...and Venice.

(Please click on any of the photos if you wish to enlarge them:)

Give-Away Alerts!

There are two fantastic give-aways going on right now that I'm really excited about and I just wanted to make sure that everyone knows about them.

The first one is being held by Megan of the The Green Violet. She's giving away a "Camel-Colored-Combo" including a fantastic vintage scarf and clutch. It ends next Tuesday (the 24th, I believe) at midnight, so head on over to enter.

I'm also very excited to enter the hand-made hat give-away over at Lagelle, The Art of accessorizing. The cloches are my personal favorite, but there are several different ones to choose from in the contest. This one ends on Sunday, the 22nd of November.

Good luck everyone!

Autumnal Colors in the Dark

Here is another set of night photos. I love taking pictures after the sun goes down and only wish that I felt comfortable venturing beyond our street in the evening. I always see so many places where the mix of shadows, street light and moonlight would make an interesting spot, but am nervous about going out alone with my camera after dark. So once again, here I am in familiar places, trying to capture a different mood. I hope it worked.

I've realized in the past few months that I don't wear a lot of accessories, although I do own my fair share of jewelry. Sometimes I feel like the details of an outfit speak for themselves and deserve a platform to shine. Other times, I feel like I just don't wear enough jewelry. This ensemble lent itself to the former feeling. The sweater is one of my all time favorite thrifting finds. I purchased it in a Goodwill in Florida. The inside tag, which reads "Handmade in Norway," was just one of the charming details that drew me to it. The others were the amazing pattern and autumnal colors and the silver buttons adorned with flowers. I chose to pair it with a cotton, patterned dress, tights and my brown heeled oxfords...and this felt like enough. Perfect for an unusually warmish fall Sunday of lounging about the house...and taking pictures in the dark.

(If you wish to enlarge any of the smaller photos, please click on them:)

Sweater: Thrifted
Dress: Target (altered by me)
Heeled Oxfords: Naturalizer
Tights: Target

Blog Awards

I am so long overdue in writing this post! Over the past few months, three bloggers have nominated Kaleidoscopic Refrains for several awards and I would like to take a post to thank them. First is the always kind and generous Jessica Cangiano of Chronically Vintage. She has recently nominated my blog for two awards.

First was the "You're a Gem" Award

As a part of the award, Jessica wrote the following words. "Kaleidoscopic Refrains: Much like the effect seen through a kaleidoscopic, opals create a prismastica rainbow effect as you peer at their surface. Thus this colourful stone reminds me of the variable feast of loveliness to be found on this blog."

In addition, she also nominated me for the Stylish Blogger Award. Thanks so much Jessica!

A few days ago, Anne from A Cup Full of Sunshine nominated the blog for the Beautiful Blogger Award. I've only recently discovered this blog, and now always look forward to her new posts. Thanks so much Anne!

As a part of the Stylish Blogger award and the Beautiful Blogger award, I am to list things about myself that my readers may not know. I've done this a few times before, but its been a while, so...here goes:)

1. I practice Yoga at least twice weekly. While doing it, I usually listen to either the sound track of The Royal Tenenbaums or that of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

2. I own so many belts that the rack recently fell off of the wall under their weight. Its a little embarrassing, but I don't intend to get rid of any of them. Instead, I bought a different type of rack.

3. When I was a senior in high school, I won a writing scholarship and had a poem published in an anthology of young authors. Unfortunately, the award didn't come close to covering the tuition of the private university that offered it.

4. One of my favorite singers is Jolie Holland. When I saw her in concert last year, I thought I might swoon. Her music somehow reminds me of home and, at the same time, some otherworldly place that I would like to visit in my dreams. I also really love Dinah Washington.

5. My husband did not propose to me. One night we were joking about getting married when I realized that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I asked him in all seriousness if he wanted to do so. We talked about it and decided together. After that night and until our wedding day, he randomly proposed to me in various places and I came up with different responses each time...each one resulting in a yes.

6. I devoured American Pastoral recently. Having never previously read Philip Roth's work, I didn't realize how the force of his prose can propel the reader forward through his works.

7. One of the best come on lines that I've ever heard is: "Which magazine did you just step out of? Because I need a twenty year subscription!" An elderly man said this to me in a bakery about two months ago and I couldn't help but smile all the way home.

