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Today we’re talking alternative careers if you won the lottery and finding a great bunch of humans to grow your company with. Let’s jump in with Kirsty Jarvis at Luminous PR.

House of Coco: Great to meet you, Kirsty; fill us in, what’s your elevator pitch for Luminous PR?

Kirsty: Luminous PR is a tech PR agency that works with fast-growth, and innovative companies working in the technology, innovation and digital space.

HOC: And where did your journey to running Luminous PR start; what was your first job?

Kirsty: My first job was actually whilst I was at University – I was a weekend store manager for a flagship Oxford Street, London retail store. Although this is very different to what I’m doing now, it gave me my first real experience of managing a team. After that I worked for a high-end kitchen design company that supplied kitchens and furniture to the rich and famous. Again, it was nothing like my current career path, but it gave me valuable experience of working hard and the importance of confidence!

HOC: From those beginnings, how did you come to starting your own PR company?

Kirsty: Before founding Luminous I was a freelance marketing, communications and PR consultant and was already comfortable with the feeling of being responsible for generating my own work and handling clients month-to-month.

Freelancing is great, but can be lonely at times and I missed being part of something bigger. I decided to build an agency because I wanted to be part of a team of people like me, all striving towards a common goal. So, Luminous was born.

HOC: Couldn’t agree more! What is about your industry that you love?

Kirsty: Luminous is a tech specialist PR agency, so I’m lucky enough to work with some brilliant people, doing amazing things with technology. This means I’m constantly learning, and frequently inspired by companies that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in an effort to improve our world.

Also, the work itself is exciting. Done right, a carefully planned media campaign makes a big impact for the people we work with. It’s a privilege to take that journey with a client, and incredibly rewarding to witness how the campaigns we deliver are part of helping that business to grow.

And finally, my team are just the best bunch of humans, and they make it fun showing up every day!

HOC: Who would be your dream client?

Kirsty: I could describe my dream client but pinning it down to just one brand is really hard. But my favourite type of client is one that leads me to learn something new. I’ve been working with technology businesses for a long time and I feel I have a good grasp of what is emerging.

A client that’s doing something completely new — never been done before stuff — is an absolute dream. Journalists love it, we love learning about it, and you really feel part of something exciting when you get a project that ticks those boxes.

HOC: If you weren’t doing this, what could have career plan B looked like?

Kirsty: I occasionally perform as a jazz singer, so if I won the lottery I would absolutely do a lot more of that. I’ve always been a singer and I’ve always thought that doing that is probably the thing that I love doing more than anything else. I love the fact that every performance is a one off and the creativity that comes from your soul!

I did it professionally for a while but it’s a tough career with really unsociable hours that don’t work around trying to run a PR agency. But lottery wins aside, I enjoy applying my skills and experience to help fledgeling businesses and entrepreneurs with PR challenges so if I wasn’t running Luminous PR, I would probably explore my options as a comms coach.

HOC: Your team (from your site) looks lady-heavy! What is this magic that happens when women work together?

Kirsty: It’s true that we have many fabulous women working at Luminous, but our site is currently being updated to reveal a couple of equally fabulous guys who have joined the team in the last 12 months!

PR is naturally dominated by women so I think this is part of why we have more chicks than guys. But I think we have naturally attracted more women candidates for each job role because of the way we have set up the business to support flexibility and remote working. This obviously works really well for mothers who want to continue developing their careers but equally want to be around for the important parts of their children’s days.

I’ve always been 100% in favour of creating a culture that’s as flexible as possible so we can be around family. I also know how important work/life balance is. It took a sharp focus and lots of thought about processes and connectivity to be able to get this flexible working infrastructure in place. But now that it’s getting there we’ve been able to attract some amazing talent that perhaps wouldn’t usually consider a boutique agency like Luminous, just because they want a more flexible working life. It’s a win-win really.

HOC: What are your favourite productivity hacks?

Kirsty: I sometimes find it hard to carve out enough time to work out, so I walk as much as I can. The commute to the office is 4 miles and often I will put on my trainers and walk in, listening to a book on the way, to ensure I’m not just sat on my butt all day. 4 miles sounds like a long way but it takes just over an hour and gives me time to learn from business audio books that I wouldn’t otherwise have time to read.

Investing time in ensuring that your phone, laptop, iPad, whatever is seamlessly syncing and working together properly is an absolute must for me. I am on the move a lot, so I need to know that whatever device I have with me, I can access any file, campaign folder or invoice I need.

HOC: Does work/life balance exist?

Kirsty: I believe it can, but you have to work hard at it. Life has a habit of pulling you in and before you know it, you’ve worked a 60 hour week and you’ve had no time for yourself. This is especially true if you run a business because you are always trying to keep up with everything you need to do. If you let it, work can consume every waking minute you have (and sometimes the non-waking minutes too). When it starts to affect your sleep, you have to set the balance right so I’m now pretty strict with myself about trying to keep work out of my home life, and setting habits and routines that ensure I keep up with mindfulness and fitness . Technology is great for reminding you about this.

