Meghan Markle sports Karen Walker and fashionistas go nuts snapping up the items

Karen Walker has long been one of the darlings of the New Zealand fashion industry, being worn by the likes of Lady Gaga and Kelly Osbourne plus many others. She can now add the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan to her list of admirers.

Since touching down in Oceania, Meghan has been spotted wearing several Karen Walker items.

When she touched down in Fraser Island, she wore Karen Walker's Northern Lights sunglasses in black which retail for $289.05AUD.

Source: https://www.popsugar.com.au/fashion/Meghan-Markle-Karen-Walker-Northern-Lights-Sunglasses-45408426 

In Fiji she was spotted donning Karen Walker's Temptation Studs which sell for $341.76AUD.

 
Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/108173590/meghan-markle-wears-karen-walker

As she and her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex landed in Wellington yesterday, Meghan had chosen a beautiful coat by Karen Walker. The Banks Trench retails for $975 and the New Zealand media organisations, Stuff and the NZ Herald are reporting that it is sold out. This is confirmed on the Karen Walker website.

Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12150655

As you'd imagine, this was a very proud moment for Karen Walker and when she was interviewed by Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking, she confirmed that the trench had sold out since the Duchess had worn it when she arrived in NZ.

She indicated that there had been a business agreement and that the brand had spoken to either Meghan or her team. Being an astute business person, Karen would not confirm any further details.

It has since been revealed that although the coat is sold out, it is available on pre order now. If you don't want to wait though then there is another alternative though and that is the Reverie Jacket which is available for $675AUD.

Source: https://www.karenwalker.com/clothing/jackets/reverie-jacket-60046/mocha

That's exactly what I have done, being a long time loyal Karen Walker customer, I have purchased the short version of the jacket.

It is so awesome that Meghan has worn Karen Walker's designs several times and the designer and her team should be extremely excited at all the worldwide publicity.

It certainly is a massive achievement and a real fashion coup given other NZ designers might have been looking for Meghan's attention.


 

Invictus Games Closing Ceremony - Sydney 2018

Now I am not one for ceremony, nor am I one to support sporting events. Generally I despise things, however I am a huge fan of Prince Harry and was absolutely gutted when he married Meghan Markle (because you know, there goes my chance of being with him).

Anyway, it was announced that Prince Harry and his pregnant wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex would be touring both Australia and New Zealand for the Invictus Games which were held at Sydney's Olympic Park.

It's extremely hard to find the time to travel around the city on the off chance that one might spot the Royals so I made a decision to purchase a ticket to the Closing Ceremony of the Invictus Games, and I snapped up an amazing A reserve seat. I was in row 10 of the grandstand, seated a couple of rows behind Estonia and next to the military representatives from Australia. You can't get much better than that unless you're a VIP, which sadly, I'm not yet.

The Closing Ceremony was brilliant. It was live broadcast on the ABC and had performers including Australian singer, Colin Hay, rock group Birds of Tokyo, The Kingdom Choir and many others.

The atmosphere was absolutely incredible with speeches from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the Governor General of NSW, David Hurley and of course, the Invictus Games founder, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

The Closing Ceremony paid tribute to the competitors from the 15 participating nations and the crowd was incredibly enthusiastic, standing for all the competitors, and standing for both Prince Harry and Meghan.

Meghan spoke about resilience and not letting adversity stop you from living your life. She spoke about courage and not letting your circumstances get you down. She spoke of how she'd met with soldiers prior to meeting Prince Harry and she spoke of the general camaraderie throughout the games.

Later in the evening, Prince Harry spoke about how soldiers are the real heroes, that sportsmen aren't heroes (which I've always agreed with and said). He spoke about the importance of mental health and that people should be open and free with what they're feeling. He acknowledged his own struggle with mental illness and that people shouldn't be ashamed of what they're feeling. He said that mental health is more important even than physical health. I don't necessarily agree with this because the two go hand in hand. If you're mentally well then you'll be physically well but it also works in reverse as well.

You simply cannot have one without the other and they're both equally important. It was clear that both he, and Meghan were incredibly proud of the "mateship" to use Prince Harry's word and that they were pleased with the way all the competitors and volunteers treated eachother in the games.

