Me & Obama....Today.

When he announced he'd be in Des Moines today to make up for a missed date last week when he went to see his ailing Grandma, Toot (who I am praying for to make it to see her son become President!), I emailed a friend of mine w/ the campaign asking about potential seating for someone w/ a small child. I took my daughter in May to see him and it was tough being in a huge crowd with her, so small, not able to see....etc etc. She did me one better and hooked me, my ex husband and my daughter up w/ VIP tickets!

The rally was 5 blocks from the shop so we closed up and walked over this morning. The line was a couple blocks long but moved quickly, we got through the metal detectors w/ TSA checking our stuff and went right up front. I got a cool pic of a sharp-shooter beneath a HUGE American flag that would have blocked him from where we were but a breeze blew it up....notice the girl in her apartment window below the sniper......

With 25,000 people in attendance, our Governor, Chet Culver, spoke...as did Senator Tom Harkin, congressman Leonard Boswell and a dem. running for Congress, Becky Greenwald. A highlight was when Iowa native and world reknowned opera singer, Simon Estes, sang the Star Spangled Banner....people were literally weeping it was so beautiful.....

And then Barack came out!!

There was a runway down the center of the crowd he walked and then came back up front to speak.....

Shot of the crowd, I didn't take this.....

At the end he actually walked down to the front of the barrier so people could speak to him...I was about 5 rows back and made it my mission to get the sign my daughter made for him up there into his hands. I left my daughter w/ my ex and pushed through to get to him...handed him the sign, he looked at it and smiled (it was total chaos up there), and handed it to an assistant who tucked it into a folder!!! My daughter was so proud and excited!

The speech was incredible, it was an overwhelming experience to be that close to someone so brilliant....someone who (crossing fingers!) will be the next President of the United States!!! The speech can be seen here, if anyone wants to see it....

http://tinyurl.com/6lo9na

Also, another girl that came into the shop during the caucus was Hope Hall, who is a film maker. She is extremely talented and as it turned out, she made the film they played at the DNC before Obama's acceptance speech, you can see it here...

http://tinyurl.com/68qzjg

Its pretty fantastic to live in Iowa during a presidential campaign, even more so during this epic moment!!!

Ang

Hope or Hate?

The beginning of this video is a little tough to watch, but after all the news stories and footage of racist & bigoted behavior as of late in this country, I think its important. If for no other reason than to make one think about what we want America to be.

~Ang

Missing....Vintage Tee.

Missing, the polite way of saying "stolen".

To the young lady who stole this tee shirt from my shop (shown here modeled by the lovely Emily for a listing on etsy, who would never steal)...

I hope you come back into my shop someday, because I know who you are and you will not have a pleasant shopping experience. At. All.

Perhaps your ignorance comes from your age and lack of life experience. Perhaps your parents never taught you that stealing is illegal. Perhaps you are an idiot. But I would like to let you know what stealing from me means.

I am a single Mom, and all of the merchandise in my shop has been purchased outright by myself on my own dime (not credit). Let me explain to you how being a grown up with a privately owned small business works.

I invest in inventory with the faith that it will one day sell at a profit. That is how I make money! That is what I call my "salary". As a single Mom when you steal from me, you take away my ability to pay medical bills, my car payment, my rent, my utilities, buy gas and groceries, my insurance on myself and my 5 year old daughter.

Now, one tee shirt does not cover much of those expenses by any means. But the idea that you, as a care-free, parent-supported naive and irresponsible teenager would steal from someone like me really chaps my arse. You got a free shirt and got your laughs at mine and my daughter's expense, which is despicable.

Lastly, if anyone in Des Moines sees someone wearing this (very rare) tee shirt, please let her know how I feel and ask her if she is so brave as to steal, if she would also be so brave as to stop into the shop and have a chat with me about it. I'll bet she's not so brave after all.

~Ang

The House That I Live In

A nice respite during what hopefully is the ugliest part of this historic election.

~Ang

Life

In a Northern Town, one of my favorite songs ever....re-interpreted by Sugarland for Obama. Excuse the politics, but this election really matters.

~Ang

Site Additions

Some highlights added (or being added today) to the site....

80s iconic Karl Lagerfeld cocktail suit dress with vest insert in tuxedo style, off the shoulder jacket with mid calf length pencil skirt featuring beaded and sequined 3-D bees....

80s Yves St Laurent RIVE GAUCHE 30s inspired polka dot silk blouse with billowing sleeves and bow at throat....

80s Zandra Rhodes necklace sketch print blouse with obi sash....

Valentino lipstick red wool 80s swing coat....

Elegant 30s gowns....

40s tropical print pajamas with cropped, knotted top and high waist pants...

Fly fishing lure print 40s lounging set....

50s novelty print dresses....sweet bows...

Kitty cats in pink and black on avacado green....

Several Edwardian blouses and petticoats and a beaded gown....

Just in time for cooling temps...coats! Just added a few, one of my favorites is this bright red Lilli Ann coat with fox fur collar....

New party dresses, hats, shoes and scarves added as well as some gorgeous lingerie! Click any image to get to the site!

~Ang