A Walk in the Woods

So this morning, I was awoken, as per usual, by my adorable dog asking me if she can go take her morning constitutional (actually it's more like she just barks her head off until I wake up, but that sounds much nicer). Anyway, it was about 8 in the morning, and I was tired, but the bright sun made me happy and not crawl back into bed like I normally would. It's strange, because Ohio has a nice forecast, while all around us, there are blizzards! Sending out safe wishes to all my east coast friends and family who were hit with all that snow!

I took her out, and got my self a bowl of cereal and decided to take her for a walk in the woods. There is a nice spot about a 3 minute drive away from my house, so I thought I could do an outfit post too. So I wrangled my mom and Roxie and we went over to the pretty little spot and had fun with my mom and puppy.

I love this shirt. I got it from Kohl"s last year and the print is cute little butterflies! I call it Roxie's shirt because she is a Papillon and it means "Butterfly" in French. How could I pass it up?!

The sun was really bright, and it was cold, but I was moving around quite a bit so I wasn't really too cold. Plus I was wearing pants for once! Hahaha.

I was reading a recent post by Gertie, and she talked about how she was wanting to be "cooler" and going through a style shift. I can totally relate. Only, with me, I dress in a lot of vintage, but I don't feel like it's something I always have to do. See, that's the beauty of the modern times, you get to wear vintage while looking at things on the internet, or even playing on  your smartphone. The fact is, it's not 1952 (as much as I wish it were)! We don't Have to do anything, and we don't owe anyone anything either. Make yourself happy! If you want to wear a flannel button down and leggings with boots one day, then circle skirt and sweater set with pearls the next, go for it. When you get down to it, fashion is personal, and personally, I am going to do what I want.  :)

I love my Minnetonka moccasins! This is my second pair, actually, my first pair were dark brown. I discovered that I should go down a size or a half size, they feel better snug, and they stretch a little to fit your feet.

Well, I have been feeling crafty lately, so I am thinking about cutting into one of my Butterick vintage reproduction patterns. I got 6 of them (including Gertie's wiggle dress and coat pattern!) a few weeks ago at JoAnns because they were on sale for $2!I don't have fabric though, so it would require a trip to the fabric store, and I should probably not be spending my money, so maybe I will do some embroidery or perhaps try to make a slip dress. I have been wanting to try and make one for a while now.

Have a great day y'all!

Outfit

"Papillon" Blouse ~ Kohl's last year
Jeans ~ New York and Company
Shoes ~ Minnetonka moccasins

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Well I suppose y'all have waited (nearly 10 days..oops), but the only good thing coming your way is a post! I don't really know where the time went. I have been studying a lot for school because my Chemistry class is extremely hard, and this past weekend I visited my sister Heidi in Dayton. So I guess that's where the time went.

Lately I have been disliking weather in general because Ohio certainly has been...weather-y. First freezing, then warm, then freezing again, then mild, then white-out conditions, blech! Me not like (don't you love my proper grammar?). These pictures are indoors and shadow-y, but I didn't want to wait any longer to post!

 

I had kind of a bad hair day today, what with the weather and all.

 

This is one of my favorite dresses. It's not the most flattering, but I love how easy it is to wear.

Roxie wanted to be in the pictures too! She ran up to me and kept asking for me to pick her up. She really is precious :).

 

In my absence from blogging, I had an old friend that I've known for a while call me and get back in touch and we have made plans to go antiquing, so I am looking forward to that this weekend. 

Also, my youngest nephew, Carter turned 1 (his birthday was January 29th). Funny story, I was sleeping on my sister's couch the night she went into labor, so when her and my mom left, they woke me up and told me, and all I could think of to say was, "Sunday's child is full of grace". It's a line from an old poem, only that isn't the right verse, in my sleep deprivation, I got them mixed up :).

 I found a picture of him and I when he was a day or two old.

 

He is so big now!!

Enjoy your evenings everyone :)

Chihuahua + Papillon....Chialon or Papihuahua

This past week has been pretty crazy. My sister Jaime and her husband and two boys have been visiting because they are moving from New York all the way to Arizona! So they decided to stop in for a week and visit before traveling across the whole country. And my sister Heidi came down for a couple days as well. My sister Jaime has a long-haired Chihuahua named King Louis. He was originally my mom's, but we gave him to them for a pet. My dog, a papillon, was thrilled to finally have a playmate her own size. Neither one of them is fixed, and I was secretly hoping she would get pregnant because they would make the cutest puppies ever! And they are both purebreds, even though Louis doesn't have his official papers. Maybe when I visit them in Arizona, I will take her and maybe get some puppies!

Sorry for the messy bed, it was a busy week!

Roxie! (And Cookies!!!)

Hey y'all!  I should be posting more, but I have been so busy lately with school work, ugh!  Anyhow, I got a puppy.  I have wanted a Papillon since sixth grade,ever since one I saw one of my relatives with one on a trip back there.  My mom almost got me one for my sixteenth birthday, but due to some miscommunications, she got sold to someone else.  But all is not lost because now I have Roxie.  My sweet 8 month old Papillon.  She is a very timid girl, but I have only had her for 6 days, so maybe she still has to get used to some things around here.  She sleeps in my bed every night, and loves to snuggle and be held.

That's her on my bed.  Isn't she a cutie :) <3

Currently I have been obsessed with the Regency Era, and I am dying to try and make a bib-front dress and a jacket, but I haven't really found a decent pattern for one.  I may just have to do trial and error with some muslin fabric.  But I think it will be a fun project :).  I think I may go about it by finding elements I like in garment I find in thrift stores, and then de-construct them and use them as a pattern.  

Meanwhile I am also obsessed with Pumpkin Sandwich Cream Cookies!  I have made them twice this week, and think I may make more soon.  They are so good.  They're more like mini-cakes, very soft and moist.  And oh! the cream cheese is to die for!  Recipe and pictures:

Pumpkin Sandwich Cream Cookies

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I use more than that :)

Dash of nutmeg

1 cup white (granulated sugar)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup canned pumpkin 

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

4 oz butter, softened

Frosting

 2 cups powdered sugar

4 oz butter, softened

6 oz cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  Cover baking sheet with buttered parchment paper, set aside. Mix up dry ingredients in medium/large mixing bowl.  Put both sugars and butter in a separate large mixing bowl, beat till smooth.  Slowly add milk, eggs and vanilla.  Add pumpkin.  Add dry ingredients and beat on medium until blended.  Don't over do the beating!  Drop onto baking sheet, texture will look funny, like cake batter almost, don't worry about it.  Bake for 10-14 minutes.  While they are in the oven, place all frosting ingredients in bowl and beat until smooth and creamy.  When the cookies are done, let cool 5 minutes.  Then place frosting on the the bottom of one cookie and affix it to the bottom of another cookie......and Viola! You have just made my favorite recipe :D.  Enjoy!

Happy Baking!!

Abbi