I am really happy with the colour combination. It was a comfortable outfit, though the flippy bit on the front of my skirt revealed a lot of thigh when I sat. Need to invest in another kilt pin. (Skirt and top by Target, jacket by Temt, headband by Mimco, brooch by Untamed Menagerie via Etsy, Boots by Wittner, necklace by Wiyomu via Etsy.)
I actioned many things at work today, and as a result I am exhausted, and was hungry when I arrived home.
So I made tacos.
Lots of vegies - tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, capsicum, beans and parsley.
Chicken in the pan with garlic and taco seasoning.
Tacos are a cooking.
My toppings - cheese, Greek yoghurt and salsa.
I wish taco shells stood up. It looks lifeless...
...but looks are deceiving and once filled and stacked, they were full of life! I added snap peas for colour and health.
I also had a side of jalepeno. NOT THE WHOLE JAR, YOU FOOL! But I love them, and I eat them straight from the jar. Only a few at a time.
My tacos were delicious. Such a good end to a good day.
I bought a magazine today. I was aghast at the price. $8.95. I recall when I could get $1.80 change from $5 when I secretly bought Dolly magazine.
The magazine came with a free scarf - it smells a bit like paint though so I need to wash it before wear. It also came with a brilliant $30 Mimco voucher.
As I cooked dinner I heard some news that I just had to blog about. Look, I don't support illicit drug use, and I sure as hell don't support football. But can I just say, get well soon Ben Cousins. I have recently discovered that footballer Ben is very articulate, more than I thought he would be, and when I've heard him on Nova, he sounds like a nice bloke.
And in my sometimes superficial world, he is the best looking footballer I have ever seen.
I did a lot this weekend, but still got some rest in. My cold is almost over, apart from a chesty wheeze that is painful and annoying.
Yesterday I saw the God-awful Eclipse movie - I was so bored and couldn't stop thinking about how wooden the characters are. That Bella Swan is the most vapid character I've ever seen - who knows why she has two boys chasing her and I can't even get one. I grit my teeth and told myself that I was watching this film for charity (I actually was). I was refreshed to see Jacob shirtless several times. There is actually a website dedicated to Taylor Lautner shirtless! Who knew!
Today I rested up and did a few domestic things - cooking, a bit of tidying and picked up my layby.
I am involved in running a large event tomorrow and my organisation's big boss is in town tomorrow for another event, so I will power dress for the occasion. I am channeling Julia Gillard's ambition and my own corporate style.
This top was a bargain $30 at the fashion emporium I call Target. It is a deep blue, a bit Cue-esque. I love Target's trickery of being able to stock clothes that look like I've purchased something from Cue but at a fraction of the cost.
My friend and I once went shopping for an outfit for her. I was proud to choose this top for her - it was the only one on the rack. I desperately wanted one of my own, and for weeks I reminded her of the ultimate sacrifice I made by allowing her to have the top. Then, one day there were a heap of these tops on the rack, and at a reduced price, so I put it on layby pronto.
I didn't think something for $30 was an appropriate amount to layby, I could have just bought the top outright. So when I saw this skirt, I put it on layby too.
And to tie it altogether, my trusty blue Temt trench with the Untamed Menagerie elephant brooch.
The big boss should be impressed should he see me tomorrow. I will try to get an outfit shot (of myself) and post it here.
I cooked a three course dinner. Potato, leek and cauliflower soup.
Lamb cutlets and vegetables.
I believe we need to grow bigger lambs because these cutlets are miniscule.
I know, the vegies are McCain specials. Still, I seasoned them with lime juice.
I had almost a whole loaf that was going a bit stale. So I greased a tart dish, cut and buttered the loaf and lined the dish.
I used some delicious real fruit conserve. It is wild blueberry.
I made a custard of beaten eggs, full cream milk, sugar, lemon rind and vanilla essence. I covered the bread with the custard mixture and baked it in the oven for about 20 minutes.
This is what my bread and butter pudding looked like when it came out of the oven.
I had one piece for dessert. I might have another. I deserve it.
I served it with a dash of thickened cream.
It was delicious. Not too sweet, and the top was crispy.
I am watching John Butler on SBS and flicking to Masterchef. I can't decide!
John Butler is a bit cute, don't you think?
That's me finished blogging for the night. Happy Monday all!
