STAY UP LATE

If you don't follow me on instagram or aren't one of my facebook friends, you are potentially thinking I look a lil different in my most recent outfit photo. It is with great excitement I share the news that my partner and I are expecting a baby in January, 2018!

This blog for me has always been a "lifestyle blog" so naturally (when I remember to post) the content will shift with the shift in my life. I know there is an overwhelming amount of mummy bloggers and I don't see that being the direction I head in (although I don't say that with one hundred percent certainty) but rather a place to share fashion adjustments and more pregnancy and baby focused wish lists. If there is anything in particular you are wanting to see me post, please comment and let me know :) 

I am heading towards the half way mark of pregnancy and I still have that feeling like I have fudged my resume and gotten a job I wasn't quite qualified for. From multiple conversations I am starting to realise that it isn't a feeling that will necessarily go away and like any new job you sort of have to sit at your unfamiliar desk smiling, looking busy and acting like you got this.... hoping that eventually the whole fake it till you make it will come to fruition.  

When I was in the sixth grade I cut my hair off into a bob cut, I got home and tried on all my clothes but nothing looked quite right. I remember looking in the mirror and howling with regret over my new hair cut because now I needed a whole new wardrobe to match my whole new hair, which as a sixth grader earning approx zero dollars was not going to happen. Eventually I adjusted to my new hair cut and my clothes began to look normal and everything was fine. This flashback is a pretty accurate summary of how I feel about my current wardrobe, nothing I own looks quite right. I don't have time to adjust to my new body like I did my sixth grade hair cut because it is constantly changing. 

As women, (not discounting men's feelings, just not something I have experience with) we spend our whole lives with such a strong focus on our physical appearance with a pressure to have our bodies look a certain way. We are continually crushed under the weight of a societal pressure that tells us that one of the worst things you can be is "fat" or "big", just to clarify this is not a point of view I agree with (if not obvious). So after thirty two years of having this drilled into me I am suppose to be instantly comfortable with my growing, bigger, fatter body. I look at other women bigger than myself and think they look glowing and radiant but personally I haven't adjusted to this unfamiliar body and I don't have time to feel comfortable with it because it keeps changing. Once you are pregnant it is like it become taboo to talk about  your body in a negative way because as a walking baby oven you are suppose to be this wonderful,happy, glowing beacon of light. To concern yourself with such trivial things like body image seems to be seen as superficial, yet at the same time you are also suppose to be navigating people commenting on your growing appearance daily. 

This is probably all coming across as a bit negative but I felt like it was something I wanted to write down because it is a part of my current journey and I am sure a lot of other women's. The way I dress is a huge part of my identity and not being able to wear a lot of my clothing this early on has made me feel a little lost in myself.  So now I am going to force myself to see this as a challenge to find the pieces that make me feel comfortable and fit my aesthetic and to work with what I have got in my wardrobe that fits. So far I have found most maternity clothing to be so boring, if you don't wear black, grey, white, navy or striped very few stores cater for you. I feel like I have rambled on a fair bit so far so I might leave maternity clothing exploration for the next post. xx

Mel Stringer Earrings - Etsy

Donut Bag - Kmart Kids

Jaded London Festival Sequn Bomber Jacket - Asos

Pastel Necklace - Sad Gal Craft

Maternity Bardot Dress with Half Sleeve - ASOS

Nike Roshe BR - Hype DC

SPARKLE AND FADE - New Years Eve Glitz

It's a mere few weeks until I head to the states for nearly a month so I am in serious laying low, and saving mode. My new years plans will most likely consist of pizza, netflix and watching the fireworks from my balcony. In all honesty that is sort of my ideal New Years celebration but if I was heading out these would be my top picks for outfits. Number one New Years outfit rule...it's gotta sparkle.....

