More Changes

Listings are FINALLY going up form my trip. Last week I added a bunch of cute summery hawaiian dresses and a few matchy summer pieces including this gorgeous Lilli Ann suit..and all the while my hubs has been working hard converting the basement into a shmancy new photo space for me. That guy has been working non stop pretty much since we got back from our vaca. Building a new fence, tearing out the old paneling and putting up new drywall and today he is prepping it to be painted...which he wants to do today! So I thought I would share more pictures of whats going on..and a few of the new photo space. My hubs hung up the background so I could see it.

Ok this is a before shot my hubs took..if you'll remember from my last post, this is where all my clothes and housewares were.

This is it all cleared out

And this is the space now..

That gray is the new color for the shop, I let my hubs pick it because all those color choices are way too overwhelming! There are at least 50 shades of gray (buh dum ching) so he picked out this one, he calls it "grade school paper gray" and it really does look like that non-white paper you get in grade school with the huge lines for when you first learn how to write cursive.

I could'nt resist taking some test shots with the little man, I still haven't put the lights up so this is just with the "daylight" bulbs overhead.

more pics can be found on my facebook page.

Oh and I got some pics of my organized inventory area too.

 I still have some organizing to do..but at least the big rack is done. Next is accessories.

haha, you can really see the daylight bulbs in action with this shot..and also how unfinished the rest of the basement is..LOL

Next on the list is carpet removal...well actually the carpet in that section is already up and cleaned up..hubs did that yesterday. Anyone who has that photo paper knows that carpet and trying to walk on it..don't mix..so we're looking for some cheap linoleum..maybe at a discount contracting place or something like that..or we'll just paint the floor..either way it'll be photo-ready by the end of the weekend and I'll have to start re shooting the shop..ugh. I need a week off of my other job to work on this job, i swear..but no rest for the wicked so I have to keep going until I can't go no more. haha.

Big Changes!

If you haven't noticed its been very quiet around here. Well we've been making HUGE changes. If you didn't notice the new name on the banner, we've changed to reflect the new direction of the shop. Bombshell Bettie's is now Bombshells and Babes Vintage. I just feel like its time to grow up a little bit. Corbin is really the inspiration to get things going and my husband, he asked me if I was "over it" or if I wanted to make a career out of it and I really thought hard. Do I want to try to sell vintage for the next part of my life? Or do I want to get one of those "career" things where I sit in an office all day. Well been there, doing that in the office. Its really not up my alley. Its not even that I want to be my own boss. I just want to love what I do and I LOVE finding and selling vintage. I want to be an inspiration for my son, I want to be successful for him but even if I fail miserably at least I tried, right?

I'm really excited. We're getting everything together and by next year we're hoping to be a real business and then in a few years hopefully a real brick and mortar shop. Probably not in Spokane, but wherever my husband's work takes him. I mean, everyone needs an IT guy so we'll probably have a lot of options. I also purchased bombshellsandbabes.com. It currently re-directs to my etsy shop but soon we'll have a link to the blog and the shop and maybe a couple of other things. I don't think I'm going to make it into an online shop. It just seems redundant to me to sell on my site and on etsy..and eventually in a shop too seems like a lot of juggling to me.

Also I've been stocking up the shop. Last weekend I went to Oregon to visit my dad (or so he could visit with Corbin, you know how grandparents are..lol) and we went to the Highland Games, I'll post on that later. Well I did manage to stop by a couple places and pick up a good amount of inventory and while I was away it appears that my local shops were stocking up their vintage too, I've been photographing non stop since we got back..well..what Corbin will allow each day before he gets too fussy or I have to go to work. I got a lot done on Saturday and a few done yesterday but we were finishing up the fence so I didn't have too much time to get things done. I still have more woman's clothes and all the children's clothes to photograph and ties..ties ties ties ties ties. There are SO many mid century and designer ties. If i bought them all I could have my own tie shop..seriously..ties are a big deal around here.

We also gave my inventory space a makeover!

 here  it is before, in the main room. The light was burnt out and there really wasn't enough space

 more inventory and decor and jewelry in back.

i kept i in two places, coats and sweaters in here because there wasn't enough room

 this is the other side of the room.. formerly the geek cave

 ..now inventory heaven! (even a place for my crinolines!)

 room for everything and then some. Its been organized by color/season since these pics.

And where the inventory was, will now become the photography space with lights and everything. Its going to look like a proper grown-up shop!

