Saturday, May 25, 2013

Random Saturday Musings

Happy Saturday All!

We are now on day 4 or 5 of torrential rains.  I am thinking of building an ark.  When the sun actually comes out, the garden will likely explode!  I am going back out there again anyway.  A glutton for punishment...

Here are some of the things that I've been thinking about this week:

1) My new nail polish obsession

I am not a nail polish person. The nails on my hand are simply buffed - I am too hard on my hands with the housework and the gardening and I hate the look of chipped polish and since I am not a good manicurist, nor have I prioritized my budget so that mani/pedis are included, well when I do my own nails my hands most definitely DO chip.  But from May to June, my toes are always painted and happily so.

This week I picked up an audacious colour from OPI from the Bond Girls collection: Jinx.


It is one of their "liquid sand" colours and is this glorious sparkly orange colour.  I am too lazy to take a picture of my feet this morning, but the picture below gives a good indication of what it looks like on:

OPI Jinx Swatch
source

This just screams summer to me.  I will be surprised if my feet wear anything else this summer.  Oh - and the liquid sand is more forgiving than regular polish, which is nice for a klutz like me!

2) What is it about zombies, anyway?

Well the Walking Dead is done for the season, so thank goodness, along comes Brad Pitt's World War Z.  I have not read the book, though Barry read it the week before last and was enthralled by the story.  I saw a preview when we went to the new Star Trek movie last weekend, and it looks like a roller-coaster-ride of zombie apocalyptic fun.


Our friend Miss Tabs caught some of the filming last year, and I read with interest that there will be a premiere in Glasgow.  I am thinking I should fly over and go with her, just in case Brad brings George along to the screening!

What is our ongoing fascination with zombies anyway?  Some would say they already live among us!  Will you go see this movie?  I do like Brad Pitt, so I likely will, and besides, I am pretty sure I will be dragged there anyway!

3) The thing I am lusting after

There is always something that we would like to have, isn't there?

My latest obsession is the new J Crew Allie gladiator sandal in metallic silver.

Allie metallic gladiator sandals

I imagine them with the orange polish above and with every single thing in my summer wardrobe.  Please - someone tell me you have tried these on and they are terribly uncomfortable!!!

4) A recipe that I have devised for a good wow factor at a dinner party

Years ago, Barry and I went to a little Italian bistro in Ottawa and I had this amazing little dish of ravioli in a cambozola sauce with grapes.  It was divine.  I have since replicated it several times at home, sans recipe, and always to the great delight of the eaters.  We had friends over last night and served this and they were raving, so I thought I would share it with you all.

Important to note:  there are no measurements here!  I eyeball it all.  I know: not helpful!

Wendy's Version of Ravioli with Cambozola and Grapes

2 pkgs of cheese/spinach ravioli (the kind that only take 3 minutes to cook)

finely chop 3 cloves of garlic.  cook in 2 tablespoons of olive oil for about 1 minute.  Toss in about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of chopped cambozola cheese (it all melts anyway so big chunks are good!).  You have to stir this constantly but it will be melted in about 3 minutes.  Add 1/2 cup of white wine that is sitting in your fridge.  Take a glug of it yourself.  Keep stirring.  Once the consistency is very saucy, toss in 2 cups of red crunchy grapes which you have halved in advance.

Your ravioli has been cooking right beside you.  Drain.  Divide ravioli between 4 to 6 plates depending on the package size of your ravioli.  Pour sauce on top and then sprinkle finely chopped chives on top.  Drink with a nice Italian wine.  Your friends will think you are gourmet.  They will be right!

Hope you all have the best Saturday!  Look for me out in the garden, sopping wet....

Stay safe out there!





35 comments:

  1. OUR ZOMBIES, OURSELVES Okay, admit I just don't get the whole zombie thing (and DH is major fan of Walking Dead comics, show, World War Z etc.) Loving the pedi polish and the impromptu recipe tho' (posh pasta version of cheese, wine, grapes.) And could totally justify sandals for Glaswegian red carpet - non?Happy Saturday WMM, hope sun peeps out soon near you.

    PS If silver sandals are a crave saw Jack Rogers for same cheddar at Piper Lime (do ship to Canada via 150.)

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    1. will have to check them out GF and see what damage is with shipping and if I like as much!

      Our zombies, ourselves! That kills me (every pun intended!!!!)

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    2. I LOVE zombies! They are now fast, they eat brain and that makes it dog eat dog and I'm top dog! I find the films so exhilarating but then I'm only 15 inside.

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    3. TABS - as promised - dinner party zombie game:

      it's the zombie apocalypse. Your weapon of choice and your celebrity of choice to fight alongside!

      I picked an ax and Mel Gibson, because I think Mel is kind of crazy and you want crazy when you are fighting zombies!

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  2. I loathe anything with zombies; in fact, to be safe, am avoiding letter Z in case zombies are lurking. I preferred the vampire thing, but not wild about that either. There is enough actual horror in the world without these overly obvious stand-ins for our deepest fears.

    Gawd, this rain is making me very crabby. All the graduation events are to be indoors--yuck. May wear new black Wellies to the baccalaureate today. Someone stop me...

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    1. Lane don't do it, think of the pictures!

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    2. Lane - I am with you on the rain! I am with Dani - no wellies (well maybe en route...)

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    3. Thanks ladies! I did restrain myself and wore black flats, slim black pants, cowl neck blush top and that black and blush knit blazer brought to my attention by your sis, Dani, and a trench. Pix are nice and more tomorrow at the actual graduation. Will break out a dress if over 55.

