Lifestyle - House Of Coco Magazine

Lifestyle December 1, 2017

5 Ways Pets Improve Our Quality of Life

Having a pet will bring you untold joy – but it’s not just the owning of a pet and enjoying their company that is a reason to have an animal in the house. There are ways that being a pet owner can actually improve your quality of life.

Stress Management
Studies show that simply having contact with a furry companion can reduce stress levels. It produces a calming effect and, as a bonus, some animals (cats and dogs, in particular) are perceptive in this area; they know when their owner is feeling anxious. When that happens, they want to come closer to you. Although we don’t know exactly how and why they can do this (it could be to do with chemical changes in the stressed human’s body), it’s a very useful way to keep everyone calm. Lower stress levels lead to better health too.

Lower Blood Pressure
As well as lowering stress levels, being around animals can also lower our blood pressure. Simply brushing or stroking a pet is enough to lift your mood and keep your blood pressure at a safe level. Of course, a pet shouldn’t be the only way to deal with high blood pressure (exercise and a healthy diet help too), but it doesn’t hurt.

Exercise
Having a pet that needs regular exercise means that you are getting that exercise too. The first pet that will spring to mind is a dog; they need walking at least once a day, and more if possible, and walking is fantastic low impact exercise. However, even playing with your cat or cleaning out a hamster’s cage is a form of exercise if you do it right. Be careful not to overdo it, though; small animals can become unwell or sustain injuries if you push them too hard. It’s always useful to make an online search for a ‘vet near me’ so you know where your nearest vet is just in case.

Allergies
Although popular belief says otherwise, owning a pet does not mean you will be more open to allergies. Studies show that being exposed to a pet early on can reduce your chances of having animal-related allergies when you are older. So if you have children, getting a pet can actually make them potentially healthier adults. It also helps them to be responsible and caring, so there are many advantages for all the family that can be gained from owning a pet.

Socialising
Pets are also a good reason to socialise. Not everyone is a natural extrovert who is happy to chat to people and who makes friends easily. Having a pet will give you something in common with others, and this can open up communication channels. Something simple like walking your dog will put you in contact with like-minded people. Having friends to talk to decreases feelings of loneliness and depression. Even if you still prefer not to talk to other humans, having a pet around the house means you’re not alone, so those lonely feelings can still be banished.

Food & Drink November 22, 2017

GIRLBOSSES OF GREAT BRITAIN: From Banking to Baking – One woman’s escape from the City

This year Taste of London was full of unbridled festive delights, the latest burgers here, turmeric lattes over there but we were yearning for something more pure and hygge. Step forward Natasha with her new bakery box Bakit (justbakit.co.uk)

From £14.99 to £19.99, Natasha’s baking kits contain everything you need to make a delicious cake at home, with just the right quantities of ingredients and even a toothpick to check that you’ve got a good bake, as the curiously tanned blue eyed wonder would tell you. We gave the gluten free Chocolate and Hazelnut Torte a whirl and, in stark contrast to all gluten free baking we’d ever done before, this was a great success! Check out our before and after photos below and read on for our interview with GirlBoss Natasha.

HOC: Hey Natasha, so nice to meet you! Tell us about your baking and what brought you to create Bakit?

Natasha: Lovely to meet you too! Bakit all started around this time last year – with a Christmas cake! I was staring at all sorts of half empty old packets of raisins, sultanas and mixed spice in my cupboard, and just thought how nice it would be if someone could send me the exact quantities I needed to make my cake. It would mean less waste, a lot less hassle. I thought, Hello Fresh and others already do this for main meals, so why not try it for baking? So that’s when I had the idea for baking kits – Bakit.

HOC: Did you always love baking growing up?

N: I’ve always loved cooking and learnt with my mum and granny – I love how it brings everyone together around a table. I never used to bake that much though, otherwise I’d just be eating cake all day! And that’s kind of why the idea of Bakit made sense to me – because I’m not someone who bakes (or used to bake) that frequently, I didn’t want to have to buy big packs of ingredients to only use a teaspoon of it. I also want people to see that if I can do it, and I’m no pro, so can they.

