In My Own Words, Lifestyle

Roaring 20’s

It’s the 20’s!!!! 

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Walking into Beardshear Hall on Iowa State University’s campus in Ames, Iowa dressed in 20’s style. | Dress | Shoes | Cape | Purse | Necklace | Gloves | Bracelet | Earrings | Headpiece |

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That’s a really weird thing to say. I remember thinking that was so long ago and simultaneously so far away. Yet, here we are. Life has a way of chugging on like a train on a downhill slope. 

The 1920’s were known to be roaring. Even though prohibition took up the entirety of that decade, it didn’t seem to stop the party. If people followed the rules and didn’t drink, I have a feeling The Great Gatsby would have been a lot less interesting. It will be interesting to see how this decade plays out in a new century. We have 3,621 days left to find out. 

This post is only 33 days late, but it’s not like the past is going anywhere. 

I was in Iowa, my home state, for New Year’s Eve. During the day, the family and I spent the day in Des Moines bopping around the capitol building and East Village. It was a lot of fun and made for some great photo opportunities. 

That evening, I wanted to grab a quick picture or two in my flapper outfit. I headed to Iowa State University’s campus. I was so excited because Beardshear Hall was unlocked. We (not-so-much) snuck in and had a full blown photoshoot. It ended up being the perfect location. Built in 1906, it’s beautiful. The vintage architecture was the perfect backdrop for my vintage outfit. I even brought along my grandmother’s vintage fur cape. It’s ridiculously over the top, but then again so were the 20’s, and I have almost no reason to wear it. 

In true roaring 20’s fashion, we rang in the new year at a real speakeasy. I’m not kidding. In the middle of nowhere Iowa, I was at an illegal I don’t even know what to call it, but it wasn’t legal, there was food, a live band, and a bunch of people enjoying the evening. We had food and listened to great music. I watched my parents dance the night away. The audience was far older than Dylan and I, but it was a lot of fun anyways. 

I would love to say the start of the 20’s have been roaring for me, but that would be a lie of enormous proportions. I have worn my gorgeous 20’s outfit twice. Once on New Year’s Eve and once for a 20’s themed party at a ballroom studio. Here’s to hoping I have more opportunity to party it up and make this decade incredibly memorable. 

I think I have more pictures than things to say. I absolutely love 20’s fashion. I think it’s gorgeous. I also really enjoy the fact it’s not form fitting, which makes it really comfortable for dancing and having fun. I really went all out. I found my flapper dress on Amazon. It’s actually very comfortable and high quality. The shoes and opera gloves, I already had. I found the jewelry on Amazon too. It really was amazing dressing up in vintage style. Someone saw the pictures I took and thought they were really from the 20’s. Best compliment ever!!! 

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Pictures from the speakeasy in Iowa on New Year’s Eve.

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bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

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Books, Fiction

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

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This was my Christmas dress from Pippa and Pearl. I adore it!!! | These red heels have a gold heel! | Last Christmas in Paris | I love this red clutch

Worth a Read Meh
Length 368
Quick Review An old man looks back at letters written during WWI. The narrative is 98% letters. It’s a sweet wartime love story.

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb is my last holiday read of the season… a month late. I actually finished it a few weeks ago, but I have been so busy I didn’t get around to writing this review. Oops. Oh well, that’s life.

The most interesting part about Last Christmas in Paris is the narrative style. It’s told mostly through letters from the past between several people during WWI. An old man tells a story in the “present,” which is the 1960’s. There wasn’t anything remarkable about the style or plot. It was a good historical fiction piece. It’s not terribly Christmas oriented, so it works for any time of the year. I liked the characters just fine. It was a fairly bland story. The fact that the narrative was driven by letters made the reading process go really quickly.

My favorite relationship in the book was not the romantic one. That one was very boring. Sweet but boring. I liked the friendship between the two female characters. They were supportive, kind, blunt, and had fun banter.

There was a lot of talk about “war neurosis” in Last Christmas in Paris, which is old timey speak for PTSD. I’m glad this was a part of the book, but it was a fairly minor part of the book.

Overall, it’s a really good mindless read to take your mind off life. It’s pretty forgettable, though.   

Memorable Quotes
“I know you are convinced that my heart was stolen by Tom Harding years ago while I wasn’t paying any attention, and I’m beginning to think you may be right, darling.”

Buy on Amazon || Buy on Book Depository

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Title: Last Christmas in Paris
Author: Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins Publishers)
Copyright: 2017
ISBN: 9780062562685

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I love this dress. Did I mention that?
Travel, Travel Eats

Lyon’s Corner Drug & Soda Fountain

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I am obsessed with Lyon’s Corner Drug & Soda Fountain. I have been going for as long as I can remember. There are trips to Steamboat Springs, and all I remember is begging my mom to take me to the soda fountain. I discovered phosphates here.

Lyon’s is a fully functioning drug store located on Lincoln Avenue in downtown. With a pharmacy and other drug store necessities, it also sells beautiful cards, crafts, and home goods. I made use of the drug store part to get some first aid items because I actually ripped my toenail off at Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Ouch!

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The Soda Fountain is towards the back on the left side of the store. The floor is black and white tile. The stools are red. There’s a jukebox. Honestly, it’s as straight out of the 1950’s as I have found yet. They have food, but most people come for the ice cream in the summer. A kid cone is only $1, so you have no excuse! I love the phosphates, which if you don’t know what they are, they’re also known as Italian sodas in coffee shops. Fizzy, flavored yumminess. I suggest blackberry.

I am not lying when I say, I went every day I was in Steamboat. The workers behind the counter actually learned my name.

Lyon’s Corner Drug & Soda Fountain
840 Lincoln Avenue
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
970.879.1114
Facebook – @lyondrug

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