Country Evening

I love the friendly people in our town with their laid back attitudes, the gorgeous sunsets, and the wide open spaces.

Random Vacation Thoughts

Fair warning: this is going to be one of the rambling, non-cohesive type posts.

• Despite leaving "clothes" off my packing list I did actually take some with me and didn't have to spend my vacation in nothing but a swimsuit and PJs. My most versatile and favorite piece of packable vacation clothing is my foldover jersey skirt. I have the dark heather gray color which is so versatile. It goes with everything, doesn't wrinkle, is light weight and cool, and the foldover waist makes the length of the skirt adjustable. I'm hoping to get a few more in different colors.

• I haven't had a swimsuit I actually like in years and years.  Of course that's probably because I usually just buy whatever keeps me covered and is cheap.  This year I decided to buy a "real" swimsuit so I bought the hidden assets one piece at Target.  The only problem is I bought it without trying it on (shame, shame...I know,) and I should have sized up.  It is very slimming and cute, but it's a bug bear to get on, and once it's wet, there's no taking it off and putting it back on.  That sort of creates a problem if one needs to make use of the restroom facilities.  So instead, I wound up wearing my board shorts and halter tankini top which provided no support (should have sized down. Again, I bought without trying on.  Must be a phobia.) but was at least easy to get back on when wet.

• My hair did not look cute in the humidity, so I tried to stay out of all the pictures.  Unfortunately my plan didn't work, and I'll always have reminders of the strange ways my bangs can curl up.
• Ditto on the makeup in the humidity.  My skin tends toward the oily side, so my makeup just slid right off my face.  I finally gave up and wore Dr. Feelgood balm over my sunscreen with the addition of a little lip gloss and a swipe of mascara (I normally wear it under my foundation as a primer and it does help if the humidity is not 110%).  It didn't cover up the flaws in my skin like foundation does (at least somewhat), but that's better than looking like I was melting, right?
• I came home sick (airplane germs?), but I've been cleaning and de-cluttering nonstop since I got back.  There's something about seeing your home with "fresh" eyes to make you notice things that need to be done.
• I checked out In the Company of Others: A Father Tim Novel to take with me on the plane but then chickened out, because what if I lost it or got it wet or got sand in it and the library police came knocking on my door? WHAT IF? So I took my kindle instead because it actually belongs to me and only my husband and I would freak out if it were lost or destroyed (much better than freaked out librarians).  I've been reading it since I got back though, and I'm loving it so far.  I knew I would.
• I LOVE looking at churches in towns and cities that I visit.  I'm always so tempted to ask if I can go in and look around.  I saw so many pretty, traditional, older churches of all sizes.  I'm a sucker for a steeple.  :)

Stress Management

Tired Fed-Up Stress Exhausted Sales Assistants Shoes Sales, UK, 1954

As much as I would like it to be different, I have a fairly low threshold for stress. That's not a good thing in a family as busy as ours. My first instinct when faced with stress is like the old poem says:

"When in trouble, when in doubt,
Run in circles, scream and shout!"

Not exactly productive is it?

So I have to be very intentional about busting stress before it busts me!  Here are my favorite ideas for managing stress (in no particular order):

• Watch a funny movie or read a funny book.  Laughter always makes me feel better.
• Do something creative.  Bake something delicious, paint a picture, make a scrapbook or a necklace...anything that you enjoy and that gives you a sense of accomplishment.
• Clean the house.  OK, it's not the cleaning itself that makes me feel better, but the end result.  A messy house stresses me out.  Preferably I can find a time when I am home alone and I listen to my favorite music or a great podcast while I clean.  It makes it go by so much faster and then I can relax and enjoy the shiny floors and dust free furniture.  Sometimes that's a quicker and less stressful route to having a clean house than trying to get hubby and the kids to pitch in.
• Sing.  I'm not a singer by any means, but I love to put on some old gospel songs and really belt them out when no one is listening.
• Exercise.  The very last thing I want to do when I'm feeling stressed is to exercise, but if I can talk myself into it, I always feel better and sleep better.  It doesn't have have to be anything seriously strenuous.  This is one of my favorite workouts that doesn't leave me feeling exhausted afterward.
• Talk to another mom and be honest!  It's likely that's she's felt the same way.  At the very least she'll help you feel more normal.
• Read the Psalms
• And last, but not least.  If you think you might be depressed, there is no shame in getting help!  Talk to your pastor or someone else you trust.  You may also be able to get free or reduced price counseling through your local university if cost is a concern.  Don't put yourself last!

"Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor."
- Paul Hawken

Ten Things

Thanksgiving Smoke Coming out of Fireplace

I love reading lists of what people are thankful for. It always makes me appreciate those things as well. I thought it would be fun to make a list of tangible, non-living things I'm thankful for. Of course, I'm most thankful for my precious family and my wonderful friends, but this list is for non-humans. :)

So without further ado and in no particular order, here's my list!

1. Indoor plumbing - I guess I immersed myself in the Little House Books too much as a girl, because ever since I've been extremely grateful that I don't have to share a tub full of water pulled up in front of the fire with the rest of my family (one at a time of course), or make a midnight trek to the outhouse.

2. Coffee - So many delightful ways to drink it and so tasty! I love to drink it iced in the summer and hot in the winter.

3. Cell phones - You have no idea how happy I am that I can carry my phone around and not worry that I'm going to miss a call from Greg who is currently deployed. I would probably lay down and cry if he called the house and I wasn't home to get it.

4. Dishwasher - I got a new dishwasher in February after being without for ages, and I still love it so much! It makes cooking and washing dishes so much easier.

5. Pasta - Not only is it delicious but it has helped me countless times to stretch a pound of ground beef to feed a big family.

6. Uggs - I wear mine all winter long. They may not be as stylish as a cute pair of boots with heels, but oh, are they comfortable and warm!

7. Ceiling fans - You just can't spend a summer in the south without ceiling fans. Whoever invented them has my undying gratitude. They stay out of the way and make sleeping in a too warm house possible. I wish I had one in the kitchen.

8. My camera - I invested in a nice camera this year, and I have enjoyed it so much.  I still have tons to learn, but I'm already much happier with the pictures I'm taking.

9. The internet - it has made everything so much easier: research, homework, paying bills, keeping in touch with old friends, you name it.

10. The US Postal Service - yes there's lots about it that drives me crazy, but I love opening my mailbox every day. There's always the possibility of a sample, a magazine, or best of all a card or letter. Plus, I love those flat rate boxes for sending care packages. You can really get a lot packed into them.

So what are some non-human things that you are thankful for?

My Favorite Place

My favorite place isn't a luxury hotel or a swanky restaurant. My favorite place is my own house, Casa Loca (Spanish for crazy house) as we like to call it. :)

We laugh at dumb jokes, dance (very badly in my case) in the kitchen, watch corny movies, and hang around in our ratty shorts. We can be cranky and get on each other's nerves and then we make up and hug.  We share our favorite books and then accuse the others of hogging all the cookies.

It's far from perfect, and there's always something that needs cleaning, fixing or painting, but I love it and the people in it.

We've lived here for 8 years this month and our house is full of so many happy memories.  I wouldn't change a thing!

Vintage Shopping

1950S Diner

I love to find retro bargains! My favorite vintage items are aprons.  I especially love the ones that are a little faded and threadbare because I know that they have a history. I feel like I go back in time a little when I put one on. Suddenly I'm wearing a smart pair of capri pants, a polka dot blouse, and a chiffon scarf while listening to Buddy Holly (or maybe even The Guiding Light) on my radio, getting a casserole ready for the oven and a congealed salad in the fridge.

I love all sorts of vintage things that have been passed down a generation or two.  It's especially nice to have something that your own mother or grandmother used, but finding retro goodies at garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores is great too.  You may have to sift through lots of junk, but the thrill of finding something fantastic at a bargain price makes it all worthwhile.

