WHAT ARE WE LIVING AND LOVING FOR AT THE MOMENT? THE JONES & CO GIRLS SHARE THEIR INSIDE TIPS ON WHAT’S HOT AND NOT!
JJ’s List
What is our founder Jennifer Jones obsessing over this month?
What I'm coveting:
This may sound silly but we recently went away for the weekend to the Blue Mountains with our friends. I was lounging on the couch when my friend Adam put his calming blanket on top of me. If you haven’t heard of them, calming (or weighted) blankets are specially designed blankets filled with glass beads to “utilises the relaxing principles behind deep pressure stimulation therapy, commonly used to calm those with sensory problems”. I had the most incredible nap that afternoon and now I really, really want one! I’m waiting for a sale to happen before I pounce!
What I'm eating:
I am in love with a sandwich. I stumbled upon a hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop next to our office called Lucky Pickle. They only have four things on their menu and so far I can’t seem to get away from this combination: chicken katsu, cabbage, sesame, mayo and tonkatsu sauce.
At home we are loving the recipes on the Harris Farm website. This salad has been on high rotation! I’m loving hearty salads with a grilled steak these days for a quick and easy dinner.
What I'm reading:
The library has opened again – hooray – so my bedside table is groaning again! This week I am reading My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell. It’s a disturbing book full of uncomfortable moments but the writing is compelling. I am whipping my way through it.
I’ve also been reading Five Minute Mum by Daisy Upton. With our four-year-old needing more stimulation than just the utensil drawer I’ve needed some inspiration! This book is full of great activities you can set up at home just using the things you’ve got lying around.
She’s also got a great tip for separation anxiety at the school gate which worked first time and has every time since! You draw a heart on your child’s hand and then one on your hand. Every time she misses you, she can push the special Mummy button which sends a cuddle to you. And you can do the reverse sending cuddles to her throughout the day. Teddie just loved it and ran into school happily! Mum Win!
What I'm buying:
This week I went into Martine Edmur’s new gallery Twenty Twenty Six in Bondi and treated myself to a print I’ve been eyeing up for a while. The painting is called You’re the Bomb and it’s a beautiful underwater scene of kids dive bombing into the ocean off the rocks in North Bondi. The rocks in North Bondi is my happy place and I can just imagine our daughter spending summers there too. It’s a painting that makes me feel so happy and at peace and I can’t wait to hang it once it’s framed!
What I'm watching:
I’m too embarrassed to actually confess what I’ve been watching lately! All I will say is that Jen got me hooked on it and it features cowboys. A lot. It’s addicitive!!!!!
What I'm listening to:
I grew up listening to classical music with my Mom and have revisited it again especially when doing design work. On current rotation is Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter. It’s incredibly uplifting!
I’m also listening (like the rest of the world) to Hamilton! After watching it recently I just can’t get those songs out of my head. The Germans have a word for it - Ohrwurm – which translates to ear worm – a catchy song you can’t get out of your head!
Jen’s List
What’s caught the attention of our creative director Jennifer Sampson this month?
What I'm eating:
Do you know what Orzo is? Also known as Risoni. If you are a slavish worshipper at the altar of the Israeli-English chef Yotam Ottolenghi like I am you probably do. His Orzotto with prawns and Feta is a Sunday night supper go-to in my house. I like to sprinkle it with some Meredith Dairy goat cheese to finish instead of Feta. It’s simple and delicious. A glass of Bird in Hand rosé goes nicely with prawns too. Just saying.
What I'm reading:
I’m grew up in the Blue Mountains in the ‘90s so it’s pretty much in my DNA to like Nick Cave. His blog The Red Hand Files is just a delight, answering candidly the fan submitted questions from all around the globe. His moving, enlightened, caring, elegantly constructed responses are pure poetry. I’m also reading The Safe Place by Anna Downes set in the idyllic French countryside which is a light read just perfect for these hard-to-focus times.
What I'm buying:
All of the cards at Wally Paper Co! With travel and visiting on lockdown I’ve been rediscovering the art of sending cards. Wally make great ones with original illustrations and they put a spin on sentiment that isn’t your standard Hallmark fare. Grab one for Father’s Day. Their range is the best and the customer service is amazing.
What I'm watching:
I’m not too proud (unlike someone else above) to say I’ve watched all three seasons of Yellowstone in as many weeks. I fought watching it for a long time but my girlfriend who lives on a farm put me on to it and it’s like one long dramatic Ralph Lauren catalogue come to life. I want to pack up and move to Montana and wear check head to toe!
I’ve also watched and enjoyed Expecting Amy about the American comedian Amy Schumer’s pregnancy, relationship and marriage. I love Amy and enjoy how she is unashamedly defined as a human by being a stand-up comedian and is physically compelled to create and perform comedy as often as possible. She is honest about all aspects of her life in this intimate three-parter which is mostly shot by her husband. It’s a harrowing and emotional pregnancy, so not for the faint of heart!
What I'm listening to:
The new Glass Animals album Dreamland. I’m quite partial to a bit of English psych-pop on a Sunday afternoon, it’s a magical summer-is-around-the-corner listen. Also, been catching up on some podcasts, namely Still Processing which is hosted by two New York Times journalists Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris — basically a culture podcast but so much more, contextualizing everything in real-time from music, movies, theatre and TV to Kanye West.
