Wide Brim Hats For Summer 2016

/ Fashion / 2 Comments

I’m not really a hat person.

I’m definitely not a fan of hat hair or the matted-hair-sweaty look that often comes with wearing a hat.

But after my dad got skin cancers cut out the top of his head and having a family history of skin cancer, hats are a must wear when outside in the sun.

I have a fedora which adds style to all my outfits and gives a good amount of coverage, but I have been wanting to find a wide brim hat to give more shade and protection.

I found a hat at SEED Heritage that I loved but the price wasn’t within my budget.

It wasn’t until I walked by the hat range in Kmart that I saw this geometric wide brim hat for $12 and I knew it was just what I was after.

wide brim hat summer 2016

 

wide brim kmart hat

 

wide brim hat

I really don’t like  too much flop in my hats as they don’t have much hold because the brim tends to flop over my face making it hard to see. I like the brims of my hats to have a bit of stiffness so they don’t flop. And if they do flop, they need to be bent so they don’t flop at eye level.

A wide brim hat is definitely a must have accessory all year round.

Here are some I found online, ranging in price from $12 to $75.

wide brim hats for summer 2016

1. Personalised Custom Hat from Etsy $75

2. Holiday Trinidad Hat in black $59.95

3. Kooringal Wide Brim Bianca hat $59.95

4. Portmans Open Weave Hat $39.95

5. SFH Designs Made in Madagascar Hat $39.00

6. Dotti Frayed Wide Brim Hat $19.95

7. Kooringal Wide Brim Natural Hat $29.95

8. Kmart Wide Brim Hat $12.00

Do you like to wear hats? What’s your favourite style of hat to wear during summer?

Disclaimer: There are some affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Coffee With Kirsten – An Afternoon Tea Mingling With Friends and Raising Money for a Great Cause

/ Lifestyle / 8 Comments

I love attending events. Whether they are large or intimate, I enjoy attending a function. I also like to support events that my friends put on to support them and the cause they are raising funds for.

When Kirsten from Kirsten and Co announced she was organizing an afternoon tea event which would raise funds for The Pyjama Foundation, I tentatively penciled the event in my diary. When it was announced that Nicole from The Builder’s Wife was going to be presenting, I knew I had to get my ticket. This time of year can be so busy with events and I am apprehensive of overbooking myself – especially when life is busy already with a young family.

But having two of my blogging friends present at an event was the motivation I needed to book myself in for Coffee with Kirsten.

I’m so glad I got my ticket when I did because the tickets sold out. Not that I expected any different. Kirsten is a warm and inviting blogger. We’ve had our share of awesome moments together as bloggers and I always smile when I see her in a room.

I wore an Adrift dress which is sadly sold out. I’m loving off the shoulder dresses this summer.

wearing adrift off the shoulder dress

Anyway, last Saturday afternoon the event took place at Café Grenadine in Camp Hill. I didn’t know such a place existed! But it was gorgeous and quaint. The perfect place to hold an intimate fundraiser event. Each guest was served champagne on arrival.

Kirsten gave a little styling advice about swimwear and how to feel good in a swimsuit. It’s something all of us style bloggers are passionate about because we’ve all been on our own journey to accepting our bodies and wanting to live a full life – which means joining our kids in the water.

Kirsten and Co

We were served a stunning array of individual desserts for afternoon tea and Nicole gave us a lesson on how to create a vignette in our home. The advice was to use different heights, shapes and textured items and to always go with odd numbers – so 5 perfume bottles or three homeware pieces. Use books or magazines to add height to your vignette and you’re able to create interest in a room and make it more homely.

afternoon tea

nicole and Kirsten

nicole the builders wife

What I LOVED about the event is the number of bloggers that came along. There were 8 bloggers who attend, and whenever Kirsten or Nicole were presenting, they mentioned other bloggers in their presentation. This is what I love about our Brisbane Blogging Community. We’re not all about self-promotion (well not all of us), we take advice from each other’s blogs and give credit where credit is due when sharing tips, while also sharing tips of our own.

the builders wife

With Nicole from The Builders Wife

sublime finds

With Andrea from Sublime Finds

Have a laugh on me

With Emily from Have a Laugh on Me

coffee with kirsten

Eva from The Multitasking Woman, Emily from Have a Laugh on Me, Kirsten from Kirsten and Co and Nicole from The Builders Wife

It was a lovely afternoon and many of the guests walked away with gorgeous prizes that were donated by local businesses.

prizes

There will be another Coffee with Kirsten event next year. It’s definitely an event you might like to consider attending next year.

thank you bags

Do you like attending fundraising events? When was the last time you caught up with friends for afternoon tea?

Stylish Oven Mitts

/ Interiors / 16 Comments

I’m a creature of habit.

Once I get into a habit of doing a particular chore one way, I will stick with that way forever.

I’m not sure what that means about my personality. What I do know is at least the chores get done how I want them when I’m in charge.

One of those chores – or habits – is removing a hot tray or casserole dish from the oven. I must wear oven mitts while doing said activity.

I can’t use a tea towel, or a fabric trivet.

I must use a glove where my whole hand is encased in quilted fabric so I don’t burn my hands.

I once used the tea towel trick but the towel was wet and I burnt my hand, while dropping said tray of biscuits that disintegrated into a pile of crumbs on the floor.

I cried in pain and frustration.

