Art can brighten up your living space, but it can also stir emotions in you and resonate with you on that deeper level. If you are an artist yourself or have a keen interest in the subject, you might also appreciate the technical skills an artist has showcased in a certain piece, or enjoy their interpretation of whatever or whoever it was that inspired them.
It can be hard to imagine a world without art, and what a dull world that would be, which is why it’s important to support artists local to you and beyond to keep this creative form thriving. If you would like to get more involved and support your local artist community, here are some ways you can do this.
Tell People About Their Work
If you discover an artist that you love then you should tell your friends and family about them. Word of mouth is a great way to increase interest in an artist’s work, and they could end up selling more of their pieces because you have recommended them to someone. If you do remember the artist’s website, location of their shop, or the gallery you purchased their work in, pass these details on to whoever you’re talking about them with so that they can browse the artist’s work themselves.
Start a Collection of Their Works
It’s not uncommon for an artist to do a set of paintings, sculptures, photographs, etc., that are part of a theme or for a specific exhibition. While owning just one of these pieces can be a lovely addition to your home, do consider starting a collection of their work instead. This could be purchasing the entire set of paintings under a certain theme to display on your walls at home, or a variety of works by them.
You never know, these paintings could increase in value in a few years, so if you did want to sell them it could be a great investment. To learn more about art investment, look at this gallery website for information on how you can utilise invest art.
Start a Local Artist Fair
If you are passionate about art and you want the local artists in your area to have the opportunity to showcase more of their work, you could always consider starting a fair or festival of some kind in your town once or twice a year. You can put an application into your local council and even apply for funding from grant programs if this is necessary to help you put this event on. It’s a great opportunity to get these talented artists together and offer them another space where they can show their pieces and, hopefully, make more sales and increase their fanbase.
You could even run competitions for younger artists from the local schools with the chance to win a small exhibition, or perhaps ask artists if they would like to run a workshop for those interested in developing their skills.
If you want to do more to support local artists because you are passionate about keeping this creative form alive and thriving, consider the tips above and see how they can help.
We are living in the era of the individual, with carefully curated social media feeds increasingly aimed at one thing and thing only; cultivating a personal ‘brand’ you can be proud of.
That’s all well and good, except, well, it’s not; having a personal brand risks both ultra conformity and a commodified self, a dehumanising term that risks blurring the distinctions between work, play, family, friends and interests, and allowing narcissism to be the only motivator in a world crying out for compassion.
Ooops, went off on a bit of a tangent there. All of that said, if you feel like your sense of self has somehow lost its way, because of efforts to individualise rather than despite of it, then there are ways you can reinvent yourself to enjoy a more meaningful life, if your current one isn’t filling you with the satisfaction you deserve.
As the Science of People explains “Reinventing yourself means to change parts of yourself that you don’t like or are no longer serving you. It could mean changing your profession, banishing bad habits and traits, or even pursuing new skills”, and we’re very much here for enacting such positive changes.
With that in mind, here are 5 ways to reinvent yourself without losing your true sense of self.
Hire A Personal Life Coach
Scam, swindle or saviour? Opinion on life coaches sweeps across the spectrum, with those distrusting of the profession citing the lack of regulation or licensing required to become a life coach as a reason to doubt its legitimacy.
That may soon be set to change, with several universities now offering courses in life coaching, including the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), who currently provide an undergraduate Certificate in Coaching. Both Warwick and Newcastle University also offer courses in coaching and mentoring.
As opposed to the clinical guidance and interventions used in therapy, a life coach is arguably centered around less of the emotional parts of life and more on literal life choices, particularly regarding your career.
Rather than focusing on the past, like most therapists, a life coach will likely encourage you towards the future. They can facilitate a vision of what you would like to accomplish and help you set goals for how to succeed.
Check out the Life Coach Directory to find out more about the profession’s accreditation bodies, which carry with them a code of ethics and conduct, and an established complaints procedure. Should you be considering enlisting the services of a life coach, always ensure they are in this directory.
Change Your Job
Speaking of changes in career, might it be time to consider a new profession?
The signs of job dissatisfaction can creep up slowly. Sometimes, these signs can be so gradual that you don’t acknowledge them until you’ve reached retirement age with nothing to show for your years of hard work but back pain and debt.
Accordingly, if you’re looking to reinvent yourself, then you should first address that omnipresent thing in so many people’s existences draining them of their life force; their work.
With the job market in the UK somewhat stabilising after the shock of COVID-19, now might be the ideal time to consider a new career path. Our changing attitude to our work/life balance, a newfound experience of remote work and an increased desire for financial stability have all led to some seeking pastures new, and the UK looks set for continued drastic reappraisals of the very meaning of ‘work’ as we contemplate the end of the pandemic.
But with many Brits feeling a little hollow right now, if you are in need of a fresh start, then a change in career might be just the answer.
Create An Alter Ego
When it comes to reinventing yourself, some people start with learning a new language or taking up running. Some go further – much further – and start to create a whole new persona. More often than not, this starts with a change in name, whether it be something as simple as confirming you’d like to officially adopt your nickname, all the way to naming yourself Bacon Double Cheeseburger, as Londoner Sam Smith did after a few pints too many.
Yep, it looks like Sam Smith (not the singer, we’re guessing) found out the hard way that it’s actually easier to change your namethan open a bank account.
That said, if you feel like a name change might help you refine and rejuvenate your sense of self, then by all means, go for it! Or, if your name recalls a past you’d like to forget, a gender you’re ready to share more publicly, or even a famous face you’d rather not be associated with, then changing it is as easy as filling out a form and filing it.
Be Your Authentic Self
Let’s be honest here; we shouldn’t be defined by our name, our career, or even our life choices. Instead, what makes us unique is the way we conduct ourselves and treat others, compassionately and authentically.
But what does it mean to be ‘authentic’? Well, it all starts with observing yourself objectively, identifying the everyday adaptive coping mechanisms – whether that’s people pleasing, defensiveness, or attention seeking – which perhaps betray our true feelings and mentality. Ask yourself why you use these, and how you might be able to address or abandon them in the future.
Consider the nature of relationships next, and whether they’re transactional, reciprocal or in some way imbalanced. In doing so, you’ll be able to examine which parts of your true personality you’re sacrificing in the name of unhealthy relationships.
Finally, engage in a little soul stewardship, living consciously, conscientiously and compassionately in the way you engage with the world. Only then will you offer the same compassion to your self.
Live More Mindfully & In The Moment
Perhaps the finest and most succinct way to reinvent yourself is also the most simple; to pledge to truly listen, learn to appreciate the small things, and try to live more mindfully and in the moment.
In a society where our attention is the world’s most valuable commodity, it can be impossible to switch off and dial in to what truly matters. In doing so, you’ll notice a change in perspective and projection, of both inner and outer calm, that will bring more positive change to your life than any material adjustments you make.
We can’t wait to meet the brighter, lighter, more present version of you!
As you may well know, traditional cleaning agents tend to use strong chemical substances to get rid of dirt on the surfaces they’re used. In recent years and in response, eco-friendly cleaning techniques and products have risen in popularity, aimed at ensuring that they’re less impactful on the environment – and on the homeowner’s health – when used.
Generally speaking, eco-friendly cleaning products are just as effective at removing dirt, grime, and bacteria, all without harming the environment. In many cases, homeowners seek professional cleaners to ensure that their properties are dirt-free and that the used products are safe. On the other hand, people who clean their properties personally may need to scrutinise if the eco-friendly products they buy are indeed unharmful to the environment.
