En Pointe - Ruche

Take a peek at the most beautiful look book I've seen a while. By Ruche, this look book is full of class, chic and just plain gorgeous outfits. If anyting, go through it for the beautiful photographs!

Add captionhttp://shopruche.com/en-pointe-winter-2012-lookbook.html?utm_source=blog_shopruche&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=en-pointe&utm_campaign=blog_giveaway

 

 

Vote Today and Everyday until Nov. 1st !!!!

Exciting news!!! My dress design was one of twenty picked from presumably thousands of entries to be voted on! If my design wins it will be produced to sell on Modcloth.com! Vote to day and everyday until Nov. 1st!!!!!

Go here to vote!

Thank you!

Love,

Miss Mary

The Plaid Barn Giveaway!

Hello readers, it is nice to be writing again; a lot has happened in the past few months, but I'd like to begin with this amazing giveaway from The Plaid Barn!

First thing first - are you crafty?  Do you like cheap things?  Do you like cheap, crafty items?  If you said yes to either, or especially both of these, you'll love this site.  Every weekday The Plaid Barn features one flash sale of a particular item, when the sale ends, it's gone (unless they offer goodie boxes!).  Items on this site go fast, as everyone wants to get their crafty hands on a roll of washi tape for only $1.50 or less!  When I say "on sale" I mean it!  Items for sale can range from jewelery kits, tape, string, tags, wood crafts just to name a few.

For the next two weeks, The Plaid Barn will be offering a chance to win a Fuji Instax 7 with 5 packs of film! (WOW!)  Follow the instructions to enter and receive points! Good luck!

Click to enter

XOXO, 

 Miss Mary

Follow my Instagram via Instagrid!

Hello my lovely readers, thanks you for hanging in there, I feel like I am almost ready to start picking up the blog to full speed once again.  For now,I would love you guys to check out my Instagram feed via Instagrid!

xoxo, Miss Mary

Back in Business and Better than Ever

It has been a little bit more than a month since I last made a blog post; due to the ending of a 3.5 year relationship and requiring time to recuperate.  It was tough, but I have persevered and surprised myself by healing so fast.  Well, I can't credit all the effort to myself, because the newest love of my life and the start of my very own family, should really be getting an award for being so critical to my swift recovery.  I am sure most of you are like "wait, what? It's barely been a month!" But no worries, because this new best friend is a stout, sturdy, 23 pound, mischievous, Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Detective Inspector Digby, or, just Digby. Please give him a round of applause and welcome him to the Empty Pocket book! :)

 

 

Detective Inspector Digby

How Delightful: Designs by Holli Zollinger

If you love crafts, sewing or great art and design take a look at Spoonflower.  Spoonflower allows graphic designers and artists to have their works printed on fabric.  As a buyer you can have your design printed on many types of fabric (even silk!) ranging from $18-$39 a yard, you can also have your fabric cut in all the basic sizes up to 5 yards.  It does seem a bit pricey, but it's a great way to find completely unique fabrics for your crafts and support artists!

My original idea for this post was to feature many artists from the site, but I kept being drawn to a particular artist so I decided to feature her solely, since I just had to share her incredible, natural, simple, chic designs. Feast your eyes upon the work of Holli Zollinger.

I see this all over the internet but never on actual fabric before!

 

 

I hope you enjoyed these and were inspired! I encourage you to visit Spoonflower and view all the wonderful work!

Miss Mary

Monday's Mug

Today's mug is one I find myself using quite frequently.  It is the perfect mug for morning tea while reading the paper or favorite book in the warm morning sun!  I love the octagonal shape of this mug, I've never seen one like this, and I just adore its delightfully tacky design.  The rim of this mug is my favorite part, it's angled out and is so.. oddly..comfortable - for lack of a better term.   But it really is lovely for sipping. :)

Vintage Mug - Thrift store, $ .25

I hope you all survived your Monday!

