Suitcase full of treasures

Almost five years my father promised that he would find my baby suitcase and give it to me. Well, my dad just like most men needed a few years of reminding and prodding and finally this past week my dad brought it to my home!!

The suitcase is filled to the brim with baby clothes and goodies that I cannot believe I wore! 

My jaw dropped with I saw this outfit! Can we say future pinup! 

Its screaming 1940's...ahhh I love it! It also has a plastic lining 

where the diaper would be-so neat!

These are typical spanish cotton tops that most latinos would put 

on their babies. Even the tags are in spanish-love it!

My baby piggy bank that I think is filled with crayons 

somehow and my baby sippy cup. Inside the suitcase 

was also my first utensils.

Where I laid my curly haired baby head. 

Felt so comfy...I need one in adult size now!!! Hehehe

The best part of all is this is knowing my mother took the time to save and pack away all of these items that her baby girl wore. To know that she thought carefully of which pieces to save-even the ones with food stains on them. Also, what really hit me was how much my mother and I are similar.

I, too have bins for my children's memory clothes. Each baby has a bin of clothes that they wore as a newborn and outfits that mean something to me. Each baby has a memory book that I have added photos to and written down information-just like my mother did for us. Each baby also has scrapbooks but ekkkk I am sooo behind on those--bad mama! I need to get back on track with them asap!

But I like knowing we have something like that in common. I also like knowing that how my parents felt about me, I feel about my children. The freaky part is, is that I was their baby...just like mine are my babies. But now I am all grown up. Or am I? Perhaps I will always be that little black haired baby girl they cradled and kissed and loved. Makes me feel incredibly blessed to have been wanted and loved that way. It only reminds me to keep doing that for my children and also to find ways to become an advocate for those children who aren't wanted, because every child deserves a suitcase full of devotion, adoration, and unconditional love.

xox

My Vintage Wardrobe: Train Case Show and Tell

About two months ago I began a series called My Vintage Wardrobe in order to help me learn and understand more of what I want to get out of the wardrobe I am creating as well as to share with you the progress I have made with it :)

So here is a little glimpse into what kind of collection I have been working on when it comes to vintage jewelry. I am focusing more on owning original 1940's pieces as well as pieces specifically from when WWII was happening.

On Mother's Day I took some time out for myself and cleaned and organized my bedroom a bit more. My husband gifted me with this great train case that I really needed because my accessories were all over the place. It's not good when you have small children but its also not good because you want to preserve your items, not allow them to get lost or damaged in anyway. So I simplified the top of my dresser and added the train case as the main portion so that it will be easily accessible to me. The mini baskets on top of it contain my scarves :)

This train case is in awesome shape! It has the original mirror, a tray, four side pockets, and a key so I can lock it up away from little fingers hehehe I put two photos that I purchased at the Antique Mall with Brittany on my trip. One is of Maria Montez, a Dominican (latina) actress from the 1940's and the other of a regular couple...I find them inspiring. The tray contains my earrings, necklaces, brooches, and a few modern pieces that I wear everyday like my wedding ring and watch.

Under the tray I am storing my snoods, flowers, makeup, bracelets, mirror, and other various items.

These are some of my favorite brooches so far. The top right is my WWII "Dice" brooch, the heart Mother brooch was a giftie from my friend Brittany for Mother's Day ( I LOVE IT!), and below it is a Mother brooch given to me by my sister in law. In the middle is a western inspired brooch with the original card given to me by my SIL, a "D" Lucite brooch made by Brittany--I would have included the "B" brooch Brittany gave to me but I think I left it in MO. Also, there is a 1940's deer with a working bell, a 1930's guitar brooch, a Spanish guitar brooch, and lastly the arch of St. Louis that I bought on my trip.

My first pieces of Bakelite gifted to me by Brittany. I won't be able to start investing in more Bakelite until I have a completed my vintage wardrobe on some level. But I am aware that it is a staple for every 1940's gal.

These earrings were purchased at the Antique Mall in Mo. So sorry the photo isn't better. I had to use flash since I took it late at night. But I scored some 1940's fruit inspired earrings, four pairs of red earrings, a turquoise round pair, and a pair of card earrings.

I love these two pieces to bits! Authentic WWII time period "V" for Victory brooch and a 1940's airplane hair clip. I found these pieces on good 'ole Etsy!

