What you have is more than enough

Tony typically checks Facebook far more prolifically than I do, and cuddle bunnies that we are, I am sometimes curled up beside him when he does, reading his feed at the same time he does. For years now, long before Chronically Vintage and I joined Facebook in December 2012, I'd been doing just that, and have continued to ever since. In that time, I've noticed some striking differences between the typical kinds of content that appears in Tony's Facebook stream and that of my own.

Chief amongst which, and rather glaringly, is the fact that exponentially more posts that appear in my Facebook feed are geared towards getting the (typically female) reader to buy something. Now, it should be stated for the record of course, that the percentage of such "commercial" Facebook posts will be substantially influenced by what sites you've opted to like and who your friends there are.

Still though, the more time that's passed, the more I've come to see that on Facebook, as well certain other social media sites (Instagram springs to mind immediately), there is a substantially larger number of ad based posts encouraging customers to buy something in my own stream than in my husband’s.

While there are no shortage of ads and commercials out there that specific target males or which are designed to garner sales from both genders, I've long come to realize that women are often marketed to far more often, aggressively (as in the sheer number of ads we see), and with immense pressure to buy said item (or service, etc) in order to make ourselves, in the eyes of the public as seen via the advertiser's perspective, more attractive, desirable, important, worthwhile or popular.

In addition, it also seems (at least amongst those in the circles I travel in) that women are more apt to post about their latest buys on social media and their blogs, which in a round-about way begins to feel like a sort of advertising stream unto itself.

There is so much constant pressure to buy, buy, buy! Who cares if you just spent a $100 on a new jacket, surely, we're told day in and day out, there's a million other things we (supposedly) still need and simply must get ASAP!

Don't get me wrong, if doing so is financially viable, I love to shop - especially for vintage and second hand items from sources like thrift shops, yard sales, Etsy, and eBay and would miss it greatly if I wasn't able to so at least once in a while - but I have no desire whatsoever to give into the constant stream of ads or the peer pressure to keep up with the Joneses that can, and does, run rampant through both advertising and the fashion/lifestyle blogosphere.

Over the years, I've had a few dear online friends share with me that they couldn't help but feel a bit envious of the wardrobes of others in our vintage loving community, and in turn they felt guilty about having those kinds of covetous thoughts.

It breaks my heart to hear this, not so much because that person is experiencing a bit of jealously, but because they don't feel like their own wardrobe is up to par and/or they can't help but feel that they're not buying enough to make themselves as well liked/popular (especially on social media sites) as certain others in our midst.

While I wouldn't go so far as to say I've never longed for something that I saw another person have or which came to my attention via a Facebook post (or on Instragram or Twitter or Pinterest, etc), before the green eyed monster of jealousy can even so much as think about rearing its ugly head (generally speaking I'm not a jealous person at all in any area of my life, but it's simple human nature to want what is beyond our grasp at times and to feel envious of those who are able to obtain it), I remind myself of one simple, yet incredibly important fact.

What I have already is more than enough.

Just as what you have is almost certainly more than enough as well.

Seriously.

{Each of us is allotted a finite amount of time and money in this life, but our ability to feel happy with what we already have is limitless. Embrace what you own right now in the moment. Make do and mend. Stop comparing yourself to everyone and their well dressed dog, appreciate your existing good fortune, spend time with people instead of coveting their possessions from afar, and shop with love, not lust, in your heart. If you do these things, your world will change in untold positive ways. Click through to this image's source to read a powerful reminder of what how truly blessed we all are to own what we do.}


Stop for a moment and think about your closet? Is it bare? Unless you've experienced something horrible like being robbed or have recently gained or lost a very substantial amount of weight, chances are you have dozens of items of clothing on hangers and in your dresser drawers. You have makeup in your cosmetics case, hair accessories and lovely toiletries in the bathroom, and likely scores of different items (ranging from decor pieces to craft supplies) around your house, especially if you've been living on your own (aka, not in your parent's home) for more than a couple of years.

You probably never go hungry from lack of food in the house, and your utilities and housing are most likely able to be paid in a timely manner. You probably gave gifts to your loved ones last Christmas and received several in return. You may have a car, motorcycle, bicycle and/or boat to get you from point A to point B. Even if you have a very modest income, chances are, nearly all (or all) of your basic needs, plus several important but less vital wants, are covered right at this very moment.

For this, and so many other reasons, you are incredibly lucky. You are doing better than a staggering percentage of our fellow human beings around the world. We need to stop feeling like life is a never-ending shopping spree, where momentary want trumps long term desire, and where no matter how much one acquires, it's never enough. Because it is.

This doesn't mean that I'm implying you should lock up your wallet and never buy anything else again. Of course not! That would be foolhardy, impractical and completely unnecessary. No, what I'm trying to convey - and what I hope will be the resounding take-away message from this post - is that you're free to step off of the constant merry-go-round of consumerism any ol' time you like.