xoxo,
Miss Mary

A Pleasingly Quiet Day

Today was so pleasingly quiet, my family were all at work and I was at home enjoying the beautiful 65ish degree day with the cat.  Although getting to enjoy this lovely day came at a bit of a price. Yesterday while riding a spunky (half Arabian) horse at my local barn, (Oh yes, have I mentioned this? I'm a huge horse lover!) I received the pleasure of becoming very personal with the ground.    It's rather amusing but I remember my only thought, "Here I come ground." and off I went as he bucked me off.  But not to worry, I'm completely fine, sore, but fine.  I've had worse; like the time I was thrown off head first, over the horses head, in the late fall, face first into a hard, frosty ground. That time it really hurt, haha. Anyway, blah, blah, blah,  going back to today:  I ended up calling out of work to make sure I didn't aggravate my back any more, and luckily I wasn't that sore and ended up have a wonderful day off!  Aside from these photos I also hung out with my cat and started a  DIY project involving file folders and fabric, more on that soon!

 

 

 

Aren't those buttons just adorable!?

 Dress - Vintage, thrifted ($5)

 Belt - Francesca's Collections ($18)
Shoes - Via Pinky ($13)
Necklace - found key and chain from another necklace
Ring - Vintage, C/o my Mum.

Enjoy the weather!

xoxo,
Miss Mary

WIN $40 Gift Certificate to lylif.com

The wonderful blog, Lp Fashion Philosophy is offering a chance to snag a $40 gift certificate to LYLIF.com! A great site packed with affordable, trendy, jewelry, accessories and clothing for women! Check out  Lp Fashion Philosophy for the details and be sure to flip through their posts! Good luck!

XOXO
Miss Mary

How Delightful: Wall Coverings

Welcome to the first installment of How Delightful!  Every Tuesday I am planning to bring you all some thing delightful, and unique that I just can't get enough of.  Today spotlight is on Anthropologie's incredible selection of wallpapers and coverings.

For several years I have been oogling and googling over Anthropologie's wallpapers.  Although a bit on the expensive side, (at $80-$300+ a roll)  they seem to to be well worth the price.  Bright, vibrant, unique, and printed on thick, sturdy, professional paper they will be sure to make your home, sweet, home even sweeter.  As I am a wallpaper/pattern junkie, I can envision a different pattern for each room of my dream house (much to the dismay of my boyfriend, haha) and I love all of the prints they offer but I picked three of my top favorites to share with you. Enjoy!

Colorful critters!

Wallpaper in my favorite color!? Yes, please.

This mural would be perfect for a nursery or play room...or office..or..my bedroom... :)

XOXO,
Miss Mary

Spring Breaks Through

It seems that this year Spring wants a head start, and she's not giving up!  Despite a frost every morning and the periodic flurry of snow, the flowers and buds are doing well.  Little bits of green are peeking up everywhere and the lawns are making a quick recovery from the brief, snow-less winter.  Personally, I am thrilled about having these types of winters, as winter sports and the cold don't quite appeal to me. It is pretty to look at [ for a few days] though. 

Just the other day my Dear Friend and I went to pick up my new baby, a Canon 60D and a 50mm 1.4 lens!  One of the largest purchases of my life so far, aside from college, and it was completely worth it! Here are the first photos I took with it:

This vintage skirt is velvet and sooo soft

 

So glad to see this :)

Shirt - H&M, thrifted! ($4)
Coat - Spense, thrifted ($18)
Bow - Vintage, thrifted ($ .25)
Shoes - Croft & Barrow, Khols ($35)
Nail Lacquer - Sally Hanson in "Thinking of Blue" ($8)
Earrings - boutique ($12)
Rings - Vintage, gifts
Necklace - Modcloth ($13)
Skirt - Vintage, thrifted ($3)
Palladio lip stain - Sally's ($9?)

Thanks for stopping by~

XOXO,
Miss Mary

Have an interest in Pinterest?

