So . . . it's MUH BIRFDAY TODAY!


I am still quite happy to celebrate birthdays and have zero issues with my new age, which is 37. Apart from the fact 3 and 7 are both odd numbers and that doesn't sit well with me *shudder*. Ask me again when I jump into the next age bracket on surveys and questionnaires, however, this week it's all about the celebration!

One of the emerging trends of awesomeness is the birthday voucher from companies getting you in while you're all abuzz with celebrating and/or buying yourself presents on behalf of your spouse.

Here's a round-up of the birthday-related offers I've received:

$5 off next purchase at Chemplus
10% off code at ASOS
$10 gift voucher from Jeanswest
$30 gift credit at Mimco
Free pizza from my local place, Pizza Bite
15% off at Best and Less
$5 voucher from Priceline
20% off at The Iconic
Free burrito at Salsa's Fresh Mex

In related news, a month or so ago, in an effort to be better with my bucks, I switched my car insurance to Coles Insurance (despite their achingly irritating television ads) as they could save me over $20 a month and were offering a $100 Coles gift card as a sweetener. It arrived recently, and after the initial disappointment of it not being a Coles Myer gift card and wondering what I was going to spend it on (groceries for the family? As if!) I remembered Mix Apparel!

I've only bought from Mix a couple of times before and was reasonably pleased with the items I got but hadn't really bought anything else since; my local Coles doesn't stock Mix so it's a mission to get to one that does and I embarked on that said mission this week and was pleased to find they had all Womens Bottoms for $19. I'll leave you to make the lady bum jokes yourselves.

Side note: when fetching that link for Mix above, I was reminded of the floral shorts I bought last season and wondered where they were. I later discovered a whole bag of summer pants stuffed away at the top of the wardrobe so that was exciting! #rediscoveryourwardrobe

Back to the story at hand. With my $100 voucher printout at the ready, I tried on a million things and ended up with these items:

Side Zip Denim Skirt Usually $29 - $19 on special

Rib Cuff Soft Pant Usually $25 - $19 on special

Denim Button Front Skirt Usually $29 - $19 on special

Pop Over Knit Blouse (??) $19

Denim Moto Jean Usually $35 - $19 on special

Mandarin Collar Top $19

God, I love free money.

I also popped over to the Health & Beauty aisle and picked up a Maybelline Hyper Sharp Wing eyeliner as recommended by my friend Lizzie for 50% off, so it was a win all round. I then achieved a lined eye this morning before work! Can you believe it??

Bus selfie. Can and will.

Outfit posts will be heading your way in the future so you can see how I ended up styling these bits and pieces. I am in a state of shock that I suddenly own not one, but TWO denim skirts. Never say never, amirite?

Bought anything from Mix lately?

You might remember a few weeks ago, I won A Quirky Bird's 100 Style Challenge with this submission which was very exciting!




I actually met Zoe of A Quirky Bird this past weekend for a coffee with kids in tow, where we chatted about op shopping, blogging including ProBlogger goss and things Adelaide.

The prize was a hundred big ones which came in very handy for my trip to Sydney and since the weather finally decided to recognise here in Adelaide last week, I was able to facilitate a style post with the photographic help of Stacie.

Let me talk you through it:

After walking around Myer Miss Shop in Sydney for quite some time and trying on ALL THE THINGS, I finally came across a pair of culottes from Saints + Secrets.

Obvs culottes are on their way back and I hadn't given them much thought until I saw a sharply tailored pair styled almost as a midi skirt by a lady on the street here in Adelaide in such an impressive way and I thought that was definitely something I could be a part of.

At 30% off the already reduced price, I scored them for $43 which was most agreeable.

I also ended my search for a comfortable pair of peep-toe ankle booties at Big W for $39 which don't appear to be available online. I did see them in-store last weekend on special for $29 (OF COURSE). I can't believe how easy these are to wear which is great for a day of work then unexpected amounts of walking on nights out. Now to find an equally awesome pair in tan! (I'm already eyeballing these Sportsgirl numbers. The price needs to drop first although it is my birthday next month . . . )

Finally, to take me up to the $100 total, I treated muhself to a piece from local Adelaide company Blush & Co - after much agonising over which one to get, I settled on "Marble on Blush - short" for $32. Yes, this was a bit over $100. I didn't mind too much about chipping in the extra few bucks.

Now for the outfit (including a new $8 pair of sunglasses from Kmart):













Here's a closer look at me wearing the Marble on Blush . . . along with my windblown hair and new phone headset for work. Or as I call it, my Madonna mic. Don't think I didn't rock out some "Express Yourself" because I totally did.



