Journal #22
Guys, I know it has been a while between go-to's. But now, as I gear up for the Xmas and my Summer holidays, I thought I should share my list of things that I would like to treat myself with or gift my nearest and dearest—focusing on things that appeal to the senses to uplift my energy and the energy of others. So here is what is on my radar at the moment.
Fix Dining
One of the best things that came out of Covid isolation was all the different at-home dining offerings from some of our favourite food haunts. Sadly most have reverted to pre-covid dining-in, but Fix Dining, new to the game this year, has created many must-have at-home menus using some of the finest producers from around the country. The FIX. team, the guys from Stix Marrickville (the caterers of my next Energy Exchange), prepare your meals, package them sustainably and ship them to your front door, ready for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. They help you enjoy your restaurant FIX. in fours ways:
FIX Chef Dining Menus. A chef-quality restaurant experience in the comfort of your home. All you'll need to do is pour yourself a glass of something delicious, put your dishes together, and enjoy!
Quick FIX. Chef quality-made meals to fill your freezer. Perfect for when you want something fancy but can't be bothered to do more than turn the oven on.
The FIX Store. Gives you the keys to their chefs' pantries. From secret ingredients to produce customarily sold by the pallet to their handmade condiments that will step your cooking up a notch or five.
Mini FIX. Meals designed to feed the little people in our lives the FIX way. Ready to simply be heated and enjoyed at home. An idea that I feel is brilliant and needed this time of year.
This offering would be a great present idea for a loved one or your go-to to elevate your Xmas lunch with the fam this year. I know I will be perusing closer to Xmas day.
Handwoven Picnic Rug by Peek Neek
Hopefully, with the rain behind us and warmer weather on the horizon, I am keen to up my picnic game this year. I came across these gorgeous, brightly coloured gingham rugs on The Design Files recently and absolutely fell in love. I am SUCH a sucker for gingham, especially when the colour combo is called 'Orange wine and lavender. What sealed the deal for me was that these rugs are generous in size and are made from recycled plastic bottles. Win-Win.
Catherine called Birdy – Amazon Prime
On a lazy Sunday rainy day, I finally sat down to watch this movie on Amazon Prime and loved it. How could I not as it was written and directed by the genius Lena Dunham, creator of 'Girls'. Catherine called Birdy is based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Karen Cushman. Set in medieval England, the story is about the daughter of a financially destitute Lord and how she navigates her father's plans to marry her off to a wealthy suitor. When the vilest suitor arrives, her parent's love for her is tested. This coming-of-age film is a fun and vibrant showcase of a 14-year-old girl's fight for freedom and the right to self-determination in a time when a woman's role was to be seen and not heard.
This movie had me feeling all sorts of feelings the whole way through. There was not one character I disliked. Even though it is classified as a 'period' movie, Lena weaved her creative, stylish and uber-cool edge the whole way through it, which is quintessentially her and probably why I am always such a massive fan of hers.
The book is also just as gorgeous and will be in my daughter's Xmas stocking this year. If my daughter (or son, for that matter) could grow up as strong and courageous as 'Birdy', I would be one happy mother.
Sacred Tea Ceremony by The Ritualistic Life
In the new year, I am looking forward to my opportunity to finally experience a Sacred Tea Ceremony with the beautiful Cassie Polgar from The Ritualistic Life. Experience friends have been raving about, and after I connected with Cassie recently, something I am drawn to.
Cassie is a Tea Ceremonialist who creates sacred space for rituals & practices that are woven around Chinese Tea. It is an intimate practice of sitting quietly with Tea to invoke a deep Meditative state that allows the mind to rest and brings the heart and body back into a state of equilibrium.
Cassie is based in Sydney and first fell in love with the Leaf around six years ago after stumbling across Global Tea Hut, the lineage she has come to practice under. After many years of communing with the Leaf daily and studying certain elements within Tea and Ceremony, Cassie has finally started to share this sacred gift with the world.
