Star Struck In Excess

(I realise this story has a few Aussie terms in it so I will explain as I go for non-Australian readers) 


Part One 

A few years ago when I was an Advertising Account Manager at the Sydney Morning Herald - I received an amazing opportunity to interview a rockstar, Jon Stevens.

Well to me, he was a rockstar.

He peaked probably in the 90's but pretty iconic Australian Rockstar all the same.

If you don't know him you can view one of his legendary songs here

He was the lead singer of Noiseworks and these days does some solo stuff.
When Michael Hutchence died, he fronted INXS for a time.

My job at the SMH had many perks - one of them being the chance to go to the ARIA awards and VIP Party afterwards. (music industries night of nights )

Well you could go if you happened to sell a $20,000 advertisement into the guide.

As a star struck music lover - there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity to rub shoulders with the the leaders of the Australian Music Industry.

So even though I was on HOLIDAYS (yes I was nutty!!)  I made cold calls to all sorts of businesses pitching the ARIA GUIDE - and finally sealed the deal with fashion house  Bardot,

I rang my boss from my hotel room in Melbourne to let her know the news.

 She was dumbfounded.

She was hard up getting me to do work at work - so she nearly fell off her chair when I told her I had sold $20K to a new business whilst holidaying!!!

 She assured me I had tickets to the VIP party and the event.

Excellent.

As luck would have it, Bardot even sent me dresses to wear - complete red carpet treatment eh?

The ARIAS party is another story in itself, which I will write if anyone wants to know it (comes complete with lots of drunken conversations with well knowns in the music industry and tears at the end of the night because the proof of this on my AUNTY"S CAMERA was lost)

anyway back to the focus...

With a little dutch courage and an introduction to the editor of the Entertainment section at the Herald, suddenly this little Advertising A.M was in his ear about HOW much I loved INXS - how much I liked JD Fortune the new lead singer (yes embarrassed about this now, I do believe he has since left band and lives in his car) , and could I puhhhlease interview him if the opportunity came up.

I droned on and on about how keen I was to burst into the journalism scene and how good a job I would do and blah de blah de blah.

Would you believe it the next week at work, thinking this poor editor dude would not have remembered any of our conversation, let alone my name- called me up at work and said:'

"I've got an interview for you"

I am nearly dying here thinking he had JD lined up.

 -- He said "It's not JD - but he did sing for INXS after Michael Hutchence died"

"Jon Stevens?" I asked.

"Yep"

My heart skipped a couple of beats.

"Yes I'll do it" I said.

"Great, I'll send you his managers details and call him up to organise it for tomorrow."

TOMORROW.

 DROP DEAD FRED.

I can still feel the nervousness now as I type this.

Please understand that it was my  DREAM to interview rockstars - but people, I was the most star struck person on the planet, I had NEVER interviewed anyone I was an advertising sales gal - and it was exciting - but TOMORROW?????

I agreed to do it. I knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

But I was PACKING IT.

When I left work that night I rang everybody I knew to gloat about it, as you do- -

Midnight came around and still , I had no questions for the lead singer of Noiseworks......



pic from here 

Just being

This time - its Impersonal

(Foreword:

Don't like having a whinge on here because I want my blog to be happy and funny and inspiring - so forgive me for the onslaught... tomorrow is a new day with a whole load of leg lifting potential.)

I was getting buff.

Now I am puffed again.

You may have noticed all my hoopla about how wonderful personal training was suddenly just.... left the blog.

I am feeling a little down on myself because even though I am happy - I wish I could have every ball spinning at once.

I feel like I have things going great guns in one area, but then it as the expense of another.

(perhaps this is the human condition? I don't know- allow me to speak of it as though I was the first on Earth to feel it - )

Yeah , yeah I know - we can't be super people..... but maybe a little balance would help me, a little discipline....

Anyway, personal training...

About three weeks ago, I stopped.

Cold turkey.

In fairness to myself the trainer was no good.

We rocked up one night and he had the one horse town entire rugby league team there ready to go in our 'personal' time slot.

PT said to Cowboy - "You join the boys - Sharni, personal tonight" -

So what happens?

He is totally immersed in training the football team that I could have been sitting down doing tapestry for all he knew.

