How to get your feet sandal-ready

Have your toes been hibernating over winter? Spring is not too far away now and there are some fabulous sandals starting to hit the shops. Or perhaps you’re heading away soon? This weekend is forecast to be 26°c in Port Douglas and Fiji. In Broome it’s going to be 31°c! That is definitely sandal weather! If that is you, then some pre-holiday prep work might be required. I’m not off on holiday, but I am heading to the Gold Coast next week for the Problogger annual blogging conference. It won’t be super hot, but there is a cocktail party on the Friday night which will require my toes to be out and proud, so I’ve been doing some pre-Problogger prepping.

New season sandals

Firstly, let’s have a look at some of the new season sandals. They are sooo pretty! I’m loving all these soft gentle whispers of colour, barely any colour at all. Metallics are still in (2, 3 and 5), which I’m thrilled about. Flatforms (2) are new and I’m not sure about them yet. Perhaps it will be one of those trends that grow on you when you see everyone wearing them. They remind me of geta, those Japanese wooden shoes. Which is pretty cool actually. A tan sandal (1, 4 and 6) is always practical with spring outfits. Especially for travelling since they go with everything. I love the pale blush tone of 7. So pretty.

My favourite is 3 I think. It’s got some of that wrappy wrappy action that’s so in at the moment plus a bit of metallic, plus it’s a lovely soft neutral colour. But is there too much going on do you think? Which one do you like?

1   Seed Eve crossover slide
2   Witchery Katie flatform
3   Seed Zena gladiator sandal
4   Wittner Loya sandal
5   Country Road Ruthie sandal
6   Country Road Chantal sandal
7   Witchery Cassidy sandal

My Problogger beauty prep

I’m super excited about Problogger. Last year I went knowing absolutely no-one in real life. On the first night I had arranged to meet Rene from Together We Roam in the hotel lobby. I felt like we should each be carrying a red rose so that we would recognise each other! It felt very much like a blind date.  Fortunately she turned out to be an absolute babe, we had an awesome night and the conference was super fun.  This time it’s very different since I will know quite a lot of girls. I’m hoping to run into familiar faces at every turn, but with 700-odd people going that’s probably unlikely. I can’t wait to see all the gorgeous girls that I talk to regularly online. Some of them I haven’t seen since last year’s conference and I miss being able to squeeze them! I’ve even volunteered to be a Happiness Creator! This will involve hanging out in the foyer around lunchtime both days just chatting and getting to know as many new bloggers as I can, so if you’re going please come and say hi!

I plan to pack for this trip unlike any other trip. Part of the fun of it for me is time away from the kids in a grown-up bloggy world, and I will take great pleasure in having a hotel room to myself, a whole suitcase to myself and playing dress-ups with heels and make-up every day. This is what I’ve been getting up to in preparation –

Hairdresser

I adore my hairdresser. I’m super fussy with my hair and was thrilled to discover this brilliant local place about 18 months ago. If you are anywhere near the north side of Sydney, then get yourself to Caroline (colour) and Marc (cut) at Cure Hairdressing. I have spent my life at city/Darlinghurst/South Yarra salons, but Cure is the real deal in the burbs. Sooo good. So be gone grandma roots and bring on glossy fabulous hair.

Beautician

To get the brows under control. Although I’m doing my best to ignore them at the moment, because I’m trying to thicken them up. It’s a very long process. I’m about 10 months in and patchy is probably the best way to describe them at the moment. Why oh why did I wear them so thin in my 20s? Was that the fashion in the 90s?

Spray tan

Once upon a time I did have a spray tan. It was 2000 and I was going to Bali with my newish boyfriend (now hubster). Sadly it was a traumatic experience that had me much much darker than I was comfortable with. I felt completely ridiculous. As a result I had completely sworn off spray tanning, after all I love my pale skin, but the thought of my bare whiter than white legs at the Problogger cocktail party was enough to talk through my fears with my beautician and book myself in. If it is a disaster and I look ridiculous, then please don’t laugh at me.

DIY pedicure

At this time of year my toes get somewhat neglected. When they’re inside tights or socks or uggs I forget about them. But then an event lands in your diary like the Problogger cocktail party and your toes are in the spotlight, encased in some sexy heels.

With the amount of money I spend on my hair (damn those grey roots!) I try to save it elsewhere if I can, so instead of heading to a salon, I did a DIY pedicure. Not just a trim and paint, I had a new toy to try out – the Scholl Velvet Smooth Express Pedi. This little baby got rid of all that nasty dry skin with hardly any effort on my part and no discomfort at all.

Followed up by a generous dollop of moisturiser (I used Scholl Velvet Smooth Essential Moisture Cream), my feet were baby soft.

A couple of coats of polish (I used O.P.I. Pink Flamenco – a gorgeous bright pink with a touch of mauve) and my feet were all prettied up and ready to party!

Ready to wear my Salties whenever the weather decides to warm up.

And in tip top shape for my new party shoes from Wittner.

For added comfort I will be slipping in some Party Feet Gel Inserts, so that my feet don’t tire of the party before I do.

* Thank you to Scholl for gifting me the Velvet Smooth and Party Feet products.

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Hit me with your spray tanning advice please. Am I mad to be trying it the day before Problogger?