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With beautiful beaches, bustling night-life and food fit for the Queen, Bali really does have it all. Moving around the island will allow you to experience the perfect mix of culture and let-your-hair-down fun, so you’d be blind to stay in one stop for the entirety of your stay.

Millions of tourists land on the shores every year, and they have been doing since long before the island was popularised by the film adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. Blink and you might just miss out on Bali as we know and love it, so now is the only time to follow House of Coco’s Indonesian Island Itinerary appreciate it for all it is.

Day 1-3: Canggu

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You’ll most likely be flying into Denpasar, so take a taxi to your home away from home in Canggu, just under an hour’s drive away. It is the perfect place to spend a few days getting over your (likely) jet lag: a bohemian hideaway nestled just up the coast from splashy Seminyak.

Great gift shops, quirky bars and health food eateries are popping up around every corner, but the surrounding farmland remains quintessentially Indonesian and beaches are a stone’s throw away. There’s plenty to keep you occupied.

Where to Stay in Canggu

Aston Canggu for your yearly dose of luxury, or a trusty Airbnb if you really want to play like a local.

Where to Eat in Canggu

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Shady Shack, Nude and Crate for bloomin’ brilliant all-day brunches.

Where to Visit in Canggu

Weave between each of Canggu’s three main beaches via scooter: Echo Beach, Berawa Beach and Batu Bolong. Echo is great at sunset.

Where to Play in Canggu

Finns Beach Club for the perfect way to let the day melt away. You’ll be greeted by spotlight-adorned Finns lettering and the friendliest of staff. Swim in the many pools, enjoy cocktails at the many bars and watch the sunset to a backdrop of great DJs. Divine. The Lawn and La Laguna are also well worth your time.

Days 4-7: Seminyak

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Canggu’s chilled out vibes might last long into the night, but no trip is complete without a couple of days soaking in the sights of splashy Seminyak. It sits just North along the coast from the Aussie hangout of Kuta.

Both resorts are tourist traps, but with Seminyak being less so than the latter, you’ve got a better chance of escaping (some of) the crowds. Grab is the best way to get around in Bali. It is basically Asian Uber and the prices are disgustingly cheap, so you’ll get from Canggu to your slice of Seminyak for under £2.

Where to Stay in Seminyak

Akasha Villas would get House of Coco’s stamp of approval over and over again. If you like attentive staff, private pools and alfresco showering then this will be the place for you.

Where to Eat in Seminyak

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Cafe Organic goes unrivalled when it comes to brunch spots. The Breakfast Criminal is a #TeamCoco favourite where the sea salted cherry tomatoes have got to be the star of the show. If you’re looking for a vegan fix (and especially if you didn’t realise you were), then Kynd Community is a pink and palm leaf dream come true. For dinner, head to Sea Circus and try their tasty tacos, or Strawberry Fields for cocktails aplenty.

Where to Visit in Seminyak

It isn’t strictly in Seminyak, but WaterBom Bali is a stone’s throw away and one of those guilty-pleasure days of fun. Watch the sunset from underneath a rainbow parasole at La Plancha and make sure explore the many boutiques lining the streets.

Where to Play in Seminyak

Potato Head Beach Club is a no brainer, really. Get there early to secure a day bed then sit back, drink and relax.

READ MORE: Our Trip to Maya Sanur, Bali

Days 8-11: Gili Trawagan

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From Seminyak, head to Padang Bai port nice and early to catch a ferry to Gili Trawagan. The ferry port is a sensual overload to say the least: local men loudly trying to sell you the “cheapest crossing tickets” and local women suggesting you sample some of their fresh fruit (don’t, FYI). Try and get the crossing booked by your Seminyak accommodation in advance, to make the experience as smooth as it can be.

The quick ferry will get you across to the tropical playground of Trawagan in just under two hours; stepping foot on the white sands of the South Beach on arrival will make the hectic crossing well worth it. The island is a total escape from reality. You can cycle around the entire diameter (which is littered with more beach-front bars than you could ever dream of needing) in around an hour… depending on how many cocktails you stop for, of course.

One of the biggest things to do on the island is snorkelling, and for good reason. Hire snorkelling gear for next to nothing from one of the beach vendors, then head about three-quarters of the way up the beach on the North East coast of the island. You’ll want to be there early afternoon or when the tide is out to swim right along the ridge (about 100 meters out). This is how you’ll get the best chance of swimming among sea turtles. When you’re not snorkelling you’ll spend your time relaxing, island hopping to Gili Meno and Gili Air, paddle boarding and watching the spectacular sunsets. It’s as much of a dream come true as it sounds.