HOC: You left the corporate world to follow your dream, can you tell us about that?

N: Yes I was in banking for about 12 years. I was a business manager for a team of 180 people in an investment bank, but somehow making decisions relating to your own business is far more daunting than most of the work I did back then!

HOC: What was it like making that decision to leave the world you knew behind?

N: It felt wonderful, daring – and terrifying! When I left, so many people said they’d love to be able to do the same. I had spent a lot of my time wanting to ‘do something different’ but I was never quite sure what, though I knew it would be food related. So I left last year and did a cooking course at Cordon Bleu, and it was whilst I was doing the course that I had the idea for Bakit.

HOC: What have you done to prepare yourself for entrepreneurship?

N: There are a lot of books and blogs you can read (my favourite book is the The $100 Start Up), but until you actually get going, it all feels very academic. What really got me going was a start up course at Escape the City, which was brilliant. They showed us all sorts of free tools that you can use – you really don’t have to spend very much money to get up and running. They also engrained in us the idea of starting ‘scrappy’ and of testing out your product and market as soon as you can

HOC: Starting a food business must be tough! Any recommendations for any budding foodie entrepreneurs?

N: There are a few different ways to approach a start up – but as they taught us at Escape the City, start with the minimum, most basic version of your product, to see if you have a market. Don’t spend loads of money on making an amazing website or creating a stand out brand, until you know that someone is going to want to buy your product.

And don’t worry about telling people about your idea. Ideas are two a penny, what counts is the hard graft that comes next. It’s very unlikely that someone is going to steal your idea – and if they do, I guess you have to see it as flattery. Reach out to people, ask for help – and offer to help others in return! From my own experience, the startup community in London is incredibly generous.

HOC: What does an average day look like for you?

N: The first thing I do is always check my emails to see if I’ve had any orders! I like to send these off as soon as I can – I still get such a rush when I potter off to the post office with Bakits in my bag. I’ll then usually check my social media accounts and see if there is anything I need to reply to. If I am testing out a new recipe I’ll spend the day in my kitchen. I need to make sure that the recipes are just right, and that they can be replicated. I’ll then need to photograph each stage, and design / write the recipe card. It is quite an involved process but I love it when a customer posts a proud picture of one of our cakes!!

HOC: Sounds exciting, what’s next for Bakit?

N: I think the run up to Christmas is going to be really busy, so getting ready for that! I’m also working on some new recipes – Selasi (editor’s note: *swoon*) gave me his red velvet recipe when I met him at Taste of London, so that’s definitely next on the list.

I have got lots of plans to grow the brand – I’d love to do some video tutorials to help people learn some of the trickier techniques. I really want Bakit to be about teaching people that they can bake and learn loads of new skills at home, and that it isn’t actually all that complicated!

HOC: And finally, make us hungry ; what’s your favourite thing to bake?

N: I love making Christmas cake, mainly because of how my kitchen smells when I’m doing it – rich spices and oranges, yum, it really gets me into the Christmas spirit. For the rest of the year, I’d probably say chocolate chip cookies. You can’t beat them fresh out of the oven.

To find out more about Bakit head to justbakit.co.uk

Interiors November 4, 2017

#CocoInteriors : The most popular bedroom designs of 2017

We’re always keen to see which trends the nation’s interior design experts come up with in their bids to make our homes more stylish.

And it seems that the humble bedroom has been the focal point of many home decor devotees’ efforts this year with everything from simple wooden beds to elaborate bedside rugs getting plenty of attention.

But what are the most popular bedroom designs that have taken the UK by storm in 2017?

Scandinavian style

As the year began with plenty of lifestyle books advocating clean living and cosy home decor, it gave us all the chance to embrace the hygge and fill up our bedrooms with faux-fur throws, twinkling tea lights, and tasteful folk-art.

But this Scandinavian look wasn’t all about cloying sentimentalism as it demanded we kept our colour palettes restrained, and advocated minimalism as the guiding light for our design efforts.

