Don't Worry...

...I haven't gone the way of the Dodo. My current Stage Managing job is turning out to be quite a bit more stressful and all-consuming than usual. 

Please excuse the radio silence until I can find some normalcy. 

Lisa.xo

Break's Over Honey...

Well, I did it again. I abandoned you for too many days while I returned to work.

source

No matter how many years I've been doing this, starting a new job somehow makes my personal life all scrambled. I just haven't been able to manage my long work days with life at home (more on what my work days look like here and here). We eat dinner too late, I ignore my friends and family (not intentionally!!), I forget to do laundry, the kitchen becomes a mess (not to mention the rest of the house), I abandon the blog and the list goes on...

source

This time around I've been slowly working at remedying this situation. Let's face it. No one likes being un-organized  (at least I don't...anyone here like being un-organized?!). I can't fix it all at once, but I'm trying to attack the problems in bite sized pieces.

source

This week I'm working on staying organized in the mornings right before work and dinner right after work. It's quite amazing how connected they are. The whole thing really revolves around making dinner. If I don't know what I'm making for dinner when I get home I get so behind. I hum and haw over what to make, then I have to actually make whatever it is I dream up, we eat and clean up. When I'm done I'm usually too tired to spend any more time in the kitchen or do anything else for that matter, therefore not making lunch for the next day, or laying out my clothes or anything else I need to do. Leaving it all until the next morning. And I never wake up in time to get it all done and I spend my mornings rushing around my house like a chicken with my head cut off...I'm exhausted just writing it all out...

To my rescue comes: The Meal Plan and my Crock Pot!

source

Seriously people. Knowing what I am making every day of the week (I'm working up to a monthly Meal Plan) and cooking it in the Crock Pot is saving me. I come home to a cooked meal, clean up is simple and I have leftovers for lunch the next day. I also have enough energy to plan out my outfit for the next day and hang out with The Boy.

Not only am I only buying food which will be cooked and consumed (saving money on groceries), but I'm enabling The Boy and I to eat dinner almost immediately after I walk in the door from work! Keeping me from being in the kitchen all night.

Dinner isn't the only thing in my house undergoing improvements. I've been examining all of our routines and systems in the house lately and trying to devise some better ways to do things so we're (I'm?) less stressed and overwhelmed when life gets hectic (ie: when I'm working). My goal is to organize and simplify some of our (my?) day to day routines so we can spend more time enjoying life. It might sound a bit lofty, but I think it's achievable with a little work.

These blogs are really helping me stay focused on achieving this goal:

Six Sisters' Stuff - Amazing slow cooker recipes on this site!! I made 3 this week!

Nesting Place - This amazing blogger/mother/wife's motto is: It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. This is advice I really need on the days where I feel like I have to do and be everything to everyone.

Organizing Made Fun - I specifically like this bloggers How to have a (fake) immaculate clean house posts! I'm working towards integrating these methods with my new weekly meal plan routines now that I've saved myself some time in the evenings.

The Minimalists - Strange, yes, I know. A hoarder collector like me reading a blog on minimalist living. Like The Nester, it reminds me that all of this stuff doesn't matter and that sometimes it in fact gets in my way. This blog motivates me to buy less, get rid of more and streamline my life as much as I can. Simple is good. :)

Modern Parents Messy Kids - Yes, I know, I don't have kids, but I have a messy life and this bloggers Organize Your ENTIRE Life posts are very inspiring.


I know, not much of a vintage-centric post, but this is what's on my mind lately.



Lisa.xo


Want more organizing tips? Check out my Pintrest Board on Organizing Tips for more!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

This pictures makes me laugh! Found Here. 

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all my Canadian readers! *Gobble! Gobble!*

I'm taking the weekend off. See you Tuesday!

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Heat Wave

It was so hot out last Saturday! +26 degrees Celsius! I've been wearing fall coats, hats and scarves for weeks now and suddenly I was wearing  a dress and open toed shoes!

Sadly it's cooled back down a bit, but it was lovely while it lasted. Edit: I scheduled this post a few days ago assuming it would cool down, but it is in fact snowing here in Winnipeg today and I am totally amused at the irony of posting this summery outfit on the first snowfall of the season! Ah Winnipeg...

The Boy and I ran some errands on Saturday in the morning and had planned on going for a bike ride, but got distracted and it never happened. Ah well...good intentions...

