garage sale girly: U.S.A.

Today's burning question...

How did you celebrate on Tuesday? With cupcakes?

Get your stars and stripes patriotic cupcake wrappers at Your Little Cupcake on etsy

Um...Tuesday June, 14th. Surely you had the date marked on your calendar, right?

Flag day.

Um...Flag day?

Framed antique cigar box American flags from The Unique Bird on etsy

Yes, I have heard of it, but honestly had no idea about the history of this holiday that is printed in my weekly planner.

Excellent blogging opportunity in my opinion. Just a little bit of history highlighted by an etsy shopping experience. Why? That is how I roll. I just love a little bit of history and I love to search for great finds from etsy sellers.

It turns out Flag Day is a day to celebrate Old Glory.

Beautiful original photograph of our flag by Rikki Van Camp at Bare Bulb Studio on etsy.

You may be thinking to yourself, yeah Girly, that is pretty obvious. Well smarty pants, do you know why we celebrate the American Flag on June 14th?

For your information, on June 14th 1777 the Flag of the United States was officially adopted by the Second Continental Congress.

The handmade modern patriotic mug rug from All Things Belle on etsy, is the perfect spot to set you celebratory Flag Day Cocktail.

Drop that little nugget of trivia on your friends tonight over cocktails...I bet they will be impressed.

So Flag Day, is kind of like the American Flag's Birthday...but wait, didn't Betsy Ross sew the first American Flag back in 1776?

Re-live 1970's Bicentennial mania in this vintage maxi dress from Parkrose Vintage's etsy shop

This is the part about research that I dislike...finding out that something you thought was a fact, may or may not be true. Is it common knowledge that they don't really know for sure who sewed the first American Flag?

1960's children's book "The Story of Our Flag" from Grandmother's Attic on etsy.

Did I miss that lesson in elementary school? The Legend of Betsy Ross? Geeze, What's next? Are you going to tell me that the Easter Bunny is just a man in a suit?

Ok. So someone sewed the flag in 1776, but it wasn't adopted as our official Flag until 1777. Got it.

Beautiful handmade upcycled vintage chenille fabric American Flag Pillow from paddyridge vintage's etsy shop

This part is for extra credit, since I got the answer wrong about who first sewed and designed the flag in 1776.

"Flag Birthday" wasn't a celebrated date until 1885, according to legend (here we go again).

Vintage real photo postcard of a lovely lady all decked out and holding old glory from Clancy's Classics on etsy.

Flag Day celebrations spread throughout the U.S. in the late 1800's, but it wasn't until 1916, that President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it a holiday.
That was good... but it wasn't an Official holiday until 1949, when President Truman signed an Act of Congress to make June 14th Flag Day every year.

Flag Day, such a simple and straight forward concept that has so many complicated and exciting twists and turns.

Thrilling ride through history, Huh?

Ride America! Absolutely amazing handmade American flag created using reclaimed bike chains from ReGeared on etsy.

Well, now you and I know the scoop on this holiday, and have seen some pretty sweet etsy finds too.

We will be better prepared to celebrate Flag Day next year.

You know what is going on this weekend right? Big party.

Little Sister's wedding?

Not yet. Bigger and better.

Hint: It usually ends with a few bangs.

Priscilla's Patriotic Jell-O shots

Not shots, I said bangs.

The shots are pretty good though, but that is not the point.

I am talking about fireworks.

Fireworks over beautiful Chautauqua Lake,NY. My happy place.

Time to celebrate the Fourth of July!!!

Beautiful vintage postcard from Swan Creek Cottage's etsy shop.

I am so proud to be an American and proud to share some Patriotic Unique Picks with handmade and vintage items that are made right here in the states, from great etsy sellers .

No need to stash them away till the fourth rolls around next summer, you can show off your patriotic pride any day of the year with these great finds.

So gather round the bon fire with me...

Lake front bonfire from our Fourth of July 2009 celebration. Can you smell those marshmallows toasting? YUM.

I am going to save you from my usual meandering commentary this week by singing you a little tune instead and share my Unique Picks along the way.

Sing along if you would like.

I mean it is a free country.

Fantastic original photograph of our flag by Barbara Boward in The Alder Tree's etsy shop.

I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy,

Lovely image printed on a vintage dictionary page from Winterberry Cottage.

A Yankee Doodle, do or die;

Totally nautical and patriotic pillow cover from my adobe cottage's etsy shop.

Such a beauty! Vintage Book Wreath from Simple Joys Paperie.

A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam's,

Bobble head cake toppers from Hey YoYo's etsy shop.

Super hand stamped pillow cover from joshua by oak's etsy shop.

Born on the Fourth of July.

Red, white and blue me away with these great 1976 vintage Bicentennial cups from Sea Glass Vintage.

Stunning and sophisticated 1903 milk glass plate from My Hanalei Home's etsy shop.

I've got a Yankee Doodle sweet heart,

Everything is bigger in Texas! Adorable girl's halter dress with over sized American flag on the front and a large Texas State flag on the back, from Something Beautiful.

Vintage red,white and bloom, 1960's metal brooch from VINTAGE Starr Beads.

She's my Yankee Doodle Joy.

1941 Little Patriots book of American songs for children from Nummynaze's etsy shop.

Yankee Doodle came to London, just to ride the ponies;

U.S.A. made, pair of vintage rubber pull toys from bellalulu vintage.

I am the Yankee Doodle Boy.

Collection of antique patriotic sheet music from Carmen and Ginger's etsy shop.

I can't believe my luck! This lovely collection also includes the sheet music to the little tune I have been singing to you.

Song: Yankee Doodle Boy from the Broadway musical Little Johnny Jones. Written by George M. Cohan. Musical opened in 1904. Song also appeared in the 1942 film Yankee Doodle Boy.

I am so lucky to be living here in the good old U.S.A., where a little Garage Sale Girly can have a dream about creating a little shop to sell her fun vintage finds and has the opportunity to make that dream come true!

Happiness. Yesterday's Dream. Tomorrow's Memory. Fantastic vintage metal message plate from my etsy shop! The Unique Bird.

Not to mention, my crazy blog where I am free to share with you all of the awesome items that inspire me, and pretty much blab on about any obscure notion that pops into my head.