Victorian Tea

Dress: Vintage French / Shoes, Hat, Gloves: Thrifted / Necklaces: Grandmother's, J. Crew final sale / Earrings: Vintage

After a month of studying Victorian and modern etiquette, including the etiquette of wooing, writing illustrated love or advice on love letters, reading two novels, holding an etiquette debate, and preparing etiquette presentations, I got to play Queen for the day and host a British Etiquette Tea for my seniors. It was wicked fun, even if I was up till 3 a.m. making 200 scones the night before. After preparing and dressing for the event, I completely understand why Queens have so many servants...

Our community coordinator found / made costumes for my students. She even found some Steam-punk attire, and she reserved this gorgeous vintage French gown for me. She dressed me up like a doll, made the hat to go with the dress, and even did my hair the morning of the event.

During the tea, she snapped several photos of the gorgeous get-up she created for me from various angles:

 Then she insisted upon posing me for photos afterwards. I didn't complain... 

See that? My very own Prince Albert even cleared his schedule to attend the grand event. Unfortunately, the presentations went a tad bit long, and he had to leave before the end, so this is the only photo I've got with my Prince.

Our math teacher made lemon curd and gingerbread, brought loads of dishes and linens, and, while helping set up, decided we needed fresh flowers for the tables and was off to get them.  Our health/gym teacher also brought loads of fancy dishes, linens, and gold silverware, she made dessert, and she helped set up. The principal, who created this event when she was the English teacher, made tiny sandwiches and also brought in sparkling glassware, delicate china, and darling teapots. Our parent coordinator made tiny sandwiches, got all the food out onto the tables, and did loads, and loads, and loads of dishes.

I know I complain a lot about my job. Being the only English teacher at a 180-student charter school, teaching all grades 9-12, hasn't been easy. But being at a small charter school has been fabulous. I can't imagine a better, more dedicated, and helpful staff. So many of them sacrificed their own precious time for my little tea party. Merci mille fois à toutes!

P.S. I'm hesitant to post photos of others on a public blog, especially students, so go here to see more photos from the event!

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*Merci mille fois à toutes! = Thanks a million to all!

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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...

Lake Como: 30x30 Outfit 10

Skirt: TJ Maxx (Patagonia) / Top: Thrifted in Paris (Jus d'Orange) / Shoes: Privo / Necklace, Earrings: AE / Hat: J Crew

We spent the next several days exploring the beautiful Alpine lake in the background here. On this day, we drove from our apartment in Domaso to Menaggio, where we took a ferry to Bellagio, known as the Pearl of Lake Como. Bellagio is located on a peninsula that forms the intersection of the upside down Y shaped lake. The Bellagio hotel in Vegas is designed to aesthetically intimate the aura of this darling commune.

The shoreline is dotted with fancy restaurants and hotels, some with boat entrances, offering lovely Alpine views.

We took the cobbled pedestrian road that winds up a rather steep hill, lined with luxury and artisan shops.

Bellagio is famous for silk, and the Husband got himself a new tie. He surprised me, choosing a jolly turquoise after I unsuccessfully tried my darnedest to persuade him towards paisley. I need to sneak a photo of him in it.

At the top of the hill we stopped for gelato. I got coconut this time. Crushed coconut whipped with sugar and air to a creamy concoction with juicy bits. Divine. Oh, how I wish they made it this well in the U.S. We also checked out the old Bellagio cathedral, know for it's frescoes, and came across this charming stone home decorated with Italian flags. At one point, Italian homes were taxed based on the amount of land they occupied, so rather than build out, they built up. Thus you see lots of tall, skinny homes in Italy.

Next we took another ferry to Varenna, another charming little town, and our gateway to the old Castello di Vezio which lies atop the hillside above Varenna {not seen, here.}

We took quite the tour of the countryside, missing the signs to the castle and getting a few miles off track before finally meeting a nice man picking up recycling who gave us a ride to the castle. The trek was well worth it. Vezio is a teeny, tiny, quaint little hamlet of stone houses and a castle perched atop a hill. The shots up top were taken at an overlook with a watch tower in the background. 

Vezio's castle is from the 7th century and you walk through a delightful olive grove to get to it, with more spectacular views of Lake Como and the surrounding Alps and Lombardy region. 

They evidently have a haunted castle for Halloween and leave their decorations up all year. We came across quite a few of these types of creatures...

