What I wore: to an impromptu black tie awards ceremony

Hi all! TFIF! I'm sure you all hear me there!!

On Wednesday afternoon the bf rang me to say we'd been invited to a black tie dinner at 6.30pm that day - flights had been delayed due to the bad weather here in NZ and so they needed bums on seats at the awards being hosted by the university we both work for. 

Sir Graham Henry was honoured at the awards - that was news for me to tell my rugby mad father!

On one hand I thought, well that's nice - a chance to wine and dine and get spruced up. 

But on the other hand I thought - I have nothing to wear (I am either too chubby at the moment to wear some of my clothes or have left the dressier of my items in Wales as I don't tend to wear them much here!!), 

will I get stuck sat on my own whilst the bf has to schmooze as part of his job, 

and how the heck am I meant to stick to Weight Watchers at a three course meal!?

 In the end I made the decision to just go with it and loosen up a bit! (I've become a bit hermit like lately - do you ever get like that!?).

And so I rushed home and pulled this dress from a ziplock storage bag I'd left on the floor of my closet.

I also must apologise for the photos. It's something I the bf and I had words about!! He needs to help me get better pics rather than just snapping 5 awful ones and thinking the job's done! Ha!

Dress, Max; Tights, Primark; Sandals, Matalan

Yeah my eyes are closed but the bf only took pants photos so this one was one of the best!!

At the end of the night after several glasses of vino!
Sequin blazer, New Look

Clutch, Bracher Emden London via TK Maxx

This was the only (bad) shot of the detail on my silk dress. And half an earring. Disappointing!

 And these are awful snaps too. I need to get a new bf ;P

Rings, gifted; antique diamante bracelet, thrifted; Tiffany charm bracelet; beaded bracelet Shh By Sadie

 

What are your weekend plans?

Two more awards!

Hello all! Hope you had a great weekend. The wind was SO loud last night I couldn't sleep even with earplugs in!!

Over the last few days I've been given two lovely blogging awards:

The One Lovely Blog Award given by Alexandria at A Style of No Style

And another One Lovely Blog award from Laura at StyLAURista!

Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person who passed you the award
2. Share 7 random things about yourself
3. Award 15 blogs
4. Drop them a note to tell them about it

SEVEN RANDOM THINGS:

1. I learned Welsh from the ages of 12 to 14 then dropped it as a subject to continue with Spanish instead.

2. I used to be a CSI-aholic (not any more), and was pleased when I realised that I'd visited all three cities in one year - I started in Miami in June, New York in November and hit Las Vegas in April! Whoop!

Vegas Baby!!

 3.  I have TINY ears and TINY hands (sadly this does not relate to my thighs or hips!).

Smaller hands than Marilyn Monroe!

4. My favourite cocktail is called Betty Knows Best and is a mix of alcohol, chi, passionfruit puree and basil...YUM.

5. My favourite cuisine is anything Mexican (as a veggie Mexican, Turkish, Greek or Italian always seem to have the best non-meat options!)

6. I am a wee bit homesick at the moment because since being in NZ I have managed to go home 5 times in under two years. This is my longest period of non-Welsh-family-shopping-fun!

At the top of Twmbarlwm in South Wales - VERY windy!

7. My favourite thing in the world is a cwtch. That means a little snuggly cuddle in Wales :) 

 I nominate these 15 blogs:
1. Missouri Daze
2. Positive Ponderings
3. Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On
4. My Modern Vintage
5. Sailing to Nowhere
6. Almost Delightful
7. Fashion Fractions
8. Don't Call Me Fashion Blogger
9. Fashionably Numb
10. Molto Fashion
11. Aprilia Love
12. Wobisobi
13. Oh to be a muse
14. Adventures of a girl from the Naki
15.City Style

AND...GUESS WHAT?

There are TWO days left to enter my giveaway! And if you love a giveaway as much as I do, check out this one at Delighted Momma!

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Versatile Blogger Award

Howdy!

Last week I was VERY pleased to receive the Versatile Blogger Award from the fabulous Cait at Sailing to Nowhere. Thanks Cait! (You may also recall that Cait guest blogged here a couple of weeks ago.)

So as part of this award, I have to tell you SEVEN THINGS about myself! Here we go!

1. I'm currently listening to Nicki Minaj. At first listen, I didn't like her album, but now I love it! I love lots of music, in no particular order - Shakira, Katy Perry, Fall Out Boy, 30 Seconds to Mars, Enrique (swoon), Mumford and Sons, J-Lo, Timbaland, Dido.....

2. My favourite place in the world that I have visited is New York. Followed very closely by Melbourne! Oh, and Fiji, and Samoa, and Abaco...!

Excuse the mushroom head!!! ;)

3. I have (TOUCH WOOD) never broken a bone in my body.

4. For five years I worked part-time at British health and beauty store Boots the Chemist, mainly in the photo lab. Hence my cupboards still being stuffed full of makeup and toiletries five years later!!

5. In my former life I was a magazine features writer and have been published in The Sun, The Daily Mirror and loads of women's weeklies like Take A Break, Chat and Reveal. I also had my own fashion and beauty column for a while and LOVED IT! :)

6. I've been a strict vegetarian for over six years. Sometimes it's hard work but I hate the thought of eating a 'dead thing'!

7.  And lastly, I have FINALLY made a dental appointment - for tomorrow afternoon!!! OMG!!!!!!!! 

I am passing this award onto these lovely bloggers:
1. City Style
2. such stuff as dreams are made on
3. Missouri Daze
4. Aprilia Love
5. Wobisobi
6. Dressology HQ
7. Oh to be a muse

Share the love ladies!!!