HOC: The ’10 years ago’ challenge is all the rage on insta at the moment, what advice do you have for the 2009 you?

Kirsty: Ha! What wouldn’t I say?! The biggest thing I’ve learnt over the last 10 years is that you always achieve more than you think is possible so be brave and just get on with it. The other thing I would do is to reassure the younger me that resilience is one of her super powers. Being fearless and taking some risks isn’t as scary as she thinks because she’s pretty good at powering on no matter what is thrown at her. Not knowing this in my youth definitely held me back, and I would now tell anyone that they should back themselves if the taking a brave step leads to a future they want for themselves.

Find out more about Kirsty’s business Luminous PR here

Are you looking to do a whistle stop tour of New York City but have allocated the majority of your budget to be spent on Fifth Avenue or Madison? We got you. Check out insider tips to experience the gems of the city, off the tourist trail without breaking the bank.

ROCKEFELLER CENTER:

Rather than paying and queuing for an expensive and touristy observation deck, book a table at the divine Bar SixtyFive at the Rainbow Room. Bar SixtyFive is New York’s highest terrace bar and is the perfect spot to take in breathtaking views of the city during sunset on the 65th floor of the Rockefeller. The cocktails are pricey but enjoying the city views amongst actual New Yorkers is something money can’t buy – just remember to book a window table! Try the classic Manhattan (naturally), sample the Rosé Royale or the Champagne Cocktail fit with vintage Tattinger, sit back and watch the sun go down on the city that never sleeps. If you do find that you want to spend a little more, the observation deck is a part of the attractions listed on the New York pass, along with many others.

MUSEUMS:

Channel your inner Blair Waldorf or Serena van der Woodsen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and get that snap on the steps. Head to the American Museum of Natural History directly opposite through Central Park, stopping off at Shakespeare Garden and Turtle Pond en route. You can get into the museum for free in the last hour everyday (normally a $25 suggested donation) and so it is the perfect thrifty option to get the ‘must do’ museums done.

SIGHTS:

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan is free to get into and is completely spectacular with tall spires, choral music and thousands of candles that are constantly flickering. St. Patrick’s was built and paid for by thousands of immigrants who fled religious persecution and started a new life in the city. The feeling of perseverance and grit is emphasised when you turn off Fifth Avenue and see the neo-gothic style Cathedral stand in stark contrast to the epic sky scrapers that surround it.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE:

The subway is a great way to get around in the city. Hop on from Manhattan to Clark Street in edgy Brooklyn and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge back to the island, taking in the city in all its glory. Make sure you look left for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

WHERE TO EAT:

The Red Flame Diner in midtown (right by some amazing street art) doesn’t look like much from the outside but if you want unbelievable American fare, think fluffy pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, French Toast and Belgian Waffles, this is the place for you. Even better – the coffee is never ending. Perfect for when you are trying to sightsee, and shop, till you drop.

For some of us starting our own business is not on the agenda, for others, it’s in our blood. We sat down with Lucie Marchelot Shukla, a master of reinvention and serial entrepreneur to discover the story behind her newest enterprise, Straight Teeth Direct™

HOC: Great to meet you, Lucie! Can you tell us about your journey to creating Straight Teeth Direct™ ? I see you have started businesses before, would love to know about your ‘serial entrepreneur’ journey….

Lucie: Yes! I have changed my career and industry quite a few times. I studied Law and then moved to London to study Art History at Christie’s. I worked for a leading auction house for a short while and very quickly realised that it wasn’t for me ; the corporate environment or the industry. In truth, I didn’t feel challenged enough.

I realised that I needed to do something else; entrepreneurship had always been my end goal and I thought why not now, after 1 year of working and training! I started my first business, completely alone. It was called the Indian Art Centre and it was an online gallery selling Indian antiques. I did everything from building my website, doing my PR, my own social media. I really enjoyed working on the business growth. But it wasn’t an exciting enough business or growth potential in that industry for a 25 year old. You also don’t feel like you are helping anyone; it’s not transformative and I didn’t feel fulfilled.

So that’s when I decided to join my husband and business partner at his private dental clinic in London. I was managing sales, marketing and operations; I really enjoyed this and helped grow the business; we doubled and sold it in 2016 and had discovered the cheapest way to straighten teeth! Because we had created a strong system to grow sales and attract the right kind of patient – adults looking to get straight teeth, quickly, without much inconvenience and without a super high price tag – we could support other dental practices to do the same. We created a marketing agency to help other dentists grow their businesses and help more people get straight teeth with online training courses, events and done for you systems. It worked really well but again, it was more like a lifestyle business; you couldn’t really scale it. We were looking for something with a global potential and we found that with Straight Teeth Direct™ !