You don't need a 43rd dress, just because that stylish vintage/rockabilly/pinup gal you follow on Instagram just announced that she has "like 200 dresses now". Good for her. She is she, however, and you and you, and as I touched on in the post How to build a vintage wardrobe on a budget last year, you probably don't know the dynamics of how she came to possess so many garments and if she spent far beyond her means to acquire her wardrobe.

President Theodore Roosevelt famously said that "comparison is the thief of joy", and I could not possibly agree with that statement more. We - as a society - need to shift our thinking, at least some of the time, away from the constant desire to try and have “what that guy is having”, just because they have it and we don't. I can promise you that even if you think you don't have a lot, there are millions of people out there to whom your worldly possessions would seem almost like those of a king or queen.

Instead of constantly focusing on what to buy next, why not opt instead to think about ways in which to replenish some of the joy that constantly comparing yourself to others has robbed you of, that cost little to, ideally, nothing? (A point which Stephanie Lynn from The Girl with the Star Spangled Heart discussed in this post on contentment last year). There are countless lifetimes worth of such experiences out there, just waiting for us to step away from our Facebook feeds and discover or reconnect with them.

You are free to shop and do as you please. I don't believe in dictating to anyone. We're all adults and we're able to make our own choices, but it is truly beneficial to incorporate feeling content with what you already own, at least some days, into the fold of our lives.

It's a magical, incredibly liberating moment when you realize that what you have in your possession right now is more than enough. That you are richly blessed both in terms of what you own and the opportunities you've been afforded in life.

Today, on the 11th of November, the solemn date that marks Remembrance Day and honors the the memory of all those who gave and scarified, made do and survived with whatever they had at the time, I encourage you to find happiness both in what you already call your own.

Those things that cannot be bought on sale, like a quite walk in the woods, snuggling your pet, making your grandparents a special meal, giving of yourself and your time to a charitable cause, taking digital photographs, writing a snail mail letter to an old friend, or simply allotting an afternoon to yourself to try and restore a greater sense of tranquility and contentment to your world.

In doing so, I can all but assure you, the next time you do opt to buy something, when you get it home or it arrives in the mail, chances are, you won't feel as inclined to put it on a shelf, toss it in the back of your closet, or stuff it in a drawer and forget about it.

You won’t be quite as (if at all) consumed already with the desire to obtain the next item you simply "must" have, and that sense of inner peace with your possessions, your financial situation, and your place within the circles you inhabit, will make you feel happier and wealthier than any number of purchases ever could.

Believe me, I speak from experience, rooted in the knowledge that, though I am free to acquire more as I please, and to derive happiness from doing so, ultimately, what I am already blessed to own really and truly is all I'd need at this moment in my life.

Pink is all it takes to make me smile

 

 

Outfit details

Large black hair flower: Arden
1980s does 1950s tropical floral print dress: etsy seller Fresh Vintage
Green cardigan: Old Navy
Purple orchid brooch: eBay
Black carved bangle bracelet: Ten Thousand Villages
Green vintage twisted bangle bracelet: eBay
Purple bangle bracelet: (probably) Forever 21 Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: etsy seller MKRetro
Black opaque tights: Arden
Black 1940s style shoes: Thrifted (Salvation Army)
Lipstick colour: Clinique Raspberry Glace

Photography by Antonio Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

So said Tony (about me) as we were leaving the Home Hardware recently after popping for something entirely different and walking out with the cutest little cotton candy pink miniature Christmas tree you ever did see! (We got it 50% on post-Christmas clearance.) I just about went weak in the knees when I spotted it, and proceeded to say, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" over and over as I made a rapid beeline in it's direction. Is it the same as a mid-century pink aluminum tree? No, but, by golly, it's pretty darn spectacular, if you ask me!

It's true though, you know, when I come across something pink that I love, and by the same token, when I wear pink and inject it throughout the decor in our home, it really does make me smile-inducingly happy, and tranquil, and extra girly feeling, all of which I adore. We weren't planning on doing a formal photo shot that evening (we'd been out for hours and I was completely knackered, plus Tony was on his way out the door to a raclette party, so he only a couple of minutes to take a few quick iPhone shots), but I was in such good spirits after the unexpected (gorgeous!) find that was this wonderful little tree, that I simply had to record how joyful I felt in that moment.

Adding weight to what I've talked about here in previous posts (such as this one) regarding wearing as much of my warm weather wardrobe as I can during the winter months, on that day I just happened to be sporting one of my most greenhouse-meets-tropical paradise inspired dresses. A cute 1980s does 50s number that is chock-a-block with vivacious hues and feel good flowers, and which I wore last year on my mom's birthday, but didn't get snaps of, so I've really been meaning to capture it on camera ever since.

Our little house is marvelous, and I truly love it to no end, but it rather lacking in available blank walls against which to take indoor outfit snaps. We keep experimenting with locations (the master bedroom, the living room, etc), and on that particular night, we gave the bottom of the staircase between the first and second floors a shot. It's not perfect, but it's not bad either, and I suspect other photos will transpire there over time.

