Life + Style - 3 December 2021

21 August, 2015

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Experience Mauao through adventure Page 2 Pictured: Porina McLeod

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life+style The Weekend Sun 21 August, 2015 3 December, 2021

Experience Mauao through adventure There are many ways to experience Mount Maunganui’s most prominent landmark.

Some walk the winding trails up its face or wander through the shade-filled paths below.

Many swim underneath its shadow, or circle above in planes or helicopters; but this extinct volcanic cone that highlights the entrance to Tauranga Harbour is best viewed from the shallow waters that lap at its shores.

Mauao Adventures specialise in stand up paddle boarding, waka ama experiences, and walking tours of Mauao.

Owner Porina McLeod says it’s about facilitating and nurturing a journey and a connection with the moana by providing a safe, interactive and educational platform using ocean activities.

For those who choose to make this connection through stand up paddle boarding by taking the SUP adventure, Porina introduces you to the moana after a short but thorough lesson on the shore of Pilot Bay. With the morning sun on your face and the dull hum of keen fisherman and their boats heading out of the harbour, it’s an exhilarating feeling to push off into the cool blue water.

As fears of sharks and jelly fish begin to vanish, your legs begin to shake just a little bit less, and the paddle begins to move through the water a little smoother.

Mauao begins to look a little different than it does from land.

The journey that begins from the middle of Pilot Bay takes you along the shoreline, where starfish and small fish can be seen from its surface.

Soon, you face towards the harbour entrance,

moving with the current towards another of Mount Maunganui’s well known features – the statue of Tangaroa.

Whilst passing the small white jetty, dodging small fishing lines that drape from its edge, Porina explains the importance of Tangaroa and how it was first brought to the Bay. The bronze statue represents Tangaroa, God of the Sea in Māori culture, whose duty it is to protect the sea and all of its inhabitants.

Tangaroa represents safe travel through the harbour and out into the ocean, and is gifted with offerings by many a passer-by.

After dragging the kayaks onto the shore, where Mauao faces Matakana Island, Porina speaks about the history of Mauao for Māori people.

“Our love of moana (ocean), whenua (land) and tangata (people) is at the core of all we do; showing itself in the cultural and environmental awareness we champion,” says Porina.

After a walk along the sandy beach listening to stories of the past, setting off back into the moana makes Mauao seem to stand a little taller than before.

Jordan Boyd

Tangaroa – God of the Sea.

EXPLORE YOUR BACKYARD

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3 December, 2021

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books I’m excited to read makes me want to finish the one I’m on faster, which, in turn, leads to more reading.

There’s nothing wrong with deciding you really can’t get into a book and setting it aside. If you’re time-poor, chances are forcing yourself to read a book you’re not enjoying will just put you off reading altogether.

And you never know, you might come back to the book in question later and finish it quickly. Your reading taste will change and develop as you Cayla-Fay Euinton read more!

Rediscover a love of reading Many adults find themselves not reading nearly as much as they did in their youth - self-confessed bookworms that went from reading veraciously as children to not touching a book in months.

Reading is a tough thing to do in this day and age.

With the availability of streaming services, sometimes it’s easier to just watch something that conjures it up in your brain.

However, most former bookworm adults will admit that they miss reading. It’s evident every time you go to a second-hand book sale – both in the amount of new, unopened books available and the stacks of books people take home.

October was a fabulous reading month for me.

I managed to devour eight books over the course of 31 days – though the last book was a push to finish before the clock ticked over to November – and my ‘to be read’ list grew enormously.

That’s the thing about reading; the more you do it, the more you want to do it.

But sometimes that’s hard; especially with work and social commitments, not to mention husbands, wives, kids and pets.

So I thought I would share my top tips for reading more and fitting chapters into your busy day.

These are not ‘one size fits all’, and may need to be adjusted to fit your lifestyle, but I’m hoping that one or two will inspire you to pick up a book again sometime soon.

Set a goal

There are some books that are on a reader’s bucket list but are a slog to get started. Whether it’s a classic

that you think you ought to read one day, a book you were gifted by your mother-in-law three Christmases ago and you know she’s going to ask if you’ve read it yet, or something you are interested in but is slow to start, these books can be a pain in the rear.

What I find helps with this is setting some sort of goal – either aim to read the book in question for 15 minutes a day, read one chapter a day or four a week, or set a number of pages you have to read.

I did this recently with a book I was gifted – it was a real struggle to get through and I’m not sure it had been read over by a professional editor, but I knew the person who gave it to me would ask what I thought next time I saw them and I wanted to honour the gift as best as I was able.

So, I pulled out my page tab sticky notes, marked each chapter and figured out how many chapters I would have to read to finish the book by the end of the month. And it worked really well – I knew I only had to get myself through four chapters every day, and I even gave myself weekends off!

Swap screen time for book time

It’s amazing how easy it is to scroll on Instagram or Facebook for half-an-hour without realising it – and then feeling annoyed that you’ve just completely lost that time.

If you’re able to swap your idle screen time for reading time, you’ll chew through books in no time I’m sure!

