ROMA by Briar Blackie

ROMA lifestyle & mind travek, bohemian, food, art and design

FIRST EDITION | 01 Contents. 06. ROMA about. Who are we - What are we. 08. Travel. Interview with Claire Thatcher. Interview with Summa Marinkovich. 20. Bohemian. Style, fashion & mind. Publisher paragraph. 30. Food. Recipes - Maple, Tahini and Vanilla Granola. - Vegan Ginger Biscuits. Healthy Mind. 44. Art & Design. Art and article on Sally Mustang and Mitch Globel, Australian Artists. Gallery. Home Design.

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ROMA Magazine

Welcome to the first edition of ROMA magazine. ROMA brings together a collective group of young woman that strive for creativity and expanding their mind beyond what they could image. Everyone has the potential to live their dreams, and ROMA influences young females to do more than just their normal daily routines. This magazine covers the base of both free minded or closed minded characters. My aim is to bring people out of their comfort zone to explore and create upon their current abilities. We focus on what is important for the mind, body and soul by connecting our audience to our chosen topics in this magazine. These topics being travel, bohemian style, food, art and design. My chosen subjects will be portrayed through an arty yet minimalistic style. So here it is, a chance to motivate your human self to be an even better you and gives you the potential to do the things in life that you love and dream of! I would like to thank Claire Thatcher for providing me with written content on her travel experiences. And a thank you to Summer Marinkovich for providing me with written content as well as face to face sessions to discuss the most effective way to deliver to the audience. ROMA magazine assume no responsibility for any claims or representation contained in this magazine or in any advertisement, nor do they encourage the illegal use of the products advertised within. All advertising and advertised products void where prohibited. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner either in whole or in part without specific written permission of the publication

travel

Now go forth and see the world Why travel? For as long as I can remember I have suffered from the condition known by many travellers across the globe as ‘wanderlust’ - a very strong or irresistible impulse to travel. My desire to experience the world and other cultures initially grew from my love of reading books as a kid. Long before I was old enough to go anywhere without Mum and Dad, let alone to a strange country or city I was devouring books that led my imagination to places far far away. Twenty or so years on it’s safe to say that a lot of my travel plans still begin from reading - whether it’s a book, blog post, magazine article or even tweet. Wanderlust has seen me live in four countries and travel to over fifty in the last fourteen years, including almost all of Europe, Central America and Asia. It’s the small, yet perfect, pinch-me moments of happiness that I’ve experienced in far away lands which have kept me circling the globe over the years and spending all my spare cash in foreign lands. Some of the most memorable include: Drinking a beer on the beach in Tortuguero, Costa Rica at sunset when a nest of turtles hatched in the dunes a few metres behind me. I sat there for an hour watching the miniature baby turtles making their way to the ocean across the dunes A toddler yelling konichiwa at me in the loudest and squeakiest of baby voices one day when I was walking to work in Japan, just before she fell off her scooter and needed to be comforted Partying hard literally on top of the world at La Folie Douce, a night club in the French Alps that you can only get to by skiing or snowboarding in, and drinking ‘champagne on snow’ Sleeping rough (just me and my sleeping bag) in Jaisalmer desert, India. It wasn’t the most comfortable sleep - and as warm as the desert is during the day, it was freezing at night. However the wondrous twinkling night sky, with shooting stars all night long more than made up for it And that time I jumped feet first into the freezing ocean with the second largest living fish in the world - a Basking Shark in the Isle of Cole, Scotland. I felt totally helpless as it swam directly towards me with mouth wide open. These moments will be forever part of who I am, and what I expect from life. The more places I see, the longer my travel bucket-list seems to grow.

