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So the first day of the 2011 Galveston Island Beach Revue is one week away!  With this being our 3^rd year putting on the Revue and resurrecting the historic Bathing Beauties Contest, I thought we could share some tips as well as give you more info on what's going down. 

 

So here goes.  And remember admission is free to all Beach Revue events!

 

Friday Night, May 20: Bands & Bombshells

7pm to 10:30pm in Downtown Galveston

 

1.  Go Vintage & Get Pinned Up.  - We're excited to announce that we've got a Pin Up photographer coming out to Bands & Bombshells.  So get your vintage on and come ready to get some Pin Up shots taken of you with or without a vintage Cadillac as a backdrop!  For more information on the photographer, Alyssa Holub and Mileslove Studios Eye Candy, click here!

 

2.  Meet Us Downtown - We officially kick off your Galveston summer at 7pm which means parking is free downtown.  (Of course parking is still at a premium - we are on an Island).  Don't wanna drive?  Walk, bike, line up a cab, etc!

 

3.  We're Outside - Yup we'll meet you outside at Saengerfest Park.  And don't let the fencing fool you - it is free to get in. 

 

4.  Bring Some Dough -That fencing I just mentioned is due to the cash bar!  So bring your cash for beverages!  Also, we'll have a merchandise booth set up to purchase your Pin Up shots and Beach Revue souvenirs.  Hungry?  Visit any of our downtown eateries to fill your belly including Bands and Bombshells' sponsor, Yaga's Cafe

 

5.  Bring the Kids - Kids are welcome - we got music and room to roam!  So bring 'em out for music and dancing for an evening under the stars in Downtown Galveston.

 

Saturday Mid-Morning, May 21: Salute to the Bathing Beauties

11am to 1:30pm Hotel Galvez Lawn

 

1.  Parking is Primo - So get thee to the Seawall early.  Now you've gotten primo parking for both the lawn party and the main event!

 

2.  Again We're Outside - So bring your hats and sunblock people.  Drinks and food will be provided until the Hotel Galvez runs out.

 

3.  Games & Jams - Aside from hanging on the lawn with some Bathing Beauties, enjoy some live music and games out on the new Centennial Green.

 

4.  Salute the Queen - And don't miss the Bathing Beauties as they salute the historic Hotel Galvez in celebration of her 100^th year as the Queen of the Gulf!

 

5.  Definitely Bring the Kiddos - The Hotel Galvez is putting on quite a spread including games, refreshments and music.  Perfect mix of things to do while overlooking the Gulf.

 

Saturday Afternoon, May 21:  Bathing Beauties Contest

2pm to 4pm Beachfront, Hotel Galvez

 

1.  Baby it's Hot Outside -Since Beach Revue is the official kick-off to your Galveston summer, we're all about enjoying Island life outside.  This event is on the actual beach.  So come prepared to be standing in the sun and sand which means at least slather on the ol' sunblock and don a hat.  And outfit your kids and dogs accordingly (don't forget a water bowl along with a leash for the pooch).

2.  Refreshments   Just in case you forget your own, we'll have water, some sodas, and sunblock for sale at the Souvenir booth. 

3.  For the Big & Lil' Kids - We're on the beach.  Again, can we emphasize anymore that this is a family friendly affair?  Aside from the beach though, we're hosting a Hula Hoop Contest at Intermission which is the time between the Modern and Vintage portions of the Contest.  Open to all ages!

4.  Surround Seating -You've got your choice in seating depending on what time you arrive for the main event.  It's first come, first serve, so you've got Seawall seating and beachside seats on 3 sides (one side is pretty much blocked by tents).  You can stand or bring a chair.  Chairs may also be available for rental that day on the beach.

5.  Honor Our Armed Forces - This year's Beach Revue falls on a very special day - Armed Forces Day - so don't be late or you'll miss the national anthem and perhaps an additional surprise.
 

First question Islanders.  What are these?!

Here's a closer look:

They kinda look a bit like glass.

