SENSE: The Day in the lifeIssue

Table of Contents

Finding the Beauty in the Ordinary Page 2

Music Page 10

Nature in the Home Page 17

Face It Page 24

Cosplay-The Effects it has on Everyday Life Page 31

Everyday Apps Page 38

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Finding the Beauty in the Ordinary Sarah Cumming

There is beauty to be found in the places around you.

These places might seem ordinary but there are hidden gems and sometimes not so hidden gems found in these places. We have a sort of blindness to familar places, where we think we have seen it all.

The familiarity blinds us to think that we have ‘seen’ it all, discovered it all. Alain De Botton states, “We have become habituated and therefore blind.” (De Botton, A., The Art of Travel, pg.247)

There is a whole world at there full of beauty and some of it is staring you right in the face! You don’t have to travel to the other end of the world, sometimes what you are searching for is found in your everyday. So I travelled to some places, around me that aren’t on the other side of the world.

There is beauty to be found in the smallest of things, nature and man-made. So I went searching for some of this beauty with my eyes open to really ‘see’ and my camera ready to document it. And I stood by with a mindset of the pleasure based of the journey of dicovering the things around me, rather than the destination of where I was going.

‘S’ I found in Morpeth NSW

Morpeth NSW Australia I took myself down to the town of Morpeth, only a 15 minute drive from my house. It is a quaint town filled with all sorts of grand and old architecture, riverbank views and other intersting things. As I walked along the main street, I began to notice all these interesting and unique objects, like an S I found on this green and purple building and I really like typography and when I went looking I found some really cool bright, unique signs and typography. There is beauty to be found in the little things of life, ordinary places can have hidden beauty or can be in plain sight, people just have to look and really ‘see’.

I took camera with me to capture some of this beauty, but I also tried to appreciate the beauty surrounding me, by also stepping away from the camera and taking it all in.

Alain De Botton suggests, ‘Taking photographs can assurge the itch for possession sparked by the beauty of a place.’ (De Botton, A., The Art of Travel, pg.219) I certaintly feel like I can hold onto a piece of the beauty of a place with a photograph, like when people buy souvenirs when travelling.

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More Cool typographic elements found in Morpeth

I have been to Morpeth before and knew it had nice architecture and stuff, but when I went deliberately looking for the beauty in the architecture and surroundings, I began to notice more things. When I’m out travelling with my camera, I tend to stick to a certain mindset, to find the beauty in the ordinary and I begin to find my travels are more enjoable, even if I’m not travelling very far. I stopped at a nice cafe called Cups & Crepes to refresh myself with a choclate milkshake, ready to keep discovering new things in my travels. Just enjoy the simple things in life like choclate milkshakes and discovering new things.

“The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps more dependant on the mindset with which we travel, rather than the destination with which we travel”

Cool typographic Sign in Morpeth NSW

Enjoy the beauty in the simple things of life

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B

eauty is found all around us, whether in a sunset or a grand old building, and even people’s interactions in their everyday. When travelling to anywhere, whether a mysterious completely new place miles away or that quaint country town hour an hour away, there is beauty to be found and exciting things to discover and do. Even in your everyday, ordinary life can you discover cool and unusual things that you find beautiful in your own way.

If more people put their face out of their phone and started noticing the details around them, they would start to notice and apprciate the little things in life

So take some time in your life to just look around and start noticing the little things that people miss, that can even be in plain sight. Just enjoy the beauty of this world, the sunsets, people, buildings and anything however small it is. This world contains a lot of beauty, man-made and natural, and it is exciting to go on a journey of discovering this beauty in its many forms.

The ordinary doesn’t have to be boring, there are plenty of exciting and beautiful places and things in my ordianry everyday, sometimes you just have to search a little harder. Sometimes though we need to get away from the ordinary and travel to the ‘extraordinary’, the ‘exotic’. But why do we feel like the places that are ‘exotic’, are more exciting, we resonate more with them, why can’t we feel these ways back home, in the ordinary? De Botton suggests, ‘What we find exotic abroad may be what we hunger for in vain at home.’

