“You like Pina Coladas? AND getting caught in the rain?? You'll fit right in in Wellington!
Alright. If it weren't enough that we had a crap Summer, now Winter has well and truly descended. And I don't know you about - but the grey skies are a bit grim. Recently, I’ve been bundling up and blasting the heaters when I get home from work, snuggling into bed with a hottie and looking forward HUGELY to Season 3 of Kimmy Schmidt (UNBREAKABLE! THEY’RE ALIVE DAMNIT! IT’S A MIRACLE). However, there are times where I find myself dreaming of warmer climes. While it would be great to head off to Thailand again, I have to be realistic about my goals and keep squirrelling my funds away for the future.
Wearing Tom Ford Lipstick in Sheer - Paradiso. Scarf by Kept Limited. Coat Okewa Rainwear. Haircuts & Colour Luca Hairdressing.
So if, like me, you aren't going on holiday anytime soon, and you need inspiration about how to get a little bit of sun in the soggy South Pacific, let me share these three ideas about how to bring a little sun to Winter in Wellington.
1. Get bronzed with the new Tom Ford Soleil Range (now landed at David Jones)
When I attended the launch of David Jones in Wellington last year, I wasn’t interested in Jamie Ridge or the WAGS. It was Tom Ford who I was there to see. I’d heard so much about Tom Ford’s makeup line on YouTube, where people were RAVING about how good it was. So I was a little dampened when I arrived at the counter and I found out they only had the perfume range and lipsticks available. Quel horreur! (#thatwhiteprivilegelife) Luckily, this has been rectified and I’ve got my hands on some items from the new Tom Ford range, 'The Soleil Collection'.
The product I am most excited about is the new Bronzing Powder, which comes in this amazing huge white pallet (my shade is 02 'Terra'). It brushes on silky smooth and is much more natural than my old bronzer (sorry, old bronzer – but we’re talking TOM FORD! He made a movie with COLIN FIRTH!! Say no more…you cannot compete). I tested it out on my skin and I have to say I love it so far! Bronze, bronze, bronze – and no one will be able to tell that you come from the place where the sun don’t shine (get your mind out of the gutter people).
I also nabbed a Sheer Lipstick, in a pinky colour 'Paradiso'. It goes on quite sheer and also swatches sheer, but dries down quite pigmented. As a beauty, YouTube MUA might say “the colour pay-off is good” (look at me with my lingo!)
While I was at it, I needed to replace my perfume. Last year I used one from Diptyque, which was pretty, but I found the scent didn’t really last on my skin. I knew that if Tom Ford had anything to do with it, a scent called Black Orchid would deliver. This is a great evening style fragrance, with a warm spicy scent. The top notes are French jasmine, black truffle, ylang-ylang, black currant and effervescent citrus. In the floral-spicy heart, dwells the Tom Ford's black orchid, imaginary more than real, and the base combines woodsy notes (patchouli and sandalwood), dark chocolate, incense, amber, vetiver, vanilla and balsamic. So far, I am enamoured with it.
2. Make a Splash!
Nothing makes me feel more refreshed than going for a swim! Swimming is a good all-around activity because it keeps your heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off your body. builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. helps maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart and lungs.
And luckily, Wellington has a whole heap of swimming pools at our disposal. I always go to nearby Fryberg Pool, but you could also go to Karori Pool, Keith Spry Pool (Johnsonville), Tawa Pool or the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre in Kilbirnie around Wellington. I love that swimming puts me in that calm, meditative headspace where I feel like I'm in my own zone, the same way I feel when I am at yoga (no Les Mills Extreme for me I think you'll find). The whole list of pools around Wellington is available here. Located at 139 Oriental Parade, Fryberg pool has a 33m Pool and also offers a fitness centre. You can try aqua jogging, dive classes or a sauna or steam in the steam room. So brush off those togs, get your Daryl Hannah 'Splash' mindset on and take yourself for a Winter swim!
3. Taste the Tropics!
I love nothing more on a wet day than to sip on a cheesy cocktail – it truly lifts my spirits! When you’re feeling like Winter is all grey clouds above, why not find your way to a cheerful Wellington cocktail bar like The Hanging Ditch. Located on Leeds St, it’s central to the city so no matter how strong the wind blowing against you, you’ll never be far away from a drink to help you escape to the tropics. Hanging Ditch has a really cool vibe and super experienced bar owners - they know cocktails like you might know yourself around thermal underwear in a Wellington Winter!
Now - while you could head straight for a classic Pina Colada, why not try a Singapore Sling, like we did? The Singapore Sling cocktail is an absolute classic, invented at Singapore's famous Raffles Hotel in the early 1900's. It's a really tasty tropical cocktail. So what goes into a Singapore Sling? There are many variations on the recipe, but I hear it uses Bombay Sapphire gin, Benedictine herbal liqueur, cherry brandy, triple sec, lime juice, grenadine, fresh pineapple juice and soda water. If that doesn't get you feeling warmer, I don't know what will! Happy Days!
Surrealism at Te Papa is where it’s at this winter with these wonderful events…!