The Happy Little Hoarder.

I just love it when something I've been hoarding suddenly becomes useful.  Take this vintage West Bend bean pot.  I had company over on Memorial Day, and I'm still not quite organized as far as having everything that I need.  I don't have a crock pot, which is no biggie since I rarely use one anyway. But someone showed up with bean dip that had to be served warm and would you look at that?  A bean pot for bean dip.  I was such a proud hoarder.

Is this not the cutest?  It took a while to heat up, but once it did, it was perfect.

After everyone left, I started playing around with things, and placed a battery operated lighted wreath from Ikea inside this big amber vase.  Me likey.  I need to have a party.  I have a centerpiece.  The vase was part of a $6 bag that I got from an estate sale last year.

Gorgeous light show!

 Another hoarded item that I've been meaning to sell, but honestly, the clock doesn't work and I didn't want to lower my price that much.  It's beautiful, with it's original light bulbs.  I decided to put it into the rotation.  

Another fantabulous light show!

 And I got in some thrifting today.  

100% Silk.  For my sister.

This cute cotton shirt/dress has such a cool graphic, I had to get it for my daughter.

1960's orange dress.  De-wrinkled, it will be awesome!

I bought this ombre skirt last year.  "We've" never worn it because we didn't have a top. I paid $1 for this t-shirt. 

White House/Black Market.  

Liz Claiborne midi skirt.

J. Crew.

I found some equally amazing house-y things.  The decor, like the wardrobe, is a continual work in progress.  I don't think I'll ever be done.  

So with all of the projects I completed last week, both planned and unplanned, and all the driving and sitting in the hot sun over the weekend, I didn't have the energy to hit the great thrift store Memorial Day sales that many of my friends were planning to visit.  I stayed at home all day, and in the afternoon enjoyed the company of most of my family.  That may not have come out right.  There weren't any there whose company I did not enjoy, it's just that not everyone was there.  If they were, there probably would have been at least one that I could take a pass on...just sayin'.

I've finally gotten the cooking thing down to where I don't have two weeks worth of leftovers.  Each holiday I'm left with maybe lunch for the next day, but that's about it.  After a while, leftovers get on my nerves.

I spent all day Saturday and Sunday at a soccer tournament.  I managed to get in a little thrifting on Saturday.  I make it a point to locate all the thrift stores that I can visit while my son is either practicing, or during the one hour that he has to be there before the game starts.  I found these pretty coffee cups at Goodwill for .50 each.  I bought them because I love flowers, I love yellow, I love yellow flowers and these were very high quality.  Even though I bought them for myself, I was happy to learn that they are selling online for $20 apiece and up.  A very nice lady gave me a $10 coupon, which brought my grand total to $6 for the mugs, a pair of shorts, a scarf, two CD's and a handful of the videotapes that my daughter keeps buying for her after school classroom.  This little side trip kept me from feeling completely left out of the thrifting fun on Monday.  Tuesday found me with another hour to kill and one of my favorite thrift stores just down the street from where I was.  I found a two-piece dress that is a bit overwhelming (really bold print) but I'm going to wear the pieces separately.  There was also a .25 jewelry bin and I picked up a few vintage bangles and a vintage barrette.  And me with no hair to put it in.  But it was tortoiseshell!  I've never met a tortoiseshell or root beer piece that I didn't like...

In all, it was a great weekend.  I drove a lot, nearly dozed off a couple of times, got in a little thrifting, watched my son's team win 4 out of 4 games, and spent some quality time with my kids. 

A Project-Filled Week...

Now I know I should be in bed.  I have to be on the road by 5 a.m. and it's already after 11.  I will get four hours sleep.  I should not be on the computer, but I can't go to sleep another night without showing off some of the decorating strides I've made this week.

I challenged myself by posting on Facebook that I would complete three projects this week.  Painting a vintage side table, painting the kitchen, and painting a chandelier.  All are done, and I have the pictures to prove it.  Well, two out of three.  You'll just have to take my word for the other one.  For now.  

With all of this going on, I found time to cut my hair and try on a pair of ethnic-inspired pants that have been hanging in the closet for a few months.  

I've cut it again since two days ago.  It's even shorter now.  Yikes!

AND I painted a pair of shoes!  Guess what you'll be seeing on Sunday?  

Another Super Sunday!

One of my favorite things to do is get dressed up for church on Sunday.  I spend most of the week in t-shirts since I'm usually up to my elbows in some messy project so I look forward to the chance to "clean up nicely" and create a new look from my closet.  A few weeks ago I posted about my penchant for mixing dark colors, especially blue, black and brown.  They're subtle enough to play nicely together, with none overpowering the other.  It ends up looking like layers of the same hue.  I have a friend you used to wear black with blue denim...a lot...and I always loved the look.  I basically stole that one right from her and I don't mind admitting it.  I still love it.  

