Happy Halloween From Your Boyfriend Ryan Gosling

I don't usually go in for celebrity worship, but I'll make an exception for you, Ryan. Why are you so damn virile and mysterious? I'm pretty sure we should make out in the rain. (discovered this video via Martina!)

31 New Things: Attend The Zombie Pubcrawl

What would you say if I told you that I believe that not all holidays are created equal? Sure, I can appreciate the giving and the snow and the excessive food that accompany Christmas. And I do love being pelted with candy during at any given Fourth of July Parade. But, come now. We all know that both of those holidays are the ugly stepsisters to the hottie that is Halloween. Costumes! Candy! Weird scary stuff!

My cohorts and I are so deeply into Halloween that we felt we needed to start with the scaring somewhere around October 10th. (Really I think that wearing a weird costume at any point during October should be acceptable, don't you?) So we joyfully joined in Minneapolis's fifth annual zombie pub crawl. Because drinking is always more fun when you do it with strangers who appear to have rotting flesh.

A bit of photo documentation from Yes and Yes's resident photographer, you say?

Don't we look like an early 90's album cover? The BFF was

a zombie brain surgeoun, Jill was a zombie witch, Mo was

your average Asian horror movie zombie and I was a
Dia de los Meurtos zombie (and yes, I realize that's not

actually a thing. I mostly just wanted big hair with a flower)

Holy yes. Fake blood all over the windows of the bar.
The zombies outside kept tackling the innocent passers-by.

Is this a real zombie? I'm not sure. At one point in the night,
I stood next to a girl dressed in a bloody lace prom dress
who spent fifteen minutes staring into the middle distance and
gnawing on what appeared to be a real bone. Stoned or
hungry for brains? You be the judge.

As the un-dead designated driver, I spent the majority

of the night drinking diet cokes, dancing to Thriller approximately

a million times, trying to speak zombie Spanish and being

concerned my nose makeup was rubbing off. We also played

host to a rubber dismembered arm that we used to elict

high fives from fellow zombies. And from completely weirded

out and overwhelmed people who happened to be in that part of town.

Mario and Luigi zombies! Awesome, no? We also saw

the entire zombified cast of The Wizard of Oz, multiple

Michael Jacksons, a Julia child and a (fake) pregnant zombie

that had baby doll legs sticking out of her stomach. Oh my.

We ended the evening with a delicous serving of brains.

And by 'brains' I mean 'delivery pizza'

Does your city have a zombie pub crawl?

Are you into this whole zombie thing?

Yes and Yes Wants Your Photos!

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Friends! I am in the throws of putting together and printing a lovely and inspiring new Yes and Yes project - and I'd love your help! I'm looking for some talented photographers who'd be interested in donating photos to the cause.

Here's what I'm looking for:

around 800 x 800 pixels
greens, blues, greys and purples

uncluttered composition (like this or this)

And if you're kind enough to send over somthing that's a good fit for the project, here's what's in it for you:
Credit by name and flickr page on the final, printed product

Interview on Yes and Yes, about you, the photo and the story behind it

Link to your blog and/or flickr page

Are you keen? Or do you know anybody that would be? Please send them my way at sarah_vonbargen(at)yahoo(dot) com.

How To Survive a Case of The Uglies

Friends, yesterday I was not a pretty sight. I misplaced my contacts and spent the day rocking some glasses circa 1998, a rather greasy ponytail and a shirt that I thrifted and belatedly discovered was not so much empire-waisted as it was maternity-waisted. My jeans gave me muffin top, my cuff bracelet vacuum sealed itself onto my forearm, and there maaaaay have been a freshly picked spot on my chin. Good lord, the hotness? It was overwhelming.

Not surprisingly, I felt as attractive as three-day-old Chinese take out, and approximately as delicious. So I headed home and engaged in some of my trusted ego-boosting techniques. Not necessarily proven to turn you back into your tanned/five pounds lighter/natural highlights/post-vacation self, but they'll certainly keep you from making a reservation for a pity party for one!

