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7 simple wealth creation ideas for over 60s

<p>In today's world of rising costs and economic uncertainties, building wealth after the age of 60 might seem like a daunting task. However, it's essential to remember that it's never too late to take control of your financial future and explore innovative ways to boost your income and savings.</p> <p>The latest Retirement Standard from the super industry body ASFA reveals that singles aged 65-84 need an annual income of approximately $50,207 for a 'comfortable lifestyle' in retirement, while couples require a combined income of $70,806 per year. With the full age pension often falling short of these numbers, many seniors are seeking alternative ways to supplement their income during retirement.</p> <p>Let’s delve into some practical and achievable wealth creation ideas tailored to older Australians who are looking to secure their financial well-being in their golden years.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Intentional Spending</strong></li> </ol> <p>Cutting down on non-essential spending is a powerful way to save money. Review your discretionary expenses and identify areas where you can make reductions. For instance, consider cooking at home instead of dining out, exploring free or low-cost local activities for entertainment, and delaying the purchase of luxury items. Prioritise experiences that provide value without straining your budget.</p> <ol start="2"> <li><strong>Pressure Test Your Retirement Strategy</strong></li> </ol> <p>It's essential to regularly review your retirement plan, taking into account the evolving financial landscape, legislative changes, and opportunities to minimise costs. By doing so, you can maximise the funds under your control and make informed decisions that align with your retirement goals. Keep in mind that the financial world is dynamic, and staying proactive in managing your retirement assets can lead to a more secure and comfortable retirement.</p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong>Get rid of things you don't need by selling online</strong></li> </ol> <p>Embrace the digital age and leverage online marketplaces to turn your unneeded possessions into cash. If you're not tech-savvy, don't hesitate to enlist the help of your grandchildren or any trusted youngster who can guide you through the process. Selling items online not only declutters your living space but also opens up opportunities to supplement your retirement income. Embracing technology can be empowering and profitable at any age!</p> <ol start="4"> <li><strong>Part-Time Job Opportunities in the Gig Economy</strong></li> </ol> <p>Embrace the gig economy by exploring part-time job opportunities. Various platforms offer flexible work arrangements suitable for seniors, such as rideshare driving or food delivery services. These roles allow you to set your own hours and supplement your retirement income.</p> <ol start="5"> <li><strong>Freelancing or Consulting</strong></li> </ol> <p>Your years of experience and expertise are valuable assets. Consider venturing into part-time freelancing or consulting opportunities within your field. Many businesses are eager to hire experienced professionals for specific projects or advisory roles, providing an opportunity to boost your income without a full-time commitment.</p> <ol start="6"> <li><strong>Renting Out a Spare Room</strong></li> </ol> <p>If you have extra space in your home, consider renting out a spare room to short-term guests. Websites like Airbnb make it easy to find renters, providing a consistent source of income and helping to cover housing costs.</p> <ol start="7"> <li><strong>Compare and Save</strong></li> </ol> <p>Once you've reviewed your spending habits, identify areas where you can potentially save money by shopping around and obtaining comparison quotes. Renegotiating bills and subscriptions can also yield significant savings. Don't forget to review your insurance policies, adjusting the coverage and excess to potentially reduce premiums.</p> <p>Creating wealth in your golden years may seem challenging, but with the right approach and determination, it's entirely achievable. By exploring these simple and practical ideas, older Australians can take steps toward securing their financial future and enjoying a comfortable retirement. Remember that every financial decision should align with your individual circumstances and objectives. </p> <p>However, it's crucial to note that earning extra income during retirement can impact age pension payments. It can be worth seeking financial advice about the best way to increase income during retirement without compromising any other entitlements, so consider seeking professional guidance to make informed choices on your path to financial security, ensuring a comfortable and worry-free retirement.</p> <p><em><strong>Amanda Thompson, author of Financially Fit Women, is a sought-after speaker and qualified financial adviser.  As the founder of Endurance Financial, Amanda is driven to renew personal and confidence by providing the financial knowledge and guidance to have a great relationship with money allowing you to become your own CFO (Confident, Focussed &amp; On top of your Finances). For more information visit <a href="http://www.endurancefinancial.com.au">www.endurancefinancial.com.au</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><span style="color: #0b4cb4;"> </span></p>

