Tina's Favorite Things: Vintage Gloves

I wish I lived in the 50's... only not really.

I want to walk around in lovely dresses, and heels, and pearls 24/7. Sure, I do that now, but I want it to be the norm. This is part of the reason I LOVE vintage gloves.

Vintage gloves completely class up my look with very little effort.
I bought these three pairs in a resale shop for less that $5 each!

I'm not normally a huge fan of fall, but I'm excited to break out my trench so I can wear these gloves!

This is the shortest pair I own. I love the detailing on the upperside.

This pink pair was too adorable to pass up. I especially love the bunching on the sides.

These are my most favorite. Long cream colored gloves. They just scream 1950. LOVE.

Tina's Favorite Things: Serving Dishes

Some of my favorite items are kitchen items. I especially love serving dishes. I'm a big fan of an eclectic grouping of dishes. None of my dishes match and I love it. I mostly find things at Marshall's or Ross, though sometimes I'll pick up an item in an antique shop, or at Goodwill.

This past Saturday I decided to go "antiquing" around the U street corridor of Eastern Market.
I was there a few weeks ago with some girlfriends and we stumbled across the most wonderful junk shop: Ruff and Ready. The place is a mess, piles and piles of just stuff. It's definitely not a place for someone who isn't ready to dig around and get dirty. If you're willing to put in the effort though it can me worth it. I found the two serving dishes below in a bow full of kitchen things.

As you can see they are more than diamonds in the rough. They were both filthy and disgusting.
I had a feeling they were silver though. I haggled with the shop keeper and got both pieces for $15. I took them home and gave them a good scrubbing with some silver polish, and now...

Just lovely!

I looked up the serial numbers of the plates online and I was only half right. One of the dishes is stainless steel, and resells for about $40. The other piece however is antique silver from 1949. It definitely made my money back on that investment! Not to mention it's my first piece of silver!
I'm really excited to add something so old to my serving collection. I intend to get a lot of use out of both of these items, and at $15 they were both quite the steal!

Stay tuned in tomorrow for another post!

Tina's Favorite Things: Beauty Products

I'm a KISS (keep it simple sweetie) kinda girl. I don't wear a lot (or any) makeup for the most part. In the morning I don't eve blow dry my hair. I just never got into that whole makeup routine. It wasn't until recent years that I even knew HOW to put on makeup. However, I have come across a few products that I now love.

Evian Facial Spray

Have you tried this stuff? It's amazing. It's a light mist of water (with moisturizers) in a tiny spray bottle. It's perfect size to fit in my purse. I got it as part of my bridesmaid gift for a wedding I was in in Dallas. The wedding was outside in June, so I definitely needed this product. It was so hot and this kept me just a few degrees cooler.

Clinique Eyeliner

I've never paid a lot of money (more than $5) for eyeliner. I was so dumb. The eyeliner at Clinique is amazing. It's cream based to it goes on creamy and blends perfectly. I also bought it not in black, but in violet. If there is one thing I have learned, it's that brown people look amazing in purple. I run with that.

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

So I know this is nothing new for most of you out there, but I couldn't not give a shout out to Burt's Bees. This lip balm kicks Chapstick's butt. I'm not really sure what's in it (crack maybe?) but I'm addicted. It's gotten to the point that I don't ask people if they have Chapstick, or lip balm, I ask if they have Burt's.

Tina's Favorite Things: Fashion

I'm am hardly a fashionista, but there are certain items I have found in my travels that I could not live without.

Here are a few of my favorite fashion items:

HUGE Rings.

I have to attribute this newer obsession to my friend Tamsin. She totally turned me onto huge rings. It was completely her thing first, and I'm just a copycat. I can't help it though. I love them.

My favorite place to find big rings in DC is Eastern Market, and my favorite place in NOLA for all kinds of jewelery is Trendz (yes, with a Z, but don't let that turn you off to this place). Both have cheap one of a kind pieces that will add a lot of flair to your wardrobe.

Bumpits.

Shut up. I know what you're thinking. But I can't help myself I LOVE my bumpit. I bought it originally as sort of a joke. A "Haha, look at me being ridiculous", but it's turned into a love affair. I love adding some volume to my do, and I love taking my bumpit out when I'm with a group of people... especially guys. Men are totally fascinated with the bumpit. It's hilarious.

LL Bean Totes

My friend Annie bought me a mini LL Bean boat and tote for Christmas a few years ago. Now I am totally hooked on these tote bags. They have zipper tops, so things wont fall out of them. They have long handle, perfect for slinging over your shoulder, and most importantly (for me), they are indestructible. These things can take a beating. They are meant for boating, so you can leave em in the sun, get them sandy, get them wet, crumple them up, and they will continue to hold strong. They are completely color customizable and come in an array of sizes. I've asked for the x-large for Christmas.

Tina's Favorite Things: Kitchenwares

For a really long time, my friend Sarah told me about these awesome pancakes she made. I knew I had to have these pancakes. I finally did during my Memorial Day Beach Weekend in the OBX. Sarah was right, these pancakes were amazing.

Sarah also, for my birthday, bought me a cast iron skillet, so I could make the pancakes myself. I have come to LOVE this skillet, seriously, I have no idea how I lived my life without it.

The mine looks like this, no lip makes for an easier surface to cook on. Though, I do plan on purchasing one with a lip for easier boiling and broiling.

Also for my birthday my parents bought me every little girls dream... that's right, a kitchenaid standing mixer.

Isn't it pretty? I still haven't used it as it's soooo ridiculously hot in DC right now, nothing on earth makes me want to turn on my oven. Originally I was kinda sad that they didn't get me one that was a color, but now I like my white one. White goes with everything...

Finally, when I went home for my cousin's wedding, I managed to snag something from my mother's kitchen. My mom has long had 2 sets of cookware, a stainless steel set, and an enamel cast iron set. It was long ago decided (by the fates) that my little sister was to have the nicer, cast iron set. However, my little sister is in college right now. She has no need for enamel cast iron cookware... I on the other hand...

Yep, I stole her cookware. Well, I didn't really "steal" it, as she allowed me to take it.

This is kind of the same thing I have, just a different color. Now that I have this cookware, I can't believe I ever cooked on pans I bought at Target.

Although I love my new kitchen items, I feel like I've started myself on a downward spiral. Did you know that there are accessories for stand mixers? Things like, meat grinders, and ravioli makers, and ice cream makers, the list goes on and on. And I promise you, not one of those items is "cheap".

I suppose if this is my addiction it is one I could live with. I hope you all feel inspired to head to the kitchen this evening.

Tina's Favorite Things: Books

Oprah has a favorite things list and I think I am just as, if not more, entertaining than her. ;)
This is the start of my favorite things, today: Books.
I have written posts in the past about how much I love books, but I can't help but bring it up again. There is nothing more satisfying (to me) than finishing a truly great book.
These day's I've been reading a lot of chick lit, which isn't exactly mind motivating, but it's entertaining. I do however have my all time favorites:

Number 5
Fahrenheit 451

This book was so sadly beautiful it made me cry. It's about a world where books are forbidden, and banned. The book initially was meant to symbolize how television is ruining the literary world, but since its debut has become an anthem for all people who fight against censorship. I think this book really hits home because one of the worst nightmares I have ever had is about all my books being burned. (I know I'm a HUGE dork). This book sort of epitomizes all that books are to me.

Number 4
House of Leaves

I can't even begin to describe this book. I have never read anything else like it. It's a beautiful love story surrounded by a horror story. The book is written in an interesting style. There are two stories simultaneously being told. Other stories also enter the realm through footnotes that go on for pages and pages. There are references to books that don't exist. You almost get lost in trying to decipher what is "real" and what is "fiction". I have never been so entranced by a book. I wish I could do a better job explaining it, but it's one of those books that you just have to read to appreciate.

Number 3
To Kill a Mockingbird


I can't count the number of times I have read this book. I first read it in 8th grade and I have kept a copy on my bookshelf ever since. I think it's the first book I have ever truly LOVED. Whenever I'm feeling a little nostalgic I can pick this book up, flip to any section, and immediately become entranced in the world of Scout and Jem.

Number 2
The Fountainhead

The Fountainhead is the first book I ever read by Ayn Rand. I cannot explain in words how much I love this book. I want to meet Rand and be her friend, that's how much I admire her work. This book was my favorite at one point.

Number 1
Atlas Shrugged

Who is John Galt? This is the best book ever written hands down. I welcome people's opinions on other books that are better, and I would love to read them, but this is it for me. This is the bee's knees. The end all and be all of books. Galt's 50 page monologue is so beautifully written, it commands the reader to almost read aloud in order to fully capture all that is being said. I absolutely LOVE this book. I can't think of another literary work, except the Bible, that is so wonderfully written.

These of course are my favorite books today, but I reserve the right to change my mind at any time :)

What are your favorite books, and why?

Love, Tina Marie