Neutral Dresses and Pink Bags - Weekday Wear Link Up

Two more easy outfits for back in the school holidays at the end of September. With the nice weather for quite a few days of the holidays, simple dresses were all that was needed for the warmer days.

What I wore:

Scarf: Alexander McQueen skull scarf in light blue
Dress: All About Eve striped black tee dress 
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star coast blue
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

Decided to layer up this dress just a little with the blue scarf. This Alexander McQueen scarf is quite a light one but  was just the perfect light layer for sitting around in the shade watching the kids playing and climbing in the playground. It was a littler cooler than I expected in the morning before it turned into a hot day. Just like the last time I wore this scarf too I couldn't resist going a little matchy-matchy with the blue Converse. I love Converse with this dress!

You might notice that the contrast texture sleeves on this dress don't quite look the same from the last time I wore this dress. The pleather degraded over time (remembering I got this dress second hand from my sister), as pleather doesn't do well in the heat here in Brisbane. I ended up peeling it off the shoulders and keeping the little pleather border on the edges of the sleeves. Doesn't look as good as it did before, but still wearable and I really like this dress and want to keep it around in my wardrobe.

Felt that this beautiful magenta Balenciaga day bag was overdue a wear, it hadn't been used in a while. And it's certainly big enough for snacks and all our water bottles. Even fully loaded like that it was quite comfortable to wear on my shoulder for the little detour we took after the playground to enjoy a dino expo and archaeology activity for the kids before heading home.

Last worn: Alexander McQueen skull scarf, black and white striped dress, Converse, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: Alexander McQueen skull scarf and maxi skirt, black and white striped dress and sandals, Converse and culottes, Balenciaga magenta day bag and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: Alexander McQueen skull scarf at 40 weeks, Balenciaga magenta day bag in third trimester.

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30 Ways To Wear A Pink Bag: Balenciaga Sorbet City

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What I wore:

Necklace: thrifted Mix Apparel clover designer inspired necklace
Dress: Asos grey skater dress
Shoes: thrifted Adidas Superstar sneakers
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Jean MAC bag in fig 

Why I wore it:

It was a lot warmer when I wore this outfit so I didn't add a scarf, but looking at the photos afterward this probably could have used a little extra colour from a scarf. I thought the plain grey dress would be a nice backdrop for my recently thrifted necklace, but something a little bolder would have worked a bit better I think. The Rebecca Minkoff Jean MAC crossbody bag was a nice pop of colour, just feel this looks a little less colourful than the outfit above.

Was very comfortable for a busy day with a doctor's appointment, the library and a trip to the playground. Unfortunately at the playground a little kid learning to ride their bike that hadn't yet mastered the art of stopping or using a brake came right up behind me at full speed while I was distracted with the boys and I have a lovely big bruise on the back of my leg where my leg kindly stopped the spinning wheel. 😂 


Last worn: grey skater dress, clover necklace, Adidas Superstar, Rebecca Minkoff Jean MAC crossbody.

Other ways to wear: grey skater dress and blazer, Adidas Superstar and jeans, Rebecca Minkoff Jean MAC crossbody and monochrome blue shorts outfit.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey skater dress in second trimester.

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How You Can Wear It:

A pink bag is a fun pop of colour with a neutral dress. Any shade of pink works well! You can try other colourful accessories like I have in the first pic with the blue scarf and shoes too, or just keep everything neutral like the second outfit and let the bag be the sole burst of colour.

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Weekday Wear Linkup #142

Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!

Subscribe for The Weekday Wear Linkup reminder emails

Email Address 

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Weekday Wear Link Up: Printed Maxi Dresses, Denim Jackets and Balenciaga Bags

For today's Weekday Wear Linkup I'm sharing how I made these spaghetti strap maxi dresses more suitable for autumn days when I wore them recently (or not so recently as one I wore to celebrate Easter Sunday with the family last month!).

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Kmart blue multi-colour beaded necklace
Dress: Jeanswest Sophia high-low maxi dress
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star coast blue
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

This mandala print high-low maxi dress is so very pretty! With the fabric, print and little ruffle on the hem, it's quite dressy. Tried to make it a little more casual for this outing to the beach with my mum and the boys one day during the school holidays. 

