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Monica Costa

@londonmums

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Magazine editor Author Poet Writer🎙️🎸Travels🇬🇧🇮🇹🍝GWR🏆 #londonmums #london #magazine #lifestyle #culturitaly [email protected]📚@noidilidoadriano

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This week we celebrated 15 years of Tom Gates book series (24 already out and 1 in the making) with the most amazing author and fabulous woman @pichon.liz whom I’ve interviewed a few times and partied with along with my son Diego who has learnt how to read with her books! He even won a school outfit competition in primary school for drawing Tom Gates illustrations onto a white TShirt. 24 books later (which I have also read with him) he’s almost a Mech Engineer!!! This is what does to you when you read Tom Gates books 😉🙏🏻🍀🩷

Thank you, Liz and @scholastic_uk for involving me in this great adventure for the past 15 years!!!! 🙏🏻🍀

#lizpichon #lizpichontomgates #lizpichonbooks #tomgates #tomgatesbooks taken in Hay's Gallery by @londonmums

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2 hours ago

TICKETS @ Lambeth & Colchester Fringes
17th Oct & the 24/25th..

Just three more chances to see my award-winning show this year as part of the Lambeth and Colchester fringes.

Described as “A musically, beautiful deeply human piece of Theatre”

#markglentworth #soloshow #musictheatre #realmusic #britishsinger by @londonmums

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6 days ago

Basically today at @go_mentaluk I met a celebrity with millions of followers and realised I was the only person in the room who didn’t have a clue who he was:
@paulcbrunson entrepreneur, podcaster at @needtotalk TV personality, relationship expert, #Oprah guest… basically, a man whose CV makes mine look like I’ve been sitting at home eating biscuits. 😂

But do you know what? Forget the followers, the TV appearances and the celebrity status. What struck me most was how humble, kind and genuinely PRESENT he was.
He gave me his time (even interrupting eating my friends’ @cremolosogelato ) , listened properly, showed empathy and made me feel as though I was the only person in the room. No ego. No looking over my shoulder for someone more important. Just a lovely human being walking the talk.
And here’s the funny bit: when he asked the audience how he had ended his interview with Katie Price, I was one of only TWO people in the entire room who guessed the answer! 🧠👏
Apparently, my years of observing human behaviour haven’t been entirely wasted. 😂 I also intuitively understood the Peak-End Rule, the psychological principle that we tend to remember an experience largely by its most intense moment and how it ends.
Paul clearly understands that how you make people FEEL matters far more than how many followers you have.
He even interviewed the fabulous @jofrost (also in the cover the latest @londomums magazine) whom I know very well, and spoke so highly of her. And I can confirm that Jo is another person who makes you feel genuinely seen when she talks to you. ❤️
Honestly, some people in the influencer world could learn a thing or two from these two humans. Being famous is one thing. Being kind, present and generous with your time is quite another.
My verdict? I may have been the last person in the room to discover Paul Carrick Brunson, but I certainly won’t forget meeting him. And I’m rather proud to know people like him and Jo Frost.
Go and watch some of the videos from today. Paul is charismatic, insightful and seriously good at what he does.
As for me, I’ll be updating my celebrity recognition software. Apparently, it needs a rather urgent upgrade. 🤣📲 taken in Science Museum by @londonmums

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7 days ago

MENTAL HEALTH, MAGNESIUM & MUSCLES THAT REFUSE TO RETIRE! 💪😂
Mental health is serious business. Looking after ourselves should be too. But who says we can’t have a little fun along the way?
On World Mental Health Day, I was invited by @nutravita_uk to the @go_mentaluk festival at the @sciencemuseum , a conference packed with fascinating speakers discussing mental health and wellbeing.
And somewhere between the serious conversations, I found myself in front of a camera with John, creating a little promotional video for magnesium supplements… in ONE TAKE! 🎬 No script rehearsals, no second chances, no Hollywood diva behaviour. Just me being me! 😂
Full disclosure: the video is promotional, of course. But the fun was genuine, and so was my enthusiasm!
As someone who likes to keep moving, singing, walking, dancing and generally throwing herself into life, I take magnesium glycinate from Nutravita as part of my daily supplement routine. Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function, normal psychological function and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Because my muscles still have plenty of work to do… and apparently haven’t received the memo about slowing down! 🤣💃
But jokes aside, mental health deserves much more than a hashtag once a year. We need open conversations, better support, less stigma and more understanding of what people are going through even when they look perfectly fine on the outside.
And if a day of thought-provoking talks, good company and a spontaneous one-take video reminds us to look after ourselves, I’ll call that a pretty good day!
A big thank you to John and @alicebland & @heidibland10 for the invitation and the laughs.

