Hello, my dear Frankie’s 💜

Another hot, beautiful week in Franklin to kick off the year. Which reminds me - how are the New Year’s resolutions going? Still live and kicking? Or already hiding under the couch with the Christmas decorations? 🤭🤭

If you’re not feeling the whole “new year, new me” thing, here’s a goal I really love: be more creative in 2026.

Somewhere along the way to becoming an adult, a lot of us stop doing playful, messy, “just for fun” things. We get efficient. Predictable. Very good at schedules…and not always great at being creative.

I read recently that trying new things and having fresh experiences can make time feel like it moves slower (in a good way) - like your life has more pages in it 💜

Last year I went to a candle-making workshop at Little Batch Wax Co, and it properly surprised me. Not because I learned how to pour wax…but because you get to create your own signature scent (and a matching room spray!), and it reminded me that creativity is a skill. One I haven’t really practiced since I was a kid.

Now every time I light my own candle (Sugar & Spice Latte, in case you were wondering 🤭), I get pulled right back into that day. Beautiful setup, delicious drinks, and making something that’s completely yours. Instant mood lift. Instant “maybe I am a creative person” reminder.

And the best part? There are so many other ways to get your creativity fix around here too!

Becs from R Ceramics with super fun mug-making workshops,

The flower press workshop this weekend with Waiuku Zero Waste and Franklin Arts Centre​

Margaret Feeney’s drop-in collage session at Franklin Arts Centre.​

And that's just this weekend!

Okay Frankie’s - go do one small creative thing this week. Doesn’t have to be impressive. Just has to be yours 💜

Have the loveliest week,
​R. and the Frankie team xx

PSA: It's picnic time at Your Local Coffee!

​Your Local Coffee has just made summer snacking wildly more whimsical and romantic (and we all need more whimsy in our lives!).

They’ve got free picnic gear you can borrow - including a cute little picnic mat - so you can grab your pastries and coffee, wander to Seddon Park or the nearest green spot, and relax like you’re in a movie (but with better baked goods, obviously).

Just tell the staff you’d like to use the picnic gear and they’ll sort you out!

And because it’s officially iced-coffee season: meet Dirty Granny - a fizzy, refreshing summer number made with Granny’s Five Fruit Tea + cold brew coffee + soda water. Perfect for “I’m too hot for a flat white” days. And of course, perfect for picnics 💜

mersum sayd

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

Little Batch Wax Co: Make Your Own Signature Scent 🕯️✨

If you’ve been craving a proper little “main character morning” (the kind with candles, cocktails, and zero emails), Little Batch Wax Co’s workshops are exactly that.

On Saturday 17 January 2026, 10:00am–1:00pm (or other dates throughout the year!), you’ll head to the Little Batch Wax Co HQ (152 Manukau Road, Pukekohe) for a hands-on session where you’ll make your own 220g pure soy wax candle (45+ hour burn time) and a 100g natural room spray - with cozy bites and delicious drinks keeping the vibe very much “treat yourself.”

And it genuinely does feel like a treat! The whole setup is stunning. It’s a beautiful setting with a gorgeous, thoughtful table spread, and the kind of drinks and nibbles that make you feel like you’ve snuck into a boutique experience you’d expect to find in Auckland (but, no - it’s right here).

Beth (the brain and heart behind Little Batch) doesn’t just throw you into making - she gives you the lore. You learn why 100% soy candles are the gold standard, and why some cheaper candles are blended with paraffin (aka: the ones that can leave you with that weird headache if you burn them too long). Then she takes you through fragrance like a total scent wizard - including the fragrance wheel and how to pair notes so your candle smells expensive and intentional (not like you panicked and chose “vanilla” because it felt safe).

Then comes the best part: you blend your own signature scent. It’s a genuinely creative process - and it hits so nicely because most adults don’t get many chances to practice creativity anymore. This is playful, relaxing, and oddly satisfying…and you leave with something you made from scratch that you’ll actually use.

Once you’ve nailed your blend, Beth helps you add it to the wax and pour your candle - then you’ll make a matching room spray to take home too. Beth is warm, helpful, and genuinely knowledgeable, so you feel looked after the whole way through (even if you’re the kind of person who normally burns toast).