But how can you truly know if your product is eco-friendly, or trust the manufacturer’s claims? Here’s how to determine if a clean product is indeed eco-friendly.
Determine Its Biodegradability
Biodegradability is one of the features of eco-friendly disinfectants and cleaning supplies. Generally, it refers to how quickly the product breaks down after being used. In most cases, eco-friendly products can dissolve or evaporate quickly when applied to bathroom floors, kitchen sinks, and other surfaces.
To check a product’s biodegradability, you can read its labels. Typically, you’d see safe ingredients, such as hydrocarbon solvents. You’d also see a leafy triangular shape on the product’s label as a sign of its biodegradability.
However, all cleaning solutions have different extents of biodegradability you may still need to consider, and that’s even before you consider the packaging’s biodegradability, which, again should be indicated with a certification of some kind. This will differ from country to country, and product to product.
Check Its Toxicity
Highly toxic products are generally corrosive, flammable, and poisonous. They pose a threat to the lives of people, animals, and plants despite their apparent effectiveness. Because of this, you should prioritise products with low to zero toxic contents. In many cases, labels bear warning and hazard signs to inform users of the presence of harmful substances.
Apart from the signs, you may also look for the active ingredients in the products. Typically, they’re highlighted on the label. Common active ingredients in cleaning solutions are acids, alkalis, abrasives, and detergents. If a product doesn’t contain any of these, it’s more likely to be eco-friendly.
Know The VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Content
VOC refers to the components such as benzene, formaldehyde, ethylene glycol, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, and xylene. When exposed to high vapour pressure, these could release gases that affect a person’s overall health. Generally, VOC can irritate the eyes and even cause breathing difficulties.
You may manually check your product’s components to see whether or not it contains VOC. If you’re keen to go further, consider using a photoionization detector – though be warned, these can reach into the thousands of pounds to purchase – to detect and measure VOC content. However, this device may only suit some identified compounds, excluding formaldehyde.
Look For Certification Labels
Some products may be packed as eco-friendly even if they’re not. This has been termed ‘greenwashing’, a type of propaganda that markets a product to be sustainable and safe, contrary to their true properties. To avoid these, you may look for legitimate certification labels, including the following:
B Corp
This label means that the company behind the product is known to follow strict social and environmental standards.
Cradle To Cradle
It certifies that a product has high biodegradability.
Energy Star
Products with Energy Star certification are certified to generate fewer greenhouse gases.
Greenguard
This certification means that the product has low chemical emissions.
Made Safe
It says that the product contains safe-to-human ingredients.
In the UK, various forms of certification and accreditation exist to ensure a company’s claims to be eco-friendly are truthful. As of 2020, such claims are vetted by the Competitions and Markets Authority’s Green Claims Code. Environmental bodies such as the Vegan Society, PETA, the Carbon Trust, Fair Trade and the Soil Association also offer certification and guidance.
Focus On Specific Claims
You must know more about the products you’re buying by researching information about them. You may need to delve deeper into the effects of the products as claimed by reliable institutions and people. For example, check if the product is advertised or recommended by a renowned environmental group. Or, that a cleaning solution is used in a documentary about sustainability made by eco-conscious advocacies. These things should help you assess the quality of the products you’re planning to buy.
In analysing the product’s claims, you may choose those with more specific statements, such as how effective a product is in cleaning kitchen appliances. Big concepts or motherhood statements may sound too generic and are often associated with false claims. You may also lean on those based on science-backed facts and figures.
Read The Product Reviews
Read the product reviews to know other customers’ experiences with a product. Authentic product reviews often tell the truth behind claims. Generally, genuine eco-friendly products have positive reviews, while false ones may have mixed or negative ones.
To know whether a review is legitimate or not, you may still need the reviewer’s integrity. It should be organic or made by a real person. In addition, you should watch out for admitted bias and propaganda devices. In most cases, an authentic review provides balanced points—pros and cons—even if they favour the eco-friendly item.
Many cleaning products today masquerade as eco-friendly. While some may be telling the truth, identifying them can be challenging. Be sure to be scrupulous in your search if you care both for your health and the environment. Good luck!
The value of the global beauty industry had more than doubled over the fifteen years leading up to COVID, when it reached a whopping $500 billion in 2019.
In the three years since, the way we shop and interact with the services and hospitality industry has changed dramatically, but, interestingly, the global pandemic wasn’t as cruel to the world of beauty as it has been to many other industries.
In fact, the industry proved to be remarkably resilient, with nimble entrepreneurs shifting sales channels online, even finding ways to adapt their face-to-face services (such as hairstyling and make-up artistry) to a remote market, in the form of tutorials, guidance and coaching.
This resilience only looks to translate into greater growth, and if you’re looking to enter the beauty industry, here are 5 exciting career paths you might consider.
A Hairstylist
Just as hair grows, so do the opportunities for work within the beauty industry. As of 2018 (pre-COVID, admittedly) there were a whopping 45’000 hair and beauty businesses in the UK, with almost 300’000 people working within them.
That’s a whole lot of potential for new recruits, but you should be warned; hairdressing and styling is no walk in the park. In fact, you have to stay completely stationary to do it properly, indoors.
If you want to become a hairdresser, you have to show talent, creativity, and be hard working. Stamina is required, too.
This thing isn’t only about taking scissors into your hands; hairdressing is so much more than that. Your interpersonal skills have to be on point, as many come to the hairdresser expecting a good gossip, but you also need to be able to read when someone wants to keep things cordial but quiet.
You’ll also need to keep updated on the latest hair trends, and have your own locks looking luscious, too. If you’re able to tick all those boxes whilst holding a comb and some scissors, then this might just be the job for you.
A Makeup Artist
Through different periods, the role of makeup artists has changed, with the most recent iteration emerging during the pandemic seeing online Zoom tutorials providing a new income stream for these creative freelancers.
The roles and responsibilities involved in being a makeup artist are surprisingly broad, and can actually include hairstyling and even prosthetics, too. Generally speaking, make-up artists work in the entertainment industry, helping actors and musicians create a certain look, image or character.
But makeup artists aren’t solely reserved for the glitz and glamour of the stage and camera. Makeup artists also ply their trade in department stores, salons and sometimes even visit the home’s of clients, to help them curate their look for special occasions such as weddings.
The tools of the trade are relatively straightforward. You may only need eyeshadow, eyeliner, concealer, foundation, lipstick and mascara to get started. That, and a keen and implicit knowledge of makeup trends, both historic and contemporary, should set you on your way!
Eyebrow Specialist
Stalking celebs and influencers on Instagram purely because their ‘brows are on fleek? Well, you’re not alone. Carefully curated eyebrows have become one of the key markers of a certain look that so many now court. In fact, in the US alone, more than 80 million women used an eyebrow pencil in 2020, which was significantly more than those (50 million) who didn’t.
From microblading to Nanobrows, eyebrow treatments have risen dramatically in popularity over the last few years, no doubt encouraged by everyone’s pandemic-prompted experimental phase during lockdown .
Tattooed on ‘brows fashioned with a fine blade, all in order to create hair-like strokes, is a treatment which is clearly not going anywhere. Why not turn your passion for eyebrows into a lucrative career?
An Esthetician
Estheticians are professionals licensed in skincare, providing facials, hair removal and other treatments aimed at improving a client’s appearance. The word comes from ‘aesthetics’ – an appreciation of beauty, and the concept has, in recent years, been applied to any endeavour aimed at improving your appearance, be it shaving or going to the gym.
The job of estheticians may also include laser treatments, botox application, and body waxing. For that, training or an apprenticeship, certification and ultimately, licensing, is essential to ensure the safety of clients.
