i am mag&zine issue 15 august 2014

I AM MAGAZINE

2 www.iammagazine.com.au

inside i am

On The Cover

P 10. Laura Wells is an Environ-mental Scientist and Interna-tional Model. When she’s not jetting off to appear in a linge-rie or fashion shoot for the fabulously curvaceous, she’s sailing the South Pacific seas studying the devastating ef-fects of daily waste on our oceans.

As a child, Grays Point was her neighbourhood, and even though she travels the world, the Shire is still bliss for this Cronulla goddess.

Living nice and close to the beach also enables Laura to include her Environmental “nerdy stuff” into her daily life.

I AM magazine would like to send a huge thank you to Ben Pyke for supplying the ah-mazing cover image of Laura for this issue. #WELOVEYOU!

August 2014 #15

P 04. ONE CRAZY

MUMMY!

P 07. FINDING

A HEALTHY

HEAD SPACE.

P 12. A CAMBODIAN

ADVENTURE

FOLLOW UP.

P 15. THIS IS

WHO I AM.

P 18. FASHION

THE THRIFT

EDIT.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF LAURA WELLS & COVER SHOT

BY BEN PYKE, SYDNEY.

Instagram @iammagazine

Facebook @iammagazinesuthshire

editor’s note...

A gratitude shout-out to the local Sutherland Shire

businesses supporting I AM magazine...

Dutchee Dutchee, Cronulla

In Motion Lifestyle.com.au

The Barefaced Bride.com.au

Sophie B.com.au

Vital Fx Health.com.au

Nutrition iLove.com

Thank you for believing in the

I AM dream.

elcome to I AM issue #15.

There have been some changes going on at I AM HQ, and yes, word on the street was that issue 15 would

be in print. However, for the moment, digital will re-main as I AM’s primary neighbourhood.

If there is one thing I know about life, at the perfect

in-between age of 38, is that it changes all the time. You may have an idea of where paths may be lead-ing, and then ‘poof’ it’s all different, yet again.

I have had my fair share of apparent let downs in life, but as experience has taught me, a let-down is simply a change in direction. It’s not sad, scary or disappointing, it is simply observing a plan flipped on

its head, and accepting that it is how it is. I have found that flexibility and a go-with-the-flow-attitude is required in order to remain at peace and ultimately happy in life.

This issue radiates change! I have had time over the past 2 months, to reflect and admire how far I AM magazine has come. From being a hobby that em-braced and allowed me to practice my passion, to the

company it is now, igniting interest well beyond the gates of the Shire. On the following pages you will find who we discovered amongst the local folk, amazing fashion, fitness ideas and motivational ad-vice, and of course, reasons why you should put FUN at the top of your life list.

The office was also abuzz when local celebrity and

international model Laura Wells stopped by to talk

about everything, from her work as an advocate for the Environment, to future screen time as the ‘Perfect Size 14’. I was granted the pleasure of inter-viewing Laura personally, and her knowledge and wisdom on the wellbeing of our oceans was as capti-vating as her views on what it takes to be truly beau-tiful.

The regular I AM contributors have again provided

their professional advice on all things fitness and FUN. Our combined mission is to inspire you to have fun with life and that requires you to be fit, healthy

and, most of all, to investigate your sense of adven-ture.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

SamanthaJane X

I AM MAGAZINE

www.iammagazine.com.au 3

Samantha Jane.


Folk.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATSTANLEYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM


er book, ‘Crazy Mummy Syndrome’, opens with a simple

sentence that I believe every mother can relate to - ‘Toddlers, tan-

trums and the monsters in your head’.

History would have us believe that toddlers and tantrums are an unsurprising

duet. If it wasn’t one of my little Jeckyl and Hydes throwing the tanty of the day, it was every other child that crossed my path from the bank to the gro-cery store. Tantrums are simply something that comes with toddlers. It’s a form of self expression. It’s your toddler saying, I want this more than I love you right now.

The monsters in your head, as Llew discovered from personal experience, are a whole other kettle of fish. These guys are sneaky and they don’t shout and throw themselves about for others to see. No! they keep their performance just

for you, for your ears only. The monsters in your head are tantrum throwing giants, and threatening to leave them at the shop if they don’t stop screaming, has absolutely no effect. The ‘monsters in your head’ know … where you go, they go.

Post natal depression effects up to 50,000 women in Australia per year. It is not a new thing, it’s simply that each generation calls it by a new name. PND 50 years ago may have been labelled a ‘nervous breakdown’. Sometimes mis-takenly diagnosed as the baby blues, PND can persist for weeks or even

months if left untreated and can turn a time, that is suppose to be one of the happiest, into hell.

It wasn’t until 9 weeks after the birth of Llew Dowley’s second child, Ryder,

that she realised something was wrong. With baby #2 came post natal depres-sion. While Llew was balancing life with a new baby and toddler, PND had snuck through the front door and made itself at home.

[Exert from ‘Crazy Mummy Syndrome’]

When I came home with Ryder [Llew’s second child], I found that now the in-stinctive nature was kicking in. I didn’t have time to think about what to do as I was also managing a toddler. Everything baby-wise was falling into place, while everything toddler-wise wasn’t.

I found that Adison had my personality. The tantrums she was throwing and the frustration she was feeling, I remembered them all from when I was a

child. And yet I still didn’t know how to handle her. And the voices in my head, my monsters on the bus, were repeatedly saying to me, how can you handle her when the things you see her doing are the things you hate in yourself? It was a horrible thing to think, but it was true. All the things I’d come to hate

about myself were manifesting right before my eyes in my daughter. And it was playing on my mind. How do you deal with the things you have been trying to avoid within yourself for so long? My frustration would rise, and I would experience so much anger. There were times when I was worried that I was going to hurt my daughter. I was so used to being in control, or at least having some control, that I didn’t know how to

deal with this. Then, nine weeks after Ryder’s arrival, I hit rock bottom. In front of my mum, my sister and my nieces, I screamed at Adison. Two days later I saw my GP. I blurted everything out to her and cried and cried. I felt like a failure.

LLEW DOWLEY Crazy Mummy Syndrome

LE*


continued...

Crazy mummy Syndrome is an honest, no holds barred, account of what it was like for Llew to experience post natal depression and how she was forced to turn in-wards to get through it. The book journals her adven-

ture into the search for self worth. It is a story of sur-vival and provides strong evidence in the ‘taking time for me’ debate.

Llew encourages others to really explore what makes

them tick. For her it was learning how to run again, fundraising for the Black Dog Institute, crochet and of course writing. She made the choice to leave behind what she had been told was ‘a life’ and investigate for

herself what she wanted for ‘her life’. She needed to find her happy.

