Navy Tops, Prints and Louis Vuitton Damier Bags

I've been enjoying wearing my Louis Vuitton bags lately. Although my MM neverfull and speedy bandouliere are printed, I tend to see them as simple bags to wear and will happily wear them when I have a printed piece in my outfit.

I've learnt from experience that it's best to wear a printed bag with just one other printed piece of clothing, I like the outfits better that way. Plain navy tops seemed a good choice to wear with the prints.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Wilma teething necklace in pale daffodil
Tank: MEV Britney bubble tank in mood indigo C/O Zibibo
Skirt: Garfunkle Australia pleated print skirt
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

Wore this on a hot day with another specialist for baby boy. The big neverfull tote was ideal for carrying around all of the paperwork required. I have the MM size and it's perfect for me!

I was attempting to organise and declutter one day when I came across this skirt that I'd put aside with all of my other officewear pieces. No point in having them out taking up space in my wardrobe while I'm on maternity leave. I realised it would be nice to wear casually on days where I didn't want shorts or a maxi skirt though, so I kept it out and boxed up the rest of my workwear.

If if you're wondering why I'm not back at work yet, while I returned to work early when toddler T was a baby, I'm not doing that this time. I'm taking the full year of maternity leave I'm entitled to with Baby Boy. Yes, Australia does have awesome maternity leave entitlements.

As it was December, the #SummerStyleFile instagram style challenge was on so this pleated skirt fit the "pleats please" challenge nicely. I really liked this outfit, I was unsure about the black printed skirt with navy top at first but it turned out looking okay and I felt really comfortable in this all day. The yellow teething necklace just ties it all together. Can't believe it's been 2 years since I last wore this skirt! It needs worn more frequently. Hopefully now I'm going 6 months without shopping and trying to achieve 30 wears on everything I'll actually wear it!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, navy breastfeeding tank, printed pleated skirt, studded sandals, Louis Vuitton neverfull.

Other ways to wear: navy breastfeeding tank and purple jeans, printed pleated skirt and grey tee, studded sandals and a maxi dress, Louis Vuitton neverfull in the office.

---

More Louis Vuitton Damier Print Bags:

---

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
Tank: Kmart navy ribbed tank
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

Just under two years ago I had a wardrobe detox session with a personal stylist. I'd recently purchased these shorts at the time and was excited about them. One of the suggested outfits the stylist came up with was to wear a darker top with these shorts and make it look a little like a playsuit. At the time I made a note to try it when I got such a top in my wardrobe. It was the first outfit that came to mind when I saw this navy tank on sale at Kmart, so I was pleased to give the combination a go at last. The shorts were perfect for the two style challenges on instagram too, white in the print for Summer Style File and swishy for Darecember.

Like the outfit above, I really enjoyed wearing this. Wore it for a quiet day so it was one of those outfits you feel are a bit of a waste as you didn't do anything special in them! I've already worn it again with different accessories as I liked this outfit so much.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers (above), Kmart navy tank, printed navy shorts, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: Kmart navy tank and printed cardi, printed navy shorts and grey tee, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and a maxi skirt.


Linking up with Weekend Wear, Passion for Fashion, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

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.

---

Don't forget to enter my 5 year blogaversary giveaway!

---

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.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

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.

Linking up with Mums That Slay, Monday Mode, On Trend, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Midweek Inspo, What I Wore.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Jeanswest Prima Skinny Jeans, Autumnal Tops and Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag

It's spring here in Brisbane so the weather is starting to warm up. I'm still finding myself wanting to wear my darker more autumnal colours - I tend to wear most colours year-round if the fabric is right. It's nice to be inspired by the style challenges I'm doing to add some little spring touches to my outfits with a denim jacket or kimono though, even if I didn't love both resulting outfits.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers (on sale)

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Scarf: blue tartan scarf
Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversized tee in wine (similar in black or grey)
Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
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: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I wore this simple jeans and tee outfit for a busy morning. My plan was to take the boys out to a local book sale, get some groceries and come home and clean the house in preparation for having a friend over for dinner. Of course we were running late in the morning which put me behind for the rest of the day, but we did manage to score an entire cardboard box of books for $40 (which you might have seen on my instagram story) and my friend didn't mind being picked up a little late even though it was raining. One of those crazy hectic days where you have a relaxing evening and all your running about doesn't seem so stressful in the end.

