Fashion Friday #1

Hooray it's July! I hope you're having as nice weather as we're having this summer. It's been warm and sunny almost every day which means one thing... sundresses! I love to look through the vintage section on Etsy for well priced and super cute dresses but since I'm officially on a spending hiatus I thought I'd share some finds with you this morning.

7 Sweet Sundresses Under $30

Red Polka Dot Dress from TheOwlsGo $18


Secret Garden Maxi Dress from roseredwinter $28


Kauai Orchid Halter Dress from mimisgamine $23


Tie Strap Tied Dress from LittleGirlVintage $18


Yellow Floral Sundress from QsDaydream $25


80's Lanz Sundress from wearitoutvintage $28


Red Floral Day Dress by labellevintage $17

Feel free to share your favourite vintage dresses in the comments, I'd love to see them! I have a lot more saved for a future post.

Monday Monday

I'm not usually a fan of Monday (insert lame Garfield joke here) but I have to say I'm glad it's a new week. The past week has been surreal, I had too much going on, spent too much time online and watched too much TV about Michael Jackson.. which means I didn't get enough done. But a new week is a new start and another chance to work on the never ending to-do list that is running your own shop.

Randy is moving in on the weekend of the 11th/12th and I am excited! I'm also going to be very busy over the next two weeks cleaning out the storage closet (groan) so that there's room for all his stuff. I'm pretty sure that after a couple months in the teeny tiny basement apartment we'll want to move but we're going to try it first. It's nice and quiet here and better the devil you know, right?

My shop needs some new stock but I've been busy working on wholesale and custom orders. They are my priority and actually I like them the best. It's very satisfying to complete a large order and I find the work relaxing. I really love to sew but I find the actual shop keeping kind of daunting, the photo editing and writing listings can be really difficult. I'm currently working on a 400 piece wholesale order which is going to take up the majority of my summer but I'm going to try to put up a few new purses and totes and of course keep my card cases well stocked up.

I'm offering a special deal for anyone interested in a bulk order of cases, buy any 20 cases for $50. I've also got a 3/$10 offer in my shop. You can find more info here.

Boo, Forever

Yesterday @sleepingpoet asked what our favourite poem was, which was a nice diversion from the media madness that is Michael Jackson. I have three poems that are dear to my heart for three different reasons but my absolute favourite is Boo, Forever by Richard Brautigan. It is short and sweet and the first time I read it it took my breath away.



Boo, Forever
by Richard Brautigan

Spinning like a ghost
on the bottom of a
top,
I'm haunted by all
the space that I
will live without
you.

I love poetry and writing, maybe not the way I did when I was younger, when I dreamed of being an english major. (Something I'm glad I didn't do now since I'd be in the exact same situation minus $20k or so...) I logged in to an old old forum where I used to post, many lives ago, and found some of my own poems this morning. It's kind of amazing to me to read these words now and realize that I put them together. I always wanted to make a chapbook, maybe I should.

once swaying, she says no more,
can't find a voice of reason in the
broken floral dishes that
line the dirty floor, and

ohlove, how you did once,
those lace covered legs danced around me
so beautifully, grass stained
to fall on bended knee,
pointing straight to heaven
singing stars for me, and

ohlove, this other side of lonely
is starting to fade, to cave
in on me.
- 2003 (for my grandmother, who had died of cancer that winter.)

There is more here, if you're curious too.

If you are poetry inclined please share you favourites (yours or others) in the comments, I would love to read them.

Third Time Is The Charm.

Hello again blog world.. I've decided to make another attempt at regular blogging. I used to be quite the avid blogged back in the day (when my life was more.. exciting) but had since found myself with little to say. Who wants to read about an agoraphobic girl and her cat? I've noticed a big increase in my tweeting though so I think I'm finally feeling like talking again. Being quiet for too long isn't good.

I've wanted to blog for a while now but wasn't sure what theme to take on, if it should have some kind of greater purpose, like featuring indie sellers or fashion or gluten free cooking or if it should just be a personal blog with a bit of everything. I've decided not to have a theme because I have a lot of different things to talk about - agoraphobic, celiac disease, sewing, starting my life with Randy, etc. The emphasis in my life is on self improvement and finding happiness and that's what I'm going to share.

