My Vintage Home: Playroom Decorations

At the beginning of this month, I shared with you all my plans to redecorate and reorganize my home as well as add a vintage feel to my everyday living. I mean, your home is your sanctuary, right?

Last time showed you my children's rooms and my hopes, wishes, and dilemmas in redecorating them. I am still staring at the paint booklets that I have and I am thinking of either going with a shade of blue for both rooms (because I want them to flow into another-almost being the sibling of the other) or a shade of green/blue.

My plan is to score the paints during the month of March so that during the month of April we can clear out the rooms, paint, and begin the process of redecorating. I decided that the touch of vintage that will be represented in each room (the children's bedroom and playroom) will be in the form of decoration. I also decided to keep my daughters furniture in the main room and store the boys furniture in the garage. The playroom is so small, I really don't want any large pieces of furniture in there.

And since their ceiling fans, curtain rods, and furniture are all white-the dash of color will come from the walls as well as the decorations. This will hopefully give me a shabby chic yet vintage look and feel.

I decided I will focus on my search for decorations in Etsy and The Land of Nod. I found so many great pieces in both places. I love the look of the photo of the room above-so that is now my inspiration.

Here are some things I found on the website in The Land of Nod:

 The suitcases are another from of storage-I love storage! I adore this growth chart-it can be used for all three of my babies and I adore how it has bunnies on it hehe The theater you see can be changed into a food stand and a post office so its very versatile and I like that-more bang for your buck, right?

 I love the wall storage bins as well as the idea of stacking crates. Their main bedroom will hold their bookcase and a toy bin (both white) so the playroom really need smaller and more compactable storage. I am also looking for something for the living and foyer-something where I can hang the kids outerwear, put shoes away, and book bags because two years from now all three will be in school and mama need order in the home! LOL

These pieces were found in Etsy. I adore this house shaped shadow box-small little things can be placed in it. I also love the idea of including some vintage toys-as decoration only. And let us not forget banks! Isn't this clever dutch girl bank the cutest thing ever!

Do you like my finds? Are there any shops you would recommend to me? (thanks!)

xox

The Anne Frank Center USA

I was twelve years old when I first read The Diary of Anne Frank. I don't know why I wanted to read it, I do recall knowing about WWII and some things about the Holocaust because my grandfather fought in the war. And I was just a really, really empathetic and reflective child. Such a weirdo-I know hehe But I guess not much as changed. I read it because I wanted to. And I recall that while I was reading it, I could relate to so much Anne was talking about. I suppose we were both reflective and deep thinking children.

I also recall finding out after reading it that she died so close to the camp she was in being liberated. That just broke my heart and it still does.

I began journaling at the age of nine. I still have all of my journals. I journaled from nine until my late 20's. My journaling went from writing about me to writing about my children and now I have scrapbook albums and baby books. I know how therapeutic writing can be and I know the power that releasing emotions/thoughts can be for your being. I can only imagine how writing in her journal must have pulled Anne through some tough times while she was in hiding.

This weekend I had the pleasure of going to The Anne Frank Center USA in Manhattan. I have never been there before but my friend Sean from The Fictionista mentioned this center to me and encouraged me to go. So grateful I did. Thank you Sean!

My husband and I were greeted by an outstanding staff who showed us around and answered all of our questions. A copy of Anne's dairy is on display, the original being in The Secret Annex. We were able to see many photos of the Frank family that I have never seen before. I must say it was lovely to see them up close and in person. I felt more connected to them. I thought a few times to myself, that family is our family. I am a mother now with three small children, what wouldn't I do for them...I can now not only relate to Anne but to her mother and father-Edith and Otto Frank.

There was also a detailed time line that we viewed. I learned SO much from reading it!

We also watched a documentary on Anne Frank that I found fascinating and emotional. So many questions and thoughts were swimming in my head afterwards. I did find some answers to my questions via the ipad. I loved it. I got to watch an interview with Miep Gies who helped hide and care for the Franks and others while they were in hiding. Just to give you a taste of that interview-when asked why she helped them-her answer was, "because it was the natural thing to do." She was an incredible woman who never saw herself as someone special because of what she did. She passed on in 2010 and the beautiful age of 100. Bless her.

The center also hosts educational workshops and lectures as well as hosting various exhibits throughout the year. Anne Frank has been special to me for a very long time but now her whole family is. Now that I am a woman and a mother, I can really appreciate her story on a deeper and different level. I can also now look at things from a different angle and ask myself some harder questions. Questions like "why do these things happen?" and "what would I have done?"

The day I went out was a deary, rainy, and cold day in New York. I had a fabulous outfit planned that was inspired by Anne Frank but I would have to wear that another time. I threw on my trusty vintage jeans, a white blouse, black cardigan, and a snood. I did wear a brooch that was purchased via Etsy from a woman who was selling her late aunts jewelry. It is from the 1940's and she told me it was from during the war. I love simple pieces like these-don't you?

When you get a chance, please stop by The Anne Frank Center USA. It is located just two blocks North of the World Trade Center site. It is something you should not miss out on. And their staff was truly phenomenal. My husband and I chatted with one of the staff members for almost an hour and a half. He was just glowing with goodness and good energy. Talking to him was like talking to a kindred spirit. 

So, my head and my heart were filled and satisfied that day. Afterwards, we went out to eat at a cool little joint in Manhattan that I will share with all of you in Hey Doll Vintage Magazine's Issue Two coming out on March 2nd!

xox

Oh La La...Springtime Dresses

While the snow continues to fall and the chills of the winter go up and down our spines, I feel it necessary to look at something that will keep me inspired since I love for warmer days. Eager for the spring breeze to go through my hair and long walks to the park with my children, I look at springtime dresses to remind me that warmer days are coming. I am also reminded that now is the best time to snatch these kind of dresses! So, feast your eyes on some of my finds, all from Etsy because I believe in supporting small businesses, don't you?

