I love tank tops, they are essentials for our Brisbane weather. As the two outfit photos below show, they can be layered up for a cooler day, and worn on their own when it heats up. Perfect for spring with the fluctuating temperatures!
As I shared on instagram, this is the 30th wear of this cardigan. I bought it pre-blog so I know it's been worn more times than that, but I didn't have regular outfit photos then. I've been wearing it a lot lately as I was so eager to hit that 30 wear mark before proper spring weather arrived and it got too warm for this to be worn. It's the reason why I packed it to take to Sydney!
I've worn this tank and cardigan together before too. Since I loved this outfit pairing of the printed tank with purple skinny jeans, I've been recreating that with the purple cardigan! To try and make it a little different I picked grey jeans this time instead of the black jeans I wore last time. I had a much nicer day than I did last time I wore the tank and cardigan together!
We spent the day at my parents, decorating biscuits before lunch, which the boys loved as always! While all the purples are slightly different shades in this outfit, I loved wearing this and think it turned it really well. Comfortable for a day visiting my parents too.
A quick stop at the post office in the morning, then we headed to my local ABA mother's group. The discussion topic was 'managing a newborn and toddler'. While those days are behind me now and I have two toddlers (time flies so fast!) it was great to share the things that helped me and smile at the stories of things happening now and in the past that were so similar to my own experiences.
Unlike the rainy and cool spring day above, this was a much warmer day that allowed me to wear the sleeveless tank without any extra layers. I haven't worn this tank for a while, it's been sitting near the front of my wardrobe to remind me to wear it. The colour is incredible and it's one of those pieces it's so tempting to just 'save' for special occasions! I'm trying to get more wear from pieces in my wardrobe and enjoy what I own, so this top was definitely due another wear.
As I love pink and purple together, the purple accessories seemed like a good choice with this tank. I thought that the printed jeans would be a nice pairing with the pink tank too, to add a little more interest to my outfit.
How You Can Wear It:
A button up tank is a great stay at home mum staple! It can feel a little more pulled-together than a regular tank, but is just as easy to wear. Button up tanks are perfect for breastfeeding, without the need to buy anything special just for feeding and that have the added bonus of being able to be worn afterwards too! Linking up with Fashion Frenzy, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, On The Edge, Friday Faves, Passion for Fashion.
In October we took the boys on their first flight down to Sydney for a few days. I'm sharing what we did and things to see in Sydney if you're travelling with toddlers. If you want to skip that, I've included my regular outfits too.
Toddler T is 3, and Baby Boy is 19 months. Both are good walkers. We took a travel stroller and I had my Ergobaby carrier. The stroller was great for carrying the baby bag, layers to wear and food and snacks for the boys but we didn't think Sydney was very stroller friendly. Sydney had daylight savings time but it was only an hour different from Brisbane so we stuck to Brisbane time as normal.
I was looking forward to this day the most! I didn't have a lot of space as we packed light, mostly taking extra clothes for the boys. I still prioritised so while I wore the same Converse every day, I had room for a change of bag and instead of my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere I swapped out to this magenta Balenciaga day bag for our morning at the aquarium and spending the afternoon with my bestie. She has a magenta Balenciaga bag too so I had to wear this for the occasion!
Did wish I'd packed another jacket, as it was an overcast and colder day and this purple cardigan was the warmest piece I'd packed.
We landed in Sydney in the afternoon, and it was off to where we were staying for nap time. I will not be sharing the name of the place we stayed as it was the worst place I have ever stayed and if there had been other options available I would have demanded a refund and moved out.
After failed nap time for Toddler T, I took him with me on my bloggy date with Rachel from a Nesting Nomad. It was great to catch up with her again, after meeting her in Brisbane a while back. I followed Google Maps but failed to realise the route resulted in walking up a very long hill to get to the meeting point. Only slightly late. Sorry again Rachel!
We walked through Hyde Park to let Toddler T run around a bit, then met up with Hubby and Baby Boy once he'd woken up. We went for a walk around Paddy's markets and through Chinatown before going to Darling Harbour.
