Turning Over a New Leaf | Chàe Issue 3

chĂ e issue III

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magazine

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winter 2020

turning over a new leaf

ChĂ e Magazine Issue 3 Cover Image Chelsea-Lee Bastable Editors Emma Jenkins Chelsea-Lee Bastable Hannah Kairuz Internal Contributors Abbey Philpott, Alana Naumovski, Caitlin De Sousa, Carly McNamara, Chelsea Wood, Danielle Godden, Emily Murphy, Hayley Bannerman, Kristen Dickson, Leah Smith, Maigan Webster, Savannah Meacham, Tam Robertson & Tameyka Arellano External Contributors Adam Sale, Bonnie Stonestreet, Ada Hall & Emelise Bond Designers Hannah Kairuz Chelsea-Lee Bastable Maigan Webster Marketing/Advertising Hannah Kairuz

https://chaemedia.wixsite.com/chae chae.media@outlook.com

All Rights Reserved

a student magazine | for students, by students

editors note Turning over a new leaf; redefining and a new beginning for many. This issue is all about the new look and direction chàe is taking, hoping to influence our readers to come along the journey with us and maybe start their own along the way. We are three women who are so passionate about what we do and love creating new things for our audience. The team has grown and evolved so much, welcoming in so many talented women into our family who are just as passionate as us. Within the issue, we are showcasing our teams work and focusing on helping students work their way through life. Chelsea, Hannah and I have been so excited with the new look we have for chàe, so please enjoy and welcome!

Emma and the chàe team xx

contents

16

18

7

24

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FEATURED 16

turning over a new leaf meet the team

7

profile feature: meet kelsea

18

art from your garden

24

LIFESTYLE starting a skincare routine at twenty-two dating during covid-19

supporting authors of colour little poetry book

30 40

FOOD

READING tarts and tiaras: chapters 1 & 2

28

feel good songs

42

fluffy vanilla pancakes

33

57 46

chicken ranch wraps

34

simple mug cake

35

cauliflower parmigiana

36

herbs for winter

38

DIY

STUDENT INSIGHTS

creating your own study space

20

adam sale

65

growing your own jungle

22

bonnie stonestreet

67

art from your garden

24

ada hall

68

ceramics: an at home guide

26

lorena farreras

68

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chelsea Hello and welcome to Chàe Media! I’m Chelsea-Lee and I’m the Creative Director of this amazingly beautiful team you are going to witness. I am in my second year of university, studying a Bachelor of Communications and Media at Wollongong. I am so thankful for the passionate and loving team we have and I am so excited for this issue of Chàe. We love showing our amazing team talents and helping to promote positivity in our wonderful audience! Thank you for your interest in our magazine! x

hannah Hello all! I'm Hannah! I'm also in my second year at UOW studying a Bachelor of Communication and Media. I'm the Social Media Manager and Graphic Designer. I'm so excited about this issue of the Chàe Magazine! We've been working so hard and are so happy with what we have accomplished. We are also so proud of the progress we keep making as a family! Stay tuned! x

...and

emma Hi there! I'm Emma, the Editor of Chàe. I am in my second year at UOW, studying a Bachelor of Communications and Media. This is our third issue and by far this is my favourite one! As a team we have grown stronger and with our new look we have created this beautiful magazine. We have an even bigger family now too! I hope you enjoy x

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abbey

Hi there! I’m Abbey, a writer and creator. I’m in my first year of the double degree, Bachelor of Communications and Media and Bachelor of Journalism at UOW. I am a creator at heart, I dream of using my writing, photography and graphic design for magazines and brands in the future. I hope to work for a company that focuses on being ethical, sustainable, creative and unique - just some of my favourite things. I fill in my days with writing poetry and prose, painting, scrolling through Pinterest, drawing, reading books and spending time outside and in the ocean. I love anything that sparks my creative heart and allows me to express myself or part of the world to others. I surround myself with plants, dried flowers and people who make my heart sing. I joined Chàe to grow and strengthen my creative portfolio, giving myself a platform to share my writings and art with others. I am super excited to help create such a beautiful magazine alongside the rest of the lovely team.

alana Hey! I’m Alana. I’m currently studying a double degree in a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Finance and a Bachelor of Communications and Media, majoring in Digital and Social Media. Thinking of my dream job is a tough one, but I would absolutely love to be a social media manager for a company like Netflix, Stan Australia or Spotify. I want to be that post writer that everyone wants to be friends with. However another dream job of mine is to be a published author - I’ve almost finished writing my first book too, so maybe it’ll happen eventually! I love reading and writing and currently run a bookstagram account to share my fave stories with people all over the world! As of recent I have found myself falling in love with Asian Dramas, my Netflix bingeing has to stop as I’ve watched them all I think.

Joining Chàe has been such a great decision, as everyone in the team is amazing, and often hilarious, when we share our favourite barbie movies. This is definitely a step forward for me because I love putting out content for people, and to see that people love it too is just amazing!

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carly Hey I’m Carly!!I am currently studying a Bachelor of Communications and Media majoring in Journalism and Visual Communication Design, minoring in Marketing and Advertising and Graphic Design at UOW. I also study a Diploma of languages majoring in Spanish. I would love to get into music journalism, my dream job is writing for Rolling Stone magazine. I am a musician and have been singing since the day I was born, at least that's what my mum says. I love films, musical theatre, books, music, and writing. My taste in music is all over the place and I love everything from classical music, to rock and roll (my personal favourite), all the way to french love songs. I have been writing a book for the last two years along with a series of poemsI am a mum to a 1 year old rescue beagle named Max. I live for a sense of adventure (I literally have the word tattooed on my arm) and plan to travel most of the world solo and hopefully get tattoos to remember it by. The opportunity to write alongside so many talented creators at Chàe Media is incredible and i’m so excited to share little pieces of my brain with the world and be able to use my creative skills for a project that is so valued.

chelsea Hey guys, I’m Chelsea! I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Communications and Media and Majoring in Journalism at UOW. At this point in time, I would like to be a journalist after my degree but I am also enjoying the digital content creation aspect of the course. The possibilities are really endless in this degree. I am really into playing sports, being active and discovering wellness. I am currently Content Manager on an Instagram account I created with my friends to further my interest in health and wellness, helping motivate others! I also love adventure, travelling and experiencing new things! I decided to join Chàe because it gives me the opportunity early in my degree to create a portfolio of my work and further develop my skills, little did I know I was entering a really supportive and fun group of motivating as well as uplifting women! I am really looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Chàe!

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danielle Hey everyone! My name is Danielle and I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Communications and Media, majoring in Digital and Social Media, with a minor in Graphic Design at the UOW. My ambition in life is to become an in house marketing designer for companies, and to assist with making campaigns for new products! One of my favourite things to do is read, I’m a sucker for a good romance book! Some of my favourite authors include Jamie McGuire, Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren. Another huge passion of mine is Interior Design, I love creating spaces that people feel warm and invited into! I would say my design style is very Minimalistic/Scandinavian inspired. A big aspiration of mine would be to design a tiny house. I absolutely love the tiny house movement, and I think it’s a great way to showcase one’s design skills, whilst also reducing one’s carbon footprint. Working with the Chàe team has been a great experience so far and has given me a platform in which I get to collaborate with so many other talented ladies! Chàe has enabled me to write about things I’m passionate about, whilst also gaining real life experience, writing, designing and collaborating in a team! I’m so happy and thankful to be a part of a team such as Chàe and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

emily Hey guys! My name is Emily, I’m studying a double degree in Communications and Media and International Studies, majoring in Journalism and Professional Writing and Global Media and Communication, with a minor in Spanish at UOW. I’m an aspiring journalist, and absolutely love to write. I have a particular interest in doing profile features and human-interest stories, as they give me a sense of purpose and fulfilment when I get to share people’s personal stories. I am definitely willing to write anything at all though, I am an avid traveller with a strong desire to see more of the world as soon as permitted! I am passionate about all things sustainability, and run my own eco-friendly Instagram. I love to watch films and binge-watch good TV shows (I’m a sucker for reality TV too).

I’m apart of Chàe because it gives me the ability to write and showcase my creativity and skills, all the while being surrounded by other wonderfully creative, strong and passionate women. I’m gaining real-life experience and real friendships along the way!

