The mailman is my friend

Actually its the delivery guy and his name is Arthur and I love it when he calls in it cos it usually means goodies!! 

Today it was an order from amazon

I love the title of Raquel Welch's bio - Beyond the cleavage, I started Ordeal by Linda Lovelace this afternoon.So far it is rather disturbing the amount of physical, mental & sexual abuse this woman suffered, I have also read the bio's of Jenna Jameson & Traci Lords and it is amazing to hear their stories of how they ended up in the porn industry.

Apart from that I have been working on setting up my other blog all about my autograph collecting - Autograph collector of oz pop over and take a look.  Have also been working on sending out letters requesting more autographs, at the moment I have 47 pending requests. It is quite a little process, besides writing a letter I spend time looking for HQ photos to print and send, then make up the packets with the letter, photo, stamped self addressed envelope etc... 

This evening I am set to get into some viewing, I just watched the second episode of the new season of Hot in Cleveland, one of my new favorite shows - these ladies are hilarious together, especially that cutie Betty White!

Then its some more of the new American Idol, Jersey Shore & Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew. 

So thats waht I am off to do.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Oscar Nominations 2010

 

The nominations are in and below are the main categories, personally I would like to see Black Swan & 127 Hours do very well as they were both such interesting and different movies. All will be revealed on 27th Feb!

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Nominees:

127 Hours (2010)

Black Swan (2010)

The Fighter (2010)

Inception (2010)

The Kids Are All Right (2010)

The King's Speech (2010)

The Social Network (2010)

Toy Story 3 (2010)

True Grit (2010)

Winter's Bone (2010)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees:

Javier Bardem for Biutiful (2010)

Jeff Bridges for True Grit (2010)

Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network (2010)

Colin Firth for The King's Speech (2010)

James Franco for 127 Hours (2010)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees:

Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right (2010)

Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole (2010)

Jennifer Lawrence for Winter's Bone (2010)

Natalie Portman for Black Swan (2010)

Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine (2010)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

Christian Bale for The Fighter (2010)

John Hawkes for Winter's Bone (2010)

Jeremy Renner for The Town (2010)

Mark Ruffalo for The Kids Are All Right (2010)

Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech (2010)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

Amy Adams for The Fighter (2010)

Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech (2010)

Melissa Leo for The Fighter (2010)

Hailee Steinfeld for True Grit (2010)

Jacki Weaver for Animal Kingdom (2010)

Clarisonic - I finally took the plunge

I love a great beauty product & after reading many great reviews about the Clarisonic system I finally decided to invest in one.  I have been looking at them for awhile but the main reason it took me so long to commit was the price.  However if you do your research you can get one on ebay with postage from the US for roughly half the Australian retail price (just make sure to order one with a universal charger).

I ordered the Pro model in pink, it has 5 speeds and a body brush speed & attachment, it was developed by the same company that make the sonicare toothbrush.  The benefits of the Clarisonic I have read about online include:

Excellent cleansing and removal of make up
Deep cleaning of pores and helps with blackheads etc...
Gentle exfoliation
Helps with acne/breakouts
Due to the exfoliating properties it is meant to make your other beauty products absorb into the skin better
Use after a short period is supposed to help reduce fine lines/wrinkles

It sounds simple enough, just apply your cleanser and use the clarisonic for 1 minute (has a timer), you can even use it in the shower.

Eevn better Leigh saw me looking at them online the other day and offerd to buy it for me for Valentines!

It is on the way so I will keep you updated on what it is like to use and the results I get.

Showing some love for Olly Murs

Olly Murs was the runner up on UK X Factor 2009 (I wanted him to win).  He released his first album late last year and had his first number one single in the UK. Olly has a great voice and seemed like a all round nice guy. The album is fab and to get an idea of his sound here are his first 2 singles.


Please don't let me go has just be released in Oz and they are using it at the moment in the promos for Packed to the rafters - here is a live performace

This is the follow up single Thinking about me

From X Factor - Olly performs Angels live with special guest Robbie Williams

Check out the album - Olly is one to watch!

My expereince with glamour photography circa 1994

The idea for this post literally fell at my feet, I was searching for something on my massive bookcase the other day and when I pulled it out, these long forgotten photos fell to the ground.

Those old enough to remeber, will know that glamour photography took off in a big way in the early 90's. Studios promising Hollywood style make-overs sprung up everywhere.  I was curious but not prepared to pay the money they were asking for a picture of myself!  Over time all my friends and colleagues did it and raved about the expereince & proudly showed off the photos.  So in December 1994 when I came across an offer for a free session (all you had to do was purchase at least 1 photo) I decided to give it a try.  

