Just wishing y'all....

a very Merry Christmas!!! :D  

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”- Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Plus a heads up that we will be traveling back home from the 25th {today} to the 27th.

My Favorite Christmas Movies

Come November & December I like to pull out and watch my favorite Christmas movies, or try out "new" old Christmas movies. After seeing Amanda's Christmas Film Classic post over at AmandaBeth Online, I decided to do my own list for y'all. 

Christmas in Connecticut {1945}

A magazine food writer {Barbara Stanwyck} has lied about being the perfect housewife must try to cover her deception when her boss and a returning war hero {Dennis Morgan} invite themselves to her farm in Connecticut for a traditional family Christmas.  Very sweet & fun! Plus, Barbara Stanwyck wears some really cute clothes! Always a huge plus. *grin* 

It Happened on 5th Avenue {1947}

A homeless New Yorker moves into a New Yorker Tycoon mansion when the owner goes south for the winter {the owner doesn't know} and along the way he gathers friends to live in the house along with him. Before he knows it, he is living with the actual home owners {who play along with the idea for their daughter}. The movie stars: Don DeFore & Gale Storm. This is one of my favorite Christmas films and Gale wears some adorable clothes too!

I'll Be Seeing You {1944}

A soldier {Joseph Cotten} suffering from battle fatigue meets a young woman {Ginger Rogers} on Christmas furlough from prison {for accidentally killing a man} and they fall-in-love. One of those tearjerking movies that is so perfectly lovely in the end. p.s. It also stars Shirley Temple. 

Christmas Holiday {1944}

All I will say is that this movie is very sad and is hard for me to describe {it's been awhile since I saw it}. But I do love it. It stars: Deanna Durbin & Gene Kelly in roles opposite from their norm.

The Bishop's Wife {1947}

A bishop {David Niven} trying to get a new cathedral built prays for guidance. An angel {Cary Grant} arrives, but his guidance isn't about fundraising. Instead he is there to help the bishop make his marriage with his wife {Loretta Young} better. One darling movie! Plus you get to see Cary Grant ice skate.

It's a Wonderful Life {1946}

An angel {Henry Travers} helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman {Jimmy Stewart} by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. This is a family favorite in our house. One of my favorite scenes is when George {Stewart} sees Mary {Donna Reed} all grown up at the High School graduation dance and asks her to dance {that whole dance scene just makes me want to dance}. Does anyone know where I can find a 1940s swing version of The Charleston, not a 20s version? As I adore the version in the movie!

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There are more Christmas movies I enjoy watching, but it would take me too much time to list them all for you. 


What are your favorite Christmas movies?

Christmas Shopping Gift Guide {Fashion & Beauty Edition}

With Christmas coming up, we are all wondering what we should give our friends & family. I thought it would be fun to put together a little gift guide for y'all. This is the fashion & beauty edition {I may do more editions} perfect for everyone on your list who loves fashion and beauty products {I may throw in a few other ideas}. I'm going to try to keep prices fairly low for y'all.

~Beauty Ideas~

 

{e.l.f Holiday Lip Gloss Collection $3} {e.l.f Holiday Nail Polish Collection $5}

{Birchbox gift subscription 3 months ($30), 6 months ($60), 12 months ($110)}

{buy a cosmetic bag from Forever21 ($1.50) and fill it with beauty & fashion products.}

{Beauty products from Lemon Citrus...lip balm, perfume... $3.50 - $22} 

{lip glaze holiday trio from Besame Cosmetics $18}

~Fashion Ideas + a few odds & ends~

{Janny's Girl Scarf $14 - $36}

{plaid scarf from Forever21 $5.90}  {beatrice bow belt from ShopRuche.com $12.99}

{rococo fold-over clutch from ShopRuche.com $29.99} {winter dusk infinity scarf from ShopRuche.com $19.99}

 

{snow drop dangle earrings ShopRuche.com $12.99} {huntington garden travel cup ShopRuche.com $18.99}

{Brittany Chavers Studio Jewelry $4.80 - $39.50}

{craftee mcgees has some cute jewelry & accessories $7 - $25}

{adorable ankle socks from Forever21 & they are only 95 cents. polka-dots. owls.} 

Those are all of the ideas I could come up right now. Do any of you have gift ideas? Share them below in the comments.

Also, you might want to check out yesterday's post to see if you won any giveaways. 

I also created some new blog buttons last night. I came down with an awful sore throat last night {still have it today} and felt like making some new much needed blog buttons. 

Christmas Goodies

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! I know I did. We had just a quite day at home. I read my new books over, and over again. :) And gazed at my new sewing patterns trying to find supplies to make them - and I did. The blessings of having a huge stash. :) I just need to buy boning and zippers.

1. Blueprints of Fashion 1940s & 1950s

2. Vintage Hairstyling

3. Costume Close-Up

4. Costume in Detail

5. Summer Shade Jumper (Marie-Madeline Studio)

6. Ladies' 1780s Portrait Dress Pattern (Sense & Sensibility Patterns)

7. Mint Chocolate Bar

8. 3 Pairs of Earrings (one pair I will be returning)

9. Bracelet (made by my sister, Hanne-col)

10. Gluten-Free Candy Canes 

11. Snowman Brooch

One of my new tea cups from Starbucks. I LOVE them!

             1. Necklace made by my sister, Hanne-col.         2. Robe

And on Christmas Eve the Astaire & Rogers DVDs I won arrived in the mail! It was like receiving another Christmas present. I've already watched Shall We Dance and Follow the Fleet. 

So how was your Christmas? Right now, I'm making two 1780s dresses. One will be made out a white on white cotton fabric for a day dress. While the other one, will be made out the leftover fabric from my formal for a ball gown. :)  Also I can't wait to buy supplies to fix my hair in vintage styles - mostly 50s & 60s. :) 

~Ashley

Just want to wish...........

A Merry Christmas, to everyone!!!!!

~Ashley & Gabrielle

CYA - Christmas Formal Dinner

Beth & Me

This past Monday night was the formal dinner. :) It was so much fun! And guess what?!?! I have pictures of my formal for all of you! I bet you are all so happy with me. lol.

The Coffee Bar....

I had peppermint hot chocolate. It was so good! Yum.

The tables, people, and servers. 

This is a delicious salad and roll that we were served first. 

The main course. Noodles with butter. Vegetables with stuff on them. Beef Burgundy. And chicken with a french name after them. :)

Chocolate Cheesecake. Yummy. 

The Piano.

Me & Laurie

My dress. :) There are chiffon flowers around the neckline (made by me). A purple glittery jacket. My dress is a solid deep purple.   

~Ashley


The first picture is taken by Carrie F. And the other pictures with me in them were taken by Beth M. All others by me. :)