My Bloggable Day

Accidental Bridesmaids

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Bec

So, you know how couples can sometimes start to morph into each other after a while? They claim it’s just a cute coincidence that they love the same music/movies/style/skinny jeans but really, their creepy clone-like behaviour is a direct result of spending too much time together. Well apparently it happens to 20-something girls too.

Last week at the races two friends and I accidentally turned up wearing a ridiculously similar shade of orange. All day people asked if we had synchronised on purpose, or they said we looked like bridesmaids. It was a real “And on Wednesdays, we wear pink” Mean Girls moment. Only with tangerine.

Thankfully we were able to have a hearty laugh at ourselves.

Have you ever turned up somewhere in the same dress or outfit as someone else?

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Dress, Fashion, Faux Pas, Orange, Races, style | 8 Comments

Whimsical Tree

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Bec

So, novelty photo booths have done the rounds at weddings and over-the-top corporate parties for ages now (really, who wants a lasting memory of themselves with that random middle aged woman from accounts or that guy from IT who never speaks?!). Anyway, may I present the new, hip alternative: the lights tree! I went to a cocktail party last night, part organised by my lovely friend G, who had the genius idea of buying this magical tree, which EVERYONE wanted their photo in and in front of.

You can see why, right?! I have heaps of photos of strangers and the tree, they asked me to snap them. Strange. There was also an impressive amount of neck candy on display. I have me some styish friends.

We ate gourmet pizza and sipped cheap sparkling (deja vu). Detox next week!

Posted in Fashion, Misc | Tagged gourmet pizza, Lights, Party, photo booths, Photography, Photos, Tree lights | 1 Comment

Rodeos and Race Tracks

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Bec

Last weekend. The girls and I got our rodeo on on Saturday night. Strangely, I’ve attended quite a few rodeos in my time including ones in Victoria, NSW, Utah, one on the Nullarbor and now one in Kalgoorlie. Going to rodeos makes me want to throw away my life and become a cow girl, but thankfully that’s a dream I’ve not yet had the commitment to see through (there’s really only so much dirt I can handle under my fingernails).

On Sunday we got dressed in our third-best racing outfits and headed to the Boulder Cup only to be informed that all races had been cancelled due to a soggy patch along the track. Considering a trip to the races for us rarely involves the actual viewing of a race, horse or jockey we nabbed a sunny spot and took turns buying rounds of cheap sparkling wine. My faithful man-friend later picked us up – only slightly inebriated – and drove us home via the Hungry Jacks drive through. Bliss.

Posted in Misc | Tagged Horse Racing, Races, Rodeo, Weekend | 3 Comments

Floral Arrangement

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Bec

Few things satisfy me more than when I find an on trend* item of clothing at a second-hand store. The floral blazer has been doing the rounds for a while now, as have floral pants. I bought this blazer from an op shop in Melbourne recently for about $15 which is pretty steep for second-hand but worth it I think. The pink goes perfectly with my Nars Schiap lipstick, thus appealing to my slight tendency towards colour-coordination OCD.

(*if I ever start using the term ‘on trend’ frequently, or start doing that fashion thing and incorrectly refer to plurals in their singular form “such a great pant”, please kill me)

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Fashion, Floral, Floral Blazer, Op Shop, Second Hand | 3 Comments

Humming the Hummus tune

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Bec

This is the recipe for the hummus enjoyed on a recent picnic.

Hummus is one of those things that when you finally get around to making yourself, you wonder why you ever forked out $4 for a tiny tub of it at the super market. At least I did.

Simply blend/food process/bamix:

2 x 400g cans of Chick Peas
2 x tablespoons of Tahini
2 x teaspoons of garlic
100ml of olive oil
juice of 2 lemons
some water

I think you’re meant to add cumin but I totally forgot last time. Just add some water until you get the right consistancy. I also sprinkled some paprika on top.

Enjoy with oven warmed crusty bread.

Posted in Food | Tagged dip, Food, hummus, Recipe, vegetarian | 1 Comment

Aloha!

