Sugar Rush: Jelly Donut Twirl Skirt (Heart of Haute)

I was TRYING to be good and go on a spending ban after the doozy that is Black Friday happened on top of some good ol' fashioned Christmas gift purchasing, but when I saw this skirt on the Heart of Haute Instagram, I couldn't follow my own rules.

Central Park Winter Print Vivi Dress (LindyBop)

I used to believe I'd be a killer ice skater. I didn't expect to be flipping backward on the ice or anything, but, as a kid, I always fantasized about ice skating and imagined gliding effortlessly across the ice hand in hand with a special someone. Barf, right?

BBRBF Book Club: Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

Picking Swamplandia! as our BBRBF Book Club read this month worked out well. With the cover consisting primarily of red and green, it's the perfect book to review a mere few days before the happiest day on the planet - Christmas! Noelle made the suggestion - was it intentional? We may never know...

Unique Vintage {Light Up} Christmas Tree Skirt

As I started splurging on Holiday themed dresses this season (basically as soon as I was able to), I knew one thing was for sure - I had to photograph at least one of them at a Christmas tree stand.

Read My Lips: Lipstick Skirt Made by Anna!

Some laugh when I gush about the friends I've made via social media in the past few years. Laugh all they want, but I have met some amazing people from communities on Instagram, Facebook Buy/Sell/Trade groups for brands I love like Bernie Dexter, ModCloth, and more, and, of course, through blogging.

I feel like I have my own global Squad. Move over, Taylor Swift. These retro babes are gonna give you a run for your money.

Raspberry Brownie White Chocolate Bark

I was going to share this after the holidays but if you're like me, you enjoy giving edible treats as gifts. I love making unique little treats for grandparents' gifts as they often pull the "I don't want anything besides your love and company" line whenever you ask what they'd like for Christmas. So they get treats, those stubborn grannies and grampies.

Know what makes a great gift? Bark! No, not the sound the puppers make. Noooo, not the stuff that grows on trees. Chocolate bark!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland (Bernie Dexter)

Okay, so it wasn't quite a winter wonderland the day I wore this dress, but we did get our first snow only a few days after so I say it counts! We woke up this past Monday to lovely snowflakes falling from the sky, our yard and driveway covered in the softest blanket of snow.

Ho-Ho-Harley Dress from Pinup Girl Clothing

Now that December is in full swing, don't expect anything but Christmas themed posts from here on out. I might have 1 non-holiday themed post scheduled for the next few weeks, but who am I kidding? I am in full blown Christmas mode and cannot be stopped.

It is my recommendation that, if you are a Grinch, just avoid my blog altogether until December 26th, k?

One Tough {Christmas} Cookie - Modcloth

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I was going to give this post a clever and punny Christmas themed title but decided to go with the idiom "One Tough Cookie" after experiencing something interesting while photographing this outfit.

What's Sara Reading? Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

I think I heard about Anna Kendrick's memoir, Scrappy Little Nobody, in late Spring. Then I pre-ordered it in the early summer. Then I waited until the late fall for it to be downloaded onto my Kindle. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to finally read it!

Bodies in the Sand, Tropical Drink Melting in Your Hand...

I have been home from Aruba for a couple weeks now but I am still dreaming about our week in paradise. It was beyond dreamy and I figured a post devoted to our experience was due!

We stayed at the Riu Palace Antillas, an all-inclusive adults-only resort right on the beach. Cody and I have never taken a destination vacation before (unless you count our weekend getaways to Vermont, NH, and Maine) and it was quite the experience.

Thankful in Voodoo Vixen's Judy Dress

Happy (early) Thanksgiving!

I wanted to share this beautiful Voodoo Vixen Judy dress for weeks now. It actually arrived on my door step the day before we left for Aruba and I didn't have the chance to even try it on before taking off. Once we got home, though, this puppy was taken out for a test run. I wore this for our  Friendsgiving that Cody and I host every year and plan to wear it for Thanksgiving later this week.

