Audrey Hepburn~Roman Holiday Barbie!

Last week I received a copy of Betty's Attic (est. 1914) catalog. I love their stuff. Most of it is kitschy but some of their items can really make your eyes pop with excitement. One such item was an Audrey Hepburn Barbie based on the film Roman Holiday.

Oh my! I jumped for joy! I cannot believe this beauty is out so I knew I had to share it with you all.

It may come as a surprise but I am actually a Pop Culture Barbie collector. I basically collect Barbie's that reflect the time such as in film, music, society, etc. You can see a few here. Honestly, I never thought I would get into collecting them until my husband purchased one for me when we were dating. Prior to that I only owned one Barbie as a young girl so I never imagined I would enjoy collecting them now as an adult.

There are a few Audrey Hepburn inspired Barbie's out there to collect. You have the ones from My Fair Lady and Breakfast at Tiffany's. And there is the one with Barbie Audrey wearing the stunning black and white gown from Sabrina.

Just the other day I posted an outfit inspired by the film Roman Holiday and now here is a Barbie doll of Audrey wearing the outfit! I just love it!

Isn't she stunning! It is a must have for a Barbie collector or die hard enthusiasts of Audrey Hepburn.

I found this Barbie in a few places but the best price yet has to have been here.

What do you think of this Barbie Audrey doll?

A Harry Potter Birthday

I am now a mother of a six year old. Six? Geesh I was just pregnant with her! I just had her! I was just changed her diaper and wiping that little tushy! Oh they say time goes fast, it is the truth. It does.

I have shared my love for Doctor Who with my children but I also shared the story of Harry Potter with them as well. I don't shy away about talking about life or death with my children because both have been a part of my existence and I am sharing my whole self with them. I am also teaching them about my mother, not that I have much to go on but I teach them that she is their grandmother and she loves them and she is in heaven loving them still. Little things like that.

Although we haven't delved into the HP books just yet (I will be soon though), they all love the films. Especially my girl. She just loves Harry and she likes seeing the friendships on screen and the fight for good against evil. When she asked for an HP party, how could I say no?

For the first time ever we held a birthday party at a party place and so I brought in some HP things I wanted her to have. Since she is so little I didn't go too nuts with the decorations and such but oh boy if one of the boys ever wants an HP when they are older-watch out-I will go bonkers!

Her party was the day of her actual birthday (August 27th) and I decided to dress up for the event. She asked me to be Professor McGonagall. So of course I scored myself a witch's hat online and thought this dress would look great with it.

I wore a 1950's dress, it has this beautiful shade of blue interwoven throughout the entire dress. Blue is one of my favorite colors and I love it. It fit so comfortable and as most of you already know is like number one of my list of must have with an outfit. I purchased it on Etsy from dinalouiseSF and paired it with my trusty Moonglow. I like things to be simple especially when I am with my children. It makes for less things to be lost or broken or whatever could happen.

The birthday girl and her friends sat down and had the sorting hat tell them which house they were going to and they were pinned with a house pin afterwards. Of course bunny girl wanted Gryffindor because she adores Harry Potter. They were given wands that were lite up and made swooshing sounds from Amazon here.

Some other special touches were the awesome HP cutout I scored on Amazon here and cases of authentic Butter beer (Harry's drink of choice, non-alcoholic) here.

The Harry Potter themed cookies were purchased via Etsy from a lovely seller here and the favors were a put together but they are a HP pencil and notebook inside a muslin bag.

Her day was magical and that is what we wanted for her. I believe in magic and I want my children to believe in it too. I want them to know that nothing is really impossible and that as J.K. Rowling says, "It is important to remember that we all have magic inside us."

Bunny's Victory is an affiliate of Amazon.com

Doctor Who Wednesday: 10 Fantastic Etsy Finds

Last week I shared with you a bit of a background on the world of Doctor Who. Today I am so excited to share with you ten super fabulous Doctor Who handmade Etsy items. I am a huge supporter of small businesses and my goodness it is amazing how creative some people are!!!

morbidxtasy

bioblitz

UnicornEmpirePrints

BeAwesomeMakeStuff

AdamPinwheeler

JensNerdyKnitting

krukrustudio

HeyLookASign

BelmouridaDesign

NailedItBoutique

Now is that some DW eye candy or what? I confess I want it all. Just trying to figure out when I would wear some Dalek nails at this point hehe 

Swing on by to some of these shops! There is no denying the power that a good story can be turned into something beautiful and these items are proof that DW is truly inspiring.

