tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39903901779323327172024-03-12T19:11:15.664-07:00Cakes and CakesCakes and cakes vintage. Vintage fashion, feminism, geek culture, and more.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-38251506982451278722015-01-01T11:28:00.001-08:002015-01-05T10:59:49.916-08:00Who the Hell is Zella?<i>Edited to add </i><br />
My new blog, <a href="http://zellamaybe.com/">ZellaMaybe.com</a>, is up and running fully. I will no longer be updating this blog, so please update Bloglovin'/bookmarks/whatever and come visit me there.<br />
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It's a new year, and I've got a new blog! Crazy shit, right? Come visit me at my new home, <a href="http://zellamaybe.com/">Zella Maybe</a>.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15979843080" title="IMG_5918 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5918" height="600" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7532/15979843080_4270e84a0b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-76471713296336695192014-12-30T06:23:00.001-08:002014-12-30T07:08:36.470-08:00It's a whole new year, baby...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In just a couple more days, it will officially be 2015. Exciting, right? Doesn't that sound like a year out of science fiction? Like back in the 60s, they thought we'd have flying cars and children grown in vats by now. <br />
New Year's, of course, is the time when everyone starts thinking about self improvement. It feels like a great time to shed the old, dead skin of the last year, and emerge a radiant new you - sometimes figuratively, sometimes quite literally. Although one day in the middle of winter is much like any other day in the middle of winter, I still think it's useful (or at least fun) to take a chance to make a clean break from bad habits, or resolve, at least for a little while, to create some better ones. Here are my resolutions for 2015.<br />
<br />
1) Push my boundaries a little more.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15959838650" title="Archery by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Archery" height="436" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7526/15959838650_da062858e6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I can be a little complacent. No, that's a lie - I can be really complacent. It's probably my biggest failing in the life, that I never put the effort in to be great when good, or even just ok, will do. On the one hand, it means that I'm not a worrier. The stresses in life don't really get to me, because I've set up my life to be relatively stress free. I don't really want to coast through life anymore, though. This year, I'm going to really push myself, professionally, creatively, and socially. If I want a fulfilling job, I have to go out there and prove to people that I should have it. If I want to publish a short story (or hell, a novel), I have to start with at least finishing a rough draft of something. If I want to make new friends and have a more active social life, I have to go out and meet people in the real world.<br />
These aren't new thoughts, but they're ones that I'm determined to put into practice this year.<br />
<br />
2) Save some money.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15959708388" title="Money by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Money" height="372" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7575/15959708388_7acf05f513_z.jpg" width="620" /></a> <br />
I've never been great about saving. I have a tendency to feel like any money that I have is there to spend; so long as I don't spend more than what I have, I'm doing ok. Of course, that ignores the reality of living paycheck to paycheck, and I try not to think too much about what would happen if I had a massive, unexpected expense, or got hurt, or lost my job.<br />
It can be hard to resist that siren song of a new dress or pair of shoes, and I am hellaciously good at convincing myself that I should buy things that I want to buy. When you're young and bad with money, people kind of laugh at it. At least when I was in college or had just graduated, I had the excuse that I didn't make enough money to be good with it. I don't really have the excuses of youth or poverty anymore, and it's kind of embarrassing to admit that you can't hold onto a dollar when you've got a good job, reasonable bills, and are edging up near 30. Especially since I'm contributing more towards joint expenses in my house, I really need to buckle down and start setting some money aside for a rainy day. Looking towards the future, Brian and I still want to take that trip to Japan, and someday, we might need a down payment towards a house. Me right now is the same person as me of the future, and me of the future is going to be pretty pissed that I didn't figure any of this shit out when I had the chance.<br />
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3) Explore different fashion eras.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15524804774" title="1920to1930blkscreenshot900 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="1920to1930blkscreenshot900" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/15524804774_dabc824f45_z.jpg" width="254" /></a> <br />
While I would describe my style as "vintage/eclectic," a lot of the vintage that I currently own is very much in the 50s/60s New Look mode. I tend to find those styles flattering, and I don't see myself ever leaving them behind. However, lately I've been craving different silhouettes, different styles, and the different attitudes that come with them. I would love to channel the jazzy flapper, the languidly sensual 30s dame, the 60s pop art girl, even the 70s bohemian. This year, I want to make some serious inroads into those different styles. Maybe some of them won't work on my body. Maybe I'll put a new dress on immediately realize that that look just isn't me. Or, maybe, I'll discover a new favorite era or silhouette, and wonder why I didn't give this look a try ages ago. As the saying goes, you never know unless you try.<br />
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So that's me. What are your resolutions going into the New Year? Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-63264781604319328162014-12-26T07:21:00.001-08:002014-12-26T07:21:18.436-08:002014: Outfits in ReviewIt's the day after Christmas and all through the house, everyone's grumpy and looking for coffee because they might have added a little too much "spirit" to their eggnog.<br />
My Christmas was pretty fun - dinner with my boyfriend's family on Christmas Eve, then board games and booze on Christmas morning. We're actually continuing the festivities this Sunday since his parents have been busy moving house and want to host us out in Indiana, so it's going to be an extended holiday this year.<br />
I did get my Vintage Secret Santa gift in the mail, but I haven't had a chance to take photos yet. It's really fun and cute, and I should have photos up on Instagram pretty soon. <br />
But anyway, I didn't originally intend to do a post like this. I don't really mind when other people do them, but doing them myself feels a bit... silly? Repetitive? Of course, part of that is the personal perspective - I don't remember other people's outfits with the same clarity that I remember my own, so when other people do a retrospective, it just makes me go "oh yeah, that was cute," rather than "yeah yeah, seen it, done it, whatever," which is my reaction when I do it.<br />
Actually, I had another post planned, but that depended on me being able to take outfit photos earlier this week, which of course didn't happen. Pretend you're listening to The Beatles do <i>Yesterday</i> as you gaze upon my year in outfits.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16111080805" title="IMG_20140318_084349_297 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20140318_084349_297" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8624/16111080805_932e83653d_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Yesterday, I thought Blossom meets Pretty in Pink was a pretty good look...<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15925344637" title="IMG_1245 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1245" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/15925344637_38db8fc1a8_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Yesterday, I didn't realize that having a light source behind me meant my photos were going to be really dark.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15488780114" title="IMG_1535 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1535" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7526/15488780114_93d9b18218_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Yesterday, I could still do victory rolls (oh, for those halcyon days!) and hadn't figured out how to do exposed stomach very well.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15488780494" title="IMG_1283 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1283" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8609/15488780494_2f7713c857_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
All my troubles seemed so far away when I was blonde and could do a killer beehive. And look, I was finally figuring out how light works!<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16111083215" title="IMG_1391 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1391" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7524/16111083215_40d6d3c6ee_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
I believe my pinup look was a little goofy, but damn. I looked pretty hot, right?<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15925031779" title="IMG_20141223_101525 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20141223_101525" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/15925031779_5d955f5cb7_z.jpg" width="534" /></a><br />
Suddenly, I realized what natural outdoor lighting can do for a photo.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16109185641" title="IMG_20140419_221902_215 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20140419_221902_215" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8670/16109185641_3d05e7d4c0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Now I need a place to hide away from narwhals.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16111082955" title="IMG_1974 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1974" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/16111082955_46e7146998_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Why my hair had to go - well, repeated amateur bleachings didn't really do it any favors. Quelle surprise.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15925343997" title="IMG_2340 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2340" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/15925343997_e4e7519d17_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
There's a shadow hanging over me... Wait, no, this is bright and sunny and totally cute. I love my Americana dress.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15925343977" title="IMG_2975 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2975" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/15925343977_91bce4e0b8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
And then there was that one time I looked like a hooker getting the shakedown on Miami Vice.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15488779674" title="IMG_3727 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3727" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8659/15488779674_faa95c7a4f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Yesterday came so suddenly. That's why I look so surprised. Oh, and I learned how to accessorize!<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16110374982" title="IMG_3463 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3463" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7558/16110374982_93846ec682_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Someone must have said something wrong, because I look so pissed. Could just be my RBF though.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16110374682" title="IMG_3743 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3743" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8647/16110374682_21b36c9253_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Ok, giving up on the "use the lyrics from Yesterday" for captions, because the song isn't that long and I took a lot of pictures. It was muggy as hell that day and my camera lens got all fogged up. But hey, abs part 2 works way better.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15491410913" title="IMG_4064 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4064" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7559/15491410913_d81abf6bac_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Kissy face!<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15491410883" title="IMG_4337 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4337" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7525/15491410883_f2c772bdf4_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Doubtful face.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15491410523" title="IMG_4543 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4543" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8597/15491410523_f2565f0f3a_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Concerned face.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15925342657" title="IMG_4789 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4789" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7536/15925342657_0931328186_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
My face is better than your face.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15925032989" title="IMG_5166 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5166" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7561/15925032989_e60573bfaf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Staring at the sun face.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16110373612" title="IMG_5245 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5245" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7541/16110373612_592fe06bfb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Ka-pow! Pants! <br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15587572079" title="mod1outfit2 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="mod1outfit2" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7573/15587572079_ce65563ac1_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Bam! 60s!<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16002708206" title="IMG_6200 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6200" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7525/16002708206_cecb998db7_z.jpg" width="435" /></a><br />
Best. Dress. Ever.<br />
<br />
So, what have I learned this year? <br />
1. Natural, diffuse light and a windy day make for the best photos.<br />
2. I need to come up with some more poses that don't involve my hands on my hips. I am not, in fact, a little teapot.<br />
3. I change my hair like some (really gross) people change their underpants.<br />
4. Have fun with my style, don't be afraid to experiment, but don't wear a mini unless I've got tights on because otherwise everyone gets a look at my bum.<br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-88468212668942093102014-12-23T06:13:00.000-08:002014-12-23T06:13:15.714-08:00Tteokbokki - Korean Street Food You Can Make At Home I love traditional fall and winter foods as much as the next girl - once the weather starts to cool down, I'm all about roasted meats and veggies, slow cooked soups, and more carbs and cheese than you can shake a stick at. Sometimes, though, you just need a palette cleanser, something to shock your taste buds back to life after months of comfort food.<br />
Last week, I mentioned that I have a weakness for Asian junk food. That's accurate, but I also just love Asian food in general. I've never met a cuisine from that continent that I didn't love, and I've tried a lot of them: Indian, Thai, various regional styles of Chinese, Nepalese, Vietnamese, Korean. When I was in New York, I even took a ferry to Staten Island to try Sri Lanken food, and it was totally worth it.<br />
I always felt a little intimidated about actually cooking these dishes for myself. I'm used to thinking of these kinds of food as restaurant food, something that you have to be a specialist to know how to prepare. That's certainly true of some dishes, but if you can get your hands on the ingredients, there are plenty of Asian dishes that are no harder to prepare than a good spaghetti.<br />
Every time I go to the Korean spa, I have to get a plate of tteokbokki (also spelled ddukbokki). Have to. It's a deliciously spicy dish made with chewy Korean rice cakes and a fermented red pepper paste called gochujang, and it tastes like heaven when you've sweated your last three meals out through your pores in the insanely hot King Sauna. I was having a serious craving for it even after I left (probably fueled by the tteokbokki flavored chips I bought), so I actually looked up a recipe. Surprise - if you have access to the ingredients, it's pretty easy to make.<br />
<a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/03/tteokbokki-from-the-worlds-best-spicy-food.html">Ttekbokki Recipe via Serious Eats</a><br />
Serves 4 hungry people<br />
<i>Sauce</i><br />
3 Cups Water<br />
3 Tablespoons Gochujang<br />
1 Tablespoon Chili Pepper Flakes<br />
1 Tablespoon Sugar<br />
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce<br />
<br />
1 lb. rice cakes (tteok)<br />
5 oz. fish cakes, sliced into triangles<br />
5 oz. napa cabbage (about 1/3 of a head), sliced thin<br />
5 cloves garlic, chopped fine (or to taste)<br />
1 teaspoon sesame oil<br />
<br />
Combine all ingredients for sauce in a large pan, whisking until gochujang paste is dissolved. Bring to a boil.<br />
Add rice cakes, and reduce heat to medium. Boil, covered, for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice cakes are soft.<br />
Add cabbage, fish cakes, and garlic. Reduce heat to a low simmer until sauce beings to thicken, approximately 10-15 minutes. Continue to stir occasionally to keep rice cakes from sticking.<br />
Add sesame oil if desired, and serve.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15901536429/" title="IMG_20141220_122214_229 by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20141220_122214_229" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7462/15901536429_c084898d48_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I made a thing!</span><br />
<br />
See? Wasn't that easy?<br />
If you don't live somewhere where these ingredients are easily available and don't want to order them online, there are a few substitutions you can make. There isn't really anything you can sub in for the gochujang, but if you only want to order one thing, that's easy to get and will last you just this side of forever. Instead of rice cakes, throw in a couple of bricks of ramen, although you'd want to add them after you've simmered the sauce for a while and added the other ingredients. I ate a couple of pieces of the fish cake while I was cooking the dish, and it actually tastes really similar to imitation crab meat. If you sub out both of the main ingredients, obviously the dish will have a very different texture, but the flavor profile should be very similar. <br />
