NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS 2019

Happy 2019 lovers! I hope you all had a beautiful start to 2019 spent with your family and/or friends. This year I am feeling extremely inspired and motivated to have the best year yet professionally and personally. Last year I dipped out on making New Years Resolutions and I highly regretted it because it felt as if I didn't have anything to achieve and a deadline as to when I wanted to achieve it. This year my brain is bursting with goals I want to achieve in 2019 so I thought I would share them with you. If I put these resolutions out publicly maybe I will be kept accountable. 

GOAL #1: ADOPT A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

It's not a New Years Resolutions post without having at least one goal relating to healthy living. Unfortunately in 2018 I neglected my healthy lifestyle resulting in weight gain, weakened immune system and bad acne. I really want to focus on strengthening my immune system by taking my supplements, seeing a naturopath, minimising alcohol consumption and trying to eliminate processed foods from my weekend diet. In late 2018 I joined the Keep It Cleaner community so I aim to do a minimum of 3 KIC workout's a week and aim to do one gym class every Saturday. 

GOAL #2: VOLUNTEER IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAM

I've always wanted to volunteer and give back to my community but have never done it. This year I would love to get more involved in community initiatives even if it is as simple as donating unused clothing or beauty products that I am holding onto for no reason. There are so many amazing programs that I can get involved with like the St. Vincent de Paul food truck or organising hampers for a local women's shelter. 

GOAL #3: LEARN HOW TO PRIORITISE

This year I will be going back to uni full-time whilst also juggling a full-time job, which means I really need to learn how to prioritise my time. I think this also goes with learning to be organised as well. I used to think I was a naturally organised person but I have come to learn that I am a little bit all over the place and maybe organised chaos is the best way to describe my level of organisation skills. If anyone has any tips or knows of any good YouTube videos I can watch on this topic, I am all ears.

GOAL #4: MAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE

When you are not feeling 100%, whether it be physically or emotionally, you can often isolate yourself away from your friends and family. In 2019 I want to focus on further developing my friendships by doing more adventurous things with them or just simply making more time to hang out. What you put out into the universe is what you will receive back.

GOAL #5: TRAVEL

I've never been one to have the travel bug up until recently. I really need to plan a big overseas trip this year but I am undecided as to where I want to go. On one hand I want to experience England and on the other I want to go to the East Coast of the States and Hawaii. Undecided! What I am decided on though is that I need to get out of Australia ASAP.

Happy New Year everyone - wishing you all a happy and safe 2019.

Yours Truly,

Madyson xxx

MY BEST MOMENTS OF 2018 || 2018 IN REVIEW

Alas, 2018 has finally come to an end. This year has been challenging, emotionally draining, and physically difficult whilst at the same time being a year I learnt so much about myself. I believe negative situations in life really do teach you so much about who you are and what you want in life, and I am at a place now where I can see the good in so much bad. I decided in this blog post that I would reflect on the good rather than the bad, a personal goal I have made within the past month and a goal I hope to continue with in the new year. It's easy to feel that there were more negatives than positives in an unfortunate year, but reviewing the really good times is extremely important. I wish you all a Happy New Year, I feel like 2019 is going to be the best year yet.

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2018 started with a family trip to my favourite place in Australia, Noosa. Noosa is a small beach town on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland and is a regular destination for the Chippendale family. It's also home to my best friend Alicia and her family, which makes it all the more special. Alicia and I spent our time in Noosa drinking far too many cocktails, dancing in the most bogan clubs and shopping at Eumundi Markets and boutiques on Hastings Street. I also met strangers that I didn't realise would have such a prevalent role in my life and really shape the 2018 that was to come. One thing I do regret about this trip, my ridiculously cheap hair extensions and gold glitter nails...never again.

After Noosa and my 19th birthday I was off to the beautiful Hamilton Island with my then boyfriend. It was both our first times visiting this island, and boy was it magical. Ever since I watched the Sabrina the Witch movie when I was a child I wanted to visit Hamilton Island and see all its beauty. Although so much of the sealife and coral has died, it was still absolutely stunning, and a privilege to visit it whilst it is still somewhat alive. If you ever go there make sure you visit CocaChu - the best Thai restaurant I've ever dined at. You also must visit the reef and Whitehaven beach, breathtakingly beautiful.

In March I realised I wasn't happy with where I was in life at that point, so I decided it was time to experience the world alone and work on my own happiness. You can't make someone happy if you yourself aren't happy, and that was a decision that benefitted both parties in the long-run. March was spent surrounded by my best friends Alicia and Vinny, who were my rocks during such an awful emotional time. It was also the month I saw Ed Sheeran live for the second time. Dive will forever give me goosebumps - I miss you Ed!!

