My Dirty Little Secret

I can't deny it. I have a problem. 

I don't think there is any cure for it. 

I don't think there is any counselling that can be offered for it. 

I'm so desperately, utterly in love with everything vintage. 

My life is consumed by it.

My TV viewing is based around all things vintage. I'm utterly immersed in Downton Abbey, Broadwalk Empire, Breathless and Masters of Sex! 

This is not a good thing for my addiction. 

I'm obsessed with the curtains in Dr William Masters' office in Masters of Sex. Which set me off on an online hunt for similar items (to which I have still yet to find and am close to trawling fabric shops to make my own). 

I adore the beautiful looped ribbon that secured baby Abigail's bonnet in Season 2 of Broadwalk Empire (of which I have successfully found and an order is on it's way to me!) I'm attempting hair styles from the beautiful actresses by studying and following YouTube videos. I am planning on finding or making Crochet curtains like those found in small Boarding Rooms. 

I'm in love with the etiquette of Downton Abbey and how the characters communicate with each other. I love the outfits from the twenties (even though I can't wear drop waist dresses :( ). 

And Breathless, what can I say? The outfits are that that I love (and can pull off more successfully than any other era) there is that cross between the iconic 50s and the incredible 60s. Set in 1961 the slightly older ladies are wearing full skirted dresses with perfectly curled and coiffed hair paired with coordinating hats and gloves and Kelly handbags and the slightly younger ladies are wearing outfits more recognisable of the 60s with patterned pedal pushers, fitted high neck sweaters and mini beehives. I am obsessed with Mrs Powell's full skirted dressing gown, even totally loving their housekeepers house coat. Especially as I have just purchased one myself! 

Watching 'vintage' TV just makes me want to shop more, and herein lies the problem. With Christmas looming, now is not the time to extend my wish list, especially as they are the type of things that aren't easily found. Research is needed, hours of time are required, scouring the internet. And then, most of the time, it is a one off item, a serious vintage find, and it either needs instant purchasing or completely ignoring that I have just found another piece that I 'simply must own!' 

I'm sure I can have a break for a couple if weeks. You see, I have just had 2 fabulous 1970's dresses arrive in the post!!!! Both are utterly fabulous but one is in need of repairs. Luckily I'm sufficiently handy with a needle and thread.

Please leave a comment and let me know what feeds your vintage obsessions. 

Until next time. Thank you for listening to my vintage ramblings my darlings. 

Lots of love

Fifi xxx

Desperation Sets In....!

After 10 months of trying for a baby I am so close to experiencing another period. 

What shall I try now? 

Acupuncture? 

Diet? 

Plotting dates? 

Charting my temperatures? 

Pretending were not trying? 

Chinese medicine?

Regular sex? Every 2-3 days? 

What tips can you offer myself and other ladies in my situation? And if you are a lovely lady trying to conceive, please say hi too! 

I have tried some old wives tales and a couple of hints from friends but I am so forgetful I need something that doesn't solely rely on my own memory to do. 

So I am imminently starting a brand new cycle. Day1 will be tomorrow I imagine by what I am feeling. 

Please come back for more on my fertility journey and more vintage based articles. I have a whole lovely list of things I want to cover, including some results on research of what fertility treatment and management was like in the 50s when fertility medicine was really taking off! You never know, we might learn something. 

I also have some new purchases I am awaiting. Check back for piccies! 

Night night my beauties, until tomorrow. 

Fifi xxx

Plan for my goals

Falling Pregnant

Unfortunately, the only thing that I can do is keep trying, so every month, ill keep going.

Wedding plans

I've found lots of ways to incorporate Penelope into the wedding. (You'll have to wait and see)

I've put a deposit on my dress, decided on a venue (deposit going down next Thursday) and I'm itching to make my save the date cards!

Everything is going to plan though and ahead of schedule! This one is the easy one! :)

'Bintage' and Penelope's Vintage World.