That said, with the higher levels of training and certification required comes a greater potential salary. Median salaries in the US, where the role is more widespread, are around $40’000.
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys receiving free samples of new releases by major brands (hey, who doesn’t?) and is an aesthetic-minded individual keen to share their time and knowledge, then you might find the world of beauty blogging – and its closely related cousin, vlogging – might suit you to a tee.
The subset of the beauty industry can be surprisingly lucrative for those who make it to the top. As reported by Professional Beauty, the top 10 beauty influencers can earn, on average, £598,571 via Youtube beauty reviews, tutorials and tips.
That, it should be noted, is the very top end of the industry, and the average salary falls significantly short of that headline figure.
To succeed (in whatever form that looks like to you) in this industry, you’ll have to develop your own striking look and voice in order to stand out, as this is a field that’s become a little saturated. Do so, and you might find that blogging is just the start; beauty content can quickly lead to other roles, such as advertising and endorsement.
The Bottom Line
The beauty industry offers a surprisingly broad range of roles and is a supportive, nurturing world to work in. We hope you find your feet in this potentially lucrative industry!
Songkran is the annual festival which takes place over three days during the traditional Thai New Year, this year falling on Friday 13 – Sunday 15 April 2018. Throughout Thailand there are celebrations, festivities and plenty of food; all culminating in a momentous country-wide water fight!
In the run up to Songkran, Sanguan Parr, Head Chef at Nipa Thai in London, has shared her recipe for Massaman Gai (Yellow Chicken Curry). A popular but classic recipe from the Southern region of Thailand, the curry is simple to make but guaranteed to impress – the perfect dish for your Songkran celebrations!
Ingredients (to serve four):
2 Chicken breasts
600ml Coconut Milk
2 tbsp Roasted Peanuts
5 Small Onions; sliced
4 Medium Potatoes; cubed
3 tbsp Massaman Curry Paste
2 tbsp Fish Sauce
3 tbsp Palm Sugar
3 tbsp Tamarind Juice
3 Bay Leaves
1 piece Roasted Cinnamon; 1cm long
5 Roasted Cardamom Pods
1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
Method:
Step 1: Cut the chicken into chunks, around 2 inches in length.
Step 2: In a wok, heat the vegetable oil, curry paste and 200ml of coconut milk. Keep stirring over a low heat until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the chicken to the wok, turning frequently so all the meat is covered in sauce.
Step 4: Pour in the remaining 400ml of coconut milk and simmer gently for 5 minutes.
Step 5: Add the cubed potatoes, roasted peanuts, onions, fish sauce, palm sugar, tamarind juice, bay leaves, cardamom and cinnamon. Keep over a low heat to simmer until all the ingredients are tender.
Step 6: Remove from the heat and serve with steamed white rice.
Throughout Songkran 2018, Nipa Thai will be offering its traditional menu. Nipa Thai is open from 5pm-10.30pm, Monday-Sunday.
Are you a novice FPL player or a mediocre one at best? Have you entered the Fantasy League purely because you thought of an original, amusing team name (Murder On Zidane’s Floor, we’re looking at you) or do you truly want to step up your game?
Since you’ve arrived here with us, we’re going to assume you’re after the latter. Sure, bemused partners or concerned colleagues might look on as you fiddle incessantly with the colour of your team’s hooped socks and agonise over your hypothetical vice-captain, and assume this thing is just a frivolous game of chance, but nothing could be further than the truth.
Mastering the Fantasy League goes way beyond just checking those Fantasy EPL predicted lineups and picking players you have a sentimental attachment to. There’s plenty of strategy and foresight involved, and real prizes to be won, too!
Let’s explore further; if you’re keen to master FPL, here are 7 tips to help you dominate Fantasy Premier League.
Keep An Eye On Players With Multiple Point Sources
Much like a business with a range of revenue streams, players that have more point sources will bring in more points than players with fewer point sources.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is a good example of a player with multiple point sources. He is a regular goalscorer, provides points with assists, and is United’s primary penalty taker. He represents an invaluable addition to a team because he has a wide variety of means to rack up those points.
Another example is Mohammed Salah, who not only scores goals, but is also the FPL’s most consistent receiver of ‘Man of the Match’ points. On the same side, Trent Alexander-Arnold is a particularly apt choice, as he accrues plenty of attacking points, in the form of assists and goals, on top of his defensive points clocked up in Liverpool’s miserly defence, the second sturdiest in the league.
Having a few high-yield players like these will vastly improve your team’s playing capacity and set you up for long-term success.
Time Your Transfers
Oh, how we love a Super Saturday; the pre-match pie and a pint, the banter with the opposition fans, even the matchday programmes.
If you’re keen to keep a cool head, it’s best not to get swept up in all the excitement. It might be tempting to make transfers as soon as a new gameweek rolls in, inspired by what you saw on Match Of The Day or even live in the stadium, but you should try to hold off on clicking that buy button until as late as possible.
Many managers will immediately start transferring the moment they can, but you should play smarter, not faster. Gather as much information as possible about the prospective players in the lead up to the gameweek deadline; players may sustain injuries during the week, fall out of favour in training, or information might emerge of Fantasy EPL predicted lineups that prompt you to choose a player likely to play.
Make your transfer and pick your final team as close to the start of the new gameweek as possible. This deadline occurs an hour and a half before the first match of the gameweek, which is usually 12:45pm on a Saturday, though watch out for those sneaky Friday night fixtures!
Take As Few Point Hits As Possible
Resist the urge to make multiple transfers, especially within a short time. Making multiple transfers in a single week while suffering constant point losses is a surefire way to make your rank plummet. You might think, “I’ll make up for the losses in the next gameweek,” but you may well end up being unable to do so.
When transfers start costing you 4 points a click, ask yourself if it’s likely that your new recruits will actually get 4 points during that gameweek. Instead, if you’re desperate to ring the changes across the board, utilise that ‘wildcard’ of yours. If you’ve already used it, take a more measured approach or suffer the consequences.
Learn From The Best
The wisest tactic in any game is to learn from those who are already good at it. Twitter and YouTube are filled with dozens of veterans who have FPL-based achievements under their belt and can teach you a lesson or two about the game.
FPL General is a manager who finished in the top 500 at a point in his career. Other players like FPL Matthew and AdamHopcroft are known for giving away some of their secrets to followers.
Spend ‘Big’ On Your Goalkeepers
Having a good goalkeeper between the sticks is essential to any team’s success. And when playing Fantasy League, that’s even more true, so it’s worth splashing out on the best you can afford.
This isn’t because they’ll stop you shipping goals, necessarily; that’s not how fantasy football works. But rather, it’s because the difference in spend between the league’s top-scoring goalkeeper (Liverpool’s Alisson), and the lowest with any game-time to their name (Southampton’s Caballero) is only £1.8 million, with the players priced at £6 million and £4.2 million respectively.
The difference in points, however, is massive; Alisson’s 145 points to Caballero’s 2. That’s surely worth a relatively small mark-up, don’t you think?
Check Fixtures Diligently To Identify Double Gameweeks
As the season wears on, it’s only natural that some games will be postponed or rescheduled in order to accommodate for a cup-run or two. This means that at the business end of the season, you’ll notice that some players may have two games lined up in a single gameweek (and occasionally, even three games!).
It makes sense to check predicted EPL line-ups and fixtures in advance, to anticipate these double gameweeks, potentially boosting your week’s points tally massively, if you time things right.
Because of this, it’s a smart move to save your wildcard until late in the season, when such double gameweeks are more frequent. By deploying your triple captain on a high-scoring player who’s playing twice, you can really rack up the points.