So it’s been about transitioning from a lifestyle business to a high growth business; with a product, not just a service. Our business combines manufacturing, logistics and the digital platform ; it’s much broader and scalable than my previous businesses. Since we launched to the public in S/S 2017 we have had users from over 43 countries!

HOC: Who is Straight Teeth Direct for?

Lucie: Our solution is for busy professional who love to have everything delivered to them! The majority of our users are female at the moment but more and men are joining us. A lot of our users are people that haven’t been wearing their retainers and want to get their ideal smiles back.

Others travel a lot and might start treatment in one country and then need to move. They like our solution as it’s convenient and there’s no interruption in their treatment, or additional cost. At the end of the day, we attract people looking for a confidence and self-esteem boost through looking and feeling good.

HOC: Why did you create Straight Teeth Direct?

Lucie: As you saw in our first question; I love a challenge! I am ambitious and have big plans for my future. Straight Teeth Direct™ business model allows us to really transform an industry which is rewarding on both a personal entrepreneurial journey level and also more widely; we can reach and help so many more people to feel their best.

Being in the industry with our previous businesses, we saw there were clear problems to be solved and that’s what we’re here to do.

We saw the need coming for our service through our work in the industry; we would have many enquiries that wouldn’t get resolved ; in the end, to get treatment at a small practice is still quite expensive. From the other side, we knew Dentists wanted to work less and earn more and our solutions works with them in a smart way with a digital layer, not against them ; so Straight Teeth Direct™ helps both sides!

HOC: What was your very first job (when you were 15/16), can you see any relation to what you are doing now?

Lucie: If I really think back to when I was 15,16 ; I was helping out at my Dad’s business; a pharmacy. I was taking it super seriously and that’s something that really stuck with me! I always really care about what I do, whatever I’m doing. I also worked in a shoe shop in Greece when I did my Erasmus; I’ll always give it my 100%!

My Dad has always been my role model, in terms of entrepreneurship. He always inspired me to be my own boss. He was one of the first in his region to use robots to deliver medication to the counters! He always wanted to stay ahead of the game and inspired me to be a risk taker.

I have two siblings and we are all entrepreneurs- it’s the mindset we’ve picked up from our Dad. He really educated us to not take things for granted; you’ve got to work hard!

HOC: If you weren’t doing this, what could have career plan B looked like?

Lucie: It would have to be as an entrepreneur as I would never see myself working for someone! It’s in my blood!

I guess, if it had to be something absolutely different to having and growing a business I would say being a professional dancer.

HOC: I see on your LinkedIn that “being called a “female” entrepreneur can irritate you”, can you tell us more about this?

Lucie: I’m happy that we’re discussing this! In truth; I could talk about this for hours! This point around being a ‘Girl Boss’ or ‘Female Entrepreneur’ is not black or white and there are lots of different viewpoints; I certainly don’t want to upset anyone but I worry that always speaking about gender is limiting.

My thinking is that I don’t like labels or putting myself into a box that could restrict me in any way. We don’t have such a thing as dadpreneur so I don’t see why women should be constantly referred to as female entrepreneur or mumpreneur . Personally, I’ve never felt strongly about belonging to female groups or having female only mentors; my Dad was my role model and I have equally been inspired by strong independent women.

I feel that it’s dangerous to restrict yourself and limit your mindset. You could think ‘because I’m a female…’, you see everything through the eye of a female. Yes, I get sexist comments at work but I want to be recognised for my talents and achievements but not because ‘you’re female and we feel sorry for you, so we’re going to give you an award.’

It’s a delicate topic and we have to do things and raise awareness. Of course, in Europe we are privileged whereas in other parts of the world things are much much worse for women.

In Europe, I don’t see being female as a weakness, it’s a strength. When we have meetings with investors, and I’m in a room with 10 men and I’m the only woman, that empowers me.

HOC: What are your ambitions for your brand this year?

Lucie: So much is happening! We are doing a tube campaign and launching in major department stores across Europe this quarter. I’m so excited to see the response from our new retail model and keep experimenting with new channels. The goal is for our brand to be recognised as a leading e-commerce / leader in the aligner space in Europe by the end of the year…

HOC: How do you keep your energy and motivation up?

Lucie: Energy wise I used to go to the gym but with all the traveling and unexpected schedule it’s impossible to stick to sessions. So I try to stick to a few things:

  • I am instead trying to keep my anxiety levels down with regular massages. I also eat super healthy; I’m all about an organic meat-free lifestyle.
  • I also start my day, every day, with a small simple breathing and movement routine.

I am giving everything to this business at the moment and I know it is for a short number of years. Unlike with a lifestyle business, you know a high growth phase is not going to last forever, so that keeps me motivated! My immediate motivation is to see our customer satisfaction and positive feedback about their transformation and experience using our platform!

