Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Pinup Girl of the Month: February: Elizabeth Taylor


Elizabeth Taylor was many things to many people. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a friend, a pinup, a humanitarian, an actress, and a legendary film star. To me, Elizabeth Taylor was the brightest of them all.


Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born in London, England on February 27th, 1932. Her parents were Americans residing in England and she was the youngest, she had an older brother named Howard. Pictured above is Elizabeth as a baby with her mother Sara Sothern, who was also an actress. Who knew that Elizabeth was a legacy??!!! By the way, I will refer to her as Elizabeth because she couldn't stand being called "Liz"!


When Elizabeth was a child her family moved to Los Angeles, California. It was there that she began getting a tremendous amount of attention from family friends and even strangers. Those who took noticed of her beauty encouraged her mother to have her audition for the role of "Bonnie Blue", Scarlett's child from "Gone with the Wind". Her mother refused and their family moved back to England after the war.


Hedda Hopper introduced the Taylor's to someone who knew someone at Universal Pictures. Before you know it Elizabeth was in her first film, There's One Born Every Minute (1942), but that would be her only picture with Universal. Eventually she would go to MGM where she made her next film, Lassie (1943).


During Elizabeth's adolescents some of the films she starred in were National Velvet (1944), Life with Father (1947), and her final adolescent role was in Little Women (1949). As a teen Elizabeth wanted to quit acting and get a proper education and a normal childhood. Ironically her mother who never wanted Elizabeth to act pushed her forward and told her that she was ungrateful and said to her, "You have a responsibility, Elizabeth. Not just to this family, but to the country now, the whole world". Talk about pressure!


Elizabeth transitioned into adult roles easily and her first was in 1948 with the fabulous and ever-so-handsome Robert Taylor called Conspirator (she was only sixteen at the time). She then filmed Father of the Bride in 1950 and its sequel in 1951 called Father's Little Dividend both with Spencer Tracy. It was in the 1950's where her beauty truly blossomed-when she was in her twenties and Elizabeth became a Hollywood Star. With films like A Place in the Sun (1951), Elephant Walk (1954), Raintree County (1957), Cat on the Hot Tin Roof (1957),  and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959).

By the end of the 1950's she was a HUGE star, a beauty icon, a pinup, and believe it or not was onto her 4th marriage. Her first was to Conrad Hilton and she was only 18 years old! That union latest only one year. Then to Michael Wilding who was twenty years old that Elizabeth, they were married from 1952-1957, which produced two sons. Then in Michael Todd from 1957-1958, he died tragically but they had a daughter together. In 1958 she married Eddie Fisher who was the husband at the time to her dear friend Debbie Reynolds (scandalous), they adopted a daughter together.


By 1964, Elizabeth was divorced three times, widowed once, and had four beautiful children-she was just 32 years old! You cannot deny that this woman lived life to the fullest in every way. To her, she would rather marry a man she loved instead of just becoming his lover. Perhaps that is too old fashioned a way of thinking especially after eight failed marriages (by the end of her life), but I think she has good intentions. That's what matters right?

In the 1960's she starred in various films such BUtterfield 8 (1960), Cleopatra (1963), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966), and The Taming of the Shrew (1967). It was during the making of "Cleopatra" that Elizabeth and Richard Burton began an affair. Elizabeth was still married to Eddie Fisher at the time but eventually they divorced and she married Burton in 1964-1974 and then again from 1975-1976. Burton did adopt her two daughters from her two previous marriages.

In the 1970's she worked in theatre and remarried again in 1976 to John Warner hoping to simply be a housewife. That marriage lasted until 1982 and she entered the Betty Ford Clinic to get treated for depression.


In the 1980's Elizabeth made guest appearances on tv shows and did a few films. My favorite is called The Mirror Cracked, its an Agatha Christie mystery film also starring Rock Hudson, Geraldine Chaplin, Kim Novack, and Tony Curtis as well as Angela Landsbury. It's great fun! She also continued to perform in theatre as well.

She also has perfumes, fashions, and even violet contacts made for her and she earned millions by selling her products (you go girl!).

In 1985, one of her former co-stars and close friend Rock Hudson, shared with the world that he had Aids. The early 1980's was a time of great confusion and prejudice and hysteria when it came to this disease. Elizabeth stepped up to the plate and became a huge advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention, education, and treatment.


From 1991-1996 Elizabeth was briefly married to a non-Hollywood actor named Larry Fortensky. This was her final marriage and told Barbara Walters in an interview that she would not marry again and she never did.

Elizabeth has suffered greatly from physical illness since her first marriage to Hilton. She had been hospitalized more than 70 times and had at least 20 major surgeries. She survived benign brain tumor in 1997, the photo above is of Elizabeth post-surgery. She broke her back five times, both hips replaces, and so many other health problems. By the time she was in her 60's and 70's she looked much older than she was-I am sure due to all the health problems and the stress that comes with those problems. Through it all she continued with her humanitarian work and was always a devoted mother and friend.


Sadly, Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor passed away on March 23, 2011. She would have been 80 years old this February 27th. She was surrounded by all four of her beloved children. She is not only survived by her children but also her ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was a Hollywood icon. She lived her life fearlessly and with great love and devotion. Now we should all try and live our lives. Thank you Elizabeth Taylor for being a shining star and an inspiration to all women.

xox

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

My first thrifted RED!

Gene Tierney

This past Saturday, I had the chance to drop by the thrift shop closest to my home once again (Martin Luther Thrift Store) and they had more items than the last time so I walked around and examined things. LOL

I ended up coming across a red zipper cardigan and I tried it on-I was wearing a sweater already so I knew that it wouldn't fit perfectly but it actually did with the sweater under and all. I counted the money I had and I only had $5.75 with me so I asked the lady if she would accept $5.00 for the sweater since it was priced at $6.00. Luck for me it was in the "half off" rack and it was $3.00 dollars!!! Whoaaaaa!

I have always loved the color red but always found it so bold and daring. In the urban parts of New York City red is often used by gang members and gang affiliates so I was turned off by that color for many years. I am not the type of person that needs to have oodles of needless attention on me so I don't like sticking out too much. Epecially since for many years I stuck out without wearing red.

Before my first major corrective surgery on my feet when I was thirteen, I walked completly on my toes. I knew I was different but I was super quiet and tried my best not to bring any more attention to myself. Now as a very proud mother of three I am willing to celebrate myself more openly and also I want to feel and look my best. I believe RED is one of the main colors that is for me. I think it looks great against my complexion and dark hair and eyes and now at my age I could care less if people are staring at me. Usually they look anyway because of my three beautiful babies (no I will not be modest lol), or that I am strolling a double stroller with a four year old, or because they think my boys are twins, and sometimes they stare because they think I am A LOT younger than they think I am and are just curious.

I get it. I am curious about people to. So although I own a red reproduction 1950's halter bathing suit (that I cannot wait to wear this summer), this cardigan is my very first piece of thrifted red for my vintage wardrobe. I cannot tell you how excited I am about this piece. I know that red is very popular and also very expensive in most cases (in the vintage world), but I am an incredibly determined person and I am determined to have some incredible red vintage pieces in my wardrobe one day! I cannot wait!





So what do you think? I love the knit pattern of it! It's made by "Charter Club" and like I said its not authentically vintage but it does have the vintage spirit. To be able to own an entire wardrobe that is totally vintage is every vintage girls dream, but the reality is that we all have various body types and some things are best to have handmade, some are best having them as a reproduction, and some are great if they have the spirit of vintage about them. In the end, as long as you have the vintage look, really who cares where it comes from! If you look good and feel good and didn't spend your mortgage on a dress than all is well.

This is just the beginning ladies and gents, just the beginning!

xox

Monday, February 27, 2012

Vintage Dreams Do Come True!



I believe in magic. I believe in miracles. I believe in good things happening to good people. I believe that anything is possible.

With that being said, I recall having promised you all, my amazing and awesome readers, that I would share with you when the time was right about the birthday present my husband gave to me.

Now as you all know, I am a stay at home mother to three young children, I don't get out very much for various reasons but they are all valid and uncontrollable reasons and its just the situation that it is at this very moment in time. I have always loved vintage but just rediscovered my passion for pinup and vintage living over the summer. I really needed something just for me. I am happy and content giving myself to my family everyday but after the birth of my youngest I realized more than ever that a happy mommy makes her family even happier.

Basically, its important to take care of yourself especially when you spend your days taking care of others.

Are things tight on my end? Yes. But with a lot of planning and being careful here and there my husband gave me a gift that to be honest I am still in awe that he has given me.

