9 things I discovered or received over the holidays that continue to see me through summer

Be it a new acronym, a practical tool, or something just plain pretty, here are a few of my favourite things received or discovered over the festive season that have been at arms-length all summer.

Antonino Tati

TikTok Cat Videos

Click pic to check out Cream’s office cat Ziggy in TikTok action.

Cat videos were the content that turned king in YouTube’s early days. Simply because they really do appeal to everybody. If you can’t laugh, cry, or stay staring in shock after watching a cat video, there’s something seriously wrong with you. Now TikTok has tapped into a cat-adoring world, with peeps posting clever vids starring their favourite felines. My favourite, the account of #pennythegingercat or Pennifer Peneficent Penelope Penini, to give you her full name.

Our own mixed-breed semi-ginger Ziggy is even beginning to get a little traction on Cream’s critiktok account. So much so he’s thinking of getting an account of his own. Only Fans even.

Shokz Open Comm2 Headset

While I thought speaker-headsets were for the Laurens at the front desks of Ladida Limited and the corporate-like, I never thought they’d be one of the most helpful headsets around: comfy around the ears, stereosonic sound, full access to volume, on/off and other buttons, and soft to the touch thanks to its rubbery but sturdy construction. If its chic and tech you want in a headsest, and something lighter than them god-heavy cams, slip this one on the wish-list.

The New Acronym JOMO: the sheer joy of actually missing out on social stuff

You’ve heard of FOMO – that dreaded fear of missing out. It would overtake you and you’d wonder what if something magnificent happens at the party and you’re not there… It was definitely a big thing before Covid. Now we’re happy to introduce JOMO: celebrating the Joy of Missing Out.

It might just mean putting down your phone for a few hours and not thinking about your digital profile, or switching off from the outside world completely, staying at home and not feeling grim about it.

Just the sheer bliss of not missing out on anything social. No more excuses needed, either. Just tell them one sweet line: “I’m enjoying a bit of JOMO”. It’ll put the stoic back into stoicism for you.

Tesalate Towels

These towels are seriously good. I’ve taken my Tesalate beach blanket to the coast, and my partner has brought along his Tesalate towel, and no, we didn’t care that we were matchy-matchy. Because that’s what love is, and because we frigging love the product. Lightweight, effective in getting you dry, dry itself in minutes, plus it doubles up as a sarong, headpiece, or whatever might take your fancy. And don’t get me started on the glorious array of colours and styles the Tesalate site has to boast. Happy surfing.

Wiltshire Glass Water Bottle

At first we thought it a bit mad that you’d want to carry a travel bottle made of glass, but when we saw it came with a sturdy metal handle and that the glass is strong as, we were hooked. Portable, attractive, and keeps your beverage protected from nasties. What’s not to love?

A Variety of Biographies

Your favourite pop star, an actor you love, the country’s leading sportsman, or a YouTube overnight sensation: if they’ve reached this point of fame and glory, surely their lives must be interesting (well perhaps not all of the YouTubers). Get into a good book about somebody big. Because it’s not always about you, you know. But then you might learn a thing or two from the best of them and, like, make it yours. Gossip, tips, their legacy, and their faux pas… get it all from a good biography. Because reading is what? Fundamental!

RuPaul’s Drag Race (latest season & at random)

Stream TV is so great that you can pick and choose what you want to watch, when, how many times or for how long. One series I keep going back to is RuPaul’s Drag Race, whose franchise has spread from the US to countries as diverse as Canada, Australia, Phillipines, Italy, Spain and so many more.

There’s got to be something seriously good in the mix if your reach is that broad.

Not only does RuPaul’s Drag Race provide entertainment in spades, there are nuggets of enlightenment and lashings of cultural education for the taking – if you know how to look hard enough. Untucked, All-Stars, and general season after season, the shenanigan count is heading into the thousands.

Bouncee Cooler

Throw away (or recycle) any esky you currently have in your possession; they’re redundant, kaput, useless compared to what’s on offer here. The Bouncee Cooler is a super cool Aussie invention that’s kept us in good stead all through summmer. It’s lightweight, pops ‘up’ within seconds, easily collapsible when its empty (and you want to store it in the boot or storage cupboard) and made from the sturdiest of material. Plus there’s an ice brick system that’s modular so you can hold cold drinks nice and snugly. We’re off camping next week and that’s when we’re sure to truly appreciate this spacious, practical cooler. More info at bouncee.com.au.

Molly Baz’s no-holds-barred cookbook

Cookbooks are a dime a dozen these days. Or so it seems. Now and again I come across a very cool cookbook that defies convention and really knows how to “talk” to readers and budding chefs. Molly Baz’s More Is More is one such book. Despite a few four-letter-words that could have been edited out, the general prose is down-home and relatable – more so than your stuffier cookbooks. As for the content itself, the title says it all, with More Is More throwing the health rules out the window and giving you permission to go overload with the sugar, oil or other stuff you’re ordinarily chastised for having excess of. Oh, and I love, love, love the large groovy headline font!