Having a minimalist Christmas has become a goal of many parents worldwide, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic. And for parents who are not quite ready to take minimalism to the extreme this festive season, there still seems to be an interest in downsizing the overall experience of giving gifts and celebrating with family. But why would someone want to go the minimalist route? The reasons are plenty. For many families, they want to take away the materialistic focus of the festive season and try to redirect attention to themes such as generosity, kindness, peace and joy. A minimalist approach also helps to limit waste during this special time of the year, which typically involves large amounts of disposable plastic and...
Here at spaZa, we are simply in love with the idea of Halloween. From the crazy outfits to the delicious candy, Halloween happens to be one of our favourite seasons of the year. And when it comes to hosting gatherings, we can’t help but get excited at the prospect of dressing up a table, playing the hostess with the mostest and bringing the magic of the spooky season outside, inside to share with family and friends. Whether you’re throwing a casual pumpkin carving party or hosting family and friends for a big Halloween bash, we’re here to help you put the season on full display by sharing our most loved gems from around the web. And although Halloween hasn’t been...
A big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon. A smooth, velvety Merlot. A rich, creamy Pinot Noir. Whatever your favourite vintage or varietal, the perfect reason to delve into tannins, berries and bitter notes is around the corner. As Red Wine Day approaches, we figured that now is as good a time as any to usher in the flavours of the fall and share some tips on how to pair your favourite wines on August 28th and beyond. So, let’s start with the basics… The basics of red wine People are often intimidated by red wine due to its bold flavours. Depending on what you choose, the flavour profile of your wine could be dry, peppery, complex, bitter or a variety of other...
When I think about Easter, there are some very specific foods that come to mind. Amongst these are pickled fish, freshly baked bread and pickled fish. But the one dish that stands out among the rest is definitely the coveted Hot Cross Bun. In my family, we would buy these over several weeks before and after the Easter Weekend and serve them warm, cut in half with a dollop of butter melting over the middle. And even though my love of spicy Hot Cross Buns has since changed to a penchant for the chocolate variant, this traditional baked morsel of deliciousness will always hold fond memories for me. While planning for this year’s Easter weekend, my mind wandered back to...
As the daughter of an avid baker, there are few baked goodies that I haven’t tried. From lamingtons to cornbread, my mom always had a new recipe that she wanted to try and I was happy to be the taste tester. Bread, however, was never really one of those things either of us had much interest in. That all changed recently when Julia sent me a gallery full of images from her bread baking adventures… To be honest, I never really thought of sourdough bread as a feasible means of sustenance. Yeah, sure, it made a nice sandwich base whenever I went out for brunch but it’s not really something I would actively make or buy. That is until Julia...