(De Botton, A., The Art of Travel, pg.78) So sometimes we might have to search for the ordinary we want at ‘home’ in the exotic places, but first we should try and find the beauty, what we ‘hunger for’ in our ordinary.

“You don’t have to travel to the other

end of the world, sometimes what you are searching for is found in your everyday”

Typography at the Rocks, Sydney

Sometimes all it takes as a driving force to locate the places, things, experiences of beauty in your ordinary is curiosity.

A desire to know the unknown or even know the known better than you used to. Start ‘opening your eyes’ to the things around you, when you’re walking to the coffee shop, having a stroll or even waiting for something. All it takes is a desire to discover, an attitude based more on the journey than the destination and a spirit of adventure in the ordinary.

Artworks based on places and things can ultimately open your eyes to the beauty of the places they depict and awaken our desire to visit those places and appreciate them like the artist.

De Botton states that ‘our capacity to appreciate can be transferred from art to the world.’ (De Botton, A., The Art of Travel, pg.210) So the beauty we appreciate in artworks can be transferred to the actual place or thing that it depicts, deepening our curiosity and desire to discover and appreciate.

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‘S’ found at the Rocks Markets in Sydney

So its time to go out exploring the places of the ordinary, There is a whole bunch of beauty out there waiting to be discovered by you. Take your spirit of adventure, curiosity to discover and love of the beauty in the ordinary things in this world and start experiencing the joy and excitment that comes with it.

#FLSTATEPARKS

Florida State Parks ...The Real Florida

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Monthly Most Voted

REGGI DAVIS PROD. G SEAN

“When I was led to you, I knew you were the one for me. I swear the whole world, could feel the house empty” “Babel” is the world-weary, long-awaited debut album from the guy who brought us “White Feeling.”

Is he still balling hard, or does he stumble on his rush to score big?

It has been anticipated for some time now. 'Babel' 2017 R&B/Soud album. Sales in the first week plumeted to over 800,000. The 12 track album tells a story of a broken teen and how love takes over all. Very different to Davis' previous albums; drugs and problems.

Babel is a beguiling way to close out 2017; one of our most anticipated rap albums feels less like a rap album and more like if a modern day Don Henley was really into If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. Lyrical genius, Reggi uses rap to bring people in and empthasise. His high spirit and melodic words have gained the recognition he recives today. You’ll want your hands on this one.

To say the album wasn’t without its merits or some kind of massive aberration in the world of hip-hop would be an absolute lie; especially in an age where hip-hop has more of a pop-minded ambition than most other genres of music these days. But given the restlessness and the trepidation to fully commit to rap in a way that could vanquish all doubters, Reggi Davis is going to need even more than what he brings to the table on Babe; to secure his place. He has the talent, and the platform. Whether or not he’ll do so with time is up in the air.

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Tracks Of The Month

IVY-LEE STONE / Today We Are Being Ivy-Lee’s, ‘Today We Are Being’ currently trending on Indie Music top 20, is gaining popularity as Ivy takes us through the adventure that is her life. From moderate poverty, to being a superstar, performing Coachella in 2017 and relasing a sell-out album which made 6 million the first day of release. We are excited to watch the growth of this indie singer/songwriter.

LAURA MARRING

LAURA MARRING / Lost Profile

TONGUE & TALE / Temporary Currently sitting at #1 for the best rap/rnb album of 2017, Tongue and Tale released ‘Temporary’, a 19 track album, which incoprates lush vocal melodies with their specially articulated rap style. The two memebers mentioned in an interview recently that this album was ‘the hardest but most rewarding album’ they have released since their first album ‘Gold Eyes’ in 2011. These boys have gained much regognition in the past two years and are continuing to rise as this album stays #1 for the 3rd week in.

