Two Birthdays, Thrift Shopping, And a Lot of Food

My apologies for the earlier version of this post which was published accidentally before I finished writing it. 

This week we had two birthdays, my 37, and much more importantly Tubby reached the illustrious age of 14. We celebrated like we always do: lots of food, some thrift shopping, lots of snuggle time.

Since my birthday fell on a Thursday and I cheated and celebrated on the weekend, actually

My aplogies for the earlier version of this post which was published accidentalty before I finished it.  two weekends. The Sunday before my husband and I went to one of our favorite resteraunts, Ippudo Ramen. There are lots of places in the. It's and in Jersey to get ramen but this is the best. It's a bit pricier but totally worth it. It's delicious and I love how pretty Ramen looks in the bowl. 

Plus they have pork buns

We followed up ramen with a stop at Ample Hills Creamery. This is seriously the best ice cream ever We brought home a few pints. 

Fry was keen to try Shamrock Flake. 

The next weekend we continued the celebration. Now any body who reads this blog knows I'm crazy about vintage clothes, but I'm also nuts for kitschy collectables.  While I prefer to buy clothes online I like finding my kitsch in junk shops. Sadly there are few good thrift stores near me.   Saturday I visited the only good one, Unique thrift in Union NJ.  

It's pretty hit or miss but I was super lucky. I scored two Pyrex like dishes, 

some cutesy McDonalds glasses from the 80s, 

a souvenir plate, and best of all two blue heaven China plates and a platter. 

I'm crazy for blue heaven China. The whole mess was about ten bucks. 

Ever year on my birthday I have take out sushi and potato chips. This year I was lucky to find a stash of my favorite chips at Walmart. Lays wasabi chips thru are amazing. Perfect with sushi and Chardonnay. I stocked up. 

 I always watch the greatest movie ever made in my birthday, also known As The Wrath of Khan. I love everything about this movie. Ricardo Montalban is the only actor who can compete on Shatners level. It never gets old. 

Sunday was of course all about Tubby.  We are so lucky to have our boy with us at the age of 14. Every day is a gift. Tubby hasn't played with toys for awhile so all of his presents were treats.

His favorite was the cake from Po's Bakery.  

We hope everyone had an amazing weekend. 

Technical difficulties

Earlier today a draft post was published sorry to anyone who thinks we are nuts after reading it.  I'll have it finished tommorow

Happy Birthday Tubby

My baby boy is 14 today where does the time go........

Another Birthday

259.  That's my age in dog years or........

Last year on my birthday I wrote a post:    Are You Too Old For Vintage? Iwrote it because I had read several articles claiming that vintage style is best left too the very young.  Obviously I don't agree. I didn't have the confidence to wear full on vintage when I was in my 20s Because I cared too much what people thought.   Now:

In fact the older I get in some ways, at least in my mind if not my face and body, the younger I feel. I still like the same stuff  I did as a kid and a teenager.   I guess if I haven't matured yet I'm not going too and that's ok!

Case in point: when I was  a little girl I loved making and wearing flower crowns. Sadly I have no pictures of my childhood creations. This year I got a flower crown made if vintage millinery flowers from Etsy shop Chatter Blossom and discovered that more then 20 years later I still love wearing flower crowns.

I guess somethings never change.  Regardless Of how you feel about clothes I think there is basically only one style, and beauty,  rule worth following: Dogs don't care how old you are or what your wearing and neither do the people who are worth your time. 

Hopping Along The Bunny Trail: A Vintage Outfit Post

When it comes to vintage style my preferred eras are without a doubt the 1920s through 40s, but I'm quite fond of the 1950s and early 60s as well.  My favorite thing about mid century fashion, and indeed vintage fashion in general, is the wit and whimsy in the styles. People just seemed to have had more fun with their clothes.  No where is this more evident then in the novelty prints and jewelry of the era.   Novelty prints are particularly suited to Spring and the Easter season when images of lambs, and bunnies, and baby chicks are every where.   Indeed Easter just seems to have peaked in the mid century era when frilly pastel dresses and adorable adds for candy abounded.  

That's why I was so excited when I saw this amazing novelty print blouse on sale in one of my favorite vintage etsy shops Fab Gabs.  I know from years of experience vintage shopping that novelty print items tend to be too small for me, but this blouse was just my size. I knew immediately that the charming bunny and carrot print 

Had to come live with me and my 1950s Easter bunny barrette.

