Category: LIFESTYLE

For three days Clark Island in Sydney is transformed into a Greek getaway

Greek island

It’s almost time for the inaugural holiday festival, Greek Island, on Sydney Harbour! Bringing the Euro vacay direct to your door from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 March, Clark Island will transform into a blue and white paradise showcasing Greek cuisine from Sydney’s top restaurants and producers (Alpha, Ploos, Kazzi Beach Greek, The Good Filo, Grecian Purveyor & Lookoomania), imported Greek wine, beer, spirits, bespoke cocktails and complimentary masterclasses. Whatever your holiday style, Greek Island has you covered.  Take a trip to party town at the Mykonos end of the island with some of Australia’s top DJs Tigerlily, Jolyon Petch & Discovery (Daft Punk Tribute), head up the hill to Mount Olympus for some live Greek music, escape to Santorini Day Spa for some much-needed relaxation, take a jetboat ride for an adrenaline rush or scale up your island-vibe at the Corfu Beach Club (Business Class ticket holders only). Packages to Greek Island begin at $99.00 (plus $7.54 booking & processing fees) for the Premium Economy experience which includes return transfers to and from King Street Wharf/Clark Island along with a welcome drink on the forward journey, a branded beach tote bag and Greek Island branded wine/cocktail tumbler. At $199.00 (plus $9.49 booking & processing fees) the Business Class Experience includes return transfers to and from King Street Wharf/Clark Island, along with a welcome drink on the forward journey, a branded beach tote bag, a Greek Island branded wine/cocktail tumbler and a Greek Island beach towel by Infamous Swim. Business Class guests can also access… Read More

Easter Saturday choir with the Sydney Philharmonia Choir

Sydney Choir

This Easter, the Sydney Philharmonia Choir will present a one-off performance of Bach’s monumental Mass in B Minor in the majestic acoustics of Sydney Town Hall, where the opulence its stunning Baroque orchestration can truly be enjoyed. Composed at the pinnacle of Bach’s career, this much-lauded example of 18th Century sacred music weaves moments of choral grandeur with intimate solo arias. Heroic in scope – with almost every singer and instrumentalist having a solo part to play, the Mass in B minor calls for virtuoso voices and colourful orchestration, including rarely heard Baroque trumpets, Corno di Caccia and timpani. For Conductor Elizabeth Scott, recently appointed to the new position of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ Associate Music Director, this is an especially exciting concert performance. Book now for Bach: Mass in B Minor, one concert only, 3pm Easter Saturday April 16 at Sydney Town Hall at their website

Acer’s helping the planet with digital art by Andy Thomas

7.8MB The Three Sisters Acer x Andy Thomas Aspire Vero 2

Acer has got a new computer: fully post-consumer recyclable plastic (PCR) integration into the laptop device.  It’s purposeful, sustainable design saves around 21% in CO2 emissions and is made to be easily repaired, upgraded and recycled.    It’s all a part of their new effort to be more green, after they released a report, the Acer Plastic Pandemic Report – which reveals over half the adult population (55%) are unaware of the severity of the plastic pandemic that we are facing and nearly 6 in 10 (58%) people do not understand the difference between virgin plastics and recycled plastics. The shocking reality is over 3.4 million tonnes of plastics are used in Australia every year, with less than 10% being recycled or reprocessed for re-use. The impact that plastic waste has on our environment is devastating – most ends up in landfill or our oceans, contributing to climate change, contaminating our soil, and negatively affecting our natural landscapes and wildlife.  We spoke to digital artist Andy Thomas about some work he’s created using the new tech… You recently collaborated with Acer on the release of their new ‘Green PC’ the Aspire Vero, tell usmore about the collaboration? The collaboration between myself and Acer was a really great fit. I have always been interested innature and recreating nature with my computers and 3D software. There was a real serendipity withthis project on multiple levels which was super satisfying and fun. I had a blast creating this workfrom start to finish. What inspired the LIFECYCLES series? The inspiration for the LIFECYCLES series… Read More

The ultimate personal finance question, answered: should you invest with your partner?

