Outfit #81 - Groovy Shoes & Pigtails

Outfit details:

Skirt: Katies.  Top: Ambra.  Shoes: Tiffany (from Jeannie).  Earrings: gift (also from Jeannie!).

This was the first outing for the shoes.  Although I like them, and they received compliments left right and centre (mostly along the lines of "They're such groovy shoes!"), my feet are complaining and my legs are really not happy.  It also took a few retyings to get them to stay put!

The pigtails today were also a talking point.  Of course, that could have been due in part to the sugar consumed by most of my ensemble (thanks, whoever was responsible for that one).  The rather muted expressions in today's photos are partly a result of wanting to tear out my hair from the ensemble rehearsal, and partly because taking photos of outfits when there are people watching is still intimidating.  Apologies if it's too taciturn ;)

Today's photo:

More jacarandas.  Every time I walk past these they catch my eye, they're at just the right height and catch the sun - and also the breeze, hence the blurriness at the centre...

Outfit #80 - Hello Arms

Outfit details:

Skirt: Jeanswest.  Top: Ambra.  Shoes: Target.  Earrings: ??? Necklace: Mombasa (I think).

I noticed today that a few students were staring at me when I played.  Not at my fingers or bow or anything useful, but at my arms.  I guess they haven't seen them for quite a while.

Today was also my first 'hair out' day for a long long time.  After the weekend in Melbourne (much drier weather, much less exercise, so not as frequent washing), my hair seems to have settled a bit.  Most of the time recently (as in, last month or so), it's looked really goofy if not pulled back.

Today's photo:

When I arrived at school this morning, a gardener was working, and most of the rose garden was in shadow except for this dark pink rose at the front.

In Retrospect - Third Quarter

Another 3 months down - I felt I was stagnating somewhat (for various reasons) for most of these 3 months, but I've had some forced forays out of the comfort zone in the last month or so.

Food.  My new favourite green thing is kale.  I now order it for every delivery.  So far it's only been cooked in stir fries so if there are recipe suggestions out there, speak up!  I've been a bit more creative with biscuit flavours too (even more since the previous biscuit post), and have more ideas up my sleeve.  And having milk (and now, fish as well) delivered weekly is wonderful.  I hardly need to go to a supermarket now!  Plus all that feel-good feeling of helping local farmers - what's not to like?!

Domestics - Indoors.  Just little things.  My brother's stereo has been at my place for ages, but I gave it back to him yesterday.  This means I have cleaner lines in that area (good) but no radio (not so good).  I downloaded an app but it appears to have problems in iOS 6...  The radio in my bedroom still works so that might just have to do me for now.  I bought different cleaning products last week, too - I'd run out but forgotten to reorder.  I really like this new variety (brand name 'method').  The new arrangement of the living room has stuck.  It is more open, and all the students and parents seem to like it more.  I guess it's staying.  And I have new pictures by the stairs (although some of them have fallen down - need bigger hooks).

Domestics - Outdoors.  Whoa - garden!  Some of my older outfit posts have photos taken in the courtyard, and you can see the jungle qualities present.  And the shade/lack of light.  Now, it is much barer, neater, sunnier.  Plus, I have green things growing and not just a few square metres of paving.  I like.  This has also brought back my gardening mojo (at least so far).  Fingers crossed for more edibles other than herbs. 

Me.  I feel I've had a bit of a makeover lately.  New hair, new glasses, new goals for life.  I've been contemplating that which was previously inconceivable.  And I've started doing things, like telling people if there's a problem, or asking people to sign a petition for something I believe is really important.

Other Little Things.  I actually downloaded iOS 6 for my phone - I feel like I have a new phone.  This was not a disaster.  I can now deal with chocolate that is not broken evenly (well, usually).  I am a bit more careful what I share on the internet.  You may have noticed the absence of Spending Reports - this is because I haven't bought any clothes or accessories for 3 whole months.  This began as a "let's see if I can do this" and now it's in that "how long can this go on" phase.  I even tried on a dress at my favourite Lifeline last week, but decided against it.  Having just seen my shoe collection en masse I suspect it's time for a wardrobe cull.  I've started ordering things online more.  It seems we've started a dinner party tradition with the group from church (we had one last night - they're fabulous!).  I started another blog.  I can run with far less brain preparation than before - and even do better than if I had more brain preparation.  Weird.  Oh, and I've been reading a book series out of order.  I've read them all before (I don't think I could have coped otherwise), but read #3, then #2, #4 and again #4 (couldn't sleep one night last week at the coast).  Blaming it on the library...

So, although parts of these 3 months have seen me huddled in a corner, I have changed a lot of my surroundings and person and way that I am. 