Tip: Darling Harbour playground is perfect for toddlers.
The boys had the chance to run around and play to expend some energy after sitting still on the flight. Lots of lovely restaurants nearby for dinner options too, although we went back to where we were staying and ordered takeout!
Day Two
A cold and dull day, it was supposed to rain so we headed to the aquarium as we suspected we might. We hadn't bought our tickets in advance, not wanting to tie ourselves down to anything much with two toddlers.
Tip: Buy your aquarium ticket in advance. The line to purchase was extremely slow.
The aquarium was worth the wait though, the boys loved it. Despite it being perfect indoors weather and a weekend, there was plenty of space for the boys to run around from exhibit to exhibit as it wasn't too crowded. There were roving staff members in a few rooms presenting and talking about things to see, as well as lots of helpful educational information near each tank. Made it easy to explain to the boys what they were seeing, even though they were a little young to read for themselves.
Tip: Take toddlers to the bathroom before you enter. The bathrooms are at the end of the aquarium which is not what you want to discover halfway round.
After the aquarium, we attempted to head over the Pyrmont bridge to get to the shopping centre for lunch. I have fond memories of walking along the bridge on holiday as a kid, back when the monorail was still there! So difficult to do with a stroller though. We'd walked past the lift a few times before we found it, and then getting the lift down into the shopping centre on the other side of the harbour involved getting out on the top floor, walking through the shopping centre, getting another lift down then walking back to go to where we wanted to eat for lunch. On our way back we just walked around the harbour in the cold rather than attempt the silly lift system again.
As the boys napped, my bestie arrived and I snuck out leaving hubby and the boys to rest as we went to the Lindt Cafe for some chocolate and a catch up. It might have just been the company, but it was easily one of my favourite meals in Sydney, as we shared the 'dome of decadence' between 3 of us.
Tip: Lindt Cafe might be a little too chocolate filled to be a good option with a toddler, but they do takeaway!
After an amazing afternoon catching up, it was dinner time and we just headed to the nearest McDonalds for a fuss-free meal, perfect for toddlers!
Day Three
The day Toddler T was looking forward to most - a trip to the zoo and a ride on a Sydney Ferry!
After a slight detour into the Rocks, we eventually made our way to Circular Quay and had the chance to take photos with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Tip: The Rocks is NOT stroller friendly, don't even try it. Or you'll end up stuck looking down on the harbour realising the only way down is a very long flight of stairs with a stroller. Thanks again Google Maps!
I expected some excitement from the toddlers about the landmarks we'd been pointing out in books for weeks, but it was of course all about the boats! There was a big cruise liner docked while we were there which was exciting to see.
After buying our tickets we hopped on the ferry to go to Taronga Zoo. It's a short trip, just enough time for the toddlers to enjoy being on a boat and you to point out and take photos of all the landmarks before you arrive at the zoo.
Tip: You don't need to travel round all of Circular Quay to get landmark photos with toddlers - just hop on the Manly ferry and take photos from the boat!
When we arrived at the zoo, as we had bought our tickets in advance we were able to take the gondola up over the animals to the very top, with amazing views of the harbour. Of course it was the animals you fly over that the boys enjoyed more than the view! Tip: buy your zoo ticket in advance, even if just at the ferry terminal. It gives you the ability to take a gondola up to the top of the hill and work your way down.
Starting at the top of the zoo made getting around with the stroller very easy, no need to push up any hills. While we didn't see all the animals (we skipped the aquatic section after the aquarium the day before, and the line for the tiger experience was too long for a toddler's attention span) the boys had a great time running around and getting up close with the animals we did see.
We had lunch at 'The Fish Stop' which does have non-seafood options, and was less busy than the central 'Food Market' although it does have less choices. It was so easy to get food and then sit in one of the many picnic areas right next to it, with incredible views of the Sydney city and the harbour.
Tip: Grab a bite to eat at 'The Fish Stop' or bring a picnic and sit back on the lawns for an amazing view out over the harbour!
While the monkeys were the favourite animal of the day (and it was incredible watching one of them mesmerised by my teething necklace!) there were so many to choose from. There was a lovely playground in the farm animal section. Although it was geared towards older kids the boys really enjoyed playing there for a break from animal-watching.
