RIP

I know that I have, in the past insinuated that Alexander McQueen might have designed some crazy ass clothing like the snake skin on your v-jaja dress

Or the hoof shoes that creep me out

Or the styling in this show that looked like the women are the handmaidens of the Cenobites (I'm actually reading Hellbound Heart at the moment)


BUT truthfully he was an amazing designer and I LOVED his designs and my GOD I am sad to hear that he has passed away. The story is sad and heartbreaking. The loss of his friend Isabella Blow in 2007 and the death of his mother last week seemed to be more then he could live with.
Just. So. Sad.

What Kate Does

What she does is annoy the hell out of me.

Still another great episode from LOST and we are beginning to see patterns.
Kate always runs, Sawyer is always alone, Claire will trust Kate, Etan is always going to stick needles in Claire, Syaid's destiny is to pay for his crimes, there always has to be a crazy lady who lost a kid on the island with bad hair and an uncanny ability to make traps (Oh, and she shot Mack from Sunny in Philly) and Jack is Jack.

Fiorina Courting the Furry Vote in Cali

This maybe one of the most hilarious and batshit insane political ads I have ever seen.

ILL SIT WER I WANTS

*SQUEE* LOST

Tonight tonight tonight tonight tonight tonight

I wish I could have a LOST party, instead I get to sit here and listen to my hubby and son bitch about everything.
shutup shutup shutup shutup shutup shutup shutup shutup

I love this theory on what the island is:
"The Island is the literal manifestation of an old way of looking at the world common to all people — a world full of magic and spirits, angels and daemons. (I chose that daemon spelling intentionally. If you are confused, consult my essay on the matter.) The Island exists for anyone who believes in the concept of the mythical journey — a heroic odyssey, a ritualistic walkabout, a quest for spiritual redemption. The Island used to be much bigger and occupied much more of the world's psychic geography. The Island once may have even been the whole wide world. But skepticism, cynicism, and disbelief has caused it to shrink away from our mind's eye, becoming nothing more than a slender piece of ephemeral real estate."

The idea that the Gods exist is one that runs though the work of Neil Gaiman and other writers. I like it. They exist because people believed in them or created them and once no one thinks about them anymore they have to get jobs or cease to exist.

So that's it, LOST tonight bitches.

EDIT:
Awesome.
Richard=Slave on Black rock?
So Zombie Sayid or Sayid is now sharing a room with Jacob?
Smoke monster Locke scares me.
No fair on Juliet.
And why are Kate and Jack NOT FUCKING DEAD YET?!!?

Because I am such an Obot....

Here is the Q&A Obama did today on YouTube.
Real questions from real Americans answered by the President.

Question and Answers and a Spanking

My favorite part of the British form of government is when the Prime Minister has to come to Parliament and directly answer questions from the opposition.

Well guess what?
Today President Obama went to the House Republicans at their two-day retreat in Baltimore and not only took questions from the lawmakers there, but spanked them around a bit.
(The only thing missing was the hoots and boos that the Brits engage in.)

You can watch here on C-SPAN's website.

Book Giveaway

Back into the pile of books.
This week I'm giving away The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner.
Book is about the life of Juana, the third child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain and sister of Catherine of Aragon (Henry VIII's 1st wife).

Juana was either a woman made crazy by grief and the bull shit she put up with from her father, husband AND son OR a powerful woman who did not do what the men in her life wanted and was painted as mad to take what was rightfully hers.
It is a very compelling, but tragic story and the book is the same.
Even though you know what her fate is you are compelled to read on.

So leave me a note in the comments and I'll pull a name out of the magic hat next week.

For more information on Juana of Castile try these sites:
Scandalous Women
Juana of Castile

Chanel and Dior

Via Project Rungay.
Dior:
http://projectrungay.blogspot.com/2010/01/woi-christian-dior-haute-couture-spring.html

That's a lotta look there, scrumptious and I even like those shoes with the peep toes, weird since normally I think runway shoes are ridonkulos and ugly.




Chanel:
http://projectrungay.blogspot.com/2010/01/chanel-spring-2010-haute-couture.html
I hate the shoes, everything else is lovely...except for the fact that there are "formal" culottes. Fresh take on the Chanel look.

and WTH? is up with the crazy ass hair?