But if you’re in it to win it, genuinely, then it’s wise to park the sentimentality and concentrate on cold, hard numbers, form and formula. In doing so, you’ll likely find yourself racing up the table (even if that table is only a private league of a few mates). Good luck!
To celebrate Songkran, we’ve got this recipe from Andy Oliver, the chef behind the critically acclaimed East London restaurant Som Saa, one of the best Thai restaurants in the capital, who has worked with Singha to bring a taste of Thailand to your table. This classic Thai curry is bursting with flavour, perfect for an evening dish. Serve as part of a shared Thai meal with jasmine rice.
Serves: 2-4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Ready in: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
150g of green curry paste, ideally homemade
450ml of thick fresh coconut cream
300ml of light chicken stock
A little coconut oil – optional extra
350g of skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized chunks
1 tablespoon of palm sugar
3 tablespoons of fish sauce
5-6 fresh or frozen makrut lime Leaves, torn
2 tablespoons Thai pea aubergines
3 Thai apples or round aubergines, each sliced into 6 pieces
2-3 long red or green chillies, sliced at an angle
1 large handful of picked Thai basil leaves
METHOD
First add half the coconut cream to a pan and place on a medium high heat. If using coconut oil, you can add a splash of coconut oil now too
Allow the cream to boil rigorously until it starts to become shiny and oily. When it does, add the curry paste and stir in to ‘fry out’ in the oily cream for 4 minutes on a medium heat
When the paste smells less raw and becomes more fragrant and oil is starting to show on the surface, add the sliced chicken
Continue to fry for 4-5 more minutes, stirring the mix regularly
Next add the palm sugar, pea aubergines, the fish sauce and the makrut lime leaves
Continue to cook for 1-2 more minutes before adding the apple aubergines, the chicken stock and most (but not all) of the remaining coconut cream
Allow the curry to simmer gently for a few minutes before adding the sliced green chillies and the remaining coconut cream
Stir through and simmer for an extra minute before tasting to check the seasoning – it should be rich, fragrant, slightly spicy with a touch of sweetness from the coconut cream and saltiness from the fish sauce
Finish by stirring through the Thai basil leaves and serving
Having some gluten free friends around for afternoon tea? This gorgeous almond and Polenta cake is perfect treat.
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking: 55 minutes
Serves: 12
Ingredients
150g TREX
150g caster sugar
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2tsp almond essence
Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
200g ground almonds
200g instant polenta
Pinch salt
2tsp baking powder
120g blueberries
To decorate:
200g cream cheese
Few drops of vanilla extract
A few toasted flaked almonds
Edible flowers – we used violas (optional)
Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan oven 160°C, Gas Mark 4. Grease a 20cm round cake tin with a little TREX, then line with baking paper.
Beat the TREX and caster sugar together in a large mixing bowl until light in texture, then gradually beat in the eggs. Stir in the almond essence, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add the ground almonds, polenta, salt and baking powder, mixing thoroughly. Reserve a few blueberries for decoration, then stir the rest into the cake mixture.
Transfer to the prepared tin and level the surface. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a fine skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Remove the lining paper.
4 To decorate, mix the cream cheese and vanilla extract together and spread it onto the cake. Scatter with toasted flaked almonds and the reserved blueberries. Finish off with edible flowers, if using.
Cook’s tips:
Check the label on the baking powder to make sure that it’s gluten-free – most varieties are.
To make the cake dairy-free, serve it without the frosting.
We’ve all been there, dressed to the nines in the Capital, searching on our phones for somewhere still open and bemoaning London’s lacking, lame nightlife. But if you after a night out that doesn’t suddenly stop once the clocks strike midnight, one of London’s many casinos might be the answer.
There’s the glitz and glamour of the Vegas Strip, with heaps of fun, prizes to be won, plus no long plane journey into the desert to contend with. You don’t even have to spend big to be part of the opulent, over-the-top experience; just go to soak up the spectacle and enjoy the ride. With this in mind, here are 7 of London’s biggest casino nights out.
Empire Casino, Leicester Square
Empire Casino represents a multi-faceted experience where entertainment is concerned. There’s the casino itself, with classic games like Blackjack and American roulette, and then there’s the poker room where you can get your game face on should you choose. However, as with most casinos, in our eyes the best bits have nothing to do with the tables.
Tucked away in the casino is 7th Cat, a Chinese restaurant which does a decent line in dimsum. Afterwards, if you’re after something a little more upmarket, you can sip cocktails on the Icon Balcony bar in the same building. They have a grand balcony overlooking Leicester Square. Here, the cocktail menu has a strong set of classics using only the finest liquors (Ketel One vodka, Don Julio Blanco tequila…you know the drill) and some inventive signatures, too. We challenge you to resist their Mon Cherry, made with spiced rum, Cherry Heering and cinnamon liqueur.
Address: 5-6 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7NA
The Hippodrome, Leicester Square
Again, a night out in this three floor casino is about much more than just casino tables and slots. It’s home to a 325-seat state-of-the-art theatre, with jazz, swing, soul and burlesque performances. There are 8 bars including the including The Rooftop, which boasts fantastic views of London’s twinkling lights. On top of that, the revered Four Seasons restaurant group have recently opened Chop Chop, a Cantonese restaurant that’s doing great things with roast duck.
There’s also a steak house, the Heliot, which has previously been awarded the title of Best Steak Restaurant in London by the customers of Bookatable (RIP), and features on our roundup of the best casino restaurants in the UK.
Aside from massive hunks of meat, the restaurant is also famous for decadent sides including the legendary Millionaire’s Mac & Cheese (topped with a poached duck egg and black truffle). Oh and if you’re ever looking for food after a night out and chicken and chips just doesn’t cut it, the casino has a 24 hour menu. Nom nom nom.
Address: Cranbourn St, London WC2H 7JH
Aspers Casino, Stratford
As the UK’s largest casino and part of the Westfield shopping complex, Aspers Casino in Stratford City is a must-visit for any gaming enthusiast. With over 150 slot machines, 40 gaming tables, and a dedicated poker room, Aspers ensures a thrilling night out. Don’t miss their Sky Bar, where you can enjoy panoramic views of London while sipping on a cocktail.
The casino regularly hosts themed party nights and live entertainment events, making it more than just a gambling destination. What’s particularly brilliant about Aspers (or a bit bleak, depending on how you look at it) is its accessibility—open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year (closing only for Christmas Day), it’s a decent spot for night owls looking for entertainment well into the early hours in a city that increasingly doesn’t provide it.
Address: The Loft, Olympic Park, 312 Montfichet Rd, London E20 1ET
Colony Club, Mayfair
Billing itself as “the most exclusive casino in Mayfair, where you can game in unsurpassed luxury”, the bar here is set rather high. Indeed, Colony Club resides in one of London’s most exclusive postcodes, so if that’s your thing, then head there to sip on drinks mixed expertly from their seasonal cocktail menu or tuck into some Japanese grub at their 10-seat Teppanyaki Bar.
There’s also a restaurant that’s open 7 days a week from 7pm till 2am, for those with the late night munchies a kebab simply won’t satiate. Oh, and there’s also live music and live DJs playing every Friday to Saturday, not to mention, of course, the live dealer casino games on the floor itself.
Address: 24 Hertford St, Mayfair, London W1J 7SA
The Sportsman Casino, Marylebone
In the heart of Marylebone, The Sportsman Casino offers a more refined casino experience than some of its flashier counterparts. This elegant establishment has earned its reputation as a favourite amongst serious gamblers and casual visitors alike, with its tasteful décor and attentive service creating an atmosphere of understated luxury.
