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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

The post Hint Magazine — make this Christmas memorable appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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This crumbly yet satisfyingly dense dessert combines all the almond flavours of a frangipane with the texture of a polenta cake and the richness of an olive oil cake, while fresh orange flavours add a lovely citrus zing.

This recipe is part of our online gift guide and e-zine Hint Magazine. You can get your free PDF copy here or, for the full experience, flick through it here:Hint Magazine 2024

Christina doesn’t like cake made of cake. Cheesecake is fine. Carrot cake just about makes the grade. But things like sponge are anathema to her.

So it’s understandable that I was apprehensive with this one. But the polenta, almond meal and olive oil made enough of a difference that she devoured this ‘cake’ without a sign of side eye.

But the good thing about it is that it’s not too cakey. And it’s not too sugary either. The freshness from the orange and lemon, and the richness from olive oil, eggs and spices turns up the indulgent dial too.

Sweetness comes almost exclusively from the three dousings of orange and maple syrup, which you add at different stages at different reductions.

A scoop of orange cream on the side sharpens the dish and adds depth at the same time.

This cake is indeed gluten free. We have more gluten-free recipes here.

Polenta and olive oil citrus syrup cake

Here’s what you need:

Cake
– 3 large eggs
– 1 cup (approx 210g) extra virgin olive oil
– 50g caster sugar
– 2tsp vanilla extract
– Zest of one orange
– 2 cups (approx. 175g) almond meal
– 50g polenta
– 2tsp baking powder
– 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

Citrus and maple syrup
– 2 cups fresh pulp-free orange juice (about 4 oranges’ worth)
– 2 tbsp lemon juice
– 100ml (approx 1/3 cup) pure maple syrup
– 2 whole star anise
– 1 cinnamon stick
– 15-20g butter (added later)

Orange cream on the side
– 1 cup Greek yoghurt
– 1tbsp thickened cream
– 1tbsp golden syrup
– Zest of 1/2 orange

Here’s what you do:

1. Preheat the oven 160°C fan-forced.

Cake:

2. Lightly beat the 3 eggs into a large bowl until the white and yolk are combined, then mix in the olive oil, the 50g sugar, the vanilla extract and the zest from 1 orange until well combined.

3. Add the 2 cups almond meal, 50g polenta, 2tsp baking powder and cinnamon to the bowl and mix to form a smooth batter.

4. Pour batter into a greased scallop-edged flan tin and bake for 30mins or until cooked through. You can also use a deeper dish like a bread tin, though you’ll need to cook it for longer — around 45mins. Either way, a toothpick or wooden skewer should come out clean.

Syrup:

5. To make the syrup, combine all the ingredients in a pan and gently simmer for 5mins or until the mixture has reduced slightly and the spices have become aromatic. At this stage, the syrup will be quite runny.

6. Using a skewer or toothpick, poke several discreet ‘soak holes’ in the cake, then spoon enough syrup to moisten the surface of the cake and pool slightly. Then return syrup to the heat, remove the spices and cook down for a further 5mins. Spoon more over the cake to glaze.

7. Return the remaining syrup to the heat again, add the 15-20g butter and cook down until the syrup thickens. Add this to each slice of cake when you’re ready to serve.

Cream:

8. Finally, combine the yoghurt, cream and orange zest* well in a bowl. Return it to the fridge, covered, until you’re ready to serve. The longer you leave it, the more the orange zest will permeate.

You can chill the cake if you wish or serve it warm or room temperature. Serve with a scoop of orange cream and a drizzle of maple and citrus syrup.

You can also serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you like.

*The zest will add texture (read: ‘a bit lumpy’). If you don’t want this, pass the yoghurt-cream mixture through a sieve for smoother consistency.

The post Olive Oil Citrus Syrup Cake Recipe – and yes, it’s gluten-free appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Before you even go downstairs to the big presents under the tree, before you’ve even changed out of your PJs, the fun of opening a stocking of little gifts really gets the day off to a lovely start.

We always did stocking presents when I was a kid. They were always so much fun in fact that we’ve carried on doing them as adults.

Here are a few of our favourite ideas for stocking fillers this Christmas, and if you want some more help with hints on what to get for the rest of the day, check out our full Christmas gift guide and e-magazine here:

Hint Magazine 2024

Or click here for your easily downloadable PDF version of Hint Magazine!

EcoTools Feeling Festive Essentials Set – $29.99

You can have all best the makeup in the world, but without the right tools, it’s never going to look right.

EcoTools’ Essentials Set is the perfect base tool kit to not only apply makeup, but to maintain the equipment too. A controlled setting brush and precise concealer brush, a memory foam blender, and ergonomic power puff make applying makeup a cinch, while the deep-clean shampoo keeps these tools as good as new.

What’s more, these products are all made with the environment in mind. From the renewable bamboo brush handles and recyclable aluminium ferrules to cruelty-free, latex-free, vegan products, EcoTools is all about the planet.

SpaScriptions Jolly Gels face mask set – $21.99

This duel pack of gel face masks and special silicon applicator brush make the perfect fun yet effective skin brightener gift.

The Vitamin C gel mask is packed with important nutrients, including Vitamin C, to help tone skin and give the face a youthful glow. Added Vitamins A and E help repair, smooth and reduce inflammation, making this gel mask a perfect multitool.

SpaScriptions Fruit Glow – $21.99

SpaScriptions’ Fruit Glow 3-piece set is an at-home spa session ready to go. Harnessing not only the fresh aromas, but also the cosmetic advantages from fruit, this kit gives the ‘gift of glow’!

Gentle exfoliation from pineapple and added glycolic acid in the facial cleanser gets things started, then the blend of coconut sugar and lactic acid in the exfoliator gives skin a healthy shine while restoring important fatty acids. Finally, the replenishing, restorative effects of antioxidant-rich strawberry and super-hydrating hyaluronic acid put the finishing touches on a glowing complexion.

James Cosmetics Eye Masks – $35.00 each

Packed with active ingredients to either nourish, hydrate, tone or brighten, this range of eye masks from James Cosmetics really looks after the most sensitive, delicate skin on your face.

With 11 types of mask, you can pick the best one for your partner’s needs—or get them a selection!

Featured here:

The all-rounder 24K Gold & Collagen Crystal Eye Mask with 24 karat gold, hyaluronic acid, vitamin A and grape seed oil.

The 24K Rose Gold Hydrate Eye Mask nourishes and hydrates with CoQ10 & provitamin B5, vitamin E and collagen.

The Diamond Radiance Eye Mask brightens and rejuvenates with real diamond powder, hyaluronic acid, collagen and aloe.

The Eraser Eye Mask with Dead Sea minerals and aloe, these are the anti-dark circle big guns.

The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-ageing Awaken Eye Mask with turmeric, edelweiss flower extract and arctic root.

Each pack has five sets of eye masks.

Ugears Australia Mini Helicopter – $49.95

This brilliantly crafted 1:40 scale helicopter is more than just a model. Once you’ve put the 167 pieces of this Mini Helicopter together — a task that should take around 3 hours — you realise the level of detail in this 3D puzzle.

Not only can you open the doors to the cabin, and look inside at the seats, dash and stick control, the rear rotor rotates, and the rear wheels retract. Then you notice the ‘stop-start’ button, the silent ratchet key and the elastic band ‘motor’.

Winding the ratchet and pressing start, the helicopter’s main rotor will spin and its wheels will zoom it along.

How this comes together from a flatpack of art-quality composite wood boards is mind-blowing. The kit also comes with a helipad display, and sandpaper and wax to ‘develop’ moving parts and joints as you build.

Hampers With Bite Happy Holidays Gift Sack – $139.00

There’s nothing like a really stuffed stocking to wake up to on Christmas Morning, and this Happy Holidays Gift Sack from one of the longest-running gift hamper companies in Australia is right to the brim with good stuff.

So if you’re looking to make your favourite foodie’s Christmas, this is the way to do it.

Inside, they’ll find an enormous trove of goodies:

– Not one but three full-size bottles of wine: an Aussie sparkling, a Pinot Grigio and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

– Sweets like dark chocolate roasted peanuts, marshmallows, fruit cake and a bar of hazelnut milk chocolate.

– Savoury snacks like a chilli and barbecue peanut mix, salted pretzels and barbecue kri kri crunchy coated peanuts and soy crisps.

– Best of all, you get cranberry and hazelnut crispbreads, crackerthins and a beautiful timber cheese board. All you have to do is add their favourite cheese to make the most opulent platter of the year!

Cloud Nine Magical Quick Dry Potion heat protector – $40.00

Is there nothing this mesmerising heat protector from Cloud Nine can’t do? Its two-layer liquid activates and combines when you shake the bottle, and then once sprayed onto damp hair it lessens damage from heat styling.