Retirement Income

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Madonna’s bizarre foray into the world of NFTs

<p dir="ltr">Madonna has made a foray into the digital art world, ruffling a few feathers with the nature of her NFT artworks. </p> <p dir="ltr">The pop superstar has collaborated with digital artist Beeple (whose real name is Mike Winkelmann) to produce three NFTs that depict Madonna as the mother of all creation.</p> <p dir="ltr">The NFTs — entitled <em>Mother of Nature</em>, <em>Mother of Evolution</em>, and <em>Mother of Technology</em> — are all quite graphic, 3D-rendered videos of Madonna.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the first, she is seen giving birth to a tree in a lab, before she is seen birthing various bugs and animals in the second and third images. </p> <p dir="ltr">Artist Winkelmann shot to international fame after his Everydays series, a collection of digital drawings he made each day from May 2007, sold for $69.3 million at a Christie’s auction in 2021. </p> <p dir="ltr">Proceeds from the auction of these Madonna NFTs will go to three different charities: The Voices of Children Foundation, a charity for women and children in Ukraine, The City of Joy, a leadership program for women of the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and Black Mama’s Bail Out, which uses funds to bail out Black women and caregivers from the carceral system.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When Mike and I decided to collaborate on this project a year ago, I was excited to have the opportunity to share my vision of the world as a mother and an artist with Mike’s own unique point of view,” said Madonna in a press release. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I wanted to investigate the concept of creation, not only the way a child enters the world through a woman’s vagina, but also the way an artist gives birth to creativity.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Superare Auction House</em></p>

Art

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“Prince Charles wasn’t happy”: Royal cake-maker spills on Charles and Diana’s wedding creation

<p>Dave Avery, the man who designed and made Prince Charles and Diana's wedding cake for their big day, has revealed it was the prince who called him to make changes to the design – after Diana had approved it.</p> <p>The head baker of the Royal Naval Cookery School, Avery designed the couple's five-tier fruit cake which stood at 165cm for the July wedding 40 years ago in 1981.</p> <p>Avery, then 37, had been selected to bake the royal wedding cake – an auspicious task but one that he was more than capable of. Avery, now 78, told 9Honey via Zoom from the UK, he still clearly remembers walking into Buckingham Palace for his first meeting with Princess Diana – known at the time as ‘Lady Di.’</p> <p>“I’ll never forget it," says Avery. "She was beautiful. She was very pleasant, very polite, we had a few little chats.”</p> <p>Avery had been given the task of designing the wedding cake and he’d gone to the palace to show his plans to Diana. She had approved the designs with no changes but when Avery arrived back at the Royal Navy Cookery School in Chatham, he received word from the palace that Prince Charles was not happy.</p> <p>"I got a phone call that Prince Charles wasn't happy," says Avery. But thankfully, it wasn't a criticism but rather – something the Prince wanted added.</p> <p>"We hadn't put on the Red Dragon," says Avery. Once we added the Red Dragon symbol of Wales, which was Prince Charles' call sign when he was flying helicopters with the Navy, the Prince was happy.</p> <p>The cake’s design included hand-painted symbols representing Prince Charles' military roles, the Prince of Wales emblem, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and Highgrove – one of which took eight hours to complete.</p> <p><strong>How big was this Wedding Cake of the Century?</strong></p> <p>The five-tier cake stood at 165cm and took some time to bake with the bottom tier alone taking Avery 12 hours. As well, Avery used a spirit level and set square to ensure the dimensions were perfect.</p> <p>He was sworn to secrecy during the 14-week process of designing and making the cake and says the pressure was on to get everything perfect: "If there was anything wrong, the whole world would have known about it, not just me," he says.</p> <p>When it came to the baking of the cake, Avery turned to a favourite recipe he had from his mother for a rich fruit cake.</p> <p>"But I had to take things out and add things in to improve it. I had worked on that recipe for up to five years until I got it absolutely perfect."</p> <p>As perfect as it is, Avery says he won’t be sharing this recipe: “I’ve been asked many times, but no,” he adds.</p> <p><strong><em>The Wedding of the Century</em></strong></p> <p>2021 marks 40 years since Prince Charles married Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral on July 29th - a wedding which drew a global television audience of more than 750 million people.</p> <p>A new documentary has been made to mark the occasion which will screen on BritBox Australia, aptly titled <em>Wedding of the Century.</em></p> <p>The original documentary includes remastered footage of the wedding plus never-before-seen interviews with those closely involved in the wedding planning, including the florist and one of the photographers.</p> <p><strong>Was it all successful?</strong></p> <p>After the wedding, Avery received a letter from the new Prince and Princess of Wales saying "how thrilled they were with the cake."</p> <p>They even saved the second tier to use at Prince William's christening on August 4th, 1982. Diana loved Avery's work so much she asked him to make William's first birthday cake, too, "a sponge with nursery rhymes around it.”</p> <p>These days Avery has retired from the Royal Navy after serving for 22 years. He went on to open a cake shop, baking wedding cakes (naturally) before going back into teaching.</p> <p>As Avery says: "It's the wedding of the century, it's the cake of the century.”</p> <p><strong>Image: Getty Images</strong></p>

