Think big, dream big for 2016

Today, at the stroke of 12 am, a new year was born. Was it a struggled labour, a tedious birth? Or did it bound into sight with the playful enthusiasm of a six week old puppy? Chances are, it was a bit of both. Now it sits before us in all its ripe and regal splendor - 365 days to make our own, to celebrate or cry over, dress up or downplay. Life is rarely black and white and newborn year even less so.

It is at once fragile and strong, laden with more lofty promises than a presidential candidate and prone to never quite pan out how we'd hoped or imagine. Sometimes that's great, others not so much, but ultimately, so long as we're here to greet the next one, it's all good.

In fact, life itself is good and great, grand and amazing and the rebirth of the year helps us to remember that, even in the middle of the bleakest season (on this side of the equator). I've talked here before about how I don't generally make new year's goals and that hasn't changed. I set goals anytime I want to and don't wait for a specific date to do so on. I find my success rate much higher this way and also love that it continually gives me the ability to grow and better myself throughout the year.

{Festive 1940s vintage New Year's illustration image source.}

I fully understand the desire to make goals now though and have no qualms with the general doing of such. It's important, no matter our age or where we're at in our lives right now, to take a while and access them periodically. To ask what, in our heart of hearts, we truly want and how we might go about achieving such. The same ring trues for our blogs as well and as such, heading into 2016, I'm going to be making a few changes here and there to mine.

I don't (presently at least) mean a layout revamping, instead I'm speaking in terms of retiring certain ongoing post series that are no longer, by and large, big hits with my readers (and which, in some cases, don't fuel my own writing fires too much these days either), continuing to blog more and more "in the moment", and to share an even greater degree of what transpires in my daily life with all of you (in part through my YouTube videos). And as always, please don't hesitate to let me know anytime if there's more of certain topics you'd like to see covered here.

I may cut back my post frequency a touch as well, especially as my Etsy shop continues to grow and flourish all the more, as well as due to the fact that I simply do not take enough time away from my work and I don't want to risk burning out, if I can avoid it! In general though, you can expect a similar posting pace to that of recent years (or so I hope!).

One of the worst things that can happen to a person, or a blog, is for it them/it to become stagnant or overly predictable and I never want that to be the case for Chronically Vintage. So as we leap with both feet into 2016 - a year that I have a really good feeling about, I should mention - I plan to bring you scores of exciting new posts, while always staying true to myself and my blogging roots as well.

Change is not only good, it's great! But one certainly doesn't have to throw out the New Year's Eve baby with the proverbial bath water in order to grow, reach their goals, and succeed on front both lofty and little alike.

Here's to the hopes and dreams, each beautiful day, and every marvelous moment we'll share in 2016, my treasured friends. Let's think big, think vintage, and think fabulous every step of the way!

Flickr Favourites: December 27, 2015

{Gala Midnite Show New Year's Eve ~ Tom Simpson}



{A Very Happy New Year Scottie ~ The Vintage Traveler}



{Pine cones and branch on toy sledge ~ Tatyana Titova}



{Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz ~ Lucy_Fan}



{Sweet Bouquet ~ Bunches and Bits}



{Tree Hat ~ James Vaughn}



{USSR New Year ~ Katya}


{1955 ... scandal in choir! ~ James Vaughn}



{Cadê meu presente de natal? ~ http://bit.ly/1NEdc7O}


{1946 Mona Freeman ~ Amy Jeanne}

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

♥ ♥ ♥

The year is truly winding down, but the festive celebrations are still going strong and as such I didn't want to delve into anything to hard and heavy - or labour intensive on either of our sides - here today.

There is always a certain sort of beautiful bitter sweetness to the end of the year. Whether one adored or abhorred the twelve months that just passed, there's no denying that saying goodbye to a given year is always at least a little bit tough.

These months, so bracingly recent in our minds were our friends, while they lasted, and they got us through to this very moment. Some were likely better than others, and probably had their own respective highs and lows, but when all was said and done, there was a greatness to the sum of their parts, no matter what.

For me 2015 was a year dominated by a great deal of introspective thought. A lot of thinking not only about how I would like my life to be right now, but also in the coming years and beyond, and by often feeling like I was being productive, but in some parts of my life, in a way that was akin to spinning my wheels, without moving forward as much as I would have ideally liked.

Not in all areas of course, and on the Etsy shop (where everything is currently 30% off until January 4th) front in particular, I'm thrilled with the growth that took place there, from inventory numbers to sales figures to the diversity of antique and vintage products I've been able to offer my customers.

It was a year of some unexpected points - both good (Tony's exciting work trip to the States for the summer) and bad (my maternal grandma's cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery + treatment, for example), personal growth, and making certain firm decisions about how I want my blog, business, and life to hopefully continue to unfold. 

2015 wasn't the best year ever, but it certainly wasn't the worst ever either and, really, any time you can walk away from a given set of twelve months and say that, it's worth smiling extra big as the ball drops at midnight on January 1st.

