Should Housekeeping be this Difficult?

I've been thinking today about my housekeeping schedule, or as I posted earlier, about my lack thereof. (Haha!) I did actually plan out a weekly schedule for myself, but have already found it difficult to maintain.  Not because I'm not putting forth the effort, but I'm finding that I'm having to do things on days which they aren't scheduled...in turn, messing up the schedule for the remainder of the week, and therefore defeating the purpose of my having a schedule in the first place.  Ughh.  Why do I feel like such a failure?  (OK, I'm exaggerating a little bit; I don't feel like a failure--exactly--but, I am frustrated and confused as to why it is so difficult to put one together that works!)

It's not that I don't clean or anything, because I do. It's just that I would like to organize my cleaning.  I have even looked online and found some helpful resources, (thank you, Jess!) such as FlyLady, but haven't come across anything that I feel I will be able to stick with.  Viv left me a comment about a book which she has posted about several times on her blog--and highly recommends--called America's Housekeeping Book, which I just ordered from Amazon.  I saw some excerpts from this book on Viv's blog, was instantly intrigued, and am now eagerly awaiting its arrival!  I guess I'll have to let you know how that goes after it comes in and I have a chance to implement any acquired information.  (I have a really good feeling about this one...!)

Just wondering, though: am I the only one who feels like an inadequate housekeeper?  Have any of you struggled with this? (I mean, geez! We don't even have kids--just Pippy, our Chihuahua!) Why is it so difficult to make an effective, successful schedule? (I'm beginning to think it's because housekeeping isn't the easy task so many believe it to be...hmm...) I'm tired of feeling really incompetent that I have a Master's degree, and speak two languages, but can't even make my own housework schedule work! All I want is some June Cleaver-inspired guidance that will assist me in achieving my goal of the Leave it to Beaver house...is that really too much to ask?

Easy at-home facials!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and got to enjoy the sunshine like I did.  I'm so eager for spring and summer, I can hardly wait!

We women do almost anything for the sake of beauty!

We women for centuries have been known to do and try almost anything for the sake of beauty.  Fortunately, there are some very effective treatments that we can do at home, and chances are you already have these "special" ingredients on-hand! Today, I am sharing with you some of the information concerning at-home facials from my favorite vintage beauty book, Westmore Beauty Book -- A Complete 1950s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling and Beauty Techniques. I have tried several of them myself, and been very pleased with the results, so I thought I would share them with you.  I am paraphrasing the information contained on "complexion beautifiers" and "face packs for stimulating, tightening, beautifying" from chapter nine.

Egg pack for refining coarse skin:  Beat one egg white and apply it to skin, patting in well. Now apply cleansing over the pack and massage.  Remove, and apply a nourishing cream in an upward and outward rotating motion. After removing this, swipe the face with witch hazel.  Now apply the beaten egg yolk onto face and allow to dry.  Remove with towel soaked in tepid water.  Follow with a freshener.  Do this at least once a week--more often if desired.

*When I do this, I set the egg out in advance to warm to room temperature, just so the application is more comfortable.  Also, I like to apply the egg with a pastry brush as it seems to work more efficiently than by fingers alone.  When the egg yolk dries on your face, it will really turn into a hardened mask.  You may need to splash warm water onto your face in order to soften this up a bit before removing with a towel.

Honey facial:  This facial will have a stimulating, tightening, refining and possibly bleaching effect. It may be used on any skin type. Massage a cleanser on skin, then remove. Apply one tablespoon of honey to skin, taking care around the delicate eye area. Then place fingers onto skin, and pull away briskly, using the stickiness of the honey to stimulate facial circulation. Continue this for three to five minutes.  Allow honey to remain on face for 15-20 minutes more.  Skin should feel taut. Press a hot, moist towel over face to remove honey.  Follow with a towel dipped in ice water, then use a skin freshener.  Do this as often as you like.

Buttermilk (on right) is thicker and
richer than "sweet" milk.

Buttermilk facial: This facial may be used on all skin types. Use a powdered buttermilk and mix with enough water or milk to form a smooth paste.  Cleanse the skin, then apply buttermilk emulsion.  Do two applications, but do not apply too thickly.  Apply extra quantities to oily or sagging regions of the face.  Do not get into eyes, but protect and relax them with cotton pads saturated in witch hazel.  Relax for about 10-15 minutes, (leaving on longer for very oily skin) and then remove by using a soft towel dipped in tepid water.  After removing emollient, apply a lubricating cream, massage into face and remove.  Then apply a skin freshener.  If facial is done at night, leave lubricating cream on overnight. 