Occasionally he would pop over and tell me to do something unimaginative like - 20 step ups and I only do it half arsed because he is not even watching me (the whole reason he was hired, so I would do things full arsed - well I've got the full arse now but it is no thanks to him)

Every now and then would give me a patronising "Doing well, darling" (and then I do nothing for 10 minutes as he excitedly works with the football team) WHICH mind you, is completely embarrassing being the only girl within coo-ee working out next to a pack of blokes doing leg lifts at the fence and cursing the fact that I wore shorts that they might be able to see up.

Anyway at the end of our supposed "personal training' session where I had NO personal training whatsoever - old mate asks me for $20.

Well - piss off.... ( I paid him) but I cannot believe how badly and IMPERSONALLY he treated me - so I decided I would show him and didn't go back.

Not only did I show him - but I showed me.

Anyway old goody two shoes Cowboy has continued and I have done Nada.

So he is as buff as they come and I am fattening up to be served on a plate with an apple in my mouth at Christmas!!

All the good work I was achieving - has instantly and almost freakishly converted straight back into jelly. And, I have eaten lollies like the world would end if I didn't guzzle a packet of Retro Party Mix a day.

I was quite ripped while I was being impersonally trained.

- 4 weeks later. I am back to square one.

I am sad about it and I don't know what to do.

I have lost my exercise mojo.

Cowboy is running around the block as we speak - and I am so jealous that he is so motivated.

At least my fingers are toned from all this typing.

cartoon blatantly taken from here

(ps - cowboy read this and then ordered me onto the treadmill - just ran uphill for 1.2 km and am pooped. but at least it was personal.)

Hierophant in Heels : My tarot reading

Hierophant:

any interpreter of sacred mysteries or esoteric principles

A little while back I interviewed Alice Grist, Author of the book taking the UK by storm ( I predict Australia is next... ) the High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment .

As a cheeky side note after the interview I joked that she could read my tarot cards.

And bless her, she did!

In her reading, Alice covered my past, my present and my future.

Alice is in England - so she shuffled the cards while thinking of me and the cards and the insights that she produced were very interesting!

I will now share with you some of the highlights - what she said and how it relates to current situation.

You have found your ideal future and now just need to adapt things to make it happen -

I have and yes I am trying

Trust in your intuition

I do, I do and more all the time

You will move away from negative feelings and fears and will embrace your inner strength and talents

This is true - negative stuff that used to bother me and concerns about what others think in particular - have left the building -- and they used to rule the roost!!

I am now so focused on what makes me tick that there is no room for the negative stuff.

A person who represents a spiritual advisor / guru will enter your life

OOOH I joked that maybe this was Alice - the card that indicated this is called the Hierophant (pictured) and I think that Alice could be my Hierophant in a pair of heels - !

She plucked out the King of Pentacles which revealed things about Cowboy.

She said "he is a key person in your life - reliable and supportive - a stable force and very practical - whether you realise it or not he is a rock for you."

Not a truer word typed.

Cowboy is certainly all that - and I feel will continue to be.

She predicted I will live in traditional ways but will also find the time and space to be true to my spiritual self

This is a massive challenge for me - I have a side of me that is definitely attracted to all things spiritual (hope that doesn't sound wanky - I have a hard time explaining this one - but I have a definite gravitation towards certain ideas / ways of living.. which is why I can't wait to read Alice's book)

and because I have this nagging side to me - I worry about how I can raise Monte with my 'ideas' when my family are more traditional.

This indicates best of both worlds so makes me happy.

Number of choices and opportunities coming my way

Excellent Smithers

The world is opening up to me quickly

Likin' that pace, likin' that pace

Embrace this energy and take swift action

I am!

Things will develop quickly

Good because patience ain't no virtue of mine

Competition and minor setbacks

oh well, to be expected I guess

Period of being unsettled....

hmmmm comes with the territory??

Internal struggles partner, child and work

oh no hope its not too bad...

This situation will give you a taste of your abilities ambition and own strength!

Oh I hope I like the taste!

Things will smooth themselves out - natural side effect of change

phew!

Outcome and future --

You will emerge victorious, ambitious and a force to be reckoned with. You will be charging forth into your future with great courage, compassion and confidence!

