Hint Magazine Archives – Mr and Mrs Romance

Have Yourself A Very Memory Christmas

Mr Romance — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Wouldn’t it be nice, once all the tinsel and torn paper is tidied away, the tree’s gone and you’ve put your gifts to work, that you could look back on Christmas and smile at the memories?

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Christmas is always such a busy time of year — which is crazy if you think about it, isn’t it. The longest, most significant holiday in our calendar and yet at the end of it, it feels like you need another break!

And all too often, after a week or two back at work, Christmas seems like such a distant fragment of the previous year.

Friends and colleagues will ask: “Did you have a good Christmas?”

The closest we can muster is a vague “yeah.” Even if you had a lovely time and worked your ass off to make it happen. It all goes by in a flash.

After all the effort, stress and planning, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to look back on this Christmas and recall the best bits?

This story was part of this year’s issue of Hint Magazine, our online guide to Christmas where you’ll find more stories like this, delicious recipes and a bumper gift guide to help with this year’s festive decisions.

Get your free copy of Hint Magazine here!

By the way, I’m not shilling a memory course or a some ‘learn how to speed read’ method here. That’s not what this is. And it’s absolutely not relationship advice.

We don’t do that.

Instead, it’s a few pointers that might help keep us all present over Christmas so we not only make the most of those late December days, but so we can keep joyful memories of them too.

These Christmas baubles that you can put photos in are awesome – this is Jim as a baby with his grandparents. Don’t ask him about it being black and white – he gets a bit defensive!

Take Photos

Even if people get grumpy about it at the time, having some pictures of the festivities is priceless. Remember, this time will never come again… I mean Christmas will, but not this specific one.

A couple of candid snaps of people opening presents, the dinner spread, folks playing games or watching the cricket all make up to the story of this Christmas. Then make sure you share them on the family chat as January clicks over.

Write It Down

Keeping a note — even just on your phone — of the funny things people say or do or that happen over Christmas is a lot of fun. You don’t have to be a war correspondent about it, but by the time the new year’s kicked in, those moments will fade.

I’ve kept a note on my phone of all the funny (and wise) things Christina’s said over the years and it’s honestly the best.

This is an olive and cheese Christmas tree ‘dip’! delicious and quite easy. Click on the image for the recipe!

Christmas is about family time, there’s no doubt about that. But it’s important to remember that your parter — the one you chose to spend your life with — is as much your family as anyone.

Quality Time

Make sure you find time to be together away from the craziness.

It doesn’t have to be long, just a few stolen minutes here or there if you’re super busy. Or maybe just a quick hold of hands between courses at the dinner table. But it makes all the difference.

Check in With Each Other

Just a quick ‘how’s everything going?’ or ‘are you winning?’ makes a lot of difference, but the real trick comes next.

First, if your partner asks you how you’re doing, you have to be honest (and realistic) with them. Second, if you’ve asked the question, be prepared to listen to and act on the answer!

Communication is everything. And so is patience.

Make Your Parter Your Priority

I know this is hard sometimes when there’s so much going on, but making sure they’ve got a drink or they’ve had chance to sit down at some stage is important.

And keep an eye out for a rescue. We all have that dodgy uncle or rambling aunt that — once they’ve got you in their tractor beam — there’s no escape!

Above all, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make everything perfect. It doesn’t have to be the Christmas that everyone says ‘do you remember that Christmas’, but it can be the one that you all smile about when you look back on it.

The post Have Yourself A Very Memory Christmas appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

How to Make This Easy How to Make This Port and Gorgonzola Pâté Recipe

Mr Romance — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 23:46:56 +0000

Most pâtés are messy, time-consuming and a bit of a pain to make at home, but this port and gorgonzola pâté recipe is none of those things — and what’s more, it’s easy to make this vegetarian!

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Combining the sultry savoury and spicy notes of luxurious gorgonzola cheese, the vibrantly fruity balanced sweetness of Cockburn’s ‘Ruby Soho’ Port, and the tang of fresh spring onions and herbs, this pâté is perfect for the summer platter.

Munch it down on some crusty bread or add it to a slice of apple and you’ve got yourself a flavour sensation!

You can find this port here in the Drinks section of our Hint Magazine gift guide 2025.

Port and Stilton Pâté Recipe

Makes about 150ml of pâté

Here’s what you need:

– 55g unsalted butter
– 1 spring onion – finely chopped
– 60ml Cockburn’s Ruby Soho Port (see alternatives below)
– 125g gorgonzola dolce
– Zest of ½ lemon
– 1 small bunch of coriander – finely chopped
– Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Here’s what you do:

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan and sweat the spring onion until it’s soft.
2. Add Cockburn’s Port and simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Add remaining ingredients and stir well, ensuring the cheese has melted.
4. Transfer into food processor and blitz until everything is combined and liquid.
5. Pour into ramekins and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

A couple of extra ideas:

Try other strong blue cheeses. We also tried it with stilton and the pâté was delicious. The only thing to look out for is if the cheese you substitute is vegetarian or not. The Gorgonzola we used was not.

You can also swap out the port for other fortified wines — even red vermouth — to change the flavour profile.

Instead of spring onions, try shallots or chives to give different flavours to the pâté. We gave some red onion a go and it worked beautifully.

I wonder, could you even add a touch of chilli to the mix?

The post How to Make This Easy How to Make This Port and Gorgonzola Pâté Recipe appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

An Apple Tart A Day Keeps Boring Desserts Away — how to make apple tart a la Alsacienne

Mr Romance — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Apple pies, tarts and crumbles are always a welcome sight at the end of a meal, but this version of a French apple tart elevates a classic dessert to be something truly memorable.

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A couple of years ago, I was welcomed into a new group of friends who meet every Tuesday for dinner around one of the member’s houses.

More often than not, dinner takes the shape of a barbecue, though before you start picturing cheap sausages and blackened burgers, these guys take their food pretty seriously.

Things start off with a cheese platter, perhaps an artisanal saucisson or salumi, maybe a dip or two that someone has brought.

Next, someone might have fetched some lamb cutlets or maybe some locally-sourced sausage, grilled then sliced for everyone to pick over.

The main event is often a picañha or rump cap cut, sometimes reverse seared to encourage the sought-after Maillard reaction, which is the caramelisation of proteins that bring umami to the meat. The cut is then sliced delicately for everyone to take what they want.

Someone produces a salad and we dine grandly on Italian wines or local beers. Perhaps a touch of port or limoncello at the end.

It’s by no means you common or garden barbecue… though the barbecue is in a garden somewhere. You know what I mean.

The only thing that was missing was a sweet to match. So I’ve somehow become ‘dessert guy’.

I mostly deal in apple-based desserts, though I have dabbled in the likes of this olive oil citrus cake and this cashew caramel chocolate tart. So far, the most successful apple dessert has been this apple tart a la Alsacienne.

