Of Tikis and Whales // The Kiddo Girls Have Some Vintage Fun

Real Life : Alix, Real Life : Dottie


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Last week Dottie and I had a super busy retro-filled week! Between Dottie’s new consulting job and my new freelance gig, I didn’t think we’d made it to both events, but in the end I’m so glad we did. First up, the Tiki Oasis Fashion Show at Trader Vics!

For the last three years, Greg and Wolfie and I have made it a tradition to go down to Tiki Oasis. It’s kind of a birthday celebration for me—but mostly we go because it’s just a BLAST! This year Dottie and her fam are coming down too and I can’t wait to get our tropical tiki pool ON! As a little teaser pre-party, our friend Doe (who throws Tiki Oasis every year with her hubby Otto) organized a really cool vintage fashion show at Trader Vic’s, a tiki bar & restaurant in Emeryville. All the models held paddles with numbers on them, old school style. If you wanted to buy an ensemble, you simply made note of the number.

There were some “special guests” modeling! Hee! Wolfie was part of a faux family with matching tiki wear.

Wolfie did SUCH a cute job “modeling”….he actually did a little dancin’ down the run way and was all smiles. I was totally amazed! That’s one of his best buds up there, Miles. The girls, Scarlett and Audrey, were toooo cute!


images: Dame Rusty/laughing squid

Little miss Peach is still a wee one, so she has a rather early bed time. When you’re on vacation, you end up bending the rules a little (which I think is totally appropriate!) so Dottie wisely wanted to give her little cutie a test run, and see how she did hanging with the big kids. The verdict? A smashing success! Peachie was sooo cute and sweet and I really think she had a BLAST! She’s gonna be a pro at the real Tiki Oasis!!

We didn’t stay the whole evening, since we had our small folk with us, but it was a fun filled night for the whole family!

You’d think that would be enough retro hijinx for the week, but oh ho noooo! We actually had ANOTHER fun outting the next night! This time it was no kids allowed as we hit the annual fundraiser at Fairyland!

Fairyland is an adorable storybook themed park built in the 1950s for little kiddos. The story goes it was one of Walt Disney’s inspirations for Disneyland…this past Friday they hosted an after hours event that was too fun. Our little supper club group The Dames decided to have a little get together there. The wine was flowing and lots of yummy food courtesy of several of Oakland’s hippest food trucks. Of course, the whole thing was just a “gab and take photos” fest, and we really had such a fun night!

WHEW!! The weekend hadn’t even arrived and we were exhausted!!!! But we had too much fun. And I think we’ll definitely be going again next year!

{extra pix from Dame Rusty!}

Monday Vintage Goodies for You!

Kiddo Style: Vintage, Vintage Toys + Fun Stuff

Oh, what a lovely summer weekend! We biked to the beach and let the Peach flutter in the water one afternoon.  And Sunday, we invited some friends over for a playdate with their little girl and try a new recipe.  Our backyard is a total BEFORE photo but with an old folding table and some folding chairs we turned it into a nice alfresco dinner.  But of course I had some time to find some vintage goodies for you! Enjoy!

Fisher Price constantly amazes me with the depth and breadth of its toys. And this little Fisher Price camera with flash is so darn charming! From Etsy seller, Soft Focus Vintage.

Could we talk about that duck?  That duck is priceless. I’d like to have that duck follow me around everywhere with a little flower for me. Hee hee! From Etsy seller, Pillager.

Bondplace Vintage has such great goodies, but I fell head over heels for this darling polka dotty dressie with little ladies watering flowers. From Etsy seller, Bondplace Vintage.

This little safari jacket is too much fun!  With the widdle lion and that great fabric for the sleeves. Hee hee! From Etsy seller, Fun Finds Vintage.

This wonderful little vintage gray sweater should be bought within an hour of this posting. This sweater is perfection!  From Etsy seller, Retro + Me.

Plaid and yellow aren’t natural bedfellows, but they looks pretty darn wonderful here in this perfect first birthday dress from  Etsy seller, Audrey Blissful.

Perfection. Girlie cozy perfection for a sweater.  Love love love. From Etsy seller, The Objectory!

I have such a weakness for little boys plaid pants form the seventies! Reminds me of my brothers, I think!  And these are so sweet! From Etsy seller, Crushed Crinolines.

You’ll have the luck of the Irish when wearing these shoes!  Never been worn either! From Etsy seller, the Neon Ribbon.

Alix posted some wonderful pix on Instagram of her first Barbie and it inspired me to include this game in this week’s round up! From Etsy seller, Renee’s Court.

Happy Monday!

 

Vintage Inspired Backyard Camping from Suburban Camping Company

Sponsor Love, Things We Like

Ever since Greg, Wolfie and I  went camping a few months ago, we have had camping on the brain. We want to go to Yosemite. We want to go back to the redwoods. And we want to camp in our backyard. There’s just something about sleeping in a tent that is so cool. From the minute you zippppppp that tent up, your world is transformed. Life gets a little quieter. You hear the rustling of the wind. The chirping of birds. The music of crickets. And you are totally transported. Tents are undeniably magical!