It has not yet sunk in. That I am going to be a presenter on a community TV station! That I will be interviewing bands! That it's in addition to my full time job.
I don't expect it will feel like reality until I actually do it.
When I was in my teens, I wanted to be a journalist. When I was in my early 20s I wanted to be a journalist for Rolling Stone magazine, like the boy in Almost Famous. To interview bands. Well, for Savage Garden to reform and for me to interview them, to be specific.
Now I've studied journalism, I've learned about the industry and my mind's changed a little. I would still like to be an influential writer and presenter in the media, but more so on my own terms.
This opportunity I've sought and been given is fantastic. It will mean I can work on many things I'm passionate about while raising awareness about disability and chronic illness in a public space. Without my illness it may never have happened. I've been blessed with great genes ;)
I love that I can work in a fantastic full time job writing and planning events, and do things on the side that I've always dreamed of. There is volunteering at ChIPS and writing for DiVine, and now this! I am so very lucky.
I received an email from the producer of the show I auditioned for....
I AM SO EXCITED!!
I have been offered a place as a regular panel member, researcher and being in charge of booking and interviewing bands for the No Limits TV show produced by Grit Media on Channel 31!
Yay!
I love that I am making things happen by taking hold of so many opportunities!
I once mentioned that my life is a slippery slope of Vaseline.
My doorknobs. Light switches. Remote control. Gosh, hands up who wants to visit my house? I made it out to be so unappealing!
When I am with other people, I ask them to open my drinks. Make like a girl. Boys like being useful. People that really know me just laugh. My inability to open bottles may be my one actual disability resulting from this ichthyosis caper.
Tonight it took me 10 minutes to open a screw cap bottle of wine. Seriously. 10 minutes.
I used a knife, a wet cloth and two rubber gloves.
By the time I opened it, I wanted to guzzle.
While I admit I am a weakling, a premature baby bird at times, needing to be beak-fed, I didn't think opening a bottle of wine could be beyond my strength. Hell, there have been times when I've carried large televisions.
Sometimes when I am at the bottle-o they ask me for ID. Sometimes when I am at the bottle-o I ask them to unscrew my wine so it is easy for me to open at home. I hurriedly explain I am not going to drink drive. It's rather embarrassing.
Even those grip mat things get so slippery with Vaseline they lose their grip and don't serve their purpose.
Life shouldn't be this way. More bottles need to come with corks for my benefit. That or I need a strong man. Preferably one who does not moisturise.
Jagged Little Pill is such an awesome album, yeah I really do think. (Geddit??)
Back in 1996 I was 14 turning 15. In year nine. I got red and black Doc Martens for my 15th birthday. I wore them with denim mini skirts. I still wear my red and black Docs.
I secretly read Dolly magazine, I secretly watched Heartbreak High and I secretly listened to Jagged Little Pill.
Until my parents said I couldn't. Because they heard the lyrics to You Oughta Know.
I have an admission. I secretly continued.
It's ok, Mum and Dad. I'm absolutely unaffected. Even with secretly continuing to do all these forbidden activities.
I haven't taken drugs, never smoked a cigarette, haven't slept with anyone I wasn't going out with, the only extra piercing I had was the cartilage on the top of my left ear but the doctor told me to take it out, the only subject I failed was accounting but you knew I wasn't good at maths before I started listening to Alanis, and I've only been hideously drunk in a public place once. Or maybe twice.
Listening to Alanis Morissette in secret didn't make me go off the rails. But I wouldn't let my kids listen to the music of today.
Jagged Little Pill is the music I've been missing.
In 1996 I bought Jagged Little Pill from Big W after I heard all the hype of Alanis at the Grammy Awards.
I played the album on my trusty boombox but the CD was scratched. It was also not to the tastes of my precious ears - it was too heavy (geez, this excuse is becoming wimpy) and I didn't really want the CD anymore. I don't think I gave it a proper go.
The hype of the Grammys was short lived for me.
So Mum returned it and got a far more suitable CD - Joan Osborne's album featuring One of Us. You know, 'yeah, yeah, God is good...yeah yeah God is great...' I am not sure why I ever liked this song. Perhaps I thought it was deep. I am pretty sure that in year nine, I had long ceased believing in God.
Joan and Alanis were the two rock chicks fighting it out on the charts back in '96. I soon found out that while Alanis' music was too heavy, Joan's was BORING. NEXT!