For anyone considering travel but putting it off due to cost, fear or any other reason I encourage you to find a way. Volunteer, apply for scholarships, slum it in a hostel in Guatemala for the same price per night as your daily latte. Forget home and go out and experience something different. Travel does not have to be expensive and you never know what might happen or who you might meet along the way. At the very least you’ll come away with an appreciation of how wonderful the world is, you’ll learn some new skills and if you’re lucky make one or two lifelong friends along the way. If you’re preparing to embark on a travel adventure soon, here are the top 10 lessons I’ve learnt from travel: 1. Pack light. No matter where you’re going, don’t take more than what you can personally carry on your back. Travel is so much more enjoyable and easy when you don’t have to lug a suitcase everywhere with you. If you forget something important nine times out of ten you can always buy that item wherever you’re headed.

2. But don’t forget your 3 essentials - hand sanitiser, ear plugs and tissues. These are my three travel essentials for keeping healthy, sleeping in noisy or unusual environments and going to the bathroom without worry.

3. Always try the local coffee. Coffee is one of those delights that every place and country has their own unique spin on - and in general it’s always enjoyable. Find somewhere with a beautiful view or that’s great for people watching and enjoy. I’ve had amazing coffee in Bali, Japan, Honduras, Italy, Turkey, Iceland... and so on.

4. If a local smiles and mentions words similar to “food challenge” be scared. This has happened to me in

numerous countries and it’s usually when that person wants you to eat the most disgusting thing they can find. It happened to me a lot while living in Japan - and half the time I didn’t know what I was putting in my mouth, but these occasions make great travel stories later. Make sure you take photos!

5. The world is a beautiful place. Oh my goodness is it ever! Get out there and explore. I’ve seen breathtaking beauty across the globe, and in places I never would have guessed. And don’t forget your camera.

6. I was lucky to grow up in NZ. Too often I catch myself complaining that NZ is too far away from everywhere, it has limited work opportunities, and it’s too small. Maybe these things are true (in my eyes), but I was damn lucky to be born and to grow up in a country where education is free and compulsory, we have one of the least corrupt governments in the world, people can choose their own religion - or not have a religion at all, and free thought and speech is encouraged.

7. The less you have the happier you are. The most content and happy people I’ve met while travelling are the people that have very little. It’s a very humbling experience.

8. We are all essentially the same. Everyone in the world wants the same things in life - to be happy, healthy, somewhere to sleep, enough to eat and drink. The more I’ve travelled the more I think the world is the same all over.

9. Experiences make you rich, not money. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. To get the most out of

travel get off that tour bus and walk among the locals. Eat at local places. Talk to people. Try a few words in their language - youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be amazed at the doors that will open for you.

10. And finally, look after the planet. Something that we hear a lot of these days, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important. And we can all do our part. Think more sustainable. Every little thing helps. Now go forth and see the world will ya. by Claire Thatcher

aletheia & phos | truth & light

a&p Inspired by the wandering world and moved by crystal energy, aletheia & phos is made for him and her, and worn by you. Launched in 2014 by founder and owner, Alicia Millan, aletheia & phos is an independent jewellery label based in Melbourne, Australia. The theme of connection lies at the heart and soul of this brand. Growing up with mixed Italian and Greek heritage formed a strong foundation for connection: ”My family is crazy about love.” Alicia’s childhood obsession for crystals together with almost 10 years of fashion industry experience as a buyer, designer, and product developer has helped nurture aletheia & phos to where it is today. The early days saw Alicia dedicating late nights after work to making crystal bracelets at her kitchen table. For Alicia, who often struggled to express herself, jewellery became a creative outlet, a form of storytelling: “It represented my heart; emotions and feelings translated into something that could be shared. It was a way for me to verbalise all the feelings I felt so deeply.” Attracting friends and customers near and far, these efforts caught the eye of Australian it-girl and model, Mimi Elashiry, soon transpiring into a friendship and collaboration range. Each piece is designed with sentiment and intention. The Connector bracelet was made to help stay connected to home, no matter how far one travelled; a piece you could gift to your lover, best friend, sister, and brother, or simply yourself. aletheia & phos celebrates an of-the-people ethos. In recognising that consumers are making more informed purchase decisions, the brand is part of a global movement revolutionising fashion by ensuring each piece is hand-crafted to the highest quality and compliant across all standards in the jewellery supply chain. Our mission is to create sustainable and responsible jewellery with intention. aletheia & phos gold, silver, stones and diamonds are certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council whose mission is to promote responsible, ethical, social and environmental practices that guarantee human rights throughout the jewellery supply chain, from mine through to retail. https://www.aletheiaphos.com Copyright © aletheia & phos 2016.

