In celebration of the upcoming holiday break, we chatted to the staff at Nature Baby about what they plan to get up to over the Christmas break. Including lots of lovely beach, book, music and food recommendations! 

How will you be spending your Christmas break?
With my family at Waimarama beach in sunny Hawkes Bay! – Brie, Online Coordinator
Relaxing on Great Barrier island, off the grid with no internet connection – Georgia, Co-Founder
We’ll be spending Christmas Day with my husband’s family in the Coromandel, then heading up to an Eco-Cabin in Mangawhai Heads! – Kylie, Newmarket Store Manager
Next to the river at Kauaeranga Valley with my family in our pop up caravan – Claire, Wholesale Manager

What will you be reading?
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante – Whitney, Production Assistant
Google Maps to get us to our destinations on our road trips! – Aimee, Accounts Admin
Some wonderful children’s books to the kids, from our local Grey Lynn library. And I love reading the newspaper in the morning, especially on holiday. – Jemma, Grey Lynn Store Manager
I'm currently reading anything by author Deborah Levy - Georgia

Listening to?
Michael Kiwanuka’s new album, Benee, and until Christmas it’s this carols playlist. – Catherine, Marketing Assistant
I’m loving the How I Built This podcast series at the moment. – Annabelle, Brand Manager
My kids love the Story Time podcast. We’ve usually got some sort of Soul Classics playlist on at our house during the summer. – Kylie
The Teen takes over the stereo in the car, so it’s old school 90’s hip hop. - Aimee

Cooking?
New potatoes, sweet corn and asparagus – Brie
Baking gingerbread and making festive raspberry sorbet spritzers for Christmas Eve. – Catherine
I can’t wait to try the recipes from The Camping Cookbook. – Michelle, Merchandise Planner
Every Christmas we make my Great-Grandma Cosentino’s Sicilian cannoli. This has been a family tradition since I was a kid, and it’s so fun to now be carrying on this tradition with my kids! - Kylie

Favourite beach spot?
Currently, its Smugglers Bay which you’ll find on the Bream Head coastal walk in Whangarei Heads – Hannah, Customer Service
Mahia In Hawkes Bay – Michelle
Palm Beach, Waiheke Island - Annabelle
Te Ngaere Bay up in Northland, it’s the perfect Kiwi beach with bright blue water, golden sand and Pohutukawa trees dotting the shore - Summer, Wholesale Assistant

Holiday essentials?
Nature Baby towels are a family beach essential, we can’t wait to try out the new Apple Print! – Claire, Area Manager
A really good beach umbrella, so you will always have shade and you can park yourself at the beach for the day, and little ones can keep themselves entertained with sand-castles, collecting shells, and swimming. – Georgia
Our van for beach hopping as well as Nature Baby’s Mum’s Butter, it’s actually the best for dry and chapped lips! - Summer
Books! The boys get a new book and pyjamas on Christmas Eve. I love “All the Ways to Be Smart”, “Pukeko Dancing on the Old Dirt Track” and the Dragon Brothers Series by Auckland based author James Russell. - Kylie 

Favourite activity to do with little ones over the Summer holidays?
Just be present enjoying what our native forest walks and beaches have to offer, switching off, making special memories. – Jemma
A real fruit ice cream on a really hot day- yum. – Catherine
I love taking my nieces and nephews to the beach for, swimming, eating, napping and a very competitive game of bat down - Michelle
We love being at the beach, building sandcastles and race tracks. As well as arts and crafts at home, recently we've being enjoying some origami – Claire

 We hope this gives you some ideas for you and your little ones over the summer break. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! xx Nb