7 ways to keep your blogging mojo going strong in 2012

 

As Chronically Vintage heads into its third year of life, one might wonder if I was running low on things to talk about, images to share, or blogging stamina (especially after last year’s Vintage 365 project). Thankfully, I’m happy to report, nothing could be further from the truth!

In fact, as  2011 wound down, I found myself with a powerfully renewed surge of blogging energy, while at the same time I suddenly couldn't cram enough vintage related activities (from clothes shopping to scouring the web for fresh-to-me yesteryear photos) into the day (ok, that's scarcely anything new - but it's always fantastic when you experience an intense burst of passion for a longstanding area of interest).

That said however, we all know what it's like to run into blogging slumps or periods when inspiration seems like it's harder to find than a palm tree in the arctic. I've been there before myself and know that chances are I'll face such periods again, but luckily I've learned some techniques over the years to help forge a path through the thicket of writer's block, lack of inspiration, or distraction caused by other areas of your life that nearly all bloggers encounter from time-to-time.

Last November I shared five tips for daily blogging with you, as I knew some of my readers were interested in running their own year-long daily blogging projects, too. All of those suggestions ring true for bloggers everywhere, no matter how frequently you post, so in addition to today's tips, be sure to give that post a read, if you haven't already.

 

7 ways to keep your blogging mojo going strong in 2012

 

1.) Look beyond your own life for topics to write about (and vice versa). If you generally write about events that transpire in your own life (for example, if most of your entries are about the fantastic vintage outfits you enjoy wearing), consider devoting a chunk of your posts to other topics that relate to your blog but which do not put yourself into the story as much (such as articles on the history of various topics that related to your site). By the same token, if you're prone to just writing factual, informative pieces, consider shaking things up by injecting more of your own daily life into your blog posts. Chances are your readers will appreciate a change of pace, no matter which of the two camps you usually fall into.

2.) Start, or renew interest in, a new hobby, project, class or other ongoing activity. Look for areas related to the subject(s) you blog about that you could increase your knowledge in or create projects related to. For example, several vintage bloggers who are also sewers, knitters or crafters have written tutorial posts (and/or ongoing series of posts) on projects that bring together their love of the past, as well as their passion for being creative. Ask yourself if there's a skill or interest you could be sharing with your readers that you aren't already. It could be cooking (post your favourite recipes), photography (take snaps that pertain to the genre of your blog), crafting, gardening, travelling - even shopping - just so long as it's something you feel confident teaching others about.

3.) Draw inspiration from other bloggers' posts. While you likely wouldn't want to copy someone's else's post to the letter, if you read a blog post or other online article that really speaks to you, create your own post on that same topic (perhaps referencing back to the original piece that sparked you to write your post), giving it your own personalized spin.

4.) Create a multi-part series of posts on a particular topic. Just as TV shows sometimes wrap up an episode by promising to continue it in the next episode, so too can you create a series of ongoing posts about a topic (for example, shoes of the 1940s, or ten of your all-time favourite vintage cake recipes) that you know you can write scores about and which is likely to have your audience eager to read the next instalment. The length of the series is up to you, but anywhere from three to ten posts (either spread out of over time or posted in succession) is generally a good number of entries to include in an ongoing series.

5.) Write about what you love. As you sit down to write each new blog post, don't hesitate to remind yourself that you are indeed writing for your blog, not a newspaper, a magazine, or a multi-author website. This is your ongoing project, your passion, and your gift of yourself to the blogging world. If everyone and their dog is writing about some of-the-moment subject, don't feel you need to do so as well just to "fit in". Cover topics that excite you and which you are genuinely interested in. If you do, your passion with generally shine through in your writing and really help your readers feel like they're connecting with you and what you're telling them.

6.) Take a short break from blogging every now and then. Even the best of us get knackered out, become super busy, don't feel up to snuff, or otherwise just need a breather occasionally. Instead of running yourself ragged or falling into a lengthy period of writer's block (which might even lead you to give up on you blog entirely). Step back (if only figuratively speaking) from the computer for a week or two, and give yourself permission to relax and not think about your site for a while as your blogging batteries recharge.

7.) Make note of things that interest and inspire you. Whether online or off, keep a running list of things pertaining to the topics you blog about that have fascinated, mystified, captured, intrigued, or otherwise grabbed your attention. I started a list like this back when I launched Chronically Vintage in 2009 and have added to, and worked off of, it dozens upon dozens of times. Having a list like this can really go a long way towards helping to ensure you never run into feeling like you're exhausted everything you can (in the moment) think of to write about.

