LesJouJou

Hmm....

2011-03-21T19:46:00.002-04:00

Well, it has been over a year since I've posted here. Work and things have really just gotten away from me. You might have noticed that the Etsy shop has fallen by the wayside as well. Same excuse/no excuse. This blog is dead completely. It will still be here and I'm not going to say that I will never come back to it, but you won't find me here everyday.

If you are looking for that kind of thing, check out my new tumblr. My sister peer pressured me into doing it. I blame her. It won't be the same thing as here, more just cool things I like online, but if you are interested you can find it here:

http://lesjoujou.tumblr.com/

Thanks to everyone who came to visit me here. I feel bad for doing a good bye-ish post over a year after I stopped posting, but what can you do?

Recovering Some Chairs

2010-02-21T23:29:00.005-05:00

As much as I really need to design some of my own fabric, I knew if I waited around to do that I might never print up some Spoonflower fabric for myself. So, I headed to the marketplace and found a print that I loved to recover my dining room chairs.

Here's my dining room. The chairs aren't bad, but I knew they could be awesome with new fabric.

I choose decoflowers by holli_zollinger in the upholstery weight cotton twill. She's got some other awesome designs for sale and a cool blog and Etsy shop as well.

Of course, Roland had to come jump all over my fabric and see what I was up to. Nothing happens without his thorough inspection.

Yay for ironing! (sarcasm). I am so horrible at ironing, but I found it was easier to iron fabric than clothing.

I didn't have a staple gun or make full covers for these, so if you turned the chairs over you'd see that they are put together all kinds of weird, but I'm okay with that.

Looking at my dining room now, makes me so happy! No more crappy brown suede from KMart. Next up on Spoonflower projects are some cool curtains to rid myself of the nasty plastic blinds.

This has nothing to do with recovering chairs, but just as I was about to connect my camera to my computer to upload the photos, I heard this weird scratching. I didn't think it could be what I thought it might be, but it was:

That big wall was too much for Roland to bear and he had to finally investigate. Of course, it didn't really go as planned, I'm sure, since he was trapped and in a horribly slick place. (He won't even venture into the kitchen because of the tile.) Before rescuing him, I had to snap a picture or two.

On my mind

2010-01-23T14:51:00.003-05:00

a lacy slip.

a crinoline.

short heeled...

brown shoes.

I'm actually seriously loving those shoes. Anyone have other suggestions for these items?

Fetching

2010-01-16T17:05:00.003-05:00

It's pretty freezing at work, like leaving your winter coat on and freezing fingers cold. It warms up later in the afternoon, but for several hours in the morning I'm afraid I'll loose one of my fingers cutting fabric and not even notice because they are so numb.

I decided quickly that I needed some fingerless gloves. I had a couple in my queue on Ravelry that I've been wanting to make, but I wanted something quick and a project that didn't involve me having to buy new yarn. So, I made Fetching from Knitty.

That blob down in the corner is Roland.

Yum. Fingers.

Now on Monday, hopefully my hands will say warmer! If you need a quick project or just have cold hands like me, I definitely recommend this pattern for it's super quickness and cuteness!

P.S. Oh yea! The other day was National Delurking Day. So, why don't you delurk now since I was awesome enough to miss it?

I love you, Ikea.

2010-01-10T15:58:00.007-05:00

I went to Ikea for the first time yesterday. It. Was. Amazing. There was so much to look at and I walked around the set up rooms twice before heading downstairs to pick stuff up. I wish I could have furnished my entire apartment with the stuff, but I had to settle for a couple pieces. The things I did get really, really helped to get rid of the clutter in my place. Before this stuff, the drawers, cabinets and counters in my kitchen were overflowing with kitchen stuff. There really just isn't enough room in there for everything. My kitchen table had become the place for everything including all papers, my computer, coats, scarfs, bags, and oh yea, Trent and I try to eat there every night, too. It was getting a little ridiculous. Amazingly, just a few things have really changed my apartment. Everything is a million times more neat and the space to put things has tripled.I moved my cookbooks from here and now I have an awesome espresso making section with my collection of syrups. That dijon mustard container is actually homemade vanilla. Tonight I whipped up a batch of pumpkin spice syrup from The Yellow Door Paperie. I haven't tried it in a drink yet, but I licked my fingers and it was really tasty! I might just have to go make a latte right now so I can try it.

Here's the cool floor lamp I found for just $14.99! I was worried it wouldn't shed much light, but it's great. Now I just have to keep Roland from ripping a hole in the paper. I've been correcting him all day trying to teach him that the new stuff is not his to chew through.

There's Trent sitting on the couch with the brand new awesomely hard to put together coffee table. We were feeling pretty full of our putting-Ikea-stuff-together-greatness after one piece and this second one didn't turn out as easily, but we got it to work.

This is my sadly neglected plant that my Mom bought me after my beta fish died. I don't care about it nearly as much as I should now that I have a bunny, but I thought of it when I was Ikea shopping and picked it up this adorable little pot.

My solution to my overcrowded drawers was this kitchen utensil holder with hooks thing. I was worried about how many things I actually had with holes in the handles, but I had quite a few.

The one thing I actually went to Ikea for was some kind of bookcase. My cookbooks have been sitting next to my sink since I moved in and I am slob when I do dishes and have ruined a couple of them from water damage. When I was at Ikea I had the bright idea to turn the bookshelf into a sort of hutch as well, so now it's holding my dishes and bowls freeing up two very needed shelves in my cabinets.

I really wanted to get an awesome coat hanger too, but sadly Ikea only had 2 versions to choose from and I wasn't really in love with either and really wasn't in love with the prices. I went for some hooks instead which are being very useful this very minute holding my coat, purse and tons of scarves by the door. I'm probably the last person to ever have the joy of going to Ikea, but if you haven't been, GO. No matter how far, it is worth it.

Back in the Swing of Things

2010-01-03T14:35:00.004-05:00

After only a week and a long weekend, I feel like my life is back on course. Working crazy retail hours all that time left me feeling like I had no time for anything. I had time to make dinner, watch a TV show (maybe) and hang out with Trent a bit.

Now, I've actually had time for a lot. I actually tried out my sewing machine yesterday! It was awesome. It took me about 5 minutes to figure out how to turn the thing on, but I think I made some progress. I'm to the point now where I would like to try to start sewing some straight lines on scrap fabric, but I'm having some issues. After just a few second of running the machine, a whole bunch of the top thread gets caught in the bobbin area. I have to take everything apart and cut fabric and thread to get it unjammed. I've tried a lot of different stuff and tried to research online, but I think it just comes down to me not understanding how to work the machine.

Things it could be:

Can you use any thread in a sewing machine? I had a spool I've used for fixing stuff by hand and I just stuck that on there. Maybe it's completely the wrong kind of thread?
The thread in the bobbin and the thread on top are different. I just found a bobbin of thread in there and decided to use that. Should they be the same thread?
The top thread is kind of loose hanging on the machine. Is it supposed to be tight? I think I put it on right. I followed the manual, but I haven't ever done it before. I tried messing with the tightening knob for the top thread, but it didn't help.
How tight should the foot be? I feel like I can't get the fabric through if it is more than 1, but I've messed around with that as well.
I've tried different settings for everything else as well, but I'm still not very sure what everything does.

Does anyone have any ideas what could be wrong? Or maybe some cool books for learning to sew? I'd like to find a hip sewing book like I found for knitting (Stitch N Bitch). I saw Sew U online. Has anyone heard good things about that book?

Nymph Tee being blocked

Also, I got some work done on my sweater! I blocked it and have sewn up the pieces. Now I just have to crochet some rev sc (which I have no idea how to do. Any good crochet videos or websites that can show me how to do that on a piece of knitting?). Right now it seems slightly big which is a little disappointing. Not so big that I can't wear it, but the head hole just seems a little to long. Not too bad for a first sweater though.

My New Job

2009-12-19T16:26:00.003-05:00

So, guess what?! I got a new job and it is amazing. I don't even know how to express how amazing it truly is. First of all, I no longer have to deal with Barnes & Noble, the stress, the retail-ness of it all, the 8 hours that feel like 12 hour shifts. Soon (only 3 days left!) I will have worked my last day there and I am ready for it.

Where is my new job? Spoonflower.com

You see? Amazing. I'm going to be working with the shipping and packaging portion of Spoonflower. I've already gone a couple days this past week and it was so much fun. Everyone who works there is awesome and being there doesn't even feel like work.

If you've never been to Spoonflower, you really need to check it out. You can design whatever you want on fabric or look through the marketplace for cool designs that other designers have made available for you to purchase. I love watching the printers to see what is coming out next and have already seen a crazy amount of fabric that I want. I think this job is going to make me start sewing!

Holiday Giving

2009-11-18T11:20:00.004-05:00

There is a holiday book drive going on right now at my place of employment. We all ask customers while they are checking out if they would like to buy a children's book to donate. Sometimes we get a book or two. Sometimes we get a no. And sometimes, we get a story. I used to think the stories were annoying, but now I see them as hilarious. Are these people trying to make up an excuse for why they aren't buying a book for a kid? Are they just trying to make similar conversation by bringing up where they have done some good?

Some responses to "Would you like to buy a book to donate to 'children's book fund' drive today?"

Actually, I'm donating with my book club to two different places and reading to them. You can donate books or little incentives to get them to want to read. These kids are just not doing well....
(Uh, huh...)

Well, I just served dinner to 170 homeless people.
(I barely see the connection here...)

No, but I'll take on of those books for another donation I need to buy for.
(Great, I guess.... but what?!)

Where's the kid's book I just bought?
(You donated it. It's in the donation box, not your bag.)

I hate children.
(No, joke. His wife hit him.)

No... Do I need to make a up story for why I'm not donating? Because I was going to tell you that I saved someone from the ocean.
(Favorite customer EVER!)

Email Forwards

2009-11-16T11:52:00.010-05:00

I was forwarded this email. These emails bother me. So, I wrote a response and thought I'd post it here.

Thought you might like to read this letter to the editor ~ ever notice how some people just seem to know how to write a letter?.

This one sure does!

This was written by a Canadian woman, but oh how it also applies to the

U.S., U.K. and Australia

THIS ONE PACKS A FIRM PUNCH

Here is a woman who should run for Prime Minister!

Written by a housewife in New Brunswick , to her local newspaper. This is one ticked off lady.

First of all, I distinctly remember reading this before and the person who wrote it was not Canadian the last time I read it. The next two paragraphs show that the person is American. Canadians do not think of Washington, D.C. as their capitol. This is not really a problem exactly, but more of a reason we should be put on guard about this letter.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?

There is a key word missing in this paragraph. That word is radical. Islamic people did not start a war. Islam and Christianity are similar in that they are both peaceful religions. Unfortunately there are people on both sides that use that religion for their own ends. The rest of this letter seems to extol, under the name of Christianity, that violence is okay because they did it to us first.

Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from the nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of

nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

Just a small sidenote, The word nirvana is defined as: the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness (in Hinduism and Buddhism). Islamic people do not believe in reincarnation.

I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens.

You should care a lot when freedom of speech is taken away.

John Milton, an English political writer from 1644, advanced a number of arguments in defence of freedom of speech: a nation's unity is created through blending individual differences rather than imposing homogeneity from above; that the ability to explore the fullest range of ideas on a given issue was essential to any learning process and truth cannot be arrived upon unless all points of view are first considered; and that by considering free thought, censorship acts to the detriment of material progress.

Noam Chomsky states that: "If you believe in freedom of speech, you believe in freedom of speech for views you don't like. Stalin and Hitler, for example, were dictators in favor of freedom of speech for views they liked only. If you're in favor of freedom of speech, that means you're in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise."

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech)

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:

I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:

I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and 'fed special food' that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts:

I don't care.

As I mentioned before, we cannot let the idea come into our heads that it is okay to return violence and disregard for religious choice, life, and culture because someone did it to us first. Unfortunately, Christians and Muslims have been fighting with each other since the Middle Ages. I would hope that since then, we could have learned something about the faith that we claim as our own, instead of doing the exact opposite of what it teaches.

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

—Matthew 5:38-42

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it,

I don't care!!

After everything else, the spelling of a book seems weak and I'm not even sure what the person is arguing against by bringing it up. Just to clarify, Koran is the English translation of the word, Quran is the modern Arabic spelling of the word, and Qu'ran (another spelling which you may have seen) is the ancient Arabic spelling of them word. (Just like with ancient and modern Greek or middle and modern English, there have been changes in the Arabic language throughout time.)

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends.? Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behaviour!

If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem.'

I have another quote that I would like to add, AND.......I hope you forward all this.

Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ

2. The Canadian Soldier.

3. The British Soldier.

4. The US Soldier, and

5. The Australian Soldier

One died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET ALL OF THEM..

AMEN!

GIVE THIS LADY A STANDING OVATION. SHE HAS INDEED TICKED ALL THE BOXES

By all means, pass this letter on, it is your right through the freedom of speech, but I would ask that you think about what you are sending on before spreading more hate.

A Good Day

2009-11-10T22:38:00.002-05:00

Today was a good day:

I had today off! and slept in until 10, stayed in bed until 10:45 reading (New book: The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance) and got up to blogs and coffee with a new favorite creamer: Chocolate Mint Truffle (I looked for Peppermint Mocha, Renee, and this was the closest I found. It's good, if anyone was wondering. Have I turned into a creamer girl?)
I got out of the house on my day off! It was only to the bank for quarters and the grocery store, but I didn't sit inside my pajamas all day.
Speaking of getting out of the house, I also took in my sewing machine to get oiled and adjusted. It's going to cost me $60 which I think is a bit much, but I really want to start sewing! I keep running across awesome crafters making awesome things and sharing awesome books. And I keep looking at things wishing I could hem them or take them in a bit. Even though I have no idea how to sew, I'm going to start teaching myself as soon as I get the machine back.
I got an email telling me about a French meetup at my favorite little shop: Toots and Magoo. I was nervous and went back and forth all day whether I wanted to go or not, but I went and it was great! I got to meet some new people and speak French. It's nice to know the language isn't completely gone from my head.
It's not today, but I realized that I'll be able to meet up with the Stitch N Bitch knitting group in the area this Thursday. Again, I'm nervous, but I'm going to go! It will be my first knitting group and I'm excited.
I found a pretty cool job at a library that I feel I'm pretty qualified for and I'm going to apply for it after tweaking my resume a bit to reflect...
A promotion at B&N! I've just started training for Head Cashier which is super exciting - more money + more responsibility. I really like working there and the people are awesome. Wish me luck with learning all this new stuff.
And after a kind of flop recipe earlier today, I made these pumpkin muffins to use up the rest of my pumpkin puree after my pumpkin pie I made for Halloween. I've only had a nibble on the side, but they are awesome! The only cupcake pan I had was an extra big one, which is kind of cool, because now I have 6 huge pumpkin muffins to eat for breakfast in the coming days. Yum! (Side note on how I made mine: I used white flour, left out the raisins and walnuts and used a cinnamon, ginger, allspice combination instead of the pumpkin spice.)

Etsy Vintage Day: Was It Not Obvious I Want To Live In the 50s?

2009-11-09T20:05:00.004-05:00

I've been back to searching Etsy vintage more and more lately. Trent seems to think it's boring to sort through hundreds of pages of vintage clothing searching for something gorgeous and insists that I look at some other website, any, please, but I can't help it. What if something amazing is just on that next page?

When I found these lovlies I was searching for specifically small + 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 (my beloved vintage periods). So, I apologize for the smallness of most of these finds, but we can just yearn for them together. Even though they might fit me, they won't be finding their way to my closet unfortunately.

