Sunny Side Up

Happy Friday, peeps!
Something about yellow right now feels so good! I must've been tuned into some Spanish sunshine yesterday-  I pulled on a thrifted yellow cable knit sweater and took some pics- how happy is that? Life, lately, has been BLOOMING MADLY- and I am so grateful, and I have many of you all to thank.

Pulp Fiction: Inspired Cover Art

Perhaps I've been on Netflix and Hulu a bit too much as of late- watching old film noir flicks. But my recent photos and listing my collection of 1950s whimsies and hats, with a little tweaking could easily make some great pulp fiction covers, don't you think?

Shop: The Bridal Sweet

I've been listing some of the sweetest vintage hats and toppers over on Etsy, lately. My favorites are the collection of 1950s and 1960s bridal whimsies and hats. One of my personal favorites: this gorgeous bridal white silk lilies fascinator, as shown above. But there are several lovely headpieces that have caught my spinster eye.

Buzz it Up! The BEST of Ballard Vintage

Aside from the boyfriend, and my mamacita, two things that I love most in this world are arguably, coffee and vintage. So imagine my pleasure whenever I get an opportunity to experience both at the same time; which is what I got to do recently, when I hosted a coffee meet + greet with some of the best vintage sellers from my favorite Seattle neighborhood: Ballard.

Coffee Talk: The BEST Vintage Sellers in Ballard get BUZZED UP over a cup of Gevalia Coffee

Ballard is a charming and quirky neighborhood, full of great shopping gems, including a grand assortment of vintage clothing shops. The best vintage in Ballard however, are without question, the Trove, Lemon Drop Boutique, and Beats and Bohos.

Magazine Dreams: +40 Fabulous

Early last year I created a bunch of mock-up  magazine covers for a dream of mine- to make a magazine full of style and substance, featuring my favorite bloggers and telling their stories. I hope some day to make this a reality. 

Junebug

For those that want a little extra incentive to shop the shop- here's a coupon code for you!
Use coupon code JUNEBUG at checkout and take $10 off your purchase of $40 or more. 

citizens-of-rosebud.com

Offer good until June 30, 2013

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99% Thrifted. 100% Visible

The sunglasses are the only items I'm wearing that weren't thrifted. The bandana and the necklace are thrift-shopped items that have been in my closet for YEARS. The top- a recent score from the local Value Village was something I picked up to re-sell, and well, I've been wearing ever since. I love it, and even though it's a bit, uh roomy for me, I'm going to hang onto it a while longer. Like I've said before, it reminds me of Vix, Misfit Sarah, and Helga, so all it does is make me happy!

Do you know what also makes me happy? YOU. 

SECONDHAND FIRST: Pink Cheetah Vintage

Meet Becky, the gorgeous face behind the Pink Cheetah Vintage. She sells online, and in her hometown of Tampa, Florida. Pink Cheetah Vintage specializes in affordable, fun and funky vintage. When you SHOP SECONDHAND FIRST, and choose to support sellers like Becky, you make a big difference. Small business success is the backbone to the American Dream. And dreams DO come true!

THE CITIZEN: How long have you been selling vintage?

PINK CHEETAH VINTAGE: I've been selling vintage for about 2 years now, but I've been wearing it since I was a teen. I had been a server in bars and restaurants forever and after I graduated college I thought hard about my dream job.  I had two:  one was running a vintage shop.

THE CITIZEN: Where do you sell it?

PINK CHEETAH VINTAGE:I have an online store and I also have a consignment booth in Tampa, Florida.

THE CITIZEN: What's your fashion motto?
PINK CHEETAH VINTAGE: Pretty is just too limiting.

Product Review: Clever Grasswalkers

Ok, I'm impressed. Have you heard of Grasswalkers? It's a plastic thingy you put on the bottom of your heels to prevent you from sinking down in the grass whenever you're traipsing all across a lawn. Like when you're at an outdoor wedding. I say this, because it's June and I'm imaging a few of those wedding invites are scheduled for soon. 

I got a pair recently- you know what? This novelty item is a pretty good idea. The packaging is thin, and easy to keep in your purse until needed. You stick 'em on the bottom on those shoes and you won't have to deal with the sinking feeling you get when your $200 stilettos sink up to their necks in a muddy lawn.  Grasswalkers transparent strips adhere to the bottom, without causing any damage, creating a sturdy, yet practically invisible guard that will keep your heels from sinking into the grass.They've got a nice website that explains in full detail just what Grasswalkers do, and how invaluable their $8.99 item is to you and your fancy wedding appropriate shoes. 

Disclosure: I was given a sample of Grasswalks, in order to write this review. No other compensation was given. The opinion is entirely my own.

The Color of Summer: Shoe Shine

Summer means tan legs, brown legs, white legs, and white shoes. It's also black shoes, clear shoes, blue suede shoes and the rainbow gamut. Warm weather. Cool weather, no matter. It's summer. And it's your time to shine!

What shoes are you wearing?

