Arrival

My order arrived today.


Have a look at what I bought!

Funkis Plait Navy Suede Sandle Clog (quite a mouthful for quite a shoe!)

As you can see I am super chuffed! Very cute and comfy.

So these are them, my new shoes!

I can't wait for tomorrow when I will wear my shoes to uni with a big fat grin.

They will just go so good with everything, and all through summer.

And the best part is, they are made from plantation timber, so I feel a bit less guilty when I wear them.

Yay.

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Today

I am very impatiently waiting on a delivery of an internet purchase I made on Wednesday night. I really hope it comes today because for once it is sunny! And consistently so!! And what I purchased would really enjoy a day in the sun.


In other news, I got myself into the ballot, and purchased four tickets for the Falls Festival at Lorne this New Years!! I am so excited; this year is most definitely my Year of the Festival - so far I've been to Big Day Out, Groovin the Moo, Splendour in the grass, and I still hope to go to a few more this year. It's so exciting!


This sunny weather is only doing positive things to me - I get a bit sad when it's overcast, don't you? It brings up thoughts of the Spring Racing Carnival, Christmas, swimming at the beach or at the river back home, not having to layer up before I step out the door, ice creams, iced tea, serving margharitas to friends at parties, BBQs, fruit salad, Sunday sesh's in beer gardens accross Melbourne, music festivals, and just having a great time with friends and family in general.


Summer in Australia is always such a fun time, it helps that everyone has such a laid back attitude, and everyone is just looking to have a good time. 


Matt and I plan to find a new place to move into by December, somewhere with a backyard so we can have a vegie patch and entertain our mates whenever we want, because we'll actually have space for them!


Check out this song: I'd Rather Dance With You by Kings of Convenience, it wouldn't let me embed, but I thought it was a nice song with a very cute film clip.


Have a lovely day
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Food, Inc

I recently watched Food, Inc in my Food As Medicine class at uni and it really made an impact on me. Even though I know that a lot of the processes that occur in the USA do not occur here in Australia, I do believe the food industry has had a significant impact on the way that we eat and the food that we eat, as well destroying our environment, and I would like to see it change.


Our idea of 'healthy food' or a 'healthy meal' is so far removed from what 'healthy' actually is because of the way that the food industry is at the moment, and you only have to think about the illnesses that occur in your family or your circle of friends to realise that. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity - can all be attributed to diet.


I hope that this movie does what it was set out to do: to educate the masses and empower them with the knowledge and confidence to make more ethical food choices and change the market demand enough to change the way the food industry conducts itself. 


So please take a look at the film with an open mind, and start to make more ethical food choices. Buy organic. Shop at a farmers market. Buy free range. Buy sustainable seafood (here). Plant a little veggie patch in your backyard. If more people do this, the more affordable these food choices will become. And you just know you will feel better, not only because you are eating nutritious food, but because you are doing something to make the world a better place.




Thanks for reading my rant.
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Sorry I don't post that often.

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Eat Your Greens

In the name of research and for the passion of my Nutrition course, and to make my life healthier overall, I went to http://organicfood.com.au/ and ordered a box of seasonal veg for me and my mans. 


I received my delivery looking pretty daggy (pjs, BAD bed hair and a messy kitchen) but was excited none-the-less. My lovely organic goodies brought a delicious fresh scent into the house and I squealed a few too many times and even took photos of said produce (below). This box has lasted a week already and will easily last another week, which means that $51.50 for organic goodness goes a long way - I only have to order more fruit because that went very quickly.


We purchased the 'Eat Your Greens' box, with bananas, lemons and passionfruit extra. 


I recommend you try it at least once - it makes life easier, and makes you feel like you are really doing some good for your body.

Can you see the garlic cloves? They are ENORMOUS!

They are so colourful - like a rainbow! Very inspiring for me, cooking wise.

In other news, ever since Splendour in the Grass, I have been OBSESSED with Yeasayer! Here is the clip to their newest release, Madder Red, which I had never heard until the festival, but thought it was one of the best ones that they performed on the day. So check it out!