Make a list of all your great traits, physical and otherwise
When confronted with tight jeans and a questionable complexion, it's easy to get hung up on the ways that your appearance is failing you. But what about your great calves? And those adorable freckles? And your ability to quote the entirety of Wedding Crashers ver batim? Not things to be over looked, friend! Make a list of the ways in which you rock and post it somewhere you'll see it every day.

Have a one-person dance party
Sure, dancing (and all physical activity) boosts your endorphins blahblahblah. More importantly, it's wicked fun and silly and will probably make you feel heaps better. I challenge to you rock out to She-Wolf in your ruffled underwear and maintain any sort of grump.

Call someone you love
Your mum, your BFF, your unfailingly positive and funny cousin. Talking to someone that loves you feels good, right?

Have a bit of girly bath time
Maybe immersing yourself in bubble bath and scented oils won't shrink your hips, make your teeth straighter or cure your split ends, but it'll sure make you smell and feel good!

Try a different hair do
Hairstyles make a huuuuge impact on how you look. Now, I know that I look better with swoopy side bangs and that sexily messy hair that takes so long to sexily muss. Despite this, I spend most of my life with my bangs pinned back and my poker-straight hair mashed into a messy bun. But on these ugly days, taking the time to actually (gasp!) style my hair makes all the difference. Blowing your mind here, I know.

Or cover it up
If you can't be bothered to fuss with your hair (or honestly can't do much with it) embrace the hat! Or the headscarf/head band/fascinator. It'll make you feel mysterious and new, I promise.

Get a make-up counter make over

Why not let a professional apply your blue eyeliner for once? It's a fun (and cheap) way to spend 30 minutes and you'll hopefully come out of it looking like a new woman. Maybe a bingo-playing grandma destined for the early-bird special, but a new woman nonetheless.

Check out this photo shoot
Super models who aren't super thin? Yes please! Revel in their curvy hips, adorable tummies and non-toothpick thighs!

Reconsider those features you dislike
Now, I'm not one to advocate pinning your self esteem to your appearance, much less how your appearance compares to what we see in the media. That said, it's pretty likely that the bump in your nose that you hate so much or your wicked curly hair has graced the pages of Vogue at some point. I just googled my abhorred blond eyelashes and found this photo of the lovely Maggie Rizer, sans mascara.

Resist the urge to change into your sweats, try a bit of structure
Sure, your belly roll won't bother you so much once you're wearing your size XXL U of M sweats, but I actually feel better when I add a bit of structure. A big belt cinched tight around my waist, a button-up shirt, or a pair of wedges make me feel a bit more human. Devolving into a slob, comfy though it is, generally doesn't make one feel more attractive, does it?

Play dress up
Remember the dress-up trunk you had as a kid and all the fun you had in those prom dresses? Why don't we treat our closets like that? I don't mean that you should do some of that 'shop in your closet' sensible-ness. Try on the most ridiculous combinations you can find, top it off with some purple eye shadow, a messy top knot and then try to scare your cat. And devotedly hope that your neighbor doesn't pop over to borrow a cup of sugar.

Slap on some color

Sometimes just altering your appearance is enough to feel better. I'm a big fan of ye old 'red lipstick and big sunglasses' trick, but you can probably accomplish the same thing with a big swipe of blush or some epic eyeshadow.

Reference some cute photos of yourself
When you're suffering from the uglies, it's easy to forget that you ever looked hot. This is when you check out those professional photos of yourself I've been banging on about! I know looking at myself all well-lit and touched up, certainly makes me feel better. If you don't have any fancy pro photos, surely you have a few snap shots on facebook that do you justice?

Go read Already Pretty or Daddy Likey
And remember that your body is your friend and that fashion can be fun (and funny!)

What do you do when you're suffering from a case of the uglies?

Web Time Wasters

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Come now! It's a) hump day b) four days before The Best Holiday Ever. Like you're doing anything other than thinking about your costume and all the candy you're going to eat! So why don't you peruse these links while you do that?

