Vacaaaaaaaaaaaation! Beautiful Blessings - 8/19/16

Vacaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaation! Squee!!! I can hardly wait! I'm soooooooo looking forward to it! Well, mostly. John leaves on Sunday for college for eons and eons (aka, the semester) and we leave for camping tomorrow. On the bright side, I'm excited to have a chance to wear clothes that AREN'T work clothes, yet when I packed, I couldn't remember how to! XD I'm an interesting conundrum ;) 

~ friends to talk to....and yell at....laugh with....cry to....and whatever emotional state I'm in

~ smiley face wars with said friends

~ packing up books to read, and activities to enjoy that I've been wanting to do!

~ happily enjoying the fact I've had my blog for 4 years, and haven't given up on it yet!

~ looking forward to seeing what adventures happen the next couple weeks....I can use some fun relaxing adventures! (if those two ideas go together lol!)

Now that I've rambled, I'm off to go pack some more....whoop-de-doo! lol!!!

Beautiful Blessings - 1/18/16

~ Breaking into Broadway in the kitchen with T-bug! <3 :~D
~ Going through clothes with Mom!
~ Finding new-to-me clothes!
~ Ending the night with Mr Darcy...we watched the second episode of the Colin Firth version....mmmm <3 lol
~ And enjoying a new coloring book from Daddy! Its a tropical themed one!

Throwback Tuesday: Dressed for the Holiday Social Season

With Thanksgiving only a couple days away, the start of the holiday season is here! 

This is a perfect outfit if you are going: 

to a dinner, 

the opera, 

a performance of Nutcracker ballet, 

a classy vintage movie theater to watch a Christmas classic such as  

It's a Wonderful Life or The Christmas Carol,

being a hostess for Thanksgiving,

attending a party,

going to the symphony,

enjoying a delightful tea,

or just dressing up for fun this holiday season!

Timeless yet elegant for any social event this holiday season!

**disclaimer** I wouldn't recommend wearing this for one of those ugly holiday sweater contest parties. It just doesn't seem appropriate..... ;~)

Throwback Tuesday: A 50's Dress

This has always been one of my favorite 50's dresses. Unfortunately I outgrew it. (This is a picture from a couple years ago). The silver hat is one of my favorite pillbox hats. It fits just right. And I'm not sure if you can see, but I also have Eiffel Tower earrings on from my Dad's cousin who went to France! 

(I made this picture around the time it was taken :~)

Throwback Tuesday - Changes, yet more fun!

Throwback Tuesday is going to have a few changes!

I usually pick a person from the past and dress up as them. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours trying to find someone, get the picture, and post it. As I've done it for about 10 months now, it's been getting harder for me to find people to dress up as.......so.........

When I have someone to dress up as, I shall do that, but if not.....

Y'all will get to see some of the vintage clothes I have!

Still a "blast from the past" and just as fun!

Today I want to share with you a super cute outfit!

This dress and matching coat were a gift from my employers. They couldn't bear to cut it up, so they gave it to me. It fits like a glove, and goes perfectly with pearls of my Mom's and a hat from a friend! It is made by "Best & Co." from Fifth Avenue sometime during the 60's. This company was terminated around 1971, so this is truly a keep-sake.

Being Classy: Advice for Guys (a guest post)

Today's guest-post is from my good friend Noah. Below is a picture of Noah being classy during his graduation photo shoot. 

In today's culture something we are lacking is class. Many people do

not know how to handle themselves with dignity and classiness. Fear

not. I have compiled a list of classy traits you can adopt and bring

your social status to the next level. and have some fun too.

10. Know your style: if you don't care how you look, you should. Get

advice from a friend. Find out what you look good in, and stick with

it, but don't be afraid to experiment. DO NOT be obsessed with clothes

all the time. This is an irritation to most people. Find balance. I

found it helpful to pick a friend with similar taste and ask "would

THEY wear this?"

9. Hygiene (nailed that spelling the first time *self five* ): This I

shouldn't have to even say, but many people do not take care of there

general composure. D-E-O-D-E-R-A-N-T.

=P don't be a germaphobe thought. and be relaxed too. walking around

with a comb in your pocket 24/7 just makes you "that guy".

8. Manners: This will score you major class points with anyone. P's

and Q's will open doors, makes friends, and look good on your resume.

7. Be outgoing. It is very unclassy to sit in a corner, put on some

obnoxious music, and say nothing to anyone. There ARE times for that.

I know I have them. But don't make it a habit. This is the single

biggest key to making new friends and keeping old ones. They're just

as nervous or even more nervous than you are.

6. Two Words: Bow Tie. ALWAY classy. Bow Ties are COOL. get a REAL one

if you know how;  if you don't..........learn how. Man points here. ;)

5. Get a suit. Or a tux. or just a button up and tie. Looking classy

in classy gear is essential to your repertoire (extra tip: use big

words). Second hand works if you don't have money lying around. I sure

don't. Choose wisely, but dare to be different...but no camo suits

please D:

4. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: There was a SONG about this. Learn it. It's catchy.