I was very excited at the prospect of being transformed into something glamorous and had high hopes.  It got off to a dodgy start when the wanted to curl my hair, I let them do it and it looked awful.  The make up was not bad and the first lot of pictures were done against my better judgment with the curls.  Telling them I really did not like it they wet it and got rid of the curls for the other photos.  I do not overly like having my photo taken so I did not find the experience that enjoyable.

The worst part of the experience was the hard sell when they take you through the photos.  Pretty much they tell you how fantstic every shot is and it should be blown up portrait size etc....  I got so sick of the guy going on about the photos that by the time he was telling me how awesome the 10th shot was I told him if he liked it that much then maybe he should buy it?!   I am very harsh on myself, but I really was not thrilled with the photos mainly because I still looked like me when I wanted to look totally different.

In the end I purchased 2 of the shots, mainly so my Mum could see them. after that I just stored them away and never really looked at them again.  So here is me in glamour shot mode at age 22.

The first shot was inspired by a photo of Demi Moore I really liked, I don't think they got my one right.

No thats no me thats the shot of Demi I like





This is the photographers version

I think I look much older than 22 in this one

Where do you blog?

This is blog central, the place I come to read your blogs and work on my own. Now you know where I blog, where is your blogspot?

Did I also mention my blog is doing its first giveaway? - one of seven beauty products could be yours, click here for the details and enter away  FREE BEAUTY GIVEAWAY

Celebrities & IVF, those who have been honest about it

Nicole Kidman at 44 has beome a mum again. Her new baby girl named Faith was delivered via a surrogate, she joins the family that includes Sunday Rose whom Nicole gave birth to in 2008 when she was 42 and her adopted children from her marriage to Tom Cruise, Connor & Isabella. It got me thinking about other celebrities who are fertility challenged and who have been open about their struggle to become a mum.

I really admire the celebrities who are open and honest about this issue. I know it is nobodies business and I have told hardly anyone I am doing ivf at the moment, but once I hopefully become pregnant I will have no porblem saying we used it.  I think its great when celebrities speak out about things like this as it sheds light on what for some reason is a taboo topic.   Their honesty lets us all know that sometimes falling pregnant is not the easiest thing in the world and it is especially harder the older you are.  It is also, in a strange way comforting to know that despite all their money & success, they are or have been through the same struggle you are going through.

Some of the celebrities who have been honest about this struggle are:


Sarah Jessica parker used a surrogate to have twin girls Marion & Tabitha in 2009, she was 44. She also has a son James Wilkie born in 2002.

Marcia Cross 45 said she skipped her honeymoon to get straight to ivf ,after several rounds she then switched to ivf with donor eggs to increase her chances due to her age, she gave birth to twin girls Eden & Savannah in 2007.

Celine Dion 42 used ivf/icsi in 2000 to have her son Rene Charles and used it again in 2010 to have her twin sons Nelson & Eddy. She revealed that she had a miscarriage & six rounds of ivf before the successful pregnancy and that initially she was pregnant with triplets but miscarried one.

Courtney Cox suffered many miscarriages & rounds of ivf before having daughter Coco in 2004 at age 40.

Trinny Woodall 39 underwent nine rounds of ivf and several miscarriages before having her daughter Lyla in 2003.

Rod Sewart & Penny Lancaster 39 did three rounds of ivf to fall pregnant with their second child which is due in 2011, they did not use ivf for their first pregnancy with son Alastair.

Brooke Shields used ivf to have her first daughter Rowan in 2003, she had seven treatments and a miscarriage. After the birth she suffered severe post natal depression. She openly speaks about her struggle with ivf and pnd in her book Down came the rain.  She later conceived her second child Grier naturally.

Giuliana 35 & Bill Rancic are currently using ivf to hopefully have their first child. They fell pregnant on their first round but miscarried at 8 weeks.  The 3rd season of their show filmed the highs & lows of the treatment and showed people what going through ivf is like.

Jane Seymour used ivf at 44 to have twin boys Johnny & Christopher in 1995, this was her third pregnancy but first time using ivf.

Golden Globes 2011 Red Carpet

I just love awards season and adore the red carpet arrivals. 

My favorites from the globes were:

Olivia Wilde in Marchesa

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham

Scarlett Johansson in Ellie Saab

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

Who were your favorites on the night? leave me a comment and let me know.