{While blogging can sometimes feel as precarious as swinging through the air on a trapeze (like this athletic 1940s gal), most of the time it truly doesn't need to. Remember to enjoy the process, pace yourself, and cover a diverse range of subjects pertaining to the overall theme of your site. Vintage image via carbonated on Flickr.}

 

As you go about writing blog posts this year, always try remember to have fun and to enrich your life through the content you opt to share with others. Chances are your blog is not your livelihood, it doesn't have to (and shouldn't!) be a source of significant stress for you. Keep in mind that your site is something you made the conscious effort to start and devote a part of your life to on a frequent basis because you wanted to share your interest in a particular subject with the world.

As we motor along through January with our gaze set on the what lies ahead this year, I hope that you'll find the tips in today's post helpful in ensuring you have the strength, time, passion, and inspiration to blog confidently and happily all through 2012 - and well beyond.

Here's to a fabulous year of blogging, dear friends!!!

A Valentine’s Day postcard from my blogging vacation

Greetings, sweetest readers, how have you been lately? I really cannot believe that a whole week zoomed past this my last post. In the time since then I’ve accomplished some – but not all – of what I’d wanted to (as well as other things that I’d put off and suddenly realized I had the time to complete), done a lot of thinking regarding how to approach blogging in the future, and have also just breathed, allowing myself (for whom having idle hands never feels natural) to do nothing but relax here and there.

Last weekend I estimated that I’d return from my “blogcation” today, however some of my conditions are flaring up (not because I pushed myself too hard during my time off, but simply because no matter what, several of them act up every month due hormonal reasons relating to my monthly cycle) and I’m on bed rest at the moment. Thus, I’m afraid that I am going to have to tentatively extend my blogging break until this middle of this coming week (hopefully no longer than that!). Provided I feel well enough, I’m aiming to post the next weekly recipe this coming Wednesday – and launch back into more frequent posts after that.

During these days off I’ve continued to contemplate how best to approach the blog comment situation that had been weighing so heavily on my mind recently. I still do not feel like I’ve come with the “perfect solution”. As I stated in my last post, I think that I simply have to accept that I’m not always able to visit every one of the blogs of those who visit me (much as I truly wish I could, both because I want to say thank you personally for visiting my blog, and because I love and gather immense inspiration from your own sites). Yet, I will continue to try my best to get to as many as I can, when my health allows.

I want to extend my sincere thanks again to everybody who has provided me with their own insight and suggestions regarding this situation. I value and appreciate your wise and deeply caring words greatly.

(On a different note...) Tomorrow marks the annual day of love and romance. It provides us with an ideal time to pledge (or perhaps reveal for the first time) your adoration towards someone special, to reflect on past and present relationships, and embrace the joyful spirit that love inherently imparts to the world.


{This tremendously cute pair of Kewpie dolls is here to help me wish you all the loveliest of Valentine’s Days, no matter how you choose to spend it! Vintage postcard via riptheskull’s Flickr stream.}


I realize that Valentine’s Day is not everyone’s cup of tea, but even if you can live without the flowers and chocolates, the cut-out tissue paper cupids and sentimental love poems, I hope that you’re able to join in the greater sense of amicability that February 14th represents.

Today and always, know that I love and cherish each of you, dearest friends and visitors, so very much and that from the bottom of my heart I am wishing you a delightfully beautiful Valentine’s Day!

You have all helped me to see the forest for the trees, thank you!

My dearest readers, on Thursday I turned to you for help regarding how to handle balancing my chronic health problems with my desire to keep abreast of the comments Chronically Vintage receives. I’ll openly admit, I was feeling rather overwhelmed as I composed that post. A sleepless night the day before spent mulling this problem over constantly in my mind had really indicated to me that this was an issue I needed to voice and seek assistance with.


{This vintage photo (which comes care of mademoiselle therese’s Flickr stream) of a beautiful maiden languishing on a park bench, clearly looking frazzled and more than a little distraught, is an apt representation of how I feeling on Thursday. After receiving an amazingly kind outpouring of supportive comments and terrific suggestions however, I’m doing a lot better today!}


The unbridled support, understanding, and insight and “love”, too, for that is how you all made me feel, so very loved!) that fill the more the 30 comments which poured in has floored – and touched – me greatly. I truly feel like the words “thank you” fail to express how grateful I am to everyone who shared their thoughts regarding this matter with me. I took all of your words to heart, absorbing the wisdom and guidance you bestowed upon me.

