70's, Halloween, halloween costumes, OOTD, rhoda, thrift

Halloween 2013: Rhoda Fabulous/ 70’s mob wife / 70’s fortune teller

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Everything Thrifted
           So this post is oh say three weeks late, I’ve decided to blame daylight savings time and the lack of sun for this. As you can see I went with the “Rhoda Fabulous” look for the Halloween party. When it was all put together I think I looked more like a 70’s mob wife or 70’s fortune teller than Rhoda but I still really like it. The best thing about this costume is the only thing I bought specifically for it was the necklace, which I got at Savers. Everything else I had in my closet. When Halloween rolls around it really pays off to be an avid thrifter. Ever since I began really getting into thrifting I haven’t really had to worry too much about Halloween costumes, I’ve always got something that I can fashion into a costume. The only downside of this costume was at the end of the night I realized the seams weren’t the strongest. There was a little unraveling in the dress when I first got it but had plans to chop it up (make it into a maxi skirt) so it didn’t bother me. I totally for got about the loose seams the night of the party and ended up with seam splits along the sleeves at the end of the night. I sewed them up just in case I decided to wear the costume again but I think I’ll end up cutting the threads and going with my original plan to detach the skirt and make it into a maxi skirt. The top is ok but it’s polyester and it’s really hot. Not so much fun. Anyway I had a great time at the party and  I hope you all had a great Halloween!

2013, 70's, costumes, Diana Ross, Halloween, halloween costumes, rhoda

Halloween Costume Ideas

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           I didn’t really have any plans to do anything for Halloween this year, maybe sit home watch a scary movie and hand out candy. But I got invited to a couple Halloween parties this weekend so it’s looking more and more likely that I’ll be going to at least one. Of course that also means I need a costume. I have a few costume ideas and some pieces in my wardrobe that I could fashion into some sort of costume. Although I have a good amount of items for a costume already in my wardrobe I plan to make a thrift trip anyway to see if I can find a piece for an even better costume or to add to the two I’m already considering. Assuming I don’t find anything mind blowing at the thrift store, here are some mood boards of the two biggest contenders for costumes that I could fashion out of things already in my wardrobe.

1. Rhoda Fabulous :

Rhoda Fabulous

           I recently picked up a 70’s maxi dress at goodwill that came with a matching scarf. When trying to figure out a good way to style it for a costume I thought of Rhoda, you know Mary’s bff from the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Rhoda was super funky and loved a good headscarf. Apparently headscarves were big in the 70’s.  For this look I’d utilize the maxi dress and matching scarf I already own, add a funky large gold necklace or large gold hoop earrings, and large 70’s style Jackie-O sunglasses. After pinteresting a bunch of 70’s maxi dresses and Rhoda inspired looks this one is definitely the front runner for my costume.

2. Diana Ross

Diana Ross

       When I say Diana Ross I’m thinking more 70’s Diana, post supremes. Ms. Ross is fabulous point blank period and a Diana Ross costume goes seamlessly with natural hair. A Good wrap dress, maybe a jumpsuit, sexy mini dress, or a long but sexy maxi style dress/ gown all work for this look. Add some long elbow length gloves,  a fabulous feather boa, Ms.Ross’s trademark curls and a some divalicious makeup with a red lip and boom, instant Diana.

50's, 60's, 70's, Elvis, Graceland, kitsch, Memphis, Mississippi road trip, road trip, Tennessee., travel

Mississippi Road trip: Memphis pt. 1 Graceland, the main house

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         I have a weird fascination with Tennessee, I’d never been until we went on this trip, but it just seems like a cool place to visit. Someday I’ll visit more of it go back to Memphis, Nashville, go to their big flea market and maybe even bonaroo (not all at once though). Anyway once I checked out where Springfield was and that it was relatively (but not really) close to Memphis I immediately wanted to add it to the itinerary. The number one reason I wanted to go to Memphis was, of course, to see Graceland! I love vintage kitsch and Graceland is like the holy grail of vintage kitsch. It’s a time capsule house of Elvis. And oh boy did Graceland deliver! Oh my god I would go back again, it was soo cool!!!! so worth the long drive. I highly recommend it if you’re in Memphis.  The house isn’t very big compared to today’s McMansions but it was in Elvis’ time. It was also named Graceland before Elvis ever lived there, he bought it from a doctor who named it after his wife. Anyway there is SOOO much to see at Graceland so I’m going to break it up into a few posts. So here are the pictures of the main house. 

