~Temperamental Broad~

Peasant Blouse Update

2012-02-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

I got my new peasant blouse in the mail last night and it is simply gorgeous!!! The Ebay pictures really don't do it justice!!

I will try to take better pictures of it soon to show you guys. It really looks like it is vintage! I'm very excited about it and just wanted to let you all know. I really scored on this one!! :-)

VLV Pre Shows

2012-02-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

For everyone that is going to Viva Las Vegas this year I wanted to tell you about a really fabulous pre show. Its going to be on Wednesday April 4th at The Orleans and my mans band, Roy Rapid and the Rhythm Rock Trio, will be playing along with Deke Dickerson and some other great bands and DJ's.

Here is the flier:

I'm really excited for this show because it will be the first year that the pre show will be at the Orleans. It is usually at a different location rather far from the hotel. You would have to take a cab to and from the venue and then pay $15-20 to get in and then money for beer...at the end of it all you managed to pay as much to go to the pre show as you did for your ticket to Viva!! Having the pre show at the Orleans is a no brainer IMO, and I'm really positive it will be a new addition to Viva for years to come.

For everyone who has never heard Roy Rapid and the Rhythm Rock Trio here is a great video that was put together for them:

There will still be the Wild pre show going on at the same time. This show will be at a bar on Fremont street, which is where it was held last year.

For obvious reasons I will be at the show at the Orleans. I am posting both fliers here for you all to decide which one you want to go to. I will not talk shit about these bands or Wild Records (like they are choosing to do) because I think that both shows will be good and will draw different crowds. I have nothing against Wild Records and I really like some of the bands on that lable (if you want to, look back at my Viva posts from previous years to see all the great things I have said about Wild bands). However I think talking smack about bands that aren't on Wild or are playing a competing show is in bad taste and it makes me not want to support Wild Records like I have for many years. However I will leave it all up to you guys to choose which show you want to go to. I know they both will be great!

They're Real--A Review

2012-02-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

When it comes to mascara I usually just stick with drugstore brands. I have tried a few from MAC and department stores but have never been so impressed with them that I would continually pay $20+ for them. Working at Macy's I now get a discount. I also get to try the mascaras on in the store before purchasing them (with a hygienic, disposable wand of course!). Which is how I tried Benefit's They're Real.

Benefit They're Real

$22

I already own Bad Gal from Benefit and I think its ok. It doesn't go on very easily and can be a bit flaky. But I wanted to try They're Real because it is the number 1 selling mascara right now and every time I would apply it on someone I was impressed with how it looked. So I came in early one morning and tried it on myself, and I have since purchased it.

This is the wand. Its a thick brush with a 'ball' on the end.

What I noticed right away was how easy it is to apply. The ball on the end prevents clumping, which is a problem I have with That Gal. It also really gets in there and gets every single lash. I liked that I didn't have to mess with it too much. It applies very easily.

My lashes without mascara.

My lashes with They're Real.

The whole selling point to They're Real is that it will make you look like you are wearing false lashes. I would say that is pretty true. My lashes look really full and thick, but they also look longer. The ball helps get the corner lashes, which are the hardest ones to get.

The formula is water resistant, flake proof, and smudge proof. It literally lasts all day and it stays put!

One thing I notice is that it drys really hard. It definitely does not feel natural. This does not bother me but it might for some people. Also, it is kind of hard to remove. You will need an oil based eye makeup remover to get it off. Again, this is just fine for me.

I really love this mascara and will repurchase it without complaint. The ease of application is a really strong selling point for me, as I have a tendency to use multiple mascaras to achieve one look. With They're Real I don't have to do that. I love the look I get and the fact that it lasts all day. This is the first department store mascara that I am truly impressed with and believe is worth the money!

Peasant Blouses

2012-02-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Fernando and I went to the Rose Bowl flea market yesterday. I was hoping to walk out of there with some really great deals, but I didn't. There really wasn't a lot of actual vintage clothing and what there was, was overpriced or not really my style. I also felt like most of the vendors were rude and not willing to negotiate and I refuse to buy from people like that. So I didn't buy anything. Fernando got a new foot pedal for his drums though and a great pair of blue flecked pants that I picked out for him, so the trip wasn't a complete waste.