There's lots of exciting things happening this year - I'm 30 now and I love it. LOVE it. Everything has finally come together for me. I struggled for years with anxiety and depression, stomach issues and agoraphobia. It's been very difficult. It wasn't just an issue of facing my fears and desensitizing myself to panic attacks, I had chronic stomach issues that triggered the panic and I knew if I could figure out what was making me sick I could finally find the end of the cycle I was stuck in. It took 15 years (I had a housebound period for about 6 of those 15) but finally I've been diagnosed properly with celiac disease and after two months on my gluten free diet I can go to more places than I have in years. (Can you believe there was a time not too long ago when I couldn't go into the fabric store? Sadness!) Every day is a challenge, and I don't want to fall back into old habits and become complacent with just getting by so this is my promise to myself, that I will keep trying until I reach my goal of being free of agoraphobia, getting my drivers license and living a "normal" life.

I'm getting ready for another big change too, Randy is moving in with me in three weeks. This will be the third time (the charm, we hope) and will signify the start of our "adult" life. (Better late than never..) We were waiting for him to graduate school and he has and is now working downtown at an architectural firm. We were going to get married but I think we're just going to sign the common law papers for now. You can file for common law status in Manitoba and you then have the same rights as a married couple, can change your last name, etc. One of the reasons is that I don't feel ready for a wedding - not a marriage, I feel totally ready to be married to Randy - but I have a lot of anxiety about having a wedding ceremony. It's silly I know but the thought of having a panic attack during my wedding makes me sad.

It's nice to be honest with myself, for once. I'm happy to be writing again, more for myself than an audience but it's always nice to find kindred spirits who are living through the same situations. It makes this life a lot more enjoyable, and that's the one thing my life has been missing.

Delicious Gluten Free Biscuits!

I've been Gluten Free for one week today & I'm feeling great! I've only had a few moments of utter frustration trying to prepare dinner or find ingredients. I don't recommend trying to make GF pizza dough while someone is eating a delivery pizza right in front of you as your first baking experiment. Otherwise I can't complain too much.



This morning I made my first GF biscuits and I'm happily surprised with how good they are. I followed the recipe exactly, except I substituted flax seed meal for the xanthan gum. I was a bit worried that I would have hockey pucks or have to throw them out but they were light and fluffy and had a really nice slightly sweet taste. I ate mine fresh from the oven with peanut butter. Yum.

The recipe is from the Canada/Kiwi Bed and Breakfast Site.

Gluten-Free Biscuits

1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup white rice flour
1/4 cup corn starch (or potato starch)
1/2 cup tapioca flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil (avoid olive oil)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated cheese (optional, and if using cheddar cheese, use white cheddar, as other cheddars are not necessarily GF)

Mix all dry ingredients together well. Add other ingredients. Mix well. Drop on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake in 400 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 6 large or 12 small biscuits.

If you want to substitute flax seed meal use equal amounts (1 teaspoon in this recipe) and let the entire mixture stand for 10-20 minutes before you scoop onto the cookie sheet.

Pay It Forward Contest Winners!

Winner
Originally uploaded by ©Pacifist

It's time to announce the winners of the Pay It Forward contest! There's a bit of an April Fools twist to it though..

The three of us (I had my mom help out too) liked every story so much that we decided to make everyone a winner! So congrats to fauxtograph, Melissa, Karley, Claudine, bipolarbear, spazspun, lesliecooper, corrinekenner and Taina! You will all be receiving the card case of your choice. I'll be contacting everyone throughout the day.

I want to thank you all for sharing your stories with us, and for giving a little bit of yourself to someone else. Even the smallest gesture can make a huge impact! Thanks also to everyone who tweeted and helped me promote my contest and left comments - it was appreciated and it inspires me to know I've helped inspire others.

I've decided to have another contest in May for a bookshelf bird, so keep up the good work guys! :)

ps: If I haven't contacted you yet, please email your address to ohsoretro AT gmail dotcom! I wasn't able to track down every through their blogger profiles. Thanks!

Pay It Forward

I've been feeling very lucky lately. Or maybe it's blessed.