HOC: Your business marries technology and great customer service, what tech is exciting you at the moment outside of your product?

Lucie: I like tech that is useful and beautiful; I love to watch the direct to consumer space; that really excites me. I’m always looking for the new trends and getting inspiration.

I really like what’s happening in beauty tech with devices as well as in health; doing your own high end facial or taking your DNA at home, for instance. I’d love to see more innovation in fashion and retail. I went to a Reformation store in NYC and oh, I was so excited; I was taking a picture of everything!

Their store really inspired me and made me think about how we do things differently. They have a screen where you can choose your items to try on and then the items are already in the changing room! If you want another size you just select on screen in the changing room, close the wardrobe and then the rail automatically updates with your choice. It’s just really cool.

Everyone else in the store was all cool, waiting for their turn. And I was like, what is going to happen next?!

HOC: The ’10 years ago’ challenge is all the rage on insta at the moment, what advice do you have for the 2009 you?

Lucie: I’ve got two pieces of advice that might help others.

One, I would tell my younger self to keep going; you don’t need 10 years of experience to have the knowledge to do something great. You will learn along the way if you are committed to it. You will have to make sacrifices, of course. And remember, everything you learn along the way, will be transferable. Initially I thought oh god, I studied these subjects; I have to do something in this space. But actually, I learnt how to be structured from Law and developed my aesthetic eye through my Art degree ; now I use both in my work with Straight Teeth Direct™ every day! You don’t have to wait and have a long plan. Honestly, you don’t learn that much if you work for someone else; you have to get your hands dirty!

Secondly, my advice is to never regret anything, everything is a learning and growth experience. I would never wish I had done something differently.

To find out more about Lucie’s revolutionary teeth straightening business visit straightteethdirect.com

It’s 2019 and #TeamCoco are a collective of writers who are looking to become much more sustainable, whether it be through recycling more, reducing our carbon footprint, eating vegetarian or vegan foods, or buying fair trade, this is the year we are standing up and making some changes.

This February into March sees Fair Trade Fortnight run across the UK (25 Feb – 10 Mar), with events taking place in businesses, schools, local communities, and nationally with big brand awareness activities. It’s where people come together to help support developing countries who farm, produce and grow plants and food for equal pay and where fair prices are paid by the companies who supply the products for retail.

We have compiled our current fave 5 fair trade beauty products for 2019, all available in the UK either on the high street or online, and they won’t break the bank, which is always a bonus.

Fair Squared

The skincare range from Fair Squared, which includes; face, body, hand and hair care, as well as an ‘intimate care’ collection is not only certified natural and organic, but also carries the coveted Fair Trade seal; meaning that they pay a Fair Trade premium for the ingredients that they source. This in turn means producers, plantation workers and small-scale farmers and their families can improve their living and working conditions, as well as providing environmental and economic sustainability, without child labour or animal testing. We love everything about Fair Squared.

The organic and natural beauty range includes face and body products such as hand cream (£8.95), body lotion (£14.45), facial cream (£12.95), shampoo (£9.95), body scrub (£10.95), shower gel (£9.95), body butter (£10.95) lip balm (£5.45) and more. These products are joined by a naturally pH-balanced ‘intimate care’ range, including: intimate wash (£8.95), exfoliator (£11.95), deodorant cream (£11.95) and spray (£22.95).

Ingredients for the range are sourced from around the world, with; Apricots from Pakistan, Palestinian Olives, Limes from Brazil, Bolivian Coffee, Indian Green Tea, Moroccan Argan Oil and Coconut Oil from Thailand.

For more information about Fair Squared and to purchase products visit Fair-Squared.co.uk online.

SheaMoisture Superfruit Complex 10in1 Multi-Benefit Hair Masque

Proven to restore, protect and revitalise dull, lacklustre hair, revive limp locks and deliver lasting colour for all hair types, this fantastic multi benefit masque has been created to naturally restore vibrancy, hydration, texture and manageability to aging hair whilst also nourishing the scalp.

This intensive antioxidant rich treatments helps perfect and renew vibrancy to brittle lacklustre hair. This treats damaged hair while providing anti-ageing benefits, colour protection, hydration, nourishment, rejuvenation, strength, anti-stress, deep conditioning, softness and shine.

Formulated with 10-in-1 Multi-Benefit product contains certified organic and natural ingredients, and features 10 benefits for even the most tired hair: age-defy, anti-stress, colour protect, hydrate, nourish, increase manageability, revive body and soften without build-up. The collection is also sulphate and paraben-free.

Priced at £10.99 for 326ml, available from Superdrug

Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion

This Fair Trade body lotion is lightweight to improve both skin texture and overall resilience, it helps to hydrate the skin and reinforce all skin defences against free-radicals that cause skin damage.

