Thrifted Halloween

Skirt: Consigned / Sweater: Goody's / Tights: TJ Maxx / Necklace: Grandma's / Shoes: Maurices

The Thrifting Fairies have gifted me with multiple decade costumes, which are seldom appropriate throughout the year. Thank goodness for Halloween.

This year I was Cinderella for a Halloween themed Bunco party.  For Trunk-or-Treat and school, I went as a 20s flapper, courtesy of the DI and my mother-in-law with eyes like a hawk, who spotted this fab frock for only $9...

For chaperoning the school Halloween dance, I went in my bona-fide 60s dress, courtesy of the Lincoln City Goodwill for $9.50 {dress & glasses}...



By the time for actual Trick-or-Treating with friends who have children to use for an excuse, I was tired of dressing up, so I went for some basic orange and black. Velvet skirt courtesy of Avant Garb, a consignment shop in Ashland. And yes, that's a matchy-matchy pumpkin prop you see in those photos up top. I thought it could use a little adventure away from the credenza.

My plan is to get really fat in the New Year, so I figured I'd better use these puppies now while they still fit.  Three costumes in one year may be my max, but it's certainly not my best. Last year I was a flower. The Husband was a bee. Pun intended.

We've also been legos, an accident victim and her lawyer with "Just Sue It" cards, swing-dancing Goths, and the random duo of Betty Rubble and The King.

We kinda like Halloween. Too bad all my photos of Halloween pasts are locked away on my hard-drive. The Husband thinks he may have to drill a hole into the tower to get it out.

Cendrillon

Dress & Bracelet: Vintage / Shoes: ? Possibly Wal Mart. My lost glass slippers were from Shoe Show if that helps / Clutch & Earrings: Gabes (Michael Kors &1928) / Necklace: Grandmother's

I'm in a Bunco group. It's not therapy; it's an old lady game, people. And it's fun. This month we got to dress up, and I finally, after many long years of princess envy, went as Cinderella.

I may or may not have been planning this since I first saw Cindy on screen back in the late 80s. I may or may not have photos of me sneaking into the children's size large Cinderella costume while closing the princess room at the Emporium in Disney's Magic Kingdom. {Too bad for you that I've yet to retrieve the hard drive from my old computer. I've no clue how to get a screwdriver into the tiny corners where those blimey screws are located...}

I may have decorated the walls of my Florida apartment with posters, signed photos, and picture frames depicting said princess. It's even possible that I carried a Cinderella-themed bag back when I worked for the Mouse.

I may also have had imitation pantoufles de verre*... I even lost one of them. OK, so actually, I lost both. Hence the silver sandals instead of clear slippers. But, most importantly, I definitely thrifted the best 50s interpretation of Cinderella I've ever seen. Veritable vintage and princess, all in one package.

I may have just died and gone to heaven.

Or lost some follows, now that you all know how weirdly obsessed I am...Meanwhile, I'm going to bask in my ultimate princess-ness and enjoy my blissful moment of happily ever after.

P.S. My job is still making me tread water. One of my classes has reached 50! Fifty high schoolers. In one room. I think I'd prefer the wicked step-family and obnoxious cat. On the bright side, I've been traveling every weekend {the coast, Portland, the Gorge, Bend, Jackson, etc.} and documenting fun outfits all the way. Which means I've a TON of outfits to post when you count the 30x30 and summer I still need to finish. So hopefully, one day, I'll post them. Maybe this winter they'll be a marvelous reminder of the lovely weather to come.

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Cendrillon = Cinderella { of course...} / pantoufles de verre = glass slippers

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A few months later...

Now that my hard-drive has been retrieved, I just had to share. Below are my beloved Cinderella photos from my time working at Disney.

 Clockwise from top left:  Hanging with Cindy on my birthday, the Share a Dream Come True parade, trying on the children's Cinderella costume in the Emporium (I was too afraid of my managers catching me to come out of the dressing room), and her iconic glass slipper on display.

Now if I could just get some friendly birds and mice to help me clean and mend my clothes, my life would be complete...

