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 piñata 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