Turning your home into a tropical paradise, just in time for Summer

This post is brought to you by Jason Agustina.

I just spent the past weekend Spring Cleaning (my efforts are totally worthy of capitalising those words) with my husband, and while the result is lovely - we're still not quite Summer-ready. You know, where everything is fresh and clean, and looks entertainment-ready for any unexpected drop-ins. (Please note, I will not accept unexpected drop-ins. You are required to call or text your intention to visit at least 45 mins in advance. I need time to freshen myself AND my home up!)

There’s no better way to freshen up your home in Summer than with tropical statement homewares. Not only is it easy to incorporate, but this vibrant trend creates a refreshing vibe indoors and outdoors - and has been my go-to interior decorating trend since I was a young teenager, living directly across the road from the Big Pineapple. Having that fruity view really affected me!

To create a classy look with this trend, think luscious jungle and bright animal prints paired with casual, natural materials like warm wood and bamboo. I like to add some greenery (fake, if the occasion or your black thumbs call for it - no judgement) to 'lush up' the space and really compliment tropical touches. Like most trends, the key is to work from a good base - pieces that are well-made with great simple designs will stand the test of time. I love the range from Jason Agustina, it's a small collection with something for every type of living area, made from gorgeous timbers and fabrics.

1. Jason Agustina Volt Sofa in Blue 2. Blue Thumb Sticky Beak limited edition print by Emma Ward 3. Drunk on Water Monstera and Pineapple cushion 4. Jason Agustina Beholm Coffee Table in Oak 5. Annabel Trends artificial banana bunch and cockatoo

Some of my favourite colours for the tropical trend this year are yellow, green and all the shades of citrus - I love seeing these combined with a soft blue or crisp white for an elegant finish. If you already have some blues in your home decor, you can still adopt a tropical vibe, just pick sea-green and deep-ocean hues, and make sure you add plenty of greenery.

1. Jason Agustina Locke Sideboard in Natural 2. Kmart belly basket 3. Kmart Anthurium plant 4. Drunk on Water Watermelon print 5. KMart succulent in concrete pot 6. Annabel Trends artificial large pineapple

So make sure your key furniture pieces are classic, simple and beautifully made (check out Jason Agustina's story for their wonderful commitment to customer care), choose some tropical pieces and create your own slice of paradise this Summer. I promise you that it'll help your summer cocktail vibe for sure!

Is it possible to have too many pineapples in your home, if you live in an estate that was once pineapple and sugar cane farms?

Brisbane Fashion Weekend 2016 - making a weekend of it!

Inaugural events can be a little hit and miss, but the first Brisbane Fashion Weekend held last month was, in my entirely non-fashiony opinion, a smashing success!

I wore a stunning Yannika Designs (local Queensland brand) shift dress to BFW, perfect for the 30 degree day and rushing around like Andrea Sachs. Low nude heels and a bright yellow Mimco clutch borrowed from Brooke of Blonde Ambition and French Connection raffia tassel earrings finished my outfit.

Held at the recently opened Royal International Convention Centre (where parking was a breeze!), BFW featured two days of runway shows, a well-curated pop-up precinct, a Pamper Room where a small donation to fabulous local charity Dressed for Success got you a hair and makeup freshen-up, and two stages with programs full of styling advice and fashion industry experts and influencers. If all that got too much, the Moet Lounge was the place to sit and rest those weary high heel-clad tootsies!

But let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

I headed down to Brisbane the evening before Day 1 of BFW, as Adelaidean Jenni of Styling Curvy was in town and had organised a meet-up for some of her Queensland blogging mates. That's how lazy relaxed Queenslanders are, we wait until someone comes to visit us, then let them organise it so we all go catch up with them. #hakunamatata

I'd planned to get ready at Brooke's place, head out to the meet-up and not get lost (yikes... alone in the Valley, as Brooke had fancy Singin' in the Rain plans) and then crash on her couch, so was pleasantly surprised when I arrived at my host's apartment and asked 'So, where's this hip venue I need to get to?' and her response was 'See that building less than a block away? There.' GOLD.