The castle itself is mostly in ruins, though you can explore the courtyard...

...and go up into one of the towers via a drawbridge, where you're greeted by this fine sir...

...and relish in even more amazing views from the top of the tower.

At the end of the day we took the ferry back to Menaggio, then went to look for a bridge to jump off. The Husband was dying to do some cliff diving around here {it's a bit of an addiction} and he'd found this video on YouTube and this one from the nearby Lake Lecco. Turned out that both were pretty far from where we were, so we decided to stroll around Mennagio instead and find a place to eat. Mennagio is a medieval village in the Alpine foothills with a a beautiful 19th century piazza along the lake. We passed grand villas and found lovely places to eat with excellent views...

...but they were pricy so we went back to our trusty pizzeria in Domaso and tried their pasta this time. Garden setting, perfumed flowers, caprese, fresh gnocchi, linguine with garlic and pepper oil, and lasagne. Delightful.

That night we played Keltis again and also Ticket to Ride. I made peaches & cream with fresh cream I got in Normandy. The dairy products here taste so amazing. Maybe it's because it's from free range cattle and local dairies. Maybe it's because they prepare it differently. Their cream and even some milk doesn't have to be refrigerated till opened. Whatever the reason, it's absolutely scrumptious. Especially poured over fresh, perfectly ripened peaches. I can't believe I didn't take a picture, though it's probably best I didn't. Then my current craving would reach unsustainable levels.

P.S. The Husband was quite amused by some of the translations we came across today. Particularly this sign at the castle {they have a Birds of Prey show that we missed} and Step A for laundry instructions.

Parisian Lace in Normandy: 30x30 Outfit 3

Lace Top: Thrifted at Paris's Marché aux Puces (Jus d'Orange) / Button-up: Consigned at Periwinkle (Calvin Klein) / Pants: J Crew final sale / Neckace: AE / Bracelet: Banana Republic / Shoes: Privo

Blogging abroad with limited wifi and a netbook is for les oiseaux*. I had a breakdown after hours in a MacDo last night. Who wants to spend their French evenings battling wifi at McDonalds?  The Husband was amazingly patient. Photos take forever to upload. I'm not even tempting editing. But I'm almost caught up with my 30x30 outfit posts. I must beg "Patientez, SVP" {Patience, please!} for future posts. We're moving on to southern France, the Riveria, the Alps, and Italy and I've no intention of using precious time on the Internet, so it looks like I'll be doing most of my work when I get home.

Yesterday was Lace Day for Everybody, Everywear, and I did wear lace.  I had grand lacey ideas after discovering a lace dress and skirt while thrifting in Eugene.  I had it all planned, then realized Lace Day would coincide with my trip and my fancy outfit didn't go so well, so I packed my teal lace top from Buckle instead.

But then I went to the Marché aux Puces {Flea Markets} in Paris. And you know what's better than thrifted lace? Thrifted lace from Paris! I found this darling, made in France lace top for 5 euro. The tag is Jus d'Orange and it's pretty faded, but I'm sure it's not old enough to be considered vintage by most standards. But still, it's French and old and from Paris's vintage market! So I've now 28 items in my 30x30. Two spots left!

Yesterday we also explored Normandy's D-Day beaches and memorials. The photos below were taken by the Town Hall {France has the most beautiful town halls!} of Carentan, where a key battle involving the Easy Company of Band of Brothers took place.  It was really exceptional to see these sites and think about what brave men did here to ensure freedom in the world. I feel so incredibly blessed to benefit from their heroic efforts.

The history here goes back even further than that, however, with William the Conqueror, the Norse invasion, the grand Dukes of Normandy, and the Battle of Hastings. The countryside is scattered with old castles, mossy stone walls, buildings, and turrets, and loads and loads of beautiful flowers.

The bed and breakfast farm we stayed at is over 300 years old. For breakfast Madame Sébire served fresh croissants and baguettes with homemade strawberry and apricot jam and fresh butter and milk from her own cows.  In a perfectly French kitchen. Add in the fancy Lindt cocoa she gave us to make hot chocolate and we were on cloud nine. Best hot chocolate in the world. Who knew milk could be so delightful?

By now, however, we've packed up and headed to Mont St. Michel, a fortressed abbey on an island right between Normandy and Brittany, and Carcasonne, a medieval walled fortress village.  It may be a few days before my next posts, but I'll keep documenting my outfits and get them out there soon :)  À bientôt*!

