Life of a Jersey Girl blog, Vintage Clothing, english bulldogs, The Woods and The Beach: December 2009

Things that annoyed me in 2009 . . . Goodbye!

Let's say a final 'Goodbye!' (hopefully) to some annoying people and trends from 2009.

*Goodbye Jon & Kate - I used to like watching the show, your kids are fun and adorable. But now I realize that you two are really screwed up, money hungry, attention whores. Poor kids. Save some of their money for the therapy that they'll need when they hit their teens. But you'll probably blow through their money as fast as Courtney Love blows through her kid's money.

*Goodbye to another person who is obviously desperate for attention and in need of much therapy - Octo-Mom. I just don't know what to say about that wacko except for Poor kids.

*Goodbye to Angelina Jolie. Please already. Really tired of media speculations on pregnancies, break-ups and 'secrets' to their relationship. She was a wacko before she started collecting/making kids - and that kind of wacko doesn't just go away. And if they aren't getting any attention, she'll say or do something to get attention. That relationship will end very badly.

*Goodbye to all the media attention on Tiger Woods. I hope that his wife had a 'No Cheating' clause in their pre-nup so that she can get a big payout. I'm sure the payout will be big either way. I hope that we won't be subjected to interviews and media coverage of all the slags he's been with. Oh. Too late to hope for that.

*Goodbye to those Kardashians. Please. Goodbye. Go away. 2 of them were appearing in AC at the Borgata this Summer. I kept wondering what was the 'talent' they would be sharing with their audience and what type of knuckleheads were the audiance to go and pay to see them?

*Goodbye to phrases like 'Fashionista' and 'Recessionista' - they've been used enough over the past few years. I'm tired of hearing them. Also 'Vintage is Green' as a way to advertise vintage clothing (sorry to my fellow vintage clothing sellers) But I'm not going to buy something just because it's 'Green' - Not that I don't care about our Earth, but I just like vintage. You know, old school vintage.

*Goodbye to 'Va-jay-jay' - totally sick of hearing that phrase too. I mean, come on grow up. Why would you call your patootie a 'va-jay-jay'?

* Goodbye to shows about Teenagers living like 40 year olds. Are people really interested in watching overdressed 12 year olds, whoring around with their overly dramatic lives? Although I do enjoy how they make fun of those shows on The Soup.

* Goodbye to Mad Men - ok, I do really like the show, even though I haven't seen the last 2 episodes yet. So I'm not saying goodbye to the show itself. I'm just tired of seeing Mad Men everywhere else. I'm tired of seeing every other thing on ebay and etsy described as being 'Mad Men Style' when most aren't even remotely Mad Men in any way. To clarify, I am for correct use of Mad Men as a keyword, and I love how Mad Men has given attention to vintage fashion. I'm just annoyed by the incorrect spammy usage of it.
Don Draper was voted the most influential man by some website. Jeez, what does that say about our society. I mean, he is super handsome and stuff, but he is a self-centered mess.

* Goodbye to Sarah Palin. I can't figure out if she's delusional or ignorant. Maybe she's both. She can't possibly think that all the media attention she gets means that people actually like her. They are making fun of you Sarah dear.

I could probably go on and on. I tend to do that sometimes. But I will stop my list here, and maybe come back with some more things as I remember how much they annoyed me this year.

Merry Christmas to all my Vintage Friends!

I made double batches of Chirstmas cookies this year because the first Tollhouse and butter cookies went fast! There's a ham in the oven, potatoes are boiling, and I'm about to go down and candy some sweet potatoes. We open our presents Christmas Eve, ever since I was a kid, so Christmas will be over for us in a few hours. I'm looking forward to seeing Harlow and Boris open their presents. Boris already spotted some presents and he's ready to tear into them, old pro that he is.

I want to wish all of my online and real world friends a great Christmas!

Some Christmas presents for me

So. I have to buy some little goodies for myself right?
First, I got this very cute vintage wrap skirt from Deluxeville Vintage on etsy. Very cute, lightweight grey cotton with plaid trims and buttons. Check out her blog too - Welcome to Deluxeville and envy her vintage fabulousness.

I also bought an embroidered linen suit on ebay, that I'm still waiting for. The auction pics are gone so no photo to show you until I get it in my hands.

Then I bought some things from Forever21. I cannot resist cute cheap clothing, that's the only kind of new clothing that I'll buy.
I saw and ordered the boots below at the end of my shopping, and they made me the most happy when the order arrived. About 20 years ago I had a pair of lace-up boots with flat heels by Esprit (I think) I loved them and wore them for about 10 years until they were tattered. I haven't been able to find another pair like them since. Until now. These are taller than my original pair, and the heel is about 1/2 inch thicker, but they will do very, very well. Love them. They actually zip up the side. Under $40!

