Back from A Little Hiatus (Boca Raton and Vintage Goods!) [Picture Heavy]

Hey, all! I am back after a little hiatus. In the time I have been away, I went to Florida for 6 days (I have also been crazy busy with work!). I visited the in-laws and did some shopping at a couple antique malls. I cannot wait to share with you my wares, one of which includes my very first lucite bag! I am so excited.

On the afternoon of Thursday, the 19th of May, I flew on JetBlue from Washington Dulles to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Upon my arrival, I was picked up by my mother-in-law, aka "Mammaleh," and we, along with my father-in-law, went out to dinner at JB's On the Beach in Boca Raton.  I had a delicious dish of sea scallops, veggies, and wild rice. I was starving! All I had on the plane was my Kashi granola bar and a diet coke.

After dinner, we went back to the condo my in-laws own in Boca Raton. Mammaleh and I had a drink and then went to bed. The next day, Mammaleh and I went to the Hillsboro Antique Mall in Pompano Beach.

Here's us in the car, about to leave for Pompano:

My hair is in wet pigtails (I blew my bangs dry). My hair gets very frizzy due the Florida humidity so I usually do ponytails, pigtails, or wear snoods. I am wearing a 50s pink and white cotton sundress I bought on Etsy.

After a 15 minute drive, we arrived at the antique mall. I was so ready to browse and shop! The day's agenda was going to be dishware, bakelite, and lucite bags. Mammaleh wanted to look for milkglass.

After a few minutes of walking around, I was floored to see this:

I. Wanted. EVERYTHING!!! I knew that 1: my bugdet won't allow it and 2: there was no way I could bring it back on the plane! Moreover, as many of you know, Franciscan Starburst is very collectible and as a result, expensive. For example, look at the price on the serving platter:

However, I did find the same platter listed on Etsy for 65 dollars so maybe I should have gotten it. Either way, I will just have to collect slowly or hope to get the odd piece here and there as gifts.


In the end, I did buy a Franciscan creamer. I was listed for $7.50 USD. It had a flaw on it but when we got it back home, Mammaleh cleaned it with a sponge and the flaw was gone! I think it was a cream stain or residue.

I saw a couple bangles of bakelite but what the sellers wanted for them was too high. Mammaleh did not find her milkglass sugar bowl but she did spot this for me in a lighted display case:

I totally wanted to die! It is a lucite bag made with mother-of-pearl and clear lucite. I love it! The price was 110.00 USD but the seller gave me 10% off. I did see a nice number of pretty lucite bags but the prices were a bit high for me. After comparing this bag to a couple of others, I decided on this one. I love it!! It was a little dirty but I cleaned it with mild soap and water using q-tips and paper towels.

After making my purchases, Mammaleh and I went home and had lunch with my father-in-law.  Later that day, we went out to eat with family at Boca Town Center. Here is my outfit:

I am wearing a light blue Bettie Page sundress (bought at Bygones Vintage in Richmond, Va), bakelite bangles, white moonglow necklace, and a pair of off-white wedges from BC Footwear. I am also carrying my new lucite bag!

As we got in the car, a muscovy duck approached and hissed at us. Apparently, he was begging for food:

After dinner, we went back home and had a few cocktails on the back patio. The night air felt so nice!

The next day was beach day! Mammaleh and I drove to her cousin's house in Boca and us three gals had a beach day complete with crackers, cheese, and wine!

Great view looking down towards Deerfield Beach. I have no idea why that gal is sitting on her fella! Weird.

Another beach view:

Here is me, wearing one of my vintage suits:

I was swimming earlier in the water. It felt so nice despite the fact there were reports of sea lice (jellyfish eggs or larvae). I did not experience any side effects (itching or burning) so I guess the water there was not affected.

After our fun day, us gals went back home and cleaned up so we could go out for a family dinner at the Whale's Rib in Deerfield. The Whale's Rib is amazing spot for seafood, raw bar items, and beer by the pitcher. I indulged on fried shrimp and it was so perfect to end the day with!

Sunday, the next day, was pool day at the condo and antique mall shopping.  We went to The Sugar Chest Antique Mall on Federal (Route 1). The mall was huge! They were also having a major sale. Anything over 26 USD gets 15 to 20% off.  I was again on the hunt for bakelite and anything housewares.

I found a set of Blue Heaven dishes (6 person set) but the cups and dinner plates had major crazing and chipping. I spotted many bakelite bangles but I decided on colors that I was lacking in my collection: celery and brown.

The celery end-of-day piece was 70 USD and the two tortoiseshell spacers were 35 and 38 USD. The 20% discount made my total around 114.00 USD. I was pleased as punch!

Despite my fun day with Mammaleh and cool bakelite finds, there was a brief moment when the trip to the antique mall was a bit odd/uncomfortable.

As we were browsing the aisles, out of the corner of my eye I spotted an entire case of get this, Nazi memorabilia. I was shocked. Mammaleh was shocked. There were busts of Hitler, iron crosses, books, and some other things. I had no idea people would even collect that. Talk about crazy. I was especially shocked because there is a large Jewish community in South Florida. I have no clue what the seller was thinking.  (I know the mall itself was not selling it since the antique mall is comprised of individual rent/floor spaces for sellers.) Of all the locales to have that stuff for sale, South Florida is not the place. And that is all I am going to say about it.

Anyway, getting back to the positive! Mammaleh bought some 50s era pottery from California Originals and I bought my three bangles. We then went back to the condo for lunch and then it was off to pool with my father-in-law!

We hung out at the pool for a couple of hours and then it was back to the house to hang out on the patio before dinner.

Here is the main view outside the patio. There are canals for boats as well as the river in the middle, ie the Hillsboro River that connects to the Inlet that leads to the Atlantic. It is fun to hang out, have snacks and have a cocktail, watching the boats go by.

Me on the patio, wearing my 50s playsuit. Notice the boat in the background?

That night we ordered in sushi and watched TV. It was a perfect way to end a day.

The next day, Monday, Mammaleh and I went to Home Depot. She needed help picking out new cabinets and granite for her upcoming kitchen remodel.

Here is my outfit:

Sorry that this image is so poor! Darn blackberry camera! Nevertheless, I am wearing a 50s black and white dress with a black repro stretch belt, bakelite bangles, moonglow necklace, and a pair of red canvas espadrilles I bought from Anthropologie in 2006.

Just for fun, here are some pictures of a hibiscus (my favorite flower) and the orchids at the Home Depot Garden area:

Later that night, Mammaleh, my father-in-law, cousin Deb, and I went to the Cove for dinner. The Cove is a great local seafood restaurant and bar located on the Intercostal Waterway at the Boca Bridge. Here is a view from our table after sunset, showing the Boca Bridge:

The next day, Tuesday, was the last day. Before heading off to the airport, Mammaleh and I went to Boca Town Center to visit Sephora. I bought a replacement Illamasqua Lipstick in Box (the first one I bought at Vegas broke) and Mammaleh bought some new perfume!

One last look at the pretty, pink hibiscus bush in the condo lot:

Then, sadly, it was time to go back to DC. I left Fort Laudedale around 2:30 (the flight was delayed) and I arrived around 4:50 pm.

The trip was so nice! It felt good to get away for a while! I cannot wait to go back again!