Bon Voyage!

Here we are the road trip gals!  On our way to 4,000+ miles of good times.

The best way to follow our trip is going to be joining me over on facebook-link on side bar.

Epic Road Trip: Food

 We are almost there!  3 more days until we kick off our summer vacation.  Along with the last minute things I am also getting our meals sorted out.  To avoid fast food we aim to picnic all along the way.  Here is a visual list of picnic meals.

After a stay in Europe we adopted this as our standard picnic fare.  We honestly could eat this every day.

We are getting an early start and these bacon cheddar muffins will be the perfect breakfast.

Lots of fruit!

Another family favorite.  Hummus, cucumbers and pita.  We'll also toss in a few tomatoes and feta cheese.

Elaborating on the yogurt cup.

Good ol' peanut butter & honey.  Great because the ingredients don't need refrigerating. 

This along with the usual goldfish crackers, animal cookies, raisins, nuts, and fruit snacks should get us across 5 states.  I need to remind myself there are grocery stores along the way to keep from worrying too much about having it all ready to go.

Benefits Of Being A Tattooers Wife

We finally finished my arm.  3 years!  I had a baby during that time which significantly slowed the process.  I don't get tattooed while pregnant and with a new baby there just isn't time.

All totalled it took 21 hours split between about 10 sessions.   Mav did all the black first and I had to wait patiently for the piece de resistance, the pink.

Although I like tattoos purely for the eye candy this one does have some meaning.  My daughters Ruth "Magnolia" and "Pearl" are both represented.  (I have Graces' name on my wrist under the pink bow and Dorothy Violet will be coming soon.)

My Love Of Colonial Revival

Am I the only one who loves Colonial Revival?  Maybe it is because I grew up with it that it makes me feel at home.  I also appreciate that it never went completely out of style from the turn of the century through the 70's.  This means it is easier to find, I can mix decades, and keep the look fluid.

If you watch Mad Men you will recognize the Draper's home as Colonial Revival.  Here is a quote that I liked from their set designer.

"Some viewers might be surprised that the Drapers "don't live in Eames-ville and wear Pucci clothes," Wells says. "But we are portraying a very realistic view of a time when we were not such a throwaway society, and buying furniture was a lifetime investment."

I love the contrast between the modern sleek office and comfy colonial home.

P.S.  I tried so hard to get pics from sources other than blogs and then I just noticed I used the same ones as Atomic Ranch House!  So even though I didn't get them there I feel I should give her credit for using them first.

4th of July Hodgepodge

Here are a few pictures from the 4th of July.  Some are mine, some I took from friends on facebook.

Papa and Pearl went for a biplane ride, circa 1929

Dot gives Twila Jean's son August the eye.

I drink from mason jars- big ones!  It's cucumber water.

Dot gets on her helmet for our bike ride home.  You see Twila Jean's sweet Margaux in the foreground.

Our lovely hostess Amy, Solanah and me.

My daughter Ruth (stripes) and her friends reveal their talents.

Dot and Solanah

Papa, Mama and Dotty.  Notice she wore three outfits during the bbq.

Epic Road Trip: Dresses

Do you want to help me pack?  I am limiting myself to 4 dresses.  Which would you pack?

1.  I like the dark colors because they will travel well.  I happened to mention to Solanah I wanted a large Mexican straw bag, the next day she picked this up for me at an estate sale.  It's large, it clasps, it's cute...love it!

2. (I am not a model nor do I play one on my blog.)  The dress, look at the dress.

3.  I just picked this one up.  I worry a little because although it is cotton, it is lined.   We are traveling in hot humid weather.

4.  Cotton, cute and comfy.

5.  I'll admit this one is my favorite.

6.  Why am I even showing this one?  Because I bought it for the trip and I hate to admit defeat.  Maybe with a good bra and a belt....

7.  Walked into Urban Eccentric last week and there she was, just waiting for me.

8.  Aloha

9.  I took a chance and ordered this one online, I really like to try clothes on before buying them.  I  like it and think the boots could be fun as we are going through Wyoming and Montana- or they could just be hot and take up valuable space.  They can also be worn with #'s 1, 3, 4, and 7.

10.  Classic Mama dress.  I think I'd like to wear it in Montana.

What do you think?

It's About Style Not Age

I started wearing vintage because it was readily available and cheap at thrift stores.  It also was the natural progression of growing up in my particular scene at the time.  We were Bay Area punks, skins, mods....it just seemed to be what a lot of us graduated into about the same time I graduated high school.  It began with mainly 50's clothing and by the time I got married at 22,  it was the 30's and 40's.  I feel my clothing mellowed as I did.

A few days ago.

Senior Prom

One of the top reasons I have continued wearing vintage is the feel, the cut, the quality- once you have experienced living in those clothes it is super hard to go back!  When I shop for clothing those are the things I look for more than the year.  A particular silhouette, cotton dresses with a cinched waist and full skirt are my absolute favorite.  Shopping in a new store is as much of a hunt for me as a thrift store.  I am looking for that particular "feel" or "look" that isn't easy to explain, I just know it when I see it.  There are repro lines, although I prefer finding on the rack clothing that fits the bill with out trying too hard.  Of course, there are plenty of times I miss the mark, but for the most part people are surprised when they find out what I am wearing isn't vintage.

Newlywed