Laughing Vixen Lounge

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Day 7 Of The 1st Annual Fabulous Spring Giveaway

Welcome to day 7 of the 1st annual Fabulous Spring Giveaway. Visit the MAIN GIVEAWAY POST and enter to win a $300+ Prize Pack full of goodies from 13 amazing shops. Jewelry, Perfume, Clothing, Vintage and more! Giveaway is open worldwide and ends May 18th. Follow with #lvlspringgiveaway.

Custom Book Lovers Necklace

Shop Laughing Vixen Lounge and receive 10% off your order through May. Use code MAY10 at checkout.

Daily Posts & Extra Entries

Stop by each day for Daily Giveaway Posts. Summer is right around the corner and we will be celebrating the Summer Vacation with some of our favorite vacation photos. Each day you will find one right here from Laughing Vixen Lounge and below from that day's Featured Shop. We will also be sharing some of the best Summer Vacation Movies to enjoy this season along with Road Trip themed Fear Fridays each week. You can earn yourself EXTRA ENTRIES each day by visiting these posts.

Snoqualmie, Washington ~ 1992
In the fall of 1991 the show Twin Peaks hit the airwaves. The quirky and bizarre little show, that set out to solve the case of "Who killed Laura Palmer?", became a huge hit and an instant classic. Many of the fictional locations in the show used existing locations around Snoqualmie and North Bend Washington for their exterior shots. One of the most memorable was the Salish Lodge, which sat next to Snoqualmie Falls, which was used for The Great Northern Hotel in the show and in the opening credits.
Below ~ Roslyn, Washington ~ 1993
About an hour or two down the road from Snoqualmie is the little town of Roslyn. The main street of this town was used for the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska in the TV show Northern Exposure. The show ran from 1990-1995 and many will remember Roslyn's Cafe below from the opening credits with Mort the Moose walking past it.

No featured shop today so instead we present...

~SUMMER MOVIES~

Laughing Vixen Lounge loves movies so here are some fun Summer themed movies to chase away those Summertime Blues.

Vacation - Quite possibly the best Summer movie around. Written by John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) and directed by Harold Ramis (Director, Writer and sometimes Actor for Caddy Shack, Groundhogs Day, Ghostbusters and so much more!). As anyone who has ever taken a long road trip in a cramped car knows, it ain't always pretty! This movie captures so much of that experience even if it is over the top.

Stand By Me - One of my all time favorites! From a novella by Stephen King (the Shinning, Carrie, Christine) and directed by Rob Reiner (director of When Harry Met Sally, the Princess Bride and Misery. Actor in many, many things over the year from All in the Family to Sleepless in Seattle.) A story of four young boys who set off one summer's day to see if the rumors are true about a dead body being found along the train tracks. Set against the late fifties it features a wonderful soundtrack, beautiful cars, discussions about everything now retro and a truly touching story about being young and growing up. Bonus points for it being filmed here in Oregon. A visit to Brownsville, OR will take you right back to the little town of Castle Rock as not much there has changed since the filming of this movie.

Friday the 13th - It just could not be Summer without a trip to Camp Crystal Lake. A classic in the horror genre and one of the first movies of this era that helped shape the Slasher genre. It made us all leery of the woods and I do not envy the kids that had to go to Summer camp after this one came out. But if you are a fan of horror films you can not go wrong with this one. One of Kevin Bacon's first films! In the New Jersey area this summer? Camp Nobebosco, a still functioning Boy Scout camp, was the setting for the original Camp Blood.

Wet Hot American Summer - If you enjoy the Summer camp movies of the late seventies and early eighties give this one a try. A loving spoof of those films and featuring some now well known names such as Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Copper, Elizabeth Banks, Molly Shannon and more. It's a fun watch that will make you feel nostalgic.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Day 6 Of The 1st Annual Fabulous Spring Giveaway

Welcome to day 6 of the 1st annual Fabulous Spring Giveaway. Visit the MAIN GIVEAWAY POST and enter to win a $300+ Prize Pack full of goodies from 13 amazing shops. Jewelry, Perfume, Clothing, Vintage and more! Giveaway is open worldwide and ends May 18th. Follow with #lvlspringgiveaway.

Friday the 13th Inspired Bracelet

Shop Laughing Vixen Lounge and receive 10% off your order through May. Use code MAY10 at checkout.