The next Invictus Games are being held in 2020 in the Netherlands.

Here are a few photo highlights from the closing ceremony last night.

Is it really so hard to be kind to people in politics?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with ambition. Ambition should be admired and looked upon favourably. People should absolutely strive to get to the top if that's what they want, but I do have just one question. Of course, anyone who has read any blog I've written will know that when I have "just one question", it's actually more like a million questions, and some of these questions are purely rhetorical, while I do hope that I can answer some of them.

To give some background, there was a leak within NZ's National Party and it basically turned into a "he said, she said" mud slinging match (that could actually be a good song come to think of it) but over time the issue grew and grew. There were allegations that the leaker was mentally unstable. Over time the leaker was revealed to be Botany MP Jami Lee Ross who, up until that moment had been an up and comer. He was number seven on the list and having known him back at uni, I had thought he'd be future Prime Minister. Of course, we now know that's not going to happen. He was expelled from the National Party. There was talk of there being a by election, but that won't happen because as he's an electorate MP he's now an independent. Whether or not he stands at the next General Election remains to be seen.

The real issue though is the treatment of Jami Lee Ross by those within National, those on social media and media commentators.

After the election when NZ First leader, and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, chose Labour, Jacinda Ardern said taht she hoped that she could bring kindness to politics and that's what I really want to talk about this blog today. Why can't politics be kind? Why must everyone be nasty to eachother? Why does there have to be callousness? To my knowledge, Jacinda Ardern has never ever shafted anyone to get to the top and was a reluctant leader.

Over the last couple of weeks within the National Party we have seen the total opposite. Both National Party Leader Simon Bridges and Deputy Leader Paula Bennett have been nasty about Jami Lee Ross, with Paula bringing Ross' marriage and personal life into the debate. Basically it's been what I would call a smear campaign. Now I don't want to comment on whether or not Ross did in fact mistreat women in his office as allegations suggest, but the reaction to his mental health is what I do want to discuss, and the treatment of him following his admission to hospital last weekend has been quite honestly shameful. So shameful that it actually prompted the NZ Mental Health Foundation to speak out about it.

Firstly, today there was a headline in the NZ Herald (and normally I read them with a grain of salt but this headline really bothered me) that said:

National leader Simon Bridges says Jami-Lee Ross is "no longer my problem" because he is not a National MP anymore.

Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12147674  

That comment from Simon Bridges shows a few things that the National Party should be ashamed of.

1. It shows that he is callous and cold because he doesn't have any feeling whatsoever towards a former member of his caucus who clearly had a mental breakdown.
2. It shows little regard for those with mental health issues. If he can't offer support to a member of his caucus how can he possibly run the country?
3. What type of culture is he running in the National Party where a long standing MP with a promising future has a mental breakdown? Did he inherit the culture or did he create it? Those questions must be asked because without answers the public cannot trust the National Party.

Simon Bridges must step down as the leader of the National Party because if he's unwilling to support a former member of his caucus what will his views towards mental health in the general community be?

If Simon Bridge is willing to publicly shame an MP, what will his general attitude towards bullying in the community be? Bear in mind that NZ has one of the worst rates for bullying. How are people supposed to stop bullying eachother if the MPs and supposed leaders of the nation don't set a good example?

The poor behaviour from Simon Bridges doesn't stop there though. A few days ago it was reported that he had called MP Maureen Pugh a hopeless MP. What type of leader says that about a member of their team? If you expect better from your staff wouldn't you encourage them? Wouldn't you try to help them?

Maureen Pugh's response has also been somewhat questionable with her saying that she is glad that Jami Lee Ross is no longer in the National Party. She has also acted poorly when saying nothing would have been better. Her comment just added fuel to the fire.

Only one MP within National has actually shown any type of compassion and humanity and that's Auckland Central MP, Nikki Kaye who has never demonstrated, or shown herself to be nasty. She posted on Facebook yesterday:

Some of you have messaged me regarding what has occurred recently. It has been a very tough time for many people. I have been shocked and saddened by what I have heard. My thoughts are with the women who have come forward and I know that people are working to ensure that they are supported. I am also thinking of Jami-Lee Ross and his family at this time. The leader has confirmed that we will get some independent advice to make sure we have the best possible systems and processes to ensure that people are safe and are supported.

