Outfit #89 - Multicoloured Bits

Outfit details:
Skirt: Temt (op shop).  Top: Ambra.  Shoes: Pulp.  Earrings and bracelet: from Jeannie.

I know it's not obviously colourful, but the shoes and bracelet I find so exuberant in their colour mixing.  Which is great if you want to pair them with other colours!  I just had neutrals available today though.

Hair was a bit odd today.  I went for a run this morning, so gave it a quick wash afterwards, which resulted in a bit of ...weirdness... on one side.  Still getting the new haircut compliments (mostly) which is nice though.

After 2 days of wearing heels, I thought a flats day was in order - and I'm so glad I did!  About half my kids were needing to be picked up from various places around the school so I did a lot of walking.  Plus, these shoes make me think Summer.

Pretty bracelet - first outing.  I like bracelets that stay in one place.  If it doesn't stay, it's gone within about 5 minutes of playing.

Today's photo:

Another from the rose garden.  The perfection of this rose hasn't really come through the photo - hopefully I'll remember my camera tomorrow, and hopefully it will still be in a state of perfection.  It's really something.

Outfit #88 - Phew

Outfit details:
Top: Sportsgirl (op shop).  Belt: from a dress from Hot Options.  Pants: Portmans.  Shoes: Target.  Earrings: Oxfam.  Singlet: Jeanswest.

I was hoping on Monday to have sorted out an outfit for today.  I hadn't.  I didn't have any flashes of inspiration yesterday, until after I'd battled with logins for reports and cleaned my teeth.  Finally, I thought of this combination at about 11:30pm.  Phew.

More of a 'phew' though was the US presidential outcome.  Yay!

Outfit #87 - Melbourne Cup and Minute Taking

Outfit details:
Dress: Jeanswest (op shop).  Top: Suite Boutique.  Ribbon: from a skirt.  Shoes: Show Story (op shop).  Earrings: Mombasa.

Today was Melbourne Cup day.  You have to wear fabulous shoes for Melbourne Cup...I think it's the law...  So I adhere to this even though I have worked through every Melbourne Cup race in my memory.  These are pretty fabulous shoes.

I received so many shoe compliments, right from the word go.  The best, though, was when I picked up a grade 4 girl from music.  Her music teacher said "Love the shoes!" and a circle of 20 or so 9-yr-old girls whipped their heads around and craned their necks to see my shoes and go (in unison) 'ooohhhhhh....'.  Worth it.

The other part of today was a big change for me.  Cathedral council meeting tonight, and after being on it for 2 years, this was my first minute-taking experience.  Ever.  And just to make my poor brain have even more of a fit, the meeting was conducted out of order.  I haven't typed them up yet so I don't know how much of an effect this will actually have on my minute-taking skills.  It was out of order for a really good reason - there is a proposed monstrosity for a site adjacent to the cathedral and we are now in the process of objecting to it.

Today's photo:

These green leaves  brighten my day whenever I see them.  Curiously, I don't seem to notice them so much during the middle of the day, but the light hits them differently at the ends of the day.

Banana Custard Slice

The things I do for this blog.  This is such a busy week that I won't have time to cook, so my non-outfit posts should really be quick and easy things to change.  I can't let bananas go to waste, though.  Last week, I had 3 rather ripe bananas, and a friend posted a link to a healthy banana slice which required 3 bananas.  Before getting a couple of ingredients in order to make that though, I kinda ate one of the bananas...  I found another recipe (not at all healthy) and was checking the sugar supplies when I discovered (yes - I had totally forgotten this fact) that instead of normal sugar, I have Natvia.  So I went to the Natvia site in search of recipes.  I found a whole heap of drool-worthy dessert-like recipes, most of which needed 3 bananas (why??? why did I have to eat that banana???).  Finally, I found this recipe for a banana custard slice which requires only 1/3 cup mashed banana.  Phew.