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Bec

I’m pretty chuffed with this vintage Hawaiian print dress I found at an op shop in Melbourne recently. Perhaps even smug. It fits like a glove which is rare for me with vintage finds as older garments tend to be made for short, petite ladies.

Not sure where I plan on wearing this tropical number, I can’t say I have much experience with wearing Hawaiian prints (I’m sure I could get plenty of questionable advice from my dad though, lest we forget the Mambo loud shirt era of the early noughties…). I’m sure the right opportunity will present itself one day. Otherwise, If I ever throw the dress away you can bet your bottom dollar that someone I know will host a Hawaiian themed party the following week.

What has been your most bizarre/amazing vintage or second-hand buy?

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Aloha, Dress, Fashion, Hawaiian Print, style, Vintage | 4 Comments

Picnicking

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Bec

Yesterday my man-friend and I headed to the park armed with blankets, cushions, newspapers and delicious food and drink to bask in the sunshine for a couple of hours (really the only sun-related activity available to those living 400km from the nearest beach…).

We munched on smoked salmon and cream cheese baguettes, homemade hummus, fruit and chocolate and sipped on Pimm’s before sunning ourselves like fat sea mammals. Dericious.

How was your weekend? Bloggable? Do tell.

Posted in Food, Misc | Tagged Food, Picnic, Pimm's, Sunshine, Weekend | 10 Comments

How to: clean silver jewellery at home

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Bec

“I’m a bit of a silver jewellery fiend” might be an understatement. I don’t remember how or when it started but I’ve somehow ended up with piles of the stuff from all over the place and it tends to tarnish and lose its lustre after a while. Quite a nice, first world problem to have I’ll admit.

Anyway, I recently discovered this easy method of cleaning silver jewellery that I want to share because it’s fun and takes me back to year 9 chemistry (and you don’t need a Bunsen Burner licence to do it!).

First you will need some aluminium foil (‘a-loominum’ to my Stateside friends) and bi-carb soda. Line a tray with the foil and put your silver pieces in (DO NOT use this method on gems or any other kind of stone or pearl, it could damage them!).

Next, dust your jewellery with the bi-carb soda and pour hot water from a kettle over the top. It should make a delightful sizzle sound as the bi-carb soda reacts with the hot water (chemistry!). Let the jewellery sit there for a while and occasionally prod the jewellery with a wooden spoon to make sure all if it comes in contact with the foil.

Finally, take a soft cloth and use some elbow grease to polish your jewellery until it shines like moon beams on the ocean on a cloudless, crisp night. The result should look something like this:

Blinding!

Such a satisfying chore.

Posted in DIY | Tagged Clean silver jewellery, DIY, Jewellery | Leave a comment

Spring and a statement blazer

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Bec

Trying to catch the dying light. Dusk in Spring is so pretty. New blazer from Bardot.

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Fashion, Floral, Spring, Statement Blazer, style | 4 Comments

Bacon & Maple Syrup Pancakes

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Bec

FACT: There is no combination more delicious than bacon and maple syrup. I take it very personally when someone tries to tell me that sweet and savoury can’t be done. Um, salted caramel anyone? Peanut butter and chocolate?

So on the occasional Sunday I love to whip up these scrumptious pancakes and pay homage to my Canadian heritage. Breakfast cops it hard during the week, often scoffed down or completely neglected. But not the weekends. The weekends are breakfast’s time to shine. So to get these bad boys rolling, throw some bacon in a pan until it is crispy and delicious.

Then throw some flour into a bowl (maybe a cup?), add an egg and some milk then whisk into a frenzy (I used an electric whisk). This will help make the pancakes light and fluffy.

In your pan, ladle the pancake mix over a piece of bacon and cook until bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake. Then flip.

You should have something that looks like this:

Grab some strawberries and maple syrup. Not ‘golden’ syrup or any other inferior imitation, real Canadian maple syrup. This is the most important step.