Why can't others show compassion and care towards everyone involved? Why does it have to be an either/or scenario? It appears as if several people are hurting, so why can't they all be cared for?

This brings me to my next point, if Simon Bridges is unwilling to care, genuinely care about a (former) member of his caucus then how can he be trusted to lead the party, let alone the country? The simple answer is that he can't be.

So who should replace him?

On the absolutely not list would be Judith Collins and Paula Bennett, Paula Bennett for obvious reasons and Judith Collins because although I like her strength of character, at this particular point in time she's not the right leader. National needs to show that it has heart and that it does care about the country. It needs to go back to basics and instill confidence in the public.

Todd McClay who is currently Shadow Tourism Minister, Shadow Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister; and number 5 on the list, is an option. He's been quitely in the background for a few years, just getting on with the job.

Then there is Amy Adams who sits at number 3 on the list and was a contender after Bill English stood down following his defeat at the last election. She is a stable MP from the South Island and Shadow Finance Minister. Although she's unlikely to ever be Prime Minister, she could be an option to bring back compassion to the party.

Longer term would be Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop or MP for Pakuranga, Simeon Brown. All of these MPs have potential and are up and comers. Kaye has always been popular within the community, beating out Jacinda Ardern in Auckland Central in 2008 and 2011 before Ardern was gifted the safe seat of Mount Albert, which has been held by Labour since its inception in 1946. She could potentially be Prime Minister and she certainly wouldn't resort to nasty tactics like some other politicians have.

The main thing to take away from all of this is that National has imploded and shown itself to be nasty, cold and callous. If someone has had a breakdown then the last thing you do is treat them like garbage as some of the MPs do. You offer them support and help. If National can't do that for one of their MPs how are they supposed to do that for Mental Health issues in the community? How are they supposed to care for the entire country when they can't even care for one person.

So to close this blog, I'm going quote Jacinda Ardern after she became the 40th Prime Minister of NZ last year; because this is what National needs to do, they need to bring kindness back and with Simon Bridges steering the wheel that's just not going to happen. National needs a new leader, one who actually cares about the people, because as Jacinda Ardern said on Radio NZ after she became Prime Minister last year.

I want people to feel that it's open, that it's listening and that it's going to bring kindness back...I know that will sound curious but to me if people see they have an empathetic government...it's not about just preserving people's political careers. It's not about power. It's about being in a position to make a difference.

Politicians need to set an example, and if they can't be kind to eachother, how are members of the general public supposed to be kind? Things need to change and nastiness needs to leave politics.

The same could apply to Australian politics or the community in general, but that's another blog post entirely.

Cher: Here we go again tour - 20th October 2018 - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

It's very rare that a singer will last a decade, let alone more than five decades but that's exactly what 72 year old Cher has done. Her music has stood the test of time and that's why her Here We Go Again tour has been such a huge success with extra shows being added in various cities.

I originally bought a ticket to the show being held on Thursday the 18th of October but I had to give my ticket to a friend because it clashed with my new acting classes. Luckily though, tickets were heavily reduced for the show on the 20th of October so I was able to get a great B reserve ticket in the second elevation. I had a great view of the stage and could also get amazing photos and video footage which I always like to do when I'm in a concert.

I'm not going to bother saying much about the support act, Andrew McClelland because he was absolutely terrible and had absolutely no stage presence. He was trying too hard and he wasn't at all natural.

As with all shows, there was a short break between him and Cher. Cher took to the stage at 8:45pm and one of the best moments in the show was very early on when she delivered a 15 minute monologue about how she'd been broke, rejected by Hollywood, had piles of debts owing to her flatmate at the time and how she eventually said yes to appearing on the David Letterman Show because she needed the $28,000.

The show was split into 5 acts, each representing a different era in her career, including her Sonny and Cher era with I've Got You Babe. On the screen behind Cher was footage of Sonny and you really felt like she was still had strong feelings for him.