Listening to people is always a good start. If you don't agree with

them, don't start a fistfight. Talk to them, or even just say nothing.

Just remember: they have a whole life you have never seen. You don't

know their circumstances or life situations. Don't be judgmental. but

do learn to draw the line at stupidity.

3. Know your boundaries: A person's business is theirs. Don't stick

your face in it. If someone tells you something in confidence. NEVER

TELL SOMEONE ELSE WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION . Not cool man. Not cool.

2. Have fun being classy. It IS fun. Make it fun. and relax too. Don't

be stiff. That isn't fun

1. RESPECT YO LADY FRIENDS. SINGLE, MOST IMPORTANT POINT: (ladies,

respect your dude friend too). If you wouldn't say it to your sister

or mother, don't say it to someone else. Be confident. that's someones

WIFE someday. He will find you. and he will kill you :{

Bonus: beards are classy. Keep them that way.

Throwback Tuesday: Betty Ford

Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Ford was the wife of Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States. Betty, from a young age, loved to dance. When she was 15, she started teaching popular dance steps to kids. When she graduated from high school, she considered going to NYC, but her mother refused. So she spent 2 summers at the Bennington School of Dance in Vermont. There she studied under Martha Graham, and finally moved to NYC. Eventually she returned home, and organized her own dance groups.

Throwback Tuesday: Coco Chanel

 

Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, also known as, Coco Chanel, is well known for one of the most popular perfumes, Chanel No. 5. She also started the love and popularity for the LBD (Little Black Dress). It was during the time of the Depression when women wanted affordable fashionable dresses. Coco Chanel created a black dress that was comfortable, stylish, and practical. Women fell in love with it, and they are still in style today. Chanel was a leading woman in fashion and was the only fashion designer in the 

Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century.

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” 
― Coco Chanel

“Elegance comes from being as beautiful inside as outside.” 
― Coco Chanel

“Fashion changes, but style endures.”

― Coco Chanel

Throwback Tuesday: Grace Kelly

Never fear! Throwback Tuesday is here!

Grace Kelly, one of the "world's best dressed women".

Beloved for her movies, and as Princess Consort of Monaco, she is the loveliest Hollywood princess the world has known.

Throwback Tuesday: Betty Crocker

Betty Crocker has had many faces over the years.

I think I fit right in. I create recipes, I love to cook, and I look like her ;~D

Skirts: things I've learned about them

Yesterday I posted the reason why I wear skirts. 

Today I'm going to talk about things I've learned about and while wearing them.

One of the things I've learned is: if it is a windy day, do NOT wear a long full skirt. You will either have issues with it, or get blown away (I know this from experience). Another thing I've learned, observed and heard, is depending on the type of work, skirts can be a hindrance. That is pretty much is self-explanatory. 

 

Skirts can also be thought of as "cool". I have had a few people tell me that they are "awesome" and that they are "cool to be different." A current clothing trend is the maxi skirt. They are usually long, feminine, quite graceful, and in style. Because they are in style, skirt wearing is not completely old-fashioned.

 The most interesting thing I've learned while wearing skirts is respect that is garnered. Respect may seem like a thing of the past, but it is still relevant today. I have had several young men respect and treat me differently than other young ladies because of the skirts I've worn. (Once again I will say, I will not judge you if you wear pants). I had a young man once tell me that when ladies wear skirts, he finds it easier to focus on the lady he is talking to. I thought about what he said and found that it was very true. 

 

Now you may think I'm trying to convict people, but I'm not. I'm just honestly stating things I've learned. I must also add that I have not brought bible verses into these posts because quite often they are used out of context or they come across sounding hypocritical. If you have any questions, comments, small animals or gardening tips, feel free to leave a comment!

Skirts: my thoughts and why I wear them

 

So I'm guessing if you are reading this, you've heard all the possible reasons that people wear skirts. Modesty, humility, to please God, and so on and so forth. Now I want to say right now: I am not judging anyone who chooses to wear them for those reasons, nor am I judging you for not wearing them. When I started this blog over a year and a half ago, I did a post on wearing skirts. The above reasons were my reasons for wearing skirts. My Mom wears pants, my sisters wear pants. If I'm doing something that absolutely requires them, I wear them (for example: sledding, airplane riding, and hiking through thickets ;). Usually I wear a tunic shirt with it, and I feel comfortable enough to wear them for the time I need them. Am I opposed to them? Not at all! Some ladies love wearing jeans! Most of my friends feel comfortable in them and look perfectly lovely! I just choose to wear skirts. Now you may ask, why do you wear them, then?

