Tag Archives: blog

Black and white striped dress

Posted in Fashion by

HELLO summer! I wore this outfit out to lunch last week so I didn’t melt in the heat.
This striped dress is something I’ve had sitting in my wardrobe for months but I’d never worn it.
The tags were still on and everything!

Black and white striped dress | Extraordinary Days

The weather was great that day!

As part of my plan to get in control of my finances this year (more about this in my 2015 goals post) I’m trying not to buy any clothes and shoes, which means digging through my existing wardrobes instead.
(Yes, you read that correctly, wardrobes plural. I have a lot of clothes, okay?)
I was fun to pick this out and remember why I bought it – it’s adorable! It’s from a store called SES but unfortunately they don’t have an online shopping section! (What a shame.)
I was worried about looking about like a prison inmate or someone in pajamas but after wearing it, I think it’s a winner.

Black and white striped dress | Extraordinary Days

A high bun is definitely my go-to hairstyle for a lazy day.

I wore a black Cotton On long singlet dress (find it here) and threw in my usual fluoro pink Aldo bag and fluoro pink sandals.
The small belt attached to this dress helps give me a waist despite the stripes but, as it’s brown, I will probably change this for a black belt in the future.
A high bun to keep my hair out of my face and off the back of my neck is also one of my go-to hairstyles.

Black and white striped dress | Extraordinary Days

Fluoro pink every day!

Would you wear vertical stripes? Let me know in the comments!

Samantha Wills white howlite necklace

Posted in Fashion, Life by

LAST week I celebrated my two-year anniversary with my lovely boyfriend and I was lucky enough to be spoiled with a Samantha Wills necklace!
I’d been eying off this Australian designer’s collection for a while now and there are so many things I want from her collection!

Ready for Mexican food!

Ready for Mexican food!

I chose the White Howlite necklace from the minerals collection – a pendant with a fine rose gold chain and a dainty name plate with the stone’s meaning: calming and stress relief.
I don’t really believe in minerals having real-world applications but it’s still really beautiful.
(And hey, worst case scenario, a little calm is something I could definitely use in my daily life.)

Samantha Wills White Howlite necklace

It’s just so dainty!

The rose gold wouldn’t usually have been my first choice as I mostly wear silver but the only necklace in the collection with a silver chain had a black onyx stone that I felt just didn’t suit me.
But I really like how it looks against a whole range of colours, especially black.
Other stones available included amethyst, rose quartz, lapis and a turquoise stone. (See the collection here.)

Samantha Wills White Howlite necklace

I am drooling.

The chain has two extra rings on it to allow you to wear it shorter if you like – I’ve been wearing it at its longest length.
It came in a beautiful wooden box with flowers stencilled into the top – something I’ll definitely keep on display.
For the rest of the outfit, the Portmans shorts were a gift from my lovely friend Candice. (Similar here and for the heels, see a similar pair here.)

black and white Portmans shorts

I love these shorts so much!

They’re quite fitted at the waist and although I’m always paranoid about spilling something whenever I wear white, the tropical print is fun and I think they’ll feature heavily in the rest of my summer wardrobe.
We took these photos before going out for Mexican at my favourite restaurant – he’s always so patient when taking outfit photos!
I really couldn’t ask for a better boyfriend and we’ve got so many adventures planned for the future.
Here’s to many more years!

Extraordinary Days

Nothing says ‘couple’ like matching floral in a tropical location.

What’s your favourite piece of jewellery? Let me know in the comments!

Full-time fashion blogger shirt

Posted in Fashion by

OKAY, I’m wearing this top with only like 80 per cent irony.
When I saw it in an Ally store a while ago, I just couldn’t go past it! I first showed you this shirt in my post about my new 2015 diary.

full time fashion blogger top

Last-minute adjustments.

I wore this for a fun day out of hitting op-shops and lunching with my lovely friend Candice. It was really hot so I tucked it into a little black Cotton On skater skirt (similar here) and threw on my glittery jelly sandals.
This shirt has got a fairly loose fit but I like the shape the rolled sleeves give the shirt and, as it was a bit too thin to wear on its own, I wore a white spaghetti strap singlet underneath.

full time fashion blogger top

Hello, summer!