Larua Marring’s ‘Lost Profile’ contains a collection of 6 tracks which explore her background in growing up around different influencers, struggling to find her identity. This is Marring’s first independant album and so far it’s proving to be memorable, being featured on Triple J’s Top 20 . As an upcoming artist, Laura is definanley showing off what she has and we are loving it.

JORJA BOLT / Do You Want To Know Me The much-hyped MC’s first outing on Rough Trade sears with her trademark eclectic vitality. Do You Want To Know Me revisits last year’s mixtape, with remasters of tracks plus seven new songs, all of which find her rapping over tantalising production. ‘Do You Want To Know Me’ is not one to be slept on. She radiates positivity and is a fierce woman bringing awareness to social issues. I am expecting this album to carry her to higher levels of success and broaden her already large fan base. Overall, ‘The Boy’ is a hit. 5/5 stars in my eyes. ‘Do You Want To Know Me’’ will not be leaving my recently played playlist for a long time.

DO YOU WANT TO

Jorja Bolt

BROKEN HOME

NOTE TO SELF

MF ROCKY / Broken Home

ONASSIS / Westside Highway Vol. 1

PARTYNEXTDOOR / Note To Self

Rocky’s most accomplished album yet, he gets to the essence of what he’s been chiseling at: the angst of a missed connection and the pain of unrequited love. This deeply personal album encapsulate the audience and paint a vivid picture of the concrete jungle.

This album is not one to be taken lighty. Rocky’s heart and soul has shined through on this one.

Westside Highway, Onassis’ s fourth long-player and third official album, bears all the hallmarks of his personality, for good and for ill.

Smart, annoying, obnoxious, and creative, it’s a reminder that Onassis only creates as the sum of his exhaustive, trying, kaleidoscopic self. A mix of personality brings the album to life incorporating good beats and stories.

Applying several extremely cautious and well-written verses, PARTYNEXTDOOR brings everyone a new vision of himself, his career, life and importantly, the death of his mother. PARTYNEXTDOOR is a mercurial young rapper in a transitional period of his life, and it seems like his best bet would be to trust himself above all others. It’s Rocky’s time to build it.

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JACQI When I first met JACQI last October to interview her for Complex, she wouldn’t reveal much about the album. “I want it to be listened to,” she said. But she noted that Power, which was untitled at the time, would be a personal record examining the notion of control—something she said she’s struggled with her whole life. (The album includes spoken-word interludes on the subject from her mother and grandmother.) “It’s about peeling back layers and honesty even when it’s ugly, when it hurts,” she told me. “Just kind of cleansing…. Just being more free.”

“I’m devastated by the state of the world and the hatred.”

The album title recalls Leina Gray’s GRL PWER, which was a crucial project for the legendary singer.

Gray expressed her personality far more forcefully than she had before on Control—much like JACQI aims to do here. JACQI has explained that her newfound candor was a result of the personal hardships from the last few years.

“My life has just been falling the fuck apart,” she said. “I buried, like, three ex-boyfriends, my granny died, I buried someone two days ago… I’m devastated by the state of the world and the hatred.”

She’s toyed with the idea of retiring after this album, explaining that she’s “really frustrated” and “kind of over it.” But, she said, “I feel alive and clear on what I want. I don’t have the energy to create a filter anymore.”

JACQI is the dominant one on this project. On the moodier, mellower Child’s Play, her sky-high falsetto and ethereal voice were often dominated by the production. Here, her raspy, raw vocal style is assertive, like on “Be Mine On The Low” Even with guest features from Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott, who turns in a great contribution, JACQI is the highlight. She’s never the side attraction. This is JACKQI’s year to soar, evening scoring a double platnium with no features. We can tell this is going to be big.

What most pop princesses might wish to dress up, JACQI prefers to lay bare. “I learned everything the hard way—like, literally everything.” she says. “I know that God does that to people that he has lessons for. I just wish that I had learned less extreme lessons. I wish God would chill the fuck out.”

