IN Kids Cooking

Cooking is fun for the whole family and is an activity kids can easily take part in too over the summer.


The Mirmikidis children will probably remember their time in the kitchen as some of their fondest memories. At least their dad hopes so.


Dad Athan says the up-coming holidays are a perfect time to spend some time in the kitchen with your kids, teaching them basic recipes which they’ll always be able to cook.


The father of three has been cooking for as long as he can remember. His grandfather was a chef and his mum taught him to cook when he was little, something Athan started passing onto his own three from the moment they could put on an apron.


The first dish Athan learnt was a classic spaghetti bolognaise, a perfect one to use with summer beef. He says that beef offers plenty of easy recipes for parents to try with their kids including favourites in his house like gourmet burgers, chilli con carne, nachos and a Greek dish called keftethes, which are savoury meatballs made with mince, garlic, onion and parsley.


“Keftethes are perfect for kids to be able to mix and roll into balls. It’s like playing with play dough,” says Athan. “You can eat them as a meal or have them cold as a picking dish.”


Athan’s Greek heritage means that dishes like keftethes are staples amongst all his family but cultural exploration also plays a big part of life in the Mirmikidis home. What better way to do it than with food from around the world. It’s a perfect way to teach Jasper, 9, Amelie, 7 and three-year-old Rosie about different countries.


Athan is the managing director of catering company Heyder & Shears and says it’s a Saturday morning ritual to take his children to the commercial kitchen to watch others cooking as well as going to the butcher.


“They learn about cooking, get more familiar with a kitchen and get to know other people who know how to cook. Jasper can deliver a dinner for the family. Of course his first dish was spaghetti bolognaise. I think it’s all the kids’ favourite meal.


“The older ones already appreciate a good cut of beef which we’ll serve with some kind of relish rather than tomato sauce.”


Being able to help in the kitchen can do wonders for a child’s confidence, says Athan. That sense of accomplishment and pride as well as being a little creative is great for them.


“Kids will try and mimic their parents and I think learning to cook is a fantastic habit for them to have as well as a great pleasure.


“My kids have never eaten from a fast food outlet. They know that the food from home is healthy and developing good eating habits in them is important.


“When we’re in the kitchen together the kids ask why we do something and it forces us to get back to basics too and think about what we are doing step-by-step. We see it through new eyes because of that.”


For information on Heyder & Shears Catering, visit www.heydershears.com.au

IN Rent vs Buy

 
"Rent or Buy – that is the question"


We’re hearing of reports about increased first home buyer activity  in the market again due to a shift in market conditions.


The median house price has no doubt fallen and remained relatively flat for a protracted period, providing a window of opportunity for renters wanting to move to property ownership.


Recent statistical data suggests that currently  there is little difference between monthly mortgage repayments and rental payments providing that much-needed incentive for first home buyers.


The October RP Data Buy vs Rent report found it was cheaper to pay a mortgage than it was to rent in 388 suburbs across the country, with 44 of those in Western Australia.


These statistics can be exciting news for people who’ve been renting but aspire to own their own property, and up until now haven’t been able to afford it. Initial purchase and ongoing affordability is the key issue in this consideration.


However, before you jump into a mortgage of your own there are a few important aspects to take into account.


The first, and the most important is knowing what stage of your life you’re at and what style of life you’re after.


Owning a home is both an investment and a lifestyle choice and comes with a certain amount of responsibilities. Home buyers must take into account their own personal situation and assess each and every aspect of home ownership because both renting and buying property has its perks.


For those thinking of buying for the first time remember to consider other costs such as capital gains if you are an investor plus stamp duty, finance establishment costs, statutory  outgoings plus strata title fees for apartments and villas.


There are other costs of home ownership such as upkeep and maintenance which all add to the cost of buying - as opposed to renting, where none of these costs are a direct issue.


The suggestion that buying is cheaper than renting is somewhat true but in reality not everyone wants to own a property.


Renting has its fair share of benefits and these include its limitations. Increasingly people are choosing renting as a long-term option and approaching renting with a different attitude , for example taking long-term lease periods and set rent reviews to provide security and certainty.


Not being tied down to a mortgage for say 25 years can be what makes renting so attractive because it can facilitate more flexible lifestyle choices which is what many people are after.


