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kolache pastry with dried and fresh cherries
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Drop-off day for the Nebraska State Fair is 20 August, and that means the week ahead is going to be a flurry of activity at House of Eat The Blog. Biscuit dough comes first as it can stay in the fridge until we're ready to bake. I suspect the 19th will be a very late night. Danny does the baking, I do the dishes and paperwork-that seems only fair. I'm still resting after the oral surgery (and waiting for the next round) but I was able to get through it without much pain and only needed Tylenol the first day. I'm thankful for that as I don't like the idea of taking anything stronger. Thank you all for your kind thoughts and words of support. I'm trying to see this in a positive light. If my crown hadn't broken off, and my dentist wasn't out of town I wouldn't have ended up at the emergency dental place and I wouldn't know much of what I now know. I'm not happy about it, but I'm pretty good at dealing with the stuff life throws at me. As the kids say, "Adulting." I never had reliable parents so I've been doing the adult thing for a long time. Here's something not adult...
I almost bought this shirt at Goodwill today, but decided a photo was good enough. Now that I've cleared out so much of my wardrobe I'm loathe to fill it up again unless I absolutely love a piece. We'll see how long
that lasts! I must admit, it has been easier getting dressed now that I can easily see what I have.
Of course, if the Goodwill presents you with a beautiful 60's Hawaiian maxi dress, you should certainly buy it. If it happens to be .99 cents you should also congratulate yourself for waiting for good stuff. This is the good stuff.
Outfit Particulars:
1960's Hawaiian-Made maxi dress-Goodwill
Orange shoes-K Mart
Vintage Delil handbag-Thrift World
Shell earrings-World Market about 10 years ago
Bangles and rings-all over
Lippy-Revlon Siren
Fragrance-Bvlgari Omnia Coral (because sometimes I match my fragrance to my dress😀)
Something about late summer in Nebraska makes me wish I were in Hawaii. If I use just enough imagination the fields of corn and soybeans could look like sugarcane. Okay, not really but by this point in the season it is so hot I have been reduced to wearing the most comfortable items I own, which generally speaking are Hawaiian items. Mr. ETB lived in Hawaii in the mid-60's and loved it. I'm sure he wouldn't recognise it now.
Outfit Particulars:
60's Hawaiian Maxi dress-Long gone costume/vintage shop
Vintage 60's handbag-Etsy
Sandals-K Mart
Rings-all over
Crystal cha-cha bracelet-Hand-Me-Ups
Can't remember which fragrance I was wearing.
More Hawaiian clothing? Sure, why not?! How about some vintage menswear?
Such a fun Tiki print. I'm not sure about the white, cropped trousers but for some reason I own the same pair in two different sizes. Must have liked them at some point...like a decade ago? Also not sure about men's shirts with belts but eh, it was the 60's (possibly the 70's). The shirt zip all the way down and can be worn as a jacket. It is made of very high quality barkcloth that resists softening up. It looks as crisp as when I bought it several years ago. I actually bought it for Danny, but by the time he was big enough to wear it, he didn't like it. Kids!
Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Hawaiian barkcloth shirt-Hand-Me-Ups
White trousers-K Mart
Shoes-K Mart
Straw Bag-World Market
Fragrance-Revlon Unforgettable (actually, it is kinda forgettable)
How about some psychedelia? I found this dress when I was having the clear out of my things. I think it was only worn once (literally, as I bought it online NWT).
Outfit Particulars:
Vintage dress-Etsy seller Cloistered Muse
Vintage Caro-Nan basket purse-Antique mall
Shoes-Goodwill
Belt-Goodwill
Lucite bangles-all over
Fragrance-Aquarius (I mean, what else could you possibly wear with a dress like this?!)
I need more fingers to accomodate the rings. I have very ugly hands and fingernails that split and break and look generally ragged. I can either hide my hands, or adorn them with something more interesting to look at. I choose the latter. My grandmother Alice always wore big costume rings and had the displayed on her dresser in a large tray like you'd see in a jewller's case. I imagine all those years of admiring her rings convinced me that's what I should do when I reached her age. There's something very nana-ish about a ring on every finger.