1950's Dress from aiseirigh

1940's Pink Dress from CeliaVintageStars

Stunning French Couture Dress from Jumblelaya

1950's Stunning Green Dress from RococoVintage

1950's/1960's Party Dress from RococoVintage

VintConditionStyle

Floral 1950's Dress from aiseirigh

Are you inspired yet? Do you feel a little spring coming your way? I sure hope so! I know I do!

xox

My Vision Board: Six Months Later...

I cannot believe it has already been SIX months since I created and posted my Vision Board in my kitchen! For those of you who may be new to my blog, you can read all about my Vision Board creation here.

I am curious to know, do any of you have a Vision Board? If so, has it worked for you? I started my Vision Board because I needed to bring change into my life. The past five years have been very difficult for my family and I in some ways (as it is in life from time to time) and I just didn't want to stay where I was at. Simple as that. I needed change. And I needed to feel as though I have acquired some level of success for myself-not only as a wife and mother-but something entirely for me.

I included photos on my Vision Board to help me focus on my goals/dreams and I also included words around the images. I figured I should write down the impossible or rather what seems impossible at that point.

So, I decided since it has been six months since I hung up my dreams on my kitchen wall and now it's time to look back and see if anything of those dreams have been fulfilled.

The top portion of my board focuses on writing and being published. Well, as many of you may know I was published just this month in Vintage Life Magazine! Not only was I published there but also in Folie Vintage Magazine and I started an emagazine with Brittany from Va-Voom Vintage called Hey Doll Vintage Magazine. Oh my! I had no clue that was going to happen!

Out of the five dresses I posted in the photo, I did score one of them and I wore it to the Downton Abbey Event in December. I also have a photo of a woman dressed in patriotic colors, I didn't know this then but I am now leaning towards clothing and accessories with the patriotic colors of red, white, and blue. Who knew?

Some other dreams are in the beginnings of happening such as; a few creative photo shoots are in the works, I may be able to go to the WWII Weekend in Reading, PA this June, and I will start my redecoration of my home starting this spring with the children's rooms. A few other dreams will take some more time to work towards but they will be worked on, I assure you!

I cannot say how thrilled and relieved I am that these changes have been made in my life. I also feel incredibly grateful for all the support my family and friends have given me especially on the days that my struggles were the hardest. To them, I always send my love and thanks.

One last important goal/dream that I wrote on my Vision Board was to gain 110% confidence in my post-babies body. I am happy to say that I am about at 90% and it feels incredible and freeing. I have almost reached my goal and I know that I will make it. I don't want to ever be trapped in that state of thinking where I look back and ponder on the figure I had before or ponder on the figure I can have in the future. I want to accept and admire what I look like right now.

I hope you are inspired to create your own Vision Board or even to set some goals for yourself for this new year. Know that if you believe in yourself, if you have faith in who you are-then you CAN achieve your goals and make your dreams come true. I personally do a double whammy and I sent out my goals/dreams (via my Vision Board) out to the Universe and I also pray every night. I believe strongly that since we have this one life, we should strive to make it a fantastic one!

Here is to dreaming and making those dreams come true!!

xox

Documentary: Been Rich All My Life

"Been Rich All My Life" (2006)

I watched the five most beautiful women that I have laid my eyes on in a very long time. It has been a dew days since I have finished watching this documentary and their lives still haunt me. I am still thinking about them, wondering how the surviving women are and wonder if people will continue to dance like they did. I say this because these women were a part of history...American History. I cannot tell you how appreciative I am to Heather MacDonald who is the one who created this documentary. Because of her, we now all can view a piece of history and never forget!

The film centers around these five amazing women; Bertye Lou Wood, Cleo Hayes, Elaine Ellis, Fay Ray, and Marion Coles. They each were chorus dancers during the late 1920's and 1930's, mainly at the Apollo and the Cotton Club. Yes, I just wrote the Apollo and the Cotton Club! If anyone knows anything about New York, they should know that those two spots were the swinging spots in Harlem during those times. They were the place to be for the best entertainment in New York City.

Here is Bertye Lou Wood (Bertha) at her first professional job in 1928 with the famous Addison Cary as her dance director. Bertye Lou as her friends called her knew Bill Robinson (Bojangles) and Duke Ellington! Imagine knowing those great artists, I mean having worked with them too. Swoon!

Bertye Lou raised three sons on her own and danced for over twenty years. When people stopped hiring chorus dancers she eventually became a bartender as did most of the ladies from The Silver Belles. She danced well into her 90's and then when she couldn't dance anymore she would show up at the rehearsals and cheer her friends on.

The group was brought together by Geri Kennedy who recognized that many of the men from those times were remembered but the women weren't. So she got Bertye Lou, Cleo, Elaine, Fay and Marion together to perform starting in 1985. At the time they were in their 70's and 80's and it didn't stop them from putting on their dancing shoes and glittery outfits and put on one heck of a show!

You not only learn about these incredible women but you also learn about the history they made during the Harlem Renaissance. I loved hearing the stories the women would share because they were sharing our collective history. The history of NY, the history of women, the history of America....I am so grateful that this documentary was made because today only two out of the five Silver Belles are with us.

I don't want to give too much away but I highly, highly recommend you viewing this when you have the chance. Each of these women will stay in your heart and you will never forget them. I know I never will. Watching this made me wish I knew them, made me wish I could have heard their stories in person. And that is a testament to their love of life and their vivacious spirits.

You can learn more about these women on TootsCrackin. I may have to consider doing a giveaway soon about this documentary-that's how much I loved it hehe

Have you seen this documentary? What do you think about these women?

xox