If you are on a restricted diet, it's pretty easy to customize it to suit your needs. Vegetarian or vegan? Use tofu that you've frozen and thawed (it'll give it a denser, chewier texture) instead of the fish cake, and add a little nori to give it some of that fishy flavor. Gluten free? Skip the soy sauce and check the label on your fish cakes to make sure they're ok for you.<br />
<br />
Has anyone else ever tried cooking traditional Asian dishes before? What did you think of the process? Would you ever try this dish?<br />
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-3771791831787650672014-12-19T06:56:00.001-08:002014-12-19T08:19:36.963-08:00Makeup Tutorial - Christmas BitchI feel like holiday beauty ideas can be kind of repetitive. Red lips, gold shadow, cat eye liner, or shimmery brown shadow with rosy cheeks and lips. It's all very pretty, but it tends to blur together after a while. There's wholesome, Norman Rockwell winter beauty, but there's also stark, bleak, frozen tundra winter beauty. I wanted to try something a little more along that vein, something that was still really pretty and wearable, but not your typical look. It's a little Robert Palmer girl, a little goth, and really fun.<br />
One note that I should make is that I didn't realize how weird the low angle of shots made things look until after I had finished putting on all the makeup. Whoops. I guess that's what test shots are for. I hope things are still pretty clear. <br />
I did this at the end of the day, over the minimal makeup that I was already wearing for the day, but the instructions are pretty much the same as they would be if you were starting with a clean face.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16056090762" title="1 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="1" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/16056090762_1eed39dfc7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">My starting point.</span><br />
Start, as usual, with foundation. I used a little heavier hand that I
normally would, and went it and corrected all the little spots and dots
and blotches with concealer. I dusted on a light layer of powder to
finish and set. <br />
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My brows were already filled, but I elongated the shape and rounded the arch, giving them a slightly exaggerated
appearance. I also still had on the mascara that I'd applied in the
morning, a fairly heavy coat on the top and a lighter coat on the
bottom.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16054827011" title="IMG_6296 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6296" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8598/16054827011_1bed09347f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
For the eyes, I started with a base of silver eyeshadow. Using my
finger, I applied Maybelline's Color Tattoo in Silver Strike all the way
up to my eyebrows. Then, I applied the shimmery charcoal shade from my Pixi palette
to my crease with a small brush, blending it upwards towards my brow for
a cut crease effect. With liquid liner, I made a straight line under my
lower lash line, adding a slight, downward flick at the inner corner. I
also tightlined my lower lash line. <br />
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I wanted to keep the look pretty frosty, so I skipped blush in favor of highlighter. I used my silver cream shadow (including the leftovers from applying my eyeshadow) to highlight the tops of my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, and my cupid's bow. I also brushed a light bronzer under my cheekbones for some added definition.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16030995676" title="IMG_6311 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6311" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7545/16030995676_b41cd4e424_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16056168172" title="IMG_6361 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6361" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7545/16056168172_2b75026c1c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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For the lips, I was looking for something along the lines of frozen
berries. I wanted it to be matte, but not too perfect. I used my OCC Lip
Tar duo in red and blue to blend a deep berry color, then blotted it
until it was just a stain. I applied it well within my natural lip line,
minimizing my lips a little bit. It might sound weird, but I feel like
it makes my eyes look bigger.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15434496984" title="IMG_6397 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6397" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7482/15434496984_c577563bd0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15871024787" title="IMG_6403 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6403" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7479/15871024787_ea02fd59e7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
This is a great look for casting sultry glances over your shoulder - all
big eyes and glimmering cheekbones. It might not be your every day
style, but I think it could be an awesome look for New Year's.<br />
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So what do you guys think? Is this a look that you would be interested in trying out for a night?<br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-76771514109989657162014-12-17T06:20:00.000-08:002014-12-17T06:20:25.471-08:00My Chicago Christmas PlanWhile I'm terrible about decorating, slow about getting presents for anyone other than myself, and in possession of a rabid dislike of that holiday classic to end all holiday classics, It's A Wonderful Life, I still really enjoy Christmas and Christmas related activities. (How's that for a sentence? I wanted to put in a lot of clauses. Get it? Clauses? I'll see myself out.) While I've lived in Chicago for the better part of 10 years, there's a lot of stuff that my city has to offer that I've never experienced. This year, in the run up to Christmas and New Year's, I'm going to try to work some of them in, and enjoy a new tradition. <br />
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Ice Skating in Millennium Park<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15855581100" title="ice-skating-in-chicago-millennium-park by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="ice-skating-in-chicago-millennium-park" height="399" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/15855581100_84662c0803_z.jpg" width="600" /></a> <br />
I actually did this last year for all of about half and hour. I don't have the best balance anyway, so sticking me on sharp metal blades on hard, unforgiving ice was only just short of disastrous. Nevertheless, Brian and I are going to try to make it a tradition, first grabbing a drink at the beautiful Palmer House bar and then heading over to the park for a skate. This year, I'm wearing a petticoat, and possibly some butt pads.<br />
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Christkindlmarkt<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16042857295" title="P1080243 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080243" height="427" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8617/16042857295_4e4ef71f25_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
This is right down the street from where I work, so I have no excuse not to go! Ok, yes, it's total kitsch, but that's kind of what Christmas is about, isn't it? They've got lots of crafts and trinkets, as well as food and hot mulled wine, which I've never had and would love to try.<br />
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Zoolights<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16042871205" title="Lincoln Park Zoo Lights Festival by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Lincoln Park Zoo Lights Festival" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7544/16042871205_2cd25eb739_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
Lincoln Park Zoo is a Chicago institution. It's in Lincoln Park, which is itself pretty scenic, it's close to downtown, and it's free. Every year, they make a beautiful light display, and I've heard from a nearsighted friend that if you have poor vision (which I do), it's a lot of fun to just wander around and enjoy all the shimmering, flickering halos of light.<br />
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A Christmas Carol at The Goodman Theater<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15423203273" title="ACC_Production_11 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="ACC_Production_11" height="425" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7497/15423203273_7bb2e99118_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
This one might be a little outside of my rather miniscule budget, but my neighbor is Bob Cratchit. No, really! A Christmas Carol has been running at The Goodman Theater in Chicago for the past 37 years, and he's been doing the Cratchit role for the past seven or eight of them. The Goodman is a pretty prestigious theater, and this seems like the sort of Christmas tradition that gets very firmly engrained if you take your kids.<br />
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Double Feature at The Music Box<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15855419438" title="5219013764_acc976c0dc_z by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="5219013764_acc976c0dc_z" height="427" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7542/15855419438_9197923e2a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
The Music Box is an independent theater, and one of my favorites. They do Rocky Horror every month (although, like most people, I usually only go around Halloween. Sorry, kids), and show tons of second run and independent films. This year, they've got two Christmas-themed double features - White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life, and Home Alone and Die Hard.<br />
I can't really explain why I hate It's a Wonderful Life so much. It just irritates me. George Bailey's constant freakouts, Clarance's bland platitudes, the little girl with her annoying, piping voice - it all just coalesces into me sitting on a couch rolling my eyes so hard they almost pop out of my head.<br />
I love White Christmas, though, despite the fact that it hinges on the most incompetent eavesdropping the world has ever seen.<br />
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Chocolate Chestnut Pie at Bang Bang Pie Shop<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16017083846" title="1418566531775 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="1418566531775" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8661/16017083846_25b0ce3cc0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I have heard from numerous friends and loved ones that Bang Bang Pie shop is the place to go in Chicago for pie, biscuits, and candied bacon, and yet I still have to set foot in the place. A serious oversight on my part, and one that I really want to rectify for their seasonal chocolate chestnut pie. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. <br />
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What are some Christmas traditions in your area? Is there anything that you're particularly looking forward to? Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-38149267802229646982014-12-15T07:56:00.000-08:002014-12-15T12:13:40.467-08:00Giving the brownies all their spice<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16002708206" title="IMG_6200 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6200" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7525/16002708206_cecb998db7_z.jpg" width="435" /></a><br />
Here's me in a pretty dress. I'll get back to that in a second.<br />
But first - can I just live at the Korean spa?<br />
For those of you who haven't experienced a magical place like this, a Korean spa is more of a health spa than a luxury experience. You walk in, and they give you an over-sized set of what are basically cotton pajamas. There are Roman-style baths (hot, hotter, and ice cold), and a steam sauna, which are gender segregated because everyone's naked for this bit. If I ever have kids, I'm taking them there all the time, because nothing promotes a positive body image like seeing a wide range of normal, naked bodies.<br />
When you're ready, you can slip on your comfy jammies (no shoes or socks - the floors are heated) and head out to the common area, where there are a variety of dry saunas that range in temperature from about 80° all the way up to the Sudatorium, which tops out at 275°. When you leave, you're warm, happy, relaxed, and usually stuffed with Korean food. It's just about my favorite place n the world when it's cold out. You can even stay overnight, like I did, and it's really cheap - only $15-30, depending on if you get a Groupon and how good the deal is.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15406230114" title="king-spa-sauna by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="king-spa-sauna" height="410" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8649/15406230114_266fedd0fd_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Just one of the 7 or 8 saunas. They're all supposed to have special properties, although the only one that I remember is that the charcoal room is supposed to purify.</span> Afterwards, I always go to the big Korean supermarket next door and pick up some treats. I don't eat a lot of junk food, but Asian junk food is kind of my jam. If I can't read the label and there's a picture of some kind of dancing seafood on the front, I'm all over it.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15406231364" title="IMG_3364_Fotor by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3364_Fotor" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7473/15406231364_eefb0851fc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh my god so goooooood. Ddukbokki chips.</span> <br />
I also picked up some treats for my face in the form of a bunch of snail extract sheet masks, which already seem to be helping my poor skin. They also gave me some little samples of BB cream, and holy crap is it nice. I will definitely be investing in more Korean skin care products in the future, because it really works.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15842737887" title="IMG_20141213_121348_579 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20141213_121348_579" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7489/15842737887_a15a3026ae_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Korean skin care may or may not involve actually skinning people and wearing their face. I mean, that's one way to get prefect skin.</span> <br />
The other really fun thing that I got to do this weekend was wear the dress that I bought myself for Christmas. I mentioned it <a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/11/cha-ching-cha-ching.html">here</a>, and when it arrived, it was just as beautiful as I had hoped it would be. It's the kind of dress that reminds me why I love vintage so much - it's really well made and still structurally sound, even at 60 years old. The fit is pretty much impeccable. It's maybe a tiny bit tight in the shoulders, but the waist and bust just fit like a glove. Thank you so much for making my dress dreams come true, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/VeryVintageStore">Very Vintage!</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15842429959" title="IMG_6222 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6222" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8567/15842429959_e2e21d2999_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
It's a 50s dress with a dropped waist, so I thought I'd add a little 20s flavor to the styling. I set my hair with sponge rollers, and while the final product was a little wilder than I had originally envisioned, I thought it still added a little bit of flapper to the look.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15406230344" title="IMG_6235 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6235" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7519/15406230344_34a58ebb6b_z.jpg" width="474" /></a><br />
Ok, maybe a little Bride of Frankenstein, but that's cool too.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15841233400" title="IMG_6188 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6188" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/15841233400_c753351e09_z.jpg" width="418" /></a><br />
It was really warm out this weekend, up near 50°, so I hardly even needed a jacket. I was really happy to have an excuse to wear this beautiful velvet cape again, though.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15841058328" title="IMG_6211 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6211" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8644/15841058328_6626ea27ed_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Another thing that I was really happy to be able to bust out again - these killer leopard heels and my back seam stockings. I figured if I was going to do it up, I was really going to <i>do it up</i>.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15406230144" title="IMG_20141214_104155_591 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20141214_104155_591" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7529/15406230144_15da281d2f_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Oh, and here's a picture of my in full hair and makeup and my nightgown. I just feel the need to remind you all that I'm actually pretty after the serial killer/sheet mask photo. It doesn't have to put the lotion on its skin! I don't even own a hose!<br />
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So, what's your favorite dress (or other item of clothing) that you own? What makes it so perfect to you? I'd love to see some pictures, if they're handy. ;-)<br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-87228206502356551612014-12-12T06:45:00.000-08:002014-12-12T06:46:30.257-08:00A Coat of a Different ColorI've mentioned before how much I love coats in the winter. I mean, there's obviously a practical aspect to that - I really love not freezing to death, for example - but they're also an important part of putting together any winter outfit. A good coat doesn't just keep you warm, it makes it easy to feel stylish and pulled together when your nose is running, your cheeks are chapped, and your hair is floating around your head in a staticky haze.<br />
Most of the coats that I own are long and full, and I really needed something shorter for riding my bike. I also get overheated pretty easily, so I wanted something a bit lighter weight.<br />
I'd been searching online for something for a while, but it was hard to find that I both liked and that was in my budget. Coats are obviously workhorse items, and have to be well-made to last through all the constant wear and tear of winter. I don't think that necessarily means they have to be $300+ in order to also be stylish, though.<br />
