TEA STAINED LACE....

Hi Everyone, Happy Spring to ya.  I've opened an Etsy Shop and sold an item the first day, plus something every week since then.  I'm having fun with it.  It's called Tea Stained Lace and if you want, check it out, here  .  Here are just a few items currently for sale.  I'm going to add clothing, purses, shoes and jewelry soon.  I want a well curated store with good photos and details of the items.   I mostly buy items that I like or love instead of buying things that I think a potential buyer will love.  Megan of Two Birds Blog suggested I post about my store since you know I've been an absent blogger.  Thanks Megan!!

Vintage Vacron bowl set.

Keep your balls warm for long distance driving...for the golfer in your life.  I add a new item everyday and now accept all major credit cards.  I'm not shipping internationally yet as I'm still trying to figure out the postage here in the states. 

As you may or may not know through my instagram at suitcase vignettes, I am a new mama to four 11 day old kittens.  I trapped the mama in my neighborhood using a trap that South Jersey Rescue provided for me and within  3 hours of setting the trap, mama Lucy went in.  Within 24 hours of rescuing her, she gave birth to 4 healthy, free of leukemia kittens.  It has been stressful to say the least because mama is a feral but she is warming up to me and let me pet her for the first time yesterday when I took everyone to the vet for checkups.   There is another part to this story but I am saving it for another time.  My life is one adventure after the next.  People without children find other things to do with their time or should I say other things to stress them out...hahaha.  Take care and thanks as always for dropping in.  admirably, dawn xo

 

NEW (.)(.) ANNIVERSARY...

ELLO, ELLO....TIS ME, DAWN.  HOW ARE YOU DARLINGS?  I know, I know, it's been a long time since I've blogged but today is my one year anniversary post op booby reduction and I have been celebrating all day.  I began by thanking God for the day  and then I dressed up and met my gal pal, thrifting buddy, Betsy, at the Goodwill outlet.  Boy, I am in trouble with that place...it's phenomenal.  I could spend hours, and I do.  Don't be jealous, just pack your bags and head straight to NJ.  It is worth the trip...bring a friend, plenty for all.  I have cart envy while I'm there, I look in everybody's cart.  I'm usually the one with the great cart but man, I am stalking people and their carts...seriously.  I followed a couple around hoping that they would put a few of their things back but they didn't.  Smart of them...cause I was ready. 



Anyway, hope you are all well.  I am still plugging away at the gym with my personal trainer.  I have lowered my body fat by about 3% and my BMI is now in a normal range.  I needed to lower my body fat, big time.  It was off the charts and I felt like a bowl of Jello...watch it wiggle, see it jiggle.  You get my drift. 

Tying bows is not my area of expertise...

Found this vintage, mod, dress at Goodwill a while ago as I am still sticking to the vintage only rule unless I can't live without something or if it's super cheap.  I'm talking like 25 cents.  The outlet weighs everything and it's .99cents a pound, so a shirt is like really cheap.  One year ago I was a size 38 G and today I am a 36/38 C.  I am thankful for the having less boobage and glad to have met my one year anniversary of a major surgery that turned my world upside down for a bit.  You can read about it here and here  and here if you want to see my before boobs in a bathing suit.   Love to all and thank you for dropping in.   dawn xo

BAMBERGER'S...

 

Hi darling readers.  It's been a bit since I've posted but to tell you the truth, I am still struggling with getting posts together.   From this point on, I will post when I can and not stress over it.  I love getting dressed, especially when I get to wear "normal" clothing like this Bamberger's vintage sweater and Pendleton skirt.  Both thrifted, but the Bamberger's (remember that store, it was all the rage back in the day) sweater is newly thrifted.  I am linking this to "look what I got" over at Sharon of The Tiny Heart and Tara at Penniless Socialite. 

I'm still working hard at the gym and am happy to report that I love my trainer, she's built like a little gymnast and works around all of my old lady complaints and injuries...lol. 

I  loved that store, it was the equivalent of Macy's today.

Have a great day and thanks for dropping by.  Yes, Georgia is the one staring at me...she stares at me all day, everyday.  Linking up!!!  Thanks for hosting, Tara and Sharon

Pendleton skirt, thrifted $3.99
Bamberger's Vintage sweater $4.99 thrifted
Restricted Boots 2 years old, Marshalls

WELCOME TO MY PAD...

Hi darling readers, welcome to my pad.  I found this little kitschy rug at goodwill for $2.99.  It still had the original tags on it.  I actually found 2 identical rugs and bought both just in case one gets stained.  ehem...rob!!  Anyway, I've been adding little items to my kitchen to inject a little brightness.  I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day.  Rob and I did our annual "get your taxes done" and split a heart pizza for lunch with a follow up dessert consisting of french cheesecake with coffee which was outstanding. 

