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There are worse ways a girl could spend an evening than sitting in a Manly bar drinking cocktails in the name of professional responsibility. YOU Northern Beaches contributor Kate Heussler @KateHeussler was invited to join the judging panel for the Northern Beaches Classic. Last weekend, some of the Northern Beaches’ best bartenders came together at Banco on Whistler Street for the Northern Beaches Classic, a cocktail competition hosted by Manly Spirits that put local talent,

I'm going to take you back in time. Way back. It's the late '80s, when acid-wash double denim was perfectly acceptable, Brian Rochford bikinis were a must-have, Patrick Swayze was dancing dirty (and Jennifer Grey's nose was still original), Sony Walkmans were considered high-tech and Kylie Minogue was still your neighbour. Speaking of Ms Minogue, it was around this time she was recording her breakout hit, The Loco-Motion. While filming the now-infamous music video, a fresh-fa

For years, I've quietly complained that if you wanted a genuinely great cocktail bar, you'd probably have to leave the Northern Beaches. Don't get me wrong, we've got spectacular beaches, brilliant cafés and no shortage of places for a casual drink. But finding somewhere that feels genuinely different? Somewhere with atmosphere, personality and a little mystery? That's always been a little harder. And then I was let in on the dirty little secret that is Lilly's Bar. Hidden in

There comes a point in many women's lives where exhaustion becomes so familiar, we stop questioning it. We blame work, hormones, getting older, being busy or spending our lives looking after everyone else before ourselves, and we simply push through. For bestselling author and clinical nutritionist Lee Holmes, that relentless cycle eventually caught up with her. Despite spending years helping others live healthier lives, her own body had quietly begun waving red flags she adm

Once upon a time, not so long ago, a glimpse of a stocking was truly scandalous. In the Victorian era, respectable women wore floor-length skirts and high necklines. Even a glimpse of an ankle was enough to raise eyebrows. Fast forward a few decades and the outrage shifted to bare arms, then knees, then hemlines. When the bikini first appeared in 1946, it was considered so scandalous that many beaches around the world effectively banned it. In Australia, women were routinely

Every time there is a shark attack, we're told about the victim, we interview witnesses, we speak to the paramedics and the surf lifesaver who was on hand to help, and then the conversation inevitably turns to drones, shark nets, SMART drumlines and helicopter patrols. Yet despite all the coverage, there is one aspect of shark management that is rarely discussed. Few Australians realise there is an extensive underwater listening network operating off our coastline, quietly tr

I've been delving heavily into the whole work-life balance conversation lately and, honestly, the more people I interview, the more I wonder if we've collectively lost the plot. Not because we don't know we're tired, and certainly not because we don't know we're stressed. But because somewhere along the way, we've become convinced that exhaustion is simply the admission price for success. Work harder. Push through. Sleep later. Rest when you're dead. But at what cost? So when

✔ Takes just a handful of ingredients ✔ Easy to make ahead ✔ Packed with flavour ✔ High in protein ✔ Perfect for entertaining, picnics and grazing platters There are some recipes that are so ridiculously easy they almost don't deserve to be called recipes. This is one of them. Creamy, tangy and packed with that classic French onion flavour we all secretly love, this lighter take on a party favourite swaps out the sour cream for Greek yoghurt. The result? A dip that's fresher

✔ Only a handful of ingredients ✔ One bowl means minimal washing up ✔ High in protein thanks to the Greek yogurt and eggs ✔ Lower in fat than many traditional cakes ✔ Perfect for lunchboxes, afternoon tea or a little after-dinner treat ✔ Easy to customise with citrus zest, berries, spices or chocolate chips ✔ Moist, satisfying and not overly sweet ✔ Takes just minutes to prepare ✔ Real-life friendly for busy families Show me a woman who has time to cook every night and I'll s

