Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Can you believe that this dress was hiding up in my mum's attic for years?  It was hers from when she was in secondary school.  So it's a bit short on me for my tastes, but by wearing it with black stockings and black shoes it grounds the look.  The jacket was also hers and it's reversible so it can be worn as I have with the blue on the outside or with the daisies out.

I really enjoyed wearing this look and I got many a compliment whist I was out and about.  I let everyone know that it was my mum's from when she was younger.  Apparently there was once an umbrella that matched the jacket, but it was lost on a school bus long ago.  I also especially love the handbag that I got at my local Humane Society Thrift shop.  I've wanted a tapestry bag for awhile and was thrilled when I came upon it.

Outfit Details:

vintage 1960s dress, vintage 1960s jacket {worn by my mum in secondary school}

vintage handbag, belt {thrifted}

knit stockings, shoes {target}

Do you have any pieces that were passed down from generations before you?  Do you wear them?

Want to see what photos didn't make it onto the blog?  Head on over to Facebook for a peek.

My Week According to Instagram

Nothing too exciting happened the first several days of the week.  I worked Monday through Thursday so those days didn't consist of much.  Friday I had off and spent a lovely day with my mum.

We spent the day thrifting at a few different shops.  I didn't get my usual load of bounty, but I did get a few nice pieces.  The most exciting thing is a stunning vintage 1940s coat that my mum got me for Christmas.  She wasn't going to show me at first, but she wanted to make sure it fit.  I can't wait to get it!  It's so lovely!

We had lunch at the little diner in my town that we also wanted to check out.  They had the cutest Victorian era reproduction Coca-Cola signs hanging around.  The food was so delicious too.

We ended up having to go grocery shopping then.  Crazy!  I really had to go no matter what, but it was still crazy.  We are supposed to be getting a really bad storm here in the next few days so people were going into survivor mode.  I've heard insane reports about how generators are sold out everywhere and Walmart no longer has any water!  I guess they're expecting it to be really bad.  It's rather scary...  Hopefully it won't be quite as bad as they are saying it to be.

1-4. Baking pumpkin shaped spritz cookies with my vintage mixer.

5. Romance in bloom.

6. Lady Mary Crawley.

7-8. Old WWI advertisements.

9. Old newspaper article about WWI ending.

10. Incredible Downton Abbey companion book.

11. Sharing  this post with my Instagram followers.

12. Gorgeous foliage on the way to work.

13. Sharing this post with my Instagram followers.

14. My mum's new dog, Gracie.

15. Taking my mum's pups for a walk.

16. Freshly curled hair.

17. Freshly done vintage mani.

18. Vintage jewelry box.

19. My mum's 1960s dress from middle school.

20. Oxfords and leaves.

 21. Taking outfit photos in the park.

22. The most beautiful shoes I've ever seen...that were too small.

23. Lunch at the Railroad Diner with mum.

24. Ethel and Bobby Kennedy.

 

25. A cute wee bug on my mums.

26. Last Sunday's thrifting outfit.

27. Hello, Hook!  Another reason to love Once Upon a Time.

I'm excited to have off tomorrow.  It's going to be horrible out, so it's the perfect day to lay on the couch and try to finish watching my list of Halloween movies with a cup of hot mint chocolate.  Hopefully the power stays on so I can achieve that.  And also hopefully it won't be so terrible tonight at work that they make me stay the night.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Chanelling Joan Holloway

I felt very 1960's in this outfit, so I went all out by using my vintage 1960's Polaroid camera as a prop.  My mum purchased it for me at a yard sale as a surprise.  I have no idea if it works.  I'd love to find some old film and test it out.  That would be really swell if it was still in working order.

The day these photos were taken, my mum and I were going on a sort of scavenger hunt to look for a costume to rent for the Renaissance Faire.  We checked out a few different locations and I found one that I liked a lot to reserve.  Even better then, my mum was at our local Salvation Army the one day and found a perfect Renaissance gown in the costumes section there.  I paid half the price I would have to rent one, plus I'll get to have it to wear again.

 

Outfit Details:

dress, belt, earrings {thrifted}

vintage 1960's Polaroid camera {yard sale}

vintage handbag, locket {from my grandmothers}

wedge shoes {eBay}

bracelet {Avon, gifted}

I felt very Mad Men in this.  I was going to do my hair up like Joan does, but I'm not very practiced in the beehive.  So instead, I just opted for a messy/cascading curls sort of 'do.  I've recently just started branching out into the 1960s more so.  I've mainly focused my wardrobe on the 1940s and 1950s.  I'd like to definitely try to go a little earlier and get some 1920s and 1930s pieces.  I have a lovely 1920s hat, but it's too snug on my head, so it's just a decorative piece.  I also have a darling little beaded 1920s clutch, but I don't use that too often either.  I'd really love to get some articles of clothing from those decades to add to my growing collection.