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hayley

kristen

Hey everyone! My name is Hayley, I’m currently in my first year of my Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in English Literatures and minors in Creative Writing and Journalism at UOW. I don’t have a definite career in mind, but all of my courses centre around writing - one of my favourite things to do in my spare time. So any career that allows me to write for a living would be amazing! But at some point, I would love to write a collection of short stories, or get into script writing for the stage and screen.

Other than writing, I’m a huge theatre fan - I love watching shows, and I love performing in them even more! - and I also love discovering new movies and shows (Parasite holds the top spot right now). I’m currently obsessed with the Juno soundtrack, but I’m one of those music fans whose taste is all over the place. I’m always looking for new ways to express myself, and meet new and interesting people, and Chàe has given me the opportunity to do both at the same time! Not only that, but I have really loved working and collaborating with a team of such supportive, like-minded women, who all have such creative ideas!

Hi! My name is Kristen and I’m studying Communications and Media, with a side of photography at UOW. I’m not entirely sure what career I want in the future, and so this degree gives me a broad range of possibilities and opportunities so that I can begin to work towards a career! I am an avid reader and film enthusiast, traveller, plant mum, as well I also love to play video games and dabble in random spouts of creativity. At the moment I’m reading the Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin, which I would highly recommend! I have an extremely eclectic personality and range of interests, which is why I love my part in Chàe Media! Being a part of a team with these girls gives me the ability to explore my passions and interests, whichever direction they may turn! Chàe media is about supporting one another through the various passions that each member holds, and allowing our readers to become a part of a friendship.

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leah Hi guys! My name is Leah, I am currently a first year journalism student at UOW. Trying to think of the future of my career is challenging as it seems so far away…

Yet, I would love to end up working as a journalist with a major news outlet, particularly, the ABC or BBC, covering world news and possibly dabble in investigative journalism. I also want to have the opportunity to take my degree all over the world, as I love to travel! I love to write, and since university, have discovered the hidden gem of blog writing. I also am an obsessive Pinterest user, constantly looking to be inspired – whether it be the pots that hold my many plants or new tattoo ideas. I fill my spare time listening to music and binging TV series, currently Greys Anatomy! Yet, my love for TV series has also brought me to where I am today, I mean who doesn’t want to be Rory Gilmore… I joined Chàe, to become part of a supportive community of girls and meet new and interesting people who share the same interests. Chàe provides the opportunity to build upon my writing skills, while covering topics that I love!

mai Yoohoo! I’m Mai, I’m currently studying Communications and Media, majoring in Visual Communication Design and minoring in Global Screen Media at UOW. My previous studies all have a background in the entertainment and music industry, so I’m hoping this degree will push me further in that direction. I’m hoping to be a part of the music/film industry, within a role that allows me to dabble with my creative skill but continue to grow and exceed it. I definitely want to work overseas! I am obsessed with DIY videos, Pinterest, all things music and love global cinema! If I have time, I’m usually drawing on my iPad, reading obsessively on Reddit, watching TikTok or just daydreaming. I’m in Chàe because I love the idea of being a part of something useful and growing with creative and strong women. Being able to work within a team in this environment is a completely different approach but it’s something I really value! I want to learn and be inspired, and hopefully succeed in doing the same too.

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savannah Hola a todos! My name is Savannah and I’m in my fourth year, studying Communications and Media and International studies at UOW. I’m majoring in a bit of everything from Journalism to Spanish. I’m passionate about politics and social justice, and as I’m graduating this year would love to end up working as a political journalist or starting off in governmental policy development.

I love to write about a bit of everything from current politics to relationships and dating. I spent the last 8 months travelling through Europe and living in Spain, and I bring it up with any opportunity I get.

I’m an Aries so I’m extremely stubborn but when I’m passionate about something, I throw my all into it. If you don’t catch me reading a good book or talking about Europe, I’ll probably be reading the news, as the news junkie that I am (how dorky.) ¡Espero que disfrute nuestro trabajo!

tam Hey! I’m Tam, I’m a first year Communications and Media and International studies student at UOW. I used to be super sure about my dream job - a foreign correspondent - but as I get further into my course I’d be so into doing anything that lets me write, create and have a little freedom - and definitely takes me overseas as I love travelling.

I’m also one of those people that is all over the place with my interests, I love fashion, riding/racing motorbikes, sport, baking and binging Netflix! But I have to admit the most talented thing I can do is skate in heels! Despite being new, I am so keen to be apart of Chàe and create content with such a cool bunch of girls.

The chance of getting to create my own content and build a portfolio for the future all whilst becoming friends with the raddest chicks out is just too cool to be true!

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tameyka Hi all! I’m Tameyka and I’m currently studying Creative Writing and Media at UOW. I haven’t fully decided what career I hope to get out of this course but I’m going to love it.I am also a qualified chef, currently for Chàe Media I write recipes and take photos of my food along the way! I love food and think it’s so important that everyone has some cooking skill so I try not to make anything that is too hard so that everyone can try it out. Some of my other hobbies include watching movies and TV shows, listening to music, redecorating my living spaces and painting or being creative. I love being a part of Chàe because all the women here are absolutely stunning inside and out, it has been so easy to work with like minded people and get some really good content out there for others. I hope everyone can get something out of what we’re doing here at Chàe even if it’s just how to cook an egg right or find your favourite new book series or movie obsession or just some self-love.

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maigan webster

turning over a new leaf emma jenkins

Change is a weird thing for all of us. Having the same routine and trying to adjust to a new one sometimes out of the blue is always the hardest. At the age of nineteen, I feel as though I have had a lot of changes over the years but it has made me the person I am today, as corny as that sounds. This year has been the year for change.

Every month we seem to be trying to change and adjust to a new way of life, which has been a big struggle for all of us.

I am scared of change, it's hard to admit that but, it is a scary thing for myself. When we decided to change up this magazine and completely remodel it, we were scared but so excited. Everything happens for a reason. Truly this was the hardest thing to accept throughout the whole process and every process of change, knowing that this has happened because something else will come along or ultimately teach us something new about ourselves.

Our new colour palette and vibe is something that encapsulates everything we are as women and through all of our work we want our audience to experience this. The look we had before was great and we did love it, but this is something that doesn’t have words to explain it, only that it is a new chapter and we have decided to turn over a new leaf.

Leaving behind things that have happened is always hard but we have discovered, all three of us, that we love what we do with chàe and want to showcase that in the best way as possible. Through all of this too, we met such amazing women who are so talented, and they now work for us. We can’t wait for you to read all of their amazing articles and see their artworks too.

Turning over a new leaf happened for us this year, change is always happening but this was the biggest for us yet. It was a challenge at first but now when I look back at it, it happened for a reason and it turned out to be a beautiful reason. I am forever grateful for those who have helped me along the way and helped me get to where I am today. For my own self, I will be turning over a new leaf and I will embrace this one with all I have.

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meet kelsea! emily murphy

Kelsea is bright and bubbly, and at 22 years old she is set to finish her double degree of Arts and International Studies at the end of this semester.

Kelsea has been with her partner Caleb for 8 years. Their love story began in year 8 English when Caleb passed her a note before whispering, “that’s me asking you out by the way.”

Last February, Kelsea had just finished a short language course in Granada, Spain, when she met up with Caleb in Barcelona. They spent three romantic days there before flying into London, where Caleb’s brother Jake and his wife Naomi live. The next day they woke up with only 15 minutes to get ready, Kelsea split her jeans and they were extremely tired after their late-night flight. Despite having a bit of a rocky start, things did get better.

First day of the London itinerary is Windsor. They see the castle and then they decide to walk Windsor’s famous 4.26km road, ‘The Long Walk’. They walked for what felt like an eternity, until finally reaching the end of the road, when Caleb suddenly turned towards the forest and ushered Kelsea over. There was a tree that had been carved into a seat and they decided to sit down. They took some pictures of each other, before Caleb started to inch closer to Kelsea and handed her a note. “It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever read in my entire life. After I finished reading it, I looked up at him and he said, ‘that’s me asking you to marry me by the way.’”

Caleb’s brother captured the whole thing on camera. Once they got back to the castle, Caleb announced, “we’re going to this French restaurant, see that one over there? I booked that from Australia!",“I’m in jeans that are split, Dr Martens, and my Kathmandu puffer jacket. We had a beautiful romantic meal. It was perfect,” Kelsea said.