When I asked Llew what she hoped to achieve by writ-ing the book, she said, “I want to get people talking about depression. I want to bring it into the light, to help sufferers come out of the dark. Going through a crisis and getting to the point of really wondering what all of this bullsh*t is really for, is a thought process that

can only lead you towards what it is you truly want. I have come to the point of accepting every challenge, I am not afraid to fail because while ever I am trying I am stopping the monsters in my head. I picked up a postcard from the local café once, you know the quote type ones, it said, “You can change the World”. I still have that postcard and for me it’s not about changing

the world in every way, it’s about doing just one thing. Making a change in even the smallest way. For me, that change is bringing awareness to depression in order to help those who suffer from it.”

You can find Crazy Mummy Syndrome at Elite PTSC, Cronulla and online at

www.crazymummysyndrome.com

How does a person go from ‘not coping’, to writing a book about ‘not coping’? There was a time that Llew maintained a full time career with great benefits and the security of a good income. There was, however, one small prob-lem, Llew hated it, and her loathe for her daily routine that fell within the ac-ceptable confines of society grew bigger every single day. It grew to the point of Alice exploding out of the house in Wonderland, her unhappiness became bigger than her. And so, the search began to find Llew’s happiness and she knew the first stop was ‘what am I going to do with my life’, station. Two requirements were fundamental in Llew’s career happiness journey. First, she needed to remember what she liked doing, no, not liked, loved! And second was to find a way to be able to do all of this from home. Writing is something Llew has always loved to do. To turn it into a money making gig though, she had to look at how her passion could be moulded to the current market. Content writing for the web seemed like a good start. Llew enrolled in a course designed to get her writing with one of the major tasks be-ing that she had to write a book. In or-der to write an entire book, she had to delve deep to explore the topics she knew a lot about, something that could be written not only with freedom, but with credibility also. The goal was to help other people via word and from experience post natal depression was something she understood completely. Llew also recalled not being able to find the information you needed when she was suffering with PND and this is something she hopes to change with the release of her book, “Crazy Mummy Syndrome”.

inspired


Folk.

Sarah Rose Scales on youth & mental health.

with other faculties within Sydney Uni cam-paigning for mental health awareness around the campus. We are focused on reducing the stigma around depression and mental health

issues, we want to encourage people to get help.

I AM: Are uni students really that open to ad-mitting they are not coping?

Sarah: Yes and no. At a recent wellbeing fair, held on campus, students were given the op-portunity to write a message about how they

feel about mental health on a sign. The mes-sage was then photographed with the writer holding it. These photographs were then

turned into a large banner that can be seen by all students that walk by. The banner was placed as an opportunity to tell students that they are not alone if they are having these feelings. It was a message to sufferers, who may feel they are alone, that fellow students

understand or are even experiencing what they are feeling. Again, it’s about removing the stigma of, “let’s not talk about the fact that we

are really not okay”. We want young people to know they will not be judged, that they have access to and will be provided with the assis-tance they need.

I AM: With statistics revealing the need for more awareness in High School, is this some-thing you believe should be taught to students before University?

Sarah: We [Headspace] would love to hold the forum, similar to the Uni one, at High Schools.

Suicide is the highest cause of youth death. I attended a ‘minding your mental health’ forum

at State Parliament earlier this year and there were a lot of HSC students attending. When they were asked why they were there, they confirmed their awareness of students suffer-ing with mental illness and the presence of

suicide. I believe every school should have [mental health education] as part of their cur-riculum. Anxiety issues are so common across Australia in all ages. Early intervention and awareness will give people a better chance at a healthier mental state.

I AM: It sounds like we are still stuck in our

old ways of not talking about it. How will we

break away from this ineffective mentality?

Sarah: Mental health is a growing problem

and it’s presence alone is now demanding a change.

The Change-Makers.

Mental health issues have many names. From

depression, anxiety to PTSD - the list goes on. Looking back on depression and the social defi-nition, case studies have provided an ‘in-the-

box’ impression of how someone suffering with a mental health problem ‘should’ appear. How-ever, the reality is that depression comes in all forms and is not restricted to age, aka a mid-life crisis phase.

In 2003, The Sydney Morning herald reported that, “Pressure to perform in the HSC contributes to one in 11 adolescent suicides in NSW.” The issue of pressure

on students leading to mental health problems, and suicide, made headlines 11 years ago and a growing awareness of depression in young people has followed since. It is the rapid growth of the ‘mental health is-sue’ that led local Shire girl, Sarah Rose Scales, to-wards her passion and chosen field of working with youth.

I AM: Your work with Youth Mental Health Organisa-tion, Headspace, has a strong focus on assessing and assisting University students, why?

Sarah: With exam stress & transition from High School, University students are a strong target group for Headspace. Also, students who have suffered anxiety or mental issues before entering Uni, we want to bring awareness to what’s available on campus and through headspace to assist them. We are partnered

“Anxiety issues are so common across Australia in all ages. Early intervention

and awareness will give people a better chance at a

healthier mental state.”


Headspace is a National

Youth Mental Health Foundation funded by the Commonwealth Gov-ernment of Australia. Their purpose is to provide health advice, support and information to 12-25 year olds experiencing tough times. Although Headspace is funded by a govern-ment body, centres rely on support from the community to deliver addi-tional programs that assist in a range of services including; education, em-ployment and counselling for drug and alcohol abuse. Headspace recently opened their

doors in Miranda. For more informa-

tion on Headspace and the services

they provide please head to:

www.headspace.org.au

Organisations like [Batyr] move around to schools with guest speakers who have life experi-ence in what it’s like to suffer with mental illness. High school students are still very young and re-

spond well to people they can relate to. People who look normal and have normal lives and jobs. It is therefore easier for the students to be able to put themselves in their shoes. These public discussions take the, “it will never happen to me”, expectation away. By getting to these stu-dents quite young we are effectively breaking

down the walls of the old ways.

I AM: On a personal note, when did you discover you had a passion in the field of Mental Health?

Sarah: I studied a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Sociology and from there my plan was to follow a career in Psychology. How-ever, after doing that degree I found I had a stronger passion for helping youth. For me the thought of a child or teenager suffering so in-

tensely that suicide becomes the only option, breaks my heart because I know this is some-thing that can be prevented.

I AM: Let’s say, Mum or Dad is worried about the mental health or happiness of their child, what is your advice for them?

Sarah: Try communication first. It’s not uncom-mon for the child to say they’re okay, when they’re not. Use your parental instincts if commu-nication is limited or stressful. At Headspace we

encourage flexibility and allow the family to come in as a group. This can make the child feel more comfortable, it can also remove feelings of being singled out. You can also ask your child if they

would like a friend to go with them. Headspace is open to all children from the age of 12 – 25 years and is a youth friendly, supportive and comfort-

able space.

