The Last Few Lazy Days of Summer....

The school year is drawing nearer and the last few lazy days of summer are upon us.  

I've had such a wonderful time living as a lady of leisure this summer..but I am so ready to for back to work, back to school and I'm especially ready to head into fall.  I wish I could have perpetual fall.

There is a certain energy during the back to school weeks and a crisp excitement in the air when fall arrives.  I'm ready for it...and I want it to last.

Dress Barn ankle length dress, Lia Sophia necklace.
All I need is a little umbrella and some rain..."Singing (and dancing)  in the  Rain"!

The town I grew up in is close to the town I live in now.  It's a lovely town with a vintage feel to it.  The buildings are primarily brick with lovely architectural details.  In the last several years, the sidewalks and street corners have been refurbished and resorted to resemble its 'old world' charm.

There are many exciting events in the summers and falls here.  The streets are alive in the summertime and year round, bursting with family activities.  Weekly farmer's markets and car shows take place, concerts on the old courthouse lawn, festivals and corn roasts and craft fairs and carriage rides on occasion.  There are unique restaurants and charming little shops. Antique shops line the streets and draw many vintage and antique enthusiasts.  Every year, a huge county fair takes place and that's everything a county fair should be.  The county fairground is a wonderful place to walk your dog or have a picnic.  I have fallen in love again with my hometown.

My little man and I decided to play on the town square today.  As we window shopped, I saw this necklace...and had to walk out with the new purchase.  It this is going to be a well loved and well used piece.

Purchase in one of the little shops...not branded, but I LOVE  it.

The flora and fauna...ok just the flora, is well cared for and thoughtfully landscaped.  This beautiful flower had to be at least 6 ft. tall or more.  

This is the old courthouse.  It was restored and repainted recently...its really a breathtaking building.  20 years ago, there was some talk about taking down the building to put in a parking lot but a tenacious group of people saved it partially by posing the question "For what; if we don't have this building, why would people want to come here?  Why would we need a parking lot?" In addition to all of the cool shops, there is a night court, a little museum and a grand banquet hall.    The inside of the building is as incredible as the outside, with wide wood moldings and huge wood doors topped by transom windows.  It looks looks like something you might see in the movie Citizen Kane.  Another building in town which was restored is the old jailhouse.  It is also used as a banquet hall and restaurant.  The jail is notoriously know as the jail that John Dillinger escaped from using a 'gun' that was carved from either soap or wood.  Johnny Depp caused a stir when he was here to film the John Dillinger biopic a few years ago.

The mister and the little guy.  They are look-alikes!

This covered bridge at the fairgrounds was also restored.

A view of some of the shops.

I turned the camera on the photographer....what a ham for the camera.

There is a short concrete wall surrounding the courthouse that kids large and small love to walk on like a balance beam....this is my little guy doing what I used to do as a child.

The lazy days of summer are numbered.  Its been fun.....but fall....I can't wait to greet you!

Royal Blue and a Dance

I usually don't favor dresses with asymmetrical  necklines, but this classic dress captured my fancy with its vibrant royal blue color and the flattering drape.  The pretty float on the shouldered side adds a touch of extra glamour.  I would pair this brilliant color with silvery rhinestone or beaded accessories for high contrast.

Royal Evening by lisaanna featuring silver heels

Several posts ago I had mentioned that I sold one of my beginner ballroom dresses.  That dress was the same vibrant royal as this one.  I received the deposit on the dress tonight; the boyfriend of the girl who fell in love with it secretly made the deposit for her..and will be making another payment in two weeks.  His plan is to surprise her with it.  That's so romantic.   I can't wait to hear about her response!

Every female ballroom dancer becomes captivated with ballroom dresses.  At competitions (especially a first competition) heads are turning in every direction Oohhing and Aahhhhing at all blindingly sparkly and floaty dresses.  It's like an ultra girly dress dream.


 While the evening gown pictured above is not appropriate for ballroom dance, this color on a ballroom gown  is absolutely striking on the dance floor.

The couple in this video is my absolute favorite dance couple ever, William Pino and Alessandria Bucciarelli from Italy.  They are just incredible.   Isn't this dress captivating?  And the dance (Viennese Waltz) ; and the music (Indigo Waltz by Ikuko Kawai)?

Enjoy the dancing of one of the most beautiful ballroom couples ever...and as always, if you have any questions about ballroom, I'm happy to try and answer.

Doesn't this just make you want to dance?

I can't dance in this dress!

Last weekend I attended two dance parties.  I was so busy dancing, I got only this one photo!

I love this pretty purple dress, but it is definitely not suited for dancing!  The pencil style skirt of the dress prevents the free movement of my dance partner...it was like a blockade!

On Sunday...I took my son to the county fair.  This fair is a huge annual event in the community and is attended by over 250,000 each year.  Its always been a tradition in my family to go see the horse shows and then visit the horse barns.

As a girl...my other true love (the first being dance, of course) was horses.  I have always dreamed of owning a horse and I had (and still have) a fierce case of horse fever.  I grew up as a weekend farm girl riding the horses until my grandparents sold them when I was 13.  I was heartbroken.  Every now and then I will go horseback riding at a stable with horse trails, but its not the same as going to your grandparent's farm and roaming freely without limits rather than following a pack of riders.  Sigh.

Every year, during the fair...I get that yearning.