Even though I didn't buy anything I was inspired by something. Or rather, I was re-inspired. I saw quite a few vintage peasant blouses there that caught my eye and reminded me that I wanted to get some. I have one but it isn't vintage:

Vintage ones tend to be a bit pricey, usually $100 to $150. I just do not have that kind of money right now so I have been looking for a nice non-vintage option. I found this :

Ebay

$24.00

Its a shorter length and is made of that nice gauzy material that I prefer. Plus its pink! I think it will be a nice addition to my closet. One day I will spring for a true vintage piece, but for now I will just have to fake it.

Here are some peasant blouse inspirations:

And here are some vintage ones on Etsy right now:

$115

$128

$139

Cosmetics Reviews Part 1

2012-01-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

For the past few months I've been working in the cosmetics department at Macy's as an on call. I have worked at every counter they have there: Dior, Shiseido, Origins, Lancome, Chanel, Estee Lauder, and Benefit. A few weeks ago I was picked up permanently at Benefit. Working at all the different counters has helped me figure out which products I really love, and which ones I can live without. This going to be an ongoing post, as I don't want to overwhelm you. I'll just do a few products at a time.

These first few products are all from Benefit.

Benefit

Bad Gal Lash

$19

I don't usually like buying brand name mascaras because they can be rather expensive and you have to buy a new one every couple of months. Besides, I have lots of drug store mascaras that work great. I got this one in a set though and have been using it consistently for about a month. I really like it so far. It reminds me of Diorshow, with a large, thick brush. My only complaint is that sometimes it flakes a bit.

We have a new mascara that I have not bought yet called They're Real that I think is better:

Its $22 and is a non smudging, non flaking mascara. Its thickens, volumizes, and lengthens, making your lashes look like falsies. The brush has a little ball on the end that really gets all the lashes covered. Its pretty cool! When I run out of Bad Gal I will purchase this one.

Boi-ing Concealer

$19

I really like this concealer. I was using one from MAC that I thought was too thick around the eyes. This one is a cream to powder finish which goes on great around the eye area. I sell this one a lot because it smoothes and brightens the eye area without creasing.

That Gal Brightening Face Primer

$29

That Gal is meant to be worn underneath foundation as a primer and a brightener. Honestly, this is one product I'm not really into. As a primer it works fine. My makeup stays put throughout the day. As a brightener though, it really needs to be worn either alone or with a tinted moisturizer to truly work. Once I put on my foundation and powder any brightening effects it may have are now covered. Personally, I prefer my Sephora Smoothing Primer over That Gal. Its only $16 and I still feel it works the best.

Well thats it for now. I will have more later, including non Benefit products. I always love to hear your feedback and questions so feel free to comment!!!

Best Vintage in America

2012-01-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

Found this article on my MSN homepage today and thought I would share it with everyone. Its a list of some of the best vintage stores in America. Its a good article that makes me want to take a serious roadtrip!!!

Check it out here:

Second Looks

La Rosa in San Francisco featuring my friend Oran.

Forever Vintage

2012-01-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you guys but I have had the hardest time finding vintage lately!!! Theres cute things on Etsy but the prices are too high for me right now for the most part and Ebay hasn't had much of anything. San Diego is rather picked through when it comes to vintage and there aren't a lot of vintage shops anyways. I know that as summer comes around this will change, so for now I have been seeking out modern clothes with a vintage look. I included some of them in my last post and I recently bought a few more that I wanted to share with you.

These are all from Forever 21. I've said before how much I love this store. I know some people can't stand it because its so huge (the one here is literally the size of a department store) but I love that I can almost always find something cute at a really reasonable price. Right now they have lots of nautical themed items and wide leg pants, so if you are looking for anything like that you should head on over and check it out.

All three things I bought are sweaters. I really like them because they are a shorter length, which will go great with high waist pants.

The first one is a nautical themed sweater. Its got cute capped sleeves and blue piping. I think it will go perfect with my navy sailor pants.

The next two are the same print but in different colors. I couldn't decide which one I preferred so I got both!

I adore the cute little bow print!!

I was excited to find these because I don't have a lot of short sleeved sweaters to wear with jeans. The only problem is that my Freddies are spent!! There are tears in the cuffs and they are faded from the wash, but more than that they have become too big on me! I lost a bit of weight so now they literally hang on me. My birthday is coming up and I have left a not so discreet hint with my boyfriend to get me these:

I asked for a size smaller so hopefully they fit me better.