River Island Sequin Slip Dress - ASOS

Sweet Nothings Sequin Crop Top and Short - Dollskill

Barbie Pink Sequin Slip Dress - Isolated Heroes

Navy Sequin Embellished High Neck Bodycon Dress - Missguided

New Look Sequin Mini Dress - ASOS

Mermaid Double Split Maxi Dress  - Isolated Heroes 

Out From Under Iridescent Mesh Slip - Urban Outfitters

Rainbow Glitter Rainbow Earrings - No Basic Bombshell

Holographic Silver Glitter Shell Earrings - No Basic Bombshell

Rainbow Glitter Star Necklace - PsychoCandy212 on Etsy

Holographic Glitter Clutch - Glitter Disaster on Etsy 

Glitter Storm Clutch - Luna On The Moon on Etsy

Horatio Glitter Wedges - ASOS

Mermaid Dreamz Sequin Booties - Dollskill

A Gleam is a Wish Flat - Modcloth

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE - For a mermaid

The ultimate Christmas gift guide for the special mermaid in your life xx

Rosehound Apparel Shell Shaped Compact - Lazy Oaf

King Neptune Lace Tee - Romance Was Born

Pink Pearly Oyster Pin - Darling Distraction 

Skinnydip Mermaid Shell Bag in Pink Glitter - ASOS

Baby Pink Bomber Jacket - Darling Distraction 

Vidakush Mermaid Choker - Dollskill

Jaded London Mermaid Mesh Body Suit - Nasty Gal

Mermaid Coat Hangers - Typo

Silence + Noise On Tour Velvet Varsity Bomber Jacket - Urban Outfitters

Mermaid In A Can Print - Valfre 

Mermaid Scale High Top Sneakers - Dollskill

Blue Mermaid Fishtail Blanket - Missguided

Disney The Little Mermaid Raglan Flyaway Cardigan - Hot Topic

Clamshell Pool Float - Lark Store

Ariel and Shell Ankle Socks - Topshop

THRIFTING TREASURES

I am a thrifting addict. Going into a second-hand store and rummaging through to find a treasure brings me so much pleasure. Even if I don't find anything, I still thoroughly enjoy the adventure of it all. I think Kurt Cobain put it best in an interview with MTV when he said “You can’t buy happiness. I mean that made me happy for a while. I look back at going to second-hand store and I was almost just as happy finding a little treasure. That actually meant more to me because it was more of a stab in the dark in a way. You didn't know if you were going to be able to afford it and what you were really looking for. When you find it its more special to you rather than having a thousand dollars and going into a store like that or buying the whole store. It's not as special." I know that quote isn't about thrifting but rather the importance of the simple pleasures in life and for me, thrifting is one of them. 

I found my love of thrifting or treasure sifting at a young age through hard rubbish collection. As soon as the piles on the curbs out the front of people's houses appeared, my brother and I would be planning our treasure hunt. My fondest memory is when we found a broken chandelier; I associated them with a life of luxury and couldn't imagine how anyone would throw away such a thing of beauty, broken or not. Unable to tow it home on my brother’s skateboard, I sat down and began to pull off the crystals, marveling as they glimmered and cast off rainbow light in the sunshine. I filled my pockets until they were nearly bursting at the seams and when I got home, I proudly placed my new treasures into my jewelry box and felt just like Elizabeth Taylor.

Luckily for me, my work is located within walking distance of two second-hand stores allowing me to have lunch time thrifting adventures a few times a week. Like any thrifter will tell you, the key is persistence. Some days you will walk out empty-handed and other days a plastic bag full of goodies. I thought I would share my most recent haul with you.

TARTAN SKIRTS

I have been looking for a tartan skirt for a while and was about to purchase one from American Apparel that I have been eyeing. I found both of these skirts in the kids section of two different stores and was trying not to get my hopes up when i saw the tartan fabric poking out. Luckily for me, they both fit and weren't too short! Which also brings me to another essential thrifting tip: check every section - mens, kids, bedding, everywhere. You never know what you will find hiding in the most peculiar places.

 

CHUNKY CHAIN

I am really loving Chunky Chains at the moment, particularly to give a slightly harder edge to a more feminine outfit. A lot of modern day, costume jewellery pieces are really light weight and I would much prefer a nice heavy piece like this one.

 

KITSCH ELEPHANT SHARPENER

I picked this up because I adored the colours and the funny boggley eyes and then realised it was also a sharpener; cute and functional!

 

SLIP SKIRT

I have slips in every colour of the pastel rainbow and they really don't get the wear they should but I will continue to buy them every time I see them.

 

PASTEL BOOB TUBE

The fabric is what drew me to this piece as it is 3 sizes to big for me. I haven't decided what to do with it yet, take it in? Make a skirt? What do you think?

 

CHERRY NECKLACE

 I thought this necklace was very reminiscent of the most recent Meadham Kirchhoff collection for Topshop.

 

BLUE SKINNY BELT

 I have an amazing aqua belt I wear back with pink dresses but it is falling to pieces and needs to go in the bin. This isn't the exact colour I wanted but it will do the trick for now.

 

PASTEL TEDDY BEAR

This cutie will make the perfect addition to my wall of pictures!

 

PURPLE GLITTER SOCKS

 If it sparkles, I want it.