How to Make Apple Tart a la Alsacienne

Serves 8-10

Here’s what you need:

– 2x sheets of frozen shortcrust pastry (though I have used puff before and it works)

For the custard

– 2x eggs
– 5g cornflour
– 40g plain flour
– 50g caster sugar
– 220ml full-fat milk
– 45ml thickened cream
– 2tsp vanilla extract

For the apples

– 600g green apples (granny smiths work well)
– 1tbsp lemon juice
– 1tsp cinnamon
– 40g caster sugar

For the glaze

– 2-3 tbsp orange marmalade
– 1-2tbsp hot water

Here’s what you do:

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC (fan forced) and blind bake the pastry using rice or baking balls* in a scalloped pie tin for 15min. You can bring it out of the oven and leave it to one side when it’s done.

2. Turn the oven down to 160ºC.

3. In the meantime, mix the eggs, flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth.

4. In a pan, heat the milk until it’s nearly boiling then pour it into the egg, flour and sugar mix. Stir constantly as you pour to keep the mixture free from lumps.

5. Pour the mixture back into the pan and heat on medium until the mixture thickens. Stir constantly to avoid catching on the base of the pan. Once the custard is thick, remove from the heat, add the vanilla and stir thoroughly. Leave the custard to cool.

6. Peel, core and slice the apples into thin wedges no more than 4mm at the thickest point. Add them to a large bowl and mix with the lemon juice, cinnamon and sugar until the apple slices are coated.

7. When the custard is near enough room temperature (you don’t have to be too fussy), pour into the pie case and level out with a spatula.

8. Position the apple slices on the surface of the custard any way you like. This can be a bit fiddly, so enjoy the mindfulness of this step and find your zen while you apple the custard!

Any liquid left in the apple bowl is yours to play with. Don’t add this to the tart.

9. Bake at 160ºC for 40-45min until the custard is firm and the apples are catching some colour.

10. Once out of the oven, glaze the tart by brushing with the marmalade and hot water mixture (remove any orange pieces if you like) and allow to cool. Soon it’ll be time to eat!

* I like to line the pastry with baking paper then with foil before adding the baking balls. This keeps the pastry nice and neat.

This recipe is based on the ‘tarte Alsacienne aux pommes’, which has the apple at the bottom and the custard poured on top, but I like the visual effect of the apples on top.

Serve With This Vanilla Ice Cream

For the ice cream, I used my beautiful new Tefal Dolci Black Knight. This amazing piece of tech makes ice cream and gelato at the touch of a button, but also has eight other functions, from frappes to sorbets to frozen cocktails to milkshakes. It’s brilliant — you can find it here in our Hint Magazine gift guide.

You simply bring 200ml of milk and 200ml of cream, 50g caster sugar and 8g of cornflour to the boil in a saucepan — whisking as it heats and thickens.

Stir in 2tsp of vanilla essence, pour it into one of the Dolci pots and freeze.

Once frozen, the pot goes into the Tefal Dolci machine, you press the ‘gelato’ button and within four minutes, you have the most delicious vanilla ice cream you’ve ever eaten.

The machine works not by churning the mixture for hours and hours like conventional ice cream makers, but by chamfering layers of the frozen mixture away with angled blades and then churning it until creamy.

It also does a whole range of other frozen goodies from sorbets to cocktails to fro-yo. Very impressed.

This is an ice cream making system that’s usually only found in commercial kitchens We first saw a machine like this at a demonstration for commercial kitchens about 23 years ago. A company called Pacojet makes machines that run like this but can cost six times as much as the Tefal Dolci. They’re also much bigger, they don’t have as many programmes and don’t look anywhere near as sleek!

The post An Apple Tart A Day Keeps Boring Desserts Away — how to make apple tart a la Alsacienne appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Festive Finds for the Frequent Flyer

Mr Romance — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Both instructional and inspiring, functional and stylish, this selection of gift ideas is a fine dose of medicine to feed your travel bug.

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We love to travel; and when we’re not physically travelling, we’re thinking about it, reading about it and finding ways to prepare for it. I guess that’s what happens when you find an all-encompassing passion.

The good news is it makes it pretty easy to buy gifts for people like us!

We always love to learn more about far-off places. And when we’re not thinking about exotic destinations, we’ve got an ear to the ground for somewhere local to visit we haven’t heard of before.

The travel section in this year’s Hint Magazine is a real mix of useful kit to make travel easier, safer or more enjoyable, and a whole host of travel books that either inform, entertain or inspire.

If you or the one you love is at all interested in exploring the world, this is the gift guide for you.

You can also check out the whole of this year’s Hint Magazine here:

Or you can download your own PDF copy of Hint here for free!

Christmas Gift Guide For The World Traveller

Ultimate Ears Miniroll portable speaker – $99.95

Small but mighty, the Ultimate Ears Miniroll delivers incredible sound quality up to a surprising 83dB (it’ll out shout a truck going past at 60kmph).

On top of that, the Miniroll can survive being dropped, and is completely dust proof and waterproof up to 1m, and maintains a charge for over 12 hours!

But best of all, when you have two or more Minirolls, you can enter PartyUp Mode and link up an unlimited number of speakers with inbuilt Auracast tech so your tunes can fill any space!

All this from a speaker that weighs less than a paperback.

Rikka Design Phone Cases and Straps

Case and strap bundles start at RRP $49.00 and individual straps retail at RRP $55.00

Phone theft is an ever-increasing concern when you’re travelling — not just because this targeted crime is becoming more common, but also because of how much we rely on our phones when we’re on the road.

Each case comes with a ‘hook attachment’ which clips structurally inside the case, creating a strong, durable connection between your phone and the strap, which then hooks on by two metal lanyard clips.

Straps and cases come in a multitude of colours and designs blending secure, comfortable and convenient design with fun, bright colours. Rikka Design’s phone cases and straps are the perfect option for the stylish traveller.

[Pictured: Lilac Bloom Strap & Go Bundle RRP $79.00, Boho Blue strap RRP $45.00, Rainbow strap RRP $45.00]

Best in Travel 2026 – Lonely Planet RRP $32.99

Marking its 16th edition, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel guide showcases 50 of the greatest must-visit destinations around the world.

From Botswana to Barbados, from Tunisia to Tipperary, this 2026 edition is as wide-wandering as it is deep-diving.

Split into two, the book’s first half is focused on 25 incredible places to visit, giving insights into these remarkable locations with a combination of history and hot tips.

The second half is all about experiences. Zeroing in on what to do in each of the highlighted places. Harnessing the artful craft of the Lonely Planet writers, the book paints vivid and evocative pictures through great storytelling.

This is a must for any globetrotter or armchair voyager.

100 Weekends in Europe – Lonely Planet RRP $49.99

A book I wish we’d had when we still lived in the UK, this guide is the ultimate travel thirst trap for Aussies. Flicking through this beautifully produced snapshot of Europe makes the travel bug bite hard.