Burlesque

I have been dying to see Burlesque ever since I saw shots from the set.  I love a good musical and throw in one of my all time favorite divas Cher and its gotta be good right?

 Forget all the nasty reviews, this was not a good movie, it was GREAT!!!

The movie is a plot we have seen before, small town girl moves to the bright lights, big city and does good. It is done really well though and it is never boring. The thing that I think worked were all the key players. Christina Aguilera in her first  movie does a great job, she had a really nice presence on screen and had a good chemistry with the others namely Cher & Cam Gigandet.  Cher is delicious as club owner Tess, I think Cher was just being Cher! Kristin Bell as a drunk, bitchy showgirl was a change of pace from her good girl roles and Stanley Tucci as Tess's right hand man Sean, was the gay BFF we all wish we had.  Nice little appearance by Alan Cumming as well.

The musical numbers were fabulous, the costumes and choreography were first rate and we all know Christina can sing and the score makes the most of that.  We even get 2 songs from Cher!   For me this was the best musical I have seen in a while. The 2 hours flew by in a burst of fun, song, feathers & sequins. Found myself grooving along in my seat a few times.  If you want to be entertained then this is the film for you.  I will be getting this on blu ray for my collection when it is released. 

Before I go & pick up my ostrich feather fans again and dance to the soundtrack. I will finish the post mentioning that the second song Cher sang really struck a chord with me for some reason, here are the lyrics:

"You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me"

Feeling broken
Barely holding on
But there's just something so strong
Somewhere inside me
And I am down but I'll get up again
Don't count me out just yet

I've been brought down to my knees
And I've been pushed way past the point of breaking
But I can take it
I'll be back
Back on my feet
This is far from over
You haven't seen the last of me
You haven't seen the last of me

They can say that
I won't stay around
But I'm gonna stand my ground
You're not gonna stop me
You don't know me
You don't know who I am
Don't count me out so fast

I've been brought down to my knees
And I've been pushed way past the point of breaking
But I can take it
I'll be back
Back on my feet
This is far from over
You haven't seen the last of me

There will be no fade out
This is not the end
I'm down now
But I'll be standing tall again
Times are hard but
I was built tough
I'm gonna show you all what I'm made of

I've been brought down to my knees
And I've been pushed way past the point of breaking
But I can take it
I'll be back
Back on my feet
This is far from over
I am far from over
You haven't seen the last of me

No no
I'm not going nowhere
I'm staying right here
Oh no
You won't see me begging
I'm not taking my bow
Can't stop me
It's not the end
You haven't seen the last of me
Oh no
You haven't seen the last of me
You haven't seen the last of me

UPDATE: This song won the 2011 Golden Globe for best original song in a motion picture

Life is Good award from Sydney Shopgirl

Thanks to Sydney Shopgirl for giving me this award.  We are forum friends from way back and recently found out each other had a blog.

The 3 simple rules of the tag are:


Thank and link back to the person that gave you this award

Answer the 10 survey questions (as per below)

Pass this award on to other bloggers you like and notify them by leaving them a comment

 The 10 Survey Questions......

 1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this? If you aren't anonymous, do you wish you started out anonymously, so that you could be anonymous now?

I am out & proud!   If someone who knows me stumbles upon my blog then so be it.  None of my family know about the blog (only Leigh does) and about 3 friends.  I often use initials when blogging about people in my life, that way they can be anonymous.  Leigh is a part of this blog whether he likes it or not (he likes it so no problems!!)  I wanted to be open & honest especially about my experiences with ivf/icsi and  also wanted to be able to post pictures of special times in my life without cropping heads off.  From time to time I wish I had made up a catchy name to hide behind but knowing me I would have ended up giving the game away somehow.
 2. Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side.

Mmmm maybe the time of my first visit on holidays from Melbourne to Seaworld on the Gold Coast. It was 1977 and the park was pretty basic back then, everyone was looking at the baby shark but I wanted to pat him even though nobody else was. SO I climbed up on the ledge and put my hand in about to go for the pat when people started shrieking "That little girls got her hand in the shark pool" and my grandpa dragged me away.  I just did not get what all the fuss was about....

OR

Maybe the time I got admitted to hospital with stomach pains. At midday Sunday the Dr came to see me to say I had to have my gallbladder out and I was off to surgery now.  Ummmmmm 200 peopple will not get paid tomorrow if I do not show up for work so against all advice I checked myself out of hospital.  Everyone got paid that Monday (ok I did collapse at work several times) and anyway I wanted time to google about gallbladders and see if I needed mine or not!
3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?