This has actually been a bit of a problem for me lately. My clothes dont fit, my hair is too long, I left a lot of important things behind in Denver...etc. I feel out of sorts with my vintage style. This is why I havent done any hair or outfit posts. I think once I get a haircut and some better fitting clothes I will feel better about things. Moving is always hard and it takes time to get settled. Its a work in progress and it is getting better but I still feel frustrated sometimes. Especially when I go to do my hair!!

Seriously, look at how long my hair is!!! Its out of control!!!

I plan on getting a haircut soon though, so I will show you all the results. I don't think I want to go as short as before though. I may keep it a bit long and just add layers. Besides, I can always cut more off!!

:-)

Holiday Goodies

2012-01-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I hope the holidays were good to you all. I was super busy with work! I've been working in a department store's cosmetics department, so you can imagine how crazy it got! I'm going to do a post about all the cosmetics I've gotten soon, reviews and stuff, but for now I wanted to share all of my recent clothing acquisitions. Not too much is vintage. I seem to be having a hard time finding things that I really want at a price I can afford right now.

This first one is vintage. I had this skirt in my favorites on Etsy for a while. At only $25 I thought it would go fast, but it never did. Its one of my Christmas presents from Fernando.

I love everything about this skirt. Lime green is a favorite color of mine and the pockets are an amazing detail. Plus, it fits me perfectly! I have actually managed to lose a bit of weight, meaning that all the clothes I bought over the past couple years are now too big on me. I'm happy about the weight loss, but not happy about having to get a bunch of my favorite pieces altered now.

The next Christmas present that Fernando got me are a pair of Miss L Fire Orchids.

I have wanted these since they first came out. They are soooooo cute!! Miss L Fire put a lot of their shoes on sale, which is fantastic! However, they are a UK company and I live the US. Meaning, that with the conversion and shipping they were still a little pricey for me right now. Luckily for me though, Asos had one pair of these left, a size 5, and at only $54.54 and free shipping that meant they were destined to be mine!

This is my third pair of Miss L Fire's :-)

This is a vintage hat that I bought on Ebay for $10. Its a coolie hat and is really cute. Its a lot smaller than my black coolie hat, but I think thats a good thing.

I bought these pants at Forever 21 for about $25. They are sailor style and fit really well. High waist and wide legs. They need to be hemmed though. If any of you are looking for pants like this Forever 21 has quite a few styles right now. I may pick some more up.

The next 2 things are sweaters that I got on sale at H&M for $10 each. I thought they both had a real vintage look to them.

This one has cute little gathered sleeves.

This one has a cute green Peter Pan collar:

The buttons go up the back.

Well, thats all of them! I have been horrible about taking outfit photos and really havent been doing much with my hair (its too long) so I apologize for that. Pretty soon here I will be getting ready for Viva again so I will do some posts about that, and I will also do those makeup reviews :-)

Recent Purchases

2011-11-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share a few of my recent purchases. Haven't bought too much recently as I am still pretty broke, but we went to Phoenix and Albuquerque this past weekend and I got a few things. We were there on a mini tour with Fernando's band Roy Rapid and the Rhythm Rock Trio. I got to see my family and friends, which was a lot of fun. We went shopping in Albuquerque and I got most of these at Buffalo Exchange.

The first thing I got is this vintage wool cardigan. It has beading and sequins around the collar.

I always have a hard time finding these in my size so I was happy to find this one. It fits like an extra small.

Buffalo Exchange

$11

I also got this Forever 21 coat. Its a nice fuchsia color and appears brand new.

Buffalo Exchange

$17

Next I got this really beautiful vintage 40s dress. It has a couple light stains on it, but who cares! Its sooo pretty!!

The sleeves are scalloped.

Buffalo Exchange

$17

The last thing I got are these vintage pink fabric earrings. I have them in a few other colors too.

Uneek Treasures

$2.50

These last 2 things I got a while back. This is a sparkly lucite bracelet I got at a vintage flew market.

This is a sweater from the 70s that looks like its from the 40s or 50s. I think its really cute and it looks great with my Freddies jeans.

$15

So thats everything. I havent had much money to shop with but I really like the few things I got. Everything above totals less than $100. Not bad!!