Where to Stay on Gili T

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The Gili Khumba Villas are totally divine. They’re pretty inland, so when you arrive on the island, get there by horse and cart. It’ll take about 15 minutes.

Where to Visit on Gili T

The beach bars along the Western side of the island are the perfect spots for sunset. Most have swings out at sea too, for those all important Instagram snaps.

Where to Eat on Gili T

Egoiste for a beach side BBQ and The Banyan Tree for a beautiful brunch.

Where to Play on Gili T

Head to the South Eastern side of the island after dark, where clubs spill out onto the beach and party-goers dance all night.

READ MORE: 5 Reasons Why Doha is More Than a Stop-Over Destination

Days 12-16: Ubud

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On day 12, say a fond farewell to Gili T before hopping on a ferry back to Bali. Fom Padang Bai, hunt down a taxi and embark on an hour’s journey up to Ubud. Ubud is one of those places where a holiday of a few days could easily turn into a stay of a few weeks.

In the heart of the jungle, it is flooded with Balinese culture and boasts sustainable design, culinary excellence and colourful offerings on every corner. It is Team Coco’s favourite spot on the island.

Where to Stay in Ubud

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If you really want to push the boat out, then the Hanging Gardens of Bali are nothing but luxurious. If an AirBnb is more your jam, Villa D’Carik sits just outside of Ubud on a working farm, and complete with outdoor jungle showers and a private pool is a total dream.

Where to Visit in Ubud

The list of places to visit in Ubud is almost never-ending. Watch a traditional Balinese dance performance at the open-air Pura Dalem, climb Mount Batu at sunrise (if you can brave the 1am wake-up call), shop the extensive markets and be at one with nature at the town’s Monkey Forest. The Tegalalang rice terraces are also not to be missed.

Where to Eat in Ubud

Almost every corner has somewhere spectacular to take a seat and enjoy a delicious meal, but if you only ate in one place for the entirety of your stay.

Where to Play in Ubud

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This is a no-brainer. A day spent at Jungle Fish has got to be at the top of your list of priorities, a jungle club complete with infinity pool, DJs and the best beverage offerings around. Check out the Instagram geo-tag if you don’t believe us.

Days 17-21: Uluwatu or Lovina

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This bit is up to you. Fancy a bit more beach and beer-fuelled fun? Uluwatu, sitting pretty on the Southern most part of the Bukit peninsula might be for you.

You’ll find the famous Single Fin cliff-side bar for sunset food and drinks, Uluwatu temple for a touch of culture and the stunning Padang Padang beach. Oh, and don’t miss a trip to Jimbaran beach for seafood restaurants on the sand.

If you loved Gili and want even more peace and quiet, then head North to Lovinia, the island’s most famous fishing town.

READ MORE: The Best (& Most Instagrammable) Beach Bars in Bali

Have you visited Bali before? What are your favourite spots? Share them in the comments section below!

I’m sure Marfa has hit your insta feed at some point over the past few years. A media darling hangout, everyone from Beyoncé to Jake Gyllenhaal has been lured to this tiny town in the high Chihuahuan desert – 6.5 hours travel away from the nearest major city (Austin).

Luckily, once you make it there, you may never want to leave.

For more on the mythical West Texas, pick up our Boss Babe print volume out at the end of June 2019.

One: Prada, Marfa

Ok, let’s get this out of the way at the start. This art installation of a Prada store isn’t in Marfa, but 10 minutes drive out, in the adorably named Valentine. Sadly, this is one of those instances where – if you didn’t get a shot in front of the store, did you even go to Marfa? So tick this one off the list by going early in the day and off season, if you can, to avoid the hordes.

Two: Breakfast Tacos with a side of sass at Boyz2Men

Boyz2Men serve up great Mexican food and burgers, often with some sass and tourist tax for out-of-towners. They aren’t going to apologise and you’ll just have to get over it.

Three: Gem Shopping at Moonlight Gemstones

Just across the way from Food Shark (see below) is this unassuming gemstore. Look past the small shopfront into the jam packed front and back yards and discover a treasure trove of local gem stones (include Agate that only exists in the Marfa area) and Mexican silver bangles, sold by weight.

Four: Food Shark: Good enough for Queen Bey, good enough for you

One of the classics of the Marfa food truck scene, Food Shark is the shot for the ‘gram and also a great spot to enjoy their Mediterranean X West Texas fare.

Five: Toast James Dean & Elizabeth Taylor at Paisano Hotel

The stunning Paisano Hotel played home to James and Elizabeth when they were in town filming Giant with Rock Hudson. Grab a drink in the courtyard at Jett’s Grill or cosy down in a delightfully historic room for the night.