Monday's photo:

Dinner last night was indeed fabulous.  Dessert was all homemade of course - lemon tart with raspberry and lemon sorbets and (lactose-free) vanilla bean ice cream.

Today's photo:

I am very pleased with this pot of herbs.  The basil has had a resurgence recently, the parsley isn't dead, and the chives (newbies) are still alive.  The whole thing looks like an explosion of green.

The Haircut

Today was hair day.  I've mentioned before that I usually think about my hair on my way to have it done...and that's about it.  Last night, I was thinking I really want long hair.  When I got to my hairdresser, she asked how it's been.  I said it's been fine...but I'm a bit bored.  Quick as a flash, she said, do you want to go shorter?  And then she played around with my hair a bit.  I'd been thinking about this style for a little while - a little while, as in a few years - but having done the growing out thing for so long, I still had a little part of me that wanted to have Mrs Smith's hair.  (Ok, Angelina Jolie's hair.  Or Ziva's hair.  Or - you get the idea).  I decided to be brave.  And accept that I don't have a team of hairxperts, nor the patience, to volumize my hair on a daily basis. 

As my hairdresser began, she took a deep breath too - she'd never cut my hair this short. 

It's always nice, though, when the hairdresser says they think it looks fabulous.  I'm very happy with it, too.  And there'll be a neater, less windswept, photo later, I'm sure. 

Today's photo:

The first gig today was in Maleny, at Tiffany's Chapel.  Amazing views of the Glasshouse Mountains.  We stopped on the way home to take a photo.

Outfit #51 - Columbia

Outfit details:

Skirt: Sinerji (swap).  Singlet: Lorna Jane.  Top: Dotti.  Stockings: Ambra.  Shoes: Hot Options.  Earrings: gift.  Scarf (below): gift.

Today is Columbia's national day, and after playing for their festivities on Saturday I decided to use their national colours for today's outfit.  Red, yellow and blue, that is.  This is the only yellow item I own, and not one I ever anticipated wearing to work as it's really casual wear.  The tiny sliver above the neckline was all that was visible. 

The earrings were the same from Saturday.

I contemplated doing the same hairstyle and adding the red flower, but I thought that might be a bit too much change for everyone.  As my hair is in that needing-to-be-washed stage I needed to do something though, so I did a couple of little plaits into the bun.  The last time I did something similar I remember it staying put like nothing else, and today was the same.  I must remember this.  It's good.  It got the tick of approval from the 9-yr-olds too.  It's really hard to photograph though, and maybe a bit more brushing (I see now) of the back bit would not go astray. 

The stocking and shoes combination was not so great though.  Probably won't repeat this one.

Today's photo:

Nature is fascinating, isn't it?  The water appropriation methods of various plants can be so different, yet useful and appropriate.  I passed these agave plants with big shiny raindrops on the way back from the gym.

Hairstyle (2) and Leftover Lamb (2)

On Saturday, it will be my mariachi debut (check out the website for details, although I don't know exactly when we'll be on).  I'm the only girl, so in one way it makes it easier - I don't have black pants or a white shirt, which caused some distress at first, but I can get away with black skirt and top, and I'll be borrowing a jacket.  They're providing earrings and a rose for my hair, but I need to have my hair pulled back to the side.  Obviously, the side that isn't the same side as the violin.  Today I gave it a test run, and it's more user-friendly than I expected.  Apart from a little pull to the side when I first fixed it, it feels just like my normal hairstyle.  Hairpins are required to keep the not-long-enough bits looking neat, but it's still in place as I write after several hours.

It's hairstyle #2 - so many I could do, I just don't.  The last new one was in February - I'm aiming to do more with my hair, I promise.  I wish my nose wasn't so weird, too.

Tonight was another leftover lamb dinner - this time, pizza with roast lamb, sweet potato and pumpkin.  Bonus - there's enough pizza dough in the freezer now for another pizza in the future.

I confess, I don't use 'strong' flour when doing bread dough.  Maybe that's a New Thing for the future. Coriander was just at hand, so I sprinkled some on top - more for visual appeal... but the pot comes with nutritional know-how so I felt virtuous.

Today's photo:

I only went outside today to go to the gym, and to take out the rubbish.  And to take this photo - raindrops on rose leaves. 

Hairstyle

This is only a small step up from my normal boring hairstyles.  A ponytail, or this pictured hairstyle minus the plait.  Not the greatest photo... not the greatest plait either, obviously more practice required.  But, different.  And, after 9 hours, nothing's budged.  Played a 1.5 hr gig by a lake (read: windy), plus transport on a very hot and humid day to and from, plus a walk to the video store and back, shower, lounging on the sofa watching a movie - it's done well.  Plus the fringe at the front looks more like it knows what it's doing.  This is important.