Fashionista

Hello lovelies. I thought I would try something new today. My friend Kirin writes an amazing fashion blog that features some snappy looks from her closet. She's inspired me to rethink the ponytail mommy rut I'm stuck in. I've been wearing the same sloppy jeans and crappy hoodie for months. It's embarrassing. I used to love putting a cute outfit together, but since I got knocked up and birthed the lady child, I've lost my fashion mojo. I have trouble pulling myself together since I'm generally tired, on the run, and covered in baby food or dealing with post-baby body blues. But I'm ready to feel fashionable again.
So I thought I would take a page from Kirin's book and share my night-off outfit.

New dress! (old shoes)

I'm sure this third picture of the dress is gratuitous, but you really must note our cat licking her own vagizzle in the middle of the street. We like to keep it classy for the neighbors.

Dress- thrifted last weekend at Shipwreck Day.
I am not wearing white tights. That is the actual color of my flesh. Translucent skin is the new black.
Shoes- Cydwoq.
Lipstick- "Dubonnet" by MAC.

On Toys and Other Drugs

A friend of Matthew's recently gifted Ceci with this vintage Fisher Price airplane complete with a few passengers.

Isn't that adorable? Matthew says the guy in orange is Gordon, from Sesame Street. I'm not sure if that's the case. I remember Gordon having a mustache, not a goatee, and I'm pretty sure he had arms, and was made of human flesh. Bad jokes aside, it's a very cute gift, no? Unfortunately, Matthew's friend is unaware that giving me my daughter this toy is like giving a drug addict just one little taste of smack.
I say this because I've been fighting a vintage Fisher Price obsession since I birthed my little critter, and that may seem harmless, but in truth it's dangerous because of (A) my tendency towards hoarding, and (B) the potential cost involved.
I think it started when I saw this record player at the antique store I frequent. It had all four records, was fully functioning, and was in beautiful shape for a toy older than I am. It was $30, which isn't terrible, but I ran out of that shop like my hair was on fire. The problem is this- once I have the record player I'll want the TV. Once I have the TV I'll want the little camera. Then the telephone, then the whirly ball push-thing, then the pull- along duck thing. I will become obsessed with collecting all of the Fisher Price toys I remember from my childhood and then I will most likely lock myself in a room to coo lovingly to them while I polish them with moist towelettes. I may or may not consume too much wine while I deplete my bank account on ebay while in pursuit of my new collection.
Soooooo. Now, through no fault of my own, there is a toy in my home acting as a trigger for me. Should I go for it, or do I find a self- help group?

Also- here's that recipe for plum cake Missy. Enjoy.

Bookworm

My parents drove up from California with a whole slew of children's books for Ceci that have been mouldering in their garage. The publishing dates range from the 1940s to the 1970s and again I am amazed at all the stuff my Mom has held onto from my (and her own) childhood. 

I haven't actually read any of them to Ceci yet, but this morning I started flipping through them. 

So far I'm more excited about the ones from my childhood, although frankly I don't remember reading them. But some have amazing illustrations- 

Like this one from "The Secret of Beaver Valley".

And this one from a "Little Golden" book. I like the illustrations so much I'm tempted to tear some out and frame them. 

The jury is still out on the books from my Mom's childhood. 

Some of them are kind of neat in a chirpy, sing-songy way.

But some of them are poorly disguised Jesus propaganda!

And some of them appear to be erotic fiction. Which I can get into, but it's hardly appropriate for a 11- week old baby. 

A Few of My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolly mittens!
Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Occasionally I am possessed with the spirit of Maria Von Trapp and those damn exorcisms never quite take. Hahaha. Seriously though, my brain is a pile of quivering goo.

Anyway, what am I blathering on about? I just want to share a few of my favorite baby things. Because really, isn't half the fun of having a little girl all the cutesy stuff you can put on her body and in her room? I sure think so.