I popped into Buffalo Exchange, and while I was standing at the register with a cute, black, faux-fur coat, I saw someone pick up and put down something vibrantly green. Green is one of my favorite colors, and I like having something a bit more fun than a black coat in the winter, so of course I had to go investigate.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15817432530" title="IMG_6026 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6026" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8621/15817432530_484fb58b4b_z.jpg" width="480" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15382460014" title="IMG_6061 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6061" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7551/15382460014_12c7d7e3f3_z.jpg" width="480" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I took these the day before I dyed my hair. Bye-bye, brunette!</span> <br />
It really couldn't have been a more perfect find. It's a little lighter than my other coats, but still very warm. I love all the details to it - the collar, the puffed shoulders, the slightly flared, a-line shape, the striking color. And it was only $40!<br />
I thought it looked cute paired with a pencil skirt in a similar color and this golden yellow t-shirt. It's a bit of a casual suiting look, which I thought was fun.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/16003997032" title="IMG_6032 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6032" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7469/16003997032_f6611bac74_z.jpg" width="480" /></a> <br />
I took these photos in an alley down the street from my house. The garage behind me is actually covered in ivy, and in the summer it's beautifully green. Although the leaves have died back, the vines criss-crossing the wall behind me are still really interesting looking.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15818939917" title="IMG_6048 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6048" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7521/15818939917_cc691347f9_z.jpg" width="480" /></a> <br />
I've realized that most people don't say anything or even show much interest if you're taking photos in public, but a guy who lived across the street from where I was doing this saw me out his window and asked me if I wanted help. It came as a bit of a surprise, but it was nice to get a positive and helpful reaction to my amateur modeling efforts, rather than the opposite.<br />
My baby blue swing coat or navy military style coat will undoubtedly still be my go-tos when the temperature plummets, but for the mild weather we've had so far, this coat is perfect.<br />
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In other news, after a bit of thought, I'm going to be stepping back on my posting efforts, at least through the holidays. While it's fun to post every day and it also pushes me to be creative, I want to make sure that I'm always creating quality content. I'm planning on doing three posts a week, or perhaps four if I have something that I'd really like to talk about. There are some changes in store for 2015, and I want to make sure I'm running a tight ship in preparation.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-86436042017157836882014-12-11T07:14:00.002-08:002014-12-11T07:16:34.040-08:00My Year in TelevisionI actually watch a lot more TV than I do movies. It's not because I necessarily like TV more (although I will say that I'm more involved and more in love with my favorite TV shows than my favorite movies, just because I've spent so much more time getting to know the characters), but because it's hard to find the time to actually watch a movie from start to finish. That's a two or even three hour commitment; it can be much easier to know that I can stop after half an hour or an hour and not feel like I'm leaving something hanging.<br />
I freely admit that I don't have the most distinguishing palette when it comes to entertainment, including TV, but here are the currently airing TV shows that I've been watching over the past year. If you haven't been keeping up with some of these shows, there might be minor spoilers.<br />
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New Girl - Finding a new voice, but still ridiculously charming. I want to hang out with these people all the time. I was pretty heartbroken last season when Nick and Jess broke up, but I think the show is doing a good job showing their sense of shared history and affection, while also setting them up for something new in their lives. The supporting cast is still really strong, and while I wish they'd give us a little more of the Schmidt magic that happened in season one, I love the way they've developed Winston.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15995880901/" title="x-default by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="x-default" height="279" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8577/15995880901_932fe41486.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I may love this show at least in part because the main character is named Jessica, and I have a weakness for things that have the same name as me. It might also be why I love Jessicas Alba, Simpson, Biel, and Lange.</span><br />
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Vampire Diaries - Got off to a really slow start this season, and although it's picked up a little bit of steam, it's still mired in some really annoying subplots. The show has never utilized Bonnie very well; either kill her or give her something to do. And will someone please kill Enzo already? His charming psycho routine is shades of season 1 Damon, and we do not need the retread.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15997183192/" title="the-vampire-diaries-season-6-comic-con by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="the-vampire-diaries-season-6-comic-con" height="281" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8623/15997183192_9c11f6aeb7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Fire water and underbutt. Oh my.</span><br />
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How To Get Away With Murder - Soapy, crazy, silly, maybe even a little stupid, but very entertaining. Viola Davis is both the star of the show and the reason that it holds together at all. She attacks each scene with an incredible level of ferocity, which is good because sometimes it feels like the rest of the cast is just kind of meandering through their scenes. Also, there's some really hot dude on dude action.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15997853965/" title="Howtogetawaywithmurdecast by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Howtogetawaywithmurdecast" height="281" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7575/15997853965_32ae2d8e62.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This photo is kind of weird.</span><br />
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Black-ish - I enjoy this show so thoroughly. While I can't say much about its portrayal of the black, upper middle-class experience (or even of the middle-class experience, full stop), it's always laugh out loud funny and topical without coming across as strident. Tracy Ellis-Ross is always fantastic, and the two younger kids are ridiculously cute. It's like a new Cosby Show, except no one involved is a rapist. That we know of.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15972085386/" title="135353_5562 by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="135353_5562" height="250" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8574/15972085386_01becef223.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">See? Adorbs.</span><br />
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Sleepy Hollow - This show is fucking bonkers. There is no other word for it. They churn through plot a mile a minute, and the first season was basically out to show just how good a show could be while being utterly, completely stupid. The WTF-ery is strong in this one. Season two, unfortunately, has not managed to tie things together quite so well - lots of dangling threads and weird character non-development have created a hole that I'm not sure the show can dig itself out of. I'm still going to watch, though, because the chemistry between Ichabod and Abby will always be worth it.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15378230133/" title="SH-PAS-R9-01_LY2.jpg by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="SH-PAS-R9-01_LY2.jpg" height="333" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8637/15378230133_39051d12c5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I've kind of made the theme song my own unofficial theme song. Like, when I walk into a room, I pretend the spooky violins and horns are blasting behind me. It's pretty badass.</span><br />
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Game of Thrones - I am a massive fan of the books, and it stands to reason that I'm a massive fan of the show. I'm consistently amazed at how well they translate something so sweeping and fantastical from the page to the screen. They've managed to streamline a lot of things that needed it without losing the depth and sense of history that made the books so special. All the little tweaks and changes have taken the show in a slightly different direction, and I'm interested in seeing where things continue to head. Some things that I don't like - Theon. Just fucking kill him already, his storyline is not interesting or important. Some things I love - pretty much everything else.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15812117557/" title="game-of-thrones-iron-throne-970x545 by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="game-of-thrones-iron-throne-970x545" height="281" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8675/15812117557_20cdcb7c21.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A throne that will cut your balls off if you sit down to fast doesn't sound like much of a prize.</span><br />
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Orange is the New Black - I'm going to sound like a bit of a crazy person, but while I enjoy this show as I'm watching it, this season, I felt no pull to keep going with it. I watched it half-heartedly for the first six or seven episodes, and then just stopped. I can't even really tell you why. It wasn't that the characters weren't interesting anymore, but rather that things seemed weirdly easy, even tame, after all the shit that went down in the real world this year. I know it's stupid that I'm saying that about this show and not, like, Sleepy Hollow or The Vampire Diaries, but I feel like I want my TV to either be totally escapist or incisively, bitingly topical. For some reason, OitNB didn't feel like either.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15997183342/" title="Piper_in_Orange_is_the_New_Black_Season_2 by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Piper_in_Orange_is_the_New_Black_Season_2" height="258" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/15997183342_3c03f897fe.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I just don't care what happens to you anymore, pretty white lady in prison. Sorry.</span><br />
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Black Mirror - Holy shit, this show is awesome. It's a big like The Twilight Zone, in that each episode stands alone and has a different cast, and it deals with issues of technology - what it means, how it affects us, how we interact with it. It's a fascinating show, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something both though provoking and entertaining.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15811860129/" title="Black-Mirror-Ep-2-17 by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Black-Mirror-Ep-2-17" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7583/15811860129_1ab023235d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I no longer have any interest in going on American Idol. Not that I did before, but really not now.</span><br />
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Space Dandy - I'm a big fan of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, so I had to give Space Dandy a try. I'm on a couple of episodes in, but so far it's pretty good. I don't know if I like it as much as the others that I mentioned, which were tied to and defined by a particular music style and culture (although maybe Dandy is a subculture that I'm just not familiar with, now that I think about it), but there's something pleasingly trippy and frenetic about the style of animation, and the sly humor and attitude are there in spades.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15378230033/" title="Space_Dandy_-_01_-_Large_02 by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Space_Dandy_-_01_-_Large_02" height="281" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7532/15378230033_7c7ced6d86.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This show features a lot of unnaturally bouncy and buoyant breasts. It's actually a signficant plot point.</span><br />
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True Detective - In like a lion, out like a lamb. There was no way the ending was ever going to live up to all the metaphysical craziness and drama, but when it was good, it was soooo gooood. And it made me feel smart, so that's cool. I'm very interested to see where they go with it in season two.<br />
<a by="" detective="" flickr="" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15375611454/" jessica.ebacher="" on="" title="" true=""><img alt="" detective="" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7551/15375611454_c5d4376085.jpg" true="" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Just imagine William Shatner doing the whole "time is a flat circle" thing.</span><br />
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Forever - This show does not make me feel smart. It's really silly, but that's kind of the fun of it. It's about a medical examiner in New York City - pretty standard, right? But, shocking twist, he's <i>immortal</i>. If he's killed, his body disappears and he wakes up in the nearest body of water. It's because of an Indian curse/blessing/whatever, and he's lived for over 200 years because of it. It's like a low key Sleepy Hollow, but it's weirdly entertaining.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15810594920/" title="137017_0139 by jessica.ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="137017_0139" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7478/15810594920_ee49b92673.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Hello, I'm attractively British and very clever."</span><br />
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I don't actually have cable, just internet and Roku and whatever, so there are some shows that I haven't been able to keep up with that I would really like to. I've heard amazing things about The Americans, about Soviet spies in the 80s, but I haven't been able to catch it at all yet. Hopefully it'll be up on Netflix sometime soon. I was absolutely crazy about the first season of Orphan Black, but *cough* I can't seem to get my hands on it anymore. Again, I'm counting the days until it's up on Netflix or something.<br />
What did you guys really enjoy this year? Do you watch any of the shows that I talked about? Agree or disagree with my assessments?Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-81948430084661263952014-12-10T06:56:00.002-08:002014-12-10T06:56:29.635-08:00Links to LoveI'm a huge proponent of <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bathos">bathos</a> - the world is grim and depressing enough without me just piling on. So, in the interest of following up something solemn with something a little more light-hearted, here are some cool things, some fun things, some pretty things, and some awesome things. You can decide for yourself which things are which. <br />
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<a href="http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/diana-vreeland-why-dont-you">Diana Vreeland: Why don't you...</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15803424890" title="dianavreeland_eyehastotravel by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="dianavreeland_eyehastotravel" height="387" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8668/15803424890_906354dc22_z.jpg" width="620" /></a> <br />
I recently watched the documentary about the incredible Diana Vreeland, <b>The Eye Must Travel</b>, and I was really interested in a feature from her Harper's Bazaar days that they mentioned. Every issue, she would ask "why don't you..." do something interesting, or decadent, or outrageous? This collection of her suggestions might inspire you to glam up your life a bit. One of the easier suggestions - "Why don't you tie black tulle bows to your wrists?" I don't know, why don't I?<br />
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<a href="http://www.xovain.com/makeup/how-to-drawn-on-lips-vintage">How to draw on bigger (or smaller) lips</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15602530067" title="Al-home-improvement-tv-show-flannel by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Al-home-improvement-tv-show-flannel" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5616/15602530067_b72cc6a96e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Flickr, for some reason, does not want me to have a picture of lips. I tried to upload three different images, and each time they timed out. I seriously think it's a conspiracy. Here's a picture of Al from Home Improvement.</span><br />
This tutorial from Alle of xoVain is actually a must read for a vintage-makeup-loving lady. If you're trying to evoke a particular star or era, a little change in the shape of the lips can make a huge difference, and she walks you through a few of the most popular styles to try.<br />
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<a href="http://sheknitsinpearls.blogspot.com/2014/12/oops-i-got-distracted.html">Oops, I got distracted (felt ornament tutorial)</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15988712231" title="IMG_6275 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6275" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7485/15988712231_5cc07d743b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I don't own any Christmas decorations, and I'm really cheap, so something that will let me spruce up my place without costing a whole lot of money sounds pretty ideal to me. These felt ornaments are easy to make and super cute, too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.xojane.com/beauty/how-to-shop-for-korean-beauty-products">K-Beauty 101</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15803312698" title="fullwidth.09323253 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="fullwidth.09323253" height="393" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7532/15803312698_656f665ef6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sheet masks with snail slime extract make me preeeeeeeettyyyyyyyyy.</span> <br />