So yes, busy busy bees over here. Soon the whole look of the shop will change and you'll get to see all that new inventory. None of these photos have the new inventory. Its still upstairs being photographed and needs to be measured. There are some really cool pieces in there. Several as-is pieces that will be just $10! Plus the COOLEST 60s/70s Sailor jumpsuit!

I just had to share it, I think its my favorite piece. I also have 2 Lilli Ann suits coming a 50s knit sweater and skirt set, several 50s dresses, 60s mini's and SO MUCH MORE. Seriously..there is a lot. Plus all the kid's clothes. Feeling slightly overwhelmed thinking about it but my hubs has also stepped up and is helping me too. Its so so so appreciated. He is really excited and is really pushing me to get things off the ground. We've even employeed his mom to do all my back repairs..which I am beyond stoked for. Some of them (and I hate to admit it) have been in the repair section for over 3 years. 

Now the ball is rolling...eeeep! Bombshells and Babes Vintage.

Easy BBQ "Salad"

Just about every family gathering i've gone to since as long as I can remember we've always brought "salads". You know, pistachio salad or broccoli salad or berry salad. My mom has always been the "queen" of salads in our family..well I love pistachio salad, my mom would always make a huge bowl of it and while trying to figure out what I was going to bring to thanksgiving I made my own take on the pistachio salad and its my go-to salad now. I make it for every gathering, heck. I made it today. Its my "signature" and i am expected to bring it and its so yummy and EASY I don't mind at all!

What you'll need:

1 (3.5 oz) box coconut cream jello

2 (11 oz) cans of mandarin oranges

1 (8 oz) container of whipped topping

1/2 bag (8 oz) mini marshmallows

All you have to do..

 pour jello mix into your favorite container

 add 1 can (with syrup) and 1 can (with syrup drained) to jello

 mix & chop the oranges into chunks

 add half the whipped topping and mix and mix and mix

then add the rest, (adding it in stages is easier and makes less mess...trust me)

 then add about half a bag of mini marshmallows

and mix..

done..

yeah, that's it...it takes about 5 minutes. 

This much serves at least 6-8 people, I like to chill it for at least an hour or 2 before serving so the marshmallows get plump and soft. Its quick and cheap and everyone loves it. Like I said, I made it today for my hubs' bday bbq and I thought you all might want to try it.

Nearly Done Nursery

 I am so much in love with my little baby boy. Its taking a little while to get back in to the swing of things. We did take our first trip to the thrift store today, he wasn't very happy he cried most of the time. He just wanted to eat and be held so it was a short trip. But I did manage to find more designer ties, a 70s cowichan cardigan and a few little girl's dresses. We also FINALLY got the nursery finished...well, mostly finished. There are still a few things to finish and a few more pieces to get for the room but I think it came together pretty well.

 Here is my little man, just out of the bath and in his room for the first (extended period of) time

 view from the hallway, you can see his swing a gift from grandma, the rocking horse and some of the blankets we've received hanging on the crib.

 Thrifted artwork with painted frames and tons of clothes (his on top, shop on bottom)

 We got lots of balloons at the showers, I'm not quite sure what to do with them so they just kind of hang out in his room right now. You can see his dresser, the red baskets are his toys, frames on top, rattles, stuffed animals and larger toys in the bottom drawer. I want to upgrade to something like this, this or maybe this..we also put in the little boat coat rack at "kid height" and his tummy time mat was a gift from his great grandma.

 The top of the dresser is kind of a mess right now filled with some fun thrifted items, a piggy bank, some books and a picture of daddy as a baby that I'm going to put in one of these frames.

 I love his crib, for now the mannequins still live in his room...probably until he starts crawling or until we have the extra cash to get some lights for the basement.

 My favorite part of his room is his ship. We found this locally at a second hand shop, its awesome and huge, I paired it with some seagulls I thrifted over the years, I'm going to paint them all realistic seagull colors..eventually.

On the end of his crib hang my baby blanket (white) and a gorgeous blanket a co-worker crocheted for the little man, the color is stunning. I should've got a better picture of it... so yeah, that's his nursery. I still have his pom's to put up over his dresser but we're pretty close to being done. I think it turned out really cute.

My next post will be for all those new moms out there, what I couldn't live without (so far).