Home couple house

To invest or not to invest with your partner? This is one of the most frequently asked questions from couples who are a) in a de facto relationship, b) already have an established investment portfolio or c) have previously been burnt and would prefer to keep their investments separate. Does sharing life together mean you have to share finances? Whether you’ve opted for traditional marriage or simply living together, there are several factors you need to consider before making the final decision about whether or not to invest with your partner. What is your partner’s credit history like? If your partner comes with financial baggage—debt collectors hounding them, several unpaid credit cards, has been declared bankrupt and a multitude of other credit sins—this may affect any home loan applications required to secure investment properties or other assets. Joining forces to invest only works if you both have a good credit history. What are the tax implications? One of the main things couples forget to take into consideration are the tax implications when they move in together. Only the main residence (family home) is exempt from capital gains tax (CGT). This can get tricky if you’re a late bloomer or mature couple who don’t get married until later in life, it’s not unusual to already have an established property. Calculating your CGT implications can be messy, so check with a proven tax professional about your future tax obligations before expanding your investment portfolio. What if you can’t agree on what to invest in? Even the most… Read More

Where to stay in Sydney for Mardi Gras this March

Rooftop pool day time 2

Before we start, good luck. There are literally movements of people who book years ahead, BUT, it’s worth knowing where the competition’s at in case you’re in the booking mood of planning for the annual Sydney Mardi Gras in 2023. The Pullman Hotel sits at the base of Oxford Street at what in pandemic times, used to be the ‘holding pen’ – for lack of a better term – for all the colours of the rainbow before they’d take to their choreographed marches along the now renowned route. Things are different in 2022 thanks to the pandemic and the parade will be in a loop around the Sydney Cricket Ground, BUT, when it comes to sorting out where to stay, an overnighter at the Pullman might be just what you need for stumbling in super late after it. Or early. The hotel has on offer a Mardi Gras package, offering for $285 accommodation, breakfast and parking. Ideal for those sore-headed Sunday and Monday mornings before the next party. For more, head to the Pullman Hyde Park website.

16 LGBTIQA+ podcasts to get your ears around this Mardi Gras

Sydney Mardi Gras SCG parade 2

Whether you’re new to the annual Sydney Mardi Gras or one of the 78ers, surround yourself with some of the country’s and world’s leading queer voices with a set of podcasts supported by Spotify! Spotify has teamed up with some of Australia’s most iconic LGBTQI+ personalities, bringing you their specially Curated Podcast Playlists with episodes ranging from intimate coming-out stories, to the weird and wonderful world of drag stars and burlesque. Scroll on for the list below, but here are three favourites… Mitchell Coombs: Happy Mardi Gras! “Trash Alley” & “Is It Just Me?” host Mitchell Coombs shares his favourite episodes that celebrate queerness – from the serious to the light. Bambi Fairy: Loud and proud: From the fabulous, the allies and the revolutionaries – hear queer stories of joy and breaking down barriers, curated by Bambi Fairy. Gasbagging: It’s Mardi Gras! Get in the feels with some juicy tales from reality TV and beyond – It’s a total vibe, curated by “Gasbagging” host Dan Morrison. Trash Alley 2.                   Making Gay History 3.                   The Way We Are with Munroe Bergdork 4.                   Queer Stories 5.                   Me For Her 6.                   LGBTQ&A 7.                   Gasbagging 8.                   Drag Stories 9.                   Conversations with Kath 10.               Like a virgin 11.               Come Out where ever you are 12.               Innies + Outies 13.               Search Engine Sex 14.               Dyking Out 15.               Crumbs 16.               Gay Future

