Monthly Archives: July 2011

Vintage Road Trip:: Station Wagons.

Best of Dottie, Vintage Childhood, , , , , , ,


Image via: Lennoxnehar

Before there was the mini-van, there was the station wagon. And all was right in the world.

For many people, summer brings back memories of family vacations, which for most people in America usually involved some time spent in a car and that car was usually a station wagon.

I remember trips to Cape Cod in the family station wagon.  Towing a fishing boat no less. All of the boys crammed into the middle seat and me all the way in the back seat with the cat and the cooler and my Raggedy Anne. I mean, really. If you looked at your family photo albums, I bet you probably have a photo somewhere in there that looks like this:


Images via: Station Wagon Forums and Lah Rah.

But before the station wagon became the family car that millions of teenagers learned to drive in and make out in the back of, it was more of a transportation vehicle for people traveling on trains in the thirties.  The modified back ends that made them “depot hacks” were necessary to carry large amounts of luggage – everyone traveled by train then, remember, and you needed a car that could comfortably carry people and large amounts of luggage from the train station to home–as opposed to a truck.


Image via: Traveling mamas.


Image via: Flickr user gem66

One of the most popular early station wagons pre-WW II was the Woodie. They were made with real wood–hence the name and harkened back to when people used wooden coaches to transport large groups of people. And they are gorgeous aren’t they?


Image: Akeem’s blog.


Image: Curbside Classic.


Image: Nihat’s blog.

But the real golden age of the station wagon was during the 1950s, when baby boomers’ parents needed something to travel on all those new highways in style! I love the ads the most! Every family had one! And the wood was replaced with steel although of course faux wood paneling was still popular for many years.


Image: 55 Classic Chevy


Image: Adclassix


Image: Forum.love-fords.org


Image via: Paulmanon

 

The sixties, we started to see more European versions, like this sweet Volvo.


Image via: Fontaine Maury.


Image via Flickr.

But the “wood paneling” stayed .. And the station wagons started to get smaller (think Pinto) but still were loved.


Image via: carsdirect.com

But the 80s were tough on the iconic gas guzzling station wagon and the mini-van pretty much signaled the death knell for these gorgeous cars, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still love them.  Vintage station wagons are still available and you can’t help but smile when you see one on the road and perhaps think back to your own childhood.


Image via: Striderv

But before I go, I must admit, I’m not just a fan of vintage station wagons, I’m a co-owner too!

We bought this sweet car the first year of our marriage with dreams of fixing it up and filling it with our kiddos for our own road trips.  And it is pink. How can you not love that? Right now it is getting more of a work out as the Peach’s playhouse, but we have dreams of future cross country trips in that beauty.

Here’s to future road trips!

PS: Speaking of road trips—our girl Jenny at Frecklewonder is having a blast of one. I highly recommend you check out the pix in progress on her Instagram (“frecklewonder”)!

 

 

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.55classicchevy.com/images/55Chevy-ad-6.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.55classicchevy.com/1955-chevrolet-classic-car-video-clips-7.html&usg=__LeQYmILjNcpgPWSasWHWAx_ottE=&h=310&w=400&sz=66&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=6oOwt6jwzwE8xM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=170&ei=xt0TTsHxFOnKiAKQm4GHDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvintage%2Bstation%2Bwagons%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3Dose%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D870%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=993&vpy=301&dur=450&hovh=132&hovw=170&tx=126&ty=96&page=1&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:26,s:0

Vintage Kiddo Flashback // The Force is Strong With This One

Things We Like

You may not know this about me. But I love Star Wars. The original 1977 film is one of my all time favorite movies and while many may quibble about the special effects not being up to parr and the acting a tad stilted I say, “When 900 years you reach, look as good, you will not!”

So I thought it would be great to take a little trip down memory lane at the cultural phenomenon that was Star Wars. I don’t care WHO you were, if you grew up in the 70s your life was touched by Star Wars. If you weren’t obsessed with it, then your brother or best friend was. It was a pretty magical time, my friends. Let us begin.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…….

…..there were movie theaters that only showed ONE film. Popcorn, coke and a box of milkduds cost less then $10 and movies often only played at two times. Scandal!


image: aroid

Every self respecting kiddo of the 70s had a Star Wars tee and wore it with PRIDE!

image: jessenoonan

This next little feller was heading off to his first day of kindergarten. Big Apple Name Tag, nap time mat, Super Friends Lunch Box…..and his best Star Wars Tee. I love this photo so much, it reminds me of my brother Karl—a die hard Star Wars fan. I can still see him playing with all his Star Wars characters. He even had that Super Friends lunch box!

image: benjamin oderwald

One of the best things about Star Wars toys is that there are soo many photos of a little boy just BUSTIN’ with pride over his latest score:


image: kid ampersand

Oooh this boy had THEE ULTIMATE. The coveted Boba Fett. Boba Fett wasn’t even really in the first movie, but if you collected enough UPC codes from the Star Wars action figures you could send away to the Kenner toy company to receive your FREE Boba Fett Bounty Hunter action figure! No one really knew who the hell he was at that time, but we HAD TO HAVE HIM!! I remember Karl and I clipping the codes out and mailing them in, and being so excited when he finally arrived. This is the biggun, the 12 incher….not the freebie. You can see how psyched this little guy is:

image: timothy smith

Please note the Incredible Hulk Latch Hook Rug dealie resting casually on the back of the couch of this next one. Grrrrrr!


image: jedi jaybird

It was CLEARLY an excellent holiday at this kid’s house. He got the AT-AT walker from Empire Strikes Back, and his sister scored the Barbie Townhouse. I sooo had that as a little girl—that damn thing wobbled like crazy but how sweet is the elevator?


image: wampa-one

Speaking of kid sisters, they always wanted to get in on the fun too:

image: tom simpson


Image: aaron_73


image: superbomba

How cute is little Leia?? I guess that makes a great segue to COSTUMES. Star Wars costumes became extremely popular—many of them homemade.


image: phil dillon

“Aren’t you a little short for a storm trooper??” hyuck hyuck.  I really love the Mod Lord Vader jumpsuit.

Awwww no wonder Patches is so sad. His buddies got Star Wars coolness while his parents dress him up as a psychotic clown. {sad trombone} Although to be fair the little ewok looks like the love child of  Kenny Rogers and Big Foot…

image: corelliancaptain

STYLIN’!!!!! (and you *know* I’m not talking about that sassy little storm trooper…..hold up. Does Gladys have a SPINNING WHEEL in the left corner over there??? Oh Mah Gawd…..)

image: Two Twumbo Twetzels

The art of Star Wars (as seen through the eyes of a kiddo) was also amazing:

image: r a e d e k e

Now you *know* that awesome Old Spice guy modelled himself after Lando. “Well hello ladies….!”

image: scad92

While most fans were little boys, little girls definitely got in on the Star Wars action too:

image:_Marissa_

“Walk softly and carry a big laser blaster….”


image: Amy/Teruterubouzu


image: Lorena Haldeman

(yeah, the bike is rad. And don’t you fret….a banana seat bike post is totally in the hopper for Vintage Kiddo….)

I think it goes without saying that anybody who was anybody had a Star Wars themed birthday party.

We begin with the awesome Steven. I love that his parents made this sign! Although I gotta say, that little clown on the left is sort of ruinin’ Steven’s jedi mojo.

image: Sam Howzit His mom made extra rad R2D2 name tag for all the kids too. See ’em here.

Mmmmm. Chocolate Vader. Made with Extra Dark Side chocolate….

image: michael rose

Alas, I think Dan’s mom needs a few lessons from the lady up above. She gets an “A” for “artful fork display” and bonus points for two boxes of Pop Rocks!

image: dishfunctional


image: igpago

Aaron has the best vintage Star Wars pictures on this Flickr Stream. This was apparently at McDonalds (note the soft serve sundaes). Boba Fett cake? Rockin’…..

image: aaron_73

Look how cute and happy this little guy is. And that cake looks might tasty too….

image: Trent Walton

Not sure what’s more impressive….the sculptural R2D2 or those snazzy Mork from Ork suspenders??

image: Cole Henley

This next one takes the, er, cake. Or rather his mom took the cake….to the damn photostudio. What the what?? Amazing.

image: chilly casey

And finally, the ultimate: having a tricked out Star Wars Bedroom. Many a child lulled themselves to sleep murmuring, “These are not the droids you are looking for…..” cuddled up under these amazing sheets:

image: jesse lockwood

This photo had the best caption. “Darth Vader’s light saber in my eye….but E.T. warming my heart.”

image: gthorn77

image: aaron_73

Sweet dreams little Jedi….