She sung the hits, Turn Back Time, All or Nothing, Strong Enough, It's in His Kiss and a few Abba; and Elvis covers.

The best moment of the show came when she sung her encore of Believe. That was a moment that was so inspiring that people (myself included) were up dancing and really enjoying the moment.

Aside from Cher's brilliant singing, humorous personality and hits scattered through the show, the stage and set design was incredible. There was a circus act which reminded me of Britney Spears and Pink. All the colours were reminiscent of Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour from back in 2010.  That's why Cher is still relevant at 72. Even when other artists are top of the charts, she's still willing to learn and be inspired by the younger generation. Her music is also relatable, no matter what age you are. She appeals to all generations and there was something for everyone.

Other than the support act and lack of reference to Sydney (and I'm clutching at straws here) I would have to give the show a 4.5/5. One of the best I've been to.

Part 1: So you want to be an actor

I'm not sure if I've indicated this in previous blogs but I've been trying to make it as an actor since I was eight years old, so we're talking a very, very long time.

Although I say I have wanted to be an actor since I was eight years old, it probably actually started before then. My earliest memory of being interested in acting was when I was six years old and there was a school play and I wanted a lead role but I was too young so ended up being in the choir. It was for a production of Joseph and the Technicoloured Dreamcoat.

But deciding I wanted to be an actor at eight years old sticks out for me as that was when I started watching Shortland Street, a New Zealand soap and I immediately decided after then that I wanted to be an actor. At the time it was because Angela Dotchin, who played receptionist and later PA, Kirsty Knight was my favourite character.

Since then I took a lot of acting classes and I've been writing since then with roles as a journalist, digital marketer and content editor or writer but acting has always been in the back of my mind. I've also done singing since 2009. That's my other passion but I happen to be a better actor than I am a singer. And that's basically the purpose of this blog today, to talk a bit about why I love acting and a bit about the things that I've learned in acting classes and what steps you should take if you want to be an actor.

Despite having done dozens of courses and spent thousands of dollars on acting courses as well as having done paid extra work and some short films, I've been rejected by agents, even recently though I'll be trying again. So here are some tips I would like to give you if you do want to be an actor.

Take as many courses as you possibly can

As an  actor training is really important and as teachers of mine have said, it's important to learn from different teachers because they all have their own technique. You might learn screen acting from one teacher but theatre from another or methods from others. You will be a stronger actor if you have more techniques to your repertoire and you'll be able to be more multifaceted than if you only have one or two. Find the best acting schools in your area and then go to them and listen to what other people say about them. If a school has a good reputation then you should go.

Ideally you would do a three year acting course but if you're like me and either tried multiple times and didn't get in or you don't have the money short courses and short films are your best option. Get involved in as many productions as you possibly can.

Get your headshots and/or a showreel done

Every actor is judged on their appearance. It's just the way it is. Certain people will be better at playing different characters. If you are carrying extra weight (as I was for a while) then you will be limited in the roles you can be cast for. As an actor your physicality is really important so it's good to be as fit as possible and to maintain a healthy weight. You also need to maintain a consistent weight. This is very important because when you're submitted for roles your agent will rely on your headshots. If your headshots are outdated you won't get cast and could end up with a bad reputation. Get your headshots done BEFORE you get an agent. It will make you look more professional than if you do it afterwards and it will show your possible agents that you're serious about the field. This is the minimum you need to do. Most headshot photographers will charge around $400 for your shots.

If you can though, get a showreel made up. A showreel should show your best work, so before you get it made up, be sure to rehearse rehearse rehearse. You can never rehearse too much. A showreel costs more and could potentially be around $2000, but look around for quotes.

Get an agent

Although you can get some work through sites like Showcast and Starnow, you need an agent. Agents have industry contacts and can get you auditions for roles that aren't widely advertised. Because they know casting directors well they know what each one is looking for and will only put you forward for roles you are suitable for.

Although you may want to sign up with a top agent you're going to need to look around for an agent that is at the level you are at. That may mean going with an agent that only does commercials or extra work initially. Be aware though that extra work will not help you become an actor. Only courses and unpaid acting will help you with that. Get involved in community theatre or another acting group if you can do so.

