I love college.

So far, my popular literature class is my favorite. It's like AP Literature, the hard as shit class that I had in my senior year of high school, but much more relaxed, much more interesting, and I actually enjoy the teacher. Not to knock my high school Lit teacher, I liked her as a person, but she had too much of an insane desire for control and picked too many favorites to be a good teacher. The only people who enjoyed her class were the ones who got A's on every single assignment, simply because she liked them. I was a B to C student in her class, which is considered to be good for not being one of her favorites. There were a few students who got D's on their assignments no matter how much work they put into them, and it was these students who in turn started skipping essays near the end of the year. Because, after all, they figured, if they weren't going to get a good grade anyway, why even try?
Personally I disagree with that mindset. Even if you don't think you're going to do well, you should always try. Even a bad grade is better than a big, fat ZERO.
Buuuuttt.....back to my suitcase!!!

This is a wicker picnic suitcase. It came with it's own dinnerware, which is what all of the faux leather straps are for. You can see I've got it all packed with my textbooks, notebooks, folders, and even a book for some light reading. I also added some pens and my mp3 player, Hello Kitty thermos and mirror and my "Life isn't that hard" bandaids, all of which have rude messages on them, like "Emotional wound," "kitty scratch," etc. I also tossed in my 50's clutch purse, which contains my wallet and a little mint tin full of headache medicine, just in case. 

The book buckled in happens to be Charlotte Bronte's Villette, which intrigued me from the moment that I saw it had received many poor reviews in its time. It's merely a rental, picked up from the library, but I really love it so far. There were a few beginning scenes that I haven't seen the point of yet, but I'm only one hundred pages in, I'm sure it'll be revealed soon. 

Here's another picture for you, for the road:

Sweater harvest.

Two days in a row! I'm on a roll. Today I'm all about DIY inspiration and Goodwilling. First, the most important part....MY NEW SWEATERS!!!

I got the three of them at Goodwill for four dollars each, which kind of felt like robbery, mainly because I'm incredibly cheap, and the two last times that I purchased sweaters they were: free for as many I could fit into a bag and the time after that I only spent 50 cents each at my friend's garage sale (she tried to give them to me for free, but I refused to let her). Online, on Ebay and Etsy and all of those types of sites, the cheapest sweaters that I could find were 14 dollars each, and at least I did much much much better than THAT. There was also another sweater at Goodwill that I fell in love with, because it was obviously hand-knitted, but my mom pointed out that I would have had to wash it by hand, and it probably wouldn't have lasted as long. Still, I will pine for it.
The one with the floral pattern on it is undoubtedly my favorite, and it's the only one of the three that I have to pull over my head. 5 seconds after this picture was taken, I was wearing it. 
Now, I must bring up a topic that has been pissing me off for a long while. That is, sites that take vintage items and recreate them and sell them for exorbitant amounts of money compared to what you would pay for the real thing.
For example: Modcloth. One of my absolute favorite websites ever, it is also a huge offender.

This is a set of potholders that sells for 28 dollars. At both of the little antique shops around the corner from me, you can get ACTUAL vintage potholders for a couple bucks each. The prices generally range from 1.50 to 3 dollars each. In this set, you only get three potholders (the polka dot thing is only the packaging they come in) for 9.33 each. It's absolutely ridiculous, not to mention wasteful! Why purchase something new, then there's something pre-used that is in just as good condition? And if you're worried that the real deal wouldn't be as cute, there's one vintage potholder that's knitted to look like a clock that I always have to talk myself out of buying, because it's so Alice in Wonderland chic!