My original reasons were modesty, humility, "feeling right", femininity, and I wanted to be like them. The super awesome people that homeschooled and wore skirts. If you think about it, that's a really lame lame lame reason! Recently I was thinking about it and I asked myself, why do I wear them? I thought about it, and couldn't figure it out! So I gave it more thought, and here is the reason.
I wear them simply because they are my clothes. 
Yes they are modest, yes they are feminine, but I wear them simply because they are my clothes. I have several cute skirts (like my birthday one, above) and I love wearing them! They are comfy, pretty, and fun to wear! I would never judge you for wearing jeans, and I would never judge you for wearing skirts. Those are the clothes you have!

Tomorrow I'm going to share with you some things I've learned about wearing skirts.

Throwback Tuesday: Christine Daae

I recently saw a stage production of the Phantom of the Opera and thoroughly enjoyed it! The music, the sets, the costumes, and as I've said, the music make it very enjoyable!

"In sleep, he sang to me. In dreams, he came. That voice which calls to me and speaks my name. And do I dream again? For now I find the Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind."

"Think of me, think of me waking, silent and resigned. Imagine me, trying too hard to put you from my mind. Recall those days, look back on all those times, think of the things we'll never do - there will never be a day, when I won't think of you."

What are we up to?

(Lil' G, T-Tot and L-Jo)

They got out the big board-book atlas yesterday, so they've been having fun looking for their favorite countries. They've also taken turns playing I Spy with it. 

Me? I'm working on my *fabulous* fashion skills. I mean, how many other people wear sneakers with sparkly shoelaces, a floral skirt, a red jacket, a scarf with foxes, and sunglasses?

T-Bug is the most ambitious one of us all. She is getting 12 teeth right now! I tried to get her to smile for the camera, but all she was doing was making goofy faces. ;~)

People of Jordan: Karen, Bill, Mary and Kelly

(Karen, Bill, Mary and Kelly)

These lovely people donate 3 hours of their week for the weekly Clothing Ministry that is held in the old parsonage of the First Baptist Church of Jordan N.Y on Thursdays. They started last February, on February 14th to be precise. They giveaway clothes, household items, personal hygiene items and food. Everything is local. If you donate something it goes to the community. They raise money for the ministry quite often, in fact they are getting ready to have a "Bunny Breakfast" on the 19th of April. All the proceeds will be donated to the Clothing Ministry. They have a wonderful ministry to the community and they are glad to be blessing the community.

Throwback Tuesday: Eliza Doolittle

"I ain't done nothin' wrong by speaking to the gentleman. I've a right to sell flowers if I keep off the kerb. I'm a respectable girl: so help me, I never spoke to him 'cept so far as to buy a flower off me." 

Audrey Hepburn is the most well-known actress for this part.

Though Julie Andrews had it first.

You can't help but sing:

All I want is a room somewhere,

Far away from the cold night air.
With one enormous chair,
Aow, wouldn't it be loverly?
Lots of choc'lates for me to eat,
Lots of coal makin' lots of 'eat.
Warm face, warm 'ands, warm feet,
Aow, wouldn't it be loverly?
Aow, so loverly sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still.
I would never budge 'till spring
Crept over me windowsill.
Someone's 'ead restin' on my knee,
Warm an' tender as 'e can be. 'ho takes good care of me,
Aow, wouldn't it be loverly?
Loverly, loverly, loverly, loverly

Throwback Tuesday: Anne Shirley

"That's Anne with an E"

Her spunky carefree gentle nature makes everyone love her. Even Marilla, though some days she won't admit it. 

"Plain, old, unromantic Anne Shirley."

Except for when Gilbert came to call. ;~)

Throwback Tuesday: Lizzie Bennett

I love Jane Austen! I love Lizzie Bennett! I love anything from that era! :~)

My absolute favorite quote from her is this:

"The more I see of the world, the less inclined I am to think well of it."

It's so true!

Throwback Tuesday: Mary Ann

I already did Gilligan, so I decided I needed to do Mary Ann! :~D

Her bright smile and warm heart is completely lovable!

Except when Gilligan steals her coconut cream pies. ;~) Then you better watch out!

(Side note: Ansel, my cat, likes coconut cream pie. He is so weird!)

My Favorite Quotes:

"Oh Gilligan!"

"Just a poor cockney flower girl, that's all Ah is! But Ah owes *everything* to Doctor Gilligan. 'E taught me to *walk*, and to *talk*, and to *dress*, like a regular LADY! 'E give me real CLASS 'e did!" 

- From a dream sequence in "And then there were None" Season 3, Episode 13

Throwback Tuesday: Lisa Douglas

Lisa Douglas: Our favorite lady from Green Acres, who can't cook a thing.

 

As my Mom pointed out, "At least you can cook!" We love her impish plots and endearing attempts at cooking but it sure don't work too well. ;~) I love Lisa's style statements, especially this one because she only wears it once in the entire 5 years series! :~)

 

As Lisa said:  "When you married me you knew that I couldn't cook, I couldn't sew, and I couldn't keep house. All I could do was talk Hungarian and do imitations of Zsa Zsa Gabor." 

Alas I can cook, I can sew, and I can keep house. But I can't talk Hungarian or do imitations of Zsa Zsa Gabor. ;~)