The gaming floor features an impressive selection of American Roulette, Blackjack and Three Card Poker tables, alongside the increasingly popular Electronic Roulette terminals. For those who prefer a more exclusive experience, the casino’s private gaming rooms can be reserved for special occasions.
What truly sets The Sportsman apart, however, is its exceptional restaurant. The Restaurant at The Sportsman (formerly the more imaginatively named Zaman Restaurant) serves up a tantalising menu of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, with their signature lamb tagine and mezze platters drawing in diners regardless of whether they fancy a flutter.
After dinner, the stylish bar area provides the perfect spot to sip on a perfectly mixed Old Fashioned or one of their creative signature cocktails whilst contemplating whether to try your luck at the tables. With live sports screenings and occasional live music performances, there’s always something to keep you entertained throughout the evening and into the early hours. It also has a virtual version of its floor.
Open daily from midday until 6am, and conveniently located just a stone’s throw from Marble Arch tube station, The Sportsman offers an elegant alternative for those seeking a sophisticated night out in the capital.
Address: Old Quebec Street, London W1H 7AF
Grosvenor Victoria Casino
Affectionately known as ‘The Vic’, the Grosvenor Victoria Casino is one of London’s longest-established casinos. It’s a favourite among poker players, thanks to its renowned Poker Room. But there’s more to The Vic than just poker. With a variety of table games, slots, and a stylish bar and restaurant, and open 24 hours a day, it’s the perfect spot for a night of entertainment.
The Vic has rightfully earned its place in London gambling folklore, particularly for its first-floor poker room which has hosted some of the most prestigious tournaments in the UK, including the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour. The casino has undergone a substantial refurbishment recently, bringing modern luxury to this venerable institution whilst maintaining its old-school charm.
What sets The Vic apart from many other London casinos is its unpretentious, welcoming vibe—despite being a serious gambling venue, there’s none of the stuffiness you might encounter elsewhere in the capital. Its convenient location just off Edgware Road makes it easily accessible, with many punters making it their final destination after a night out in central London.
Located, again, in upscale, predictable Mayfair (we’re beginning to see a patter here), The Palm Beach Casino offers a glamorous night out. With a variety of games, from American Roulette to Punto Banco, there’s something for every gambler. After a night at the tables, unwind at their chic bar, where you can enjoy a late-night meal or a signature cocktail.
The cocktail lounge exudes old-world glamour with its plush velvet seating and attentive table service, making it the perfect spot for a nightcap whether you’ve been hitting the tables or simply soaking up the atmosphere. With its discreet entrance and high-end clientele, Palm Beach offers that rare balance of excitement and exclusivity.
Address: 30 Berkeley St, Mayfair, London W1J 8EH
The Bottom Line
Remember, while casinos offer an intriguing night out, it’s essential to gamble responsibly (if at all). Know your limits and ensure you’re playing for fun, not out of necessity.
No longer confined to standard bingo halls, Bingo has been reinvented for a new generation, and we can’t get enough of it. That said, lip service is still paid to tradition in the Big Smoke’s bingo halls; it may have added bells, whistles and a fresh sense of dynamism, but it’s still bingo with cards and callers and winners in the waiting.
It’s a whole lot of fun to be had, once you’ve got your head around the terminology, that is. As soon as you’re confident and conversant, it’s time to grab a dabber and get stuck in to these; our 7 IDEAL bingo nights in London.
Karaoke & Bingo
This is Bingo, but not as you know it. And that’s what you’re here for right? Bunga Bunga Battersea is billed as a ‘one-stop party shop with karaoke every day in Battersea’, but perhaps that description doesn’t do the event justice.
Indeed, this place is rocking any and every night of the week, with raucous carousing mixed with pizza, pasta and the rest. What more could you want? Well, this, since you’re here for it; every last Thursday of the month is bingo night, Bunga Bunga style. In other words you can play a game or two of Bingo, and as you win, you get to sing.
The evening’s format comes in two rounds. First of all, you feast; the most popular option is their signature serve of metre long pizzas which start at the rather bargainous price of £12. While you take down your pizza, the legendary loose lipped Mamma Bunga and her son Luigi dish out some laughs and offer you the opportunity to win bingo prizes.
Then, comes round two, or as we like to call it – the big bingo twist. A bingo ball selects a table to come up on stage; here, you’ll spin the bingo cage which will decide on the song you’ll be singing.
You’ll need to pay for your bingo ticket and pizza in advance, but the pizzaz, razzmatazz, glam and camp comes for free. Get stuck in!
Need something to look forward to during the toil and trouble of hump day? Well, every Wednesday, Cattivo bar on Brixton’s buzzing Ferndale Road hosts a Bubbles and Bingo night with bottles of prosecco at £10 all evening. Yes, you read that right – £10.
If you’re not a fan of prosecco, the cocktails made with Cattivo’s signature Small Batch Gin here are rather good and thoughtfully done; we suggest ordering one using whatever fruit is in season; right now, we’re ordering the rhubarb and ginger tonic, rosemary and ginger, and we can’t wait for their elderflower infusion come summertime!
As with Bunga Bunga, it’s Italian home cooking here to line the punters’ stomachs. Here, there’s a big emphasis on bad behaviour; Cattivo translates as ‘naughty’ in Italian and it’s certainly a long, louche night. The bottles pop at 5pm, the bingo kicks off at 7, and the vibes keep rocking ‘till late.
Bling & Bingo
Bingo gets yet another remix! This time, it’s all about the beats. Alongside the essential pillars of hip hop – mc’s, DJs, bboying and beatboxing – the guys behind Blingo have added another: Bingo.
Billed as a hilarious night of ‘Bingo, beats and bling’, expect hip hop bangers, dance offs and lip sync battles. The show is hosted by potty-mouthed pensioner Grandma Flash, who comes sporting enough bling to make you go blind.
Blingo takes place at least once a month in a variety of locations, so you’ll have to check in on their website to find upcoming events near you
It should be noted that playing bingo isn’t as easy as it might at first seem; it’s heads down and all about concentration if you’re hoping to win. And when you throw booze into the mix, it’s often hit the floor and time for tea before you can shout the immortal word. Best, then, to learn those terms first!
Rnb & Bingo
Becausethere ain’t nothing wrong with a little bingo balls and grind. Another musical revamp this, and if RnB is your slow-jam, then this is the bingo night for you,
Promising RNB anthems all evening, the MC will put you through your paces with bingo rounds, crazy challenges and games throughout the evening. Between the fun games and activities, the DJ will be spinning the best tunes from 80s, 90s and 2000s. Yep, that was us putting in a request for ‘Return Of The Mack’.
Drag & Bingo
Yet another revamp of the popular game of chance – Ginger’s Big Drag Bingo a smutty, saucy version dreamt up and hosted by the gorgeous Ginger. This bingo night is as glitzy and as glamorous as they come and definitely isn’t your grandma’s bingo, so don’t bring them; unless she enjoys a raucous night of fun alongside the comedic stylings of one of the most hilarious drag acts around, that is. Expect plenty of ball fondling and other attempts at bingo-based innuendo to pepper the night with a sense of frivolity. Where do we sign up?
Brunch & Bingo
How about something a little more permanent? Dabbers Bingo is the UK’s first ‘contemporary’ (see: live music, pub grub, comedy sets) purpose-built Bingo Hall, serving your number calling needs every single night of the week.
