Outfit Post // My Grandmas Garden

Lately I’ve been in a bit of a rut when it comes to getting dressed in the morning. As in I just haven’t been getting dressed. Yep, workin’ in my pj’s all day! It really wasn’t helping my motivation levels and I was feeling a bit down.

 Purple Dress - Recycle Boutique, Black Camisole - Stolen from Mum, 

 Girl Guides Belt - Shop on Taieri,  Black & silver Glitter Heels - Warehouse, but glitter DIY'd by me!

So when I headed to Dunedin the other weekend I made a quick visit to Recycle Boutique which has moved around the corner from its old location. I did a quick survey of the specials rack and found this dress for $4.50! Its amazing how a small purchase like that can lift your spirits.

I’ve worn it a few different ways since I got it – with tights & boots, by itself with a camisole underneath & sandals and with a lace body suit peaking out and a cardigan. I love the little coloured flowers – they remind me of my Grandmas garden in spring. Thankfully this little dress has kick-started my love affair with my wardrobe again!

Oh - I can't forget the shoes. These used to be $60 at the Warehouse a few months ago. I held out for soooo long - and the other week they were marked down to $7.50!!!! They had a wood-grain bottom part on them, which I couldn't decide if I liked it or not, so I decided to glitter DIY (see my tutorial here!) them instead. They are my new favourite shoes - They're so easy to walk in with the super chunky heel! I can't wait to wear them out, but for the moment I'll just have to keep doing my housework while wearing them...

I hope you have all had a good week. We had a long weekend here with Waitangi Day, so I went to visit some friends and their new chocolate lab puppy called Gus – Hershey and him spent all afternoon playing together while us humans ate blueberries and had a BBQ on the deck. My Mum and Sister also came down from Dunedin for a visit and brought my little nephew with them, so we had a look around the shops and had a coffee date at a local pub. It was a nice weekend!

What have you been up to lately? Has it been sunny and warm where you are or have you been playing in the snow? I kinda hope we’ll get a decent dump of snow here this winter!

Outfit Post // New Years Eve Glitters

Hello friends!! Here is a sneak preview of what I intend to wear on New Years Eve. This is another dress made from my current favourite pattern. This time I made the top part out of black lace with a silver thread running through it and black cotton on the bottom half. I love how it came out!!

Left: Day Outfit - Black & Silver Lace Dress -  Made by me, Shoes - No 1 Shoe Warehouse,  

Jacket - Recycle Boutique

Right: Night Outfit - Black & Silver Lace Dress - Made by me, Sequin Clutch - Kmart,  

Silver glitter heels - No 1 Shoe Warehouse

I’m matching my dress with my favourite sequin clutch bag and some glittery silver heels. I’m looking forward to a night of girly talk, drinks, good food and dancing at my friends hens party. Bring it on!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve and we’ll catch up in the New Year!

 

DIY // Gold Glitter Boots

Something I've wanted to do for aaaaages was glitter-fy some shoes!! I saw a post on Pixie in Pumps quite a while ago and that is what I've based my DIY on. So it's not my idea originally! All the photos in this post were taken by me though.

First you will need to gather your supplies. I found a cheap pair of boots at No. 1 Shoe Warehouse - I figured if things went pear shaped it wouldn't be a great loss!! The Mod Podge and the glitter I got from Spotlight. I think I've seen Mod Podge at the The Warehouse as well. I got the sandpaper from Mitre 10 Mega and the sponge brush thingy is from The Warehouse. You will also need a container to mix the glitter in and a stirring device.

Make sure to cover the area you are working in with newspaper! Especially if you are inside. 

1. Pour your Mod Podge into a container. (I used half a bottle)

2. Add your chosen glitter (I used about 3/4 gold glitter)

3. I added 1/4 bottle silver glitter too.

4. Stir to combine with a popsicle stick. Aim to have the mixture mostly glitter. 

5. Lightly sand over the surface of the shoes so the glitter concoction will stick.

6. Begin applying the glitter mix with your sponge brush. I found it best to swipe and splodge it on.

7. Leave to dry and repeat with another layer until all the gaps are filled (I did 2 layers!)

8. All finished!! I would recommend 1 - 2 layers of plain Mod Podge over top to seal the glitter.

A special tip; I found it was easier to use a pair of shoes close in colour to the glitter I was using. I have some silver mary-janes I want to DIY next!