Daily Posts & Extra Entries

Camping around Oregon ~ 1974.
Left to Right ~ My sister Lisa, my dad Dick, myself Kris and my brother Pete.
My parents took us camping pretty much every weekend during the season until we were well into our teens. Long before cell phones, portable video games and my knowledge of Friday the 13th movies! It was a great way to grow up and I miss going camping. OK, maybe not the sleeping on the ground but roasting those marshmallows sounds good!
Below ~ 1965
My dad and my sister in the BIG green tent they used before the camper came along.

Featured Shop ~ Some Kind of Pretty
Some Kind Of Pretty is run by Catheryn from Warner Robins, Georgia. Her shop is filled with lots of colorful handmade jewelry.

Citrus Punch Bangle

How did you choose your shop name?
"Trial and error. I wish I had a more romantic story, but honestly just trying to find a name that wasn't taken in Etsy. I know the name is odd, but it kinda stuck with me and now I couldn't imagine anything else."

Turquoise and Coral Necklace

Why did you choose to make/sell what you do?
" I have been making jewelry since I was a kid. I got to the point where I was making it for friends and making so much for myself that I decided to sell it. Shortly after I started college, I decided to open up my Etsy store and it has been growing ever since!"

Pink D4 Rings

What inspires the designs/creations you make?
"I get inspired by many different things. Most of the time it will be colors or patterns that I see in the media (TV, magazines, Internet)."

Tassel Earrings

What new designs/creations would you like to add to your shop in the future?
"I have introduced my Cluster Bracelets this year. I love these bracelets! Easy slide on bangles that are full of personality and are great to stack or wear alone. I will also be introducing more long tassel necklaces. So I have lots of great pieces coming this year!"

Leopard Zipper Pouch

You'll have a chance to win a Leopard Shell Necklace from Some Kind Of Pretty. Enter now on the MAIN GIVEAWAY POST.

Leopard Shell Statement Necklace

I asked each shop to share one of their favorite Vacation Photos with us.
"This is of me and my mom in 2011 when we went to Florida with my dad for his business trip."

Visit Some Kind of Pretty on Etsy and use coupon code VIXON at checkout for 15% off your order.
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Fish Bone Earrings

Friday, May 8, 2015

Fear Friday ~ Don't Drive On UnPlowed Roads or Why You Should Always Carry An Outdated Phone.

Welcome to another Fear Friday at the Laughing Vixen Lounge Blog. We are celebrating summer being right around the corner, and our Fabulous Spring Giveaway, so all of the movie selections in May will have a road trip theme. This week's tale takes us on a chilly road trip that leads us into the middle of a ghost story. It also teaches us the importance of being prepared on any road trip. It may be spring but grab a warm blanket and some extra food just in case. Enjoy!

Every Friday at the Laughing Vixen Lounge Blog is Fear Friday. Fear Fridays are a celebration of all films spooky. Horror is a very broad genre and the Lounge loves it all. Each Friday you will find a review of a different film. These can range from Classic Horror (black and white and cheesy), Thrillers (suspense, jumps and a good mystery), outright Horror (chop chop, slash slash, die die) and anything else in between.

So pop some popcorn, kill the lights and enjoy tonight's selection. And please, share your comments on the film. Bad or good let me know what you thought of it. And now, my little ghouls and dolls, the Laughing Vixen Lounge Blog is proud to present this week's film.

Fear Friday - Wind Chill

Tagline - There are worse things than dying.

Directed by Gregory Jacobs (Magic Mike XXL) and released on April 27, 2007 by TriStar Pictures (Rated R). When Girl (Emily Blunt) needs a ride home from college for the Christmas holiday she accepts a ride-share with Guy (Ashton Holmes). While she begins to suspect his true intentions a turn of events will give her far more to worry about.

Our two main character are known simply as Girl and Guy. Girl needs a ride home from college for the Christmas holiday and is suggested by a friend to try the ride-share board. Thinking it sounds better, or maybe cheaper, than the Greyhound Bus she accepts a ride with Guy. Another student but someone she has never met before. It does not take long for these two to realize they do not mix well and the five hour ride might be a long one. Even worse, Girl starts to highly suspect that Guy's intentions are not what they appear to be.

Instructed to stick to the highway by the locals Guy decides instead to take a "scenic route". Girl is far from happy about this but has little time to worry about it as an unfortunate turn of events awaits then on Route 606.

