Put Down The Styling Mousse and Step Away From The Sink

 I had a roomate that called it, "Styling Mousie" which always conjured a great image of a mouse before a mirror primping to go out. 

Some days, I just can't face the blow-dryer. 

This top has been in constant wardrobe rotation because I love it, but I don't think I've ever featured it here on the blog. The gauze/cheesecloth fabric is summery, but the weight is heavy enough that I can wear it year round. I love the asymmetrical pattern, the elastic waist and peplum.  Everything about it would sound wrong on paper, and I hesitated to buy it because it looked so strange on the hanger. I'm glad I took a chance, because it quickly became a favourite piece. 

I made a mushroom pie for dinner that I think is worth sharing. It took four pounds of assorted mushrooms, which I admit is a bit much. You could use any sort of mushrooms you like-I happened to have these, so I used them. 

You Will Need:

Two crust pastry:

2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cups cold, unsalted butter cut in small pieces

Ice water (about 8 tablespoons, but have extra ready)

Combine flour and salt. Cut in the butter until fine crumbs. Add water a few tablespoons at a time until dough just comes together. Try to avoid handling it more than you must. Divide in two, and roll out to fit an 8 or 9 inch pie plate. 

For the filling:

1 pound portabella mushrooms, chopped

1 pound shitake mushrooms, chopped

1 pound King trumpet mushrooms, chopped

1 pound oyster mushrooms, chopped

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup dry red wine

8 large shallots, finely sliced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 teaspoons dried sage

A good grinding of black pepper

1/2 teaspoon smoked salt (you can omit this in place of plain salt. I use it to get a smoked meat flavour in vegetarian recipes). 

2 cups cooked long grain white rice

In a large stockpot, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until they throw off most of their liquid-about ten minutes. Add the wine and turn up the heat cooking until it burns off. Reduce the heat back to medium. Keep stirring the mushrooms so they don't stick to the pan as they start to brown. When the mushrooms are reduced to your liking, add the shallots and cook just until they are softened-no more than two minutes. Add the spices, and cook a minute or two longer. Stir in the cooked rice, and then set it aside to cool before filling the pie crust. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Assemble it:

Fill the bottom crust evenly with the filling. Cover with the top piece of pastry and brush lightly with an egg wash (I used 1 large yolk and 1 tablespoon water). Cut vents for steam. Place it all on a baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes at 425 F then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F. for another 30-40 minutes or until nicely browned. 

Serve warm, not hot with a nice salad, and good strong mustard. 

Why did the shitake have to move house?  

There wasn't mush room. 

I don't make this often,

-just sporadically. 

Fine. Let's talk about clothes. 

Outfit Particulars:

Gauze top-New Life Thrift

Skirt-Sears, about 20 years ago

Made in Korea vintage beaded bag-Goodwill

Necklace-The Mexican Shop, Evanston, Il. about 30 years ago

Earrings-K Mart

Belt-Can't remember

Shoes-K Mart

Fragrance-Bat Sheba

 Two trends in one: Beads + Fringe.

 The necklace had small metal charms hanging off the bottom that made so much clatter I removed them. It became a much more wearable piece once I didn't feel like I had a cowbell around my neck.

Keeping with the same selection of colours...

I had to take advantage of the cool snap to wear my leather skirt. For some reason I always forget about it until spring when it looks terribly out of place. Coloured leather and suede can work in spring, but a black leather anything will be a challenge. 

 Outfit Particulars:
Leather skirt-can't remember, 80's (I mean, I can remember the 80's, just not where I purchased this)
Vintage polyester zip-back top-Thrift World
 Vintage vinyl trimmed canvas jacket-Thrift World
1970's vinyl shoulderbag-Goodwill
Tights-Walgreen's
Vintage Gaymode shoes-Thrift World
1970's necklace-Hand-me-Ups
1960's clip earrings-Hand-me-Ups
1970's bracelet-Hand-me-Ups
Fragrance-Knize 10

These are the frames I'm going to have set with lenses next (I also have a 1930's pair with ear wires that need new lenses). I *think* a darker blue would work, but grey might be good too. I know, First World problems. What am I to do?!?

I can't wear these to Raptor Rescue events or they'll try banding my leg and feeding me "mouse-in-a can". 

The frames were purchased from my favourite Etsy eyewear seller, Cherrie at JustheGoodStuff. 

My gold cat-eye glasses also came from her, and I can't say enough great things about my experience. Fantastic prices, excellent customer service, and the selection is incredible. Many of the frames (like mine) were never set with lenses making you the first owner. A quick look around the web came up with several Gaspari frames like these, but they weren't new old stock, and they were much more expensive. If you're looking for attention getting frames at a great price, Just The Good Stuff is your shop. I paid for these frames with my own dough (they weren't freebies). She did throw in free shipping and some eyeglass holders which I appreciated, but didn't expect.

Finally, there's this:

Uh...what the hell?! Walgreen's is a pharmacy, can't they find the Easter Bunny some sort of happy pill? Have you ever seen such a depressed looking bunny? Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see children clamouring to sit on his lap for a photo. 

"Run, Uncle Hopper is out of the joint...and he's bent on revenge!"

Oops, it got late and I have laundry to do. Better hop to it.