Come this April I will be visiting my friend Brittany who also happens to be the blogger and ultra fabulous vintage mama at Va-Voom Vintage!

Honestly, its been years since I have spent quality ME time and girltime with a great girlfriend. My closest girlfriends are scattered between other parts of New York, Massachusetts, and Florida. One of my very best friends lives all the way in England! And although we have the phone and have skype (thank goodness for those contraptions!)--I do miss doing fun and silly girl stuff.

I almost gave up on making new friends and blogging gave me one of my best gifts, my friendship with Brittany. She has a warm heart, fun loving attitude, and just a good old-fashioned down-to-earth person. Just the kind of friend every girl should have.

I feel very lucky to be able to blog about the things I love and to be able to share with you my process of becoming a vintage mama! I also look forward to sharing my adventures with Brittany come this Spring. Bunny and Brittany will take over St. Louis!! Heheh I simply cannot wait!

To help continue to fundraise for my trip I am selling a few items in my Etsy Store. I will be posting more items shortly. I will also be selling at my usual yard sales in front of my home as soon as the weather gets a wee bit warmer. Lastly, I have a Donate button at the side of my blog-if you would like to donate to this mama's vintage adventures it would be so greatly appreciated!

I am so glad to be able to share this amazing gift with all of you. I feel super blessed and very lucky and totally and completely EXCITED!

Thank you for all of your support and for always being so wonderful to me!

xox

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Weekend Cinema Spotlight: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir


"The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" (1947)


Well the month of February is almost gone and I wanted to share one more super romantic film with you all. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir stars Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison. This film is considered a romantic fantasy since the lead character of "Lucy Muir" falls in love with ghost by the name of "Captain Daniel Gregg" (Harrison). Falling in love with a ghost sounds impossible but not in Hollywood!

Mrs. Muir and the Captain

Lucy Muir finds herself a widow with a young child and feeling stuck living with her mother and sister in laws. She decides to live on her own and that was seen as very daring and risque in the early 20th century. She rents out a cottage that was previously owner by a Captain Gregg who also happens to still haunt it!

Parts of the film set to modern music-pretty nice actually.

As time passes, the Captain and Lucy become friends and when she no longer can afford to live independently in the cottage he offers to dictate to her his life story. In doing so, she is able to write a book that becomes published and huge success, allowing her to continue to live in his cottage. During the process they both fall in love, but the Captain knows that their love is doomed and tells her while she is sleeping that he never existed-hoping she can find love with someone that was alive.

Lucy does fall for someone, but that someone ends up being a married man (George Sanders-I love his work!!). Lucy decides to remain a widow and to live out her life quietly in the cottage by the sea. Her only child, Anna, grows up and has a daughter of her own. Time continues to pass on and along with her maid Martha (Edna Best), they grow old. The final scene shows Lucy passing on and the spirit of her younger self reaching out for the hands of her Captain.

Truly endearing and romantic film. One of my favorites!!!

xox

Friday, February 24, 2012

Classic Film Recommendations: 1950 to 1969


I hoped you enjoyed my Classic Film Recommendations from 1930-1949. Now here are the films I have seen and recommend for the years 1950 to 1969. Simply click on the links I have added and it will take you to the description of that particular film. Your next step will be to find that film somewhere online or in stores. Thankfully TCM has a great online shop where you can find loads of your favorite classic films!