1950s Chevron Sailor Collar Dress

Seriously? This dress is taunting me. If I saw this fabric somewhere I wouldn't like it. I might even call it ugly, but every detail of this dress comes together into something that I wish was sitting in my closet.

1950s Sheer Grapefruit Party Dress

Light, airy, perfect. This dress reminds of cotton candy and 1950s high school dances.

1950s Style Dress

Even if the last two are awesome, this dress is perfect for everyday. Adorable little details, but simple enough to get away with.

1950s Cocktail Party Dress

Thrush is one of my favorite Etsy vintage shops. Every once in awhile she finds something completely awesome and this is one of those.

1950s Jackie-O Cardigan

I'm in a sweater mood. I want to be bundled up in as many adorable sweaters I can find and I just love this little cardigan.

Fancy Dancey Stiff Petticoat

The blue bust kind of looks like an alien come to take over fall, but this is an awesome petticoat. I really need one of these for two of the dresses I own. It would really take the dresses to the next level.

1950s Bleu Fete Linen Dress

This dress feels a little prudish and could use some sprucing up, but at the same time all those little bows are so perfect with starched white collar.

Books!

2009-10-30T10:09:00.005-04:00

I have rediscovered a long lost love of my life: books. When I was younger I would read all the time. The first real book I ever remember reading was Charlotte's Web. The first real book that I remember really loving and reading more than once (I hardly ever read books more than once) was Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird which I read in the 9th grade with the best English teacher I ever had. When I was still too little to read them, my grandmother bought me the entire set of Anne of Green Gables. I tried multiple times to start them, always having to stop because I had to look up too many words. When I was finally old enough to understand them, I loved every second of every book and fell in love with Anne and Gilbert.

In high school I started writing down in a list form the books I read during the school year and during the summer. Surprisingly at the end of each segment of the year, I had read about the same amount of books, 30 in the summer and 30 during the school year. Obviously all that school work slowed me down, but I still had time for pleasure reading. When Trent and I first met and I told him that I usually read 30 books in the summer, he was amazed. (I just did the math and that's 2.5 books a week.) I was shocked again when taking a Reading for Pleasure class in college and most of the girls said they read 2 or 3 books usually in the summer, none during the school year.

I understood their dilemma during the school year, though. For four years, I hardly read at all, other than school stuff. For each of my college years (other than when I was in France and gobbled up all the English books left in my room and all the English classics I found at the university library) I read about 2 or 3 books for pleasure. My major was huge into books and that's where all my time went. When you have to read over 100 pages each night in dense stuff, you don't really want to pick up a book, no matter how light, after you finish. I loved all the stuff I read for class and will never get rid of those books, but homework is homework.

Now that I'm done and started working at Barnes & Noble where books stare at me all day everyday, daring to be opened, browsed through, and remembered for later, I have again discovered my endless appetite for books. When I was younger I didn't like to start more than one book at once, but now I have lots of different books going for different moods and different places. I'm carrying around The Decameron in my purse for breaks at work. In class we only read selected stories, so it's fun to read them all in order. I also have Runemarks by Joanne Harris laying around waiting to be finished from when I started it last year. Another one laying around is a 1960s copy of William Shakespeare's Four Comedies that I couldn't part with when I sold all my books (I'm currently on A Midsummer Night's Dream.)

And finally, there are the books that I keep by my nightstand for right before I go to bed. These are the ones I think of as my current books. The others are there, but this is the one I pick up if I want to read. I recently finished The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett. I saw it at Barnes & Noble, read the sleeve and thought it looked good. It was very good. A True Crime story about a man who stole rare books. It was really cool to learn about the ins and outs of the rare book world especially in the context of people that steal them. Before this last one, I read Heather Armstrong (dooce) 's It Sucked and Then I Cried and Chelsea Handler's Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. Both were awesomely funny and I loved them because they made me laugh out loud which is hard to do with a book.

If you hadn't noticed, I'm really excited again for books. For four years, I read because I had to and it was interesting and they were still books, but it wasn't choice. Now, I get to read because I want to again and there are so many books that I want to read; it's sad to think I'll never even hear of all the ones I'd be interested in, let alone get around to reading them all. But, I can try.

So, tell me. What are you reading? What are your favorite books? What have you recently fallen in love with? What would you recommend I read?

Some Good and Some Bad Coffee News

2009-10-29T11:23:00.004-04:00

If you've been following me on Twitter, you may have noticed I've been lamenting the fact that I don't yet own an espresso machine. I've asked for one for Christmas, but two months is a long way away. After falling in love with espresso drinks and my discount at Barnes & Noble Cafe, I've come to dislike the taste of brewed coffee. I bought some Torani Caramel syrup in the hopes of recreating the taste, but every time I made some with it, it was gross. So, I'm going to save that syrup for the espresso machine. Coffee + Caramel syrup = Bad.

Sidenote: I think my main problem with brewed coffee is that I can taste the water. Even if the coffee is super strong, which I don't like and try to downplay with sugar and cream, the water comes through, and I would rather have hot milk in it's place. I even like milk in my tea. I'm just more of a milk kind of person, which is actually weird when I think about it because I am NOT a milk person at all. I will only drink a glass of cold milk when I eat chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and am dying from chocolate. That was a huge tangent.

Anyways, I was at the store the other day and passed by a special display of International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer.

And I kept on going. I'm not a flavored creamer person. My sister totally is and always had a bottle of Vanilla something in the fridge while I just wanted some half & half. But I was suffering from the horrors of brewed coffee as stated above and I love Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Sorry Lilu. So, I went back and picked it up, thinking that if it saved my brewed coffee until I got the espresso machine then it would be AWESOME. If not, then I had only tried and hadn't lost much. Well, let me tell you, it is AWESOME! While not exactly the same as the Starbucks taste, it is close enough and best of all it masks my hatred. I can actually drink coffee that I make at home. I am drinking it right now. Go out and get yourselves some, espresso machine-less people. Thank me later. Coffee + Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer = GOOD

The other day, Trent asked me if I could make a Frappuccino at home. He hates the hot espresso drinks and I will never understand what is wrong with him. Funny enough, I was actually thinking about trying to make one at home just the other day and had been meaning to Google it. Even with my cafe knowledge, this one wasn't easy to replicate without a recipe of some sort since we just use powders and jars of stuff to make the base. I had no idea where to start. Of course, Google came to the rescue and I found this. Trent and I made it the other night and my only complaint was that it was more watery than milkshake-y, which I think is my own fault. Next time, I'll try the other knife-like piece for my blender which I think might just be the milkshake one and hope it comes out better. Taste wise though, pretty close! There were lots of other recipes with all the same ingredients just slightly different amounts of each that I may play around with to see which is the closest, but really, this one was great. Frappuccino at home = Still in the testing stages, but it's looking GOOD.

While pursuing Whole Foods on my lunch break, I came across a stand with Nutella, food of the gods, on it. The thought passed my mind that I should add a spoonful of Nutella to coffee because it would probably taste good. And then I had, what I thought would be, the greatest coffee idea IN THE WORLD: Add Hazelnut syrup to a Mocha. I had just had my first Peppermint Mocha which I think tastes like Andes mints which are an ultimate favorite of mine. In my mind I was thinking, Nutella is made with chocolate and hazelnuts, this drink will taste like Nutella! I even thought about how I would revel my awesome discovery to the blog world. I think you can see how this story is going because, yea, not so much. It wasn't bad exactly, but it wasn't Nutella and really I wasn't that into it. I guess I'll just have to get a jar to put in my coffee or eat with a spoon. Really, I'll probably just eat it with a spoon, who am I kidding? Mocha + Hazelnut syrup = Not Nutella = BAD

Etsy Vintage Day - It's Been Awhile II

2009-10-26T11:52:00.005-04:00

I had the urge to look through Etsy's vintage today and when I realized it was Monday, I knew it was meant to be. I was surprised to find some favorites still for sale and would have gladly snatched them up if only they were my size. This collection vintage has no theme other than finding my current favorite items that were recently listed or from favorite sellers. It's also rekindled my want of clothing.

Sorry for the not-so-great camera phone picture. The dress hits right at the floor for me so it's perfect for moving around in and it's not very poofy, pretty straight exempt for the small amount from the empire waist.

I stopped by Time After Time, a vintage shop on Franklin Street to look for a dress for my Halloween costume (Catherine from Wuthering Heights). The dress is perfect, but I am a little worried about wearing it since I'm not exactly going to any cool Halloween parties. I'll be working all day and while I'm under the impression that Halloween costumes are cool for Barnes & Noble, I worry about wearing a full length gown. And then that night, going out to Franklin Street with everyone dressed to their sluttiest, I'll just stick out awesomely. I never feel like I fit in going out on Franklin Street anyway because of the way I dress which involves less boob and more 1950s comparatively to everyone else. Last year I was Heloise (from the Letters of Abelard and Heloise, pretty much I dressed up like a nun), so maybe I will stick out less this year?

The whole point of that story was to say after Halloween I'm going to head back to the two awesomely priced vintage stores on Franklin Street and try to find some fun things to add to my wardrobe. Everything in there now is a little too Halloween based to try to find clothes that I feel could be pulled off everyday. Anyway, enough rambling and on to my recent finds:

Red Wool Skating Pond Button Coat
$20

You cannot beat this price. I love having multiple coats to choose from because sometimes in the winter it's all of your outfit that anyone is going to see. I don't have a coat in this shape but I'm thinking I want one. Too bad this one isn't my size because a coat for $30 ($10 shipping) is a steal!

1930s Camel Tilt Top Hat
$52

What's a post without an awesome hat? After seeing this, I realized I should have thought up a costume for Halloween that would have allowed me to wear a jaunty little hat. Next year for sure!

50s White Cutout Floral Dress
$58

This is a relatively new shop with cute stuff from Hong Kong! There aren't any specs on this dress yet other than small, but I'm keeping my eye on it because I just love it.

80s Cherry Red Short Sleeved Secretary Blouse
$7

This whole shop is super cheap! This blouse would be such a great staple to have. I think I'm going to look for more blouses.

1970s Chocolate Brown Eyelet Top
$12

The other blouse is a staple, but this one is GORGEOUS. The detail is to die for and the price is awesome too. Why is nothing in my size!?

1980s Grey Suit Jacket
$35

I love having little jackets to throw on with a scarf when the fall weather shows up. I have a teal one from the Gap that I've had for a few years that I always start wearing around this time. I love how unique this jacket is with the cute pleating on the shoulders.

50s Olive Leather Martinique Bow Pumps
$42

All the shoes I fall in love with on Etsy are always without fail just one size too small. So close that I almost am convinced to just buy them and suffer through the pain only to have them sit in my closet after one use. These are so pretty and it hurts me that I can't have them. Awesome color, real little bows, and the perfect heel.

Quasi the Roadkill Squirrel PATTERN

2009-10-23T13:30:00.005-04:00

After what seemed like FOREVER, the test knitting is done and I am happy to announce that now you can make your own Quasi the Roadkill Squirrel! I am so grateful for my testers. Even though I thought that I'd gotten all the kinks out of my pattern writing with my first pattern, they caught some slip ups and now the pattern looks to be perfect.

I can't wait to see everyone's different variations. There are already some up on Ravelry on the pattern page. I really need to figure out how to sell on Ravelry as well. I guess that's my next project.

How To Build A Hay Rack

2009-10-04T11:49:00.006-04:00

Bunny. Yours may look different.

1. Procure a bunny. Without the bunny, the hay rack is kind of unnecessary unless you eat hay, which I would not recommend. I came about my bunny by kindly offering to watch the one that lives at Trent's house while he is in Alaska. Little does the bunny owner know, but they will not be getting the bunny back. To get the bunny to your house you might also have to take someone to the airport at 4:30 in the morning when the moon is still out and it looks like it's nighttime. It is all worth it to get the bunny.

2. After you have stolen a bunny, you will realize that hay gets everywhere and the hay holders are expensive. Expensive things are stupid. You will Google: How To Make Hay Holder Thingies and will find that The Dollar Store is your friend.

3. Get a shower. You are dirty. Why have you been sitting around for 3 hours on the internet? What do you have to show for it?!

4. Even though it has nothing to do with a hay rack, feed the bunny two baby carrots, then a grape. Enjoy adorable bunny-ness, as the bunny searches all over for more carrots and washes his face after eating the grape.

5. Go to The Dollar Store. Marvel at all the stuff they sell that isn't really for a dollar, but it is cheap. Find a rather large shelf thing, look all over store for one half the size, realize that it will probably work. Purchase shelf thing.

6. On the drive home, remember that the post you started as a how-to will not really be a how-to as there aren't any actual steps to building this particular hay rack.

Comment from Roland: "Get your hand out of my cage, bitch."

7. Remove bunny from cage. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP. Do not be confused or mislead by bunny cuteness. Bunnies are extremely territorial and will not be afraid to maim, disfigure, or eat entirely the hand that just an hour ago fed them a grape.

8. Feel as though you are the smartest person in the world, when the basket thing actually fits on the cage the way you thought it would. Feel like an idiot when you put hay on it and it falls through because the holes are kind of big.

HAY! HOLDER! THING!

9. Resort back to crafty-ness and tape a piece of brown paper bag to the bottom. Don't try to use a stapler because that would make you even more of an idiot. Watch bunny try to crawl up wall and wonder why he does that. There is nothing up there, I promise, just more wall.

10. Put the rest of the hay in the new hay holder and think that maybe if it wasn't the end of the bag and the hay wasn't just tiny pieces of hay nothing-ness, maybe it would work better.

11. Let bunny use new hay rack and marvel at the cuteness.

Some Thoughts About Working Retail

2009-09-29T17:09:00.003-04:00

Your signature is unrecognizable on the electronic machine, so stop trying in painstaking detail to make it so perfect; a squiggly line will do.

When I say "bye" instead of "have a nice day", that means I thought you were an asshole.

It's kind of sad when you return things you've used to death. Nothing is meant to last forever.

When you hand me only change for a $3 total and get mad when I miss count it the first time, I'll think you're a bitch.

Don't just give me your phone number super fast without me even asking... I need to get to a certain screen. I'm not a magical 10 digit number rememberer and the computer is not a magical phone number taker.

Don't yell at me when you are angry at how the company does something. I'm a cashier. What do you think I can do about it?

See the light above the register? That means I can check you out there. I'm working on something else at the register I'm standing at.

That return? Yea, I can do that for you here at the register. You don't need customer service. Don't act so snotty as if you know whether or not I can help you.

See that big wall that is a quarter of the store with all those things you are asking for hanging on it? Also, those really big words that spell out what you are looking for? Yea, it's over there.

That's a nice license. I didn't ask for it. I don't care.

Pushing your trash towards me will not make me throw it away. Use your words.

I promise I won't steal your card or write down or magically remember all the numbers. But I do need to see it if you want pay!

People write checks.... Really?!

Where is that really obscure, really specific thing we might or might not carry in this huge store? I have no clue.

When I ask for your phone number, tell me your area code. This is a national store. I need it.

Please don't laugh in my face when I tell you about a survey where you might win money. It's kind of mean.

I judge you when you take a bag for one item. Especially you, sir, who wanted two bags, one for each small item.

I'm sorry you can't hear me and make me repeat everything I ask. Maybe you should look into hearing aids. Everyone else can hear me fine.

I don't mind swiping credit cards for people because I need to see the card, but handing me debit cards is kind of ridiculous. Do you want to tell me your pin so I can type that in for you too?

Get off your phone. I am a person, not a machine and I do actually need your attention.

