I think this was the weekend that Fall fell.  It definitely feels like Autumn.  You just want to cozy up at night with an extra layer of wool next to your skin.  And you smell the wood fires if you walk about your neighborhood at night.  It is one of the reasons why I particularly enjoyed rustling up this week’s bounty of vintage cozy goodness. Enjoy!

I remember this dolly when I was a little girl, playing with it in my doctor’s office. From Etsy seller, Magpie and Hen.

This train wall art filled with vintage Disney characters is too charming for words! From Etsy seller, 1 Sweet Dream Vintage.

This little knitted top is just so sweet and cozy at the same time. From Etsy seller, Gentlefolk.

Oh, if only I could cram the Peach into this darling darling little dressie. And would you look at that little belt buckle? LOVE! From Etsy seller, Little Mitten Vintage.

This sweet turtleneck was made for jumping in piles of leaves. I love it! Thanks for posting, Lishyloo!

How about this darling thermal onesie to keep your widdle one cozy. And the mushrooms are too cute too.  From Etsy seller, Pretty Penny Vintage.

Hammer and stripes go together! From Etsy seller, Sweet Shop Vintage.

This sweet seventies dress  is just so autumnal to me.  I love it! From Etsy seller, the Apple Bobber.

Of course, autumn and plaid go together, so this coat is perfect! From Etsy Peppermint & Cocoa.

It’s All for Fall.  From Etsy seller, Exceedingly Well Read Vintage Books.

Happy Monday, folks!

I’ve already been getting some amazingly awesome Homemade Halloween costumes from people…..but I’m greedy….I still want MORE! Did you make an outfit for your child last year? Was is spectacular? Or was it a fiasco? Either way, we want to see! Just drop me a note at Alix {at} modernkiddo.com. These DO NOT have to be vintage photos. In fact, the more recent the better!

Here are some highlights from last year’s Costume Parade:

Beautiful Bela is one of the most creative kiddos I know—as is her mama Karen (of Misha Lulu fame). Check out this phenomenal Alice in Wonderland costume….complete with Rabbit’s house. Curiouser and curiouser!

Katrina (CaliKatrina) stole my heart with the simplicity of her little Ewan in this little ghost. It’s SO Charlie Brown, I just love it!

OMG, would you get a load of Sarah Ivy’s amazing son Finn as Baby Bowie???? This kid, I tell ya.

How about this adorable (a-thorable??) Thor! Amazing mom Cheri (i am momma hear me roar) made this rad out fit for her little guy!

I’ve seen quite a few little Snow Whites in my time, but honestly little Stella is just 10x cuter than most! Thanks to Melissa of (whileitrains) for sending her our way!

I love simple and sweet costumes and this one is awesome! Little Eames as Elmer Fudd! Whaddup putty tatt??

OK. This is amazing. Carrie Anne (thelittlebigblog) turned her sweet cutie into Baby Sushi. BABY SUSHI!!!! Cuddly and cute.

Well, HELLO DOLLY! This might be the cutest thing I have ever seen! Mama Stacey (hartandsew) turned her sweet Little Miss into a wind up dolly.

And our Hall of Famer: two years ago little Olive blew people’s minds with this darling rainbow.  Her mama Greta (from LayerCakeShop.com) is so talented! (And no she can’t make you one friends…even though we receive SO MANY emails from people asking if they can buy this!).

OK people…send me those costumes! Even if it turned out a little wonky, we love them ALL! Alix [at] modernkiddo .com

One of our favorite family movies is My Neighbor Totoro, from Japanese Studio Ghibli. And one the best, most iconic moments is when the two girls are waiting for the infamous Cat Bus. I was so charmed to see all these real life Totoro Bus Stops and Catbuses. How cute are these??

Oh Totoro! We love you! Have you seen any of the Studio Ghibli movies? Which ones are your favorite??

images via kotaku

Mmmm. Birthday Cake. You know, back in the day people really made an effort to make their kiddo’s birthday cakes special—and personal. They cut and created. They decorated and embellished. Cakes were artful in a very home spun way!

image: curly wurly

I never was a fan of too much frosting when it came to eating, but I sure loved to look at it. When I was 4 or 5 one of my mom’s friends made me a gigantic ballerina shaped cake and whooooo boy did I think it was cool.

image: the happy apple

I have to say that ultimately I’m a big fan of the sweet and simple old timey two layer cake. My specialties are yellow cake with chocolate frosting and M&Ms all over the top (cute, easy, and festive!) and a lemon cake with cream cheese frosting (which is sooooo freakin’ scrumpdillyicious I can’t stand it).

Nowadays it seems that birthday cakes fall into a couple of camps. The over-the-top fondant covered fancy cake—that’s so elaborate it’s almost more of a wedding cake. (Does fondant really taste good anyway??) And the other option are the prefab, store-bought rectangle cakes with that puffy sweet frosting that makes yer teeth hurt. And then there are the cupcakes.

For all my yackin’, I’m never that adventurous and I always end up making cupcakes—which are admittedly all the rage with the elementary school set. While I do love a good cupcake, I still miss those proper homemade “cut up” cakes of the 1970s . Take a look at these babies from the Baker’s Coconut Cookbook and you’ll see what I mean! (Please pardon the butter and flour stains on the page—this little book was well loved!)

Poor Jerry Giraffe….it’s never a good sign when there are only two good things about you, and one of them involves you being eaten.

Awww, the gum drop horsey! So cute. Although it kinda looks like a llama…..

And then there’s the quirky Teddy Bear with it’s craaaazy eyes.

It’s a fluffy bunny, bear, er…. “THING”. And finally, the Cut-Up Kids!

The little girl is a TAD creepy. A slab o’ pink “leg” anyone??

So fun huh! I would loooove to bake something like that for Wolfie. Like, a groovy guitar cake! Or a wacky dog. Alas, my son is the World’s Only Child Who Hates Cake. It’s maddening. Cupcakes are his usual request, but someday I think I’ll just surprise him and bust out with something totally crazy. Like this red and yellow luv:

OMG! New Richard Scarry book!

Admit it, you love LowlyWorm best. Richard Scarry of course has written some of the most charming children’s books every, but when that darling Lowly Worm drove his apple car into lives, well, things just became a whole lot sweeter.

Huckle Cat lucked out with his awesome friend, Lowly, who is always there and ready for some apple riding fun! And it’s about time he got his own book.  The wonderful Richard Scarry unfortunately died in 1994, but his son found under his drawing table several gray cardboard portfolios  containing the beginnings of a book about Mr. Worm.

And yeah, it is AWESOME!

Of course Lowly shows kiddos how to have good manners.

What is not to love here!

Would you check out the travel awesomeness!  That submarine is divine.

And the best part is that it hits the books stores today! Thanks HarperCollins on all of this cuteness today!

Are you a Richard Scarry fan?