The totality (and impact) of losing everything

This is not, by any means, the most lighthearted of topics for my second entry of new year, I know, but I feel that in order to proceed forward and start afresh in my life, I truly need to share these thoughts with all of you.

As we sit here just over half of the way through January, it strikes me that it is entirely possible that the complete impact - insomuch as it pertains to our lives in the much longer run - may not have even fully presented itself yet, but again, I want and need to get some of these thoughts and reflections down on virtual paper all the same.

Most of you are aware that three months ago now, in mid-October, Tony and I lost our home, virtually all of our possessions, and our precious cat, Stella, when an arson fire destroyed the entire fourplex that our home belonged to.



{Exceptionally large volumes of water were required by the local fire department to put the multi-home blaze that destroyed our house out on the night of October 13th. It took several hours, but they were eventually successful in quashing the blaze before it spread to any of the dozens of other condos/townhouses in the immediate area. The end result of such though was that on top of the smoke and fire damage itself, our possessions were greatly harmed by water as well, including over five whole feet worth's that was shot into the basement alone - as you can imagine, everything there was a total write off, as was very nearly everything else in the whole house. Vintage image source.}



In the immediate aftermath, shock and disbelief filled our days. Our brains – or at least mine - fluctuated constantly from feeling completely foggy to clear as a bell. Adrenaline fueled us onward for weeks, sleep was elusive (and fraught with nightmares when it did happen), and we absolutely had to focus on tasks like the arduous insurance claim process, getting an approved removal crew into the burned out remains of our house (this step was required for our insurance claim), and buying those day-to-day staples of life that were most pressing and important.

Amidst this chaos, emotions soared, hearts ached, and a sense of disbelief rang out across the crisp autumn air. One day we had a happy home filled with our belongings, I was running my Etsy shop, our pets were both fine, and we were getting ready to celebrate our wedding anniversary the very next day (October 14th).

Then, that night, everything changed instantly when one person's staggeringly malicious, thoughtless and life threatening act destroyed just about everything under our roof (save, thank goodness, for our own lives and that of our precious dog, Annie).

More than mere things themselves, I was struck almost instantly by the haunting sense that I had lost my very identity (or at least a sizable portion of it) - as well as the cocoon of comfort and serenity that I had build up for myself throughout my adult life.

As a someone who does relentless battle day in and day out with multiple severe chronic illnesses and who is frequently far too unwell to leave the house for days, weeks, and sometimes even months at a time, my home was my beautiful sanctuary. It wasn't huge, but it teemed with items of all sorts that brought me incredible joy and peace, inspiration and comfort.

In many ways, it really did feel like a suit of armour that helped, at least in part, to shield me from whatever life threw our way - that is until it vanished quite literally in a (giant) puff of smoke.

I remember, shortly after the fire, sitting on my parent's couch one morning - borrowed clothing hanging from my exhausted shoulders - and being struck by the fact that I felt an unforgettable mix of numbness, gut wrenching emotion, and as though I was witnessing someone else's life unfold before my eyes, as right then and there, my world no longer felt like my own.



{For the first few weeks immediately following the fire, I felt adrift without my usual wardrobe, surroundings and possessions. It was an alien and vastly unpleasant sensation and one that I would never wish on anyone. Thankfully, the more time that passes, the less this feeling takes center stage. Vintage image source.}


Mercifully, though elements of those feelings all still linger, something astonishing happened to help bring me back to myself: all of you.

From your staggeringly generous monetary donations, to your awesome care packages, to supporting us via the surprise of a lifetime that was the private VSS, literally thousands (in total) of caring emails, private messages, and blog comments, and scores of other amazing ways, the vintage community was there to catch me and Tony and Annie alike as we proverbially fell further and further into the abyss of this tragedy.

Your hands and hearts reached out to us. In some instances we didn't know yet know you, in others we'd been friends for many years, and in others still, we might have only been acquainted for a short while, but no matter what, you were there for us.

It was as humbling and touching a thing as either of us have ever experienced in our entire lives and the mere words "thank you" will never feel like enough to express our deepest of gratitude to all of you.

There is a great totality that comes with losing everything (again, virtually - we estimate that we lost at least 99.95% of everything that we had before the blaze and I really want to stress that, of course, while I'm speaking mostly from a first person perspective here, my darling husband Tony lost everything, too, and was likewise hit to his core by such) - especially when it is caused by someone else's hands and comes completely out of the blue.

"Everything" may be an easy ten letter word to say, but wrapping one's mind around - and fully accepting - what that really means in terms of your home and its contents is another beast entirely.

At first - and to a degree, still even now - the closest thing that my brain could compare how it felt to suddenly not be around my possessions any longer was to liken it to being on a holiday and having lost your luggage en route, thus seeing yo reach your destination with just the clothing on your back.

This was no vacation though - very far from it - and as we came came to grips with what losing everything really did entail, a barrage of emotions, thoughts and pain hit us hard. Yet we persevered.

We were alive and unscathed physically by the blaze, we had each other and Annie, and as dark as things were, a voice deep inside of us kept reminding us that there would be brighter days again - we would just need to be patient and keep working hard to make them happen.

Though most of you know me primarily because of my strong ties to, and passion for, all things vintage and I certainly lost a substantial amount of antique, vintage, vintage reproduction, and vintage appropriate items (some categories of which - such as hats, plastic jewelry, and mid-century novelty print skirts, as well as books, magazines and catalogs - continue to pain me more than I could have ever imagined their loss to do), that was not all that I lost by any means.


Some other key categories of my personal belonging included the following:

-A massive supply of scrapbooking, stamping and other paper crafting related supplies (honestly, I had more than I could probably have ever used in ten lifetimes and it was a collection that I was both proud of and extremely grateful for). As well, all of my completed scrapbooks were lost, too. That cuts to the core, let me tell you.

While fortunately I did have photographs that had been uploaded to Scrapbook.com of some of my finished projects, dozens of pages and cards hadn't been shared publicly yet and as my computer and our external hard drives were all destroyed in the fire, so too were the images of I had of these creations.

