Sunday, March 22, 2020

Vampire Anniversary!

Today is my and L's 23rd wedding anniversary! Happy anniversary to us! Here's to my partner in life, crime and goofing off. 
"I'll have no part in this portrait, Woman!"

As we couldn't do our usual celebration of jetting off to the metropolis of Vancouver for our weekend of shenanigans, we decided to do a themed photo shoot of us - as vampires!

L and I are both into vampires, just because, well, vampires are cool! We have seen nearly every vampire movie, including What We Do In the Shadows (link here), and the TV series by the same name (here, 2nd season starts soon!), both of which are about vampires living in the modern world, but being a bit out of their element.
We both built our outfits out of stuff we have in our costume collections and in our closets with that as our inspiration.


  • Suede Jacket - Danier Leather, vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in November 2013 for the Unlimited Women Awards Gala
  • Blouse - Renuar, thrifted; last seen here in March with lounge-y leopard
  • Skirt - Twinset, consignment; last worn here in February to see Beautiful with Mom
  • Boots - Truths Teah, Fluevog; last seen here (2nd outfit) for my brother Dave's 50th birthday brunch


This rich red suede Danier jacket is trimmed with black braid - the frogs clasps are the same material.
 Some nice big shoulder pads going on there! I always feel like the little drummer boy in this.

Vizzini was nosing around while I took pictures.
"What madness are you up to, Woman?"

The fun kind, Vizzini!
"This skirt is very suspicious."

I built my outfit to look like someone who is a bit out of their time.
"It smells like kitty treats."

I am a totally cool modern vampire.

This fluffy, lacy skirt is so fun to wear.
"I'm ghosting you."

I layered this very useful Victorian-looking blouse under the jacket, with a brooch at the neck, and a stomacher with a belt over it.
 I always like my layers to look right, even if I don't take the jacket off.
If you look carefully, you'll see someone hiding under my skirts.

I picked him up, but he was way too interested in my brooch.
"No camera can catch me."

The stuff:
I walked a few blocks in these boots - they're super-comfy. Both L and I wore Fluevogs as an ode to our usual anniversary gifts for each other.

Thematic bling:
The black thing is a stomacher that I bought at Dots over 10 years ago - I recall it was really cheap (like $2.99?) as they didn't know what it was. 

  • Belt - Pringle of Scotland, vintage fair
  • Sunglasses - some cheap Hallowe'en pop-up store years ago
  • Brooch - vintage fair
  • Spider ring - c. 1986, gift from Mom & Dad, Mexico
  • Snake ring - c. 1985, BC Museum Gift Shop
  • Earrings - thrifted
  • Lace cuffs - LA Express, c. 1994


The lace cuffs on my outfit are actually separate pieces - they are just elasticated lace and they pull on. This makes them wonderful for costumes, both for the look and because you can pull them off to eat. Bonus! 

L happily put his own outfit together. 
I bought him the walking stick many years ago for Christmas. The top hat is from Roberta's Hats; the tux jacket is thrifted (it's vintage Christian Dior!), as is the velvet vest (a Christmas present from me this past year), and the striped cotton trousers. His shirt has ruffled cuffs with vintage cuff links, and the front placket also has ruffles (it's vintage 80s). And of course, the shoes are Fluevog.
He's wearing a bunch of costume rings, a dagger brooch, a rattlesnake belt buckle, and a vintage pocket watch that I bought for him about 20 years ago. 

Now... let us start the entertainment! Are you ready?


Welcome to our home!
 It is really not that hideous Craigdarroch Castle! It is our home! Really!

L, come out and say hello to our guests.
"Hsssss! It looks too sunny!"

Do not be cranky, my love! Be nice for the people. Come out of your lair. Come, come.

It is a terrible day for vampires. Very sunny and pleasant.
I must protect my delicate skin. Fire is so unsightly and leaves marks.

Do not stare, passersby! We are normal everyday people.
Definitely not vampires. Ha ha! Who would think that?

It is a good thing L has thick hair or that horrible sunshine would burn his head right off!
Just like a normal person! Only not with the burning, of course.

I await your arrival, my friends!
 Where are you? Hello! Hello?
Ah, I guess you are all staying inside.

I must also get out of this awful sunlight.
Really, it's March.
 It should be cloudy and raining, like normal weather for people to go out in and not be burned.

