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Monday 29 October 2012

Hats.

So I decided that it was time I got serious about an outfit for Derby Day........this coming Saturday. Apparently, the traditional dress code for ladies is black and white. No problem as my wardrobe is the home of black dresses from throughout the ages.....but what to wear on my head?

I tried on this:



And this:


And then because I am such an indecisive and unspontaneous shopper I put them both out on Instagram to see what everybody else thought. The first hat was the clear favourite. Then I checked with my eleven year old daughter, she agreed.....so I went back bought it. I think I'll wear it with this old Collette Dinnigan dress dredged up from the depths of my wardrobe which I bought in Sydney to wear to a wedding:


Not so convinced about the belt though, as the sparkly dimante bits are always getting caught in the lace.....which could pose a problem once the champagne has kicked in. Maybe I'll keep an eye out this week for a black belt.

The weather down here has been lousy, there has been lots of sitting around in front of this:


And then mercifully yesterday all of the planets aligned and the sun shone. Good news, as we were hosting a fifth birthday party:



Our two older children have had a birthday party every year. I'm afraid to admit that when they were little all of their parties were at home and EVERYTHING was made with my own bare hands. Poor old Tobes has had a couple of rather pathetic excuses for a child's birthday party.....a grown up drinks party, a party with neighbourhood children in France and last year a bbq in the park. This year he got a party, however I relaxed my strict party principles....he got the tear of pad of invites and a piƱata from Spotlight. I know, I've been struggling with my conscience. As a sign of my crossing over to the dark side, I even spent most of last week hassling my husband to order the cake. At the eleventh hour I came good and look at what my husband and I whipped up......together:


And then I borrowed Deanne from Five Brothers One Sister's idea of an ice cream stand.....although I'd better clarify here that our's may have not been quite so fancy. It was run by our eleven year old with help from her friend:


And the boys were in raptures. Although, for the girls, at one stage things have may been a tad hairy with a dozen five year old boys demanding service. As an easy party option I'd rate the concept of an ice cream stand very highly.


I didn't go to yoga yesterday as the prospect of eating cake in the sunshine to celebrate out little boy's fifth birthday was just too enticing. And then on the mat this morning I panicked when I calculated that I will have to go to class tonight AND tomorrow morning AND tomorrow night in order to complete the 30 day challenge. The things you have to do. Oh well, will just have to console myself with the mainland and the races on the weekend.....

Rx

19 comments:

  1. I love the idea of the ice cream stand...will have to tuck that one away and bring it out in a few years!

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    1. Yes, you must as it was so easy and the children absolutely adored it! Rx

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  2. I liked the first hat too!
    The cake looks great. Homemade is always the best even if they don't look all that professional, which yours does of course! x

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    1. I must admit that I was originally leaning towards the second hat.....yet it really did look a tad like an explosion in a chook yard which probably isn't a good look! I agree with homemade, usually everything, although settled for cake on this occasion and have been berating myself all week that I didn't make the ice cream.....Rx

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  3. Could you wear a thickish black velvet ribbon around the waist of the dress??

    I totally agree with the first hat!

    Looks like the party was a success and I love the cake.

    Enjoy Derby Day.

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    1. Fab idea....on your suggestion have been back to Spotlight (again) and secured a thick black ribbon which should work perfectly as a belt and tie in with the hat. Rx

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  4. Love the hat- you will look fabulous!
    So glad that your ice cream stand was a success!!!

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    1. Thanks so much for the ice cream stand idea, Deanne, it is truly inspired. I kid you not, the little boys squealed with delight when they saw it and rushed to queue up! Priceless. Rx

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  5. Love the first hat. Will look gorgeous with the dress, and agree with Farmer's Wife with the velvet sash idea. Unfortunately my husband regards racing as complete torture (for him, not the horse), so despite many, many invitations when we lived in Melb (both corporate and friends), he would always refuse flatly to go.
    We did a party yesterday as well - I outsourced. After my near breakdown over my daughter's 4th Birthday party in May, I thought I deserved a rest. I think I was slightly deranged with what I had set myself to accomplish for her party. And to think I used to wonder (before children) why people hired entertainment or had the party somewhere other than their home! Your party looks fab (and like there was certainly enough effort put in). Good luck with the Yoga x

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    1. Heidi, I have secured the ribbon! Have never been to the Spring Racing carnival before yet must say this year I was enticed by the idea of a weekend on the mainland sans enfants, catching up with friends and drinking champagne while the sun shines, oh the decadence. My husband hasn't been so keen in the past either....yet he's in the swing now that he's had a haircut and worked out which suit he's going to wear.....funnily enough a Hugo Boss bought in....Adelaide!
      I think with children's parties, as in life in general, you do what you've got to do.....and it really doesn't take much to make their little eyes sparkle, which is what it's all about! Rx

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  6. Will it make you feel just a tad better if I confess that my youngest had no party this year, and last year we celebrated 5 months to the day late - and it's only because she has a super slack mother. The icecream stand is a fabulous idea - I might borrow that gem!

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    1. Much better....although the words super slack mother would never be uttered by me as that's just too close to home! The ice-cream stand is a fabulous concept - have a look at Deanne's on her blog to be seriously impressed.....mine was nowhere near as lavish. The boys....and some of the grown ups loved it! Rx

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  7. LOVE the ice cream stand idea. The fire looks so welcoming and beautiful, I miss the need for heating here in tropical nth Qld. The first hat is a great choice. No hats (or dresses) here either - thank God I had a quick work trip to Sydney where I managed to pick up some racing kit. See you at the track! Jx

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    1. Fire is atmospheric yet it would nice to be warm once in a while.....the forecast here for tomorrow is a balmy 15 degrees! Hat selection in Hobart was a bit limited.....no David Jones here and most of our Myer burnt to the ground six years ago and has yet to be rebuilt! See you on Saturday! Rx

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  8. Love the top hat - literally. Have a great time. Kx (The Blog a House Built)

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  9. Thanks, really looking forward to it! Rx

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  10. Looking forward to hearing how the big weekend went, R! J x

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  11. I see so many ideas on girls b'days but your boys b'day ideas are fabulous .....love the cake and the ice cream stand !!

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  12. Ooooh, love the hats but I love your phone cover even more!! Happy Birthday to Toby! The ice cream stand is very inspired and perfect for a Spring birthday, the children must have adored it! xx

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I LOVE hearing your thoughts! Rx