5 Things to do on Pinterest

Recently I have rediscovered the joy of using Pinterest. There are so many social media outlets online but like so many of you there are some I enjoy more than others. Pinterest has defiantly become one of them!

If you haven't tried out Pinterest yet, let me show you five things that you can do while you are on. The best part of creating these boards is the FUN that you will have while doing it. Especially so if you are a organizer or list maker such as myself. It is a great way to keep images of things you want to do or find inspiring. Which leads me to being inspired. Looking at other people boards and your own can lead to a slew of fresh ideas for blog posts, projects, and recipes galore. I cannot wait to try out some of the recipes I found while pinning.

This can lead you to being creative in ways you never imagined you could or discovering new things you would never have seen if you didn't peak into this site. Lastly, you can find new blogs/companies/vintage shops while sifting through some amazing pins which can then lead you to making new friends/acquaintances.

It is a win/win situation to use Pinterest. After being told about the toolbar that you can add on your computer I have been having a crazy fun time pinning things I love or find interesting or inspiring. It really has been a blast!

You can find me on Pinterest and if you do feel free to scour over my pins. I do hope you will find some inspiration among them!

My Ode to Doctor Who

Like many of you, I have my favorite shows and films. I am the sort of person that if I really enjoy something I will go back to it and do it again. For example, watch a film over, re-read a book, wear the dress that makes me feel great, etc. 

Doctor Who is that for me. I first encountered the show when I was about ten or eleven. I caught it on one of my favorite channels, PBS. I remember seeing the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, somewhere in the dark with this blue box and I was like...WHAT IS THIS?! I was the sort of little girl who enjoy girlie things. I watched Jem, wished I was a singer in a band, teased my hair in the front (this was the 80's folks), and scoured over my Big Bopper Magazine like it was the Holy Bible.

But there was another side to me. I guess you can call it the geeky or nerdy side of me but I never saw it that way. I knew I was different but I think growing up with an older brother, a grandma, and being raised by my dad made me...oh, more unique than the other girls in my school. Putting aside that I was obviously different because my disability was very visible at that point (I walked entirely on my toes until I was thirteen-then had major surgery-then leg braces), the way I thought and saw the world was for a lack of a word....different.

Perhaps it was because of my mother's passing when I was seven or perhaps it was because I was a dreamer at heart. I always was sensitive about things but never voiced them. I would write or draw or express myself that way. I looked at books at a gateway to other worlds and would play Sherlock Holmes and Watson with my younger male cousin just because I liked a good mystery and adventure.

By the time I was nine I was literally obsessed with joining the Peace Corps feeling my calling was to help those who could not help themselves. At twelve I aspired to travel the world and be half Mother Theresa, half Indiana Jones. In that time, if I expressed to the world those secret and private parts of me, people would have thought me very odd indeed. I think that's why I kept so quiet and kept my dreams so close to my chest.

Today, my life as a mother and wife keep quiet busy and to say the least I am never bored. I chose family life over joining the Peace Corps and my adventures have become more home based. I still love reading, writing, being creative, and exploring the world beyond myself. 

I think that is why Doctor Who has struck such a cord with me. I can watch an episode over and over and I am never bored with it. I always find something new to explore. I love a good story and the show is always telling one.

This November Doctor Who will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary. FIFTY years of a show! Now that is epic. Some are fans of the classic series and others of the new...I am a fan of it all. I love the blend of adventure and mystery surrounding the Doctor. And I love how the show reminds me that no matter where you are in your life, that life itself is an ADVENTURE.

To celebrate the show's anniversary I will be starting a series (starting with today) called Doctor Who Wednesdays. Every Wednesday I will showcase something I enjoy about the show or inspired by the show. I will also be posting some DW inspired outfit posts which has made me so excited about fashion. I have never been this excited about clothes in my life and I think I have found my way to express not only my love of TV/Cinema but to do it through fashion. Which leads me to another series I am working on which will be called Film Fashion Fridays. Those days will include either outfit inspiration  based on a TV/Film.

Last month I worked with the truly amazing Celeste Giuliano and together we created my Ode to Doctor Who. I have been yearning to do a creative shoot like this for over a year and my dream came true. I had such fun working with Celeste-we talked and giggled and it felt so good to express myself in front of the camera again.