This week's movie takes us on a road trip in the cold snowy season. The season where you do not go on "scenic" roads that have not been plowed unless you know what you are doing and even then not so much. Girl and Guy end up stranded on the side of a very snowy and lonely road. Well, maybe not so lonely. Not only was it the wrong road to take because of the weather but definitely the wrong road for an even more deadly reason.

Wind Chill is a moody, atmospheric ghost story that moves at a slower pace but is filled with a creepiness that works. Low on the gore factor and not too scary. While it may not be the best spooky movie you will ever see I think it is definitely worth a watch. I am a firm believer that less is more when it comes to movies being creepy. A very simple thing can make your spine shiver. On that note make sure to watch the car windows throughout the movie once they are stranded.

Wind Chill is available to rent on most DVD and DVD streaming services.

Take a look at the original trailer.

Sorry, no trivia for this one.

Day 5 Of The 1st Annual Fabulous Spring Giveaway

Welcome to day 5 of the 1st annual Fabulous Spring Giveaway. Visit the MAIN GIVEAWAY POST and enter to win a $300+ Prize Pack full of goodies from 13 amazing shops. Jewelry, Perfume, Clothing, Vintage and more! Giveaway is open worldwide and ends May 18th. Follow with #lvlspringgiveaway.

Mermaid Deluxe Charm Bracelet

Shop Laughing Vixen Lounge and receive 10% off your order through May. Use code MAY10 at checkout.

Daily Posts & Extra Entries

Spirit Lake, Washington ~ Early 1970s.
That's my mom Rosemary on the right and some family friends on one of our many camping trips. This time was at Spirit Lake in Washington. I do not remember camping here but was told, and can see from the photos, how beautiful it was. Spirit Lake was near Mt. St. Helens. As many of you will remember Mt. St. Helens erupted on May 18th, 1980.
Middle Photo ~ Spirit Lake before the eruption and directly after. Note all the fallen trees that completely covered the water.
Last Photo ~ Spirit Lake in 2010. It is now 8 feet higher than before the eruption.

Featured Shop ~ Trinkets by Dana and Placefulness
Trinkets by Dana and Placefulness are run by Dana from Atlanta, GA. Her shops are filled with paper crafts, decor for parties and weddings, jewelry & accessories and original art/prints/fine art photography.

Good Night Mini Canvas

How did you choose your shop name?
"Placefulness is something that represents home. It's not just a place but a sense of security, love, comfort, and hope. Trinkets by Dana is like an antique shop-- you never know what you will find. I knew I would want to try a million different projects so I didn't want a name that would imply just one craft. I went with trinkets because it really embodies my shop's tangents well while reminding people that the little things are worth treasuring and being happy about. Now this is obviously a pun for the small items in my shop and the wonderful things in everyday life we tend to ignore or take for granted."

My Neighbor Totoro Origami Stars

Why did you choose to make/sell what you do?
"Trinkets by Dana - I got on Etsy my freshman year of college to just look around and de-stress. I got inspired nonstop and knew right away what I wanted to try making so I thought why not sell it? Why not share it with the world? And 2-3 years down the line, here I am! Placefulness - I'm an amateur photographer but I am a professional daydreamer. Photography offers so much to people from travel to nature all in the comforts of their home."

T-Rex Dinosaur Earrings

What inspires the designs/creations you make?
"I think I notice a lot of everyday things that people overlook from an artistic perspective and try to capture what I see. We all get busy and overwhelmed with life so sometimes it's nice to just look at a piece of nature or architecture in a different way from how your regularly experience it."

Genuine Five Leaf Clover Keychain

What new designs/creations would you like to add to your shop in the future?
"I want to work on getting all my current portfolio up from my study abroad in Ireland a few years ago. It was so lush and beautiful but updating my shop takes a long time. Hopefully, I will work on adding new prints weekly!"

You Are My Sunshine Origami Stars

You'll have a chance to win an Eco Orchid Clutch and a Bird's Nest Necklace from Trinkets by Dana. Enter now on the MAIN GIVEAWAY POST.

Since Summer is right around the corner I asked each shop to share a favorite Vacation Photo with us.
"This photo was taken in upstate NY. I was 2 years old so that's 1993."

