A Magical Hour

Sometimes it is just a moment. A small window in time that supersedes all others. A fraction of your life into seconds that could never be replaced, but will be remembered forever.

It happened for me today. It could have happened for my two year old as well, but if he remembers it as I do, then he is a lucky boy.

As we had made our trip up to the Santa Ynez Valley and been enjoying our day, there was a momentary respite, that made my soul breath again. Within the very center, of the not even close to bustling town of Los Olivos, is a small botanical, whimsical and magical little lot... A shared space, between three local shops... A tasting room, an art gallery and a hand crafted design retail shoppe. Together, they share an outdoor space of about half an acre, decorated with picnic tables, red umbrellas, and a bocci ball field that is sheltered by giant oak trees, scattered with succulents and littered with iron original art statues and bubbling fountains.
As my son and I sat together munching on our Panini, waiting for Daddy to return from a business swarey, we became lost in the magical sounds of the wind chimes, hanging from the giant oaks.
It seemed the breeze would blow a new song, just for us and we sat spellbound, staring at one another... yet lost in our own day dreams.

It truly was magical... And what was so funny to me, was that so may people would walk past the enchanted garden and yet no one would enter. They were too busy doing, whatever they were doing, to even notice that they were walking past paradise.

It was only the two of us (although I did visit the wine room at Coquelicot and grab a glass to enjoy in the magic garden) for almost an hour before the owner of the Artisans Gallery came in and we chatted for a bit.

He told me about how he and his wife, Vicky Kallens had restored the old silversmith workshop into Vicky's retail store, for her handcrafted leather accessories and handmade treasures. They loved the courtyard space, but it had been a little uncared for over the years, so together they added all the magical things that I had been admiring for the past hour. We got to talking about music and the arts and he then shared that the giant river rocks that were artfully placed around the garden were from the Santa Ynez River, that he collected them with his buddy David Crosby. (yes, the David Crosby of Crosby, Stills and Nash and Young is one of the Valleys longtime residents.) We spoke for a good half hour and I feel that I made a new friend, a like minded artist who appreciates what is really important in life.

So what is this all about? Its about your soul... I was so appreciative of that small moment in time, where everything stopped... Even a two year old was stupefied in his hyper active tracks... In that moment I took a deep breath and disappeared into another world.

I may need to move here.

3 Days of Wine and Horses Chic

Tomorrow I am off once again to escape LA and relax into the mountains of wine an horses: The Santa Ynez Valley. Packing is always fun for me because I get to play with my wardrobe and plan outfits accordingly. This time I decided to take pictures to help me remember what went with what and so on. So here is a look into my suitcase for my three day trip...

Day one involves travel (Santa Ynez is two hours north of LA) so comfort is always an issue. It is also going to be around 90 degrees so less is more. I decided on an easy boho dress with a cinch wrap belt with gladiator flip flops, dark cat sunglasses, gold jewelry a vintage leather tiny purse. This look is comfy and will be a great transition to walking around and hitting a few wineries or tasting rooms upon arrival.

For my night time look I transition into a boho-country feel, while always staying with my vintage touches. My newly dyed boho blouse with boyfriend loose fitting jeans, flashy belt, red vintage boots, hand made statement earrings with roses and turquoise (a gift from my sweet friend Jacki), wood bangle bracelets and another amber vintage bracelet for kicks. Comfortable but the jewelry really sets it off nice. Perfect for a night of dinner and music at the new Ranch and Reata Roadhouse in downtown Santa Ynez.

Day two is easy wear with a flair, for a relaxed day of ebelskivers, window shopping, wine tasting and play time with the family, in the charming danish inspired downtown Solvang. We may hit up a miniature horse or visit an Arabian horse farm so again comfort is a must on a day like this. I chose my favorite vintage skirt with vibrant hot pinks and black flowers, an easy flowing black tank, gladiator flippys again, hot pink studded bikini top instead of a bra for fun, turquoise feather earrings, my leather vintage mini purse again, shades and my favorite new ring. (thank you Carrie from Swift, purchased for just $5 bucks- I will probably be wearing this ring all year with everything I own it is so damn hot)