Over the past couple of days I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching, deep thought and contemplation. These things paired with your comments have truly helped me to realize that perhaps I wasn’t looking at the bigger picture of my blog as a whole, but rather focusing on the one aspect that was troubling me the most (trying to figure out how to keep up with comments).

Amidst an emotional day on Friday, it dawned on me that I part of the reason why the comment issue was troubling me so deeply was because it had come to represent a greater feeling of failure in terms of being able to stay up-to-date with many, many aspects of my life (both on and off line) that I’ve been experiencing for years now as a direct result of my medical conditions affecting so many elements of my world.

Continually feeling as though I stumbled three (or thirty!) steps backwards for every one step I took forward had started to weigh heavily on my mind and soul.

While I wouldn’t call myself a “Type A”, I’ve always been a bit of an overachiever and a major workaholic, so just about no matter how far I fell behind in terms of everything I needed to get done, I just kept plugging away ceaselessly, at times spreading myself too way thin. Sure, I’d scaled back in some places (for example, I used to be active on several different online forums, yet these days I almost never post on forums, much as I wish I was able to), but in areas others things had only gotten more harried.

Aside from learning to cut myself more slack (a nearly foreign concept to my mind) and accepting that sometimes I have limitations due to my health, I’ve also realized that periodically I need to take breaks away from certain online activities so that I can put my energies into other ones instead.

This way, I hope, I will feel less like I’m trying to divide myself in ten, twenty, etc different directions at once and more like I can focus on the really key things that need my attention at a given moment the moment. To that extent, I’ve decided to take an immensely small blogging breaking for the next few days.

I cannot stress enough that I am not in any way stepping back from Chronically Vintage – just taking a teeny-tiny break. This blog is a joy and sanctuary for me, I love it (and all of you!) dearly, but want to ensure I’m able to give it my very best by not being crazily inundated by other online activities that I feel I need to tend to as well (for example, at the moment I’ve got a massive back load of emails I feel I must get through, especially those that are still outstanding from 2009).

Not only do I have a lot of overdue things to attend to on the computer, but also in my home and personal life, and I plan on getting some of those done over the coming week, too (however, I will try my best not to pull a “typical Jess” and overexert myself until I cause one or more of my conditions to flare-up). I’m going to tentatively take the coming week off from blogging. At this point in time, I’m planning to jump right back into writing new Chronically Vintage posts next Saturday (the 13th).

In the future, from time-to-time, when I start to feel heavily overwhelmed (by the volume of activities that I feel I’ve failed to keep up with at a level I’m happy with), I will grant myself permission to take small blogging breaks again. It might sound odd, but in nearly all facets of my life, I’ve really never learned how to “cut myself a break”. I hope that this week I will better learn how to do so.

Regarding how to approach keeping up my the wonderful comments that I receive and visiting your own splendid sites, I’m going to take the advice many of you offered to me and just do the best that I can, accepting that some days I may not be able to visit as many other blogs as I’d ideally like to. Instead of worrying about not being able to visit absolutely everyone (and seeing this as a failure), I will try to look at those I am to visit as an accomplishment in its own right.

Sincerely, with all of my heart, thank you very much to everyone who showered me with unparalleled kindness and understanding. Your friendship and support have helped me in so many ways! I feel that your comments paired with a pint sized blogging break (during which time I will try to catch-up on as many things as I reasonably can), will really prove to be just the ticket I need when it comes to finding a deeper sense of long-term online tranquility.

May peace, joy and inspiration be with you all in the coming week, sweetest friends!

Wonderful Wednesday Recipe: Welsh Rarebit

For as long as I have memories stretching back, cooking and the realm of gastronomy has been a beloved passion of mine. Raised by a mother who likewise adored the culinary arts, I began learning how to cook from a very early age and haven’t stopped since then (nor do I plan to ever cease!).

While I would consider myself a foodie, I’m not a “food snob”. I love a tasty, rustic homemade dish as much as I do one from a swanky, multi-stared restaurant. I believe strongly that one gets that most out of eating when they’re able to appreciate the beauty and diversity of foods from all walks of life, at all price points, and encompassing a myriad of styles and ingredients.

Though two of my medical conditions have lessened the number of foods I’m able to eat rather significantly for the past several years (and baring the discovery of cures for said conditions, likely will for the rest of my life), I’ve tried never to let this point dampen my love of cooking. Instead of bemoaning those ingredients that were suddenly missing from my plate, I looked at the situation as a challenge to be even more inventive with those foods that I did still have my disposal.