People Be Trippin'

2011-11-04T15:11:00.000-06:00

Remember this Dress:

I did a post about it months ago. Go back to it here and read the comments.

Silly people!!!

Bad Blogger/I Heart Shoes

2011-10-19T20:46:00.000-06:00

I have been a neglectful blogger, I know. I should be doing my October Spookfest right now but to be perfectly honest...I just don't feel like it. I have had a lot going on in my life with the move and 2 new jobs (and hopefully a 3rd) and just haven't been in a blogging state of mind. I haven't had any money to really shop with and havent been doing too much with my hair because I need a cut really bad! I am going to slowly try to get back into blogging, but we will just have to take it one day at a time.

All that being said...I wanted to share with you a couple of recent purchases. Shoes, of course.

Harajuku Lovers "Yipee".

I have these in black and I love them so I decided to get the red ones too. They were on sale at Amazon.com for around $17.

And next--

Miss L Fire "Tiki".

Which I won on Ebay, brand new in the box for $55!! They retail for around $150 on the website, but are actually sold out in this color.

I love my Lola's so much and have been wanting another pair of Miss L Fires but I haven't been able to afford them. I technically can't afford them now but at that price I couldn't pass them up! I will make sure to take pictures of them when I get them in.

Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

2011-08-17T15:17:00.000-06:00

I would KILL for this dress!!!! It is sooooooooooo amazing it makes me cry! Its just perfect in every way...

~Sigh~

Even I weren't completely broke I wouldn't be able to buy it. At $425 its just way too pricey.

It sure is pretty though!!

My Skincare Routine

2011-08-09T13:42:00.002-06:00

This was requested of me a long time ago and I am just now getting to it! Sorry for the delay!

When it comes to skincare I am a drug store girl all the way. My last real job was for a high end skincare company, so for 2 years I used only their products. I thought that because they were so pricey that they must be good. I was wrong. My skin looked so bad! I had horrible breakouts, blackheads, whiteheads, bumps and wrinkles that didn't go away until I stopped using their products completely. After that experience I have sworn off high end beauty products in favor of drug store brands. They work better for me and they don't break the bank! Also, if I buy one that I don't like I won't be too upset because I didn't spend an entire paycheck on it!

So here is my list of beauty products that I use everyday. Since setting this routine my skin looks better than it has in ages! I haven't had a single breakout in about 6 months, no black/white heads, and the wrinkles I do have around my eyes have been drastically diminished. Needless to say, I'm pretty happy!

Face Wash

I have two face washes that I alternate. I sue this one by Neutrogena in the shower and it is really great at preventing acne. I used to get cystic acne on my forehead that was impossible to get rid of! The last time I had one was in December and it went away really fast. This stuff is great!

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control

$6.49

My other cleanser is this one by St Ives. I've reviewed it before and I still love it just as much. I use this one at the end of the day to wash off my makeup. It works really well at getting my face really clean. It helps prevent acne and reduces redness, without drying out my skin. My skin used to be really dry but as I've gotten older I've noticed that I now have more of a T zone; meaning my forehead and nose get oily, while the rest of my face is normal/dry. Thats why I like acne cleansers that don't dry out my skin.

St Ives Green Tea Cleanser

$6.59

Exfoliate
Everyone needs to exfoliate, even people with really oily skin. I use this cleanser about 3 times a week and I usually mix it in with my Neutrogena face wash. I initially bought this by accident. I meant to buy the masque of the same name. I was gonna return it but decided to give it a try instead. I'm glad I did because it really works!!

Queen Helene Mint Julep Scrub

$3.99

Toner
Even though I wash my face diligently every day, there will always be some residue left over. I have been using a toner for about 15 years now to make sure I get my face really clean. For a while I was using witch hazel, and I may again, but for now I am using this one by Biore that I really like. It keeps my pores really clean and drys up any acne I may get. Again, since I set this routine I have had no breakouts, but every now and then I will get one pimple. This stuff gets rid of it fast!

Biore Triple Action Astringent

$8.49

Prep
I have reviewed this stuff before too. It is a staple in my medicine cabinet. I swear by this stuff! When I was using Osmotics (the devil company's products) I started noticing some serious wrinkles forming around my eyes. I actually believe that their products made me age faster! I started using Bio Oil and my crows feet have been greatly diminished. I only use it around my eyes, twice daily, letting it soak in before applying moisturizer. Along with the comments I got from my coworkers, I have noticed visibly smoother skin around my eyes. For that reason, I will never stop using this stuff!!

