Outfits: A Little Bit Nautical

This is one of my "Go To" casual outfits! I wear it a lot! I'm actually surprised I haven't photographed it yet.

Wednesdays we get stock at work which means I sometimes end up on a ladder in the backroom or opening dirty boxes. So it's always best to wear something a little more sensible to work on Wednesdays. (This is usually as sensible and casual as I get for going out)

I love nautical inspired clothes and this outfit, I feel, just hints at nautical without being cheezy.

Earrings: Ricki's 

White Cotton Pointelle Cardigan: Kenar (Winners)

Blue and White Striped Ruffle Front Cami: Ricki's

 Denim Capris: Ricki's

Red Peep Toe Wedges: George

Red Straw Clutch: Thrifted

Lisa.xo

It Just Feels Wrong!

It's official! I'm starting to think about/wish for fall. Its kinda feels wrong since it's still pretty summery here in Winnipeg. We're getting touches of fall weather, but we've still got hot days. Sunday was +40 with the humidex! I feel like I'm betraying summer by wanting fall to come.

I blame the new clothes I bought yesterday at Joe. They're just SO cute!

Honestly, it's really a toss up which is my favorite season: summer or fall. I adore hot summer nights, vintage sun dresses, open toed shoes, shopping downtown boutiques, patios; but fall has that great mild weather which is perfect for a light jacket and boots. I love the rain in fall and the smell of the leaves changing. Not to mention the most perfect weather for layering, because I always say more is more!

So here's what I bought:

This grey cardigan came in 3 other colours. I'll probably end up buying at least one more. I LOVE the ruffle! I can't wait to wear it belted with a pencil skirt. Or tucked into a full skirt with knee socks and mary janes with a great brooch!

This purple sweater (whose colour isn't showing up well in any of my photos!) was a total impulse buy! (well actually they all were, but whatever! haha!) I couldn't resist the sleeve length and the flowers on the shoulder. I'm just a sucker for girly embellishments. That and I love purple. This one came in about 6 other colours. I want to wear this one with denim capris, socks and my purple oxfords. Or tucked into a skirt with tights, oh! and a long scarf.

Apparently I only have one pose going today! "I'm a little teacup!" Haha!

I also couldn't resist these adorable shoes. They're wool! And the bow! SO CUTE!!

So there it is. The anticipation for fall has begun. Sorry Summer.

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Late Sunday Dinner

So by Sunday night I was feeling human again (despite a slightly sore throat from too many coughing fits this weekend). The Boy was desperate to go out so we decided to go to our favorite sushi place for a late Sunday night dinner.

So I had a shower and got ready to go out. I know you've seen this dress before, but here it is accessorized.

Dress: BIZZ

Earrings: Ricki's

Crinoline: Vintage Glory

Silver Bangles: Gift from The Boy's Mom (from Mexico)

Red Peep Toes: Le Chateau

Red Straw Clutch: Thrifted

Lisa.xo

Living and Dining Rooms: The Next Phase

I'm still having coughing fits and still not ready for public viewing.

So I thought I would share another couple rooms in my house with you. I've already shown you my kitchen. Which is still in the same state it was when I posted that picture. I'm waiting for The Boy's Dad to get well from surgery he had a few weeks ago. Then we'll be tackling painting the walls. Then the cupboards. *Whew* That will be a BIG job.

But first: A few Before photos of the living and dining rooms while we were prepping to paint. As you can see, there were A LOT of dings on the walls.

The Living Room

The Dining Room

Here are their current states:

The Living Room

You've seen this corner before!

The Dining Room

This week The Boy and I will be hanging curtain rods. Bought at Walmart. And I will begin tackling sewing drapes and pillows.

The curtains will primarily be the print with about a foot and a half band of the blue on the bottom.

Curtain Finial.

In the next week or two we will also be ordering this couch and chair from Urban Barn (my new place of employment!).

This sofa has the most AMAZING leather! And it's SUPER comfy!

This is the chair/fabric that inspired the whole room. The colour is a little off in this photo.

The brown leaves and stems are flocked! Can't wait!

I'm hoping to order this tempered glass coffee table as soon as we've got the cash. It's also Urban Barn.

I will also be on the hunt for a small pedestal table for the corner by the new chair. I would die if I could get my hands on something like this for a good price:

I've got new lamps picked out from work which I don't have photos for unfortunatly.  One floor lamp to replace the one in the corner behind the sofa which only works when it feels like it and a new table lamp for the corner with the chair. They look a little like this. Only the base is silver and the shade is white. Other than that this one's a dead ringer for silhouette:

As for the dining room. I've got a lot of painting ahead of me. The table and chairs will be white. The "Hutch" (which is just two bookcases with doors on the bottom pushed together which we found in the garage of our new house! FREE! Yeah!) and bookcase will be painted a deep deep brown or black (can't decide yet) and I will be papering the back with blue wallpaper. This is pretty much exactly what I had in mind (sorry, I got lazy and took a photo of the magazine instead of scanning it. You get the idea.):

From Spring 2010 BH&G "100 Decorating Ideas Big Style for small rooms" magazine

Here's what the "hutch" and bookcase look like right now: I like the way I've arranged the shelves. That will probably stay after I spruce them up.

The "Hutch"

The Bookcase.

We still have to paint this wall. We'll do it when we paint the kitchen.

And finally a new chandelier. Something like this I think:

Heritage Chandelier from Home Depot. Buy it here.

So as you can see, unlike my very retro kitchen, the living room (especially) will be pretty fresh and modern. I have to meet The Boy somewhere in the middle you know. :)

Lisa.xo

Had To Share It: Dita Talks to handbag.com

I'm not one to re-post YouTube videos on my blog, but I just watched these two and had to share with you.