On The Nose

I was just reading a review of I'm Sorry You Feel That Way by Diana Joseph, which I have yet to read, but one of the quotes from the book is this:

I adore you.

What the hell do you want from me now?

I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

That sums up my life with my husband and son.
On.The.Nose.

Neil

Article in The New Yorker about Neil Gaiman.

"Gaiman’s two most recent novels, “Anansi Boys” (2005) and “The Graveyard Book” (2008)—a retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book,” set in a graveyard—débuted at No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list in their respective categories, adult and children’s literature. Yet Gaiman remains somewhat marginal. The Times of London recently referred to him as “the most famous writer you’ve never heard of.” The New York Times waited to review “The Graveyard Book” for several months after its publication, by which time it had won the 2009 Newbery Medal, one of the highest honors in children’s fiction, and been on the best-seller list for eighteen weeks. “I have at this point a critic-proof career,” Gaiman said. “The fans already knew about the book.”

Pie

We went to Ed and Kay's restaurant in Benton (AR) last night.
I got the veggie plate (purple hull peas, green beans, creamed potatoes and rice casserole) just so I would have room for pie.

Their lemon pie has about a 6 or 7 inch meringue on it.
So.Damn.Good.

I love lemon meringue pie and my Grandma Fickel made the best, but the one I had last night might just be better.

I think it is time for me to try making one.
Maybe next week.

What They Said...

A letter to Andrew Sullivan pretty much sums up my feeling about the Republican party and conservatives:

"But I can't remember the last time I felt such overwhelming rage toward a group of people as I have felt toward the Republican Party and the conservative movement since President Obama's election.

I simply cannot grasp what motivates these people, what compels them to thwart even the smallest attempts to clean up the enormous destruction they wrought under Bush and Cheney. Irresponsible, hateful, mendacious, sleazy, destructive - these words do not even begin to describe them."

and

"And now some low-rent hairdo, whose sole claim to fame is posing naked for some ladies' magazine way back when, may happily destroy whatever chance this country has at moving in a more just, humane, and morally and fiscally responsible direction.

As you stated, the Republican Party of this new century is shot through with nihilists. Unabashed nihilists. But what leaves me shaking with anger damn near every day since President Obama's inauguration is the pure smugness and nonchalance of their nihilism.

Palin, McConnell, DeMint, Boehner, Cantor, Rubio, Scott Brown and the rest of the Ailes- and Limbaugh-warped GOP: Would you trust any one of these goons to greet you at Wal-Mart, much less govern our country? The question answers itself. They literally care nothing for America."

Yeah, what they said...

Go read the rest....
Oh and fuck off MA if you vote Brown* into the Senate.

(*not that the Dems and Martha herself do not deserve the beating they might get...but really, what the hell is the matter with people that they would think it is a good idea to vote for a Republican supported by teaparty folks? )

Vivienne Westwood and Blue Steel

Ladies and Gentleman, I give you.....Dere-lict!!!




HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Please tell me that Vivienne Westwood is just having us on and is aware of Zoolander.
Because if not, then this is a fail of massive proportions.

and where the hell is BLUE STEEL?

Via Projectrungay.

Has Anyone Seen My Fan?

I'm feelin' just a bit flush y'all....



It's like a mix of 60's Irish Mob and the Godfather when they were in Sicily.
Jebus, so freaking hot.

See more of the Dolca & Gabbana Menswear Fall 2010 at Projectrungay.

And the Winner Is...

FuzzyLizzie!

Yea!!!
You've won A Dress to Die For.
I'll get in touch with ya and mail it out.

Look for another post later today with the next book to be offered.

VFG Fresh Vintage

Take a gander at the "new" vintage from the members of The Vintage Fashion Guild.

That's Done

All done, Christmas is back in the boxes for another year.

My Retro Christmas Gifts

I got one of these for Christmas.


I already have 2 Mixmasters....
The first is a 40's Model 9 one that works, but is rusted up in the housing for the beaters and when I have used it tiny bits of rust fall into whatever I'm making.
My late 60's one belonged to my mom and it has been awesome, but the beaters fell apart this year during all the holiday baking and I just did not have the energy to go searching for the correct beaters so hubby bought me a new "classic" Sunbeam Mixmaster. Not as powerful as the older one, but so far I'm pretty happy with it.