The scarf was a bit of an afterthought as it was a little cooler, but I liked the way the colours looked against the burgundy tee. It worked for the 'in check' style challenge prompt on instagram. I picked the denim jacket as I'd wanted to wear it a few days before but didn't think it looked great with that outfit. I really liked it this time around, as the jeans are black denim I felt fine attempting the double denim look for the first time in a long time! Was perfect for the 'cuff stuff' style challenge theme too with the cuffed sleeves.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, denim jacket, blue tartan scarf, burgundy tee, black Prima skinny jeans, ballet flats, Balenciaga tempte day bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and a maxi dress, tartan scarf and a graphic tee, burgundy tee and a maxi skirt, black Prima skinny jeans and boucle, ballet flats and a wrap dress, Balenciaga tempte day bag and printed kimono.

---

Sale Alert! 

Up to 50% off in The Iconic's sale!

(Sorry to my international readers, The Iconic only ship to Australia and New Zealand. Check out the sales & discounts page instead.)

---

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers (on sale)

Jacket: Cotton On 'Gemma' cocoon kimono in Laos blossom navy print
Tank: Target embroidered khaki tank
Jeans: Jeanswest Bindi skinny 7/8 jeans in indigo luxe
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

This was another big day! We had brunch by the bay, toddler T's swim lesson and dinner at my parents. Which involved some cookie decorating with toddler T and was a lot of fun. Again, I shared a bit of this on instagram stories.

Just thinking about it now as I write this post I'm realising I've finally hit that point where I'm managing to squeeze multiple trips and events into my day. A milestone for having two under 3, one of those things that seems impossible in the newborn days. I'm feeling happy about juggling two style challenges again too, and managing to hit so many (although not all!) of the prompts.


I knew I wanted to wear this comfy tank. The style challenge of 'man style' was kind of met with my Converse Chucks. I wasn't sure what to wear to meet the 'floral fantasy' prompt of the other style challenge when I saw this kimono in my wardrobe. This is an outfit fail - it doesn't look great. Even the skinny prima jeans can't cancel out the oddness of the voluminous tank and kimono together, it's not a combination I'll be repeating again. Despite that, I was happy wearing it. It felt super comfortable to wear and I really liked the navy and khaki colour combination!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers (above), navy cocoon kimono, khaki embroidered tank, Prima denim jeans, Converse, Balenciaga tempte day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: navy cocoon kimono and denim shorts, khaki embroidered tank and flares, Prima denim jeans and tall boots, Converse and a chambray skirt, Balenciaga tempte day bag and a printed maxi dress.


Linking up with Thursday Moda, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, On the Edge, Weekend Wear, Flashback Fashion.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Win a Gift Card For Diapers (Cloth Ones)

I have a special giveaway today, perfect for my mum readers!


There are so many choices you have to make when you have a baby. There are the fun ones, like how to decorate the nursery and the not so fun ones like when to return to work. One of the big decisions you have to make is around diapers: to go with cloth diapers or disposable diapers. You actually do a fair bit of reading to research what your baby will poop in!

There are pros and cons with cloth and disposable, and of course the decision is down to whatever is best for your family. Mums always make the right decision for them. Choice has excellent buying guides (not just for baby-related products) and has one to help you decide what diapers to buy.

If you're thinking about going with cloth diapers like I was at first, have a look at some of the great cloth diaper groups on Facebook to chat to other mums and find out what brand would be best for you and your baby.


In the end, we decided to go with disposables for the boys. Some days when we seem to go through a mountain of disposables I wish I'd gone for cloth diapers. There are days though when I'm very glad we chose disposables. Those days when it doesn't matter where you are, what you're wearing or how stylish you feel...baby has a diaper explosion!


Below are just a handful of outfits I've enjoyed wearing until something escaped from a diaper!