Finally, this 2000s does 1920's dress had a first wear. I'm not a fan of drop-waist dresses but the crepe fabric and lovely teal heart print was impossible to resist. With vintage reproduction shoes from American Duchess and a 1930's handbag, I felt practically ready to dance the Charleston.
Outfit Particulars:
Dress-Goodwill
Shoes-American Duchess
Vintage handbag-Goodwill
Hair combs/barette-Sally Beauty Supply
Egyptian revival necklace-Goodwill
Murano glass earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Bangles-various places
Fragrance-Jicky (vintage formulation)
That's about it from around here. I hope your summer is going well. After the fair and Labour Day, we're back to school for our final year of homeschool. Danny is starting grade 8-next year it is off to high school. He's expressed interest in a career as an exterminator as he can be self-employed and can learn what he needs with a few courses rather than a degree. I'm not discouraging him. There's a market for people that aren't afraid of bugs and get a perverse delight out of eliminating hornet's nests. Most people don't have jobs they find satisfying, but if killing a bunch of stinging insects does it for him, who am I to dissuade? At this point it sounds better to go into debt starting a business than for a degree that at best is going to get him an unpaid internship. He might change his mind in the next 4 years, but if he doesn't, we'll support him. I know you're wondering, and no-I haven't given him a copy of
Exterminator! Yet.
I can just see it now,
Deadly Dan's Exterminating Service-We'll get rid of the mice and wipe the smiles off their faces.
Congratulations on your 99-cent dress! It's a fabulous shade of orange that's just right for summer. And thanks for taking a picture of that animal-themed shirt. It's irresistibly cute.
ReplyDeleteThe men's shirt looks stylish and versatile. I wouldn't have known it was for men if you hadn't said so.
Glad to hear that you're recuperating nicely. I wish you and Danny many blue ribbons and exciting adventures at the State Fair.
I agree, college is so expensive nowadays, and since so many people change careers anyhow, it's harder to justify the time and expense put toward a degree when you're young and possibly unsure of what you want to do.
I know a really intelligent guy who used to be a high-school music teacher. He now works at a retail store specializing in bird feeders, birdhouses, and bird-watching equipment. On the weekends, he leads groups of people on bird-watching expeditions. He's very passionate about what he does. Guys like him prove that it's possible to make a satisfying career out of one specific hobby or interest, with or without a college degree.
You deserved a good find after all the pain you've been through. Dental surgery is bloody horrible and you have my sympathies.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to Danny at the state fair! I hope you're able to eat at least a little of his lovely baking. And it's great that he has an idea of what he wants to do; as you say, he might change his mind, but that's okay. My big goddaughter is at college in the US, and I can't believe how expensive it is. (Tho she is at William And Mary; I dunno if that's a particularly pricy one.)
The Hair bling is gorgeous. And I think the mans Shirt looks very cool with your white pants!! Good luck with your State Fair preps.
ReplyDeletegorgeous hawaiian looks! and the other dresses are fab too - and perfectly accessorized. love to wear big rings too - yours are fantastic - but not in this hot weather as my fingers get swollen...
ReplyDeletemy sausage fingers crossed for the fair - i wish i´d be there to eat up all the delights danny is creating - after the contest :-D
danny seems a very "down to earth" teen - without fear of doing "dirty jobs". i´m sure he will make his way!
happy state fair! xxxxx
"There's something about late summer in Nebraska that makes me wish I were in Hawaii." Goody, this is yet another of your pithy observations that deserves to be inscribed around the upper border of a library. So many layers of experience and emotion contained therein!
ReplyDeleteThe maxi is magnificent! When I retire in 2020, I intend to go full Tiki and plan to celebrate accordingly. Save the dress so you can wear it to the party.
