Double Your Pleather

Over-the-knee boots aren't typically my thing, but these are so trashy I made an exception. I'm not sure if there's a good way to wear them other than perhaps with leggings, but I went with an otherwise not-too-racy outfit to counter the impact of the "Fuck-Me" boots.

 The 80's silk blouse had very large shoulder pads, which I removed. The blouse buttons up the back with tiny buttons which is a bit of a pain, but I can do them up halfway and pull it over my head before buttoning the top. I don't know why buttons up the back keep coming back in fashion, but they're having another moment, so it was time to wear the blouse.

Outfit Particulars:
1980's pleather skirt-Goodwill
1980's silk blouse-Hand-Me-Ups
Belt-Goodwill
Brass purse-New Life Thrift
Vintage metal earrings-Goodwill
Cat brooch with moving tail-Hand-Me-Ups
Boots-Goodwill

For those of you unfamiliar with the jingle for Doublemint Gum.

I was still feeling the bumblebee look the next day, so out came this circa 1983 linen jacket.

The collar stands up like a funnel when fully buttoned, and the shoulders have those distinctive wings I associate with clothes Michael Jackson wore in videos. The jacket can be worn buttoned so that it rests at the waist and blouses out on top. I never liked that look, so I've opted to wear it long. The jacket is large enough that I have the option of buttoning it un-bloused as well.

I don't purchase many 80's items unless they are terribly iconic. This jacket ended up in my cart because it is so well made. The lining is perfect, the buttonholes done correctly, the quality of the linen-it would have been mad to leave it for three bucks and change. Made by Capri New York, this would have been an expensive item of clothing at the time. I'm happy to have it, and wear it. I do love well-made clothing.

Outfit Particulars:
1980's linen jacket by Capri-Goodwill
Wool Pendleton skirt-Goodwill
Poloneck-K Mart
Vintage Kadin (the Famous) Rambler handbag-Goodwill (read about Kadin bags in a fascinating post HERE)
Boots-K Mart

Finally, I'll leave you with the Pan de Muerto I made today. The recipe may be found HERE.

The entire house smells of oranges and aniseed. I can't think of a better way to usher in November.

Saddle Shoes

Gah-I only noticed the mud when I went to post photos!

Veronica asked about my saddle shoes, so I thought I'd try to get photos of them. Mine are suede and not at all traditional like the black and white leather ones.

The woman in this vintage photo is wearing the more familiar type.

In the mid-70's they were horribly out of fashion, but I envied the pair my sister wore to work (the shoes were part of the uniform). She did come through and buy me a pair for my Birthday-in red and white. So. Not. Cool. What's more, the hard leather hurt. Obviously, I wish I had them now, but it was many years until I sought out another pair. The suede pair are mercifully soft, and have a foam heel and sole rather than hard leather.

Anyway, I hope that gives you a better idea of what they look like.

I couldn't remember if this acrylic 60's cardigan ever made an appearance on the blog. I tend to wear it more at home to watch television in our (very) cold basement, than out and about. Today was bitterly cold, and when serious cold hits, I layer on the acrylic. Wool is great-I love wool, but it can't compete with acrylic for warmth in the cold and wind. By the time I was indoors, I was over-heating, but making the long walk from the parking lot of the allergist's to the office, I was glad I thought to wear it. I saved the wool for my coat... a mohair and tweed piece for the coldest of days.

Sometimes, when people give me funny looks I wonder why...then I remember I'm either wearing a ballgown to Aldi or have something that looks like a dead, pink rabbit on my head at the allergist's. I tend to get dressed, and then forget about it because this is my "normal", but I can't blame people for doing a double-take. "Appropriate Attire" are words that could send me into shock. 

Outfit Particulars:

Poloneck-K Mart

1960's embroidered cardigan-Thrift World

Vintage jacket-Hand-Me-Ups

Brooch on jacket-Goodwill

Brooch on cardigan-New Life Thrift

The earrings came off before I went out (I'm taking Thrifty Parka's advice about not ruining my thermoset in the cold)

Vintage Pendleton kilt-Goodwill

Bass saddle shoes-Goodwill

Vintage handbag-Salvation Army

Fragrance (after leaving the allergist's office because perfume in a room full of allergic people would be rude) Elizabeth Taylor Passion (wonderful in cold weather)

Tights-Walgreen's

We had a dusting of snow last evening, but not enough to cause road troubles. It did however get incredibly cold over night and there are burst pipes and water mains all over the city. Next time I'm feeling sorry for myself I'm going to think of the poor city workers out there repairing burst pipes in sub-zero temperatures. That has to be one of the worst jobs, so make their work a bit easier and give them some room if you need to be out on the roads where they're working. 

