2nd Annual Glamping Weekend

It's time to start gathering the gear!

Who:  the Hometown Victory Girls cordially invite you to
What:  our Second Annual Glamping Weekend at
Where:  Governor Thompson State Park (Crivitz, WI 54114) on
When:  Thursday, July 3 - Sunday, July 6, 2014
Why:  for the simple fun of camping
How: glamourously!!
  
Last year everyone had such a great time, and with that first one under our belt, we're raring to go on Number Two!  We have an event page set up in facebook if you'd like to follow us there and receive updates.  Details regarding the park, reservations, and activities for the weekend are already posted, and there will be more in the coming months.  So bring your tent, your trailer or just toss your sleeping bag out under the stars.  Either way you go, let's make it glamorous!

Ms. Mercury's Vintage Cocktail Party

Marilyn Mercury and her husband hosted a fabulous cocktail party back in early January.  Here's a peek at the all the pin-curls and punchbowls that made it a success!  Recipes included.

Fancy Hat Sundays!

In case you don't follow our facebook page, you may just want to pop over there and take a look.  We just created an online event that runs every throughout the Summer.  It's called Fancy Hat Sundays, and it's gearing up to be a doozy! 

If you're anything like us, you have a closet full of hats that do not make it out as often as they should. Well, here's your chance to take them out of their acid-free tissue and show them off. Whether they be cloche, pillbox, birdcage, fedora, porkpie, cowboy, cocktail, feather, fascinator, bucket, bowler or beret - we want to see them!

Here's how it works: Join the event and every Sunday don a new hat and post a pic. It's that simple! It can be you, your sharp dressed man or your little buckaroo. It's a public event so invite your family and friends. The more, the merrier!  It starts this Sunday, June 30th, so join up today! 

Glamping Event Coverage

Our first annual Glamping Weekend was a success!  The warm sunny days were perfect for crinolines and canvas wedges.  The cool nights found us eating s'mores, mixing drinks, and sharing stories around the campfire.  Really, the weather was quite obliging in that it fluctuated enough, forcing us to make several outfit changes.  

Wild Kat took her freshly renovated Shasta, Lady Day, out for her maiden trip.

Jennie and Jim were first-time campers and did a great job glamping up their Scamp.

 Erin and her husband, Ray, were also first-time campers and brave enough to glamp with two small children.

Hank and I took the usual set-up, the '68 Scotty towed behind the '50 Chevy.

We even had one bonafide bachelor, Josh, who came with his bike and trailer.

Who says dudes can't glamp?

An old, canvas Boy Scout tent served as the Kids' Secret Hideout, giving them a place to play and stay out of our hair.

We were joined by friends at Saturday's lunch.  Wild Kat served fresh-squeezed lemonade, and Peachie baked us a platter of cookies and brownies.  Unfortunately Peachie couldn't spend the weekend with us because she was home with her six-week old baby girl, Lucina.  

The ladies enjoyed a lovely game of croquet.  Wild Kat won without much difficulty.

We wiled away the afternoon, sipping grape soda and talking about where to buy comfortable, yet vintage-styled shoes.

After dinner we had another round of croquet.  Wild Kat won again, and tempers flared.

We even managed to take in a bit of hiking and sightseeing.  Wildcat Mountain State Park lies along the Kickapoo River valley, and the views were amazing.

We have a lot more photos posted on our facebook page.  The girls did a great job glamping up the interiors of their campers.  Vintage linens, Melmac dishes and flamingos galore!  And even a few more pics of the raucous croquet matches.  This is definitely an event that we'll plan again for next year.

We hope you can join us!

It's official! The Girls are Glamping!!

Invitations are out and the Hometown Victory Girls will be partaking 

in the first annual International Glamping Weekend!

This is the brain-child of MaryJane Butters, of the MaryJane's Farm empire.  She really has a rich history if you read up on it.  Raised in Utah, MaryJane worked as a wilderness ranger, carpenter and the first woman station guard in Moose Creek Station in Idaho.  In the years following marriage and children, she formed a non-profit group, Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, to focus on water quality and agricultural issues in the Pacific Northwest.  Resigning as their president, MaryJane decided to build up her own organic farm specializing in ready-to-eat meals for backpackers, kayakers and all outdoor enthusiasts.  Today, along with her farm, she runs a bed and breakfast, a retail store, a magazine and is the author of four books. 

It is that fourth book of hers that has sparked a movement across the country.  'Glamping with MaryJane' is the essential handbook for anyone looking to spend a luxurious weekend in the woods.  And that's just what we're planning to do.

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Now if 'glamorous camping' seems a bit foreign to you, don't worry.  The rules haven't changed from your childhood camping days.  Pack all your gear and tents, but think on a grander scale.  Add real beds, not air mattresses.  Add throw pillows (who doesn't love more throw pillows?).  Add rugs, not AstroTurf.  Add chandeliers, not Coleman lanterns.  Get the idea?

