Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Derby Dreaming, Installment 2: Derby Etsy wishlist

As I mentioned last year in this post, I recently became a member of St. Louis' Roller Derby league, the Arch Rival Roller Girls. When you become a roller girl, it kind of eats your life. This is not a bad thing, if you love roller derby. Which I do. And all it's stuff. Here are some of my favorite Etsy finds of Roller Derby themed pretties....


Neat tote bag by flattrackrevolution



DERBY PERFUME! by StarbornAlchemy. I have a thing for tiny bottles of homemade perfume. I collect them. Just as long as they don't actually smell like derby girls... we get pretty darn stinky with all the sweat and the padding... like football player stinky. But these sound like they smell good... and the labels are awesome!



These felt coasters by girlscantell are totally chic.



Paper dolls by ElizabethOcean. Fun!!



Super-sweet stamped necklace with teeny skate charm by LifeIsRosey.



Hell. Yes. A flask by whimsyandink. (I do not condone drinking and skating, of course)



SKATING DAMN BEAR YOU GUYS. Made from melted ammo by pokapop. So fantastic.



Lookit this baby deer on skates by sweetheartsinner. That's how I feel, sometimes, with my still-knock-kneed skating. Cute cute (not me, the deer).



Pelvis print knickers by knickerrockeroller. To give the opponents an anatomical guide to breaking you?



Skate print on an old book page by collageOrama. Lovely!



Saucy wall decal by beepart. Hawt.



Skate Nuts. Yes. Brilliant, FireboltCreations. Simply brilliant.



Stylin' Roller Derby Mobile by SaltyandSweet.



Get a towel. My uterus just exploded. Roller skate baby booties by inkybinkyproductions.



Funky skate tee by CausticThreads. Leopard print is always in style!



Way awesomer than your mama's fanny pack. Hip bag by flattrackrevolution.



Also from flattrackrevolution, this cute little casual dress. Perfect for pantsless summer!


See also:
Bruise Salad on Iron Stef
Derby Dreaming Installment 1: Team Logos

Monday, February 14, 2011

mixed tape: valentine part 2 of 2: melting

And here's part 2 of my Valentine's day mixed tape! These songs make me melt into a puddle.





















mixed tape: valentine part 1 of 2: love on the rocks

It's Valentine's Day! Tonight I'm going to an anti-Valentine themed dinner party. Here are some of my favorite ever break-up/love gone bad songs. Wallow away.



























Thursday, February 10, 2011

Road Trip! Galesburg, IL


(image from here)

My dad was from Galesburg, Illinois. Growing up we would go there about twice a year to visit Nonna, my aunts, uncles and cousins. Galesburg has always and will always have a special place in my heart. It is about a 4 hour drive from St. Louis... a nice little road trip that I try to make more and more often in my adulthood. A couple of summers ago, I went to Galesburg for the first time as a tourist. You know how when you go out of town to visit family, you don't really go to that town... you just go to your family. That's all well and good, but Galesburg has always been a fascinating place to me. I wanted to learn about this little old railroad town where my father grew up. The following are some of the sights I explored...


Carl Sandburg's Childhood Home




In the back Yard there is a circle of pavers which are engraved with quotes from Sandburg's poems/ writings. So lovely!







Purington Bricks were manufactured in Galesburg... they make up some very historical streets (yes there are still lots of brick streets in G-burg) and buildings throughout the country.




Trains

Galesburg is historically a HUGE railroad hub, and still is. I did not make it to the Railroad museum, but, the sounds of trains is constant. When I hear a train anywhere, I am transported back to my Nonna's old house, trying to sleep but not not being able to because I was not used to the train whistles.






Old Main (Site of Lincoln/Douglas Debates)

Old Main, a building at Knox College, was host to one of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates. It's a simple, but very neat old building, still in use by the college.





Look closely at this painting before reading the info on the next photo... notice anything amiss? (I love this story!!)







Knox College Library

While we were on the campus to visit Old Main, my cousin suggested we check out the library. I'm so glad we did! It's filled with history.... old old books, exhibits, tiny little nook reading rooms with bright windows.







Hope Cemetery

What old, historic city is complete without a cool old cemetery? Hope Cemetery has civil war graves, and graves that have been rendered unreadable with age. Some graves have been updated, and new stones stand next to their old ones. Certainly an interesting, sobering, gorgeous little walk... if you're into that sort of thing.









Seminary Street Antique Mall

Of course Galesburg has awesome antiques. I mean... how could it not?










Other


Visitor Center Big Blue Chair!



I could drive around for days just looking at the big, old houses around town. The Carr house is on the same street that my aunt and uncle and cousin Sarah (pictured with me in the bif blue chair... my tour guide). Apparently Lincoln stayed there during the debate. Or Douglas? I'm not sure. But it's famous. And you can stay there!




Rib Shack and Coney Island Dog are both restaurants that have been around forever. In fact Coney Island is the oldest food joint in Galesburg! It's filled with kitsch and nostalgia, and the famous hot dogs are yummy! Rib Shack is also delicious... huge portions of ribs, served with mounds of onion rings and lots of paper towels and personal water troughs for cleaning your sticky fingers. See more about my Galesburg eats in this Iron Stef post.

So, yeah... Galesburg is more than just another town. It's a town filled with super-interesting history, places, and great people!


Other travel posts:

Epic Mid-South Roadtrip (Iron Stef)

Maryland Eats (FBM)

Travel Photos... It's all in the Details (Daydream Believer)

Hot Doug's, Chicago (Iron Stef)

Chicago (Iron Stef)