This house tour pulls at my heart strings - feminine, a little bit weird and full of Asian inspiration. Okay, I love this other house tour, too!

If you're anything like me (aka a voracious reader and a compulsive organizer) you'll love librarything. You can create a searchable catalog of your books, get recommendations based on your taste and chat with others who like the same stuff. Win/win/win!

I love this demin and leather layout - bonus points for cheeky t-shirts and gorgeous sweaters.

I haaaate exposing my goodies through those gaping holes in button-down shirts. Luckily someone invented No See'Ums.

A taxidermied squirrel that is dressed as Queen Victoria?! For only $495?!

For those among us who are map-impaired, did you know that you can dial 'DIR-ECT-IONS' (347-328-4667) from your cell phone and request any address ... and you'll get a free text message with directions?! Seriously, you guys? This discovery just saved me from buying a satellite navigation system.

Another stop to add to my list of places to visit next? The island of Ikaria, Greece.

In our generation, if it hasn't been documented on film/the internet it didn't happen, right? Apartment Therapy has some great tips for how to take better travel photos. So now even those shots of your trip to Cincinnati to look at colleges will impress your friends.

I love this decor/interior shoot - it's circus inspired! All the fun of the big top without the creepy carnies or the animal cruelty!

If you're not addicted to it already, you need to check out Bronx Princess, a documentary that follows Rocky, a 17-year-old New Yorker as she's reunited with her father, a chief in Ghana. So.damn.good.

If you have an etsy shop, partake in wardrobe remix or just like to post your photos on the interwebz, here's a great tutorial on photo styling for your website.

If you love a) living in other countries b) houses you need to check out 11 Incredible Homes From Around The World Under $50,000. Wow!

I do love a good documentary and Good Hair looks like a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

What's playing in your ear these days? I'm all over Jack Penate's Pull My Heart Away, Animal Collective's Summertime Clothes, Pete Yorn and ScarJo's Relator and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zero's Home.

What links are you loving these days?

Dr. Seuss Style

Fashion inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes, right? Why not find some in everybodies' favorite children's books!

The Star Bellied Sneetches
Though Star did, in fact, have a star tattooed on her adorably rounded tummy, she didn't think less of those people who didn't have stars upon thars. She enjoyed showing her many tattoos to the kiddos that she babysat and making the star dance by utilizing some of the moves she'd learned in belly dancing class. However, this habit came to an abrupt end when a mum discovered that the children had taken to drawing body art on each other with permanent markers.

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
Though Bertie certainly had a thing for hats, she thought it was a bit unfair when her mother accused her of having 500. For Pete's sake! She had 50! At most! What had started off as a way to cover up a regretable set of bangs had grown into her go-to accessory. Bertie had hats for every occasion - the races, the beach, the opening of a new pet store. Really, a girl could should never be underdressed, should she?



Daisy-Head Mayzie
Mayzie was the sort of girl who constantly wore strange things in her hair - feathers, flowers, forks, licorice sticks. Her friends and classmates loved to pretend that they needed something, to plaintively enquire if she happened to have an extra pen or a stick of gum hidden somewhere in her mass of curls. More often than not, she did. Her mother had long since given up trying to make Mayzie wash her hair, as these requests were generally met with a wink and knowing tug of the earlobe.



The Cat In The Hat

Everyone knew that Catherine was a force to be reckoned with. She brought her two poorly trained long-haired Chihuahaus (Thing 1 and Thing 2) with her where ever she went and would laugh uproariously while they humped your leg and ate your Jimmy Choos. She was the sort of friend you'd invite over to brighten up a rainy day, but not to dinner with your grandparents. However, her bad bahavior was continuously forgiven as she was too damn cute to stay mad at.

What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Dear Letters, I Love You

Snail mail is amazing when you stop and think about it, isn't it? Imagine someone offering you 44 cents to take their piece of paper thousands of miles and drop it through the tiny gold slot of their friend's house. I don't know about you, but I would want at least five dollars to do such a thing. And maybe a cookie.

