vintage style

Side of the car wash, with a blue banner featuring a yellow Dale car and text reading "Manager's Special Free Wash Tell 'Em Liz Sent You."

Stepping Back in Time at the Lady and the Dale Car Wash

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Back in the mid-1970s America was facing an oil crisis, and one woman, Liz Carmichael, stepped up claiming she had the answer – the Dale, a three-wheeled car that got 70 miles to the gallon. But was it all it was cracked up to be? Some didn’t think so, and eventually Liz found herself in…

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Sitting on a blanket in front of my orange tree, wearing a white sweater, with two orange brooches, and a skirt featuring various California landmarks, while reading.

California Dreamin’ is Becomin’ a Reality

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Since moving to California I had dreamed of having my very own orange tree. I imagined the joy of stepping outside, plucking an orange off the tree for fresh orange juice in the morning or for an afternoon snack. When we moved into our house a little over three years ago I hemmed and hawed…

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Massive trees edge a street and are decorated multi-colored lights.

A Drive Down the 100 Year Old Christmas Tree Lane

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Amid this pandemic, there is a strong need for fun, while of course staying safe. And with the Christmas season, I’m even more thankful for festive holiday lights, including Christmas Tree Lane, an LA area tradition that just turned 100, laying claim to the “oldest large scale outdoor Christmas display in the world.” Normally, Christmas…

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Myself wearing a black top that features an open skirt, with black cigarette pants underneath. A white blouse peeks out at the top and a large orange bow with a print of black cats is worn at the neck.

Anaheim Halloween Parade – Drive Thru Style

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I’m lucky enough to live in a town that has a Halloween parade every year. Under normal circumstances, there is a fall festival during the day before the parade starts. The festival is full of games, artists selling their unique works, and live music. Then as the sun sets the parade, with its collection of…

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Myself wearing a straw cowboy hat, black mock turtle neck, olive capris and white pointed flats.

Screen Style: Janet from Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood

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Early on during the COVID-19 quarantine, I asked for blog post ideas, and someone suggested that I write about how we were coping with the whole situation. Well, one way I’m coping is watching Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood repeatedly. Like, I’m not joking. I’ve watched at least six times in the last five months.…

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Myself, sitting inside the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, wearing a long, red dress with a small floral pattern, with lace trim at the laced V-neckline, and cuffs. A red "D" brooch edged in white is worn on my left shoulder, my hair in a Gibson Girl updo.

Valentine’s Day Lunch on Main Street

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Over the years I’ve mentioned that I’m not the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day. But it’s slowly grown on me. However Patrick and I have never do anything big, and don’t exchange gifts. Since moving to California, I’ve used Valentine’s Day as an excuse to wear something red and/or pink, maybe with hearts, and go…

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Myself seated in front of the faux orange stand.

Tracing California’s Orange Roots at the Citrus State Historic Park

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The orange is one of the most iconic things about California. Southern California’s climate makes it a perfect place to grow citrus, and thanks to advances in irrigation, processing, transportation, and the addition of the Washington navel orange, California’s citrus industry boomed in the late 1800s, as oranges and their citrus cousins made for California’s…

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