Traffic had been pretty decent heading into Brisbane, so I had time for a shower, wash and curl my hair, to give myself a mani/pedi and catch up on some work emails. Instead, I napped, watched the end of Season 2 of UnReal, showered super-fast, then helped myself to Brooke's plethora of dry shampoo and hairspray options. My fingernails and toenails would have to wait.

Keeping it simple in a Country Road flutter-sleeve frock - basic black is always a great comfort zone for me when I'm meeting bloggy-types.

I know I've said it before, but blogger events and meetups are usually pretty awkward for me. And even more so when it's stylish people like fashion folk. *insert hand-wringing and excuse-making here* Unless I know someone really well to latch on to, it's typically just me standing in the corner near the food.

So many gorgeous girls crammed into one terrible-quality photo!

Jenni had arranged for the event to be held at the Tryp Hotel's rooftop bar, Up on Constance, and it was perfect for a bunch of blinged-up ladies enjoying champagne cocktails on a warm October evening. It's a gorgeously NY-inspired open space, with chilled music and great views. One of the brands that Jenni works with - Capriosca Swimwear (stunning styles!) - unexpectedly and generously put on the lovely spread of food and drinks, thank you so much Marcia!

This late-night phone photo is about as fuzzy as I expected, the Apricot Dream tequila cocktail really made some heads spin!

My pineapple glo-mesh clutch from (of all places) Domayne loves an outing, and a city view.

On to the main event!

Of the thirteen stunning labels appearing on Brisbane Fashion Weekend's Runway, including Tengdahl, Saylor & Saige, LouenHide (always love their stuff!), 400 Co and Kahlo Kahlo, my favourites were SunSoaked and Wilde Willow. Brooke loved Wilde Willow so much that she punched me during their runway and whispered 'Gotta BOLT outta here the minute this show finishes and buy that sequin kimono'. So she did.

Brooke in her new prized possession, the Wilde Willow Charms of Light Kimono.

I'd love to share more photos, but you'll find that the best photos and videos I took were on other people's devices! I loved being there to help my mate Brooke as she prepared to speak on the Centre Stage as an online fashion influencer (we both cringe at that word, but she DOES influence me to buy things I don't really need, so applicable), and then rock her model socks for the awesome Cate Massi of Individual Style 101. I will also take full credit for making sure Brooke turned up where she needed to be, at the times she needed to be there - I feel that without a 'PA for a Day', she may have been found wandering the foyer in one shoe, loaded up with purchases from the Pop-Up Precinct stores.

STYLIST HUB action today at the @brisbanefashionweekend 💃 My interactive mini parade went off - a big thank you to my models Pip & Brooke @what_brooke_wore wearing @atarlo 💕 you girls rock & thank you to the photographer @katy_potaty . . . #catemassistyling #brisbanestyle #brisbanestylist #ootd #wiw #individualstyle101 #spotmystyle #realmumstyle #brisfw

A photo posted by PERSONAL STYLIST (@individualstyle101) on Oct 21, 2016 at 10:25pm PDT

Thanks so much to BFW for the invitation, and for such a spectacularly well-run event - kudos! Cheers to Jenni for her perfect timing, it was wonderful to see local ladies that I never really get to see. And big ups and proud mama feels to Brooke for nailing her presentation, saying no to bootleg jeans, and generally being a babe.

For more comprehensive wrap-ups of the event, I highly recommend you check out the following:

Sally of Steele My Style's blog

Brooke's Centre Stage appearance

Test driving the new Hyundai Tucson

Although I'm in my (ahem) mid-thirties, I've not been driving that long. I only got my license when I was 28, prior to that I was the quintessential public transport and taxi queen. I just wish Uber existed back then!

My first car was a small second-hand hatchback and while I loved her, I always knew I needed to get a proper grown-up car. My husband encouraged me to 'size up' and we shopped around for a car which looked cute (my priority) and was safe, fuel-efficient and drove well (his priorities)! We ended up at Sunco Hyundai at Maroochydore and chose a Hyundai ix35, at the time one of the most popular SUVs in its class, and it has served me incredibly well for three years now.