Bio Oil

$9.59

Now onto the newest brand of skincare products that have stolen my heart: Oil of Olay. I decided to give it a try after my Osmotics fiasco, based solely on reviews I had read. I wanted to start on a beauty regimen that was good, but wouldnt cost an arm and a leg. I was using Origins, which worked great, but at $30-$70 a product, I could no longer afford it. I got all of my Oil of Olay products for around $50, buying a value set and using coupons from the newspaper. Not bad!

The first product I use is the Regenerist Serum. I apply it to my face first, avoiding the eyes where I put the Bio Oil, and let it soak in for a few minutes. Serums are a great way to get more concentrated nutrients into the skin, so its important to let them properly penetrate into the skin.

Oil of Olay Regenerating Serum

$19.99

Moisturize
For my eyes I use the Lifting Serum. I like it because its light. I already get moisture from the Bio Oil so I don't need a heavy cream on top of that. I like these two together as they seem to compliment each other well.

Oil of Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum

$18.99

Day
Its important to use a different moisturizer for day and night, especially if the day one has an SPF in it. Sleeping in an SPF can irritate your skin, as I found out once the hard way. My day moisturizer by Olay does not have an SPF in it, so I will add one on top of it when I am going outside. The next time I need to stock up I am going to get one with and SPF already in it. For now though this hydrating cream works really well. It moisturizes my skin without being too heavy, leaving my skin really soft.

Oil of Olay Regenerist Hydrating Cream

$19.99

Night
My night cream is an anti wrinkle one. Its never too early to battle wrinkles, and the best time to do it is at night. Its good to use a heavier cream at night, so that it can penetrate into the skin while you sleep. This one is really good because my skin still feels hydrated when I wake up.

Oil of Olay Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream

$14.99

So there you have it! That is my daily skincare routine that I swear by. I have no plans to deviate from it too much (aside from adding an SPF) because I havent been this happy with my skin in years. I learned a real lesson working at my former company: just because the products are expensive does not mean that they work! All the products I use can be bought for around $100 at any drugstore and they work better than any department store product I have ever used.

So ladies...what skincare products do you swear by? Are you a drugstore girl like me or do you prefer the high end route? I'd love to hear your opinions on this matter!!

San Diego Randomness

2011-08-04T13:27:00.000-06:00

Well I have been in San Diego now for a few weeks. I am currently searching for a job, which is never fun. Once I get a job then we get to search for a new place to live. Currently we are a bit further out than I'd prefer. Everything we do is in the city so once we have some income coming in on my part we are going to look for a little cottage somewhere. San Diego is cool because a lot of rentals are little cottage complexes, so you live in a mini house with no shared walls. They're really cute too!

In case you are wondering who the "we" is that I am referring to...

This is Fernando. I have known him for about 10 years. He's the drummer for Roy Rapid and the Rhythm Rock Trio, who I have mentioned before here. Thats all I will say about him for now ;-) I am happy though, and that is all that matters!

So here are some random pics:

Dancing at a Roy Rapid show.

Wearing one of my all time favorite dresses.

At a barber shop benefit show.

At Comic Con with my bestie Tara. We got free tickets to preview night.

With some Princess Leia's

With my baby before a show :-)

I am still trying to get back into the blogging mood, so bare with me!!

While We're at it...

2011-07-22T13:21:00.002-06:00

I can't wait for season 2 of Boardwalk Empire!!!!

Pan Am

2011-07-22T13:19:00.000-06:00

This show looks like its gonna be really good!

Moving

2011-07-10T11:15:00.000-06:00

So, just thought I would let everyone know that I am San Diego bound today! One of the big changes in my life is a big move halfway across country and today is the big day. That is why there has been a lack of posting from me. I've been packing and cleaning for over a week. I am really excited for a new start and couldnt have done it without my friends. Once I am settled I will start posting more and will clue you all in on the rest of the big changes in my life.

Bon voyage Denver!!!!!

Hair and Outfit Post

2011-07-01T13:54:00.000-06:00

Here is a roundup of hairstyles I've worn and managed to take pictures of. I don't know if you can tell, but I'm obsessed with scarves right now. I've always liked them but I've been wearing them a lot more now. Its a good thing because I have about 50 million of them!! Somehow though, I seem to mostly wear only two or three of them.