Split into the four compass points and starting with southern Europe, each of the 100 weekend trips begin with an enticing overview of the destination followed by a two-page spread on the details of where to go, what to and what to see. There is also a ‘Practicalities’ section on accommodation, and getting there and transport.

So gift this book of travel temptations at your peril; promises of ‘Baroque beauty & beaches’ in Puglia, the romance of Lucerne, the majesty of the Tyrol and Innsbruck, or the green hills of Wicklow and Dublin will whisk the reader away before they’ve even booked a ticket.

Toilets of The World – Lonely Planet RRP $24.99

Are you sitting comfortably? This fun and fascinating cross-continental compendium of crappers by Lonely Planet brings to light some of the most intriguing, outlandish or just downright opulent dunnies, privies and WCs from around the world.

Along with pages of mind-boggling bagni across the globe, there are also fun tidbits like the ‘Toilet Timeline’ — a chronicle of the khazi, a thunderbox thesaurus and some other choice factoids about the smallest room.

And just when you thought your travel library was flush…

Best Day Walks Australia – Lonely Planet RRP $39.99

Exploring this beautiful rugged country on foot, heading out on a bushwalk is one of Australia’s great national pastimes. To the point where many icons of the Aussie great outdoors are synonymous with walking.

Best Day Walks Australia splits the country into 10 sections, covering the east coast, the Red Centre, the northwest and southwest WA, wineries and mountains in SA, Victoria’s alpine regions and the Great Ocean Road, and Tasmania’s highlands and coastlines.

This collection of 60 different day walks with maps is the perfect gift for someone who wants to get their hike on, but isn’t sure where to start. Wherever you are in Australia, there’s sure to be a beautiful walk nearby.

Best Bike Rides Australia – Lonely Planet RRP $34.99

There are few ways better to experience the land you’re travelling through than from the saddle of a pushie.

This compilation of great rides throughout Australia — or at least as far north as Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Too hot any further up, right? From rides that take a couple of hours to full day epics, the 37 trails in this book guide you on more than just your direction.

Along with marked highlights and top refreshment stops, this book gives you the deets on the difficulty, duration and terrain to expect from each ride. But you’ll also find useful tips on bike hire, places to stay and all the other things you need to be aware of on a biking holiday.

To keep your weight handicap down, these 37 guided maps are also available to download via QR.

Art Destinations – Lonely Planet RRP $65.00

As much a coffee table book as a travel guide, this spectacular hardback combines two of this world’s great pleasures: art and travel.

Championing 70 destinations for the incredible art within them, Art Destinations celebrates the creativity of cultures through the ages and across the planet.

From the edgy and often unusual craft of Reykjavik in Iceland to colourful paintings and mysterious sculptures in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to the x-ray rock art of Ubirr in Kakadu, dating back over 40,000 years, this remarkable book takes you on a cultural and historical voyage around the world.

Journey Route 66 – Lonely Planet RRP $36.99

Quite possibly the most famous road in the world, Route 66 stretches from the beaches of Southern California across three quarters of the USA to the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

We’ve only driven a short section of it on our long-way-round drive from San Diego to Las Vegas, but the bit we saw was unforgettable.

Lonely Planet’s guide along this legendary highway is so much more than just a step-by-step itinerary. With thoughts and perspectives of the on-the-ground writers, you get a real feel for what it’s like to explore the length of the Mother Road.

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Make a Home This Christmas — top gift ideas for the festive house

Mr Romance — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000

They say that a home is more than just a house – and they’re right: to make somewhere homely, you need nice things to put in that house! We’ve got just the gifts for it.

Sign up to our free newsletter here for more travel inspiration. You also get your own copy of our travel ebook — it’s on us!

I’m not sure I like the moniker ‘gifts for the home’. It suggests no one specific person gets to enjoy said gifts. And that’s just not true.

In our household — if it’s between Christina and me — I definitely enjoy homewares and kitchen tools more than she does.

That being said, the selection of gift ideas in this year’s Hint Magazine have something for everyone.

For more gift ideas this Christmas, check out our full free gift guide here:

You can also click here to download your own PDF copy of Hint Mag for free as well.

Otherwise, scroll on down for all your inspiration for ‘gifts for the home’ whatever that means!

Tefal Dolci Black Knight Ice Cream Maker RRP $349.95

Calling this technological marvel simply an ice cream maker isn’t giving Tefal’s latest stroke of kitchen genius nearly enough credit. The Dolci Black Knight can create milkshakes, smoothies, sorbet, slushies, fro-yo, frappes and even cocktails at the press of one if its soft-touch buttons.

And as for ice cream, you can even choose between gelato or more traditional ice cream.

You simply fill one of the pots provided with your ingredients, freeze them and when you’re ready, the Dolci does the rest. Its blades churn into the pot, making smooth, scoopable goodies in minutes. How good is that?!

There’s no mess, no hours of churning and no guesswork. Results from the Dolci are perfect every time.

With this package, you also get three tins of inspiration in the form of Nesquik milkshake flavours. Mix these in when you’re putting together your ice cream ingredients and you’ve got an instant flavour sensation!

Curated Living by Susan Redman — RRP $82.90

Talented journalist and author Susan Redman’s latest interiors book Curated Living: Elegant Interiors and Artful Homes highlights 18 beautifully furnished, art-filled homes from around the world. Within the book’s pristine pages are stories about each house and interviews with the interior designers involved with each stunning property.

From inner city Melbourne to Stockholm’s swanky Ostermalm to gritty Brooklyn in the USA, this book takes a peep inside some of the most sophisticated, resplendent and culturally iconic homes of Australia, Europe and North America.

Anyone who values, great style, superlative taste and nuanced decor will fall in love with this book.

Hidden Libraries – Lonely Planet RRP $42.99

Libraries have a special mystery to them — and I’m not just talking about how the Dewey Decimal System works. It’s the idea of contained knowledge, the smell of old books, the sight of orderly rows and shelves, and that didactic silence that builds an image of what a library is in our minds.

Hidden Libraries not only promotes that mysterious quality, but adds to it, sharing some of the world’s most unusual book depositories through its articles and photography.

From American prisons to the Colombian donkey-based mobile ‘biblioburro’ to Japanese underground libraries to the tundra of Antarctica and the far reaches of space, the purely human quest for knowledge and where to keep it is never better explored than in the pages of this book.

Everlasting Candle Co Wylie Signature Gold Set — RRP $80.00

Elegant and sustainable, these clever candles are the brainchild of Tamara and Jesse Furgason, an Australian husband-and-wife team who wanted the beauty of candlelight without the mess or longevity issues of traditional wax candles.

Made from stainless steal and fuelled with soot-free, smoke-free and scent-free Pristine Oil®, Everlasting Candles bring all the benefits of candlelight to the room with none of the bad bits.

The Wylie Signature Gold set comes with a subtle, curved glass vase and warm gold candlesticks, and each set includes a 473ml (16oz) bottle of oil and a little funnel for easy refuelling. The candles are all handmade in Vancouver, Canada, and in partnership with the Disability Association of Canada, which brings a little light to people’s lives too.