I love my new little pink Christmas tree so much, I'm half tempted to keep it on display in my craft room throughout the whole year, perhaps sprinkling seasonal ornaments on it for other holidays. You know, come to think of it, that's not a bad idea. Money might not grow on trees, but (if they're pink) happiness sure can, and who can't use as much of that as they can get all year round?

12 things I did in 2012 to make my life better

Some years seem to fade into the next, with little division between them. They're part of the fabric of our lives, but they're by no means the flashiest or most exciting of times, and so it can be difficult to recall with much detail years later. Others are fraught with problems, pain, worry, and perhaps even heartache, as it seems like a break can't be had, no matter how hard you try. At the risk of jinxing myself a mere four days before the ball drops and 2013 launches, this year did not fall into either of those two camps. In fact it was, over all, rather wonderful.

And busy! Wonderful and busy, yes, that sums up 2012 rather accurately, if you ask me! As I sit here at the end of December, twelve months to flip through in the pages of mind, a flood of thoughts come pouring over me and I'm reminded of some of the elements that helped to make it such a great year. There were many, and I feel exceedingly blessed that such was the case. Goodness knows I've had my fair share of years I'd love to erase from my memory forever, if such a thing were possible, but 2012 was certainly not one of them.

As there are twelve months in that year, I thought I would take the opportunity today to share, correspondingly, twelve things that I (or in many cases, we, as in Tony and I together) consciously, intentionally did to help improve and enrich my –and our- life.

It isn't every day, or should I say, every year, that I have a list like, and I don't want to forget the key highlights of 2012 that helped to make it so superb as the years roll on, so without further ado, my I present (in no particular order) a roundup of some of the reasons why this year rocked.

1.) Moved to British Columbia: The year kicked off on an exceedingly busy note, as we made the life changing (and rather sudden) discussion to leave Toronto, after six years of life on the East Coast and move for the first time together to my home province of British Columbia. There were many motivating factors behind our decision, and it was not a choice that was reached lightly by any stretch of the imagination. Fortunately this decision has proved to be one the best we've ever made, and I don't think a single week has passed without one of us saying how truly glad we were to be here, near family, with a better health care team, a nicer climate, and a home we love to pieces.


2.) Got a new house: And speaking of that house we adore so much, it ranks amongst the most important (and wonderful!) improvements in our life this year. After more than seven years (the duration of our marriage up until the point we moved provinces) of living in homes that ranged from shudder inducing to okay but chocked full of problems, we were fortunate enough to find a beautiful little condo on the most serenely lovely street anyone could ever ask for. The house, while not huge, is modern, safe, nicely laid out, and an absolute joy to live.


3.) Spent time with family: Before moving to B.C. we had always lived thousands of miles away from both of our families. Though that statement still rings true for Tony, whose relatives all reside in Italy, we now live in the same province as the bulk of my small family, some of whom even live right here in Penticton with us.

Having the ability to interact with relatives again, be it for a quick "pop in" visit or to celebrate the holidays, as well as to have extra help when I'm going through an especially rough patch health wise or need transportation and assistence to get to a medical appointment when Tony is working, has been an indescribably wonderful gift for both of us (Tony and my family hit it off famously, which sure makes life a lot easier for everyone involved).


4.) Created a craft room of my own in the basement: Though I did technically have a very small room in our last apartment that was designated as my craft space, its teeny size meant my supplies and finished projects were woefully overcrowded and it was hard to clear my mind and focus at times in such a cluttered space. It took a while to set up throughout the spring and early summer, but I'm thrilled to report that since then I've had an awesome, much (!) more spacious craft room of my own to work, play, and just kick back and relax in (this having been a dream of mine for all as long as I can recall).


5.) Got our first car: Though some people are a bit sceptical when we tell them this, it wasn't until early on last spring, just a couple of weeks after we moved to B.C., that Tony and I finally got our fist vehicle (neither of us had ever had a car before in our lives, and though my parents always did, Tony's had not, so this was really and truly his first set of wheels!).

As you can imagine, this has helped improve and enrich our lives in many ways, and is also significantly easier on me from a health standpoint than taking public transit or having to walk long distances to get anywhere. Now, several months on, it's almost mind boggling to think that we'd gotten by in large cities for all those years without a car.


6.) Finally found a feedreader that I love: This might sound like a small matter, but to me it really wasn't. For years I'd bounced around from one feedreader to another, failing to find one that I felt really worked for me and as a result over falling behind on staying abreast of my favourite sites. Last spring I tried Bloglovin and fell head-over-heels in love with after the first day. It's the only feedreader I use now and has been such an instrumental tool in my ability to better follow (and in turn comment on) some of my favourite blogs.



7.) Hammered out a blog schedule that works for me: Speaking of blogging, this year was the first in my life when I really felt like I hit a good, manageable (under the circumstances this year dished out) blogging schedule and pace that worked for me. I'm not going to delve into detail too much on this topic now though, as it's a subject I'm planning on devoting a whole post to early on in 2013. So stay tuned to hear more on this particular improvement (and how what works for me, may help you, too).



