Today’s Vintage Treasure: April 12, 2010

{Fuchsia can be a tricky cool to pull off successfully (especially if you’re a fair skinned redhead like yours truly!), but it’s such an engagingly upbeat hue that it really deserves a spot in every woman’s wardrobe. If, like me, you’re not one to don head-to-toe fuchsia, the solution lies (naturally enough) in accessories and shoes featuring this vibrantly gorgeous colour. To my mind fuchsia is synonymous with the warmer months; its ruddy mix of crimson and violet has always struck me as a colour that was plucked right out of a lush spring or summer garden.

Though fuchsia is a commanding colour, it can also be surprisingly delicate when employed with gentler mediums, as in the case of these sophisticated lace kitten heel pumps. Almost architectural-like beauty seems to exude from this chic pair of heels, their open-weave design permitting the wearer’s bare skin (or stocking covered foot) to peak through alluringly from between the swirls of lace. A modest two inch heel means that this is a pair of shoes you could likely spend more than a few minutes in before your feet started to scream. Sized to fit a woman’s 8.5, these beautiful 1950s shoes are roomier in the length department than many vintage pairs that surface nowadays. Should these darling fuchsia heels be calling your name, they can be had for the not-too-rough-on-the-pocketbook price of $35.00 US from etsy seller Capricious Traveler.}


While the temperatures haven’t quite reached full-on balmy spring here, at least the sun – rich, soothing, yellow daffodil hued sun – is shinning with quite a fair bit of might this afternoon. I know it’s hardly uncommon for one to feel this way, but I really do sense that the sun is bolstering my energy levels, which is such a welcome treat indeed.

I really hope that each and every one of your weeks is off to a similarly beautiful – and sunshine laden – start, and that you all had marvellous weekend! (I’d love to hear about it, if you did!)

Vintage Fashionista Friday: March 19, 2010

{Made of soft crocheted rayon, this vintage inspired hair snood in bright tomato red is just thing to keep your locks out of your way when you’re hard at work. Happily, it looks equally elegant as a stylish accessory with your favourite vintage ensembles, too! This lovely snood – which appears as though it could have hopped right out of the pages of a 1940s fashion magazine – can be yours for the bargain prise of $2.99 (US) from the eBay shop K and Katie.}



{Add an adorable dose of sweetness to any look in your wardrobe with the charming gold toned necklace featuring a metal bow and a glass sprig of lush red cherries on a 16 inch chain, for $6.99 (US) from GirlProps.com.}



{With toasty spring and summer weather on the horizon, it will soon be time to turn to short sleeved, breezy shirts to help beat the scorching heat. This darling red bandana print “rodeo girl” top is made from 100% cotton by Heartbreaker Fashion, and would look fantastic with your favourite pair of high waisted (or low waisted, if you dare!) shorts or trousers. “Red Rockabilly Bandana Print Twist Tie Top” available in assorted ladies sizes, $42.00 (US) from BabyGirl Boutique.}



{A streamlined, classic shape lends elegance and functional beauty to this 1950s era purse which was once owned by the wife of the actor (Ray Bolger) who played the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. Featuring a subtle dose of femininity thanks to the little bow on the front, this Koret brand taupe leather purse (with a detachable strap so that this bag can also be used as a clutch) measures 7.5 inches high by 10 inches wide, and is can be found for $30.00 (US) from etsy seller Vintagestorm.}



{Evoking thoughts of Hollywood’s leading ladies who wore trousers with aplomb, these timelessly fantastic, wide legged pair of sailor pants are the sort of style our vintage girl Frankie would definitely have sported at her war ammunition factory job and on the weekend when she was kicking back with the gang. Brown sailor, button front pants, available in assorted (modern) ladies sizes, $99.00 (Australian dollars) from Tiger Rag.}



{Forget about modern day utilitarian fabric lunch bags and haul your daily nibbles to work (or play!) in this marvellously fun vintage metal lunch pail featuring the US Postal systems beloved character, Mr. Zip. This delightfully endearing lunch box measuring 8 3/4 inches wide by 6 3/4 high, can be found for $22.00 (US) from etsy seller Wyatt Edward Vintage.}