I will be safe here, do not worry.
L would also like to cajole you into joining us.
Welcome! Please come in!
If you were a vampire, you could glide up the stairs. Not that anyone here is a vampire. Who would say such a thing? Don't be silly.

Woe is me! Another anniversary with L!
Twenty-three years of sucking blood from the innocents good times. There has been no blood sucking. Maybe just a little.
Ah, my love, remember that time that person came to a party and disappeared?

No, I didn't eat him!
I sealed him in this column here! I mean, he took a cab home. No one ate anyone! Ha ha!

But enough of that! I remember when we got married! It seems so long ago...
I wore my Mom's wedding dress (here), and we had so much fun (here).

No one died. I mean, lots of people have died since then. People die, it happens.
But L and I are still together. We haven't killed each other yet! I've become immune to his poison, and he keeps waking up when I try to smother him. We are just a couple of kooky kids!

It's not all sunshine and roses, don't get me wrong.
I can be a very evil vampire cranky normal person.

But I'm getting better.
L, I think I'll keep you, if you'll have me.
He's a challenge too, though.

Always casting spells at me. So tiring.
 Stop that! Remember last time? We had to pay to patch the hole in that lady's roof!
That's better, my love. How handsome you are. Just like a real man and not at all a vampire.


The song "When We Were Vampires" by Jason Isbell is one of my all-time favourites (YouTube link here, and link to the lyrics here).
It is a very sad song, about being with someone for a (hopefully) long time.

Maybe time running out is a gift,
I'll work hard 'til the end of my shift,
And give you every second I can find,
And hope it isn't me who's left behind.

It reminds me to be grateful for every day we have together.
To really live, and to be in the moment.

And never, ever be afraid to be who we really are...
...which is definitely NOT vampires!

74 comments:

  1. Aw....what an awesome post! Happy Anniversary!

    It looks like you had a really fun day together!

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  2. Happy (modified) Anniversary you two kooky kids!

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  3. I love this so much! You guys are seriously the best. I hope this helped lift your spirits a bit!

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    1. Thanks, Charlotte! yes, it was a blast - we had so much fun.

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  4. Happy, happy anniversary! What a wonderful post! So many thoughts racing through my head - Love in the Time of Cholera - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - The Prestige! Truly magnificent!

    Wishing you many, many more years together!

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    1. Thanks so much, Nana! Yes, so many great movies and inspirations!

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  5. Happy Anniversary! Love your sense of humor and flair for the dramatic.

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    1. Go big or go home, Ally! You know that's how we roll.

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  6. Happy anniversary, you guys! What a great match you are. I love that you were able to find fun. Hip hip....hooray!

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  7. Happy Anniversary!! You guys look amazing!!! I love L's tux jacket!

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  8. Oh what a fun photoshoot! I loved to read this, I smiled the whole way through Sheila! Happy anniversary to you both, what a great milestone and such a good way to celebrate!

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    1. Thanks so much, Mica! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I will remember this anniversary for years!

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  9. Happy Anniversary!, You Totally Rock!
    This is the most funtabulous post ever!, you're gorgeous, your attires are to die for (mwhahah) and you even picked a perfect background!.
    You are so delightfully decadent!
    besos
    (I must watch these series, seriously!)

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    1. Oh, that's so sweet, thank you, Monica! We had so much fun doing it. I know you would LOVE the movie/show - watch it!

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  10. Congratulations! And oh how beautiful photos! You are such a handsome couple! Your blog posts mean so much, especially right now when in Finland we have to do remote work and avoid any social contacts. Much love from here!

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    1. Thank you, Mujeril! We had so much fun doing this - I'm glad that this post can cheer you up all the way in Finland!

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  11. Wow this is so epic! congratulations on you anniversary!
    I hope the condition in Canada gets better too
    Hope you stay healthy and safe
    xoxo
    style frontier

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    1. Thank you so much - I think we are all in the same boat here, but I hope it gets better soon all over!

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  12. Happy anniversary, and thank you for sharing all this fun! Extra appreciation for fun these days!

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    1. Yes, these are the days that keep me sane, Linda. Thank you so much!

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  13. Happy Anniversary!! Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Lovely post and a Happy Anniversary to you both!

    You both look fabulous! You look so very Victorian, Sheila, except for the sunglasses but you need those, right?

    The picture of you and Vizzini where he is just a blur, is absolutely wonderful!

