"Two Characters in Search of a Country Song"

This is a vintage Stetson cowboy hat that belonged to my mom's uncle. He, along with my grandfather, were among 8 boys in the Whitford family. I never knew my mom's dad, because he died way before I was born. From Dover, TN, the boys owned a cattle business. My mother told me that my Grandfather always wore a cowboy hat, polished his cowboy boots and steamed his khaki pants every night,  and had the country music station playing constantly. I find these details fascinating, because, besides the slight Southern drawl, I don't feel country at all.

So, let's sum up what inspired this blog post:

• my mom's stories of my grandfather and the Whitford brothers(above)
• the Stetson hat
• vintage finds for the outfit
• an urge to do crazy makeup
• rediscovered items hidden in my closet
• recent Jack Daniel's intake and the adorable mustache Urban Outfitters flask
• my burgeoning love of classic country music (even though I was born and raised in Nashville, I never liked country music besides Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achey Breaky Heart" and the autographed John Michael Montgomery CD for my 3rd grade b-day. However, over recent years, my heart has grown quite fond of alt-country, country noir and classic country. Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose is in my top 5 records of ALL TIME. And of course, I must mention Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.
• trying to romanticize and embrace "Tennessee-ness" even though I am a full-blown city girl.

 

• hat=Steston vintage
• gold necklace=Southern Thrift find
• cowboy necklace=bought in Paris @ The Dollhouse (not exactly a fashion store, but, nevertheless, here we are)
• bracelets=Mom's old jewelry
• top= leotard (no joke) from Southern Thrift
• skirt=Free People
• belt= Mom's closet 
• boots= Andre from France).

 

I heart this mustache flask from Urban Outfitters:

 

Oh and here are crazy make-up upclose shots.

 

And I conclude with Tennessee still lifes, old pics of my grandfather, and Magnetic Fields song that sums up this blog post.

 

 "Two Characters in Search of a Country Song"

=

The Magnetic Fields

You were just like me
you were one big bruise
In the game of life with your playing too lose
You were Jessy James
I was William Tell
You were Daniel Webster
I was the devil himself

Two characters in search of a country song
Just make believe, but so in love
Two characters been listin' all night long
for voices from Nashville above

Joyeuses Pâques!

Happy Easter! My memories of Easter are vast. I have very good ones associated with Easter egg hunts where I felt rich if I found an egg with $1 inside. I also have not-so-good memories of wearing itchy tights, hats and Nanny's hand-made, smock dresses for church on Easter Sunday. Afterward, we would go to Centennial Park (in Nashville, TN) and take pictures with all the red and yellow tulips. The rest of the memories are associated with baskets full of delicious Reese's eggs and MAC gift cards and spending time lounging with the fam. Enjoy these Easter-ish, pastel-y photos.

Credits: Galexie Andrews, Tec Petaja, Acido, Fifi Lapin, Wendy Bevan, The Cherry Blossom Girl. The rest found on Tumblr or FFFFound.

"April Come She Will"

"…sentimental music has this great way of taking you back somewhere at the same time it takes you forward, so you feel nostalgic and hopeful all at the same time."

-High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

 I have two specific sentimental songs in mind when I think of this Nick Hornby quote above. The first song  is "April Come She Well" by Simon and Garfunkel (How Apropos as April 1st is tomorrow?). The song is so beautiful that  I don't know whether to cry or feel infinite joy. It was featured on The Graduate, my favorite film.

 

The next song "Feel Flows" by The Beach Boys floods me with the same emotions. Incidentally, I found  illustrations of the lyrics on Katie C. Turner's Flickr. The song makes you feel both sentimental about the past and hopeful for the future.

 

Although the memories of Mr. Belding on Saved By The Bell do make me feel both Nostalgic and Hopeful,  I doubt that his Karaoke Album will. I have not listened to it, but I assume that  it does not deserve to reside in a category alongside The Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel. Despite this discrepancy, I had to seize the opportunity to conclude with this gem of a find:

Nostalgia: Sight
This Christmas, Vicky's little cousin received Playmobil, which I learned was German, and I had a huge flashback. In my old Playmobil house lives some of the best memories of my life. Then I discovered the Playmobil archives on their website. Pure delight.




Nostalgia: Scent
So...everyone knows that scent is the biggest trigger of memory. Well, I found two of my intangible childhood scents captured in product form.


#1: The Capri Volcano candle found at Anthropologie.

...which reminds me of the best Snow Cone stand that has ever existed in the world. It was located in Murray, KY in the parking lot next to the old Zax. I would ride my bike there while vising my grandmothers' houses in the summer. The window would slide open, pouring out this delicious smell along with a cool, soothing breeze which contrasted to the overbearing heat.




#2: This cheap, French dishwasher liquid which reminds me of...
The Sanrio store that used to be in the Green Hills Mall in Nashville, TN! I would an hour intricately investigating each tiny object.