I have just booked myself in to do my first Vintage Fair and I haven't got long to plan for it.

It is on 4th August. I will have a stall at the Firle Vintage Fair. I am a mixture between very excited and very nervous. I am on a mission to get myself the best, beautiful and best selling stock to show everyone how awesome Penelope's Vintage World and the term 'Bintage'. Might need some more lovely signage. Maybe drawn up on my vintage typewriter? :)

Watch this space :)

My Most Favourite Dessert in the whole world!

My most favourite pudding that I ever had in my whole life was an Eton Mess.

Not just any Eton Mess, but a Mango and Passionfruit Eton Mess!

And so simple to make.

What you REALLY need to do is go to any 'cook' shop. You know the ones, the ones that sell beautiful, yummy, hand,add freezer meals! :) buy their mango and Passionfruit coulis.

Go to M&S and buy their small meringue nests and double (naughty) whipping cream and a couple of passionfruits.

Crush meringue nests in a bowl, whip the cream, once whipped, stir in with the meringue.

Gets some small serving glasses, drizzle the insides of the glasses with the coulis, spoon a large dollop of the meringue mix in, drizzle some more coulis over the top and empty the contents of a small Passionfruit over the top. (You can probably decorate 2 desserts with one fruit) get a spoon and eat immediately after serving!

My shop!!!

I honestly love vintage. 

I'm happily in the vintage business. 

Visit my online Facebook shop

Www.facebook.com/penelopesvintageworld

Please remember to like my page with all the lovely updates of dear little vintage bits :) 

Can't wait to meet you all!!!! 

Xxxxxxxxx

Time to take it easy.....

Now, we all know that people have totally different ways that they like to relax and calm down and I was trying to think about something exciting that you would all want to know about that will inspire you all. 

Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people who bake cakes to relax, or paint beautiful art or do a stretching exercise to wind down. 

There's lots of things I enjoy doing that bring me back to ME like visiting charity shops or visiting family or even getting my hands dirty and involved in cleaning and making house for my wonderful other half but they aren't things I use to wind down. 

I love taking my puppy for walks. I don't listen to music, I just walk, talk to my Angel Penelope, chat away to my puppy, admire the beauty of Sussex which I have utterly fallen in love with since moving here 3 years ago and listening to the sound of my flip flops, clip clopping underneath me. 

What I really do to utterly relax and wind down is lay on my bed, propped up with extra pillows, star fished on top of the duvet, watching the TV that I love and Ben hates!! It's like my guilty pleasure which I really don't do enough of. 

I watched the brand new Ray Donovan on TV the other day. This was so awesome, I can't wait for the next one next week. I love Mad Men. I love Bones. I love Stella. I love Downton Abbey. I utterly love Supernatural. 

I love just doing nothing and immersing myself in the lives of other people. 

Besides, I need to know the fate of Lady Mary!!!!! 

My Life's Motto

'We have all suffered some hardship in life. Mine might just be different to yours. So don't judge other people until you know theirs' 

This is so true. 

If you think to that woman in the office. Right sour old grapes isn't she? Doesn't get involved in any conversation at work. Scowls at most people. Grasses you up for wearing flip flops at work maybe? 

Just take a second to think. 

She might have something going on at home, currently or in the past, that has really turned her into this person. Your past can really mould a person into what you are today. 

Hopefully, it has made you into a stronger, more compassionate, easy going person. But, it can also make you quite resentful, almost angry or extremely timid, so much so that you can seem quite stand offish. 

Sometimes it can be not having the most nurturing upbringing, a horrific past, or current, relationship. It could even have been an experience that happened in the flash of a second that left an imprint on your life forever! 

So, before you judge that person, please spare a thought, and have some compassion for that person. And if you really can't tolerate their behaviour, then by all means, give that person a wide berth. 

I always think when you get to know someone, your opinion of that person can dramatically change. On the other hand, it might not? 

Have you ever experienced this or even been mid judged for some things you do as a result of a life changing event?