{Both gorgeous and versatile, these wonderfully ageless tan hued, jute heeled wedge shoes are made from supple leather and feature a buckle strap slingback. They would look amazing paired with pants, shorts, skirts or dresses – you name it! 4 1/2 inch heeled Matt Bernson “Bo Peep” wedges, available in ladies sizes 5 to 11, $191.00 (US) from Zappos.com.}

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Speaking of all things fun and fashionable, if you haven’t already done, so be sure to enter Chronically Vintage’s giveaway for a $100.00 online shopping spree from LA Vintage. The contest is on for two more days (it closes at 11:59 EST on Sunday night), with the lucky winner being selected – and announced in a post- on Monday March 22md. Massive thanks go out to all those who have entered the contest so far, I love the wonderful response that this giveaway has generated and cannot wait to draw the winner’s name at the start of next week!

Scores of thanks as well to each and every one of you who have left wonderful comments on recent Chronically Vintage posts, your words always brighten my day and mean a tremendous amount to me.

Wishing you all a bright and beautiful, entirely enjoyable weekend as we officially kick off the start of spring 2010!

Vintage Fashionist Friday (special St. Patrick’s Day edition!): March 12, 2010

Last week’s debut of the new post Vintage Fashionista Friday, received a very warm welcome and a slew of wonderful comments that led me to know I’d selected a great theme for Chronically Vintage’s end of the work week article.

I’m delighted to know that so many of you like the idea of assigning a lovely girl’s name to each outfit I put together, and sincerely hope that you’ll enjoy today’s festively verdant and shamrock filled homage to the Emerald Isles and (next Wednesday’s) St. Patrick’s Day, which I like to imagine being worn by a fair skinned, redheaded Irish lass named...


{Whether you live in Dublin, Dresden, or Delaware, keep spring’s bounty of rain from ruining your stylish vintage hairdo with this terrifically fun green and white polka dot umbrella (which comes with a cute matching rain hat) from Samsonite. Available for $23.67 (Cnd) from Overstock.com, this 100% polyester umbrella is travel size and can easily fit into a purse or even large coat pocket, ensuring you’re never caught off guard when a spring shower hits!}



{Adorable, dimensional leaves wind their way up the front of this pretty Kelly green, ¾ length sleeve, cotton and cashmere cardigan. Perfect for nippy March days – or an under-heated pub! – this whimsical sweater, which features a snap front and beautiful lattice work around the collar, is available in sizes XS – XL, for $98.00 (Cnd) from Anthropologie.com.}



{Help impart the luck of the Irish into your wardrobe with this timelessly charming necklace featuring a 1” sterling silver horseshoe and an itty-bitty brass shamrock strung on an 18” sterling silver chain. This dainty, elegantly fun piece of jewelry is available for $29.00 (US) from etsy seller Luxe Deluxe.}



{There is something so understatedly lovely about this classic, modest vintage frock with its moss green and white gingham pattern. Trimmed with white eyelet and sporting a row of wee little buttons down the front, this sweet dress fits up to a 36 inch bust/28 inch waist, and can be had for $74.00 (US) from etsy seller Thirteen Eighty-Five’s shop.}



{A lady can never have too many pairs of gloves in her arsenal of accessories, and this sophisticated hand crocheted cotton pair would make a welcome addition to any gal’s closet (or glove box!). This “new old stock” pair of gloves was sourced in Ireland and is described as having a bit of stretch to it, thus allowing it to fit most hand sizes. Gorgeous for any event from a wedding to a night out at your favourite Irish restaurant, these wonderful gloves are available for $29.00 (US) from etsy seller White O'Morn Cottage Shop.}



{Carry around a burst of jolly green clover in your pocket or purse everyday with this lovely little embroidered linen handkerchief. Measuring 9”, this hemmed vintage hankie comes packaged in its own clear top box, and is available for a mere $2.88 (US) from etsy seller Vintage Sew and Sew.}



{Let your feet imagine they’re wandering through a grassy Irish meadow in these immensely lovely green suede pumps from the 1950s. A classic cut and hue, paired with a subtle bow detail, ensure these shoes will forever hold court amongst your footwear. This marvellous pair of heels, which fit a (modern) US size 6.5 to 7, is available for $45.00 (US) from etsy seller Carnival Moon.}

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Wishing you each a weekend that glistens as enchantingly as the colours of a rainbow, and which is filled with the merry spirit of St. Paddy’s Day!

Wonderful Wednesday Recipe: Maple Syrup and Apple Bread Pudding topped with Sugared Apples

Maple syrup is for many Canadians the most iconic food in our collective culinary repertoire. Glistening like polished amber, real maple syrup, tapped during the last weeks of winter and boiled into one of nature’s finest sweet offerings, is a taste that instantly makes us glow with national pride.

Generally it is between February and April when maple syrup is harvested in Ontario, and though I won’t be tapping any trees myself this year (as fun as I’ve always imagined doing so would be), when maple syrup season rolls around, I – as if almost by instinct – am drawn to dishes (both sweet and savoury) – that include this home-grown ingredient.

This recipe, which I first discovered many years ago (I’m inclined to say in an old copy of Canadian Living magazine, but am not entirely certain of that) is sometimes known by its French name “Pouding Au Pain À l‘Érable”, which I rather enjoy using (doesn’t any dish sound lovelier when its name is spoken in French?) – and most definitely relish eating, no matter what it’s called!


{One of the lovely things about most brands of genuine maple syrup is that it still comes packaged in charming glass bottles, just like the one in this 1950s advertisement for Log Cabin maple syrup, a brand that it still on the market today. Image via Jackie121467’s Flickr stream .}


A simple, uncomplicated recipe (which is vegetarian and can be made vegan if you opt to use vegan margarine in place of butter or non-vegan margarine) with soothing flavours, this dish can easily be jazzed up further with the inclusion of a hit of apple brandy, some chopped nuts, cinnamon, or your favourite dried fruit. I’ve served it piping hot, cold from the fridge, and perhaps my favourite, at room temperature (call me odd, but I really like my bread and rice puddings at room temperature). It’s scrumptious, comforting and very morish, whether eaten toasty or chilly.

The apples you put to work here can be any baking variety that you like. I lean towards Cortland, Macintosh, Red Delicious, Liberty or Spartan, but the choice is entirely up to you. If you wanted to take this recipe is a slightly more tart direction, you could use Granny Smith or Greensleeves and introduce a whisper of lemon or orange peel into the mixture before popping it in the oven.

Serve this tasty dish for breakfast, brunch, dessert or even with afternoon tea, paired, should you fancy, with whipped cream, clotted cream swirled with a little maple syrup, or a dollop of cinnamon or vanilla ice cream.



Maple Syrup and Apple Bread Pudding topped with Sugared Apples

Ingredients

-1 cup fresh bread crumbs (I like to use day old French or sourdough bread with the crust removed)

-4 cup peeled, cored and chopped apples

-2 apples, peeled or un-peeled (as you like), sliced (note: you will need six apples in total for this recipe)

-1/2 cup real maple syrup (this is not the time for imitation maple syrup!)

-1/2 tsp salt

-1 cup of water

-1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

-Approx. 1/2 cup white sugar

-2 tbsp light brown or muscovado sugar

-3 tbsp (unsalted) butter or margarine


Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C/gas mark 4).

In a large mixing bowl combine the fresh breadcrumbs, chopped apples and salt. Place these ingredients in a buttered baking dish (I generally use an 8x8 or 10x10 inch dish for this recipe, but a similarly sized oval or rectangular dish could be used, too), and set aside for the time being.

In small sauce pan, heat the maple syrup and water over high heat just until it comes to a boil (you don’t want it to caramelize). Remove from heat and pour over the apple and bread crumb mixture. Sprinkle dried bread crumbs evenly over top, and then set aside for a moment more.

Combine the white and brown sugars in a shallow dish or plate and then dredge the apple slices (from the two apples that you sliced, not the chopped ones which went into the fresh bread crumb mixture) through the mixture, coating each side (add a little more sugar to the dish, if needed). Place the sugared apple slices evenly atop the bread pudding, and then dot the top of the pudding with small pieces of butter or margarine.

Place baking dish in the oven, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, or until the apples feel tender when pierced with a skewer (or fork) and the top of the pudding has taken on a pleasingly, pale golden hue.

Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving this soft, fragrant, wonderfully Canadian pudding. Saying "dessert is ready, eh!" when you bring it to the table is entirely optional :D

Serves 4 to 6

Bon appétit!

Today’s Vintage Treasure: March 7, 2010

{Perhaps it’s the fact that the temperature here is sitting at a very pleasant (well at least when compared with the fiercely snowy days we had just a couple of weeks ago!) 10°(C), or the wonderful thought that before the month is up, spring will have sprung once again, whatever the case may be, my mind has already turned to thoughts of summer.

With such daydreams comes the reality that our little apartment sorely lacks air conditioning! Naturally this means that once the temps begin skyrocketing, we start flicking on the fans in a hurry. Whether you have (the luxurious joy of) AC or not, this strikingly lovely vintage industrial fan would look just as gorgeous as an objet d’art as it would as a means of beating the heat. This sturdy industrial tabletop fan is fully operational and can be had for $68.00 (US) – which is surely less than the cost of the all ice cream you’d have to eat to stay cold without it :D – from etsy seller Lucky Little Dot.}


How are your weekends going, my sweet dears? I have joyful news to let you in on a smidge in advance of the actual announcement post...tomorrow I’m going to be kicking off the start of a new (and if I may say so myself, absolutely awesome!) blog giveaway contest. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but I will give you a hint by mentioning that the prize relates to vintage fashion.

February was a bit of a touch month for me as I sought solace and time to sort my thoughts out during a mini blogcation, and a great many of you were there for me every step of the way, roviding me immensely helpful comments, caring words and excellent suggestions. For both that and all of the terrific comments you’ve left lately on various posts, I felt the least I could do was hold a new blog giveaway as a way of expressing my sincere thanks to all of you.

Wishing you each a blissful (Oscar night) evening and a week ahead that bursts with an abundance of sunshine and serenity!

Vintage Fashionista Friday: March 5, 2010

There is always a degree of excitement when I begin a new type of post that is set to occur regularly within the pages of Chronically Vintage. A clear sense of eagerness accompanies that exhilaration, as I begin to tentatively create the layout design that future editions (in this case for the brand new “Vintage Fashionista Friday” series) will adhere to – or at least be guided in some measure by.

To date one of the most popular posts on this site (not to mention one of my absolute favourite to put together!) has been Seven Stunning Vintage Holiday Season Outfits, which appeared in the early days of last December. That holiday season article – and the immensely positive response it received – really got the ball rolling in terms of what inspired the idea behind this new “end of the work-week” post.

In that piece I created seven distinct looks based on different vintage styles (such as “The Jitterbug” and “The Bombshell”), handpicking a number of items for each style. I think that for this budding series of fashion centered posts, I’m going to adopt a somewhat similar approach, however, instead of classifying each look by a title (for example, “The Girly-Girl”), I’m going to bestow a female name upon each weekly look.

As I was mentioning just the other evening on the phone with my step-dad (while discussing an entirely unrelated matter), I’ve always had a passion for naming things. Growing up I named nearly everything in my bedroom, including the beloved down filled pillow that saw me through my whole childhood (it’s name, if you're wondering, was Squishy), and that passion for bestowing monikers onto things has scarcely waned over the years (to this day any doll, plush toy or anthropomorphic item that comes into my house gets its own special name).

There’s something soulful and endearing about giving an item – or in this case, a handful of items grouped together – a human name. Doing so is certainly not a new act in the world of fashion; just think of the many clothing, shoe, handbag, and jewelry designers that assign monikers to their items and/or collections, some of which – like the Hermès Kelly bag – have literally become household names amongst those with a passion for style.

Of course the sort of look that one person might conjure up in their mind for the girl’s name “Evelyn”, for example, may be entirely different from what you yourself would picture someone with that name wearing. If you ask me, that’s part of the fun in assigning handles to things! The names I’ll bestow on each look are the product of my imagination; they’ll be based on anything and everything from a passing whim to a lifelong association with a direct source of inspiration.

In giving a ladies’ name to each weekly outfit (which is composed of a selection of different wardrobe pieces, accessories and related items that tie into a particular style), I feel that it embeds an extra level of depth to the very title “Fashionista”. For just as with women themselves, beautiful looks should always have a name to be remembered by.

And on that very note, let me present Chronically Vintage’s first ever edition of “Vintage Fashionista Friday”, staring a lovely, excellent for the beginning of March ensemble I’ve dubbed “Daphne”.


♥ ♥ ♥


{Sensuous curves and a fabulously elegant shade of steely-lilac, paired with gold toned arm bands, combine to make this stunning set of 1950s aluminum cat eye style frames a true work of art for your pretty peepers. Vintage women’s eyeglasses frames (which do not include lenses, so that you easily have them filled with your own prescription), $82.00 (US) from etsy seller Vintage 50s Eyewear.}



{Cardigans are a wardrobe staple all year round, but few times call for them more than when winter is slowly beginning to transition into spring. This immensely cheerful vintage button front sweater (labelled as size “M”) in the hue of fresh churned butter would pair well with everything from sun dresses to wool skirts, making a great piece to have on hand no matter the season. Splash some sunshine into your wardrobe with this cute cardi, which can be found from etsy seller My World of Wonder’s shop for $28.00 (US).}



{When I think of a woman named Daphne, I imagine a bold mix of sultry allure and girl-next-door charm. She’s the type of gal who wears a fragrance that is both feminine and powerful, such as Galanos (by Galanos), a classic scent that’s been on the market for over thirty years now. Mixing cedar wood with geranium, rose, carnation, oak moss, musk and other heady floral and earth notes, this scent would be perfect for the ethereal lady I envision in today’s vintage look. A 60ml bottle of Galanos eau de toilette can be had for $43.24 (Cnd) from FragranceX.com.}



{A cacophony of gorgeous leaves in rich shades of blue, plum and yellow swirl to and fro across this immensely pretty 1940s/50s cotton day dress (complete with rhinestone buttons down the front), which is fits up to a 40 inch bus/32 inch waist, and is available for $118.00 (US) from etsy seller The Greedy Seagull.}



{This glistening set of elasticized rhinestone bracelets from Forever 21 would be the perfect way to add a pop of sparkle to another wise understated outfit – or they’d do just as nicely as the finishing hit of pizazz for a to-the-nines look. No matter what you match them up with, there’s no denying their sticker price of $10.80 (US) for the entire set is real gem of a deal!}



{Sometimes it’s the most agelessly precious of items that can add extra life to an outfit or a room. Case in point, this darling Bukowski of Sweden plush bunny rabbit, which so wonderfully echoes the approaching spirit of spring and Easter time. This sweet little bundle of faux fur can be found for $10.00 (US) from etsy seller Hello Darling! Vintage.}



{Imagine you’re strolling through a field of vibrant daffodils as you go about your day in these upliftingly lovely “Lemon Meringue Heels”, complete with their playful matching bow. These stylish citron hued pumps are available in women’s sizes 5.5 to 10, for $34.99 (US), from ModCloth.com.}

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I truly hope that you all enjoy and garner your own wardrobe inspiration from this blossoming series of weekly Friday articles. I must say, I'm even more giddy about the idea of Vintage Fashionista Fridays then when I began writing at the start of this post (surely that's a positive sign of things to come!).

Wishing you each a gorgeous weekend filled with countless reasons to smile, my eternally stylish dears!

We’ve been experiencing major technical difficulties!

My sweetest dears, I must extend an absolutely gigantic apology to you all for quite literally falling off the face of the earth for the last few days. As I mentioned in my post on Friday night, we’d been having some internet connection trouble that day. At the time I was inclined to chalk it up to poor weather affecting our line, but by the time the issue hadn’t resolved itself the next morning, we knew that something was up and gave our internet provider a couple of phone calls. However, nothing showed up amiss on their end of things, squarely indicating the problem was on our side. Knowing that, my husband quickly tracked down and diagnosed the issue: our wireless router had given up the ghost completely out of the blue, leaving us without the ability to connect to the internet!

Though The Mister has his work computer, our home set-up is my only lifeline to the internet, and with it gone I had no way to explain to you guys what was going on (aka, why I’d suddenly gone MIA). Fortunately the replacement router (it's a different brand than the old one) that we ordered arrived by express courier this afternoon and my husband hooked it up immediately after work. Everything appears to be working splendidly with the new wireless router, and I’m hopeful that it will remain fully operational for a long time to come!


{Had we not gotten a new router by the end of this week, I ready to give serious consideration to posting blog updates via carrier pigeon! :-D Jokes aside, I’m both thrilled and greatly relieved to have our internet back up and working again! Vintage photo via Arcane du Fresne.}


I really wasn’t expecting to take another break anytime soon from blogging (let alone from the entire web!), and this impromptu hiatus really caught me off guard. Still, no sense in fretting over what’s said and done now! As things stand tonight, I have every intention of writing and posting the first edition of “Vintage Fashionista Friday” tomorrow, and blogging as per usual in the coming weeks.

I realize this post is a bit short, but as soon as we were connected to the internet again, I knew that I had to make my very first act (seriously, I haven’t even started to sift through the 500+ new emails that my inbox says have accumulated since last Friday) had to be to write and touch base with all of you.

Again, I’m very sorry for suddenly vanishing, it goes against my nature so much and I really hope that it doesn’t happen again anytime soon (or better yet, ever!). I’ve missed each and every one of your immensely, and truly hope that life has been beautiful on your side over the past few days as we've kicked off the month of March.

The results of Friday’s poll are in!

Feeling like some of the usual Chronically Vintage posts could do with a good spring cleaning, I recently decided to revamp two of them: the “Daily Vintage Deal” became the “Today’s Vintage Treasure”, and I turned the decision regarding what to do with Friday’s weekly post over to you, my readers.


{All heads turned in anticipation to hear what post topic had been chose by Chronically Vintage's readers as the winner of Friday's exciting poll :-) Fantastically glamorously image via myvintagevogue's Flickr stream.}


As of this evening, 46 people have cast their vote and it’s from those results that I’ve determined what I’m going to blog about on upcoming Fridays. The “winner”, with 39% of the votes was “Fashionista Fridays”. The outcome of this poll wasn’t a landslide though. 28% of voters felt I should keep the current “Five for Fridays” post, where as 17% of you wanted to see a “Flickr Friday” post launched. A further 11% felt that I shouldn’t assign a topic to Friday’s posts at all, and the final 4% said that they’d like to see something else entirely different from the ideas I suggested.

As I really didn’t have my heart set on any one answer more than another, I’m going to side with the majority of voters and launch “Vintage Fashionista Friday” as the new end of the workweek post. I’m honestly now quite excited about this, loving vintage style and clothing as I do.

The scope of this post is that each week I will find a handpicked selection of vintage (or vintage looking/reproduction) clothing that’s currently available for sale (in case you want to take home the look yourself) and put together a lovely outfit out of those items. I don’t have the budget to buy new clothes each week and model them myself, so Friday’s “look” will be comprised of photos of the items, which I hope will be both inspirational and enjoyable for my readers.

Regarding the other categories that I’d proposed in the poll, I plan to incorporate more posts based around vintage related photos and groups I’ve found on Flick into this blog, and will be distributing the links I’d usually include in “Five for Friday” into the newly minted post “Today’s Vintage Treasure”.

Normally, having just announced what Friday’s new theme was going to be, I’d put up the first such example, however, for some mysterious reason (and despite restarting the modem at least a dozen times) our internet service is cutting out today something fierce. I had to reload my browser window about fifty times, over the course of half an hour, just to get Blogger to load, thus allowing me to begin my draft of this post. I sincerely apologize about that and have no clue why our internet service is being so slow (but I’d be more than willing to chalk it up to the snowy, stormy weather and harsh winds we’ve been experiencing all week).

All things willing, I will bring you the first proper installment of Vintage Fashionista Friday next week, gathering items online between then and now to comprise the first vintage outfit with.

Thank you very much to everybody who voted in this poll and shared your comments below last Friday’s post. I took all of your opinions to heart and was touched by the wonderful thoughts on this subject that you shared. I hope that even those who didn’t vote for “Fashionista Friday” will quickly become fans of this new post, which covers one of our favourite topics – vintage clothing and accessories that the modern gal can easily weave into her own look.

On this the last Friday in February, I wish you each a beautiful, serene and deeply fun weekend, and thank you again for being the best readers – and vintage loving friends – anyone could possibly ask for!

Today’s Vintage Treasure: February 25, 2010

{While the cost of this basic sewing kit is much steeper than I’d usually promote, the beauty and appeal of the flapper-esque girl bedecked box it comes housed in helps to make up for part of the $55.00 (CND) sticker price. As a charming work of art, I could easily see this delightful box – which resembles a miniature vintage suitcase – taking pride-of-place on a bookshelf, dresser, counter top, or sewing table or anywhere you’d like to add a lovely dose of 1920s inspired fun to your home. If this cute sewing box is calling your name, you can find it on Overstock.com.}


Peering outside at this moment, one would think that they’d awoken in the arctic, snow whirling hurriedly in every direction, the resonating sound of a howling wind slashing across anything it comes in contact with. Alas however, I’m not up north keeping the polar bears company, but instead in good ol’ Toronto, which has been hit with a real wallop of a snowfall this week (on Monday we even experienced two brief blackouts in the later part of the evening, though luckily the longest one only last about five minutes).

In the midst of this snowy (though to be honest, not brutally cold – save perhaps for the wind chill week) week, I’ve been trying to catch up on a backlog of chores that are a tad overdue as a result of my being out of commission for a spell with a sinus cold in the middle of the month. Yesterday, for example, I did ten loads of laundry! (Thankfully we have washers and dryers in the basement of our building; I shudder to think about hauling that much laundry to a laundromat on the bus!) Unfortunately, that left me without a moment to spare to put together a Wonderful Wednesday Recipe post. I’ll try and make up for it next with an extra yummy (read: scrumptious dessert) recipe that I hope you’ll all enjoy.

As for the folding of all that laundry, it’s being done between today and tomorrow (today was also dusting day, which is an absolute must when you have a fuzzy little cat prowling around depositing her fur on everything in the apartment! :D).

Sweet thanks go out to all those who left comments (and opted to play along) on Tuesday’s post about playing blog tag, as well as to everyone who has left comments on any of Chronically Vintage’s other posts recently. It’s nothing short of a joy to hear from my readers– and fellow vintage loving friends – and I always want you to know how much I sincerely appreciate your visits and comments.

Whether you’re buried under a mountain of snow like me – or soaking up the delectableness of a placid winter (such as the one many parts of British Columbia have been treated to this season) - I really hope that you’re having a serene and splendid week!




*PS*

Be sure to tune tomorrow to find out the results of last week’s poll regarding what type of subject matter I should assign (or keep) for Friday’s weekly posts.

What to play blog tag with me?

If I were to assign a theme to this month, it would most definitely be "catching up". When I took a few days off (from blogging) earlier in February, I made a list of things that I wanted to try and devote some time to catching up on. That inventory included no less than twenty eight different online activities – and twelve “real world” ones – that I planned to focus a percentage of my time on. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to get completely up to speed on such a tall stack of projects, commitments, interests, etc, but so far I have made noticeable strides towards brining several of these areas up-to-date.

As to be expected, some areas have required more time than I’d initially suspected. With others however, I was able to take care of much quicker than I’d initially suspected (and a few haven’t even been touched yet, but I will get to them sooner or later!). Along the way, as certain “catch-up” jobs were checked off my list, others (that I’d either forgotten about or which emerged through the process of working on different tasks) popped up and are now goals for the next few weeks (and months).

I plan to keep pushing myself quite hard (but not, I hope, too hard) to catch-up on various tasks over the last few days of February. When the first of March rolls around, I’m going to revise my list and readjust where I’m spending my time, as necessary (and will be spending more visiting other people’s wonderful blogs again). I’m finding that having a working list like this is really helping me feel less like I’m falling hopelessly behind on everything I want to accomplish online (and to a less extent, off-line, too) – a sensation that had been plaguing me for years, I came to realize this month.

All work and no play however, is bound to burn anyone out! (And, let’s face it, even when you enjoy writing most of them, anytime you reply to more than four hundred different emails in less than three weeks, that constitutes work!) So I thought that I’d put my goal (perhaps the largest one on my list) of reaching "inbox zero" on hold for a few moments and have fun answering some questions that I was tagged with, by the immensely sweet Nicolette of Simply Colette, all the way back at the start of last October.

If you’ve not had the great pleasure of visiting Nicolette yet, I highly recommend you zip by her site. It’s a treasure trove of beautiful and imaginative images, inspiring ideas and terrific writing from one of the loveliest souls I’ve met online.

