SUDDENLY 30

I did take my camera away to Newcastle with me with the intention to keep a photo blog of my adventures. Unfortunately I am hopeless at remembering to carry my camera with me as I usually use my camera on my phone. On the day of my actual birthday my camera wouldn't switch on at all but oddly started working the second I got home...Thankfully my beautiful best friend brought a camera along and captured some of the memories of what could only be described as a magical day. 

It was a beautiful sunny day in Newcastle in a park that over looks the beach. I got the privilege of spending the day with a group of funny, smart and inspiring women who went out of their way to make me feel incredibly special and loved. 

There are A LOT of photos but it was a special day and  wanted to have the bulk of them up in one location but apologies for the my face overload.

PRESANTS!

I have never lost my 5 year old child level of excitement when opening presents, In fact I was so excited about Hello Kitty boxer shorts from the lovely Samara and Aimee that I couldn't wait till I got home to try them on hehe :)

CUTTING THE CAKE!

It tasted as good as it looks :)

 had to kiss the closest boy xx

Special mentions must go to my little sister J, for being the most organised person I know. She got the amazing balloons that spelt my name, made a delicious iced coffee and had every little detail thoughtfully sorted down to a tea.

The magnificent Rina for her balloon pumping skills and heart shaped scones.

Aimee for making me realise there is no point in attempting to make cakes because she will always be 800 hundred times better at it than everyone. The Hello Kitty is hand piped!!

Little Clare for bringing fudge that I need to get the recipe for and of course bringing the very handsome Ollie.

And my best friend in the whole world, my beautiful Megan. There aren't words for how grateful I am for how much you always do for me. You are my ray of sunshine and I look forward to spending my 40th, 50th, 100th birthday with you xo

IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO

I've been a little bit quiet on here recently, I went away away to Newcastle for my birthday and have been trying to get over a case of serious home sickness since. It does happen every time I go home, I get back and wonder what I am doing in Melbourne. It usually takes a couple of weeks of me continually reminding myself that I love my job and that I am still not quite done with Melbourne. 

I had an amazing time away and was completely spoilt rotten. This was the outfit that I wore on the actual day and I am going to keep this as a strictly outfit post, I will do another one later in the week with some of the photos from my beautiful picnic in the park birthday. xo

Flower Crown - Sportsgirl - picked this up in Newcastle mall the day before my birthday, a pretty crown is a birthday essential :)

Pink Gingham Dress - Bettina Liano - This is actually the first year that I haven't bought a dress specifically for my birthday, I left it to the last minute and was restricted by carry on luggage only (terrifying!). It's one of those dresses that you are so glad you bought, season after season you pull it out for Spring/Summer and fall in love again and again.

Holographic Mermaid Shell Bag - Nasty Gal - This bag has sold out a couple of times over and I managed to nab it on the second time it went up. I'll keep my fins crossed for the fellow merbabes who missed out that they do re-do this style because it is an essential!

Stripe Knee High Socks in Ice Blue/White - American Apparel - I bought these in three colour ways (other colour way in previous outfit post) and I am wanting to go back and get more, they are my most favorite recent purchase. 

Eadie White Chunky Sandals - Lipstick Shoes

TAKE THIS PINK RIBBON OFF MY EYES

This is my last outfit post of my 20's! There are numerous articles about what to wear in your 30's that include words like neutrals, polished, less sheer, longer hemlines... I am going to stop right there because I am starting to roll my eyes. I solemnly swear not to read any of those articles, unless it is for a good laugh. Don't get me wrong, I do adore and respect a beautifully tailored piece but I am just not interested in a set of rules that come with a change in age.

I will be totally honest with you, in the back of my mind when I hit 30, it would be time to ditch the short shorts. A rule I made up in my early 20's because 30 seemed really far away and super old... With my 30th birthday less than a week away, summer approaching and a wardrobe full of  seriously cute short shorts, I am throwing this idea in the bin. One of the coolest things about getting older is a level of comfort within yourself that I think will continual increase the older I get. I think back to my teens and early 20's when I felt nervous showing off my legs and think I must have been crazy. I think growing up in the hardcore scene also played a factor in this, a male dominated scene where my place wasn't a given like it was for the boys but rather something I felt like I had to earn. If I wore short shorts I was there for the boys, not the bands and if I dressed in a way that expressed my enthusiasm towards fashion I wouldn't be taken seriously, ironic really that a scene that is suppose to be about going against the grain, ostracises people who don't comply to a "hardcore uniform". I haven't hit some magical plane of existence where body hang ups no longer exist, I am just not so worried about what other people think. 

