Self Portraits

A no make-up self-portrait at that.Eek!

confidence....
click.

click.

be confident michelle....
click.


"Only you can make yourself happy."


The most important factor to happiness and well-being is self-esteem?

I whole heartily agree! and I'm working on it too. Everyday.
I'm actually quite camera shy.

Happy Thursday

Perfection

every which way you look at it!

Inspiration.
sigh.

Peter Pan

....collars are my most-favorite-must-have's with my wardrobe. They just don't make enough peter pan collars any more. I have picked up a few tops here and there while thrifting. They are just so, so lovely. They make me happy!


I have some neat vintage- finds to share with you, and I am hoping to have them in my shop tomorrow.
Just wanted to clarify how much I love having my little shop! I know I've said it before, but I will say it again and again! Thanks for your interest and support. I'm so happy when my buyers are happy! Such a great warm feeling. I've met some wonderful people from all over the country, that's been my favorite part.

I've been a little behind on my fashion-y part of my blog. I must catch up!

Dress~Anthro
Cardigan~Anthro
Knee-Highs~Target
Boots~ I'm so predictable huh-(wink.wink)
Coat~Gap(old)
Brooch~Etsy


I just love neutrals together, gray and brown. Two of "my" colors.

Charming Quote

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.
— Doug Larson

A cute little quote, one that Mr. Friend would agree upon ;)

Happy Weekend My Friends!

A Smidgen

Of some of my most recent finds while treasure hunting!

Left to right:
1. Set Vintage Wooden Coat Hangers
2. As Found Framed Wedding Photo
3. Ornate Iron Hand Mirror
4. Vintage Coffee/Tea Canisters

1. Vintage Milk-Glass Decanter
2. Tiny Cupcake Muffin Tins and Wrappers
3. Vintage Trio of Darling Bottles
4. Lovely Soft Cotton Oval Lace Tablecloth

Take a hop, skip and a jump and check 'em out here!

Thanks for looking!

My Vows

Yes, my friends it is Earth Day therefore I shall join in and share my vows with my blogging friends. I do try to do my part in sparing the air and what not. But Im not one of the crazy earthy "GO GREEN" peoples either.
Please don't take that the wrong way cause I really do care.

1. I wish I drove a hybrid (good intentions count?) ;)
2. I do recycle my water bottles.
3. I don't leave the water running while brushing my teeth.
4. My A/C in the cottage is always set 78 (saving energy)?
5. I have my new little coffee-cozy from a sweet blogging friend-littlebyrd,
this way I'm not throwing out all of those cardboard sleeves everyday, thanks Rebekah!
6. I even bring my own coffee-cup to the Bux, when I think about it :)
7. I have some wonderful grocery store reusable bags from Whole Foods that I use all the time while food shopping.
8. We've installed a drip system for the garden!

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
Just a tiny list of the things that me feel good, doing my teeny-tiny part.

Was listening on the radio, a survey studied that if you do not sing in the shower you will save like 100 dollars a year, saving water.....bahahahah. Thought that was funny!
No more singing in the showers people!!!!
Bahahahah.....

~Happy Earth Day Lovely Readers~

Oh To Be In Paris!

Come on California....It's too, much too early for summer!
It's APRIL! For goodness sake!

I can't stand the triple digit weather! I know it was only in the 9o's today, but....ugh!
I can't handle it! Please oh please mother nature, don't cheat us on our spring!

Why do I live where it gets so hot?
I'm not ready to put away my cardigans, tights and boots. Sigh.

Can I just move away to somewhere like here: ?Somewhere I can wear sweaters and boots everyday!
Dress just as these lovely ladies are?
Those hats
Those dresses
The shoes
oh my!

Isn't she just the prettiest gal you've ever seen?

Two Dresses

Dressed up, and no where to go :(

I'm back to work... it's ok though, I'm actually glad. I was getting kinda bored.
When all my tinkering around the house is done, house is clean, garden has been tended to, I was ready to head back. I usually take a couple weeks off, three times a year. April, August and December are my "months" I take time off.

