Retiring Chronically Vintage

Yesterday, after two very snowy weeks of early March, I felt the first tender rays of springtime warmth dance upon my skin. I took Annie out back and together we played amongst them, both entranced by a sensation that we had very nearly forgotten.

It was a moment of simple, untainted pleasure of that sort we all long for in our lives and it reminded me a great deal of the powerful feelings of warmhearted compassion that myself, Tony and Annie have been incredibly blessed to receive from scores of wonderful people – including many in the vintage community – over the past five months since the fire.

From that horrific day onward, there has been a part of me that had suspected this post would eventually happen. Perhaps many of you saw it coming as well.

What occurred to us on that fateful, (ironically) rainy October night changed us forever. In one fell swoop it rewrote our lives and tore into the fabric of who we were at our very cores.

Though some pieces have been mended, others that remained (now) strengthened, and some are lost forever, we are not the same people we were before the fire. I highly doubt most folks would be, if they went through something similar.

Hardship and challenges make you and shape you. They can break you, too, if you let them. Yet from that very first evening as we stood cocooned in shock and grief, we swore that we wouldn’t let that happen and with your profound help (of every conceivable variety), love and support, it hasn’t.

Though I had, for some time, remained optimistic that I’d be able to pick up here much like before, in the ensuing five months it has become glaringly apparent to me that such is simply not possible.

Too much has changed. Though my love for vintage, my tremendous appreciation for this community, and my passion for rocking old school styles will never waver for a moment, I have come to realize that, as much as it genuinely pains me to the pit of my soul, I need to retire this blog.

Between the continued (very) poor state of my health in the wake of the blaze, the challenging road ahead as we continue to rebuild our lives, and the reality that certain things can never go back to as they once were, I know in my heart of hearts that this is what is right and healthy for me at this stage in my life.

I want each of you to know, and pray that you will believe me when I say, that this decision did not come easily or lightly. I agonized over it relentlessly for months and talked about it with Tony until I the point where I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised if he’d started throwing things at me to get me to drop the subject (of course my sweet husband would never actually do that, but I wouldn’t have blamed in the slightest him if he had!).

For the better part of eight years (including the 2.5 for which, before the fire, I had my eponymously named Etsy shop as well; it will not be returning either), this blog was a huge part of my world – just as each of you were.

I adore, care about, and appreciate all of you more than you will ever know. Parting ways, in a vintage blogging context at least, is beyond hard for me to do.

I have had many sleepless nights, shed my fair share of tears, negatively impacted my health further from the stress of debating what to do, rung my hands nearly raw with anxiety, searched the furthest recesses of my heart, and, again, did not get to this point easily or lightly. Please know however, that it is a choice that I have reached for certain. 

Here we are then and there’s no sense in dragging things out.

Instead I will thank you – each and every one of you – for the innumerable ways you’ve enriched my life since Chronically Vintage began in April 2009. We’ve talked, we’ve laughed, we’ve inspired one another, we’ve grown as people, we’ve changed, and we have come to be dear friends.

{You mean the world to me - each of you. Thank you for the great times, the kinship, and for your understanding about my tremendously difficult decision to retire CV. Vintage photo image source.}

In our darkest hour, you were there for me and my family and I will be grateful for your help, compassion and remarkable generosity (including both your monetary donations and care packages) for as long as I live.

The physical gifts you gave me (us) helped me to come back to many important parts of myself. They cloth me, we eat off of them, we even bath with some of your presents (soaps and a beautiful floral print shower curtain, for instance). You often knew what we needed, even if, in our haze of grief, we didn’t.

You took us by the hand and the heart, you believed in us and we have grown stronger in many ways again because of you – just as I have always derived strength and comfort from this amazing community.

While I will no longer be blogging here at Chronically Vintage, I plan to keep this site (which houses just over 1,500 posts) alive for all to enjoy, learn from, and be inspired by.

You can continue to connect with me on social media, where as time goes on, I hope to share an even broader scope of myself and my many different interests – a giant one of which will, of course, forever be vintage.

Thank you all so much. Thank you for the memories, the smiles, the joys, the ways in which you've helped me grow, and countless other things that will stay with me for all of my days. 

I want you to know that you can always email me and that, I hope, should any of you ever find yourself in dire straights, I can be there for you however possible, too. Just ask, night or day.

I won’t say goodbye, instead I will say that I love you. That you mean more to me than I could ever begin to put into words, and that I hope with all my might you’ll understand my exceedingly difficult decision to retire from this blog and to look ahead to other (largely unknown at present) chapters in my life.

It has been a joy and an honour to connect with all of you throughout CV’s life and I look forward to continuing to do so via social media (particularly on Instagram and Pinterest), your blogs, emails, snail mail, and other avenues for a long time to come.

Friendship, much like the appeal of the past itself, is often timeless and so too, in my eyes, are each of you. 

Forever and always your friend in all things vintage,

❤ Jessica

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.

Celebrate my Etsy shop's 2nd birthday with a 32% off flash sale!

Two years ago, on a day both much akin to, and also very different from, today, I took my life - and career - in an exciting new direction and opened an Etsy store dedicated to selling vintage and antique treasures of the sort that have brought me joy ever since I was a young child.

This wasn't a decision that I rushed into, nor that I came to lightly. I poured countless hours of thought, discussion, and research into the topic before Chronically Vintage on Etsy came into being.

No matter how long I live, I will never forget the rush of emotions and thoughts that were swirling through my mind and heart alike when the big day came! It was a magical experience and I was touched to my core to receive some of my very first sales (as well as plenty of others since then) from my very dear blog readers here.

