Etsy Update/Selling

Just a handful of new items in the shop! The "New York Summer dress" is actually something I bought from another seller, but sadly it came in the mail today and didn't fit. I thought I would just take in the bust and hem it, but I'm told for it to fit properly I'd have to pay a hefty sum in complicated alterations. Ah well, into the shop it goes! The other plus size dresses I've posted for the ladies over at Fatshionista, where they'll be for the weekend and whatever is left over will go into the shop. The purple gingham dress is listed over there, as well an adorble green floral wiggle dress and several other things.

This is also listed over there, but I thought maybe one you gals might be interested. I'm selling a brand new Anthropologie skirt I've had hanging unloved in my closet for what seems like forever! It's a bit snug on me and really, I just don't have any occasion to wear such a fancy thing! If no one is interested, it'll be up on Ebay in a few days. If you are, just drop me a comment here or an e-mail at: chickendinnercandybar@yahoo.com






































Additional photos: Detail on hem. Tag. Authenticity.


Marked size: USA 12
Waist: 34"
Length: 27"
Material: 55% Viscose 45% Nylon

Price: I'm asking $75, but I will be glad to accept offers. It really must go!

Sorry for such a rushed/disorganized post! Fat Love Friday is here to stay (despite the controversy in the previous post), so don't worry! It's just not as regular as I'd like it to be. Also apologies for the lack of outfit posts, I've been a little uninspired, but I'm thinking that will change in the next few days :)

The Permanent Pout

When I think of vintage style, one of the first elements that comes to mind is a red lip. It's considered a classic, and I think it's here to stay! And trust me, I have spent a fair amount of time annoying sales girls as I try to choose the perfect shade. I am a picky person in general, and lipsticks are no exception. I prefer smooth, matte shades in just about all areas of beauty and really can’t get into sparkly or pearl finish products. I was just telling my friend the other day how drugstore cosmetic shopping would be so much easier if they only listed the type of finish!

You might think all reds are the same, but ah! Apparently it isn’t so. There’s your coral red, blue tone red, yellow tone, ones that wear more brownish - it can be a confusing thing! And well, sorry to disappoint, but I don’t think I’ve found my perfect shade yet. Truth be told, a bold lip makes me pretty self-conscious! Someone told me once to wear it around the house for awhile to get comfortable, and even though I feel silly, I may just try that.

Part of my search includes of course, scouring flickr and bloggy folk. And boy, did I find some lovely ones! I even found out what color/brand they are so that perhaps you might do some trying out yourself if you’re on the hunt like me!

































Solanah - Chanel Red Velvet (or she suggests her cheaper alternative too, Revlon Really Red!)















































Johanna - Flamenco by Clinique (discontinued, but you can find it on Ebay!)



































Diary of a Vintage Girl - MAC Viva Glam I


































Piksi - A combination of MAC Russian Red and So Chaud.















































The Stylish Wanderer - MAC Ruby Woo





























Super Kawaii Mama - Boots No. 7 Moulin Rouge

When it comes to beauty products, I spend a lot of time researching beforehand, and one place I always check out is Makeup Alley. Not only does it have tons of awesome reviews, but you can actually swap on there, too! (And yes, I do! If you're worried about sanitation issues, just use alcohol for lipsticks, baby shampoo for brushes, etc. A lot of ladies even swap brand new sealed stuff.) You can find me on there as "starry9oclocksky" if you wanna trade :)! Oh! And if you're looking for swatches, check out Karla Sugar.

Anyway, I’ve already tried most of the MAC shades above (though I do love other MAC lipsticks! Like High Tea & Touch), and I'm way too poor for Chanel, so I guess I'll just have to keep on keepin' on. Back to the drawing board!

P.S. Thanks a million to all the pretty ladies I bothered about their lipstick color :D!

Sweet Finds Roundup

I spent the majority of the day with my mom. She’s pretty much the best mom ever. Ever since I was little, whenever I have hobbies or projects, she loves to help me any way she can. So lately, she’s been helping me with the shop! She even found two awesome dresses while her and my dad were on one of their little day trips. So today we tackled my “to be mended/washed” pile. Since I dislike sewing so much (to put it mildly!) I did the easy stuff - the trying on, the seam ripping, getting stuck with pins! etc. We particularly spent a lot of time (and only half the time bickering :P) on a dress I bought from Effie recently. I can’t wait to wear it, but jeez I think we altered it every possible way (as I had expected when I bought it, I just love the print so much)! So I’ll save the reveal of that one until I get it ready to wear.