This canister/jar sells for 22 dollars, also on Modcloth. For 4 dollars to 6 dollars (depending on size) you can get a just as good, just as cute one. I collect mushroom jars, and have 15 pieces of it so far, and ALL of them have been purchased at Goodwill for reasonable prices. The same goes for cutesy vintage teacups and saucers--I just found a sale at World Mission Thrift the other week where matching teacups and saucers were going for just 1.50 a pop. Buying things in sets also keeps costs down, if you're looking into tea sets and the like.
There are also blankets on Urban Outfitters (that I couldn't retrieve a picture of, due to the website's sneakiness and usage of the zoom tool) that are knitted to look like vintage blankets and are on sale for 20 dollars (originally 49...can you believe that??). If you don't believe me, you can see them on the other end of this link: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=23512544&parentid=SALE_APT
  We have two similar ones that we got at Goodwill for 4 dollars each, and I bet you that they'll last longer.
Another thing that I've noticed is that there is a huge surplus of vintage tupperware clogging up the shelves at Goodwill. There is no reason why you have to go out and buy new things of tupperware from stores. The vintage stuff is just as good! Trust me! My mom still uses some of the tupperware that she got when her mom passed and it's great! Airtight just like the newer stuff! If you're really worried about buying used containers, you could just bleach them before you use them, to give you the extra security that there are no remnants of germs on them.
So don't waste your money buying look-alikes!! Buy the real thing! If it's lasted these many years,  you can bet that it's going to hold up just as well for you!

My post office is going to hate me

So, today I'm in Payless, the shoe store, right? This girl charges into the store, walks headfirst into a shelf, and then turns to me and snottily remarks, "EXCUSE you." I'm really starting to lose faith in my generation. You have no idea.
It was my first trip to the mall in months, today, and I forgot how much I love that place. The hustle and bustle, being able to stare at many different articles of clothing that I wish I could buy but have the restraint not to. It was an odd trip today, mainly for one reason. You see, for the past two days, I've only been able to hear out of one ear.
It's not as though I can really hear anything out of the other. There's just nothing. I woke up yesterday and was like this. I have no idea really why. My mom went to the store and got me a special type of ear drops, so we'll see if it does the trick. I'm supposed to put in ten drops, once a day, for four days. At the end of day one, I must say, there's absolutely no difference. It's kind of starting to worry me, not because of my loss of hearing (I'm sure wearing a hearing aid wouldn't bother me much) but because I have to WORK tomorrow, and they already think I'm an absolute moron, and if I show up as a half-deaf, absolute moron......well, let's just say I'm absolutely dreading it. Oh, and the "they" who think that I'm a moron...pretty much just my manager. Every one else that I work with is absolutely amazing. And I'm not just saying that or anything, I seriously mean it.
So, what did I get today at the mall...well, I would include pictures, but sadly my camera has no batteries, so those will have to wait. I can, however, tell you. From Hot Topic I got a scarf and a pair of Mockingjay earrings. From Barnes and Noble I got a copy of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan. From Claire's I got a set of animal rings that I'm going to distribute amongst  my friends (due to the fact that 2 of the 4 of us are leaving for college this weekend). I spent a Victoria's Secret gift card (but for what items will be MY secret). That's pretty much it. I went into Charlotte Russe and Forever 21, but was put off by the difference in prices. The first time I ever went to Charlotte Russe, I got a gorgeous dress for 10 dollars. Today, I went in and the dresses that were on sale were 20 dollars at the cheapest. Life has gotten so ridiculous.
Now, the title for this post. Why does my post office hate me? Well, my lovelies, due to my recent Ebay addiction and according to the USPS website, I have 12 packages, without my box number on them, waiting  for me there. They get a bit rude when I have single packages without my box number, so they're probably going to be waiting for me tomorrow with a crossbow and a freshly sharpened spear. I'm so sorry, Post Office Ladies, I thought I'd added my box number into my Ebay address, I swear....but it turned out I hadn't.
Anyway, I can offer you pictures of my Ebay purchases, so enjoy. Oh, and 9 of those items are part of a lot, which is why they're all in the picture together...all of these pictures were taken from Ebay.









Once again Post Office ladies, I'm really sorry! I'm never going to forget my box number again...

Yes, yes, YES!