Food & Wine

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This must be the world’s tastiest flute

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two friends - one a pastry chef, the other a flautist - have combined their talents to create what appears to be the world’s first ever, playable chocolate flute.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indian chef Vinesh Johny partnered with his friend, flautist Parth Chandiramani, to create the tasty project.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRBjrS0BaFl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRBjrS0BaFl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Vinesh Johny (@vineshjohny)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It took a lot of time and research understanding the intricacies of making a wind instrument, to finally create an actual playable flute entirely out of chocolate,” Johny explained on Instagram.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He used his specialist pastry chef tool to craft the instrument, which he shared with the world in a video posted on July 7, also known as World Chocolate Day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the post, Johny credits Chandiramani for bringing his creation to life: “This mad idea could only happen with one of the greatest flute players in the country.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chandiramani also shared the creation on his Instagram page.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRJkJ8WgxXq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRJkJ8WgxXq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Parth Chandiramani (@parth_chandiramani)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Vinesh Johny came up with this brilliant idea of making a flute entirely out of chocolate. It was such a fun experience seeing this fabulous idea come to life. Thank you Vinesh for giving me the honour of playing this delicious chocolate flute,” he said...</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I didn’t just get to play it, I got to eat it too!” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the clip, Chandiramani plays the Indian song - ‘Urvasi Urvasi’ composed by A.R. Rahman for the soundtrack of the 1994 film </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kadhalan</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Vinesh Johny / Instagram</span></em></p>

Music

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How creative use of technology may have helped save schooling during the pandemic

