Happy New Year: Updates and Bloggy-dos and an Outfit of the Week!

So a few months ago I set out a list of blogging goals. Like many ENFP personality types, I tend to be very long on ideas and very short on attention span and time. To make matters worse, this past semester was one of my all-time busiest work periods, a frustrating reality further exacerbated by a bunch of extra life demands (some fun, like period balls, some not-so-fun, like expensive car repairs) that required time and money. My 2012 New Years’ resolution is to spend more time on my websites – particularly this blog, as it is both a way for me to reduce my rambling ideas into tangible goals AND an impetus for following through on those goals so I can share the results with you!

Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Pinup Couture Evelyn dress in green satin.

I’m still plugging away on my to-do list from this past fall, and  I’m logging my goal progress to keep me honest! But before I bring you in on that, a goodwill gesture to prove that I’m working on it – an Outfit of the Week!

This is my Christmas Eve ensemble: Evelyn dress in green satin with reversible black velvet shrug from Pinup Couture, new Dian Von Furstenburg frames, homemade hairflower, and black suede-and-patent heels from Sofft Shoes.

Seriously, this dress is ace: rich satin sheen and Christmas green color, super-cute ruched bodice with adorable black velvet bow, and tremendous fit. When it comes to the Pinup Girl Clothing house brands, I usually hover around xl-2x; this one’s a 2x. There’s extra room in the waist (My inch measurements are 44-33.5-49), but it’s not baggy or ill-fitting. And the length is perfect for my 5’8″+ frame.

So if you’re plus or curvy or simply looking for a kick-butt, retro-style, made-in-the-USA clothing company, give Pinup Girl Clothing a shot!

Okay, now on to the rest of it. Click the link below to come out on the other side of the jump…

Continue reading “Happy New Year: Updates and Bloggy-dos and an Outfit of the Week!”

Odds ‘n’ Ends!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Now that I’m almost done with my teaching semester, I can get back to the business of blogging. Kind of. I have some pretty outfits and new-old jewelry to show you. Stay tuned! 😀

Music Collection: A Christmas Music Box is BACK!

A Christmas Music Box "cover" art
A Christmas Music Box “cover” art.

As of Christmas, 2018, this collection’s moved to the YOOTUBEZ! Full info in this UPDATED POST.

Continue reading “Music Collection: A Christmas Music Box is BACK!”

Outfits of the Weekend: Dixiefried and more Heartbreaker

I’ve been feeling kinda mediocre lately, so it was nice to score two fairly successful outfits this weekend. Hell, last night I even wore makeup! That’s a big deal considering how acne and allergies have been conspiring against me over the past month.

Yesterday evening I wore my new Dixiefried “Cutiepie” dress with leopard trim. It was on sale, and the leopard print is both on-trend for this season and a fun little nod to oldschool Dior. I teamed it with my vintage carnelian jewelry, Claire’s hairflower, old Forever 21 cardigan, and nude BCBG pumps.

The dress is an “extended sizes” 3x, which means it fits like a straight-size 16-18.

Dixiefried "Cutiepie" Dress
Dixiefried "Cutiepie" Dress.

Today, I wore my new Heartbreaker gypsy skirt (1x) with a Torrid bow sweater and accessories you’ve seen before. It’s in the very same “Dandy” print fabric as the Aimee dress I posted previously, also from Heartbreaker. Oh, and something new! A Rachel Leigh bow bracelet in rose gold tone from Ann Taylor Loft. It’s cute, and a portion of the proceeds go to breast cancer research…

Heartbreaker Gypsy Skirt
Heartbreaker Gypsy Skirt.
Rachel Leigh Bow Bracelet
Rachel Leigh Bow Bracelet.

Fall fashion color review & wishlist: Because Labor Day is OVER!

As usual, I have many plans for my blog and never enough time to realize them properly. This week, I’ve resolved to clear my bloggy-do list and set some new web log goals that I can stick to:

To get things rolling, a look at this fall’s Pantone Color Report palette and the clothing and accessories I’m angling to buy this autumn!

Continue reading “Fall fashion color review & wishlist: Because Labor Day is OVER!”

Outfit of the Day! Birthday Edition Part One…

Yesterday, I celebrated my birthday with my parents and my good friend Teri.  We went to Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, my favorite restaurant in the whole world!

I wore my Bettie Page Clothing “Surprised” dress from their Gil Elvgren pinup line, pearl necklace and screwback earrings that my mother and grandmother purchased in Japan in 1966, a hairflower I made from a Sally’s banana clip and a Michael’s silk special, my suede-and-patent Sofft bow pumps (which you can’t see here), and my beaded 1950s Saks Fifth Avenue clutch purse (which I blogged about last year).

Surprised!  Birthday dress!
Surprised! Birthday dress!

Next weekend, another party!  I’m not sure what I’ll be wearing, but I’ll definitely share here after all is said and done!  😀

Outfit of the Day!

For some time, I’ve been wanting to share “OotDs” (Outfits of the Day) on this blog.  The trouble is, it’s usually really difficult for me to get a good enough quality photo to post.  Lack of a decent full-length mirror (in a spot with enough light) is the main problem.  At any rate, today I managed to get a workable shot while out and about at Ann Taylor Loft.

I wore a 1940s-style print dress by B&Lu, a red belt by Bettie Page Clothing, vintage carnelian jewelry, Claire’s hairflower, Sofft sandals on mega clearance from ShoeStation, and shades by Juicy Couture.  It was a comfortable ensemble for shopping on a hot day, and it looked cute, too!

Outfit of the Day
Outfit of the Day

Yes, I realize that my purse – which happens to be powerfully cute and cost me only $14 at TJ Maxx – doesn’t match my oufit.  I can deal with it, and so can you.  😛

Disney Theme Park Audio: Adventureland Veranda Loop Take 2!

So the talented and dedicated Michael Sweeney  just notified me that he was able to finish reconstructing the late 1970s-1993 Walt Disney World Adventureland Veranda area loop!  You may remember that two years ago I purchased and ripped  a copy of George Bruns’ Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii album, the source of several of those generation 2 Veranda loop tracks (I’ll just call it version 2/generation 2, because we’re only aware of one other area loop presumably used for this restaurant area, complied in the early 1970s by Jack Wagner, voice of Disneyland/WDW and curator of the Main Street Christmas area loop).

Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii - Front
Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii – Front

Anyway, Michael obtained a live recording of this later Adventureland Veranda loop from Mike Lee of Widen Your World and went to town.  Find the updated Adventureland Veranda tracklist here:

  1. Ua Haav Arve Are – South Sea Serenaders, Beachcomber Serenade: Mood Music of Tahiti and Hawaii
  2. Blue Hawaii – George Bruns, Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii
  3. Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii – George Bruns, Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii
  4. Now is the Hour – Arthur Lyman, Pearly Shells
  5. Harbor Lights – Duke Kamoku & His Islanders, Golden Hawaiian Hits
  6. Song of the Islands – Duke Kamoku & His Islanders, Golden Hawaiian Hits
  7. Moon of Manakoora – Duke Kamoku & His Islanders, Golden Hawaiian Hits
  8. Lovely Hula Girl – Duke Kamoku & His Islanders, Golden Hawaiian Hits
  9. Hawaiian Paradise – George Bruns, Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii
  10. Moonlight and Shadows – George Bruns, Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii
  11. Whispering Sea – Henry Mancini, The Versatile Henry Mancini

Groovy Adventureland Veranda area loop links: