Merici Magazine Issue #4

M E R I C I

4

BEST LUNCHTIME SPOTS

EXPOSITION FROM MERICI'S SUCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR

Editor-in-Chief: Ishita Gupta

Editor: Olivia Mankowski, Lucy Mankowski

M E E T T H E 2 0 2 3 S R C M E M B E R S

Lola

She had to go to the hospital after eating chicken when she was 9.

Fatima

Her biggest regret is hitting her brother on the head when he annoying her.

Hannah

Loves McDonald's chicken nuggets

Ella

She dropped her phone down the stairs and it did not break.

Prue

She was jumping on her bed and fell of it, resulting in a permanent scar.

Sofia

Her favourite ice cream flavour is pistachio.

Ruby (Captain)

Sara

She smashed her head on a bulldozer once.

Ishita

She loves bingewatching shows.

Jessica

She broke her arm when she was only 3 when she jumped off her couch.

Sarah

She is the youngest person in Ningil.

Mikayla

She was very scared of escalators when she was young.

Beatrice

She loves soccer and karate.

Ria and Lou

Who We Are

Ria and Lou is a small women-run business in Canberra, owned by myself (Maria, Year 12) and Louise (my mother). We specialise in products such as face masks for glasses wearers, tote bags, specialty bags perfect for work and school.

Our Story

In 2021, still amid the covid pandemic, middle of year 10, I had just started what would be a very long medical journey. What I was also soon to find out was that my health would restrict my ability to get a job. As a way to distract me from my health issues, Mum suggested a fun holiday project; that we try and sell some of our sewing products. This was the birth of our business - Ria and Lou. The business was never meant to be a longterm project; however, more people were buying from our store before we knew it Our business name Ria and Lou is a combination of my mum ' s and I's nicknames We started with face masks, specially designed to suit people who wear glasses, and now we make so much more, ranging from tote bags to bags perfect for school, cup huggies (Fia's design), gift card purses and key rings

Our Goal

Community Goal: Our community goal is to be able to create products and designs that our audience loves We often ask our customers about what they would love to see us make Whether that be bags with longer arm straps, masks to fit beards, or tote bags with specific designs on it. If you ever have something you would like on a bag, contact us and we can design something together!

Environmental Goal:

Many fabric designs used in our products are one-offs, as at Ria and Lou we focus on wasting as little as possible, getting the maximum amount of use from each fabric we buy.

Left to Right Mum and I after the Year 10 Awards Ceremony

Myself modelling one of our custom tote bags, cup huggie, and face mask

set of purple keyring wallets that were made for the 2021 Brescia Year 12 cohort

Above One of our first photo sessions, showcasing a range of our face masks Above

set of custom face masks for the Canberra Baseball team

Ria and Lou

Edstart Awards

Last year, I applied for a program called the Edstart Achievement Award in the entrepreneur category Out of all of Australia, I ended up as one of six finalists. While I did not end up winning the award, the rewards from this then allowed for Ria and Lou to have our very first market

Our Achievements

Canberra Show

While not entered on behalf of Ria and Lou, this year I was awarded with Champion for my dress inspired by the theme Earth, Wind, and Fire.

First Markets

Last year at our very first markets - the CBR woman ' s Christmas markets It was an amazing experience, and now we have done many more!

Socials

Find us on:

Instagram: @riaandlou

Facebook: RiaandLou

Contact Us:

Email: riaandlou@hotmail.com or

Fun Fact:

This August Ria and Lou is turning 2!

If you are interested in one of our products or would love to have a custom design on a bag, come and have a chat with me or contact me via my school email, or our socials above.

Left to Right Edstart's post announcing the finalists for the entrepreneurship category Trophy for being one of six finalists in Australia

Left to Right

Myself standing in front of our pop-up shop at the markets

Fia (Year 10) and I just before the markets opened

Left My dress at the Canberra Show, it is now in our school Library

WAYSTEENS CANMAKE MONEY

Sellold things

Therearemany websitesyoucansell oldthingson,suchas Depop(clothes)or eBay.Youcanalso haveagaragesale.

