Retro Christmas ornaments from my past

Happy Christmas to all!

Hers's a pic of my parents' tree, with a much beloved teardrop ornament from the 1970s that we grew up with - there are only three or so left.

I loved these teardrops as a kid, and I still do.

It still has the old string on it, can you imagine? And it looks like the top bit is rusted!






There are only two left of this teardrop, this one and a red one, both faves.

Behind you can see a big red ball with white icing-sugar like designs on it. My Mom bought a box of those balls, in solid red and solid blue, when she was 21 and wasn't able to make it to her home for Christmas because of bad weather.

There are maybe half a dozen of these balls left, and we all love them as much as Mom does.

Speaking of being 21 and Moms, my Mom started a holiday ornament tradition when we were about 20. She gives all her girls, and now her grandchildren, a holiday tree ornament every year. It's such a nice tradition. Though I have never not gone home for the holidays, if ever I don't I know I can look at my ornaments and feel a sense of home ... and Mom, natch.

Have a lovely day.

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Blue jewel earrings

My sis and I bought these earrings the summer before grade 9, at the Ottawa Exhibition - and I still have them.

We wore them a lot in grade 9, and so did our pals! The fun thing about being young: wearing eachothers' clothing and accessories!

So as we prepare for our highschool reunion this weekend, here's my tribute to grade 9 fashion, and to hanging onto special things that hold fond memories: my grade 9 class pic.

This is one of my fave pics of myself. Quelle hair! I threw a bottle of blond hair dye on my hair - stupidly - hence the brassy look.

I'm wearing my fave royal blue wool sweater here, with a black scarf I bought the year earlier and wore to death for a few years - wonder what happened to it? I lent the sweater to a friend and never got it back, alas - it still smarts that she never gave it back nor recognized how important it was to me.

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Grunge queen at 16

If I told you exactly what year this was, I'd have to kill you.

I'm off to my -- high school reunion near the end of this week, so this week's posts will be somewhat nostalgic in bent.

Can you tell which one is me? I haven't changed much, have I?

I was a grunge queen at 16. The turtleneck and shoes were new (but I had the shoes since grade 8!), and I picked up the funky paisley skirt at a second-hand shop in Ottawa for next-to-nothing. It came with a very retro jacket with three-quarter sleeves and a huge yoke collar, and the waist on the skirt was so huge I had to get the skirt cut in half by my seamstress to wear it!

I loved that skirt and its funky purple and maroon swirls. Why did I get rid of it?

And that blue leather coat? It belonged to my mom when she was younger, and my sis and I wore it do death when we were in high school. Why oh why did we get rid of it, and where did it go?

This is a look I'd wear now, a pretty timeless retro go-go 1960s look. Pretty sure I wore this ensemble with silver hoop earrings too.

Ah, those were the days.

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The Bag

It doesn't have to be an IT bag, oh no. But a well-made bag is the secret to looking like you're worth more than you are, and surprisingly it can be hard to find. I don't typically buy new because I loathe the cheapie bauble-prone bags found in most mass market retailers and can't afford, say, a Birken. But this Matteo Mio by Montreal artist Edmond Salama is artisan-crafted and still looks brand spankin' new after a few months. Yes, it was an investment piece for this deal diva: $250. But well worth it. A great representation of his designs are available in Toronto at Whatever Lola Wants at 1625 Bayview Ave.

On the other hand, if you dig around you can find some real statement piece bags and purses for next to nothing. This patent retro purse with the wonderful shape was only $10 at Bead Goes On, 256 Soudan Ave. (near Mount Pleasant Rd). in Toronto. Reminds me of a bag I used to play dress up with when a little girl!

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