I helped a little old lady in the grocery store a few weeks ago and since then good things have been happening to me. Two other little old ladies had cut in front of her while she ran to grab something she had forgotten, and she returned to find her cart pushed out of the way. Instead of making a scene she just stood there looking confused and panicked. I had seen the entire thing and even though we'd already been waiting in line a while I asked her if she would like to go ahead of us. She was so relieved and told us that she was worried she would miss her bus. When we were standing in our new places she came over to me, put her tiny weathered hand on mine and whispered in my ear that she always meets the good people when she goes out. "Even when I want to complain I don't, because I always meet the good people." It's funny how something so simple can have such a profound impact.

To thank all the good people out there I'm going to be giving away THREE card cases from my shop, your choice. You can keep it for yourself or give it to a friend. All you have to do is tell me something nice you've done to help someone lately. If you haven't done anything nice now's your chance, go out and make someones life better & then tell me about it. Three winners will be picked by me & Randy on April 1st. (No this isn't a joke!) Anyone can enter & you can only win once.

Make sure to include your favourite card case in your comment! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=10892§ion_id=5050579

Happy Birthday

50.365
Originally uploaded by ohsoretro

So another year is winding down & that means it's time to do the annual year in review meme... although to be honest I don't think this will be the most interesting year to review seeing as how I can't really remember anything that happened. :)

2008 Year In Review

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Ate tomatoes. (told you it wasn't an exciting year...) Got a cat. Had a real grown up dinner party. Saved money.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Most of them, except giving up caffeine. I gave up giving up caffeine though. I did challenge my agoraphobia and was finally able to eat in restaurants, lost weight and maintained a healthier diet and spent less time online. I didn't get my teeth fixed. I wanted to save enough money for a new kitchen table set too and I did but won't be buying it until we move in the spring.

2009 resolutions are to not buy anything until I need it (clothing, supplies, food, etc), to read more, to stop using emoticons (seriously) and to get my drivers license. And to get my teeth fixed. I'm not holding my breath on that one though.


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin had a baby boy. Ryan and Odessa had a baby boy. Laura and Ben and Robb and Kirsten are expecting in the spring. I got a cat, which is close enough for me.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
It was a good death free year.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A nicer place to live with Randy, with a dishwasher and balcony. More time with friends.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Probably the day the townhouse caught fire.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hitting 1000 sales on Etsy.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Had to borrow money from my parents one month to pay the rent.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Had a wicked flu in the spring, lost 15 lbs which kick started my new health consciousness. Salad is my friend.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmm... I don't think I made any large purchases this year.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Randy did really well at his co-op job and was asked to be a full time staff member next spring when he graduated. My brother took a vacation by himself to deal with his agoraphobia. My parents are finally happy in thier new house. I wasn't lazy.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Same answer as the last 8 yrs, George Bush.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, cat food, interfacing

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Obama!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
future of the left - the lord hates a coward
fleet foxes - blue ridge mountains
marnie stern - the package is wrapped

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder? happier
ii. Thinner or fatter? thinner
iii. richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Hanging out with friends, going out.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Playing Packrat.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With a lot of food.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My mom.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
5 yr anniversary in June 08 <3

23. How many one-night stands?
365.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Nancy Grace haha. I'm addicted to that shit.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is weak.

26. What was the best book you read?
Pride & Predjudice

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Future of the Left

28. What did you want and get?
A cat to keep away the mice.

29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Probably Step Brothers. No Country for Old Men, Religulous and Kung Fu Panda were good too.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 30 and I had a lovely dinner with my fiance to celebrate my oldness.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
It involved a lot of dresses and tights in the summer and jumpers and turtlenecks in the winter.

33. What kept you sane?
Wine. Books. Mr Boots.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I had Obama fever. Also had a crush on Craig Ferguson.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Canadian and the US elections.

36. Who did you miss?
I would have liked to have spent more time with my friends but otherwise I was ok this year.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Jamie.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Drama breeds drama. Mind your own business and let others mind theirs. Quiet is good.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I pull back a bow towards the crowds.
I cannot stop even if it is allowed.
I spell your name out in the sand are you proud?
The arrow arches and it comes pouring down

There are dimensions I must enter to see what I am made of.
There are dimensions I must enter to see what I am made of.
The sea, these things I see, blow through.
What's right, this thing I fight, is good

Is there no way out of my mind?
I see beautiful and shimmering signs.
The Celtic Knights are calling me from behind.
You rearrange your mind, you rearrange your mind
Marnie Stern - The Package is Wrapped

Bread for Everybody!

