Meet the team
Putting faces to the articles! This week our editors and contributors share a little about themselves as well as what they are reading, watching, listening, practising and attempting during lockdown…
Zeenat —
Head of Editorial/Creative
Hi, I am Zeenat, the OG/grandma Saucette. I founded Sauce 4 years ago with the help of my industry friends and our wonderful community. The platform was created to share personal stories and essays, address misrepresentation in the industry, celebrate trailblazing women (and men) in New Zealand, and talk about our fashion, beauty and lifestyle discoveries. I have been working on Sauce and Sauce Studios over the last few years, more on Sauce Studios to come.
What else? I am a proud Sagittarius and I share a birthday with Bruce Lee, Jimmy Hendrix and Howdy Doody’s Buffalo Bob Smith. Here are some things I am into this week that has nothing to do with my star sign.
Reading —
I am still on Zadie Smith’s Feel Free. Such a good read but a slow one.
Listening —
BBC’s Food Chain examines the business and cultural significance of food. The last two episodes are must for anyone interested in how Covid-19 affects food production and hospitality in the long run.
Watching —
I am watching Community on Prime lately. I missed the series when it was first released it’s a nice relaxing one to zone in and out off. It is sort of like The Breakfast Club where a bunch of misfits come together.
Practising —
Mindfulness. I don’t often get to meditate, but I am trying to be present, hear the birds having their dawn chorus, or the ebb and flow of my neighbours doing house renos, my dog snoring.
Attempting —
Baking! I think I am the only person left in New Zealand that hasn’t baked as yet. So I might pop that one this weekend by making a recipe from here.
Ophelia —
Designer, Photographer & Editor
Hello! I guess like the rest of my life I do a little bit of everything for Sauce. I started creative freelancing a year ago and feel really grateful it actually manages to sustain my life. I’m really proud of what Sauce has become and always so amazed at Zee’s unwavering enthusiasm for all our ideas. Unlike most, I am loving lockdown - turns out I was pretty desperate for a change in pace and I feel relieved to have less pressure in almost every facet of my life. On the flip side I’ve been feeling really guilty about enjoying it because amidst the many MANY quality meme’s, I am acutely aware of the many struggling people - living in stark contrast to my privileged home made pasta existence. Sometimes it’s strange to talk about things that we know in the grand scheme are trivial but I think as long as we are still have informed, generous, kind and humorous conversations, we just might be able to strike a balance.
Reading —
A Passionate Marriage by David Schnarch. It’s a book I’ve read before - about ten years ago. It’s about love and intimacy and it’s written by a physiotherapist and the work he has done with his clients. It’s sort of premised around marriage and at first glance I wouldn’t have thought it could be relevant to me, but I think it’s probably relevant to everyone, whatever their relationship status.
Listening —
Everything is alive podcast. It’s interviews with objects and it’s fucking excellent. Listen to Louie the can and you will never drink a coke the same way.
Watching —
I love reality TV. I’m currently opting for the more wholesome versions, such as The Great Pottery Throw Down, Britain’s Best Home Cook with an occasional episode of US Bachelorette in which the Season is irrelevant - it’s best as a pick and mix.
Practising —
Spending all my time with my bf. Hence the self help reading and reality TV lol.
Attempting —
Just after lockdown we inherited a stranded Italian to our flat. We committed to learning one Italian word each day. We are up to quite a few now but the ones that have really stuck are brick, butcher, harpoon and fairytale so looks like we are well on track to being fluent by the time we hit Level 3.
Irina —
Content & Brand Partnerships
Hi there, my name is Irina. At Sauce, I work closely with Zeenat on content development and the activation of brand partnerships — even though I haven't found it, Sauce feels like a baby to me. There’s just so much pleasure to be involved in something of importance, something that brings us all a sense of community because that’s going to matter the most in the post-global pandemic world.
I’m quite a rebel and find it particularly hard to stay home when I’m being told so — that sort of pushed me to go easy on myself and focus on little victories only: right now I’m on my third face mask and have 2 litres of water in so today I’m winning.
Reading —
Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung — a book about psychology that concentrates on the unconscious mind and dream analysis, which always fascinated me.
Listening —
Bedtime stories on the Insight Timer app — I absolutely adore falling asleep to tales about otherworldly creatures and magical worlds.
Watching —
Lots of cartoons to keep my inner child happy — the latest three were Finding Dory, Frozen II and good old Monsters Inc.
Practising — Knitting. My friend Georgina and I recently started taking knitting classes with her mom — it felt like a truly wholesome experience as we’d prep a cheeseboard and champagne and knit together.
Now I’m practising by watching YouTube videos and trying various patterns on my own.
Attempting —
To make Negronis for myself and my bubble tonight — it’s my favourite drink of them all but I’ve never made it so wish me luck.
Liam —
Editor
I'm Liam, I've been a Saucette for like uhhhh? Three years? Omg, I am an OG! I'm your sexy, new editor. I'm excited. I think you can tell you're truly pumped for something when you start brainstorming content in the shower, it's all very saucy.
Just yesterday, I was showering and burning my scalp beyond repair with an expired strawberry-scented hair mask, belting Doja Cat and day-dreaming about Sauce's 2020 Christmas Gift Guide, don't quote me but, I am thinking the theme this year will be Christmas inspired beauty products ;)
I'll still be the same weird, sometimes funny, skincare obsessed Liam. Sharing pieces of life I love.
Reading —
The Life-Changing Magic Of Not Giving A F*ck, by Sarah Knight
Listening —
The Dream podcast series. I am going to write more about it at some point.
Watching —
Stupid TikToks, how do I stop? Someone confiscate my phone. Imagine if I had my shit together and purchased a MasterClass membership, just imagine. Wow, the places I'd go.
Practising —
Social distancing with my kitchen.
Attempting —
It's funny, I know exactly what I want, but sometimes I'm scared of taking risks. Routine, for me, has caused complacency. Surprisingly, I'm a big wimp. I'm attempting to follow my intuition more, I'm attempting life on my own terms. I'm attempting happiness.