8.) Starting taking regular wardrobe snaps: While we're on the subject of things that involve the good ol' interwebz, this year marked the first one for me in which I regularly began documenting my vintage outfits through photographs (nearly all of which are taken by my highly talented hobbyist photographer husband, Tony). While that is certainly awesome unto itself, for me, an even more important element of this act (taking snaps) has been the fact that it's helped me tackle, and better handle, some of my self-esteem and body image issues, as well as to no longer be quite as painfully shy in front of the lens.


9.) Organized my wardrobe better and more efficiently: Much as with my craft supplies at our old home, there was precious little closet space or anywhere to store my wardrobe at our last place. This house however has more of both and and as a result I've (finally!) been able to better sort, organize, and display my wardrobe. A point which makes me so very, very happy - and which makes getting dressed now a snap compared to at our old apartment.


10.) Worked on making (more) peace with my body: Whether justified or not, I've struggled greatly with my body image throughout my whole life, in part because of the way I was (cruelly and completely unjustly) treated regarding my appearance by certain family members when I was growing up, as well as the fact that I was teased mercilessly as a child by my schoolmates, sometimes due to certain elements of my appearance. Battling a multitude of chronic illnesses everyday certainly doesn't help how I feel about my body either, but the older I get, the more I love my body - flaws, imperfections, shortcomings and all (a topic I discussed here last spring), and hope dearly that this positive trend will continue as the years roll on.


11.) Discovered I could wear most brooches: As you may recall from this post last May, I discovered that, if I placed at least a couple of layers of fabric between the metal and my skin, I'm often able to wear brooches. This might sound like a strange thing to mention, but for those who didn't catch my post about this point, I'm extremely allergic to nickel, a metal which is found in a large amount of jewelry (thus preventing me from wearing said jewelry), however this discovery has opened up the whole wide world of brooches to me and I've been wasting no time in building up a delightful collection of them ever since.


12.) Got outside more: Though there were numerous long stretches (the lengthiest being almost almost all of August and part of September), as there are every year, when my health wasn't doing well enough for me to leave the house, thanks to the fact that we now live in a much better situated neighbourhood in a town we love (and delight in exploring) and have a car, I've been able to get out of the house more frequently, whether for everyday tasks like running errands or setting off with Tony to neighbouring communities and towns.

Throughout 2012 we had fun doing everything from doing a photo shoot at an orchard in East Kelowna to going fishing in the dark, visiting Polson Park in Vernon to spending as many Saturdays as we could out garage saling around town. I can hardly wait to see all the awesome places we'll hopefully be able to go, and the wonderful memories we'll make while out and about, in 2013!





{My deepest thanks go out to 2012 for being such a splendid, meaningful, and highly memorable (in a good way!) year. I have my fingers firmly crossed that the coming year will be one of great happiness, success, and fun, too - not only for me and my family, but also for each and every one of you and your loved ones, too. Vintage New Year's card via Miehana on Flickr.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Peppered amongst this list there were other things, big and small, that also helped rank this year so highly for my both me and my husband, but these are the ones that jump out as me on this fine winter's morn first and foremost.

I'm not saying that 2012 was without its hiccups, worries, and rough patches, but for a very, very pleasant change of pace, I don't feel like they were the predominant factor this year. Perhaps that was part luck, maybe life gets a bit easier to tackle as you get older, or, who knows, the universe might just have wanted to smile on us throughout the course of the past dozen months.

Whatever the case, I can't begin to stress how grateful I am to have enjoyed such a terrific, productive, happy year. Only time, that great and mysterious unknown, will tell what the future has in store for us, but I can't help thinking - knock wood - that it's bound to better than many years past thanks to these twelve things and the improvements they brought into our world in 2012.

British Columbia bound!

Fans of Canadian folk music may recall Gordon Lightfoot's classic 1970s song, Alberta Bound. It's something of an anthem for those headed to the land of open prairie skies, and its lyrics have been wafting through my mind for the last few days, as we've buzzed around like busy bees in preparation for our cross country move this week.

This time around though, our journey does not lead us to Alberta. Instead, as many of you know from my recent posts here, come late tomorrow evening, my husband and I will be touching down on British Columbia soil, ready to call Canada's most westerly province home (once again for me, first time for the mister).

The past several weeks have been ones of immense activity, planning, energy, fortitude, and a little bit of good old fashioned luck. Elbow grease, packing tape, and lengthy lists have abound, as has the enthusiasm that one could practically see hovering in the air around our place.

By this time tomorrow (assuming all goes as planned - and goodness, it better, our schedule for Thursday is so astronomically tight it makes a Victorian corset look like a muumuu!) the movers will be here, loading all of our earthly belongings (save for those in our suitcases) on to their large truck.