These were washed up all over the beach (on your way to Palisade Palms) with what I know to be Man o' Wars:

I was on my way down to the water's edge with GB in tow when Mondo hollered, "halt!"  I mean, I saw these things but it being so early, it didn't register that maybe they are/were alive.  They look like dark, smooth river stones until you bend down closer.  Mondo thinks they are baby Portuguese Man o' Wars.

Why were we on the beach this early, nonetheless during Spring Break?  Because sleeping in around the Mondo house is pretty much non-existent these days.  And like I mentioned in my Galveston Monthly column, we are rediscovering and discovering for the first time aspects of our beloved Island due to the fantastic addition to our family.

My fellow Islanders, I have a truly shameful confession here.  I don't think Mondo and I have actually ever watched the sunrise on the Island. 

Even a cheap digital camera does well with Gtown sunrises!

I keep thinking that this is false: I have all of these glorious images that spring to mind, and then I realize they are not from actually witnessing this fantastic feat of nature.  Nope.  I'm recalling Billy & Ruthie's breathtaking photography from gtownsurf.com  Apparently, their artistry is so stunning that they have infiltrated my memories! :0)

Mondo had a much better idea than our usual loafing for Sunday morning, "let's go to the beach and watch the sunrise!"  So fun!  GB's first trip to the beach and her first sunrise.  Thank goodness we keep a beach bag stocked year round and our coffeepot is swift. 

So, firsts all around for the Mondo clan include both a first trip to the beach - first sand between the toes! (and in mouth) - and our first Island sunrise.  Doesn't get any better.

 

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen.  Step right up!  Get your original, official IBC pendants here!

 

After numerous requests and inquiries from Islanders all over, we here at IBC are so excited to begin carrying the often imitated but never duplicated official, original, custom IBC pendants!

 

All of us here at Islander By Choice are so excited to announce this new product through our partnership with local jeweler and custom pendant crafter, John Ford Jewelers, the Gulf Coast's Premiere Custom Jeweler!

 

Pictured: yellow gold, but comes in white gold & silver too! 

 

About the Original IBC Pendant

These pendants are cast in the original molds made and owned by a now defunct Island jeweler who started around 1900.  When the jeweler closed its doors, John Ford purchased the original IBC molds.

 

Today, John Ford Jewelers takes great pride in continuing this Galveston tradition.  Each of these pendants is made by hand.  They come in two different sizes, medium and large, and are available in yellow gold, white gold, and silver.

 

How do you get one?

It's as easy as purchasing an IBC t-shirt. Click here to purchase yours today!  Your order will be shipped directly to you!

 

Visit our Merchandise section for all IBC stuff! 

 

Check out John Ford Jewelers: the Gulf Coast's Premiere Custom Jeweler

John Ford Jewelers

2114 61st Street

Galveston Island

409-740-1463

www.johnfordjewelers.com/

 

 

  

Hey IBCers, check out the volunteer opportunity below.  Gtown's own Family Service Center's Community Support Services program is seeking volunteers to help some of our fellow locals, older adults who are moving into new housing.  This effort is being spearheaded by fellow IBC and friend, Holly McManus.

 

What: Adopt a Resident

Volunteers are needed for the second round of moves Mid-March (see details below) to help older adults and persons with disabilities living at the Galveston Housing Authority's Holland House Apartments move to freshly renovated units at Gulf Breeze. GHA is working with Family Service Center's Community Support Services program to bring together small groups of volunteers to "adopt" a resident for the move or to assist with the move in some other manner. Holly is seeking help from individuals and organizations who may be able to assist.  Can't help?  Please pass along the word to those who may be able to help.

 

Why are they Moving?

Holly says, "This move is necessary so that GHA can make much needed renovations to Holland House. GHA is doing all that it can to make this move easier for residents by providing packing materials, movers and transportation on moving day. Many of those relocating from Holland House are individuals with physical limitations, and while some residents have family and friends to assist them, many do not. Volunteers are needed, however, to help those residents without family or friends nearby with packing and getting settled into their new apartments. Moving, for anyone, is physically and emotionally challenging and stressful - there is SO much involved in the process!!! The stress involved in moving is even more so as we age, or have limited physical abilities."

