Happy New Year!

Hope everyone enjoys their New Years Eve and Day! See you all in 2012.

Emily

Image found HERE and edited by me.

Last Outfit of 2011

I can't believe how fast 2011 went by for me. I guess it's true that time seems to pass faster the older we get. 2011 was full of both ups and downs, but much joy and happiness. I am really looking forward to 2012, mostly because it is my final year as a student and I will be organizing an area for an academic film conference in September.... something I am SO excited for!

I found this dress at the Salvation Army and it has been one of my go-to outfits ever since. I am guessing it's from the late 70s and I just love it. One of my goals for 2012 is to purchase less new items and to wear more vintage everyday. This dress helps me accomplish both. Plus, I love how it pairs with my hair, although this photo doesn't really show it. It was taken before I re-dyed my hair.

Does everyone have fabulous NYE plans? Jesse and I are seeing a concert then celebrating with friends at a cool little vintage-esque lounge bar in Detroit. Whatever you all are doing, have a wonderful time! And Happy New Year!!

Emily

Vintage Dress: Salvation Army

Shoes: JC Penny

Looking for Vintage?

Here is my shameless plug for my etsy shop. This is just a sample of what will be available within the next week or so on etsy. However, if you visit my facebook page, you will find an album of sneak peeks. If you see something you like and want to reserve it before it goes live on etsy, please leave me a comment here, on my facebook page, or shoot me an email and I will be happy to do so!

Thanks!

Emily

Holiday Wrap Up

Thanks for all the Christmas wishes! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday! It was nice to take a break and spend sometime with family. On Christmas Eve, I joined my family for church and had the chance to wear my "new" 50s cashmere coat, which is pictured above. It was already dark out by the time I took these pictures, so I didn't get a good shot of the coat, but I am sure I will be wearing it again soon. The coat was originally destined to the shop, but once I tried it on, I just had to keep it!

If you follow my facebook page then you might have already seen my "Kitchmas" wreath. I bought the wreath and glittery bow at Target and then jazzed it up with a vintage elf that was in my Grandma's stash of Christmas stuff and a few small ornaments. I am pretty pleased with how it turned out and will enjoy it for years to come!

Under my coat, I wore this 40s red suit, which has TONS of buttons on the front. I wish the camera would have picked up the detail better. I paired the suit with some faux leopard peep toe heels. I just love red and leopard print together.

My tree was my Grandma's then my mom's and now mine. Its from the 60s and requires each branch to be put in separately. It's pretty fragile, so I'm not sure how long it will last, but I did enjoy having it up this year -- my first tree! I decided to use these lights, since they had a vintage feel to them and they were plastic bulbs rather than glass. For the last few years, I have been collecting vintage ornaments to trim my tree with and two years ago, found my sweet vintage glass tree topper at the Ann Arbor Flea Market. I had the hardest time tracking down some tinsel, so hopefully next year I will be able to find some. Then my tree will be complete.

Hope everyone is keeping warm!

Emily

50s Cashmere Coat, Vintage Rhinestone Earrings: Salvation Army

40s Red Suit: eBay

Pin: Grandma's

Faux Leopard Print Heels: Target

Merry Christmas!

Just popping in to wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

Vintage Poncho: Fab Gabs

Vintage Western Shirt: Value World

Changes

Can you all believe that Christmas is creeping up so quickly? I have so much I need to do before the weekend, including a lot of baking and gift wrapping. These are two things I really enjoy, so I am looking forward to the next few days filled with these activities.

I have been experimenting again with my "look." When I found this dress at the Salvation Army, I just knew I HAD to have it, even though it is not my usual 40s-60s look. Lately, I have been really drawn to 70s fashion and this terry cloth dress fit the bill. I like how the blue looks with my red hair (which I have been wearing in pigtails a lot lately!) and just the overall "fun" nature of this outfit. Sometimes changes and trying out new things are good.