Since the London proposal, Kelsea has been busy wedding planning, on top of full-time university, working part-time at Bunnings, doing an internship, and now with the added stress and restrictions of the pandemic. Their wedding ceremony will go ahead as planned, albeit with an added livestream, but they are postponing the reception and re-doing the ceremony, in either 2021 or 2022.“Caleb’s brother is in London, his Dad lives in New Zealand, his best man’s in New Zealand, my brother’s in Queensland, my Pop’s in Queensland. We have so much family in northern Australia, so they wouldn’t be able to get here anyway, so we decided on a livestream,” Kelsea said.For Kelsea, one of the most difficult parts has been people putting their two cents in and making unnecessary comments.

“There were a few people who said, ‘oh don’t worry, you can just do it later,’ and when you’re not a Christian and you don’t have that outline of marriage and what marriage is, and it’s different for every person obviously, but for Christian’s it’s a big change,” she said.

People also tend to ask how she knows Caleb is the one, considering they’ve been together since they were so young. “To me and Caleb this is such a weird concept because when you’re in a relationship and you know that person and you know their intentions with the relationship, there’s no other option.

Love is love. If you have a problem with another person’s definition of that, then that’s on you.”

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creating your perfect study space danielle godden

Feeling a lack of motivation in your study space? Is it in need of a refresh? Well here are some simple and easy ways to start to become more motivated in your study space once again! In the current “isolation situation”, we have all been stuck at home for way too long. The same boring walls surround us every day and we need to push the reset button.

A study space is something more that you come to do work in, it’s something that should motivate and drive you to be inspired, design and create. Here are a few simple ways to do so The main furniture pieces you will be looking for are: Desk Comfortable chair (It may not be aesthetically pleasing, but you have got to protect your back).

Storage - e.g. draws, shelves, pen holders etc.

Light source – For all those late nights studying.

STEPS FO R SUCCESS of Refreshment furniture Technology Upgrade Dercorative Pieces

Refreshment of furniture Although this might be pricey to begin with, it’s definitely worth its weight in gold!

Coming into a study space that is not only aesthetically pleasing to be in, but also functional for the purposes you need it for.

This is going to have such a huge impact on your productivity!

These are some of the more essential pieces you will need in order to create your perfect study space. There are many places you can source these products from, for example Kmart, IKEA and Freedom. If you already have some of these key pieces and are just looking to refresh your study space, start small and just refresh what you need.

If everything is already functional in your study space, you don’t need to spend big $$$ to refresh your space! A simple refresh can be done with just buying some new decorative pieces.

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Technology upgrade

Decorative Pieces

For most people creating these spaces you will already own all the necessary technology you need to complete your study space. But for those who don’t and need a little bit of guidance, don’t worry we’ve got you covered.

There is so much you can do here.

Decorating your space can make or break it. What I would suggest in this section is breaking out your phone and logging onto our good friend Pinterest for some inspiration. Take a few elements from your desired aesthetic and implement them into your working space.

The products I’ve identified as essential to every studying space are:

This might take shape in the form of: A Desktop, laptop or tablet of your choosing – to get all of your work bits and pieces done.

A speaker – This can be built into your laptop or you can choose to buy a portable speaker to have on your desk.

These are some essential pieces to your workspace as they allow you to become more motivated and inspired to get your work done promptly. I’ve found that listening to a good tune and getting in the rhythm of music, can have a profound effect on one’s ability to work efficiently and effectively.

Now for the fun part….

The list is endless. You can do so much to your space when designing what your ideal study space can look like.

Try and implement these few simple steps in designing and creating your new ideal study space for maximum productivity at home!

May these steps help release the designer from within!

Stay safe and stay sanitised!

Adding a decorative throw or pillow to your desk chair.

Adding a candle or diffuser to your desk, to create a nice relaxing ambiance.

Cute notepads and organisational stationery on your desk.

Plants!!! (Real or fake, don’t worry we don’t judge).

growing your own jungle kristen dickson Five Plants Perfect for a Beginner Plant Mum !

Are you fascinated by the world of plants, but don’t have even the slightest green thumb? That is completely OK! Getting into the world of houseplants is exciting and sometimes daunting, so knowing what plants are right for you is a must. In no particular order, here are some of my top low maintenance (and easily affordable) plants that are perfect for beginners! And a tip for ALL plants, always make sure it is well drained, as when they are too wet, they can get root rot! Happy planting!

WARNING: THESE PLANTS ARE TOXIC TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS

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Ripple Jade, AKA Crassula Arborescens Undulatifolia This little plant with beautiful, wavy leaves is a succulent, so it requires minimal watering and bright sun. Using the “soak and dry method” is usually good, soaking the soil and then waiting for it to completely dry out before watering it again (every 10-14 days is good). I have had this plant for about 5 years, and it used to be around 30cm high, however one tragic night while my boyfriend was plant-sitting, it got frostbite, and so it had to start growing from scratch. However, that’s another reason why these plants are so good— they are extremely easy to revive! So, although my little buddy isn’t as tall as he used to be, he’s still kicking! They can actually grow to be about 1.2m tall.

Devils Ivy, AKA Epipremnum Aureum This is a super tough, hardy and easy to care for plant, and looks really good in a hanging pot! With lovely mottled green leaves, they can easily brighten up a dull area. Indoors, Devils Ivy can grow up to 2 and a half meters if unpruned, and the leaves can reach about 15cm. I water mine about once a week, but don’t worry if you forget it a couple of times— it’s very droughttolerant! For the best lighting indoors, place it in a location that gets bright, but filtered sunlight.

Arrowhead Plant, AKA Syngonium Podophyllum These plants are great as hanging plants, as they begin to vine once they grow. They have beautiful patterned leaves and grow quite quickly with a mind of their own! Syngoniums are low light tolerant, but thrive in medium to bright, filtered light. The grow well in room temperature, so they’re the perfect indoor plant. Wait for the soil to dry out partially before watering it again, and you’re good to go!

Swiss Cheese Plant, AKA Monstera Deliciosa One of my favourite plants, the Monstera is a beautiful, large-leaf plant that is known for its holy leaves. The leaves are rounded, glossy and can grow up to 90cm in length! Indoor plants usually grow anywhere from 60-80cm in height but will be weighed down by the leaves and grow outwards rather than upwards if you don’t attach them to a totem. They do are very hard to kill and grow well in a well-lit area. Water them about once a week when they soil is looking dry, and make sure it’s in a pot that can drain. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching new leaf unfold on these plants.

Spider Plant, AKA Chlorophytum Comosum These lovely little plants that resemble ribbons can grow up to 50cm indoors and look great as a hanging plant. They do well in indirect sunlight and need a little more watering than the other plants— you’ll notice it tends to dry out a lot quicker— every few days is ok. The interesting thing about these plants is that they grow little mini versions of the main plant, dangling down in little bunches. These little excess plants make it very easy to propagate the Spider Plant, by cutting them off and planting them separately.

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art from the garden abbey philpott

The endless days spent at home make for the perfect opportunity to explore your own backyard and get creative with nature at your doorstep. As the season’s change and the autumn leaves fall, there is no better time to create beautiful things with leaves as your muse.

Whip out the watercolours If you have been wanting to try your hand at painting for a while, watercolours are the place to start. It is unarguable that the skill of watercolour leaves and flowers is a must for all the budding creatives. There is no better way to fight your isolation cabin fever than creating your own little jungle with your paper and paints. If you would rather be exploring the tropics, why not look up a tutorial to learn to paint palms and monstera leaves. Or if you are more of an adventurous type and would rather be exploring the Australian bush, gum leaves and gum nuts make for a pretty watercolour creation.

Bring the outside in With online study continuing for the rest of the year, it’s important to fall in love with your study space since you will be spending so much time there. It’s time to get out those garden shears (or head down to the florist if you don’t have a green thumb) and bring as much foliage from the garden inside, to make your own indoor jungle. You might be laughing now but wait till you have spent a few hours studying surrounded by your desk forest. Your creative juices just won’t stop flowing!

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Autumn bunting Nothing is more beautiful than the warm colours of an autumn leaf, reminding you of the changing season and the approaching winter. With a bit of string, some wooden pegs and a basket of reddening leaves, you can capture autumn forever with a cute natural bunting for your room. Collect fallen autumn leaves from your backyard or local park, carefully peg them to a long piece of string, pop a few hooks or nails in the walls of your room and just like that you’ve got yourself a little snippet of autumn to keep all year round.

Leaf letters In the age of online communication, getting a letter in the mail seems like a long and distant memory. But, why not bring back the charm of letter writing with an eco-friendly and super sweet twist-writing letter on leaves! If you thought paper letters were exciting, wait till you open the mailbox and find a leaf addressed to you with a short message of love or encouragement. In this time when it’s harder than usual to catch up with friends, nothing is more special than a little note to remind them that you miss them and appreciate them. Collect some dead leaves (gum leaves work a treat), whip out that felt tip pen and get writing!

Soon you’ll be filling letterboxes with short and sweet leaf messages and spreading the love wherever you go.

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ceramics: an at home guide kristen dickson

What You’ll Need

If you’re bored and looking for something fun and interesting to occupy your time, why not give a clay project a go! You can make many different things using air dry clay, but for the sake of simplicity and ease, I’m going to show you how to make a papaya incense tray, as well as some cute little leaf key rings.

Note: You can get everything you need from Bunnings! For convenience, I have made the steps to be the leaf part first, then papaya, and then painting/glossing together at the end.This is the finished product!

1 pack white air-dry clay Stanley knife/ clay knife glass for rolling out clay a small bowl with water Fine grit sandpaper Gloss spray Straw Matchstick/ incense stick

Leaf Keyring's Step 1 Following the instructions on the clay packet after kneading the clay to make it more pliable, use your glass to roll it out to your desired width— I made mine around 510mm so it was thin but sturdy (in saying this, I did have a bit snap off which I used a hot glue gun to fix, so be careful!). Then, we’re going to use the Stanley knife to cut out a few heart shapes, however big or small you would like you keyring to be. Then, using the straw, make a hole in each leaf just under the top, this is where the keyring will go.

Step 2 Now, get your knife and slice a few lines diagonally from the middle, mimicking monster leaves. My large leaf is a bit messy, as I made a mistake— which is ok! Things can be easily fixed. Once you’ve done this, leave it off to the side to dry and start move onto the papaya tray!

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Papaya Incense/ Jewellery Tray Step 1 Once again using the glass, roll out the leftover clay (don’t feel as though you have to use all of it) to create a teardrop shape around 1-1.5cm thick, and using your hands, roll a long, snake-like piece around the same thickness— this will act as the wall to the tray.

Step 2 You’ll need one smaller piece of clay that will be where you rest the incense stick. Create a small mound to fit at the bottom of the teardrop shape.

Now to put it all together! This is where you’re going to wet your fingers in the bowl of water and use them to make the tray wet— you’re then going to stick the wall and the mound on top of the tray, using the water as adherence. Keep wetting your fingers when you feel the need and work them around the edge so that it becomes a smooth wall, and you can barely feel a ridge along the outside of the wall. When you place the mound on the tray, do the same thing with your fingers and blend it in so the it sticks together.

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Once this is done, grab the end of an incense stick (or a matchstick) and place it in the mound, pushing it down to the desired length— make sure you do it at the right angle, so that when your incense falls it will land in the tray.

Now to let everything dry! This will take a couple of days, depending on the weather and dryness of the air, be patient and wait for it to completely dry!

Now for the last steps! Once the clay is dry, it’s time to do a little bit of sanding and paint! It doesn’t take much sanding; you just want to smooth over your edges to make it look softer. You can be as creative as you want for the painting, try to do different colours, styles, patterns etc. to make your tray and leaves unique! Once your paint is dry, apply a few coats of gloss spray and you’re all done! Have fun with this project and enjoy the process, it’s well worth the end result!

carly macnamara

Music is really powerful, it has the ability to transfer you into someone else’s mind and into someone else’s feelings. In low times music can bring you up. The term ‘feel good music’ has been used over and over for all genres but here is my personal list of 5 great feel good songs:

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Friday I’m in love - The Cure British rock band ‘The Cure’ released worldwide hit ‘Friday I’m in love” in 1992, with it being the second single from their album ‘Wish’. Friday I’m in Love featured movies such as ’50 first dates’ and ‘he’s just not that into you’. This song was described by Robert Smith as a “throw your hands in the air, let’s get happy type of song” and I agree that it is just that! Funnily enough this song has you waiting for Fridays so you can feel the full energy of the song. This song also gets a special mention because it’s one of my mums favourite songs.

Adventure of a Lifetime - Coldplay Off Coldplays’ seventh album ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ brings some great vibes to any moment. Released in 2015 this song hit the charts HARD and still bops to this day. Even though this song still brings back memories of working at Cotton On over Christmas, I can’t deny that ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ makes me feel happy. The opening riff is so infectious, you’ll be hooked listening to it over and over.

Junk of the heart (Happy) - The Kooks The second single from British indie band ‘The Kooks’ third album released in 2011 brings us ‘Junk of the heart (Happy)’. This song is nothing but pure sunshine in the form of a semi-love song. This song, although having happy in the title, more looks at the anxiety of being in love but in a very positive and kinda cute way. Luke Pritchard took the feel of the 60’s and 70’s and gave it a modern take, that’s really the vibe of this song.

New Religion - The Heydaze New-York indie group The Heydaze reminds us what it feels like to be in innocent love.”New Religion’ is all about breaking routine to feel happiness, and dancing in kitchens with the one that you love. This song makes you want to get in the car and drive with all the windows down and scream at the top of your lungs. I have sent this song to many of my friends when they need a pick me up and they continue to vibe with it since then.

Somebody’s Talking - The Preatures Off The Preatures debut album ‘Blue Planet Eyes’ (my personal favourite album) ‘Somebody’s Talking’ is a super groovy, toe-tapping track. This song hits every nostalgic part of your body and makes you dance like never before. Izzi Manfredi brings her unique voice and style and combines it with the talent of Benson, Davison, and Champion, to make you feel good.

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what i learnt by beginning a skincare routine at twenty-two emily murphy

From as young as a pre-teen I’ve been reading articles about skincare. What products to use and how and when to use them. I’ve been blessed with pretty good skin I have to admit, I escaped the majority of my teenage years without having any acne at all. I know, I know. My Mum is the same, which is why I was never introduced to a skincare routine when I lived at home.

When I moved out, I began to experience a lot more breakouts. For the next few years, I generally bought any cleanser and exfoliator that was on sale, and I used my body moisturiser for my face. Last year I decided that I would make more time for myself, and one of the things that I did was get my first facial! I loved it, and the aesthetician recommended some good products for my skin type.

The actual products aside, learning how to properly look after my skin was eye-opening for me! I can’t believe that as recent as one year ago, I was still washing my face in the shower?! My skin is so much clearer now, and this is the skincare routine that I learnt at the slightly delayed age of 22!

Step 1: Cleanse I always start my night routine by using an antibacterial facial cleansing bar over any problem areas – usually, my T-zone and chin area where I break out the most! In the morning I skip the cleansing bar and go for the cleanser itself instead. I wet my face and massage in a pea-sized amount of cleanser. I wash it off with my Face Halo, which is the best bathroom item I own! If you haven’t heard of Face Halo, I highly recommend it as a reusable makeup remover, and for cleansing deep down in my pores!

Step 2: Toner I always start my night routine by using an antibacterial facial cleansing bar over any problem areas – usually, my T-zone and chin area where I break out the most! In the morning I skip the cleansing bar and go for the cleanser itself instead. I wet my face and massage in a pea-sized amount of cleanser. I wash it off with my Face Halo, which is the best bathroom item I own! If you haven’t heard of Face Halo, I highly recommend it as a reusable makeup remover, and for cleansing deep down in my pores!

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Step 3: Serum A good serum is a worthwhile investment for your skin. They are nutrient-rich, and you only need 2 drops to do the job! I only use this as part of my night routine as my skin is more prone to breakouts, but for drier skin you can use serums morning and night.

Step 4: Moisturise A moisturiser suited to your skin type is so important! I recommend spending the time to find a good-quality moisturiser, speaking from experience I can honestly say it makes a huge difference!

