Personal Style: Strawberry Skirt

Woah, I haven't done one of these outfit posts since my belly shot round-up! So, this is my 4 months after having my baby girl! I like this skirt/belt combo b/c it does a fairly decent job of camouflaging baby gut.

So, the Goodwill back in Watauga/ Fort Worth that I totally miss has this 'retro' section, where they put all the good, collectable stuff. I got this skirt in that section, it's a reversible, wrap skirt and it's awesome. I taught a lesson to the teens at church this Sunday about healthy living, so strawberries seemed like a good choice. One of the girls told me I looked like a strawberry :) And since cold times are approaching, this summery skirt won't be 'in season' for long.

I made this necklace, and have the last one for sale in my shop. A huge, vintage glass jewel on vintage 1960's brass chain. I love it and got tons of compliments on it!

 I love this belt, a fun, vintage thrift store find that closes with velcro. Awesome.

Seriously, I am a hairstylist. Why did I allow my hair to get this bad?! Maybe childbirth, a month of pneumonia, severe eye infections, painful foot stuff, school starting, moving and all that had somethin' to do with it. HuhIdontknow. I used a mix of 7/7, 7/03 and 6/0 in ColorTouch and 1.9 developer to make this semi-permanent heathery brunette. I only left it on the ends for a few minutes for a light coverage there, so it left a bit of an ombre effect on the highlights. Just what I was going for, perfect for fall and not too different from my natural color. And yes, I do put it on my eyebrows. Gotta match, you know!

 *la camera caught me in a rare mom moment of finger shaking and gentle scolding*
outfit post details on smashion

Personal Style: Retro Chocolate Polka Dots

This may be weird, not sure, but matching browns is extremeluy important to me. This outfit may seem simple, but it almost gave me a panic attack because I couldn't find brown shoes that matched. Dark chocolate browns, burgandy browns, tans, cognac browns... it's an immediate eyesore for me when accessories don't match.

Fortunately, I had made this necklace a while back that pulls the shoe color in with that one amber colored bead. It's odd how that one necklace saved the outfit.

And oh! My final haircut reveal. I love it because it's cute and I dig shattered layers. I also like how it shows my peekaboo highlights I did several months ago in the interior section of my layers. I hate it b/c it really requires flat ironing, (and she cut the front shorter than the back... loathe that.) I usually only blow dry my hair about 10 times a year, so this is going to drive me insane and I will be doing a lot of deep conditioning now. But, as a hairstylist, I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

   I changed up my Aquarius eye make-up, by adding some slightly shimmery chocolate shadow to the crease.

Dress: Forever 21, via goodwill
Necklace: Jeweled Ambrosia, made by me
Earrings: vintage brass sailor knots
Shoes, can't remember
Tank top: it's maternity... sad

So, if you like my outfit, please vote for it here on Clothed Much's rule Breaking Monday post! Thanks :)

Personal Style: Modern Modest Pin Up

I love pin up style, so to keep it modern, modest and casual, I did it with boyfriend jeans and a skinny belt. And of course, black liquid liner, red lips and a multi leveled updo.

Vintage beaded collars like this are so glamorous. You can find them easily on etsy, ebay and antique malls for a huge price range. Mine was fairly cheap, like under $10. You can find similar styles in fur as well, they often close with a rhinestone brooch. Love 'em.

For the hair, I just made a fairly lose bun. Then, I pulled the top crown area up and out and used one bobby pin to twist a poof into place.

cardi: Target
beaded collar: vintage etsy
belt: vintage calvin klein thrifted
jeans: gap, thrifted
bracelet: wrapped vintage necklace
lipstick: Rimmel moisture renew in Red Alert 900
shoes: forgot
earrings: handmade by me, Jeweled Ambrosia

*linked to clothed much's rule breaking monday (necklace as a bracelet)
* rate this look on smashion
 

Homefront: Our Vintage Linen Interchangable Bedroom

 

A while back I talked about some vintage linens I have been collecting and promised a bedroom update with them. (I don't usually have this many pillows on the bed, it's just for the pictures. I think losing the blue one in the back would look so much better.)

So, while the room isn't done, I pulled out the pillowcases out to show you. I have a few sheets, but I mostly collect pillowcases since they bring the maximum change. By having neutral curtains, a white down comforter and a white bed skirt and headboard, I can change the pillow styles however I wish, swap out a few accessories to match and have a new bedroom feel in minutes.

Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns. Geometric, florals, polka dots, paisley, plaid, ethnic, lace prints... so long as you have a similar color scheme or mood you are trying to achieve, and  simple non pattern thrown in (like the plain comforter) pattern groupings don't matter. That is the appeal of a shabby chic room. I made a few grouping as example of how they can look together.