A few months later I saw the What's Up Doc? Carrot brooch from Luxulite and new it would make the outfit perfect. 

I wore the blouse, brooch and barrette for the first time on Sunday with my 1940s reproduction overalls from Nudee Dudee and I really like how the outfit turned out. It's the kind of casual vintage outfit that's perfect for lazy days and that proves that vintage style isn't all about dressing up.  Sadly my I-phone pictures really don't do it justice. 

The brooch really looks like it was made for the blouse. 

This is my second Luxulite brooch and I just love it. They are such fun reproductions. I really encourage vintage lovers to check out there etsy shop and Instagram. Incidentally if you are on Instagram and have yet to check out the hashtag #noveltybroochfriday then stop reading this and do so immediately.  It's novelty brooch heaven.  

I also wore two of my Bakelite bangles. I only have a small collection of Bakelite, but interestingly these two bracelets matched the blouse and brooch perfectly

I guess it was vintage kismet when I bought them last year. I wore the entire outfit to hang out with my favorite Easter Bunny:

  

Brotherly Love

This weekend Fry and Ernie enjoyed some quality cuddle time......

Two Big Beautiful Blooming Hats for The First Day Of Spring

Is there a 12-step program for those addicted to big floral vintage hats?  Because if so I clearly need it.  Spring time in particular starts my hat frenzy.   I just added a reproduction 1930s floral tilt hat from Lady Eve's Millinery to my collection.  Aimee made this one special for me based on an authentic vintage hat I saw on Etsy that sold immediately.  I actually think Aimee's version is better.  I couldn't resist trying it on when it arrived on Saturday, even though I was wearing pajamas and a robe.  I can't wait to wear this this spring!

The second hat I've actually had for awhile, I bought it in the fall during one of Etsy shop Fab Gabs sales, but I haven't worn it because its clearly a spring time hat.  Its an authentic 1940s hat with beautiful felt flowers in the prettiest soft blues and pinks.  I can't not smile while wearing it.

Now if only the weather would cooperate. We are expecting snow for the first day of Spring!

Weasley's New Shirt

Weasley's ready for summer in his new Sponge Bob shirt from pug possessed 

Luck of the Irish-A St. Patrick's Day Vintage Outfit Post

Green, along with navy blue, is my favorite color and food wise I'm very partial to both Irish Soda bread and corned beef.  I may be one of the few people who has long believed that Irish, as well as English, cooking is superb.  So it's no so surprise that I enjoy St. Patrick's Day.   I particularly. that the Holliday seems to usher in Spring, and for vintage lovers Spring of course should be celebrated with new old clothes. 

I didn't actually buy  the dress and hat in the following picture with St. Patrick's day specifically in mind, though in retrospect you could hardly find a more St. Patty's day appropriate outfit.   I just wanted a 1930s style dress in dark green with tartan accents and a green and a hat to match.   I've actually  had the dress for sometime, it was made by Kim of Time Machine Vintage, before she closed up her Etsy shop and as usual she did a great job.  its a simple comfortable dress and like most 1930s dresses is very easy to wear.

Kim always pays attention to the details and in addition to lovely hunter green fabrics in tartan, sheer, and silk faille (which coincidently perfectly matched some suede gloves I found at the salvation army) she accented the dress with an authentic 1930s belt buckle.

 The hat is from my favorite Etsy hat shop Lady Eve's Millnery and like all her hats its a picture perfect replica of a 1930s fedora.   

 Honestly though other vintage style lovers may consider this statement sacrilege, I think I prefer her hats to genuine vintage because they look the same and are just so much sturdier.  I have three hats from her and I love everyone of them.  I made a pic-collage of my growing Lady Eve collection below:

In addition to the gloves and hat I accessorized my dress with a 1940s or 50s St. Patrick's day novelty brooch that I got last year.  

All in all I am really happy with the outfit but taking the  pictures did make me more then a little sad because it reminded me of last year's St. Patrick's day photo shoot when I took pictures with my darling Norbert.  I miss my big baby so much.  I know I was very lucky to have him in my life for 12 and a half years, so many dog parents don't get that much time with their babies.  Still even with all my worrying I don't think I ever expected him to be gone so soon.  Cherish every moment the time is so much shorter then you think.