What Millie Wore… #4

2 weeks ago I was hoping that Amelia’s first cold for the season would also be her last for the season. I can already say that that was not to be, and this time it got me too (hence no ‘What Millie Wore’ post last week). So it was another week of cuddles on the couch with boxes of tissues strategically placed all through the house.

Once again, just before our colds really set in, there was a gloriously warm sunny day and we made the most of it with a play in the autumn leaves (and kick of the football) along the Barwon River.

Amelia plays happily amongst the leaves in her Je suis en CP Celine Dress

Autumn is definitely my favourite season…

Amelia plays happily amongst the leaves in her Je suis en CP Celine Dress

And then it was mothers day. There were plans for a big breakfast out at a favourite cafe, but on waking up I realised I was much more interested in staying close to bed. So instead, mothers day was brought to me. There were banana pancakes for breakfast, a good old fashioned Sunday Roast for lunch and one of the best sponge cakes I have ever eaten to close the day.

Our new favourite wardrobe piece this week was the Belle and Boo First Day Meet Dress. I was unable to catch many photo’s of the very busy Amelia wearing hers, but we got lots of compliments on it. I will be sure to add more photo’s of this sweet little dress in another post soon.

Amelia dances past the camera in a whirl of happiness wearing her First Day meet Dress

What Millie Wore… #3

The week started well and ended well, but somewhere in the middle time went by  in a blur of chesty coughing, Panadol and cuddles on the couch. Poor Amelia had her first cold for the season, and as she barked like a dog into the wee hours of the morning I hoped desperately it would be the only one for the season… wishful thinking no doubt. Surprisingly though, we all got through the week with our sanity intact and smiles still on our faces. There is something truly admirable about the resilience of a sick child.

The day before the cold set in, Amelia and I had the pleasure of enjoying some sunshine and a play in our garden. Her Grandma had just given her a gorgeous little Koala family (or as Amelia calls them, her ‘lala’ family) to play with. This tiny little family has given her a great deal of joy across the week. But poor Daddy lala spent the week in bed with a very nasty cough. Thankfully Mummy lala and Doctor lala were very good at taking care of him and he quickly recovered (and poor Mummy lala took his place).

Millie soaks up some Autumn rays wearing the Je suis en CP Twist Dress

So this weeks wardrobe selections were all about warmth, warmth and more warmth and just like Daddy lala, Amelia also recovered quickly. Before we knew it we were back outdoors and enjoying the world (and ‘cino’s) rugged up in our new favourite coat, the Nellystella Jemma Coat.

Millie and her cuddly Hazel Village friend Oliver Mouse out and about for a little stroll

And one of our favourite places for a ‘cino’? The Geelong Botanical Gardens.

All rugged up in the Jemma Coat for a stroll through the gardens and a ‘cino’ at the Botanical Gardens

What Millie Wore… #2

I have a confession to make. I have found juggling a dependent baby, with a toddler wishing to express her independence (while also experiencing a ‘touch’ of new sibling jealousy) a bit of a challenge. There have been days that I have wished away just wanting their bed time to arrive. But last week wasn’t like that. Last week was fun!

I discovered that the key to my sanity and Millie’s happiness is to get out of the house and keep busy. Finley goes with the flow either sleeping in the pram, the car seat or in my arms.

Playing at St Helen’s Bay, Amelia wears Nellystella Serena Cardigan and Hucklebones Cream Hat

We have been for more walks in the last week than I have been on for the last 6 months…well, almost. And it has been lovely. I have been taking the time to ‘stop and smell the roses’. I have noticed things about my neighbourhood that I hadn’t noticed before.

Our favourite wardrobe piece this week has been the Hucklebones Blue Sky Raincoat. With a week of wet days, windy days, grey days and just plain old cold days (and so much time spent out amongst it) it has received a good workout. Amelia is particularly fond of it, often asking for her ‘blue coat’ as we head for the door.

Out for a wet day stroll, Amelia wears Hucklebones Sky Blue Raincoat and Nellystella Serena Cardigan

Finley loves being outdoors. It calms him. Amelia also loves the walk, collecting flowers along the way, but she also loves the destination… the park, Grandma and Papa’s house, the water and one of her favourite destinations, the cafe… any cafe, as long as their is a ‘Cino’ involved. Lucky for her we just discovered a new cafe that recently opened up a short walk from home. (For those of you who are local, it is called The Pickers Union in North Geelong)

We finished the week with a milestone. Amelia had her first hair cut. An impromptu decison made as we walked past the hairdresser. They took off just enough to tidy up the uneven growth around the back, but it was a big moment all the same. She loved it and the hairdressers joked that she is going to cost me a fortune as she grows up.

From left to right, Amelia finds a seat at our new favourite cafe ‘The Pickers Union’ and later waits patiently for her turn to get her haircut.

I suspect they might be right.

What Millie Wore…

With Millie’s little brother Finley now at an age where getting out and about isn’t such a daunting task, we had a very busy week last week with lots of fun outings. Including Amelia’s first ever day at Playgroup (she loved it!), a morning of music fun (she loved that too) and bubbacino’s with friends (what’s not to love about that!).

