Myself, wearing a black cowboy hat, black Mexican Tourist jacket with green design, white peasant top, blue jeans, standing in front of the mission.

Retracing Zorro’s Escapades at Mission San Luis Rey

January 25, 2023, 2 Comments

Before we get going, I want to say that it is important to remember that the California missions have complicated histories. For some, they were and remain a place of peace, with memories of weddings and other life events, however, they also have a history of violence, slavery, and forced religious conversion, which aided in the…

3 Kings Day Potluck

January 10, 2017, 2 Comments

Over the weekend some friends and I had a potluck. We used El Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day – a day that many of Hispanic heritage within our group actually celebrate) as an excuse for a belated holiday get-together, with a Rosca de Reyes and other festive Christmas and Mexican decor and food.…

Mexican Tourist Shoes!

March 30, 2016, 3 Comments

For their Spring/Summer Collection, one of my favorite shoe brands, Miss L Fire, came out with a pair of shoes inspired by one of my favorite vintage garments, the Mexican tourist jacket (which some of you know I collect these, with a current tally of 18, with no two alike), and for the first time ever, I actually…

Up With Downey

October 4, 2015, 4 Comments

Last night Patrick and I tracked down our folding chairs, as they had not been out since our move, and trundled up I-5 to my dad’s old stomping ground of Downey. One of the iconic suburbs of Los Angeles, Downey is lush with Googie architecture and neon as well as rich with unique American history…

Cultivating the Magic

January 13, 2015, 4 Comments

Over the weekend Patrick and I took what is perhaps the most unique tour that is offered at Disneyland, the Cultivating the Magic tour. This tour highlights the vast and unique vegetation found throughout Disneyland. The Park’s history and seasonal changes were showcased as our tour guide took us throughout the park, describing the extensive work that a large team…

California Christmas

December 21, 2014, 5 Comments

Over the weekend Patrick and I did a bit of last minute Christmas shopping. We’ve been super busy lately and while getting dressed up to go shopping is always appealing, we were rushing around so I opted for a more casual, but still festive look. So here’s a somewhat random fact about me, I love…

The Huntington

November 5, 2014, 8 Comments

In December of 2005 I visited the Huntington Library with my dad for the first time, and I have never forgotten it. It’s been a place I’ve wanted to re-visit for ages, and when I found out that Patrick had never been, we made it one of our top priorities in our list of day…

Buffalo Tour

May 2, 2014, 16 Comments

It’s no secret that a good chunk of my wardrobe comes from Buffalo Exchange, the resale chain, as I spent a great deal of time there due to proximity. So when I heard about an upcoming anniversary sale with a focus on western and vintage, I kind of freaked out. Their twice yearly ‘zine upped…

Vancouver Swag

November 17, 2013, 12 Comments

Patrick had a conference in Vancouver, British Columbia the last few days, and I tagged along since I’d never been to Canada, plus I have a friend in Vancouver that I was looking forward to seeing again. We took the train up, and on our way there, I was Instagram’ing, and had a gal mention…

Summer Days

August 24, 2013, 15 Comments

For the first time in years I am actually lamenting a bit the coming of autumn. My e-mail, Instagram, and Twitter have been filling up with fall fashion tips, previews of sweaters that are coming into local vintage shops, and comments by those eagerly awaiting the cooler weather. Over the last few months I have…