The loss of my craft room and its contents is on my mind constantly and, as time goes on, rebuilding a new version of it will be an immense priority for me, as crafting is essential to my happiness, well being, and the state of my health.


-A large supply of jewelry making products, tools, and related items including multiple totes full of vintage findings, cabochons, beads, charms, etc.

-A smaller, but still decent sized, selection of other assorted crafting supplies, including items for cross stitching, embroidery, sewing (sewing machine included), and holiday decor making.

-All of my photography equipment - Canon DSLR, lens, flashes, tripods, stands, backdrops, a white box, camera bags, etc. You name it, it was destroyed.

-Over 600 modern books (and hundreds of vintage ones, too), plus dozens and dozens of crafting and home decor related magazines.

-A substantial collection of Canadian and (to a lesser degree) international Girl Guide and Girl Scout patches, badges, pins, books, uniforms, and other related items, many of which would be next to impossible - due to their scarcity - to replace these days, even if one had Bill Gate's bank account at their disposal.

-A few dozen plush toys (stuffed animals), a few modern dolls (including some Pullips and their wardrobes), and even a few of my childhood toys.

-Oodles of Halloween and Christmas decor (including some family heirloom items), and a smaller array of decor for various other holidays.

-At least three large totes of items from my childhood + teenage years and another couple full of keepsakes, letters, and souvenirs pertaining to my adult life.

-A substantial number of items pertaining to my spirituality.

-Every single item (listed or unlisted at the time of the fire) for my Etsy vintage shop, as well as all of my props, packaging and shipping materials, and every thing else related to my business.




{Like most of us, I had amassed my possessions over the course of many years and listing everything would be quite the task, so I've opted to just focus on some of the key areas here, especially since they're the same ones that I'll be aiming to rebuild collections of from here on out. Vintage image source.}


There are were many other things, too - from family photo albums to 40+ metal cookie cutters, medical supplies to our printer - that were lost, as well scores of the sorts of things that most of us barely even think about on a day-to-day basis, such as toothbrushes, pots and pans, undergarments, vitamins, and countless other items.

As well, in losing my computer and external drive, I lost a great deal of information and images pertaining to my blog, including Word documents that housed hundreds of potential ideas for future blog posts, all of the images I’ve shared here over the years (including photos of myself), drafts of about twenty future blog posts, and research that had been gathered for dozens more.

I want, and need, to mention, that I don't list the physical items above or talk about what I used to own in any sort of (intentionally) bragging or even so-called "humble bragging" kind of way. That is , categorically, the polar opposite of the type of person that I am and I would never want anything that I do or say to come across in that way.

This post is being penning both as a healing tool for myself and, to a degree, for a sense of posterity, as well as to honour, in a way, the memory of those items that were lost.

My collection took a lifetime to amass - a combination of online and in person purchases, coupled with a fair number of items that were amazing gifts from friends, family, CV readers, neighbours, and (in more recent years) blog sponsors, too.

A great deal of what I had was bought on sale and very often even modest items were saved for before being purchased. I never took what I had for granted and was (and still am) immeasurably grateful to have had an abundance of possessions pertaining to so many areas that are near and dear to my heart before the fire.

Given that we were grossly under insured (far more so than we realized before the fire; we would have increased our coverage had we known), we won't be able to replace most of what we lost beyond the bare bones basics of our household needs (dishes, bedding, towels, a table and chairs, etc), nor are we otherwise in an economic position to do so.

This stings, of course, but as I constantly remind myself, once, a fairly long time ago now, I started out with nothing and created the life that I (and later "we") had as an adult.

There was a time when I didn't own a single scrapbooking item, when I could fit all my books into a lone backpack, and further back still, when I was just starting to wear vintage and owned less mid-century pieces than I had fingers on one hand.

Though I never imagined that I'd need to start from scratch again in some many different areas of my life at the age of 32, that I am (doing) and instead of bemoaning what was lost, I am just thankful to be alive and to have the chance to rebuild certain collections over the course of time.

There are many, many factors that will prevent me from most likely having the same sized collections again - at least not for decades - and I accept all of those as best I can.

Some of these factors include things such as that a lot of what I used to own was bought online back when the US and Canadian dollars were on par and (also) USPS postage rates were still reasonable, that there are few to none (depending on the category of items) shops in our town that sell such items, and that that our household budget and expenses are vastly different today than where they were, say, when I was in my mid-twenties. In addition, there is the critical fact that we need to focus our finances elsewhere at present and for the foreseeable future.

It is certainly possible that some categories may never really materialize into collections again (I sense Girl Guide related items may be one such area, for example) and again, others will likely be smaller.

As much as I'd love to go on a giant shopping spree, that isn't even remotely possible. Instead, in what is perhaps a very vintage approved sort of manner, I will gather items slowly and with great though. Each dollar weighed, each purchase contemplated. Baselines, so to speak, of various categories will be - and in some cases, already are beginning to be - established and built upon.

Just as Rome wasn't built in a day (though, much like our old house, it too burned), my future wardrobe and the other areas of my world that matter to me will take time to rebuild.

I am trying to look upon this as challenge as an adventure. A chance to hone in all the more on those areas that matter most to me, to discover new treasures, rewrite wish (and holy grail/unicorn) lists, and not, importantly, feel like I need, by any means, to own as much as I did before.

I loved everything that I had and will miss nearly all of it for the rest of my life, but thankfully in the world at large, there are still lots of most of those types of things to be had and some of them will end up living with me.

We lost so much that night. At first I felt like a fish out of water. My vintage threads were gone, my comfort zone had been obliterated, our wonderful cat's life was taken, and my Etsy business was destroyed. Our lives were on their heads and everything felt out of sorts.

Now, several weeks after the fire, thankfully, a greater sense of order is beginning to enter our world again. We have met - in no small part thanks to the aid of others - many of our basic needs, we have a temporary roof over our heads until at least this March (the search began in full force earlier this month for longer term accommodations, as touched on here), and there is a degree of structure in our world again.

