Hospitality: 5 Small Items to Pack That Feel Like Home

Being a college student and with parents overseas, I travel a bit.  I've moved around a lot the past few years, so being able to "set up house" quickly has become an important skill.  At one point when my family travelled a lot, even staying at a hotel two nights in a row felt like we were really settling in!

Of course, there are many other reasons to travel and many other life circumstances that would make you want to make a place that isn't home feel like home!  Even a vacation can make one homesick.  Here are a five small bits that you can pack with you that will immediately make your environment feel more like home:

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1.  A candle (and you should hold it epically like the lady above!)

Those of you who read this blog regularly know that I'm into candles because of family tradition via my mother!  Bring a scent that you burn often at home or smells like the area around your home.  Scent is one of the most powerful memory triggers!  If burning things isn't allowed, opt for a candle substitute (like a Bath & Bodyworks Wallflower) or candle warmer, if you have space.

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2. A picture in a frame

Kind of an obvious one, but be sure to put it in a frame, too, if you have room!  It classes it up and makes it feel less like a summer camp taped-on-the-bunk-bed photo and more like a real home's decor.  Bring pictures of your loved ones, favorite memories, or the area you're from.

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3. A pillow

There's nothing worse than a too-hard or too-flat pillow.  A good, familiar pillow will make a world of difference for your sleep, and when you close your eyes, it'll feel like home!

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4. A mug/ tea cup and beverage

This one has brought a lot of comfort to me.  When you leave home, bring a favorite mug or teacup with you, and take your favorite beverage, be it a tea, drink mix, coffee, etc.  Especially if this beverage is unavailable in your destination area, this little taste of home will bring a lot of comfort!  You can close your eyes and sip, remembering the other good times when you had this beverage in this cup.  My own father brought his "perfect sweet tea glass" with him to Africa, and there have been many times where I fondly remembered drinking coffee in Kassala or tea in Cardiff as I enjoyed the matching taste.

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5. A song

Bring your jam with you!  Bring a song in your native language that you know all the words to, that reflects how your home feels, and that has good memories connected.  When I was adjusting to life in Egypt, I oftentimes sat in my room and listened to country music.  Before then, I didn't even really like country music, but it seemed so American, and I just needed something familiar.  A good song can do wonders for your mood and take you back home as you close your eyes and listen, even if for just a few minutes.

Floor Camping Trip

Finally, after much ado, I have pictures from my floor's camping trip!

We went to a state park about 30 minutes away and camped at a rustic site next to a creek.  (And for those of you who don't know, "rustic"=no toilets.  It was a great bonding experience.)

creek next to our site

Cooking hot dogs over the fire.  Everything tastes better seasoned with wood smoke.

The place was beautiful!  It's still early spring here though, and it got really cold at night, down to the 30s F.  We made do as best we could though, and we got through the night!  

Keeping warm in the morning

Some of us slept in hammocks

The next day was much warmer, and we sunbathed, hiked, climbed, sat around the fire and sang songs, and explored.  Gone were the worries about homework, the stresses of moving out soon, the nervousness about summer plans.  It was time to be in the now, experiencing nature and getting back to the basics.

(I also got to try out a pair of shorts I just made from a vintage pattern!  More pics will be coming soon!  They also made my initial camping outfit- until it got frigid- pretty close to my hiking wish outfit!)

Some of the ladies!
One of our mottos for the week was "Anyone who looks cute camping isn't camping hard enough."
And though our outfits were not amazing and definitely for function instead of fashion, these ladies are still looking pretty cute with their woodsy natural beauty!

Aria, our resident hippie guitarist, and Jessie "Bon Kue Kue"

Yes, I brought my teapot and we made tea over the fire.  It was great.

Our floor has a Rosie the Riveter/ empowerment theme this year, so we saluted her.

And I brought my Steak 'n' Shake mug.

I devised a method for making "stick toast" over the fire.

Judge me if you will, but I like my marshmallows totally burnt.

Not quite ready....... 

Got it!  Best floor there is, right here.

* Photo credit to Aria Morton

Country Western University Banquet

Saturday night my university had the annual Junior/Senior banquet, this year at Dolly Parton's "Dixie Stampede."  (It's good stereotypical historical country fun, and I like it, I won't lie.  'Merica.)  I went with my friends Danielle, Brittany, Vanielle, and Kristin (and Jacob of course, though he's obviously not pictured above!).

It's a country version of a dinner theater with all the seats placed around a dirt arena.  There are amazingly skilled trick riders, buffalo, pig races, ostrich races, dancing, drama, and good times, all centered around an American pioneer/ Civil War theme (aka the mid-1800s).

Yes, it is very country American.  Not all Americans are into this sort of thing, but I do like it.  It's sort of an exaggerated version of my heritage, and patriotism is an integral part of American culture.  I know it can be oftentimes misunderstood by people of other nationalities, but it's not meant as arrogance or anything.  We know we have it pretty good in our country and we're grateful for it, is all.

Anyway, off my cultural soapbox.

