The Pink Azalea

Hi everyone! Wow, no vintage goodness from me since July??? Yikes! Well, I've got something now! lol Back in 2009, my good blogging buddy, Julie from Life With The Tucker and Wolek Clan surprised me with a 1950s Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book. My mom's birthday is tomorrow and I really wanted to give a vintage cake recipe a whirl so I got out the fab book Julie sent me and got to perusing the Cakes section.

I decided on the lovely Pink Azalea cake: 

The Pink Azalea

Cakes "from scratch" aren't terribly different in today's kitchens, except maybe the use of shortening (then) as opposed to butter (now). This cake was pretty easy to do although I got a little fancy with it and used almond extract over the vanilla called for in the recipe. The frosting was another story.

I've made quite a few scratch frostings and icings before but this one called for just sugar, a little cream of tartar and a little water, boiled and poured over stiff egg whites. Which normally wouldn't be a problem except that when I went to remove the candy thermometer, it was hot (duh), I dropped it back in the syrup where it promptly broke adding the extra ingredient of glass. So out that first batch went and we started to boil again without the benefit of knowing what temp the syrup was before adding to the whites. Oh well. It's still pretty.

I colored one cake layer pink (added too much and it came out bright pink when the book called for "delicate". Oops!) and added strawberries to part of the frosting for the middle of the layers. The outside got doused in pink frosting and it is delicious!

My first foray into the world of vintage baking was successful (busted thermometer aside) and I can't wait to try another recipe from this book!

I Love Lamp

Hi everyone!

I have found some fabulous vintage treasures but for the most part, things like awesome lamps, furniture and accessories have alluded me. I rarely luck up into finding anything cool at yard sales for instance, but I've always put that down to me being lazy and not searching hard enough.

So the Fates were smiling upon me this past Saturday as I was taking the husband to work and drove past a house on my street having a yard sale. They had your usual junky "cleaning the house out" stuff but I slammed on the brakes and spun around as I saw something amazing peeking out at me over their white picket fence:

I know, RIGHT?!

Isn't it gorgeous?! And wouldn't you know it, it is in beautiful shape. The shade is perfect, it works and is right this minute sitting beside me looking awesome. My husband turned up his nose at it and I told him he was nuts. I also told him that I love this lamp so much that if our house ever caught fire, I would grab this lamp, take it outside and then come back for him. :P

I love lamp. Literally.

Date Your Family

Hi everyone!

I admit that with a new baby, a 2 year old and a husband that works most nights, our "family dinners" are practically non existent at the moment. Luckily I can live vicariously through this family's dinner...

Vintage Crochet Part 2

Hi everyone!

Well, here they are: my two (current) favorite vintage crochet booklets. I'm determined to make something out of these bad boys before the end of the year!

And a look on the inside:

And my absolute fave:


Oh my, I've got to try some of these patterns! Here's a look on the inside:

Any awesome finds for you lately?

Vintage Crochet Part 1

Hi everyone!

I recently got a lot of vintage crochet booklets off eBay the other day and wanted to share them with you! I so can't wait to jump into some of these and get to hooking, I love vintage crochet books so much...




And now for the slickest pair of crochet booklets you ever did see:

I told my husband I was going to crochet him one of these vests and he laughed in my face. Well, we'll just see whose laughing in the end...Muwahahahahaha!

Part 2 is coming soon : I've saved my two favorite vintage crochet booklets for another post. Have a great day everyone! :)

Space Age Vintage Knitting

Hi everyone!

One of my favorite things is vintage ads. One of my other favorite things is crocheting and yarn crafts. I so love when all of my favorite things come together to become one super awesome favorite thing. It's like scooping dark chocolate frosting right out of the can with a peanut butter cookie. (Sorry, I'm pregnant and hungry.)

Anyhoo, I saw this awesome 1955 ad on Ravelry and just had to share it with you. Presenting...

Space Age Vintage Knitting

(Image used with permission by Vintage Knits)

Are there any current yarn ads that come close to being this cool??? :D

Goodbye Miss Jane Russell

I was so heartbroken to hear of Jane Russell's recent passing.

(Image from: Bouquet of Tulle Roses)

She was everything fabulous, always glamorous, dedicated to her faith and refused to take crap from anyone. My favorite of her movies was (and is) "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". Her autobiography, "My Path and Detours" was so interesting and I loved her views on Hollywood and what led to her creation of WAIF (World Adoption International Fund).



Ah, her eyebrows: sharp as a razor blade. How I envy those brows!

Rest in Peace Jane Russell...

Every Little Breeze Seems to Whisper Louise

Hi everyone!

Now that we are expecting a second daughter come this May, I've been looking through some old family pictures in an effort to find a good timeless name for our new little one. :)

My mom found these pictures of my Great Grandmother Louise who died when I was still quite young but to this day I remember her as someone I loved very much.











I remember she had a coo-coo clock that hung on her living room wall and I just loved it! (Still want to get one of those!) She also had these three ceramic cats on her coffee table. They were all orange, in different poses with green jeweled eyes. I would play with them whenever we went over to her house.

I wish I had known her when I was older. There are so many things I would love ask her! But at least I have these pictures...