I panic-wore this striped TBC top from Harris Scarfe and am not that happy with the look of it in the photos but I am looking forward to rewearing the culottes over Spring with a more pleasing top solution.

And just in case you think I'm taking myself too seriously . . . #modellyfe




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I haven't done an outfit post for a while, mainly because I've been either recycling a lot of looks or looking a hot mess in shorts and tees. I also have a few items chilling in the wardrobe waiting for an occasion, like my chambray linen dress, TEMT kimono and floral shirts from Mix. 

This week, I've been participating in the What The Teacher Wears Style Challenge (#wttwstylechallenge)

It's not the reason I haven't made any posts this week, I don't really have an excuse for that. However, I have enjoyed the prompts which were all very accessible and quite easy to rustle up a conforming outfit for the day.

Day 1 - Midi-skirt Monday

I re-rocked the outfit I wore in this post.




The photos are better in that one. On this day I had very little time to myself to go out and get any photos so I was stuck with sneaking a mirror version after work.

I've got a Kmart white tee ($5!) tucked into a Khoko spotted midi skirt from Harris Scarfe and silver triangle necklace and earrings recently snagged from Sportsgirl

Day 2 - Tropical Tuesday

After identifying tropical as a gap in my wardrobe, I pulled out this navy bird print dress as the closest thing I had.



I bought it at Rivers when considerably pregnant and hadn't worn it for a while. Two people complimented me on it so I guess it will get more run time this summer!

I wore it with those ubiquitous white laser cut Rubi loafers and stuck a big white flower in my hair for that tropical feel. I've also got some pink frangipani earrings from Big W in.

Day 3 - "Midweek Monochrome"

I had a few options that I was tossing up between here and settled on this because I thought it would be a cooler day than it ended up being . . .




The spotty top is from Chicabooti. I like it because it has an elasticated waist that I wish I had pulled down a touch more for the photo but what can you do.

I wore it with those bargain Review pants from Savers, cuffed 'em up and threw on a pair of Joanne Mercer heels for a little height. I went with pearl accessories to go with my white dots and that Pink All Up In Your Face lipstick I got last week at Priceline.

Day 4 - "Floral Thursday"

I wanted something simple and easy to wear.



Bang. A scuba floral-print dress, also from Chicabooti and, in fact, bought the same day as the spotted top above, some black Fiorelli sunglasses and Kiss Of Life Rimmel lipstick. It's a bit light on accessories . . . I was in a rush!

I never thought I'd say it but I do dig this neoprene/scuba fabric. It's forgiving.

Day 5 - "Printed Pants Friday"





I started off wearing another pair of pants and another black top. Changed the top. Changed the pants. Changed the shoes. Changed the necklace. I ended up in another $5 Kmart tee, these printed pants from TEMT and those doggone Rubi flats again. I *really* need some new shoes. (My husband disagrees with this statement). I'm wearing Sportsgirl earrings and my Tiffany and Co necklace. I also added a coral cardi last minute, which this photo pointed out to me had some sort of yellow crust on the shoulder! EW.

I'm still working on my outfit photographing technique and haven't quite got to my desired level (being pinned by a stranger on Pinterest) but here is one I managed to snap last week early in the morning during the brief few minutes before finishing getting ready for work and waking the toddler up to prepare her for day care.

Morning has broken

It's really hard to find somewhere to balance your iPhone such that you can get a full body shot in decent light with a non-heinous background. This was taken by leaning the phone against the stubby aerial of my Suzuki Swift, activating my camera timer app then trotting up the driveway a bit, striking a pose and hoping not to be busted by any work-bound neighbours . . . unfortunately because our house faces east, the morning sun is behind me and it was a bit overcast so it's got kind of a dreamy filtered look to it.

I combated the lack of visible detail by taking a few different angles.




Now, the point of this post is to illustrate the bargaintastic nature of this entire outfit, as follows:

KMart basic black tee - $5
Cotton On print pants - $15 on special
Rubi wedge sandals - $5 on special a few years ago
Diva chevron necklace - $3 (from Savers)

Outfit total = $28

The most expensive thing pictured is my pedicure which was an astonishingly overpriced $35.

This look is a bit of a departure for me - being short and having a bit of a fuller figure at the moment, I've been a bit wary of any non-fitted pants, especially lightweight patterned ones. I'm happy to say that after road-testing the outfit for the [fairly warm] day, I felt cool in all senses of the word!