My (Past Two) Week(s) According to Instagram

I am so, so, so sorry for being a very bad blogger.  But in my defense, I had (still have) a horrible sinus infection.  So here is what happened in my life the past two weeks; though most of it is from two weeks ago and not this previous week.

My mum and I went to New York City for a day trip as it is only three hours away from us.  We had a lovely day strolling through Central Park and just enjoying the perfect weather.  I finally got to see the Alice in Wonderland statue.  It was really special because that's one of those stories from childhood that stick in your memory.

It was another hard week because after losing our dear Golden, we had to put down my kitty, Midnight.  She was the very first pet I ever had.  It was very hard to say goodbye to her.  She was a part of my life for almost 18 years.  That's over half of my life that she was in it.  I had good intentions on doing a post for her like I did for Harley, and I still would like to do one even though it's been a few weeks since she's passed.

My mum's cousins came down to visit from Maine last weekend.  Karen stayed with my mum and Kathy stayed with me.  It was wonderful having them around and the place seems a bit empty now that it's just me and Smudger again.  When they arrived Saturday we just hung around my mum's house.  Kathy had brought down a box of old family photographs and other neat things.  There was this amazing old records book that a family member kept of all the transactions he made from the 1800's.  It was beautifully bound in leather with yellowed pages and curvy quill ink script.  It was the neatest thing I ever held in my hands.  When you close your eyes and take a big whiff, you can smell the crackling fire it must have been written next to and almost imagine yourself back in that time.

Sunday we went to the Renaissance Faire.  I have loved that place ever since I first went there on a school trip.  I'm very thankful to have it so locally to me.  Kathy went with us last year when she visited but this was Karen's first trip down.  We dressed up in period costumes and had a blast (despite the cold and rain).  Then enter me getting sick from the dampness and the rain.  No fun.

1. Overlooking a lake in Central Park.

2. A gorgeous old bridge in Central Park.

3. Alice in Wonderland in Central Park.

4. Imagine Circle in Strawberry Fields (you guessed it, in Central Park.

5. Loving the new season of Once Upon a Time.

6. A hot air balloon on the way home from New York.

7. 1963 Barbie case from the side of the road!

8. Rainy days mean headscarves.

9. I wish nowadays were as glamorous as this photo.

10. Holding my kitty for one last time.

11. Saying goodbye to my beloved Midnight.

12. Girl crushing on Christina Hendricks.

13. The oh-so-lovely Rita Hayworth.

14. Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White.

15. Outfit photos in the rain are no fun.

16. The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.

 17. A gorgeous frock for sale at the Faire.

18. Dalek + TARDIS = best souvenirs ever.

19. Waiting for the Mud Squad to start.

20. Vintage-inspired nails and reading Sookie.

I've been off of work all week and got some good use out of my telly and DVR.  I ended up having to go to an urgent care place today because on top of the sinus infection, I had severe chest pain.  I thought maybe it was pneumonia.  Good news/bad news.  It wasn't pneumonia, I just still have a very bad sinus infections.  My chest is so congested that that is the reason it hurts whilst I breathe.  And the fluid in my ears isn't draining correctly, which causes me to be lightheaded, dizzy, and off balance.  Again, no fun.

The only good thing about being off again, is that tonight is the season premiere of The Walking Dead.  You may not get it just looking at me, but I am a big zombie geek.  I love all things horror and I've been a faithful fan of The Walking Dead since it first aired.  It's definitely one of the best zombie related things I've seen.  Another thing about me: zombies and I are in a love/hate relationship.  I love them but they hate me.  I get the most horrific, intense, realistic zombie nightmares.  I wake up in a sweat, scared out of my mind.  Now when I tell people this, they tell me, "Don't watch it then!"  Well, this happens even when I haven't watched anything and don't have them even on the back burner in my mind.  So you know what?  If it's going to happen regardless, I'm going to watch and enjoy!

Is there anything in your life like that?  Where you like something so much but it has bad repercussions?

Nature Is A Many Splendored Thing

It seems like the heat is finally starting to break here.  While I am relieved, I also know I am going to miss the warmer weather once the novelty of the changing season wears off.  Each new season I am always excited for the specific characteristics it brings.

Autumn I am excited for the beautiful changing colours of the leaves and the nice brisk days.  I love being able to layer and pull out my jumpers.  When Winter comes, I am always yearning for the first snow fall.  I get to bring out my stockings and gloves.  I have so many vintage hats that I can't wait to wear when the season arrives.  Then comes Spring.  I am so over the cold of winter by this point.  It's thrilling to see the new life be breathed into the once dead landscape.  Flowers start to bloom and I can stop wearing so many layers.  Then at last comes Summer when I love to wear cute sun dresses and skirt and top combos.

There's so much to love about each season.  I am so thankful that I live in an area where I get to see it happen.  As much as I dislike living where I do sometimes, I am grateful that it's rural enough to be able to enjoy such a thing as nature and its many wonders.

Outfit Details:

vintage skirt, blouse, belt, vintage earrings {thrifted}

shoes {dsw}

Claddagh ring {gifted}

By the Sea Lighthouse Necklace, Masquerade Pearl bracelet {Mess of a Dreamer Design}

 This skirt is a great transition piece for me.  It's a great floral skirt that I can wear during the Spring and Summer.  But it's also made of heavy enough fabric that I can wear it during the Autumn and Winter with a pair of stockings.  I also can't wait to whip out all of my woolen pencil skirts that I've thrifted over the months.  They are hanging so lonely in my closet, just begging to be worn when the weather permits.

Do you try to buy pieces that you can transition from season to season?  If so, what sort of items do you go for?

  

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

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?

Black and White and Red All Over

I have so pretty exciting news...  But I'm going to wait to share it so as not to jinx anything.  This news came just at the right time because I've been kind of down lately.  It's just been emotionally draining around these parts the past week.  Then money has been a bit tight due to extra bills so I've just been stressed out.  So, I could definitely do with a little ray of sunshine about now.

Outfit Details:

vintage dress, vintage shoes, vintage handbag, belt {thrifted}

earrings {avon}

Claddagh ring {gifted}

vintage necklace, vintage bracelets {from my paternal grandmother}

Since I had off today, I drove the hour or so to Allentown to visit my grandmother's grave.  That was crazy.  There was horrible traffic and then I ended up missing my turn and got going the wrong way.  So a drive that should take a little over an hour took about two and a half hours.  Ridiculous.

Some family is coming down to visit next weekend and we are going to the Renaissance Faire.  That's always really fun.  I was originally going to rent a costume but then my mum found a nice one at Salvation Army.  It is really pretty but had a few mild stains and tears, but that's easily fixable.  Then I got a child's black velvet dress which I turned into a drawstring pouch to accompany my outfit.  It should be a grand time.  I'm looking forward to it.

Do you have a place like the Renaissance Faire that you like to dress up and visit?

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

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.