Oh and a quick PS - there's been several earthquakes again today in Christchurch. This is terrible for those living in Ch'ch (my bf's sister and her fiancee live there and it's just all getting a bit too much after so many months of it). Fortunately no one has been hurt today. I'm on the North Island so am not affected by it, but our thoughts are with all those in Canterbury right now.

Wardrobe Challenge Wednesday

Wow - well that was an unexpected break from blogging - were any of you following the updates on Twitter? I was amazed at how many people were Tweeting about the Blogger crash around the world. It all seems to be up and running again now, but like many people I have lost a lot of my comments on the last few posts :( Sniff sniff. Nevermind!

This is just a quickie as in TWO HOURS I shall be patiently waiting to board my plane to Oz. G'day Melbourne!! Woohoo! And I still have a LOT of packing to do! :D

Here are the pics of Wardrobe Challenge Wednesday this week. This was my first time participating and it's good fun. My friend Teresa told me about it and anyone can join up via the Facebook group - have a look!

The theme was 'something you forgot you had' and it only came through at 10pm the night before! I had a rummage in the wardrobe and because for the last 12 months I have practically lived in dresses, it was quite quick for me to find a blouse, skirt and cardigan that I forgot I had. I matched it with some jewellery that was hidden away in my cupboard and hey presto - a quick outfit.

Skirt, Recycle Boutique; Blouse, Primark; Tights, Primark; Shoes, ASOS.

Cardigan, H&M; Rings and bracelet, holidays abroad.

And here I am with a colleague in work who also took the challenge this week - don't we look matchy!! :D

I was also given an award this week by the fabulous Kimberly at City Style!!! YAY!! As usual, her blog this week has been full of lovely fashion pics peppered with her own personal style. You should check her out.

The award is "The Best Content Award" and I'm very excited to receive it and pass it on to these wonderful bloggers:

1. WobiSobi (my new favourite blog. Love her tutorials - you will become addicted like me!!)

2. Such Stuff as Dreams are Made of

3. Oh to be a muse

4. dontcallmefashionblogger (another new fav blog of mine)

5. Molto ❤ Fashion

I'm supposed to write a comment notifying these lovely bloggers of their award but I really gotta get packing so will have to do it in a few days!

Have a great weekend my lovelies and hopefully I will have some Aussie excitement to share soon!

XOXO

Going casual for a change

Hello everyone!! I am very excited because today is Thursday and that means it's my last day in work before the Easter holidays!! I get the Friday, Monday AND Tuesday off so 5 days in total - whoop. Also, the boyfriend is en-route home (he's currently on a lay-over in Abu Dhabi) and will be home tomorrow lunchtime!! HOORAH.

What are your plans for the Easter break?? I realised last night that this year will be the first year EVER that I only get one Easter egg!! Last year I was lucky enough to go back to Wales for Easter, and the year before I'd just left the UK to move to New Zealand and was actually in the Grand Canyon on Easter day - with the eggs my parents had given me before I left!

This weekend we fly to Auckland for a city break and then a possible road trip to some of the coastal areas I'm yet to see. I'm very excited but wonder how the boyfriend will cope with his jetlag!

Anyway I digress- last night I went to a pub quiz with friends. I wanted to wear something comfortable and casual so wore a long checked shirt, skinny jeans, boots, scarf and a leather jacket. I accessorised with some of my favourite silver jewellery and a fab bag!

Shirt, Primark; Jeans, hand me down from my sister!; boots, Bronx; Jacket, Just Jeans; Scarf, vintage from my mum; Bag, Max C at TK Maxx.

Bag, Max C at TK Maxx

My mum was throwing this scarf away a few years ago and I rescued it!

Look at the size of this bad boy!!

My Tiffany charm bracelet and a good luck / bon voyage bracelet I was given by a friend when I moved to NZ

I LOVE this ring! There's a story about it too - I was waiting for my friend in Wellington one rainy Saturday and popped into a store that sells NZ designer silver jewellery. I spotted the sales girl wearing an amazing ring and she said they had 2 for sale - at $450 NZD. I fell in love, but couldn't convince myself to spend that much on a whim!! I spent ALL weekend dreaming about the ring! Then on the Monday I was in town again after work by chance and went into the shop again. There was a 50% off EVERYTHING sale on for ONE DAY ONLY! They had never had a sale like it! I snapped the ring up with no second thoughts, and truly counted my blessings!!!! I'd been having a really really bad day - and finally my luck changed!

My Tiffany bracelet with charms. I bought the Fifth Ave and Rodeo Drive charms on holidays in New York and LA; the cupcake charm was a gift from my amaaaazing friends at the job I left to move to NZ and the little crown I bought with the money my late nan gave me just before she passed away :)

Bling bling :)

__________________

On another note: The lovely Kimberly from City Style has given me an award!! Yay!! Thanks so much Kimberly :D

I love all the blogging friends I have made since starting my blog just over a month ago - thanks everyone!! I really enjoy reading and sharing everyones' blogs.

The rules are:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Write a post about it.
3. Pass it on to 12 blogs that you think really deserve it.
4. Insert the link to their blog.
5. Send them a message to tell them about it.

I am very pleased to pass it on to these lovely people:

1. Welcome to my world

2. Missouri Daze

3. Positive Ponderings

4. Coco and Vera

5. Fash-uh-nee-stah

6. HandPckd by Nikona

7. Oh to Be a Muse

8. GLOW Academy

9. Miss Bias

10. Joanne Faith

11. Fabulous for 50 [and UNDER]!

12. The Hourglass

Congrats everyone :D