I use my vintage cosco step stool all of the time.  It's lightweight and easy to carry into the kitchen when I need it.  Rob would never allow me to keep it where it is...IN THE WAY!!

Finally hung these plastic flower wall plaques that I found at goodwill.  I scooped them up the second I saw them. 

This is my before photo...awww, pups love the old kitchen rug just as much as Timothy...I feel a little bad but I'm always telling them to leave the kitchen anyway.  They trip me up sometimes.

I wore my newly thrifted grandpa sweater by Potomac for Valentines day.  Wow, I look so much better when I stand up straight.   Have a great weekend!!!  dawn xo

OUTFOXED....

I finally felt like getting dressed yesterday and sprung into action.  I wore this to the thrift because it had been a whole day since I had gone to Goodwill.  I took a few days off from the gym to recover from that atrocious cold I had.  Thank you for all of your well wishes, you really are a great bunch of people.

I finally dyed my hair which takes two boxes of Clairol, medium auburn because it's the least expensive dye that walmart sells.  I have not had my haircut since May.  My stylist is in a coma.  No lie.  She is this wonderful, young girl who had been cutting my hair at hair cuttery (told ya I was cheap) for over 4 years.  I am so upset with this entire situation.  She was in a bad car accident around Christmas. I can't get a haircut which is fine but the fact that she is still not well makes my heart ache.  Rob went to get his hair cut by her and the stylist at the shop told him the story.   I was shocked that the stylist would divulge such personal information but I'm glad that she did so that I know what happened.  I have prayed for her and even thought about going to see her in the hospital.  She's not just my stylist, I thought of her as a friend.  To make this story more crazy, her best friend lives 2 doors from me.  I stopped one morning on the way to the gym when I saw her (Angelique) and introduced myself telling her that her best friend used to cut my hair and that I live 2 doors down.  She filled me in on the details as we both fought back tears.  It does not look good as of now but I have faith that God has a plan. 

I later changed to black flat boots to go thrifting which is what I should have worn with this outfit for the photos.

Caroline put her paw in my hand.  Why am I such a cat person?  These dogs love me. 

Have a great day!!!  Thank you for dropping in.  Working movie/snack night with the seniors tonight.  Probably watch some Golden Girl episodes.  Last night somebody ate a bingo chip again.  I have been lucky so far to have been able to stave off any choking by reclaiming the bingo chips from their mouths.  Hazards of the job.  God bless their hearts.  Thrifted, vintage dress from late 80's to early 90's, DKNY thrifted cardi, vintage thrifted boots.

How impressed was I with myself when I came up with this word (outfoxed) for 73 points on words with friends???  I might be addicted, just what I need, more distractions. 

LOOK WHAT I GOT LINK UP

Hello dear readers, I am sitting here with a Kleenex shoved in both my nostrils and breathing through my mouth.  I am sick with one of the worst colds that I have ever had.  I was up half the night and used about 25 tissues while Rob was sleeping next to me with earplugs in.  Seriously.  I am a diehard though, I managed to thrift yesterday and bought some clothing...yep.  I stuck to the vintage rule and picked up some cute pieces.  As soon as I feel better, I will model them for you.   In the meantime, I am linking this to Penniless Socialite and The Tiny Heart for their "Look What I Got" feature. This mid century table caught my eye at a thrift store about 2 weeks ago when I popped in with Kathy's cousin, Diane.   I stopped in my tracks and new that I could incorporate this table into my siting area as I'm trying to bring more of a mid century feel to this room as well. 

The next time we visited the same thrift store, I purchased the table as it was 15% off.  It has it's flaws but the Brady Bunch feel of this little beauty had me going. 

It now houses my stereo that was sitting on the island in the kitchen. 

I also won an auction on ebay.  I put in a bid on this little star burst clock by Sessions.  It was $15.00 with no bids in the last two hours of the auction so I popped in a bid and waited.  It ended up being $25.00  including shipping.  I hung it low so that I could plug it in behind the credenza.  I've been a decorating fool of late.  I  know that I said I would show you my dining room but I have some new ideas for it which will be happening soon.  I found some great ideas on Pinterest and I am determined to find what I'm looking for in the thrift stores.  Have a great weekend, thank you for dropping in.  Cough, sneeze, sniffle, blow nose, repeat.   Linking up...