It isn't the same world as before the blaze. That would be impossible. It different. Starkly, extremely different, but it is also positive because we've survived and in time, that survival will, we truly hope, progress to thriving as well.

The unexpected can happen to any of us at any point in time. Tragedy hurts, loss hurts, and devastation hurts. It is important to feel those emotions and not try to brush them off, to live through the process honestly and openly. Yet it is also just as important to believe in the future and yourself. To think positively and focus more on what you still have, then what was stripped away.

There are, and will continue to be, many challenges in our lives that would not have been present if this arson fire didn't occur, but that's okay. We'll tackle them head on, bolstered by the strength of those who care about us and a steadfast belief that we rise up again.

This new year is the ideal time to really begin down that path and I am so thankful that it's here. I have no clue what 2017 holds in store, but I can promise you that it will see us continue to fight, to put the pieces back together, and to reconnect with many things that have been integral parts of our world for a long time now.



{Even when - and arguably even more so - times are tough, there are still valuable constants in our life to focus on and get excited about, and few work better for new beginnings than the annual return of January. Vintage image source.}


Even though my previous belongings are gone, it's awesome that Chronically Vintage and the online community at large that it belongs to are still here. Physical objects matter and there's nothing wrong with that in the slightest, but life, how will fill our days, the relationships we experience, how treat one another, and the way that we lead our lives matter far more.

Thank you for allowing me the chance to share these cathartic thoughts with of all of you here today - very good job, if you've made it this far. I know this wasn't the smallest of blog posts by any means. :)

Here's to 2017 - each day and every hour, the prospects and promises that it holds in store, the many firsts and old favourites alike.

Let us hope that it is not only a good year, but a great one for ourselves, our loved ones, and the world at large. We need it something fierce!


*PS* Thank you very much for as well to everyone who commented on my last post and/or otherwise expressed care and concern regarding my minor surgery last week. I'm happy to report that it went smoothly and that I'm now recovering at home (I'll have my followup doctor's appointment in a few days's time).

My health in general though, as touched on in that same post, is struggling massively in the aftermath of the fire. It took me, for example, more than two full weeks - working in stops and starts, as I could muster the ability to do so - to pen this post. Pre-fire, it would have almost certainly have been written in a single day.

As you can imagine, this situation is currently having a profound impact on my ability to blog or be online in general, and between my health and the continued hectiness and challenges of our lives, my posts here, if possible at all, will be very sporadic and I view this site as still being on indefinite hiatus.

I appreciate your understanding and kindness on this front beyond words.

Saturday Snapshots: July 16, 2016

{Quote image source}

{Pin curls, fab outfit, adorable kitty cat, and a mile-wide smile? Yep, this delightful mid-century gal officially wins at summer.}



{"Lois Duncan Steinmetz playing the accordion aboard the shanty boat Lazy Bones, c. 1947", because Lois was just awesome like that.}




{One look is all it takes to know that this 1940s pair - and their beautiful dog - were a blast to hang out with. Plus, don’t his shades look they could have just walked off the spring/summer 2016 runway? Proof positive that designers today take styling cues from the past right, left and center.}




{Group fun in the sun while at the beach in 1937 - love the lady at the back's classic folding parasol. It reminds me a lot of the gorgeous Disney themed hand painted ones that my dear friend Janey, from Atomic Redhead, has been creating and sharing on her blog this year.}




{No convertible? No problem! Just make like these two cool c. 1940s gals, in their matching shirts/play suits, and put the trunk (boot) of your car to good use! :)}




How much do you love this beautiful 1950's woman's fabulous ombre striped strapless swimsuit?}




{Teenagers being teenagers and having a blast at their local Tallahassee drive-in burger joint back in August of 1957 (you just know the milkshakes there would have been to die for!).}




{In a perfect world every single day of the summer would be as fun, carefree and sunny as the one depicted in this fabulous American beach snap, which was taken during July, 1952.}




It's never to early in life to ensure that your warm weather style game is squarely on point, as the young misters Larry and Louie Poggenburg kindly demonstrated for us during the spring of 1965.}




{Okay, it's official, seeing these two lovely c. 1950s synchronized swimmers has got me yearning to hop into the nearest body of water pronto!}

{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, 

please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}

♥ ♥ ♥


Soooo, it's been a really long time since the last edition of Saturday Snapshots occurred here. Like, a really, really long time. I went digging around through my achieves and it would appear that the last such post was in May 2015, some fourteen months ago.

Wow, I'd been thinking it was last fall, but such appears not to be the case. There's no set schedule or timeframe for these posts of course, but as I - and I know, many of you as well - really adore them, I do like to get one up periodically. Today, in the middle of July, seems like a great time for new edition of Saturday Snapshots, don’t you think?

I read the quote that kicks off today's post for the first time ever a few weeks ago and it instantly resonated with me. Though I am generally a million miles away from lazy, I don't per se think that work related activity (or lack thereof) is the sort of laziness that the man who penned it, American author and philosopher Sam Keen, had in mind when he wrote those words. No, I highly suspect that he was referring to one's pace of life and how much, from sun up to sun down, we're able to get done in a day during the peak of summertime.

I'm a major workaholic and I will burn the midnight oil like no one's business, but during these glorious dog days of summer, even I tend to scale back a little. How on earth can one not? These few brief weeks of truly hot weather will vanish with the first tumbling leaves of September and with them, any hope (short of a vacation to a far-flung destination where the sun shines all year 'round) of feeling truly warm from the sun until next spring arrives.

Summer, to my mind, shouldn't be about merely staying busy nor doing next to nothing at all, no, it should be a happy marriage of two. If ever the expression "play hard, work hard" was at home in a chapter of the year, summer is it.
 
I may still bust my hump during for most of the week, but while the temps are near (or at!) triple digits and the sunshine seems to stretch on from here to eternity, you can bet that I'll be sinking my toes into the sand, talking peaceful strolls in the early morning hours, and lapping up froyo like its going out of style, while I still can.
 

