Christmas is Coming!

The silly season is approaching, and what better time than now to sit down nice and early before the craziness hits and spend some precious time with your children while you help them write a letter to Santa.

Invite them to get their crafty side in full swing with glitter, stickers, and coloured pens. With some scissors and glue, you can use last year’s Christmas cards to

create some colourful letters that are sure to get the jolly old fellow’s attention. Letters to Santa are always a highlight at Christmas and can provide some much-needed gift hints as well. But they needn’t stop when you become an adult. Exciting presents for grown-ups can be hard to find when they become more about what you need and less about what you want. We’re talking a new vacuum cleaner because the trusty old one has blown up. Or new work socks for the year ahead. Not so exciting, right, but necessary. Perhaps pop these on an end-of-year to-do list instead, then challenge yourself and your partner to list a few ‘want’ items to truly spoil each other this year.

Or for those wanting a more personalised or handmade present, make this a prerequisite and see what happens. Challenge accepted! We’ve got some great ideas in our Christmas feature this month so those lists will be getting filled quick-smart. And the key point to remember: make sure you actually post those letters to Santa!

KATE SEARS

Katie Rose Jewellery is both fine and fashionable handmade jewellery. Jeweller and designer Katie Rose, based in Blairgowrie, trained in jewellery design and goldsmithing and makes each piece by hand, bringing her creations alive using traditional methods with a beautiful twist of contemporary design. Choose a piece from one of the featured ranges or work directly with Katie Rose to create something truly special and uniquely custom-made. Both men’s and women’s pieces are available. “There are no rules on what you can, can’t or shouldn’t be wearing,” Katie said. “Jewellery is something truly special and personal to you and your style. It connects you to a feeling, a moment. When wearing my jewellery I want women to feel this carefree way of expression and style, not as if the piece is defining them but as if it is a beautiful extension of their personality.” Katie’s pieces are slow fashion-made using sustainable practices, with recycled silver and gold as well as other

high-quality materials, and using only ethically sourced precious and semiprecious gemstones. Each piece is handmade using solid metals and are made to last a lifetime. KATIE ROSE JEWELLERY A: Shop 9/68 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento W: www.katierosejewellery.com E: katie@katierosejewellery.com.au FB: katierosejewellery INSTA: katierosejewellery

inthePark Mornington ChristmasCarols

withspecialguests

Make tracks in safety

this summer

The sun’s out, you’ve got family visiting for Christmas and the car’s already being packed in preparation for a much-deserved holiday. You’re organised — but you’ve forgotten one key part of the plan: the safety of your tyres. Stop putting it off and get it sorted now before the silly season gets crazy. Trust us. At The Tyre Place, for the month of November they’re offering amazing deals on Falken Tyres. You can buy three and get one free if you purchase from their ZE914 range. And for those of you with a 4WD, you can buy four tyres from the AT3W range for the price of three, which is a sensational deal. First-class customer service is guaranteed at this boutique business that puts clients first while delivering exceptional and expansive automotive expertise. Andrew, his wife Sandy and their son Jake are super-friendly, fast and thorough. The whole family are ever so lovely to chat to and welcome each client with a smile. They’re dedicated to making sure you feel at home. And they pride themselves on making sure that you are 100 per cent happy with the results. Yes, Christmas has come early! Call The Tyre Place today.

KATE SEARS THE TYRE PLACE A: 2/131 Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington T: 5976 8368 W: www.thetyreplace.com.au

Wine bottle candles a corker of an idea

Old Vine Candles is a family-owned business and comes from our love of wine and a desire to produce products from re-purposed materials. The Mornington Peninsula is blessed with some amazing wines, so to help reduce the amount of glass that is thrown away, all the bottles that we use have been locally collected. They are then, by hand, cut and the edges carefully sanded before being cleaned and turned into a beautiful, eco-friendly, scented candle. So what does wine smell like in a candle? The easiest way to answer this is to look for the aromatic descriptors used on the label of your favourite bottle of wine or on the wine list the next time you visit a winery, bar or restaurant. These descriptions are where the inspiration for our candle scents comes from. You can often find us at markets all over the Peninsula or you can purchase direct from the website.