I'm heading to the Korean spa this weekend (So warm. So happy.), and while I'm there, I'm definitely going to stock up on some products at the massive market next door. My skin has been going insane lately, and I'm looking forward to giving it a little TLC.<br />
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<a href="http://jezebel.com/cheng-i-sao-the-vicious-pirate-who-banned-rape-in-her-1665758677">Cheng I Sao, 19th Century Female Pirate</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15990019602" title="ching-shih-pirate by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="ching-shih-pirate" height="355" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7473/15990019602_3f0110f143_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
Speaking of things that make me all warm inside and out, this history of Cheng I Sao, a female pirate captain from the early 1800s, is beyond awesome. Ok, so yes, she was a pirate, and didn't have any problems with killing or enslaving anyone who crossed her path; however, she enforced rules against rape or unusually cruel treatment of female prisoners amongst her 50,000 strong pirate army. Not only that, but when she decided to retire, she got to keep all of her money, as did most of the men in her fleet, and she even set up a fund to help the former pirates transition back to civilian life. What a badass.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-89635916089321730202014-12-09T08:19:00.001-08:002014-12-09T08:19:10.567-08:00I'm not qualified to talk about racism<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15798246489" title="image002 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="image002" height="328" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7548/15798246489_8d7d884c52_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
It's so hard to look at events in this country and not feel like there is something terribly wrong with the way certain segments of the population are treated. To me, that's an undeniable fact, but I know plenty of people who are more than capable of denying it. I spend a lot of time reading about all of this stuff - crime statistics, history, psychology, personal accounts of how racism has affected actual people - and yet, sometimes, no matter how many examples I throw at people, they remain mired in a fog of casual racism.<br />
From their perspective, they're not racist. Of course they're not racist! They don't hate black people, they just know that black culture is hopelessly violent, black men are drug using thugs, black women have too many kids with too many baby daddies, and sometimes unarmed black children are killed and that's sad, but it's collateral damage because do you know how many black kids really do have guns these days? (I do want to note that this is not my perspective, but it is the sort of thing that I have actually heard from some people that I know.)<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15798526797" title="05-garner-protest-1.w529.h352.2x by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="05-garner-protest-1.w529.h352.2x" height="426" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8657/15798526797_681f2a6de5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I'm totally qualified to talk about how racist some white people can be - it's amazing the sort of shit that people will spout off to me, thinking that I agree with them. I am equally unqualified to talk about the black experience in America, and I think that that's the story that needs to be told. It's like when there's a congressional panel on birth control or abortion, and every fucking person sitting there is a man. As a woman, I find that incredibly frustrating, so I can kind of imagine what it must be like to be an African-American to hear a bunch of people who don't share your experiences talk about what they think racism is like. Here are some articles that talk about racism far better than I ever could.<br />
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631/">The Case For Reparations</a><br />
This long form article does a fantastic job laying out the systemic racism that has defined the black experience in America. It's not just about slavery, although obviously that has had a huge impact; the next 100+ years saw violence against blacks, housing discrimination, less access to education, political disenfranchisement, and more. My own city, Chicago, figures prominently in this story, and really opened my eyes to just how segregated the city is and what that means.<br />
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/12/applying-broken-windows-to-the-police/383490/">Applying 'Broken Windows' To The Police</a><br />
Broken Windows is a theory of policing that cracks down on minor infractions in order to prevent larger ones. It's a theory that's taken hold in a lot of places, but it seems as if the same standard is not applied to the police themselves. In many of the instances of excessive force against black men, the officers involved had prior allegations of misconduct. If police treated their own with the same strict scrutiny as they treat the rest of the world, how many instances of police brutality could be avoided? To me, this is one of the most important issues that we could address as a society.<br />
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/09/the_new_racism_michael_brown_and_trayvon_martin_deny_it_exists_and_smear.html">The New Racism</a><br />
This is what I see more often than not. There are so many people who deny that racism is a factor anymore, but believe the worst of any black person because it fits the narrative that they have in their head. <br />
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/12/black_community_is_concerned_with_black_on_black_crime_suggesting_otherwise.html">Actually, Blacks Do Care About Black Crime</a><br />
Another one that I hear all the time is "why aren't blacks out protesting all the violence in black communities?" For starters, there's something very different about a group of people that are supposed to enforce the law using their authority to kill with impunity, and regular violence in a community that is usually investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Moreover, there are plenty of people in the black community who are speaking out about violence in their communities, and working hard to promote jobs and education in order to prevent violence.<br />
<a href="http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/11/why-did-wilson-call-michael-brown-a-demon.html">Why did Darren Wilson think Michael Brown had super powers?</a><br />
Good question. Why would a man who is 6'4 and 200+ pounds feel so threatened by a teenager who was not significantly larger than himself? Basically, people tend to attribute super human characteristics to African-Americans, such as strength, speed, and ferocity. Think about the way that people talk about black athletes, and you might recognize what I mean.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15984250725" title="gun11 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="gun11" height="383" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8668/15984250725_311a4da7ea_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Obviously, this is just a small dose of the wide variety of pieces that have been written about the issue, but I think they offer a good primer about the current situation. If you have any articles that you've found particularly enlightening or interesting, please feel free to share.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-47231169265470333742014-12-08T07:49:00.000-08:002014-12-08T07:49:11.116-08:00The Red MenaceThe Red Menace Is Real!<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15976086585" title="The-Red-Menace-Is-Real-Report-All-Suspected-Communist-Activity by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="The-Red-Menace-Is-Real-Report-All-Suspected-Communist-Activity" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7556/15976086585_8330b3f79a_z.jpg" width="497" /></a><br />
No, not communism. Me.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15790374957" title="IMG_20141208_075034_946 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20141208_075034_946" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8574/15790374957_942df6523d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
I'd actually been wanting to go back to red for a while, but for some reason in my head a red bob with bangs just screamed late 80s/early 90s to me. Possibly something to do with Molly Ringwald movies and Christopher Pike books; they're both generally pretty awesome, but there are some things about them that I don't want to emulate.<br />
In retrospect, that was kind of silly. Even if other people do tend a peg a particular cut and color combo with a particular era, I'm going to look like some kind of throwback from 1991 unless I start feathering my bangs and wearing tapestry vests and frosted lipstick. <br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15790089429" title="Pretty-in-Pink-granny-chic by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Pretty-in-Pink-granny-chic" height="370" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15790089429_af09a6d4ab_z.jpg" width="560" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I was just watching this movie last night, actually. It's a good movie, but holy mother of god is her style terrible in this film. Was there actually a point in the 80s when people thought this looked good? I guess some people look at my style and think the same thing, but... wow.</span><br />
There's something about this particular shade of red that has an interestingly graphic quality. It's not quite a natural hair color, but it's not over the top, circus clown red either. It makes me feel kind of like a comic book character or something, which I really like. I thought some similarly graphic color blocking would be a fun counterpoint to the new color.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15976086805" title="IMG_6112 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6112" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8681/15976086805_c6e5e6fdcf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
I was trying to get all artsy with my photo taking. This looks kind of cool, right? I actually didn't do any editing with the color or use any filters. I love the marigold color of these tights.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15790089499" title="IMG_6148 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6148" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8663/15790089499_b75fc6747d_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
A more standard shot. I still feel a little awkward in short shift dresses like this, but the style is growing on me.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15974116881" title="IMG_6136 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6136" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7576/15974116881_e8e3db91f7_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15356597363" title="IMG_6172 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6172" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8627/15356597363_cd1f69e742_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, I was looking at this photo, and I hated how shaggy my hair looked at the nape of my neck. If you have short hair, it ends up looking like this after just a few weeks. My boyfriend's clippers were right there, and I figured "how hard could it be to give myself an undercut?" Kind of hard, as it turns out. There's a reason people pay other people to do things like this. After a good 30 minutes of correcting my haphazard initial efforts, it's pretty even now, but I really need to learn that despite my years of experience of fucking with my hair, I'm not actually all that good at it.</div>
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What did you guys get up to this weekend?</div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-4533919687916269472014-12-04T08:53:00.002-08:002014-12-04T08:53:33.173-08:00My Year In MoviesAs much as I love going to the movies, I feel like I don't actually do it that often. Part of that's money - if I had more of it, I'd do it twice a week (heh. That's what he said.). Part of it's access, since the closest theater to my house is a really small one. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense for someone like me to make a list of the best/worst movies of the year, since I missed out on so many of them, but here's a little recap of what I saw this year in roughly chronological order.<br />
<br />
<u><b>The Lego Movie</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15944338241" title="the_lego_movie2014 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="the_lego_movie2014" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/15944338241_c3ee6849d7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
Ok, how the fuck was a movie based on Legos this great? It was one of the first movies that I saw this year, and I still feel incredible fondness for it. It's cute without being overly twee, ironic without being sour, fun, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt. Asshole Batman? The whole Cloud Cuckooland set? The theme song, appropriately titled "Everything Is Awesome," which will be stuck in your head for days after you hear it? Writing this review is making me want to go watch it again right now.<br />
<u><b> </b></u><br />
<u><b> The Grand Budapest Hotel</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15944337771" title="The-Grand-Budapest-Hotel-Still by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="The-Grand-Budapest-Hotel-Still" height="473" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8610/15944337771_2972a9bd7d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
You know how I said <b>The Lego Movie</b> was cute without being twee? That does not apply to this movie. This movie is twee as shit, and I don't care, because I would totally watch that that fake Wes Anderson horror movie that SNL made a trailer for because I love Wes Anderson and his particular brand of quirk. He's like my manic pixie dream director. What I loved about this movie is the deep undercurrent of sadness running through it, a beautiful melancholy for something that no longer exists (and likely never did in the first place), but which as been lovingly recreated.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Captain America: The Winter Soldier</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15760557067" title="Captain-America-The-Winter-Soldier-HD-Wallpaper by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Captain-America-The-Winter-Soldier-HD-Wallpaper" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7486/15760557067_e398c307e3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I was actually pretty impressed by this Marvel outing. I was worried that they'd end up with something more along the lines of <b>Iron Man 2</b> (lots of buildup and bluster, no real sense of danger), but they did a really fantastic job shifting the narrative from comic book super hero movie to paranoid thriller. Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson have amazing platonic chemistry, and as The AV Club pointed out, <a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/unfortunately-winter-soldier-was-best-female-drive-211741">it was pretty much the best depiction of a female superhero this year</a>, and maybe for the last few years.<br />
<u><b> </b></u><br />
<u><b>Veronica Mars</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15324025474" title="veronica-mars-the-movie-wallpaper by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="veronica-mars-the-movie-wallpaper" height="360" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7539/15324025474_cca2a5a945_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <u><b><br /></b></u><br />
*sigh* This movie. I didn't watch the series when it first aired because I was annoyed by how similar it seemed to my beloved <b>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</b>, but after years of hearing about how awesome it was, I finally checked it out. And lo, I saw that it was good. Better than good. Amazing. Even when an episode fell flat, Veronica herself was such a treat - smart, mouthy, prone to getting herself into trouble and even better at getting herself out again. I enthusiastically donated to the Kickstarter campaign to make the movie, and streamed it at home the first day it was available.<br />
As great as it was to see the band back together, solving murders and kicking ass, there was just something missing. Too much fan service, when the show was devoted to sticking a knife in our guts and twisting. Too many easy answers to problems that used to just get thornier the deeper you dug. And they basically pulled an invasion of the body snatchers on Logan, who used to be frustrating and problematic but won me over despite my better judgement, and who is now both an officer and a gentleman. (I just realized how many movie references I packed into that last sentence, and wow. I don't know if I should be ashamed or amused.)<br />
Basically, see it if you're already a mega-fan, but skip it if you're not. I still have hopes for a possible series reboot, but the movie fails to recapture the magic.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Godzilla</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15326659573" title="gz-film-detail-main-poster_1240x703 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="gz-film-detail-main-poster_1240x703" height="363" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7524/15326659573_3254c7dd53_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
The humans are kind of annoying (although whathisface from <b>Kick-Ass </b>grew up <i>hot</i>), but Godzilla himself is everything you could want from a monster. He was mystical, unknowable, and terrifying, but also had a surprising amount of pathos.<br />
<u><b> </b></u><br />
<u><b>Edge of Tomorrow</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15944338601" title="edge_of_tomorrow-wide by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="edge_of_tomorrow-wide" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/15944338601_ee5d170652_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
