Outfit

This is one of my absolute favourite cardigans at the moment. I've always loved the provence design from Wheels and Dollbaby and I was really surprised when another range of this print was recently released. I thought it would be in the archives forever and I'd never get to add it to my wardrobe. I've substantially increased my collection of Wheels and Dollbaby cardigans this year; I only had two last year. Interestingly, other than the cardigans, I don't like anything else from Wheels and Dollbaby; I think it's the use of leather and silk, combined with pencil silhouettes which isn't my style. This skirt has to be one of the most worn pieces I've ever owned. It goes with everything! I'm sure it'll be ready for a remix post soon (previously worn here, here and here). 

It's my first day of annual leave and my sister has arrived from London. It's going to be the best nine days away from work!

















Wheels and Dollbaby Provence Floral Cardigan
Kitten D'Amour Forget Me Not Skirt
Kurt Geiger Heels
Kitten D'Amour Petite Bow Belt

Fitness Update- July

It’s almost the end of August and I’m only just getting around to posting my swimming and running stats for July. It seems like so long ago; I had to think hard about what actually happened in during the month of July. For the second month in a row I reached over 60km for swimming and I achieved my maximum running distance in a month. I’m enjoying running a lot lately and it’s become more serious ever since I entered my first ever running event in July which was the Sydney Harbour 10k (post about it here). I cannot wait until we get some warmer weather in the next couple of weeks because it’s required dedication to keep going through the winter months especially during the early mornings.

Here are my swimming stats for July:

and for running:

In terms of my goal to achieve the Million Metre award with Masters Swimming Australia, I'm now 43% of the way there (as at today, not sure end of July). 

Here's what else happened for the month:
- for the Parkrun I finally reached a significant milestone of under 25 minutes for the first time. It took quite a few attempts to get within the 24 minute range, and I'm still not able to do it every week (but have a total of three times now). My best time is 24 minutes and 33 seconds for the 5km.
- attended four Parkruns for the month.
- attended all swim club nights and reached the 25 consecutive weeks award.
- continued working towards the million metres award with Masters Swimming Australia. I've completed almost 42% of the total distance required so far (not sure exactly as at the end of July)
-kept up with the routine of training 10 times a week (5 swimming, 1 racing swimming, 1 bootcamp, 3 runs)

-participated in first ever running event (Sydney Harbour 10k) and achived a new best 10km time of 54 minutes and 40 seconds
-continued working on the Endurance Program with Masters Swimming Australia which involves 62 long distance swims over the course of the year. By the end of July I'd completed 28/62.
-participated in a long distance swim meet with Masters Swimming NSW with both personal best times- 800m backstroke 13:02.79 and 400m breastroke 7:22.86

Outfit

Another outfit which involves green with red; as I mentioned here, it's such an underrated colour scheme but I love it very much. The last time I wore this dress was also with red; see my trip to the Blue Mountains here. Lately I've been enjoying putting together pieces of the same colour but in different shades, so that's how the double green came about. It's interesting I always used to hate green, but for the past couple of years my opinion has completely changed and I own so many green clothes now (I think it must have been all those years of green school uniforms which turned me against the colour in the first place). An added benefit is that green is supposed to look good with red hair. The cardigan is one of my more recent purchases; I have it in both the emerald and plum. It's so comfortable and readily becoming a go-to cardigan. Also in this outfit is the necklace I received from 'Name Jewellery.' I've always liked personalised jewellery so very pleased to finally own a name necklace. 

I've been so busy lately and this is actually my first free weekend in almost two months.I'll still fit in some training for swimming and running but it's so good not to have any events or competitions this weekend. I cannot wait until the 30th of August because my sister is coming back to Sydney for three weeks and I haven't seen her for an entire year (she moved to London last August). I don't know how we got through a whole year without seeing each other; personally I kept excessively busy so I didn't have the time to feel what I may have otherwise. I have a week of annual leave planned so we are going to have the best time ever! It should also provide me with so material for blog posts







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Linking to: Fashion Should Be Fun

Carrie Style Personalised Silver Name Necklace c/o Name Jewellery
Alannah Hill Once Upon A Dream Cardigan in Emerald 
Kurt Geiger Heels
Kitten D'Amour Suzie Wong Belted Brooch Dress
Coco Land Scarf
Kitten D'Amour Cameo Hair Clip
Kitten D'Amour Heart Bag

Outfit

It's been the busiest week ever; these photos have been ready to upload for almost a week now but I couldn't find a spare moment to write the post. An average day this week has involved waking up at 5am for sport, rushing to get to work on time, cramming in work on the train, working all day, more working on the train, showing up for a night time session of sport, and then working for an hour once arriving home. My life outside work has been incredibly busy all year but it's a routine I'm now used to and has overall been successful. However, the addition of a busy work week (where work is also an outside hours activity like it was last year) is enough to take me to burnout point. I'll have to make sure work remains during work hours from now on because this week was a timely reminder I cannot do both. I need my mornings and nights for running and swimming. On another note, I was appointed Captain of my swim club at the AGM on Wednesday night (effective for a year). My main responsibility, among others, will be running Wednesday night racing. I'm also rather excited about having control of the club Facebook page. I'm very much looking forward to the opportunity.