Magical Quick Dry Potion also speeds up drying times, strengthens hair strands and even acts as a leave-in conditioner, adding a beautiful shine to your finished look.

Cloud Nine Magical Remedy – $50.00

Cloud Nine’s aptly named Magical Remedy helps to not only protect and strengthen existing bonds in your hair, it even fixes broken ones and seals split ends.

Giving you healthier, stronger, shinier hair, Magic Remedy is a super light-weight yet deep conditioner to use every day and works its miracles on all hair types.

Shakeup Cosmetics

Founded by men for men, Shakeup Cosmetics has a range of products that have been specifically formulated to target men’s skin concerns. Better than that, many of Shakeup’s products are multipurpose, making each one work double time.

You can read more of our stories and reviews of men’s cosmetics here.

Let’s Face It BB Tinted Moisturiser – $59.99

Both moisturising, colour and blemish correcting, Let’s Face It works hard to keep the skin on your face looking its best. It also has SPF25 sun protection.

Lip Life To The Full Volumising & Moisturising Lip Gel – $20.99

More than your average lip chap, Lip Life To The Full not only keeps your smackers from drying out but also plumps them up, giving them a fuller more defined look.

Eye Eye Captain Under Eye Concealer & Moisturiser – $52.99

Enriched with natural extracts like butcher’s broom, calendula, horse chestnut and liquorice, this under-eye moisturiser and concealer soothes and smooths to reduce the appearance of dark circles. The ballbearing applicator cools the skin and reduces puffiness at the same time.

Hydrate In A Hurry Moisturiser Stick – $39.99

Packed with soothing and cooling cucumber extract and witch hazel, and with hydrating hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, this moisturiser keeps your skin smooth and soft. But best of all, it’s in a solid form, which makes it perfect for travelling. No mess, no liquids to confiscate or leak, easy to apply.

You Do The Mask Purifying Clay Mask – $27.99

This black clay mask on a stick is a quick and easy way to give your face a purifying treatment. The coconut charcoal draws out impurities while hydrating and nourishing the skin while the kaolin clay detoxes.

Kynder Brush Defence spray and Base Towel With Benefits – $31.95 and $17.95

Those who don’t wear makeup don’t understand the importance of keeping your brushes clean. I certainly don’t, but Christina is happily obsessed. That makes Kynder’s Brush Defence spray the perfect stocking filler for her.

This Brush Defence Strawberries and Cream spray spritzes away bacteria and other nasties that accumulate on brushes, leaving behind nothing but a lovely vanilla and strawberry aroma.

Alternatively, spray onto Kynder’s Base Towel With Benefits and wipe the brushes. This towel can also be used to remove makeup from your face too.

Real Techniques Makeup Tool Gift Sets

Focusing on high quality rather than luxury, Real Techniques’ makeup tools make applying makeup so much easier and with a seamless finish.

To make things easier, Real Techniques have brought some of their best products together in these special gift sets.

Real Techniques Glowstorm Mini Brush & Sponge Set – $25.99

The fine yet dense bristles of the small but effective 200 Mini Expert Brush apply and blend foundation, blush and bronzer effortlessly – and its size makes it a perfect fit too – while the Miracle Complexion Sponge smooths liquid, cream and powder products perfectly.

Real Techniques Starlit Gaze Eye & Lash Set – $32.99

This kit quartet is the dream team for your eyes. The 600 Wide Angled Brow Liner brush and 601 Spoolie control, sculpt and shape your brows while the 308 Shadow Brush sweeps and blends eye shadow to the perfect depth. The easy-to-use Mini Eyelash Curler gently curls and defines your lashes for a natural lift.

The post The Best Stocking Stuffers 2024 – because life’s all about the little extras appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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!

For most of us, Christmas means home. When 25 December rolls around, we’re either in our own or at someone’s we care about, which is almost the same thing really, isn’t it. 

Giving a gift that says thank you not only to the people you’re closest to but to the place you all feel so comfortable is a lovely way to celebrate the festive season.

We’ve brought together a range of gift ideas — from elegant stemware to opulent hampers — that show just how much it means to be where your heart is.

For more gift ideas this Christmas, check out our free online gift guide and e-zine here:

Hint Magazine 2024

Or click here for your easily downloadable PDF version of Hint Magazine!

Luigi Bormioli Nick & Nora cocktail glasses – $89.95 for 4

It’s often said that we eat with our eyes, well, I think we drink with them too. Beautiful stemware can make all the difference to a cocktail. These Nick & Nora glasses from legendary crystalware maker Luigi Bormioli add so much elegance to your martini or Manhattan.

A 25-generation glass-maker from Parma, Italy, Luigi Bormioli has collaborated with Australia’s Kurtis Bosley, who was recently named in the Top 100 in Bartender Magazine’s 2024, to create the Backdoor ‘20s range.

This elegant range harnesses the style of the 1920s and Prohibition-era speakeasies. These Nick & Nora glasses are perfect for one of our favourite cocktails: a rye Manhattan.

Beysis Customisable Wine Cooler – $84.90

No one likes drinking warm wine, do they? But what options do you have when you’ve been at a picnic in the heat of summer for hours? Simple: these wine coolers from Aussie-owned and operated Beysis.

Double-walled stainless steel keeps your vino chilled for up to six hours, ice-free! The flexible latex aperture in the lid and the contours in the base allow for most 750ml wine bottle shapes.

What’s more the sleek soft-touch finish to the exterior can even be customised with any name or slogan that’s 20 characters long. ‘Merry Christmas’ is 15 characters—just sayin’.

Modern Houses in Black by Susan Redman – $69.48

Usually, the gravity-defying cantilevers, impossible geometric rooflines and the most elaborate staircases of the 28 homes in this book would be enough. But that’s not what brings them all together here.

Instead, it’s the brilliant use of all kinds of materials, from slate and steal cladding to pigmented concrete and the ancient Japanese art of shou sugi ban — of charring timber, that do that. These are Modern Houses in Black.

Susan Redman’s latest and truly beautiful book is the perfect present for the architect and fan of unique design this Christmas.

Glasshouse Fragrances Night Before Christmas 380g candle – $59.00

Filled with rich aromas of blackcurrant, plum, lemon and lavender, this delicious Australian-made candle from Glasshouse Fragrances is the scent of Christmas. Below the plum pudding notes, an earthy base of musk, oak moss and spice brings a deeper, long-lasting redolence.

Light the twin wicks on this high-quality non-toxic soy blend candle and watch the flames glow through the ornately crafted glass vessel illustrated by artist and designer Eirian Chapman.

The delightful ‘Dancing Sugar Plum’ fragrances spread throughout the room where this candle can last for up to 65 hours.

Hampers With Bite Happy Holidays Gift Sack – $139.00

From the Australian hamper company that’s been putting together the best selection of gift baskets for over 20 years, this Happy Holidays Gift Sack has to be our favourite so far.

As indulgent as a Christmas gift can be, this outstanding gourmand gift selection is perfect for the foodie who wants to get their Christmas off to the perfect start.

Delve into the fun Merry Christmas sack with its festive red-and-white striped lining, and pluck out morsels like dark choc roast peanuts, puffy marshmallows, a hazelnut chocolate bar or even a bit of fruit cake. Snack on savouries like the barbecue and chilli peanut mix and crunchy kri kri coated peanuts, soya crisps and salted pretzels.

The gift bag also comes with a beautiful timber cheese board, plain crackers, and cranberry and hazelnut crispbreads so all you have to do is add a bit of cheese and the feast is set!

And let’s not forget the crowning glory of this hamper: the wine!

The Happy Holidays Gift Sack comes with full-size bottles of Aussie sparkling, Pinot Grigio and a Cabernet Sauvignon, covering every vino eventuality. What a way to get Christmas started.

Mozabrick Set M 51x76cm (8700 bricks) — turn your photos into art – $199.95

From photos on your phone, camera or even scans of hardcopy pictures, Mozabrick photo construction sets give you the opportunity to build unique art from memories.

Upload your photo to the Mozabrick website, use the mosaic schematic they send you and begin building your pixel art. If you want to change the photo, you can start again from scratch, creating unlimited possibilities.

This is the perfect Venn for the photographer, artist and avid puzzler!

The post Perfect Gifts For The House & Home This Christmas appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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!

Finding great gifts for people who travel a lot — or those who are planning to travel — is tricky. We all have our own style and method of travelling, and you don’t want to weigh them down with things they won’t necessarily use.

That’s why Christina and I have worked hard to put together some of the best gift ideas that travellers like ourselves would love to have.