It was a chilly morning too and I wasn't sure how windy it would be near the sea. I shouldn't have worried though, ended up taking this jacket off for most of the day as I sat in the sun watching the kids play.

The Converse were another attempt, like the denim jacket, to dress this outfit down a little and I really liked the combination! The blue went so well with the purple mandala print on the dress. So did the magenta Balenciaga day bag that was overdue another wear.


Last worn: denim jacket, wooden bead necklace, mandala print ruffle hem maxi dress, blue Converse, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket worn 30 ways, mandala print ruffle hem maxi dress for Christmas day, blue Converse and striped shorts, Balenciaga magenta day bag and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in second trimester, Balenciaga magenta day bag in third trimester.

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Favourite Bag In My Balenciaga Collection:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Kitty denim biker jacket
Earrings: Piper glass beaded chandelier earring in cream and gold
Necklace: Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace
Dress: Kmart Tropicana sleeveless tiered maxi dress
Shoes: Atmos&Here tan Lola leather ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga envelope clutch in 2012 mangue with giant 12 RGGH

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a colder and wetter Easter Sunday than expected! I had planned to wear this maxi dress, I wore it last year when we had Easter in lockdown so I was determined to wear it again to have a proper Easter celebration with the family. Even if the rain meant I needed a few more layers! As well as the denim jacket I added ankle boots too, to keep my feet cosy and dry.

Tried to dress this up a little more with the fun beaded statement earrings and the mango Balenciaga envelope clutch. We were only heading over to my parents so a clutch really wasn't needed as I didn't need to carry much, but it did fit my wallet, car keys and phone nicely! 

It was so good having a big traditional Easter again, especially as we'd spent 3 days that week in lockdown and I was worried about them extending it! Thankfully it ended early instead of being extended.


Last worn: denim jacket, beaded statement earrings, diamond necklace, floral print maxi dress, tan ankle boots, Balenciaga mango envelope clutch.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and jeans, floral print maxi dress worn 30 ways, tan ankle boots and swing dress, Balenciaga mango envelope clutch with pink.

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga mango envelope clutch in third trimester.

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How You Can Wear It:

A maxi dress is so easy to dress up or dress down depending on the occasion. A denim jacket, Converse and a big hobo bag can dress it down for the day time, but accessories like an envelope clutch and statement earrings can dress it up for a formal occasion too.

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Weekday Wear Linkup #120

Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!

Subscribe for The Weekday Wear Linkup reminder emails

Email Address 

Follow Away From the Blue on:
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Maxi Dresses In Winter: Leather Jackets, Scarves and Ankle Boots

When I did my 30 wears post with one of my leather jackets, I mentioned that I'd been looking forward to wearing the maxi dress and leather jacket outfit combination more over winter. Add some ankle boots, a big scarf and a leather jacket to a summer maxi dress and you have an easy and cosy winter outfit - and you get more wear from your summer dresses.

What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket
Scarf: Sportsgirl animal scarf in violet
Tank: Jeanswest 'Jenni' basic singlet in festival fuchsia
Dress: black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a day out with my boys, my last official day of maternity leave. (I've already blogged my return to work outfits but haven't shared this pic yet!). We spent the morning running a few quick errands and attending rhyme time at the library.

After liking the maxi dress and leather jacket combo I was eager to try it again. I thought that printed leather jacket would be nice with the black maxi dress but it all just looked a little too dull and black - so bright accessories were perfect for adding some colour! I really liked the purple scarf with the magenta Balenciaga day bag and pink tank.


Last worn: printed leather jacket, leopard print scarf, pink tank, black halter neck maxi dress, black ankle boots, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: printed leather jacket worn 30 ways, purple leopard print scarf with blue outfit, pink tank and striped skirt, black halter neck maxi dress and kimono, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Balenciaga magenta day bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: leopard print scarf and stripes in third trimester, pink tank in second trimester, maxi dress in the third trimester, ankle boots for baby bump reveal, magenta day bag and graphic tee in third trimester.