The BBRBF Book Club: Not Working by Lisa Owens

Happy November, my fellow book worms! Welcome to another installment of The BBRBF Book Club! Be sure to check out posts from other members of the club participating this month - Helene from Circle Skirts and Petticoats, and Kat from The Miss Information Blog!

Storytime: LindyBop Book Print Bletchley Dress

While I may be dress obsessed, I am not always on the ball when it comes to hot new releases. I read my newsletters like any good retro gal does - LindyBop, Lady V London, Bernie Dexter, and PUG all sends them often to my delight. Sometimes, though, a few slip under the radar.

Including this one!

Lady V London Pink Flamingo Madison Dress in Paradise!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am back from my week in paradise. For those of you who don't know (and by now, I think the whole world knows), I was on vacation in Aruba with Cody for the past week. Boy, was I looking forward to it and boy, did we enjoy it!!

Ugly Apple Cookies

Happy November! It's not too late for an apple treat, is it? NO WAY, JOSE!

I figure, until Thanksgiving has come and gone, apples are still fair game.

Happy Halloween with Tabby Cat Crafter!

Bonjour & Happy Halloween(ish)!

If you couldn't tell who I am dressed as already, then shame on you! I'm kidding - I am sweet little Madeline! I remember reading her story and seeing her show as a kid and knew I wanted to pay homage to this storybook character for Halloween - just an older, slightly pinup version of her!

Happy 2nd Birthday, In A Nutshell!

Wow! WOW! My blog turned 2 earlier this month and while it doesn't feel like that long at all, it feels like a big accomplishment at the same time. I've grown a lot since my first post and seen my blog's style and focus get clearer in the past two years.

The BBRBF Book Club: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The BBRBF Book Club is getting spooky this month as we read the classic, "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley! Make sure you keep an eye on the other club members' blogs to see their thoughts and inspired outfit: Helene at Circle Skirts and Petticoats, Kat at The Miss Information Blog, Kristina at Eyre Effect, and Noelle at The Classy Junk.

Retro Recipe: Mom's Chocolate Cake

I'm just gonna go ahead and call this a retro recipe because, well, look at the recipe my mom has used since the start of time (aka when my sisters and I were babies). Also, the frosting recipe is a health concern - more on that later.

All that aside, considering I had this cake on my first birthday, I'd say this recipe counts as retro. Born in '88 what-whaaaaat?

New York & Company Audrey Ankle Pant in Floral Print

If you had to read that title twice to make sure you read it correctly, don't worry, I did too. Yes, you read it right - PANTS!! I am featuring a pair of pants on my blog for only the second time. GO ME!

What's Sara Reading? Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

I have been SO PUMPED to share this edition of "What's Sara Reading?" you have NO clue! As many know (since I will gush about him to anyone who will listen), I am a HUGE Bruce Springsteen fan. I have been my whole life. Sometimes I think it's due to the fact that my mom attended one of his concerts when she was pregnant with me. Or maybe it was one of my sisters. Meh, the story changes every time!

What's a Girl to Do When She Just Can't Choose? Collectif Jasmine Floral Swing Skirts from Modern Millie!

Last weekend, before Salem, Ma got too taken over with Halloween festivities (seriously - once October starts, it's fun but crazy in that neck of the woods!), I met up with Jen from Dressing with Class so we could shop til we dropped at Modern Millie.

Little American Girl in Germany: 4 Days with Anna & Florian in Bonn!

Never in my entire life have I been so exhausted returning from a trip! That being said, it may have been one of the most amazing trips I've ever taken. My work trip in Amsterdam wrapped up on September 13th and on Wednesday the 14th, I took the train down to Cologne, Germany, where Anna picked me up (looking adorable in her mum covered Kelly dress from Bernie Dexter) from the train station and swept me away to Bonn, where she shares an adorably cool and modern 2 bedroom apartment with her amazingly sweet boyfriend, Florian.