Handmade Christmas Decorations and a (very small) Blogging Break!

Hi Dolls!!!

I know that I've been slacking a bit in the blogging department and I apologize. It's just that my life has been filled with so many other things rather than vintage so I've been a little distracted.

First off I wanted to let you guys know that I am taking a little blog break. Just for the holidays. I'm so preoccupied with holiday prep that I can hardly think of anything else. This time of year really takes up a lot of my time between decorating, baking and trying to get holiday-y events with Honey in. Not to mention I am back dancing more (actual dancing, not just teaching) and need to focus of getting myself back into shape. Which is no small feet for a gal who loves to bake.

I'm going to take this next month and make it all about Honey and me. I love to make the holidays a special time for us.

That being said, I will probably do a few Christmas posts from time to time during the next month. Maybe one to show you our tree and decorations, which I still fully intend to be a nod at a 1940s Christmas tree. New ornaments are coming in as every few days. (Sidenote: All you US gals. Target has SUPER cute retro looking ornaments this year. They resemble Shiny Brites! RUN and get them before they are all sold out!)

During my Christmas break I'll be working on the "new" blog. Which won't really be new.. just a new look and a new flow to my wardrobe. If we are Facebook pals or if you follow me on Instagram you already know that I have changed my hair color!!!! I LOVE it! It's not at all vintage but I'm still going to do vintage styling on it. Pincurls and all. I can't wait to unveil it officially on the blog on January 1st!!!

Also be on the lookout for a new Twitter and Facbook profile!!! Overhauling EVERYTHING!


Now, on to the next part of this post!

Handmade Christmas decorations from 1945!!! I had a few people ask for suggestions for homemade decorations and ran across this in my 1945 December issue of Woman's Day! These are especially great for those of you who are mommies!

Now, I admittedly STINK at anything craftsy if it doesn't involve cakes or cookies or frosting, but I'm going to try some of these. Let me know if you try any of them out!

ENJOY!!!!!

Also, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of my fellow American gals!! Make this the happiest holiday ever and truly count your blessings. If you are reading this now and are able to splurge on vintage clothing and things you love, you already have something to be thankful for. You already have more than MANY people in our country and world. Remember that on Thursday.

Happy Holidays Dolls!!!!! I'll see you in a month (and sporadically throughout)

xoxo

1940s Shiny Brite Christmas Ornament Preview plus a Few Blog Changes A- Comin'

Hi Dolls, 

So today's post will be short and sweet. I just wanted to let you guys in on a few things that are going on.

Well, first things first. 

Let's talk about my super cute 1940s Shiny Brite ornaments that I scored through Ebay a couple of weeks ago! 

Sooo cute! I have a few more boxes on the way as we speak!! YAY!

They desperately need to be cleaned before the holidays. They can't be cleaned with water because of the paint on them so I have to do a little research about how to get them cleaned safely. If anyone out there knows how to clean these without damaging them let me know!!!

I'm thinking of putting the apartment decorations up on the day before Thanksgiving. The tree will have to wait since we always get a fresh one but I want to have all of the ornaments cleaned and organized by Thanksgiving. This saves me from having a panic attack and making a mess a week later when the tree goes up!

Today Honey and I begin the process of setting up our Thanksgiving menu. 

This usually takes about a week of our time. With Honey being an indecisive Libra and me being the perfectionist that I am, it's usually hard to nail things down. This year my mother may come to visit for the holiday, so that adds an element of "OH MY GOD! THIS HAS TO BE JUST RIGHT!!". My mom hasn't visited NYC since 2007. I want to make it a memorable holiday for her! 

Now on to blog business.

You may or may not have noticed that since the summer ended I have been blogging a little less. At one point I was doing about 3 to 4 posts a week. Now I'm down to 1. 

Well, I  couldn't put my finger on why I haven't really felt inspired to post more...Then it hit me!!! When Daffny over at A Vintage Nerd announced she was reinventing her blog to make it more her, I was like DING!!! That's it!!!

I love my blog and everyone who follows and those I follow back. But I'm an ever changing person. I think it's the Leo in me. While I still ADORE vintage clothing (you will NEVER find me wearing anything other than something vintage or vintage looking) and EVERYTHING relating to the past, my everyday life is thoroughly modern! 

Through this blogging and vintage style journey I have become painfully aware that it is almost totally impractical for me to wear pure vintage on a daily basis. No matter how much I wish I could. The job of ballet teacher followed by my long commute, late hours and the NYC bitter cold have made me face this reality. Although I must admit that I can't leave my house until I am satisfied that I at least look a little pin up-y.

So, I've decided that most future (starting in January) posts will be about that. How to marry my love for vintage with my modern lifestyle! This way I am more myself.

It may seem like a small change but it's a big one for me. Kind of like an AHA moment.

Most of the blog will stay as it is. I love doing the historical posts so those will stay. I think the Housewife posts will be mostly recipes, and with the holidays coming I'm sure I'll have many more to post in the next few weeks. I guess this is more about a personal style evolution than anything.

With all of this said,  I still plan on having many key outfits that are pure vintage. I mean a girl needs something to wear to next year's Viva Las Vegas, right?

 I also hope to have a new look for the blog to go along with it. Something a little cleaner and catchier. My sister does a little web designing for a living. If I can pull her away from her busy schedule between work and 3 kids still living at home I hope to have her help me with this.

There will also be a new Twitter account and a Facebook page separate from my private one! I feel like the end of the year is the season of change. And with my 1 year blogging anniversary coming up on Januray 1st, that will be the perfect time to make the changes. I just thought I would give you a heads up ahead of time! Until then, you KNOW that I have to keep posting my Christmas prep posts! YAY! This is such an exciting time of the year!!