The picture of a long running love/hate relationship.  From an early age I was self concious and never liked the way I looked. I think it started at primary school when other kids would ask "where are your parents from?" when I answered Australia they never believed me. There is some Italian and French on my grandfathers side of the family and some of that must of come out in me, like all kids I hated being made feel that I was different. I went to primary school in Melbourne and had many Italian, Greek, Yugoslav etc.. classmates so I do not know why I got picked on for the way I looked. I grew to hate my dark eyes and hair and as soon as I was old enough peroxide and I became friends!

The weight wars started in my teens, although I was not heavy at the time I  was always doing something silly like having cruskits and black coffee for lunch at high school and constantly changing my hair in the hopes, I think of having a new persona.  At times in my life when I have been at my most fit & healthy I have always wanted to lose "just 5 more kilos".  I am my own worst enemy and even on my wedding day after all the professional hair & make up I remember looking at myself in the mirror once I was dressed and saying "Oh well nothing more you can do, this is as good as it gets I'm afraid". 
Maybe one day I will learn to like what I see.......
4. What is your favourite summer cold drink?

Oh boy can't believe I am admitting this but a frozen coke/slurpee is sooooo good on a hot day.
5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?
Watch movies & all my fave shows, facials, pedicures, surf the web, blog & read. Most of all I just love hanging with Leigh & the 2 papmpered princesses (Celine & Paris).
6. Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life?
Obviously to become a Mum.  Get to Paris & Italy before I get to old to enjoy it. Have a house in LA and a holiday house on a beach somewhere. Become a burlesque performer a la Dita Von Teese, a playboy bunny, movie star, supermodel, write a book, make a record, look good in hotpants, win an acadamy award. Oh well a girl can dream!!
7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching
I was the shy one and still can be in unusual surrounds or with strangers.  School was hard due to us moving several times and always being the new girl, I think I became more shy with each move.
8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see?
The moment Leigh proposed to me, no one had ever made me feel more special or so loved in my whole life. The realisation that some of the bad experiences in my life, have in the long run helped me to be a better person. The day I finally get to meet the child I have been waiting so long for. 
9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog, or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people and events?
Yes I find it easy to be my true self on this blog.  There are times especially in relation to some of the posts on ivf/icsi I wish I could go back and delete BUT I would not only be fooling others but myself.  When I started blogging it was a stress release for me, somewhere to put down my thoughts & emotions that cluttered my head in relation to the ivf process.  I have had messages from people telling me that some of my posts have opened their eyes to what ivf is actually like and for covering all the feelings and things the clinics can not tell you about.  My honesty is a small price to pay in the long run if I am able to help someone in some way. The blog was named Nicole's world and although you may think so, ivf is not my life so I also like to post about all things that interest me.
10. If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you choose and why?
Can I do both? Not at the same time of course as I always like to give something my full attention.  I love getting drawn into a good book that you can not put down but, over the years with friends moving away etc... I learned to love a good chat on the phone. In fact after Leigh & I met we had 6 weeks of phone dating before I would agree to go to dinner with him.

Now for some bloggers I would like to pass this award on to:

Emmie Gemmie at Desert Darling

Sammie at Marriage Renovations and....

Onika at A freckle to the left

Candace at Loft32

Danielle at Fats in fatty

Brisbane floods January 2011, how it affected my area...

I am back on the air today as due to the flooding I lost telephone & internet. First off I want to send a huge thank you to everyone who sent messages checking on me & my status.


  Like everyone else I was watching the reports on television and hoping my area would be ok. Wednesday lunchtime we ventured down to the bottom of our street to see what was happening and grab some supplies before things got worse as predicted on Thursday.  Our house being on a hill meant we would be safe but I could not believe what had happened in a few hours down the bottom of the hill.  It was just heartbreaking to see an area where you have lived for 14 years and come down to everyday like this.

Baroona Road Rosalie

Cnr of Baroona & Nash St

Rosalie Deli Baroona Road

Top of Nash Street

I was in shock because I had just driven down this very street the night before and everything was dry.  Navigating our way through some back streets we made our way to Paddington Central to Woolworths. There were not that many people around but the first sign things were not as they seemed was Bakers Delight had no bread at all, nothing!!!   Woolies was the same and all the basics like bread, milk & juice were gone.  We grabbed what we could and headed home, thankful to be dry and still have power.