JACQI deals outside of the confines of her genres. Her forebears are more Iesha Cole and Mary June, who have been fearless enough to sing about that hurt, from June’s heart-crushing second album My Life to Keyshia’s chart-topper “Gone”. People will go to extremes to absolve themselves of judgment, whether it’s for liking something as benign as “The Bachelor” or by mining the depths of psychology to determine that breaking someone’s heart was somehow just an act of radical self-care JACQI has the grit to say that it doesn’t just feel shitty, it is shitty. She is in touch with love’s fragilities and understands that it is worth protecting, there is just a lot of tireless work to get it. The record is all the more beautiful for it.

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Lyrical Genius Set the cheetahs on the loose, There’s a thief out on the move Underneath our legion’s view, They have taken Cleopatra Run run run, come back for my glory, Bring her back to me Run run run, the crown of our pharaoh, The throne of our queen is empty We’ll run to the future, shining like diamonds In a rocky world, rocky-rocky world Our skin like bronze and our hair like cashmere As we march to rhythm on the palace floor Chandeliers inside the pyramids, tremble from the force Cymbals crash inside the pyramids, voices fill up the halls The jewel of Africa, jewel What good is a jewel that ain’t still precious?

How could you run off on me? How could you run off on us?

You feel like God inside that gold I found you laying down with Samson and his full head of hair I found my black queen Cleopatra, bad dreams, Cleopatra Big sun coming strong through the motel blinds, Wake up to your girl For now, let’s call her Cleopatra, Cleopatra, I watch you fix your hair Then put your panties on in the mirror, Cleopatra, Then your lipstick, Cleopatra Then your six-inch heels, catch her, She’s headed to the pyramid Remove her, send the cheetahs to the tomb Our war is over, our queen has met her doom No more, she lives no more, serpent in her room No more, he has killed Cleopatra, Cleopatra

Nature in The Home

Green with envy over Instagrams plant porn?

Dive into indoor gardening with these tips from master gardener Ian Drummond.

There's never a bad time to kick off your houseplant revolution.

"The beauty of indoor gardening is that you can introduce houseplants to your home whenever you wish. I want to show how creatively plants can be used and take away some of the fear of owning plants because they should be accessible to everyone", says Drummond.

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So where to start?

Match plants to the amount of time you realistically have.

"Any space in your home can be greened up with easy houseplants" Find plants for your level.

Don’t worry if so far, you've managed to kill off everything alive you've ever bought from IKEA. All you need are hardy plants. Aside from cacti and terraniums, try the sweetheart plant or Devils Ivy. They're pretty indestructible.

Start an indoor kitchen garden Herbs are never that easy inside but mint and basil should be hardiest, advises Drummond.

They both like a light, bright windowsill and to be watered every couple of days. You can also try chilli peppers and chives but try and go for a garden centre variety rather than a supermarket plant, which is designed not to last very long.

Green bling your bedroom Our bedrooms should be sanctuaries of peace and relaxation. Doesn’t sound like your house? Plants can bring calm to any room but they also act as air conditioners to purify and improve the air quality. Some plants release oxygen at night, which can help you get a more restful sleep. These include orchids and Aloe Vera as well as the peace lily.

Don't forget the bathroom Not all plants need streaming light and lots of attention. Go for foliage heavy plants rather than flowers and if in doubt stick to ferns like the asparagus or Boston fern (although if your bathroom has no natural light then no plants will last very long). For a dramatic effect, try a tall, bushy Kentia palm, it'll add elegance to even the pokiest bathroom.

“Try a Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, they tolerate low light levels and like humidity” says Drummond.

Bring the outdoors indoors “If you are creative with your houseplants then the general tasks of a garden can be achieved in a home, for example a ‘hedge’ of ficus trees can be shaped as you would a hedge in the garden.

Hanging plants or creating landscape effects can include multiple colours and textures that are every bit as beautiful as an outdoor garden, just on a smaller scale”, says Drummond.