The walk back to the ferry was a really nice downhill stretch, and while you do have to go through a gift shop as you exit the big shark tank and presentation that was on around the sharks meant the boys were nicely distracted as we left, souvenir free. If only that had been the case at the aquarium, ha!
Once we got back to Sydney, we headed to Helm Bar for dinner. I'd looked up a few places online for food and Helm bar was highly recommended, but seemed like a noisy party bar every time we passed it before. Having no luck finding anywhere else open on a Sunday night in our price range, we went there as it was listed as wheelchair accessible. While there's no easy way to get a stroller up the stairs to the bar, there is a lovely beer garden you can sit in and order food and drinks. It was perfect for families.
Food was so well priced, especially for Sydney, and the boys loved their kids meal. I'm still sad we tried it on the last night so I couldn't go back for another schnitzel burger - definitely will be next time I'm in Sydney!
Day Four
This was our travel day, we didn't do much other than pack up, prepare another lunchbox full of snacks for the plane trip home, and make our way to the airport.
Top Tips for Travelling With Toddlers
Have transport options
The toddlers can walk, and we had the stroller and Ergo Baby carrier for babywearing so there were options when the boys didn't want to walk any more.
Be flexible
We had a general list of the sights we wanted to see but didn't buy any tickets in advance so that our days could change if necessary, and we weren't feeling rushed as we didn't try to do too much each day. One activity or outing is fine, and just wing it for the rest of the day.
Pack snacks
This works for the plane flight too, but when you're in a new place you might not know how far away the next kid-friendly place to eat is, so having snacks with you for the toddlers and yourself comes in helpful.
Take lots of photos
The only regret I had in Sydney was that I didn't take a lot of photos (a few hundred over the 4 days instead of my usual couple of hundred I take a day when something exciting is going on!).
Would we do it again?
Not until the boys are bigger and the stroller isn't needed - it was a real pain trying to fit the stroller in places - even though we packed a small umbrella travel stroller instead of our usual big one. Sydney definitely felt a lot more cramped and less stroller friendly than Brisbane.
Unlike the outfit above, I actually found it too warm to wear the cardigan on this day and wished I hadn't brought it! We took the boys to see the Harbour Bridge and Opera House at last (our third day in Sydney...) and hopped on the Manly Ferry over to Taronga Zoo.
The benefit of wearing the Ergo Baby carrier in the back carry position (you can just see Baby Boy's little foot peeking out in the pic!) is that it's easy to wear a cross body bag, and my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere was perfect for keeping my camera close by for walking around the zoo.
I've managed to cut the number of grey tees in my wardrobe down to 7 (it was once 14...) but there's no denying they are the perfect basic item for me. If I'm ever unsure what to wear with something, I'll pick a grey tee! With these printed maxi skirts, a grey tee is the ideal piece to pair with them.
For a lazy Sunday, this was a nice casual outfit. It's also the 30th time I've worn this maxi skirt! See all the 30 ways I've worn this stripe maxi skirt. We had the usual errands, grocery shopping and a swim lesson then church online in the evening.
I was originally going to wear a different bag with this, but changed my mind and went with the red saddle bag instead. It was the perfect pop of colour for the neutral outfit and despite not being too pleased with the tee I did otherwise like this outfit, the red bag was the perfect accessory.
This grey tee used to be a favourite, but it's the last wear for it, it's starting to look really worn so it's leaving my wardrobe. I got 12 wears out of it, so not too bad, but I am a little disappointed it didn't hang around for longer. Especially as it's called the 'forever tee', ha! Like my trusty black tee, I suspect it's rather quick demise was due to me washing it incorrectly and not following the delicate instructions on the label - no time for delicate clothes with toddlers! I'll probably keep this as a sleep tee too, just like the black one.
I paid $27.18 for it and wore it 12 times, so a high $2.26 cost per wear. Could have worn it a lot more if I'd just followed the washing instructions or not worn it near toddlers that necessitated the heavy washes!