There are lots of different offerings at Dabbers so you’ll be sure to find a bingo calling card to suit your tastes, from High Tea Bingo on a Saturday afternoon to their Doggie Bingo, where you can bring your poochie pals along for the ride.
The highlight of the week is undoubtedly held on Saturdays, and it’s this day you want to be aiming for, as it hosts a gorgeous brunch and the week’s largest jackpot. That’s not to say the other nights of the week aren’t lively, on Monday nights members get 50% off food and drink and on Friday, holidays are up for grabs. Hold us back.
Old School Bingo
If you’re looking for something a little more traditional, then Palace Bingo in Elephant and Castle may well suit your needs. This is a London institution that not many people know about. Set in a huge retro room with psychedelic carpet and boasting seating for up to 2000, at Palace Bingo huge portions of curried-goat from the canteen are served, the bingo is boisterous and the wins potentially big. The ideal night out, some might say.
Addiction is a disease, and it’s often not recognized until the addict has completely lost control. Watching a loved one struggling with addiction can be heartbreaking and debilitating, and sometimes, you can feel helpless as someone you care about falls victim to their destructive behaviours. It’s also important to understand how to best support them in this time of crisis.
So, if you want to ensure that you’re providing the best possible support to friends struggling in such situations, here are some signs that could indicate they’re going down the wrong path.
Increased Secrecy
If someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they will likely become more secretive as time goes on. They may start hiding their use from friends or even lying about where they’ve been or what they’ve been doing. This increased secrecy can be very alarming, especially if you don’t know what to look for.
Some addicts are not sure where to go for help, so they may be hesitant to tell anyone about their addiction. Many of them struggle with their finances and might be worried about what to do if their insurance doesn’t cover rehab and they have to bear the full brunt of paying for it.
However, the answer to the question “will insurance pay for my addiction treatment?” is, in most cases, a resounding yes. Make sure you get all the facts about addiction and treatment options so you can help your friend or loved one get the best care possible.
Sudden Mood Swings
One sign of addiction may be mood swings; specifically, sudden shifts from being happy one minute and angry the next with no obvious cause for either emotion. These changes could also manifest themselves as extreme highs or lows; suddenly feeling great about something one minute then utterly despondent the next.
This volatility can be very difficult to deal with, especially if you’re not sure what is causing it. If you are close to someone who experiences these mood swings, it’s important to be supportive and understanding, but also to keep an eye out for any other signs of addiction.
Changes In Appearance
Another sign of addiction can be the change in appearance, which can be both physical and behavioral. Physical changes may include weight gain or loss, a drastic change in complexion, or a more unkempt appearance, though, of course, this may be indicative of many other life events or situations, too.
Behavioural changes may include becoming more secretive or avoiding social situations. Again, any of these changes could be innocent and unrelated to addiction, but if you notice several of them happening at once it might be worth asking your friend if everything is okay. Just be sure to do so in a supportive way, as addiction can be a very sensitive topic.
Withdrawal From Social Activities
One telltale sign of addiction is when someone begins withdrawing from social activities that they used to enjoy. This could manifest itself as spending more time alone, declining invitations to hang out with friends, or reducing participation in activities like clubs or sports.
There might be several reasons for this change, but if it coincides with other signs of addiction it’s worth getting to the bottom of things. And if your friend or loved one is withdrawing from social activities, be sure to check in on them regularly and offer support. If they’re open to it, you could even suggest getting help together. This will require a lot of love and patience, but it can be an incredibly effective way to overcome addiction.
Neglecting Responsibilities
Addiction can also lead to neglecting responsibilities, whether it’s school, work, or household chores. This could manifest itself as missing deadlines, coming in late to work, or simply not doing what needs to be done. If you notice this happening, it might be time to have a talk with your friend and see if they’re struggling with addiction.
Another reason for neglecting responsibilities could be a mental health issue like depression, so it’s important to rule that out before assuming addiction is the cause. Either way, if your friend has a mental health condition, be sure to offer your support in getting them the help they need. In some cases, both addiction and mental health issues need to be treated simultaneously.
Changing Habits
This could be anything from how they spend their free time to how they eat and sleep. Addicts often turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with stress or boredom, and so their habits will change as a result. If you notice your friend changing their habits, it’s important to ask why. They might not have realized that their changes are indicative of addiction, so talking about it openly can be helpful.
One of the biggest concerns with addiction is that it can be very isolating, so getting your friend to open up about their changes is an important step in helping them get the treatment they need. Try asking them directly if everything is okay. You might be surprised at how willing they are to talk openly about their addiction once they know you’re supportive and understanding.
Understanding the signs of addiction is an important step in helping a friend or loved one get the treatment they need. If you’re worried about someone you know, don’t wait to take action. Talk to them openly and honestly about your concerns, and offer your support. Even though getting help can be difficult, it’s worth it in the end. Just remember to be patient and understanding, and to take things one step at a time.
Hands up who participated in a wildly popular virtual wine tasting session during lockdown? Oops, perhaps use the other hand…you’re spilling claret down your front.
Joking aside, activities normally reserved for globetrotting and exploration took on a whole new meaning during lockdown. Instead of the rolling hills of Chianti to gaze over, we had a buffering Zoom call. Replacing the vineyards of Bordeaux, we had our living rooms. Talk about terroir, hey? The lurking mould in our kitchen certainly gave our long-opened bottle of Merlot a unique character. Still, it was all we had…
But now that the grape harvest season is kicking off in the Northern Hemisphere and the world is slowly opening up again, travellers can start thinking about exploring the countries of their favourite wines, in person.
Because let’s be honest; wine tasting is an activity that certainly benefits from the in-person, first-hand experience; the unique terroir, climate and topography of a destination bringing with it a sense of place that translates into intrigue on the palate.
According to research by Booking.com, 1 in 10 (5%) of global travellers are likely to take a trip to explore a wine region this year. After travel being mainly on pause for over a year, Booking.com research also reveals that there’s an appetite to stretch those legs again and explore the world hiking, with 8% of global travellers indicating they have plans to take a hiking trip this year.
Why not combine those experiences into both a funky new portmanteau and a wonderfully active yet indulgent holiday? And what better way to explore the beautiful vineyards the world has to offer than on foot, and revel in the experience of ‘wiking’?
With a mission to make it for everyone to experience the world and with the help of our friends at Booking.com, here are five incredible wine destinations where travellers can get the best of both worlds, of wine tasting and hiking, for whenever it’s safe to travel again.
PORTO, PORTUGAL
According to Booking.com traveller reviews, Porto is the top recommended destination when it comes to wine travel. And that’s not surprising. This coastal city in north western Portugal is famous for its port wines (a port is for life, not just for Christmas and all that) produced in the Douro Valley.
The wine region of Alto Douro, a UNESCO world heritage site, is one of the oldest wine regions on the planet and home to some of the best Portuguese wines around. To explore the area, travellers should lace up their hiking boots and walk through the different vineyards by following one of the many hiking trails in the area. Hike your way up to the hills in the region and enjoy incredible views that will take your breath away while sipping on a glass of wine at one of the many wineries.
Where to stay: Wake up with vineyard views at Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta, situated in the middle of the Douro Valley. Just a two-hour drive from Porto, guests can enjoy calm and beautiful scenery, and enjoy a glass of Portugal’s finest wines. The property features various buildings that respect their original structure and roots while the rooms offer modern design and architecture. Guests can enjoy local food at the on-site restaurant, join a wine tasting tour, or join a guided hiking tour through the surrounding area.
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
Sonoma is a perfect place to visit for wine enthusiasts who want to take a ‘wike’. The Sonoma Valley is a world-class destination that nurtures hundreds of vineyards ranging from small family operations to large internationally renowned wineries, with many award-winning producers originating from this Californian region and the city of the same name.
