Outfit of the Day: Happy 240th Birthday U.S.A!

This past weekend was 4th of July weekend!

It was chock full of wonderful time spent out of doors and out spending time with friends.

While fourth of July usually passes without too much fanfare from me, I had a dose of extra enthusiasm this year for the event and the weekend in general. I owe this all to Jessica at the blog Chronically Vintage for sharing so much of her enthusiasm for this holiday as well as her enthusiasm and love over her native holiday, Canada Day. Hearing her take on the festivities that happen here in the states with our bbqs, fireworks, and parades made me want to make sure I fit at least some (if not all) of these activities into my holiday weekend. Sometimes it just takes a fresh pair of eyes to see something in a new and enthusiastic light.

On Saturday Tim and I spent the morning going out for breakfast and then spent the afternoon exploring around town, going to the mall for a bit, getting ice cream, and seeing what was playing at the movie theater. He had his heart set on watching the new Flula Borg movie Buddymoon but it turns out it is only out in very limited release.

On Sunday we spend the day out at the beach with one of our friends. The early afternoon was spent first getting together equipment for the day then a stop for lunch before the beach. We had the plan to go windsurfing that day. It was going to be my first time trying it, but it turns out the windsurf board we had was way too small for beginners. While the guys had a good time trying it, I got to enjoy a day out on the beach enjoying the good weather.

Monday was an extra special treat. It turns out the friend we saw just the day before helped make a float for the Alameda 4th of July parade for a club he's in and we got invited to sit on it! I've never been in a parade before so this was an extra special treat to not only get to see the parade but also be in one and join in! The Alameda 4th of July parade is herald as being one of the largest and longest 4th of July parades in the country. It makes a 3 mile loop around Alameda and by the time the last of the floats are starting to make their journey out of the starting gate the first floats are making their way back to the start. It was an awesome experience to say the least. After the parade the club for which the float was representing, the Aeolian Yacht club, was having a bbq, which we got to go to as well. It was a great bbq, right on the water with live music! After eating Tim and I went for a walk along one of the shoreline walking paths, and then after, came back to the club to play a couple rounds of horseshoes with our friend. Before heading home we decided to stop by another bbq other friends of ours were hosting ending the night seeing some fireworks going off both near and far.

Looking towards Crown Memorial Beach, Alameda, CA

Aeolian 4th of July Parade float 2016

Getting into position for the parade-- The best seats in the house!

Old fashioned lemonade stand and parade watchers, Alameda, CA

More 4th of July parade watchers, Alameda, CA

Quiet walk along the shoreline, Alameda, CA

Outfit of the Day (Saturday):

I decided to kick start the 4th of July weekend with my Trashy Diva Trixie dress and bolero in Sci Fi Rockets print. I figured the red white and blue colors would make for a perfect dress this weekend. I paired it with a patent leather-like red belt which came from a Bernie Dexter dress and some comfy blue Rocket Dog flats which I got several years ago, I think from Zappos. For a finishing touch I wore golden stud earrings, which I bought last year from Forever 21, to match the golden yellow of the rockets in the print.

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and Bolero in Sci Fi Rockets print- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and Bolero in Sci Fi Rockets print- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and Bolero in Sci Fi Rockets print- Side View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and Bolero in Sci Fi Rockets print- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and Bolero in Sci Fi Rockets print- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and Bolero in Sci Fi Rockets print- Side View

Golden studs and Trashy Diva Sci Fi bolero- Close Up

Outfit of the Day (Sunday): 

On Sunday, continuing along with the 4th of July theme, I decided to wear my Trashy Diva Trixie dress in red gingham. I paired this with a red cardigan which I got several years ago from Nordstrom Rack and red Ecco flats which I got from ebay last year. For a finishing touch I paired this with a fun banana themed straw purse which I got also from ebay a couple weeks ago.

Trashy Diva Trixie dress in Red Gingham- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress in Red Gingham- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress in Red Gingham- Side View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress in Red Gingham- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress in Red Gingham- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress in Red Gingham- Side View

Outfit of the Day (Monday, 4th of July):

On 4th of July I had my heart set on wearing my Stop Staring Sailor swing dress (A.K.A. the Luxury Craft dress) which I got from Modcloth a couple years ago. It just so happened to work out perfectly for the float we ended up being on for the 4th of July parade that day! To add extra touches of 4th of July to this outfit I paired it with my red Ecco flats, red floral stud earrings I got from Forever 21 a couple years ago, a red bracelet my step mom gave me a few weeks ago, and a red vintage purse I got from Etsy several years ago.

