Real vs Fake: The Classic Pro/Con

There has been much historic debate over whether or not women who can't or wont buy real designer wear should be purchasing fake labels instead.

Of course when considering whether to go real or fake, both options will have the relative pros and cons.

However this doesn't always equivalate to the 'right thing' despite being stacked with pros.

In fact, aside from sometimes not quite fooling the fashion world, the designer knockoffs have only one con to their name (as opposed to the several stand out cons of forking out for designer), but it's a doozy, particularly for avid lovers of the fashion industry - it's illegally taking money away from hard working designers and fashion houses built from scratch.

Anythone who has watched the final few episodes of 'the City' knows the work that both Whitney Port and mentor Kelly Catrone put into Whitney's fashion line.

When you purchase a fakey, you're making all the years of hard work, all the rejection, all the late nights, completely redundant.

A lot of designers say that while getting on their feet is hard work, the reward of seeing people wearing their designs on the street make it all worth it.

Now, with an industry of fakes and imposters, designers see that reward slipping through their fingers and then the work they put in is just that - work.

Think twice next time you go out, whether a fake is really worth destroying our beloved fashion industry for, of if you can do without the label for now - if you can't, you can always do the sensible thing and save!

High Drama, Low

I saw part 2 of The Hills Season five today.
I have to admit, my favourite person in the Hills group is definitely Kristin Cavallari, and I'll tell you why:

Kristin is the ultimate in independent woman without being completely incapable of being soft when the need arises.
She has a fantastic 'Three Strike' dating rule that she sticks to. She gives boys three chances and then they're out, no matter how she feels about them.

One of my more recent posts was about trying not to be a total pushover, and if there's one thing I admire most about Kristin Cavallari, it's the fact that she doesn't take bullsh*t from anybody. She's not afraid of what the other girls think of her, but she's a fiercly loyal friend to the girls who love her back.
Since her Laguna Beach days (Particularly season 2), she's been a favourite of mine for that exact reason. She stood by Jessica's side and fought for her to see sense with Jason, and she made sure no one treated her or her friends like crap.

She's not afraid of the fact that the guys love her, but she has morals. She specifically set up a lunch with Audrina because she was worried about getting into a relationship with Justin 'Bobby' so soon. Of course, classic pushover Audrina didn't go, which started the whole bitch fight with Kristin.

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that Kristin Cavallari isn't the 'bitch' of The Hills. She's the most independent, strong character there, and the only one who can function on a higher-than-pathetic level without a man by her side.

<3

Eclipse: Living up to the Name

Eclipse is my favourite book in the Twilight saga, specifically because of the constant, real action, and the sexual tension that presents itself both in the Jacob, Bella and Edward triangle as well as the fact that Bella and Edward are unable to consumate their relationship because of her fragility.

The film was everything I'd hoped it would be. So closely related to the book in a way the other movies never quite achieved. David Slade outdid the other Directors by far, capturing the darkness and the light of this amazing book series.

Robert Pattinson has been knocked off his high 'hot man' horse by Taylor Lautner who everyone knows, unless they've been living under a rock, plays huffy werewolf Jacob Black.

Taylor and Kristen's chemistry was evident as they danced around Bella's possible feelings for best friend, Jacob.

Non-stop filled with action right from the opening with human, Riley running from our old red-headed friend through the rain, sent hearts pulsing and begging for more.

A brilliantly acted and scripted scene between Billy Burke (Charlie) and Kristen Stewart (Bella) where they broach the 'safe sex' conversation in the most awkward way possible was a characteristic move of the actors, and well-executed.

One newcomer who had much more screen time, and surprised us all was Jackson Rathbone who plays Edward's brother Jasper, mate of cute, overzealous Alice Cullen.
No casting role was done better than that of hiring Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of Directing legend Ron Howard, to play scorned vixen vamp, Victoria.

With incredible chase scenes that were fast paced and well-executed, to tension scenes that had us squirming in our seats, this film was a true victory for Director David Slade and the entire Eclipse Cast.

Overall, the film was incredible, and as I said, the best so far. Don't wait to see it, you'll want a repeat screening.

Enjoy!

Flying the Coop

Sydney is such an amazing city, but finding an apartment there can be about as simple as finding Wally in a candy cane factory.

I've been searching for months for the right apartment - one close to my office, big enough to actually spread my arms out, and safe enough that I don't need to keep a hand gun under my pillow.
You'd think this isn't asking much, but then throw in a limit on the price, and you're searching for a goldmine.
Finally, after months of searching, I found one, last week that's everything I could dream of having to myself. I went with my girlfriend, even finding out the inspection time from the agent, and making the effort to take the time off work to go.

On the morning of the inspection, I stood in a line of 57 people (I counted) and their partners/friends/family, to look at the apartment.

Where have the days gone where the first in was the first served, and everyone else just had to deal with it? I even told the agent I was willing to sign the lease and pay the bond on the spot, and she practically laughed in my face before telling me I had to 'apply like everyone else' and then be chosen to move in to the apartment.

I do love the city of Sydney. The amazing views of the Harbour bridge, the brilliant lights of the happening Circular Quay area, the incredible shopping at places like the Queen Victoria Building...I get giddy just thinking about it!
If only apartment shopping wasn't so difficult in this city.