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More Leather Jackets Under $100:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs scarf in Island pine-print
Dress: Jeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

I went much more colourful for the next time I wore the maxi dress and leather jacket outfit. Had a crazy busy day. After being back at work, I'd found all the little errands I'd usually do during the week had to be crammed in on my days off, and so set an optimistic target of stopping in multiple places before lunchtime. Of course the boys were increasingly cranky and fed up being driven around all morning, so it wasn't the easiest of days!


Although we ran out of snacks buy the time we reached the final stop at Priceline, I was thankfully able to keep the boys amused long enough to have a wonderful chat and makeup trial session with Kaitlyn. We picked out all of the below makeup for my return to work.

I'm sharing this as I know a few bloggers gave me advice when I mentioned I needed new makeup that didn't make me breakout. My old stuff was over a year old and not entirely perfect. With the information I'd picked up from beauty blogs and a very patient and knowledgeable Kaitlyn, I managed to pick out things I'm really happy with.

I'm not a beauty blogger but I am impressed with all of this so far! I wear it twice a week to the office and have zero issues. The L'Oreal foundation in particular was expensive but worth every penny!

What I bought:

• Nude by Nature brush
• Nude by Nature mineral cover
• L'Oreal Infallible foundation
• NYX lipstick in Indian Pink 550

Just as well beauty products were exempt from my #6MonthsWithoutShopping challenge, as this was quite a big haul for me! Not sponsored, but I have been visiting the ladies at my local Priceline often (as it has a pharmacy) and I trust their recommendations! :)



Last worn: cobalt leather jacket, Marc Jacobs scarf, tie dye maxi dress, black ankle boots (above), Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: cobalt leather jacket and printed dress, Marc Jacobs scarf and pencil skirt, tie dye maxi dress and boho fringe bag, black ankle boots and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: print mixing with scarf at 37 weeks, tie dye maxi dress at 38 weeks, ankle boots and baby bump.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50 You Can Wear All Year

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How You Can Wear It:

Don't pack your summer maxi dresses away when the cold weather arrives! You can layer them up for even the coldest winter day with the right layers. they might not be ideal in the snow if the maxi length trails on the ground, but if you have a snow-free day it's a good time to give this outfit idea a try! You can even hide some leggings underneath if it's really cold.


Linking up with Mix It Monday, On Monday We Link Up, Hello Monday, Oh Hey Girl.

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Striped Tee Dresses & Bright Bags For A Pop of Colour

Sharing two simple striped tee dresses, and the last long hair outfit photo! I donated my hair back at the end of March, I've just been so behind with photos. Since I wait until I have some outfits that make sense to post together, these outfits were worn a little while apart, one with long hair and one outfit with short hair!

What I wore:

Necklace: Kmart rose gold and pink beaded necklace
Dress: All About Eve striped black tee dress
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

Simple tee dress for a busy day. Every time I wear this dress I'm so glad my sister didn't want it any more! I like wearing it with purple, I've done that before. It's a nice touch of colour with the black. Decided to add in some pink accessories too, I think these Balenciaga studded sandals and the rose gold necklace pair nicely with the purple mini MAB tote bag, even though they are both different shades of pink.

Took the boys out to our favourite playground in the morning, then had a couple of errands to run before sneakily managing to buy a birthday present without the birthday boy noticing!


Last worn: All About Eve striped tee dress, rose gold necklace, studded Balenciaga sandals, Rebecca Minkoff purple mini MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wear: All About Eve striped tee dress and brown bag, studded Balenciaga sandals and shorts, Rebecca Minkoff purple mini MAB tote bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: studded Balenciaga sandals in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff purple mini MAB tote bag in third trimester.

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Donating My Hair Vlog

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What I wore:

Necklace: navy and silver circle pendant tassel necklace
Dress: Cotton On 'Tina' white striped tee dress in Lissy black / Gardenia
Leggings: Cotton on black 3/4 length leggings
Shoes: Novo Tawny rose gold sandals
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

A little bit more autumn-like with this outfit! I added some leggings to combat the cool morning and also as I worried this dress might be a little too short for a trip to the playground and rhyme time at the local library with the boys.