As an already happy Hyundai customer, I was thrilled when the sales team from Sunco Hyundai gave me the chance to test drive the new Tucson recently - how lucky am I? I promise I told them that I'm not a revhead car buff, and any review I shared wouldn't be as comprehensive or informative as a CarsGuide article!

I would be lying if how cute a car is didn't make up 90% of my opinion of it! 

Whilst I love my ix35, there's certainly something awesome about stepping into the newer version - this year's Hyundai Tucson is like my current car, but luxe. From the moment I collected the Tucson and got the full tour of how all the great gadgets worked, driving this vehicle felt like an experience, instead a 'daily drive'.

On top of the standard features which you can read about here, the Elite Tucson model comes with extras that I just love, such as a panoramic sunroof, full leather interior, large multi-function screen and reversing camera.

Reversing cameras... how did we ever live without them? This colour screen is a fantastic size.

Yeah, this stuff doesn't matter so much to me, but my husband loves that he can track fuel economy really easily using the Mode button on the steering wheel. Me, I just like knowing how many kms until my petrol tank is empty. #livingontheedge

Hello soft sumptuous leather. 

All the boot room I could possibly need for a weekend full of shopping!

The 60/40 split-fold back seats can give even more room than the spacious boot provides, and I know from personal experience with my ix35, the removable roller blind over the cargo bay keeps everything right where you put it, and shields shopping and luggage from prying eyes. 

Apparently the Tucson is a five-star ANCAP recipient - that means safety first, folks. Again, that's husbo was interested in, and I'm sure if you were a mum carting precious little ones around, that would be important to you too.

For more on the new Hyundai Tucson, visit Sunco Hyundai's website. Thanks to Ky, Collin, Leah and the Sunco team for the opportunity to take it for a spin!

*Sunco Hyundai kindly loaned me this vehicle. Like everything you'll find on Katy Potaty, thoughts and opinions are all my own. For more info, check out my disclosure policy. Please check the suppliers' website for car specs.

My Summer Picks - That Shop in Doreen

I love small businesses, I really do. I have worked in retail for both small and multi-national fashion brands, and there's something super-special about a little design and buying team, who choose styles based on what they know their customers will like, because they have a relationship with those customers.

One of the small businesses I've discovered this year is Victorian brand That Shop in Doreen - cute name, huh! The brainchild of Samantha Tupper, That Shop in Doreen began life as a bricks-and-mortar store in (you guessed it, Doreen) and now encompasses an online store with seasonal pieces as well as really fun and lovely social media accounts. Check out their Facebook here, and Instagram here.

Now, I'm sure you all know that Summer is my favourite season. I mean, I can never really be too hot, as long as I'm dressed appropriately in light and floaty pieces. Samantha stocks some gorgeous styles, so I thought I would share some of my favourite That Shop in Doreen picks with you!

My Summer Picks - That Shop in Doreen

I love the short sleeves on this and the sweet little twist tie at the front. And the stripes (who am I kidding, I love the stripes the most). It’s only $35 and also comes in grey and white, and black and white.

 Sami Striped Tee

Remember how Justin Timberlake couldn't stop this feeling anymore? That’s how I feel about all the off the shoulder tops around this Summer. I'm well aware that they require (gasp!) a strapless bra, but they really are worth it. This one also has an adorable fringe around the hem and sleeves!

Bailey Chambray OTS top

If you’re looking for just a great basic top with a little bit of extra flair, this is the top for you. I love the jersey fabric, it drapes beautifully and doesn’t wrinkle. I’m a big fan of the grey marle but it also comes in white for those of you who can keep white tops clean!

Emmy Basic Tee

Let's be honest here, sometimes the whole cold shoulder style can look a little mumsy, especially with a gaudy print - but I’ve got my eye on this simple black dress because I do like the open shoulder with the ability to wear a normal bra, or throw it on over bathers for a quick dressy option.

Jo Cold Shoulder Dress - only $45!

I don't know what I wore before I discovered stripe t-shirt dresses? Was I wandering around naked half the time? Who knows! Seriously, this is a fab little number that I have in the navy and white stripe, and wear on repeat every week. Actually, we might as well just call it my Tuesday dress.