1950's

All About Eve (1950) Bettie Davis
Father of the Bride (1950) Spencer Tracy
Sunset Boulevard (1950) William Holden
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) Abbott and Costello
An American in Paris (1951) Gene Kelly
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Michael Rennie
Three Guys Named Mike (1951) Jane Wyman
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) Marlon Brando
Scrooge (1951) Alistar Simm
Hans Christian Andersen (1952) Danny Kaye
Million Dollar Mermaid (1952) Esther Williams
The Quiet Man (1952) John Wayne
Roman Holiday (1953) Gregory Peck
The Robe (1953) Richard Burton
Mogambo (1953) Clark Gable
House of Wax (1953) Vincent Price
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) Lauren Bacall
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Marilyn Monroe
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) Kirk Douglas
Elephant Walk (1954) Elizabeth Taylor
White Christmas (1954) Bing Crosby
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) Howard Keel
Sabrina (1954) Humphrey Bogart
Dial M for Murder (1954) Grace Kelly
The Tender Trap (1955) Frank Sinatra
The Seven Year Itch (1955) Marilyn Monroe
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) James Dean
Oklahoma! (1955) Gordon MacRae
Guys and Dolls (1955) Marlon Brando
Blackboard Jungle (1955) Glenn Ford
Love Me Tender (1956) Elvis Presley
The King and I (1956) Deborah Kerr
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Kevin McCarthy
Giant (1956) Elizabeth Taylor
And God Created Woman Brigitte Bardot
The Ten Commandments (1956) Charlton Heston
Jailhouse Rock (1957) Elvis Presley
Auntie Mame (1958) Rosalind Russell
Cat on the hot tin roof (1958) Elizabeth Taylor
Houseboat (1958) Cary Grant
South Pacific (1958) Mitzi Gaynor
Vertigo (1958) James Stewart
Ben-Hur (1959) Charlton Heston
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) Millie Perkins
Gidget (1959) Sandra Dee
House on Haunted Hill (1959) Vincent Price
Operation Petticoat (1959) Cary Grant
Some Like it Hot (1959) Marilyn Monroe

1960's

Cinderfella (1960) Jerry Lewis
Pollyanna (1960) Hayley Mills
Psycho (1960) Anthony Perkins
The Rat Race (1960) Tony Curtis
Spartacus (1960) Kurt Douglas
The Time Machine (1960) Rod Taylor
The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) Fred MacMurray
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) Audrey Hepburn
King of Kings (1961) Jeffrey Hunter
The Misfits (1961) Clark Gable
Mothra (1961) Japanese Film
The Parent Trap (1961) Hayley Mills
A Raisin in the Sun (1961) Sidney Poitier 
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961) Vivien Leigh
Splendor in the Grass (1961) Natalie Wood
West Side Story (1961) Natalie Wood
Gypsy (1962) Natalie Wood
Lolita (1962) James Mason
That Touch of Mink (1962) Cary Grant
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) Gregory Peck
Beach Party (1963) Frankie Avalon
The Birds (1963) Rod Taylor
The Haunting (1963) Julie Harris
It Happened at the World's Fair (1963) Elvis Presley
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) Spencer Tracy
Lilies of the Field (1963) Sidney Poitier
Love with a proper stranger (1963) Natalie Wood
The Pink Panther (1963) Peter Sellers
Father Goose (1964) Cary Grant
A Hard Day's Night (1964) The Beatles
Mary Poppins (1964) Julie Andrews
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) Japanese Film
My Fair Lady (1964) Audrey Hepburn
Inside Daisy Clover (1965) Natalie Wood
A Patch of Blue (1965) Sidney Poitier
Fahrenheit 451 (1966) Julie Christie
Georgy Girl (1966) Lynn Redgrave
The Trouble with Angels (1966) Rosalind Russell
Bonne and Clyde (1967) Warren Beatty
The Fox (1967) Sandy Dennis
The Graduate (1967) Dustin Hoffman
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) Sidney Poitier
In the Heat of the Night(1967) Sidney Poitier
To Sir, With Love (1967) Sidney Poitier
Valley of the Dolls (1967) Patty Duke
Barbarella (1968) Jane Fonda
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Keir Duella
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Dick Van Dyke
Funny Girl (1968) Barbara Streisand
Night of the Living Dead (1968) Duane Jones
The Odd Couple (1968) Jack Lemmon
Oliver! (1968) Mark Lester
The Party (1968) Peter Sellers
Plant of the Apes (1968) Charlton Heston
The Producers (1968) Zero Mostel
Romeo and Juliet (1968) Leanord Whiting
Rosemary's Baby (1968) Mia Farrow
Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows (1968) Rosalind Russell
Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) Lucille Ball
Easy Rider (1969) Peter Fonda
Hello, Dolly! (1969) Barbara Streisand

Wow! I sure have seen a lot of films from the 1950's and 1960's! I had no idea hehe

Not included in these lists are films made by Disney which of course I have seen them. Also, there are some Abbott and Costello films I have seen but have forgotten the names of. I am sure I have missed one or two films for my lists but its mostly due to the being seen when I was much younger and I may not have remembered the names or the films. I highly doubt it but you never know :)

I hope you found these posts  helpful when choosing some films to watch. After going through all the years from 1930-1969 and looking at these amazing films-I simply cannot wait to watch more of them!!

xox

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Classic Film Recommendations: 1930 to 1949


I have been asking by a few people in last month or so if I could recommend some classic films for them to watch or add to their collections.

Now I cannot say that I have seen every single classic film ever made but I can say is that it is most defiantly one of my personal goals. One day I would like to sit back and say I have seen every single film made from the Silent Era to the 1960's. Okay maybe not EVERY, but at least every American Film from that time frame. LOL

I think this goal is possible for me to achieve and writing up my "Weekend Cinema Spotlight" every week does introduce me to films I have not seen-which is very exciting to me!

So I will recommend some films to you-some you can find on Netflix, Youtube, Amazon, or TCM. Some are very hard to find but they are still very much worth watching.

1930's
Platinum Blonde (1931) Jean Harlow
The Public Enemy (1931) James Cagney
Dracula (1931) Bela Lugosi
Frankenstein (1931) Boris Karloff
Freaks (1932) By Tod Browning
Bombshell (1933) Jean Harlow
King Kong (1933) Fay Ray
Baby Face (1933) Barbara Stanwyck
Babes in Toyland (March of the Wooden Soldiers) (1934) Laurel and Hardy
My Man Godfrey (1936) Carole Lombard
The Devil-Doll (1936) Lionel Barrymore
Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936) Freddie Bartholomew
Camille (1936) Greta Grabo
Heidi (1937) Shirley Temple
Topper (1937) Cary Grant
A Christmas Carol (1938) Reginald Owen
Boys Town (1938) Spencer Tracy
The Little Princess (1939) Shirley Temple
Gone with the Wind (1939) Clarke Gable
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939) Fred Astaire
The Women (1939) Norma Shearer
Beau Geste (1939) Gary Cooper
The Wizard of Oz (1939) Judy Garland

1940's

Rebecca (1940) Laurence Olivier
The Thief of Bagdad (1940) Sabu
Ball of Fire (1941) Gary Cooper
The Lady Eve (1941) Henry Fonda
Casablanca (1942) Humphrey Bogart
Mrs. Miniver (1942) Greer Garson
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) James Cagney
Woman of the Year (1942) Spencer Tracy
The Uninvited (1944) Ray Milland
Between Two Worlds (1944) John Garfield
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) Bing Crosby
Dead of Night (1945) Michael Redgrave
The Enchanted Cottage (1945) Robert Young
Mildred Pierce (1945) Joan Crawford
Rhapsody in Blue (1945) Robert Alda
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) Lana Turner
The Spiral Staircase (1946) Dorothy McGuire
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) James Stewart
Three Wise Fools (1946) Lionel Barrymore
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) Gene Tierney
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Maureen O'Hara
Life with Father (1947) William Powell
Samson and Delilah (1949) Victor Mature
I Was A Male War Bride (1949) Cary Grant


I was both surprised and disappointed after making my list of films that I have seen. I am sure I missed some, some that I probably saw when I was younger but do not recall the name of it. I am disappointed that I haven't seen more, but going through the List of years in film from Wikipedia has encouraged me to keep going and finding more amazing classic films to watch!

Part II of this list will be posted tomorrow. It will cover the years 1950 to 1969. I didn't make a list of the movies before 1930 or movies after 1969 but if you would like me to recommend some I am sure I can. I only added movies to the lists that I have actually seen-I enjoyed them all but of course some are more of a favorite than others.

I hope this inspires and encourages you to to watch more classic films!

Happy Watching!!!

xox

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A Marilyn Monroe Collection by MAC!

Photo from: PopSugar


There is something HUGE to look forward to especially for all the die hard Marilyn Monroe fans. In October 2012 MAC Cosmetics will be releasing a Marilyn Monroe Makeup Collection. Now how exciting is that!!?? OMG-well I am not a huge fanatic when it comes to makeup (yet!) but I know I will be keeping my eye on that collection and I truly look forward to seeing what they come up with in honor of this great beauty.

Photo from: My Name is Ideal

The Collection will include eye shadows, lipsticks, liners, and nail polishes that will range in prices from $15.00 to $27.00 dollars. I know now that at the end of the summer I need to start saving up to be able to pick up a few pieces. I am more of a lipstick and nail polish kind of girl but I am intrigued to see what colors they will choose for the eye shadows to.

