a very bassike christmas with ella and lola

what are you most looking forward to this holiday season?

e: spending time at home with my loved ones, slowing down, and swimming a lot.

l: doing a whole lot of nothing with the people i love the most.

what is your favourite christmas tradition?

e: christmas in my family usually stays between my mom, dad, and sister. preparing lunch together without the stress of hosting has always felt slow and special.

l: i still get a santa sack.. i’m 31.

what is your most cherished holiday memory?

e: we used to live in england, so christmas looked a lot different. the lead up was always fond memories of smelling fresh pine in the living room, warm colours, and the sound of carols.

what does christmas mean to you?

e: in australia it feels like a marker for summer, holidays, and a chance to connect with those close to you.

l: coming from a religious background it was always “jesus is the reason for the season”, now it’s more a time when i get to be with family and celebrate them. they’re the most important thing to me.

what will you be giving this christmas and how do you do so in a conscious and sustainable way?

e: this christmas i will be looking at sustainable alternatives by gifting friends and family prints of my photographic work, and wood fired ceramics by my dad, which are incredibly special.

l: i try and only buy people things when i see them, i don’t often go overboard at christmas - although i do love to spoil people. a gift that someone can use and get use out of is always important.

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events are only as good as the people that make them, and anything is possible when you are equipped with good cheese!

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how will your family be celebrating this christmas?

l: mum and i always spend the day together and usually just eat or go down to the beach.

e: we all spend the day at my parents’ house in byron bay, eating, drinking and swimming, always low-key, and ‘love actually’ is often involved.

what is your favourite dish to prepare for christmas lunch/dinner?

e: i’ve started peeling prawns with my dad, he does the heads and i do the shell. it’s gross, but meditative, and nice to chat while we do it.

l: prawns, prawns and more prawns! also can’t deny me that chrissy ham.

what are your must-haves for holiday event hosting?

e: having good friends and good parmesan. events are only as good as the people that make them, and anything is possible when you are equipped with good cheese!

l: ella. she’s my martha stewart.

what is your approach to holiday dressing?

l: clothes that expand with me.

e: always minimal, easy to take off (for swims), and comfortable.

how do you rejuvenate and refresh in the new year?

e: by striking a good balance between late nights and early mornings, feeding myself what i feel like, laughing a lot, and spending time in nature.  

l: make sure i’m spending most of my time outdoors before i’m in an office again! it’s so important to make sure we’re refreshed and renewed for the year ahead.