As we sit now, there's just over two full months of summer left. Fall weather often begins before that point though, so I think that's all the more reason to go along with Sam's take on things and revel in the fact that this season not only allows, but frankly encourages us, to slow down, stop and smell the roses, and practise the time honoured art of slow living for a brief while amidst our usually frenzied, fast paced modern lives.

Here's to the rest of summer and all the relaxation it has the potential to afford us!

Now, where did I put that beach umbrella? All this talk of taking things easy has me champing at the bit to spend the weekend under the open the sun. Care to join me? :)

Introducing a fun new post series: Links, Life, Love

 Soooooo, you guys remember back in early January when I decided to retire some of my long standing reoccurring blog post series? (As discussed in this post.) Though I've not yet regretted that decision for a moment and have greatly been enjoying exploring other writing channels in place of where they once occurred, the more time that goes on, the greater the sense of longing for some sort of regularly occurring link sharing post becomes.

I didn’t want to revive my "Vintage Link Love" series however, as I stand behind the reasons why it was handed a gold watch and sincerely thanked for its diligent years of loyal service. Instead I want to launch a new post right here, right now, that will combine elements of that past series with others topics that I often want to discuss with all of you, too, but don't always have the ability to set aside a whole post for right in the moment.

By the same token though, I don't want these posts to be a million miles long, nor will they necessarily be occurring here on a month-by-month basis. In fact, I want them to be as "on the fly” as possible.

They're going to combine a small smattering of (mostly vintage related) links from around the web that have caught my eye lately, include a (likely) brief look at some of what has been transpiring in my personal life lately, and also share some of things - online or off - that I've been loving and/or feeling deeply inspired by in recent weeks.

Generally speaking all of these are points that most of my readers really enjoy hearing about, so without further ado, may I present you to the first ever edition of Links, Life, Love.


Links:

I swear it was you, my dears, and your plethora of awesome posts in the first few weeks of 2016 that ultimately birthed this series. Try as I may, I couldn't stop bookmarking articles that spoke to me and that I, in turn, wanted to speak to each of you, my lovely readers, about. There's just too much awesomeness being created each day, week and month of the year online not to shine the spotlight on at least a wee fraction of it here.


-Detroit in the 1940s: Then as now, Detroit has not been without its highs and lows, struggles and beauties, as this striking photo filled piece from The Atlantic about the Motor City and its inhabitants during the mid-twentieth century heyday.


-The Ultimate List of Maternity Friendly Retro Clothing: Recently the immensely lovely Bethany from Miss Betty Doll gave birth to her second child, a gorgeous new daughter and little sister to her first sweet girl, and as she rocked vintage/repro/retro styles through her pregnancy, she decided to put together an excellent and very thorough list of some of the best sources for just such fashions when one is expecting. It's a must bookmark no matter if you ever plan to have wee ones of your own or not.


-Women of the Big Band era that everyone should know: My good friend - and fellow Canadian gal - Liz from Vintage Inn excels at penning informative, exciting, and just plain awesome history filled posts and one of her latest, which takes a gander at some of the female stars of the big band era, is no exception.


-Things Pale Girls are Sick of Hearing: Given that I've actually been called "a vampire" before in public by complete strangers, even when I wasn't wearing goth fashions or makeup, simply because of my light complexion, this great Forever Amber post hit home for me big time!


-How to alter clip-on earrings into post earrings: Let's face it, objectively, few people find clip-on earrings to be as comfortable as pierced styles, provided you have holes in your lobes, so if you've ever wished you could comfortably sport a pair of clip-ons without their pinchy pain, this wonderful DIY tutorial from Christina, that shows you how to convert clip-ons to post style earrings, is definitely for you!


-Vintage stocking guide: In need of a vintage stocking 101 class or just want to brush up on the details of sporting old school hosiery. Emeleigh to the rescue with this terrific entry on the subject.


-6 ways to temporarily trim a plain hat: Ever wanted to jazz up a ho-hum hat without permanently altering it? Enter these six stellar tips from endlessly talented milliner, my dear friend, and fellow vintage blogger Tanith Rowan to the rescue!


-And speaking of vintage hats (something that one should do often! :)), how fabulous is this detailed look at How to refresh vintage hats/veils from none other than the thoroughly lovely Emily from Emily's Vintage Visions. You'll never look at a bedraggled hat the same way again!


-And last, but definitely not least, a really sweet Facebook friend, and fellow old school adoring lady, of mine, Elizabeth, recently took the plunge and launched her own mid-century fashion blog called Gloriously Vintage. If you haven't caught wind of it already, I highly encourage you to go check Elizabeth's site out and shower her with love and comments as she begins her own exciting vintage blogging journey.

{Those hats though!!!}

Life:

First and foremost, thank you very, very much to all those who shared their thoughts with me in the comment section of last week's post about some of the substantial changes that Etsy has been making lately.

I won't lie, I was pretty shook up by the major overhaul of that site (chiefly in terms of how seller's shops now look) and am still battling some stress and anxiety from it, but being a glass half full kind of gal, I'm trying to just buck up and make the best of things, believing wholeheartedly that when the reno dust has finally settled (even if that takes a few months) things will largely get back to normal there and my shop and I will have weathered this suddenly storm intact.

Secondly, it's spring! I know, stop the presses! But seriously, it is and that has me beyond jazzed. Though I was going through a rather rough patch on the health front throughout all of March and very early April (I was only well enough to leave the house twice in six weeks and then only for a little while each time; this sort of thing is super common for me, so it didn’t phase me too much, but I was starting to get cabin fever a bit as the sunshine rolled back into town and I really hope that April will be kinder to me in so much as my health is concerned).

Things are well here in our wee abode. March 19th marked the three year anniversary of the day that we brought home our darling dog, Annie, and the following day marked the 12th anniversary of when my husband, Tony, and I first met back in 2004. How time massively flies!




