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Suzanne Carillo

40+ Adventurous style solutions for the uncommon woman

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dressing for my fantasy life Suzanne Carillo

Fantasy Life Escape To The Château

… [Read More...]

what have we done wild fire emergency australia

What Have We Done? Environmental Emergency

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zack pinsent commitment to style and sustainability

Commitment To Style & Sustainability Zack Pinsent

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Top Tips To Thrift Quality Footwear

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Fantasy Life Escape To The Château

January 13, 2020 by suzanne carillo

Are you a fan of travel shows? What about home improvement? How about a combo of the two? Lately I’ve been living my fantasy life, giving my mind a break from the devastating daily news and Escaping to the Château  with Dick and Angel.  

escape to the chateau
Escape to the Château photo credit channel 4. If you are in Canada you can watch it on the CBC here.

My Fantasy Life – Escape To The Château

Have you heard of this series?

They left their lives in the UK to live their dream and buy a fairytale castle in France.  

Chateau escape to the chateau
photo credit channel 4

I fell in love with the program because it’s in France (obvs!), they live in a castle and Angel is obsessed with all things vintage and antique.

Angel is a master crafter, designer and all around creative person and Dick is an an environmentalist and engineer with exceptional problem solving skills. 

They up-cycle and reuse many items found on the castle grounds and often renovations include the most advanced environmentally friendly options.  Their decisions value frugality and sustainability and are made with long term considerations rather than short term gratification.  It is a positive view of slow living practises.

Both Angel and Dick are a pleasure to watch.  

It also proves it’s never too late to start living your dream, no matter your age.  

What’s not love? 

When I Stayed In A French Château

Below are some photos from my scrapbook, circa 2009, when we briefly vacationed in a chateau in Bordeaux.   

We stayed at Château de Mirambeau and it was even better than I’d imagined.

chateau de mirambeau france suzanne carillo

The note from the concierge welcomed us upon our arrival. It came with fancy homemade sweets. 

our room chateau de mirambeau suzanne carillo

To say the castle and our room was majestic would be an understatement. We really did feel like royalty.  

Apparently we had just missed the French actor Gérard Depardieu who had only checked out the day before. 

french castle mirambeau

I believe it’s the only place in the world where you can get a massage in what was previously an 11th century dungeon with some of the original armour standing guard in the corner. 

horseback riding france suzanne carillo

That’s me loving every minute of our horseback ride through the vineyards. 

Dressing For My Fantasy Life – The Queen Of The Castle

Here I am dressed in my château uniform and pondering why my man servant hasn’t brought me my pre dinner drink and dance yet.

Fantasy Life escape to the chateau pretend style suzanne carillo

I drink while he dances.

Win win. 

After my pre dinner drinks I need to freshen my look with some powder.  I don’t know why I get all sweaty when I’m not the one dancing.  

Fantasy Life getting ready for dinner at the chateau suzanne carillo

Now I’m impatiently waiting for my fashionably late dinner companion to grace me with her presence. 

Fantasy Life escape to the chateau in vintage suzanne carillo style

She claims she was late due to an engagement with her agent who is a P. I. G. His friends just call him Mr. P. Wiggly. 

pig the agent

Fantasy Life my dinner date escape to the chateau suzanne carillo how to wear vintage over 40

My date is nice but tends to overeat and have rather atrocious table manners. What do you expect from a pug peasant?

What fantasy life would you escape to if you had the chance?

dressing for my fantasy life Suzanne Carillo

Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday, and Spy Girl

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What Have We Done? Environmental Emergency

January 6, 2020 by suzanne carillo

Environmental Emergency

Everywhere you look there are signs of climate change. From the melting ice caps and loss of polar bears, wildlife and their habitats to the warming of the oceans and with it the subsequent demise of coral reefs and sea life.  Our world has been irrevocably changed by mankind’s greed. 

Some of the latest catastrophic losses are occurring in Australia.  

What Have We Done? Environmental Emergency – Wild Fires Burning In Australia 

what have we done? Environmental emergency wild fires burning in Australia.

The apocalyptic fires have killed 24 people and have destroyed more than 1,500 homes, ravaging through over fifteen million hectares of land (over three times as much land as the Amazon fire).  

Half a billion animals have been killed including over 8,000 koalas.

The numbers are so staggering it is difficult to comprehend.

Realizing we’ve permanently altered our planet and its future is heartbreaking. The planet doesn’t belong to us. We are but one species living here and we have ruined it for all. 

Before The Fires

I was lucky enough to spend three weeks in southern Australia in 2006. Seeing the devastation incurred throughout the region is beyond heartbreaking. The sense of loss is overwhelming.  

