Christmas Frenzy (in Instagrams)

This week was allllll about decking the halls.

In phases.......a little each evening.

First came the tree........

First fire of the season too!

Sir Chester looooves to be involved in the action.

He was tuckered out by the time I added the tree skirt.........

Ohhhhh the tree skirt.  That I so lovingly made last year.

(A bit of me died inside whilst making that.)

But I do love it.  Even though.

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Next came the kitchen......

Only a few touches of ivory and red to go with my pottery collection.

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The entry table got hit Wednesday night.........

I. like. bottlebrush. trees.

Very much.

I do not need to buy more, yet I can't seem to stop.

I also like vintage Shiny Brites very much......

Glass jars filled with Shiny Brites make me very happy.

I never met a Shiny Brite I didn't like.

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Then somewhere in the middle of all of this, I sent out an Instagram plea for help.

Here or there.........

The fireplace won by a landslide.

I thought the hooky thing would be different-er.

But traditional was where it was at, and I'm all for tradition!

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Now for those of you wondering about the third stocking.......

Don't get any ideas.

Where else would I hide the dog's Christmas treats?

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Kelly's Korner, and Insta-Friday.

Random Wednesday

Beware.  Two random things.  No outfits.  I'm lazy.

Random #1.........

Long time readers know all about the "special room" here at the homestead.  

(It's not what you think.)

Anyway.

My motivation regarding this space ebbs and flows.  It'll get almost clean.  Then it becomes a hide-y hole when company arrives.  And when it's a mess, my drive evaporates.

But something happened on Thanksgiving which I think will light a fire under me.........

See that beauty of an antique mirror above the bed?   

That has been waiting for a year and a half to be hung.

So since the crowned jewel is in place, I think my motivation has been restored.

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Random #2.........

With the season of hibernation upon us, I wanted to find a couple of good reads.  

I love reading in the winter.  

Specifically on snow days.  Which I'm counting on getting.

(Hear me Mother Nature???)

So after talking to a few buddies at work, I got some great suggestions.  A new (to me) series.........

They arrived yesterday!

Now all I need is for some winter weather to arrive too.

Winter, you've got plenty of time to deliver.  I'm just letting you know.

Red Velvet Cookies

My obsession with red velvet goes back to one specific moment.........when I was leafing through one of my favorite magazines and a cookie recipe stopped me cold.

Red velvet cookies?  Cream cheese frosting?

Yes and yes.

Made them.  Loved them.  And now they are a yearly Christmas tradition..........

 Red Velvet Cookies

(Country Home Magazine ~ Dec. 2008)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1 oz. bottle of red food coloring
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon juice

In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy.  Mix in the sugars until smooth.  Next, stir in the eggs, food coloring, vanilla, and lemon juice.  Slowly add the dry ingredients, mixing well.  Using a tablespoon, place scoops of dough on an ungreased cookie sheet.  In a preheated oven, bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees.  Allow cookies to cool on a wire rack.  Top with cream cheese frosting.

*   *   *   *

They are even pretty without frosting........

Heading to a holiday party?  These will knock socks off.

Going to a cookie exchange?  You will be crowned Cookie Queen.

Who doesn't want to be Cookie Queen?

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Linking up with:

Mrs. Happy Homemaker, This Gal Cooks, Whimsy Wednesdays, The Ease of Freeze,
At Home, Take 2, 33 Shades of Green, The Winthrop Chronicles, Rae Gun Ramblings, 

Foodie Friday, Addicted to Recipes, Tutus and Tea Parties, Or So She Says, WTFab,
Adorned From Above, Six Sisters' Stuff, Pamela's Heavenly Treats annnndddd

Winner Winner

The lucky winner of the $25 credit to Litva's Jewelry is...........

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats Molly!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'll be emailing you!

Thank you to every single person who entered!  

If you didn't win......never fear!  Litva's is hosting a Cyber Monday sale!!!!!  Use the code vcyber25 for 25% off your purchase this Monday only (November 26th)!!!!!  And if it isn't Monday, you can still use the code vintage20 for 20% off throughout November and December!

Weekly Recap (Instagram Style)

The mister turned another year older.  Cookie dough cupcakes make the perfect birthday treat.....

We had a little Thanksgiving fun at school.  The kiddos loved making (and eating) these Oreo turkeys.......

This face.......

I'm pretty sure every leaf in the neighborhood is in our backyard............

I hosted my first ever Thanksgiving yesterday.  I even got crafty and made a floral arrangement using berries from a bush in my yard.........

And I lived to see another day.

In fact, the house is so clean, that I've decided hosting gatherings is a good thing!

I mean, I dusted.  And that just does not happen.