While we were waiting to pick up Indian food for lunch we snapped some photos in a really cool graffitied alley behind a bar.You can pick you your very own shirt like this one here.

full time fashion blogger top

I’m always searching for something in my bottomless pit of a handbag.

Okay everyone, let’s have a show of hands, would you wear this shirt?
Also, if YOU’RE a fashion blogger, make sure to post the link to your little bit of the internet below so I can see!

My goals for 2015

Posted in Life by

I DON’T believe in New Year’s resolutions because I don’t think you need the calendar to flip over to make changes in your life. That said, there’s no harm in choosing things to focus on in the future.
It took me a while to narrow down the list of things I want to do this year but here it is.

2015 New Year's resolutions

It’s going to be a great year!

Take time for myself:
Taking care of myself is the first thing to fall by the wayside as soon as life gets crazy – and with a busy job and a long daily commute (about two and a half hours per day!) this was a struggle for me in 2014.
I found I could always schedule time in for errands, friends and other activities but never put aside enough time to just relax.
Last year taught me that taking time out to rest, get enough sleep and mentally recuperate is incredibly important.
I didn’t realise how tightly wound I was until I went to Europe in June and could actually relax for weeks on end.
Whether I achieve this by going to bed earlier, reading a magazine or having a lazy Sunday morning in bed, I really want to take time out when I can this year – before I burn out.

Get moving:
Exercise is something that I too easily put on the backburner.
Again, with my long commute it’s often quite late by the time I get home but I’ve been lucky enough to house-sit near my work for the past month and having that extra time as well as minding a large dog that needs lots of walking has made all the difference to my exercise schedule.
So for almost four weeks now I’ve walked the dog for between 30 minutes and a hour each day and at the end of last month I started using an incredible yoga app for daily practice as well.
(Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see a post on my progress with this app!)
I feel incredible!! My stress levels have gone down drastically, even during the silly season.
Ideally I’d like to take at least half an hour each day for cardio (even if it’s just a brisk walk) and either 15 minutes or half an hour for yoga, with longer sessions of both on the weekend.
I’ve got a Fitbit Flex and it’s helping me keep track of the steps I do each day. Meeting my goals is extremely satisfying.
While the tough part will be keeping this routine when I start finish house-sitting and start commuting again, I’m going to give it my best shot.

Read more:
I’m a big bookworm but I don’t usually have time to read!
Before bed each night I ususally spend a bit of time reading a book on my iPod Touch but it’s just not the same as flipping physical pages.
This year I want to make more time to pick up a book and escape into another world.

Get in control of my finances:
Saving money is not exactly my strongest area and it’s something I really am going to get on top on this year.
I started by unsubscribing from a lot of store emails – I do not need to know when they have a sale on!
Saving for a house deposit is my main priority and keeping that in mind will hopefully help me keep my spending in check.

Keep up with blogging:
I’m sure most bloggers have the same goal for this year.
I’ve got so many ideas in my little notebook that I can’t wait to get on to but keeping organised and planning ahead will be key.

What are your goals for 2015? Share them in the comments!

Fujifilm Instax Mini camera review

Posted in Photography, Travel by

THESE adorable instant cameras are making a comeback!
I have the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S which is the slightly older version to what’s on the market now.

Fujifilm Instax Mini review | Extraordinary Days

Some of my favourite shots!

The best part about these camera is being able to print out your photos straight away and they’re yours forever! You don’t have to worry about leaving them on a USB forever and forgetting to print them.
As I mentioned in my post about beating post-holiday blues, having an instant camera in addition my my iPhone was absolutely invaluable — I was able to capture so many beautiful places in the cute little white frames.
The photos have a soft, vintage feel to them which I love.

Fujifilm Instax Mini review | Extraordinary Days

My Europe trip was incredible!