 

When? And What Can We Do?

The actual moves from Holland House to Gulf Breeze will occur over the course of two weeks in March, with several residents relocating on each of the scheduled move days.

 

The second round of moves will begin on Monday, March 14^th - several residents will be moved each day through Friday, March 18^th.  ( The first moves happened March 3^rd March 4^th).  Thus far 25 residents moving the week of March 14^th have requested volunteer assistance with packing for the move and unpacking once in their new apartments. The number of volunteers needed to assist residents will vary depending upon the individual's abilities, available supports and amount of belongings. 

 

Small groups of volunteers will be needed:

·        March 7^th-13^th to help residents pack for the moves occurring the following week, and

·        March 14^th-18^th (and possibly into the weekend) to help residents with remaining packing needs as well as getting settled into their new homes.

 

If you or your friends, organization, civic, church or other group would like to help residents of Holland House please contact Holly McManus, LCSW at hmcmanus@fscgal.org or (409) 392-6078 regarding which days, how much time and/or in what capacity you would like to offer assistance. (examples: packing, un-packing, coordinating volunteer groups).

 

I just didn't realize that with our bouncing bundle of BOI, my mobility in and around the Island would be severely altered if not destroyed completely.  It started out as keeping GB around the house until her 2 month old shots and because she was born in the midst of flu season.  And then we got slammed with two Arctic blasts (so weird when I think about this past summer's Africa heat).  The first blast resulted in a pipe burst in the attic which decimated her room (thankfully she still sleeps in our room with us).  Then all of the Mondos got sick.  Like for the entire month of February.  Needless to say, I'm sure some of our friends believe we have been abducted.


This in turn has affected my ability to blog about my love for the Island and all she's got going on with her bad self.

So when it came around again for my turn to write the IBC column in the March issue of Galveston Monthly (one of us IBCers does an IBC column each month), I was sweating bullets.  I implored my fellow IBCs - "what do I write about?"  Aside from work, an occasional trip to Target, GB's school, or a stroll around our neighborhood, we've mostly roved about the Island in the Rogue.  Otherwise I have been luxuriating (read: trapped) in the house.  When I stopped to really think about it though, I realized that my perspective of Galveston had changed since she was born simply because she had entered our lives.  Thankfully, this led me to the subject of my column.

 . . . Which then led me back here to blogging (ahem, lack thereof).  I can't write some of the same stuff that I had before I was even Knocked Up East of 61st.  Again, I'm not out and about.  I mean, we missed the entire first weekend of Mardi Gras because Mondo had bronchitis, GB was trying to kick what was either one slammin' cold or the dreaded RSV, and I was trying to kick the remnants of whatever GB had given to me.  We loafed in our living room in pajamas all weekend enjoying the intermittent sounds of GB's nebulizer and fireworks and catching glimpses of floats that cut through our neighborhood.  Bless smart phones and Facebook for photo uploads.

 

But, this weekend.  Nothing is gonna stop us.

We're all pretty much well now.  The grandparents are coming to town (been humming this line to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town").  And we have spots on a Mardi Gras float for the Momus parade.  Yes Sireee.

We are so excited, we are effervescing!  You know why?  We have been out of the house alone, together, for more than 30 minutes exactly two times since GB was born.  So, we're ready to put this Saturday night on blast.

And I'll finally have something to blog about.  Woo-hoo!
 

So, as many of you my already know, I'm Knocked Up East of 61st no longer.  It's hard to believe that our little "Piglet" is already over 5 weeks old and hard to believe that I'm just now able to type out this entry!

I may be late, but Mondo and I are so excited to announce the arrival of our little Miss Georgia Brooks Scott into our family!  And for those who have followed this series, just an FYI - the name "Georgia" was not on our original name list.  It came up about 2 weeks before she was born and on her birthday, she looked like a Georgia and not like any of the other names we had chosen.  So, surprises all around on the name.
 