So that whether this meant trying to be enthusiastic about grey as the colour of the year, or even taking a warmer option with a wooden bed from Bedstar, it showed that there was plenty of mileage in the Scandinavian style.

Boho chic

The bohemian look has been another massive hit in our bedrooms in 2017. From the extravagant use of ‘tribal’ textures in our soft furnishings, to the new-found passion for succulent plants, it seems that there was a definite shift towards some hippy-friendly design schemes.

This could be seen as a long overdue backlash to the brutalist trend of recent times. But whatever the reason, you knew that you were never going to be too far away from on-trend items like macrame plant hangers and essential bohemian features like kilim rugs and terracotta pots.

Mid-century charms

And finally, if bohemian style was too weird, and Scandinavian chic was too cutesy, then there was the perfect antidote in the mid-century modern revival.

Whether this was a result of interior designers watching too many episodes of Mad Men is anybody’s guess, but regardless of the reason, it gave us a great opportunity to explore unusual colour tones and hunt down some seriously stylish bedroom furniture.

Although this look is something that might be a little extreme for fans of wooden beds and clean white walls, there is no denying the fact that the mid century modern renaissance has given us plenty of great ideas for updating our bedrooms in 2017.

Food & Drink November 2, 2017

Mixing it up at the Be At One new cocktail menu launch

The gang at #TeamCoco love a cheeky cocktail, so imagine our delight when we were invited to the new cocktail menu launch at our favourite bar in Bournemouth – Be At One.

This cocktail bar has only been opened for a couple of months but is fast becoming one of the hottest places to go to in Bournemouth for a drink (or two!)

Bar tender Rob was on hand to talk us through the new cocktail menu, showcase his cocktail making skills and more importantly, allow us to taste these new cocktails too. It’s a tough job, but at House of Coco, we take this very seriously and some might say we have been preparing for this challenge all our lives! Slight exaggerations aside, Rob prepared some incredible cocktails that we know are going to be extremely popular over the coming months.

Without a doubt, my personal favourite (and for many of the other guests too) was the ‘Kiss from a Rose’ which is made from Heyman’s gin, rosé wine, strawberry and cucumber, pomegranate and elderflower tonic. Gin. Check! Rose wine. Check! Plus I count at least three of your five a day with the added fruity elements to this drink. This certainly went down a treat and this will be one that I will order again.

Aperol seems to be becoming a staple product to a cocktail makers list, the Be At One’s ‘A-Pear-ol’ certainly showcases aperol well and it is teamed with vodka, pomegranate and spiced pear. This is more of an unusual flavour, but if you like fruit-based cocktails, you definitely should give the A-Pear-ol a whirl!

A drop of rum always warms us up, so a glass of ‘Monkey Punch’ – a rum-based milk punch definitely ticks all the right boxes. Bizarrely, this drink also contains Coco Pops too – we can’t quite figure out If it would be acceptable to have this for breakfast or not! Maybe at Christmas?!

Tequila, it makes us happy! ‘Patron & The Saint’ is a devilishly good drink – with shots of tequila, Campari and a mix of pineapple, lemon and apricot – this cocktail certainly packs a punch.

One of my new favourites was ‘Blue Steel’ – a gin-based cocktail with white peach, blue Curaçao and lemon – it was absolutely delicious!

Vodka lovers weren’t disappointed with ‘Better call Sol’ – a lime vodka drink with ginger, lemon, pineapple and black pepper. There were even cocktails based on flavours like coffee and banoffee pie.

With so many cocktails to choose from, you would think it would be impossible to decide, but the bar staff are on hand to talk you through your tastes and whether you like sweet, sharp or something else entirely when it comes to your beverage of choice.

Be At One take the training of their bar staff incredibly seriously, in fact, the value of a bar tenders training to reach cocktail making perfection comes in at around the £10,000 mark.

As well as their bar in Bournemouth, Be At One have bars throughout the London area and all over England too. Don’t forget to check out their website to find the nearest one to you.

With huge thanks to the team at Be At One, Route PR and a big thank you to Tom Henshaw, at SHAW Digital for taking such amazing photos.