Oh really? You'll buy a million cork boards if you win the survey money? What an original joke! Also, I doubt it.

How about a little respect? You don't know who I am, how long I've worked here or why I am working here. Just because you do not work retail does not mean you are better than me or that I am an idiot. I'm a person. I have a college degree. I could care less about kissing your ass, helping you out, or being nice to you when you can't treat me like a human being.

Inspired by BelleRenee's post on The Types of People Who Drive Your Barista Bonkers.

Recipes: What I've Been Eating

2009-09-28T10:31:00.001-04:00

As close to a French table setting as I'll get here, except for the ketchup,
but Trent loves the stuff. I'm more of a mustard girl.

I've found some pretty good recipes over the past couple weeks. Usually I start cooking around 7 PM after I get home from work, so my main goal is something good, but fast. I love food too much to just eat whatever I have laying around for dinner, but I am not going to slave in the kitchen for over an hour when I'm starving and have been working all day. Here are some quick but so delicious recipes that I'm pretty sure they are going to become ones I make over and over again.

Green Beans with Andouille Sausage and Croutons
The original recipe called for asparagus and chorizo, but some of the comments mentioned how green beans might work well and I had some Andouille sausage that my aunt got me (along with 3 awesome cheeses and some dry sausage from a gourmet food website). Fresh green beans were on sale for .99 a pound so I grabbed a half a pound and a can of Great Northern beans. I would suggest if you are going to use canned beans to pour them in a strainer and rinse them and dry them. Even though I poured out the excess liquid, there was still way too much and it made the croutons a little soggy. But, even with that mistake, this was still an awesome meal! The sausage flavored everything so well and it was super quick. Best part, I'm pretty sure I paid $1.50 for the entire meal which fed me, Trent, and there was enough leftovers for my lunch the next day!

Exchange Gang Pasta with Shrimp
I'm much more of a cheese sauce kind of person when it comes to pasta and I love when I can find a simple one that works this well. I love that it uses half and half as well, instead of heavy cream because I am much more likely to have that hanging around because I put it in my coffee. I think you could really just throw in whatever vegetables you have and easy substitute chicken for the shrimp!

Steak-Frites
This was a really great meal for me because everything was so French I was in heaven! Trent picked up these great steaks from the store and to tell you the truth, I'm a little afraid of pieces of red meat. I'm not great at grilling and the first time I cooked in my kitchen here I started a fire in the broiler (not sure if I'm going to be using that much anymore). This recipe was so easy and worked out perfectly though that I don't think I'll ever be cooking steak any other way. Instead of the pepper, I just rubbed some steak seasoning I had on hand. The pea recipe was really good too and simple.

Browned Butter Broccoli with Almonds
I think this could be done with a lot of different vegetables, but it was so perfect with the broccoli. Who knew that browned butter could be that good? I just did the garlic salt, pepper, butter, and chicken stock in place of the wine.

Whole/Course Grain Mustard (or Ancienne as they call it in France)
and little French pickles called cornichons - two of my absolute favorite things.

I don't want to be bossy, but you pretty much need to go and make these recipes because you will absolutely not be sorry. They are heavenly.

Vintage Sewing Machine and Sweater Update

2009-09-25T10:22:00.004-04:00

Here's a little crafty update for you. I realized that I never took a picture of my awesome (free) vintage sewing machine! So, here it is with the cool table that it sits in.

The sewing machine was my uncle's mom's. It's from the late 50s early 60s, I think. Right now, it isn't working exactly. My uncle said that I need to get it oiled so that I don't break it because it hasn't been used in awhile. So, I need to find someone to do that. For right now, it's just sitting there looking pretty. I am a little scared of it, but I also really want to use it.

Remember that sweater I started awhile ago? Well, here's my progress on it so far:

I've finished the back panel and the front is on my needles now. It is a kind of boring pattern with all the stockinette, but I'm getting to a good part soon. If only I had more time to work on it.

Yesterday, I let myself have a craft day which was a lot of fun and really relaxing. I didn't get a lot accomplished, but I did make a Garry the Hedgehog and started on another Quasi the Roadkill Squirrel. Also, here's a little secret for something up and coming for the shop: I'm writing up the Quasi the Roadkill Squirrel pattern! I've gotten the basics of the pattern down, but that's only the first step. I'll need to head over to Ravelry and find some test knitters which I've learned from my first pattern can take awhile. I'll make the announcement here of course when it is all done!

Giveaway Winner!

2009-09-18T15:13:00.002-04:00

lin3arossa is the winner of the Garry the Hedgehog Pattern Giveaway! Yay! I've sent her the email with the pattern and I hope she enjoys it.

I'm hoping to write up some more patterns soon and to have another giveaway. What little guys from my shop would you like to have the pattern for?

Excuse?

2009-09-14T09:51:00.003-04:00

My life right now is standing all day and ringing people up. First of all, is there a reason I have to stand? I mean, standing for 9 hours in the same spot hurts your feet. A chair would be nice.

I don't want to complain because I need the job. I need to make money to pay bills, but at the same time, my brain and hands ache at the idleness. My brain isn't used at all and it would like to be used. My hands hate waiting around for something to do; it's the knitter in me. I'm a multi-tasker and this is brainless, boring work I'm doing. Hopefully I'll find a desk job soon where I can use my brain and sit in a chair.

I haven't had much time for knitting, the internet, or cooking (other than quick dinners). It's nice when I start a little later or get off a little earlier because if I get off and Trent is off work too, it's dinner and spending some time together and before you know it I'm falling asleep.

I need to knit toys for my Etsy shop. I need to make these granola bars (I've had the ingredients waiting around for five days). I need to apply to jobs that won't kill my feet.

So, if posting is a little sparse around here, please excuse me, I'm trying to squeeze in a lot of stuff in very few hours.

Hedgehog PATTERN Giveaway!

2009-09-10T00:07:00.006-04:00

Ok everyone, this is a slightly different giveaway. It's not a giveaway for everyone, just for knitters, but I promise to have an actual toy giveaway soon!

I've been wanting to have a giveaway ever since I moved to my new place, kind of like a welcoming present for all of you. So, if you knit, have ever thought about knitting, or have never thought about knitting, maybe you should enter this giveaway and win my Garry the Hedgehog Pattern.

The pattern comes as a PDF sent to your email address with lots of pictures, instructions and instructional pictures. All abbreviations are explained and it's a pretty easy pattern for a beginner in terms of knitting skills needed. If you are sick of making squares and rectangles, then this is the pattern for you. And you get something so cute out of it!

How To Enter:
Leave a comment telling me your favorite item from my Etsy shop. Don't forget to leave a way for me to contact you if you win (email address, blog, Etsy or Ravelry name, etc.).

You can also tweet a link to this contest on Twitter for an extra entry! Leave a comment with the link to your tweet and contact info.

Giveaway ends Thursday, September 17 at Midnight Eastern Time and winner will be chosen randomly.

Information regarding pattern:
Make a hedgehog for your friends and family as presents or for yourself! But, since I sell these little guys in my Etsy shop, lesjoujou.etsy.com, please do not make to sell. Also, do not sell the pattern or hand out free copies. You guys know the rules! If you would like to make them for a charity, please contact me through Etsy convo or at lesjoujou AT gmail DOT com and I’m sure permission will be granted.

Etsy Vintage Day - It's Been Awhile

2009-09-07T21:11:00.006-04:00

It's been quite awhile since I've done an Etsy Vintage Day post. Sorry! I've really neglected all my online places since I've been so busy with moving to North Carolina and then trying to find a job. Now that I have some kind of income (Barnes and Noble and Staples! I go in tomorrow to both to fill out paperwork and do orientation-like stuff.) I'm hoping to start posting items in my Etsy shop more and writing here a lot more too. I'm going to have to find some balance though juggling two part-time jobs, online stuff, real life stuff, and trying to find a job that is more me. Anyway, here's some vintage lovelies to get us all back into the swing of things.

60s 70s Blue Poly Print Dress

The color is so vibrant on this and the collar is precious.

Leather Sabrinas

These make me think of old fashioned Rocket Dogs for some reason. Anybody else? I love cute little flats and these are so unique.

The Patti Page Dress

I love this color! And the overall shape. Pretty much my jaw dropped when I saw it.

Cotton Grey Lavender and Soft Blue Striped Dress

I like stripes. They are fun. This dress seems extra fun. I kind of see it in that show Carnivale on HBO. I think it's the washed out color and that stripes remind me of the circus. I've only seen the first season of the show. Anyone seen more? Is it worth going on?

High Waisted Apron Skirt

I'm becoming more and more okay with high waisted skirts. It's only a matter of time before I like high waisted pants and shorts too, maybe not though. I love the pattern on this.

Saffron 1960s Scoopneck Dress

This dress reminds me of one that one of the Entourage wore at Renee's wedding, except hers was more peachy. This needs to be shortened to knee length, I think, but I'm sure you already knew I would say that.

Edit: This dress sold the minute I posted! Oh well, let's leave and wonder who gets to take home such a beauty.

1960s Tan Blouse Orange Accents on Buttons and Stitching

Another one of those jaw dropping moments. I really want this; if it fit me the way it fits the mannequin anyway. Free domestic shipping right now as well!

70s Long Romantic Dress

I actually don't want to hem this. It's gorgeous just the way it is. It also fits the model perfectly and I don't know why she didn't run off with it!

Hopefully more posting and Etsy shop updating coming in the near future!

A Couple GREAT Days

2009-09-03T16:31:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was my birthday and it was a super fun one! Trent and I went out to dinner at Shiki Sushi, a place we usually get a platter of sushi for dinner for both of us for $15. Thank God for our cheap sushi loving palates. The place is super nice though, and I thought we could go, get half the amount of sushi we usually get and maybe share an entree.

We got there and were staring at the menu for a very long time trying to decide what we wanted to get and trying to remember what other types of sushi we usually get other than Spicy Tuna, when I saw the Chinese Banquet for 2, price $30. The price didn't seem bad when you saw that it was a 5 course meal including, one appetizer, two soups, two salads, two entrees, and a dessert. Most of the entrees cost 12-18 dollars alone. It seemed like a great deal, so we went for it.

It was the most food I have EVER tried to eat in my entire life. They brought out almost everything at once (I don't think they understood the concept of courses) and there were about 13 plates on our tiny table. We got Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura, Hot and Sour Soup, and House Salads. All of that was really good. I'd never had an Asian soup other than Wonton Soup so I was happy for the waiter's recommendation. The House Salad had a great cooling affect which was awesome for when our entrees came out. I ordered General Tso's Chicken and Trent picked Panaeng Curry, both came with little bowls of white rice. I barely tasted my dinner or Trent's because I was already stuffed! I took almost all of my meal home. The only bowls/plates we successfully cleared were the appetizer and Trent's salad. I'm getting hungry just thinking about all this food and I ate the leftovers for lunch!

After dinner, I got to come home and open my presents! I got some pretty awesome ones too.

Trent picked me up a tennis racket (We both want to start playing regularly. I've never played, any tips?) and a knife set, per my request. His mom gave me this cute little Baby Knits Kit with yarn, needles, and lots of baby patterns. It's so cute!

bFlat sent me a huge package that had more and more goodies inside as I kept opening. She made me this adorable apron sans pattern! Way to go! And she got me this cool book and this print from The Black Apple, my absolute FAVORITE Etsy shop. I love my little girl so much and I'm so excited I finally own something from this shop. I can't wait to find a frame and hang her up in my crafty nook behind the couch.

My biggest present of all was my apartment, which you've already seen. I really can't get over how it's actually my own little space.

Last but not least, for the last couple of forevers, I've been applying for any job I could get my hands on so that I could have some kind of income coming in. I just heard back from Barnes and Noble today and I'm going to be a bookseller there! I'm excited because I love books and even though it's just a job to start me out, I think I'm going to have a lot of fun!

My New Home!

2009-08-31T15:08:00.003-04:00

For the past week, I've been running around everywhere getting everything settled at my place. I didn't think it would end up being this great. As I mentioned in my last post, I really didn't have anything other than a blow up mattress. Well, I have a lot more now and I am completely in love with it. It doesn't even feel like it's really my own place yet. It's only the first day though, I'm sure I'll get used to it!

More Pictures

I would normally put them in this post but after uploading them all afternoon to that space yesterday, I'm not really up for uploading them again. I've put some little notes under the pictures to explain how the place is set up and some of my awesome deals. Check out that vintage iron! Anyone know anything about it? It says: Model 16B McGraw Elec. Co. on the back.

The Time Has Almost Come

2009-08-21T15:54:00.003-04:00

Sorry for being MIA on the internet for the past week-ish. I've been busy getting everything ready for my big move down to North Carolina. I've finally found a place in Carrboro which is super close to Chapel Hill. Pictures will be coming soon as I am moving in on Monday!

What I could be sitting on for the next year - nothing

Only problem, I have NO furniture. I'll be sleeping on a twin blow up mattress. I will however have a fully stocked kitchen, including an upright Kitchen Aid mixer and a food processor. Hopefully I'll find some kind of source of income and I'll be able to stock the fridge with French cheese. I have my priorities.

I've been scouring Craigslist and checking out Target for cheap furniture. I've found a couple leads, but it's hard. Anybody know of great places to go or anyone selling furniture in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill?

Birthday?

2009-08-13T14:24:00.004-04:00

So, September 2nd is my birthday and I'm going to be 23. Yesterday, Trent asked me what I wanted. Um? I have no clue. Then I turned to my Etsy favorites and proceeded to send an email full of links to some adorable stuff. I thought I would share some of those favorites here (since I cheated everyone out of my usual weekly Etsy vintage finds).

Circular Knitting Needle Organizer - Red Lotus

I have all my DPNs in my DPN holder along with all my circular. It's a bit much, so I think this cute little circular needle organizer is exactly what I need.

iPod Armband (for jogging) in Amy Butler Pine Coriander

I love my iPod Classic. It's huge though, and I don't think any kind of knit thing I could make up would be firm enough for it to stay on my arm while working out. Maybe I would actually work out if I had this?

French ABC - Digital Art Print

I found this artist through a friend. Her artwork is adorable and this French alphabet print feeds my need for French things.

Green Tomato Dish Towel - Apron

I kind of want one of those full aprons, but I just love the construction of this.

Red and White Melamine Cake Stand/Dessert Platter

These things are so unnecessary but I really need one - for all those cakes I want to make! I found this seller through a giveaway they were having. I didn't win, but that's ok because these stands are super affordable.

Red Maze Small Gigi Purse

This is a total want. I don't need this at all, but come on! It's so gorgeous. I came across this seller when one of her similar bags was on the Front Page of Etsy. This is my favorite in her shop, but it was hard to choose just one.

Spoons I

I love this print and I want to hang it in my kitchen. That is all.

Salt and Pepper for One - New Font

Who doesn't want these? In France, my host family had a sea salt container with a little wooden spoon for sprinkling on frites (fries) and I think this is so much cuter than the containers we usually use.

What else should I want for my birthday?

That Other Website

2009-08-06T00:01:00.006-04:00

For the past four days I've been working like crazy with my aunt to make a family website. We finally finished earlier today and I'm so glad all the preliminary work is done. I mentioned before that there were 303 people at our family reunion (and not everyone showed up). We put in a "Phone Book" on the site which pretty much lists every person, their birthday, home and email addresses, and phone numbers. That is A LOT of typing, just in case you weren't aware.

I'm really proud of all the work we did and how well the website turned out. We created a couple pages including a forum, a place for photos, a market place (kind of like a family craigslist), information on the patriarch and matriarch (my great-grandparents) of the family, a page for the next reunion, and a help page for the computer illiterate. Whew! These last four days have pretty much been straight working on this website. Good thing I'm unemployed! Ha!