INSPIRATION MONDAY...DREW BARRYMORE

Drew Barrymore...the inspiration

 

 

 

Hi Everyone!!  I know a lot of you have been asking about where I've been and if I'm still blogging.  To answer your questions....yes, yes!!!  I'm too much of a ham to not take photos of myself and post them.  I just need to break when it starts to feel like a job.   Plus my face is still healing and now just looks like a big red blemish which the doctor told me today on my follow up visit will dissipate and look less red as it heals.   Yay.   But these are not the only reasons.  I've committed myself to training at the gym.   It takes time from blogging.  Once I'm in my gym clothing, I like to stay that way until I put on my work uniform.  I've had no reason to get dressed UNTIL I saw this outfit that Two Birds posted for INSPIRATION MONDAY.   I changed from my gym clothes to this outfit and back to my work clothing for tonight's Bingo game.   Changing 3 times a day takes so much energy.  I really wanted to try this refreshing look and I'm glad I did.  I love it!!  It's comfy, casual, and just what I needed to motivate me to change, snap photos, and get dressed for work.    I will definitely wear this look again.  Wish I could wear it to work like I was able to before when the only restrictions were no jeans, big earrings or open toe shoes.   It bums me out when I have to put on my 80's, sunflower yellow, pop collar shirt and crappy ole work  pants.  boooo.  Thanks for dropping by and for your sweet concerns.  It means a lot.  dawn xo

 

SV's HALL OF FAME...

Hello darling readers, I've had these photos saved in my computer since their inception to your blogs.  Here are a few of the captures that made a sweet impression on me.  I thought it would be fun to introduce the first inductees of Suitcase Vignette's Hall of Famers.   First up is Emily of Tinfoil Tiara's.  This photo is completely adorable and it made a big splash in my hall of fame.

This photo of Heather and her daughter with matching, vintage, princess dresses is as sweet as a cupcake.   They should wear these for Valentine's Day!!!

Curtise of the Second Hand Years jazzed  her way into SV's Hall of Fame with her iconic Hepburn ensemble.  Creative and Classic....

Kizzy of  The Dainty Doll's House was swept into SV's Hall of Fame with her flowy, tiered vintage dress.  Just lovely. 

Sisters in vintage, polka dot dresses will always make their way into SV's Hall of Fame.  Brenda of The Funky Junkie and her sister.

When you wear pigtails as cute as this and snap a photo for your instagram, you will be recognized in SV's Hall of Fame.  Nora of Two Birds.

Nobody is safe when it comes to a bunch of close girlfriends enjoying a beach day...this is the best photo.  Sara of 7 Twenty Something's. 

Megan of Two Birds has legs and knows how to dress them, use them and work them...love this outfit.  So bloggers beware, you never know when you may be inducted in SV's Hall of Fame.  Have a great day...will be returning soon.  dawn xo

HELLO....beautiful wall hanging

HELLO GORGEOUS WALL HANGING...source

I would love to have this one but the source tells me I can't afford it.

This would make my life...I would stare at it all day...but the price is too high for my goodwill budget.  source

Soooo I will settle for this one found at Goodwill for $1.99 anytime.  With a few minor repairs and a stick to hang the loops through (also found at goodwill) she was ready to be hung in the living room. 

I'm going to look for an arrow to replace the stick at the top...where can I find an arrow?  Goodwill?  Hopefully.  On another note, my face is still healing up and I am keeping busy with other things.  Thank you dear, darling readers for your encouraging comments about my last post.  I was touched, really!!  See you soon.  dawn xo

SELF CONSCIOUS...

Hello darling followers, hope all is well with you.  I wore this outfit on Sunday.  I felt like getting dressed up a little and I wanted to wear this vintage fur hat that Shayla gifted me back in May for my birthday.  I changed into jeans instead of the skirt and went out for the day.  I stopped at the thrift and found an adorable museum cat print for a buck that satisfied my thrift soul, if you know what I mean.    It's that one item that thrills you so much that you can actually leave the store at that point without feeling like you've missed something.  It's a great feeling.  The point of this post was to tell you about the dermatologist that I went to that was really good looking.  Remember?  Just in case you don't remember, you can read about it here.  So yesterday, Monday morning, I went to have a mole removed on my face.  You can see it more clearly in the photo above.  It's on the apple of my left cheek and it's flesh colored, also called a clear mole.  I had it removed and biopsied, so no face photos for a bit until it heals.  Sorry if this grosses you out but it was something that made me very self conscious especially when someone asked me about "that thing" on my face.  How rude....you know who you are, jerko.  So we'll see how well it heals and I will live with it because nothing more can be done. 

  

 

I am slowly making my way to blogs, I got really lazy around the holidays and it has continued to be a battle to post even the most simple things.  To my credit, I am trying to get my house in order on a thrift budget and that can take a long time.  I am getting there thanks to a lot of help from Kathy and her cousin Diane, my go to decor girls.    I am going to post my dining room, soon.  They came in here like a hurricane and whipped it into shape.  Thank you, girls.  By the way, my outfit except for the shoes, is totally 2nd hand. My sweater is by Moth (sold at Anthro.) and has hung in my closet for 2 years.  Finally deciding to wear things that I have had feels good.  Two more bags of clothing went to the drop on Sunday.  Have a great day...dawn