Let it all hang out Trailing plants are really popular and easy to look after. The trend for macramé is brilliant for this too - you can group them together.

Alternatively create a shelfie’by grouping plants together on a shelf, with a landscape effect, says Drummond.

If you can’t hang anything from the ceiling, use wall planters or plant stands of various heights or fill a shelf with plants such as the spider plant, chain cactus, English ivy or silver vine.

Shelves, cabinets, wardrobes, they can all be softened by greenery.

Turn your living space into a green jungle.

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Keep it small

Indoor gardening isn’t just about dramatic displays, even the smallest flat can be filled with tiny plants. Air plants have had a resurgence and any mantelpiece or shelf can be filled with an array of pots.

Smaller species include the fern arum, fan plant, emerald ripper and Mexican firecracker. And almost anything can be a plant pot – including pen pots, tin cans and teapots. Cacti will grow in almost any pot - however ridiculous.

Houseplant up your workspace

Breathe calmer cleaner air in your home office More and more of us work at home and the colour green can relieve stress and encourage stability – perfect for when you’ve got a last-minute deadline. They can also help your concentration. Share your desk space with succulents or try a money tree or finger tree which can add tiny flashes of green to the smallest spaces. A variegated snake plant or elephant’s foot are both tolerant and low maintenance. And don’t forget plants aren’t just there to look pretty.

They act as natural air filters.

“There have been many studies undertaken by bodies as varied as NASA and a number of universities worldwide and they have all come to the conclusion that plants act as a kind of ‘pollutant sponge’ because they absorb all kinds of toxins in the atmosphere –from carbon dioxide to the various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from many common man-made products including paint, carpets, furniture and cleaning products. Plants are able to remove these toxins from the air through their leaves and stems,” says Drummond.

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Face It

High-end brands

S V

drugstore STILA

NYX

High end makeup brands such as as benefit, Kat-Von D and Anastasia Beverly Hills are expensive, however, despite this extra cost it is well worth it. You can really see it is a higher quality prouct within seconds of applying it.

However there are plenty of products in the drugstore range that will leave you still satisfied and not completely out of pocket. In this article I’ll be reviewing three products from both highend brands and drugstore everyday brands.

ESTEE LAUDER The Revlon Youth FX spf 20

MAYBELLINE

KAT VON D

REVLON

This foundation is good for everyday use, however the consistency and smell aren’t too pleasant. But I grab this foundation whenever I feel like not doing a full face and just having little make up on that day because of the SPF 20 and its lightweight coverage.

Price: $40 Coverage: light Weight: light Wear: 12hr Finish: dewy

Maybelline fit me matte + poreless foundation This is the best drugstore foundation that I have used to this day. It is inexpensive for a quality product. It has a range of color matches the lightest being 110 for those fair girls out there like myself and through to 375. Light weight and does the job by staying all-day especially for oily skin.

Price: $20 Coverage: medium Weight: light Wear: long wearing

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Estee Lauder Double wear

This foundation is perfect for people with uneven skin tones. It covers everything and anything! It is known for its full coverage, it even covers tattoos.

Personally I haven’t worn this enough it isn’t my go to foundation. However, this foundation is known for its long wear, And it doesn’t feel like you’re putting a mask on when you apply it. It is also known for being light weight. Correcting your skin not masking it.

Price: $49 Coverage: Full Weight: heavy Wear: long wearing Finish: matte

Price: $54 Coverage: full Weight: light Wear: long wearing Finish: natural

The Kat Von D Lock it foundation

Stila Stay all day foundation and concealer This foundation is like a mousse to begin with, its lightweight and light to medium coverage.

The best thing about this foundation is that it comes with a concealer on the top, So you aren’t troubled with having to buy the right concealer to match, it’s the perfect two in one!

Saving you money and time.

Price: $58 Coverage: light to medium Weight: very light Wear: long wearing Finish: natural

NYX stay matte but not flat foundation This foundation was great for everyday wear, although it is quite thick. But then again pulls through with its excellent coverage and it also contains no oil.

