FANCY PANTS [THE COLOUR BLOCKING SPECIAL]

Remember a week or so ago when I said that I couldn't put together more than two bold colours?

FANCY PANTS [SEEING MORE RED]

After a week of red jeans, you could be mistaken for thinking that I'm totally sick of them But I'm not.

I even went and shopped my wardrobe some more and came up with even more new outfits using my red skinnies. So much fun!

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

It's a fact: I don't do colour blocking because it's fashionable. I do it because I'm not big into patterns. And I can't do more than two bright colours. And if I'm adding a third, it has to be a neutral. It's how I roll.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

I can't tell you how snug as a rug I am in this outfit. I've layered a whole bunch today, and nothing can make me cold. Funnily, I don't mind a three-quarter sleeved top in winter. It's not wear I feel cold, and frees up my hands to do dishes, take care of children's needs, grab the items at the supermarket. You know, the mum stuff.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

Love a casual day where I'm not working in the office, and I can run around like a mummy who helps out at school, feeds her sick (that's me today), and tends to the Groundhog Day-ness of housework. I love even more a day where I can just hang with my kids.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

So we all know that red and animal print goes awesome, yes?

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

So, here we are on Day One of the Five Day Five Way challenge for... red jeans!

I bought these jeans on a whim. They were cheap and I had already succumbed to the idea of hardly ever wearing them. Mostly, because they were Fire Engine Red. But then I thought, why not wear them to death? Get my $39 dollars' worth? Especially seeing they will most likely be around for only a few seasons.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MINI]

I just want to be this girl. One who lives in headscarves and owns second-hand bohemian clothes, wears a nose ring, and only eats organic, vegan food. One who throws on clothes that don't go, and has an attitude to match. You know, carefree and a bit careless.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MINI]

Neutral palettes one of my favourite things. Lots of light colours thrown together. Kind of like block colours, but a much softer kind.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MINI]

There are days when a mini is just inappropriate. Like when you're running around after 30 kids under four when leading out at Kids' Church.

Which I might or might not have done sometime today.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MINI]

Aaah, the afternoon with sunshine. How I'm loving it!

Spent a few hours with my Madison while Noah was in his room (I'd say sleeping, but I could hear him running around on the floorboards). Apart from the odd popping in to remind him that he should be sleeping, it was so cool to hang out with my big lad, seeing that our days at home are numbered. He starts school in three weeks!

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MINI]

It's high time we did another one of these, don't you think?

Especially since we're all relaxed after Chrissy, the weather is absolutely perfect, and I'm feeling kind of inspired by re-shopping my wardrobe. (And seeing there'll be a whole year to enjoy the very same clothes, because I'm not buying anything new), I may as well get into the swing of things in January!

If you missed the last 5 days 5 ways posts, they are here. So far, we've done the white tee, and the maxi dress. Now we can add the mini to the list.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MAXI DRESS]

It's the last day of the five day challenge.

And things I've learned about maxi dresses this week?

1. A maxi dress is two pieces in one. It's a dress, it's a skirt. AND there's not bulgy bits cutting your middle in half. Don't buy a maxi skirt when a whole dress will do both.
2. Black is more forgiving. I can't say that I washed this dress every night like the last challenge. Did you notice? (Me neither.)
3. The Challenge? I could wear this maxi dress all month because it goes with everything in my wardrobe. Don't dare me, I might just do it.
4. The more basic the cut, the more versatile. Do I need to say anymore?
5. There is nothing that doesn't go with black. Even navy blue and dark brown. I love to break the rules.
6. You don't need a big wardrobe. Key items are more important. I really don't have many clothes, but what I have, I wear a LOT. Just goes to show that we can use all of our clothes more when we put some thought into it (not too much though otherwise it's hard work!)

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MAXI DRESS]

What do you do when you have to take the kids to the pool, and it's freezing outside? (And you know you have to wear a thin cotton singlet maxi dress?)

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MAXI DRESS]

So, you've gotten a two-for-one deal today, because the maximum temperature in Melbourne ended up being 28 degrees (!!!). Yet it's still spring, so the mornings are still Oh So Cold. I started with this...

And by 3pm today, this is what I wore...

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MAXI DRESS]

So, do I look untouchable in this, or just unfriendly? Probably the latter. I was in a hurry to take these pictures, and the angles are all wrong!

Anyhow, you get the drift (plus you know I'm a nice person, right?).

Besides, the tribal accessories rock! My favourite combo...

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE MAXI DRESS]

I didn't mean to start another five day challenge so quickly after the last one, but with the warm spring weather we've been having, I wanted to wear this dress. And thought, why not wear it a lot this week?

Dress? You ask. It looks a lot like a skirt. But it's a maxi dress. And I'm going to try to make it different every day for the next five days.

This one was bought for $20 at JayJays. I have to say that when I walk into this store these days I know it's not marketed at my age group (and the fact that the website has a GIRLS' and guys' section surely doesn't help), but the well priced clothing still keeps me going there.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE WHITE TEE]

So, today is the last day of the one item, five days, five ways challenge. And what better way to finish than with some black and white essentials?

I feel a bit relieved this whole challenge is over (for instance, I can go back to wearing nil makeup all week), but funnily enough now I have enough ideas to do another five day challenge with the same tee. Of course, I can say this bravely in the safety of knowing I'm not doing this same item again. But this challenge has made me think hard about what I could do to give this top a different look each day without the same old, same old.

Also, it was a great way to recycle my wardrobe and think outside the square.

It wasn't even too bad washing the tee every night. I only went out once with a semi-damp top. And thankfully, it was a warm day.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE WHITE TEE]

While this all white look is so fresh, crisp and all the rage this spring, it's not for the fainthearted. Or for anyone who puts their scraps in the compost bin, or refills their tomato sauce bottle, or who might be a bit clumsy, or works with dirt, or has children...

Most people, actually.

Because when I took out the scraps and refilled the tomato sauce bottle (yes, I was doing those things in this outfit), I was kind of On Edge. You know, worried about all that leftover food or bright red getting on my Cricket Whites.

Because last time I wore an all white suit (before I had children, obviously), it was at a friend's special 'do. Hor'devours in the garden, formal dinner by the ocean, that sort of thing. By the first round of canopes, I had red grape juice on my sleeve, and bright green pesto on my light pink blousy top. And when soup was served, I leaned over for the salt, and put my whole sleeve in it. (Did I mention it was pumpkin?)

I was a class act that day.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [THE WHITE TEE]

Don't you just love Melbourne to bring on the different seasons all for this week's 5 days 5 ways?

Shorts one day and jeans and jackets the next. I don't know which way is up... but one thing is for sure: I'm warmer today than I was yesterday (thanks to the cool change and hail)! The day started with so much sunshine and potential...