'The Real Housewives of Melbourne': cast + photo revealed

There have been whispers, and now... a confirmation!

'The Real Housewives' is set to hit Australia, as production begins with the affluent ladies of Melbourne in the latest franchise of the hit reality series to air on Arena in 2014.

'The Real Housewives of Melbourne' will feature six new housewives who enjoy the cultured lifestyle of Melbourne. Between them, they own private jets, amazing homes and are married to high profile businessmen, including one to a rock star and another to a plastic surgeon.

Here is the group of women chosen:

And their PR-descriptions, below...

But first, a just in (updated Jan 2014) promo video of the women:



Andrea Moss – Former New York television journalist who now lives in Toorak, shops in Toorak and runs a multi-million dollar plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine business in Toorak. She is co-founder of the Liberty Belle Skin Centre and her husband, Dr Chris Moss, is regarded as one of the world’s finest facial plastic surgeons. When she’s not busy managing both businesses and various property developments she’s loving being a mum to her three children under 11. Watch her video here.

Gina Liano - Her looks, flamboyance and sense of style cannot hide her love of fashion which is a creative relief from her day job as one of Melbourne’s top barristers. Gina is a strong, assertive single mother of two and her sisters are fashionistas Bettina Liano and Teresa (TL Wood). Watch her video here.

Lydia Schiavello - Recently married to well known Australian architect and CEO of Metier 3, Andrew Norbury, Lydia is currently studying interior design and decoration at RMIT University. Lydia is a very passionate and capable woman; she has a diverse lifestyle and enjoys skiing, fashion, food and flying. Lydia has six children and step-children all under 25 and loves spending time with her family. Watch her video here.

Janet Roach - Fabulous and fun is the only way to describe blonde bombshell Janet Roach.  After leaving husband number two overnight, this millionaire property developer is now living life to the max re-discovering herself, her freedom and what makes her happy. Janet is the proud mother of two sons aged 29 and 25. Watch her video here.

Jackie Gillies – A new addition to the Melbourne scene the amazingly gifted celebrity psychic Jackie is wife of rock royalty, Silverchair drummer and Bento front man, Ben Gillies and is the youngest of our housewives. Watch her video here.

Chyka Keebaugh - One of Melbourne’s most liked and well connected housewives, bubbly, creative go-getter and mother of two teenagers, Chyka spends most of her days running from one meeting to the next as the co-owner of one of Australia’s largest and most successful and extravagant event companies, The Big Group and The Design Depot. Watch her video here.

Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said “We are thrilled the local version of this phenomenal TV reality franchise has begun production in Melbourne, showcasing uniquely Melbourne housewives and their lavish lifestyles.

'The Real Housewives of Melbourne' features a fabulous array of privileged, powerful and glamorous women and is sure to be compelling viewing embracing all the drama and extravagance, triumphs and pitfalls we have come to love about the Real Housewives franchise.

“We deliberated for months as to which Australian city should host this iconic television franchise. It was a real toss up between three locations. We settled on Melbourne because it had the strongest selection of women -  colourful identities with the most lavish of lifestyles and who are prepared to talk and not hold back! I think we have a very special group of women who will have Australia talking,” he said.

This entertaining 10 x one hour soap-doc provides an insider view of the lifestyles of the wealthy and extravagant women with a revealing insight into their world.

'The Real Housewives of Orange County' is the series that started the Real Housewives franchise (yes! Still one of the faves), which has now spawned series in the cities of Miami, New York, New Jersey (The. Best), Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Washington DC and Vancouver which screen on Arena the home of Housewives.  Other Housewives series include Israel, Athens and France.

Produced by Matchbox Pictures in conjunction with Foxtel, 'The Real Housewives of Melbourne' is the first Australian instalment of the world’s number one lifestyle reality franchise and will air on Foxtel’s Arena channel in early 2014.

UPDATED: 'The Real Housewives of Melbourne' will air from Sunday February 23 at 8.30pm only on Foxtel’s Arena.  

Will you tune in?

UPDATED:

The February 2014 story on the Housewives on 'A Current Affair'.

Click here to see it.

I wonder if we will see any parodies of the show... like this:

Project 90: My Fit n Fast Journey - Report Two

And so, after a challenging two weeks - in every possible way - it's fulfilling to give a rundown on my progress in the past fortnight on the Fit n Fast 'Project 90' program. (Here is part one, which gives an intro to my journey).

Let's get to the good stuff: 3.6kg lost to date. Super proud... and now that I am on a roll, it's surprisingly easy. I've heard many times it takes three weeks to form a habit and three weeks to break one. And this new habit - well, it was not harmful at all! Instead, this habit is good for me, easy to adopt, and the benefits were seen and felt thisquick.

