9 things I learnt during Frocktober

October 30 2016

Frocktober has finally come to a close! I’ve worn a different dress every day of October to raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation… and I learnt a bunch of things along the way! This is them!

1. Taking a GOOD photo every day is a not as easy as it looks!

Think the outfit-of-the-day bloggers are nabbing a quick shot in the 30 seconds before they walk out the door? If that’s how they’re doing it, it is not a skill I possess! I have had some major bloopers along the way that have made me lol and ask myself ‘Seriously, what were you going for there? how did you think that photo was going to turn out?!’. Here is my one minute blooper reel! (No sound):

Respect, outfit-of-the-day bloggers. Respect.

2. I own the same dress in 17 different colours and patterns.

Frocktober dresses on repeat

Keeping Cue in business since 2011.

17 may be a bit of an exaggeration but I am definitely buying the same dress. It’s a Cue frock, a shape that never goes out of style and clearly I’m a bit addicted to it. Several of these I bought in the boxing day release and despite the fact I clearly don’t need any more, suspect I’ll be hitting refresh online on December 26 to see what prints it’s out in this year!

3. The schnoodles want in on the snaps!

After discovering how painfully long it took to get a frock pic I was happy with, I started setting my camera up to take 5 photos in a row. Unfortunately, this meant that sometimes the schnoos would bolt in and ruin a shot… it’s almost as if they heard the first click, looked at each other, then came rushing in for the next four. Yeah, thanks team.

Frocktober fails with the schnoos

Through gritted photo-bombed teeth: the schnoos get in on the action!

4. I look way more awake with lipstick on

Never been much of a morning person (apologies, employers) so perking up for a shot before I scoot to work has at times been a struggle. Along the way I discovered I look WAY more awake with lipstick on! Life hack I’m taking all the way to the bank.

5. When opportunity knocks – say yes!

Even if it makes your tummy flip flop with nerves. More on this in yesterday’s post!

6. When you Frocktober (Yes, I’m using it as a verb), you’re in excellent company!

I have loved following along on Instagram with the #Frocktober2016 hashtag to discover the other dames frocking up for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. While there were SO MANY exceptional women getting in on the action, these ladies have been some of my favourites:

Frocktober dames I love

The Dames of Frocktober – ladies I so admire, who I hope don’t mind I nabbed some of their pics from Insta! (from left to right, top then bottom: Kimba (@kimbalikes), Tonia (@toniawithaneye), Marisa (@hanworthhouse), Birgit (@birgit_w), Lauren (@thudandpop) and Jasmine (@prettychuffed).

As you can imagine, many of these women have had their lives touched by ovarian cancer – they’ve made a huge effort and together have raised more than $23,000 at the time of writing this post.

7. We desperately need an early detection test for ovarian cancer.

I’ve learnt a lot about ovarian cancer this month – it’s an insidious disease that claims the life of one Australian woman every 10 hours – that’s 75 this month. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague (you can read about them here) and as a result, tragically, many women don’t receive a diagnosis until the cancer has spread. While mammograms and pap smears are helping to curb the mortality rate for women diagnosed with breast and cervical cancers, there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer. This is what the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation is desperately trying to achieve and we’ve been helping them do this month.

8. You are so generous

When I set up my frocktober fundraising page, I set the target at $500 then at the very last moment switched it to $1,000 thinking ‘aim high!’. I am so humbled to have raised more than $1,600 with your generosity – it was beyond my expectations. THANK YOU.

Hopefully it will not be too long until we hear news that an early detection test has been developed. On that day, lovely donors, know that you helped make that happen.

9. Frocktober was A BUNCH of fun!

And I will so look forward to doing it again next year! I’d love you to consider joining me next time – remember you don’t have to wear a different frock every day, or even a frock every day, there are lots of fun frocktastic challenges.

Anyway plenty of time for all that, but for now I’m thinking about pulling on some pants and celebrating a bloody good month! Thank you for all your support and enthusiasm along the way!

Do you love a good frock? Have you enjoyed Frocktober? Is this cause close to your heart? Do you end up with a bunch of bloopers when you try to get a good selfie? Love to chat more in the comments below! 

5 Comments

  • Tonia Zemek says:

    Andrea! I’m so excited to be included in this post. Thank you, thank you. You’ve really rocked those frocks and I’ve loved watching your Insta feed. Hey, congrats on that Leina Broughton shoot too – such a wonderful and well deserved opportunity. You go girl! Again, thank you for your support. x

  • Kimba Likes says:

    Thank you! Loved frocking up with you!

    Now it’s time for Pantsvember! Jo from iCurvy is hosting Rule Breakers Club later in the month too,if you’re up for another challenge!

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