I have a Bluetooth on. I'm all technological now.

This is a PJ top that is now a staple in my wardrobe.

I love this purple floral scarf and I LOVE my peasant blouse. I need more!!!

This is my 40s linen dress that I love. I have to replace the zipper in it.

Here's a closeup of the detail on the dress. Its so, so pretty!!

And the hair. It looks really short here.

I really liked the way my hair turned out here. I got the rose clip at Viva and I really like it.

Some Not So Recent Purchases and Acquisitions

2011-06-22T23:54:00.000-06:00

First, let me apologize for my absense. There have been a lot of changes in my personal life, with a lot more still to come. I try to not get too personal on here so I am keeping it to myself for now, but as things progress I will tell you all more. What I will say is that I am happier than I have been in years, and I'm very excited for whats to come :-)

So, here are a bunch of pictures of things I have bought or acquired in the last 4 or 5 months.

Carved bakelite earrings.

Ebay $10

40s rayon dress. Estae sale in LA.

It has cute little cutouts at the neck.

And petal like scallops on the waist.

This was given to me. Its black and white with rhinestone buttons that I sewed on.

The inside lining is red.

This was a Viva purchase.

40s rayon Cheongsam dress

$160

Its purple and lime green. I couldnt resist!!

Mexican raffia tote.

Estate sale

Another Viva purchase.

Cotton playsuit.

$95

This was a free estate sale find. I wish I would've taken a 'before' picture. It was in such a sad state. Holes and tears all over, missing all its buttons. I figured I'd try to save it since it was such a pretty dress.

Its crepe and really beautiful. I had to soak it 3 times to get the stains out. Then I had to mend all the tears and hols. Then replace the buttons. Once I was done I put it on and realized that its way too long for me!! So now I have to hem it.

This is another purchase I made at the estate sale in LA. They're 30s beaded shoes and they are amazing!!! The interior is velvet and all the beads are perfect!

I love them! The only problem is that they are just a tad too big for me. I don't know if I should pad the toe or just sell them.

I love them though!!!

Ebay and Etsy

2011-06-06T12:55:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that I will posting things on Ebay and Etsy over the next few weeks. Here are the links if any of you feel like checking them out:

The Vintage Nouveau

Etsy

Avalon Vintage Clothing

Ebay

Mascara Review-Maybelline One By One

2011-05-11T14:23:00.001-06:00

I wanted to review Maybelline One By One Mascara for you guys.

It retails for about $7. Maybelline claims that this mascara will give you clump free volume.

This is the photo on their website:

I hate how mascara adds always show girls with fake lashes. Do they think we're that stupid???

Here's a picture of the brush.

Anyways, I've been using this mascara for a while and I'm pretty impressed with it. I don't think its as dramatic as Maybelline's Falsies or Lash Blast. Its a bit more natural looking, which is great for everyday use. What I really like about it is that is never clumps. Ever!

Heres some pics of me wearing it:

I would recommend this mascara. Its really easy to use and you never have to worry about clumps. It also doesn't flake. For evening looks I tend to use the other mascaras mentioned above, for day looks this one is great!

Music Interlude

2011-05-09T01:34:00.000-06:00

One of the best, and one of the most tragic. This whole album always brings back good memories.

Go Cat Go

Please Mama Please

Soul Night & Derby Day--In Pictures

2011-05-08T11:46:00.001-06:00

Soul Night

With my lovely Cakes

Johnathan

Justin and his, ahem, martini.

People

Derby Day

Oscar

My coolie hat and a mint julep

Our derby outfits. I need to get better pictures of this dress. Its from the 30s and is simply amazing!!!

Update:

Here are some better pictures of my dress. Oscar bought it for me the last time we were in Albuquerque. Its a sheer material with lots of great detailing all over the dress. Its also in perfect condition, which is rare for vintage clothes. Usually theres something wrong somewhere!

Sheer pink material.

Cute buttons and gathered pockets.

More pockets and belt.

Gathered back and button sleeves.

I love this dress. I may be a 50s gal, for the most part, but how could I pass up this beauty??