I was fighting it for so long, but I gave in and got an invite to Pinterest. I. LOVE. it. It's so much fun and easy to use. If you want to give it a try just let me know and leave your email, I'll request an invitation for you! Check out my site, I've been Pinning like crazy all day! :D

 https://pinterest.com/emptypocketbook/

Have a great night!
xoxo,
Miss mary

Mug Love

I must admit, I have an unhealthy collection of ... Mugs. Yes, the clunky, ceramic, tea-holding, cups.  It all started with a pair of vintage stack-able mugs I found on Etsy last year.  I soon came across some at a local thriftstore and ever since then the collection has amassed to many boxes (no more counter space...).  This collection has also helped drive one of my ultimate dreams, to have a completely mis-matched kitchen, with most of the items being pre-owned/found at thrift stores.  With each plate, fork, knife, spoon, tea cup and tupper ware of a different style and/or color.  There is just something about giving a new life to something once loved that intrigues me, plus, eco-friendly! It's a rather crazy obsession, and I had no idea anyone else felt the same way, until I started reading other peoples blogs.  I am SO glad there are so many of us thrift seekers, vintage lovers, re-purposing, DIY-ers out and about!

With that being said, I will start posting some of my mugs form my collection every week!  I just found some new ones at my local Salvation Army (where most of my mugs have come from, not sure why, but they always have so many, and for only .49 cents each, and half price on yellow tag days!!) and I have been wanting to share them with the world, as one of them is just fantastic and my new Favorite!

 Isn't this cat mug just the cutest?!  It's very strange, because just days before I found him, I was on Modcloth looking through their Vintage section and saw this same mug!  I specifically remember saying "Aww I'd love to have him in my collection!" Very strange, yet wonderful, indeed! ( Go HERE to see his brother!)

Add caption

 Pretty poppy flowers on a Japanese mug, once part of a set. I wonder where they all are now? Hmm ...

And lastly this seemingly plain mug on the end is in my most favorite color ever: turquoise. It's a huge mug, and it holds one very large cup of tea, I love it!

XOXO
 Miss Mary

They Say it's your Birthday

 Why yes, Paul and John would be right about that, yesterday was my birthday, and it was just too fantastic for words to describe it! I spent the day in the city and at the International Cryptozoology Museum;  they have a Jackalope (see below) and I had to see one on my birthday, since they are one of my most favorite things ever. World renown, the museum is the size of a large city apartment, and stuffed (pun intended) with the wackiest stuff.  Not to mention I got to drag one of my best buddies around with me! We hit so many thrifts stores, the cutest standing-room-only pizza shop and not to mention the summer-like weather.  Even the drive was amazing. Here are some photos I snapped and thought I would share!  In conclusion, best birthday ever.

 Yes, that is Santa, apparently in some cultures he is not the jolly human being we know.

 XO XO
Miss Mary


(Post title from The Beatles' song "Birthday" )

New Layout!

As you may have noticed, I have spiffied up The Empty Pocketbook! Everything I used, even the tape images for the banner was via the Pugly Pixel; A really super blog, written by the sweetest lady, seriously listen to her videos, she guides you through Photoshop, and HTML so calmly! It's wonderful. Everything can be found here www.puglypixel.com, please give her a visit! The layout I decided to use is called Rum Raisin, and was super easy to install.

You might be curious as to where my archive, followers , other blog reads, and my about me went to, welllll, I wanted to have a minimal and clean blog so now they all live at the bottom!

 

Let me know what you think of the new layout,  I am always up fro constructive criticism! 

XO XO, 

Miss Mary

New Banner!

With the help of The Pugly Pixel, I have created the new banner for my lovely blog! I am personally so, so excited! A few things still need to be worked out, but I couldn't wait to put it up! What do you think?

Visit http://www.puglypixel.com/ for the tape strips and tons, and tons of fantastic advice, ideas and freebies.

XO XO
Miss Mary

Adventures

This past week was so wonderfully eventful! My Dear Friend and I went to a massive weekly flea market and I picked up a lovely vintage sewing tin and a very cute pink and purple tea cup! (By the by, I have a a tacky mug collection, which I plan on having a post about in the future.)  As if that was not amazing enough, my boyfriend came home for his spring break and we made the long, long, long, drive to Boston for two days! It was so lovely and warm, 65 degrees! On the first day, I was without a coat or sweater until the sun had set completely, very strange yet wonderful. While we were there we saw the movie, The Artist, which had just won best picture a few days before; and hunted down many hole-in-the wall, bakeries (those always the best ones), shops, and thrift stores. Here is what I wore:

What do you think of the vintage-inspired editing I tried?

