Warm Colors for Winter

Another Christmas come and gone.  Mine was lovely; I hope yours was too.  Today is the day we put away our tree and restore the house to its dreary, non-Christmas-ness and I miss the lights and warm colors.  I need the bright colors in the dreary seasons, that's why I have such a vast collection of colorful tights like these Rust Tights from WeLoveColors to keep me warm and cheery.

At least this year we're having another little heat-wave just in time for the break and while white Christmases are lovely, I'd much rather spend the entire day outside working on my herb garden so it's ready for spring planting in just a few months.

There's always so much to do around here and by the time I feel rested enough from my other job, I find I'm out of time for the farm tasks.  That's life, I suppose, but I'm still working on a way of making the farm my whole job instead of just a hobby. 

I did take the initiative on one particularly nice day to haul and break rocks from around the farm and then use them to expand my tiny herb garden into something much more suited to sustaining a family both in food and medicinal herbs.   

I've been working on gathering all sorts of wild plants from the woods and roadsides that have medicinal benefits and bringing them to my home so that I'll always have a supply available.  In the springtime I'm going to to some more posts on these plants since they are lying dormant at the moment and enjoying their winter rest.

Until then, I'll just have to find ways to stay warm and occupy myself in my little house and fill my wardrobe up with lots of warm colors while I wait for nature's colors to return.

Shopping Info:  Rust tights-$15 from Welovecolors.com

When Help Doesn't Come

This is a difficult time of year for so many people, that I thought this post would be best shared now.  I got some very disappointing news today.  I don't often ask for help, but if I do, it's because it is truly vital.  Asking for help is a last resort when I've exhausted all my own strength and means.  But, here I am.  I've run into a situation that I just can't work out on my own.  I need help.  So, I asked.  And today I got the answer I usually get which is a shrug and a brush off.  It was, as I mentioned, deeply disappointing, but not unexpected.  Christians and Do-gooders.  So many of them are too busy doing "good works" to actually lend a hand and do a good work.

I asked for a small amount of help, that would only cost someone's time, maybe an hour a week at most, and was refused by not one but several people all from the same organization.  It's hard to take because I was refused by people who will fly half way around the world to help strangers in a third-world country but won't lift a finger to help someone in their own neighborhood.  Why?  Kindness is kindness, isn't it?  And a person in need is a person in need no matter where they live, aren't they?

It's hard for me not to assume in a moment like this that the reason I was denied was because there was no glory in it for them.  No photo-op to post to social media which displays their good works and shows the world just how good of a person they are.

I may never know their real reason(s) why, but it's harder to face these people now, to see all their photos of all their goodness.  It's even harder when they hold out their hands and ask me to financially support their next trip around the world to help the indigenous peoples of where ever.  It's easy in this moment to become resentful, and then angry, and then bitter.  But I'd rather not go that route if I can avoid it.

What do you do when you ask for help and get none?  How do you hold on to hope?  The knowledge that's always brought me the most comfort in moments like this is just this:  You are never truly alone.  My twelve step program called it "having a higher power."  I call Him God and I wouldn't have made it very far in life without Him.

You see, as much as we want to believe that there will be people in our lives who will be there for us no matter what, the truth is that the only one that most of us can rely on is God, because not only will the people in our lives fail us, but we will fail them and we will even fail ourselves.  God is the only one who never changes and never fails.

If you're going through something difficult and find yourself without a friend, just know you're not truly walking through it alone.  You do have a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  All you have to do is call on His name and spend some time being still and waiting for His answer.   And if it helps, just know that I'm sitting beside you in spirit and I'm waiting and listening too.

I'll find a way to forgive these people and I may even be able to contribute to their good works fund again one day.  Right now, I'm just going to keep going, keep walking through the valley, and focus on the one who never fails.

Mid Winter & Scarlet Darkness

This time of year more than any other puts me in mind of all my favorite gothic novels.  From the windswept moors of Wuthering Heights, to the gloomy mansions of Jane Eyre, if ever I feel my Victorian vibes, it's never more so than in this time Christmastide and midwinter.

That's why I am so excited for another collaboration with Scarlet Darkness.  (You can see my previous collab with them here.)  I find inspiration for styling these pieces in the wild woods all around me.

When it comes to Victorian styles, Scarlett Darkness offers Victorian and Gothic styles with modern flare at very affordable prices.  These pieces do make wonderful costumes, but they are also perfect for daily wear should you feel yourself in need of a little Gibson Girl Elegance to break you out of your winter blues.

With so many core aesthetics it may be difficult to find your way to any one style that you prefer and feel describes you.  That's perfectly ok, even better than ok, I think it's silly to choose just one style. Some days I wear head to toe vintage.  Some days it's all about Boho, and some days nothing but Victorian will do.

Today I'm wearing Scarlet Darkness Women Victorian Maxi Skirt Vintage High Waist A Line Skirt-$39.99 in light blue with this lovely stripe pattern and ivory lace and cording.  And you can save 10% off this skirt with promo code 101LAYPV now through Jan-25-2022.

This skirt is lightweight, unlined, and has a side zipper for easy dressing and also features an elastic back and corset laced back for adjustable fit.  Pair it with your favorite puff-sleeved top for a classically Victorian style.  

Shopping Info: Scarlet Darkness Women Victorian Maxi Skirt Vintage High Waist A Line Skirt-$39.99  Save 10% with code 101LAYPV  Promo code is good from 27 December 2021 through 25 January 2022.