*I never keep powdered buttermilk, but I always have buttermilk on-hand for baking.  I have used this and feel that it is very effective.  I like being efficient, and using things I already have, so I doubt I'll be purchasing powdered milk for the sole purpose of using it for this facial treatment.  It is thinner than the would-be paste, but perhaps with some experimenting, you could turn the buttermilk into a paste (i.e. add flour, cornstarch, etc.).

Enjoy! (If you try them, let me know how they turn out for you!) 

"Vintage" find in my own out-building!

Hi, everyone! I've been busy with family stuff for a couple days now, so it's gotten me behind in my blogging.  Yesterday was my Mom's birthday, so as a treat, I cooked dinner for her. I also tried out a new cake from my 1950 2nd Annual $100,000 Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest cookbook called $25,000 Orange Kiss-Me Cake.  It was the prize-winning recipe, and needless to say, it was very good.  It's very moist, light and refreshing...just perfect for Spring or Summer! (Can you tell I'm ready for Winter to be over!?)

 

$25,000 Orange Kiss-Me Cake

   
One of things I did Tuesday was work on planting seedlings for my garden.  I probably should have already done this, but the idea hadn't even occurred to me until this past weekend.  We always put out tomato and pepper plants, plus some watermelon and other random things, but in the past, we've always bought the plants--never the seeds.  If my seedling experiment works, it will be much cheaper than buying the already-sturdy plants to put in the ground.  I bought a little 72-pellet greenhouse and a variety of seeds, so I'm eager to see how my little experiment goes.  I am especially excited about the cilantro, thyme and parsley as I have wanted to grow my own herbs for quite a while now.  I use parsley in all kinds of dishes, and I like to use thyme with chicken (especially when baking or roasting) and I plan on making some homemade salsa this year to can, which means I will need lots of cilantro. I'm thrilled and astonished that the thyme is already sprouting! (By the way...thyme seeds are the tiniest littlest things I've ever seen!  You always hear people talk about mustard seeds being small...apparently, they have never seen thyme!)   

 



My seed pellets (My dad thought they

were Oreo balls at first glance!!!)



My assortment of seeds

(Haven't planted the flowers yet...) 





 

Today my husband was cleaning out one of our out buildings and discovered a nostalgic treasure for those of us who admire vintage things and enjoy a "blast from the past" now-and-then: two old Mrs. Butterworth's syrup bottles.  They are made of thick, heavy amber-colored glass and have yellow, metal lids.  I've never seen anything like them...I guess it just never occurred to me that syrup used to come in glass!  I haven't done much research on them as of yet, so I'm not certain about their age.  They are pretty cool, though, regardless! 



Old Mrs. Butterworth's syrup bottles--hmm...wonder how old they are??



It's my understanding that some people collect old glass bottles of various sorts, so I'm not sure yet if I will keep these or sell them on eBay.  I guess that might depend on what they might be worth...hmm...guess that'll have to wait for the research to come in!

Attention all vintage beauty lovers!!! Must-read how-to manual!

Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, from 1953

When I think of beauty and glamour, I automatically think of Hollywood's Golden Age, and the stunning ladies who filled the new, larger-than-life, CinemaScopic, technicolor screens with their striking beauty. The famous Monroe-Grable-Bacall comedy,  How to Marry a Millionaire, was the first film to be shot in CinemaScope, which was a new widescreen filming process pioneered by 20th Century-Fox. Upon reviewing the film and it's new, widescreen formatting, The New York Herald-Tribune commented:  "The big question, 'How does Marilyn Monroe look stretched across a broad screen?' is easily answered.   If you were sitting in the front row, you would probably feel as though you were being smothered in baked Alaska."

Of course, Marilyn is probably the most recognized (and commercialized) of all Hollywood's beauties, but there were many others ladies who exhibited uniquely-glamorous qualities of their own--and proved that gentlemen didn't always prefer blondes. Consider the following:

The epitome of the classic, brunette bombshell--Jane Russell,  in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, from 1953
(Who else could have played opposite Marilyn Monroe?!)




 One of Hollywood's most glamorous red-heads--Rita Hayworth, in the film Tonight and Every Night, from 1945.
(There's a reason Madonna sings "she gave good face..."!)



 The stunning, petite, and violet-eyed Elizabeth Taylor, in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, from 1958

The "Sweater Girl"--Lana Turner, in Mr. Imperium, from 1951
(Yes, I know she's blonde, but you can't talk about screen sirens without mentioning her!)