But I also wanted to show you some of things I’ve bought in the last month or so! The most recent dress came from a trendy little boutique in Akron called Revival that also sells a bit of vintage and secondhand stuff. I’m trying to make myself choose between this one and the purple gingham one I wore in this post. Because really, how many purple and white dresses does a gal need :P? Any votes? (And yes, I’m still on the “Little House” kick, clearly!)





































Next is a super feminine number I bought from Cynara, if some of you remember her from when she was featured here! I sort of stake out the mailbox these days, waiting for it to get here haha.


































This is a lipstick case my parents found at an antique shop for $1! I’m so smitten I think I’ve decided to collect them. (And can you guess which movie I’ll be watching tonight ;D?)




























From the same place I found this pretty little… decoration? For $5. I can’t decide what I like best about it - the prints on those little kimonos, the “frozen” - ness of it, or the whole “I love anything in miniature” thing! I’d love to know how old it is…




























These two bags! I really love these simple leather bags. The brown one is actually not a Coach, just a very good replica. It is leather though, made by Wilson’s. The beige one is Coach, and I paid a little more than I’d have like to spend ($25), since you can find them just about anywhere. But still thrift stores mark them up, ugh! I guess they know silly people like me will buy them :P Both are thrifted.























































This dress I bought awhile ago from JessJamesJake, and you might remember it from this post. I really, really like it, but feel like it’s more of an autumn dress so I haven‘t worn it yet. I have no idea how to style it for cooler weather though…help!?


































Along with all the hemmin’ and washin’ I took photos of a bunch of new things for the shop. Most of them are brought to you by my bff Bettie, if anyone remembers her? Initially, we intended to share this blog but it turns out being a social butterfly doesn’t leave much time for bloggin’. Now if you’re a hermit like me, on the other hand… :) Anyway, I’ll get to listing those before the end of the week. As for the plus size update I keep talking about, I’ve been pondering what to do with them. I’d like to give the wonderful ladies at Fatshionista the pick of the litter, or should I post them here?





























A gaggle of Ken dolls bid you good night! (Check out that pastel guy, what a charmer!)

The Practical Lady According to Candybar: Business edition.

One of the greatest things I’ve enjoyed about blogging is discovering what wonderful business talent ladies have out there. Personally, I really don’t enjoy working for someone else and dream of the day I’ll be able to quit my day job (I think I mentioned it in a previous post, but if not I work at Borders Books & Café). No co-workers, no silly rules, cranky customers, no rejected time off! So if that’s your dream, too, I figure I can give you a few tips I’ve learned so far on this journey to help you along as well! But first I’m going to share what two successful ladies had to say about the subject (who you probably have already heard of!) They were both super sweet and I really think the world of them for taking some time to answer my questions! I interviewed Rhiannon of Liebemarlene and Anja of Clever Nettle. Check out their wise words!


1. When did you start selling things online?

Rhiannon: I first started selling things on Etsy in 2006, I think , sort of just to get rid of some of the old dresses I had around that didn't really fit me or look good on me. I never thought I could making a living off of it, and I just got excited whenever I'd actually sell something!

Anja: I've been selling things online ever since I was in high school. Right before and after I graduated (in 2001) I was selling commissioned drawings to a girl in Minnesota, and one time I even sold a magazine ad for the tv show Trading Spaces on ebay for ten bucks! Who would buy that? It was pretty weird. I started on Etsy in 2005 and left Ebay behind not too long after that.


2. Rhiannon, what kind of jobs did you hold before opening your own online store?

Rhiannon: Oh, not-great ones. Different secretary jobs, and a job at a sort-of orphanage taking care of kids, and I loved the kids, but I had to be an authoritarian with them, which I was awful at. The only thing I was good at was teaching them how to knit.

3. Anja, is Clever Nettle your full time job? (I knew it was Rhiannon’s ;D)

Anja: Yes, and it has been since November of 2007 when I was happily fired from my last job at a cookie store. At first I thought about trying to get a part-time job in addition to selling on etsy, but things have progressed and my business has grown enough that I don't need an extra job, nor would I have time for one. Vintage has been taking up most of my time but I want to start working more on art too.


4. Rhiannon, what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of Ebay and Etsy?

Rhiannon: I've sold on both and I probably prefer Ebay, if only because I'm used to it. I like that an Ebay store can be customized . . . As a whole, Etsy looks nicer, but it's harder to give an Etsy shop its own individual look, but you can load your Ebay shop up with all sorts of HTML. Etsy is nice because it just looks more streamlined and organized.

