Lavender & Twill : January 2018

Thursday, January 25, 2018

༺ To St. Andrew’s Square ༻

I know it’s taking me half a century to post these days, but hey! That’s life sometimes!

I’ve been “gifted” with all the colds and flues I missed out on this winter, {thanks Canberra crud…} so between that and trying to spend all the time with friends and family that I can, I have just been away from it all, even Instagram!! *le gasp!* (ô □ ô)

We took these pictures back in November when the Mister and I spent some time in Sydney. He was there for work and I was there for fun… Hehe! His work paid for a gorgeous hotel room right in the city, and we really enjoyed the time away. I loved the night time outlook over the city lights!

It’s kind of funny because I never really thought of myself as much of a city person, but over the last few years I’ve really come to appreciate all the things you get to enjoy in a busy, bustling city. There is certainly something unique to being in the middle of all that hustle, something that is vibrant and fun.

Sure, when it comes to day to day life, I am all for a great suburb with access to a lot of nature {and horses and bush and reserves and parks} and all that good stuff, but I really, really do enjoy a holiday in a big city. It’s a very refreshing change of pace.

And the buildings! Oh, the architecture… *swoon* Finding interesting buildings and places to see, it’s one of my favourite things to do. When I spot an interesting architectural design, or a beautiful piece of wall art, or décor ~ I get a thrill prickling down my spine just like I’ve uncovered a vintage treasure in a thrift shop.

It’s totally as awesome as putting together a fully realized outfit ~ just like this one!

I really adore how the lavender and tan paired together in this ensemble. The whole look is created with the perfect pieces for my style, and I am so into every. single. thing. in this outfit. The soft colour palette is my absolute favourite, it creates such a nice summery look ~ especially when combined with the bold violet purple and cardamom yellow of the pansies in my hair.

I’ve kind of made it my one of my goals to add more shades of purple to my wardrobe. I love violet, lavender and lilac, and I really wish I had more purple to wear! I’ll be keeping an eye out as much as I can, but I think I’ve made a good start with the addition of this Pinup Girl sundress.

Only, whyyyyy doesn’t it have pockets??

Seriously!

I’m am never more disappointed in a dress than when it doesn’t have pockets. Yeah, it bites if it doesn’t fit right, and it’s annoying if it creeps down while you wear it, or refuses to fasten properly, but the saddest thing is a complete lack of pockets if you ask me.

Especially when that’s the simplest problem to fix.

I mean, I purchased this dress second hand, but I know the price range that it was originally in, and boy oh boy, I would have been bummed if I had paid full price only to find that it had no pockets! I think that my Review cocktail dress that I posted about a long time ago has set a high standard, haha!

Is it just me though? Are pockets something you look for in your dresses and skirts? What is the one thing you need to have in your clothing to make it super wearable?

Basically I rate anything in my wardrobe with decent pockets as the best thing ever. If the clothing doesn’t have good, deep pockets, or any pockets at all, I am far less likely to pull it out and wear it. Pockets win all the time. That is all.

xox,

bonita

༺ ♡ ༻
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Friday, January 12, 2018

༺ A Year Flies By ༻

It’s been a while since I’ve done an end of year review, over 365 days in fact! Although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I love the rite of sitting down and remembering all the things that happened in the last twelve months. Especially as I don’t always get a chance to record those thoughts or events in my actual journal.

As always, if you wish post these questions for yourself, please do! This was a great way to look back over the year. Here’s how 2017 went down at Lavender & Twill! ♡

1. What did you do in 2017 that you'd never done before?

Moved overseas! What else? Rode in a tuktuk, learned a smattering of Thai {literally only four phrases, but it’s still a new language}, learned to ride a motorbike/scooter by myself, flew with with three little children, went overseas with carry on luggage only… Well, that didn’t last long, but I did it!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions?

I didn’t make any as I had no idea what 2017 would bring. But if a decision to pack and move the family to South East Asia counts, then I guess I did.

3. What countries did you visit?

Yay! I get to answer this one! Thailand and Malaysia, and technically Australia too as we are only here for a visit over Christmas.

4. How many different places did you travel to in 2017?

Koh Lanta, Krabi, Thailand
Penang Island, Malaysia
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Although I’m not really counting the layover stops as we never left the airport, but Singapore and Kula Lumpa as well.

5. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

This probably is a redundant answer, but good health. I am still struggling to get on top of my Hypothyroidism, so fitness and wellness in my body is so foreign to me right now. I am really desperate to regain strength.

6. What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

April 24th. Our departure date from Sydney to Thailand.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Packing up and moving our family overseas. We had deliberately picked a short time frame to get it happening. We started planning our move at the beginning of December 2016, but nothing was confirmed until mid-way through February. We set the end of April as our leaving date, booked some flights for the 24th, and that was that. We then had roughly two and a half months to pack up the house and prepare for an overseas move.

Some people thought I was crazy for trying to do it in such short amount of time considering we’d never even been overseas as a family ~ let alone moved there. The Mister hadn’t even been out of Australia before this trip!

But I knew I could get it done, and I did. I had help, of course I needed it! But in the end I got it done and I am proud of that.

8. What was your biggest failure?

I’m not sure ~ there where lots of little things I failed at during the year. But I can’t think of anything that was a stand out, out and out failure. Unless it was failing to keep my blog going. Haha, I was so slack this year.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes. Hypothyroid sickness dogged me all year, and kept me very, very ill for long periods of the year. I also had to get a crown on my front tooth, which hurt a lot. And I suffered from an inner ear infection in both ears.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

Nothing that I can think of particularly… Oh! I know! Trunkis for the kidlets. These are little wheeled suitcases that the children could pull themselves, or sit on and be towed. The Trunkis were, without a single ounce of doubt, absolute life savers when traveling through the airports with three small children.

11. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Seeing new places, learning about new cultures. Exploring! Adventure!

12. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Bloated…
iii. richer or poorer? Both!!

13. What do you wish you'd done more of?

I wish I got to do more exploring. I didn’t do enough as I got too tired.

14. What do you wish you'd done less of?

I’m not sure; spending time in bed? Of course, I wish I had been well enough not to be stuck in bed. But it’s not something I had control over.

15. What was your favourite tv show?

Trollhunters on Netflix.

16. What was your favourite film of this year?

Thor: Ragnarok. I loved it!! It was hilarious!!

17. Where were you when 2017 began?

In bed.

18. Where were you when 2017 ended?

In bed. I’m old.

19. Who were you with when 2017 started?

My family.

20. Who were you with when 2017 ended?

My family and extended family. We’ve been staying with my Mom and Dad during our visit to Australia, and it’s been super lovely.

21. What was the best book you read?

“Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!” By Rachel Macy Stafford

I read this book in one hit on the plane from Singapore to Sydney at 1:00am in the morning when I couldn’t sleep. It was good and a lot of it resonated with me, particularly the parts about the unconscious choices we can be making without realising what they will cost us.

I have resolved to make a greater effort to engage and really pay attention to my family, to make the deliberate choice and effort to spend time with them.

22. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Eleventyseven’s newest album; “Rad Science” as it had my all-time favourite, most relatable song of my life currently ~ “Holding On”.

23. What did you want and get?

A trip overseas. A new lens for my camera.

24. What did you want and not get?

To be healthy.

25. What did you do on your birthday?

I spent the day with my family. Wore a whirligig brooch and birthday candle brooch and had nachos for dinner.

26. What kept you sane?

Swimming. Surprisingly!

I wouldn’t call myself a water baby by any stretch of the imagination, but that changed when I was overseas. I think it was because my usual comforts weren’t really available. I couldn’t ride, I didn’t have my crafting supplies, so I couldn’t sew or create. I didn’t have my friends or family to hang out with. So I would jump in the pool every night before bed and float my cares away.

We didn’t have a private pool in Malaysia and Chiang Mai, so when we moved I really missed that nightly routine. But the pool is still really good place for me to go and relax for a bit and I’ve been relying on that. I have discovered this only works with outdoor pools though! I hate indoor pools and never swim in them.

27. Whom did you miss?

All my family and friends. And Copper. Oh boy, was I so homesick for my horse while overseas. At least I could talk to everyone on Skype and messenger, but I missed my ponyboy soooo much, it hurt.

28. Who were the best new people you met?

I met a bunch of new people, and met a friend in Malaysia I’m still in touch with, as well as my awesome coffee lady in Thailand.

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017:

Patience. Things NEVER work out like you plan. But you’ve got to plan them and try them anyway. And maybe if you’re lucky, with patience, time, and hard work, things will end up closer to what you were imagining. But it will not happen straight away. You’ve got to work at it, and wait for it.

30. What are your plans for 2018?

To keep plugging away at things. We are heading back to Thailand in a month or so. We will keep pursuing business plans, and figuring out what the best life for our family looks like.