Some people are so clever...

Can we please just take a weekday moment to think about the creative geniuses out there?

Last week, I wrote a little Q&A post and nominated a few bloggers that I admire to write their own. Well, Sarah of TOMFO went one better. She didn't just answer my questions, she answered them in old-school fortune teller form. Seriously!

TOMFO Fortune Teller Invites

(you can actually print these babies for yourself and use them for whatever you want. Cool, huh?)

I'd like us all to raise our glass, our morning cuppa, or whatever you have at hand to say Well Done Sarah. Because sometimes people need to know how awesome they are, especially when it's something they take for granted (like their supreme design skillz). 

Head over here to read my original post (there's a tiny little giveaway at the end, I'll be drawing it this weekend... so hurry), and go visit Sarah's fantastic blog here (she's got plenty of delish recipes and cute printables and all sorts of inspiration).

Shades of Grey

I refuse to say that grey is the new black, but I'm really fixated on wearing heaps of grey this Winter. It's softer and more casual during the day than black, and there are some fantastic brands offering really stylish grey pieces right now.

This is the first pair of grey jeans I've owned. I've been obsessed with finding a cute grey pair for a few months now, and after trying on what feels like eleventy billion different styles, I finally found the ones that will come home with me.

Katies Garment Dye Jeans, Katies Animal Print belt, Verily Marl Tee, Big W Peter Morrissey necklace, Big W Emerson flats, Nine West leather clutch (similar here)

Jeez, Katy. How about you crack a smile for the photo?

These Katies jeans have a bit of stretch so they're super-flattering, and after wearing them all day running errands on Monday, I haven't noticed the knees bagging out or stretching at all.

Right now, I'm loving an all-grey outfit. It’s fun to play with texture and throw on a charcoal tee in the softest viscose/elastane, some bling, and tan leather accessories. I would usually wear black with grey, and I'd usually wear black with tan, so it seems like it's worth a try matching grey and tan - two neutral colours in a few different shades.

Help me out here, how would you style grey jeans?

(Nothing gifted, nothing sponsored, all my own pieces and opinions. Although I did earn the tee as part of my pretend-modelling gig with the lovely Leonie of Verily - head over to her Facebook page to see more of my supreme model skillz..!)

You want me to talk about me..? Um, ok.

I honestly still get a little bit surprised when someone not in my immediate circle of friends comments on my blog. My first thought is 'How did you find it?' The next is usually 'I wish you lived closer, I think you're fabulous.'

When I received a message from Vicki of The Fashionable Mum letting me know that she'd given me an easy blog topic for a day of blogger's block nominated me for a Liebster Award (an award given by bloggers, to bloggers), it made me smile all day long! Vicki is super-sweet, wears thrifted fashion almost as much as my bestie Peta, and she can commit to a style challenge with the best of them (check out her current ReStyle Challenge outfits - they're brilliant)!

Vicki threw ten questions at me, and they were actually a little harder to answer than I expected! Here goes...

1.  What is your signature dish?
This is so embarrassing, but in the spirit of blogging honesty, I'll tell the truth. The dish I make the most is pasta with cheese - any variation of it! Kraft Macaroni Cheese, regular spaghetti with grated tasty cheese, cheese and spinach tortellini... pasta with cheese is my forever friend.

2.  If you could buy one item in multiple colours, what would it be?

Ooh, can I say two items? I'd love a whole rainbow of Kendra Scott necklaces and earrings, as well as a pretty little collection of all different coloured Kate Spade stud earrings. Hang on, I need to add a third: I'd love a whole collection of coloured Ray-Ban mirrored aviators!

Kendra Scott 'Elle' earrings - divine!

3.  Are you a hoarder or a thrower-outer?

Such a hoarder, although once I have something newer and prettier (or more fashionable), I chuck the old stuff pretty quickly. So both, I guess!

4.  Expensive shoes or expensive handbags?

I've never really had either, so I don't know what I'm missing. I obsess more over big expensive structured tote bags though - think Michael Kors, Barrington, Kate Spade.

5.  Are you a cat or a dog person?

DOG! They're giving and loving and caring, while in my experience cats are selfish creatures. Probably doesn't help that I'm horrendously allergic to cats, too.