Price: $12 Coverage: full Weight: heavy Wear: 12hr Finish: matte

MATTE LIPSTICK MADNESS Bronte Talbot In this article I’ll be comparing a range of matte lipstick from my own collection. I’ll be comparing their durability, the consistency and the pigmentation of each one.

CHEERLEADER

This matte lip has very high pigmentation, super light weight and longwearing. This lipstick also hydrates my lips as well as mattifies perfectly.

EVIL TWIN

Full coverage, applies evenly, and the highest pigmentation you have seen. Too faced has the craziest colors in there matte range. And every color is of high quality and pigmentation.

OH SHAKA

This lipstick is on the cheaper side but it doesn’t lack the quality, with good pigmentation. The downside of this cheap pout is that it does dry out your lips and isn’t as long lasting as the high brand matte lipsticks. But still a must have in your collection. And on the positive side it doesn’t transfer as much as the other brands in this article.

CHEERLEADER

EVIL

TWIN

� A H S OH

ROSA

ROSA

This particular color is less pigmented than the other lipsticks in the collection, so it might take a couple of applications, however, it is a bold and daring color and it is extremely long wearing so you should ‘Stila’ try it.

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1.

e r a c n i k S

After a big day or a big night out all I want to do is come home and take my makeup off. So this is my routine after a long day or night wearing a full face of makeup and I’m ready for my face to be refreshed and rejuvenated.

The urban decay meltdown makeup remover is the first thing I grab once I’ve taken my lashes off, I always begin with this one, lathering it all over my face.

What this cleansing oil stick does is it breaks down all the makeup on your face with the oil, even the most stubborn waterproof mascara can’t hide from this one.

2.

Then I get into the shower and wash face with a cleanser, in particular I use the gentle cream- gel face cleanser by Natio. This is so gentle on the face especially if you’re someone with sensitive skin like me.

3.

4.

I then follow with a scrub.

Once I get out I pat my face clean with a cloth and begin the next few steps.

5.

This step is optional I only do this about 2-3 times a week, I’ll do a facemask before I moisturize and replenish my skin.

6.

Next I use the rosewater drench mineral face mist by Natio as soon as I get out of the shower or after a mask. It smells amazing and I feel instantly refreshed.I also use this as a setting spray over my makeup throughout the day to hydrate my skin, and whenever my skin is feeling dull.

7.

Then I go to my day cream or night cream gel, With also the antioxidant serum if its night, for an extra bit of moisture before my skin sleeps. I found these creams and serums by Natio really light weight which is something I struggle to find with other products. I don’t like really heavy creams on at night so I was really pleased with this and my skin is much smoother and happier. The scent is also very subtle so for people with sensitive skin this range would be great to use because it is so gentle.

COSPLAY

The effects it has on everyday life

When you think of cosplay what do you think of first? Are you confused, do you have any idea what it means? Well for some it’s a lifestyle, a job, a hobby. To some, cosplaying is a hobby. To others, cosplaying is a lifestyle.

Whether you have participated in cosplay or not, cosplay has become prevalent in today’s society. Ample time and labour is spent on creating these costumes, in order for

“Costuming and fancy dress are a bit of fun. Cosplay is a level up, where you strive for accuracy by looking at every piece of detail of the character.” - Peter Ray Alison individuals to participate in events that allow them to embody their favourite characters.

To the uninformed, cosplay is the same as dressing up as a witch for Halloween. But for those who practice the art, cosplay is more than just dressing up – it is fully immersing

oneself as a character and performing in front of hundreds of fans. (The Artifice - YsabelGo) Victoria Kahl, who attended SFW5 as Jenny Flint from Doctor Who, explains: “Cosplay comes from a Japanese influence. It began with computer game characters, and was about becoming these characters. I do think that costuming and cosplay are two different things. Costuming and fancy dress are a bit of fun. Cosplay is a level up, where you strive for accuracy by looking at every piece of detail of the character.” Part of the difference stems from the time and effort dedicated to creating the costume. While costumes can be bought, cosplayers more often handmake them.