Dress - Forever 21 ($12)
Coat - Tulle ($75)
Lion waist belt - Vintage ($8!)
Purse - Kimichi Blue, Urban Outfitters ($65)
Shoes - Croft & Barrow, Khols ($35)
Nail Lacquer - Sally Hanson in "Thinking of Blue" ($8)

XO XO
Miss Mary

Oh so Classy on the Red Carpet

I am not one who follows the latest and hottest actors and actresses, but after seeing Rooney Mara on the Red Carpet, I've been completely smitten with her.  She is nominated for an Oscar for her lead actress role in the US adaption of The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo. (Note: I have only seen the  original Swedish version, so I can't speak much to this film.)

Rooney Mara ( first name Patricia) has an incredible presence, with her simple, yet oh-so-classy vintage style hair cut, and might I add, incredibly beautiful, Givenchy dress (yes, the same designer that Audrey Hepburn wore when she got her Oscar!). Beauty aside, she has a great sense of self, and told USA Today: "I don't think about it in terms of what people say or like or think. I try to find something that I feel comfortable in. I do like fashion, but if it's not comfortable, I won't wear it," She is also being noted for her 'edgy' red carpet wardrobe. I can't wait to see more of her and her fantastic style!

Mara wearing Givenchy

Before and after

Mara as Lisbeth in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

P.S. Happy belated birthday to George Harrison! We are Never Without You. ♥

Golden Roses & the Eclectic

I am so pleased to have found a lovely consignment shop not to far from the city I live in; I am mostly excited about it because their selection is incredible, with a heavy emphasis on vintage pieces, and prices unlike any other, so affordable! I could not believe my eyes when I picked this vintage Kate Collins sweater off of the rack, it was love at first sight and the deal was sealed when I saw the price, $8! It is my favorite piece of clothing at the moment, when ever I have a chill, this is the sweater I put on.  Also, a note on my jeans, since I'm only 5' 2'' even trousers labeled "short" (usually 30inches) are still too long. So one day my younger cousin pulled me into Delia's and I discovered they offer jeans in petite sizes (28 inch inseam!!!!). I was so excited, pants that fit, weird.

Sweater - Vintage, Kate Collins ($8)
Purse - Vintage, Dofan ($4)
Belt - Vintage  ($4)
Jeans - Delia's 'Morgan' ($23)
Oxfords - Candies ($17)
Nail Lacquer - Sally Hanson ($10)

XO XO 

Miss Mary

Valentine's Day & Guess, A Perfect Combination

Happy Valentine's day everyone! This is my first with look with the Guess platforms I snagged at Marshall's for $20, yes, I repeat, $20 dollars. They were the only pair and magically in my size; which I found amazing since my size usually sells out first!  Originally $150 how could anyone say no?! This dress was also an awesome snag, and one of the pieces that started to get me interested in clothes other than what the "mass" was wearing.

The carpetbag belonged to my great grandmother, she was a bold woman for her time wearing wacky hats, and such. You should have seen the wallpaper that was in her house (I might go take some pictures of the ones that are still there to show you.) I wonder what she'd think of me... Oh, by the by,  I am now on LOOKBOOK so come and Hype and fan me here!

Maximilian wanting attention and getting it, he's a cutie.

 

And once more, there is still time to sign up and receive up to $50 off your first purchase at T.I.L Darling's site; the more friends you get to sign up (just and email, that's it!) the more money you get!

I have had 42 absolutely amazing people help me out so far. If you would like to help me reach 50, here is my link: http://www.theonlineclothingboutique.com/MTPe4

Dress - (Not sure of brand - tag missing, Originally $55, clearance - $15)

Chain w/ vintage skeleton key -  (both thrifted for a total of $1.50)

Tights - Vera Wang ($9)

Shoes - Guess ($20!!!)

Vintage Carpet bag - Great Grandmothers (She was a bold woman for her time, you should have see the wallpaper that was in her house. I wonder what she'd think of me, I bet we'd get along fantastically!)

Vintage Kodak Instamatic 300 - ($4)

Ring - Vendor ($25)

 

 XO XO, 

Miss Mary