November 21 2025 | newsletter1

Kokoro Newsletter

HARTBEAT

November 21st 2025

It's Supreme's turn to do Heartbeat, and we've decided to focus on how we like to keep cosy and occupied during 'Nesting Season'. We hope you enjoy!!

What’s your favourite way to stay cosy when the weather turns cold?

I've been really enjoying cosy evenings this year, putting some candles on and having lots of hot drinks (usually tea). I also got a heated blanket for my birthday to help keep me warm when working from home! (Becca)

This will really reveal my inner grandma, but I love cosy nights in doing a puzzle in front of Harry Potter. We must have watched them too many times to count now, but it’s the ultimate nostalgia (Sarah)

We’ve got a big weighed blanket that's so warm and comforting. We love to get the fire on, get under the blanket, and usually the cat will sleep on my lap, so I get a personal lap heater too! (Dan)

I love a cold but sunny Winter walk, ideally finishing at the pub for a roast dinner to get warm again! I’m definitely a fair weather gal though, so if it’s raining you’ll find me indoors under a blanket watching Netflix (Zoe)

When the weather starts to turn colder, I go straight into cosy mode. I throw on a snug knitwear set, blast the heating, and make myself a proper comfort meal. Dessert is always a must - GU Melt-in-the-Middle Chocolate Puds are my absolute fave. Then I curl up on the sofa and stick on some TV; I’m currently rewatching Peaky Blinders, which feels very on-brand for winter (Jess)

What’s your ultimate winter comfort dish?

I’m not big on cooking but I’ve recently started making my Grandma’s soup whenever I want something warm and comforting. It’s a very basic recipe (if I can make it, anyone can!) but the addition of the ‘secret’ ingredient, peanut butter, makes it really smooth and tasty. The (clearly well-loved...) recipe’s below if anyone fancies trying it, but it’s much easier if you just boil all the veg until it goes mushy, then blending it is super easy (Zoe)

It might sound basic, but ever since the Gigi Hadid vodka pasta went viral, I’ve been obsessed (FYI - it won’t get you drunk, and it definitely doesn’t taste of vodka!). The sauce is so simple but tastes unbelievably good. I love mixing it up depending on my mood - sometimes I top it with creamy burrata, or throw in some prawns for some extra indulgence (Jess)

Probably a pasta bake with lots of cheese. There's a spicy tomato one that we make - it's ultimate comfort food and great for cold nights. We got a new casserole dish that we're making good use of (Becca)

My mums recipe aka ‘meatballs a la Karen’… a big bowl of lamb meatballs in a spicy harissa and tomato stew, with cous cous and lashings of crème fraiche (Sarah)

Being a Chorley lad, I absolutely love making Lancashire Hotpot in the winter. Tender chunks of lamb, crispy sliced potato lid with some melted Lancashire cheese, and absolutely tonnes of pickled red cabbage on the side. Proper hearty food! (Dan)

When are you putting up your Christmas tree?

This year is exciting because it’s my first time buying my own Christmas tree since moving out. We’ve been going back and forth on fake vs real, but I think we’ll end up going for real - nothing beats that Christmas tree smell. We’ll probably put it up in early December, just early enough to enjoy it but not so early that it’s bare by Christmas Day! (Jess)

First weekend of December - got to make the most! (Sarah)

I usually do it the first week of December so will probably be the same this year, depending on when we find the time! We also need to figure out where to put the Christmas tree and other decorations this year because we've moved house since last year, but I'm excited to make it all Christmas-y (Becca)

Well, we’re in a bit of a weird position at the minute because we’re waiting for a move-in date for our new house, which could end up being before Christmas – in which case, it might not be worth putting it up! If only solicitors were able to work at anything more than a snail’s pace… (Dan)

It’ll probably be the 30th of November for us this year – I try and aim for the 1st of December but it feels like a much more fitting task for a Sunday than a Monday! And hopefully after the Christmas party we’ll all feel nice and festive (Zoe)

Shoutouts

From Dan:

To Jess and Charley – thank you for looking after the current whirlwind that is the Allwyn Christmas POS project while I was on holiday!

To Zest – for excellent recruitment on the CRUK ‘Do Portfolio’ project. We’ve had so many brilliant and engaged respondents, so thank you!

From Sarah:

Charley - for doing her first ever IDIs as a quanty and on some of the most nuanced topics we’ve done. No surprise, you’re a natural!
Emily R and Fin - for recruiting 36 brilliant respondents for CRUK in just one week. It’s not often I say this, but genuinely enjoyed every interview, all because of some really insightful and perspective people. So thank you!