the perfect little black dress
I’m not a super fashionista – I don’t really like to THINK too much about my clothing. Whilst I adore fashion and love feeling like I look well put-together, more often than not, my yearning for comfort and speedy getting ready wins when I’m getting dressed.
I tend to buy things that are incredibly easy to wear, since I hate layering, matching, and the stress of coordinating items. I’d much rather buy statement pieces that stand on their own, rather than having to create a “look”. This is especially true of event outfits and dresses – I want to be able to throw something on and feel fabulous in 5 minutes flat!
Here’s one of my favourite dresses that I can throw on and forget about, add a pair of earrings and black heels, and run out the door.
I bought this from Zampera, a great little boutique in Ivanhoe, a few months ago. It was affordable (under $200), extremely well made, and best of all, fits comfortably enough for me to have a GIANT meal, and still not look like I’m wearing a maternity dress. S really hates when I wear shapeless dresses, whereas I love them because well, I love to eat. This dress is a GREAT compromise!
Plus, I love it because it’s a little black dress without being a little black dress – it’s lacy and racy, feels glamourous, and can be just slipped on with little fuss. On this occasion, (as you can tell from my terrible hair) – I got ready in about 20 minutes flat (put dress on, sweep hair into a clip, simple makeup). In fact the thing that took longest was pulling on stockings without getting runs in them. (Yes, I’m hopeless. And it was winter!)
Best yet, it’s not a dress that will date or go out of fashion, and understated enough that I can wear it to various kinds of events without feeling like I’m looking the same old, same old. Ultimate bonus – S thinks it’s smokin’ hot. Done and DONE. It’s made me realise I need more such pieces in my wardrobe, simple and elegant, glamorous yet super easy to wear.
Do you have such items in your arsenal? One that you can just throw on, forget about, and feel great in? Where did you get it from, and what makes it perfect? SHARE THE DETAILS WITH ME PLEASE – what is an item of clothing that you adore?
Read Moresingle happy moment
Receiving a beautiful pot of tulips from a student, Belinda, who is not only a delight to teach but also a wonderful person to know. These were presented to me on a low night months ago – when I was ready to collapse after a night of teaching.
As I’ve said before, my students keep my so alive, and teaching is such a joy and passion that it rarely feels like work. And it’s not gifts like this that make it worthwhile, but this gift certainly made me remember the vibrant happiness that my work brings.
Read Morecounting blessings
Remember when my back was so bad and I posted about my fabulous recovery plan? (Being mainly that was going to focus on being able to wear high heels again soon, one day, perhaps.)
Well, back then I had no idea if I would dance again, let alone wear heels again. And whilst it’s now been a whole year, I still have some bad days and some lack of ability to live life at 100%. This week has been a particularly bad pain week, but to be truthful, it comes on the back of 3 weeks of flying through the air dancing, lots of consulting work, and looking after my dad, so I’m hardly surprised. And I can deal with intermittent pain, given I’ve had so much ongoing, unrelenting pain.
STILL though, and I’ve only hit this stage about 6 weeks ago – I’m reminded ALL THE TIME of how far I’ve come. From being bed-bound and weeping daily, from being SO painkillered up and numb all the time, from not knowing how I’d ever dance again. From feeling cloistered at home, useless to anyone, and tired all the time. To 70% normalcy.
Life in the last 2 months have improved considerably, and I almost haven’t blogged about it so as not to jinx it. In happy new I’m finally feeling a bit like myself dancing again every so often, ALMOST as fast as I used to be. I feel like I’m closer to being myself again rather than further. Like I said, 70%.
So whilst it’s not good yet, it’s certainly pretty damn hopeful and unbelievably better. Almost crazily so. And it’s all happened in the last 6 weeks. Amazing.
And I like to every so often, celebrate this ultimate triumph with the wearing of some killer heels. Oh my shoes, they have missed me, and I them.
mmm.
A few friends have chastised me, saying I’m tempting fate and not doing my spine any favours. But you know what? High heels make me feel so alive now, and they make me feel less “ill”. It’s like I’ve spent a year in convalescence being dowdy and unpretty, and I ain’t doing it no more.