Brilliant! I am charging towards my future in this way already.

Thanks Alice for your reading.... it made sense to me - greatly - I will let you know if life unravels along these lines.

To receive your own reading from my High Heeled Hierophant (aka Alice Grist) you can visit her here

Oh and I am anxiously awaiting my copy of her book that I ordered through Booktopia.... I will review it here when I am done

What do you make of tarot readings and psychics? Have you had an accurate reading before? What did it predict?

Q & A with Miscellaneous Mum

Karen from Miscellaneous Adventures of an Aussie Mum kindly agreed to a Q&A with me on all things 'bloggy.'

According to her twitter profile Karen is an:

"author, publisher, flagrant book whore, semi-reformed misanthrope and certified pinball wizard."

According to me, she is a blogger that has reached dizzying heights including 'top of the pops' when it comes to blogging popularity.

I am pleased to present a Q&A with Karen Andrews and I hope you might get some helpful tips as it did me.

This is what she had to say:

What would your advice be to somebody hoping to make an impressive dent in the Blogopshere?

If by dent you mean attracting lots of traffic and generally 'being seen' I would first do some background reading as to how the blogosphere 'works'.

Learning about SEO (or at least what it is), how to get Google to love you, how to craft a post, how to start-up with social medias, how to use your blogging software properly

Then I would simply say, write well and write often, or at least semi-often.

Network.

Read other blogs that are in your niche (or decide if you want to be a niche blog).

What is the most powerful way to attract readers?

Write something that either informs, entertains, inspires or provokes a personal response ("Oh, I feel like that too!")

What do you think are the most important considerations when building a personal brand?

Perhaps the most important thing is at the start.

So think about what name you give your blog, then follow that line.

Can it be registered as its own custom domain name?

If you don't get first choice, can you get second?

Then once you have it, then when you comment on blogs use it.

I sign in comments "Karen (miscmum)" but that's also because there are a lot of Karen's out there!

Basically the more you put yourself out there, the more it'll become known.

The Blogosphere is choc-a-bloc with mama blogs, what are your secrets to standing out?

Well, honestly, I think it helps to take a nice photo.

I know this because I am a wannabe, frustrated photographer with a plain old point-and-shoot camera and I aesthetically appreciate blogs which display nice photos (this isn't restricted to mum blogs!)

So when I post up a photo, I think to myself a) Is this a nice one or b) in what way does this serve the post?

I've seen blogs where fuzzy, out of focus, shots are whacked up and I wonder why have they done that?

It seems pointless.

If you're telling a story just be as true and authentic as you can be.

Readers can spot a fake from miles away.

What do you know about blogging now that you wish someone had of told you when you started?

That people's definition of 'success' varies and not to get sucked in to all the 'best of' lists and 'top whatever' lists there are.

They serve their purpose, don't get me wrong, and they're lovely to be on, but focusing on that side alone can be distracting.

Great advice - thank-you Karen.

Did you find this helpful? What bloggy wisdom do you have?

Blogger: The Great Unclogger

I am in a writers group online called Writers Rising - one of the contributors, Ramona, from Alone in the Holy Land ,wrote a piece describing how 'blogging has unclogged' her writing arteries.

This description really struck a chord with me - because it has done just that for me too.

I have captured that ever so elegantly with the accompanying pic have I not?

hahaha

I have always been somebody who has claimed to 'love writing' but prior starting this blog - there wasn't a lot of it happening.

Writing was just something I attached myself to when people asked what it was that I did.

Even though I didn't.

It is interesting the journey that I have been taken on now that I have started blogging.

The first month or so it was like doing a detox.

All of the stuff that had been clogging up my life starting oozing out of my fingers.

Stories about howI felt when I had found out I was pregnant, when I met the Cowboy - moving from Sydney to a One horse town , my ambitions, my goals, my lists .... it really was the unclogging.

Now that I have all of that out of my system I feel cleansed.

Like I have had a cyber colonoscopy.

Don't feel I have to get anything out of the system, or write my to-do list anymore. I feel like I have surged into the present and finally kicked the past to the curb.

