I had a cheeky trip to Adelaide last weekend and managed to pack a lot into 24 hours. I even fit in a quick visit to Brazil.

What?! Well, to Rio specifically. Actually, to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre – but there was plenty Rio-ness to be found inside its walls.

Like Cinderella, I have wanted to go to a ball for a while. Back in my university days, we regularly frocked up for college balls, and during my time working in the agricultural industry in Queensland I always attended the annual Beef Ball to celebrate the cattle industry. These days, there seems to be a shortage of reasons to put on an elegant long dress and swan about at a black tie affair.

So, I was pretty excited when my gorgeous friend Miss Elizabeth asked if I wanted to attend the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Wings for Life Gala Ball in Adelaide.

The RFDS is close to my heart – I’ve been blessed that none of my family have ever needed their services, but I have several friends who can credit their life to this amazing rural and regional emergency medical organisation.

Did you know? The not-for-profit Royal Flying Doctor Service is one of the largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world, providing extensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency service to people over an area of 7.3 million square kilometres.

The theme for this year’s Wings for Life Ball was Trόpico Carnaval. When we walked into the Entertainment Centre we were transported to Latin America.

There was colour. Rhythm. Feathers.

There were samba drummers.

There were Brazilian dancers.

There was Todd McKenney in all his sequined glory – and of course, he sang I go to Rio.

 

 

There were tear-jerking stories from RFDS patients – three generations of South Australian women, a mother, her daughter and her daughter – shared how the RFDS had saved their lives.

 

 

There was giving. Between the lucky dips (I won three bottles of wine and a nannying voucher – not sure in which order they are meant to be used), the silent auction and the big-ticket live auction the ball raised a record $242,000. This amazing outcome will go towards replacing aircraft and medical equipment to keep the RFDS medical crews in the sky.

Did you know? Every day, the RFDS assists around 100 patients in South Australia and the Northern Territory alone

 

What I wore:

 

To market, to market:

 

On Saturday morning, I had a photography workshop conveniently located near the Adelaide Showgrounds where, coincidently, the Bowerbird Bazaar was in full swing. I swear I had no idea 😉

 

It would have been un-Mrs M not to visit.

 

The Bowerbird Bazaar is a design market, and a showcase of gorgeous design: clothes, jewellery, art, homewares, flowers…

 

It was a chance to meet some of the designers I follow on Instagram and see their wares first-hand. Of course, it would have also been very unlike Mrs M not to support these talented people and I may have picked up some beautiful pieces.

 

Inside my bag:

Flowers: I picked up this beautiful bouquet for Mr M to give to his mum for Mother’s Day. They were the creation of Flowers with Heart, based in the Adelaide Hills.

 

Jams and chutneys: I love hand-made gourmet goodies, so I wasn’t going to go past the Made by Katherine stand without sampling some of her gorgeous products. I came away with a Rhubarb and Juniper Berry jam and a Pear, Lime and Chilli chutney.

 

Candles: I may have a candle addiction. There, I said it. I love filling our house with fragrance, and I’m a sucker for pretty packaging. I picked up a couple of these cute tins from Green Candle Co (Pink Peony and Moss & Amber) which will make nice gifts (possibly for myself).

Clutch: Sigh. I love this bag. I had heard about YellowBird, the gorgeous creation of Lynley (who, it turns out, is also a mid-north SA girl), so I was delighted to stumble across her beautifully-styled stand at the market. I could have stayed there all day, as each bag I picked up was more beautiful than the next. I spent a long time trying to decide between my top three and finally settled on this beautiful blue linen design. I love the pop of colour inside, thanks to the vintage fabric lining. I am still thinking about my second choice though…

 

All in all, my little trip to Brazil and the Bowerbird Bazaar made for a lovely mini getaway.

 

Love, Mrs M

xx