Not that I didn't have some hurdles along the way - infact, puhlenty - but that is exactly what has derailed me each and every time in the past. My life's extreme challenges have managed to send me into a spin.. ensuring I fail repeatedly.

Think about this in your own life: you start to eat better get moving and suddenly you are so motivated and have the best intentions possible. Then life happens. Your new gym program becomes hard to stick to when you're feeling low, you grab anything for a quick feed. Suddenly, you're back to square one. Comfort eating, eating the wrong foods, portion size blowout.

This has theatened to happen in the past week, as I complete week three and head into week four. A stint away for a few days means unfamiliar surrounds, away from my familiar gym, and away from my food-to-go in the fridge, pantry and fruit bowl.

But I did good. Kilometres of walking, eating right, and watching portion control, and probably most importantly, enjoying a brain break. This renewed mental clarity cleared the way for me to be even more focused.

My weekly nutritional catch up phone calls with Matt O'Neill from Metabolic Jumpstart continue to be inspirational and give me much guidance. Matt is brilliant at keeping me motivated and clear and on track. He gives me tips, recipe ideas, asks what has stumbled me, and gives me instant solutions (ditch the protein bars post-workout, for example and have half a tub of Chobani yoghurt instead).

Matt wanted me to focus on several aspects in the past few weeks: go that extra mile at the gym; really take note of what I am eating and its timing; notice when I am feeling hungry and push through it by waiting that little bit longer (and not follow the old pattern by grabbing whatever is on hand). And take note of my appetite by consulting the 'appetite gauge' mini chart Matt has sent me at the beginning of the program.

Missions all accomplished. I went harder and longer and loved it.

My trainer Hayley left me with some exercises to do while she was on a pre-planned break and I followed suit. In the past fortnight Hayley has mixed it up lots by introducing me to a personalised workout circuit. I made aquaintance with the Stairmaster (oh my gosh! Hard work but strangely addictive!), and the bike, as well as range of weight machines to help me whittle my lower body and upper body.

My daily breakfast regime becomes easier: a range of ideas for my breakfast (more on options in a future post) and six fish oil capsules daily and a multivitamin - I take The Good Vitamin brand and I love that it's premium quality, affordable, and Aussie-owned.

I develop an aversion to junk food and even chocolate makes me feel a little sickly.

There is so much to report, and while I expect my weight loss my slow down a tad (which is all very 'normal', I am told by Matt) my muscles will really start to take shape. While I know they won't be Popeye-like (thankfully!), my body is already becoming noticably firmer now that the excess fat is being shed to make way for them.

So, I'll see you back here in two weeks! Tell me about your journey so far... are you getting fitter and leaner for winter, too?

L’Oréal Paris Preference Wild Ombrés Collection: Road Test and VIDEO How-To

I have been wild about ombré for several years now.

You know all about ombré yes? It's also called balayage or dip-dyed, but ombré is the most accurate description of this two-toned hair colour, where the darker roots complement the lighter ends.

And now... for the first time, you can do this at home.

Yes, I know it sounds tricky, but... allow me to be your guinea pig. The proof is below.

First, more about the just-released L’Oréal Paris Preference product.

Preference has been offering women impeccable colour, customised formulas, combined with the Hi-Shine Elixir – a unique complex of precious oils – tp create transparent, brilliant colour. 

And now, L’Oréal Paris has proudly just launched its 'wildest' hair colour range yet: introducing the Preference Wild Ombrés Collection, offering unique, on-trend and professional-quality colours for Autumn/Winter 2013. The layered-colour look, with dark roots and light ends - ombré  - is the latest in high-end hair looks. It has been hovering for several years now. Carrie Bradshaw sported various versions of it in 'Sex & The City.'

But the latest incarnation is even more beautiful, pronounced, and surprisingly flattering.

The Preference Wild Ombrés Collection gives you:

•       A combination of lightening cream technology and a care complex with nutri-ceramides and Hi-Shine Elixir for customised results and lustrous, silky hair.

•       An expert brush designed especially to create the look so you get customised, natural results that blend in beautifully with no artificial-looking line—in just one step!

Every shade of Preference is carefully formulated in the L’Oréal Research Laboratories in collaboration with L’Oréal Paris Creative Colourist Director, Christophe Robin. He says:

“I love the Preference Wild Ombrés… because they make the hair incredibly luminous. The results are 100% guaranteed and, since you don’t have to apply it to the roots, there’s no need for touch ups!” 

Some tips for at-home hair colouring

1. No matter what the length of your hair, always begin by applying the Preference Wild Ombrés formula to the hair between the ear and chin.