Mel Striped Dress*

A photo posted by katy_potaty (@katy_potaty) on Oct 6, 2016 at 4:09pm PDT

I’m not usually one for pink... in fact I don't have a single non-activewear pink item in my wardrobe, and my mates Trainee Mama and Blonde Ambition have challenged me to change that this Summer.  This floaty top is so versatile – it could easily be dressed down with shorts for day, or dressed up with a cute skirt or pair of jeans and heels at night.

Tilly Dusty Pink Oversized Top

Probably my favourite TDIS style at the moment, this Blossom Midi Dress is even prettier in person. I wore it for a long day of partying at the Caloundra Music Festival a couple of weeks ago, and received so many compliments. They say it's a midi length, but I'm not the tallest giraffe in the zoo, so it looks like a maxi on me.

Blossom Midi Dress*

A photo posted by katy_potaty (@katy_potaty) on Oct 3, 2016 at 4:36am PDT

I continue to put this denim jacket in my cart and then leave it there because it’s going to be too hot for sleeves for the next six months, but stretch in a denim jacket is something that I'm always searching for, and I love the mid-blue wash of this one. If I lived in a cooler climate, this would be high on my wish-list.

Ally Stretch Denim Jacket

Someone recently asked me about the right shoes to wear with Summer shorts and pants for a casual look. I’m a big fan of an espadrille because I think they can be worn with everything from jeans to dresses, and they’re way more casual than a regular flat.

Cherry Navy and White Espadrilles

Need more style inspiration? Head to That Shop in Doreen and I'm sure you'll find a few pieces to add to cart too!

*That Shop in Doreen kindly sent me a couple of styles to try, thank you so much Samantha! I was thrilled with the service and my parcel arrived beautifully wrapped, so I'm more than happy to share the love here.

Looking after blonde hair

I'm a bit of a creature of habit. For the last 16 years, I've been a blonde of sorts - not a real, light-up-the-room Scandi blonde, but I've been getting foils and highlights on the regular for almost all my adult life. Right up until October last year, when my regrowth looked so much like bad ombre balayage that I wanted to see what GOOD ombre balayage would look like on me. And I liked the results and I loved the lack of upkeep.

Freshly balayaged in October 2015 for Styling You's #everydaystyle birthday party

I loved the hair salon which gave me that look, and I was really pleased with the condition of my hair afterwards - it's like taking a big break from all-over blonde gave my hair a rest and recuperation holiday. 

My biggest issue with my balayage was that it 'threw warm'. This is my totally untechnical term for the way my mouse-brown hair always has more brassy notes when it's lightened than cooler, creamier notes. This has the undesired effect of making my hair look dirty (even though I wash it every. damn. day.) and kinda trashy.

The way I dealt with this for the last year was to blonde tone the heck outta it, and hope that I just never had that silver rinse look that Bea and the Golden Girls rocked so well. It wasn't until July that I finally found a blonde toning range of products that actually worked for my super-porous locks, and now I'm in love with the Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde collection.

After two weeks of regular use of the Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde shampoo, conditioner and toner, my blonde hair was so much creamier. 

My thoughts on the Blue Cypress range? Well, firstly it really worked. I didn't get that dreaded Violet Beauregarde shade at all, and the condition of my over-processed blonde ends definitely improved after regular use of the leave-in toner. All three of the products smell delicious (think a light Body Shop Dewberry scent, circa 1994 YUM!) and I really only needed to use them sparingly - no palm-sized dollops required just to lather up!

I also had the chance to hit up Marc Daniels Ambassador, Eugene Sokolovs from Gold Coast salon Ette Studio, to find out his top tips for keeping blonde fresh, especially as we head into Summer and all the coastal girls load on the fake tan and lighten our hair!

Eugene recommends using a quality toner on towel dried clean hair, such as Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde leave-in toner to keep blonde in peak condition throughout the warmer months.

The best feature of this time-saving product is that it's a leave-in treatment!

His biggest do's and dont's for blondes?

Regular visits to the hairdresser for colour refresh and cut, wash and condition hair regularly and use a treatment product such as Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde at least once a week.