P.S. Gingers can wear ginger!

Want to see what photos didn't make it onto the blog?  Head over to Facebook for a look.

My Week According to Instagram

Wow, time flies...  So this past week was the Emmy's.  I didn't get to watch it since I had to work, but that didn't stop me from admiring the fashion!  There were some really stunning dresses there, below I document some of my favourites.

It was a bit of another tough week.  Yesterday was a week since we had to put Harley down.  Then I found out my cat, Midnight, has cancer.  The 26th was the 21st anniversary of my grandmother passing.  I went to visit her on Friday when I had off which was very emotional, but I felt like I needed to do that.

I do have some things to look forward to this coming week.  I'm taking a trip to NYC tomorrow.  Then, this weekend I have some family coming down from Maine for a visit.  We will be going to the Renaissance Faire around here.  It's really swell.  Sort of raunchy, lude humor, but still a blast.

1. Holding Harley's paw

2. Emmy time! Here are my favourite dresses: Kat Denning

3. Ginnifer Goodwin

4. Tina Fey

5. Zooey Deschanel

6. Kelly Osbourne

7. Sarah Hyland

8. January Jones and Jessica Pare

9. Christina Hendricks

10. Whitney Port

11. Michelle Dockery

12. My kitty, Midnight

13. My grandmother's necklace from the 1940's

14. My grandmother wearing said necklace

15. My grandparents shortly after they were wed

16. A Renaissance painting

17. Friday photoshoot

18. Fall weather at last!

19. Visiting my grandmother's grave

20. Smudger after a bath

21. Handmade velvet pouch

22. Watching Mad Men and girl crushing

How was your weekend?  Anything interesting happen?

21 Years But Still in My Heart and Mind

21 years ago today, I lost my grandmother Charlotte Arlene (nee Leh) Beitler to ovarian cancer.  It's hard to believe that much time has passed...  The irony of September being ovarian cancer awareness month is not lost on me.

It makes me really sad because since I was only five at the time, I don't remember much about her.  But what I do remember is that she was a very warm, loving person.  I vaguely remember going to her house in Allentown for visits.  Mum tells me she was so thrilled to have a granddaughter, as I have to older brothers. 

At the time, when I was younger, and my father gave me her jewelry, I didn't really think that much of it.  Now that I am older, I appreciate it so much more.  It feels like it's my only link to her because I really don't remember being with her that much.  I feel as if I have a piece of her with me then.  I am also grateful that I have her trunk that Dad refinished for my sixteenth birthday.  I didn't really think anything of it at the time, but now it's a treasured collection along with her jewelry.  I only wish I could have had some of her clothes, especially her dress from her Honeymoon photo.

My grammy and me when I was 4 months old.

Tea time!  Is that an old Pepsi bottle?

Welcome home me!  With my mum, grandma, and older brothers.

We always lump our birthdays together.  Like my pink cast?

Always smiling.

Santa himself would be jealous of her festive red bow.

Time for presents!  And where did Cabbage Patch kids go?

Both my grandmothers, both gone now.

Happily rocking away.

Joint birthday for myself and my brother.

My mum and dad at their wedding with their mums.

My dad and grandma at their house in New York.

My dad as a wee lad with my grandma.

I love this coat!

Her hair and jewelry always looked so nice.

My grandma and grandpa Warren after they were just married.  I would kill for that outfit.  They were such a gorgeous couple.

 

Charlotte Arlene (nee Leh) Beitler

01 August 1922 - 26 September 1991

I have no grandparents left, which is more than a little sad for me.  I never even got to know either of my grandfathers at all, for they were gone before I was even born.  I definitely envy my older brothers, since they remember more about Grandma Beitler than I do.  My oldest brother even remembers her mother, our great-grandmother!  It does make me happy that my nephew has such a wonderful, caring grandmother in my mum.  Every child needs one.

The photo of me with the cast is hard for me to look at.  I didn't notice this before when I was younger, but I can tell now that she must have been pretty sick when it was taken.  I look close to five, if not already five, in that photo.  Her face was gaunt and she just didn't look well.  I hope she didn't suffer.  She was such an amazing woman, she didn't deserve that.  She should have been able to see her grandchildren grow and get married and have their own babies.

It's never easy as we get older, and our loved ones get older as well.  It makes me scared for my parents.  I want them to be alive to see me get married and have children.  It's definitely been a hard week for me.  First our beloved golden passed away on Saturday; yesterday I found out my very first pet, Midnight, has cancer; and today is the 21 anniversary of my loving grandmother passing.  One day at a time, I suppose...  I will always think of my grandma when I wear the jewelry (I have that heart pendant from above!) she left me with a big smile on my face and warmth in my heart.