With the western theme, we students (mostly city kids) took the chance to dress in country western style.  Cowboy boots, big hair, denim, the works.  I didn't have any specifically western clothing in my wardrobe, so I put together a western-vintage fusion outfit that I was rather pleased with.  I also took the opportunity to get Jacob and myself some legit cowboy boots at a flea market.  I LOVE mine, and they will be worn again.  Cowboy boots are a timeless American thing.  Vintage ones look basically the same as modern ones, so that's a cool part of country western culture.  I paired these with a vintage 40s hairstyle that I learned from the "Style Me Vintage" hair edition book (which I will EXCITINGLY talk about in a future post!).

caught Jacob mid-word here, but you can see my boots best in this one!

My best friend Maureen and I

We watched the show, then afterward they had giveaways and line dancing.  It was pretty fun.  After the banquet we went to a restaurant called Cakes 'n' Cream, a 50s style diner.  It was really cute!  We got ice cream and a funnel cake.   (A southern friend of mine would always say to eat ice cream after dinner because "It fills in the cracks."  Ha!)

It was a wonderful night of quality time and memory-making with friends!

Pictures in front of the show horses!

I told him to smile, and this is what I got.  He simply can't smile with his aviators on; he just feels too B.A.

At Cakes 'n' Cream.  Like I said, Jacob can't smile with his aviators on.

1944 Perfect Summer Shirt

(Before trying out a pattern, I always like to see if I can find a real made-up version of it.  Hopefully this will be helpful to some of you!)

I just adore this 1944 blouse pattern (Simplicity 1093) that I got from this Etsy shop.

I made the scoop neck short sleeve/sleeveless version (there aren't technically any sleeve pieces, no worries) that is in the bottom right corner of the pattern envelope, view 4.  It has two main pattern pieces with a snap enclosure on the side.  The blouse is pouffier at the top, but it is fitted around the waist for easy tucking (as you can see in the picture below).

It's a fairly simple pattern that is a breeze to resize because of its blousey fit, and I can definitely envision the nearly endless ways of easily personalizing and altering it with different necklines, trims, buttons, etc., and it's also really comfortable!  (I made it in cotton, and it's just perfect for warm days!) 

Things you should know about this pattern, however:

- The pattern doesn't have any lines or writing on it, only punched holes to mark different places (as is normal for older patterns, I discovered).  Personally, I actually liked this a lot better.

- The pattern pieces will require altering if you're any other measurements than the middle size because there are no lines marking different sizes like modern patterns have.  (I'm not very good at sizing, but I still found this simple to do because of the bloused fit.)

- Lastly, though there are instructions, they do make assumptions that you have certain sewing knowledge (like putting in a zipper), and it doesn't include a facing pattern piece for the scoop neck option.  It simply says to "make a bias facing."

For that, I used a tutorial to make my own bias tape (I didn't realize it was so simple!), and another to learn how to do a bias binding on curves (like the shirt's neckline).  It really wasn't too difficult once I got my mind wrapped around the concept!

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this pattern to you 40s lovers!  It's simple, period-normal design and fit is brilliant for the warm summer days coming up!

Flea Market Find!

I found this amazing 40s hat in a flea market last week!  40s clothing and accessories are really hard to come by here, so when I find them I'm extra excited!  I saw this little brown hat with fringe and a green ring accent, and I snatched it up and took it home with me!  It has such a classic 40s silhouette that I didn't have in my wardrobe yet, so I'm glad to check off another box on my wishlist.

Also, go to the Flashback Summer Facebook page to vote on the type of blog content you like the best!  I'll have more time to really work on it this summer, and I want to give the people what they want!  

dress and sweater: department store

hat: Relics

bracelet: Kenya

earrings and brooch: gifted

sunglasses: American Eagle

Wear a Purple/Race Shirt For Boston

Today I'm wearing a purple race shirt for the victims of the bombings at the Boston Marathon yesterday.

I've been praying for you guys and all of Boston since I heard.  I can't imagine how scary that would be, and I'm so sorry for those who have lost loved ones.

I'll still be praying for those who are injured, too.  And some wounds cut deeper than skin; I'll be praying for holistic healing for everyone in Boston.

We love you and support you!

Dress It Up, Dress It Down

I recently got a 1940s dress that I've been eyeing in a store for a long time, and I got it all altered and fit to me!  I was super excited to wear it to the symphony with my man, Jacob, for our two year dating anniversary in March.  I was also pleased to find, later, that I can dress the frock down easily!  I discovered a cool collar option built into it that allows it to be worn two different ways.  Here are some ways to use accessories, hair, and makeup to create both formal and informal looks for the same dress:

Formal

- shoes: heels/ peeptoe/ strappy

- hair: formal updo or long and pretty!  Add special accessories if desired.

- makeup: a bit darker is fine.  Think smoky eye, red lips, etc.

- accessories: glamorous sparkle, bling it out!  I had a metallic purse, belt, and earrings.  I also wore my new seamed stockings. :)

- skin: show a bit more skin if you'd like.  Go strapless, or do as I did and go with a lower neckline.

Informal

- shoes: practical/ comfy

- hair: practical and cute!  This is a more 1940s European style that's GREAT for curl-less or no-time days.

- makeup: natural and light

- accessories: functional and more subtle.  I wore a matching scarf to keep the cold away!

- skin: more conservative.  I went for the higher neckline here.

Do you have any other tips for ways to dress up/ dress down an article of clothing?  How do you make your pieces more versatile?