Hello beautiful ladies. I have missed you A LOT. A day of absence from here feels very long, but a month feels like e.t.e.r.n.i.t.y.

My family is slowly but surely settling in Germany and despite all sorts of expected and unexpected issues that need(ed) sorting out, life is showing signs of getting back to some sort of normality. We finally have the internet connection sorted, so I can indulge in a bit of time spent here, although there won't be too much to add in terms of outfits for several reasons. Firstly, we still live mostly out of the suitcases and boxes, so there's not that much wardrobe variety on offer, but that is not too bad - I have learnt at YLF to make out the most of little wardrobe that I have in rotation. Secondly, I am a 100% MOTG now and if had to I could live in the simple uniform of skinnies + top + sunglasses + flat shoes + roomy bag (to fit the kitchen sink in), but the variations of the outfits would probably bore you, so I'll refrain from repetitions. Either way, I spend so much time either running around at the playgrounds (and shaking sand out of my shoes endlessly), that I have a whole new style needs and perspective on my wardrobe - again, the ability to identify them actually originates from YLF. And finally, finding a suitable place for taking photos of my outfits in the new apartment is proving a bit tricky. But, I'll join in the fun only when possible.

For now, I'm sharing a few photos of the outfits with some pieces I could not wait to wear.

1. My absolute favorite of the lot, the white lined full skirt which just screams 'summer' to me. It was my little present to myself, made of thick, heavy linen and has amazing texture. It also swishes like a dream when I walk. The breeze helped a bit when this photo was taken, showing its fullness and wonderful shape. Worn with a striped shell top and cropped denim jacket, which I had off for the photo as it was extremely hot outside.

2. My typical 'uniform' for what happened to be a chilly day, so skinnies came into play to keep me warm. I'm not a big football fan, but why miss out on having fun - given that it was the day when the German team was playing at the current European football championship, I thought of dressing in the colors that surround me these days a lot. The result: black shoes, red cardigan and yellow handbag.

3. Family day at my husband's new workplace when there was a lot to see, do and generally walk around. I don't remember this linen-mix dress being so short when I bought it last year. I certainly didn't feel comfortable with the length so I added cropped white leggins. Mistake or not, what do you think? I never wore this type of leggins before. Should I get the black ones too to extend the mileage of this dress -> tunic?

4. Sorry for the bad light, I hope the description will help. I'm jumping on the orange bandwagon in the linen-mix skirt that somehow survived in my wardrobe from pre-YLF days - not because of color, but because its cut, the length and how great it felt to walk in it, even when I had no idea how to style it. I am now so glad I kept it. I had to rely on neutrals to wear it on the day, so out came polkadot top and white shoes with spotty cutouts. I also wanted to wear the wooden beads necklace and only later discovered they matched the buttons on my cropped denim jacket nicely.

5. Finally, a purchase. I have said in my last post that I'll go on SYC this year except when it comes to things that I actually need. During the packing for the move I have discovered so many pieces that I either haven't worn enough or at all, and I really want to enjoy them before adding anything new. But, very few days into my new life/style at a new location have discovered a gaping hole in my wardrobe - oxfords. I found these beauties after relatively brief search, they felt wonderful and so buttery soft on my feet, and after sleeping on it for a few days I went back to the shop - and even asked to buy them in the language that I'm slowly learning. I did come home with the right pair and in the correct size

Thanks for looking, comments are always welcome.

(Sorry for the long post I have a lot of catching up to do... are there must-reads that I need to pay special attention to?)