Changing Seasons

Hello online pals, I've been away for a bit. Sometimes it's needed to give perspective on things. I was on the west side of the state for a few days, and while there I had a vintage appointment scoring a couple of 40s suits that I cannot wait to put into the shop so definitely STAY TUNED! I'll share more about this trip hopefully later this week! :)

This is one of my favorite early fall outfits because of the colors. The wool cardigan is a necessity for this one, though. Take it off, and I'm dressed for summer again. p.s. Isn't that little kitten pin cuter than candy? He might just be my favorite part of this entire ensemble. *meow*

Our Watermelon Days are Numbered

This berry-colored maxi dress will be getting packed away & stored this week with all of my other summer clothes! It definitely got it's time in the sun this summer.

CHANGE. It's happening. School has started, the nights are getting too cold even for fresh air from the fan in my window, and the watermelons in my dad's garden are ripe and ready to be picked & savored before it's too cold to do so.

On top of that two of my siblings who currently live very near to me are moving away! While I'm super excited and happy for them, I'm a little sad on the inside because, well it's been so nice having family so close. I know I can count on them whenever I need to, and vice versa. Thankfully, my sis will only be about 20 minutes away, but my brother (and I'm literally holding back tears as I type this...) will be moving to the other side of the state - Lake Michigan, in fact. I know, I know, it's not *that* far, it's not like he's moving to the other side of the country or anything. I'm just very close to him and it will be so hard not to be able to see him as regularly as I do now.

Change is good though, right? I'm trying to stay positive about all of these changes. Trying HARD. It's always tough when people you love move away!

On the bright side, I'm excited about my son's school year. We've got soccer, orchestra, and chess club busy-ness for extra curriculars, but I've been actually PLANNING the Sunday before so things have been running smoothy. (YES!) Planning is way awesome (who knew?) :p

Additionally, my part time job as a writing tutor has been incredibly rewarding so far this term. I've met some AMAZING people and have made a few kind and wonderful women friends. Having this position has been such a good balance to working at home for me. It's seriously so inspiring to see how writing has positively affected people in their lives. Also, I love getting dressed up for work a couple of days out of the week. :) More about this later!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'm thrilled about possibly expanding the shop this year with vintage books and jewelry. There's another little surprise in the works as well, but it's an idea that's just recently been born and I will tell you more about it after I know more.

Have a lovely week, babes!  
♥ Jessica

Liberty of London & Linen

such a sweet combination!
Fell in love with this vintage 70s blouse that I thrifted just within the last week or so. It was actually part of a skirt set, and while the 22" waist of the skirt was never going to fit this waistline in a million years, *thankfully* somehow the top fit perfectly. There are 2 tags and one reads "Mandy Pothecary" and the second attached tag, "Fabric by Liberty of London" - this didn't surprise me in the least, and completely explains that beautiful cotton floral print. There's a nice little write up about the incredible textiles of this company here. I adore the smocking at the waist & off - shoulder neckline too. Kept thinking, "this is so me." Bright red linen pants also thrifted a while ago -ridiculously comfortable. Can I please wear linen pants every day? Lastly, being big enough only for essentials, that tiny vintage floral leather purse has served me well this summer, and I love when it accidentally matches my outfits!

Skirt-as-a-Dress First Timer

 

I never ever got into the skirt-as-a-dress trend, that is until I came upon this way pretty 70s skirt, which is obviously made for someone about a foot taller than me! I went crazy for the print - bright & bold flowers bursting out all over the place & blue birds too. Also, after I saw how much fabric it was actually made of, I knew it would be even better moving on a body. First time I'm doing the skirt-as-a-dress and I love it! Was playing with the idea of super short hair too, which is why I stuffed it all into my hat for the 2nd pic. One day I'll actually muster the courage to chop it all off. . . one day.  
Happy Friday, friends! Shop update coming tomorrow mornin'! :)

vintage 70's skirt: from The Getup Vintage
little black hat: vintage thrifted
belt: thrifted
shoes: thrifted

Mini Wrap

This is probably the miniest of the mini dresses that I will wear this summer. I couldn't pass up that pretty asian-inspired floral print. Isn't it great? and Shhhhhh! Between you and me -- I actually found this little frock in the pajama section when I was thrifting, but I think it works fine as a little dress! (breakin' rules) :p It's suuuuper soft & silky too, and fits me quite well. not vintage, but still a keeper. Wrap dresses are so easy to wear, and flattering for all body types! Think I might layer this with tights & a cardigan in the fall too, it's so comfortable! What do you think, good rule breakin' or bad rule breakin'?

