Fitted Tanks Post Baby And The Mum-Tum (With Denim Shorts and Printed Kimono)

I have a lot of fitted tanks in different colours. I liked wearing them while pregnant but haven't been loving them as much lately. Partly because I prefer lifting tops up rather than pulling them down for breastfeeding and it's not easy to do that in something so fitted. Being honest though it's mostly because they cling so much around the tummy area.


After two babies in two years I knew my stomach would never be perfectly flat. I'm still happily rocking my bikini post-baby - despite a visiting obstetrician telling me during my last pregnancy that my stomach would be "ruined" and that I'd never go to the beach or wear a bikini again! I am proud of my belly, however lumpy it is. I love every extra wrinkle and am truly happy with my "tiger stripes".

However, with tight clothing you don't see anything other than a bump. Which I worry looks suspiciously like a baby bump from some angles. Although trivial, the awkward "nope, not pregnant" conversation just felt a little too stressful to handle! I preferred to cover my belly up in clothing and avoid giving anyone the opportunity to notice and comment. While it's easy to hide a belly in photos it's trickier in real life.

Since wearing these outfits I have had someone mistakenly congratulate me on my "pregnancy" and have had to point out that nope, I'm not pregnant, just got a mum-tum! And you know what? It wasn't as horrific an experience as I thought it would be. I just laughed it off and didn't get upset or make the person asking upset. I wasn't even wearing a fitted tank when it happened, ha! It made me realise I was worrying unnecessarily.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
Tank: Jeanswest 'Jenni' basic singlet in Hawaii blue
Shorts: Jeanswest printed denim shorts
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in navy!)

Why I wore it:

Wore this to run a few quick errands in the afternoon. I'd planned to go out in the morning but never managed to get organised quickly enough to leave before baby's nap, so an afternoon outing it was.

I really liked the colours in this outfit! I think the blue and purple are lovely together. The multi-coloured necklace tied everything together nicely.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, printed kimono, blue fitted tank, printed denim shorts, Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded sandals, plum purple mini MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wear: printed kimono and purple jeans, blue fitted tank and a baby belly, printed denim shorts and a grey tee, Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded sandals and maxi skirt, purple mini MAB tote bag and winter layers.

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
Tank: Glassons striped tank in black and white
Shorts: OneTeaspoon Hawks shorts in Fox black (C/O, on sale!)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

Same kimono, different shorts and tank. I wasn't enjoying this outfit as much as the one above. I felt the stripes really accentuated the mum-tum and was feeling a bit self-conscious about it at the time. I also couldn't help thinking that my grey and white striped tank probably would have looked better with the grey kimono.

An okay outfit, but one of those that seem better in theory when you're planning them than they do when you wear them.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), Somedays Lovin kimono (above), striped tank, OneTeaspoon Hawks shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

Other ways to wear: kimono and a maxi skirt, striped tank layered up for winter, OneTeaspoon Hawks shorts worn two ways, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and chambray dress.



My clothes may fit differently but it's for the most amazing reason, one that I wouldn't change for the world. My body might change further when I've stopped breastfeeding but it might not and I'm perfectly okay with that. I DO have a rounder tummy and I am extremely grateful and amazed to have two beautiful boys as a result. I need to embrace it in every situation, even if it makes people wonder if I'm pregnant. So expect to see me wearing more of these fitted tanks over the remainder of summer. Lumpy post-baby belly and all!

You can hide a baby bump in pictures, you can dress in ways that disguise any leftover baby weight. Or you can keep it real and show it all off in a bikini. Your body, your business. Remember a photo never tells the full story, never compare your behind the scenes to someone else's highlight reel! Don't feel bad about how you look post-baby, every pregnancy and post-pregnancy journey is different.


Linking up with Mix It Monday, Mums That Slay, Hello Monday, On Trend, Turning Heads, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Midweek Inspo, What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files, Flashback Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole.

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Colourful Skinny Jeans and Graphic Tees with Silver Mini MAC

A little while ago I wore my purple jeans and a graphic tee. I liked the combination so much I wore a similar formula again recently. Having a large collection of jeans and a few different coloured pairs means it hasn't feel too repetitive as I wore my jeans a lot over winter.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers
Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
Tee: Monsterthreads star print graphic tee
Jeans: Jeanswest blackberry super skinny jeans
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale in metallic pink!)

Why I wore it:

Wore this to go to playgroup. While we don't really celebrate Halloween in Australia, at the last minute the mums decided to have a Halloween picnic. I'd missed the email so arrived without food, but had put the boys in some of their superhero onesies for my annual Halloween photo so they were suitably dressed! I like the superhero onesies we have as they wear them outside of Halloween too.
I shared a pic on my instagram stories, it's nice to see the different "costumes" over the years. From Cooper alone to Cooper and Toddler T and now a trio with Baby Boy!

