Try something new!

Some new things you might like to try!

• Try a new confectionery
• Host a tapas dinner party
• Read a short story from a new author
• Learn about/try Braille
• Learn/Practice speed reading
• Make something new out of origami
• Try a cafe with a different concept
• Visit a new exhibition
• Make/build something new
• Leave inspirational notes in letterboxes or library books
• Learn to tie a special knot!
• Try a new gym class
•  Learn to spin a pen
• Try a hair mask
• Try a (new) video game
• Learn something new about taking photos
• Cook a new cuisine
• Hide something in your food
• Make a new spread (Cajeta)
• Start growing a plant, fruit or vegetable
• Open an investment account
• Try a new cuisine
• Watch a new TV show
• Cook something new and challenging
• Try and do "nothing" for 15 minutes
• Do a crash course in the history of a place
•  Listen to a new artist
• Determine your political compass
• Create a New Juice Recipe
• Disconnect from the Internet, Newspaper, Magazine, Computers, and/or your i-pad/pod/tunes/book!
•  Learn to Braid Hair Day 
• Volunteer for a new charity
• Have a France Day
• Write a letter to your twelve year-old self
• Make a time capsule
• Make a grassman
• See both the sunrise and sunset in one day
• Learn something new on photoshop
• Learn to change a car tire
• Dive off a pier
• Go for a run/walk without music
• Explode a mars bar in the microwave
• Learn the Macarena
• Go to the circus
• Have a pillow fight
• Ride on rollerskates
• Jump into a pile of Autumn leaves
• Consumer free day
• Nutella Hot Chocolate
• Learn how to skip backwards
• Eskimo kiss
• Sleep outside
• Read a Dr Suess Book
• Go on a hike
• Be an extra in a movie
• Do a mystery shop
• Send a handwritten letter rather than an e-mail
• Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper
• Ring call-back radio
• Write a song
• Capture your day in 20 photos
• Sponsor an animal
• Climb a mountain
• Put yourself on Wikipedia
• Try a new instrument
• Make a photo album
• Make your own detergent
• Start a blog
• Go horse-riding
• Try a nude art class 
• Make soap
• Learn to draw something you have trouble with
• Fold a paper airplane
• Sort your photos
• Learn Feng Shui
• People watch
• Try taking a powernap at work
• Take a walk at lunch
• Make your dream lolly bag
• Write a poem 
• Make your own lemonade
• Learn and play a new card game
• Go on a spontaneous roadtrip
• "Pass it on" or a random act of kindness
• Go to a laughter club
• See a new comedian
• Make a Zombie survival kit
• Make up a pasta dish recipe
• Sponsor a child
• Take a bus in the wrong direction and have a "do as I please" day
• Learn how to change nappies
• Learn CPR
• Live a day of change under "Dice Theory"
• Try archery
• Try laser tag
• Spend a day in the nude
• Participate in a Zombie Walk
• Make a treasure hunt
• Invent something
• Fold a crane
• Make your neighbour a baked good
• Read about something you know nothing about
• Dance until your feet are sore
• Make your own handshake
• Make some bread
• Send anonymous chocolate
• Find out the origins of a well-known saying
• Donate blood
• Learn to juggle
• Learn some sign language
• Participate in some market research
• Learn to knit
• Make your own bubble mixture
• Have a yard/garage/boot sale
• Buy a homeless person a meal
• Make your own playdough
• Learn how to tie a tie
• Send a message in a bottle
• Try Geo-caching
• Draw a self-potrait
• Ride a horse
• Start a blog
• Go to thermal hot springs
• Go up in a hot air balloon
• Make and fly a kite
• Find a pen pal
• Go to a drive in movie
• Dress in an outrageous costume for no particular reason
• Swim with dolphins
• Play a round of golf
• Peel an orange in one piece

Suggestions or Ideas for me? Please comment below!

End of New June!

New June - over already!

