These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

I was flipping through a 2009 issue of Vogue in which an article was featured on famous designers re-creating vintage fashion. I fell in love with their take on modernizing the styles while retaining the details of yesteryear's clothing. I found them absolutely inspiring and must be shared!

The suit is c-l-a-s-s-i-c! I'm in love with the stitching and detailed edging.

What I love most about vintage fashion is the class. There's not one ounce of slop, tomboy, or mess in this outfit.

When in doubt, go neutral.

Absolutely stunning.

If I had they ability (and the money) to make things happen my way, one of these dresses would be my wedding dress...

If you remember my nostalgic post about vintage hats, this is a perfect example of the dying art of dressing. Never do you see vintage hats, gloves and brooches on a modern-day woman. (Sigh)

This ensemble was interesting from the standpoint of color. Note the black suits paired with ivory tights and brown ankle boots. Note taken.

Dressing for A Lot Less, Pt Deaux

Another culprit of lesser practicality presented itself while I was flipping through a Victoria's Secret catalog: The 'Deconstructed Tunic.'

Ladies. I have a much better idea. When it's that lovely time of the month and you feel ______ (insert emotion/adverb here), channel this energy. Then, lay flat one of your comfy tunic shirts and stab it incessantly with a knife or scissors...Saves you $55!

Dressing for A Lot Less

I seem to get at least ten different catalogs per month. Out of all ten catalogs, I order from one the most. The others I've probably ordered an item once or not at all. (How do they seem to find me?)

Before I banish them to the recycling bin, I torture myself. "I wish I could afford this gorgeous top", or "someday I'll buy that classic leather bag." Then, comes the "I can't justify purchasing this for what it costs" bit. What a waste to send me these printed catalogs, only to be looked through just once.

One of these culprit retailers happens to be J. Crew. I love this company and their style is classic. I enjoy looking through their catalog because most of all, I think their styling is fantastic. But looking through their most recent catalog had me gasp at some of the outfits and their costs.

This was the cover outfit. Cute. I looked at the item details and added each piece altogether. $700. Are you kidding me? It looked artistic and relaxed but this kind of look should never cost that much. I have a better idea. Go to your local thrift store and look for a cargo jacket, usually at a cost of $7. These jackets were popular back in the 1990s. Buy a pair of jeans while you're there for $5, tie them on the rear bumper of your car and drive for about 30 miles with them dragging behind. Cut them off and roll it up. And the undershirt? Buy a plain white shirt at your favorite cheap haunt, and hand paint your stripes with black fabric paint. Look for your favorite heels somewhere in the back of your closet that might be gathering dust. Same with the bag. All for a total cost of no more than $25.

This outfit also has that funky artistic vibe that I love so much. This outfit also added up to $360. Again, I know I could go to my local thrift store and find a white skirt for around $5. Do you remember how to tie-dye from middle school art class? Just add rubber bands and dip parts of the skirt into differing colors of dye. Make your kids do it since they might be hounding you for something to do. A denim shirt is commonplace. My bet is that you could find one for less than $20. Pair the two items up with one of your bulky bib necklaces and some brown boots and you've got the look for around $25! And it may have even brought your family closer together!

Time Warp Poem

Four months truly came and went--
I thought my blogging days were spent.
Two brothers married within a month apart--
Ready for my own? I haven't yet the heart.

I continue to dream and crave to write--
But life's obstacles sure did put up a fight.
My dog fell ill, a week later ate a plastic bit--
My creativity is strong, but my wallet is unfit.

Here I return with this poetic intermission--
In an attempt to continue throughout my transition.
Where do I begin after all of this time?
(Fill in the blank here)

Textural Edification

Been poking around some of my photos I've taken within the past year. Thought these seemingly insignificant photos made a great assemblage of the texture that surrounds us. Enjoy!

Mission Steps, San Antonio, TX

Side of building, Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX

Graffiti art, downtown Austin, TX

Historic tower, Baltimore, MD

Exterior wall of decrepit barn, Somerset, TX
(all photos via Art & Facts, copyright)

How Sweet It Is

Experimented with a new cookie recipe today. After all, it is Valentine's Day. The dough didn't turn out to be quite the consistency as I was expecting, but I made the best of it!

Love Worms

An ode to the significant guy: VW Beetle towing a teardrop trailer...and a random buffalo in the way of its path

Yum.

Up in the Air

Significant guy and I have been working on remodeling our kitchen for quite some time. Coming up on two years of construction, to be exact. You're in it for the long haul when doing everything yourself, and that's a fact.

We have made much headway, and now are down to the final build-out and decor. Here's where I become truly indecisive. We live a beautiful late '20s/early '30s Moorish-design stucco home and very much desire to continue a similar style into our kitchen.

Exterior of our home (minus the latest trim work & landscaping)

Exterior entrance (photo via the amazing "London Calling." See her blog post here.)

We knocked out the wall to the right to open the kitchen up to the living and dining area. Significant guy (pictured here) has vaulted the ceiling and installed recessed lighting where the original portion of the ceiling was. We scored this amazing Arts & Crafts-style window at a building re-supply store. The walls will be painted Restoration Hardware's "Stone" paint color. 

I'm enlisting help from all of you amazing minds out there on some differing backsplash styles I've been deliberating over.

White subway tile has been a great friend of ours for years and is fairly inexpensive and above all--timeless. I am in love with this soft green glass and cracked ceramic subway tile as seen here with Country Living.

Although modern in nature, and more of a devil's advocate choice, this geometric glass tile catches light and draws the eye by way of uniqueness. I could see this tile in white or green in our kitchen, followed by a chocolate-stained grout. (photo via www.decodir.com)

And for a more organic spin to the previous idea, I have always loved the pebbled backsplash. And what goes better with "stone" paint color than...stones? (Image via www.islandstone.com)

I can't seem to get penny tile out of my head. Couldn't find an exact example in action, but think both photos above, combined along with black grout. I love the illusion of depth. (Image via www.flickr.com/photos/peachheights & www.mosaictilesupplies.com)

We are leaning more toward this idea by duplicating this look.  Inexpensive ceramic square tiles balance pricey Art Nouveau hand-painted tiles to achieve this look. This is my favorite by far. (Image via www.flickr.com/photos/samjudson)


All over the map and up in the air. What's your opinion?