I could not sleep that night, I don't know if it was all the news reports talking about disaster striking at 4am or the noise of the helicopters that were constantly overhead.  I can not even remember now how I killed the time with no internet to keep me busy.   Leigh woke early and about 5am we decided to go take a look

Nash Street

Nash Street facing Baroona

Water was almost at roof level

Just near Epic Cycles further up Baroona Rd

Below is a clip from nine news of a reporter (and in an odd coincidence a work colleague of Leigh's) taking a boat ride around my local area

By Friday we were used to the choppers although it felt like we were at war.  The clean up crew did an amazing job because late Friday afternoon there was not even any mud on the road.  We drove through today on our way out and it is so sad to see all these lovely shops empty, most have signs on the windows thanking everyone for help/support.  

I would like to ask all readers of this if you have not already please donate to the flood relief.  And please support the local area of Rosalie when it gets back on its feet.

On a sentimental note

Just found out the restaurant where we had our wedding reception "Oxleys on the river' now called "Drift" broke away and has sank.  Here is some footage from youtube.

Snapshot: October 18th 2005 Hollywood CA

In an effort to cheer myself up at the moment I have been trying to think of happy memories.  I am going to start a little section called snapshot and blog about good times from the past.

I have a lot of wonderful and happy memories from my trips to the USA so I am going to start this off with a celebrity packed day in Hollywood.

We have been living in our West Hollywood apartment for about 6 weeks now and today we are spending the afternoon in Hollywood to check out a few celebrity events.

First off one of my favorite actors Antonio Banderas is getting a star on the walk of fame and I am hoping to get his autograph for my collection.  We get there early to get a good spot near his star and about 30 mins before the ceremony is scheduled to start there is a bit of a commotion and there suddenly is Antonio, he has arrived early so he can meet the fans and do autographs etc...  I am very impressed at this and love it when a star I like looks after the fans. 

We are near the front of the pack and next thing he is in front of us, we snap some shots of him and exchange a few words and he signs my photo - this girl from Bris can not believe she is standing so close to one of her favorite actors!!  Melanie is with him and so is her teenage daughter with Don Johnson , Dakota and her daughter with Antonio, Stella.  Have liked some of Melanies movies so getting to see her is a bonus and her plastic surgery is not to scary in person.

We watch the ceremony and Antonio gives a great speech then Sharon Stone turns up and we get a good look at her and she looks a tad scary - too much plastic surgery!! 

Antonio arrives 30 mins early to meet the fans

Signing for us

Antonio, Melanie & Stella

Next up its down the street to Graumanns Chinese Theatre for the world premiere of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.  The barricades for this are actually across the road from Graumanns so it looks like we are not going to see much when some people mention often the actors will cross the road and come over and meet the fans.  I like both Robert Downey Jr & Val Kilmer but I have read lots of negative stuff about Val and doubt he will come over.  We see from a distance various celebs arrive then there's Robert, he does some press and goes straight in.  Val arrives and next thing you know it looks like he is going to come across the street and he does!!  He takes his time meeting the fans and signing lots of autographs, the photos do not come out well as its dark but he is nice and signs my card and notices my accent. We exchange a few words about Australia and his time here filming and he is off. Guess you can't always believe waht you read as he was really nice.

Talking to Val while he signs

Val's autograph

We break for dinner then head to the new Virgin megastore which is hosting a signing for Hugh Hefner and his girls next door.  I have always had a soft spot for Hef, I think the man is a legend and we could just not pass up the chance to meet him (and hope for an invite to the mansion!!)  We buy the current playboy with the girls on the cover and get in line.  There is a ton of playboy security here in suits wearing little playboy bunny pins, everything is very organized.  Unfortunately you can't have a photo with Hef or the girls but we are able to snap some of them.  First off we meet Holly and she is gorgeous - a real life barbie doll, she asks our names and signs the playboy to us. Next up is Hef and for an old guy he is in pretty good shape, I tell him the mansion looks like an amazing place with all its animals etc.. and he thanks me as he signs(did not get my hint for an invite though) then we meet Bridget & Kendra who sign  and are all smiles.  All of them seem very happy to be there.

Holly Madison & Hugh Hefner

Bridget Marquardt & Kendra Wilkinson

Playboy signed by Hef & the girls

We went back to our apartment a little starstruck and not believing we got so lucky to meet so many people in one day. Apart from the autographs & photos we had the memory of a great day.  Doing this may not interest some people but I am a huge movie buff and have been since I was very young so getting to meet these people in person after watching thier films is a real thrill.