true confessions

1. I was freezing yesterday and felt half naked.  Like I forgot to put pants on.  Not a cool feeling.  So I am making that dress the very first "GIVEAWAY" item.  I have no idea how other blogs do their giveaways so I am just going to say. . . if you want it,  comment on this post before Sunday using code word:   HALF NAKED.  I will write your name on a little scrap of paper and pull it out of my hat to choose the winner.  Sound like a plan? K. 
2. I used to hate Lady Gaga.  HATE.  with fangs and claws.  Then someone I respected explained that she is just using the pop machine as a platform for her performance art, and I paid closer attention.  I am still paying attention.  
3. I got my leg warmers from Walgreens for $1.99.  

Thats all I got right now.  Besides feeling WAY more comfortable and warm today, I am just listening Lady Gaga Radio on Pandora.  I just discovered this Pandora thing last week, can you believe that!!!?? Its like low commitment genre sampling.   I usually listen to old stuff but this past week I have been exposed to so many things out of my comfort zone.  My opinions and perceptions are being challenged and long held intolerances are being broken down.  Pretty nice actually.  

loose but not easy

If you have noticed I tend toward sort of, questionable titles at times, but literally they make sense I hope.  I have a love for puns and cheese ballyness.   What I mean by this title is that sometimes I am under the assumption that loose clothing should be easy to wear, but usually it is in fact, to the contrary.  Maybe its just because its winter time, because I am sure this would be a breeze with boots and cutoffs, (well maybe not).  The point is, I have been wanting to wear this ever since I got it in, what early November.  I seriously love it, but the length and the width are a difficult proportion for me.  I am giving it a try today and if I decide its not me I am just selling it.  I paired it with double layers of tights and fishnets and I actually have a warm little sweater tank dress under to keep me warm.  I haven't chosen a jacket yet, but it will probably completely obstruct the outfit making the boots more important I guess.  Ya and about these boots, I have had these for a full year now and this is my first wear.  I have no idea WHY.  They are pretty cute, no? Anyways . . . we shall see.

Thanks for the suggestions for my sister.  Unfortunately she HATES sentimentality and hand made things (I am telling you!! the opposite of me!)  Instead favoring diamonds (PUKE!! sorry, I would rather wear wood thats all) Blueberry Vodka and UFC Fights.  I am thinking of just getting her some fancy anti aging eye cream and be done with it!!

Sibling Rivalry

I am missing my sister in a serious way right now!!  She is coming out for the holidays and I just can't wait!! She is the last person I have on my list for christmas shopping and the hardest person to shop for because we are complete opposites.  I know what she IS LIKE, but I have no idea what SHE LIKES. Big difference.   She is my Younger sister and though she looks shorter than me in these pics, she grew up to be much taller and more graceful than I will ever be! Sis was a freshman while I was a senior in high school and people were coming up to ME and saying "Oh you're Angela's sister!"  She was the popular cheerleader dating the Football Star and I sat inside at lunch on the yearbook staff avoiding the crush of social rejection.   As an adult she is still the star of my family.  Everything is fun and exciting when she is around!  I have to go out and find SOMETHING for her today, though she doesn't really NEED anything.  She carries everything she needs to have a good time in her smile.

Its also my husband's birthday today, so lots to do there too.  My outfit is purely utilitarian today.  The only really fun element are these faux lace leggings!  Printed lace on grey they are functional and fun (as far as I am concerned) Over the elbow cashmere gloves (a gift from my love) make any shirt wearable in the cold, and flat boots get me where I am going safely.  Hope everyone else is having a productive season!

Emotion and Influence

While I was Christmas shopping Sunday at Hot Topic (I have some super hero fans in my family) I spotted this little pop of a red flower pin/ barrette and immediately thought of Coco from Our Paper Moon!  She always has the best headwear and while hers are usually vintage and very classy looking and mine is a cheep plastic flower, I just had to do a little tribute to her.  I found this vintage dress at the thrift shops on Sunday too (I know, I have no self control!) Its a little long and a little wrinkled, but I have asked for a steamer for Christmas so hopefully all my wrinkle problems will be solved forever!  The sleeves are sheer and the back cutout is just a shocker! I just kept thinking "Coco."

When I buy at the shops I do it quickly based on emotion rather than common sense.  Photographed below are just a few of the cuter and weirder things I found including a sweet dot sundress, a couple of immaculate printed boho dresses, these SUPER CRAZY little girl style petticoat layers skirts and a dress, and the MOST AMAZING DR. MARTENS I have ever seen!!!!

I know Right!  I am half insane and half super lucky.  I'll take both I guess.

