Hello.

It's been about two months since my last post. Laggg.

Etsy news:

1. Pearly Smith Vintage is having a One Week Only Sale with everything at 25% off.

2. New additions coming very soon (stuff for your home and stuff for your boyfriend/brother)

Also, I finally posted some brand new listings!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PearlySmithVintage

Regal

Theda Bara is the ultimate silent screen siren. She inspires me to bust out my head ornaments.

Crisp

Just tried this recipe tonight and fell in love so I thought I'd share.*

Celery and Grapefruit Salad with Parmesan
serves two

6 stalks celery, chilled
1 grapefruit, chilled
Pinch sugar
Extra-virgin olive oil, of finishing quality
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese

Slice the celery thinly at an angle using a sharp knife or a mandoline. Cut the ends of the grapefruit then stand it on one flat end to carefully slice away the peel. Cut into slices or segments, (See pictorial instructions here for peeling and segmenting the grapefruit.) Toss the sliced grapefruit and celery thoroughly in a bowl. Season with a pinch of sugar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Shave a little bit of Parmesan with a vegetable peeler or with the mandoline. Toss with the salad.

Heap the salad on two plates, and garnish with a few more substantial shavings of Parmesan. Eat immediately, or chill until serving.

*Picture was not taken by yours truly. I took it from thekitchn.com!

Style Boner

I have one for Ali Macgraw right now. She's so tickling my senses. I wish I was near my closet right now. I'm away for work with about 7-8 pieces of clothing to last me two weeks. Wish I brought my camera, I'm just beginning to look silly after all these combinations. Two more days to go, then it's S'LONG BUENAVENTURA. Or whatever...

Ok, get inspired. Go, go.

Genius Color

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

1. Old Indian man

2. Cogey

3. Curried pumps by Anthro

4. Death Valley

5. Red kitchen via Apartmenttherapy.com

While I'm at it

Look at how pukey these are. I can't believe my eyes.

Weaksauce

The following is a list of a few things I want out of my sight. I am over it.

1. Shoulder embellishments (i.e. sequins, studs, lace)/over exaggerated shoulders/ puffed or ruched sleeves

2. The Kardashians and the keeping up with them. C'mon! I don't even have cable and I can list their names just from hearing about them every-freaking-where.

3. Ugg boots in California. Make that Ugg boots in general. (And I just saw a Jimmy Choo-Ugg collaboration boot and it was horrifying)

P.S. THE CHOOG! Google it.

ALREADY?

What the hell, how is it already September? It's truly amazing to think back on the days before puberty and how slow time seemed to waddle on. September would hit, school would be back in session and man, December seemed a hundred miles away. This year has gone by quicker for me than ever before and it's a little frightening to fathom how fast time will seem to pass when I become a real grown-up.

On a lighter note, I've been brainstorming Halloween ideas and I can't come up with any costume idea worthy or at least anything that will outdo my costume last year. My guy and I dressed up as Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo. We looked good if I do say so myself.

My New Shoes

Special urban.

Summer Cleaning

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PearlySmithVintage

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PearlySmithVintage

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PearlySmithVintage

Furniture Love

1.

2.

3.

4.


I know it's wrong to obsess over things. But I don't give two hoots. I have lately been keeping an eagle's eye out for the perfect seats on Etsy to fill my home.

1. Rocking Eames by CoMod on Etsy

2. Vanity stool by junk2funkbiz on Etsy

3. Gossip bench by RagBagTreasures on Etsy

4. Eames sofa by thevintagesupplyco on Etsy

Sweet Dee

Bra, necklace, coverall by H&M

Shoes by Sonia Rykiel pour H&M

Leggings by Target

Whoops. Finally putting myself out there. I don't know how I feel about it, but here goes nothing. Thanks Cogey for the fotografo.

Not Just For Tomboys And Angelina Jolie

Cargo love. Right now, I'm super into my new super slim fit cargo jeans. I don't care if you all say it's passé or faux-pas, or butch. I love, love them too much. I'm trying to find decent ones online to share with the world as right now I am not near a camera to show my own off. These are the ones I came up with. ACCEPT IT. AND LOVE IT.

Bloomingdale's $78

Bergdorf Goodman $231

Saks Fifth Avenue $248

Infection

Dear Hackers,

I hope your lives are filled with pleasure knowing that your malicious viruses are inconveniencing random, anonymous victims worldwide. I would hate to think that all the hassel I've gone through these past weeks trying to fix my infected computer didn't bring even the slightest glimmer of satisfaction into your otherwise obvious empty, petty lives. Alas, the infection has been eliminated and the good guys have won. The game is over. Long live the tech-savvy friends who helped my lappy and I recover and preservere.

Thanks for nothing,

Miss Smith

Pretty Little Things

1.

2.

3.

4.

I am taking a Musical Theatre History class this summer and in addition to what I suspected the class would be (learning about musicals I've never heard of and learning the names of different composers), I am also learning about the different sub-genres. Two in particular are quite intriguing: vaudeville and burlesque. I wanted to post up some things that I find are specifically inspired by these two pre-WWII types of entertainment. Mostly burlesque, since it's cuter, aesthetically.

1. & 2. handmade lingerie found @ ToadLillie.etsy.com
3. handmade pasties found @ TabiFondapetting.etsy.com
4. ruffled pantie found @ Espalore.etsy.com

Budget Martha (II)

Ok, so before we get into the finger foods, I want to present the most darling, useful and inexpensive part favor I've ever used.

#2 The Favor

Little baggies were purchased at the local craft store (approx $3 for 20 bags) and the cherries were from Fresh and Easy (about $1.50 a lb)

Step one: Buy materials.
Step two: Stuff.

See? EASY

Budget Martha (I)

So I threw my good friend Jen a graduation party a few weeks ago and was on a very tight budget. Overall I spent less than three hundred dollars to accomodate about twenty people. I decided that this frugal Franny should share with the world some sure-to-please party ideas.

#1. The Drink

I figured that buying several types of beers, wines, spirits, etc would set me back a little so I decided to stick with one staple for the night and make a lovely summer sangria.

Summer Sangria How-To (serves about 8)

What you'll need:

-A big bowl
-Wooden spoon
-Three oranges
-Some sugar
-A little bit of brandy
-Wine (1 bottle; very dry, red & chilled)
-Two lemons
-A few pineapple rings
-Some club soda
-Ice
-About $25-35 depending on how fancy of brandy and wine you chose. I used the generics because the fruits are really the stars in this and will outshine the alcoholic ingredients.


Step one. Slice two oranges into halves and juice 'em.

Step two. Scoop up about 1/2 a cup of sugar and pour (along with the juice and 1/4 a cup of brandy) into your big bowl.

Step three. Mix and stir with your wooden spoon until sugar has dissolved all the way.

Step four. Add wine.

Step five. Slice lemons & orange very, very thinly. Watch those pretty fingers!

Step six. Add lemon and orange slices along with pineapple rings into your big bowl.

Last step. Let your potent potion marinate for six to twelve hours and chill. Before serving, add 2 cups of club soda and ice. Voila!



Okay, stay tuned for recipes for budget party eats.

Inspirations

Wow, I have probably spent a total of twelve to sixteen hours on Apartment Therapy, Design Sponge, and Martha Stewart Living these past few days and have filled my mind and my hard drive full of inspiring pictures and ideas. I wanted to post my favorites here.

Photo credits: Apartmenttherapy.com, Designspongeonline.com, MarthaStewartLiving.com

June 6, 1932 - November 10, 2008

So the time has come for, I suppose, a bleak blog post. My late father's birthday is tomorrow and I am missing and ache for him evermore. There's so much to be said about such an amazing father, husband and human being. He was such a close friend and father to me, and having him in my life for such a time I have come to realize was a gift and so special. He taught me so many things about culture, life and love. My dad gave me the most support a dad could ever give in anything I wanted to pursue or believe in. I hope he knows, where ever he is, that I wholeheartedly appreciate and love him. (Sorry Joel,) I can never love a man like I love my daddy. Happy birthday, old man. Nagyon szeretlek.

R.I.P.

I love the idea of play cameras. I'm no advanced photographer by any means but last summer I found a passion for Lomography's Fish Eye camera. Too bad it croaked two months ago on my trip to Yosemite. The little winding 'majig that advances the film decided to retire from advancing to the next frame altogether. It's literally stuck. If anyone knows how to fix this other than buying another one of these hipster cameras, please let me know. The roll of film is still in the thing half-used and depressed.

Pictured here: Markie, Cass, Brett, Martin