My Week According to Instagram

So Christmastide is almost upon us!  I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude though my life is still in somewhat of a shamble.  It's been hard to stay upbeat, but my roller-coaster of emotions is back on a peak, instead of a plummet like earlier today.

There's a forecast of a dusting of snow for tomorrow which I'm excited about.  I hope there's a slight accumulation since we haven't had a white Christmas in awhile.  It's always been raining.  Unfortunately, they are also calling for freezing rain in my parts.  But I hope it heads way for the snow.

1. Dear Santa...

2. Letting Instagram followers know about this post.

3. Breakfast one morning.

4. My poor curls after a windy day.

5. Gorgeous shoes from eBay.

6. Stupid computer giving me problems.

7. Nostalgia kicking in.

8. That didn't take long.

9. Here's hoping for a white Christmas.

10-11. I couldn't resist a few jabs.

12. Vanilla orchid sachets.

13. Balsam Fir sachets added to the pile.

14. I had to post this again on the 22nd.

15. Baking chocolate chip cookies to take to my brother's house tomorrow.

As tradition dictates, I'll be spending the evening of Christmas Eve at my brother's house with his wife and my nephew.  It's always enjoyable to see him open and enjoy all of his gifts.  I'm making my famous Sloppy Joes and deviled eggs to take over, along with an assortment of homemade cookies.  After my brother's, I'll go back to my mum's where we will open one gift each and then watch a Christmas film.  And just in case you were wondering, yes I will be leaving milk and cookies out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer...

What are your plans and traditions on Christmas Eve?

Happy Christmas in advance!

My Week According to Instagram

I'm still going through my rough patch and have been pretty depressed lately.  But you all have your own worries and problems, so I won't trouble you with mine.  I do go back and forth a lot and quite easily from happy to sad.

Something to be happy about was baking cookies all day Friday with my mum.  By the time all was said and done, we made ten different kinds of confectionery treats.  It was exhausting but fun.  I brought Christmas music along which we listened to.  I had no idea how many different versions of the same songs I had on my playlist.

1. Dear Santa...

2. Willow, the newest addition to my mum's brood.

3. Nancy Carroll, 1928.

4. So true.

5. It doesn't seem quite right that this is in someone's scrap pile.

6. Googly eyed Reindeer socks.

7. Sleepy puppy.

8. Chocolate chip cookies.

9. Pretty rolled sugar cookies.

10. Snickerdoodles.

11. My favourite decorated cookies.

12. Peanut butter blossoms.

13-14. Outfit of the day on Saturday. I love this jumper.

15. I couldn't help it with this one.

16. Sam Palladio from Nashville. Handsome and talented.

Pretty much all the television I have been watching has consisted of Christmas films I've recorded on my DVR.  Let's just say the Lifetime and Hallmark Channels and I are as thick as thieves by now.  Some I have seen in the past, but most of them are new to me this year.  Whenever I get down, it's a surefire bet that they can cheer me up and spread warmth through my soul.

Today we hammered out the last three cookies that we didn't have time to bake on Friday.  All that's left is to decorate the gingerbread men that we weren't able to frost today.  Unfortunately, a bunch of them turned out all wobbly since we didn't have a cheesecloth to roll them out on.  They still tasted yummy though.

What are your favourite things you do to get ready for Christmas?

My Week According to Instagram

This week started off fine, in the middle it went awful, and it's ending on a slightly better note.  I won't go into the bad stuff.  Those who know me personally, know what I'm referring to.  Yesterday I finally got together with my best friend whom I hadn't seen in awhile.  Ever since she moved away a bit, it's been harder for us to see each other.  That last time I saw her was April so it was a really nice ending.

1. Cuddling with my baby.

2. Don't we all! A Christmas magnet that came on a CD of old Christmas music.

3. The tree I put up and decorated at work.

4. Snow in the forecast!

5. Snow! And on the day I put up my Christmas decorations.

6. Smudger's not that jolly in his Elf outfit.

7. I wish I could believe you, Jane.

8. Dolled up for a work meeting.

9. Pretty in pink and paging Mad Men.

10. I can relate to Jessica.

11-12. Good hair day on the way to work and at home.

13-14. What I wore out shopping with my friend.

Today I'll be spending the day with my mum.  We're going to be making Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner!  I'm so excited since I've been craving this for months.  Are you guys getting prepared for Chrismas?

My Week According to Instagram

This week was pretty good, though it didn't end on such a positive note.  I came home from work last night after midnight and it was quite cold in my flat.  I looked at the thermostat and it read around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  I turned the hot tap on and it just ran cold.  It was a miserable night's sleep.  Smudger and I were all bundled up in bed and still couldn't sleep well.  When I woke up this morning it cooled down to about 50 degrees (which is quite cold when the wind is howling)!  It was too much to bear.  Poor Smudgie was shaking like a leaf so we packed a few things up and went to my mum's house until the landlord refueled at our flat.