I might be sparse until after the New Year, but while I am away, I will be overhauling the blog and my etsy. I am really excited about my new endeavorers selling vintage and cannot wait to share it all with you!

Don't forget about my facebook giveaway. Contest ends tomorrow at 11 p.m. Winner will be announced on my facebook page on Thursday morning.

Happy Holidays!!

Emily

70s Dress: Salvation Army

Silver Tights: Target

Boots: UGGS

Facebook Giveaway

Just in time for the holidays, I am hosting a chance to win this fantastic vintage fur collar and NOS purse. Like what you see and want to enter?

Visit my facebook page and leave a comment on the photo. This is a FACEBOOK ONLY giveaway. Any comments left on the blog as an entry will NOT be counted. The giveaway is open to US residents. All the rules for entry are on my facebook page.

Good Luck!!

Emily

Baby its Cold Outside

Is it feeling like winter by you? It sure is here!!

I wanted to answer some questions about my faux fireplace and logs from my last post. The logs are electric and are a separate piece from the fireplace itself. This will allow me to take them with me if and when I move. And, although they are pretty, they do not offer up any heat. They do, however, mock a real fire by "crackling" and slightly changing colors as the wheel turns. If you like mine and want your own, check out this listing on eBay.

Moving on, isn't this dress great? I got it for $1 at an estate sale. It was a total surprise find. I had seen the listing for the sale online, but it didn't really look too promising. But, since the sale was only a few blocks from my house, I decided to go anyway.... and boy am I glad that I did! I came away with several bags full of vintage goodies, this dress being among them. It's super warm and comfy -- the perfect winter dress.

Emily

P.S. In case you are wondering, that wonderful vintage slate tile lines the entry into my house. Just love it!

40s Dress: Estate Sale

Bakelite Bracelet: Adams Antique Mall, PA

40s Heels: Garage Sale

Christmas at Retroville

Now that I finished grading the CIN 150 finals, I have be able to begin decorating for Christmas at Retroville. It has been so exciting to decorate for the holidays for the first time AND to finally be able to display all the vintage Christmas things I have collected over the years. Today, I will be sharing my faux fireplace that is in my front room. The real fireplace in my back room doesn't have a mantle and since this one doesn't accommodate fires, it was the prefect place to hang the stockings -- which are more for decoration than purpose. They were just too cute to only hang two.

This dear and bottle brush tree are new to my collection. The tree was purchased at my local craft and antique mall when they were having a really stellar sale. The dear was a steal at 29 cents at the Salvation Army.

My mom came up with the idea to place this Merry Christmas sign on the mirror -- love it! The sign, which I have had for a few years now, was purchased for $1 at an estate sale. I love the font of the lettering and its resemblance to a Shiny Bright ornament.

Probably one of my most favorite things about my house is the faux fireplace. When I was little, I used to love it when my Grandma would turn on the logs and I would be instantly mesmerized by the crackles and the slightly changing colors as the wheel turned. As an adult, I still think this is pretty cool. Either I am easily entertained or this is truly some vintage coolness.

Stay tuned for a look at my vintage Christmas tree. :)

Emily

3 down, 1 to go

That's right, lovely readers, I only have one semester left of graduate school.... and boy am I happy! I have been a student for nearly 20 years, that is if you count preschool, and I sure am excited to no longer be a student come the end of April.

Anyway, as I turn in my final papers for this semester, here's a look at one of my outfits from a week or so ago. I have been so bogged down with paper writing that my little blog has had to take a backseat. However, I have been taking lots of photos of outfits, my house (which now has freshly cleaned vintage furniture in it), and my holiday decorations that I have been putting up in between all this writing.

This grey dress is one of the ones I bought on my trip to PA. I got it in a cute little shop called Yesterday's News in Pittsburgh. I belted the sweater and wore my favorite black velvet pumps. Good thing I got to take these for a spin before all the snow!

Emily

40s Dress: Yesterday's News, Pittsburgh

Belt: Off another dress

Sweater: Target

40s Velvet Pumps: Estate Sale

Welcome to the 21st Century....

