Candy Squiggles Biscuits by Griffins, Brown Brothers Moscato wines, skincare by MATER Beauty, and the latest range of Karen Murrell lipsticks – these were just some of the things we’ve enjoyed over the past two weeks.
Moscato and Fruity Range from Brown Brothers
The Brown Brothers Moscato and Fruity range of wines will be a hit for those who love sweet and flavourful wines. This was evident when colleagues from neighbouring offices were invited over to sample this range of wines as the bottles didn’t last too long.
The feedback for the Brown Brothers Moscato 2021, Moscato Rosé, and Cienna was overwhelmingly positive, especially from the ladies in attendance who loved the Rosé.
Moscato is seen as one of the least ‘snobby’ wines and is a great entry point for those looking to start their wine adventure. The range is an all-round crowd pleaser and the best wine to have on standby pre-chilled for any unexpected visitors.
I’ll leave it to the experts to give a proper roundup of the three wines:
Loved for its universal appeal, Brown Brothers Moscato 2021 is Australia’s number one selling white wine, and it’s easy to see why. Refreshing and vibrant, it’s beautifully clean with a light straw colour and some youthful green tinges. The nose is lifted with aromas of musk, citrus, and freshly crushed grapes.
Serve well chilled with or without food, as an aperitif, or a table wine. Try it with a platter of soft cheese and fresh slices of Granny Smith apple. Or for something different, Brown Brothers Moscato is fantastic with Vietnamese rice paper rolls. The aromatic lift of Moscato complements the spices, while the sweetness balances the chilli heat.
The gorgeous Sparkling Moscato Rosé has a bright pink strawberry hue, giving it a light and delicate appearance. The palate has fruitiness that is balanced by acidity and a refreshing full sparkling sensation.
Serve well chilled as a classic aperitif to enjoy on its own or, with food, serve a wedge of crisp pear wrapped in prosciutto, or with a fresh fruit platter. It’s also a great accompaniment to light cheeses such as Brie or Camembert.
The Brown Brothers Cienna is abeautiful wine with a vibrant ruby red colour and aromas of fresh red berry fruit and a hint of spice. With fruit sweetness on the palate, it is rich and juicy with a light bubble to the finish.
This light and fruity wine makes the perfect partner to a wide range of dishes. Try it with a spicy Chinese hot pot and enjoy how the sweetness of the wine eases the heat of chilli and spice. Cienna is also fantastic with crushed meringue, and fresh mixed berries smothered in raspberry coulis.
With these gorgeous descriptions, you’ll want to stock up now! Available from supermarkets and liquor stores nationwide and are competitively priced at $16.99 NZD, for a 750ml bottle (shelf RRP). Brown Brothers Moscato, Brown Brothers Sparkling Moscato, and Brown Brothers Sparkling Moscato Rosé are also available in a 200ml 4 pack priced at $20.99 NZ (Shelf RRP).
We were also given these two recipes that you’re definitely going to want to try – your guests will love them – Brown Brothers Berry Fizz Cocktail and a Spicy Jalapeno Margarita.
MATER Beauty
A fabulous new entry into the skincare line is MATER Beauty, developed by Petra Škorić whose mother gifted her some words of wisdom just before she died: “Start looking after yourself and putting yourself first again.”
Petra became acutely aware of how precious our time on earth is and how she had continually neglected herself since becoming a mother. After deep reflection, Petra created a range of beauty products that maximised results and prioritised her time to balance the demands of motherhood. To immortalise her mother’s timeless advice, MATER Beauty was born.
MATER is for time poor women who have come to the realisation that they need to start putting themselves first.
Dee: “I’ve been using the I WOKE UP LIKE THIS Beyond-hydration Perfecting Serum and YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE – two stunning products that I’m really loving right now! Both products are so effective in hydrating my skin and my skin looks softer and plumper. ”
The two products – one water-based, the other oil-based – are designed to work together as a post-cleansing routine which is a great feature for those who have limited time for skincare. Use morning and night on your face, around your eyes, and on your neck to give instant hydration and softening of the skin. Loaded with botanicals, vitamins and actives these two products are powerhouses for results.
The oil-free I WOKE UP LIKE THIS Serum (don’t you love that name?) is silky light and absorbs quickly into the skin. It has a light texture and has no sticky after-feel. The blend of rose, neroli, lavender and kanuka hydrosols give it a slight floral smell and being oil-free, won’t overwhelm oily skin.
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE is a blend of 15 luxury oils, two oil esters, three antioxidants, and a powerful dose of Bakuchiol (nature’s retinol) and is suitable for all skin types. The blend has a subtle woody-floral scent and the magical colour comes from the antioxidant Coenzyme Q10.
Shake to activate before using.
Available online https://mater.beauty/
Confidence Collection by Karen Murrell
The Confidence Collection by Karen Murrell has been perfectly timed to coincide with the arrival of Autumn and the on-trend chocolate hues set to dominate the cooler months. Her latest range of elegant new lipstick shades – chocolate brown, mocha, caramel and nude – are already enjoying popularity and are a must-have for any makeup kit.
Here at focus, we’ve always loved our Karen Murrell lippies and have featured them multiple times in our Things We Love articles. We especially love the fact that her lipsticks are free from all the nasties and are made using only natural Mica and Iron Oxide pigments, as well as nourishing ingredients such as avocado and evening primrose oils, candelilla, carnauba wax, cinnamon and sweet orange. Additionally, Karen Murrell never tests on animals, making her brand an ethical choice for beauty lovers.
The lipsticks are long-lasting and easy to apply thanks to the nourishing ingredients that help them glide smoothly over the lips.
At $32 each, the Confidence Collection is excellent value for money, especially considering the quality of the ingredients used.
Candy Squiggles by Griffin’s
The return of Candy Squiggles by Griffin’s is a nostalgic moment for Kiwis who have been eagerly waiting for this iconic biscuit to be back. Candy Squiggles joins the Hokey Pokey and Raspberry Jube Squiggles on supermarket shelves and are bound to bring back many awesome memories for those who grew up enjoying this popular treat.
Candy Squiggles was the first-ever Squiggles flavour to be launched by Griffin’s in the 1980s and quickly became a favourite among New Zealanders. Ever since the product disappeared five years ago, Griffin’s has been inundated with messages and social media comments asking for their return.
Just in case you’ve never had a Candy Squiggles bikkie – commonly referred to as the ‘Pink and Green Squiggles’ biscuit – they are made up of a chocolate flavoured biscuit base topped with the delicious combination of chocolate flavoured cream and crunchy candy nuggets, covered in smooth milk chocolate. It’s irresistible flavour and unique packaging make this an iconic biscuit that’s sure to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
