(Fun in the Sun)

Artist: Sarah D.

Inspiration: The main reason for my art is trying to capture moments in my life that I never want to forget. I have a portfolio site, Dottidee that has my drawings and photographs, and I recently started a new blog, The Antique Pearl, about my obssesion with retail therapy.

What do you think of her snapshot? Its unique sepia look makes me think I should invest in a Lomography, Holga, or Golden Half camera!

(Polamaloop Dress, V is for Vixen Tights, Bizarre Love Triangle Heels, What the Brooch?, Fashion Fractal Hat)

Who needs a jersey (The only one I own was made with puffy paints anyway) when you can be just as ready as the next fan with a team-inspired outfit! I have my colors on, based around the appropriately named Polamaloop Dress, accessorized with a chic pair of tights, caramel colored heels, all in addition to maintaining a ladylike composure by letting my pin do the talking!

It took me a while to become accustomed to watching sports on television, especially coming from a city surrounded by Hockey, Football, and Baseball. I would always support my hometown teams by default, until I found another much more appealing positive to game day gatherings – trying and testing out new recipes! Even those who aren’t a fan of sports can’t deny that these football inspired treats are a touchdown!

Keep reading for the Cocoa Krispies Football Recipe!

I originally searched out this recipe when the Steelers made it to the Superbowl in 2007. I wanted to show up to the house party I was attending with an easy and delicious treat – that’s when I stumbled across this simple dish that is simply adorable, combining everything I was looking for: chocolate, peanut butter, (cocoa) rice krispies, and fun!

Want to impress your friends with this simple, easy-to-make snack? Read on to get the game plan!

Starting Lineup = Gather Ingredients

3 tbs. butter or margarine

1 package (10 oz., or about 40 marshmallows) – or – 4 cups miniature marshmallows

1/2 cup peanut butter

6 cups Cocoa Rice Krispies

Canned frosting or decorating gel (I picked up a small tub of cream cheese frosting, along with a cake decorating cone and round tip)

1st Quarter: Directions

1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove form heat. Stir in peanut butter until melted.

2. Add Cocoa Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.

2nd Quarter: Preparation

3. Cool Slightly. Using buttered hands (so fun!) shape mixture into 3-inch (or smaller) footballs.

4. I recommend shaping them with one side flat, so they can rest on a dish without rolling around, unless you plan on tossing them all in a bowl for serving.

5. After structuring them into their shape, easily place them on wax paper or some other surface they won’t easily stick together when cooling.

3rd Quarter: Laces Out!

6. With your footballs in formation, decoration is simple. As you can see in the photos, decorate one line on each end, a line down the center followed by intersecting “laces”. I found it worked best to try and squeeze on 4-5 laces on each treat.

4th Quarter: Dig in!

These seem to be best served the day of making. They were still good a few days after stored in a container, but they do harden the longer they sit out. I thought it would be cute when serving to put them on green paper, so it looked as if they were on a football field (nerdy, I know but I couldn’t resist)!

The batch pictured above was a result of doubling the original recipe. I used the entire box of Cocoa Rice Krispies, (12 cups exactly), one standard jar of Peanut Butter (I used natural with honey) and doubled all other ingredients.

What do you think of my food and fashion pairing? Do you consider this recipe a ‘touchdown’?

Who: Mary, a fashion and food lover at stylefyles.tumblr.com

What: A teal, vintage-inspired secretary dress

Where: Goodwill. Dayton, Ohio

How Much: $4

When I use It: It’s brand new, so I’ve only worn it once so far! I wore it to the office with a modern blazer for an updated Mad Men feel. I can’t wait to wear it outside the office. The simplicity of the dress allows for such versatility… to be dressed up for a night on the town, or paired with pieces that are flowing and white or cream colored for a day at the park or thrifting around town.

Shopping Tips: Try on everything! I learned this when shopping for homecoming dresses in high school. It seemed to always be the case that the dresses I loved on the rack were only mediocre when I tried them on. Surprisingly, dresses that I was hesitant to try on, always turned out to be lovely in the fitting room! Now, I try on everything that catches my eye, whether it seems tacky, the wrong size- whatever! I love finding those hidden surprises. Also, keep your eyes open for any kinds of steals and deals, even if you might have to transform or alter them before wearing. The necklace I have on in this picture is made out of two Goodwill finds….a ribbon choker necklace and a pearl necklace. I cut the bow off the choker necklace and sewed it onto the pearl necklace and ‘Voila’! Something new, fresh, and unexpected.