It’s a mix of functional travel items that’ll make life on the road easier, safer and more fun, and gifts that will inspire the next adventure.

And if you’re after more great gift ideas, check out our free gift guide and e-magazine here:

Hint Magazine 2024

Or click here for your easily downloadable PDF version of Hint Magazine!

Polished London UV-C Toothbrush Steriliser – $69.99

We all know that toothbrushes clean our teeth, but what cleans our toothbrushes? A grim array of nasties can accumulate on the bristles, especially when we’re away from home and out of our routine. And no one wants to get sick when they’re travelling.

Oral beauty brand Polished London has come up with a brilliant (and very portable) answer: the UV-C Toothbrush Steriliser.

Beaming powerful ultraviolet-C light into the bristles, this handy gadget kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria on your toothbrush in just three minutes. The steriliser is USB rechargeable and lasts for 30 days on a single charge.

Tesalate Beach Towels and Blankets – $79.00-$119.00

Tesalate’s incredible beach towels defy physics. Not only do they fold away as small as when you first bought them, they can absorb over a litre of water (even more for the beach blankets) and best of all, they repel sand!

I didn’t think they would work the first time I tried a Tesalate towel, but after a day at the beach, I lifted my towel up and the sand just fell away.

Perfect for the traveller or beach bum in your life, the towels (160x80cm) and blankets (160x160cm) come in a variety of colours. This is the beautiful Bora Bora range.

Rakuten Kobo Libra Colour e-reader – $359.95

Having a book with you when you’re travelling is almost as important as your passport! That’s why e-readers are so handy, being able to store so many titles without taking up much space or weight.

But Rakuten’s new Kobo Libra Colour takes it to new heights.

Not only can you store some 24,000 books within its 32GB memory — and in full colour by the way — you can also listen to audiobooks through it. It’s also waterproof, has blue light reduction control and an extra long battery life.

But the best is yet to come…

Rakuten Kobo Stylus 2 – $119.95

With this stylus, you can make notes, highlight and illustrate your ebooks, which imho makes travel guidebooks even more useful. Circle maps, colour-code itineraries, highlight parts of a page that are most interesting for you… this is a traveller’s dream.

What’s more, you can also create pages of notes that synch to the cloud and can save on Google Drive or Dropbox so they’re easily accessible and shareable.

This and the Kobo Libra Colour are a game-changer for travelling in so many ways.

Special offer: get 20% off Kobo between 18 November 2024 and 2 December 2024

Lonely Planet’s Epic Surf Breaks of the World – $44.99

From Iceland to New Zealand, from remote South American islands to the vast coasts of Africa, this incredible book of surf breaks is the ultimate wish list compendium for any surfer.

With stories from 50 amazing surfing trips through 34 different countries plus another 150 suggestions for great waves to ride, Epic Surf Breaks of the World covers it all.

As well as entertaining yarns from the writers’ own experiences, this book also has technical info on type of wave to expect, how to get there and where to stay once you’re there. Helpful as well as inspiring.

Lonely Planet’s Amazing Train Journeys – $44.99

In its 2nd edition, this fully revised and updated guide to 60 of the most unforgettable train journeys around the world not only helps you find the best rail trips on earth, it nourishes the romance of this iconic mode of transport.

It’s all here, from cross-country tracks through Cuba and north African adventures to the coast of Tangiers to the likes of the Ghan, the Rocky Mountaineer and, of course, the Orient Express.

Each rail journey comes with a detailed description as well as things you can expect. There are some cute details like a summary within a ticket stub and the itinerary along the bottom of the page on a little train track. There’s a map of each journey as well as budget alternatives, not to mention extraordinary imagery.

Lonely Planet’s Dream Trips of the World – $60.00

Travel inspiration can come from anywhere, but Lonely Planet’s Dream Trips of the World leaves nothing to chance.

Covering every continent and many countries, the 100 destinations and itineraries in this book not only make for a fine bit of armchair travel, they have you reaching for your passport.

Stunning photography, detailed descriptions and useful information for planning the itinerary are all here, but the real travel inspo comes from the little coloured boxes marked ‘A Traveller’s Tale’.

These stories from the travel writer’s own experiences are little windows into the magic that happens when you travel. It’s not often you can give the gift of inspiration, but this book proves you can.

Lonely Planet’s The Tree Atlas – $70.00

How many species of trees do you think there are there in the world? Would you be surprised if I said over 60,000? Somehow, Matthew Collins, head gardener at London’s Garden Museum and curator of this incredible book, has managed to pick just 50 of the best.

Sitting in the Venn three-way sweet spot of a travel book, an arboreal guide and a work of meditation, The Tree Atlas ushers you through these 50 living monuments to nature.

From sprawling banyans to towering sequoia to ancient bristlecones older than the pyramids, this book explores the forests, plains, deserts and waterways of every continent, mapping the ultimate in tree-kind.

Ultimate Ears Miniroll portable speaker – $99.00

It might not look like much, but this little speaker has some serious oomph. Not only does this Ultimate Ears Miniroll deliver a punchy 87dBC, it also has a wireless range of around 40m and can connect up to an unlimited number of other Minirolls for an immersive sound experience.

But what makes this little speaker perfect for travel is its 12 hours of playing time, its attachment strap and most of all its amazing durability.

Waterproof, dust-proof and drop-proof, the Miniroll is a tough little bugger that will keep your party on the road.

Airyday SPF Wardrobe Set – Holiday Edition – $163.00

These Aussie-made sun-screen primers from Airyday act as moisturisers in their own right, packed with hyaluronic acid, vegan collagen, niacinamide, vitamins C,E and F, and blue light protectant.

The SPF Wardrobe Set Holiday Edition is the perfect skincare/SPF50+ travel kit, giving you options no matter where you are or what you’re doing. The kit contains:

– Golden Glow Dreamscreen (RRP $51.00) gives a satin finish that works well in beach holidays. These Dreamscreens are all water resistant for 40 minutes.

– Clear As Day Dreamscreen (RRP $51.00) hydrating and leaving a dewy finish ideal for winter trips or adventures in the desert.

– Pretty In Zinc Dreamscreen (RRP $51.00) lightweight with a matte finish perfect for tropical, humid destinations.

– Mineral Mousse Dreamscreen (RRP $51.00) a go-to for an active day of hiking, this hydrating primer leaves a beautiful natural finish.

– Limited edition On-The-Go neoprene pouch in chocolate (RRP $28.00) perfect for popping in your suitcase or backpack.

Explore more of the Airyday range here.

Tina M Copenhagen Cordoba Fedora – $85.00

This just might be the perfect travel hat. Made with Flexibraid®, invented by Aussie hatters Rigon Headwear, the Cordoba Fedora can fold almost flat without crushing or creasing so that it can be packed away in a suitcase without worry.

The beautiful nutmeg colour of the fedora and its 7.5cm brim, along with the olive green leather band and golden metal accent make the Codoba incredibly versatile: you can dress it up or down, wear it at the beach or in town, and it’s super lightweight too.

Since her move from Denmark to Australia 30 years ago, Tina Madsen-Walcott has created a range of hats that not only employ the sought-after ‘Scandi-style’, but that are also appropriate for Australia’s harsh climate offering SPF50+ protection against the sun.

Explore more of these beautiful hats by Tina Madsen-Walcott here.

The post Have Gifts Will Travel – gift ideas for the outward bound appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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!

Christmas is a wonderful time to relax and sip something tasty, and perhaps try something new. Even better if what you’re about to drink has been given to you by someone that loves you.

We’re always on the look-out for new things to drink and this gift guide has that in spades.

Here you’ll find everything from zero-alcohol spritz gift packs and pre-mixes to canned wine that’s actually really good to unusual sparkling.

We’ve also found high-end wines that don’t cost the earth, amazing gin gift boxes and subscription services as well as really out-there gins, superb bourbons and outrageously good Aussie and Scottish single malts.

Gee, Christmas is going to be good this year!

For more gift ideas this Christmas, check out our free online gift guide and e-zine here:

Hint Magazine 2024

Or click here for your easily downloadable PDF version of Hint Magazine!

Lyre’s zero-alcohol Pink London Spritz RTDs – $49.99 case of 12 cans

Perfect for Christmas by the pool or at the beach, these RTDs are as refreshing as they are convenient.

Full of the gin spritz vibes but with none of the alcohol, these Pink London Spritz drinks are packed with citrus and herbaceous flavours, and in spite of the pretty pink colour and sweet aroma they have a sharp edge to them.

Drink them as is or fancy them up in a spritz glass. You can also use them as the ideal base for an alcoholic drink. A 30ml measure of almond liqueur adds a touch of sweetness and a rose gold glow to the show.

