By Lynn, on March 28th, 2012%
Yesterday was lovely; perfect, in fact. One of my favorite days ever.
I was happy all day, something about which to be very, very thankful indeed, when one stops to consider the news of the day and the emotional stress that some of us live in all the time and that all of us live in some of the time.
I was in at least two, er three outfits yesterday, and I recently found some AMAZING vintage dresses! You just wait. They are being lovingly laundered and ready to show off to you lovelies!
Yesterday was mostly a messy hair day.
New Vera Wang shoes. Enough said.
The days have been beautiful and sunny, but the wind breezy and chilly. Ahhh, such is March.
One of my favorites of trees, the crepe myrtle, begins to bud.
The bright green, springtime grass has Annie rolling!
…and rolling…
…and rolling!
Long days turning into long months and then into a new year and a new chapter in life, a beautiful story unfolds. In time.
EnJOY this day!
By Lynn, on March 27th, 2012%
My dear readers, there is no other way to say it: Happy Birthday To Me!  Yes, today marks my 49th. This will be my last year as a 40-something!
And, for the most fashion fun I have had in a long time, here’s me rockin’ some PINK BIRTHDAY SHOES!
Well, they are not truly birthday shoes per se, but I have never owned pink shoes before, and I consider these quite the serendipitous birthday gift from G.W. Boutique! Yes, brand new looking and 4 dollars, just in time for my birthday. Happy Birthday to Me.
You might wonder about the bright blue scarf, but I will show you up close that the scarf has the exact same pink as the shoes! And as little pink as it is that shows, it is truly amazing how the shoes bring out the pink in the scarf and make that pink POP from head to toe!
As per our usual, Annie leads the way.
It has been quite lovely here weather-wise, with springtime ebbing ever closer to our windows and doors. One can hear birds singing in the mornings! The windows can be opened up in the afternoons. And looking at the trees whose bareness we had begun to take for granted, suddenly there are leaves!
And now, to share with you another very SWEET — or should I say SWEETE? — birthday gift that arrived, again quite as the happy surprise, at exactly the very hour I had finished with my craft space! A beautifully handmade ROSE COTTAGE banner from Marqueta of Sweete Felicity.
Each triangle is perfectly made. In my excitement, I hung it right up, before pressing out some of the upturned corners from where Marqueta had carefully tucked it into a package! But don’t be fooled! They are perfect little triangles!
I absolutely love it! Thank you so much, Marqueta!
I have really been trying to buckle down and spend more time in the craft area, using up supplies I have purchased. The goal is to get some things in the shop and then have a big SPRING SALE!
And with that, I must say goodbye! I do wish I could hang around and play all day, but I must run into my office and work!
Thank goodness for Annie Fatso Beagle (or, as Jen calls her, A.F.B.)! She gives me intermittent excuses to go outside and admire the newly emerging leaves!
Enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on March 22nd, 2012%
Oh, Happy Thursday, dear readers! My day off! And enjoy it thus far, I have! I am so glad you dropped in!
I started to call this post RETRO MEETS STEAMPUNK, for more than one reason, but I decided to go with something more fun. At any rate, Retro does meet Steampunk today, and I have loved the reaction my outfit has gotten today! But first, let’s talk gluten-free paradise.
I have been very good the last few days and had lots of fruits and vegetables, so yesterday when I saw buckwheat waffles on sale at the local grocery co-op, I was taken right in! Very nearby was the frozen fruit! Ahhh, big, organic blackberries.
First I popped two of the waffles into the toaster. Then I took about 3/4 cup of frozen berries, covered them in sugar and put them in the microwave for one minute to defrost them and melt the sugar.
I stirred the berries. I buttered the waffles and then topped them with the berries and syrup. Bad. But oh so good!
Now, let’s talk clothes! I had planned to wear a cute little springy shirt today but then I woke up this morning and remembered my new corsets! Why not dive right in, I said to myself!
