My So-Called Inspiration

I love the '90s. It's one of the eras I grew up in, so naturally I'm nostalgic, right?! If I haven't mentioned it before, I also love TV shows. They're like...one long, complicated movie :O So obviously, TV show + the '90s = YES! Recently I have discovered My So-Called Life, and can't get enough. Before this, I was obsessed with Dawson's Creek. Then there's Boy Meets World, Fresh Prince, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (still working on this one!), Friends, Seinfield...even Sex & the City started in the 1990's.





































Deep green dress: Thrifted
Caramel booties: Thrifted
Transparent black tights: Thrifted
Floral carpet bag: Vintage, Chelsea's.

(Sorry for the awkward pose, it was raining a bit so I was trying to hurry!)






















































Not to mention movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, Jawbreaker...I mean seriously, it's good stuff xD! Angsty teen mallrats, cute wholesome boys, high school drama...And don't get me started about what's on my Ipod (Violent Femmes, The Cranberries, oh my!). Okay, I will shut up haha. But the point is that it inspired me to try to put together a '90s-ish outfit. I could have done a big plaid shirt, Doc Martens, etc, but I was trying not to look costumey! I know it could use some accessories, but I'm at a loss when it comes to that stuff. Anyway, I'm going to try to do a Fat Love Friday post tomorrow, but I have school and work all weekend, so we'll see how it goes. On that note, thanks for putting up with my sporadic posting <3!

A Spoonful of Sugar

Vintage dress: Livejournal sale
Teal bow flats: H&M
Cream knit cardigan: Kohl's (shouldn't sweaters be out by now!? They were so hard to find :O)
Vintage taupe bag: Coach, thrifted

Finally an outfit post, yeesh! I wore this to go see Mary Poppins on Broadway with my mom and sister the other night :) I haven't been to many shows, so it's always such a special occasion to get dressed up to go. If you haven't seen it, you really should! I must have seen the Disney version about a million times and I really enjoyed the stage adaptation. Though I can't help but be nostalgic and favor the movie! It was a particularly educational gig for me, too, because we made sure to go the signed performance so I could see the ASL interpretation :D Which just added to the experience!

Here was by far my favorite part of the performance, and then the second is the original 1964 version. Enjoy!

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!

These are a few of my favorite things ♫...

So, since I'm one of the new kids around here, I thought I'd tell you a little about me ^_^. I'll spare you a song about it (sorry, Julie Andrews!) and instead break it down in a little list (because I love those, too!).

♥ Rose scented body products! Roses are my favorite flower and one of my favorite smells of all time. I haven't found the perfect rose perfume yet, but some of my favorite products are: Dr. Bronner's hemp soap in rose, Lush's "A Ring of Roses" Buttercream soap, and Smith's Rosebud Salve.

♥ Expensive chocolate. Now, regular grocery store cheap stuff works in an emergency, but I have to admit I'm a bit of snob when it comes to chocolate and would much prefer to get the good stuff. My favorite is Godiva, but a close second is a local company called Malley's Chocolates. I actually worked there a few years ago. It opened in the '40s (you used to have to wear white gloves to get in!), is totally decked out in girly pink roses, and girls who work there are still required to wear skirts. Except of course, when you are the Easter bunny...






























(That's my mom on the left!)

♥ Dance Dance Revolution. Yes, I'll admit it - I am definitely a geek. A dancing geek. I used to play with my friends obsessively in high school, but only occasionally now when I'm due for a bit of exercise! It's actually sort of how my current boyfriend and I met. He's way better than me and plays in a lot of tournaments.

♥ Little House books. Intended for ages 8-12, I know, I know. But lately I've just wanted to let my brain melt into a simple series and indulge my nostalgic tendencies. These stories paint such lovely little old timey pictures in my head, I often find myself daydreaming about these places...























♥ Nail polish. Since I wear a uniform at work, I like to paint my nails to give myself a little boost. I only do it every once and awhile, and I think it's kind of therapeutic to paint a few coats! Some of my favorites are, from left to right: Essie's Blanc, You Don't Know Jacques by OPI, For Audrey by China Glaze (about as close to Tiffany's as I'll ever get!), Basket Case by O'rly (which I was inspired to buy because of miss Piksi's photo!), and Monsooner or Later by OPI (I was trying to match the orangey red color from the 1997 movie "Lolita"!)


















♥ Sailor Moon! I used to tape this show every day when I came home from middle school. I actually really identify with the main character, who is supposed to be kind of lazy and flaky but ultimately "triumphs over evil!" ...You know what I mean. I have the first two (and best, in my opinion) seasons on my computer, which I watch whenever the mood strikes. I actually had a toy scepter that I kept for a long time before deciding to put on Ebay. It sold for over $100, but it still breaks my heart a little!
















