Whether you’re a mum forced to WFH and home school, an essential worker who gets anxious every time you leave the house, or just worried about life in general, everyone is experiencing a heightened state of stress at the moment.
This is, of course, compounded by the fact that we’re all currently deprived of many of our usual escapes. If ever there was a time that you deserved a little luxury, this is it.
So what can you do to lift your spirits when you can’t catch up for a night out with friends, relax at the movies, or get a full body massage?
For those of you in a position to treat yourself to something that might bring a little light to your day, we’ve sourced some lovely local businesses offering delightful treats you can indulge in to make yourself feel better (even if only briefly!) You might also like to consider splashing out on someone else, who could use a thoughtful gift right now, by buying from one of the businesses below.
Bath bits and pieces
The Natural Gift Collective makes beautiful handmade products carved from natural timber. The ultimate relaxation piece is their raw edge bath caddy. They’re made to order so that you know the caddy will fit your tub and come with luxurious golden handles and rubber panels so you don’t have to worry about that glass of wine sliding into the bath with you! This stylish and practical addition to your bathroom will mean you can truly enjoy a candlelit bubble bath with a Sav Blanc and a book and let the rest of your worries melt away.
The Rest & Restore Spa Range from Endota Spa is full of lovely calming products to help you relax. From bath soaks and recovery balms to stress roll-ons and sleepy tea, we know this will be your favourite lockdown delivery!
For even more vibrant bath bombs, botanical bath melts and mixes (plus a full range of luscious body treatments) check out Bath Bombs n Beauty.
Skin Fixes
When you’re flat out trying to fit in work, parenting, homeschooling and housework, sometimes even performing the smallest act of self-care can feel like a win. Slathering on some moisturiser is the quick and easy way to stop just for a few moments and stimulate your blood flow! This moisturiser from Happy Hours (a recently-launched Cronulla-based business) might be just what you need. The Nourish Moisturiser with Lemon, Patchouli & Tasmanian Sea Minerals is made with all-natural ingredients, which have been selected to hydrate the skin, maintain a glowing complexion, smooth the appearance of fine lines and reduce puffiness. It is suitable for the face and body and smells like fresh lemonade.
The Caringbah spa, Contouring Bodies, is closed for now but you can still get your calming skin fixes via their website! Find jelly masks, skin serums, body oils, and exfoliants to pick you up in a quick minute in the Contouring Bodies online store now.
For more luscious scented body products, Urban Rituelle has got you covered! Their sumptuous hand creams will restore your excessively sanitised hands and they also offer a complete range of hydrating cleansers, scrubs, lip balms and gift sets that are made right here in the Shire.
Heaven-scent
When you’re spending almost all your time inside, one thing that can lift your mood (almost without you noticing) is a nice smell. But we can do better than nice! Shire-based businesses like Hutwoods, Label & Co, Hudson & Kingsley, Tychace Candles and Kindred Souls offer absolutely divine smelling soy candles, wood wick candles, melts and reed diffusers in every scent imaginable. Choose from pink champagne, coconut & lime, vanilla & oakmoss, fresh coffee, grape soda, lychee and peony, cinnamon, jasmine & magnolia, fresh-cut roses and many more.
Another wonderful way to imbue your home with sweet smells is, of course, to fill it with fresh flowers! Cronulla Florist, Flowers on Port Hacking, The Flower Posse, Flora of Grace and The Bloom Boss are just a few fantastic florists ready to help you create a naturally perfumed creation that will waft through your home, or may cheer up a mate.
Stay-at-home snacks
It’s called comfort food for a reason! And if you’ve tried to order groceries online recently, you’ll know you might have to wait up to a week for a delivery window. Let the little local guys help you out! Humble and Honest are ready to supply you with a huge range of tasty, health-conscious treats. Fancy some caramel coffee clusters, salted caramel and banana balls or dark chocolate strawberries? How about some chilli crackers with hummus? The Humble and Honest range has all this and more.
When you’re really ready to treat yourself, you can’t go past Essenze, Adora, and Nina’s for the most amazing handmade chocolates. You can also get lollies delivered locally in Sydney from Evathea’s Treats, Love Lolly and My Sweet Box. Or try Kristie Kreations, Bec Bakes Cronulla or Baked beauties Sydney for moreish cookies and cupcakes.
Can’t decide what you feel like? Get a grazing platter with it all from The Grazing Cow or A Plated Affair.
Liquid relaxation
Whether alcoholic or not, a little drink with your nibbles just feels fun and when you’re having fun, it’s hard to be stressed.
Have you ever tried mead? With a similar taste to dessert wine, but made with honey, mead is one of the oldest forms of alcohol and there is some made right here in the Sutherland Shire. Get yours, infused with all sorts of flavours, from Great Southern Mead and thank us later.
Prefer a nice cold beer at the end of the day? How lucky are we to have some great local breweries in the Shire that you can buy from online. Our favourites are Cronulla Beer Co and Sunday Road. Naturally, drink responsibly.
Kirrawee biz, Madame Foodie, who is better known for their extraordinary range of fresh family meals, also offer a range of organic wine, kombucha, and detox smoothies. And if Chai is your flavour, it’s available online from local business Ooh La Chai. So you can quench your thirst however you like while supporting a worthy local business.
Don’t force yourself to self-sacrifice during a time when you’re giving up enough already. Indulge in whatever you can reasonably afford that might give a much-needed boost to your mental health and pay it forward if you can afford to, too! Know of other local businesses supplying mouth-watering treats or life’s little luxuries? Let us know below or via Mums of the Shire Instagram. We’d love to hear about them and share them with our community.