Printed dress and ankle boots | Ombre knit and purple jeans

Breastfeeding singlet and maxi skirt | White tee, Converse and pencil skirt

No matter what your diaper of choice is, experience has taught me you always need a few more spare than you think, just in case. That's why this is a great giveaway - you can get $50 USD to go towards more cloth diapers! Check out the huge selection you can spend it on.


You can enter via the rafflecopter below, and remember to leave a blog comment for your entry to be valid. The winner will be judged to have the most creative answer to the question "What was your worst diaper-related experience?", left as a comment on this blog post. With so many times it can all go wrong, from diaper changes to leaky diapers, I'm sure to be sympathising with a few of you!

The giveaway will end on Thursday 22nd September and the winner selected from the comments on this blog post will be emailed with details of how to use their gift card. Diapers.com ships worldwide so the competition is open worldwide.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


This giveaway is a partnership with Nakturnal, with a prize of a gift certificate.


Linking up with What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Fresh Fashion, September Giveaways, Thursday Moda, Fashion Files, A Labour of Life, Fabulous Friday, Fun Fashion, On The Edge of the Week, Weekend Linkup, Weekend Wear, Flashback Fashion, Friday Faves, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Pink Bag, Purple Scarves and Black and Grey Outfits

If you follow me on instagram or twitter you'd know that August has been a tough month health-wise for the boys and I. It's the last month of winter here in Australia and pretty typical for a few bugs to be going around. We just seem to be catching them all and every time I think we're recovering we get hit with something else!

Despite wanting to just stay curled up in bed, there have been days we've had to get out of the house for appointments or occasionally we were well enough to venture out for something fun. I brought my magenta Balenciaga day bag out to add some colour to my outfits. The wonderful pink colour makes me smile every time I wear it, it's a great mood booster!

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan
Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs mauve square scarf
Tee: Marc by Marc Jacobs blossom pocket tee in grey
Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

I was feeling better and had regained my voice so we headed out to run a few errands and get groceries. When I'm not feeling the best I like to bundle up with a scarf, so this knit cardi and cosy purple scarf were perfect. I really liked the purple and pink accessory combo too, nice with the black and grey.

This grey tee hasn't been worn in a while - it's one of those pieces I tend to 'save' and skip over in my wardrobe as I want to wait until it's a 'better' day to wear it. Decided it's been neglected for too long as I last wore it 8 months ago so wore it anyway even if it was a quiet day.


Last worn: Ray-Ban wayfarer, black cardigan, purple scarf, grey tee, skinny jeans, black ballet flats, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: black cardigan and a printed maxi skirt, purple scarf and navy top, grey tee and a maxi skirt, skinny jeans and khaki tank, black ballet flats and flares, Balenciaga magenta day bag and a graphic tee.

---

More pink Balenciaga bags:

---

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan
Scarf: Sportsgirl animal scarf in violet
Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversize tee in black (also in grey)
Jeans: Sass and Bide pale grey skinny jeans
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in grey)
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

The outfit above was so simple and perfect to wear, so when we were well enough to go back to playgroup I wore an incredibly similar outfit. Just swapped the black cardigan and jeans for grey ones, and a black tee instead of a grey one. Another easy neutral outfit with some colourful accessories. I think I liked this purple leopard print scarf with the magenta bag even better than the combo above.


Last worn: Ray-Ban wayfarers (above), grey cardigan, purple leopard print scarf, black v-neck tee, Sass and Bide jeans, black ballet flats, magenta Balenciaga day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: grey cardigan and printed jeans, purple leopard print scarf and purple bag, black v-neck tee and flares, tweed jacket and grey jeans, black ballet flats and a pencil skirt, magenta Balenciaga day bag and denim shorts.


Linking up with What I Wore, Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday, Weekend Link up, Fabulous Friday, Edge of the Week, Friday Fashion, Weekend Wear, Passion for Fashion, Friday Faves, Flashback Fashion.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Neutral Outfits with a Red Rebecca Minkoff Cross Body Saddle Bag: Printed Dress and Flared Jeans

While I do like wearing this little red bag with other red accessories, it's nice to pair it with neutral outfits like the ones below and really let the colour pop. The saddle bag style looks just as good with a dress as it does with jeans.

