How to STICK IT TO THE MAN with your friends

Just yesterday the Treasurer Joe Hockey delivered a federal budget that has made many of us very angry. It is a budget that negatively impacts the most vulnerable people in our community while mining companies, defence and big business are benefiting from massive funding injections.

The abc shared this handy graphic to help us navigate the budget. 

Click here to see it. It's really worth a look.

Anyway... This whole thing has got me thinking about how I can respond to this in a way that is actually effective. Sure, I can be a click-tivist and sign every petition that pops up in my Facebook feed. I can write to the government to express my rage- a good thing to do- I'm sure they take a little bit of notice of these things.

I've decided on a different approach though... I've decided to try and identify areas where people might struggle and address them creatively... so without further ado, here are my handy hints on:

HOW TO STICK IT TO THE MAN WITH YOUR FRIENDS

1. Go out and meet your neighbours 

You never know, they might need something you have and vice-versa, therefore helping you to rely on each other rather than a system that will no longer give you a hand-up

Sharing dinner with our beautiful neighbour Mayra

2. Join or start a local food co-op 

This is a great way to meet people, get away from the supermarkets and to stop relying on "the man" for your basic needs

Or go "food rescuing"!

Or even better - GROW YOUR OWN!! 

3. Raise some chooks 

Another way of bypassing a nasty system, plus they are just delightful to have in your life. Did you know that chooks have personalities? One of ours is super adventurous and we re-named her Harriet Houdini because she could escape from any enclosure. 

4. Donate your cash to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre 

Nothing sticks it to a xenophobic government like loving those problematic "boat people"

At Light the Dark silent vigil for slain asylum seeker Reza Berati

5. Find entertainment that is FREE

Join the local library; visit your community neighbourhood house and see what they have to offer; go jogging, cycling, roller skating, climb a tree; start a book club; eat IN with your pals; hang out with some ducks!

6. Start a 'resource-share' among your friends

Why would we buy six lawn mowers when we could just share ONE?! Do you have a food dehydrator? How often do you use it really?? You're lying! Now go lend it to you pal. 

You can borrow my Vietnamese coffee filter if you like! 

7. BARTER!

Do you have a useful skill? Are you a hairdresser? Well you might need an accountant! Hey... that accountant's hair is looking a little muffin-ish... see where I'm going with this?? (side note.. MY hair is getting a little muffin-ish and I have a LOT of skills I could offer you so please get in touch if you wanna make this thing happen!)

8. Look out for the little guy

If you are a person of means who might not be affected so much by the budget cuts please don't do the whole selfish "I'm OK Jack" thing. Have a look around you. Is there a person who has lost their job due to funding cuts? (that happened to me a few years back and it hurts), is there a family that is struggling to make the $7 medical co-payment? Please stop saying "$7 isn't much!"... It's a lot when you've got nothing. If you can afford to give to a charity that helps people who are struggling please do it. Or support people directly. Offer the hand-up that the Government will no longer give vulnerable people. And please, just think before you open your mouth because the things you say can be very hurtful, disempowering and belittling. Ok? Good.

9. Have a cup of tea and relax

It will be ok folks. If we support each other we will all be fine. Individualism is lonely and SO 1990! We are in this together. 

Do you have any other tips to help us to stick it to the man?? I'd love to hear about it! 

Guest Post: Kirri-Mae Sampson: On going home.

"After this, I was hit (like many) with the realisation that I wanted something a little bit different to what I had. So here I am in my final semester of a Master degree that will help me achieve the things I want."

  

Kirri-Mae Sampson

On Going Home: Kirri-Mae Sampson

I had no idea what it was to “squee” over something when Ash first mentioned it to me. Turns out I did though, I just didn't KNOW that I knew. Ya know?

I took a trip north to Brisbane recently and the moment my dear ol’ dad met me at the airport and I climbed into his car, I was consumed by the warm and the fuzzy (the first signs of an oncoming squee). From here he drove us back to his work; he’d just ducked out during ‘smoko’ to pick me up. We pulled up in the car park, he tossed me the keys, gave me a little cuddle and a “Nice to see you petal, pick me up at 4:30,“ and back he went to his work bench. No fuss, and no wasting of words. What a dude.

I jumped into the driver’s seat, checked the tank, it was full. I exhaled happily, plugged in the iPhone, cranked the new Beyonce album…yep….and drove myself home. “Home” in this case, being my parents’ and my family home.