This tee is still a firm favourite! It's one of the few pieces I have in my wardrobe that I've wanted to buy a backup of, so that when this one wears out I'll still have another one to wear. Sadly I've never found another version of it, so this one gets worn a lot more sparingly than you'd expect my favourite grey tee to get worn!
When I first picked up this red printed maxi skirt in the opshop for $3 I did my usual 'think of two ways to wear it' and of course a grey tee was top of my list. I've ended up wearing it with blue tees every time I've worn it, except now! Although it took a while for me to pair this skirt with a grey tee I'm pleased I did. A plain, neutral tee is a good partner for a brightly coloured printed piece in your outfit. This was nice and comfortable for playgroup, errands and a specialist appointment for baby boy.
I wore the same red bag again! Unlike the outfit above, this outfit already had some colour with the red maxi skirt, but I still think the red bag was a nice touch with it. As much as I liked the outfit above, this one is my favourite of the two.
Mid-October we took the boys on their first ever flight, a short trip for a few days down to Sydney. When I was planning our trip I was curious about how I'd keep the boys entertained on the flights and what our first flight experience would be like. I've had a few questions about that too so I thought I'd share more about what the flights were like as well as what I was wearing. Feel free to skip the flight-related stuff if you're not interested and just focus on the outfits, it's a bit of a long post otherwise.
Background to Our Trip:
Toddler T is 3, and Baby Boy is 19 months. Both are good walkers. We took a travel stroller but checked it at the gate along with a suitcase and I had my Ergobaby carrier (which couldn't be used during takeoff and landing or to go through airport security, but can be used at all other times). Baby Boy was on an infant ticket and had to sit in my lap, Toddler T had his own seat.
We flew Qantas both ways. Both flights were mid-morning flights, when the boys are most relaxed. Toddler T was enthusiastically greeted and given a small activity pack gift on boarding and the flight attendants were polite, friendly, and reminded us we could ask them for anything if we needed help.
Simple comfortable outfit for our first flight. While it was a warm day in Brisbane, I suspected I might need the light duster on the plane and in cooler Sydney. This duster washes well, dries quickly and the print disguises any creases so it's perfect for travel.
While I had multiple outfit choices for the boys, I limited what I brought along to just one pair of shoes (my trusty Converse) and these jeans and a maxi skirt. I usually wear jeans when flying, they are comfortable and it also means that the the heaviest item of clothing is outside your bag in case you're getting near the baggage weight limit!
The flight from Brisbane to Sydney is only around an hour and a half, so we didn't have to keep the boys amused for too long. We also luckily didn't have to attempt using the airplane bathroom with either of them. Not always possible, but definitely helpful for us to have a small flight as our first one, and it's one of the reasons we picked Sydney to travel to.
Run Around the Airport
We got to the airport and the gate early. We picked window seats at the gate so that the boys could watch the planes and vehicles on the tarmac, while also giving them a large 'corridor' along the window to run up and down while staying in sight and out of the way of the rest of the waiting passengers. We encouraged them to run frequently while we waited for boarding. Did have to stop them from crawling under the seats and disturbing the other people waiting at one point though....
Boarding Tips
We didn't board right away, and waited until the line was shorter so they weren't standing in one spot too long. Toddler T had his boarding pass so he was responsible for getting it scanned and showing it to the flight attendants as we boarded which got him involved. We found it best to have Baby Boy and I on the window seat with Toddler T in the middle of hubby and I so there were two sets of hands if either boy needed anything. Boarding time is a good time to wipe down the tray tables and other surfaces with a disinfectant wipe too.
Breastfeeding
If you're breastfeeding remember that baby has to stay seated in your lap and sitting upright for takeoff and landing, so you'll need to wear something you can easily pull down or unbutton to breastfeed as your toddler sits up. Breastfeeding during takeoff and landing is a good way to help with the pressure on little ears.
Bring Snacks
The flights were around regular morning tea time for the boys so that they would be looking for something to eat. As they are so small, eating and drinking during takeoff and landing is the best way to relieve the pressure in their ears. In keeping with my usual over-packing style, I had a Bento lunchbox with two 'levels' of snacks, as well as two identical smaller snack-boxes.