My chocolate indulgences nicely marked the end of my New June. It went very quickly but I feel like I packed a fair bit in. I thought about carrying it over to July as I am already going to be trying a few new things but it might be too much of a good thing...for now.

What did I get from it?

I learnt a handful of new things- from how to tie a knot to why I avoid origami! I also created a flying human, enriched my hair, potentially inspired others, tried my hardest to do nothing and fed family and friends. My senses were challenged as I tasted, saw, felt, heard and smelt new things throughout the month. 

Did I come out a better person? 

Hold up! Let's not go crazy! So perhaps I didn't come out all self-improved but I did feel good about the month and my general outlook...and as wise man once said...that is better than a kick in the pants!

Should I do NEW JUNE? (Or insert month X!)

I definitely recommend this as a way to add something different to the day and maintain a healthy outlook. It really gives you the motivation to do some things you've always wanted to do, and equally, try some things you've never thought of doing. It is one way to have a something to look forward to (or a challenge) every single day of the month.

 

Bonus New June! 30/6

Tonight some friends and I made Spring Rolls. Pictured here are the Milky-Way Spring Rolls and one additional naked Milky-Way being deep fried. I liked all of them- though they probably do not compete with an Exploded Mars Bar!

30/6 Day 30 - Try new pods and have with a pod coffee!

Today I tried the new Honeycomb pods. 

These are so good. Even better with the coffee! An easy but rewarding New June to finish with. Very satisfying!

29/9 Day 29 Have a tapas dinner party

This was a really fun one. I made Sangria and Spanish dip...

and Spanish Omelette...

and Patatas Bravas.

Delicious! A repeat is in order!

28/6 Day 28- Read a short story from a new author

Well, this isn't what I had planned to read for short story/new author day but it was convenient! Having not made it to the state library as planned I remember I had seen this hanging about.

I thought it was fiction, not that I dislike non-fiction but I wasn't expecting it. It was pretty average. I learnt a few things but it wasn't particularly well written and I thought a bit culturally disrespectful in places.

I only made it through 1.5 short "stories" (themes really) and don't plan on reading anymore. I read the "holy cow" and "arranged marriages". I feel like there could have been many more interesting things that could have been said in both chapters.

Not a recommendation in sight but it was definitely a...new June!

27/7 Day 7- Learn about Braille

At the moment there is a lighting exhibition at Federation Square for people who are blind. Amy and I stumbled upon it after a run a fortnight ago.

 

Basically, this guy found out that 90% of people who are blind can see light so he used LED’s to write out the braille code. You can see the entry to the exhibition in the photo below.

The aim of the exhibition is to create awareness for the visually impaired and to show how this innovation (cSigns) can be utilised on signs to make navigation easier for the blind. The exhibition included a number of quotes written in the LED braille with the word translation beside it:

 

My favourite was:

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. Said the Fox to the Little Prince.” 

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I took a pamphlet with the braille alphabet when I visited the exhibition with the aim to learn my name. This is how it is set out:

 

Coincidentally the other night I heard a discussion on the radio about how visually impaired children often listen to audio books in place of reading through braille, with the implication that illiteracy amongst the visually impaired might be increasing. I wonder how different life would be for me if I couldn't read, either through braille with my hands or written words with my sight. Would my perspective be dramatically different?

An interesting day in New June for me.

26/6 Day 26 - Practice speed reading

I've done a speed reading course before. I am still undecided on what I think of it. Sometimes I think I already naturally do a lot of what the experts say to do..and presume others do too. However, the tips do make a lot of sense too. Anyway, I thought I'd revisit speed reading as it has been awhile and I have never actually investigated it on the net- and that is what makes it new!

I read a fair bit on it from various sources and didn't find anything particularly enlightening or new...so um, maybe not so new!