Here's my immediate family. In this picture we're missing six people.
My grandma (the one in the pink in the middle) is the 14th of 16 children.

Now's the time I give all of your the link to the website (it's a wiki actually, created with wetpaint.com) but unfortunately because of the Phone Book and all that personl information we've made it member invite only. So, none of you can fawn over my all my work and tell me how awesome I am. But, just take my word for it, it's pretty awesome. Also, I'm excited about being the administrator. I feel very official.

So, just close our eyes and imagine lots of black and white pictures, colorful background, and tons and tons of people. That's about it. I'm really excited about everyone starting to use it as I just sent out over a hundred invitations a few minutes ago. Did I mention I created a Google Analytics for it? Just another thing for me to stalk obsessively on the internet.

ETA: Oh yea! I wanted to mention after posting my rant about DSW I was contacted by a customer service representative who was nice enough to apologize for my experience and offer me some gift cards (!!). I was so touched that the company actually cared enough to contact one person and make sure they had the right kind of experience. Hopefully that one branch will get their act together and be as great as the rest of DSW!

Etsy Vintage Day - Deals for $20

2009-08-03T19:32:00.005-04:00

This past weekend I went to Ohio for a family reunion. My family is huge. My great-grandmother had 16 children and every year (most) everyone comes to Ohio for a potluck, chats, and kid's games for one Saturday in August. This year was the 50th reunion and there were even more people than ever, 303 to be exact. I pretty much only know a handful outside of my immediate aunts and uncles and their families. Even in our own side of the family, it was crazy to see how everyone has grown up, especially the little kids. None of them are babies anymore! Now that I'm back, I'm just relaxing until Renee's wedding this weekend. As an opposite of my OMG I Won the Lottery post, I thought I'd do a deals for $20 or under.

Simple Rust Colored Wrap Skirt
$11

I love this color and the little bow in the front. I can never have enough a-line skirts.

70s White Cotton Lace Trim and Insets Ethereal Slip Dress

$18

So airy and light. This is the perfect dress to catch those last hot days.

Teal Shift Dress
$12

I love a shift dress. You can just throw it on and not worry about how anything looks because it all looks cute.

Sweet Olive Pleated Skirt
$14

This color just pulled me in. I love it next to these other greens. The pleats are awesome too because I'm a complete girl and love to see my skirt fall ahead of me when I walk down stairs.

Sheer Pleated Square-Neck Dress
$16

In my opinion, this is a fixer-upper. I think it has loads of potential with such a unique, vintage construction. I would get rid of the long sleeves, making them cute little short sleeves. With that one addition, I think this dress could be pulled out of frumpy.

Enzo Agiolini Yellow Sandals
$19

I'm not one usually for open toed like this, but I love the different strappiness of these shoes and I'm a sucker for cute flats.

60s 70s Halter Empire Waist Green Polka Dot Dress
$18

This is another dress that needs some alterations. While I think the fluttery sleeves are cute, they are connected to a weird jacket/back panel thing. Check out the other pictures. I think this dress would be adorable as a halter with a shorter hem.

Shop Update - Loads of Hedgehogs and a Puppy

2009-07-29T19:33:00.004-04:00

I kind of went on a hedgehog kick. I had a little bit of Noro Kureyon which wasn't really long enough to make anything out of, except 4 hedgehogs that is. So, here are my Noro Kureyon One of A Kind Hedgehogs:

Burgundy & Brown

Yellow & Brown

I've already sold two of the Noro Hedgehogs, here and here, so catch these while they last :) I loved knitting these up and seeing what colors they would end up with. Maybe I need to buy variegated yarn just for this!

Then, while sitting with bFlat at her garage sale last weekend, I knit up this little guy, 100% green cotton and brown. He reminds me of Elphaba from Wicked.

Lastly, I finally got around to making a Rugby the Mini Schnauzer for my shop. He already sold, but I've put another one up! He's super cute and I love how posable he is, just like Lexi. He has a big head and always has this little cocked head look that makes him super sweet.

Not-Etsy Vintage - THE Dress and DSW

2009-07-27T20:05:00.006-04:00

I've been meaning to put on my dress and take a picture and I finally did! So here it is the dress that started it all. I will be wearing it pretty soon - August 8th to be exact.

Everything's all fixed up on it. I removed the sheer top and now it's sleeveless, took in the sides, and found these cute shoes at DSW. Anybody know what's up with DSW? Every time I walk into that store, the people working there jump all over you. I don't want help from someone the minute I walk into the store. I don't mind someone saying hi and can I help you find anything. But leave it at that, please! I almost didn't even want to buy shoes from these people because of how pushy they are.

Lady: Hi, can I help you find anything?
Me: Nope, thanks.
Lady: Well, I just saw you shoot to one specific area and that usually means you want something.
Well, yes I want something, but I don't need you holding my hand while I find it. If I need you, I'll ask.
Me: I just want to look at the heels.
I don't know if you noticed, lady, but all your heels are on the right side of the store. I need to go there if I want to see them.

Five Minutes Later

Guy: Hey, are you finding everything alright?
My mom: We're fine. We don't really like to be bothered while we shop.
A little rude, but my mom doesn't mess around.
Guy: Well, we have a website.
DUDE! Did you just tell us to shop online if we don't want to be harrassed while browsing? You did not just say that! I don't want to talk to every single person working in the store in 10 minutes while I browse. Leave me alone.

Yea, I almost didn't want to buy them, but I did anyway. I'll definitely be thinking twice before going back.

I don't know if you've been blinded by my white, white skin yet, but if you are still alive please accept my sincerest apologies. I know the dress would look better with some kind of a tan, but I look better without cancer. Also, I don't ever go outside. I'm okay with my whiteness. It's not going anywhere.

ETA: I wanted to mention after posting my rant about DSW I was contacted by a customer service representative who was nice enough to apologize for my experience and offer me some gift cards (!!). I was so touched that the company actually cared enough to contact one person and make sure they had the right kind of experience. Hopefully that one branch will get their act together and be as great as the rest of DSW!

Dear Renee,

2009-07-24T10:05:00.003-04:00

So, you’re getting married! Yay! (That was corny – on my part, not yours for getting married, because that’s cool.) Your wedding is pretty much the highlight of my summer: awesome people, awesome bride, awesome everything. (I say awesome too much.) It’s making my summer, but it’s kind of making your life (woah, deep).

As part of your Entourage*, I just want to let you know that I am there for you on your day. (Joe’s day too of course, let’s not go all Bridezilla or anything. Have you ever seen that show? Those ladies are CRAZY. Also, this video is funny.) But seriously, I will take someone down for you. I may look little but I could do it. (Please don’t ask me to take someone down. I am actually very weak and was only putting up a front. I will do whatever wedding-y things need to be done though, so don’t be afraid to ask.)

I ask one thing of you though. Please don’t give me (and the rest of your family and Entourage) food poisoning the night before the wedding. I’ve only been in one other wedding and that was my experience. I threw up at Olive Garden while having drinks with some friends and so on for rest of the night. The bride’s little brother threw up in the aisle right before the wedding started. It was not pretty. (Too much? I’m sorry.) But seriously, if I get food poisoning again, I might feel that I am jinxed and it wasn’t that very tasty garlic chicken pizza (just thinking about it right now, no matter how delicious, makes me want to hurl). Participating in weddings might be forever ruined for me. I might never get married for fear of the dreaded food poisoning. Don’t ruin it, Renee. It’s all on you! (I kid. But, it was horrible, oh my god…)

This letter is pretty ramble-y. Let’s go over the main two points again, just in case, this was dreadfully boring and you skimmed to here. 1. I’m here for you. Let’s make this wedding AWESOME! (Not that it isn’t going to be already, I’m just here to make sure the AWESOME goes as planned.) 2. Please, dear Jesus, don’t give me food poisoning or I won’t be able to be there for you. Really, it’s in everyone’s favor.

Love,

Stephanie

*Renee is calling us her Entourage instead of wedding party because she is awesome. Not sure if you got that or not from my excessive use of the word or calling myself out for using it.

More about Renee's Virtual Bridal Shower here.

Embroidered Napkins with Bunnies! or How to Embroider for Beginners

2009-07-22T20:08:00.006-04:00

Remember when I asked you about embroidery patterns? Well, I searched my favorites and found Badbirds which posts free patterns once a month. Andrea also has an Etsy shop where she sells her other patterns and other goodies. I found this adorable bunny one and I decided that was it.

If you look closely, you can see the pencil that was transferred onto the napkin. I was trying to figure out how you're supposed to get the pattern wherever you want it, when I came across the easiest and best option for me. I tapped the print out backwards on a window and traced with pencil the design on the back. Turning the picture over onto the napkin, I used this stylus and traced the picture on the right side which put the graphite onto the napkin. I was pretty amazed it worked.

From there, I just did a simple split stitch following the traced picture. I watched this Threadbanger episode and recognized the Sublime Stitching patterns from when bFlat and I went to Renegade in Chicago earlier this year. I got pretty good at it and could finish one in about a half hour. I think I may have found a new craft!

I was going to do different patterns on every napkin, but I thought that might make them look a little too un-matchy. So I went with all the same bunny in different colors. Now, everyone (because I'll have so many people in my one bedroom apartment) will know their bunny color for when we eat dinner.

So, come on over for dinner and you can use my bunny napkins.

Etsy Vintage Day - OMG I Won the Lottery

2009-07-20T23:45:00.002-04:00

Not to get you all excited or anything, but I didn't win the lottery. That would be awesome, though, right? If I did, I'd totally buy all these really expensive Etsy vintage items.

$52
Perfect English Oxfords

I have a knock off black Target version of these, but aren't these so much better? I love the look of the leather. These aren't too expensive, but give me a break, there aren't too many expensive shoes on Etsy. Which, really, is a good thing. Think of this as starting out slow.

$52
1950s Cotton Striped Bathing Suit

Oh look, same price as the shoes, but again, not too many expensive bathing suits. I've posted some adorable reproduction vintage-y suits before, but this one is the real deal! The back is cute too.

$86
The Bettie Page Shoes

Perfect shape! They'd go with anything and I love the top of the toe detail. Too bad they're such a small size.

$135
Pink Dress 1960

I've been holding out on you guys. This dress was a possibility for the wedding that I didn't want to see bought even though the bust is too big, as is the price tag. But, I have two dresses now and I won't be buying anymore. So, please enjoy this beauty with me. Or, buy it. And send me a picture of you wearing it. Either one works.

$140
Louis Feraud Skirt

Gorgeous! The color is perfect and the description says the condition is too. I love a full skirt.

$225
1950s Emma Domb Champagne Lace Illusion Shelf Bust Cocktail Dress M

I love how this dress is all lace and how it would hug curves. I bet it's stunning on.

$1,200
1910s Antique Breathtaking Edwardian Titanic Fuchsia Pink Silk White Battenberg Lace Couture Wedding Evening Gown Dress

That is one long title and a huge price tag, but I won't even complain about it because do you see that dress? Truthfully, where would you even wear that? It's so glamorous, you might be overdressed wherever you wear it. But, if I won the lottery, I'd probably just lounge around the house in it. Because I could.

Bunny Stuffie Giveaway Winner

2009-07-19T13:18:00.004-04:00

This little guy is heading off to a new home! The giveaway winner is JJ who said "So cute! I love this little bunny...I also love the Annette the Owl - Hand Knit Toy!" I'll be sending him out Monday.

My packages being shipped to the post office have increased because I've put almost 200 of my books up on Half.com. Because I'm moving I can't take my awesome book collection of about 10 - 12 boxes with me. So, I cut it down to 2 to take, 3 boxes of kids book to keep here and the rest went up on Half.com. So, if you like books and want a deal check them out.

Upcycling Going On

2009-07-17T14:30:00.006-04:00

For awhile I was focused on knitting and lately I've been more interested in the upcycled side of my toys. If you haven't noticed, I've added a few new pieces to my shop:

This is Rudyard the Bear. After Camilla sold, I wanted to make another huggable person shaped toy and I wanted to also work with some corduroy. He's what I came up with.

While making Rudyard, my sister wanted in on the fun and she worked quite hard on her little kitten, Philbert. Lexi, for some reason, had decided that Philbert was hers. Well, she was wrong, no matter how much barking she did.

Last night while finishing up Season 1 of True Blood, I knit up a larger version of Garry the Hedgehog using that t-shirt yarn I made. He's pretty fun and I'm excited to make more t-shirt yarn. @EtsyPdestrian mentioned to me that maybe my scissors weren't sharp enough to make the fabric roll in on itself properly and she was right! The thought passed my mind when I started that the scissors I were using were kind of junky, so next time I'll get some nice new ones. The finished hedgehog turned out great though and the rolling fabric would only make the knitting easier and smoother.

Crafts! - Other than Knitting (Kind of)

2009-07-15T23:25:00.008-04:00

I've had 3 craft-y things on my mind that I've been wanting to do/try, for awhile now. Number one, I've been seeing yarn on Etsy and a video recently about making yarn out of t-shirts.The yarn always looks scrumptious and the video looked easy enough, so I wanted to try. It didn't take me long at all and here's my outcome:

(Please excuse the horrible pictures. Now I know why everyone says to take pictures in natural light in the early afternoon. I'm spoiled and was annoyed when Picasa couldn't make the pictures I just took at 11 PM in my bedroom with my overhead light look like the ones in my shop.)

Anyway, the yarn didn't work out exactly as I hoped. The lady in the video says it should curl into itself and mine is just not doing it. That's okay though. I knit a little bit up and liked how it looked so I think it will still work. I'll have to think up a toy I can knit with it that doesn't take too much yarn.

Number two, my dress for the wedding has been staring at me waiting for me to fix it. My mom didn't think I would be able to do it, but I cut the straps of the dress and slowly sewed tiny stitches all the way around the dress, being careful not to let the stitches show on the other side. It worked out great and as my sister says, it looks 27 times better. Next up for the dress is cuts down the sides to make it fit around my bust and a new ribbon. I'm going to figure that out tomorrow along with shoes. Any shoe suggestions? I need some kind of heel, but I'm at a loss for color.

In the dress department, I ran across this one that I'd had my eye on for awhile on Etsy but I just decided it was too much money for the work I'd have to do to it. While browsing around vintage dresses I was in shock when I saw that it was only $5. With shipping it came out to $11 and I couldn't even let myself think about it too long so I just got it. (Check out RaraeAves! She's having a huge moving sale.)

The ribbon hanging down from the bow is going to be cut along with a major hem job, probably around tea length. I'm hoping this one will at least fit perfectly since its more around my measurements than the other. Now that I think about it, bFlat and I were even considering cap sleeves for this. Maybe I could pull it off? says the non-sewer. Kind of like this:

Or maybe a like this tulip sleeve? (When did I learn the names for sleeves? I was sure about cap, but then I thought I was making up tulip and it actually brought up what I was looking for!)

So right now, it looks like I have 2 incomplete dresses for the wedding. I'm going to go with whatever one looks better when I'm done with it. Either way, now I have two!

My number three crafty thing is embroidering cool things on these blue cloth napkins I came across for cheap at a garage sale. I'm thinking a different something or other on each. I used to cross stitch as a kid, but I've never actually embroidered. I've seen some really cool designs online though and I'll have so search through my bookmarks for the ones I've been thinking about. Feel free to share any suggestions though!

