You Gonna Eat That?

I have come to the conclusion that people were thinner back then simply because of the food they were presented with for dinner. Whatever they had in the fridge, went in a gelatin mold. "Welllll, lets see here, (opens fridge), I have olives, tuna, pickles and beets, time to get out the mold and get dinner crackin' here!" Every gross concoction was thrown into a shiny gelatinous mess, garnished with random unrelated things, perhaps lime wedges, rutabaga chunks, dill pickles, matchbox cars, whatever, it didn't matter. Nothing was really going to help make it look appetizing. Sometimes they would go all out and fill the cavity of the mold with some sort of creamy mass of meat with an olive or blueberry on top. These books are like a train wreck, you don't want to look, and you know its going to be gross, but you can't help it, it mesmerizes you. Fascinating. Shimmery.

 

I have had the pleasure to come across several of these cookbook gems. I recently sold a very old book that included a recipe for Sea Grass Pudding. Gather sea grass. Cook with cream and sugar, serve. Really, I kid you not.  Actual recipe.

 

That book sold 8 hours after I listed it, so it must have been delicious.

 

 

 

The Blender Way to Better Cooking and Savoury Cooking, two prime examples of books full of stuff you never want to eat. Includes Molded Salmon loaf, molded crab meat salad(garnish with cucumber and radish), asparagus egg mold, avocado mold (fill cavity with seafood salad), and something called Green velvet mold (you don't want to know) and the ever so delish Jellied Tomato Ring and my fave Golden Glow salad (pineapple, and cheese cubes, garnished with mayo)

 

Books available HERE

 

Awesome mid century salt and pepper shakers with a little jar for misc spice and Tupperware collection available HERE

 

 

 

 

Look at pics on the back of the book. Shimmery, jiggly, gelatinous mess.

 

The original Fear Factor.

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, now I really don't have anything bad to say about Wilton. I think they have some fabulous retro cake designs that are still fun and cool to this day. Basic cake decorating skills  never go out of style.  I really love this book! I found it in the bottom of a box that I got from an estate sale. Get your star tip out and get ready to make a wedding cake!

 

 

 

 

Available HERE!

 

 

Cool vintage metal flour sifter and lime green Tupperware available HERE!

 

 

 

 

This one is one of my favorites. I found it here in Florida, but it is from my home city Detroit. Ford Motor Co. used to put out a book of recipes from famous restaurants. I am sad to say that none of these restaurants are still around, but here you can have a collection of their recipes. Book shows much love, but I am crazy about the retro cover picture. I wish I could find more Detroit memorabilia, but chances are, I would just end up keeping it for myself.

 

This book is available HERE! (Please promise to love and care for this book)

 

 

I am in love with this groovy owl planter! This Cheese Cook book actually has some yummy recipes, I'm not going to lie, I copied a few for myself before listing it in my store.

 

 

 

 

The Omelette book is also a good one! Full of timeless recipes that still sound pretty darn edible! It's challenging for me to list these Holt Mid Century coffee/tea cups. I love how quirky and whimsical they are. But I have broken enough mugs in my life to know not to own anything vintage and non replaceable. Available HERE!

 

 

 

Betty Crocker books are usually my favorite, but this Southern Living one is pretty darn awesome. Hi OWL friend! 

 

 

1974 Celebrate cake decorating magazines. Filled with fun groovy cake designs!

 

Love!

 

 

 

Remember to use my coupon codes when shopping, they will expire soon! Shopping for books, use: BOOKS4ME to save 15%

 

Shopping for vintage home goods, use: VINTAGE4ME to save and extra 10%

 

My mom was a professional chef, so I can say we ate pretty good growing up. None of this cocktail wieners with grapes in a jello mold for us! However, one time she made some sort of crazy German meal. Everything was pretty disgusting. I discretely tossed the meal on our brown shag carpet, figuring that our pets would eat it. (I did that often with food I didn't like and one of our cats would usually eat it up, hiding any evidence). Well apparently whatever I threw on the floor was so disgusting that even our cats wouldn't touch it, and I got busted. My mom was understanding however, because even she knew it was a gross meal and we still reminisced about "that German dinner" 30 years later.

 

What were your family meals like growing up?

