Services Archives | Page 7 of 9

Olivia Read : Life Coach

Endless to do lists? Inability to prioritise? Juggling a lot of balls and dropping plenty? These are a few things that I am struggling with at the moment, so I went to meet Olivia Read who had been recommended as a Life Coach.

Olivia helps people bridge the gap from where they are now to where they want to be. Away from the noise and distraction of everyday life, they have the freedom to talk things through and discuss what they want to achieve. Through careful intuitive questioning and fresh perspective, she will un-peel the layers to give clarity and tangible steps needed to move forwards.

Life coaching provides practical help for people want a change. Put simply, it’s about getting clear on what you want, making a plan and doing it. It can cover any topics such as relationships, careers, negative self esteem and an identity crises.

I met Olivia on a gloomy Tuesday morning in January at the Dorsett Hotel and was immediately put at ease by her calm, non judgmental and empathetic nature.

She has the ability to make you see situations and aspects of your life from a different perspective and I came away feeling significantly lighter and clearer of what to do, what to drop, what to prioritise. I had a few ‘light bulb’ moments and I know that for whoever commits to her course, they will too be given a fresh perspective, sound advice and be armed for whatever life throws at them.

Olivia’s Favourite’s

Shop : Oliver Bonas

Website : Ted Talks

Restaurant : Extra Virgin, New York City

Hotel : Shutters On The Beach, Los Angeles

Holiday Destination : France

Parenting Tip : “If you are feeling irritable or stressed out, allow some time for yourself and don’t feel guilty about it. By having the space, you will approach motherhood with renewed positivity and energy, which is the best thing for your kids.”

For more information, please email her at olivia@oliviaread.com or phone her directly on 07714 280 486

oliviaread.com

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Services Spotlight

Jonathan Self : Time For Family Photos!

Trying to get a good photo of one of our children is hard enough (although I try frequently enough) and all 3 together is virtually impossible. Usually one looks grumpy, one is running off, one is hiding their face – you know the score. We had sidelined trying to get that elusive family shot until the youngest was atleast 8 for the aforementioned reasons. So when we were recommended Jonathan Self who takes family photos, I was thrilled – it was his challenge now, not mine…

Jonathan Self is a London based freelance photographer who shoots mainly family and lifestyle portraits. He popped over a few days before the shoot to meet the kids and discuss where we wanted to do it and what kind of shots we wanted. He prefers to do a few shots inside at home and then head outside to a park or garden. Richmond, Chiswick House, Regents Park, Hyde Park, St James Park, Kew, Syon are some of the places that he has shot at. We chose Fulham Palace as it was not only close & picturesque – it was enclosed!

Hopefully from the photos below you will be able to see that Jonathan is not only technically skilled, he is able to capture a moment.

I have even managed to print some out onto canvas and in a frame!

Jonathan’s Favourite’s

Shop : Pitfield, London

Website : Landmark Trust

Restaurant : Maggie Jones, Kensington

Hotel : Lords Of The Manor, Glos

Holiday Destination : A chateau in France

Jonathan is usually £250 for a family shoot (up to 4 hours) but for The London Mummy readers, he is doing a special offer of £200. This will include a high resolution and low resolution CD of edited photos. Please quote The London Mummy.

jonathanself.co.uk

info@jonathanself.co.uk

+44 7977 569 880

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People Services

blow LTD : Fast Beauty – To Your Door

Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone come to your house, blow dry your hair quickly and beautifully, all for the same price as going to a salon… Oh wait a minute, blow LTD can do that.

blow LTD is London’s leading app based provider of Fast Beauty On Demand offering expert blow dries, make-up, facials and nails to your home, office or event for busy women in London zones 1,2&3. It is the beauty destination for professional convenient beauty without compromising on quality. As featured in VOGUE, Sunday Times Style and Grazia, their expertly trained team of pros will deliver fast, fabulous beauty to your chosen location.

My chosen location was at home, over lunch whilst the little ones were asleep. My only requirement was to wash my hair before the appointment. However if your hair is already clean they can spray it with water if time is precious.