That is exactly what I'll be doing come the big night next week. Blessing counted, my precious husband and pets by my side, and a really positive outlook on the coming year planted squarely in my mind as I do so.

Happiest New Year's wishes, everyone!

Time to start planning your vintage New Year's outfit!

{Gold and green, two of the holiday season's most iconic hues shine through brilliantly in this elegant handmade fabric headband, which can be dressed up or down to your heart's content (and is fab for keeping your hair out of your face during a night of partying). $10.00 from FlosCaeli.}




{Pearls and New Year's go together like canapés and champagne - in fact, I rather think that the gorgeous rose gold hued beads on this 23.5 inch long, c. 1940s hand knotted pearl necklace resemble the bubbles in a glass of that most iconic of New Year's libations. $24.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Ramp up your usual red lip this holiday season with a sparkly, New Year's Eve (or Christmas) party perfect gloss that is bound to dazzle, shine, and impress from sunset to sunrise! Ruby Slippers Lip Glitz lip gloss, $8.50 for a 0.42 ounce tube from Live Beautifully Body.}




{If you're a fan of geometrically inspired jewelry, metallic hues, or vintage lucite, than this seriously chic mid-century rose gold plastic bangle bracelet with matching rhinestones is for you. $24.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Turn every last head in the room when you enter wearing this sublimely beautiful 1940s inspired slinky, curve hugging gold lace strapless dress that positively exudes Old Hollywood glamour. Available in modern ladies sizes 6 to 14. $179.00 from Blue Velvet Vintage.}




{This has really got to be the most fantastically well suited novelty purse for New Year's Eve ever!!! No matter if you drink or not - and perhaps all the more so, if like me, you don't (because it finally gives you a chance to carry around champers all night! :D) - this structured champagne bottle fabric bag is for you. It's fun, quirky, and sure to start many a conversation all evening long. $66.33 from Aldo.}




{What better way to keep shine at bay having a stellar vintage compact (that you've refilled) at the ready. This gorgeous 1950s pearlescent white seed bead and sequins stunner not only looks like its covered in confetti, but it also reminds me of falling snowflakes, making it doubly well suited to the holiday season. $32.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{I wear opaque black tights frequently from September to April, but semi-sheer black tights or stockings are something I very rarely sport (no idea why!). I think that if I had this party perfect, vintage inspired sparkly seamed pair, that would change mighty quickly! Available in modern ladies sizes S/M and M/L. $20.00 from My Tights.}




{Ummm, can we please take a minute to savour how delicately fabulous these vintage-esque sparkly gold t-strap heels are? As if their gorgeous, King Midas approved hue and mix of textures wasn't enough, the price is so affordable, you might be tempted to get two pairs! Available in modern ladies sizes 5.5 to 8.5 (as well as in various other equally marvelous colors). $32.59 from Amazon.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Each year, very nearly without fail, the work and energy involved with Christmas and the weeks leading up to it do such a number on my health, that by the time the last endearingly lovely day of the year comes along, I'm bedridden with flare-ups and genuinely crippling pain from various conditions and am lucky to be awake at all when the ball drops. I miss the annual local fireworks show at midnight down at the beach, I miss the festive feast, and I miss out on celebrating it with family and loved ones (aside, some years, from Tony, who will often very sweetly stay home or return home early to be with me - he's such an angel!).

Not this year! No siree, no way, no how. Okay, maybe not. As I've talked about at length in past posts (such as this 2013 edition of Saturday Snapshots), planning things in advance and juggling a plethora of severe chronic illnesses do not usually go hand-in-hand in the slightest. There are steps I can take, such as scaling back my usual holiday season workload, that can help a bit, but until a given date arrives (and even then - things can literally change on the health front for me at any moment of the day), I never know for sure what it will hold in store for me.

Perpetual (realistic) optimist that I am however, I like to dream big and hope for the best, while doing everything to facilitate my goals and the last one for this year is, fittingly, to celebrate on December 31st. As such, with little more than half a month left to go, I thought I'd share some of the delightful vintage and vintage appropriate offerings that have been fueling my creative fires when it comes to what I might wear for this special night.

New Year's is a really a go big or go home kind of event. Now is definitely the time to bust out the sequins, lame, sparkles, evening gowns, dramatic hats, bold makeup, fabulous updos, oodles of glittering jewelry and anything else shimmering, bright, OTT or otherwise awesome that your heart desires. It isn't a necessity of course, but it is a ton of fun and as there are usually so few other days in the year when we get to celebrate like this, very much including with our ensembles, so why not make the most of this super festive year end celebration, kick up your (rhinestone encrusted) heels, and party like it's 1949! :D

I can't promise that I'll be able to do the same, but I'll be trying my hardest to make that happen. Wish me luck - I'll be wishing all of you an endlessly happy New Year's celebration!