Six: See the Marfa Lights. Yes, Really.

This rather peculiar structure is set out of town, past the ‘Welcome to Marfa’ state sign. Even more peculiarly, it was built in 2003 expressively so people could marvel at one of the towns ‘must-sees’; the Marfa Lights. No-one knows exactly what they are. But I can tell you that all the video we took that night came out completely blank – audio of us getting a little hysterical was fine – but we have no record of the eerie sight we all saw with our own eyes….

Seven: View Donald Judd’s Work

Taking photos within the museums / studios preserved by the Judd foundation isn’t allowed so instead you can view us marching along to view ‘The Block’ behind the compound wall ahead., artist Donald Judd’s residence in Marfa.

Eight : Explore the Wes Anderson candy coloured Presidio County Courthouse

This building probably wasn’t what you had in mind, in the middle of the desert. Pass through the main entrance and climb the wooden staircases, to the top dome, for a unique vista of the town and the land surrounding it.

Nine : Get your souvenirs from a vending machine

One of the best things to do in town is to get lost. With the main part of the city only a few blocks in each direction, keep wandering until something takes your fancy. Se Vende is a unique concept of a 24h vending machine full of locally made products; the perfect spot for a souvenir.

Ten: Spend the night in a retro caravan at El Cosmico

El Cosmico is a unique spot brought to live by the Bunkhouse Group of boutique hotels. Chose between vintage caravans, teepees or safari tents for a stay to remember under Marfa’s open skies. Be sure to book a spot in their open air dutch hot tubs to really drink in those starry nights.

Eleven: Cocktails and small plates at Boss Babe run, Cochineal

Cochineal opened in 2003, run by a wife and husband team. Since then they have been bringing the town exquisitely curated seasonal menus with killer cocktails alongside. Full disclosure; we went to see the Marfa Lights after a few of those.

For information on Texas go to www.traveltexas.com

The world’s largest airline, American Airlines, operates daily flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Lubbock (LBB) and Midland (MAF) via its hub in Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). Fly from £829 in Basic Economy, from £889 in the Main Cabin, from £1,218 in American’s new Premium Economy product and from £3,841 in Business Class, all prices are based on return flights, per person, and include taxes. americanairlines.co.uk

With the days getting lighter and summer just around the corner, where better to cleanse from winter over-indulgence and get your glow back than at London’s newest no/low alcohol bar. Hospitality trailblazers The Initiative bring us their latest opening, Shaman in Leman Locke Aldgate.

Shaman is set to shake up London’s hospitality scene in 2020. Shaman has been created with healing, rejuvenation and self care in mind. The space is serving up a selection of fresh juices, pastries created by renowned chef Robin Gill, coffee and low/now alcohol drinks, ready to shift the assumption that bars can only be enjoyed with alcohol. Each fresh Shaman juice has been designed to improve gut health, increase energy levels and reduce stress levels. The space is also an Instagram dream with bright coloured drinks, cascading pot plants and pretty pastels.

The space is multi-functional, friendly and fresh with health and vitality as the order of the day. The cocktails were more delicious than any alcoholic drink we had ever tried. The Lavanderia was sophisticated and refreshing and the Vermuteria was punchy and warming. Afterwards we ordered a drink to go. We opted for the ‘skin glow’ juice was much needed after a long winter without a tan, and without turmeric.

Located in Aldgate East at the Leman Locke Hotel, Shaman combines effortless service with exquisite interiors, envisaged and executed by award-winning interior design agency, Grzywinski + Pons. Shaman is open to the public from 7am – 10pm to keep guests energised and hydrated all day long.
www.shaman-coffee.com

Here at #TeamCoco, we are always on the hunt for the best art exhibitions in the UK’s capital. This spring, there are almost too many to choose from but we’ve rounded up the five that you can’t miss. Check them out!

Tate Britain presents a comprehensive retrospective of the legendary British photographer Don McCullin

This poignant exhibition showcases some of the most impactful photographs captured over the last 60 years. It includes many of his iconic war photographs – including images from Vietnam, Northern Ireland and more recently Syria. It also however focuses on the work he did at home in England, recording scenes of poverty and working class life in London’s East End and the industrial north, as well as meditative landscapes of his beloved Somerset, where he lives.​ Sir Don McCullin was born in 1935 and grew up in a deprived area of north London. He got his first break when a newspaper published his photograph of friends who were in a local gang. From the 1960s he forged a career as probably the UK’s foremost war photographer, primarily working for the Sunday Times Magazine. His unforgettable and sometimes harrowing images are accompanied in the show with his brutally honest commentaries.