I feel I have emptied my head and my heart onto the page of all the stuff that was just sitting there and not allowing anything new in - I have now made space for the new to enter.

And it is entering!

Not just into my head for my blog - but for my life in general.

I have discovered that for me writing is something spiritual, magical, meditation like.

I am elated and rejoicing in the world of opportunity I am now in, the wonderful people I am meeting and the contentment I am feeling.

I am not sure where my writing journey is going to take me now I am unclogged.

But I am just taking it one day at a time and enjoying the ride - I am kind've trusting that it is where I am meant to be.

Has anyone else had this sort of experience from blogging? Or am I a freak of nature? (don't answer the last bit)

pic not mine from here

Melissa Hoyer : HIRED!

I am so chuffed that media personality and fashion expert Melissa Hoyer agreed to an interview!

A woman whose extensive media career has the ability to turn one as ambitious as myself every stylish shade of green with envy!

I have only recently discovered Melissa's blog and straight up I knew I had to talk to her.

When she sent me her CV (I wanted to write a bio as a prequel to the interview) I wrote back to inform her she had the job ...!!!

I only wish I had one to offer her

WHAT A CAREER !

Highlights include:

* Fashion and style director and columnist on News Limited's Daily and Sunday Telegraph

* Creator, executive producer and presenter of Fox Fashion the first locally produced fashion show on Australian screens - then co-hosting a similar show with Hugh Jackman.

*Hosted Arena Style on Foxtel's Arena, a series she co-hosted with Australian designer Jodhi Meares and has been guest judge on Foxtel fashion reality shows like Project Runway and Australia's Next Top Model.

With her free-air-television and cable TV work, Melissa has interviewed the likes of Elle Macpherson, Naomi Campbell, Cate Blanchett, Mischa Barton, Paris Hilton, Nicole Kidman, Linda Evangelista, Sarah O'Hare and Megan Gale, all for Foxtel, while she was the number one style commentator for the subscription network.

Melissa has also interviewed popular culture figures as diverse as Ian Thorpe, Jennifer Aniston, Tommy Hilfiger, Rachel Zoe, Sarah Ferguson, Russell Crowe, Collette Dinnigan, Helena Christensen, Naomi Watts, Jennifer Hawkins, Jade Jagger, Marc Newson, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Dahl.

These were just some of the standouts from her CV - by no means her entire CV - I didn't have enough room!

What credentials!

As I always say (well twice now) - being interviewed here was her next logical step ;-)

Included in the interview with Melissa are the questions readers suggested - thank you.

So here is the interview with Melissa Hoyer proving that Australian Women in the Media are not only incredible movers and shakers but they are extremely down to earth!

What was the riskiest move that you have made in your career to date?

Does it pay to take risks?

Guess the riskiest was leaving the comfort of being an employee for 20 years to going out on my own as a freelance journalist and commentator, early in 2008.

So far, it has been a fantastic career move, opening up so many more opportunities where I can use the ‘brand’ I built for myself in many other avenues.

Online, ambassadorial roles, working for a string of magazines, on more TV shows, as a consultant, the opportunities are now totally endless.

I feel more in control of my life, and am a million times happier not to have to work or deal with people who only want to hammer you!

For somebody to get to your level in the media - what traits should one possess?

You need to be resilient (yep, Teflon-like) and GO WITH WHAT YOU BELIEVE. You cannot be a puppet for an employer, a PR company or a brand as that, in the long run, earns you no respect whatsoever.

You also need to really love what you do and in my case, be extremely open to the ever-changing landscape of the media.

Realise that things changing is so important, so always be prepared to embrace change. It also makes working life interesting, as complacency can set in very easily. I adore diversity and that is exactly what I have now.

Who is Australia's up and coming Style Icon?

In Australia, the chick with the potential X-style factor would have to be the actress Abbie Cornish or the designer Camilla Freeman (of Camilla and Marc fame)

Whose style do you admire most?

I look at those who never try too hard, as those who I admire.

Some who spring to mind are the two Ms Hepburn’s (Audrey and Katharine)’; Australian marie claire style director Jane Roarty; Oz Harper’s Bazaar editor Edwina McCann; French Vogue’s Carine Roitfeld; Pink; actors Sienna Miller, Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep and the film director Jane Campion.

