children | Hold the Glamour

December 18, 2012

I don’t want to know the details of Sandy Hook Elementary

I haven’t turned the TV on, read a newspaper, read the news online or listened to the radio or the like since Friday… When a man massacred innocent souls, namely children at an elementary school in Connecticut. All were too young to endure such a tragic and bitter end to their sweet lives. Let alone the adults/teachers who tried to save them.

I am tearing up and crying whilst I write this post… I don’t want to know the details as it is too difficult for me to listen to or read, to comprehend or to imagine. I immediately put myself and my children in the distorted and evil picture. I cannot help it… I’m a parent and mother.

My mother-in-law called on Friday afternoon. I thought she had a cold. She proceeds to tell me that all over Australian television was the slaughter of children and some of their teachers who desperately tried to save them at Sandy Hook Elementary, Newtown Connecticut.

She started crying on the phone. My mother-in-law is a great woman and I love and respect her dearly. She is not known however, to be an overly emotional type or to cry easily – I on the other hand can be an instant hot mess whether the story is a sad or happy one. I knew this was cutting her deeply when she could hardly get a word out. I asked for her to stop with the details as I couldn’t bear hearing another word. I was bawling my eyes out and my stomach turned into immediate mush.

What about the parents, families, friends and colleagues? How must they be feeling, especially as we head toward the holidays and Christmas? I cannot imagine or fathom their grief, torment, rage and confusion. I cannot imagine any of it. I feel sick for them all – the victims and families left behind. I feel, feel, feel and that’s why right now, I cannot know the details. I am so terribly sorry and empathetic for all those horribly and involuntarily involved in the slaying at Sandy Hook.

The shocking and disturbing truth is that a tragedy like this, could happen anywhere at anytime. It could have happened to anyone of us. That is what scares me.

Look at the power of a gun and an unstable mind! Look at the loss and devastation a gun has caused!

Why did this happen?

Why has this happened all too many times in our world and community?

What is it going to take for this to stop?

There are unfortunately way too many questions and not enough answers…

My heart goes out to all that have suffered and are suffering. I am so sorry.

August 21, 2012

Giving lady luck a shot in Atlantic City

My husband and I went away for the weekend with friends (who have two children of similar ages to our’s), for the first time since Mila was born almost four-and-a-half years ago. We were together, without children, overnight and away for over 24 hours. That means, we went to bed late and slept in without interruption to our precious sleep.

We drove to Atlantic City, New Jersey which is about two-and-a-half hours away without traffic. It took us a little longer with traffic and petrol/gas stops. We were ready to get out and stretch our legs by the time we arrived.

Atlantic City – Jennifer Miller and I on approach to our hotel

Atlantic City – Borgata Hotel

It was my first time to A.C. and I didn’t expect it to be so flat, on the coast and spread out like it was. It’s a little ‘Vegas’, where people come to gamble, see shows and get away from reality and daylight (we didn’t have a clock in our room). I’ve been to Vegas many times for both work and play and it’s on another level. Atlantic City is I guess, the east coast version of the gambling mecca.

A.C. – The view from our room on the 36th floor at the Borgata hotel

We checked in and took the fast elevator up to the 36th floor – what an amazing view and spread before us. It was lovely to see the ocean and calm of the blue sky. I love being by the water and coastline – I guess that’s all I know as I’ve lived in Sydney and New York for most of my life.

Then it was time for Jen and I to hit the spa whilst the men folk hit the floor for a flutter or two. A perfect way to make everyone happy as Jen and I don’t really gamble nor do we know much about that kind of stuff. We do know however, about spa treatments and what makes us feel good.

We had an afternoon of bliss – facial, massage, spa, steam room and sauna. It was a sleepy, relaxing and hypnotic experience. I had a hard time ‘waking-up’. We had zero interruptions or commitments and the time was ours – what a novelty!

A.C. – Jen and I after our afternoon at the spa

We return to our hotel room, get ready for dinner and meet our husbands at the restaurant. We inhale the food as we are well and truly hungry by now. We had a delicious meal accompanied with lovely wine to celebrate this first-time occasion (the kids were doing well and missing us just enough). Truth be told, they were excited that we had mentioned there may be a treat coming their way if they behaved well. I know you’re not supposed to ‘bribe’ your children – once in while is quite alright I think.

Next up, we all hit the floor. Jen and I received a crash course on the roulette table whilst the ‘men’ played with us dispersing chips of their own colour across the felt. We had some fun and killed some time then pulled out of the game just before we lost all our money. See, that’s why I don’t gamble with money.

I’d rather spend my money elsewhere and do other things with it. I personally believe when one is gambling, that you are giving the money away for free, for nothing. I found it rather sad, lonely and desperate to be honest. There were people from everywhere, young and old, people from all races giving lady luck a shot. It was a vortex of smoke, alcohol, lights, noise and people. I couldn’t believe they had designated ‘smoking’ areas. My hair and clothes stank like back in the day when people could smoke everywhere and anywhere. Haven’t times changed for the better?!

The next day we slept, ate, checked out and drove back home toward New York City. We passed a flea market that seemed like it was stuck in some time warp or better still, a Hollywood movie. We stopped and took a look around. It was hot, quiet and I felt sorry for the people trying to make a sale under such conditions and desperation.

A.C. – Flea market just as we were leaving our hotel

NYC – A view of the city from the Verrazano Bridge

By the time we made it home – the four of us couldn’t wait to wrap ourselves around our angels. We had missed them and it was wonderful to have had the opportunity to have missed them. Kisses and hugs were flowing for hours. We went for a walk around our neighborhood, then back for dinner, bath and bedtime. Another day, another weekend etched into our memory. Another fun weekend with our friends.

Have you ever been to Atlantic City? A casino or place to gamble? What did you think about it? Would you return?

May 13, 2012

Happy Mother’s Day, Look books and curled eyelashes

NYC - Liam Dunn finishes of my look for a fall look book

NYC – Liam Dunn finishes off my look for a fall look book

NYC – A quick powder and I’m ready to go

Firstly, happy mother’s day to all the mother’s in the world. I hope your day is filled with the love and happiness you all deserve. Being a mother is one of the greatest gifts and accomplishments of my life. It isn’t always easy and at times you wonder what you are doing however, most of the time I could burst with the love and joy I feel in my heart for my two children. They are my everything.

What does being a mother mean to those of you who are? What are your biggest challenges and highlights?

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This week I worked in the city shooting a fall look book which will go out to the editors and media on behalf of my client. It was a lot of fun and the views from our studio were simply breathtaking. The city was sprawled out in front of us and the Hudson River never looked more blue. The clothes I wore had hues of black, grey and grape/purple with some animal prints thrown in for fun. Stay tuned for more fall fashion trends!

As usual, I arrive to the shoot with clean hair and nothing but moisturiser on my face. I have nude nail polish on my finger and toe nails and I always curl my eyelashes before leaving home. There’s nothing that opens up someone’s eye than a good eyelash curl. I personally love Shu Uemura’s curler and I don’t leave for a job without taking my own and my own mascara which is a must! I’m always on the search for the best mascara on the market (I have been known to call myself a mascara addict). At the moment I’m using a combination of CoverGirl Lashblast & Lashblast Fusion, Maybelline Volum’ Express & CoverGirl LashPerfection. Lashes ladies, lashes!!!

What mascara do you use and love? Which have failed you? There’s always something to say about ‘good lash’ isn’t there?