15 Things I Did This Year.

It's New Years Eve and a good time to reflect on the year that has been. This year there have been many adventures and we have followed each other's travels overseas to places like South America, India, Italy, North America, Romania and New Zealand, we have celebrated each others birthdays (especially 3 very special 21st's), and graduations. 2015 has been an incredible year so here is just a summary from each of us; the 15 things we did in 2015 ... 

Happy New Year guys!! 

- The Mosaik Team  

Nicole. 

1. Attended a life drawing class 2. Began pen-palling with a friend 3. Visited an underground mine  4. Ran (...jogged for the first 500m then walked) the Colour Run 5. Unintentionally killed two succulent plants that I was told you couldn't kill 6. Revived a succulent plant 7. Had a cup of coffee every single day of the year 8. Became a YMCA Leader at camps for traumatised youth 9. Ran a market stall 10. Enrolled in screen-printing classes and learnt how to screen print 11. Re-watched every season of Gilmore Girls 12. Got lost driving to a friends house so turned around and drove back home 13. Hosted a number of dinner parties for my close friends 14. Attended five camps in one year 15. Planned my first Christmas away from my family.

Christine.

1. Learnt how to screen-print. 2. Held my first market stall. 3. Studied in Italy. 4. Had my first industrial design exhibition. 5. Got an internship. 6. Visited World Expo 2015. 7. Bought my own domain name. 8. Learnt how to slip-cast. 9. Got a bike! (from my friends! And i love it!) 10. Saw Sam Smith perform. 11. Wrote up a business plan. 12. Said goodbye to my role as College Advisor at Monash (sad face :| ). 13. Said hello to a new job at Kikki.K 14. Did a brush-script lettering class. 15. Documented ideas for something great :)

Olivia.

1. Got my licence 2. Graduated from Advertising 3. Got a job at Kikki K 4. Held my university ball 5. Got an internship and then they messed up 6. Became a Belieber 7. Got a puppy 8. Reversed my car into a brick wall 9. Stopped being a teenager 10. Hit and killed a possum 11. Told everyone I hit and killed a possum 12. Went to too many 21st's and lost all my money buying people presents 13. Got into my midwifery degree 14. Got staff parking 15. I went to the moped store and said fuck it.

Alessandra.

1.Graduated from my course. 2.Took part in the Run for Kids 3.Saw Sam Smith in Concert 4. Rode a Camel 5. Held my first market stall. 6. Got a new job 7. Took part in the Colour Run 8. Saw Florence and the Machine perform. 9. Watched 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls for the first time and cried heavily at the end. 10. Took part in my first professional art exhibition 11. Let go of my teenage years and became a 20 year old 12. Went to the James Turrell exhibition in Canberra (before Drake even made him cool) and braved the stimulated pod 13. Ate a deep fried Golden Gaytime 14. Took a Jewellery class in Pushkar and made a ring with a Rose Quartz in it. 15. Found out my star sign was actually a Cancer and not a Leo due to the time of my birth.

Miriam. 

1. Saw the goddess, Florence Welch live in concert. 2. Travelled to the United States and fell in love with Washington DC. 3. Travelled interstate with friends twice. 4. Released my creative side by exploring the world of make up 5. Developed an intense obsession with collecting eye shadow palettes as a result of #4. 6. Found a part time job I adore. 7. Bought a car. 8. Began volunteering with Business Chicks. 9. Reached the halfway point in my degree. 10. Attended a professional media event for Mosaik. 11. Watched more television than I really should admit. 12. Ate more brunch than I really should admit. 13. Redecorated my study. 14.  Made it through Melbourne's infamous Kokoda Memorial Trail. 15. Ate a deep fried Golden Gaytime (Yes I'm stealing this off you Ally, but it seriously was such a highlight).

Sarah.

1. Began the New Year in Byron at Falls Festival 2. Then took off to Peru for 3 weeks 3. Saw One Direction perform for the last time as a whole 4. Spent 3 days in Tokyo Disneyland with my best friend 5. Developed a mighty fine earring collection 6. Got a bigger bed 7. Got an internship 8. Organised an epic ball  9. Lived out my dream to dress up as Princess Jasmine 10. Became miserable because I cannot dress up like her everyday  11. Transformed into Rudolph for the night 12. Graduated from RMIT 13. Developed a love and appreciation for lifting heavy weights 14. Went to Williamstown beach at 1am after work 15. Realised that everything will always work out when and how it needs to.