Black and White and Red All Over

Took a ME day recently.

What that looks like: taking about an hour to get dressed and being "in" it. I mean to say... enjoying it and not feeling guilty for doing so. I say this because it seems like I'm rushing so much as of late and I really don't like that feeling. Do you know what I'm talking about, my friends? Maybe it's the season, feel like there are a gazillion + 2 things going on right now. And this person needs you for this...and that person needs you for that. Overwhelming holidays, I guess!

A "me" day usually means getting dressed up purrrdy and taking my journal and some books to my favorite cafe while indulging in a mocha with extra whip cream, but this particular day it meant spoiling myself just a little with some goodies from Aveda and Sephora with birthday money.It's so easy to spend an hour+ in Sephora!

I've mentioned these pants, they're not vintage but Donna Karan, found at a consignment shop.  And this top. OMG, so in love with it. bought it at a local vintage boutique, and was almost CERTAIN it wouldn't fit me. utterly ELATED when I found out I was wrong!  I encourage you 150% to take a day ALL FOR YOURSELF at the very least once per month. :) It's become a necessity to me.

What does your ME day look like?

Just a Little Meow

The wiggle or sheath dress is one of my favorite silhouettes! But it's the leopard print collar that made this particular outfit have that certain FUN factor for me. ;) Isn't it crazy cute?  It's detachable (so it can be added onto any kind of outfit), and I quite fancy how it adds just a smidgen o' sass to an otherwise tame little getup.

Can't help it! I completely thought of this scene when I was wearing this!


MEOW.
sheer collar shirt: banana republic
vintage 50s belted shift dress: vintage boutique
vintage 50s leopard print fur collar: thrifted
boots: gift from a bestie

Pretend Bangs & Plaid

I've been nervous to hold any pair of scissors lately because I'm aching for a new hairstyle, and I'm afraid I'll have one of those impulsive moments of cutting my hair all by myself. Have you ever had one of those? I've regretted it almost always, but I know I need to do something different, and SOON. So... this was my small attempt to change it up, and manipulate my hair to look as if I had bangs. (just pinned it back & put a hat on). This time of the year usually means dressing darker, but I would've looked like I was in mourning if I hadn't paired this black 50's dress with some color. Cue cute plaid blazer that has NEVER BEEN WORN since purchase over a year ago. Yes... just one of those items that sits in the back of the closet begging for some attention. "Pick me! Pick me!" so I did, and really ended up liking the result.

Black 50's full skirt cotton dress: thrifted

Fitted Plaid Blazer Jacket: H&M

Belt: thrifted

Black tights: Target

Velvet Victorian Style boots: thrifted

First Favorite Dress, Age 3

Do you remember your very first favorite dress? This one below was mine. I was 3 when this picture was taken.  Is it crazy that I remember battling my mother to be able to wear this little red puff sleeve polka-dot number? She wanted me to wear something brown to match the rest of the family. Because MATCHING is so important, didn't you know? ;) I protested. When the two flaps in front on the dress were opened, a happy smiling Pooh Bear could be seen underneath enjoying his sweet pot o' honey. How could I ever forget?

My awfully cut terribly short bangs courtesy of my older brother who decided to play barber for a day sometime before this picture was taken. *sigh*

In my never ending battle for organization, I'm going through my zillions of old pictures with 4 projects so far.

1. a scrapbook for my son
2. scanning old photos for family & friends to share on facebook
3. preserving family photos for future generations
4. understanding my fashion sense over time. (still love red, polka-dots, puff sleeves, and peek-a-boo dresses) :) Still love Pooh Bear too, though you most likely won't see me wearing a dress with him on it again. 

 Please share a link in the comments if you end up blogging about your first favorite outfit, my friends! I'd love to see it!

She Wore a Raspberry Beret, Yeah That Kind

I haven't worn pants for a about a week straight and it feels wonderful! ;)

I made a promise to myself that for a week I would try to go pantless and just layer stuff with my dresses to keep warm. This is one of those outfits. Do you ever get tired of wearing pants and jeans? I thought it was a good time to pull out some dresses that I never, ever wear. Took this pic while out and about running errands. Honest to betsey, I was SO comfy in this outfit. I felt like I could wear it or something like it for the rest of the week. The first layer is a long bias cut rayon black dress that's actually kinda fancy, until I covered it with a cashmere gray sweater (WARM), and my favorite zip up sweater that for the life of me, no matter how pilly it gets, I can never get rid of-- do you have one like this? The colorful felted wool purse has received many compliments when I'm out, with one man recently saying it looks like "something out of a Dr. Suess book".  And finally, the red glass heart necklace is from a craft show earlier this year, by a darling of a lady named Carey Gustafson of Glass Action who just happens to be on etsy as well!