Etsy Vintage Day - Bachelorette Party

2009-07-13T22:05:00.006-04:00

Renee's bachelorette party was this weekend. It was super fun and it was nice to see everyone again and have some girl time. I saw this green nightgown and knew the theme of one of the outfits.

I love the green of this nightgown and how it's sexy without being too slutty. Check out that cute pink corset too. I'm in love with the idea of a corset and this one is cute and cheap!

Super Cute Pink Vintage Corset
1920s Pink Silk Garters Adorned With Ribbon Flowers
Mad Men Double Chiffon Vintage 60s Green Nightgown Peignoir Set

I'm in love with this dress, completely knit with gorgeous lace, loose and swingy. If this was in my size I would snatch it up, especially because this shop is going out of business and it's super cheap! Pairing it with these cute heels and this darling necklace would be a knock out.

1970s Champagne Loose Knit Sweater Dress

1980s Gray Lavender Leather Strappy Pointy Toe Pumps
Dainty and Girlie Van Dell Pearl and Sterling Flower Silver Pendant and Chain

Renee mentioned last week that I could wear my hat to a horse race. So, I created my horse race outfit, with adorable hat and another of my guilty pleasures that would be awkward to wear out in public, little gloves.

Satin and Velvet Headpiece
Pink Tea Time Gloves... Oh So Proper
Brown Vintage Day Dress 1950

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Not-My-Pattern Giveaway - Bunny Stuffie

2009-07-11T11:44:00.005-04:00

Everybody, it's that time again! I was thinking the other day that I haven't had a giveaway in awhile and was itching to make a toy without thinking. So, here he is the Bunny Stuffie.

This awesome pattern is available here (last pattern on the page) in both kitty and bunny options. I, of course, could not pass up the bunny version. And here's the lovely lady's blog that came up with this great free pattern for us: Ysolda. She has other free patterns found on the same page as the stuffies as well as lots of other for purchase patterns and a book! She's pretty awesome. So, all you knitters, run over there and grab your needles and get started. It's an easy pattern and very quick!

For everyone else (knitters too though! I know I love to get hand knit things), you can enter to win this little bunny. Visit my shop and tell us all your favorite item. I've added lots of new ones since my last giveaway, so you might have a new favorite! Don't forget to leave a blog, Ravelry name, email address, or something in the post so that I can get in contact with you if you win.

Want an extra entry? Head over to Twitter and announce this giveaway with a link back. Mention you did this with a link to your tweet in another comment and you just entered twice!

Info about this little guy: He was made with 100% cotton yarn, stuffed with polyester stuffing and has an embroidered heart and embroidered sleepy eyes.

Oh yea, this giveaway is open until Saturday, July 18th, 11:59 PM EST. I'll announce the winner the next day!

Awards & Lexi the Yorkie

2009-07-08T12:53:00.002-04:00

I received this award from two Sarahs!: Sarah from Class and Coffee and Sarah from Koo and Poppet. They are both lovely. Thanks ladies!

I also have a new little puppy in my shop. My sister has been wanting me to create a Lexi toy and I kept putting it off because I couldn't just make her the same way I did Waldi and Mini. So, I sucked it up last night and created Lexi the Yorkie.

Lexi the Yorkie - Hand Knit Toy on Les JouJou

Etsy Vintage Day - Straw Hats and Orange Shoes

2009-07-06T17:16:00.007-04:00

I thought this time I'd match up some items into outfits. Why? Cause it's fun. And pretty. And that's what I'm going for here.

Beautiful Evening Dress 1940
Weave Straw and Feather Hat from Pudding
Double Cream D'Orsay Heels

Um, do you see this dress? Talk about GORGEOUS. It's so perfect and I love it. While looking for a hat for the last outfit, I came across this hat and thought it was so delicate! I wish that wearing little hats in public was required/socially acceptable. How about we all bring it back? Power in numbers.

Classic Slate Gray Skirt
1950s Stiletto Pumps Orange Petals 7-7.5
White Stripe Secretary Blouse

Shoes, look at those shoes. The little bows are so unique and while I'm not usually too keen on orange, this shade is delicious. I can never get enough of these shirts with the built in collar bows and will definitely have to get one someday.

Straw Sun Hat with Bow S
Derbyshire Afternoon Tea Dress

This is one of those dresses that just screams wear me everyday and those are my favorite kinds. I took one look at this dress and knew it needed a straw hat and I think this one with the black bow and large brim belongs with this dress.

Announcement!
I finally did it. I found the dress for Renee's wedding. And, not on Etsy either, but Ebay! I feel like I cheated, but I love it anyway. Here's a really crappy picture that the seller put up:

Ok, so as you can imagine, because of the crappy picture I couldn't really see the quality or condition of the dress. The seller described it as in good condition with a small discoloration on the front. Well, I got the dress and along with smelling like old people, it wasn't in the best of shape.

It's completely fixable however. The shear strap part has seen better days so I'm going to figure out how to fold it down and sew it into the bust part. It's do-able and now I just need to find a seamstress who will do it for realtively little money or brave the waters myself. It's also slightly big in the chest because it was described as a 34 and my little measly 32 thought I could make it work... umm... I'm going to stick with 32s from now on. I think it just needs to be taken in a tiny bit under the arms and it will be perfect. It's going to work! And once I get the work done on it, I'll post a picture. That might not be until the wedding though, so until then!

Handmade Highway and Pattern Sales

2009-07-03T13:24:00.007-04:00

The other night I came across a tweet from DanidoCrafty about a new handmade venture going on. It's called Handmade Highway and it's a way to promote your handmade shop by creating a billboard that

consists of 3 pictures from your site from your Etsy mini or a byhand.me spotlight, your name, your location, links to your shop(s), whether or not you're available for blog features, giveaway, wholesale, consigment, or custom work, and a link to your blog(s). Your shop that will be tagged and searchable on the blog. (Please click here to see an example.) After the highway gets moving in a month or so, you'll start seeing active promotions featuring Handmade Highway members.

I was lucky enough to jump on when registration was free (there was only an hour left and I made it!) Right now, you can register for $5, but because I'm already there, I can help you out and give you a discount of $3 off. I'm hoping this Handmade Highway hits off and I think good things are going to come from it. I have as many discounts as I can handout, so if you'd like to use it and you think your shop follows these guidelines:

--a least 5 items for sale
--quality pictures that engage the customer
--a good customer service reputation

Then send me an email or leave a comment with your shop link and I'll check it out. If I agree, I'll email you back with the discount key word. Hurry though! We only have until July 4th!

In other news, the lovely people over at Ravelry's Knitted Toys group helped me test knit my first pattern. I finished up all the editing yesterday and now it's listed in my shop! So, all you knitters out there, come on over and make a Garry the Hedgehog of your very own.

Also, there is a new Garry the Hedgehog and Waldi the Dachshund up made with my new yarn from KnitPicks. This yarn is soooo soft and now so are Garry and Waldi.

Have a Happy Fourth of July!

Yarn!

2009-07-01T17:50:00.004-04:00

I ordered yarn from KnitPicks a few days ago and it came today! Just in time too because I ran out of brown and black yesterday. It's so soft and I'm really happy with it. I can't wait to make up another Garry, Mini, and Waldi.

My mom, sister and I went to the mall today. We got some cute stuff including a birthday present for Trent! I really want to show you all what I got, but he might see it, so you'll all just have to wait until after July 12th or possibly even after that because I might have to wait until I see him to give him the present.

In other news:

All the Earth Fairies are up in the shop now including the complete set.
I found a buyer for my old computer. I'm meeting him tomorrow, so hopefully that will go well and I won't be killed by some scary Craigslist killer.
I'm still looking for stuff for Trent's birthday. Etsy lover that I am, I'd like to find something on there. Anybody know of any good guy stuff? I usually have a hard time finding stuff I think he'd like on Etsy. If you have any stuff you've bought or stuff you think is just cool, send me an email (lesjoujou AT gmail DOT com or DM on Twitter). We don't want Trent figuring out his present!

Etsy Vintage Day - Red, White, and Blue

2009-06-29T11:15:00.004-04:00

It's almost July 4th (Already? I can't believe it!) and you should hit those picnics and pool parties in vintage style. A little red, white, and blue in your wardrobe (although not all together! That's a little too matchy for my taste) is a fun way to celebrate.

1960s Red Print Sleeveless Dress Small

Great for the warm weather. I'm thinking a big floppy hat and a cool drink.

1970s Nautical Mini Skirt XS

I see this on a boat. I'm not good on boats, but skirts are my staple and I think this one could go with everything.

1960s Prepp Lacoste Dress S/M

So classic! I'm not really sure why no one has snatched up this dress yet.

White Icing Sleeveless Blouse

So perfectly white! This looks so breezy. It would be perfect in the hot sun with the little ruffles blowing in the breeze.

Linen Day Dress 1950

I haven't shown you this yet? The collar screams elfish to me and I think this could work for Christmas as well. Being made of linen, however, makes it perfect for summer. I love dresses that work for all the seasons.

Navy with Cherries Maillot

Confession: It's not really vintage. It's new and handmade. But! It's adorable vintage style, obviously. The more I look at this seller's swimsuits, the more I want one.

Navy Blue 40s Style 80s Class Day Dress Crochet Lace Trim

I'm not usually too keen on 80s clothes, not cute vintage if you ask me. But I love this 80s does 40s dress. Plus, the crochet lace is adorable; gotta support the fiber arts.

Check up at the top of the page! I've added in a link for easy access to all my Etsy Vintage Day posts. Most of the stuff has been purchased, but there are still some beauties waiting to be taken home. Remember, if you bought anything, take a picture! We want to see so we can live vicariously through you.

Edit: I snagged a Treasury and its a variation on this theme, featuring some of these and others. Check it out.

My New Glasses & Variations on Good Things

2009-06-26T15:23:00.003-04:00

Remember when I said I would show you my new glasses? Well, here they are. Please excuse the crazy face. No, I did not have a photo shoot in the mirror. But I did. And isn't it sad that this is the best one?

Kind of vintage-inspired small cat eyes. I love them, except they give me major headaches. I need to make time to have them refitted to my face. The girl who did it the first time was over eager to bend the heck out of the frames.

I've added a couple fun new things to the shop recently. Slight changes to already made patterns.

Garry the Hedgehog (Black)

Mini the Black and Tan Dachshund
(from my aunt's puppy)

I'm kind of in love with Mini. I wish you could see her in person. She might just be my favorite thing I've ever made.

Music! - Jessica Fichot

2009-06-25T17:44:00.004-04:00

When I came across Jessica Fichot on Aurgasm, I took one look at her (she's so cute!) and what she was labeled under (chanson française/folk pop) I knew I was going to love her. I clicked play and it was confirmed! She is awesome and all of you should know about her. Her album, Le Chemin, was realised April 2007 (! what? where have I been?) and I am going to have to get the whole thing.

I tried to find a good version of her stuff on YouTube, but it's all festivals and you can't hear her very well. So, please click here for her website and here for Aurguasm's post on her where there are full versions of a couple of her songs. Please? You will thank me!

Little Fiber Things

2009-06-24T13:20:00.004-04:00

I've been meaning to tell you about these two little fiber related events, but something else always came up first. First up, I dropped off my ice cream cone for the Toy Society. Here's the post about it. There's an awesome picture of where I left it. I hope someone emails them back that they found it! bFlat went back to the park we dropped it off at the next day, and it wasn't there. So, here's to hoping some little kid is enjoying it.

Next up, I won a giveaway of this adorable flower for puppy collars from BeanTownHandmade. Here's Lexi enjoying her brand new accessory.

The cuteness! It kills me.

Monkey Socks and Nymph Tee - Who comes up with these names?

2009-06-23T17:34:00.005-04:00

I've finished my Monkey Socks! I decided not to frog the too short sock (eek! Don't tell anyone.) But I'm pretty happy with them overall and I had fun finishing up the last one. I had been feeling kind of burnt out. I was looking at my Ravelry projects and they were all toys. I hadn't made anything for myself since my French Market Bag. It's not that I don't like toys, obviously, but my shop was making me feel that that's all I could knit. Let me tell you, it takes awhile to knit up this stuff, and it was leaving me with zero time for me knitting. So, I finished my socks...

And started this. My first sweater, the Nymph Tee! I'm really exited. It's a pretty easy one done flat with seaming and mostly stockinette stitch, not that I'm afraid of a pattern, but it's nice to be able to just knit without thinking about anything

Here's how far I am. I picked an acrylic/wool blend in this pretty rusty orange color. I'm pretty happy with it and the yarn drapes beautifully. I can't wait to try it on!

Etsy Vintage Day - Summer Love

2009-06-22T16:18:00.003-04:00

I've been job searching lately. I'm getting pretty desperate at this point as I haven't even had a call back. I'm trying to find a job in a different state over 12 hours away and I'm pretty sure that is hindering me getting calls. Should I just move down there now? Or wait until mid-August as I've planned? Anyone have any good sites for searching for jobs that I don't know about? Or dream jobs that I haven't thought of. As a liberal arts major, the hardest thing about searching for jobs is that I'm not even sure what I'm qualified for. Anybody want to find me a job? I'll move near you and be your best friend. Promise. How about we loose ourselves in these gorgeous vintage finds now...

1970s Vintage Romantic Mini Dress

I don't usually like minis but the long sleeves balance this dress out. Plus, I can't pass up an empire waste dress.

Vintage Christian Lcroix Bustier

I love the lace detail on this piece. This would be adorable peaking out of the top of a sexy dress.

1960s Vintage Baby Blue Juniors Dress

I have to hold myself back even more when I find dresses that are too small for me. I could just hold my breath, right?

Vintage Pinup Black Pumps 9

Don't you just love these little ties in the back? They totally bring these shoes from boring black heels to extremely cute.

Vintage 50s Tilted Tulip Embroidered Party Dress

The little details on this dress take it from just another dress from the 40s or 50s (what am I talking about, I would take them all) to something extra special.

Vintage Provencal High Waist Pleats Skirt

This skirt has so many good things going for it. It's vintage. It's from France. It's adorable... I could go on...

The Blue Dahlia Dress

How much do I want this dress? I can't even begin to describe. So much, I would pay the price if it was ONLY. IN. MY. SIZE. Gah!

Baby Pink Stiletto Heels Size 6.5

I kind of want to wear these with the dress above. With white gloves. And then travel back in time.

Earth Fairy Finger Puppets

2009-06-19T13:34:00.001-04:00

In the next few days, I'll be posting my latest creations: The Earth Fairy Finger Puppets.

And, I was incredibly surprised last night when my sister and I finished watching Heroes (we're on Season 3, Episode 15) for the night to see that I'd gotten quite a few new hearts in my shop. Then going to the Etsy front page, surprised me even more, when I saw this:

Do you see what I see? Quasi the Roadkill Squirrel made it to the freaking FRONT PAGE! I was pretty much in shock. Thanks to whoever chose him and to all the people who loved him enough to send some hearts my way. It really, really made my day!

South Bend Farmer's Market

2009-06-16T20:19:00.002-04:00

I went to the farmer's market twice last week and I loved it. I'm sure that the South Bend Farmer's Market is not really that great compared to others, but it was a nice surprise and the fresh everything was, well, refreshing.

My cousin is getting married next June and has been trying to figure out where to get her flowers and all the flower shops are so expensive. The market had lots of beautiful fresh flowers for pretty cheap and I snapped this picture to show her some of them.

These things are so much fun! I can't remember the name but I should have gotten a couple to put in a vase in my room.

Here are all of our goodies from the first time around: a tomato plant, 3 herb plants, asparagus, 3 bags of coffee (they all smelled so good, we couldn't pick just one!), red peppers, onions, and garlic. Everything was so cheap compared to the stores and so much fresher!