With over 250 photographs, all printed by McCullin himself in his own darkroom, this exhibition will be a unique opportunity to appreciate the scope and achievements of his entire career.

5 February – 6 May 2019

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White Cube Bermondsey presents ‘A Fortnight of Tears’ by Tracey Emin.

Installed throughout the gallery’s spaces, this major exhibition includes sculpture, neon, painting, film, photography and drawing, all focusing on the artist’s own memories and emotions arising from loss, pathos, anger and love. On entering South Gallery I, the viewer is confronted by fifty double-hung self-portraits from an on-going series taken at different moments and states during the artist’s periods of insomnia. These unsettling and intimate close-ups, blown up in size and overwhelming in number, capture the habitual torment and desperation of these lonely wakeful hours.

6 February 2019 – 7 April 2019

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Tate Modern presents The CC Land exhibition – Pierre Bonnard and the Colour of Memory

This is the first major exhibition of Pierre Bonnard’s work in the UK since the much-loved show at Tate 20 years ago. It will allow new generations to discover Bonnard’s unconventional use of colour, while surprising those who think they already know him.

Born 1867, Bonnard was, with Henri Matisse, one of the greatest colourists of the early 20th century. He preferred to work from memory, imaginatively capturing the spirit of a moment and expressing it through his unique handling of colour and innovative sense of composition.

The exhibition concentrates on Bonnard’s work from 1912, when colour became a dominant concern, until his death in 1947. It presents landscapes and intimate domestic scenes which capture moments in time – where someone has just left the room, a meal has just finished, a moment lost in the view from the window, or a stolen look at a partner.

Now until 6 May 2019

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The Serpentine presents Grace Wales Bonner: A Time for New Dreams

The exhibition features an assemblage of site-specific installations and shrines. Interested in the improvisations and uses of shrines throughout black histories, Wales Bonner views these spiritual structures as material portals into multiple frames of experience. Drawing upon the images and rhythms of rituals and ceremonies from all over the world, she moves across time and space by bringing these references into dialogue with one another.

This exhibition focuses on Wales Bonner’s rigorous research into multiple geographies and temporalities, culminating in the presentation of her forthcoming Autumn/Winter 2019 collection, Mumbo Jumbo. Conjuring and exploring various characters, their dress, and the worlds and spaces they inhabit, the collection features certain protagonists, such as the artist-shaman, a West African spiritual healer, and a gathering of Howard University intellectuals. At its close, the exhibition becomes an environment for the characters to inhabit.

A live programme includes composer, playwright and artist Klein, who performed a reading in the Gallery, Poet and DJ James Massiah who will present an evening of readings inside the exhibition, and performance artist Michael-John Harper, whose ritual of movements will activate the Gallery at intervals during the final days of the exhibition. New texts and invocations by Ben Okri are woven through the Gallery spaces.

Now until 17 March 2019

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The Barbican presents Daria Martin – Tonight the World

Artist and Jarman Award 2018 winner Daria Martin revisits dreams and memories from her personal family history to create a complex portrait of migration, loss and resilience.

Drawing upon dream diaries kept by her grandmother over a 35 year period, London-based artist Daria Martin creates a new installation for The Curve. Through atmospheric film and gaming technology Martin stages a series of intimate encounters, enveloping viewers in an exploration of the curious and traumatic history of her grandmother, who fled the imminent Nazi occupation of her country, Czechoslovakia.

Now until 7 April 2019 (free entry)

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Cover picture © Pierre Bonard – Tate Modern

Setting resolutions in the New Year often seems like a good idea, but they may be counterproductive in the long-run. Riddled with pressure and disappointment, not reaching your goals or keeping your resolutions may leave you feeling worse than that post-New Year’s Eve hangover.

Sadly, Christmas is over and that sunken feeling is looming. The post-party dread of eating too many pigs in blankets and overindulging on chocolate, avoiding those uni essays or not working enough over the holidays – an end of year sized Sunday night feeling. Help. But before you know it, they’ll all start flooding in… wait for it…

New year, new me!

The new year’s resolutions are endless, no more chocolate, no more wine, take more photos, the classics – most of us do the obligatory whim resolution that will inevitably be broken by the time February rolls around. But can some new year’s resolutions have a more negative impact on us than the motivational drive we hoped for? All with good intentions, often we set ourselves goals that are unfortunately unrealistic.