The shoes are navy blue, but I thought for the longest time that they were black, and wore them as such.  They're Italian made low-heeled, patent slingbacks.  I thrifted them from SA a year ago.  They were a great addition to my sensible shoe collection.  The dress is retail, and yes, you've seen it before.  It has leather trim, which is so cute, but I have to say that in my case, colorblocking does nothing to slim me.  I like it though, and that's the real point.  The jacket is a freebie from my niece and I'm wearing my biggest tortoiseshell bracelet.  Bigger is better and this one is my favorite.  I'm also wearing red nail polish, which I put on because I was bored.  I have never really liked red polish or lipstick on me, even though everyone else does.  I was too lazy to remove this, so I am making peace with it.  Things change. 

This afternoon I attended my son's NHS induction ceremony.  It was full of pomp and circumstance, which is fitting.  It is quite an accomplishment, and I'm proud of his hard work.  He's a stellar student, a great athlete, and he's pretty handsome too!  

And to top the weekend off (or rather, to start it) I went on a rare getaway to the country.  It's so amazing to me how I can drive an hour from a city like Chicago, and be out in some of the most beautiful, untouched and peaceful country around.  I took a tiny overnight bag and headed south to Gilman, Illinois.  It's gorgeous out there and I took lots of pictures, walked, swam and took a yoga class.  I also ate super healthy with not a piece of chocolate in sight.  Of course, there's plenty in sight now that I'm home.  It's delicious too, btw.  

So which of these pictures is frameworthy?  I'm thinking about the country lane, the bleeding hearts, the barn with the ivy, and the bicycle.  I have tons of empty wall space and I think I can fix at least some of that now.  Let me know what you think! (The bike is definitely a keeper!)

Throwback Thursday!

I think I've found a foolproof way to a great blog post.  At least on Thursdays.  I could never run out of interesting things to say and great photos to show off, as long as I stick with this theme.  Last week I posted a picture of my Mom from 1955 and it was a big hit.  Today, I'm showing off some of my parents' wedding album.  

Pictures like this are strewn here and there in my Mom's house, some in drawers, boxes inside of her closet, and in the remains of a very old photo album whose pages have all but disintegrated.  I have always been the one who seems most interested in anything that's old, especially if it pertains to family history.  I have somehow become the keeper of the family records.  It's a job I relish, and I can't get enough of delving into my family's history through pictures and written documents.  My daughter has gone a few steps further and started working on the family tree.  She got us into the early 1800's so, like I said, I won't be running out of subject matter for a while. 

My Mom was 19 and my Dad was 24 when they got married.  They were married by a cousin, who was a minister, and all of her Texas family travelled to Chicago for the big event.  Her cousins were her maid of honor and flower girls.  Her cousin by marriage gave her away.  Cousins everywhere...

Unfortunately, her dress was lost during a move about 20 years ago.  When we finally figured out that it was probably left on the moving truck, it was too late.  I'm hoping to come across it someday in my thrift store travels.  In the meantime, the pictures will have to do.  I love them and I think you will too!

Self-Pity...a tough reminder not to wallow in it.

As I was sulking today about my lack of progress with my business, I got a shocking bit of news.  And another.  And another.  You know how they say death comes in 3's?  I don't know who they are, but they say it.  Anyway, I learned of the passing of an 80 something year old man that I know.  I also learned that a family member, over 90 years old, is near death.  Neither of these was as shocking as it was surprising and sad.  To top it off, and jolt me out of my self-pity, came the news that a former co-worker and friend, younger than me, died this morning.

I've been a little "dumpy" all week. It's been very much a feast and famine experience (being self-employed) and right now I'm hungrier than usual.  I really let myself sulk this week, just coming out of it today.  I took pictures of some vintage outfits that I have had for over six months, but never got around to listing.  I'd had a pretty productive day, and I got even more productive when I heard about my co-worker's passing.  Every day is a blessing, a cause for excitement, and an opportunity to push forward.

Sometimes you need a gentle nudge.  Sometimes you need a little push.  Today I was shoved into the wall.  I needed it.

Golden Girl.

I posted this great picture on Facebook today.  I think it got more views than almost anything I've ever posted.  Everyone loves a great memory, even if it isn't theirs.  

This picture shows my mom as I have never seen her.  I only remember her as Mom--cooking, cleaning, humming, praying and putting up with a lot of crap that she didn't deserve.  Still, the serene, thoughtful lady that's pictured here is definitely her, but taking a quiet moment to herself...well that's the part that I'm not familiar with.  She has glasses in her hand.  I don't remember her wearing glasses until she was much older.  I'm guessing the dress is a yellow dotted swiss, but I'll have to ask her to be sure.  She looks amazing--long, lean and perfectly put together.  My mom had a hard life at times, and although I wonder what she's thinking, I like to believe that she's just enjoying the weather, not wishing that she could be on one of those boats on the other side of the lake.  She says that my Dad took this picture.  I wonder if she's standing there because she's been in the car with him for a few hours and he's on her nerves.  But, the love that's apparent from the lens is well...apparent.  A side of my Dad that I don't remember seeing very often. He married a quiet, patient and dutiful woman.  A virtuous one.  The kind that would put up with him.  Smart guy, he knew what he was doing. 