Blonde ombre and balayage hairstyles are still everywhere, what's the latest spin on them for this Summer?

Balayage and ombré are still highly in fashion. For SS16, 'Nude' hair is popular, where there's an even amount of warm and cool tones applied which cancel each other out to create a neutral colour.

The leave-in toner is now a hair essential for me - I won't leave home without it!

The Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde range is available at Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse, and priced super-reasonably at around $13-$14 for each product.

Please, if you have blonde hair care tips, let me know! What do you use to fight the brassiness?

*I was gifted the Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde range, and under no obligation to write about it. I've tried it now for 8 weeks, and have been super-impressed. Thanks Marc Daniels!

5 of the Best Blowdries on the Sunshine Coast

Today is the first is a little series of posts I'm sharing about Spring hair and beauty. Let's all agree that I'm no beauty blogger - I don't know how to contour, Kylie Jenner's lip kits are well beyond my lippie-application skills, and I may have the world's most boring hair. But I'm interested in it all. I have friends with fabulously bouffy hair, and I really appreciate a good brow. So here's hoping I learn a little sumthin' sumthin' when I write these posts!

My locks are limp. Always have been, and probably always will be. I send texts on the regular to my bouncy-haired best mates, saying 'Nah, not coming tonight, I've hurt my neck blowdrying my hair upside down', and 'My hair doesn't want to come out and play with your hair tonight, it's feeling insecure'.

If you're too lazy to lift a brush, or like me, just don't have the skills to create Victoria's Secret-worthy bounce in your limp locks, the solution is a salon blowdry. Once the sole domain of the rich and famous with private stylists on call 24/7, the professional blowdry is fast becoming the quickest way to freshen up limp locks - especially if you've got a BIG weekend coming up. Best part is, the professionals can really make a blow dry last, sometimes up to four or five days with the right products!

Whether you're after a glam retro beehive, Gigi-style blowout (always my goal!) or a casually undone lob á la Jennifer Lawrence, check out my favourite lock-lifting blowdries on the Sunshine Coast, and swish your way through the day in style.

Heads in the Cloud, Buderim
This smart salon doesn't just boast an adorable name; it's practically a description of how high they can get your hair with the magic of their driers! With brushskills that are recognised around the world, head stylist Sam Rizzo can really make you feel like a Texan beauty queen, and he's recently been crowned 2016 Creative Artistic Ambassador for Keune Haircosmetics. The locally owned salon is also often searching for hair models for training, competitions and photo shoots - who knows, you might end up on the cover of one of the world's big hair glossies!

Evalyn Parsons, Moffat Beach
For the coastal Southerners who like to channel a big-haired Southern Belle, the team at Evalyn Parsons know how to transform - and you won't be left waitin' around either, darlin'! Their Glam & Go services will pack a punch, transforming you from drab to fab in under 20 mins for just $30, or if you need a little more work, upsize to the 30-40 min Style package for only $50.

House of George, Maroochydore
The goal: thicker, fuller hair with volume that lasts. The action: book a blowdry at House of George. New salon manager Samantha joins the George team with a wealth of knowledge from her UK-trained background, and official ghd educator. Anyone who can wield a straightening tongs with that much experience definitely knows how to add shine, body and ontrend style to every 'do! PS it's part of the cutest old Queenslander, and their barista serves fab coffee too, so every moment at House of George is totally Instagram-worthy!

Image credit: House of George

Uptown Hair, Nambour

Never fear, hinterland readers – you have follicle friends in your part of the world too! Rhonda and the team at Uptown Hair will give you a big city blowdry, with classic regional Queensland service with a smile. Uptown has won Sunshine Coast Business Awards Excellence in Business awards for so long now, that they were inducted to the Hall of Fame - really speaks of a loyal customer base, doesn't it! What really sets Uptown apart is their attention to detail: complimentary beverages served with tasty cookies, stylists who don't treat you like the next part on the assembly line, and plenty of advice on styling your hair at home. Pricing is super reasonable too, so there's no excuse not to pop in and freshen up before you hit the rapidly growing nightlife in the sugar town. 