Welp! I have joined the rest of you all in the 21st century. Livin' Vintage is now on facebook.

Look forward to finding sneak peaks for up coming blog posts, shop updates, and much more. That's right... I am re-opening my etsy and let me tell you -- I have found some really stellar stuff, if I do say so myself! Look for new items being added the first week of December.

I also figured that the facebook page would be a wonderful way for me to connect with my readers more. I look forward to this. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American Readers!!

This year I will be remembering my fabulous Grandma, who went to live in Heaven last Thanksgiving. I am so thankful that she was my Gram and that she was with us for so many years.

I'm Singin' in the Rain

I have finally found a dye that I like and that achieves the rich redness that I have been hoping for. I found it at Sally's. It's Loreal Excellence HiColor HiLights in the shade RED for dark hair. I really did not want to have to take the plunge into bleaching my hair first to get the bight red; this does it in one step. While I loved my Garnier Fructis, this dye trumps that for sure.

Anywho, it was kind of warm last weekend -- I didn't even really need a coat or sweater -- something I am certainly already longing for!

If last winter was the winter of experimenting with boots and tights, than this winter is definitely the year of pushing boundaries when it comes my color palette. I simply refuse to adhere to the "traditional" or "acceptable" colors of the season. Plus the brightness of these dresses helps beat the winter blues. And anyways, aren't the "fashion rules" kind of dead now?

Emily

P.S. Isn't that street art awesome?! It's on the side of a sandwich shop in Royal Oak, a trendy downtown area near my home.

40s Dress: Chocolate Vintage

Tights: Target

Flats: JC Penny

PA Trip Part Two

Some of my finds from the trip. I did get a lot of clothes as well, but those will be appearing on the blog soon in some outfit posts.

1. Vintage Tapestry Handbag, $15 Retrospect (A Goodwill Vintage Retail Store)

2. Vintage Owl, $2 Philly AIDS Thrift

3. 50s Pattern, $2 Antique Mall in Adamstown

4. Bakelite Bangle and Earrings Set, $16 Adam's Antique Mall, Adamstown

5. Vintage Bamboo Vase, $5 Adam's Antique Mall, Adamstown

6. 50s Revlon Aquamarine Lotion, $6 Adam's Antique Mall, Adamstown

7. Vintage Barkcloth Fabric, $2 Antique Mall in Adamstown (from same vendor as #3)

8. Vintage Seal Salt and Pepper Shakers, $2 Philly AIDS Thrift

9. Vintage Plastic Belt Buckle, $1 Antique Mall in Adamstown

That is pretty much all the "smalls" that I picked up on my trip. I couldn't believe I was able to get that bakelite set for $16!! I would have paid that alone for the bracelet.

I have to say, I was pretty impressed with the offerings in Adamstown. Apparently, they do a yearly fair/festival thing and it is something I would definitely consider attending in the future.

If anyone is interested, I can do a post on the different stores I went to and give a sort of review.

Emily

PA Trip Part One

I'm finally getting around to recapping my trip to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Jesse and I had a wonderful time and did a ton of shopping! :) This post is packed with pictures, so I split it into two posts. Check back tomorrow to see some of my finds.

DAY 1

On Thursday we started out for Pittsburgh, which is about 5 hours from Detroit. It was a smooth ride and it doesn't hurt that the Ohio Turnpike has some of the nicest rest stops around! I wore one of my new Swirls for the drive. Comfortable without sacrificing cute.

OUTFIT DETAILS

Swirl: eBay

50s Sweater: Regeneration

Flats: Target

Later that night we checked out some of the nightlife of Pittsburgh. We wondered into a tiki themed bar and I ordered the "Big Bamboo Love Song." If you paid a little extra, you got to keep your mug. Pandas are among my favorite animals, so I opted to keep the mug. It is now awaiting a plant.