At a time like this I feel showing photos of myself or what I’m wearing is irrelevant, inappropriate and indecent.  

Instead, I am sharing some photos from a scrapbook I created of our trip in tribute to the extreme losses incurred by the animals, land and people of Australia.

The photos below were taken on Kangaroo Island, a refuge for some of the country’s most endangered creatures, located just off the coast of southern Australia. At this point over 30% of Kangaroo Island has burned. 

kangaroo island suzanne carillo

What have we done? Environmental emergency on kangaroo island southern australia suzanne carillo

kangaroos kangaroo island 2006 suzanne carillo

Kangaroos were abundant on the Island when we were there. With wild fires raging they will have nowhere to escape. 

Teams arrived to Kangaroo Island today to help euthanize livestock and wild animals injured in the blazes. 

koala bear 2006 suzanne carillo

This little koala above was hanging out near a cabin where we stayed on the Island.

Koalas are not able to move quickly to escape the fires which is why so many have succumb to the flames. 

What have we done? Environmental emergency in Australia koala bear burnt paws
Photo – Port Macquarie Koala Hospital NSW

The koala above has been severely burned.  It will take extra efforts and care to ensure he lives. 

How Can You Help?

If you are looking for ways to help you can donate to WIRES Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organization, WIRES (New South Wales Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.), to help animals in the midst of the bushfires.

In addition to WIRES we helped the koalas at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in New South Wales.   You can contribute to a GoFundMe campaign to rescue koalas by rehydrating them and treating their burns in the hospital.

Life Changes

Ultimately to slow down and ideally stop climate change we need to change our habits and lifestyle.  I’ve written previously about some easy changes I’ve made to my life in an effort to fight climate change on a personal level.

Vote For Change

It is up to us to choose governments that will impose regulations and fines on industries that pollute and exploit the planet’s resources.  Gas and oil companies whose carbon pollution has helped cause the climate crisis, and in turn created these extreme fire conditions in Australia, need to be held accountable.  They need to pay for the loss of life and land out of their earnings.  

We are in the midst of an emergency that requires actions, not words.

Educate yourself and take responsibility for your choices. Stand up for the animals and the earth.  It’s the only home we have.

Some films I recommend to educate yourself about climate change are; Before The Flood, The True Cost, River Blue, An Inconvenient Truth , A Plastic Ocean.

I would like to recommend this video of Dr. David Suzuki, a Canadian environmentalist explaining the facts about climate change below.  It will change you forever.

what have we done? environmental emergency wild fires burning in australia

Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday, and Spy Girl

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Hi! I’m Suzanne

Suzanne Carillo About

I'm a 50+ avid secondhand shopper, vintage lover and reseller that caters to the incessant demands of a diva pug named Zoë.