April was spent celebrating far too much. From Vinny's 21st, multiple house parties and lots of footy games, both my liver and my acne hated me. I also got to see my favourite artist Harry Styles perform live since the hiatus of One Direction. My heart belongs to you Harry, forever and always.

I experienced my first ever Fashion Week as a guest in May thanks to my best friend Cass. Numerous fashion shows and after parties inspired me to succeed in my career, and also evolve my personal style. I met some amazing people at these shows that I wouldn't realise would reappear in my life months down the track, and I was super proud of my outfit choices too which created some fab Instagram content. My blog also thrived during May which brought me great happiness.

In July I graduated from The Fashion Institute alongside my best friend after a year of interning, volunteering at fashion shows and events, and working on my multiple majors. Fashion school taught me so much about where I wanted to go in my career and what I wanted to do. It was in this month that I was offered a job as an Account Coordinator in a Sydney PR company, a big girl full-time job which made my Capricorn self so damn proud. Interning brought me a wealth of knowledge and experience that has helped me land my dream job. This month I pinned the YSL College Bag to my moodboard, not realising in a few months I would have achieved the goal of buying a dream bag with my own money.

August and September proved to be the most difficult months for me emotionally and physically, however when October rolled around there was some light at the end of the tunnel. I was offered a dream position as a Marketing and Admin coordinator at a company I have wanted to work at since I was little and I also got to re-visit my favourite place (Noosa) to celebrate Alicia's 21st. We partied hard throughout October and met and partied with some really cool people creating memories that have become highlights of my year.

At the end of October I decided I deserved to treat myself, and I purchased two of my dream handbags. It sounds silly to have this as a highlight but I was super proud of myself for saving up enough money (I am a bad saver!) to buy two luxury handbags.

Feeling a little worse for wear after being diagnosed with glandular fever, I decided it was time to refresh my look. I dyed my hair darker and invested in hair extensions and I have never been happier with my physical appearance. When you feel beautiful you radiate positivity.

December has actually been the best month of the year. I caught up with so many old friends and braved going to things alone to meet new people. After deciding I didn't want to feel so lonely all the time, I decided to make a change and invest my time with other people. It's so easy to be caught up with only a couple of people in your life that you forget about all the other friends that you have neglected. I spent Christmas with my beautiful family and friends and ending the year with more family and more friends.

I'm going into 2019 excited for what is to come. I feel like 2019 is going to be all about personal growth and change, which really excites me.

Happy New Year everyone! Enjoy the journey that is 2019.

Yours Truly,
Madyson xxx

SUMMER DRESSES YOU NEED TO BUY || WHAT I WORE DURING CHRISTMAS

The most wonderful time of the year has come to an end and it's that awkward period between Christmas and New Year that everyday blurs into one. Is it Friday? Is it Sunday? I don't even know anymore. In the past two weeks I have decided that I refuse to wear pants and jeans for this time of year, and it will only be dresses and skirts until January 7th (when I go back to work and I can't be bothered to tan my legs). 

So many of you loved the dresses I wore over Christmas, so I thought I would share what I wore and where they're from on the blog, considering it is supposed to be dedicated to all things personal style and all. 

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, and if you don't celebrate it, Happy Holidays!

Kookai

Blanca Dress

Tight dresses are a rare style choice for me, however I am a sucker for red and anything midi. Kookai is such a great one-stop shop for every occasion and no matter what I need I can find it there. What I love most besides the pop of colour is the back criss-cross detailing that is so flattering on every woman. I actually impulsively bought this without even trying it on early November because I knew that an occasion or event would come up that I would need a dress like this for. This item is also apart of their end of year sale, so I highly recommend to make the purchase if you need a dress in your wardrobe to have in case of emergency!

Shop here.

SIR

Lucille Embroidered Shift Dress

I have owned this dress from SIR for a few months now, after purchasing it from Bondi boutique (and online store!) Tuchuzy. This purchase was one that I surprisingly regretted after I made it and actually considered returning it before realising it was too late to take back as it was way past the exchange/return policy time. I am so relieved I didn't return this, because it is a staple in my wardrobe and a dress that I continue to go back to when I don't have anything else to wear. This dress is completely hand embroidered and made from beautiful cotton, making it worth the hefty price-tag. I wore this dress to a Christmas dinner with my girlfriends at the Woolwich Pier Hotel with some simple black strappy heels and gold jewellery, however have worn this casually with linen wedges. Due to it being quite a lightweight fabric I recommend purchasing some nude shape wear to wear underneath as it is quite see-through in daylight. 

Shop here.