DAY 2
The following day, we spent the morning in Pittsburgh and ate a scrumptious breakfast at Quiet Storm. It was so yummy! Then we checked out a few vintage stores and one giant record store, where Jesse and I both found some vinyl to add to our collections. I bought this skirt from ActDecoDame right before my trip and was delighted that it came in time for me to wear it. I just love it!

OUTFIT DETAILS

Modern Sweater: Great Centers of Hope Thrift

60s Top: Church Rummage Sale

Belt and Flats: Target

60s Skirt: Etsy

DAY 3

The night before we go into Philly late and decided to just take it easy for the night. The following morning we got up early to check out SAZZ vintage -- a warehouse of bins of vintage clothing. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. Their website lead me to believe that there would be a wide selection of 40s and 50s dresses. There was not. The woman's section was much smaller than the mens and the older stuff was few and much higher priced. On top of that, for the $18 price tag you were NOT getting pristine pieces. With all that said, I did come away with a few pieces and Jesse made out like a bandit. He digs the 70s and there was plenty of that at cheap prices.

In the afternoon, we stopped at this little diner for lunch. It appeared to be a real Paramount Deluxe Dining Car. I had a simple grilled cheese and Jesse opted to try "mexican fries," which were regular fries with peppers on them.

DAY 4

On our way home, we stopped at "Antiques Capital of USA" aka Adamstown, PA. This little town packs in several antique malls and stores. I could have spent a whole day here, but time was semi-limited. We were able to hit up three of the malls and we both found some really great deals -- some of which I will share tomorrow. If you are ever passing the area, I would highly recommend planning to spend some time in this town. The shopping is excellent!

OUTFIT DETAILS

40s Dress: etsy

Modern Sweater: Plato's Closet

Tights: Kohls

40s Shoes: Estate Sale

Emily

Shabby Apple Winner

Hey guys! Sorry for the silence! I promise I will be back soon with some great posts, including my trip to Pennsylvania. Until then, here's the winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway.

#3 was rosemariee!!! Congrats!!! Please email me by Friday with your name, phone number, shipping address, email address, and size of dress. Thank you to everyone that entered and of course to Shabby Apple for sponsoring this giveaway!!

P.S. Check out Coedith's post on Fall Fashion. She featured me as one of her favorite looks!! Thanks Coedith!!!

Cider Mill

Two weekends ago, Jesse and I drove out to one of our local cider mills to enjoy some fresh apple cider and donuts. It still is quite warm here in Michigan, especially for November, so we strolled the path along the river. I wore my rain boots to be practical, plus they are pretty comfy too.

I love this dress; it's among some of the earliest that I own that is still in wearable condition. It fastens on the side with buttons, has a slightly higher waistline, and has a longer hemline, so I am dating it to before WWII. I had kind of forgotten about it, luckily the weather was still warm enough to justify wearing it!

Emily

Early 40s Dress: Bloomfield Vintage Apparel Show

Tights and Rain Boots: Target

50s/60s Sweater: Salvation Army

Catching Up

It's so good to be back! My trip to Pennsylvania was a ton of fun and I can't wait to share it all, but first I have some catching up to do.

A week and a half ago was my 24th birthday. The day started off with hitting up a thrift store with my mom, where she bought me an awesome green vinyl chair. We then went to some estate sales and my mom bought me the COOLEST mid century modern rocker. I cannot wait to share it!! Later on, Jesse took me out to a wonderful dinner at PF Chang's where I devoured the salt and pepper calamari -- my favorite! After dinner, we went out for drinks. It was a great birthday!

And to show what a keeper I've got, look what Jesse got me for my birthday! Vintage carved bakelite earrings and a sweet mushroom glasses case holder -- both I LOVE! He also got me a Swirl, but that's for another post.

