HELENE RAVLICH: 'TIS THE SEASON

We've all endured a momentous amount of stress, change, and adaptation during the year that was supposed to be easier than the last - and here we are, the festive season now officially upon us, bringing its own set of challenges, but hopefully also lots of joy and connection with loved ones.

I spoke to some of my favourite locals about what their plans are for the holiday season, what they are eyeing up for loved ones, and what they hope to see under their trees come Christmas morning.

Emma Lewisham, beauty industry game changer and founder of her namesake brand “Christmas is such a special time of the year that I always look forward to,” says Emma, who has had quite the momentous year on a professional front as her brand went global and gained endorsement from none other than Dr. Jane Goodall. “I cherish the intimate, quality time spent with my husband and daughter over the holiday period.

"For me, it's about being present in the moment and finally winding down from the year.”

This year, Emma will be giving nearest and dearest vouchers to enjoy at their favourite local hospitality establishments, supporting an industry that has definitely done the hard yards.

The Emma Lewisham brand has released some beautiful gifting sets for the holidays as well as a limited edition (so get in quick) Illuminating Face and Body Oil. Unlike other cosmetic oils on the market, the Emma Lewisham complex utilises 'proprietary technology which has allowed us to create an oil formulation that incorporates hyaluronic acid, which is typically oil insoluble, for superior hydration benefits. Not only does the Oil deliver unparalleled hydration and moisturising skin health benefits, but it also offers antioxidant protection while granular minerals simultaneously wrap the skin for a sun-kissed glow'.

Also here for the holidays is the Emma Lewisham Essentials premium set of minis that can be refilled using their full size product refills.

Emma Lewisham

Rickie Dee, co-founder of Superette A business powerhouse as well as a mum of three, by the time the holidays roll around Rickie is more than ready for a relaxing break. "I’m so looking forward to a bit of a summer break with my family after our crazy Christmas trade, which started in November!”

She adds that she loves the festivities surrounding Christmas, “and I always look forward to the time I get to spend with my family on Christmas Day, and beach days full of sunshine. There’s nothing better than a day at the beach when the sun is out – it’s the best”. Also on Rickie’s Christmas wish list is some dinners out with friends. "I can’t wait to book in a dinner with my nearest and dearest at our favourite restaurants… pending lockdown restrictions of course!”

In store at Superette, you can’t go past their cute offering of minis that definitely won’t get returned come Boxing day. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect secret Santa gift, stocking stuffers, or a beauty boost for the beach bag, Superette’s Make It Mini Bar has it all.

And better still, for the months of November and December shoppers have the opportunity to get their gifts beautifully wrapped in custom Superette packaging for a donation while helping charity partner Everybody Eats tackle New Zealand’s food poverty problem through its open invitation dining spaces.

Maria Munkowits

Maria Munkowits, yoga and barre teacher and retreat leader A familiar face at studios around the neighbourhood, Maria originally trained as a professional dancer. She recently launched her own offering educating individuals on how you can incorporate strength and mobility into your home or work life, which you can find more about on Instagram at @ mariamunkowits.studio.

“Christmas time to me means long warmer days, so if I can get into the sun and sea, I’m happy” says the wellness educator. “I’m lucky enough to have my immediate family here with me in Auckland so Christmas Day will be spent with them. We always do Secret Santa and keep the gift giving to a minimum, although this will be my nephew Oscar’s first Christmas so I’m sure we’ll have fun spoiling him.”

She loves the challenge of sticking to spending limitations - “it means you can get creative and who knows, maybe I’ll get crafty and make or repurpose something. Failing that, it will involve choosing something locally made to support the community.” She’s also planning to travel to 'a few of the beautiful coastlines Te Ika-a-Māui has to offer - perhaps heading north or to the Coromandel'.

Tāne Tomoana, super stylist and Creative Director for Dry & Tea Tāne is from a marae settlement in rural Hawkes Bay, and has had only had two Christmas's away from his grandparents’ home there in 40 years.

Tāne Tomoana

Neandertal from The Shelter Japanese boxed hats from The Shelter

“All going to plan, I hope to be with my whānau. My mum is an archdeacon and the church is next door, so Christmas Eve service has been a tradition going back generations. We have a very merry celebration on Christmas Day with a hāngi and seafood feast and lots of singing and extended whānau visiting throughout the day.”

The creative believes the pandemic will have made a lot of people 'change the way we think towards gifting, what we buy and who we support'. "I think it is a good time to focus on being really intentional about where your money goes. Support friends’ businesses and buy local. I also like to buy Māori made where I can."