OLD VINE CANDLES A: PO Box 473 Mount Eliza T: 0422 497 030 W: www.OldVineCandles.com.au E: hello@oldvinecandles.com.au FB: oldvinecandles INSTA: oldvinecandles

The ‘food to share’, extensive drinks list, signature cocktails and inviting ambience makes Assaggini the perfect venue for your End of Year Celebration, Get-Together or Christmas Party. With Group Dining or Function options for 8 or more people and starting from $45.00 per head, Assaggini can make your silly season that little bit easier by looking after your celebration! Share plates or individual dishes and extensive vegan and vegetarian options available. Exclusive Lunchtime Group Booking Special: Book for November or December 2019 for 8 or more people on one of our Group Dining Menus and all guests will receive a complimentary Peach Bellini, ‘Select’ Aperitif Christmas Cocktail or Beer upon arrival. To enquire or book contact Assaggini on 5973 5791 or email info@assaggini.com.au

SunButter sunscreen, better for skin and sea

Each year, some 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen chemicals wash off beachgoers and end up in the ocean, where they wreak havoc on marine life and coral reefs. It’s a startling reality that marine biologists Sacha Guggenheimer and Tom Hiney have witnessed first-hand and care about deeply. “Chemicals pose an irreversible threat to life in our precious seas and waterways,” says Sacha. “Reducing chemical pollution in these systems is critical for our future.” In 2016, the Balnarring couple created SunButter Oceans — a reef-safe, plant-based, plastic-free answer to chemical-laden sunscreens and surf zincs. SunButter’s unique SPF50 formula is great for sensitive skin, with zero fragrance and four key high-quality ingredients: nonnano particle zinc oxide for UV protection, coconut oil, vitamin E and castor oil for spreadability and skin hydration. The couple’s ethos extends all the way from their reusable printed tins to the 10 per cent of profits they donate each year to environmental non-profits. And with

a successful Kickstarter campaign now under their belts, they’re already setting a new standard for sun protection. “We want to give future generations the chance to enjoy coral reefs like we have,” says Tom. SUNBUTTER OCEANS NATURAL SUNSCREEN A: Balnarring W: www.sunbutteroceans.com.au FB: SunButterOceans INSTA: sunbutteroceans

There’s just no escaping the fun

Sick of the same old boring office party? This year, why not consider a different type of end-of-year function? An escape room experience.

Escape rooms are an exciting new global trend, and we are lucky enough to have our very own on the Mornington Peninsula. Escape rooms are a terrific way for everyone to get together in a fun and engaging way. Small teams work together in a themed room to try to complete a challenge, such as stealing a diamond or escaping an evil wizard. Teams search the rooms for clues, solve puzzles and try to complete their mission and escape before their time runs out. Locked in Escape Rooms in

Mornington is a hidden gem, but once discovered, everyone comes back for more. A quick glimpse through social media shows its wide appeal. Locked in Escape Rooms can design the perfect package for a truly unique end-of-year event that’s guaranteed to please everybody. Contact carolyn@ lockedinescaperooms.com.au to get the ball rolling on the office party that everyone will be talking about for ever. LOCKED IN ESCAPE ROOMS A: 2/2 Carbine Way Mornington T: 0413 010 431 W: www.lockedinescaperooms. com.au FB: Lockedinescaperooms INSTA: lockedinescaperooms

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ON TREES

10% OFF FOR MONTH OF NOVEMBER!

OPEN TUESDAY TO FRIDAY 10-4pm SATURDAY 10-4pm

3 BAYPORT CRT, MORNINGTON 0439 955 778

Splashes of silver and traditional reds as well as beautiful pastel pinks and mints have arrived at Christmas on Main. The Christmas elves have outdone themselves this year and have delivered a new limited range of Lucinda Eldin goodies, including limited edition dolls and gift box collectibles. Stunning smaller pieces and baubles by Swishmas will be available soon too — plus so much more! The store is decked out in new stock including trees, colour schemes, elves, Santas and collectors’ items. Pre-lit trees are a popular choice because they’re so easy to pack up. Owner Susan Russo thrives on seeing decorations up on the first day of December so she’s excited to offer our readers 10 per cent off trees as part of her early bird sale. Susan — or rather, Mrs Claus — also wants to let those on the ‘nice’ list know that they should keep an eye out for her December sales. Thank you, it’s on the list and we’ll check it twice! It’s all happening at Christmas on Main, with a new website coming soon too. Susan’s busier than Santa Claus, so why not stop by to start creating your own Christmas memories.

KATE SEARS CHRISTMAS ON MAIN A: 3 Bayport Court, Mornington T: 0439 955 778 FB: ChristmasOnMain77 INSTA: christmasonmain65 All you need for Christmas