There are so many other things you need to consider if you do want to be an actor including your physicality, techniques, communication, listening and script analysis and this will be covered in the next blog.

Before I close this blog though, I want to say that if you are considering becoming an actor then you should definitely enrol in short courses at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Kensington, Sydney, NSW, Australia. They offer a range of programs from one day short courses through to their three year bachelor degree programs. All comments in this blog are my own opinions and I have not been paid for this review. My opinions are based on genuine experiences.

I also want to add that f you want to be an actor and you love acting, it's a passion that will never go away. You may take breaks from it but it's something that you'll always be interested in and always return to. I did a course today and have another three coming up and I honestly cannot wait. As an actor you can always learn more skills and develop your craft.

The truth about dermal fillers: What to expect when you get them for the first time

So before I got Botox I said I would never ever get dermal fillers, and before I first got Botox back in July I was only open to the idea. It wasn't something I would definitely do. I didn't actually have a strong opinion on it either way. It was probably one of those things I was open to but didn't actually know a lot about.

I did however know that I was opposed to dermal fillers and thought that anyone who got them was an absolute idiot and that there was no real point to them. Again, I simply didn't know a lot about them.

Based on my previous opinions and the opinions of people around me, I would say that most people are the same and that for some reason people don't know a lot about cosmetic injectibles and that they are still taboo. Although the internet typically has a lot of information available, there is no singular reason as to why injectibles are still considered taboo but one theme that often comes up is that it contradicts feminism. The thinking is that if you get injectibles you're not happy in your own skin and that you're conforming to society's expectations to look a certain way.

Anyway, after a few sessions of Botox I decided I would take the plunge at get dermal fillers. Basically Botox is great for dynamic lines caused by expression, whereas fillers need to be used to the static lines that are caused by the skin drying out.

So what was it like to get dermal fillers injected for the first time tonight?

Well, I'd watched a lot of videos on YouTube of people having dermal fillers injected and I have to say that the YouTube videos make the procedure look a lot more scary than it actually is.

If you've had Botox then you'pre already familiar and experienced in having injections in the face it's not that much of a transition. The only real difference is that instead of it being over and done with in 10 minutes it will take half an hour.

First, your nurse or doctor if you've opted to see a doctor will tell you to sit down on the bed in the room and you'll lean back. When you're leaning back and relaxing they'll wipe your face with antiseptic and prepare the syringes for injection and then mark the places on your face that will be injected. Instead of it involving a quick prick like Botox the syringe will be in the part of the face that's being injected for a little bit longer. The nurse or doctor will also massage in the filler so that it spreads and is evenly spread. They'll inject a few spots to get the best possible result.

It's really quite painless because the dermal filler, I was injected with Juvederm Voluma has a numbing agent so it won't hurt at all.

When it's over you'll see the results immediately and they'll last anywhere from six months to two years so you'll need to get top ups after that. Fillers are like Botox, the more you have them, the longer they'll last. They also add moisture back to your skin that has previously been lost due to sun damage and aging.

Obviously because your face has been injected and massage there will be some bruising. That is to be expected and is a normal part of the experience. Your skin will also be a bit tender but that should only last a couple of days.

To sum up I would highly recommend dermal fillers if you want to add life to your face and look more youthful. Be aware that you will need to have multiple sessions. The average amount for each person will be 3-6mls and that will ensure you have th best possible result.

As you get older your skin in other areas also dries out so that means your lips will dry out as well, so if that is the case then you should also consider lip fillers. Like Botox and dermal fillers you can choose the number of mls/syringes based on the result you want. I haven't yet had my lips done, but if/when I get them done, that will simply be for moisture so I would only go for 1ml. Anything else would look ridiculous.

As I've said in previous blog posts it's really important that you choose a cosmetic specialist who is trained and qualified in cosmetic injectibles and can give you a professional and natural look.

Advice if you're considering dermal fillers

I first blogged about Botox in mid July and had my first Botox treatment on the 21st of July. As I've mentioned in previous blogs I started with my forehead and the sides of my eyes. Two weeks later I had my bunny lines done and a top up on my forehead and sides of my eyes. My next treatment was above my lips, some more in my forehead, my bunny lines and the sides of my eyes.