Now onto the outfit pictures. As you can see, I finally attended to my excessively bad regrowth and my hair is completely red again. I hope it stays this way for as long as possible with all the swimming I'm doing. This dress would be one of my top few all time favourites (first worn here). I haven't worn it for awhile but I plan on changing that. I always love a red dress and the detailing is super pretty. The dress was also released in pale blue earlier, which I'd love to one day add to my Kitten D'Amour collection as it reminds me of Princess Elsa. The cardigan is a recent purchase from Alannah Hill. Despite a number of months of hardly buying any clothes, I have acquired a few new pieces recently. I've finally liked a few things in the shops and thank you massive tax refund! This shade of blue is lovely and unique. I think it also pairs well with red. Alannah Hill all the way for cardigans. My uniform certainly is Kitten D'Amour dresses, Alannah Hill cardigans and B.A.I.T Footwear shoes. 


















Kitten D'Amour Scarlet Tie Dress
Alannah Hill The Wild Heart Cardigan
B.A.I.T Footwear Gloria Flats 
Kitten D'Amour Castaway Kitten Bag

Linking to: Fashion Should Be Fun

Dita Cardigan Collection

I'm a bit late in posting this since the National Velvet Lilac Dita Cardigan from Wheels and Dollbaby was released a few weeks ago. However, it's one of my more recent purchases and is yet to make an appearance in an outfit post so that still counts as new. I love the Dita Cardigans as the embroidery is very beautiful and the tie collar is adorable. The buttons and trim are even velvet. I'm very pleased with this colourway, especially given I didn't like the last two colour releases (plain black and gold). It's very pretty in person and anything in the purple/pink range of shades is always a winner for me. 

I now have three colourways of the Dita Cardigan and I can't choose a favourite.  Lately I've been wearing the lilac version the most because it's new but overall I've had the most use from the Rouge Noir colourway so far. The green cardigan was my very first. I also purchased a red one and a coral one from ebay but ended up selling them both. 

This was because I didn't like the fit and the sleeves were very long and loose. The newer release cardigans are a much smaller tighter fit. They feel and look much better. 

I cannot believe the following these cardigans have; I've never seen anything like it before. Many people I've seen in the 'Buy, Swap and Sell Group' on Facebook have a collection of 20 +. As much as I love them I'd never own the same cardigan in that many different colours. It's unbelievable seeing some of the older colourways, in pre-owned condition, going for $400 on ebay when the RRP was $190. I was just following one on there today which ended up going for $375. I hope one day there will be a yellow version and a re-release of pink and also pale blue. The black with red embroidery is also a favourite too.

I only discovered these cardigans relatively recently so my collection just started about a year ago. As a result, I'm sure my collection will never become as large as my Alannah Hill Collection of cardigans!

I'm sure one of my next outfit posts will be of the lilac version. Until then, I've put together a few previous outfit pictures of the Emerald colourway and the Rouge Noir colourway. They are all very versatile and have proven to match with many different outfits. I prefer to wear these cardigans with dresses than skirts for some reason. 

Do you have any Dita Cardigans? What do you collect? 

Looks cool in black and white

Dita Cardigans from Wheels and Dollbaby

Fitness Goals Update- June

It's almost the end of July and I haven't even posted my swimming and running stats for June. 139km combined total for swimming and running which is the most I've ever done in a month. I really wanted to reach 60km for swimming rather than the usual 55km. I'm also enjoying running a lot lately because I don't get nervous or feel pressure competing the way I do with swimming. The training has been hard given the winter weather but I told myself I wouldn't miss a training session because of rain or cold. That makes it even more satisfying. It's paying off because I'm improving my personal best times. 


Here are my swimming stats for June:

and for running:

In terms of my goal to achieve the Million Metre award with Masters Swimming Australia, I'm now 37% of the way there (as at today, not sure end of June). 

Here's what else happened for the month:
-achieved a new personal best time at the Parkrun of 25 minutes and 2 seconds for 5km. I'm slightly disappointed to miss sub 25 minutes but can't complain given that my goal for this year was under 27. I know I'll get there.
-attended all four Parkruns for the month. 
-participated in another 4 swim club nights, very close to 25 consecutive weeks award. 
-continued working towards the million metres award with Masters Swimming Australia. I've completed almost 37% of the total distance required so far.
-kept up with the routine of training 10 times a week (5 swimming training, 1 racing swimming, 1 bootcamp, 3 runs)
-continued working on te Endurance Program with Masters Swimming Australia which involvces 62 long distance swims over the course of the year. By the end of June I'd completed 21/62. This is a tough program as the swims range from 400m to a continuous hour. 
-participated in a swim meet with Masters Swimming NSW with all personal best times- 100m breastroke 1.36.56, 50m backstroke 39.81 and 200m freestyle 2.48.06. 

What did you achieve last month?