Any time I start longing to toss together a dish I can’t eat (for I love the act of preparing food perhaps even more than actually eating it – or at least I adore the two equally), I just make it for my husband or serve it to dinner guests. Cooking for others is something I enjoy so deeply, I actually dreamed of becoming a professional chef all through my childhood, though (for better or worse) certain events that unfolded in my life meant that this dream didn’t quite come to fruition. Nevertheless, I don’t lament too much over this point, I still get to be a chef for my little family everyday and that brings me a profound sense of joy.

Why, you may ask, am I telling you all this? The reason is that for quite some time now I’ve been thinking about how much I wanted to start sharing some of my most treasured recipes with my readers. Thusly, henceforth from today onwards, every Wednesday (when circumstances permit) I plan on sharing a “Weekly Recipe” from my own personal collection with all of you.

Some of the recipes will be ones I’ve devised myself, others stem from repertoires of my mother and other relatives, while others still are the creations of fellow homecooks and professionals akike that I’ve gleaned over the years and come to count favourites of my own. I will strive to feature a diverse group of dishes that veer towards being both economical (aka, white truffle and foie gras pâté is not likely to crop up any time soon) and easy to prepare (though I do realize that different people have different definitions of what constitutes “easy” when it comes to cooking).

Each week one recipe will get the limelight, paired with a photo of the finished dish (if I happen to have one of my own) or, far more commonly, with a vintage image that relates to the recipe in some way (for example, if the recipe was for spaghetti sauce, I might show a vintage ad for canned tomatoes).

I know that many of my readers are avid cooks and food lovers, too, and really hope that everyone enjoys this delightful new weekly post. If you’d ever like to request the recipe for a particular food, please feel free to email me or leave a comment letting me know what you’ve got a hankering to whip up, and if I have a tried and true recipe for such a dish, I would be honoured to share it with you. (If you happen to try any of the recipes featured on Chronically Vintage, I would truly love to hear your thoughts on them.)

So without any further ado, it’s time to slip on a lovely vintage apron and dish up this Wednesday’s recipe!


Welsh Rarebit
One of the most popular dishes of the early to mid-twentieth century (and certainly one that I’ve seen in a myriad of vintage cookbooks and ladies magazines) was Welsh rarebit (sometimes simply called “rarebit” or “rarebit cheese”), a hearty, homey, wonderfully simple dish that in both comforting and energizing at the same time.

Comprised of a zippy cheese sauce poured over relatively thick slices of bread, this dish is close cousin to both grilled cheese sandwiches and croque-monsieur. It pairs wonderfully with soups (such as roasted red pepper or minestrone), salads, fresh fruit (especially apples, pears and figs), and light fair such as grilled vegetables or chicken.


{This charming vintage illustration, from Eudamonius’ Flickr stream dictates that Welsh Rarebit should always be paired with toast. Good advice, but if you’re in the mood for something a little different, this tasty, versatile cheese sauce also works terrifically over English muffins, crackers, or as a fondue style dip.}


This particular recipe is one I’ve tweaked over the years, sometimes adding fresh herbs such as basil or chives, or jazzed up further with the inclusion of (rehydrated) sundried (or oven roasted) tomatoes or pitted and sliced black olives. Some people like to include a little ale or even hot sauce in their recipes, but I’ve not tried such versions myself.

I don’t know where the original recipe came from, but a handwritten version the basis of this one appears in the first recipe collection I began (in a coiled school notebook) as a youngster, so it may have come from either my mom or one of her cookbooks. Wherever it hails from, this rarebit recipe is a wonderful dish that can be thrown together in a matter of minutes, making it perfect for meals on the go or times when unexpected lunch or dinner gets drop by.


Ingredients

• 6 slices white or brown bread of choice, provided the bread you use is somewhat sturdy (I like varieties such as ciabatta, French, and sourdough – or a luxurious spin, you can even brioche, if you fancy), cut about ¾ of an inch (2cm) thick

• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (Gruyere is also nice, if you prefer)

• 1/2 cup milk (or, if you’re feeling indulgent, cream)

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter

• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp dry English mustard (such as Colman’s) or, alternatively, ½ tsp Hungarian paprika

• ¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional, best omitted if using paprika)

• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste


Directions

In a double boiler (or a heat resistant glass bowl over a saucepan partially filled with boiling water), first bring the water up to a boil and then reduce the heat (burner temperature) to medium. Melt the butter, add the flour and mustard (or paprika) and stir briskly for a few seconds to combine (thereby creating a pale roux).