Tutoring

Ifthere'sasubject you'regoodat, tutoringmaybea goodwayforyouto makemoney.Make someflyersand advertiseyour tutoring.Thiscanbe inpersonoronline.

Babysitting

Babysitting is a great way to make some money. You can ask family members or neighbours if they need a babysitter, or you can make flyers and put them in some mailboxes.

Household chores

Askyourparentsif there'sanythingyou candotohelpout aroundthehouse.Even somethingsimplelike sweepingmightearn yousomemoney.

Petsitting

Ifyouknowsomeonewho'sgoing awaysoonwithapet,youcanoffer topetsit.Youcanalsomakeflyers andputthemaroundyour neighbourhood.

Dogwalking

Whetherit'syourown dogorsomeoneelse's, walkingdogsisagreat waytomakesome money.Youcanofferthis servicetoneighbours, familymembers,and friends.

The Best Lunchtime Spots

TheOvalSheltersiswhereit's at!Nottoobusy,bubbler nearby,andithasashelter fromtherain.

TheOldQuadisanoldiebuta goodie.Itisnostalgic,sunny andhaslotsofgreatartwork! Thisisapopularchoicefor thosewhovaluesunlight.

TheIC(Library)isalways warmandhaslotsofseating. Thisisaperfectspotfor thosewhogetcoldeasily.

TheCanteenStepsareagreat locationtohavelunch.Theyare closetotheTullowlockersand thecanteen.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

By Toshikazu Kawaguchi

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.

You've Reached Sam

By Dustin Thao By Dustin Thao

Julie is just seventeen years old when her boyfriend dies. She skips his funeral, throws out his things and tries to forget him. But she decides to listen to his voicemail one last time before letting go.... exeot he picks up.

SHOES OF YOUR DREAMS

YOUR MOTIVATION TO GET THROUGH SCHOOL AND LIVE OUT YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAMS

Cinderella but bejeweled These Jimmy Choo Cinderella heels will make you the real star of the ball, except they won't fall off at midnight!

Although they are $6500AUD, perhaps it'll motivate you to get that ATAR up and start studying.

Once again, a showstopper by Jimmy Choo! Coming in at a hefty $1600AUD, these are the Indiya embellished leather mules, AKA the perfect Polly Pocket Summer dreams shoes. Add these to your dream wardrobe and admire the best investment you've ever made.

The icon herself, Barbie. These Versace CRYSTAL BUTTERFLIES METALLIC SANDALS will transport you into the Barbie Fairytopia universe at the price of $2400AUD

Wouldn't hurt to add this to your Barbie closet dreams, right?

(NOTE:WORKHARDSOYOUCAN BUYWHATEVERYOUWANT)

Inspired by our toe-stabbing Princess Mia; these Pigalle Follies Pointed Toe Pumps by Christian Louboutin are classics with an expensive twist (the expensive twist being $1275AUD) They may not turn you into a princess, but they'll certainly have an effect on both you and your wallet

Alternative POV of 'The Unpolished Gem' by Alice Pung

By Katelyn Fearns

The floor was damp with water and soap and the fun was about to begin. Alice's hand moved quickly as she pulled and tied the rope into the bunny ear knot, I had not mastered. No matter how hard I tired each morning Old torn kitchen cloths that she has carefully placed on our feet where about to get the workout of their life Alice's hand warmly covered mine while we glided across the floor with Mr Mop Our faces hurt from the constant giggling. The floor shined a mirror of clean. I loved ice skating with Mr Mop. The pastry on the sausage rolls stuck onto my face as I crunched into it. The flakes flew gently laying on my shirt. “Everything tastes better when you make it”, I said. Alice wiped the flour from my cheek.

Mum's food had so much spice, it made my tummy growl Alice normally wasn’t the one to look after us in the holidays, but I wanted her to Mum would claim to look after us, but she was always pottering away in the garage making jewellery. She never lets us see her work, or even have any of the stuff she made, it was so unfair!

