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June 29, 2013

Looking back at June 2013


Reflecting upon the events of this month, I'm struck by how they often seemed to parallel the weather that we experienced. Some days were gloriously sunny, gushing with with warmth, light and the kind of happiness that it takes half a year to cultivate. Others were grey, unpredictable, heavy as a horizon full of thunder clouds.

A few fell in between, and one involved said thunder clouds quite literally, as a sudden downpour that hit our town this past Wednesday with febricity caused flooding in our basement (while thankfully it didn't ruin too many items, it did do a fair bit of property damage and will require us to put new flooring into one, or possibly, two rooms).



{It didn't take anywhere near this much water to cause some of the swift rainfall that pelted Penticton on Wednesday to end up partially flooding our basement, but I can I can certainly sympathize with those pictured here who needed a boat to get around town all of a sudden. Image source.}


This unexpected basement ordeal was an odd note to (almost) cap the month off on, as I'd really felt like it was gaining positive momentum towards the end - and perhaps it still did, in spite of said flooding.

Just a few days beforehand, on the 22nd, I was thrilled to be able to attend our town's annual classic car show - The Peach City Beach Cruise - again (you may remember this post from when I attended for the first time last year), which I'll be doing a vintage outfit post about in the near future, as well as to see a movie (This is the End) at the theater for the first time in over a year, and to attend Value Village’s latest 50% off sale all on the same weekend. For some people this might seem like a fairly run of the mill amount of activity, but for me, it's exceedingly rare that my health permits me such a productive weekend, and I thought it was an incredible note to kick the summer off on!

And what of the blogging front, you may ask, well, this month saw a flurry of activity here for sure. For starters, June welcomed Chronically Vintage's first official group of blog sponsors, three of which (The Glamorous Housewife, Vintage Dancer, and ChatterBlossom) were featured in sponsor spotlight posts. You'll be hearing more about the fourth of June's new sponsors, Blue Velvet Vintage (whose site and offerings I simply cannot get enough of), in the coming weeks, just as you will some of the other sponsors that have signed on for the summer months and beyond.

I truly appreciate and wholeheartedly welcome each of Chronically Vintage's new sponsors, as well as all those who have shown interest in this regard (if you happen to be interested in sponsoring as well, please don't hesitate to see my sponsor information page and/or to email me at any time).

Wardrobe wise it was a busy month, too. I debuted my fabulous Jitterbuggin' pinafore jumper dress here for the first time, and shared what I wore on a glorious sunny Easter Sunday back at the end of March (and was thrilled and honoured to have one of the photos from that same shoot appear in the latest edition of Hey Doll magazine, where you'll also find an article I wrote about all about vintage glove sizing, collecting and storing).


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I sported sunglasses for the first time ever on my blog in a fun series of shots taken at Knox Mountain in Kelowna (one of which appears above), and last, but not least, I christened Mother Nature "Marie" in the spirit of my own middle name and a darling vintage wirework name pin that I donned along with a palette of earth tones recently.

Lists abounded here throughout June, including Ten Warm Weather Wardrobe Staples, 12 of my top vintage fashion wish list items, Ten classic menswear pieces that will never go out of style, and 7 steps to big 1950s eyes.

Celebrations of summer's return were also plentiful throughout June, with posts devoted both to going on a vintage picnic and tons of suggestions for what to serve at a vintage ice cream sundae party. This month's Vintage Fashionista Friday and Flickr Favourite's posts were both thoroughly in keeping with the spirit of the season as well.

You may notice that this month in review post is going live on the 29th, not the 30th, which is technically the last day of the month. The key reason for this is that here in Canada it's a holiday long weekend (as we celebrate Canada Day on July 1st), and between the festivities of said weekend and contending with the situation downstairs in our waterlogged basement, I wasn't sure how much I'd be online over the next couple of days (though I do have a post slatted for the 1st), and didn't want to miss out on recapping June before it had taken its last bow.

And speaking of floods, I want to take a moment to express my deepest sympathies to all those who have been affected by the flooding this month in Alberta and Ontario as well. Having lived in two of the hardest hit areas (Calgary and Toronto), and adoring them both, I was moved to tears multiple times over the past couple of weeks as the photos of the water damage there poured out across the internet and evening news broadcasts. I am truly sorry for what those in these areas have experienced and know that the what we dealt with firsthand pales in comparison. We need new floors, but many people - especially in Alberta - have lost their whole homes and all of their belongings, and that is something that no one on earth should ever have to endure for any reason.