Somewhere, we're told, between 7 and 14 days after that, our household contents will reach us in beautiful British Columbia, and it is at that point that my husband and I will take up residency in our new home.

{Long haul moving, a service which this 1940s Canadian moving company offered, is on the agenda for us this week as we trek - by air! - across the breadth of Canada from Ontario to British Columbia. Image via the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists.}

In the meantime, we'll be staying with some of my relatives who live in the same town, and thus I suspect that this will be my last post for the next little while. If circumstances permit, I may post during the next two weeks, but if not, I'll do so once we've settled into our new abode and have the good ol' interwebs hooked up once more.

I want to thank you all sincerely for you wonderful support, encouragement, and positive words over the past couple of months, as we've been preparing night and day for the move. They’re really helped to keep my batteries charged during this endlessly hectic period.

It is with great eagerness that I look forward to blogging next from my home province, and sharing in the joys of living in B.C with all of you.

Know that I'll miss you dearly, and that with all my heart, I'm wishing each of you every bit as much joy in your own life as I'm experiencing in mine right now. ♥

Remind yourself of things that make you glad

✯ Day 62 of Vintage 365 ✯

{Charmingly pretty vintage "Bluebird of Happiness" record cover via letslookupandsmile on Flickr.}

February was a rough month around these parts, both in terms of the wily weather and due to reappearance of certain health problems I haven't had to contend with (on any substantial level) for a couple of years. Though it was only 28 little days long, looking back it was one of those months that seemed to linger on like the last thirsty patron at a bar after final call.

We're into March now - the mediator month that negotiates that handover between cold-as-steel winter and happy-go-lucky spring, and I'm optimistic that this month will be warmer and better in many regards. Whether it proves to be or not, one simple - yet fail-proof - way that I've long found to bolster my spirits is to reflect upon things that make me happy, content, grateful to be alive.

This exercise is one for the mind, body and soul. It doesn't have to take ages or be complex, merely sit back for a few moments and ponder some of the many things (and/or memories) that bring you joy.

I was doing just that this past weekend and as I created a list in my mind (which of course included my love of history and all things vintage!), I felt a momentary wave of tranquility wash over me, soothing my haggard mind and comforting my spirit.

Happiness is free - and so are memories and mental lists. These elements aren't panaceas for all of life's troubles (not by a long shot), but it can be starkly surprising how much good really can come out of taking the time to remember those things - be they big or small, commonplace or extraordinary - that always seem to make you glad for all that you're blessed with in this world.

A cheerful, summery Sunday greeting

Hi my wonderful dears, as this last Sunday in July kicks off, I awoke with the thought that it’s been nearly two weeks since my last blog post at the forefront of my mind. I apologize for the absence, but as many of you know, my health is not in top shape at the moment, and far too often it keeps me from perusing the activities both online and in the real world that I’d dearly like to.

While the past couple of weeks were rather rough, I’m feeling a smidge better this weekend (yippee!), and simply could not let another day pass by without blogging.

Before I go any further, I want to sincerely thank everybody who left comments – heartfelt, beautiful, joy inspiring comments – for me on my birthday earlier this month. I am so blessed to be amongst such a wonderful group of online friends.

I wish that I had exciting stories, tales of recently found (vintage) treasures, or other exciting news to regale you all with, but alas, the bulk of my days lately have been anything but adventurous. Like many parts of the globe recently however, Toronto was hit a massive wallop of a heat wave earlier this month. At its worst both extreme heat and smog warnings were issued, as the temperature soared sky-high and rolling blackout hit part of the city (though, fortunately, not our area).

During the peak of the hotter-than-the-surface-of-the-sun wave, (taking the infamous Toronto humidity into account and thus determining the humidex or “feels like” temperature) we reached (according to the Weather Network) a staggering 43°C (109°F).

Luckily the worst of this heat blitz has since passed, being swept out (as I’d predicted to my husband that it would) by a brief lightning storm. Still, as is to be entirely expected at this time of the year, we’re still a very long ways off from building snowmen anytime soon!

Still, even on the most suffocatingly hot of days, when one’s skin feels like it’s going to slide from your frame and melt like an accidentally dropped popsicle on the searing hot ground, I can’t help but focus on the idyllic side of the third season of the year.

Summer draws out the gypsy in me, the desire to traverse lands both near and far (if only as a whilom traveler for the time being, content to venture through my memories and daydreams alike, the open road left to others better fit for its demanding paces), to wax poetically about the beguiling beauties of this incomparable time of the year.

There is a lingering depth and undeniably majestic quality about summer. It’s often the boldest of seasons, the loudest of extremes. Summer is rarely pensive, preferring to embrace the upbeat and optimistic. Indeed, if one thinks back to the days of childhood summers, weeks of unbridled possibility at your feet, it seems as though anything could have taken place under the ever watchful eye of a glistening sun – and sometimes, if you were especially lucky, it seems as though it did.

