Encounters of a stylish kind

Now, I did try to summarize my break in the last post, but I thought that this little experience deserved a post of its own. It's not very frequently that I see anyone dressed in a similar fashion, but this is exactly what happened on December 30th. Let's cut me just a teensy weensy bit of slack when I post the link to my picture and focus on the amazing experience.

I was in Fred Meyer's, back in my hometown. Why, you ask? Well, I obtained the most gorgeous cut glass punchbowl for Christmas and just had to make a punch for New Year's Eve. Since I was trying to waste some time after finding my ginger ale, I perused the after-Christmas CD sale (and scored some Perry Como I had been looking for) and meticulously picked out gum. While roaming through small appliances, I bumped into a woman who was dressed! No, my town does not have a large nudist society, I simply mean that in front of me was a woman who had taken the time to look clean, crisp, presentable, and ladylike.

After a quick "So sorry" we parted ways - until she flagged me down between furniture and area rugs. She introduced herself as Danielle and even gave me her card (ladylike and professional!) while explaining she was a clothing designer and blogger. After sharing our oddly similar childhoods, both of us having lived on South Pacific military bases when we were young, she asked to take my picture for her blog. I was flattered, but secretly wished I hadn't put myself together in 20 minutes before going to town. Anyhow, true to her word, Danielle posted my picture on her blog, http://danielleceleste.tumblr.com/, and you're all welcome to check it out. She also has a twitter and sells her designs on etsy, which I believe her blog can link you to.

Overall, this quick exchange really reinforced my belief that I'm not completely insane in hoping that the concept of dressing will see a recurrence in the near future!

My Wintery Break

I can't describe in the detail I would like to just how wonderful little winter hiatus I have taken from blogging has been. Since being up at school this year, I haven't gotten to spend much time with my family. My Halloween weekend flew by and Thanksgiving weekend also seemed to end before it began. Winter break, however, has been just magical.

As I type this, it's the first morning of 2011, and the property is a winter wonderland complete with chirping birds, scampering squirrels, and even some blue sky. The fire is crackling the woodstove, and I have only completed taking down 50% of the Christmas decorations I lovingly finished putting up only two weeks ago.

Christmas morning was a whirl of paper and ribbons and mountains of boxes which ended up daunting the tree. My little corner of presents (in the bottom right of the picture) was wrapped in white paper with different wired ribbons tied in bows. They were sure different, but not too out of place in the group. Family aplenty gathered together along with an abundance of savory food and drink. Even though the youngest in our group is 18, all of our eyes grew as wide as that of a 5-year-old when we saw just how many presents there were.

New Year's Eve was just as merry if not more so. Our numbers balooned up to 19 for the big night as friends joined in the celebration. I was overjoyed at the prospect of using my new cut glass punchbowl and glasses, personally. Wine, beer, and numerous other spirits flowed freely while we all enjoyed New York strip steak with baked potatoes and salad. Once the snow started falling, everyone under 25 began acting like 8-year-olds again. Fireworks, champange, and cries (and texts) of "Happy 2011!" capped off the night.

I feel so lucky to have such a happy, rowdy, and somewhat vulgar family! The love that surrounds this house and family, especially during the holidays, is astonishing. We have no family grudges or rivalries, and none of those funny uncles or annoying cousins you have to try to avoid. Our grandparents don't pinch cheeks and tell you how much you've grown, but we do get the occasional story of how things used to be when they were young. Even if you're not part of the family, we'll make you one of our own before the blink of an eye.

I'll be driving back to school tomorrow to start winter term and hope that everyone who is traveling or has yet to travel will be safe and patient. The highway sure is going to test my patience tomorrow!

The week of doom

As college students know, dead week is not something to be taken lightly, but I've been in denial just a little bit. It's helped in not letting the upcoming finals stress me out too much, that will be compounded this weekend. I've been bogged down a little between finishing projects, presentations, papers, and homework, but something I always do this time of year has not been lacking, and that is decorating for the holidays! I have been making paper snowflakes and watching Leave it to Beaver like a madwoman in the last week. I've also gotten my teeny tiny advent Christmas tree all set up, and now I'm getting sad that I'll have to take it down in just a week and pack it up again.

The end of term always gets me flustered, whether it's stress or excitement. Right now, I'm taking all my refuge in Christmas preparations, as you can all see. Healthy? Maybe not. First on my "to do" list? Definitely not. It can really help the spirits, though.

I'm trying to think of some new drink to serve for the holidays, preferable with an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version. Hot buttered rum is right at the top of my list, but I don't think there's a non-alcoholic alternative for that, rum is in the name after all. If anyone has a good idea, comment and tell me. The family usually does coffee with different creamers and Bailey's, so I'm not really looking for coffee ideas.

I'll end with the outside view of our room up here at school. You can see the snowflakes I put on the inside of the window and our lights that are still extremely lacking in the tinsel department. This must be remedied. Lights are not complete without tinsel.

