1. Someone else to do the dishes.
1. Someone else to do the dishes.
For those who may not be aware, a Demi Pair is a person (perhaps sent from the Gods) to help around the home for a select number of hours per week. This person is usually an international student who lives with a family for a period of time while studying. What a revelation.
Often Demi Pairs live with families who have wee ones and they assist with them too.
Anyway, we’ve rounded up three reasons why you and yours should get on board with this Demi Pair business ASAP.
Household chores
Nobody wants to do them all, not even your mother when she comes to visit you but do them she will because she wants you to live your best life. As do Demi Pairs. These magical unicorns will help out with everything from washing the dishes (worst) to doing the laundry (not enjoyable but not as bad as the dishes) and cleaning up after the children (consistently unpleasant). Your household chores will be cut in half with the help of a person who is there to actually make your life better. Not an offer you get every day.
The children
Rearing (weird word) children is quite the task and particularly when you also have to work and do the above household chores, often in the one day. Life hey. Demi Pairs though! They will help with the children however necessary. Read ‘em a story before bed, yep. Walk them to school in the mornings, love too. Teach them a foreign language, probably. The benefits are endless and we hear one of the very best things is that your children will also gain a live-in friend and what child doesn’t want that hmm? None.
Learn about the world
There’s no doubt life gets SO busy sometimes that we forget there’s a whole wide world out there to explore and learn from. Particularly with the chores and the children, as previously mentioned. Demi Pairs can come from anywhere in the world which means you, and your children, have access to a whole new world when you welcome such a person into your home. There are reports of children learning new languages, completely unique customs and games they could never have imagined before. What a sweet experience for the littlies (and you).
Convinced yet? We thought so. If you’re interested in finding out more head to www.studymatch.com.au and nab yourself an absolutely life changing experience (and some priceless household help).
Words by Kirra Smith
SPONSORED BY STUDY MATCH
Learn about how the local business came to life.
Over the last couple of years, the Gold Coast has become known as a (very pretty) city to watch in terms of our arts, culture and dining scenes. Which makes sense because as we all know, there are a lot of good things happening.
One of the most impressive (and exciting), are the local breweries that have opened and are now sending their goods across the country to be sipped and adored, as they deserve.
Black Hops Brewing is one of those local breweries and theirs is a success story that is not only extremely interesting but also makes you feel as though you too can do something absolutely epic with your life and make lots of people happy in the process.
Black Hops came about in 2014 when three Gold Coast mates decided they wanted to start brewing craft beer and so they set about to do exactly that.
Fast forward six years, Dan Norris, Eddie Oldfield and Michael ‘Govs’ McGovern are now the proud owners of a brewery and bar in Burleigh Heads and another much larger version in Biggera Waters that opened in 2019.
Which brings us to the point of this quite long tale.
You may now treat yourself to a tour of Black Hops second brewery, learning all about how the business came about while also drinking a very generous amount of the boys’ tasty brews.
The tour begins with a sample of Black Hops very first brew, Eggnog Stout, while hearing about how the lads created it and the process of upscaling to be where they are today.
The rest of the tour is made up of following the route the beer itself takes and learning about everything from the recipe (not the technical term) to the very end, at the packaging machine (again not the technical term).
Along the way, you get to sample many a Black Hops brew and once you’ve learned all the things, you can head to the bar to taste any sips you didn’t get to try along the way.
Our favourite is the Pink Mist which is a Raspberry Saison and the epitome of a girl beer if ever there was one, but it’s very delicious and refreshing and we love it a lot.
So if you enjoy learning about how local businesses became a big deal, while sampling the goodness that made them become a big deal, a Black Hops Brewery tour is the answer.
It’s only $50 per person (BARGAIN) and the perfect way to spend a few hours on a Saturday.
So gather the crew and get involved, it’s a very good time.
LOCATION: 14 / 665 Pine Ridge Road, Biggera Waters
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
From ocean-inspired to Moroccan magic, we’ve got you covered.
Homewares are our love language, and yes, our friends may call it an “obsession”, but we prefer “healthy, well-styled commitment”. Cushions, ceramics, rattan chairs… they’re our version of self-care (and we’re not here for anyone’s intervention).
Luckily, the Gold Coast is stacked with boutiques that’ll have you mentally rearranging your living room before you’ve even left the shop. Whether you’re chasing coastal calm, Moroccan magic, or a little mid-century mojo, here’s your ultimate hit list, from north to south.
Think “liveable luxury” with a coastal-chic twist. Founded by Kristin Gilford in 2014, this award-winning interior styling and design studio is all about tactile layers, bespoke pieces, imported luxe fabrics, artisan wallpapers, and signature rugs—each with a story to tell. The Runaway Bay showroom is a wanderlust-infused playground perfect for inspiration or a luxe shopping sesh.
Where: Runaway Bay Shopping Village, 10-12 Lae Drive, Runaway Bay
From Mongolia to Morocco, Denmark to India and Asia to Africa, St Barts has travelled the globe sourcing unique pieces that bring a sense of wanderlust into your home. Their Brickworks Ferry Road store is a feast for the senses, and the flagship in Burleigh Heads is paired with Next Door Espresso for a caffeine hit while you browse. Expect handcrafted furniture, lush textiles, striking art and lifestyle goods that are always ahead of the trend curve. Every visit feels like stepping into an expertly curated holiday destination you never want to leave.