I decided to go with a poufy but tame 1940s hairstyle.
Annie, of course, pulls one way while I try pulling the other. As far as the outfit, I decided to pair a retro style, soft pink skirt with a white tailored linen shirt. I felt the sleeves with their bit of puffiness would go well with the skirt and balance what was below the corset with what was above the corset. Make sense?
Running errands would be a treat; I wondered what sort of reaction I would get! After all, it’s not the usual middle aged getup for a grocery-shoppin’ mother of four.
I decided to dress up the corset with some things that felt very steampunkish, but STEAMPUNK is a style that I really am not sure how to authentically carry out, if there is such a thing!
Now, I knew the outfit would not be right without the right shoes. I chose some silver Amanda Smith sandals that fit like a dream!
I do hope you have had as much fun as I have with this new corset adventure! I questioned putting a corset on the blog. I questioned buying the thing! My dilemma has always been how to have fun with fashion, wear pretty things that ARE in style, but keep it modest. After all, I think that is part of what my personal goal is: modesty. There are places that I would not go in this sort of outfit. Places where reverence is expected. Places where I would not want to compete for the center of attention. But a weekday out running errands! A date? Of course!
Oh, and the reactions? Lots of looks — not bad ones, but inquisitive ones. Honestly, I did not get a ton of comments, but the comments I did get were very passionate comments. No just that is nice, but wow I LOVE your dress. I guess it appeals to some people and not to others. Hmmmm.
Enjoy this day!
By Lynn, on March 21st, 2012%
My Dear Readers, I wish I could hang around and visit, but I am just popping in on a midday break to say hello.
Hello. 
Today — and there are so many mixed emotions with this — marks a year since I left the old farm house and came to live in Rose Cottage apartment. A whole year. Time has flown. Time has stood still.
But here we are, after all, and I wanted to share with you the CUTEST pair of shoes I found recently!
Oh my! They are 10+ on the cute scale, at least in my humble opinion they are!
Dear adorable little black shoes: I think I love you and I think my grandmother would love you too! In fact, today’s entire outfit might get my grandmother’s approval. The silk skirt is old, old. I cannot even remember how many years I have had it, but it washes up well and keeps looking good. The red checked shirt is a recent find and, I think, looks very retro.
Seems I have been craving red lately and I don’t know why, except that the brightness of it, the certainty of it, is something I need right now.
The shirt has belt loops on either side and is definitely fitted for a belt. The red leather belt is another recent find. And the glasses? Oh yeah, I need reading glasses sometimes. These are so much fun! Only 1 dollar from the dollar tree, and I am thinking they have a definite old feel to them.
Just let me run into some cat glasses. Yes ma’am. And you’ll see them right here, you will!
No time to put hair all the way up today, not to mention it was not completely dry, but I am still loving the rolled look on the sides with crossed bobby pins.
Trees in bloom mark the roads ’round here. (Even if it was a bit gray this morning.)
I will leave you with a little ad or two, a hint towards something I found recently on a thrift store jaunt. A way to break you in subtly before I show you the real McCoy.
Much older than the retro 40s and 50s, more turn of the century, but do corsets every really leave us?
They have served practical purposes through the years, even if they did occasionally make women faint from lack of oxygen.
And here is the real McCoy!
I knew they were well made. I knew they were expensive. I got the lot for 12 dollars. When I began price researching later, the very first one I found would retail at about 400 dollars. Hand made in California; some handmade in England. How could I not buy them? A couple of them are meant to be worn over clothing, and with the new STEAMPUNK movement, I am sure they will get some use. I just need to figure it out.
ENJOY THIS DAY!
Oh, and thanks for spending the last year with me. Tomorrow, or the next day, or soon, I will tell you about my history in retail. There is a reason I have turned to clothing for a bit of frivolous solace. 
By Lynn, on March 16th, 2012%
While I have loads more to share from the past few days, this little pictorial will have to suffice for now. Well, I might throw in a few words!