Autoglym 60th Anniversary Christmas Bucket Bundle Detailing Kit RRP $99.99 (over $200 of value)

Celebrating 60 years of keeping your car looking its absolute finest, Autoglym has released its best-value detailing bundle ever! This collection of carefully chosen products — available only at Super Cheap Auto — is the perfect gift for anyone who cares about what they drive and how it looks.

Here’s what’s included:

Microfibre Wash Mitt

The densely packed super-absorbent microfibre ‘noodles’ on this mitt shift dirt and grease like it’s not even there!

Perfect Polish Applicator

Applying exactly the right amount of polish (or any other finishing product) across your car’s paintwork, this shaped applicator makes light work of this important step.

Foaming Car Wash 1L

Quickly building a head of foam, this shampoo takes all the dirt off your car and leaves not a streak behind. It even smells good!

Fast Glass 500ml

The key to clean windows is speed, and this cleaner does not mess about. Ripping through grime, Fast Glass leaves windows, screens, lights and mirrors so clean it’s like they’re not even there.

Super Resin Polish 500ml

Working double time, this resin polish not only glows up the paintwork, it magically erases minor scratches and scuffs. It’s so good, this polish has even won awards!

Vinyl & Rubber Care 500ml

The devil’s in the detailing, and this conditioner is what it’s all about. Giving back lustre and depth to interior and exterior rubber and vinyl surfaces, this stuff is the Paul Rudd Effect for your car!

Limited Edition Edgeless Microfibre Cloths (x4)

Tough yet fluffy, these two-sided microfibre finishing cloths have a deep pile side for lifting loose dust and polish residue, and a short pile to remove sealants, waxes and detail sprays for a perfect shine.

15 litre bucket with lid

All this comes in a deep tub decorated with 60 cars shared by Autoglym fans around the world. Handy for storage and for when it comes to wash day!

MiGOALS — Australia’s Leading Empowering Stationery Brand

Managing to combine function and form, MiGOALS’ diaries, planners and notebooks puts this Melbourne-based stationers ahead of other brands on the market. And better than that, it’s done with a sense of humour.

These journals and organisers are all designed to get ducks in a row and clear some headspace with minimum effort, but maximum effectiveness and enjoyment.

MiGOALS B5 Classic Goal Digger 2026 Diary — RRP $54.99

Packed with clever features all crafted to keep you on track, this planner has everything from monthly and weekly planning pages to deep-drill goal milestones and schedulers.

There are also pages with witty inspirational quotes like Jefferson’s “if you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to so something you’ve never done before.”

MiGOALS B5 Classic Focus Pad — RRP $14.99

Built around the Eisenhower Matrix (created by the famed US president General Dwight Eisenhower), this powerful little pad gives you four vital options of your to-do items: Do First (most important), Schedule (plan ahead), Delegate (who can do it for you?) and Don’t Do (neither urgent nor important).

Using this system allows you to “focus on being productive instead of busy” — something we’re all guilty of.

MiGOALS A6 ‘Get Shit Done’ field book — RRP $7.99

Coming in a multitude of colours, this powerful little book is designed to inspire action rather than vacillation. Its simple layout and plenty of blank space gives your mind room to think as you get down your to-do tasks and any notes you need along the way.

There are pages with helpful tips on how to get shit done too, like creating daily to-dos, batching tasks, how to prioritise jobs and how project-based tasks are easier to deal with.

The post Make a Home This Christmas — top gift ideas for the festive house appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Give The Glow of Christmas With These Cosmetics Gifts

Mr Romance — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Tis the season to shimmer, sparkle and spoil the ones you love (and — let’s be honest — yourself). We’ve rounded up the most festive beauty and self-care treats that’ll make any Christmas morning feel a little more glamorous.

Sign up to our free newsletter here for more travel inspiration. You also get your own copy of our travel ebook — it’s on us!

I always find it interesting how cosmetics show trends so much clearer than pretty much anything else on the market.

As you’ll see from Hint Magazine’s selection of cosmetics gift ideas this year, focus has really turned back towards natural products or products that harness natural ingredients and remedies.

From ancient Ayurvedic medicine theory to high-UMF Manuka honey to plant extracts that naturally encourage skin vitality, everything is turning back to nature.

The following brands — all of which are Australian owned and run — are shining a light on the incredible power and benefits of nature.

For even more Christmas inspiration — from gift ideas to recipes and motivation — check out this year’s Hint Magazine:

Click here to download your own PDF version of the magazine for free!

What’s this I’ve heard about a ‘sealed section’ in Hint Mag 2025?

At the end of this guide, you’ll also have access to our exciting new Sealed Section! For a few naughty (but very nice) gift ideas that get a bit more personal than the usual, have a look and see if anything tickles your fancy!

Click here to get down to the Sealed Section straight away, then you can decide whether you want a peep inside!

How To Have A Beauty Full Christmas

Iyvos Skincare Nourish & Glow gift set RRP $383.00 ($425.00 of value)

This cosmetics bundle from Iyvos — an Australian skincare brand focused on nurturing and empowering women’s confidence in their appearance — is the perfect gift set to pamper that special someone this Christmas.

Hydrating Milk Cleanser — individual RRP $89.00

Featuring chamomile water, rosehip oil and jojoba oil, this cleanser replenishes moisture and soothes as it cleans.

Active A Serum — individual RRP $137.00

With Vitamin A, niacinamide and hydrolysed marine collagen at its core, Iyvos’ serum boosts cellular renewal, unclogs pores and plumps your skin.

Collagen Moisturiser — individual RRP $109.00

Packed with marine collagen, epidermal growth factors and CoQ10, this moisturiser is a powerhouse, hydrating and nourishing your skin, and providing antioxidant protection.

BB Cream — individual RRP $90.00

SPF 30+ zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin B3 make this BB cream the perfect final skincare step before you go out (or get your face on). Available in three shades.

Iyvos Skincare Restorative Oil $32.00

Also from this luxe Aussie brand that’s focused on you not only looking but feeling your best, is this Restorative Oil from Iyvos.

Not only does it bring back moisture to your skin, smoothing lines and brightening your complexion, it boosts your skin barrier function, protecting your face from environmental stressers and locking in long-lasting hydration.

Honey Biotics Intense Moisturiser — $39.95

Honey has been used as a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory for centuries, but this range of products harnesses the natural healing properties of high-grade Manuka honey in all new ways.

The backstory to this Australian beauty brand is extraordinary (it involves the co-founder’s miraculous recovery from a near-deadly staph infection using high-UMF honey), and the result is something special.

Honey Biotics’ Intense Moisturiser is formulated with natural ingredients like jojoba oil, shea nut butter, grapefruit seed extract, bee’s wax and — of course — UMF15+ Manuka honey. The result is a powerful moisturising cream that is perfect for dry skin, but also one that’s helpful for conditions like psoriasis, eczema and acne, not to mention minor scratches and abrasions.