I AM: What do you want people to understand about Mental Health?

Sarah: You are not alone. Mental Health issues are very common and just like physical health, you should seek help when something doesn’t feel right. Mental Health should be regarded with

the same seriousness as physical health, as it can be a serious debilitating condition. If you have a pain in your chest, you go to the Doctor for a

heart health check up, if you’re not ‘feeling well’ in your head … seek help.

“Mental Health issues are very common and just like physical health, you should seek help when something

doesn’t feel right.”

continued...

“You are not alone.”

On returning to Australia Laura met with some people in the field of investi-

gating plastics in the ocean, and marine debris. That meeting led Laura to discover a few groups in Australia

doing their bit in

protecting the envi-ronment, including Responsible Run-ners in Bondi. It was her discovery of that group that

prompted Laura to start cleaning up Cronulla beaches. “So many people enjoy Cronulla

Beach and sadly a lot of them leave a

whole lot of crap behind. It’s not just the rubbish people leave behind, more of it washes up on shore.”

Folk.


“Travelling … to places like Lord Howe and Norfolk Island to name a few. I AM filming a mini series documentary about plastics in the ocean. We are called the Ocean Ambassadors and our voyage is run off a catamaran sailing through the South Pacific . Our focus is to

bring awareness to ocean pollution, and technology designed for waste minimisation, through community and school events.”

Beauty & Brains! She’s an Environmental Scientist. “I have always had a passion for science and wanting to get my hands dirty. Whilst filming the Ocean Am-bassador documentary I was given the opportunity to

assist in the flushing of the birds on Lord Howe Island. There are a lot of sea birds that breed on the island and sadly they feed their chicks plastic from the ocean. I was fortunate enough to work with scientists that

were studying them.”

Flushing of the birds??? “Water is passed through tubes placed down the throats of birds to induce vomiting of ingested plastic.” - just another day at the office...

In comparison to other beaches, where does Cronulla fall on the rubbish scale?

“It’s pretty bad. In the mid-

dle of Summer 10 of us can collect 12 big bags of litter off the beach in half an hour. In Summer it’s more litter from the beach than debris washing up. Water bottles,

food wrappers, McDonalds,

Boost juice, even nappies … we get so much of it. Our clean up group, Responsible Runners, is a great network of local families and kids.

PH

OTO

GRAPH

Y B

Y B

EN

PYKE,

SYD

NEY.

I AM Laura Wells.

My life right now ...

Laura Wells is an Environ-mental Scientist and Inter-national Model. When she’s not jetting off to appear in

a lingerie or fashion shoot for the fabulously curva-

ceous, she’s sailing the South Pacific seas studying the devastating effects of daily waste on our oceans. As a child, Grays point

was her neighbourhood, and even though she travels the world, the Shire is still bliss for this Cronulla goddess. Living nice and close to

the beach also enables

Laura to include her Environmental “nerdy stuff” into her daily life.

A self confessed NERD.

Responsible Runners.

Our littered beach!

What should people understand about the daily dumping of plastics?

“It’s about the future and being sustainable - al-though sustainability is a word that gets over-used. For me, it’s about having a future that is

clean and beautiful. We look at other countries

and grimace at the mess, but we [Australia] can easily head down that path. We have an incredi-bly convenient throw-away lifestyle. Plastic is made to last forever, but sadly it’s been designed to throw away. Plastic can break down into small pieces, but it will never completely disappear.

Right now is the time to focus on waste minimi-sation. Bringing awareness to the habit of using plastic and the damage it is doing.”

What’s the deal with dumping?

When she’s not flushing the bellies of birds, she’s striking a pose for top de-signers all over the globe.

“While I was at university, studying a science and law degree, my sister, who is a few years

younger than me, was modelling as a straight

size 6 model. While I was with her in New York the question was put to me a couple of times as to whether I was a plus size model. My first reac-tion was, “what the hell does that mean, I’m a scientist so you guys can go and get …!” I actu-ally didn’t realise plus size modelling existed.

Modelling was my sister’s thing and so com-pletely removed from me. But! About a year and a half later I was signed with an agency.”

Why choose when you can do both.

Getting signed in London and New York prompted a temporary exit from Down Under for 4 years to

explore modelling. Laura returned home to the Shire a little over a year ago and travels when she

has to, but her focus has turned to her passion of science and making the world a more sustainable

place.

“Life is a balance of being happy and healthy. I will never be a size 8, nor do I want to be. For me, life is about optimal health, strength and the option to exercise when I want to. When you’re healthy,

exercise is easy. Fix the inside and the rest will work itself out. It’s always healthy to just get out there. Choose to be active. If you have trouble

motivating yourself, call in an expert or a suppor-tive friend to help you. I have had times myself when the lazy mood sets in, thankfully I have a boyfriend who is incredibly active and always ea-

ger to motivate me to get moving. When it comes to diet, although I choose to eat healthy, I allow time for indulging as well. I don’t agree with the extreme lifestyles some people choose to adopt. For me, it’s always been about balance.”

The plus size model tag - love it / hate it?

“Some models get upset with the ‘plus size model’ tag, but it’s really about fashion vs reality. In soci-ety I am a normal healthy woman, it’s in the fash-ion industry that I am considered ‘too big’.”

Optimal health philosophy?

“It’s not that far away. It’s a slow crawl in re-verse now. Any decisions we make right now, obviously effect the future. We are attempting to ‘go back on ourselves’ and that is going to take

quite a bit of time. Making the changes now will only help the future, not making the changes will hinder it. We will never get rid of all plastics, if you look around they are everywhere. It’s about bringing awareness to the habit and the value on the environment. Plastics are made from petro-leum, they are oil based, therefore they do have

a relatively high value when oil depletion is taken

into consideration also.”

Is there a ‘D’ day for dumping?


Folk.


n I AM magazine Issue 13 we caught up with local Shire girls, Sarah Hutt and Brittany Woodford, to chat about an exciting, yet chal-

lenging, adventure they were about to embark

upon.

Brittany and Sarah had signed up for a bike ride across Cambodia. The mission was to spread awareness on human trafficking in sup-port of the Australian based organisation, Pro-ject Futures.

The best friends joined 18 other cyclists to ride over 400 kilometres across South East Asia. Their mission was to visit centres, like the

Somaly Mam Foundation, to see firsthand how

programs are providing healing and empower-ment to survivors of a crime affecting more than 1 million girls globally.

READ the pre-trip article in ISSUE 13 on the I AM magazine website –

www.iammagazine.com.au [that magazine]

I AM: First up …after pedalling over 400 kilometres on bicycle, how do you feel about bike seats?

Sarah: Well…. It’s been about two months since we returned so my dislike has diminished slightly. But

let me tell you, me (and my butt) were extremely grateful to get off that bike on the final day. I haven’t been game enough to hop on one since, although, I am planning to rekindle the romance in the coming weeks.