Perfect for a birthday treat, a friends’ date, mother/daughter day, or just because you want to leave the house and do something that isn’t groceries 💜

Little Batch Wax Co Workshop​
📍 Little Batch Wax Co HQ, 152 Manukau Road, Pukekohe
🗓️ Saturday 17 January 2026
⏰ 10:00am–1:00pm
🕯️ Make: 220g pure soy candle + 100g natural room spray

Bookings and more dates and workshops available here!​

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Thursday

🦇 Peka Peka Walk – Finding Franklin Bats
​Evening walk, 8:15pm
Relaxed guided bat walk, tickets via Finding Franklin Bats Instagram ​

🚚 Food Trucks at Pukekohe Park Raceway
​Pukekohe Park Raceway, 4:30–8:30pm
International street food including Thai, Mexican, Indian, burgers and more

🍸 Cocktail Happy Hour
​Little Ed, 6–7pm
All your favourites, just a little bit cheaper

🧠 Quiz Trivia Night
​Blue Ox Babe, 7pm
Weekly quiz night with friends, drinks and prizes. More info!​

Friday

🃏 Poker Night – Texas Hold ’Em
​Waiuku Rugby Club, doors open 5:30pm
All skill levels welcome, prizes, bar open, limited numbers — just turn up on time! More info here :)​

🎧 DJ Npeezy – House & Remixes
​Little Ed, from 7:00pm
Kick off the weekend with house beats and good vibes

Saturday

🕯️ Candle & Room Spray Making Workshop
​Little Batch Wax Co., Manukau Road Warehouse, 10:00am–1:00pm
Create a 220g soy candle and scented room spray with drinks and grazing provided. Book here!​

🌸 Build Your Own Flower Press Workshop​
Franklin Arts Centre (Pukekohe), 10am–12pm
Hands-on workshop to build + decorate your own DIY flower press using reclaimed MDF (hello, power tools 🔧) and recycled paint. Book here!​

🎨 Drop-In Collage Session with Artist Margaret Feeney (Collage: Above and Below)​
Franklin Arts Centre, 10am–1pm
Free, drop-in collage session for all ages—create a portrait of what’s beneath the earth and what’s above the sky (dinosaurs? godwits? alien spacecraft? absolutely yes). More info!​

🌺🚗 Fuchsias in the Park + Petals to Metal Classic Car Show & Shine​
262 Hull Rd, 10am–4pm
Fuchsia exhibition with gate prizes, raffles, garden tours, refreshments, and plant sales—plus a side serving of shiny classic cars.

🎧 DJ B – Saturday Night Soundtrack
​Little Ed, 7:00pm
Dance, drinks and classic party vibes

🛍️ Waiuku Twilight Market
​Waiuku Rugby Club grounds, 3-9pm
Lots of new stalls and all your current favourites!

Sunday

🌺🚗 Fuchsias in the Park + Petals to Metal Classic Car Show & Shine​
262 Hull Rd, 9am–3pm
Fuchsia exhibition with gate prizes, raffles, garden tours, refreshments, and plant sales—plus a side serving of shiny classic cars.

🎶 Happy Fish Band at Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club​
Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club, 3pm
A classic Sunday plan: turn up, grab a drink, and let live music do the heavy lifting for your mood.

🛍️ Franklin Market at Pukekohe Park Raceway
​Pukekohe Park Raceway, from 8:00am
Produce, crafts, antiques, food trucks, live music and car boot stalls

🏃 STRIDE TRIBE Run Club – Waiuku
​21 Martyn Street, 5:00pm
3km walk or run, all paces welcome, community focused. Follow here!​

monday

🧠 Quiz Night
​Appetite, 7:00pm
Fun weekly quiz with friends and prizes

🏃 Wellness Run Club
​Coffee Manukau Road, 5:45am
5km loop, all fitness levels welcome. Check it out!​

🎲 Board Game Evening
​Otakumart, from 6:00pm
Bring your own games or play from the collection, free entry and everyone welcome

Tuesday

🏃 STRIDE TRIBE Run Club – Waiuku
​21 Martyn Street, 7:00pm
3km social run or walk, fun vibes and zero pressure. Follow here!​

🧠 Quiz Night
​Ed Street Bar, evening
Fun quiz with prizes at 27 Edinburgh Street

Wednesday

🧠 Quiz Night
​Malt N Steel, 7:00pm
Teams of 2–8, prizes to be won. More info!​

😂 Comedy Quiz Night
​The Village Bar, evening
Hosted by Crack-Up Quiz Nights, free to play, book on 09 236 3571

Word Scramble answer: Summer days

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