Prepare your TBR

Something that spurs me on no end is knowing what books I have lined up to read next.

This is where an inspiring ‘to be read’ – or TBR for short – list comes in handy. Knowing there are four

Know when to quit

And finally, know when it’s time to throw in the towel with a book.

Some books just aren’t written for everyone, and if you’re a big reader, you’re sure to know a few that didn’t tickle your fancy.

@kingdomhoneynz

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3 December, 2021 life+style The Weekend Sun 21 August, 2015

Something special for Christmas If you’re wondering what to buy for your mum, wife, girlfriend or daughter this Christmas, here’s a word of warning: do not buy her a cleaning appliance like my lovely colleague once did for his wife!

He bought her a mop to clean the windows and has never lived it down.

It’s a big ‘yes’ to luxury kitchen products and cookbooks, but please steer clear of mops.

Below are products that are new to the market that would make perfect Christmas gifts for your loved ones, or even yourself!

Bondi Sands Skincare is the self-tanning brand that has diversified with the launch of its own EveryDay skincare range, consisting of 12 simple and affordable products that are all vegan, fragrance and cruelty free, and packed in recyclable materials. Their Wonder Potion Hero oil ($22.99) is my favourite - it doesn’t clog pores and is perfect for hydrating skin during summer.

Another very affordable yet luxurious new beauty range is Essano’s Collagen Boost, priced from $19.99 and available at all good supermarkets. Clocking in for the night shift are Collagen Boost Cream Cleanser, Collagen Boost Facial Oil and Certified Organic Collagen Boost Night Crème, which will help rewind the signs of ageing so you wake up with firm, plump and regenerated skin.

The Ardell range of nail products and lashes make great stocking fillers - and you need a good lash supply over the festive season. Ardell Nail Addict in Sweet Pink ($21.99) is

the salon-skipping alternative for perfect nails every time.

Ardell Magnetic Lash Singles Demi Wispies ($18.99), paired with the Ardell Magnetic Gel Liner ($29.99), uses virtually invisible magnets to connect lashes with no adhesive.

For organic beauty, skincare and body products, my go to is: www.ecoboutique.co.nz They sell selected ranges including Weleda, The Skin Kitchen, Pureshade Sunscreen Moisturiser and many more.

I love the New Zealand natural mineral foundation Orania, which has a really high SPF content. It comes in eight shades and they even colour match you for free; just send a photo of yourself or the person you’re buying for taken in daylight. If you can’t decide what to buy, the site also offers $60 gift certificates with a personalised message.

This beautiful necklace couldn’t be more Christmassy - it is a collaboration between New Zealand brand By Charlotte and Superette. The Heavenly Star Necklace is $179 and available at: www.superette.co.nz For foodies, the Ironclad Legacy Pan is a cast-iron skillet made in New Zealand.

Made with recycled T100 iron, the Legacy Pan has been designed to work on all cooking surfaces (including barbeque and open fire), making this a great gift for those seeking the ultimate summer cooking accessory. It is priced at $240 and available from: www.ironcladpan.com, with free Christmas shipping available.

If you have lots of family over for Christmas, you might need something to perk you up. The Espresso Gift Pack ($149) from

By The Bottle includes three locally-produced ingredients to make the ultimate espresso martini – Allpress Coffee Shots, Burnt Hill Vodka and Quick Brown Fox Coffee Liqueur. Visit: www.bythebottle.co.nz When it comes to gifts, you can’t go wrong with candles. Glasshouse Fragrances have a range of luxury soy candles, but a festive must-have is a Night Before Christmas Dancing Sugar Plums, which comes in a luxurious velvet-touch box and metallic red vessel. The 380g candle is $59.99 and the 760g is $119, from: nz.glasshousefragrances.com Local Mount Maunganui business The Cleansing Corner sells ethically sourced crystals, candles, sage and palo santo at very affordable process.

They also ship anywhere in New Zealand.

Visit: www.thecleansingcorner.com Forget Me Not Journal’s Christmas Memory Book, by Megan Hutchison, is a beautiful way to capture and cherish the essence of each Christmas across 50 years. Complete with whimsical Christmas

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Choosing her the ideal gift sculpting to the Ultraformer nonsurgical facelifts. Why not pick up a gift certificate? Call: 0800 700 717 or visit: www.shapestudio.co.nz

illustrations and 200 pages to document your family’s memories each year, this journal will be one to treasure. It is priced at $75 and available via: www. forgetmenotjournals.com

Go for sunglasses with metal frames this summer, for a subtle but stylish statement look. These rose-gold metal glasses by Marc Jacobs will enhance any summer outfit, and are available at Specsavers.