I’m also looking forward to trying this stuff out on annoying mozzie bites this summer.

Mukti Gua Sha Essential Kit RRP $121.00

Harnessing the ancient Chinese technique of Gua Sha, which lifts, sculpts and tones the skin while reducing puffiness, this bundle from celebrated organic Aussie brand Mukti is the ideal gift for that at-home spa experience.

With jojoba oil, chia seed, rosehip, sea buckthorn berries and carrot seed oil, Mukti Antioxidant Facial Oil is packed with nutrients and vitamins that sink deep into your skin while creating a protective barrier against the elements.

This lightweight yet powerful oil creates the perfect base for the Gua Sha, a specially shaped stone sculpting tool, to smooth, lift and massage your face and décolletage, and drain lymph.

See this video to learn how to use the Gua Sha stone.

AyurScience Beauty Clarity Range RRP $170.00 ($214.80 of value)

Closing the gap between Ayurveda, the ancient holistic healing system of India, and modern pharmacology, AyurScience brings powerful plant-based remedies and luxurious spa-inspired beauty.

Brightening Creme Cleanser — individual RRP $39.95

Enriched with Vitamin C, and formulated with amla, tulsi, sandalwood, saffron and gotu kola, this luxurious cream cleanser evens and brightens skin tone leaving skin soft, smooth and supple.

Energising Mask — individual RRP $59.95

Using the amla-tulsi complex — a powerful combination of amla (Indian gooseberry) that’s high in Vit C, and tulsi or Holy Basil, a natural antioxidant — this mask leaves skin looking and feeling brighter and rejuvenated.

Radiance Serum — individual RRP $44.95

Applying this serum after cleansing, but before moisturising day and night gives skin an even tone, helping reduce signs of pigmentation and dark spots with its powerful herb- and plant-based formula.

Even Skin Tone Moisturiser — individual RRP $69.95

Formulated with manjistha, saffron, tulsi and amla, this luxurious moisturiser not only hydrates and smooths skin, it also actively reduces dark marks, pigmentation and age spots.

Sealed Section

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If you’ve changed your mind, you can get straight back to the top of the page by clicking here.

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Raise A Glass To Christmas — liquid gifts for the one you love

Mr Romance — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000

For those of us who enjoy a drop of the good stuff, unwrapping a bottle of something rare or interesting on Christmas Day is a delight. Here’s our selection — a wish list if you will — of top tipples for the festive holiday.

Sign up to our free newsletter here for more travel inspiration. You also get your own copy of our travel ebook — it’s on us!

It’s quite hard to hide the surprise — to disguise what’s inside — when you’re wrapping a bottle of wine or spirits, isn’t it. But I’ve got news for you: we don’t mind!

As soon as I see that bottle shape — or the bottle-sized box shape — covered in wrapping paper under the tree, I know exactly what it is. It’s like I have a sixth sense. I just hope it’s for me.

Christina always worries that getting me a bottle of booze for Christmas is lame or predictable, but no matter how many times I tell her, she won’t believe me that I love it! The only thing I don’t like is that we usually open presents quite early on Christmas Day, so I have to wait for what feels like a lifetime before I can crack open my present. No one needs judgment on Christmas.

So if your significant other relishes a bottle of something tasty, here’s a list of liquid inspiration that I’d be happy to have this Christmas. I might even send this to Christina — I mean, that’s how Hint works, right?

Speaking of which, you can see the full edition of this year’s issue of Hint Magazine here:

You can also download your copy of Hint Magazine 2025 in PDF form here.

With an assortment of around 30 tasty beverages to tell you about, this is a pretty long list. So we’ve sorted things into three sections. You can either scroll through, or click on each heading below to jump to that section.

– Sparkling Wines

– Red, White and Rosé Wines

– Spirits to Spritzes

Sparkling Wines To Raise A Glass To

Winmark Estate Biosis Blanc de Blancs 2023 — RRP $65.00

Made solely from Chardonnay, this Blanc de Blancs sparkling from Winmark Estate in the western reaches of the Hunter Valley is sensational.

A superb example of the style, this Blanc de Blancs exhibits aromas of citrus and stone fruits, and fresh flavours of grapefruit, white peach and nectarine. Base notes of almonds and honey build towards a clean finish with a fine, persistent bubble bead.

Winmark only produces Chardonnay wines, so this latest release tracks perfectly.

Check out our story on the time we spent at Winmark’s tiny house!

Marnong Estate Reserve Blanc de Blancs 2022 — RRP 80.00

Harnessing the excellent Chardonnay grapes grown on the pastured vineyards of Marnong Estate, the winery’s Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine is a paragon of the style.

Blanc de Blancs is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes as opposed to the more commonly blended Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

This sparkling wine comes with intense ripe citrus and apple aromas and flavours, built on toast and brioche notes.

Marnong only produce their Blanc de Blancs on exceptional vintages.

Learn more about what’s so special about Blanc de Blancs here.

Pirie Sparkling Late Disgorged 2011 RRP $145.00

If you thought popping the cork on a regular bottle of sparkling was fun at Christmas, this vintage Tasmanian bubbly is going to knock the socks you got from Uncle Jerry right off.

Pirie is made in the beautiful cool-wine region of the Tamar Valley in northern Tasmania. Its sparkling wines are some of the most awarded in Australia and in fact this particular wine won Wine of Show and Best Sparkling Wine at the world’s most prestigious wine competition Global Fine Wine.

Late Disgorged is a special technique for premium sparkling wine where the lees are left in the bottle for longer than usual. This gives the wine a beautiful deep brioche and biscuit note that works so well against the acidity of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Sparkling wines from Best’s Wines Great Western, VIC

With a history that goes back to the founding of the region 160 years ago, Best’s Wines Great Western in Victoria produces some of the finest wines in Australia.

Best’s Wines Great Western C.M.T Methode Traditionelle 2020 sparkling wine RRP $50.00 is an instant classic. Made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, and sitting for four years on lees (disgorged in October 2024), this sparkling wine is packed with citrus and white peach notes, but with a defined biscuity baseline and soft texture.

The fine, persistent bubble bead adds to the zest of this wine making it the perfect accompaniment to Christmas Day festivities — or even the midnight bell on December 31.

Best ’s Wines Great Western Sparkling Shiraz 2020 RRP $35.00

This is a perfect example of a wine style that’s not only synonymous with Great Western wines, but also specific of Australia. In fact, friends of ours living overseas find it almost impossible to find sparkling Shiraz.

Following the deep purple mousse from the first pour, this wine is rich with dark plum, spice and savoury aromatics, and a long satisfying finish.

Served cold or lightly chilled, it’s the ideal option over Christmas when you really fancy a red but the summer heat’s a bit too much.

Holm Oak’s Sparkling Wines from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley

Named after the ill-fated planting of holm oak trees for tennis racquets by the Alexander Patent Racquet Company in the 1930s (the timber was not fit for use), this Tasmanian winery is run by Bec Duffy and her husband Tim.