Kiehl’s Argan Body Oil is blended with fair Trade Moroccan Argan Oil and Argan Leaf Extract, both of which help to improve tone of the skin and feel of the skin, also both are enriched with antioxidants and essential fatty acids.

Priced at £28 for 200ml, available from Kiehl’s online and on the high street.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream

The motto behind Neal’s Yard Remedies Bee Lovely collection of products is: ‘Good for the bees, good for Ghana’, and we love this at #Team Coco.

The main charity that Neal’s Yard Remedies support through sales of their Bee Lovely range is Bees for Development, which has introduced bee colonies into cashew orchards in Ghana to boost harvests, after low yields were found to be a result of poor pollination.

This unique project benefits both bee populations and farmers and the results are staggering, with yields doubling in previous studies, plus farmers earn valuable additional income from honey. Bees for Development identify and support cashew growers who are most vulnerable and most in need.

The Bee Lovely Hand Cream is beautifully scented and is made with moisturising, fair-trade organic honey from Mexico and uplifting Mexican oranges, which help to condition the skin.

Priced at £10 for 50ml, available from Neal’s Yard Remedies online and on the high street.

Odylique Lipsticks

Each Odylique 100% natural, 86% organic mineral lipsticks are filled with gorgeous botanical ingredients to help soothe lips, including sensitive lips too.

Available in 10 different colours to suit every mood, every skin tone, and every season, with the collection including Rose Parfait, Marshmallow, Raspberry Coulis, Praline, Cherry Tart, Apricot Sorbet, Fig Fondant, Peach Melba, Blackberry Smoothie, and Mocha.

These are the first lipsticks certified to Soil Association and Fair Trade standards.

Priced at £18 each, available online from Odylique.

If you are feeling all loved up after Valentine’s Day and the break in the weather has you dreaming of sunnier climes, then now is a good time to book a romantic trip with your loved one. Team Coco has compiled some of the best sunshine hot tub breaks because there’s nothing that says relax and romance than a hot tub on your balcony. Sink into the bubbles and sip an ice cold glass of champagne and watch the sun go down in style.

Here’s our top five far flung hot tub stays.

The stunning all-inclusive Kuredu Island resort in the Maldives spans across over 3km of white sandy beaches and has an extensive selection of facilities including a spa, a six-hole golf course, and a water sports centre. However, it’s Kuredu’s Jacuzzi Beach Villas that make for a fantastic Maldives holiday. The villas come with a spacious bedroom, a snug sitting area plus a beautifully designed bathroom with a Jacuzzi bath tub – perfectly placed to watch the sunset from.

Prices from £1,289 per person for a 7-night stay, in a Jacuzzi Beach Villa on a full board basis with return flights. Valid for travel on selected dates 1 to 30 June 2019. Based on 2 adults sharing a room. Price based on flights from London Gatwick and London Stansted, supplements may apply for other departure airports.

Situated on stilts and extending over the turquoise waters of the lagoon, the Jacuzzi Water Villas at Olhuveli Beach and Spa resort in Mauritius offers waves of luxury and privacy. Lavish furnishing within the Jacuzzi Water Villa provides cool contentment while a Jacuzzi bath on the spacious, private sun deck lends a unique feature with views across the picturesque Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the luxurious bathroom comes with a rain shower and roll-top bathtub that also offers uninterrupted views of the lagoon beyond.
Prices from £1,999 per person for a 7-night stay, in a Sunset Jacuzzi Water Villa on a full board basis with return flights. Valid for travel on selected dates 1 to 30 June 2019. Based on 2 adults sharing a room. Price based on flights from London Gatwick and London Stansted, supplements may apply for other departure airports.

Sitting on the bronzed sand of Negombo Beach, 5-star Jetwing Blue Resort in Sri Lanka boasts 2 spectacular outdoor pools, a spa and 2 dining restaurants. The Suite offers unmatched views of the Indian Ocean from a large timber-floored balcony that acts as an outdoor lounge, with the lavish inclusion of a Jacuzzi in the skies. The opulent beachfront rooms have also been stylishly designed to complement the stunning seascape with a modern aesthetic, along with the addition of a personalised butler service for the ultimate luxury experience.
Prices from £1,615 per person for a 7-night stay, in a Suite with breakfast and return flights. Valid for travel on selected dates 1 to 30 June 2019. Book by 28 February 2019. Based on 2 adults.

Banish the winter blues in Bali at Puri Santrian. Nestled along the golden shores of Sanur Beach in Bali, only a 15-minute drive from Denpasar Town, Puri Santrian boasts 2 spectacular outdoor pools, free Wi-Fi and a spa. The Santrian Club Room is set in stunning landscaped gardens with private pool & jacuzzi (for Santrian Club guests only). The interior of Santrian Club rooms reflects the influence of traditional Balinese style, culture and comfort.
Prices from £999 per person for a 7-night stay, in a Santrian Club Room with breakfast and return flights. Valid for travel on selected dates 1 May to 30 June 2019. Book by 28 February 2019. Based on 2 adults sharing a room. Price based on flights from London Gatwick and London Stansted, supplements may apply for other departure airports.