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Vintage 50s 60s Polka Dot Rockabilly Country Weste Vintage 50s 60s Polka Dot Rockabilly Country Western Shirt - Cowgirl Button Up Shirt - 1960s Retro Hipster - M/L⁣
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I had the wonderful opportunity to see authentic F I had the wonderful opportunity to see authentic Flamenco dancers when I was in Spain a few years back.⁣
⁣
We saw them in a cave. ⁣
It was incredible. ⁣
An experience I will never forget. ⁣
The dancers were so intense.⁣
It was like they were in a trance.⁣
The cave was small and intimate. ⁣
The sounds they made by clapping their hands, stomping their feet and beating their chests were amplified by the stone walls.⁣
⁣
The dancers we saw were part of a family that had been dancing Flamenco for generations.⁣
⁣
All the dancers sat on stage with the musicians and each one had their turn to get up and dance their story.⁣
⁣
I was impressed by two of the women, the mother and the daughter but without a doubt it was the male dancer (I believe their son) that blew my mind.⁣
He had the ability to make each person in the audience feel like he was dancing uniquely for them. ⁣
His stare and intensity burned through my soul.⁣
It was so magical it was almost orgasmic.⁣
I’m not joking! ⁣
This is the first time I was so moved by a dancer.⁣
That memory has stayed with me. ⁣
⁣
Should I return to Spain one day I hope to revisit the same area near the Alhambra to experience the wonder again.⁣
⁣
Have you ever seen authentic Flamenco dancers? Did you enjoy it? ⁣
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#50plusandfabulous ⁣
#over50style ⁣
#thriftedstyle ⁣
#sustainablefashion ⁣
#redhairdontcare ⁣
#stylenotage ⁣
#vintagelacedress ⁣
#vintagebysuzanne ⁣
#fashionblogger⁣
#suzannecarillodotcom⁣
#notyourgrandmasstyle
1950s Dress - Pink Blue Floral Chiffon - Short Sle 1950s Dress - Pink Blue Floral Chiffon - Short Sleeve - Midi - Tie Shoulders - Handmade - Spring Summer - Vintage - Size Extra Small
Vintage 70s Floral Prairie Maxi Dress - VERA MONT Vintage 70s Floral Prairie Maxi Dress - VERA MONT Folk Boho Hippie Summer Festival Dress - Small
My Instagram feed is as exciting as watching paint My Instagram feed is as exciting as watching paint dry lately. You'd think only follow 3 people cause every time I visit IG I see the same images on repeat. Does anyone else have this problem?
Continued...⁣ ⁣ “Hey!” I thought, “I’m Continued...⁣
⁣
“Hey!” I thought, “I’m starting to get the hang of this.”⁣
⁣
After messing about for fifteen minutes trying to set up my tripod above the fallen tree I risked my safety and laid all the way down on the log on my back, half expecting a rabid squirrel to attack me from a tree branch above. ⁣
⁣
I quickly started taking photos.⁣
⁣
“This might work after all!” I happily told myself.⁣
Just then I heard a guttural menacing growl.⁣
What the…?⁣
I slowly turned my head and saw a large, mean and rather perplexed looking boxer dog about six feet away from me, clearly disturbed by my presence. When I tried to move he started barking excitedly, like he’d just discovered an alien. The owner relentlessly called him from the trail but the dog refused to leave. He was freaking out over this half human, yellow and pink sequinned tree that was moving. ⁣
The equivalent of a doggy nightmare, when the trees you’ve been peeing on all your life rise up and attack you.⁣
⁣
The dog kept barking.⁣
⁣
The owner kept calling.⁣
⁣
The mosquitos kept biting.⁣
⁣
I kept sweating and swearing. ⁣
⁣
And that my friends…was the very last straw.⁣
⁣
“That’s it! Eff this!”⁣
I may have actually said that out loud at this point.⁣
I couldn’t concentrate anymore. ⁣
⁣
How was a professional supposed to work in these atrocious conditions? ⁣
⁣
I’d have called my agent to complain but she was back home sleeping and snoring loudly. ⁣
⁣
#lazypug⁣
⁣
I packed up my gear.⁣
⁣
The dog finally left.⁣
⁣
I headed back to the car.⁣
I passed another person on my way out of the park. They just looked at me knowingly, nodded and smiled like they were in on some brilliant inside joke.⁣
(The joke is on you my friend! I got my photos! Ha!)⁣
⁣
Taken from my blog ⁣
https://suzannecarillo.com/the-travelling-yellow-skirt-freak-show-fantasy-vs-reality/⁣
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More info @bagandaberet ⁣
http://bagandaberet.blogspot.com/2012/11/join-travelling-yellow-skirt-freak-show.html
Continued...⁣ ⁣ Try #4⁣ I was determined to Continued...⁣
⁣
Try #4⁣
I was determined to make this work on my own. Heck other bloggers can take their own atmospheric photos why can’t I?⁣
⁣
I made a floral crown, changed my outfit and drove to my neighbourhood park.⁣
⁣
When I opened the car door the extreme heat & humidity slapped me upside my face like a searing pancake fresh off the grill. The universe wasn’t going to make this easy but I stubbornly and foolishly thought,“Oh yeah! Bring it!”⁣
⁣
I traipsed through the bush slogging my tripod, shoes and camera while trying to hold up the tent skirt with my free hand, narrowly missing two large piles of dog poop on the way.⁣
Battalions of hyper squirrels ran back and forth in front of me, a warning I was clearly off the beaten path and trespassing on their territory.⁣
⁣
