by | August 24, 2012

the Amante fairytale spot

Amante Beach Club

Once upon a time on a not-so-deserted island lived a king of dance music.  Having led the life of an international DJ (as well as the head of the highly successful dance label, Azuli), this king was searching for a different kind of treasure.  And, in an undiscovered spot where the rocks meet the sea, he found the perfect location for his beach club, Amante.  It is now one of Ibiza’s fairytale-esque destinations to relax, eat and let your imagination go…

Highly unusually for me, I was struck dumb upon arrival.  The view, the buzz, the atmosphere and the incredible service simply blew me away.

Detox Ibiza juice from the bar at Amante

As I sipped my freshly-made Ibiza Detox juice, I was just dying to know how and why Dave Piccioni had created this beautiful chill-snooze-eat concept:

To the non-Ibizan, how would you describe Amante?

It’s a cool tranquil escape, a place to enjoy great food and service in an area of outstanding natural beauty

How did you find the location for Amante?

I used to come to the original restaurant here years ago to recover from my all night party sessions. There would be a couple of old hippies and a dog hanging around. I’d have a salad and then fall asleep in a hammock. It’s changed a bit since then.

Who do you find the Amante Beach Club attracts?  Young or old?

The beauty of Amante is that it attracts all ages, colours and creeds…

Do the sunbeds attract a different type of client to the restaurant?

Not really, most come for the day, eat lunch – and some even stay for dinner too.

Dave Picconi of Amante

Do you have any me-time to enjoy the view?

I try to get there early in the morning (around 8am) as the light is great and it’s a great mediation spot.

What is the perfect sound track to eat to?

The Amante soundtracks – of course! I was in the music business for 25 years, so I now spend a lot of time compiling the music for the beach club. For me, it’s as important as the food, and often not given enough importance in the restaurant business.

How different are the music and restaurant business?

Well, the restaurant business is much harder work! But I love working by the sea and not in an office. Interestingly the music business relies on hype and PR, it’s all about creating a buzz and some attention – even if the product you are selling is not very good. In the restaurant business, you are judged clearly by the product, the food and the service.

What is your perfect meal and who would you choose to eat with?

Asian actually (Thai or Malay) – unfortunately not easily found in Ibiza, but it definitely would be with my family.

Tell us a secret about the island.

Mid October is THE secret: we have fantastic weather and there is hardly anyone here!

 

Amante Beach Club ( http://www.amanteibiza.com) is located above Sol d’en Serra beach, just outside Santa Eularia.  For wedding/party enquiries, contact: zeta@amanteibiza.com

(I was listening to Amante Ibiza Volume 1 as I wrote this…)

 

 

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by | August 23, 2012

the BubbleBum generation

Scanning the BubbleBum press release, I felt like one of the entrepreneurs in BBC2’s Dragons’ Den.  A car booster seat in a bag.  Inflatable, portable, foldable.  I felt an urge to question who this quirky, innovative seat was aimed at, how it would be distributed and want to know more about their 2013 projected sales.

our BubbleBums – photo styled and directed by Mini

But something clearly appealed to me.  I think it might have been memories of hauling two heavy, cumbersome booster seats in a splitting plastic carrier through the airport last Christmas.  Or maybe it was the time we managed to leave the boosters in the overhead locker – only to remember once we had exited the airport.

Either way, I was intrigued enough to agree to review the BubbleBum car booster seats on our trip to Ibiza.  Our rental car was booked and, as usual, we couldn’t quite swallow the cost of hiring the Smalls’ booster seats.  And there was no need, with the BubbleBum packs very neatly (deflated, obviously) packed into the top of our suitcase.

Easy to inflate (only a few puffs) and to attach to the rear seat belts, we were off and away in our little Seat Ibiza within minutes.  Feedback from the back was that the seats were comfortable and not as ‘squishy’ as they sound.

Now packed away in the stretchy purple bag ready to return home, I thought I might keep the seats in the boot of our car until the next holiday.  Narrower than regular booster seats, they will come in handy when ferrying around any additional Smalls to school, ballet, football, swimming…

BubbleBum – the portable child’s car booster seat – costs £29.99

Click here to buy it from our friends at Amazon.

 

 

 

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by | August 22, 2012

Balearic beach bum beauty essentials

my beach beauty essentials

There’s no getting away from it.  However much fun you are having on the beach… the sun, sand and sea all play utter havoc with your skin and hair.  And, while sun cream does a wonderful job of protecting your skin, it’s never a good look when it finds it way into your hair.