 

 





 

 



The Eye of the Tiger and a Ruined Shirt

At a recent school function for my kids they had the Kona Ice truck there to supply the kids with their daily sugar overload. Ice and syrup in a cup for $3. But the real draw is the fact that the kids get a cup of shaved ice and get to go to the syrup dispenser and have at it. So they pretty much just pump every flavor syrup until the syrup is dripping off the sides of the cup....thus landing on anything it comes in contact with. My son likes the "Tigers Blood" flavor. Its an orangey-tangerine-mango flavored syrup. Its a nice deep orange color, hence the name. My son was also wearing a white uniform shirt that day. You know where this is going, right?

 

 

Speaking of tigers, I do love me some big cats. We have a place about 10 minutes away from my house called Big Cat Rescue . And that's exactly what it is. Tigers, Ocelots, cheetah, Leopards, Lions et cetera,  that perhaps people thought they could own, and later realized that was a stupid idea. Or animals that had issues that prevented them from living in the wild, or whatever reason they needed to be rescued. I have always wanted to go, but unfortunately it is a bit pricey and you can only reserve for tours, no open admission. But I think its a wonderful cause and I'm sure I will go there one day.

 

My amazing tiger find just listed. I found this awesome kitschy tiger jar, probably made in Japan, He has a cool red hat with a cute little blue bird atop. I really love him and I would like to keep him. Which is one of the hard parts of this biz, its hard to let go of all these treasures!

 

 

 

 

 

I do so love him! But if you promise to be a good owner you can adopt him HERE. Please promise to take loving care of him!

 

 

While in St. Augustine, when I was at that super cool thrift store, Second Time Around Thrift on Old Moultrie Rd, one of the books I found was Timmy Tiger to the Rescue. Both my kids just happen to pick this book out of the stack I purchased, and they decided to read it. Both of my kids absolutely loved it! I don't know why they were both drawn to this book, but I think it has something to do with the super cute illustrations of the tiger with the big sweet eyes. Evan and Avery gave this book a 5 star rating in my store (1-5 star rating system).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avery did not like this page. She thought it was scary. I have to agree with her just because I do not care for monkeys, apes, primates in general. Not a big fan. But Timmy is just so stinkin' cute, isn't he?

 

 

Again, another cute tiger to adopt, please promise to give him a good home.

Available HERE 

 

 

Meanwhile, I will be content loving our Calico cat, Joby. She is a great cat and my kids just love her to pieces. I think she just pooped, because she just did the "poop run" up the stairs. You know the "poop run", Don'tcha? The "poop run" is that burst of energy cats get after they empty their bowels. Its either that or they are trying to escape the stink as fast as possible.

 

By the way, my children are only allowed to get Kona Ice flavors that match their shirts. It's a new family law. Avery can't go wrong because she will wear a rainbow shirt. Evan will probably play it safe and wear black, which should be easy since most of his shirts happen to be black.

 

Here are a few other family laws in our house: 1) No more than two stupid questions can be asked while I am driving.  2) No more than one child crying at a time (more of a law when they were younger, for whatever reason, this law really worked!). 3) No one can use my tape. 4) The kitchen utensil drawer is not a toy chest. 5) If I step on a Lego, it goes in the trash. 6) No one was allowed to use any floaties in the pool once they turned 4. So by age four, they had to completely learn how to swim to go in the water. Worked with both of them.

 

Have any great family laws/rules? ( I call them laws, it sounds more fierce)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Love Me Some Thrift Store Style

Now its my daughter's turn to star in my blog. I told you I wasn't going to exclude her. Her true talents are her mathematical skills and her love of eating. Yes, my daughter can eat like no one business. Mostly good healthy foods, but just massive quantities. One day she ate 15 grapefruits in one sitting. She also loves raw peppers and eats those by the bagful. Yes, she eats cookies and all the other good stuff too. She just eats constantly. In the summer she would eat about 4-5 full breakfasts, pretty much eating up until lunch time. She has only gained 4lbs in the past 3 years. She also has been doing yoga for three years, maybe there is a connection. May we all be blessed with such magical metabolism. She did not inherit this gene from me....

 

On another note, for anyone who thinks they need to pay full retail price at the mall to dress their children cute, boy, are they wrong! Because I am in the thrift shops so often to fill my stores, I always have to check out the kids aisle to see what I can find. I have found Childrens Place, new with tags, school uniforms for just a couple bucks, Sketchers shoes brand spanking new still in the box for $3. If the idea of "used" clothing is a turn off for you, lemme tell you, there is so much that is brand new with tags at thrift stores. Sometimes stores donate overstock and out of season. Sometimes people buy something and it doesn't fit and they lost the receipt to return it, sometimes someone gets a gift they don't love or need. Whatever the reason, their loss is my gain.

 

 

 

 

Here is my 6 year old, Avery showing you my latest find. Black shirt on sale at Target $3, Floral boutique skirt (new with tags)$2 thrift store.

 

 

 

 

 

Old Navy Shirt (new with tags) $1 Thrift store, Jeans shorts with embroidered flowers, thrift store $1. ($2 for this complete outfit, can't beat that!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Navy dress (new with tags) $2 Thrift store. (look at that killer bicep on my little girl! Yoga give this girl some muscles!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osh Gosh shorts (New with tags) $1 Thrift store, shirt was given to me by a neighbor as a hand me down from her daughter. Freeeeee.

Yep, if my math is correct $1 for this outfit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shirt on sale at Carters $3, Justice tutu skirt (new with tags), $2.

 

As you can see, my daughter is not a fan of shoes. Prefers her flip flops which she would gladly wear year round, because "my feet get hot and slippery"

 

In addition she has been cursed with my big feet, sorry to say. However, I have blessed her with super straight hair, which I hope will balance out the big feet curse.

 

 

You can find lots of new stuff at the thrift stores. School uniforms, formal dresses you name it. I have a formal Limited Too dress, brand new with tags. I paid $3.50, its in her closet waiting for her, it is 1 size too big as of yet.

 

Her glasses cost $400. Can't always be thrifty.

 

Speaking of thrifty finds, Check out my stores! Huge sales on vintage books right now! AND use this coupon code for an additional 15% savings: books4me.

 

Shop HERE

 

 

 

Also savings on vintage home goods! Use this coupon code for additional savings: vintage4me.

 

Shop HERE

 

 

 

Have you found any good thrift store finds lately?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



Some Serious Art!

As I promised, here is the post about my sons art. He is 10 years old and has been drawing since he was a baby. He never drew scribbles, he would try to draw figures and things. Most people thought I was crazy for giving my 2 year old a Sharpie to draw with, especially since I have a white sofa. But it was never a problem.

 

So now that he is 10, he has grown into quite an artist. He has had group lessons and now private lessons. He enjoys all forms of art, building, clay, stop motion animation, ink, paint, pastels, wood burning. He loves it all, but his favorite is pen, pencil and paper. He loves to illustrate.

 

He has had the opportunity on several occasions to sell his art at a local market. Both times he has sold out his inventory! His style is very unusual and creative. Its not that he draws well, its that he thinks odd.

 

 

Here are a few examples:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most items sold before I was able to get a snapshot.

 

 

All his illustrations are framed in upcycled frames ready for purchase. He will be at the Hyde Park Market Sunday, October 6 from 10-2. Come and support the arts and young artists. One day, his work may be worth millions!

 

 

 

And so not to leave my darling daughter out, I will be featuring her next week in a fashion show extravaganza. She will be modeling the latest in Thrift Store Style. (Her passion is math and eating, so I really don't think posting pictures of her doing multiplication or eating would be very interesting).

 

 

 

And on a final note, HUGE sale at my bookstore! Many vintage reads for $3, $2 and under! Get them while you can! Big, big sale! I can not have a blog with out a little self advertisement. That's how I roll.....

 

 

Start shopping here!

 

 

 

Yes, I am proud of my son (and daughter)! I think everyone should be proud of their children. I like to hear other parents brag how great their kid is at baseball, or piano, or school, or just being a great kid. I know some people don't like it and think that it is shameful to be boastful, but not me. I like to brag about my kids and I like to hear other parents that brag about their kids. I think the parents that downplay their children's qualities are the ones that are shameful.

 

 

So let me hear you brag about someone special in your life. And don't hold back!





 



 



Say Nice Things About Detroit

I know most of you have heard some rather harsh things about Detroit, and rightfully so. However there are some amazing things about Detroit that you won't hear about in the news. I grew up in Detroit (yes Detroit, not the suburbs surrounding Detroit). And I would be a liar to tell you that it wasn't a rough and scary childhood. Detroit public schools were not a fun learning environment for me, either. But I am who I am today because of my childhood, and I like who I turned out to be as an adult, so all is good.

One of the things I love about Detroit, is that it is full of the most creative souls on the planet. It is full of art, innovation and energy. Detroiters are survivors. Whatever comes our way, we just get back up and keep on truckin'.

The Heidelberg Project is a perfect example of the resilience of Detroiters. Tyree Guyton started the Heidelberg project over 25 years ago. He took abandoned homes and made them into colorful, creative works of art. He had neighborhood children help. They were thought-provoking, energetic, interesting, beautiful...and too much for some people to understand, including the mayor. They received awful criticism from many people.  They were demolished. Tyree didn't give up, he was strong and determined and he knew it meant something. He created another Heidelberg project, this time with a little more support. And once again, down it came. And once again he went to work. And it was incredible and this time he had even more support and more publicity and  gained credibility as an artist and an innovator for the city. Heidelberg Project has been visited by celebrities, been featured in documentaries. Tyree Guyton has gone on to educate children in the arts, and travels the world. Just this past May there was a fire/possible arson at Heidelberg, destroying much of the project. The next day he and many volunteers were cleaning up, and making plans for the next project, He is the epitome of Detroit to me and he is an amazing character. For more about the Heidelberg project, check it out on Facebook or check them out here: http://heidelbergorg.presencehost.net/

 

 

 

I grew up with the arts. My father was an artist, my grandfather was an artist, my uncle was an artist and my aunt was an interior designer (which was the field I ended up in as well). My son, at the young age of 10, is an artist. Its in our genes.

 

My dad studied at the Center for Creative Studies, with a full scholarship, (this is also where he met my mom).  He worked at the Detroit Free Press as an editorial artist and a cartoonist. He also ended up teaching cartooning at the Center for Creative Studies.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of his covers of the Detroit Magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The asparagus Festival was a big deal. We had the original framed in our family room growing up. Its actually quite large. This festival was such a fun time and good memory for my dad. He talked about it often.

 

 

 

 

The Punch and Judy hung in our bathroom.

 

A 1973 Calendar pull out from the Detroit magazine. So funky and groovy. I have promised my son to have it preserved and framed for his bedroom. This is one of his favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

Check out more of his fun art http://www.thecartoonsofnolanross.com/

 

 

And my grandpa was also an artist. He was a designer at GM and he also went on to design many other products such as MacGregor Golf Clubs, Delta Faucets and much more. He designed many cars for GM. You can check out his gallery here: http://www.theartofartross.com/

 

 

My son will be selling his art (yes, he is only 10) next weekend in Hyde Park, here in Florida. It is his second time selling his work, so I have high hopes for his career in the art world. He is off to a great start, and has a supportive family.  I will be posting pics of his illustrations in my next blog. Yea, I'm kinda proud.

 

 

So, say nice things about Detroit. I know its hard, but trust me, if you want to see incredible architecture, great art, amazing music, delicious food and genuine people who are tough but kind,  Detroit is the place for you.

 

 

Art is in this family's genes, what talents have you inherited?



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







Our Plants Went for a Swim

My husband has always dreamed of having a fruit and vegetable garden. He has talked about it off and on for several years.  Florida is garden challenged, unless you are growing citrus fruits. There are factors such as the sandy dirt, the extreme heat, the crazy downpours, the armadillos and snakes, just to name a few obstacles. But Greg was determined. He did his research, like a good boy, he brought a primo dirt that he mixed with some other stuff, like a little chemist. He purchased a small greenhouse with shelves. He would even come home from work everyday for lunch to tend to them. (I already told him that I would not partake in any of this gardening crap. I'm busy enough, for crying out loud!) The deal was that the greenhouse would be kept inside our pool cage until summertime when we use our pool daily, then it would be moved outside the pool cage. That was the deal. Well, as those plants grew, they became heavier. And when the became heavier, the metal shelving started to buckle. And at some point on memorial day, a gust of wind combined with metal legs ready to give, crushed my husband's dreams. The whole greenhouse tipped into the pool. So not only did every single plant die, our pool was now a mud swamp. And it took about 3 weeks of intense cleaning to get it back to a swimmable quality.  