Ingredients:

1 cup self raising flour
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon bicarb soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup Natvia
1/4 milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
60 g butter
1/3 cup mashed banana



Method:

Grease a lamington tin (or line it with baking paper).  Preheat oven to 180C (160C fanforced).
Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl.
Melt the butter.  Mix together the butter, egg, milk and mashed banana.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stir well.
Spread mixture in prepared tin.  Bake in oven for 25 minutes.

Makes 30

When cutting, I didn't really believe I was going to get 30 pieces... But, with 3/4 cup Natvia, it is rather sweet, so when I continue cutting I will make them smaller.

Bonus - the Natvia site uses photos from users, and this recipe doesn't have a photo - yet.  So I'll be sending through one of these... You never know!

The Durufle Requiem

Evensong was what brought me to St John's cathedral as an adult.  Now, though, I usually only go if I'm on the roster for the evening (usually once a month).  This evening, evensong was replaced - as it is every year at this time - by a requiem and commemoration of the faithful departed.  I wasn't on duty tonight so this would normally find me running a long way.  However, I wanted to hear the Durufle Requiem again, and just be in the congregation instead of doing anything.

I am rather partial to this requiem.  It had been many years since I'd heard it last, and I don't recall hearing it live before.  Hearing it performed (is there another word for this when in the context of liturgy?) by a combined choir of St John's and St Stephen's cathedrals was really something.  Those passages that need a really strong force were met with such power.  And hearing a religious work in its intended setting (well, almost - not an actual funeral) is something a CD just can't emulate. 

Although it wasn't a perfect performance, I found it very moving.  Not just the music, either - I was quite teary during the sermon.  I'm not sure if I want to find my old recording of the requiem as there's so much tied up in that...  But maybe I'll look for a new recording.  And - thinking ahead - I wouldn't mind this for my funeral!

The Shingle Inn

Last night, I had a really deep - and helpful - conversation about this blog (among other things).  Unfortunately, today's New Thing was a new coffee place.  Not very deep.  I hadn't had a new coffee for ages though (excluding trips to Melbourne) and life is rather hectic right now.

I had a few things to do in the city, but by the time I arrived (after a hair appointment) I was in the unfocused-I-need-coffee-now stage.  The Shingle Inn in the Myer centre was the first suitable option, and I was very impressed with my self-restraint in not indulging in a sugar-fat something. 

The service was good - staff with brains, a coffee that was quick enough but not at the expense of quality.  The coffee was reasonable - not amazing but better than the surrounding options. 

Today's photo:

In between the hair appointment and city stuff, I did something I've been meaning to do for ages (as in, a few years) - I took photos of the trees around the Wesley Hospital.  I was a bit late in the season for the money shot of jacarandas, but found these trees along a small street leading to Coronation Drive.  The overall effect of the trees was stunning but not great for photographing thanks to the cars.  I like the little curled-up buds though.

Outfit #86 - Thank You Accessories

Outfit:
Dress: Jeanswest (op shop).  Leggings: Ambra.  Shoes: no label, made in Spain, swapped or from Jeannie.  Earrings: ??? Pendant: gift.  Belt: Target.

Yes, I am aware I have worn this dress, with these shoes and belt and leggings, before.  The accessories saved the entire outfit from being a repeat though.  Phew.  I did have a different outfit planned, but couldn't find a component of it this morning (I'm in crazy mode right now) so Plan B... which had to be something comfortable in the heat, and with shoes suitable for walking all over the school looking for little people.  In a hurry, this is what I ended up wearing.  I love having decent air conditioning in my room... and I was quite comfortable all day, but it was really good to get out of this when I got home.

I even wore a flower in my hair. 

Today's photo:

This evening, I had a violin playing evening.  A friend is in that trying-out stage of violin acquisition, and asked me over for dinner and a play.  I took along mine as well, so our violins had a little party.  I like the first photo better as a photo

but I like the violin party feel of the second.