In the twenty-four months that have passed since that day in 2014, my shop has grown and flourished in ways I could hardly have conceived of back then. I've gone from less than a hundred listings initially to having as many as 1,100 items in the shop at once (a record that was hit last November and which I hope to surpass later on this year).

I've been honoured to receive a good percentage of my business from repeat customers around the world, supplied items to dozens of brides for their special days, sold vintage goods to numerous Hollywood production and theater companies in both the US and UK (including having some of my vintage gloves worn on the TV series The Astronaut's Wives Club), and grown both as a person and a business woman with each every piece that has sold from my shop.

With all my heart, I want to thank you, my readers and customers, for your fantastic support and business over the past two years. It has been an incredible experience selling to many of you and I look forward to continuing to do so as Chronically Vintage head's into its next year of life.







Whether you're a returning or first time customer, to celebrate this joyful occasion, I invite you to pop on over to my shop, where you will currently find every single item on sale for 32% off (I was planning to offer 30% off, but it struck me that since this is my shop's second birthday, "32" would make more sense :)).

This flash sale is on from today, May 6th, until Wednesday May 11th. All prices have already been marked down and no coupon codes are needed. Simply add any item(s) you wish to your cart and watch the savings pile up!

A lot has changed in my world and in some respects, with my shop as well, since this same date two years ago, but what remains the same is my commitment to providing top-notch customer service, wonderful vintage treasures, and a fantastic buying experience for each and every person who visits my shop.

These points will never waver and you can bet that as Chronically Vintage on Etsy heads into its next year of life, things will only get better and more exciting there!

I know you by your legs

Okay, potentially creepy/stalkerish sounding post title, I know, but I promise you there is an entirely innocent explanation behind it! :)

You see, as a general rule, when reading posts in my feed reader (Bloglovin'), I do so by starting with the oldest posts first, which are at the bottom of the page of new entries. Thus as I work my way from the end of the list to the top, I often see a person's feet and/or legs first as a photo accompanying an outfit post appears.

{1940s image source}

I've been reading my feeds like this for years now and have been following many of the blogs that those gams belong to the authors of, for far longer still. As such, I can often tell who a new post is from before I even scroll up to the part that says the blog's name, simply by seeing their feet/legs. I find this rather charming and hope you'll see it as such, too, for it leads me to a far greater point.

In about two weeks from now, this blog will hit 6.5 years of life. In that time I've had the great pleasure of getting to cross paths with literally thousands of fellow bloggers (vintage and otherwise). Some for the briefest of spells, others for multiple years, and some for longer still than I myself have been penning a vintage blog (I started following their sites prior to launching to my own). Quite a few of these folks have become friends - also for varying lengths of time - and a few have become so dear to me they feel like sisters.

It's scarcely a state secret that the vintage blogging world has shrunk somewhat in the last (roughly) three years (a point that I briefly touched on in this post). There are a plethora of reasons (the rise of certain "instant share" sites like Instagram certainly being one them) for this and I won't go into great deal about such here now. Suffice it to say, the vintage blogging pool is not as vast as it once was and that makes me all the more grateful for those who are still keeping at 'er, as I myself am, too.

No matter if such folks are blogging peers, personal acquaintances, friends, or die-hard BFFs, I know them - or in other words, I know you. Whether we've only talked through our blogs - perhaps even one sided-ly (in other words, I've commented on your site, but you haven't on mine) - or have conversed elsewhere, too, by sheer virtue of the fact that you've been sharing part of your life with me - and the world - online for quite some time, I genuinely feel like I know you and this is a beautiful thing unto itself.

I appreciate all of my fellow bloggers, particularly the vintage ones, as we walk a similar path in this new found digital world of ours. I find myself remembering fellow blogger's birthdays, anniversaries, and even due dates. I know who adores 1940s swing dresses, who can't get enough of two tone 30s shoes, and who 1950s circle skirts make go positively weak in the knees.

From BF/GF/husband/wife/partner's names to what people studied in school to favourite colours and foods, a body of knowledge has been acquired and cataloged for many of my fellow bloggers simply by virtue of the fact of how long I've known them and how frequently I've read their wonderful blogs. I have know doubt that many of you reading this post today can say the same about me and I love that fact.

Even the most raw, open and honest person never shares everything about themselves online - and that's a good thing (we all need and deserve some privacy, after all), but we all present a certain version of who we are to the world via our blogs (and social media presences) and what we opt to divulge or not.

Whether we chose to be an open book or present a very curated picture of ourselves and our lives, we still share who we are and those who give of themselves and their time to kindly follow our sites, learn about us through our photos, what we write, and sometimes even what is left unsaid.

I guess what I'm trying to say is how much I care for and appreciate every single one of you, my fellow bloggers and friends. Thank you for opening up your lives with me and allowing me to do the same here day after day, week after week, and ultimately year after year.

We've shared so much and I hope that a great deal more lies in store for all of us who continue to keep our blogs alive and going strong. I look forward to getting to know you even better - shoes and all - and hope that we can keep on supporting one another's sites, efforts (long term frequent blogging is a huge amount of work and very often a sheer labour of love for those doing so, especially in a relatively small niche like the vintage world), and cheer each other on as we continue to blog, share and grow as both individuals and an online community as a whole.

