Mother of all Birthdays

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Dress: Autograph by Marks & Spencer satin with organza overlay

Sandals: Wittner leather with gold hardware

Bag: Nine West vinyl with gold hardware

Ring: Victoria & Albert Museum gold & diamante

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Finally posting all the gorgeous pictures from the Mother of All Birthdays - a celebration for my partner in crime, decreasingly reluctant shopping buddy, blog photographer extraordinaire, closet confidant & biggest cheerleader... my mother, Joanne!

We decided to combine the decorating of my brother's Christmas tree (one of our favourite holiday traditions) with a family birthday dinner at one of our best-loved destinations: Creole Soul Kitchen at Spring Hill. For the first part of the day, I donned a beautiful Art Deco inspired organza & satin shift dress from Autograph by Marks & Spencer, purchased  a a few years ago on Oxford Street in London, funky metallic gold leather gladiator flats with a myriad of buckles from Wittner, sparkly vinyl shoulder bag with chunky gold hardware from Nine West & an oversized bow ring that I found at the Victoria & Albert Museum Gift Shop... the same day that I found the dress, if memory serves me correctly...

In the photographs below, where I am posing with the birthday girl, she is wearing a sumptuous royal blue & silver large-scale floral jacquard fit-to-flare dress with faux cropped bodice from Aussie brand Review, pewter heeled mules from Lunar (found at Zomp in James Street), a vintage silver brooch & a gorgeous pair of Celtic earrings from Prouds Jewellers... her birthday present last year, in fact!

Scroll down to see the finished tree...

TAA DAA!

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Pictures cannot do the delicious food at Creole Soul Kitchen justice... it all just tastes so unbelievably amazing... particularly the Gumbo, that's a personal favourite of mine...

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Dress: David Lawrence guipure lace with satin lining

Heels: Zomp leather with gold metallic heels

Bag: Nine West vinyl with gold hardware

Ring: Victoria & Albert Museum gold & diamante

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Stopping for a few quick family snaps after dinner. I'm posing under the stars in a stunning black guipure lace midi dress with asymmetrical hemline & flesh-tone satin lining from David Lawrence, blush leather round-toe shoes with metallic gold heels & lace-up detailing from Zomp in James Street (very reminiscent of ballet pointe shoes in my opinion), sparkly gold vinyl shoulder bag with chunky gold hardware from Nine West & finally, an oversized cocktail ring in the shape of a bow from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

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Dress: Debenhams satin

Flats: Witchery leather with silver hardware

Hinged Bangle: Heathergems silver & naturally dyed heather

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On the actual day, it was all about a low-key family dinner at home, followed by an amazing cake from our local bakery, decorated with gorgeous icing flowers. Owing to the humid weather in Queensland, I'm wearing a vibrant blue floral satin fit-to-flare mini dress from Debenhams (gifted to me for Christmas by a dear friend), soft gold leather pointy-toed flats with silver buckle from Witchery (a recent "Black Friday" airport purchase!) & a silver hinged bangle with pink & yellow naturally dyed heather centre from Heathergems Jewellery in Pitlochry, a little Scottish village I had the pleasure of visiting in 2012 & hope to again soon...

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