Lyre’s zero-alcohol Amalfi Spritz Grande Duo Set – $74.00

The best way to get the party started without finishing Christmas, this non-alc cocktail kit from Lyre’s is genius.

With a 700ml bottle of Lyre’s Italian Spritz (a clever 0% riff on amaros like Campari) and 2x 750ml bottles of Lyre’s Classico sparkling wine, this kit easily becomes a delicious spritz similar to an Aperol spritz but without the risk of hangover! Now that’s what I call the perfect Christmas gift!

Wine in a Can from Scarborough Wines – $36.00 (x4 250ml)

From Scarborough Wines, one of the apex wineries of the Hunter Valley, NSW’s oldest and most esteemed wine region, these wines in a can represent a fun, fresh and tasty summer!

These are all full-strength wines and at 250ml are around 1/3 of a bottle. However, the cans have many advantages. You can measure how much you’re drinking easier, they chill faster and safer than bottles, they recycle easier, and they’re pool, beach and hike appropriate!

There are four varieties: Chardonnay, Vermentino lightly sparkling, Pinot Noir lightly sparkling rosé and Tempranillo Joven. You can either drink each one as is, or mix them to make delicious spritz cocktails.

At the other end of the scale, Scarborough Wines also have a new ultra-premium Chardonnay range that’s taken home serious awards this year.

Read about their Keepers of the Flame wine experience here.

Best’s Wines Blanc de Noir 2024 – $30.00

You’ve definitely heard of sparkling wine before and you’ve probably heard of sparkling Shiraz too. But I bet you’ve never heard of sparkling white wine made from Shiraz grapes, have you?

From the town of Great Western in Victoria, Best’s Wines are home to some of the oldest grapevines in Australia. They also love to riff on a theme.

Shiraz grapes, harvested early to retain plenty of acidity, are pressed and fermented with zero skin contact to keep the colour away from the juice. The resulting cuvee is vibrant and fresh with citrus, sherbet, apricot, and peaches and cream on the palate, and a bright citrus finish.

Perfect with smoked salmon, prawns, oysters or a good cheese board, this is the bubbly you want for Christmas!

Nepenthe Prestige Cuvée Chardonnay Pinot Noir – $25.00

Nepenthe, named after the elixir in Homer’s Odyssey that casts away sorrow and trouble, has created a classic Aussie sparkling perfect for summer celebrations.

Using their estate-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes in Adelaide Hills, Nepenthe’s Prestige Cuvée is fresh, fruit-forward and well-structured. It has a creamy softness on the palate from bottle fermentation, and finishes crisp and clean at the end.

Nepenthe Pinnacle Albariño 2023 – $35.00

In his Odyssey, Homer talks about a wine potion that brings on happy forgetfulness, that stops sadness and grief. He called it Nepenthe, the perfect name for a winery!

This single-vineyard Albariño, a Spanish varietal that’s growing in popularity worldwide, is fresh, floral and juicy. With peachy apple notes to start, this lovely wine stretches out with long citrus legs for a lasting zippy finish.

Studio by Miraval Rosé – $26.99

Magnum 1.5l bottle also available for $49.99

Made in the heart of the Côte d’Azur, this reassuringly dry rosé is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle, and the maritime grape, Tibouren.

The result is a beautiful pink blush to a crisp rosé wine that’s made for Christmas afternoons or getting NYE started!

McGuigan Personal Reserve Late Picked Traminer 2019 – $30.00

The McGuigan Personal Reserve Range never used to be available to the public. Saved for significant family functions, these wines, made from carefully selected low-yield vines became so popular that the family decided to release them to wine club members and visitors to the Hunter Valley cellar door.

This Late Picked Traminer is a wonderful example of the rare Personal Reserve range and a clever use of the varietal. Along with fresh intense marmalade and Turkish delight notes, tropical fruit flavours balance with a fine acidity and crisp finish, and a luxurious texture.

The iconic blue bottle and wax seal of McGuigan’s Personal Reserve dessert and fortified range makes this gift even more unique.

Tempus Two Copper Verdelho 2022 – $30.00

Showing off their wine-makers’ ability and craft in old-world wine styles with an Aussie twist, the Tempus Two Copper Range is for the serious wine enthusiast.

The Copper Verdelho has all the hallmarks associated with the varietal; the tropical fruit frisson that’s followed by a delightful acidity carrying through to a bright yet dry finish.

McGuigan Mastercraft Summer Shiraz 2020 – $40.00

Each year, McGuigan select small parcels of grapes from their favourite vineyards for the vintage. These are made into the Mastercraft series.

In 2020, Shiraz grapes from the Barossa Valley became McGuigan’s Summer Shiraz. Fruit-forward and juicy, with sweetness turning dry towards the finish, this is an easy-going red perfect to have with Christmas dinner or even chilled as an aperitif.

Tempus Two Copper Shiraz Gin – $85.00

Anyone who loves wine and gin is going to lose it for this ultimate mash-up — Tempus Two’s Shiraz Gin. This deep magenta gin, made from extracted Shiraz wine distillate is packed with all those much-loved juicy jammy Shiraz qualities. Add to that the balancing flavours of spicy savoury juniper, tart orange peel and earthy coriander, and you have a gin to celebrate with.

Drink with soda or tonic, or even better a 150ml-200ml of prosecco for the perfect gin spritz.

Garden Street Gin Club gin subscription – $99p/m

Gin lovers, rejoice! What better gift for the juniper junky in your life than this incredible gin subscription from Garden Street Gin Club?

Every month, Garden Street Gin Club will deliver a sumptuous box filled with a full-sized 700ml bottle of Aussie craft gin. Alongside, there’ll be two matched tonics to go with that month’s tipple as well as snacks, paired garnishes, a glossy monthly magazine and even a special gift.

You can also buy a box without signing up to a subscription. This special Farmer’s Wife Christmas box is $159.00.

The Autumn Dry Gin from Farmer’s Wife in Allworth, NSW is part of the special Christmas Collection, whereas every month a different craft gin from an Aussie distiller is in the box.

This gin has native sage, myrtles, pepperberry and rare native sugar bag honey, and is paired with StrangeLove Light Tonic for a splendid G&T. For a bit of difference, try a Ginger Mule, mixing Autumn Gin with StrangeLove Ginger Beer and grapefruit bitters, mint leaves and half a lime.

The inaugural gin box will also come with a welcome pack of two beautiful gin glasses by Aussie stemware company Plumm.

Strange Nature Gin – $89.99

I don’t think it’s unfair to say that New Zealanders never do things normally. If there’s ever a new angle or an alternative way of doing something, the Kiwis will find it. And that’s never truer than with this gin.

Harnessing the flavours from one of New Zealand’s most popular wine varieties, the creative brains from Giesen Wines have used their Sauvignon Blanc to create Strange Nature — a truly unique gin.

But this isn’t just a grape-based spirit — plenty of distilleries do that. Strange Nature uses actual Sauv Blanc wine as a botanical. In fact, this gin only has two: Sauvignon Blanc wine and juniper.

The pine and savoury notes of juniper create a base for the fresh tropical and dark berry notes of the Sauvignon Blanc to stand prominently and to create a very different take on gin flavours.

Perfect for G&Ts, gin mules and summer spritzes, this is the perfect gin for hot weather.

Glengoyne 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky – $103.99

Glengoyne will always hold a special place in our hearts as it was the first Scottish distillery we’ve visited. Glengoyne is on the very edge of being both a Lowlands and Highlands whisky, with its distillery just south of the demarkation line and, just across the road, the barrelhouse where the whisky is aged is in the Highlands.

But you can read all about that here in our write-up.

Glengoyne has been crafting beautiful single malt scotch for over 190 years. Their style is smooth, clean, unpeated whisky, and the water they use comes from a hidden waterfall just behind the distillery.

Having spent 12 years in French and American oak barrels, this Glengoyne whisky offers a perfect balance of rich intensity and citrus freshness, bringing notes of toffee apples, ginger, shortbread and a delicate hint of spice, rounded off with a soft and smooth oak finish.

Best enjoyed neat or with a touch of water, Glengoyne 12 is the perfect gift for any scotch fan.

Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon – $108.99

With a long heritage going back over 150 years, Yellowstone Distillery has connections with the famous Beam family, who have been in the whiskey business for seven generations.

Yellowstone Select is the combination of two different Yellowstone straight bourbons (meaning they’ve spent at least two years in virgin American oak barrels). The two whiskeys in this bottle, however, go far beyond that. One has been aged for four years, the other for seven, delivering a whole range of flavours, aromas and textures.