Under the sea vintage fashion fun

{Whether your hair is as long as a mermaid’s or considerably shorter, there isn't a head around that wouldn't look sensational with this elegantly gorgeous handmade seashell and starfish comb nestled against it. $35.00 from Be Something New.}




{If ever there was an aptly named scent to wear to the beach or anyplace during the summer, this lovely bottle of Mermaid Kiss handmade perfume is it. $9.25 for a 15ml bottle from Butter Toki.}




{If you're not in the mood for a full on ocean inspired look, or if you want to jazz your mermaid-worthy outfit up even further, why not pick up these beautiful vintage lucite clip-on earrings featuring oodles of cute little seashells and metallic confetti? $18.00 from SoCal Jewelry Box.}




{Aren't these handmade capiz shell, starfish, and Swarovski crystal earrings absolutely breathtaking? I could see them working wonders with everything from vintage tropical print playsuits to a flowing, breezy white dress for a relaxed beach wedding. Swoon!!! $25.00 from Lovelorn Siren.}




{Vintage frocks really don't come any more shimmery, alluring, or gorgeous than this stunning 1960s metallic blue tinsel wiggle dress. Love. Epically. Fits up to a 36" bust/28" waist. $125.00 from (fellow B.C. Etsian) True Value Vintage.}




{Whether they're the real deal plucked from the sea or the sort created on land in factory, there's no denying the truly timeless appeal of pearl jewelry. This strikingly beautiful 1940s hand knotted faux pearl necklace features a 23.5 inch strand of solid, good quality glass pearls in a beguilingly lovely shade of rose gold meets brown gold meets champagne that would look especially incredible against summertime tanned skin. $28.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Every time I go to the Vancouver Aquarium (as we did on our recent travels to that fine city), I spend a good long while gazing at the resident mighty fire hued Giant Pacific Octopus. There is, to my mind, something both scary and appealing awesome about these powerful eight-armed aquatic creatures and its easy to see why they've long held court over much of the ocean floor. Far from frightening, this wonderful block of handmade vegan soap featuring one of these hefty octopi is just the ticket to get your skin looking, if you'll forgive a relevant maritime pun, shipshape in no time! $9.00 for a 4 ounce bar of soap from The Charming Frog.}




{Raffia and summertime go together like tropical drinks and the beach. Lightweight, breathable, and comfy, it's a classic natural material that makes for the ideal warm weather shoe and these great 1960s woven raffia flats are no exception. Fits a ladies size 6.5 foot. $25.00 from Luckiest Duck 1.}




{Today's final item entry isn't for your wardrobe, but instead for your walls! I discovered these fabulous hand painted underwater themed vintage reproduction chalkware sets a few months ago and have been thoroughly smitten ever since. They look the kitschy mid-century part to a tee, are very reasonably priced, and just as cute as cute can possibly be! $40.00 for a three-piece set of chalkware mermaids from HilltopCast.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Before I delve further into today's post, I want to take a moment to thank absolutely everyone who has showered me with happy 30th birthday wishes this week. Yesterday was fun filled, beautiful, inspiring and bursting with all those special elements that one hopes for when the anniversary of their birth rolls around. My celebrate was truly made all the more sweet and memorable thanks to your splendidly lovely wishes. Thank you, one and all!

I'm not the only thing getting older these days. I recently read that 2014 is the 25th anniversary of Disney's endlessly classic take on The Little Mermaid and it stopped me right in my tracks. No way! I thought to myself, feeling like I could remember watching it, on VHS, naturally, for the first time as though it were yesterday. And yet, it only took a couple more seconds of hopping down memory lane to realize that, by Jove, yes, it really had been that long, because I can clearly recall having a Little Mermaid theme for either my sixth or seventh birthday.

As a child, growing up in a very dysfunctional, oppressive, challenging home setting, I instantly felt like I could relate to Ariel and her desire to break away from her tyrannical father's rule and discover a world of her own where she could finally experience the freedom she deeply, powerfully longed for. Though I wasn't born with a tail and I never forgot what the word "burn" was, I found so many parallels between her life and my own plight that Ariel became something of a personal mascot and certainly a major source of inspiration for me all through my early childhood years.



{A copy of the exact same Disney Little Mermaid poster that hung on my bedroom wall for a few years of my youth, reminding and quietly helping to encourage me each time I looked at it to explore my own proverbial "shore above" and to take my freedom into my own hands. Image source.}


Much like Disney's most famous mermaid, I too eventually found both my freedom and my wonderful prince charming. I developed my own legs of a different sort and taught myself how to stand on them, even in the face of the harshest adversities. While I'm certainly no longer a child anymore, I still love Ariel and her delightful cast of underwater friends all the same and can sing, to this day, all of the songs in that movie by heart.

Inspired by my passion for and personal relationship with this film, in the midst of one of (if not "the", depending on whereabouts you live) hottest months of the year, I knew that I wanted this month's edition of Vintage Fashionista Friday to have a charmingly fantastic mermaid theme to it.

July, the sea, cool waters and the joy that imagining a world in which mermaids really did exist makes for a seriously appealing combination and one that will continue appeal to me whether I'm five, thirty, fifty or a hundred years old! :)

*PS* 

Hurry, my dears, and take advantage of the awesome 25% off sale that is still underway on everything in my Etsy shop. The sale ends tomorrow and is the only one I have planned for the summer, so now is the time to save big! 

A huge thank you and 12 ways you can help my Etsy shop grow

It's been 48 hours precisely since I announced the grand opening of my Etsy shop. The response, both in terms of each of your incredibly kind, supportive, and encouraging blog comments, emails, Facebook and Etsy private messages has been nearly overwhelming. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank each and every one of you who has shared an uplifting, wonderfully sweet word with me, as well as to all those who have placed orders from my shop already. I appreciate both more than I could ever begin to put in towards and really feel like the shop is off to a stellar start!



{Throngs of you flocked to my shop in it's first 48 hours, with a total of about 3,000 pageviews in the first 48 hours alone. Talk about making a vintage loving, entrepreneurial gal feel loved! Image source.}


One of my goals for 2014 was to try and get better at asking for things. This is an area, as I discussed in my New Year's post on the subject of this year's goals, that I have struggled with (massively) my whole life. Even just typing the words of this post puts a knot in my throat and stomach alike, but one can't rightly attempt to make headway on the improvement front if they don't at least try or do whatever it is they want to become more confident in. And so, to that end, I was wondering if you, my awesome readers and friends, could please help me spread the good word about my Etsy shop.