So whenever something needs to be removed from the oven, I will use an oven mitt or two.

oven mitts in the kitchen

My oven mitts get very good use and over time, they do start to get a burnt on the ends. When the quilting starts to wear off, I know it’s time to invest in a new pair of oven mitts.

I know that oven mitts aren’t really on display in the kitchen. I hide mine away in the tea towel drawer.

But when they are out, it’s always when guests are over and I don’t want them to look daggy, and having some bright mitts can add a bit of personality to your kitchen.

If they’re really trendy, you could display them so they are always within reach.

Next time you’re in the kitchen, check the state of your oven mitts. If they are a little worse for wear, invest in some new ones. Keep in mind you will need to buy 2 mitts for each hand. The connected oven mitts are also good to have on hand and will protect your wrists.

Oven mitts also make a great Christmas gift for a baker. They are definitely one of those items that could be replaced before Christmas too.

stylish oven mitts

1. Gingham Set of 4 Oven Gloves $20

2. Ogilvies Designs Vintage Rose Oven Glove $14.95

3. Alcazar Double Oven Mitt $24.95

4. Ogilvies Designs Poppy Fields Olive Green Mitt $12.95

5. Azure Double Oven Mitt $24.95

6. Plume and Perch Oven Holder $16.95

7. Scanpan Striped Double Oven Mitt $19.95

8. Ogilvies Designs Beach Stripe Glove $11.95

What state are your oven mitts in? Ever thought about sharing your personality through your oven mitts?

I’m linking with Kylie Purtell for IBOT.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

 

Door Mats With Personality

/ Interiors / 24 Comments

Door mats are a functional décor item that that now come in a range of designs and patterns to create interest at your door entrance.

Camp Hill Property - Staged, Styled and Sold

I remember looking everywhere online for a “Hello” door mat for the front of our house. When I finally sourced one, I ended up winning a similar one through Kirsten & Co. I only just placed it outside now to replace our old door mat.

hello door mat

Door mats can be a fun way to add personality to your entrance. I love the worded mats that say hello, welcome or home.

hello door mat

The patterned door mats are a great choice if you want to add colour to your front entryway.

door mats with personality

Door mats are one of those home décor pieces that will get replaced when it starts to flake and fall apart from being outdoors.

house door mat

I tend to add door mats to the front door entrance and outside the back door. We also have a door mat at the entrance of the door to the garage.

Door mats can even be used inside to style a space inside.

I’ve found some door mats with personality online that could make a great first impression at your place.

door mats with personality1. Chevron Coir Door Mat by Fab Rugs from $29.95

2. Home Coir Door Mat by Fab Rugs from $29.95

3. Welcome Scroll Rectangular Door Mat $64.95

4. Moroccan Tile Door Mat $39.95

5. Hello Bubble Door Mat by Raw Space $39.95

6. Coral Home Door Mat $94.95

7. Ghar Coir Door Mat by FAB Rugs $69.95

8. Black and White Spots Door Mat $39.95

Do you have a welcoming door mat at your home? Does your door mat have personality like these?

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at not extra cost to you.

Can’t Get Enough of Adrift Dresses For Summer 2016

/ Fashion / 2 Comments

I’ve recently had a cull of my dresses from my wardrobe. There were many dresses that I was during pregnancy and post birth that I had been holding on to wear this summer. But after trying them on, I found they were too big or were quite worn and had seen better days.

My wish list has included new dresses. Dresses that I can wear for smart-casual occasions or even church. Dresses are my go-to outfit of choice for summer. I also have a number of functions coming up that require a dress.

On Friday night I was looking forward to heading to the city to catch up with Jenny from Styling Curvy. Jenny is an initiator. Despite living in Adelaide, when she’s in QLD she organizes a catch up. And going to UP on Constance was a little fancy for this stay-at-home mum. Although lately I feel like I’ve attended many functions, without kids. I’m very grateful for all the opportunities and invitations sent my way.

Anyway, I didn’t know what to wear on Friday night. But I had seen a dress that Jenny had shared on Instagram that I really wanted to wear.

So on Friday morning I headed to Adrift’s new store at Woolloongabba. Even though the dress wasn’t on the racks, it was in the online store area so Kristy was able to get my size in.

I put the dress on and knew it was for me.

I also tried two other dresses and they found their way at the checkout.

It was a successful dress shopping experience with my two-year old and three-year old in tow.

I’m well kitted for dresses this summer. I won’t say no if any are sent my way though…

I will share the other dresses at a later date.

But I have to say I am LOVING off the shoulder dresses.

What I love about this black Bell dress is that it can be dressed up or down and I was able to do this by wearing the dress out on Friday night and on Saturday morning when I headed to Brisbane Fashion Weekend.

Adrift Black Belle Dress

Dressed up to drinks on Friday Night

It comes with a belt so it can be cinched in at the waist, below the bust or on the hip. Or you could wear it without the belt which I did and wear it as a choker necklace.

Adrift Black Belle Dress

Dressed down for Brisbane Fashion Weekend.

The Bell dress comes in black, blue print, chambray and mint. Unfortunately the black and chambray is sold out in the L/XL but I reckon the S/M will fit a size 8 to 12 as it is quite roomy.

Adrift Belle Dresses

It’s a purchase that I’m happy with and I don’t mind paying full price when I ended up purchasing the last one for my size.

Are there any instagramers/bloggers that influence your shopping habits? Have you tried an OTS dress yet?

I’m linking with Kylie Purtell for IBOT.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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