I then did a tutorial. The idea was you tested your WPM, read some tips then tested your WPM again. It was pretty basic and I can definitely find faults with using this as a test. (The two passages had key differences that could affect your speed!) My initial speed was 549 WPM and after the super helpful tips (:P) my speed for the second passage was 770 WPM. There were definitely other factors at play...

-the second article had lists in it, the first did not
-the second article had bold bits
-the second article was on chemistry
etc etc etc.

Anyway it was good to remind myself to read fast when necessary!

The highlight of this new June was probably finding the image above! (In case you are wondering I didn't read whilst on a run...but maybe I should have...that would be a good new June. Unless of course I ran into something and ended up with a broken chin.)

25/6 Day 25- Make something new out of origami

I made a lily- bottom flower in picture. The other one is a random flower I made myself when I stuffed up the lily. Neither are spectacular but they do look better in real life..promise!

I am reminded that I don't really have the patience or desire for origami. I didn't get quite as frustrated as I used to when we did it in Mandarin class as children but it isn't really my cup of tea.

i gave these to Mum...she hasn't thrown them out (recycled them) yet!

Bonus new thing! 24/6

I met friends at Crafternoon in North Carlton for lunch and craft. I haven't been to a cafe before where I could eat and paint at the same time! My friends made bottle openers, drew or did a face mask. The place itself had art plastered all over the walls and hanging from the ceiling, see below. It was quite effective when you walked in. Glad I tried this out!

24/6 Day 24- Visit a new exhibition

Today I went to the Ian Potter Museum at Melbourne Uni to see INNER WORLDS: PORTRAITS AND PSYCHOLOGY! Was pretty excited about this one. It was a small exhibition touring from the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

It was really interesting, particularly when a portrait had a good story behind it -either about the psychologist/artist or subject. Below is my favourite one which is by Albert Tucker. According to the plaque it is of a traumatised soldier and shows his suffering and pain post war. Even without this knowledge I thought it was powerful and my eyes were drawn to it. 

Enjoyed this one lots. Over and out!

23/6 Day 23- Make something new

Today I made this scarf holder. I should have shot a before photo- my scarves were a mess on only a few hooks and would always fall down when I tried to get any scarf other than the few top ones.

 

To make the scarf holder I cut my wood, drilled some holes and attached the hooks, rods and egg cutters! Afterwards I added some decorations and hung it on the back of my door. The egg cutter rings are great for smaller, delicate scarves. The final product with scarves:

Fairly happy with the result but it remains to see how functional it will be. (Certainly better than before!)

22/6 Day 26- Leave inspirational notes in letterboxes

The original plan was library books but I liked the idea of letterboxes too. In the photo you can't see all the notes I posted but there are a few there. Some I made up and some I stole from the Internet, naturally. 

Hopefully they don't get sodden in all the wet weather we have been having and inspire at least one person!

Thanks to my friend for posting with me after our run!

21/6 Day 21- Learn to tie a special knot!

Today I learnt three new knots from my ex-scout sister. (Or are you a Scout forever once you have taken the oath/pledge?) I learnt the following knots:

1. Sheet bend: used for tying two ropes of different thicknesses together.

2. Bowline: to form a loop that doesn't move.

3.Square lashing: useful for building rafts. Also includes a clove hitch. Pictured here.

Apparently I am on my way to getting my first Scout badge!

Now I am off to build a raft and what could be better than a RAFT?!

Much thanks to my instructor!

20/6 Day 20 Try Zumba

I've been wanting to try Zumba at my gym for some time now so was quite pumped for this one. The class was pretty small, the music and instructor both great. (My pilates instructor actually...have been wondering what other classes she does.)

Unfortunately the class didn't really have the energy seen in this photo and most people were off-beat/faced the wrong way etc. :S Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised that the class even included some Irish dance. I liked that and the hip hop the most I think. (I'd been under the impression it was mainly latin dance for some reason.) The salsa was good too.

I was the only newbie in the class and surprisingly not as uncoordinated as I anticipated. (Or maybe I concentrated extra hard :P) I think I will Zumba another day soon! One of my favourite New Junes complete!