But of course, I can't afford to dance and ride.

But I can still love horses from afar...

and I do.

These pictures were taken at the county fair.  I'm happy I get to be near them, see them, pet them, smell them and watch others ride them.

(Tango Practice Video...by the way...he's really not yelling at me before we began the dance...we were playing around a bit...)

But I have made my choice and I'm very happy with it.

The school year is set to begin in two short weeks.  My summer of leisure is drawing to a close.  

My next competition in Chicago will be on the the 31st of this month.

I better get to work!

Girlhood dreams, dancing, thrifting glory

When I was young I loved watching old black and white movies, especially if they featured glamorous movie actresses and beautiful dresses, satiny robes and slippers with little feathery poufs.  Of course any movie with dreamy dance sequences by Fred and Ginger really captured my imagination.

I dreamed of wearing satiny dresses and romantic peignoirs, my hair shiny and beautifully curled while reclining on a big chaise.

That only happens in the movies.

BUT.....since I've been thrifting, I've been able to indulge in a few lovely romantic nighties and dresses.  Thrifting also allows me to indulge my greatest fantasy of all; Dancing.

I know that is not a surprise to any of you! 

I wore this simple and comfortable black wrap dress to my lesson today.

Its so plain, I dressed it up with this silk scarf....

and leopard shoes.

On the way there...we stopped at the old court house for a couple of pictures.

By then it was really hot...so I ditched the scarf!

This is courthouse is reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour..

It's in Crown Point, Indiana and it was the hot place to go to get married in the 20s and later.

Rudolph Valentino got married here.  Ronald Reagan got married here...and a number of other celebrities who's names escape me at the moment.

My Peyton is so patient with my photo requests.

When I dance, especially when I compete, I get to live a little bit of my girlhood dream.  When I find beautiful dresses and pretty lingerie at affordable thrift prices....I also get to live a little bit of my dream

This dress is a glorious find...it was marked $15.00 and I had a five dollar coupon.  I looked online for the dress but could not find the exact dress;  I did find the designer's glorious site!  I estimate this dress to have sold for around $150 to $170 based on the prices of other dresses on her site.  

Look at Adrianna Papell's lovely dresses here

I feel like I hit the jackpot!

The dress has a bit of a 20's flapper look but is still very current.  The beading, sequins and embroidery are beautiful and well done.  The under layer is lavender silk and the over layer is sheer chocolate polyester chiffon.  It fits perfectly except for the spaghetti straps which need to be shortened about a half inch.

Another super find..but not for me.  The dress was marked $10.00 at a church resale shop.  They were clearing old stock for new and clothing was $75% off.  Yeah....I paid $2.50 for this.  Its not my size and I knew that.  I went into the shop 15 minutes before closing time and had to make a snap decision.  It's a size 14...which is a perfect fit for my friend D (the one in the pin up photos that I posted previously).  I don't know if she needs a formal dress...but my theory is if you find one for a good price that fits...snap it up quick and save yourself the heartache of trying to find an appropriate dress at the last minute.

Did I mention the tags were still on the dress?  You can see the original price...the Carson's yellow dot price and the green tag with the resale shop price BEFORE the big discount.

Isn't this color lovely!

If D doesn't want the dress...I can keep it for future pin up photo session that I may do for other ladies.  It's a lovely dress and has that classic hollywood look.

I feel very Ginger in this robe.

$3.00....don't you just love the delicate blue flowers against the ivory satin?

This is prettier than the photograph...a pale buttery yellow slip nightgown.

Ivory slip with pretty, soft lace; $1.00

Lace detail at the bottom of the slip.

This black midi-length nightgown has enough heft to be worn as a dress.  The neckline is subtly draped.

Victoria's Secret short robe; $1.00 at another church resale shop.

I paid $2.50 for this sheer embroidered shortie robe.

The color and lace is really pretty on this little shift nightie.

Very vintage nightie...looks so 60's; it was a dollar, it was really PINK, it was soft and pretty.....I had to get it!

I really do wear all of this lingerie that I purchase.  I check a couple of things before I buy; I look for cleanliness, no stains, tears or holes, no funky smells.  I feel the lace and if its scratchy...I won't buy it no matter how beautiful it is.  I wash them all in the machine....in a lingerie bag and hang them to dry.  I hang them in my closet so I can see them all and am reminded to wear them often.

I love finding these treasures at giveaway prices.  I'll never be famous,  I'll never live like a movie star....but I can enjoy my tiny, affordable piece of thrifty glamour; a realistic way to fulfill my girlhood fantasy.

Navy Dress Inspiration: My Look

I have added my rendition of this dress to the post.  I shopped my closet of thrifted dresses to create a look that is inspired by the pricey dress below.

I love this classic dress and the simple clean lines.  I cannot afford this particular dress, but I do have a thrifted dress that is similar and decided to style it on Polyvore before styling my own.

Navy Dress Inspiration by lisaanna featuring a quilted shoulder bag

This dress has a similar cut but lacks the embellishment and the gathers at the neckline.

There are gathers at the waist which is very flattering on a curvy or pear shaped figure.

I had to buy some new sunnies....my Juicy Couture sunglass have mysteriously disappeared.  I like these Brighton sunglasses and they were a fraction of the price of the missing pair.

This picture just makes me happy.  This is my precious Brady...my first grandchild.  I love that full out, head tipped back happy laughter!