P.S. There is a really amazing Flickr group called Growing Up Star Wars: 1977-1985. You really should check it out—and add your own photos if you have any!

MK Giveaway :: Apricot Culotte {CLOSED}

Giveaways, , ,

Friends, oh, friends.  Get ready to want this! Our wonderful spnonsor, Apricot Culotte, purveyor of pre-loved and new baby clothing from Europe is giving away a $50 gift certificate! Whoohoo!!!

Our gal, Emilie keeps an eye out for beautiful kiddo clothing that is gently used and from some of the best known European designers for the kiddo set, like Petit-Bateau, Catimini, Jacadi and Bonpoint.

Because with that little giftie cert. you could grab up something as divine as THIS.

Or this.

Or THIS.

OK, or THIS.

I know, right. Utterly divine. Beautiful clothes that don’t overwhelm the innate beauty of your baby. Perfect perfect perfect.

So, here’s la deal:

To win this magnifique $50 gift certificate to Apricot Culotte, here’s all you need to do:

  1. Leave a comment on this blog
  2. “Like” Apricot Culotte on Facebook. Do both of those and you’ll get TWO entries!
  3. To get bonus entries, follow us on Twitter. If you are already a follower, tweet about this giveaway—don’t forget to include @modernkiddo in the tweet please! (it’s how we can track your tweet) You can also follow our personal twitters @galexina and @missdottie for two more bonus entries.
  4. “Like” us on Facebook.
  5. And finally, “follow” Alix (@galexina) and Dottie (@MissDottie) on Instagram

You’ll get one entry for each thing you do. If you do all eight things on the list you’ll be entered eight times. HUZZAH!!!

Voting ends Monday, July 26th at NOON PST.  The winner will be announced that evening Monday, July 26th at 8:00PM-PST.

Good luck, and we’re crossing our fingers you win!

My New Obsession :: The glass beauty of bkr

Things We Like, , , ,

Drinking water is important. But I have to admit I’m kind of picky. I’m not a fan of those aluminum, Sigg-type bottles. I don’t like the metallic taste. And the lip of the bottle has always bugged me. I also don’t really like those sport bottle tops—where you have to suck on the dang thing and the sides of the plastic bottle suction in. A glass of water is great but I’m always paranoid I’ll knock it over and spill it everywhere. What’s a girl to do? Enter, the bkr bottle {pronounced “beaker”}.

I first spied bkr in the hands of my friend Toria. She had a deliciously bright blue bottle on her desk at work and I was immediately transfixed. It was made of glass and it looked like a little piece of art. I knew I had to find out more!

Tal Soltz and Kate Cutler are the co-founders of San Francisco-based bkr. These two close friends created bkr with the inspiration of everything they loved in life — modern art, sky-high boots, designs they saw in Tokyo, Parisian street chic, soft white sheets etc. But most of all, they wanted to show that a green product could (and should!) be creative, beautiful and inspirational. Says Tal, “We want to inspire people to drop their plastic bottles but believe that to do so, you have to give people something they will want to carry.” Friends, boy did they ever succeed.

Chic, sleek and utterly functional, bkr is a new generation of water bottles. “We made it from glass because it’s a green and clean material—it doesn’t smell of every drink you ever put in it or leach chemicals.” This is huge. I can’t tell you how many plastic drinking bottles I’ve ruined by adding things like Emergen-C to them. And of course no one wants gross chemicals tainting their bevies.

The brightly hued, cushy sleeve comes in cool colors like Bubble (a soft pale pink), Pop (a vibrant fuchsia), Pool (a brilliant, cerulean blue), Ripe (a plucky, day glow tangerine),  and Fog (a charcoal, misty grey that pays homage to our beloved San Francisco).

