Street Style - Me Again!

Ok, so I don't ordinarily like it when bloggers post themselves in their own fashions. It is somehow narcissistic and self centered. But since I haven't posted in a while and I got a new top that begs a position on Poppies, I had to share. Do I think I'm some kind of fashion maven? Well, in an effort to exude humility I'll say no. But I can put myself together alright. See?

Top: Forever 21 (Only $9.99!) Jeans: Walmart (Only $11.99) Boots:  Naughty  Monkey ($99.00)

This jacket is one of my all time favorite wardrobe picks. My friend Charlene found it at Target. It was originally $99.00 and I left it. It was simply to dear for me to justify a purchase like this from Target. When I went back 3 days later, It was on clearance for $38.00! Needless to say, It's mine! 

I've taked about Cadi in posts past. I got these in Gumusluk , Turkey at the only Cadi store in the world. Turquoise and Gold with tiny seed pearls and onyx beads. I like them, but wish they weren't so heavy.

Good Stuff From Where?

For The Book Club - A Shopping Guide

Sometimes I visit The Folio Society just to eat my heart out! They have cloth and leather bound classics as well as modern tales with whimsical, colorful illustrations.

1.

Kate Baylay illustrated this. Her talent is priceless.

2.

I think these guys are super cute without lacking sophitication. The Literary Gift Company hails from the UK but ship all over the world! They have great gifty things like this candle, too.

Wild Heather - Emily Brontë Candle

"There was no moon, and everything beneath lay in misty darkness: not a light gleamed from any house, far or near all had been extinguished long ago: and those at Wuthering Heights were never visible—still she asserted she caught their shining.

'Look!' she cried eagerly, 'that's my room with the candle in it, and the trees swaying before it [...]" --- Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

3.

And then there is this. It's a scent called "In the Library." 

"In the Library is a warm blend of English Novel, Russian and Moroccan Leather Bindings, Worn Cloth and a hint of wood polish."

The scent is made by Christopher Brosius from Brooklyn New York whose story is more than interesting. I recommend you visit CB I Hate Perfume just to peruse his cleverness.

4. 

And finally, The Jane Austen umbrella from Literary Luminaries.

Christmas DIY - A Christmas Tree Flag

I found this super festive ribbon in green and white wide stripes that said "Lots of things merry and everything bright." It was too cute not to share so I made wee tree flags with the ribbon. I've included step by step photo instructions here. This DIY project is good for adults and kids for a couple reasons. First, it is very inexpensive and requires a walk outside. It's also a very fast project. Enjoy doing this and if you're inclined, share some photos of your own work with me!

The basics: Ribbon of your choice, very sharp scissors, tree twigs, hot glue and small ball ornaments.

Make sure the ribbon will go around the twig nicely so you know where to start your glue and how your flag will lay once you add it to your tree.

Here is the bowl of ornaments  collected. The best to use for this project are small glass ornaments that have the metal top (you'll remove the metal top eventually)l

This was my favorite to use.

Then remove the silver hanging loop.

After you've hot glued the flag on the stick, put a generous amount of hot glue on the stick and put the stick in the hole where the silver loop used to be.

Voila!

Here are some that are finished and placed. Cute, no?

Street Style - Me Again!

I just can't stop! I've lost 105 pounds. It's a struggle everyday and I've rewarded myself with some new clothes.

The jacket is Anthropologie from about 6 years ago. The top Banana Republic, thrifted! The shoes, thrifted, the denim, Target, The scarf JC Penney $12.99. The Jewelry by Amy Peters Studio, "Thank Your Lucky Stars!" And the cuff, Uko.

Christmas Gift Giving

Yeah so, it's here. The proverbial ship has sailed and we're now headlong into the holiday season.

There are no rule books anywhere that says how to do things but it feels so good to give and give and give.

Every year the husband and I have a party. I love to give gifts to the wee ones that friends bring over, and give cookies and mulled cider to the grown ups.

Once in a while a guest a will bring a hostess gift to me which is always unexpected and well loved.

I visit a website often called Creature Comforts. Ez has a list of some really cute stuff that she written about for the holidays. I've included them here and for the shopping guide, visit her! If you really want to thank your hostess, these are superb!

What is a Republican

I have put this here today because people are confused. I am a moderate Republican. I am:

*Pro-Choice (Roe V. Wade)
*Pro Women's Rights (I can vote and own land)
*Pro Civil Rights (This includes homosexuals)
*Pro Conservation (Recycle)
*Pro Independent Business
*Pro Economic Stability
*Anti Taxes
*Anti Big Government
*Anti Organised Religion

What I am not:
*A racist
*A warmonger
*A rich person
*Anti women
*Anti Freedom

I recommend visiting CNN where I got this. Very enlightening. By the way, I suggest you teach your children that among people you know, one should not discuss money, religion, sex or politics. It lacks graciousness and you may offend someone.

CNN Explains: How today's GOP has its roots in anti-slavery crusade

By Tom Foreman, CNN

updated 10:27 PM EDT, Sat August 25, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Republicans emerge as an anti-slavery party in 1800s
• Abraham Lincoln was party's first president
• GOP got name Grand Old Party from a Chicago newspaper

Washington (CNN) -- Some may not realize that the modern Republican Party owes its origin to the fight over slavery nearly two centuries ago.

In the tumultuous mid-1800s, right before the Civil War, some political activists were concerned about keeping slavery from spreading into new western territories, and they saw no way to stop it through existing political powers: the Democrats and the Whigs (the pro-Congress party of the mid 1800s that largely destroyed itself in the 1852 elections in a battle over slavery).

So they formed a new party, taking the name "Republicans" in a salute to earlier American politicians.

By 1861, they had their first president: Abraham Lincoln. Soon after, slavery fell. The Whig party disappeared. And the Republicans began a long steady rise in power.

Even back then, the party liked to talk about fiscal responsibility -- immigration, religion -- and the need for a strong business climate. All of this spurred a sympathetic Chicago newspaper to call the Republicans the Grand Old Party, or the GOP.

Republican voters were strongest in rural and western parts of the country, and they were highly successful at maximizing electoral votes to produce presidents: Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt were among their early successes.

However, World War I brought sharp policy disagreements to the party. And when Herbert Hoover ushered in the Great Depression, the Republicans were driven into retreat.

It would be 20 years until they won the White House again, under Dwight Eisenhower.

But since 1969, they have been largely back to their winning ways.

During that time, Republicans have been in the Oval Office for almost twice as many years as the Democrats -- Nixon (elected to two terms, but resigned at the start of his second), Ford (served out Nixon's second term), Reagan (elected to two terms), George H.W. Bush (elected to one term) and George W. Bush (elected to two terms).

And I still am wishing today that Mitt Romney restarted the tradition.