September Contest!

Ok. I had such a great time with the jewelry give-away that I have got to do another one for September. September is one of my favorite months, the first is my niece Leah's birthday and the fourth is my daughter Abigail's birthday.  There are quite a few others but I won't list them all.

This is going to run as a contest.  To enter, post a photo to the facebook page of you in your favorite outfit.  Any style, any era, or dressed up in your favorite vintage style.  Then, get your friends to "like" your photo.  Every "like" is a vote.  The photo with the most "like"s will be the winner!  I'm going to start everyone off with a "like".

So what is the prize? A hand made tote bag!  My kid's great grandmother made this beauty.  How cute is this?  It has a pocket for your cell phone and keys.  Polka dot lining and handles with polka dot bows and a gorgeous little Boston Terrier on the front.  100% cotton and absolutely the cutest thing ever!

Good luck!

Don't forget to get your friends to vote!

****September 30th 2012***** Congratulations to Amber!  She won this month's contest!  Just thought I would update!

Give away winner!

Guess who won!

Tunde (sorry I can't get my keyboard to write your name correctly)!!!!
I will message you on your blog to get your address and get this beauty out to you.  Congratulations!

When I grow up....

When I grow up I want to look like my mother.
She is stunning.  This is a picture of my mom, my sister, and my niece.  Mom is incredible.  She will kill me for this but mom is 71 and is possibly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. 

When I grow up, this is who I want to be. 

I love you mom!

Crazy about nails!

There are so many adorable designs for fingernails out there right now.  I confess I used to have my nails professionally done every two weeks.  It just got to be so expensive!  I have been cruising the net to find some really great ideas that I can work with at home.   Here are a few of them:

First, from my favorite Rockabilly Chick out there: Miss K
This Leopard look is amazing and relatively easy to do!

How totally cute is this!

This next one is amazing too! This one uses one of my favorite brands of nail polish. Lime Crime!  There is a link to them over there---------------------------------------------------------->

 These are so cute!   I love using Lime Crime polishes, they wear a really long time. 

Finally, here is one I found that my daughter Abi does quite a bit.  It looks messy to do but once you finish it the look is awesome!

Enjoy!  I'd love to see some of your favorites!

~Sharon

Give-away!

Yup, I'm giving away this lovely vintage brooch. The drawing is open to everyone, everywhere!  Just go to Vintage Insanity and "like" the page.  Once I hit 25 likes...I will draw a name and contact you for your address!  Easy-peasy.

Everyone loves something free!

~Sharon

In search of the PERFECT lip scrub.

It's been a few days (ok longer) since I posted.  I've been working more and trying to navigate through the red tape of medical insurance for my leg injury.
Anyway, I'm really, really, annoyed right now.  Not just with that whole leg thing but with my lipstick.  Oh yes, I love red lips.  I have a great lipstick. The color is beautiful and it wears well, I just can't find a way to keep it from feathering.  I have tried lip liner and have a great primer (Laura Geller's Lip Spackle is awesome) but it still feathers.  I know much of it has to do with my "mature skin".  Let's just call it what it is, I have wrinkles.  I am old, I am not the proverbial spring chicken any more. (Why on earth would I want to be compared to poultry, but that's another story.)

Anyway.  As far as lip color and staying power goes, I really can't beat LimeCrime or Laura Geller.  These stay on and feel great.  I just cannot, for the life of me, prevent feathering.  I can, however, keep it from happening longer by taking the following steps:

1. Exfoliate!  Oh yes, it makes a difference.  There are several great products on the market right now but I prefer to make my own.  Here is how:

• 1/2 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp granulated white sugar
• 1/2 – 1 tsp fresh squeezed lime juice 

It is rather runny but I rub it on my lips with my fingers and then rinse it off (ok so sometimes I eat it)  then repeat until my lips are smooth.

2. Use a primer.  I use Laura Geller Lip Spackle.   It goes on smooth and stays put.  Don't use too much or it just slides all over the place.