And I also bought this plaid coat (love). A cape-like fitted jacket/top, a pretty pleated aqua blouse with puffed sleeves and a red gingham wrap top.Sweet.

And finally, I bought this book Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques - it looks great and I can't wait to try out some of the styles.

Lots of snow. I'm not a fan but Harlow is

The 'Big Ole Snow Storm of December 2009' is here. I woke up to about 4-6 inches of snow, and it's still kinda sleety out there now. This is the front yard, with my Mustang totally covered.

More front yard. Yeah, the trees do look pretty. But it's supposed to be really windy later today, so I hope that none of them fall down. We're way back in the woods, so our front yard is all thick with oak, holly and laurel.

Here's Harlow, running linke a banshee in the snow. She enjoyed it very much. Boris stayed inside and snuggled up for a nap.

Then she was exhausted, but unwilling to go to sleep after her mad dashing through the snow. Plus I made cookies for the next few hours, so that kept her awake because she wanted to know what was going on in the kitchen.

Another Happy Customer - In a Vintage dress for a Glamorous Christmas

Angela from Proper Vintage Clothing is the lucky gal who ended up with this beautiful 1930s charmuese gown from my store Dandelion Vintage.
Oh, if only I had somewhere to wear a dress like this, but I wouldn't look as good as Angela does in it. She bought it to wear to a Christmas party. What a Glamorous Christmas! Doesn't she make you jealous?

Be sure to check out Angela's website - Proper Vintage Clothing
Proper Vintage Clothing is an online vintage store based in Vancouver, Canada. Run by designer and long time vintage collector Angela.
Proper offers unique, handpicked vintage items from the 1920’s to the 1980’s. You'll find everything from vintage dresses and vintage shoes, to coats and accessories. Proper Vintage Clothing specializes in bringing you quality and timeless vintage items, when you're looking for that originality and style that can't be found at the local mall.

Here is a sample of some of the vintage goodies at Proper Vintage -

Butter cookies. Yum

Classic butter cookie recipe from my Nan. I think she got it out of Good Housekeeping many years ago.
I made some today, just to test out my new cookie press. They turned out yummy. They weren't all perfectly shaped, I just posed the pretty ones together for this photo.

Butter Cookies -

2 cups sifted flower
3/4 cup butter
1/2 sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter, then add sugar gradually and cream until light and fluffy.
Add egg yolk and beat well
Add small amounts of flour, mixing thoroughly after each add
Add vanilla and blend well

Put through cookie press. Add optional sprinkles. Bake at 400 degrees for 4 to 5 minutes. Makes about 6 dozen cookies

Eat. Yummy.

Happy Birthday Jane

Today is Jane Austen’s 234th birthday.
'A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of' - Mansfield Park

'I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them.' - Jane Austen

'We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be. ' - Mansfield Park

'I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other.' - Emma

I want this fabric!

I caught a glimpse of this fabric when someone posted it on the Fedora Lounge. So cute. Must have. But what to make with it?

The fabric is from 'In the Beggining Fabrics' - it's designed by Sharon Yenter and the print is called 'Housework . . . Whenever'.
I found the fabric along with the co-ordinating fabrics for sale here - http://www.quiltedstrait.com/novelties/houseworkwhenever/housworkwhenever.htm
It's $8.95 a yard.

Cute.

Another happy customer!

Cheri recently purchased a sweet yellow rayon nightgown and a 1940s print jersey dress with peplum from me here at Dandelion Vintage.

She sent me the link to her blog post where she very prettily shows off her purchases - 50's nightgown and Peplum dress
Be jealous of her purchases and check out the rest of her blog!

The portrait is finsihed - and I love it!

I got Harlow & Boris' portrait in the mail today, and I am so, so, very happy with it. There were tears and jumping around all giddy and joyful from me, that's how happy I am with it. In less than 10 minutes I knew that I had to give it to my parents, because I could never wait until Christmas to give it to them. So I asked if they wanted it now, of course they did. And they both are very happy with it and with the way that the artist captured those little faces that we love so much. There's something so special about a portrait, that symbolizes so much. We love our doggies.

So, if you are thinking of having a portrait of a person, pets or house done, please check out Stephanie at here etsy shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/lime914 or at her website - http://www.clarityartanddesign.com/

She was really great to work with, and listened to my input all along the process.