Tag Archives: Guest

Be Healthy & Happy

by

0

Afternoon! Welcome to #TheFridayInterview & today’s #TheChainofInspiration at 4pm to accompany that last cup of tea before the weekend…

Alicia Davies, a professional actress was my 7th Chain of Inspiration interviewee at the beginning of May. I’m delighted today to introduce Alicia’s chosen interviewee – Miranda Wilkinson, a PR and business owner. Over to you Alicia!

Screen shot 2013-05-16 at 07.52.35

Miranda is from London where she runs her own PR firm called Brand PR, specialising in beauty, fashion & more. She’s brilliant & funny.

  1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be lots of different things, it changed every month, but mainly a ballerina.
  2. What are your 2013 hopes & dreams? To be healthy & happy – if you have both those gifts you can do anything.
  3. What makes you get up in the morning/inspires you? My Mum – she brought me up single-handedly & gave me one of the most privileged, diverse childhoods anyone could wish for.
  4. How did you become a PR? I fell into it, I started helping out my neighbour when I stopped dancing and I thought I can do this!
  5. What is it you love most about being a PR? The variety. It covers so many areas, writing, strategy, planning, events & meeting many different people which is always fun!
  6. What tips can you give to any wannabe PRs? Be prepared to work hard!  PR isn’t all glamour, there is a lot of hard graft that goes on behind the scenes.  Prove you can handle it & you will do well. 
  7. What other advice do you have for anyone who wants to set up their own business?  Go for it! But make wise decisions, don’t try to run before you can walk & be objective.
  8. What other passions take up your time?  Reading, foreign cinema, fashion, art & my Dad!
  9. Who would be your fantasy 5 dinner party guests? Margot Fonteyn, Cary Grant, Julia Margaret Cameron, Joaquin Pheonix & Joni Mitchell.
  10. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you wish you had? Sunblock, notebook, pencil, wind-up radio & a pillow.

Thanks Alicia & Miranda! It’s a delight to showcase another brilliantly inspiring female & fellow communications professional!

Miranda now takes over the baton & will interview someone that inspires her for the next #TheChainofInspiration on Friday 31 May.

Have a lovely weekend!

G x

Love it with your Heart & Soul

by

1

Afternoon! Welcome to #TheFridayInterview & today’s #TheChainofInspiration at 4pm to accompany that last cup of tea before the weekend…

Karen Munnis, a UK fashion stylist & brand consultant was my last interviewee 3 weeks ago. I’m delighted today to introduce Karen’s chosen interviewee – Alicia Davies, a professional actress. Over to you Karen!

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

Alicia is from West London & has been a professional actress for nearly 25 years. She is currently on tour around Australia with The National Theatre, playing in ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’.

  1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I always knew I wanted to be an actor. I started as a child actor aged 7, so I grew up with it in my blood really.
  2. What are your 2013 hopes & dreams? That Dominic Mohan of The Sun remove naked pictures of women from Page 3. I passionately support the @NoMorePage3 campaign.
  3. How did you become an actress? I started doing small parts in TV shows, commercials & movies, worked in theatre at 11 & later trained at LAMDA drama school.
  4. What is it you love most about being an actor? To change an audience in some way – to make people laugh, cry, remember an old love & forget the stresses of life for 2 hours.
  5. Which actors inspire you and why? Diane Keaton – a true comedian, Mark Rylance – a chameleon, Anne Hathaway – for making musical theatre work in Les Miserables & Amy Adams.
  6. What tips can you give to any wannabe actors? Only become an actor if there is nothing else that could make you happy. It’s a hard path to choose, so you need to love it with your heart & soul.
  7. What other advice would you give to someone who wants to be an actor? Educate your mind, travel, listen to people’s stories, become secure in who you are… THEN go to drama school. Life experience is the best tool at an actor’s disposal.
  8. What other passions take up your time?  My friends & my huge family first. Singing, walking, dancing, museums & I like a good biography.
  9. Who would be your fantasy 5 dinner party guests? Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Dawkins, The Pope, Germaine Greer & Amy Winehouse.
  10. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you wish you had? A Swiss Army knife, Lucas Paw Paw ointment, a fully loaded iPod, a pencil & a note book.