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The Return of My Blog

Good afternoon, my fair readers;
After a long and agonising time away - I'm back! Yay!
And with my very own computer, to boot!


Here are some things I have been doing lately;

Buying pretty presents for loved ones;

Adorning my house with cheerful flowers;

Enjoying a few bevvys with the ladies from work;

Celebrating the completion of my first semester of uni and the corresponding exams (photo: courtesy of Ellie);

Enjoying the Rutherglen Winery Walkabout with some of my dearest friends;

and my lovely sister;

Dressing up as someone who died before they were 30 for Luke's 30th (Matt is Jimi Hendrix and I am Edie Sedgwick);

Yippee! I did my own hair!

Spent time in my home town with lovely friends and family (above and two below photos: courtesy of Brylee);

And hey - I actually finished my scarf, see!!;

Walking underneath waterfalls and hanging out with my best friend, Laura, in Queensland

Beer and cheese tastings in Mount Tambourine, Qld;

And finally, going to the best festival I have been to by far: Splendour in the Grass!!!!!!

I think this was taken while either watching The Drums or Yeasayer

Matt with Roni and Glenn.

With the lovely Johanne overlooking the Amphitheatre (and possibly Florence and the Machine)

I think Kate Nash has something to say...

Peter, Matt, Johanne and lil old me.

The always beautiful Clare Bowditch

And the best song that she played - it seemed to be everyone's favourite!

You Looked So Good

The Drums at the Amphitheatre

Florence and the Machine (she's the big billowy white thing in the middle)

Matt and me after the foam party - woo!

And the last act I saw for the festival - Empire of the Sun.

Pretty good photo, eh?

My posts will be more frequent than the last couple of months, but not too frequent. Uni is very busy, and so is work!

Thanks for having me back.

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Apologies

Hello readers,
Just a quick note to explain my recent absence.

The graphics card in my computer shat itself, so I have no way of uploading photos or updating my blog, until further notice. 

So please, don't think I have abandoned my beloved blog - I will be back!

Plans are already being put in place for me to buy my very own computer (I've never had my own one before), so stay tuned. I hope to be updating again very soon.

Lots of love
Miranda
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Cinnamon-Poached Quinoa and Apple Porridge with Banana, Berries and Passionfruit

Lately, I've been all about elaborate and delicious, but still nutritious breakfasts, and while, the past two days, I've had some sort of divine egg dish, I wanted something sweeter this morning. So I have created this scrumptious dish with Quinoa and yummy fruits. Give it a go! It's delicious!


Cinnamon-Poached Quinoa and Apple Porridge with Banana, Berries and Passionfruit
Serves 1
Ingredients
1 cooking apple
1/4 cup white Quinoa, soaked overnight (preferably)
1 cup water
1/2 Cinnamon stick
1/4 cup berries (any)
1 banana
2 passionfruits


Cut apple into 8 wedges, leaving the skin on, then halve the wedges horizontally and core the apple. In a small saucepan (with a lid), add the water, quinoa, apple and cinammon and bring to the boil. Simmer, covered for 15 minutes (or until all of the water has been absorbed).


If your berries are frozen, add them to the quinoa for the last two minutes of cooking, or defrost them separately - better yet, use fresh berries. Slice the banana and add to serving bowl, with the passionfruit pulp. When quinoa is cooked (it looks strange and awesome when it's cooked), discard cinnamon stick and add quinoa and berries to serving bowl and combine. 


Serve it alone or with natural yoghurt. If you are a small eater, this might actually be two serves, I certainly struggled, but a boy could finish it off easily.


Why don't you try it, and let me know how you go. Sweet, but not sickly so.


Have a lovely day.
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I want a holiday.

