Sandi Sieger’s guide to what’s hot and happy(ning) this week. Eat, drink, buy, try, visit, read, be merry – iso style.
EAT: Houghnuts…The Healthy Doughnut!
Doughnuts…is there anything they can’t do? The delicious circular pastry can make even the worst workday go faster and now, they can be enjoyed guilt-free. Yes, you read that right.
Houghnuts are the original healthy doughnuts. They’re oven-baked pillows of goodness that are vegan-friendly, refined sugar-free and gluten free.
With six delectable flavours to choose from including cinnamon, raspberry, salted caramel, snickers, chocolate and lamington – there’s bound to be a flavour for even the most discerning doughnut eater.
And if you thought it couldn’t get any better…they can be delivered straight to your door! The doughnuts are available exclusively through iPantry and can be purchased individually or in a six-pack with contactless delivery to anywhere within a 50km radius of Melbourne.
DRINK: East Forged’s Nitro Brewed Tea
Australians are choosing to go alcohol free after overindulging in lockdown, or, if you’re like me and the rest of Melbourne, fresh into a brand new six week lockdown…but sometimes, you just need a little something, amirite? I’ve turned to healthy beverage choices and beer alternatives such as the new nitrogen-infused, cold-brew tea range from East Forged.
Despite early reports that Aussies were drinking more in isolation, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows the vast majority (85.6 per cent) of Australians are drinking responsibly, with 30 per cent abstaining or not consuming alcohol and 10 per cent drinking less. Only 14 per cent reported their drinking had increased.
Merging two of the oldest beverage processes by combining premium loose-leaf tea with an injection of nitrogen bubbles, the three ground-breaking East Forged brews are available in black, green or white tea infused with exotic and rare fruits (Yuzu, Pitaya and Calamansi). The end result is a cold tea-based drink with a crisp, dry flavour and a beer-like appearance and texture – minus the alcohol or bloating!
The three new East Forged brews come in a 15-can case or three-pack taster and are available online or from selected breweries, cafes and grocery retailers across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland: www.eastforged.com
BUY: H.A.N.D Sanitiser
Melbourne fragrance and beauty expert, Samantha Taylor of The Powder Room, has launched a new brand with a gorgeous range of luxury hand sanitising perfumes in response to COVID-19. And when I say gorgeous range, I mean it. The sanitisers smell absolutely divine, better than most perfumes. I know. It’s the only sanitizer I’ve used that doesn’t completely dry out my skin, either.
The brand is called H.A.N.D (Have a nice day) and the sanitising scents feature 70% alcohol, with Australian botanical essential oils that have been chosen for their mood enhancing benefits. They also feature hydrating ingredients (e.g hyaluronic acid) and come in chic, sustainable glass packaging, with refills available for purchase. H.A.N.D is the creation of Taylor – a fragrance and beauty whizz who has been involved in creating best-selling beauty products, e.g. for Sand & Sky and Coco & Eve, and fragrances for brands such as Bombay Sapphire, while also running perfume master classes via The Powder Room.
TRY: Koh’s Universal Cleaner
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to clear out your cleaning cupboard. Koh is here to simplify your cleaning routine with one effective and eco-friendly cleaning system that does the job of twenty, without compromising on power and performance.
Koh was born when Adam Lindsay, a stay at home dad from Bondi, took on the challenge of flipping the traditional concept of cleaning on its head. His objective: create one super effective cleaning solution to use across all household surfaces, that would be safe for his family, pets, and the environment.
Formulated alongside scientists at the University of New South Wales, Koh Universal Cleaner was created. The simple solution is free from harsh chemicals, fragrances, phosphates and parabens so you can take comfort in knowing that whilst tough on dirt, it’s gentle on you and your family. When the Universal Cleaner is used with Koh’s specially designed range of cleaning accessories it forms the Koh Cleaning System, which will give you a brilliant clean across all your household surfaces – benchtops, ovens, bathrooms, mirrors, floors, windows and more.
Perfect for the budding or established eco-warrior inside us all, the Koh Universal Cleaner is independently eco-certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia as well as being vegan, and approved by Cruelty Free International.
Koh’s 4L Universal Cleaner also reduces the need for single use plastic with a reusable atomiser that you can refill over and over again.
Not only is Koh environmentally friendly, but the business has been planet earth friendly since its inception in 2017. Through every purchase made, Koh is able to give back to the environment as a member of 1% for the Planet. Most recently, their 1% for the Planet contributions have led to 246,750 trees being planted in Indonesia and 124,937 trees planted in Nepal through the Eden Reforestation Projects.
The full Koh range of products offers everything you need to clean your home from top to bottom. From humble beginnings of the Universal Cleaner, Atomiser and Cloths, Koh also offers a Spray Mop with Mop Pads, Diamond Sponge (for tougher cleans) and a Grout Brush.
When you find a cleaner that can do so much, you’d be silly to settle for anything less – it’s time to clean out your cupboards and Koh instead.
For more information on Koh, please visit https://koh.com
VISIT: Little Shits: Same House, Different Day
As theatre, comedy gigs and shows are still MIA from our calendars thanks to COVID-19, get your comedy and theatre fix via your phone!
Little Shits is a series of comedic scenes created by writer/performer Hannah Camilleri (Mr. Black 2019), exploring the dynamics of three housemates, and their newest member, interacting in and around their rental in Melbourne.
Starring Camilleri herself, alongside fellow comedians and actors, David Quirk, Nat Harris and Jordan Prosser, Little Shits throws us into the hot box that is a sharehouse; quirks, misunderstandings and broken boundaries aplenty.
Little Shits will be released on YouTube every second day from 10 August, or they can be found at www.littleshits.com.au.
READ: The Commando Way by Bram Connolly
2020 has been a year of change, forcing many of us to work from home, uproot our regular routines or even completely reassess our work situation and direction. But this can be seen as the perfect time to refocus – to make the most of these changes, and to look towards new opportunities for growth.
The military have tried-and-tested ways to achieve focus, discipline, and to reach physical and mental goals. With years of experience in the military under his belt – from infantryman to Major in the Special Forces – Bram Connolly has taken what he learnt about resilience, optimisation and leadership, and put them together in an accessible, practical guide.
Bram is the host of the popular WarriorU Podcast (rated 4.9/5 on Apple) with 100 episodes featuring other successful Australian and international guests. As a trusted and respected voice on leadership and resilience, Bram will teach you how to use these “commando” techniques in your everyday life – how to steel your focus and change the game.
The Commando Way is out tomorrow, August 4, by Allen & Unwin. RRP $32.99.