It was also my first attempt to curl my shorter hair. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it could have been a lot better! I think I will wait until it grows a bit more before I try again. As a graduated bob, the back is just too short to hold a proper curl.

Unhappiness with my hair aside, I did like this outfit - the leggings were a good choice for in the library sitting down on the ground with the boys. I think the Balenciaga day bag is such a fun pop of colour with the black and white stripes too.


Last worn: black and white striped tee dress, leggings, navy tassel necklace, rose gold sandals, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: black and white striped tee dress without leggings, leggings and Aztec print dress, rose gold sandals and shorts, Balenciaga magenta day bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: leggings in third trimester, Balenciaga magenta day bag in third trimester.

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Striped Tee Dress Under $50:

I have included some Cotton On ones that are the same style as the one I'm wearing above - it's available in a range of prints!

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How You Can Wear It:

A striped tee dress is a wardrobe basic, and a classic black and white one like the ones above works so well with bold colourful accessories. Pink and purple bags really pop with black and white outfits.


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Printed Tanks, Cardigans, Colourful Bags & Skinny Jeans

First, Jeanswest are having a 40% off everything sale for members! Online and in store, ends Sunday!

I've mentioned before I'm happy to keep my summer pieces out and wear them year round. On a mild winter day (which is most winter days in Brisbane to be honest) all I need is a cosy cardi on top and it's perfect.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry (Currently 40% off everything, including knitwear!)

Necklace: For King & Country Priceless Australian coin and crest necklace
Tank: Jeanswest 'Rowena' print tank (Currently 40% off everything!)
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans (gifted, currently 40% off jeans!)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

First wearing of these new jeans! I was lucky enough to know someone doing the $5 challenge who saved more than they expected and decided to surprise people by using the money to treat them. (Can't share who it was as they are surprising multiple people!). I said I didn't need anything with my no-buy challenge, but there is that loophole where if someone else buys it for you it's not breaking the challenge! 😉

I went into Jeanswest, just for a look, and saw these jeans which were the perfect candidate to replace my old (10 year +) grey jeans I wasn't entirely happy with. I prefer a higher rise now. Super excited to have something new in my wardrobe, although it does mean saying goodbye to these old jeans. They had a good run and hadn't been worn a lot recently - I can see very few times in the past few years I've had the blog anyway.

As this was a quiet day, just a couple errands and grocery shopping, I decided to try something I'd been thinking about for a while and pairing the similarly coloured magenta bag and cardigan together. I actually really liked the combination! It was good to get this old tank out too. It hasn't been worn in a while after outgrowing it in pregnancy.


Last worn: purple cardigan, animal print tank, bow ballet flats, Balenciaga magenta day bag. First time I've worn the jeans as they are a recent gift.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and chambray dress, animal print tank and denim shorts, bow ballet flats and flares, Balenciaga magenta day bag and breastfeeding dresses.

Perfect for pregnancy: purple cardi in first trimester, printed tank hiding 20 week baby bump, magenta day bag and novelty pregnancy tees in third trimester.

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More Printed Tanks Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan

Tank: Emerson crochet lace bib print top
Jeans: Nobody Denim Siren skinny super high-rise jeans in power black denim (C/O, on sale!)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs pearl, howlite and hematite beaded bracelets and black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

A much more colourful printed tank in this outfit! :) The last time I wore this tank it was the height of summer and despite the heatwave we headed out to see Thomas the tank engine at the rail museum.

Although it was winter this time around, I ended up swapping my thick wool cardigan for this thinner one, as it looked like it might warm up. It was again a hot and sunny day, I was pleased I picked the thinner cardigan! I loved this tank, bag and cardigan together when I wore it with flares so I knew I'd like the combination again with different jeans.


Had a lot of fun with the boys running around the museum and playing with all the Thomas toys, and it was good being able to take a picture in the same spot with the same tank but a different season! Just goes to show you don't have to put all your summer tanks away when winter arrives.

