Woman of a Thousand Faces

When I shared this photo on Instagram, someone commented that I look like Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I thought that was a bit of a stretch until I consulted Google and, well...

OK, then! Same taste in clothes as well.
That got me thinking of all the people I've been told I look like through the years and more recently from readers here and on Instagram. This is a long, photo-heavy post, so get comfortable!

When I was younger, I would frequently be told I looked like Bette Middler...

Then she went blonde and started dressing better, so that was that. I would happily dress like 70s Bette-she had a great style.

For several years in the late 70s, I was told I looked like Stephanie Powers. I never saw that either...

Maybe a little around the eyes, but I still don't see it. Still, you could be compared to worse looking people.

Helena Bonham Cater...

I wish! But no, definitely not.

Adrienne Barbeau...

OK maybe, but not because of my face😁. 

Speaking of boobs, I've been told several times that I look like Laine Kazan

Gosh, that's actually fair! But really, no one ever noticed anything about her except the size of her knockers. I'm starting to sense a trend.

Let's not forget Jennifer Saunders...

 But that's not even the worst of it...

...all I need is a ukulele

I  even looked like Tiny Tim as a kid! It really is a pity I'm not musical!

and really, this is just scratching the surface! I definitely need to do a part two, as I've left off so many of the people I've been told I resemble. I guess I just have an interesting face! I've had people approach me convinced they know me, and I always wonder which celebrity they're thinking of! 

What about you? Do you resemble anyone famous?

March(ing) My Fat Ass Into Spring

Well, hasn't this month just flown by? Last time I posted we had snow, then floods, and now it is practically summer. I know better than to pack my winter clothes, but I am looking forward to a few less layers.

We were lucky in Omaha with respect to flooding, but neighbouring towns were not as fortunate. We had a bit of a foundation issue that was caught and corrected quickly, for which I am very thankful.

Chicken Boy is back in the garden, ready for Easter. I already planted out peas, spinach, and radishes. The sorrel is up, and next week I plan to get the chard started. Potatoes will be a few weeks after, and then I'm not certain what I'll do. Probably a few tomatoes, some flowers, nothing major. I have tickets for a pre-season exhibition baseball game tonight and expect we'll be sitting in the ballpark wearing winter coats, gloves, etc. Mr. ETB is wisely staying home.

 I wanted an Easter version of my Santa Pants purse, but couldn't find anything bunny related that wasn't creepy. Instead, I bought this basket, made a lid for it with cardboard and fabric, and now I have a carrot purse.

 This was a quick and easy project as I didn't line the basket. It would be simple enough to do though.

I knew that vintage silk fabric would find a use, eventually!

How about some outfits?

I thought this was a rather nice combination for spring. The skirt is made of a towelling/terrycloth material, and has a matching tunic. Together, it is a bit much, but worn as separates, I can finally get use from the pieces. The vintage blouse was a very lucky find as I rarely find nice ones in my size. 

Outfit Particulars:

Vintage blouse-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage skirt-Goodwill

Vintage jacket-New Life Thrift

Brooch-Thrift World

Earrings-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage clutch-Goodwill

Vintage bangles and rings-several places

This was one of my favourite outfits of the year, thus far. I have admired Veronica's Desigual pieces she's shown on her blog from time to time, but have never seen the brand in the US. I found this dress on the bargain rack at Hand-Me-Ups, and thought it must be too good to be true. Looking it over, it appeared unworn, and was even in my size. I'd never spend what these dresses retail for, but at thrift store prices, I couldn't possibly say no. I do love it-the floral print is just so lovely. 

 Outfit Particulars:
Desigual dress-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage Handmacher jacket-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage brooch-Goodwill
Vintage earrings-New Life Thrift
Vintage necklace-Hand-Me-Ups
Boots-Goodwill
Vintage handbag-Goodwill

In the winter light, this particular corner of my house gets just bright enough, and I am able to balance my phone against a teacup on the dining room table for timer photos. Is it perfect? no, but I am able to get it over quickly, without requiring anyone's assistance. There's drawbacks, of course-I can look elongated or stunted depending on how the phone is propped, and I am rarely able to get full-length shots of any quality.

That's not your eyes-it is blurry!

 My primary concern has always been the clothes. I don't airbrush my wrinkles, or try to hide my crooked spine. I admit to being really, REALLY insulted when I was messaged by someone I thought I knew pretty well on Instagram accusing me of photoshopping myself to look thinner. Following it with "LOL" didn't make it any less nasty. In fact, I'm downright angry. If elongating the shot lets you see more of the clothes, that's what I'll do. I don't give a rat's ass if I look fat (I AM fat! Militantly so!). Honestly, if El Greco were painting today he'd get called out for making everyone look taller!
Outfit Particulars:
Skirt-Goodwill
Blouse-Goodwill
Vintage carpet bag-Thrift World
Earrings-Target
Clogs-Hand Me-Ups

 This was a fun outfit to put together. I'm wearing a tiered satin skirt beneath a sheer, vintage dress.

The underskirt is gold, as is the trim on the dress-again, it doesn't show well in the photos but I'm not willing to spend money on an expensive phone just for a camera.

Outfit Particulars:
Vintage dress-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage belt-Thrift World
Satin skirt-Goodwill
Shoes-Goodwill
Bolero-Goodwill
Earrings-Hand-Me-Ups

 This pink, knit suit isn't my sort of thing-AT ALL. Still, good vintage is hard to pass up, so I took a chance and it turned out better on my person than the hanger.

 No photoshopping here! Humped spine and fat ass-model's own 😁

 Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Suit-Goodwill
Boots-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage Margaret Smith bag-Hand-Me-Ups
Blouse-Goodwill

By March, I start getting desperate to wear some of the warm weather items I've picked up over the long winter. There was still snow on the ground the day I opted to wear this sundress, so I stuck a long-sleeved top beneath it and wore it anyway.

Outfit Particulars:
Indonesian dress-Hand-Me-Ups
Necklaces-various thrift shops
Top-Dots in Revere about 20 years ago! That's getting your money out of fast fashion.
Earrings-Target

 I did a similar thing here with a vintage Kressandra of San Francisco dress I couldn't wait until summer to wear.

 Strange camera effects again. I have a pretty big head...but not THAT big!

 Outfit Particulars:
70s dress-Hand-Me-Ups
70s blouse-Goodwill
70s jacket (part of a dress) Salvation Army store
Boots-K Mart
 Betsey Johnson Purse-Goodwill
Earrings-antique mall
Cha cha bracelet-Goodwill

 Finally, you know spring has arrived when my Mexican skirts start appearing on the blog. Yes, I still need heavy tights and a blouse with a tunic beneath it-but let's stay focused on the positives. What I really need is a hand-painted and sequined velvet Mexican skirt-but they cost a small fortune. Perhaps someday the vintage gods will send me one for my winter wardrobe.

 Have had that bag since the 90s

 Silver shoes? Why not?

 Don't save your white lucite jewellery for summer-it looks fab against black. The top has silver dots that capture sunshine in a most blinding way. I love wearing it with white shorts in summer.

Outfit Particulars:
Skirt-Goodwill
Top-K Mart several years ago when Selena Gomez had a line there
Necklace-Can't remember
Bag-retail, 90s
Shoes-Goodwill
Vintage belt-Hand-Me-Ups
Earrings-Target

So that's about it for now. I hope early spring is treating you well. Here's hoping they aren't throwing snowballs instead of baseballs at Werner Park tonight!

Sunshine Superman

Long time no see. Sorry about that. Life, blah, blah, blah.

The lovely Veronica at Vronni's Style Meanderings graciously nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I'm flattered as I don't really view myself as being in possession of a sunny disposition, so I will do my best to keep this on a positive note. Veronica is one of my favourite bloggers as she has built an incredible wardrobe through charity shop purchases, and has a wonderful way of putting together an outfit. She's inspired me to try everything from bright trousers and tunics to gigantic necklaces and head scarves. An avid walker, volunteer, and all around lovely human being, I am so grateful for the blogging community that introduced us. As part of the award, I am tasked with answering a set of questions and then tagging others with questions of my own. I won't tag anyone as some people don't enjoy this sort of thing, but will offer my own questions at the end of the post and encourage anyone that cares to participate to do so. 

Question #1-Why did you start blogging?

High point of rural life is a trip to the farm store to see the chicks in spring.

When I was expecting Danny, it seemed like a nice way to document motherhood, homeschooling, and rural life along with my learning to cook.  In 2001 we moved from Boston, Massachusetts to a very small town in rural Nebraska where we lived on a farm for the next dozen years. I had to learn a completely different way of life as there wasn't any popping down to the corner store, or going out for a meal. Trips to the city were planned, and as a result I had to get creative with budgeting and cooking.

Our home library/classroom on the farm.Those were double-sided bookcases in the front!

Question #2-Has your blog changed since you started it?

Absolutely! In 15 years I've grown older (sadly, true) and my interests have shifted from cooking and life on a farm to showcasing my vintage clothing collection, living in the city, and my love of thrift shopping. I don't blog much about running (boring!), but it is a large part of my life since 2015. 

I can't remember the last time I made candied citrus slices.

Question #3-Blogging is time consuming-What are the challenges you find in finding the time?

It isn't easy! These days I spend most of my online time on Instagram @Goodymcgoodface or on Tumblr (goodymcgoodface.tumblr.com). I try to keep the blog for longer, more thought out posts or storytelling. 

Question #4-When do you write a post, morning or evening?

This has changed over the years. Initially, I wrote in the evenings after Danny went to bed. As he grew older, that became later, so I shifted to mornings. These days I am not up at 5 am as I am no longer on the farm, so I tend to write my posts in bits throughout the day, stringing it together when I get a block of uninterrupted time. 

Question #5-What is your favourite topic?

Perfume! As a devoted fume-head, I will happily speak at length on the subject. I try to limit the fragrance posts on the blog as I know not everyone shares my interest. I consider my daily fragrance choice as carefully as my outfit. 

Question #6-What's the thing you love most about blogging?

The people I've met! Rural life can be terribly isolating. Even when I did get to know people, we rarely shared the same interests. Through blogging I've met people from all walks of life, around the world, brought together by common interests. I've learned so much from my readers!

Having friends outside the US is helpful when you need a poster of the Canadian Prime Ministers for school!

Question #7-What is the thing you like least?

Looking back over 15 years of blogging and seeing some of the terrifying food I've fed my family. There's a learning curve with cooking and mine was steep! Without a blog as evidence, I could deny ever having fed them Jell-O salads. 

Gala pie made with venison. Learn from my mistakes and DO NOT DO THIS!

Question #8-Where do you see yourself and blog in five years?

That's an interesting question as we are living in such an unsettled time. I hope I'm still blogging. By that time Danny will be out on his own, and I'm not certain what I'll be doing. Whatever it is, I hope to be sharing it with you if you'll permit me. 

Now my questions for you if you care to participate:

1) How did you discover blogging?

2) Tell us a bit about where you're from

3) Your life's theme song

4) favourite childhood memory

If you choose to answer, link back to the blog that nominated you (this one). Answer the questions. Nominate others if you feel comfortable doing so. Provide questions for others to answer. 

Thank you again for this lovely award, Veronica.