Finders Keepers

One Love Floral Midi Dress

On Christmas Eve I had a dinner with my family and family friends before heading to my local pub to spend Christmas Eve with some friends (whilst looking extremely overdressed). The last few months I have started to wear much more feminine pieces, and this one is no different. I originally wore this to my best friend's 21st, but it's a piece I will continue to wear over and over again because it is so flattering and pretty. I highly recommend to size down though as I had to get this altered twice. The long puffy sleeves complemented by the open v-neck gives it a more young appeal which I love.

Shop here.

Alice McCall

The Best Dress

This was a very short-lived dress due to the fact it's really damn short. I absolutely love the style though because you can wear it either with the straps or strapless and it sinches you in at the stomach, however it is just way too short for a sit-down lunch or dinner. I highly recommend this though for any cocktail or clubbing event you have because it really is beautiful. Also, it's on sale!

Shop here.

Zimmermann

Corsage Safari Dress

I think everyone has established that Zimmermann is my absolute favourite brand. There's something about their pieces that make you feel so beautiful whether it be a dress or their swimwear. This python patterned dress is a piece I will live in during the summer because it looks great with sneakers or some bright coloured heels. As usual, the quality is worth the pricetag and it is so comfy. I do recommend to go down a size as it is a bigger fit and I desperately need it taken in.

Shop here.

Keep updated with all my outfit posts by following me on Instagram.

Yours Truly,

Madyson x 

WHAT I BOUGHT IN THE BOXING DAY SALES

Boxing Day sales are the perfect excuse to update your summer wardrobe, or so I tell myself. Saving money on the items that are sitting in my wishlist always brings me a sense of joy and an easy away to justify the purchases I make. Below are some of the pieces I picked up in the Fashion Bunker and The Iconic sales.

Camilla & Marc

Margot Cropped Straight Leg Jeans

I have wanted these pair of jeans for the longest time now, and I would be crazy to say no to a mark-down of $120. I am a lover of all things denim and I really needed to invest in a pair I could dress up with heels when I go out to the local pub - so Australian, I know. I would definitely recommend to go up a size as they have little to none stretch - I'm usually a size 24 but needed to go up to a 25 in this pair. These jeans are also great quality and look great with a pair of heeled ankle booties. 

Shop here.

Shona Joy

Plunged Ruffle Mini Dress

Now that I have darker hair, I am loving white dresses. This purchase was made for two reasons. One being that I needed options for New Years Eve, and the second being my mum really wanted to buy this for herself but couldn't get her size, and lucky for me, I got the last one in a size 6. It's definitely a piece you can dress up with nice heels or down with some small wrap wedges. 

Shop here.

C/MEO COLLECTIVE

The Moments Shirt

Although I said I was looking to buy more dresses and skirts, somehow I purchased yet another black shirt - shock horror. I envisioned I would wear this with the Camilla & Marc jeans and some black stilettos to a nice dinner, and can also definitely wear it in the winter as well. I really liked the belt detail too as structured pieces are a favourite of mine.

Shop here.

Finders Keepers

Moonlight Cami

I loved this set online, however not a huge fan of it in person. Definitely a good basic for work with pants, however the quality is not great. I will probably pair this with black work pants or some skinny jeans.

Shop here.

Finders Keepers

Bloom Mini Dress

I have a thing for colour and high-neck, long-sleeve dresses this summer. Whilst not typically a fan of the colour blue, this dress looks so nice on and is such a flattering silhouette. I really like that you can dress it down with boots or sandals and wear to work, but can wear it out clubbing or to a dinner. Such a simple dress but a beautiful pop of colour for the summer. Also - the quality of this is amazing!

Shop here.

Finders Keepers

Pompeii Long Sleeve Dress

As my birthday is quickly approaching, I decided this would be perfect for my birthday lunch at Cafe Sydney. Balloon sleeves and the button detail is very on trend at the moment which I am a huge fan of. I will definitely need to be extra bronzed when I wear this as it is a lot of leg, however with long sleeved pieces I think you need to show off something. 

Shop here.

Finders Keepers

Solar Dress

I absolutely love dresses like these because they can be worn to work as well as weekends. They are just so easy and so flattering and look great with any type of footwear. I can't get the Chloe boots out of my mind when I see this dress, which means I need to make that expensive investment very soon.

Shop here.

Shop my favourite sales below:

• The Iconic - 25% off select pieces + markdown pieces
• Fashion Bunker - 30% off all full-priced pieces + further 60% off on sale
• Net-a-Porter - Markdown pieces
• Revolve - Further 20% off on markdown pieces
• Tuchuzy - Further 20% off on markdown pieces

Until next time...

With Love,
Madyson

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