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CRACK ON

This month, skip the store-bought Christmas crackers and stock up on an ecofriendly, socially conscious alternative instead. Local social enterprise, Pinehappy, offers holiday crackers made with recycled paper, and filled with gifts you’re meant to actually keep and use - as opposed to chucking in the bin as soon as the riddles are all read aloud. Think artisanal soap handmade by victims of human trafficking and handy satin scrunchies. Pinehappy also partners with local NGOs, The Nesbitt Centre and The Pivot Centre, to employ adults with intellectual disabilities, who are all paid a fair wage to assemble these festive table decorations, plus the crackers come in an eco-friendly reusable tote bag. Looking for a fun holiday crafting activity to do with the kids? Pinehappy offers DIY Christmas cracker kits, so you can actually personalise your crackers for each dinner guest. Ready-made crackers cost $275 for six, or $140 for the DIY version.

pinehappy.com

GET THIS BREAD

There’s nothing more Christmassy than a well-crafted (or dilapidated, depending on your skills) gingerbread project! Gingerbread For Good is a super fun and festive pop-up taking place in December, and it benefits the city’s most vulnerable communities. Local NGO Cookie Smiles has partnered with fashion boutique JOYCE, enlisting 12 of Hong Kong’s most prominent chefs and culinary figures to create their own gastronomic spins on gingerbread men. The limited edition treats are available at the New World Tower pop-up from December 6-23, with all proceeds going to ImpactHK, as well as Splash Foundation, Shine Skills Centre, and the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association. Some variations we’ve been told to expect include a rich chocolate red velvet cookie with traditional flavours from Cookie DPT, a baijiu five-spice gingerbread man, and a savoury rosemary molasses and sea salt concoction from Salisterra at The Upper House.

JOYCE, G/F, New World Tower, Central, 2810-1120, cookiesmiles.com.hk

BIG PHARMA GOING UP

Christmas Markets

After widespread event cancellations last festive season, we’re looking forward to strolling through a crowd with the scent of glühwein wafting through the air again.

Disney+

A whole new world of our fave classic childhood films are ready to revisit, now that

Disney’s streaming service is finally available in Hong Kong!

And just in time for the holidays!

Festive Fast Fashion

We love an ugly Christmas jumper, but not when they end up in the landfill after being worn twice. Save your kitsch for next year and do the planet a solid!

Mega-chain Watsons just opened its largest store ever over in Causeway Bay, and it’s a few rungs up from your average neighbourhood pharmacy! For starters, the new Yun Ping Road location takes up a sizable 8,000 square feet, spread out over three floors with expanded product and service offerings. Shoppers can peruse the well-stocked beauty department, complete with in-house makeup artists, eyebrow shaping services, and an AI foundation matching tool to match your complexion. The flagship shop is also trying to put sustainability at the forefront, by offering more clean beauty options and a refill station for selected bulk beauty products. The new location also offers the brand’s first TCM clinic, a proprietary nutritional supplement programme, and orthodontic services from at-home dental care company, SmileDirectClub.

44-48 Yun Ping Rd., Causeway Bay, 2259-3015, watsons.com.hk

Quarantine PTSD

We wanna do our part to keep the city safe, but as more and more quarantiners report after-effects like social anxiety, brain fog and fatigue... we’re left wondering at what cost?

GOING DOWN

Retreat

NOVEMBER 17-18, 2021

The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin provided the perfect backdrop to our second Liv Well Retreat, a one-night wellness staycation set in the mountains of Sha Tin.

Liv readers checked into their rooms and picked up their welcome packs featuring treats from LUSH, Orka Wellness, WandGlow, Divine Indulgence by Monica, Sweaty Betty and Mohlia. Then, they gathered in the hotel’s secret garden for an opening ceremony led by spiritual healer Coco Alexandra. After a guided meditation, guests were asked to set an intention for the retreat, before drawing an oracle card that gave them some much-needed insight and focus.

Then, guests were directed inside for a creative art session led by Simi Mohinani of Mohlia, using

preserved flowers to create unique artworks on canvas. Afterwards, the retreat co-host, community connector and coach, Doris Au-Yeung, led a sunset yoga flow on the outdoor terrace.

There was still time during the day to check out the Wellness Market, with treats on offer from Divine Indulgence by Monica, Orka Wellness, Smile Center and Mohlia.

A delicious western-style semi-buffet was then served, followed by an essential oils workshop and sleep talk by Emilie Ducummon of Essential Mind Coaching. After that, guests had the option to head off to bed, or watch a movie on the outdoor terrace.

The next morning guests woke up early to join a mindful intimacy talk and yoga class led by Viv Kan, before helping themselves to the sumptuous buffet breakfast at the cafe. After breakfast, guests had time to chill, rest, swim or spa, before lunch was served at Sha Tin 18, with an insightful gut health talk from Nobin K.John of Orka Wellness.

The retreat concluded with a mesmerising sound bath from Yinki Wong, who combined crystal singing bowls, guided meditation and singing to leave everyone feeling refreshed, relaxed and grounded.

A huge thank you to all our partners and guests who made the retreat such a hit! We look forward to welcoming you to the next event.