Easily the most underrated movie of the year for me. I don't care much for Tom Cruise, but his smarm actually works pretty well here - you get to see him make a fool of himself, get his ass kicked, and get killed over and over and over (and over and over) again. Eventually he does redeem himself, but it feels earned. I loved Emily Blunt in <b>Looper</b>, and she's a treat here as well. She's got a sexy toughness, a practicality, and a vulnerability that makes her really appealing in a role like this, which makes good use of all of her gifts. The movie not only makes you like the characters, it makes you worry about them. It's one of the few genuinely tense action movies that I've seen in a long time.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Maleficent</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15759001760" title="angelina_jolie_in_maleficent-wide by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="angelina_jolie_in_maleficent-wide" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7564/15759001760_98686c44fd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I liked this one more than a lot of other people did (<a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-week-in-geekery-monsters-and-misfits.html">see my original review in this post</a>), but in retrospect, it's dulled a little bit in my memory. It was great seeing Angelina Jolie do her thing again, and the visuals were simply stunning, and the analogy to rape and how it was dealt with, and the fact that true love's first kiss was from a mother to a daughter... Wait, what was I talking about? Now that I think about it, I still really liked the movie.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Transformers: Age of Extinction</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15324025534" title="transformers by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="transformers" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7572/15324025534_f39bbf36bc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><u> <b></b></u><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Not pictured: anything from that awful fucking movie. Deep breaths. Just look at the cute baby animals.</span><br />
This movie was so terrible it made me angry. I literally walked out. If I remember correctly, the reason why was that the hottie in distress had just been taken by the alien menace, and her dad is all like "you're helping <i>me</i> rescue <i>my</i> daughter" to her race car driving boyfriend, and the boyfriend is all like "no, you're helping <i>me</i> rescue <i>my </i>girlfriend." Because of course she's not an actual person that they love, she's a social construct for men to use to prove their dominance over one another. Fucking patriarchy. *feminist nerd rage*<br />
<br />
<u><b>Guardians of the Galaxy</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15760556917" title="GuardiansOfTheGalaxy by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="GuardiansOfTheGalaxy" height="360" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8594/15760556917_4df154f553_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
Just going to do this one in memes. <b>Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas. Spooge. Saw it twice</b>. Both funny, action packed, and not stupid. I like it when my superheroes don't take themselves too seriously.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Lucy</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15946298995" title="lucy-scarlett-johansson-picture by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="lucy-scarlett-johansson-picture" height="370" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7477/15946298995_31dc9fd755_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
On the opposite end of the spectrum, here's a movie that I was really excited about, but which was completely incomprehensible and kind of terrible. There were some interesting visuals, but the plot was labored and senseless, the performances were weak, every interpersonal connection clearly only existed to facilitate a particular plot point, and I seriously just could not move past the whole "human beings only use 10% of their brains" bullshit because they kept saying it over and over again. So much potential, wasted in the most annoying possible way.<br />
<u><b></b></u> <br />
<u><b></b></u> <u><b>Birdman</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15760557157" title="birdman-poster-1 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="birdman-poster-1" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8617/15760557157_1146662cd4_z.jpg" width="427" /></a> <br />
Brian and I saw this one when we were in New Orleans, and I was so amazed. It's a long ass movie, but it felt like it just swept me up in its currents and took me along for a really amazing ride; I didn't even notice when my butt went numb. Part of that is because of the camera style - it looks like one long, unbroken tracking shot, following people around the theater, down the street, into bars. It's technically amazing, but after a while, you stop noticing it, and only realize that everything feels seamless, fluid in a way that's more reflective of real life than even the most well-crafted movies. The fact that it's also incredibly surreal actually works really well with that sense of real life unfolding before you. It gets into your head in the best possible way, and I left the theater feeling like I'd been reborn. On reflection, this is probably the best movie I've seen this year.<br />
<u><b> </b></u><br />
<u><b>Gone Girl</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15944337401" title="508784 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="508784" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7472/15944337401_6371a4545a_z.jpg" width="436" /></a> <br />
I just reviewed this one <a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/10/gone-girl-so-many-spoilers-all-spoilers.html">not too long ago</a>, so I won't talk about it too much. I really enjoyed it - I thought it was slick, well made, and visually striking. There's an icy feeling to the whole thing, which is reflective of both Fincher's style and the content of the movie. I'd read the book, so the movie didn't really hold any surprises for me. It would be nice if there was more adaptation to book-to-movie adaptations, but as far as accurately reflecting the source materials, it did a good job. If you liked the book, you'll like the movie. If you haven't read the book, but like taut, twisty, slightly gory thrillers, you'll like the movie.<br />
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<u><b>Happy New Year</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15760556867" title="Happy-New-Year-Moster by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Happy-New-Year-Moster" height="360" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8572/15760556867_e8d705958d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I saw this Bollywood flick with a group of friends, and that was the perfect way to see it. It's so utterly ridiculous, filled with plot holes and nonsense and abs for days, that you can't help but love it a little bit. Here, this comic will help you.<br />
<a href="http://mumbaiboss.com/2014/10/27/the-vigil-idiot-happy-new-year/">The Vigil Idiot: Happy New Year</a><br />
<u><b></b></u> <br />
<u><b> </b></u><u><b>Big Hero 6</b></u><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15760557547" title="Big_Hero_(film)_poster_003 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Big_Hero_(film)_poster_003" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/15760557547_311f1a0234_z.jpg" width="448" /></a> <br />
I was kind of surprised by how much I liked this movie. I saw it on a total whim, having heard mixed to positive reviews, and I'm really happy that I did. It's very sweet, and I think it deals with grief very well. I love the animation style, and they did a really remarkable job creating a Japanese influenced vision of the future without falling head first into anime tropes. It's a great kids' movie, but it holds up very well for adults in the audience too.<br />
<u><b> </b></u><br />
<u><b> </b></u>TLDR; Watch <b>The Lego Movie</b>, <b>The Grand Budapest Hotel</b>, <b>Edge of Tomorrow</b>, <b>Guardians of the Galaxy</b>, and <b>Birdman</b>; throw <b>Transformers</b> and <b>Lucy</b> in a fire, jump up and down on top of them, and then piss on them to put them out, and do whatever you want with the other ones on the list.<br />
<br />
What did you watch this year? Anything you particularly loved/hated?<br />
<u><b> </b></u>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-59312090107818664952014-12-03T07:22:00.000-08:002014-12-03T07:22:17.116-08:00What's eating you?I'm a pretty big believer in writing every day. I used to really like doing morning pages, and writing about whatever I felt like just as my day was getting started. It felt like it helped me get the creative juices flowing, and most writers agree that the ability to write consistently and well is a habit you develop, not necessarily a skill that you're born with.<br />
I do push myself to post every weekday, or at least every weekday that I'm working. In the warmer months, that wasn't too hard. If I didn't feel like writing or couldn't think of much to say, I could always fall back to a short outfit post and still feel like I was posting some decent content. Now, of course, it's winter, and daylight hours are short, so I can really only take outfit shots on the weekends. I hadn't realized how much I relied on typically having two posts a week that were just there and sorted out for me.<br />
Of course, now that I have to be a little more creative about generating content, I'm having a little bit of a mental slump. I know, realistically, that I have plenty to talk about. I'm cooking every night, and some of my recipes are turning out pretty damn well. I'm knee deep in some awesome books and TV shows. There's a lot of stuff going on in the world that I have strong opinions about. I've also been toying with doing a campy little sci-fi or fantasy serial, which would help me dip my toes back into creative writing on a deadline.<br />
As interesting as I would find it to write those kinds of posts, I'm not sure if it would be a positive step for this blog or not. A lot of the advice that I've read about blogging is to create a consistent brand. My posts are already a bit scatter shot - one day a fashion post, one day a movie review, the next day a social justice rant - and diversifying even further might just make the folks who were only interested in, say, the fashion aspect of the blog, tune out. I'm not so vain as to think that this will ever be much more than a hobby for me, but watching my readership grow has been a real point of pride. I'm still in the very minor leagues in terms of readership, but I am reaching a much broader audience than I was even a few months ago. I don't want to lose that readership to poorly thought out editorial changes.<br />
I'm talking about this in part because I know a lot of the people reading this are fellow bloggers, and you guys probably have similar problems at least some of the time. It can be hard to balance quality with consistency, and creating content that both appeals to a broad audience and is reflective of a genuine voice and personality. <br />
This is a really fucking long winded way to say that I couldn't think of anything to write about, so here are some pictures of old Hollywood babes eating. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15318343353" title="catherine-deneuve-cannes-3 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="catherine-deneuve-cannes-3" height="384" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8671/15318343353_12d723606a_z.jpg" width="585" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15318343143" title="rita fashionwhileeating by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="rita fashionwhileeating" height="460" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7485/15318343143_15927210b0_z.jpg" width="560" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15937970985" title="l_2220_marilyn-hotdog--1- by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="l_2220_marilyn-hotdog--1-" height="353" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7577/15937970985_e2dec12f11_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15750535958" title="joancc by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="joancc" height="273" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7503/15750535958_8eee7bbbed_z.jpg" width="520" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15750535858" title="12124 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="12124" height="433" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8629/15750535858_61e71304c9_z.jpg" width="615" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15912123376" title="u1519004.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="u1519004.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8571/15912123376_82a9bded91_z.jpg" width="499" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15751884299" title="u1322975inp.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="u1322975inp.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7559/15751884299_4bd6d609d1_z.jpg" width="571" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15750641110" title="101689691_10.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="101689691_10.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7504/15750641110_974edf2485_z.jpg" width="636" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15937920085" title="3140671_10.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="3140671_10.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/15937920085_ba2784e7c4_z.jpg" width="448" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15937920135" title="42-17122807.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="42-17122807.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x" height="626" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8680/15937920135_e65a0a2c0d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-34742087107630052072014-12-02T06:36:00.003-08:002014-12-02T06:36:54.813-08:00All I want for Christmas is my two front teethI don't actually want my two front teeth for Christmas, although I briefly did when I was small and lost all four of my front teeth just in time for the holiday season. That's some planning, right there. I have seen some teeth that's been made into jewelry, but even with my love of the macabre I find that rather icky.<br />
It feels rather weird to just post a list of things that I want. It's not that I don't like getting presents - I fucking love getting presents - but isn't it kind of strange to just tell a person what you want? I guess it's a convenient arrangement sometimes, since it can be hard to choose a present for someone, especially if it's not someone that you know well, and I know plenty of people that just want to be sure they'll get something they'll actually like, rather than just some body lotion that makes them sneeze and a gift card to Amazon.<br />
But I did sign up for Secret Santa, so Secret Santa buddy, this list is partly for you (although feel free to get me whatever you want, these are just suggestions for if you're stumped), and partly for any of my friends who read this and need some help picking out a gift for me. If anyone else wants to buy me a gift... um, don't do that. That's weird. I definitely didn't get you anything.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/167848637/vintage-mid-century-needlepoint-purse?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=needlepoint&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_max=25&ga_explicit_scope=1&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_view_type=gallery">Mid-Century Needlepoint Purse</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15904836606" title="wishlist by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="wishlist" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7539/15904836606_1548f93cbd.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
I don't usually go for vintage purses, but sometimes a pretty needlepoint bag seems like just the thing to complete an outfit. This one even has bakelite handles! <br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182162027/annual-sale-red-rhinestone-pair-of-dress?ref=sr_gallery_17&ga_search_query=rhinestone+dress+clips&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_min=15&ga_max=35&ga_page=8&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_view_type=gallery">Red Rhinestone Dress Clips</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15311003213" title="il_fullxfull.574661057_hi62 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="il_fullxfull.574661057_hi62" height="353" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7513/15311003213_664de094d4.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
I actually have a small collection of dress clips, so anything in that realm would be very welcome. I really like these red rhinestone ones since I've been adding a lot of red to my wardrobe.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/203532369/vintage-silk-scarf-by-the-smithsonian?ref=sr_gallery_15&ga_search_query=green+silk+scarf&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_min=15&ga_max=35&ga_page=6&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_view_type=gallery">Green Floral Scarf</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15929986942" title="wishlist3 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="wishlist3" height="493" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7510/15929986942_62013cb019.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
Scarves are an awesome accessory year round, and I think this green, floral print scarf is especially pretty.<br />
<a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/kitchen-dining/hop-over-to-my-table-lunch-bag">Rabbit Print Lunch Bag</a><br />
I could really use a cute lunch bag instead of just throwing my stuff into a grocery bag.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/196840583/vintage-turquoise-insect-brooch-with?ref=shop_home_active_15">Turquoise Insect Brooch</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15308399924" title="wishlist4 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="wishlist4" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7542/15308399924_603259077d.jpg" width="333" /></a> <br />
Guys. Guys. Guys. Oh my god. Guys. This is cute.<br />
<a href="http://www.sephora.com/sugar-lip-polish-P274001?skuId=1297183">Sugar Lip Polish</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15928683061" title="wishlist7 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="wishlist7" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7574/15928683061_eec65bff72.jpg" width="300" /></a> <br />
I would never, ever buy something like this for myself, but as the queen of flaky, chapped lips, I'd actually love to have this.<br />
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Am I the only one who feels weird about the concept of a wishlist? I don't remember making them when I was a kid (no, "Dear Santa" for me), so maybe that has something to do with it.<br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-27134751514853608102014-12-01T08:20:00.003-08:002014-12-01T08:21:37.334-08:00Christmastime is hereTurkey has been eaten, sales have been shopped (although there are still a lot of them going on because I guess Cyber Monday is a legit thing now; I seriously had never heard of it before last year), and everyone's started thinking about tinsel and twinkle lights. Some people are already complaining about the Christmas tunes being piped into all the stores and public spaces, but I actually really enjoy them. They're simple, repetitive, and familiar, and singing along with them is one of my chief pleasures this time of year.<br />
I didn't used to like Christmas much. My parents told my brother and I that they were getting a divorce just a couple of weeks before Christmas, and that last holiday together was really freaking strained and weird. When I got older, I would feel guilty that I couldn't afford to give people nice gifts, since I was always so short on money, and a couple of years ago, my dog got very ill on Christmas and died just before New Year's. Talk about baggage.<br />
