Weekly Etsy Finds: Summer Loving

It's summer vacation for students, teachers, and professors alike.  And whether you are going to the beach, backpacking across Europe, Taking an exciting trip to Panama, or just visiting your neighborhood pool, I am sure these Etsy finds will be great in your summer collection.

1. Cashmere Silk Shaw
by Sanchia845
$125 {+shipping}
Destination: Paris, France

It may be summertime, but a shaw can always come in handy.  I use one on plane rides.  It sits in my bag or around my neck if the airport is cold.  When on the plane, I can use it as a blanket or a pillow.  It also works well as a sun blocker on the beach or a stylish accent when in Europe.

2. Handmade Straw Fedora
by Jennfunk
$70 {+shipping}
Destination: South Africa

This is another thing I always have with me on a plane trip.  It is a stylish way to have unruly hair.  When at your destination, it is good to keep the sun from your eyes and avoid drastic sunburns.  I love this one especially because of its detailed band.  Jason Mraz would approve.

3. Upcycled Vintage Blue Suitcase
by Zaq'sVintageandDesign
$70 {+shipping}
Destination: Darjeeling Limited {not really a destination, but you know...}

This vintage suitcase is good because it has hard sides, making it easy to organize and keep it that way.  I love the color and it would fit very well on a train's tiny spaces.

4. Compact Travel Cribbage
by barkupatree
$59.95
Destination: Family Road Trip to Family Reunion

Every year since we moved to Florida, my family packed up the car and drove 12 hours to a lake in Alabama to spend a long weekend with our large extended family.  This weekend involves lots of card games, food, swimming, etc.  We usually spent the trip on the road brushing up on our card playing and eating boiled peanuts.  This would have been a perfect game for the road.

5. Vintage Inspired Marilyn Swimsuit
by ladramaqueen
$110
Destination: Cannes, France

One pieces, I think, are the best to have at beaches because you don't have to worry.  This one is absolutly beautiful and I would feel like I was Grace Kelly in To Catch a Theif.  One pieces are an must when going to the beach.

6. Vintage Wheat Ruffle Dress
by Allen Company Inc
$38 {+shipping}
Destination: Rome, Italy

This dress, which is one of a kind, would make a nice dress to have in a girl's suitcase.  She can throw it on and run out the door and still feel stylish.  Though it seems like a city dress {Italy, you know, gelatos and Vespas}, it would also make a very nice swimsuit coverup or a plane ride dress.

7. All Natural Milk and Honey Soap
by LilyBaySoap
$4.25 {+shipping}
Destination: Melbourne Beach, Florida

Something about this soap, the look of it maybe, makes me smell the beach: sand in my hair, sunscreen running down my arms, salt in my ears, everything.  It makes me want to take a nice, cool shower.

8. Overboard Necklace
by JMundoDesigns
$50 {plus shipping}
Destination: Ocean City, Maryland

There is something very nautical about Maryland, just like this necklace.  Everyone needs at least one piece of jewelry on her vacation.  Having a necklace that could be both dressy and delicate or go well with a sundress is a travel must.

9. Wooden Pinhole Camera
by Jaesong
$95 {+shipping}
Destination: Prembrokeshire, Wales

Sure, a digital camera is great for recording your vacation, but there is also an art to something a bit different.   The beach in Wales would be a great place to get this baby rolling.

10. My Favorite: Stockholm II
by IkaBags
$27 {+shipping}
Destination: Old Orchard Beach, Maine





A smaller bag that could be used as both a carry on or for a day at the beach.  It is beautifully made and is my favorite out of this compilation.  This kind of tote is a necessity for a beach or lake vacation.


Note: I do not own these images.  They belong to the sellers on Etsy.  Some of the images, I edited the color slightly to fit my aesthetic on the blog.  Please look a the source for the colors and maybe to even buy {I spend a lot of time on these lists for you not buy!  haha}


Cheers!
Abbie

Happy Weekend: Learn Some History

{This photo is by dandelion on flickr.}

Take a moment to learn something new this weekend.

Here's where to start:

Learn an interesting historical fact about your town.

Go to that museum that you have been meaning to visit.

Take a trip with all of your friends to an historically relivent restaurant and read the back of the menu.

Learn how to do the Charleston

Visit a place that has some childhood meaning to you.

There it is, the challenge.

Now DO IT!

Cheers!

Abbie

Confession #2: My biggest insecurity is my neck

{This is from unravelling susanna's photostream on flickr.  beautiful isn't it?}

I promised I would keep up this confessinal and have decided to try to do it for 52 weeks straight.

I have a super long neck.  Like really long.  And sometimes I like having it.  It is especially conenient for head on shoulder sessions.  But sometimes I don't like having it.  Sometimes I wish my neck were just like everyone else's.

But maybe I just need to remind myself that having a long neck is great for ballet {at least, that is what my ballet teacher would say all the time}.

What makes you self-conscience?

Cheers!
Abbie

ps I used to want to be a rockette but I am too tall {their height limit I think is 5'9'' and I am probably 6 feet.}

Happy Birthday, Katherine Hepburn

She'd be 102 {died at age 96}!

She was esquisite in "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" which she filmed when she was older.  My first Hepburn film was "African Queen".

What was your first Katherine Hepburn movie?


Cheers!
Abbie

Confession #1: I love harmonicas and any other good pickin' fun

{This is from TJ Scott on Flickr}

Reading through my blog, I noticed something: there is only a part of myself written up on here.  There are other parts of me that really make me...me.  So I thought of something.  As a new practice with myself in life, I have decided to notice things about myself and write them down.  So each week I will share something new about myself on this blog that none of you guys know about me.  Some of these should come as a surprise.


This week?
I love harmonias.  In fact, it is probably my favorite instument.  It's not the saxophone, as I have led most of you to believe because a) that is the instrument I play and b) it's jazz!  The reason the saxophone is not as cool as the harmonica is because you can't just stick it in your pocket and rip it out when you feel like jammin out.  You can do that with a harmonica.

Jazz is great and I LOVE to dance to it, but really, the back porch rhythms is my heart.  I can drive to the for longs period of time.  Just through in an accordian, a banjo, and bass, and a few washboards and you can steal my heart {kidding.}

You all know that I love Bob Dylan {who doesn't?}.  Why?  Because of his harmonica.

I can't help it I'm a sucker for those things.


Abbie

ps: I want your confession as well.  It can be anything.  Interesting.  Uninteresting.  Funny.  Sad.  It doesn't matter.