 White Cardigan - Random Invercargill Shop, Ornage Dress - Thrifted from Trademe,  

Gold Flower Hair Clip - Christmas isle at Spotlight, Gold Glitter Boots - Made by Me!!

Wouldn't these be perfect to wear on a Girls Night Out??

So there you have it! A fun project to do up some old/cheap shoes. I can't wait to dance around in these! Are you gonna have a go at this DIY? Make sure to leave me a link to your photos in the comments! If you want to reference this post or use my photos please let me know  - thanks friends!!

 

Thrifty Friday // Cake Stand

Yes, I may have forgotten about Thrifty Friday - whoops!! I figure since it is still Friday on the other side of the world, I can put it up today and everything will be fine - right?

So here is my latest find - A pretty shiny cake stand! 've been looking for one for ages and I finally came across this at the Habitat for Humanity Store the other day. Isn't it pretty? Piled high with cakes, slices or cupcakes I think it will look pretty good in my new kitchen.

Have you found any good kitchen finds lately? I'm always on the look out to expand my collection!

Thrifty Friday // Silver Shoes

 Silver Heels - Tay St Salvation Army Store - $4

I found these little gems at the Salvation Army Store on Tay St, Invercargill the other week. It was my first trip there and I managed to pick up about 6 items for $10! Gotta love days like that.

These were only $4 and they look like they might have been worn once or twice, not bad! Now I've just got to get used to walking in heels like these...

I'm so glad it's the weekend tomorrow!! Hopefully my parents are coming down to Invercargill on Saturday so my Dad can check out the house the bf and I have made an offer on (he used to be a builder - very handy!) If he thinks it's all fine, it's all go! I hope so, because I've spent the last week trying to get my money out of my Kiwisaver account and getting the $3,000 from Housing New Zealand - if you are buying your first house you should definitely look into these, they are basically covering the deposit for us!

What thrifty finds have you found lately? Should I include more than one find in this post? I have a whole collection of things I need to photograph!

Dreamy Interiors // Dressing Room

One thing I would love in my dream house would be a dressing room especially or me! Now ideally  would love a walk in wardrobe type-thing, but of course thats a bit hard to find in our price range!

So if everything goes to plan I would love a little room where I can have my dresser, a mirror, a clothes rack for my favourite pieces to hang on, a little sewing table with my sewing machine and a few sparkley bits and bobs. I would also include a comfy chair to relax on and a couple of cushions and a throw blanket!

I figured this would go down well with the bf as it would keep the master bedroom so much tidier! Win-win?

What do you think? Do you have a walk-in wardrobe or dressing room?  

 

Wishing Well // Sparkley Blazer

 

  I have been searching for a while for a sparkley blazer. Of course I'm un-willing to spend a lot of money on one so I've been waiting to find a vintage one on trademe. I got lucky the other day and as we speak a pretty gold one is winging it's way to me!

I hope it fits and is all I imagine it to be...ah the joys of buying things on line!!

Do you like sparkley things? What are you looking out for this season? Are you heading towards Spring or Autumn? 

 

Dreamy Interiors // Dream Kitchen

So this is the second installment in my "Dreamy Interiors" series! Of course to a cake-mad-baking-nutter like me, the kitchen is a very important part of any house I live in! My first main concern is a well-functioning oven, I really hope the one in whichever house we buy works well! Otherwise I'll be finding an Electrician to take a look at it, can't have burnt cakes!

Again I'm going with the glass/white/silver/gold/purple theme here. I think they are colours I would like to continue throughout the house, perhaps with a touch of brown too, as I found a beautiful vintage glass coffee mug the other day which was brown and I've also seen some cosy chairs that I absolutely love!