North Side Gal

2011-05-07T12:26:00.000-06:00

I went to Soul night last night and the DJ played a song that blew my mind!! Thought I'd share:

J.D. McPherson

North Side Gal

Could've sworn when I heard it he was black!!

Viva Las Vegas 14: Saturday and Sunday

2011-05-04T12:20:00.161-06:00

I feel like I'm slacking in my blogging duties since I returned from Vegas. I've been tortured with allergies and started my new job, so I am behind on posting and commenting. I apologize!!

Saturday was car show day so we slept in a bit and took our time getting ready. I was in a bit of a bind because I had washed my hair before going to bed and slept on it wet. I don't know what possessed me!! I basically had to start from scratch so I rewashed it and set it in my Tight Curls. I used my Hawleywoods Grooming Spray and was quite pleased with the results!

With Oscar. You can't see but I'm wearing my new Harajuku Lovers Wedges. They were really comfy!

Yara, Jean and Matt

With Kim. I love her dress!

Here with Kim you get a better look at my hair. Usually with hot rollers the curls are really loose and don't hold for anything, but they held really well this time.

With Ashley, ie: Doris Mayday

The car show was huge this year! Part of it was just for the vendors, about 3 rows. I was hoping to see Elvira, as she was signing autographs there, but somehow I missed her. The whole reason we went to the car show though was so we could see Jerry Lee Lewis. He was really good! His piano playing is still really strong, even though he's in his 80's. I didn't care for his opening band though, especially because they ate into about 30 minutes of his set.

After the car show we rested for a bit, then changed into our evening clothes. I was supposed to wear my poufy black prom dress, but I decided against it. I wore my black and pink wiggle dress instead.

All of a sudden I'm taller than e!

We made our way up to the ballroom and I ran into Ashley again. This time we made sure to take pictures!

I also ran into Tara from DC Metro Retro and her husband again. They are so nice and I'm glad I got to meet them!!

I love Tara's dress!!! I know she was worried about clothes but every time I saw her she looked amazing!

Saturday was an odd night for me. I felt great and just wanted to dance, but I never really did. I felt like we spent the whole time wandering back and forth between all the rooms, which got really tiring because 2 are upstairs and 2 are downstairs. It got really frustrating and I wound up going to bed around 2AM.

Sunday I woke up sick, sick, sick!! I think the pizza I ate was bad. I lazed around in bed for most of the morning, finally feeling ok enough to get ready. I put on my Rose Marie Reid playsuit and we attempted to go to the pool party. Even though the pool party was all 3 days all the main events are still on sunday, so the line to get in was insane! It was also really windy. We decided to just drink mimosas at the bar instead.

This was the 'boot' this year. Filling it with a mimosa took almost a full bottle of champagne. It sure did help me feel better though!

While drinking our giant mimosa we ran into Pachuco Jose and his bag of pesos (his joke). We chatted with him about his band and his car. He showed us a picture of it and its amazing!

I don't know why he's holding scissors.

After that we met up with Oscar's family. They had driven in for the night to do some gambling. We ate about 20 appetizers at TJI Fridays, and then I ran to catch a band. I had promised my friend Fernando that I would go see his band that was playing at 6 in the Pub. It was a bad time slot, coinciding with the Jive contest, and he was worried that no one would be there to watch. He had no need to worry though because it was packed!

Roy Rapid and the Rhythm Rock Trio

I saw them about a year ago in Albuquerque and they are really good! I keep telling them to please come to Denver and play a show!!

I ran into Dollie there and we chatted for a bit, then headed up to catch the jive contest. We got there right as it was starting.

The jive contest.

Watching the contest with Dollie and the SLC girls.

I have to say that I did not enjoy the contest this year. Not because of the dancers, mind you, because they were all amazing! I guess that Sophia Wolfe was not there this year to host and her absence was noticeable. She always does an amazing job of getting the crowd going and keeping the energy up. She also makes them dance about 20 dances. This contest was over in about 10 minutes and they danced only about 5 songs. There just wasn't any excitement, and there should've been would all the great dancers out there! Also, I really wish that Tom Ingram would allow for some better prizes. $200 for the winners does not seem like enough, especially when the winner of the bathing suit contest got a $4000 Gretsch guitar. I do think that getting some decent sponsors for the jive contest wouldn't be too hard, and it would make the contest more worth entering. Its a huge event every year and the dancers (usually) have to dance so much that they deserve to win a really good prize. And hopefully Sophia Wolfe will be back next year to host!

