Guest Post // Amy from A is for Ampersand

Hey Tumbleweeds champs! My name is Amy, and I run a little blog by the name of A is for Ampersand. Beca and I just so happen to be two die-hard van girls, so today I thought I'd tell you a little bit about life in my 1984 Westfalia Vanagon.

My lova Mitchell and I bought this van during our first year of being hitched. When we met we realized that we each had a lifelong dream of owning a Westfalia, so when we got married, it became a priority to purchase one--more important than a house, babies, or all that other lame married stuff. :)

The Westy comes equipped with a full kitchen, including a stove, fridge, and sink. It sleeps two on the bottom, and once you pop the top, a bed folds down from the top to sleep 4 total. It's kind of like heaven, and we try and take her out on camping trips all summer long.

This past summer we went to a Westy meetup called Syncro Solstice. We met up with about 40 other Westy owners in Moab, UT and partied it up Westy style. As Becca knows, van people are something else, and we had the time of our lives geeking out over Westy mods, including solar panels. Someday our Westy will have solar panels--mark my words.

Believe it or not, Westys are fully capable of going off roading, and we took our Westy on her very first excursion. Even though she's mostly a total piece, she made it. And for any van nerds out there, here's a little video of our off roading trip. Even if you're not a van nerd, you might appreciate the hilarity of 40 vans from the 80s with their pops topped in the middle of the desert. It was a damn good time.

Thanks for letting me visit today and share with you a little piece of the van I love so much. And if you've ever thought once in your life about buying a Vanagon, by all means--MAKE IT HAPPEN! I promise it will be the best decision you ever make.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for sharing, Amy! I have been meaning to do a little van tour of my own for all of you to see what our beast really looks like. Right now it's packed to the brims with all of our loved possessions. Be sure to take a peek at my Amy's blog, it's a pretty wonderful place.

xo,

Beca

Playing Catch Up

Pica, Picachu! Hello, I am here!!!

I'm not going to lie, I am ridiculously behind on EVERYTHING, not excluding laundry, shipping stuff for the shop (sorry customers who read this, I put little extras in your package to make up for it!) eating normal meals, cleaning the bathroom, picking up the backyard, emails, and a whole bunch of other stuff. It's not like I am moving in super speed, but I am running around like crazy all day, apparently making Pokemon cakes, and then come home and can't seem to move fast enough. I just want to lay around. But, riding my bike to work, being on my feet all day long (I never take real breaks besides tweet, pee and snack breaks...why would I want to be at work longer than I already am!)

So really, when I come home, I get on the internet and play with photos and watch TV and help Doug with his sunglasses. Sometimes I make dinner, but mostly, we've been eating cheez-its, ramen and Hawaiian Punch for dinner. I told you, I'm not going to lie. But, we have been busy little tumbleweeds making a crazy amount of sunglasses.

Look at this craftsmanship. So clean and made by hand!!

It's been two weeks to the day since we started listing these in the shop, and we are already on no. 11. which is insane to me. I am so glad they are picking up. We love making them and it is a great and affordable way to have customized glasses. And I don't really mind the makeshift studio in our livingroom, as our real studio is piled high with wood!!

I obviously love mine!!! I am still rocking the number ones. The first ones ever made. See, look, that's me at my favorite place wearing my favorite shades.

(No. 11 refers to how many we have sold, not how many we have made. There was about a month of prototyping and experimenting with wood and glue and enamel, and have a basket of the ones that didn't make the cut. Dougie has high standards for his art and these not excluded.)

I don't know if you have noticed, but my real glasses, the ones with my prescription in them are D&G faux-wood frames and I have had them for-ev-errrrrr. (insert The Sandlot-esque voice, please!) Uh...the wood is faux, not the stupid designer label that cost waaay too much but make me really really happy. Anyways, I won't take any credit for Doug's creations, but I do consider myself something like a muse. Something like it.... ;)

On another note, some douchebag hit (and run) our van last night, so this morning, after I had to leave really early for work on the old bike, Doug went out to leave for work and couldn't get the van started. We didn't realize until after he had to call out from work, and discovered the van actually would start on Neutral, that the lovely person taco-ed our front rim and knocked the van so hard that it won't go into park (hence not being able to start it this morning.) Also, the whole front end vibrates when we drive it now. It sucks because the rims are brand new, and really expensive. I know it stupid to be upset because the rim is messed up, but we work hard for everything we have, and we don't have much. The van is important to us. A few months ago, we needed new tires and our friend got rims that didn't fit his impala, so we bought the rims and tires off him. It took three paychecks to pay them off and now, we probably have to get new ones. Our vacation funds are dwindling bill by bill. Bummmers.

BUT, I should be thankful that they didn't damage the actual van and only the rim because that would have made us really sad. Our van just may end up being our home one of these days (at least while we travel) and keeping it in good condition is a high priority for my man.

So, if you want to help us fix our van and replenish our vacation funds, you can use the COUPON CODE "FIXTHEVAN" in our shop for a 10% discount on any and all items, including sunglasses! Oh hell yaah! Only for a week or so, and then it will be June and you can head over to some pages we're sponsoring for coupon codes. ;) More on that later!!

Okay, I am actually going to go make dinner. A little late, but I'm hungry!! Then back to work packaging up treasures and watching cartoons with my number one!

I love you all and feel like I am back in the zone when it comes to blogging and junk.

xo,

Beca

For the Love of Caravans

I am in a constant search for these wonderful little caravans. I honestly squeal with delight when we find one for the shop.

This is our newest addition. You can find it here.

Do you also have dreams of packing up your life into one of these guys and travelling around the country? We do!

Here is the first half of our little caravan that will someday have an air stream popped on the back and full of our life and our shop...someday!

.

And here is the inside!

So happy to share our van with you. It really is our pride and joy! We just got new rims and tires! They are so pretty! I am so happy to have my computer home again and fixed. I have a Lovely Ladies feature coming up this afternoon and more goodness in the shop!

xo,

Beca

It's not fall!

What I wore:
Vintage polka dot pocket dress
Keds Navy and White Sneakers

Yay, Dougie, for playing photoshoot with me. And, YES, it is 92 degrees in Tucson right now. This is my fall fashion, unfortunately, because if you know me at all, you know I love wearing layers and layers of clothing. Anyways, check out emery jo's sweet little blog that is hosting this fun week of fall fashion.

Going to the mall with Alita now!

xo!