Lifestyle October 18, 2017

Wild thoughts

Here at House of Coco we have always been about innovation and have always loved those that are forward thinking! we appreciate the girl that does it for herself but we also have so much respect for the guys who kill it! and when I met Mike from Wilde Connect that is exactly what I thought – his idea was innovative and he was so forward thinking! We love travel at House of Coco and his business definitely would appeal to those fast savvy fashion types who are always country hopping taking our office with us. Majority of us can’t live without our phones – our lives are practically on them – so when someone comes along with an idea that would make life easier – we welcome it with open arms! I caught up with Michael Wilde…

Tell us about you and what your brand is

Michael Wilde, entrepreneur & founder of Wilde Connect. A phone network which lets you take your work phone with you around the world. And of course, an aspiring Digital Nomad.

What is your average day like?

Exciting, I don’t know where I’m going to be working that day which is why I love my job so much. All my job requires is an internet connection and me, so I can be working from an office in Oxford or a beach in Bali. My business helps with others to become digital nomads. Download an app & connect your local work number and make and receive calls from that number from wherever you are in the world. From my experience, people do business with people they feel comfortable with. What makes people uncomfortable is getting a call from a Russian number when you’re in an office in London. You immediately think ‘Who is this?!’ We supply local numbers to any device so you can call and receive calls from your local UK number, wherever you are.

Favourite travel destination

It has to be Iceland! What a place, everything about it took my breath away. The scenery, the food, the people, the nightlife, everything was just amazing. 100% will go back.

Who inspires you and who do you aspire to be like?

My family. They’re always pushing me to better myself – Continuous Improvement – If you’re not improving you’re going backwards. I’ve just started acting classes with this in mind.

3 things you cant live without

My laptop, my family, and my snowboard.

Who is the key person Wilde Connect is aimed for?

Someone who doesn’t want to be behind a desk for the rest of their working life. My ideal customer is anyone who wants to travel the globe and make money while they’re at it. We give you the means to communicate with companies back home like you’re sat across the road, making it easier to do business and secure deals.

You’re in your early days of your brand – how do you deal with those bad days when you just want to give up

I work off the mantra; The more you put in, the more you get out. Even on the hard days when I want to stay in bed and watch Netflix, that saying haunts me to put in that extra couple of hours work, even when I don’t want to.

What are you currently listening to?

I’ve recently got into Billy Joel again, I love playing the Piano so his music really resonates with me and I love a good ballad.

What motivates you to strive to be successful

The feeling that unsuccessful people are so because they haven’t put the work in. It’s up to you and you alone to make it, no excuses. It’s a cut-throat way of looking at the world but I believe that the more you put in, the more you get out, in every sense. From relationships with loved ones to clients across the globe.

Thank you Mike we look forward to hearing more about you and watching you grow! want to know more check his website below!

https://www.wildeconnect.com

/
@wildeconnect

Lifestyle October 17, 2017

Designer Spotlight : Berjo

At Berjo they adore all forms of communication that incorporate fine art and minimalistic design to convey compelling messages. Their design process starts with a sharp pencil and a fresh sheet of paper which is enhanced digitally. Here, they tell us more about the brand and the plans for the future…

When did you launch the brand and what was the reason behind it?
We started in late 2013. We love to help companies and individuals to convey their statement or message with beautiful illustration and design. Whether it’s a marketing/ad campaign, online content or editorial, we like to create illustrations that make a statement and help to get a message across. Last year we started making handmade stationery.

What’s your background?
Well, I’m a Czech national and studied scientific illustration at the Secondary School of Arts and Design in Brno, my home city. I then studied graphic design at both undergraduate and postgraduate level at Tomas Bata University in Zlin. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with drawing and fine art. When I was a lot younger, I spent some time in Congo (Brazzaville) and recall obsessively drawing Dragon Ball Z characters. I even created my very own comic books with loose leaf papers bound together with whatever I could lay my hands on.