Next gradually add the milk and Worcestershire sauce (if using), stirring as you add. Allow mixture to come to a gentle simmer (not a rolling boil) and thicken somewhat. Next add the shredded cheddar cheese, salt and pepper (now would also be the time to include ingredients such as herbs, if you were using them), stirring moderately until the cheese had melted and the sauce has thickened to a consistency reminiscent of hollandaise sauce.

Meanwhile as the cheese sauce is nearing completion, toast the six slices of bread. Once cheese sauce is ready and the bread is toasted, divide the toast between three plates (two slices per serving) and spoon (or ladle) the sauce equally over each portion of toast. Serve and enjoy immediately :)

Makes three servings (two slices of bread each), or however many you wish to divide up between the six slices of bread.

Bon appétit!

Pretty Link Roundup {September 21, 2009}

Happy Monday, my wonderful dears, how are you each on this last day of summer 2009? I for one am counting down the seconds until autumn – my most beloved of all seasons – begins. Mother Nature has taken a decidedly low-key approach to things here today, gentle rain cascades against the bustling highway that’s visible from our living room window, large grey clouds like bunny tails fill the sky as evening rolls in. There is a sense that summer gearing up to leave, packing its bags (bedecked, I like to imagine, with stickers from the scores of tropical destinations it’s so keen on spending time at) and putting its affairs in order before bowing out gracefully to fall.

I am excited not only about the upcoming season, but about the upcoming blog posts I plan to write that will be focused around autumn; the return of hearty, soul soothing comfort food dishes cooked for long hours, shorter hours of daylight (call me mad, if you wish, but I don’t mind having the sun set earlier in the day because it means that it stays dark later in the morning, something that I’ve always been a fan of), and the cozy joy of being able to wear more than a handkerchief’s worth of fabric without collapsing from the sweltering heat - amongst many other lovely elements of the golden season.



{With the return of autumn comes the grand beauty of falling, rusty jewel toned leaves. Should you have a tree filled yard at your house, such as the one in this vintage 1953 photo from Time Life, that means chances are you’ll soon be raking up piles of leaves to bag – or jump into, as you desire :D}


Tonight however, it’s time for the latest edition of Pretty Link Roundup. I often publish this post on the weekend, but sometimes, such as today, it appears on Monday or some other time of the week. I like to average a link roundup about once a week, but the exact day of its appearance is far from written in stone. For the key element is that such a post gives me a chance to share with you all some of the delightful, fascinating, and often beautiful links that have sprung up on my radar over the past few days. I sincerely hope that you enjoy today’s offerings!

♥ ♥ ♥


* Repurposed vintage suitcases: The ever-amazing Karyn of French Charming shares several of her favourite pretty – and hugely creative – ideas for repurposing vintage suitcases, from turning them into pet beds to crafting one into a medicine cabinet.


* Nine reasons why we need to overdress: While not expressly focused on vintage wear, this post from Style Margarine is sure to strike a chord with fashionistas near and far who enjoy dressing lavishly and/or with a distinct personal style.



* Shopping the Old East London Way: The charming blog Polly Farthing Vintage explores some of London’s best shopping districts from days gone by, with the help of collages composed of some absolutely wonderful vintage photos.


* Vintage Coats: 1950s: A swoon-worthy selection of images of fantastically elegant coats from the fifties fills this wonderful post from Couture Allure.


* We’re sharing the best ever Forties beauty secrets: Feel like your beauty routine is in a rut? Need some time-honoured tips on how to look your best? Just love reading about beauty related topics from the past? If you answered yes to any of those points, this advice packed post from Queens of Vintage is definitely for you!


* 8 Ways to Wear Clip on Earrings: While I’d venture to guess that the majority of earring wearers these days have pierced ears (not everyone does though, my beloved mother has never pierced her ears and has always enjoyed wearing clip on), in days gone by clip on earrings were fairly popular, too. While those with pierced ears can certainly still wear clip ons still, too, this article suggests several other creative uses for turning these charming pieces in fashionable accessories such as a rings and ponytail decorations.


* Is applying liquid eyeliner your biggest beauty frustration?: For those who like to incorporate cosmetics into their vintage looks, eye make-up is one of the best ways to instantly convey a 1940s or 50s look – especially if you employ the use of eyeliner (especially classic black liner atop the upper eyelid). Mastering how to apply liquid eyeliner can be tricky to though, but fortunately there’s no need to shy away from using this classic cosmetic, especially when you have handy how-to tips like the ones in this article from Little Miss Make-Up at your disposal.


