January 2012 – polka-dots & sparkles

Pizza Amore

Posted on January 31, 2012January 31, 2012 by bekswhoknits

We have a new pizza place. Finally.

Our last pizza place (Corleones) won our hearts by not only having good pizza, but by ‘delivering’ my drunk Mister home after Melbourne Cup one year. He ordered two pizzas for delivery, and then asked if they were going his way. (Well in his inebriated state I’m sure it wasn’t quite that elegant, but as I didn’t have a car at the time, and there are never any taxis in Perth, especially on Melbourne Cup day coming home from Ascot, I was just grateful that he got home safe.)
But unfortunately they closed down a couple of years ago which left us without a pizza place.
We’re not short of pizza places in the area, but we are short of pizza places which make good tasty pizzas.

Until now.
Crust pizza have just opened in Mt Lawley! Last Monday they opened their doors, and Tuesday we dined. Albeit at home.

I had a BBQ chicken calzone (which was super yummy). The Mister had BBQ chicken pizza pockets (sensing a theme?), and we both shared a Philly Steak.
It tasted like it was freshly made with fresh ingrediants (I’m assuming because it was). But it’s not something that you can always take for granted. Particularly compared with some of the tripe which is served up in the area (Leo’s I’m looking at you.)
I was also impressed with the selections. The Mister had a shortlist of about 8 pizzas, which is something that never happens. He can be a picky customer.
And ordering online was a breeze. I’m inclined to like anything which means I don’t have to get cash out, or have cash on me.
I believe I’m gushing. But it’s definitely our new preferred pizza place.

See you again soon Crust pizza.

4 day weekend has passed with a whimper

Posted on January 31, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Australia day, we drank Aussie beer, watched cricket, and listened to the hottest 100.

The day after Australia day (hangover day), I resigned myself to my hangover and watched an entire season on My Family and had some quality bonding time with my couch.
Air con was appreciated, particularly as it was pretty hot (42 I think) outside.

Saturday we went shopping for a new tv, and some more lazy viewing.
I bought a crepe maker (guess what we had for dinner) and we watched the Perth Scorchers lose the grand final (boo).

Sunday I finished my sockhead hat, and started a new sock, Scylla.
And started watching series 1 of Buffy. (and since bought the box set). I thought I’d have nightmares about creepy ventriloquist dolls but thank fully I didn’t.

And look what arrived Monday afternoon. The books I thought I’d read on the long weekend.

Guest Post – Her Name Was Greta

Posted on January 27, 2012January 27, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I am so happy today, to bring you a guest post by the lovely Miss Stina.

It’s inspired me to get out my crochet hooks and learn a new skill. Thanks so much!

~~~~~
Hi!
My name is Stina and I have a blog called Her Name Was Greta. Beks made a great guest post at my blog during the xmas craze, which was a total blessing, and now I got the chance to give back a little. I’m very excited to be sharing my wrist warmer pattern with you, the readers of Polka-dots & Sparkles. The pattern is pretty basic and can easily be adapted to your personal taste. It’s not too hard to figure out if you’re a beginner and only uses two different stitches. I hope you’ll like the pattern and if you make a pair, or 20, please share links or photos! I’d love to see your take on it!

Materials needed:
1-2 skeins of DK yarn
a thin yarn in your colour of choice
4 mm hook
needle

If you are new to crochet, here are some videos to get you started:
how to start
how to chain
how to single crochet

Wrist Warmers Pattern

Chain 35

Join to a ring, be careful not to twist!

Single crochet around and around and around, until the tube is long enough to reach to your thumb.

To make sure your tube is wide enough to fit your wrist comfortably, test is after a few rows. If it’s too tight, start over and chain a few more stitches, if it’s too loose, chain a few less.

Chain 7, skip 7 stitches and continue single crochet for 6 rows.

Cut the yarn and fasten.
Single crochet 1 row with the scrap yarn.
Chain 3, skip 1 stitch, sc 1. repeat all the way around.
Cut the yarn and fasten.

Crochet another one!

This is what mine look like in this fake action shot. Yes, that is water in my teacup.

A lovely floral number

Posted on January 26, 2012January 19, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I have a floral addiction. It’s not always that I can find long dresses.
I’m 5’10 which means I’m the shortest in my family, but tall by dress making standards.

It’s from temt, who always have really cheap but cute clothing. I think temt must be the forever 21 of Australia. This dress was on $7 on sale and I love it.

It has twirl ability.

Stuck in my head – Still Corners

Posted on January 25, 2012January 25, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Weekend musings

Posted on January 23, 2012January 23, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I had the weekend to myself. Yay!

It’s not very often I do, but as the Mister went on a fishing trip (I love fishing trips) and it was a successful one so he was away for two nights.
Sure it means sleeping alone (being able to hog the bed), and fending for myself (fruit loops for dinner), but it’s nice to have some space too. (I’m trying to make out like I missed him – which I did).

So I cleaned the house and twirled around in new, pretty dresses.
I watched series 2 (including the Christmas episode) of Downton Abbey.
It wasn’t as well paced as series 1, but still enjoyable. I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
I previously boycotted it, as I didn’t like the way it was being promoted on Australian Commercial Television, but after hearing so many good things on I decided I needed to give it a shot.
I watched everything I could in 3 days. Completely addicted. I grew so emotionally invested, in such a short space of time. I loved to hate O’Brien and Thomas, mourned for Daisy and William, and loved the spunk of Lady Sybil.

Alone time also means Mad Men. I rewatched series 4 (just because I could), as I got dressed up to go to my little brother’s graduation. 3 hours of clapping, but I am very proud that he found something he wanted to study and stuck with it long enough to get a degree (and I’m not saying that because he doesn’t stick with things, because he does. I just believe that’s a massive achievement).

I went shopping and bought some pretty dresses and new tights. Turns out not many places stock tights when its 35 degrees outside. But Myer had a 30% sale, so I stocked up (bright red! love hearts! roses!)

So all in all it was a lovely weekend to myself. And I am definitely glad of a relaxing weekend after the madness that has been the last few months. But it’s about to get hectic again soon.
I’m looking forward to Australia Day this week (4 day weekend). And the lovely Miss Stina is doing a guest post for me! (excitement!)
And then it’s a gig every week in February.
Excitement all round!

Hope you all had a good weekend – get up to much??

My hands get cold sometimes

Posted on January 20, 2012January 19, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Even if it is the middle of summer, I work in an air conditioned office.
It’s actually a new office as I changed jobs late last year. As its a bigger office there’s more people, and more people means more air con.
I love the Aussie summer. I prefer to be hot than cold. I don’t think I’d survive in a climate which goes below 10degrees too often.
But I do agree it’s easier to rug up and get warm, than force an entire floor of people to drop to air con levels.
So in the middle of summer, when it’s 40 degrees outside, I’m dressed in thick stockings, cardigans, and fingerless mittens.
And these are the cutest I’ve made.

They’re a Ravelry pattern, (surprise, surprise) and I knitted them up over my new years holidays.

The yarn is Moda Vera Ella, and the pattern is thesebuttoned fingerless mittens.

I didn’t put the buttons on as they didn’t look right. But the colour looks like fairy floss to me and I love them.

A certain ambience

Posted on January 19, 2012 by bekswhoknits

We got new curtains installed! That has been on the list since day 1.

When I bought the apartment it had some hideous blue curtains.
Hideous and really didn’t match what I wanted this space to look like.
I bought some grey and black striped curtains pretty soon after, but I didn’t do the research well enough. They were expensive and they didn’t fit.
That annoyed me no end.
They were a constant reminder of how much I spent on an ill fitting product.

So when it came to replace them I didn’t have a big budget. So ikea to the rescue. The curtain rail was ~$10 (score!). I didn’t like any of the non-sheer curtains, but we need privacy. So I had the idea to buy bulk sheer ones and group them.
I think it’s worked well.
I love the flexibility I now have.

They can be sheer during the day, and bulked up during the night.

With the new couch, the place is starting to look cohesive.

It’s so nice having a space to call my own to come home to.

Stuck in my head – Feist

Posted on January 18, 2012January 18, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Rissoles love

Posted on January 17, 2012January 12, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Now I know all of you that aren’t from Australia probably don’t get the title.
The Castle is a top Australian movie, and one of those really quotable movies too.
One of the most endearing moments is how every night the lead male compliments his wife on his cooking. And one of those meals is rissoles.

This is my mums rissole recipe – its a bit hit and miss but you get to squelch a whole heap of ingrediants up.

Into a bowl goes 500gm mince, 1 egg, 2 pieces soggy bread, a dash of worcestershire sauce, and some BBQ sauce. Quantities aren’t really important here. Also feel free to add stuff. I usually add chilli flakes, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper.
To get soggy bread, soak the bread in water and squeeze it out.
You’ll end up with a bowl full of squelchy potential.