Thanks Karen & Alicia! One Man, Two Guvnors is one of my fave shows, so it’s an absolute honour to feature Alicia today.

Alicia now takes over the baton & will interview someone that inspires her for the next #TheChainofInspiration on Friday 17 May.

Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend… the weather’s looking promising!

G x

Running Shoe Top Tips

by

3

Evening & welcome to #WellbeingWednesday. In less than 4 weeks I’m taking part in my next running challenge. On Sunday 26 May, I am running the Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon which takes place in beautiful coastal Argyll, Scotland.

A vital part of running is our trainers, so for today’s blog, I’m reposting some advice from my great running friend Tori…

Screen shot 2013-04-30 at 19.37.15

Tori has run hundreds of kms around the world & has about 30 pairs of trainers, so she’s more than qualified to talk trainers! Here’s her #5aday advice on choosing running shoes to minimise injury & maximise fitness & well-being.

  1. Always take at least a 1/2 size bigger than normal to allow for swelling and to avoid black toenails and other unsightly conditions.
  2. Always shop later in the day when your feet are more swollen. Morning they tend to be slimmer but later resemble a bulging sausage.
  3. Support your local running shop! Trying in store & ordering online to save a few ££s is not nice & the running gods will punish you!
  4. Even on finding your dream shoes, it’s still good to swap & change in order to avoid the exact same stresses & strains on your feet.
  5. Don’t dismiss colour co-ordination. Look good in a stylish outfit & shoe combo & you will train well & race better. Fact!

Thanks Tori for your words of wisdom. I’m all for supporting local running shops. My pick goes to Up and Running in East Sheen.

If you’re looking to be inspired, are an avid runner or simply enjoy reading, check out Fit Chick Tori’s blog here.

G x

Yogi Guru

by

5

Afternoon! Welcome to the new look #TheFridayInterview also now known as #TheChainofInspiration… Friday is the perfect day to enjoy an inspirational interview, at the earlier time of 4pm, with that last cup of tea before the weekend!

Back in January, Fit Chick Tori agreed to kick-off a new chain of inspirational interviews - #TheChainofInspiration. I’m delighted this afternoon to welcome Tori’s chosen interviewee, Noura El-Imam, founder of Yogalates Bliss in Dubai. Over to you Tori!

Noura El-Iman

“Noura has a contagious energy, a can-do vibe & inspirational entrepreneurial vision for her wonderful company Yogalates Bliss. Noura’s company organises divine yoga retreats, comprehensive yoga training and cool little classes for kids.

  1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Wow! Reflecting back, I have always loved adventure. Funnily enough I wanted to get involved with the CIA/FBI. I loved detective movies!
  2. Tell us about your 2013 hopes & dreams? To enable passionate yogis to become certified, to travel to far-flung corners and to dive deeper into Spanish lessons! 
  3. What advice do you have for any would-be yoga teachers? Keep learning new sequences, take up new yoga courses to keep your passion alive & your skills sharp. Stay authentic in your teaching.
  4. What do you think are the key benefits of yoga? Yoga is wonderful for alleviating stress & allowing you to release muscular tension from the body after running errands the whole day. 
  5. What’s your favourite Yoga position and why? Downward Facing Puppy – decompresses the spine, melts tension round neck & shoulders & is great for super tight hips/overworked muscles.
  6. Who and what has inspired you the most? My 2011 Yoga & Surf retreat to Bali also inspired me to start my passion of Yogalates Bliss.
  7. What advice do you have for anyone who wants to set up a business doing what they love? Do it! Don’t give up when things get tough. Obstacles will definitely make you a hell of a lot stronger & when your passion & confidence is there, you’ll succeed.
  8. What other passions take up your time? Travelling to Muscat for outdoor adventure fun, rock climbing, body pump, swimming, cooking, and photography.
  9. Who would be your fantasy 5 dinner party guests? Lana Del Ray. Timothy Ferris. Andy Warhol. Sadie Nardini. Marco Pierre White. 
  10. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you wish you had? My Canon Powershot G12 (charged for life!), unlimited dark chocolate (I can only wish), coffee, my mp3 player & juicy cold fruits.