This worked out well for our first flight, when baby Boy enthusiastically grabbed one of the smaller boxes and managed to open it and shower the gate area with food. I was relieved to still have the second backup box. We opened out the second 'level' of the lunchbox for snacks for the descent. While they weren't as hungry at the end of the flight, having favourite foods and treats available like biscuits meant they were still happy to eat and help their ears on the descent. One important point to note is that you have to check the customs requirements for food. There are interstate laws about taking fruit across state lines in Australia. This meant we picked strawberries, raisins and apple which could be freshly prepared, cut and washed the morning of the flight and completely consumed before landing. We left out bananas and mandarins as we didn't want to get in trouble for still having the peel, and just bought more fruit when we arrived in Sydney.
Bring Things to Do
As well as the activity pack Qantas provided, I brought a few books along, some colouring books and activity packs with stickers and pencils. We put the bento lunchbox in the seat pocket, along with their drinks and a book and kept the activity packs in the baby bag under the seat in front. With backups in the carry on case we put in the overhead compartment, but never needed to use.
We didn't bring toys as everything you bring will end up on the floor at least once. My teething necklace was the only 'toy' as it stayed around my neck, and Baby Boy gnawed on it a little when he got grizzly during the descent into Sydney.
Plan Your Flight Entertainment
On takeoff we sat the lunchbox in Toddler T's lap so both boys could easily reach it and pick what they wanted to eat. Once the plane was level, we packed it away and did some of the activity books together until the refreshments were served (we asked for a bottle of water at this point to refill the boys drinks). Once they got tired of picking at the bun provided for morning tea, as neither of them seemed to like it, we got out the books to read and did some more activity packs. We followed what the boys wanted to do and changed activities as they wanted until it was time to descend and pack up the tray tables and bring the snacks out again.
Explain Everything
For weeks leading up to the flight we were reading all the plane related books we had, explaining the check in process, take off and landing. Knowing that the plane would go fast, that the plane would be noisy and that eating and drinking will stop your ears feeling funny helped. Instead of trying to detail everything in the moment, we could quickly refer back to earlier conversations. With a toddler who doesn't like loud noises, explaining each and every noise and movement of the plane helped calm any fears. A tip I picked up from my Dad, who would always tell us what noises to look out for next on our flights as kids. It's a habit now!
This is what I wore for our flight home from Sydney to Brisbane. The same duster, jeans and shoes, just a different tank. I wore my Converse every day, there was no room to pack two pairs of shoes with all the extra clothes I had for the boys. I did manage to pack an extra handbag though, ha! I used my Speedy Bandouliere most days. It's so helpful having a cross body bag when you're navigating airports with toddlers in tow.
My jeans were covered with food crumbs after the first flight, but nothing that a baby wipe couldn't fix to make them presentable enough to travel home in a few days later. The ultimate mum essential: baby wipes clean everything!
Comfort is key when flying with toddlers - you don't want to be fussing over your outfit. Make everything machine washable as it will get dirty! A cover-up like a cardigan or duster hides spills and stains and keeps you warm on a cold plane. Converse are comfortable and practical for running around in airports. Jeans are a good choice too as you can easily wipe food crumbs off with a baby wipe. Linking up with Fab Favourites, Mummy Monday, Style Nudge, Hello Monday.
Another month, another #30wears achieved for a piece from my wardrobe. This time it's another maxi skirt. It's interesting that there are only a few jeans that I've hit 30 wears on but I've easily hit that on so many of my maxi skirts. I've always thought I was more of a jeans than skirt person, my style has definitely evolved over the years. It's useful having the blog to look back on and see what I've worn over the years, and it's great that I can compile my outfit pics together into posts like this.
I have started to look up pieces I'm close to 30 wears on and wearing them a little more regularly, as you've probably seen on Instagram. I do want to wear more of my wardrobe, but I'm also enjoying the challenge of thinking up more ways to wear things to hit 30 wears.