I do have a couple of new dresses to share. I haven't been able to wear them yet though. Hopefully I'll dress up and have some where to go this weekend.





A corner of our bedroom last night, I thought looked really pretty.

I just love lamp light!

Forty

Years old today!!
Gosh, I've known this guy for more than half of his life...

Happy Birthday Stephen!

I know you can't believe your 40, but your lucky because as they say. Men grow better looking with age. And women?
What was it that they say happens to women with age ;)

No seriously....what happens to us?
I forget....
lol

Sunny Monday

Hello...

Another Monday*sigh*..... only one more day until my "vacation" from work is o.v.e.r! :(
Oh well...what can you do?

Go thrifting? That's what I can do :)


Left to Right:
1. Swan Napkin Rings
2.Granny-Style Leather Boots
3.Sunny Yellow Mugs
4.Very Cool...Pillow

Such a nice day, sunny day today. So I took my vintage finds outdoors for their photography shoot. The lighting was just perfect!
Here's a peak of my new thing-y's added to my shop.

I really take the time and hunt for the perfect items to add to my shop. I tend to lean toward things that reflect me, my shop and my personality. I carefully choose things. I see the beauty, potential..... just something special in certain finds.
I have the hardest time letting go...sometimes. I am getting better though. I know that people interested, see that special gleam just as I had.


1.Vintage Childs Book of Knowledge
2. Small Wooden Shadow Box
3. Vintage Wire Plastic Fruit Basket
4. Another- Vintage Readers Digest Picture Book

That's what makes this job so, very fun!

Happy Sunny Monday...

Chocolate/Brains

Hello friends,
I hope you have a nice day!
We're off to picnic with family. Hoping it'll be a pretty day.


To.Much.ChocolateCandy.In.This.House!
We're really going to work on not devouring it all at once.... spread it out over the next couple weeks instead of the next couple days-(hopefully), do our best to discourage the onset of diabetes.
*lol*



xo,
michelle

Pay It Forward

This is a copied post from LittleByrd's Blog.
Such a great idea.
Join in on the fun, while supporting each other!

Photo Courtesy: MostlyMod

This is one Aimee's beautiful pictures from her Etsy shop.

Miss Aimee of Mostly Mod blog had a wonderful idea:

"Do you have an etsy shop you would like for me to post on my side bar? If so, please send me one sample photo here of what you sell & your shop link. Any support we can give each other during these hard economic times helps! So lets start a trend on our blogs and support each other for free. Join in the fun."



Photo Courtesy: LittleByrd
One of my favorite treasures over at LittleByrds Etsy shop.

I took Aimee & Rebekah up on the offer and want to offer the same thing on this blog.

Do you have an Etsy shop or self run business you would like me to add to my sidebar? Send me an email or leave me a comment here and let's do it! I've added Aimee's & Rebekah's already and they have added mine.

Let's keep it going!

xo

Love Cats ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

Such a great song!

I ♥ the 80's!
In case you didn't know :)

My Buttons
My Lovebug
My Juno
My Pumpkin
My Goose
My Squirrel

Yes, this is my JuneBug!

I love this little thing so much...makes me wanna cry! *lol*

Have you ever loved an animal so much?

Is it possible to love an animal so much?

She's just the sweetest feline on the planet. I've always, always wanted a "lap" cat, but you know how it is. When you bring a cat into your home, it's pretty much a gamble on what your gonna get. I have two cats, one loving, one snobbish. I love them equally BUT, I can say that I do favor one over the other ;)

Well how did I get so lucky? I've never, ever, ever owned a cat that loved me so much. A feline that wants to eat everything on your plate? A feline that wants to be every where you are? A feline that lays on top of you when your sleeping?

I know this isn't the kind of cat that everyone would like to have.
But for me?
*sigh*
I'm in heaven!

Have you ever sacrificed comfort, for the comfort of your cat?

Pushing your bladder to its very limits to accommodate a warm feline that's constantly sleeping on your lap?
Anything for you buttons!

I love you so much...!!!
*mwah*

Small Views

Good Afternoon StoryBook Readers~

Can't chat now, but wanted to pop in real quick and share some of my most recent sweet finds.

Hope your having a wonderful day!

Here ya go :D


Left to Right:
1.Vintage Vanity Mirror
2.Made In Italy-Hummel MusicBox
3.Juicy Clutch with Box
4.Vintage Kate Spade Basket Purse



1.Vintage Tea-Light Owl
2.Vintage Wedding Framed Photo
3.Vintage Japanese Carved Bears
4.Jar Of White Vintage Buttons


1.Vintage Set Ceramic Birds
2.Vintage Meat Grinder?
3.Vintage Fossil Leather Bag
4.Vintage Electric Table Grandfather Clock

Bye for now,
xo

Charming Quote

I'm realizing that I'm a little behind on my quotes for the week, something I do so love to do. While thrifting, I'm always on the hunt for books with quotes.
We have a fabulous thrift store here in my town that has the best, organized room of books of all sorts. I could literally spend all day in there. Well, I found a couple recently and this quote was printed on one of the pages and thought I would share it with you.

Image Credit-Josh




"Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue--to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak".
-Socrates

All Work......Really!

All work and no play?

Nah...today was my thrifting day, yes all work, but all fun!
That's what's so great about my little Etsy store. Shopping for all kinds of cool old treasures and making a few pennies on the side. Ya know, anything I profit from just funds my Etsy addiction.
It's just a vicious circle :D

Anyhoo.... this was my thrifting attire for today.
Rain, sun, rain, sun, clouds and sun. This was today's weather here in my little area of California. Kinda crazy, but so pretty.

Cardigan~Max Studio
Blouse~Anthro-Odille(old)
Dress~Anthro
Socks~Target
Boots~Anthro(last year)
Brooch~Vintage

So strange taking your own picture and looking straight into the camera.

Just feels weird.

It's just different when someone else takes your picture and you look into the camera and say "cheese".

Ya know what I mean?

:)

Shop Hop

Snippets of some newbies for my shop.

Left to Right:
1.Vintage Abe Lincoln Book
2.Vintage Childrens Books
3.Vintage Poems Book
4.Stanley Berenstain Book(adorable)!



1.Vintage Honey Bear
2.Vintage Candle Fairy Light
3.Vintage Bandit Planter
4.Vintage Pewter English Beer Stein

1.Vintage Painted Swedish Plague
2.Vintage Lacy/Flowery Flat Sheet
3.Set 2 "Wipe" Napkins
4.Vintage Set 3 Kraft Glasses....
and much more!

I'll have everything listed today!
Thanks for looking... :D

Pretty In Pink?

Happy Monday Friendly Readers!

I hope your weekend was dandy, as is the start of the new week for you!
I was quite the happy-camper yesterday....an Ikea trip & Anthro_______ {wink wink}.
We have to drive quite a ways for this trip....I was very happy, a Swedish meatball lunch and all!!
What more could a girl ask for?

So this is my ensemble yesterday... pink? I know, I know I'm really not a pink-y person. Some pieces mixed with other colors are OK in my book. Peeps say I look good in pink, I don't know.. must be the blond hair ;)

Cardigan~Target
Blouse~Thrifted
Knitted Camisole~Thrifted
Star Rhinestone Brooch~ Ebay'd
Skirt~Anthropologie
Socks~Target
Charm Bracelet~Vintage Thrifted


Oh BooBoo...your always in my pictures. I swear this guy wants in all my photos :)

I wanted to share one of beloved charm bracelets.
Do you love these things like I do?
I don't know there's just something mysterious and enchanting about them.
Little stories on a chain.
This one is especially lovely...probably belonged to some little lady. Her childrens silhouette charms with their birth dates engraved. Little mustard seed.... looks like she's been to Reno, and an old western town.
This is one of a few I've found over the last year.