It is not an exaggeration to say that getting an actual letter or post card or (be still my heart!) a package makes my week. You guys may remember that I'm all over the post cards, but there are so many other ways to celebrate the wonder that is the postal service! Let's take a gander, shall we?

It's possible that artist Riitta Ikonen loves

sending things almost as much as I do. Between

2004 and 2006 she sent 100 postcards to her friend

Margaret. And by 'postcards' I mean 'sachets of hair,

white powder, hair, fish and a piece of a broken record.'

Apparently, only three of cards ever failed to reach

Margaret!

If you are soooo over plain white envelopes,

why not use this template to make cool envelopes

out of pretty magazine pages?

Wooden postcards! So.damn.cute.

I'd want to use these to impress my postcrossing

pen pal. If I had one.

The world's tiniest post office! For $8 you can

have your normal letter transcribed (by hand!)

into this tiny format. Leafcutter Designs will even

give it a tiny wax seal with your initials and then

mail it to your chosen destination. Along with a wee

little magnifying glass!

In the event that you were wondering what

to get me for Christmas, the above necklace

would suffice nicely, thank you.

Another great DIY envelope idea!

Old book pages, sewn together. Your days are

numbered, manila envelope.

Squee! Design Sponge has a great DIY to

make your own wax seal. Wouldn't it be

hilarious to seal your electric bills and school
loan repayments like this?

Are you in love with the postal service?

Ever get anything strange in the mail?

The Great Panty Migration

What?! Yes. Didn't you know that underwear flew south for the Winter? I find this oddly sweet!

We'll Figure It Out

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A Nameplate Necklace! For You!

Things that I'm a fan of:

a) Cupcakes and Mace, the blog

b) Ms. Constantine who runs said blog

c) The great laser cut jewelry that she sells through her etsy shop.

A bit of info on Ms. Constantine you say?
Name: Kim or Ms Constantine, the alter ego in my head is Mace.

Locale: Wellington, New Zealand

Inspirations: Bloggers, street fashions, cuteness, colours

Favorite Cheese: Blue brie

Advice for fellow artists and writers: Do what you love, love what you do. In the face of harsh critics alwaysremember that art is subjective.

What you'd wear this necklace with: A low v-neck in a shade opposite to the necklace, pencil skirt, leggings, and brightly coloured sneakers. Rockabilly scene crossover goodness.

Aren't we lucky that she's giving away a custom-made nameplate necklace to one very lucky reader? What's more, you can choose from 13 different colors and 4 different fonts. Oh My!

To enter, pop over to Kim's etsy shop and then leave a comment telling us what you'd want your necklace to say! As for me, I'd go for a clear necklace in courier font that said "Ms. Von" so I could point at it and glare if my students ever got cheeky.

Good luck!

A Love Letter to New Zealand

If you're from New Zealand, have ever been there or like The Lord of the Rings/Flight of The Conchords/rugby you should probably pop over to Lovelorn Unicorn and check out my nearly exhaustive list of all the things one could love about those two islands. I only lived there for a year and a half, but I think that's long enough to begin a love affair that will last a lifetime, don't you?

How To Go Vegetarian (Without Alienating Everybody or Only Eating Peanut Butter)

Dear Sarah Von,
I am a vegetarian who lives in a small town. We are starting to get more soy/tofu products but I still feel limited when it comes to food. I was wondering, what are some of your favorite meals/recipes? How do you deal with being a vegetarian in a non-vegetarian world?

Dear Sarah Von,
Why did you become a vegetarian? I'd love to read a post on that.

Becoming A Vegetarian
Just like starting anything new, it's good to slowly ease into it - eating a a few meatless meals every week, experimenting with fake meat products, avoiding the meat aisle at the grocery store. While it's not the case for me, a lot of new vegetarians report feeling a bit tired and mopey when they're trying to get off The Meat, so make sure you're getting enough sleep, taking your vitamins and being a bit more gentle with yourself.

Knowing How Much Protein You Need
Before you remove all the meat from your diet, it's a good idea to calculate what your daily protein intake should be. It varies significantly from person to person and if you're Suzy Beansalot, then you might not even need to up your protein intake. Sparkpeople is a great place to run these numbers and keep track of how you're doing.