The theme of the shoot was set in the 1960's as DW began in 1963. I have landed on an alien planet and I am exploring with my trusty Tardis. I used some props that are affiliated with some of my favorite Doctors. I do hope you enjoy them and I will be posting the rest of my photos on my Facebook. 

How Vintage Has Changed My Life

July 12th marked my second year being a part of the blogging and vintage worlds. So much has changed in my life because of these two fantastic hobbies and passions of mine. But before I share how vintage has changed my life, I want to thank my readers and supporters who have given me neverending friendship and guidance. Thank you!

When I began my journey I was a newly mother of three, slightly losing my marbles in the midst of hormones. I spent a great deal of time alone because my husband works two full time jobs and this combination just wasn't good for me. I needed something for me, something where I can still be creative and have an outlet for myself.

I dove into the wonderful world of vintage, pinup, and blogging head first. I didn't know what I was doing nor did I have the means or the time to dedicate to it but somehow I managed to find a way to pursue my passion.

This journey has not be an easy one. Although it has been fruitful, the road has been bumpy with quite a few potholes. Nevertheless, I am grateful it hasn't been easy because the joys have been so much more joyful. And I am proud of myself for sticking to what I love no matter the challenges I faced.

Vintage has truly changed my life. Here are some of the ways that it has:  

• Formed connections and friendships with people that I would have never met otherwise
• Broke me out of my shell and helped me feel good about showing my leg braces to the world
• Kept me creative and feeding my brain with oodles of information
• Taught me (and still teaching me) that pretty comes in all sizes, shapes, and ages
• Explore fashion in a way I never thought I would be able to
• Allows me to share my passion and myself in a special way to my family, especially my children
• Showed me that I could do the impossible (ie a emagazine)
• Gave (and still giving) me a special sense of confidence that wearing vintage can give a woman
• Reminded me of many things my grandmother taught me of what it meant to be ladylike and expressing that through my wardrobe
• Reviving my lifelong passion for writing
• Getting published is not as hard I as I always thought it would be. You just have to keep at it til it happens!
• I am trying new things that I never imagined I would-ie makeup, hairstyles, knitting, etc.
• Showed me that I am one determined cookie!
• Taught me that patience and hard work are keys to success 
• Allowing me to show who I am on the inside through the way I dress up

It has changed my life and continues to do. I know it has changed many of your lives as well. How has it? 

So cheers to Bunny's Victory! Here is to many more years of blogging to come!

Being Vintagey in Missouri: Day Two (Pt 1)

My second day in Missouri with Brittany was a world wind! We were tired from staying up late and prepping for the shoot but we were rearing to go! Our photographer, Monica Moore drove in from Illinois and was truly divine to work with. She was at ease with herself and her abilities as a photographer, a combination I haven't worked with in a while.

Brittany and I dressed up and modeled through four decades. We started with the rock 'n rollin' 1950's, then the patriotic 1940's, the mod 1960's, and ended the day with the roarin' 1920's/30's. I am sooo happy to share with you a sneak peak of our work together. I placed the photos in chronological order because I thought  it would be neat to see the transitions. It was so much fun to play dress up and to model with my friend. I personally didn't feel tired until the very end of the day. It hit me like a ton of bricks and I realized how hard we really worked on these shoots. I do hope you like them! They will be used mainly for our emagazine, Hey Doll! Vintage Magazine.

I had so much fun with Brittany and Monica. I couldn't have asked for a better shoot than this. It was just pure fun and a joy to do. That is the way a photo shoot should feel like.

We ended our day with a bang,  but you have to tune in tomorrow to see what we did!

Did you like our photos? What sort of fun photo shoots would you like to do one day?

xox

Knitting Project Goals!

I know I just started to learn how to knit, but I think it's important to set some goals for yourself especially if they can be challenging. So, I set some realistic goals for myself. I am still working on my Tardis blue scarf and have been able to fit in about 20-30 minutes of knitting everyday which  has been enough for my hands to do. 

Next month I will be booking a class with my instructor to learn how to do this 1940's pattern. It will just be an hour class but my hope is that I get the gist of how it goes and I can make it for myself. I love wearing snoods and would love to make some one day but I am now loving these headband/turbans as well. What a great way to add something to  your look and change how you do your hair all with a simple headband/turban!

The one just below is another I want to do. These seem like doable projects for me for the next few months as I hope to make a few in different colors. The one under that is a Knee Warmer that I would love to make for my dad. His birthday is at the end of March so I will try and do it for then if not for Father's Day. He has knee problems so I want to make something that could possibly help  him. The third one is of a Mantilla Scarf-very Spanish like and very me-I love it! And the last is of a jumper/sweater. Now that will be a tough cookie to crack BUT if I can make myself one oh my that would be heavenly indeed!

 PamoolahVintageHats~Turban Wrap

VanessaLovesVintage~Knee Warmer

eStitches~Head Coverings

VaVoomVintageShop~Jumper/Sweater

What knitting/Crocheting projects are you working on now? What do you hope to work on during the year? Or any crafts for that matter!!

xox

Guess Whose Joining The Knitting Club???

Sometimes I get nervous about trying new things-do you? I find it especially when it comes to new things that require time and focus. When you have three children under five years old one thing you defiantly do not have a lot of is time and focus because all your time/focus is dedicated to them.

I knew some time ago I would  have to give some things a go and find a way to meet those challenges. One of my personal 1940's housewife goals was to learn how to either knit or crochet or both. Although my hands do have their weaknesses, I figured if I paced myself well then perhaps it could end up being a good form of exercise.

I took my first class on December 28th at a lovely craft shop called Cook's Arts & Crafts Shop. My instructor named Michelle was absolutely fabulous to work with. I knew what color I was going to choose if I were asked. So when Michelle asked me I immediately said "Tardis blue!!". For those that may not be aware, I am a huge Doctor Who fan. In that very moment I met my first NY Doctor Who fan and I thought that was just so cool!

We spent the next hour and a half talking about the show and I learned the knit and purl stitch. My instructor was just so patient and thorough. She is exactly the kind of instructor I needed! I had moments where my fingers were aching or I needed a break but she was wonderful to me. Not many instructors have that sort of patience. But I did pretty okay with my first class-yeah! Now it's all about practice!

This is my first project:

I am trying to knit for at least 30 minutes a day if my babies give me a wee break. Let's see how it goes because I have big plans for these hands of mine!! Hehe I have a 1940's snood and a turban pattern that I am longing to work on but baby steps first. I hope to book another class with my instructor to work on those projects because I am still learning about needles, yarn, measurements, and all that jazz. 

I look forward to finishing my first project and will keep practicing. I know many of you knit and I love seeing all of your creations-you all inspire me so much! Learning how to knit is a huge deal for me and I am so happy to be able to share this process with you!

Here's to creating lots of wonderful things in the New Year!!

xox

My Birthday Boy!

I normally don't post too many photos of my children and as of late I have-unfortunatly I will be posting less although as a proud mama I want to share with the world all my beauties but I have to think safety first. So this will be the last for a while to come.

I felt compelled to share today but it is today, two years ago that my life really changed forever. I was already a mama of two but when I heard my youngest sons cry I just knew I was complete. He completes our family and I knew then that I was happy and fulfilled being a mother of three. I will always welcome children into my life but it felt good to know that I was done. And no regrets-I didn't want to ever feel like I wasn't finished having children, but having my baby boy, I knew and I felt my soul was filled. Gosh, I must sound so sappy to you all, but I can't lie. Its true.

I was just about two or three weeks away from giving birth in this photo. I was all belly! I swore he was going to be ten pounds but he surprised me by weighing the same as his brother, 7 pounds and 9 ounces. I called him "My Pumpkin" when he was inside of me and his baby shower was pumpkin themed, of course hehe

He is just about a day or two old here. It felt so good to leave the maternity room knowing I wouldn't be back. And I don't mean that in a bad way, it was just good feeling like that part of my life was finished and I would begin a new part by being a mother to three babies...ahhhh

I love snuggling and every one of my babies basically spent their first year on my chest. There is no other place a baby wants to be than with their mama. It got a little trickier when number three came into the world, but they all seemed to find a place on me hehe

Oh my little monkey boy! This is my son at almost a year old with his hair before his first haircut...wild and curly and blue eyed...who knew I'd have a blue eyed baby LOL

He is the happiest person I know. Loves to laugh and play and eat and eat and eat. Such a boy! Happy second birthday to my angel!

xox