To quote Janis Martin, "Bang Bang"

After a lot of hemming and hawing, much contemplation and facebook posts....I decided to cut bangs again. It's been almost 2 years and since the weather is unpredictable in the UK, I wanted a simpler hair-do that didn't involve hot rollers, etc. I made an attempt at my long hair with the dual voltage international curling iron today and had such a bad hair day, I felt I HAD to cut bangs again.

Thor! My new sweater from Gasoline Cowboys

Today, I received my new vintage style Motorcycle sweater from Gasoline Cowboys. I absolutely LOVE it and haven't taken it off since it arrived. I think I will wear it to work tomorrow since it is supposed to be cold again.

I know I previously posted a page from the Gasoline Cowboys' website, the history of Dehen, the manufacturers of these sweaters. I'm not sure if it was clear from that post that these sweaters are made on the SAME EXACT MACHINES as the original motorcycle sweaters, manufactured from the 1920s to the early 1950s. Gasoline Cowboys even found the elderly man that used to cut the patterns, and he sketched the pattern from memory,  so they would have the same fit as the originals. These sweaters are the real deal, and to own one is almost as good as owning a dead stock motorcycle sweater.

The nice folks over at Gasoline Cowboys wants to give the people out here in Blogland a little discount if they end up ordering one of their fantastic sweaters. Just enter 5BUCKS in the coupon redemption space during check out.

I chose the Thor sweater with the striped sleeves. Thor was a company that manufactured components, parts and kits for the earliest American Motorcycles. You can read about them here (Thor History).

Not a good photo of me, but great photo of the sweater!

I will be wearing this sweater during my trip to the UK and will have cards to hand out to vendors over there. If there are any clothing companies interested in having these sweaters made with their own logo design on them, it can be done! Remember, the UK pound is still worth more than the US dollar so these sweaters are very reasonable to purchase if you are in the UK!

Trade!!!

Well, I only wore it once and traded a bunch of stuff for it, but I have opportunity to trade my teal Royal Hawaiian rayon dress for a Toreador/Matador outfit with two tops!!! I am so excited because I have a lot I can wear with the pants and I know how hard it is to find this kind of outfit in my size....

British Invasion!

This week was extra special for me, because my BFF, Neil, and his lovely wife, Deb, were visiting from the UK.

Thursday night, I picked them up in San Francisco and took them over the bridge to Forbidden Island in Alameda. I, of course forgot my camera, so I can't post photos until Jess puts them up on Facebook. Some of Neil's buds from around the bay came out for our little party and it was a great night.

Friday Neil and Deb came down to the South Bay and I planned a day, out and about, for them. We started the day meeting up at Psycho Donuts, at Neil's request.

Neil is taking a bite out of "Jason", a chocolate donut with raspberry filling in honor of it being Friday the 13th.

Deb and I in front of Psycho Donuts

It was too early for Neil to go over to Big Al's Record Barn, so we went over to Top Notch Customs. I have mentioned Notch before, when we did a photo shoot last September for Time Zone in the tiki bar attached to his shop. Neil is a huge tiki nerd, and I knew he would appreciate Notch's work. In addition to being an amazing car builder, and featured in Rodder's Journal more than once, he also designs, makes and fires his own tiki mugs. Neil and Deb were very impressed with his shop, bar and talent. Notch was happy to show them around.

The Tapas lamp was made by my friend, Tanya's husband, Woody. Woody makes those wonderful lamps as a hobby, but has sold them to tiki bars and restaurants all over the country. 

Next, Deb and I dropped Neil off at Big Al's, and we headed over to Park Place and met up with my friends Renee and Karl. After a some shopping, trying on clothes, none of which fit me, we picked up Neil and had lunch with Renee and Karl at a yummy italian deli. I left my camera in the car of course. I also left it in the car while we went over to Santa Cruz to do some vintage shopping with Karl and Renee. 

After the shopping, Karl and Renee went to see a movie while I drove Neil and Deb along the cliffs. We were too late to view the free surf museum, housed in a defunct light house, but I did snap some photos of Deb and Neil on the cliffs. 

After driving along East Cliff Drive, and over to Capitola, we decided to head back over the hill so Neil and Deb could go rest up at their hotel and then we met at Verdi Club for the Hi-Rhythm Hustler's last bay area show. Neil is good friends with Steve Merritt, the guitar player, and Steve was quite surprised to see Neil at the show. 

Bro love...Neil and Steve

Neil and Deb

Deb and I

Deb, Neil, Ahmad and Jessica

Some more photos from the night

Neil and Deb will make more appearances in my blogs, I'm sure, since I will be staying with them when I am in London next month! Can't wait to see them again xo 

13th Annual Booze Broads and Hotrods, 2011

Saturday April 30, was the 13th Annual Booze Broads and Hotrods, presented by The Bombshells. This annual party is usually scheduled the week after Viva Las Vegas and is the perfect remedy for those post-Viva blues, so many of us suffer from. It is also a nice treat for those that don't attend Viva.

As I wrote in an earlier blog, the show was started as a "Thank You" to the Car Clubs and rockabilly music scene in the Bay Area. It's now snowballed into one of the funnest and well attended events of the year in Northern California. The past two years were held at the Clarion hotel, but since Rachelle has a newborn at home, we decided to scale it back this year, and held it at the Historic 23 Club in Brisbane.

For your viewing pleasure....

Tanya and Rachelle working the door

 Jennie Lynn and her Real Gone Daddies

 Miss Viva Las Vegas 2010, Ruby Champagne

 Omar and the Stringpoppers

Luis and the Wildfires

There was dancing.....

I made the announcements and called the raffle....

There were awesome vendors....

Lots of people having a good time...

Can't wait until next year!

Photo credit??? I stole them from the Bombshell's fan page on Facebook!!!!!!