The Sarojin, Thailand offers a lush tropical garden setting with direct access to a secluded beach area. The Jacuzzi Pool Suite is privately tucked away on the upper floor of each building. Truly luxurious and spacious, offering a home away from home, the suite is complete with a stunning outdoor jacuzzi pool pavilion (for 4 people) on an outdoor sun terrace overlooking the lush tropical gardens
Prices from £1,279 per person for a 7-night stay, in a Jacuzzi Pool Suite with breakfast and return flights. Valid for travel on selected dates 5 to 15 May 2019. Book by 28 February 2019. Based on 2 adults sharing a room. Price based on flights from London Gatwick and London Stansted, supplements may apply for other departure airports.

All holiday packages are subject to availability, to book visit www.emiratesholidays.com or call 0208 972 8949

In recent years, Instagram has become increasingly inspirational to its users, when it comes to fashion, beauty and travel. But something that seems to have gone under the radar when it comes to insta-inspo is home decor and renovation. The number of home insta accounts is on the rise and they are becoming more and more popular, making Instagram a standout source of interior design inspiration.

Lust Living // @lustliving

Look no further than this home account run by Olivia Nicole Silk if you’re unsure of how to incorporate statement pattern pieces, as Olivia’s grid is completely scattered with gorgeous Dalmatian accents. This cute and cosy abode is packed full of personality, brought to life by well placed, quirky trinkets and furnishings. We LOVE that spotted lamp.

Berivan Çiftçi Ünlü // @maisonberi

Run by Beri Uenlue, this is one of the most aesthetically pleasing Instagram accounts around! With whites and dusty pinks featuring consistently around her home, it is the definition of picture perfect. As well has her dreamy colour palette, Beri’s use of patterns and textures throughout is spot-on, she has curated the ultimate combination. While her instagram grid showcases her gorgeous home, her insta stories also gives an insight to her daily life too.

Ohmyhomeeee ? // @ohmyhomeeee

This interior account follows beauty blogger Gina Box (@ohmygeeee) and her boyfriend in their endeavour to transform their first home. The couple, who seem to be all about grey with pink features, have filled their home with warm light accents with candles and fairy lights making it undeniably cosy and inviting. Not to mention any make-up lovers dream – a beauty room to die for. And a bonus, if you’re interested in seeing the transformation, this feed is filled with before and afters.

Tülay // @homebytulay

For a gorgeous balance of family cosiness and contemporary grandeur, Tülay’s beautiful home in Germany is just perfect. Tülay’s insta feed delivers all kinds of interior motivation in the form of chic yet accessible designs that’ll delight all of your interior-loving senses. Despite being a family home, Mum of 3 doesn’t shy away from the glamour and elegance that makes her home so classy. Her use of glass and marble surfaces is nothing short of sophisticated, but the focal point for me is her stunning beauty vanity (left) that channels such Coco Chanel vibes.

My Scandinavian Home // @myscandinavianhome

Boho chic with rustic and neutral vibes, Niki Brantmark is a master of the Scandi style. While you won’t find an abundance of bright colours here, or the classic grey and pink vibes, instead we are happily surprised by the natural wooden accents amongst the neutral and monochrome tones. 

Lauren & Alex – OurSelfBuildNI // @our_self_build_ni

This instagram feed follows newlyweds Lauren and Alex on their journey building their own house in Northern Ireland. Their grid is filled with cosy but practical spaces, perfect for starting a family adventure in their new home. Their creative use of tiling in the bathroom is so gorgeous and mesmerising that we’re pretty sure you’d never leave the tub!

It’s an ode to prohibition minus the kitsch, Al Capone without the Scarface and Gatsby steered clear of any ‘I hope she’ll be a fool’ Instagram captions. Located right in the heart of the busy, colourful neighbourhood of Wicker Park, The Violet Hour encompasses Chicago speakeasy cool.

The outside of the bar is painted with a bright mural which constantly changes throughout the year, making it all the more difficult to find! An unassuming old-fashioned street lamp lets people know whether the bar is open or closed, right next to a very out of place looking door handle. After opening the door into the mural we were ushered into a pitch black waiting area and then taken behind heavy velvet curtains to the main bar fit with tall high-backed blue leather chairs, a beautiful sweeping marble bar, light blue walls, extravagant chandeliers and hushed tones. We were also met with the bar’s tongue-in-cheek ‘House Rules’ which include the following:

No cell phones inside

No baseball hats

No reservations

No Jager-bombs

No bombs of any kind

No Budweiser

No Grey Goose

Please do not bring anyone to The Violet Hour that you wouldn’t bring to your mother’s house for Sunday Dinner.