I'd better go top-up the birdfeeders-the little beggars are peering through the window looking sad. 

I'm done baking. The Christmas Eve paella has seven fishes in it, and after that, I'm done. Christmas Day we eat leftovers, and go to the movies. 

You know I do love a good tartan skirt, and a bit of velvet come holiday time. When I spotted this velvet jacket at Hand-Me-Ups I knew it would be versatile given the sporty look of the front, sleeve,  and pocket zippers. The jacket works as well with denim as it does with a lurex skirt. Red isn't my favourite colour, and it gets old by the end of December, but I couldn't really resist something this well made. Isn't it strange to think of the early 90's as the last time you could buy quality sportswear that wouldn't look shabby after a few cleanings? Everything seemed to go downhill so quickly. I wasn't a fan of Liz Claiborne in the 80's and 90's, but I will admit this is a quality piece of clothing.

 The skirt and sweater are both from the early 60's and have also stood the test of time. Did I need yet another kilt? Of course not, but how could I say no to a Scottish made piece of clothing that likely couldn't be bought new today for any money. The weight of this kilt is remarkable, and when fastened properly hangs perfectly. It is also lined, which always gets my attention when buying wool.

Outfit Particulars:

Vintage kilt-Goodwill

Velvet jacket-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage Jantzen sweater-Thrift World

Vintage handbag-Goodwill

Shoes-Goodwill

Poodle pins-Hand-Me-Ups

Onyx ring-Mum's

Pearls-Mum's

Kilt pin-Hand-Me-Ups

Bracelet-Goodwill

Earrings-bought at a shop in Cambridge, Mass early 90's

Fragrance-Coriandre

Today's cocktail will put you in a holiday mood as it is a popular drink at Christmastime (at least in my husband's family)

Tom and Jerry Cocktail:

2 oz. whisky

1 egg, separated

1 teaspoon sugar

Hot water or milk

Beat white and yolk separately adding sugar to yolk. Mix together. Put two tablespoons of mixture in a large mug. Add whisky. Fill with hot water or milk. Top with grated nutmeg. You can also add brandy or rum. 

Someone left a candy cane with a nice message on my car at the Chalco Hills park. With all the awfulness around at the moment, I thought it was a nice gesture. No idea if it was NRD (Natural Resources District) workers, or just a random nice person, but it cheered me no end. 

I baked the limpa bread for Christmas morning today using up the last pieces of orange peel I candied back in September. I have a few candied cherries left, and dried cranberries, but that's about it. I love when I can estimate accurately. With Hanukkah starting on Christmas eve, our interfaith family will be busy. I still have some mincemeat in the fridge, so I'm making mincemeat rugelach.  I might even fill some doughnuts with it. 

Cream cheese pastry wrapped around mincemeat. My shaping skills are shit, but they taste delicious. World's easiest dough:

1 cup butter

8 oz. cream cheese

2 cups plain flour

Beat together butter and cream cheese, blend in flour. Chill at least 1 hour before rolling. Works nicely around filled dates too. 

You might remember the marshmallow snowmen from last year. They have dried out and become hard, and I think it is safe to say they are no longer edible. They are such cute decorations that I'm going to shellac them after Christmas for many year's use. 

I hope you have a lovely holiday no matter what you celebrate or don't (Happy Bank Holiday!) and I'll be back after Christmas with some gaudy outfits fit for a New Year's Party (or getting plastered in front of the television). 

Apple Time

This weekend is the annual Applejack Festival in Nebraska City, Nebraska. I do enjoy a visit to the orchard in autumn, and with the additional activities around town it makes for a pleasant way to spend the weekend. Nebraska City has a particularly good Civil War museum with a small but well selected collection. This weekend they will be offering help tracing Civil War ancestors in your family (well, not in mine of course but Mr. ETB's family have been here since Colonial times). There will be quilt shows, car shows, arts, crafts, antiques and all sorts of apple-related foods to enjoy. Can't make it to Nebraska City in time for this year's events? Start planning next year's visit. We'd love to see you.

