Hollywood Stamps

The USPS has a "Legends of Hollywood" series. These are the ones I have saved. Grace Kelly isn't part of that series; hers is an earlier stamp. And I'm missing James Cagney. How did that happen? Think I'll have to check Ebay.

Is this really the last day of June?  Enjoy it!

Do You Collect Stamps?

So-- do you collect stamps? I guess I do. I never gave it much thought. I just save the ones I like, and I do always keep one of the Hollywood stars. Most of what I have is relatively new-- within 20 years. Here are some of the funner ones I have in my "collection."

Will be posting some more over the next few days.

Have a nice weekend!

Authentic Flower Power

Are you ready for this?  Doesn't it knock your eye out? I spotted the tie hanging amidst the clearance rack at my local thrift store. One glimpse, and I made a bee line straight for it. There's nothing like flower power fabric from the hippie era. Modern manufacturers don't quite cut it when they try to replicate the old, mod designs. 

It's handmade, a jumpsuit in case you weren't seeing that, in a small size.  I tried it on, and it's rather short. Maybe it was made for a young miss or teen; neither of which I qualify for.

And if one wasn't enough... Not as funky, this one is also handmade.  My daughter likes it and wants to keep it to play dress-up. I'm almost embarrassed to announce they each cost 25 cents!

Strangely enough, my mother made herself a jumpsuit very similar to the blue one back in the early 70s. It was navy blue with little flowers and a kind of patchwork design.  I thought it was very cool.

Linking to The Thrifty Groove with things very thrifty and very groovy!!

Have a nice Friday!

Outfits

Inspiration Avenue's theme this week is "Outfits For Any Occasion."  I have a number of old sewing pattern models cut up and ready to use. I went searching and came up with this exotic dress.  Just the thing for a trip to the Orient, don't you think?

And as long as I was at it, I decided to use this stylish swimsuit ensemble. Very appropriate to the weather around these parts lately.

Have a stylish day!

Wacky Pack Wednesday

As promised here is a newer version of Chef Boyardee spaghetti.  Which one do you like better?  They both have their charms (no pun intended from my recent posts). See last Wednesday's post if you missed "Chef Girl-ar-dee."

Enjoy your day!

TT/Letter Y

Second to the last letter this week at Tag Tuesday. To be honest, my first choice was Grace Kelly, but believe it or not, I couldn't come up with a satisfactory picture of her.  Too big, too small, too something.  So I ended up with another Kelly. 

Singin' In The Rain is one of my favorite films.  If you've never seen it, make the time!

"I walk down the lane, with a happy refrain..."

Pyrex Test

Remember the Pyrex bowl I just bought and showed on Thursday?  Well, since it was washed and sitting out because I still don't know if it's a keeper or not, I used it to make cookies.

Yes, it works!

And in case you need a super good and super easy chocolate chip cookie recipe, here is the one I have been using most of my life.  It's from a Betty Crocker children's cookbook.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

3/4 C packed brown sugar

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C room temp butter
1/2 C veg shortening
1 1/2 teas vanilla
1 egg

1 3/4 C flour
1 teas baking soda
1/2 teas salt

6 oz chocolate chips
1/2 C chopped nuts (opt)

Mix the first 6 ingredients well.  Add the next three ingredients; mix well.  Mix in chips and nuts.  Bake by rounded spoonfuls on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

A couple tips: using real butter is much better than margarine.  Don't over bake! These are best when slightly under baked and left on the sheet for a minute before removing to a rack.  I've always cooled them on waxed paper on the counter-- works fine.

Have a nice weekend!

Wacky Answer

We all know yesterday's (6-19-13) Wacky as Chef Boyardee canned spaghetti, yes? I just now realized, however, that they took the hyphens out of the name.  It used to be Boy-ar-dee.   The cost of hyphens has gone up like everything else, I guess. Tune in next Wednesday for a newer Wacky with a different take on The Chef-- if I remember to post it, that is!

June Thrifts

I was all set to write a pathetic post about the lack of finds at garage sales and thrifts stores around here lately.  I hit about 10 garage sales in the last two weeks, and this was my only purchase (with the exception of my daughter's must haves).  A nifty old carpet beater.

A down-right steal at 50 cents.  Wow.

It's already hanging above my basement stairwell.

Then yesterday, a visit to my local thrift store netted some good finds at good prices too.  Some old games:

1970s looking s & p shakers.  Marked "Japan" on the bottom.

And a large (4 qt) Pyrex bowl.  It may shock a lot of bloggers to know that I have very little Pyrex. Two small, red refrigerator dishes that belonged to my grandmother-in-law and a square, clear (well, once clear) baking dish that was my grandmother's is the extent of my Pyrex.  I'm not sure if I'll keep this bowl or not.  It is really cool, but I have very little kitchen storage space.  We'll see.

So a planned whining post turned out better than expected.  Linking to The Thrifty Groove with some welcome thrifts!

Have a good one out there!

Wacky Pack Wednesday

I may be running the risk of offending pc fans out there with this Wacky.  I find it very funny, and it's actually one of my favorites.  Us Chicagoans have a rather satirical sense of humor.  And keep in mind this came out in 1973-- worlds away.

