BNNM Round Up!

Dearest Readers!

I just wanted to let you know that I have officially wrapped up BNNM as we head into November (oh my goodness that is crazy right?"). Today I am getting ready to fly out to Samoa for one of my college friend's wedding. We used to live together in college although with jobs and moving interstate, we haven't had much of a chance to catch up since we left. So I am very VERY VERY excited to get a whole week with them.

Even though BNNM is over, I am still in that same frame of my mind. I haven't even been shopping for this trip. My suitcase is filled with my vibrant op shop finds, some of my old faithful relaxed summer gear and a few dresses that I purchased from Forever 21 when I was in New York earlier this year.

My cousins and I headed out to the big Savlos store yesterday and we filled a  big bag with clothes and it was only $20. Our next challenge we are doing as a family is an Op Shop Christmas gift exchange. We don't really want to be caught up in the chaos that is 'Christmas Shopping' so we decided we would start now and look for those special 'one of a kind' pieces that the receiver would totally love and appreciate.

Even though the official month is over I think I am going to start it again in December because I think that is the time of the year when unnecessary spending begins. I have found a lot of amazing things in second hand/ thrifted store during the month and I haven't had a chance to photograph them all. But I guess I can let you know and perhaps you might keep an eye out and start noticing such things on your next trip to the Op Shop.

Favourite Finds

1. I found these really amazing (brand new) white linen baskets. I found two, so one sits in my room with all my clothes that I don't hang up (yeah its pretty much a handy place to chuck clothes) and the other is in my bathroom holding all our towels. They are so useful and at $20 a basket, I think these were the winning purchases of the month
2. An amazing amount of funky clip on earrings. They are so bold and pretty and I just love them!
3. Really great quality leather bags. I have never been one to spend loads on having a different type of bag for each outfit, but after the challenge I found that if you dig past the cheap plastic handbags you can find some really lovely bags
4. Vintage frames. I am obsessed with photos and I also think that spending $6 upwards on cheap mass produced frames is a rip off. When I moved during the mid year I went to the op shop and brought a bag full of different frames. Some were beautiful and intricate and they vary in size and colour but after doing this, I don't think I would ever go back to buying frames straight out of a store. There's so many old frames, why not use them?

What I've learned

1. Sometimes it's hard to resist the natural urge to buy something because it is marked at such a low and amazing price. But you have to ask yourself "Will I wear this? Will I use this?" because if you a buy a whole lot of things that you don't need, you are really defeating the purpose and are buying for the sake of it. You are just not doing it in a retail store.
2. Enjoy the search! Sometimes I walk away with nothing but I know that I will find something special next time. It is part of the fun and when I go shopping with my sister and cousins we always yell out from the other side of the store "Do you like this?"
3. Giving back is half of the fun. My niece and I went through our belongings and found stuff that we didn't really need anymore and we donated it to our local Vinnies store. I think it is so important to teach our kids that there is not an endless supply of toys, clothes and food (contrary to what they see and receive) and that there are many people in Australia and world wide who are not as fortunate as we are. Many people don't get enough food each day, many people are cold and homeless so it is important to remind them of how lucky they are but more importantly of their responsibility to help their fellow man.
4. I have received items for a reader who wanted to contribute with some of her favourite items and I am in the process of getting together a package for another reader. So it has started a lovely incident outreach to people world wide (my gift came from a reader in Sydney and I am sending a gift over to UK).

Donated back :)

 This has been a pretty rewarding experience and a total WIN/WIN.

Thank you to all those wonderful readers who supported me with this challenge. All your comments, feedback and contributions really made this experience memorable.

I have a few more outfit posts scattered around on my sisters camera but I will leave you with a BNNM outfit that I wore to my beautiful friend Mata's 21st birthday. I was wearing a borrowed black City Chic lace top (it belongs to my sister) and a lovely bright floral skirt that I found in Meekatharra. It was too small in the waist and it was long so I cut the waist and re-hemmed it up and added elastic and voila! It is one of my most favourite skirts.

Jizzane, Theresa, Mata, Jenny & Mele

For the next week I will out soaking up the sun in the South Pacific so I don't think I will be posting much. But as soon as I get back I will share my photos with you!

Big Love,


Falala Mele xo