If you have a blog, how long did it take you to be totally yourself on your blog? Did you ever change your blogging style or is it the same today as when you started???

xoxo

Happy Birthday Vivien Leigh!!

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!!

Did anyone else realize that today would have been the beautiful Vivien Leigh's 100th birthday!!

How much do you love her?! and this baby photo!!! Don't we all wish our baby pics were this sweet and adorable?

She was so extremely beautiful and talented. I'm sure we all have a movie that we liked her the most in. For me I'm torn between her two "Southern Belle" characters Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind (which is also my favorite movie and book of all time) and Blanche Dubois from A Streetcar Named Desire. I guess these are going to be most people's favorites though, huh?

My two favorite things about this scene was (of course) the dress that Rhett made her wear and...THAT EYEBROW!!!!!! That is the BEST brow raise I've ever seen on film!!

I always loved the fact that she was British and could play a rich girl from the south like none other.

(with husband, Laurence Olivier)

I've known about Vivien Leigh for as long as I can remember and always sympathized immensely with her struggle with bipolar disorder. It is said that she would go days at a time in an almost "mad" state,  being rude, petulant and sometimes violent and hysterical. Then as quickly as she became that way she would be back to her normal self. A school mate of hers once said that she had extreme highs and lows, almost to the point of dual personalities.  It seems to be that the most talented people in the world are the most tortured.

Even with all of this, it is said that when she was having a good run of days that she was a beautiful, kind hearted person who hated flying but LOVED dancing and smoking!!!

There is this biography that I really want and am hoping to get for Christmas!!! It looks fascinating!

So... Here's to you Vivien Leigh on your 100th birthday!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo

Vintage Christmas Prep: 59 Days to Go!! Wrapping and Recipes!!

HI!!!!!

Happy end of October to you all!

Yes, I know that we have a few more days of October but it's almost gone!!! Crazy, right?

Well, today's post is a late Vintage Christmas post. It should have been done a couple of days ago but life gets hectic sometimes.

Can you believe that there is only 59 days until Christmas??? That means only 8 weekends left to shop. Once the fall hits it comes up so quickly!

Well, today lets talk wrapping paper and more recipes!!

First, WRAPPING PAPER...

I've scoured the Internet trying to find decent, affordable vintage wrapping paper. I say affordable because some of the nice wrapping paper from the 1940's and 1950's can be as much as $20.00 for a SHEET. Not an entire roll, but a SHEET.

That works if you have a small family. Say just you and your partner/spouse but what if you want everybody in your family to feel the Vintage Christmas spirit?? That just won't do. So I've tried to find whole rolls to feature but it was difficult.

While I was searching I noticed that wrapping paper has actually changed quite a bit. I was expecting not to find much difference in it but...I did. First of all today's wrapping paper is not as...ummm..."Christmasy"! The colors are more vibrant these days but the images on the paper of the 40s and 50s just seem to scream Christmas. The patterns are not as busy as ones you find today. When I shop for wrapping paper I always gravitate to the paper that is the more simple. Simple patterns. Simple color palate. Yes, I go through all of that. Some will probably think me silly but, as we all know, I take Christmas very seriously!

There is also a trend of glitter on the wrapping paper. While very pretty and jolly...the darned stuff gets EVERYWHERE! UGH!

 (Sidnote: This reminds me of last year's Viva Las Vegas Burlesque Showcase. The MC had a whole monologue about glitter being like an STD that is impossible to get rid of. Totally inappropriate I know but SUPER funny and kinda true. Once you've been glitterized it's there FOREVER. Take it from this performer whose been in and handled more than her share of glittery costumes. You can take the costume off in May and still find traces of glitter in December!)

To me less is more when it comes to decorating for the holidays in general. And if you are going to go overboard keep parts simple so as not to have your home looking like an Elf had a rave party in your place!!!!!

Ok, back on subject

Of course the place I found the most options was Ebay. Ebay seemed to have more actual rolls of paper. Here are some of my favorites.

1940's

This paper totally gives a feeling of Christmases past. I love the simplicity of it

I always adore a Victorian style Christmas anything!

How cute is this Snowman couple!?!

Not sure if I would actually use this one but the Scotty dog on it is too cute.

1950's

Pin Up girls on wrapping paper?? Ummm...ok...

This one really gives you the feel of the more colorful Christmases of the 1950s

I LOVE this super cute Atomic paper. It's not usually the look I would go for but it would be cute to a gift that is going to someone.  I'm almost positive it wouldn't match my home decor for the season. But I would definitely use it for someone else!

How jolly is this Santa paper?

This would be perfect for those of you with little one!

Now on to RECIPES!!!

A few weeks ago I bought a gaggle of vintage magazines from the month of December. I thought I would share one of them with you...

The first ones I bought were a Better Homes and Gardens from December 1947 and a Woman's Day from December 1945.

The Woman's Day was full to the brim of great holiday baking recipes. So here they are. Let me know if you try any of them. I sure am...

P.S. Please forgive the picture quality. I couldn't scan them because they are so fragile I was afraid to manipulate them too much on the scanner. So I used my camera. You should still be able to follow the recipes with no problem...

Well, that's all for now. I did just order my first vintage tree ornaments the other day!!! As soon as I get them I'll be sure to put them up for show and tell.

Now...It's time for you guys to hop to it and start your preparations!!!!!!




Have a magical day!!!