We picked up some meat from the freshest looking meat stand at the market the second time we went and I made this meal. Sorry for the picture with bites taken out, but I remembered to take a picture after I had already indulged. I made the pork chops from this recipe from Smitten Kitchen and a very simple aspargus recipe. Both were delicious, but of course, the Smitten Kitchen recipe was amazing. The homemade breadcrumbs really did the trick. Even the ones that fell off didn't get mushy. I'm pretty sure the brine part of the recipe really did the trick. This pork chop was juicier than any other I've ever tried and I'm sure we've all had our share of nasty dried out pork chops.

Etsy Vintage Day - Some White

2009-06-15T10:46:00.005-04:00

I've changed the format around a little. Let me know if you cannot do without any of the missing information. Shop update at the bottom.

The Red and White Polka Dot Dress

The sleeves are kind of weird, but I think it adds character and originality. You can only have so many of the same type of dress.

Vintage Black Pintuck Jumper

You could so so much with this jumper. I love the type of shirt the seller chose to pair it with.

The Hope Lange Shoes

Kind of pointy, kind of not. I love the tiny Mary Jane detail. Perfect heel length too!

1930s/40s Ivory Satin Dress

This would make a lovely wedding dress or a summer party dress. It looks so light and airy.

1970s Cream/Off White Short Puff Sleeve Silk/Angora Sweater

It's supposed to be summer right now, but it's still chilly around here sometimes. This short sleeve sweater would be perfect for the early mornings and late evenings.

Vintage 60s Flutter Sleeve Maxi Dress

I so so so wish this dress fit me so that I could hem it and wear it to Renee's wedding. Why are all the pastel dresses that I actually like, not my size?

Ivory

Longer shirts are my favorite. Not to wear with just leggings because that means you aren't wearing pants... but just in general. This one has a really cute square shape and beautiful detail.

Kelly Green Mini Cocktail Dress

Those bows and pleats kill me and the shape is perfect.

___________________________

Over the weekend I added these two pieces to my shop.

Baby Buttercup Turtle

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

My Crafting Corner & Baby Blocks

2009-06-12T15:58:00.005-04:00

Now that I'm all moved in, I thought I'd share with you where I live for now. I don't have a craft room like I dream for one day, but I do have a craft corner and I like it a lot. It looks kind of messy, but it's all organized in my head. The suitcase is actually filled with things I plan to upcycle into toys. On top of that are shipping materials and labels. That's my great-grandmother's chair that my mom had reupholstered and my new computer (with Etsy in the browser, of course)! Knitting needles are in the bag.

Across from the chair, under the window is my box full of yarn. Can't go anywhere without that! Speaking of which, I am due to order some yarn, so there might be some beautiful yarn porn to share soon. (I'm a huge geek.)

On top of my yarn box are my US 5 needles which I use all the time, pens and sharpies, yarn, planner and blog post notebook, notions bag, and my work in progress (Monkey) inside the French Market Bag. Oh, and I can't forget, there's a Quasi the Roadkill Squirrel without a face or stitches, that is now up in my shop completed.

On the outskirts of my corner is my shop! Live and in person, kind of... Everyone hanging out together waiting for someone to take them home!

While I'm at it, here's my bed. Don't judge the non-made-ness. I don't believe in making beds. Also featured, dresser! and bookshelf! This is so much FUN! *sarcasm*

What I am looking at right now. Missing from this picture: the thousands of hangers that I am standing on to take it. Yay for misleadingly clean room pictures. No, but really, it's clean! You should have seen it before.

AND my newest shop addition:

Hand Knit Toy Baby Blocks: You know your baby wants some.

In Love

2009-06-11T10:32:00.003-04:00

My mom and I walked into a scooter store the other day because they were just too cute to pass up and I wanted to find out some prices on them. Now, I am in love. They are actually pretty affordable. The seafoam green is about $2000 and the blue one is $2200 because the two colors are obviously prettier. Now the question is, are two colors worth $200?

I'm not really in a position right now to get this, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming. Anyone have any scooter experience? What should I expect/know? How do you deal with rain? Is a 50cc (only goes up to 45 mph) fast enough? Is it hard to maneuver/learn? I'm pretty small and I didn't realize how big they were until I was right there and even the 50cc seems big to me, but I don't want to sacrifice power. Anybody know about this particular company? Are there better ones out there I haven't seen yet?

Gah! Love

Etsy Yart Sale

2009-06-10T10:29:00.004-04:00

Today is the start of the Etsy Yart Sale! Everybody get excited. I'll be participating by adding an extra special knit toy to all orders made during this time. I love getting surprises.

Also, this is a good time to add that I've made a Facebook Page for Les JouJou. Go become a fan! You'll get extra special deals and learn SECRET information (more like information that I eventually get around to putting on my blog, but that you can get FIRST! All special like.) So, head on over and "like" some stuff and spread the word about Les JouJou.

Also, Sarah at Class and Coffee was sweet enough to give me the Keepsake Award.

I'm supposed to share a funny or sweet story that tells something about me. Well, I'm not sure if this tells something about me, but here goes.

One day when I was about 8 and my sister, Kim, was about 4, my room was ridiculously messy and my mom told us to go in there and pick up all of our toys and put them away. Kim and I were messing around and being goofy and I would hand her some things that went together somewhere to put away. I wasn't watching what I was doing and I had a crochet hook (my sister has said recently that she thinks it was one of those hooks from making pot holders) and I held it out to her. Into her eye went the crochet hook and I started screaming. It was sticking straight out of her eye and I thought for sure that I had just blinded my sister and that her eye would be skewered on the hook when we took it out. My mom came running in yelling at ME, for screaming so loud when the house wasn't on fire because apparently that's the only time I'm supposed to scream as loud as I did. It all turned out fine as the scare came from the fact that the hook got caught slightly in the corner of her eye and when she closed it, the hook stuck straight out. Her eye was only kind of irritated and a cool cloth fixed that. She's had other eye scares since when one time she got lead paint in her eye during art class, so I guess it wasn't really my fault, she just has eyes prone to danger.

Etsy Vintage Day - Under $30 Deals!

2009-06-08T13:40:00.007-04:00

This is my 100th post! (Well, technically this is my 103rd post, but I kept forgetting to tell you, so let's all pretend it's just 100.) Now on to the much delayed vintage:

$16
Make 'Em Green with Envy with this Sweet Vintage Jacket - carmenandginger
Shoulders: 15 1/2"
Armpit to armpit: 18"
Length from shoulder: 20"

This little jacket is so cute! And it's cheap! I love how it's buttonless.

$400
1950s Vintage Jacques Heim Couture Strapless Satin Pink and White Wedding Party Dress - TimelessVixenVintage
Bust:32-34 inches
Waist:up to 24 inches
Hips:Free Sweep
Length top to waist:10 inches
Length waist to hem:28 inches

Please ignore the price. This dress is GORGEOUS! This shop has tons of other beautiful dresses too. I wish I could run around in dresses like this all day.

$26
Vintage Aqua Pumps - thevintagemode
Size: 7
Heel: 3.5 inches

I love the shape of these. They remind me of Barbie shoes. The color would be perfect for my friend's wedding, if I could only find a dress first.

$50
Crinoline Floral Dress - jessjamesjake
underarm-underarm: 17"
waist: 14.5"
hips: 25"
Length: 54"

I love the puff sleeves and the pattern on this dress. I'm usually not a fan of this length, but I think it works perfectly here. I want this so bad.

$50
1940s Navy Blue Veiled Headpiece - jessjamesjake
11.5" end to end, one size fits most

Isn't this little hat the best? I might be able to pull this off, and if I couldn't, I wouldn't care. The flowers are the perfect shape.

$24
Vintage 50s 60s Moss Green Embroidered Chiffon Dress/Nightie - kissesfromana
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 38" MAX
Waist: free
Hips: free
Length: 37"

This makes the perfect summer dress and the price is perfect too.

$24
Black Vintage Heels 6 Ankle Lace Up Booties - missmysweet
Heel height: about 3 inches
Heel to toe: 9 ½ inches
Width: 2 ¾ inches
Marked size: 6B

I love the heel length on these booties. I am constantly looking for a smaller heel that is comfortable to walk in and these caught my eye for that reason.

$35
Flirty 1950s Black and White Gingham with Halter - carmenandginger
Across the top where the dress should fit snug at the bust:19"
Waist: 16 1/2"
Length from waist: 28"

Another fun summer dress. I love the shape.

Up next: Moving back to South Bend! Get excited bFlat! Also, I got new glasses. I'm pretty much in love with them, especially now that they've loosened up and have stopped giving me headaches. I'll try to get a good pictures soon to share.

Mini the Baby Dachsund Puppy

2009-06-05T18:19:00.005-04:00

My aunt went out and got a new puppy right after she saw Waldi. Her name is Mini and she is a long haired mini Dachshund. Let me show you just how small she is:

She can walk right under that cabinet in the picture without bumping her head and the pink toy is longer that she is. She is pretty much the most precious puppy ever. She has the sharpest teeth and loves to bite. When she's not biting, she likes to sleep in your arms. Don't you want to run out and get a baby Dachshund now?!

Review - Etsy: Advanced

2009-06-04T12:10:00.003-04:00

Have an Etsy shop? Read on:

I did not know what to expect before reading Etsy: Advanced. I was pleasantly surprised by the easy to read format, good suggestions and helpful statistics. The format was nice because I did not want to sit down and read pages jammed pack with lots of information. Different size fonts, graphs, and bullet points made the relevant information easy to find and interesting to look at. This book is 36 pages full of good ideas. I will say that by subscribing to Etsy newsletters, I had already learned some of the suggestions, but I did find quite a few new ones that helped me change my shop.

I think the number one most interesting and helpful thing about this book are all of the statistics. Want to know how many Etsy users are female? have gone to college? offer international shipping? This guide will share the numbers with you. Favorite animals, trees, and colors also are present along with Etsy sale numbers from 2008. The information is all right there and reading it together helped me make small changes to my shop which I hope will allow me to make more sales.

As a very frugal person, I will say the price tag is a little steep, but I learned things from it and I think it would be helpful to a new or relatively new seller. If this sounds like something you might like to check out, head over to Jessica's website to get your own copy. You get a free copy of 44 Etsy Marketing Ideas, which sounds pretty interesting too!

The Smorgasbord Post

2009-06-02T16:38:00.009-04:00

Hey everybody! I feel as if I have been gone forever, but it's only been a bit. So much has happened since then. On Saturday, I helped my family move out of our place and move to around South Bend. Right now, we're living in an empty house, waiting for my sister to finish up high school so that we can move ourselves out to South Bend. haha

I went computer shopping at Best Buy yesterday with my mom and checked out the Dells they had to offer. I was not happy with them. The Inspiron just had too big of a screen for my liking (15.6 inches) and I settled in on liking this Asus:

People are quite opinionated about Macs v. PCs and to tell you the truth, I am the same way. Do I want a Mac? Hell yes. Do I know it's a better computer and all that money I am forking over is well worth it? Yes. However, as some people agreed in the comments, it really just is not an option right now. I have been involved with my school's computer fixing people (articulate, I know) my entire college education. The only time we saw Macs in the office was when there was a serious hard ware problem. Yes, PCs have a lot more problems that come with them and I am NOT looking forward to using Vista, but do I really need a worry free computer? I can fix anything that goes wrong with it. My old computer needed 1 OS reinstall, I broke a hinge, and the hard drive crashed. I think that's pretty good for four years. The problem with PCs are not the computers themselves, but the people that use them. They just need a little loving care and upkeep. And really, I don't know if I am ready to give up my virus scanning obsession. I just like doing it a little too much. :) Oh and I also little investigating on my old computer once I got a hold of my discs and figured out that the hard drive is completely dead and I won't be saving anything off of it. I am okay with that and I pretty much knew it all along.

And now... on the the GIVEAWAY WINNER! Yay! There were 73 people that entered my Ice Cream Cone Giveaway, which woah! That was awesome and I'm so glad so many people entered and found my site through Sew, Mama, Sew. The winner is:

The Retired Mama

She has requested that I do a Toy Society drop which sounds like so much fun! I'm going to have to think of the perfect place to leave my ice cream cone. I'll be sure to take pictures and post where I leave it here as well on the Toy Society website.

And, because I missed Etsy Vintage Day, here's a little bit too hold you over. Ashley mentioned in last Monday's comments that she would love a pair of the red shoes. Unfortunately they weren't her size, but here are some other cute red strappy shoes in her size, 5.5.

$20
Vintage Red Etienne Aignor Sexy Sandal Wedge Size 5.5 - iluvlucy8

$34
Scarlet Vintage Leather Peep-Toes Sandals Dainty Red Daisies - whitehind

I'll Be Back... Hopefully

2009-06-01T13:27:00.002-04:00

I know I would post the winner today of the giveaway, but our internet is out at home so that will have to wait until hopefully tomorrow when the people come out to fix it. I'll post more vintage stuff then too!

My Two Dilemmas

2009-05-29T00:52:00.004-04:00

I turned on my computer today and I heard the worst sound ever: the clicking of a dead/dying hard drive. Then a black screen told me that my operating system could not be found. I've not confirmed it yet, but I'm pretty sure I've just lost everything on my computer. Great.

I didn't loose exactly everything. I backed up my stuff about a year ago on Trent's external hard drive. I also saved the job stuff I've been working on a flash drive. I can also grab some of the stuff from my last semester that I've saved on my personal drive from school. So pretty much the damage comes out to music I've recently found (I can use my iPod to figure out what I need to get again) and everything from my Etsy shop (most of that is saved online, except bookkeeping documents). That's not too bad when you consider I could have lost everything. I still cried.

Here's my first dilemma: The Two Computers

Dell Inspiron
Specs I care about:
15.6" screen
4 GB RAM

320 GB Hard drive
$599
Refurbished MacBook
Specs I care about:
13.3" screen
2 GB RAM
120 GB Hard drive
$849

The thing is, I really want a Mac and I really want the Dell specs. Macs are expensive and to get what I would get with the Dell would cost $2499. (Um... WHAT!?) Talk about annoying. So, do I go for a Mac which isn't even what I want and is more money than I want to pay? Or do I go for the Dell... I think I just answered my own question. I guess in four years when I will be looking at another computer, I will possibly have the money to actually get a Mac that I want, but right now it looks like that is just out of the question.

My second dilemma: My Socks

You may remember that I am working on my first pair of socks. I picked the second one up again yesterday and I made a mistake, a big one. In the first sock, I made 6 pattern repeats on the leg (6 of the V shaped things). On the second sock, I only made 5 and then I went on to finish the heel and some of the foot before I realized. Oops.

The mistake is pretty noticable when holding the socks next to one another as the second one is quite shorter. When they are on your feet, it's not too bad, if I slouch the bigger one down that is. I have this problem with my knitted projects that I just want to get done and see the finished item. I rush through mistakes and tell myself I won't care. When actually later, I do care. My beret is too big and doesn't really fit like a beret because I was too much in a hurry to get it done. I've been contemplating ripping it out to the cuff (what's it called around your head?) and using smaller needles so that it fits better.

So, do I rip out the 3 inches I worked on all day today and add that extra inch I'm missing from the leg or do I finish the sock with the problem of perhaps later wanting to rip it out and fix it? I kind of think I answered this one too. It hurts so much to rip. ;(

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Giveaway Day!

2009-05-26T20:54:00.007-04:00

Newest shop item:

Varg the Piranha

And what everyone really wants:

I was overdue for another giveaway, but I when I found out that Sew, Mama, Sew! was having a massive group giveaway on May 27th, I just had to hold out for it. So, I've had this for awhile and I've been really excited to give away this Strawberry Ice Cream Cone.