CIRCA Jasmine and Magnolia 250ml Fragrance Diffuser ($49.95) is a floral fragrance that conjures the nostalgia of a summer evening. Available from: nz.circa.com.au The Dermalogica Holiday Edition features a Hydration Heroes pack ($149) - an ultrahydrating trio in handy sizes that take skin from parched to luminous in three steps. It includes Hydro Masque Exfoliant, Multi-Active Toner and Skin Smoothing Cream (all 50 ml), and is available from Life Pharmacy, Dermalogica stockists and: www.dermalogica.co.nz Shape Studio in Bethlehem town centre offers an amazing range of face and body treatments, from fat freezing/body

Give the gift of beauty sleep with an Ecosa Silk Pillowcase. Crafted from 100 per cent luxury mulberry silk, Ecosa silk pillowcases allow delicate skin to avoid sleep creases and premature wrinkles. Visit: www.ecosa.com.au

Annemarie Quill

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December, life+style The Weekend Sun 213 August, 20152021

Whiskey me away

Three whiskies to enjoy this summer Whiskey is often associated with cold dark winter nights. A drink to warm up the soul and keep the body warm. As warmer months arrive often connoisseurs switch to gin and cold beverages.

If peaty smoky heavier flavour of whiskies is not your thing try these three fruity light easy sipping whiskies which are perfect for summer months. Ice inhibits both the flavours and smell of whiskey significantly, so my recommendation would be to cut your whiskey with room temperature water to your desired level.

Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky $69 Bottle – 43 per cent abv A very light smooth easy drinking whisky from Japan.

A blend of three distillery from Japan. Toki means time in Japanese.

This is a well-rounded sweet blend with little citrus and gentle spice on the finish.

A very light refreshing whisky that can be enjoyed early in the evening.

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey $66 Bottle – 43 per cent abv Aged in ex-bourbon casks initially and then further aged for 12 months in ex-rum casks Exotic fruity flavours mingle well with the woody notes on the palate. With a gentle spice on the finish.

Bottled at a generous 46 per cent abv the flavours stay with you for a long time. It is not overpowering on the palate and can be enjoyed with before or with dinner.

Available in a beautifully presented tin box with two glasses also for $75 Peg Blended Scotch Whisky $75 Bottle A blended scotch whiskies made with best of malted barley and grains for unique character.

Compared to the Irish and Japanese Whiskey this scotch whisky is much oily on the palate.

Smooth whisky with hints of toffee, liquorice and gentle spice on finish.

This no age statement blended whisky has much more character than lot of entry level single malts.

A step up in character to the Teeling Small batch best enjoyed after dinner.

Author Ash Parmar is owner of EightPm.co.nz - an online store for premium spirits.

He has been retailing liquor for 17-plus years with a passion for fine spirits.

He has travelled the world in his pursuit of finer whiskies.

Foodie discoveries

There are many fabulous products available out in the market, but not everyone has discovered them. Here are just a few from our panel of food lovers.

Clevedon Creamery Buffalo Cheese marinated in chilli and lime: A thrilling new creamy buffalo cheese marinated in an elegant combination of chilli and lime expertly complimented by the richness of avocado oil.

This is a cheese for sharing on a platter with friends or as the star ingredient in a delicious meal.

Try it with chicken or beef, with pasta or tortilla, toss through steamed broccolini or let it dress up a green salad.

Check out the mouth watering recipes on their website.

Sids Crazy Salt is - well - crazy! A blended mix of seasoning ingredients it certainly adds zing to just about anything.

Used in stews and casseroles it gives a wonderful savoury flavour. Or just simply sprinkle on your favourite vegetables or in scrambled eggs.

Definitely takes steamed asparagus up a notch.

Duck Island Ice Cream: If you like ice cream, hold on to your cone as you are going to fall in love with Duck Island ice cream.

Handcrafted in the Waikato since 2015 they are available is some 27 mouth watering flavours.

The highest quality ice cream you’ll ever taste, made using the freshest, best quality seasonal ingredients.

The small tub is the perfect size to keep in the freezer for a special treat for one.

Small batches, big flavour!

Sids Honey Mustard Vinaigrette: So tasty to add to coleslaws or salads or use as part of a dressing.

Wonderful on fish, pork, chicken, corned beef and makes a fantastic base for a prawn cocktail.

A chicken salad dressed with this is a showstopper.

Sids Sauces also offer a range of infused oils, sauces, vinegar products and seasonings.

There are no artificial flavours or colours, meat, nut products, eggs, legumes, lactose, soya or wheat in any of them.

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Most products are also gluten free.

The tasty infused oils are great to use on just about anything but exceptional to make sourdough croutons to go on any salad dish.

Let’s eat!

Bertagni’s pasta range is divine, plus they are quick and easy to prepare.

Bertagni is the oldest filled pasta producer in Italy and their products are made according to classic recipes of Italian regional cooking.

With many flavours and a range of classic shapes to choose from there is something for everyone.

The Spinach and Riccotta pastas are fabulous served in a simple burnt sage butter sauce sprinkled with a little crispy pancetta and a shaving of parmesan.

Bellissimo!

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Where to purchase: www.clevedoncreamery.co.nz (stockist Te Puna Deli) www.sidssauce.co.nz www.duckislandicecream.co.nz (stockist Vetro www.vetro.co.nz) Bertagni pasta range (stockist Vetro - www.vetro.co.nz)

Do you have a delicious product you would like us to feature?

Email kym@thesun.co.nz

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