banana bread & homestead

Hitting the road.

2013-07-18T13:05:00.000-04:00

After 6 months of working on this little beaut, starting in February, a NJ one at that. She's done and ready for her 13,000 mile trek from East to West coast and back again.

Trailer Trash and Treasure

2013-03-04T11:21:00.000-05:00

Working on the travel trailer this weekend was full of surprises, the good kind.

Taking in a days worth of work.

Underneath the covers, the original burnt orange fabric, plaid, and vinyl was intact.

The burnt orange was a bit much to handle, the plaid turned to shreds with every touch, but the vinyl I actually liked.

It's decided - we are going to keep the vinyl and pair it with the micro suede to keep that 70's vibe that's true to the trailer with a much needed update

Removed some of the window rot and insullation.

Under the carpet was the original linoleum flooring in great condition with no soft spots.

With lots of scrubbing Scotty looked and smelt much better. We put the work tent up to cover her while the exterior work happens.

All the interior electric works just fine.

When I went through and looked at the gas and electrical wiring (brake lights etc.), gas is fine, the electric to all the exterior lights need to be properly soldered ... someone thought to just cap off everything, yikes....under the bed no less.

1970's vinyl

Assessment of the window rot was a pleasant surprise, only that one window had a leak and the wood/frame surrounding need replacing! Not bad.

The bed frame is solid, but the boards that fold into a couch are warped and frayed, those we will be replacing too.

1970's plaid

I cannot wait for next weekend, for the days to be longer and warmer so I can work on her. Sitting at the table with a Snapple- reflecting - I can picture many adventures and recounted adventures at this table.

Micro suede to replace the plaid and burnt orange.

Fixed the table

Work in progress.

Travel Trailer Dreaming

2013-02-25T18:15:00.000-05:00

My Family visiting from Portland, OR and Nashville, TN has put a stop on any travel trailer work being started, not to mention the waiting game for this tent I bought on ebay to house the trailer and work in. As of Sunday hugs and kisses were given, well wishes were wished and now it's time to get down to it after this work week is done.

This is fun!!

I have to keep the goals in mind. This little Scotty is ours however:

It needs appeal to us and to the masses (which means that bright paisley floral print on the cushions, painting the appliances and tons of t'chockes hanging from every piece of wall space are out see above). Need to keep resale appeal in mind.

It needs to be fixed and fixed well, no leaks, no half ass anything, no jerry-rigging, no "oh I bet this would work for now..."
No! If it's not researched (to death) via NSSC and manual, it's not happening.

I stopped over on 36th and 8th to one of the many fabric stores (I work in the fabric district in NYC) after work on Friday. I picked out a few materials, after looking at them all weekend I decided that I liked them, but wasn't in love with them.

For the cushions

My mad scientist self had forgotten that I sent away for two fabric samples from Fabric Guru, I got them on Saturday- YES!

It may be hard to tell in the picture but the brown is a reasonably priced microfiber suede cloth - with embroidered silver thread dots. It feels durable and basic enough to be styled by anyone. The dots are about 5" apart so they are not overwhelming.

The second 6" wide citrus yellow stripes were originally meant for the awning outside, but the price is so good, I may just make them curtains too. Yellow is my favorite color.

For the Awning and Curtains

This weekend will start the demo of the trailer (after putting up the tent), although cushions and curtains are far away, it's nice to look forward to the decorating details while wearing a respirator mask, stripping the outside of the trailer, removing rotten wood and preparing myself for anything creepy or crawly that may lurk in a dark corner... think yellow curtains, yellow curtains, happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

Travel Trailer Sweet Travel Trailer

2013-02-18T17:54:00.000-05:00

Driving back from Lancaster, PA, I must have giggled for forty-five minutes, non stop.

The smile that lasted the three hour drive home.

It could have been... the sight of towing (neither of us had ever towed anything before) this ridiculous bright yellow and blue 1974 Serro Scotty Travel Trailer, the fact that I've been obsessing and searching for a vintage travel trailer for over six months every single day, recalling the looks on many faces when I regaled them of the trailer-that-got-away stories, imagining their faces when we pulled up with this 70's baby in tow. Good laughter.

Photo op at AutoZone, many looks were had there.

After everything, it's finally real, the restoration will be starting soon, the album is almost done, and this tour is happening. It's all falling into place. I think it may have been easier planning the wedding!

The loving husband wondering to himself if his wife has officially lost it.