Isabella.

1.Became a door to door sales person, selling solar panels 2. Got a volunteer spot at Monash University Museum of Art  3. Attended my first Golden Plains Music Festival 4. Received my Maltese Passport 5. Studied and lived a semester in Italy 6. Worked in a workshop with an Italian filmmaker in Milan 7. Attended the 2015 Venice Biennale 8. Travelled to Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania 9. Learnt and saw how communism had effected Bulgaria and Romania 10. Visited Pompeii and Climbed Mt.Vesuvius 11. Entered more churches, mosques and palaces I have ever entered before 12. Saw the statue of David 13. Went to Transylvania and went inside Dracula's Castle. 14. Had fun, travelled and partied with people from all other the world that I will never forget 15. Attended Meredith Music Festivals Silver Jubilee.

Tess.

1.Became a morning person 2. Met new people who are now profoundly important to me 3. Amassed even more books 4. Collected every colour of the rainbow in lipstick (in multiple finishes and consistencies) 5. Rekindled love for painting 6. Did a successful handstand that one time 7. Went to New Zealand to fulfil dream of becoming a hobbit 8. Did not become hobbit 9. Threw self out of plane in response to failure of becoming a hobbit 10. Ate part of a glacier (mmm, refreshing) 11. Embraced love of coffee so much that I now smell like coffee 90% of the time 12. Went on many a road trips 13. Discovered new found love for yoga and pilates 14. Filed 5 incident reports at my work in a 2 month period 15. Provided the services of Tess' Ratchet Salon at 3 festivals. 

Beth 

1.Developed an intense passion for women's health 2.Completed my first full year of uni 3.Started art classes again for the first time since high school 4.Took the longest time I have ever taken to read a novel 5.Started writing letters on a regular basis 6.Felt as if I had made true positive change in someone else's life 7.Accidentally taught young children about the birds and the bees 8.Created my own business 9.Got into running 10.Had my first green juice (and haven't looked back!) 11.Saw my all time favorite artwork in the flesh (Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth,1948) 12.Felt comfortable with my body shape 13.Had an interstate weekend away on my own 14.Celebrated two years in a long term relationship 15.Built unexpected and truly lovely friendships.

The Gift of Gift Giving.

It's the time of year again where we go out of our way to get something for someone who means something to us. 

I’ll start off with the nice stuff in regards to Christmas / gift giving. Giving a thoughtful gift to someone is a great feeling and can really make someone's day. It's a nice way to give back to someone who you really love and appreciate; because apparently the best gift is the gift of giving. And that is where I finish with the nice stuff. 

In theory, Christmas seems very simple, however when put into practice Christmas would have to be the most stressful time ever and a lot of things can and probably will go wrong, because the combination of family, food and presents can be a recipe for disaster.

Example: You have to act like it's the best day even though your mother has just yelled at all of your family for being their dysfunctional selves. You can argue all you like, but when you step out of that car you better act cool and keep that tension for the car ride home.

Lunch/dinner is an excuse for your aunties to force feed you their Christmas ham / duck / turkey / roast beef  which you will have to eat (seemingly) joyfully no matter how under, or over cooked because it is Christmas. 

And then there is the gift giving *cue ranting*. In case you're not familiar with the concept I’ll help explain it to you through a few pictures that I have carefully curated:

1.That same aunty gives you the same candle every single year and you're not even allowed to light candles at home because Dad thinks they are a fire hazard.

2. You put so much thought into someone's gift, you spend years planning this and save all your money and energy into getting something that they will like. (You even went to Highpoint). However, they don’t put as much thought into your present and you're left with a bar of soap and a few days of questioning whether this is their way of telling you that you smell / need to wash more. 

3. But you have to act like it's great because your mum taught you damn better than to act like an ungrateful gal and you commit to your insincere thankfulness because she raised no quitter.(This photo is misleading because avocados are fantastic and I wouldn't mind an avocado).

