Living my childhood through them.

If you never loose you can never appreciate the victories.

- Laura Twitchwell

 

As a child I spent almost every Sunday during soccer season  rugged up in blankets eating hot pies with mum while we watched my dad and brother play soccer. It was always the best part of my year. I can remember getting up at all hours of the morning to watch the World Cup, waking up to a gentle kiss from mum followed by a hot Milo. We would all congregate on mum and dad's bed for the game. It was fuzzy at times but that was expected from the silver framed box TV that we had stacked up on books. 

---

Rain, hail or shine, Billy and Halle were not going to let today slip by without playing their first game of soccer. I put Billy to bed at 8.30, assuring him that I would be at their first game no matter what. He looked at me and dad with his huge blue eyes and with the biggest smile said, 'I think we are going to win, me and Hal are the bestest players', all three of us laid there on his single bed giggling. He was so excited he couldn't sleep, an emotion I was so excited for him to endure. It was so nice to be home. Billy scored the first goal of the game, celebrating with two tiny hands up the air. I have never seen a team of kids so encouraging and excited! My heart melted for them. The oranges were cold at half time and their tiny bodies were sweating, their adrenalin was pumping!

Growing up around soccer, it was amazing to now watch my little brother and sister tear it up. The 'under 6 Swordfishes' played the best game, they had skills beyond my belief! Mateship was a strong element. An element I didn't think was established at such a young age, but they proved me wrong.

Yours in boots, 

BL. x 

My new little friend called Luck.

He who has no imagination has no wings.

- Muhummad Ali

Isn't he the cutest thing ever? I didn't think so when he first landed on my shoulder. 'Don't move' someone said, my body went into shock thinking it was a spider. After they calmed me down I was informed that having a Dragonfly land on you is good luck. Thankyou Mr. Dragonfly. What a pretty little inspiring insect you are.

Yours in wings, 

BL. x

The piece that told a thousand words

A morning walk to Grandma and Pop's.

The history of every country begins 

in the heart of a man or woman.

-Willa Catha

Without fail Grandma and Pop are sitting at the dining room table of the Mooney household every Saturday morning. Sipping on tea, Pop and Chris chat endlessly about cars while Grandma and Julie try to interrupt the boy talk when they can. It was now our turn for a little visit to their place, and what beautiful experience it turned out to be.

We were just about to leave town, our bags were packed and shoe laces tied but there was one more thing we had to do. Chucking puppy Taj on the lead, we strolled around the block to where Dans Grandma and Pop, whom I have now adopted as my own, have lived for over a quarter of a century. A little brick house that is just perfect for the two of them and Uncle Shane, the kind of house full of stories and love.

It was the day after ANZAC day and Pop, being a War Veteran, could not have been more proud to produce his little goodies that he has kept safe.  Having been to the dawn service with him the day before,  I could see how proud he was and how that feeling for him now lived on through Dan being in the Air Force. A tiny tear fell from his eye that morning. I smiled. He proudly pulled out out the uniform that he wore in Korean War. It was a piece that told a thousand words, nothing needed to be said. 

He continued to show us pictures of his 'hay day' in the Defence, producing certificates and medals that he was awarded to correspond with the mind blowing stories. What a life he endured.  I could have listening passionately for hours on end, asking questions to the finest detail and I guarantee he would remember every little thing. The morning ended with cuddles and kisses goodbye along with a firm pat on the back for Dan, Pops way of saying 'I am SO proud you'. It was a beautiful morning, just like every other Saturday we wake up in the Mooney house.

Yours in Cams, 

BL. x

And they lived happily ever after.

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

- Aristotle



LOVE



Bridesmaids



Kisses

So, yesterday was her day, the minute I saw her I could see the excitment bursting out of her. Not nervous in any way, she sat patiently getting her hair done while the girls finished the little bits and bobs. Flowers were arriving, bobby pins were missing, but Claire was as calm as the summer sea. Why would she be stressed? She was just about to marry the love of her life.

The room had anamazing ora, full of love, excitment, pride and five beautiful girls getting all prettied up. Elegantly Vintage. Everything was amazing. Pale pink, beige, lace, tiny pink rose earings and frilly socks with white ballet flats for the bride. Stunning.

Each bridsmaid sat in front of me one by one while I did their makeup, each as excited as the other. We continued to chat away about girly stuff for the rest of the morning.