8. I've never tasted a twinkie. My husband thinks that I missed out on a vital part of childhood because of this. I'm not so sure.

9. My favorite movies to watch when I'm down are Hannah and Her Sisters, Sleepless in Seattle, Serendipity and The Double Life of Veronique. Dan always knows that its been a bad day when he comes home and one of those is playing.

10. I love to cook and find it relaxing. It all started in grad school when I was so busy thinking about Foucault and the linguistic turn and historical theory that I thought my head was going to explode. Cooking dinner for Dan and I felt like something that I could do besides studying without feeling guilty. So I made risotto, I roasted and stuffed chickens, I made reductions, I experimented with tortes and cakes and I loved it. Now, when I come home from work, it often feels more like a form of meditation than a chore to cook dinner.

I was also so flattered to receive the "xxtraodinary blogger" award from DustJacket Attic, who always takes the time and effort to not only read my posts, but to always leave the most wonderful comments. It really means so much to me.

For the Stylish and Beautiful Blogger Awards, I'd like to nominate the following blogs (in no particular order):

Lisa's Likes

GreenLaundry

Leproust Vintage

dreaming spires and old car tyres

Blooming Leopold Vintage

The Frivolous Flapper

Q's Daydream Vintage

A Thought Is The Blossom

Barbro Andersen

*Felinofelice


And for the XXtraordinary Blogger Award, I'd like to nominate

Little Boat

our.city.lights

SLOVLY

Much Love

Amelia Is

I'm sorry this post was so long! Thanks also to everyone who commented on my last one. I really appreciated everything you wrote.

Blog Award Rules:

1) Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
2) Copy the award & place it on your blog.
3) Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4) If you'd like to do so, tell us 10 interesting things about yourself.
5) Also, if you want to, nominate 10 bloggers.
6) Post links to the 10 blogs you nominate.

Mystery Road Trip

Today Dan and I went on a mystery road trip. We often do this together...just get in the car with a general direction in mind and go. Sometimes we drive to his home state, visit his mom and then pick a place to go; sometimes we go elsewhere. We always have fun together and never run out of things to talk about during our hours alone together in the car. Today we didn't even turn on the radio once or listen to music. It was enough just to be together.

This morning we headed north and ended up stopping at a state park when we saw a sign on the highway. We walked around, took photos and ran around in the fall leaves. Although I like living in New England, there are few things that I truly love about it...besides being close to Dan's family and autumn. The falling leaves fulfill all of my calendar photo dreams of what this part of the country is supposed to look like:) It feels magical.

Sometimes I feel down, everyone does, I know. Things have been hard lately with the death of my father-in-law and my dad's surgery (which was successful), but no matter what, I always remind myself of the things for which I am thankful in my life. Our relationship is at the top of the list. Days like today make me feel like one of the luckiest, happiest people in the world.

(Please click on any of the photos if you wish to enlarge them:)

(Photos of Kelley Anne by Dan, Photos of everything else by Kelley Anne)

Coat: Thrifted
Sweater: Thrifted
Skirt: Anthropologie
Heeled Oxfords: Born
Purse: VintagebyVicari (Etsy)
Tights: Target

Cozy, Warm, Fuzzy

This morning when I awoke to temperatures in the 30's and a cold, strong wind, I decided that it was definitely not a dress day for me. All I wanted on my way in to work was to be warm and cozy (with a cup of coffee in hand), while still attempting to be somewhat stylish. Inspired by the following photo from The Sartorialist, I decided to play with proportion a bit and break out my straight leg black jeans and black oxfords.




I wasn't sure if I'd achieved my two goals, but I was definitely comfortable in my thick, fuzzy J. Crew sweater. I was so excited when I came across it in a local thrift store a year ago, especially after seeing that it was only five dollars. The bell sleeves, length, collar, warmth and earthy colors definitely sold me on it that afternoon, so I stowed it away in my cedar chest for a cold day when I would need it to help me face work and the weather. And boy was I happy that I had it when leaving the house this morning.

(Please click on any of the photos if you wish to enlarge them:)

Pea Coat: Thrifted
J. Crew Sweater: Thrifted
Oleg Cassini Oxfords: Thrifted
Scarf: Italian Market
Undershirt: Target
Jeans: Gap

Inspiration: Showa Sophistication

Yesterday Dan and I had the day off together and we decided to spend it at the Museum of Fine Arts. We'd been wanting to see a new special exhibit called "The Secrets of Tomb 10A: Egypt 2000 BC" so we took advantage of the good weather and drove to Boston for the day. I have to say that although the Egyptian rooms were interesting, my imagination was captured by another, smaller collection in the Asian wing called "Showa Sophistication: Japan in the 1930s."

