Every two weeks we share all the stuff we’ve recently enjoyed – from the latest TV shows to must-try foods and the most exciting spots to visit in New Zealand.
Otago Blue Apothecary Hand & Surface Sanitiser and Night Restore Hand Balm
It’s always good to hear a positive story that’s come out of lockdown. Elizabeth Ulberg launched Otago Blue Apothecary and was about to unveil a home-made botanical perfume when Covid-19 hit. Fortunately, one of the ingredients in her botanical perfume was alcohol, which Elizabeth made from scratch by fermenting yeast, sugar and water and distilling it twice to boost its potency. Fortunately because the main ingredient in hand sanitizer is alcohol.
When the virus hit our shores and the message of frequently sanitising our hands was encouraged, sanitiser was snapped up as people started bulk-buying and stockpiling it. This became the perfect opportunity for Elizabeth to create a hand and surface sanitizer and, to counteract the dry skin that continuous use of hand sanitizer causes, a gorgeous hand balm to help damaged and cracked skin.
The Otago Blue Apothecary Hand & Surface Sanitizer comes in a glass spray bottle and can be used on your hands or on surfaces – think trolley handles, door handles and other surfaces that you come into contact with on a daily basis.
There’s no petrochemical-based ethanol so it’s vegan and environmentally friendly which was a big plus for us. Palm-free vegetable glycerine, which softens the skin, is also used as are pure essential oils which give the spray its antibacterial properties and a very light fragrance. You only need one squirt to cover both hands and the 100ml bottle is small enough to carry in your handbag.
The Night Restore Hand Balm comes in a 65g amber glass jar and has a soothing blend of waterless emollients and waxes which are designed to protect your skin. The formula contains the healing power of kawakawa infused into high-quality, cold-pressed oils (selected for their ability to reduce inflammation), plant-based waxes, 100% pure essential oils and plant-based ingredients. Due to its thickness from the waxes and oils, this is a product that definitely suits application just before bedtime. The thick balm also contains lavender and frankincense oils which work wonders for relaxation and a good night’s sleep.
We love that these two products are made in New Zealand, are 100% natural, vegan, have no synthetic ingredients or petrochemicals and are not tested on animals… and the bottles are recyclable.
Purchase directly from their website.
Away (Netflix)
If you follow our fortnightly In focus features, you know by now we’re huge fans of a good space-themed TV show. Be it a historical, yet futuristic For All Mankind or a hilarious Space Force – we love ’em all. Damn, we couldn’t even resist a space-themed animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks!
Now there is one more gem to add to this collection. In September this year, Netflix launched a new TV show Away with Hilary Swank, Josh Charles, Martin Cummins and other actors you might recognise. The plot revolves around the first ever mission to Mars under the command of astronaut Emma Green (Hilary Swank). The mission will take three years and the TV show dives straight into it, introducing us to the crew of the spaceship when they’ve already reached the Moon and are getting ready for an eight-month long trip to their final destination.
Bowl’d
It’s been a while since our latest Uber Eats shopping spree and imagine our surprise when we found out the choice of Tauranga restaurants and cafes has recently easily doubled! Our newest obsession is Bowl’d – healthy food served in colourful and photogenic bowls, inspired by flavours from all over the world and available only via Uber Eats.
So far we’ve tried the Donburi Bowl (both teriyaki salmon and vegan teriyaki broccoli versions) with brown rice, grilled kumara and tonnes of fresh veggies; the Mexican Fiesta Bowl with chicken, grilled corn, brown rice, cheese, veggies and hot chilli sauce and the Vege Meze Bowl with falafel, red rice, grilled haloumi and cauliflower, pickled beetroot, tomato salsa, cucumber yoghurt, hummus and almonds. Yum, yum and yum!