Relaxing is Busy Work!

About 2 weeks ago, my husband and I decided we needed to take the kids camping... before we had children, we didn't flinch at the idea of nothing more than a tent, a pair of swimmers and a few beers to get us through a weekend. But like all things in life, this changes when kids are involved.

Now initially, I was hesitant... I have not only become accustomed to my own bed and toilet, but that packing to go camping with a 5 year old and a 3 year old (and a man-child!) requires the tactical skill and preparation climbers of Everest would apply to a summit ascent. Tent. Swimmers. Spf 30+. Insect Repellant. Wind up LED torches. Changes of underwear. Sanitary gel. Cutlery. Breakfast Cereals. You get the idea. And every time you remember one thing, you realise you better add another...

So with the car packed to the hilt, we took off to one of Australia's most beautiful spots, the Whitsundays, to stay at Airlie Beach. Ok, ok, I will admit... we cheated a little. We stayed at the wonderfully fitted-out Big4 Adventure Whitsunday: We'd stayed there before (in their Deluxe Cabins) and the facilities were fantastic. So frankly, the only part I could say that we were "roughing it" was by sleeping in a tent!

It was brilliant! No TV, no radio, just the stars, eachother's company, the bare necessities and a kilo bag of fresh prawns for lunch by the pool!

We visited the wonderful Airlie markets, but apart from that, we spent most of our weekend lazing about the pool, jumping together on the jumping pillow, putt putt golf and BBQs.

The kids loved the novelty of sleeping in a tent, I enjoyed the simplicity of it all and my husband enjoyed the manliness of it all (Saying "I took the wife and kids camping" sounds more masculine than "we stayed at a day spa" ROFL!) and I actually look forward to the next time we get to do it!

I Heart Shoes #2

Ok, so I have a particular pair of Ebay shoes I bought that weren't EXACTLY what I had in mind when they arrived. They fit great, but the colour is wrong... so I was wondering "What Can I Do?"

Well, thank you to an inspirational blog post I stumbled upon from talented Ashley at Make It and Love It, I am now planning to Mod Podge them!

Here are the cute, cute, CUTE mod podged shoes Ashley whipped up (the tutorial is here )... stay tuned for my version of them in the next day or so!

Adorable little sunhat from a skirt!

Here is my latest Re-Fashion addition: A skirt I have owned for a long time: 2 sizes too big for me but I have always loved the sweet little pattern on it.

So last night, I took the scissors to it and whipped up this little sunhat from it for my daughter: She LOVES hats and living here in the tropics it is a MUST have!

Here she is looking as adorable as ever!

Considering I'm still quite brushing up on my sewing and pattern making skills, I am quite proud of how it turned out.

Let me know what you think!

I Heart Shoes!

First of all I just need to clear this up: YES I did sign up to 6 months of no clothes buying and only re-fashioning... HOWEVER! This pledge rules out shoes! Hoorah, I cheer!

Which brings me to my next points: Firstly, that I have had to paint my nails in the Oh-So-Now shade of Velvet Black - but not so much for the fashionability but out of necessity: Those super hot black lace-covered-4-inch-hidden-ball-platform heels I scored (on sale!) for the July Townsville Cup Race Day were a size too small, and while I managed to squeeze my hoof into them (and look damn good on the day!), my poor toes bear the war wounds and reminder of too much champers, too little arch support. Not to go into detail, but Velvet Black was the only shade available to cover the bruising.


Now, any sane person would cut their losses and chuck the culprits of such hideous digit-mangling... but you see not only did I get the super hot black lace-covered-4-inch-hidden-ball-platform heels... but I also got the super hot LEOPARD print covered-4-inch-hidden-ball-platform heels - in the same size. And let me tell you BOTH these pairs of shoes look damn fine! So apologies to my poor tootsies (but a coup for my legs!) I will not be discarding these babies just yet...

Here they are so you can see the little Devils in Disguise!

Now on the other hand, I must put my "Mum" hat on now and consider my daughter's needs: You see, she wears orthotics. Myself being such a complete and utter fashion victim gawks at the hideous choice of footwear available to children, particularly little girls, who wear orthotics. While I myself will condone wearing outrageously inappropriate, ill fitting and outrageously uncomfortable footwear for myself, sensibility often gets the better of me when I am coveting children's shoes. Therefore, my poor daughter endures wearing practical, sensible (read: BORING) footwear. While she doesn't complain, I'm sure she notes the disdain in my voice when I tell her that the only options with a cute sundress is either her Dora sneakers or velcro "German-Tourist" sandals.

Until now!!! I have stumbled apon this gorgeous, snappy little range from Yunginz shoes! Check out the adorable range on their website! Now, where's my Visa???

And Here It Is... From Top to Dress...

WHAT IS RE-FASHION you ask??? Re-Fashioning is the taking of an item of clothing and creating a new item from it: It's hip, it's fashionable, it's environmentally savvy and anti-affluenza!

So my 6 month pledge began yesterday and before I put myself to bed I vowed to be finished of my 1st Refashion: An ex-baby-doll cami top of mine into a funky, sweet sunshine-yellow summer dress for my daugher Jovi.

Here is the "Before" shot of the cami:
and here it is refashioned and rebirthed as a cute little sundress for my Princess! I made the straps elasticized and even added a little vintagey bow with some leftover bits on the right strap. Here she is striking her "model" poses for you all:




Of note: I do need to re-align the straps on the front further inward, but in the mean time Miss was happy to wear her new pretty dress with a Bonds underneath!
Can't wait to refashion my next project...

My FIRST official Re-Fashion!

I officially signed up to Wardrobe Refashion for a 6 month pledge of not buying any new clothing, rather refashioning what I already have on hand or from Op-shop buys.

Having worked so many years in Fashion Retail, I have seen first hand how subtly fashion recycles itself - not often completely, but in a newer updated way: We're currently seeing a "Grunge Revival"and I remember vividly the original grunge look de-jour: Flanny shirt, Kurt Cobain or Soundgarden tee, ripped jeans, crochet skull cap and Doc Marten's boots. We've recently seen a sway to romanticism in lacy old vintage dresses and cute tan leather belts. Even New Wave Punk was re-injected this season with a modern twist on everything from hair to leather-ette leggings and Debbie-Harry-esque Animal print (one of my all-time loves!)...

Thanks to fashionistas like the Olsen twins, Ruby Rose and Agyness Deyn putting together amazing outfits with Op-shop finds, combined with the current global financial climate and an awareness of the impact of clothing production on the environment... Recycled Chic is back!

So today, I donned my (recycled!) seamstress hat and refashioned an old, sunshine-yellow, baby-doll style cotton dobby camisole of mine that no longer fit (or flattered!) into a cute little sundress (complete with vintage bow!) for my daughter! The result was GORGEOUS... but what was more fantastic was the pride I felt that I had created something so adorable and wearable for my daughter out of something I would have otherwise discarded.

It is just the outlet I have been searching for - a chance to recreate stylish items for myself and my family while decluttering at the same time! I have saved over $30 in creating a new dress for my daughter rather than buying one and I have rekindled my confidence!