I AM: In one sentence, what did you see in Cambodia?

Sarah: Wow, it’s hard to put it into one sentence, we saw so much! We saw a lot of hopefulness and positivity side by side with sadness and despair. We saw a country and its people that have all the quali-ties it needs to flourish, with just a little support from the outside

world.

I AM: How did this compare with your pre-trip expectation?

Sarah: I don’t think we could have imagined the trip to resonate the way it did. It’s a country I found hard not to fall in love with, the

people, the landscapes just draw you in. It’s a place full of extremes, so much beauty and happiness one minute … and then some much poverty and longing the next.

follow UP!

http://www.iammagazine.com.au

I AM: Visiting the centres facilitating the programs to empower and heal survivors, what emotions did you experience?

Sarah: The first AFESIP centre we visited was the Kampong Cham centre (one of three centres in Cambodia), which houses victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation 16 years and under. At the

time of our visit there was 57 young girls living in the centre. This was one of the most emotionally challenging days I have ever experienced. We arrived at the centre and were greeted by a sea of young eager faces. We were engulfed in hugs from every direction and our hands were taken in theirs as the excitement to show us their home and where they go to school over took them. The horrific pasts these girls

faced were easily hidden at this moment, they were just like any other

child living in Australia when their friends come to play.

We toured the centre and could not help but feel proud of our fund-raising efforts to support this incredible work, knowing exactly where

the money was going and the stable place of happiness it was provid-ing to this most deserving group of young women.

During our time in the centre I had the opportunity to speak to the very inspirational Somaly Mam. Somaly was a victim of human traf-

ficking and sexual exploitation and is the reason the Somaly Mam Foundation and AFESIP centres exist today. As I spoke to Somaly, one of the young girls climbed into her lap, snuggled in and fell asleep. To these girls Somaly is their Mum, offering the love and security that, in

most cases, they had never before experienced. Somaly explained to me that in the two weeks previous, eight new girls arrived at the cen-

tre. They arrived as the result of a police brothel raid. Three of these eight girls were only three years old. It was at that point that what these 57 girls had faced in the past really hit home.

It was very easy to see them just as happy children, but, their reality,

is unfortunately much different. This group of children had been held captive by brothel owners and raped up to 30 times a day by grown men. It was almost impossible to comprehend.

The past may have been horrific for them but the future is so bright. The amazing team of staff at the Somaly Mam Foundation and AFESIP

are miracle workers. The girls are given a warm loving home, undergo psychology sessions, receive an education and learn a trade to be able to support themselves in the future.

I AM: What hopes do you have for the future of the Somaly Mam Foundation and the centres you

visited?

Sarah: I hope that one-day the Somaly Mam Foundation and AFESIP centres are deemed redundant, that human trafficking and sexual exploitation will not longer be an issue that needs combating. Until that point, I hope that incredible people continue to support this incredible cause so there is capacity for

more girls to have a secure and loving home.

I AM: What do you personally want people to know about the issue of sex trafficking?

Sarah: I want people to know that it may seem like a problem that is too big to solve, but if we all do something small we can win the fight to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Even if the money I raised means that only one girl is removed from captivity in a brothel, then surely it is worth it! I think it’s important that people in Australia also know that this isn’t just a problem in developing coun-

tries, PROJECT FUTURES also helps fund the Salvation Army’s Safehouse here in Sydney, which houses victim of human trafficking here in Australia. It is a cause that is in our own backyard too!

I AM: After settling back into your normal routine at home, what are your thoughts about what you ex-perienced?

Sarah: This experience has changed my life, and I cannot recommend it enough. My view on my own life has changed dramatically, the gratefulness I feel everyday for the life I have is unwavering. I no longer ‘sweat the small stuff’. I look at everyday as a huge blessing. I found it hard to ignore the burning feeling I had inside to do more, and as a result am now employed by PROJECT FUTURES. I am so fortunate that everyday I can do my bit to help end this huge injustice facing thousands … which means I’ll be back on the bike a few more times before the year is out.

“This group of children had been held captive by brothel owners and raped

up to 30 times a day by grown men. It was

almost impossible to comprehend.”

PROJECT FUTURES are always looking for people to become in-

volved. If you have the capacity to make a dona-

tion, offer your time, join a cycle challenge or anything else you would

like to chat about , please contact Sarah at

[email protected]


Sarah (left) with Somaly Mam (centre)

mailto:[email protected]

In your neighbourhood.

This is WHO I AM. Chrissy Byrnes-Mikelsons

Jacaranda Cottage, or ‘Jac’ as it’s residents like

to call it, is a safe haven for young girls experi-encing tough times. It is a place to call home when you don’t have a home to go to. And,

Head co-ordinator Chrissy, has been helping girls who stay at Jac transform their lives by

showing them how to celebrate life.

I AM: Why is Jacaranda Cottage a secret?

Chrissy: The girls that come to Jac are generally coming from an unsafe or unsuitable environment. Keeping the girl’s safe while they heal is our priority.

They want to feel, like most normal people do, that

they are safe within the walls of the home they live. ‘Home’ is the key word. Jac is not a shelter or a cen-tre, it is in all ways a home. I AM: What happens to the girls once they enter Jacaranda Cottage?

Chrissy: The girls are greeted with a welcome pack-age which holds a few important items. The most valuable item in that package for the girls is a note

that says, “we are happy you are with us”. Small things like this are very important in creating a sense

of security for the girls. In some cases they have never heard that someone is happy they are around. The girls also receive a few staple items, like sheets, towels, cooking roster and a lease agreement. The

lease agreement is a symbol to the girls that they will only be at Jac for 12 months and that we will help them prepare for a confident departure. At Jac, building confidence and self worth in the girls, is of the highest importance. This is why we also gift them with a type of ‘glory box’. And, during their time with us we will assist them in filling the box with

items they will need when they are ready to make

their own home. I AM: How do you educate the girls on self confi-dence and self worth? With their history, this must be a difficult task?

Chrissy: We are not therapists or counsellors, there-fore we can’t provide them directly with all the assis-

tance they require. Our job at Jac is to clear the situation up. We bring clarity to how their life is in the present. It’s similar to a puzzle. The puzzle pieces are scattered on the floor and the image is

just too difficult to see. We assist the girls in picking one piece up at a time and then placing it in the cor-rect spot in the puzzle. We need to provide them

with a clear image of how things are right now, and how we can help them move forward into a more positive light. This may mean enforcing boundaries

and structure, something a lot of the girls are not use to. We have to remember that they are still children, even though their life up to this point has called for them to be an adult. We

teach life skills like consequences and repercus-sions. If we have a girl that refuses to attend school, we educate her on what can result from her actions. It’s very easy for these girls to quit. It takes strength to hang in there. They simply want someone who cares. It’s having someone there that gives a sh*t if you show up for life.