Have a fun day!

TT/Letter X

A little challenging this week at Tag Tuesday.  The letter "X".  There are a couple movie star choices: Francis X. Bushman, um... Francis X. Bushman.  Anyway, I went with one of my favorites, The Marx Brothers.

On a documentary, it was said during the darkest days of WWII, Winston Churchill took a break to watch a Marx Brothers film.  If that's true, it speaks volumes for what laughter can do.

Have a good laugh today!

Red Tag

The current inspiration at Dragons Dream Tag It On requires red, text, an embellishment, and one real (rubber) stamp.  I think I got it all in there!

Enjoy!

Father's Day 2013

Happy Father's Day, everyone!  These are a few of the 1960s skinny ties I snagged from my dad's tie rack in the 1980s.  I wore them myself.  Yes, I was quite hip, and no, I never returned them.  That's okay-- Dad doesn't mind.

Have a great day!

Family Tag

It just so happened that this "tag pocket" I made tied into Collage Obsession's "sisters and brothers" theme this week.  It's made from a library due date pocket. Kind of fun to use.

Happy Flag Day!

Wacky Answer

Most of us have heard of Schick razors, right?  Well, yesterday's (6-12-13) Wacky Pack was Schick double edge razor blades for older style razors.  This is hard to explain... can you just nod and agree with me?  Thanks!

Wacky Pack Wednesday

In honor of Father's Day this coming Sunday, here is a Wacky Package for all you guys out there.  This brand is still around, but I don't think this product is.  I never really thought about it before, but these Wackys sure are a reminder of how everything has changed over the years!

Have a nice Wednesday!

TT/Letter W

The alphabet series is certainly winding down at Tag Tuesday.  This week is the letter W.  I always liked Natalie Wood.  Very pretty, hip, talented, and she looked like a cousin-in-law of mine.

Enjoy your day!

70s Cards

I haven't posted any playing cards for quite a while.  Here is a pair obviously from the sunny side of the 1970s. Remember when jeans really took hold?  I even had a denim photo album with a front pocket and belt-looking leather trim.  Wish I still had that!

Have a groovy day!

Flowers For A Busy Saturday

Just a quickie post today as my daughter's birthday party is later this afternoon. We're having it outdoors, and I believe the weather is cooperating.  How did that happen?  So while I'm wearing myself out, you can view some pretty flowers from my backyard.

Wish me luck!

Flip Flop Flip

I've recently seen some clever wreaths floating around the internet made out of flip flops.  I just happened to have three pairs of my daughter's flip flops in a bag to go to the second-hand store since she had outgrown them.  I retrieved one pair, thinking there had to be some clever, summery craft I could do with them.  I painted an old wooden frame and a piece of heavy cardboard.

How's this?  I simply hot glued the flip flops to the cardboard and added the words and flowers with more paint.  The total cost to me was ZERO; I had everything on hand.

If painting letters is not your thing, there are a lot of alphabet stickers on the market, or you could paint the background a lighter color and use markers.

Linking to The Thrifty Groove since zero cost is pretty darn thrifty!

Have a nice Friday!

Wacky Anwser

I'm certain everyone knew Mr. Bubble from yesterday's (6-5-13) Wacky.  Maybe Mr. Bumble applies moreso to us confused adults.

Buzzard

Think Monday, Think ATC is suggesting the theme of birds this week.  I have a few old bird illustrations and decided on a Turkey Buzzard (I've always heard them called Turkey Vultures).  So I went Halloweenish.

I know that's rather off-season, but it just worked out that way.  Come October, I'll be one step ahead.

Boo!

Wacky Pack Wednesday

A newer Wacky this week.  I remember this product as a powder, sold in a box. What doesn't change?

Have a good day out there!

TT/Letter V

Vivien Leigh represents the letter V this week at Tag Tuesday.  She certainly seemed to have it all: beauty, talent, Laurence Olivier, and the ultimate role in cinema history, Scarlett O'Hara.  What more could a girl ask for?

Happy Tuesday!

Bright Eyed

So Artful Challenges is asking for "owls" this week.  So here is my bright and rather mod entry.

The owl image is a vintage playing card; probably from the 70s when the first owl fad made the rounds.  It's Mod Podged to wood and sealed with varnish-- you know, like the popular decoupage fad also of the 70s.

Now you'll have to watch your 70s intake for the rest of the day.  Don't overdose!

Monsoons and Flowers

We've had rain off and mostly on all week around here.  If that is my biggest weather complaint, I should shut up, right?  But enough is enough!

On a more positive note, on each side of my backyard, my neighbors' flowers have pushed through the fence to my side.  Thanks, I'll take it!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Little Invaders

This past week we've seen baby opossums in our backyard.  There are at least two.

They usually appear late in the afternoon.  Didn't Mother explain the nocturnal thing?

A little camera shy.  This is also the face they show to my dogs who have been very good with them. These photos were shot in my daughter's "fairy hole."  It's a tree hollow that she adds fake flowers and stones to every Spring.  So she decided the opossums are friends with the fairies.  Nice thought; hope they don't make faces at the fairies!

Happy June!