From vintage books, to vintage glassware, I love it all!  Maybe I'm impossibly romantic, but  I like to imagine the story behind it.  I wonder who rolled out biscuits for her family with the rolling pin I bought at a garage sale.  How did it get the little burn mark on it?  Did she roll out pie crusts too?  What about the original owner of the pretty dishes I found at the thrift store?  Did she save them for special occasions or use them every day?

I thought I would share with you a few of my favorite "gently used" finds.

Milk glass that is currently on my summer all-white mantel. Some belonged to my grandmother and some I bought.

A pewter candlestick.  It doesn't have any markings on it so I have no idea how old it is, but I love the classic Americana look of it.  I've had it for years, but I think I only paid a dollar or two for it.

A darling toile pillow I found for $2!  Totally worth it!

An inherited ruby glass bowl on a hand embroidered garage sale find tablecloth.



Do you like to shop at garage sales and thrift stores?  What are some of your favorite finds?

Favorite Recipes

Some of my favorite recipes from the past 2 years of 50s housewife.




Pot Roast and Ragu made with the leftovers

Easy Drop Cookies

Coffeehouse Scones

Tracy's Cinnamon Rolls

Challah

Easiest Cake Ever

Easy Homemade Salsa

Homestead Biscuits

Apple Cobbler

Buttermilk Bread

Banana French Toast

Pasta with Italian Meat Sauce

Beef and Cheese Calzones

Good Reading

A Book with Glasses Left on the Bed

Top Recipes of 2008

Join Big Mama (and me, not that she knows me and is reading with me, but you know what I mean...) in reading the Bible in a year in chronological order. She started on September 1st so you haven't missed much if you want to jump in.

Free Vintage Clipart.


Little Things

What I want for Christmas Hint, hint. :) Or maybe these.

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

Homemade Brown Sugar

Life through a New Lens (gorgeous pictures)

Before and after sitting room at a beach cottage

I guess most of this is not really reading so much as looking, but that's fun too right?

Today's Apron

This is one of my favorite everyday aprons. I've been wearing it while I work on the Making Your Home a Haven Challenge. It's a yellow and white gingham with cross stitch and a cute little pocket. It's homemade and belonged to my grandmother. Maybe this apron collecting thing is genetic! ;)

Big Chef Apron

I normally post these on Fridays, but I was so busy yesterday getting ready for company that I didn't get it done.

This apron is obviously a man's BBQ apron. It looks to me like it's from the 50s (how appropriate)! It has a few small stains, but otherwise it's in very good condition. I think it's SO cute!

Friday Favorites

Update: My friend told me the picture looks like a headless ghost. Woops! Sorry about that. Next time I'll wait until someone is home to take my picture.

Today I'm sharing another of my aprons and once again you'll have to excuse my picture taking skills. I was trying to get a full length picture in a not so full length mirror. At first I was going to lay it out on the floor and take the picture, but I thought you might not get the full effect.

This apron, like last Friday's apron, was made by my grandmother. I don't remember her wearing this one. I'm sure she must have used it for entertaining and from the fabric I'm guessing it's from the 70s. It's the only full length apron I have. I haven't worn it other than to "model" to show my daughters (and now for the blog).

Friday's Favorite Things

This is the apron that I wear every day. It belonged to my dad's mother and she wore it as her "everyday" apron. I love the cute green fabric and the fact that my grandmother made it herself. I also love how it covers so well. Some of my other aprons are really pretty, but don't cover my shirt. They are more for looks than actual use. This one is the same front and back (and reversible too). It slips over my head and ties on each side. I keep it hanging on a hook in my pantry so that's it's handy when I start cooking.

Friday Handkerchief

I love linens of all types. When I go to an estate sale the first things I look for are aprons, kitchen linens and handkerchiefs. Yes, I even love to carry a handkerchief in my purse. They really do come in handy! Every Friday I'll post either one of my handkerchiefs or one of my aprons. This particular handkerchief belonged to my dad's mother. It's machine stitched around the outline of the roses and my guess is that it's from the 60s.