So....I ordered a record player off of Amazon earlier this week, and it was supposed to come next Monday or so, but it came today!!

Isn't it beautiful? It has great sound, especially considering that I got it for a mere 50 dollars, which is on the cheaper side for a record player. In this picture, I believe I was listening to The Worst of Jefferson Airplane. White Rabbit is one of my favorite songs of all time. 

I've been listening to records all day long. And then I let it slip to my mom that I had seen a copy of The Singing Nun's one and only album at the little shop in town where I had gotten all of my records, she immediately drove me over there, in my pajamas, to go and buy it. Not only did I buy her The Singing Nun, but I also got her a Lawrence Whelk album, a Donny Osmond, and a Norma Zimmer. And I refused to take her money for them. Records are one of the few things that my mom and I can really connect over. I'm not going to spoil that by taking her money for something I picked out for her specially. 

Oh, and if you ever get a chance, look up The Singing Nun. Dominique is her most famous song, but it's not really that great. She has a lot of really pretty guitar ballads, and they're all sung in French, so the language just flows over the chords she plucks from her guitar, Adele. Don't underestimate her just because she wore a funny hat!

Vintage items repurposed for jewelry storage

I've been browsing the web again, searching for DIY ideas. I found two of these on Tumblr and came up with the other two myself, simply from staring at my computer screen too much. 

 Go to your local antique store. I know for a fact that The Curiosity Shoppe, which lies a mere mile or so away from me, has an entire basket full of old cheese graters that they're selling for 5 dollars each. If that's too steep for you (or if you don't live near me) then just pop into your local thrift store's housewares section.

 This next one is one of the ones I came up with myself. I've been staring at my own vintage birdcage (not the one pictured here) for some time now, and finally it popped into my head to hook my necklaces and bracelets in the top tiers. (I'll take pictures when I do this, so that you know what I'm talking about). Picture from Shabby Chic and Antique Boutique on Etsy (which does not affiliate itself with this blog at all, I just thought this birdcage was really pretty).

 Another Tumblr idea. Buy a vintage teacup and saucer. I found two teacup and saucer sets for three dollars at my local World Mission thrift store this past weekend. They're quite easy to come by, and you don't even need a cup and saucer that match. Superglue the two together if you want the security of knowing your teacup won't move around if you put rings in it too zealously. Put it beside your bed for all the jewelry you take off before you go to bed at night.

Last idea. A fancy candlestick like this one (which I do not own, but I really want), and hang your bracelets and necklaces from it. on the spots for the candles, you can put a ring or two, or maybe perch a pin there while you're getting ready for your day.

Thanks for reading! Hope you try some of these out yourself!

Time to be a realist

As much as I've loved stockpiling all of these vintage things that I don't really need, like the picnic kit, the 50s cookbook, the clutch purse, the globe, the prom dresses, and such, it's time to look at my life realistically. I want to go to college in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, or Pennsylvania. Originally, England was in that mix, but my goal is to live wherever I go to school, and that plan runs into several hitches when the UK is in the mix.
Here's the issue: if I move across the country for good, I can't do it unless I have adequate finances and minimal baggage. In simpler terms, more money and less stuff.
In this spirit, I am going to open an Etsy store and try to sell my things. In addition to vintage, I'm also going to sell a lot of things that I've made myself. It'll be a 50-50 mixture.  This is probably going to happen in the next month or so. Here is a taste of what I'll be selling:

Original plates, cups, and silverware included. In great condition, except a few plates are warped.

 This clutch has a few tears on the opposite side of it, but they're superficial and aren't that noticeable unless you carry this purse backwards.

 Really really don't know if these books will be in the store, because my father got them for me, and so they're very special to me, but if it comes to it and I desperately need money, I might.

 I'm selling the dress from this picture. Not the veil.

 This is from the nineties, more like a collectible than an actual book you should use the stickers from.

 Vintage brooch. One rhinestone missing, not noticeable. At all.