A few of the other kids were all dressed up and it made me wish I'd picked my "bones and skin" band tee to wear instead of this Oscar's Law one. With the bones on it it would have been kind of meeting the theme for the picnic. I do prefer this for feeding in though, and apart from briefly regretting that I wasn't wearing anything even even vaguely costume-like, I really enjoyed wearing this outfit.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, graphic tee, purple jeans, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: graphic tee and a maxi skirt, purple jeans and colourful winter layers, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC and an ombre dress.

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Where to Buy Colourful Skinny Jeans Under $100:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers
Tee: Monsterthreads star print graphic tee
Jeans: Emerson red skinny jeans
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale in metallic pink!)

Why I wore it:

Bit of a busy day when I wore this, so the simple graphic tee and jeans outfit combo was perfect to help me get out the door on time. I really liked the navy tee with the red jeans, and the silver mini MAC bag goes with everything. Last time I wore this tee it was with purple jeans and I wanted to try something different this time around so the red was a nice change.

This was a comfortable outfit for a morning running errands and trying to organise a few more Christmas gifts. Spent some time with my mum in the afternoon too.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), navy graphic tee, red skinny jeans, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff metallic mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: graphic tee and a baby bump, red skinny jeans and winter layers, Rebecca Minkoff metallic mini MAC and printed kimono.



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October Purchases and Clothing Wishlist

Almost the end of October already! Sharing what I bought and how I wore it.

Like I mentioned last month, October is Buy Nothing New month. I didn't meet the challenge as I couldn't resist the Shopbop sale...but I did browse more often in the op-shops (thrift stores). I managed to find some pieces I wanted there too.

A little over two years ago, I set myself a goal of wearing things twice in a month after buying them. I've recently changed that to wear things twice in the month that I buy them. It gives me less time to wear things if I buy them near the end of a month, and makes me think even more critically when I'm buying. Near the end of a month I have to think 'do I really need this?' and 'will I wear it twice in just a couple of weeks?'. Often I chose not to buy, which is great for my budget, and wardrobe!

So here's what I bought in October:

• Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold
• Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (still on sale!)
• thrifted Edited floral and bird print kimono
• thrifted grey oversize tee
• Kmart navy ribbed tank
• Kmart blue marle tee

How I Wore It:

The only thing I haven't worn twice or more is the grey tee, but as mentioned in the video that's partly because I have a lot of grey tees and partly because I bought it so close to the end of the month.

Overall I think I did pretty well, especially after shopping so little over the past few months with #noBuyJuly and #noSpenderSeptember. It's made me use my own wardrobe more to see the gaps. While there are still some things I'd love to buy I haven't found the perfect pieces yet and so I'll keep looking. I'm going to try to not settle for anything less than perfect. It's not like I don't have any clothes to wear if I don't buy these things!

This is my current clothing wishlist:

• white v-neck tee that isn't see-through
• basic block colour relaxed fit tank without super low arm holes that show off a bra
• boyfriend denim shorts (I miss my maternity ones!)
• dresses I can breastfeed in
• block colour maxi skirts

Pretty much just wanting to focus on adding more basics to my wardrobe! Would love recommendations if you know where I could find anything on my wishlist above.

Linking up with Budgeting Bloggers, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Let It Shine, Shoe & Tell, Hello Monday.

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Purple Skinny Jeans, Kimonos and Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Neverfull

I like my purple jeans, I like blue and purple together and I love kimonos! The outfits below combine everything together and were so comfortable to wear. Plus I'm sharing some special discount codes for Vogue's Online Shopping night that's on tonight.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tank: MEV Britney bubble tank in mood indigo C/O Zibibo
Jeans: Jeanswest 'shale' super skinny jeans
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

I wore this navy tank with the mauve jeans not just because I like blue and purple together but also because this top is my favourite breastfeeding outfit option for when I'm babywearing. We had to go into Mater in the city to see a specialist for baby boy. I knew I was going to have to feed him at some point so this was an ideal top. The kimono was a nice cover-up and I picked it as the birds in the print worked well for the 'gone wild' style challenge of the day.

The Louis Vuitton neverfull wasn't the best option for carrying while babywearing, but I hung it off the stroller when I needed my hands free and it was perfect for holding all the forms and things I needed to bring along to the appointment.


Last worn:Ray-Ban Wayfarer, navy breastfeeding tank, grey printed kimono, shale skinny jeans, Asos leather sandals, Louis Vuitton damier azur neverfull.