I know that some of you have done one or more of these things already and I appreciate that you have with all my heart and heart and soul, just as I do those actions that anyone does as a result of reading this post (or anytime). One of the best and most beautiful elements of the online vintage community is how we rally around, support, and help one another, and today I would be honoured if you could do just that for me by undertaking any one - or more - of the following things.


-Favourite (heart) my shop on Etsy.


-Favourite (heart) as many of my Etsy listings that you like.


-Create one or more Etsy treasuries that includes one of the shop's listings.


-Post the shop and/or any of my listings that catch your on Facebook page.


-Tweet about the shop and/or any of my listings on Twitter.


-Pin any and all listings (the more the merrier!) to any of your Pinterest boards that you like. (I'm not on Tumblr, but by all means, if you are, feel free to post them on that site, too.)


-Post about the shop and/or any listings(s) you'd like on Google+.



-Stumble the shop and/or any listings you'd fancy on StumbleUpon.


-Include one ore more items from the shop in a Polyvore set.


-Instagram/regram any image from the shop (please just mention where it came from), any ol' time your heart desires.


-Blog about my shop's opening and/or include one or more of my listings in any of your posts - now or anytime - that you'd like. (And certainly feel free to blog about anything you've bought from me, either before it arrives or after. If you have a photo of yourself wearing an item you've purchased from the shop, please feel free to email it to me anytime and I'd be more than happy to include it in a future custom appreciation blog post here, with a link to your own blog, if you'd like.)


-Plus any other way you can think of! Want to interview me about my shop, discuss collaborating in some way, or anything else? Just let me know, I would love to team up with you and help introduce Chronically Vintage on Etsy to as large an audience as possible.


You, ladies and gents, know me and that it's very out of character for me to put out a call to action like this, but in becoming a small business owner, I've already had to do a lot of things that were outside of my (ultra shy, ultra confrontation fearing) comfort zone, and do you know what? I honestly feel like I've grown as a person and am very grateful that I had/needed to do every one of those things, which is how I think I'll feel about this post and about asking you to help me get the word out about my new shop, too.


I mean it with the utmost of sincerity when I say thank you.


Thank you for your support, for your help, for your encouragement, for your business, and for every way you'll play a roll in Chronically Vintage's Etsy success. This shop will flourish all the more because of each of you!

PS: Don't forget to take advantage of the coupon code GRANDOPENING to save 15% off on all purchases until May 12, 2014.

It’s Liebster Blog Award time!

With little more than a month of autumn remaining, it seemed like high time I got around to posting about the fact that not one, but two, wonderfully lovely ladies have bestowed the Liebster blog award on Chronically Vintage over the past year (especially because the first of these two times happened in November 2012, and I really don't want to let more than a year slip by before I write about it here).

First off, the Liebster Award came my way care of the completely sweet Lil from Little Lil of London, then a few months later in February, the thoroughly awesome Holly of Veronica Vintage tapped me for it as well. I really appreciate that you passed this fun Q&A award on my way, dear gals, and am happy to do the same here today as well.

The Liebster Award has been bouncing around the blogging universe for a while now, the general premise being that the person who receives it answers a set of questions from the previous recipient (the person who in turn gave it to them), and then creates the same number of questions to be answered by those that they pass it along to. This is done as a way of both getting to know your fellow bloggers better and also letting your readers in on more about yourself, your blogs, and your thoughts on various topics.

Some versions also specify that the recipient share eleven random facts about themselves, but I shalln't be taking things in that direction myself today (but if you're interested in such things, check out my post from June about The Very Inspiring Blogger Award in which I list seven).

Lil didn't specify a list of questions in her post, but Holly did, and so it's those that I'm going delve right into here today (in relatively short answer form - who wants to start a gorgeous, sunny Monday morning off by reading essay-esque answers?), before laying out eleven of my own questions for the folks I'm passing the Liebster Award onto to answer, if they so desire.


1. What started your romance with all things vintage?

There wasn't one specific event that catapulted my love of vintage, I'm simply been fascinated by, and completely in love with, history since I was a little girl. Growing up I was beyond consumed with the past (hmmm, nothing much has changed there!), reading everything I could get my hands on that had to do with history (especially the years spanning the Victorian era to the 1960s), watching old movies, going to museums, talking to my relatives and elderly neighbours about their youth, you name it, if it was vintage or antique related, I was endlessly enthralled - and definitely still am.




  2. What made you start a blog about it all?

You can read all about that very topic in this post from last March.



3. What is your favourite vintage item you have acquired so far?

Seriously hard to say...I love them all a great deal and have become very selective about what I will and will not buy over the years. I have a small closet and a modest budget, so if something is going to come home and live me - no matter if it costs a buck or a hundred dollars - I have to love it 100% (and have it fit at least relatively well). So while I'm honestly not sure if I could narrow it down to just one, a serious contender would definitely be my dusty rose 1940s tilt hat (which I spotted, fell in love with, and then Tony bought me as a wonderful gift).


4. If you could own one item of clothing from an Old Hollywood film, which would it be and why?

There are so many sublime, creative, gorgeous garments that have appeared in classic films over the years, but I'm going to have to go with a somewhat unexpected answer, and opt for one of the Mrs. Claus themed outfits that Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney both wore in White Christmas, because of the incredible connection to the holidays of my youth that this movie holds for me (and because I think that a vintage Mrs. Claus suit is just about the cutest holiday garb ever!).