The task in hand

Time is precious these days and as you can see by the state of my hair, I don’t spend much time or money on it – and as a consequence of that with the combination of post baby hair – it is particularly dry and susceptible to some spectacular knots.

Michaela, working her magic

A lovely stylist from blow LTD, Michaela, arrived at my door punctually, introduced herself and asked where there was a power point. There are 8 different styles to chose from – of which I chose Luxe – smooth with a bit of body (as you can see from the roller in the front of my hair). I could tell she was competent by the speed and confidence which she handled my mop and before I knew it, hey presto, she was finished.

Michaela, my NBF

I was absolutely delighted and couldn’t believe the transformation from Mrs Scarecrow to… I will let you decide what as don’t want to blow my own trumpet, but I think you will agree it looks pretty good!

blow LTD also do mani’s, pedi’s, facials and make up. If you live in Zones 1, 2 or 3 (basically the majority of London), why not team up with a one or two pals before a night out and choose a combination of services.

To get you started, blow LTD is offering The London Mummy readers £10 off their first booking. That means you can get a blow dry at home for just £30! Download the blow LTD app or register online and enter the code THELONDONMUMMY

blowltd.com

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Interiors People Property Services Spotlight

Katie Cullinan : Richard Cullinan Joinery

Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a house that had a place for everything. You could hide all evidence that you had children (!) for a more aesthetically pleasing home without the plastic contraptions glaring at you from every corner. One can dream. Or one can action! Joinery…

Richard Cullinan Joinery is a family business that Katie’s parents set up in 1978 and she joined them in November 2011, after deciding to leave the law. They have a workshop down in the pretty and historic town of Rye on the East Sussex coast, where their team of joiners produce made-to-measure cabinets and fitments for homes and offices. They can build anything – so everything has somewhere to go!

The process starts with a meeting on site, to see the available space and to find out what the client wants. She discuss’s the options, takes measurements and then they prepare CAD drawings for review and a quote. There might be some feedback from the client to make some adjustments to the design, and once the design is agreed she will return to double check measurements and then the joinery will be put into production. Once the order is placed delivery is usually within 6-8 weeks.

Katie has experience how to make an efficient and spacious toy cupboard. I dream of having a house that you can’t see any evidence of children!

If you are looking to create more space in your children’s room, Richard Cullinan Joinery is a master of this.

They work with private clients, interior designers, architects and building contractors. The size of their projects range from a simple bookcase to a house being completely refurbished, for which they might supply a complete range of cabinets including wardrobes, bookcases, media units and bathroom cabinets.

If you need any expert joinery – Katie is your go to girl!

Katie’s favourite’s :

Restaurant: The 10 Cases, Covent Garden, London

Hotel: Era Beach Hotel, just outside Galle in Sri Lanka

Shop: Peter Jones

Website: Mad About The House

Holiday destination: Bembridge, the Isle of Wight

www.rcjoinery.co.uk

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People Property Services Spotlight

Moving House With Penn Holmes London

The three most stressful things in life are death, divorce and moving house. The latter is the only thing we actually choose – so why is it always so difficult. If a house sale or move is on your radar at the moment and the thought of it makes you want to weep into your cereal – why not delegate the whole process to a wonderful duo who will look after it from beginning to end. They will use their experience, contacts and ability to take it out of your hands so you can put your energy into whatever else takes your fancy.

Penn Holmes London is a SW6 property search agency offering a very personal service helping clients find the right property for them at the best possible market price.

Penn Holmes London was set up by Francesca Penn and Katie Holmes, two childhood friends who wanted to put their enthusiasm and passion for finding and doing up properties into a concrete business of their own.

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Readdressing their work-life balance following the birth of their first children they decided to wave goodbye to their former corporate worlds to launch this niche, boutique Fulham-specific property search agency.

Having both spent a significant part of their lives living in SW6 they had hands on experience buying and selling property there so they really understood first-hand the emotional and time-consuming nature of the process. With five years under their belt now they offer a well established and renowned local property search service to families, young professionals, and investors alike looking to find the right property for them, at a competitive price within their budget.