Speaking of my Italian cutie pie, he's headed to Austin, Texas at the end of this month for a brief work trip. It's not possible for me to tag along with him (it just doesn’t make sense for us to spend several hundred dollars on a ticket for me when he’ll be there for such a short time), but I'll definitely be saying hello to the Lone Star state in spirit and can't wait to here his first impressions of this very famous corner of the U.S.A..

With spring's arrival, even in the face of not doing too well health wise in recent weeks, I've been in a very creative, energetic mindset lately and have been a seriously productive panda in many areas of my life and work. Trust me when I say that, thanks to such, there are so many fun new posts coming down the pipeline this spring and summer - and I can hardly wait to share all of them with you!



Love:

Before I go any further, I would be truly remiss if I didn't thoroughly thank my beautiful friend Vanessa, from the blog, Nessbow, for inspiring this portion of my latest blog post series care of her own terrific ongoing series called Things I Love Thursday (in which she details some of the various things that she's been wild about lately).

These posts of hers have long struck a chord with me and I always knew that it wasn't a matter of if, but when, I finally took her lead and implemented something similar here on my own site.

So far spring I've been seriously crushing on the following things:


-Purple - as in the colour: Suddenly, I can't get enough of it in any form. Clothes, flowers, desserts, craft supplies, home decor, you name it, violet is my new game!

-The fact that, for the first time ever, my Instagram account hit more than 5,000 followers. This has been a milestone number that I've been working diligently to reach for quite some time now and I can't thank every who follows me enough for making it happen.

-Baby/new potatoes: A timeless favourite, I've scarcely been going more than three or four days without serving these scrumptious little nuggets up garden grown goodness - often with fresh mint, dill, or chives, a ribbon of butter and a glorious springtime sunset cascading over our dinner table to help make things even more sublime.

-The smell of fresh cut grass wafting through the breeze again (it is, after all, one of my top ten favourite scents of all time).

-Fellow vintage blogger Sabrina’s super cool newly launched Etsy shop, Inky Notions, which abounds with her splendid hand drawn illustrations, many of which are thoroughly vintage focused (watch for a collab post between Sabrina and I a little later this year – it’s going to be a blast!).

-The latest season of House of Cards. Action packed, riveting, and so full of that characteristically conniving, brilliant, megalomaniacal Frank and Claire Underwood goodness that we all adore.

-My new oversized blank page notebook that I've been cramming full of hand written notes and simple sketches for blog, Etsy and crafting related ideas that have been flowing like a waterfall from my mind in recent weeks.

-The Daily Otter. No matter what life throws my way, this site never fails to perk my mood back up in 0.005 seconds flat.


{To learn more about a specific image used in today's post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

♥ ♥ ♥

So there you have it, sweet darling, links are back, you get to find out more about what's taking place in my life outside of the vintage realm, and I cap off the whole kit and caboodle by sharing a wee array of things that I'm crazy in love with right here and now. Delightfully fun, oui?

Again, I'm not setting a schedule for these posts. They'll appear here every so often, once I've built up at least a few entries for each of the three sections they entail and, you know, the fact that I have a place to share these things with you all again is my final "love entry" for this inaugural edition.

Have a marvelous Monday and gorgeous week ahead, everyone!

99 Unusual Questions Answered

You guys know that I love a good Q&A post and that few people I know share more of such entries - let alone ones that I feel compelled to want answer myself as well - as my lovely friend Lindsay from the blog Miss Lindsay Lane. Last year she posted a rapid fire series of ninety-nine usual questions and her own answers,  and I knew the moment I spotted them, that I wanted to play along as well.

Now that, *sniffle, sniffle*, all the fun and business of Halloween is behind us again, and before that of the winter holiday season really starts to hit its stride, I thought I'd take the opportunity this morning to respond to these questions myself.

Fear not! I've veered heavily on the side of brevity and ensure you that you can quickly read through this whole post from top to bottom in a matter of minutes. No booking a day off to get through it, I promise! :)





1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

Ideally closed, but with a kitty who likes to curl up with us as we sleep (and whose food, water, liter box, etc) are in another room, the door almost always stays open at night.



2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?

No, usually not, as we both have ones that we're loyal fans of at home. I do like taking the complimentary tiny sewing kits though - those things really come in handy sometimes!



3. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?

It depends on how warm the bedroom is. From about May to late September, they're usually out, but in the winter, I love to have them snugly tucked in.



4. Have you ever stolen a street sign before?

No, and I never would. I'd happily purchase a cool vintage one though, given the chance.



5. Do you like to use post-it notes?

Sometimes. I'm a big fan of lists and they can be handy for that or as reminders to take something with me before I leave the house.



6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?

I love clipping coupons and do try to use them, but sometimes they expire before I can.



7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?

That is a really terrifying question, especially since - Winnie the Pooh style – it is conceivable that you could run into both at the same time. Neither, but in some ways I'd almost prefer the bear.



8. Do you have freckles?

No, and I super wish that I did!!! I have a few beauty spots here and there and love them to bits, but despite some of my family members (like my paternal grandma) having them, freckles passed me over (boo!).



9. Do you always smile for pictures?

Generally yes, but as touched on in this 2012 post, due to my unattractive (crocked, crowded, etc) teeth, I almost never smile in photos with my mouth open.




10. What is your biggest pet peeve?

Hard call, but I'd say that blatant cruelty and/or rudeness wins out there every time (this image is a still from 1944's classic film, Gaslight).



11. Do you ever count your steps when you walk?

Not since I was a child and was doing so just for the fun of it.



12: Have you ever peed in the woods?

I love camping and was in Girl Guides for many years, so yes, I certainly have.



13: What about pooped in the woods?

Same answer as above.



14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing?

Absolutely! I find that joy can be a big factor in spontaneously wanting to do so.



15. Do you chew your pens and pencils?

No, never. My mom drilled the very real choking risk of doing so into us as kids and boy did it do the trick with preventing me from picking up that common habit.



16. How many people have you slept with this week?

I hope this question just means literally slept in the same bed with!!! None actually, as Tony is still in the States for work.



