After a good month in lockdown, we have happily settled in and steadied ourselves, spent time reflecting, and have gotten accustomed to our #newnormal. We take you inside what working at home looks like for us this past month, and hope our little slice of isolation life inspires you to make the most of your days indoors.
Vlad
Head Stylist and Blog Contributor
What are you listening to right now?
We tend to have music playing in our house most of the time and this lockdown is no exception. Although there are some changes happening recently. Instead of the pleasant neo-soul and alternative r’n’b sounds that we’d usually have on the background (Sudan Archives, Kelsey Lou, Moses Sumney, Spellling, Sampha and the likes) these days we play not only oldies but goodies (The Doors, The Velvet Underground, The Beach Boys, Roxy Music), but also some gems from the late 70’s - early 80’s post-punk era - a bit more challenging Joy Division, The Cure, Japan, The Smiths. It’s good to revise these great bands once again and also give our kids a different perspective on what music could be.
What are you watching?
Again, with having a little more time on our hands, we finally turn our heads to the movies that we always wanted to rewatch. Natural Born Killers, Fight Club, The Dark Knight - these gloomy and dark films spark a great discussion, with the whole social dilemma to crack afterwards; what could be better? Oh yes, there’s also some time for the American version of The Office, too!
What are you reading?
I’ve just started Zuleikha, a book by Russian author Guzel Yahktina about the lives of various people struggling to survive in exile in Siberia from 1930 to 1946. This story is not only about the horrors of Soviet Russia that I never knew existed, but also about the human spirit, the struggle to survive and, ultimately, love. Not your light kind of reading, but an important one.
Pictured: My birthday raspberry cheesecake baked by our pastry chef Sasha.
What are you wearing?
Those who know me well, know that I always wear a three-piece suit. But with the lockdown, the rules of the sartorial game have drastically changed. So instead of a three-piece suit I now wear a two-piece suit… A two-piece sweatsuit!
What form of exercise have you been doing?
Once the lockdown started a few weeks ago my wife and I realised that we’d outgrown the home training app we’ve been using before - a very nice Nike Training App (that is also free!). After doing some research, we decided to give this new Chris Hemsworth's fitness app Centr a go - and damn, it’s tough, but so good! They have some great high intensity interval training sessions, meditation and healthy recipes! What else could you wish for? So yes, every morning without fail, five days a week!
What have you been cooking? / Share a quick recipe
We love smoothies! My daughter 5yo Ivory and I have made a perfect one this very morning - Chocolate and Avocado! So easy and yum!
You'll need
- • Half an avocado
- • Some raw almonds
- • 1½ cups of almond milk
- • One banana
- • 2 tsp of raw cacao
- • Some ice
Just throw everything into the blender and press the button! Enjoy!
Which local takeaway/cafe/restaurant are you eager to buy from when we move to Level 3?
Our local Browns Bay Fish’n’Chips shop, for sure. Need to balance out all that damn healthy food we’ve been eating!
Jose
Corporate Sales Director
What are you listening to right now?
I'm usually listening to Brazilian music and Brazilian YouTube lives. They're doing this to help fundraise for hospitals and people that need help. It usually cheers me up as Brazilian music is all about dancing and getting people pumped!
What are you watching?
I've watched an eclectic range of series that vary a lot in genre and storytelling.
The English Game, which is a story of soccer in England.
Madame C J Walker, which is a story of the first female African-American millionaire, and how she suffered a lot to get there.
And True Detective, a fictional detective series.
Pitch anything by Oren Klaff. This book helps people understand the psychology behind sales. It's a great book for everyone as well because it helps us understand how the human brain works.
What are you wearing?
Usually jumpers and sweatpants but it depends on the weather. Sometimes I just wear sweatpants and no shirts.
What form of exercise have you been doing?
I’ve been running 3/4 times a week and working out from home with dumbbells.
