Winter sillies in a dire world.
Hang in there guys.
There are a lot of reasons why in theory I shouldn’t be writing this newsletter today. It’s a Monday (my Sunday), my phone is on do no disturb (a phone’s best feature) and I usually have a laptop ban in place. I’ve also just started Rapture by Emily Maguire this morning and I would happily still be in bed drinking coffee (Jack if you’re reading this - crisis averted I found the filters x). And thirdly, I am Truly Madly Deeply in the the honeymoon phase of my sewing hobby. Fueled by a few wins recently, I don’t expect this flame to burn out anytime soon. I bought this pattern and made a (quite chic!) black satin skirt - it comes with a step by step you tube video which is great for total beginners like me. I then purchased this pattern from Liam which was more challenging but I got there in the end. Feels great to tap into an un-used part of the brain. It’s giving me battling in yr 11 math. We can do hard things!
Alas nothing kicks you up the ass like a slow cake week (IT HAPPENS) followed by a short work week. I’m in the kitchen two days this week (Wednesday and Thursday) so I figure I can dig deep for you. I’ve said it before, no one asked for this.
Boring admin out of the way - as mentioned I am open for orders Wednesday and Thursday this week and closed the rest of the week. Matariki has coincided with a very important 4th birthday so my presence is required elsewhere. No I’m not making the cake, yes I’ll be finding a very annoying, noisy birthday card to rival last years Peppa Pig one which had a much longer battery life than anyone would have expected. Excelling at annoying Aunty things.
I’ll be honest and say that at this time of year, I’m not feeling any pressure to be mixing things up or adding new items to the menu. June/July are my quietest months and I try to make the most of a bit more downtime. 13 years of doing this has given me the confidence to know that by September I’ll be craving a slower week. In saying that - feel free to order a cake lol.
Lately It’s been feeling like bad news stories are breaking every 10 minutes. I’m going to share some light, extremely unimportant shit in this newsletter, but did want to share this very frank and chilling piece by Chris Hedges . Nearly two years of killing and war crimes and little hope that this genocide will end anytime soon.
A few small ways you can support families in Palestine - 100% of the sales of these stickers from Klay go to a family in Palestine. And this online vintage store is selling some great pieces with all proceeds going to Palestinians - they have already raised thousands of dollars so far. If you are based in Otautahi, I highly recommend a meal from Cactus in Edgeware which is Palestinian owned. Great falafel and really really good vege nachos. Small actions, but better than nothing :)
Now for a clunky segue way into things that don’t matter BUT THEY DO.
Who else watched Dolly Alderton’s GRWM multiple times? That’s a Get Ready With Me - honestly well done if you didn’t know that, I’m sure you’re extremely sane. It’s the only time I’ve watched someone apply make up while talking to the front camera without feeling the need to throw my phone in the bin and have a shot. The martini, the ‘mrs havisham robe’ - perfection.
I will never talk to the front camera but I’m not above a mirror selfie (or a bathroom campari soda)
I’m a huge fan of Ensemble and its founders Zoe Walker Ahwa and Rebecca Wadey. Really loved listening to them on The Fold last week and just generally love the content they are putting into the world. They cover fashion, pop culture, brilliant people and real world issues. This was a recent favourite read - a reminder that if we can’t squash our insecurities, we can at least think twice about dumping them out into the world.
Zoe and Rebecca both have 20 years + in the media industry and their zero BS ethos is refreshing. I might have already praised about Ensemble in a previous newsletter but who’s checking. You can support Ensemble by being a paid subscriber to their substack ($75 a year, we gotta help independent media thrive). Weirdly, a lot of people who find this newsletter are recommended by Ensemble - welcome, and sorry.
I saw Small Things like These and it was as brilliant as the book. Let it be known I would watch Cillian Murphy watch paint dry. But yes, great art, go and see it.
My book choices over the past month or so have all felt quite serious, and hard going. Happy to have read them but at the time it didn’t feel particularly enjoyable. You are Here by David Nicholls got me out of that rut - joyous and funny and moving with a horny undercurrent. Flirty pub scenes - yessir. This cover quote by Nigella makes me feel better about struggling to find the words to describe a book. I love her.
In other book news, Catherine Newman has a new book coming out in September. I’ll be due a breakdown by then.
Matariki is nice time to get in the garden. This time last year I planted out the front garden - 12 months on it’s starting to fill out. Still work to be done - a few Portuguese laurels are going in this weekend as well as something to hide the fence. I bought some perennial plants from Hands in the Dirt the other week - check them out! Their selection of perennials is so good with many varieties you won’t find in the garden shops. I bought six plants and they all arrived in great condition (packed with wool which you can place around the base of the plant once in the ground to keep them cosy.)
Full disclosure I still haven’t planted my tulips.
Everyone needs a brother who forces them to watch Sabrina Carpenter videos. If you don’t, I’m here for you. If you’re someone who has been voicing an opinion on her ‘controversial’ album cover, get off your phone and go for a walk. An embarrassing hill to die on IMO. A better hill to die on - the importance of dancing with friends and party lights.
My cooking lately has been soup and pasta heavy, with trusted recipes on high rotation. Rachel Roddy’s A-Z of pasta book is getting a lot of use at the moment - a kitchen staple. I’ve been loving discovering Hetty Lui McKinnon’s recipes over on the NYT cooking website lately. You need a subscription for NYTC recipes - $20 a year and a good investment for my health and wellbeing. Hetty has a substack where she shares recipes for free. Here you can find her recipe for addictive cabbage. I’ve been making this lots , adding various vegetables depending on whats looking limp in the fridge. It’s a simple recipe that is worth the gas if you’re like me and love cabbage but it don’t like you.
This pasta alla vodka recipe is perfect - on the menu at my casa this evening. DO NOT reduce the cream content, life is for living.
A good thing to do with day old bread - slice in half longways. Spread with a generous amount of leftover pasta sauce, passata or similar. Rip up some mozzarella and layer on top. Add anchovies and grated parmesan. Drizzle over some EVOO. Add the top layer of bread, wrap in tin foil and bake for approx half an hour or till the mozz has melted. You can slice it up and serve as little messy snack, or cut into generous slices for hot sammies.
A few quick recs to wrap up and then I need to shower (it’s 3.15pm).
Broken record here but Lillies is a great place to settle into on a cold night. Take a group and get the $65 feed me option (super generous, great value)
Tom is making meatballs to take home over at Estelle - you can place an order for this Thursday and tick off a meal for the long weekend. Details here.
People with boobs - two words - Nala bras (.) (.)
Millennials will enjoy this trip down memory lane.
Lily of Mothmade is updating her website this week with a new range of rings - she makes beautiful stuff and does more than her fair share of putting good into the world.
This gorgeous LOTR chat on Sentimental Garbage pod. I’m jealous of anyone who hasn’t wrung out the entire Sentimental back catalog.
A lot of nice things in my life, but tbh been feeling pretty bleak about the state of the world. I guess you can give a shit about the big stuff and still find moments to care deeply about Cooper Nielson’s grey sweatpants.
Take care out there!