Emily

Late 50s Dress: Regeneration

Belt and Tights: Target

60s Lizard Shoes: Estate Sale

Vintage Bakelite Earrings: Gift from Jesse

Shabby Apple Giveaway

Recently, I was contacted by Danya at Shabby Apple to do a giveaway; which I thought my readers would love. I selected Boogie Woogie, not only because the name is so cute, but also because it is pretty versatile little black dress. Shabby Apple has many other women's dresses, many which have a vintage flair to them, however, I felt this one was prefect for the up coming holiday season. I especially like how Shabby Apple has chosen to style the dress -- I'm totally digging the long white gloves, pearls, and hat!

Love this dress and want a chance to win one in your size? Here's how to enter:

Check out Shabby Apple on facebook and like their page. After doing so, leave me a comment telling me that you did.

Want additional entries?

1. Blog about the giveaway, linking back to this post. Leave me a comment with the link to your post.

2. Follow my blog and leave a new comment. If you are already a follower, leave a new comment as well for an extra entry.

3. Tweet or post to facebook, linking back to this post. Leave a new comment with the link.

You have a total of 4 entries per person. Winner must live in the U.S. There are no exchanges. Giveaway open until November 11, 2011.

Readers of Livin' Vintage have also been offered a 10% off code. Enter "livinvintage10off" to receive 10% off your Shabby Apple purchase valid for the next 30 days.

Good Luck!!!!

Emily

Happy Halloween!!

Ever since finding this dress in early summer, I have been patiently waiting until Halloween to wear it. It really is the perfect Halloween dress.

Happy Halloween!!

Emily

Late 50s Patio Dress: Regeneration

Sweater: Target

Bracelets: Estate Sale, Flea Market, & Value World

Earrings: Were my Grandma's

Shoes: JC Penny

Sponsor Livin' Vintage

So, I have decided to start accepting sponsors for Livin' Vintage. As I prepare to relaunch my etsy and work to create a "brand" for myself, it was about time to offer some advertising space here on the blog.

I am currently accepting sponsors for the Month of November. If interested, you will receive a space to the left of my blog. Right now I am offering three sizes, which are pictured below.

Those prices reflect one month's fee. Discounts apply for three, six, nine, and twelve month commitments. I'd also be delighted to trade ad space for clothing, shoes, accessories, etc.

So you want to advertise on Livin' Vintage? Here's how it works: send me an email at livinvintage@hotmail.com outlining duration of ad (1 month, 3 months etc), a copy of the ad itself, and payment method (i.e. paypal or a trade). I will then send you an invoice and once payment is received, your ad will go up and will be live on Livin' Vintage until the end of the month.

Emily

Untitled

I had a heck of a time trying to figure out a title for this post, ergo the "untitled" name given to it. This past weekend, Jesse and I went to see Dennis Coffey at this theatre/concert venue, which very much had the feel of an old night club -- sans cute cigarette girls and cozy booths. It was a great show and if you haven't listened to Dennis Coffey before, I highly recommend him.

I wore this 60s/70s polyester zip front dress and now that I look back on it, I have mixed feelings about this outfit. The dress is too big, so I belted it. It did keep me warm, which was the point, so I guess that is a plus.

Emily

60s/70s Dress: Value World

Boots: Target

Bakelite Bracelet: eBay

Earrings: Salvation Army

Road Trip

Two weeks from today, Jesse and I will be taking a road trip to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia -- sort of a belated birthday tip. I wanted to ask my readers, first if I should visit any shops that I do not have listed below, which is our tentative itinerary. And second, if there was any vintage bloggers in either of these locations that would like to do a blogger meet up?

I have done some research online and these are the places I have planned for us to check out while in each city.

PITTSBURGH

Yesterdays News

Hey Betty

Eons Fashion Antique

PHILADELPHIA

Sazz Vintage Clothing!!

Buffalo Exchange

Philadelphia Vintage

Decades Vintage

The Goodwill Outlet - South Philadelphia Outlet Store

Retrospect Vintage

Of course, if we see a thrift store or the like, we are planning to stop, however, these are the major planned locations. Am I going to miss out on anything? Also, are there any great restaurants they we should try? Jesse has been to Pittsburgh, but neither of us have been to Philadelphia and I am so excited to check out the city!