Probably because I have to absolutly agree with Dita when she talks about wearing hats and her version of dressing down. I feel exactly the same way! I just LOVE Dita!!!

Enjoy!!





Lisa.xo

My Girl!

Another one on the Wishlist down!
I was coming home from my Mom's after helping her do a few things for Kim & Adam's Wedding a few weekends ago and as I drove past the Goodwill in our neighbourhood I got "that feeling". You know the one. It's my "I-can-just-feel-something-good-at-the-thriftstore-vibe". Sometimes I call it my Spidey Sense. Whatever you call it, it has never let me down. So I must listen to it.

So I turned my car into the parking lot and went in. After a lap around the store empty handed I was actually starting to doubt that I actually had that feeling. Until I walked by the Plus Size section and stopped in my tracks when I saw this dress form in the corner with a giant tag on it saying "Dress Form: $20". I couldn't believe it!! I actually looked around for other customers who may have seen her too, ran over to her and snatched her up! I walked immediatly to the counter. The girls laughed and said they were glad I was taking her home (they know me. I'm there  at least twice a week.) and that she'd only been on the floor for about 20 minutes. I was so excited!!

Like I promised, here is my new dress form!

I think she's 60s/70s. I haven't really looked into it, but if anyone knows and could shed some light I would be very grateful!

BTW. Still sick, but feeling much better than yesterday. The Boy has left me home alone. He's gone to watch drag racing in Gimli without me. I'm still on the couch, still watching Mad Men. I'm onto the second season now. I LOVE Peggy! She's so cute and spunky! And I want to look like Joan, but with Betty's hair. haha!

Thank you for the well wishes!

Lisa.xo

Sicker Than a Dog

No work today. I called in sick. This cold is really kicking my ass. I'm laying on the couch in my pj's right now trying not to hurt myself as I cough uncontrollably. Ugh.

I'm also watching the first season of Mad Men. Which I have never seen before. Yes, I know. I should have been watching it all along with all the other vintage lovers out there. But I don't have cable and hate to download stuff onto my computer like that. So I haven't watched it. Well I'm fixing that problem starting today. It's really good! I have been missing out!

So in lieu of some horrible pictures of me ill on the couch that I could inflict on you. I thought some vintage ads for cold medication might be fun instead! Enjoy!

Peter Pain looks like an evil little leprechaun to me.

This is what I look like today.

Side Note: I have NEVER heard of taking Alka-Seltzer for a cold. Have you?

This just makes me laugh.

This one also makes me laugh. Maybe I don't have a cold, maybe it's Asian Flu?

I saved the best for last. The 666 Cold Tablets. There are just too many jokes here...I just don't know where to start...I'll let you fill in the blanks! haha!

I'm on a mission to get better this weekend. There is nothing I hate worse than being sick. I'll keep you posted.

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Mixing Pattern and Layering

So yesterday and the day before I was dressed for fall. Today will be a high of +24. Which is not really hot I know, but it's still warm. Mornings have that fall chill now though, so a jacket is in order.

Getting dressed properly is actually really tricky this time of year. In the middle of winter and the middle of summer I don't usually check the forcast daily, but in spring and fall it's a must if you want to be dressed properly. Tomorrow for example will be a high of 27 and a chance of thundershowers. The weather is all over the place! This is a great outfit to show how I layer when the weather is uncertain.

Anyway, this is what I'm wearing to work today. This skirt is not vintage. It's from a company called Geek Boutique and I bought it second hand. I do love it though!

 Close up of the prints for you!

White headband: Ricki's

Gold Locket: Thrifted

Denim Jacket: Zani Di Jeans

Green Cropped Cardigan: Le Chateau

Pink Heart Print Blouse: Urban Planet

Retro Print Wrap Skirt: Thrifted

Camel Strappy Wedges: George (Walmart!)

50's Bamboo Purse: Value Village

Off to work now! Have a great day!

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Funking Up a 40's Suit Jacket

I love this suit jacket. It didn't have its mate (I think it must have been a skirt) when I bought it, but I imagine it was pretty fabulous. The jacket's got terrific weight and the fabric is incredibly soft. The buttons are asymetrical and have the most amazing patina on them which the camera just couldn't do justice.

I like to funk up this jacket a bit my wearing it open with jeans. I also like the sequin beret and leopard print scarf with it. It's kinda Bonnie and Clyde now that I think of it...

I'm still feeling sick today which is why my pictures are a little wonky today. The flash was on for some and not others and most of them turned out kinda blurry. I also didn't have the energy to move my chair for standing photos today...ok, enough whining...
This is what I wore to work today. Not too bad for a sick girl. (I like to overcompensate when I feel ill. That and wearing the beret meant I didn't have to do my hair this morning! haha!)

With the jacket buttoned. I rarely wear it like this.

Here are a few where the flash went off. The colour is richer in these. I look really unhappy though!

Some close ups of Jacket details. Look at the beautiful cording detail on the collar!

Button Close up!

Black Sequin Beret: Le Chateau

Rhinestone Drop Earrings: Thrifted

Leopard Print Scarf: Ricki's

40's Blue Asymetrical Suit Jacket: Hoopers

Rhinestone Brooches: Both Thrifted

Cream Satin Bow Applique T-shirt: Joe

Denim Capris: Ricki's

Grey Mary Janes: Aldo

I hope everyone is having a good week! Thank you for all your lovely comments these last few days! It really makes my day every time you share your thoughts with me. Thank you!

Lisa.xo