shopped up a storm and eating a plenty - weekend all wrapped up!

Okay - so here is the rest of the weekend.  

Arrived in Melbourne town at 9:32am - and was greeted with SUNSHINE.  I could already tell this was going to be a fab day, as sunshine hasn't existed in Ballarat for quite some time now.  Striding out of Spencer St station (it will NEVER be Southern Cross to me NO SIR), charging across the road to a flashing red man and almost getting hit by a taxi - I was back.  Running for the tram and not having enough change for a met card - I felt like I had never left.  Fab.

The meeting with the lovely ladies was up first.  Meeting in a cafe just outside the Block arcade; coffee was consumed and words were spoken and (hopefully) deals were struck.  Could be a life-changing opportunity for this little fashion finding blogger - stay tuned. (SO fab to meet you SA, and to catch up with you again Lxxx).

Next - shopping.  God.  Where to start?  I was already in Collins - so headed straight across the road.  Up to Little Collins, where Zomp, Hoss, Bettina Liano and Scanlan were calling my name.  No purchases as yet, perused through Witchery and headed into Sportsgirl when mother called announcing her arrival in the big smoke.  Met up out the front of Myer and headed in, preparing to do some damage on the Myer card.  Alas, the coveted Manning Cartell 'Tailspin' coat was sold out; this sent me into a deep despair that almost made me want to leave the city and never come back.  Only lunch at Brunettis could pull me out of this spending funk.  One slice of gourmet pizza and a latte later I was back and ready to get busy.  Stores = 10, purchases = A BIG FAT ZERO.  Bummer.  What was wrong with me? Was I off my game?

Never.  

Next stop was Zara - where I began the all important task of actually spending some coin.  Took the max number of garments into the change rooms; only came out with 2x winners - a (pretty dull really) black shell top with sleeve zip detail for $50, and then a super cute neon pink boucle zip jacket ($100).  All the items I really wanted had sold out in the smaller sizes - a rather annoying trend that seems to occur every time I set foot into the store.  WAH.

Pressed for time - we had a quick stop over in Gorman at the GPO - almost purchased the Babushka coat in the rust colourway (I do already own the camel) and was oh so tempted by the papaya printed pants; but mother talked me out of both.  Hmmmm - probably for the best.

Last stop on the shopping extravaganza was South Wharf DFO.  Yep - I really am a sucker for a bargain.  With 45 mins remaining on the clock until we had to begin the trek home there was time for three shops.  A quick viewing of the Witchery outlet proved nothing new, and then we hit Mimco.  Two handbags (one black one for mother and a gorgeous nude tote for me) and one tan felt fedora later, we headed across the path to the last store of the day - the Country Road outlet.  Turns out this was my shopping mecca for the day.  Had I had unlimited funds - I would have come out with two coats, two fur vests, four dresses, one pair of snakeskin jeggings and some cropped orange pants, a few pairs of totally season inappropriate sandals and a tan and black spliced leather skirt.  That would have been a haul.  Unfortunately, reality soon kicked in (that and the fact my stylist course money was coming out tomorrow) so I had to cull immediately.  Now, culling is not something I am terribly good at; add in limited time and an impatient mother and you have a true recipe for disaster.  Think I came out okay - snapped up a grey, grey and beige winter coat (VERY Kate Middleton so I am told), and a khaki and khaki spliced trench.  Two out of fifteen items is not bad; still thinking about those fur vests though. 

Topped off the night with the fourth (and LAST) birthday dinner.  This one was at the fanciest restaurant in town; where mother and I shared the six course banquet.  Five entrees, two mains and dessert later once again eyelids were drooping at the dinner table.  Y U M.

Here are some action shots of the day. AMAZE.

Bourke St Mall.  OH I missed you.

High tea perhaps? YES please.

Witchery winter colour palette

Brunettis lunch.  NOM

Collins St. OH is that Tiffanys?

Fancy a printed scarf?

Shopping heaven - Melbourne's GPO

The Block arcade - gorgeous.

Final purchases? HERE THEY ARE - all laid out for your visual viewing pleasure.  Cannot WAIT to include these babies into the wardrobe room rotation - now I have all that free space from the market madness..

How AMAZING is that neon jacket? And that Mim bag.... ahhh.

Then - it was sunday.

Sunday.  Oh how I love thee.  Late start to the day, then mother and I headed into town for some brunch action.  Now, she had 'apparently' asked me if we needed to get dressed up for brunch, of which I replied 'Oh no.  Its Ballarat - no one gets dressed up'.  I then appeared dressed in jeans, a knit and boots with a small cuban heel.  My definition of not dressed up.  Here:

(LOVING my new Mimco fedora if you can't tell.  I actually have quite a large head and love hats but they 1. never fit me, and 2. make my head look even bigger than usual, but for some reason this one totally works.  Fab)

Alternatively, Mother appeared in a polar fleece jumper, track pants and ugg boots.  Her definition of not dressed up.  We met in the hallway - both looking each other up and down.  Both said 'Oh'.  Ummm.  And then burst out laughing.  What can you do?  Comfort dressing obviously has a range of different meanings - not spanning the generation gap.  Like mother like daughter - absolutely not:

(love you ma)

We headed to a cafe called Bibo.  Interior was all decked out in retro - Sophie and Dale from The Block would have been in heaven.  Full kitsch, from the vinyl chairs and laminate tables, to the fifties magazine paper covered walls to the mismatched china - it was super cute.  Food was delish; pesto toasted roti with scrambled eggs, mushrooms and spinach anyone?  And I got six cups and counting out of my freshly brewed chai tea.  Bibo - we will be back.

Spent the rest of the afternoon fashion finding and generally wasting time on the computer whilst watching Masterchef reruns; with a few quick eBay purchases thrown in:

Sass and Bide the Introduction pants - $101.99 eBay

Country Road argyle print knit - $25 eBay

Zara tweed oversized boyfriend coat - $39 eBay

So I said I wanted printed pants and patterned knits from my shopping trip - and came out with anything but.  Turns out, all I ever wanted was available on eBay instead.  I should have known. Who needs shops?

oh - me.

Hope you had a fab one!

FFIFY xxxx

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