This dress is a 40's housedress I bought at Ragpickers. Another one I bought years ago before I really started to hoard collect.
You've seen these shoes before. I bought them for and wore them to K & D's wedding in June.

Also! Did you notice my eyes are a little more naked than usual? I am not wearing eye liner! In fact, I've been forgoing eye liner during the day more and more these days. It felt a little weird at first. I find if I apply a little more blush my face doesn't look so pale. In actuality like it a lot! I feel like it makes me look fresh and pretty.
And as you can see, I have not cut my bangs. I'm leaving them until I actually figure out what I want to do with my hair and go the the hairdresser.

40's Green Cabbage Rose House Dress: Ragpickers

Vintage Enamel Flower Brooch: Vintage Glory

Vintage Blue Belt: thrifted

Blue and Green Wedges: Kenneth Cole Reaction

50's Bamboo Birdcage Purse: thrifted, Value Village

Lisa.xo

btw. Hello!! And Welcome to all my new readers! Thank you so much for reading and following my little corner of the internet! :) 

Inspiration: Disneybound

I did not intend on writing another inspiration post so soon, but I stumbled upon this site: Disneybound while I was surfing through Pintrest on Sunday night.
Disneybound is a tumbler site of outfits inspired by Disney characters. When someone wears one of these outfits it's called 'Disneybounding'.

Having grown up in the Disney Renaissance of the 90's, I have a bit of a soft spot for certain Disney movies. The Little Mermaid topping this list (you're not surprised are you...).

So for exhibit A I show you a Disneybound outfit inspired by Ariel:

Yes, I realize that this is a long way from being a  "vintage" outfit. And this is a vintage blog, but hey, look at it this way: The Little Mermaid came out in 1989, it's over 20 years old, technically making it vintage. Right?

Part of loving vintage is loving nostalgia and for me The Little Mermaid is nostalgia. I also love media inspiring art and for me fashion can be art. So I loved this site. 

So for you vintage lovers out there I decided to cobble my own Ariel inspired outfit together from vintage found for sale (at the time of posting) on Etsy. 

Exhibit B, a vintage Ariel inspired outfit:

* Red Rose Millinery Flower * Vintage Clam Shell Evening Bag * 50's Emerald Green Silk Cocktail Dress * Cultured Pearl and Shell Clip Earrings * 'Under the Sea' Vintage Charm Bracelet * 

* 40's Purple Leather Peep Toe Pumps *

The lesson here is that outfit inspiration is everywhere. If you love Disney I urge you to go check out Disneybound. I found her interpretations of Disney characters very interesting (and clearly inspiring!!). 

Enjoy!

Lisa.xo

hipster Ariel found here

Pretty Little Purse

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it yet this summer, but I've just finished an 8 week break from work. No work at all for 8 weeks! Summer is tricky for theatre work in Winnipeg. There isn't much going on and the jobs that are available seem to only go to a select few (one of which I am not). The Boy and I decided we would be ok financially if I didn't get a part time job, so I got to have a well deserved holiday.
As a result, I've had to pinch pennies to make it through until I start back to work this week. And as a result of pinching pennies there has been little to no shopping. Especially thrift store shopping. Which has been difficult.

I did however buy myself this little purse last week. I went to Value Village with my Mom and I just couldn't leave it there. It was only $5 and I already have an event to wear it (this is how these things happen isn't it!? lol!).

My guess it that it's 60's since it's a cross body bag, it's got a 20's flapper bag vibe going on and it's made in China. Or would it be 80's? Now I've just confused myself. 

Thoughts anyone?

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Hats Off to You!

I love this hat! I wish I had something meaningful to add to this post, but you'll have to look elsewhere if you're looking for meaningful content today because that's pretty much all I got. 

This top hat-like 60's hat is another one of my early early purchases when I worked at Ragpickers. I get quite a few looks when I wear it out, but I don't care. I love it!

I wore this out yesterday night for drinks with a friend from university who is looking to get into stage managing like me. I was giving her some advice about how to get started and we caught up. It was fun!