First, a pleasant Friday to all! I will be working all day, and seeing to my son and his sweet girlfriend, Taylor. Making sure they get to do some fun things! We arrived safely at the airport to pick Taylor up and were very thankful that she had safe travel all the way to North Carolina. We stopped by a mall to have lunch, made it back to the apartment to settle in, and then went back out later to have some Southwest food at Moe’s.
In the mall, which shockingly was like a ghost town and was totally being revamped with a new Chinatown theme, one of the few stores open had Chinese pottery! Oh it was gorgeous! Look for a brooch soon containing some Chinese porcelain beads!
Anyway, enjoy this feast for the eyes! When you spot the piece with a praying mantis and pomegranates, you’ll know the piece I fell in love with!
We are enjoying Taylor’s company so much! She is a lovely girl, in every way! Below, you can get a glimpse of part of our party of 6 (Michaela had a friend with her) at Moe’s.
John and Taylor.
Yesterday started with a bit of work on some of my fabric rose brooches before heading out. I am loving the ever-growing collection. They add a feminine touch to every outfit lately! And I keep getting ideas to make them different and (hopefully) better!
Who says I don’t have a garden?
Ahh.
And finally, I wanted to share the newest one, pinned onto a recently thrifted limited blouse that I think has a definite retro flare to the cut!
On that note I must go. Work, work, work. Enjoy this day! It won’t be back and there is no promise of tomorrow!
By Lynn, on March 14th, 2012%
Happy Winds-day, dear readers! I have declared today POLKA DOT day. At least here. Here we are having polka dot day. Do you love polka dots? Well, it has to be a certain kind for me, but maybe you like ALL polka dots. Big ones! Small ones! Bright ones! Classy white ones! Whatever the case, today I am raising my glass (of fruit smoothie) to polka dots.
Don’t polka dots make you feel free? Classic? Classy? Playful? Glamorous? Young? Fashionable?
Annie was not so excited about my thrifted blue polka dot dress, but preferred instead to sniff the red leather shoes (yeah, again) in hopes that she might get to chew them to pieces sometime soon.
We stopped to take a picture of Annie’s hangout, just because and also since it matched my outfit.
Red, white and blue. So you could say that polka dots even make you feel patriotic!
Especially when paired with my recently thrifted red vinyl Murval purse. Oh, I was in love the second I clapped eyes on it! (Especially for $1.98!!)
Ahhhh. Look at the sweet little lock and key.
What a lovely profile you have, my dear!
I even went all out and made up a vinage-y sort-of-steampunk fabric rose brooch for the POLKA DOT occasion!
I love it! I will be making more of these to go in the shop. After I finish several special orders that is: one for a keepsake brooch and one for dolls. (Anyone know how I can get more hours in my day?)
I leave you friends, with polka dots! Of all kinds and on all kinds of people. And dolls. And dogs.
And with that. I, too, must leave. Off to work. Meetings. Perhaps even a thrift store run-through!!
ENJOY this day!
By Lynn, on March 13th, 2012%
Just recently I saw a wonderful vintage Jane Schaffhausen Belle France dress for 4.39$. The Paris bred designer’s vintage dresses typically sell for around 50 dollars on Etsy or Ebay, and they retailed for over 100$ apiece in fine clothing stores back in the 1980s. I consider myself lucky!
I feel so French today! Madeline, anyone?
Lovely, non? With white knee socks and my red leather Banana Republic Mary Jane style low heels?
Annie stops to smell the roses. I mean clover.
See what I mean about this big beautiful clover?
Have you seen the Eiffel Tower in person? Really? Oh my! I am jealous! This little painting sits unframed in my bathroom, reminding me to be happy and take JOY every day. (It’s something I think the French may be very good at!)
French roll 1955.
See Paris.
Robin on the roof this morning.
I digress.
