Still Decorating....

We've been in our house for 11 months now, but are still getting pictures up! Part of the hold-up has been plaster walls! We've always had drywall; but with plaster you can't just pound a nail in. Also, I had to thrift some album covers to stick in these ikea frames:

Here's a closer look:

None of them have any particular meaning except for the Sound of Music soundtrack (one of my favourites when I was a kid - and we had this album!). I just chose mustard yellow as a colour to tie them all together.

Vintage Levi's and bonus Jean nostalgia

How come when you can't find something anymore it becomes more desirable to you? It seems you can no longer find jeans without 'stretch.' The problem with them is, if they fit well in the change room, they don't stay that way. They start to 'bag out' once you wear them.  Not so with the jeans of my youth. 

I was intrigued by a pair of Levi's I saw in the vintage store for only $11, with all the tags attached. I didn't buy them right then, but overnight I thought they would probably fit me. I went back and they did fit!

They are super high waisted, and are made (in Canada!) of really thick, unyielding denim. I think I should be able to get away with wearing them with a longer top without it looking too weird.  My internet research on them didn't dig up anything about them. I can't tell from the label if they are late 70s or early 80s.  What do you think?

And thinking about jeans, since living in Alberta I've come across a few references to the Great Western Garment Co. which operated a factory in Edmonton until 2004.  Apparently, it was one of the only places that hired non-English speaking women.  When I was a kid a popular brand, the "GWG's" came from there. I think I had a white pair in the mid-1980s.  Check out a commercial from that era:

Looking forward to Springtime Past and Present

We had some warm weather, but it went down to below freezing this last week.  But, there are still signs of spring!  Longer evenings, blue skies, and the cottonwoods by the river ready to burst into leaves!

 And I am ready to shed my long johns for lighter, breezier clothing! (I don't think I've ever worn long johns more than this winter).

I had a trip down memory lane recently about one of my favourite spring shirts when I was a kid in the mid-1980s.  It was this lovely white cotton blouse with pastel flowers.  I am wearing it in the picture below with white stirrup pants.

It looks like my sister, dog, and I were posing in the early spring (R.I.P. Bessy!).  Luckily, I can give you a closer look at the pattern of shirt because I recently found the shoulder pads!  So here is a blast from the past from over 25 years ago!

When I organized our crap in the basement a couple of weeks ago I had a look in my Barbie box, and there they were! I must have thought they were decent pillows for Barbie's bed.

Then on Friday I had a few minutes to look over the spring fashions in the mall, and found a very reminiscent shirt!

Now, I just have to wait until the temperatures get above freezing again.  Hus agreed it was a very 80s pattern.

My Sick, Indulgent Weekend

Sick as in ill.  I watched the whole 1st season of Girls, which I found at Value Village for $3.99, and ate Wagon Wheels.  I dunno, I get weird cravings when I have a cold.  Wagon Wheels still taste good, but have you noticed that they are tiny compared to what they used to be?

Redneck Clothesline

Its a beautiful day here today.  Bright and sunny, so I did some laundry and hung it out.  But even though we've been in this house for 9 years, I've never put up a clothesline.  Instead, I use our dog kennel!

Well I do like things to be multipurpose!  I call it our redneck clothesline.  You can see my retro clothespin bag at the end.  Here's a closer look...

It used to be my moms.  I'm not sure where or when she got it.  Lets look at the back....

You get a better view of the polyester fabric.  The sun-faded band is from years hanging from the deck of the house I grew up in. It had horizontal railings.  I spent many a sunny day reading and suntanning on that deck in my teenager-hood!

Before we leave my back yard, we'll look at another being that likes to sun himself...

And lets grab a handful of raspberries in my patch....

I hope its sunny wherever you are!

Double Duty Products

A few things happened this week that made me think about using household products in ways in which they were not originally intended.  


The classic example in my childhood home was using Avon's 'Skin So Soft' bath oil to lift stubborn price stickers off of things (I can still smell it!).  In Hus's grandma's farmhouse, she always kept a bottle of Coca Cola in the laundry room to add to the wash of 'cow patty'-stained jeans.


Last week I felt chilled one afternoon, so I decided to take a rare bubble bath.  I haven't had purposely-made bubble bath for quite some time, but in the bathroom cupboard I have a backup....

Some old shampoo that I don't care to use on my hair anymore.  I found the Life brand orange shampoo too drying, and the Burt's Bees Grapefruit doesn't foam enough.  I mix them together and presto! Citrus Bubble Bath.  And I get to reuse the shampoo that otherwise might go to waste. We don't use the dog shampoo for anything but washing the dog.  