With many winery tours and wine tastings being offered in this region, it’s not surprising that Sonoma is highly recommended for wine travel by Booking.com travellers. For travellers seeking more adventure, the region also offers mountain biking tours and hot air balloon rides.
Where to stay: Cottage Inn & Spa is a cosy, romantic stay for a wine country getaway. This stunning inn is all about relaxation, perfect after a long day exploring the wine region on foot. Guests can enjoy great garden views when enjoying a glass of wine or can choose a treatment at the onsite spa. With its central location, guests can easily walk to one of the many amazing dining options Sonoma has to offer.
FLORENCE, ITALY
Highly recommended by Booking.com travellers for its nearby vineyards is Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, which is home to many of Italy’s famous wines. The region, particularly the famous hills of Chianti, is full of acres and acres of beautiful rolling vineyards which travellers can explore while ‘wiking’ various hiking routes that lead to one of the many wineries that offer wine tasting.
Staying in Florence gives travellers the best of both worlds; engaging with culture and culinary delights in the city whilst being just a short drive or ‘wike’ away from the vineyards.
Where to stay: Just a short half hour drive from Florence, travellers can enjoy a traditional Tuscan stay at Salvadonica. This charming stonehouse farm stay is situated in the Chianti hills and is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. After a day of exploring the surrounding area filled with vineyards, guests can relax in the large garden, which encircles the swimming pool and overlooks the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside.
One of the top recommended destinations for vineyards by Booking.com travellers is Santiago, Chile’s capital city. With many wine regions in the surrounding area, including Maule Valley, a hugely significant wine-producing region for Chile that is responsible for much of the country’s export wine, it’s not surprising that travellers enjoy travelling to Santiago and its surrounding vineyards for a wine and hiking holiday.
Where to stay: Located just outside of Santiago and inside of Santa Rita vineyard, travellers can stay at one of the oldest wine cellars of Chile, Hotel Casa Real. This luxury boutique hotel is a historical monument where wine takes the centre stage. Guests can participate in wine tastings, organized upon request by the property, or enjoy a gourmet picnic in the property gardens.
For guests who want to enjoy wine outside the property and stay active during their stay, the property offers tours to the surrounding wine regions where guests can take a leisurely ‘wike’ through the different vineyards.
COONAWARRA, AUSTRALIA
Located in Southern Australia, travellers will find the Coonawarra wine region, the ultimate destination for lovers of bold red wine. While the region isn’t that big – only 12 miles (20 kilometres) in length – travellers can easily spend a day here tasting high quality wines around several renowned wineries.
And given that the region isn’t that big, it’s perfect for those travellers who like to explore vineyards by foot. There is even a Coonawarra winery walking trail, where travellers can hike their way through 3 miles (5 kilometres) of vineyards and visit six different wineries from the region.
Where to stay: Located within the vineyards, Highbank Country Accommodation is a perfect place to stay for travellers keen to enjoy some ‘wiking’ in the rolling hills of one of Australia’s most revered wine regions. Guests will wake up in a true wine valley and can enjoy lovely wine produced in the area while seated in the property garden for the ultimate countryside feeling. At the same time, guests can easily explore the surrounding area on foot and take some truly incredible hikes through the acres of vineyards surrounding the property.
‘Wellness’ is a word synonymous with a somewhat vague, often hazy, range of health concerns. Sometimes taken to mean the broadest spectrum of physical health, at other times understood to refer only to mental wellbeing, wellness can be applied to pretty much any practice intended to improve mind, body and soul.
Due to this lack of clarity, a whole host of trends based around ‘wellness’ have emerged in recent years; some that have stood the test of time and proved to be effective, and others have been debunked and disappeared. We’re considering the former today; here are the wellness trends that you should be following in 2022.
Wellbeing Supplements
Supplements used to focus primarily on nutritional deficiencies, with Vitamins C and D, calcium, protein and omega-3 fatty acids some of the most popularly taken. But in recent times, a shift has occurred, with interest rising in the world of wellbeing supplements, taken with the goal of maintaining mood, boosting energy and reducing stress.
Since CBD was legalised in the UK back in 2018 – with the proviso that its THC content is under 0.2% and that it’s sold as a food supplement, not a medicine – it has become increasingly popular, with many using the chemical compound as a natural remedy for a whole host of ailments.
Whilst a scientific consensus has not yet been reached on its efficacy, some preliminary studies have suggested that CBD might help fight inflammation, reduce anxiety, and tackle insomnia.
CBD isn’t the only wellbeing supplement with increased proliferance here in the UK. Other popular items taken with the goal of facilitating improved wellness include 5-Htp, Ashwagandha, some types of dried mushroom, and even probiotics, with links suggested between gut health and mental health.
Wearable Wellness Tech
Whereas wearable technology was once entirely focused on fitness and exercise, now the capabilities of wearable technology have expanded to include wellness, with many wearable health trackers now monitoring your blood pressure, your heart rate, and even your sleep cycle.
But that’s not all; wearable tech has now shifted from physical health to the realm of wellness, offering reminders to meditate, breathe more deeply, slow down and stand up, even monitoring the way you sleep, type or speak to uncover depression or other mental health issues.
Some wearable technology is now much lighter and slimmer than it used to be, ensuring that it does not get in the way of your ability to easily carry out everyday tasks and that it doesn’t become uncomfortable.
Mindful Eating
In our always on, always on-the-move society, many people are in a rush to eat and have forgotten to savour their meals and the food that they consume. The practice of mindful eating rethinks the way that you eat, ensuring that you stay present while you are chewing your favourite foods and making sure that you listen to your body when it comes to what you eat and when.
This can then help you to look forward to meals again and can be a great way to stay healthy while eating what you would like, rather than going on crash diets and restricting your food intake for temporary results.
Although meditation has been a popular way to improve your wellness for millennia, there are many more ways to engage in meditation than ever before. These include attending virtual meditation and mindfulness groups, reading online guides and watching digital tutorials to get you started, and even downloading meditation apps that can help you to perform quick, five-minute meditations every day before you head to work.
One of the latest trends to emerge in the world of mindfulness is ‘closed loop’ meditation; essentially, a form of meditation that gives instant feedback to the individual on their breathing, heart rate and more, all with the goal of having more meaningful, productive meditation sessions.
Personally, we think that the idea of metric-based improvement when meditating might be kinda distracting and defeating of the point of practice, but there you go…
Fashion might be considered a luxury, but clothes are a necessity, which is why going into fashion retail can be a good move for someone who feels inspired by stylish designs and has business acumen to burn.
If this is something that you have been considering, but you have been reluctant to take the plunge on starting a business of your own in a bricks’n’mortar premises, you might want to think about establishing a home-based business, to begin with.
The overheads for this kind of set-up are much lower, and with many consumers shopping online these days, you will likely find your ideal customer base with some clever marketing, too. If this sounds appealing to you, read on for some basic tips to help you get started. Here’s how to turn selling clothes online into a lucrative home business.
Your Business Website
First things first, you will need to create a professional website where your customers can purchase your clothes and accessories securely. Ideally, it will be something that’s, visually, reassuringly professional so as to confirm to customers that your operation is legit and the clothes in the photos are real and of the quality you promise.
There are many eCommerce website builders that you can use for free or at a low cost, such as Wix, Shopify, and Zyro. You can choose to get a bespoke website designed for you if you would like, but this is likely to be a relatively large expense to create and keep running smoothly.