Needless to say, I'm now the one laughing because I got the apartment, and can I just say - I'm never letting it go...

<3

The To Do List

Do we really need to have things all planned out?

Sometimes in life, I find myself at a crossroads - with so many different options, so many different directions, so many possibilities, that I become overwhelmed.

It's drummed into a lot of us from a young age whether by parents, family, friends or teachers (or a combination), that we finish school, go to University, then get a good job, get married, have kids etc, etc.

But what if it's not that simple?
So many opportunities are presented to us these days that it doesn't seem to be as easy as checking tasks off your life's 'To Do List'.
We have so many things we can pursue in our lives these days provided we have the will power, enthusiasm and attitude to succeed.
We can write a book and get it published, we can start our own business, we can travel, change careers, Volunteer in a third world country, and direct our own film all in the space of a couple of years, let alone an entire lifetime.

With the age of retirement increasing, and the opportunity to change careers as many times as take our fancy, not to mention the fact that 60 is the new 50 and 50 is the new 40, we've added ten years to the time we have to accomplish things.
In adding these ten years, our list of things we'd like to accomplish is growing, constantly adding goals that are out of the ordinary.

I have a friend who's desperate to learn to fly a plane for no other reason than the fact that it's something she's interested in. This deviation from 'the plan' has her grandmother questioning her sanity, and whenever I'm over there she's always asking my friend how she thinks learning to fly a plane will help her find a husband or raise a child.
My friend is yet to tell her poor grandmother that she doesn't want children.

I love the fact that we're suddenly so free to pursue any lifestyle we want. We can change our lives at the drop of a hat. Go and live in New York City, write a bestseller, create a clothing label and hold fashion shows, open our own business and claw our way to the top of a shoe company, all because it's what we want, rather than what society expects of us.

We should embrace and chase these goals with our whole heart and soul, because if we were this age thirty years ago, we'd be frowned upon. For me, I can't help but be happy that my little Life To Do List includes publishing a book or two and living in New York City! :)

<3

The People Pleaser

Does it affect our happiness to be constantly trying to please other people rather than trying to please ourselves?

For most of my life I have been a 'people pleaser', able to please multitudes of people in a single bound. But at what cost? I have to admit that pleasing others, while highly rewarding at times, can also have moments that cost me guilt ridden nights of no sleep, lying awake worrying about what other people think of me.
This worrying, this guilt that broils inside me until I can't sleep at night drives me crazy, and eventually it can ruin my whole week to the point that my mum can get worried about me.

How does one avoid this anxiety about what other people think. Oh to be the kind of girl who just thinks 'screw you'. While this isn't always a good quality, in some circumstances it would definitely be beneficial to a people pleaser like me.

Since I finished up University, I think it's gotten better. I'm no longer basing my validity in life by the marks I receive in assignments or essays, and I'm no longer basing the happiness of my week on a good exam mark. But when it comes to friendships, I'm still stuck in people-pleasing mania, and the anxiety of it all is killing me.

No offence intended here, but we're adults, or close to - we all understand how hard it is to make it in this world, and when you're a freelance journalist who works in the bar on the weekend, and babysitting three kids during the week and studying at night while trying to fit in sleep, friends, family and love...it can become just a little too much, just sometimes.
Why can't we all just understand that and accept an apt apology laid before us?

One thing's for sure, I'm fairly certain it's time to stop people-pleasing my way into push-over land, and start standing up for myself. I work hard, and I'm a good person.

Women, as I touched on in my previous post, have it tough at times - mothers, workers (sometimes the soul bread-winner in a family), domestic goddesses, and sometimes, mistake makers.
We're all in the same boat, so why don't we sometimes just give each other (and ourselves) a break?

<3

Throes and Woes

I have realised, probably prematurely, that I'm not at all cut out for motherhood.

Maybe in a decade or so, but definitely not as of the moment or any time relatively soon.
I've been working four days a week as a nanny to regain the cashflow and I'm caring for three boys under the age of five.
Can I just ask how you mothers do it?? I had no idea how difficult it was to have three little people constantly strapped to you having to constantly give them attention, care for them, clean up after them, entertain them.
I'm actually afraid for my future - I don't want to be one of those women who never wants to have kids, but this has really given me perspective on the kind of emotional maturity and selflessness you mother's really need.

For starters, I have to admit, I'm much to self-centred for children right now, and I don't see myself changing in the near future. I hate comitting to things that are going to trap me in to some kind of arse-numbing routine. I can't deal with vomit or pooey nappies, not to mention three a day, and I say far too many rude words (like bum, crap and damn - who knew they were taboo around three year olds?) to be considered mother-material.
Not to mention I'm consistantly ten minutes late to everything.
I like spending money on me - my clothes, my shoes, my makeup, my DVDs, my entertainment...sometimes I buy presents for friends and family, but with kids it's constant outpouring of money, and I'm sure if I'd have understood that when I was younger, I would have been constantly appologising to my parents and offering to get a full time job at ten.

I just have to give a shout out to all the mothers (and fathers/carers/godparents) who do it on a daily basis and experience the numbing fact that it just never turns off. It's 24/7!!

You have my respect, for whatever it's worth, and you should be proud of yourselves. Adults can be life changers in children's lives - I know my parents made who I am - and in my humble opinion, a wonderful child is a wonderful compliment to your patience, kindness and selflessness.

<3