Getting Enough Protein
I grew up in the sort of town that didn't even have basil in the produce department, so you can imagine that meat substitutes were nonexistent. But you can get plenty of protein from stuff that's widely available, even in Middleofnowhere, MN. Beans are super cheap and provide a lot more protein that tofu, even! I love this super simple black bean soup, beans and rice, hummus and vegetarian chili. Also, I cannot recommend the Fantastic brand boxed chili mix enough - even if it creates gas so bad that you can't eat if for lunch at the office.

Tofu does have a decent amount of protein in it, but it can be hard to find and a bit of a pain to cook with. If I'm using it, I usually use the silken variety and incorporate it into yummy desserts like chocolate pudding or tofu cheesecake. (I'm totally that person who brings tofu dishes to small-town potlucks and then when people have complimented me on them I get all "Ha! There was tofu in it!" And then they never speak to me again.)

If you can find quinoa at your local co-op or health food store you've got it made. Quinoa is cool for multiple reasons. A) it is an ancient Andean grain B) it is the only non-meat complete protein C) it's pronounced keen-wha D) you can eat it all the time, with everything, or maybe even with a fox in a box. I even it it for breakfast! You can use it in place of couscous in any recipe, as a side dish or a main. I really love this recipe with garlic and thyme and this one for quinoa vegetable soup.

If you're really rushed for time and protein, just drink a protein shake. Really! There are actually some yummy ones out there these days. I quite like the chocolate and vanilla varieties of Body Fortress. I swear that if you can get past that ridiculous name, it's really pretty good!

Getting Enough Iron
If you give up meat, there's also a chance that you won't be getting enough iron. You can certainly take iron supplements, but for some reason they give me terribly stomach aches, so I opt out. Instead I (try to) eat heaps of spinach, nuts and the occasional spoonful of molasses. I love this spinach strawberry salad and this spinach and pasta recipe. Here's a list of other iron-rich foods if spinach isn't your bag.

Eating Out As a Vegetarian
Not eating out is one of my secrets to living a champagne life on something of a beer budget, and being a vegetarian makes it even easier. When you're vegetarian and you're eating at a traditional American restaurant, you're usually limited to soup, salad and pasta ... and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay $12 for something I could make at home for $3. As such, I usually opt for Asian, Indian or Middle Eastern food instead. It addition to being more veggie friendly, it's usually cheaper, more fun, more flavorful and healthier, too! That's, like, a win/win/win/win situation.

When People Ask You About Being Vegetarian ...
If you made the choice to become a vegetarian, you probably had a good reason for it, right? And, on multiple occasions, you will surely be called upon to discuss your decision. There are heaps of reasons that people don't eat meat: maybe they want to save money, lose weight, reduce their carbon foot print, observe their faith's teachings on the subject, support animal rights or, like me, they just don't like meat. Whatever your reason for going veg, you should be prepared to talk about it in a calm and articulate manner. Because if you ever go to rural Minnesota someone will probably call you a Gawdam Hippie and tell you that you're personally responsible for the plight of the failing family farm.

But I digress.

People are often genuinely interested to know about your choice and it's nice to be able talk about it in some manner other than "but baby cows are soooooo ceeeee-ute!"

Not Alienating Everybody
Now. This is certainly not the case with everyone, but (like new converts to anything) the newbie vegetarian can occasionally be a total pain in the ass. You know who I'm talking about. That girl who would sit next to you at the cafeteria table in 9th grade while you ate peperoni pizza and shrill "It's not any different than eating your cat! I bet you'd do that too, wouldn't you!?" Or that co-worker who insists on telling you that marshmallows are made from cow hooves.

And while these arguments carry some weight, they're not going to win you any dinner party invites. We all have our causes. Some people picket. Some people donate money. Some people change their eating habits. Who am I to say that my particular habits are any better than a meat-eater's? I could be eating all the veggies I want and drive a gas-guzzling SUV, shop exclusively at Wal-mart and kick puppies in my spare time. Eating habits do not a martyr make.