Cosy mews houses

I urge you to contact Francesca and Katie for an initial chat. I have a feeling after meeting them, you will want to go the whole hog and work with this delightful pair…

Francesca’s Favourite’s

Shop – Anthropologie

Website – www.mollyandthewolf.com

Restaurant – Dock Kitchen, Ladbroke Grove

Hotel – Limewood, New Forest

Holiday destination – Mauritius

Parenting tip “Put down your phone and listen to them”

Katie’s Favourite’s

Shop – March, Fulham Road, London

Website – www.princessandthepram.co.uk

Restaurant – Claude’s Kitchen Parsons Green, London

Hotel – Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Dubai

Holiday destination – Dubai

Parenting tip “If you’re struggling to get a tantrum under control, film it on your phone and play it back to them. It stops them in their tracks!”

www.pennholmeslondon.com

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People Services Spotlight

Clare Wright : Classlist

It was never going to be long before someone invented an efficient and practical way to communicate with other mothers (and fathers) in your child’s class. I am over the endless ‘reply all’ filling your inbox and people starting a new email on the back of an old thread as they can’t (understandably) work out how to create a new group that you can send to with one click. I am in a Whatsapp group for my eldest sons class (Year 1). Frequently a topic has been started and never concluded as people miss it or they are onto the next thing quicker than you can say ‘did anyone take home Timmy’s swimming trunks?’ Anyway, let me get to the very exciting point. Clare Wright saw all these cracks and co founded Classlist.

“Both myself and my co-founder Susan are ex-management consultants and have had children at several different schools due to moving house in the UK and abroad. My eldest child has just started Senior School aged 13, and it is his fifth school, including 2 American schools in Brazil, where we lived for 4 years!”

Classlist is ideal for class and year group messaging, organising class/school events and RSVP. Parents add their own details, which can only be seen by their own year group. Classlist is data protection registered, private and encrypted, and it makes communication with other parents quick and easy. It is basically a private social network just for your school.

Classlist helps parents register, share and update whatever contact details they feel comfortable with. When you send a message on Classlist it always uses the latest details. We started out with a pilot at our own school, the Dragon School in Oxford, before building the mobile version of Classlist. We seem to have hit the nail on the head in terms of what parents need, as we have lots of new classes and schools joining Classlist.com every week.

There are some other great features based on the people in your school’s community: a school run sharing map (find other families nearby to share journeys with), and customisable private birthday invitations too.

If you are a class rep or teacher I would register your class or school pronto! It’s a game changer…

Clare’s Favourite

Shop : Brora

Website : Pinterest

Restaurant : Porthmeor Cafe on the beach and next to Tate St Ives in Cornwall

Hotel : My Blue Hotel, Jericoacoara, Northern Brazil

Holiday destination : Argentinian Patagonia

Parenting Tip

“This summer I was working a lot and my children had to amuse themselves. I wrote a blog piece for Classlist.com about what to do in the holidays, and I had a very positive reaction to my advice that you shouldn’t arrange much at the start of the holidays, but should let your children get really bored, and then they will get creative! I don’t allow any TV or devices until 6pm in the summer holidays – mainly because I can’t stand hearing ‘it’s my turn’. For me the biggest downside of devices is that when children are bored, instead of thinking ‘shall I make something, or shall I go outside’, their first thought is ‘can I go on the iPad?’. If they know that isn’t going to happen they get really good at filling their time themselves, and they can still have a go on the iPad later.”

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Interiors Products Services Spotlight

Alexandra Geddes : Love From Ophelia

Love From Ophelia creates bespoke stationary featuring illustrations of real people. Most commonly children, but also fashion portraits, family groups and recently Christmas scenes and new homes. The cards can be personalised with text, addresses and a gorgeous range of fonts and colours. Here is a set of notecards with a picture of my youngest son in his blue check pyjamas with his name above in ‘Greswell Grey’. They are so smart – they are almost too good to send to anyone!