    Stay safe and well.
    xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vronni! It seems a little decadent celebrating in these strange times, but it was so fun and no harm to anyone. I needed my sunglasses - ugh, that horrible sun! ;-P

      Sometimes the blurry pictures are the most fun! Thanks, hon.

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  15. Happy anniversary, and this post is AWESOME!!!!!

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  16. Happy anniversary, Sheila and L. Seems you're only two years behind us! And what a brilliant way to celebrate in these crazy times. You're both dressed absolutely magnificently and very vampire worthy. And Craigdarroch Castle hideous?? No! Surely not! Besides, it's the perfect home for a couple of swanky vampires like you. Very Strawberry Hill Gothic! It's THE Castle of Otranto, surely? And blurry Vizzini is very spooky too. What a wonderfully entertaining post, I loved every minute. xxx P.S. Those song lyrics are very poignant, sad but so beautiful!

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    1. Oh, will it be 25 for you, Ann? How wonderful! Thank you so much - we had so much fun doing this! Isn't that song just so beautiful and sad? It makes me cry when I hear it. Hugs to you, my dear.

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  17. Happy Anniversary, you awesome pair!! What an amazing post, you both look incredible. Craigdarroch Castle is the perfect setting for your vampire shenanigans but watch out for that pesky sun, we can't have you burnt to a crisp - Blogland and humanity need you to keep us sane!!
    You've reminded me, it's our 28th anniversary on the 1st April (appropriate, we're a pair of fools), you've inspired me to do something crazy!
    Loads of love to all three of you. xxx

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    1. Thanks so much, Vix! It was so much fun to do - too bad about that horrible sun! ha! Oh, I'd love to see you and Jon doing something fun for your April Fool's Anniversary! Hugs to you!

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  18. Happy Anniversary!! Coolest anniversary outfits and pics ever! So much AWESOMENESS!!

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  19. Sheila, I love these fab pics... My beautiful daughter and I just ended our phone call reminiscing about how much she adored Stephanie Meyers'Twilight series when she was a tween... She's now a grown up gal and I'm missing her hugs right now. It is so good to see your fun photo montage. Have a wonderful anniversary.

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    1. Aw, how synchronous was that? Thank you so much, Juliana!

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  20. Happy anniversary! Here's to another 23 years! You both look fan tas tic! Amazing! Steam punk!

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  21. Happy anniversary! Your post made me laugh in the best way - I too love What We Do In The Shadows. The outfits are perfect. I hope one of you took the opportunity to jump and yell 'BAT!'...

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  22. Happy Anniversary! Your photo shoot is so cool!

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  23. What a great post. You are so lucky to be married to a man who wants to do these goofy things with you, who is also into vampires and dressing up and Fluevog shoes. I love how your outfits match. The brooch on L's jacket is a find when you are a vampire. Your outfit is stellar too. Very well thought through. Never throw out that jacket. And a stomacher?? Never heard of.
    How lovely and innocent you both looked 23 years ago.
    Greetje

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    1. He is game for anything, that L! I love that he does this stuff with me, even suggests things we can do. We didn't even plan to match.

      I know, dang, we were so young! I was 29, though, which felt old at the time.

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    2. I was 34 when I met Ron. I thought my boat had already sailed. Which didn't bother me as I was leading a wonderful life and was very happy. There was just not enough sex haha.

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    3. Ha ha! Good thing you took care of that!

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  24. Absolutely love it! Great vampire looks and a super fun way to celebrate your anniversary! Way to get creative. :)

    I'm a big Flight of the Conchords fan so when I heard one of the creators/actors, Jemaine Clement, was making a movie (with fellow New Zealander Taika Waititi) I couldn't not watch it- What We Do In The Shadows was a hilarious movie and I was pretty ecstatic that the show did not disappoint. Can't wait for season 2.

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    1. Thanks, Ashley! Even if we didn't get our usual getaway in Vancouver, this will be one of our most memorable anniversaries.

      I loved Flight of the Conchords too! I am dying for Season 2 of WWDITS! We just rewatched all of season 1.

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  25. Aw, Happy Anniversary, you crazy undead kids! I loved this photoshoot - great styling on both of you (L looks sooo dapper) and a perfect backdrop. May you have many more happy years of playing dress-up together.

    I saw the movie "What We Do in the Shadows" which I enjoyed, and have seen a few episodes of the TV show.