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*les oiseaux = the birds; À bientôt = See you soon!
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Francophone Friday: Je Ne Sais Quoi

 Skirt: France (? No tag and I can't recall the shop name) / Top: Charlotte Russe / Cardi: TJ Maxx / Tights: AE / Shoes, Earrings: Gabes (Relativity, Monet) / Sash: ? / Necklace: Nordstrom (Betsey Johnson, Valentine's gift)

Ashey, over at The Shine Project, has issued a challenge to define beauty. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to add a French twist and discuss inner beauty with the French phrase je ne sais quoi.

Je ne sais quoi translates to I don't know what. To Wiktionary,  it's "an intangible quality that makes something distinctive or attractive." Merriam-Webster defines it as "something that cannot be adequately described or expressed," and Dictionary.com says it's "an indefinable, elusive quality, especially a pleasing one."

When drawn to someone without quite being able to explain why, you could say they have a 'certain je ne sais quoi.' The world has varied and changing definitions of beauty and obviously not everyone conforms to them. But everyone can have a certain je ne sais quoi, an inner beauty that shines through. Every person's je ne sais quoi would refer to something unique: a kind heart, a cheerful demeanor, a positive attitude, an inner drive to succeed, an innocent vulnerability, a will to live, a passion, a confidence, etc. It's that something special within that manifests itself without and is often described as a je ne sais quoi by one who perhaps doesn't know you well enough yet to describe it. That je ne sais quoi, I would argue, exhibits itself as beauty.

I used photos the Husband took of me this past Valentine's for this post. At the time, I'd decided to give fashion blogging a go but hadn't yet created the blog. It took awhile to make the decision then put it in action. I'm not always the most confident person. I have some scars on my face, my teenage awkward years lasted a ridiculously long time, and I certainly wasn't comfortable in front of a camera. But I think it was this shoot that nudged me to throw caution to the wind and go for it. I was working on something I felt passionate about {style, fashion}, and I felt loved by a dear Husband, who went home at lunch to leave this for me...

...and who was willing to go along with a rather vain vice and become my personal photographer. I was probably also a bit bewitched by the fact that it was a beautiful day for February, and that it was Valentine's and we were on our way to celebrate with dinner and these divine treats:

I felt happy and loved and, for the first time since we began outfit pictures, I also felt less posed and inhibited.

Perhaps it was a certain je ne sais quoi :)

To end, I can't help but add a few French beauty notes:

French Women's Beauty Tips and Secrets, from The Art of Being Feminine, a beautiful post about letting inner beauty shine by taking care of our bodies.

French Beauty, a documentary on the enduring image of beauty in France.

5 Top Beauty Secrets of French Women, by Mireille Divulges.

À bientôt, mes belles* :)

P.S. Post also linked up here to Frenchy's French Obsession Party!

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*À bientôt, mes belles = Until next time, beautiful

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Francophone Friday: Oh là là

  Skirt, Bangles: France (Jacqueline Riu, beach town trinket shop) / Top: Charlotte Russe / Shoes: Buckle clearance ($7!) /  Necklace: J Crew Factory / Earrings: Gabes (Monet) / Headband: Nordstrom (Gift from super sweet Mother in Law!)

I'm starting a new series called Francophone Fridays. You can check it out here, where I explain it and will link up the posts. In essence, I'm featuring outfits with a piece from France and some little tid-bit à la français.

I decided to start with the phrase oh là là, since I use it so frequently :) See here and here, for example.

Ooh là là {notice the double o; it's important} is actually an English misspelling/ mispronunciation of the French phrase Oh là là {with one o}, which actually translates to Oh dear, Oh my, or Oh no! As Madame Lawless explains it here, "it can indicate surprise, disappointment, commiseration, distress, annoyance... any moderately strong reaction to something" and "can be strengthened with additional làs, always in pairs."

I heard my French host mom use the phrase with many là làs for various purposes: when she couldn't find her keys, when something spilled, when her son wasn't fast enough to set the table, when her kittens got into mischief, when she saw a pretty piece of jewelry in a shop {and again when she saw the price }, etc.

In English, where we say Ooh instead of Oh, it's more commonly used to express Oh wow! or to talk about something risque. We tend to take foreign phrases/expressions and make them our own.