What I wore:

Scarf: Alexander McQueen modal and cashmere skull scarf
Dress: Jeanswest Nikki printed shirt dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots (on sale!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale and on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

I was in a bit of a rush in the morning trying to get everyone ready for playgroup and hadn't really thought about what I wanted to wear. Decided on this printed dress as it's a quick instant outfit, and it's been a while since I last wore it. Although it is still winter it was a little warmer so I could go without a jacket, which was nice. I enjoyed sitting in the sun at playgroup feeding baby, using his muslin wrap as a feeding cover as I didn't quite think things through and realise this scarf was too small to use for that until the last minute.

While this dress actually has a little pink in the print, it blends well and looks like a neutral so the red bag was a fun pop against it.


Last worn: taupe skull scarf, printed shirt dress, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: taupe skull scarf and a blue shirt, printed dress and purple bag, ankle boots and a maxi skirt, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and skinny jeans.

---

What I wore:

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan
Tank: Jeanswest Florence print long line tank (on sale!)
Jeans: Jeanswest 'spoylt' flared jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale and on sale in brown!)

Why I wore it:

Had a busy morning - I optimistically thought I could make an appointment, run errands and go grocery shopping while also making it to the library for rhyme time. Of course we were too late for the library, I misjudged how long it would take to find the special ingredients I was grocery shopping for and I got home with a very cranky baby. It was just one of those days where you can't see all the things you did achieve because you focus on everything that went wrong.

After a morning like that it was nice to catch up with my mum in the afternoon and she complimented my top too. It made me smile. I really do like this top, and this was a nice outfit, just not the best day. It definitely turned around in the afternoon though.


Last worn: black knit, printed tank, flared jeans, ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag (above).

Other ways to wear: black knit and skinny jeans, printed tank and a baby bump, flared jeans and Converse, ballet flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and a striped maxi skirt.



Linking up with Let It Shine, Shoe & Tell, Hello Monday, Modest Monday.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Skip Hop Toys and How I Balance Blogging and Babies

Since having baby boy, I've been a lot more open with the realities of motherhood I share on the blog. I've shared the days where all you manage to do is take the dog for a walk, how you can try fake the look of a good night's sleep and I've mentioned in the past how I've cut down on blogging after baby.


A lot of people have asked how I manage blogging. Nap time is my blogging time and scheduling posts in advance is the only way I'm able to keep blogging with two little boys. Blogging is "me time" and important to me, but not always easy to get time for. I'm not the only blogging mum who wonders how to juggle it all with kids, but there are plenty of mums out there who blog (like Shea, Jess, Kikki, Beth and Cecylia). I thought I'd share the tips and toys that help me amuse the boys and make the most of awake time together to free up nap times for blogging.

Use a Baby Gym

There are many developmental benefits to baby gyms, but they also come in extremely helpful when you need a few minutes. While it's fun to sit and talk with baby about all the toys he's playing with and I enjoy seeing how similar he is to his brother with the toys he prefers to grab, it's nice for him to get some alone time to explore on his own. I like to sweep up, tidy up or even put the laundry out while baby plays in his gym so I don't have to do that while he naps.

Make Housework Fun

Having a toddler can be a help with housework! Toddler T has a little baby broom so he can 'help' as I sweep up, and pulling the wet clothes out of the washing machine and into the washing basket is the best game. It means I get things done and we get to play together. Letting baby watch as you fold laundry and feel all the different textures of the clothes means it takes a little longer, but it's also another fun way to connect. Trying to convince toddler T to help tidy his toys away before dinner isn't always successful, but is nice when it works!

Maximise Tummy Time

Tummy time is really important for babies. While I like to sit and read books to baby during tummy time, I've also been able to put baby down for tummy time while I chop veggies or cook dinner and his big brother is often happy to lay next to him and chat away. Baby is more likely to tolerate being left to play on his tummy alone if I've surrounded him with some soft toys to reach for first.

Make Bath Time Play Time

Bath time is much more fun when there are special toys to play with. It's easy to go overboard with bath toys, there are so many cute ones! Picking out his favourite toys to throw in with his brother helps keep toddler T occupied as baby gets bathed, and it's nice to turn a routine nightly task into something a little more fun with toys.