Day two evening wear is one of my oldest, but favorite vintage dresses. The pattern is so detailed and the colors, even after all this time, are vibrant and playful. I accessorized it with my black wrap belt, butterfly cowboy boots, a faded fitted jean jacket and three fun gold necklaces, all different lengths, with two of them again bearing my favorite bug... The butterfly. I usually don't wear earrings or bracelets when I have heavy necklaces, but I will be wearing my ring again and the same vintage purse has suited me well for the entire trip. This outfit is perfect for dinner at Matt and Jeff Nichols (The Brothers) new restaurant, Sides Hardware & Shoes, in wine soaked Los Olivos and maybe a little stroll through town afterward, with a stop at the Fess Parker hotel for a nightcap, if the baby allows. :)

The last day is a travel day again and not much planned, but a nice light breakfast (coffee and a bagel sounds just right) and a stroll, maybe hitting up the coolest danish inspired, castle strewn play park for the boy. It's called Sunny Fields Park in Solvang and it is the perfect way to wear out my son, before we are in the car for another two hour drive home. I should be super comfy in my new tie-dyed mustard tank, a tiny peek of a lavender leopard bra, cargo kahki shorts, gladiator flips, shades, feather earrings and the ring. Easy.

And yes, I did pack for my boys as well - who will look damn fine, as my dates for the trip. I'm a lucky girl to have these hot dudes as my company. So now I must hit the sack and try to sleep so we can get an early start to our day!

Last trip of the summer, here we come!

Xox,
Tommie V

Dye me a river... Or a new shirt

There is something that I have learned being a struggling Artist, well... there are many things I learned but that is another story. This one is how to be creative with your wardrobe, on a dime store budget. For years and years, I didn't have more than $40-50 dollars a week for food, soooo that being said, you may imagine that my budget for clothing was considerably less and credit cards were completely out of the question, thank god.

Luckily for me, I am extremely creative and lived in Los Angeles, where flea market fashion runs a gamut, as long as you knew where to shop. One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday, back in the day, was hit up Jet Rag's dollar sale. Located off of La Brea Avenue, just North of Melrose Ave. Jet Rag ropes off their parking lot, throws down some plastic tarps and tosses bags and bags of overstock, donation, and non sell-able items, for all of LA's fashion forward (and broke) to scramble through for their latest fix. It really is a free for all, and sometimes fights break out as to who touched what first. All this for a buck. You can imagine then, that my gal pals and I would fill our garbage bags to the rim with our $20 budget. (who needs to eat?) I mean 20 items of clothing for $20 bucks can do a lot for a burgeoning musicians arsenal of clothing. Sure, some of it was pure shit, but other finds would be THEE certain accessory, to round out that old stage outfit, that suddenly became new again!

It was a divine way of making us girls, that chose to Rock in the trenches, still feel like we were ahead of all the trends that were soooo last season anyways.

So, I have decided to try a little something. For all the girls who have decide to chase after the arts, who don't have the cash flow of let's say, Carrie Bradshaw, I am creating a 'Frankie Spencer' way of shopping. If you don't know who Frankie Spencer is, then you may want to pick up a copy of my book This Rock in My Heart, so we can all be on the same page, so to speak.

To start out my experiment of $20 buck shopping. I like to begin with a look in my own closet. Shirts I am tired of, but I still like the cut, T-shirts that have faded, things like that. After finding what I am looking for, I walk to the nearest market, (I am not paying for gas with my $20 bucks) and I buy a big bottle of good ole Rit dye for $3.99, black is usually my color of choice, then to round out my evening I buy a lovely aged Gouda cheese for $4.99 and a bottle of wine with my change. Now I was lucky enough this evening to have Bridlewood's table wine to be on sale, so my snooty pallet was happy. There was my $20 bucks well spent AND I got to eat cheese and drink wine!

My clothing pieces of choice were three J Crew tanks, one white, one gray, and one a mustard color that I felt perfect for a throw back of hippy rocker chick style... The ole' tie-dye! I knew I had a ton of rubber bands,(since I had no more money and the wine was now popped) and I had a ball twisting the fabric this way and that, adding knots and bands where ever I felt necessary. Now I must remind you that I have a toddler running wildly around the house and the idea of rubber bands and twisting fabric is fascinating to him... so all I can say is, he helped.

The other experiment was a white vintage bohemian shirt, which I loved but didn't wear that often because who am I kidding? I don't wear a lot of white. This shirt was perfect for dying, since it had pretty little embroidery of flowers around the entire trim, that would certainly pop out with the help of the black dye grabbing more of the thread than on the fabric.

