Monday, July 20, 2026

Realistic Maintenence

Remember when I said that doing a major Declutter should be one and done or at most a very occasional thing?  And that all these influencers who claim to be minimalists and yet are constantly doing major declutters, cannot be true minimalists and it's all for content?  Remember that?  (click here if you don't) And then, do you remember when I did a major declutter a few years ago trying to make our lives and all of our stuff fit into this tiny house?  Well, I'm happy to report no hypocrisy here.  I am not in need of another huge declutter.

As I read back over the past...11? years of blog posts, I see myself being a little all over the place.  Sometimes I'm happy with what I have, sometimes I'm desperately wanting more, sometimes I am at peace with myself and sometimes I'm battling my nature to try to "be better."  That's because I write what I'm feeling or going through or thinking about at the moment I'm writing.  And things change; seasons in life change; priorities change.  But I am happy to report that when it comes to Decluttering, I'm holding steady.

Last year a relative passed away and she was a collector of all the vintage things I love.  Since anything unwanted was going to be donated, I decided to bring home anything I wanted and go through it later, knowing full well I wasn't going to keep all of it.  Recently, as we started completing renovations on certain rooms of the house, I've been able to take out the things I put in storage for this moment and either find a place for them, put them back to see if they'll fit in one of the other rooms once they're finished, or after taking a second look, deciding I don't really care for the item and donating it as it was going to be a year ago.  But, this has been a very small amount. 
 
Sometimes in my down time I go back through old blog posts to fix typos or correct spacing issues that escaped my notice when they were published and as I've been doing so I've also been making notes of a couple of items of clothing that I bought and they just don't look good on me; they're beautiful and I love them, but they don't love me back.  I wrote them on a to-do list I keep on my nightstand to remind myself if I ran across them in the process of searching for things for the house, to take them out right then and put them in the donate bag.  Yesterday, in fact, while I was searching for a box of lamps I wanted to test out to see which would look nicest in my library, I found all the items--3 corsets, 2 dresses, and 2 pairs of stockings--and donated them along with the lamps that didn't make the cut.  But, that's it.  I still feel really happy with the things I've let go of (for the most part, only had giveaway-remorse on a couple of things) and don't really want to part with much else.

I'm thrifting.  A lot.  And really just adding pieces that I want to be part of a permanent collection.  All my Selkies?  I don't really wear them much since I've been working full time.  My current job allows for me to wear dresses, but they have to be much more practical than anything I've ever bought from Selkie.  And, yet, I don't want to get rid of them either.  They're mine and I love them.  I'm good with what I have.  No more hauls and no more Declutters.  And when my house is done, we'll do one last declutter on everything in storage that doesn't make the cut for decorating the remaining rooms of the house, and then that's it.  I want to just enjoy my home and finally have a little breathing room around here... But, I'll probably still buy dresses. 

Decluttering shouldn't be a major regular event.  Do a major declutter and then change the habits that have led to accumulation.  Minor declutters will keep things tidy around the house, and ensure you don't get caught up in that negative loop of haul-declutter-repeat.
Outfit Info:  Anthropologie We Love Vera High Seas Dress is thrifted, American Eagle Cardigan is old, Honiara Vintage shoes are old, bag was gifted

Thursday, July 16, 2026

New Bernie? Bingo!

I am so glad that Bernie Dexter has kept her business going!  It would have been such a great loss to the vintage fashion community if her dresses went away.  I had my eye on this Kelly Dress in Bingo Card print from Unique Vintage for several months, and waited for one of their amazing sales so I could bring it home.  Golly, am I ever glad I did, this bingo card print is even better in real life and the Kelly is one of my favorite styles.
Outfit Info:  Bernie Dexter Kelly Dress in Bingo Print from Unique Vintage

 

Monday, July 13, 2026

Palava, Please

If natural fibers, amazing prints, and sustainable production are all at the top of your priority list, look no further than today's post of these amazing pieces from British based company, Palava. I bought these pieces from Modern Millie, a small Massachusetts based business that stole my heart with its amazing outfit combos and commitment to carrying beautiful vintage inspired pieces.  I won't say anymore than that about these two companies, I'll just let the pictures do the talking.
Outfit Info: Peggy Top in Peas and Florence Skirt in Multi Pickle Jars from Palava, Cardi by YeMak, Flats from SheIn

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Illuminating Crafts: A Little Lamp

Another micro renovation in today's post.  In between the big-big projects, there are lots of little details to make and bring together to create a cohesive design to each room.   I wanted a cute little lamp for my loft and I found this interesting antique in the chuck bin while settling a family member's estate last year.  It needed work, and no one else really looked at it twice, but since I'd become interested in making lampshades, I thought I could do something with this little piece, so I added it to my TLC treasure trove and brought it home.