“It’s having someone there that gives a sh*t if you show up for life.”

I AM: I am sure they are not all success stories once the Jac stay is over … is it hard when that happens?

Chrissy: I have been with Jacaranda Cottage for 6 years now and it has gotten easier over the years. There is a quote I refer back to on the nights I am sitting at home feeling a little less

hopeful for one of the residents, it goes some-

thing like; “It’s hard to watch the people you love screw up time and time again, but it’s harder to help them stay in the position they are in.” The girls need to make mistakes so that they are ready to hear the information we are giving

them. The mistakes give them a reason to take action. People will only change when they are truly ready for change. When they get to the point where change is the only option. Sadly, some of the girls have adopted the men-

tality of ‘it’s better the devil you know’. It feels safer for the girls to stick with the useless worth-

less feelings they have adopted for so long, than to hope for something different. They are wor-ried that if they try to succeed, but fail, it will feel worse than not trying. They need to get to the point where they just can’t do it anymore.

I AM: What’s your personal hope for the girls that pass through Jac?

Chrissy: Our mission statement - ‘To impart hope, facilitate restoration, and celebrate trans-

formation in the lives of our clients.’

I want to see people transformed. I want to see change and I want to be a part of it. I want to know that I encouraged celebration of life. At Jac we have an attitude of celebration. We encour-age the girls to celebrate everything in life, even the small things.


One final message… “No matter who you are or where you live,

always ‘CHOOSE UP’! Good living isn’t about always choosing

positivity or happiness, it’s about choosing to do things even when you really don’t

think you can.

Choose Up!” - CHRISSY.


In your neighbourhood.

This is WHO

I AM. Lauren Deacon.

What? “On a weekly basis I teach and share

Yoga, Meditation & Breath work to people of all ages

and all walks of life.” Why? “It came to my atten-

tion that so many individuals were struggling with

some form of mental health disorder, or stress in their every day life, especially the youth of today”.

“For over a year now, I’ve been teaching “Buddhaful Girls”, which is a Yoga class for females aged 13-18yrs. And, I’ve been teaching Yoga and Meditation to male & female students at Woniora

Rd Public School, which is a school that caters di-rectly for secondary students diagnosed with emo-tional disorders and mental health issues. Since teaching these classes of yoga, and most im-

portantly, awareness of breathing and mindfulness, the young girls and boys, have experienced a posi-tive result and even admit to using the tools learnt

in the yoga class in their outside environment, and in their everyday life. Some even tell me personally that they now try to meditate at home! To hear this is so wonderful and such an inspiration to me, because it shows me that they are recognis-ing within themselves the benefits that yoga, medi-

tation, and simply slowing down the breath, can have. They can see that this practice creates more focus & mental clarity, acceptance and compassion

of oneself and others, and an overall acceptance of who they are, regardless of their circumstances.

Seeing and hearing of these changes from the chil-dren at Woniora Rd School, listening to feedback from my students within any one of my studio

classes, and even my own experiences of mental health when I was growing up in my teens, makes me more determined and passionate to provide a sacred space within my studio. Being able to learn these skills, and putting them into action is a priceless gift that I can help provide

to others. I believe in what Gandhi said, “Be the

change you want to see in the World,” this is some-thing I hold true, it’s something I will keep chal-lenging myself on, always trying to ‘be that change.’ They say that Ignorance is Bliss, but I say Knowl-edge is power, and education is crucial in this! If I can help pass on this wisdom of knowledge, that I

have been taught by my masters & teachers and also from my own research and personal experi-ence, then that is the least I can do to help others in their Journey and quest for love & kindness of

themselves.”

VitalFX Yoga Studio Shop 2/69 Prince Edward Park Road Woronora Www.vitalfxhealth.com.au

“I hope that VITALFX Woronora Studio, and my work and dedication to my students around Sydney, provides space for those seeking, Inspira-tion, Creation and Evolution within them Self. It’s important for all of us that we have an outlet for our inner yearning for connection to our self and others, and a space where one can self-reflect and enquire about what it is that could be holding us back from our true potential, or what we can do to better our lives and growth. And this is true for us that are currently hosting mental health issues, have in the past gone through, or experienced mental health in our self or close friends/family, or simply, just the average individual wanting to explore their inner Self.

In the World of today, where real connection to our friends and family is warped with constant cyber technology; a real connection to our SELF is distracted by false and misleading marketing via the media…it’s even more important to discover and go into the ultimate question of WHO we really are Inside, and WHAT we really want from our life. This can be so useful for those with men-tal illness because it shapes our purpose in life, and with purpose we can create anything. If we are lost, or unsure of what our purpose is, then we can be carried away with the false reality of life and what it’s really about.

I hope my students, after practicing with me, can embrace their true Self and inner beauty through the benefits Yoga, Meditation and Self-Awareness brings. I hope they can feed, soak up and store all the vital information into their body & mind dur-ing yoga/meditation practice, and gravitate to this inner knowledge and awareness off the mat. I hope they can take it into the World, instead of turning to other harmful vices, such as alcohol and drugs, that really only Band-Aid and make us feel worse in the end. I want to EMPOWER & IN-SPIRE every person who I come into contact with each day and I believe this is my purpose.

What is yours?

Fashion.


Photography by Tamara Boon Alfaro

Model Kirah Maddox

Recycled denim overalls by Samantha Edwards

ow many pairs of jeans do you own?

Me? Let’s just say my collection doesn’t resemble a short stack.

When handing over our plastic to the local chain store cashier, does the cost to the

environment from the mass production of this - essential wardrobe staple that goes with anything for any occasion - product ever really cross our minds?

Here’s the punish - the simple purchase of another pair of ‘this season’s’ denims, is a recipe for disaster that looks a little something like this …

In a bowl, place 1.5 pounds of cotton and 1500 gallons of water, yep that cotton

is one thirsty harvest requiring about 375 buckets of H2o produce 1 pair of jeans. Next, add a few litres of pesticide and fertilizer to make the cotton grow. Followed by a good dash of harsh dyes and excessive mining of volcanic pumice stones to give your denim that ‘perfect vintage’ look. Place it all in the oven of perspective for 45 mins and ‘buzz’ you have one pair of the 450 million pairs of denim jeans sold in

the US every year.

Are you looking down at your old faves right now?

Researching the nastiness of denim production is not a pleasant task, especially for

this writer, as she unashamedly loves her denim. Thankfully, comfort can be re-ceived with balance… 100% of her denim wardrobe has the Op-Shop tag, which equals, environmental approval.