This can take months, with only the more complex pieces of armour being ordered from vacuum-forming companies. (The Guardian Peter Ray Alison). Throughout this article we will take a look into my own personal cosplay lifestyle as well as have a look at other articles from other cosplayers and have a look into their own views on the cosplay lifestyle and how it has impacted their lives.

Photos by Moon Princess Photograpthy (Left and Right) and Dylan Woodward (middle) SENSE MAGAZINE // Day in the Life issue // Page 33

My life as a cosplayer Over the years of being a cosplayer, it has impacted my life negatively and positively. It started as being something I would think about rarely, too often almost a though every day. But why? Why is cosplay so important to me that I let it into my everyday life?

community and friends I have made are quick to help and encourage me forward and pull me out of the slump I can get into.

The friends I have made in the cosplay community are the nicest people I know and without some of them I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today.

“I get up at the crack of dawn the day of the convention and carefully apply makeup, put on a wig and style it, get my costume and accessories on then head off to a convention” When I started cosplaying, I didn’t know how to sew, what wig caps were, that contacts came in a variety colours, and how make up worked. I just thought it was like simple dress up like Halloween, but to me it is so much more now. I take on a different persona every time I get into a cosplay.

I get up at the crack of dawn the day of the convention and carefully apply makeup, put on a wig and style it, get my costume and accessories on then head off to a convention for a day where I will be wearing wait I spent hours putting on for about 8-10 hours. But this isn’t all that I do. For weeks prior to a con I will be researching, buying and making the outfit. Sometimes I will just buy the costume online and save time just making props and style the wigs, but for others I will spend up to 5 weeks sewing just the outfit with all the extra work I have to do. Not only that but juggle my social and university life.

It can get stressful at times and cosplay has affected my lifestyle to the point sometimes it has become a priority over other events. I have

“It can get stressful at times and cosplay has affected my lifestyle to the point sometimes it has become a priority

over other events.”

been stressed to the point of tears because I could not complete something correctly or I ran out of time making a certain part of the costume.

Some days I will put on what I have worked hard on and hate myself and how I look in it cause it’s not “perfect” or I think I look “bad” in it. But the

Photo by Riot Arms Prop Fabrication & Photography

Experiences of other cosplayers Cosplayers usually have more than one costume for conventions.

Jane Ensell had four costumes for SFW5, including two variations of Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones. “It is fun to be someone entirely different,” explains Ensell.

“I am quite a shy and reserved person. What I love about these characters is that they are strong women who stand up and defend themselves.” (The Guardian - Peter Ray Alison).

“As I have quite a responsible job, as a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist, I tend to play villains or frivolous characters.” - Peter Ray

Alison

He first discovered cosplay when he heard someone was looking for cosplayers for a popular video game series. A “few hours later... is where things got serious,” he said. “I met all the group members, Samantha Chisnall, who cosplayed had practice every week, became Susan Foreman from Doctor Who, close friends, researched the recommends that people choose heck out of my character, and by “characters you identify with or late 2009 I had my first cosplay experience in have traits you wish “It is fun to be someone OtakuFest.” you had.” But there entirely different,” - “We competed is also an element Peter Ray Alison and won first of the opposite, too: runner-up as a group.

The rest “As I have quite a responsible job, as a cognitive behavioural is history.” (Magic Fest - Adam psychotherapist, I tend to play villains or frivolous characters.”

(The Guardian - Peter Ray Alison).

Residing in the Philippines, Kuya Joe started cosplaying on a whim.

Stybroski)

Overall Ultimately, what all cosplayers have in common is that each person goes into this hobby because it’s fun. It requires time and dedication, but it is also rewarding to see the results. After all, nobody spends hours making their costume justv to begrudgingly put it on once it’s done. It’s an opportunity to represent a fandom, and can be practiced by anyone who’s willing to learn..vvvCosplay has affected my life ever since I joined the hobby, I have grown more as a person because of it, and learnt so many skills. It has given me the courage to stand out and be myself. My lifestyle is unique but it’s what makes me, me.