Universal Hair, Maroochydore
Another Maroochydore salon makes the cut, with Universal Hair consistently nabbing places on 'best salon' lists. With experts in upstyles, braiding and curling, you'll be ready for your big night out in now time. Or if it's a seamlessly smooth blowdry you're after, the soft results from their iron-free blast dries will have you craving such straight hair, you'll be back to book in for their Perfection or Keratin Fusion permanent straightening treatments!

Got a great blowdry salon I missed? Let me know in the comments?

Are you a fan of the salon blow dry?

What I Wore - Birdsnest for a Winter wedding

Toasty heaters, big steaming platters of roast meat and gravy, and snuggling into pashminas – who wouldn’t be excited for a Winter wedding?

When one of my favourite colleagues of ALL TIME popped an invite on my desk for her wedding, I did what most girls would do. Squeal a little bit, check the location out online, then start searching online for the perfect outfit.

Hidden in a working cattle property outside the Sunshine Coast town of Yandina is a contender for the most beautiful country wedding venue in the country. At Yandina Station, they've been playing host to beautiful events for years now, and BB and I even checked them out when we were searching for our perfect wedding venue. We ended up deciding to head north to Port Douglas to get hitched instead of staying local, but I can still say that it's one of my favourite wedding venues.

Living just up the road from the venue, I knew that Yandina Station on a July evening would be more than a little chilly, so started my search for a dress with sleeves on Birdnest. There were SO many to choose from, but I played it safe and chose the Off the Shoulder Dress because, well... this is me we're talking about, and I never pass up the chance to wear off the shoulder, duh!

For non-stylists like me, there are plenty (thousands) of styled outfits available to check out on the Birdsnest website, it's so easy to envisage how your whole outfit will look when worn together - genius!

Laying out everything early in the morning makes for a much quicker prep time, especially for a weekday wedding!

Clockwise: Birdsnest Off the Shoulder Dress*, Samantha Wills turquoise ring and earrings (similar here), Raybans because I cry at weddings, YSL lippie, vintage hat borrowed from Trainee Mama, Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde Leave-In Toner (this is my new fave hair product, gives such sparkly highlights and shine - currently available at Woolies), Trix block heels from Spendless, borrowed pashmina from Mum, Sussan sequin clutch (similar here).

The happy couple... wait, no! Another happy couple!

This dress was possibly the most comfortable style I've ever worn to an occasion... and you don't need to just believe me! The Birdsnest webswite is super-easy to both navigate and to leave reviews, so when I saw it had a 100% Excellent rating, and comments like these, there's no way I could not share the love of this fine frock!

Lyndall, size 14: The dress is slimline without being clingy. It gives a beautiful shape to my hourglass figure. Sleeve length is classy and the gorgeous neckline is really pretty. Really happy with this purchase. It will be a great dress for travelling too, as the material isn't likely to crush.

Yes, I would recommend this item.

Michelle, size 16: Purchased size 16 and fits beautifully - very flattering dress. Was for a date so felt very sexy and confident. Thank you!!

Yes, I would recommend this item.

Rebecca, size 10: If you want to feel sexy and elegant at the same time, or need something for a special occasion then you definitely need this dress in your life. It is a perfect weight, has no horrible zippers that snag or buttons to wrestle with. It holds off the shoulder without slipping. It is a flattering length to the knee.It will travel well without too much fuss or ironing needed. Believe me this dress will turn heads. I just love it. Thanks Birdsnest girls!!!

Yes, I would recommend this item.

Hot potato croquettes on a brisk evening? Don't go ANYWHERE with that tray, my young waiter friend.

We did have a few romantic moments together, imaging what it might have been like to get married at this gorgeous venue.

I love love LOVE me a good wedding, and this one was superb. The groom cried a little when saying his vows, and we all know how adorable that is. 

To Stacey and Jason, our biggest congratulations to a beautiful couple who make each other so happy. BB and I wish you a wonderful journey as you build your new life together. Hugs forevs.

Do you have a favourite season for attending weddings? I love them all!