If you are interested in doing a blogger meet up, please send me an email!

Emily

Telephone Cord Purse

For a whole now, I have been wanting a telephone cord purse. I have always been attracted to the colorful aesthetic of these bags and their fun designs. I found this bag this weekend at the vintage clothing show I went to. I was pretty surprised that it was priced under $20 and it hadn't been snatched up yet. Minus a few stains on the cords, which I am sure I can get out, its in really great shape and was quite the bargain! And other than the dice bracelet I got, is my favorite find from the show.

Does anyone else have a vintage telephone cord purse? I would love to see it! :)

Emily

Dice and Sailor Pants

This past weekend was the Bloomfield Hills Jewelry and Vintage Apparel Show. Its a twice yearly show and tends offer the cream of the crop selection of vintage clothing. This is my third year of attendance (don't know how I didn't hear about it sooner) and I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the selection this year. Granted, I didn't get to the show until it had been open for several hours, but I have done that in the past and still walked away with arms full of goodies. I suspect that the lack of good estate sales this past year might have something to do with it. Regardless, I was still able to find three really nice pieces.

One of which is this vintage dice bracelet. I love novelty items and this was too cute to pass up. Plus, if I ever make it to Viva Las Vegas, this bracelet will be a great addition to an outfit. I also bought a cute dress, which I will have to wait for spring to wear, and a purse that I will share with you all tomorrow.

It got pretty chilly here this weekend, so I was finally able to break out some of my fall clothing. I have had these vintage sailor pants for a few years now and never had quite the right top to wear with them. I recently found this vintage wool sweater at the thrift store and I think they match pretty nicely. I also have been living in these shoes. They are comfortable and are oh so cute!

And you might be able to tell in the first photo, I re-dyed my hair -- as it was in great need of a touch up. This time I tried Loreal Fiera Power Red in the shade Ruby Rush. I liked it alright, no major complaints. We'll see how long this one lasts until it begins to fade.

Emily

50s Wool Sweater: Salvation Army

Vintage Navy Pants: Estate Sale

50s Mesh Flats: eBay

Vintage Dice Bracelet: Bloomfield Hills Jewelry & Vintage Apparel Show

Final Bits of Summer

This past week was probably the last bit of warmer weather we will see here in Metro Detroit. I say probably because you never know with Michigan. It could snow here one day and be 75 degrees the next. This is one of the reasons I opt not to have a seasonal closet; though I think I might enjoy having one.

I have had a good run of estate sales lately -- many with vintage clothing and lots of mid century modern home goods. I have been able to get a lot of the final pieces for Retroville and once I get the rest of the carpet pulled up, I plan on hosting a tour here on my blog. I am shooting for December, since I will be finishing up with my last fall semester of grad school.

Also around this time will be the relaunch of my etsy store. After doing the D.I.Y. and enjoying it so much, it made me want to get back on etsy, so I have been compiling tons of vintage goodies to load my shop with and plan to go live in December!

Anywho, I got this top, which I am pretty sure is a vintage apron, at an estate sale a few weekends ago. I don't think it was ever worn, as the fabric was crisp and stain-free. I feel it's too cute to wear over a dress and get spills on it during cooking, so I'm wearing it as a top.

Emily

Vintage Apron worn as Shirt: Estate Sale

Jeans: JC Penny

Keds: Plato's Closet

Tulips on a Swirl

Hi, I'm Emily and I am addicted to Swirl dresses.

Another Swirl? Yes, but this one was just so cute, I just couldn't pass it up. I could just live in these dress...... oh wait, I kinda do! ;) Whenever I am not feeling like getting dressed or picking out an outfit, I always turn to my trusty Swirl dresses. They are flattering and you only have one piece to put on -- which I love. And, the major bonus is these dresses almost always have pockets, which I am a huge fan of. Whoever designed this was a smart person!