<p>It <a href="https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-executive-director-henrietta-fore-remarks-press-conference-new-updated">is estimated</a> around half the world’s students’ schools remain shut down. All told, this has been a potentially damaging disruption to the education of a generation.</p> <p>But one of the few positive outcomes from this experience is an opportunity to rethink how digital technologies can be used to support teaching and learning in schools.</p> <p>Our collective experiences of remote schooling offer a fleeting opportunity for schools to think more imaginatively about what “digital education” might look like in the future.</p> <p>This is not to echo the hype (currently being pushed by many education reformers and IT industry actors) that COVID will prove a <a href="https://edtechdigest.com/2020/05/13/learning-and-leadership/">tipping-point</a> after which schools will be <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-education-global-covid19-online-digital-learning/">pushed fully</a> into digital education.</p> <p>On the contrary, the past six months of hastily implemented <a href="https://edtechdigest.com/2020/05/13/learning-and-leadership/">emergency remote schooling</a> tell us little about how school systems might go fully virtual, or operate on a “blended” (part online, part face-to-face) basis. Any <a href="https://www.worldsofeducation.org/en/woe_homepage/woe_detail/16856/the-edtech-pandemic-shock-by-ben-williamson-anna-hogan">expectations of profiting</a> from the complete digital reform of education is well wide of the mark.</p> <p>Instead, the most compelling technology-related lessons to take from the pandemic involve the informal, improvised, scrappy digital practices that have helped teachers, students and parents get through school at home.</p> <p><strong>Technology during the pandemic</strong></p> <p>All over the world, school shutdowns have seen teachers, students and families get together to achieve great things with relatively simple technologies. This includes the surprising rise of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53079625">TikTok</a> as a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/28/green-teen-memes-how-tiktok-could-save-the-planet-aoe">source</a> of <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/angelicaamartinez/tiktok-creators">informal learning content</a>. Previously the domain of young content creators, remote schooling saw teachers of all ages turn to the video platform to <a href="https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=7656">share bite-size (up to one minute) chunks</a> of teaching, give inspirational feedback, set learning challenges or simply show students and parents how they were coping.</p> <p>TikTok also been used as a place for educational organisations, public figures and celebrity scientists to <a href="https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-announces-learnontiktok-initiative-to-encourage-education-during-lo/578805/">produce bespoke learning content</a>, as well as allowing teachers to put together materials for a wider audience.</p> <p>Even <a href="https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2020/07/meet_the_principals_of_tiktok_.html">principals</a> have used it to keep in contact with their school — making 60-second video addresses, motivational speeches and other alternatives to the traditional school assembly speech.</p> <p>Classes in some countries have been <a href="https://uxdesign.cc/a-unique-opportunity-for-whatsapp-to-take-over-classrooms-cc9048b97ca0">run through WhatsApp</a>, primarily because this was one platform most students and families had access to, and were used to using in their everyday lives.</p> <p>Elsewhere, teachers have set up virtual <a href="https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/07/30/bitmoji-classrooms-why-teachers-are-buzzing-about.html">BitMoji classrooms</a> featuring colourful backdrops and cartoon avatars of themselves. These spaces act as a friendly online version of their familiar classroom space for students to check in and find out what they should be learning, access resources and temporarily feel they were back at school.</p> <p>Some teachers have worked out <a href="https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200831/teachers-in-district-220-find-creative-ways-to-teach-virtually">creative ways of Zoom-based teaching</a>. These stretch beyond the streamed lecture format and include live demonstrations, experiments, and live music and pottery workshops.</p> <p>Social media, apps and games have proven convenient places for teachers to <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/kindergarten-teacher-tiktok-energy-viral">share insights</a> into their classroom practice, while students can <a href="https://m.facebook.com/abcmelbourne/videos/2778263975790515/?refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Fstory.php&amp;_rdr">quickly show</a> teachers and classmates what they have been working on.