Take a moment...

Take a moment...

To hug your loved ones.
To tell them how much you love them.
To look them in the eye when they speak to you.

For life is precious.
Life is fragile.
Love is the only thing that remains when the dust settles.

In remembrance of all who lost their lives 10 years ago,
Let us cherish life. Let us learn to value every moment.

In honor of those who continue to fight for and defend this country,
Let us express our appreciation. Let us show our support.


That their sacrifice does not go unnoticed.
That their lives are not wasted.

***

Let us eagerly await the day
our Deliverer comes,
And we can truly say...

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

-- 1 Corinthians 15:55

I got cat class and I got cat style...

My last post on vintage fashion featured some lovely styles from the early 1900s, and while I love things about nearly every fashion 'era', the 1950s are hands-down my absolute favorite.
Everything from tame "I Love Lucy" apparel to the wilder rockabilly scene...so fun!
So here's some retro-randomness to lift the mid-week blahs!

My greatest grief at the moment? My hair will never, ever cooperate and look like this...

Don't you just love her victory rolls (aka reverse curls)??
Glamorous!!

Here's a YouTube tutorial on the basic method for victory rolls...
(scroll down and pause my playlist before trying to listen to this tutorial)



She makes it look so easy, no? Sad thing is... my hair is so fine...ONE of her curls is like ALL my hair!! There's got to be a hairspray out there made just for me, right? *sigh*

***

Oooh, and these dresses...
I have seriously considered purging my wardrobe and buying all retro-inspired clothing....
These are from Etsy (click on the picture to view the store):


***


***


My wedding dress was intended for December, and when we moved the date to June, I had to work around my already-purchased dress.
If I could do my wedding again, this dress would be a top contender. Perfect for summer. :)

***

Something from the 1950s I was NOT pleased to discover: My vintage dress size?? Size 18.
Seriously. I don't like the way that sounds.
So, fyi, all you size zeros, ones and twos in the world.... you didn't exist 60 years ago. ;)

***

One of the bloggers I follow over at Happily Ever After has an entire post on the Rockabilly fashion subculture. A must read! Go here.

And lastly, for your perusing, a couple of newly-discovered clothing websites that I adore:
Pinup Girl Clothing (some content is PG13+)
Mod Cloth (modern twists on vintage styles)

***
Do comment and tell me what you think of retro fashion! What is your favorite element -- dresses, hair, makeup?? How about another fashion 'era'??

***

TTFN, readers! Hold on and look up -- tomorrow is FRIDAY!

Let me listen...

"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?'"

~ Isaiah 6:8

"The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed."

~ My Utmost for His Highest
Oswald Chambers

Inspirational Thought of the Day

Hello, Dear Blog;

Before you say anything, let me explain.
I know I've been severely neglectful for *counts on fingers* FOUR months, but you have to understand....

In June I neglected you because, well, I got married. He's a swell guy, but don't worry, Dear Blog, I still have room in my life for good friends like you.
In July I neglected you because...I was in Hawaii. Vacationing....and pretty much ignoring technology (ask my cell phone...we're still not speaking).
In August, I traveled from Hawaii to Washington to Idaho to Nevada to California to Arizona and then back to California...where we've officially moved for the next 5 years. The jet lag is still haunting me, Dear Blog.
Now here it is September... The unpacking, job searching, cleaning and catching up is crazy... but...
Here I am, Dear Blog. If you will have me back....I've missed you. ;p

*ahem*

And now, I'd like to share a link to my sister's new blog.... all y'all coffee lovers gonna eat this one up.... I'm so proud of this kid! *sniffles*

Go HERE

Well, stop by tomorrow on your coffee break.... I'll be posting again soon... :)

Cheers! *raises coffee mug*

Vintage Cat Ladies

A tribute to those who have gone before....lol.... ;)

Aren't these pictures just darling??

Reading - Food for Thought

"Master those books you have. Read them thoroughly. Bathe in them until they saturate you. Read and re-read them...digest them...a student will find that his mental constitution is more affected by one book thoroughly mastered than by 20 books he has merely skimmed."
~ Charles Spurgeon


I am on the search for new books to read! My goal for the year is to read as much 19th & 20th century literature as I can digest. Five months into 2010, I've read....2....classic books.
While the writing style of older books takes more time to mentally assimilate, the prose is often beautifully written and chalk-full of wisdom and insight.


I've read this book...

Walden will be one of my favorites for years to come. Very philosophical and thought provoking!
I've also read "Mind, Character & Personality", by E.G. White. Spiritually insightful, it focuses on building up personal discipline, and molding one's character after Christ.

What are some of your personal favorites?? I'm considering a few authors to explore next:
~ Charles Spurgeon
~ Oswald Chambers
~ J.R. Miller

I'd like to read some of Martin Luther's work, as well... go back a few more centuries!

Any recommendations? :)

Vintage Fashion

"The true artist must be willing to study the past and work at an idea until it has been perfected for modern application. It is only tawdry clothes that have no background. Dresses correctly designed usually have their origin in old-time costumes, echoing back to a line, a silhouette, or a form of decoration that was in sufficiently good taste many years ago to be recalled for present designs. The wise designer observes closely all well-made, well-designed clothes, whether old or new, studying them as an art student would study a picture, namely, for effect, treatment, and result."

~ 1924 Woman's Institute

I'll admit it -- I'm drooling all over my keyboard. These dresses are divine, and I covet them. Classic lines, feminine softness, girlish charm, womanly allure...

*sigh*

These are from this lovely site...
www.victoriantradingco.com

What are some of your favorites??

Another website for blissful perusing is Eras of Elegance
Page after page of vintage fashion, hairstyles, and accessorizing!