17. What size is your bed?

Queen. I'd love a king or even California king one day, but for now, I'm grateful to have one this big (and it fits our very modest sized master bedroom well, which is great).



18. What is your Song of the week?

Motown music and summer always go hand-in-hand for me (my parents used to play oodles of it all season long when I was a child), so I'd say that a true classic from that genre like I Heard it Through The Grapevine would be my mid-August song of the week.



19. Is it okay for guys to wear pink?

Absolutely! I'm of the mind that all colours can, and should, be freely worn by anyone who wishes to sport them.





20. Do you still watch cartoons?

You bet! Though these days they're pretty much all the sort that would be called adult oriented cartoons, such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, South Park, American Dad, and Rick and Morty. That said, I'll always have a soft spot for certain kid's classics, too, such as The Flintstones, Inspector Gadget, and The Care Bears.



21. What’s your least favorite movie

You know, and maybe this is a good thing, but there isn't one specific title that instantly springs to mind. In general I'm not a fan of modern horror movies, especially slasher films, so something in that genre might win out there.



22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?

Wouldn't it defeat the purpose of it being secret treasure if I told everyone my answer? :D



23. What do you drink with dinner?

Almost exclusively water. In general, no joke, 99.5% of the time, that is the only beverage that I drink (due to my extremely restricted medical diet). Thankfully I love water and don't mind at all.



24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?

A mix of ranch dressing and ketchup. Sounds strange, I know, but the flavour combo is sensational!



25. What is your favorite food?

Too many to count, oh my word!!! If I had to pick just one though, I'd go with a whole cuisine and say either Italian or Chinese (clearly I love a good pasta/noodle dish! :D).



26. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?

Again, there are tons in this camp! A few that really jump out at me are - in no particular order - Hocus Pocus, Grease, White Christmas, A League of Their Own, The Illusionist, Gone in 60 Seconds, Ace Venture (and the original Dumb and Dumber), Miracle on 34th Street, (1939's) The Women (for the sublime fashions!), both of the 90s Addams Family movies, and both of the Despicable Me films (I haven't seen this year's Minions movie yet, but can't wait to!).



28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?

Yes, I was in Girl Guides for several years as a youngster and am extremely grateful for the fun experience and all of the valuable skills I picked up from my time there.



29. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?

Never say never, right, but I highly, highly doubt it!





30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

I usually write a few snail mail letters to relatives and pen pals around the world each month and just penned one to a friend in Europe a few days ago.



31. Can you change the oil on a car?

In theory, yes, but I've never actually done it - just seen it carried out numerous times over the years.



32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket?

No, for the same reason I've not changed the oil in a car - I don't drive (for the reason discussed in this post).



33. Ever ran out of gas?

Again, I don't drive, so I haven't personally run out of gas while behind the wheel, but I have been in cars on a few occasions when such happened.



34. Favorite kind of sandwich?

It's really hard to beat a great classic grilled cheese sandwich in my books!



35. Best thing to eat for breakfast?

It truly depends on your mood, hunger level, and the season, but I think that (speaking of this type of food) it's hard to beat a cold roast turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich on Boxing Day morning!



36. What is your usual bedtime?

As touched on in my recent post called I woke up like this, I don't have a set bedtime in the slightest - but the general answer to that would be, late at night or early in the morning.



37. Are you lazy?

Humbly, no, not in the slightest. I am the polar opposite of lazy, virtually never procrastinate, and a workaholic to the point where I constantly jeopardize my health (further) because of it (even though I logically know better than to do so).



38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?

Oh my word, yes!!! Every single year without fail - and I have continued to as an adult (see this fun post for mine and Tony's costumes last year).



39. What is your Chinese astrological sign?

The rat (not the nicest sounding critter sign to be born under, but then again, I'm a cancer in western astrology, which is represented by the crab, so I guess a rat might not be that bad after all! ;D).





40. How many languages can you speak?

Fluently, only English, but I do know a bit of French and a smaller amount of Italian.



41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions?

A small number, yes. To save money, I've cut back in recent years. At present I get four modern fashion magazine and one home decor magazine.



42. Which are better Legos or Lincoln Logs?

I never got the chance to play with Lincoln Logs as a kid, just Tinker Toys and Legos, so I'll give my vote to Legos.



43. Are you stubborn?

I wouldn't say I'm stubborn per se (I know that Tony is off rolling his eyes somewhere and grinning up a storm as write that), but rather that I'm both very passionate and very tenacious.



44. Who is better...Leno or Letterman?

I was always a Leno fan growing up and his was the most frequently watched late night snow in my house during the nineties, so he get my vote (perhaps to thank me he'll let me pose with some of his amazing classic cars! :D).



45. Ever watch soap operas?

Nope. I've never watched a single episode of a soap opera that I can recall . I don't hate them of course, they just don't appeal to me.



46. Are you afraid of heights?

Sort of - I'm not a fan of heights when the floor is transparent, such as on the observational desks of some sightseeing towers in cities like Calgary and Toronto, and in general, heights are not my favourite thing, but if I know that there's no immediate risk of falling, I can handle them.



47. Do you sing in the car?

Occasionally. It can be fun, especially if the other people in the vehicle are doing so, too.



48. Do you sing in the shower?

Not really, no. This one never spoke to me, though I do see the general appeal.



49. Do you dance in the car?

That would have to be a pretty spacious car, no? :) To date, I don't believe I've ever danced in a car, no.





50. Ever used a gun?

Only water pistols and cap guns.



51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?

In June, when Tony took my photos last before leaving to work in the States this summer.



52. Do you think musicals are cheesy?

Not at all - they're fun, creative, lively, charming, and often full of great costumes.



53. Is Christmas stressful?

It certainly can be, yes, though I often find the days following it to be harder, as all the activity leading up to Christmas catches up with me and I inevitably pay for it on the health front.



54. Ever eat a pierogi?

Many, many times. They're one of my all-time favourite foods. I especially love them cooked with onions and sausage or crumbled bacon and served with copious amounts of thick sour cream. Yum!!!!



55. Favorite type of fruit pie?

Ooohhh, there are very many of them. It's hard to say! I really adore apple, peach, cherry, and raisin - plus, though it's technically a squash, pumpkin.



56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

A lot of possible career paths spoke to me as a youngster, including the possibility of becoming a doctor, journalist/writer, scientist, and (above all else) a chef. None of them came to fruition, but interestingly, elements of each one have been a part of my professional life in some (often round about) capacity at point or another.



57. Do you believe in ghosts?

Short answer, yes. Long(er) answer I am very scientifically minded person, but I'm also the first to say that I think there are many things out there that science doesn't fully understand yet or which we might not even know about at this point, so I'm open to the possibility of ghosts and have actually had three separate possible ghost encounters so far in my life.



58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?

Yes, many times. I've also had dreams with settings and/or people that I had never encountered in real life previously and then had similar events and people occur in my life later on. I really treasure this kind of premonition actually and am grateful for each one that has occurred to me over the years.



59. Take a vitamin daily?

I do indeed, plus numerous supplements.





60. Do you wear slippers?

Yes, especially during the fall and winter. My current pair is a cute pink one that Tony gave me a couple of years ago.



61. Wear a bath robe?

Big time! Ditto for a dressing gown.



62. What do you wear to bed?

Usually loose, comfy two-piece pajamas or a night gown. I have modern and vintage versions of both and wear them all throughout the course of the year.



63. First concert?

I think it was the children's entertainer Charlotte Diamond when I was just two or three years old, but I'd have to double check with my mom there (interestingly, when I was a little bit older, say four years old or so, my mom and I ran into her at a local grocery store and I was positively star struck! :)).



64. Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?

Though, at one point or another, Canada has had all three of those chains, after Target folder earlier this year in Canada, we only have Walmart left, so it wins by default. If I could pick, I'd take a US Target or the sadly defunct (similar) Canadian chain, Zellers.



65. Nike or Adidas?

Not really a sportswear person, but I guess Nike, because I did have a pair of their sneakers as a teenager.



66. Cheetos Or Fritos?
Cheetos all the way! And if they ever want to bring back that super fun nineties classic, Cheeto Paws, I'll buy a caseload the first day (assuming they're GF!).



67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?

Darn hard call, as I truly love them both, but I think I'd have to veer more towards peanuts at the moment.



68. Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?

If this question is in reference to the 1960s American jazz group Quartette Trés Bien, this yes, I have heard of them, but don't claim to be an expert on this group.



69. Ever take dance lessons?

I have indeed. I was involved with jazz, tap, swing dancing, and (a little bit of) Irish dance as a youngster.





70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?

My spouse is already employed with IBM Canada as a software engineer, computer programmer, and technical evangelist, on top of running his own business, but if he wasn't doing that, there are so many careers that Tony would be amazing for - spanning university professor to lawyer, psychologist to (literary) author (he has already penned two IT related books).



71. Can you curl your tongue?

That I can!



72. Ever won a spelling bee?

I did! I won my grade six spelling bee and received a novel (I can't remember the title, but it was sci-fi and I really enjoyed it, as memory serves me) and a paper certificate as the prize.



73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

Yes, with the last time being when Tony received his Canadian Citizenship in June 2012.



74. Own any record albums?

Yeppers! Not a huge collection, but a fun selection of vintage ones that I've picked up over the years primarily from yard sales.



75. Own a record player?

We do! It's a vintage style (c. 1940s) looking dark wood one that is also a radio and CD player.



76. Regularly burn incense?

Sometimes. With two various curious pets in the house, I have to make sure I do so in a room where they can't get in and to it.



77. Ever been in love?

I most certainly have, above all else, with my darling husband, Tony, for over eleven years now.



78. Who would you like to see in concert?

Ooohh, soooo many people and groups! If we stick with folks who are still alive and performing, some big contenders for me would Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, Paul McCartney and/or Ringo, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and John Fogerty (yes, I madly adore classic rock!).



79. What was the last concert you saw?

Honestly, I haven't seen a lot of concerts in person at all. It's been so many years and I haven't been to any truly big name acts, I can't recall of the top of my head what the last one would have been.





80. Hot tea or cold tea?

Love them both, but cold/iced, please.



81. Tea or coffee?

Unfortunately, I can't drink either due to medical reasons (save for a small number of herbal tisanes), but when I could, I enjoyed both equally.



82. Sugar cookies or snickerdoodles?

Hard call! Probably sugar cookies, because I adore decorating them for the holidays.



83. Can you swim well?

Like a deep sea fish!!!



84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?

For a little while at least. :)



85. Are you patient?

Extremely so. I've always been that way, but living every day of my life with multiple chronic illnesses has made me even more so, as there often a great deal of waiting and patience involved when you're constantly unwell (from time spent at doctor's offices to simply biding my time until I have a day where I'm doing well enough to leave the house).



86. DJ or band at a wedding?

It really depends on the couple. We didn't have live music at our (uber small civil ceremony) wedding, but given the choice I would have opted for a (likely swing or jazz) band.



87. Ever won a contest?

I have, several over the years, most going back to my school days. Nothing major in terms of the prizes or notoriety attached though. Maybe one day!



88. Ever have plastic surgery?

No, never. I don't think I would ever do it electively, but I fully understand the appeal and have zero qualms with folks who want to get it done.



89. Which are better black or green olives?

I really like both, but black win out for me (especially on a pizza or sub sandwich - yum!!!).





90. Can you knit or crochet?

No, neither. I admire both classic art forms and those who can do one or both immensely though.



91. Best room for a fireplace?

It really depends on the house, but I'm a big fan of having one in a cozy den or family room. They can be breathtaking in a large enough bedroom or bathroom, too.



92. Do you want to get married?

I am and have been, to my soul mate, for close to eleven marvelous years now.



93. If married, how long have you been married?

See the answer above.



95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?

