Spring Closet Clean Out

Here's a preview of what I'll be listing to sell this week. Not sure yet if I'll be doing Ebay or Etsy??

50's wiggle secretary's dress
waist=28.5" hip=40" bust=38"

50's cocktail dress
waist=28" bust=36"

66 piece Onieda Twin Star flatware set in box.

Killer 40's rayon dress and jacket
Jacket bust=open, length 15.5"

waist= 30" hip=40" bust= 38"


MaryDeluxe in the dress a few years ago....

My favorite 40's cotton dress
waist=32.5" bust= 38.5"

A 50's sun dress with side buttons
bust=38" waist=30"


1931 Roseville pinecone

In the garden

Saturday in the garden with the King, the Queen, and the little Monster!

The Trim Tred Shoe

I found these amazing 1940's Trim Tred Shoes at the Goodwill Site and knew they had to be mine! They came in the mail today....fit like a dream and are simply stunning! Much better condition then I was expecting.

Thanks All!

Wow everyone, thanks for all your comments on my last post! I'm really happy to hear that I'm an inspiration to many of you. It was kind of embarrassing for me to share my not so flattering pictures with the world. But I'm glad I decided to do it. It not only inspired some of you but it also re-inspired me. I've been doing my healthy lifestyle for so long now that I forgot how far I've come. It's weird because even today, I sometimes still feel that I look like that girl I was five years ago. Seeing the old pictures of myself, helps me to realize that I'm no longer that unhappy girl. It's true what they say, at times, we can be our own worse critics.

The best advice I can give anyone who is ready to change their unhealthy ways for healthier ones is this.....make a commitment to yourself and no matter what, stick to it. If you've fallen off the wagon for a week or even a year, forgive yourself and get back to your commitment as soon as you can. It doesn't make you a failure, it just means you're normal. Losing weight is hard work....if it was easy, there wouldn't be a billion dollar weight loss industry out there because nobody would need them. If it was easy we would all be able to eat just 1200 calories a day and have plenty of time to exercise. If losing weight was easy, we would all be walking around looking like "insert favorite famous person here" It's not easy, so be kind to yourself and keep on kicking ass!

A Five Year Weight Journey

Tonight I was thinking to myself as I was running on the treadmill....5 years ago, I couldn't have done a 3 mile run because I was overweight, unhealthy, and just plain miserable with myself. I weighed over 150 pounds... hell, I probably weighed over 155 pounds. I never would look at the scale when they weighed me at the doctor's office because I was in denial. I knew I was overweight, but I didn't want to know how much because I didn't think I could ever change it. So, I choose to ignore it instead.

Summer 2005 before starting my journey...in 150's
Not the best photos but it gives you an idea! I hated having my photo taken.


Me 2004 over 150 probably closer to 160! Hiding beside BF.

Just so you know, I have always struggled with my weight. I was chubby in HS and then got really skinny in college (105!)...go figure right...don't people usually gain weight in college?? Then I would just continue a cycle in my 20's.....gain some weight ....get motivated...lose the weight....gain it back....and so on. By 2005, I was sick of myself yet again and decided to join weight watchers! I actually went on a diet before I joined weight watchers so I wouldn't be as embarrassed when I got weighed in...I know, how pathetic! I only lasted at weight watchers about a month or so....I did lose 6 pounds but decided it wasn't really for me and joined a gym instead. I'm lucky because I do enjoy exercising and decided to use the tool I learned at weight watchers...tracking my calories with exercise. I've been doing this ever since! I guess some of you want to know how much I weigh now?? Today I weighed in at 125 pounds! I've been in the 120's now for the last 2 years. I stay in the lower 120's when I'm tracking my calories and staying accountable. When I fall off the tracking calorie wagon and the exercise regime, I will end up back in the upper 120's. 130 is what I consider my panic number and that's when I have a major talk with myself and get myself back in gear again. My goal is to eventually reach 115. I'm 5'3" so that's within the normal range for weight at my height. It might take me another 2 years to do it and that's okay with me. I'm in no hurry and I feel great!

Me... end of March 2010...compare with the top picture. Hello 27" waist, and petite curves...I love you! I also have worked really hard to get you!!!

The last 5 years of my life has been about me working at a commitment I made to myself back in 2005. I couldn't stand myself any longer and decided to stop denying my weight and unhealthy life before it became much worse then it was. I don't know if I had an "aha" type moment or anything, it was more about me choosing to take better care of myself, work hard and kick ass! Losing all the weight at once wasn't something I did right away either, just like I didn't gain all my weight over night, losing weight is a slow process for me. I lose weight, hit a plateau, stay stuck for awhile, get unmotivated, fall off task, get excited again, get back on track...etc.... hahaha is it the " Oprah cycle" or perhaps I should just call it living life but not losing sight of the commitment I made to myself 5 years ago. It's never to late to change your life!

Ahoy Sailor!

This winter, I found a set of sailor uniforms at auction that belonged to a service man who served on the USS Mattaponi during WWII. Nothing can beat a cute pair of vintage sailor pants. They looked awfully small at the time but when I got them home and put them on they fit perfect. One thing I love about vintage sailor pants is the waist.... it's completely adjustable and can be made to fit tighter or looser. I always have that problem with my pants, when the hips fit the waist is to big.

History of the USS Mattaponi:

The Mattaponi was a fuel ship which served in the United States Navy during World War II, periodically during the 1950s, and in the Vietnam War. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the Mattaponi River in eastern Virginia. The ship was decommissioned in 1970 and sold for scrap metal in 1973.

The Outfit:
Perfect for a chilly Spring day!
Vintage WWII wool sailor pants
Fluff Sailor girl T-shirt
1940's Bakelite bracelets

I did eventually do my hair today too..... I call them lazy rolls with a rolled bang!

A Saturday Surprise

I had an appointment this morning at 9:30 so, I assumed that my Saturday morning would be consumed with driving to the appointment and driving home. Giving me no time to make it to any auctions or morning yard sales to find anything fun! How wrong I was. On my way home, I decided to stop in at a local auction house that I would be driving past just to have a look see. I knew my chances would be slim pickings as it was after 12 o'clock and most of the box lots would have sold at this point. But hey, ya never know right? There was a few areas of box lots left so, I went off to take a look. Nothing in that box, nothing in that box, and so on. I was beginning to lose hope until I unwrapped some newspaper and saw a Salem North Star design on a gravy boat! That gravy boat also had friends...and not just in one box but also in the box right next to it. Two glorious boxes full of Salem North Star!

Now, the problem with box lots is this...all kinds of things are thrown into the boxes and sometimes dish sets and things that go together might not all be in the same box or even close together in boxes. Even though I got a 37 piece set, there were no bowls in the boxes. Were there bowls and other pieces in other boxes that day?? There could have been and I wasn't sharp enough to find them all. That's probably the biggest negative to box lots. But now I will show you a big positive to box lots. You sometimes will get valuable things in your box that others and even you did not realize was there. Today was one of those days for me. Since both boxes contained pieces of the same set, people stopped unwrapping the newspaper covered pieces to look at all of them. They just assumed like I did, that all the newspaper wrapped dishes were the same. How wrong we all were. When I got home and unwrapped ALL the pieces, down at the very bottom wrapped up tight, was this beautiful piece of Roseville Pottery!

Now, I don't know much about Roseville Pottery other then it seems people at auctions like to collect it! The little research I did tells me this: This design is called Pinecone. Roseville pottery introduced Pinecone in 1935. Pinecone became the most successful and highest volume pattern produced during the existence of Roseville pottery. The pattern includes over 75 different shapes in blue, brown, and green.

Pretty neato! Something tells me that when someone packed up the contents of the house, they didn't know what it was and just stuck it in the bottom of the box. I'm sure you're all wondering what I paid for my box lot?? I paid $27 and got a sweet Saturday surprise.

Does anyone out there have anymore information about Roseville pottery they would like to share with me? Does anyone have a collection of Roseville pottery? I could imagine that this type of pottery would be fun to collect!