So I do believe this CD was returned, too. I can't recall ever playing it again. (Note - this was back in the day of relaxed exchange policies for CDs, and DVDs were just a twinkle in God's eye...) But thank GOD for YouTube for the times I get a hankering to hear One of Us again. God is great for inventing YouTube.
Anyhow, so then I was watching Rage one day and I saw this video clip. It confirmed that I didn't give Jagged Little Pill a proper go.
I thought it was pretty amazing to see four Alanises in the car at once. I particularly like the multiple plaited Alanis. I once had a boyfriend with multiple plaits. Perhaps it was foresight.
So after I recorded Rage and replayed the Ironic video 472729 times, I repurchased Jagged Little Pill.
I read in TV Hits (a magazine that I was allowed to read) that Alanis was on You Can't Do That On Television. I used to watch that when I was five! I don't recall her though. Thank God for Joan Osborne making God one of us to enable the creation of YouTube so we can relive the magic of this show.
I digress.
I can play Jagged Little Pill now, 14 years after its release, and still recite every word. Like this.
'Do I stress you out? My sweater's on backwards and inside out and you say how-ow-ow-ow apprrrrrrooooppriate'.
Her lyrics were something I related to. And I still do.
Like Perfect.
Striving to achieve, to prove yourself, is a difficult and often endless thing.
I didn't know what some of the lyrics meant. Wine dine 69 me? (Well lucky for Dolly magazine providing me with an explanation then!)
My favourite lyrics were to Forgiven. Unlike Joan Osborne's shallow (in hindsight) lyrics to One of Us, Forgiven made me think of the impact of religion and the fears it creates in some people.
There was an assignment for English in year 11 where we had to bring in some influential song lyrics and the song, and discuss our interpretations. Students brought in U2's Pride, Pearl Jam's Jeremy and the Beatles' I am Walrus. I really wanted to bring in Forgiven, but I chose an obscure song from the 60s about the environment. I still think about that lesson when I listen to Forgiven and wish I had have taken it in and done an analysis.
I love the depth of Jagged Little Pill. That many songs are dark. Some are funny. Some make me blush. And most are sad. But all are memorable. She may not be in the same league as Stevie Nicks, but to me, Alanis's Jagged Little Pill is an album I've carried with me for half of my life now, and return to with pleasure. I only wish I could warm to her subsequent albums!
It has been so cold in Melbourne these last few days. It hasn't helped my cold. My wheezing sounds like a rusty spray can being shaken. The BOM says it's currently around 10 degrees, which is a heatwave compared to the 7.2 degrees at midday yesterday.
I get extremely cold. Even in the office. My head gets really cold. Especially because there is no protective layer of skin to keep it warm - my protective layer is constantly shedding. So I wear a hat. Even in the office. It's an equal combination of keeping warm and avoiding hat hair.
Here is what Gumnut Babies look like. And here is what I looked like today.
I am wearing a hat my parents bought me from Tasmania - it is hand felted and knitted.
Perhaps it does make me look like a Gumnut Baby? With suitably more clothes, of course.
And this is the closest I've come to wearing a suit in a long time: Skirt by Brown Sugar circa 1985 from Mum's wardrobe Top by Target (over merino jumper from Glassons) Tweed jacket by Target via op shop in Tasmania (it has awesome floral patchwork detail on the bottom) Button down leggings OVER stockings Shoes by Myer Necklace by Oh Deer Brooch via Esty (it's a felted nest with blue pearl eggs inside).
I usually wear a lot of grey in winter, well, all year round, really, but lately I've taken to wearing this camel coloured skirt (it's wool and super warm) with other camel coloured clothes. It's ever since I bought the Fauxpard Jacklet from Target (because it goes with camel!).
Sometimes I wonder whether I should do more outfit posts on this blog. My colleagues know I blog so I could easily ask them to photograph me. But then I wonder if it would detract from the intended substance of this blog. Not that I am highbrow all the time... What do you think? More outfit posts?
In completely unrelated news, but it did make me think of (and surprisingly yearn for) some warm weather - me and Business Chic are going to see Bon Jovi in December. I got tickets tonight. El-cheapo ones, which literally mean row x, but that's the price you've gotta pay when you were too young to appreciate these sort of bands in your youth. I told you, I got a male bogan gene.