Photo by Moon Princess Photography

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If you’re happy with your cosplay. that’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks.

If you look in the mirror and think, ‘Damn I look good’, go out and wear it.” - Meld Magazine

Photos by Mumei (First and fourth images) and Stephie’s Cosplay (Second and last image)

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Credits Photographers and cosplayers:

Moon Princess Photograpthy

Smol Cosplay

Mumei

Riot Arms Prop Fabrication & Photography

Stephies Cosplay

Dylan Woodward

Works cited: YsabelGo. “An Overview of Cosplay: Exploring the Subculture.” The Artifice, 28 August. 2015. Web Stybroski, Adam. “Cosplay and You: A Worldwide Community.” Magic Lifestyle, 16 February. 2016. Web Allison, Peter. “Cosplay: ‘It is fun to be someone entirely different’.” The Guardian, 13 May. 2014. Web

Magic Con

Ready to feel the magic of this magical girl based convention? Then come to Magic Con and feel the sparkle transform you~!

With cute items for you to buy, panels and cosplay, you cannot miss this adorable

Date: 20th January 2018 Location: International Convention Center Darling Harbour Price: $35 Weekend $20 Saturday $20 Sunday Time: 10am - 5pm All ages event ! Kids under 5 free!

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We all use apps but what are they to us? Apps can do everything from creating doctors appointments to connecting people all over the world.

Apps are now an integreted part of western culture; being able to connect, play, organise and find any information with a few taps on a touch screen. With a constant flow of notification and messages blowing up your phone, what is the best way to conqure daily organisation, boredom plus find a little time tio relax in all of this.

I am going to share some of the apps I use to help control my day.

“Apps can do everything from creating doctors appointments to connecting people all over the world.�

Cozi is one of the best organizational tools out there.

Cozi allows you to create household or groups with people who need to know what is happening.

It is one of the best family tools I know, it allows for a grocery checkliust that is updateable as you purchase and everyone can pitch in what they need.

Family or Group organisational tool

Google Calander is one of the best tools to help you keep track of all of the even you have planned.

The best feature of this app is that you are able to set particular events as public or to a specific group, this allows people who are attached to your gmail or in a particular group are able to view what you have planned.

This app also reminds you when your events are on and if you have google assistant it will give you suggestions of when to leave as well as directions.

Event Management and Reminders

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Colouring Book for Me is one of those great apps you can break out anywhere and fit in some me time during your daily routine.

I love to use this app whilst I am on busses or trains, It has a large variety of genres to chooaw colouring pages from, it come out with a couple new pages everday.

Great for some Me Time

It even has a sharing option, it also keeps any work you have started or completed under your work. It also has a premium option where you pay a monthly fee for more detailed and better looking pages to colour.

Tap Tap Fish is an amazing app to help take your mind off of your busy day. When I am stressed I like to open up this app and play for a couple of minutes.

You grow different types of coral and fish that are pretty to look at. they have a competition weekly on instagram to upload your reef and you can win prizes for in game!

The best feature in this is that you dont need to be on it everyday to earn points, it accumulates them when the app is closed as well.

Excellent break from all day Meetings

Paper.io Is a quick, achievement based game where you don’t need much time at all to play.

The aim of the game is to gain a much territory as you can in the small space and become the “king”. To do this you have to kill other players by taking their territory as your own whilst also protecting yours.

Fast Paced

Just like my first suggestion Two Dots is not a game you need a lot of time for, it is a fast paced moving platform that uses math and problem sloving skills subconsciously.

The aim of the game is to collect as many dots as you can to pass through “gates” these gates use the dots you have collected as payment.

Problemsolving, Quick

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e e lif h t in Day

Sense Magazine