2. Then, with the formula on the brush, brush each section of hair only once from top to bottom.

3. Leave on product according to the desired colour intensity. Then rinse.

The L'Oréal Paris Preference Wild Ombrés Collection is available in two fashionable shades:

•       Wild Ombrés No. 2 for Dark Blond to Medium Brown hair

•       Wild Ombrés No. 4 for Light Blond to Blond hair

The L'Oréal Paris Preference Wild Ombrés Collection is available at selected pharmacies, department and variety stores, and supermarkets for RRP $19.45. Stockist number: 1300 659 359.

Here is the Australian video how-to. It shows just how truly easy it is: 

And here is the Australian TV ad:



So, what do you think? Willing to give it a go?

I did.

And here are the results.

First, a before shot done one week before:

And... the 'after' reveal!

Beautiful, huh?

And my new balayage hair with curls:

A few days later, my hair still looked schmick:

I adore this look, and love that it is so darn easy to apply. Several weeks in and I still adore the colour and the professional ombré effect.

For more info straight from L'Oreal Australia, click right here.

Ready to give it a red-hot go?

Woman's Day: Royal Baby Edition

This cover just in... a Woman's Day special early edition, featuring Kate Middleton, Prince William, and the new royal baby, just named George Alexander Louis:

Woman's Day, Australia’s number one weekly magazine, has just announced it will release this special 124 page souvenir commemorative edition to celebrate the birth of HRH Prince George of Cambridge, tomorrow (Friday).

“We’re a sea of blue in our office after a marathon week – we’ve literally been working round the clock,” says Editor-in-Chief Fiona Connolly.

“We were working towards a 16 page update to this week’s magazine until we saw the magical pictures of the baby Prince emerging from the hospital. It was love at first sight,” she said. “So we’ve now put out a whole new Woman’s Day bursting at the seams with exclusive royal news.


“Wills and Kate have reignited Australian passion for the royals and the birth of this baby has created an overwhelming feeling of excitement. We have exclusive interviews with our royal correspondents Gavin Grey and Judy Wade, gorgeous photographs of both Wills and Kate as babies, what had Prince Harry’s tears and the exclusive story of the hours Wills and Kate spent alone with their new baby," added Fiona.

Pick up the collector's edition tomorrow.

Liverpool Football Club versus Melbourne Victory Football Club - #LFCTour 2013

To be a true Liverpool supporter is to live and breathe the English Premier League club and everything it stands for.

It also means taking part in arguably the most rousing rendition of a sporting anthem on the planet.

And so, imagine hearing it sung by a 95,000+ strong crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground... this was the privilege of the spectators at the much-anticipated game on Wednesday 24 July. Watch:



Goosebumps, right? Even those who are steadfastly not Liverpool fans cannot deny the incredible power of probably the greatest 'terrace song' of all time.

Gerry and the Pacemakers made it famous in the 1960s and was almost immediately adopted as the Anfield anthem, after actually being written for Broadway musical 'Carousel' in the 1940s.

Funny: you actually believe it was written for Liverpool FC. The chorus demands to be sung along to, and it's always an emotionally charged delivery, as it was last night.

Asked in the press conference post-match what he thought about the rendition, LFC manager Brendan Rodgers was clearly as moved as the crowd who sang it, and proud of his club's efforts and how they've been received during the Jakarta to Melbourne, and now Bangkok tour.

"They can be very proud of what they put on tonight. 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at the beginning was a real tear-jerker. There's not many clubs in the world can do what we've done in the last week or so. Over 80,000 in Jakarta, over 90,000 here. It's a day that hopefully many of the supporters over here in Australia will never forget."

That, we never will Brendan. What a gent this man is, being as gracious as you'd hope post- press conference by happily posing for snaps with media who doubled as LFC fans. Even MVFC staff wanted a pic with this man, and why wouldn't they?

To Melbourne Victory's credit, what a spectacular show they put on. The final result of Liverpool 2, Melbourne Victory nil belies the sheer grunt and guts this strong A-League side displayed. They did Australia proud.

"Great night for football. Great game and really proud of our boys," MVFC coach Ange Postecoglou told Yahoo 7 post-match. "We're trying to be better. We're trying to reach the heights that they're at. It's nice that they acknowledge we played some good football tonight. I think we did gain some respect for our competition here in Australia and for our football club."

They did more than that. They hosted a game that will go down as an Australian sporting spectacular which made even bigger fans of LFC and MVFC football 'tragics', and endeared the game even more to those not quite under its spell yet.

"There's no doubt the game is growing and nights like just this confirm it," Postecoglou told Yahoo 7. "There wouldn't be anyone in this ground tonight with the level of play that doesn't fall in love with the game. That's what the game is all about. It's not just what happens on the field. It's more than that. It's great that so many people got to experience it."

True words those, Ange. The stuff of sporting legend. More of this in Australia, please.

Royal Baby: It's A Boy!

In breaking news, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to the couple's first child together today at St. Mary's Hospital in London.

He was born on July 22, 2013.

