All posts by Dottie

The Retro Round Up! Cuteness Galore!

Retro Round Up

Oh hello, friends, it’s your old friend, Dottie! I know I’ve been kinda quiet, but with the traveling and my new client, I’ve been super super busy. But never too busy to give you guys a bit of love in the form of the RETRO ROUND UP!

And away we go!

Is this dress just rosy perfection or what? From Etsy seller, Thrifty Vintage Kitchen.

Let’s go ride a bike!  Wearing this darling little cardi! From Etsy seller, Fuzzymama.

Vintage Hot Wheels cars? Heck yeah! From Etsy seller, Fox Lane Vintage & Games.

 

Pity this sweet mod sweater doesn’t come with a scooter. From Etsy seller, Fun Finds Vintage.

This yellow dress can’t help but make this cutie of a girl smile! From Etsy seller, Potato Cake Vintage.

Because man, they do like to ask questions... From Etsy seller, My Vintage Childhood XO.

You know I can’t say now to a goood pair of plaid pants! From Etsy seller, Boochie Boo.

Whatever, Holly Hobby–I think your friend Heather, is getting her own little tote! From Etsy seller, Izzy & Ever.

This makes me want to throw a kiddo party right now! From Etsy seller, UDAs Kids.

Aren’t these shoes just too darling for words? I KNOW! From Etsy seller, the Bere Necessities.

Happy Monday, friends!

 

Crazy, hazy (not lazy) days of summer

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Oh man, what a summer…

June was ghastly, July was a haze and August. Oh, August—it blew my mind.

I decided to take the month of August off and ended my long standing contract with a beloved client because I needed space to mourn and just recoup from losing my Dad.  I needed a bit of fun. And I got it in the form of TikiOasis, which was a downright hoot and a half.   It was wonderful.  Just me gabbing with my friends staying up late  laughing and having a complete blast wearing nutty hats and vintage muumuus.

When I returned, I of course was craving my family. I needed to snuggle my Peach. And what better place to do that than while camping.  It was the Peach’s first camping trip and we chose the perfect place for it–a darling lake called Pinecrest.  The trip was wonderful!  The Peach had a blast, but I must admit, I missed my bed.   We innocently decided to talk about the lake one morning with the Peach and it turned into a three hour trail of tears with a pre-schooler.  Hoo boy. But she was a good sport about it.  Even we were pooped after the hike.

But when you have a proper month off, you need to do something a bit extraordinary. And for me that was a trip to visit my dearest friend, Jen Otter in London.  This was the first time I returned to London since I was living there in 1993.  The weather was gorgeous and well, London showed me its prettiest side with gorgeous balmy weather in seventies and bright happy days.  Jennifer was the consummate guest.  We had the nicest tea that the Brown hotel (the Ritz was sadly booked) and I saw a brilliant exhibition at the V&A on eighties club fashion in London.  We had so much fun on our day trip to Brighton.  The pier was just dizzying. And we also found the Quadrophenia alley.

I felt I needed to end this month with a moment of reflection and decided to spend August 31st taking apart my father’s suits to make a memorial quilt.  He wore a suit almost every day of his career as a journalist and seeing them just turned me into a puddle.  It was then that I realized that mourning isn’t something that has a time limit. Or can put on hold with a lovely vacation.  It is an ongoing experience and that’s OK. It is part of me. And that is OK.

How was your August?

Retro Round Up:: Mad for Plaid

Retro Round Up

Even though I’m in jolly ole England right now, I did find some darling items to share with you as your kiddos head back to school this week or next week.  I remember as a child looking at every Seventeen Magazine doing a feature on plaid and who am I to go against the brilliant editors of Seventeen Magazine?

So, here you go–some amazing plaid to make you smile!

I’m crushing on this lovely little mod number from Fuzzymama! All she’ll need next is a little scooter…

It’s always cool to think pink even when it is plaid–like these sassy shorts from Toadstool Vintage.

OK–could we talk about this cuteness of a skirt from Potato Cake Vintage for a moment? I. DIE.

Umm… Sailor collar with plaid edging? A+ to you!!! From Etsy seller, Thrifty Vintage Kitten.

Yes. Yes. Yes. From Etsy seller, Normal Ave. Vintage.

These widdle shoes would be welcome in my classroom any day! From Etsy seller, Ripple and Plum.

Blackwatch plaid is one of my faves.  And this little jacket is killing it! From Etsy seller, Millay Vintage.

Harriet the Spy would have this coat! From Etsy seller, Wee Love Vintage.

Peter Pan collar realness! From Etsy seller, Aiseirigh Vintage.

Pantsuits are so coming back!  Amirite? From Etsy seller, Sweet Shop Vintage.

And what would Autumn be without a scarecrow on plaid? Thanks, Lishyloo!

Happy Monday, ya’ll!

I’m going to London…

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Well, things have been very crazy in my life recently, so I thought I would add to it with a little off the cuff trip to London. Actually–not too off the cuff, as I was actually planning it for June, but then my Dad got sick and well, you know the rest.

I actually spent a year after college on BUNAC working in London and had the best time of my life. I was always such an anglophile when I was growing up that I was obsessed with Queen Elizabeth and anything British for ages, reading everything by the Bronte sisters and Jane Austin. And tons of other misc. books that I could find based in London–like Noel Streitfeld’s Shoe book series or the adventures of Paddington Bear.

So, between the nuttiness of TikiOasis and a fun little camping jaunt with Eric and the Peach, I packed to go to London and am hopping on a plane tonight.  I’m going to stay with my darlingest friend, Jennifer Otter, who I’ve written about in the past here and we are going to have a blast doing some day trips and visiting.

But I will leave you with this dandy little video featuring Lucille Ball dancing with mods in London called, “Lucy in London”.  The marvelous Karen Finlay hipped me to it and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Any ideas of where to go and what to do? Lemme know!

 

It’s somebody’s birthday…

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It’s my gorgeous gal, Alix’s birthday today! Right now, she’s on a much deserved vacation with her family to Michigan and is hopefully relaxing at the lake house after a fun filled day of thrifting.  I’m sure she’s gotten tons of hugs and kisses from Wolfie and Greg and extra love for her parents who get to share her birthday with her this year–what a treat!

You gotta love Alix! She’s such a gorgeous gal with a great personality, fabulous style and so darn funny–oh lawdy!  I’ve nearly shipped my pants laughing so hard at some of the things she’s say!

Three cheers for Alix on her special day!  Stop by @galexina on Twitter or Instagram to wish her a happy birthday! Or leave her some love right her in a comment!

xo,