This is another Not-My-Pattern Giveaway. I used this pattern, so make one for yourself if you knit! There are tons of different ways to make the pattern, so check it out.

Giveaway Rules:
1. Head over to my shop: lesjoujou.etsy.com
2. Find something you like and leave a comment
3. Don't forget to leave a way for me to contact you (email, Ravelry name, blog).

I'll announce the winner on June 1st.

Etsy Vintage Day: The 40s and 60s

2009-05-25T22:59:00.007-04:00

Sorry if posting has been sparse this week, Trent and I were enjoying hanging out with family, having cookouts, and going to Bonefish. I love that place. If there is one near you, and you haven't gone, go because even though they are kind of expensive and it is worth it. Here are this week's vintage finds:

$55
Vintage 60s Mod Eyelet Dress Twiggy Spy era Baby Doll - GoodEye
Bust (arm pit to pit): 30 inches max
Waist Empire (at bra line): 26 inches
hips: free upto 36 inches
Length: 40-inches
Sweep at hem: 68 inches
** Estimate best fit: size 0, 2

The perfect summer dress! I can just imagine this blowing in the breeze.

$28
Vintage Pumpkin Full Pleated Skirt - brownbagvintage
waist: 27"
length: 28"

I love this color. A little longer than I like, but I think anyone could pull it off with heels like the girl in the picture.

$32
Vintage 60s Linen Shift Pastel Pleasure Jackie Dress - GoodEye
Bust: 34-inches
Waist: (free upto 30-inches)
Hips: 38-inches max
Length: 37 inches long

This dress is described as pastel, but the pictures make it look more like a pea soup green which I think is adorable. I love the little cuts in the collar.

$25
Vintage 1960s Mod Scooter Dress Hipster Polyester Dream Twiggy - artgirrl
Bust:36
Waist:34
Hips:36

This dress is so simple, but that one button and the beautiful color won me over. Plus, super cheap!

$38
Strappy Red High Heels - hotvintage
shoes are 9 1/2" long
heel is 3 3/4 " high

How fun are these! Not very much to them, but they would be so fun to dance in.

$38
40s Tan Day Dress with Lace and Rhinestones - exquisitebones
Bust 36"
Waist 26"
Hips 40"
Length 47"

I love the shape and details of this dress.

$17
Adorable Girl's Blue Dress Vintage - sweetlilystudio
17.5 inches from neck to hem and 12.5 inches wide under the arms

This shop is adorable! There are tons of the cutest baby stuff and the shop is currently having a sale. Next time I need a baby present I am totally stopping by this shop to pick something out.

$48
Gorgeous Appliqued Forties Dress - hotvintage

Bust: 34"
Waist: 26"
Hips ; 38"
Length from waist to hem: 28"

The appliqued details of this dress are gorgeous and the color is so unique. Check out the closer pictures to see how beautiful it really is.

Past Etsy Vintage Days:
May 18, 2009
May 11, 2009

Send me an email at lesjoujou AT gmail DOT com if you want me to find something for you!

Homemade Mac & Cheese and Grilled Cheese

2009-05-23T12:16:00.004-04:00

Wednesday afternoon I was getting hungry and wondered what I could make in my newly acquired kitchen (I'm dogsitting Waldi this week for bFlat). Even though I'm not a huge fan of mac & cheese, I decided that I would give it a homemade try. I'd only ever had it out of the box (ugh!) and I'm really glad I gave it a try. I used this recipe for inspiration, but changed it up a bit based on the ingredients I had on hand. It was the perfect recipe because it was baked #1 and #2 was for one person. Here's my interpretation:
Homemade Baked Mac & Cheese For One

whatever pasta you have on had, a couple handfuls of uncooked
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pinch pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon of cream cheese (I didn't have milk! oops, so I just grabbed this to make is a little more dairy-like)
water, as necessary (Because I didn't have milk, I added some water to make it liquidy instead of a huge chunk of four)
around a 1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you have on hand, I did some cut of chunks of sharp cheddar and some shredded colby)
1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 dash hot sauce
1 teaspoon bread crumbs
more cheese for top

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Boil noodles until done, but still firm. Drain.
2. Melt butter and add in the rest of the ingredients, adding water as necessary to make it more sauce-like and less a hunk of cheese-like.
3. Mix in cooked noodles. Pour into small baking dish. Put bread crumbs and cheese on top. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

The added spices really make this dish. I would probably use milk if I had it, but even though I didn't, it was still really good.

Yummy Grilled Cheese

Butter
dashes of pepper, salt, basil, parsely, garlic powder, and onion powder (add in anything else you think will be good)
2 pieces of bread
some slices of sharp cheddar

1. Mix butter and spices. Spread butter mixture on one side of each slice of bread.
2. Make grilled cheese as normal.

This was SO SO SO much better than regular grilled cheese. Those spices really made a difference, along with nice cheese instead of Kraft singles. I know I saw a recipe for "grown up" grilled cheese somewhere that was similar to this, but I can't remember where. So, make this with the stuff you have on hand. It's a perfect meal that doesn't take much work!

Trent and Waldi

Comment nous avons fait la connaissance

2009-05-20T14:45:00.006-04:00

Awhile ago, Sarah over at Class and Coffee shared her "how we met" story and welcomed anyone else to share too. Trent is coming to visit me tomorrow so I thought it was the perfect time to share our "how we met" story.

My sophomore year of college, I studied abroad in Dijon, France. If you are wondering if this place has anything to do with that awesome mustard, you are correct. It comes from this town and it's the best mustard in the world! I spent the entire school year over there and loved it. My second semester, I went out one night with a friend and some American girls she had met from New Hampshire. All the Americans/English speakers eventually found each other and she had met them on a street and started up a conversation just because English is easier.

We went to a bar on the student bar street. This place was a closet that played techno, had motocross playing on 2 TVs and had American named mixed drinks. The girls from New Hampshire said that they had invited some people they had met from UNC and they were going to meet us there. Yay! More Americans! First semester we were short on English speaking friends, about 10 in the whole program. Now it was like we had won the English speaking lottery.

Trent walked in with his crowd of UNC people. We didn't talk much that first night, but I added him on Facebook later, and he started talking to me through instant messages while he was in class. When we had to split up at the end of May, him back to North Carolina and me to Indiana, we thought it would be too hard, but everything worked out. We're in the last stretch of our 14 hour car drive, 2 year, long distance relationship. I've finally finished with school and at the end of the summer I'll be moving to North Carolina.

Christmas 2007
Freezing at the Dunes

Etsy Vintage Day

2009-05-18T10:57:00.006-04:00

I'm a college graduate! Ah! Crazy? Oh yea. Graduation was beautiful and I definitely shed a few tears. Now, I will start finding myself a job, seriously. On to beautiful vintage:

$130
Grey Gardens Dress - fringevintagepdx
Bust: 31"
Waist: 24"
Hips: Free
Length Shoulder to Hem: 43"
Sleeve Length from Armpit: Sleeveless
Shoulder Width: 13.5"

GORGEOUS! That is all.

$18
Herringbone High Waist Wiggle Skirt XS/S - SnapVintage
Vintage size: 6/8
Waist: 24" unstretched, 25" stretched
Hips" 38"
Length: 23"

Look at this cute little office skirt! Those buttons do it for me. I love buttons.

$82
Great Gatsby Garden Party Edwardian Style Gunne in Pink Lawn - hautecountryvintage
Bust: 42" max, ideally you should have a bust measure of 40" or less.
Drop Waist: 42" max
Shoulder to Drop Waist: 24"
Length: 49" from centre back

Lately I've been loving this period's clothing even more. Usually I'm for form fitting stuff, but how can you pass on the Great Gatsby?

$32
Vintage Houndstooth Empire Babydoll Dress XS - lolavintage
Bust: 32"
Length: 32"

Adorable little summer dress. Cute buttons in the back too!

$28
Vintage Salmon Paperbag Skirt - avantanthologue
Label: Tattoo of California
Label size: 9/10
Fit: small
Waist: 13"
Length: 29"

Awesome color! I'm a little worried about how the length would be on me (see: short) but, it would look awesome on a taller person!

$84
Green Pin Tuck Pure Silk Dress - myfavoritevintage
Shoulder to Shoulder: 15 inches
Bust: 36"
Waist: 24 inches
Hips: open
Length: 45 inches

PURE SILK! I'm sure this dress is amazing on because it's beautiful to look at. This shop has tons of gorgeous finds.

$28
1960s Pick Your Fancy... Skirt or Dress - jessjamesjake
Skirt: small or medium
Dress: XS, sizes 00-2
Waist (top): 28.5"
Length: 56"
Hips: Free

Such a fun summer dress! I like it better as a dress, personally, but I love that it's versatile.

$50
Vintage '60s or '70s Apple Green Atleigh Raincoat Small Medium - waterbuffalomist
Bust: up to 36 inches
Waist: up to 40 inches
Hips: up to 40 inches
Shoulder to shoulder: 14 inches
Wrist: 11 inches
Shoulder/Armhole: 19 inches
Sleeve length: 21

It's still pretty cold around here and this bright green jacket would be perfect for the not-perfectly-warm spring weather.

Have something you'd like to see me shop for? Don't forget to leave me a comment or an email lesjoujou AT gmail DOT com.

Past Etsy Vintage Days:
May 11, 2009

Little Girl's Hand Knit Toy Make Up Kit

2009-05-14T14:29:00.002-04:00

Here is my newest shop item that I've been working on since... August of last year. I thought it up while spending my time working the cash register last summer in a t-shirt store in Chapel Hill. My little cousin Joshua used to LOVE my make up and want to play with it all the time when he was younger so he was the inspiration for it, but ALL little kids are infatuated with make up especially little girls.

Now the little girl that you know can play with her own make up instead of messing around with yours and getting powder all over the bathroom and beautiful colors on her face that are hard to scrub off a squirming 3 year old. Yay! Fun!

More pictures on Etsy.

HS - Recommended Reading Part 4

2009-05-13T13:37:00.004-04:00

It is with happiness and sadness that I bring you the last installment of my major's recommended reading list. You can find the others here: part 1, part 2, and part 3. This time period is the Modern and runs from 1800 to the present!

Wuthering Heights - This was a great way to start off the semester. I love this book. If you think Jane Austen is too proper and prim, grab one of the Brontë sisters' books. You may think they are similar without having read a Brontë, but they are so different. If you don't know the story of Wuthering Heights yet, you need to read this book. You will be sucked into wanting to know how everything turns out just like you were when you read Twilight...

To the Lighthouse - Woolf was innovative for her time and this book pushes the limits of what people were used to. You could read this book over and over and see different things every time.

The Face of War - I love Martha Gellhorn. She went everywhere and saw everything as a journalist during the World Wars and other major world events during our Modern time. Her first hand accounts are touching and her writing is amazing. Everyone needs to read her stuff.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Hard to understand at times, but very interesting and keeps you thinking.

One Hundred Years of Solitude - Everyone's names will confuse you so much, but it is totally worth it. I love love love this book and all the truths about humanity. Its fanciful nature is another aspect that makes it awesome.

Well, everyone, that's it. No more classes for me. I'm sad because I will miss the people I saw everyday to discuss great books and history. Grab one of these books (or one from one of the other parts) for your summer reading and you won't be disappointed!

Shop Update: Brand new shipping prices for all my items! And a new Quasi the Roadkill Squirrel, check him out.

Mother's Day Gift & a Tiny Tutorial

2009-05-12T13:42:00.006-04:00

I finished this project awhile ago and I haven't posted it since it is possible my mom could have seen her present before I gave it to her. Now that Mother's Day is safely past, let me show you some washcloths I made. So Exciting! I know.

Diagonal Knit Dishcloth by Jana Trent

This was really fun! I had some trouble at first (as you can see in the bottom right hand corner) and this thing is not perfect by any means. I was already done though when I saw the mistake and it's only being used to be washed with ... right? It's the thought that counts.

Tulip Lace Dishcloth by Love 2 Knit Dishcloths

So, when I started this I didn't realize that the pattern wanted you to add in the little garter stitch border yourself. You'd think I would notice that there wasn't one... I didn't. I like it better with the garter stitch border, but I wasn't about to frog it when I was halfway through just for that. And, both of these were "dishcloths" but that's technically the same thing as a "washcloth" so my vote is they can be used in the bathroom too.

Eco-Friendly Cotton Ball Replacement Squares

Such a big name for such a tiny thing. I saw someone selling something like this on Etsy and decided it would be easy enough to make up my own and it was! I had told my mom about them and thought they would be the perfect Mother's Day gift since she is trying to go green too! Get rid of those disposable things!

Tutorial:
It's so simple, this is unnecessary, but in case you want to make ones just like mine:

I used US 5 and Peaches and Cream kitchen cotton.
CO 15 st.
Garter stitch for about 20 rows.
BO all st.

So, I gave that to my Mom for Mother's Day along with some soap from S.M. Fildes. She has an awesome deal of 6 soaps for $20 with free shipping (to the US)! I totally snatched that up.

Etsy shop update: I put up a new banner and icon, be excited! Also, I made another Garry the Hedgehog last night while catching up on Dollhouse. (You guys! Those last two episodes were awesome! So much stuff happened! If you watch, we should talk. I have no one to gab about it with.)

Etsy Vintage Day

2009-05-11T15:06:00.007-04:00

I've been gone so long! It's been sad. But! Now school is OVER. I have no more work (other than find a job) for the entire summer. I'm pretty excited about it. I moved out most of my stuff this last Friday and spent the weekend at home. Now, I'm back on campus for Senior Week. And now, an announcement:

I've come up with a pretty awesome idea. If you've been following me on Twitter, you will notice that every once in awhile I will bemoan the fact that I am searching through the pages and pages of vintage clothing on Etsy. It's pretty much my favorite thing to do. Usually I do this for a couple hours when I have something else, more important to do, like studying for a final. The night before one of my finals, I messed around the internet for 5 hours!! 5!! mostly looking at vintage stuff on Etsy instead of studying. Oops.

Anyway, I thought I would put my awesome search skills to good use. Every Monday I will post my finds. These will be better than my last post about dresses for the wedding because they will include all sizes and all types of clothing, though I do have to warn you I have an affinity for dresses. Then everyone can go out and buy my beautiful vintage finds and let me come over and try them on! I would totally keep all these awesome finds for myself, except most of the gorgeous stuff I find either 1. I don't need it 2. It wouldn't fit me if I did.

I have another part of this wonderful vintage adventure we about to embark on. Send me your vintage wishes! Email me or add a comment telling me what you are searching for in vain on Etsy. Please not too specific like: I would like a pair of shorts that are black with neon purple stripes and cream buttons with anchors on them. First of all, that is disgusting and I don't want to find that for you and 2. Dude, there is no way I'd be able to. So, send me a message with some kind of specification and I'll do my best to find some stuff that you might like. Don't forget to add in there measurements: bust, waist, hips, shoulders, and how tall you are. I'd like to find something that will fit you!