But....I have also recently heard of an alternative use for dog ointment.  Rufus had to go to the Veterinarian for his regular check up this week.  He had a slight wound on his tail so the Dr. gave us a free tube of topical ointment.

As Rufus and I were leaving, we started to talk about running.  The Dr. was very excited that he had serendipitously just given me one of his favourite running aids.  He uses the Panalog dog ointment to treat the rashes he gets from running long distances!  Since Rufus only needed a few treatments, he was happy that I could get use out of the rest of the tube!!  I guess I'll keep it in mind, but luckily I've been rash-free so far! 


What unconventional uses do you get out of household products?

Friday's Freebies: Assorted Box of Christmas Stuff

Last weekend, I ended up at a garage sale of a senior couple who were downsizing.  As I was looking over a table of their Christmas wares, they mentioned that the box underneath the table was free.

I saw several rolls of wrapping paper on top and spied a few Christmas cards under the garland, so I took the whole box.  I ended up with a lifetime of spare envelopes, assorted cards, and various paper ephemera. 

Cute Vintage Christmas Cards

bows, Christmas Card holder, jar toppers

This is just a sample of the Christmas cards in the box.  There were many more vintage cards, as well as a selection of newer cards.  The best thing the box contained, however, were these...

1970s stickers

These stickers brought back so many memories, as we also had them in our Christmas wrapping box when I was a little girl!  Every year I would come across them while wrapping modest gifts for my family.  


There were also tons of 70s birthday cards and cards for other occasions...

...and 12 cent stamps to send them!

And pastel-coloured 1980s cards....

For the most part, all of the cards were blank, but there were a few personalized cards. We live in a small town, so it didn't take long to identify the senior couple as the parents of one of Hus's co-workers.  So, next week Hus will return a 1977 graduation card, and a 1994 Christmas letter.

I will need to do a better sort through the box, and recycle some of the cards and envelopes (old envelopes have a habit of sealing shut as a result of moisture), but will try to use whats left.

Pre-Christmas Garage Sale Finds

I thought I'd better visit a few garage sales this weekend, before they were gone for the season.  Besides a few other things, there was a Christmas theme to my purchases.

Three Avon Spun Glass Ornaments....$1

two Christmas tins...10 cents each
Tennis balls....50 cents

I was inspired to buy the tennis balls by a tip my sister gave me last week.  Instead of taking down-filled duvets to the dry-cleaner, wash them in the washing machine, and add the tennis balls to fluff the duvets while in the dryer.  


I also found the same 1980s immersion blender that I had until last year!

 I paid $5 for it, but know from experience it is worth it.  We bought the same one for my mom in the early 80s, and I took it with me when I moved out.  So I know that it can last for 30 years.  Plus, it wasn't even the motor that burned out; the wand fell apart.  I think its longevity came from the fact that it was made in France, prior to planned obsolescence being common. 

Totally unused!  Now I can blend soups in the pot again!  I love how it is called the 'Robot Marie' I suppose this was a high tech name for the time.  Moulinex still sells it under that name.  The next time I am in a department store, I am going to check if it is still made in France.  


I also couldn't resist these decals for 5 cents.

They are reproductions.  I have no idea what to do with them, yet, but something may come to mind soon.


I also took home a huge free box of Christmas stuff.  Check back later this week to see what was in it.


I am linking to a bunch of other thrifty people at Her Library Adventure's Flea Market Finds.

80s Fashion Trends via Vintage Paper Dolls

My set of 1980s paper dolls are more complete and pristine, likely because I was older and probably the only one who played with them by that time (I am the youngest).  So, in looking over them, I noticed some definite trends.  Some that could come back and some that shouldn't!

Trend #1

Flowery, Ruffled Peasant Dresses...

Was this influence from LIttle House on the Prairie?  Or something else? Not a style I would care to see back.

Trend #2

Bat Wings....

I remember having one bat-winged shirt in elementary school that rocked.  Unfortunately, I don't think I was ever photographed in it, but it was white with a picture of rainbow ending in hearts on it.  

Trend #3

New Wave Country...

Was it our love of Dallas?  There definitely was a love of country in the 80s.  I remember also having a Western Barbie doll decked out in cowboy hat and boots, in those years.  I'm NOT in favour of these fashions coming back. 

Trend #4

Preppy....

