Category Archives: Things We Like

San Francisco :: Little Pink Houses For You and Me.

Things We Like

Whenever I see a pink house, I’m always intrigued. They stand out, that’s for sure. Whimsical and quirky. It’s such a definite choice. Like, you might buy red paint and it turns out a tad orangey. Or your blue might have a bit  of a gray-ish hue. But pink? There’s no mistaking it. Someone decided that they were going to buy multiple gallons of bubble gum pink paint and roll it all over their home where it would remain for years to come. Was it a woman? A man? A couple? Did they fight over it or did one of them acquiesce and say, “Pink? Sure thing honey. I’m in.”

In my neighborhood in Flint, Michigan there was a Pepto Pink house that I was fascinated by. They had two big picture windows in front, and at Christmas there would be a green tree in one window and a pink, snow-flocked tree in the other. Yes, they were serious about their pink. One year there was a huge mural of a Budweiser beer can on their garage door. I liked to think that the hubs finally rebelled. This is their house:

San Francisco is known for her elaborate Victorians. But we also have some pretty adorable little 50s style boxy homes if you go to the neighborhoods. I noticed that every so often, I’d spy one that was a rollicking pink color and was totally charmed. A few years ago, I started taking photos of pink houses whenever I’d pass by. Here are a few of San Francisco and Oakland looking pretty in pink….

This next place was repainted last year and is now a boring beige. Sigh.

And thank you John [Cougar] Mellencamp:


Sassy Embroidery on Pendants? Yes indeedy.

Things We Like

I am not known for my subtley when it comes to fashion and accessories. I’m a maximalist. The bigger, the bolder, the better! So it was kind of  pleasant switch for me when I got my hands on a beautiful hand-embroidered pendant from Corinne of September House.

It was sweet, petite…..and totally neat. I was so smitten I had to order one for Dottie too!

Each piece features a unique design stitched by hand on linen fabric. The pendant is the perfect length—not to short not too long. Corinne packages each lovely in its own pretty little box. SO CUTE, you know you want one, right??

Corinne is a crafty minx and also has these great embroidery kits. My fave set is the Wig Wonderful one (you can see it on that first photo—it actually makes me want to take up embroidery!). I am a big fan of these unique little pendants! Snap one up right here.

What did you read this summer?

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Soooooo I can’t lie. I love pop novels and I have recently been obsessed with Regency Romances (thank the lawd for my Kindle so no one can see the cheesy romance covers!). Julia Quinn is my favorite…and I could write a whole post about how her stories are such fun escapism. But I recently gave my romance love the boot and picked up The Hunger Games,by Suzanne Collins. I had heard the buzz but really didn’t have any clue what it was all about. My friend Doe shoved a copy of this futuristic tale in my hand an said, “Oh you HAVE to read.” I brought it with me on vacation and I was HOOKED.  I devoured the entire action-packed trilogy in a week….have you read it? It’s a Young Adult book, but extremely engaging. What did you think? Katniss is an excellent heroine and I thought the story was very clever. My mom is the one who got me hooked on futuristic/sci-fi movies and gave me my first Ray Bradbury novel….I had a feeling she would love this series and she started reading it while I was in Michigan. She was hooked too! We can’t wait for the movie. Crossing my fingers it’s as awesome as the books!

My Favorite Summer Drink :: The Arnie Palmer!

Things We Like,

When the temperatures soar, it’s important to stay hydrated. I try and drink a lot of water (and you know I love my bkr glass water bottle!) but I love to mix it up. And there’s nothing I like better than a yummy Arnold Palmer!

An Arnold Palmer is a zippy mix of ice tea and lemonade. The story goes that the drink was invented one warm summer evening in Palm Springs during the 1960s. Famous golf pro Arnold Palmer stepped up to the bar and asked the bartender to make him a mix of lemonade and iced tea. The woman sitting next to him overheard what he ordered and said, “Ooh, I’ll have that Palmer drink too.” From that moment on, this tasty lemonade-ice tea beverage became known as an “Arnold Palmer,” and its name eventually spread throughout the country.

It’s so easy to make. Literally ice tea (iced tea?) with lemonade. And it’s lemony and zesty and REFRESHING as all get out. I loooove it! To make one, fill a glass with ice….pour in your ice tea (I prefer 3/4 of the glass to be ice tea!) and then top off with your favorite lemonade. Homemade or otherwise. You can adjust the ratio to be more lemony or more of a tea taste. If you are lazy (as I am known to be from time to time) Trader Joe’s makes a great version called Organic Ice Tea Lemonade. Mmmm.

If you are feeling really ambitious, you can make your own homemade ice tea. I recently made my first batch of Sun Tea, where you use the natural and gentle heat of the sun to brew yerself a cuppa tea. It’s pretty easy peasy.

{The amount of tea bags depends on the size of the pitcher you use.}

How about you? What’s yer favorite poison? Have you tried an Arnold Palmer? You must!

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?


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

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Image: aaron_73


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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….!”

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

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“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….

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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!

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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’…..

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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!