There's always the hope of a brighter (and much drier) tomorrow though, and on that note, some of the positive, exciting things that are in the works for July here on the blog include a look at the life and work of Vancouver's most famous (mid-century) street photographer, a post devoted to none other than west coast legend (or is it? :) ), the sasquatch; the results of a fab (vintage related) phone call, and - in the spirit of my upcoming birthday on July 10th, a look back at some of my very favourite things from the decade that gave me life: the 1980s!


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{I utterly adore everything about this 1950s gal's darling gingham summertime ensemble - which reminds me, come to think of it, a fair bit of what I wore last year for Canada Day. I'm not too sure what I'll be decked out in this coming Monday, but you can bet your bottom dollar than red and white - the colours of Canada's flag - will be involved again. Image source.}


July is, by it's very nature, often a terrifically fun filled month. Yes, it's hot enough to give Death Valley a run for its money at times, but it can also deliver sublimely beautiful mellow evening breezes, hour after hour of beach fun, thirty-one days solid of wearing sundresses (if you so desire), ice cream cones a plenty, and countless other things that help ensure the seventh month of the year is not one that's quickly forgotten.

June was a mixed bag - as so many throughout 2013 have also been - and though I'm not happy about what befell our basement, the situation could always have been a great deal worse, and hopefully we'll be able to get things cleaned up and looking tip-top again well before summer comes to a close. Instead of focusing on that, I much prefer to think ahead to the exciting times - beginning bright and early with Canada Day on the 1st - that this month holds in store, as well as what lies even further afield in the second half of the summer.

Here's to the hope that July brings nothing but sunshine, blue skies, dry streets (and basements!), and happiness your way, my dears! I can't wait to enjoy my birthday month with all of you once more, as well as to celebrate all of the amazing points that makes this coming month so endearingly wonderful.


41 comments:

  1. Hi Jessica,

    I am sorry to hear about your flooded basement. You, however, are handling it in your normal upbeat cheerful many.

    Looking forward you your post in July.

    :)Hope

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Hope. I do try and keep a cheery disposition no matter what life throws my way (of course, some days that can be easier said than done - but all in all, I do like to keep my chin up and a smile on my face as often as possible), so it really does mean a lot to me that you picked up on that.

      Wishing you a marvelous July, my friend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. I just adore that red gingham dress! I've got a darling blue gingham dress set aside for US Independence Day which is also next week!

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  3. So sorry to hear that you've had flooding and water damage. I know those unexpected hardships can wreak havoc on one's finances.

    I simply adore that gingham dress! So lovely. Also, I cant wait to see your look back at the 80s.

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Denise. You are completely spot on there, especially because the insurance company puts flooding under "acts of God" and does not cover it. I truly appreciate your understanding in that regard.

      On a more cheerful note, I'm super excited to chat about the 80s. It's a decade I actually really adore, but which doesn't typically come up here because of the mid-century nature of my blog (and wardrobe), so it will be a super fun treat for me to chat about it for a day.

      Wishing you a beautiful Sunday,
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. That's horrible having your basement flooded. In Europe the're also a lot of problems with water. Too much rain falling down, rivers bursting their banks.

    Well despite your flooded basement I hope you will enjoy your weekend!

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  5. Love your casual look at Knox Mountain! Sorry to hear about the flooding :(

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  6. Sorry to hear about your basement we have had similar flooding issues in the past, and its not fun. I read your article in hey doll and it was great
    kate

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  7. Hey Jessica, this was a great post for me. As a new reader, it gave me lots of opportunity to get to know you better...and, of course, to see some of my favourite views. Coincidentally, my first outfit post on my blog featured Penticton. My husband took my photos on Munson Mountain.

    Sorry to hear about the basement. Hope the clean up is speedy, and doesn't take you away form Canada Day activities.

    Sue xo

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  8. I am so pleased that you were well enough to have a fantastic weekend out and about. It sounds great and I hope it continues for you. Very sorry to hear about your basement, hope it isn't too big a job to put it right. It is a year since the towns where I live were badly flooded twice in 3 weeks last year. Lots of homes and shops were damaged and there were celebrations last week to mark things being back to normal thank goodness.

