Max Loves... Animal Inspiration
Posted 21 May 2012
It seems as though the fashion industry has fallen in love with our furry and not so furry friends these past few seasons. Various animals have been inspiring gorgeous prints and textures on a range of garments the world over from python print to leopard print, faux fur to lamb’s wool and even feathers. Here at Max we have well and truly embraced this fun trend. Our Winter Collection features accents of fur on coats, vests and scarves. As well as printed tops and tees in leopard, snake and zebra print.
Many celebs have been seen rocking this trend throughout Summer and Winter with the real winner being the fur vest with everyone from Kate Moss to Olivia Palermo embracing the look. A fur vest is also a great way to add warmth to an outfit without adding too much bulk, essentially the perfect transeasonal piece!
This week's delivery has seen the use of animal prints and inspiration used in a more casual application, featuring a range of tops and tees perfect for mixing with any existing wardrobe and the ideal match for your favourite pair of jeans - check out the new arrivals here.
We're loving this trend and by the looks of it, it's not going out of style anytime soon!
Max Loves... Farmer's Markets
Posted 14 May 2012
If you love food and cooking there is nothing better than wandering through a Farmer’s Market on a lazy weekend morning enjoying the bustling atmosphere, enticing sights and scents, and hopefully tasting a few delicacies. For a long time many people were feeling disconnected from their food and the growing popularity of Farmer’s Markets allows consumers to talk directly to the growers and learn exactly where the food has come from. Coffee is always readily available as is a vast array of sweet and savoury delights so it is always best to skip breakfast. At Max we are lucky enough to be located close to La Cigale, a beautiful French style Auckland Market filled with tempting treats including amazing crepes made to order.
If you are looking for a Farmers Market to visit in your area check out the Farmers’ Market NZ Inc website for a list by region. Click to view.
If you already have a favourite make sure you vote in the Test Magazine Farmers Markets NZ Awards. Click to view.
Max Loves... Mother's Day
Posted 8 May 2012
Don’t you love Russian dolls? Take all the little dolls out, put all the little dolls back in. Meticulously line up the design of the two doll halves, like locking a key. Each doll is protected within its own wooden cocoon - similar to the protection a mother gives.
Mother’s Day is a time to give back to the women who have nurtured and protected us over the years and who naturally continue to do so. The celebration has manifested itself in many forms over the years from ancient Roman traditions revering the ‘Great Mother’ Cybele, to the Christian ‘Mothering Sunday.’ Now it is celebrated all over the world with varied origins including those intent on increasing the population after World War II, to empowering or celebrating women and mothers or to remembering women who died for a cause.
On the actual day you don’t need to go over board with gifts and flowers (although I’m sure they’d love that) or in thanking them for their part in populating the earth. Just let them know they are the loveliest of all creatures and that you appreciate all that they have done for you, taking you out to experience the world while protecting you when you needed it the most. That’s the best gift you can give.
The image above shows a gorgeous greeting card from felt.co.nz. The perfect way to thank Mum.
Max Loves... Emily Blunt
Posted 1 May 2012
We were delighted by her caustic English wit in the Devil Wears Prada and then seethed with jealousy in the Young Victoria when with pursed lips and a regal air she got to prance about in layer upon layer of embroidered silk. Since her break out starring role as the historic Queen, Emily Blunt has become a household name pairing with other big screen royals including Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Bill Nighey and most recently Ewan McGregor. Unlike other starlets of her ilk who are the faces of numerous ad campaigns she has only recently jumped on the campaign trail, and somewhat reluctantly. Last year she became the ambassador of YSL’s seductive fragrance Opium, the campaign video has her strutting in killer heels and facing a real-life leopard. “I think that I’ve been wanting to make sure that when I did it, it would be the right thing...none were as classy as this.”