To me this travel trailer is so much, it's a vacation house, gypsy bandwagon, the first large project together as a married couple, our vessel for being able to tour across the country playing music, a symbol of American ingenuity, proof that with enough love and work it's possible to rebuild what others couldn't, wouldn't or thought wasn't worth it.

Tech notes: She pulled like a dream, she's only 1700 Lbs, all lights, except the left rear brake light, are in working order, bearings are greased and are in fine order, the tires held but will be replaced soon (white walls of course).

It's frigid here, but as soon as the large tent I ordered from ebay comes, the demo will start.

On our way.

Bandwagon

2013-02-04T23:11:00.000-05:00

While everyone was holding their breath for Super Bowl Sunday, I was too, but not because of football or Beyonce for that matter.

I was pacing the sidelines watching ebay and the plotting against the opposition who's ebay name ends and begins with an "l"... who I thought I may have to track down in the event they were to win this bid.

They however were the 49ers, I turned out to be the Ravens... because I won that 1974 Serro Scotty Sportsman travel trailer that I had been obsessing about, fair game.

Now she's ours. Nothing better for a marriage than a joint restoration project. Steve has been accumulating tools over the past few years, one colossal shoe rack (that's love right there), chair repair and many odd jobs later, we begin the ultimate "honey do" list... restoring Bandwagon (she has a name) back to her former glory.

Besides working on this project together, I'm going to enjoy all the adventures yet to be had with the best damn partner in crime there is. Especially the Bandwagon Tour this summer, a cross country trip for 6 weeks taking us from city to city to play music.

She's got potential, she just needs a little facelift to bring her into the 21st century... and some serious wood working skills.

Scotty's are genuine American made history, in the 1950's a recently retired car dealership owner, John Serro, built a travel trailer in his garage, that no one wanted (at first). He continued on and made a smaller teardrop trailer and than another and another... American made in Irwin, PA until a fire burned down the plant in 1997. They later re-opened, but as Scotty concepts and currently make fire safety houses, aka a fire safety mobile obstacle course.

1974 Serro Scotty Sportsman - Bandwagon

But I digress, this is Bandwagon the ultimate vacation home...to be. We are going to pick her up in Lancaster, PA on Saturday.

Progress

2013-01-31T17:01:00.003-05:00

It's been awhile, but I just wanted to update on the progress of the album.

There's going to be at least 12 songs on it, out of 18 songs. To take a listen and see what's been going on:

facebook.com/lindseyneffmusic
or
lindseyneff.com

It's good to be back.

Coming up: little by little I'm going to start transitioning this blog to cover a vintage travel trailer restoration, making of the album art, touring across the country, not to mention a brand new format.

planting trees, one by one, to stand in front of a forest.

2012-09-20T11:56:00.000-04:00

Source: m0rtality.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest

I keep saying this to myself...and my husband is the person who said it to me originally.

A forest is only one tree planted one at a time.

Which translates: You have enough songs, stop writing more, get the ones you have recorded, release album, stop tinkering with ... STUFF. He's so analytic and logistical... you ever meet someone that you wish you could wander their brain like a maze because it's so fascinating and different from your own? Well I want to wander in the brain of Steve. I should have included that little tid-bit in our vows...

My way (as with most creatives) is ass-backward:
Record songs, stop recording midway because that new song popped into head again and "have to get it down before it leaves", work on site, record, launch site, make site with Flash, bang head and have to make it HTML5 compatible, plan tour stops, look at fiberglass small campers for tour, amass countless promotion ideas, resume recording, edits show videos, type songs for copyright process, look up "how to start a publishing company", record, re-record the vocals on one track because "I can do better", brew beer for Oktoberfest, write storyboard for music video, play ukulele....

Eventually, in my own special way, it get's done.

upgrades

2012-08-17T13:30:00.002-04:00

courtesy of paperlux

Sorry for the non-posting.

BAD, BAD BLOGGER.

I am currently coding to transform banana bread & homestead into a visual sanctuary.

Here are some inspirations for the vision.

One size fits some, the rest are on your own.

2012-05-24T17:58:00.001-04:00

I just got off the phone with someone dress shopping for my wedding.

After making an appointment at Nordstrom for her to meet with "dress specialist" she left discouraged and disappointed at the selection for a woman who is a size 16.

Are there only Mother's of the Brides that are sizes 2-8?

By American standards, the average woman is a size 14. Do you want to know what the most commonly purchased size is... shouldn't it be 14? Nope, an 8. Read it.

I am a 4, so are a lot of women in the NY Metro area, meaning that I am often left longing for a dress that isn't available. Not really big deal, eventually they'll get more, or have it at another store, or online.