Anyway, hope that was a little interesting for you! Don't forget to check back here tomorrow to see who won the giveaway!

Surviving First Love

'70s Coral floral dress: thrifted
Caramel cut out heels: thrifted
Matching H&M bag: thrifted
First Love brooch: Lee Meszaros

Ok so first of all, I know it isn't nice to play favorites with your dresses, they're practically children! But...if I had to choose. I think coral is a flattering color on EVERYONE, and even though it makes me a little monotonous and predictable - I love florals! And of course an elastic waist is a chubby gal's best friend. So...here she is, in all her coral, floral glory.

I wore this to observe a (painfully!) early morning high school math course for my college course I'm taking this summer. Let's just say I'm not a morning person, nor a math person. Trying to be an optimist though - free lesson reviews? At any rate I wanted to look modest/simple for this occasion. I've decided this is all there is for me for "business casual" from now on. Dress pants, crisp blouses - such a drag! So I'm making an effort to make sure I never have to wear that stuff again :P!




































As for the pin - yes, let's talk about the pin! Kindly given to me by Lee Meszaros, which by the way you have ONE day left to enter her contest, girlies! I really had a special reason for choosing this particular merit badge. It is for "surviving first love," and let me tell you - I freakin' earned this thing! I dated my first boyfriend on and off all through high school and even a bit after. It was actually a very retro (is that the right word?) romance. We met at the yearly city carnival and I had my first kiss in front of the lemonade stand.

Almost right away (he was a senior, I a sophomore) he joined the military. It was sad, but looking back I find the letter writing and "distance makes the heart grow fonder" stuff naive and sweet.

Unfortunately he turned out to be a cheating scoundrel of a thing and I'm happy to think about him only as a memory :P To this day I find myself amazed that my first love is over! And with age comes wisdom in these matters...mostly.


























Oh, and I'm so excited to tell you that Aya has been sweet enough to honor my blog with an award! I was very flattered to have my name among some of my favorite bloggers that she also awarded! Thanks a million, doll ^_^!












So I will pass this on to a few blogs I adore: Left Hand Endeavor, Thrift Candy, and Mamushka Marie. Yay, go forth and be awarded and stuff xD!

Blast From the Past - In Technicolor.

So let's talk rainbows! I've been into rainbowy things since high school, and I have to admit that I don't think I've quite outgrown it. Can't say how I first found out about it, but through most of middle school and high school I was obsessed with FRUiTS. While I didn't go all out with my outfits, I definitely wore a lot of character t-shirts, colorful jewelry, and just...rainbow stuff! The only evidence I could find was this one shot. Oh, youth! (Not that it was THAT long ago, but jeez, we all evolve into cooler people when we get older...r-right ; ;?) Before vintage,

this was what I thought of as my "style," I suppose. However, I didn't really go all out (see photos of those who do below). I sported red hair in HS, too. Kinda miss it. Anyway, if you've been living under a rock or something, FRUiTS is Japanese street fashion magazine by photographer Shoichi Aoki. His photos were compiled into a book in 2001. There are several different styles featured in the book, such as Decora (identifiable by the use of toys, bright colors, and anything "kawaii" or cute). Kind of similar to the American raver, which is what I usually tried to emulate. Lolita (a youthful and innocent babydoll look), or even Gothic Lolita (just a darker version of lolita, obviously.) There's also Ganguro, that one's fun! Usually it entails a deep tan, white panda-like eye makeup, and bleached hair. There are plenty other crazy styles, but I'd say those are my favorite ;)!

I was so into it, I made and sold jewelry online a few years ago. Eventually I got bored and stopped, but I definitely tried to drag Bettie into my obsession!









Isn't she adorable!? Hopefully she doesn't kill me for posting this haha. All in the name of fun, my dear! Anyway, I still have my FRUiTS book! I still admire the style, just now...at a distance ^_~. I've scanned in some of my favorite looks, so enjoy!





Oh, and I've also been slowly adding things to Etsy, so check back daily for new stuff! Anyway, I ended up failing those pincurls last night, so my mom's going to help me while we watch a chick flick. Wa-hoo. Let's hope they come out okay!

Kiddie fashion!

Is it just me, or has anyone else stumbled upon the perfect little vintage dress...and that's the problem, it's so little. I don't know how many times I've held something up, squinted at it, and then shoved it back on the rack mumbling, "Why don't they make this stuff in adult sizes?" Children's clothes pay so much more attention to detail. I've also considered: had I any children, would I dress them in vintage, too? As much as I think I'd love to dress them like my dollies back in the day, I have to conclude that it'd probably be a little silly. Maybe just once, for a photo's sake? Vintage-lovin' mamas: What are your thoughts?

To prove kid fashion is so rad, I've provided proof. My dad found this '50s paper doll book he managed to hide from me for all these years. I think the hats and rompers are my favorite. Look, they even have names!