Another Quiet Weekend Over

I had a fairly quiet weekend; worked a bit, bought some magazines, a bit of study, cooked some delicious soup (Split Pea and Prosciutto), baked some Shortbread with Passionfruit Cream, visited the relo's in Mornington (and got there by myself without a map - so proud!), did some knitting, watched heaps of movies (including Stranger Than Fiction, which Matt hadn't seen, and is now obsessed with), picked up some new glasses - which I'll post about later because I forgot to get photos of - and looked after Matt. It was still a good weekend though. At first I was a bit sour but it ended up being really good.


I still haven't finished the scarf (and I have knitted more since these photos), but this just gives you an idea of what it's going to look like.

Cardigan: Cotton On, Dress (worn as top under skirt): Supre, Skirt and Belt: Sportsgirl, Tights: Metalicus, Wool and Needles: Lincraft.

I'm such a proud little knitter!

This is maybe half the length that I want it to be. I'm hoping I wont give up on it and I will actually have it finished this year - I have a habit of getting bored of my projects and stopping them before I'm finished.

Here's the wool that I bought, and I have bamboo needles (can somebody say, 'sustainable'). It's such lovely wool, it looks a bit old fashioned, I reckon.

Gosh, Matt is cute. Drinkin' his tea and being all snuggled in the jumper I bought for him. I swear, most of the time when we are at home, at least one of us has a mug of tea in hand. At least it's not soft drink!

Naw, there he is again.

Here's a few things I'm listening to at the moment;

CSS - Left Behind

Yeasayer - O.N.E

Supergrass - Moving - Lisa got me into this one big time. Love it!

Have a lovely week everyone, and forgive me if my posts are dwindling, I have exams coming up very soon and one more assignment to do. 

And, if anyone in Melbourne is interested, Savers is having a 50% off sale today only, and you should go if only because I can't!! Savers' Sale

PS. If I ever mention a recipe that you think you might like, let me know, I'm always happy to share.

x

Why hate someone for who they are?

I HATE homophobia.
I REALLY, REALLY DO.


I NEVER describe anything using the term 'gay' in a negative or derogative way, and no one ever should.


It is my belief that being homosexual is not a choice - why would someone choose to live in a way where they are ridiculed, humiliated and discriminated against, on purpose? It just doesn't make sense. And it is not good enough that this sort of humiliation still occurs in our modern society.


Being homosexual is something you are born with, like the colour of your hair, or the way that you think. The real God accepts everyone for who they are, so religion is no excuse for persecution.


After Jason Akermanis' comments earlier this week about whether gay footballers should come out, a website has been launched that you should be aware of: This Is Oz. While I do not agree that homosexual football players should be hunted out and paid to come out, I do believe that it would only be a positive thing if they came out, rather than a danger to AFL. Saying that AFL footy is "not ready" for gay footballers to come out is a COP OUT and a shame to Australia as a nation!


I have quite a few friends who are gay, and have been very apprehensive to come out, and surprised at the people who had no problem with the fact that they are gay, when they did come out. It makes me sad to hear my friends say that they are too scared to tell the ones that they love, who they are; that they might be persecuted for letting their friends know their true selves.


No one should have to be afraid to show their true selves.
No one should be judged because of who they are.
Being gay IS NOT A CHOICE.
Being gay IS NOT WRONG.


The gay community needs our support, so please, at least take a look at This Is Oz, and spread the word or show your support in some way.


The world needs to evolve and accept the gay community as normal NOW. Because it is normal. Because it is all around. Because your child, your mother, your father, cousin, uncle, aunty, friend, could be struggling with who they really are, and they really shouldn't have to.

thisisoz.com.au

I dedicate this post to everyone I love, gay or straight, to tell them that I love who they are and I do not think they should be ashamed in any way of who they are. 


Everyone is a person. Everyone has EQUAL rights. Uphold your belief of human rights and spread the word.

thisisoz.com.au

To my gay friends: I love you for who you are, I love you for your bravery, and I love that you are all in my life. You inspire me.


Do what is right, what is humane and what is common decency. And think about how you would feel if someone told you that loving the person that you love is wrong.
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