I can't imagine how I would feel if they didn't CHOOSE to carry my size, even if it's considered the average size. Some nerve.

everything comes together...

2012-05-21T17:55:00.001-04:00

It's so nice when everything comes together...

case in point, my bridal shower.

I'll let the pictures tell.
My girls are the best!

A Mother's Day Breakfast that Left a Bad Taste in Mom's Mouth- Your Mother Would Not be Proud

2012-05-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

Ever have a "bait-and-switch" happen to you? Sorry to hear about that. Have you ever had it done to you on Mother's Day with your family?

Now we have a Mother Fucking Problem:

Here's the letter I wrote to The Original Pancake House (NOT IHOP) - and CCed to some other parties that may be interested.

If you don't stand up, you'll get walked all over.

Dear Original Pancake House-

Attn: Better Business Bureau, The Record News, and Herald News, and My Mother.

This past Sunday, Mother’s Day, my Fiancé and I took my Mother, two Aunts, Brother, and Cousin out for breakfast. My Fiancé and I are frequent customers and even have a Customer Loyalty Card. The Original Pancake House is our absolute favorite breakfast place, or was.

After waiting over forty-five minutes looking at the outside posted menu with the normal prices posted and all the delicious descriptions, we were seated.

My Mother lives in Tennessee and doesn’t have The Original Pancake House there. Every time she comes to visit, we always have breakfast at The Original Pancake House. It’s a scrumptious ritual.

We were then given the “Mother’s Day Specials” menus with prices that were severely raised. If these were specialty menu items I could understand. But they were not. In fact they were the same exact menu items and portions, but with a price raised over 30%. I have attached the pictures of both menus as proof. Some examples: Omelets were raised to $14.00 when they are usually around $11.00, Bacon and Eggs with Pancakes are usually $7.75, on Sunday they were $10.00, even the coffee was raised to $3.00, usually it’s around $2.25.

I have heard of businesses offering specially made items at raised, specialty prices. I have heard of discounting prices for special holidays, but never have I had the experience of prices being raised for the same exact menu items. Raising the prices on an already busy Mother’s Day without prior notification is wrong, the customers sitting at the next table also agreed, so did the ones on the other side of us.

Working for a very prominent investigative firm in Manhattan, I am unfortunately quite aware of these tactics. In the event that you are unaware, the practice of advertising a certain price (ie: the normal menu pictured outside) and then supplying a menu with the same items at a raised price (the “Mother’s Day Special) without advertising or notifying the consumer prior to sitting, is known as a “Bait and Switch” and that is reportable to the Better Business Bureau, it’s also known as false advertising.

We did speak to The Original Pancake House management and were told there was nothing they could do, they felt poorly of the owner’s decision, but could not honor the regular prices.

Did we then have a choice to leave? Yes. However, knowing how much my Mother looks forward to her twice a year special breakfast; I didn’t have the heart to walk out. What was supposed to be a fun and delicious Mother’s Day breakfast, instead, left us with a bad taste in our mouths.

I ask you, The Original Pancake House, how would your Mother feel? How would you feel if someone did this unapologetically while you were treating your family to a Mother’s Day meal? In these tough economic times, did you really feel it necessary to over-charge on an already busy day, for those looking to treat their Mothers? Would your Mother be proud?

I am asking that I be reimbursed for the difference in price if you do not want to lose our business and if you have any integrity. I would be more than happy to supply our order to you so that we may properly calculate the bill.

I have also forwarded this information to The Bergen Record, Herald News, The New Jersey Better Business Bureau, as well as my Mother.

Attached are pictures of your normal menu posted outside, the raised menu prices, the business card I was given and my receipt.

Sincerely,

Lindsey Koester

Stay-cation

2012-05-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

TWO MONTHS AND 7 DAYS.

That's how long until our wedding.

This weekend was a fun one after hosting a cinco de mayo bbq and then allowing my fiance to talk to me in to doing nothing wedding related on Sunday.

Us and our plans, they are really silly. Nothing like a gorgeous day with a handsome companion to seduce you outside and keep you there, letting your crafts sit.

I have always wanted to ride across the George Washing Bridge on a bike, never was it a good time, except for yesterday. I shelved the mounting bridal projects (we sent the invites last week so that's an accomplishment) and we took off to have, what felt like, a stay-cation and were tourists.

