Dying Town

My hometown is well and truly dying.  I don't live in the town any longer, but close enough to still walk its sidewalks from time to time and remind myself of its sad state.  Once a busy little historic village, Long Grove now stands in stillness most days-- maybe a person here or there.  Its trademark Strawberry and Apple festivals still happen each year at their appointed times, but seem only like raucous bandages to me.  They cover over the true and bleeding state of my little town, beautiful, but growing more vacant by the day.

Growing up, my Dad sat on the village board and many times I've thought about going to listen and participate-- to understand the issues, and lend a younger mind.  I even have a somewhat fanciful, crack-brained scheme about opening a vintage shop there-- crazy, because the town has proven to be a business killer.  I just feel in my bones that all it needs is a couple new, successful shops to create a healthy business culture there.  Small business, handmade and vintage are on the rise and Long Grove seems the perfect place to foster that.

Only time will tell, but my heart does hope.

Details

{tee} - J.Crew

{tank} - Kohls

{skirt} - vintage 1940's, thrifted

{shoes} - Call It Spring, via Zappos

{necklace} - handmade by My Selveged Life, gift

If you follow me on Instagram, this is the skirt I attached that adorable vintage Scottish terrier button to a few weeks ago! :)

Hunter Gatherer

It's been a bit since I last wrote, but I'm back to normal (or some semblance of it)!  This past weekend was largely spent with family; my Dad flew in, we celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday and my parents and I did some local sightseeing.  I thoroughly love to spend time with my family, but it also feels good to have some alone time today and sort my thoughts out.

I love to mix hard and soft and this outfit is no exception, pairing my shooting patch polo with a floral skirt feels like an inside joke with a large dose of truth.  What can I say, I enjoy irony.  I know it's not something everyone connects with-- my own Mother tends to tilt her head to the side and say, "hmmm." when I don ensembles like this one-- but I love the ironic blend.  I even think it's a metaphor for myself.  One half strong and capable, one half thoughtful and gentle.

Silly as it might be, I dare say it fits.

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Details

{skirt} - vintage 50's skirt, for sale at Curio Vintage!

{polo} - Ralph Lauren

{tights} - ModCloth

{ankle boots} - handmade by me

{necklace} - thrifted

Windows

This morning I spent such a peaceful time painting in the study, it's fast become one of my favorite spots in the apartment because it has loads of natural light.  The bay windows look out on the little town I live in, which at first felt like living in a fish bowl.  This morning though, I've realized that it's actually a snow globe,  at least for the winter anyway.  Because I'm on the upper floor it's the perfect spot to watch the snow come down, as it did this morning.

There's something about falling snow that beckons the watcher out into it's swirling midst, so after painting I took Chico for a jaunt around the block.  Poor guy, about halfway through he turned around (usually he refuses to go backwards!) and started sprinting back towards home!  He gets cold paws pretty easily, truly I need to find him some booties or something. Bless his heart but I don't think I'll ever get used to being a small dog owner!

I even pulled out snow boots for the first time today!

Details

{cashmere cardigan} - vintage 50's, thrifted

{skirt} - vintage 80's, thrifted

{tights} - Target

{boots} - Fiorentini & Baker

{locket necklace} - vintage, Grandmother's

Whirlwind + Jeans

Wow, what a week-- what a month really.

I feel like I have been fully swept into a whirlwind sometimes.  I have always had a low threshold for busyness, and iron boundaries to boot, so this feeling is a new one to me.  Funny enough, it's all good things that are filling my time-- just more than I've balanced before.  This figurative wind has brought with it some literal chill in the past couple days too, so Autumn is feeling quite real (and strange).

Speaking of strange, I wore jeans on Friday! I actually quite like to wear jeans for a change now and then, though I do it seldom enough that the people in my life usually remark when I do.

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{dark wash jeans} - True Religion

{peach top} - thrifted

{cashmere sweater} - vintage 50's, thrifted

{sandal flats} - Modcloth

{green bead necklace} - vintage, gift

{silver watch} - antique, thrifted

The Drawing Board

I'm back at it.  The drawing board, I mean.

