Sunday, January 9, 2011

Celebrating Elvis' birthday right!

In honor of the King's birthday, I planned a day to properly observe what should be a national holiday.

The day started out meeting Raul and Kristina at my local lair of lard, Psycho Donuts. I know, I know, it's done in Oregon under the name of "VooDoo Donuts," but we don't have one of those here.

To start the day off right, Raul, Kristina, and I each ordered a "Dead Elvis." A Dead Elvis Donut is filled with banana custard, topped with banana chips, bacon, and drizzled with peanut butter and jelly. Yeah, I'm really gonna get to my goal weight eating THAT.





Psycho Donuts has a cute attraction in the shop, which is a padded booth for photo ops. Since I was documenting the day, we took advantage of it:




Psycho Donuts has art and a gift shop attached. One other cute element is that the shop girls dress like nurses.









Next stop on our excursion was Big Al's Record Barn. Big Al is and old record dealer who was Dorsey Burnette's bodyguard in the 1950s. They have hundreds of thousands, maybe even over a million, records in the cavern of a store. Raul is a DJ so he wanted to go search the bins.



I bought Raul a Christmas present while we were there. Something he can spin at our Friday Night Record Hops. He said he'll dedicate it to me every time he plays it and we'll make people talk.


After a couple hours at Big Al's Raul and Kristina went to get real food and I hit a couple local vintage shops. The last shop I stopped at was Park Place Vintage. I've worked there a few times for Linda, the owner, when she had some sewing projects to do. It's a great little shop.
 Here are some great photos from inside the store














You can visit Park Place's website. I'm not sure how often it is updated, but if you are ever in the Bay Area, it is a most recommended shopping destination! 

There was more celebrating yesterday, but I will finish up after I feed the kids. As it is, this is a pretty long post full of eye candy.

Yeah, James Intveld made me swoon...

Friday night I got pretty, ate some chinese (just a little tiny bit!), gassed up the car and took off with Tanya to San Francisco to go swoon over James Intveld. We picked up my friend Kristina in San Mateo on the way up.

For those of you who don't know who James Intveld is, well go look him up on wikipedia or something...but definitely go listen to his music *sigh*.

There were a couple opening bands, B-Stars (who I missed all but the last song) and Red Meat. Both are little bit more country than I like, but James plays a few country songs, mixed with some rockabilly, so it suited the show.

I won't waste your time writing a review, and honestly, I am not a critic. I know what I like, go see the bands I like and am usually not disappointed, this time included.

Here's a few shots of my friends and I before James performed:

E and Kristina


Tanya with her glowstick...getting excited!

Jess and I




Time to Swoon!






Thursday, January 6, 2011

Viva tip 1, so that you don't miss anything!

The first tip (aside from the cheeky mini-guide) is how to avoid missing anything you really want to see. This tip will help you stay focused, unless you start drinking shots or start flirting with a well dressed European guy.

About a month before Viva the timetable of when the bands are playing will be posted on the VLV website (Viva website). Print out all days you are going to be there. Highlight what you want to see and do. A lot of things overlap, so you may have to prioritize.

The Burlesque review and Fashion show require tickets that can be obtained for free at the showroom box office during the day. Don't forget to schedule time with the vendors. It is good is to wait until Sunday to shop because a lot of the vendors are wheeling and dealing, especially the vintage vendors. If you plan on getting remix, get them on the first night because they often sell out of sizes.

I do this every year but often miss someone I was to see because I'm engrossed in conversation somewhere, or the crowds get too thick to make it in time. If it's a band you really want to see, keep your eye on your watch or cell phone and give yourself a half hour to get there.

If you are a heavy drinker, remember the bar is open 24/7 so you can always get loaded after the bands.

The most important thing is NOT TO FORGET YOUR TIMETABLE! If you do forget it, you will get a program when you buy your wristband, but if you are like me, you will end up chatting up people all the way through the casino after getting your wristband, and will forget the timetable and miss something you want to see.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Viva Las Vegas Mini-Guide

I want to be the first to post this bit of gospel written by my friend Liz in 2007. This is a bit dated because it mentions the Gold Coast a lot, and Viva was moved to the Orleans in 2008.

Here is a little gem that captures the spirit and should put a smile on your face....

Viva Las Vegas Mini Guide


So I suck and have slacked totally on this year's Vegas guide.. I really don't even really have time to be writing this one but in a nutshell let's see what I can do...