Browse the denim jean rack at any charity, thrift or second hand store and you will come to realise the options are extensive. Gone are the days when denim via thrift was “so last season”. The fact is, fashion is fundamentally a short on-trend style loop.

The task of keeping up with society’s need, to always have the latest style or prod-uct, has decreased the fashion industry’s on-trend shelf life. In the style stakes,

what may have held it’s ground for 3-6 months years ago, will only suffice for 4-6

weeks with today’s fashionable folk.

This type of mass production is hell on the environment, but every cloud has a sil-

ver lining. What you will find is that the second hand stores will always have items that are on-trend, and this includes denim. I mean how many ways can you hon-estly style denim? The cycle has literally closed in on this iconic staple and past styles are rehashed every season, or in retail reality, every 4-6 weeks.

This is great news for thrifters and people wanting to, not only get their must-have styles on a budget, but also do their bit for the sustainability of the planet. The range of second hand jeans is broad and prices like $15 for a pair of Bettina Liano baby blues … well, no explanation required.

Convincing people to thrift, reduce, reuse, recycle is not a hard task in today’s eco-

nomic climate and companies like Nudie Jeans Co are providing the convenience of revitalising old faithfuls, as opposed to dumping them in landfill.

Leading by example, the company is taking into consideration the responsibility they have to the environment by producing a high turnover item, like denim jeans. The company believes ‘repairing is caring’ when they launched the “use em – break em – fix em” project. Starting the repair program in London, they vow to repair your Nudie Jeans free of charge. That means, when your favourite pair of denims get that perfectly worn in vibe about them but start to sadly look a little worse for wear, instead of throwing them in the nearest trash can and heading for your local

Denim Jeans chain, you can have them reworked and ready for another few years

of fabulous wear. Let’s hope a program like this makes it’s way down under soon.

In the meantime, before restocking the jeans shelf in your wardrobe, take a look at your local second hand clothes provider. The money you’ll save on denim can go towards drinks, gossip and laughs with the girls, because at the end of the day we remember the moments in our life, not what we were wearing at the time. th

e d

enim

dis

ast

er.



The Thrift Edit ...Fashion.

Photography by Tamara Boon Alfaro

Model Kirah Maddox

Fashion Styling Samantha Edwards

have always been a bit of a nomadic hippie at heart. When it comes to the fashionable hippie, my attraction is drawn to free flowing fabrics and layers. The style exudes a natural form of expres-

sion. For me the hippie style, or boho as some like to call it, is connected to the spiritual side of the wearer, it speaks to the universe and ignites the possibility of a magical adventure.

Just for kicks, I chose recently to mix my thrift obsession with the Nomadic trend recently embraced by some of the top designers. Working with photographer Tamara Boon Alfaro and stunning model Kirah Maddox, I recreated the style using discovered pieces from Sutherland St Vincent De Paul.

Why I love this look: This particular style connects with the inner warrior, the traveller, the independent woman. The layers

create mystery and the woman appears magical in her uniqueness. The Nomadic girl belongs to her own clan… a clan you can only wonder about. Where she came from, you will never know, until you take the journey to find it yourself.

Samantha Jane Stylist & Editor @ I AM


GREEN HILLS - CRONULLA, NSW AUST.

St Vincent De Paul, Sutherland. Navy Blue Designer quilted jacket with hood $30 Under: Embroidered Wool kimono style coat $12

Recycled Denim overalls cre-ated by Samantha Jane using second hand denim jeans.

St Vincent De Paul, Sutherland. Cream knit scarf sith hood $9 Antique Scottish belt $10 Reworked thick cotton skirt $6 Black tights $6 Assorted bangles from $4 Crochet bikini supplied by South of the Border Cronulla.

St Vincent De Paul, Sutherland. Cream leather jacket $30 Knitted hoodie $11 Embroidered Skirt $9 Pendant $3 Crochet bikini supplied by South of the Border Cronulla.

St Vincent De Paul, Sutherland. Pink Wool Jacket $18 Bangles from $4 Crochet bikini supplied by South of the Border Cronulla.

St Vincent De Paul, Sutherland. Wool Poncho Jacket $11 Black wool shawl $7 Green scarf skirt $6 Bangles from $4 Pendant $3 Earrings $3

Beauty.


Home is? Sutherland & Cronulla.

Childhood memories of the Shire? Raised on Cronulla beach

at the Surf Club… a glorified beach bum.

Why make up artistry? After experimenting with a few career

ideas, make up was the one thing I continued to come back to, it’s my passion. I love every aspect of the industry, fashion, modelling - everything.

Fashion! I love fashion editorial and special effects. It’s the ulti-

mate artistic form of expression in this industry. Last year I vol-unteered at Mercedes Fashion Week and assisted in prep and final checks for Runway, the vibe was electric and I loved every minute of it. The preparation required for 5 mins of catwalk time is ridiculous, but it definitely makes for an amazing 5 minutes!

Models … what’s the secret? Is it make up application or were they really just born with perfect features? Very very

experienced make up artists. It’s primarily about product and application.

With formal season approaching, what is your advice for young women getting ready to rock it at the most impor-tant event of high school? First tip…book everything EARLY! As soon as you know the date, book your make up, hair … everything! With formals generally occurring around the same time, places are booked out very quickly. And, don’t be afraid to look a little bit further outside

your neighbourhood. We live in an area with a strong local focus, which is great, but can cause disappointment around formal time

with availability at the local salon. Second, your spray tan shade will alter your foundation tint. Get a test run first to make sure the shade is the most complimen-tary. A spray tan should be applied the day before, as this will provide optimal colour on formal day. Once you have decided on your spray tan shade, the tint will determine your most flattering foundation shade.

Any formal make up trends? Always the smoky eye and false

eyelashes. Every year we get girls wanting this particular look, along with nude lips. Colour on the lips comes down to colour in

the gown. Only a small amount of girls will go for a scarlet lip,

generally it’s never too ‘out there’. Girls generally bring a picture in of the look they like, there are times though when a little per-suasion is required. Every face is different, in shape, colour and size. Some celebrity looks just won’t work on a particular face shape and the last thing you want as a make up artist, is a dis-appointed girl on formal day.

Formal Faux Pas? If you are going to wear white, always wash

your spray tan thoroughly - after application processing time of course. I have witnessed some very shocked faces when residue or bronzer from the spray tan has seeped into the gown. It’s an

immensely sad moment.

Baillie is the resident make up artist at Tamarind Day Spa in Cro-nulla.

For bookings & info phone Tamarind Day Spa (02) 9544 1129

The art of make up with ... Baillie McKellar

Don’t miss this Special Offer …

Formal/Event Glamour Package!

Spray Tan, Full Make Up, Eyelash Tint &

Acrylic Nails only $120.