You’ll find caramel, melted butter and ripe cherries with a tangy finish, and notes of burnt sugar, tobacco and cloves. This is a great gift for any whiskey nerd and for lovers of classic cocktails like a boulevardier, Manhattan or old fashioned.

The post What To Drink This Christmas – liquid gifts for 2024 appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Far too often, our lives get so busy that we all forget to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves. But part of what makes Christmas so important is that we get to rely on the people around us for that.

We’ve put together a range of beautiful products and kits that provide the kind of treatments that will put a glow in your life.

Here you’ll find everything from home spa treatments to hair dryers to pillowcases of the finest silk. There are skin oils made from Aussie wine grapes, cleansers made from olive oil and moisturisers made using green tea extracts.

There’s even an awesome skincare kit for men here too.

And if you want more ideas for other Christmas presents, check out our free online gift guide and e-mag here:

Hint Magazine 2024

Or click here for your easily downloadable PDF version of Hint Magazine!

Marrok – Hammam at Home

Inspired by her travels around the world but especially to beautiful Morocco, Aussie owner-founder Nicole Brown discovered the skincare wonders that the souqs of Marrakech had to offer.

Her experiences in the hammams led her to bring some of these products and techniques back to Australia. These all-natural sustainable skincare products offer luxurious spa-like treatments in the comfort of your own home.

Marrok Moroccan Black Soap – $45.00

Both cleansing and exfoliating, this traditional soap paste, made with olive oil and water, is high in antioxidants and Vitamin E. Crafted to nourish your skin and leave it feeling fresh and rejuvenated, Marrok Black Soap provides a deep yet gentle treatment on your skin.

Marrok Mitt – $20.00

This gently exfoliating glove removes dead skin and polishes your body while encouraging new skin layers to grow and thrive. This mitt is best used in conjunction with Marrok Black Soap for a deep cleanse and that real hammam experience.

Marrok Argan Oil – $55.00

Well-known for its hydrating and anti-ageing properties, argan oil is the ultimate in spa-style skin treatments. Marrok’s pure 100% Argan Oil is great for using all over your body, from your hair to your face to your toes.

Marrok’s Whole Hammam Bundle – $110.00

For the true hammam experience, Marrok offers the ultimate all-in-one package that gives you all three components — the Black Soap, the Marrok Mitt and the Argan Oil — as a set. What better way to pamper the one you love this Christmas?

Caudalie Cosmetics’ Vinoperfect Range

Borne from a love of wine and inspired by a Bordeaux vintner, this luxurious skincare brand harnesses the antioxidant power of grape seeds and the rejuvenating qualities of grape stem sap, this incredible skincare product shows that there really isn’t anything that wine can’t do!

These two new products from Caudalie are the perfect skincare gift or even an impressive stocking filler for your favourite person.

Vinoperfect Brightening Micropeel Foam – $55.00

Featuring organic grape water, fruit acids and mandelic acid found in almonds, this foaming exfoliant gently removes dead skin cells and deep-cleans the delicate skin on your face and neck.

Perfect for daily use, Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Brightening Micropeel Foam enhances radiance and reduces dark spots — what more can you ask for this Christmas?

Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum – $156.00

This pre-moisturiser serum is both gentle and effective on the skin, correcting dark spots and enhancing bright skin tone.

Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum uses the reparatory power of olive squalane and Caudalie’s patented Vineferine — the precious sap from grapevines that founder Mathilde learned can actively fade dark spots on the skin.

Whether they are from acne, sun, pregnancy or simply age, dark spots are visibly lightened with this magical serum. Who doesn’t love a Christmas miracle?

RoC

Known for its hyaluronic acid and retinoid products, RoC has been a market leader in the cosmetics world since it started in 1957. It’s depth and range of skincare treatments is dazzling, but this trio from the RoC Derm Correxion range, developed in partnership with dermatologists and plastic surgeons, make perfect Christmas gifts for your loved one.

Derm Correxion Fill + Treatment Serum – $59.99

It’s clear from the syringe-like packaging what this Fill + Treatment Serum does. With its advanced Retinol and triple hyaluronic acid formula, this serum reduces the appearance of lines and provides wrinkle-filling solutions with no injections required.

Derm Corrextion Dual Eye Cream – $56.99

RoC’s double-acting Duel Eye Cream is specifically formulated to target the different types of skin around your eye. The upper eye gel lifts and firms while the lower eye cream smooths, ‘depuffs’ and reduces dark circles.

Derm Correxion Contour Cream – $49.99

This moisturiser is also a firming cream to use on the face and neck in conjunction with the other two Derm Correxion products. Using Retinol and anti-inflammatory swertiamarin, Contour Cream visibly firms and lifts the skin on your face, neck and jawline.

Hada Labo Anti-Aging Oval V-Lift Hydro Cream – $44.95

From Japan’s number one rated skincare brand, this unusual jelly moisturiser feels amazing as you put it on.

Both somehow softening and toning the skin at the same time, its combination of super-hyaluronic acid, soy milk and ginseng lifts and smooths, giving a wonderful finish. Definitely a gift for the spa rat in your life!

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Acid Cream – $43.00

From Korea’s first natural skincare brand, Innisfree’s Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Acid Cream contains green tea sourced from Korea’s beautiful Jeju Island, a tropical island 100km south of the mainland.

The cream also has not one but five types of hyaluronic acid in it, making it one of the most hydrating moisturisers on the market.

LTN 25 momme Mulberry Silk Pillowcase – $79.20

There are wide range of health benefits to a silk pillowcase. Pure mulberry silk naturally repels mould, fungus, dust mites and allergens, but much sexier than that, a silk pillowcase lets you wake up with awesome hair!

The naturally smooth, delicate surface of a silk pillowcase reduces static and friction, which allows your hair to glide over the pillow as you sleep. This means no tangles or knots when you wake up, and also that your styling will hold for longer too.

Love Thy Nader by internationally awarded hair styler Anthony Nader have a 25 momme silk count, much higher than the average silk pillowcase.

Valanolia Cleansing and Beauty Products – $14.99-$19.99

Using award-winning olives from some of the oldest trees in Australia, Valanolia have crafted a beautiful range of products that are high in antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamin E, polyphenols and squalene that occur naturally in olives.

Each of these products contains the essential extracts of at least 360 olives, each one formulated to moisturise, smooth, nourish and clean hair and skin leaving it looking youthful and radiant.

Valanolia’s groves were established in 1972 using olive varieties sourced from Greece, and the land in Markwood, VIC — part of the Alpine Valley region — was specifically chosen for its Mediterranean climate.

This range is the perfect plant-based pamper gift for Christmas.

Cloud Nine Starlight Collection AirShot hairdryer – $299.00

This beautiful, limited edition hairdryer from Cloud Nine not only looks the part with its shimmering matte silver finish and chrome-look details, new upgrades in tech provide incredible styling control while limiting heat damage.

Three levels of heat and air speed, as well as the all-important cool shot button, mean you can adapt this powerful 2000W hairdryer to your hair type quickly and easily. Plus AirShot’s Anti-Static Technology is engineered to reduce negatively charged particles in each hair strand, mitigating frizz and flyaways.

This limited edition hair dryer also comes with two styling nozzles (60mm and 75mm).

Airyday Glow From Head To Toe – Holiday Edition Kit – $99.00

Made in Australia, Airyday products not only keep you safe from dangerous UVA and UVB rays with SPF50+, they’re also formulated to look good on your skin and to make your skin feel good too. They’re also beautifully scented.

For $99.00, the Glow From Head To Toe Holiday Edition Kit contains $154.00 of value:

– Golden Glow Dreamscreen (RRP $51.00) leaves a beautifully luminous satin finish and is luxuriously scented with Champagne and peonies.

– Lip Me Watermelon lip balm (RRP $24.00) gives luscious glossy lips that are hydrated and sun-safe under SPF50+.

– Golden Shimmer Body Dreamscreen (RRP $39.00) vegan collagen, shea butter, hyaluronic acid and vitamins C, E and F all work together in this fast-absorbing, lightweight body cream that hydrates and illuminates, and gives amazing sun protection.

– Special Edition Canvas Tote Bag in chocolate (RRP $40.00)

Explore more of the Airyday range here.

Olaplex In Good Repair hair kit – $90.00

For all you non-believers out there, there is such a thing as a Christmas miracle. Olaplex has saint-like abilities to heal and fix damaged hair, and make it stronger and healthier too. We’re not going into the science details of it here — but if you want to know more, check out Christina’s review on Hair Romance.

This kit from Olaplex has all you need in one easy gift pack that will repair and strengthen hair, and also give it a healthy glow.

Applying the No.3 Hair Perfector in damp hair first, then shampooing and conditioning with the No.4 and No.5 Bond Maintenance products fixes broken hair strands and strengthens. Finally adding the magical No.7 Bonding Oil gives further strength to the hair but also a beautiful shine.