One of his favourites is Ponsonby’s Curionoir, 'from the tiny parfum bottles to the exquisite candles in blown glass vessels, you can always find something for someone special. Superette is fabulous too, I love shopping there'.

When it comes to what he is hoping for under the tree, Tāne says, “I'm easy to please and always grateful. I absolutely love beautiful fragrances! A Gardenia's Shadow candle from Curionoir, Le Labo Santal 33 from MECCA, Astier De Villatte Namche Bazar incense from Tessuti… and some scorched almonds will never go amiss!”

Vicki Taylor, designer and founder of The Shelter “For Christmas Day we will be celebrating at home, with (hopefully) our family from throughout the North Island all joining us for a few days prior and post-Christmas,” says Vicki. “For New Year’s we will head away to Whangapoua in the Coromandel for some relaxed days of lazy mornings, sandy feet, freshly caught fish and shellfish, and of course sharing great summer food with our friends.”

When it comes to gifting, the designer says that her list is well underway as there has been plenty of time at home to plan.

"I am loving our Japanese boxed hats for summer. They are completely crushable and will bounce back into shape, which makes them ideal for summer packing! The amazing Taschen ‘art books’ from InBlack design at The Shelter are great for those discerning and hard to buy for gifts.

"At home I am leaving quite unsubtle hints for my husband as my favourite fragrance is running low and I am obsessed with the Neandertal fragrance. The design of the bottle is amazing, and the fact they have a smaller 30ml bottle makes it perfect for gifting. Their scented candle is also a wonderful gift idea; not only does it have a boutique crafted fragrance, the container shape is so beautiful it's like giving a small art piece.” (HELENE RAVLICH)

Vicki Taylor

GORGEOUS GIFTS FOR READERS OF ALL AGES FROM THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP

Out Here: An anthology of Takatāpui & LBTQIA+ writers from Aotearoa - Edited by Chris Tse and Emma Barnes - $50 I was excited by the extraordinary list of names in this collection before I even read their wonderful words. Such a variety of ages and ethnicities writing essays, poems, short stories, extracts from plays and novels - so comprehensive, so inclusive, so cool! This is an important publication and cause for celebration.

Homecooked: Seasonal Recipes for Every day - Lucy Corry $55 This beautiful and truly useful book is the debut from this awardwinning food writer who has contributed to many magazines and newspapers and is the current president of Food Writers NZ. Hundreds of recipes and delightful ideas help us make the most of New Zealand’s seasonal fresh produce. Still Life - Sarah Winman - $35 This glorious novel, set after WWII in a pub in the East End of London and amidst the exquisite art works of Florence, is utterly joyous. The quirky characters, including the young British soldier Ulysses, the elderly art historian Evelyn, and the parrot Claude, are big-hearted and able to love each other ‘warts and all’. This is a hopeful, life-affirming book.

The Joy of Gardening - Lynda Hallinan - $45 Gardens nourish us, provide solace, and offer sanctuary from stress. This is a gardening book with a difference. Filled with Lynda’s warmth and enthusiasm, it connects us with the healing power of nature. Each section starts with JOY - The Joy of Magic Beanstalks, The Joy of Fusty Old Favourites, The Joy of Making Friends with Frogs, The Joy of Sowing Sunflowers…

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes - Gavin Bishop - $40 This gorgeously illustrated, thoroughly informative book is an absolute treasure for all the family. Appropriately large in format, each double page is a detailed visual sensation. This should be in every school, library, and home in New Zealand. Gavin Bishop himself is a national treasure.

Dragon Skin - Karen Foxlee - $23 This magical tale is intended for 10 to 12-year-olds, but I loved it as an adult. It’s a story about surviving and saving those you love, from the multi-award-winning author of Lenny's Book of Everything. Pip discovers a tiny, half-dead baby dragon and knows she must bring it back to life. Heartwarming and wondrous!

Gift-wrapped Books

for Christmas

105 Ponsonby Rd Auckland 09 376 4399 books@womensbookshop.co.nz online shopping womensbookshop.co.nz

THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP, 105 Ponsonby Road, opposite Ponsonby Central. www.womensbookshop.co.nz

CHRISTMAS GIVING AT FRENCH COUNTRY COLLECTIONS

1. 2. 3.

6.

4. 5. 7.