As much love as I have for my mitten state, when the cold starts coming in, I start wishing I was a bear, and could hibernate and sleep it all away until summer comes back around again. So in my yearly effort to stay positive about the season changing from warm to cold again, I'm trying to get my layering down pat, putting together cute warm and cozy outfits (sans pants? even better!).  S.A.D. you will not beat me this year this year!  My friends tell me to stay busy, stay busy, stay busy. So there are also books galore beside my bed, over 100 movies in my netflix que, a gym bag ready at all times, and oh, plenty and plenty of housework that's pretty much never-ending! Dishes, death, and taxes -- the three certainties in life. :-P

Mitten Love!


Headed out into the cold rainy and gray day. I need to change this attitude! Happens every year, it does.

Camp Counselor

It's been a while, blogger friends! I've been feeling like a mad woman over here, preparing for the busy-ness that comes with fall: getting my son ready for school, getting car checkups, seeing family and More family and MORE family while it's still warm, and trying to catch out-of-town friends when they stop in for a visit. Whew! Leaves little time for the self, which is VITALLY necessary in my life, so I've been taking every last sip of the not-long-enough drink that is summer, and now I feel like one of those kids with a big straw sucking out the few drops in the bottom of the cup. I'm not complaining, I'm happy that I can count on 2 more months of guaranteed warm-ish weather before winter hits!


Picked up this little vintage 80s sailor romper sometime earlier this summer. I *adore* sailor styles. But when I put this together I completely felt like a camp counselor! haha! It's almost too costume-y for my liking, but I wanted to get some pics for fun. When I wore it out, I had to remove the little red tie, it just seemed too much, too young or something. (last pic) Suddenly it occurred to me how my style has very much changed from my 20's to my 30's.



Hope all of you are enjoying these last days of August! Soon enough we're going to be seeing pictures of pumpkins & leaves changing color on our favorite blogs, sipping apple cider on these cooler evenings. Truth be told I always start craving pumpkin pie around the beginning of September. :)

Muuuuch better, don't you think so?
This works for me!↓

PC: A big thank you to my brother for taking these pics!

Going Greener

Happy Saturday, blogger friends! I think this is the only green blouse I own. Maybe even the only green piece of clothing that is part of my closet! When I spotted it, I knew it was for me. The puffy sleeves, wide neckline, fitted seams - so pretty. AND it's vintage 1950's, made of a super comfy cotton, and zips on the side. Keeper!

Oh, and this post isn't just about my blouse! As the title suggests, I'm celebrating this week of being the 2nd week in a row that I've juiced every single day. My brother kept urging me to watch the movie Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and after I viewed it, I was sold! I've had a juicer for about 2 years now, but have only used it regularly about once a week, or when I felt I was needing a little vitamin boost. (nights after drinking!) The last picture is one of my favorite blends lately: kale, a bit of watercress, cucumber, granny smith apples, guava, and cucumber. I've been trying to incorporate as many greens into the juices as I can handle, some blends are way too bitter for my liking. (no more mustard greens for this girl!) But, I've been feeling so great since I've been juicing every day! I highly recommend it -- you know it can only be good for you getting that much fresh produce in your system in one day!

I'll save the longer version of this story for another blog post, but the movie wasn't the only reason why I started to take my health more seriously. Two years ago I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder that makes me feel like I'm hungry WAY too much. Not only that, I'm prone to crave salt, which we all know makes our bodies retain water. NOT FUN, let me tell you! I feel like I've been battling with my energy levels for the last couple of years, and in the process have gained weight that has very much challenged my view of health, diet, and exercise. . .  More on this later, I promise! For now, BOTTOMS UP to greens! ;)



:: outfit ::
green cotton 50's blouse: thrifted
high waist 70's jeans: ebay
leather braided vintage belt: thrifted
butterfly pin: thrifted (I love butterflies!)
earrings: had for forever!
black Bass cork wedge sandals: DSW

a little thanks to my brother for taking those pics of me!

Shoulder Ties Sun Dress

One of my favorite things to wear in the summer time is the cotton sun dress with shoulder ties! It really reminds me of being a little girl sometimes. Remember wearing those cute little smocked sun dresses growing up? I also love this one because it's fun twirlin' in that super full tiered skirt! Super comfortable cotton too. Paired it with a leather belt that honestly gets paired with nearly all of my sun dresses, I like it that much.