After the contest I went back to the room and needed to take a nap. I wasn't feeling very good again so I rested for a while before getting ready. I was in no mood to dress up so I just wore pants.

Roomies.

My late night outfit. Vintage rayon pants and thrifted Hawaiian shirt. Its purple!!

Oscar's amazing vintage shirt that I saved with Oxy Clean. I keep telling him to not eat in his vintage clothes but he never listens to me!!

Sunday night was a lot of standing around. We stood in the hallway talking to friends and drinking. We managed to get some bracelets for Oscars sister and brother in law so they come see some of the bands. I was hoping to dance a lot that night but it never really happened. The music just wasn't working for me. I had the most fun hanging out with friends, but eventually I just had a headache and wanted to go to bed, which I did around 4.

Oscar and I dancing to the one and only Ruth Brown song played all weekend.

This picture pretty much sums up the weekend for me.

The Good and the Bad: A Summary

I will start with the good:

One of the highlights for me this year was getting to meet fellow bloggers and followers! It was so nice to meet you all in person! Dollie, Tara, Tasha, Ashley, Kim, The Vintage Housewife, Gloria, Danielle, and all the others I know I am forgetting, really made my weekend great! Thank you all for all the kind words, it really means a lot to me! I met most of you in the bathroom, of all places, so thank you for saying hi!

The other highlight, which is the same every year, was getting to see all my friends. Even though a lot of them did not make it this year (Tara, Tina, Seth, Emma) I still got to see a lot of people I don't get to see very often. Thats always the best part of Viva. I do hope, though, that next year my OG's make it back. I need my girls (and Seth)!!

Now the bad:

To summarize, this Viva was just ok for me. Viva has gotten really, really big which I enjoy, but it can make for some annoying problems. The biggest for me is that there are now 4 rooms of music. At the Gold Coast there was only 2, so if you weren't feeling one you'd just go to the other. Also, when a band was playing in one room, a DJ was playing in the other. This meant that if all you wanted to do was dance you could just follow the DJs. Now, I just never quite know where to go! It also means that its hard to find where your friends are, so you spend some time searching for them. Also, some really good bands had time slots that overlapped other things: Roy Rapid overlapped the jive contest, and The Rhythm Shakers overlapped Jerry Lee, which meant I missed some of the best bands.

Now the really bad:

WARNING: A RANT!!

My biggest complaint this year was the music. Not from the bands; from the DJs. I would really like to know when R&B went out of style? I would also like to know when they stopped playing jivers? I realize that as a DJ you get sick of playing the same shit, but there is a reason why they are called 'killers'. They are songs that will guarantee a packed dance floor. Usually the motto is (jokingly) "all killers, no fillers" but I felt this year it was "all fillers, no killers". I heard Little Richard once and my favorite song, Little Lil, once, both during the Jive contest. I heard Ruth Brown once. I never heard any Doo Wop or jump blues. I heard that damned Elvis song from Viva Las Vegas about 10 times, and that Pulp Fiction song about 5. Besides that I heard a ton of 60s garage, strollers and boppers. This is shit!!! I do not go to Viva to stroll and bop. I really only do that so that I can keep moving. I go to Jive, and when the DJ's refuse to play them I get really annoyed. Also, I don't get why they would switch to strolls when the dance floor is full of people jiving to the one and only jive song they played in the past hour. This was really frustrating to me and a big reason why I went to bed so early most nights. I'm sure that the music improved passed 4 am, but I shouldn't have to stand around for 5 hours to hear a good jiver. Its ok to play some killer shit at 11. People will dance! Don't wait until the late night record hop to play jivers, and then only play random 60s garage "jivers"! The music should be a good mix: R&B, hillbilly, R&R, Doo Wop, garage, etc. Play all of it! I can safely say that I barely heard any black music all weekend, and for me (and a lot of people I know) that is just unacceptable!! I truly hope that this trend changes next year, cuz I don't think I can handle going to Viva every year just to stand around.

End rant.

So there you have it. That was my Viva 14 experience. Some of it was good, and some of it was just ok. It was not as great as last year, which is fine because even a bad time at Viva is still a good time. I will go again next year, and we already have our room reserved. I just hope that they remember to bring their R&B records next time!!