Now at the age of 90, my Mom has decided to move into a seniors' apartment building.  We are all a little worried that she won't like it, but also excited for her because she's never lived on her own!  She married my Dad at 19, and from there started raising a family, eventually having six of us.  They struggled to make ends meet, but I never once heard her complain.  Since my Dad died 25 years ago, she's lived with my sister.  It's just the two of them, but most any Saturday you'll find one or all of us, along with an array of grands and great-grands.  I'm happy for her to have her "Golden Girl" moment.  We have already told her, dozens of times, that if she doesn't like it, she can come back home, but for now, she's getting ready to move into her first apartment.  She'll have the place to herself.  She's already making big plans to "look out the window" at the pond.  Whatever she sees out there, I know she won't be wishing for anything because she's already there.  

Honestly, I thought my "clotheshorse" days were over.  Once I realized that I'd gained weight that wasn't coming off, I became depressed.  I'm trying to be over it, but sometimes I relapse.  One of my biggest issues with weight (other than it slowing me down) is the inability to be as fashionable as I'd like.  I finally decided a couple of years ago, after buying clothes only when absolutely necessary, that I was going to indulge my clothes-loving self again and re-up my wardrobe.  I can honestly say that I have more clothes than I need or will likely ever wear, but I have no regrets.  The total spent on everything in my closet is probably less than a lot of people spend in one season.  That is because I buy thrift, resale, estate, rummage, discount, online and I never turn down a freebie.  Take the outfit above for instance.  I paid $5 for the jacket, $3 for the shirt, $2 for the skirt, $3 for the vintage bag, and nothing for the shoes.  I'm stylin'.  Profilin'.  No, really.  Look.  That's my profile.

Determined to look my best, not at all times, but when I need to, I have amassed a collection of dresses, shoes, accessories and jackets that will keep me in "new" outfits for a while.  Obviously, I never got over the whole "play dress up" thing from my childhood.  Some girls aren't into that, but I totally was.  Dolls, playing beautician, making clothes and poring through the Sears catalog were a big part of my growing up.  I also played quite a bit of softball, climbed a few trees and jumped a lot of double dutch.  I'm so glad that no one told me what I should be doing, they just let me be me.  Today, in addition to my love of fashion, I love to garden, read and make things.  Right now my hands are covered with yellow paint because I'm remaking a chandelier and I'm looking forward to taking in a couple of soccer games this weekend.  Unfortunately, my days of participation seem to be over, but that's just something else I have to accept.  I still find ways to be active after wallowing in my slowness and stiffness for long enough.  You'll have to take my word for this, because you won't see me posting any pictures of my interesting attempts at movement.  I still have my pride!  After I get all the paint off my hands, I'll probably paint my nails.  I live on both sides of the fence.  I'd even cut the grass, but the lawn mower isn't working.  It made me mad that I had to pay someone to cut it today, but it was about six inches long, and the dandelions were longer.  The true sign that spring is here...those "pretty yellow flowers" as a college roommate described them.  They didn't have them where she was from, and she was appalled that people cut them down. One woman's weed...

I recently found a Facebook page for those of us who like to stroll down Memory Lane.  It's very interactive, and I've already stepped in it a few times, but I'm sure that as soon as everyone "gets" my sense of humor, the kids will be allright.  It's great to find people who have memories and experiences similar to mine.  There are 14th Streets all over.  I feel a bunch of great stories coming on...

Back in Business!

I was so happy to discover the whereabouts of my tripod today!  Some of my best pictures have been taken with just me, my camera and my extra set of hands (tripod).  I hadn't seen it since I moved, and although my daughter takes great pictures, my incessant DIYing and thrifting are boring to her.  I have had an outfit that I've wanted to model for a few days now, and she just isn't interested.  After promising to help me out after work yesterday, she announced that she had a migraine, and there went my photo shoot.

Now, I have my trusted assistant, the one that never says "no".  All I have to do is be willing to run back and forth while I'm setting it up,  set the timer, check the picture, then do it all again.  This might be one of the reasons my former downstairs neighbor had such a bad attitude.  Those gorgeous hardwood floors were a little noisy, and I would sometimes do the back and forth thing 15 or 20 times before I got a shot that I liked.  So, it worked, but it was tedious.  Being back in a house now should make this task much easier, but if my daughter decides to oblige me occasionally, I won't turn down the help.  These were fun, but tiring, and as I recall I was sweating up a storm!

One of my favorite "selfies".  I hate that I cut my hair.  Now it won't grow back!

That Ralph Lauren coat.  Totally too big.  Totally don't care.  

I probably shouldn't jinx myself.  Far too many blog posts last year chronicled my struggles with the Personal Summer/Power Surge, aka Hot Flash.  Better not talk it up.

I have one table painted, one coat of paint on the chandelier, and a cute outfit hanging on the valet.  Multi-tasking?  That sounds good, but actually, I am just a little bit ADD I think.  I always have several projects going at once.  And to add to that, I bought two gallons of paint last night.  It's after midnight and I'm thinking about painting the bathroom.  

I still maintain that SOMEDAY I'll get paid for my madness, if not my methods.