There have been times I've gotten frustrated with my Mom for being a bit of a hoarder. She's not bad enough to get her own episode on that one show, but it's been touch and go over the years.
But God Bless her for saving my baby clothes. As soon as Ceci gains some girth on that little body she will be sporting this Oktoberfest beer wench outfit from my childhood!

Here I am in my parent's front yard in June of 1977.

Pilsner anyone?

And this hippy- dippy crocheted dress.

I'm not sure how I feel about the hat that goes with this outfit. It might be a bit too Holly Hobbie. What do you think?

My Paddington Bear overalls.

Also! Please admire our beautiful Ceci Pearl finger puppet handmade by her talented benefactress and lover of she-babies Karie Jane.

This is the last thing, I promise. Dragon shoes from San Francisco Chinatown. 

More Things I Want

Matthew and I want a new desk. Because really, what better time for us to buy furniture than right before we have a baby and are inundated with hospital bills? Makes sense to me. I like a challenge.
Here's the desk we've been eyeballing.

It has a few chips on the front but regardless, nice eh? I'm into the mid-century modern look. I'm also just into saying the words "mid-century modern" because it sounds a little ridiculous. 

All that stuff on the top of the desk doesn't come with it. 

As an added plus, the drawers seem sturdy enough to hold a smallish baby. Provided said baby kept her weight below ten pounds. 

In other news, we put together our crib and changing table today. I'll post some pictures soon but don't get your hopes up. I won't be winning any design awards. We went back and forth this morning debating painting the floor of the nursery blue. That's right, you heard me. It's the new thing according to Design Sponge. Ultimately we decided that we didn't want to take on another project in our rental house. Also the idea of living with paint fumes for the next few weeks is not very appealing. So we slapped a green rug from Ikea on the horrible floor and called it good. I'm feeling like the rug makes the floor look like AstroTurf and it troubles me, but at this point I'm resigned to not having the nursery of my dreams. 

Dear friends, how much would you pay for this desk? 

Collections

Design is Mine did a fabulous post about collections.
It inspired me to re-examine our collections at home. I've always been a collector of objects. There is something so appealing to me about creating a family of loved objects from different places. Each one tells a story of where it came from. But then, there have been times I've looked at my years-old collections of finger puppets or bendy toys, decided I no longer like it or need it, then thrown out the entire collection. Who knows. But I love what we've got going on at the moment.

Matthew's smurf collection from childhood- 25 smurfs strong!

Wedding cake topper collection

The American Woman's Cookbook

I rescued this gem from my Grandfather's house in Oakland when he passed away a few years ago at the age of 90.

It's clearly in terrible shape and every time I open it I'm nervous that the pages are going to start slipping out. It was obviously well used by my Grandmother, who loved to entertain.

It looks like one of Grandma's four children might have nursed a grudge against the "Shrimp Wiggle".

The book is full of amazingly antiquated recipes and tips on cooking and entertaining. My favorite chapter- "Entertaining Without a Maid". The author warns "there are distinct limits to what should be attempted for pleasant and dignified results". How have I survived this long without paid help? My Grandma was the only person I knew who had a maid who came around just for parties, put on an awful  black and white dress, and passed appetizers. How strange.  

I'm trying to find the right recipe to try out, but frankly a lot of the main dishes sound terrible (Liver Loaf with Pan Gravy?), are chock full of butter and lard, or are just plain dull. The desserts however, seem intriguing. Anyone ever attempted a Baked Alaska? I'll let you know how it goes. 

Porch Envy

I've been walking around my neighborhood a lot with Vivian. I'm noticing a theme I really like. A few of my neighbors are rocking some pretty sweet chrome porch furniture. 

On D. Street

Near Cornwall Park

How are they all on the chrome chair bandwagon? Why didn't I get the memo? I just love the old school diner style. I'm so in and now have chrome chairs on the brain. I'm thinking this would be the best thrift store score ever. For now here's some good etsy finds.