Unless I let people into my home.

This could be the start of something new.

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You have a few days left to enter my giveaway!!!!!

Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday.

Boots vs. Booties

I'm completely in love.

With a sweater.

A sweater I saw on Instagram......which led me to Kiki La'Rue.

I resisted for a few days after the sweater-sighting.  Because I was trying to behave.  But my spending bans are always short-lived. And finally, it became mine.

I love the tribal design.  I love the fit and how soft the knit is.

I was super impressed with how fast they shipped it annnnd with the cute packaging!  They even included a Kiki La'Rue koozie!  Talk about a fun mail day..........

My question for you is, boots or booties?

I love my new booties, but I'm not sure how to style them.  Is this all wrong?  Stick with the riding boots?  HELP!

But let's get back to the sweater.

Did I mention how much I love it?  I might wear it for Turkey Day, which I am hosting.

Yep, that is happening.  My little house is having company.

I have never hosted a gathering for any holiday.

Let the cleaning frenzy commence!!!

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blonde,  

Two Thirty-Five Designs, Rolled up Pretty, and

A Giveaway (Closed)

Recently, the blog has hit so many unexpected milestones.  This makes me giddy.  So to show my thanks, I have teamed up with one of my friends to offer a little treat to one reader!

Up for grabs is $25 credit to Litva's Jewelry!!!

Sandra Litva is not only a friend, but my hairstylist and jewelry designer.  We go waaaay back.  And so does my love for her pieces.

Up til now, she had only sold her wares in her shop.  Just about every time I went to get my hair trimmed, I would also come home with a new necklace, bracelet, or ring......

Lucky for you, she just opened up an online shop!!!  And to celebrate her grand opening she is offering a discount to my readers (20% off your purchase using the code vintage20) annnnnd one lucky person will win $25 credit to her online shop.

Here are a few of my faves that are currently available............

Now here's a chance to make one of these pieces yours!!!  Come back next week to see who the lucky winner is!  And if you just can't wait to take home a one of a kind piece, use the code vintage20 to receive a 20% discount on your purchase!!!  You might even be able to get some Christmas shopping out of the way!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

This Week (Instagram Style)

I got all color coordinated.......

I have been dying to break out that sweater, even though it hasn't been that cold.  And I wanted to pair it with those shoes.

Those shoes make me happy.

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Speaking of not cold.  It was 70 degrees when we hit up Pheona's Christmas Open House..........

We came home with some great vintage Christmas goodies!!!!

And we learned that a siren goes off in Billings, MO every single day at the strike of noon.

But that ducking and covering is not necessary.

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I love my trees.  I hate raking.  Sooooo I mowrake........

Mowraking is quite effective and fast.

However, side effects are leaf particles and dust in the hair and eyes.

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Yesterday was a great mail day.......

This KiKi La'Rue sweater will be getting its own outfit post soon!  I am in l.o.v.e.

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Thursday was also a good day to wear brown boots, black skinnies, scarves, and sweaters.........

When will the madness end!?!!?

I mean, how many times has this happened (once or twice)?

I have no words.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday.

the vintage dress of my dreams

It happened at my one and only trip to the thrift store last week.

A little brown polka dot frock caught my eye amidst the crammed rack of dresses. 

I had just found IT.

The vintage dress of my dreams........in my size........eeeeeekkkkkk..........

The tag.......

The bow, the pleats, the belt......

Will I ever wear it? 

Hmmmm.  Welllll.  That remains to be seen.  It would require a special occasion.

Like being an extra on Mad Men maybe?

Not likely, but.....

It does do something to me when I put it on.  It makes me want to twirl.

And when you're left to your own devices, with a self timer on your camera, in a sea of leaves, strange things happen.......

Did I really just post a picture on the internets of me twirling in my backyard?

I did.

That's what finding the perfect vintage dress will do to you.

Be warned.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Colorblind, Thrifter Thursday,
Transatlantic Blonde, Two Thirty-Five Designs, Rolled up Pretty, and

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

With the return of fall, I crave warm comfort food type dishes. Never mind the ever-changing temperature here in Missouri.

So while browsing Pinterest recently, mine eyes did behold a beautiful sight.  The words:  CROCKPOT chicken and dumplings.

I would consider chicken and dumplings a comfort food.

And when I outclicked to the source of the recipe, my heart swelled up a bit.

This recipe looked so incredibly easy.  Almost too good to be true.

So I just had to get my cooking on........