* Fashion Sneakers: I’m not an avid wearer of sneakers (minus, of course, when exercising), but I do think that with certain casual and/or summer vintage looks, the right type of old fashion looking sneakers can be adorable. In this image based post Millie Motts shares a small handful of vintage ads for deck shoe style sneakers that I certainly wouldn’t mind wearing.


* Ladies Home Journal, 1940: A marvelous assortment of pages scanned from a 1940 copy of Ladies Home Journal fill this post. They’re an awesome look back at the year, including the influence at the time of Gone With The Wind, ladies fashions, and home decor.


* The Depression blues – hard times & helpful hints: A Stitch in Time peers back at the tremendously difficult times faced during the Great Depression and parallels some of the steps people took back then (to survive and make ends meet) to those being adopted by people feeling the economic crunch these days.


* Letters of Note: My darling husband brought this link to my attention, and I’m ever so glad he did as I’ve always been immensely fascinated with genuine examples of antique and vintage letters, notes, postcards, telegraphs and other similar forms of written correspondence, such as those highlighted within the pages of this site.


♥ ♥ ♥


Luxurious, captivating and gorgeous are three words that spring to mind whenever I zip over to the chic pages of Blonde and Red. Merging a deep adoration for Marilyn Monroe with a trove of high end, often wonderfully sparkly accessory, jewelry and fashion finds, all the while wearing a vintage vibe through everything, this image focused blog is akin to strolling down a street chocked full of high end streets and a vintage photo gallery.



This week’s Your Blog is an Inspiration award goes to Red and Blonde's terrific site. Thank you B&R for the glam, glittery fabulousness you fill your pages with. I always end up lusting after some treasure you’ve highlighted, and am entranced by the myriad of Marilyn images that showcase each week. Thank you for creating the beautiful blog that you do, it is a wonderful source of inspiration.

♥ ♥ ♥

A charming little fashion clip from 1955 featuring a group of glamorously lovely, superbly well dressed women showcasing popular handbag styles takes the video spotlight this week. Which style is your favourite? I’m a fan of the classic doctor’s bag look myself.

{Vintage Handbags: 1955 Newsreel}




♥ ♥ ♥

The cloud covered sun has gone to bed for the day since I began writing this post, but the gentle rain and the whirl of water splashing up from countless tires rumbling over the pavement many floors below are both wonderfully audible still. These evening hours are peaceful, lovely moments that seem like the perfect way to usher in fall’s joyful return, setting off the next season on a serene note which I hope will carry through for the remainder of the year.

Wishing you each a splendid week and autumn ahead!

Pretty Link Roundup {July 12th}

Happy Sunday, one and all! How are things in your neck of the woods? I hope that you’ve each had a fabulous weekend (and that the heat in your neck of the woods hasn’t been too unbearable!). Many happy goings-on have transpired here this week, thanks in large part to my 25th birthday on Friday. It proved to be a special, fun-filled day from sun-up until sun-down, and I really must thank my darling husband for everything he did to make this my best birthday in ages!


{Jubilant, colourful and sweetly wonderful, this photo from Simply Claudia on Flickr, perfectly captures the spirit of how my birthday felt this year.}

On the blog front there’s been no shortage of activity either! The links this weekend feature everything from what to look for when buying Lucite purses to photos of charmingly pretty old school belly dancers. Our Youtube clip of the week is a definite must-watch for those who love vintage Hawaaii looks, as it features instructions on how to achieve a terrific luau approved hairstyle. I hope you enjoy these fantastic links - I would love to hear about any other must-read posts you’ve encountered recently.

♥ ♥ ♥

* Sewing on a budget: Nine seriously handy tips to help keep your sewing costs down that any sewer or crafter is bound to appreciate.

* From Towel to Beach Coat in Five Easy Steps: A simple-as-pie vintage pattern and five quick steps is all it takes to transformed a pair of beach towels into a darling beach cover-up with loads of summer style appeal!

* Vintage Belly Dance: With a history stretching back to the days of Babylon, belly dancing is an ancient, beautiful art that still turns heads to this day! To see what belly dancers looked like in the mid-twentieth century, be sure to check out the lovely photos in this post.

* Five Tips Towards Glamorousness: A handful of easy, quick tips (like wearing lipstick and using an eyelash curler) that can help any gal feel even more glamorous.

* Get back to work Mama!: Fashionista extraordinaire Super Kawaii Mama shares her thoroughly useful tips, ideas and outfits (care of beautiful Polyvore sets) to help moms everywhere transition back into the work world while putting their their best fashion foot forward.