If you’ve ever fancied training to be a yoga teacher or doing a course to deepen your own practice, visit www.yogalatesblissindubai.com.

Check out her v cool retreats in Spain and the Alps this summer. Practice yoga with inspirational people & eat wonderful food.”

Thanks Tori and Noura! Now that I’ve been introduced to Yoga (Bikram), I’m very tempted by one of your retreats later this year Noura!

Noura now takes over the baton & will interview someone that inspires her for the next #TheChainofInspiration on Friday 22 February.

Have a great weekend!

G x

Say it with Chocolate

by

0

Evening and welcome to #TheMondayInterview. As today is Blue Monday – the most depressing day of the year – I can’t think of a better subject to cheer us up, than CHOCOLATE!

Chocolate

I’m delighted to welcome Frances Crute, a chocolatier currently working as a Product Developer for Pret. Ten years ago Frances realised her passion for chocolate by working as a pastry chef with some top restaurateurs and highly-acclaimed chefs. You can read all about her journey in the world of chocolate here.

Being a chocolatier sounds like the dream job! I caught up with Frances to find out about her life and love of chocolate and to get her advice on the best chocolate Valentine’s gift out there this year…

  1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I think I always wanted to do something with food. I would spend all my holidays baking with my Gran. 
  2. How did you become a chocolatier? I was in the right place at the right time. A job overseas fell through and L’Artisan du Chocolate needed some help in the run up to Christmas.
  3. Which is your favourite type and brand of chocolate? I love Madagascan chocolate so probably Amedei Madagascan 70% or I have recently discovered Amelia Ropes Dark Sea Salt chocolate which is yummy!
  4. What are the health benefits of chocolate? Dark chocolate is high in anti-oxidants and iron but most of all it makes you happy. (Just what we need on a Blue Monday like today! G x)
  5. What’s the best chocolate Valentine’s gift out there this year? ‘Declaration of Romantic Feelings’ Couture Collection Box by L’Artisan du Chocolate. You personalise with a romantic note to your loved one.
  6. If you could work with any other food ingredient what would it be and why? Cheese! I would love to be an official cheese taster. 
  7. What’s your favourite recipe including chocolate? I have a great chocolate tart recipe that is a blend of a rich ganache and a light sabayonne folded together. Imagine a super light extra chocolaty fondant!  
  8. What’s the most unusual ingredient you’ve mixed with chocolate? I once tried Guinness chocolates for St. Patrick’s day… they didn’t work so well. 
  9. Who would be your fantasy 5 dinner party guests? Rene Redzepi, Sarah Lund, Tyler Hamilton, Lance Armstrong & Barack Obama.  
  10. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you wish you had? Chocolate, My iPhone, my photos, factor 50 sun cream and a really long book.

Thanks so much Frances! Lots of tasty answers there… And plenty to inspire us as we battle with Blue Monday!

You may remember that Fit Chick Tori is going to kick off a new Chain of Inspirational Interviews. This has been delayed until February, so be sure to clock back in for #TheMondayInterview on Monday 4 February.

Enjoy your evening!

G x

Chick Fit II

by

5

Hello & welcome to the new look Monday #GTime – #TheMondayInterview. 6 months ago I interviewed Fit Chick Tori, an ultra-runner, adidas athlete, writer & blogger based in Dubai.

FitChickToriII

Tori is a true inspiration to us all – she’s so positive, energetic, motivated and she’s great fun. In her latest challenge – the Action Asia 100km in Manaslu, Nepal, she came 4th female. Read all about her experience here.