Same tank, different seasons! https://t.co/TPNLX0YdEh @liketoknow.it #liketkit #LTKStyleTip pic.twitter.com/b9WG1U5nDS

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) July 3, 2017

Last worn: grey drape cardigan, printed red crochet detail tank, Nobody Denim skinny jeans, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff studded saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: grey drape cardigan and flares, printed tank and striped maxi skirt, Nobody Denim skinny jeans in monochrome outfit, Converse and a dress, Rebecca Minkoff studded saddle bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: printed tank in second trimester.

How You Can Wear It:

Your summer printed tanks can still be layered up and worn in winter with a cosy cardigan. Layering with printed pieces doesn't have to be tricky. For a neutral printed tank, try a plain block colour cardigan like in the first outfit. Neutral layers work well with a textured and colourful printed tank too. Monochromatic greys and black like in the second outfit make a colourful printed tank really pop.


Linking up with Shoe & Tell, Mummy Monday, Hello Monday, Modest Monday, On Monday We Link Up, Mix It Monday.

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Fun Novelty Tees To Wear in Pregnancy and a Giveaway: #StrugglesBook

My ninja baby tee was a firm favourite last pregnancy, and I'm enjoying wearing it this time around too. There are a lot of fun novelty pregnancy tees around so I thought I'd do a post featuring them.

Also wanted to give away an extra copy of the #Struggles book I received. I wrote about it last year, in my favourite post I've ever written. I pre-ordered a copy and received an advance e-copy to read. Since I ended up with one more copy than I needed when the one I bought arrived, it made sense to do a little giveaway.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (on sale!)
Tee: 'Ninja baby' maternity skeleton tee
Shorts: Jeanswest Georgie maternity boyfriend shorts (available in non-maternity also)
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (new purchase)

Why I wore it:

Everyone loves a good ninja baby tee! I wore this to work from home, run some errands in the afternoon and attend my OB appointment. It's fun seeing everyone's reactions to this tee - at the very least it raises a smile. Comfy and casual outfit for a hot day.


Last worn: ninja baby skeleton tee, Jeanswest maternity denim shorts, Havaianas. First time I've worn the Balenciaga magenta day bag on the blog.

Other ways to wear: ninja baby tee and skinny jeans, denim shorts and a print mixing outfit, Havaianas, Balenciaga magenta day bag on instagram.

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More fun graphic maternity tees:

The best novelty pregnancy text tees:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (on sale!)

Tee: Grey 'making magic happen' tee C/O Shein
Skirt: AT by Atmos&Here Mars striped maxi skirt
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (new purchase)

Why I wore it:

This isn't designed to be a maternity tee, but when I saw it I knew it would be a fun slogan tee to wear in pregnancy. I was contacted by SheIn and asked to pick another item to feature on my blog after previously featuring this cute lace kimono. I picked this tee right away. Of course as everyone who orders from SheIn knows, shipping is slow, (around 3 weeks) and with Christmas delays, it took quite a while to arrive.

I don't think I'll be able to enjoy it while I'm pregnant as much as I thought due to it's late arrival, as it doesn't have enough stretch in it for me to wear it again as the baby bump grows. I did size up, but the third trimester baby bump is pretty big. It's a tee that's easy to wear outside of pregnancy too, it just makes the text even better when you're growing a baby!


Last worn:Ray-Ban Wayfarers (above), striped maxi skirt, Havaianas, Balenciaga magenta day (above). First time I've worn the tee.

Other ways to wear: striped maxi skirt and a cosy knit, Balenciaga magenta day bag in the office.


The Giveaway

I have one unused copy of the #StrugglesBook to give away! This is a really good read for anyone who uses social media. If you're not a reader, or you just want an overview of what the book is about, you can watch the video on the same topic here.

The Struggles book really made me think and change my behaviour so I'm excited to be able to share it with you! I completed a technology fast, cut down my data allowance on my phone, removed a bunch of apps, unfollowed some accounts, and set myself specific times each day to use social media.