Cassie's ceremonies are immersive and intimate, as she only holds space for a small handful of people. 'The Sit', as she calls in, allows your mind, body and soul to awaken slowly, reviving the spirit, & allowing you to step into your day and week ahead refreshed, reinvigorated & renewed on a deep cellular level.
Cassie offers private sits and also hosts small intimate events throughout the year. If this piques your interest, follow her on Instagram for event updates or reach out to her via her website. I will report back on my experience in the new year. I can't wait!!
Mindfulness Candle Set by Candle Kiosk
I have sadly fallen off my meditation bandwagon for the past few months. Something that happens from time to time when life gets in the way. So these holidays, I am going to make a conscious effort to get back to my daily practice of meditating 20 minutes a day with the help of this beautiful ritual, the Mindfulness 20 min Candle. Designed as a great introduction to Mindfulness, with a set of 20-minute candles to focus your attention and get you started towards greater equanimity, acceptance and joy. Something we all need right now, yes?
This Ritual set includes:
• 5 x hand-dipped Haze 100% plant-based candles (burn time 20 minutes each)
• Solid brass candle stand, handmade in Japan
• A brief introduction to Mindfulness with a step-by-step guide to getting started
This candle set is an excellent gift for those who need to carve more time for themselves. I am buying a couple for my friends and a sneaky one for myself :)
Double Yuzu Margarita By Golden Age Cinema & Bar
Those who know me well know I am a sucker for Yuzu. So when I saw this Double Yuzu Margie by the guys at the Golden Age Cinema, I knew this would be my go-to cocktail for Summer.
Little did I know that this unique concoction also included white chocolate; who knew?! So they tell me that this delicious flavour combination brings smoothness to the palette while yuzu verjus adds margarita acidity, perfect for sunny days and warm nights. They suggest serving it chilled, straight up or over ice, garnished with a fresh basil leaf, if desired. The bottle serves two and comes with a complimentary Movie Night rental voucher. Golden Ages' carefully curated streaming platform featuring the best new releases, cults and classics. So cool!!
This could be a great office KK pressie or, like me, your new Summer cocktail for those nights you can't be bothered to go out.
Hand Thrown Stoneware by Anamone Studios
If you could follow one local artisan, I urge you to follow Anamone Studios. Anamone Studios creates thoughtful handmade stoneware ceramics for the everyday. The maker, Emma Motion, a fellow Manifestor and clever client of mine, is a unique ceramic artist who has been fostering a relationship with clay for over eight years. Emma's work explores functional objects with earthy textures and tones inspired by the natural world. With each of her limited edition pieces, she intends to awaken a deep connection to Mother Nature, her creative self and community while making and sharing her practice with friends.
Emma's beautiful ceramics get snapped up quickly, so best to follow her on Instagram to get the low down on when things are added to her store. My intel has told me that Emma has been busily working on lots of new wares ready in time for Xmas, so keep an eye out. I know I will be!
Emma will also be at the Smithmade Xmas Market this weekend, Saturday, December 3rd, from 10am-3pm. 14/28 Roseberry Street, Balgowlah. Go say hi!
The Astrology of You by Emma Vidgen
Words cannot describe how excited and proud I am of my dear friend Emma's book, The Astrology of You. This is her first book which is only landing on the bookshelves this month. I pre-ordered my copy months ago and am slowly working my way through, dog-earring every page, as there is SO much goodness.
Emma's The Astrology of You is a guide to understanding your birth chart, helping you decode the messages in the stars from the moment of your birth. It's a self-help book rooted in astrology that demystifies the birth chart and enables you to understand yourself on a whole new level.
Author Emma Vidgen, an astrologer and meditation teacher, has such a unique approach to Astrology and how it can help you achieve success and happiness. The way she describes the intricacies of your Natal Birth Chart is so easy to understand. Emma is also great at providing the perfect guidance for those challenging moments or when you want to discover your optimum setting for satisfying relationships, emotional security and creative fulfilment.