Scrolling back through the KUE61st entries, it's so hard to believe that she's already here and yet, as I sit here in my pajamas at 3:00pm because I haven't showered, slept much, or ate much that requires utensils, it is as though she's always been here.

While this is my last short and sweet post in this series, the Mondo's and Islander By Choice have one more announcement - just in time for the holiday season too!  Drum roll please . . .

After so many requests for BOI merchandise, we finally gave in to the masses.  We are so excited to unveil IBC's Born on the Island Creeper!

Not only do babies never have enough creepers (Georgia's record is 7 creepers/onesies in one day), but these make great gifts including a perfect stocking stuffer for the new favorite BOI in your life!  You can purchase the official IBC BOI Creeper at IBC's online store at www.ibcgalveston.com or at its exclusive Strand location at Gracie's at 2228 Strand (check them out on their Facebook page too)!

Now on to the adventure that is 2 IBC's rearing a BOI!
 

STARTING LOCATION FOR THE 2010 SANTA PUB CRAWL WILL BE MOLLY'S PUB AT 20TH AND POST OFFICE! SEE YOU ALL AT 7 PM IN YOUR HOLIDAY FINEST!

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Here comes Santa Claus...  Here comes Santa Claus...

 
Ho.  Ho.  Ho.  Santa Claus will be coming to town very soon.  And we all know the sleighing gift-slinger has his work cut out for him, so he enjoys an evening of downtown Galveston debauchery prior to his milk and cookies.  In order for Santa to maintain his incognito status while enjoying downtown Galveston, he employs Islander By Choice and our loyal list of good little boys and girls to dress up in our favorite Santa influenced apparel and join him in his merriment.

Join Islander By Choice Saturday, December 18 for the 2010 Santa Pub Crawl. We'll kick it off at 7 p.m. at a downtown Galveston pub with additional stops at regular intervals all evening.

To stay on Santa's good list this year, there are 3 rules:

1. Sign-up for this FREE event!  This year, IBC is keeping the start location under wraps until the event itself.  To find out where the Santas are meeting up, Friend Islander By Choice on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and/or sign-up for IBC's eBlasts (check out the right hand menu on our homepage to sign-up). STARTING LOCATION FOR THE 2010 SANTA PUB CRAWL WILL BE MOLLY'S PUB AT 20TH AND POST OFFICE! SEE YOU ALL AT 7 PM IN YOUR HOLIDAY FINEST!

2.  Come dressed as Santa. Hawaiian Santa, Sexy Santa, Traditional Santa...all Santa are welcomed but the more the merrier. 

3.  Come packing gifts!  Got some random things around the house you don't need anymore? Old magazine? VHS tapes perhaps? Borrowed screwdriver from your neighbor? Wrap it up and add it to the community gift bag. People expect Santa to come bearing gifts, who are we to disappoint?

Please feel free to invite friends and spread the word about this free event. Got questions? E-mail us and we'll get you lined out. And don't forget to sign-up to receive the start location and more details to come!
 

Finally, after some gentle reminders and gruff ribbing, the moment you've all been waiting for (ok, like 5 of you) . . . drum roll . . . the nursery!  My apologies. I know I said that I'd post pics weeks ago  - maybe months? - but we got caught up in a serious case of nesting. 

 

When you live in a historic home, you just know that they are never truly finished.  For us, even with our big rehab projects complete, we still had accumulated quite a list of minor repairs, updates, and ideas that we just kept putting off.  So with Piglet coming soon, we've spent weekend after weekend over this summer working on the nursery and everything else in the house. 

 

(Related note: I did forget to mention one thing on last week's list of "most" that I started.  The cruelest aspect of pregnancy?  For me it's been that the second round and strongest urge to nest has dovetailed perfectly with my body's limited mobility and another round of exhaustion).    

 

So, the nesting has been something fierce at our house for both of us.  Exhibit A: Apparently the removal of kitchen cabinet dust and clutter was a must as we were caught red-handed by a friend emptying the contents of our cabinets. Dang camera phones!