I spoke to a few of our gals at #TeamCoco about New Year’s resolutions, instantly the likes of exhausting, pressuredread, guilty, disappointed and such resonated throughout their reactions, but surely something that is a supposedly positive plan shouldn’t be so daunting and down-heartening? Unfortunately, feelings of anxiety are often linked to unobtained goals, and ‘failure’ can have a negative impact on self-esteem, convincing you you’re incapable and preventing you from moving forward, as Guy Winch reveals in his TEDx Talk – ‘Why We All Need To Practice Emotional First Aid’. If you think you’ve failed, or are going to, you inevitably will.

Of course, I am a firm believer of working hard for what you want, and if you want something in life you have to go out and earn it. I encourage everyone to dream big, and know that if you want something hard enough you can get it, but we have to put things in perspective and realise that some goals are going to be pretty challenging for even the most persistent. Sometimes, when looking back on your year at the things you maybe haven’t achieved, you instead have to put everything into perspective and re-evaluate whats important. Maybe rather than ‘this year I will…’ or ‘this year I will not’, think about what you would like to achieve, and not what you have to.

‘Sometimes getting a little lost along the way means you have even better experiences and opens new doors you never even knew were there.’ – Alexandra, #TeamCoco

In a world already so full of scrutiny, perhaps we should focus on writing kinder and self-care driven resolutions instead of those we can guilt-trip ourselves on later when we don’t achieve them – spending less time worrying and stressing out, and spending more time celebrating things you maybe didn’t plan to do and praising yourself for those unexpected goals achieved! Whether those things are tiny or huge, it makes no difference, every single achievement adds up and counts towards being the best you can be.

My key advice for the best 2019 is:

Enter the New Year with zero pressure on your back

Know the possibility of your potential

Celebrate the achievements you never planned

So, as 2018 comes to an end, instead of bogging yourself down with resolutions set to fail, look back at all the amazing things you’ve achieved this year and start a new tradition – New Years Reflections. Look back and give yourself the credit you deserve, maybe you didn’t finally get your dream job, but maybe you managed to move out to a new city on your own or tick off some places on your travel bucket list. We’ve done so many amazing things this year between us at #TeamCoco, from giving TEDx talks and passing driving tests, to graduating and getting married, not to mention the amazing adventures we’ve been so lucky to have and celebrating our fourth year of House of Coco – Roll on 2019!

‘Not all negatives are failures. I think you need to think positive and positive things will come – it just takes time.’ – Sally, #TeamCoco

Let’s start by saying, we need more BBQ emojis to do justice to the joy of this dinner trip with girlfriends in Los Angeles. But, never fear, do we have some foodporn shots for you!

Through the excellent online guides of Discover Los Angeles (discoverlosangeles.com/what-to-do) we discovered this Californian / Filipino BBQ restaurant nestled in hipster hot spot, Echo Park. A deceptively simple decor and menu doesn’t hint at the complex flavours hidden within. I mean, who knew a carrot could taste so good, especially in a meat-eaters heaven?

We flopped down in the banquettes and decided it was only fair on you, dear reader to pretty much order one of everything. We all have hungry friends and flatmates to share in our leftovers, don’t you worry.

Our picks included Sixteen Hour Slow Roasted Pulled Pork, Beef Tri-Tip, a medley of US and Filipino Hot Link Sausages and Cornbread Bibinka to soak up all the juices. BBQ to one side it was the Coconut Beef that blew all of us away; smoked chuck steak in coconut cream. Oh. My. Days.

We grazed on the goodness in between sips of local beers from Eagle Rock Brewery and Stone Brewery until we had to beg the friendly team to pack it away as we’d never stop eating.

As for our hungry friends and other halves; they ended up with the same meal we’d had thanks to the generous portion sizes and we got change for $90!

We couldn’t recommend this spot more, come hungry; maybe at lunch time, so you have the best chance of doing justice to all the tempting dishes!

You can, and you really SHOULD, visit The Park’s Finest (theparksfinest.com) at 1267 W Temple St, Los Angeles

For more information on what to do with your time in Los Angeles, visit the official visitor information website discoverLosAngeles.com, join the more than one million people who follow facebook.com/LosAngelesFan, or follow @discoverLA on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

The Coachella count down is on and as our Instagram feeds fill with beautiful people prancing around in denim hot pants next to a background of baron cacti, we give you the low-down on the hottest Weekend 1 desert parties of the year (because we’re still not too sure who goes to weekend 2?!)

A plethora of celebrity soaked pre, after and survival parties will be taking place across Palm Springs and the Coachella valley in the upcoming weeks, so expect a lot of crochet, camera rolls stuffed with selfies and of course, the obligatory flamingo pool float.