Ask For Help

There are some pieces of housework (like ironing) I won't do unless the boys are asleep and out of the way, and some days where their nap times just don't line up. This is where living near grandparents comes in handy - they are happy to watch the boys now and then to allow me to get things done, and sometimes they'll even do a little bit of housework while babysitting!




With all of the tips and toys above, I make the most of the time I get while the boys are awake and I can dedicate blogging time to when they sleep, so they don't see me on a computer constantly!

Are you a blogging mum? How do you handle the balance between blogging and kids? Do you have a go-to toy for playtime?



Shop more Skip Hop toys at Diapers.com.


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. Images have been used with permission.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Easy Postpartum Style: Trying to Hide a Lack of Sleep And Memorial Day Sales

Looking after a newborn involves some level of sleep deprivation. When you have two under 2 and a toddler to take care of in the day time, there isn't a lot of opportunity to catch up on missed sleep.

Some days you need to get out of the house no matter how little sleep you've had, so I thought I'd share two outfits I wore on some very sleep deprived days. I tried to use accessories to disguise the lack of sleep without my trusty BB cream - which I ran out of shortly after baby arrived. If you want some tips on makeup for tired mums, check out Anne's post!

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Kimono: New Look Petite print kimono (on sale, 70% off!)
Singlet: Jeanswest maternity nursing cami
Jeans: Sass and Bide  'neon nights' jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

Despite wanting to stay in bed after a very disturbed night, I had to take toddler T out so I grabbed a combination I knew would work from my heavy repetition of it over my pregnancy; denim, singlet and kimono.

I like kimonos as they are a great accessory to make it look like you put a little more effort into your outfit, and the colour and print helps to distract away from a tired face after a broken 3 hours of sleep. Hiding behind sunnies works too!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, printed kimono, breastfeeding singlet, Sass & Bide skinny jeans, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: navy kimono with a green top, breastfeeding singlet and a maxi skirt, Sass & Bide skinny jeans and tall boots, black ballet flats and a maxi dress, red saddle bag and a black outfit.

---

---

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers
Scarf: Love Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
Tee: Atmos&Here navy stripe v-neck tee
Jeans: Sass and Bide  'neon nights' jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

I wore this on another failed trip to replace my BB cream. Ended up buying a different brand to give it a try as my usual was still out of stock.

More hiding behind my sunglasses and the same denim jeans as in the outfit above - because hunting out a new pair of clean and ironed ones is a lot of work when you're just too tired. If they are still clean, they get worn again!

This time I added a bright scarf to my outfit as it was a little cooler in the morning and I hoped the cheerful yellow would reflect on my bare face and make it look a little brighter and more awake. At the very least the bright accessories would draw the focus away from the giant bags under my eyes ;)



In the end, while you do stare into those gorgeous little wide-awake-and-refusing-to-sleep newborn eyes at 2am and a part of you wonders why they just won't sleep....you can't help but smile and coo back at this beautiful little miracle staring up at you, excited and ready to play because he hasn't figured out the difference between night and day yet. Not every moment of life with baby is perfect, but every moment is fleeting. It's both a reason to treasure the good moments and something to remember to get you through the tough, sleepless moments!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), Love Quotes scarf, striped tee, Sass & Bide skinny jeans (above), gold mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag (above).

Other ways to wear: yellow scarf and a navy dress, striped tee and a baby bump, Sass & Bide skinny jeans and Converse, gold mouse flats and a wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and flares.

It's Memorial Day weekend in the US so there are a bunch of sales going on!

• Asos - get an extra 20% off with code 'HISUMMER'
• Bloomingdales - get an extra 20% off sale with code 'BROWNBAG'
• Bluefly - get an extra 20% off with code 'MDW20'
• Farfetch up to 50% off sale - no code needed
• Jeanswest have 40% off everything - no code needed
• Nordstrom up to 40% off sale - no code needed
• Shopbop has new items added to sale - no code needed

Happy shopping!




Linking up with The Ultimate Rabbit Hole.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It