 

 

Onto the nursery.  Remember when I said that we were shooting for an Island-colors meets vintage look/theme for Piglet's room?  Well, this is where we ended up based on these vintage-inspired Amy Butler fabrics that were used for the crib bedding:

 

 

Aside from not wanting to spend tons of cash on furniture (we're saving that for the "doozy" of a stroller), we wanted to incorporate as much of what we already own and family pieces as well as purchase whatever we needed at local Island businesses.  And admittedly, our girl Denise totally got us hooked on ohdeedoh.com so then putting together a unique room became a challenge.  And a way for me to continue working on the house.  And shop local.  And I think you get where I'm going with this.  At the end of the post, I'll list all the local places where we purchased items for her room.

 

So, let the tour begin. . . (Disclaimer: We are still trying to figure out this new digital camera, so apologies in advance for any wonkiness).

 

We couldn't pass up this vintage print and frame we found at Collectors Gallery.

 

There are only 2 new pieces of furniture in the room. One is the classic of all cribs, the Jenny Lind, that Piglet's grandparents purchased for her and the other is the toddler "Pick-a-Book" (AKA child's bookcase) from her Great Aunt Rita.  That little side table is actually a vintage pie safe that was also one of the Mondo's first antique/vintage purchases back in the day.

The Amy Butler bedding we ordered from Etsy at the online shop, SewFunbyMonique. (We highly recommend her and her work). And Piglet's other grandmother, Mondo's mom, made her a gorgeous matching crib quilt and baby blankets out of the same Amy Butler fabrics.

 

The walls were our biggest challenge as we couldn't pick a paint color. Who knew the perfect shade of gray would be such a tough code to crack?  Twelve paint samples later, we settled on what you now see: Benjamin Moore's Gray Horse.  (Thank you ohdeedoh for the tip on the perfect gray & the rocking moose!)  For artwork, we picked up a few vintage pieces like the art on her door and the tiny French prints, and we rehabbed a vintage mirror that was Piglet's great grandparents'.  For the artwork collage over the crib, we pulled images from one of my favorite childhood books, Animals should definitely not wear clothing (to this book I totally credit my love of the absurd), and scanned images of original suffrage postcards featuring little girls. We then purchased inexpensive frames from Garden Ridge and Hobby Lobby and voila!  A wall art collage for roughly $60!

 

 

The Hoosier cabinet will serve as both storage and a changing station as the enamel counter pulls out for a deeper workspace.  This is one of the first vintage pieces the Mondo's purchased together, so after a light sanding and new paint job, it is now serving a new purpose. (Don't worry, no pregnant ladies or developing Piglets were harmed in the rehabbing of vintage pieces as Mondo handled the hazardous stuff).
 

 

Those screen doors?  Those are actually the doors to two floor to ceiling corner closets we had put in during year 1's first big rehab project.  The vintage Galveston screen doors we bought for $15 a door at GHF's Architectural Salvage Warehouse. 

 

The dresser was my girlhood dresser that had previously served as my mother's when she was a little girl. With some light sanding, a protective coat, and new hardware and relined drawers, it's ready to be passed on to another generation. The drawer hardware comes from the newest shop on the Strand, Bungalow, and the vintage French paper lining comes from Hendley Market.

 

That cute vintage pink shelf?  Well, that was a great find at Island Relics located at 22^nd & Broadway. And it is filled with all kinds of vintage family pieces as well as finds from around the Island, including mermaid paraphernalia from Nautical Antiques & Decor, where you can also purchase your IBC merchandise. Ahem.

 

Only thing we're still on the hunt for (and we may have found a winner), is a rocking chair or glider that isn't a humongous room-eater. 

 

So, here's the rest of our mother-of-all-sources list for Island shopping - baby-related or not.  One last thing, unfortunately that awesome red rocking moose is from Ikea and not the Island. . . Sigh.