Decor Inspiration

I've done my very best to stay away from pintrest because I know its going to be a time-suck...but it IS full of lots of lovely and inspiring things, especially when you're trying to redecorate your home. I love my family photos but I am sick of how they are being displayed right now tons of pictures in 1 plain, boring black frame. I've got 4 of the darn things and I just really want something different. I love the idea of a gallery wall...but I dont want it to be organized or match I want pure chaos, tons of different frames, maybe a few different colors, lots of texture and as many photos as I can fit!

Here are some of my inspiration photos from pinterest and the web.

I really like the bold mix of art, photos, frame sizes..so much to look at, very interesting! 

 Baylor Says

Ok, this is probably a bit much for me...but this is the FEEL i'm going for.

 Shelter Interior Design (blog)

I noticed a lot of the "how-to" for gallery walls have fun things added like letters and unique decor pieces..I love these birdcage frames.

 I have tried to track down these birdcage mirrors, i found them on pinterest and tumblr but no one seems to have an origin link. So please, if you know where this image is from or where you can find these birdcages let me know so I can get this linked correctly.

 This is exactly what I want, lots of photos, different frames and sizes and that little chalkboard in there is precious!

 our fifth house (blog), found via pinterest, they didn't link the original post and I couldn't find it..sorry.

 love the mix of vintage photography and art prints..i may have to try some of that too

 design hole online

this is probably what my hubs would like to have..still organized but random..that may be part of his OCD..hehe

 Martha Stewart via The Creative Mama

This is so fun! I love this..i love everything about it.

 design hole online

lots of purdy frames found here, i can also see some old family photos..we dont have any of those but that would be fun to add to a collection.

 design your interiors

I like how different everything is on this wall...but i don't like how it goes all the way to the ceiling..but not the floor..

apartment therapy

here is one I'd want to add to my wall, I wonder if you can get it in custom colors... 

ashleyg

since the gallery wall will be right to the right when you walk in the front door it would be fun to greet people as they look at the photos, maybe with a "hello" sign.

williamdohman

Next stop is the thrift store to find interesting frames to paint, I want to do black, white and gold. Wish me luck!

Feels Like New

My hubs and I have been working pretty much non-stop for the past 2 weeks to get the house ready for baby. We wanted of course to give the babe's room a new look but we also did the living room and are working on the bathroom as well. Its been utter chaos around here trying to get everything done and then trying to clean up after everything we've done so far. So here is what we've been up to, we're obviously not finished..but its feeling and looking a lot more grown up around here.

 First we went and picked out paint colors, most people spend months pondering what paint colors to get...we literally took about 5 minutes.

 next we prepped the nursery for paint

 and got to it..you can see the original "blue" up top on this pic.

 here is the room all "finished' paint drying

 the next morning we started on the living/dining room in the most amazing tropical green color

 it matches kitty's eyes...and our stupid orange couch. Its quite a challenge when you've got such a big mix of random furniture and decor to find something to tie it all together and i think this green is perfect!

 we went out later that night for trim for the baby's room. I was originally going to stencil on some "rope" details but we found this rope trim so we used that instead.

 since we're eventually going to get a new tv that will be mounted above the fire place we decided to take down the mirror and look what we found! The original soft pink with gold details and a power outlet..what luck! My guess is that the mirror must have been put up in the late 60s since we know that the house was also painted a tealy blue, avocado green and white after that.

We've spent the better part of the last week trying to clean up the mess and re decorate for the new living room set up. Pictured below are my favorite mid-century curtains, the inspiration for the green. They're all the colors I love.

 I also played a little bit with stenciling on the dresser...obviously I'm not very good at it..so I'm REALLY glad we went with the trim instead of painting the rope detail on.

 We've still got lots of finishing touches to do in the baby's room and living room. Once we get all the furniture in we're going to decide where to hang everything on the walls, including this adorable boat..

 and this mirror my mom bought in vegas. (oh do you like the new switch cover? i painted it to match the room)

 we just barely touched on the bathroom, we got a new light fixture

 and new vanity, I really wish that I had a picture of the previous sink..it was a mess to say the least. In total the bathroom has cost about $50 so far...not too shabby I think.

 we've also got the pack and play set up in our bedroom.

and..this totally got me, my hubs put up the zombie mobile (from salty and sweet) above the sleeper...so flipping cute I could hardly stand it.

We're getting there, one step at a time. Closer and closer to baby-time. Now under 8 weeks away.