The main things you need to look out for when designing your website include how easy it is to navigate, the quality of the content you put on it, such as checking for grammatical errors, using keywords in your product descriptions and making sure the photos of your items are clear and of good quality.
You’ll also need to make sure any links to internal and external pages work correctly and that it is easy for your customers to make a secure payment at the checkout. Your business branding should also be visible and consistent throughout your website.
If you are intent on designing your own website, then YouTube is the place to go for a good WordPress tutorial for beginners. Considered the easiest open-source website creation platform to learn, it’s a great skill to have under your belt, even if your clothes selling business doesn’t take off!
You don’t even have to set up your own website to sell your clothes online. There are plenty of different online outlets that you can use such as eBay, Depop or ASOS Marketplace, and branded clothes in a good condition could make a fair amount of money. What’s more, you’ll be contributing to a positive, circular fashion movement rather than adding to demand for new items, which in turn harms our planet.
Alternatively, consider social media for selling your clothes, which is a fantastic platform for selling all types of clothes, tech and household items that you’re keen to get rid of. That said, it’s also a fantastically informal way to do things, for better or for worse, and it pays to have your guard up to scams and misinformation if you’re to get the most from the platform.
Some of the more popular platforms are local area groups, such as Next Door, Gum Tree and Craigslist, which allow you to advertise bits’n’bobs on forums via location. The biggest and most popular platform by a long chalk, however, is Facebook and its dedicated Facebook Marketplace facility, which has millions of users all over the world, as well as hosting various local groups on the omnipresent social media network.
Storing Your Products
Another issue you will need to be mindful of is how and where you will store your products until they are bought and sent out to customers. If you have a spare bedroom in your house that can be used for this, it could be beneficial. Or, if you’ve got designe
However, you might want to think about leasing a climate-controlled storage unit if you have a lot of products and want to keep them in good condition. You’ll also need garment rails, covers for the clothing, retail hangers, a steamer to help keep certain items clean and fresh, and perhaps even some mannequins or a dressmaker’s dummy for when you want to photograph your items for the website.
Or, if you’ve got designs on a bigger operation still, then consider outsourcing some of the organisational tasks to a clothing fulfillment company. These guys can cover shipping, storage, inventory management and more. Should you truly believe in your business and its potential for lucrativeness, then this is the path you should probably pursue.
Promoting Your Business
You might have amazing clothes to sell and a beautifully designed website, but you’ll also need to promote your online business and market it efficiently if you want to attract customers. Social media is an easy and cheap way to do this, but you should also think about reaching out to fashion bloggers who might be interested in doing a piece on your business, getting involved in local markets, or even offering special discounts to entice people to try your products.
The Bottom Line
So, there it is. This thing needn’t be stressful or expensive to get off the ground. If you would like to start an independent fashion boutique, consider starting with an online business that you can run from home and see how it can help your business grow while keeping the initial overheads low.
With weddings finally going ahead as normal after a heartbreakingly long period on the sidelines, many newlyweds are on the hunt for stunning honeymoon destinations to start off married life the right way. And, let’s face it, to put the past two years well and truly behind us.
Today, we’ve teamed up with Lovehoney, who have used a seedlist of popular honeymoon destinations for 2022 and analysed Instagram hashtag data to determine the most popular spots across the United States. So, without further ado, here are the 5 most Instagrammed honeymoon destinations in the United States revealed.
Hawaii (‘The Big Island’)
Being the most popular location on Instagram with over 28K hashtags, the romantic setting of Hawaii is a huge hit for newlyweds all over the globe. With stunning beaches, active volcanoes and breathtaking forests, here you can enjoy once in a lifetime views from all angles.
Hawaii, both the main island and the archipelago, is simply the perfect location for pure romance, helping you immerse yourself in the tranquillity of the island.
Some of the best things to do when in Hawaii include:
Experience a Hawaiian Luau, heading off for an evening of traditional music, dancing and cuisine as you watch the sun slowly set in the distance.
Enjoy an ocean-side massage with your partner, unwinding with a spot of pampering among the stunning surroundings, listening to the waves crash against the shore.
Maui
Taking the second spot on Lovehoney’s list, with 7,900 Instagram hashtags, the Hawaiian theme continues as we cross to a different island in the archipelago; Maui. Being considered as part of the United States, the primary language is English so you will have no trouble finding your way around as you explore the magical beaches, waterfalls and island hop across to the surrounding beauty spots.
Some of the best things to do when in Maui include:
Hop in a car and drive the ‘Road to Hana’. Taking approximately two and a half hours excluding all of the stops you’ll want to make to enjoy the volcanic black sand beaches, beautiful gardens and the trail to Waimoku Falls, this is the road trip of a lifetime, make no mistake.
Watch the sunrise at the summit of Haleakala, heading to the top just before dawn so you can take in the mesmerising array of colours before you as you overlook the island.
Try a spot of snorkelling at Molokini Crater, exploring the protected inner waters which are filled with ocean life due to it being deemed a Marine Life Conservation District.
Sample locally made brews at Maui Brewing Company, the largest craft brewery in Hawaii offering 36 unique specialities ranging from Bikini Blonde lager to Coconut Hiwa porter.
Kauai
You guessed it, the third most popular honeymoon destination in the United States is yet another Hawaiin island, Kauai, which has generated over 4,000 Instagram hashtags.
Often referred to as the ‘garden island’, Kauai is filled with valleys, mountains and cliffs, which have formed tropical rainforests, rivers and waterfalls over the centuries. Whether you prefer to explore the quaint towns or show your adventurous side with some adrenaline filled activities, the island offers something for everybody.
Book a whale watching tour to try and spot humpback whales up close in their natural habitat, with the best chances being between the months of November and March.
Kayak down the Wailua River, admiring the stunning surroundings before reaching the secret falls, if you fancy a short hike to the 120 foot high Uluwehi Falls, that is.
Try something new by off-roading through the jungle on an ATV, enjoying the mountain views from a whole new point of view.
New York
The Big Apple is a bucket list destination for many, so why not join the 753 others who have used the New York honeymoon hashtag on Instagram so far this year?
If relaxing on a beach all day isn’t your thing, explore the endless spots that New York has to offer and create lifelong memories to cherish as you begin married life. By combining bustling city life with once in a lifetime romantic opportunities, the city is growing in popularity as a honeymoon destination.
Some of the best things to do when in New York include:
Experience Central Park from new angles by choosing a horse and carriage ride, sitting back as you ride through the stunning greenery, beautiful lakes and iconic bridges.
See the New York skyline from above by booking a helicopter ride, avoiding the crowds as you take in the breathtaking views from a whole new perspective.
Enjoy an evening at the Broadway as you watch a show at one of the most iconic theatres in the world following a romantic dinner with your new husband or wife.
Known as the wedding capital of the USA, it’s no wonder that Las Vegas is also a popular honeymoon spot, according to the 533 Instagram hashtags that have recently broken the ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’ pledge.
With endless stunning honeymoon suites to choose from and plenty of things to do beyond the Strip, you can combine luxury with romance as you whisk yourself off to Las Vegas.
Some of the best things to do when in Las Vegas include:
No honeymoon trip to Las Vegas would be complete without riding a gondola down the Venetian Grand Canal, enjoying the romantic city lights from the tranquil waters.
Spend the evening at Bellagio Fountains to watch the daily light displays, admiring the choreography of lights and music for one of the most romantic light shows in the country.
Watch the sunset over Bryce Canyon National Park, escaping the city as you enjoy quality time with your other half among the iconic rock formations.
And now that your honeymoon is over, it’s time to figure out how to manage married life together… Good luck!