For bookings & info phone Tamarind Day Spa

(02) 9544 1129

Stars swear it is the

ultimate confidence booster and instant motivator for stripping off the layers, even during the colder months.

Spray tanning is a multi-million dollar industry and the market has experienced a rapid expan-

sion over the past 10 years due

to the need to meet customer demand. And the customers, a collective of millions, are defi-nitely demanding.

The mission - to achieve an

ultimate natural summer glow as quickly as possible, especially when the seasons change. The key word being ‘natural’. Gone are the days of patchy shades of orange screaming hap-hazard

application.

Beauty industry professionals

have become artists in achieving the ‘I just got back from a week in the Caribbean” look, providing their clients with what is now considered a necessity for all events, by some.

I AM magazine has tried, tested and recommends the ‘Custom

Tan’ Spray Tan available at Tamarind Day Spa. Tamarind Day spa offer a wide variety of shades that are guar-

anteed to meet every spray tan desire. For more info contact Tamarind Day Spa. Phone (02) 9544 1129

We tried

it!


Health&Fitness.

Many people still think that a long slow workout at a low-moderate intensity will result in more kilojoules from fat being burned than the shorter harder training sessions. It’s true

that the “fat burning zone” requires you to work at a heart rate of 50-55% of your HR Max

for 60-90 minutes. Your other option is a moder-ate workout at 60-70% for 45 minutes. Or you can persist with your fast and hard workouts and know that you are burning the same or more kilojoules than your slow or moderate in-

tensity sessions.

If we look at the duration and total number of kilo-joules burned and factor in the percentage of kilo-joules burned as fat during a high intensity work-out (40%) you will see that the high intensity ses-sion will bring you better results over time.

A couple of key points to remember to make the most of your time:

• You must retain your HR at 75-85% of your HR Max for the entire 15-20 minutes.

• For best results wear a heart rate monitor. You really can GO HARD then GO HOME and know that you are training effectively and on track for great results.

This month’s I AM reader question:

“Some days I only have 15-20 minutes to exer-

cise. I heard that working out at a high intensity for a short period of time is as effective as a 45 minute medium intensity workout. Is this true?” Emma: Firstly, any exercise is better than no exercise, I can’t stress that enough. But yes, scientifically speaking if you are looking to maximise your re-

sults and you only have a short period of 15-20 minutes in which to complete your workout, then a high intensity training session is the way to go!

In fact, this is a training method I highly recom-mend for everyone.

A high intensity workout is characterised by you elevating your heart rate to 75-85% of your Heart Rate Maximum (HR Max), for the duration of your workout.

You can estimate your HR Max with the following equation:

220 - your age = HR Max eg. The HR Max of a 30 year old would be calcu-

lated as 220 - 30 = 190 HR Max. This simple calculation method does have a vari-ance of plus or minus 20 beats per minute either side of the result. Gender and current level of fitness are contributing factors towards these

variances.

E: [email protected]

W: www.emmapilcher.com.au

M: 0434 355 386

Q&A with Emma.

AKdesigns workout-wear packs to giveaway*!!!

Each pack includes top & bottoms plus an AK drink bottle.

Simply email the CODE WORD

NEON Along with your contact details to [email protected]

By CLOSE 6PM AUG 22ND 2014 Please read terms below before

entering.

*Size Small only for this package *Open to SUTHERLAND SHIRE

residents only. *One pack per winner.

Give

AWAY!!!

CONTRIBUTOR COLUMN

GET FIT LOCAL WWW.EMMAPILCHER.COM.AU


Fashion. PH

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AKdesignsaus.com

Workout-wear designed by Sutherland Shire

siblings Ashleigh & Kyle.

“If you want to feel sexy and snug in the

butt department, this label is sure to

please. I found the AK Designs tights really

supportive, thick and comfortable. Feeling

good in my gear definitely motivates me to

work hard!”

Sam, Editor @ I AM

We tried it!

SHOP LOCAL WWW.AKDESIGNSAUS.COM


Fashion.

Stocked by Lovemovement.com.au, Vie Active has raised the bar in the fitness apparel world.

From the girls at Love Movement … “Vie Active is Australia’s premium high performance fitness fash-ion label and we are in love! Designed and tested in beautiful

Bondi, Co-Founders Noa and Bryan prove fashion and function can coexist. Using the most technical fabrics available, including Merino F3 Supplex and F3 Compression, Vie Active has raised the bar in the fitness apparel world. Their pieces are suitable for high performance sports, social settings & everything in between.”

Why we love it: “We’re not sure we can fit all the reasons in

here! The quality, design and uniqueness of this brand will get you noticed. We are smitten with what these truly talented peo-ple can achieve!”

Ed’s Pick! I AM smitten with the kitten-esque vibe of this set!

For me this set is a statement of self confidence

and why you train. It says, I am the queen of

the gym jungle and I am here to get my FIT on!

SHOP LOCAL WWW.LOVEMOVEMENT.COM.AU

NEW kid on the block.

A getaway for when you only have an hour to spare.

The Woronora Valley is, in many eyes, the

most peaceful part of the Sutherland Shire.

Exuding a natural sense of serenity and ef-fortless feeling of peace, it welcomes visitors with untouched scenery rarely found else-where. Woronora has been known for many years as one of the least commercially ‘affected’ parts of The Shire and gratefully

that status still remains today. It was the unaffected natural vibe that convinced local Sutherland Shire Yoga Instructor Lauren Deacon to open a studio in the heart of the valley.

VitalFX is a boutique yoga studio offering students the opportunity to experience ef-fortless meditation by providing the perfect

backdrop for the practise of yoga. The inti-mate studio set up allows for only 8 – 10 participants per class with a variety of yoga techniques for all ages, including a class for young women designed to address age rele-vant issues.

The Woronora studio is a sacred place en-couraging students to embrace and experi-

ence the true practise of yoga, the coming

together of mind, body & spirit. Students are provided with an intimate setting allow-ing for education in the fundamentals of yoga. With only the front row to choose from, the instructor, Lauren, has clear view of her students and easy access to provide

assistance and instruction when needed.

VitalFX Yoga Studio - Shop 2 / 69 Prince Edward Park Road Woronora

LOOK WHO’S NEW To Woronora ...


We love hearing from you! Do you have a local Sutherland Shire business?

Contact the Editor of I AM magazine at [email protected]

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f**k it!

All my life I have followed the rules. Done what is expected of me. Ticked all of the ‘right’ boxes. But why? A few years ago, I started wondering

this myself. What was the point?

I finished high school and went on to university,

because this is what my parents expected of me. Mind you it only took me nine weeks to realise that university wasn’t for me and my free thinking ways. Telling my parents was the hardest thing I had to do. I felt like I had let them down. I was

the only one out of their three kids that would have the opportunity to go to university, and to

tell them I didn’t want to go just killed me.