5. Rhiannon, about how long was it before you were successful enough to work for yourself?

Rhiannon: I was working at a part-time job, selling vintage clothing on Ebay on the side for about 4 months before I decided to drop the job and do Ebay full-time.

6. Any advice on how to market your business?

Rhiannon: I think the very best thing you can do is set up a blog--you'll be able to give customers a better idea of who you are and what kinds of things you sell, and it's probably the best marketing tool as well. Advertising on other blogs and in online magazines seems to work well too though I've never done it myself. But I've seen brand new Etsy shops explode in popularity after just one or two well-placed ads.

Anja: I don't know a lot about marketing, but I always try to be conscious of the line between putting your business out there respectably and annoying people with constant reminders that you have a shop. I've had online journals for a really long time so starting a blog was an easy step to take, and I think that blogging (and being linked from other blogs that I like) has been the best way of marketing my shop without really having to try very hard or go overboard with promotions. The internet is big and once you find your online crew things sort of fall into place. The vintage blogging community is just awesome! I think we support each other in a cool way, I'm always happy to see photos of the dresses I've sold in outfit photos on someone else's blog, and I love to show off what I buy from my favorite etsy shops too, which in turn hopefully helps them sell more too!

7. What do you think are some of the most important things to do when you start selling?

Rhiannon: I think it's best to build up an online shop and fill it with the sorts of things you like best, rather than what you think will be good sellers. And find a way to display the things you sell in a way that stands out from the others . . .

Anja: I think it's important to really sit down and think about what you want your shop to be. If you can start with a clear, cohesive plan (what will my photos look like? what will I sell? what will my shop name be? how can I be different than other shops?), you'll be doing yourself a lot of favors. I didn't really think about that stuff when I started my vintage shop on etsy, but I've learned a lot and am working backwards from mismatched clutter into a neat, tidy shop.


8. Any last bits of advice?

Rhiannon: I guess, to only get into the business if it's something you really love and will have fun with! It's a lot of work, and there are definitely boring, everyday job aspects to it, but if you love hunting down vintage (or making things to sell on Etsy) then it will be worth it.

Anja: Make sure you are starting a shop based on a true love or interest, because that love is what will keep you going when you're feeling worn out. My brain spends a ridiculous amount of time thinking about vintage clothing and if I didn't love it so much, I'd probably be feeling just as crazy as I used to at the "real" jobs that I hated. Also, set little goals and develop tricks that you can use to keep yourself motivated and on task, because there's no one around else to tell you that maybe it's time to wrap up packages instead of watching the newest episode of Australia's Next Top Model, haha.

A few additional tips from my personal experience:

1. Always buy delivery confirmation. Just trust me!

2. When selling on Etsy and you’re having a sale, send a few messages to people who have added you to their favorites letting them know.

3. Do start a blog. And comment on others! But try to refrain from being pushy about having them visit or link to you. Just leave honest, thoughtful comments where you think they’re deserved! And try to comment back, it’s always very appreciated.

4. Join social networking sites. This is something I’ve been working on lately. I sort of hate Facebook and Myspace, but I did join Twitter today! Try Flickr, Livejournal communities, Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lookbook, Modepass, the list goes on…

5. Post pictures. An all-text blog is really just not as appealing.

6. Use photoshop or another editing program. I don't do anything terribly complicated, but it's good for simple things like adjusting image size or sharpening, etc! If you can keep a secret, I downloaded mine at Isohunt.com :P But if you don't want to fool with any of that, consider paying someone who can! Aya of Strawberry Koi did my header and she's very reasonable!

7. List often. I struggle with this one myself!

That’s all I can think of for now, but I hope this helps anyone thinking about starting an online shop. Good luck, gals!

We Love Colors Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the We Love Colors tights giveaway was entry #16 (chosen by a random number generator from Random.org) - Diane of Darling, Darling! Yay, congrats! You should expect an e-mail shortly ^_^.

I'm definitely be cooking up another giveaway, so don't worry if you didn't win this time!

Etsy Update

Lots of summery finds this time! Oh, I do hope someone snaps up that perfect white summer dress and the little '50s bathing suit top! If only I could wear them myself...But I have to say, I've had some pretty good luck with shopping lately so I can't complain :P I'm so, so late for hanging out with the boyfriend, so I'll just leave you with a few little notes:

I'm announcing the winner of the WeLoveColors giveaway later tonight - so exciting! There's still a few hours to enter, though!

