Wardrobe Remix for 03.01.11

coral striped bodysuit - Forever 21
army green pencil skirt - American Apparel
black tights - Target
cognac oxfords - Aldo

Rabbit rabbit! It's March first, a new month and today I had a new attitude. I promised myself I'd be optimistic and productive all day and so far I have! I woke up to the sun shining. As soon as I got up I did my taxes, got the ball rolling on beginning therapy, shot shop photos, went to the bank and store, and I'm about to make chicken salad and list. I didn't feel mopey or complain all day.

I'm excited for March. I'm taking care of myself inside and out all month. My plans for the next 31 days include:

• begin sessions with a therapist
• treat myself to a facial and a Swedish massage
• cook for myself and Michael more
• weather permitting, start running
• get my hair professionally dyed blonde
• treat myself to my first professional mani/pedi
• go to Nashville March 25-28 (!!!)

Yes, you heard right, I'll be in Nashville. I've been planning for the last month of so with Rachel. If you want to meet up, or can suggest things for me to check out while I'm there, please do!

Wardrobe Remix for 02.19.11

teal flower headband - factorygirlashli on Etsy
vintage dress - thrifted
navy sweater tights - TJ Maxx
silver flats - Target


I know, it's been approximately 850 years since I've done an outfit post. I've taken photos and never uploaded them. These would fall into the same pile except I forced myself to upload them.

Why? Well, many reasons. First of all, winter has me in a rut. I want to be comfortable so badly. I wear a sort of uniform most days, and I'm just bulked out in knits and layers. I'm too exhausted in the morning to take a photo, and I manage to dress even worse on my days off. What's the point if I don't leave the house?

Also, a few weeks ago, my boyfriend's sister attempted to dye my hair blonde. Suffice it to say, this didn't pan out (I'm telling my stylist, when I go back with my tail between my legs, that "we couldn't get the right blonde"). Oh well, blonde is tricky and I had two years' worth of red dye in my hair, it was going to be a pain in the ass. I dyed it golden brown, cried a lot, and miss my red hair. I feel old and ugly. I've just been feeling gross in general because winter drains me of my energy, due in part to hiking through the post-blizzard snow banks and working extra overtime at work. I've not been eating the healthiest and feel overweight. Basically, I feel ugly, old, and fat. So dressing well isn't really up there on my list of priorities right now.

Anyway, back to this outfit. Saturday the sun was shining, the snow on the ground was all gone, and even though it was chilly and I didn't have anywhere too special to go I thought I should pull myself together a little bit. I'm not sure about this dress, high neck styles aren't the best for me, but I wore the top 2 buttons unbuttoned the rest of the day and it looked fine. It was originally for the shop but when I saw how well it fit, Michael and I agreed it should stay in my closet for the time being. I adore the matching belt! I also sported this headband I got last winter in a trade with Ashli and I love the pop of colour it gives my outfit. I love wearing headbands with a pixie cut, too.

Michael and I left late in the day to Shangri-La Vintage located in Roscoe Village. It's small, but there's a decent amount of clothing there. Very well organized and very fairly priced. The man who runs it even puts measurements and flaws on the tag for you! I got a cute 60s sundress and Michael scored a vest, tie, and four vintage Playboy Magazines (two were $4 each, the other two only $2 each cos they were missing the centerfolds!). We wandered around a bit, had dinner at the Pick Me Up Cafe and went home to watch a film.

Snowglobe

I'm sure you've heard of the blizzard that started on Tuesday night. Approximately 100,000,000 people were affected, myself included. Michael met me at work around 5 on Tuesday (we closed early, he had a guitar delivered to my store). Trying to hail a cab was difficult, as the first cabbie we found wouldn't go to Logan Square, but we got one. Trying to hail one the wind was 50-60 mph and almost knocked me down, and I couldn't see because I had ice flakes going into my eyes. After crawling up the Kennedy expressway we made it home safe.

However, my third floor apartment's windows were facing opposite the wind, and I was sure they would blow out. Not to mention there is a bare tree right outside the windows that were scraping and smacking against the glass, making it sound like there would be a zombie invasion. My roommate and I taped cardboard to the windows in case they broke and it looked (and still does) like this:



I was really upset at this point because as far as I knew I had to work on Wednesday and everyone I knew was off. In the middle of the night I heard the wind howling and the tree scraping the window and I was scared a window would blow out while I was at work and nobody would be home and Seymour would get hurt...