I can't wait to sing my heart out to this. Like a male bogan. I wish I had big hair.
(Check out Keri Russell in the clip! She has big hair.)
I love music videos of the 90s. When they still told stories. And werent full of half naked, gyrating women. The women in this clip are far classier than that, despite still being half naked.
And on that note, proving that the topics within Radio Carly are really sometimes irrelevant, goodnight. Who would have thought May Gibbs would feature alongside Jon Bon Jovi.
You know, there is Movember, Febfast and Sextember. Ok, so I made the last one up. The first two are muns - like puns, but plays on months, raising money and awareness of health issues. Ok, so I made up the word 'muns' too.
Anyhow. Megan, over at Literary Life, has set this challenge for her readers. It is called Comment July Challenge. Not as munny as Movember or Febfast, but it can be sexy like Sextember, depending on the comments. Nudge nudge, wink wink.
Megan explains the concept of the Comment July Challenge quite nicely. Due to pressing deadlines (Packed to the Rafters season premiere, continuing secret squirrel business) I will summarise it really quickly.
I want you to leave a comment on my blog, please. So I can see who my readers are and what you have to say. And so I can return the favour if you have a blog.
You don't even need to sign up for a blog. You can comment anonymously, or put your first name on your comment.
I love receiving comments. And I would love to get to know my readers better!
That is your challenge.
My challenge is to leave five comments a day on blogs through July.
If you're on board, pledge your allegiance below. In the comment box, of course!
To quote Megan, 'let's see how far we can go to spread the comment love... And we can all dance around in happiness'.
Nothing new to blog about today. I'm sickly with my cold. Sneezing, wheezing and coughing. I'll be ok though. A cold is not the height of sickness.
As you know, I have quite the memory. And get very starstruck. Indeed.
Tonight marks one year since I was privileged to go to the Rush premiere at the cinema with my friend. I entered a competition and won a double pass.
It was fantastic. There was canapes, champagne, celebrities and Rush on the big screen. I felt very lah-di-dah.
I got very dressed up, feeling very good about myself. I recall sending a text to my Mum on the train saying I'm the sexiest girl out tonight. I had many a champagne. When Callan appeared, I had to down the champagne(s) very quickly to free up a hand to take a photo (or 50). Here is my friend and I. I really like this photo - I have it up on my desk at work and also on my fridge. My friend and I had not seen each other for about 10 years until the night of the Rush premiere. It was very exciting. She used to babysit me! Callan and I. He was so so lovely. And on his own. I took heaps of photos of him - he was very obliging to pose on his own and with others. We sat in the front row at the cinema to watch Rush on the big screen. I got a bit dizzy from being so close to the screen. Or it may have been from the champagne.
I know that you should endeavour to put your best face (and legs in this case) forward on the internet, but I have to share this photo with you. I was giggling like a schoolgirl. Especially when Callan and his co-actor Ashley Zuckerman came out to introduce the screening. And during some (shirtless) scenes, I was screaming with delight with the best of them in the cinema. My skirt was ridiculously short and flippy. My legs are like chipolata sausages! Who cares when the night was that fabulous, darling?!
Oh the memories!
PS: here are the labels, darling. Skirt by Romance was Born for Sportsgirl - I remember buying this especially for the occasion, and it was a great bargain too! Coat by Cue Top by Wish via Alibi Online Bag by Catherine Manuell Shoes by Wittner Necklace by a Tasmanian glass designer, gift from parents Bangle by Witchery Belt by Target Stockings by Voodoo Smile by Carly
My cold symptoms I mentioned last night have worsened into a sore head, shivering, tiredness, sniffles and chesty cough.
Time to make some chicken soup. I'm so tired that I considered buying a tin of soup to get me through. I had second thoughts about the tinned soup, I don't know what's in it. I fried five chicken wings in garlic, hot olive oil, lime juice and two chillis. Once part of the chicken skin was brown and crispy, I added the chicken stock and let simmer for about half an hour. Then I added the vegies. They are only frozen vegies, but sickly times call for convenience vegies. I have eaten two cups of the soup and it was delicious. So flavoursome. And beats tinned soup. I can feel it working on my cold already.
And hows this for resourcefulness! The leftover bolognaise from the bolognaise pie earlier in the week needed to be eaten.