1. Hand-blown Glass Candles and Diffusers - $59.90; 2. Oval Champagne Bucket - $175; 3. Dragonfly Dinnerware - from $17.50; 4. Rose Wreath 64cmDia - $149; 5. Gold Reindeer Candleholder - $129; 6. Serena Glassware - from $18.50 7. Phoenix Salad Servers - $45 each;

SHOP SUMMER & CHRISTMAS COLLECTIONS IN STORE & ONLINE

PONSONBY 6 Jervois Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

NEWMARKET (OPENING SOON) 34 Morrow Street, Newmarket, Auckland

THE DOROTHY BUTLER BOOKSHOP SUMMER READING LIST

Egg Marks the Spot - Amy Timberlake - $24.99 - Allen and Unwin Housemates Skunk and Badger head out on a rock-finding expedition that becomes much more dangerous than they ever expected in this second book of the odd-couple series that has been compared to Wallace and Gromit and Winnie-thePooh. Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake has created an instant classic with illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen. Age 6-10.

The Uprising (Mapmaker’s Race #2) - Eirlys Hunter - $22.99 - Gecko Press A follow-up to the internationally successful The Mapmakers’ Race – the Santander children are drawn into a community’s rebellion against a despot and use their mapping skills to avert an environmental scam. Age 8-12.

The Beatryce Prophecy - Kate DiCamillo - $27.99 - Walker Books A magical medieval tale from Newbery Medal-winning Kate DiCamillo and Caldecott Medal-winning Sophie Blackall – a fantastical, courageous meditation on fate, love and the power of words to spell the world. Age 8+.

Last Fallen Star - Graci Kim - $30 - Hachette Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim’s thrilling debut about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a perilous journey to save her witch clan family. She must decide what it means to be a witch, what it means to be family, and what it really means to belong. Age 8-12.

Kia Kaha - Stacey Morrison and Jeremy Sherlock - $45 - Penguin A powerful illustrated storybook for the tamariki and rangatahi of Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating Maoritanga. Kia Kaha is a collection of true stories about amazing Maori who have achieved incredible things. Each of them blazed a trail in their own way, and this pukapuka was written to show that with your kura huna, your special gifts, YOU can make a difference too.

Inside the Suitcase - Clothilde Perrin - $32.99 - Gecko Press A magical lift-the-flaps adventure – part puzzle, part fairytale – where the boy’s suitcase full of tricks and treasures is the key to getting him home at the end of a long journey.

The World Awaits - Tomos Roberts - $26.99 - Harper Collins The second inspiring and heartfelt book from the creator of the viral video sensation The Great Realisation, Tomos Roberts’ sparkling new picture book is a manifesto for our time – urging us all to come together to build a brighter future, one small step at a time.

Bumblebee Grumblebee - David Elliot - $16.99 - Gecko Press A group of animals get up to everyday toddler mischief in this delightful board book filled with wordplay and visual humour. Written and illustrated by New Zealand’s own David Elliot.

THE DOROTHY BUTLER BOOKSHOP, 1 Jervois Road, Ponsonby T: 09 376 7283, Email: shop@dorothybutler.co.nz, www.dorothybutler.co.nz

1. 2.

3.

4.

1. Naver Collection 2. Riviara Dining Plate 3. Wallace Sewell Brunnel throw collection 4. Roros Tweed 5. Wallace Sewell Cushion collection

www.bobandfriends.co.nz 5.

With lots of beautiful

treasures from all over

Europe, we’ve got

something for everyone.

You can be sure to make

someone happy with a

gift from Bob and

Friends this festive

season.

Visit our show room at 253

Ponsonby Road, Auckland or

shop online

www.bobandfriends.co.nz

FOR THE GODDESS WHO HAS IT ALL

The festive season calls for long overdue catch ups, late night shenanigans and lazy Sunday soirees with friends.

Celebrate summer with Aotearoa’s goddess of gin and taste the divine with Juno Extra Fine Gin and our limited edition seasonal gift packs.

Order online at junogin.com

Pretty Mama A delectable mix of citrus, spice and a fresh mint hit, let the flavours mellow as it cools with the ice.

INGREDIENTS 40ml Juno Extra Fine Gin 20ml Cointreau 1 tablespoon of passion fruit Small bunch of mint 2 wedges of lime Top with ginger beer or soda

Make it as a punch to keep the party going!

400ml Juno Extra Fine Gin 200ml Cointreau 1L ginger-beer or soda water Handful of mint 2 limes in wedges

METHOD Crush Ice, and fill a short glass almost to the top Add all the ingredients and mix with a spoon Add a Mint sprig and a few passionfruit seeds on top to garnish

Cocktail by Tessa Kerslake Created with Juno Extra Fine Gin 700ml Award-winning, New Zealand artisan gin