Florida: Thrifts, Cars and Tiki Bars!

The Saint whisked me away to Florida for the week between Xmas and New Years. We went to Sarasota, to Lido Key, which is quite swank. So immediately upon arrival in town I searched out a thrift store and a dive bar. At the thrift I scored 2 handbags, one with martini shakers on it. This has my name all over it, it practically screamed at me the minute I walked in the door.I did a victory dance in the aisle.  The other is a woven straw watermelon. Terrific!!! Who doesnt need a watermelon shaped bag? If you say you dont you have no soul. That's all I got, the Saint was waiting in the car so we could go to THE BAHI HUT, a 1950s era dive bar with a semi-tiki theme. The Bahi Hut is not exactly a tiki bar in the midcentury polynesian pop sense (as o[pposed to the Jimmy Buffet style margaritas are served tiki bar), but it had some tiki elements. This was a low key, no attitude, no bulls**t bar for serious drinking.  It was AWESOME!!!! We went there 3 different nights and I made more friends in this bar in 3 days than I have in the past 10 years. Seriously. This place RULES. I had goombay smashes and Tiki Coolers while the Saint has mai tais.  It was fabulous.

We also went to the Sarasota antique car museum, where I fell in love. His name is IsoRivolta Grifo and he is a rare and expensive Italian sports car. This was somewhat shocking because I normally like 1950s cars, like the amazing Pontiac they had on display. They also had Paul McCartney's mini and John Lennon's mercedes wagon. Very cool museum. Afterwards the Saint informed me that a used Iso in need of restoration goes for $140,000. Ugh. Well, I know I have good taste.

Xmas gifts and more thrifted stuff

Here is a shot of some of the things I got for Christmas. The pin up photo book, which I picked out at the store, is from The Saint, and the recipe box, coaster set and credit card box are from my friend Jane. The pink credit card box says "Let's talk about how fabulous you think I am.."  Therecipe box and coasters say "Make yourself at home, clean my kitchen!"  Jane also got me a few other things with the same retro ladies on them, these are perfect for my kitchen. I sell antiques and collectibles to support Jane's dog rescue group, from which I adopted my dog.

Here are 2 cookbooks I scored at a local thrift, which usually never has anything that could be considered vintage. The Betty Crocker's Hostess Cookbook is from 1967 and has a cool TIKI photo--the thrift gods smiled upon me! The paperback desserts booklet is from the 1960s also.

Vintage Xmas and new thrift find, plus new shoes

Here are a few shots of some of my vintage Christmas items.

Here are my new shoes, which, although modern and brand new, have a vintage 1940s look. The ankle strap was what go me.  Now I need somewhere to go.

Below are 2 thrifted vintage paper tablecloths. I am in love with anything hot pink and lime green, for that preppy Christmas look. The other has an astrological birthday theme.

Atomic Holiday Splendor

My silver aluminum tree in all its glory. The stand rotates and plays music. I have a color wheel but didnt get it set up yet. This photo does not do the tree justice. It shines like crazy.

Recent finds

Estate sale this week:  One 1950s Xmas tablecloth that has a date with OxyClean later today, one box of unused 1960s greeting cards, 2 ceramic coconut tiki drink mugs with palm tree stirrers from Cabin John's in Chesapeake City Md., one silk scarf and 2 strands of vintage beads. Woo hoo!

My vintage kitschen

A few posts ago I displayed my 1963 chrome double oven. Here are a few more shots of my retro kitchen. The walls are mint green, the countertops are turquoise flecked with black and gold. (see previous post for close-up of countertop underneath BPM issue.) We painted the cabinets white and had the new flooring put down. When we bought the house and I saw this kitchen I nearly passed out. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Plus there was a PINK dishwasher but we had to replace it, I am still bearing a heavy mental burden from that. The stove is a countertop model so I cant install a vintage freestanding one but I guess I cant complain given the rest of the room. The Saint has given me the go-ahead to paint the fridge some sort of insane color but i need to clear the decks of other projects before I can get to that. I made the curtains out of repro barkcloth. This is my favorite room in the house because I can go bananas in here with all of my retro stuff. I feel like its 1958 when I am in this room and I love it. Ive got tiki mugs on the stove and my percolator also.  I use it everyday.
 Framed LP covers all around the top of the walls. Pink Fuzzy dice on oven.

 I inherited this table and chairs and the set is literally my favorite possession since it belonged to my aunt whom I worshiped and adored. She had a 100 percent authentic 1950s apartment filled with all of the things I am trying to recreate/reclaim now since I spent some of the happiest hours of my life there.

Birthday Burlesque and Black Friday Score!

For my birthday a few weeks ago the Saint and I went to see a local burlesque troupe, the Peek a Boo Revue, who were performing with Satan's Angel, a performer from the heydey of burlesque, who is also known as the Queen of the Flaming Tassels. I had a blast! I enjoyed the show and the flaming tassels must be seen to be believed. Satan's Angel doesnt take it all off, she does a dance routine and  does a trick with her fabric cape, she spins it around so it looks like she is inside of a spinning cylinder, very cool.
All this talk of burlesque reminds me that the new issue of Bachelor Pad Magazine is out, feast your eyes below:

Now, onto Black Friday. I am not a Black Friday shopper but the Saint and I were out of town to visit relatives and we decided to head to the grocery store. There was a Goodwill across the street from the grocery store and the sign said "Black Friday Sale: Everything 50 off." I started campaigning to go to the shop. We were in foreign territory and who knows what kind of splendor could lurk inside this thrift shop? And at half off! Plus, when would I ever get to shop there again? We were 250 miles from home. The Saint was driving so  I had to do a little begging and he agreed that I could do a quick pop-in. So what did I find? This AWESOME vintage overcoat for, are you ready, $8!!!!!!!! That was the half off price. And, drumroll please,  I look terrific in this coat! It fits! Its black and royal blue wool. The faux fur collar is a bit much but it snaps off. I am so excited about this score. I doesnt have any tags inside so I dont know who made it. I havent found anything vintage in a thrift shop in ages so I am psyched.