Almost Posh is pleased to have guest contributor Lauren from Teacher Types back on the blog today, talking about jewellery that's perfect for #mumlife; practical AND still cute?! What the what?!



Hi everyone!

You might remember me from such blogger meets ups as this one and this one, the Katies VIP shopping night and this guest post. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again “I’m no fashion blogger” but Beth lets me stop by from time to time so I can dress up and pretend I am ;)

If you're anything like me, in the midst of #mumlife, you'll probably find yourself wearing the same jeans and black tops every day. Bonus points to you if they don’t have any baby grime on them. Forget about wearing your hair down or dangly earrings because that baby on your hip will just grab and hang on for dear life.

So if you want to throw on a necklace to compliment your mum bun so you feel at least a little more presentable you need to consider the fact that babies put EVERYTHING in their mouths. If you want to look a little pretty with some jewellery on, these silicone + wooden bead necklaces are what you need in your life! A non-toxic alternative to costume jewellery (because let’s face it, babies put everything in their mouths!)

Yes, that is baby dribble on my top #mumlife #keepingitreal

I love them so much and wear them all the time I have three of them - green with grey, blue and white, and a dusky pink with grey + wood. Gotta have some different colours to match those different outfits (I mean those different black tops).


You can grab them online from Indera Beads or if you’re an Adelaide local, Mama & Bump and Daisy & Hen also stock them. You’ll also find lots of stalls selling them at events such as the Lollipop markets.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have a to-do list as long as my arm while the little man is sleeping!

Guest contributor Bridie returns to Almost Posh with this handy guide on how to go from panic-buy to presentable in six easy steps.

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All dressed up and nowhere to go? Sure, maybe in your 20s.  Now, you desperately want to stay home under the heater, drinking wine, eating apple crumble and wearing trackies that are warm from the dryer (sorry – too specific?! Nah, I bet you want in on that!) but these days you have parties to go to, things to do and yet; nothing to wear.



via GIPHY
Recently I had the good fortune to be invited to an engagement party.  The invite specified “don’t come dressed like a hobo – don’t be afraid to be the best dressed guy or girl in the room” – and yes, with my nuggety physique and square jaw, it would be easy to be best dressed GUY in the room, but I digress…


After having a baby and deciding to focus on basics and building a capsule wardrobe (more on that to come!) of items I love, I find it difficult to spring for fancier clothes.  If I spend all my cash on frocks and frippery then there’s not much left for the day-to-day clothes appropriate for work, the park and trackie-clad-couch-sitting-crumble-eating. But if you don’t spend any money on appropriate going-out clothes, you will inevitably be invited to something fabulous and having nothing to wear.  It’s Murphy’s Law.

In the interests of full disclosure, it would be remiss of me to lead you to believe that our fabulous hosts for the night had not given much notice for their event. Of course they had. Months. I had more than enough time to clothe myself appropriately, but had put off the task because it involved dressing up and planning and I had better things to do, like go to the dentist and clean the grout in the shower. (Okay, dressing up isn’t THAT bad, but sometimes….)

Anyway, say you’ve left it to the last minute…if you’re in Sydney or surrounds, our friends at The Iconic^ have got your back, with 3-4 hour delivery.  3 hour shipping with free returns would be an absolute lifesaver – just order a selection, pick the best for the night and you’re good to go!

If, however, you’re not in Sydney and only have Saturday afternoon to select something before you go out Saturday night, then the following tips should help:

1.       Panic! Hahaha kidding….DON’T PANIC!

The more you panic, the more you will trigger your flight or fight reflex. Your animal brain will laser focus and you will lose peripheral vision, leading to the loss of bargains that might ordinarily be present from the corner of your eye. Okay, there is absolutely no science behind that (note to CSIRO – more shopping research needed.) BUT enjoying the process will put you in a better frame of mind and hopefully lead to a more enjoyable night, when you get home from shopping.

2.       Find a security blanket

Find an item from your wardrobe that you already like, that you know fits and that suits the occasion.  Shopping for a dress, and shoes and a bag and a floral brooch like it’s 2001 is just too much stress – you need to be on the hunt for one or two items max.  I often base outfits around shoes I already have as I know they’ll fit and won’t cause any blisters on a night out.

3.       Shop with military precision

Plan your route, like you’re Rommel attempting to seize the Suez (what the?) Seriously, you have no time for distractions or weird detours to pick up a honeydew melon, look at sheets or whatever…JUST SHOP.

4.       No dalliances

Stick to stores that you know fit.  If you’re over 30 and not built like a whippet, then you know certain stores* ain't got nothing for you, so rather than descend into a pity spiral, just move on past. Similarly, now is not the time to be considering new yoga pants if you’re headed to a cocktail party tonight.

5.       Consider small boutiques

This is where #shopsmall comes into its own.  If you build up relationships with small boutique owners you can present them with your dilemma and often they will be more than helpful. Some of my best outfits have come from small boutiques where they have interesting clothes at decent price points and are willing to spend the time to help a shopper in need.

6.       Makeup on point

Sure, you might not have luck at the shops, but if you’ve followed these tips, your shoes will fit and your makeup can carry the whole look.  Red lipstick and a cute pair of heels can go a long way.

Now, grab your slippers, Cinderella - it's time for the Ball!!  What are your top tips for getting a killer last minute outfit?

See How To Shop With Success and Shopping: Instore vs Online for more thoughts on the subject and for the mums out there, try 15 Handy Hints For Shopping With Kids.

*Not naming names, but we all know of a few stores like this, amirite?!
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Although I have a daughter who occasionally gets a mention here at AlmostPosh.com, I don't consider myself a mummy blogger. As I've said before, other people have made my salient points already and the phrase "sensory play" doesn't get much of a run in my household.

However, my friend Kelly, who runs the business Elemental Beginnings here in Adelaide asked if I would contribute a guest post to her blog about the first three months of parenthood (also known as the "fourth trimester") and I have duly done so:

Just Plain Lucky: My Fourth Trimester

Kelly is a qualified post-natal doula and placenta encapsulator, providing her support services to mums of Adelaide and selected regional areas of South Australia.




This is probably all a bit woo woo to a lot of people - and admittedly, I did not have my placenta encapsulated - but Kelly's satisfied clients give some great testimonies on her website regarding her post-natal support and the benefits they have enjoyed from her services.

Kelly has undertaken a huge amount of study, training and research, including a degree in microbiology, and is eminently qualified to provide services and advice relating to care of newborns; including family adjustment, breastfeeding, settling and soothing, coping skills and bonding.

Research has indicated that having the support of a post-natal doula can increase the success of breastfeeding, lessen the chance of post-natal depression and improve the bonding process.

To find out more, have a look at her website and if you're in the upcoming market for some newborn-style support or to learn more about the possible benefits of placenta encapsulation and what is actually involved in the process (spoiler alert: Thermomix!), then get in contact to see what she can do for you.

If you're not in Adelaide, Kelly has a far-reaching network and may be able to recommend services in your area.
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** Not sponsored **