Perfect for split ends, dry or frizzy hair and for hair that’s been damaged by colouring and heat-styling.

Recreation Beauty Lost in Dusk Eau de Parfum 50ml – $119.00

Lost in Dusk is a sumptuous eau de parfum with exquisite layers of deep vanilla, opulent myrrh and an intoxicating bourbon infusion. Notes of saffron, plum, oakmoss, coffee and amber come in to create a rich, centred perfume that builds and lasts.

Environmentally conscious and truly elegant, this luxury scent from Recreation Beauty in Bondi, Australia uses no toxic chemicals, endocrine-disrupting ingredients or synthetic materials. Everything is ethically sourced and vegan, and even the packaging is centred on sustainability.

The perfect gift for the person in your life who is not only focused on low-tox living, but on smelling wonderful too.

Vitis V Skin TonIQ – $140.00

Founded by award-winning South Australian winemaker Susan Mickan, Vitis V Skin TonIQ is a beautiful face oil made from wine grapes that hydrates, repairs and rejuvenates. Seriously, is there nothing that wine can’t do?

Cold-pressing the seeds from unfermented wine grapes (vitis vinifero), Susan harnesses this pristine oil’s natural linoleic acid, beta-carotene, chlorophyll, squalene, y-tocotrienol and Vitamin E complex.

Within two weeks, your skin feels nourished and hydrated, and redness and inflammation is calmed. After 12 weeks, skin cells are regenerating, skin texture has improved, and collagen and elastin are protected leaving you with a youthful glow.

And on top of all this, the packaging is stunning. The black glass bottle keeps the oil safe from light strike and the even pipette — reminiscent of a wine thief sampler used for taking wine samples from winery barrels — has a luxury feel. What’s more, the box the bottle comes in is individually dated, batch numbered and signed like a high-end bottle of wine.

Shakeup Cosmetics Face 4ward Deluxe Kit – $150.72 (~$240 of value)

Men’s cosmetics have become such a huge market over the last few years. At its vanguard is Shakeup, who have developed an ever-increasing range of skincare products aimed specifically at men — though ladies, I’m sure it won’t hurt if you choose to use them too!

You can read more of our stories and reviews of men’s cosmetics here.

Of all the products that Shakeup Cosmetics makes, Face 4ward is their flagship range and this Deluxe Kit has the best of them all inside Shakeup’s soft faux leather wash bag ($30.00 RRP) to create the perfect skincare regime: wash, tone, treat, moisturise.

Multi-Action Daily Face Wash ($32.99 RRP)

Cleanses and gently exfoliates leaving the skin clean, soft and moisturised.

Clarifying Toner ($39.99 RRP)

Tones, reduces oil and shine, and minimises pores with glycolic acid and fruit AHA complex.

Pro-Youth Serum ($70.99 RRP)

Nourishes skin, helps reduce lines and calms irritation.

Matte-Effect Gel Moisturiser ($55.99 RRP)

Gives skin a supple, youthful glow while leaving a flawless matte finish.

The post Gifts That Are More Than Skin-Deep – Christmas cosmetics for 2024 appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

When Christina and I were putting this list of travel gifts together, we really wanted to show a diversity of ideas. People often say we’re hard to buy for—especially when it comes to travel stuff—but that’s because we don’t need any more universal power adaptors or money belts.

We don’t expect flight tickets or hotel stays for Christmas (though I hope our families are reading this and want to surprise us this year) and luggage is a minefield.

When it comes to buying someone else a suitcase, you might as well try buying them shoes without them trying them on first.

So we thought we’d think more laterally.

Below, you’ll find everything from travel fashion (don’t worry, this is a Crocs-free zone) to personal (and party) entertainment, books for inspiration and for direction, and even some ideas and vouchers for local guided tours.

There’s even an ingenious collapsable cooler here that I’m kind of in love with.

This Christmas gift list is part of our annual Hint Magazine—our online guide to Christmas, which has gift ideas, but also a host of stories about making the festive season a bit more special.

We’re talking recipes, gift personalisation inso and even a list of Christmas movies that you probably haven’t though of.

Check out the full publication here!

A Traveller’s Christmas Gift Guide

Tina M Copenhagen hats

The perfect gift for those with a head for fashion, these Tina M Copenhagen hats not only look beautiful but are excellent sun-safe options from beach to bar.

Moving to Australia from Denmark over 30 years ago, Tina Madsen-Walcott has paired form with function to create Tina M Copenhagen hats.

Plugging into both her Danish upbringing and her life here in Australia—as well as a degree in Biochemistry, Tina’s designs are the joint embodiment of ‘Scando style’ and Aussie sun sense.

Maui hat

Crush-resistant and colour-fast, the Maui is the perfect travel hat but also has the style to pull off a long lunch or rooftop bar. It also has an adjustable internal drawstring to fit snugly in windy conditions, and comes in two colourways: this light camel crown and camel brim or an ivory and khaki mix.

$85.00 RRP

Whistler hat

Fully adjustable for wind resistance and made from Australian wool, this fedora will keep its wearer company in the country and its 7cm brim will keep them sun safe too. This beautiful hat is also at home in the city and adds an air of mystique to any ensemble.

$135 RRP

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 portable speaker

Nothing gets the party started quite like good tunes. So if you’re shopping for a party animal this Christmas, you’ve just hit gold. This Megaboom 3 portable speaker from Ultimate Ears is incredible.

Not only does Megaboom 3 deliver sound quality you’d expect from a stadium concert it’s also virtually indestructible. Sand and dust resistant, drop proof and even waterproof, you can drop this thing in your suitcase and know it’s going to be ready to go when you unpack.

A thundering bass, exquisite sound balance and 360° spacial audio means the quality of sound you get with Megaboom 3 is never compromised. And its 45m range lets the party really travel.

$329.95 RRP

Bouncee 43l Folding Cooler

Traditional eskies take up so much room, don’t they? Especially when they’re not being used. Whether you’re camping, boating or it’s just winter and the cooler box is sitting fallow in your garage, it’s a lot of lost space when they’re empty.

But this collapsable cooler from Bouncee changes everything. Folding down to under half its size when it’s up, this cooler is so handy. It’s lightweight and strong too—made from EPP expandable polypropylene, the same stuff they use to make car parts.

And when it’s up, this box can even have multiple temperature zones with the use of thermal dividers that slot into the sides. You can have frozen goods on one side and other kit or room-temp food and drink on the other. This also makes it perfect to keep in the car boot for grocery runs and road trips!

$109.00 RRP for just the box
$169.99 for the Starter Kit, which includes 4x ice packs and 1x thermal divider

Logitech G735 wireless gaming headset and case

For gamers, music-lovers or movie buffs on the move, this over-ear wireless headset with detachable microphone represents their raison d’être! From Logitech’s Aurora Collection, the G375 is foldable, super lightweight at 273g, and is built for speed, comfort and longevity.

These headphones will stay connected—either via Bluetooth or the LIGHTSPEED USB receiver—to mobile devices and laptops. You can even do both at once, perfect for those boring work-from-home meetings when you just want to listen to your podcast. Those suckers at work won’t know a thing about it!

Either way, keep listening for up to 56 hours of continuous use in one charge. The headset’s cloud-soft headband and adjustable ear cups make sure they’re comfortable the whole time.

At home, the G735 wireless headset is the perfect peace-keeping gift too, as it connects easily to smart TVs and will let everyone watch whatever they want to without interrupting the rest of the house. Plus with a 20-metre range, these headphones keep connected in the biggest of living rooms.

And for that extra touch of flare, these amazing headphones even light up, reacting with what you’re listening to with a 16.8million-colour spectrum that lights up and is endlessly customisable!

$429.95 RRP

And to make this headset even more convenient, this ergonomic carry case makes sure it stays safe whenever it’s not in use. The headset simply folds up and fits snuggly into the purpose-built space.

There’s even room for a gaming mouse, cables or any other kit. Whenever I travel, I keep earplugs, plane adapters, eye mask and my favourite long-haul hack: melatonin tablets.

$79.95 RRP

Love Shacks by Susan Redman

Surely the sweet spot of the architectural design and travel inspiration Venn Diagram, Love Shacks is the perfect Christmas book for anyone who loves beautiful, creative interiors, magnificent destinations and unique architecture. It’s for those who always dream of travel and of dream houses.

In her beautifully illustrated hardback, design journalist and lifestyle editor Susan Redman brilliantly combines the fascinating stories from those that have designed, built, styled and restored their pieces of paradise with an all-new way of curating your travel bucket list.