Emily

50s Swirl Dress: eBay

White Tennis Shoes: Target

Kitchen King

I think this is by far one of my favorite vintage kitchen gadgets that I have ever found. Not only are the graphics on the box super cute, but there is actually a French Fry Potato Cutter on the inside!

I got this over the weekend at an estate sale that was being held in a warehouse. I filled up a box and got the whole box for $28, which was filled with vintage purses, records, and vintage children's clothes. I haven't tried this guy out yet, but I cannot wait to, as it looks like it hasn't really been used. The cutter is in near perfect shape, no rust and the leaver moves smoothly. I only hope I will look as glamourous as the lady on the front of the box while I "cut 25 in one stroke." :)

Emily

Perfect Weekend Dress

I wish the weekend was longer. It always seems to fly by so quickly, probably because I normally try and pack as much as I can into these two days. I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Here in Michigan, we were treated to summer-like weather, with the temps in the high 70s and low 80s! Because of this, I was able to take a few of my summer dresses out for one last spin before the colder weather arrives.

This is one of the dresses I acquired at the Midland Flea Market for $10. It's a sweet little 40s wrap house dress that I am sure was some lady's favorite, due to some holes, faint stains, and repairs. None the less, I love the dress and feel it is the perfect thing to wear out to the farmer's market and to estate sales. The pocket on the hip is perfect for holding some cash and my cell phone while out, eliminating the need for a purse. And, while I love purses, I love the ability to just throw the essentials into my pocket and have my hands and arms free for shopping.

Emily

40s Wrap House Dress: MIdland Flea Market

White Tennis Shoes: Target

Adventures in Canning

A few weeks ago, I found 10 "quilted" canning jars at the Salvation Army for a few dollars and decided to buy them and try out canning. In the past I have done the freezer jar canning, which is near foolproof, but I have never done any "real" canning.

Fast forward to two weekends ago, Jesse and I got up early and headed to Eastern Market to stock up on some fresh produce for me to can. When we got home, I got busy and put my jars and rings in the dishwasher and starting on prepping the produce. After I found the jars at the thrift store, I ended up purchasing four large jars and six freezer jars so I could preserve more. I made peach freezer jam with the plastic jars and pickles and salsa with the glass jars. Overall, I thought my first time canning went well. I wish I would have taken pictures while canning! Above are some of the pickles and salsa that was left over for me after I gave some away to my parents and Jesse.

I followed the recipe for pickles on the jar of pickling spices by Ball and just made salsa like I would normally, brought it to a boil and then placed it in the jars and proceeded with the canning process. It was really quite easy. So, if you are thinking about trying out canning and haven't before, it isn't hard, just a bit time consuming, but it's SO worth it. :)

Emily

The Wild

It's not very often that I score really collectible vintage stuff in the wild. Finding bakelite, lucite purses, and Swirl dresses normally requires searching the good ole interwebs. However, occasionally I get lucky and find one of these such items while out thrifting, a.k.a in The Wild.

This Swirl was such a find. While combing the racks at a booth at the Midland Flea Market, I came across this dress, realized it was a Swirl and was super giddy at my luck. There was, however, no price tag and I was sure the seller was going to say some crazy number. Instead she held up 5 fingers. $5?! Ummm.... Yes!!! Seriously, the best deal I have ever gotten on a Swirl and I am sure I will probably never get this lucky again. Isn't the print just darling?

Emily

50s Swirl: Midland Flea Market

Sweater: Target

Old Navy Jelly Flats: Plato's Closet

Midland Flea Market 2011 Haul

Two weekends ago, Jesse and I made the drive to the Midland Flea Market, something I wait for all year long. The Midland Flea Market is the biggest flea market in Michigan and only happens three weekends a year. I always choose to go the last weekend it is held and on the Sunday, as dealers are trying to move their stuff and the prices always seems better. Jesse and I both found some really great stuff. Here are my finds:

1. A "Swanky Swig" pitcher with glass top. I found one like this last year and was delighted to find another one this year. The Midland Flea Market is the only place I have ever seen these before and I use my other one all the time, so this was a great find at $10.