And I've got a 20% off promotion running in the shop just for the heck of it, so check out what we've got if you'd like :)

A true Libra...

Vintage purple gingham dress: Chelsea's on W116th Lakewood, OH.
Big decorated straw bag: thrifted
White woven flats: thrifted

True to my astrological sign, I am the indecisive Libra :P I bought this dress at one of my favorite vintage stores. I don't want to give away too much about it, because when I get around to it I'm going to dedicate an entire post to Chelsea's. I'm planning an Etsy update with larger sizes probably late this week or early next (regular update tonight or tomorrow!) and this is one I'm thinking about putting into the shop...It's a bit tight in the bust, but my mom says she could take out the darts and it would be fine. It's also a liiitttllee more sheer than I usually like (and honestly, I hate to fuss with slips and all that :P!) but it's so perfect for summer... Thoughts?




























I have so many wonderful things to post about this week, so expect a bit of an overload of posts! Last night I didn't go to bed until 6am working on things for the blog + shop, and while I'm a night owl, I was a bit groggy all day and don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon...Wish I could commit to a decent sleep schedule, sheesh!

































I'm definitely keeping the straw bag though! It's really roomy, and I can't stand a tiny purse - so into the collection it goes! Anyway, be seein' ya!

The Scent Story

Photo by mylulabelles.

Perfume is something I’ve grown up with. They say that scent the strongest sense tied to memory, and I think this is so true! I think it’s such a mysterious art, and it’s something I’ve become more and more interested in as I get older. I hope to one day try my hand at making my own! I actually worked in a perfume shop for a short time last year. It’s also special to me because it’s something my mom and I share - each year around Christmas time we go to Macy’s and pick out a new scent for that year. So! I thought it would be fun to share my little perfume story :D

1. “Sunflower” by Elizabeth Arden was my first perfume ever. I was probably about 10 when I got this? I didn’t wear it very often, but I still like it to this day! It’s pretty cheap, I’ve been meaning to pick up a bottle at Wal*Mart just for kicks!

Ingredients: Bergamot, Melon, Peach, Osmanthus, Jasmine, Cyclamen, Sandalwood, Moss.

2. “Curious” by Britney Spears was probably the next one. I wasn’t particularly a fan of hers, but when I was younger I really liked her perfume! I found it got old really fast for me though.

Ingredients: Louisiana Magnolia, Golden Anjou Pear, Lotus Flower, Tuberose, Star Jasmine, Pink Cyclamen, Vanilla Infused Musk, Sandalwood, Blonde Woods.

3. “With Love” by Hilary Duff. Again, the celebrity really had nothing to do with the choice, but I did really like Lizzie MacGuire at the time! I was really attracted to the shape of the bottle, too.

Ingredients: Milk, Fruit, Mangosteen, Musk, Flower, Exotic Spices, Amber, Cocobolo Wood

4. “Heavenly” by Victoria’s Secret. I actually got this as a gift from a school friend in junior high. I wonder if she knows I still wear this one occasionally! Not my favorite anymore though…

Ingredients: Vanilla quince, Cardamom, White peony, Freesia, White musk, Sandalwood.

5. “Brit” by Burberry. Unfortunately my boyfriend thinks this smells like “his grandmother’s couch” haha but I was really excited about this one a few years ago! It’s true though, a little goes a long way.

Ingredients: Italian Lime, Icy Pear, Green Almond, White Peony, Sugared Almonds, Amber, Mahogany, Vanilla, Tonka Bean.

6. “Amour” by Kenzo. This one is really different from anything I have. It’s very powdery and sweet. I wore it a lot last winter. I love all of the asian influences!

Ingredients: Frangipani Blossoms from Bali or Borobudur, Cherry Blossoms from Japan, Tanakha Wood, Incense, Thai Rice Steam, Vanilla of La Réunion, White Tea from China.

7. “Lovely” by Sarah Jessica Parker. My mom and I share this one actually. It’s kind of a sophisticated smell to me, and I think my mom wears it more than me.

Ingredients: Lavender, Orchid, Amber, Apple Martini, Paper Whites, Musk.

8. “Fancy” by Jessica Simpson. This is what I wear…if I want to smell like dessert :P It’s probably the sweetest perfume I own.

Ingredients: amber crystals, apricot nectar, pear, gardenia, jasmine, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, red fruits, toasted almonds.

