Royal Wedding - the entrance, the fashion, the fanfare, the tea set

First of all, this cracked me up!



Now, the fashion!

Let us begin with The Shoes:

Nude heels with back zipper detail from Suzy Shier

Statement Jewellery:

A gift from her father, the large blue stones echo the sapphire engagement ring

The Manicure:

Wearing CHANEL Beige Petale, very close to the nude polish worn in those now famous engagement photos, here with the addition of navy hearts (CHANEL Blue Satin) in celebration of this special day.

The Dress:

The bow detail provides a decidely femine touch to this blush coloured chiffon shift dress from H&M.  The blush colour is picked up in the antique necklace, a family heirloom.  Dress length is reported as being above the knee!

Hair & Make-Up:

The hair is styled in soft waves for the occaison and finished with a locally sourced black feather & tulle fascinator.  Make-up is from the CHANEL Summer collection: Les Fleurs De CHANEL.



What?! Did you think I was going to post Catherine's dress photos?  

THAT you can find anywhere, THIS is exclusive information people!

I would like to put the spotlight on some Royal Wedding fashion though...

What were Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie thinking?!  These girl's are my age and they looked so frumpy sitting behind the Queen at the ceremony!  I couldn't get over it.  Also, I love a good hat. The crazier the better, but that nude number Princess Beatrice is wearing kind of looks like crazy horns are sprouting from the center of her head!

I much perfer this butterfly number:

The shopping centre I work in was very into the Royal Wedding and had a giant screen set up for viewing, as well as a head table and chairs for guests!  They encouraged tennents to dress up.  One does not have to ask me twice.

Throughout the morning a fair number of people did stop and have a seat to watch the Royal spectacle.  Some women got quite dressed up, hats and all!

We served tea & cookies at our store:

I called my dad last night and asked to borrow his sterling silver tea service.  It fit the occaison beautifully.

When I was a little girl I opened the teapot while playing 'tea party' and found a few $20 bills stashed inside!  I thought it was a magic teapot!  I was so excited, I ran to find my parents and tell them about this miracle!  Oddly, the teapot never again produced money...

Did you watch the Royal Wedding?  Did you do anything special to celebrate?

PS. here is The Sassy Curmudgeon's take on the Royal Wedding Day

My Second (and third) Etsy purchases

Soooo, I need to lay off the Etsy...and learn how to say no (to others and myself).
I decided that if I'm going to wear vintage hats, I need a vintage hat pin for said hat (see it here).  So, to Etsy I went.


I found listings here:

Grand Vintage Finery

and here:

Bless It Bead

I liked the pearls in the first set and the purple one in the second set.  The second set had a lower sale price and shipping price, but the first set had more - a real start to a collection - and the pearls.  

So, I sent the seller a message asking if her shipping price was set or an estimate.  While I was waiting for her reply I thought to myself "Laura, you don't need a giant amount of hat pins for one hat.  Get the cheaper set and the bead matches your hat anyway".  I made the purchase. 

Well, then the first seller messaged me back saying that she'd make an exception and ship them regular mail in bubble wrap and she'd only charge me a $1.50!  I looked at the listing and sure enough she had even changed the shipping price instead of just offering to refund me the difference. 

 I couldn't bring myself to just ignore her efforts and not buy them.  I also couldn't bring myself to message her saying that I'd found others but thanks anyway...so I bought her set too...much to my husband's chagrin.  He just sighed at my inability to say "No".

All in all I only spent around $20.00, not breaking the bank by any means, but still more than I needed.

Long story short:  anyone else need a vintage hat pin?
 I've got some to spare!

Etsy Love

Several weeks ago I was reading a post on one of my fav blogs, Make Mine Mid-Century, where she was showing all the things in her favourites list on Etsy.   I thought today I'd do the same.  

Thanks for the idea MMMC!