 

So this year he has decided to start a new hobby.  I hope it is a useful hobby, like vacuuming or cookie baking. (By "useful" I mean useful to me).

 

 

So back to gardening and planting and such. I was on the hunt this summer for a big cool looking desk for temporary usage. I have drawn up plans for a built-in desk and shelf unit, but finances mean I have to wait until next year. So I found a sweet looking black industrial desk at a thrift store. A beauty in perfect condition for only $50. They were using it to display a crap load of these incredible vintage planters, which they were going to have to find another spot for. So I got them to make a deal (since I was buying the desk). I purchased them all. They are so lovely!

 

 

 

The bird ones are my favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

Unique, fun, vintage. Don't have to be used for just plants. Candies, coins, paper clips...its all good.

 

Details HERE

 

 

 

If you think you have what it takes to start your own garden, don't forget to do your research. Its a crazy world out there, and mother nature can be one crazy bitch.

 

 

 

 

Fun vintage nature and gardening books will teach you everything you need to know with super cool retro pics for added enjoyment.

 

These and more available HERE

 

 

And just for the record, I will have you know that we have a chive plant that is close to 15 years old and still going strong. It has endured 3 moves and is older than my kids are. Seriously, chives? Why not raspberries, or avocados or tomatoes, or something useful and delicious? I told you Mother Nature was a bitch.

 

So, does anyone want to trade a bag of chives or spearmint (we have loads of that useless plant too) for some grapefruit or avocados?

 

 

 

 

 

Planet Mushroom

True story here, etched in my brain forever. When I was about five years old, living in Detroit, I had a best friend named Patrick. We would like to play with our hot wheels cars on a tree trunk by my driveway. The tree trunk was always covered in nasty mushrooms, you know, the poisonous kind. So, my mom would always tell us not to eat them. Well, Patrick and I were getting kind of curious WHAT WOULD happen if we actually DID eat them....so we devised a plan, that the next time my mom came out with the mushroom warning, we would both lie and tell her that we ate some so we could finally see what would happen.

So, mom came out, asked if we ate any mushrooms and I said, "yes" and then my mom asked Patrick and he said, "no". (So, at 5 years old, I learned the lesson to never take any thing a man says at face value). Well, mom rushed me into the bathroom, made me drink Syrup of Ipecac (medicine to make someone barf, they do not make this anymore, this generation should be very grateful). So I spent the next 12 hours in the bathroom barfing, while my older demon brother let all the kids in the neighborhood come in the bathroom and watch me. (This was before Cirque du Soleil was around, so we had to take what we could for entertainment). And in the back of the crowd, I could see my little pal, and I thought future husband, Patrick. Quiet. Ashamed. Thankful he said, "no".......

 

 

So 19 years later I marry Greg. Greg told me on our first date that he hates mushrooms.

 

 

 

That is the mushroom story. The mushrooms are continuing to curse me. They seduce me with their 70's retroness, they tease me, they call for me, begging for forgiveness of past wrongs.....

 

 

 

 

 

The Wonderful Flight of the Mushroom Planet. This book is hot. I have had the luck of finding this book  three different times, and three times this book sells immediately! So, the next book I find, I have promised myself that I will be reading it. I need to know just what makes this book my best seller. Does this magical place has rivers full of Ipecac?

 

 

 

 

 

Mushroom canisters, all sizes and styles. Available to store dog biscuits, cookies, coffee, family jewels or secret stash of money to hide from your spouse...You name it, I have a mushroom canister for you!

 

 

Check it out here

 

 

 

And if you ever find a mushroom hanging around your yard, and it looks yummy and you are too lazy to hit the grocery store, and maybe you are trying to go organic and maybe its time to make dinner......You just may consider plunking that mushroom out of the earth and taking it into your kitchen to add to the marinara....Who knows, it could be safe? I mean, edible mushrooms DO have to grow somewhere. Some of the ones growing around your house, just may be safe. How can you know the difference between the mushrooms that will kill you, the ones that will give you a nice buzz, or the ones you can sauté with garlic and put in your sub with a bit of mozzarella?

 

 

 

 

You can educate yourself by having a nice handy mushroom reference guide. No kitchen is compete without this!

 

 

Details here

 

 

Oh, and to Patrick: We SO would have been married if it wasn't for that early betrayal!