    On a nicer note, July is my birthday month too, the day before yours in fact!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Kate. There's a fair bit of work to be done, but again, it could certainly have been worse. We'll need to have the floors replaced, which isn't covered by insurance (they define flooding as an "act of God" and don't cover the property damage it caused), in one or two rooms (just waiting for one to finish drying out to see if it will need to be replace as well - I truly hope not, as it's my craft room and it would be a major challenge to move everything out of there to get to the floors - but I guess we'll just cross that river, so to speak, if/when we come to it), but thankfully not too many actual possessions were damaged beyond the point of saving.

      That's so awesome that your birthday is the day before mine!!! It's too bad we don't live nearby to one another, we could have a two day long vintage filled birthday celebration! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. It seems so unfair that insurance won't pay up for flooding, it is the same over here and has affected some hops in my town. I am glad that your craft room didn't suffer too much. The thought of a flood in my craft room has given me shivers of horror!

      A two day long vintage filed birthday celebration would be fabulous! I am just planning what I might like to do for mine.

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    3. It truly is unfair - I mean, charge us more if you have to, but please cover property damage caused by a flood. Our area is not flood prone at all (we live in one of the most arid regions in Canada), this was a pretty flukey event, and though I had thought in passing of the risk before, I honestly did not foresee it happening to us here. Still, what's done is done, no sense crying over spilled milk (or would that be water in this case? ;) ). We'll just do whatever has to be done to get things back to normal, and hope that the rest of the summer is a whole lot more fun!

      I'm giving thought to what I might like to do for mine as well. I've been pinning desserts on Pinterest for months that I keep thinking would be great to make (I really don't sugar often, so when my birthday rolls around, I like to make it worth my while! :)), but the closer the actual day gets, the more I feel like just having a marshmallow roast once the sun goes down and making (GF) s'mores. That/and or a cheesecake - it's been ages since I made one last and I've been craving cheesecake for weeks, if not months, now. We'll see - still got a few days to plan.

      Have a wonderful Sunday, dear Kate,
      ♥ Jessica

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    4. Yummy roast marshmallows. I love them plain but also as a topping on a digestive biscuit spread with Nutella. Yesterday my friend offered to make me a birthday cheesecake, I took her up on her offer!

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  9. Hopefully your property was insured against flood damage.

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  10. At least you are not sweating with the heat of Summer! :) x

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    1. Despite a few damp and slightly milder days lately, we are actually sweating big time this weekend! Summer is really in full swing here (we're supposed to get temps in the low to mid-30s or higher all this coming week, which is typical for our area - one of the warmest in Canada - for much of the summer), and as we don't have central air conditioning in our house, it means we'll be pretty roasty-toasty for next couple of months!

      Wishing you a great July, dear gal,
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. *sigh* I look at your vintage beauty and just sigh. It's involuntary.

    Nice post. I wish you a Happy Canada Day!

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  12. June has certainly been quite a mixed bag weather-wise here too. No flooding though and I hope your basement clears up soon.

    Looking forward to taking a trip down memory lane with your 80s post!
    xo

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  13. so sorry to hear about your basement flooding and the damage it caused! i'm glad nothing irreplaceable was lost but it's just a big hassle to have to worry about getting new flooring and no one needs that added to their list of things they have to take care of. glad you had some great days in june and hopefully there's many more to come (and a lot less rain) in july! :) x

    littlehenrylee

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  14. I'm so sorry to hear about the flood, we got flooded in July 2007. It peaked on the day we were meant to go on holiday but we stayed stubborn and decided to go. I had to wade to the car with my heavy suitcase on my head! My heart goes out to you. Good luck with the cleaning bubs, I recommend a few drops of lavender in your bucket for a final clean. xo

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  15. Sorry to hear about your flooded basement but how wonderful you managed to have a full weekend of exciting things I know from my best friend (who also suffers from long term chronic illness)how precious being able to have what we wold call an ordinary weekend is!

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  16. I hope that July is a fantastic month for you!! I am sorry to hear about the flooding in your basement (it has happened several times at this house I live in, but thankfully not for years). Such a pain :( But I am glad that it didn't ruin too many of your things. You look ravishing and you make sunglasses look wonderful! :D
    Happy (early!) Canada Day, and I hope that you have an amazing month!!

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  17. June has been blessed to you, sweet friend! I'm so happy, that except for not feeling well for some of the time, you have had a splendid June! :) I can only hope that your birth month will be doubly blessed with joy for you.