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You'll still need pots and pans, but opt for pretty ones that can be used as much as for decoration as for service.  Ditch the plastic and paper.  Add tablecloths and frilly aprons. The idea here is to make the tent seem more like a home.

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But if tent-camping really isn't your thing, hook up the trailer.  Vintage trailers are making a huge comeback these days, and they can be completely customized to fit your personal taste.  From the romantic, shabby chic Airstream (above)...

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...to the canned ham in full-retro regalia!  The possibilities are endless!  

Your site can be as simple or as extravagant as you want.  

Now try not to lose heart when thinking, "How am I going to haul all this?"  I agree, we do need to be reasonable.  Although some glamping guides show lovely photos of clawfoot bathtubs, that's a bit of a stretch for most of us.  I still suggest packing easy meals such as trail mix, fruit, cheese and sausage.  But take a good look at all the disposable things you pack and replace them with the real thing.  Bring real dishes (one setting for each person) and real silverware.  Cloth napkins, towels and tablecloths.  Winnow your supplies down to one of everything (one wooden spoon, one fry pan, one medium kettle).  A little dish soap at the end of the day, and clean-up is a breeze. 

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Now add just a few frou-frou touches.  A potted plant to use as a centerpiece.  A tea-light in a mason jar for ambiance.  And don't forget those throw pillows.  These things aren't cumbersome to haul, but add a softer touch that makes your whole weekend just a bit more lux. 

So I think you get the idea.  The Hometown Victory Girls will be at Wildcat Mountain State Park on the first weekend in June.  Follow us on facebook for updates and event coverage.  If you happen to be in the area that weekend, let us know!  And next time we'll talk about what to wear when you're glamping.  Because, honestly, that's a whole blog post in and of itself!

just a little Auld Lang Syne

We all love the holiday season.  Christmas seems so innocent with its tree trimming (and light bulb replacing), all the cookie baking (how many pounds of sugar did I go thru this year?!) and gift giving (and frantic last-minute sewing).  But hot on the heels of December 25th is December 31st.  This particular holiday seems to feel like a birthday-bachelor party rolled into one.  It's a chance to make a clean start, but somehow that should include copious amounts of liquor and zaniness.   This year the Hometown Victory Girls decided to play it low-key with a house party at the BoPeep's house.

We bundled up and headed out into the frosty night, arriving at the Willow Homestead with food and spirits.  Well, okay, I didn't because I live there, but this makes for a better photo. Vintage coats never get the attention they deserve!

Number One priority was to shoo the children upstairs so we could set the buffet table.  We started with smoked salmon, Italian olives, meatballs and shrimp cocktail.

And Wild Kat did a very cool cheese platter using almonds to create pine cones.  We were very tempted to stick a couple black olives on there and call them hedgehogs though. 

And of course no event would be complete without a bit of bacon.

Peachie did an amazing job on the dessert table.  She made the 2013 cupcakes topped with fondant swirls, Oreo clock faces and handwritten '2013s' in chocolate (scroll back up to the top photo).  Fruit, fudge and cranberry punch (in my lovely ironstone soup tureen) rounded out the table.

Our mini bar was fully stocked for fifty people, boasting everything from key lime martinis to Irish Coffee.  Honestly I think we had more fun in the planning and prep than anything!

Peachie's husband was gracious enough to lend his photography skills so we could get a few updated photos for our blog banner.  Check out our facebook album for more behind the scenes shenanigans.

So from all of us, to all of you, have a very wonderful New Year!

Pie Crust 101

 

"We must have a pie.  Stress cannot exist in the presence of pie."

~ David Mamet, from his 1999 play, Boston Marriage

This past Saturday the Hometown Victory Girls and some of their friends got together at the Willow Homestead for a little stress relief.  We decided it was the perfect time to fight back against the tempting laziness of a Pillsbury crust and presumed thriftiness of Musselman's pie filling.  Holiday baking season is fast approaching.  Good bye to convenience; hello homemade yumminess!

Since all of us were at different skill levels of pie making, we decided to bake two classic apple pies.  That would give us all lots of practice rolling out a crust.

Jennie was our designated apple peeler.

Rebecca worked her lattice magic on one pie while Wild Cat did the HVG cutouts shown in the top photo.

Sherry mastered the proper wrist action on the rolling pin for our next dessert...

...a Chocolate Pecan Tart.  How can you have a girls' day out and not have something chocolate?  This beauty was baking while we cleaned up the kitchen and headed for the dining room.

Success!   

And these are the satisfied smiles of an afternoon well spent.  This holiday season we will proudly present our families with homemade flakiness and perfectly sweetened apples.  For more photos and all the recipes, head over to our facebook album.  Happy Baking!

P.S.  Don't let all those aprons fool you.  We didn't spend all afternoon slaving over the hot stove.  Jennie treated us to a vintage clothing swap, and we even found time to visit the sheep.