9. “Daisy” by Marc Jacobs. My everyday fragrance. I’m not usually a fan of such intense florals (usually I tend towards the sweeter stuff) but I really like this one!

Ingredients: Strawberry, Violet Leaves, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Gardenia, Violet Petals, Jasmine Petals, Musk, Vanilla, White Woods.

10. “Princess” by Vera Wang. This is one of my current favorites. I only have a small vial of it, so I try to use it sparingly. It makes me feel really feminine and pretty J! I also think it’s one of my (oh jeez)…sexier scents :O

Ingredients: Water Lily, Lady Apple, Mandarin Meringue, Golden Apricot Skin, Ripe Pink Guava, Tahitian Flower, Wild Tuberose, Dark Chocolate, Pink Frosting Accord, Precious Amber, Forbidden Woods, Royal Musk Captive, Chiffon Vanilla.

11. “Hot” by Ralph Lauren. Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of RL’s perfumes. But I made an exception to this one. Even though I hate the bottle (designed for a 13 year old, looks like!) I really love the scent. This is pretty strictly my “night time” perfume because it’s a lot heavier than the other ones. And (yes, I’ll say it again, yikes!) sexy, too :P I read a review once that said it smelled like pancakes and maple syrup…Kinda true!

Ingredients: Spices, Lime, Amber, Fig Leaf, Mandarin Orange, Musk, Orchid, Almond Blossom, Vanilla, Jasmine, Citrus, Sandalwood, Geranium.

12. To make it an even dozen my newest will be Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Twilight,” which I ordered today. Not to be confused with the Twilight series perfume (oh, Lord)! I really like the story behind this one, too…It’s a division of her Lovely line, that is part of a set of three, the other two being Dawn and Endless. The idea is to record moments of her life, as Dawn is a dewy, morning smell, and Twilight is the sensual, mysterious smell…Makes "scents"! (Eep, I'm so bad at puns...)





















A few perfume tips I’ve learned!:

1. It can last up to 8 years if stored properly (out of sunlight in cooler temperatures. You can even put them in the fridge!)

2. Difference between an EDP and an EDT? EDPs (Eau de Parfum) are more intense and last longer. EDTs (Eau de Toilettes) are a little weaker, but are usually less expensive.

3. Don’t buy full size!! Unless you have one signature scent that you use every day, I’d suggest looking online for smaller sizes. Ebay and other sites sometimes divide up large bottles and sell them in sample sizes.

4. Try it on your skin before you buy. Spray a little on your wrist and smell it over the next few hours - everyone’s body chemistry is different!

5. If they aren’t sitting out, ask the counter attendant for the coffee beans. Smell them periodically so that your nose doesn’t get overwhelmed!

Oh, and if you were curious, my mom wears Chanel No. 5, Beloved by American Beauty, Red Door, White Shoulders, and Lovely by SJP…to name a few :P Clearly she is a lady of the classics ;)

So...what do you wear? I'm so curious!

Fat Love Friday #4 - On Sunday, Oops!

First up is Sandra, aka MadamOwl. I have to give her the award for most effortless style ever. She just has this look that says to me “Yeah, I just roll out of bed with this kind of perfection.” Lately I’ve had some sort of fashion epiphany (haha) where I realized that I don’t really like what I call a contrived style - anything that looks too thought out or too fussed with. Lots of matching, super clean and pressed stiff, no thanks!


I find myself drawing inspiration from her a LOT. Her outfits are usually 100% thrifted, which is also something to aspire to! Lately I’ve broken down and bought new or at least more expensive secondhand, but Sandra really comes up with some creative stuff (I’m loving the tshirt under a dress with chucks combo, totally going to try that at some point!) There's also a sort of youthfulness about her style that I love.






























The thing I’d say I most admire about her though is her attitude! I think her wardrobe really communicates a philosophy, which seems to say “I wear what I like and I don’t mind anything you have to say about it,” which in my opinion, is much easier said than done.



The second beautiful lady is one I found just today! She is Marie of Agent Lover. First of all, my old love of Japanese street fashion is seriously rekindled. Fashion and clothes aside for a moment, I have to say her blog is hilarious. I don’t know about any of you, but once in awhile I have a tendency to skip over words and go straight for the photos on a blog, but so is not the case here! She’s so upbeat and spunky in her writing it really wears off on you!





























As for her style, I really love the sass that comes across in her outfits. Spider hats, corn on the cob nails, she knows no boundaries! I think the biggest element of fashion and style is confidence, and this gal has definitely got some. I'm definitely inspired by the whimsy and playfulness of her outfits (heart sunglasses, giant bows, nerdy specs, yes please!)



