What have you been cooking? / Share a quick recipe
Classic fish and chips and some Brazilian cuisine like “Feijoada” which is basically beans with different kinds of meat in it. You have to soak the beans in water overnight and then cook using a pressure cooker with all the meat you want to include. Once this is done we usually eat with rice and “farofa” (caçava flour). Feijaoda is amazing. Warning - it's a bit heavy, so sometimes it's my only meal of the day. Find the recipe here.
Which local takeaway/cafe/restaurant are you eager to buy from when we move to Level 3?
For takeaway and delivery I use Luk.App - it's been developed by friends of mine and they're now offering delivery and pickup on the app as well.
Belinda
Writer and Blog Contributor
What are you listening to right now?
I’d love to say a meditation app but I’m blasting George FM from my Rova app on my UE Roll or headphones if I’m out for a walk. If it gets too much, I switch to George Chillsville, also on the app. On Saturdays I dance in my lounge to Nice’n’Urlich. I live alone, so no one criticises my moves!
What are you watching?
I’m binge watching Community on Netflix. It’s silly, easy and requires exactly zero brain power. My other faves of the same whimsical, witty genre are Schitt’s Creek, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Special, Kim’s Convenience and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
What are you reading?
I switch my brain on when it comes to reading. I’m currently reading the latest issue of Good magazine in my breaks during the day. At night I’m devouring an incredible book American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins about one middle-class Mexican woman’s journey to escape the drug cartels in Acapulco. It is profound, heartbreaking and utterly breathtaking. Everyone should read this book!
What are you wearing?
I support Kiwi brands as much as possible, so day in, day out at the moment I’m makeup free and am wearing Aim’n activewear - which I can hand on heart say I have never done in my life - along with my yummy Minnie Cooper mule slippers. Plus I just ordered a Huffer rain jacket so I can walk in the rain…. if it ever properly comes!
What form of exercise have you been doing?
Walking! Hours and hours of walking - around two hours a day. I live near Westhaven Marina and it’s been magical seeing the fish jump and swim in the shallow waters. Everyone keeps 2m apart and is biking, running, skateboarding, scootering or walking, like me.
What have you been cooking? / Share a quick recipe
I have the BEST recipe - I know because I adapted it myself - it’s my dairy-free, wheat-free Anzac Biscuits!
You'll need
- • 1 cup buckwheat flour
- • 1 ¾ cups rolled oats
- • 1 cup desiccated coconut
- • ¾ cup Chelsea Organic Coconut Sugar
- • ½ cup coconut oil
- • ¼ cup Chelsea Golden Syrup
- • 2 tablespoons almond milk or water
- • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda/baking soda
Method
- 1. Pre-heat oven to 150ºC and prepare two baking trays with baking paper.
- 2. In a large bowl, sift the buckwheat flour then add the rolled oats, coconut and coconut sugar.
- 3. In a pot on the stove, melt the coconut oil, golden syrup and almond milk or water on a low heat until the coconut oil is melted and the ingredients have combined. Do not allow the mixture to simmer or boil.
- 4. Add the bicarbonate of soda/baking soda into the mixture and very quickly add it to the dry ingredients and mix well.
- 5. Roll the mixture into golf ball-sized balls, then place on your tray and flatten. Spread the biscuits around 4cm apart as these biscuits spread.
- 6. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until your delicious Anzac biscuits are golden brown.
- 7. Let them cool slightly on the tray for around 5 minutes before transferring them onto a cooling rack. These bad boys will store ready for eating for up to a week… if you can resist them that long!
Enjoy!
Which local takeaway/cafe/restaurant are you eager to buy from when we move to Level 3?
I am excited to try Khu Khu Thai vegan restaurant on Ponsonby Road, which I wanted to get to before lockdown. And because supporting local, creative, small businesses is more important than ever, I won’t be supporting big franchises. New venture Eat Local NZ is an online ordering service for amazing Kiwi eateries that takes just 5% commission unlike Uber Eats, which takes 30%.