It is this captivating spirit of possibility and desire, excitement and fervour that always endears me to summer, no matter what I may – or may not – be doing, where I am, who I’m with, or what’s on my mind. As a Canadian, knowing full well what the icy depths of winter are like, I need the almost manic heat and vivacious energy of summer to work like a reserve of fuel that will see me through as the brief weeks of autumn give away to the frozen, grey world of winter.

And when those days of slashing cold and endless ice do arrive, I’ll warm my mind my looking at sun-smooched images depicting the fiery elegance of summer and all it creates, such as the ones below, and be reminded that once again there will be blistering heat waves, electrically warm breezes, meditation calm nights, and wickedly beautiful days to look forward to once more.


~ * ~ Hope is a ray of sunshine ~ * ~


{ 1. Untitled, 2. Old Fashion Lemonade bench, 3. Sweet Carousel, 4. summer of 48, 5. It's just another manic Monday, wish it were Sunday 'Cause that's my funday! HBM :), 6. the ties that bound us, are still around us., 7. Untitled, 8. Antique Rose Farm, 9. proud to be pink, 10. In a summer morning, 11. Summer, 12. You have got a long way to go., 13. al mio amore...}


Wishing each of you a day, a week, and a lifetime that sparkles with the passionate splendour of summer!

Revamping the Daily Vintage Deal post (into Today's Vintage Treasure)

Beautiful Sunday greetings to one and all! While I’m afraid I wasn’t able to put together a “Saturday Snapshots” post yesterday (I must confess, I was sorely short on sleep after trudging my way through a sinus/throat cold this past week, so I used as much of Saturday as I possibly to catch up on some much needed sleep), I didn’t want to the entire weekend to slip by without adding a new post (I’ll try my best to ensure that a new line-up of vintage photos appears next Saturday – we’ve missed two editions back to back now, and are long overdue for another selection of inspiring images from the past).

Before I go any further though, sincere thanks are due to all those who have voted so far in (and commented on) Friday’s poll regarding whether to keep the current type of post I usually put up on Fridays, or if you’d rather see something new take its place. I’m going to keep the poll open until this coming Friday, at which time I’ll make my decision regarding what Friday’s new (or existing) theme will be (don’t you just love a little blog suspense? ;-D)

In the meantime however, I’d decided to slightly tweak a post (that despite its moniker doesn’t actually show up quite every single day – ok, truth be told, there hasn’t been an edition of this post in about a month, but that was partly due to my recent “blogcation”) that many of my readers may be familiar with called “The Daily Vintage Deal”.

In its place I’m going to try out a new post called “Today’s Vintage Treasure”. This post will be similar to the daily deal, but not strictly limited to bargain items (though, that said, as someone whose budget is tighter than a Victorian corset, I will always strive to ensure a healthy dose of stellar deals appear amongst the merchandise I feature on Chronically Vintage for those who also love a fantastic bargain).

So often in my online travels I come across amazing/gorgeous/rare/swoon-worthy items that I want to share with all of you, but I’m not able to squeeze them into the ebb and flow of my posts. While I’m sure there will still be great finds that go unwritten about, I hope that by expanding the scope of a short post about a lovely online discovery, I’ll be able to share a broader range of wonderful vintage items with you.

I settled on the title that I did as well because it gives me a bit more wiggle room in terms of how frequently I add such a post to Chronically Vintage. Ideally I’d love to bring you a treasure a day, but I know that won’t always be possible, so instead of locking myself into something I can’t keep up with, this post will let me share terrific finds with you whenever I’m able to do so.
On that note, and without further ado, allow me to present the first ever installment of “Today’s Vintage Treasure” to you.



{Just look at this vintage silk party frock, from the sublimely lovely – and perpetually timeless cut – to the cuter than cute pattern, which at first glance appears as though its comprised of polka dots, but is actually made up of dozen of tiny pumpkin hued sheep – everything about this playfully elegant dress is worthy of the word “treasure”. I’m sure people will be flocking (sorry, I’m a sucker for puns) to this beauty, which fits up to a 36” bust/29” waist, over at Fast Eddie’s Retro Rags where it’s selling for $180.00 (US).}


For the time being, aside from the “Daily Vintage Deal” and (possibly) “Five for Friday”, I don’t plan to alter any existing reoccurring posts. However, one other teeny little change I made to this blog over the weekend was to widen the centre part of its template. Instead of cramming everything into a narrow little alleyway of a space, I’ve extended the area where my posts appear, and simply can’t believe I didn’t do so earlier! At the risk of sounding biased, I think the wider layout looks wonderful – and it’s certainly easier to read posts on.

I don’t know if it’s the fact that the sun has once again leapt out to greet me today or that my cold is (albeit slowly) starting to lift (I can actually taste once more, hurrah!) – or simply the fact that there is so much joy and elegant serenity to be extract from a Sunday, but I feel chipper at the moment and hope the mood hangs on for a spell!

Likewise, darling friends, I wish each of you a day that rich in happiness paired with lashings of whatever makes your heart smile.