Stop Staring Sailor Swing dress- Front View

Stop Staring Sailor Swing dress- Front View

Stop Staring Sailor Swing dress- Front View

Stop Staring Sailor Swing dress and accessories- Close Up

Stop Staring Sailor Swing dress and Forever 21 earrings- Close Up

Did you do anything to celebrate 4th of July? Did you end up dressing in theme this year?

Outfit of the Day: Silicon Valley Comic Con

I've never been to San Diego but I'm glad that Comic Con finally made it up to the Bay Area! 

I've been going to comic cons ever since my dad first took me to my first one so many years ago either when I was in middle school or high school. It wasn't the big one, the San Diego Comic Con, but instead a smaller one called Wondercon... It didn't matter much to me though. It was all ours and that was all that I cared about. But then, mysteriously, in 2011 Wondercon packed up and moved down south to Anaheim. They said they would be back but they never did come back. So last year when Steve Wozniak announce he was going to start another comic convention in our area, Silicon Valley Comic Con, my husband and I marked our calendars and counted down the days! I'm so happy there's a comic con in our area again. And while they have a few kinks to work out before the next one (not completely unexpected I suppose since this was only the first year they've had it) I'm definitely looking forward to going again, making it again an annual tradition.

"Mommy and Me" pictures taken with C.C. Cookie before leaving for Comic Con

C.C. Cookie and I in our comic themed best dresses!

With R2D2 at Silicon Valley Comic Con

At the end of the day in front of the Convention Center at Silicon Valley Comic Con

Outfit of the Day: 

I knew I had been saving this dress for just the perfect occasion! I decided the Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets dress would be the perfect dress for the first ever Silicon Valley Comic Con, as I knew Silicon Valley Comic Con would also be the perfect place to wear my Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets dress for the first time ever! This is a two piece ensemble... the Trixie dress and a bolero. I paired this with red Ecco flats I got earlier last year on ebay. For a finishing touch I also paired this with a pair of golden ball stud earrings to go with the golden yellow rockets in the print. I have a lot of fun memories from this day and love that this dress will always be associated with Silicon Valley Comic Con's first convention in my mind.

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and bolero in Sci Fi Rockets- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and bolero in Sci Fi Rockets- Front View

Trashy Diva Trixie dress and bolero in Sci Fi Rockets- Side View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me: My Sci-Fi Rockets' Missing Piece

I am so happy to announce I completed my sewing goal for 2014!

At the beginning of the year when I vowed to get back into sewing I made the goal to myself that I was going to aim to make four dresses this year. I started out strong with one dress completed in February but then really started slacking the rest of the year. Now, with almost three months of the year left to spare I finished my fourth dress!

For this dress I used Vogue pattern 8974 from their "vintage Vogue" collection. Since this was my first time using a Vogue pattern I wasn't sure how the sizing would be so I opted to sew the pattern one size bigger than my usual sewing size. After sewing though, I found the dress was too big so made alternations to make it smaller. Because of the alternations on it, the dress came out less than perfect especially at the back of the bodice. Additionally, I modified the pattern by using a side zip instead of snaps along the side of this dress. Another note on this pattern, I found that the length of this dress came out so much longer than the retro Butterick patterns. I ended up heming the skirt down by a good 5-6 inches!

Overall I'm very happy with the way this dress turned out!

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974- Front View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974- Front View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974- Side View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974- Back View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974- Close Up

I chose this dress pattern with the intention of making a dress which would match well with a Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets Bolero. I bought this bolero during one of their sales. I was sad I missed out on their Sci Fi Rockets dresses and was happy I at least didn't miss out on this print completely. But while I loved the bolero the first moment I tried it on, I had the problem then of what to wear with it. Perhaps it would make a cute top with high waisted capris? Perhaps it still will but I'm happy I now have a dress to wear with this beautiful bolero!

For this dress I used a dark, though not quite navy blue color, trying to match it up as best I could with the blue on the bolero. To match the style of the bolero I used cover buttons where the shoulder straps meet the bodice to mimic the covered buttons on the bolero. I finished up with a cute blue vintage belt buckle I found on Etsy.

When I first saw this pattern I knew it would be the perfect dress to go with this bolero! I love how the geometric angles at the bodice of the dress compliments the over-sized geometric collar of the bolero. I feel that the whole cut of this dress is very complimentary to the cut and pattern of the Trashy Diva Sci Fi bolero! The sharp angles on the dress, both at the front of the bodice and the crossing straps in the back, go perfectly with the sharp angles on the bolero and all the sharp angles in the Sci-Fi Rockets print itself!

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974 with Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets Bolero- Close Up

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974 with Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets Bolero- Front View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974 with Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets Bolero- Front View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974 with Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets Bolero- Front View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974 with Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets Bolero- Front View

Fourth Dress Of The Year Made By Me, Vogue 8974 with Trashy Diva Sci Fi Rockets Bolero- Side View

Vogue 8974