5. Would you rather live back in your favourite era(s) or would you prefer to stay in present day? Why?

This isn't the easiest of questions to answer in an elevator pitch kind of answer - and indeed doing so could easily fill many a blog post, as one explored the many sides and implications of going back in time - but the honest answer is that it truly depends on many factors. Because of my severe chronic health problems (which would have been a lot harder to deal with on a daily basis, get treatment for, find information quickly about, etc back then), I would probably opt to stay in the present.

Yet, if one could wave a magic wand and make me healthy as a horse, there are still a bevy of pros and cons to both, and my answer would ultimately lie in whether or not my husband could come with me, because I wouldn't trade any period in time (no matter how much I love it) if it meant not being able to spend my life with him. If I was healthy and he was there, then I may very well opt for the past - though I'd certainly miss all of you if I did!


6. If you could be a female historical figure, who would you be and why?

This is another question to which I have many answers, but no immediate top spot, because I respect, admire, and am fascinated with quite a number of famous historical female figures. One possible choice though would definitely be Florence Nightingale (I even went as her for Halloween one year when I was a little girl).


7. Same question, but as a male historical figure and why.

Same opening line as my previous answer through and through! In a strange way - perhaps because there have been even more famous male historical figures - this is even tougher to come up with a single name for. I've always longed to have the skill of a great master when it comes to painting, so someone like Leonardo da Vinci might make for a very exciting (and creatively fulfilling) choice.


8. How do you come up with topics to write about?

Pretty much anything is fair game here in terms of what I might potentially write about and I constantly keep my eyes and ears peeled for blog post inspiration. I like to pull from a range of sources, including my own life (and my vintage wardrobe), magazine articles (past and present), famous moments in history, fellow bloggers, Pinterest, books I'm reading, recipes I adore - you name it!


9. What nationalities/heritages are you?

I'm what I like to call a Heinz 57 of nationalities, with ancestors hailing from Germany, France, Russia, the UK, America, and a few wayyy back from Poland, too.




  10. Do you pre-plan posts of write off-the-cuff?

Having a blogging schedule is paramount to my ability to post here on a regular, frequent basis and I generally write the bulk of my posts anywhere from one to four weeks in advance of when they go live. That said, I like to write a few off-the-cuff posts each month, and welcome the "of the moment" nature they make possible when it comes to recording various things that have recently happened in my world.


11. Where do you see the future of your blog? What would you like to see it as being in about one year? What about five years?

For me, every day of blogging is a way of letting my health know that it hasn't taken over my life completely, while at the same time serving a marvelously relaxing way to unwind and take my mind off of such things. So as long as I'm able to keep on keepin' on (so to speak) here (point blank) with each passing year, I will be exceedingly happy.

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

♥ ♥ ♥

As eleven seems to be the theme of this award, I'm pleased as punch to bestow the Liebster Award onto the following eleven wonderful ladies.

If you've already received it before (and don’t feel like writing about it again), aren't a fan of blog awards, or would otherwise prefer not to take part, please don't worry the tiniest of moments. Blog awards are just for fun, and if it they don't feel like such to you, no worries at all, just know that I think you and your blog are worthy of one all the same.


1. Bonita from Lavender and Twill

2. Collette from Serendipity Handmade

3. Elle from Elle Buckle Vintage

4. Hannah from Just Peachy, Darling

5. Lisa from Butterflies and Daisy Vintage

6. Liz from The Vintage Inn

7. Paige from Baby Steps into Vintage

8. Patricia Lynn of Lady by Choice

9. Porcelina from Porcelina's World 

10. Sean from The Fictionista 

11. Stephanie Lynn from The Girl With The Star-Spangled Heart

♥ ♥ ♥

Here are my questions for you to answer, dear ladies - I hope you enjoy them as much as I did Holly's.


1. What are three of your favourite things about blogging?

2. What kind of sagely advice would you give to a blogger who is just starting their first ever blog today?

3. Do you find yourself drawn more towards creating word heavy or image heavy posts, or do you prefer a fairly even mix of the two in each post?

4. What is your favourite ten year span (note, this doesn't have to be a specific decade, such as the 1930s, you could pick 1925-1935) of all time from a fashion standpoint?

5. If you could go on a shopping spree (and money was no object), what are five vintage wardrobe items that you'd buy today?

6. What are five of your favourite savory foods, and five of your favourite sweet ones?

7. What's your favourite place you've ever lived? What are some of the reasons that makes this spot so near and dear to your heart?

8. If you could go on an all-expense paid vacation for two weeks to anywhere in the world, where would you go and what vintage clothes would you bring with you?
9. Currently, what are your three favourite colours? Do you wear these colours often or simply enjoy them in general?

10. If you could attend a concert from any musician/band throughout all of time, who would you pick to see live?

11. What's your favourite time of the day (morning, dusk, etc) and why?

♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you again very much to Lil and Holly for sharing this delightful blogging honour with me. I always sincerely appreciate each and every blog award that Chronically Vintage and I receive, and am so happy to finally get a chance this morning to share my answers to the questions involved with this one here today.

In which I am humbled and touched beyond words

Originally, I didn't have a post slatted for this gloriously warm last Friday of July, but then something happened that moved me to my core and which I wanted needed to blog about immediately, and so I'm doing just that right now.

I've had the great pleasure of knowing Lorena - a very talented artist from Brisbane, Australia - through both of her engaging, beautiful blogs (Balea Raitz Art and In Vogue One Day) for quite some time now, and we've long enjoyed swapping comments on each others sites.

Lorena had indicated before to me that she was interested in drawing me, and I'd happily said I would be honoured to have that happen anytime, but I didn't know that she was hard at work on a sketch this month, nor that she posted it on Balea Raitz Art until today. Imagine my double take inducing surprise when I visited her blog a few minutes ago was greeted with an illustrated image of myself.