</p> <p>These informal uses of digital media have played an important role in boosting students, teachers and parents with a bit of human contact, and additional motivation to connect and learn.</p> <p><strong>So, what now?</strong></p> <p>All this will come as <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Good-Reception-Teachers-Mobile-Angeles/dp/0262037084/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&amp;keywords=antero+garcia&amp;qid=1600463690&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-7">little surprise</a> to <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Beyond-Technology-Childrens-Learning-Digital/dp/0745638813">long-term</a> <a href="https://clalliance.org/publications/hanging-out-messing-around-and-geeking-out-tenth-anniversary-edition/">advocates</a> of popular forms of digital media in education. There is a sound evidence base for the educational benefits of such technology.</p> <p>For example, a <a href="https://clalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CLRN_Report.pdf">decade’s worth of studies</a> has developed a <a href="https://clalliance.org/about-connected-learning/">robust framework</a> (and many examples) of how students and educators can make the most of personal digital media inside and outside the classroom. These include allowing students to participate in online fan-fiction writing communities, digital journalism, music production and podcasting.</p> <p>The past ten years has also seen a <a href="https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=4388">rise in e-sports</a> — where teams of young people compete in video games.</p> <p>This stresses the interplay between digital media, learning driven by students’ interests and passions, and online communities of peers. Informal digital media can be a boon for otherwise <a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/digital-youth-network">marginalised and disadvantaged youth</a> and allowing students to find supportive communities of like-minded peers regardless of their local circumstances.</p> <p>Australia continues to be one of the few countries in the world where <a href="https://theconversation.com/banning-mobile-phones-in-schools-beneficial-or-risky-heres-what-the-evidence-says-119456">classroom use of smartphones is banned</a> by some governments. Some of the most popular social media platforms, content creation apps, and open sites such as YouTube remain <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/education/schools/procedures/webfiltering">filtered and blocked</a> in many schools too.</p> <p>At the same time, official forms of school technology are <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/12/19/131155/classroom-technology-holding-students-back-edtech-kids-education/">increasingly criticised</a> for being boring, overly-standardised, and largely serving institutional imperatives, rather than pitched toward the interests of students and teachers.</p> <p>Concerns are growing over the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/06/25/new-concerns-raised-about-well-known-digital-learning-platform/">limited educational benefits</a> of personalised learning systems, as well as the <a href="https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2020/june/1590933600/anna-krien/screens-ate-school#mtr">data and privacy implications</a> of school platforms and systems such as Google Classroom.</p> <p>The past six months have seen many schools forced to make the best of whatever technologies were immediately to hand. Previously reticent teachers now have first-hand experience of making use of unfamiliar technologies. Many parents are now on board with the educational potential of social media and games. Most importantly, students have been given a taste of what they can achieve with “their” own technology.</p> <p>With US schools now exploring the benefits of establishing official <a href="https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/education/469079-the-tiktok-generation">TikTok creation clubs</a> to enhance their video-making skills, it might be time for Australian educators to follow suit. Let’s take the opportunity to re-establish schools as places where teachers, students and families can work together to creatively learn with the devices and apps most familiar to their everyday lives.</p> <p><em>Written by <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neil-selwyn-765357">Neil Selwyn</a>, Monash University. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/search/result?sg=9731d812-3952-475c-9db1-cb99dba287ca&amp;sp=1&amp;sr=1&amp;url=%2Fhow-creative-use-of-technology-may-have-helped-save-schooling-during-the-pandemic-146488">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Art

