shop update: 3 parts

one part americana, one part nautical, one part 1960's. enjoy!

thanks for reading,

m

coming next.........shades of brown!! yay.

Contentment

warning: this blog post may contain raw emotion, and very little relation to fashion.

Something i've been thinking and learning a lot about lately is contentment. When i first launched Adelaide's, I had no idea what to expect. i thought, "it would be so cool if i could just make a couple sales a week and save up some money for (i'll tell you what i'm saving up for in a later post)." then i thought, "oh my, It'd be fun to make 100 sales." 100 came and went, and then I had a goal of 500 which has recently come and gone. I think its great to have goals but I find myself always thinking of the next thing and not enjoying the every day bits of my business. If I am thinking of the next sales number I'm trying to get to, or how many shop hearts I have, or followers on twitter...then i can't see what's right in front of me: the fact that i love taking an item that was rotting somewhere in a warehouse or pushed to the back of a rack at Salvation Army and sending it to Paris the next week (or idaho, for that matter). I love the fact that an otherwise unused and unloved items get a new life. and i can enjoy THAT every single day, whether i'm making sales or getting"hearts" or not.

I am tempted to feel this in my personal life too. before i got married, i thought, "i'll be so much happier when i'm married." and now it can be tempting to think, "maybe we should have (or in my case, adopt) kids, is that the next thing?" Lately Steve and I have slowed down our timeline on kids and decided to enjoy EACH OTHER. We so enjoy spending time together and are continuing to learn how to better communicate and show love to each other. And the stronger our marriage is, the better it will be for our future kids.

I've found that Contentment is less about your circumstances and more about your state of mind, what you put your faith in, and what is important to you.

I want to somehow encourage you to be content and enjoy THIS part of your life, in whatever stage you may be in. there is something wonderful to enjoy about being self-employed, or having a steady job (working for the man :), to be single or married, to be a mom or kidless... just enjoy the ride! (like the lovely lady on the scooter up there:)

what are your thoughts on the subject??

thanks for reading,

m

p.s. the above picture is of a woman who looks greatly content and ready to enjoy life!

Shop Update: Feel the Teal

This Update was brought to you by that mysterious blue-green. And ALL dresses, i'm shameless.

thanks for reading,

m

Simply Silk

A few weeks ago, i did a post about my favorite vintage blouse. well, it has since been upstaged by this lovely that i purchased last week from greatest friend. It was one of those purchases where you're pressing the "add to cart" button before you even have a chance to think. i know this outfit is super simple, but i just wanted to let the blouse shine, so i paired it with this lovely plum velvet flounce skirt and my Lord and Taylor pumps which i got from Kennedy Holmes (yes, this outfit is very "brought to you by etsy").
Cream and taupe are my favorite colors to wear and this blouse is both, plus its embroidered and has cutout detail AND is silk. oh goodness.
as a side note, i'm playing with new ways to do my hair. this is my slightly modish/twiggy inspired side sweep. i like it, it feels very clean and simple. to go with this outfit.

thanks ever so much for reading,

m

Sassy Sister Vintage

Visiting Sassy Sister Vintage on Etsy is like walking into my favorite ecclectic vintage store. The owner, Kim, creates a very distinct and layered atmosphere of beauty, variety and creativity. I love her taste and the thoughtful photos that she takes. Sassy Sister has become one of my favorite (and most frequently shopped) stores, and I hope you have fun getting to know the owner, Kim.

How do you balance being a busy mom with being the owner of a small business? It is so hard sometimes. I just have to manage my time really well. My daughter Regan is 8 years old, so she's in school most of the day. My other daughter London is just 18 months and she's a demanding little girl. I'll typically work for a while after Regan goes to school in the morning and then in the evening when the girls go to bed. During the day it's everything else. I sometimes have to remind myself that my husband and girls are more important than vintage clothing, a shop, or anything else.

What is your favorite vintage item in your home? My mom blew a bunch of old family photos up in black and white and then matted and framed them. She's given me and my sisters a couple each year. I think they're so cool.

favorite vintage piece in your closet ? I have this amazing sheer blue dress from the 1950's that I really love. Something about the color and design of it really speak to me. Not to mention that it fits perfectly and I paid a whopping $1 for it!

what makes you like vintage? I have always been a bit of a free spirited, eccentric person, just like many other vintage clothing lovers seem to be. It's super fun not to look like everyone else who has gone to the mall and bought the latest fashions. Not that I don't do that, but a mixture of vintage and modern put together is so attractive. It's sort of a way of setting yourself apart and expressing yourself. Something about buying items that have a history or past has always appealed to me also. Not to mention that vintage clothing (and other vintage) seems to be made so much better.

what made you start your shop? My mom had an antiques shop in Tallahassee, FL about 12 years ago. She imported European furniture. She let me put some of my vintage clothing pieces up for sale that I had collected through the years. They sold pretty well and I loved the "high" of making a sale. I rented space in an antique mall where I currently live for about 5 years and sold vintage clothing and furniture. I closed it just a while after my second daughter was born. I decided to give Etsy a try.

what decade of clothes is your favorite and why? I think probably 1950's clothing is some of the prettiest; you can still find it wearable and intact and it's so well made. Some of the 1950s prom dresses are works of art as are many of those intricately beaded old sweaters that I happen to find from time to time. But then there are many pieces from the the 20's and 40's that are amazing too.

what do you do for fun? Hmmmmm. Doing this shop, taking care of husband and girls and trying to keep my house half way orderly take up a lot of my time. I LOVE junking and thrifting, they give me the ultimate high. Interior design, traveling, exercise and health are always at the top of my list too.

What's your advice on wearing vintage?

I'm probably a little older than the typical person selling vintage clothing online. I just turned 43 years old and have been wearing vintage clothing for about 15 years. You don't have to be a young 20 something to be cool and look stylish. I think many women tend to forget about themselves after they have children. They forget how they felt when they looked stylish and sort of let themselves go. They need to remember to take a little time for themselves. Women can wear vintage and look stylish at any age. It's all about putting pieces together in a tasteful manner that don't scream a certain decade but just compliment each other. Many people out there may be surprised at how chic they look when they put on a piece of vintage or try to wear something different than their norm. Give it a try :)

Thanks so much KIM! keep up the great work :)

visit kim's shop here

thanks for reading,

m

May Flowers

Yesterday, my shop became filled with the blues and greys that represent the rain that april brings, but today i promised May flowers. So, this morning I went on a little foray in my yard taking pictures of the palette that inspired me. These photos are interspersed with the items that they inspired. enjoy!

thanks for reading,

m

April Showers

My shop became in tune with the weather today; all pale blue, grey and cloudy. this gives you a hint at tomorrow's update...:) (what do april showers bring?)

thanks for reading,

m