This may be because I grew up in Port Augusta in the 80s, where the most exotic cuisine available was lemon chicken from the now-closed King Po Chinese Restaurant and Takeaway.

I'm not much of a creative cook and most of my staple dishes are traditional old-school country meals you might find in the Wirrabara Primary School Cookbook. I will unapologetically serve up casseroles, meat and three veg, roasts and tuna mornae alongside the multi-cultural offerings of the new millenium like laksa and curries.

Lots of blogs turn out amazing healthy recipes which I will happily pin to Pinterest and then forget about unless it promises the use of only one pan or mug, in the case of the amazing microwave brownie.

I think this cooking apathy comes from a pathological loathing of doing the dishes. I hate it. HAAAAATE it. And after finally moving into a house that has a dishwasher (cue angelic choir every time I open it), it is still a hard mindset to move away from. No longer do I have to be utensil retentive. However I will use the nasty cheap saucepans rather than the good Tefal ones because they can go in the dishwasher!

So, anyway, my top tips for spaghetti bolognese:

Use pork mince. Seriously. Even if you're not into pork (like me), use pork mince. You will never look back. We switched a few years ago and the change in flavour was amazing. Also, it's better for you.

Use a pre-made jar if you want but only as a base. Add extra cans of tomatoes, onion, fresh or minced garlic, herbs, salt and pepper, chilli flakes if you like. Add a splash of red wine. Not heaps, just a splash. Give it a good chance to simmer and boil down into flavourtown.

Use whatever pasta you want. Seriously. Nobody is judging. Bows, alphagetti, spirals, penne, fettucini . . . I like angel hair because it cooks quickly or the vegeroni spirals. Align yourself to a particular brand or get whatever's on special. Personally, I buy San Remo because they're South Australian, but that's me.

Serve, eat, freeze the rest.


Simples!

Where do you stand on spaghetti?

There's always a tempting sale or two for one offer and I've never met a dump bin I didn't like. 

Here's some of the products I've picked up recently, using my quarterly reward voucher to fund part of it ($12.90! A big one this time!) 

On the left, we have the latest instalment on my quest for the foolproof winged eye, the Maybelline Master Graphic eyeliner. I have often voiced my request that an eyeliner be capable of operating itself without any input from me but it seems we are still a ways away from that. Still, I've had a go and - at 11pm on a Monday night, of course - fluked a semi decent eyeline that I probably could have worn out in public. So that's promising. I got $5 off the price with a voucher in my Priceline Sister Club book. 

The Innoxa Blushing Blossom eyeshadow palette was on some kind of special, 30% off maybe? So I bought it. Why wouldn't you? 

The colours are shimmery but not über glittery. It's nice enough but I was hoping for a little more colour payoff. The purple shade does tend to look a little bruise-flavoured on my lids.

The coral tube in the middle was the focus of this post about mindfulness in the gym; the Australis Velourlips Matte Cream in Mi-A-Mee. I am LIVING for this stuff. Bold matte colour, great staying power - I'm itching to get my hands on more. I got this at 30% for $6.95 and I strongly suggest you do the same. 

Today I'm super stoked to be appearing on proper style blog Redcliffe Style as part of the 30+ Style and Beauty link up! 

And speaking of all things far out (how's that for a segue*), who doesn't love a futuristic holographic metallic look?

ASOS V Bar Clutch Bag $30

ASOS Shuttle Heels $68

And if you're really only dipping your toe in . . .

ASOS Blush Swing Earrings $12.00

Are you ready to go galactic?

(I totally am)

I went along to the Fashion Icons exhibit at the Art Gallery of SA with my fashionic friends Jen and Stacie. Here we are posing in front of the logo. 

I should have asked the girls what they were wearing. Fashion blogger fail.

Excuse the dream sequence look of this photo, I had to lighten it up to show detail.

I'm in a Target skater dress with embossed bird print, Mimco flatforms and my bag is vintage black calfskin, made in Sydney and picked up at the Salvos for like $8. I also got to wear my new Australis Velour Lip Cream in Honi-Loo-Loo and loved it as well as some swingy Lovisa earrings.  

For the record, I was not feeling my look at all. AT ALL. That's what happens when you drop the vacuum cleaner about 20 minutes before you need to leave and your planned outfit fails, as does the next three things you pull on in an ever-increasing fit of rage and anxiety. So it was more nightmare than dream sequence.

I need not have worried though, considering other patrons found it perfectly acceptable to wear a backless pant suit complete with full bra on display, scruffy shorts and thongs. Honestly, people. It's a FASHION event. Lift!

We saw a screening of the film "The Secret World of Haute Couture" before checking out the exhibition of amazing threads. We each had to choose a day outfit and an evening gown that we would take home if we could.

I chose this Dior masterpiece for my evening gown and a houndstooth Chanel suit from the 80s that I couldn't find a picture of. Obvs there was no photography allowed or fingering the fabric.




Slightly downscale in formality, this is what I wore for a seaside brunch with Stacie and Bridie of bridiemarie.com

Kmart white tee - $5 Rivers printed pants - $15 Spurr Basics tan flatforms from The Iconic - $27 Pink vintage bag - $3

I did not end up wearing the cardi as it was delightfully warm.

Here's something I rocked to work a little while ago:

Jeanswest lattice-backed top via Savers - $5.99 Rivers printed pants - $15

Pretty stoked to get an exact match on the lipstick here. I read somewhere recently that Matchy Matchy is the new black. I'm so down. I love a perfect match! (not the game show with Greg Evans and Dexter the robot. Com-pa-ti-bi-lity!)

Still working on getting decent outfit shots. I've got a better set up on the patio which works by balancing my iPhone on the clothes rail on a small hard-backed notebook. It's all about time and also getting other people to take them without feeling like a bonehead.

I cannot believe how much I have embraced the printed pant this season. I've gone from none and a belief I'll look like I'm wearing pyjamas to four pairs and loving them sick, especially the cropped ones from Rivers. 

Have you embraced a new trend recently?