How do we get in?

You don’t need to impersonate Kylie Jenner to sneak into PLT’s pre-party nor do you need to fork over fistfuls of dollars bribing the doormen at the Neon Carnival, just exaggerate your accent and talk loudly about what you’re wearing to Meg and Hazza’s wedding.

Kidding, sort of.

Most of these parties take place in ranches hidden somewhere in the Coachella valley, so finding out the exact location in key. Thankfully Instagram geo-tagging feature will lead your right to the burly-bouncer covered door. Once you’re there flash a winning smile and name-drop someone from the flyer you picked up at your hotel. Fake mock surprise when you’re told you’re not on the list claiming there must be some mistake. You flew all the way out here from London/Birmingham/Bangkok to be reunited with your buddy from pottery summer camp. The doormen will undoubtedly know you’re lying, but you’ve managed to get them to crack a smile in the blistering desert heat so they’ll give you a pass.

In the unlikelihood that this foolproof method fails, take you and your girl gang to one of the many hotel pool parties that are littered around Palm Springs. They have slightly less intimidating doormen.

Revolve Festival 2018

Beautiful blogger babes galore, celebrity-studded and a few models you’ll recognise from Calvin Klein campaigns attend this ultimate Coachella pre-party. Bring sunglasses because between paparazzi flashes, the desert sun and the glare from beauty influencers popping highlight you’ll soon be blinded.

Emily Ratajkwoski, Shay Mitchell, Winnier Harlow and Nicole Ritchie have already RSVP so you know it’ll be high calibre event. Guests will have use of an open-bar by CÎROC, including oh-so-Instagrammable boozy Revolve coconut cocktails and glam makeovers by the party’s sponsor Benefit.

Expect a heavy hip-hop influenced line up (last year Migos, Rick Ross and D.R.A.M performed) whereas this year A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and our favourite gangster pooch Snoop Dogg will be hitting the stage.

How easy is it to bag an invite? You know we mentioned you don’t need to impersonate a Kardashian? Well maybe this is the one time (and one time only) you should dig out a turquoise blue wig. Or just stream the whole thing from the barrage of Instastories coming through to your phone.

Foray Oasis x Hyde Sunset

West Hollywood hot spot Hyde Sunset have partnered up with fashion-brand Foray to bring you a party that is set to steal Revolve’s flower crown. Taking over a sprawling ranch in the desert, the party will have TRESemme and Charlotte Tilbury providing guests with their festival glam squad. Brody Jenner (remember him? He was in the hills and was quite hot) is spinning tropical house. We’re not too sure what that is beyond frozen cocktails with umbrellas, but with formers guests such as Emma Roberts sure to turn up it’s bound to be a trend-heavy crowd.

How easy is it to bag an invite? The guestlist has been closed for weeks now and filled with VIP Influencers, so we’d suggest ditching the flower crown and dressing to kill.

Desert Gold at the Ace

The Ace hotel in Palm Springs is an eclectic collection of mid-century modernism and laid-back California cool. This year the former motel has collaborated with late-night entertainers Adult Swim, so you know it’ll be a ‘for your eyes only’ affair.

As with all other Ace hotel outposts expect the crowd to be achingly cool and the DJ’s to spin dirty beats poolside. Friends of Ace Havaianas have set up a pop-up shop to customise your own flip flops, Rudy’s Barbershop will be offering free shape ups and Sailor Jerry’s cocktails will be on tap.

How easy is it to bag an invite? Guests of the hotel are already granted access, whereas everyone else just needs to arrive early.

Rhonda Queen of the Desert

LA’s in-the-know late night hotspot A Club Called Rhonda will see Jamie Jones and Black Coffee put on an energetic set for those who want to shuffle until the sun comes up. Location is always kept top-secret, last year it took place in Palm Springs Airport Hanger but this year the cool-kids club heady late night event could land anywhere. It’s Ibiza level production so expect lots of strobe lights, laser shows and a heavy, thumping sound system.

How easy is it to bag an invite? It’s easier to snag an invite here than it is to the Royal Wedding, pretend to be an upcoming East London DJ and you’ll be fine.

Neon Carnival

An industry favourite that boasts a reputation that threatens to overshadows the festival itself. Now in its 9th year the dizzying spectacle of carnival rides, open-air dance floor and free-flowing margaritas (tequila brand Don Julio join Levi’s as the sponsors) takeover a new, bigger location – the HITS Desert Horse Park.