The Symco Shakedown Experience

Symco Shakedown #4 was bigger and better than ever!

I seriously need to consider taking the week before and after Symco off . I probably forgot about ten different things I was going to pack (which makes me think I should make a packing list for next year's shakedown NOW), but still had lots of fun. I was trying to finish a skirt for the pin up contest but ran out of time. Fortunately, my friend came to the rescue on Thursday and loaned me his mother's Mexican skirt from 1943!

 With the Buick packed to the gills we set off for Symco Thursday evening.

Our arrival at Symco Thresheree Grounds.

Let me just say in my defense I am packing for glamour camping or glamping. Which means a whole separate suitcase just for makeup and hair accessories.

Had to steal my vanity mirror from my Wildcat since I forgot my mirror!
Buick is a beauty too!

 I do believe Midnight Maniac and lots of other gals packed this way too, since there were loads of cute gals crawling the Thresheree grounds.

Our home away from home...next year a vintage camper I hope!

Friday evening calendar signing.

So what was new this year?

The fabulous Francesca Alfresca!

Well first off they had a burlesque show on Friday evening. It was my first time and I loved it!
My favorite performer was Francesca Alfresca. She had a cute balloon act and a sexy matador act.

The fashion designer in me LOVES this costume!

Maybe Daddy-O will be lucky enough to get his own private rendition some night. *wink*

Saturday was the big day. This year I accepted BoPeep's invitation to help with the pin up contest and it was a lot of fun. Those girls all brought their A-game this year!

The gorgeous gals all lined up for their time on stage.

My job was to keep the girls in line backstage...literally. Also to make sure they were looking their best before stepping out in front of the crowd.

Whew all done, now to get to work!

After the contest I went with a group of the calendar girls (including Miss Symco) to their photo shoot for the calendar. While trying to stay out of the photographer's way, I did my best to make sure they looked perfect. Some of the girls thanked me for helping out (the best compensation I could get). Those gals were beautiful on their own but with no mirrors available you want someone to make sure you makeup is perfect and your skirt is fluffed just right! My group of girls drew a big crowd everywhere we went.

A photo shoot in front of one of my favorite vintage campers. (Daddy-O was drooling over the Caddy too.)

Such fun, next year I will bring a survival bag. I got sunburned and only had a Mountain Dew (yuck!) until 3 in the afternoon. I took a short nap and then had some fun taking pics until the sun set.

Posing on Jerry's Ford after a meal, nap, and wardrobe change.

Then it was time for the bands.

Here is my one beef with the Shakedown. Too many great bands playing at the same time and no room to dance! Lil' Red and the Howlin' Wolves rocked the saloon Saturday night, and they even played "Johnny got a Boom-Boom" (yes!)  So to sum it all up, I am looking forward to the next Shakedown already, but need the time to catch up on my beauty rest.  I can't wait to see what next year brings!

PS.  Daddy-O was crowned Miss Symco (and got a sweet cut from Chuck the Barber), there were two flame throwing shows, bought some great vintage items, took pin up shots of my new friend Sam, and lots more that you missed out on if you didn't go to Symco!

Proud to sponsor...

...the Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest!

Be sure to set aside the weekend of August 10-11th to attend the Symco Shakedown Traditional Hot Rod Show in Symco, Wisconsin.  Don't be confused; it is not a rat rod, art car show. These are cars that would have been seen cruising the streets of America pre-1965.  'Traditional' is the key word here.

But the cars are really only half the story. The show grounds are known as Unionville, a reconstructed small town complete with general store, blacksmith, sawmill and operating saloon.  The saloon and dance hall will be thumping both days with rockabilly music. Two stages for your listening enjoyment, playing until 11pm both Friday and Saturday nights. The Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest will be held in the bandshell on Saturday morning at 10am. Mini-bike drags are scheduled in the dirt track immediately following the pin-up contest. Vintage engine raffle to be given away Saturday at 6pm. Also, vendors and swap meet will be running all day, both days. And last but not least, on-site camping is available.

Last year the pin-up contest was a blast!  Hosted by Lolita Haze, twenty-three contestants took the stage.  Our very own Wild Kat was lucky Number 7, complete with gorgeous Victory Rolls and handmade dress from a vintage Vogue pattern #8728 (more details here.)  I wasn't quite brave enough to take the stage, but Peachie and I played our parts behind the scenes. 

All the contestants looked great, but only the top twelve were featured in a Miss Symco Pin-Up Calendar.

First place went to Sweet Pea.  She is featured on this year's promotional card and will be returning to crown Miss Symco 2012.  This year we have thirty girls registered to compete; a few familiar faces from last year and a whole new cast of beautiful women eager to get a shot at that calendar! 

So if traditional hot rods, rockabilly music or pin-up girls sound like a good way to spend a weekend, get yourself over to the Symco Shakedown!  And be sure to stop by and say hello to the Hometown Victory Girls!

Check out facebook for both the Symco Shakedown and Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest pages.