Pan para todos (Bread for everybody)
Originally uploaded by madriguera

Since it's so cold and snowy out I've been in the mood to bake. Yesterday we made an amazing lemon pound cake for my birthday (yum) and today I'm going to whip up a batch of whole wheat honey bread to have for breakfast tomorrow morning with my boyfriend who is staying over this weekend.

Here's my 2 favourite Wholewheat Honey recipes - the bread is delicious when cut into thick slices and toasted, then slathered with warm butter and peanut butter. For reference I make my dough in a bread machine on the dough setting, then remove it and proceed as a regular dough but you can alter the recipe to either bake in a bread machine or to be made entirely by hand.

100% Whole Wheat Honey Bread

1 1/4C Water
2 tbsp. shortening (I use margarine)
1 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. salt
3 1/4C Whole wheat flour
1 1/4 tsp. yeast

1) measure ingredients into the baking pan in the proper order (water, shortening, honey, molasses, salt, flour, yeast)
2) select dough setting (the 2 hour setting, 1 hour mix 1 hour rise)
3) when dough is complete remove from pan onto lightly floured surface, punch down and kneed several times.
4) shape dough and place in glass bread pan
5) cover and let rise for 2 hours in a warm spot (I use the oven)
6) preheat oven to 350, bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.


Honey Wheat Sandwich Rolls

1 1/4 C warm milk
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp. butter, softened
1/4 C honey
3/4 tsp. salt
2 3/4 C white (bread) flour
1 C whole wheat flour
1 1/4 tsp yeast
topping: 2 tbsp melted butter or olive oil

1) measure ingredients into the baking pan in the proper order (milk, egg, butter, honey, salt, flours, yeast)
2) select dough setting (the 2 hour setting, 1 hour mix 1 hour rise)
3) when dough is complete remove from pan onto lightly floured surface and roll out to 3/4" thick.
4) Cut out rolls with a 3" or 4" biscuit cutter (or glass dipped in flour) and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
5) Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.
6) When rolls are finished baking brush with melted butter or olive oil.


Enjoy!

My Etsy Christmas List

After spending too much time online this morning and incessantly tweeting Etsy finds to my followers, who I am sure are sick of me already and it's not even noon, I decided to put together a little list of Etsy finds that I wouldn't mind finding under my Christmas tree this year. This will also serve as a not so subtle hint to my boyfriend who once gave me an unwrapped VCR the day after Christmas (that he purchased at a Boxing Day sale) with a plastic bag of used VHS tapes... oh yes it gets worse.. one of the tapes was a Gallagher special. I know it's the thought that counts but really, a used Gallagher VHS is the kind of thought I can do without.


My Etsy Christmas Wish List:



1. Small Bunny Vase by prettyrandomobjects

Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen? I almost can't stand it! I have a few ceramic bunnies that this would look great grouped with on my desk. It's such a sweet and simple design, I don't know what girl wouldn't love it.


2. Botanical Still II Print by stephanielevy

Stephanie Levy is an American artist living in Germany who creates beautiful illustrations of everyday things like living rooms and window sills with a modern design element to them. These would look great in a grouping of 3 or more down a hallway or above a table. I would love any of her Botanical prints, or better yet all of them.



3. iPhone and iPod Touch Cozy (Sir Hamilton) by annamatic

This is one of the most clever iPod holder designs I have seen, although I would probably giggle to myself everytime I put my iPod up Sir Hamiltons bottom. Nevermind the fact that I don't even have an iPod touch (yet) but this might be all the incentive I need.



4. Hogweed - Coptic bound journal in dark teal by paperiaarre

I've been journalling since my 12th birthday when I received a 5 year diary complete with a lock and key. The majority of them have been destroyed (believe me, no one needed to read about my teen years) but now that I am all grown up I love to pick out the perfect new journal, one that I will keep on the shelves and be drawn to fill with musing every evening. This is one of those books. I want two, one in teal and one in linen.



5. Prairie Hoody 2-Way Zip Hoody Jacket Dress by SelenaEon

I've had this jacket dress on my favourites for ever - it's one of those items I go and look at now and then to see if it's sold or if I can still hold out hope. I love the design, the chest and back detailing, the ruffle skirt, the gathered sleeves and pockets, the color.. a lot of work went into this dress. I might just have to save up my Christmas money and buy it for myself.