 The top pillow case is the same as a set I had as a little girl that is long gone. I was thrilled when I found this at the thrift shop, but sad because it has stains all over it. Maybe I will turn it into a garland or something.

Our room is usually in more modern blues as seen here at our old place when I painted the headboard, so this orange/yellow mash up is cheerful for now.

Because our bed is positioned in front of half a very large window, it created some challenges. I nailed up some old curtains to cover that wall for a little bit of balance. They weren't long enough, nor lined enough to make it seem like a seamless wall, but being unemployed means making do, so I just pinned a pillow sham on the bottom corner. It's not very noticeable once the table is put there anyways.

And by the way, isn't this vintage metal enameled daisy chandelier adorable? I found it at an antique mall for an incredible price ($11.50). I would rather not have in in the bedroom, but it was the best place for it, and the main reason our pillows are orange/yellow today. I've thought about painting it white, because it would make redecorating so much better, but am conflicted on keeping the vintage charm. What would you do?

I found a white one for sale here at Retro Daisy Girl so you can take a gander. If you are looking for a similar lamp to purchase, I see them fairly often at antique malls and online. Just search for "vintage daisy chandelier" or "vintage enamel chandelier". Here's some on Etsy and some on Ebay using those search terms.

*included in these link ups: Kimba's DIY Day linky, Room to Inspire, A Silly Little Sparrow, My Backyard Eden, not at Bewteen Naps on the Porch, or Keeping it Simple, but lots of other great projects are.

Retro Easter Love

peeps bunting tutorial by dana made it

Even though I've decorated this year in more of the robin's egg and muted natural colors, I have a soft spot for these colorful pastels, plastics and porcelains that evoke memories of my great grandmother's treasures in her curio cabinet and some of the little pieces I have stored away somewhere.

retro kitsch easter spring  mantle by boopsie daisy

What are some of your earliest Easter memories? Do you associate a certain food, smell, color, decorating style or activity with your childhood Easter beginnings. Do you keep old traditions, or do you have any new ones you would like to share?

 retro deer cake by sweety darling

 Vintage Egg Hinged Box from Retro Dame

Stay tuned for my next post of my favorite childhood Easter tradition... and how it works on my boys for the first time.

Homefront: Christmas Decorating

My mantle this year is on an actual fireplace! Amazing!! The width is only about 3 inches wide, so no crazy heavy things this time that will make it fall, but what I can fit on there is perfect for us.

Since we usually do the silver, aqua/blue and white, I thought a little more red and green would be nice for the boys this year, so I stocked up after Christmas last year when everything was 90% off. Isaac's little retro glitter race car ornament needed to go up here, for it's own safety! The deer I got on Etsy from minzer, I love it and maybe I will add a pretty sprig of holly or mistletoe to it's antlers. I wish it were a little bigger, but it's still so cute, and vegan.

My mirror used to be the brushed nickle finish, but that is just something else I painted white. One day, I'll get all crazy with the color, but for now, it's perfect. The red wooden beads are just 2 strands hung up with 5 little nails.

I found these adorable vintage reindeer pair at a garage sale this summer for .75 cents and had to have them. (I found them online for almost $40 last month, wow).

I couldn't find (all) my candles for the candleabra I painted, so one hitched a ride on this little sled I painted and hey, this Santa hat works just fine too! That's what decorating is all about, using what you have in new and unexpected ways, right?

 

 

 This little house is my favorite. I got it in 1987 for a class Christmas party. Each student had to bring in a cardboard (empty) milk carton and the teacher and room mothers made us these adorable little houses. I can't wait to be a room mother when my oldest starts school. The house is just felt, glue, ric rac, sequins (well, missing sequins) and glitter and I absolutely adore it.

The Christmas tree is teeny in our new home, since in our lqast place, we put it on our table... but for now, it works and the boys loved decorating it, so that is what is important!

 

 

 

I loves these gumdrop snowflake ornaments! I used lots of cookie cutters tied with red ribbon as filler on the tree. They really catch the light and are inexpensive and so festive!

The boys made this cute little Frosty the Snowman mobile with their Grandma and Grandpa. It's little foam snowflakes, batting (I think), yarn, hangers and pipe cleaners. It's so cute and is tied in their room.You can make your own little mobile and customize it for your decor too. A tree star in the middle with ornaments hanging around on coordinating ribbon and tulle would be so pretty.

 

Merry Christmas and thanks for visiting! Now join in on The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes!