HELLO STRANGER

Talented Friends

As I have mentioned before, I have some preeeeetty talented friends. Yes, yes I did just brag about my friends. But c’mon, when they are this cool, how can you not.

Meet my friend Sammy-Rose Scarpens.  One outrageously funny and incredibly talented girl. Who also happens to be one of the best movers and shakers I know. She, along with Simon Oosterdijk have created a book of upmost beauty. A book that delves deep into the history and magic behind letters. It is pure brilliance.

So tonight they through a shing-dig in celebration.  So Auckland, if you are around, come see it, hear it and love it in all its deliciousness.  7pm at the Ironbank, 150 Karangahape Road.

 And if not, head to Flotsam and Jetsam and pick up a copy. Christmas is coming. Get on it.

For a more in depth interview with S.R Scarpens herself head over to Always Sometimes Anytime

Until next time.

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HELLO STRANGER // Eleanor from Petite Kitchen

Photography by Blackbird

 Meet Eleanor.

The brilliance behind Petite Kitchen. A simple, whole food and clean living website that has grown from the humble little kitchen into seasonal journals and a spectacular blog.

Eleanor is not only a creator of simple, wholesome and delicious recipes. But a mother to two equally delicious children, and the wife to one part of the impressive label I Love Ugly.

I am incredibly honored to know this women, and to be given the upmost privilege of shooting her. Eleanor is quality. Through and through. Furthermore, She is a bit of a babe.

Where do you live? :
Mt Eden, Auckland, New Zealand.

What do you do 9-5?

I have recently decided to take the plunge and work on Petite Kitchen full time. My days are spent cooking, coming up with new recipes, researching, finding inspiration, replying to emails and enquiries, and mainly working on my seasonal recipe journals. Over the last few months, I have had an overwhelming positive response to my work, and felt this was a true indication that I should follow my dream, and share my passion for healthy wholesome food with others.

What do you do with the other hours of the day? :

I pick up my 5 year old daughter Izabella, and 1 year old son Obi at 3pm, then the afternoons are dedicated to spending quality time with them. In the evenings once they are in bed, my husband and I enjoy dinner together, and talk about our day amongst other things.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I have always wanted to own my own cafe. I love the cafe culture here in New Zealand, and this is still something I would love to do in the near future.  I believe there is a gap in the market for a natural whole foods cafe, which focuses on serving wholesome, delicious and nourishing food.

Favorite online places:
Tumblr, and pinterest are amazing for finding inspirational photos and content. I also have a huge list of food and lifestyle blogs which I read on a daily basis. A few in particular are, My New Roots, Manger by Mimi Thorisson, Green Kitchen Stories, 101 Cookbooks, Smitten Kitchen, Che & Fidel, Bleubird Blog, and A cup of Jo.

Favorite real life places:
My husband and I went to Europe for our honey moon a few years back. We both absolutely fell in love with Amsterdam and Belgium, and I would love to be able to go back there again in the near future. The food, the fashion, and the culture is just incredible, not to mention the beautiful surroundings. I also absolutely love New Zealand, and feel sometimes I forget how lovely our home land is. Its amazing how you only have to drive an hour or so out of Auckland to find your own beautiful slice of paradise.

Listening to:
 I love almost all types of music. But at the moment, mostly listening to Tame Impala, and Chet Faker. I have always had a love for blues and jazz too.

Influences:
My number one influence would have to be my amazing husband. Over the last five years I have seen him build his incredibly successful menswear label, I Love Ugly, from the ground up. He constantly surprises me with how talented and driven he is, and his support with Petite Kitchen has been amazing. I believe his passion has been the number one thing that has driven me to follow my own dream.

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HELLO STRANGER // Andy from Empire Hair Talior.

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Empire Hair Tailor is not a salon. It is a new form of Hair stylist. A place to come, have a coffee, a beer or a wine and get yo hair did. A place to call your own.

In the cosy nook of Laundromat in Takapuna is Andy and his scissors. Director and Owner and wear of many hats, He is ready with a fresh take on hair, on style and on colour. To boil it down for you. Empire & Andy are Ace.

Name:
Andy Murray Yeoman…….Andrew,only if i’m being told off by my grandma. It also means Manly and Brave….yip enough said.