This is the first time I've ever had anyone draw me as an adult, and I truly cannot begin to express the mixture of joy, appreciation, and amazement I'm feeling at the moment over the awesome image of me that Lorena so thoughtfully created (which is based on a photograph from this outfit post taken in the spring of 2012).

As I've touched on at various times here over the years (such as in this post), I have struggled with some really hefty self-esteem, self-confidence, and body image related issues over the years (which are not helped one iota by my battle with severe chronic health problems). Though I have gotten somewhat better in this regard, it took me a very long time - almost all of my life - to not look in the mirror and think that I was horrendously, hideously unattractive.

I am exceedingly well aware of the fact that I'm not, in most peoples' eyes, what one might call conventionally beautiful, and between all of these points, I honestly never imagined that anyone would look at me and choose to see me as a source of inspiration for their artwork - let alone want to draw an image depicting me.

At the age of 29 years old, I am incredibly humbled learn that I was wrong. Dead wrong. Someone found inspiration in me and created art with that. My goodness, I can think of nothing more touching or uplifting for my soul, spirit, and self-esteem.

Lorena's incredible piece exudes a sort of radiant beauty that I have honestly never seen in myself when I looked at my reflection, but which, clearly she was able to wisely see and transform into art.

The words "thank you" fail to do justice for gift of this incredible illustration, as well as for what, in one lightning fast instant, it taught me to see in myself. However, I will say them with as much conviction and sincerity as anyone has ever held before all the same: thank you deeply, dearly, and forever, Lorena.

Time for some much needed weekend R&R

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (a similar sentiment kicked off my last entry), this isn't the post I'd had planned for today. The other has already been written and could have gone live, but somehow it just didn't seem right for this easygoing, sun-drenched mid-July Saturday. The subject matter is a bit serious (it's about USPS's steep rate hikes earlier this year), and though I'm sure it will pop up here sooner or later, again, after such a fun filled, enjoyable week, it just didn't seem like today was well suited to it.

This week has been a hectic one, compounded with the fact the fact that I've not been doing too terrific on the health front this month (I was actually really not feeling well on my birthday, and wasn't able to dress up and/or do an outfit shoot that day as a result - but with the help of a mid-afternoon nap, I was able to get through the day and truly enjoyed every low-key moment of it), which stems at least in part from a very heavy new medication that I started last month.

As such, I've had next to no time to spend online so far this week, and I must apologize if I haven't made it to your own lovely blog in a few days. I suspect next week will be more in keeping with the usual ebb and flow of things, and that I'll be online a bit more.

The basement flood situation that I discussed here is progressing positively. In the wake of having to move everything out of our storage room down there (which was actually the point of entry for the water) because of it, we've decided to rent a small storage unit to house most of what was tucked away in that room (such as seasonal decor, old paper work, luggage, etc) and to transform that room into a home gym for Tony, once the flooring situation has sorted out. 

There's nothing to say we wouldn't have done this had we not been hit with a basement flood, but I'm sure it was a big push in that direction, and I must say, I'm excited to transform that room isn't something that I know my husband is truly going to love having under our roof.

And speaking of adding things to our home, last week (spurred on in no small part by the heat wave that rolled through town around the start of July) we had central air installed in our lovely little condo and are so exceedingly grateful that we won't have to rely on fans and window AC units to get us through another roasty-toasty Okanagan summer.

As I've touched on here and there in posts over the years, as much as I adore this season, the heat can be an extra challenge for my health (I hold up much better in the winter in this respect - and sometimes joke, as a result, that I'm going to up and more to the arctic because of how much better I fare in cold weather!), but with any luck, having central air will help significantly in this respect.

Between the heat (outside), the busyness of this week, and not feeling like a million dollars at the moment, I'm pretty spent as we kick off the weekend, which means its high time for some much needed rest and relaxation.

It's too early in the summer to throw in the (beach) towel entirely - there's easily a couple more solid months of sizzling Okanagan summer ahead of us, so stopping to recharge my batteries as often as possible, so to speak, is a definite must.




{Much like actor Alan Ladd and his wife in this 1950s photo of the couple taken by Bill Anderson, my weekend is slated to be as serene and laid back as possible - completely with plenty of outdoor lounging, reading, and time to unwind. Image source.}


Cold drinks, snuggles with Annie (who, hard as it is to believe, will be six months old next week) and Stella, cozying up with a good book (Claire McCardell's 1950s classic, What Shall I Wear?, to be exact), catching up on some of the week's many emails, and perhaps a Netflix movie or two are the name of the game today and tomorrow.

Whether you've got an itinerary so action packed it would tire Indiana Jones out, are planning to join me for some peaceful relaxation, or find your schedule falls somewhere in between, I truly hope that you each have a splendid weekend, my dears!


*PS*

Thank you again, everybody, not only for your awesomely lovely birthday wishes (all across the web), but for each and every one of your blog comments here this week (it was such a joy to read about some of your own fabulous memories of the 1980s).

Reflecting on four wonderful years of blogging

In precisely one week's time, Chronically Vintage will turn four years old. If this blog were a child, it would already be in preschool, talking up a storm, and (I like to imagine) starting to fall in love with vintage fashion, just like it's dear old mom.



{This was the very first image that appeared in my inaugural post here on Chronically Vintage. Almost four years later, it seems more than fitting that it should appear once more. Image source.}


It's fair to say that, while of course a blog is wildly different from a living, breathing child in many ways, both do share some parallels such as that they often require a good amount of our time, focus, thought, and (of course) love.

