Angelfish

{photos by Ruth} 
This weekend my mother hosted an "Under the Sea" party, and I went as an angelfish :) I found this sequin wiggle dress with tulle at the sides, and I thought it looked just like fish fins!
Party was lots of fun, everyone dressed up, and there was so much yummy food! 
 Dress-Urban Eccentric Vintage 

Take a picture it'll last longer

It's that tricky time of year where the sun makes an appearance and it feels like summer is well on it's way. 
Hahaha! No. 
It'll be gone before you know it, but all the more reason to go out and enjoy it! 
Dress-Gift from my Grandma 
 Sunglasses-Anthropologie
Shoes-Thrifted
Hat-Urban Eccentric Vintage 

Stanford 1946

My Aunt and Uncle just got me a Stanford yearbook from 1946, and it's full of gems. I'm still going through it but here are a few photos I love, I just can't get enough of the plaid skirts and sweaters.   

I see a pattern...

Some of my biggest outfit inspirations come from fellow vintage bloggers. Whenever I feel in a "wearing the same thing over and over" rut, I look to them for something new. This week Annie Pancake and Johanna Ost  have especially caught my eye. Both girls mix patterns so well, and in unexpected ways. I know I'm not shy of color, but I always feel if I have a pattern a solid needs to go with it. 
Not so. 
Rather than standing at my closet door and eyeing an outfit, I'm starting to pull pieces, as silly as they seem together at first, they usually look so refreshing. 
Blouse-J.Crew
Skirt-Estate Sale
Sunglasses-Anthropologie

War Cake Recipe

{War-time cake recipe}
Mix in saucepan: 1 cup brown sugar 1 1/4 cups water 1/3 cup shortening (or lard) 2 cups raisins (optional, can also use nuts) 1/2 tsp nutmeg 2 tsp cinnamon  1/2 tsp cloves
Boil for 3 minutes, let cool, then add:
1 tsp salt and 1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 2 tsp water. 
In a separate bowl combine 2 cups sifted flour with 1 tsp baking soda. 
Gradually add dry mixture to pan, until batter forms. Pour into greased bread pan and bake for 50 minutes at 325 degrees. 

Today I started Our Mothers' War and came across a recipe for "War-time Cake". It was a recipe that worked around the restrictions of rationing, though similar cakes were created during the depression. If you use vegetable shortening and not lard, this cake is vegan, but you'd never know! 
I nixed the raisins, as plain cake is much more appealing to me, especially in loaf form (zucchini "bread", pumpkin "bread"). Though I'm sure raisins or craisins would be a great addition. 
Enjoy! 

Hello deco

Typical northwest spring, the weather is all over the place. When I took these pictures it was that calm before the storm, when the clouds are dark and the birds are silent. But it's still a bit warm and breezy. As I left the sun came out, and stayed for a while! 
Now that my hair is short again I can wear deco styles a little easier. I wanted to mention that I grew out and cut my hair for Locks of Love. You can donate your hair to this non-profit and that contributes to hairpieces for children who have lost their own hair due to illness such as alopecia or cancer. I have healthy hair that I don't artificially treat in any way, so it seemed silly not to. And I'll probably start the process all over again, grow it out, cut it, grow it out, cut it...
   1930s dress-Fab Gabs 
1920s cloche-Barn sale 
1930s shoes-Flashbacks Vintage   

Diary of Martha Crockett, 1939

A few weeks ago I found this diary at an estate sale. It's written in a 1922 fur dresser and dyer booklet, though the owner kept the diary in 1939. Her name was Martha Frances Crockett, and I can't seem to find any information on her other than a her gravestone in town.
From what I can read, she was a mother to a baby, and constantly unwell. There are some days pages are blank which could be days she couldn't leave bed. Other days she mentions being able to get up, and the rest of the time she's keeping up house and tending to farmwork. She seemed to be always making pies and jams, and I image her house was immaculate, she talks of bleaching the stove and painting the ceiling. 
It looks like there are quite a few pages ripped out, how badly do you want to see those pages?! 
   

Spring dress and summer hair

Right before we moved, Love Ur Look sent me this beautiful spring dress. Lately I've been wearing less and less actual vintage, because I just don't like the wear and tear they take from everyday wear. So I'm always searching for new reproduction lines to try.  Love Ur Look is a great option if you love the mid 50s/early 60s styles. Very colorful, fun prints, and the prices are lower than many reproduction companies. 
They achieve that by having their clothing made in India, but before you scoff at the prospect, they are very much a part of the next step in improved clothing manufacturing.   
As learned from the book Overdresed, not all Asian factories are sweatshops, and just because something is made in the U.S. it doesn't mean the workers are paid well and treated respectfully *cough*americanapparel*cough*. 
 You can read more about their standards here, and meet the founder! 
The dress fit perfectly in my new kitchen, which was the first part of the apartment to get set up. But more on that later ;) Oh and I got a haircut. Summer hair! Now if the weather would just cooperate... 
You can find the dress right here

Sears {s/s 1955}

This week I was at a local antique shop, and while looking through a box of fruit crate labels, I completely missed three Sears catalogues inches from my face on the shelf in front of me. When I finally looked up and saw them I grabbed them and hauled them home. 1945, 1948, and 1955. Spring/summer of 1955 has the most color, and the most spring spirit! 
Hope you enjoy :)