The Fixer Upper, Reinvented

 Skirt Suit, Belt, Bracelet: Gabes / Shoes: Ross (Aerosoles) / Lace Top: Charlotte Russe / Tank: Thrifted (Loft) / Necklace: TJ Maxx

My sad little blogger world suddenly revolves around EBEW, which I can't bear to miss despite the fact that my photos are still too large { I finally got my new computer! Just waiting for files to be rescued from the old one and to get Photoshop on here so 30x30/Europe posting can recommence :)}

With my insane schedule I thought there was no way I could participate in this month's DIY feature. I can barely keep up with planning and grading, and I'm not super savvy with a sewing machine. My mamaw got me a basic one for Christmas in college, because I desperately wanted to be the next Coco Chanel. I promptly used it to spruce up my spring break swimsuit with what I thought to be some very sophisticated decoration, then considered myself appropriately versed in all things sewing and gave it up entirely after remembering I was a French major planning to vacation at Cocoa Beach, not a fashion apprentice headed to Saint Barts.

I briefly considered featuring that swimsuit, but how lame would that be for October? Then I remembered  there was another project I tackled before retiring from major DIY.  I'd purchased a cherry skirt suit from Gabes, thinking I got a sweet steal for a perfect grad outfit, only to get it home and find the sleeves were two different lengths, the jacket was too wide, and the hemline was most unflattering.

I managed to modify it well enough before retiring my machine to a lifetime of mending and easier projects, like adding lace inserts to mischievous skirt slits.  My little red suit served its purpose well, then I tucked it in the back of my closet and haven't looked at it since. Till now. When I realized I could bust it out not only for a DIY feature, but to also continue my allegiance for a color blocking feature.  In the most fashionable way possible. Which, of course, is by breaking the rules and following the fab footsteps of Emma Stone, SJP, and Zoe Saldana.

There was a time I was too traumatized to dare reds and pinks in the palest of doses, but I'd say this rich combo proves I'm fully cured. {You can read about my traumatizing experience with reds at the end of this post, if it strikes your fancy.}

And there you have it. I've no tutorial for you. Not even any before shots. There was no process to my madness. I don't think I even had a measuring tape. And I'm certain I didn't do a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. And because I know I'm going to feel completely outdone seeing everyone else's marvelous masterpieces, I thought about throwing in a photo of that plain white tankini, which the sting of a fresh break-up inspired me to fancify with an extra strap, belt, and ties. Stitched by yours truly.  It's amazing, the creative energy a blow to your self esteem can expose. And I didn't even know about DIY tutorials at that time.

But then I remembered my computer crashed. Quel dommage!

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*Quel dommage = Too bad!

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Joyeaux Anniversaire

 Shoes: J Crew via DownEast / Tank & Cardi: J Crew final sale / Capris: Gap ($12!) / Purse: Deux Luxe / Necklace: Ruche

So, my computer thought it was prime time to crash. With half my unfinished 30x30 and Europe photos and several others documenting our summer fun.  Lovely, lovely, lovely.

The good news is that I've been comforting myself with Strawberry Champagne Almond cupcakes. The recipe's at the bottom of this post, if you're interested in such delectable distractors.

Up top are shots from after the crash. It was my birthday. Yes, I get to have my birthday during my favorite month which heralds in my favorite season. And this year, I got to spend it in Utah with some of my favorite people. We went to pay our last respects to Scott's dear, sweet grandmother, and had such a wonderful time with his family. 

For my birthday there was sleeping in then picnicking with the family {I just love them!} at Sliding Rock, a bona fide water slide in the mountains. It's glacier water, people, so it was cold, but so worth it. Even the Hound enjoyed herself.  I think.

There was also shopping. The Husband surprised me with a gift card to DownEast, my favorite little shop that sells irregular, damaged, or overstocked items from some of my favorite brands. ONE pair of cornflower blue J Crew shoes, in my exact size, was waiting just for me. For $29.99. With a few scuffs on the sole, but otherwise spanking new. There was also a lovely teal coat with an extra button on the tag to replace the one that was missing. They knew it was my birthday, obviously. 