So, while I have the tough job of exploring this wonderful white isle of Ibiza, I thought I would highlight my top 10 beach winners.  (Clearly this is an irritating post for any readers who are currently enjoying a less sunny week in the UK. Full apologies.)

COMPETITION:  Banishing oily, sun creamed roots and giving dull, lifeless hair the makeover it needs without water, Batiste Dry Shampoo is so excited to be one of my favourite beauty products this holiday that they are giving away 7 cans of their brilliant dry shampoo to 3 lucky winners.  AND  – the 3 winners will also win a D3 Classic Denman Brush each.

All you have to do is follow me on Twitter and retweet this beach beauty photo when I instagram it on 31st August 2012 .  The lucky 3 winners, chosen at random, will be announced on Twitter.

 

 

 

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by | August 22, 2012

Saluting the Ibizan Sun

Going by Ibizan timings, a 9.30am meeting was obscenely early.  I literally had scraped myself out of bed and left Him and the Smalls gently snoring in order to head down to the Atzaro hotel spa.  And there, I was greeted by the rather spiritual and glowingly happy Larah, founder of Ibiza Retreats, the bespoke wellness company catering for a wide variety of client holistic needs while visiting the island.

Larah Davis, founder of Ibiza Retreats

The previous evening, He had given me a curious look as I scrambled around my suitcase looking for something that could resemble yoga-wear.  ‘But you don’t do yoga,’ He quite rightly pointed out.

Larah seemed unbothered by my confession as a yoga imposter.  She rolled out our mats on the decking by a field of crops, clicked the Mac Air to release the yogic sounds and as the sun warmed up, we downward dogged and sun saluted for well over an hour.

Genuinely feeling the most relaxed I had in months, I had to know what Ibiza Retreats and the lovely Larah are all about.  A mint tea for her and a strong black coffee for me, I quizzed her on the must-visits of Ibiza as well as what life is like as the holistic life coach to the (stressed) rich and famous.

What can you promise your clients?

Our clients receive the best personalised care in some of the most soulful, spiritual places on the island, the hidden gems and off-the-beaten-track sanctuaries, with inspiring teaching and healing hands to nurture their body, mind and soul.

What led you to set up the company?

After working 70 hour weeks in London, I was sharply reminded to turn my life back to the coaching, life-development, yoga & consciousness arena. And then, as a friend was suffering with cancer, I felt compelled to help her free herself from the fear and trauma.  In essence, I was searching for a therapeutic perspective to the massive stress that I could see was caused by living an unhealthy 24/7 lifestyle.

What are the best and worst parts of the job?

I adore working with clients who come to Ibiza to let go, to rejuvenate, who find the courage to look at themselves more deeply and to challenge themselves to grow physically, emotionally and energetically.

The only downside is keeping up with the admin side of the business during the August high-season in the heat! Actually, we are currently on the look out for a perfect assistant who is as passionate about our vision and mission as we are.

How do you wake up in the morning?

I love a delicious cup of morning tea, with fresh lemon from our tree, delivered to me in bed with love by my partner….  Before my little one is up (ideally), I go into the garden and stretch and breathe into some heart opening asanas, grounding my energy and inhaling the inspiration for the day ahead.

What inspires you?

The nature here in Ibiza:  the amazing beauty, the abundance of flowers and fruits and new life growing all year around.  The emerald and turquoise waters that surround Ibiza contrast majestically with the rust-red soil.

Why Ibiza?

The magical energy here, the international inhabitants who melt together to create a pot of vibrant, characterful individuals and the sense of freedom to “be who you are”.

If not Ibiza, where?

Hard to say – I tried Sydney, New York, Mexico, California….. yet Ibiza really has it all for me here….

Best novels you have read this year?

Wayne Dwyer: There is a spiritual solution for every problem

Sarah Winman: When God was a Rabbit

Favourite lotion or potion?

An amazing sticky pack by amazing Anna Brooks, the botanist who creates incredible pommades for hair and body here in the north of the island.

Which dance floor might we find you on?

Ideally the beach…. under the stars but failing that, Aura!

Beach dress or yoga pants?

It’s high summer – so beach dress with yoga shorts and sports top at the ready! Yoga pants from end of September.

Tell us a secret about the island.

There are over 250 different healing herbs and plants here.

 

My 1:1 fabulous yoga session would have cost 80 euros.

www.ibizaretreats.com

Tel: +34 670 248 292
Email: larah@ibizaretreats.com

 

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