How many people are involved in the company and what are their roles?
We are small at the moment. I run the company with my partner. Essentially, I’m the creative and execute all our illustrations and design. My partner deals with all things related to management, marketing and other activities vital to running the business.

If you could start over with the business, would you do anything differently?
I would probably try to get to know more people in my field, fellow illustrators etc. That being said, I try not to have many regrets as I believe that a common misconception about success is that it happens without mistakes, whereas, it’s the contrary. I’ve learnt so much from experiencing and reflecting on my decisions.

What is the hardest challenge you have faced since you started the company?
Visibility. Getting ourselves out there has been challenging.

Tell us one fact about you that people wouldn’t know?
I can draw with both hands. My right hand is stronger though, I have to admit.

2017 is here, where do you plan on taking the brand?
The year has been good so far but we want greater visibility for our stationery line. We also have several more products that we are working on at the moment. It’s an exciting time and we can’t wait to launch them.

To date, what has been the highlight since launching?
Without a doubt, being selected as one of the twelve winners of the first ever Launchpad competition organised by the London Stationery Show. We had a stand at this year’s show in April. It was a great experience both in terms of meeting other winners as well as leaders in the industry. We’ve also been included in Stationery Magazine’s 30 under 30 list of upcoming stars. Though that reminded me that I’m pushing 30! A third highlight (though you only asked for 1!) was being approached to create illustrations of 33 African innovators for this year’s Quartz African innovators list. It was launched at the World Economic Forum held in Durban South Africa.

Which city do you feel most at home in, London, Paris or New York?
I’ve lived in all three. New York is gritty and edgy. Paris is beautiful and Parisians are very expressive. I also love that I get to speak more French and touch base with the very large Congolese community there. However, London is home. Plus, I started my company here; it’s impossible to find another city like it.

Three beauty products you can’t leave the house without?
Lip salve… no other beauty products leave the house with me. Should they?!

Style means….?
It’s really about what makes me feel comfortable and confident.

Best thing about London to you?
The energy and diversity in this city never lets me down.

Statement shoe or statement bag?
Adidas Campus. I could and most likely will wear that shoe for the rest of my life.

If you had to, what piece of clothing from your wardrobe would you wear every day?
A well-fitting white organic cotton t-shirt with dark blue trousers.

Favourite love song?
Lady in my life. MJ. RIP

Best place for a coffee?
I don’t drink coffee but I’m more of a juice drinker and love cakes. I really like Mughead Coffee house in New Cross, South East London. Look Mum No Hands in East London and The Monocle Kiosk in Paddington, they all have a welcoming, home away from home, bring your laptop, stay for as long as you want, see you next week vibe.

Most memorable piece of advice given to you?
Just do it.

Guilty pleasure?
Good food, ripe mangoes, avocados and non-alcoholic white Muscat.

If you could spent 24 hours in anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Tahiti.

In the future, how do you plan on expanding the company?
Currently, it’s about consistency in growth, output and visibility. We want organic long-lasting growth. In the immediate future, we plan on creating more beautiful stationery items and placing them in the hands of as many people as possible. Long term, we aim to expand into a lifestyle brand where our illustrations are a distinguishing feature.

Where can people find out more? (website/social media)

www.berjo.co.uk

@lifefandlines (Instagram)
@berjogroup (Instagram)

Lifestyle October 5, 2017

Coco Business Inspiration : Tarte de Fleurs

Established in 2010 by cake artist Elizabeth Manukyan. Tarte de Fleurs is a cake company fully dedicated to creating delicious, unique and stunning cakes for all occasions.

Given how much of a sweet tooth we have here at House of Coco we just had to find out more about this brand…

When did you launch the brand and what was the reason behind it?
I launched Tarte de Fleurs in 2010. The whole inspiration, behind the brand, came when I stumbled across a site with art cakes and I was amassed to discover that these beautiful creations were all edible. I felt the urge to challenge myself and create my own sugar masterpiece. Though Cake decorating started as a hobby, it quickly became not only a passion but also my profession.

What’s your background?
My background is in art and fashion design. I have a BA Hons in Fashion Design and management and an A- level in Art – Sculpture.