What do you do 9-5?
Generally? Well basically I get to hangout and yarn to people all day, alot of different cool people which keeps it fun. People come and see me for their hair tailoring needs (ohh snap see what i did there) Apparently I have mad skills at cutting and coloring hair (just saying just saying) So my clients come and see me to get something fresh. Aswell as Drink coffee, read magazines, check the surf,FB way too much, talk smack way too much.

What do you do with the other hours of the day?
I like to run in the mornings, ya know get all pumped for the day and start it right blah blah.I hang with my niece and nephews,I eatout and drink beers with friends, I indoor climb with friends, I go to the gym with my bro(….) ….otherwise stop and do nothing in the evening(but that rarely happens)

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Grew up? I still am growing up.

Favourite online places :
Im hopeless at reading computer screens and get bored looking at a computer…..so nowhere really, but TED talks are really inspiring sometimes and Pinterest is cool, and those lil youtube videos that show how rad people are they are cool, and epic redbull sport clips…dig them for sure!!!

Favourite real life places:
Around town? Brothers Brewey in CityDepot, that place is home and Food Truck there too soo good.Late Night Diner in Ponsonby is ligit!  But outside the city, Wanaka, Abel Tasman and Takaka area, up north….I dont know this whole country is epic. Traveling and adventure is definitly what I love to do so anywhere thats cool and I can do that I love.

Listening to:
Really into Japandroids haaard at the moment, plus theyre playing KingsArms in September, be there its going to be epic! Flume,Polica….and I heard Julian Casablanca the otherday (may have bbutchered that name)that was pretty cool too, otherwise Sublime ye ol faithful

Influences:
 Im blessed to have a rad family and big crew, so im influenced by them, and also new people. people are amazing and they inspire/ challenge me to look at things differently and generally just be more awesome haha

Until next time.

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HELLO STRANGER // Kylie from midnight & dawn

I am so chuffed to introduce you to a dear friend of mine. If you are thinking she looks familiar, that is because Christine, my first Hello Stranger is her adorable twin!

Kylie is one talented girl, and a babe to boot, With an adorable blog called Midnight & Dawn. Can you believe she has a one year old ? Who, by the way is the coolest kid out. So here is Kylie, A babe, A mom, and someone I really wished lived closer.

Name: Kylie Burrowes

Age: 24

What do you do 9-5? I’m currently staying at home with my one year old son, Seth, while my husband works. It’s been quite the dream to get to spend so much time with him. Mostly, my ‘9-5’ consists of messy meal times, sing-a-longs to Mickey Mouse and Thomas the Tank Engine, naptimes, and realizing I have five or six different foods somewhere on my shirt. It’s not glamorous, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

What do you do with the other hours of the day? I’ve taken a small break from sewing since I don’t have a dedicated space for it right now. I’m definitely missing it, but sometimes it’s nice to take a break from sewing to get inspired again! Lately, I’ve been focusing on writing and drawing. I’m very inspired by Danny Gregory’s book Everyday Matters. He does beautiful drawings of his day-to-day life. It’s a great reminder to find inspiration in things that usually seem mundane.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I had the great dream of being a dolphin trainer for most of my childhood years. There are probably notebooks full of dolphin drawings tucked away in my parent’s garage somewhere. I swear, they were the subject of every essay in my early school days.

What are your favourite online places: My little family is about to make the move to Nashville, so I’ve been browsing tons of home decor sites. My favorites are Apartment Therapy, My Scandinavian Home, The Design Files, and Tiny House Swoon (I have a big dream to live in a tiny house
For fashion, my current favorites are Esme & The Laneway and Blushing Ambition.

Where are your favourite real life places: I will always love Chicago. It’s the only time my twin sister and I shared an apartment, so it will always be a very special place. I also love Cathedral Cove in New Zealand. It’s the most beautiful beach I’ve seen. It’s unreal.

Who are your Influences: I am so inspired by classic beauties. I love Francoise Hardy, Jane Birkin, Jean Seberg, Brigitte Bardot, and, of course, Marilyn Monroe. They are some of my favorites because, to me, their style is timeless.

Until next time.

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