P.S. Don't forget to enter the WeLoveColors tights giveaway - it ends midnight (12pm Eastern) on Wednesday!

Daily Outfit x 2!

Left:
"Mermaid" dress: Thrifted and shortened
Black crossbody bag: Etsy (sorry, you'll be seeing this one a lot!)
Sandals: Saltwater sandals (I'm livin' in these babies!)

Right:
"Science" dress: Thrifted and altered (hemmed and made into short sleeves)
Pink kisslock purse: Childhood remnant
Maroon tights: WeLoveColors
Studded ballet slippers: DIY























Couple of notes! The little pink bag I've had since I was little. I've almost gotten rid of it so many times now, but could never part with it :P The left I wore to go see Harry Potter, and the left I wore around the house and to the store after work today. The tights are definitely my favorite element of the outfit, I was so glad it was cool enough to wear them today! WeLoveColors are the only tights I really buy, to be honest with you. They're so soft and durable and it was so nice to be able to choose from such a large variety of sizes and colors. These ones are a mouth-watering raspberry color (called "Maroon" on their color chart). Plan on seeing their tights here a lot! (And don't miss out on a chance to win some in the giveaway!)

The plum/red dress actually has darling gold buttons with atoms on them! That's why I've been referring to it as the science dress :P My camera is acting up lately, especially with up close shots, so I think I need to read the manual to fix that! It was really matronly too before I had it hemmed and the long sleeves turned into short ones. Like I said before, I hate sewing, so I was happy to swap favors with a neighbor lady! I made her business cards in exchange for the alterations :).

Anyway, a quick post today! I'm working this weekend and I have a mountain of homework, ick. I'm still going to do Fat Love Friday (I've got two wonderful chickies picked out!), but it'll have to be posted tomorrow. Gah, I was never very good with deadlines...

Shopping Habits + Mini DIY Projects

It's funny when you really take a look into your room, you kinda learn a little about yourself! So I thought it might be fun to share the kinds of things I somehow ended up collecting, or I guess the things I've realized I have a tendency to buy. It's been good because now I see that I have enough of certain things and I'll have a better idea of what I "need" when I go shopping again :).






























Wow, I'm really into warm tones I guess! So now I am strictly enforcing the no red, pink, orange, yellow, or brown ban. This is especially odd because my favorite colors are green and blue. So I quickly remedied that this morning and bought the most gorgeous blue dress on Etsy, which I will post in due time :)...






























I live at home at the moment, and so I try not to buy too many housewares...but I just can't resist these tins! I think they're called "Daner" tins, as far as I've been able to research, and are made mostly in England. Originally they seemed to be used for storing tea. In my future kitchen, I plan on putting a whole lot of them on a shelf above the stove and using them to store all kinds of goodies besides tea :D






























Bags with buckles <3 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y83/peachhips/m2.png">

Initial memoribila. Eek, a little narcissistic I know. But I think when something is personalized it makes it a little bit special and little more you. I made this wooden initial pin some time ago, I wear it usually on my work apron. If you're into DIY projects, simply: 1. Buy a wooden letter. I found this one in a 2 pack at Joanne Fabrics. 2. Stain and let dry for at least 24 hrs, or longer. 3. Once dry, hot glue a pin back onto it. Let dry for an hour or so. Ta da!


































This was a Christmas gift, though I'd love to try to make one myself.































This is a habit I'd call a bad one. Flats, flats, flats! I have three pairs of heels: one black pair, one brown pair, and a multi-color pair for fun. I really love them but I find them pretty much unbearable if I need to do any amount of walking. But surely there are comfortable heels? Anyway, these two are my favorites lately. The light blue denimish ones on the right I thrifted, and they are incredibly comfortable. The ones on the left were inspired by The Clothes Horse. I fell in love with the black pair she got from Bona Drag, and I ran (or rather, clicked) straight there ready to buy a pair, but suffered from sticker shock and decided not to.

So I decided to just make them myself! I ended up not being the first to have this idea and found a tutorial, which worked perfectly. The only thing I did differently was at the end when you're all finished, use duck tape for the inside instead of electrical tape - much more comfortable. I bought the shoe at AllAboutDance.com for about $20 including shipping, the studs for a few dollars on Ebay, and everything else I had around the house.