I am soooo excited! What a neat thing to do in honor of such a great talent!!! Are you just as excited as I am about the Marilyn Monroe MAC Collection??

xox

PS If you are interesting in knowing what kind of makeup Marilyn wore check out this link at PopSugar.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Thrifting adventures continue!


Yeah! My blog is finally back to normal!! Sheesh-I couldn't type or anything for a day and a half-truly annoying hehe And now I get to share with you about my thrifting trip that I went on yesterday!

My husband and I still just had our youngest with us so we ventured off to another part of Queens called "Sunnyside". It was pretty descent-not too urban and not too suburban-a nice mix I would say. I first checked the shop shown above. It was called online "Good Buy Thrift Shop" but now discovered they had a name change and are now called "Sunnyside Thrift Shop", located at 46-25 Greenpoint Avenue. It was small but very clean and organized. I cannot say I found anything special about the place. They had some pretty necklaces but the prices were $5.00 and up and I was looking more for the "dollar menu" if you know what I mean..hehehee

My boys outside the thrift shop-way too cute!

I dashed in and pretty much dashed out-but I liked that it was clean and organized-a big plus for me always. I didn't expect to find another thrift shop but about a block down (and across the street) I found another one called "Adam's Thrift Shop", located at 45-14 Greenpoint Avenue. I liked this one much better because it was bigger and even more organized than the first one. It has rows and rows and clothes and lots of jeans. I may go back one day to check out the jeans because they were prices at $6-8.00 which I thought was pretty good. Not a lot of kids items but loads of adult clothes. In two baby pack n' plays they put hats in one and scarves in another. I didn't find anything close to being vintage or evern looking vintage, but I did help two young girls.

I couldn't help myself. One told the other, "I wonder if they have a changing room?". I took it as my chance to share the knowledge about thrifting and vintage buying that I have been learning. I told the girls that they should always carry their measurements written down in their purse and they should always carry a measureing tape. They were really grateful I shared that with them and thanked me. I also think they probably thought I was a crazy thrift lady talking to strangers-ahhhhh you just have to love New York!

My two "new" pretty bracelets!

I did find a white bracelet that I wanted for a shoot in April and it was marked $2.00, so I went to the owner and asked if he would sell it to me for $1.00 and he did! I got these two for $1.00 each-yeah me!

I didn't score a lot but I was grateful to get out and about and at least check these shops out in person. There are a few more I want to check out in Queens before I venture off into Manhattan. Unfortunately we had to cut our thrifting short because my little guy got sicky pooh in the car. All my children are still getting rid of their congestion and his was a little worse, he coughed and there it all came out. My first child to get sick in the car too-poor baby! But better out than in and he was relaxed and calm about it all. He's just an amazing little man.

We went straight home and cleaned him up and he was much better by the evening. Today we are back to normal with three kids at home. Tomorrow my husband goes back to work (he had Monday and Tuesday off this week) and my daughter has no school this week so the mommy adventures shall continue on.

I'm super glad I had a wee bit of a chance to go on some thrifting adventures and look forward to more in the future!!

xox

Monday, February 20, 2012

Bunny's Book Club: Films of the Golden Age



While visiting Barnes and Noble yesterday I found the most amazing magazine ever! Seriously, I feel like this magazine was waiting for me! My husband pointed out a Doctor Who Magazine to me and right next to it was this one! Films of the Golden Age is like taking a peak into the times gone by. Not only is it well organized and well written but it includes loads of authentic photos from the past as well.

I walked around the store a bit until I was able to look through it. The more I did, the more I knew I HAD to have it! It only costs $4.95 and in Canada its $6.95. A yearly subscription is less than twenty dollars. I mean is that a deal or what!!?? Most specialty magazines like this one are very expensive like Fangoria and Doctor Who Magazine. Also, magazines in many ways have been phasing out and finding success as online magazine. I am sooo grateful to have found this magazine and now they have a dedicated reader!!!

Just look at some of these pages:




There are over 90 pages of stories, photos, and oodles of information to make any classic film fan just drool. I also love the fact that they advertise and have information about all sorts of films conventions and workshops. OMG this is sooooo up my alley!!! Ahhhhh I am sooo happy!