A royal aide announced the much-awaited news with the proclamation signed by the doctors who delivered the tiny HRH Prince of Cambridge.

Kensington Palace announced that the couple's firstborn weighed in at 8lbs 6oz. and arrived at 4.24 pm local time.

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight," a statement read.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are delighted at the news."

Karl Stefanovic Pops The Question To Lisa Wilkinson: 'Today Show'

This provided a hearty laugh today...

After six years together (although Karl thought it was eight), Karl Stefanovic worked up the courage to pop the question to his 'Today' show co-host Lisa Wilkinson.

Watch:

Jimmy Fallon: 'Michael Jordan' interview (aka Kristen Wiig) - VIDEO

Jimmy Fallon got a surprise visit from NBA legend Michael Jordan (played by Kristen Wiig) overnight on his show 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' and the two recalled some of MJ's greatest moments.

Watch the madness:



And then... MJ sings for Jimmy. Watch:

Rolling Stone: Boston bomber Jahar Tsarnaev

This cover of Rolling Stone was just posted on their Facebook page... and the reaction has been overwhelmingly negative.

It features Boston bomber Jahar Tsarnaev. Here is the cover.

It was tagged on Facebook with this caption:

"In our new issue, contributing editor Janet Reitman delivers a deeply reported account of the life of Boston bomber Jahar Tsarnaev. Here are five revelations about Tsarnaev from our latest cover story: http://rol.st/18jI1Ip

What do you think?

UPDATED: This is the message the editors of Rolling Stone magazine posted on their Facebook page today:

Our hearts go out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and our thoughts are always with them and their families. The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone’s long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day. The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens. –THE EDITORS

And here are some reactions so far on Facebook:

Shawn Anthony I think it's wrong to make celebrities out of these people. Why give the guy the cover of Rolling Stone? TIME gave Charles Manson the cover and all the magazines carried pictures of the Columbine shooters on the covers, too. Don't make martyrs out of these people.

Like · Reply · 675 · 10 hours ago

Joanne Brakatselos why would you put that face on your cover. WHY?? YOU"RE NOT HELPING

Like · Reply · 550 · 10 hours ago

Jenna DeMato Hebert Being from Boston, I take this personally offensive that this shit bag is even a thought, never mind given the cover! I don't care about his religion, race, sex or his poor family. He is bomber #2 in the white hat... That's the most description I need. How about putting Jeff Bauman on the cover, who lost both his legs during this horrific event, but was still strong enough to identify this fucker and his demon brother before they took him into surgery. I personally know people who were directly injured... Thanks for adding even more insult to injury! Rolling Stone has hit an all time low and I wouldn't even wipe my ass with it.... Disgraceful!

Like · Reply · 174 · 9 hours ago

Jonathan Jackson Subscription CANCELLED … FUCK YOU GUYS!

Like · Reply · 95 · 10 hours ago

Tim Snell been a subscriber since 1982 - cancelling tonight. I am beyond words....

Like · Reply · 142 · 9 hours ago

Talia Castellano Dies. Ellen Clips and Moments

This beautiful young soul - Talia Castellano - has just succumbed to cancer. She died this morning, age 13.

See her whole journey below.

Everyone was so impressed by the aspiring makeup artist Talia's incredible spirit - especially the people at CoverGirl - they decided to make her an honourary CoverGirl! Watch:



And more:











And now... RIP angel:

Cory Monteith: Cause Of Death Revealed

In sad news just in, it has been confirmed that Cory Monteith's death was due to a "mixed drug toxicity, involving heroin and alcohol," that was found in his system, according to BC Coroners Service.

The investigation, however, is still ongoing.

Sad.

Here is the coroner explaining more about Cory's death:

To read more about Cory's death, click here.

Jenny McCarthy: New Co-Host on 'The View'

With the exit of Elisabeth Hasselbeck (and Joy Behar) from TV's 'The View', there has been much speculation about who will fill the shoes.

Today, the show's anchor and founder Barbara Walters announced who it is. Watch:



But... not everyone is happy.

Particularly, mothers of kids with autism.

In recent years, Jenny has become well known for her claims that vaccines cause autism. The best-selling author, has blamed vaccines for causing her son, Evan, to develop autism, both during an appearance on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' and in books such as 'Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide.'

For her part, here is what Barbara Walters had to say about Jenny: "We are delighted that Jenny will be joining us as a permanent co-host on The View starting in September," Jenny said in a statement. "Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor. She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view. Jenny will be a great addition to the show as we usher in an exciting new chapter for The View.''

In a statement, Jenny said joining The View was a life-long dream.

"I'm beyond thrilled to be joining Barbara and the other amazing women at the table," she said. "I look forward to helping make hot topics a little bit hotter and showing my mom that my interrupting skills have finally paid off."

Will you still tune in now that Jenny will be on?