When people ask me why I'm a vegetarian I explain that I've just never really liked meat and that since I've been a vegetarian for so long, I've gotten out of the habit of eating it. I might also add that since going veggie I've learned that avoiding meat has a huge impact on my carbon foot print, which is a pleasant side effect to something I was already doing.

Are you a vegetarian? Have you ever tried to be one?

(have a question about life/cheese/decor/cat show? Do email me at sarah_vonbargen (at) yahoo (dot) com!)

31 New Things: Get A Brazilian

Hmmm. How does one write about something like this while attempting to maintain any amount of dignity? And while acknowledging the fact that her mom/aunts/co-workers read this blog?

By resorting to haiku. Naturally.

Sugaring is good.
Didn't scream, but broke a sweat.
Useful in Summer?

Have you ever gotten a brazilian? Would you ever?

Frame? Lame!

As you guys know, I'm a huge advocate of displaying photos - it's a great way to happy-fy your space and remind you of all the fantastic things you've done, right? Or maybe remind you not to get bangs again. Or date men that look like Brad Pitt.

But the framed photo? It's been done to death, don't you think? Look at all these other great ways to display your photos! (as per the usual, links embedded in photos)

Photo push pins! So much cuter than
plastic ones, hmmmm?

Of course Martha has a plan for photos,
namely stamping the back to turn them
into postcards.

If you have any polaroids that didn't turn
out, why not make them into a super cute banner like this?

Decoupage + tiny family cut outs = ceee-ute!

So easy and clever! Twine and bulldog clips

This photo mobile is great, isn't it? I'd love to

add in some notes/postcards/autumn leaves

for a slightly messier look

I love displaying all my photos and cards and

ticket stubs together and feeling smug about

all the fun stuff I've done. Well, the fun stuff and

the state fair. Which are not the same thing.

I will now commence stealing this idea. Cooler and

cheaper than a store-bought scrapbook by far!

Best.wall art.evar.

Do you display lots of photos in your space?

Any clever ideas about how to do it?

Oh Hai! Care To Sponsor Yes and Yes?

Hello Friends! Would you like a sweet little corner of Yes and Yes to showcase your wares/blog/sweet little face? Well, just such corners are currently up for grabs at very resonable rates. Yes and Yes has lots of friends, play well with others and has even been occasionally known to share her pudding cup during recess.

Please do drop me a line if you're interested in rates, sponsoring a giveaway, or sending me (interesting, ethical, reader-worthy) things to consider. I constantly check my email at sarah_vonbargen (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Struggling

31 New Things: Go To A Cat Show

My initial purpose for attending the Twin Cities Cat Fanciers' Annual Cat Show was 80% sociological experiment, 10% love for cats (my cat Putin does have his own jet after all) and 10% quest to see a sphynx cat in real life so I could tell it that it looked like a hand.

Okay, and I really like Best In Show and I was hoping I'd see some sort of meltdown over a bumblebee squeaker toy. And by and large? The cat show didn't disappoint. There were lots of ladies wearing cat sweatshirts, all sort of crazy breeds (including my new favorite, the Scottish fold), every cat-related product you could ever imagine and a million kittens for sale for approximately a million dollars a piece. But let's let the pictures do the talking!

Are you jealous of my cat stroller?
There is actually a woman in my neighborhood

who uses one of these. Her cats always

look rather surprised to find themselves

being rolled through the streets of St. Paul.

In the event that you were unsure how cats are shown,

as they can't really trot around in a circle on a leash,

this is how they do it.

1) Pull cat out of show-ring cage

2) Try to talk about cat's marking and breed while cat

squirms and, if we're lucky, hisses

3) Pat the angry cat's head while it glares hatefully

4) Spray down showing platform while bantering with the audience,

making cat-related puns and telling cat-show inside jokes

5) Repeat

Um, what? Cat bibs. Yes. All the long-haired cats

seemed to be wearing these. Probably so that

they wouldn't get barbecue sauce all down their

shirts when they were eating ribs.