From mountain cottages in the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the conical stonework of trulli roofs in the Pugliese countryside in southeast Italy, from beachside fibros of fishermen’s shacks on the South Australian coast to wood cabins in pine forests of southern Finland, this book travels the world, shows you where you have to stay (all these properties are rentable) and even gives you a taste of what you should do when you’re there.

$59.99 RRP

Wine Trails Australia & New Zealand – Lonely Planet Food

Building on what Lonely Planet has always done so well since it started in 1973, the Lonely Planet Food arm is the perfect starting point to planning a bit of gastronomic galavanting. For your wine-lover, Wine Trails Australia and New Zealand is the perfect gift for organising their next 40 weekends away.

Cleverly broken up into manageable sections, this hardback guide breaks down a complex and often bewildering area of travel. Starting with a rundown of each wine region, the book goes into detail with a few choice wineries and what to expect, and then gives you the important granular info you need like where to stay, where to eat and what else you can do other than drink wine. It’s an excellent aid to planning a wine weekend away.

Just be careful; whoever you give this to for Christmas you probably won’t see for the rest of the year!

$39.99 RRP

Gourmet Trails Europe – Lonely Planet Food

Europe is in everyone’s travel sights at the moment, with all the big-ticket destinations like Paris, Barcelona, Rome and London heaving with lusty, travel-hungry crowds trying to make up for Covid-lost time.

But for the more savvy travellers among us, a step or two back from that well-stomped on path often reveal those wonderful authentic gems that long ago lost their lustre on the main street. Lonely Planet Food’s Gourmet Trails Europe gives up many of these spots with signature simplicity and sense of ease.

A quick overview, a bio of venues to visit and a page on where to stay, what to do and even tips of how to get there, and you realise you’ve already got your passport out.

Summarising and inspiring travel on 40 different food-focused itineraries to 42 different countries, this is the book for anyone heading to (or even thinking about) Europe for a feed.

$34.99 RRP

Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2024

2024 sees Lonely Planet turn 50! And to celebrate, the ubiquitous travel guide company has released its top 50 destinations for 2024. This is a highlight reel of what’s to come picks the top 10 best in show for best countries, best cities, best regions, best value and most sustainable.

Spoiler alert, Australia has made the list, reaching second spot in top 10 regions with Kangaroo Island SA. NZ also gets a mention with the Southern Lakes and Central Otago taking ninth spot in the Best Value category.

The perfect gift for anyone with a love of travel, this book will inspire, educate and entertain with four pages dedicated to each winning destination as well stunning photography that puts you right there on the ground.

$27.99 RRP

Wilson Payne true blue Aussie socks

Give cliched gifts the bird with these excellent Aussie avian socks! Designed and made in Melbourne, these socks feature some of the best birds from Down Under.

Our favourites are the cheeky crimson rosella and the spectral red-tailed black cockatoo, but you can also dec your feet with barn owls, bungees, kookaburras, penguins and magpies.

Other Aussie icons have also made their way onto these well-crafted and comfortable socks. The likes of Tasmanian devils, green tree frogs, koalas and echidnas have made their way onto Wilson Payne’s hosiery, as have some of our favourite snacks!

Who’d have thought fairy bread, lamingtons or musk sticks would make for good footwear?

$35.50 RRP per pair

Campify Gift Voucher

Imagine AirBnB but on wheels. That’s what Campify is. Australia’s largest and fastest-growing campervan, motorhome and caravan sharing community, Campify gives you access to over 10,000 ‘moving holiday homes’ around the world.

And best of all, this voucher system means whoever you’re gifting gets to choose their own adventure!

From $100 to $1,500 – it depends how much you love them!

Queen Victoria Markets Tour Gift Voucher

Give the gift of knowledge, food and culture with this voucher for a tour of the legendary Vic Markets in Melbourne VIC. This two-hour tour goes round the various stalls of the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere and has been running for 145 years.

You get to meet the traders, hear their incredible stories and sample lots of the tasty delicacies from Australia and around the world that this market is famous for.

$99 per person

Local Sauce Secret Tours of Sydney

Sydney is world famous for its beautiful harbour, but there’s a lot more to the city than just the water that surrounds it. Tucked away down little streets or in suburbs away from the busy CBD are fascinating facets waiting to be discovered.

Local Sauce explores local pockets of the city through private and small-group tours like their Secret Bar Crawl or Surry Hills by Night – Crime & Cocktails, or food adventures in China Town or Little Italy in Five Dock. And if you don’t know which tour to buy for Christmas, there’s even a fully customisable gift card you can opt for instead!

Check out these customisable gift cards.

The post A Traveller’s Christmas—gifts for the ever-outward bound appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

I am a self-confessed spa rat. Even before I met Christina, I loved a massage and all kinds of skin treatment. My sister used to be an aromatherapist and my mum brought me up using moisturisers, face masks, toners and oils.

My dad has always hated any creams or lotions on his face by the way, and would sit and grumble while my mum and I sat next to him with clay covering our faces.

Christina has bee working in the beauty industry for almost 15 years now with her site Hair Romance. It’s meant I’ve been exposed to a whole other level of cosmetics and beauty brands.

So here are our favourite hair and beauty products and tech that we think would make awesome presents for the spa rat in your life!

This is part of our annual Hint Magazine—a guide to Christmas featuring shoppable gift ideas, but also stories on how to make your Christmas even better as well as things like movie recommendations and recipes.

Check out this year’s edition of Hint Magazine here.

Looking Good For Christmas

CurrentBody Skin Light Therapy Mask

CurrentBody Skin’s Special LED Kit is the ultimate Christmas spoil for the person in your life that loves spas and treatments, but who also wants the comfort and convenience of home.

CurrentBody’s research into the efficacy of clinic-grade LED red and infrared light therapy devices on skin rejuvenation has been industry leading.

Designed in the UK, this comfortable silicon mask is fitted with dual light emitters spaced for optimal coverage. It uses precise, high quality wavelengths for cellular rejuvenation to make this the most powerful and effective LED mask on the market, clinically proven to reduce wrinkles in only four weeks.

The kit comes with a set of nourishing hydrogel face masks, which work to enhance the effects of the LED mask, and a bottle of specially formulated Green Tea Serum that calms inflammation and soothes irritated skin.

$679.00 RRP (normally $715)

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System

The perfect gift for anyone who wants a whole hair salon in the palm of their hand, the Shark FlexStyle System does everything. It even transforms!

In its initial ‘wand’ formation, the Shark FlexStyle System can be fitted with round or paddle brush attachments, which have a combination of nylon and boar bristles that help detangle and shine at the same time.

There are also two 3.2cm auto-wrap curling barrels that use mind-boggling helix-like coanda technology that draws hair round the barrels to curl without damaging with direct heat.

But then you hit the styler lock switch and the System goes full Optimus Prime. The end turns 90° so that it can be used as a traditional hair dryer, with a style concentrator and curl enhancing diffuser attachments.

The FlexStyle has four heat settings, including a cold shot button to set your style, and three airflow settings for complete control of the power in your hand.

And when your hair is looking perfect, the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System goes back into its stylish and convenient storage case.

$499.00 RRP

Lük Beautifood Holiday Beauty Gift Packs

Aussie owned and made, Lük Beautifood pride themselves on using ingredients that not only look beautiful on, but that are good for you, your skin and the environment.

The perfect stocking stuffer or extra gift this Christmas, Lük Beautifood’s Lip Tint Trees even come in cute festive packaging that you can hang from the tree! These lipsticks come in 14 shades like Pink Juniper, which tastes of orange and juniper berries or Rose Lime that has hints of lime and ginger on your lips.

$24.00 RRP per Tree

These Lash Lip Trio three-in-one packs gift a Lip Nourish hydrating conditioner with a satin finish, a Lipstick Crayon that acts as a lipstick and liner in one, and a Lash Nourish mascara that lifts, separates and defines lashes as it conditions. There are two collections to choose from: Nude Shades or Soft Shades.

$69.00 RRP per Trio

Robe Haircare Youthful Shampoo and Conditioner

From internationally acclaimed Aussie hair colourist, cutter and stylist Lauren Mackellar, Robe Haircare’s Youthful shampoo and conditioner make for wonderful Christmas gifts for anyone with thick, coarse or greying hair.

The shampoo lightens and smooths the hair while the conditioner softens and hydrates, leaving nourished, shiny easy-to-work-with hair.

$59.99 RRP per product

The Beauty Chef Glow F.A.C.E Skin Oil

Rich, nourishing and rejuvenating, this skin oil from The Beauty Chef is a spa treatment in a bottle. The ideal Christmas gift for anyone looking for a glowing radiant finish to their skin, this oil reduces the appearance of fine lines, and tones, firms and feeds.