4. And during the gift giving ceremony you  have to make small talk with your estranged family who you see once every 9999999 yearzzz. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING

ABOUT ME?

5. Someone may say it's time to exchange presents, and you get one handed to you first and then it gets taken away from you because Nan says “let the kids get their presents first” NAN, I DON'T KNOW MY TIME TABLES, I AM A KID.

6. And then those kids don't even act grateful and are more interested in the wrapping paper than the actual present. NAN WHAT'S GOOD?!!

7..And when Christmas is finally done and dusted, your mother makes you clean everything up whilst those filthy animals you call family are just sitting there relaxing.

So Merry Christmas and may the odds be forever in your favour 

-Olivia

*Mosaik does not take credit for the images used in this article

Life Advice From A Twenty-One-Year-Old.

Around one year ago I wrote an article titled Life Advice From A Twenty-Year-Old that gave me reason to reflect on the year and think about what I learned from the people and experiences I encountered in 2014. A lot has changed since I wrote that post, and I have experienced even more over the past year, so I thought I would share some of the valuable lessons that have been recognised and consolidated through this year's happenings. 

• Be present: I have come to learn the importance of truly being present and giving your undivided attention to others. To me one of the most important intelligences is social intelligence, and I believe that this year has presented a lot of opportunities to push myself and develop my social skills. It is important to be able to converse with other people, but it is even more important to listen to people and give them your full attention, free of judgement. I do think that having strong opinions and challenging other's views is healthy, but to have the ability to listen to someone and understand why they hold their views and thoughts on things gives you the opportunity to question the world and understand it from a different perspective. Every voice is valuable.

• Live in the now: When I was a teenager, my anxiety was at its worst when I would think too far ahead. I would constantly run through my mind how one decision could impact other things, and it would largely affect my ability to think rationally. This year I have learnt to live completely in the moment; to not stress about what has happened or what will happen. I suppose this is another facet of 'being present' - not only in regards to your relationship with other people, but also your relationship with yourself. I used to always wonder where I would be in five or ten years' time. Now I am completely content with taking each opportunity as it comes and letting things happen, day by day. By thinking too far into the future, you are forgetting about what is happening right now. What you do today will - in some way - mould your future, so be conscious of making the most of today and living in the present. 

• Challenge your limits: Feeling comfortable and safe is something I have become so underwhelmed by. This year has presented me with some big challenges, and I have made an effort to try as many new things as possible and accept any challenges or tasks that I would normally turn down. It is very easy to get used to a routine and not want to extend your comfort zone because you know there is little room for failure. I definitely think failure is something that a lot of people are afraid of. And at times I am scared of failure, too. But through trying new things you are learning. And I think that's the beauty of learning - it doesn't matter how knowledgeable you are, there is always so much more out there that you have not yet discovered. Through challenging myself this year, I have identified what I want to focus on in education - I have realised that I want to work specifically with youth with autism and/or trauma in the wellbeing sector. Had I not been exposed to young people with these differences, I think I would have settled for mainstream classroom teaching without realising the different areas I could work in. Give credit to yourself for trying, and look at learning as a reward in any new situation, no matter how good or bad the outcome.

• Look after your body and your mind: I have always been aware of my diet and maintained regular exercise since I was younger, so I considered myself 'healthy' for a long time. However, I have not always had a healthy mindset. Over the past two years I have taken control of my mental health and made it a goal to achieve my most healthy mind possible. Due to this, I have seen massive improvements in my overall health. Despite my healthy diet and exercise, I used to feel very tired and low, and this would impact on my relationships and socialisation more than anything. What I realised, though, was that through talking to other people and gaining new perspectives, I was healing myself. Speaking out and finding people who are willing to listen helped a lot, and I'm probably in the most healthy state I can be in at this current moment. I have a beautiful network of people around me, and I am thankful for the creativity and spirit of the people I am surrounded by in my life right now. 

• Be giving: Give without expectation. Don't offer your time or make an effort with someone or something expecting anything in return. Do what you feel is the right thing to do and do what you feel strongly about. I always like to think about the idea that you are attracted to certain people in your life for a reason. When I look at all of my closest friends, I notice one consistent quality in all of them - they are all genuine, giving people; they share their time, their heart and their thoughts with me. The kind of 'giving' that I value the most is not the materialistic kind - it is the giving of yourself; of being a good person, giving your love to others, using your unique qualities to better the world in which you live. 

