St. Vincent's Thrift Store and a Giveaway!

I'm finally getting around to finish my blog posts about my trip Wisconsin! Geeze, it takes me a while!

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is by far my favorite thrift shop.

The prices are so reasonable and it's always full of wonderful, old things.

In addition to two blue and white checked aprons, here are my

other finds:

Vintage gloves: $.70!!!

A cookbook from 1941 compiled by Grace Church. It's FULL of fantastic recipes — and was obviously used a lot! I've made a list of the ones I want to try, and if they're winners, I'll share them with you.

Check out these great girl's books! I can't wait to read them! What adventures will Patty O'Neal have on the airways?

Perhaps she'll marry that dashing pilot! ;)

And how will Sally Scott fair in the WAVES?

These two recipe books from 1957 and 1948. Also full of recipes for yummy goodies that I plan to share with you.

Giveaway time! St. Vincent's always has a big shoebox full of vintage cards. Here are three that I am giving away: A birthday-love card, baby card, and a blank card.

To enter just leave a comment on this post. You can earn an extra entry by posting about the giveaway on your blog and leaving another comment on this post with a link. Open to international readers. Giveaway closes June 30th. Good luck!

Oh! And please leave your email if you do not have a blog through which I can contact you.

Everyday Vintage #6: Retro Laundry Products

Check out the retro packaging on these laundry products! A nice way to bring a little yesteryear to your laundry room. Buy your favorite, and just refill it with your detergent of choice. Available at Target.

Vintage Recipe: Applesauce Cake with Caramel Frosting

I made this cake last week and it was fantastic! The frosting is what makes it.

From the Sunbeam Mixmaster recipe book from 1957.

Applesauce Cake

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

2 tbsp. cocoa

3/4 teasp. salt

1 1/2 teasp. cinnamon

1/4 teasp. cloves

1/2 teasp. nutmeg

1/2 teasp. allspice

1/2 teasp. soda

1 1/2 teasp. double-acting baking powder

1/2 cup soft shortening

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups canned applesauce (I used chunky applesauce)

1 cup raisins, cut up, or I cup snipped dates (I substituted craisins)

3/4 cup chopped walnuts, if desired

Set oven at 350 degrees F, to preheat. Grease, line with waxed paper, or dust with flour, bottom of 13x9x2 pan. Sift together flour, cocoa, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, soda and baking powder. Add fruit and nuts and toss to coat.

In large bowl of Mixmaster, cream shortening and sugar on No. 7 speed for 2 minutes. Then add eggs, one at a time while beating 2 minutes. Add flour mixture alternately with applesauce while beating on No. 2 speed. Scrape bowl at necessary, beat only until blended, about 4 minutes for adding.

Turn into pan. Bake about 50 minutes or until done. (I checked mine every 20 minutes — it took about 40 minutes.) Cool Frost with caramel or coffee frosting.

Easy Caramel Frosting

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup milk

About 2 cups sifter confectioner's sugar

1 teasp. vanilla

Melt butter in saucepan, stir in brown sugar. Cook and stir over low heat 2 minutes. Add milk, continue stirring until boiling. Remove from heat. Cool to lukewarm. Put into small Mixmaster bowl. Add sugar and vanilla while beating on No. 2 speed. Then beat on No. 11 speed until spreading consistency, about 2 minutes. Adjust to spreading consistency with a few drops of hot water or more sugar as needed (mine did not need to be adjusted). Spread on cake at once. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, if desired.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway by June 30th!

WWII Weekend

Last weekend was the 21st WWII Weekend at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, PA. It was my first time going and — I don't even know where to begin — it was mind blowing! I was completely transported back into the 1940's. The authenticity of the reenactors and different areas was AMAZING!!

The different war zones (Pacific theatre, European theatre, French village) were so realistic. The reenactors were truly living out their parts — from soldiers to USO girls — and were very knowledgeable. The reenactments of certain battles were so authentic — right down to the medics tending the wounded after the battles.

There were swing dances in the evening in the airplane hangar. The bands were wonderful!

There were also different musical groups who sang Andrews Sister's style throughout the day at the "Officer's Club" — my favorite being The Manhattan Dolls.

The vendors section was packed with everything from vintage dresses to uniforms to books to jewelry to repro sewing patterns to movies to pin up girls. You name it and it was there! My treasures for the weekend were a blue sweetheart pillow case (with fringe!!), a sweetheart bracelet, and a few vintage hankies.

You can view my photos of the weekend here, and you will truly have to view them to get even a remote idea to the immensity of the event — there's just no way to articulate it and do it justice! And also check out next year's WWII Weekend here. If there's any way you can come to next years, GO FOR IT! You will NOT be disappointed!

D-Day

Could you jump off a boat or from a plane into heavy enemy gunfire? Could you volunteer for that? Could you handle the emotions rushing through you as you get nearer and nearer to the battle — knowing that you could die any second?

Remember the men that gave their lives so that we could be free. Remember the men who saw and experienced things that no human should have to experience. Remember D-Day today.

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