Nu Skin introduces the best of both worlds in makeup heaven

Nu skin

What happens when a high-performance liquid foundation meets a skin-loving, bio adaptive beauty balm? An innovative formula called Nu Colour Bioadaptive BB+ Skin LovingFoundation.  In essence, it’s makeup that acts like skincare. Not only does Bioadaptive BB+ enhance your complexion with a luminous finish, but it helps your skin respond to stress and helps protect from environmental impacts with good-for-your-skin ingredients. What’s more, this multitasker offers benefits your skin needs that your foundation has been missing. Are you ready to get the look that loves you back? Nu Colour Bioadaptive BB+ Skin Loving Foundation protects and nourishes like a BB cream but performs like your favourite long-lasting foundation. It’s enriched with hyaluronic Acid and Rose Ferment for all-day soothing hydration and also contains bioadaptive Cocoa Seed Extract. This bioadaptive ingredient, a unique adaptogen, is rich in peptides and works to protect your skin from the damaging effects of free radicals, and environmental stressors—ensuring the health of your skin is never compromised.  And the adjustable coverage means you’ll always look your best. Why you’ll love it: It helps skin resist stress and adapt to its environment with a bioadaptive ingredient. Provides long-lasting hydration.•Helps protect from environmental impacts. Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Feels comfortable, never heavy or cakey. Long-lasting, all-day coverage. Helps control shine and oil breakthrough. Blurs imperfections with a luminous finish, helping skintone appear more even. Available in clinically evaluated shades for a wide variety of skin tones. Find out more about Nu Skin here. 

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a Cause this May 2022

Sydney Harbour Bridge sunset

BridgeClimb Sydney’s first charity event, Climb for a Cause, in aid of mental health charity Black Dog Institute, is on this May! So if ever you wanted to climb the Sydney icon, then now’s the time. For one day only, climbers can scale the iconic arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with family, friends, sports teams, community groups, colleagues or entire organisations while raising awareness and important funds towards a mentally healthier Australia. It’s even attracted attention from some big personalities in Sydney, like weatherman and mental health campaigner Sam Mac. He’s joined BridgeClimb as an event advocate for Climb for a Cause, saying, “60% of people experiencing symptoms of a mental illness will not seek help. That’s a terrifying statistic and the perfect motivator to push us to do more”. For more and to book a ticket, head to the BridgeClimb website

Newcastle Food Month is back this April

Newcastle Food Month:

Back with a program of events spanning the month of April and highlighting the culinary and creative talent of Newcastle’s burgeoning food scene, the second Newcastle Food Month is on! With a generous spread of events – think Opera over dinner in a brewery, dine in a gin distillery and degustation’s any way you like them – Spanish, Italian, Thai, Seafood or even matched with cocktails, there’s even a sustainable progressive lunch taking over a floor of hotel suites. And if that’s not quite up your alley enough, the signature event, Le Diner en Blanc also returns to Newcastle for its second year. The chic, French inspired pop-up picnic took Newcastle by storm in 2021 and will absolutely be a sell out with 1,250 guests expected do ascend on a secret location in the city on Saturday 2 April. For more head to the Newcastle Food Month website at newcastlefoodmonth.com.au

5 things to consider before applying for a personal loan?

Personal loan cash

There comes a time for everyone when they need a larger sum of cash to pay for something immediately. Regardless of whether it’s for wedding expenses, travelling, renovating a house, or any unexpected costs, this is where personal loans come in handy. Personal loans are convenient as you get the loan quickly without having to provide too much documentation. If you’re considering applying for a personal loan, read on to learn what you should know beforehand. What amount of money should you apply for? Prior to submitting your personal loan application, you need to carefully assess what amount of money you actually need. Depending on what you are taking the loan for, it’s best to calculate exactly how much of the money you’ll have to spend. Then, you should take into consideration how much of the money that you already possess is feasible for you to use for that purpose. After that, subtract the amount you have from the amount you require, and that’s your final number. Borrowing more money that is necessary might get you into serious debt, so it’s wise to evaluate everything at the start. Will you be able to pay it off? Having estimated the amount of cash to apply for, the following point to take into account is whether it will be possible for you to pay the debt off. Keep in mind that it’s not enough to consider whether you can pay for it in the upcoming months but rather from the beginning to the end. Certainly, some circumstances… Read More