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

(original source)

2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 (10.5 oz) cans of Cream of Chicken soup
14 oz of chicken broth
1 can of refrigerated biscuits
4 tbsp butter

Lay the chicken in the bottom of the crockpot, and top with butter.  Pour the chicken broth and soup over the top of the chicken.  Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours.  Remove the chicken, shred it, and return it to the crockpot.  Cut up biscuits and add to crockpot.  Continue cooking on high for about 30 more minutes or until biscuits are cooked.

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People, drop whatever you're doing now.  

Go buy canned biscuits.  Fire up the crockpot.  And experience comfort food heaven tonight.

No joke.  Leftovers included.

It was like I was at Lambert's eating chicken and dumplings.  Except I wasn't dodging throwed rolls.

I mean, I like throwed rolls.  Especially with molasses. 

But it's all fun and games until someone gets smacked in the face with a hot, buttery one.

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Linking up with: 
Mrs. Happy Homemaker, Lemon Sugar, This Gal Cooks, The Chicken Chick,
Whimsy Wednesdays, At Home, Take 2, 33 Shades of Green, The Winthrop Chronicles,
Rae Gun Ramblings, Foodie Friday, Addicted to Recipes, Tutus and Tea Parties,
Or So She Says, WTFab, Six Sisters' Stuff, annnnd

This Week (Instagram Style)

I got domestic........

Tried a new pumpkin bread recipe.  Streusel makes everything better.

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I got crafty.........

Spray painting bottlebrush trees is just one Christmas craft I've got up my sleeve.

 *   *   *   *   

I got crafty at school too.  Or had the kiddos get crafty!  No scissors allowed.........

These turkeys make me smile. 

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I got a free bracelet at Starbucks on Election Day.........

Coffee and the red, white, and blue.  Good things.

 

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I got pranked.........

Just a new round of work shenanigans.

Imagine moving a stack of notebooks only to spy that quite realistic creepy crawler inches from your hand.

It was the shriek heard 'round the world.

And just so you know, it's not over.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday.

Vintage Leather

A few weeks ago, I thrifted a leather jacket.  My intentions were to put it in the booth.

I Googled the brand (L'Avion) for selling purposes but didn't find much.

Then I tried it on.

Maybe decided that I liked it.

And realized that it matched my vintage Frye boots........

My question for you is:  Keep or sell?

It is a little on the large side.  The shoulders and sleeves mainly.  I'm pretty sure it's a men's jacket. 

But did I mention how it matches my precious vintage Frye boots?

Not that being matchy matchy is always the goal.  But browns can't clash, you know.

Help!

Be the voice of reason.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Harper's Happenings, 
Transatlantic Blonde, Two Thirty-Five Designs and Rolled up Pretty!!!

Thrifting Frenzy

I really should be pinching pennies right now, especially since the holiday season is looming.  And the mister's birthday is in a few weeks.

But I can't seem to avoid the thrifts.  I'll go all week without stepping foot in one.  Then the weekend hits, and I just have to.

Good thing I didn't resist because I found some goodies........

That suit is a vintage Pendleton.  It was $3.00.  EEEEEEKKK!

And finally, a lamp for only $3.98........

That I really did plan on selling.

But then I noticed that I had the perfect spot for it........

Atop my wardrobe!  The finishing touch.

Vignette complete!

The special room is getting special-er by the day.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl, Sir Thrift-a-lot, A Living Space,

    The Cottage Market, Magpie Monday, Thrifty Thursday, annnnnddd

This Week (Instagram Style)

Two nights of parent teacher conferences + Halloween + the day after Halloween = one tired teacher.

But this week wasn't all work.  I managed to squeeze in a little play.

Like trying out a new-to-me bakery which specializes in fun hot chocolate and truffles..........

Spicy hot chocolate is good.  Pumpkin spice truffles are too.  But my favorite thing about this patisserie is the location.

Someday I plan on living within walking distance of this little spot.  It's my dream neighborhood.

The mister has been warned.

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Christmas is already in the air.  Relics is having their Holiday Open House this weekend, so the booth had to be prepped.........

Since it's a little too early to break out the tree at home, this helped tide me over.

And maybe going to Leola's Christmas Open House last night helped too..........

I walked away with a bottlebrush tree and some vintage Shiny Brites.

I mean, who could leave this shop empty handed?!?!

And now I maybe want a pink tree.

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So remember when I posted about having a strange, cosmic outfit connection with my friend Whitney?

Well, this week it happened not once, but TWICE............

We are pretty sure folks think we do it on purpose.

We don't.  Promise.

*   *   *   *   *

I was a Halloween scrooge this year.

After seeing the niece and nephew all dressed up, the mister and I hid out at our favorite Mexican restaurant..........

I needed that cheese dip.

I did not need to hand out candy.

Being a teacher will do that to you.
 

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday.