A while back I acquired a stack of awesome antique grain sacks. At the time I wasn't sure what I'd do with them. I just knew that eventually I'd come up with the perfect use for them. With the grain sacks and a selection of wonderful vintage linens I've started creating some really fun tote bags.

Flea Market Totes have been born! Made essentially from flea market finds and perfect for collecting your flea market treasures!

So far, I might be most fond of this little ditty. It combines an awesome Hawaiian sugar sack with my favorite kind of vintage textile.... the handkerchief!

Let's talk about vintage fashion styling!

Putting together fab vintage outfits takes a little practice and know how. Personally, I'm am a big fan of mixing new with old, and patterns with textures. I think a lot of people aren't sure how to wear vintage. Get brave! Mix and match! You can totally wear vintage too!

Paired together these three basic pieces make an adorable head turning outfit!

Sorry if you were starting to think I'd gone missing! I'm here.... I really am.

In short, we had an awesome summer that came and went! We got a new baby in the family (my cousin and his wife adopted), what a phenomenal blessing! My best friend got married! I met a boy! Turned the big 3-0! And now we're working our way through fall.
My creative energy has been stifled for the last few month and I've been doing some soul searching in order to figure out what direction to go in. I miss creating things with my hands!
Liz made a gorgeous bride! And I made Liz a garter, out of vintage materials <3

As I uncovered layers of bridal attire, the story deepened. At the bottom of this box full of treasures, I found the invitation to the wedding! Thank goodness for Google Street View! You can take a look at the house where the bride's parents lived, and at the church where the wedding took place.
This bride had it all planned out. From stories I've heard, weddings were not as elaborate then as they are now. Well this particular wedding was no small affair. The bride, Elizabeth, had everything in order. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.... and a six pence in her shoe!
The only thing truly missing from this collection is a picture of the bride in the complete ensemble.
If you are looking at those pearl beads and flowers wondering how they were made and what from, then we think a lot alike! Glass seems like a possibility for the beads, but that would be very heavy! So I did a bit of research and found out that wax flowers were commonly used in clothing decoration. Surprisingly, the pearls used on the dress and headpiece are also wax. It's a miracle that all that wax is still intact after years in that old Christmas box. Some of the pearls are a little discolored, but still very beautiful. I can't find any missing beads or pearls.
Everything (except for the coin) is for sale. Please visit my Etsy shop to view the listings. I have not included any measurements. So if you are interested, don't hesitate to ask! I will measure anything you like. Click here to email me. Click here to view the listing and more details about the dress.


If you'd like to Google the church where the dress was worn, it can be found here:
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
210 E 4th Ave  Roselle, NJ 07203

If I were asked which decade was my favorite for fashion, in the last century, I don't think I could pick just one. There are fashion elements from every decade that just call to me.

When I get my hands on a 100 year old dress something magical happens. To touch something with so much history is just an amazing feeling! It makes my imagination go wild!

Not only does this dress have a maker's tag, but the tag includes an address! I'm not sure if the tag displays the name of the dress maker or of the person it was made for. It says "Mme. Rizzi, 938 Rush Street, Chicago". Rush Street was first incorporated into Chicago in the 1830s. Based on the style, I believe this dress was designed around 1900.


I wish I knew what Madame Rizzi's first name was. It's hard to find any information on her.

There is probably no better classroom than a growing garden and there are countless lessons to be learned!

It's impossible to not brag a little about the phenomenal learning garden at my son's school. Those kids know more about organic gardening, composting, and the life cycle of monarch butterflies, than most adults. Every student gets to have a very hands on experience. They are involved with all the planting and harvesting, with lots of help from a very dedicated group of parents.
Each grade has specific jobs in the garden. This year I get to explore the curriculums for both 3rd and 2nd grades (because D is in a 2nd/3rd combo class). Third graders are learning about preserving heirloom plant varieties by harvesting and collecting seeds. Second graders are mastering the fine art of composting, and man they love turning the compost bins!

Who doesn't love to dig around in the worm bin? That thing is loaded with red wigglers! We also have real worm composters. You know, the kinds that separate the castings from the worm tea.

The first graders planted pumpkins in a spiral pattern. Second graders planted rainbow flower beds (cross your fingers the rest of the varieties pop up), to lure pollinators to the garden. Third graders learned about Native American planting methods and planted "3 Sisters" style beds, where they are growing corn, beans, and squash. Each year the kids learn different lessons in the garden. We have an awesome curriculum that works hand in hand with California State standards and with what students are learning in their classrooms.
Did I tell you..... The school is a recognized monarch butterfly waystation? How cool is that?! The monarch society actually came to the school and presented the students with a plaque noting the campus as a stop for migrating butterflies. Caterpillars came, ate all the milkweed, emerged from their cocoons, and have gone on their way. A couple weeks ago the garden was full of caterpillars!

These fun frocks are all available right now in the shop! I think each of them would be super choices for Valentine's Day attire. What do you think? Which is your favorite?

Smooches!
Danielle

Our weather here can be so strange! We had this lovely cool Summer, which seemed to be leading into a perfectly timed Fall.