Over the years I've accumulated several apple-themed pieces of vintage. The glass necklace above was purchased some years ago, but the earrings were something I picked up last year. I have some faux apples purchased at the craft store so there's a good possibility there will be yet another hat made this year. I have a glue gun-and I'm not afraid to use it!

 The other event on this weekend (Friday and Saturday) is the annual Garage Sale to benefit the Sarpy County Historical Society Museum. This is another gem of a museum we're lucky enough to have nearby, and I always enjoy a visit to see what they've added. The garage sale features donated items and in recent years I've been fortunate enough to come home with vintage sewing notions, lamps, brooches, shoes, and books. It is always best to get there early on the Friday for the best selection, but there's always something good on Saturday as well (no idea if they hold out items for the second day or not). It is a cash only operation, but worth the trouble of planning ahead-and the prices are so low you won't require much to fill a bag or two with great items. I'm planning to go Friday, then spend Saturday and/or Sunday at the Applejack festival-but of course I've learned not to set plans in stone.

Outfit Particulars

Vintage back neck-zip nylon polo neck-Thrift World

Vintage JC Penny Towncraft Jacket-Thrift World

Vintage denim skirt-Goodwill

Socks-At least 20 years old, can't remember

Vintage shoes-Thrift World

Vintage Valdrome shoulderbag-Hand-me-Ups

Belt-Shop Ko

Brooch-Hand-Me-Ups

Glass Apple necklace-Goodwill(?)

Apple basket earrings-Et Cetera, Seward

Enamel bracelet-Filene's (about 25 years ago)

Fragrance-Habit Rouge Dress Code (as flankers go, it is rather good)

 Let's be honest-nylon isn't the most forgiving fabric for a pair of 36DD knockers. I either need to invest in better bras, or keep the jacket on.

Well, not keeping the jacket "on" in the traditional sense of course as we discussed yesterday, the new way to look like an idiot wear your jacket is off the shoulders. Like so. I give this fad until the first frost when people come to their senses and pull up their coats in a nice wind-blocking defensive gesture. 

Hope your weekend is as exciting or dull as you'd like it to be. 

Oh La La Sassoon

When it comes to the early 80's looks, my immediate thought is to wear the pieces as I would have at the time. The thing is, that would look stupid (on me-your mileage may differ). Combat boots and kilts have been done (and done, and done) so I went looking for a way to re-work the 80's pieces in my collection without looking like I was headed to an 80's themed party. Enter, the vintage Sasson jacket.

The early 80's jackets were a bit shorter without being boxy, and the shoulder pads hadn't quite reached the absurd proportions we saw by the end of the decade. These jackets are still wearable with more modern styles, and have the advantage of looking good with wide-legged trousers.

I tried to keep the 80's influence down to one item of clothing, and an accessory. Wide belts are having a moment again, so I went with that as my showpiece accessory. I like the use of red and green together (not just for Christmas) though it would have been a tougher sell to my younger self.

My younger self was, by the way, an idiot-so who cares what she would have thought?

Outfit particulars:

1980's Sassoon jacket-New Life Thrift
90's kilt (part of a suit)-Goodwill
Vintage belt-Hand Me Ups
Earrings- K Mart
Antique Celtic brooch-antique mall in Western Massachusetts
German-made shoes-Hand-Me-Ups
Tights-Walgreens
Bag-Target
Skull ring-Walgreen's
Red bakelite clamper bracelet-Salvation Army
Rhinestone bracelet (really a choker) Gordman's
White linen blouse- K Mart
Fragrance-Knize Ten (I was looking for my bottle of Bandit, but couldn't find it and went for Knize Ten instead. I'd forgotten how much I love it)

 Red and green? Yay or nay? And would you trust your younger self about anything? I need to know. Tell me!
*Updated:
Should read "Yea" . That'll teach me to blog and talk at the same time.
They learned us real good talkin' at skoool.
Geez.

Chill Out

The warm weather finally arrived (I was starting to worry it might not) and now Nebraskans have something new to collectively complain about! My garden isn't complaining, and the beautiful (and fragrant) heliotrope by my front door is in celebration mode. I need to keep it watered regularly as it has a tendency to droop in the heat, but it absolutely adores humidity, something we won't be experiencing a shortage of over the next several days. My tomatoes are finally growing as well.

I don't always dress to match the flowers in the garden, but I do try to dress for the conditions. Most days, that means layering as the air conditioners are on full-blast most places. A few years ago, I gave-in and started wearing short-sleeved jackets. I always regarded them as, "Too granny", but now that I'm old enough to be a granny, I can appreciate how practical a short-sleeved jacket is. 