In the time since beginning this blog on a nippy March day back in 2009, more than 880 blog posts have appeared here. That's a rather hefty number when you stop and think about it, and I'm the first to admit, I'm already eager to crack into the four figure range (with I predict will happen at some point around the end of this year or start of the next, if my current posting rate continues along much the same path it's been on since early 2012).

Through Chronically Vintage was not my first blog (nor is it the only one I run these days, though it is by far the one which I devote the most time and attention to), I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that it is the blog that I have poured the greatest degree of time and effort into. Though there have been times over the years, when for various reasons (chiefly my health), blogging proved to be something of a challenge for me, there was never a moment in all that time when, in my heart of hearts, I didn't want to blog, to write, to share my unending passion for the past with all of you.

Nor have I ever encountered writer's block, never completely lost my mojo (anytime I felt it waning, I called on the seven tips in this article to help bolster it again), and never run out of ideas to write about here.

The longer I've blogged, the easier and more enjoyable it has become. Long gone are the days of being the new kid on the block, newbie jitters and uncertainties, or of the process of finding my vintage blogging voice. I believe in change and evolution and try never to let this blog fall into a pattern of too much routine (there's a reason the "same old, same old" is called as such!), but I can safely say that, four years on, I've developed a set of techniques, habits, and topics that I turn to time and time again to help ensure that this blog is both what I want it to be, and what I believe my readers will enjoy.

I have zero qualms with admitting that I blog, first and foremost for myself. This site isn't my whole livelihood (though it certainly is a part), but that doesn't mean I don't treat it as though it were, nor that I ever slack off on the job. Whether I'm doing research for a post, writing, replying to comments, visiting and commenting on other blogs, connecting with Chronically Vintage fans through social media, or discussing vintage blogging with someone in person, my site and the general subject of history are always at the forefront of my mind.

Whatever I experience, see, purchase, learn about, or create becomes potential inspiration for a blog post. I love my blog and I adore blogging. If I didn't, I don't imagine that I'd be here writing this post today. You have to love something with all your heart to devote countless hours to it each year, to think about it often as you're drifting off to sleep and when you awake refreshed in the morning.

The longer you blog, the more your blog takes on a life and personality of your own. It becomes a tome of your writing and/or photographs, an autobiography of (at least parts of) your existence, a way to connect with like minded individuals, and outlet for your thoughts and emotions, a trusted friend, and a defining part of who you are.

When I started this blog I settled on the name (Chronically Vintage) that I did because for years already at that point I'd been battling a series of severe chronic illnesses and often felt as though they (my health problems) were defining who I was and taking over my life. I wanted, if only for an hour a day, to take back part of my life and instead define myself on my own terms, by something which had always been near and dear to my heart.

I didn't set out with definitive goals when I began blogging, I just knew that I needed, a very basal level to write about something that brought me unending joy and which I simply could not get enough of: vintage.

Four years on, I'm delighted to say that, right from the get-go, this blog more than lived up my hope that it would provide me a creative outlet that was (for the most part) a million miles away from my health issues.

Over the past four years scores upon scores of other terrific benefits, opportunities, challenges, accomplishments, and new friendships have arise from blogging as well. I've grown as a writer, a photographer, vintage lover, and an overall person. I'm not who I was when this blog began and I adore that fact. When I look back at the five, seven, ten (and so on, I sincerely hope!) year mark, I won't be quite the same then, and that fact makes me happy. Just as I always want to ensure that my site grows and evolves, so too do I hope that these things ring true for me on a personal level.

Without a doubt, one of the most important and meaningful elements of this blog's existence has, from day one, been all of my readers and online friends. To say that I adore you more than Fred Astaire loved his tap shoes would be a serious understatement. Always there to share in the good, the bad, and everything in between, to encourage and inspire, and to motivate me when my spirit was down, you have been - and will always be - and integral part of this blog's universe.

Thank you one and all four four incredible years of sharing in the history, fashion, and lifestyle of the past. I cannot wait to see what the future holds in store here, and wholeheartedly look forward to enjoying every last awesome moment of it with all of you!

Thank you all for an awesome 2012!

As I delved into last Friday in my post about 12 ways I improved my life in 2012, this has been one the best years for Tony and I in our whole lives, and we are grateful beyond measure for this fact. 2012 was, over all, so terrific that I’m almost a tad leery to see the ball drop on it tonight. Part of me wants to linger a little longer, basking in the wonderfulness of the past twelve months and stretching it out as long as possible (a feeling I honestly can't recall ever having before - at least not as an adult).

Time however, has other plans entirely, and whether I'm ready to wave buh-bye to 2012 or not, come tomorrow morning a brand new year will be upon us all. No matter what 2013 has up its sleeve, I know that one extremely lovely point will continue on into the new year, and that is all of you.

Yes, you! Each and every single one of you has helped to contribute to this blog in your own way, by following it, commenting, emailing me, and sharing your own sites (and Pinterest accounts!) with me all year long. I've never been the type to have a million and one real world friends, but I'm blessed to say that I have made countless dear and wonderful friends through my blog and involvement with the online vintage community.

You enrich my life, help inspire my wardrobe, share your knowledge, encourage and support me, are there to share the good times and the bad with, and help fuel my writing mojo on even the toughest of days.

I cherish my readers and want you all to know that you helped contribute to why 2012 was such fabulous year that it was for me. Thank you very much for being a part of my world and in turn opening up yours to me.

{Lovely vintage New Year's postcard via The Graphics Fairy}

From the bottom of my heart I wish you each a New Year's celebration - and year ahead - that sparkles and abounds with unparalleled happiness, tons of great memories, excellent health, the utmost of success, and scores of incredible vintage finds!!!

