Outfit #151 - Colour, Step By Step

Today's outfit started out as tomorrow's outfit, and black and white. 

Top: Base Layers. Skirt: Country Road (op shop). Boots: Mina Martini (from Jeannie). Earrings: from Mombasa. Stockings: Ambra and Voodoo.

Step 1: I realised today was a good day to wear these boots (a very short day) and they would go with this outfit.  Days swapped.
Step 2: Add a pink scarf so I can get as much wear out of it before I have to return it.
Step 3: Add the maroon-ish jacket because it's the warmest option.
Step 4: Realise the stockings, being fishnets, would result in freezing legs.  Realise this would be a perfect opportunity to do some stocking layering with new colour block stockings.

Ta DA!  One black and white outfit has turned colourful.  I am really happy with the stockings result.  My legs were nice and warm and I like the look - much more effective than black and black.  This is only my second time layering stockings - and today someone found my site through search keywords 'layered stockings'.  Neat.

Outfit #150 - Apparently Crazy

A few weeks ago, I restrained myself and did not buy stockings.  Over the weekend, I took advantage of the sales and bought a ... few... pairs.  I contemplated some really crazy options.  I believe today's pair was rather conservative. 

Skirt: Gina Tricot (op shop). Top: Country Road (op shop). Jacket: Sportsgirl (from Jeannie). Scarf: David Jones (on loan). Stockings: Leona Edmiston. Boots: Sandler.  Earrings: Pandora (gift).

One member of the Fashion Police saw me and said, "I see we're wearing Crazy Lady Stockings today" - !!!  I tried to tell her they're not crazy, I'm a creative type anyway, but I was told she and I need to go shopping together.  I'm so glad that will never happen.

I also started the day (it was cold!) with a sudden agh! moment, realising I should be finding my gloves and a warm hat.  All I could find was one glove and my baker boy hat.  As it turns out, you need more hair to wear one of those.  I took a classic photo wearing it, but won't share it today. And although my envisioned outfit was the second photo, the reality for nearly the entire day (minus about 2 hours) was the top photo. 

My camera doesn't capture the colours so well so you get a close-up of the scarf/jacket/top - although the top is actually much more purple.  Right, now I'm off to find a warm hat and another glove.

Pearl Barley, Cabbage and Chorizo Soup

When the weather gets cold, I tend to spend my time in the kitchen.  Is anyone else like that?  I have this urge to cook and bake and make yummy good things.  And then eat them and freeze them and have yummy leftovers for a while.  This soup is another Tana Ramsey recipe, and has been teasing me for ages.  It really needs cold, damp weather to be savoured properly.  Finally, the weather cooperated, and I made this soup.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil (listed as extra virgin, but I used regular)
2 onions, peeled and finely chopped (listed as red onions, but I used brown)
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
2 sprigs of thyme (I didn't have any fresh, so sprinkled in some dried stuff)
250g chorizo sausages, skinned and chopped into bite-sized pieces
1/2 sugar loaf cabbage, shredded (meant to be Savoy cabbage, but I am yet to find one)
100g (about 3/4 cup) pearl barley
squeeze of lemon juice (I may have omitted this)
1 handful chopped fresh parsley (washed thoroughly to remove the caterpillar...)
salt and black pepper (I may have omitted this, too)

Method:
1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan on a low-medium heat.  Add the onions, garlic and thyme and cook gently for about 5 minutes, until softened but not coloured (5 minutes always seems like rather a long time).  Add the sausages and fry 4-5 minutes until the oil begins to run.  Meanwhile, put the kettle on to boil.
2. Add the cabbage and pearl barley to the sausages and pour in enough boiling water to cover everything generously.  Bring to bubbling, then reduce the heat and cook gently for 50-60 minutes, until the barley is tender.  Top up with more hot water if the mixture gets too dry.  (I cooked gently for 30 minutes, turned it off, went for a run, turned it back on when I got home, had a shower, and hey presto!  One soup all cooked and ready to go.  Brilliant).
3. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Toss in the parsley, stir through and serve in warm bowls with lots of crusty bread with butter.

Serves 4.  I wouldn't put this in the 'healthy recipe' collection... But it is a good one for when you've earned your treats.

City2South

This morning, I ran in the inaugural City2South race.  A few firsts: first time running that distance officially (as opposed to a proper half marathon, the Great Ocean Road 'extended version' half marathon, or a 10km); first time paying to run in a Brisbane race that included part of my regular run; and first time I ran to raise money for a cause.

As far as race organisation went, Brisbane did quite well.  Things that could have been better were signage at the start area, as well as the baggage drop off point actually being marked on the map on the back of our bibs; barriers along more of the route (the absence of these resulted in a number of bottlenecks in the first quarter or so); and timing.  Every other race I've done has provided a gun time and a net time.  Even those races - like the Twilight Half Marathon - in which there was maybe a 30 second difference.  But this one - where they even started us at different times, and I couldn't hear the starter anyway, and it was a good few hundred metres from where I was past the start of our zone and around the corner to the official start line - no.  I know a lot of people would use their own timing devices, but that doesn't count for future race things where they only go on the official time.  So my official time is about 7 minutes slower than what I wanted, and I have no idea how close I actually was to my goal.  Thanks, Fairfax.

On the upside with timing though - they showed times at 5km, 10km and finish (14km).  So I could see just how consistent I was - it was a matter of seconds difference between my first 2 timings.  My PT sometimes calls me Miss Consistency and I can see why!  Towards the last 4km I could really feel the effects of my recent cold - every breath reminded me that things are still not quite what they should be.  And I really dislike running with a runny nose.

I really appreciated the kilometre markings (like, really).  I also really appreciated the folks who came out early on a Sunday morning to cheer us on.  I had a little giggle when we passed a dad and 2 kids - the younger kid whined "How many people are there?!" and the older one replied "About 500".  Ha.  Admittedly, 500 would seem like a ridiculous number to a 6-yr-old, but they were about 5000 off.  And the best sign was the one which read, "It's all down hill from here".  Such a relief. 

Another aspect I appreciated (and always have, since Melbourne) was hydration.  This was so well done - thanks people!  Water in white cups, Lucozade in coloured cups, and volunteers calling out enthusiastically to point us in the right direction.  And there was no waiting, they had a few people lined up with cups ready to give out as well as the tables all filled and ready to go.  Bonus - at the finish line, water, then a free bottle of Lucozade.  Score!  Baggage was also well-organised.

Other bonuses: being on a really early train (again, better than Melbourne!) with a whole lot of other people clad in running gear... alongside the occasional passed-out or sobering-up passenger.  Ahem.  Also, starting with my brother... Who is much faster than me... But it was nice to have a smiling cheering friend at the finish line. 

Sunrise over the river.  Which has inspired me to get up early at least one day these holidays.  Ooh, and recovery breakfast. 

As for fundraising... This didn't have as much effect on me while running as I expected.  It did help me beforehand though, and I feel pretty good at having raised some money for a worthy cause.  After I'd made a donation, they actually called me to say thank you - I could tell they really appreciated it.  I was pleasantly surprised by the people who did donate, and was really encouraged by their words of support (so if you're one of those and reading - THANK YOU!).

Movie #38 - Flypaper

Returning some DVDs, I asked mum (who was staying) if she had any requests.  Something funny and romantic was the request.  I have a confession (maybe you've worked this out already) - I don't like chick flicks.  At least, not very much.  Does Chicago count?  Anyway, especially right now, I can't deal with people falling in love with each other on my tv screen.  I came home with 3 that sort of fit into the romantic comedy genre, and after a very scientific behind-my-back shuffle, we watched Flypaper that night.  And it was about as un-romantic as a romantic comedy can be.  I enjoyed it very much - and so did mum, if you're wondering.

The main protagonist is a Sherlock Holmes-type of character.  I liked him immediately.  Actually, I'd put this comedy as a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Ocean's 11 - both movies up there on my favourites list.  I'm still working on the relationship analogy, but I'm sure it's out there.  And - for the record - I found this a much more acceptable path to a relationship than what I often see (and, for example, in Beautiful Lies).  Basic plot: the Sherlock Holmes sort (okay, Tripp - played by Patrick Dempsey) is in the bank and gets caught in the middle of two bank heists, one professional and one very unprofessional.   And finds himself attracted to a teller (played by Ashley Judd).  This movie has a decent dose of problem solving (ooh!  my favourite!) and a matching dose of comedy.  One bank heist team is very professional (hence the Ocean's reference); the other ... not so... More like the comic relief.  But the professional lot are being sorely tried, at first by the incompetent lot, and then by the pressures of decades of bank heists.  Stereotypes go out the window.

Another aspect I relished was the concept of all those carefully laid plans going awry.  The mastermind behind the whole thing (really trying to avoid spoilers here) had so much planned, like a chess player - but, in a bank robbery during business hours, you can't predict the actions or thoughts of the bank customers.  And even if the mastermind had predicted or relied upon typical, or even slightly outside the square, reactions, having someone like Sherlock Holmes present shakes things up somewhat. 

The movie had a few areas of predictability, but so many other maybes that the predictability is not so noticeable.  It was like watching a long episode of a crime show.  One that has comedy writers on deck.  Aside from all the funny stuff, though, it does touch on what we do and why we do it (couldn't just leave you with no deep commentary here).  Sometimes it's because we're drawn to it for whatever reason (like the explosions), or discover in ourselves an unusual, highly sought-after skill (like being cool under the pressure of blowing up a safe).  Sometimes it's because we can trace a long lineage of similar selves (having seen this movie, that now gives me a giggle every time, and I won't spoil it).  And sometimes we just know we can get away with it.   And no, I won't spoil that one for you.

Outfit #149 - Double Quartet Fun

My junior quartet performed for the first time today, in junior schooling assembly.  Which is the cutest thing, really.  And then I had a catch-up rehearsal with the continuing quartet.  Both quartets are so much fun - very different, but buckets of fun.

Skirt: Sinerji (swap). T-shirt: Ambra organic cotton. Striped top: Quick Brown Fox. Cardigan: Levi's (from Jeannie). Stockings: Razza Matazz. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: gift. Scarf: Alta Linea.

I was so proud of my junior girls.  They played better than ever!  And the grade 6 girls have got one of their new pieces (which are all a step up in difficulty for them) together in just a couple of weeks.  Not to mention, they played at the AFTAs yesterday on 2 days' notice. 

The rest of today was pretty full - some work stuff, pt, picked up my 'race pack' (ie, bib) for Sunday's race, some Myer sale shopping, some practice - oh and here we are.

Outfit #148 - Groovy Legs

Picking up a grade 2 girl from her class music lesson, their music teacher commented on my 'groovy legs'.  This afternoon, one of my very entertaining grade 7 girls also commented on the stockings...

Dress: Spicysugar (from Jeannie). Top: Dotti. Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: from Mombasa, I think.

Checking the label of the dress and the earrings, I discovered today was almost a match.  But not quite.  (See the last time I wore nearly all these things together here).  And apologies for the hair.  Just - ugh.  I did wear the same scarf and jacket as that last time, too, but it wasn't cold enough for them to last very long.  Sigh.

I took this last photo while waiting for a train.  I love the totally blank floor and slightly on fire edging effects.

UPDATE: You can read the grade 7 girl's stocking quote here!