Alice let us watch TV while she focused on her giant books. She used to say it was for school, but my school-books were small and had heaps of pictures in them, so it couldn't have been school-books.

I wanted to be like Alice when I grew up I was going to be good at school and I was going to make really fun games for my little cousins.

Alice always fixed holes in my jumpers with something cute. All my clothes were scattered with flowers and bees and leaves. I wondered why she couldn't fix them when she got sick. She must have need more thread or more needles. I got mum to drive me to the shop to grab them. When she got sick, piles of books surrounded her. She always looked at me with red patchy eyes when I went to her room. She never wanted to see me during that time She always shut the door in my face. Every time, tears rolled down from my eyes to my chin plummeting to the ground.

Dad begged and plead with Alice each night to take her medicine. She did not. She swallowed down water and pretended to have it. But, I saw her flush the medicine down the toilet. It made the same noise as when I used to throw up mum's food.

I felt empty. Empty nothing but school and big books with no pictures I was empty when I watched my empty sister get her diploma Empty is how I felt when I slammed the door into my dad's face. Empty was how I feel as I threw up and up I became just like her. Empty.

Blossom

From ‘Han’s and ‘Kim’s to ‘Johnson’s and ‘Cottle’s, Traditions lost and others now haunting; A plum blossom in a field of wattles.

Chinese Cinderella’s carriage drags me Through daffodils of doubt, ever daunting

From ‘Han’s and ‘Kim’s to ‘Johnson’s and ‘Cottle’s.

A cherry red Mao suit sent from Aunt Ly

The blue and white background disturbed taunting, A plum blossom in a field of wattles.

An iron grey lunch tin holding dim sums, A hushed request to save it for weekends

From ‘Han’s and ‘Kim’s to ‘Johnson’s and ‘Cottle’s,

Endless babysitting, vacuuming crumbs, Tutoring, price tagging, marking downtrends, A plum blossom in a field of wattles.

A life dictated by sums and outcomes Head ducked reticently between bookends.

From ‘Han’s and ‘Kim’s to ‘Johnson’s and ‘Cottle’s, A plum blossom in a field of wattles.

Based on Alice Pung's 'Unpolished Gem'

MEMES

BY LUCY MANKOWSKI

Eurovision

1STPLACE

LoreenofSwedensingingTattoo

Song:9/10

Singing:8/10

Consume:10/10

Dancing:N/A

Visualeffects/setting:8/10

Overallscore:8.7/10

RUNNERUP

KäärijäofFinlandsingingChaChaCha

Song:8/10

Singing:9/10

Consume:7/10

Dancing:9/10

Visualeffects/setting:9/10

Overallscore:8.4/10

3RDPLACE

NoaKirelofIsraelsingingUnicorn

Song:2/10

Singing:9/10

Consume:7/10

Dancing:8/10

Visualeffects/setting:7/10

Overallscore:6.6/10

ReviewbyLucyMankowski

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5 healthy and easy snacks ~

Air fried veggies

Everything you ' ve heard about vegetables is true. They are packed with vitamins, minerals and so much more. Air frying is a really healthy way to cook food, using air, not oil So put them together and boom! Try cooking veggies like potato, kale and chickpeas, or fruits like apples and bananas. Pair with any dip from hummus to peanut butter

Popcorn

Freshly air-popped popcorn is a very tasty low-calorie snack. Add butter, salt, icing sugar, cinnamon or parmesan cheese for a unique twist!

Skewers

Skewers are super versatile to suit whatever your snacking needs are. Have cooked veggies with warm or cold meats and cheese, or fruit and marshmallows, it's up to you!

Pizza bites

Easy and delicious, pizza bites are a great on-the-go snack. Top pastry or rolled out bread with cheese, tomato and ham, roll up and grill in the oven for pizza rolls. Or, to make mini pizzas, cook and slice zucchini or eggplant into rounds and top with your favourites!

Protein balls

If you have some more time, you could make protein balls. They are a handy snack and have lots of energy. Include ingredients like peanut butter, dates, chia seeds, cacao, oats and nut flours.