The rose necklace is pretty special to me. It reminds me of my Grandma because she used to wear something very similar. My sis is now the lucky owner of Gram's original rose necklace, but I found one that is just as pretty, and the sentiment is still there.♥





 ALSO ---
Check out our garden's progress! I've been using that basil fresh off the stem for homemade pizza, and the kale I planted myself! :) The blackberries are what I'm most thrilled about, though. There are seriously a TON growing in our far backyard. It's great because even if I go out and pick a bowlful one day, another bowlful is ready the very next day. Mmmmm berry pie & vanilla ice cream is heaven on a hot summer evening, my friends!





vintage black bow hat: thrifted
vintage tiered sun dress: thrifted
vintage heart necklace: Mitten antique store
leather belt: thrifted
leather sandals: DSW

Turquoise & Red

I love this color combination! And can you believe I'm actually doing an outfit post finally?!  I was pretty excited about thrifting these cute little high waist shorts recently, had to show & tell. Not only are they my favorite shade of perfect red, they're SILK, and so incredibly comfortable! That little top is cotton gauze, so the whole get-up is pretty easy to wear. And though I don't often wear high heels with shorts, the ones in the pic are some of my favorites, and I thought they matched well. Also {sidenote} the camera caught me while I was spraying myself - the bugs are TERRIBLE out in our backyard right now, and if you dislike deet as much as I do, here's a homemade insect repellant that works! I actually really love the way it smells too. :)

What are all of you planning for the weekend? My siblings and I are going to visit my dad for Father's day and meet his new horse! I'm pretty excited, and it is really cute to see how thrilled my dad gets anytime he gets any new animal. Pics to come!

~ HAPPY FRIDAY, FRIENDS ~ 

Outfit Details
Cream cotton sun hat: Gift from my mama
Vintage turquoise gauze ruffled blouse: thrifted
Red silk high waist shorts, Liz sport: thrifted
Skinny leather belt: thrifted
Anne Klein Candy Apple Red heels: Ebay

Stripes for the Rapture

 Happy Sunday! I know it's not very exciting, but this was my end-of-the-world outfit yesterday. Just the other day I was lamenting the loss of this sailor dress that sold in the shop about a year ago & though I am the only one to blame for that, (it no longer fit me & at the time I decided it probably never would again) I have forgiven myself & am now on the search for another sailor dress that makes my heart happy. I know this dress above isn't the typical sailor dress, but I recently fell kinda giddy over it due to its bit of nautical flair, & the bow at the waist is pretty cute too. It's also super light, comfortable, and semi-sheer - and even though I have read many times that drop waists weren't made for the petite gal, I do love the way it fits. It has what I like to call an "easy fit". But . . . why do I suddenly feel like that comes from some 80's jean commercial?  ;) Sorry I look sad in this pic, the sun was just starting to go down and it started raining shortly thereafter, but no earthquakes or disappearing people. Rapture schmapture, Harold Camping. 

dress -thrifted
wayfarers - thrifted
red bow sandals - mall years ago


XO

Right in my own backyard!

Today was glorious! The weather was - dare I say it before it suddenly starts hailing or something of the sort here in the unpredictable mitten? PERFECT. I feel lucky to live in a big house with a backyard and some woods surrounding one side. I actually live in an apartment inside of the house, but there is only one other apartment besides mine, and the tenants there are awesome people and thankfully, we get along superbly! (more about that later). ;)

We have 2 garden spaces out back, one for vegetables and herbs, and one for flowers. Aren't the bleeding hearts so lovely?  I also tried to take a pic of the robin's nest I spoke of earlier on twitter.You can't see the mama robin inside, but she's there! I'd need a latter in order to get her close up.

My favorite pics of all are the ones of Lukas (my son) making, as he phrased it, "The Toad Hotel" for the toad he found earlier in the day. I cannot believe how long he spent on this little project. Made me so happy to see :)

Haven't done an outfit post in a while, so I also threw in a picture of what I was wearing for the day. (I will admit that when I got home from running errands, my slippers took the place of those gorgeous summer floral sandals).

Olive green shorts outfit - vintage 80's Forenza - comfiest light rayon!
Brown leather belt - thrifted
Floral & red wedge sandals - purchased from the mall years ago


Love being outside in the spring! The air smells WONDERFUL right now.


Freshly planted basil




The TOAD HOTEL. :)

See him?