Last week, S took my Pa and I to the Melton horse races for an experience we’d not had. He assured me it wasn’t going to be dressy, that my jeans would suffice, that it was a casual night. But I was so excited. I have had a year of fretting about every outing (would I be able to go and would pain take over half way?) and stressing about long nights out (so debilitating and soooooo pain management filled). And for once I was simply happy and not anxious at all. I mean I still have to take painkillers. But no more fretting.
So I finally got to take these newbies (similar here) on a test drive, and it was unbelievable how comfortable they were! Plus we had a fun night of $5 bets on horses, junk food and giggling together.
So yes I’m certainly counting those blessings, and especially the high heeled ones.
Read Morea story about eggs
My Pa and I both love eggs. I don’t quite know how to explain it, but eggs are the perfect food – they can morph effortlessly into a multitude of textures and tastes. An egg can be the perfect snack, or a couple with some accompaniments, a filling meal. We love them curried Punjabi style, with onions, in a souffle all light and airy, creamily scrambled, half boiled Singapore style, fried with a bit of soy sauce, sunny side up and runny, sunny side up and crispy on the edges, deep fried, , sliced, poached with smoked salmon and hollandaise… Any way, really. Eggs are always welcome in our world.
When I was a kid, Pa would wake me up on a Saturday or Sunday morning. We’d cycle or he would drive down to the local coffeeshop and order some Roti Prata for the whole family. Whilst waiting for it to be cooked, he would order us a hot Milo, and some half boiled eggs. We’d sit there eating our breakfast together, my legs swinging under the chair, me marvelling at how fast my Pa could drink the world’s hottest Milo and slurp down his eggs. When we were finished, we would bring the Roti Prata back home for the rest of the family and all sit down together for a noisy, chatty meal.
The perfection of having that breakfast hour with my Pa before the rest of the family did every few Sundays has stuck with me till adulthood, and now I’m happy that S and I recreate that tradition every Saturday before I go to teach.
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you’d know that my Pa is in Melbourne visiting me for a month. It’s been a nice 2 weeks so far, with lots of swimming, time together and activities.
The other day, he turned to me in the afternoon, more bright-eyed and chirpy than usual and with a huge smile on his face.
“Girl,” he whispered, “how about some eggs?”
Still grinning widely, he made a motion with his hands, of dipping a hard boiled egg in salt, and he didn’t even have to tell me, I knew exactly what he was craving. And suddenly, because my Pa said it, so was I.
moments giggling with Pa
I whipped up some hard boiled eggs pronto and we sat on the swing in the garden for a gorgeous half hour, dipping them in salt and taking huge bites whilst holding hands and enjoying this beautiful spring weather. And all of a sudden I was 12 again, sitting with my Pa and enjoying a precious sunny hour over some eggs.
See, eggs are good. That’s why they call them good eggs.
Read MoreiPad for my favourite senior
It’s no secret that one of my favorite classes to teach is iPad for Seniors with my other business, The Capability Project. I find teaching seniors incredibly rewarding, whether it’s classes in their laptops, pc’s, phones, or Kindles. Any gadget really. It’s more the demographic – seniors are appreciative of teaching, are good students, have great existing life experiences to draw upon, and frankly, are fun to coach.
There’s something about the satisfaction of watching someone overcome a lack of digital knowledge, shaky arthritic fingers and poor ailing eyesight to become proficient in using and having fun with their gadgets. The joy that comes when they gleefully show you how they’ve downloaded an app, or read an e-book, or sent an email, is indescribable. Additionally, because they haven’t grown up in a technological era, the wonderment of buying music with a click of a button, or Skyping a loved one overseas, never gets old. Magical.
my best teaching achievement yet
My favourite teaching achievement has been found this week though – teaching my favourite senior, my daddy, to use his damn iPad. My dad has always been a proponent and champion and early adopter of new technology, but sadly, the iPad and iPhone have thus far evaded him due to a lack of time, interest and difficulty in moving his fingers dextrously.
Hand him a stylus and add lots of his favourite music onto the thing though, and suddenly he is excited, and patient enough to learn. This week he has been rather happily flipping through music, watching videos and singing along. In fact, when I tried to show him how to access the BBC News app, he brushed me aside, with an insistent “I already KNOW how to do that!”.
Sweet success, sweet indeed.
PS, excited about iOS5? Make sure you update your apps to ensure compatibility with the update!
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