Alex started Love From Ophelia for many reasons. She loves stationary and since having children has enjoyed buying them lovely cards and paper to write their thank you letters. She was always looking for something a bit different and unique and struggled to find it. So, Alex spent the last year learning about graphic design and how to turn illustrations into printable products. It has been a huge learning curve and she has loved every second. Having had a career as a Management Consultant, she knew she wanted to work for herself so Love From Ophelia fits the bill perfectly. She can work when she wants and is also doing something she loves.

“When I started designing the range, I envisaged it would mostly appeal to mothers with pictures of their children or a family portrait. However, my customer’s have been so diverse – from a pilates teacher leaping through the air to a Society’s Christmas Card!”

Alex with her gorgeous family

Each pack is beautifully presented, carefully in a cellophane envelope finished with a ribbon. They would make a lovely present for a Godchild or a cool change of address cards with a drawing of your new house.

If you can’t decide, what about a picture of your family pet?

Alex’s Favourite’s

Shop: Katie & Jo or J Crew

Website: The Model Method

Hotel: Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco

Restarant: Petersham Nurseries Restaurant

Holiday Destination: Crabbing in Aldeburgh

Love From Ophelia

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People Services

5 Services To Simplify Your Life

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the current task in hand (perpetuated by the looming 12 week summer holiday). I have been day dreaming about a fairy Godmother entering my domain and waving a magic wand over my (first world – let’s keep some perspective) problems, so that we too, can look calm and happy like 95% of the Instagram accounts that I (@thelondonmummy) follow. Simplify my life. That’s all I ask.

Below are 4 business’s that have been set up to help people like you and me.

Sort Your Help

This company can help you find that fairy Godmother to help you with ‘domestic’ duties such as looking after the children or the housework. If you aren’t sure what you need, start with a consultation to decipher what sort of help you need to begin with. I know that sometimes when my children are being uber sweet, I want to be sole charge and delegate the washing to a willing pair of hands however after a few blue smarties and a late night (them not me) I would prefer a super nanny to take them off my hands and for me to put my marigolds on. This is why I know I need someone flexible who allows for my indecision, but I think I need to know more than that!

Catherine or Alexa can give an objective opinion on what they think might be right for your personal situation at the time and then begin the hunt for you.

Contact Alexa or Catherine Sort Your Help

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Alexa and Catherine

Emergency Childcare

Emergency Childcare allows parents to book an emergency nanny or child minder across the UK with as little as 30 minutes’ notice. Childcare can be booked for whenever you need – today, tomorrow or in 3 months’ time (on a day-at-a-time basis).

Here are just a few examples of when parents use them:

Their usual nursery is closed for the day
Their permanent nanny is off sick
Their childminder is going to be on holiday
The school has (another!) inset day
They want some time for themselves (hmmm might just book in that emergency weekend nanny now…)

Contact Venetia at Emergency Childcare

Venetia with Tabitha and Francesca

Teatime Tutors

Tutoring, homework assistance and a healthy tea? That’s the best 3 in 1 deal I have heard of in a while. Tash Rosin has cornered a gap in the market to help alleviate that sometimesstressfulwithallthechildrenathome time of homework and tea. Can’t quite justify it yet (colouring half circles and days of the week at prep time – I can just about manage) but I am definitely ‘bookmarking’ Tash for later on.

Contact Tash at Teatime Tutors

Tash mid tutoring

Quintessentially Education

There has been lots of coverage in the news of late about consultations with professional advisers on ‘where would be the best Public School for your unborn child’ (OK, I exaggerate but I am not that far off the mark). However, for those new to the British system or indeed to London, I can see that it could be mighty helpful to lift the fog on what’s what in terms of the British education system. Atleast it will give you peace of mind if you are unsure about your next step.

Rose is a lovely girl who works as a nursery consultant for Quintessentially Education and can help advise what nursery may suit your child, especially if you have a clear trajectory of education in mind. Get the nursery right and Ox-bridge here we come…

Contact Rose at Quintessentially Education

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