The ladies were kind enough to send me a couple of bottles and I can safely say it has revolutionized my water drinking. The bottle mimics the feel of a classic plastic water bottle—the smaller mouth and easy screw cap—but packages it in the prettiest little bottle you ever did see. It looks 10x more beautiful in person, with the sleeve giving it a clean, translucence… it also feels terrific too. I am always saying I need to drink more water, and now thanks to my sassy bottle I do.

The one downside? Everyone in my house wants to drink out of it!!!!! I made the announcement that this was mommy’s special bottle, but neither Greg nor Wolfie can resist it. I am constantly catching them sneaking quick swigs. This morning I picked it up only to find out that it was totally empty—this is not an exaggeration people. In fact, I was going to giveaway the blue one to our beloved readers but Wolfie immediately claimed it as his own! (Never fear, I will be giving away a bkr bottle for you guys very soon! Dottie has an awesome giveaway this afternoon but look for my bkr giveaway next week!)

Other things to note. It *is* a glass bottle, so it’s not designed for little tiny kiddos. That being said, it’s not any different than drinking out of a drinking glass. You can’t toss it in your book bag, but it’s fairly sturdy. Should it break within 90 days of your purchase, the lovely folks at bkr will replace it. Pretty cool. Oh, and the sleeve and the bottle are both dishwasher safe. Huzzah! Seriously I can’t say enough about this pretty little bottle you’ll use again and again and again. Get your one in your hot little hands right here. Oh, and just in case yer wondering, they didn’t ask me to write about their bottle….this is simply my opinion. When I like something, I like to share! And I’m very into the idea of eliminating plasticky bottles, cutting down on waste and going back to the clean basics of glass! There are other glass bottle brands popping up and I wrote about them back in this Link Round up (see #4!). But for now, my perty little pink bottle is the winner!

Vintage Kiddo Retro Round Up!

Kiddo Style: Vintage

Hello friends! Did you have a great weekend? We had a terrific one. FINALLY the weather has sorted itself out…not too hot…not too cold. It was pretty perfect. Miss Dottie and I hit the Renegade Craft Fair and had a fabulous time. We chatted and shopped and met so many awesome people. We’ll have a little run down of our afternoon in the next day or two but until then YEE HAW! We have some fun vintage finds to share with you! Let’s cut to the chase, shall we??

With an adorable name like Sam and Milly, it stands to reason that all of this shop’s goodies would be adorable too. The giraffe? The elephant? SO AWESOME.

I think vintage for kiddos is the coolest, son. How about this awesome little shirt? From Etsy rock-n-rollers, The Young Team.

Oh lawdy, those cool cats at Robot Parade for Kids know how to rock the vintage in such a hip and fun way. With the new movie almost out, this Smurfie shirt is sure to please!

Sassy Sandi from AdaLou Vintage brings us this sweet as can be plaid and flower dressie!

Ah, mother midnight….how magical are your goods. I have to say that this mod scooter dress is killing me.


And this rad take on the Mr. Furley jumpsuit (the colors!) is too good:

Wowza. This Club Babalu plaid is so classic! From the groovy kids at Mid-Centurecycled.

I also looove these iron-ons. Especially that one on the left!

Ohhh, Miss J from the Sweet Shop Vintage, how you gonna tempt me so?? I don’t even have a little girl and I kinda want this sweet summer outfit.

And these smaller suitcases are also FABulous. Quick, please someone buy them before I do!!

This wee western flannel is perfect for your little rocker cowboy! From ever awesome I Love Vintage Stuff.

My pal lishy loo vintage has a huge collection of goods in her shop. I’m loving this little 70s style ernie shirt!

 

I can not lie. This vintage baby book from starfriends on earth had me swooning. I think I’d be afraid to write in it though!


And the charm of this little Going to Gramma Suitcase is so fabulous


Holy super mod! If this fantastic dressie doesn’t get you shouting “Sweet U-S of YAY!!” I don’t know what will. (Hee. That’s one of Dottie’s fave expressions!) From seller Little Dollie Madison.

These charming puzzles from Rainy Day Story Vintage have such great illustrations!

And finally, here’s one to watch! The darling shop The Littlest is beautifully curated. The shop isn’t open right now (update is in the works!), but there are items up for browsing. Do check it out!

Here’s to another happy summer week!