Step 5: Sunscreen A moisturiser suited to your skin type is so important! I recommend spending the time to find a good-quality moisturiser, speaking from experience I can honestly say it makes a huge difference!

Step 6: Spot Treatment When I have pimples coming up, I use this Ella Bache product on the spot, and it works wonders! I couldn’t recommend it enough.

Exfoliation Once a week I exfoliate my skin, but I don’t mean with a rough scrub! I use a peel which is honestly so easy, and the results are instant.

Exfoliating is important to remove dead cells and keep your skin looking fresh! When I exfoliate, I do it between steps 1 and 2.

Masks I also like to do a mask once or twice a week!

After I exfoliate I use this camphor mask on my problem areas, because it has antibacterial and healing properties. I wash it off after about 15 minutes.

If I feel like doing another mask in the week, I usually opt for a clay mask like this one by Swisse.

I wish I had gotten into a skincare routine earlier because I love how it makes my skin feel! But hey, 22 isn’t bad!

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a day of recipes Are you tired of the daily Menulog and UberEats expenses? Struggling with what to cook each day? Well we've got you covered! Our resident Chef Tameyka has created four easy receipes for you to follow when youre in a pinch.

fluffy vanilla pancakes Pancakes! Who doesn’t love pancakes!

Obviously not an everyday breakfast food but when you feel like having a spoilt morning try these easy as and fluffy pancakes with your choice of toppings.

Method 1. Put all dry ingredients into a bowl and whisk together 2. Put egg into a bowl and whisk until soft, fluffy and semi pale (it doesn’t need to be meringue style, don’t go that far, just fluffy enough) 3. Add milk, vanilla and butter to egg and continue whisking until combined 4. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix gently so there isn’t lumps but DON’T over mix or you won’t have fluffy pancakes 5. Heat a medium or small pan on the stove (ensuring your pan is hot before you start cooking should mean your first pancake isn’t a dud) 6. Spray with spray oil as the pan should stay dry and non-stick 7. Add about ¼ cup of batter to pan and let cook, flip when the pancake has risen and the sides have started cooking (do not flip too hard as you will knock air out of the pancake, again resulting in less fluffy pancakes) 8. Repeat until all batter is gone and serve!

Ingredients Pancake: (makes 6-7) 1 C plain flour 1 + ½ t baking powder ½ t bicarb soda (if you don’t have this just use 2 tsp baking powder) 2 T caster sugar or white sugar ¾ C + 2 T milk 1 large egg 2 T melted butter 1 t vanilla essence

Toppings: ½ punnet strawberries, raspberries and blueberries Maple syrup Whipped thickened creamIcing sugar for dusting OR 1 banana sliced Caramel sauce (I made a quick and easy microwavable one)

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chicken ranch wraps A quick and easy wrap to have for lunch any day! Doesn’t have to have chicken so it can be vegetarian also.

Give it a go I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Ingredients (makes about 6 wraps) 1 chicken breast sliced (or a BBQ chicken from Woolworths works too) 1 packet El Paso fajita seasoning for chicken (if using breast) 1 packet your choice of wrap 1 C mozzarella cheese (grated) 2 carrots cut into matchsticks 1 capsicum sliced thinly 1 Lebanese cucumber cut into matchsticks 1 C shredded cabbage 2 large handfuls of baby spinach cut roughly ½ C parsley finely chopped ¼ C chives finely chopped Your choice of ranch sauce!

Method 1. Get your salad ingredients chopped and set aside to make your wraps 2. Shred baby spinach and mix with herbs 3. Slice chicken and sprinkle with seasoning then cook until golden brown (if using BBQ chicken just shred enough for your wraps) 4. Build your wrap however and with whatever you want!

5. Toast if you prefer or just eat fresh!

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simple mug cake Try this super easy cake in a mug!

I make chocolate as it’s my favourite but it’s also really good as choc chip, vanilla or caramel!

It’s super simple all you need to do is add your ingredients into your mug and microwave for 1 minute! (If your microwave isn’t as strong it might take 30 seconds to a minute longer to cook completely) Ingredients (makes 1 mug cake) ¼ C plain flour ¼ t baking powder 2 T caster sugar 2 T oil or melted butter 3 T milk Your choice of flavour (1/2 t vanilla, 2 T choc chips, 1 T caramel sauce)

For double chocolate flavour 2 T cocoa powder ¼ C + 1 T milk INSTEAD of 3 T 1 T hazelnut spread or Nutella Sprinkle of choc chips – if you have them

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cauliflower parmigiana Obviously chicken parmigiana is a pub staple and actually super easy to cook at home but this vegetarian optional cauliflower parm will blow you away!

Ingredients (makes 4-5 serves depending on cauliflower size) 1 head cauliflower – cut into steaks 1 large sweet potato – cut into chips or wedges 1 bag of baby spinach or lettuce 1 cucumber 1 punnet cherry tomato 1 carrot 1 capsicum 1 bag mozzarella cheese – grated 1 bottle of pizza topping sauce or pasta sauce of choice 1 pack of ham – optional Method 1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees 2. Cut cauliflower into steaks (thickness is up to you but if they’re too thin they won’t stay together as a steak when you cut it) 3. Cut up sweet potato into chips or wedges whichever you prefer (chips will take less time to cook) 4. Put cauliflower and sweet potato on baking trays, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oilBake until cauliflower is soft enough to stick a knife into and golden brown, same with the potato 5. Pull cauliflower out of oven and spread with chosen sauce, then add ham if you are using it and top with cheese 6. Switch oven to grill and place cauliflower under until cheese is completely melted and starting to brown and crisp on top 7. Serve with chips and salad (or whatever you’d prefer)

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herbs for winter kristen dickson Now that the colder Winter months are coming, it is important to know what herbs you can take advantage of. These herbs are some of my favourite, and are easy to grow, have many health benefits and most importantly are a wonderful addition to your meals!

Rosemary

Thyme

Coriander

My all-time favourite herb, this plant is extremely hard to kill, and always produces so much of the herb!

Rosemary has a very distinct flavour and is delicious with meat dishes, roast veggies, creamy pasta and even scrambled eggs (weird I know but trust me it’s good).

Rosemary also has various health benefits, as its rich in antioxidants and aids indigestion. Growing rosemary is fairly easy, but you have to watch out for frost. Keep it in a sunny area protected from winds, and water regularly but sparingly.

Fry up some mushrooms with butter and thyme and you’ve got a delicious meal — it also pairs really well with rosemary! Thyme will survive easily over the winter; however it won’t really grow. Thyme has also been known to have some medicinal properties, such as treating Bronchitis and a cough.

There are those in this world that love coriander, and those that hate it. I absolutely LOVE it, and IMO those that don’t like it need to rethink their decision.

Coriander is a staple in any Thai dish and adds a very unique and special flavour.

Coriander needs frequent watering and well-drained soil and grows well in the cooler months. Coriander is also used for digestion problems.

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Basil

Fennel

One of the most popular herbs, and for good reason — it’s delicious, easy to grow and found all found the world. Basil is especially popular in Italy and Thailand, both with their own type—it’s also the main component of pesto! Basil contains a lot of antioxidant, potassium, calcium etc., so there’s many medicinal uses as well as cooking. Position basil in a sunny spot and keep the soil well drained.

This completely edible herb has a very distinct sweet, liquorice flavour, making it a perfect addition to your herb garden. Fennel does well in the cooler months, and it takes about three months for the bulb to form and needs moist but well drained soil. Raw fennel in salads offers a delicious and sweet crunch to your meal, but there are many other ways to use fennel— including in teas for a natural sweet flavour.

Fennel tea is actually a great remedy for bloating, gas and cramps and aids healthy digestion!

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the HIGHS and LOWS of dating during COVID19 savannah meacham Dating apps are loved by some and hated by others, it’s a controversial form of relationship building. You might call me a dating app enthusiast as I have always enjoyed using them and during the social restrictions of COVID-19, I have enjoyed using them far more.

The ability to lie in my freshly made queen bed, a charcoal face mask on, and the newest episodes of Dynasty on my computer and aimlessly swipe between potential partners, what more could you want really? Now that I’m confined to the realms of my four white walls, this is my new “wild” Saturday night.

I think the thing that I like the most about dating apps is the ability to “try before you buy” as you might put it. I can see what they look like, height, education, sometimes hobbies depending on the app and then figuring out whether they’re worth my time. Now, this might sound heartless but I’m particular about what I want, and I might as well make that clear from the very beginning.