L + J industries

Recovered

Dreams Really Do Come True

I would not want to imply that happiness is found in the aquisition of long- coveted objects. But sometimes getting what you want just makes for a great day.
Today I came home and found a shoebox on the dining room table with my husband's name on it. It also had a few postcards and a Pez dispenser tied to the top with ribbon. Because I am nosy, I opened this box.
Guess what was inside?

It's true. It's the bird planter that I have been admiring for the last few weeks in the window of an apartment downtown. Some of you may be familiar with my bird planter obsession. The bird planter belonged to this man-

He's the local guy who wears a Mr. Peanut suit when the mood strikes. 

He came into the restaurant where my husband works today, and Matthew told him that I was in love with his bird planter. This very kind man went home, wrapped up the bird planter, and gifted it to my husband. 

What an awesome guy. I can't even remember the last time a total stranger did something so nice for me. All my happy buttons have been pushed. It makes me want to go out and love on a perfect stranger myself. Kindness begets kindness.

Also in the theme of fulfilling obsessions is the stegosaurus gifted to me by Laurilee at our baby shower. 

I've been lusting after this dinosaur for weeks. It's supposed to be a gift for baby X, but I'm so infatuated with it I'm not sure I can let her have it. Maybe if she's a really GOOD baby. Maybe.

Happy Monday. 

On the Hunt

The hunt for the bird planter of my dreams continues. Matthew tells me he knows the owner of the bird planter I covet, and that he'll ask him if it's for sale. Bellinghamsters, this is apparently the same man who wanders the streets in the "Mr. Peanut" costume.
Anyway, in the meantime I haunt the antique mall like a ghost. No decent bird planters today, but a few worth noting (and photographing).

I bought the lamb planter. It was too creepily cute to pass up. 

What can you say about the "Asian person on a swing" planter? Weird.

What a gorgeous blender! It makes me want to whip up a few Margaritas and call it a day. 

Farmer's Market

Today seems like as good a day as any to start a blog. I was struck with serious blog envy last night after running across two amazing blogs created by my old friends Estelle and Megan. I'm also dealing with a burning desire to document my life during these last few months before my baby meets the world. All of a sudden the mundane events of my existence seem terribly IMPORTANT. This could either be the effect of hormones or the beginnings of mental illness.
Anyway, here's a synopsis of my Saturday.

Thank goodness the farmer's market is back and in full swing. The long, cold months of winter here in the pacific northwest are hard enough to bear without any fresh berries or local produce except for squash. 

It was just perfect today in the farmer's market depot- bustling but not too busy. As much as I want the vendors to make loads of money I get a little anxious when the place is swarming with tourists and mommies with giant strollers. It seems like the sunny days bring out throngs of people who don't necessarily want to shop for produce, but to lurk around causing traffic jams while they soak up the ambiance. 

I'm always grateful to be there, regardless. And there were some gems today. 

Lovely Libby of Moth and Squirrel has some new plush animals made from soft, thrifted sweaters. They make sweet baby gifts. 

The stegosaurus is my favorite. 

I'm not sure what this lady's name is but she can make a cute planter out of anything. 

Including her old purse. 

We had to hit up our favorite antique store that has been closed all month while the owner was in Eastern Washington. She reopened with some great stuff, like these spoon garden markers. 

And this awesome vintage colander. I seem to be developing a colander fetish since my friend Julea gave me a cherry red one for my birthday. I passed on this one because the enamel was chipped on the inside. If it keeps me up tonight I'll be back in the morning for it. 

I've also been nursing an obsession with vintage bird planters for  a few years now. Amazingly, I haven't bought one yet. I'm still on the hunt for the right one. The one I really can't get over is sitting in the windowsill of an apartment downtown. I'm coveting a stranger's bird planter and I can't move on. 

Here's what I came home with. A new (used) sewing box for my future baby afghan. 

Matthew scored this vintage gold frame that happened to fit an unframed print from our wedding. I don't think the picture even does it justice, it's hot stuff.
Happy Saturday!