* A Guide to Vintage Lucite Purses: A lovely, detailed, well written article that explores the beauty of Lucite purses and guides fellow fans towards knowing what to look for when shopping for these handbag gems.

* Polka Dot Vintage Dresses: Couture Allure gathers up a marvelous assortment of dresses decked out in timelessly pretty polka dots. (Each one is a treasure, but the 1950s Jonathan Logan number really caught my eye!)

*
Street-style Stars Take a Lesson From Old Hollywood Elite: A fun side-by-side comparison of some modern day street fashion lovelies next to images of old school Hollywood stars with whom their outfits share a lot in common.

* Finding Ginger: Care of the terrific site Old Hollywood Glamour, I recently discovered a blog devoted entirely to the immortally gorgeous starlet Ginger Rogers. Be sure to stop by for fun facts about this talented actress and for oodles of great 30s, 40s, and 50s fashion inspiration.


This week’s video clip features the lovely Iris of All the girlie things as she takes viewers through a very thorough step-by-step tutorial on how to create an adorable vintage Hawaiian girl inspired hairstyle, that would be perfect for any luaus or other tropical get-togethers (or getaways) you might have on the horizon.

{Luau Hair Pinup Doll}




The highlight of this past week was definitely my birthday on Friday, but the joyful spirit that swirled throughout all of it really helped to establish summer on the right foot. I hope that each of you are encountering many reasons in your own lives to celebrate, and that your summer days will be filled with many vintage delights!

Five extremely helpful vintage related YouTube channels worth following

Over the last few weeks of spring I’ve probably watched more YouTube videos than I did in the past year combined. What spurred on my clip viewing frenzy, you might ask? A desire to better hone my vintage hair and make-up abilities. While I don’t feel like the novice that I did as the lone vintage wearing teenager in my high school, I have no problem admitting that I have more confidence in my “modern look” make-up and hair skills than my forties and fifties ones.

While I’m not sure if I’ll ever reach the level of mastery that some of the deeply talented ladies on YouTube (and within the vintage community as a whole) have, I definitely feel that through watching clips from the five channels below, I’ve both learned a lot and improved some of my skills.

I’ve highlighted one video from each stream and also linked to the video creators’ respective channels. Should, like myself, you be looking to improve, brush or beginning learn from scratch the secrets, tips and techniques of gorgeous vintage make-up and hair experts, I can’t recommend these channels highly enough!


{The vintage hair and make-up looks Casey produces in her extremely easy to follow, detailed videos are every inch as lovely as her vintage blog – which I also recommend you rush over and check out!}


{Sweet as a button and wonderfully skilled at reproducing classic hairstyles (and make-up looks) from everyday life and movies alike, Aya of Strawberry Koi is a huge vintage inspiration of mine.}


{A whiz at forties and fifties hairstyles, Ashley’s video stream (LisaFreemontStreet) is a treasure trove full of fantastic vintage hair styling tutorials.}


{With her beautiful voice and excellent instruction giving ability, Super Kawaii Momma is a joy to watch. Not only is she a masterful vintage blogger and dresser, but she’s an expert on achieving old school hairstyles.}


{Iris of the romantically titled ilovegerardo channel knows more than a little about hairstyles of kinds, but it’s her stellar series of Pinup tutorials that really have me hooked on her helpful videos!}


I want to take a moment and extend my heartfelt thanks to each of these five amazing women. You’ve each helped to boast my confidence on the beauty front and provided me with oodles of inspiration. I hope, dear readers, that they’ll be able to do the same thing for you!

Save the date: Value Village’s next half price sale is May 25th

Attention all thrift store lovers, vintage hunters and second hand clothing aficionados, Value Village is set to hold another one of their 'awesome as a basket of cuddly kittens' 50% off sales. In case you’ve never had the pleasure of attending one of these discount days before, the name really sales it all, but I’ll add some details.

Every few months Value Village (a Canadian, American and Australian – in the latter country VV is known as “Savers”) - chain holds a one day sale during which all merchandise (excluding any new items such as their Halloween decorations in the fall) are half off the regularly ticked price. There are no catches and no coupons required.


This time around the sale is being held on the 25th of May in Canada and the US, and on the 1st of June in Australia. The email from VV that I received informing me of this sale said that the doors would be open between 8am and 9pm for Canadian and US locations, though Australian hours were not specified, so if you live in the lovely land Down Under, you may wish to phone your nearest Savers and double check their hours on the day of the sale.

Having hit my fair share of these half off Value Village sales (and second hand stores/yard sales/auctions/consignment shops in general) over the years, I can offer the following advice to make your shopping – and treasure sourcing – trip a little more fun.


