Christmas

They won’t make your relatives turn up on time or guarantee sunny skies on the 25th, but these sensible purchases will help you have a relatively low-stress Christmas. Just as well too, because we deserve it.

CHERRY DELIVERY $33/kg from Jackson Orchard Adding a couple of punnets of summer fruit to your cart is always a berry good idea. Whether you’re adding them to a glass of fizz or your token bowl of corn flakes come Boxing Day (we take ours with raspberries and cream thanks), you should take every opportunity to make the most of the short red fruit season. A box of cherries makes a delicious thank you present for hosts, and Jackson Orchard in Cromwell will deliver them to your door – just get in quick!

HOT SMOKED SALMON – $44.80/700gm from Akaroa Salmon Sure ham and turkey have their place on the Christmas table, but on the big day it’s the salmon we look forward to the most. It’s an extremely versatile protein. You can throw it on the barbecue, cure it, glaze it or roast the night before and serve cold. For the ultimate easy Christmas dish, Akaroa Salmon’s hot smoked mānuka fillet is the ticket.

33 LESKY – $79 from Bunnings It doesn’t get more summer than a chilly bin full of drinks and ice, sitting next to the barbecue. This model has an easy-access lid that means you don’t have to open up the whole top to pull out a drink and that helps keep the cold air in. Most importantly – it holds up to 40 cans.

KAI SHUN CLASSIC WHITE CHEF’S KNIFE – $335 from Milly’s A proper-sharp chef’s knife makes such a difference in the kitchen. This do-it-all knife is suitable for chopping, shredding, cutting, slicing and cubing all meat, fish and veges. Made by Japanese brand Kai Shun, this style of knife is lighter than the European-style, meaning doing large amounts of chopping is less taxing. A grunty kitchen workhorse, but beautiful enough to use tableside, it’s a Christmas miracle!

OUTDOOR PLAY TUMBLE TOWER – $49 from The Warehouse All good get-togethers have an ice breaker activity. In our minds it doesn’t get much better than a version of giant Jenga. It can be played indoors or out, you can carry a conversation and participate at the same time and you can play with two people or 10. Someone is guaranteed to take it too seriously, nothing new there!

LIVING & CO CITRONELLA 5 WICK CANDLE – $18 from The Warehouse Don’t let a perfectly lovely evening in the garden be ruined by flying nuisances. Keep bugs at bay with this citronella candle. Bugs hate the citronella plant’s fresh scent and also tend to steer clear from flames. The candle comes in a pleasing grey tub that can be reused as a cutlery vessel when the wax is all gone.

FALLOT GRAINY MUSTARD ORSIO JAR – $19 from Maison Vauron A high-quality mustard is a great condiment to have in the pantry over Christmas. Combine with marmalade to glaze the ham, mix it through a potato salad, add a dollop into a salad dressing or just spread it thickly onto sandwiches to revive leftovers. In a pinch, you could even gift it as a last-minute present. We love the smooth but slightly spicy taste of this oldfashioned grainy French mustard.

BAKSANA BRULEE LINEN TABLECLOTH – $230 from Smith and Caughey’s Christmas in Aotearoa may be a relaxed affair but a nice tablecloth is a simple yet understated way you can bring some effortless style to the occasion. Linen is a great option – clean, crisp, simple but still elegant, it suits our summer celebrations perfectly. We have our eye on this beauty from Baksana in the shade brulee.

PICCADILLY CARAFE – $70 and SET OF SIX TUMBLERS – $120 from Citta When it’s hot out and there’s a chilly bin full of cans handy, it can be easy to overindulge. Having a beautiful jug of icy cold water set out alongside glasses for people to help themselves to is an easy way to be a thoughtful and responsible host. We love the beautiful olive hue of this carafe and tumbler set. Bonus is that you can easily see when it needs topping up too.

PIRRO SLIDE – $260 from Mi Piaci These slides are the footwear equivalent of jeans and a nice top – dressy but comfortable. A slip-on sandal is hands down (feet down?) the best shoe for summer, easy to slide in and out of, breathable and beach appropriate. The metallic detailing makes this Mi Piaci pair especially appealing, and the platform sole is unbeatable comfort wise.

CANCER SOCIETY SPF50+ EVERYDAY LOTION 400ml – $25.70 from sunscreen.org.nz The season may be silly, but we still need to practice sun safety. To fully protect yourself from the sun’s rays it’s recommended you apply 35ml of sunscreen at least 20 minutes before heading outside. As a general rule, that is about a teaspoon on each arm and leg, the front and back of your body and face. Slap it on and avoid a literally blistering Boxing Day.