14 minute read
Home and living
TIDY THE KITCHENLet’s
Image by IKEA
TASK 1
Start by making a plan. Write down the items you have and how you’d like to group them together ie.spices, grains/pasta, canned food, sauces etc. On your plan, match the items with a storage container and determine how you want to store certain groups. TASK 2
Focus on one shelf at a time and throw away any items that have expired. “I organise by frequency. I normally put the frequently used items at the front of a shelf or in the clear container so I can see what I need quickly.” Mira Kim Webster, IKEA Customer Support TASK 3
Transfer your selected pantry items, one category at a time, into the storage solutions identified in the plan. Clear and transparent containers allow for easy access and prolong the shelf life of products. Key tip: Remember to record expiry dates! TASK 4
Organise the pantry with frequently used items in easy to reach, or eye level shelves. Bulk dry goods in large storage containers to be stored lower and accessed with a scoop when needed. Key tip: Rarely used items should be stored at the top. Tips supplied by IKEA Logan
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With an increase in urban living, and Australians building houses on smaller blocks, space in outdoor living areas is becoming a premium. By utilising the space available effectively, a well-designed outdoor area, even the smallest courtyard, rooftop or balcony can be a functional space for everyday living and easily transformed to the ultimate sanctuary to entertain and unwind.
Here, Natasha D’Cruz, Home Living Category Manager, AMES Australasia shares smart ideas to maximise your outdoor space. STYLISH STORAGE
Laundering products can take up a lot of space, particularly when drying clothes outdoors. A clever way to save space is to use a retractable clothesline which can be hidden when not in use. Take style and functionality to the next level with the innovative Hills Planter Retracting Clothesline (RRP $129). The unique patented design disguises the clothesline as a planter when not in use and has 15 litres of pot capacity with an in-built self-watering tray. Each line extends up to 6.3 metres, meaning it can hold king size bed sheets and there are 19 metres of total drying space. It is made with the same high-quality UV resistant material as other Hills clotheslines. The Hills Planter Retracting Clothesline is the perfect addition to a modern courtyard or balcony and its multi-purpose use means your outdoor area can be transformed into an entertaining space quickly when guests are coming over. CLEVER SEATING
An outdoor space should be a comfortable environment for you to relax, so seating is important. Multi-functional pieces are essential in small areas. Consider using storage boxes which can double as benches, stools or tables. Larger throw pillows made from waterproof fabric also works as floor cushions. To free up valuable floor space, install a bold or patterned hammock to add a pop of colour to the area. Alternatively, built-in bench seating around the perimeter of the area would be an ideal solution for a tight spot. Add in a table to create the perfect dining area. INTRODUCE A FOCAL POINT
Focal points can divert the focus from a small balcony and make it feel more spacious and create visual interest. Focal points can be a striking piece of furniture, a unique piece of wall art or a small sculpture. Once the focal point has been chosen, build and place the remaining furniture and design features around it. This will serve as a central gathering spot to relax and connect with family and friends. LIGHT UP
Outdoor lighting is another way to enhance your outdoor area and give the appearance of spaciousness. For a patio or balcony, the ideal options to utilise are string lights, solar spotlights or LED candles. LEDs consume less energy than halogen bulbs and are nearly maintenance-free, so you won’t need to change bulbs. These lighting options can be hung from latticework or installed around the perimeter of a deck to take up minimal space. Subtle lighting creates a peaceful ambience for entertaining and dining, but also provides additional security for the home.