If you could start over with the business, would you do anything differently?
Hence I already had this opportunity. I originally started the business in my hometown in Bulgaria. However, five years later, when my family and I moved to the U.K., I had to re-launch the brand again. During this launch I discovered that I do not need to try and do everything on my own, like I did before. Instead I used the skills of those around me and professionals in different areas to achieve better results and to save time that I can use to focus on baking and designing process.

What is the hardest challenge you have faced since you started the company?
In 2013 one of my clients ordered a wedding cake and she wanted it to resemble that of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s. The actual baking and decorating took me three sleepless days, to create it. At the end I had the happiest bride ever and a huge boost of new skills and confidence.

Tell us one fact about you that people wouldn’t know?
Simply put – I’m a perfectionist! Each time anyone orders a cake I give my best to find the perfect match. This is only revealed to the customer once they receive their bespoke cake. The process before the actual baking is very complicated and long. The request is lodged; this initiates a first draft handmade sketch. At times the sketch can take a few days to create. This could be because the customer requests a design entailing two very diverse and contradicting themes, for instance a birthday girl who loves both fairy tales and army tanks.

To date, what has been the highlight since launching?
The highlight since launching, in the U.K., is that every single customer I have had during the first year here has returned for another order. This recognition is my proof that Tarte de Fleurs is moving in the right direction.

Style means….?
In my opinion, style means different things to different people. I love the challenge of designing a cake that is as unique as the person receiving it. I work closely with the customer, to create the perfect style cake for them.

Best thing about London to you?
London is very metropolitan and allows me to meet diverse people, which ultimately lead me to learn about new cultures, traditions and beliefs.

Most memorable piece of advice given to you?
My mother once told me that when you work hard and love what you are doing, the success would follow inevitably…well she is certainly right!

In future, how do you plan on expanding the company?
I’m planning on opening a luxury cake shop, where customers would always be welcome to come and meet me, taste my creations and discuss, in person, their ideal cake design.

Find out more…

https://tartedefleurs.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/TartedeFleurscakes

https://www.instagram.com/tartedefleurs

Girl Bosses of Great Britain September 19, 2017

GirlBossesofGreatBritain: Passion, Determination & the X Factor with Leah McKenzie

#SpoilerAlert ! This interview contains unbridled enthusiasm and passion for life, we fear it may be contagious…

This week, House of Coco caught up with super ‘slashie’ Leah McKenzie on her passions, plans and how on earth she does it all!

HoC: Hey, Leah, welcome to House of Coco. We know you as a lady of many talents – tell us a little about your passions!

Leah: I have one passion in life and that is living life! Everything goes into that, I think we are so lucky to be able to have such an amazing experience, even in dark times. When the time is right we are all thankful for this opportunity to experience things like food, culture, arts, music, love, laughter, joy and even things like pain and sadness, its all part of this amazing experience.

HoC: We completely agree and we can see your passion for life spilling through to your work from presenting and acting to X Factor’s BootCamp! How did you build your portfolio career?

Leah: I have always known that showbiz is definitely my destiny! From a young age when I became aware of my self, my intellect, my talents and emotions, I realised a wanted to be a showbiz star; an actress, singer song writer, a presenter, a TV personality.

To get to where I am now I’ve done both paid and unpaid work and also made sure I was constant with all my social media’s, to the point where people would say I post way too much but I felt this method was right for me as I have so many sides to show! I want people to see and understand my growth, I believe that is why people are interested in me as they see I am real and authentic, my journey is serious and also raw to the core and I want to share this with people all over the world.

HoC: Talking of you at a young age; what advice would you have now for a younger you?

Leah: If I could talk to a younger version of myself I would first of all explain to them how important it is to get as much training as possible because when you’re given a gift it’s raw like a diamond in the rough. But when you start to shape it up and polish it, you get to appreciate its beauty.

Also I would tell them to be themselves, be true, dress however they feel to dress, speak how they want to speak and follow their dreams with the right intentions and never, ever give up. Like all the Greats have said; you work hard, lose sleep, you stress, you cry and scream but you never, ever let that stop you going because one day that door will open for you and it will be right for you.