Of course, the use of dating apps in the past few months of quarantine removed the anxiety I held about actually meeting with someone - some may call me consumed by the desensitisation and lack of socialisation as a result of social media (I still would prefer for my mum to call the doctor for me.) Dating apps like Hinge and Bumble (my weapons of choice) have introduced dating from home features allowing you to video call through the app to be able to follow the traditional method of message, meet, and either a second date or never see them again.

I decided that during isolation, I might as well make the most of dating apps and see what’s in my area or in the nearest 150km.

My dating app of choice is Hinge because it requires more information out of a person such as more images, to answer a series of sentence starters like “a life goal of mine” or “a travel story”, which give an insight into a person and far too much data for the world to see. I’m a bit of a cheap girl as well as Hinge has a premium version but who would honestly pay for that? This means I can match with anyone in a 150km radius of me, which at first irritated me until I realised there were more options in Sydney than the good old gong.

To paint the picture of myself, and how I sound on a dating app my profile sounds a little bit like this: “I won’t shut up about the time I spent 8 months in Spain - trust me to bring Europe into the conversation” and “my love language is someone who shares my political views”, all interspersed with some images of my in Italy, at various formal events and Mardi Gras in an illustrious pink wig.

So, you’re probably wondering, what happened on these dating apps? As I sat in bed, a glass of $3 red in my right hand and my phone in the other, some bad bitch playlist playing on Spotify, I was ready.

I encountered a few conversations with men who started the conversation with “why don’t we isolate together?” and I hate to break it to those poor men, but there is

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no way on this good earth that I was going to isolate with a stranger. Change it up, boys. I had many conversations about Europe, and apparently the fact I spoke Spanish was a notable catch in a woman.

I’ve been asked to speak in Spanish one too many times, which I feel would be far more attractive in person or via phone call to really hone in on that sex appeal. The imminent question when asked “oh say something in Spanish” and I reply with one of two things, a complex political statement or something incredibly simple. It’s honestly to spice it up.

There was one particular experience through all of the isolation jokes, Spanish speaking questions, and incredibly short sentences that stands out during this time. I had been speaking to this guy for about two weeks, great conversations about travelling, and our passions. We face-timed and spoke for a whopping two hours. Eventually, the restrictions eased slightly and we decided to meet, keeping 1.5 metres between us. He drove for two hours (yes, a whole TWO hours) to meet me. We ended up buying tequila for margaritas, because what else would you drink when all of the bars are closed? He ended up getting absolutely wasted, and meanwhile, peer pressured me into the same state. We were playing drinking games with my housemates, getting along like a house on fire or maybe it was just the insane amount of tequila we drank. Anyway, he stayed for a full 24 hours (in a socially distanced manner of course) and spent far too much time with me and my roommates for a one-night thing. He told me future plans, about traumatising things that had happened to him, the full nine yards of information. The kicker? He never spoke to me again.

Yes, I was ghosted after a whirlwind 24 hours with someone who didn’t fit the typical one-night stand vibe - who stays with someone and be-friends their housemates for that long? I learned after this experience, that you can never fully know someone that you message for two weeks on a dating app.

I suppose the moral of that story is that I may be able to sit, drinking my wine whilst swiping, but you’ll never completely know someone after your only interactions through social media and FaceTime. The best thing I got out of the whole situation was… two bottles of high-end tequila and Cointreau. Winning right?

Dating apps during quarantine are a load of fun for passing the time, and as the dating app enthusiast that I am, I will continue to use them. Remember, in the end, these are real people beyond the screen and they may not be all they’re cracked up to be - and that’s okay. Enjoy the ride, make sure you stay 1.5 metres away from them if you do meet, but most of all enjoy dating in your pyjamas, because why the hell not?

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The Henna Wars - Adiba Jaigirdar Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.

Clap When You Land - Elizabeth Acevedo Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people... In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal's office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash. Separated by distance - and Papi's secrets - the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.And then, when it seems like they've lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

When Dimple met Rishi - Sandhya Menon Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she's more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma's inexplicable obsession with her finding the 'Ideal Indian Husband.'

Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn't have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers...right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him - wherein he'll have to woo her - he's totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, because he believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself. The Shahs and Patels didn't mean to start turning the wheels on this 'suggested arrangement' so early in their children's lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways . . .

SUPPORTING AUTHORS by alana naumovski

of colour.

bringing you some amazing reads by some amazing POC authors.

Children of Blood and Bone - Gloria Chao They killed my mother. They took our magic. They tried to bury us. NOW WE RISE. Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic.

Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie's Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy.

With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun.

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali - Sabina Khan When Rukhsana Ali is caught kissing attending the same summer program as him her girlfriend Ariana, her devastated - wherein he'll have to woo her - he's totally parents take Rukhsana to Bangladesh. on board. Because as silly as it sounds to There, immersed in a world of tradition most people in his life, Rishi wants to be and arranged marriages, Rukhsana arranged, because he believes in the power finds the perspective she's been of tradition, stability, and being a part of looking for in her grandmother's old something much bigger than himself. diary. Can she fight for the life she The Shahs and Patels didn't mean to start wants without losing her family in the turning the wheels on this 'suggested arrangement' so early in their children's lives, process?

Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo Grace is a Victorian orphan dreaming of the mysterious African father she will never meet. Winsome is a young Windrush bride, recently arrived from Barbados. Amma is the fierce queen of her 1980s squatters' palace. Morgan, who used to be Megan, is blowing up on social media, the newest activistinfluencer on the block. Twelve very different people, mostly black and female, more than a hundred years of change, and one sweeping, vibrant, glorious portrait of contemporary Britain.

A Song Below Water- Bethany C. Morrow

Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key.

Never mind she's also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes. But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation; the girls’ favourite Internet fashion icon reveals she's also a siren, and the news rips through their community.

Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. No secret seems safe anymore― soon Portland won’t be either.

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we see you. we hear you. we respect you. we are with you #BLACKLIVESMATTER

Feeling tired?

Feeling a little stressed?

Let your mind rest, have a tea and read along to these beautiful poems.

This issue is all about change.

We are encouraging you, to look at yourself and embrace this all. Everything happening now is all for a reason, and knowing that you have control of this is a good thing. these poems range from self worth, dreaming of things and also change.

We hope that you can connect with them and enjoy. x

And at that moment Under the stars, I knew I had indeed made the right choice And that I would be happy this way For a long time C.M

It took me a long time to move on from those moments And I thought it was over But sometimes the world cracks open and I’m transported Whether it be back into love, uncertainty, or sadness Except this time, I am stronger than anyone ever believes c.m.

One day someone will see all of your beauty The beauty in your words, In the way, you speak, the things you love.

Beauty in the way you make a cup of tea, In the way you read a book, And in the way you watch the sky at night. c.m.

It is at this time that I thank the world I am grateful that every morning I wake up, even when I don’t want to I am grateful that I can find a reason to smile, even it’s easier not to I am grateful to have people around me, even if some days I feel lonely I am grateful for the joy and happiness that radiates in my life, even if it’s hard to find I am grateful that I give and am given second chances, even when not deserved I am grateful for you I am grateful for me And I am grateful for life and all that it is c.m.

Letting this go felt how I imagine clouds feel after it rains.

Lighter but still empty Without purpose Waiting for the next storm But remembering after each storm there is light

c.m.

My brain dances faster than most can run So moving on is more of a carefully planned routine Then a simple exercise It makes letting go beautiful no matter how painful and I always know when the music is going to end

c.m.

written by alana naumovski here's a sneak peak of the first two chapters (you can find this wonderful story on wattlpad)

Piper Another day at the bakery was always boring. I had served about a thousand coffees, dropped tons of cutlery and talked my ears off to some of the regulars, and I still had two hours to go. I was itching to get back up to my room and continue making edits on my latest project. An app that pings restaurants closest to you filtered by cuisine.

It was my current work-in-progress in a very long list. I leaned against the coffeestained counter, watching the small crowd in my parent’s bakery, waiting for the next moment I would have to walk over and take orders or clean up a table.

Chuckling to myself as I watched a mum trying to feed her baby who was smearing their food all over their face, I heard a chime coming from the bakery’s front doors.