There once was a time when discomfort was simply part of life. Whether walking to and from school, waiting in line, saving up for something rather than buying it instantly, sitting with heartbreak, grieving losses, or simply being bored, discomfort was just part of the human experience. We didn't necessarily enjoy it, but we accepted it. These days, though, it seems we're doing everything we can to avoid discomfort. If we're sad, there's an app, a podcast or a self-help guru

There is something almost universally comforting about being near the ocean. Perhaps it is the sound of the waves. Perhaps it is the horizon stretching endlessly into the distance. Or perhaps it is simply the rare opportunity to stand somewhere that reminds us how small we are in the grand scheme of things. Whatever the reason, most of us instinctively know how it feels. We arrive at the beach stressed, overwhelmed or carrying the mental clutter of everyday life. An hour late

There is a sentence I keep hearing from divorced, separated and newly single women:"I actually feel like I have one less child." The first time you hear it, you laugh. Usually because it is delivered with the kind of exhausted humour that only comes from someone who has spent years carrying the invisible weight of everyone else's lives. But after hearing it enough times, the joke starts to feel less funny. Because beneath it sits a question many modern relationships appear to

I've been thinking a lot about menopause lately. And not just because I'm going through it, but because of what seems to happen to women around this age in the workplace. It seems I spent my twenties being asked, directly or indirectly, whether I was planning to have children, then my thirties trying to juggle both. And, just as my children became more independent and I'd accumulated decades of experience, menopause arrived and suddenly I'm dealing with a whole new set of cha

When Gilava Pour arrived in Australia from Iran in 2008, she carried far more than the contents of her suitcase. Like many migrants, she brought memories, traditions, family recipes and a deep connection to the culture she had grown up in. She also carried the uncertainty that comes with starting over in a new country. "Starting again in a new country is exciting, but it can also be lonely and disorienting," she says. "Food became one of the ways I could stay connected to who

There are some people who simply have an eye for beauty. Not the kind of beauty that comes from following trends or scrolling Pinterest for inspiration, but the rare ability to walk into a space and instinctively know exactly what belongs there and how to make it effortlessly extraordinary. That was my first impression of Nina when I discovered Hearth Co in Palm Beach. The store itself was a masterclass in style, but what struck me most wasn't the carefully curated collection

If there's one thing I've learned about midlife, it's that every day presents a choice: laugh or cry. Preferably laugh, because crying makes you look uglier, gives you a headache and, if you're anything like me, there's a pretty good chance you'll forget what you were crying about in the first place. Which is perhaps why Danni Novytarger has found such a devoted audience. The author, Pilates instructor, menopause coach and content creator has built a loyal following by talkin

Some people leave an impression on you long before you fully understand why. I met Isabelle Fitzgerald many years ago in Narrabeen. It was only a brief encounter and I highly doubt she would remember me, but there was something about her presence that stayed with me. She had a calmness, warmth and gentleness that lingered long after we went our separate ways. At the time, I could never have imagined that more than two decades later I would be sitting down to tell Isabelle's s

If you've ever spent time around new parents, you'll know that advice is rarely in short supply. Between books, podcasts, social media, well-meaning relatives and an endless stream of parenting experts, modern mothers and fathers are constantly being told what they should be doing, how they should be doing it and what they should probably be worrying about next. Yet despite all that information, many parents seem more overwhelmed than ever. According to Anniebelle Vergel de D

There comes a point in life when most people start winding things down. For those of us of a certain age, it often looks like early nights, less sugar, less booze, more supplements and a surprising tendency to discuss gut health with complete strangers while standing in line at Flannerys. Then there are people like Pepperhead, who seem to have realised that the older they get, the louder the call becomes to create, perform and make some noise. The Northern Beaches alternative

If you spend enough time around the Northern Beaches, you start to realise surf lifesaving is about far more than flags, rescue boards and weekends on patrol. For many people, it becomes family, purpose and, sometimes, the thing that unexpectedly changes the entire direction of their life. That was certainly the case for Emanuel Freer. Today, Emanuel works as a casual lifeguard with Northern Beaches Council, volunteers as a lifesaver with Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club and ser