Cleaning and scrubbing CAN'T wait till tomorrow

The Pub Crawl was FUN.  Thank you all so much for wishing me luck on the costume contest, but If there really was one it would have been impossible for me to find.  I went to a hotel pre-party before the crawl and was so comfy I could have cared less about the pubs.  When we finally stumbled out in the slippery icy slushy sidewalks and after several blocks, arrived at some pub, I had ridiculously forgotten my ID and was not allowed in.  Most of my group was as dim witted as me though so we found a warm Tea House instead.  It was still a blast, but yesterday was a wash.  I got some holiday shopping done though so I guess it was half productive.

Today, my house is in complete chaos.  MUST FIND ORDER!! So lovely to hear from you though!  I promise a good outfit tomorrow!  (I just happened to find myself at the Goodwill again yesterday!! Trust me! I am bursting at the seams with pure JOY")

(EDIT:  To be fair, I am actually doing my cleaning sans socks boots, sweater and shirt.  Just cutoffs and tank.  I just had to complete the outfit to take my son to school! I just noticed the first few comments and no, this is too hot to wear to clean.  Cleaning is a workout for me!) 

Super quickie

Just a quickie today!  I am spending time with the men in my life today but wanted to get these up here! I also wanted to thank you for all of your comments!  I have been waking up earlier these days since I have added so many great blogs to my blog roll and it takes longer than and hour to see my favorites!  The prospect of it makes it so easy to get out of bed though!  I throw on my robe and socks, make my tea and settle in to my computer!  My favorite time of day because the rest of the house is quiet and my attention is focused and uncompromised and belongs solely to me.  But that time is OVER so gotta go!  I REALLY want to talk about this military jacket I found and how I have crossed the one from J.Crew off my Christmas list since I love it so much but it'll have to wait.   Happy Saturday!!

a lump of coal in your stocking

I am going to a Fancy Dress (Translate: SEXY) Santa Pub Crawl tomorrow night and I am told there is a contest for best costume.  Well, Ah hem, it will be snowing balls tomorrow night and freezing D#$% (sorry, don't want to offend anyone, but cold weather makes me angry) and in my book, Sexy and cold do not belong in the same sentence no matter how many profanities you use.  My costume has to be more theory, like "what do bad little boys and girls get for Christmas?"  I hope this HUGE ruffled skirt somewhat resembles a huge lump of coal!  I found it at the Goodwill for $6 and built the rest of my costume around it from other second hand finds including the lace head wrap, lace shirt, shiny disco leggings, and belt.  The wig was from a costume a few years back, and my trusty faux leather booties will stand up to snow, water and salt damage!  Its actually pretty warm too, but even so, and considering I will be wearing a "Liquid Jacket" (Korbel anyone??!!) I still have a super heavy vintage cloak I will take for the outdoor bar hopping part.  I truly hope there will not be any CRAWLING involved.

Is anyone else going to a fancy dress Christmas party?  What are you going as?

Champagne, Girls, Vintage, Music, Photos!

Its another very cold day of staying in so I thought I would shed a little light on my whole Etsy operation today.  Let me begin by saying, I have been doing MUCH better lately.  This is a quarter of what it used to be.  And no, this does not reflect or resemble my closet.  This is the Etsy room.

The first photo shows the clothes that are waiting to be photographed and listed, separated by season on each rack and then by function, texture and color.  As you can see, I tend toward really wild prints that are hardly sellable, but I buy them because I love them. . . and I Hoard them because I am crazy.  I like seeing the juxtaposition of colors and prints together on the rack and if I had my way, they would all have matching wooden hangers too.  The middleish picture with that tripod and the mirror is the area where I take my pictures (you can see the dress form in the mirror and, Yes, I look at myself in the mirror while I take my pictures and I am usually smiling at what a silly goof I am for taking pictures of myself! I set the timer and run into position and cant help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all!) In that same pic you can see the stuff that is actually listed in the shop.  I keep around 30 - 40 things in the shop so it doesn't become a burden to scroll through it.  Maybe not a good idea because there is less for people to buy, but I like a well edited selection.  And I try to discount anything that sits for a few weeks so it doesn't get stagnant. And the bottom pic is of all the lovely shoes that I should list and sell.

So there you have it.  The operation.  It would be so much easier to just have a party and let everyone interested just come and shop from the racks, and then we could do a photo shoot of the things people bought!  Champaign and Beatles and vintage and loads of stylish girls, and photography! Fun right!  Who's down?

The cape I am wearing today is a vintage find from the 60s.  I love the pattern and the bronze buttons!  It is also incredibly warm!  I could wear just about anything under it and I feel pulled together and happy!