3. Honestly, use a lip liner.  Don't be stingy with it either.  I fill in almost my whole lip.  I'm looking in to a nude liner so I don't have to try and match every shade of lipstick I own (can you say lipstick whore?).

4. Be generous with the lipstick.  Blot it then reapply. 

5. Now here is the kicker, Reline those lips. Clean up the edge and run some concealer up to the edge. Yup , it's a whole lot like touch up painting.

6. SEAL IT. Use a long lasting gloss.  Make sure you take it all the way to the edge of your lip.  TA DA. 

Mine still feathers but, it takes a whole lot longer to feather and it's easier to correct it when it does.

What tricks are you using?  I'd love to never have to touch up feathering again!
 ~Sharon

PS- there is a link to LimeCrime cosmetics here on my page.  Check out their lip colors...A...MA...ZING!

Oh for the love of plastic!

What is she going on about now?  Plastic?  Yes.  I'm talking about plastic in its most beautiful (and collectible might I add) forms.

1940's Lucite Handbag

Sure, I can pop down to the local store and find myself a nice piece of clear plastic whatever for the house but I am talking about mid-century plastic perfection.  Vintage Lucite and Bakelite.  I love it.
It came in so many forms.  This 40's handbag is just beautiful.

 I recently received a beautiful pair of earrings.  Little tiny Lucite lilies on brass with swarovski crystals.  They are perfection. 



 Looking at decor in Lucite and Bakelite is too much fun.  I'm not sure that the husband is ready for me to take this house full on mid-century but just look at how cute this is!

This clock radio and poker chip set is fab!  I'd love to have those in my house.  They are made of Bakelite. They are so highly collectible that I doubt my little budget could handle it....for now.








I'm sure the TV doesn't actually work but how sweet is this?  I wonder if the husband would notice if I replaced his big screen with this.














Bring on the plastic!  I'm loving all of it.  Never thought I would be so taken by something I used to think of as "cheap".  There are many great sites on Bakelite and Lucite jewelry and products on the web. You may be surprised at what some of grandma's old jewelry is worth.  If it's plastic...don't write it off as junk!

Off to eat some of that cake I baked yesterday. Have a lovely day!
~Sharon

If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake!

I love when people drop by...just not when they are unexpected!  Being a good hostess requires a whole lot of work.  What to do when someone stops in?  Easy!  Put on the kettle (or coffee pot) and whip up this scrumptious chocolate cake in no time flat!

Nothing could be easier.  One bowl and 30-35 minutes in the oven!

One Bowl Chocolate Cake:
Ingredients:
2 cups white sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two nine inch round pans and set them aside.
Now, in a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Once you have combined them well, add the eggs, milk,oil and vanilla.  Mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes.  It's going to look runny.  Now stir in the boiling water.  This batter looks more like thick hot chocolate than cake batter.  Don't worry, that's the way it should be.
Pour into your pans.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes until cake tests done with a toothpick.
Cool for 10 minutes then remove from pans to cool completely.
You can frost with your favorite frosting.  I like cream cheese frosting on mine. 

It can be served warm and is fantastic with vanilla ice cream.  Just like grandma used to make! 

Drop on in!  I'll bake you a cake!

Hair tutorial. This is gorgeous.

I wonder if I should go blue... maybe not.  Anyway, I found this fantastic tutorial and I just love the color and the look.  She also uses flowers from my favorite shop belleblossoms.com !  Check her out and tell me what you think!


I'm still in the horrible boot.  I've had lots of time on my hands to experiment with hair extensions.  I have decided that pain killers, boredom, and hair extensions do not mix...

I think my very patient husband agrees....

Have a lovely weekend!
 ~Sharon

Mad about Mid Century.

So what is mid-century?  Well, the name kind of says it all.  It is anything to do with the middle of the century. There are those of us who have been fascinated with this style for years, and then there are those who have just recently fallen in love with this style.

I have to say, much of the recent interest has stemmed from TV shows such as Mad Men and Pan Am.  Both of these shows, by the way, I love.  Not for the story line or the content, but for the style.