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    1. Thanks, Shelley! This was definitely a high point for us, and we had a blast doing it.

      I love the show - keep watching it! There are some very special cameos you will love.

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  26. love your vampire inspired looks...you both look fantastic. Happy anniversary.

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  27. Happy anniversary, you see they had fun taking these pictures💖

    https://www.lavieenrosechic.com/2020/03/italian-and-french-style.html?

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  28. This is simply friggin' AWESOME how you and L spent your Anniversary!!!!! I have shared it with family plus a friend who is a vampire aficionado. The story line and the outfits, the outfits, the outfits! And the scenery. Thank you for inviting us to your anniversary celebration. May you have many more!

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    1. Thank you so much, Laurie! Aw, thanks for passing it on - we had a blast making it. Hugs to you!

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  29. PS That "Unknown" comment is from me, Laurie in NY. Once again Safari is not letting me comment (keeps deleting my comments when I click Publish :( so I have hopped over to Chrome and am logged in via my work email. Unknown, humph!!!!

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    1. Hello, my dear! You can always comment anonymously - sign your name in your post to let me know it's you. :)

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    2. Ah, thank you for that tip! It might make it much easier in the future. Will give it a try the next time. In fact, will go try now and maybe you'll wind up with 2 comments from me on today's post (Fri 3/27)

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  30. Hahaha!! This is the ultimate post. What an excellent shoot. How much fun you must have had and how much difficulty narrowing down what photos to post. You guys are great vampires, born to the roles, or unborn to them. Heh. Your costumes couldn't be better. I must find myself some lace cuffs like that. I missed you in Vancouver this year but this post was definitely worth the staycation. Happy Anniversary!! belatedly.

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    1. Hey, Mel! We had to make it fun to make up for not getting to Van to see you! You know I posted every picture I took! Thank you!

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  31. WOW your vampire shoot looks fantastic.
    Vizzini cerrainly looks the part in your 4th photo, with his spooky-looking, wide eyes!
    What great fun you both had dressing up. Happy anniversary! X

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    1. Thanks, Jess! We had a blast doing it! It is always pure luck if Vizzini makes a face! Thank you, my dear!

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  32. This post was a great way to begin the day, happy anniversary lovecats! This was such a cool photoshoot and of course all the "story" behind it, so he "wakes up very time you want to smother him" hahah. Big hug.
    My dear Vampiress, did you ever see Hemlock Grove?

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    1. We do those lines back and forth for people all the time. :) He's truly an awesome guy and I can't imagine not having him around.

      No, I must look this up! Hemlock Grove? Ah, it's Netflix - we don't have it.

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  33. Belated happy anniversary wishes to you. What a perfect match you are and golly, I didn't know that vampires had such fun! Great to see those boots again - I just love 'em! x

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    1. Thanks, Anna! It was so much fun to do this together! I love the boots too - last wearing of the season.

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  34. OMG! OMG! OMG! You were not wrong that I would love this post! So first of all, this is a very little known fact and I can't believe that I am going to type this on the internet with my name attached, but what the hell, I am who I am without shame...I have a bit of a vampire fetish! Like a real fetish. Everything about vampires and vampire lore just really gets me going! I don't enjoy too many vampire movies though because I am a bit of scaredy cat and can't handle the scary parts! I love the way you and L have celebrated your anniversary in this perfectly romantic vampire style. Now you have given me some ideas to get even more creative in my closet! This was a super fun post and I was giggling at your commentary all the way through. Thank you for making me laugh!

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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    1. L is also really into vampires, not crazy at all, Shelbee! I'm so glad you enjoyed the post - it was hilarious to shoot and write it.

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  35. HOW DID I MISS THIS FIRST TIME ROUND?
    I must confess that I really am NOT a fan of vampires, I have a real fear of them (related to some Doctor Who trauma as a child involving some vampiric alien girls who dragged people under the water in WW2- 5 years of nightmares and an irrational fear that somehow they would emerge out of my mum's bedroom at night.) BUT these outfits are just brilliant!
    You and L could have done Missy and the 11th Doctor for my birthday post in these outfits!!0

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    1. I don't know, Kezzie, but you've found it now. :) It's okay - I also have some lingering vampire trauma from seeing a scary movie when I was a kid! I can't sleep with my neck uncovered, so I get that!

      I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!

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