Let’s just say... Let’s just say, I don’t see my self as the materialistic type. I’m always up for spontaneity, so if someone was to ask me to go on a road trip right now, I would in a heart beat. Unless of course it was a stranger in a white van offering me candy... However, my travelling experiences started with a person in a white van, yet this one was vegan and one of my best friends (one of the most alti chicks I know). It may have just been a “trip to Welly” but this trip to Wellington really opened up my eyes aye… It gave me such a different perspective on our country, life, people and even myself. Even just the drives there and back were one of the highlights of the whole trip, stopping at places you’ve never been before, getting lost and randomly finding your way back, somehow. All these things were what was part of the great experience of the road trip. It’s something about travelling your own country that really intrigues me. We have such a beautiful country, green grass everywhere you look, just greenery in general, it’s everywhere! We have such amazing beaches, it’s so clean and fresh here. I love it. It makes me never want to leave. If I had to stay here my whole life, I honestly don’t think it would bother me, as long as I am surrounded by the people I love, nature and a place where bombs aren’t going off (somewhere peaceful) then I can make do.. by Summa Marinkovich

bohemian

GYPSY Where do you live? I don’t live anywhere. This sentence leaves my mouth daily. I didn’t notice how often people asked that question until now. It makes sense though, to establish where someone is from. You can get to know someone easily by understanding where they live: For instance if they crave the sea or the green of the jungle, warmer climates, or maybe just a white snowy winter. Big city lights, maybe desert skies. The list is endless, but essentially where someone chooses to live is where their creativity begins to emerge. A couple of months ago I decided to live nowhere, just like an inspired artist of mine. Why? Because I love an open mind and crave the desire to discover more and more creative aspects of what the world holds. This is a very important matter that has occurred to me recently. All I need is an open mind full of creativity, and love. As I travel the world, I become more of a free spirit, “just like a gypsy”. I will never categorize myself into a single group of people, because an open mind is fulfilling and is what continues to strengthen my capability in the artistic world. I’m just like a gypsy.

food

MAPLE TAHINI & VANILLA GRANOLA This week’s recipe is my delicious homemade granola. It contains no refined sugar and has no added oils. I have used tahini and pure maple syrup as the binders and their combination along with the vanilla bean is super delicious! It’s the way the clusters are created that gives this granola the perfect texture. I leave about 1/3 of the mixture whole and blend the remaining 2/3 in a food processor. Today I have served the granola with fresh creamy vanilla almond milk (my almond milk recipe still needs a little tweaking before I share it with you all) and fresh blueberries. You could also serve it with natural yogurt and any fruit of your choice. I might also try making these into granola bars at some stage, for a great snack on the go. I’ll be sure to upload the recipe if I do.

INGREDIENTS RSF, VGN // 45 MINS // 20 PEOPLE

METHOD

3 cups oats 1½ cups roasted almonds, whole 1 cup raw pecans, whole 2½ cups flaked coconut 1 tbs vanilla powder 1 tbs cinnamon 1 cup pure maple syrup ¾ cup hulled tahini Pinch sea salt

Add the oats, almonds, pecans, coconut, vanilla and cinnamon to a large mixing bowl and stir until combined. Now take about 4-5 cups of the mixture and place into a food processor with the tahini. Pulse a few times in the food processor until coarsely chopped. Add the coarsely chopped mixture back into the bowl with the whole granola mix. Add the maple and sea salt and stir well to combine. Pour the granola mix out onto two large paper lined baking trays and bake in a 170 degree celcius oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove the granola from the oven and set aside to cool. Serve with milk (of your choice) or yogurt and fresh fruit. I have served mine with fresh vanilla almond milk and blueberries. Store the remaining granola in an airtight container in the pantry. 33

balance 34

health 35

patience 36

freedom 37

love 38

strength 39

INGREDIENTS RSF, VGN // 25 MINS // 18 PEOPLE

The dry: 2 cups flour 1/2 cup sugar (brown or white!) + more for rolling in 1 1/2 tablespoons ginger powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the taste) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder The wet: 1/4 cup water + more as needed 1/4 cup molasses 1/3 cup melted Earth Balance or canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