2. A vintage elephant planter -- $3

3. Vintage owl eye glasses holder. I about squealed when I found this!! Your glasses rest on his nose and he is currently residing on my bedside table. For $3, this HAD to come home with me!

4. Vintage birdie vase -- $8 I love birds and this vase fits right in in my new kitchen at Retroville.

5. Plate with vintage transfer -- $1

6. Daguerreotype -- $10

7. Five vintage metal curlers -- $1

8. Vintage chalkware birdies -- $4 for the pair

9. Fireking Peach Glaze pie plate -- $5 I actually have never come across one of these before and am kinda kicking myself for not just buying the other one that was there, but I was trying to be frugal and plus, do I really need two Fireking pie plates?

Not pictured is four vintage dresses, including a Swirl (check back tomorrow for its reveal), a lobby card, and a record of the Grasshoppers singing the Beatles.

All in all, this was a great year and I already can't wait for next year.

Emily

Pushing Comfort

Lately, I have been trying to have more fun while dressing, paying less attention to being "matchy" and more attention to trying new things. This ^ was such an attempt.

The more I wear vintage and shop for vintage, the more I realize why I am so drawn to it. Yes, I am attractive to its aesthetic nature and the fact that it hails from some of my favorite decades in history, but I also love it because it is different and, for the most part, a one-of-a-kind item. It's because of its uniqueness that I am partially drawn to it and I have come to desire this to reflect in the way I dress. Clothes are one of the major ways we shows others who we are and I want my clothes to reflect who I am.... or at least try to. :)

Emily

60s Warp Dress: Killer Estate Sale

Green Sweater: St. Vincent de Paul Thrift

Purple Tights: Kohls

50s/60s Mesh Mary Janes: eBay

Week of Product Reviews: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in Fair

After seeing many commercials promoting Maybelline's dark circle concealer, I decided to try it when it went on sale. I am trying to use my Max Factor Pan Stick sparingly, since it is no longer available in the US -- thanks P & G. Anyway, I have been trying out new concealers to see if I can find one that is comparable to Max Factors, which I know probably isn't going to happen. Have any of you US girls had any luck with purchasing Max Factor products online?

I have been using this concealer for about a week now and I have mix feelings about it. I have followed the directions on the tube for how to apply it under your eyes and I still feel it doesn't make much of a difference and isn't anything special. Granted, I do not have a major problem with dark circles, I would still like to cover up what I do have and I don't feel this does any better of a job than other concealers.

I do, however, think it is an excellent blemish concealer and this is what I have been using it for. I like the sponge tip that I can apply directly to my face, eliminating the use for a brush or my fingers.

I haven't found this is be very long lasting. By the end of the day, I can see all the spots I previously covered up, which if I am spending $9 on something, I would hope that it would work, at least for the length of a day.

I am going to use this up and probably never purchase it again. Any ideas on finding a good replacement for my beloved Max Factor Pan Stick?

I have purchased the product discussed above and am not associated with Maybelline, nor was I compensated by any means for this review. This is my own personal opinion of the product.

Week of Product Reviews: NYX Trio Eyeshadow in Sping Leaf/Lime Green/Green Tea

I think it would be a pretty fair assessment that NYX is rapidly becoming my favorite brand of make-up. Up until last week, I have never bought anything from their line and am now wishing I would have sooner. :)

This eyeshadow trio appealed to me because I liked that the colors could theoretically work well on their own or together with the others in the pallet. What I discovered when I tried it for the first time was how creamy the shadow was, yet it still was a powder shadow. The powder just glides on and has a long lasting staying power, without clumping on you later in the day. I really like that I can mix and match the shades and it always seems to work out. I don't think I have ever had this experience with a trio or quad set before.

I have purchased the product discussed above and am not associated with NYX, nor was I compensated by any means for this review. This is my own personal opinion of the product.