts, the Power Racks come with custom-built lever arms for chest, shoulder and deadlift support. Home gym equipment specialists, BLK BOX have also provided a standard rack of dumbbells and Kettlebells for joint exercises including chest flyes, shoulder raises or biceps curls. The gym’s also feature a Primal Strength Commercial Cable Crossover, for arm, chest and shoulder muscle workouts.

Founder Gudio Basola commented: “At its core, ELYSIUM is a fitness facility that focuses on the individual, their needs and training priorities. By removing the daunting floor size of a large gym, people can focus on themselves and what they want to achieve in the hour or so that they are with us. Over lockdown, there was an increase in demand for personal trainers and with ELYSIUM we can provide a space for that demand, without the high commission rate of a big corporate gym.”

The micro gym offers the best of both worlds; a quiet, professional space for fitness enthusiasts and personal trainers, with all the benefits of a high end, state-of-the-art gym. Expect to see sites pop up on a high street next to you.

Find out more and book your training slot at ELYSIUM