• Celebrate the 'little wins': Perhaps I am a bit of an optimist, but I am always so impressed by the little things people do in their lives. I often think that people who are humble in their work and relationships are not acknowledged as they should be. Sometimes it is nice to hear an 'I'm proud of you'  or an 'I appreciate it' when you least expect it, so I make sure to celebrate the little wins with the people around me. It might be something as simple as a kid using their manners, or someone getting through a hard week at work. It is normal for people to get through massive days and just accept what has happened without acknowledging just how much they have done, so I like them knowing that someone has appreciated what they have done for themselves or others. You never know the power that a few words can have on another person's day. 

I hope 2015 has been an amazing year that has challenged, surprised and been kind to you. Don't underestimate what you have achieved over the past twelve months, and have hope that the next twelve will present a lot of unexpected opportunities that will help guide your growth and decisions. Here's to next year's adventures. 

-Nicole

Lido Cinema, movies and a little night music.

Let yourself be transported. Leave behind the plain, white arcade, the sounds of cars and the city rushing by. Walk up a bright red stairwell, to lime green booths with lemon yellow and chrome tables. Mirrors cut in geometric patterns line the wall. Fluorescents scatter the midnight blue above you like zaps of light from the opening of the first Star Wars movie. Music twangs from invisible speakers, full of nostalgia, and from a different time. A projection on the floor directs you to the bathrooms, to the bar, to your seat.

It’s The Jetsons meets Battlestar Galactica, and it’s right in the heart of Hawthorn.

Lido Cinema sits majestically on Glenferrie Road above the Troubadour Arcade and is the third acquisition from Eddie Tamir, owner of the Classic Cinema in Elsternwick and the Cameo in Belgrave.

Tamir has always been immersed in Melbourne’s colourful cinema culture. His love of cinemas began at a young age, as he recalls visits to the Art Deco Rivoli cinema in Hawthorn East as a child. “It was very special, to go there, it was always like an event”, he says. 

As a teen, Tamir would go to the cult-cinema Valhalla on Victoria Street in Richmond. “It was an amazing experience,” he says with awe. “It was new and quirky, with all the movie posters and the people…” While the original building no longer stands, the Valhalla was the stuff cinema and film love is made of. Their cult-film screenings, 24 hour movie marathons, themed weekly screenings, Rocky Horror and Blues Brothers participation screenings remain legendary (and has been recently revived under the Valhalla Social Cinema.)

Having opened its doors in June, Lido never intended to be like every other renewed, 'old style' cinema.

“One of the challenges with the cinema is that it’s recorded media, it’s controlled.” Tamir tells me, “So I wanted to have kind of a live element in the cinema.” And thus the Lido Jazz Room was born. Every Friday and Saturday night, the Jazz Room hosts jazz trios and quartets to play live for a maximum of 40 people.

The Jazz Room is intimate, situated under one of the cinemas, with small, round tables and chairs (about six in total) and a small platform stage to fill the room. A small bar, just large enough to hold your drink or rest your arm, and row of stools line the back wall.

The lighting is low, and it makes the room feel cool and secretive. A waiter dressed in black stands in the corner waiting at your beck and call. It’s a tight squeeze as I pull my legs in from my perch on a stool, allowing for a waiter to walk past, a large box of popcorn, poised on a tray extended on one hand. All the while, the music envelopes you in warmth and sound. Patrons either talk softly to each other, or prefer to sit in silence, content to listen and applaud after each song.

The Jazz Room is a dream come to life for Tamir, “It’s always been an ambition of mine.” Its exclusivity and intimacy has the power to transport you to another place. A windowless alcove, it’s hard to believe you’re only across the road from Glenferrie station, a McDonalds and a Starbucks. You forget you’re really in Melbourne at all.

I tell Tamir this, “Yeah, kind of like Paris.” He agrees. I laugh nervously, I’ve never travelled out of Australia. But this is the beauty of it: whether you’ve been to Paris or not, right in Melbourne, the Lido Jazz room will give you the experience of transportation.