500 (Followers) for Friday: January 22, 2010

The numerical in the title of today’s post does not denote the quantity of items/ideas featured within (as is generally the case with “Five for Friday” posts), instead it refers directly to the fact that this week Chronically Vintage reached a milestone number of followers: 500 – and counting!

It’s rather surreal actually to reflect upon the fact that that, according to the Google followers counter on the right hand side bar of this blog, there are now over five hundred admirers of this site. Added to that hefty number is the fact that I know many more out there tag along with Chronically Vintage via different means, too, such as feed readers. Others still may not follow along in a measurable way, but are new and returning visitors.

When I began this humble blog last spring, I never dreamed in that in less than a year, so many people would take notice of my teeny corner of the internet – let alone help to turn this site into the cheerful place of vintage history, timeless beauty and endless fun that it. I can scarcely begin to put into words how much I appreciate and value each and every person who has ever visited this site, whether you actively follow along, pop by once in a while or just visited once. Without you, Chronically Vintage simply would not be the same.

In lieu of posting a handful of recent finds today, I wanted to share five wonderful things that you, my treasured followers, have given me since I began this blog.

♥ ♥ ♥

{Fellowship}

Growing up I was the lone vintage gal on the block (I’d venture to say in the whole town actually). Whereas others were tripping over one another to wear the latest 90s trends, I held steadfast to my lifelong love of the past and tried to incorporate vintage style as best I could into my wardrobe as a teenager.

As the years progressed and saw more of the world, I came to discover that there were others out there who also shared my passion for vintage. My first online encounters with vintage style came in the form of vibrant rockabilly looks, which, while I certainly admire and think look sublime on some gals, usually end up coming across as too costumey on me. I kept searching though and discovered one day that there were others just like me who love to wear authentic (and/or reproduction) vintage styles out there (who standout not for being overtly sultry, but for the undeniable elegance and allure that radiates from the time honoured vintage styles they don).

Knowing that I was not alone in my desire to wear the exact looks of the 1940s and 50s, instantly made me feel like I was part of a community of like-minded individuals. For a couple of years I sat by on the sidelines, reading vintage blogs, pouring over Flickr streams full of modern gals in old school looks, and learning a great deal about the garments and styles of the decades before my own lifetime that I hold most dear.

Quite literally from the first week I began Chronically Vintage, I have been welcomed into the online vintage community with welcome arms. Everyone of my visitors and fellow vintage bloggers makes me feel like I’m home (when I read your comments and visit your own incredible websites). Thank you deeply for the gift of friendship and camaraderie that we’re blessed to be able to share.


{Diversion}



As some of you may know from reading past posts or from our email correspondence, I’m not always in the best of shape health wise. For a number of years now I’ve had several severe chronic illnesses, each of which has a profound impact on my life. I generally try to refrain from talking about my health too much on this site, but occasionally the topic does surface (such as if I’ve been absent from blogging due to a flare-up).

My health is unpredictable, fraught with complications and challenging to plan any semblance of a “normal” life around, yet, even on my worst days, I try never to let the medical issues I face define who I am entirely. I’ve long made peace with my situation, but there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a constant in my life.
In order to help take my mind off the issues my body faces daily, I truly need outlets and activities where I don’t have to think about my health concerns, and for me this blog is truly one of the most incredible, most cathartic venues I’ve discovered.

Being able to shift my mind from pain to productivity, to think about a topic that brings me bliss and which I’m fortunate to be able to write about and share my thoughts on publicly is a godsend in my life. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to connect with you through my writing, to have a place where I can think about history, fashion, art, and countless other topics besides my health!


{Creative outlet}



I believe firmly that every single person on earth is creative. No two souls or minds are identical; each one of us has the ability to exert creativity in our own wonderful ways. For me being creative in some semblance has been on par with having air to breath, I couldn’t fathom life without a place to let my creativity run free. Though Chronically Vintage is not my only artistic outlet, it is undoubtedly one of the most important creative lynchpins in my life.

Through your comments, blogs, photos, ideas and own amazing originality, I am constantly fuelled onward down my own creative path. Thank you for allowing me a public platform from which to share some of my creativity with the world.


{Inspiration}



You, my fellow vintage bloggers, are my muses. In the way you dress, write, think, create and ultimately live, you stoke my unyielding adoration of the past and help to ensure I’m able to incorporate it with both the present and the future. Thank you deeply for continually rocking my world with the astonishingly lovely inspiration you provide me with.


{Joy}



Tied only with love, there is nothing in the world worth perusing more than happiness. Each one of us has such a very short time on this planet, and I believe that we should strive to do all that we can to ensure that our lives blossom with happiness.


{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.}


♥ ♥ ♥

From your blogs, comments and friendships, I am continually provided with countless reasons to smile, to feel happy, to look at the world from a new and more cheerful perspective. In writing posts for Chronically Vintage, I get to temporarily escape many of the unpleasant worries of life and let bliss come tumbling out my heart and onto the computer screen.

Thank you for the immeasurable abundance of gladness being a part of the vintage community brings me.