Attention Blog Readers! – We know you guys are the most clever and most stylish bunch on the web, and we’d love to feature you on future Favorite Find Posts! Please email us (favfinds@modcloth.com) a picture of you with one of your favorite shopping finds (a piece of furniture, a hard-to-find record, the perfect vintage boots, or any other treasure) and answer the questions: Who, What, Where, How Much, When I Use It, and Shopping Tips. We can’t wait to see all the cool items you’ve discovered!

I’m going to be a little selfish this week, and post one of my favorite finds! With possibly too many to choose from, I’ve been thinking about sharing this special find for a long time! Plus, I want to encourage more submissions of find of all sorts from decor, furniture, clothing, to anything!

Who: Julie, Fashion Writer

What: “Sleepy Sam” Pfaltzgraff Mug

Where: Medina Antique Mall, Ohio

How Much: $5.00

When I use It: All. The. Time. This is by far one of my absolute favorite finds! And what better time to talk about it than Movember? Thanks to my mother, who has done a great job of informing me of how to spot better vintage finds, along with a love of watching the “Antiques Roadshow”, when I flipped over this mug and saw the printed words, “Pfaltzgraff” among other text, I knew it had to be worth more than $5. Names don’t really mean much to me, other than it’s cool to find a vintage piece that also has a little bit of significant history attached to it. Quite possibly a steal, more than anything, I absolutely love the expression on his face (some mornings our mugs match), his 3-Dimensional eyes, nose, unique painted detail, and moustache!

I’ve spotted the same mug on a few different occasions from a price range of $20-$60, and it turns out Sleepy Sam is just one of a set of six Muggsy Mugs! Made from the 1940s-1950s, the history of the Pfaltzgraff Muggsy Era is pretty interesting, and in the future I just might pursue the rest of the set!

Shopping Tips: I really like locations that have multiple dealers. Each dealer’s booth or space is like a little peak into a whole new style/world of their own. Plus, prices are set by dealers themselves, sometimes items are way overpriced, and sometimes items can be way underpriced, either way that’s part of the thrill of the hunt! The Medina Antique Mall in particular is 52,000 sq. feet and has over 500+ dealers!

Attention Blog Readers! – We know you guys are the most clever and most stylish bunch on the web, and we’d love to feature you on future Favorite Find Posts! Please email us (favfinds@modcloth.com) a picture of you with one of your favorite shopping finds (a piece of furniture, a hard-to-find record, the perfect vintage boots, or any other treasure) and answer the questions: Who, What, Where, How Much, When I Use It, and Shopping Tips. We can’t wait to see all the cool items you’ve discovered!

(Image Above: renatamorales.com)

From Lanvin’s feather ties for men, to the unique combination of mesh and feathers from Canadian-based designer, Renata Morales, we suggest taking your fashion on a flight of fancy by taking part in the season’s influx of avian apparel!

Anyone can incorporate a little feminine fluff into their wardrobe, and if you’re looking for advice on how to style this trend, I advise you to look no further than your own comfort zone. Take a look at Fashionstyleadvice.com who posts about this trend, and boasts about our very own feathered headwear! For those who are more reserved when it comes to trendy choices, our Tran-quill-ity Hoops are a great way to wear your feathers in an interesting, yet subtle way.

Want to see more pretty preen ModCloth-inspired fashions?

(From Top Left: The 500 Days Dress in Karaoke, Grey Peacock Feather Tights, Tran-quill-ity Hoops, Osprey Headband, Feathered Facade Dress)

If you opt for statement making pieces, and tend to fully hop on the trend wagon, definitely match our Peacock Feather Tights (available in 5 colors) with anything and everything possible! Whether you go all out and double the feather effect with the Feathered Facade Dress, or wear them with the simple, and stunning Jill of All Trades Dress in CEO, your fashionable plume will surely light up a room!

• Are you looking for creative inspiration? Check out the illustration section of art-dept.com to browse portfolios of some of the industry’s most intriguing and talented illustrators! If illustration isn’t your cup o’ tea, also featured on the site are professional photography portfolios (including advertising, architecture, etc.), styling, hair, makeup, production, and the list goes on! If you have work to do, be careful, you can easily spend hours browsing this site without noticing!
• There’s also a Fashion Illustration Group Pool on Flickr.com, where you can browse independent artist’s works, or even submit your own.
• Lastly, I’d been searching for an online vault for retro or vintage inspired fashion illustrations. I came across this Fashion Blog that features some, but other than purchasing the book, “100 Years of Fashion Illustration” by Cally Blackman which I had come across, does anyone have any good suggestions of a site or source for vintage or retro fashion illustration?