When Kella from Suburban Camping Company got in touch with me I realized we were a match made in heaven. Vintage tents you can set up in your very own back yard. Ahhh! Alas, our love affair was put on hold because they are located alll the way across the country. Drat. But that doesn’t mean a girl can’t pine, right? And if you’re an east coaster, you’re in luck. Take a gander at this:

Amazing, no?? Suburban Camping Company is the original backyard camping company pitching vintage style campsites that offer awesome pop-up lodging and lounging for backyards and events everywhere. They say they aren’t just offering you a tent they are offering an “experience”. An experience that tastes like burnt marshmallows, sounds like scary stories and feels like wet grass between your toes. And friends, that’s my kind of experience!

The Suburban Camping company lets you buy a tent, rent a tent or go for one of their fun packages, like Classic Camper, Movie Night, the Romantic Getaway for two and even a Harry Potter inspired adventure called Abra Camp Dabra. Cute. CUTE!

They also have a super cute Etsy shop so you can stock your campsite with cool vintage camping goods.

Swing by the Suburban Camping Co. site and I guarantee you will be planning a camping adventure in no time!

PS Here’s a little more about the time we went camping for ONE NIGHT! And it was still awesome!

Weekly Kiddo :: Meet Stella!

Weekly Kiddos

There must be something about the name Stella–for they all seem to have a whole bucket of sass matched with cuddly sweetness! This charmer of a Stella hails from Salt Lake City and is the mighty age of four!  And boy, does she have some mad style!

According to her Mama, Victoria, Stella loves singing, dancing, crafting, playing instruments, playing with her sister, Nina, her best friend Miles and other friends, getting a pedicure, squealing and riding horses. She loves to play with her cars, “peoples” (vintage Fisher Price Little People–which completely melts my heart), in her kitchen, on her daddy’s keyboards, on her bike and at the playground. She keeps us busy with her curiosity and creativity. She’s full of sass and spirit, as you can totally tell by these pictures!

What a doll, right?

Her mother told me how Stella loves shoes, but when I looked at the photos, I saw more of a sunglasses love with this girlie!

Most of Stella’s clothing comes from Tea Collection (one of my personal faves), Old Navy, H&M, Target, and Nordstrom with an occasional handmade piece by Grandma Brown or her mama’s friend lovely friend Nicole. Like a most prudent mama, Victoria likes to splurge on one outfit per season, the rest tends to be play clothes from Old Navy, H&M and Target. Clever thinking!

We loved having you here, Stella! And we’ll cover your cutie of a sister soon, too!

Do *you* have a stylish kiddo you’d like to show off? Send ‘em our way! You can find submission details here. We love all kinds of kiddos…. vintage and thrift loving liddles, modern grooviness tots and simply sweet, down-to-earth kiddos.

 

 

 

Retro Rainbow // This Week’s Color is TANGERINE!

Retro Rainbow

Aw yeah. Happy Wednesday friends! Are you all ready for another edition of the Retro Rainbow? I am! This week Jenny and I picked the luscious color of TANGERINE. It’s one of my favorites and just adds such a pretty punch of color to everything. I have to say I think Jenny found some reeeeally extra fun stuff this week. You know, we never coordinate what we pick, so each collection of goodies is as much a surprise to us as it is to you! Let’s see what treasures Jenny unearthed from her own stash of vintage goodness. Oh, and don’t forget that you can find my finds over on Frecklewonder!

Hello Modern Kiddos!!!

Jenny here with some orange picks. Or, TANGERINE, as we’re calling it! Which is so much more fabulous than orange, don’tcha think? I know we’ve told you this every time, but it bears repeating: Alix and I are having a blast with this. As if that’s really any surprise, the treasure hunting is in our blood!! This week, our kids played along too. Alix sent me a funny text yesterday after she suddenly realized that it was Tuesday afternoon so she was scramblin’ and mad dashin’ around the house searching for orange things and as for us? It was just plain old HOT outside and we were taking comfort in the AC. I asked Dotty to find me some orange things and she was so adorable, bringing me an orange Ugly Doll that she wanted to squeeze into every picture. I’ll share an outtake on Frecklewonder tomorrow, mmmk?

I sure do hope you enjoy our finds this week! Don’t forget to pop over to Frecklewonder to see what Alix + Wolfie came up with. You know they’re good.

Happy Retro Rainbow Wednesday, kids!  xoxo, Jenny

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OK, I think I want everything!!! The drinking glasses and pyrex were my favorite….but that Vera shirt was SO excellent too!! And the little  girls dress…and…..and…. I just can’t wait to see what we turn up next week, when our color will be…..?????? Hee. Oh c’mon, that would ruin the surprise!

Don’t forget to swing on by frecklewonder to see what tangerine treasures I managed unearthed at Camp Kiddo!

{Psst! Did you miss last week’s pretty in pink? You can check out Jenny’s here and mine over here!}