I no longer feel like I have to fit into a style category, If I had to call myself anything I'd say I am a mood dresser. What I mean by that is that what I wear is totally dependent on my mood or even to push my mood in a different direction. Although thinking about it a bit more, I often have people send me images of things that they think I would like saying "this is so you" and they pretty much always get it spot on, so maybe I do have a more specific style than I realise? I have things I am drawn to, pastel colour ways, cute prints and seasonal trends do factor an influence, but for me my style is a constantly evolving thing which keeps it fun and exciting.

Maybe one day I will hit a point where I will wear a crisp white shirt, tailor trousers, a blazer and a statement piece necklace but that time has certainly not come yet... xo

Colour Block Baseball Top with V Neck - ASOS

Floral Skirt - Clear It Outlet

Chunky Gold Hoop Earrings - Lovisa

Gold Shark Tooth Chunky Chain - Colette

Eadie White Chunky Sandals - Lipstick Shoes  - I have recently bought some new pink sandals which are on the way so you wont have to see these every second week ;)

Pretty in Pink/Ice Blue Strip Knee-High Socks - American Apparel

STYLE CRUSH SIX - Isabel Hendrix

It's been a little while since the last "Style Crush Six" and I need to make this a more regular thing because there are so many inspiring babes I have style crushes on!

Isabel Hendrix is a 22 year old print clashing, psychedelic, style goddess from Minnesota. I started following her on instagram because of her gorgeous rainbow locks which has me forever missing my own rainbow hair!

This creative babe is a busy bee, working at Tunnel Vision as a vintage vendor and doing social media and blogger outreach, styling shoots and modelling. One of the things I love the most about Isabel's style is the way she can post such completely different looks but always have her individual aesthetic continual flowing through. 

How would you describe your style?

Rainbow psychedelic grunge empowered babe

If you had to pick your 5 favourite pieces in your wardrobe, what would they be? 

1. Tie dye rainbow kimono (thanks mom & dad for the best Christmas gift EVER)

2. Tie dye rainbow long sleeve tee from a street market in Marfa, TX

3. Tie Dye Bell Bottoms from Miracle Eye

4. Tie Dye Socks

5. Tie Dye Sweats/Thick Leggings I thrifted that fit me like a dream

What are your favourite places to shop?

Thrift stores, Ebay, Etsy, Tunnel Vision, Miracle Eye.

Where do you draw your style inspiration from?

Open desert, mountains, forests, sunsets, my friends, people on the streets, cats, Buffy.. The list could go on but I think I'll stop here.. Nature always makes me want to be wearing flowy things, and colorful clothes to match the scenery. My friends each have their own unique styles and I draw inspiration from them all. When I see people who go all out in their wardrobe I LOVE it and it inspires me to dress to the extreme.. like, even if their style isn't something I would want to wear necessarily just the fact that they are stepping out of their house and going for it, REALLY going for it. That inspires me. Cats are always comfortable, I aspire to be always comfortable. Buffy - very good fashion of the 90s and early 2000s, also badass characters and director soooo win/win. 

What is your next fashion must have? 

Hmmmm.. I could really go for some more socks, and maybe some more patterned and graphic sweaters.

Who are your style icons?

Friends. IRL and URL friends.

If you want to check out more of the lovely Isabel Hendrix you can do so here:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

You Tube

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Lookbook

LIKE A BEAUTIFUL BLONDE PINEAPPLE

My camera has been playing up at the moment so my photos this week turned out a little bit grainy. Hopefully I'll manage to work out what the issue is before the next lot, although I am pretty useless when it comes to technology!

 

Vintage Nightie worn as dress - I absolutely adore the lace flower details on this

Thrifted belt - I think this is actually a kids belt

Diamante Horse Shoe Earrings - This have been kicking around in my jewellery box for at least 10 years and I can't remember where they came from

Vintage Heart Shaped Teddy Bear Ring - Hipbones & Heartbreak

Lemon Frilled Socks - Cotton On Body

T Bar Heels - ASOS

 

As promised I ended up thrifting another denim jacket and decorating it. The candy heart, kiss me patch was cut out of a dooner cover and I still feel like I might want to add a few more patches.