Putting all the data and academic debate to one side, it  is a choice between the heart and the mind, and the right choice is what suits the individual depending on their aspirations and life stage. Notwithstanding seeking the advice of an informed property professional can assist in making the right choices.

IN Starling

She’s a nurse, a mum, a wife, an excellent cook and a businesswoman who is determined to bring nature back into all aspects of life.


Nadine Lee Morris is a perfect example of someone who walks their walk and talks it too.


Having things handmade inspires her, which is why she’d rather support an individual who has put love and substance into their products, hence the creation of her own range of bed, bath and home products called Starling.


“Starling is my stand against mass-produced, chemically-laden products,” says Nadine. Starling’s products are natural, organic, chemical free, have not been tested on animals and are handmade by the Perth mum.


Her Perth home is her warehouse, the kitchen her workspace and family her willing guinea pigs. Right out of her suburban kitchen Starling produces organic aromatherapy soy candles, massage oils, room/linen/body sprays, herbal teas, bath salts and body care for health and well-being.


While she trained as a nurse and once worked as a welder, Nadine has always dabbled creatively and been secretly jealous of artistic friends and family.


“I became interested in natural remedies when I learnt how regular products are laden with chemicals,” she explains. “I read an article recently that spoke about this issue and how everything we put on our skin can end up in our bloodstream. That’s scary! So to control this to a certain extent I bought some books on essential oils and aromatherapy and began to experiment. Not long after family and friends were getting plied with samples and being happy guinea pigs for my products.


“When my boys were born I also started thinking about all the chemicals I slathered on their skin when it came to things like creams,” Nadine says. “So I started experimenting with making my own body products.”


Starling was born and is gaining a dedicated following around Perth as Nadine sells her products at local markets and online through Etsy.


While her products may be all about being natural, this attitude also extends into her personal life. Nadine and her husband, musician and author Adam Morris are vegetarians, eat organic where they can and otherwise eat as unrefined as possible.


“We just got really conscious about where our food came from, what had been done to it and what we were doing to it. The boys, Finn who is five-and-half and two-year-old Atticus, have been brought up this way, which I think is important.”


Nadine says while the shift was easy because they wanted to do it, eating and living this way takes more preparation time. Equally though, it’s a lot of fun because she feels like she is always being creative and exploring new products or how to create new dishes.


The Morris family are now in the middle of planning a move to Albany, which will allow Nadine to extend her range thanks to the eventual construction of a larger kitchen in their next home.

IN Snow

Though he discovered the snow as an adult, Perth’s Matt Robinson is proving he’s a force to be reckoned with on a board.

It was less than a handful of years ago that Matt Robinson took his first steps in the snow. When he got on a snowboard he flat out fell in love.

It started an affair which he hopes will take him all the way to Russia and the Winter Paralympics in 2014.

Born and raised in the Perth suburb of Forrestfield but now living in Melbourne because it’s closer to the snow, Matt is a para-snowboarder with arthrogryposis. He has only been riding for a few years but has been tagged as one of the country’s up-and-coming adaptive snowboarders.

Arthrogryposis is a rare congenital disorder which is characterised by joint contractions and muscle weakness.

“I’ve always lived by not having a disability,” says the 27-year-old who also keeps himself fit by running and skating to work and going to the gym. “I grew up playing footy and I’m really good with my feet.

“I don’t know any different, I might take a little longer to do something or look a bit weird but I’ve always just adapted. When I first went snowboarding I couldn’t do up my boots but then I figured out how to do it – swap the straps.

Being in the snow is good for my soul. I’ve never felt so much freedom. Amongst the trees, it’s such a beautiful place and I get to ride on it. There’s something so unique about it. The first time I saw the snow it was the prettiest thing I had ever seen.

That is until he met girlfriend Gecel, who has proved to be a tower of strength alongside a hugely supportive family and group of friends.

Coach Peter Higgins met Matt at a talent identification camp a few years ago and says he immediately stood out as a talented prospect. When the announcement came through that the Russian city of Sochi would be including the sport of snowboard cross (SBX) as part of the 2014 games, Matt was up the top of the list of prospective athletes. Matt and a couple of other athletes have been instrumental in helping pioneer Australia’s first SBX program.