I didn't feel like eating it in its original form, and didn't want to waste it, so I added a glass of water, a tin of mixed beans and two chillis, and I now have a hearty soup. I ate it for a late lunch.
Earlier today my friend S and I had brunch at Fraus.
Here I am.
The waitress told me that she loved my blog entry about Fraus, especially the picture of the rainbow in the cup of hot chocolate.
S had poached fruit on crepes with marscapone. I had a duck curry galette. It had lychees. We both had mugs of hot chocolate. I bought this. It is white chocolate with strawberries.
We then went to the North Melbourne Market. It had heaps of stalls and S and I agreed that we will return in August, cashed up, ready to buy lots of goodies. I loved the skirts, felt scarves and knitted hats. How cute is the packaging!
And of course, we adored the jewellery. Here is my purchase. It is by a designer called Oh Deer. I love the detail of the painting. Here it is close up.
Aside from feeling yucky because of the cold, it was a nice day. It was lovely to catch up with S, we've been friends for 11 years and though we don't see each other frequently, every time we do catch up, it's like we've never been apart. Though we always take the piss out of each other, she's such a supportive and kind friend. She's newly engaged and it was very exciting seeing the ring and talking wedding plans. Congratulations S and C :)
If you have seven children and they're all peering out of a car window at a person who looks different, do something about it.
Especially if they've got their faces smooshed against the window, poking their tongues out and shouting taunts.
A bit like this... ...but five more monkeys, like stacks on, all trying to get a look at that person who looks different.
Don't just sit there oblivious to it all.
Discipline them. If you believe in giving them a light smack, do so. If you discipline them in other ways, like taking their toy away from them, do that.
Teach them at an early age about diversity and acceptance.
Teach them about illness and disability. And about compassion.
Teach them that someone who looks different to them and that doesn't fit the beautiful mould isn't something to be ridiculed.
And don't just say that they're young children and don't understand their actions.
I feel a cold coming on. I have a cloudy head, am very tired and have a nagging cough that is making it hard to breathe. It's been cold here - 13 degrees today - and I'm a run down with my skin, plus been on two planes. I don't get sick with a cold often, and haven't had the flu since 2002 when I ended up in hospital with it, so fingers crossed this doesn't eventuate to a full blown cold.
This is my treatment. None of this disgusting cough mixture stuff. I hate medicine almost as much as I fear needles. Note the only medicine cup I have is a plastic glass from a mini wine bottle. For me it's chillis, lemon and honey and Panadol all the way.
Did you know that Manuka honey has so many healing properties? I sometimes put it on my hands when my skin is blistered. I don't really like the taste of honey but this stuff is ok.
I also had to buy this today. It's a ventolin inhaler for asthma. My old one has expired. I only use ventolin when I have a cold. I get asthma symptoms so infrequently that I am never quite sure how to use the inhaler.
I was so pleased with the bargain price of it. It gave me the same rush as buying a dress on sale. $8. Who knew! Next time I need a quick and cheap shopping fix I will consider buying ventolin!
I have been wearing a tracksuit far too much when I'm not at work. Hell, I even feel like wearing one to work some days.
You will be pleased, or horrified to know I went out to collect my takeaway dinner dressed like this tonight. Tracksuit is by Bonds. Faux-uggs are el-cheapo. I am pleased how flattering the tracksuit pants are. If the tracksuit was lesser brand, I may not have set foot out of the house. Or maybe I would have/have done...
I read the American President had no qualms in holding a business meeting with his worldly counterparts at a fast food restaurant. So I knew the world wouldn't end when I went out in my tracksuit to get Mexican food.
Taco Bill is excessive and expensive. If I wanted less excess I would have flown to Mexico for a meal. Prior to going with Kristy in April, I'd only been there twice, and both times were with boys I was in love with and I had my meals paid for. I had no idea how pricey it is!
I have been desperately craving Mexican food since I bought this book yesterday. So instead of cooking a recipe from it, I went to get takeaway!
This is what I have for dinner.
Nachos and burritos. They're massive servings. My neighbour had to open my wine. I am unable to as I'm too slippery. Yes, my life is constantly in a slippery slope of vaseline.
My Saturday night screams fun and excitement. Eating Mexican on the couch reading press releases about a new policy report and working on some other secret squirrel business.