Taking care of the land and the fruit, Tim is the winery’s viticulturist, while Bec puts her 20+ years of winemaking experience into every bottle from this single-estate winery.

NV Sparkling RRP $45.00

Made with equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this sparkling wine has the best of both of these grape varieties. Shining with a beautiful fine, persistent bead, it’s a bubbly that’s made for celebration.

Red apple and a bite of citrus give way to buttery toffee and honey on toast thanks to the 24 months of lees.

NV Sparkling Rosé RRP $45.00

Made entirely of Pinot Noir grapes, this blushing beauty has a wonderfully delicate sweetness that’s held up with a balanced natural acidity that Tasmanian wines all seem to boast.

With 20% of the wine aged in barrels prior to bottling, you’ll find a satisfying robustness to the body until it finishes crisp and dry beneath the tantalising bubbles.

Santa Margherita di Valdobbiadene Prosecco — RRP $22.99

From the town of Valdobbiadene in the DOP Prosecco region of Veneto in northeastern Italy, this Santa Margherita sparkling is a classic.

Sharp sweetness, ripe fruit and orange blossom sit comfortably with the lively bubbles of this sparkling wine. Easy to match with food or ideal on its own, it’s great to see Prosecco having some time in the sun.

Overshadowed by its much better-marketed cousin from Champaign, this sparkling wine offers just as much flavour and balance but at a much friendlier price.

Calabria Family Wines Belena personalised wines

Spanning over 80 years of wine-making and now in its fourth generation, Calabria Family Wines is one of Australia’s top 20 wine producers.

The family’s latest range, Belena, comes in beautiful faceted bottles and labels you can personalise — the perfect Christmas gift for the one you love.

Learn how the free custom label offer works here.

Calabria Family Wines Belena Prosecco RRP $20.00

Fresh, crisp, bright and bubbly, this Italian style sparkling wine has delicious notes green apple and citrus, and hints of passionfruit and lemongrass. This wine goes well with seafood and sunny afternoons.

Calabria Family Wines Belena Rosé RRP $20.00

Made with a blend of Shiraz and the noble Aglianico grapes, this Rosé has all the crisp berry notes of a classic pink wine with a long underlying savoury palate that keeps the sweetness down and the mood up.

Zero Hour 0% Prosecco — RRP $20.00

Flashing its bright smile of fresh, crisp citrus notes, pear and a touch of honey, and a luxurious fizz of bubbles, you’d be forgiven for not knowing this Aussie sparkling is a 0-alcohol drink.

That’s because Zero Hour Prosecco starts out as regular sparkling wine — from growing and harvesting the grapes to crushing and fermentation using traditional methods.

It then undergoes a delicate process of de-alcoholisation, which removes the ABV to less than 0.5%. What you’re left with is all of the good and none of the bad — the perfect gift for a healthier, more conscious Christmas.

French Bloom Le Blanc 0.0%ABV — RRP $49.00

The result of the Director of the Micheline Guide and an international fashion model joining forces, French Bloom is a sophisticated stylish alcohol-free drink for those who enjoy Champagne but not the alcohol.

French Sparkling le Blanc is made with French sparkling Gensac® spring water, dealcoholised Chardonnay wine and grape juice, organic lemon juice, and natural grape flavour.

The result is a delicious glass of bubbles with citrus notes, pear and white flowers.

Special Red, White and Rosé Wines

Cupitt’s Estate Signature Vermentino 2024 RRP $34.00

From the beautiful family-run winery on the NSW South Coast, Cupitt’s brand new Signature Wines range includes this exceptional Vermentino made from the first vintage of vines in Hilltops, NSW.

A delicious example of this Italian darling, this Vertmenito is medium-bodied and well-balanced. A crunchy spine of acidity runs through it with lots of lively green apple and citrus, and a minerally saltiness as a nod to its coastal home.

As they say at Cupitt’s: this is ‘the Margarita of Wine!’

If you want to read more about Cupitt’s, check out our stay at the winery’s private villas, as well as a wine-tasting and delicious dinner at their fabulous restaurant.

Top end Fiano from Australia’s southern state — Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards, Mclaren Vale

With a storied history now in its sixth generation, the Oliver family are branching out into new varieties. And with Corrina Wright — the great-great-great granddaughter of the founders William and Elizabeth Oliver — at the helm, these are exciting times for this family winery that has been making wine in the McLaren Vale since 1839.

Fiano is set to be Australia’s new favourite white varietal. Sitting somewhere between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is approachable yet structured enough to keep the most ardent of wine buffs entertained.

Known as the Queen of Fiano, it’s no surprise that Corrina has released these two beauties that would make any Fiano fan — or any wine fan actually — very happy this Christmas.

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Fiano 2025 RRP $29.00

Starting off with a creamy, nuttiness, this Fiano elaborates into citrus and basil tones with a hint of tropical fruit. Perfect for spicy food or just on its own.

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Anfore Fiano 2024 RRP $56.00

After a research trip to Campagna — home of Fiano — Corrina discovered the ancient art of ageing this wine in amphorae, giant terracotta pots. Extended time on lees in these pots has created something very special.

A small-batch release (they only have three 300 litre amphorae), Anfore Fiano has a wonderful creamy texture with a fine acid line running through it. The flavours and aromas are rich, yet balanced, sweet yet sharp, baked dessert and fresh citrus. A masterpiece of Fiano.

Marnong Estate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 — RRP $40.00

From the curiously overlooked wine region of Sunbury, just 35mins north of Melbourne VIC, Marnong Estate makes a wide range of deliciously elegant cool-climate wines from its vineyards with soils as rich as its history.

Marnong’s Single Vineyard Chardonnay is a medium bodied modern Australian Chardy. Complex gunflint, brine, oatmeal and spicy aromatics lead into a palate of crisp pear and apple fruit flavours with creamy texture.

Devil’s Corner Mt Baudin Chardonnay 2022 RRP $75.00

From Devil’s Corner’s premium Hazards range, this cool-climate Tasmanian Chardonnay takes its name from one of the peaks of the Hazards Mountains, which loom in the background of the Devil’s Corner vineyards.

Mt Baudin Chardonnay 2022 is an exceptional example of its kind, showing layers of stone fruit, fresh, crisp melon and bright citrus. Thanks to lees stirring while it was still in its French barriques, the wine has a rich cashew softness that rounds this wine off for a long, satisfying finish.

Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — RRP $32.00

This Sauvignon Blanc comes with all the delightful flavours of the Marlborough region in NZ and the brilliant multi-generational knowledge of one of Australia’s oldest wine families, the Hill-Smiths of Yalumba fame.

A palate bursting with mouth-watering lime zest and juicy citrus flavours, and a strong textural finish follows this wine’s intense, lifted aromas of lemongrass, fresh blackcurrant buds and ripe grapefruit. The perfect gift for Sancerre fans of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal.