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  18. I hope the damage is minimal to you dear Jessica! Happy thoughts for a nice Canada Day for you!

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  19. You are such a pretty lady and I ADORE your outfit in that picture!

    www.vintageinspiredblog.blogspot.com

    -Danielle

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  20. Jessica, I just found your blog, and I love it!! I have followed you so I can keep up with you. I wish I had more time to read this evening, but alas it's after midnight! The pinafore you referred to is great! I love your hair all pulled back in the snood too!!

    xoxo
    Lynn

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  21. So sorry to hear about your basement! We're experiencing a lot of rain here as well (not NEARLY the same amount as other parts of the country). Thankfully our house has stayed dry.

    I knew there was a reason we have a connection (besides the clothes!). July 10th birthday huh? - you're a Cancer!! Like me - my birthday is July 6th. :)

    Happy Canada Day! Hope you're having a lovely weekend!
    Lisa.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Lisa - I'm sorry to hear that your area has been battling unpleasant weather as of late too. The almost funny thing is that we weren't getting a ton of rain as a whole, this was just one of those weird, flukey flash flood moments and our basement fell victim to it (it honestly shouldn't have for the amount of rainfall that we got - I was shocked to go downstairs to the freezer late Wednesday afternoon and suddenly see a shallow swimming pool everywhere!). I hope dearly that your house remains as dry as the Sahara Desert all summer long.

      Soooo awesome that we're both July babies - and just four days away to boot! (Interestingly, your b-day is exactly one month before Tony's.) Happiest early birthday wishes - and tons of super joyful Canada Day ones as well!

      ♥ Jessica

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  22. I can't tell you how sorry I was in reading what happened to you. I do hope things will soon be better.
    You look extra beautiful in black, and the yellow shirt adds a personal touch to your outfit. . .

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  23. Oh no! I can't believe you need new floors. Although it does sound like others are worse off than you that's still awful. I am looking forward to seeing more -I hope -of that red gingham frock! WANT!

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  24. We are having devastating floods out here, too.

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    1. Oh no, I deeply sorry to hear that, Kathleen. I hope to no end that your home hasn't been ravaged by a flood as well.

      ♥ Jessica

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  25. Hooray for Canada! Enjoy your holiday!

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  26. I am so very sorry to hear about your flood damage! We also experience unseasonable rains, and now are in the middle of a crazy heat wave!
    I always appreciate how positive and upbeat you are. It helps me to keep looking on the bright side of things. Thank you so much for all your wonderful posts!
    ~xoxo, CoriLynn

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  27. I'm so sorry to hear about your flooding debacle and having to replace flooring. That is money, stress, and a lot of hard work! I am excited, though, to see and hear about the car show you went to and to see your outfits from that and the Canada Day celebrations. Also, it was a completely fabulous pleasure to sponsor you for this month and I look forward to being able to again in the future! Here's to July!
    -Jamie
    ChatterBlossom

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    1. Thank you very, very much, dear Jamie, your understanding really means a lot to me. Indeed, it's a headache - but it's the kind of situation that could have been a migraine (so to speak), had more physical items been ruined, too. A few were lost, but not much (thankfully!), it's just the laminate floorings that took the brute of water's wrath (we'll likely be replacing them with tiles now, which should hold up a lot better if, goodness forbids, this ever happens again).

      It was nothing short of a pleasure to work with you throughout June, and I truly look forward to doing so again anytime you'd like.

      Big hugs & the happiest of July wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  28. Oh Jessica, I am so sorry to hear of your flooded basement. We had a lot of rain that week too, it seems that it was too wet all over the world. We are having a dry week this week, so I hope you are too, so that you can get cleared up. I was also pleased to hear that you had a few days of good health. I will really look forward to seeing what you wore for the classic car show, in particular. I think you have had a stunning blogging month, personally speaking I have enjoyed your writing and pictures more than ever. As you know I have been pretty housebound up until the last few days so your cheerful style and lovely pictures have brought me some much needed cheer!

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  29. Oh no, so sorry to hear about your flooding. I'm glad that nothing was damaged beyond saving (floor excluded)!

    Your Knox Mountain trip outfit (which somehow I missed commenting on the first time round) is super cute! Love the color combo and the great hat!



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  30. Goodness, that gingham is to die for!! :)

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  31. O I am so sorry to hear that your basement flooded and that it caused damage.
    One of the things that terrify me the most are natural disasters that you can do nothing about .

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