Window Shopping: Plead the Fifth

Disclosure: This is a paid post courtesy of BlogDash, a blogger outreach network. BlogDash represents brand clients and connects them to bloggers. I was selected as a content provider, and personally chose the brand and the subject. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

PLEAD THE FIFTH. When it comes to guilty pleasures, I'm going to plead the Fifth. Mum on what makes my heart go tick-tick-tick, especially when I do some window shopping at Saks.  As in Saks Fifth Avenue, famous for their window displays and amazing designer goods. Gah, my mouth's watering already. I'm not going to pretend I shop there all the time, since you all know I took the pledge to SHOP SECONDHAND FIRST, and I'm not sure my budget allows indulgences such as what I am about to show you.

But trust me, my angels,  how I'd LOVE to do a little major shop-shop, and come home with some of these tasty temptations. Wouldn't you?

THOU SHALL NOT WANT. But. I. Want. These riveting studded sandals by Christian Louboutin have got my attention. What is it about that guy that makes me want to rob a bank and bankroll my shoe collection? Look at these, get on your knees and pray for miracles!

20 on +40: Clothes, Cameras vs The Beret ROUND DEUX

Note:  To showcase the wide appeal of +40 bloggers that goes beyond their own age-group, I'm starting a new blog  feature, the 20 on +40. This feature will showcase 20 other friends in the community who pick their favorite +40 blogger, and interview them.  This is part two of the second of this series. You can read part one by clicking HERE.   

The Luminaries: Roz and Mel Both Light Up the Bloggersphere with Substance and Style

Canadian beauty, +40 style blogger Melanie is an artist from Vancouver. Her personal style blog, A Bag and A Beret hit the ground running last year, and her voice, style and face made powerful impressions on anyone ever visiting her blog. Thoughtful, introspective explorations of style ala Cindy Sherman and Mel's artistic flourishes of dress hang seamlessly with her nearly model good looks. It's a powerhouse style impact: bold dressing on her lithe figure, and that unforgetting piercing blue stare. 

Decades apart, and across the Atlantic resides a certain Roz Jana, a 17 year old  fashion wunderkind, who already has been peeped at from around the world on a slew of street style blogs. This teenager  has written expertly on the subject of fashion for the likes of Oxfam, The Guardian and British Vogue.  Like Mel,  her leggy figure and gorgeous face could easily be confused for that of an off-duty model, but Rosalind's interests seem to lie elsewhere.  As good as she looks in front of the camera (you can see how good on her blog, Clothes, Cameras and Coffee) it seems apparent that Roz would rather be behind it, or at least behind a  good typewriter, clacking out in resounding Querty beat, her thoughts on fashion, feminism, and  taking a poetical turn at her arts + letters. Clearly, these two are kindred spirits.

So it came as little surprise, when I asked Roz to interview her favorite +40 blogger for this series, that Roz picked Mel in a heartbeat. What did surprise, however, was how well they meshed- there was never a sparring tone, but instead both expressed of fun sense of play and use of the imagination.

Melanie:  What, if anything, would you like to change about people's perceptions of you?

Big SALE This Weekend at Atlas- 50% OFF Citizen Picks!

Sometimes, you've got to know when to fold 'em. 

As much as I have dreamed of having my own physical space to sell my  fresh picked vintage, and as happy as I was a few months ago, to rent a small space at Atlas, unfortunately, it hasn't been working out.  Whispery soft store traffic,  poor sales, and pervasive in-store perspective that  Atlas sellers are rivals, rather than comrades-in-arms,  have made this airy Fremont space, a place where "blooming madly," seems next to impossible. Thankfully, the Etsy shop and online sales have been booming! 

So while I wished it could have worked out, the reality is that to be successful  in business, when you're losing money, you go elsewhere. So I'm moving out at the end of the month. Meanwhile, I'm marking down all items for sale in Atlas to 50% off! 

Look for the Citizens of Rosebud tags (they call me Dealer 23 <-- I know, so personable, and poetic!) and save some serious cash on blooming vintage and pre-loves. 

A Spring (and a Leap) SALE
50% OFF everything in my space at Atlas this weekend
3509 Fremont Place N
Seattle, WA 98103

And for those who don't live in Seattle, how about a little online sale for youse? From now until Sunday evening, use coupon code LATERGATOR for 15% off any purchase over $10.

Thrift Store Haul

One of the most viewed videos over at YouTube are THRIFT STORE HAULS. That's right, people upload videos sharing their purchases.  I love La Dama's haul videos- because I adore her, but how strange that strangers are watching other strangers talk on about their thrifty finds. Here's my Thrift Store Haul blog post: I'm going to share some of my recent thrift store scores with you!

First up: the Lemon Drop Up-Top. How tasty is this lemon yellow vintage 1960s hat? This is a treasure I picked up from a little hole in the wall charity shop in my neighborhood called Secondhand Rose. Donated by one of the nice volunteers who work there, I was told that it's from her 1968 wedding; as worn by her mother-in-law. I also bought one of her bridesmaid dresses, a sweet yellow and lace maxi, hand sewn for one of her besties. I LOVE it when you get the story behind a vintage find, especially when it's as sweet as this. She's been happily married ever since, so I'm sure there is good luck in this sweet confection of a hat! 

Outfit Post: Florida Florals

Warning: There are a lot of florals in today's post.

It's unseasonably warm summer weather, here. I think my boyfriend summed it up best when he asked me if was retiring anytime soon to Florida  I guess my big bulky blue sweater and riotous mix of pink florals and tourist white sandals,  that I am looking a bit like a Florida retiree.