Visit Trinkets by Dana on Etsy and use coupon code VIXEN15 at checkout for 15% off your order.
Visit Placefulness on the Web.
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Travel the World Necklace

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Day 4 of the 1st Annual Fabulous Spring Giveaway

Welcome to day 4 of the 1st annual Fabulous Spring Giveaway. Visit the MAIN GIVEAWAY POST and enter to win a $300+ Prize Pack full of goodies from 13 amazing shops. Jewelry, Perfume, Clothing, Vintage and more! Giveaway is open worldwide and ends May 18th. Follow with #lvlspringgiveaway.

Zombie Pin Ups Photo Charm Bracelet

Shop Laughing Vixen Lounge and receive 10% off your order through May. Use code MAY10 at checkout.

Daily Posts & Extra Entries

Billy Goat Tavern ~ Chicago, Illinois ~ August 1, 2014
Last summer my sister Lisa and I meet up with Chandra from Junkmill (today's featured shop below) in Chicago. One of our stops was the Billy Goat Tavern which is the restaurant that inspired the famous Saturday Night Live skit "Cheezborger, Cheezborger, Cheezborger" with John Belushi and Dan Aykroid. And yes, that is how it is inside!
Below ~ Our tiny little room at the historic Drake Hotel. Seriously, this room was bigger than my whole apartment. It had an amazing view of Lake Michigan and Michigan Ave.

Featured Shop ~ Junkmill and Junkmill Relics
Junkmill and Junkmill Relics are run by Chandra from Rockford, Michigan. Junkmill is filled with amazing digital artwork for all your crafting needs and Junkmill Relics is full of vintage goodies.

Apothecary Reproduction Labels

How did you choose your shop name?
"JUNK is what I work with and MILL is what I do. When I’m mixing elements in Photoshop to create the collage images, I imagine a little clockwork-style mill grinding away in the back of my brain with gears and whistles and smokestacks, so when I stumbled across the term, it just stuck. It’s actually a mining term for a huge drill bit designed to tear through junk, concrete and metal."

Absinthe Digital Collage Sheet

Why did you choose to make/sell what you do?
"After hunting high and low for cool, creepy collage sheets and coming up empty-handed, I started collecting my own images and putting together sheets for myself and my collage artist friends. When I discovered Etsy, I thought I’d list a few of the sheets “just to see,” and Junkmill was born. It turns out that my friends and I weren’t the only ones looking for dark and moody collage images. I offer a range of subject material, but the Gothic, spooky and creepy themes that started Junkmill continue to be some of the most popular."
“Junkmill Relics came about when I decided to list some of my excess vintage ephemera and turn a few of my collage sheets into stickers … and because I have an addiction to thrift shopping and antiquing it’s since evolved to include kitschy, fun vintage items as well.”

Book Page Hang Tags

What inspires the designs/creations you make?
"I tend to follow my own interests and whims when designing collage sheets or curating vintage items. I always work from the premise that if I think an image or object is interesting, unique or inspiring, it’s likely others will too. I’m always drawn to the macabre and kitsch, but I find inspiration everywhere – from Victorian books and turn-of-the-century lithographs to my collections of antique medical ephemera and vintage gumball machine toys. As my significant other (aka “the guy who drives all the shop orders to the post office”) explains when his friends ask, “She sells a lot of junk, but it’s good junk.”

Matchbox Medley II Digital Collage Sheet

What new designs/creations would you like to add to your shop in the future?
“I’m always adding new items to the shops … What shows up all depends on what inspires me!”

Luggage Reproduction Labels

Behind the scenes - Chandra working on new digital collage sheets for Junkmill and trimming labels for Junkmill Relics.

You'll have a chance to win your choice of 5 Digital Collage Sheets and a Custom Assortment of Reproduction Vintage Labels from Junkmill and Junkmill[Relics]. Enter now on the MAIN GIVEAWAY POST.

Since Summer is right around the corner I asked each shop to share a favorite Vacation Photo with us.
''This is my brother and I standing under a huge Asian gong with my dad ready to ring the bejezzus out of it. I think we were at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. I don’t much remember the trip, but I love our expressions…. My dad looking so mischievous while my brother and I do our best Children of the Corn impressions in our rockin’ 80s outfits."

Visit Junkmill and Junkmill[Relics] and use coupon code VIXEN20 at checkout for 20% off your order.
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Zombie Pin-Ups Digital Collage Sheet