If you ever see this magazine in local store I highly recommend picking it up and buying it! Maybe one day I will include an issue in a giveaway-would you like that?

xox

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Weekend Cinema Spotlight: I Was A Male War Bride

"I Was a Male War Bride" (1949)


Cary Grant stars in this romantic comedy with Ann Sheridan. Grant plays the usual straight faced character he was known for but I must say I found his character to be hilarious! I really start to feel for the guy! Watch the movie and you will see what I mean! Heheh


"I Was a Male War Bride" Trailer


It's about two military personnel-one American and one French-post World War II who go on one last mission together. They have a long and incredibly dramatic and funny work history. Sheridan's character, "Catherine Gates" is none too happy about working with "Henri Rochard" (Grant) again. It seems he used to have sticky fingers when it came to her or to every female for that matter. Before you know it they end up in some wacky situations that have you cringing and laughing out loud all at once!

In my opinion, I felt as if there are two films in one. There's one where they are working together and always being angry with one another, then there's the part of the film where they fall in love and work against all odds at remaining with one another.

You see, Gates is told she has to report back to the United States. Sounds simple right? Well, they are in Germany and he happens to be French. They have to go through piles of paper work in order to get married and then have three differnet ceremonies (civil, army, and church) in order to make it official.

But to leave the country together, Rochard has to dress himself up as a woman and file himself under the "War Bride Act" in order to leave the country with his brand new wife. Mind you, they find out they have to leave the country the night they were married so poor Rochard didn't even have the chance to spend his first night with his new bride. I say "poor Rochard" and after you watch the film you will see why. OMG just thinking about it all makes me want to giggle again!

Ms. Cary Grant? Oh dear!

I must say this is my favorite comedy that I have seen Grant in so far. He just made me laugh all the way through the film. What a great match Grant and Sheridan were as well. I have never seen her in a film before and I really like her work. I look forward to seeing more.

If you love Cary Grant and romantic comedies-you must see "I Was a Male War Bride". I mean just to see him in a dress is too funny to miss!!

Enjoy!!

xox

Saturday, February 18, 2012

My First Thrifting Trip in Years!!!


I unexpectedly went to a thrift store today! Yeapppeee! Now its not as easy for me to get around the city because we can only fit two car seats in our car at the moment and my husband is always working so that limits our outings for the time being. But this Monday my husband has off from both jobs and our two eldest children will be sleeping over their Grandpa's house (my dad) so we decided to check out a few thrift shops in our area known as Queens. Manhattan and Brooklyn tend to be more expensive than Queens and the Bronx so that's why I wanted to check out all the places here by me-save time and money-two things my family and I usually don't have enough of hehehe

Today my sister and law called me and told me about one of the stores I was going to go to on Monday and I found out the store would be closed (they are only open from Tuesday to Saturday) so she agreed to go with me and I finally went thrift shopping! This is my first time in years actually!

I used to go all the time when I was younger with my grandma and as a teenager I would frequent them often with my one of my best friends. Now I can finally get back into them and better still, learn which ones in my area are worth going to more than others-yeah!

I only spend six dollars and this is what I found!

Small Bunny Basket-couldn't resist. I mean, it's a Bunny!

A really nice basket I will use for someone for Easter.

A really pretty necklace-RED-my new favorite color!

A long strand of white beaded necklace-just
perfect for one of my photo shoots in April!

A really pretty hankie and a simple pair of cotton white gloves.

There you have it! I think I did pretty good for my first shopping trip. I really liked the shop too. It was super clean and very organized. It had two rooms and everything was placed according to the type of item it was. So books on a bookshelf, kitchen items in one area, clothes on racks, Knick Knacks on shelves, dvds-cds-vhs-records in one area, purses and larger housewares items in another area. I found a beautiful set of Bing Crosby's Christmas records that I drooled over but I don't have a record player just yet so I figured not to waste money I things I don't need immediately or could use right away. I did love it though hehehe

The shop is called Martin Luther Thrift Shop and it is located at 59-01 Maspeth Avenue in Queens.

I must admit, it felt awesome to be in a thrift shop again. I loved it! I cannot wait to check out and discover more!!!

Oh, I also found these two AMAZING thrift sites online-they are to DIE FOR! You must check them out! There is Thrift Store Confidential and also The Thrift Shopper. The first site also has a facebook page and a twitter page located on their main page. Lastly, the second link, "The Thrift Shopper" has an amazing directory for all over the country so you all you have to do is type in your zip code or chose a state and you will get an awesome list of thrift shops!!! I hope you find them useful!!!

Happy Thrifting!!!!

xox
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