If your children have been inspired by the Olympics and the recent Ninja Warrior show, we’ve rounded up the best and most exhilarating ropes courses around for them to challenge themselves. By Charmaine Yabsley There’s something about swinging through the trees, Tarzan-style, to get the blood pumping. Whether you’re a family of little ones, or looking to improve your fitness and set new physical and personal goals, a day at a ropes course may be just what you’re looking for. Thunderbird Park Ropes Course Just 40 minutes from the Gold Coast, amongst the Mt Tamborine rainforest, lies a day of adventure for the whole family. You can choose either the ropes course or flying fox (or both) depending on age, ability and agility: in all, there’s more than 100 challenges, including eleven flying foxes and heart-stopping into-the-net swings. Set 30m above the ground amongst the serene rainforest, it’s the perfect day out for kids aged seven years and up. If you still have your nerve, finish your expedition with the Canyon Zipwire – guaranteed to get your adrenalin pumping! Even little ones are taken care of here, with a ropes course designed especially for the youngsters. Best of all, parents are given a break, the 50 challenges are perfect for kids aged 3 – 5 years– all you have do is cheer from the sidelines. What you need to know: Family packages $200. Visit www.thunderbirdpark.com
the skyReach for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Ropes Courses If you’ve ever wanted to fly over a crocodile, here’s your chance. At the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary you’ll have a perfect bird’s eye view of the attraction’s kangaroos, emus and yes, the enormous resident crocodile in its pen as you climb, swing and fly through the trees. Perfect for the whole family, or for a children’s party, you’ll get the chance to flex your strength and balance on the beams and single wires. Courses range from Green (easy) to Black (challenging) and are suitable for ages 8 years and up. For those not tall enough to participate, or just prefer their entertainment on terra firma, you can visit the wildlife and see the
various shows held throughout the day, while the rest of the family zooms overhead. What you need to know: Family packages $180. (A separate ticket is needed if you want to visit the Wildlife Sanctuary.) Visit: Zipline over Crocodiles at Currumbin | TreeTop Challenge
Big Pineapple – Sunshine Coast
As an alternative to the beach at the Sunshine Coast, you can’t beat the refurbished ropes course at the Big Pineapple for some serious thrills. There’s a zipline which spans 140m for starters, and some tricky courses to manoeuvre through. All ages are catered for, with children as young as three years able to tackle the Tree Top Challenge Juniors green course, the largest zipline and high ropes course in Australia for youngsters. Parents can choose to participate, or watch from the sidelines. For those seeking a more exhilarating and challenging experience, you can work your work up to the red courses in the TreeTop Challenge. Afterwards, wind down with some more sedate entertainment at the Wildlife Zoo. Catch the iconic train through the grounds and see your favourite creatures up close. What you need to know: Family price $200. Visit Big Pineapple | Sunshine Coast | Queensland
Next Level
For the perfect afternoon of adventures, you can’t go past Next Level Maroochydore. Work your way through seven circuits spanning four levels, with each level more difficult than the previous one. In all, there’s 145 aerial challenges to conquer, including 16 ziplines which whizz you over a creek. The higher you climb, the harder you’ll find it. Whether you want to swing into a cargo net, run across spinning logs, or crawl along the double helix ladder, this course is perfect for those bitten by the Ninja Warrior bug. If you prefer to observe, you can head to the 360 degree viewing platform, for sweeping views of beautiful Sunshine Coast. What you need to know: Prices begin at $25 for a child’s circuit pass. Visit www. nextlevelpark.com.au
Where to stay
The Novotel Twin Waters Resort is the perfect place to rest weary bones after a day’s adventure. There’s the spa and jacuzzi to soak your sore and tired body in, or just relax in your overwater bungalow. Set on a lagoon, you’ll feel a million miles from anywhere. If you’ve still got the active bug, you can hire some paddle boards to explore the river, or head out the front of the hotel to the beach for some waves. Kids of all ages are catered for, and there’s even babysitting available for a proper grown-ups getaway. Visit www.novotelsunshinecoast.com.au.
Bounce
If your kids have been well and truly inspired to improve their Ninja and Parkour skills, then why not sign them up for a course to help them develop their ability safely. Bounce offers a Ninja Squad weekly class, where kids learn the core elements of Ninja, Parkour and free running. They’ll improve their fitness, strength and coordinating skills, while developing their ability to overcome obstacles, both mental and physical. What you need to know: Visit www. bounceinc.com.au to find a location near you.
My Way with Words
In July of this year, Cathryn Mora published Medicine Women: An Anthology of Stories and Letters by Female Doctors and Health Professionals with Change Empire.
