Monthly Archives: January 2013

The Charming World of Charm Bracelets.

You just can’t help but find charm bracelets, well… charming!  There is something so irresistible about wanting to see of the charms on someone’s bracelet and ask what the significance is of each one.

We can thank Queen Victoria for starting the charm bracelet craze.  Not only did she start the white wedding dress trend, but she was one of the first people to wear charm bracelets and even gave them as presents to close friends.

It was Tiffany & Co. who in 1889 first offered its iconic charm bracelet and introduced the craze to the United States. The charm bracelet phenom didn’t truly take off until the 1950s and 60s when it really peaked with teenage girls that wanted a charm for every event in their lives.

Alix told me she was thinking of doing a post on charm bracelets but then suggested I write about it as she knew how much I LOVE CHARM BRACELETS!!! And with good reason, I think.  Check out these darling ones that Alix found online.

I can’t get over how charming this one is.  That bunny is too adorable for words. And the baby carriage—so sweet! Get the bunny bracelet here.

This one is just Christmas perfection, don’t you think? Get the Christmas bracelet here.

Get Psychedelic here. I love her little pink shoes too!

Get Ike here! But if you are a vintage Democrat…

Get a little JFK here!

And I must admit I’m not only a fan of charm bracelets, but a wearer!  I asked for one for my 40th birthday and asked my closest friends to buy a charm that symbolized our friendship.  I love it!  For example my crafty soul sister, Eileen, who I have spent many hours cruising Joann’s Fabric store buying fabric to sew got me a charm of a little vintage sewing machine! So every time I look at that charm, I think of my friend. I love it so much!  I also have a San Francisco bracelet that I bought and wear to all SF Dame events.  And I really want to start a U.S. travel charm bracelet to include every state that I’ve been to!

I hope to buy an empty Tiffany charm bracelet for the Peach when she turns 18 and can’t wait to watch her fill it up with wonderful experiences.

Do you own a charm bracelet?

 

 

Gettin’ Punchie With the Bug.

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Oh yes! The legendary Volkswagen Beetle….these things never fail to make me smile. Just recently we’e started playing Slug Bug with Wolfie. You know the game, right? You see a VW Beetle driving down the road and you call out “Slug Bug!” and sock your car buddy in the shoulder. We play a modified version and call out the color of the car, “Slug Bug Yellow!” “Slug Bug Red!” A lil smack punch might come later, but it’s more about the thrill of spying one before someone else. (Sorry purists…but  Wolfie’s only 8 and doesn’t have any siblings, so I’m usually on the receiving end of these punchies!!)

Do you call it Slug Bug like we do? Or maybe you call it Punch Buggie? I’ve even heard some people call it, Piggy Punch, or Beetle Bug. And of course then there’s “SLUG BUG —no punch backs!”

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I think these cars are just so quirky, cute and distinctive. I like the more modern version too, but of course it’s the classic that really makes me happy. Their motor makes such a distinctive sound. Did you know that the engine was in the back of the original model and the front was the “trunk”? It was also said that the unique construction of the Bug made it air tight so it could float. I remember when I was a kid back in Michigan, there was a small area that was flooded and a guy in his VW bug just puttered across. SO COOL!

The first production-ready Kdf-Wagen [as it was called] debuted at the Berlin Motor Show in 1939; the international press soon dubbed it the “Beetle” for its distinctive rounded shape. Though VW sales were initially slower in the United States compared with the rest of the world, by 1960 the Beetle was the top-selling import in America, thanks to an iconic ad campaign. By the 1970s, it had become a worldwide cultural icon, featuring prominently in the hit 1969 movie “The Love Bug” (which starred a Beetle named Herbie) and even on the cover of the Beatles album “Abbey Road.”   — History.com

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Sponsor the Kiddo // 2 for 1 Valentines Special!

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FEBRUARY is almost upon us, friends!

Do you want to gain a little more exposure for your Etsy shop or cool blog? Then why not become a Modern Kiddo sponsor!  Modern Kiddo has quickly become the go-to favorite for vintage lovin’ readers every where!  We love to showcase unique, creative  folks and help spread the world about your awesomeness.

Because February is a shorter month than usual (and because we loooooove you so) we are offering a special TWO FOR ONE deal. Sponsor Modern Kiddo for February, and get March free! Our rates are already totally affordable, so this is a fantastic deal. You’ll also be featured in our monthly “Sponsor Love” round up (see a sample here!).