No outfit is complete without hair and accessories. I did not do a French roll for myself this morning as it takes quite a bit of effort to get this much hair up into a French twist. Nevertheless, I did get my hair up into a neat bun with a couple of combs to give some lift and some pins on the side to keep a little nifty roll pulled back.
Little gold pins.
Pretty little collar. Brooch with a French cameo appeal.
I love this little gold purse by Loft. Found for 1.99$ at G.W. Boutique.
Well, I am off to work for the day! Have been thinking of putting together a post on skin care. And I have not stopped looking for the perfect under-layer for the SHORT dress. Blush blush.
EnJOY this day!
By Lynn, on March 12th, 2012%
Ahhhh, Happy Monday, folks. I have been quite busy with work and have gotten so very much done today, it makes me absolutely HAPPY about my job. It is something I do not take for granted and something I am very thankful for — having a job.
The day started with a trip to none other than Starbucks (be still my heart) because a sweetheart of a friend gave me 50 dollars in gift cards. Oh my. Love.
Standing in line. The man in front of me bought one to drink and apparently ground coffee to make his own at home.
Fella works on my Cafe Mocha. Venti, of course. And I have sipped on it all day.
Heading home with a huge amount of coffee and a question looming in my mind: will I regret having this much caffeine.
TODAY’S THRIFT STORE FASHION UPDATE:
(pardon me while I edit out dark circles. go here for original.)
A messy Monday updo. I am wondering if you would want a tutorial on this? And now that I have learned (sort of) to do tutorials, I am so wanting a new web cam. I can tell you for sure that my children would not mind one bit having a better web cam since they get on with their friends all the time. It has turned out to be really cool for Skype and for doing homework in groups with their friends.
Today’s outfit may seem a little unorthodox: the dress is sundress style, but I love it over a lacy top. It works for me.
dress, Liz Claiborne, thrifted, 4.39$
over the knee socks, Rue 21, clearance 1.50%
shoes, Jellypop, new (love these!!)
lace top, thrifted, 3.39$
rose brooch made by yours truly
Annie gets picked up for a big hug. What would I do without a beagle in my life? Would be much less busy, to say the very least.
Red, black and white. Always a good color combo!
Annie and I routinely get hugs inside and outside the door. She thinks she’s, as we say, a human bean. And I guess she is when it comes down to it. She sure gets treated like one!
RETRO SCREENS (that don’t look so different from what folks are doing now):
From a 1955 Good Housekeeping, I am so in the mood to make a screen now!
Can you imagine something like this with retro fashion plates? Or Sherlock Holmes pictures?
And I love the family tree on this one!! Oh my!
There are patches of big, healthy looking CLOVER all around the apartments. Note the rounded leaves as compared to the heart shaped leaves of yesterday’s SORREL.
ENJOY THIS DAY!!
By Lynn, on March 6th, 2012%
Happy Tuesday, friends! And it is a bright and cheerful day in central North Carolina, even if it is a bit on the cold side!
In honor of the cold today, I am wearing gray, a perfectly wintery color!
Little Annie, fatso beagle of the universe, has been the faithful and true companion during this last year. I cannot tell you the comfort she has brought to me. Many a time when I have lain across the bed crying, she has jumped up and put her little head at my face, just waiting for the tears to end. She snuggles at night in the crook of my knees, letting me know that she will always be there! Sometimes when she chews up a shoe or sneaks food from the dining room table, I am annoyed with her and want to send her to the beagle dog pound (not really — but any beagle owner would understand), but oh my heart would break without little Annie!
Unmade bed, wads of fabric, and me.
gray dress by New York & Co, thrifted, 4 dollars
white over the knee socks, new, Rue 21, 1.50$
perfect leather heels, thrifted, Unlisted
I am still LOVING the over the knee socks, and I think this pair is especially pretty with the gray! You can see the sort of lacy band around the top of the sock, but the socks do come up high enough to not expose any skin.
Now for the hair! I want to share some blog love today. Yeah.