Then out of nowhere it's 111 degrees outside. Awful! We almost never get temps that hot here. That was the beginning of last week. On Monday we swam and sat by the pool eating popsicles, after school. Yesterday all we could think about was curling up under a blanket eating kettle corn. It was 58 degrees and raining and today seems to be bringing the same weather. Within a week the weather took a complete 180.

Mmmm! Kettle corn is such a great treat, and SO easy to make! I also wanted to show off some of the awesome glass pieces I scored this week! I am beyond excited about my new (old) glass treasures. Those forks and butter knife are absolutely wonderful too. As far as I can tell the silverware was made in 1912, from "Extra Coin Silver Plate."

Kettle Corn:
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 - 2/3 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Popcorn Kernels
A pinch or two (or 3) of salt

Heat oil in a large pan. When the oil is hot, add the popcorn kernels and sugar. Give it all a quick stir. Put a lid on the pan and shake gently over the heat until the popping has almost stopped. Be careful not to let it keep going til the popping has stopped. The popcorn with burn easily. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool. Sprinkle with salt. Stir to break up and large clumps.

Eat it right away! Because it's way too yummy not to! Yum!

XO,
Danielle

PS- D has decided he is going to be a ninja for Halloween. Mama needs to go find a pattern and fabric!

Halloween is right around the corner! And my boy has no idea what he wants to dress up as......

Doesn't it seem like kids always know waaaay ahead of time what they are going to be for Halloween? Well my boy is facing a little dilemma..... he has no idea what he wants to be!

Hello! Mama needs a little time to get a good costume pulled together! Last year he was a spy. I found a vintage trench coat and he wore a plaid fedora I had picked up in the garment district. He looked super cute! We've bought superhero costumes before, but I AM NOT A FAN. I'd much rather make him something original.... something special!

We are in serious need of costume ideas for a really cool 8 (almost 9) year old boy! What if we make it a contest?! How 'bout..... if D picks your costume idea I will give you $15 toward any purchase at Second Wind Vintage?

Sound good?

Email me or submit your ideas as comments. The winner will be announced as soon as D settles on a costume idea. Even better if you can link to a picture of you costume idea!

Thanks!
XO

Usually the short fig season is over before I can think of things to do with them. I wait all year for the beautiful green figs to ripen. They come, I eat a couple, and then they are quickly devoured by the birds and Japanese Beatles. That's that.... and so another year I wait.

However, this year I decided I'd pick as many as I could and quickly, before they disappeared. What the heck do you do with that many figs though?!?! Make jam!

So now I have delicious fig jam, but another question begs answering. What the heck do you do with that much fig jam? Haha!

This week I loaded the shop up with pinks and pretty feminine florals!

Although pink isn't always my favorite color, I like it a lot better than I did 12 years ago when I was still an emo high school kid. I've come to terms with pink. While I'll never be a frilly pink girly girl, pink is more than ok here and there.

 I love this dress.... and if I have too long to think about it, I might end up keeping it!

Usually on Friday afternoon I take a minute to sit back and look over my haul of vintage treasures for the week. For some reason I'm über tired today (i did wake up before 8am for the first time all summer). I picked up a couple pretty cool things today, but you're going to have to stayed tuned to the shop to see them. Sorry!


As I sat here blankly staring at my computer screen, I thought to myself.... Am I the only one who wonders what other bloggers look like as they write their posts? Is that weird?


I kinda like what my crazy air dried hair is looking like right now. Wanna see it??

Do you know about my new baby vintage shoppe?

Pumpernickel Toast is open for business on Etsy! I'm finding and adding new things all the time!

I'm just loving hunting for these wonderful baby things! It's so much fun! Too bad my baby is 8 and a half......

This treasury made me smile.... and so I had to share it. What an original theme, right?

Thanks MiriMoMo for creating such a fun and lively treasury and for making my shoes a part of it.

If you have included anything from my shop in your treasury and would like me to possibly feature the treasury here, on my blog, please let me know. This could be a reoccurring blog feature.

For a while I've wondered if I would feel better if I cut glutens from my diet.

No, I'm not allergic to wheat and no, I don't have Celiac's or anything. Just done a tiny bit of research and really do believe that as a culture, we might over consume glutens.

Anyway..... back to the reason for this blog post. Last night D and I were heading to some friends' house to hang out. I decided I'd whip together a desert we could all share. Then I remembered my friend doesn't eat gluten (but her kids do). Shooooot! I really had to think for a minute if there was something I could make that we could all eat and enjoy. Fortunately I had a bag of Red Mill Gluten Free Flour sitting on the shelf in my pantry!

With a quick internet search I discovered Gluten-Free Girl's blog! I took her recipe for gluten free blueberry muffins, and used it as a guideline for my.......

Gluten Free Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins!
I used this recipe as a guideline, Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Zest, by Gluten-Free Girl.

Instead of her flour suggestions, I used 1 cup white rice flour and 2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour. There was no yogurt in my fridge so I used 1 1/4 cups sour cream mixed with 1/4 cup milk. Instead of blueberries, I added 1 cup fresh raspberries and about 1 cup chocolate chips.

The truth is I could give up glutens if all gluten free foods tasted as good as these muffins! 3 out of 4 kids approved and my gluten-free mama friend was happy too! As far as the 4th kid.... well I promised that cute little blondie chocolate chip cookies. She specifically asked if I would make them with "real flour." But of course!