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:)

Mad About Plaid!

So here is my first attempt at collages, Picnik and editing outside of the suite that came with my Canon. I think its time to brush up on my html.

Anyway, on to the outfit. Saturday, Dan and I spent the day out and about. It was wonderful, we first headed to breakfast with his mother's family. Her mother, great-aunt, siblings and their children meet every Saturday morning and try out new restaurants together. Because I wasn't working, we got up early and headed down together to eat and chat with everyone over omelets, coffee, waffles, toast, fruit, sausage and homefries....mmmm, I love breakfast foods!

Anyway, I digress, after we all parted ways, Dan and I went to a church rummage where I found some wonderful novelty scarves from the 50's (and heard the story about their owner...which I'll tell soon), a basket full of vintage sewing patterns (which my mother in law set aside for me), a few pretty vintage purses, matching plates (and one tea cup) and a 'new' vintage nightgown to add to my growing collection. Afterward, as if the day could get any better, we went to my favorite thrift store in that area where I found a few more treasures and Dan put together his Halloween costume.

Among those treasures was this plaid 70's skirt.

I adore skirts of any length, but think that there is something special about one that can be worn easily with boots or heels in the fall and winter without totally compromising warmth or practicality when venturing out into snowdrifts and icy streets. Sometime this week, I'll post more on my other recent finds, which I am also very excited about.

Alright, I think I've spent all of my blogging energy for tonight. I hope everyone has had a wonderful week so far!

Sweater: The Limited
Black 70's Sweater: Hand-Me-Down
Tights: American Apparel
Red Bangle: Thrifted
Skirt: Thrifted
Boots: Stonefly
Belt: Thrifted

Give-Away at The Frivolous Flapper!

If anyone is interested in entering at the last minute in a wonderful vintage giveaway, please visit The Frivolous Flapper.

Nothing to Do But Dream

There were so many things that I'd wanted to accomplish today...but I only managed to change out of my pajamas at one this afternoon. Instead of the outfit post I'd planned (featuring a newly thrifted 80's sweater dress) and the Halloween costume sewing project I have yet to start, I ended up cooking most of the day and watching movies on the couch with my husband. Partly it was my lethargic mood and partly it was the slushy snow falling outside when I parted the blinds this morning (which continued through the late evening). Is it just me, or is it a little to early for snow? So much for autumn:)

Either way, I don't mind any excuse to make and eat apple pie pancakes and lentil stew and pile on the blankets with a cup of stove-top hot cocoa while watching the weather happen outside. Here are a few pics that I took while playing around with the light at my dressing table a few days ago. Another lazy morning just like this one, with nothing better to do than dream. I hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend!

Fall Feeling

I love this time of year, there's so much to which I look forward. Chilly evenings spent cooking in the kitchen, falling leaves blanketing the ground in a tapestry of color, extra blankets on the bed, hot cocoa, the prospect of upcoming holidays with family and friends and most of all, vintage coats. Maybe its because I grew up in Florida (where the seasons barely exist), maybe its my excitement about finding and wearing old clothes, or maybe I just like to have an extra excuse to get a little more glammed up in the morning...(probably a combination of all three)...but I always feel a little spark run through me when I step out of the house in the morning to feel and see the telltale signs of autumn in the air and on the ground. Hopefully we'll get a little more of it before winter arrives :)

Dress: H&M

Purse: VintagebyVicari (Etsy)

Sweater: 70's Hand-Me-Down

Coat: Thrifted Vintage with Faux Fur Collar

Scarf: Coin Department Store

Tights: American Apparel

Boots: Italian Market

Pin: Thrifted

...Florence...

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

A Palette of Purple

Hello Everyone! I'm sorry for my sparse posting lately. The past two weeks have been busy and a bit rough, especially last weekend. We hosted two (very welcome) house guests, I worked Saturday and Sunday, and my father had surgery on Friday. I've just been exhausted, but fully intend to get back into the swing of posting more than once a week from now on.

Over the next week, I'll also be putting up more pictures from our Italian vacation. I've decided to do a post for each city that we visited. Thanks for all of your wonderful comments about the Rome post. I really appreciate everyone who took the time not only to check them out, but also to leave such thoughtful notes.

With everything that's been going on lately and the weather (which has taken a decided turn towards cold and rainy) I've been craving warm and cozy sweaters, paired with tights, boots and my favorite closet staple...vintage dresses and skirts:) I found this over-sized, angora and lambswool grandfather cardigan at my favorite thrift store the other day and have a feeling that its going to be a winter wardrobe constant. I'll be back soon with more vacation pics!

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

Dress: Vintage
Sweater: Thrifted
Belt: Target
Beret: H&M
Shoes: Target
Tights: American Apparel

Rome