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Here we come, 2017! It's going to be packed full of great, 'girly' fun, and we hope you'll join us to share in it all!

It's our second year in print and we have loads of fantastic articles, craft, activities and ideas in store for the new year!


Sunday 20 September 2015

Being Brave

In our previous issue we take bit of a look at being brave. Bravery can come in various forms and might need to be used in any number of situations.

We have a wonderful article from one of the ministry partners at Brave Enough. Dannielle Synot shares with us about bravery in friendships. And, we have some stories about brave women, including one of the many brave women in the Bible - Rahab. To go along with the story we have a free printable playset you can create so you can re-tell the story!



Mini adventures for Spring

We live in a world where we all feel time-poor, and robbed of the precious times we would love to share with our kids. Amongst all the busy-ness of daily life, it can seem such a chore to do those fun, exciting and connecting activities we dream of - they always seem to have so much planning, organising and time.


In our current issue, we've encouraged young girls and their mums to take 'mini adventures' that are quick, simple, yet still give an opportunity to take time out together, creating memories and building relationship.



I still remember, as a child, going 'yowie hunting' with my mum, aunt and sisters, up in the Watagan Forest. Not only was it a wonderful time bonding with each other, but it grew our creativity, encouraged us to take note of all the things around us and created life-long memories! Something I've done with my kids, too, and they love it!

Here are some free printable cards you can print off and keep on hand, when you feel the urge to take a 'mini adventure' without stress and hassle - we've done the thinking for you already! All you need to do is grab a couple of things and you're all set to go!

Enjoy your memory events with each other! We'd love to hear some of the stories of your mini adventures you have!

Monday 26 January 2015

How to . . . cherish mum & daughter time when school returns

The bliss and carefree-ness of summer holidays is over, and once again school returns, along with the hectic lifestyle it often brings. Oh, how sad to see those long days of togetherness start to disappear.

Parents know all too well how little time we have with our children, to build the bonds of strong relationships with them and to cherish those special moments. And, don’t you just feel that at times, school gets in the way of that? Back to homework in the afternoons, music practice and lessons, you might squeeze in dance lessons or sporting activities, and then there can also be church clubs and activities that will once again start up for the year.

Here are some simple, fuss-free, small-time things you can do with your daughter, to spend quality time together, even when things seem too hectic!

1 Paint each other’s nails
You could do this while cooking dinner together, or watching TV with the family. If your school has a no nail polish rule, just do toenails – and seeing as they’ll only be out and about at home, try different colours on different nails!

2 Stop off at a park or lakeside on the way home from school
It doesn’t need to be a long stop – maybe even just time for a push on the swing, or a quick toe-dip in the water at the lake. We’re trying to get into the habit of keeping a couple of towels in the car boot just in case we’re inspired to do such a thing in the spur of the moment!

3 Have an afternoon tea snack together 
If you’re home before your children arrive, it’s lovely to have it ready on the table for them when they walk in the door. Something simple like a smoothie, milo, crackers, carrot sticks and dip, or a cookie is just as nice as a treat that is more special. Do your arrival routines first (school bags in rooms, lunch bags emptied etc) and share the day with each other before heading into homework and practices. If you can catch your children when they first come home, they are more likely to share more of their day with you.

4 Do homework as a family at the kitchen table
I did this growing up, and did it with my children, too. It allows you to keep an eye on the work they are doing, and to be readily available when they need help. Actually sitting at the table with your children lets them know you are right there when they need you.

5 ‘Just because’ gifts
I read this somewhere on the internet and loved the idea! It can be a great way to pick up spirits if someone is having a bad day, or for those children whose love language is receiving gifts, it is an inexpensive way for them to feel loved. A ‘just because’ gift is a little gift given ‘just because’ you love them. I don’t do this all the time, but every now and then will buy a multi-pack of small chocolate bars and hand them out over a couple of weeks as my ‘just because’ gifts.

6 Do a simple craft together
A simple craft, that can be kept with all that is needed for it and pulled out to spend even 5 or 10 minutes at a time can be fun to do together. Ideas could be making a felt pin cushion, beading a necklace or making loom bands. Keep everything in a snap lock bag or sewing basket – pins, needles, threads, stuffing, fabric, buttons etc, can all be collected at the start of the project and put together so you don’t need to hunt them down everytime you want to work on it!

7 Colour in together 
Great for a rainy day and something that a busy mum can put down at any moment if something needs to be done for dinner, or another child helped. There are some great, rather detailed colouring in pages you can download from the internet, or you might come across a detailed book in a cheap shop or craft store.

8 Cook tea together
Great for learning new skills, talking quietly together and it’s a task you need to do anyway!

And when you are too tired or stressed to think creatively, if you have made one of our bucket lists, you can always refer to that! Craft kits for this are available at $18 each + p&h. Simply contact us at ameliaforgirls@gmail.com or pm on facebook Amelia Magazine.


 What’s your favourite quality-time snippet your family enjoys? We’ve done afternoon tea for the last 10 years and I just love it! When all my kids were little and I wasn’t working much, I would have something home-baked every day (oh, how did I do that!), but now that I have two teenagers, they are usually more difficult to keep at the table – it’s usually a quick conversation and a snatch of afternoon tea, then they are keen to get to their quiet space in their room and do homework in peace! Mind you, those old habits are hard to get away from and there will be days that we have a lovely time around the table together!