I couldn't find a rectangle white table that I liked, so this will have to do. I would love to find an old one and sand it up and paint it, if I have the time! Otherwise a nice timber one would look just as good I think.

Some pretty vintage cake plates, preserving jars (which I already use to store my baking ingredients) nice cutlery, and a few gold vases would do the trick I think!

Do you have any suggestions for my dream kitchen? Luckily I already have all the appliances, I just need to make it pretty!! 

 

Dreamy Interiors // Dream Office

 I went to see a house in the weekend and although I've been trying to tell myself to not get attached until I know for sure there is nothing wrong with it, I think I have a crush...

First on my mind of course is my home office. I've already started collecting a few bits and pieces, including some glass jars for pens and pencils and some little vintage shelves I'm gonna paint white. 

Above are some of the things I would love to include in my office - a squishy chair to relax on morning tea breaks with a coffee or milo in a pretty patterned mug, some textured cushions in velvet and gold sequins for a little bit of sparkle, a white dresser for storage and filing, storage boxes in black, white and purple, a pretty vintage lamp on my desk, a little bit of a Moroccan influence with cushions and lanterns and a pretty pair of sparkley shoes to look at or wear when I'm having a rough day...

I hope everything is ok when the bf and I go look at the property report at the council tomorrow! I'm trying not to think about it too much (although it doesn't seem to be working!!) so I hope it's all good!!

What colour scheme would you use in an office or study? Would you keep it neutral or go all out in brights? Or soft pastels? 

DIY Storage Solutions - Jewellery

I'm always after pretty, cheap ways to store things around my house, and these seemed perfect to store my jewellery. I found them at the Mosgiel Salvation Army a little while ago and they were a bargain at only a couple of dollars each! 

I use the little plate for my little earrings and the sugar bowl (I think that's what it is) for my larger, dangly ones. I keep seeing more of them at the store so I need to think of what else I could keep in them!

How do you store your jewellery? Do you hang up you necklaces, etc?

My 4th of July - Hershey's First Birthday!

 Hershey - 8 weeks

Hershey - 1 Year

Hi friends! Introducing you to my gorgeous puppy, Hershey. Today is her 1st Birthday, so of course a mini celebration was in order involving cake like things...unfortunately Hersh has a food allergy meaning she isn't supposed to eat anything except her dog biscuits, but she got a new toy to mark the day instead.

I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream icing, topped with a gingerbread dog bone covered in purple fondant to match her name tag she wears on her collar. 

I can't believe its been a year since I got her! There's been ups and downs, the time she ate the tv remote, the bf's playstation controller, ALL of our couch cushions, but of course there are always good times too! Plenty of cuddles, tug of war and exciting car trips where she "talks" the whole way because she is so excited...

I hope all my readers over in the USA have a great 4th of July!!

Do you guys have pets? What are their names? Are they well behaved?

Outfit Post - Sweet Velvet

 Black Velvet Dress - Shop on Taieri, Lace bodysuit - Shop on Taieri, Black Blazer - Recycle Boutique,  

Boots - The Warehouse, Tights - Kmart, Skull 3 Finger ring - Lovisa,  

Purple Leopard Scarf - 1 2 3 Dollar Store, Effiel Tower Earrings - Diva

This is my new favourite dress!! All business down the front, a little bit special at the back. A perfect piece for a Friday at work with a blazer over top, that could easily transition into night time to wear out for after work drinks or the usual eating out that gets done on a Friday!

I picked it up from Shop on Taieri the other day. It's actually from Glassons originally, but I don't know how old it is, either way I've been relishing its velvety goodness!!

I decided to wear my vintage lace bodysuit seen in this post underneath, I love the little touch of lace. I have to say I didn't wear my ring at the office (can you imagine typing wearing that?!) but it's one of the items I carry around in my handbag for a bit of extra bling when I need it. My scarf was an impulse buy the other day, but hey, at $7 it wasn't a big splash out. 

I've got a busy weekend ahead with readying my house for an open home on Sunday, there's so much cleaning and gardening to do! Hopefully the weather holds up for me. Enjoy your weekends everyone!!