Thanksgiving ended up being quite nice, although a bit hectic.  Mum and I spent all day cooking and baking (me being the genius that I am, did it in high heeled booties).  It was really fun.  I enjoy cooking and baking but don't do it that often myself since I live alone and also work second shift.  It was just three of us for dinner but then my brother, his wife, and my nephew stopped by for desert.  After they left Mum and I watched a bit of a film called Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I've seen it already and it's a really cute movie.

1. Adorable vintage looking hand mirror from the Dollar Tree.

2. Handmade Christmas gift tags available here.

3. Gone With the Wind marathon on AMC.

4. Mummy holding me when I was a wee lass.

5. Thanksgiving day outfit; soaking up the sunlight.

6. Five homemade pies: 2 pumpkin, 1 lemon meringue, 1 apple, and 1 cran-apple.

7. The apple pie I made.  I love the lattice work.

8. Lemon meringue pie.

9. Misty waking up from her nap.

10. Thanksgiving before the feast begins.

11. Thanksgiving outfit again, including the jumper and handbag.

12. My partner in crime, my mummy.

I'm so excited for my next day off on Tuesday.  I'm going to be spending the day decorating my flat for Christmas.  I love decorating for the different holidays or just in general.  There's a house a few minutes away that is selling boughs from their pine trees so I'm going to get some, put a red ribbon on them, and hang them under each window.  I also got a great CD yesterday full of old Christmas music from artists such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and others.

When do you normally decorate for Christmas?

My Week According to Instagram

Sorry I've been so naughty with posting!  I've pretty much only been doing my weekly Instagram posts, and this one is even a day late.  I really don't have any excuses except laziness and back pain.  I got injured at work a few months ago and have yet to heal from it.  Actually, the pain has increased the last few weeks.  I ended up having to go home from work early because the pain was so unbearable.

But onto less depressing things.  The Christmas spirit is really starting to bubble up inside of me.  I know Thanksgiving hasn't even come yet.  But I can't help it.  I blame the Hallmark and Lifetime channels for having Christmas film marathons that I can't resist.  I'm so looking forward to the decorations, the music, the movies, and the smells of wondrous things baking.

1. A beautiful 1957 Packard for sale.

2. A picturesque property.

3. 'Army babe' costume at the thrift shop.

4. Grandma's hat.

5. Outfit photos.

6. My great uncle's Navy photo.

7. Grace Kelly.

8. World War II Weekend, June 2011.

9. 200 followers!  Wow!

10. Sophie Kinsella marathon.

11. The one that got away.

12. Vintage-inspired gloves from Target.

13. Smudger is getting in the Christmas spirit.

14. Breaking Dawn Part Two.

15. Wearing the dress my mum made in middle school.

16. Mad Men, anyone?

Closer to the horizon is Thanksgiving.  That will be my holiday off (I'll have to work Christmas) and I'm excited to be able to spend the day with some family.  I'm most looking forward to spending the morning cooking and baking with my beloved mother.

What are your favorite parts of the upcoming holidays?

My Week According to Instagram

Another week passes us by.  I worked all week except for Thursday.  I was rather productive that day.  I finally got my hair trimmed after not doing so for the longest time, I started my Christmas shopping, went grocery shopping, and did some sewing with my mum.

I am working this weekend, so I usually don't do much when I work.  I have off tomorrow but it's going to be another busy day.  I like having off a weekday each week, but then again at the same time it's not very relaxing if you try to cram too much in one day.  I always long for my weekends off when I can have two days in a row.

1. Pumpkin spice latte on the way to a flea market.

2. Vintage nails and a Singer light bulb shield.

3-4. The lovely Vivien Leigh.

 

5. Stockings and garter belt.

6. Gorgeous blue Orchids.

7. Handmade Kindle case.

8. Battle wound from Smudger.

9. Lee Pace in Breaking Dawn Part Two.

10. Exploring Maine in July.

11. Hitchcock time.

12. Lovely fabric I need to buy.

13. Making an apron from this pretty fabric.

14. Saving the eggs from spoiling.

15-16. Stunning Waterfall furniture.  I desperately want the wardrobe on the right.

17. The third piece at the thrift shop.

My Week According to Instagram

So I survived Frankenstorm!  Though I didn't go unscathed.  I had leaks in my ceiling that caused some damage.  But thankfully I managed to be one of the lucky ones that didn't lose power.  I was very grateful for that fact.  I was also off on Monday, which was the worst of the days.