*Birdsnest dress super-awesomely gifted. You should really know by now that I won't wear anything I don't love, so consider this piece fantastic, and I'll be wearing it years from now!

Another stripe dress - Surafina Sportif Grey Stripe

At least once a week, I find myself reaching for a striped t-shirt dress. I’m starting to amass a little collection of them and I have no issues with the fact that most of my friends now know that I'm likely to turn up anywhere wearing one. I even shared my love in this post.

My latest one started as a 'Here, borrow this' dress from Trainee Mama who was heavily pregnant with her twins and wasn't getting any wear from it; and now it's a 'No chance am I returning this to you, I love it so much!' dress. (Maybe I'll buy her a replacement. maybe not.)

Surafina Sportif Grey Stripe Dress*

This is the perfect piece to throw on and head out the door in a hurry, but it’d also be on my list to take on holidays to dress up and down easily. Surafina has a few sizes left online in the grey stripe... hop to it!

The current AW Sportif styles are black with white stripe, and an alternate white with black stripe - choosing is too hard, so I recommend both! But you don't need any convincing from me, do you?

 

Would it be rude of me to ask how many stripe dresses you have? (Just to make me feel better?!)

*Dress gifted in the sense that I borrowed it from my bestie and am not returning it in a hurry.

Mother's Day gift guide - Barkly Basics kitchen accessories

What do you get for the Mum who has everything including the kitchen sink?

Easy - tell her you'll do the washing up! Don't feel wishy washy about it though, I've found a bunch of super-cute dish tools tools that turn the drudgery of a full sink into a daily happy scour!

Barkly Basics kitchen accessories - the snazziest things in my kitchen! (My Musq handwash is a stunner too!)

Enter Barkly Basics. A monochrome and ontrend collection of sponges, scourers and dish brushes that will have your sink smart enough for Insty photos... seriously! The newest product in the range is a dishwashing liquid which smells just like a freshly-made mojito, and if that doesn't get you enthused to wash dishes, I don't know what will!

Gift box includes Dish Wash Detergent (500mL), Chevron Scourer Kitchen Sponge (2pk), Black and White Scourer Sponge (2pk), All White Natural Cellulose Sponge (3pk), Round Ergonomic Scourer Sponge (1pc), Dish Stick (1pc) & Refills (3pk) - $76.80 (inc.GST)

I know you're wondering who the genius is that got the kitchen sink in on the latest interior design trend, so I asked Natasha Malkov, Director of Barkly Basics to give us a little of the Barkly back-story.

What do you do? What do you make/sell?
I am a scientist by profession with a P.h.D in Molecular Biology and had various jobs in science before having the light bulb moment and becoming “The Sponge Lady”! I now design and sell designer kitchen sponges.
I was washing the dishes one morning and looked down at the bright yellow ugly sponge and thought to myself “This sponge is so ugly!” “Why hasn’t anyone modernised it to suit our beautiful kitchens?” and I guess that is when I had the light bulb moment!

Why and how did you sell your first product?
I would have loved to manufacture the kitchen sponges in Australia, however, I couldn’t find any manufactures that make the cellulose material, so I had no choice but to make them overseas. My Sweet Citrus Mojito dishwash detergents that have just launched are manufactured in Melbourne which is great.
I initially sold my products online and then started selling wholesale to boutique supermarkets and boutique homeware and gift stores around Australia, New Zealand and internationally.

Who was your key support during the fledgling stage of Barkly Basics?
My partner was my key support in the early stages and still is. He is my investor, co-director of my company and my life partner. He is a barrister at law and always points out what can go wrong and keeps me on track!

How do you manage your time so well?
Working for yourself is great, but you need to stay motivated and manage your time wisely. I plan my days as much as possible, try and stick to a routine that works and at the end of the day try and have some “me time”.

How did you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
It was quite easy to distinguish my products from other products on the market. It was a simple colour change and package design that really made the difference.

If you could have given yourself a piece of knowledge or advice when you started what would that be? Be careful who you choose to manufacture your products. Not all manufacturers have the same idea as you when it comes to quality control. I often have to re-check products before sending them out. This takes extra time and effort. You want to avoid double handling as much as possible.