Why, yes, that is a gold sparkly, black lace

holding pen for a Persian cat! But, you know how Persians are,

always need sparkles on the everything.

See!? Cat bib! And this dude really seems to

like his. I probably should have bought one for my cat,

based on this guy's endorsement.

However, I must warn you. If you go to a cat show hoping that there's a talent portion in which a pair of cat ladies sings a feline-friendly rendition of God Loves a Terrier, you'll be sorely disappointed. Maybe they're saving that for Nationals.

Have you even been to a cat or dog show? Would you go to one?

How To Buy The Perfect Vintage Coat

This is an incredibly useful post from the always helpful Tara over at Nothing Elegant. And you know she's a girl after my own heart - what with my obsession with vintage eskimo parkas and what not!

Most of us have at least one irresistible obsession, and mine happens to be outerwear. Not the naughtiest addiction ever, but it's an addiction nonetheless! I just can't seem to say no to a good trench, blazer, peacoat, military jacket, or swing coat. I'm inexplicably attracted to faux fur, rhinestone buttons, bell sleeves, and funnel necks. Yes, I've got a problem, but luckily I've learned to indulge my habit without breaking the bank! Over the years, I've realized that the best way to keep my coat compulsion satisfied is to stick to buying vintage.

Why I Buy Vintage
:: From classic 50's swing coats to avant-garde 80's cocoon coats, there is a breathtaking array of styles and silhouettes available out there.
:: In my experience, the price for a great vintage coat is, on average, at least 50 percent less than a newer version...and in today's economy, that is saying a lot!
:: Vintage outerwear is often made with better materials and craftsmanship: just imagine how expensive a brand new coat made with thick wool or velvet, silk lining, glass buttons, and little details like brocade trim or rhinestones would cost at a department store.
:: I'm helping the environment by not contributing to waste! This is an added bonus to buying vintage -- why buy something new when there are already so many options available?

Of course buying vintage can be daunting: Where do I start? What about condition? And what about...that musty smell? Here are some of my tried-and-true tips...

Tips on Buying Vintage
:: Have a budget in mind and stick to it. I rarely spend over $60 for a coat, and for a jacket I keep it to around $15-$25. But the budget will depend on a variety of factors, like your area (vintage is more costly in bigger cities), as well as the material and age of the coat.
:: Ask questions! If you're buying from a thrift store,you're on your own, but if you're buying from a vintage dealer, get as much information as you can to help you make your decision.
:: Check for stains -- getting rid of stains on vintage fabric can be daunting and difficult. Unless the stain is on the lining where no one will notice, I usually shy away from the purchase.
:: Check the lining. Lining can be replaced, but sometimes changing the lining can cost as much as the coat itself --just weight the cost/repair ratio before deciding {and if you are a masterful sewer, then you are good to go!}.
:: Check the smell -- because of the thicker fabric,vintage coats seem to hold a musty smell. This can often be removed with a simple dry-cleaning. Ask your dry cleaner for their advice if you have concerns about the fabric holding up. Dryel sheets are also a good, inexpensive way to get musty smells out of fabrics.
:: Check the details, like buttons, buckles, etc. Most things can be fixed or replaced, but you always want to be sure you are aware of the work you will need to put into it before buying.

Places to Start Your Own Vintage Outerwear Addiction
:: Thrift stores! Some of my best vintage coat finds were at Goodwill and Salvation Army.

:: Vintage store and boutiques. While these will be a bit pricier, the quality is typically more consistent and the items will usually be cleaned and mended.

:: Estate sales -- if you're into waking up early and beating the crowds.

:: Ebay is the place to go for great deals without leaving the comfort of your sofa. Search by era, material, style, etc.

:: Etsy has a gorgeous selection...and superfriendly sellers. Just for a taste, check out Good Grace, Dear Golden, Cassie's Attic, Thrush and Bad Girl Vintage.

Good Luck and Happy Shopping!