Other ways to wear: navy breastfeeding tank for a trip to the zoo, grey printed kimono and shorts, shale skinny jeans in the office, Asos leather sandals and boho dress, Louis Vuitton damier azur neverfull and maxi skirt.

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Sale Alert!

Wednesday 26th October is Vogue's Online Shopping Night! I've shared my pick of the sales below but hurry - they end at midnight!

25% off everything at French Connection with code 'VOSN25' 

15% off and free shipping at Sass & Bide with code 'VOSN' 

25% off and free shipping at Samantha Wills with code '25OFF' 

30% off at Wanderlust + Co with code 'VOSNOCT2016' and free shipping on orders over $50 

An extra 25% off at Yoox plus free shipping with code 'VOGUE25' 

25% off everything at Country Road with code 'VOGUE25' 

20% off full priced items at David Jones 

25% off full price and sale items at Seed Heritage with code 'VOSN' 

30% off full priced items at Just Jeans 

20% off at Glassons with code 'VOGUE16' plus free shipping on orders over $25

Not part of VOSN, but still worth sharing:

• 30% off selected styles at The Iconic with code 'EVENT30'

• 40% off storewide at Jeanswest plus an extra 50% off sale items!

• Rebecca Minkoff Online Sample Sale is on now! Up to 75% off!

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers
Jacket: New Look Petite print kimono

Tee: Monsterthreads star print graphic tee
Jeans: Jeanswest blackberry super skinny jeans
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'habitual' and jeans and a tee is one of my habits! I think it will always be one of my go-to outfit options, even though I love my maxi skirts too.

Wanted to wear blue and purple again so this navy graphic tee was nice with the purple skinny jeans. The kimono was a bit of an afterthought. While it was a warm day and I wasn't sure I'd need it, it was a little windy so I wore it just in case. Even though we were just popping out to do a little shopping and get some groceries, it was the perfect extra layer.

Same Louis Vuitton bag again too - I was too lazy to take everything when we got home from the appointment the day before so I just carried it again.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), graphic tee, navy printed kimono, purple skinny jeans, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton damier azur neverfull (above).

Other ways to wear: graphic tee and maxi skirt, navy printed kimono and shorts, purple skinny jeans and boots in winter, Louis Vuitton damier azur neverfull in the office.


Linking up with What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files, On the Edge, Fabulous Friday, Weekend Wear, Passion for Fashion, Flashback Fashion, Friday Faves.

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Printed Skinny Jeans, Black Tops and Cardigans

I have a couple of printed jeans. While they are still jeans, they are a little step away from blue denim and make me feel less like I'm stuck in an outfit rut!

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan
Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversize tee in black (also in grey)
Jeans: Portmans pink leopard print skinny jeans
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey (20% off with code FALLFAVES)

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'fresh' and I decided to stretch the definition a little. I often wear these leopard print jeans with grey tees so I tried something slightly different and 'fresher' and went with a black tee instead, ha!

I actually really liked the black tee with these pants. I wasn't so pleased with the cardigan though, wish I hadn't worn it. While it was cold in the morning before we went out it was pretty warm the rest of the day and I didn't need it at all.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, grey cardigan, black tee, pink leopard print skinny jeans, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff MAM.

Other ways to wear: grey cardigan and a maxi skirt, black tee and blue jeans, pink leopard print skinny jeans in winter, Rebecca Minkoff MAM in the office.

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More Printed Jeans Under $100:

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Jeanswest brown marle waterfall cardigan
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tank: Jeanswest round neck lace detail top
Jeans: Sass & Bide Playman skinny jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey (20% off with code FALLFAVES)

Why I wore it:

I'm still so undecided with this outfit! It wasn't for a style challenge, I just felt like I wanted to wear these printed jeans again, and thought the black tank was a nice piece to wear with them. As it was a little windy, and we were having someone over in the evening so I'd need something to cover up with as I fed baby boy, I added the cardigan. I tried this marle cardigan to see how it would look with the chevron pants, and really liked the combination.

Then I saw the pics I took and I wasn't so sure. One of those outfits where you feel it's better than the picture. Won't be wearing this cardigan and the printed jeans together again. Although I was happy wearing it I'm just not sure it looks the best reviewing the photo.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), brown marle cardi, black tank, Sass & Bide skinny jeans, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB (above).

Other ways to wear: brown marle cardi and maxi dress, black tank and lace pencil skirt, Sass & Bide skinny jeans and purple, ballet flats and flares, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB and a dress.


Linking up with Mix It Monday, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Midweek Inspo.