Speaking of looks. I actually had a guy (straight, I swear...no gay vibe going on here at all) compliment me on my shoes and ask me if he could take a picture of them to send to his sister who has a major shoe fetish. Whether the pic was for him or his sis I indulged him. lol! What's the harm really?! I have to support any good shoe fetish. I have a bit of one myself. :)

60's Black Felt 'Top Hat": Ragpickers

40's Blue Cut Glass Necklace: Mike's General Store

Vintage Metal Butterfly Brooch: Ragpickers

White Blouse: Jacob

Grey Club Monacco Short Sleeve Sweater: thrifted

Leopard Print Scarf: Ricki's

Black Brocade Blazer: Ricki's

Dark Denim Skinny Jeans: Forever 21

Blue Suede Pumps: Forever 21

Can't-Stop-Wearing-It-Purse: thrifted, Value Village

Have you had any random strangers ask to take a picture of you? Or your shoes? Did you let them? Please tell me I'm not alone in this...

Lisa.xo

Fall Inspiration: Going Out to Casual

As much as I love fall I always become a little baffled when I actually have to start layering an outfit. I search for fall style inspiration more than any other season.

I have saved two images which I am aspiring to this fall season.

The first is my "Going Out" image. By going out I mean coffee, casual dinner with The Boy or friends etc...

source

For me, the outfit above quintessentially reflects my style. I love the quirky colour combo, but it's also a little matchy-matchy. I like the vintage touches: the bag, the full skirt (could be substituted for a dress!) and the subtle vintage inspired 'do. This look is also about the restrained layers. There are just enough for this outfit to be styled, but not overdone (I would have added a brooch on on the jacket though). It's very cute and I'm working towards this for fall. 

The second image is my "Casual" inspiration. Weekend errand running maybe or those busy days at work where dressing up in a no-go.

source

You may be surprised by my choice of this outfit. It's awfully modern. The clincher is the sequin tank over this casual outfit. It had me at 'hello'. And it's this mix that I want for my casual outfits. I need a little something out-of-the-ordinary so I don't feel ordinary (know what I mean?). Even though none of these clothes are vintage, I know it could be easily replicated with a few vintage pieces. What about a 60's beaded/sequin shell over a vintage Levis chambray shirt and a 40's structured blazer? Add skinny jeans and some riding boots: bam! You've got yourself a look similar to this for less cash!

The bonus in any fabulous fall fashion for a Winnipegger? When the snow falls all you need to do is add a fabulous winter coat, hat and gloves to transition these looks until the weather warms up again!


Like these looks? I'm now addicted to Pintrest like the rest of the internet. 
Check out the rest of my Vintage Inspired Fall Fashion Board for more inspiration!


Lisa.xo

Wishlist: Leopard Print Skinny Jeans

I never in my life thought I'd say this, but I am dying for a pair of leopard print skinny jeans. How Rockabilly cool are these things?
I would look badass in these.

The pair I want are at Le Chateau right now, but I can't seem to find an image large enough to post on here. They're similar to this pair:

source (sorry - no longer available!)

Might as well get myself a pair of these now and wear the heck out of them before I'm 40 and too old to do it right?!

Lisa.xo

Outfits: A Little Half Assed, I Hope You Don't Mind

I hope you excuse my calling this an "Outfit Post". I didn't have enough energy to take my usual full length photos. It's been a pretty crazy week around here. Dave ate something that didn't agree with him on Tuesday and he's been sick all week. We've been to the vet twice in the last 5 days and the night before I took these photos I only got 4 1/2 hours of broken sleep. Poor pup had to go outside every 2 hours.
Hence the sunglasses. I'm hiding some bags behind them! lol!

Dave is on the mend though, we've finally got him on some food he's actually interested in eating and we're seeing a bit of his usual Boxer pep return.

We were headed to my Mom's for dinner with the family and I finally wore this amazing 40's wool jacket that I bought at Ruby Slipper this summer (I also own the skirt. You can see it in this post.)
I really like it worn as a light fall jacket like this and I'm looking forward to wearing it as a blazer this winter.

Isn't the colour to die for? I am smitten with the collar, the butttons...well I'm pretty much in love with everything about this suit.

Repro 50's Sunglasses: Rhymes with Orange 

40's Wool Turquoise Jacket: Ruby Slipper

Houndstooth Scarf: Ricki's

Striped Tee: Joe Fresh

Vintage Necklace: thrifted, Value Village

Favourite-Goes-with-Everything Purse: thrifted, Value Village

Not Seen: Black Skinny Jeans (Forever 21) & Black Ballet Flats (Joe Fresh)

Lisa.xo