I had off yesterday and today.  I spent the weekend with my mum sewing and hanging out.  I made a case for my Kindle and began on a dress.  I think the Kindle case turned out well enough for my first stab at it.  I also had to tweak it a bit to fit my specific Kindle model.  I'm excited to make more now that I've got the hang of it, and put them up on my Etsy.

1. Recently acquired vintage luggage.

2. Grilled cheese on a rainy day.

3. Rice cereal pumpkin treats for Halloween.

4. Ceiling leak because of Sandy.

5. Ceiling rain water dripping in a pot.

6. 1920s inspired hair.

7. Ceiling damage from Sandy.

8. Hocus Pocus on Halloween.

9. Smudger in his hot dog costume...he's not that amused.

10. World War II Weekend, June 2012.

11. Knowlton family coat of arms.

12. World War II Weekend, June 2011.

13. Vintage back seam nylons.

14. Vintage coat.

15. Braving the cold for outfit photos.

16. Sewing time!  A vintage pincushion.

I don't really have much else to report.  I'm a bit tired from Daylight Savings Time, so I believe I will call it a night.  Did you do anything fun this week?

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!

My Week According to Instagram

I'm still getting over being sick.  It's going on two weeks now.  Most definitely no fun.  They did an x-ray on Friday to rule out pneumonia, so hopefully I'll know something at the beginning of the week.

Yesterday was a bit exhausting.  I overdid it by cutting Mum's hair and taking photos.  I don't feel too bad as long as I pace myself.  But anytime I exert a bit too much energy, I just am completely wiped out.  That's what makes working so difficult since I'm constantly on my feet, running around.

Today was fun.  I got an abrupt call from my mum asking me to go to a flea market with her, my step-dad, nephew, and sister-in-law.  I found some amazingly unbelievable finds.  I knew there would be produce and used items but I wasn't expecting to find the great vintage items I did.  I got 12 pairs of vintage back seam stockings, an old mixer from the 1950's or so (I need to research it), an old WWII devotional book for the soldiers, and a cameo ring.

Afterwards, we had luncheon at a cute diner.  Then we went to the Humane Society Thrift Shop because my nephew needed a tie-dye shirt for school for tomorrow.  He didn't have any luck, but I made out like a bandit!  I got a blue velvet vintage hat with lovely red lace lining, a detachable fur collar, a tapestry handbag, two tapestry pieces of luggage, a looking glass that says "I didn't want to go out but my hair looked too good to stay home", and a vintage bullet bra.

Warning: A lot of the following photos are Downton Abbey themed.  I'm currently reading The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes.  If you're a fan of the show, I highly suggest giving it a look.  It's got such stunning photography from the series as well of old images of actual people from that time.  Not only does it give insight to how things are on the show, but it also gives details of how life was then.  It's really all so fascinating.

1. The adorable Sean Berdy from Switched at Birth.

2-4. Handmade gift tags.

5. & 6. The lovely Rita Hayworth.

7. Adorable Sean Berdy again.

8. Informing Instagram of this blog post.

9. William Mason.

10. Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle.

11. Doctor Who/Scooby Doo crossover.

12. In the news for the zombie walk from last year (I'm the bride).

13. A lovely lady lounging.

14. Robert and Cora Crawley.

15. The beautiful Sybil Crawley.

16. She reminds me of an old school Catherine Tate.

 

17. A call for me?

18. Branson waiting for his next drive.

19. Letting Instagram followers know about this blog post.

20. A lady's maid preparing hair for her mistress.

21. Cora and two of her lovely daughters.

22. William standing at attention.

23. The 's-bend' corset.

24. The lovely ladies Crawley.

25. Cora enjoying a garden tea party.

26. An old recruitment ad for nurses from WWI.

27. Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle.

28. An old ad for a lovely range.

29. Matthew and Mary.

30. Future photoshoot for the blog.

31. Lunch at this cute diner with the family.

32. Thrifting finds!  Vintage hat and fur collar.

33. Vintage tapestry handbag.

34. Vintage bullet bra and a cute looking glass.

35. 12 pairs of vintage back seam stockings.

36. Strength for Service devotional book from WWII, 1942.

37. Vintage cameo ring from the flea market.

38. Letting Instagram followers know about this blog post.

39. Wow over 100 followers!  Thanks to everyone who enjoys the same things as I.

40. I love freshly curled hair!

After I got home from the flea market and thrifting, I really needed to rest.  I exerted too much energy for still recovering from the infection.  I wouldn't trade it for the world though.  It was so much craic to spend time with my family and I love thrifting!  I rested and perused the internet for a bit and then baked some cute pumpkin shaped cookies to take work tomorrow.  I'll show you in next Sunday's post.  How was your weekend?