6.  What makes you want to shout and swear at the TV?

Most recently, interviews with Gerard Baden-Clay and the so-called 'parents' of baby Gammy. Regularly, Brisbane Broncos rugby league games. I get all potty-mouth, particularly when we're playing my most hated teams - Manly, West Tigers and Canterbury. Thugs! Grubs! Criminals!

7.  Which male celebrity makes you go weak at the knees?

This is a fairly fluid one and changes often. I'll be honest, whichever celeb is rocking the best beard usually wins, and right now I'm favouring Tom Hardy, Christian Bale and Joe Manganiello. George Clooney, while so suave and smooth and pretty to look at, doesn't actually seem like he'd be very useful and practical. Tough and bald gets points from me, so Bruce Willis is a perennial favourite.

8.  If you could own any one designer item, what would it be?
Do you know what? I can't really decide. I think I'd like something I could use time and again, perhaps something that would become an heirloom. So I guess, maybe a lovely piece for Cartier or Tiffany jewellery, perhaps a necklace or bracelet.

9.  Are you a morning or an evening person?

I'm more of a morning person than an evening person, I can get up early more regularly than I can stay up late. That said, my ideal day would have me rising between 6 and 7am, napping after lunch, and staying up until 10.30ish.

10. What's your favourite track to drive to?
While my iPod has stacks of different genres of music, my all-time favourite driving music is some good ol' country rock. Keith Urban's got some great songs to belt out while driving, and so do Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and Toby Keith. I think Carrie Underwood's 'Can't Leave Love Alone' is the best for a highway drive!

Righto, since I was nominated by Vicki, I need to nominate a bunch of lovely people who I read regularly:

• Peta Ballerina of Trainee Mama (Of course. Mainly because I hope she'll share more Ned photos in her answers)
• Sandra of Learning to Dance in the Rain Again
• Sarah of TOMFO
• Mandy of Make Me Up Mandy
• The lovely Lucy of Bake Play Smile
• Lisa of Random Acts of Zen

And here are the questions I'd love to ask them:

• What’s your favourite time of day?
• If you were to write the story of your life, what might be the title?
• What’s a nickname you’ve had or one that you would give yourself?
• What was your favourite book when you were a kid?
• If they made a movie of your life, which actor would you choose to play you? And which actors would play your best friend and your partner?
• What’s your fantasy job?
• Who is your favourite musician?
• Who is somebody you admire and why?
• What’s a song you’d choose for your 'theme song'?

Now, if I didn't nominate you, I don't mean anything by it, I still want to know random stuff about the lovelies who read my blog, so please... answer any of the questions in the comments below! I'd love to hear from you!

(Also, I have a nice little random gift that I'll giveaway to someone who answers a question in the comments... it is awesome and lovely and I'd want to win it if I didn't already own it. Mysterious, right?)

Weekend reading

While you're enjoying a relaxing start to the weekend, I'm probably up and showered, annoying BB and saying 'Come onnnn,' while getting dressed to explore Melbourne.

You see, we're visiting Melbourne for a trip with clients, and I want to make the most of all the croissant, coffee and shopping time that I possibly can! Feel free to send me awesome Melbourne food, drink and shopping suggestions on my Instagram or Twitter if you're in the know!

Until I get back to Queensland, suitcases overflowing (I hope!), here are some weekend reads for you to enjoy.

1. Bring on Summer and bring on Sangria, I say!

2. Read about one of my favourite places (tropical North Queensland) in a lovely blog post written by one of my favourite friends

3. We all want to be the ultimate flower-child, Drew Barrymore, right? Well, now we can at least smell like her. (And for your daily laugh, check out Drew and Jimmy Fallon playing Russian Roulette with Drew's cosmetics range!)

4. Work smarter on Twitter with Sarah Von Bargen's tips to connect with the people you admire

5. Don't even try to pretend that you don't act like this... every single time you go for a manicure.

6. Bake these delicious strawberry and basil muffins for a high tea (or for me)

7. Let your kid-imagination play with this super-cool kid's room makeover (the kid is super-cool too, he's my bestie's adorable little boy)

8. Get crazy-jealous and plan your dream holiday in Sardinia

9. Dine on some pretty fancy dinnerware, these locally-made pieces by Noosa ceramicist Elke Lucas just scream 'posh high tea' at me!

10. And while you're thinking entertaining... who else plays 'the dinner party game', planning your ultimate dinner party guests?