My gaze flits over to the customer walking up to the counter, as I stand up straight with a smile plastered on my face, ready to take their order.

“Welcome to Off the Tarts, what can I get you” I say in my well-developed customer service voice. The customer was another suited-up businessman type, with his hair all slicked back, one hand gripping his bag tightly, the other tapping away on his phone.

“I’ll have an iced coffee with an extra shot thanks” he says without looking up from his phone.

“That will be four-dollars-fifty thank you” I reply, ringing up the order on the register. He simply nods, his gaze never leaving his phone, as he hands over a card. I tap it against the EFTPOS machine and hand it back, before grabbing the order receipt and begin making his coffee. My body went on auto-pilot as I began making the businessman’s coffee. I had done this for days on end, for years and years, and I wanted to get out. Get a new job. Explore the corporate world. I had taken up appdevelopment as a hobby after a high school competition where we had to pitch app ideas and make a beta product with a group. It’s safe to say after that I continued that hobby into university where I was studying a software engineering degree. But even though I wanted to get out of here, I couldn’t. Not until the summer anyway where I was going to start my internship at Swan Corp, which was one of the leading technology and software development companies on this side of the moon. My parents were somewhat less-than-happy about the internship, mainly because “we’re losing our best baker” they would repeat several times in an evening. It was fair to say I was the best baker between all the staff here, which was just my mum, my dad and Katie who was our part-time staff when it was super busy. I had grown up baking, and had perfected every pastry we serve in the bakery. I was constantly researching and whipping up new creations. I always thought I would run the bakery one day, back when baking was my lifestyle. But once app development came to the forefront, the baking dream slowly disappeared.

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I watched as the last few drops of coffee flowed from the machine in front of me and into the cup in my hand. I mixed it in with milk and ice, before pushing on a lid and making my way back over to the businessman with his order. My ears catch snippets of the conversation between himself and whoever was on the other side of the phone call. “…Yes I’ll be right over now…yes, yes, the documents are in the left cupboard next to your desk…I saved the planner for the new strategy in the drive. I’ll be over at Swan Corp soon. Bye.” he taps his phone screen, ending the call.

“Iced coffee, extra shot” I say, sliding his drink over the counter.He finally looks up from his phone, and a honey-brown gaze stares back at me.

Oh wow. He’s not like the business types that usually come in here.

“Thank you,” he smiles, pocketing his phone and reaching over to grab his drink.

“Not that I was eavesdropping or anything, but I heard you work at Swan Corp.

What is it like?” I ask, my customer service voice coming out in full force, as the automatic ‘chat-to-customers’ response flows through my body.

“Very busy. Constant work. Deadlines. What’s not to love?” he replies with a chuckle.

“Definitely sounds like fun,” I reply. “I’m actually starting an internship there in a few weeks, so at least I’m prepared for what to expect now”.

“Wow, that’s impressive. Congratulations,” he says. He opens his mouth to say something else before the phone in his pocket starts ringing again. He reaches into his pocket glancing at the screen before rolling his eyes.

“Well, I’ve got to go. Maybe I’ll see you around the office…” he glances down to where my nametag was pinned to my apron, “…Piper. Good luck”.

The bakery doors shut behind him, and my gaze follows him until he is out of my sight. The sound of crying and apologising breaking my reverie, and I hear my dad calling me to go clean up the orange juice covered floor.

I pass the window and catch sight of my coffee stained appearance, with a bit of my curly hair escaping from its bun, and the slight smudge of chocolate power above my brow. I sigh, knowing that in a few short weeks I wouldn’t look like this anymore, that I’d be different. And as I walk over to the sticky mess with a mop and bucket, I am left with a nagging feeling that it wouldn’t be the last time I’d see business-guy.

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Valerie I refreshed my Instagram page, checking to see that my latest post had successfully uploaded. Another day, another Instagram advertisement for some company that my dad had business ties too.

I rolled my eyes as the photo appearing on the screen in my palms. A “candid” shot of me drinking coffee in the city, but largely zoomed in to see the silver chain that was wrapped around my wrist, a tiny silver love heart dangling from the bracelet.

While it was a pretty photo, I hated the fake-ness of the shot. I just hated doing the photoshoots in general. But I know I had to do it. Why? Because dad needed me too.

Needed me to present an “air of sophistication and presence” to the public. Ugh. I could practically hear the words echoing in my head, the way his eyes would narrow when he repeated them, every time I told him I didn’t want to do these anymore. But when you’ve grown up in this society, there’s a mask that you must put on in front of the world. I’d be considered one of the lucky ones, part of a wealthy family, provided with the nicest clothes and access to all the latest events, but it’s still a prison, the rules and masks we have to wear standing in front of us like bears we’re clinging onto, the one’s we are trying to escape.

Or at least I am anyway…

Sick of looking at the device in my hands, I turn off the screen, grabbing my bag and slipping my phone inside of the front pockets. I stand up from the lilac, velvet chairs in the corner of my room.

I glanced at the clock hanging next to the doorway of my room. A big, brass thing, shaped to have the numbers displayed in roman numerals. Just as big and pretentious as everything else in this room.

“Nine-thirty. Shit, I’m going to be late…”

My words were reinforced by the shrill tones of my mother’s voice made itself known from the hallway. “Valerie, we have to leave now or you’re going to be late for the luncheon. You know how much your dad is relying on you for this. Hurry up!”

I picked up my bag and rushed over to my walk-in closet, skimming the many shelves and racks that covered the interior. My eyes landed on my black trench-coat and the black, strappy heels that I had picked out the night before. I quickly slipped my feet into the heels, cursing as I fumbled with the clasp. Once on, I pulled my coat from its hanger and ran from my room before I had to continue hearing my mother’s voice project itself throughout the rest of the house. I stop in front of my mirror to check my appearance one last time. My brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, the ends curled to perfection. My hazel eyes stared back at me from under the

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brown eyeshadow and mascara I had spent ages perfecting. I leaned in closer, making sure the nude lipstick that was covering my lips at present had not smudged. “Perfect” I whispered to myself, straightening out my shirt before rushing out of my room, following the click-clack of my mother’s heels as she made her way down the large staircase.

“About time” she said, a smile spreading across her face.

“Quickly, because I don’t want to hear the whining that’ll come from your dad tonight”.

“Neither do I…” I chuckled alongside her as we walked outside towards the sleek, black Porsche parked out the front of our gigan-tasaur house. My mum and I settled into the backseat of the car as the driver started the engine. I felt something vibrate against my thigh, before realising my phone was pinging with fifty notifications. All from the same person.

Zavier Everett.

The constant thorn in my side, and general pain in the butt.

“What is it now” I sigh as I unlock my phone.

Sup RiRi. Don’t forget to save a spot for me.

Kind of running late.

But you know how it is with me being gorgeous and all… ;) Wow…love yourself much Everett?

Not as much as you do!

We both know that’s a lie Aww c’mon. That hurts.

I expected more sass from the princess though…

I’m not a princess.

Sureeee you’re not.

Anyway, save a seat for me. I don’t want to be stuck next to Remi again.

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Aww, why don’t you want to sit next to your best friend?

Don’t you guys share that bond of gazing at yourself in every reflective surface?

Ha-ha. Very funny RiRi. Not saving a seat for you We both know you will! :P x.

I roll my eyes. If our fathers weren’t in some sort of business together, I would not have to hang out with him.

But he does tend to lighten up the boredom at these silly functions. I glanced over at my mother, who’s fingers were flying across the glass screen in front of her. My eyes travelled from her to the front of the car, my eyes catching our drivers.

“How are you going, Evan?” I ask him as I relax back into the plush, leather seats of the car.

“I’m doing good Miss Fennell. Avery was asking about you again. About when you guys can play tea-parties again”.

Avery was his five-year-old daughter, who had the most gorgeous head of bright red hair, and such an adorable face, yet sassy attitude to match. She loved coming past the house and exploring the various rooms with me while her dad drove my parents around to wherever they needed to go on a certain day. It wasn’t until were baking cupcakes in the kitchen one day, that she spotted one of my grandmother’s old tea sets, that she would constantly beg over and over to have tea parties.

“She’s welcome to come any time Evan. I can always make time for her to come to play”, I reply with a bright smile. Evan returns it with an even bigger one of his own.