I dyed everything in a large pot on the stove, after wetting all the clothing initially, over a medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring constantly with one hand, while noshing with the other. My two year old even helped with stirring (and eating the cheese) since lets not forget, being a mommy never stops but we can still have fun and be fashionable, damn it.

To say the least, I am pleased with my 'new' tops. The three Tie dyed tanks turned out awesome and unique, with picturesque striations on each one. These tanks will dress up well with some fitted black or dark jeans (even white if that is how you roll) with a great rocker vintage belt, dangley earrings and metallic bangle bracelets or leather cuffs, with your favorite boots or heels and a vintage clutch.

They also will dress down perfectly with your favorite workout pants and flip flops, taking you straight to yoga at Runyon Canyon in style.

I got really excited with my experiment and decided to continue this for the next month. (My wardrobe needs a little va va voom anyways) I remembered how creative I used to be, when my income was under $20K a year and I realized that instead of spending too much on things that come and go, I will try to see... really see how far the dollar would take me once again. The Frankie Spencer fashion plan. So here goes... join me if you dare. This is gonna be fun.

xxo,

Tommie V

August 'Reader of the Rock'

Take a ride in the faded jeans pocket of Frankie Spencer… A regular girl, who risks heart and soul, to make the rock n’ roll dream her life. This Rock in my Heart is like reading your friends juicy diary, so fun and heart-felt that you wish you were there for the slosh'n good times and there too for the bad times, just to shield your pal from the hard knocks. Big names of the Los Angeles rock scene make appearances with such easy detail that you know Tommie Vaughn has earned her guitar strings and now you're lucky enough to read about it. Hollywood looks softer, brighter, and crazier when Tommie V. lights it up her way… even for an LA native like me! Her heroine's struggles, fears and triumphs will inspire you of yours, if you've dropped 'em by the wayside. Following Frankie's days and nights, will remind you that everyone has dreams and some of us are just brave enough to chase them. Bring on the sequel baby! -Carrie Diaz Stylist, designer and owner of Swift Vintage, Realtor, & all around Go-Getter (and an LA Mom to boot!)

Summertime Musings

It's been an incredible summer, filled with travel, book signings and good ole' family fun at home. Now with the end looming and one more trip planned for next week, as our final hooray, I look back on the last three months with much appreciation and awe.

I cannot even begin to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for my little novel 'This Rock in My Heart'. It was such a fun labor of love when I began writing the book, something I had always dreamed of doing, now with the positive responses from friends and favorable reviews from industry... I am feeling so grateful for following through with this dream.

The book signings in Los Angeles have been a blast and with our new 'Reader if the Rock' campaign it is set to be a fun filled fall. Now all I have to do is write two more books! Fantastic! Easy!

With that in mind, some of you may have noticed many pictures on Facebook and Twitter, of my family travels to the Santa Ynez Valley. It seems the country life has been calling, so we have answered with a yearning to escape the sidewalk and slow down a bit, within the valley of wine and horses.

I love it so much there, the peace that surrounds my soul with each visit, makes it harder and harder to leave. Don't get me wrong, I love the 'Wood. There is something about living in Hollywood that ignites ones imagination to dream the impossible dream. The city has served me well, introducing me to a whimsical musical community, as well as a family of friends that will last a lifetime.

But I am craving change, someplace new... Maybe that is the beautiful countryside of Santa Ynez or Ojai? Maybe the cobalt blue ocean and white sandy beaches of Santa Barbara or Cambria? Or maybe it is my roots pulling me back to the snowy mountains of Bend, Oregon? I don't know where the wind may take me but I am open to a new adventure!

I have everything I need, my loving husband and musical partner who reminds me that no matter where we go, our music goes with us, of that I am confident of... Creativity is one thing we have in spades.

I have the most wonderful son who is up for any adventure at the drop of a hat, who loves to walk a country road, picking up sticks and rocks, all the while singing songs with his Mom and Dad into the endless blue skies.

These are my Summertime Musings on this blustery hot Friday in Los Angeles... Anything can happen and whatever is right, will. In the meantime I'm enjoying the moment and the last escapes of our 'summer of exploration' into the great outdoors. Because that is what summer is all about right?

Much love to you all... and I hope your summer has been filled with laughter and adventure as well!

Bring on the Fall!

Ladies Night Out!

This Friday Night!! See you there!!

Los Angeles Book Signing Photos