3 Ways to Wear - the black jumpsuit

I'm taking my cues today from the folk over at Katies. They've styled one of their new-season maxidresses three ways, and I thought I'd try the same with another one-piece wonder, my new black Katies jumpsuit.

I wore it on the weekend for a girl's night out with Peta of Trainee Mama and a few other lovely ladies (see here), and was trying to picture it styled in other ways.

Can we also please take a moment to note that this jumpsuit is only $39.95? Seriously? Amazing. (Remind me why I haven't yet got it in the other three colourways?)

Katies jumpsuit, thrifted Jane Lamerton cardigan (gift from Trainee Mama), Colette earrings (similar here), Colette clutch (similar here), Target wedges

This jumpsuit is such a comfortable style, with a soft elastic waist, scoop neck and deep pockets (oh, I do love pockets), that I thought it would work really well during the day, dressed down with both neutral and bright accessories, and a chambray vest.

Katies jumpsuit, old French Connection chambray vest, Quiksilver specs, Sashenka bag (gift from Trainee Mama), French Connection hat, Kmart Girl Express sandals

The third way I styled the jumpsuit was for an occasion where I'd usually wear a dress - a cocktail party. Pairing the simple lines of this piece with some bling and heels was incredibly easy, and I'd probably be the most comfortable woman in the room in this outfit! Because jumpsuits are basically onesies, they often have unbroken lines from the upper half to the lower half which gives the illusion of height. You can maximize this effect by wearing killer heels, but I would only do this for special occasions.

Katies jumpsuit, Tony Bianco Casanova suede heels, Samantha Wills earrings and bangles, Target clutch

I can assure you, next time we travel, this jumpsuit will definitely be coming with me, it's going to be such a great wardrobe all-rounder!

Any more ideas on how I can style this?

Wearing the black jumpsuit

Here's some news. Big news.

For the first time ever, I've worn a jumpsuit. This super-soft and stretchy black jumpsuit from Katies was exactly what I felt like wearing on the weekend for a girl's night out.

You see, Peta and I had been talking about heading out on the town for wine and dancing for months and months now, but that afternoon, the sky darkened and the rain rolled in. I worked all day, felt exhausted, and didn't feel like going anywhere.

Our text conversation that afternoon:

But HELLO brainwave. I wanted to wear my pyjamas and feel cosy and comfy. and I had this lovely jersey-weight black Katies jumpsuit hanging in my wardrobe with the tag still attached. Could I wear it? I'd had reservations ever since it came home with me, thinking so many negative things about jumpsuits - Kim Kardashian's butt looks ridiculous in them, I might struggle in the bathroom, my butt would look ridiculous in them.

So, I did what I never do when I'm unsure about an outfit - I wore it anyway!

Katies jumpsuit, thrifted Jane Lamerton cardigan (gift from Trainee Mama), Colette earrings (similar here), Colette clutch (similar here), Target wedges*

Let's all take a moment to note that Peta snapped these outfit photos of me at the end of our night, it was a crazy arm-waving, blurry situation but it's real. I wore a jumpsuit out, rocked it, didn't get all tangled in the bathroom, and will definitely wear it again.

(Because I'm an awful friend, I didn't take any photos of Peta's lovely outfit. Hopefully one of the other girls we were with snapped a few, she looked lovely as always.)

Have you worn jumpsuits before? Do you have any favourites, or suggestions on how I can find more styles that will work for my figure?

*all pieces and opinions my own

Fridge-to-Go Wine Cooler Giveaway - Winners!

So, it took me a wee little while to get around to drawing the winners of this lovely prize - my apologies to all who entered on my Facebook page, and also to the lovely Noelle, who has the three prizes wrapped and ready to send to the lucky winners!

The very lucky winners who will be enjoying chilled wine all Summer long are:

• Lauren Roney
• Rebecca Solomon
• Amy Brown

Congratulations ladies! I've tagged you in the winning post on Facebook, so please email me your best postal address and those sweet prizes will be on their way to you very soon!

Thanks again to Noelle for supporting this great giveaway, I do love to support a brand that supports my wine habit!

Read my original review of the Fridge-to-Go Wine Cooler here, and if you're looking for even more chilled storage, check out Trainee Mama's review of the Fridge-to-Go Tote Bag.