Without further ado, here's my first finds:

$31
vintage 50s High Collar Tulle and Satin Party Dress - DearGoldenVintage
Size: XS/S
Shoulder span: 13.5"
Bust: 32-34"
Waist: 26-27"
Length: 48"

$42
striped Ascot blouse - VerseauVintage
chest: 38" (96,5cm)
shoulder: 14" (35,6cm)
waist: 38.5" (97,8cm)
shoulder seam to sleeve hem: 20" (50,9cm)
total length: 24.5" (62,2cm)

$140
vintage Chocolate Lace Overlay 60s Formal Dress - DearGoldenVintage
approx. small or medium, see measurements
shoulder 14"
bust up to 36"
waist up to 28"
hip up to 38"
length 51"

$50
Vintage May Day Green and White Peasant Dress - adVintageous
Size: Small
Fits like: Small/Medium
Bust: 36"
Waist: 34"
Hips: Free

$55
Vintage 1950s pleated brocade circle party skirt - stilettogirl
Waist: 28 inches
Hip: free inches (the model has 40 inch hips)
Length: 29 inches

$46.50
Vintage 50's Black Day Dress by Youth Guild - TheDustyDog
Shoulders- 14"
Bust- 31"
Waist- 25"
Hips- Free
Underarm To Bottom- 34"
Full Length- 35.5"
Contemporary Size- Approximate 3-4

$30
Italian Vintage Strappy Seashell Heel with Suede Detail - beatvintage
Size: 37 European, 6 1/2 US

$22
VTG 60's 70s Ivory Lace Hippy Queen Maxi Summer Dress - RaraeAves
Bust: 17 1/4 inches
Empire waist: 14 1/2 inches (can be cinched tighter)
Hips: 19 1/2 inches
Shoulder to hem: 52 inches long

This is my one find that I would do some alterations on. It's a maxi and I'm just not that into them. I would probably hem it to around knee length.

So, if any of these lovelies fit you, run off and buy them! And send me your requests. :)

8 Things

2009-05-06T13:45:00.001-04:00

Trina over at Ballatrina's Knitting and other bits and bobs tagged me in a meme. And truthfully, who am I to refuse? I love filling these things out. It probably goes along with my love of horrible television.

8 Things I look forward to:

Graduation! No more school work!
Running my Etsy shop part-time this summer. (My other part-time job will be finding a job. haha)
May 21st which is when Trent is coming to see me
Seeing my friend Becky again at Graduation
My week of dog sitting Waldi. Yay for puppy kisses. Be jealous.
Renee's wedding
Moving to Chapel Hill
Possibly going to Disney World with my little cousin

8 Things I did yesterday:

Wrote 2 papers.
Awkwardly got a present for graduation from my boss who dislikes me.
Took my first final of the week and my last French final ever.
Missed my weekly dinner with bFlat. :(
Talked to Becky on the phone
Went to the Coffee Shop for the last time to make sure everything was put away for the summer. :(
Figured out I filled my time card out wrong for work and now I have to go back and fix it.
Sent out an email telling the school that we raised enough money with the Carnival to buy a Water Buffalo through Heifer.

8 Things I wish I could do:

Live in France and the States simultaneously.
Sew clothes for myself.
Buy everything for my house/myself from Etsy.
Have all the time in the world to read all the books I want to read.
Find a job.
Speak French fluently.
Crochet magically without the hard time of teaching myself.
Have all the time I want to blog and knit.

8 Shows I watch:

Lost
Grey's Anatomy
Private Practice
The Office
Dollhouse
Fringe
Parks & Recreation
Heros (I've only seen season 1.)

Learn to Knit

2009-05-05T00:18:00.004-04:00

Kylie over at Random Thoughts asked me in the comments of my last post some questions about knitting. I talked (typed?) her ear off with a super long answer and I thought it might be useful for any of you that want to try to learn to knit or have tried but gave up.

Some background:
My grandma taught me how to do the knit stitch (not how to get the stitches on the needles 'casting on' or the purl stitch) when I was younger. I made a scarf for my American Girl doll (I have Molly) and stopped. Two years ago, I decided I wanted to get going again and asked my mom the for the Stitch N Bitch book (which, OMG I can't find it. It better be somewhere in my room or I will cry for sure!) for Christmas and some yarn and some needles. She bought me some Red Heart acrylic (read: crappy yarn, except I'm not a yarn snob, I swear! I use mostly cotton, not snobby at all! I'm just saying Red Heart acrylic has it's place and it's not usually for anything nice or important or wearable) and I started reteaching myself.

So, I started with that because I did have somewhat of a leg up when I started to teach myself. The actual knitting part felt very familiar once I figured out how to do it again. That being said, the Stitch N Bitch book was priceless. Yes, all that stuff can be found online, but having it all there at my finger tips with great explanations and pictures was great. It was also a really great read, with information on the history of knitting and what's the difference between different fibers, etc.

So, yea... How to Knit:
Anyway, it was hard at first. You don't automatically make perfect stitches. It takes practice which is why I just started practicing casting on and knitting not worried about what I was making. I sat watching a movie with Trent and just knit. I didn't worry that I dropped stitches or that I was knitting too tight or too loose. I just got the feel for it. I think that is the most important advice. Don't get frustrated that something isn't perfect or expect to turn out baby hats or beautiful scarves after knitting for 5 minutes. Even when you are good, knitting things takes hours and hours to complete them, which includes ripping out your stitches when you make mistakes and believe me ALL knitters and crocheters still make mistakes, no matter how good they are. My biggest mistake always is not wanting to rip out and then ending up with something I'm unhappy with because I was in too much of a hurry to get to the finished project. Things I'm unhappy with at the moment that I've already finished: dishcloth, beret, bolero, and more that I can't think of right now because it's late.

Umm... Crochet?
I don't know how to crochet.. YET. I actually just tried to teach myself last week. It was an epic fail and I decided to hold off since I figured out the project I wanted to make didn't actually work as well as I thought it did. I'll get around to it again one day.

But it was HARD!
Those of you who have tried and stopped should really pick up those needles again. You don't need to buy the book I mentioned, but just sit there and listen to the TV or a book on tape or something and knit without worrying that what you're making isn't working out. Also, don't forget -- I've only been knitting for 2 years and I am so not a pro at this. I'm still a newbie too!

OMG *EEEIII* I <3>
Oh, and you should totally sign up for Ravelry.com. There are forums with TONS of helpful and nice people to answer questions and just chat about fiber arts. Also, add me as a friend! I love friends. (I'm lesjoujou on there.)

I've already converted 2 IRL friends so, I'm glad I could help convert the internet. Start knitting! That's an order.

Étoile the Star Stuffie Tutorial

2009-05-01T16:41:00.011-04:00

Oh my goodness?! Is it really!? A crafting update? How long has it been? You probably thought that I up and stopped doing crafty things. You were wrong.

My bathroom-mate (we each have a single with a shared bathroom in the middle), Elizabeth, asked me to make her a stuffed star. So, here it is. She named it Étoile since that's the word for star in French.

I thought I'd put down here how I made her in case anyone wants to make one of their own.

1. I followed SewFunky's starfish dishcloth pattern to make the actual star shape. Some changes I made to the pattern were instead of YO to make stitches, I used M1 so that there wouldn't be holes, since I needed to stuff it. I also only made 5 pieces instead of 6, so that it would be a 5 point star.
2. Make two "dish clothes" or the front and back of the star.
3. Line up the points of the stars with the backs facing each other. The stars will not match up perfectly.
4. Start sewing the two pieces together making sure that the points are always matched up. You may want to pin them together. You may be thinking, what am I going to do with all this extra that doesn't have anywhere to be sewn? When you reach the bottom of the star point, sew the extra in place at that corner. This will create a swirling affect and make the star extra plump. Sew all the way around until there is only 1/4 left to sew.
5. Stuff. Use a knitting needle to make sure the stuffing gets into all the corners. Sew the rest up, stuffing as needed until you are done.

You can add a face or leave it blank as I did. It kind of reminds me of a Carebear star. My star measures about 8-9 inches wide. I used size 5 needles.

My Dream

2009-04-30T23:44:00.007-04:00

That list from my last post is not quite done yet and since it's finals week I have even more stuff to add to it. But, I'm finally done with classes today so I have all this free time and I'm confident about making it through.

So, I read this post by Sarah from Class and Coffee and then I had this dream:

Somehow Sarah was the sister of this girl named Katie who was the RA in the hall of one of my friends. (Katie had also incidentally just performed at the Coffee House.) We were in some house, no idea who's it was, and I figured all of this out and thought it was so strange and how odd it was that I read her blog and she lived in Raleigh, close to Trent, and her sister went to my school.

Then I went on to dream that my department hired a new woman to teach for awhile and it was Sarah since was talking in the post I mentioned about her TA troubles, and I was telling her how everyone disliked the newest teacher in our department. Sarah was saying that she would take care of it and the department knew and they were getting rid of her. I was really excited because Sarah got to be a TA and in my department. Except, I'm pretty sure Sarah wouldn't want to move here and my school doesn't have TAs, but it was a dream, so I guess that means it's okay.

I also then went on to dream that my mom and her husband bought a new Yorkie and that Lexi and the new one were trying to get along, but they kept snapping at each other.

Weird little Lexi snippet added in there. Those are dreams though, right? It was my first dream about a blogger and to top it all off, Sarah got to be a TA after all in real life. My dreams might just be psychic. Send all your worries to me and I will tell you what will happen.

Sara Bareilles is Awesome and I Suck

2009-04-20T22:27:00.012-04:00

I saw Sara Bareilles last week in concert at my school for free. I was excited because she is someone I actually like to listen to. I just had to share how genuine she was. She was incredibly cute: chatting and joking with the audience. Not only was she funny, but she actually sounded like her CD. She has real talent! The concert was awesome and I've decided I want to be her best friend.

And, I've decided that I have to tear myself away from the blogging world for just a bit, maybe one week or two. I have a ridiculous amount of stuff to do. This makes me very sad. Not only do I love doing this, I love reading everyone else's blogs. I'm really going to have to stop myself from wandering over to my reader. So, I'll be back when this list is done:

~~Philosophy Paper~~
~~Literature Paper~~
~~3 Hour Worthless French Proficiency Test~~
~~French Take Home Test~~
~~Research Paper Presentation~~
~~Read ~~258~~ pages and write 2 Short Papers~~
~~Last normal Coffee House Event~~
~~Weird FAFSA stuff~~
~~Clean up leaking soda from Coffee House basement~~
~~Carnival and all stuff leading up to it~~
~~Unnecessary and stupid French Portfolio~~

Most of this stuff needs to be done this week. I don't do things during the week people. My schedule doesn't allow it. Anyone pick up on my HATE of the French department? I would drop the major, but then all the horror and pain that I went through would have been for nothing.

Etsy Item of the Day Feature

2009-04-18T20:03:00.006-04:00

Jackie over at Etsy Item of the Day picks a new, fun, interesting item from Etsy to feature everyday! Some of my favorite picks of hers are the Tarnished Love Necklace, Study Hall Skirt Pattern, and the Scrap Pack - New and Vintage Papers. I have no idea what I would do with the papers, but aren't they gorgeous!? And I've never sewn anything from a pattern before, but I am in love with that skirt and just might have to beg bFlat to give it a try for me. I love seeing what Jackie has found next and today she was nice enough to feature Camilla the Bunny. Head over and check it out.

Like Count: I don't have an exact count because I said way to many. Oops. I do know that I said it more than 7 times when talking to someone for less than 5 minutes.

You know Count: This one is easier, I think, because it's a phrase and I hardly said it.

This whole counting thing might be harder than I thought. :\

Breaking Habits

2009-04-17T22:49:00.003-04:00

You may or may not have this problem, but this week in one of my major classes we started talking about a certain habit we all share. This problem is the overuse and misuse of the word "like" and phrase "you know." We've been catching ourselves this week when we slip into it, trying to be aware. My professor brought up Caroline Kennedy and her unfortunate use of one of these. See if you can catch it:

Eek! (I know. haha) Quite embarrassingly, I do it a lot, although not as much as some people. I never write using those words, however, I can't go a few sentence while speaking without slipping into it. A bad and unprofessional habit to say the least. I want to lose this and the best way I think is to notice when I do it and stop myself. I've decided to tally myself everyday and keep track of my "likes" and "you knows" here to keep myself accountable. I'm kind of afraid to see how many I say in a whole day, or week. Do you have this problem too? If not, what's your bad habit?

Children Are Beautiful

2009-04-16T09:10:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, I see poor people in the bus. They look sad. So I smile to them, and it makes them happy. —Capucine

From Tralalàre!

Etsy Favorites - Dresses

2009-04-14T12:46:00.007-04:00

A friend is getting married in August and I am on the search for a pastel, non-patterned dress preferably around $50 because that's how I shop. After scouring the malls, I have turned to Etsy, specifically the vintage section because that's how I dress. I fell in love with the green one you are about to see and then someone snatched it out from under my nose after I couldn't decide whether to buy it or not. So, here are some pretty freaking adorable dresses and I wish I could buy them all:

$60
I'm still considering this one and I just can't link to it. Unfortunately with shipping it comes out to $80 so I'm procrastinating. Plus, slight pattern which isn't cool for the wedding. BUT! Gorgeous. So gorgeous. (Handmade in the 50s. Die with me.)

Unbelievably Gorgeous 50s Wedding Dress - melsvanity
$78

Please check out this dress. In the pictures it looks pink-ish which is why I clicked on it to begin with, but it's a wedding dress that is absolutely to die for. I love love love the cut around the sholders and the design is gorgeous. I have no reason to buy this except for the fact that it is beautiful, so I'll just look at it.

1960s Teastained Lolita Style Dress - brontosaurusvintage
$66

You need to check out the pictures for the details around the neck for this one. This is so so perfect. bFlat and I were talking about dying white dresses pastel colors, but this dress is so pretty I would be afraid of ruining it.

60s vintage olive Swing dress - RetroLane
$39

Not pastel at all, but !! adorableness!!

Vintage 1950s Peach and White Floral Frilly Dress - GreenEdenVintage
$36

I thought this dress was okay until I saw the back and then I fell in love with it. Too bad the pattern is so obvious.

The Brenda Lee Dress - Thrush
$54 (I think)

Here's my baby! The one that got away! Perfect color. Gorgeous lace. Love the sleeves. I will miss you. By the way, I've fallen in love with this shop. They have all the perfect vintage finds! Isn't the model just the cutest too!

$70

Another definite possiblity for the wedding, so I don't want to give you the link. I know! I'm horrible. Problem is the price which is almost $80 with shipping. Why am I finding perfect dresses for $80!!??The pleating is really growing on me and the color is perfect.

I will probably be kicking myself for posting all these gorgeous finds when I come back and all my lovelies are bought! While they are still out there I can daydream about maybe buying them even though I won't. I am seriously contemplating just going for it and buying all of them. I need new clothes anyway! And, well the prices aren't that bad, for such beautiful, beautiful clothes, right? I would wear them all the time! I promise.

Lord of the Dance

2009-04-12T20:06:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter! The family and I went to church this morning and they played this song called Lord of the Dance. It is a very upbeat song, but it's the lyrics that kill me.

(chorus)
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.

Has anyone heard this before? It was my first time and I died. I'm sorry but I just don't think of Jesus as the Lord of the Dance. I was cracking up in church. I opened the song book and I turned to my sister and said "I don't like this." She started cracking up and singing a long all chipper. The song reminded me of music from this kid video my sister and I used to watch when we were little called Wee Sing in Sillyville. Not because they played the song in the video, but because they played little nursery songs and it sounds like one. Anyone watch these videos? Also, I feel like he's the Pied Piper leading rats away.

The third chorus is the best:

I danced on a Friday
When the sky turned black -
It's hard to dance
With the devil on your back.
They buried my body
And they thought I'd gone,
But I am the Dance,
And I still go on.

Maybe it was wrong to post this on Easter... I love Jesus, I just don't think he's the Lord of the Dance. Anyway... Happy Easter!