Mission Statement:
For all of those who say that Vegas is lame due to the lack of a good line-up or that it's too much of a fashion show, you are doing it wrong. Vegas is not about bands or being the fanciest (well I'll get to that in a second). Vegas is about excessive drinking, whoring and causing trouble in the most sinful city in the US. Period.

Wardrobe:
Alright. Let me just get this out of the way. I will keep the rules as simple as possible as I do this every year and if you don't know by now, you deserve our mocking.

1. Just because it zips, don't mean it fits: Year after year, we scream this, yet it seems to fall on deaf ears. Just because you wiggled your fat ass into it, doesn't mean it looks good. And once again, if you have massive cellulite issues, PUT THE PLAYSUIT DOWN. I swear to IPU, I'm gonna start egging any fucking girl who doesn't belong in a playsuit who is strutting around the car show. And I'm tired of saying this and it seems retarded that I have to reiterate this but I have nothing against the larger girls of my gender, I AM ONE! However, you're not gonna see me in a playsuit or anything else that exposes my flaws to the world.

2. Just because it's vintage, doesn't mean it's cute. Leave the polyester paisley dress at the Goodwill please.

3. Repro: I like repro just because I'm sick of vintage clothes falling apart, but be forewarned that hundreds of other girls bought that stop staring dress and you better be damned sure you look better in it and don't mind wearing the same outfit.

4. Flames, cherries, etc.. Do I have to? really.. come now.. use your head

5. Shoes: I heart shoes. They are awesome. Vegas destroys your feet, both boys and girls. Make sure you have some sorta comfy shoes you can put on after the blood starts gathering around your toes. If however I see you in flip-flops and you are not on your way down to the pool, I reserve the right to step on your ugly feet.

6. Guys: For fuck's sake, look at all the women dressing up around you, do them a favor and put on something besides a wife beater and jeans, you trashy fuck.

7. Mr. & Mrs. I am wearing vintage down to my underwear and you are lame because you are not Bite me. Wear whatever the fuck you want. Just do it with a sense of style please. I don't give a rat's ass that you spent 500 dollars on your Hawaiian dress, if I wore something like that I'd either puke on it or it would get ripped by some European guy getting me naked, so enjoy being uncomfortable.



Vegas Ass:
*disclaimer* I do not encourage those who come to Vegas with or without their significant others to Vegas to cheat. People make their own drunken decisions. And remember, what happens in Vegas, gets posted on My Space.

-Finding that special someone:
so there are a few levels of Vegas ass... they vary depending on timing, day of the week, amount of drunkeness, how attractive you yourself are, luck, etc... so general guidelines (all rules subject to change):

Thursday: Use that as your general scouting night. Unless you are a veteran, chances are you might get stuck with someone for the whole weekend and you might find a higher quality Friday or Saturday.

Friday night: This is when the best quality ass will be found. Make yourself available. As we learned the hardway in 05, don't wolf pack. Travelling around with a group of extremely hot girls will get you noticed but not get you laid. Boys are pussies and are intimidated by large groups of women.

Carshow: Good place to scout and get free drinks. Be wary of the guys taking pics of every car tramp they see. There's something better.
Downstairs bars: The chances of you getting some are increased by hanging out at the bars downstairs. Better chance to talk and people are usually going back and forth. And plus, chances are that is where you will find my group. We like this area as it's close to liquor and in between stuff. We are also not shy and are good at getting people laid.

Room parties: Amazing scoring territory. It's much easier to pick a pony out of a room of 20 people then it is a room of hundreds. Don't know the people at the party? Carry a bottle of liquor with you, they'll invite you in, especially if you are a girl and have boobs. Boobs get you many things and can be exchanged for goods and services.

Sunday Night: Anything goes. Pretty easy to get some on Sunday as it's last ditch effort time. You'd be surprised at what you come up with sometimes though. I've had some amazing Sunday nights.
If you're taken: If you significant other is there, make sure you and your roomie have something worked out to avoid the embarrassing incident of them showing up to your room. Strangers, stick with strangers, our world is very very small and chances are you know everyone in some way but I'd try to target people who live on the opposite coast at least.

Stop talking: This is mainly for the dumb boys (although I'm sure it can be applied to a female or two).. Just shhh.. shhh.. tell me I'm pretty, buy me a drink. Really don't need or care enough to hear your philosphy on life. We can talk about that afterwards if you haven't been thrown out of the room yet.

Foreigners: Viva la Germans! and all others who don't speak English well. You are adorable and usually make for good casual encounters.