Why is fashion so important to you? Does it really matter what somebody wears?

Fashion, as a tentacle of the popular culture octopus is what I like observing.

I do not give a rats (!) about WHAT someone is wearing (whether it is high, low, cheap, chic) but enjoy seeing how someone puts their own look together.

How we ALL look is a reflection of how we think about ourselves and the older you get the more confident, and therefore more at ease I have certainly become with my own wardrobe choices.

What makes someone stylish?

Style is totally innate.

It’s all about how we put together our own look and not about being a slave to too many fads, top-to-toe designer looks and only expensive labels.

Readers questions:

Do you think it is time Madonna hung up her fishnets? (thanks Paula!)

You know what? No. Sure, there are times when we would all like to say, ‘just cover those arms up Madge’, but you’ve got to admire the dedication she has to retaining a youthful persona even if it is, at times, verging on mutton . . . Let Madonna go on until she’s a hundred I say!

What is 'in' for Mum's this year? (this one is for you Sharna!)

I don’t think we should differentiate ‘mums’ from ‘non-mums’ when it comes to fashion and style. Because a woman has a child or children, doesn’t automatically put her in the uncool basket, but if she isn’t comfortable with, say her arms or a post-babe tummy, cover them up and don’t feel obligated to wear shoestring straps or low-rise jeans because they are decreed to be cool!

Who is the biggest "a-hole" (readers words not mine) you have ever interviewed and why? (this one is yours Quixy)

There was band called Australian Crawl and the lead singer, James Reyne, was hideous when I interviewed him.

He was a smart-arse; condescending and patronising to the point I fled the interviewed, jumped in my car and cried.

The fact I (along with most other 80s teens) used to really fancy him probably had something to do with me not coping with his attitude.

Anyway, since then we have kissed and made-up. Not in the biblical sense, but we bumped it each other at a bar and he admitted how average he had been that particular day.

What is the most ridiculous fashion trend?

Still find a balloon skirt a hard one to take . . . even though I bought a Miu Miu one a few years ago . . .

How have you found a balance (if you have) between motherhood and your career? (all yours Heather)

By not taking everything, or anything, too seriously. Also going out on my own in a career sense has given me a much better perspective on what matters in life. It re-iterated that NONE of us are our jobs. We sit in a seat that is a job title, but you don’t ever take that job ‘title’ with you. It was the most cathartic and wise thing to learn.

I read somewhere that becoming a mother is the 'realest' thing you have ever done. What was the most fake - and what is so real about motherhood?

Motherhood put everything into perspective even though it took me a while. When I first had my son, Connor, I did wrestle with the ‘social’ aspect of my career – the going-out, the parties, the late nights but I got into a workable rhythm and that has pretty much stood the test of time.

As for ‘fakes’, I still indulge in ‘fake’ things every day, from sometimes having eyelash extensions or wearing hair pieces or painting my nails or having my hair collared or having a wax . . but if these are the 'fakest' part of my life, then I am pretty happy!

As far as fake people are concerned, I allowed them in for awhile but certainly don’t let them into my life anymore.

What would your advice be for a no-name writer trying to build a name for themselves?

Offer to write for every magazine, newspaper or website you can, for nothing (initially) and develop a blog and get onto Twitter, pronto. It will be a tough slog but you will get there if you are passionate and keen enough on your subject matter.

and finally... the question on every body's lips....

How hot is Hugh Jackman really? (Quixy - hope this will put an end to your sleepless nights)

I love Huge to death, but HOT I have never found him. Ok, so kill me now!

Because we worked so closely on a fashion series at Foxtel, he, his wife Deborra-lee and I got on so well and I never ever allowed myself to get hooked into the ‘hot’ factor.

To me Hugh was just a great guy who is so genuine, with no agenda or ulterior motives. A real gem!

Another inspirational Australian Media icon - and down to earth Mother - love how this fashion expert really couldn't give a rats!!!

haha

Cheers Melissa -

(ps - I did have the cheek to ask Melissa , after she had already so kindly, answered these questions - what her expert take was on the Cowboy and I's miserable Fashions on the Field attempt.... I'll let you know if she plays along )