Lastly, here are my bracelets. I don't have a lot but I am slowly building my collection. Most pieces are from Etsy, the three in the above photo were purchased in the Antique Mall in MO, and the beaded bracelets were purchased in Claire's accessories for a dollar a piece.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour into my train case. I am so happy to be able to organize everything and have a clearer idea of what pieces I need to be looking for. Jewelry is so much fun. I forgot how much fun they can be!!

xox

Why I model...

Photag/Muah: Brittany Sherman

I haven't been online much this week because my computer wasn't getting good Internet connection but so far so good, I think it's a lot better now. Yeah!

So last week while I was walking to go pick up my daughter from school a thought hit me. I realized that perhaps some of you don't really know why I have been modeling. I thought I shared my whys but then the next day I got a reply on one of my posts asking me and so I decided I will defiantly share with you my full reasons of why I am modeling. I won't hold anything back and tell you really all the reasons why.

First, let me answer my readers question-No, I don't model at all for my husband. My husband thinks I am beautiful all the time so this isn't about showing him more of my beauty or to make him happy. He is supportive of all of it and is just cheering me on like the rest of my loved ones are. Thanks for asking!*smile*

The main reason why I decided to do this was a few months after the birth of my third child I just felt out of sorts, very hormonal, and very disconnected with myself and who I was. I always wanted to do some sort of shoot and then I saw an ad for Bettina May's Pinup Shoot and I signed on. That was in June 2011 and I loved every minute of it! It also helped bring me to blogging and on this incredible vintage journey that I am on.

Photag/Muah: Bettina May

The main reason I have now is honestly I feel like there has always been two parts of me. The physical part which is my human body and then part that's ME...really ME. The inside part. Now I am not going to get mystical or religious and it may sound weird but I have always felt this way. Maybe the combination of my disability and my mother's passing played a part in how I feel but I always felt that the part inside of me was so much brighter and more beautiful than the outside part.

I am not saying I don't think I am beautiful because I know I am. Just saying that the part that is ME is so much more beautiful and I am now using the art of modeling to find a way to get that part of myself to shine out more. Not hide it but to bring it forth and let all of that beauty that is in me come out. I don't know if I have truly captured through photos just yet all that is me but I am getting there. 

I also model because I want to celebrate this post-babies body. Yes, I have a post-babies belly. My last child was all belly so I knew I would have extra skin afterwards. Honestly it does annoy me sometimes but most of the time I feel proud-kind of like a war wound. Kind of like the scars on my feet after all my surgeries. But this time three amazing people came from my body and when I look at my belly I am okay with it. Not happy with it but okay with it because it was a small sacrifice for what I got to have in the end. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! I loved being pregnant and I love being a mommy more than anything in this entire world.

Photag: ReverieRevel

Muah: Brittany Sherman

Lastly, I model because I want to celebrate the art and beauty of times gone by. It makes me proud to do so and I love playing dress-up. Its something I never really got to do since my mother passed on when I was so little. I get to do it now and I feel so amazing!!

Modeling has given me a little or rather bit surprise. It has helped me begin to embrace my disability and my leg braces more. I did a shoot with Kay Murray in MO with them on and never felt so beautiful. I plan to do more!

So there you have it. My true and totally honest reasons why I am modeling. I hope you all can understand why I do it. And thank you for reading my ramblings :)

xox

Last day in Missouri!

This post is all about my last full day with Brittany in Missouri. We were SO exhausted after shooting all day Saturday that we decided to take it easy on Sunday. We went into the historic part of St. Charles and boy was it pretty! We ate a beautiful brunch/lunch together and then walked around a bit. I told Brittany I felt like I was walking through her blog! We had some fun modeling around the area and then we bought some goodies at a chocolate shop. Chocolate dipped animal crackers rock! That's all I have to say about that hehehe

I was wearing an authentic 1940's hat that belonged to Brittany and it was my very first time wearing one! I was also wore a thrifted blouse and cardigan and my black trousers from Time Machine Vintage as well as my "Dice" WWII brooch. I treasure it! I get conflicting reports on what it means but its defiantly a slang word used during that time. Its my first piece of authentic WWII jewelry and I plan on building that collection...little by little *smile*

Afterwards we made our way to the WWII event at Jefferson Barracks. We actually made a wrong turn into the cemetery that ended up being the right turn for us. I never thought I would ever have the chance to see this type of cemetery let alone pay my respects to all of these fallen and lost heroes. There were people from WWI on to our current situation in the Middle East. There were wives and husbands and sometimes their children. To my shock there were many Unknown graves...that truly broke my heart.