Honoured and ecstatic to be Va-Voom Vintage's Blog of the Month

In the world of vintage bloggers there are certain people that quickly become beloved household names, especially if their sites are chocked full of excellent posts, inspiring images, thoroughly talented tutorials, and sublime sundry old school fuelled offerings. One such blogger, whose site I have adored since the moment I first laid eyes on it back in 2009, is Brittany Sherman of Va-Voom Vintage.

 

 

A self-described mommy, housewife, crafty gal, and vintage blogger (not to mention all around gorgeous, friendly, wonderful and incredibly stylish person), Brittany (pictured above) offers readers a deeply appealing blend of all those elements of her life and many more, and as a result is an absolute must-read for anyone who finds one or more of those descriptions applies to them.

I've been a major fan of Va-Voom Vintage for ages, and was over-the-moon happy - and more than a little honoured - when Brittany contacted me recently in regards to being featured as her July Blogger of the Month.

 

Needless to say, I couldn't type "yes" fast enough! Yesterday Brittany published our interview, which I must say, she did a cracking job with. You can read the the interview here: Blog of the Month: Chronically Vintage.

 

Thank you scarcely begins to cover how grateful and over-joyed I am to be a part of this awesome, inspiring, beautiful vintage blog - especially, to boot, during my birthday month, which just makes the honour all the more meaningful for me.

 

Brittany, you and Va-Voom Vintage are the absolute bee's knees, and I am so incredibly touched to be your feature blog this month. Sweetest thanks!!!!!

Receiving and passing along the Versatile Blogger award

When I first started this site three years ago, blog awards were somewhat more common then they are today. Perhaps there was a fad component to them, and while I know that not everyone was a major far, I've always felt sincerely touched when someone had deemed me and my blog worthy of receiving any kind of accolade.

Earlier this year, in the hectic midst of everything surrounding our move, I received a charming blogging award called the Versatile Blogger, from not one, but two, completely lovely ladies: Bunny Moreno from the fantastic blog The Musings and Adventures of a Pinup Mama, as well as from Tracey Steel whose blog, Breathing English Air, always teams with beautiful images of the UK and great posts to accompany them.

The rules attached to receiving this blog are very straightforward and easy to follow:

1. Add the award to your blog.

2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you.

3. Mention 7 random things about yourself.

4. List the rules.

5. Award to 5 or more bloggers.

6. Inform each of those 5 by leaving a comment on their blog. (I always feel like this point is optional, but you can certainly do it, if you'd like)

I always enjoy reading people's lists of various fun, interesting, or eyebrow raising (as the case may be!) facts about themselves, so without further ado, here are seven points about myself that you may not know.

 

♥ Seven facts about me ♥

1. Snugly, medium to heavy weight blankets and I are BFFs. For as long as I can recall, I've slept much, much better when I have soft, comfortable, fluffy blankets and and/or duvets on me (even in the summer). I fully believe this stems from a guest room at the house my paternal grandparents lived in when I was younger, which had the softest, most dreamily fantastic blankets I've ever encountered.

2. I'm taller then they'd said I be. When the doctor did an adult height project on me as a youngster, they said I'd not likely be any taller than 5 feet when I was fully grown (not that there's anything the matter with that height of course). I'm happy to report that I proved them wrong by a whole two inches! Though it means I'll never have supermodel gams that go on for miles, I really don't mind being petite one bit and am totally content with my adult height.

3. My childhood (school) nickname was "Jay": In elementary school my best was called Karen, which meant that her name started with a "K". As mine began with a "J", and these two letters are side-by-side in the alphabet, we came up with the idea of calling each other "Kay" and "Jay". After a while of doing so, other people began to notice and started using those names for us, too, even to the point where our teachers were doing it. Well into high school, even through mine and Kay's paths had diverged around middle school and we didn't hang out very often any more, people would still call me "Jay" sometimes.

4. I'm not superstitious at all, except for...: The act of throwing salt over your shoulder if you spill some. It's not that I actually believe anything negative will happen to me if I don't toss a pinch over my shoulder, I think it's just a learned habit I picked up as a child and never outgrew. As it's my one quasi-superstition, I keep doing it just for fun.

5. Generally speaking, I don't read modern fiction. It's not that I have anything against this literary genre, goodness no! It's just that I find my interests tend to lay more in nonfiction and classic lit. Though I read more modern fiction as a child (due, no doubt, in part to school book reports), I've always been this way and adore adding nonfiction and reference books to our home library.

6. I can touch anywhere on my own back. While I don't claim to be especially flexible (and am definitely not double jointed!), I am able to touch absolutely any spot on my back (while sitting, standing or laying down) - which makes zipping up my own dresses a breeze!

7. I never thought I was a hat person until...: Growing up in an era of baseball caps and floppy denim hats (remember those ones with the matching flowers on the front smack dab in the middle of brim?), I didn't feel like hat's worked well with my face shape at all. Imagine my delight then as a I got older and discovered that the issue wasn't hats in general, just most modern ones. Turns out many vintage hat styles (especially those from the 40s and 50s) suit me well, and as a result I quickly morphed into a die hard chapeau lover (and wearer).

{All images are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}

♥ ♥ ♥ 

In turn I'd like to pass the Versatile Blogger award onto the following five wonderful blogs.

1. Ghosts and Garters Vintage

2. Love Letters from London

3. Miss Magpie's Musings

4. Old Haunts (a new vintage blog in town, be sure to stop by if you haven't discovered Kate's site yet)

5. VirginiaRetro

♥ ♥ ♥

If you've already received this award (and blogged about it) from someone else, please don't feel like you need to do it again. Either way, if you do  (or have already done) it, definitely let me know, as I'd love to read your random facts, too.

Many, many thanks to Bunny and Tracey again for thinking of me and sharing the joy of this delightful blogging award with me. I wholeheartedly appreciate it, sweet gals.  ♥