It was during the last consultation that I talked about having dermal fillers done to smooth and reduce the dark circles under my eyes. I had originally planned to have those done today but wasn't 100% sure and baasically I hadn't done enough research to proceed with them, so today I only had more Botox done.

Today's Botox session completed the Botox that I needed in my face so now I'm onto fillers and there are a few things I'd like to talk about in the lead up to my first fillers session.

The first thing you need to know is that there are many different brands of fillers and they all have different effects. Don't be fooled by the cheaper ones. The cheaper ones do not work as well as the more expensive ones and will only have a superficial impact. If you want a long lasting impact, then it's recommended that you choose the more expensive one (I would like to name it but due to Australian TGA guidelines and legislation, I actually can't - but there is enough information online that you'll be able to figure it out).

When your'e starting out with fillers for under the eyes then it's actually best to get them injected into your cheeks or at least that is what has been recommended for me personally. Everyone is different. Some articles and blogs online also recommend that you start with a small amount and then progress from there to a bigger amount, or have it topped up if you need to. This is what I've done with Botox. I've had four Botox treatments across my face totalling $1201.10 and that should cover me for the next six months but it's really hard to know because I thought the last treatment I had two weeks ago would be enough but it actually wasn't and I had to have a major top up today.

So anyway, now that I'm moving onto dermal fillers another thing to note is that it is more expensive than Botox. Each Botox treatment I've had has cost me an average of $200 - $350. Fillers are $650 for the premium brand.

I can't comment on what fillers can do for your face until I've had them but what I can say is that since I've had Botox friends have commented on my face. Now granted I've always had a great face, but Botox has really improved it dramatically and people have commented on it. They have also commented on the general change in my personality. This could be a result of losing weight prior to having Botox and then colouring my hair. it's hard to know, but the general idea is that Botox really does improve your mood and it has been reported that it reduces depression in people.

Anyway, I will keep you posted on what my thoughts after having the fillers are but so far I'm thinking I'm just going to go with 1ml as an entry point and then if I need to increase that later on that's what I'll do like I've done with Botox. Getting fillers is a huge decision and not one I've taken lightly at all which is probably partially why I didn't end up going ahead with the treatment today. The filler brand that was recommended to me today as well lasts for two years so I'll let you do your research and find out what brand that is.

My regular skin specialist was away today as well so I needed to see someone else and while I'm willing to have someone else do my Botox injections, I'd rather have someone I know well do my filler injections as it seems different to having Botox done and takes a little bit longer. Botox is basically over and done with in five minutes.

I know I've blogged about this before as well, but nothing beats the feeling of knowing that your face is free from lines and wrinkles and it's really cool because I never really had frown lines to begin with. I guess I just don't frown, either that or unlike other people I hadn't developed those lines. My eyes are a different story though. I am very very expressive with my eyes so that's where most of my lines are, hence I've needed to focus on them.

Now, in concluding, here are five tips that I want to leave you with before you do have fillers:

1. Choose a skin specialist you trust and feel comfortable with. Think about it this way, you're having your face injected. It's really important that you trust your skin specialist. That might mean you go to a small clinic or it may mean you stick with a major chain. I've gone with a major chain personally and other than today I stick with the same specialist as I trust and have rapport with her.
2. Start small. If you're not sure what you'll think of the treatment, start small. You can always have more injected later.
3. Be aware that the treatment will hurt slightly (I have had Botox above my lips and that is the most painful along with the bunny lines, it's only a short term sting but it does hurt and your eyes may water like mine do) and go to your happy place. Remember to breathe.
4. Listen to your skin specialist. You may do a lot of research on your own online and that's great that you do but it's important to listen to your skin specialist. They are a professional, and they know what they're doing so listen to them and trust them.
5. Cheapest isn't always best, just like you're best going with the more expensive filler brand, it's also worth paying more for a reputable skin clinic.

I'll keep you posted on what I think of fillers and will post another blog once I have had my fillers on the 6th of October.

Please note: Any opinions shared in this blog are the thoughts of the writer online and do not constitute medical advice. Please consult your medical professional for a tailored package.