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Mums share genius $29 Kmart creation

<p>Mothers around the country have taken to the internet to share photos of the different ways they styled their affordable Kmart bar cart.</p> <p>The trolley, which cost a mere $29 from the discount department store, appears to be plain when first opened, but the savvy mums got creative and styled it in different ways.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl7NV4MH32m/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl7NV4MH32m/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Kmart I love you 🍬 . . . . . #kmartaustralia #kmartaddict #drinkstrolley #lollytrolley #kmarttrolley #kmartlollyjars #candybar #allensredskins #naturalsconfectionary #mandms #newhomewares #homestyling #kmartaus #kmartmumsaustralia</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/magicalmumma/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> 💫✨magical~mumma✨💫👨🏻‍🎓👩🏻‍🎓👦🏻👶🏻</a> (@magicalmumma) on Jul 31, 2018 at 10:49pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>One woman uses the affordable cart to hold her wine bottles as she decorated the trolley with a cocktail shaker and an artificial plant.</p> <p>The woman who shared the creation was looking for advice on how to spruce up the cart further, and while social media users loved what she had done, they happily offered her suggestions and constructive criticism.</p> <p>“Looks perfect. Maybe it’s the colour you’re not happy with. I’ve seen some that have been coloured white or gold that look amazing,” one woman said.</p> <p>“I love it, maybe add something sparkly or some colour,” said another.</p> <p>The post then inspired other women to share their creations as one after the other shared photos of their bar cart creations, giving people plenty of style inspiration.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm1nUeDnwj7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm1nUeDnwj7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Loving this hack by @hatingkatie on the @kmartaus Drinks Trolley!!! Thanks for tagging me lovely! #kmartaus #kmartaustralia #kmartnz #kmartinspiredliving #kmartbargains #kmarthome #kmartnewfinds #kmartlovers #kmartstyling #kmartstyle #newtokmart #newfind #homedecor #decor #decorating #interiordesign #interiorstyle</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kmart_new_finds/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Kmart New Finds</a> (@kmart_new_finds) on Aug 23, 2018 at 3:12pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>One person used art-deco pink glasses and a bamboo tree to spice up the cheap trolley.</p> <p>She also placed the alcohol bottles onto a mirrored tray, which not only organised the cart but gave it a modern twist.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkuP3gkHUty/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkuP3gkHUty/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">New Find Alert 🚨 this drinks trolley has been picked up by @astylecollector in New Zealand for $35! Guessing it will be $29 in Australia when it hits our shelves. Thanks for the tag hun. #kmartaus #kmartaustralia #kmartnz #kmartinspiredliving #kmartbargains #kmarthome #kmartnewfinds #kmartlovers #kmartstyling #kmartstyle #newtokmart #newfind #homedecor #decor #decorating #interiordesign #interiorstyle</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kmart_new_finds/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Kmart New Finds</a> (@kmart_new_finds) on Jul 2, 2018 at 1:30am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>There was also a reoccurring theme of including an ice bucket or decorative pineapple pieces. One woman used fairy lights to give the whole trolley a whimsical feel. </p>

Home & Garden

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Thrifty ways to nifty garden creations

<p><em><strong>Better Homes and Gardens' resident landscaper, Jason Hodges, shares his top tips for creating an expensive-looking garden on a budget.</strong></em></p> <p>I love my garden and every chance I have I add to it and tweak it to improve the way it looks and feels, the way I use it and to have people admire it. I’m told all the time, “It’s OK for you, you know what you’re doing and we just don’t have a big budget.”</p> <p>Well, either do I. Like everyone else I extended myself to buy into a Sydney suburb and had next-to-no money to spend on the garden. I had to beg, borrow and scrounge to give my garden a start. Then I added to it over the years. The best thing about a garden built on a tight budget is that it’s a reflection of you and your personality much more than one built by a professional.</p> <p>Buying seconds or from Gumtree, eBay or scrounging at the local tip and council clean-ups are great ways to get your creative juices flowing. But you need a game plan otherwise you’ll end up accumulating things you’ll never use.</p> <p>Find a garden that inspired you and try to identify which elements you love. If it’s a timber screen for example, start accumulating all the timber you can get your hands on. Old fence palings fixed in different ways make great feature walls that will require much less maintenance than a screen built from expensive new decking.</p> <p>I reckon if you asked every home owner you knew if they had any plants they wanted removed from their garden, 90 per cent would have something to offer. I’m not talking about a 30-metre gum but plants that could be dug out and used in your garden. Free plants for you and a problem solved for your friend.</p> <p>Cuttings are another way of building a garden for free. I have more than 500 Buxus Japonica in my garden. In a 100-millimetre pot they retail for about $8.50, which adds up to $4250 but by doing the cuttings myself I’ve spent about $20 on potting mix and grown them all myself. Succulents are the quickest and easiest plants to strike for beginners. Snap them off, stick them in some sand and they’ll never look back.</p> <p>A quick, fun and easy project for all ages is to give pots a facelift with leftover paint. If your pots are a mishmash of colours, textures and sizes you can tie them together with paint. Pots clustered together with a theme look interesting. I like to start with my base colour and then tint it lighter for each pot. If I start with a black pot I’ll add white for the next pot, and for white for the next, shading it lighter for each pot.</p> <p>Soak terracotta pots in water for an hour in the morning and paint them in the afternoon to get nice, even coverage with water-based paint.</p> <p>Where money is no object, paths and high-traffic areas in a garden are paved, concreted, tiled or decked but on a budget, you can still have paths, steppers and entertainment areas by using crushed granite, gravel and even blue metal (which is an aggregate that plumbers use to back-fill trenches) works well and can soften the look of a new garden. Gravel is cheap starting about $50 a tonne but used wisely, it can cover a lot of path.</p> <p>I watch my garden grow and see how my family enjoys it and I receive complements from everyone that visits but I know that it’s achievable for all home owners. You have to start somewhere. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.</p> <p><em>Written by Jason Hodges. First appeared on <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au</span></strong></a>. </em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/01/how-to-have-a-garden-as-a-renter/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to have a garden when you’re a renter</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/01/plants-that-will-make-your-home-happier/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Plants that will make your home happier</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/01/fertilising-your-plants/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Everything you need to know about fertilising your plants</strong></em></span></a></p>