“She would love that. Thank you, Miss Fennell”.

I nodded and turned my attention to the window. We had finally arrived at Panache, one of the most expensive restaurants in the city, and unfortunately the place where I had to attend a luncheon to mingle with all the other ‘high-society’ children of the many wealthy families. Evan pulled up behind the line of expensive cars, waiting until we had gotten to the front before parking the car, and stepping out to open our doors.

My mother got out first, her usual soft mannerisms turning stiff as her mask fell across her face, no emotion clouding her features. I followed in suit, putting on the mask of my own, tilting my chin up us I scoured the faces in the crowd milling at the doors. As we passed, I could hear snippets of various conversations, ranging from “I sat front row at London Fashion Week, and I swear I caught Noah Charleston watching me a few times”, to, “Did you see her dress? Seriously that style was two seasons too late.

What an embarrassment”.“Someone please get me out of here” I murmur. “What was that Valerie?” my mum says, turning to me. “Nothing”.

This is going to be such a long day…

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student insights

Coordinate Zer0 Hi! My name is Adam Sale, and this is my photography Instagram page @coordinate_zer0. I’ve been into photography for about 6 years, getting my first proper camera in 2014 for my birthday after pestering my parents for one for months. It was just an entry level Nikon DSLR, but the idea of having a tool that I didn’t fully understand how to use, but was capable of capturing the unimaginable, was really appealing to me. 5 years later, in late 2019, I felt like my skills had developed enough and I was ready to start sharing some of my work, and thus @coordinate_zer0 was born.

The name is a bit plain and cheesy, but my perception was that no matter where you are, you are always the zero coordinate, serving as a reminder to always live in the present and enjoy what’s before your eyes. At first, it was just a page I would post on once every few weeks, with only 10-15 followers all of which were friends, but it wasn’t until I started Uni this year that I began to take this more seriously and grow the page. The Communications and Media first year subject, Emergent Media (BCM112), presented me with the opportunity to be more active with my page and elevate it from a hobby into a comprehensive media project that would double as my digital artefact.

Coordinate_zer0 has given me a reason to pick up my camera every day, to use my creative muscles, and to learn and improve my skills. I post photos twice a week, often with a before and after shot, or shooting/editing clip alongside. The type of photos do vary quite a lot depending on what inspires me at the time and what I enjoy experimenting with. I’ve posted car, travel, landscape, conceptual, street, and food photography, which is quite broad, but I believe as my page grows, will start to hone in on my Personal style and preferences. I take inspiration from a multitude of other photographers, such as Peter McKinnon and North Borders, as well as the scenery surrounding where I live in the Sutherland shire. I encourage anyone who is interested in any facet of photography or the landscapes of the southern Sydney, Wollongong, and Illawarra regions to check out my page, and if you like what you see, consider giving it a follow. Thanks for reading, I hope you follow along the journey of @coordinate_zer0 today!

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project

adam sale

bonnie stonestreet Hi, my name is Bonnie Stonestreet, and I’m a current 1st-year student at the University of Wollongong studying a Bachelor of Communication and Media double majoring in Visual Communication Design and Social & Digital Media. I come from Sydney, Australia, and recently graduated high school last year. I am a musician who loves composing, as I play piano, as well as bass guitar and ukulele. Another passion of mine is photography and videography, as taking photos and editing videos brings me joy. The reason I am writing this is my interest in art, especially drawing mandalas which began in early high school. This is why I created The Drawing Lab. I established The Drawing Lab as a personal interest and as a project which could be used in my University degree. In the past, I’ve had multiple individuals suggest that I should open a shop or business to sell my drawings, but I’ve never had the time or strong motivation to begin such a project. With the criteria of one of my current university subjects being to produce content online, I saw this as an opportunity to begin producing drawing content.

The Drawing Lab is based predominately on Instagram/Facebook where I post pictures of finished and in-progress mandalas and other drawings. I also post IGTV time-lapse videos of sheet music drawings where the sheet music also becomes the audio of the video. These videos are also posted to YouTube, and I have also begun to also produce short videos on TikTok which is fun. I enjoy drawing on things like sheet music and photographs, and so I hope to expand my business in this area in the future.

I hope my artworks can be useful to individuals who would like intricate and beautiful pieces in their home. As I expand what I draw on, I would love to create meaningful pieces for people on sheet music of their favourite songs, meaningful photographs, or stories and poems that have a deep meaning to certain people. As mandalas are fairly abstract and geometric art, I feel that this meaningful aspect incorporates geometric beauty with a deep and meaningful purpose.

If you’d like to find me and my work, I’m @thedrawinglab on Instagram, Etsy, and Facebook Bonnie Maree on YouTube, or @bohemainbon on TikTok.

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project

the drawing lab

fans, fans, fans! ada hall

A bit about me: I am a first year student studying a Bachelor of Journalism at Wollongong University. I’ve grown up on the Far South Coast of NSW and made the move to Wollongong early this year. I aspire to work in International Journalism and hope to produce incisive pieces of reportage.

I’m going to be honest, I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. When I was little, before I was able to read “big girl” books, my dad would read the series to me every night.

I clearly remember the first night I saw the film version of one of the books. I was struggling to sleep so I went into the lounge room, where my mum set me up on a little mattress on the floor. Out of the corner of my eye I could just see a sliver of the television, where The Chamber of Secrets was playing. Over the next several years I watched and read the series multiple times, and became obsessed. Even now, during the coronavirus isolation period, I have been doing online quizzes, watching the movies one by one every Saturday night, and I even purchased a pair of Harry Potter pyjamas!

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Wizarding World is an online website that boasts an impressive fan club, with events, an app, quizzes, polls and an online discussion forum. This website is endorsed by Rowling and is the official Harry Potter fan club. In my opinion, the literary activity of fans can be read as a type of appropriation that borrows and repurposes existing cultural materials to produce something new.

Fans actively work with the blanks in the texts and reproduce work that gives way to oppositional readings. Potterheads are one of the many literary fan-bases who produce theories and ideas about possibilities in the texts’ more unexplained areas. “I interpret textual productivity as the creation of fan works that are intimately connected to the source texts,” stated theorist Gauntlett. “My understanding of the text [is] as something that is not purely written but can convey messages through other forms of communication” (Gauntlett 2011).

When looking at the history of the study of fans, the earliest research on audiences was developed as a sociopsychological field that initiated quantitative methods. During the 1940s until the early 1990s, researchers usually favoured “uses and gratification” models that could measure how media satisfied the audience’s needs.A 1991 essay written by feminist Constance Penley, titled Brownian Motion: Women, Tactics and Technology, aimed to correct the stereotypes surrounding fans, who were often seen as being obsessed and deviant. It emphasised the subversive and critical elements of fandom and explored the gender roles at hand.

I personally think that the Harry Potter fandom draws from a felt and embodied response towards the text and its characters; in other words, being a fan is an experience that is grounded in a feeling – admiration. The growth of the studies of fans has unveiled the complex relationship fans have with literary and online texts. Compared to the initial studies that examined the relationship between how the media satisfied audiences, we have grown to see that it is more than that: that it’s the audience – the fans – who are satisfying the media.

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article

You may have heard of “Pottermania”. It’s the informal term which described Harry Potter fans during the buzz of the movie series’ release in 1999. The die-hardest fans are referred to as “Potterheads”. J.K. Rowling’s famous series has gained a huge fan following over the last decade, especially after the movies adapted off her book series be came a worldwide phenomenon.

the art or junk journal lorena farreras Many people are familiar with the Bujo or Bullet Journal, where you can plan out your week, maintain a schedule, and keep a record of anything you like. But equally as helpful and valuable to mental and emotional health is the art journal, or junk journal, a collection of moments, memories, thoughts and fragments. This is a form of multimedia art that can preserve moments in time and lead to a new and beautiful form of self expression. I have been journaling for just under a year now, and have found it to be a creative outlet that not only distracts the mind and helps calm stress or anxiety, but which also allows you to discover new aspects of yourself and your perception of things around you, namely art.

In my journals, I combine everything I love to express myself in a way that is unique to me, my love of people and places and the smallest moments in time. I think that’s the most important thing about these art journals, and why so many people are starting to do it. To preserve the temporary, and draw focus back to the simpler moments that make life so beautiful.

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article

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