It was a powerful and moving experience for all of us. I will never forget it. Unfortunately, the WWII event ended early because of the weather but we met a nice fellow dressed in a German uniform and we chatted up a bit. We also took some photos a tank which was beyond cool. Only thing I didn't like was all that dare mud...ekkkkk!!

When all the fun ended we headed back home and I finished packing and getting ready for my flight early the next day. I can honestly say I had the time of my life. I am so happy and proud to have a friend like Brittany in my life. And I SO look forward to future trips where are families came combine and have fun together just like we did. I didn't know that at my age I would still need friendships, but diving into the vintage world while it has given me great joy and an opportunity to be creative has also reminded me to continue to be open to what the world has to give me. One of those now being Brittany and her amazing family.

We spent the rest of the night watching a 1960's theme film called "Down with Love" which I am dying to see how it ends. Our eyes were beginning to hurt so we decided to finally go to sleep early (almost midnight lol)! 

My hubby and I are hoping that Brittany and her family can make it to the Big Apple one day. I mean we have to continue our adventures....right??

Thank you again to Brittany and her family for the help, kindness, and friendship that was given to me during those days. Thank you to little Olivia and Rhys for being the best babies ever! Thank you to my supporters who helped me make this trip possible-especially my beyond amazing husband, my father, and my bff Nick. And to you my readers, for always being so kind and sweet to me!!

I am a better person for having gone and yes ladies and gentlemen....I can now call myself a Vintage Model....a 1940's gal....and there is so much more to come! This journey has been outstanding!!!

xox

Say Cheese!

I cannot believe it was a week ago today! How quickly time passes!! So last Saturday I spent the entire day doing photo shoots. I wasn't sure if I could do them all or how it was going to work out but with Brittany by my side, we made it happen together!

We started out our day doing an early morning photo shoot using her vanity and props. Its was a 1960's Sandra Dee theme using a nightie I purchased on my first day. I will share those photos on a later day with you but I can give you a little glimpse into the shoots I did with Kay Murray who runs ReverieRevel.

That's Kay and I hamming it up before our first shoot together! I did eight photo shoots altogether. One with Brittany at 8am (yes that early) and the rest from about 12ish to 10pm!!!! We were all zombies when we finished!!! But it was soooooooooooooooooo much fun!!!!!

My first shoot was inspired by Downtown Abbey-one of my favorite shows!!! My second was a 1950's car shoot. The car was from the 1980's but it was still so cool! I wore my braces for the first time with a dress and I actually felt fabulous!

My third and fourth shoots with Kay were an Ode to Rita Hayworth. After lunch we headed out to this beautiful park in St. Louis and we shot by the train tracks-it was sooooo darn cool and scary too because we had to make sure the train wasn't coming-ahhhh! I wore my braces again but I really have never felt so comfortable and pretty wearing them than when I did that shoot! My other Rita shoot was in the studio and I felt so glamorous and so beautiful and its one of my favorites that I did.

After my Ode to Rita I did a Disney inspired shoot with Brittany. She was Cinderella and I was Snow White. Omg what a hoot that was!!! We finished up the evening with a 1950's pinup shoot and a 1960's mod shoot also with Brittany as well as some of Kay's vintage furs.

I am posting most of my photos little by little on my facebook page so if you'd like you can always friend me *smile*

It was a spectacular day from start to finish. A lot of work was put into my day being so special and amazing. Many, many thanks to Brittany for being my Muah and for always making sure I was doing my best! To Brittany's amazing husband PJ and their two lil munchkins for the hours it took to drive to St. Louis and back to St. Charles even with the bad (and at times scary) weather. As well as many thank to Ms. Kay Murray for being open to creating these amazing images with me and for teaching me so much about modeling.

I loved every minute of it and the day shooting only confirmed to me that I do truly love playing dress up! What girl doesn't?? hehehe I hope you like them!!!

xox