I work with many, many 20-somethings who have acquired degrees that did NOT secure their entry into full-time positions that paid "adult" wages. Their student loans are the size of house mortgages! Meanwhile, my nephew-the-commercial-plumber continues to advertise in vain for plumber's assistants at $30/hour, and a goddaughter with a degree in English Literature earns a living as a forklift operator. Danny is wise to consider ALL his options for achieving his financial independence!
Glad to hear the surgery went well and you weren't in too much pain. Love both the Hawaiian Maxi dresses (the 99-cent one was a steal!): I guess I could have done with one of those during our heatwave. The 1930s handbag and the hair combs are just fabulous! Wishing Danny lots of success at the State Fair and it's good to hear he seems to know what he wants in life, for now at least. I'm sure that with your support he'll be able to achieve anything he puts his mind to. xxx
ReplyDeleteBeate Grigutsch's above comment on "dirty jobs" reminded me of Mike Rowe's wonderful TV show. It was funny and informative, and it always left me with a feeling of genuine admiration for the people who do the job being featured in that week's episode.
ReplyDeleteHe did one episode on what it's like to be an exterminator. You can see a clip here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq2D9KgvzVE
I love the Mexican stuff! So colourful and as usual accessories to die for...I must have missed the post where you had a clear out - let me guess 5 plastic sacks went out? Or was it more? Do tell!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Danny at the State Fair- more dribbling ensued when I saw the cherry kolache!
Hawaiian dresses and psychedelia, be still my beating heart!
ReplyDeleteI remember admiring that blue maxi on you ages ago, good to see it making a reappearance. The latest find is utterly wonderful.
Hoping Danny smashes it (as the kids say) at the state fair. xxxx
Oh Goody! I’m so tempted to road trip to Omahaha to borrow your beautiful clothes. Lurrrve that tiki shirt! How on earth did Danny not wear that??? Thank you for showing your pretty Hawaiian dresses, I love how you piled the rings on.
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry to hear about your health problems. If it’s any consolation you look FABULOUS!!
Happy thrifting ;)
@Emily
ReplyDeleteThank you! We are headed back to the fair on Tuesday, so we'll be able to see how he did. I'm relieved that Danny has found his er...passion in life? After our torrential rain that gave Omaha 7 inches in 24 hours, he noticed some water beetles trying to get it an went into full exterminator mode making baking soda and sugar bait. Only saw one but Deadly Dan is taking the job seriously!
@Mim
William and Mary is at the high end of tuition! They don't even let people like us *look* at the brochure ;)
I'm pretty much stuck on a liquid diet from a combination of dental and autoimmune stuff. Thank god I like jello!
@Sue
Thank you! Someday I want to get down to your part of the world and attend a Field Day-I'm sure I'd love it.
@Beate
Thank you. Danny is a good kid-and realistic. He'd love a job as a sports announcer but he's smart enough to have a back-up plan.
@Beth
Heaven knows I'm not using my degrees, but when I was in school it was still possible to work your way through with a couple jobs and I never needed to take out loans. I can't imagine setting out in life with that hanging over your head. I know several very well read bartenders.
@Ann
Thank you. Our heat is starting to taper off a bit but I'm sure it will come roaring back before long with plenty of opportunities to wear summer clothes.
Danny knows that we're not wealthy and getting older so if he was planning on us leaving him an inheritence reality must have struck around the time he saw our medical bills. He'll have to find a way to manage in the world.
@Veronica
it was much, much more. Probably about 70% of what I own went either because it no longer fit, or I was bored with it. Now I am being very selective what I bring in the house.
@Vix
Thank you. I might be more excited than the kid is!
@Thrifty Parka
Danny has the same "Uniform" of a check shirt and cargo shorts or trousers. I'd say his style is best described as, "Far Side comic witrh a touch of rock star hair." I decided that was a battle I didn't want to have so he does his thing, and I'm cool with it-but I've stopped buying him vintage clothes as I end up with it all.