Enchantment

Yesterday, I'm walking along the European-styled street promenade at Santana Row across from my new retail chain favorite (I'm more of a boutique gal), Anthropologie, and the pair strolling in front of me start a conversation as they walk past a potted profusion of lavender agapanthus and the Crepe & Brioche French Artisan Bakery's stall at the organic farmer's market.

The thirty-something woman turns to her friend and gasps, "I am dying to, but I cannot go into Anthropologie!" She's resisting the urge to browse its "latticework chaise lounges, velvet patchwork pillows, ornate birdcages, leather-bound books, sari fabrics, teak benches...vintage-inspired cardigan sweaters...Chinese pajamas and cobwebby camisoles."


Me, I gave up resistance -- and I'm talking far beyond resisting enchanting lace skirts, guava scented candles and Portugeuse china too.

I feel young at heart these days and, yet, when I walk into Anthropologie, I feel younger still. A sense of wonder and enchantment welcomes you as soon as you open the door. Music streams, a couple sits side-by-side on an antique sofa immersed in a coffee-table book of Leonardo da Vinci's complete works, a mother and her teenage daughter with their coiffeured black poodle buy a whimsical sun dress evocative of Provence for Mom.

~sigh ♥

I Don't Know...

...about you, but I'm ready for the weekend!
Yes?



"Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them." ~John Shirley

I have lots of plans... some fun, some not so fun.
I'm on "vacation" for 11 days starting tomorrow.
:)

::Hooray::

Lots of relaxing, tinkering around the house, maybe a couple of weekend excursions.

I'm happy!

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ Happy Dance ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

xo,
michelle

Whew!

Lotsa, lotsa new treasures for the shop!
Lotsa driving, lotsa thrifting, lotsa picture taking.
Is "lotsa" a word?

Hmm.......

I'm not complaining though. I thoroughly enjoy it!
I'm just really tired today. It's really windy....that doesn't help!

Some lovely things that I scavenged today!
If there is anything that tickles your fancy, I'll try to get them in my shoppe tonight.

A little collage-o-rama for your viewing pleasure!

From left to right:

1. Set 6 vintage leaf bowls.
2. Vintage plastic goose measuring cups.
3. Vintage made in England porcelain cottages.
4. Vintage Tupperware Cafeteria Trays.
   

1. Vintage animal cookie cutters.
2. Vintage framed child's book cover.
3. Vintage small lazy Susan.
4. Vintage framed child's book page.
   

1. Vintage made in japan ceramic bird.
2. Vintage bird bottle opener.
3. Vintage picture.
   
4. 1940's wedding cake topper.
5. And... more not shown!
   

Hi Ho Hi Ho

...it's off to work I go!

Have a Lovely Day My Friends!

Even though I'm headed to work...I shall have a lovely day as well.





Top~Anthro
Knit/Sweater~Thrifted
Skirt~Target
Socks~Target
Watch-Necklace~Vintage
Boots~SCORED!! :D

xo

You Tricky Guys

Well.... Happy April 1st!
Goodness.....April already?
Where, oh where does the time go?

I love April.
But my goodness what ever happened to January? ;)


This is Luca and Meteo.
Two mischievous, tricky Jesters that live with us.
Meteo (little guy) is our newest addition. We picked him up a few months ago at T.J. Max actually. I was very surprised to find him there.



Luca..the big guy actually belongs to my husband. We've had him for many years. I don't know maybe 8 or 9 years ago visiting Disneyland one Christmas, my husband had his eye on a giant Jester that hangs in a giant wreath as your entering New Orleans Square. So with a little research and what not, Mr. Friend found this guy online one day and he had to come live with us. He's very similar to his buddy that lives in Disneyland.

Same artist!

HA!!
I just found a snapshot of the Jester that my husband took @ Disneyland. (below)
Disneyland 2001

Our Luca's at least five feet tall! And as you can tell he takes up a whole chair all on his own.
He's pretty much a piece of furniture.
:)

He "really" freaks people out when they come over.

But freaky or not... he's part of the family & we like him!