My mother gave me a lovely scarf made out of local Missouri Alpaca wool and an adorable apron. Not vintage, but very vintage looking and I can wear it in place of the vintage one I was fixing to wear out.
And it is big so it actually fits me.



I also got a new flat screen monitor from my son. It is kinda cool once they have a job, but no real money responsibilities and they want to spend some of it on you.

What was you best gift this year?

Oh and we still have no fucking snow....

Arkansas Diners

If you are a local reader, here is a great post from Tie Dye Travels with a round-up of some of the better diners in Arkansas.
Dinerland

Makes my mouth water just reading it.
The hubby will be off work on Monday, I think we'll head to Dan's for lunch.

Happy New Year!

Fresh Vintage from the VFG

Go take a look at the newest vintage from the members of The Vintage Fashion Guild.

and don't forget to sign up for my book giveaway.

Merry Christmas Basement Cat

Vintage Christmas

I think the first picture probably explains my clown issues.

Christmas Cookies and That Made Me Smile

Started cookie and candy making yesterday.
So far there are Jelly Drop cookies, Chocolate Dipped Orange Slices, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars and Fudge.
Today I am adding Jim Dandies and Sugar Cookie Chocolate Bars (I like bar cookies, they are so easy to make) to the mix.
(UPDATE: The Jim Dandies are awesome. I used 2 oz. semi sweet chips in place of the chocolate, added a bit of coco powder and a bit more of the cherry juice. I didn't feel like making icing so used Nutella instead, yummy. Next time I'll just chop up all the cherries in the jar.)

I also need to keep reminding myself of the things that made me smile this week since I am slowly reading The Road.
It is a spare, beautifully written book that also might be the most depressing book I've ever read and is an act of will to keep going back too.
But it also is a compelling read and the love The Man has for The Boy is lovely and redeems the overwhelming sadness that hangs over me when I've finished 20 or so pages.

So McGyver Kitty and Ninja Kitty keep me happy:

Italian Creme Cake

Wish me luck.

I'm making my first cake from scratch.

This recipe.

I'll post a picture later when it is done.

EDIT:

Ok, here it is and it is delish.

I'll change things a bit when I make it next time, but I am really happy with the results.

Vintage Links

The above is one my mid century modern vintage Christmas cards I have collected over the years. This next one is the whole creepy card that I made my Christmas logo out of:

No, really, who thought a deer head on the top
of a spring would not look creepy?

A few threads over on the VFG to check out:

Fresh Vintage

Fashion Parade "All Tied Up"

and a fun "Vintage Christmas Decoration" thread in which your truly shows off....go add your snaps to it.

Vintage Christmas music recommendations from No Pattern Required.

Check out Lizzie's new Christmas Sweater, 40's with Scottie dogs, it is the second post down.

A small collection of Victorian hair combs from Past Perfect Vintage.

That's it for now!

Pearl Harbor Day

Kim over on The Girl Can't Help It reminds us that today is Pearl Harbor Day.

I'll add a few pictures of the gals on the homefront who kept industry

alive to the ones she has posted.

Preparing Your Pets for War

8 Ways to prepare your pets for war.

You never know when your cats you will decide to take over the world.

Holiday Vintage Wear

If you are going to a swanky Christmas party then you NEED THIS DRESS from Elsewhere Vintage.

(I love that picture of the back view.)

Is that not an awesome vintage 50's dress?

Here's a couple more "holiday" dresses:

Fantastic deco design early 40s wine velveteen dress is at Dorothea's Closet.

This next one you can buy at Fast Eddie's Retro Rags.

Kim also has this "Poinsettias Vintage 1950's Holiday Glitter Cocktail Serving Tray"!

How much do I want that...so much....hinthint.



And listed at Damn Good Vintage is this fun 50's R&K dress and 60's reversible cape:

Things That Made Me Smile

My Noel Poodles made me smile.

So did "New Moon" done in LOL.

After getting some new dresses listed I sat in front of the fire, listened to 40's/50's Christmas music and ate a piece of Italian Creme Cake. Then a kitty came and joined me for awhile. It made me smile.

I got to an estate sale too late and missed the patterns and most of the vintage. I got some cute Judy Bond blouses that look like they have never been worn and these:


The address book has a refill so I can add my own information and the memo pad has never been used. They made me smile when I saw them.

Kitteh Jazz Hands!