60's Beach Girl

Every year Nathan and I go to Charleston for a day trip, but  last year we didn't make it because we were buying a house! We made up for it this year though...we just got back from a four day stay and we had so much fun! Of course we spent one full day at the beach, and I seized the opportunity to wear my newly thrifted 1960's swimsuit. I've been looking for a vintage swimsuit at thrift stores for a long time and I was sooo excited when I found this one for $5. I bought it without even trying it on, and couldn't believe it when I tried it on at home and it fit perfectly!

Traveling Vintage

I'm packing for a little getaway with my hubby and it's my first time packing in my vintage suitcase! I thrifted it for $5 years ago...I was only intending to display it but recently I realized that it's actually an awesome piece of luggage and a shame not to use it, especially since good luggage nowadays can be expensive. It's in excellent condition too. Vintage suitcases can smell awfully musty though, so I left a bowl full of baking soda and lavender oil in it for a few days and it took the yucky smell right out! (and it smells like lavender now!)

I'm fairly certain this is from the 1960s...it reminds me of the Samsonite campaign on Mad Men(: I love how pretty this piece is...something about having a pretty suitcase makes me want to pack prettily too(usually I'm the type to just wad my clothes up and stuff them in a duffle bag). Well, I have some music practice to squeeze in this afternoon and my puppy is chewing on a radio manual so I better wrap this up! Hope it inspires you to keep your eyes open for vintage luggage next time you're at the thrift store!

Tie Away With Me

I made this dress several months ago and have been wanting to post about it but just haven't had the proper chance! What I love most about it is its' versatility- I'm wearing it as a one shoulder dress but you can tie both sides above your shoulders or both underneath your shoulders for a strapless look as well!

Secret Garden

I've wanted an herb garden since we bought our house last summer but hadn't felt motivated enough to actually plant one. I've tried keeping herbs in pots in the house but they always end up dying. One of my friends gave me a mint plant this week and I finally decided to clear a patch in the yard and start a real herb garden. Here is the spot that I chose:

This bed was full of weeds and several inches of dried leaves so I spend several hours clearing and bagging it all up. I was pleasantly surprised to find a raised bed with a rock border under all that junk, which was what I was planning on doing anyways! 

I pulled up almost everything in the bed but there were a few pretty shade loving plants that I kept like this one:

I planted mint, dill, cilantro, thyme, parsley and basil. I'd love to hear what your favorite herbs are! I'd also like to add more plants to the rock crevices...any suggestions? 

Coconut Mojito Cake

A few days ago I participated in an Instagram event called #recipesfromtheattic. The concept was created and hosted by a fellow vintage enthusiast. What you do is sign up via email address and you are mailed as vintage recipe card; on a set day everyone bakes their recipe and posts about it on Instagram. It's a really fun way to interact with others who share love of vintage! If you want to join in next time follow @atticseventeen. My recipe was Coconut Cake and I threw in a Caribbean twist and made it a Coconut Mojito cake. I had some requests for the recipe so I thought I'd share.

Cake:

Duncan Hines Butter Cake Mix
*optional: substitute half or all of the water called for with rum

Prepare cake according to box.(I used two round nine-inch pans). Cool and slice each in half.

Filling:

1 pt sour cream
1 c. sugar
12 oz coconut flakes
Zest of 3 limes
Large handful of mint leaves, finely chopped

Mix ingredients together and chill overnight.

Topping:

16 oz. whipping cream(you could use a smaller amount but it is nice to have left-over whipped cream for coffee)
Powdered sugar to taste ( I eyed it but I think it was about 1/3 c)
One shot of rum(or more to taste!)

Whip ingredients  until it turns into whipped cream(I'm sure there's a fancier way of saying that!).

Mix one cup of the whipped cream with one cup of the prepared filling mixture.

Spread filling between each layer of cake and frost entire cake with the topping. Garnish with lime and mint leaves if desired.