19/6 Day 19 Learn to spin a pen (also known as contact juggling, pen twirling, pen mawashi and pen tricks)

Pen spinning is hard! I can now say I can spin a pen; not every time (honestly only about 5% of the time!) and not very quickly or well. In other words, I can now tell you how to do it! (Or you can just go here and learn for yourself)

With A LOT MORE practice I might end up doing this... but I doubt it!

18/6 Day 18- Try a hair mask

Today was going to be something else but then all of a sudden I had an urge to put EGG, OIL and HONEY in my hair. Weird moment indeed.

I've never tried a hair mask before, let alone a homemade one with things I'd usually prefer to eat than put in my hair. It was a messy, gooey affair and I am probably paranoid I smell like egg but maybe my hair will look a little nicer for awhile!

 

 

17/6 Day 17 Play a video game made this century!

I haven't really played that many games outside of 'Draw Something' since the days of Doom, Commander Keen, Prince of Persia, Mario and Alex the Kid. Therefore I was startled to find out a 3D world which you can control now exists on the screen. Okay, bit over dramatic. but Uncharted 3 was a big leap for me! 

 

Apparently I was better than expected though I am not sure that says a lot! I had trouble with the fact I had to control my vision in more than 2D but did get better. It was lots of fun and I'd forgotten how involved you can get in something like this.

I could easily get addicted to Uncharted 3 and become a 24 hours gamer. I am in a dangerous zone! Mission complete (literally...we finished the first level!)

16/6 Day 16 - Learn something new on an SLR

Two of my friends were nice enough to teach me a couple of things in the land of photography today. I managed to stalk some cyclists, a runner, a puppy, some kids and a sugar dispenser in the process and have some fun! Here is one of the cyclists I spied near Collingwood Children's Farm. 

He was one of the only ones going fast enough for this effect to turn out. Here is a how-to but basically you just need to use a long exposure.

I also took one of my friend flying!

 

Hooray! I think I'd like to to learn more but a good start nonetheless.

15/6 Day 15- Cook a new cuisine

Today I cooked a cuisine I had never cooked before. I picked Dutch because I didn't know much about Dutch food. I decided on Stamppot: a dish that is basically a whole lot of different vegetables boiled and mashed into a giant heap with some spicy sausages chucked on top. Good cold weather food but perhaps not the most interesting looking dish! Often gravy is put in a hole in the middle. 

 

Well, I certainly wouldn't say it is my favourite dish but a great way to have a huge variety of vegies and a nice winter dish. My bigger Dutch success (which technically spanned over Friday and Saturday!) was the awesome Stroopwafel YUM YUM YUM:

 

 

 

 

I tried these first in Sth America (Of all places!) thanks to my Dutch friend. Mine didn't turn out like the ones I remember but they still tasted as good. I didn't have the proper waffle iron and this meant they were a LOT thicker.

Mmm stroopwafels. I am considering getting a proper machine just to make these....)

Making Dutch food - I've done it!

Thanks to the guinea pigs who tried my food.

14/6 Day 6- Hide a treasure hunt clue in a dessert

Today's challenge coincided nicely with the almost month-long treasure hunt I made for my sister's birthday. I hid her 37th clue inside a chocolate cake! The clue was in blue Eclipse mints box, as you can partially see in the photo. 

 

Definitely something I've not done before and something I very much wish to repeat! A win for all involved!

13/6 Day 13- Make a new spread (Cajeta)

I made a Mexican caramel spread called 'Cajeta'. Thanks to my friend Allan for this suggestion! It tastes delicious.

I thought this would be an easy one. However, because I failed to read the recipe over before I started and didn't realise it specified ONE HOUR in front of the stove stirring the spread, it wasn't! After the hour it still looked like milk so not sure what went wrong. Did a bit of research and decided to put it in the slow cooker overnight. At 7am it looked like milk then by 8am it miraculously turned into a lumpy caramel spread. Not sure the consistency or colour is right but it tastes great. Even though this ran into the next day I am going to put it in the success pile. Phew!