This was music to my ears after studying in the USA and attributing all American bars with watery beer, backward caps and loud frat boys, albeit unfairly so.

We were handed a cocktail menu and the dapper waiter convinced us to try his favourite, Fox’s Socks, a marvellous mix of gin, celery root and lime bitters…safe to say it didn’t take much persuading…at all. We would recommend trying the scrumptious Ricotta Gnocchi, Pommes Frites with roasted garlic aioli and the Autumnal Flatbread. With no phones allowed, time ran away with us and of course more drinks in fabulous glasses were ordered and we filled up on the Cheeseburger Sliders (we were in the USA after all)! The service was top notch and the bartenders had serious passion and knowledge about every drink they were serving.

The Violet Hour is a top spot in the city and brings all the glitz of Chicago yesteryear with an amazing menu of drinks including locally distilled spirits from the surrounding areas (sampling the gin from North Shore Distillery is a must). At the end of the evening, rather than using my phone torch to find my lipstick for my exit, I used one of the many candles on the table which made everything seem gorgeously more glamorous.

Oh – and Absinthe Happy Hour is from 6-8 from Monday to Thursday. Cheers to prohibition!

The Violet Hour is located at 1520 North Damen Avenue, Chicago. For more information visit www.theviolethour.com or @violethourchicago.

January can be a tough, boring month, socialising goes on hold because everyone is dieting and detoxing. The invites to lunch and brunch dry up because all your friends are abstaining from booze and trying to be good.
If you are trying to be healthy this January, don’t despair, you don’t have to cut back on your lunch dates as Chucs restaurant has collaborated with esteemed Chelsea-based private members health club, KX to create a healthy and delicious detox menu.
Founded by Charles Finch, Chucs has venues in Mayfair, Westbourne Grove, Harrods, The Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park and Saint-Tropez. I went along to their Mayfair branch to sample the detox lunch. I was looking forward to a meal out minus the guilt and was hoping for something healthy, delicious and a big enough plate to not feel cheated. I’m pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed.

Unlike some of the other restaurants on Dover Street, Chucs isn’t pretentious. It has a welcoming, cosy atmosphere, if a little snug so you might want to try one of the bigger outlets if you are going with a large group. The walls are adorned with photographs from the 1950’s of the Amalfi coast instantly making me long for summer and forget about the wet weather outside. The staff here are warm and friendly and couldn’t do enough for us, even tempting us to go off-piste with a cheeky glass of vino. We resisted and instead opted for an invigorating glass of Clensa, a zesty combination of lemon, grapefruit and orange juice.
Head chef, Alessandro Verdenelli has created plenty of tasty, nutritious options to choose from. The menu is a collection of fresh, vibrant and delicious European cuisine with a healthy influence. There are smaller plates to start with like a fresh quinoa tabbouleh salad or minestrone soup. The mains include seared tuna or poached salmon with chicory velouté and amaranth. I plumped for the seared tuna and niçoise salad served with quail eggs, finely chopped green beans, asparagus and broccoli while my date had the quinoa tabbouleh salad. Both dishes were substantial yet light. My seared tuna was delicious, coated in sesame seeds and cooked to perfection. The portion sizes were a lot bigger than I expected and we shared the tuna as I just couldn’t manage it all. As a result, there was no need to check out the desert menu although I’m not sure that would have been part of the detox lunch option!
So if you are sick of staying in this month and want all the fun without the guilt head over to one of the Chucs restaurants and try the detox lunch. In addition to this Chucs and KXU, KX’s sister brand will be hosting a detox brunch on Saturday 19th January. It kicks off at KXU in Chelsea at 10.30am, from here you and their team of professional coaches run to Chucs Serpentine where you’ll be served one of their freshly squeezed juices followed by a selection of healthy salads. Post brunch an expert from KXU will give a talk on wellbeing, exercise, diet and detox, followed up with a Q&A.
The January detox menu is available alongside the usual Chucs menu. If you don’t fancy going for the full detox you can combine with Chucs signature dishes. The menu is available in all four London locations.

So, you’ve decided that Veganuary is where you are going to change things in your life, and you are trying really hard to give up meat, yet can’t seem to do it 100%, so what should you do?

Why not make some small changes to get you ready for the leap into becoming a vegan, especially if you’re not quite a vegetarian yet? It’s the small steps that lead into the great achievements. Start with Meat Free Monday and then you’re heading in the right direction.

How about starting with changing the outside of your body before working on the inside? I know, we are always saying that it’s what’s inside that matters most, but on this occasion why don’t you start with the outside and work your way in? In fact, start from the top and work your way to the bottom!

Let’s talk haircare……..

Look at your haircare products and make a few initial changes with these products. From your shampoo and conditioner to styling and finishing there’s loads of vegan products on the market to try, and #TeamCoco are loving the full collection by luxury vegan haircare company Monat – every product is suitable for all hair types.