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Spring Boho: Empire Waist Maxi Dresses and Kimonos

While I do wear my maxi dresses year round (even in winter) they definitely get more wear in the warmer weather. They are such a quick and easy option for a warm day. As it was a little cooler in the mornings when I wore these dresses, I added a kimono on top.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers (on sale)

Jacket: Shein cream lace kimono (C/O)
Dress: Gypsy 05 orange ombre maxi dress
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale in red!)

Why I wore it:

Isn't this dress beautiful?! It's a hand-me down from my bestie and I'm completely in love. After getting it hemmed I was planning to wear it to a party a few months back. I ended up not going so it sat in my wardrobe waiting for the perfect occasion to debut it.

The style challenge for the day was 'just because' so it gave me the perfect excuse to get this out for a wear. Glad I did too, it's too pretty to be left unworn in my wardrobe! Even though I had a quiet and uneventful day with just a quick trip out, I really enjoyed wearing this.

I did wonder if the gold Havaianas and the silver bag were a bit of a strange combination, but the dress covered most of my feet so I wasn't too worried after putting it on.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, lace kimono, gold Havaianas, metallic silver mini MAC. First time I've worn the dress.

Other ways to wear: lace kimono and chambray, metallic silver mini MAC and flares.

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More Empire Waist Maxi Dresses Under $100:

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers (on sale)

Jacket: New Look Petite print kimono
Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
Dress: black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

I didn't know what to wear to meet the style challenge on this day, so gave it a miss and wore a maxi dress and kimono again as I'd liked it so much in the outfit above. Wore this to take baby boy for his weekly weigh.

Honestly, I was probably a little overdressed for a weigh in and chat with the child health nurse, but I was a little worried and stressed around the appointment so wearing a pretty dress and my favourite colour (blue) was more to help me feel better! Baby boy stopped gaining weight, so we are trying a few things including introducing some formula to try help him get back on track. We check in every week to see how things are progressing.

Just like the outfit above, I really liked wearing this. Although neither dress is a nursing piece they are both easy to feed in and so comfortable to wear.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), printed kimono, black maxi dress, Havaianas, metallic silver mini MAC bag (above).

Other ways to wear: printed kimono and a baby bump, black maxi dress and third trimester baby bump, metallic silver mini MAC bag and jeans.


Linking up with Passion for Fashion, Weekend Wear, Friday Faves, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Let It Shine, Shoe & Tell, Hello Monday.

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Handbags and Strollers: The Easy Hack for Any Brand! Baby Jogger, Bugaboo, Steelcraft etc

If you've read my blog for any amount of time you'll know that I love my handbags! Despite having a toddler, infant, dog, stroller and baby bag, I'm still using and and carrying my bags. After a few months of just using the baby bag when my eldest son was born, I figured out how easy it is to carry a handbag with a simple hack for any stroller!

Picking a stroller can be difficult. You might know you want one of the many baby strollers by baby jogger because a friend recommended them, or you might have seen a celeb with a Bugaboo or maybe you've come across a Steelcraft on sale. When trying to pick one you need to consider weight, ease of use, accessories, lifespan...there's a lot!

The Australian government has a stroller buying guide that's really helpful. Here's what helped us narrow down the options:

• Price - we started with a budget in mind
• Weight - there is everything from lightweight to heavier than a toddler strollers
• Ease of use - something foolproof to put up and down
• Size - we needed a stroller that would fit in the car boot
• Compatibility - we wanted a travel system so we looked for a stroller and travel capsule pack
• Safety - as the stroller came with a baby capsule we checked the government ratings to find a safe one
• Functionality - the ability to add another seat for a second baby and being able to change the direction the seat faced in were extra functions we liked.

I'm really happy with our Steelcraft Strider Compact stroller, but the one thing that I didn't think about when buying it was my handbags.

Having a baby doesn't mean you need to give up your handbags though. You know I have a lot of bags I wanted to use! I did think about how I'd juggle everything (baby, stroller, dog and baby bag) and figured I might just use my Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bags for a while as they slide nicely into the pockets on our baby bag.

I really needed an extra set of hands if I wanted to carry a bigger handbag with my things in it when we went out though. Throwing it into the base of the stroller was tricky get to when I was babywearing, and not all my handbags fit nicely into the baby bag or could be worn cross-body. When baby T was a few months old I found the solution to my problem.

All you need is a bag hook! It can be as simple as a carabiner or a specifically designed hook for your brand of stroller. Since I spent a few dollars on one it's made it easier to have my handbag with me when I'm out with the boys. When baby boy was born earlier this year, I kept on using and enjoying my handbags as I had that handy little hook!


It's the plastic clip you can see on the stroller handle in some of my pics. Such a simple solution, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who hadn't heard of it before. I get a few comments now and then from people wondering how I use more than just a baby bag with two boys. That little plastic hook on the stroller is my secret!