This style was very popular in the 'greed is good', Alex P. Keaton, upwardly mobile, 1980s. Particularly among college students and the 'stuck-up' characters in John Hughes films.  Yes, please come back!  Not that I would associate myself with any of the forgoing, but since I prepare every year for 'going back to school,' I naturally gravitate towards such fashions.  I also have noticed that wingtips, like Freckles in the middle is wearing, are coming back.  I've been keeping my eye out for some!

Trend #5

Who Wears short Shorts?

We wear short shorts!  Nobody should show that much leg.  Barbie's one piece looks baggy like a diaper! No wonder Nair had to coin the jingle!  

70s Fashion Parade, part 2

Besides my Barbie paper dolls which I featured in part 1 (below), we also had a Dusty paper doll.

I've only discovered just now that Dusty was produced by Kenner Toys in the mid-70s as competition to Barbie.  She was taller than Barbie and more athletic; she was known as a tennis champion, but also swam and golfed.  A daisy was her signature fashion accessory.  She had sun-bleached platinum blond hair. Since I grew up in the north where this never happened to people's hair, I remember thinking it was weird that this young-looking girl's hair was grey!

Unfortunately, I have few clothes left for her.  So here she is wearing one of her remaining outfits, flanked by the others.

Despite being a tomboy, she sure could get gussied up!

70s Fashion Parade, part 1

After being packed away for at least 15 years, I had a hankering to have a look at my old paper dolls!  I can't say that I forgot which ones I had, but I did forget how crazy some of the fashions from the mid-1970s were.  So, here is a little fashion show I've set up for you.  Coming down the runway is flat-footed and pointy-footed Ballerina Barbie....

 ...wearing matching bell shaped dresses with giant pockets!  Oh no!  FF Barbie is wearing her bra on the outside of the dress!


Next up is Ken and Superstar Barbie...

Ken is sporting a conservative look with 100% polyester slacks and patterned shirt, and Barbie is all party! Kid's Party with that clown outfit!


Ken, Barbie and Barbie are back, tearing up the runway in sportswear....

Looks like Ballerina Barbie is going to have to find that kid's party, too.


And for the grand finale, the Barbies are back in evening wear...

..that defies explanation.  I can't image what occasion the red cape would be appropriate for.  Chinese New Years at Club 54?

Old Dishes from my Childhood

Yesterday, I posted about re-purchasing the dishes my family had in the 1980s.  While they make me feel nostalgic, I am really on the lookout for the dishes my family had in the 1970s (and used as camping dishes in the 1980s).  And apparently many other people covet these mid-century lovelies, because the online prices are really high considering that many people had these! They are a Kathy Winkle Broadhurst pattern, and I finally found a piece at the thrift store.

 My mom says she still has the platter, so I'll have two pieces soon. 

Old School Technology and Reminiscing

I found a rummaging opportunity today while I was returning books at the public library.  The multi-purpose room was full of discards for sale - particularly books-on-tape and VHS tapes.  There were boxes of each since no one borrows these anymore.  I no longer own a VCR, but our 2004 car came with both a cassette and CD player, which has been mighty handy on road-trips.  We have no trips planned for the immediate future, but we enjoy listening to audiobooks while driving to our hometown and back (6 hours one way).  And I actually prefer tapes for this; one thanksgiving we borrowed a CD of The Da Vinci Code which was scratched and kept skipping.  Very hard to keep track of the story that way.  At least you can use a piece of scotch tape on cassettes!  So I thought I'd better stock up on the books-on-tape.

I

 I got some "Can-Lit" with The Divine Ryans and Oryx and Crake, a short story collection by Jeffrey Archer (we've listened to other collections of his and have enjoyed them), and a novel I've never heard of before called Witch Child.
After purchasing them I started thinking about cassettes and wondered if young people would ever get back into tapes, like records have made a come-back (probably not).  But for myself, the switch from records to tapes seemed so cutting-edge back when I was a kid.  I remember when my older sister came home with her first Walkman (and cassette of Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just want to have Fun), and how I thought it was so cool that it was PORTABLE and that you could listen to music anywhere with it.  Now compared to ipod nanos, they seem gigantic and cumbersome.  Check out this poster of Hus's that we have in our laundry room...

 Having grown up in the era of cassettes, dates me as well.  I often slip into the verb, "taped" instead of "recorded," i.e. "I taped a movie on the PVR."  And I've been known to (embarrassingly) call a personal sound system a "ghetto-blaster" which I suppose reflects something about the popular culture of the time in which it came out....check out this classic video clip...



I can't imagine how much that guy's arm hurts after hauling that thing all over New York!  Portable? Definitely not!