The only major downside is the film can be expensive.
It comes in packs of 10 sheets, usually for about $1.50-$2 per frame but you can get them for about $1 per frame if you buy in bulk from places like eBay.
There are four settings, indoor/dark, cloudy/shady, fine and clear for different light situations.
There’s also a window at the back that shows you how many shots you have left.

Fujifilm Instax Mini review

Mine’s a bit beat up after taking it with me on my travels.

Tips to get the most out of your Instax Mini:
– Think about the light source. Too much light will leave black spots on the film so if you want to capture something like a sunset, point the lens slightly away from the sun or get the sun just out of the shot. Too little light (like a time I took photos a the beach after the sun went down) can make the film underdeveloped and dark. Don’t overestimate how much light there is – even in you think there’s enough it’s usually a good idea to turn the camera onto a lower setting so you don’t end up with a dark photo.

– Remember the lens is not directly above the viewfinder. Look slightly to the left of your subject when taking a photo to get it the centre.

Fujifilm Instax Mini review | Extraordinary Days

Remember the lens is slightly to the left of the viewfinder.

– Don’t get too close to your subject. This is the thing I struggle with the most! With my iPhone and DSLR I’m used to not having to worry about how close I stand but with the Instax, the flash will wash out your photo if you’re too close. This is especially true for indoors, where you’ll end up with an out of focus, mostly white photos if you’re too close.

– Take care of your film. Store it in a cool place in hot weather and don’t leave it in the car — heat damage can make the film white and washed out. In Perth our winters are pretty mild but I’ve read cold damage can make the film turn black and make it not develop properly.

– Don’t put it in your luggage when travelling – the heavy-duty X-rays can ruin it.
Always take your Instax and extra film in your hand luggage. The X-ray machines within the airport are not as strong. I took my film on eight flights in five weeks in my hand luggage on my Europe trip and it was fine.

Fujifilm Instax Mini review

So many adventures to be had!

– And most of all, have fun! Don’t worry about taking a “bad” photo or wasting a frame – some of my favourite photos were from spur-of-the-moment shots.
Pick up your own Instax Mini here.

Do you have or want an Instax Mini camera? What do you think of it?

Garnier Perfect Blur Cream review

Posted in Beauty by

IT’S always nice when a spur-of-the-moment purchase turns out to be amazing!
I picked Garnier’s Perfect Blur Cream on a whim after seeing it at the chemist.
It claimed to be an all-over face cream that “reflects light” to help blur imperfections.

Not sure why they decided on such a huge box for such a small tube.

Not sure why they decided on such a huge box for such a small tube.

You apply it after your daily moisturiser and I use it its own or under BB cream.
It’s got a velvet texture when applied and it makes my skin feel soft and smooth.
The only downside is that if you touch or rub it too much when you put it on (like when putting BB cream on top of it), it comes off and leaves little balls of product all over your face.
I accidentally applied this before putting on foundation one morning and just using a soft makeup brush on my face made the Garnier cream come off and didn’t leave a smooth base for my foundation.
Don’t let this put you off though!
All in all, it does what it says on the packet and while you’re obviously going to get better coverage with concealer and foundation, it did help with evening out my complexion.
On a good skin day I wear this by itself and it feels like enough.
A small pea-sized amount is enough to cover your whole face and neck and it’s become a staple part of my workday morning routine.

This is about the amount I use each day.

This is about the amount I use each day.

At about $15, this is on the lower end of the price scale so I would definitely buy this again.
Other blurring products include L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Magic Blur Instant Skin Smoother and Indeed Laboratories Nanoblur.

Have you used a light-reflecting or ‘blurring’ face product? What did you think?

Three ways to make your outfit sparkle on NYE

Posted in Beauty, Fashion by

NEW Year’s Eve is almost upon us!
Aside from freaking out about where the year has gone, I’m starting to plan my outfit for the big night.
I’m a huge fan of sequins, glitter any anything else that shines but it can be daunting to put these into an outfit without looking like a walking disco ball, especially for more casual events.
Here are three easy ways to throw in a bit of shine into your look, to get 2015 off to a great start!

blue maxi dress ootd NYE

We’re set for a warm NYE! I’ll be by the pool.