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    4. Oh great! Can't wait to see a pic! It rained buckets here all day!

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    5. Lane that outfit sounds so perfect. Black and blush are such a beautiful colour combination. Have fun tomorrow and crossing fingers for a nice day for all of you!

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  3. I can't do zombies.... J loves the Walking Dead, so I guess he might be into that film....
    The red polish is fab - love the sandy effect!
    Also love the silver gladiators.
    Talking of new J Crew, I'm obsessed with the red butterfly pencil skirt. I really, really want it but it is way too $$ on the Aus site.... Almost $150 more.
    why J Crew, WHY??!

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    1. Oh my gosh! If you want me to mule it for you Ruth, let me know! it would probably come to $400 CDN with tax and shipping - not sure how that compares with AU site nor how much to ship from here

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    2. Ruth - with Dani's code below, I can scoop it up for $284 CDN! Let me know!

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    3. Oh wow Wendy, that is such a kind offer! I am going to ponder it over the weekend and see if anyone reviews it anywhere before taking the plunge. If I do decide to get it, I will let you know. I can order it on the Canadian site and get it sent to you, then transfer $$$ for shipping to you via PayPal or whatever!
      Thanks again.
      It's $425 on the Aus site. They must think we're complete idiots seeing as it's $280 on the US site.

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  4. No zombies! I also like your new polish very much. Those sandals look incredibly uncomfortable to me, but I never could wear a JCrew sandal, although I did have a long love affair with their espadrilles. Did you see the code for Canucks from JCrew in the G&M? Okay you could try the sandals because they are offering 25% off, free shipping AND free returns. I posted it on JCA but here is the code: GMCAN15
    As we know free returns are a significant savings, PTTO no more! It's good until June 30th.
    LOVE your recipe, that's my kind, especially the glug for the cook!

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    1. hanks Dan - may be worth a try for that price! They are hit and miss for me - some are amazing - some are meh....

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  5. Allie gladiators are not uncomfortable, sorry!! Although, I returned the lavender pair for impracticality reasons. Love that silver metallic though, perhaps I should re-think them? Sorry you've had so much rain. We are back to near freezing temps overnight and cool days. That kind of nail polish looks cool. I can't put it on neatly so I've given up, all funds go to hairdresser instead of Manu/pedicures!

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    1. Cate - you are like me - I pay for more hair is is fine and curly/frizzy and needs a lot of love!

      Oh I may need to get those - I love the mirror finish on them!

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  6. Can you imagine if you could share your rain, we wouldn't be in constant draught condition. But I cannot complain, we have the best weather in the country. I'm missing it since I'm with my dad. Can't complain about that a bit, it's the best part of my trip. And as usual, according to my dad, I've brought lovely weather, sunny and temps in the mid-70s.

    Oh that polish looks cool enough to tempt me, I'm not a polish girl either but that is fab looking.

    My favorite part of your wow factor at dinner: Take a glug of it yourself.

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    1. Yes, I may write a cookbook - the middle-aged guide to drinking and cooking!

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  7. I was thinking lovely thoughts about the Allie, if only the heel wee even half an inch higher I'd be all over it, in every color!

    I just treated myself to a Dior nail polish, Gris Trianon.. Great color, great saturation, and the brush is to die for.

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    1. HI Fred - i hear you on the heel! I have never seen Dior nail polish around here - will have to look online!

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  8. Hi WMM, firstly, Une Femme showed a pair of Ecco sandals the other day which are quite similar to the ones above - here's the link to the Nordstrom site

    http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ecco-groove-sandal-special-purchase/3536589?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1512&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_4_C&siteId=QFGLnEolOWg-UdbfS7U5EOREVS4zqAnw_g

    Ooh, that's a long one! Anyway, they don't look quite as sleek, but they look very comfortable indeed.

    Zombies - no thank you! But your nail polish recommendation looks lovely, especially if you say it's forgiving. I've never had Cambozola cheese - is it a stinky one?

    Enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Hi Patricia - thanks for the heads up!

      The cheese is a mix of blue cheese and camembert. husband thinks they are strong, but once cooked, not strong at all!

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  9. Hi again - oops, I just investigated further, and those sandals are not available for shipment to Canada! :0(

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    1. Hi Patricia, those shoes are available on the Ecco Canada website, which usually has free ship. I think they are more pewter than silver tho'. Also saw them in the Eaton Centre or thereabouts.

      http://www.eccocanada.com/groove-205753-en.html

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    2. Thanks GF - but Nordstroms have them on sale, 80-something dollars! Of course, with taxes and shipping that might come close to the Canadian price. Oh well, if they are pewter, perhaps that's not what WMM wants anyway.

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  10. Yes Glasgow is doubling as? another very different country, but I can't remember which one... There is a great article in Vanity Fair about Brad's new franchise, this film, he has really been mired in re-writes and over-spending, it's descended into a bit of mess apparently.

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    1. Thanks - am going to have to look up that article!

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    2. Philadelphia, it looked great US flags and yellow cabs.

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  11. Those sandals are very pretty, and I am a fan of bright summer toe nail polish ,too. However, I am most intrigued by your recipe,and am now in search of cambozola and gluten -free ravioli. I never have great luck melting cheese. OH well, maybe I should just come over to your place for dinner!

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  12. All that's left for me to say is go Zombies and George Romero!

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    1. did you like zombieland? I have to read world war Z now!

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Kindness is a virtue...