Now I'm off to enjoy a dinner of fried squash, corn on the cob, fresh green beans, and cherries! I love summer :D

We Love Colors Giveaway

Yay, another giveaway :D! The friendly folks at WeLoveColors have allowed me to giveaway TWO pairs of tights to one lucky winner. I don't know about you, but as you can see, I'm pretty crazy about these tights. Personally I already have them in Black, Maroon, Scarlet Red, Medium Blue, Grey, Mocha, and Hunter Green. They have them in almost every dreamy shade imaginable (come winter time, I've got my eyes on a few more even!), including beautiful multi-colored ones they call their Splash tights. Choose one of three ways to enter:

♥ Post a comment here with a link to your favorite We Love Colors item.
♥ Follow We Love Colors on Twitter and post your Twitter username here.
♥ Post about this giveaway in your blog, and leave a link to your blog entry.

ALSO: Please make sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blog so that we contact you if you win!

The (1) winner will recieve TWO (2) pairs of tights in the colors and size of her choosing. Keep in mind they offer sizes up to 3x, and will be chosen at random and announced one week from today (Wednesday, July 22). Good luck, gals!

P.S. Curious to see how I wore them? My personal account of how comfortable they are? Stay tuned this week to see my review!

The Practical Lady According to Candybar: Plus size shopping edition.

How nice would it be to flip through this month’s issue of Vogue and, along with all things fashion
and beauty related - find a sewing pattern, a recipe, financial advice? From what I understand, women’s magazines aren’t what they used to be. Not that I haven’t bought my fair share of Vogues, Elle, and Cosmos, but to be honest with you I don’t think I bothered with 99% of the articles there. I guess the point of these types of publications is to communicate runway fashion and trends to the masses, and that’s all well and good, but for most of us it’s a “use once and discard” situation - look at the pictures and throw it away, save for a few inspiring photos to scrapbook or to cover your wall with if you’re 14. Some are catching on with blogger articles and such, as far as the fashion stuff goes, but there really isn’t as much practical advice as their used to be. Women’s magazines of the olden days valued practicality and thriftiness. What happened?

So I’ve decided to start a new regular feature, The Practical Lady According to Candybar. I hope you get at least a little something out of these “articles!” I’ve already sort of done something like this without realizing it when I posted about thrifting tips awhile back. So this time we’ll be talking about plus size shopping.

1. My first, and I figure my most important tip, is: do not settle. I struggle with this problem very often myself! I think it’s easy to get frustrated when things don’t fit and to just buy “the next best thing” because the piece you fell in love with didn’t fit/cost too much/etc. Save your money! It will be worth it when that thing you almost bought isn’t hanging in the back of your closet with the tags still attached.

2. KNOW YOUR SIZE. Even thin ladies do this :P If something is too small…it’s too freakin’ small. Don’t buy it for “when you get back to suchandsuch weight” or altering it to try and make it fit (unless you’re letting out a seam). I’m sure you are a creative goddess, but unless you are a skilled tailor and know what you’re doing, I say move on. When you try something on and it seems snug, or is the fabric is pulling or that last button doesn’t button…don’t you dare try to talk yourself into saying it fits. It’s okay to try things on that are a smaller size that look like they may fit (some brands run large, may have an elastic waist or any other number of forgiving features), but for goodness sake don’t keep picking up a 12 when a 16 would be much more flattering. You are not a number.

3. That being said, understand your body. My best friend and I agree that we’ve come to understand our shapes and what works for them. Not that there’s a uniform style you need to stick to, but certainly an idea of what is unflattering is helpful. In my case this means no low rise jeans (muffin top, ahoy!), strapless things (instant uni-boob), anything too high-waisted (darn my short torso!), and narrow shoes (wide feet, blame my mother :P!). You should also know your measurements and don’t be afraid to try things on that you think usually don’t work for you. No harm in trying!

4. Broaden your shopping horizons. Get creative with where you shop - if you keep heading to the same local shops, it only limits you. Don’t be snobby and ignore the plus shops, either! You never know what you’ll find. Try out maternity clothes, too. Get over any mental stigmas you have about clothes and where to get them. And by God - shop online! The whole world is your shopping mall. To start off…

Ballyhoovintage.com
Violetvillevintage.com
Heyviv.com
H&M
Delias.com
Torrid.com
OldNavy.com
Gap.com


5. Something I learned the hard way…Consider how the garment will fit after its been washed. Do you really want to hand wash and line dry that t-shirt every time? Will it still fit as well as it does now once its been washed and dried? Dry cleaning your thing?