Usually I'm one of those people who dashes into Walgreens for a last
minute gift. "Here's an unwrapped bottle of cheap vodka and some air
freshener refills! Merry Christmas!" For once, I'm actually kind of on the ball in terms of gift giving. I've already bought and shipped my present for my Chronically Vintage Secret Santa buddy (I trolled her Instagram for inspiration, and I'm pretty sure she's going to love it), and I know what I'm getting at least some of the people I'm shopping for.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15737292999" title="bangle2l by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="bangle2l" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/15737292999_0ffb15ba2b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15736022090" title="bangle by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="bangle" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8610/15736022090_098edacdf2.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Just call me "Santa Baby."</span><br />
Brian is a little harder to shop for, but I've got some ideas percolating. I'm still holding out hope that he'll tell me something that he wants, but I think I can still come up with something fun even if he doesn't.<br />
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Aside from shopping, I've also had a lot of fun over the past few days. Thanksgiving was at Brian's parents' house in Indiana, and I spent it cooking, drinking, and chopping wood. I mention this mostly because I wanted a good reason to share the following photos.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15922476662" title="IMG_2824 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2824" height="600" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7512/15922476662_0e20a9959f_z.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ye olde pioneer woman.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15921164691" title="IMG_2235 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2235" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7488/15921164691_b81a9bbd6f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"No TV and no beer make Homer something something." "Go crazy?" "Don't mind if I do!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Friday was a short work day, and then Saturday I did a little more shopping and then partied down at a friend's birthday. I stayed out until 4am, which I <i>never</i> do, hanging out with awesome people and doing karaoke. I seriously hope I'm still that much fun when I turn 50 myself.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15737382697" title="IMG_20141129_235217_092 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20141129_235217_092" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7463/15737382697_06166fb698_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Somehow, a long, ratty black wig makes me look more like a man that I do with short hair. Weird.</span></span></span><br />
This week, I'm going to try to do a little Christmas decorating. I've never actually done it before, but I'm kind of excited to put up some lights, and I'm thinking about getting a nice wreath and a little Christmas tree. It always used to seem like just another expense I couldn't be bothered with, but now it feels like part of making my apartment feel like home.<br />
What are you guys doing to get ready for Christmas? Do you enjoy the season? <br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-56772909188377282812014-11-28T06:47:00.001-08:002014-11-28T06:47:38.559-08:00Cha-ching cha-chingIt's officially Black Friday, and there are a <i>ton</i> of sales underway. Check out my <a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/11/treatyoself-and-maybe-other-people-too.html">#treatyoself</a> post from Monday - I've included a huge update with even more sales, some of them really, really fantastic. Tara Starlet, 40% off and free shipping worldwide; Trashy Diva, 30% off with the code BLACKOUT30; The Vintage Mistress, 25% off, and so very many more.<br />
I actually did my Black Friday shopping last night on my phone, because I have absolutely no patience. I got my gift for my Secret Santa buddy, and I got my own Christmas present, which I will totally be wrapping up and putting under the tree and not spending every waking minute stroking and telling it how beautiful it is.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15710966110" title="il_570xN.682618482_c1pc by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="il_570xN.682618482_c1pc" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7486/15710966110_028e067037_z.jpg" width="462" /></a><br />
And don't forget, <a href="http://thebestvintageclothing.com/">TheBestVintageClothing.com</a> is offering an amazing <b>50% off</b> for three hours only, 3-6pm EST. They've got a really fantastic array of clothes at all price points, and if you're looking at more expensive items, 50% off might make them much for attainable. Use the code <b>BF14 </b>to save big.<br />
Just a few of their pretty pretties-<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15872519876" title="tbvc1 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="tbvc1" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7476/15872519876_2c92748032.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This confetti lucite necklace<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15872519786" title="tbvc2 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="tbvc2" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7468/15872519786_0b788b361d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
This fantastic 40s nurses cape<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15712292889" title="tbvc3 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="tbvc3" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8621/15712292889_0b788b361d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
This amazing 70s does 20s dress from Finnish designer Vuokko Nurmesniemi (aka Marimekko)<br />
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So get on it, ladies! I don't know about you, but I seriously can't resist a sale.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-72522143823971190272014-11-26T07:37:00.003-08:002014-11-26T07:38:42.901-08:00Giving ThanksSomething that I find really beautiful about this time of year is that everything slows down a little bit. It's cold, and that drive to hibernate keeps us indoors and close to home. It always turns my thoughts inwards, and makes me reflect on what I have in my life.<br />
Sometimes, that's a bit painful. I don't have a lot of family in my life; some of the people that I loved have passed, and others are estranged (for good reasons that I won't go into right now), and since I moved to Chicago, I've spent more than a few Thanksgivings alone, or working. Last year I went to Dublin over the holiday, partly to avoid the whole situation. I bought my ticket before I started dating my boyfriend, and while I had a wonderful time there, on Thanksgiving I found myself sitting on a bridge, looking out over the Liffey, eating a turkey sandwich and wishing I had someone to share the moment with.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15858436326" title="IMG_1147 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1147" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8669/15858436326_29e3e93204_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I mean, just look at that. I wanna go baaaaaaack.</span> <br />
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I think a lot of people battle with loneliness this time of year. Ads and movies and tv shows and songs are all about the joy of gathering with your friends and family, talking and laughing and bickering and sharing meals. There's something very primal, very human about it. For most of human history, this was the time of year where we didn't just choose to come together, we were forced to do so to survive in the face of the harsh weather and scarce food. Feast days, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, were much needed breaks from fast days, which were necessary to preserve food stores. For most people, food scarcity isn't something that we worry about anymore, but the urges that come with the onset of winter remain.<br />
This year, I feel like I'm in a really good place. It's almost startling how happy life is making me right now. <br />
One of the things that I'm truly grateful for this year is my boyfriend, Brian.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15261979334" title="IMG_4074 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_4074" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8639/15261979334_5dc22c29ec_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The filter I used here is called "Lucky." Seemed appropriate.</span> <br />
We've moved pretty fast with our relationship - we just started dating a little over a year ago, and already we've moved in and are talking about a long future together. I'm really happy to have someone in my life who supports and understands me; who can have a talk about issues (personal or social) and take my opinion seriously, but who is also really joyful, and will dance around the house with me; who loves me; who isn't perfect but is awesome.<br />
Even though I complain about it all the time, I'm also really grateful for my job.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15696941020" title="IMG_20140908_124003_261 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_20140908_124003_261" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8655/15696941020_fc3492c6c1_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The totally awesome view from my break room at work.</span> <br />
For the first time in my life, I have a pretty stable income. I may not have a lot of money, but I have <i>enough</i> money. I don't have panic attacks over bills anymore when something unexpected comes up. I even have decent benefits! A regular schedule, plenty of time off, a relatively low stress environment. Sometimes, when I really stop and think about it, I can't believe how lucky I am to have stumbled into it. I also just applied for a promotion, and I think I have a really good chance of getting it.<br />
My friends are another bright point in my life. There are a couple of people in particular that I love, and am so happy to have in my life. I don't see them often enough, but I'm determined to fix that as soon as possible.<br />
Is it silly that I'm thankful for my wardrobe? Probably, but I am.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15882266081" title="image by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="image" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7467/15882266081_313e21272a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
It will never stop evolving, but I feel like, for the first time in my life, it really reflects who I am, or the least who I want people to see. For a really long time, the only thing it showed was what was on sale at Kmart, so it feels good to have control over it.<br />
I'm grateful for my city, for my safety, for my neighbor's dog, for my coworkers, for the books that I read, for my health, for my youth, for red lipstick, for good tv, for whiskey, for <a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/11/treatyoself-and-maybe-other-people-too.html">sales</a> (sorry, had to shill a little bit), for this blog and all of the kind people who read it, and sometimes even comment.<br />
That's kind of all encompassing, isn't it? But really, for all my little complaints and issues and annoyances, I have a good life, and it feels good sometimes to stop and remember that.<br />
What are you thankful for? Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, feel free to comment.<br />
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No post tomorrow (I will be far too busy stuffing my face, drinking too much, and napping), but keep an eye out Friday. I'm going to be trolling Etsy and posting about even more sales, so if, like me, you're participating in Chronically Vintage's <a href="http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2014/11/join-first-annual-vintage-secret-santa.html">Secret Santa</a>, now might be a great time to find the perfect gift.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-18525749757564551412014-11-25T07:27:00.000-08:002014-11-25T07:27:22.668-08:00Baby I'm Howling For You<div style="text-align: center;">
If you didn't already see it, yesterday I posted my <a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/11/treatyoself-and-maybe-other-people-too.html">list of Black Friday</a> deals and coupons, including really fantastic coupons from TheBestVintageClothing.com, Chronically Vintage on Etsy, and ReVamp Vintage. Go check it out! Better yet, spread the word. I'll be posting the coupon codes throughout the week on my Instagram account (<b>@cakesvintage</b>), so repost at will.</div>
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When I was in college I took a class on fairy tales and folklore, and Little Red Riding Hood was a really fascinating one to dissect. It's a generally accepted premise that fairy tales are told to children to help them understand how the world works, and they reflect our subconscious fears and desires. That's why there are so many similar ones across different cultures around the world. Little Red Riding Hood expresses the fears of growing up, of women reaching maturity and exploring their sexuality, and the dangers inherent in that. If you're interested in a modern, feminist interpretation of the story, Angela Carter's short story <i>The Bloody Chamber</i> is a really good.<br />
This weekend was surprisingly warm, if damp, so I made a point to get a little dressed up and take some fun photos. I've been feeling very inspired by fairy tales and folk inspired details, and a cheeky take on Little Red Riding Hood just kind of spontaneously came together.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15690319539" title="IMG_5875 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5875" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8618/15690319539_80dc35eea7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Ok, so I'm not wearing red, I don't have a hood, and I'm not particularly little. I sort of liked the implication of Little Red wearing a nice *cough* fur cape, though, as if she'd handled the wolf problem and had a little something to show for it.<br />
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I've worn this dress before, most recently <a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/10/shenanigans.html">here</a>, and I was happy to discover that it actually works pretty well as a layering piece. A prim, peter pan collar blouse with a brooch at the neck and another, shorter skirt in a coordinating color pretty easily took it from summertime sundress to something folkloric and fall appropriate, like a dirndl with an apron.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15876432745" title="IMG_5867 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5867" height="638" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7473/15876432745_7695bd61d2_z.jpg" width="638" /></a><br />
I was actually pinning up the skirt to hem it, and when I tried it on, I realized that I liked the look of the slightly longer underskirt. I didn't leave it this way, but I thought for the photos it was a fun touch. I might replicate the look with a longer petticoat or cotton slip in the future.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15875674602" title="IMG_5902 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_5902" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7563/15875674602_de261589a0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
I've been trying to find different ways to use my backyard, just so that I'm not taking the same photos over and over again, and I think I like this higher vantage point. I don't have a remote trigger for my camera, though, so it's probably pretty amusing watching me run up and down a flight of stairs umpteen times to push the button.<br />
Do you have a favorite fairy tale? I'll be honest, while I like reading them, it tends to frustrate me that, because of when and where they come from, the women are always helpless damsels, waiting for men to rescue them. I usually enjoy reading interpretations of them that give the women in the stories a little more agency and power. Neil Gaiman has some decent ones like that, and the aforementioned Angela Carter does as well. <br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-7405215406590806352014-11-24T06:15:00.000-08:002014-11-28T08:37:44.084-08:00#treatyoself (and maybe other people too): Black Friday Vintage Deals<b>Updated: I've added even more sales, some of which I discovered, some of which I was contacted about. </b><br />
Everybody loves a deal, right? While it can be fun to relentlessly search for the best deals, sometimes, when you're just coming out of a turkey coma, it's nice when someone has already done a little bit of the legwork for you. Whether you're picking out your own holiday treat, finding the perfect gift for someone you love, or creating a little <a href="http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2014/11/join-first-annual-vintage-secret-santa.html">Secret Santa</a> magic, I've got a whole bunch of awesome offers collected for you, right here, for your shopping pleasure.<br />
If you're a vendor and don't see your name on the list, it's not too late. Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email letting me know about your Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Please Buy My Stuff Saturday promotion.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/">The Best Vintage Clothing</a> - Exclusive discount, 50% off 3PM-6PM est 11/28 only, code BF14</b><br />
My jaw pretty much dropped when Miss Kitty from The Best Vintage Clothing responded to my "are you having a Black Friday sale?" email with "sure, how's 50% off for your readers sound?" Um, yes, please! Three hours only, so look sharp with this one, and start planning your purchases now. If you're a collector, they have some really amazing designer dresses, as well as some well preserved pieces from the 10s and 20s. 50% off something like that could be the steal of the year if you're looking for a special piece.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/vintage-clothing-womens/downton-abbey-era/vintage-black-fine-wool-art-deco-era-dress-large-size-late-1920s-great-details/">Wool and Silk Deco Dress, Larger Size</a> <strike>$556</strike> $278<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15858349751/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="375"></iframe><br />
This beautiful and beautifully preserved dress from the 1920s is a larger size (great if you're constantly annoyed by how teeny stuff from that era always seems to be), and the beautiful wool and silk design would be perfect for attending a fancy Christmas party or winter wedding.<br />