“Color Me Multi” by Kate Sumpter aka ravencolours at http://ravencolours.etsy.com

“Henry David Thoreau described this photograph, perfectly. ‘The true harvest of my life is intangible – a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched.’

I have been doing photography since my junior year of high school. I love giving my photos a vintage feel as a throwback to the glory of film and darkrooms. I love capturing the everyday and making it my own as art.”

Do you have a piece of photography, or other piece of artwork that you’d like to share with the ModLife community? Email it to media@modcloth.com, along with your name, and medium used. We’d love to share and talk about your creative ventures!

Thanks to everyone who particapated in Pumpkin Carving for a cause! For each gorgeous gourd that was sent into our Facebook group, we are donating $5 towards the The Washington Area Humane Society. With an impressive 254 entries total, that adds up to $1270! However, we like to keep our numbers simple, so we decided to increase our donation, and round off to a clean $1500! In addition to the animal shelter donation, we also have a winner to announce! Judging on many variables ranging from creativity, inspiration, and relation to the ModCloth brand, Sara Torgerson’s pumpkin (pictured above) is the mod winner with her design that was, “Inspired by ModCloth’s vintage clothing”.

Her pretty pumpkin is creative, simple, and chic. While we had many entries relating to products on our site that were very well done, her original design relates directly to what we’re all about – vintage! Her prize pack includes a $100 Gift Certificate along with a Cat Face Mug, Cobweb Cuff, Chest-ire Cat Maxi Dress, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Book. Way to go Sara! It was a tough decision to pick a winner with so many great entries, so we decided to display honorable mentions of a few other favorites! Also, shout out to Faye Kennedy whose 36 entries equated to a donation contribution of $180!

From top left, 1. “The bride of Frankenstein hates when her favorite pieces at mod cloth sell out and so do I” by Jill Ann Wendorff 2. ModCloth Logo by Alyssa Hope 3. Modzilla by Mary Kennedy 4. Pumpkin Pie by Ashley Worden 5. My Pet Pumpkin by Lillian O’Connell 6. Pug-kin by Jennifer Sheppard Leale 7. PhotograKIN by Mad Doghoek 8. Treasure Tree Jewelry Stand Pumpkin by Corine Romero 9. Owl Ring Inpired Pumpkin by Lisa Mao

Who: Katie Y.

What: A pair of truly awesome vintage pants

Where: Local antique store

How Much: $29.99

When I use It: I purchased this in 7th grade for a Girl Scout convention, and have kept wearing them ever since! When paired with a matching neon orange halter top, this makes a great going-out outfit. Casually, these are amazing and comfortable pajama pants. And one leg is wide enough, so you can convert this into a unique dress.

Shopping Tips: Good finds take time. Look around for something truly unique to avoid an item that is only so-so.

Attention Blog Readers! – We know you guys are the most clever and most stylish bunch on the web, and we’d love to feature you on future Favorite Find Posts! Please email us (favfinds@modcloth.com) a picture of you with one of your favorite shopping finds (a piece of furniture, a hard-to-find record, the perfect vintage boots, or any other treasure) and answer the questions: Who, What, Where, How Much, When I Use It, and Shopping Tips. We can’t wait to see all the cool items you’ve discovered!

Who: Becca Boo, hair accessory collector in a sunny state of mind

What: Vintage Dior beaded belt, handmade floral dress

Where: Savers Thrift Store

How Much: $6-belt, $3-dress

When I use It: Any day I want to feel pretty and girly I wear this light and airy floral cream-colored dress. Such a great and random find. The belt goes with so many things and can be dressy and casual– such a ridiculously awesome piece to come across. This entire outfit including shoes cost me only 9 dollars because the rest of my accessories were my grandmother’s.

Shopping Tips: Hunt for great pieces. Shopping is all about finding artful and rewarding items, not just settling with what the mainstream is throwing your way.

Attention Blog Readers! – We know you guys are the most clever and most stylish bunch on the web, and we’d love to feature you on future Favorite Find Posts! Please email us (favfinds@modcloth.com) a picture of you with one of your favorite shopping finds (a piece of furniture, a hard-to-find record, the perfect vintage boots, or any other treasure) and answer the questions: Who, What, Where, How Much, When I Use It, and Shopping Tips. We can’t wait to see all the cool items you’ve discovered!