“Matt has the mental prowess to understand what needs to be achieved and the drive within him to persevere until he succeeds,” Peter says. “These traits combined with a natural ability to ride a snowboard have and will take him far within the sport. He dedicated his full time and attention to training over this past winter and the effort he put in resulted in an exceptional rate of development. We look forward to the years ahead of Matt leading the charge toward SBX competition glory.”

Unlike himself, many of the athletes Matt has now come in contact with weren’t born with their disabilities and he says it has been eye-opening and rewarding to work with these athletes. Working and training with them has taught Matt to embrace his own disability that little more completely.

“For the first 25 years I didn’t want to have anything to do with disability stuff because it felt like it was labelling me. In the past year-and-a-half I have come to the realisation that I have a responsibility to be a bit of an ambassador for people with physical disabilities. I used to shut up about it, now I realise I have the character and the personality to be able to help.
"I talk quite a lot to other athletes, some of whom only inherited their disability a year ago. I know I’ve been given an amazing opportunity so I want to use that to inspire people. I figure if they look at me and think ‘if this bloke can do it, why can’t I’? then that’s good."

Matt works for the City of Melbourne as an information management officer and as there’s no government funding or subsidy for this alpine sport, he’s also been busy raising money and securing sponsorships to get overseas to compete in the pre-Olympic trials.

Disabled WinterSport Australia is the country’s peak body which promotes and fosters the advancement of participation by people with a disability in winter sport both in Australia and overseas.

To sponsor Matt or make a donation, go to the DWA website at www.disabledwintersport.org.au

IN Perth Property Market

 
Destination unknown – or is it?

There’s a lot of talk at the moment about the direction of Perth’s property prices. Forget the noise (and there’s a lot of it) and look at the signs. They’re there for all to see and they’re pretty clear.

The ingredients are ripening for a positive shift.

Figures released recently show over the past five years Perth property prices have stabilised, rising by less than three or four percent in most Perth suburbs. In fact, some areas have experienced negative median price corrections. Another important indicator is a sharp drop in the amount of for sale stock available on the market.

This indicates relative affordability has improved in the metropolitan area and Perth is on the threshold of a resurgence in buyer activity once a buying trigger is introduced.

That trigger could be a number of things – I anticipate it will be further cuts to the interest rate.

Economists are predicting it could fall by up to 2.5% by next March, with the Reserve Bank warning at its October board meeting that the outlook for growth in Australia has weakened as the mining sector had slowed down sharply. A great example of that locally is Fortescue Metals Group with FMG announcing it was pulling back on expansion plans and cutting hundreds of jobs. Balanced however by the recent reports that the WA economy is the strongest wealth generator State in Australia.

So what does all of this mean for you?

Three words: surf the curve.

When the property market moves, it can happen very quickly so being ahead of the curve and riding with it can be a potential game changer for you.

As I’ve said before, money will always follow value. Regardless of your budget, you must always look for an advantage – in other words, an area offering positive amenities such as transport, good schools and lifestyle. These features bring security and growth.

If you’re looking to benefit financially from anticipated improvements in property values, I would avoid any area which tends to be a bit bland in character or appeal as they will probably always be sluggish in the market. And, be wary of anything that has experienced rapid price gains in recent times. When investment buying stay close to the median price point in the market.

The signs are definitely indicating a swell in activity  ahead of the next property price wave so to avoid being left behind in the wash up, astute property investors will be preparing now to dive back into the Perth market.

IN Good Dharma

Shop well and feel good about it? It’s a dream come true, thanks to a newly opened store in High Wycombe.

If Carol Wittenbaker isn’t careful, her house will be filled with furniture and homewares which should be in her new store. She just loves it all that much.

Separation anxiety aside, Carol figured that the beautiful objects she couldn’t resist would be things other people couldn’t go past either.

But here’s the rub. When you buy something from Good Dharma approximately 50% of profits from all purchases go directly to carefully selected local and international charities.

“The Good Dharma brand blends my desire for sharing good fortune with others and my love of all things stylish and unique,” Carol Wittenbaker explains. “It’s a little out of the box but the end result is me being able to run a business and help others at the same time.”

With an eye for detail, like an intriguing free-standing basin crafted from million-year-old petrified wood or arresting sculptural lighting, products have been sourced from all over the world including India, Belgium, the UK and Indonesia. Carol is also committed to supporting local artists and offering them a platform to showcase their work.

