St. Patrick's Day Dress

Hello and a happy belated St. Patrick's Day to you all, dear readers! I hope those of you that celebrated had a lovely day yesterday- I know I sure did. There is nothing like good weather and a lovely dress to make a girl feel swell, of course it always helps when everyone else is in a festive mood too!!

A couple weeks ago I spotted the most adorable Vicky Vaughn dress on Ebay; it looked to be so light weight and such a lovely shade of blue, a perfect summer dress!

It also had fantastic flowers with button centers that made the dress even more adorable!! Unfortunately the dress only measured twelve inches across the waist (24" around) which is just too small for me :(

Well, size didn't stop me and I bid on the dress anyhow, and you know what? I WON! 

This is the first dress I've ever won on Ebay, and I got it for a song. At that price I figured, if it didn't fit I'd put it up on Etsy and make my money back no problem.

Well, it came and it fit! 

I've lost so much weight recently that, while I may have lost my womanly curves, I can now wear lovely itty-bitty dresses like this one! 

And, when it came, it looked more green than blue and thus, it became my St. Patrick's Day dress!

Going out, St. Patrick's Night.

Well, I guess it still photographs as blue but it sure looks like green in person!

St. Patrick's morning

We spent the morning at an auction and then we traveled to Wilmington, NC, to enjoy the sunshine on the historic streets of the little city, which, to my delight, were full of green-clad revelers. We wrapped up the night with a hearty pint of Guinness at a watering hole close to home. 

It truly was a wonderful day and a great way to spend my birthday eve!  

Today, to celebrate my 25th, we purchased and planted several trees and shrubs which has been wonderful! I guess you know you're really getting old when gardening passes as celebrating :)

Late Bloomers

                                                                      Source: lisasoldstuff.blogspot.com via Randi on Pinterest

"I wandered lonely as a cloud 

That floats on high o'er vales and hills, 

When all at once I saw a crowd, 

A host, of golden daffodils; 

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

 Fluttering and dancing in the breeze."

                                 -William Wordsworth

                                                                  Source: wairarapapast.blogspot.com via Randi on Pinterest

My daffodils are the last to bloom on the block, but boy, it was worth the wait! 

Such a welcomed sign of Spring, as is the wonderful weather we've been having lately. 

Someday I intend to turn this big new house into something resembling a wisteria covered cottage, with more flowers than grass in the yard. And, perhaps, someday I will have enough daffodils for a lovely bouquet like the ladies have above!

The crocuses are stunning this year too!

Ah, Spring!

Be Like the Squirrel, Girl

      I want to sincerely thank everyone who read and commented on my last post- it feels so good to be heard and understood. I also feel so lucky to have so many wise people looking in on my blog, you all had such insightful advice that I am taking to heart. 

     Until recently I've been the kind of person that stand by the idea that "if you don't like your situation, do something to change it" but now I see that change is more difficult than it seems. The fact is that I do have a lot positive going on in my life so to start with I need to change my perspective (accentuate the positive, if you will) and then work to do things that make me happy; one nice thing, everyday. 

In other words, I need to be like the squirrel. 

"Mr. Squirrels Lesson" (1950) set to The White Stripes, "Little Acorns".

Thanks again to everyone, I just can't get over how swell you all are!

 Here's the nice thing I did for myself yesterday- a manicure!

I haven't felt much like painting my nails but I was inspired by this photo on Pinterest, 

                                                                    Source: keikolynn.com via Randi on Pinterest

which lead me to this lovely blog that had details on how to achieve this look.

I've tried my hand at painting half moons on my nails before but this was by far the most successful I've been. Next time I'll try and keep the stickers lower on my nail for a true half moon shape. 

I've already gotten a couple compliments on my nails- the process was so simple and yielded such striking results, I may never go back to moonless nails!

I used to be a strictly red/pink nail polish gal, but recently I've been buying fun shades like crazy! 

I can't justify spending more than 5 bucks on nail polish, so I buy the cheap stuff- it gets the job done.

Next I'd like to pick up a silver polish and try something similar with that!

Today, I think I might go to a second hand store that claims to have a good selection of vintage clothing!
I'm also contemplating dying my hair...... 

Once nice thing, for me, every day! :)

Washed up

Once upon a time there
was a college girl whose reputation preceded her and flurries of gossip followed her where ever she went. She had appeared out of nowhere; no one knew her, knew where she lived or where she came from- she was a mystery. Her hair was always curled, her clothes- trés chic, her seams often straight and her lipstick always red. She wore heels to class, and fabulous hats. She gained friends and admirers. Articles were written about her, photos were taken and paraded around the countryside. She carried her own flask. She drank dark beer and bottled wine. She used a glass instead of a red solo cup. She lived a decadent apartment, tucked inside a fabulous mansion, far away from beer-soaked collegiate chaos. She ate, slept, and breathed antiques. Every old dress she came across fit like a glove. She painted, she did ballet, she carried an umbrella, she traveled abroad. Her life was glamorous.

And then she graduated.

Now she wears jeans and t-shirts. Her hair is seldom curled, her shoes are always flats and her stockings have runs in them. No one talks about her, no one writes about her, or takes her picture. She lives in a brand new house that looks just like the brand new house next door. She is surrounded by brand new things. She feels guilty if she buys clothes. She goes to work, she is disrespected by children, she comes home. She hates her job. Her boyfriend loves her but he doesn't get her. No one knows her, no one cares to know her. She can't seem to make any friends. She is almost 25. Her life is mundane.

Sigh.


It's been a rough Winter. Bear with me while I work though this.

Bachelors Beware....

          Ladies, don your red petticoats and catch yourself a man, it's the Ladies' Privilege- better know as Leap Day. According to old tradition, today is the day any lady may propose to a man and if he should refuse, he pays a hefty fine in the form of a dress, money, or gloves to hide the ringless hands of his rejected lover (just so long as she had her red petticoat on when proposing).

There are many versions of this tradition, some involving breeches instead of petticoats and others allowing ladies the privilege the entire year.

I'd never heard of this tradition before today and I'm getting such a chuckle out of these vintage leap year post cards.

More cards located here.

Happy Leap Day!