 My collection of plaid isn't limited to winter-wear woolens. Madras plaid will always have a place in my wardrobe as it looks so classic and stays so comfortably cool. Yes, I was forced to take an iron to the skirt, but once pressed it stayed crisp looking for the better part of the day. I don't like ironing, but some clothes are worth the bother.

Outfit Particulars:
1980's Madras plaid skirt-Sequels thrift store, Council Bluffs, IA
Vintage Margaret Smith handbag-Hand-Me-Ups
Top-K Mart
Naturalizer shoes-Goodwill
Jade bangle (Thrifted for $1.99!) Goodwill
China earrings and matching brooch (on jacket lapel) Hand-Me-Ups
Purple jacket (part of a suit) Goodwill
Fragrance-Guerlain Imperiale

The heat decided to get serious today, so I was forced to bring out, "The Dress." White, cotton, and sleeveless-this is how I do a Nebraska heatwave.

Outfit Particulars:
Cotton dress-Gordman's about 15 years (and twenty pounds) ago
Vintage macrame bag (made in Iowa-I have several others by the same makers that will be featured in a future post)-Hand-Me-Ups
Butterfly brooch-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage clip earrings-New Life Thrift
Bangle-Goodwill
Fragrance-L'Air du Temps (over Yardley English rose talc)

I'm just waiting for that huge bucket of violas at my knee to start blooming. Between the Salvia, heliotrope, violas, and borage this corner of the yard should be a beautiful purple oasis . The gladiolas shot up their buds this morning, so hopefully we'll be enjoying those soon as well.

Can you spot my photographer in the door glass reflection?

An Almost Tropical Christmas

The calm before the kitchen storm. Since the photo was taken, I've baked several pieces for the gingerbread house, and there's flour everywhere. That's OK, I like the look of a kitchen in-use. We made it into the low 60's today (parts of Nebraska on the Kansas border hit the 70's) and it feels slightly odd to be baking gingerbread-now I know how people in California feel. I have the windows open because any opportunity to do that in December is worth taking advantage of. Blondin has been hanging around the door-I think he can smell gingerbread at 100 yards. 

 I'm attempting a model of our row of houses on the block from gingerbread. I even bought some candy moulds shaped like cars to put in numbered spaces in front. I have fruit leather for shingles, chocolate covered cherries for the a/c units on the roof, and granola for the pebbles. We'll see how it goes, but I am rather excited about it. The pieces need several days to dry out completely before decorating and assembling. I should have started earlier, but I think we'll still have plenty of time to enjoy it. I had to scale it down when I noticed none of my baking sheets were large enough to accommodate the pieces! Just as well-I still haven't got over the year I baked St. Paul's Cathedral from gingerbread (a dome? WTF was I thinking baking a gingerbread dome?!).

It IS looking a lot like Christmas (inside, anyway).

I'm back to layering because it is 30 degrees when I get up in the morning, and 62 by noon! 

Outfit Particulars:

Pendleton wool skirt-Goodwill

1970's lacy knit sweater by College Town-Thrift World

Lurex polo neck-Goodwill

Vinage Naturalizer shoes-Thrift World

1960's vinyl handbag-Thrift World

Shiny Brite Christmas corsage-Thrift World

Christmas star earrings-K Mart

Cinnabar bangle-Hand-me-Ups

Painted lucite bangle-Goodwill

Fragrance-Fire and Ice

Lippy-Maybelline Vivid Rose layered with some stick gloss the name wore off of.

Every year, I like to bake cookies for the Game and Parks employees at the State park where Danny does his bird-banding. These are people that have been there for years, and have watched Danny grow-up. I try to decorate cookies that have something to do with our local wildlife (one year I did some elaborately decorated songbirds and raptors). This year, I'm doing fish (walleye, paddlefish, crappie (it is pronounced, "Croppy") and bass. I thought it would be fun to make cookies in the shapes of lures (spinner, etc.) but then I came up with the idea of including a small bait box filled with gummy-worms candy. I can't wait to get started. I need a similar box of cookies for the Friends of the Library volunteers, but they typically get holiday decorated cookies like wreaths, doves, and stars. Books just don't work that well as cookies (I've tried). 

These are on the lesson plan for art tomorrow afternoon. I'm letting Danny design them, which means they might be interesting.