Get It Magazine’s Holly Bartter sits down with Cathryn to talk about her experience creating this book, the challenges faced by women in the health industry, and helping others bring their stories to life. As a book coach, ghostwriter, and publisher, Cathryn is driven by supporting others to get their stories across the finish line. “My biggest career motivation was to help other people achieve the same satisfaction I did from finishing their first draft,” says Cathryn. “I wrote my first book when I had a baby and a full-time job, and finishing it remains my proudest achievement.” Over the years, Cathryn had many requests to create an anthology, giving an opportunity for a group of people to come together and have their voices heard. “I published two anthologies last year, and one of the authors, a doctor, asked me if I would consider an anthology written only by female doctors and medical professionals,” Cathryn recalls. “She told me all about how women in medicine are subject to a lot of sexism.” From this conversation, Medicine Women was born, and a network of doctors willing to share their experiences quickly formed. “I was fortunate to bring together a group of incredible female doctors and health professionals to tell their stories,” Cathryn adds. “The ones which hit me the hardest are when the doctors have to tell patients that their prognosis is very bad, or even terminal. “They not only have the strength, but also see it as a privilege to support people in their darkest hour,” Cathryn explains. But with all of the privileges that come with being health professional, there’s also a darker side when it comes to female practitioners. “Every doctor in the book has talked about being called ‘nurse’, ‘love’, ‘darl’, and being asked things like ‘When is the real doctor getting here?’ “It’s incredible that this is still an issue, but it is.” Medicine Women brings to light the challenges female health professionals face, Cathryn says. “Most of the doctors are also mothers, and had crossroads where they felt they had to ‘choose’ between motherhood and medicine. “Male colleagues made comments like ‘Shouldn’t you be at home?’, and some of the women were made to feel they were falling short in both roles.” Cathryn emphasises the importance of awareness across the community to break down these inequities. “Never assume that your doctor will be male. Know that female doctors and surgeons are plentiful, and they are also kind, caring, as well as skilled, incredibly knowledgeable and experienced.” The response to Medicine Women has been overwhelmingly positive, says Cathryn. “People are really touched and moved by so many of the stories, and are seeing female medical professionals in a whole new light.” Cathryn’s mission continues with Change Empire, where she and her team help others plan, write and publish non-fiction books, and Cathryn is now moving into ghostwriting celebrity and high-profile autobiographies. “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you who they are because I’ve signed NDAs,” she adds. Striving to make an impact and share wisdom with the world through words, Cathryn’s quote to live by is one surely echoed by all of the professionals who contributed to Medicine Women: “‘I am enough’”, she says, “It’s fairly simple but it underpins the work I am always doing on myself”.
Winter
HAS COME AND GONE
Winter has come and gone, the mornings are getting brighter, and the weather is getting warmer. Allergies and spring cleaning are two of the most common words spoken when talking about Spring, so with that being said, check out below our top 5 Health tips for getting the most out of the upcoming season!
1. Get Clean
Attempt one area at a time. Don’t expect to hit every room right away - take it drawer by drawer. Dump anything that you don’t remember buying or that has an expiration date. Check ingredient lists of your products. A number of chemicals in thousands of cosmetic and personal care products have been linked to numerous health issues - skin irritants, endocrine disrupters, even known carcinogens.
2. Get Dirty
There’s no better way to ring in Spring than by getting outside and digging in the dirt. Enjoying the outdoors by gardening - whether mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, or hauling mulch - is known to brighten moods and burn calories. About 250-350 calories an hour, to be exact! Gardening is a great way to keep active, but it has also been proven to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as reduces stress and depression. Not only will your landscaping benefit, but so will you. Invite your kids, grandkids, or neighbourhood kids to join you. Allowing children to get dirty is good for them, as well.
3. Get Fresh
Think about farmers markets or local growers. How good is it to know exactly where your food is coming from, or know that it is grown as close to natural without additives or chemicals! Spring brings with it a beautiful bounty of fruit, veg, flowers and other produce. Think about all the colours that come with spring fruit and veg - those beautiful vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This season also allows us to move on from all the comfort food we have been eating for the past few months and how fresh salads, grills, light meals, full of tastes and colours.
4. Get Going
Consider Becoming an Early Bird. Studies have shown that people who wake up earlier are healthier than those night owls who snooze the morning away. Taking advantage of the morning light will also give you a good dose of needed vitamin D. And you’ll get a leg up on symptoms of depression.
5. Get Rest
What’s better than laying your head down after a long day of cleaning, gardening, cooking, and enjoying the Spring weather? Laying your head down on a fresh pillow! It is important to note that studies show that after approximately five years, up to ten percent of a pillow’s weight is made up of bacteria, pollen, fungi, mould, and dust mites. That thought is anything but restful and will make it harder to get up early in the morning feeling fresh and ready to attack the day!
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