Developed from the theory that healthy skin begins in the gut, this oil is made from fermented extracts of over 20 different plants as well as vitamin A,C and E, and also contains Bakuchiol, a gentler, plant-based retinoid-like product.

$75.00 RRP

A’Naturel Strawberry Glow Mask

Don’t be fooled by the cute pearly pink colour or the lolly-sweet strawberry smell of this hydrating facial treatment mask from A’Naturel; its extracts of aloe vera, jojoba oil, witch hazel and real strawberries act an a powerful antioxidant.

What better gift for anyone who loves a fresh, revitalised complexion?

$50.00 RRP

Jelly Ko

By creating products that are (almost) good enough to eat*, Jelly Ko (‘Ko’ as in Korea) have made a range of hydrating, rejuvenating skincare that’s not only enjoyable to use but highly effective too.

*Don’t eat these skincare products!

Their delicious Gelato Lip Glaze Mask (it even comes with a little gold ice cream scoop!) hydrates and nourishes your lips with lysine, amino acids and shea butter, while the Dewy Glaze Toner uses ingredients like birch sap, three types of hyaluronic acid, adenosine and panthenol to give your skin a magical, hydrating shine.

Jelly Ko’s Cherry Blossom Sleeping Mask makes the most of your skin’s natural repair cycle so you wake up with brighter, softer, bouncier skin.

$28.00 – $64.00 RRP

RoC

The OG of over-the-counter retinoid skincare, RoC is the ultimate cosmetics gift for anyone who takes skincare seriously.

With a vast suite of products for almost every skin type, time of day and occasion, these clinically proven Retinol and hyaluronic acid skin solutions should be a cornerstone of everyone’s beauty regime.

These two RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump products for the eyes and face are perfect examples of this icon of the cosmetics industry that’s been helping battle the signs of ageing since 1957.

Eye Cream (15ml) $29.99 RRP
Serum Capsules (x30) $32.99 RRP

ORI Lab by NAK Hair

One of Australia’s hair product icons, NAK Hair has served Aussie locks for over 20 years. Their ORI Lab range provides beautiful organic plant-based haircare is a delicious selection of products designed to cleanse, nourish and restore hair to its natural beauty.

ORI Lab has a number of cute pre-packaged ‘edits’ that make Christmas shopping that bit easier. Their Bon Bon Edits are quads of mini products containing a cleanser, conditioner, treatment and styling product suited to different types of hair. Perfect travel kits or stocking fillers.

There are also Treat & Style Edits with full-size reviving hair treatment and styling product in each, and there are Trio Edits that have three hair products handpicked for different purposes. Their names—Restore, Calm, Blonde, Plump and Curl speak for themselves.

$49.99-$98.95 RRP

The post Looking Good For Christmas—top beauty gifts for the festive season appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Christina and I made it a custom a while ago to buy the house a Christmas gift as well as things for each other. It’s usually something we’ve both been meaning to get but have never got round to it.

Or it’s something that’ll make our place look or smell nicer, or adds a bit of style or comfort to our favourite rooms. Or maybe something that’s just bloody cool.

These gift ideas for the home are part of our annual Hint Magazine guide to Christmas. It includes a shoppable section with all kinds of ideas for Christmas presents, but also has things like recipes, unusual Christmas movies and ways to personalise gifts to make them even more special.

Check out this year’s Hint Magazine here.

Christmas Gifts For Where Your Heart Is

Glasshouse Fragrances Festival of Lights Candle 380g

Turbo charge the Christmas feels for someone this year with this delicious smelling sugar and spice donut candle from Glasshouse Fragrances.

They can fill their house with rich aromas of cinnamon, cloves, apple pie and wild berries and really get into the festive mood. This Festival of Lights candle comes in a beautifully decorated tin illustrated by Michelle Pereira for an extra touch of Christmas.

$59.95 RRP

Wilson Payne Aussie Tea Towels

No Aussie kitchen is complete without one of these excellent tea towels! Each eco-friendly 100% cotton towel has been designed and manufactured in Australia by a combination of regular and special needs workers.

Both a good ‘dryer-upper’ and a work of art, these towels are the perfect gift for the house-proud or home-sick true blue Aussie.

Our picks of Wilson Payne’s Australiana Collection are the Flock of Favourites, featuring the likes of sulphur-crested cockatoos, kookaburras, lyrebirds and even the menacing cassowary, and the Aussie As.

This tea towel has all the icons that make Australia unique. Aussie inventions like the Hills Hoist, the Splayd and Ugg boots make their appearance, as do icons like the stubby holder, budgie smugglers, Akubras and box wine. Good on ya, cobba!

$33.95 RRP per towel

Shark Cordless Detect Pro with Auto-Empty System

For the house-proud and lovers of tech, the Shark Cordless Detect Pro with its incredible Auto-Empty System is, well, Christmas!

Packed with features, functions and automations, it’s clear why Shark didn’t just want to label this masterpiece of engineering a mere vacuum cleaner.

For starters, this thing will empty itself every time you hang it up to charge. It comes with a bin that holds up to a month’s worth of debris, which also has a sensor to tell you when it’s full and anti-odour tech too. Compared to emptying a vacuum manually, this function hugely reduces dust and allergen contact.

The machine itself has four different automatic modes to help with different situations. Dirt Detect boosts power when it senses hidden dirt or encounters more debris than normal. Sensors on the side of the floor nozzle can tell when you’re near a wall in Edge Detect mode and gives a power boost to the suction and sweeping rollers, while Floor Detect knows when you’re going from a hard floor to carpet or  to a thick rug and will apply power appropriately.

Light Detect comes on when you’re cleaning under furniture or in low-light areas, illuminating the floor so you can see where the dirt is.

The handset is more like mission control, with a display that tells you everything from battery life to how clean an area is. LED rings show in real time how much debris is on the floor in three colours ranging from blue to red.

For me the most exciting thing is the self-cleaning brushroll function, which actively separates and removes long hairs from the floor roller. Christina’s long locks look great, but they’re a nightmare when you’re in charge of vacuuming.

There are so many other neat features to the Shark Cordless Detect Pro I haven’t mentioned that really pushes my gadget-geek buttons (things like how it hinges so you can get right under furniture), but you can see why I love this thing.

You might not think this is the most romantic of Christmas gifts at first, but when anything that cuts down effort and time spent of house chores is pretty hot in our book!

$699.99 RRP (down from $999.99)

Lord & Lion Exotic Spices

Spoil the curry king or queen in your life with this exquisite spice box from Lord & Lion—a heritage brand trading in hard-to-find luxury spices from Sri Lanka and India. Founder Eresha De Zoysa is a Sydney local but her family has been in the spice and tea business in Sri Lanka for over 120 years.

This elegant hand-packaged Maharaja gift set comes with 12 essential spices for Indian style curries, each in its own black matte spice tin.

You’ll find the likes of smoky spicy Kashmiri chilli, aromatic and bitter amchur, umami-packed asafoetida and bright earthy turmeric inside as well as a bundle of high-grade Ceylon cinnamon quills, a gold spice spoon, a beautiful Lord & Lion tea towel and a set of five recipe cards.

Alternatively, there is the Lankan Spice Box, full of the treasured ingredients for many Sri Lankan specialties.

$99.00 RRP

Lord & Lion Singapore Chilli Garlic Sauce

As well as spice blends and boxes, Lord & Lion create complete sauces like this Singapore Chilli Garlic Sauce. Perfect for seafood (we’re all thinking about mud crabs now, right?) but also as a dipping sauce, a stir fry sauce with veggies or even with a bit of mayonnaise to add a touch of creaminess.

Lord & Lion donate from their spice sales to help housing projects in rural Sri Lanka, helping with medical aid and housing the homeless, and supplying essential human needs like running water, electricity furniture and cooking equipment to poor communities.

$11.95 RRP

Coravin Sparkling

The ultimate gift for your Champagne hero who hates waste, the Coravin Sparkling keeps bubbly, well, bubbly for up to a month!

Put the tea spoons back in the drawer (that doesn’t work anyway) and throw those clamp stoppers away, this sleek, easy-to-use sparkling wine preserver is a game-changer. By injecting carbon dioxide through the cleverly engineered cap, the Coravin Sparkling re-pressurises the bottle maintaining the fizz and keeping the wine as fresh as the day you popped the cork for up to four weeks!

You can see our full review plus our month-long test of the Coravin Sparkling here.

It’s perfect for those of us who fancy a cheeky glass of sparkling but not a whole bottle, or for that spritz at the start of the night where you only need 30ml of bubbly.

$699.95 RRP

The post Home for Christmas—gift inspo for where your heart is appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.