Yesterday I awoke to sun. There was still wind but it wasn't howling, and it was blowing the snow that was falling around. It seriously looked like a snow globe. The building I work in said stores didn't have to open if they didn't want to, and my boss said it was okay if I didn't open. I was so relieved! People I knew said the snow was up to their waists when they went outside.

I tried finding the beauty in it, after all I might never see so much snow again and it was so fresh. Here are some photos I snapped, makes the area around my home look like little toys.









I'm thankful that my power didn't go out, nobody I knew was hurt, and even though I feel kind of sick today I survived the blizzard of 2011!

Retrospecticus: 2010

It's the last day of 2010! How this year flew by; seems like just yesterday I was in Lawrence, Kansas preparing for my NYE dinner party with Michael. This year has brought me lots of wealth in many ways than one; I received a promotion and raise at my day job, my Etsy stores have been a success, I've started selling my jewelry and vintage at pop-up shops. I've become more confident as a sales person and as a jewelry artist. And perhaps the best event of 2010 is that Michael, the love of my life, moved to Chicago!

As most do at this time of year I am reflecting on goals I made for myself for this year. From the blog, let's revisit:

Resolutions and Goals for 2010

• Get up 15 minutes earlier every day (outfit photo + get together lunch + not have to run to the bus)

I'm not getting up earlier, but cutting my hair has also cut down my morning routine!

• Take outfit photos way more often (see previous)
• Update blog at least every other day

Eep. Maybe this is why I'm not late to work as much? I'll try harder next year!

• Get a lot more stock for both my etsy stores

Yes! I also remember telling Michael I'd like to hit 100 sales in my vintage shop before my birthday, which I also did. :)

• Save money so I can go to L.A. in March and Boston/Salem in September or October with Michael

Yeah, neither of those happened. But I *did* do to Madison in Febuary, a bonus trip to Lawrence in July, and New York City in May so I did get out of the state!

• Make solid, fashionable attempt to wear pants more often

I am wearing pants more often! I just never photograph it. ;)

• Only buy shoes that are durable, comfortable, and stylish

Except for a stupid purchase here and there (it's hard to justify spending more than $20 on novelty heels!) I've been pretty good about this.

• Get rid of even more stuff

I got rid of A LOT when I moved...of course now I accumulated some more. Ha.

• Buy a better sewing machine and learn how to sew (this is not likely, but I'm still putting it on here)

I did NOT buy a new sewing machine, however I DID learn to sew! Or at least hem. Thanks to Alma and her sewing machine. :)

Goals for 2011? Let's see:

• Travel! Travel travel travel. I started tearing up on the bus to work this morning, frustrated at how badly I need to leave Chicago for a little while. Ugh.

• Sew my first garment from scratch.

• Try to relax, be less insecure about myself and my relationships, and remember that I am loved.

• Get my driver's license, or at least renew my learner's permit.

• Spend less money on clothes and more on experiences and pampering myself (massage, anyone?)

• Maybe get another kitty friend for Seymour!

At the risk of this being too long, I'm going to post photos from a few of my favourite moments in 2010, and wish you all a happy, healthy 2011. Thanks for sticking with this blog, I hope to be even better about updating it next year! I love all of my readers. :)

Wardrobe Remix for 11.11.10

orange polka dot blouse - Tucker for Target
grey jumper dress - YeYe Boutique on Etsy
tan crocheted tights - Marshall's
black leather flats - Target



My usual photo spot was blocked by all of my Vintage Heaven bins (I did very well, by the way!) but I still wanted to snap a pic...so I figured I'd give you a different view of my apartment! More photos to come soon, once I clean this VH stuff up, and I have a few neat shots on my phone, so I hope to give you a tour of my place!

Anyway, we've been having a bit of everything in Chicago so far this month, but most of this week was nice and warm. I had gotten this blouse the night before. I usually don't care for orange but I like the oranges in the Tucker collection for Target and I must admit that shade looks great with my hair and skin colour. I also really love this jumper I got from YeYe, it goes so well with my hair and looks oh-so-mod. This is already the second time I've worn it!