To find out more or to reserve your spot, email me: alix [at] modernkiddo [dot] com.

A cup of KOFY

Sunday nightI turned on the TV and came across something so spectacular that it almost made me forget to tune into Downton Abbey  and I had to share it with you.

Folks, it was the KOFY Dance Party.

I’m sure you are familiar with American Bandstand and my personal favorite, Soul Train, but I remember in the eighties a local dance show in Philadelphia where I grew up that came on after school, where you could watch cool teens with great hair and outfits dance to the top 40. One of the girls in my French class was on there regularly and I thought she was so cool.  She had permed her blonde hair and wore frosted pink lip gloss every day.  I thought she was pretty awesome. And I was particularly impressed when she dressed up as a bag of jelly beans for the Halloween episode but her dancing was pretty much just jumping up and down.  I never went on, but I did enjoy watching it!

Maybe that is why the KOFY Dance Party hit a sweet spot in my heart and made me stare mesmerized at the dance party for a good 45 minutes in awe.  I remember reading about it a few years ago and was planning on going with some friends, but we never got around to it. And I’ve even seen videos on  YouTube of it, but to see it in its full hour glory is pretty darn awesome.

But we need to start at the beginning in the 80s when the show looked like this:

Pretty rad, right?  Alas, not everyone thought so when this video was first posted in 2009 on YouTube.  One comment about the video was, “Why has the bay area allowed this catastrophe??? It’s like special olympics for Soul Train.” Different Strokes, Different folks…

The KOFY Dance Party launched in the 80s with much local fanfare to the delight to the local teens and young adults who boogied across that dance floor in all their early eighties splendor.

In the nineties it changed to fifties nostalgia dancing (which I would have loved) and then withered away, ground out by grunge.

But a few years ago KOFY got its groove back on and focused on 80s music and found a whole new following and now have lines of folks around the building waiting for their chance to grace the stage.

And the mix of dancers is wonderfully San Francisco–a healthy helping of hipsters, but just random nutty folks that love to dance.  And to watch them dance can’t help but make your feet itchy and have you singing along with the song.

I’m kinda loving the host and the way he kinda channels Don Cornelius.

The dance floor has pretty much remained in its low budget glory–which I think is kinda part of its charm. Pretty rad, right?

And boy do they get into it! With eighties outfits galore. Every girl can be Cyndi Lauper and every boy can be Will Smith.  Of course to truly enjoy it, you must watch them dance… Oh yes…

KOFY is still bring the dance party into Bay Area folk’s living room with so much joy that you can help but move the coffee table and do your best moon walk!

Did you grow up with a local dance show? Were you ever ON a dance party show?

 

 

A Bit of Monday Vintage Cuteness!

Hoo boy!  What a great weekend! Alix and I went to the annual White Elephant Sale for the Oakland Museum with the Dames and saw some seriously cool stuff!   I personally went crazy in the sewing department, but man, we’ll have to do a proper post for you to see it all, because it was BANANAS! But it didn’t stop me from finding some goodies on Etsy to share with you all. Squee!

Today with soo many kids having easy access to iPads, iPhones and everything else, I wonder how this Computron computer toy would go over? Kinda love it! From Etsy seller, Vintage Kidlet!

Oh wow! This dress is so stunning, I wish it was in my size!  From Etsy seller, Ravishing Ruby.

Who wouldn’t want to sign up for tap dancing lessons with these shiny friends on your tootsies? From aptly named Etsy seller, Kickass Vintage.

The perfect sweater for your dinosaur loving kiddo.  From Etsy seller, Peppermint & Cocoa.

Alix gave one of these to the Peach and she LOVES it! She carries all of her little princess dolls in it and calls it her fairy bag. And she likes to wear it as a hat too!  You can get three for a great price from UDA Kids.

These little wooden puppets are so charming!  They would keep the Peach busy for a couple of hours! So darling! From Etsy seller, Noodle & Lou Vintage.

This little minty plaid coat and bonnet set may be the cutest thing in the entire universe! Seriously! From Etsy seller, Baby Tweeds.

This dress had me at the Peter Pan collar.  So sweet. From Etsy seller, Hi, Small Vintage.

Behold the awesomeness of this plaid pants suit from the seventies.  Genius. The jacket alone would be brilliant! From Etsy seller, Kathy’s Eclectic Kitsch.

This little pink bit of perfection is made even more so due to the button wheels.  Love! From Etsy seller, Lil’ Milli Jayne.