{Thrift store shopping trip checklist}

-Before you even leave the house, set a budget for yourself. Ok, if you’re fortunate enough to not have to worry much about money, you might be able to skip this step, but if you’re not, read on. While second hand shopping at Value Village often yields inexpensively priced pieces, even at 50% off enough $2, $5, and $8 items will snowball into a big total if you pile enough on them into your cart. Second hand shopping is a blast, but it shouldn’t compromise your ability to pay your rent or buy groceries! If for example you set a budget of $100, you could always opt to take only that much in cash and instruct anyone you’re shopping with not to lend you any more on top of that, should your budgeting will power begin to fade. Going this route will help keep post-shopping trip feelings of spending guilt at bay and get you excited about the next future thrifting trip, which hopefully you’ll have some funds for.

-Arrive as early as you possibly can. In the past I’ve arrived before the doors opened only to find that a queue had already formed before I got there. The sooner you’re through the door, the earlier you can start magpie-ing your way around the store, grabbing up all the good pieces before they become terribly picked over.

-(If you plan to try anything on – and even if you told yourself you were going to hunt for a lamp or crockpot, chances are you’ll be tempted by a sweater, dress or skirt or two) Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. My thrifting “uniform” is often a skirt or boot cut/wide legged pants, a cami or light weight shirt and a thin cardigan with flats or wedges. This combo of items allows for easy on and off dressing and also provides a good backdrop of practical items you might pair your potential second hand items with from your everyday wardrobe.

-Carry a good sized purse or tote bag with a bottle of water or other beverage of choice, handiwipes and/or hand sanitizer, Kleenexes, lip gloss/balm (maybe it’s just me, but I always find my lips get dry when I’m shopping for a long time), scotch tape (in case you want to do an impromptu hem job on an item before buying it – just make sure you remove the tape before you bring the item up to the check out), easy to munch (possibly while in the dressing room) snacks, a pair of average weight socks (if you’re not wearing any, in case you want to try on shoes/boots that would normally be worn with socks), your cell phone (you never know when you might spot something a friend might be interested in and will want to call them up and ask if they’d like you to grab it for them), and optionally a good sized reusable shopping bag/tote to haul your newly acquired purchases home in.

-Try to get a shopping cart. While I can’t speak for all VV locations, many of the ones I’ve visited have been dreadfully under stocked when it came to shopping carts (trolleys/buggies). You may have to wait around for a few minutes at the front of the store for someone else to finish shopping, but it’s worth it to have a cart to push around the store as you hunt down your fabulous finds (trust me, you’re arms will thank you for saving them from having to act as a closet rod while you make your way through each aisle).

-If you see something you even remotely think you’d like to try on and/or buy, grab it right away! On 50% sale days I’ve literally seen hundreds of shoppers show up, so chances are that with such a hefty sized crowd something you like might be gone in another half an hour. You want to focus on the fun you’re having, not kick yourself for the rest of the week because you didn’t nab that grey pleated wool skirt or cream tie neck blouse.

-Be thorough! If you’re looking for specific pieces (brown oxfords, chiffon tops, high waisted pants, etc) be prepared to spend time going through each possible rack/shelf that could have the item(s) you’re dreaming of finding. While it can seem a tad tedious at times, it could also be the extra step that unearths your prized item.

-Look beyond the obvious. While you might generally stick to the ladies (or guys, as the case may be) department, don’t forget about the rest of the store. If you’re on the petite side, juniors (both boys and girls) pieces may sometimes yield some surprisingly nice finds (vintage uniforms, naturally “shrunken” jackets, skinny belts, etc). The men’s section can have everything from vests to hats that might appeal to your fashion tastes. And lastly don’t skip past the lingerie and uniform sections, you never know if a great vintage slip or pencil skirt that once belonged to an airline hostess or nurse is hiding amongst the racks just waiting for you to take it home.

-Read between the lines and look at the hidden potential of a garment. While you might not consider buying a $100 maxi dress at the mall and cutting off seven inches at the bottom, a $3 second hand dress might be worth having tailored or altering yourself.

-Have fun! Granted you may be on a mission to seek out certain pieces, that doesn't mean you have to act like it's a full out military campaign ;) Fifty percent off second hand clothing sales do not pop up every day, which is all the more reason to enjoy them to their fullest potential when they do.

Best of luck to those who attends the Value Village sale on May 25th! I hope that you’re all able to return home with a bag full of fantastic finds and plenty of “new” duds to fill your summer wardrobe with.

Happy thrifting, everyone!