I've loved old Hollywood for some time now.  Particularly the movies from the 40's.  Those women were the epitome of glamor to me.  Hedy Lamarr for instance.  She was so perfect.  Her hair, her style, I could go on and on.   Moving forward a decade, the space race was on.  Homes became rather "cookie cutter" but they were in love with sleek lines and anything "space age".  I cringe at the thought of some of those gadgets that were used in the kitchens.  If it was electric, it was king.

Clothing changed but not as much as one would think.  Sure, prints and colors became more vibrant.  You would expect that difference.  During the 40's, between the depression and the war such luxuries were out of the question for most women.



  Once the 50's hit, it was time to really shine.  The structure stayed very much the same with a few twists.  Tailored clothing with real structure is the common thread here.

Oh the 50's!

 Toward the end of the 50's and in to the 60's, hem lines went up but the structure was still very much there.  Not so much from the late 60's to the 70's where more bohemian styles were the rage.

Still got that style...just shorter!

So, my pick?  I love the structure of the 40's.  Those lines hugged curves and, to me, a woman was a woman. The 50's brought out fuller "swing" dresses.  I adore those. Nothing says feminine like a full skirt with a fitted bodice.  A little of both for me. 

A little of both.  Gotta love it!

Why the sudden interest in mid century clothing?  Well, I think that we got so wrapped up in industrial and androgynous looks in the 90's that women are looking to be seen as something more feminine without giving up their status as equals to men.  They are wanting to look beautiful again and to embrace their shape.  No more big shoulder pads and almost non existent hips.  We want to be seen as "girls" but girls with a take no prisoners attitude.

What is your favorite?  Leave me a comment!

~Sharon

Makeup tutorial...by the cutest kid ever!

This is Madison.  I found her videos quite some time back and I adore them.  Enjoy!

So you want that 40's and 50's glam...

I've loved the look of "old Hollywood" and "vintage 40's and 50's" for a long time.  The problem was, how on earth to recreate it without feeling like I was wearing a costume.  There are so many sites on line that offer beautiful clothing that evoke the glamor and style of that time but how to choose?!  Well, that really depends on who you are and what you are going for. 

Rockabilly girls had it hard for a while.  There really wasn't much out there.  Not new at least.  Now, you can find fantastic stuff with just a little searching. Vibrant colors, swing dresses and wiggle dresses are available from several places.  One of my favorites is Trashy Diva.  What if you are a little more conservative?  Well, they have what you want as well.  Another great place, one that I find myself pouring over quite often, is ModCloth.

My personal taste runs to the more classic, as I have said before.  I love the strong silhouette and classic tailoring.  I've found quite a few great pieces on ebay and in etsy stores.  The thrift stores are really great for finding dresses for low prices. 

Photo by Angel Bennet Photography.

I found this one on ebay for $3!  Look for the shape you want and go for it!  Comfort is a huge must. If you don't feel good in it, don't keep it.  Check the return policy everywhere you shop.  There is nothing worse than paying for an item and then having it just take up space in your wardrobe. 

I've had several people ask me if I ever feel "weird" when I have people look at me.  Who hasn't? I can honestly say, I'm over it.  This is me.  I love the look and frankly, I get more compliments than I do insults.  Confidence goes a long way. I'm obviously a more full figured woman and I embrace that.  Show off those curves!  

Shoes are important too.  There is nothing worse than having a banging outfit but the wrong shoes.  Find your "go to" pair. I found spectator style heels at ShoeDazzle and I love them.  Seriously, would you wear rain boots with an evening gown? (ok so if you would and you can rock them go for it sister!)

So, what am I saying? 
1. Find the shape you love.
2. Be confident.  You look amazing.
3. Accessorize!
4. You don't have to spend a fortune.
5. Have fun with it. 

6. Embrace your inner old Hollywood diva!

Have a good laugh at yourself once in a while.  This is YOUR style.


*Thank you to Angel Bennet Photography.  You rock girlfriend!

~Sharon