Game 4: Mustache May-Hem

Tickets are $14 at the door or $12 in advance from me. You can also get them yourself online: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/217753

Game 3: Phil Peterson Photos

Unfortunately, I can't download and post these photos here to share with everyone. However, I do love these photos so much that I'm going to ask everyone go click through the link and check them out.

My sincerest love and thanks go out to KC Derby Digest and Firebranded Photography for taking photos of all Dead Girl Derby games, but I can't get over some of these.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/philpeterson/sets/72157629491792858/

Game 3: Firebranded Photos

Photos courtesy of Brandi Wilson, Firebranded Photography: http://brandicewilson.smugmug.com/Other/DGD-S3-G3/22537288_mnNsrb#!i=1803341408&k=LCz8PTX

Bettie Page Tatyana Beach Bash Dress

This dress is even cuter in person. It's the other one I bought at the Bettie Page store in Vegas, and the one I loved so much that I went to the second location for the correct size. This dress is seasonal and doesn't appear to be on the website, so anyone who loves it so much they want their own can buy it here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEACH-BASH-Floral-FLORATINA-Spring-Short-Full-Skirt-Retro-Dress-XS-3X-FREE-Ship-/251032209343?pt=US_CSA_WC_Dresses&var=&hash=item3a72af87bf#ht_2209wt_1098

Most Bettie Page dresses run small, but I wear a size large in this dress, which is what I usually expect to wear.

Game 3: KC Derby Digest Photos

Photos courtesy KC Derby Digest

Blind Tiger: Beer Brewed for Every Mood

Mr. Breakdown accompanied me to last week's photo shoot. By the time we were done, it was dark and we were starving. Neither of us know Topeka very well, so we searched his GPS for a restaurant nearby. Enter: Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant.

When I asked the waitress for a beer recommendation, she brought me samples of three: a bock, a raspberry wheat and a pale ale. I went with a raspberry wheat. I cannot express my love for microbreweries. It's like getting a cupcake at a local bakery.

The food was just as good. These nachos: incredible. While they didn't quite have meat on them, I was less than thrilled that the black beans were cooked with meat. I was hungry and ate a ton without complaint anyway. This huge appetizer could feed two people as a meal. Instead, I ate about 2/3 by myself.

I stole one of the hubby's french fries. The only reason I didn't snag more was that I had too much of my own food to handle.

He was dressed appropriately. And devoured his tasty-lookin' burger.

I was post-shoot, and so looked a little out of place in a Topeka bar & grill. My hair was officially crazy by this point, and I couldn't handle shapewear any longer.

If you've never been to a brewery or seen a microbrewery, they're fascinating!

Mostly, I just think everyone should go to this one. But call me first because I want to go back!

It's probably a good thing that this place isn't closer than an hour's drive from my house.

Military-Themed Pinup Shoot

Thanks to Kansas Heritage Photography for the opportunity to do some fun retro military-style pinup photos!

The dress is from the Bettie Page Store in Las Vegas. Hair by Travis Crall at Silver Screen Salon (thanks to Katty DeLux for the recommendation!). I did my own makeup.

Vegas Trip Highlight: Tempest Storm

On Friday in Vegas, I spent all our money in the Bettie Page Store at Caesar's Palace. One of the dresses was a little big but I really wanted it, so I went ahead and bought it. Saturday morning, we had a little time to kill so I drug Mr. Breakdown to the second Bettie Page Store by Planet Hollywood to exchange for the right size.

Photos of the new dresses to come!

However, I spotted this sign throughout the mall as we were leaving. I started squealing. For real. And for a really long time.

If you don't know who Tempest Storm is, Google her. My original derby name was Temper Storm as an homage to this burlesque star. She's a fascinating self-made woman. Of course I wanted to meet her!

It was $20 to get my photo taken with Ms. Storm, but I couldn't pass it up. I wanted to tell her that I thought she was amazing, and that my roller derby name was supposed to be about her. I wanted to ask her for tips on getting into pinup modeling. I wanted to ask her about her supposed affairs with JFK and Elvis.

Instead I babbled and giggled like an idiot, mostly unable to look her in the eye. What a dork I am.

Even at 80+, Tempest Storm is in fantastic physical shape and exceptionally beautiful. I think her biceps are smaller than my wrists. It only took my forearm to get around her waist. If I weren't strangely starstruck, I would have felt like a hippo.

I'm glad I had decided to dress retro/rockabilly/pinup for my last day in Vegas so I could be wearing a cute dress when I met Tempest Storm. She was incredibly sweet and seemed genuinely thankful that my husband and I were there to meet her.

Sadly, no one else showed up in the 45 minutes or so we were there. In Las Vegas of all places, no one else beelined to met a burlesque superstar. At least she made my freakin' week.

Mel in Vegas: Madame Tussaud's

Mr. Breakdown and I had never been to Madame Tussaud's, so we joined the wedding party there the evening after the ceremony. A street team had been handing out $10-off coupons, so it was $30 total for the two of us. Totally worth it!

In case anyone doesn't know, I have a ridiculous obsession with Daniel Craig as James Bond.