nounou

nounou LOVES...

london in autumn

as it’s our hometown, london is a special place for us, but somehow particularly at this time of year.

yes, the weather is getting crisper but there is an energy that comes with the change in season, and with that, there always seems to be an abundance of exciting new things to inspire us.

we are spoilt for choice with the best of ‘what’s going on’ but also some of our tried and tested favourites are still on the to-do list. so we got together to share a few of our autumn highlights – this is what we'll be getting up to as the leaves start to fall.

autumn wellbeing…

as the days get shorter and we start to layer over our summer bikini clad skin, naturally, we're soaking up less vitamin d. but keeping up with our exercise routines is something that we all value in our daily routines. between us, there is a lot of pilates, running and swimming but we are also fans of decompressing. fitting in time for relaxation isn’t exactly easy, but we believe this is of equal importance for creativity and living well.

so when diaries allow, booking in a massage is our failsafe. the russian bathhouse, banyay no. 1 offers a deep-tissue massage that never fails to shift stress and invigorate the mind and senses – follow it up with their steam sauna, icy plunge pool and the cold bucket of water shower and you’ll feel like new again.

if you don’t mind bracing a bit of cold water, and really, at the moment, the temperature is still comfortable enough, an alternative is a morning swim in hampstead heath ponds. we particularly like the ladies ponds – a magical spot for a reinvigorating swim which gives a wake-up shot to the senses and set’s you up with energy for the day ahead.

culture club…

autumn always brings with it a bumper crop of exhibitions and we’ve got some exciting ones on our list to visit. alongside the return of frieze in regent’s park in october where you never fail to experience and discover something new, there is also the v&a’s new showcase: gabrielle chanel. fashion manifesto – which more than proves the trailblazing designer’s enduring legacy and vision.

we’re excited to be doing the architecture tour at the barbican. led by an expert guide, the 90 minute tour takes you around the brutalist masterpiece including all it’s hidden nooks and crannies – in the autumn light, it’s a particularly special time of year to have this equally educational and inspirational gem of an experience.

you’ll also be sorry if you miss celine song’s debut film past lives on the big screen – a truly beautiful love story already being described as a modern classic.

bites and delights...

something lovely to do on a Sunday morning is a trip to queen’s park farmers’ market. the market is filled with lots of great food stalls and fresh produce but, in truth, our main reason for heading there are the delicious dosa’s from mumbai mix – we just have to manage our cravings from monday through saturday before we get our next weekly fix!

when we happen to find ourselves in the heart of soho, we can’t resist popping into no.79 coffee and mousse. it calls itself an art cafe which it literally is – the cutest shaped mousse cakes are works of art themselves and they taste as good as they look. of course our kids also love it, so we always have an excuse to go as a treat for ‘them’.

we’ve also been nurturing a (healthy) obsession with matcha oat milk lattes lately – no nounou meeting starts without one, even if it’s on zoom! so while you’re in the neighbourhood, pop over to the japan centre in leicester square to find the best selection of matcha powders.

listening to…

our listening habits could be considered comically diverse! currently top of our podcast chart is the way out is in. recorded in the plum village monastery by brother phap huu, a former attendant of the late buddhist monk and peace activist thích nhất hạnh. his voice is so soothing and his words and ideas can’t help but lead to a more considered perspective on life.

in contrast we’re huge fans of circoloco radio. it’s regularly playing in the studio! hosted on soundcloud, these one hour mixes are curated to bring you the best dj’s in house music. you’ll always hear something new and feel transported to their monday nights at dc10 in ibiza.

and, of course, every relaxed saturday afternoon should be rolled into with gilles peterson and every sunday morning should start with cerys matthews both on radio 6 music – be inspired and discover something new with their eclectic selections - simply good vibes.

the art of collecting…

there are a few things we have been fanatically gathering over the years – bearbricks in all styles and sizes, crystals, the face magazine from issue one, british vogue going all the way back to 1968 and stickers picked up from around the world (in particular hello kitty ones!). so there is always a side hunt going on to add more to these collections. the magazines from every era are a fountain of fashion knowledge and bibles of british fashion photography – they are fascinating to revisit and a never-ending source of inspiration.

the little luxury…

at nounou, we love to be surrounded by flowers, flowers and more flowers… roses, in particular. so, when there is a window of downtime, a visit to petersham nurseries is where we head. not only is it a beautiful place for a potter, where you feel nourished by the gorgeous flowers and plants, but you can also stop at the teahouse for a cuppa and a selection of their delicious homemade cakes. and yes, we do like to eat a lot of cake…!