<a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/vintage-handbags-purses/vintage-purse-1940s-1950s/vintage-whole-baby-alligator-on-purse-etco-florida-1940-s/"></a><a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/vintage-signed-jewelry-parure-schiaparelli-necklace-ears-1950s-aqua-gold/">Signed Schiaperelli Necklace and Earrings</a> <strike>$476</strike> $238<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15673000870" title="a20792a13a2502b4a8d0b7_m__40590.1409149923.500.650 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="a20792a13a2502b4a8d0b7_m__40590.1409149923.500.650" height="400" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8659/15673000870_4ede0a56d3.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
Who doesn't love Schiaperelli? Her whimsical, intellectual designs made her one of the most popular designers among the artistic set in the 20s, 30s, and 40s. This signed necklace and earrings set make a stunning statement, and might make a great gift for a stylish woman in your life. If that woman's you, I wouldn't judge.<br />
<a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/vintage-clothing-womens/vintage-suits-by-era/vintage-suits-1940s-1950s/vintage-black-rayon-suit-w-cape-ball-fringe-1940s-sz-4/">1940s Black Rayon Suit with Capelet</a> <strike>$399.20</strike> $199.60<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15860341065" title="vintagebl_1317598716_55362__40610.1409148759.500.650 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="vintagebl_1317598716_55362__40610.1409148759.500.650" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8682/15860341065_2bf76a039c.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
This 1940s, Victorian inspired suit would make a stunning statement on any suit lover. The fitted jacket emphasizes the waist, and the capelet detailing adds playful interest.<br />
If, like me, you're on the prowl for more day to day items, it's a great time to snatch those up as well. <br />
<a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/vintage-handbags-purses/vintage-purse-1940s-1950s/vintage-whole-baby-alligator-on-purse-etco-florida-1940-s/">Baby Alligator Purse</a> <strike>$159.20</strike> $79.60<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15238058234" title="a20792a13a247feca037e3_m__24847.1409156370.500.650 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="a20792a13a247feca037e3_m__24847.1409156370.500.650" height="242" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/15238058234_dde8ef4e81.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
I'm not crazy for thinking this is really cute, right?<br />
<a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/vintage-clothing-womens/vintage-skirts/vintage-full-circle-skirts/vintage-circle-skirt-black-white-sun-ray-hand-painted-mexico-tel-art-29-waist/">Hand Painted Circle Skirt</a> <strike>$239.20</strike> $119.60<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15674328599" title="61125__53602.1409152398.500.650 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="61125__53602.1409152398.500.650" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8596/15674328599_353a285f2d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
I've seen these hand-painted circle skirts go for $200-250, so $120 is a steal for something this beautiful and detailed.<br />
<a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/vintage-el-ge-rayon-blouse-black-gold-crown-scepter-motif-beaded-med/">Crown and Scepter Embroidered Blouse</a> <strike>$195</strike> $97.50<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15672822528" title="51433c__19692.1410283507.500.650 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="51433c__19692.1410283507.500.650" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7577/15672822528_680581a4a1.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Good vintage blouses can be hard to find, and I love the embroidered details on this one.<br />
Looking for a gift? There's a great <a href="http://www.thebestvintageclothing.com/vintage-apartment-collectibles/?sort=newest">Collectibles</a> section with knick knacks, art, and paper ephemera, as well as vintage patterns and fabric for the crafty dame (or bloke) in your life.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/chronicallyvintage">Chronically Vintage</a> - Exclusive discount, 25% off order 11/24-12/2 code BLACKFRIDAYSAVE25</b><br />
There is always so much to love in Jessica's beautifully curated Etsy shop - it was hard to pick just a few favorites! But here are some pieces that I've been keeping an eye on.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/188134686/vintage-1930s-pave-set-figural-butterfly?ref=shop_home_active_3">1930s Pave Butterfly</a> <strike>$48</strike> $36<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15673001000" title="il_fullxfull.597065803_gmzr by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="il_fullxfull.597065803_gmzr" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7482/15673001000_76b4898a1a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/197575625/1950s-brown-marble-swirl-faux-tortoise?ref=shop_home_active_2">1950s Faux Tortoise Shell Lucite Purse</a> <strike>$88</strike> $66<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15860341265" title="il_fullxfull.631586452_3s1c by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="il_fullxfull.631586452_3s1c" height="333" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8583/15860341265_8c722791d0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/201694642/vintage-square-rose-gold-copper-lucite?ref=shop_home_active_19">Square Rose Gold Lucite Bangle</a> <strike>$24</strike> $18<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15834529146" title="il_570xN.646866084_jluz by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="il_570xN.646866084_jluz" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7557/15834529146_a379e9aa42.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.revampvintage.com/">ReVamp Vintage</a> - 20% off using THANKS2014 on Friday, the 28th only</b><br />
This vintage reproduction company has offerings from the 1910s through the 1950s. What I love about this store is the variety of clothing they offer - it's hard to find authentic vintage from the 1910s and 20s, but you can get it here, in your size, lovingly recreated just for you. They even have made to measure options!<br />
<a href="http://www.revampvintage.com/dress-womens-1930/WD-931301.html">Beatrice Dress, 1935</a> <strike>$220</strike> $176<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15674571247" title="beatrice-1-20in-100dpi by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="beatrice-1-20in-100dpi" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7530/15674571247_2b59a60d2d.jpg" width="223" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.revampvintage.com/dress-womens-1930/WD-931301.html">Swing Collectibles Slacks, 1940s</a> <strike>$100</strike> $80<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15834529326" title="sh-top-sl2wb-1-20in-100dpi by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="sh-top-sl2wb-1-20in-100dpi" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7574/15834529326_a7084018fc.jpg" width="305" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.revampvintage.com/blouse-womens-1950/611531.html">Bianca Blouse, 1955</a> <strike>$130</strike> $104<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15240690613" title="bianca-blouse-1-15in-100dpi by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="bianca-blouse-1-15in-100dpi" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7520/15240690613_66c9a144f9.jpg" width="430" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CustardHeartVintage">Custard Heart</a> - 25-65% off the entire store, 11/28-12/1<br />
This beautiful vintage boutique adds new items daily, and specializes in wearable items for the modern vintage lover.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/VoyeurVintage">Voyeur Vintage</a> - 25% off 11/27-12/1<br />
This is one of my very favorite Etsy shops out there. Pretty and really wearable pieces, always reasonably priced. My first stop whenever I'm looking for a "wear it all day, every day" item.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/vacationvintage">Vacation Vintage</a> - 30% off 11/24-11/28<br />
If there's any shop that I would happily buy everything they've got, it's this one. This tightly curated jewel box has gorgeous clothes from the 30s through the 60s.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/VeryVintageStore">VeryVintage </a>- 10% off 11/23-26, 20% off 11/27-12/1<br />
Oh, the dresses! Very Vintage always has unique, beautiful, and reasonably priced items for the discerning collector.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapsuleVintage">Capsule Vintage</a> - 30% off from 11/27-12/1<br />
I always find myself drooling over beautiful 50s/60s party and day dresses on offer from Capsule Vintage.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TravelingCarousel">Carousel Vintage Boutique</a> - 30% storewide 11/28-12/2<br />
This pretty boutique has a wide range of apparel and accessories from the 40s through the 80s, and there's always a little something for everyone.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Sweetbeefinds">Sweet Bee Finds</a> - 25% off from 11/27-12/2<br />
The prettiness on display from Sweet Bee is hard to match - she's got beautiful party and day dresses, with shoes and accessories to match.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/VictoryMills">Victory Mills</a> - 25% off from 11/27-11/30<br />
Another beautifully curated shop, reasonably priced and specializing mostly in lovely day dresses.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/BloomersAndFrocks">Bloomers and Frocks</a> - 20% off entire store 11/28-11/30<br />
This fabulous store actually sorts their offerings by s/m/l, making their store one of the easiest to search.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jumblelaya">Jumblelaya</a> - 20% off 11/26-12/1<br />
There are so many gorgeous pieces available here that it's hard to pick a favorite! Her carefully chosen pieces are beautiful and unique.<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HolliePoint">Hollie Point</a> - 20% off starting at midnight 11/27-12/2 at 9pm<br />
This store has a beautiful selection of clothes, shoes, and accessories, mostly from the 50s and 60s, and I've been informed that there will be a lot of new items added to the store for the sale.<br />
<a href="http://etsy.com/shop/crushvintage">Crush Vintage</a> - Special discount for Instagram follwers (@crushvintage) 11/25-11/27; 25% off storewide 11/28-12/1<br />
This store has a wide array of inventory, and every piece is a winner. Lately I've been stalking their shoes and coats - so many pieces to love!<br />
<a href="http://heartofhaute.com/">Heart of Haute</a> - 15% off sitewide, 2 chances to win a goodie bag, and 1 chance to get your order FREE 6pm 11/27-midnight 11/28; 25% off select items on 12/1 <br />
<a href="http://www.steadyclothing.com/">Steady Clothing</a> - 50% off select items, 20% off entire store<br />
<a href="http://heartofhaute.com/"></a><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FoxyBritVintage">Foxy Brit Vintage</a> - 30% off the entire store<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PickledVintage">Pickled Vintage</a> - 45-60% off (moving sale, don't know how long this one will last)<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/stutterinmama?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Stutterin Mama</a> - 20% off<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CheshireVintageShop">Cheshire Vintage Shop</a> - 20% off with code HAPPYHOLIDAYS<br />
<a href="http://raleighvintage.com/">Raleigh Vintage</a> - 20% off 11/26-12/2 <br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrunkofDresses?ref=ss_profile">Trunk of Dresses - 20% off</a><br />
<a href="http://etsy.com/shop/deargolden">Dear Golden</a> - 25% off<br />
<a href="http://adoredvintage.com/">Adored Vintage</a> - 25% off through 12/1<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhenDecadesCollide">When Decades Collide</a> - 20% off through 11/30<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/wildfellhallvintage?ref=ss_profile">Wildfell Hall</a> - 20% off, TODAY ONLY<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheVintageMistress?ref=l2-shopheader-name">The Vintage Mistress</a> - 25% off<br />
<a href="http://www.trashydiva.com/index.cfm">Trashy Diva</a> - 30% off everything (including sale) with code BLACKOUT30<br />
<a href="http://etsy.com/shop/dethrosevintage">Dethrose Vintage</a> - 20% off<br />
<a href="http://www.tarastarlet.com/">Tara Starlet</a> -<b> </b>40% off party dresses with code TGIF, + FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE<br />
<a href="http://etsy.com/shop/lapoubellevintage">Lapoubelle Vintage</a> - 25% off<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/simplicityisbliss?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Simplicity is Bliss</a> - 25% offJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-7040497988139894422014-11-21T08:11:00.001-08:002014-11-21T09:48:37.078-08:00Links to Love<b>I think you'll want to know this: </b><br />
<b>On Monday, I'm going to post a list of post-Thanksgiving sales and deals from vintage or vintage appropriate stores. I sent out feelers to a lot of different places, and I've got some great intel on the best places to shop, including a couple of really exciting exclusive deals. Even if you're not American, it's still a great time to find some truly amazing deals.</b><br />
<b>I'm going to be updating the list through Friday, so if you'd like to be included, it's not too late! </b> <br />
<br />
You know what I hate? The sun. Well, not the sun per se, but the fact that I don't actually see much of it after late October. No sun means no natural lighting, and no natural lighting means I can't take outfit photos. I suppose I could take them inside, but with our dingy carpet and crappy lighting, I just don't really want to.<br />
So, uh, links! You should love them!<br />
Actually, I do like putting together these posts. I spend a lot of time reading things on the internet - amusing things, odd things, sad things, things that really, really piss me off. Once in a while I'll share an article on Facebook or whatever, but it's nice to just run the gamut with you guys sometimes.<br />
<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/jimdalrympleii/meet-the-rapper-facing-life-in-prison-for-his-album-cover">A Rapper Is Facing Life In Prison For His Album Cover</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15225384963" title="la-me-ln--rap-singer-20141120-001 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="la-me-ln--rap-singer-20141120-001" height="281" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7508/15225384963_382880b04e_o.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
Chuck D from Public Enemy once said that "rap is like CNN for black people." I honestly can't say if it still occupies the same place in African-American culture that it once did, but I think it's pretty obvious that describing the kind of world that you live in does not prompt people to act out what your describing. They way they're applying the law in this case is wrong-headed, stupid, and racially fraught. If a writer describes a murder, and then someone reads the book and commits a similar crime, is someone going to prosecute the writer for conspiracy? Or is it only black "gangsta" rappers who qualify for this skewed application of the law?<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26260978">The Indian Sanitary Pad Revolutionary</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15843044871" title="RegularCotton-s1 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="RegularCotton-s1" height="301" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8623/15843044871_9973b4db63.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Life changing.</span> <br />
Somehow I missed this article when it came out a few months ago, but I stumbled across it on the BBC website recently. I think it's actually pretty amazing what one person can do, even with limited resources, when they really bend their mind to a problem.<br />
It seems crazy to me that for all of human history, half the population has had to deal with menstruation, and yet in some areas of the world, it's still this crippling taboo. Some women use sand and ashes to absorb the blood, which, seriously, is so WTF that I can't even. If they use rags, they might be too embarrassed to actually wash them. All of this, obviously, is terrible for your lady parts, and can lead to infections. The man who invented this machine was shunned by his village and deserted by his mother and the wife that inspired him before he found success. Not only is he helping improve hygiene for Indian women, he's also providing employment for poor, rural women who buy his machines and then sell the pads that they make. I never thought I'd find a dude who makes maxi pads so inspirational.<br />
<a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/11/20/cigarettes_are_more_addictive_than_isis/">French man quits ISIS because it was too hard to stop smoking</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15657686130" title="marlboro-man by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="marlboro-man" height="318" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8572/15657686130_3aee7662a7.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
American government formulates plan to drop cigarettes over occupied territory, wins war.<br />
<br />
<u>The new trailer for Pitch Perfect 2</u> <br />
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Seeing this.<br />
<a href="http://nymag.com/tags/pretty-hurts/">Pretty Hurts</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15843044971" title="beyonce-pretty-hurts-8 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="beyonce-pretty-hurts-8" height="282" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7564/15843044971_4219ca97e8.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
I really love this series on The Cut from New York Magazine. This group of articles explores the relationship women have with beauty, and what goes into fitting into society's ideas about what a woman should look like. My two favorites: <a href="http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/11/photographer-who-captures-fat-shaming-on-film.html">Photographer Captures Fat Shaming</a>; <a href="http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/11/new-york-women-draw-their-own-boobs.html">New York Women Draw Their Own Boobs</a><br />
<a href="http://www.refinery29.com/marijuana-natural-drugs#slide">Marijuana, Coke, Nicotine: The Truth About "Natural" Drugs</a><br />
My biggest takeaway from this - pot is a Schedule I drug, coke is Schedule II. That means coke is considered less dangerous and more legit that marijuana. It is a strange, strange world that we live in.<br />
<a href="http://www.misspandora.fr/belle-de-jour/">Belle de Jour</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15844405732" title="bdj by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="bdj" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7466/15844405732_8520a65fca.jpg" width="333" /></a> <br />