Other general rules:
-Security: For the most part on Friday and Saturday, security is gonna let you get away with a LOT. There are too many people for them to enforce much. Sunday be on the lookout. By then they are tired of our shit and enough people have gone home, that they begin to enforce the rules. Still leniant but you gotta be careful and you're having sex in the bathroom, have someone guard the door unless you want to be escorted to your room by five security guards (that didn't happen to me, honest, I wish I could claim that honor. Security chapter I salute you and will do my best to live up to your name this year)

-Booze: When you get there, by the boot. Then buy your liquor in the downstairs gift lobby or in a liquor store around Vegas. Much cheaper. Also, remember they give you free drinks when you're gambling. And worse comes to worse, look for Kelly. He'll be standing by some bar giving out shots to people who proclaim their love for him so remember the the words "I love Kel"

-Double Down: Try and get out there at least once. It's my favorite bar in Vegas. They have tried to duplicate it here but it's not the same. Make sure you ride the pony and get a shot of Ass Juice.. not at the same time though..
Sunscreen: it's Vegas. You are pasty from living in the land of Winter. Use your judgement and don't forget your cleavage.

-Food: I have heard they closed the downstairs Terrible Mike's. That makes me sad. I think there is still one at the bowling alley (good place for nachos and pizza). Also cheap ass hot dogs by the bettting tracks downstairs. And splurge on the buffet once or twice but bring a big purse and take stuff up to your room for later. Bloody Mary's count as meals and remember: food doesn't get you drunk (usually)

Jumping on the Viva Las Vegas bandwagon at Blogger

New Year's Eve has come and gone, and it's that time of year again to start planning for Viva Las Vegas!

If you haven't booked your room at the Orleans, you are S.O.L., but don't worry, there are plenty of rooms all around the Orleans. Just go tot he Viva website (link above) and check their hotel page. Also, a good tip is to call the Orleans everyday. They get lots of cancellations of people who reserved rooms but had to cancel their trip.

My first Viva was in 2003. My kids were 5 and 2 and we brought them along. Since my dad lives there he was able to watch them. In 2005 we brought them again, along with my oldest who was 17 at the time, but they were not as easy as when they were little. 2007 was the last year we brought them and we will never do it again! Not until they graduate college, or at least can appreciate the event. Viva really isn't for kids, but since there is so much going on, you can still do it as a family.

I will write a series of blogs with tips and recommendations for Viva, regarding packing, what to bring, how not to miss what you want to see, etc...although I am a totally disorganized traveler. I will try to make prepping for the event, and the event itself easy for you.

Here's a pic from Viva 2010
 With the League of international Party Girls in 2009
With Jessica and Cathy 2008
At the car show with Tammy and Syndi 2007
 Mason in 2005
 

My somewhat belated New Year's post...

I had some grandiose plans to chronicle my New Year's Eve with all of you, but ditz that I am, misplaced my camera in my car before Frank and I went out. I will share with you the few photos I stole from DJ Oakie Oran and the ones I took in preparation for going out.

Our original plans had been to attend a New Year's Eve party at Rachelle (La Dolce Vida) and Josh's house. It was going to be a bacon party, where all the food was to have bacon in it (even deserts and cocktails!) but if you go read her blog, you will see poor Josh broke his ankle and required surgery. Since those plans were nixed, Frank and I decided to attend the New Year's celebration at the Friday Night Record Hop at Retox in San Francisco.

I had set my alarm, but my procrastination made me late to my nail appointment, so I had to reschedule for later in the day after my hair appointment. My friend, and fellow Bombshell, Monica is a hair dresser and fit me in for an updo.

Monica at her station at Shampoo Dolls in San Jose
 Me before the updo
  My hair after


 Next a mani and pedi...like my corny toes?


I had bought a beautiful Suzy Perette dress from Millhouse Vintage to wear, and it is so sad that I have no full length pics in it. My friend Veronica snapped a few, but she hasn't posted them yet. I will post some of the photos Oran took. Since I had the beautiful dress, I didn't want to go to dinner for fear of it not fitting!

Frank and Veronica, plus the rest of the gang




The one pic of me, pouring champagne


I have many resolutions this year, and will start off saying I will update this blog more regularly! I will get that 10 pounds off, and then push onto my goal weight before I go to England, and keep up my weight loss blog. I will be certain to document all the fun stuff I do and share it with you.

Hope you all had a great New Year's too!

 

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