The book is about something that is all too common to bloggers - social media burnout, and how social media takes up so much of our lives, time and worry. One of my favourite quotes:

We want to believe we’re more than the total number of clicks on our last post, but we still check to see how many we have #strugglesBook

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) October 27, 2015

While the book is written from a Christian viewpoint and references bible values frequently, I think the advice contained in it is worthwhile reading even if you aren't a Christian. Of course feel free to read the reviews first if you're unsure. If you've ever felt overwhelmed with 'keeping up' with social media, or browsing your feed has made you feel like everyone has the perfect life, this book is for you!

From the book overview on Amazon:

"The more you compare, the less satisfied you are. The more we interact online, the more we crave face to face intimacy, but the harder it is to find. The more filtered our lives become, the more challenging it is to be authentic. The more information about the pain in the world we’re exposed to the more difficult it is to care."

This competition is open internationally, I will ship the book worldwide. In order to win a copy of "#Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World", you have to come up with the most creative answer to the question "What advice would you give to someone feeling overwhelmed with social media, or what is the best advice someone has given you?". You can enter this game of skill competition via the rafflecopter form below, and remember to include your answer in a blog comment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! The competition will run for one week, and I can't wait to read all your great pieces of advice. It will be hard to pick a winner!



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Studded Sandals, Denim Shorts and Navy Tops

I have been wearing these Rebecca Minkoff studded gladiator sandals so much since I bought them. Living in Australia can mean high shipping charges when ordering from overseas. The plus side is that when sites like Rebecca Minkoff, Shopbop and Asos have end of season sales, it's just the start of that season here. Picking up these sandals in spring meant getting them at the autumn sale price in the US.

While the gold colour I wanted was sold out, I'm pleased I found the blush pair as they go with everything. Especially denim shorts!

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Top: Atmos & Here Arlene wrap top in navy (similar that ships internationally)
Shorts: Jeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts (currently on sale, 50% off shorts!)
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale!)
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

This was a little bit of a hectic morning! Had to go to out to the depot near the airport to pick up a parcel, mail more things at the post office and stop by an event to see a friend as well as picking up a few essentials. Was a bit tired out by the end of it and considered having an afternoon nap with the boys...

Wanted a nice simple outfit, this was perfect. This wrap top is so easy to breastfeed in as you just unsnap the button holding the two wrap pieces together. It met the style challenge for the day too.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, navy wrap top, bermuda denim shorts, studded sandals, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere bag.

Other ways to wear: navy wrap top with purple layers, bermuda denim shorts at Christmas, studded sandals and maxi dress, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere bag with a dress.

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Where To Buy Rebecca Minkoff Georgina Studded Gladiator Sandals:

Budget-Friendly Studded Leather Sandals Under $50:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Ava elephant pendant teething necklace

Top: Jeanswest Tory textured shirt (new purchase)
Jeans: Jeanswest printed denim shorts
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale!)
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code '2017')

Why I wore it:

Another navy top! In contrast to the outfit above, I picked this for what was meant to be a much quieter day. Ran a few errands in the morning and had a friend over in the afternoon. It was nice to catch up and relax until the day got much crazier with another unexpected trip to the hospital for Baby Boy.

This is the first time I wore the shirt I picked up in the Jeanswest Cyber Monday sale before my 6 months no shopping challenge started in January. It took a while to wear it because I was in hospital with Baby Boy half of December. It's a slightly stiffer material so I was fussing with how it sat a few times during the day, don't think it worked too well with the half-tuck into the shorts. I've worn it untucked since and liked it better.

I really liked the studded sandals with this, and of course the pop of the magenta bag against the navy. The outfit worked nicely for the style challenges on Instagram, and I think I'll try the half-tuck again at some point with this shirt. Maybe just not with these shorts!


Last worn: printed denim shorts, studded gladiator sandals (above), Balenciaga magenta day bag. First time I've worn the navy shirt as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: printed denim shorts and floral kimono, studded gladiator sandals and monochrome outfit, Balenciaga magenta day bag and a graphic tee.


Linking up with Thursday Moda, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Flashback Fashion, Weekend Wear, Shoe & Tell.

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