Next week she’ll grace our screens again in the new comedy ‘The Five Year Engagement’ co-starring with ‘How I met your Mother’s’ Jason Segel. Event Cinemas around New Zealand are doing a preview screening with Chicks at the Flicks this Wednesday May 2nd. The tickets include a glass of bubbly, a goodie bag and the chance to win some great spot prizes! So click here to buy them now! Australia Chicks at the Flicks screens May 10th.
Max Loves... Little and Friday
Posted 23 April 2012
Last week a few of the girls from HO decided to go on a field trip to a café that lately everyone in Auckland has been talking about - Little and Friday. This boutique café is located inside Martha's furnishing fabrics (12 Melrose Street) which is about 2 minutes walk from Broadway in Newmarket. It is the second Little and Friday to be set up following the huge success of the original Takapuna café on the North Shore.
Little and Friday is the perfect mix of a trendy vintage store and the charm of Grandma’s house. With its eclectic collection of teacups, plates and cutlery you can’t help but feel as if you're at a tea party. We especially loved the little plastic animals instead of numbers to ensure your order is delivered to you – such a cute touch!
When we arrived, the café was mostly full, two large communal tables are set up with cute cake stands filled with macaroons and vases with fresh cut flowers. This left us hunting for any available seat which could only mean one thing - that this place is as great as everyone says it is! We tried a variety of the goodies on offer, a particular favourite was the Chocolate Cake and Caramelised Onion & Feta Quiche.
Treats from Little and Friday is the new cookbook put out by the café owner, Kim Evans, and is full of delicious recipes for you to make. This way even if you don’t live in Auckland you can enjoy some of the amazing treats. The book is on sale now.
Check out Little and Friday on Facebook.
Max Loves... Draw Something
Posted 17 April 2012
This highly addictive game has been keeping our minds and fingers busy whenever we have a spare or dull moment, this awesome little app is effectively Pictionary for your iPhone. It allows you to set up games against your Facebook friends or a random match, you can then choose a word of varying difficulty to draw, and proceed to sketch to your heart’s content on the screen of your iPhone or iPad. You then send pictures back and forth trying to guess each other’s words using the letters provided. Each correct guess earns you coins, which enable you to unlock additional features.
Another great part about this game is that you can leave and join games as you please, even having a number going at once - if your buddy is slacking you can even “nudge” them to hurry along game play.
Best of all it's FREE! Although a paid version is available for ad free gaming. You can download it here.
Max Loves... Left Over Easter Egg Cookies
Posted 10 April 2012
There are half eaten chocolate eggs strewn across the house and if you have to eat one more broken shard you might cry, mainly because the Easter gorging has put your healthy eating resolutions back more than a few weeks and if it’s sitting there, well it just HAS to be eaten!
We have the answer to your woes – left over easter egg cookies. Of course this doesn’t exactly help with the healthy eating but you’ll be happy to know these tasty morsels can be frozen for a rainy day or alternatively box them up and gift them to a friend or neighbour. Noted the friend or neighbour may be having their own left over egg issues, but no one ever says no to baking right?
Easter Egg Cookies
1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
¾ cup (150g) white sugar
¾ (160g) firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ tsp vanilla essence
2 ¼ cups (295g) all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups of broken up easter eggs
Preheat oven to 180° degrees, line baking tray with baking paper.
Cream butter and sugars. Slowly beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla until mixed well.
In a separate bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda. Add to the other mixture and beat well. Slowly mix in the broken easter eggs.
Spoon mixture onto baking trays and bake for 10-14mins or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack before eating.
Max Loves... Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Posted 2 April 2012
The girls here at HO all got the opportunity last week to see an advanced screening of the film Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, based on a book of the same name written by Paul Torday. The film stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt as an unlikely pair who are assigned to the seemingly impossible project of setting up recreational Salmon fishing in the Yemen.
A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible.
The film features stunning scenery as well as a quirky cast which come together to create a heart-warming story that gives a fresh take on the classic romantic comedy. Not to mention a bit of eye candy from the lovely Tom Mison… Be sure to check it out when it is officially released in New Zealand on May 17th.