Although there were some very grey days, reminding us that winter really is on its way, we also had some beautiful sunny days with that winter crispness that only Autumn can bring. They are some of my favourite days. Everything feels so fresh.

This week’s favourite wardrobe pieces have been the Alison Cardigan by Violetta e Federico and the Eponime Velour Pants (oh how I love a splash of grey in winter). As much as I like bold colours (like cheery sunshine yellow), I am crazy for soft, dusty colours, and put them together… sigh… what can I say? pretty as a picture.

Millie also wears Eponime Velour Pants, Dandelion Flora Blouse and Hucklebones Slim Trousers.

With that sunshine we have enjoyed some fun moments hanging out in her sun filled bedroom playing and taking happy snaps.

Millie wears her Eponime Deer Print Top and Velour pants (have I mentioned how much I love them!)

As I was snapping away with the camera she climbed up onto her chair to look at the butterfly’s out her window. The light was so perfect, and it was here that I captured two of my favourite photo’s.

I could watch that face all day.

A milestone for us could be a gift for you…

Wow. It has been a long time between blog posts… a very long time (It’s almost embarrassing). But I promise we have a good reason. We have been busy growing, and then welcoming a new addition to the Millie Abroad family.

Amelia (aka Millie) beaming with pride as she cuddles her new baby brother Finley Grae.

Despite our days being busily filled with all the things a day with children is filled with (even as I write this I am rocking an overtired 10 week old Finley to sleep), we are excited to say that Millie Abroad is growing.

When we started Millie Abroad, we were dreaming of owning a business that allowed me to stay at home and watch our children grow. Each order sees us getting closer to that dream and we have to thank all of our fabulous customers for supporting that dream (knowingly or not). And might I say, we seem to have some of the loveliest customers possible!

This week we head towards our next milestone – we are less than 10 orders away from our 300th order!

To celebrate getting closer to that dream, reaching another milestone and kick starting our blog once more we are offering a special giveaway.

To win a Millie Abroad gift valued at up to $200

all you have to do is be the one to

Place our 300th order!!

Even better you can help decide what that gift will be. Head on over to our facebook page to place your vote.

 

Competition terms and conditions:

1. The winning order must be over the value of $50 AUD

2. When you place your order you need to tell us in the comments box where you heard about this competition (eg facebook or blog)

3. The prize is 1 item up to the value of $200 to be selected from either Pale Cloud or Belle and Boo (as determined by the brand with the highest number of votes on our facebook page at closing of the competition)

3. Offer valid to 8pm Monday 15th April (AEST)

 

What’s New at Millie Abroad?

We have some new goodies arriving in store at Millie Abroad very soon. Many of them have been special requests by customers so we are super excited to be adding them to our growing collection.

Meet the Maker – Mikodesign

It is no secret that I have a soft spot for a cuddly toy (I have already shared some of my favourites here and here) but I must confess I also have a soft spot for rabbits and all things French and so I couldn’t resist sharing another fabulously unique find with you.

Like most of my finds, I stumbled across Mikodesign while browsing the web for something special for Amelia, (which in turn became something special for Millie Abroad), and fell instantly in love with the “I Love Paris” Rabbit. She is, after all, très chic!

It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the very talented Erika of Mikodesign, the latest contributor to the Meet the Maker Series…

Can you tell us a little bit about Mikodesign for those readers who haven’t yet discovered you? Mikodesign is a small brand from the Netherlands that sells soft creatures and DIY kits, these kits help people to be creative and make their own rabbit and doll.

When did you get started and what was your inspiration? After having my first baby I started making clothes and soft toys for her, people around me encouraged me to make more and I started to do some craft markets. At the same time I discovered blogging and Etsy and that’s when Mikodesign was born.

My inspiration comes from so many things but my two daughters are the biggest inspiration, I love crafting and drawing with them. The Paris rabbit and doll where inspired by a doll I made for Mila’s Paris themed birthday, she asked a Paris outfit for herself and her doll !

What do you most enjoy about what you do? I love creating new products and creatures and making new outfits for the dolls.  Lately I have been busy with a new diy kit and hope to share it soon.

What do you feel makes your work unique? Being a small company and not looking for the trends, but making from the heart makes my products unique, also using my own screen printed fabrics for my products add a personal touch.

What is your favourite ‘indulgence’ that is just for you? I love baking, trying out new cookie and cake recipes and then wrapping these sweet treats in a pretty bag or box and giving them away to friends and family.

Do you have a favourite city for shopping? Oh yes, that has to be Paris of course, not only is Paris a beautiful city it also has tons of small creative boutiques and so many pretty fabric shops. I have a blog about boutiques in Paris http://www.carnetdeparis.blogspot.com

Thank you Erika for being a part of the Meet the Maker Series. I can’t wait to see your new DIY creation! I also can’t wait to return to Paris to visit some of the boutiques you mention in your blog… although I fear that wait will be a longer one.

The “I love Paris” Rabbits and Dolls are available now at Millie Abroad.