I feel like quite the accidental expert on a variety of topics, although I'm reluctant to use the title expert on most of them even with the qualifier of 'accidental!' I'm self-taught in photography, editing, identifying vintage clothing, vintage films, models, and designers, etc. As Einstein once said, "I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious." He was more than passionately curious, but the saying does apply for many of us who follow our passions and interests and somehow wind up being aficionados of subjects we were once only inquisitive about. Study something long enough, with or without the formal training and eventually people will start coming to you for advice, as I have found out for myself through blogging these many years. One of my latent passions is vintage clothing; I don't wear as much as I used to when I first started blogging and haunted the thrift shops near my university, but vintage pieces are still a mainstay in my wardrobe and I hoard the pieces I love whether they get worn or not! One of the things people find most intimidating about investing in vintage is caring for it. Unlike modern clothes you won't find a informative tag inside telling you how to wash or clean your vintage pieces and instead have to discern fabrics by feel and try to find a way to preserve sometimes delicate pieces that have already been around for several decades. I've learned a few things through the years about maintaining my vintage clothes (and I've had several disasters along the way like shrinking dresses!) and hopefully my tips will make the vintage buying and wearing process a little less intimidating for you.   


-Don't throw vintage pieces in the hamper. If your vintage piece needs to be cleaned either before you wear it or after a wear, hang it up until you are ready to wash it. Some people even recommend hanging it up inside out, but however you choose to hang it, never throw it in a hamper where it could get wrinkled, crushed, etc.
-Always hand-wash. Not everyone will recommend "always" hand-washing your vintage pieces, but for me, I think it's the safest method for cleaning them and I don't risk other methods especially if the piece is from the 1960s or older. Even dry cleaning can be bad for delicate dresses and I would be far too afraid to even try the delicate cycle of my washer! So I hand-wash most pieces in lukewarm water with a gentle liquid detergent.
-Lay flat to dry. You can also hang some pieces to dry, but keep in mind how delicate it is and if the weight of the water will do any damage as it dries. I usually only wash a few pieces at a time and lay them flat on towels to dry.
-Store them wisely. Many vintage dresses can be hung, but do avoid wire hangers. If it's a heavier piece, very delicate, or a sweater then folding them is the best way to store them until their next wear. Don't store pieces in plastic garment bags as this doesn't let the fabric breathe, instead use a canvas garment bag or even an old (clean) pillowcase for something like a beaded dress that you want to keep from snagging on other pieces. And (like vampires) always store vintage pieces out of direct sunlight; this will help keep your colors from fading.
-Mend before you wear, not after! Many vintage pieces come with loose buttons or fraying seams, take care to reinforce your buttons or fix those seams and zippers before you wear a piece rather than after. Wearing it while things are a bit loose or fragile will increase your likelihood of losing a near irreplaceable button or doing permanent damage to a dress. So even if you're bursting with excitement to throw on that new vintage piece and go, take the time to fix what could get worse before you wear it.

I've been looking forward to all my favorite autumn activities--picking pumpkins, making soup, leaf peeping, and conker playing--but I've also been burning the candle at both ends as the saying goes, so it's been more laying in bed with my soup while watching re-runs of old favorites these days than indulging in all my favorite activities. Still after a few days in bed I made an effort one afternoon this past week to run a brush through my hair, switch out the pajamas, and visit our local pumpkin patch with my new pumpkin purse in tow! The only thing better than carrying around an actual pumpkin all October long is carrying the felt version of one, which filled to the brim with essentials rather than seeds is much lighter than the real thing! Not that I didn't walk away without a literal pumpkin as well, although nothing to rival the monster of a pumpkin Thomas picked out for himself.

After a bit of a whirlwind September I'm taking things a bit slower this month and working on tackling a shorter reading list. After all, you can always add more to your reading list if you're flying through your books, but no point in putting too much on your plate and feeling guilty for not getting to everything! For October it just makes sense to be pulling out all of your spookier novels and mysteries to suit these darker days and the moodier season. Also, not on my reading list this year, but if you've never read it before, then no time like to present to crack open Dracula by Bram Stoker (Irish author!). One of the oldest vampire legends in the world comes from Ireland and I do think this spooky island is particularly suited for creepy stories and books...
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: This is my favorite Jane Austen and seemed a suitable one to return to in October since it is a parody of a Gothic novel. One of these days I'd also like to read some of the stories referenced within the novel, like The Mysteries of Udolpho or The Monk. Austen's character Catherine is one I greatly relate to since I was also a young woman with quite the overactive imagination. I don't usually plug movies in my book posts, but the film adaptation starring Felicity Jones is quite delightful as well.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: This will be my first time reading Frankenstein, which is a bit ironic since I've often referenced to other people how Mary Shelley is the mother of science fiction. So many of the novels you read in school or growing up are authored by men and I always try to make a conscious effort to find books, art, photography, etc that is created by women.
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle: I started this last month, so I'm working on finishing this one up soon. Again, this month just seems good timing for detective books--something to good me in the mood for the film noirs I will no doubt be watching next month (Noirvember, anyone?)!
Playing Big by Tara Sophia Mohr: This book was suggested in Me and Orla's podcast recently and it's "a practical guide for brilliant women." I don't read a lot of self-help or coaching style books, but I do like books that tackle creativity (Big Magic is a favorite of mine) and help keep you inspired and pushing towards your goals. I have a big new business opportunity looming so it seemed like really good timing to hear this book suggested since it might cover some of the confidence issues (business/professional-wise) I, and a lot of other women, would struggle with. 

Last week I had the pleasure of traveling down to Killarney with Alex of The Full Shilling blog to attend a travel blogging conference. It was my first time in the region and my first time attending a full blogging conference as well and I couldn't have asked for a better companion for the trip. We kept each other hyped on the over five hour long drive and she was brilliant at introducing herself to people when I would generally hide in a corner! Despite only being in town for a few too-short days I managed to find my new favorite coffee shop, sweet shop, and pub--all under the the same roof! The last night of the conference J.M. Reidy's pub hosted everyone and we spent an evening wandering from one quirky room to the next in the seemingly never-ending pub all whilst loading up on free sweets. When they told us the pub reopened at eight in the morning as a coffee shop we knew we had to go back in daylight to see if the magic of the place held up without the candlelight...it did more than that, we scoffed down a few croissants and then spent ages wandering around the quirky cafe with our cameras in hand learning a bit about the history and meeting a few locals (like I said, Alex is very good at making introductions). Originally established in 1870, J.M. Reidy's was originally a general merchant store and bar; the property now incorporates a number of old storefronts which means as you wander about you might find yourself in an old stable turned colorful seating area with faded paint or be drawn to admiring antique ovens, vintage cameras, tins, phones, and suitcases that seem to be tucked into every corner. It might be a bit of a drive to Killarney for this to become my regular weekend haunt, but it's a wonderfully unique cafe-sweetshop-pub that I look forward to visiting again next time I find myself in the area and one you should definitely check out if you find yourself nearby.