Santa Margherita Valdadige Pinot Grigio 2024 — RRP $24.99

The perfect wine for a hot Christmas, this Pinot Grigio from Val d’Adige in the far northeast of Italy is bright, dry and crisp. Just what you want when someone brings out the seafood and soft cheese.

And as far as Christmas gifts go, this one’s a no-brainer. It’s even got ‘Santa’ in the name!

STUDIO by Miraval Rosé 2024 RRP $28.99

There are plenty of celebrity-owned alcohol brands, but not many that do it well. In dedication to the famed film and music studio, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie started this winery on the French Riviera, making excellent Provencal rosé.

Perfect for the summer, this crisp, pale, bone-dry rosé goes well with everything: seafood to barbecue, lunch or dinner — and even more so when it’s wrapped and under the tree this Christmas.

Scarborough Wines’ Keepers of the Flame Range — RRP $100.00 each

Scarborough Wines in the Hunter Valley, NSW’s premier wine region and the oldest in Australia, is one of the country’s most respected winemaking families.

Now moving into its second generation, Scarborough Wines has developed the vineyard’s new ultra-premium range that maintains the old standards while also innovating and evolving.

Each bottle is numbered, marked with the harvest date and proclamation of its cellaring potential.

You can experience the Keepers of the Flame in a tasting experience like no other at the Scarborough Wines cellar door in Pokolbin. Check out this amazing experience here.

Keepers of the Flame Chardonnay 2023 — RRP $100.00

Aroma: White peaches and struck matches balanced with a touch of roasted almond.
Palate: Elegant acid with lemon drizzled over white peach, crushed roasted almonds and a long, lingering finish with lifted white rose petals and crunchy pink lady apples.
Cellaring: 2024-2034.

Keepers of the Flame Shiraz 2023 — RRP $100.00

Aroma: Slate, raspberry, strawberries and plum with a hint of spicy oak.
Palate: Fine and elegant tannins complimented by mineral acid and well-balanced by the oak and fruit and touch of vanillin oak.
Cellaring: 2025-2045.

Keepers of the Flame Shiraz Tempranillo 2023 — RRP $100.00

Aroma: Lifted fruit characters of fresh, bright red raspberries, summer pudding and blueberries.
Palate: Summer berries, fine tannins across the whole palate, strawberry jelly, berry jubes.
Cellaring: 2025-2045.

Keepers of the Flame Shiraz Viognier 2023 — RRP $100.00

Aroma: Honey and orange blossom intermingled with plums and spice.
Palate: Well-integrated tannins, honeysuckle, roses, tar and oak spice, and a viscous mouth feel.
Cellaring: 2025-2045.

Tamar Ridge Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir 2022 RRP $180.00

The Pinot Noir nuts of the Brown Family wine empire, Tamar Ridge proclaim themselves Pinot Noir makers first and winemakers second. Not a bad perspective to have knowing the finicky nature of this mercurial grape.

Tamar Ridge’s wines are superb, but their Grand Assemblage is the culmination of the winery’s obsession. The 2022 vintage was selected from only seven barrels of Pinot Noir out of over 300.

This rare wine gives all the things you want in a great PN; cherry and red berries, delicate spice and a light toastiness. Its incredible structure means this wine will be great now, but in the next 10-15 years it’ll be even better!

From Spritz To Spirits And Everything In Between

Scarborough Wine Co Wine Spritz in a can (200ml x4, x12, x24) RRP $32.00

From the heart of the Hunter Valley, the Scarborough family have been making superb vintages for two generations and now they’re turning their hand to RTDs. The Scarborough ‘Wine in a Can’ range is the perfect accompaniment to any picnic or Christmas party.

These 200ml cans come in two forms — White Spritz and Rosé Spritz.

The White Spritz is made with Scarborough Offshoot Vermentino. Firm minerality and lively lime flavours combine with bright fruit notes and a delicate fizz. All you have to do is pour into a glass.

The Rosé Spritz is a blend of Offshoot Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Semillon and Shiraz grapes, that creates a floral yet slightly spicy drink with the sharpness of pomegranate and raspberry to balance the palate perfectly.

And at 12% and 11.7% ABV respectively, these cans will definitely get the Christmas party started!

Savage Rabbit Vodka RRP $69.00

Anyone who says vodka doesn’t have any flavour isn’t drinking very good vodka. Testament to this is Savage Rabbit. This premium vodka from the Tatra Mountains deep in the heart of Slovakia is made with a mash of winter wheat and rye, and water from glacial alpine lakes.

Neat, you’ll find a light vanilla nose and gentle flavours of summer berries with a rich texture that coats the mouth that then dissolves on the tongue leaving a long grassy finish. But this vodka will work in any cocktail you throw it in — from martinis to Long Islands.

Otter Craft Distilling Mary Street Shiraz Gin — RRP $65.00

Hidden away in the backstreets of Lilyfield in Sydney’s inner West, OCD — Otter Craft Distilling — produces a range of delectable spirits, from single malt whisky to liqueurs to gin and vodka.

OCD’s Mary Street Shiraz Gin not only has a beautiful deep ruby colour from the wine, it gives this gin a richly spiced, red berry aroma and flavour, which slowly gives way to juniper notes from the gin.

Delicious simply over ice, with soda or lemonade, or combined into something more complex, this gin is surprisingly versatile.

You can also see this gin in action via the distillery’s connected speakeasy, Bar 26!

Cockburn’s Ruby Soho Port RRP $34.99

Founded in 1815 by Scottish brothers Robert and John Cockburn, this Portuguese port house has dedicated itself to tradition, but also innovation. Ruby Soho Port is a reflection of this.

Made with grapes from Cockburn’s Quinta dos Canais estate in the highly-regarded Douro Superior region of Portugal, this port is bottled young to capture the vibrance of the fruit.

Notes of bright blackberry and toffee, and hints of peppery spice make this port perfect for sipping solo or in a classic Port & Lemon — a mix of Ruby Soho, soda water, and a dash of lemon juice and sugar syrup — this Christmas.

Smokehead Islay Single Malt Scotch RRP $123.99

The perfect gift for any peated scotch drinker, Smokehead does exactly what it says on the tin. But packed as it is with all the notes you get from a heavily peated Islay whisky — spice, smoke, leather, iodine — this single malt also has a gentle side.

Beneath the powerful smokiness is a subtle, sweet dram that works in wonderful harmony with its counterpart. Yin to Yang, action to reaction, Cailleach to Bride.

4 Pines Brewing Co Japanese Style Lager RRP $57.50 for 18

What better way to say Happy Christmas to the one you love than with a case of beer? Easy: give them a case of this superbly crafted, clean, bright Japanese style lager from 4 Pines Brewery.

Japanese beer has always had a reputation as a light, easy-drinking and thoroughly refreshing brew, and the guys at 4 Pines have nailed it with this lager.