6. Be thrifty. I get seriously annoyed when a plus vintage dress is marked up on Etsy or Ebay and I see the words “Rare large size!!” Glare! I hate to be a drag, but even if they are rare, it just doesn’t seem right. I find larger size vintage in thrift stores fairly often. I think the price should depend on other factors, like quality, age, style, etc. Also, some modern stores like to charge a few dollars extra on larger sizes. For what…a few more inches? I don’t think that’s very good customer service, if you ask me! (Yes, I’m talking to you, Alloy folks.)

7. I’m sure I could have easily grouped this one in with number 3, but I thought it deserved a proper mention on its own. Try to avoid “easy fashion.” It seems big retailers want to confine us to certain styles. Not that one wrap dress, weird flowy boho top, or some form of stretch geometric print will kill you, but let’s not get carried away like our friends at Faith21. You deserve choice, I tell you!

I have loads of ideas for future topics, but is there anything in particular you might like to see? Not that I'm an expert on all matters, but maybe someone will benefit from my two cents!

P.S. Come back for a really awesome giveaway tomorrow :)!!

Etsy Update

New batch in the shop! Phew, I didn't realize how busy I was going to be last week. I finished up my class observation project, thank goodness! So now I'll have the energy to post I think. I actually have so many topics I want to share, I've felt so overwhelmed that I guess somehow I ended up with none! But I'm getting organized and regular posting should resume this week :) Now I'm off to make arrangements for seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway (so exciting!) and Harry Potter (also exciting :D!), and make a run to the post office. Just wanted to stop in and say hello!

Oh, and I'm also planning a larger sizes update in the shop here soon, with sizes 10-16, so keep an eye out!

Brooklyn Rehab

Black tee: American Apparel
Colorful ethnic skirt: thrifted
Wooden key necklace: Brooklyn Rehab on etsy
Sandals: Saltwater Sandals






























I wore this outfit last week sometime, just thrifting and out about, the usual stuff. My favorite part of this outfit though is definitely my new wooden key necklace from Etsy seller Brooklyn Rehab. It goes with just about everything in my closet and is beautifully handcrafted. I have a thing for keys for some reason. I have a tiny sterling silver one on a chain that I wear sometimes too. Everyone always asks me, "aww is that the key to your heart!?" And I'm like, eek...naahh, I just um, like keys...? Haha I wish there was a more sentimental reason!


























As a vintage clothing lover, it's natural that I love just about anything aged. I also am starting to have more of a rustic, primitive taste, and Alyssa's shop really suits my style! You can find anything from ceramic mushrooms to delicate doilies and I highly suggest you visit!






































(Not to mention the adorable packaging it came in, which is delightful! You'll just have to buy something to see what the fuss is about I guess xD! In fact, if you purchase any jewelry, enter the code "Friends of Mars" for a 15% discount! Just jewelery though, remember!)

And check out her blog if you can't get enough! (Like me :D)

Fat Love Friday #3

First is Norwegian blogger, Muija! I found her on Flickr and was thrilled to find out she had a blog! Her style is so put together, for one thing. I also really admire her color combinations (red and black being a signature for her!), like that first one, I never would have thought of that! Her style is kind of quirky with fun pin-up influences.






























There's actually a movie character she reminds me of, too! Enid of Ghost World, anyone? I love that her hair style (love the Bettie Paige bangs!), glasses, and red lips are her trademark. As for how she's influenced me, I'm really excited to try out solid colors. Most of my dresses and skirts are floral or patterned. I may even dig in my closet tonight to try to come up with something!






























Up until now, I've also kind of shied away from the Rockabilly look. But since she "rocks" (ha ha :P) the look so well, I might change my mind about that, too!





























"Mamushka" Marie, of course! Who I found on Flickr as well, but also has an awesome blog. She's a thrift addict like me! This girl has a serious knack for prints and accessories. Her dresses look like they're from a high end boutique, I'm amazed that she picked them up second hand (lucky girl!). Sometimes I skip belts/jewelry because I'm afraid of looking gawdy, but her photos make me want to go out and stock up!






























I also think her looks are really innovative. Specifically I love that she used a slip under the dress in the first photo. Her body shape seems really similar to mine too (is that weird to say??), so much so I gathered up some courage and asked her to do a dress swap! I have a bunch of plus dresses either of mine that I never got around to wearing or are going into the store. I'm so excited to pick one I think she'd like!























But that's a whole other story! :)