We rode across, took pictures, discovered new places that we new existed, but never experienced, like the lighthouse in this kids story that I've always wanted to see in person. Or all the parks along the Hudson river- NY Side. We rode at least 15 miles yesterday, but don't even try and peg me at one of those spandex wearing Lance Armstrong wanna-bes, I rode in shorts, a dress, knee highs and boots.

What a nice day, nothing's better than being a tourist on stay-cation.

Queen Anne's Lace Obsession

2012-04-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

Oh how I wish I could afford this to wear in my hair.

LC Tiffany 1848-1943

I absolutely love Queen Anne's Lace, it's one of my favorite flowers... ever!

Side story- Steve once dug up a Queen Anne's Lace (knowing that it's one of my favorites) and potted it to surprise me with on my birthday. It died (they are finicky), but it was one of the sweetest gestures and makes me smile.

Millbrook Winery Tour

2012-04-19T20:00:00.000-04:00

With less than three months away from our wedding, the days have been filled with UPS orders, price comparing, picking up this, that, and the other thing, planning, dreaming...

But then-

I stumbled upon these videos when looking for pictures of Millbrook Winery to give to the videographer. These were taken a month after we got engaged. April 9th of last year we had made two appointments (the first two appointments) with Millbrook Winery and another.

We arrived at Millbrook first. As soon as we swung open the doors to the winery barn/loft, we knew this was it. We called the other vineyard and cancelled, we knew where we were getting married.

A lot of things in life you know immediately: adopting our cats, our apartment, each other.

"Vintage" Disposable Wedding Cameras

2012-04-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

I got these here.

Speaking to friends and family that have been married, most will agree on one thing...

that having disposable cameras at the wedding make for a wonderful album.

Thoughts of yellow kodak, or green fuji cameras plagued me, I also couldn't bear the thought of a wedding white cameras with, you guessed it, hearts on it.

I was going to make due until I saw and then ordered these "vintage design disposable cameras". They were reasonably priced, and would make a great addition to any party. I like the quirky-ness of them.

I may test a roll with I pick them up this week (the warehouse is close to my job and decided to save money by nixing the shipping cost). I will update this post and let you know how they come out.

cake colors

2012-04-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Martha Stewart Rainbow Cake

This is the only way to do white frosting... if their's a rainbow inside.

Something blue ombre...

here

maui on my mind

2012-04-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Here are 4 things that are making me think maui honeymoon...

Braided Hair

Bright Patterns

Maxi that can go day-night

Life-is-a-beach... tote

DIY flower arrangement

2012-03-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a neat trick for arranging your flowers in wide-mouthed bowls... tape.

By creating a lattice pattern all your flowers stay right where you put them, best of all you can't even see the tape.

I went for a walk this weekend and snipped some blooms from forsythia and another flowering tree that I don't know the name of. To help the stems take water, take pliers and pinch the ends of the stem.
happy day!

Martha's Paper Globes

2012-03-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Oh yea, I got this here.

Through out this wedding planning, designing, breathing, eating, not-really-sleeping-well process. There has been a constant source of wedding/crafty/sanity that I keep referencing: Martha Stewart.

I really, really, love her.

Something I've found about planning weddings, is that shit happens, plans change and you just have to roll with it.

I could run down a laundry list of things that have changed, but allow me to focus on one thing in general.

I had this idea of having paper lanterns with lights in them hanging from the (very open, tall) rafters where the dancing is happening in the front (see picture). I had this planned for months. As I began shopping for the lanterns I realized that this project was going to be too expensive, time consuming, and not really feasible in general.

The only way to light lanterns are rope/Christmas lights, which need electricity, and extension chords, therefore outlets, which we were lacking. The other option was the electric battery tea lights, but the lanterns would be hung so high that the labor costs would be raised just to hang, light, and then take them down.

Uhhhh....

Tutorial from Martha Stewart, here.

Enter: Martha Stewart and all her infinite wisdom of craftdom.

I saw this idea of tissue balls in various colors and sizes strung together. Since the ideas of lights were out, this worked perfectly.

Since we'll be there the night before to hang them from the rafters, no labor costs needed to light them.

Finding the cheapest and widest selection of tissue balls was tricky. Most places you can buy bulk, of only ONE color per order. If you only want one color this works, but I wanted 4 (peach, red, yellow, and white), 12 of each color and each size was also not working for me... that was too much. Martha advertised a few places, but they didn't have a wide selection of colors.