Made using malted Pilsner barley and flaked rice, and a subtle herbaceous hint of hops, this is a beer for the summer.

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Hint Magazine — make this Christmas memorable

Mr Romance — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Time to tick off your Christmas to-do list! Hint Magazine is packed with gift ideas, recipes and motivation to help with everyone’s favourite (and busiest!) time of year. Find your free edition here!

Sign up to our free newsletter here for more travel inspiration. You also get your own copy of our travel ebook — it’s on us!

At the start of every year, we tell ourselves that next Christmas, we’re going to be better prepared. Get our shopping done sooner, plan out meals properly, buy everyone’s presents in the January sales and squirrel them away until December 25th.

And then we’re back at work, and next minute it’s a week before Santa gets here again and we’ve done nothing.

And that’s where Hint Magazine comes in!

Hint Magazine 2025

From top booze picks and travel inspo to homewares and cosmetics — there’s even a cheeky Sealed Section for some saucy gifting ideas — you’ll find it all in Hint 2025!

Click on the book below to flick through the beautiful pages of this year’s Hint.

You can also click here to open the PDF version of this guide, which you can save to your phone or computer for free!

This free magazine is a gift guide, recipe book and motivator all in one. Our plan is — and always has been — to make Christmas as easy on you as possible and thereby make it the enjoyable holiday it’s supposed to be.

With Christina’s stunning photography and (hopefully) insightful reviews of each product, the gift guide section covers as many bases as possible to help you find something special for the one you love.

There’s a broad selection of ideas in the Drinks Section, from outstanding wines to interesting spirits, fortifieds, spritzes and beer.

Our Travel Section this year has a fantastic lineup of books for seeing more of Australia and the world, as well as some cool kit to make journeys even more memorable.

In this year’s House & Home Section, we’ve got some fantastic new household items new to the market, as well as beautiful coffee table books to inspire and charm.

For the Cosmetics & Skincare Section this year, we have some awesome gift sets that make perfect skincare routines depending on the person’s needs, and some wonderful natural products too.

And I’ve already mentioned the Sealed Section — brand new to Hint Mag, so don’t make me blush again!

We also have some delicious sweet and savoury recipes this year that are easy to make but will have real impact around the Christmas dinner table. And there are some handy tips on how to create a Christmas that everyone will remember — for the right reasons!

We hope this magazine and guide help you have a very merry, peaceful Christmas, and that the new year promises wonderful things.
Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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Hint Magazine — time to treat yourself & the one you love

Mr Romance — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Your one-stop Christmas shopping guide is here! Hint Magazine has everything from travel gifts and booze to cosmetics and homewares. Pick up your edition free here!

Is it me or does Christmas shopping get a little bit harder each year? It’s like we’re in some kind of computer game where each December, shopping gets another level more difficult.

Well, here are Mr & Mrs Romance, we’re all about trying to make life a little bit easier – it might not sound romantic, but tell me you’re not a little bit turned on by the thought of having less stress in your day!

So we’ve put together a gift guide to help you through the build-up to the festive season with ideas for lots of different categories that include a myriad of gifts you can shop for straight from the guide.

Hint Magazine 2024

Click on the book below to flick through the virtual pages of our gift guide:

You can also click here to open the PDF version of this guide, which you can save to your phone or computer for free!

Christina’s beautiful photography shows off every idea’s very best angle – if her images don’t get you into the festive mood, nothing will!

You’ll find a section on travel, with everything from gadgets to skincare to inspirational guide books.

There’s a cosmetics chapter covering everything from unique fragrances to hydrating creams made from olive oil and skin oils made from wine grapes.

In this year’s guide, there’s a beautiful house & home section featuring elegant cocktail glasses, incredibly stylish coffee table books, candles and even an amazing hamper full of wine and goodies.

Of course, there’s a whole section on drinks, which is I think the most unique collection of delicious liquid gift ideas any guide has ever had.

There’s also a stocking stuffer chapter and even our very own recipes for a delicious olive oil and polenta frangipane citrus cake and gravity-defying cheese and olive Christmas tree!

We hope this magazine and guide help you have a very merry, peaceful Christmas, and that the new year promises wonderful things.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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How To Make This Easy Caramel Cashew Choc Tart

Mr Romance — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Decadent, nutty and chocolatey, this make-ahead caramel cashew choc tart is easy to make and a crowd-pleaser that’ll lift your dinner party to legend status.

Smooth rich caramel studded with the satisfying crunch of cashews and topped with a dense layer of dark chocolate ganache in a case of crumbly shortcrust pastry, this chocolate cake is not only delicious but easy to make too.

This recipe is part of our gift guide e-magazine Hint, which is packed with awesome gift ideas for everyone. You can read the issue where this recipe features here.

I’ve recently fallen into the role of ‘dessert guy’ with a group of friends that meet up for dinner every Tuesday.

They’ll casually knock up a beetroot, feta and rocket salad with caramelised walnuts, slap down a cheese and charcuterie board full of creamy d’affinois and wafer-thin prosciutto, pull out trays of succulent home-made buffalo wings or slice a perfectly reverse-seared rump cap or giant tomahawk steaks as if it were, well, any other Tuesday.

Aside from the incredible food, the banter on these Tuesday nights is always a healthy bombardment of take-downs and quips, so when the dessert part of dinner somehow fell into my lap, I knew a bit of effort was needed.

So far, this caramel cashew choc tart is proving to be the most popular, so I’m glad it’s one I can make ahead of time and that it’s pretty easy to put together.

Easy Caramel Cashew Choc Tart

Serves 8-10

Ingredients

– 1-2 sheets of frozen shortcrust pastry
– 200g unsalted roast cashews
– 180g brown sugar
– 115g butter
– 2tsp vanilla extract
– 250ml thickened cream
– 200g dark chocolate

Method

1. Fit the pastry into a baking tin (I use a 25cm flan tin), trim the edges and blind bake at 180°C for 10mins. Remove blind-baking weights and baking paper, and bake for another 10-15mins until the pastry is cooked through and golden.

2. On another baking tray, roast the cashews for 5-10mins until they turn slightly golden. Cool in a bowl.

3. Caramel: combine the sugar, butter, vanilla and 160ml of the cream in a pan, bring to the boil then simmer for 8-10mins or until thickened and the caramel coats a metal spoon.

4. Spread the cashews over the surface of the pastry then pour the caramel over the top so the nuts sit under the surface. Allow to cool—you can put the whole thing in the fridge—until the caramel no longer wobbles when you move the tin.

5. Ganache: break chocolate into a bowl then boil the remaining cream (85ml). Pour the cream over the chocolate, and stir then whip until combined and smooth. This is now ganache.

6. Spread chocolate ganache over the caramel in an even layer* then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Serve in slices with whipped cream, ice cream or just on its own.

* I also like to sprinkle a pinch of salt flakes over the caramel before I add the ganache to elevate the flavours a little, but you don’t have to.

If there is any left over, it’ll keep in the fridge for around three days.

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