Dracula's Pajama Party

Yipee, my Halloween post is only a day late! Forgive the quality of these pictures but they were taken at my Halloween party held Saturday night. I went as a Snow Queen, but a lot of people thought I was Tilda Swinton/the White Witch. Same thing, I suppose. I based the dress off of a Cecil Beaton photograph of his sister as a shooting star (my original idea) and styled it very John R. O'Neil a la Wizard Of Oz (see my jaunty crown?).







There is still some glitter in my hair and the whole costume left glitter all over my apartment. I expect my life to sparkle for the next few months.

My brother went as Captain Carl from PeeWee's Playhouse:







Michael went as a pilot again, Alma went as a house:







Erin went as Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica and Phill went as Dorothy Valens from Blue Velvet:





Steve went as Columbo and Elise went as paint-by-numbers:



While I don't condone the deformation of a vintage dress (I'll just hope it was already ruined...), that vintage Jackie O mask is freaking terrifying:







My roommate, Kara, dancing to Twist And Shout as Ferris Bueller:





Andrew, who is not in a costume (boo) and Kacy as a Double Dare contestant:



Costumes I did not get photos of include AstroTurf, a cat lady, George Michael (from Arrested Development), and Death (from The Sandman). Highlights included starting a conga line to "Jumping The Line," watching Sleepy Hollow and The Shining on mute, all of us turning The Shining off mute at the end to watch it, lots of hugging and dancing and punch consumption. I gotta say, dancing with that staff was pretty sweet.

I hope you all had a Happy Halloween! What did you dress up as? What did you do?

Easy Like Sunday...Afternoon

mixed metals beaded necklace - Old Navy
knit sweater dress - H&M
crocheted nude tights - Marshall's
Steve Madden Intyce boots - shoemall.com





I notice in Autumn and Winter I don't wear as many thrifted goods as I do in Spring and Summer. I guess since I'm colder I need pieces that have as little wear as possible. Of course I have a vintage coat or two, a few pairs of vintage boots, some cardigans and some wool skirts, but dresses such as this one are a little harder to find that aren't too big for my petite stature. It's kind of hard to hem a sweater dress! I got these boots last week with half of my Vintage Heaven profits (the rest went into savings, like a good girl). Everyone was giving me crap for buying a pair of $110 boots, but I own these boots in grey and I've worn them all last Winter, and I don't own any other boots in this cognac colour. I love these, they go with everything; skirts, dresses, jeans, leggings. I also re-bought this dress last night. See, Thursday I had a really bad day and after work I picked up this dress at H&M...and on the way home I accidentally left it on the train. On the way home, I thought, well I'm done. But this dress was inexpensive and cozy and it looks good with my hair so I luckily could afford to buy it twice. I'm glad I did.

Anyway, enough about my outfit. Today, I made Michael and I some French toast and then we took the bus to Fantasy Costumes, a gigantic costume shop in Chicago. We needed to find Michael a costume for my Halloween party next weekend. Luckily we got something for him, and at the Dollar store across the street I found the perfect adjustment for my costume. We then went to Target and Joann to get some other odds and ends, and then I made dinner. We watched some Quantum Leap and here I am, updating while the boy is doing his ablutions. Next up, Boardwalk Empire! Has anyone else seen that show? Anyone else watching regularly? I'm mourning the ending of Mad Men, but it's good to have another great period drama to watch Sunday night.

And finally, on the bus I downloaded a Retro Camera app for my android and I love it! Here's some snaps from throughout my day, I'm surprised at the quality! Maybe I can update my blog more, haha.

Pixie

asymmetrical blouse - thrifted
AA skirt - thrifted
crocheted tights - can't remember...Filene's Basement maybe?
BC "Anchors Aweigh" oxfords - Endless.com



Fresh from the salon, here's my new pixie cut! I'm wearing it "curly" here, I'll probably wear it straight most of the time cos it'll be a lot faster, but I couldn't be happier with it. I had a pixie before, about 4 years ago, but it looks so different red! As my stylist was cutting it, before she texturized it, I said "I look like a red Hailey Mills!" And then afterward, "last time I looked like Mandy Slade, and now I look like Brian Slade!" I already got a Carey Mulligan reference (for the record, so flattered). What do you think?