Where: Brickworks Ferry Road, 107 Ferry Road, Southport and 24 Junction Road, Burleigh Heads
If “coastal cool” was a store, this would be it. The Beach Furniture is all about sun-drenched, barefoot vibes with natural textures, raw timbers, and soft, airy tones. Think statement dining tables, plush sofas you’ll never want to get out of, and ceramics that make your shelves look like they belong in a magazine. Warning: you’ll want everything — and we mean everything.
Where: 48 Bundall Rd, Bundall
An OG in the Gold Coast homewares scene and still absolutely smashing it. Village Stores is like walking into a Pinterest board IRL: rattan pendants, textured rugs, organic ceramics, and soulful little décor gems that scream “main character energy” for your home. It’s the kind of place you walk into with zero intention to buy… and walk out with a car full of “necessities”.
Where: Shop 1/54 Bundall Road, Bundall
Started as a lighting and tile boutique, but like any good glow-up story, now it’s one of the Coast’s most stylish interiors spots. Three Balls Red is serving buttery-soft linens, sculptural chairs, original art, and rugs you’ll want to roll around on. Their design-savvy crew can help you nail the look.
Where: 2/85 Ashmore Road, Bundall
If your Pinterest boards scream “Hamptons, but make it Gold Coast”, Alfresco Emporium is your mecca. We’re talking crisp coastal furniture, Euro-chic tableware, lush greenery, and soft furnishings that look straight from a designer shoot. Each display is so perfectly styled you’ll be mentally moving in before you’ve hit the checkout.
Where: Ashmore Rd & Bundall Rd, Bundall
Minimalists and mid-century modern lovers, welcome home. Kira & Kira in Miami is a retail-meets-workshop space where form and function get along really well. Every piece, from clean-lined furniture to perfectly proportioned lighting, is made with intention and meant to last. The whole vibe will make you want to KonMari your entire house and start fresh (in style).
Where: Store: 2017 Gold Coast Highway, Miami. Showroom: 4 Fortitude Crescent, Burleigh Heads
One foot in Miami, the other in Marrakech. Trader Trove is bursting with vibrant textiles, intricate rugs, handwoven baskets, and ceramics that feel like souvenirs from your most exotic holiday. Bonus: they stock vintage treasures, so every trip feels like a treasure hunt. Basically, if your home needs more you, start here.
Where: 22 Christine Avenue, Miami
This serene, sunlit space is all about those thoughtful finishing touches, from art and ceramics to linen aprons, children’s toys, and vintage finds that tug on the heartstrings. With its focus on local makers and sustainability, Heartfill feels less like shopping and more like slow-living inspiration.
Where: 1/29 Lemana Lane, Burleigh Heads
Your bohemian dreamscape lives here. Maison & Maison’s range is straight out of global markets, carved buffalo skulls, embroidered cushions, leather pouffes, and luxe throws you’ll “accidentally” nap under all weekend. This Burleigh Heads beauty is physically impossible to leave empty-handed.
Where: 53 James Street, Burleigh Heads
Warm, inviting, and just the right amount of quirky, Emporium on James is a one-stop shop for gifts, coastal furniture, Mongolian sheepskin throws, and candles you’ll want to burn every day. It’s part inspiration hub, part retail therapy, and 100% the kind of store that turns “just browsing” into a full-blown style mission.
Where: 1/50-52 James St, Burleigh Heads
Beachside minimalism at its most swoon-worthy. Cotton Living’s palette is soft, neutral, and oh-so-inviting, with plush textiles, sleek décor, and classic furniture that feels both timeless and fresh. Whether you’re hunting a hero piece or the small details that tie it all together, this place has the goods.
Where: 1 Lord St, Coolangatta
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Keep that competitive spirit alive.
So we can’t go to the pub, probably not for awhile. We miss cold beers and shooting the breeze with our friends, we miss parmis and people watching and the general feeling of being somewhere fun. There’s another thing we miss that’s generally related to the pub too, and that thing is trivia.
A bit of friendly competition, hilarious trivia team names, the aforementioned cold beers and parmis. Trivia is a very good time. Luckily the very clever people at the Gold Coasts’ Time Out Entertainment, who are responsible for in-person trivia at several venues across the Coast, have come up with a solution.
And that solution is, online trivia. Which is amazing and something we are absolutely going to do to fill in some time from now on.
As it has everyone, the current state affairs affected Time Out Entertainment in that they are obviously no longer able to go to the pub and offer trivia to the people. Also like many people, they were able to come up with an alternative to that problem and here we are.
Entertainment for everyone.
Combining some fancy tech equipment we will never understand and A LOT of time spent working out the details, Time Out Entertainment were able to come up with a way for people to get involved free of charge.
The first round saw 500 teams playing and that has built to now over 700 teams.
It’s run three nights a week, Wednesday and Thursday at 7pm AEST and Friday at 9pm AEST and there has even been a Kids Trivia event which had over 500 kids playing.
It’s pretty much the perfect way to stay connected to friends and family, for adults and children alike, keep that Aussie competitive spirit alive and garner some bragging rights for when we’re allowed to spend time together again.
At the moment, there’s chats in the works about online music bingo which is also super fun.
Not only that, soon there’ll be prizes to win so you can not only play for free, you can win stuff too! It just gets better and better.
If you’re keen to join in, jump over here and get started. You’re guaranteed to have a very good time.
Words by Kirra Smith