Our faves include:

Monat Rejuveniqe® Oil Intensive
This is the crown jewel of true opulence within Monat’s luxury vegan haircare collection. Bringing a plethora of beautifying benefits to hair and complexion, this indulgent formula comprises a potent combination of 14 highly prized natural oils, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and with biomimetic properties for high compatibility with hair and skin. This highly charged modern multitasker prevents oxidative stress and imparts lustre and glow to hair and skin with powerful natural ingredients.

As a multi-use hero, Rejuveniqe Oil Intensive provides numerous benefits without the build-up of silicone. Suitable for all hair types, including colour and chemically treated locks.

Can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment, intensive hydrating treatment, leave-in finishing treatment, anti-frizz treatment, or even as a facial serum.

Priced at £85 for 30ml, from MonatGlobal online.

Monat Rejuvabeads®
Keep unkempt ends from spoiling your hairstyle by using Monat Rejuvabeads®. This new turbo-charged temporary fix with staying power will let you temporarily split up with split ends, even if you’ve left it too long between trims. The game-changing formulation fabulises frayed strands and fortifies stressed and damaged sections of hair. Frizziness is subdued, friction decreased, and breakage banished.

An exclusive and proprietary micro-encapsulation of Rejuveniqe® Oil Intensive gives this styling staple serious science kapow. This unique blend of 13 natural plant and essential oils, highly compatible with hair and skin and rich in omega fatty acids, antioxidants and nutrients, is encased in billions of micro-encapsulated beads, each possessing a natural charge. When applied to negatively charged, damaged hair, these beads search out split ends and areas in need of repair, where they click into place and create a 3D mending matrix.

Priced at £45 for 70ml, from MonatGlobal online

Monat Reshape Root Lifter
An alcohol-free, root amplifying spray, which creates long-lasting, high-impact volume. Provides protection against heat styling induced damage, and a mirror shine finish. Nourishes and fortifies the follicle to help boost future growth and reduce thinning. Non-sticky formula delivers touchably soft and visibly fuller hair whilst extending the life of colour.

Priced at £30 for 134ml, from MonatGlobal online.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Who Is The Fittest Of Them All?

With flexible working hours and the dark mornings and evenings leading to a lack of motivation, working out at home has never been easier or more convenient with tech. Mirror is at the cutting edge of the future of fitness, known as a a ‘nearly invisible interactive home gym’, when off it’s a full-length mirror, when activated it’s the gateway to any type of fitness class you need. An interactive workout platform which offers classes 24/7, perfectly placed to suit any workout schedule. With cameras and speakers included there are 50 new classes a week and a whole library of on-demand workouts available. In addition to this you can also interact with Mirror, opting in to update your fitness profile to track your progress and your workouts. Not cheap, but in comparison to an ongoing gym membership, it could be justifiable. With real time instruction, the option to include your own soundtrack and an interactive community at your fingertips, this is sure to be a hit with fitness fans.

Credit: Mirror

Eat, Sleep, Row, Repeat

Rowing saw a big boom in 2018 and that is set to continue through 2019. Popping up through the country dedicated boutique rowing classes including The Engine Room and Core Collective’s Lift & Row are now readily available. Rowing has been shown to be one of the best exercises you can do boosting aerobic fitness and metabolism in one huge boost. Working 85% of the body’s muscles, that’s a full body work out and cardio session in one.

Credit: The Engine Room London

Shorter Classes, Faster Recovery

Lovers of Savasana rejoice, recovery is a high priority in the fitness world for 2019. Undertaken a mean HIIT class, training for a marathon or sweating it up at Bikram Yoga? We are all used to pushing ourselves in our workouts however research shows that recovery can be one of the most important parts of your daily workout, no matter your favourite way to sweat is. Opt for a shorter class, to ensure reduced cortisol production and more recovery time. Intensify your recovery with floating tanks or the sauna.

Exercising For Your Mental Health

Exercise has always been linked to positive mental health as a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment. Known to relieve stress, encourage better sleep patterns and act as a natural mood enhancer through the release of endorphins, fitness trends in 2019 are focusing on enhancing these positive qualities through fitness. Mental and physical fitness will come together in 2019 through apps such as Headspace which offers guided runs with motivation linking into mindfulness.

DNA, What Are You Made Of?

From what food to eat, to tracking your ancestry, our DNA has become the focus of research and a key form of personalisation across industries including fitness. In a race to offer the best and most effective workouts, 2019 sees exercise personalised to your DNA. From the effects on your metabolism and injury prevention to what form of workout is best for you, testing is becoming more accurate and more mainstream. There are a variety of options available to allow the experts to analyse your fitness profile and create a personalised workout plan based on your genetic profile. Usually linked to a corresponding diet plan, you can even take this to the next level with a DNA bootcamp!