#30 Wears: Navy and White Striped Maxi Skirt
While I don't wear a lot of white, I find this maxi skirt so easy to wear. Being machine washable helps! The stretchy elastic waistband has stretched through to the third trimester of two pregnancies and still fits perfectly post-baby. Non-maternity clothes with elastic waists are wonderful in pregnancy. In fact the very first time I wore this skirt I was pregnant, it's a great pregnancy piece.
It's not just pregnancy this works well for though! Stretchy skirts are great postpartum and incredibly comfortable post-baby. It's easy to see why I've hit 30 wears on this. In fact, half of them were during pregnancy and the other 15 were when I wasn't pregnant. Really funny to see the perfect split when I counted up the 30 wears.
Stripe Maxi Skirt With Printed And Embellished Tanks
A printed skirt doesn't mean you have to wear it with plain pieces! I've enjoyed doing a little print mixing by pairing the striped skirt with printed tanks. If you're looking for something slightly different you can add something extra to the stripes with embellished tanks with beading or sequins. The benefit of the beaded and sequin embellished tanks were that they draw the eye up and away from what was an early second trimester baby bump. Of course as you can see with the brown floral tank, you can only disguise a baby bump for so long! Get more ways to hide a baby bump here.
Navy Stripe Maxi Skirt and Matching Top
Since the white maxi skirt has a navy stripe, it's good to be matchy-matchy and wear a navy tee with it. It's a quick fool-proof outfit technique you can use for any printed piece. Grab a plain piece in a similar colour to one that's in the print to wear with it for an easy outfit that is perfectly co-ordinated.
Stripe Maxi Skirt and Grey Tee
A grey tee is another one of those fail-safe outfit options with a printed maxi skirt. I have quite a few grey tees in my wardrobe, as you can see above as each time I've worn this skirt it's been with a different grey tee! I like them when I need a neutral piece to wear with a print. A grey tee and a maxi skirt is a favourite frequently worn combination of mine. A grey tee will always be a classic to me. A nice neutral grey tee lets you be a little more bold and adventurous with your accessory choices and I like to wear a bright handbag often with grey tees as the colour really pops.
Stripe Maxi Skirt and Colourful Tanks
While grey tees are a great neutral with prints, and you can easily pick a navy top for an easy coordinating outfit, I like wearing bright and colourful tanks with this stripe maxi skirt too. I love this in pregnancy, as my colourful fitted tanks really work nicely to show off a baby bump. Because this skirt is a non-maternity piece, there is a limit to how far the elastic will stretch around a growing baby belly. When it hits its limit, a maternity tank comes in helpful as the longer bump-covering length lets you wear the skirt lower with the waist band under the baby bump like in the last photo.
Maxi Skirts and Light Layers In Cooler Weather
I try to wear most of my wardrobe year-round, but with the slit up the side it gets a little too cold to wear this maxi skirt over winter. I make it work outside of summer by adding a light layer, something as simple as a scarf or denim jacket, or a little more colourful with a printed kimono or colourful knit. Just that extra layer can make it easier to wear this skirt for spring or autumn. You don't have to keep maxi skirts just for summer!
Maxi Skirt and Ruffle Camis
Sometimes i's nice to add some extra texture to your outfit. The close fit of this jersey maxi skirt means voluminous tops are a good pairing with it, and my ruffle camis are such fun pieces to wear. You can even add in some print mixing like I've done in two of those three outfits above. Stripes really do go with so much, and a strappy cami is a wonderful piece to wear in the summer heat.
Maxi Skirt and Tees
As you can see above, I love my grey tees and my navy tees with this striped maxi skirt. Any kind of tee pairs beautifully with a maxi skirt though, and as well as some brightly coloured ones it's been fun wearing graphic tees with this striped skirt. It makes a great casual outfit for places like playgroup if you're wanting to dress a maxi skirt down a little. A simple outfit formula like this can continue on in pregnancy as well!
Striped Maxi Skirts Under $50:
A striped skirt can be surprisingly versatile, and this was definitely good value for money! I bought this Atmos & Here maxi skirt back in 2013 for $17.45, so it's now down to 58 cents per wear and still going strong 4 years later.