Front of the House

The Living Room :

Check out those groovy peacock stained glass room dividers

And so begins one of the motifs of Graceland, Mirrors EVERYWHERE.

Sputnik chandelier in the Hallway? yes please!

  
Elvis’ Parent’s Room:

Amazing purple bathroom with…

Poodle wallpaper! mama like.

closet

Hallway/ Stairs to the 2nd Floor

Visitors aren’t allowed on the 2nd floor so this is all you see of it. Notice the mirrored wall.

 Dining Room:

The Kitchen: 

Carpet in the Kitchen?

I saw one of those canisters in the thrift store and immediately picked it up because I remembered wanting it but put it back because I didn’t remember why I wanted it. I wanted it because I saw it in Graceland!!! doh! Next time.

Preview of the Jungle Room:

The TV Room/ Bar :

Mirrored Bar

If you didn’t notice the color pallet for the TV room/ bar is bright yellow and navy blue. Interesting choice.

After visiting Graceland I’ve developed a need for white ceramic monkeys, don’t judge.

The headset said Elvis saw someone that had multiple TVs (possibly the President) and decided he needed three as well, which is great in the days before the DVR.

MORE MIRRORED WALLS!

 Game room/ Den:

check out that crazy patchwork wall tapestry

I’m kind of obsessed with the circus tent treatment to the fabric walls, I  kind of really love it.

yes there is a matching couch

 The Jungle Room: 

The Jungle Room is hilarious. It is an semi- Tiki /Hawaiian style, has green shag carpet on the floor and celing,  large wood carved furniture and faux (yes faux) fur upholstery.  

MORE CERAMIC MONKEYS!!!!!

The back of the house

There is way more Graceland to come. The Grounds have multiple buildings full of Elvis goodies which I’ll try to fit into one post and of course his planes (which are also amazing), stay tuned for more.

70's, art deco, cats, coat, dogs, donut mug, dresses, H&M, haul, old navy, owl, poodle, salt and pepper shakers, sequin, side table, table, tea set, thirft, thrift haul, tops, vase

Thirft Haul

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I haven’t done a thrift haul it what seems like forever. But, I’m trying to get back into the blogging regularly pattern and I have a bunch of thrift finds from the last couple months that have been patiently waiting for me to blog them, so here goes nothin’. I’m also linking up with Apron Thrift Girl, Sir Thrift-a-Lot, Remnant and A Living Space. Be sure to check out all of their thrift finds as well.

1. Decorative Owl Side Table. 

 I was never really that into the whole owl craze, but when I saw this table at Goodwill I had to have it. You just don’t see stuff like this everyday at the thrifts so when you do you pounce, and I did. The table was a little pricier then I would really have liked to spend, but I didn’t want to chance loosing it and it was so unique I figured I could deal with the price ($50.00). Plus I got paid the next day. I’ve never really had a great score at this Goodwill so this was a first, a very welcome first.


2. “Made in Italy” vase and Art Deco Salt and Pepper shakers. 

This vase was another find at Goodwill. It’s simple, cute, and was only 3 bucks so I had to get it. The Salt and Pepper shakers were found at Value Village. I’ve seen some of these in antique stores and thought they were cool but generally antique stores just make me hope i’ll one day find that item in a thrift store. So when I found these for 4 bucks I had to get them.

3. Ceramic cat set.

 I got these at the Salvation army for around 4 or 5 bucks (for all of them). They’re kinda creepy and kind of cool, my favorite combination, so I got them.

4. Patterned Shift Dress.

 I’m never sure if you guys want to see my thrifted clothes just on the hanger like this but I figured i’d give it a shot. I got this dress at Salvation Army, It’s originally from Old Navy and I though it was pretty cute.

5. Striped H&M Shift Dress.

I got this at Value Village. Value Village tends to be hit or miss, like most thrift stores, but when you hit at Value Village you really hit. I’m kind of obsessed with this dress, it’s a touch shorter than I’d like but it’s so cute  I had to get it. Plus it’s not that short.

6. Sequin T-shirt. 

 I found this shirt at Value Village too. It is also kind of short but I really like it so I’m determined to make it work, we’ll see how that goes.

