New Year's Ball - Etsy Vintage

A few weeks ago the GOOP newsletter featured a medley of holiday cards with a tartan theme and I can't get it out of my head. When we were kids, my mom made a slew of tartan bows to decorate our tree and I don't remember anything as pretty! The vintage shops on Etsy are full on with tartan and taffeta for a happy new year!

TheVintageStudio - $58
LucyTakesaTrip - $66
VonlenskaVintage - $46.75
SmallEarthVintage - $68

Don't Ask, Tell Me it's Vintage

Reading all the exciting news today about DADT and the revision to the new GI Bill in Huffington Post this morning, I came across a lovely photo of the first family with stylish first lady, Michelle Obama, dressed in a beauty vintage 1950s black lace dress by Norman Norell. I have reposted this article by Lesley M.M. Blume, contributing style editor at HuffPo. Lesley writes that the dress is procured from New York Vintage. Here is the Obama fam taping their Christmas in Washington Special on TNT, and notice the concerned little elf second from left!

Etsy Vintage Holiday Shop

A few gift ideas under $20 (way under $20!) from etsy's vintage sellers -

Chez Panisse Cookbook by VictorianSpice $9.99
Murano Perfume Bottle by AnnPrimrose $15.99
Bamboo Lacquer Tray by sophiemorris $8.00

Winter Sunshine

photo via Seamus

Le Salon du Vintage de Paris

Shopping vintage in Paris this Saturday and Sunday? Ouah! What a lovely way to spend the weekend!

Sexy video of highlights from Salon du Vintage September 25-26

Holiday Girl - Jules Accessory Design

This weekend was the birthday of gorgeous Jules, dear friend and etsy designer extraordinaire! She had the lovliest birthday party ever!
 
Check out Jules' stunning adornments in her etsy shop, Jules Accessory Design

Lights and Music

Happy weekend!

Hawaiiana

We joined the CO's of NOAA's Hawaii fleet for dinner at La Mariana Sailing Club, a comfortable vintage tiki bar with classic mai tai's and tofu stir fry with brown rice! Thanks Anita!!!

Hey Gidge

Late afternoon on Waikiki Beach - the ocean warm, cool breeze, sun melting vitamin D into us and people watching beyond compare with leathery bikini-clad grannies. Later, we went for cocktails to the brand-spanking new Edition Hotel and dinner at Morimoto Waikiki. Edition is a luxurious hotel with a roof-top bar. I would only visit after dark with the fab lighting. The bartender and wait staff were really friendly. Who wouldn't be happy to go to work there? Every dish at Morimoto was exquisite. 

Sexy Edition Bar

Morimoto Waikiki

Morimocrab

A new way with pineapple and coconut.

Aloha Oahu

Tagging along with my darling in paradise - sunset from Kane‘ohe Bay.

Holiday Magic

Angels and Leeks photograph by Robert Doisneau 1953

On the list for winter break: 1. Take the kids to SAM to see the Picasso collection and share holiday lunch at Cafe Campagne.

Cygnet

Black Swan - crazy ballerinas on the big screen. can't wait!

Family Portrait

The men in the family - my smiling teenaged son Seamus on his 15th birthday with his loving father, Guy. They are so cute!

Glowing Cindy

Cindy Joseph is the gorgeous model that shows up in catalogs like Sundance and Garnet Hill and many others, I'm sure. Checking out the NY Times gift guide, I read that she is demonstrating her BOOM! beauty products and broadcasting her beauty tips on YouTube. Go Cindy!

Thanks for the Coast

photos via Seamus 

Round the World

My quest for the perfect resin Buddha continued on the trip to Portland. At Cargo we met all manner of supreme beings. A small collage of hand painted and alabaster Buddhas, a beaded chair and a group of carved wooden deities (most of them smiling):

Portland Pop

Solveig and pal, Celina arrived in Portland for She and Him and the Schnitzer Hall for a rainy weekend. Zooey has been a been a hero of Solveig's forever and she was thrilled to attend the show. Shopping and dining in the Pearl was choice - thoughtful and well-prepared as always. We shared tapas at Andina before the young ladies went to the show.