I found a spot I thought was far enough away from the trail to avoid attracting any unwanted attention. I began to set up the tripod, bending and contorting my already overheated body into extreme yoga poses while trying to avoid ant hills, dog poop, and sharp branches all the while still holding up the massive parachute skirt that was the heat equivalent of wearing ten plastic garbage bags taped together. ⁣
⁣
Mosquitos the size of small birds swarmed around my head and feasted like kings on my sweaty flesh.⁣
“Breathe, just breathe,”I told myself.⁣
“You can do this.”⁣
Sweat dripped down my forehead from my floral crown and threatened to ruin my makeup. I hastily wiped it away with the back of my hand. My face and body was covered in a slick layer of perspiration. ⁣
⁣
I had no kleenex, personal assistant, photographer or stylists on this shoot to scrape off the mud and dead leaves that were covering my cute heels that sank into the spongy ground as I tried to navigate my way through the fallen branches and undergrowth forest without falling.⁣
I was on a mission. ⁣
I was determined to make this work.⁣
⁣
I sat down on a rotting log. ⁣
It sank a bit under my weight, moist and putrid with decay. Perfect for a shot of the shoes and skirt!⁣
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To be Continued...⁣
Taken from my blog ⁣
https://suzannecarillo.com/the-travelling-yellow-skirt-freak-show-fantasy-vs-reality/
This is the story of the fantasy in my head vs. th This is the story of the fantasy in my head vs. the reality of my life in my quest to capture my interpretation of the Travelling Yellow Skirt Freak Show.⁣
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The Fantasy⁣
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I was strolling through the forest singing softly to myself when I happened upon a lovely spot to sit and reflect for a moment. Butterflies and birds flocked to my sunny skirt and floral crown.⁣
⁣
It was magical.⁣
I gazed up through the trees in amazement at the clear blue sky.⁣
⁣
I was so overwhelmed with emotion I had to lay down, close my eyes and let the overpowering love of the universe rush over me.⁣
⁣
It was all just a dream.⁣
⁣
The Reality⁣
⁣
Try#1⁣
⁣
Now the real story.⁣
⁣
I recruited my husband to take photos of me in our backyard from atop a ladder. ⁣
I knew exactly what I wanted in my mind, an ethereal dreamlike photo taken from far above.⁣
This was lost in translation apparently.⁣
I tried my best to direct him on how to set up the camera.⁣
Massive fail.⁣
All photos from that shoot were overexposed to the point that it looked like the camera was pointed directly at an exploding sun.⁣
#effingwasteoftime⁣
⁣
Try #2⁣
We gave it another go. ⁣
I set up the camera myself. ⁣
The exposure was decent, but the photos were hideous. ⁣
⁣
Things to think about when laying down and trying to get someone to take your photo from above while wearing a bustier and oversized maxi skirt:⁣
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Lava-like overflowing side boob. ⁣
Man shoulders.⁣
One inch legs.⁣
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Maybe if my husband was actually shooting above me and not on an angle (the ladder wasn’t anywhere near tall enough) I wouldn’t have looked so bizarrely misshapen. I looked like the love child of a Francis Bacon and Picasso painting.⁣
#howdoyouspelldivorce⁣
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Forget about the husband trying to help.⁣
⁣
Try #3⁣
I tried taking some photos on my own standing up in my “usual” spot.⁣
⁣
Me no likey.⁣
⁣
Story to be continued...⁣
⁣
Taken from my original blog post,⁣
⁣
https://suzannecarillo.com/the-travelling-yellow-skirt-freak-show-fantasy-vs-reality/⁣
⁣
To read about the travelling yellow skirt freak show go here⁣
⁣
http://bagandaberet.blogspot.com/2012/11/join-travelling-yellow-skirt-freak-show.html
1960s Hawaiian Dress With Waterfall Back Train- Vi 1960s Hawaiian Dress With Waterfall Back Train- Vintage 60s HAWAIIAN TOGS Watteau Tropical Tiki Evening Cocktail Party Maxi Dress - XS/S⁣
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#vintagebysuzanne #vintagedress #vintagedressforsale #forsale #buynow #vintage ⁣
#hawaiian #hawaiiandress⁣
#vintageclothing #vintagefashion #vintagestyle #vintagelove⁣
#vintage60sdress #vintage60sdressforsale #vintage1960sdress #vintagereseller #smallbusinessowner #sustainablefashion⁣
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#vintageforsale #vintageclothingforsale #vintagelover #vintageclothes #vintagedresses #vintageshop
80s Does 50s Cotton Floral Dress - Vintage 1980s F 80s Does 50s Cotton Floral Dress - Vintage 1980s Fit & Flare Day Dress - Summer Garden Party Picnic BBQ Dress - L/XL
Well our deck is finally finished and I'm elated! Well our deck is finally finished and I'm elated! ⁣
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I'd be out there right now except our neighbour is redoing his whole backyard in brick and there is nothing but noise and dust in the air. ⁣
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Soon enough I envision Zoe and I will be out there sipping on some tiny umbrella drinks, lounging on the hammock while our manservant fans us and brings us snacks. ⁣
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Sadly the manservant is overseas so we'll have to fan ourselves. Quelle horreur. How will we survive?
1950s Evening Party Cocktail Dress - Prom Ballroom 1950s Evening Party Cocktail Dress - Prom Ballroom Dancing Wedding Formal Event Dress - Vintage 50s Red Pink Sequinned Lace Tulle Dress - XS
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