Enter: Factory Direct Party . Not only did they have the best color selection, but 5in, 8in, 12in, 14in, and 19in per color! Bonus: I also found matching festooning too to go on the lighting rods (see above picture) in the hall where we'll be dining. For all the paper decorations for the wedding I spent a little over $140.00 with shipping and handling included (see below)! I spent about 1.5 weeks researching the best price/selection... and Factory Direct Party definitely won. If you are planning to do this Martha Stewart craft, here's what I ordered for a room that's approximately 45' x 40'.

happy monday!

2012-03-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

Don't you love when you've had a full, productive, and relaxing weekend filled with great company, loud belly laughs, yummy food, and festive drinks?... this weekend was that weekend for us.

Last night by the time my finance and I settled on the couch to watch East Bound & Down, the dishes were done, laundry folded, two Hawaii books were purchased for honey moon research, two caterers were met with (one that we loved loved loved... BABBETTE'S KITCHEN), a late night at the kitchen table spent with friends drinking, joking, smoking e-cigs, and drinking until 4am, celebrating our friend's engagement, a wonderful brunch with my bride's maids filled with lots of love/mimosas/bloody Mary's, and we also walked through Millbrook Vineyards where we'll be getting married, wandered aimlessly in A.C. Moore (one of my favorite past times) to see "what they've got going on" (which my finance knows is code for me wandering for a few hours in A.C. Moore).

I have not laughed so much and so hard in a long time... thanks guys.

open air vase...

2012-03-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of DESIGNLOVEFEST

I have a blog crush...

I love this blog. Bri's aesthetic is always sunny.

I think this tutorial on how to make open air vases (perfect for dried flowers or herbs) is brilliant. I'm wrapped up in weddingcateringmaddness right now, but I think I might need these in the kitchen to dry herbs from the garden.

Just had to share.... have a happy day!

killing twobirds...

2012-03-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of KayKonvertibles

I had this beautiful plan of all the brides maids wearing a different color and a differnt dress, but with a similar hem and style...
then life happened.

People have kids, work, school, a life, and are busy, getting everyone together was rough enough... forget the whole dress-mess.

Enter: The Convertible dress

TwoBirds features such a dress (all over every wedding blog known to (wo)man kind. My friend used them in her wedding and they looked great...but they are $300.00. Don't get me wrong if you know you'll wear it again I guess it's justifiable, I guess. What if you're not?

The solution: ETSY! (Etsy is usually always the solution).
Specifically, KayKonvertibles' Shop.

She makes Konvertible dresses... for a fraction of the cost, plus she is wonderful to correspond with (we did via email and talking about wedding...stuff). Get this: she offers 40, yes 40 colors...err kolors. Twobirds offer 20 choices.

Well that's one thing to check off the list...

Let them eat... cupcakes.

2012-02-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Belinda Levine

This past weekend I met with my friends Belinda and Tommy at Starbucks. Belinda is extremely talented cake (and cupcake) baker. She graduated from the French Culinary Institute as a Pastry Chef. I am so honored that she will be making our wedding sweets.

We discussed what confections will be served at the wedding, armed with her Martha Stewart Wedding Cakes book and limitless knowledge... she rocked my wedding world, and I've been caked crazed ever since.

We decided on a "sweetheart cake" for immediate family and bridal party, and cupcakes similar to the one pictured above seved to everyone else! We still have a lot of details to work out, but I am thrilled.

y - uhhh - mmm-ie

(seed) bombs away

2012-02-28T16:39:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Cozy Canucks

Remember how I mentioned here that as wedding favors, we should give everyone native trees to plant. In an ideal world 120 trees would be planted...

but then once again wedding-reality set in... I'm sure a lot of those trees will never see the soil.

This past weekend at Anthropologie (while Steve slept... err utilized the comfy leather sofa) I saw these seed bombs. Seed bombs are balls of dirt, compost and wildflower seeds that are meant to be tossed in vacant lots, medians, your garden, anywhere, to cheer the space up with some floral life. Just throw, go, and grow, that's it.

$6.00 for 5 balls of compost, dirt and wildflower seeds... nope.

After a little interweb research I found Cozy Canucks shop on Etsy . Hers are made of biodegradable paper, in colorful heart shapes. I just ordered a batch of 30 for $5.19+8.00SH.... that means that each bomb is $0.44 compared to $1.20.

Even better, for all of you diy divas out there, she sells the tutorial for $3.63.

:some have swag, i have savv...-y:

catering rant

2012-02-27T16:50:00.000-05:00

I got this here.

This is what I looked like when I saw a proposal for catering for our wedding.

Dear Catering Company,
You are shitting me right...

I thought so... now where is the real proposal?