Jay-Z and Beyonce will almost certainly make an experience after she closes out Saturday’s main stage show, as will the Kardashians, Jenners and the Hadids. Drake will also probably be there holding someone’s hand on the illuminated ferris wheel.

How easy is it to bag an invite? Despite reaching legendary Coachella status it’s surprising easy. If you haven’t already met someone in LA that swears they can get you in, then there are always a few wristbands floating around the festival site.

Day Club Palm Springs

Day Club at The Hilton Palm Springs events roll in from the start of April to the end, so if you’re hard core enough to stick it out or unlucky enough to have not got an official Coachella ticket then these parties have your name all over the guestlist.

Party poolside with Justin Martin, AC Slater and other rowdy millennials as the thumping EDM reigns out across the hotel. You’ll get serious Vegas vibes as hands fist pump in the air and bottles pop in the surrounding day bed cabanas.

How easy is it to bag an invite? Probably better to buy tickets beforehand, but if you turn up to the pool party with an inflatable unicorn you’re almost always led to the front of the queue.

When House of Coco was invited to step aboard the good train Bombay Sapphire for The Grand Journey we could barely hold our excitement – cocktails and travel?! Now that’s the ticket!

The Grand Journey is a spectacular celebration of ten of the key ingredients in the sparkling blue Bombay Sapphire bottle, taking us around the world to sample the ingredients and hear the stories behind them.

The train passed through London in mid-October before carrying on to other European destinations like Berlin, Barcelona and Amsterdam. We were lucky enough to jump onboard for the ride and grab a classy G&T with the culinary masterminds behind the experience – The Robin Collective

Upon arriving at London’s Bike Shed we were welcomed by a nicely dressed chap called Gerald with what can only be described as a goblet of gin and tonic and then ushered onto the Bombay Sapphire train by the conductor. Seated in a gorgeous art deco style banquette with our fellow travellers we weren’t at all sure what to expect when the ‘train’ embarked on its journey – complete with sound effects and the very clever use of screens acting as the train windows, taking us through the countryside of Italy, the volcanoes of Java and finally the great british fields on our quest to learn about Bombay Sapphire’s ingredients.

Each of our Grand Journey stops was accompanied with a culinary trick, alcohol treat or immersive sketch to keep traveller’s fatigue at bay. The edibles by The Robin Collective immersed us in the ingredient’s location; a vegan lemon pate for lemon peel from Spain, a stunning floral jelly (that takes 20 minutes to make by hand!) and savoury almond churros that were to die for. Alongside tasty tricks and were quirky cocktails by Happiness Forgets’ Geoff Robinson that were served next to smoking volcanoes and in a Chinese tea-set. Our ever-so-slightly camp train staff kept us amused with shadow puppet stories, slight of hand magic and even a little floor show that got some of our fellow travellers a little hot under the collar!

We absolutely adore a fun evening out with a few tipples and this was no exception – the cocktails were delicious and really showed another side to gin, just in time for the autumn and winter season where a crisp G&T just doesn’t quite cut it anymore!

Disembarking from the train we ended our journey in Laverstoke; the distillery location for Bombay Sapphire, nestled in rural Hampshire and shared a cheeky cocktail with Robin and Brandy, Co-Founders of The Robin Collective to learn more about vegan surprises, chefs favourite moulds and jelly technique…

HOC: We loved the treats on offer tonight and were bowled over that they were all vegan, how did that come about?

Brandy: Vegan food is accessible to everyone and you can’t say the same for meat dishes! Plus we work with an amazing chef who runs a vegan restaurant in Glasgow. Alongside the food we had a lot of fun working on the aromas in the train to help take you on your journeys.

HOC: That lemon pate (shaped like a lemon) was incredible and the jelly was a masterpiece – we almost didn’t want to eat it!

Robin: The moulds for the lemon pate were made from real lemons and our chefs have their favourites to work with, it’s so funny! The jellies are a labour of love; it takes 20 minutes to make each one as we paint them by hand. The idea for it came about in one of the ‘Inspiration Afternoons’ we held in our office. Now we’re making 1,000 jellies per location and having to send out one of our team to Berlin to keep an eye on the jelly production!

HOC: Well, they are worth it! We love what you guys do but it’s got to be tricky sometimes- what’s some of the biggest challenges you come up against?

Brandy: Kitchens are always a challenge but we’ve designed our own set up to be as mobile and efficient as possible. Running water can also be a challenge, depending on where you are working from. We love to travel and be a part of everything we work on – we’re only a small team and we like to be close to everything and make sure it all goes amazingly!

