Let them eat cookies

Oh, my. These cookies are sooooo beautiful. They could've been cast as extras in Marie Antoinette! Some background music, if you will...

I love cameos!

And sugar!

And the thought of eating something...

...almost too pretty to gnaw upon.

Don't care howwwwww

I want some NOW!

Seriously though, the sight of these induced some pastry lust of Veruca Salt-esque proportions. So, I was happy to discover that I could get my very own batch of these royalty worthy confections. They are baked and decorated by amazing food artist Amber Spiegel and sold in her Etsy shop, sweetambs.

Aw...Buddy....!

Oh Tommy.
I don't mind if you're a bit weathered.......a little cray-cray. You're still a cutie.

via justjared.buzznet

via gofugyourself

Vintage French Paper Crafts

Aren't these precious?

Pardon me sir...would you happen to have any...
Amora La Moutarde de Dijon?

There's a little dude in the window!

I found these cuties and a slew of vintage scans while searching for holiday crafty things to make. The two trucks shown above can be found here and here.

Vintage style Stockings

I finished the last season of Mad Men available on Netflix not too long ago, and I am lately (and appropriately) obsessed with New Look and early Sixties fashion.

Those of you who've watched the show know that there are more than a few strategically placed shots of what was happening underneath all those smart and sassy dresses. Girdles with fine stitching and stays. Garter belts...and stockings. 

I've always liked stockings. Old fashioned, well-crafted, super femme and dead sexy. They're hard to find and hard to afford in this day in age. Sure, you could make do with the normal, run-o-the-mill elastic bound, cheapo thigh high from Target, but let's be honest. For many of us, donning these "one size fits 6-foot-tall model" hose can make a perfectly luscious thigh look like a water balloon cinched in a lacey rubber-band tourniquet. Uncomfortable. Also...not pretty.

Enter The Internets and hours of diligent searching for a solution to the predicament of many a middle-income vintage lingerie lover. An affordable, well-made, garter stocking does exist. Your welcome.

It's tiny so it's work safe. I hope.

I bought two pair of these garter style stockings from Dollhouse Bettie--One pair in black and one in nude. At $7.50 a pop, they are well worth the penny. The fit is superb, and with gentle care, I'm sure they will outlast any over-the-counter hosiery I have in my sock drawer. Dollhouse Bettie also features a very nice line of vintage style lingerie and an array of old-fashioned stockings. Check it check it out!

Hi. You're pretty.

First, some background music: Hit me. (Then come back, please.)

Well. I missed this little Dior number from Augusta Auctions. 1948 was a good year: this cocktail dress sold for just over $40,000. And darn. I just found that giant wad of benjamins in the lint trap...

via Augusta Auctions...go see!

All kidding aside, Augusta Auctions is a great resource for inspiration and research on textile and fashion. Searching their past auctions, I was a little amazed at the span of history represented. Some of their offerings are really, really OLD. These ancient woven tunic inserts and bands sold for just $460. No, I don't really know what the heak I would do with ancient woven tunic inserts, but they are ancient. So they are good and I should probably have some.

Coptic weavings, 300-100 AD 

Some other favorites:
Pair of Lady's Mules, 1690-1720
Galanos Chine Print Silk Party Dress, 1950s
Christobal Balenciaga Couture Dress, 1948-1950
Jet and Gold Beaded Top and Bolero, 1890s
Pink Silk Robe a la Francaise, 1770-80

Augusta is having an auction in NYC on November 2nd. You can see what's up for sale here.

Beautyfix - sample club

I'm totally doing this Beautifix thing!

This is how it works...You answer a few questions about your complexion and hair. Depending on your answers, a bank of products in sample sizes are chosen for you. From this bank, you choose any 8. Beautyfix then sends you these products and a cute lil makeup bag. All for just $49.99 and freeeeee shipping.

At first it sounded like a pretty penny for a bunch of samples, but after going through their little survey, I was given a very tasty array to choose from. Eyeliners, nail polish, eye cream, age-defense moisturizers, fancy hair treatments and even boob cream were included! This sounds like a nice way to try some new products. I'm totally doing this! Next paycheck...

Ruche Kimono Dress

What's that sound? That is the sound of my screaming, still echoing through the night, as I first laid my eyes on this adorable piece from Ruche.

Ruche has a really wonderful, Anthropologie-esque collection, for about a third of the price. Hope it's payday, because you're going to want to buy yourself a present...Just sayin.

Lavender lemonade

This is a pic from an old post from the lovely Sunday Suppers blog. I saw it and shattered my office windows with a banshee scream.

check out the recipe for Lavender Lemonade

I want that dress! I want those drinks! All of 'em!

Gary Cooper, 1928

Just discovered this picture and my stomach went all knotty.
Oh my god. What a looker.

Image via The Sartorialist

You can see this and more gorgeous photography by Edward Steichen at the Danziger Gallery in NYC.

Vertigo inducing stripes crash Target site

This stuff is what crashed Target's website for hours?

It looks to me like a rainbow had a bad acid trip, ate an entire box of tainted salt water taffy and vomited on most of these goods.
Some items in the Missoni for Target collection are already sold out. Maybe this is some elaborate marketing gimmick to generate implied value for the brand? Are there projections that these items will be collectors items? I don't get it.

Missoni for Target = Yucko.

For only 5k...

I saw this ring and squealed. It's from Erstwhile Jewelry Co. They have a really lovely collection of shiny things.

For the same low price of 5k...This super cute 1964 Austin Healey convertible. (That's actually just the starting bid, and there are only 8 days left to the auction...better hurry!)

Sigh. Must I choose?

Merlitones. God help me.

I was very fortunate to have the chance to go to Spain last month for the wedding of some dear friends of mine. While there, my dashing ex-roommate, David was the perfect tour guide, escorting us to Toledo, Segovia, Ourense, and Baiona--Truly, some of the most beautiful places I have seen in my young (eh hem) life. Thank you, David!

There was a little bakery on the edge of this plaza in Segovia called Pasteleria Limon y Menta. Along with a lovely tuna & tomato filled pastry thing, I bought a little, yellow, buttery muffin creature that weighed about a pound. I should have bought 30. I died that day. When I took a bite out of that muffin, my eyes rolled into the back of my head and an explosion of sugar-butter goodness exploded in my mouth and killed me.

These humble looking little treasures are called Merlitones. The pic above is from a bakery in Madrid called La Duquesita which apparently specializes in them. I did not have a chance to go there before it was time to leave Spain, and the decision will haunt me forever. If I don't find a recipe or a local joint that makes these lovelies...God. Help. Me.

Miette cookbook

This cookbook from a bakery called Miette has scalloped edges.