Outfit

The Bossa Nova dress from Kitten D'Amour is the latest addition to my wardrobe and I wore it for the first time last night to a work function at the NRL grand final. It's been so many months since I've had a night out; because of my routine of early morning sport, I struggle to stay awake past 9pm. Luckily it's a long weekend here so I had a very rare sleep in this morning. Yes, I was a little overdressed but I don't do casual clothes; I'm either wearing dressy clothes or sportswear and there's no in between. This outfit also proves that I do occasionally wear black! I haven't liked as many pieces from Kitten D'Amour this year as I did in the past but finally this dress was a winner for me. As soon as I tried it on I knew I couldn't leave the store without it. The flower embroidery is so beautiful and I love the overlay. The cameo brooch coincidentally matches the bow in my hair. The dress is a strapless design but it's still a little cold here for that. Also, to be perfectly honest, I feel very self conscious about my arms these days. Strapless designs always used to be my favourite but this year the shape of my arms have changed from swimming and strength training. It's only been the arms as I still fit in the same clothes. A part of me will never be happy about that but there's no way I could compete or do my current routine having been as underweight as I was a couple of years ago. Overall I know I'm much happier these days and it's a small price to pay compared to the pain, anxiety and depression I used to feel when I had the "perfect" body. I remind myself of that whenever I need it. 

















Kitten D'Amour Bossa Nova Dress
Kitten D'Amour Bow Belt in Red
Kurt Geiger Heels
Alannah Hill Cest La Vie Cardigan

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

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

Christmas Party

Hi everyone. On Saturday night it was one of my favourite times of the year which is my husband's work Christmas party. It's the same every year and this is our sixth year of attending. It's a cruise around Sydney Harbour with free drinks and amazing food. It's the perfect opportunity to dress up (at least for me, no one else was quite this dressed up). I've been waiting for three months to wear this scarlet lace dress and I couldn't be happier I finally had the chance. It's my favourite dress I've ever owned. This dress was released as part of the Dolce Vita Collection at Kitten D'Amour and I fell in love with it instantly- there is no other dress which represents my style so perfectly. The lace is so beautiful and I adore the ballerina length. The detailing is so pretty and delicate. I also wore a petticoat underneath to make the dress have even more of a vintage silhouette. As the dress is exclusively a special occasion dress and was the most expensive piece I've ever bought, I could only justify it knowing I had the cruise to attend, in addition to a wedding (which coincidentally is next Saturday). Isn't it just the best when you finally get to wear a piece after waiting for a long time!? I very rarely go out on a Saturday night so it was nice to have a change, it was a really enjoyable night. I feel like I've turned into an old boring person as I really struggled to stay out so late and even fell asleep on the way home on the train haha. The night would have been perfect if the weather wasn't quite as cold. I look forward to our annual tradition of attending next year. 
































Kitten D'Amour Dolce Vita Lace Dress
Carvela Kurt Geiger Heels

Linking to:  Elegance and Mommyhood, Weekend Blog Hop, Creative Mondays Blog Hop

Outfit & Life Update

I've planned to write this post for awhile now but I wanted to wait until it was official. It will also provide you with an update on my life and what I've been doing in my absence from blogging. I don't even know where to start but let's just say my life has completely transformed and I'm such a different person now in the best possible way. After almost two years of being a contractor at work I've finally been offered a permanent position as a Contract Specialist. It's been my dream since I started there to be taken on permanently but I never thought it would be in a position such as this. It's a job I never thought I'd ever be able to achieve. The associated benefits literally blow my mind; I never thought I'd be so lucky even when I was much older than in my mid twenties. It's life changing because it feels like I've entered a new world; I can save up to achieve dreams which I never used to think were realistic.

I cannot possibly put into words how much work has already changed my life already in the past two years.  I actually become really emotional thinking about it and piecing together the parts of my journey which led me to where I am today. I am left completely and utterly speechless that something so good could happen to me. A large part of the reason why it's so significant for me is because of this journey. I've hated my life for most of the last ten years (or more) and have been deeply unhappy. I've been at absolute rock bottom and even felt like living itself wasn't even worth it. The years of major anxiety I experienced and the deep feelings of depression consumed my life for as long as I can remember. I think about to two years ago when I literally lied in bed and cried every day for months on end. The feelings of worthlessness, failure and self hatred that defeated me for almost my entire life. I also hated every second of university and was so miserable there; for the first time ever all those years finally feel worth it. I feel like I've been through a lot to get to where I am and that makes my current successes even more of an achievement. 

It's incredible to think about how every single aspect of my life has been changed because of work. I'm so much more positive about everything. I am so grateful for the opportunity I've been provided with and I know every single day how lucky I am. I've been pushed out of my comfort zone in so many respects that I rarely suffer from anxiety these days (two years ago I would have had a panic attack at the mere thought of running meetings, making phone calls or engaging in my current level of social interaction). I can start a conversation with anyone now and I don't think I'm shy anymore. The self worth I've developed is life changing; being told I've done a good job or I'm experienced at a certain task has such a profound impact on me. It's also the first time I've ever felt like I fit in. I feel like a valued member of the team that I'm well liked. These are all such new experiences for me. I've met the most incredible people. There are a few in particular that are responsible for providing me with the opportunity for this job to turn into what it has today and who I admire more than I could explain. I love being around positive and educated people all day who care about self improvement and push me to be better. It shocks me every single day that I fit in in a world like this.

I'm really proud of myself (and I never say that). I've put everything I have into work and made it my whole life. I've never tried so hard at anything before and it's incredible to see the hard work pay off. I had nothing to lose when I started and I knew that it was the way out of everything I hate about my life. It's been the best thing that's ever happened to me and I couldn't be happier. I can't wait until tomorrow as it's the official start date.

Now onto my outfit.  I love this coat from Kitten D'Amour because it's pink and fluffy! I adore the structured design and the longer length (very practical for those early mornings traveling to work). It's so glam, classy and vintage in style. I couldn't put it down when I saw it in the store. I'm so glad I bought it because it's actually a very practical purchase; it's so warm and I get much use from it. This is also my very first pair of Kurt Geiger heels! (I've since bought them in hot pink also). I adore this brand of shoes and am admiring so many pairs at the moment. However, Kurt Geiger is usually out of my price range. But the sales have been pretty amazing lately and I scored these for 65% off the original retail price. Speaking of good discounts, my dress is another amazing sales find. It's been awhile since I acquired a new Review dress and I've missed them (while I've been cheating on Review with Kitten D'Amour). I adore the different colour combinations for this dress; the options are completely endless.















Kitten D'Amour Bella Senora Coat
Review Como Rose Dress
Victoria's Secret Handbag
Review Cardigan
Kurt Geiger London Anja Heels