The next years of my life I spent working hard in which ever job I had. I worked my way through hotel receptionist positions, real estate agencies, and finally was employed in a corporate office job in the banking industry. My working hours were 9am until 5pm, Monday through to Friday. I had the perfect job.

During this time I met my would-be husband, and

we bought a home together. It was the ‘great Aus-tralian dream’ to own your own property. Though in this day and age I wonder if we will ever really own our home outright. A year later we were mar-ried, and the year after that we started trying for a family. Five years down the track, we have two beautiful children, though I never knew what that

meant when I was looking into the future.

I expected to get married, have a well paying job, buy a house and have kids. Simple. And if I had that, I would be happy. Wouldn’t we

all? … The naivety of youth.

We have an idea in our heads of what our lives should look like when we grow up. But we aren’t prepared for it when the reality turns out so much different.

Yes I have 'made it’. I have the perfect life. On the outside. On the inside, I was dying. There had to be more to life than this.

There was no motivation at work, I turned up everyday, to sit at my desk and deal with issues

that didn’t interest me. I had never pictured my-self in the corporate environment, yet here I sat. Because it was what was expected of me.

I wasn’t enjoying life as a mother or wife. In the few hours we all had together during the week,

there was plenty of screaming, crying and unhap-piness. From all of us. The big Australian dream of owning our own place was such a strain on our lives, we didn’t have time to even be appreciative of our family home. Was this what we had signed up for?

It didn’t take me long to realise I was going to disappoint someone when I decided to ‘buck’ society. It was after all, my life, and I was the

one who had to live it.

I had to do something, we couldn’t keep living like this. What I did next, was turn my world up-

side down.

I built my own business, enabling me to work

from home and set my own hours. This allowed me more quality time with the ones I love, in our cosy family home.

Did I disappoint anyone when I made these changes? Nope, not a one.

Well maybe just one. Me.

I was disappointed I didn’t buck the system earlier. Llew Dowley [email protected] 0405 476 468

‘BUCK’ SOCIETY!

It’s your life.

CONTRIBUTOR COLUMN

mailto:[email protected]

Fun.


t all started with a very random choice of wine on the shelf at the local bottle shop, dark chocolate infused red wine. The END!... No seriously, it was one of my most amazing discoveries, as I sit here by the open

fire at 11.15am writing this article I already feel like a glass or two. But let me go back to the beginning and tell you just how I came to be sitting here, on a chintz sofa in front of a roaring fire that I actually had a hand in building.

Sitting there that night, sipping on the chocolate red wine, I started to think of the impending coldness of winter. I absolutely abhor the cold. But this chocolate

red wine got me thinking about open fireplaces, country air, winter coats and the mountains.

My mind immediately went to a place I had stayed at

years before with my closest friends, The Hidden Valley Retreat. I hadn’t even finished telling the story, to the Editor of this fabulous Magazine no less, along with my idea that maybe we should go there to put the next issue together, before she said,…Road trip…Girls Week-

end…ABSOLUTEY!… obviously, she loved the chocolate red wine as much as I did. >>

“she said,…Road trip… Girls Weekend…ABSOLUTEY…

obviously, she loved the chocolate red wine as

much as I did.”

By KYLIE GREEN, CRONULLA. TRAVEL WRITER & PHOTO JOURNALIST


Hidden Valley Retreat is just that. A retreat hidden in the most amazing valley in Grose Vale, at the base of the Blue Mountains. It’s like I have once again taken a huge step back in time. The old set-

tlers cottages are built across 40 acres of plush, green land and nestled at the foot of the Moun-tains. Right now, if I close my eyes, I can hear nothing but the fire, bell birds singing and the wa-ter from a stream nearby… complete seclu-

sion. Sounds romantic doesn’t it? Not when it’s a girls only weekend.

We head off on our road-trip the traffic on a Friday

night and brave the horrendous Sydney peak hour traffic. After getting lost 3 or 4 times we reach our destination. It’s pitch black, its freezing cold but we are here, at the Willow Cottage on the Hidden Val-ley Property. The first thing we needed to do was start a fire…laughs all around of course, I used a month’s worth of fire starters in 5 minutes, but

eventually we had a hot smoldering fire. We

poured ourselves a glass of chocolate red wine, sat back and the girls weekend began.

Gossip, laughter, men, another red wine, health, more laughter, more gossip, yet more red wine, music, red wine, jokes, red wine, more laughter and by the end of the bottle the men had suddenly become boys, the gossip had become hys-

terical and we were both on the floor in fits of laughter.

Is there anything better than a girlie weekend away? It is soothing for the soul. I highly recom-

mend you get your best girlfriend or group of girl-friends, find a nice cottage somewhere in the mountains, or better still call Lesley at Hidden Val-ley Retreat and make that reservation immedi-

ately.

You will need to bring all the weekend essen-tials. This place is definitely designed to stay the entire weekend without leaving. Cook something amazing (and I am leaving out the

bit about my lentil soup – another very funny story along with a very expensive pot ru-ined), share some wine and enjoy a good old gossip, you know you love to.

For more information on Hidden Valley Retreat check out their website

www.hiddenvalleyretreat.com.au.

continued...

http://www.hiddenvalleyretreat.com.au/

NEED to know...

Thank you.

I would like to thank all of the local Sutherland Shire men & women who have supported I AM

magazine throughout the journey of becoming ‘the’ local community magazine. The I AM mis-

sion has always been to inspire and encourage people to treat their life like an adventure.

From fashion, fitness, food & FUN, we want people to take control by demanding happi-

ness in their lives. This life we have is a gift and it should be celebrated every single day.

We know you all like to work hard, but we absolutely insist you PLAY HARDER!

Samantha Jane Founder I AM magazine Est. 2011


i-am Magazine Pty Ltd is an independent magazine published by Samantha Edwards & i-am Magazine Pty Ltd. Available for reading at www.iammagazine.com.au Mail to: PO Box 1145 Cronulla NSW 2230 AUSTRALIA ABN: 82 146 481 781

All content is subject to copyright, and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Opinions represented in i-am Magazine Pty Ltd are not necessarily those of the publishers. This magazine is intended as a reference only, NOT as medical advice. Some course language and/or sexual references may be contained herein. Please browse/

read of your own choosing.

Articles labelled ‘LE’ are written from ‘life experience’ only, therefore the advice provided is not suitable for everyone. I AM recommends anyone experiencing difficulties in life seek advice from a professional.

In the next issue...

“Never say goodbye, because saying goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.”

- PETER PAN -

i am mag&zine issue 15 august 2014

Documents

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cover p

daily life

life list

ahmazing cover image

local celebrity

local folk

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