Since I've got the upcoming Royal Nuptials on the brain (how can one not?) I've been perusing vintage hats.  There are 2 weddings that I'm attending this summer and I've decided to wear a hat. 

Isn't this vintage pink Christian Dior dreamy?

An orange feather whatsie is always a fun idea

I did break down and buy this simple lovely.  The purple tulle can be pulled down to veil the face!

How chic and Jackie O is this white leather cutie?

What a statement hat!

Do you wear hats to weddings? 

Are you going to dress up and watch the Royal Wedding? (It's ok if you are, I am - feathers and all!)

Old Lady Feet

So, it's official:  I have old lady feet.

I thought it was bad enough when the corn/callus thingys were hurting my pinky toes....

it's worse, much worse.

I made an appointment to see a podiatrist and he said that I have planters facetious and need orthopedic insoles!  He said that because of the foot condition the ligament in the bottom of my foot is twisted.  He said picture wringing out a towel and that's my foot.  Because of the twist when I walk it's raising my pinky toe so it's getting more friction, hence the callus.

Let me just tell you that when you don't have medical coverage it should be considered cruel and unusual punishment to make someone pay the substantial sum of money required to even wear insoles. 

My $400 insoles!!!

Luckily a friend of mine had very generously given me a gift certificate for a really nice shoe store for my birthday so I was able to buy the cute flats I'd been eyeing for only $35.00.  I'm happy to say my insoles fit in them!

They are perfect for work, so comfy!

The footbed actually came out really easily so my orthopedic insole could go in.

www.bornshoes.com, but purchased locally.

My next mission is to find a sandal that I could wear with the insole.  Easier said than done.  Luckily there are several brands that make sandals with removable footbeds!  Who knew?!  I took these home 'on approval' from my favourite local shoe store (where I purchased the above Born flats).  I tried them on in the store and the sales clerk was very helpful and showed me how to put my own insole in.  She suggested that I take them home for the weekend so that I can make sure they will really be comfortable and work well with my orthotic. How nice is that?!

 

www.naot.com

Well, unfortunately when I wore them around my house after about 10 minutes they started bothering the callus on my pinky toe.  It rubs it just between the straps.  I'm finding it very tricky to find orthotic sandals that don't have straps over the toes.  Tomorrow I'll be taking these back to the store and maybe they can order in another model.

I've found these online and I can have them shipped to my door for less than the sandals above.  So, I might have to give them a try... depending on the return policy if they don't fit properly.

www.aetrex.com

Since I have to stand all day for my job I need something relatively flat that will fit my insole. And it's a more dressy environment so I'm often wearing skirts and dresses, likewise for church on Sunday.  

For me having a dress sandal to get through the summer is crucial. 

My husband is being surprisingly gracious about spending money on new quality footwear, but only for what's needed.  Which, I understand but I like having shoe options!  

Different colours for different outfits.  I'm a girlie girl, darn it!

Luckily I've found a consignment store in my area that's already taken some of my old clothes and shoes.  Maybe I can make some consignment money to fund a 'fun' pair of orthotic friendly shoes.

My shoe wardrobe is being drastically reduced and it's a little upsetting.  I have old nikes, the new black flats, flipflops (no, I can't put the insoles in them but you try going through summer without flipflops!) and soon a pair of dress sandals.  THAT'S IT! 4 pairs of shoes!! That's all I can responsibly put on my feet.  I know there are worse things in the world, but I have my moments of feeling down about it.  In think I'm going to keep a pair of wedges and strappy nude heels for special occasions.  Oh, and my motorcycle boots, so that's 7 pairs all together.  6 black and 1 nude, I'm so bored!  It's no fun being practical but my feet will thank me, and they're the only pair I have!

The Cross-Over Episode

This just in: Sophie and Emma have left their usual post at the Loyalist Cottage and are on location today at Broken Poet.  Read the full scoop below.

I've been sick with  a cold all week.  My boss told me to stay home today because it was soo bad.  

