With the year coming to a close, I have been thinking back over what 2009 brought me. I feel so incredibly lucky to have been offered all the opportunities that I got this year, from opening a vintage store with two amazing ladies to meeting the man of my dreams. I sometimes feel like I’m dreaming when I realize that I am actually getting paid to do what I love and always dreamed of doing. I just always assumed that owning a store is something I wouldn’t be able to do until I was much older. And so I am doing a little tribute to the remarkable woman who invited me into her life and business, Dana Hamblen.

I met Dana through her sister Maya, who is one of my best friends. Maya had been telling me for weeks that I was going to lose my shit when I saw her store. She was completely right. I will never forget how amazed and excited I was when I walked in. It’s not that Cincinnati has no good vintage, it’s just that they’re all really high priced, and I don’t shop like that. So needless to say I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I saw really unique pieces all under like $15.

Of course since Dana is a total badass, that is not all she does. She works full time at Lightborne, a production studio here in Cincy, and she’s also a member of The Fairmount Girls, Culture Queer, and Darlene. I just honestly don’t know where she finds the time to breathe. While I was searching her on Google, I found this City Beat (Cincinnati’s artsy paper) article about her. They call her an indie rock goddess in the headline. I’d say they got it right.

This is an old picture of her, but she just looks so damn badass I couldn't resist using it.

Not only is she a woman that I respect and admire for all of her accomplishments, she also is one of the most generous and big-hearted people I know. And from the bottom of my heart I thank her for everything she has helped me do. You’re the best Dana.