(Thanks to those who helped entertain me over the hour of stirring!)

12/6 Day 12- Start growing strawberries

My friend gave me a strawberry growing kit for my birthday and today I got them going. I am feeling good about my chances of eating strawberries in 14-21 days. Hazaar!

11/6 Day 11 - Open an investment account

I opened an investment account for today- Day 11 and already the dollars are piling up...okay, that is a lie.

I filled out the forms so that when I win the lotto I can invest. (Even though I don't buy lotto tickets..) This one is more a 'for the future' type thing but good to get it going and a bit of a different one for New June! Success! 

Thanks to my boyfriend for the suggestions and help.

10/6 Day 6- Try a new cuisine

Today's original plan was to see both the sunrise and sunset in one day. The plan was THWARTED due to a ridiculous amount of clouds and fogs! HOWEVER, the day was saved by the Polish! 

Opportunistically, my new June for today was trying WARM Polish vodka, a Polish platter and Polish beer-Zywiec at the Polish Jester Cafe.

I loved the vodka and the salami, cheese and sauerkraut on the platter. Loathed the small onions in the platter! The best bit was the eccentric owner- a jovial dude with a parakeet on his shoulder that was in a Jackie Chan movie shot in Aus and the Ukraine! He wrote some Polish on a postcard my boyfriend was sending and was just someone you instantly like. 

The best things happen when you least expect it, or are busy searching for something else. WIN!

Pictures above borrowed from this great review on the Polish Jester.

9/6 Day 9: Watch a new TV show

Whilst camping I checked out a TV show I had never seen before: Firefly. Space isn't my favourite setting/theme so this was a good suggestion.
 

At first I found it fairly slow and not terribly engaging, however, it did grow on me. Where the plot is going to go next intrigues me. Despite this I am not exactly hanging out for the next episode; it hasn't drawn me in yet. I think I probably will watch episode 2 at some stage though.

So an easy one for the 9th but accomplished nonetheless!

8/6 Day 8: Cook something new and challenging

When deciding on something new to cook for today I tried to go with something challenging. I've heard a few times how hard souffle is to get right so I thought I would give it a whirl. I actually didn't find it that difficult but perhaps it was because I was extra careful to follow the recipe to the letter - usually I am a bit more of a haphazard type cook. (Well, actually, I did mess up the quantity of butter slightly but it turned out fine. Perhaps the fact it could have risen a bit more is down to that.)

My taste testers gave it the thumbs up and I enjoyed it myself. Unfortunately my brother and his girlfriend aren't eating sugar for the month of June so they didn't get to sample it. This meant I had 2 extras; they didn't go to waste!

Souffle for the win!

7/6 Day 7 - Do "nothing" for 15 minutes

Okay, I am not sure whose bright idea this was (ahem) but this was clearly the biggest challenge of the whole month. Do "nothing"? How is that even possible? And for 15 minutes? Gah. This picture is what I felt like afterwards! It is impossible to "do nothing" as suspected:

Things I did whilst I did "nothing":
-tried to focus on breathing
-pretended there wasn't an itch on my back.. neck-foot-femur-alveoli.
-thought about my dream last night
-thought about tomorrow
-thought about thinking
-thought about rattle snake, rattle snake, munky munky underpants!
-tried to not think about the time/check the time (I am not going to lie-I caved with just over 5 minutes to go!)

6/6 Day 6 - Do a crash course in the history of a country

I chose the Maldives after seeing a play called Heretic last night and a good choice it was.

Quite an interesting history and, I suppose like the history of most countries, a lot of contentious happenings. Interesting things (perhaps not all facts!) that I read:

* The Maldives had an enormous quantities of cowry shells in the early ages when they were an international currency. The Maldives were therefore known as the ‘Money Isles’. The cowry is now the symbol of the Maldives Monetary Authority.