A wonderful day of thrifting

Last Friday, my only class was cancelled, so I took the entire day to do something I don't do enough: Go thrifting and antiquing!

Now, there are some really cute places around Corvallis loaded with stuff, but there are some real busts too. My favorites: Buckingham Palace (Corvallis), The OSU Thrift Store (Corvallis), Beekman's Place Antique Mall (Corvallis), The Arc Resale (Philomath), and Vintage House Parts and Architectural Salvage (Philomath).

The only place of my favorites I didn't get to go on Friday was Beekman's, which is such an awful shame because I really wanted to look for some turn of the century holiday photos. Everywhere else, thank you for the amazing items!

Buckingham Palace was my first stop. It's owned by an adorable English woman who really knows how to use every nook and cranny of that little shop (I must be missing you, Diane!). Earlier in the year, I got my wonderful 1960's atomic orange coffee canister there and this trip did not disappoint either. I allowed my inner bookie to come out and purchased 3 separate books. 2 are manuals from 1949, McCall's Dressmaking made Easy and Smart Sewing and a modern book of music, I'll be seeing you, of 50 songs from the years of World War II. I'm very excited to learn Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy solidly.

After checking at The Cat's Meow (great name, but never has anything worthwhile), I made it to the OSU Thrift Store for the first time when I wasn't in a hurry. I picked up and put down a letter holder and key rack with a fat little owl 4 or 5 times before leaving him there. Among the spoils of victory were a periwinkle blue satin and nylon (the new wonder fiber!) dressing gown and 1/2 inch wide navy blue leather belt. Also, I found a Christmas gift for a certain family member. I hope they will appreciate it, because I think buying items that are secondhand, vintage, or antique is a wonderful strategy not only to save money but also to limit your impact on the environment.

Next, I headed over to the small town of Philomath were I lived shortly as a child to check out shops there. I found The Arc Resale and was pleasantly surprised by their selection of shoes. I ended up with 2 pairs (neither black) that fit properly and had shapes indicative of the 1940's and 50's with medium heel heights to match. I'd love to be able to buy vintage shoes, but there are a few problems. Firstly, I have very large feet, secondly, I do a lot of walking throughout the week around campus. I think footwear is one modern thing I will stick with. Once again, I also found a present for another family member here, something that I've been on the lookout for. The scoreboard goes as follows: Philomath Arc-1, Corvallis Arc-0.

The last place I had the energy to visit was also a new joint to me. When one sees a large building with metal siding that has large signs saying "Vintage House Parts" and "Architectural Salvage" and has any sense, they will search for a parking spot and ignore a full bladder to make the pilgrimage. I didn't end up getting anything here, but only for the simple reason that I could not find a place I could make parts of old houses work in my tiny dorm room. I've decided that this is going to be a gift to my mother when she comes up to see me in the spring. It's exactly the place that she belongs.

Whoo! To anyone who actually kept up with me through my rambling about shopping adventures, I salute you! Now, on to the actual responsibilities in my life. Gosh darn it, why can't this be my full time job?

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas.

Yes, I know that Halloween just happened and I should be focusing on Thanksgiving, which is far closer than Christmas, but that doesn't keep me from dreaming of snow all around and wearing my fabulous fox fur earmuffs.

I must apologize for the week and a half delay in posting. I will not go into details, but I'll say that I was in a funk that I could not get out of, and I stopped being true to myself. It was due to this pit of despair I was sinking in, I had closed out my normal everyday ideas. So Tuesday when I spent hours baking and re-colored my hair late that night, I had a sudden return to a more upbeat state of mind. Wednesday morning was the first in awhile that I put my hair into victory rolls, donned a colorful skirt, stockings, pumps, and my coral necklace and earring set. In other words, I dressed. There's really a difference between putting on clothes and dressing, and personally, the two activities affect my mindset in different ways. Yesterday I went one step further and actually took the time to put my hair in rollers and starch the collar of my shirt. It's a good thing that I felt so put together, because I was forced to go on a wild goose chase to find the one theater in this college town that is showing the midnight premiere of Harry Potter, which almost wrecked my sanity.

Now, today is Friday on this sleepy campus and I fully want to relax this weekend in an array of soft sweaters while curled up chatting and watching movies with newfound friends. Some crochet and tea in there might be nice too.

Another thing to do this weekend is to restrain myself from getting more Christmas decorations to put up in my room. I only have one up, which is a giant red bow that had a bell I needed for Rocky Horror. The poor guy was just laying in my drawer with the plastic wrap and trash bags, so I rescued him (again!). The deciding factor for me was the fact that I was beginning to make up a song for him a la Percy the Puny Poinsettia, which is one of my most favorite Christmas songs. Alas, I cannot find it to add to the Christmas playlist I've been putting together online. I suppose Percy will only survive on my Christmas TAPE from around 1996. 

Tis the season to watch the hilarious antics of Danny Kaye in White Christmas, not to mention the fabulously leggy Vera Ellen. Can't overlook crooners Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby though!