This evening I’m pleased to welcome back Fit Chick Tori to give us an injection of inspiration and motivation at the start of a brand new year. You can read Part 1 (Chick Fit) of the interview here.

  1. Tell us about your 2013 New Year’s Resolutions? Where do I start? To run more, to sleep earlier, rise sooner, waste less, work more, drink less… all the usual, year in year out!
  2. What advice do you have for anyone who wants to take up running in 2013 for the first time? To remember that we all started with a slow, lung-bursting, heart pumping plod around the block. But commit and it only gets easier…
  3. What advice do you have for any aspiring ultra-runners? How do you move from a marathon distance to an ultra-marathon distance? It’s primarily down to time on your feet, being self-aware, the art of pacing and mental toughness. Conquer those and any ultra is yours!
  4. Who and what inspires you to take part in the challenges you do? Everyone from the world’s best long distance runners to those at the back of the pack. They show the greatest spirit and inspire me no end.
  5. Other than running and generally keeping fit, how do you spend your time? Writing. Words are my greatest passion and I’ve carved my career out of them. I even have ‘wordsmith’ tattooed on my body!

Thanks Fit Chick Tori. If you want regular doses of inspiration and to follow her wonderful adventures around the world, then be sure to follow her blog ‘Fit Chicks and Fast Women’. I’ve just agreed to a small challenge in the form of the Beaujolais Villages Trail (28km) with Tori in April – she’ll of course do the longer distance, but we’ll still have plenty of time for fun either side of our respective challenges!

Good luck in your next challenge Tori, we’ll be following!

G x

p.s As part of the new look Monday #GTime, Fit Chick Tori will take over the baton and will interview someone that inspires her, on behalf of Ginger and Spice… so make sure you clock-in on Monday 21 January for the next #TheMondayInterview.

The Gift of Style

by

0

Evening! For today’s #MondayMonthlyInterview I’m delighted to welcome Caroline, a personal stylist & shopper from Style Bureau.

Caroline-Style Bureau

After studying fashion, Caroline was a high street fashion buyer for 10 years before setting up her own personal styling business. Caroline has kindly answered the following 10 short questions giving us an insight into life as a personal stylist and mum…

  1. When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up? A singer.
  2. What makes you get up in the morning/inspires you? My boys (including husband!) and my personal styling business.
  3. If you won the EuroMillions what would you do? Buy a private jet so I could visit my brother in Sydney whenever I liked!
  4. Who would your fantasy 5 dinner party guests be? Kate Moss, Miranda, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmanuelle Alt, Rhianna.
  5. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you wish you had? Cheese, bread, wine, mobile phone, ipod.
  6. Who are your 5 favourite fashion designers? Chloe, Burberry, Isabel Marant, Marni, Tibi.
  7. What’s the biggest style faux pas that people make? Perfectly co-ordinating outfits – it can age you!
  8. Have you got any quick fashion tips for the festive season? The must-have piece this season is leather trousers – they’ll take you anywhere!
  9. As a mum, which are your favourite places to shop for your kids? H&M for boys and GAP.
  10. What advice do you have for anyone interested in setting up their own business? Give it everything but make time for your friends and family.

Thank you Caroline. If you’re looking for great gift ideas this Christmas, why not consider a gift voucher from Style Bureau. G x

 

The Art of Photography II

by

0

Hello & welcome to #MysteryMonday. 6 months ago I interviewed Michael Wallner before his exhibition at Wimbledon Art Studios… Tonight I’m pleased to welcome Michael back ahead of his next exhibition at the Winter Open Studios Art Show from 22 to 25 November.

