How’s your week been? I’ve actually had a grrreat one, to quote that cornflake tiger in the TV ad from my childhood. What was he called? Was it Frosty the Tiger? Anyhow, here are some pictorial highlights (no tigers, sadly) of my week in photos, in this week’s instalment of The Week on Thread.
Image above: Anchor Greek yoghurt brunch designed by Jess of Underground Kitchen.
H&M IS COMING TO NEW ZEALAND
Good news for fans of H&M – the mega retailer I used to spend my meagre pounds on in London is now coming to New Zealand- and will open at Auckland’s largest shopping centre (with over 200 stores), Sylvia Park, in late 2016. Kiwi Property has over 12 million shoppers coming through Sylvia Park every year and will invest $7.7 million to accommodate H&M and upgrade adjacent mall areas. I know what you’re all thinking; when is a ZARA opening here, now The Show in Milford Mall has re-opened without it? I am sure it shall, it’s only a matter of time.
COCA COLA NZ
I had the pleasure of lunch at Scratch Bakers with Coca Cola NZ, which was both delicious and enlightening and I learned many things I did not know about this international giant. It appears that the New Zealand branch is a world-leader in several fields including being a great place to work (second best place to work in NZ!) and also around the issue of gender equality. Coca Cola Amatil won one of the seven White Camellia Awards category awards recognising the company’s transparent reporting processes on gender equality, before being named the supreme winner. The White Camellia Awards recognise organisations that are promoting gender equity through the international United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). I also learned that as well as classic red Coke, they have over 200 brands, including Pump water, several very cafe style boutique brands and even use organic local NZ apples, as well as a coconut water called ZICO that was so good I had two cans in a sitting. It was definitely a fascinating insight into the wider world of Coke than the average consumer knows about.
GO SUPERFOOD
I apologise that I am eating chips as I write this…but we all need more nutrients in our diet, and GO Healthy have sourced the most potent superfoods to make into powders to add to our diets. You already know – and no doubt love – GO Healthy supplements from this New Zealand-owned and operated health brand. Now, they have recognised a hugely growing industry worldwide in pure superfoods and have just launched GO Superfood. I attended the media launch at Main Course cooking school for a Masterchef-style challenge to cook a recipe using GO Superfood. I had a magic team inluding Trudi Nelson, Greg Roughan and Sonia Sutherland and we made a smoothie with barley grass. It was so much fun! You can buy GO Superfood at health stores and major pharmacies for $11.90 for cacao powder, through to $64.90 for the organic spirulina. There’s something for everyone so visit www.gosuperfood.co.nz to find out what’s best for you. It will not say chips. Chips are NOT a superfood even if you sprinkle barley on them and lay them on a bed of kale.
Above: team mate Trudi Nelson and I at the cooking contest. Which sadly we didn’t win, but we had a lot of fun so we were all winners in that respect.
SLEEPYHEAD
Think you could do with a better night’s rest? So do Sleepyhead, New Zealand’s number one bed manufacturer , so they have come to the party and launched a new range of essential sleep products. Called the Sleepyhead Sleep Solution, the range includes 16 pillows, four in core range duvets and three waterproof mattress protectors across four categories including: Simple Care – with hypoallergenic fill and machine washable; perfect for busy mums on the go; Comfort Touch – for softness and comfort with bounce-back support; perfect for back and side sleepers; Advance Support – guaranteeing full head and neck support; and Temp Support – with breathable and moisture-wicking properties ensuring you’re never too hot or cold.
Above: I personally tested it out at the Sleepyhead launch held at the lovely historic Quay Building on Wednesday. It felt terrific! I have the waterproof tencel mattress protector on my bed now and I spilled berry tea on it and it wiped off, so it is already useful!
NEUTROGENA SUN
I was seriously nervous about this one. I got the incredible opportunity to meet and work out (read: almost expire) with Nike Master Trainer Kirsty Godso thanks to Neutrogena launching their new line of sunscreens for summer. The weather certainly came to the party, with scorching hot sun beating down at the water side park and the sunscreen was getting liberal use. Beauty media met at a marquee at Cox’s Bay Reserve in Herne Bay to work up a sweat with the fitness goddess and do grass and mat exercises. It was honestly a highlight of my week and I loved every painful minute and it has got me back on the exercise horse again after winter time. Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport Sunscreen has a very high sun protection factor of SPF70, and cools and refreshes you and doesn’t drip off when you exercise. It is available from October 2015 for $24.99 in a lotion and a spray.
SAILS
Since the early 1980s, Sails Restaurant has been an iconic cornerstone of the Westhaven Marina, settled down amongst the yachts moored at the foot of Auckland Harbour Bridge. Now, Sails has just unveiled an all-new interior by Leslie Elliot from Evolve Design, and menu by Sails head chef, Jason Blackie. The restaurant remains a family-run affair; the Littlejohn family purchased Sails in 1991. The new look is described as ‘Hamptons Lodge with a Kiwi twist’, with the key feature of a bespoke nautical rope artwork made from 120 metres of rope, weighing 70kgs. “It took two people to physically weave the design and five guys to hang it,” says Leslie. I headed in this week to the media launch to sample the new menu which was divine, particularly the duck and also the lemon meringue tarts. The view, as always, remains stunning and a real highlight and asset to Auckland’s harbour restaurant scene.
WAREHOUSE STATIONERY
I love stationery. I love everything about it, except when people spell it with an a; that drives me nuts. There was plenty of stationery (and no miss-spellings) this week, as pretty cupcakes and China teacups set the scene for a very ladylike event at Crafternoon Tea with Warehouse Stationery. The brand is well known for providing the office essentials, but they wanted to show us how they are so much more than your printer refills and paperclips. How cool is this adult colouring wall we all could draw on? I also love my personalised Moleskin notebook, and various crafty bits and bobs we took home to play with. A cool new feature at Warehouse Stationery stores is their new mobile photo app, Printicular, which you can electronically send photos from your phone and have printed to collect in store.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
On Friday night I attended the media launch of Phantom of the Opera and the performers sang from the balcony of Auckland’s historic Civic Theatre amongst the carvings all lit up, it was so beautiful! It will be coming to Auckland in February and March next year and you can book now at Ticketmaster. For more details see their website at www.thephantomnz.com and follow the hashtag #PhantomNZ
SEASON DETAILS
Venue: The Civic, Auckland
Dates: From Thursday 11 February 2016
Prices: from $45 (transaction fees may apply)
Bookings: Ticketmaster 09 970 9700 or ticketmaster.co.nz
18th October 2015
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