Vegan Ginger Biscuits

METHOD

Take a fork and mix mix mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Make sure everything is well combined and you don’t have any large patches of ginger powder or baking powder. Pour all the wet ingredients into a small bowl and mix well until the molasses dissolves and isn’t clumpy anymore. This might take a minute or two if your melted butter has cooled a bit. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir like a mad person. This is the only tricky part of the recipe. It will take a bit of stirring to get everything combined. After you’ve stirred for a minute or two, if it still looks crumbly, you can begin adding water a little at a time. I add about a tablespoon at a time. Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 1/2 inches across. Once rolled, dip them into sugar and put them on a baking sheet. You’ll bake them at 375 F for 8-10 minutes. I do 8 minutes if the balls are smaller, 10 minutes if I’ve made them kind of chubby. The cookies will be quite soft when you take them out - they firm up while they cool! Let the cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes - if you try to pull them off right away they’ll stick to the pan! Once they’re off the cookie sheet put them on a rack to cool the rest of the way. They get firmer as time goes on but still stay soft in the middle! But they’ve only survived a few days in my house so I can’t tell you how long they store for. Enjoy!

art & design

Art creates a New World Painting, sculpture, design, literature, and the further arts are often considered to be the repository of a societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collective memory. Art preserves what records cannot: how it felt to exist in a particular place at a particular time, how it influences us as people and what impact it has on our life choices and beliefs. Art in this sense is communication. It allows people from different cultures and different times to communicate with each other. Art is often a vehicle for social change. It can give voice to the politically or socially disenfranchised. Art can rouse emotions in those who encounter it, inspiring them to rally for change. Art is a personal and cultural phenomenon which now and then motivates people to express some of their ideas in a variety of ways. Some people create art to communicate something.. As Sally and Mitch say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Connection, a single word that can be described in many ways, but powerful in all.â&#x20AC;? Not long after Sally and Mitch had first met, the two of them had their first and official collaborate together in creating a piece which had become inevitable. This scared Mitch especially, but through creating such an inspiring and thoughtful piece, they gained connection and prosperity towards what they had achieved together. I have personally always dedicated myself towards the relationship between art and the human brain. I believe art has always had a positive effect on personal lives and also has utilitarian influences on society.

How art is changing my life everydayâ&#x20AC;Ś

Art, everyday effects my values in life. For myself, I believe I always need new ideas, new ways of doings things and a whole new way of approaching other people with much more empathy and understanding. Art is my pathway to this success and this means that the rest of society really needs to focus on the world of art and culture as a vital source for not only solutions, but also ways of finding solutions and a whole new concept of what a valuable life really means. Through my years of art learning and understanding, I have reached a connection with art itself and my skills I have gained through this have supported me in so many different ways. Through art I find self-acceptance, freedom, creativity, self-respect, equality and unity with nature and as I nourish these life skills, so much opens up to me in life, not just opportunities but happiness.

I’m always looking for people to inspire me to keep me motivated in the terms of focusing my mind on only what is good and striving for my dreams, and two particular people manage to open my mind and heart to a whole new world of art that soothes me and helps me grow everyday. Sally Mustang and Mitch Gobel. “This is not only an artwork but also an insight and an introduction into ‘My new world’ a new time, a new perspective and a new type of connection.” - Sally Mustang “I had so much fun creating this piece and I hope you can feel that when you look at this. I hope it takes you somewhere beautiful. I hope it brings a smile to your face and I hope when you look at this you will feel inspired by the power of Love.” - Mitch Gobel - Briar Louise Blackie

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ROMA

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