Now, tell me: what helps YOU switch off, recharge and look after your mental wellbeing? A walk, music, dancing, meditation, a good laugh… or simply telling everyone to leave you alone for five minutes? 😂👇
🧠💚 🙏🏻

#WorldMentalHealthDay #GoMentalFestival #MentalHealthMatters #Wellbeing #AD taken in Science Museum by @londonmums

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7 days ago

I think I’m going through a blue phase … 😂💙

#blue #bluewardrobe #fashion #blueandwhite #fashionlove taken in Norton Grounds by @londonmums

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7 days ago

Not sure these people are ready for Halloween or they are Halloween-ready throughout the year 🤷🏻‍♀️🤔🎃👻💀🩻🖤🚪😂

#halloween #london #londonmums #halloweenallyear #halloweeniseveryday taken in Barnes Village by @londonmums

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8 days ago

VIVA LA VIDA… OR AT LEAST, SURVIVING IT! 😂🎶
Yesterday pm i was on a train back from the Cotswolds when I discover that the best singer in the house (Louise) has had to cancel her appearance at @sheen_livejam

Cue Monica, who has absolutely NO business volunteering for this particular mission. 🤦‍♀️😂
Did I know Viva La Vida by Coldplay? Nope.
Did I know all the lyrics? Absolutely not.
Did I have any sensible reason to take on the challenge? Also nope.
But apparently, my survival instinct is weaker than my desire to challenge myself. 🤣 So there I was, frantically practising on the train and the Tube, trying to cram an entire Coldplay song into my brain in the space of a couple of hours. 🎧🚆 And THIS is the result! 🙈🎤
The song is gorgeous, but honestly, who knew there were SO MANY WORDS?! By the time I’d figured out one verse, my brain was already on strike over the next one. 😂
The fabulous musicians played beautifully, and I apologise if I massacred a few notes or lyrics along the way. This was my best attempt under the circumstances — with approximately two hours’ preparation and the vocal confidence of someone who has just realised she’s about to sit an exam she hasn’t revised for. 🤣
But here’s the thing: the Sheen Live Jam community is one of the kindest, most encouraging and forgiving groups of people you could ever wish to sing with. ❤️
They make you feel brave enough to have a go, even when your brain is screaming, “MONICA, WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?!” 😂
I love them to bits. 🥰🎶
Life’s too short to wait until you’re perfect. Sometimes you just have to get up, grab the mic, wing it and hope nobody notices the bits you’re making up as you go along. 🤣
Long live live music, lovely people and gloriously questionable life decisions! ❤️🎸
P.S. @coldplay if you’re reading this… I promise I know the difference between ambition and actual talent. I’m working on the latter. 😂🙈

#VivaLaVida #Coldplay #SheenLiveJam #LiveMusic #SingingOutOfMyComfortZone taken in The Home Guard Club by @londonmums

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8 days ago

Our @sheen_livejam session last night was dedicated to @coldplay 🩷🎶🎹🎻🎷🎸🎤🎼🎼🎼🎵🎵🎶👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🩷

Chris Martin would be proud!

@homeguard 🙏🏻 for having us every month! taken in The Home Guard Club by @londonmums

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8 days ago

What a great way to end one of the best nights of @sheen_livejam at @thehomeguardclub marking its second anniversary, with everyone singing and dancing along to a revisited classic. That’s alright ‘hot daddies’ … 😂😊😅🔥👏

Hopefully, the hot wives took it in good spirit and haven’t employed a contract killer 😜😅😂 I promise there will be a ‘hot mummies’ song soon … 🙏🏻

#livejamming #musicalcommunity #eastsheen #london #livemusic taken in The Home Guard Club by @londonmums

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8 days ago

24 hours at @norton_grounds for the launch of a new series of Happenings and Retreats here in the Cotswolds, a wellness programme held in the beautiful settings of this farm turned into a dreamy destination for those who are seeking tranquility and some time out. It’s a quick escape from the London hectic routine to celebrate a different kind of wellbeing. The kindness of the owners and the organisers including @sachataylorcox @thesteamypheasant_saunas @silkeweeks70 @yogabarney is just wonderful and makes you want to stay here permanently 🙏🏻🩷🍀💝

Watch this space for a full recount of my 24 hours in @the_cotswolds ! 🙏🏻

#nortongrounds #travelwriter #travel #cotswolds #wellbeing taken in Norton Grounds by @londonmums

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9 days ago

Tortellini thief 😂🐶🇮🇹

#maltese #dogsinstagram #bologna #dogs #travellingwithdogs taken in Bologna, Italy by @londonmums

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10 days ago

When in Bologna … be a bolognese 😉😂🍽️🍝🇮🇹

#bologna #italy #travelwriter #travelblogger #travel taken in Bologna, Italy by @londonmums

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11 days ago