Home & Garden

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These gelato creations are almost too beautiful to eat

<p>Flowers and gelato – two of our very favourite things. So, when we stumbled upon these unique ice cream “flowers”, we simply couldn’t tear our eyes away.</p> <p>The gelato artists at <a href="http://www.i-creamy.com.au/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">i-Creamy</span></strong></a> on George Street in Sydney craft the flowers “petal by petal” using a uniquely-shaped spatula. “You need the right angle,” co-owner Pichaporn Sapsittiporn tells <a href="https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/food-and-drink/article/gelato-flowers-cbd"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Broadsheet</span>.</strong></a></p> <p>And although it’s not the quickest process, if reviews are anything to go by, it’s definitely worth it. “It takes time but our customers really love it,” co-owner Sasinuch Lapwongpaiboon said.</p> <p>Take a look at the beautiful gelato creations in the gallery above and tell us in the comments, have you ever tried a dessert quite like this?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/art/2016/08/works-of-art-made-with-plants/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Incredible works of art made with only plants</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/art/2016/07/10-incredible-cakes-inspired-by-art/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>10 incredible cakes inspired by art</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/art/2016/05/artist-creates-fashion-designs-with-food/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Artist creates incredible fashion designs using food</strong></em></span></a></p>

Art

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5 Australian foodie creations taking the world by storm

<p>Our Australian love of food experimentation and travel have seen some quintessentially Aussie dishes pop up on menus from Brooklyn to Berlin. Here are five Aussie dishes and beverages that are enjoying global popularity at the moment.</p> <p><strong>1. Flat White</strong></p> <p>Australia’s favourite coffee is fast overtaking cappuccinos and lattes as the drink of choice around the world. Even the coffee giant Starbucks in the US have introduced it to their menu, even though many Americans aren’t too sure what it is yet.</p> <p><strong>2. Avocado on toast</strong></p> <p>Smashed avocado on toast has become a staple of the Aussie café and the rest of the world is quickly catching up to healthy, creamy appeal of “nature’s butter.”</p> <p><strong>3. Sticky date pudding</strong></p> <p>The Australian reinvention of the traditional British sticky toffee pudding has eclipsed the original’s popularity.</p> <p><strong>4. Corn fritters</strong></p> <p>Aussie cook Bill Granger’s famed sweet corn breakfast fritters is beginning to gain popularity in London and New York as café diners search for more sophisticated options.</p> <p><strong>5. Lamingtons</strong></p> <p>The classic Australian sponge covered in chocolate and desiccated coconut is going global with lamingtons offered in cafes in Singapore and all over London.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/06/benefits-babies-with-ipads/">New study suggests that babies should be given iPads “from birth”</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/06/james-harrison-blood-donation/">Meet the man who has saved the lives of over 2 million babies</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/06/abs-results-aussies-veggies/">A survey found that Aussies aren't eating enough veggies</a></strong></em></span></p>

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