Earlier this week I did a sweet little photo shoot at one of Adelaide’s cutest cafes, Tin Cat Cafe. Owner Claire was kind enough to let us make use of the funky retro surrounds as a backdrop for a whole bunch of tutorials (including the one above) aaaand for a new product shoot.

You’ll have to stay tuned for the product pics and the full set of projects but you can find out how to make these faux milk glass vases over on Polka Dot Bride right now!

Styling: White Room Events | Venue: Tin Cat Cafe

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In this case, however, I am taking about actual totes.

Camera totes to be precise.

(Apologies for the horrid grainy photos – I obviously had to dust off the ol’ point and shoot to take these photos.)

I’m not sure if I’ve even told you this but The Man and I are heading off overseas for five weeks this summer (HOORAY!).

I love travel photography, but I’m a bit of a princess and find all the paraphenalia frankly a bit annoying. I have a second lens but I never use it because I hate lugging it around, so I take the compact camera bag instead of the bigger one with room for the extra lens (then I’ll be taking a snap and go ‘Ugh, I wish I had my telephoto with me’). I also find it inconvenient to carry around a camera bag as well as a backpack or handbag.

Plus – you know me – I’m all about the functional but there’s no reason why it can’t look good too!

Enter Jo Totes.

I had been coveting this baby for awhile now so I was very excited to unwrap it on my birthday recently (thanks to my parents and in-laws).

I looove how I can fit my camera and spare lens(es) all safe and sound between the padded dividers and there’s still room for my wallet/sunnies/cardi/whatever. There’s even a secret pocket at the back for my iPad as well as pockets at the front for the usual out-and-about essentials. I also like how it doesn’t scream ‘I AM A TOURIST AND I AM CARRYING LOTS OF VALUABLE EQUIPMENT’.

OK now I just sound like an ad I know, but seriously Betsy is going to be my new best travel buddy. The Man also gave me an iPad camera connector so I will be able to upload photos on the go.

Now I’m all set for blogging anywhere in the world!

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I am currently working on a gorgeous handkerchief wedding invitation for a lovely couple which made me remember about this great free printable from Eat Drink Chic. It’s designed to be used as a wedding guest book alternative, but you could also use them for marriage advice at a bridal shower, handwritten menus or any number of other creative ideas.

Get yours here.

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I hesitated to choose this poster because the missing apostrophe bugs the hell out of me. But I can’t help it, those kitschy early 20th century public service announcment posters will get me every time.

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Step 1: Prevention

OK so it might not be as annoying as junk mail or bills, but even mail that you have signed up for can add to the paper clutter in your home. Here are some tactics to keep your subscriptions under control:

Cancel everything you don’t actually read
An obvious one, but worth repeating. We can easily fall into the trap of keeping receiving subscriptions out of habit or because to stop them would require some effort. Are there newspapers that you simply don’t have time to read? Or perhaps magazines that sit around for the whole month before you get around to having a quick flip through? Sounds like you wouldn’t miss them.

Go digital
Most newspapers (and an ever increasing amount of magazines) now offer digital subscriptions in addition to the traditional print options. Personally I like curling up on the couch with a fresh glossy or the day’s crossword, so this option is not going to suit everyone. But if you’ve ever had to wrangle a broadsheet newspaper on a crowded bus then I’m sure you could certainly see the appeal of switching to a news app on your iPad!

Get off mailing lists
Despite zero involvement, I was receiving letters from my university alumni for a good five years beyond my graduation before I finally got around to removing myself from their mailing list. Come on, you know you’ve got those too: that professional association you never go to, that theatre you went to once, your old hairdresser, the junior basketball league and now your kids are in their twenties… Yep, those. Cancel them.

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There are loads of ways to reuse an old frame, but this has to be my favourite. It’s so versatile: use your new tray on your dresser for jewellery or perfume, in the bathroom for your lotions or in living areas for decorative displays.

I’ve actually been on the hunt for a tray for my own home and am not having much luck, perhaps I should keep my eyes open for frames instead.

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Hope you all have a lovely evening tonight, I’m off to celebrate The Man’s birthday.

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Putting away clothes has always been my organising ‘weakest link’. But I find that it becomes so much more of a challenge I avoid it like the plague as soon as there is no room to actually put things away. I certainly haven’t been on any sprees but  the gradual build up of clothes that occurs when you don’t regularly go through them meant that I literally could not fit all of my clothes away at once.

I spotted an ad for a community clothes swap at a nearby library which gave me the motivation to do a big purge. Without much effort, I quickly filled three garbage bags with unwanted clothes, shoes, jewellery and bags. Add to that a couple of binfuls of items that were too worn to donate.

Before you say, ‘What’s the point of swapping your clothes because you’ll still end up with an overflowing closet?’ I was never intending to come home with as many items as I left with. Anything that was left over was donated to charity, which is where my unwanted clothes normally wind up anyway.

Along with the pleasure of being able to close my drawers again, I now have a new winter jacket, pretty pink dress, cute cardi, a couple of versatile basic tees, a cosy knitted jumper and even a perfect pair of jeans… all without spending a cent!

Do you have anything like this in your area? I admit it was a little odd seeing other girls looking through and talking about my clothes, but all in all I think it’s a great idea and it worked out well for me.

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With Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, do you have any special plans?

Whether you are or not, let her know you’re thinking of her with a card like this pretty free printable from Clementine Creative.

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Pretty hand-lettered print featuring  an e.e. cummings quote by oh my deer.

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Yup, as of today I can officially no longer call myself mid-twenties.

Normally I love any excuse for a party, but this year I really didn’t feel like it. Not because getting older bothers me, but everything has been so go-go-go lately that I am really looking forward to celebrating in a more relaxing way. I might treat myself to an early minute today and fit in some me-time before going out for Indian with the family tonight.

Have a super weekend, lovelies!

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