Ok, maybe sometimes I do want to dress like a French girl.<br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-89533094423164507512014-11-20T06:32:00.000-08:002014-11-20T06:32:49.002-08:00Fuck Yeah OatmealI freaking love oatmeal. I know that might sound a tad overenthusiastic for boiled wheat groats, but I could (and frequently do) have it for breakfast every day for weeks a time. Steel-cut oats are my weapon of choice, but old-fashioned rolled oats will do in a pinch.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15835464102" title="steel_cut_oats by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="steel_cut_oats" height="426" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7482/15835464102_2de9fd2a78_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I think what I like best about oatmeal is the versatility. It doesn't matter if my pantry is all but bare - just about anything goes with it. Peanut butter and banana is what I usually add, but I've also done, among other things, cocoa powder, milk, and a dash of cayenne; sausage and peas; a fried egg, spinach, and Sriracha; and olive oil, salt and pepper, and garlic powder, when there wasn't anything else in the house. And all of them were actually pretty good!<br />
If your idea of oatmeal is the thick, gluey, over-sweetened mixture you've poured out of instant oatmeal packets, give it another try. Like I said, steel-cut oats are what I like to buy (Bob's Red Mill brand, if you have them near you), but old-fashioned rolled oats are great as well.<br />
A single serving of steel cut oats is 1/4 cup, but for measuring purposes I make 1/3 cup, which takes 1 cup of water to cook. <br />
Important first step: toast that shit. It doesn't take very long, and it adds a warm, slightly nutty flavor to your oats that I find makes them ten times better. Just measure out your oats and pour them into a pan. Turn your burner on medium-high heat. Shake the pan regularly, maybe every 10 seconds, to keep them from burning. After 3 or 4 minutes, your oats should be turning a golden brown and start to smell deliciously toasty.<br />
Pour your water over the top - it will immediately come to a rolling boil. Turn your heat way down, just to a simmer. Put a lid on and leave it at a very low boil for 10-20 minutes. I don't even bother to stir it, I just come back in about 15 minutes, when I'm done washing my face and brushing my teeth and all that, and it's done. If you're using rolled oats, it's the exact same process, except that you can turn the heat completely off after bringing the water to a boil. That's probably the route you want to go if you don't like leaving your stove unattended at all, or have a kid or pet that might knock something off of or onto the stove.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15213936874" title="steel-cut-oats-with-dukkah-6882 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="steel-cut-oats-with-dukkah-6882" height="427" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/15213936874_57cc9e2940_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Was looking for pictures of steel cut oats, stumbled across <a href="http://thegarumfactory.net/2012/04/10/steel-cut-oats-with-dukkah/">this</a>. Ooooh, baby.</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can't be the only one that gets absurdly jazzed about something this random. I think I mostly just love my starches and carbohydrates. Mashed potatoes? Mouth watering. Mac and cheese? Would happily eat it for lunch every day in the winter. </span></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-43334889190553324122014-11-19T07:08:00.002-08:002014-11-19T08:10:54.336-08:00Classic Movie Catchup: Mulan<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15207671733" title="mua by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="mua" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7573/15207671733_f454dfd060_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <b><br /></b><br />
<b>Mulan</b> isn't the kind of movie that I usually talk about in these classic movie posts, but I watched it recently, it's pretty freaking classic, and I want to talk about it. So there.<br />
I'm not the Disney fanatic that some people (particularly in the vintage community, it seems) are. I was much more in tune with Warner Brothers' snark than I was with Disney's earnestness, but <b>Mulan </b>is the kind of movie that's practically designed to break down my defenses. It's probably a good thing I watched it when I was home alone, otherwise I would have felt weird alternately cheering and crying.<br />
You've seen it, right? I'm assuming everyone here has seen it. If not, there'll probably be some spoilers in this post. Maybe go watch it right now if you haven't seen it - it's streaming on Netflix anyway.<br />
It's funny, but the movie seemed much longer when I was younger. There are only a few major events in the movie, but they pack a lot of emotion into not a lot of running time. The songs are maybe not as memorable as, say, <b>The Lion King</b>, but I don't think many movies can compare in that regard. <i>I'll Make a Man Out of You</i> is definitely the standout number - I was singing it in the shower the next day, and am thinking it might make a pretty sweet karaoke jam.<br />
Now, I'll grant that I haven't seen either <b>Brave </b>or <b>Frozen</b>, so maybe <b>Mulan</b> isn't the most feminist Disney animated movie anymore, but it's the most feminist one that I've seen. For starters, Mulan is the driver of the story, not a passive character driven by the actions of others. While, like most Disney princesses, she's motivated by love, it's love of family that pushes her to take up her father's sword, not a romantic involvement.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15642263030" title="Mulan_Screenshot by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Mulan_Screenshot" height="292" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15642263030_2e395f80da.jpg" width="492" /></a> <br />
I've seen some criticism of the fact that Mulan has to dress up as a man to gain the power to save both her family and her country, but I think they're missing the point. For one thing, they're applying modern standards to a historical character. There are a lot of stories about women dressing as men to go into the military, or to be the son that their mother needs in order to survive in a patriarchal society, or to be able to live their lives on their own terms. I think it says a lot more about the society that they live in, which only respects them if they are male, than it does about the women who subvert the rules to accomplish their goals.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15207671903" title="mulan-cannon by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="mulan-cannon" height="346" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8626/15207671903_2bb9543f80_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
They also kind of miss the fact that Mulan is actually dressed as a woman at the moment of her triumph. When she defeats Shan Yu, she does it wearing a dress and using only a fan and her innate intelligence.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15827122675" title="mulan sword through fan by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="mulan sword through fan" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7480/15827122675_0dfab0ee25_z.jpg" width="639" /></a> <br />
Though there is a love story, it's at the very background of the story, and it's really not until that end that it reads as anything other than close camaraderie between soldiers. Part of that may be that Disney wanted to avoid any gay subtext, but I like to think it's because Mulan was far more concerned with not getting found out, and with defeating the threat to her country, than with finding love with Commander Cutie.<br />
I don't think it's just Disney's carefully engineered heartstring tugging machine that made me bawl when Mulan comes home either. Her father practically tossing aside the sword and seal to hug the daughter that he missed - holy fucking catharsis, Batman. I'm tearing up a little bit right now just thinking about it.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15641288709" title="t4 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="t4" height="242" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/15641288709_f5649b4c3b.jpg" width="394" /></a> <br />
I tried to watch <b>Pocahontas </b>the other night, and I just couldn't make it through. I remember <i>loving</i> that movie when I was young, and I heard someone sing <i>Colors of the Wind</i> not too long ago and realizing was a beautiful song it is, but all I could think about was small pox and genocide. And it weirdly bugged me that John Smith didn't have a British accent. There was no America yet, guys! Why does he sound like he's from Nebraska? <b>Robin Hood</b> (the one where he's a fox) was another favorite that was only ok through the lens of adulthood.<br />
What childhood favorites have your revisited? How did you feel about the experience?<br />
<br />
Also, just a little reminder: I will be posting some amazing deals in anticipation of Black Friday this Monday, the 24th. I have exclusive offers from Chronically Vintage and The Best Vintage Clothing, as well as a great list of the offers from some of my favorite vintage and vintage appropriate sellers. If you're a vendor and would like to be added to the list, just let me know. Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-81015623676172968502014-11-18T09:06:00.000-08:002014-11-18T09:06:33.885-08:00Budget Blues<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15635311077" title="183732859767989953CEqZqgMtc by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="183732859767989953CEqZqgMtc" height="209" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7578/15635311077_a659f78ed2_o.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
Oh, god, I'm going to talk about money.<br />
Let me be clear about something: I'm not really very good with it. My feelings can best be summed up as "if I has it, I spends it." Of course, there are people out there who are much worse than I am - I'm not actually accruing any debt or anything - but I'll be the first to admit that I'm terrible at saving.<br />
I know I've mentioned <a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/07/hastings-brothers-furniture.html">the furniture business Brian and his brother started</a>, but something that I haven't talked much about is how upset Brian has been lately that he can't spend as much time as he'd like working on it. They've been having some success, and I know he's felt like he's not as much a part of it as he'd like to be. They're doing commissions, collaborating with artists, and getting their pieces into stores, and he really wants to be there to help it keep growing.<br />
I told him a while back that I would help him even if he quit his job, that we'd find some way to make things work. Thankfully, he's not doing anything that extreme, but he is moving to a part time position and will be making about half of what he currently makes. Cue mild panic on my part.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15201048703" title="Billy-Bobby-Mauch-Prince-Pauper by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="Billy-Bobby-Mauch-Prince-Pauper" height="498" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7499/15201048703_941492db7e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Prince and the Pauper</span> <br />
Ok, yes, I know I told him that I'd support him, we'd make it work, blah blah blah. He's still going to be able to pay his portion of the rent, but after things like transportation and his cell phone bill, he's not going to have much of anything left over. Our utilities are included in our rent, so yay for that, but I'm going to be taking over all of our other household expenses, like groceries. Since he won't be able to buy his lunch anymore, which he currently does most days, I'm going to have to cook more and bigger meals to make sure there's food around the house. <br />
Don't start with me about feeling like I have to cook for him. I like to cook, and I'm also kind of anal retentive about my kitchen, in that I don't really like other people using it. I'll shop and cook, he'll do the dishes, everyone will be happy and fed. I'm still a good feminist, even if I spend a good portion of my time barefoot in my kitchen.<br />
We sat down and figured out what our expenses are, and after everything, I've still got a little bit left over. Enough to go out for dinner once in a while, <i>or</i> buy a new skirt or dress clip, <i>or </i>buy my coffee on a regular basis. Not all of the above. <br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15635641320" title="spitalfieldsnippers9 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="spitalfieldsnippers9" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/15635641320_09ca095279_z.jpg" width="458" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Not quite where I'll be at.</span><br />
I'm going to have to start making some smarter choices about how I spend my money. I like to buy things, and not spending money on things that I want, but don't necessarily need, is always a struggle for me. I'm sure I can adapt to my new budget, but I also know it'll take some time before I get used to the new status quo.<br />
I guess it's a good thing, in a way. It's easy to be stupid with my money when I have extra. I don't think about my purchases as much, and when I buy something, a lot of the time it's with an air more of "why not?" instead of "why?" I'm also kind of excited to be cooking more often. It's something that I was really passionate about for a time, and while I still cook regularly, I don't put a lot of thought into what I make. You'll definitely start seeing recipe posts here more often.<br />
I hope I don't sound terribly entitled. I grew up pretty poor, and now that I have enough money not to be struggling all the time, I really appreciate it, and it's going to be hard to start watching my pennies all the time again.<br />
How have you dealt with budgeting difficulties? Is there anything that you recommend to help avoid missing spending money that you don't have anymore?Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3990390177932332717.post-67940741574131114512014-11-17T08:08:00.000-08:002014-11-17T08:08:06.003-08:00Bohemian AirI'm never what you'd call a party animal, but the winter definitely brings the nester out in me. All I want to do is find a cozy place to read and listen to music and watch TV and snooze. On Saturday, I finally went and got a foot for my sewing machine, and Brian and I moved it up to it's permanent home. I hung some of my pictures, and I'm starting to thinking about finding a comfortable chair and ottoman to go up there as well. It would be really nice to have my own little nook that's just <i>mine</i>, decorated in the way that I like and suited to what I like to do. I could have a few books up there, maybe hang some pretty curtains to make it a suitable space to take photos when there's no light outside... It's taken a lot of time to start making our apartment our own, but I think the winter is the perfect time for it.<br />
Of course, I still have to go out some of the time.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15810182441" title="dollparts3 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="dollparts3" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8575/15810182441_ff304488a1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I felt a little bit weird in this outfit. I started out the day in taller black boots, so the pink tights didn't show, but unfortunately they rubbed my feet bloody and I had to buy a pair of emergency shoes. Luckily those only cost about $15 (what up, Aldo Sale Shop), but the effect ended up going a little bit more baby doll than I had intended.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15627200910" title="dollparts2 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="dollparts2" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7534/15627200910_53255e2502_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Good face day, though.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15192088244" title="dollparts1 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="dollparts1" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/15192088244_449a78ae8c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
And really good hair.<br />
I was surprised by the number of compliments that I got about this outfit. I guess it's eye-catching, but I felt like I was LARPing as a lolita or something.<br />
On Sunday it snowed! It was so pretty. It didn't really stick much, but I'm definitely anticipating my first snowball fight of the year.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15192089374" title="caucasus5 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="caucasus5" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5609/15192089374_d69c241f91_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
I'd almost forgotten about this red wool skirt that I picked up at the thrift store. It really ended up being a perfect find - paired with a peasant blouse I picked up this summer, a floral headscarf, and some sturdy boots, I think it works pretty well as a simple take on the <a href="http://cakesandcakesvintage.blogspot.com/2014/08/fall-fashion-inspiration.html">Russian fairy tale</a> inspiration I wanted to bring into my wardrobe.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15627201810" title="caucasus7 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="caucasus7" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8560/15627201810_2408578b16_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
My coat may not be quite fit for a Cossack, but I love it nonetheless. It was a fantastic bargain - $16! The buttons had been cut off, but getting some new ones was only a matter of about $5 and 20 minutes of stitching, and it's super cozy. I would have bought it just for the leopard print cuffs and collar.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/121297832@N04/15810161951" title="caucasus1 by jessica ebacher, on Flickr"><img alt="caucasus1" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/15810161951_aba5ef272f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
I really do have to buy something other than a swing coat sometime soon, though. I love them, but variety is the spice of life.<br />
<br />
Speaking of buying things (great segue, I know), I've got something exciting in store for Black Friday. I'm working on a vintage sale master list of sorts, so if you know of any stores that would like to be included, just send them my way! The post will go up one week from today, on Monday the 24th, and will include some really exciting exclusive discounts as well as a list of vintage and vintage appropriate sellers offering bargains. If you're participating in Chronically Vintage's <a href="http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2014/11/join-first-annual-vintage-secret-santa.html">Secret Santa</a>, it might be the perfect time to find a gift for your partner, not to mention for yourself. <br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06827840216337511678noreply@blogger.com4