Solveig and I outside French Quarter Linens

photo via Celina Stilphen

She & Him - Thieves from Merge Records on Vimeo.

Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show on Style.com

Golden Afternoon

Enjoying the last days of sunshine before the rain.

Dining Room Inspiration

Inspiration for the dining room redo from top left: Secretariat, wall paint from decorpad post, Room and Board parsons table, west elm pendant lamps, brass sconces from a church sale, williams sonoma home five-panel mirror.

Big Night

Sena's final high school homecoming dance and Seamus' first!

Homecoming

This weekend we are celebrating Guy's birthday, high school homecoming and we are redecorating the dining room in our new place. We are going for a look that is cooly chic -  industrial + antique and a wee bit of glamour. I love it! Goodbye red room.

Here is the room before:

Vintage Eyewear - Frivolous and Fantastic

I'm on the prowl for sexy eyewear - two pair. One practical and one for fun. I'm leaning toward Warby Parker Colton for everyday:

The other pair of eyeglasses will be vintage, chic and fun. These lovely looks are found on ModernMaude via Etsy:

Home at Last

Hello blog, it's me, Kath, happily relocated to Seattle!

Tiny Patsy Cliney

Inside the Country Music Hall of Fame there is an exhibit displaying a dress worn by Patsy Cline back in the day. She was a tiny little thing! One of the docents at the exhibit was very impressed by another gown that was worn by Carrie Underwood. She explained that the dress was so massive with such an impressive train that Carrie had to be dropped down into the dress by a harness! I like Patsy's sexy little dress best!

Vintage Nashville

In Nashville we paid a much anticipated visit to Venus and Mars, the showroom, and found a great members only jacket for Seamus and a trio of bracelets for mama. I was so pleased! It was fun and a very pretty store. Lovely vignettes from the lingerie room -

Cross Country - Nashville

In the days leading up to our move away from the nation's capitol, there were many signs that it was time to go: the three day power outage, getting stuck in the elevator, the parking citation for overtime while being stuck in the elevator...

We drove away and spent the night with our dear friends, the Forrest family and headed for Nashville! The first place we visited was a great joint called Merchants.

The manager of the place said Sena looked "just like that girl in Sugarland".

There were all manner of ladies and gents feeling the Nashville vibe - it was cool.

Looking Ahead

Proenza Schouler PreFall 2010

images via Style.com

Feel Good - Mint Royale Show Me

When we lived in Seattle before DC, John in the morning on KEXP used to play a Friday Song - this is one of my faves; Happy Friday!

Bathing Beauties

Jantzen Knitting Mills in Portland
photo via Oregon Historical Society

Westward Movement

Looking for a place to call home out west; haven't come up with anything yet.

photo by seamus

Silver and Stripe

70s Gucci Silver Enamel Watch - 1st Dibs

Dream

Lost Horizon 1937

Drive Home

Commuting through northwest DC is surprisingly relaxing because of the beautiful tree-lined streets. The neighborhoods beyond the trees are lovely. Of all the gorgeous homes along the way, my favorite one is this house just off Western Avenue. My simple and sweet DC dream house. I snapped it on my way home from my last day of work last evening. Now we move. Again.

Last Day

My final day at the British Embassy in Washington began with observance of Armed Forces Day.

Graduate

Summer Flowers

The Frippery Vintage

Summer Lunch

The perfect summer lunch at Puro and Dolcezza 

You'll Remember for the Rest of Your Life

Today my son and a handsome bunch of teenagers had lunch on the south lawn of the White House followed by a memorable afternoon with President Obama and other distinguished guests. Glad we didn't move west just yet.

Sunbath

Bath House Mosaic at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown

Sundress

So so so chic in Chanel - beautiful
photo by Chanel via style.com

The Trænafestival

Musicfest on the Sea - I wish

Sookie's Maaaaaaahn

True Love