You can read Part 1 (The Art of Photography) of the interview here. Part 2 Questions & Answers to follow:

  1. Tell us a bit about the work you’re exhibiting this week? The new collection includes work on various surfaces; a moving river, a giant jigsaw of London, & works on metallic paper & aluminium.
  2. What inspired your recent collection/new work? The beautiful shapes and lines of London and its landmarks.
  3. What advice do you have for any budding artists? Always ask for other opinions but trust your own most of all. Keep going.
  4. Which other artist(s) exhibiting this week do you admire and recommend visiting? Freire Printz – lovely retro screenprints. Lucy Carty – great mixed media works and L.A. Morton Art – lovely style.
  5. What ambitions/future projects can you share with us? To see my art in major gallery & offices of top global companies. New ambitious work w/ L.E.D lights & other special effects due in May.

Thanks Michael. Everyone, get down to the Winter Open Studios Art Show from Thurs & visit Michael Wallner in Studio 280 in the red building. G x

 

Creative’s Hub

by

0

#GTime is back! I’ve had a lovely few weeks off and am feeling revitalised and raring to go, bringing you your #5aday Ginger goodness!

Welcome to this month’s  #MysteryMonday  #MondayMonthlyInterview, when I interview someone doing interesting stuff with their life… Today’s interviewee is Emeline aka The Herder (founder) of Remote Goat - an online network for creatives. Remote Goat enables creative designers & prospective clients to work remotely, flexibly & freely with each other, for free…

  1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Ballet dancer, marine biologist, first woman fighter pilot in space – in that order!
  2. What makes you get up in the morning/inspires you? FOMO – Fear of missing out!
  3. If you won the EuroMillions, what would you do? Launch Remote Goat in the most almighty way and then champion its cause by taking it to all the four corners of the globe.
  4. Who would your fantasy 5 dinner party guests be? Emeline Pankhurst, David Carson, Stephen Hawking, Donna Summer and Pete Tong.
  5. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you wish you had? iPhone, speakers, laptop, generator and my best mate!!!

Thanks so much to Emeline for taking part in today’s quickfire #MondayMonthlyInterview & all the very best with Remote Goat! To all the creatives out there… check out the website, sign up/follow on twitter (@Float_Your_Goat) and start networking with your peers now! G x

Powder Pig

by

0

Welcome to the #MondayMonthlyInterview when on the 1st Monday of each month, I interview someone doing interesting stuff with their life.

I have just booked my ski holiday to Switzerland for Christmas to stay with my brother who runs a ski business in Verbier & St Anton… I’m pleased to welcome Colin Mayo, co-founder of Bramble Ski as today’s interviewee, as he gets ready for the coming ski season. Bramble Ski have been offering niche luxury chalet ski experiences since 2004.

  1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I was always keen on sports & the outdoors, so ending up living & working in the mountains is not too surprising.
  2. What makes you get up in the morning/inspires you? The kids! And of course the mountains and what they have to offer each day for us and our clients.
  3. If you won the EuroMillions, what would you do? Buy our chalet and a camper van to take to Japan to spend a winter exploring their ski resorts.
  4. Who would your fantasy 5 dinner party guests be? Mallory, Tensing, Andrew Flintoff, Boris Johnson and my grandmother (father’s side) who died when my brother, sister and I were very young.
  5. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you wish you had? My smartphone, a surfboard, my down booties, a round of Raclette cheese and a Swiss Army knife.
  6. Which is your favourite ski resort? Verbier because of the extensive off-piste and touring opportunities. 7 seasons and I have only scratched the surface!
  7. Have you had any famous guests stay with Bramble? Yes, but I can’t disclose names. We’ve had ex-footballers, celebrity chefs and TV personalities.
  8. What advice do you have for anyone interested in setting up their own business? Follow your passion. You have to really love what you are doing as there will be many late nights and early mornings.
  9. What’s the future for Bramble Ski? More resorts, more luxury, more skiing…
  10. What do you think sets Bramble apart from other luxury ski experiences? The founders are still very much involved day to day and not only do we ensure we have the best properties and service, but we ensure everyones’ (including our staff) ski experience is the best.

Thanks so much to Colin for taking part in today’s  #MondayMonthlyInterview & good luck for the season. Fingers crossed for lots of snow! G x