I quit my admin job last week,  it was a rock + a hard place situation so I've felt a lot of peace and freedom since.  God really used the time I spent working in an office though, to open my eyes to how much I really could do with my shop and creative skills.  Pre-office job I was a bit complacent when it came to entrepreneurship-- I'm not taking it for granted anymore. 

I resigned on the 8th, since then I've been hit with this weird shock at actually having time to work on things I love again.  It's an awesome thing, but figuring out how to work successfully alone again is a challenge.  Having worked by a set schedule with specific tasks for awhile, I'm feeling kind of lost.  Self motivation and focus are key when working independently-- both of which are hard for me, especially working from home where distractions abound.  The dog, that book I've been reading, that dress I was going to hem, there's just no structure when your work space is in your living space.

I really prayed against  that this morning and am feeling a bit better as the day goes.  Keeping in mind (literally) that my God is bigger than any situation, and He's given me the power to make my thoughts captive to Christ.

This outfit was from Sunday, and it think it's the third time I've shown this skirt-- it was one of my Mom's closet staples in the 70's.  The other ways I wore it are here in 2012 and here in 2011.  Weird to think I've been blogging that long...?

Details

{skirt} - Mother's, vintage 70's

{lace tank} - worn underneath, Target

{floral/bird tank} - Kohl's

{necklace} - gift from Dad

{flats} - ?

Citrus Floral

It's been a little over a week since I last posted an I feel like so much has happened, mostly positive.  Sandblast was wonderful-- it's a camp for the high school kids at my church, but it was so spiritually nourishing for me as well.  I've realize lately how much my involvement in youth ministry keeps me on my toes, even just as a volunteer small group leader.  Through the teaching and worship of course, but also through the thoughts and questions that my small group girls express.

Maybe it has something to do with attending a month of sleep away camp every summer growing up, but I love the camp environment.  I'd seriously live that way if I could.  Funny enough, but I think Sandblast challenged me socially this year too-- I'm pretty standoff-ish and awkward in large group settings, but last weekend I surprised myself by being much more open and amiable.  I have no idea how that happened, but I've been praying for God to continue to thaw and sweep me up in His plans.

Ugh, there is so much more to speak of in the past week!  I'll have to save it for another post though, so this one doesn't become a novel. :)

This dress is one of my summer favorites, I wear it as much as possible (probably too much) in the warm months because I just haven't found it to be wearable in the Winter.  I'm generally not a fan of "fashion rules" about when and how things must be worn-- I wear most of my dresses year round, albeit styled differently for the current season.  This is not one of those dresses.  Come September, I'll pack it and a couple other "summer only" dresses away, and unpack my few "winter only" ones.

Hmm, though maybe if I had a rust hued pair of sweater tights...?  :)

{Dress} - vintage 60's, thrifted

{Bag} - vintage, shop stock

{Necklace} - gift from Mom

{Flats} - Modcloth

Silver + Gold

Oh, what a weekend!  The past two days have been packed full of people I love!  I throughly enjoyed it, but my introverted self is pretty tuckered out at this point.  Saturday morning I got to meet with three of my dearest friends for our bi-weekly small group at one of my favorite local coffee shops.  That meeting every other Saturday is something I always look forward to, it's such a great source of community and mutual acceptance, laughter and accountability.  Lovlier lady friends I could not ask for. :)

Saturday afternoon, I attended a wedding and spent the evening catching up with some dear old friends.  My two best childhood friends, their families and other old neighbors.  Stories were told, photographs shown and life stories updated.  Haha, my Saturday reminds me of a song we used to sing in Girlscouts (yes, I was one): "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold".  True words.

And of course, today was Mother's Day, which I had the opportunity to spend with my Mom!   This morning, we headed to the city for brunch at The Publican-- partially because of the great food, and partially to visit my brother who works across the street at PQM.  Afterwards, we headed to one of our favorite local antique markets and spent the afternoon browsing.  I have the most wonderful Mother, I truly don't know where I'd be without her loving, selfless, patient presence in my life.  Don't get me wrong, we have our ups and downs.  We are both flawed people, and very different individuals but I respect and love her with all my heart.

Happy Mother's Day!

{Skirt} - Vintage 40's, thrifted
{Blouse} - ? From high school
{Cardigan} - Vintage 50's, thrifted
{Tights} - Target
{Oxfords} - Zappos
{Necklace} - Seven Finches