The cord was crumbling and needed to be replaced and the base needed a good scrub down, but it was soon shiny and nice.  I bought a replacement wiring kit and got that installed with a little help from Mr. Bleu since somewhere in the process I lost the internal bar and we had to rig up a new system, but he made it work

I selected a small crescent shade frame and got it wrapped, then had to decide a bout all the trim and fixings.  I have a ceramic lady finial from the 1960s that I hoped I could make work for this project because I would love to see her restored to her original purpose, but alas, could not make it work.

Since the loft is so busy with colors I decided to keep this lamp all white, but add Swiss dot tulle and lace, plus beaded and tassel fringe.  This shape was difficult to work with and it's definitely not perfect, but I'm the only one who will see it on a daily basis and I'm happy with how it turned out...or at least not unhappy enough with it that I'll take it apart and re-do it.  Truly its own little composition, it reminds me of a wedding cake. I love how it looks lit up just as much as when it is not illuminated.  I never really thought I would like making lampshades but this has become a favorite busy-hands hobby of mine.

Monday, July 6, 2026

Roman Holiday Recreation

Travel was a very important part of my twenties and thirties.  At first I traveled for myself.  Then I traveled with my family.  Travel is an education, it's an experience that connects us with new places and makes home seem all the sweeter.  This phase in my life is more serious, less carefree.  My children's education, or at least my role in it, is complete, and travel, particularly international travel, has fallen lower on my list of priorities.  

It's been more than a couple decades at least since I was in Rome, but it was an experience I'll never forget for a multitude of reasons.  And, while I doubt I'll ever have the opportunity to visit that lovely place again, I can always see the sights and feel nostalgia while watching one of my favorite classic movies, Roman Holiday.  I cannot think of a single Audrey Hepburn movie that doesn't have stunning costumes and this film is no exception.  Princess Ann's casual travel outfit is absolutely darling and thanks to black and white film, we can imagine it was any color combo we want.
Personally, it seems more fitting with the story that a Princess wanting to keep a low profile would prefer neutrals in order to blend in, such as a white top, beige skirt, brown shoes and belt, and a navy scarf as shown in these iterations below:
I'm not exactly sure why, but I decided to try to create my own, inexpensive version of this outfit and I think I made out pretty well.  I forgot to roll up my sleeve--oof!--but it was the last of about two dozen outfits that I did on that particular evening and I was rapidly losing the last rays of sunlight, so I goofed.  I always make my priority finding clothes made of natural fibers, but it's just not always possible.  So, the top is cotton, the skirt is linen, and the scarf claims to be silk but feels more like polyester, but I love the final result and the entire outfit cost me less than $75.
Outfit Info:  Top-Hotouch on Amazon, Skirt-Grae Cove Linen skirt is thrifted, similar style is Belle Poque on Amazon shown in photo below, Scarf-NaSo Perfect silk scarf on Amazon, Woven Shoes from SheIn

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Hot Off The Frill

Summer is here and it's time for all those lovely traditional pastimes that I enjoy so much.  I hesitate to label them as American because so many places in the world do these same things in warmer weather such as cooking outdoors.  One of my favorite summer recipes is something I picked up while we were living in Japan.  Fire up the grill and toss on some sukiyaki (thin sliced marbled ribeye), let it cook just a minute or two on each side until crisp and then serve with raw cabbage leaves cut into pieces and drizzled with a soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, crushed red pepper, and sesame oil sauce.  That's it.  So simple, so light and delicious, and perfect for summer.  

In honor of grilling season, I thought today's outfit should be this Bernie Dexter On the Grill dress that I thrifted last year.  I didn't see too many dresses come out in this style during Bernie's heyday, but I wish I had because it's so flattering!

Outfit info: Bernie Dexter Dress and petticoat are Thrifted, Heels by BAIT

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