Homewares with heart, this unique feature for a store of this type is Carol’s desire to provide an ongoing source of funding for charity and keep her social conscience connected. Ensuring every dollar spent in store will give something back in a positive and meaningful way, charities which will benefit from the proceeds include Cystic Fibrosis WA.

I’ve sourced some beautiful cushion covers from India made by women who are trying to rebuild their lives and each one comes with a story. I love that and it’s something which really switches a light on for me. I hope it does for other people too.

Carol and her husband of 27 years, Ray, have run a successful specialist welding business for years but this is her first foray into retail.

Three years in the making, which started with building the High Wycombe premises, the store owner sees this as a perfect opportunity to give something back.

Every day the name Good Dharma, which is based on the word that means natural law in Indian religion and philosophy, resonates with Carol as a way to restore balance to the world in some small way.

“Ray and I are just happy to be able to do what we can to play a small part in the bigger picture,” Carol says. “There are so many worthwhile causes in the world I want to help where I can.

“I’ve always admired people who make their living doing something they are passionate about. Finally I’m going to be one of those people. I’ll also be able to do something useful and powerful. Maybe it will inspire others to do things a little differently too.”

Good Dharma is located at 1/1124 Abernethy Road, High Wycombe. The store is open Monday to Friday from 9am – 4pm and for private viewing by appointment. www.gooddharma.com.au

IN Good Health

Feeling sluggish after the winter and want to make sure you enjoy summer? We’ve got some tips which will have you bouncing into the rest of the year.


The sun is out, the weather is starting to warm up and the weekends are glorious enough that you just want to get out and move about. But what if you’ve let yourself go a little and are finding it hard to kick that sluggishness which winter can bring on?


Adam Hansen believes that health is our greatest asset and as such we should make it a priority in our lives. The naturopath, personal trainer and masseur says without good health so many other things in our life will be much harder to achieve and enjoy – including an active summer.


“So many people forget that our bodies function optimally when we give them the best ingredients,” Adam says. “Fresh, nutritious food, water and exercise, as well as non-toxic relationships are all important foundations for making sure the body is in great shape.


“During winter, when the weather is bad, it’s easy to ease up or forget exercise altogether and spend plenty of time on the couch. Cooler temperatures also mean we tend to go for lots of starchy and carbohydrate-heavy foods which, without adequate exercise, can stack on the kilos.”


If you’re keen to put some enthusiasm back into your step and get your health back on track after winter’s hibernation, Adam suggests these six tips:
Get out in the sun:


Get out in the sun: Your body needs a minimum of 15 minutes of sun exposure on your face and arms three times a week to produce adequate levels of Vitamin D. This little vitamin also acts as a hormone which plays a vital role in shedding those winter kilos. Don’t forget to be sun smart though.


Detox your liver: During the winter months we tend to consume more comfort foods which tend to be higher in fat and sugar, all of which make the liver work harder. To give your liver a helping hand and fire your metabolism, eat plenty of broccoli, carrots and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Your liver will love you for it.


Drink more water: Being locked away indoors all winter, we tend not to be as thirsty but our bodies still require plenty of water. Consume 6 – 8 glasses a day and an extra litre for every hour of exercise. Once you’re hydrated, many common ailments like headaches, constipation, muscle stiffness and fatigue will disappear.


Get a massage: If you’ve just started exercising to get in shape for summer or suffer stress, having a massage can be a life saver. Massage calms the mind, reduces physical and emotional stress, removes those stubborn knots, boosts immunity and increases joint mobility.


Move more: If you’re not a great exerciser, start with regular daily walks. Thirty minutes will do but consistency is the key. The more often you go, the faster you’ll get and the further you’ll walk. Plus those chestnuts like parking your car a little further from the office or the shops easily put more movement into your life.


Up for a challenge: Want a real boost for your health and well-being? Give up processed sugar for a month and see what happens. It can be a miracle if you’re tired, fatigued, overweight and always sick. The items you’ll need to lock away are cakes, chocolate, most types of bread, lollies, ice cream, pastries, soft drinks, cordials, alcohol and most other processed, sweetened foods. If you need sweeteners, experiment with Stevia or agave syrup, snack on fresh dates and make your own sorbet for a sweet treat. There are plenty of sugar-free treat recipes and ideas on the net.