Hello everyone and Merry Christmas! This post is a little behind others, but I've been spending the last week (which I had completely off, thanks to Metro!) lounging, knitting, reading, eating and drinking - just what Christmas should be, in my books.

I was spoiled enough to have 3 Christmases this year - one at home in Saskatchewan with the Callsens, a small one Dec. 27 with Ian and another with his family on the 29.


PRESENTS!!

These aren't even half of the presents I got- I was spoiled rotten! One of the most exciting things isn't even pictured. Ian told me that he's going to buy a record player for us - thus the records in the last photo! I've always wanted a record player and I'm very excited to get one once we save up.

How was your Christmas?  I hope you all got spoiled as well.

Despite feeling unprepared for the holidays this year, I still freakin' love Christmas. Miss Bee and I made double-date plans to go to Christmas Reflections Fort Edmonton Park with our fellas waaaay back in November, and so when we finally went on Thursday we were both pretty excited.

Christmas Reflections is something the park does every year around this time. Most of the summer stuff at the park is shut down, but you can take a wagon tour through the park, do a little shopping, make crafts, sip cider and even visit Santa.



I was also excited that Ian brought along his camera and newly-replaced lens to take fancy photos. I love having a professional photographer for a boyfriend. That said - Ian is a photojournalist, and therefore is all about the candid shots. Be prepared for a lot of derpy photos of me (which is my default/ neutral look, unfortunately).

Ian took ~60 photos, so I've narrowed it down to my favourite 23. Yup. 23. This is a picture heavy post.

We started things off with a little stroll down 1920s street, where we wished the Capitol Theatre didn't falsely advertise that they were showing Clara Bow films. Jerks.





Then, we popped into a store to make a Christmas craft.

Scissors are hard, I need to concentrate.

I was wearing a $9 Christmas sweater and my great-grandma Callsen's brooch.

Socializing. Just not with each other.

I made a Santa button. I'm very passionate about Santa.

EHRMAHGERD SERNTAH CLERSE!

Carrying on...

Look at the mini tree with its ittle topper! SO CUTE.

More derpy pointing action. Aw yeah.

I'm not the only weirdo.

Writing my letter to Santa, asking for a muff, petticoat and a 54 convertible too (light blue!)

Boom.

These two are adorable.

Looking normal.....

I call this one "The Canadian Flasher"

Yum, cider.

At this point we had a discussion about the best Christmas songs. Thomas and Ian suggested Christmas in Hollis, while Bee and I waxed poetic about how much we love Sleigh Ride. Then we both admitted that we do a little bouncy Sleigh Ride dance whenever we hear it. This is why we're friends, people.




We ended the night with a bonfire and a wagon ride tour through the park.




XO Laurie

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The boxes are unpacked and the house is 90 per cent organized  - it's time to start decorating for Christmas! (or as I've come to call it, Kitschmas)

Despite having a nasty cold (luckily I still have some super-duper awesome American grade cold medicine from California) yesterday was a day full of cleaning, organizing, vacuuming and decorating. I'm usually a "No Christmas before December 1" kind of girl and this year was no exception - although I have been listening to a few Christmas songs as I drive to work.





Most of the decorations are up, although there are some things that I'd like to make, once I find the sewing table underneath the giant pile of books and yarn. Luckily, that's the only thing that needs to be sorted.

Are your decorations and tree up yet?

XO Laurie

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Don't forget about the deal eShakti is offering Retro Reporter readers. From now until December 31, first time eShakti shoppers can receive $25 off their order with the coupon LAURIEMARIECALLSEN.

Regardless of how awesome it is to live solo - from playing the guitar whenever I want to going to bed at 8 p.m. like the old lady I am - it also means that I rely on me, myself and I to pay ALL the bills. Add in the fact that Christmas is fast approaching (3 months from today!) and I'm starting to feel the wallet crunch already.

So I'm challenging myself to take part in a no-spender bender in the lead-up to the holiday season to scrimp and save for presents, decorations and booze. Especially booze. Besides, I get presents at Christmas so I don't really need to go breaking the bank for myself, do I?

Rules (via Miss Bee Vintage)

• no e-bay/etsy/web shopping.
• You get 3 "free" passes for "emergency" purchases  (something on your wish list you have been waiting for, a deal too good to pass up, that sort of thing).
• You can of course buy necessities and replace broken items, that sort of thing. Use the one in/one out rule. Basically no crappy purchases just because you feel like it.
• Entertainment money does not count in this (movies, date nights, dancing). It's all about "merchandise."
• Basically - no spending and splurging on myself before Christmas.

I'm sure you can't tell a difference, but this is my first post from my new-to-me MacBook Pro! I used to have a MacBook before I started blogging, but she died in a tragic drinking and computing incident (lesson learned). I had been using G's Dell laptop, but to be honest it sucked and I much prefer the Mac interface. Thanks to a tax reassessment, I had the money to buy a new one. This is a refurbished 15 in MacBook pro, and it was about $850 cheaper than if I had bought it new. Sweet, eh?

Sorry to be quiet on the blogging front, we had a major breaking news story happen in our area that took my attention. Two RCMP officers (our top cops) were shot on a farm in my coverage area, so I had to run out and cover it - in heels and a skirt, naturally. You can find more information on CamroseCanadian.com if you're so inclined. Luckily yesterday was my day off, so I had a chance to relax (and I also did something very exciting that I can hopefully share with you soon!) and catch up on my sleep.

BUT! I did not just log in to brag about my awesome yet tiring week. I actually have something vintage-related to show you too. My mom forwarded me an email from a colleague of hers who heard that I was into vintage. Imagine my delight when I saw that it was a bunch of scans from a 1934 Christmas catalog. I don't know the source - if she had scanned them or found them on the Internet - but I still wanted to share them.

I love the hair!

I love the sporty ensembles at the top!

Aren't those fabulous? And such great quality too.

I have lots of posts I want to write, so here's hoping I have time soon! While I work this weekend I have a clean slate on Sunday (so far) and all I want to do is bake red velvet cupcakes for Valentine's Day and write a bunch of blog posts!

XO Laurie

I hope you all have a marvelous Christmas, that Santa was good to you and you gorged yourself silly on treats. I had a most excellent holiday despite being away from Saskatchewan for the first time (but we have to share!) and do not want to return to work tomorrow. Le sigh....

Christmas Eve morning G and I woke up and opened the presents my parents had sent us. We were heading to his mom's house later that day and didn't want to haul extra stuff up with us to open (which was smart, because there was a lot to haul home). I'm not going to show EVERYTHING I got (because there was a lot!) but more of the vintage-type things.

My mom sent us both a gift bag full of our stocking stuffers, as well as another small present - both books - and our main present, a $100 pre-paid Visa.We were spoiled!

I got the book Vintage Fashion: Collecting and Wearing Designer Classics by Emma Baxter-Wright. I had actually look through this book before at my friend Nicole's house and was excited when I got my own copy. I'm only skimmed it so far, but it's wonderful - it breaks down styles by decade and goes over the hallmarks of each era, as well as shopping, dating and care tips for vintage.

(warning: photos of me that follow include no make-up and headscarves.)



I also got a really soft, cozy cowl from my sister in our not-so-secret Santa draw.


Here's the rest of my loot: I also got a duster, two hosiery hangers (THE BEST THING EVER!, a vintagey-dress form necklace hanger, a knitted headband (very 20s-esque and will be great for bad hair days), bath bombs, a keychain and a new notebook.



G got a cocktail book, beer glasses and a martini shaker as his extra gifts (among others). He was excited.



Then after this I went dressed to cover a fire downtown that destroyed a historical building. This sucked on so many levels, but at least no one was hurt!

That afternoon we drove to Jan and Gregg's farm to spend the next few days with G's family. Christmas Eve was really relaxing, and G made dinner and then we all waited for Santa. And boy oh boy, did he deliver!


One of the things I got from Santa was this tray with vintage bathing beauties on it:


I was also spoiled rotten by G. A few months ago he showed me a listing on Etsy of a 1940s cigarette case with the original monogram LMC, which are my initials. I totally forgot about it until Christmas morning, when low and behold:

And inside was one of the best gifts a girl can get - back rub and house cleaning coupons:


After I use up all the coupons we are going to design Retro Reporter business cards for me. I'm not sure if other bloggers have cards, but I have been in many a situation where I've been wishing for one!

He also had slipped down to Twig, one of my favourite stores, and had remembered a dress I had been eyeing up. How lucky am I?

On Boxing Day the Christmas money had I been given was burning a hole in my pocket and I couldn't take it any longer, so I hit up some crazy sales with Miss Bee.

First we hit up Mars and Venus on Whyte Ave in Edmonton. There was a small line up to get in because they only have one sale a year and only allow so many customers on the floor, but I like it that way - it was less crowded. I snagged two Heartbreaker items, the Dolly top (~$30 sale price, ~$60 sale price) and the Jolene dress (~$58 sale price, ~$116 regular price).




Then we went to Rowena's down the street, which was also having a 50% off sale. I bought another Heartbreaker dress ($40 instead of the regular sale price of $80) and a Rock Steady dress with a real cowgirl vibe ($42 instead of $84 regular price).


(I'm going to ask my parents nicely to keep an eye out for teal cowboy boots when they go to Nashville - I think they'd go great with this dress!)

Oy vey, I think that's all for tonight. I have a lot of blog post ideas so hopefully I will get to them soon. Until then I think I will toddle off to bed as I have to work in the morning.


Did you have a good holiday?