Dear goodness, no. That that kind of behaviour is deplorable in adults and really, children over the age of about five, in my books.



96. Do you have kids?

No, we don't have children yet.



97. Do you want kids?

With every last fiber of my being, however I am infertile and with my state of poor health far beyond that due to all of my various chronic illnesses, children have not been able to happen for us yet. If we're able to adopt (heartbreaking, and utterly bizarrely, it is illegal to pay someone else to carry a child for you in Canada, so surrogacy is exceedingly rare in this country, otherwise that would be a very real option for us), it will most likely happen in the next decade or so, but it still remains to be seen if such is possible for a number of reasons.



98. What’s your favorite color?

Pink! (Though red is my signature wardrobe colour.) Followed by burgundy, turquoise/aqua, teal, and pine green.






99. Do you miss anyone right now?

I am massively missing my sweet husband, who is in the States for work, as he's been since mid-June, and will be until early September.

*EDIT* I started answering these questions back when Tony was away this summer. He's been back for a couple of months now, but is traveling again more days than not this month of November, so I'm missing him again.

{To learn more about a specific image used in this post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you very much for sharing this engaging series of 99 questions, dear Lindsay. I hope that you'll continue to post other Q&As that speak to you in the future, because chances are, they'll be hollering out my name as well. If any of you play along and answer this diverse assortment of questions, too, please be sure to comment below with a link so that I cap lap up your answers and learn oodles more about you.

Okay, my sweet dears. One shy of hitting the triple digit mark when it comes to questions and answers were plenty to read through here for a single day, so I'll wrap up this post in this very line and wish you each a stellar, fun filled first weekend of November!!!

Lately I've been...

Spending this summer living on my own (while my husband has been away working in the States) has been a unique, fascinating experience (I haven’t lived solo since 2004). Many elements of my daily life are the same, or very nearly so, as when he's home by my side. Others have been more, or conversely, less, challenging, and some have come as total surprises (such as that I've had an even greater degree of difficulty sleeping than usual).

Ultimately though, I'm made the most of this summer and while I've missed Tony - who will be home in about three week's time - with every last ounce of my heart and soul, I've still been able to do a lot of work, a ton of introspective thinking, and also made some time to simply relax and unwind, even if it was just for half an hour at the end of the day while I painted my nails and watched Netflix.

Last month the smart, lovely, inspiring Madison from the blog Minnie Muse shared a fun list of things that had/have been filling her thoughts and days lately. This entry really spoke to me, especially since I've had such a great deal of alone time with my own mind as of late, and thus, inspired entirely by her post, I thought that I'd take a few mid-August moments and pen one of my own.






Dreaming of: Traveling. Realistically, if possible, to somewhere in BC or Alberta. In my totally hypothetical daydreams, to any one of a dozen or more countries in Europe that I've always longed to visit.

Moving back to: A greater degree of work-life balance, with actual days off (yes, I'm still struggling big time to create those for myself), an ongoing emphasis on more time spent outdoors, and not letting myself get so wrapped up in my job in the moment that I forget about the bigger picture that all of my tomorrows hold.

Reading: My usual – about five books, all history/vintage or science related, all on the go at the same time.

Watching: Some of favourite 80s and 90s sitcoms (like Home Improvement, Fraser, and Roseanne) on Netflix and YouTube. I can happily rewatch those over and over again, without ever tiring of them.

Eating: As much locally grown summer produce as I possibly can!

Creating: Aside from blog posts, not nearly enough. This is something I need to work on (and this isn't the first time this year, I've mentioned as much, I know). Crafting has always been vitally important to me, yet I struggle immensely to find time for it in the context of my current daily life, where work and family almost always seem to win out for me when it comes to what I spend my time and limited energy on.

Photographing: Flowers, the sun-kissed Okanagan landscape, and the occasional selfie, especially since my sweet photographer hasn't been here to help me document my outfits (see my Instagram for plenty of those things and many others, too).

Wearing lots of: Shirtwaist dresses, turbans made from long scarves, and the colour pink, which usually comes out in full force for me during the summer.

Writing: Blog posts, Etsy shop listings, email replies, and blog comments - the usual, really. :)

Listening to: Oodles of great classic rock, Motown, and big band - all genres of music that go hand-in-hand with summer for me.

Painting my nails: I seem to be hopping back and forth primarily between different shades of coral, red, and blue this season.

Loving: My friends, my family, my pets, and all of the other blessings in my life. Also, the fact that it's almost pumpkin-spice-everything season again! :D

Wishing I had a...: Way to inject hundreds of hours more into each day! As well as a self driving car (so that I could finally experience driving on my own). A few more months of summertime weather would be pretty fabulous, too! :)

Planning: This year's Halloween costume and party - there's less than 2.5 months to go and I can scarcely wait!!!

Thinking about: What, ultimately, really does matter to me at this stage in my life and what is just familiar routine (that could use some shaking up, I mean); some of my blog posts and outfits for the fall; how much I miss Tony; and about taking lots of nature walks while summer (and then autumn) is still out in full force.

{To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you very much for writing your great "Lately post", Madison. I love the simplicity and relate-ability factor behind it and think that I may have to repeat this idea with new answers down the road one day - perhaps at this same time next year. We'll see!

It's always wonderful to have a snapshot of where your thoughts and days are at at any given point in time. I don't keep a journal or diary, yet I've long viewed my blog as such and genuinely adore recording views into my world here to look back on and see both how far I've come, and what has remained the same, since then throughout my site's more than six years of life.

If you've never written a "Lately" style post, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do the same, be it a one off event, an annual post, or even a far more frequent occurrence, such as every week or month. It's important to capture the present and let it help guide and inspire us in the future, and I really feel like today's entry will do just that for me.

Long after my husband has returned home and even more of the usual ebb and flow fills my days, I'll have this post to remind me of where my thoughts and dreams were at in the midst of a summer spent alone, but never lonely, thanks to my family, my work, and of course, Tony's love which keeps me company in the most beautiful of ways, no matter where in the world we each are.