With that we let Robin and Brandy get back to painting their jellies and escape in a VR headset tour of the Bombay Sapphire distillery – looking to all onlookers as if we’d definitely had a few too many!

The Grand Journey has now departed for mainland Europe but fear not, you can enjoy a Bombay Sapphire cocktail at The Gilbert Scott, Cahoots and The Cocktail Trading Company in London until 6th November. The Bombay Sapphire distillery is nestled in rural Hampshire and open 7 days a week, perfect for a day out – we’ll see you there?

Whether you committed yourself to Veganuary, or just said you’d make a healthy start to 2019, our resident vegan Rachael Lindsay is here to bring us her top replacement buys to get you through the month.

Replace Dairy Milk With Oat Milk

I have spoken to lots of people about what they would miss most if they were to become vegan or try Veganuary. One of the most common responses is MILK. Especially with the Brits, we all seem to love our whole, semi-skimmed or skinny milk in a big ole cup of joe. As well as on cereal, in a glass with a plate of cookies, the list goes on…

To the rescue is one of my personal favourite brands out there right now: Oatly. They have just released the very first whole, semi and skinny oat milks so you can make an easy replacement from whatever your preferred dairy milk was. Having put all three to the taste taste, I think their whole milk is luxuriously delicious and creamy, so that’s my recommendation if you want something indulgent. Skinny is for the health-conscious with no added fat (a little too healthy for me but perfect for those with healthy 2019 resolutions) whilst semi is probably what I would go for every day as it goes well in a hearty winter porridge and makes a nice addition to coffee.

Replace Snack Bars with Rhythm108 Bars and Biscuits

Yet another concern for would-be vegans is the lack of sweet treats. I completely get this one – I have a sweet tooth and did not want to avoid my chocolate chip biscuits and Cadbury bars. Especially on the go, a sugary snack is exactly what is needed to get through a long winter month…

To the rescue is Rhythm108 serving up choc bars and tea biscuits that you will never believe are vegan. Plus all their products are gluten-free and organic with a heart-warming philosophy behind their production. I have tried pretty much every flavour of biscuit and bar they have on offer and would highly recommend the odd-sounding but fab-tasting lemon ginger and chia biscuits with Sicilian lemon zest as well as their super coconut chocolate bar – you need this in your life if you are a Bounty fan. Other flavours include sweet and salty almond bars, double chocolate hazelnut biscuits, almond biscotti, hazelnut praline bars…*goes off to eat one as writing about this is getting too much*

Replace Nuts & Seeds with Boundless Nuts & Seeds

One of the best things I have learnt in my first year as a vegan is that vegan does not have to mean boring. It is a horrible misconception that all vegans spend their time eating lettuce and seeds – I am actually still searching for a vegan who does this so please reach out if that is you. That being said, we have all heard the health benefits of having more healthy nuts and seeds in our life and, as a vegan, they are full of much-needed protein, vitamins and other good stuff. So how to get round the fact that seeds and nuts can get very boring unless they are smothered in salt…

To the rescue is Boundless, a quirky little brand that makes activated nuts and seeds including almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Instead of dry roasting or salting these little ‘uns, Boundless soaks them in water then bakes them and spices them to bring out some seriously big flavours. The flavours are so punchy that I was reminded of pork scratchings or Bombay mix. You can choose from turmeric and smoked paprika (my favourite!), cayenne and rosemary, tamari and Aleppo or orange, ginger and maple. And for those on a health kick, they are packed with fibre and all the nutritional goodness of nuts (walnuts, for example, are vital for vegans as a source of essential fatty acid omega-3). Another perfect afternoon snack which is both kinder and healthier than a bag of crisps.

To find out more about any of these products, visit oatly.com, rhythm108.com and weareboundless.co.uk.

In a move that still makes Soho feel a bit like Soho (am I right, Londoners? Gosh darn you, gentrification!) once again exotic goods were available on Berwick Street in the form of Hong Kong street snack, Bubble Wrap.

As a curious alien hybrid of a crepe, waffle and a bubble tea vibe thrown in these delicious treats are soon to be taking the food scene by storm. Around since the 1950s the treat has hit our capital, first in street market form and in one week’s time in its rightful home on Wardour St. Bubble Wrap serves up delicious desserts with fresh fruits, nuts, sauces and ice-cream; what more could you want?!

We tucked into a delicious Pecan and Salted Caramel while our co-guinea pig went for the classic banana and chocolate combination; both were super indulgent and filling; this definitely a sharer after a dinner out… or a dinner replacement after a few brewskis.

Pop down to Bubble Wrap at 24 Wardour Street from 8th March! www.bubblewrapwaffle.com