So Frenchify your diction this weekend and take one of the many opportunities that are bound to come your way to exclaim, in your best Frenchy accent, Oh là là! Feel free to draw out that final là or tack on a few more là làs, then follow it up with a grandiose eye roll.  And voilà, your life will be complete! Or just feel more a bit more cultured. Either way, I promise it'll be fun :)

P.S. Post linked up here at Frenchy's French Obsession Party!

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This post was featured for the French Obsession Party! Merci mille fois*, Frenchy!

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*Merci mille fois = Thanks a million

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Le Rat de Ville: City Thrifting

In my previous post, I recounted my experiences as a country mouse, thrifting in a small town. I found some brilliant pieces, and even more brilliant prices. Then I spent time as a city mouse, and went thrifting in Portland. (Confused by all this talk of mice? Read the previous post first.)

We went to Portland for a long weekend and I took the opportunity to hit up some thrift shops. I was especially excited to go to the Buffalo Exchange. I'd only been to one before, in San Antonio, and remembered it being really trendy. I didn't, however, recall the prices. Maybe it was because I'd just had my incredibly inexpensive experiences as the country mouse, but I couldn't help but be a bit indignant. Twenty bucks for a used skirt? Are you sure? Those prices really put my rationalization skills to the test. I shelled out $16 for this skirt after reasoning that it was not only super darling, comfortable, and machine washable, but also featured an elastic waistband, making it eligible for future maternity wear. That's like getting 2 skirts for the price of one, right? That makes it okay. Yes, it does.

Skirt: Consigned / Tank & Jacket: Thrifted / Shoes: TJ Maxx (Bandolino) / Necklace: Buckle clearance / Bracelet: France / Headband: Target

Did you notice that I paired it with my $3 jacket and 99 cent tank from my small town thrifting? That made me feel a bit better about the cost of the skirt.

I also gave up $15 for this versatile basic skirt from Banana Republic. It has pockets, which I simply love. It's also machine washable! Finding that little phrase on a tag often determines whether or not I will purchase an item. 

Skirt, Shoes: Consigned / Top: J Crew clearance / Short Necklace: Elder Beerman / Long Necklace: Ruche / Earrings: Icing /  Bracelets: France / Jolies Fleurs*: c/o the Thoughtful Husband / Heavenly Scent: c/o les Jolies Fleurs

This price trend continued to the other thrift shops I visited. Not that it stopped me from finding excellent pieces and forking over the plastic for them. Just discouraged me a bit, is all it did. For example, when I saw the $22 tag on this Ann Taylor skirt at Sequel, I said "No way!" and tried to make my fingers stop caressing the little velvet ribbon that trims the top. Then I saw that it was on a rack marked 50% off. Oh, quelle chance!* Suddenly, I could hardly recall purchasing a skirt for less than $3. Sales are tricky like that:

Skirt & Tank: Thrifted (I told you that tank was versatile!) / Cardi: Gabes (AE) / Shoes: TJ Maxx (Bandolino) / Necklace: Buckle clearance

At the same shop I also found this nautical Ann Taylor skirt ($14) and J. Crew blazer ($17). The prices are ouchie, I know. But the jacket is machine washable, possibly not even used by the looks, and was on my list of pieces to look for, and the skirt goes with it oh so well:

Skirt & Jacket: Thrifted / Top: J Crew final sale / Shoes: TJ Maxx (AE) / Earrings: Icing / Necklace: Elder Beerman / Bracelets: France

And, perhaps my favorite find, these Sofft shoes. Have you ever worn Sofft shoes? They're like clouds for your feet. I got my first pair from Gabes back East (more on Gabes later) for $29 new. They're originally priced at ~ $100. I found this pair for $16, and you can hardly tell they're used! I felt like I was on Cloud 9, metaphorically and literally, when I slipped these lovelies on (worn above with the BR skirt):

Finally,  I would be remiss if I didn't confess that I also used my opportunity as a city mouse to hit up a few shops I rarely get to frequent since I spend most of my time as a country mouse these days. Shops like a brick & mortar J. Crew Factory and H&M (!). Those pieces will be featured in upcoming posts. Meanwhile, I'm back to being a country mouse, and appreciating it in an all new light.

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*quelle chance! = what luck!; les jolies fleurs = pretty flowers

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