This style is a sort of a bouffant style in the front, put up in the back by sectioning and giving some lift. It is very much along the lines of something I have been trying to do for awhile and just not getting it perfect. Then, last night I came across a tutorial that showed how to section the hair and voila! it was done!
The Glamorous Housewife is the blog that has some really fun tutorials and retro ideas for fashion and home. And here is the post with the actual tutorial.
So check out the blog, The Glamorous Housewife.
ENJOY this day!
By Lynn, on March 5th, 2012%
Happy Monday, dear readers! It is windy here today! Yes! But it is March, after all, and that is just par for the course. Spring is on the way!
I wanted to share with you an absolutely GORGEOUS dress I found at G.W. Boutique last week. (That’s Goodwill, for those of you just joining us! And welcome!!)
Oh, it is indeed lovely! And Baumwolle? Is that German for cotton? I looked it up, and it does mean cotton, though I have not had time to fully research the word. All I know is that the dress feels amazing! The weight is good. The sewing excellent! Every little stitch is so pretty! I wonder if it was not worn as some sort of tour costume here. Or maybe someone from another country is here and donated it? But it is the first sort of dress like this I have come across ’round here.
The sweet and coincidental thing is that just this past week I was also gifted with the prettiest little tin box that has such a Dutch look to its colors and pattern! It is from a sweet friend — something that belonged to her very sweet mother. I am just loving this little box and wondering what I will put in it!
I know that whatever I put in it, it will be perfect. It’s the memory of its owner, after all, that makes it so very dear.
As blue as the sky, this dress couldn’t help but cheer a girl up! And once again, the details on this dress just sold me! The heavy, silvery buttons. The tucks on the sleeves and the pleats around the waist. The fit. Love it!
Annie loves the dress too! Mostly because we were able to go out and take pictures, and she could once again delight herself in all the strange scents carried about on the wind!
I did also want to show you the great deal I got at Rue 21. I know I mentioned it, but nothing like a visual!
Yeah. Fifteen pairs for 22 dollars. That’s what I’m talkin about.
Comfortable. Easy. Cute (even when you are nearly 49!). I highly recommend them!
Must run off to type now! Got 8 hours ahead of me, but it’s gonna be all right! I have more than any girl in this world could ask for!
EnJOY this day!
I leave you with a couple of treats from one of my 1954 Good Housekeeping magazines!
And this lady has the style goin on! Neat. Sweet! In control! As I get older, I want to not mourn a lost youth, for my youth is wrapped up in who I am today! I want to, instead, embrace my place as an aging woman, not a gossip, fun but not silly, seeking wisdom, being a good example. Anyway… Life is a gift, every single day!
That’s what I’m talkin about!
shop for Over the Knee Socks at Sears: Over The Knee Socks
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About Lynn 
Approaching-50 mother of four. Thrifter. Content with lots of clothes bought for very little money. Loves retro. (That could be styles from the 40s and 50s. And sometimes stuff even older than that. And sometimes stuff from all time, all mixed up together!) Bluffs about decluttering but secretly loves STUFF. Goes through stages. Has standing and staring spells before rearranging the entire home. Just because. Tune in each day to see what new outfit comes home from G.W. Boutique next. (That's Goodwill, by the way.) Oh, and she owns a spoiled beagle named Annie. And this blog.
Grab A Button <div align="center"><a href="http://www.amothersjournal.com" title="A Mother's Journal ~ A Bit of Birdsong"><img src="http://www.innatelygray.com/images/abitofbirdsong_120_200.jpg" alt="A Mother's Journal ~ A Bit of Birdsong" style="border:none;" /></a></div> The Players
Lil Ol' Me
Son Daniel, 23
Son, Big Joe, 21
Son, John, 17
Daughter, Michaela, 13
Annie Fatso Beagle
My Symphony
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
William Henry Channing
1810-1884
What You Do Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
Contact Me 
I would  for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
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