Last but not least was Claire Mckewin, just hours away from being Claire Smith. She has a smile you can't forget. Her new journey was about to commence.

Claire and Adrian, may your lives be filled with eternal love and happiness.

Thankyou for letting me be apart of your magical day.

Yours in blush,

BL. x

Double shot, Extra Sweet.

"Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget"

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Stacee. Nikea. Bon. Kate.

The usual thanks. Double shot. Extra sweet. 

So, this morning I was lucky enough to be sitting at Hudson's, on the same table, with the same girls, drinking the same coffee that we always do. As usual, our discussion ended up being way to loud and inappropriate for a coffee shop, but hey. These are my girls are from Albury, a place that I so willingly moved to with Dan to experience new things and meet great new friends, but i did more than that, I met the greatest friends. We drink, we dance, we party, we gossip and we kick back. Today was kick back mode, them hung-over from last night and me, just chilling and happy to be in their company listening to the wild adventures of last night. The text messages go out around 9.30am every time we are all back in Albury, ''Coffee??'', then it's on, we know where, we know when. Today was similar to how it will be for a while, me coming down for a weekend visit, Nikea popping in on her way back to Geelong, where she is studying Fashion Design, and Kate and Stacee just do what they do best, living life to the fullest. The catch ups are quick, an hour at the most. The hour is jammed packed with stories from overseas trips, weekends away, fashion and just life in general. I could not ask to have better girls to go home to every second week. I can't wait for our next coffee date. Love you. I miss you. 


BL. x

The road that leads to nowhere...

...even though it leads to everywhere. 

'Simplicity is the nature of great souls'

You would think that every road leads to somewhere right? I like that fact that sometimes nature can just get in the way, you come to a dead end and you are forced to turn around and make a different decision. Just one of the many joys of life that we love to hate, yet make us stronger.

Every year our family jumps in the big black car and trips up north with the our favourite family, the 'Kelly Clan', seeking out the glorious weather and scenery that Nambucca Heads have to offer. After what turned out to a be a holiday with many 'dead ends' as such, in more ways than one, it would have to be one of the most amazing holidays filled with laughter, love and endless amounts of Scrabble. Tegann Kelly - you know that girl that's a friend, cousin and sister all rolled in one that you don't see very often, well yes, that's her. The rain would be falling through what was meant to be Summer and we were sitting there, rugged up in blankets and jumpers, still managing to drink cocktails at noon playing Scrabble. I do recall winning with the word 'zucia', and no, I still don't know what it means. But that's not the point. It's the obstacles that occur in the most peculiar situations that make you appreciate and connect with things that you wouldn't expect. 

We all need to take a deeper look into the situations that stop us in our tracks and make us rethink our decisions. I do believe that everything happens for a reason. Whether it's the rain on a Summers day that kept our families all tucked up in the bobbies together in Nambucca Heads or the huge river of water that lay over the only road we had to get out, there is always another way and we will always get through. 

Yours with Luck, 

BL. x

My Commanding Officer

Give me Military. Masculinity. Scarves. Boots. Stockings. Aviators. 

"Before the war who had ever heard of Anzac, hereafter who will ever forget"

-Patsy Adam-Smith

Along with my snuggles, movies and rain comes a whole lot of fun for me in months of June, July and August. 

My Winter fashion life consists of experimenting and matching my favourite boots with jeans, dresses and blazers then adding immense amounts of accessories for my final touch!

For those of you who know me, will know that I am a tiny, little, incy, wincy bit addicted to shoes. 

Especially the military kind. 

This satisfying, yet costly addiction, has led me further to my love for military fashion. I am hooked on the colours, masculinity and bold attitude that are at the root of this style. What's not to love about comfort and freedom?

The Military has played such a huge role in our day-to-day style, influencing it not only with colours but with pieces such as hats, badges, glasses and many other things that you would not even notice. This is what makes military fashion so intriguing. 

As the war has impacted our lives so dramatically socially and economically, it has also played a huge role in what we wear, and how we feel when we wear it. 

Like the history of the war, it is something that will never fade.

I love that the elements of both bravery and brotherhood are imbedded in the military and fashion world. It shows just how strongly these two completely different elements of life link so closely together.It is clear to say this match is going not going anywhere anytime soon, and neither am I. 

I'll be back with military inspired photo shoots and make-up experiments very soon.

Over and Out.

BL. x