 The lovely Maureen O'Hara, whose notable films include The Quiet Man,  McLintock! and The Parent Trap

Of course, the list could go on and on...  I just love-love-love these glamorous looks! As I also love anything makeup or beauty-related, I set out a while ago in search of a vintage beauty guide which would teach me all the tips and tricks employed by the masterful makeup artists of that time (i.e. the Westmores, Ben Bye, Whitey Snyder, Max Factor, etc.) Not that I have expectations of actually achieving these looks, but it could be awfully fun trying! (Yes--I'm a 26 year-old who still likes to play in her makeup...and I'm finally not ashamed to admit it!)

So, in my on-going search for these beauty guides, I came across a gold mine of information contained in a book written by the infamous Westmores:

 

Westmore Beauty Book -- A Complete 1950s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling and Beauty Techniques

 

I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly informative this book is--and what's more-- it was written by the Westmores as a do-it-yourself, how-to, at-home guide, so it is very user-friendly.  The Westmores were some of the Hollywood's most respected makeup artists and wrote this guide so that everyday women could enjoy the same knowledge and know-how of the famous screen sirens that they so admired. The information included is extremely comprehensive and will teach you everything you need to know about achieving the most aesthetically-pleasing you; topics include:  face shapes, skin types, facial symmetry, shaping, shadowing and contouring, color selection, makeup application, makeup removal, hair styling, hair dyeing, exercise, facial massage, at-home facials, manicuring, personalized beauty questionnaire and follow-up, and how to establish a beauty routine. It also has very practical beauty information as well and isn't solely focused on transforming you into some kind of glamour goddess. (The intention of the manual isn't to force you into the movie star look, but to give you the tools you need in case you should want to try it out.)  Really, I cannot over-stress HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! It is a vintage-glamour-loving fanatic's dream!! I only wish I could find more like it, so if you know of one, please,  please let me know about it! =)

(Images from Wikimedia Commons)

How to Iron a Shirt

Thanks to my blogger friend, Chantal, at CALM Homemaking 1950s Style, I have recently learned that I have been ironing incorrectly my entire life! As a self-taught ironer (we'll pretend that "ironer" is a word, here so I can avoid writing "person who irons" 50 blue-million times...), I thought I was doing pretty good to just iron--period. Not because it's hard, but because it is a respectable, but dying art.  After reading her post about ironing, I decided to look into it further and to do a little research on using liquid starch (which I have always been curious about, but somewhat intimidated by). 

Not much has changed...

As long as I've been married (going on 7 yrs. now), I have always taken pride in  ironing my husband's work clothes into as neat a condition I possibly could...or so I thought.  I have always used a lot of steam, (a good ironing practice) and used spray starch (also a great ironing aid).  I just never knew I had been using the wrong technique the whole time!  I thought I was doing pretty well, until I discovered I was doing the entire process backwards.  (All of this, by the way, concerns the ironing of a dress shirt.)

To summarize my previous, self-taught (and incorrect) ironing ritual, I used to:

     1) iron the front of the shirt, with the bulk of it hanging towards me;

     2) work around the body and around the shirt, back to the front;   

     3) iron the sleeves and

     4) iron the collar. 

I often found by the time I had finished the collar, placed it on a hanger, and held up my accomplishment to admire, that, alas--there were already some determined wrinkles trying to re-establish themselves on the front--where I had very first ironed!   This was always a mystery to me, as I would have to re-iron this section (and if you've ever done this, you know that it's very difficult to iron only one little section and not disturb any other...)  Then, last week I came across Chantal's post about how she had been doing the exact same thing; and thus my ironing revolution began. Since I have been so impressed by the fruits of my newly-acquired, proper, ironing technique, I was inspired to share what I learned, in hopes that someone else might benefit from my newly-discovered information.

How to Iron a Shirt (Correctly):

1) Start with the inside of the collar

2) Iron the outside of the collar.



3) Iron the sleeves, starting on the back side, then doing the front.

 4) Iron the front, starting with the bulk of it hanging away from your body.

5) Iron the body of the shirt, pulling the fabric towards you as you work back around to the front.

6) Finish by ironing the other side of the front (bulk of shirt should be hanging towards you).
Hang on a rack and button top and middle buttons to prevent wrinkling.

As always, make sure to follow heat settings on care tags, and use plenty of steam. Always keep the iron moving over the fabric, and it is a good practice to use spray starch.  Even if you don't care about the extra body or wrinkle-resistance it provides, it actually speeds the process of ironing as it somehow helps the iron to glide more easily over the fabric.