7. Poodle on Wood. 

I found this at Savers and it was just “so bad it’s good” that I couldn’t help but get it, and it was only 3 bucks. Interestingly enough it was apparently given to someone as a birthday gift last year, or so says the inscription on the back, guess they weren’t into it but one man’s trash is another man’s come up, right?

8. 70’s Orange Coat.

I found this at Savers a few weeks back. I’m kind of obsessed with it and now that it’s getting slightly warmer I’m totally gonna wear it. This will definitely go into my Fall/Spring coat rotation. Also every time I see it I think of the thrift shop song, because you know “I’m in this big ass coat, I look incredible.”

9. Donut Mug. 

I found this mug at Value Village at their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday sale. By the time I got the store it had been pretty cleaned out but I saw a sort of funky looking box in the housewares aisle and inside was this guy. I thought it was a pretty cool mug and who doesn’t like donuts? especially ones with SPRINKLES, which were totally my favorite as a kid. Obviously it was destiny for the donut mug and I to meet. Also it makes me think of Homer Simpson every time I drink out of it, unexpected bonus? yups.

Anyway those are my recent thrift finds. I’ll try to bring you guys an outfit post later this week. I haven’t been wearing anything super interesting lately, thus the lack of posts, but with warm weather around the corner (hopefully) I’m starting to get my fashion mojo back. I’ll also try to get more of the Florida pictures up in a post. I don’t want to drown you with photos but editing them down has been taking awhile.

Also though I still don’t have a smart phone (yet?), I do have an iPod touch and that means I also have instagram. So if you’d like to see LOTS of pictures of my cats as well as thrift finds and other random stuff you can follow me @blackcatlies, or click here, or click on the instagram button on the bottom of the “Follow me” window to your right.

60's, 70's, art, broyhill brasilia, canisters, dresser, haul, mid century modern, mushrooms, space, thrift haul

Thrift Find of the Year?

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Last wednesday I went to the dentist and the dentist is near my local thrift route. I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to go thrifting or not and sort of went back in fourth in my mind but decided to go. Savers was having a mothers day sale which was 30% off clothes, accessories (not jewelry) and bedding. I went to Savers and didn’t find anything good but was kind of in the groove and decided to go to the other three.
Goodwill was OK, I found a cool piece of comic book art that someone made. The frame is crap but I thought the art was actually really good and nerdy. I’ve recently been looking more for cool art at thrift stores but haven’t had much luck. So I liked this enough to get it.

 After goodwill I went to the Salvation Army, I didn’t expect to find anything since though it’s on my route it hadn’t heeded any great finds. so I was browsing and went to the furniture section to see if I could find anything cute and mid century. I didn’t really see anything but I did see a dresser that looked kind of like campaign furniture, but wasn’t. So I went over to look at it and then when I saw it wasn’t campaign I looked to my left and recognized a distinctive handle of … a Broyhill Brasilia dresser! I almost couldn’t believe it, I looked it over to make sure, grabbed the whole tag (apparently you’re only supposed to get the bottom of it) and giddily sped to the register. It was $79.99 but with tax it came out to $85.00! I’ve been stalking Broyhill Brasilia online and recently saw a local vintage re-seller sell a credenza for $400.00. And on Craigslist I know mid century dressers are listed for around 100.00 to 400.00, So I knew it was a steal and I was getting it. It needs some work, someone decided to paint the top and it has a few nicks here and there but I still love it! Anyway, I was so full of adrenaline after that I couldn’t look around anymore. I quickly browsed the dresses and purses and then decided I just had to go and call my mom to tell her. Unfortunately she was at work so I left a message and decided to go to my last thrift store despite my adrenaline high.

We haven’t moved it to my room yet, it’s kind of heavy, but this is what it looks like.
Oh hey there Oliver.
 

After that high I calmed down a bit and decided I should finish up my round and go to Value Village. I figured with the Brasilia find I was on one hell of a roll and shouldn’t stop the momentum. Thankfully Value Village didn’t disappoint and I found some cool 70’s canisters. I’ve wanted some of these ugly kitschy canisters for a while but never bought any. These were in good shape and pretty cheap so I decided to get them. The middle one doesn’t have a top, despite my searching, but I figure I can use it as a planter or vase or something.

I’m linking up again with Her Library Adventures’ Flea Market Finds, so check out all the other cool vintage finds over there too.