A sequinned belt:
I paired this gold belt with a floaty maxi dress and sandals for a low-key bit of sparkle.
NYE is usually hot even after the sun goes down in Australia so this would be great for a barbecue or a few relaxed drinks with friends.
It’s not too over-the-top but is still fun.
I threw in a plain white clutch so the belt would be the feature and my gold Juicy Couture charm bracelet – a gift from my lovely sister on a recent trip to Hong Kong. (There’s a close-up photo of these jewellery pieces at the bottom of this post.)

blue maxi dress ootd

This outfit is perfect for a more casual shindig.

blue maxi dress ootd NYE

Gold accessories bring the whole thing together.

The showstopper:
This gold sequinned top is definitely in my top ten favourite items in my wardrobe.
You’re not going to be missed in this thing!
This shirt has a black faux-leather (pleather) back and sleeves so it’s not full-on sequins the whole way around.
I paired it with a plain black skirt and minimal accessories – this top does all the talking.

gold sequin top ootd NYE

The faux-leather backing makes this shirt a bit warm, though.

Shiny accessories:
If you’re searching for something minimal to add to your outfit, simple, shiny accessories are always a good option.
This cat ear headband is a bit silly and fun but definitely cute!
Make-up wise I’m going to be keeping things pretty simple – just pink lips and liquid eyeliner.
For this look I used MAC’s Magenta lip liner and Max Factor’s Flipstick Colour Effect in Boreal Mauve 15.

cat ears headband ootd NYE

I love this headband!

Let’s take another look at the accessories I used for these outfits.
The big silver necklace from my dolphin skirt OOTD post would also be a winner, especially if paired with a little black dress.
You can pick up a Juicy Couture charm bracelet just like mine here.

So many shiny things in one image.

So many shiny things in one image.

This bracelet just gets me.

This bracelet just gets me.


What are you wearing on New Year’s Eve? Let me know in the comments!

My Christmas wish list

Posted in Life by

CHRISTMAS is almost here so I thought I’d share my wish list with you.

Most of these are things I’ve had bookmarked for ages and I will probably end up buying anyway eventually!

Ice cream sandwich pool bed:
Who doesn’t want to float away the day on a pool toy shaped like dessert? Pick one up here.

More Lime Crime makeup:
I’ve fallen in love with Geradium but I’ve got my eye on some of the Carousel Glosses but too. You can never have too many shades! Check them all out here.

Kikki.K travel diary:
What better way to take notes about all of the beautiful places I go to? See more stationary goodness here.
Also, I’m in love with kikki.K since I picked up my adorable new 2015 diary.

Fujifilm Instax Share SP-1 Printer:
This awesome little box links to your phone via bluetooth and lets you print photos from your camera roll onto Fujifilm Instax film. Check it out here.

A Rosita Bonita necklace:
These dreamy, hand-make necklaces are so beautiful! See more here.

A K is for Kani floral headpiece:
I’ve been following Connie’s blog for ages and it’s impressive to see how far she’s come.
Her hand-made floral headpieces are just beautiful! See more here.

I can’t believe the big day is just around the corner!
What is on your Christmas wish list? Share in the comments!

My favourite dolphin skirt

Posted in Fashion, Life by

I LOVE any item of clothing that has animals on it, so this skirt is one of my favourites.
I bought it from a rack of clothes outside a tiny store in Singapore’s Chinatown.

I took this look to a friend’s birthday party this weekend.

I paired the bright skirt with a pop of pink in my handbag and my biggest, shiniest necklace.
The necklace was another travel purchase – I picked it up in Florence in a random boutique.
It was just so over-the-top that I knew I had to buy it!
I’m house-sitting at the moment so today I had a canine helper for my photos!
I also put on Lime Crime’s Centrifuschia lipstick — I can’t get enough of this fun colour. Read my review of it here.