I waltzed in to the empty place with my bags and dumped them in the middle of the kitchen because the pantry is always the first stop. It did not disappoint. Full to the brim. I checked the fridge; same story. This is the part of every visit where I side step between the pantry and the fridge, plates are unnecessary, because fresh produce and snacks go straight from their freshness vessel INTO MY FACE. A couple of rice crackers, some blueberries, a sweet biscuit, a peach, a carrot dipped in hommus, some strawberries, three jatz biscuits. At this point my digits were just not enough so there was a quick pivot to the drawer behind me where I was able to arm myself with a fork (it didn't seem right shoving my fingers into the olive jar) and a knife, because there was BRIE AND CAMEMBERT IN THERE! Then I drank some milk. I don’t even know why. It’s like a crazy frenzied state, and then just as suddenly as it began, I was struck with a slight ill feeling in my belly. I assume that was the result of the outrageous combination of goods that were all hanging out in there together. 

I popped the used utensils into the dishwasher, which had the sign “I'm dirty, load me and wash me” on the front, as opposed to the “I'm clean, empty me” sign. I grabbed my bags and back I went to my old bedroom. While the room has long since been cleared of most things that might resemble my teenage self - a new bed with fresh adult-like linen, empty closet, new side tables and lamps - it would have been much more difficult to erase my beautiful (not really), bold (overpowering) feature wall. The smack of deep bottle green that hits your face when you walk in is the result of a can of paint I received (at my request) for a birthday one year. Feature walls. What were we thinking. I fell back on the bed, and napped the next hour away in some kind of food coma. It was glorious.

All of this bliss took place during the first hours of touching down in Brisbane. This weekend back home rocked and I was squee-ing left, right and centre. And here is why; I (like many) did the student thing straight out of school, then I left it behind (like many) for a few years of full time hard work, and a salary that (almost, but not quite) matched. After this, I was hit (like many) with the realisation that I wanted something a little bit different to what I had. So here I am in my final semester of a Master degree that will help me achieve the things I want. It’s been amazing. I have loved almost every moment of it (there are always a few sticky bits). But along with the study, came the student lifestyle, mi goreng noodles, way too much bread and rice, riding my bike because I can’t afford petrol, taking stock of my household possessions and the ones I could part with to pay rent, etc, etc. We've all been there.

The POINT is going home was rad. I know the weather, I know the roads, I know the people, I know the fridge and the petrol tank will be full, I know that the car has been regularly serviced and will start when I tell it to, I know that my mum will probably book me in for some kind of specialist appointment that I've been putting off, and she might take me to the movies. I know that I will see my brothers and their lovers and we will all give each other shit and laugh, Dad will pretend he is indifferent to my presence but we will know this, in fact, is not the case.

This is all stuff. It’s all great. And it makes me squee.

I also make things. 

Etsy - www.etsy.com/au/shop/kirrimaDe

Facey - www.facebook.com/kirrimaDe

Insta - @kirrimaDe

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[A note from Ash...]

Here are some of Kirri's wonderful creations! She has been super modest about her talents so I felt the need to step in and say something! Be sure to check out her Facebook page and Etsy shop above! 

If any of you are heading to Big Hearted Business this year, Kirri and I will be there so be sure to say hello! Kirri will have a little bag full of her creations for you to buy (she doesn't know that yet but I'll word her up).

x

7 Awesome Crafty Christmas Ideas!

Foxs Lane's Pom-Pommed Pressies!

What a fantastic way to use the humble pom. I'm all about pom-poms at the moment. I've covered the shop, the Christmas tree... and the second Christmas tree in them! Click through to see lots more swoony photos. I love them Kate... seriously lovely.

Pip Lincolne's Crochet Christmas Baubles

How cute are these?! Click through for a very woolly and colourful FREE tutorial!

Little Wolff's Beetroot Wreath

How's this for an inventive idea!? Now I'm thinking about all the other things I could do with beetroot!! Click through for a great tutorial and make a beet-wreath of your own!

Leaf and Petal's Recycled Paper Wrap Ideas

Lots of good wrapping ideas on this blog. I love this one! Using old patterns is such a great idea as there are lots of crazy 80s puffy-sleeved dress patterns in op-shops out there that will never again be sewn... or shouldn't anyway.

Mezz's Super Cute & Easy Christmas Decoration

Isn't this just gorgeous?! I'd love to try making a few dying the doilies different pastel colours. So SWEET!

Miss and Misters Delightful Advent Calendar

Who cares if we're a few days into advent!? There's no RULE saying you can't make a flippin' lovely calendar on December 6th! Click through to see how this one was put together.

City Hippy Farm Girl's Swoony Wrapping Ideas

I hope I get a pressie wrapped like this! Click through for more fab ideas and to bless your eyes with some lovely photography... pretty pictures indeed.

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Thanks to all you lovely bloggers who allowed me to pilfer your photos for use in this little list. Love your work guys!