If it’s your destiny and you it want THAT much it will happen for you.

HoC: Inspiring stuff, we love it! So what’s on the cards for the rest of 2017?

Leah: I would like to have an EP out, and my TV show ‘Leah McKenzie Loves Life’ doesn’t matter if it only has a few hits… haha, I’m sure it will have loads!

I would also like to establish a company that can help other British artists to excel. Not just artists in music but all creatives. I think the word ‘Creatives’ breaks all the barriers and there is no boxes; anyone is a creative as long as what they are creating comes from within.

To be honest, I’m open to see what else the rest of this year has in store. It’s been full of so many great surprises!

HoC: Sounds like a busy couple of months ahead; how on earth do you squeeze it all in?

Leah: Being a boss is one of the most challengingly things to do especially when you have a young family, like me. When you’re so driven like I am, I have ideas galore but trying to prioritise and make them happen is so challenging. I have failed many times. I have started things and not completed them and it has been a learning curve. What I’ve realised, as I’m becoming older and more mature, is if you start something you HAVE to finish it.

You need to be organised, write your ideas down and execute them one by one and just make it happen. I don’t really socialise that much, even though my Instagram portraits I’m a really bubbly sociable person as that’s work for me! When I’m not working, I’m at home working on myself and trying to make this happen. Consistency, willpower and determination is what drives me; even if you fail, just get up and keep on marching.

HoC: We can respect that hustle! Please tell us you allow yourself some R&R time too? How do you unwind from all the craziness?

Leah: If I’m lucky enough to go holiday, I like to escape to a beach!Ahhh, the sun, sand and sea (and a few vinos!) and just happy vibes…. If I’m in England, I love to go for strolls in the park and just be around nature. I don’t like to think about work or money on my days off, I just want to walk, have a laugh and be in fairyland. I do love going to the gym but even that I see as work so when I’m trying to relax I try not to do anything like that!

HoC: Give us some gossip; you’ve got to tell us what the X Factor bootcamp was like, is it anything like what we see on TV?

Leah: It was so amazing, the whole experience was fantastic. It is a lot like what you see on TV but at the end of the day people have to understand that X Factor is an entertainment show, it’s there to entertain!

We do see the funny characters going through [to the next round] for our entertainment and also see some amazing singers go through. I will say that on and off screen I had a fantastic time and the production team were great, I met some amazing artists and the opportunity was fantastic. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys singing. You may not want to be the next big superstar but just go for the experience and they make you feel like super stars……..until you get dropped and sent home, haha!

HoC: It’s been such a pleasure to meet you, Leah, and we’re super excited to see what you get up to next. How can we keep up with your adventures?

Leah: I’m on all the social channels; find me on instagram @leahmckx, twitter @LMMWORLDXX and Facebook is ‘Leah McKenzie’

I’m one of the little fish trying to make it in the big pond. I’m sure I will grow and succeed on this journey but we all need support! The little people that need your support will appreciate that ‘like’ or ‘follow’ so much more than Drake or Rihanna. So come on guys, get following!

Beauty September 14, 2017

#CocoBeauty: Sönd

Sönd is a new anti-ageing skincare range specifically for sensitive and dermatitis-prone skin. House of Coco’s Beauty Writer Rachel McAlley is currently testing and trialing three of the products from this new collection in the UK.

Harnessing the incredible natural power of silica, Sönd is a four-fold breakthrough skincare system that boosts collagen production and strengthens skin’s elasticity, firming the skin, while also treating the common, and often debilitating concerns of eczema and psoriasis.

Founded in 2015, Sönd debuts in the UK market this winter after three years in development with a team of German scientists and backed by independent research*.

The active substance silica, which we already have in our bodies when we are born, plays an essential therapeutic role in maintaining our overall health. From a beauty perspective, silica makes the skin ‘glow’. Collagen consists largely of silica as we age, the supply of silica in our bodies is exhausted and in turn, reduces collagen production.