 

A few of a housewife's secret weapons



About liquid starch: 

As a vintage-loving housewife, I love the idea of "starching" things.  I don't know...it just sounds nice and refreshing...(strange; I know. Haha!) But truthfully, you can usually tell when a garment   has been starched; it has a much nicer, cleaner-looking presentation.  I have always used spray starch, but it hasn't been until recently that I have also been using liquid starch (which you add to the rinse cycle of your wash).  Now, unlike many people in the 50s, I'm not going to take it so far as to starch my underwear, and--yes--they really did that!!  It seems that starch has earned a reputation as a slapstick staple in the movies: you know the bit--husband does laundry; husband uses starch...wife's soft, silk stockings end up a rigormortis-like, cardboard cutout.  But contrary to this caricatured depiction, starch can actually be an iron-er's best friend. Not only does it make the actual process of ironing easier, but it also adds body to the fabric, helps repel stains, and helps keep fabric looking fresh all day due it's magic-like, wrinkle-resisting powers. (And did I mention it makes ironing easier and faster...!?) 



In Conclusion: 

If you iron, and you haven't ever used spray starch, try it! You will be really surprised at what a difference it makes! If you already use spray starch, and like it, you might also like the extra benefits of using liquid starch as well.  (By the way: It's not expensive; I got mine at Wal-Mart for less than $3/bottle...and...you can even make your own at home if you are industrious like that!)

If you try it, let me know what you think! Happy homemaking! =)

My! How times have changed!

In my quest to find other blogs/bloggers that have similar interests as me, I've come across a couple of different blogs (i.e. 50s times and It'll Take the Snap Out of Your Garters) which currently have fashion-related posts.  Since fashion is something I am also interested in, it got me to thinking... and, My! How times have changed! Our--shall we say--"dressing standards" have seemingly disappeared over the years...


 

Love this snappy suit!



 How often do you see people (and I hope you're not one!!!! *wince*) at the grocery or at a gas station with pajamas on (specifically, pajama pants)? Having taught high school for three years, I can attest to the common habit of high school girls (whom you would expect to be among the world's most self-absorbed, self-conscious creatures) wearing pajama bottoms to school.  Now, don't get me wrong: I like my pj's, too!  But...that doesn't mean I would wear them to teach school.  This actually sparked a small bit of internal conflict in me a year or so ago.  As a demonstration of school spirit, all students and faculty were asked to wear pajamas to school for "spirit day." (Now, what pj's have to do with school spirit, I'm still trying to figure out...) Some kids did, some didn't; some teachers did, some didn't.  I didn't.  I really thought about it, and took it so far as to have decided on which pair of pajamas I would wear--if I decided to do it.  In the end, I could not picture myself putting on pajamas, hopping in my car, stopping for gas, walking through the school building and expect 180 adolescents to actually take me seriously in my pj's.  I just couldn't picture myself saying to little Johnny, "If you do that again, I'll send you to the principal," while standing in my I Love Lucy jammies. Needless to say, I didn't do it.



OK--I know the skirt is a little much, but I love
the shape of this dress anyway!



If it were 1951 instead of 2011, I hardly think pajama day at school would have ever been suggested, and if it had been, I'm willing to bet that the "suggestor" would have been the scandalous talk of the town. But this just goes to show how much our social standards have changed. To show up at school in 1951 in your pajama bottoms (or in your--more probable--nightgown) would have been lunacy. In 2011, when someone shows up in pajama bottoms, we're just glad they have pants on. 

One thing that attracts me to mid 20th-century fashion is the neatness of it all. People actually took pride in how they looked, and bothered to look in the mirror before they headed out the door.  Don't get me wrong; it's not that I'm superficial, I'm just of the old-fashioned belief that everyone should take some pride in looking their best--within reason--when going out in public. 

 What do you think??

Awesome Vintage Cookbooks!

I guess since I love "all things vintage" it only makes sense that I would love to cook as well (check out my recipe blog if you want). I also love to collect old recipes.  My grandmother, who was one of the best cooks I've ever known, gave me two facsimile editions of 1950s cookbooks, and I absolutely LOVE them!  They are not only informative due to the culinary information they provide, but they are also packed with super-neat vintage tips and advice.  Everything us vintage-loving housewives should want to know about retro cooking is in there.  Granny gave them to me as Christmas presents over the last two holidays before she passed away, and I simply couldn't put them down for days.

The first one she gave me was the facsimile edition of the 1950 Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook

It has a lot of very useful homemaking information in it, and it can be easily used by either a novice or experienced cook.

The last one she gave me was very similar: it was a facsimile of the 1953 edition of Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

It is easily my second favorite cookbook (although, I do have to admit that I'm really just starting to seriously collect vintage cookbooks...)  Either of these books would be great for anyone who is interested in how cooking and meal-planning was done back in the mid-century.