 

Gracie's at 2228 Strand

Antique Warehouse at 25^th & Postoffice

Nautical Antiques & Decor at 22^nd & Mechanic

Island Relics at 22^nd & Broadway

Hendley Market at 2010 Strand

Collectors Gallery at 23^rd & Postoffice

23^rd & P Antiques, shockingly located at 23^rd Street & Avenue P

GHF Architectural Salvage Warehouse at 908 23^rd Street in the old 1909 John Sealy Garage

Bungalow Dry Goods Company at 2325 Strand

 

Online Sources:

SewFunbyMonique on Etsy: crib bedding

Target online: crib

 

Mainland Sources:

Ikea: curtains, rug, red rocking moose

Garden Ridge Pottery: baskets, frames

Hobby Lobby: frames, mattes

Here we are at the 35, almost 36 week mark. So only 5 weeks to go. And, really, I know that I could be sitting here, writing this - you sitting there, reading this - and only be a couple of weeks from delivering. That's just scary.

 

And I'm not the only one. I saw utter freak-out written across Mondo's face for perhaps the first time. And it happened after putting together our insanely complicated high chair. It's currently in our kitchen. Mondo keeps having a staring contest with it. And mumbling: "there's a high chair in our kitchen." It's somewhere between a bewildered statement and a rhetorical question.

 

 

 

 

 

I suspect the Mondo's are avoiding some key steps as a psychological attempt to stave off Piglet's impending arrival. Evidence:

 

* We've had the car seat for weeks but it remains uninstalled.

* We've had a cradle in a corner of our bedroom for weeks and it remains untouched.

* Our bedroom (where Piglet will be for however long she needs) is still in utter disarray.

* My bag is not packed.

* Neither is the Piglet's.

 

Freak-out, super scary moment thus far?  (TMI Warning for the faint!!!) 

Last week at my first of now weekly doctor's appointments I found out I'm already dilated 1 cm.  I know, I know. That could mean nothing or everything. But, either way, this girl is coming soon. And while some, or many of you, may be wondering why I would share that on a blog, let me tell you why. 

 

Most embarrassing thus far?

After last week's appointment, I called my mom to give her an update. She proceeds to tell my dad, which is totally cool. Here's where it gets weird. While at dinner Friday evening, mutual friends of both ours and my parents inform us that they too know of the current status of my cervix. Ummm, what?!  "Yeah, you're dad told me when I talked to him the other day." So let's recap, shall we? My father and family friend were discussing my cervix. Fabulous guys. Just to make this complete: in case you didn't know (b/c I didn't), cervical checks suck. You can uncover your eyes now. 

 

The most annoying? 

I'm running out of clothes. While I can still tie my shoes (from the side), I don't know how much longer I can wear shoes other than flip flops due to the swelling. I'm out of tops (dresses are still good). I had started wearing Mondo's t-shirts to the gym and around the house at least 2 months ago.  But, that all changed in one week. Literally from week 34 to 35, I can no longer wear his collection of IBC t-shirts without showing lower belly. (I wonder has "belly cleavage" taken off as an official term yet?) Even my maternity shirts are starting to revolt. Dear Lord.

 

 

 

The most uncomfortable? 

My sleep is jacked. So far, not because of pain, discomfort, or even the 3 to 4 trips to the bathroom each night. I totally had gotten into the zone with those things. No, my sleep is jacked because on weekends (of all times), after one of my trips to the loo, my brain goes on a continuous loop of minor, yet enduring anxiety about what is left to be done. These preggo hormones take worry and existentialism to an entirely new level. The worst was waking up at 1:30am and never going back to sleep. Maybe my body is in practice for the reportedly soul-destroying deprivation that comes once Piglet arrives? 

 

You know when I said I was over it? 

Well, I must be channeling Sammi Sweetheart from that pantheon of culture, Jersey Shore, because I'm done. I knew it was going to get worse: the size of the belly, my mobility, the swelling, the sciatica. But it is so much more trying than I could imagine. I think it's the cumulative impact. Right now 5 more weeks is feeling like that epic journey towards Mount Doom.

 

Really, I'm somewhere between being ready to have Piglet already and being terrified of having Piglet already. But, when I step back from the precipice of anxiety, I know everything is okay. 

 

Except when I stop to think about labor.

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