Delightful Retro Finds

Me and a few friends went to lunch at Wendy's today. I love Wendy's. Anyway, they are selling travel mugs for $2.99, and all the proceeds go to the Disabled Veteran's Memorial Fund. There are two style choices. The one I picked has two vintage Coca Cola ads on it from WWII. It's a great stocking stuffer or treat for yourself. Plus you get coupons inside! I tried to find a picture but didn't have success.

My second find of the day was the book "Make Do and Mend". It is a book of reproduction instruction leaflets from WWII. I had seen it on Amazon a few months ago, but found it today at Daedalus books for $5.00. It is full of wonderful WWII-ness, but the info is practical and

useful today: how to darn socks, repair a button hole, storage of your clothes, saving fuel, making slippers, cutting down adult clothes and turning them into children's clothes — and that's just scratching the surface. It is definitely a must have for those of us looking for vintage books and resources.

There is also another book in this series, "Eating for Victory". It's next on my list. ;)

Just a few photos . . .

Here are a few pictures I found sitting on my computer. Enjoy! :)

Vintage Recipe: Sugar Cookies

Here is the second Christmas cookie recipe from the December 1949 issue of Women's Day.

Sugar Cookies

Costs 34 cents

Yields 2 1/2 dozen

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs, grade B

2 1/2 cups sifted flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Confectioners’ sugar icing

silver shot

citron

Cream shortening; add sugar, flavoring, and eggs one at a time; beat until light. Add sifted dry ingredients; mix well. Chill for 2 hours. roll thin and cut with floured Christmas tree cutter or other fancy cutter. Bake on greased cookie sheets in hot oven, 400 degrees F., about 10 minutes. Cool on racks; decorate with icing, silver shot and bits of citron or other candied fruit.

Vintage Christmas Recipe: Crisp Ginger Cookies

As promised, here is a cookie recipe from the December 1949 issue of Woman's Day magazine.

If I had a scanner I would post the whole magazine! Sadly, I do not. So here is recipe 1 of 52 vintage cookie recipes from the article "The Cookie Jar" by Glenna McGinnis.

Crisp Ginger Cookies

(Costs 30 cents)

Yields 2 1/2 dozen

1 cup molasses

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

3 cups sifted flour

2 to 3 teaspoons ginger

1/2 teaspoon [baking] soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Confectioners' sugar icing

Cinnamon drops

Heat molasses and pour over shortening; add sifted dry ingredients; mix well. Chill overnight. Roll very thin on floured board; cut with Santa cookie cutter or other fancy cutter. Put on greased baking sheets and bake in moderate oven, 350 degrees F., for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on racks. When cold, outline cookies with icing; 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar, mixed with 2 tablespoons water. Put in small pastry bag or a frosting gun. Decorate with cinnamon drops.

Christmas Cards and Barbara Stanwyck

Imprinted Christmas cards bother me. Can't we take the time to sign our own name? I understand if you have mammoth amounts to send out, but still — it's so much more personal and meaningful if it's in your handwriting. That was my rant for today ;)

The other day I was browsing a movie catalogue and came across "The Barbara Stanwyck Show". I never even knew Miss Stanwyck had a show, and I am absolutely thrilled!!! You can buy it on Amazon here. Only one season was made, and this DVD collection (volume 1) has 15 of the 22 episodes. Each episode is a drama, and they are full of guest stars. Barbara Stanwyck won "Best Actress in a Dramatic Series" for her show. (Which makes it surprising that there is only one season!) As a bonus feature on the DVD you get to see her making her Emmy acceptance speech.

Christmas time is coming!!

Ok, not to rush things, but I LOOOOVE Christmas!! It's my favorite time of the year. So I thought I would blog about a few of the things I do to make my Christmas a little more vintage.

I like to tie candy canes on my presents for friends, or put them on their Christmas cards. To me there is something nostalgic about a candy cane. I like to use Spangler Candy Canes. (The Spangler company started in 1906).

Sending out Christmas cards. Sometimes I wonder if Christmas cards will become a thing of the past. I work at Hallmark, and I've already had someone tell me that they refuse to send them out because of postage. I understand, but sitting down and writing out Christmas cards — even if it's just to your close friends — puts you in a Christmas mood. Here is a website where you can buy reproduction vintage cards.

Putting money in the Salvation Army bucket. It goes to a good cause, and you have to admit — you feel good putting it in and being wished a "Merry Christmas". That bell has been ringing since 1901. It's featured in the opening scene of "Holiday Inn" with Fred Astair. Dropping your spare change in their red kettle is such an easy way to be a blessing this holiday season. You can read the complete store about the red kettle here.

Baking Christmas cookies. Put on some swingin' Christmas music, and tie on an apron! It's especially fun if you do it with a friend or family member. Christmas cookies also make nice gifts. My mom used to tell me how baking Christmas cookies was such a big deal when she was little. Her mother used to make tons of them and store them in tins in the bedroom — because it was one of the cold rooms and it kept the cookies fresh. And when company came over, my grandma would bring out Christmas cookies, and also send some home with the guests. I'm going to try and post some cookie recipes from my vintage magazines.

Foil wrapping paper. It's classic. It's also hard to find. Hallmark does have a style of wrapping paper this year that is somewhat close to foil. It has deep gold, cranberry, and green stripes with large snowflakes printed randomly. It's not the real thing, but it's close. There are other papers and gift bags in that line that have a 60's feel.

I know that some of these things aren't necessarily authentic "vintage", but they add nostalgia and whimsy to the holiday for me. Stopping to write cards or bake cookies with my mom — it's a pause in the hectic way Christmas has become. It's a little "homemade" in the "store bought" world. It's memories that will stick with me when the materialistic things fade.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!