Dolphin skirt ootd

I think he approves of my dolphins.

I'm a cat person but I just can't resist that face!

I’m a cat person but I just can’t resist that face!

Do you have a favourite piece of animal-print clothing? I’d love to hear about it!

My Liebster Award nomination

Posted in Life by

I AM finally getting around to doing this post after Franzi from Live Laugh Love nominated me!
This is about spreading the love to the other new blogs we’ve found and finding a bit more out about each other.

IMG_0104.PNG

Source: http://littlebigbell.com/the-liebster-blog-award/

For people who haven’t done this before, here are the rules:
1. Mention the blogger who nominated you.
2. Answer the 11 questions that have been sent to you.
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers that have less than 200 followers.
4. Create 11 questions for you nominees to answer.

Here are my answers:
1) If you could choose where you want to live. Where would that be?
There are so many lovely places in the world! Venice or Paris would be incredible, just to soak in all of the history and art and culture. But having a holiday home on the Greek islands (probably Santorini) or Tuscany would be ideal! A girl can dream!

2) I’m from Germany and I like to ask people what the think and know about Germany. So what do you know and think about us Germans and our country?
When I think of Germany I think Oktoberfest! Beer and sausages and a really fun time. I know there’s more to this to the country than this, though.

3) Your best concert experience?
I went to Laneway in Perth in 2012 with my lovely friend Candice and we got to see M83 play. Their set included their amazing song Midnight City, the weather was warm and we just danced like crazy! It was an exhilarating, uplifting experience that has always stayed with me.

4) There are so many different TV series on. Which one would you suggest to your best friends?
TRUE DETECTIVE. I seriously can’t get enough of this show. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are an absolutely stellar team of detectives solving a gruesome string of crimes. Not for the faint of heart but incredible, gripping viewing.

5) If you could travel to the past, what year of event would you like to go? Why?
I’d love to go to the Palace of Versailles in the 1700s and attend a fancy party.

6) Guilty pleasure?
Energy drinks. I love them so much but I know they’re terrible for you so I’m always trying to give them up.

7) What do you think has shaped your personality the most growing up?
My family. I’m one of five kids but we’re all really close and our parents (mum in particular) never let us treat each other badly. Being in a house with seven people really helps you learn to share and not take things too personally.

8) Why did you start a blog?
I wanted a creative outlet – a place where I could share my writing and photos and get away from the grind of everyday life!

9) Who’s your favourite blogger?
The sisters behind A Beautiful Mess, Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman are so inspiring. Their blog is always a pleasure to look at and lovely to read.

10) British or American English?
Being Australian my choice is British, or course.

11) Who would you love to meet and why?
David Attenborough! A few years ago I was in the front row for his talk with Ray Martin in Melbourne and it was fantastic. He’s led such an interesting life, has a unique way of seeing the world and he’s one of my all-time heroes.

I had a hard time picking just 11 blogs to nominate because there are just so many amazing up-and-coming bloggers out there (and in my Bloglovin feed!)
All of these choices have beautiful photos and their creators are full of life. I highly recommend giving them a read!

My nominees are:
1. Catherine Luise
2. Jeanne Christine Marie
3. Dose of Patty
4. Jennifer Cooper
5. Katielou
6. Ella Kate
7. Call Me Clare
8. Holly of the Sky
9. HelloEllenor
10. Saturday’s Girl
11. Vogue et Voyage

My questions are as follows:
1. Who is your celebrity style inspiration?
2. Do you prefer hot or cold weather?
3. What is your dream job or ideal field to work in?
4. What is your favourite item in your wardrobe?
5. What products are on your wishlist right now? (Hopefully Santa is listening!)
6. What is your favourite way to exercise?
7. Do you prefer dogs or cats?
8. What is your favourite thing to do to relax?
9. If you could invite any three people to dinner, who would it be and why?
10. What is your favourite type of blog post to create? (Eg: outfit posts, reviews, personal experiences)
11. If you were a main character in a movie, who would you want to play you?

Good luck and happy reading!