Here's part of the description on the website:

"The Museum recently acquired seventeen Japanese paintings largely produced and exhibited in Tokyo in the 1930s—the early Shōwa era—an overlooked period in the history of the arts in Japan. In many cases the subject matter, as well as the size, gave these paintings a commanding presence: large, elegant images of skiers, of stylish tea-house attendants in an art deco tea room, of young women in the latest Parisian fashion standing on the prow of a sailboat, and of a traditional Japanese woman standing in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Painted for Japanese audiences, and exhibited at the leading Tokyo annual exhibitions, these paintings expressed a worldview held by large numbers of Japanese during the 1930s. They saw themselves as sophisticated citizens of the world."

Photo and Text Credit

I wish more of the images were included on the website. This picture was not my favorite and its diminutive size on the website doesn't do justice to the actual paintings themselves, which are quite large. Out of the handful that were on display, I found two very appealing. The first was of two young women dressed in pale 30's fashions sailing and the other depicted two girls laying in a field of clovers. I couldn't help but covet their clothing and hairstyles, right down to the shoes. In addition to the style, I was also captivated by techniques the artists employed. The people themselves look almost like cartoon figures with one dimensional features, but the many other objects around them were painted in rich colors with repetitive patterns, which when layered over one another, created a feeling of texture. I'm not sure if any of this makes sense, but I found it so very inspiring, both from a fashion point of view and from an artistic one. Unfortunately, the show ends on November 8th, so I won't be able to visit again, but I am so glad that I had the opportunity to view it at least once.

There's No Place Like Home

Let me just say that I've been wanting to attend a Halloween party for some years now, but the opportunity never presented itself. Well, this year we decided to throw our own party. Here are some pictures of Dan's and my Halloween costumes. I spent almost all that morning and afternoon finishing my Dorothy outfit. It came out pretty well considering that I didn't use a pattern and it was the first time I'd installed a zipper and used a sewing machine. I was awfully proud of myself.

We didn't have a whole lot of time for cool outfit photos, but here are some pics from before the party and throughout the night. I considered posting some pics of myself singing on Rock Band (which for some reason, the Dorothy costume emboldened me to do pretty much the entire evening), but it was a little too embarrassing:)

Dan and our roommate Nick went as themselves in 50 years...but I think I laid on the blue eyeshadow under Dan's eyes a little thick. He looks more like a zombie than an elderly gentleman in quite a few of our photos! Sophie of course went as a little red Toto. It was a lot of fun and the costume provided a good excuse to break in the newly christened sewing machine Hazel Mae. I hope everyone else had a great Halloween as well!

It rained all last night and all that weather left a warm-ish, slightly dreary day in its wake. There were occasional bursts of sunshine this morning, but the atmosphere outside lent itself more to muted colors and somber feelings than anything bright. After dressing and doing my hair, I turned toward the mirror for one last inspection and was struck by the impression that I looked (if only to myself) like a Russian poet from the early to mid 20th century. Maybe I've read too much Anna Akhmatova in college literary and history classes, but that was what came to mind and today it felt just right.

I'd wanted to post pictures from our Halloween party, but my husband seems to have taken his camera with him today when he left the house. Hopefully I'll be able to put one or two pics up later. I made my costume by hand and although it wasn't terribly creative, I am awfully proud of how it came out. Breaking in my first sewing machine is turning out to be more fun than I could have imagined.

(Please click on any of the photos if you wish to enlarge them:)

Sweater: Gift
Skirt: Thrifted
Belt: Thrifted
Tights: American Apparel
Necklace: Anthropologie
Purse: Thrifted
Shoes: Clarks

...Siena...

Oh my, I'm so behind on these photos! Here are a few that we took on the day that we visited Siena. I studied there several years ago and we only spent about six hours in the city, so Dan and I spent much of the time just walking around and talking about what it was like when I lived there. We didn't take many pictures, so the ones from Venice will definitely be more interesting, but it was an important visit for me. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week...and as always, if you wish to enlarge any of the photos, please click on them:)