I try never to take anything for granted; I cherish the good and strive to work around the bad, embracing positives and eschewing the negatives whenever possible. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for having this blog in my life, nor that I don’t reflect upon how wonderful it is to be able to connect with so many people who share one of my biggest passions: vintage!

Thank you to all of my followers, new and longstanding friends, and first time visitors alike, you bring so much to my world and are absolutely priceless to me.

Happiest Birthday wishes, little sis!

This is a week chocked full of jubilation and activity for me. On Monday we celebrated the bounty of the harvest and the blessings of life with Thanksgiving, on Wednesday my husband and I shared in the elation that came with that day being our 5th wedding anniversary, and today is my sister’s 19th birthday.

To say that my sister is dear to me would be an understatement. I love that child, who is now no longer a little girl, but a truly wonderful young woman, with every ounce, fiber and molecule of my being. From the day she was born I have treasured her in my heart and strived to be there for her with my love, guidance, and friendship every day. Both of us experienced challenging childhoods and have had to overcome a great deal in our lives, but no matter what came her way, my sister has held strong and persevered. She is a beckon of inspiration, a treasured spirit, and my perpetual angel.

Thank you for all that you are, everything that you inspire me to be, and each moment you’ve been alive, honey. You mean more to me than I can ever begin to put into mere words and I could not ask for a better or more beautiful sister.


{Flickr image source}
As you embark on this last year of your teens, and for all of time, I wish you immense serenity, scores of creativity, the ability to reach and exceed every dream you set, and a lifetime of joy.

Always and forever, I love you, my darling sister. Happiest Birthday!!!

The incredible joy of time spent with family

What an amazing past few days I’ve just had. Busy, but sublime. Memorable and deeply rejuvenating. My parents flew in on the 28th (of May) and visited for about a week with my husband and I (it’s the first time we’ve been able to get together in almost two and a half years). Though we spent each day with one another, filling the hours with sightseeing, home-cooked meals around the table, and many wonderful conversations, it feels as though their trip passed in the instantaneous blink of an eye. It seems no sooner was I hugging my mom and step-dad hello, then I was fighting back the tears as I embraced them good-bye.

I come from a small, broken (as in my biological parents divorced) family, and my relatives all live on the other side of the country, so time spent together is a rare and precious gift.

There are many daily stresses in my life, worries and concerns, those sorts of nagging thoughts that keep you up in the wee hours on the night sometimes, yet for a few brief days, in the light of my mother’s timeless smile I was able to sweep them out of my mind and reconnect with the simple act of having carefree fun and being in the presence of loved ones. During their visit my health held up surprising well and we were able to visit a number of interesting destinations around Toronto such as Black Creek Pioneer Village, the CN Tower, and Centreville Island, each of which I’d never been to before. Though they were technically the ones on vacation, it felt as though they were giving my husband and I a holiday as well.


{Darling husband and I on the ferry to Centreville Island. Despite the cheery sunshine there was a bitingly cold wind that was turning our cheeks and noses pink. Still it was so enjoyable to be on a ferry for the first time since I was 14!}


{Here hubby and I gaze out at downtown Toronto and the CN Tower from the shores of Centreville Island.}


{In this shot I'm admiring a lovely doll house that was on display in the foyer of the welcome centre at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Though this was a modern doll house, it was somewhat done up to resemble the Victorian homes that dot this charming historical site.}


{And here we have the back of my head ;D Or to be more detailed, a shot of me gazing out from the observation deck of the CN Tower as I scan the city looking for our apartment.}


{The little redhead on the left is me, the stunning blond in the middle is my mother, and the chap at the end is a statue of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould. This bench is located in downtown Toronto near the CBC building.}


{My mom was snapping photos of my cat, Stella, on our bed, and decided to turn the lens on me when Stella jumped off. This picture was taken on the afternoon of the last day of my parents trip. I can see a bit of fatigue in my face, but there is something about this shot - despite the dusty soles of my bare feet - that I genuinely like, which is a very rare thing for me to say regarding photos of myself.}

{All of the photos above were taken by either my mom or my step-dad during late May and early June 2009. I cherish them and the many others now saved on my hard drive. Thank you both for taking just as many family snaps these days as when I was a youngster. The memories they preserve are utterly priceless.}


Only time will tell when the four of us will be able to get together once more, but even without an exact date, I’m already counting down the days. Cherished relatives are too dear, too important, and too vital to not want to spend time with.

I’m afraid that the all this recent activity caught up with me yesterday though and now I’m a bit run down. That doesn’t matter though, I’m still abuzz with the wonderful feelings these past few days have filled my soul with, my head too full of bliss to mind if my body needs a while to recoup.

Tonight in the wee AM hours I’ve been responding to the awesome comments that have recently been left here, and have begun to catch up (slowly) on about two weeks worth of blog feeds. I hope that you are each well and would love to know how you’ve spent your days lately and what elements have been bringing joy into your lives.