Frocktober Picnic

Last weekend for Frocktober, I got together with my sister Goldfields Girl and my friend Lauren for a frocked up picnic in the gardens. Ballarat’s Botanic Gardens are spectacular at any time of year and this Spring is no exception. The poppies are out and the grass is lush. We set up with Pimm’s, sandwiches and some chilled music.

We were, of course, frocking up for a cause. Frocktober is an annual event for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF). There are 1500 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in Australia. Not many of them survive past the next 5 years. It is the most deadly gynaecological cancer, killing one woman in Australia every 10 hours. Unlike other cancers, there is no early detection test. OCRF has been around since 2000. They work with hospitals, universities and research institutes across Australia and New Zealand and assist to fund and guide research that will help develop and early detection test. That early detection could help save so many lives. Currently, the only detection test available is by taking a tissue sample during surgery. Raising awareness around ovarian cancer and its symptoms won’t save lives, but early detection will. Viable research is the answer and early detection is the key.

How can you get involved and make a difference?

Why not donate? Any amount helps get Frocktober closer to their fundraising goal. Last week around $134,000 had been raised of the $325,000 goal for this year. This week, it’s up to $184,000! Thanks everyone who has donated so far. Please give if you haven’t had the chance to do so already. Any amount helps!

Wear a frock and tag the campaign on social media (#frocktober2017 @OCRF). Make sure you give links so that your friends, family or followers can click through to the campaign and donate as well.

Start your own ‘Everyday Hero’ page or team to share your own personal story or passion to donate to the cause.

Find out more information at the Frocktober website here.

Do you like my vintage styled hair? I missed the smoothing step at the end, but if you want to try it, here’s how to do it.

Gather up all the hair at the back of the crown of your head. Pull it up and forward.
Tease it in big loose strokes until there is a bit of form to the hair.
Spray it with hairspray and let it dry. Repeat steps 2 and 3 if needed. When spraying the hairspray make sure you have some distance from your head and you do it in short light bursts.
Now let your hair fall back and down in its natural position. Smooth it to create a round bubble of bulk at the back of your head.
Now take a brush to the exterior layer to smooth over the top (I didn’t do this so all the teasing is visible)
Pin hair at the base of your bubble to hold it in place or it will slowly fall out.