The festive season is here, and so is the end-of-year rush! Juliette takes us through her holiday prep, including what she will be packing for her time at the beach and days with loved ones, her favourite happy hour drink, and the ultimate home made cracker recipe.
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I am so excited for the summer break. It is such a special time to share with my family, to recharge and be with people I love. For the holidays, myself, Dion, and the girls head up north to unwind and relax by the beach. This is a family tradition that I love sharing with the girls, giving them the opportunity to be out of the city and in nature as much as possible.
As soon as the days get hotter and we arrive at the beach, all I wear is cotton. I love wearing lightweight pieces that are breathable and perfect to throw on no matter what you have (or don’t have) planned for the day.
Astrid Dress & Cotton Sweatshirt
Having a layering piece like the cotton sweatshirt is perfect for a New Zealand summer. This sweatshirt is 100% cotton, which means it gives you warmth whilst still being breathable for those unpredictable summer nights.
The Astrid dress is my favourite black dress for summer. It is easy to wear and dress up or down. I already wear it so often, and I can just see it being the dress I will never get tired of.
My favourite set at the moment. The top and short combination is a sure way to seem put together, even when just popping out for a picnic or long lunch. I love this print and couldn't resist making the girls matching skirts in this fabric.
This is the boldest piece in my wardrobe, and I am so excited to wear it on bright summer days. It is the perfect throw-on dress, with a nice, relaxed fit and in my opinion, a great dress for Christmas day.
Of course, I can’t not have a Field Tunic for the holidays. This style of dress makes its way into my summer wardrobe almost every year. I love our Limoncello print this season - it makes me think of Italian aperitivo, slowing down and enjoying the little moments.
This shirt has already had its fair share of use from last summer when I was testing the design. Purposefully designed to be with you at the pool or beach, this shirt is something I needed in my wardrobe for a long time. I love the watermelon and nude colour-ways as well as the washed cotton fabrication and the extra length it has at the back. It will be with me for many beach trips to come.
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In summer I do enjoy a little happy hour, especially when hosting for the festivities, or summer BBQs.
My go-to drink this summer is a Paloma (tequila and grapefruit soda). A Paloma is very easy to make, and great if you have multiple people joining you.
You simply need:
Serve on ice and you are good to go!
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One of the things I look forward to the most during the summer holidays, is a grazing platter. Specifically one with an assortment of cheeses, crackers and dips. This pre-dinner snack has almost become a daily ritual for my family over this time.
My favourite crackers to include in this are the easiest homemade crackers, which are gluten and dairy free, with the perfect amount of crunch and flavour. Since I was given this recipe I can’t bring myself to buy crackers as they don’t taste anywhere near as good as these. They also make a lovely gift.
3 tablespoons of sunflowers
3 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds
3 tablespoons of linseeds
3 tablespoons of sesame seeds
1/2 cup cornmeal flour
1/2 cup fine polenta (or I use millet)
1/8 cup olive oil
3/4 cup boiling water
Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
Measure out all dry ingredients into a mixing bowl then mix in the olive oil and boiling water until everything is well combined.
Spoon half the mixture onto a large baking tray covered in baking paper and press flat with another layer of baking paper on top (reusable silicon baking paper works best). You want it to be quite thin so press out as much as you can before you make holes in the cracker mix.
Repeat the process with the second half of the mixture and season with salt then pop in the preheated oven and bake until the cracker is firm enough to flip over (about 20 mins) and flip them over so it evenly cooks.
Put the trays back in the oven to continue cooking until the crackers are crispy but not too brown. If you find the edges are browning up you can always snap off the edges and put the centre back in to cook for longer.
Pull them out of the oven and move them to a wire cooling rack. Break apart when cooled and store in an airtight container until you’re ready to enjoy them with your favourite cheese and dips.
Enjoy x
I hope you have an amazing summer break filled with love, relaxation and good food. Here's to 2023!
X
Juliette
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