Fill out Chronically Vintage's 2014 survey and you could win big!

It has been well over two years (I know, where on earth does the time go?!) since we last had a reader survey here on Chronically Vintage, and in the face of an ever changing, ever evolving online universe, I thought it was high time for another.
 
This survey includes questions not only about Chronically Vintage the blog, but also the Etsy shop, as well as CV on social media. From day one, your impute and feedback have always been extremely important to me and I genuinely care about what kind of an experience you have when you interact with any of my sites. I value and adore my readers and online friends and would wholeheartedly appreciate it if you took a few quick minutes to fill out this survey.

{Now's your chance, take this Chronically Vintage reader poll, tell me your thoughts loud and clear, and you could win a $75.00 Chronically Vintage Etsy store credit to spend on anything in the shop. I can't wait to hear what you save to say. Image source.}

Once you've done so, please leave me a comment on this post letting me know that you've taken the survey. All comments will automatically be entered in a draw for a $75.00 store credit, which can be put towards any item (or items) in my Etsy vintage shop (that is/are available at the time you redeem your store credit).

Please note that if the item(s), including shipping, that are selected exceed $75.00, the additional cost is the responsibility of the winner. If you have any questions about this giveaway, please don't hesitate to email me any time.
 
In one month's time (I want to keep it open for a month to give lots of folks the chance to fill it out), I will use a random number generator to draw the winner, contact them via email or Facebook private message, and announce their name on Facebook and/or Twitter. This giveaway is open to readers from around the world and the only condition for entry is that you fill out the the survey below.
 
In addition, to thank you for filling out this survey, all those who complete it will receive a special, limited time coupon code (upon completion of the survey) which they can use in the shop until October 16, 2014.

Please note that your answers are completely anonymous and confidential. I will see your answers, but I won't know who or where they're coming from, so please be as honest and forthright as you'd like when filling out these questions.

 

Thank you very, very much, everyone, for your time and help. I'm always on the hunt for new and innovative ways to grow and better my blog, shop, and social media presences, and really look forward to studying the data this immensely helpful survey will provide me with and doing just that as we head into the last leg of this year and well beyond.

What one wears when it's 42C

Outfit details

Hair flowers: Assorted sources
Dark plastic tortoise shell sunglasses: DKNY
Black and clear rhinestone earrings: Save On Foods (Sadly, later in the day I discovered I'd lost one of these beautiful, vintage looking earrings. We went to the store where I'd bought them a few months ago in case they were still in stock, but unfortunately they weren't. At least I'll always have the photos from this day to remember them by.)  1930s glass bead necklace: Maejean Vintage
Fitted red top: Urban Planet (I think - bought it years ago now)
Black quadruple buckle stretch belt: Forever 21
1950s style leopard print circle skirt: Big Beautiful Barbara Brown
Black plastic rose bead stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: MK Retro  Black sling back bow flats: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

(Car thermostat photo taken by me with my phone)

{Let's just ignore the multi-chins that this harsh July sunlight and the shadows from the trees in front of me are creating in this photo - and most of the other snaps here - shall we! Thanks! :) }

♥ ♥ ♥

Sunglasses, for starters!!!

Beyond that, when the temperature soars to 42C/108F, most other items of clothing become seriously negotiable. For those of though who aren't keen on, or don't believe in, as the personal case may be, baring nearly all no matter the weather though, options like itty-bitty bikinis and Daisy Duke worthy denim shorts are out. In their place, I prefer to reach for, counterintuitive as it may sound, a lovely long skirt.

It doesn't have to be heavy, and I frequently skip a crinoline in such sweltering heat, but the airiness that is created when the breeze whips up and rustles through its folds is so immensely refreshing.

On this day, I partnered my beloved 1950s leopard print circle skirt (from UK reproduction seller Big Barbara Brown, who, and please don't quote me here as I can't say for certain, may have shut down, as their online shop is gone and their Facebook page hasn't been updated in a few months) with a thin, breathable red cotton stretch top, my favourite belt I've ever owned (by a long shot), which looks decidedly mid-century, but is in fact a budget-friendly Forever 21 piece bought several years ago in Toronto, sling back black flats, a few fun hair flowers, and lightweight jewelry. That's it, folks.

The Okanagan Valley, where we live, routinely gets some of, if not "the", warmest temperatures in Canada each year and though I do madly love the heat (draining, admittedly, as it can be at times), I'm not going to suit up in suit, if you will, or five layers when the mercury is making a beeline for the nearest deep freeze to try and cool off. No, weather like this, which poofs/swells your skin something fierce (or so it does to me at least), calls for simple, light, classic pieces that weigh little and don't take themselves too terribly seriously.

In addition to breezy skirts, capris, peddle pushers, halter tops, playsuits, sundresses, wide brimmed straw hats, feather weight shoes, and simple, unfussy accessories are, take it from someone with many years of experience with wildly warm summers, the way to go when the days feel as hot as the surface of the sun.

On this particular recent Sunday afternoon, Tony and I made our way to the shade bedecked shores of Shannon Lake, a relatively small (for the area at least) body of water on the outskirts of West Kelowna. A favourite local fishing hole of many, my angler husband very much included, it was - shockingly - virtually empty that day. Clearly the masses had flocked to the bigger lakes, such as Okanagan, and the sandy beaches there.

We weren't getting in the water, so Shannon Lake served us perfectly well and was as gloriously tranquil local retreat as one could ever hope for. And as we'd not yet taken snaps at this particular lake, naturally the camera came out for a spell, before we both sank in a heat induced stupor onto the verdant, slopping hills and took a moment to, once again, reflect on just how blessed we are to live in this stunning, lake strewn part of the world.

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want

...to see...


On my brand new Chronically Vintage YouTube channel.


Last weekend, I'm thrilled to say, we (Tony and I) created the first two little videos. The first is a welcome clip for my About page for the blog, the second a welcome to my YouTube channel. Here they both are:









Now, while I wouldn't say I'm entirely without ideas for videos, unlike when it comes to blog posts (which I, no word of a lie, have pages upon pages of possible topics for, most of which work best in the context of a written post), I do not yet have scads of ideas for specific YouTube videos and would truly welcome your impute here.

If there's any sort of vintage, product review, lifestyle, fashion, beauty, wig wearing, thrift store shopping, etc related subject that you'd like me to explore on YouTube, please let me know in the comments here, by email, or on YouTube itself and your suggestions may very well end up in a future video.

I would wholeheartedly appreciate it if you subscribed to my channel as well, as I'm creating it, my sweet dears, as another awesome avenue through which to share my love of, and knowledge on, vintage topics with all of you. If you could post about it on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, and anywhere else you'd fancy, that would be seriously fantastic, too.


Thank you all so much!!! Here's to this very cool new venture and all the exciting Chronically Vintage YouTube activity that lies ahead!