Which opportunities should you have followed?
I have had many ideas over the years and in hindsight, I should have followed most of them! Seeing others making your idea a reality is the ultimate confirmation that your thought process and your instincts are on the right track. It’s having the courage to follow them through is the hard bit.

How do you conquer any moments of doubt that threaten to stop your great ideas? What pushes you through?I have had many moments of doubt. It usually occurs during the "development phase" as it can take quite a long time. For example, the sponges took over a year to develop and during this time, I had a lot of time to overthink the whole concept and started doubting myself. The key is to work on other projects/ideas in the meantime to occupy your thought process. This usually works well, especially for me.  Also, having a support network that believes in your ideas and your ability to make it happen also helps a lot!

Righto, time for some fun stuff.
What is your 'uniform'? What do you wear more often than anything else?Anything in black! I love black. It makes me feel sophisticated, strong and slim all at the same time! Jeans and shirt are my workwear staples. My work is quite physical. I pick and pack and deal with boxes full of products on a daily basis. Not at all glamorous!

What is your favourite thing to wear to make you happy?
I love dresses. One piece that is so quick and easy to wear. I like to dress feminine but I am a real tomboy at heart.

Thanks so much Natasha, for sending me such a gorgeous box of kitchen goodies to play with, and for taking the time to share the secrets of your success!

How fab are those monochrome Barkly Basics pieces? And how much does loving your cleaning gear make a difference to the drudgery of cleaning?

Sunshine Coast High Tea at the Silva Spoon, Cotton Tree

I'm sure that most of my lovely readers will know by now that my bestie Peta of Trainee Mama is pregnant with twins. She's already done the baby shower thing prior to giving birth to her son (and my fave squidgy human) Ned, so when I asked what she'd like to do to celebrate the twins' impeding arrival, I wasn't sure if she was up for a big ol' styled-dessert-table situation with nappy games and all that jazz.

Fortunately, Peta is of the less-is-more attitude when celebrating, and she's particularly not keen on any kind of party where someone has to slave over stoves and tidy up and clean up afterwards. (See why I like her so much?) She suggested just a girl's day out, something where we could just turn up, have a little fun, then head home for naps and Netflix.

Enter The Silva Spoon. Thanks to Facebook and the wonders of social media, I recently won a giveaway on Mrs Tink's blog, and my prize would make an EXCELLENT mini-baby-shower event - a High Tea for Two at Silva Spoon in Cotton Tree.

A sunny Saturday before my crazy month of travel commences and before Peta gets too close to her due date was the perfect chance for a ladies day out, and BB was away at a Bachelor party on the Gold Coast too, which made for a very girly weekend for me! After going for a long walk with BB and Stevie in the morning, then seeing my husband off (with stern words to STAY SAFE), I had a little time to change into my dress.

Dress (similar White Haven Emporium), Siren heels, Target straw and silver clutch (a few seasons old)

I picked Peta up from her temporary home (an apartment overlooking Maroochy River, check out her current reno and moving story here), and then it was time for tea…

This was my first high tea and I had no idea what to expect, but I certainly wasn't expecting it to be as filling as it was!

We sat down at our Reserved table for two, beautifully set with Cristina Re tableware, and perused the tea menu. 

After asking a few questions (because I definitely have more experience drinking coffee than tea), we chose the Irish Breakfast tea and a Matcha Latte. 

Is it just me, or is serving two tiny portions of food WAY more appealing than one larger portion?

Peta and I had thought that we might need to head to a cafe for a sandwich on the way home, because the meal didn't look that big, but we were full before we'd finished our little cheesecakes and cupcakes!

Confession: I only ate the frosting! 

I had a really lovely and relaxing afternoon with Peta, and the whole no-washing-up thing at the end was brilliant. If I was in the business of taking my Mum out for tea-type situations, this would be the perfect Mother's Day gift!

Thanks to Mrs Tink for the great prize, I can highly recommend The Silva Spoon High Tea for a lovely afternoon on the Sunshine Coast.

This was my first High Tea, but it won't be my last. Tell me, where's your favourite High Tea?