Sönd uses a dual approach to ensure that the delivery of silica, in its pure mineral form, is as effective as possible. Due to its ability to form stable bonds with oxygen, silica creates bonds between protein molecules, which are responsible for the skin’s natural ability to retain water, critical for skin repair and skin renewal.

Silica boosts hydration in the skin, is a natural anti-inflammatory and increases the elasticity of blood vessels; improving the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to the skin’s cells.

The three Sönd products we are trialing at House of Coco include;

Sönd Energising Mineral Supplements, Energise + Activate. Priced at £28 for 60 capsules (taken daily; one capsule twice a day).

The mineral supplements are formulated with high-strength mineral silica, magnesium, vitamin E and calcium. The result replenishes your skin with essential collagen-forming silica to improve the health, function and appearance of your skin from within.

Sönd Hydrating Face Spray, Hydrate + Refresh. Priced at £24 for 100ml.

The hydrating spray provides instant and long-lasting hydration, the face spray is a lightweight and refreshing moisture boost that’s gentle and soothing on sensitive or irritated skin. An aqua-based infusion of high-strength silica that’s quick to apply, it’s a simple everyday essential for healthier skin on the go.

Sönd Gentle Daily Cleanser, Cleanse + Calm. Priced at £22 for 100ml.

The daily cleanser is there to cleanse and calm the skin through its gentle but effective cleansing cream. Shea and Cocoa butter lifts off impurities without stripping away your skin’s essential moisture, while extracts of chamomile and marigold will soothe and calm your skin for a healthy glow.

The benefits of using Sond Cleanse + Calm are immense, with chamomile and marigold added to soothe irritated skin, it is suitable for sensitive skin and leaves the skin feeling cleansed but not tight or dry. The cleanser dissolves makeup and lifts off grime plus it is paraben free and artificial fragrance free.

*Derma Consult Concept GmbH.

All products by Sönd are available online, just search for Sönd Skin.

Beauty September 11, 2017

#CocoBeauty: Fenty Beauty Launch

Cosmetics were taken to another level for the House of Coco team at the launch of Fenty Beauty by Rihanna.

Harvey Nichols, the UK’s exclusive stockist of Fenty Beauty opened the doors to the general public on Friday morning to a frenzy of excitement from all corners of the world. Rihanna was releasing her first ever collection of beauty products and the anticipation was immense.

With over 90 products in the Fenty Beauty range there is literally something for every skin tone.

Before she was BadGalRiRi: music, fashion and beauty icon, Robyn Rihanna Fenty was a little girl in Barbados transfixed by her mother’s lipstick. The first time she experienced makeup for herself, she never looked back. Makeup became her weapon of choice for self-expression—a way to radiate her ever-changing mood—and it powered a fearless take on beauty that helped her become the boundary-breaking icon she is today.

Rihanna was inspired to create Fenty Beauty after years of experimenting with the best-of-the-best in beau- ty—and still seeing a void in the industry for products that performed across all skin types and tones. She launched a makeup line “so that women everywhere would be included,” focusing on a wide range of tradition- ally hard-to-match skin tones, creating formulas that work for all skin types, and pinpointing universal shades.

Fenty Beauty products are designed to feel lightweight, even as they deliver buildable coverage that effortlessly layers, to ultimately “make skin look like skin.” Most importantly, Rihanna creates makeup to inspire “Makeup is there for you to have fun with,” she says. “It should never feel like pressure. It should never feel like a uniform. Feel free to take chances, and take risks, and dare to do something new or different.”

Let’s talk about the products. Created by Rihanna with her vision that’s always ahead of the game, Fenty Beauty redefines the rules with light-as-air formulas that love to be layered—in a global lineup of shades designed for all. Fenty Beauty is 100% cruelty free.

So much choice from the brand including Pro Filt’r Foundations, Match Stix, Killawatt Highlighters, Blotting products, Accessories and plenty more.

Match Stix, £21

Killawatt Highlighter, £26

Invisimatte Blotting, £24

Available exclusively at Harvey Nichols across the UK.