Are you addicted to vintage coats? Any other tips to share?

For The Love Of Tights

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See how much fun this girl is having in her tights? I love my tights that much, too! And now that it's officially Fall, it's time to break out our sock-pants and have at it, yes? If you're keen to see a few new ways to wear tights (and hear me wax philisophical about how they mash in my soft bits) please do pop over to Nothing Elegant for my guest post!

How To Become A Morning Person (Or At Least Fake It)

Would you hate me if I told you that I'm one of those awful morning people? Most days I pop out of bed completely awake, all full of intention and purpose and eye boogers. I'll be the one chattering glibly in your ear while you try not to punch me in the throat. But of course, I wasn't always this way. I spent most of my childhood waiting till the last possible moment to leave my bed and most of college growling at people who dared talk to me before 10 am. The nerve!

Now, I'm not sure that a dyed-in-the-wool night owl will ever be able to cross over completely to the land of Brightandearly, but there are a few things that can help you ease into your day with as few curse words as possible.

Sleep Well
Blowing your mind, aren't I? But mornings are obviously less painful if you can wake up feeling rested. You probably know all the tricks already, but they bear repeating: go to bed and wake up at the same time, sleep in a dark, slightly cool room, don't do exercise/watch exciting TV/read exciting books right before bed, make sure you're getting enough aerobic exercise, don't drink caffeine after 4 pm, sleep in something comfy, have the right pillows and mattress, etc etc. If you're looking for something to help you sleep, try some Chamomile tea, a bit of lavender aromatherapy or any of these other natural sleep aids.

Get the right alarm
Of course you're going to be an unpleasant breakfast partner if you wake up to a shrieking alarm clock! Why not try a dawn simulator (I swear by mine) or setting your phone to wake you with something lovely and sparkling? I like Chicago by Sufjan Stevens, but you could use chirping birds, Feist or robot noises if that's your thing. You can get alarm clocks that vibrate you awake and even one that you turn off by shooting it with a retro video game gun! Or you can just leave you bedroom door open and awaken to your cat licking your face.

Make your morning as relaxed as possible
Again, you're obviously bound to hate mornings if you're only allowing yourself 15 minutes to shower, get dressed and eat breakfast. This might seem counter intuitive, but I actually enjoy mornings more when I get up earlier and give myself plenty of time to read blogs, eating a nice breakfast and try on seven different scarves. I try to save a variety of little treats for myself in the morning - really nice Greek yogurt, swanky good-smelling Aveda hair products, a really good cup of peppermint tea. They all make the morning a bit nicer!

If you can't manage to wake up any earlier, channel your second-grade self and pack your lunch, shower and choose your outfit the night before. You'll save yourself a) time b) a headache.

Engage in some non-threatening physical activity
You guys? I'm not going to recommend that you work out first thing in the morning. I mean, it is a really good idea, but I wouldn't do it so why encourage you to do so? However, I do love a good three-minute stretch, a few rounds of the sun salutation or even just rocking out to my favorite song. I can very highly recommend The Knux or Wild Beasts for the latter! If there's any way that you can walk or bike to work, it is not an exaggeration that it will change your life. It's so lovely to see the sunrise against the skyscrapers and arrive at work all pink-cheeked and awake.

When in doubt, add caffeine
Really, a cup of coffee or strong tea can make all the difference, right? Of course, developing a 9-cup caffeine addiction isn't particularly advisable but a single cup in the morning never hurt anybody. Of course, you can also get an energy boost from a bit of deep breathing, a hand full of peanuts, drinking a big glass of cold water or singing a few bars of your favorite song.

Are you a morning person? How do you perk up in the morning?

A Winner!

Friends, I paddled my hand in a bowl full of names and pulled out the very lucky La Belle Fille! The lucky lady prefers the black and goldenrod number to wear with her light wash, wide leg jeans and a white tank and red tank. Cute, right?

Thanks for playing ladies! Yes and Yes has another cute giveaway coming up in a few weeks, so your lucky clovers/horseshoes/underwear at the ready.

Small Things