Holiday Academia

Another day, another core aesthetic.  Dark Academia has been making the rounds on social media.  While I really like the aesthetic, I think it's time I leave the cores to the kids.  It's a little exhausting just watching people try to keep up with them, I don't have the energy to do it myself.

But, I did recently come into a small inheritance of authentic vintage clothes and this little plaid button-down tickled my fashion fancy today.  I think Academia is something I already have been drawn to, even before it had a name, because of its decidedly vintage look.

I didn't call it academia though.  I mentally referred to this style as work-casual, because it has the vintage style I love but in a more relaxed way.  So, I dressed casually for work today since it is Christmas Eve and things around the office are bound to be more low-key.  We had our Christmas party ages ago; this is a day just to piddle and get last minute things done before the break.

If I haven't said it yet: I wish you a very Merry Christmas tomorrow.  I hope your day is filled with love, laughter, and sparkle surprises as you share this holiday with friends and family.

Shopping Info:  Ecosusi Bag, Shein Pinafore, Vintage top

The Real Reason for the Season

Well, ok, the pumpkins may be a little seasonal but the dress is spot on for the yuletide.  The bow and the full skirt are darling and the fit is its own gift.

I find that every year I get so caught up in doing the required things that it's easy to get overwhelmed and view the holidays more as a series of obligations rather than a season of wonder.

As soon as I start grumbling, I know it's time to take a minute, step away from the obligations and breathe.  

I don't want to resent the holiday busyness of the people who volunteer me for one more gathering, one more gift exchange, one more school fund raiser.  These things are important and I want to do it all with a smile, but it doesn't always come easily.

It helps me to take a few moments alone and remember the things I loved about this time of year as a child.  Maybe I'll read all the Christmas cards we've collected over the years.  Maybe I'll clear a path and lay under the Tree and look at all the lights the way I've done every year for the past 37 or so that I can remember. And of course, I'll read the story of the birth of Jesus and the simple shepherds who came to worship him under the stars.

This is a beautiful season and a wonderful time of year.  While it's easy to overwhelmed by all there is to do, there's so much more to be thankful for that it's worth all the effort to make this season as merry and as bright as possible.  

Victoria Oxfords from VIVAIA

It was time for back-to-school shopping and I was starting the second grade.  We'd come to the best part of the day, which was of course, getting new shoes.  I could have gone for sneakers like everyone else, but the minute I saw those black and white oxford loafers I knew that no other shoes would do.  

Of course, no one else had anything else like those oxfords and I turned quite a few heads, but even then, I knew I'd rather wear what I like and stand out for being a little fashion-forward than try to fit in.

I still love oxfords because they're the kind of shoe that basically goes with anything and adds a little panache to everything.  Oxfords work with dresses, skirts, and trousers; they even look great with jeans, so I was so excited to find these Victoria Round Toe Oxford Loafers from VIVAIA.

The Victoria comes in Gray or Black and like all of VIVAIA's shoes they're made from six plastic bottles worth of recycled plastic so they're eco-friendly and sustainable.  Plus, you can save an extra 20% off your purchase at VIVAIA with my promo code BLEU.

These shoes are comfortable, made of breathable knit and have anti-microbial insoles.  They also have anti-skid rubber soles, they're durable and machine washable.  

I particularly appreciate these shoes at this time of year when I still want to wear skirts and dresses and need to keep my feet warmer and dry but still look chic.  I can't wait to spend the winter trying these shoes with all different styles.

Shopping Info: Victoria Round-Toe Patterned Oxfords in Gray-$99 from VIVAIA  Save an extra 20% with promo code BLEU at checkout.

Aria Holiday Edition

The holidays are looking very jolly this year.  Last week we had our annual tradition of serving meals to our community.  It's a wonderful time of fellowship with friends and neighbors but it's also about six hours of being on our feet to assemble meals and then distribute them.

Fortunately I was wearing these festive and oh so comfortable Aria Holiday Edition Pointed Toe Bow Flats from VIVAIA.  Just the perfect shade of Bordeaux red to make them not only a holiday favorite but something special to wear all year long.

With flexible anti slip rubber soles I'm ready for any task the holidays bring my way and, like all of VIVAIA's shoes, the soft breathable knit of these flats are made of 100% recycled plastic bottles so they are eco-friendly, plus they're durable and completely machine washable!  Plus you can save an extra 20% off your purchase at VIVAIA with code BLEU at checkout.

I love the way the deodorizing removable insoles of the have Aria Flats have been printed with the words for Peace, Happiness, and Joy in multiple languages, but these pretty little flats contain an extra dose of holiday magic.

The Aria Flats have a small strip of Velcro across the toe and come with an extra set of bows so that you can choose between velvet or an eco friendly knit.  I prefer the velvet for the holidays but I love to have the option of the knot bows for work or other events.

The Aria Flats also come in a lovely shade of Pale Pink which I may have to get as soon as it gets a little closer to spring, but in the meantime with all the places we have to go this holiday season, my feet are thanking me for these shoes.

Good for the planet, good for your feet, and easy on the wallet.  VIVAIA shoes are the perfect gift for the people you love including you.

Shopping Info:  Aria Holiday Edition Pointed-Toe Bow Flats-$89 from VIVAIA  Save an Extra 20% off your purchase with my promo code BLEU at checkout.