 Vintage pin, again.

 This is a steampunk chain bracelet that I made myself.

 A Lolita headband that I also made myself.

 Woven bracelet, again made by me.

Studs from the 80s. Marbled turquoise and blue.

A secret little smile.

Well, I've done it! I interviewed for and got a job! I'm so happy, I can't even begin to tell you! The place that hired me is a pizza place where my brother also works. I was interviewed by someone I'd never met, and I didn't think I was going to get it, because the owner of the establishment has a policy against hiring siblings. Well, surprise surprise, I was lucky enough to get the job, and I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to work there!
Earlier in the day, I took a trip to Goodwill, where I bought nothing.
After Goodwill, I meandered into Salvation Army, and ended up going home with an old clutch purse with a silk lining, a 60's or 70's picnic kit with all of the original pieces, a Better Homes and Gardens binder/cookbook from the early 50's, and a little desk globe, which is also a vintage item, but I don't know enough about the evolution of desk globes to date it. Then again, does anyone? Is there a person out there who makes a living dating globes? If there is, and you're reading this, please come my way!

 Fancy a picnic, anyone?

The little clutch purse. Isn't it just the prettiest little thing you've ever seen?

A few of my favorite things.

In the aftermath of yesterday, I find myself appreciating small moments of glee even more. I might, I maybe, have a job interview tomorrow. I got to see my father today. The bank sent me the PIN for the checking account I opened a few days ago (my first!). My father and I exchanged gifts, mine from Christmas, and his from Father's Day. He and my stepmother got me an array of perfect, wonderful things. First of these, and my favorite of all of them, were two How To Draw books, a fashion one from 1942 and a cat one from 1986. Both in perfect condition.

Lovely, aren't they?

Sunshine and sparkles and all the nice things

So, it's not a day to remember or anything, but I woke up with a smile on my face this morning, and that makes it special to me. I spent the night at Leah's last night, and I can honestly tell you that she is my favorite person in the entire world.
Around 12:30, I was escorted into town by her father, who dropped me off for the last couple moments of church, and then I meandered--somewhat reluctantly--home to eat salad and a vegetarian burger. After this, I went out to do my favorite chore. It's not even really a chore to me. I swept my front porch and steps, taking care and being meticulous with my broom, making certain not to miss a single nook or cranny.
I had my special music in my ears the entire time I was doing this--not my Chevelle or anything of that sort, oh no. Sweeping the front porch calls for a special type of music. Lesley Gore, vintage Madonna, Herman's Hermits, perhaps a nip of Amy Winehouse or She and Him, if I feel a bit like cheating.
My soul is absolutely flying today. I don't think anything could damper my spirits.
Upon cleaning out our house, my mother gave me these salt and pepper shakers from the 1950s to put in my apartment someday. They are absolutely the most darling things I have ever seen. Here they are, nestled with my mushroom jars for now.

Stay tuned for a DIY soon! I have just made a present for my sister's birthday, and I also have my graduation open house coming up soon, which I will be making all of my own centerpieces for. I've missed the old days when this was a DIY blog, and I've decided to bring that back soon!
Can't wait to show you my newer projects!

Mushrooms.

There is no other title for this day. That is the only thing that remains specific about it. My mother has officially passed the mushroom jar collection on to me! I'm so happy, you don't even know! I already had one mushroom candle holder, a mushroom vase, and a mushroom napkin holder, as well as one mushroom jar, and this just made my day! Maybe even my week!

Aren't they beautiful? Now all I need is an endless supply of money and Etsy access to complete the collection! If I can have anything next...I want a mushroom teapot. I think it would be amazing. 

To all those who wonder how the mushroom obsession started, well, it began with Alice in Wonderland. I somehow became obsessed with Alice in Wonderland fan art, and a lot of it had mushrooms in it. And from there, the obsession boiled down to just...MUSHROOMS! 

I felt the need to add in a serious picture as well. :)