Then there were turkey & brie sandwiches on delightful cranberry walnut bread and a birthday cupcake named after Cinderella, my fav princess, from Flour Girls & Dough Boys. This, of course, led to a picnic up the Timpanogos canyon in my new shoes, because they're so practical for hiking. There I was graced with my first glimpses of beautiful fall color. 

And what blogger birthday would be complete without thrifting? So, of course, there was also a trip to the DI with my sister-in-law where much fun was had and I found 2 fall-colored midi-skirts for $5 each and a $5 silk blouse to go with them. I never find good silk blouses when I thrift. Never. Then I found a brand new pair of Ann-Taylor dark emerald cords. For $6. Icing on the cake, people. The DI obviously knew it was my birthday, too.

I got to end the night playing cards with family and being sang to by the cutest nieces and nephews ever. They kept reminding me that it was my birthday, all smiley and proud. What a perfect day!

We had to go home the next day, and as we passed through the salt flats, moving into the dessert, Ms. Hound expressed her displeasure at being trapped in the back by our new hound hammock / seat protector, I finally remembered to take a photo of the sign for Deeth Starr Valley, the Husband and Hound stretched their legs as we headed up Doherty mountain, and then we were back home. Another year gone, just like that.

P.S. Photoshop and Carbonite are on my to-do list. And I've already ordered a replacement computer. The blog will go on! Just give me time :)

P.P.S. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my dear husband and Utah family for such a marvelous birthday!

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Joyeaux Anniversaire = Happy Birthday

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Color Me Crazy

Coral Capris: Gap ($8!) / Top: B Moss / Shoes: Asos / Belt, Necklace: J Crew final sale / Earrings, Bracelet: Gabes (Monet, Kissaka)

My brain is far too frazzed to create a proper post. {Remember? I'm teaching 4 different courses this year. All of which I've never before taught. Yes, that's 4 preps for 4 new courses. And because class sizes are so lovely and large, I have over 180 students. There are 44 freshmen in just my first period. I must be mental.}

Thus, you get a list:

1. Gap is having an amazing sale right now. Extra 40% off sale items = $8 colored capris.

2.  Refer to the introduction { yes, teaching is always on my brain these days...if my conclusion / final paragraphs summarizes this list, please disregard it...} for one reason I've still yet to finish my Europe and 30x30 posts, which I began in June.

3. A second reason is this:  I found I've already used over half my allotted free space for my blog because my photos are evidently gi-flipping-normous. Half, and I've only been blogging since March. April, really. When I tried to make them smaller with Picnik, they got all weird. Not sure why. I don't know anything about photos, actually.

4. I've ordered Photoshop with my fab-dab-abulous teacher discount! Now I just have to find time to learn to use it...any recommendations for a fab reference guide?

5 Till I do so, I'm a bit afraid to continue posting. Will I have to go back and re-do all the photos in prior posts in smaller sizes? Probably. Do I have time for that? No, certainly not right now. All this is despite the fact that I've got half a 30x30 to finish and an entire summer to blog... I guess for now I'll just learn to cut the photo size, tweak it a bit, and start posting again with that. Once my school schedule slows down, that is. Till then, we'll continue with this glacial snail of a posting pace and it's very possible I'll still be posting summer outfits when it begins to snow.  Thrilling.

6. Since my posts have few and far between, I figured I'd better go all out for this one. So I combined coral, color blocking, and colored pants into one outfit. Three trends with one outfit. Then I threw in an apple tree for good measure. I'm a teacher, yo. And apples are in right now.  Wham. BAM. 

Fin.*

P.S. Do you remember The Odyssey? That wretched, confusing tale we all had to read back in the day? Check out here what brilliant things students are doing with it today. Ah, thank heavens for silver linings :)

P.P.S. I've been consigning at my fav little local shop. And it's super fun. Last week, I got an uber cute little plaid wool blazer from Ralph Lauren, two wool jumpers from Ann Taylor, and a darling Banana Republic dress, all for only $12 after my credit and the current sale were processed. Can't wait to show you!

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*Fin = End { The Frenchies don't add the "The."}

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