So, last night I asked mum if she could drop off her dogs to my house

 to keep me company for the day while hubby was out.  

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind staying alone, it's never bothered me.  In fact, I like having days to myself.  But, there's something about having little dogs to cuddle with when one is sick.  I have been sans dog since August and am really missing having a furry little thing to snuggle and love.

Mum obliged and dropped Sophie and Emma off to my house this morning.

Sophie!

Emma!

It was just what a doctor ordered.  They were soo good.  After the initial curious sniff around the house they settled on my bed and we had a nap.  Then, we moved to the couch while I had soup and they had some crackers.  Then we napped some more until their mama came to take them home.

My lovely puppy girls.

more jet-setting. Part 3

Welcome to part 3 of my trip to Calgary and the rocky mountains!

(Catch up with part 1 and part 2 )

We drove through Canmore on the way to Banff which brought back childhood memories 

of the beloved Air Farce character "Mike, from Canmore".

The mountains were soo impressive but the photos don't do them justice.

they fill your whole range of vision.

see all those white 'veins' of snow through the trees?  Those are paths avalanches created!

The highway takes you through Banff National Park, which means you have a buy a pass to drive through.  It was like $20!  Oh well, c'est la vie.

all the businesses and homes look like this

the whole town has this very quaint ski lodge feel

this ice explorer thingy does trips on the Athabasca Glacier

the tires are huge!

this is the gondola ride we took up the mountain

we sat in that little cable car phone booth thingy

now this is a rustic Starbucks!

keepin' it real. these are the seats at the Starbucks!

big chunks of tree trunks

there, that's better.

After getting some hot beverages to take with us

we got in to our gondola

passing another gondola on the way up

a look  back down at the starting point

hubby looks so cool

these gondolas were made in Switzerland, hubby was comforted by this

it's the weirdest feeling, this steady climb higher and higher above the trees

this is the cable we were hanging from.  the whole ride basically works like a ski lift

this support form keeps the cable straight and tight.  It's actually sticking straight out from the mountain, completely horizontal 

see the path?   there was an actual trail about halfway up!

arriving at the top!

the Banff Gondola climbs 2,292 feet to an elevation of 7,486 feet!

they weren't kidding

view from the landing 

stunning

they have all these signs to tell you how far away different places are from this peak.

see that peak?  there's a wooden walkway that leads to a lookout up there.

thinking of you Bobbi!

inside  they use the cable for hand rails

I'm thinking it's a little late for this sign by the time you get up here. 

off we go to the look out

here the walkway just disappears and there's a path around the mountain!  I don't think so.

we stayed on the walkway.

so beautiful and quiet

I'm a rebel, what can I say?

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station.

who knew?

that's looking down to where the gondola dropped us off at the top of it's climb

the very top lookout.

They are skyping with their family on an iphone.  What a good idea!

chillin' at the top with my Starbucks, tall caramel macchiato to be precise

and now, the journey back down to the gondola

it's amazing how slippery these snow packed stairs are!

even though the sign warned me...

I still fell. 

 I'n the spirit of keepin' it real, I 'm so glad hubby happened to magically be able to capture this moment

on  camera

What are the chances?  

view from the bottom.  This is the route the gondola climbed.

and now, for your viewing pleasure, 2 videos of our decent back down the mountain in the gondola.  

After the gondola ride we headed back to the hotel to get ready for out 6am flight!  Keep in mind, in Calgary we're already 3 hours behind the timezone I'm used to!  It was brutal.

When booking flights it's easy to get caught thinking I'll take the earliest flight so we can just get home, and then we can relax. I'm here to tell you "Just Say No"

Even the pilot agreed with me.  He didn't show up!  The plane was fully boarded and the co-pilot come on to announce that we were just waiting for the pilot!  He seemed to be running late, lol.  Turns out he thought the flight was leaving an hour later.

Thanks everyone for indulging me.  

Now, to curl up in bed.  I'm sick as a dog with a terrible cold!