Summer Bucket List #5: Beach Blanket Bingo

29 Aug

The best ladies ever!

Me and the boy

Jimmy, Stephanie and Mason with a "vintage blur" via the Photojojo Scuba Suit for iPhone

Keith (Tony) ("Skipper")

Utterly Smitten ladies with an utterly smitten friend Mary

Jimmy and the boy with more of the "vintage blur" :)

The group!

Last weekend, for one of the first times in my life, I threw myself a proper birthday party. Generally, I have some grand idea for a party that after a couple failed attempts at organizing turns into a quiet dinner with the boy or something similar. Last year, I pawned off the planning on the boy and I must say he did a bang-up job – with a Twitter account and everything! But this year, given the theme I had in mind, I knew I had to make things happen for myself.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the beach. And I’ve loved vintage clothing for just about as long as that. I can still remember pining for one of those silly retro swim caps adorned with brightly colored daisies throughout most of my childhood. So when I started to see retro swimwear popping up, even at pretty mainstream stores, I knew it was time. I had to throw a retro beach party.

As usual, I had grander plans in mind that what panned out (i.e., renting a beach house in Malibu with a semi-private beach), but plan B just out front of Crystal Cove’s Beachcomber Café turned out to be a good one. Equipped with some games, towels, umbrellas and, of course, vintage swimsuits, the boy, me, and some amazing friends – including our very own Celeste — frolicked on the sand all day long. We got lots of compliments on our suits and the party theme. But the best part was all the great photos we got to take (highlights above).

So that does it for Summer Bucket List item No. 5 – but not for retro beach parties altogether. I’ve still got my eye on one of those Malibu beach rentals for next summer ;)

One Thing Two Ways

21 Aug

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A new fashion blog about friends mixing up similar clothing pieces in different, awesome ways? We love it! And we love it even more because the adorable Eyvette, one of the co-founders of One Thing Two Ways, is a dear friend of mine and Kim’s. She always looks chic and cute when we see her, so it’s only fitting the rest of the world gets to see her outfits, too! Yay.

Lunchtime Sandwiches

16 Aug

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My workplace is all about packing lunches and eating around a big table together. It’s such a money-saving alternative–and a great way to hang out together–except I’m usually not that I excited about what I have to bring. If I’m lucky, I’ll have restaurant leftovers from the night before, but most of the time I’m either eating a typical salad or making either turkey or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for five days straight. 

Then I saw this Whole Living feature on 50 sandwich recipes and was totally inspired by all of the simple, healthy ideas that I actually don’t feel too lazy to try. From Artichoke and White Bean to Tuna and Quinoa, they also look genuinely delicious.

And there’s also always the Spring Sandwich pictured above, with boiled egg, seared asparagus, and pickled onion.

Do you guys bring your lunch to work or go out for food? What do you normally eat? I’d love to hear any easy recipe suggestions you’ve got!

 

Hammock Dreams

15 Aug

Me napping in a hammock at the Red Sea in Egypt

All my life I’ve loved hammocks. My all-time dream is to travel to a beachy destination that stays nice and warm through the night, sleep in a hammock right on the beach and then wake up in the morning, grab my surfboard and hit the waves! I’ve had some experiences pretty close to this in Egypt and Colombia, but so far, I’m still waiting for my full dream scenario to come true. In the meantime, I’ve decided that I need to quell my hammock obsession by taking a nap in one at some point this summer (thus Summer Bucket List item No. 18). But even that poses a bit of a challenge as my apartment, while nestled in a nice little courtyard, isn’t quite set up for a permanent hammock. And my other option – sneaking into a hammock display at the local World Market store – doesn’t sound too appealing or relaxing.

So I was very excited to see this DIY hammock idea from Design Sponge, which not only gives me an excuse to buy some of those fancy towel/blanket/things I’ve been seeing around lately but also a fun way to check No. 18 off my Summer Bucket List.

Summer Bucket List #6: Retro Beach Fashion

13 Aug

I love that so many retro fashions are in right now and that finally the trend has trickled all the way down to bathing suits. Bathing suits are the one item that I’ve never felt fully comfortable taking down the retro road alone, but with high-wasted suits and boy-short one pieces taking up residence at Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, even Forever 21, it’s a lot easier to imagine sporting one on just a regular old beach day.

Here are just a few of the retro swimsuits catching my eye lately – and a couple that I’ve purchased as part of Summer Bucket List item No. 6!

Dolly Gingham Maillot from Anthropologie – It seems it’s already fall in Anthropologie land because their website says this suit is no longer available. But you can still find it on eBay — and maybe even for less money!

Dolly Gingham Maillot - Anthropologie

Most fashions at American Apparel tend to come with the caveat of weak construction, and in the case of bathing suits, the result is often that too little is left to the imagination. However, if you’re careful about your choices, you can find some great retro styles that still have a little modesty built in. Including these two styles (in melon and lemon, respectively — actually much classier than they look in the strange American Apparel photos), which I’ve purchased for Summer Bucket List Item No. 6.

Printed Nylon Tricot High-Waist Swim Brief - American Apparel

Nylon Tricot Halter One-Piece - American Apparel

UO Ruffle One-Piece Bathing Suit – Urban Outfitters actually has a number of retro styles in its swim collection this season, but this is my favorite. It’s so sweet and classic. And if you’re a little skittish about going full retro, this is a safe way to stay on the border between modern and vintage.

UO Ruffle One-Piece Bathing Suit

Beach Honeycomber One Piece from Mod Cloth – This is a great pattern in another retro, but modern, swimsuit. Mod Cloth has a number of classic retro styles that are  both playful and practical at the same time.

Beach Honeycomber One Piece - Mod Cloth

Of course, I’m still on the lookout for a truly vintage swimsuit. I’ve tried on a few and let me tell you, we’ve come a long way in swimsuit construction. It’s no wonder women took a little longer to jump on the surfing bandwagon. Still, I know, just like my favorite swim shorts — my dad’s from the ’70s! — I’ll find something that’s that perfect mix of vintage and modern.

Summer Bucket List #9: U.S. Open of Surfing Safari

10 Aug

U.S. Open of Surfing 2012

I may have had a wheezy cough and I may have only stayed for a little more than an hour, but I finally made it to the U.S. Open of Surfing! I’ve been several times in years past and while it can be a bit hectic, it’s always a good time. This year, the sponsors – which included Hurley, Converse and Nike — and the always hilarious commentators really upped the ante. The waves even put on a decent show (which isn’t always the case) and the boy and I saw a couple surfers do some amazing aerials and 360 turns. And of course, I couldn’t leave without getting a little swag on the way out – free Hurley hat included!

That does it for Summer Bucket List item No. 9, but I still have a long way to go before the summer is officially over. Perhaps, I’ll just have to make summer last just a little bit longer …

Underwater Photo Exhibit

9 Aug

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How cool is this? Photographer Andreas Frankes constructed his latest exhibit entirely underwater, within the remains of a shipwreck. And the best part is you get to go underwater yourself to experience it. Dive off the coast of Key West and swim down to see his collection of photographs, all depicting normal people doing everyday activities, from laundry to watching television–except they’re doing all of these things on the very ship you’re diving down to.  Crazy and awesome? Yess.

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