If you're a mum, how you carry your things? Only wear cross-body bags? Put what you need in the baby bag? Did you think about it when buying a stroller?

This post was created in partnership with Diapers.com. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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Leopard Print Scarves, Skinny Jeans and Plum Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote Bag

As it's spring now in Brisbane I'm aware that I'm not going to have a lot of opportunities to continue to wear my scarves. While I love scarves I do find them tricky to wear year-round, especially with the high humidity. I'm enjoying wearing my big blanket scarves for the moment while it hasn't fully warmed up yet.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Scarf: Sportsgirl animal scarf in violet
Top:  Jeanswest 'Marina' stripe henley
Jeans: Jeanswest 'shale' super skinny jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in pastel and on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day I wore this was "this is what I found" and I had been hunting for my bright purple jeans. While pregnant last year, we boxed up a lot of things to empty our house a little in preparation for selling it. I figured I wouldn't need my pre-pregnancy clothes for a while so packed a lot of them away with no particular organisation. Since we didn't get our perfect house and house-hunting still hasn't gotten us anywhere, I'm a bit unsure where everything is! I didn't find the bright purple jeans I was looking for but I did find this grey pair with a bit of a purple tint.

Since I still felt like wearing purple I grabbed the purple leopard print scarf and Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag for accessories. I really liked this outfit in the end! Even though it wasn't what I had in mind at first I really enjoyed wearing it. I've worn the jeans and top together before too.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, leopard print scarf, striped henley, grey skinny jeans, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff purple mini MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: leopard print scarf and leather jacket, striped henley and printed shorts, grey skinny jeans in the office, black ballet flats and flared jeans, Rebecca Minkoff purple mini MAB tote and a pink maxi dress.

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Sale Alert! 

Jeanswest have up to 70% off in the end of season clearance sale!

Jeanswest ship internationally and as well as some lighter pieces on sale they have a lot of fall-appropriate things for my northern hemisphere readers! :)

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Peggie kimono cardigan in purple mulberry marle

Scarf: Cotton On animal print scarf in blue
Top: MEV Britney bubble tank in mood indigo C/O Zibibo
Jeans: Jeanswest Super Skinny Jeans in Mid Indigo
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black or silver!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

This is what I wore to venture out of the house for the first time in a couple days after the boys and I were recovered from the flu! I went into the city with the boys to visit a friend and stop by my office to see some colleagues. Afterwards I had a wonderful chat with a new friend.

If you've followed along on my blog (or twitter) for a while you'll know I volunteer at Life.Church, an online church. My team leader got in touch to say that she had a friend who also works at Church Online who has a niece that's visiting Australia. Since the niece was in Brisbane and the boys and I were feeling better and up to meeting people I emailed her and we had the chance to talk over coffee.

The funniest thing about catching up with this relative of a friend of a friend was how perfectly timed it all was. I'm not sure what God had in mind for our meeting but I really enjoyed it, and we kept marvelling over the way things worked out.

• I'd never usually meet up with a stranger, especially with the boys tagging along, but I was in the city that day anyway dropping by the office so it made sense to meet.
• If it had been a few days earlier I would have been too sick to catch up. 
• While we were talking a little about where she was staying I realised I'd checked out a house in that street - she had just moved and was living 5 minutes from us! It meant I could have her round for dinner before she left that weekend for a newly accepted au-pair job in Sydney. 
• Her new job requires her to look after a little boy around the same age as toddler T, so she could prep a little by playing with him. 
• When organising dinner I mentioned one of my food allergies - she has the exact same one and (like me) hadn't met anyone with it in person before! 

While she's left Brisbane now, she's got a few people in Sydney from Church Online to catch up with too.

Being able to meet with someone from Arizona I'd never know about if it wasn't for my friend at Church Online, and to have so many things happen just the right way for us to connect blew my mind a little! I'm so grateful for my church. I can't wait to see what God does in my new friends life during her Australian trip.


Last worn: purple cardigan, blue leopard print scarf, navy breastfeeding tank, skinny jeans, gold mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag (above).

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and maxi dress, leopard print scarf and a white top, navy breastfeeding tank and a baby bump, skinny jeans and a trench coat, gold mouse flats in the office, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag and denim shorts.



Don't forget to enter the giveaways I have running! Enter to win $100 for a JORD Wood watch or $50 for that baby/toddler essential, diapers. They end this week!


Linking up with Mix it Monday, Turning Heads, On Trend, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Wardrobe Wednesday, Midweek Inspo, What I Wore, Fresh Fashion.

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