* The Maldives was granted independence on 26 July 1965 and later became a member of the UN.

* In 1998 a group of disaffected Maldivian businessmen attempted a coup taking 27 hostages and leaving 14 people left dead and 40 wounded. Apparently many tourists didn’t even know that a coup had been attempted.

* Maldivians have their own 'Black Friday' in which reformist and pro democracy campaigners gathered in the capital's main square under the apparent blessing of the Government only to be later cleared out with the arrest and beating of over a thousand people in the process.

* The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami was devastating for the Maldives with 21 islands devastated, 83 people confirmed dead, 25 feared dead and more than 11,000 made homeless. Many of the homeless continue today as internally displaced persons. (Imagine being an IDP.)

* In attempt to draw attention to climate change (there are claims that the Maldives is sinking due to rising sea levels) the Maldivian Government had an underwater cabinet meeting in 2009. There have also been Gov pledges to Maldives carbon-neutral within a decade. (Thought I read somewhere that they excluded air travel from this...)

Naturally all this led me off on a tangent looking up sea levels and global warming and the Maldives....and not coming up with a whole lot to answer my questions in the end. Still that wasn't the aim so overall: Day 6 goal achieved, and a good one at that! I can  imagine doing this every day for a month for different places each day.

Various places I visited on my journey: The Maldives, Lonely Planet, The Guardian, New York Times.

5/6 Day 5: Listen to a new artist

I selected a new artist to listen to today by visiting the Billboard Website and choosing #1 in Jazz Albums.

I listened to the whole album and overall liked it. Quite a variety of songs. Hated 'Radio'. My favourites were 'Cinnamon Tree' and "I can't help it". I really liked the rhythms of these. Esperanza Spalding is talented. That said, although it was nice, I am not sure if I will seek out further music from her. 

Mission complete!

4/6 Day 4: Determine political compass

Today I determined my political compass. The results were somewhat surprising. I used two quizzes and I am not sure that either quiz is particularly accurate, especially the right one since it potentially measured my American political compass. An interesting exercise nonetheless and, in conclusion, I do have opinions!

3/6 Day 3: Create a New Juice: '3rd of Juice'

Today I made a new juice recipe with my boyfriend. I don't feel you can fail at juice but this WAS delicious. A repeat is in order! 

See 'recipe' in the photo.

2/6 Day 2: Disconnect Day

Yesterday I did not use my mobile, laptop or the Internet. I also didn't read newspapers or magazines. 

It was a lot harder than expected because:

a) For this particular day I had to write down a fair bit of calendar information (addresses, phone numbers etc) the night before.

b) My boyfriend kept trying to show me something in the newspaper or on his phone!! Plus I almost forgot a few times.

c) Melbourne (AFL footy) won for the first time this season and I couldn't SMS or ring my Mum or sister to celebrate! (Had to wait until midnight!)

So this one wasn't entirely new but it has been a long time. The last time I didn't do any of these things in a day would have been a hiking trip last year. If I excluded hiking/camping/travel times then the last time would have been when I was about 11 years old! Crazy town!

Day 2 was alarmingly hard but I made it!

 

1/6 Day 1: Learn to Braid Hair Day

Today I finally learnt to braid hair! The left hair model is sporting my 2nd try. (1st try was a bit...different!) The right hair model was my teacher. Thanks to all involved! :) Day 1- success!

New June: the beginning

I am not really sure where it came from but for June I have decided to try something new every day of the month. Some clever guy suggested I call this "New June"!

How I selected what I would do each day:

There were a few new things I was already trying for the month so they went on the list. Then there were other things I'd been wanting to try for awhile and I added them. Then I searched a bit on the net for ideas (a few people had done similar things-someone for the whole year) and I asked friends and family for suggestions. Before I knew it I had the month planned out and I am excited to get going!