After the Party

For the first time in way too long the vintage spouse and I went out for a New Years eve party – and party we did!!

We went to Kerry’s Green which used to be the old Red Lion country club. Rick made reservations and we joined our friends Scott and Sandi plus his work colleague Mark and his wife Cindy.

Dinner was roast beef, chicken with crab sauce, various veg, baked potatoes. There was a chocolate fountain with various things to dip plus a nacho cheese fountain. Later in the evening ribs, shrimp, wings, cheese bologna and ham were put out.  Yummy  Open bar!!

First there was a comedian who was hilarious and then we rocked the night away to the music of the live band. Mostly classic rock. The guitarist just wailed on that thing and Rick went to high school with the drummer.  Great band, great music.

Now for the important stuff- what did I wear??  Dress code was dressy casual but I always do my own thing anyway. I finally decided on a leopard print wrap dress with encouragement from Rick. I wore this with dark brown tights, long gold and brown beaded earings and several large cocktail rings.  I wore brown suede, open toed flats instead of heels as my back hurt and I had wrenched my foot earlier in the day.  My outfit was topped of with a darling vintage 50s, salmon pink wool swing coat, leopard gloves and a mink poodle pin on my coat lapel.

Rick was his usual dapper self in navy sports coat, tan pants and dress shirt.  For a purse I took a small vintage tooled leather clutch.

We had great time and I can’t wait until Jan. 29th because Kerrys is having a 50′s dance party and dinner!!!!! More details on this soon and yes, I will be going vintage, complete with hat!

I usually get so stressed and emotional this time of year but not this year.  Bought gifts within our budget even if the recipient gives us more, no credit cards, only participate in stuff that actually brings you joy.  For example, when I was a younger mom I baked hundreds of cookies, made gingerbread houses, went to cookie exchanges, etc.  The thought of that now sends me into a panic. 

Every year you can decide to do it differently if you want. I know- your family is screaming and whining that we ALWAYS have a 14 ft tree, 89 dozen cookies, and turn the garage into a live manger scene featuring the cat dressed as baby Jesus!!!!!!

Collette checking out vintage coffee table buy.

Well, I say, tough!  Moms unite. You must take care of your physical and emotional health.  If xmas turns you into a resentful bitch, what’s the point? If your hubby insists on cookies, tell him you love him, hand him the cookbook and go get a pedicure.  If baking cookies brings you joy- by all means do it and send hubby for the pedicure- most men need one anyway!

You get the idea- I know you want to make the family happy but you deserve to be happy too.  Too much just produces these entitled brats I see much too often these days who treat their moms like doormats with checkbooks.

Anyhoo–I am having a GREAT holiday season.  Actually, we will be seeing our kids and their families before the 24th so Rick and I will be alone on the 25th. We are making a big breakfast, opening our gifts to each  other, seeing a movie, and eating at a Chinese restaurant.   We will be content and happy, secure in our knowledge that our family loves us!- mostly because we don’t put a lot of pressure on them during the holidays!

Love to all of you, and much gratitude for the support I have received at closing my shop and opening the internet store.  Business has been picking up and I just had my first international sale today.  The shop will continue to grow and improve as I have lots of plans for the new year and a mammoth amount of vintage yummies to sell.

Merry Christmas!!!! Love, JoAnn

Here at the vintage home calm and peace reign. Had a great, fun Thanksgiving with both kids and their families plus lots of xtra friends and relatives. To give you an idea of how much food I had to make- I whipped 10 lbs. of potatoes and 5 lbs. of sweet potatoes!

It was so nice to have all the additional space since the renovations are done. I already have made changes, adding the victorian rocker I had in storage and I bought 2 chairs with fringe and tufted backs at Salvation army for 45 dollars. I thought they had a nice victorian feel even though they are about from the 30′s- 40′s and have been recovered recently.

We have decorated minimally this year since we are so tuckered out from the renovation upheaval. I’ll do it up big next year as usual.

We did hang front and back door wreaths, decorated a 4 ft tree with lights and my favorite ornaments and I put out my snow baby set on the mantel.

I hope peace and love reign in your home also. I personally have much to be grateful for.  Rick was in a 3 car crash a few weeks ago and no one was hurt although the car was demolished.  My children happy and healthy and I finally found a medication that helps me sleep with the least side effects.   Flexeral really helps with the pain that makes it hard to sleep. 

Here are some pics of the vintage homestead.

Not too many vendors at the flea section but we shopped for gourds, pastries, admired the purple asters and piles of pumpkins.  I

love Autumn, my fav time of year and I want to wear all the cool coats I have aquired.(vintage of COURSE)

Here are a few snaps of some autumn touches that have sprung up around the vintage homestead in spite of our renovating projects.

The dresses and hat will be listed for sale in the next few days.

Ziggy will also be suitably attired and so will I of course.  Let’s have fun!

Julie and I took a field trip to Dover yesterday and trolled every shop and source we knew.  I found a few lovely 50′s dresses in larger sizes, chiffon scarves, vintage jewelry, gloves of all colors, and a treasure trove of men’s items such as hats, fabulous old ties, robes, and 2-tone shoes.

We always come home exhausted, stopping for coffee along the way.  I am busy pricing the new stuff this afternoon and a dress and some jewelry are gone already.

Had a nice customer today who was shopping for her little girls.  They are each getting vanities for Christmas and she picked out vanity hand mirrors for them and some empty perfume bottles.  Start them on this stuff early, I say!  These lovely items are better then the cheap ugly toy vanity items available.

The Slaugh family Christmas is at our house this Sunday and I am looking forward to seeing everyone.  Shannon is coming to clean tomorrow, we spent hours wrapping gifts yesterday.  All I have to do is make some cookies, finish up the laundry, pop Ziggy into his new reindeer suit (he loves it), get some food(that’s why God made Cosco’s) and we are ready!

The Hall side of the family gathers at my brother Jerry’s Christmas day.  I think I’ve got it all together but I’m sure I’ve forgot something!!!

My daughter Jennifer, her husband Jason, and son Nate were here for a whirlwind visit over Thanksgiving when the shop was closed.

They live in upstate New York and we don’t get to see each other very often.  I cooked dinner and my folks and brothers came also.

Black friday was an insane romp on the wild side!!!!  My intrepid sister in law, Becky insists a gang of us friends go SHOPPING!  Jen joined us this year and had fun in a terrifying kind of way!

Toys-r-us at midnight, Khohls at 4 am.  The rest was a blur.   I got 90% of my presents bought, but heavens knows what exactly I did purchase in my not a morning person daze. You all might be getting  sausage and cheese gift packs for all I know! 

After they departed for home on sun, Rick and I transformed Vintage JoAnn and our living quarters into a Christmas dream.  We have the routine down pretty good by now.

So stop in, warm yourself by the roar of the faux fireplace, check out the pink tree and lots of gift ideas and gorgeous holiday dresses and jewelry. And if your significant other needs a gift idea we can fix them up with a gift certificate.

Lots of autumn colors are in, gorgeous fall hats, wool, velvet, fur, and lots of cozy stuff now that the weather has turned cool.  I think I am doing the 50′s thing this year as I have a black polka dot circle skirt and a full red criniline, and authentic saddle shoes.  This time of year makes me feel like a kid again!!

See you at the hop!

It’s a size large. So tell your guys to come and get your gift here or a gift certificate!
I have been buying formal dresses and my most recent purchase is a purple velvet, cocktail length dress. It’s sleevless with satin draping aroud the neckline and purple tulle petticoat built in.  The hem is tacked up in one area with a little velvet bow. Size 8. Gorgeous.