But the Jazz Room is only one unique aspect of this “futuristic 60s” cinema. Lido is also gearing up for the opening of their Rooftop Cinema, boasting 360 degree views of the city skyline, Hawthorn and surrounding suburbs, 100 seats and something no other rooftop cinema has done, showing new releases on its screen.

If jazz just isn’t your thing or you’re afraid of heights, Lido has eight different screens, showing a variety of new releases, as well as hosting special events. Sink into their plush, red velvet seats and take in a film. Not ready to go home? Gather your friends in their lime-green booths, and stay for a drink or browse their menu for a bite to eat (I will admit, their coconut oil popcorn is phenomenal).

Lido Cinema is more than just a cinema, it’s a place to stay a while, and get lost.

- Claire 

Lido Cinema is open 7 days a week, at 675 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn

The Jazz Room is open 9pm-11pm every Friday and Saturday night. 

Tickets & info available at www.lidocinemas.com.au/Page/Lido-Jazz-Room

* Mosaik does not take credit for the images used in this article

Online Oddities: To Tinder or not to Tinder.

I am writing this live from my couch on a Saturday night where I sit with a glass of wine and pictures of boys that I must sort into two piles left and right- nope and yes please.

Yes, I am on Tinder.

Before you start judging you should know this is for research purposes only (kind of) and no matter what happens, or how far any of this goes this is just research (kind of).

I have a love/ hate relationship with Tinder. As I do with guys. I have only used Tinder one other time and I hated it so much I deleted the app after two days (if I could do the same with guys I probably would). There was a lot of validated swiping left and it broke me and I genuinely started to question my sexuality.

But round 2 is appearing much more enjoyable. As I sit here and slowly get matches I start to feel the joy, it's a validation of some sort; as is the new super like feature which lets me reject creepy looking guys even quicker. Seeing people I know, or know of come up as suggestions also has its own joy, it's like finding out their dirty little secret and wondering what would happen if you swiped right just to mess with them, I won't do it but if I get bored I might start.

Nope I take it back... this isn't any better the second time. In about 10 minutes I've found:

A guy who has professional photos as every picture on his profile ... slightly creepy, very unsettling - swipe left.

A friend I thought was gay ... feeling as confused as him - swipe left

My friend's ex - swipe left

Aww guy with puppies, I love puppies, I love guys who love puppies ... next picture ... and he is naked - swipe left

My brothers friend (lying about his age) - swipe left

Ripped guy without a shirt - swipe left

Ripped guy without a shirt - swipe left

Ripped guy without a shirt - swipe left

Guy with 120 mutual friends - swipe left

Totally hot guy snowboarding, (yes!!) and a funny one liner ... completely different person in the next 4 pictures - swipe left and cry a little

In a moment of total desperation to have some fun with this I swipe right for someone that I know and have met in real life at various events. We were matched and now this is all starting to feel a little real-er than I wanted it to.

I'm not even thinking about what I'm doing anymore I'm just swiping left. I just got bored and put the age range up and swiped through and vomited in my mouth a little. Nooooo I accidentally swiped someone left instead of right and you have to pay to rewind ... I'm hating it again. I am starting to think about every guy I ever turned down in high school and I am hating my past self a little

Guy I turned down in high school - swipe left

I really hope this is a last resort and not my only option. Seriously starting to wonder how people used to meet each other.

Ripped guy without a shirt - swipe left

In the last 24 hours I have sent 20 screenshots to best friends of Tinder profiles that made me laugh / hate myself, 15 matches, 7 super likes (all of them were swiped left), 3 conversations, a slightly inflated ego and the valuable advice to all friends in relationships that they should stay in them because there is not much out there, apparently there are not plenty of fish in the sea.

In saying that though the stats do show that Tinder is the app of a brave new world:

Five people I know have found long term partners through tinder

One friend used it to ensure she had a different date every weekend only to quit it because she found herself procrastinating.

One friend spent a month dating a guy she had met on tinder and just when she was sure he was the one and introduced him to everyone she knew (including me), she found him in bed on the app

And in conclusion, I do have a few very nice dates lined up for the next few weeks, for research (kind of).

- Alessandra 

*Mosaik does not take credit for the image used in this article