Today’s game of blog tag consists of answering five questions (the replies for which sound like the makings of a fantastic party or evening in with friends), so I’m going to do just that – followed by a list of ten other bloggers who are welcome to carry on this enjoyable post, if they’d like (as always, anyone who reads this post is welcome to keep the meme going themselves, even if I don’t specifically tag you).


Tag, I’m it!


{Two adorable children run gleefully after one another down a street in New York, perhaps engaged in their game of tag, in this snapshot from 1942. Vintage photo via epicharmus’ Flickr stream.}


What books are on your favourite shelf?
As a lifelong bookworm and very avid reader, this question is always tricky for me to answer concisely for there is such an overabundance of books that I consider to be true favourites. However, if I stick to the parameters of the question and base my answers of off books that I actually own a copy of (and thus have on my bookshelf) at the moment, a roundup of my favourites would have to include the following (which I think lend credence to my deeply eclectic tastes).




-Forties Fashion: From Siren Suits to the New Look by Jonathan Walford (Without a doubt, this is the most in-depth, well researched, engagingly written book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading on the subject of fashion and the impact that clothing had on the world during the 1940s. If I could only have one title on my shelf about clothing from the forties, hands down, this image laden book would be it.)




-Collected Poems 1947-1997 Allen Ginsberg (Legend, master, artist, historian, inspiration, Allen Ginsberg was all these things and countless more. His work, at times avant-garde, at others hauntingly ageless, was one of my first introductions to the world of The Beat Generation writers as child, and remains to this day a beloved favourite of mine.)




-Pattern: Using Pattern to Create Sophisticated, Show Stopping Interiors by Tricia Guild (While I can see their appeal, I’ve never been a fan of stark white, minimally furnished rooms – even if my husband fancies them! Give me colour, depth, artistry, soul and intrigue on – and between the – the walls of a home and I’m a happy interior design camper. No other book I’ve encountered thus far brings so much beauty, vibrancy and allure into the rooms it highlights – all the while melding a menagerie of design styles and decades together – as this beguiling title does. From the moment you pick up this hefty book with its flocked flower pattern bedecked cover, you know you’re in a massive treat - and each page that follows confirms and exceeds that expectation.)




-French Inspired Jewelry: Creating with Vintage Beads, Buttons & Babbles by Kaari Meng (Whether you love to create your own jewelry or wear the works of others, this book – by celebrated jewelry artesian owner of the famed Hollywood store French General - is an absolute must for those who adore shabby chic, French provincial, Victorian and vintage styles. Aside from being easy to follow and well explained, each project is presented against a backdrop of the incredibly pretty little treasures, turning the images into scrapbook-like works of charming, timelessly wonderful art in and of themselves.)




-The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics (While my fashion preferences veer towards the 1940s and 50s, my taste in music encompasses groups and artists from every era, and like many people, I’m a massive fan of the Beatles. From their early bubble gum tunes to the soul-gripping songs like "Let It Be", and everything in between, there is so much to adore and extract inspiration from in the Beatles’s work. This book is a thrill for the senses. Each pair of pages highlights one of the many songs from the Beatles' vast catalog, coupled with a mod era illustration that promises to evoke memories (even if you weren’t alive during the 1960s) and help you fall even further in love with the Fab Four.)


What DVDs are on your favourite shelf?
Truth be told, we really do not own many DVDs. We tend to watch our movies at the theatre, on TV or via services like zip.ca (a Canadian site that's similar to NetFlicks), so my answers come from the “shelf of life” rather than the literal spot on our little TV stand where our teensy DVD collection residess.

Five fantastic movies that I would recommend everybody watches at least once in their lifetime, and each of which has impacted me deeply for various reasons, are:




The Pianist (2002)




La Dolce Vita (1960)



The Secret Life of Words (2005) (I saw this movie last year for the first time and must say it was the most stirring and touching film I watched in 2009. In my opinion it truly should have been an Oscar nominee – if not a winner - in two categories: best actress [Sarah Polley] and best film.)




8MM (1999)




The Illusionist (2006)


What are your two favourite cookbooks?
It’s impossible for me to narrow down this epically diverse category into two all-time favourites. For as long as I can recall, I’ve adored reading and learning from cookery and gastronomy related books. I read them with the fervour and intensity that many do novels, and value the wisdom and inspiration that comes from cookbooks no end. To that extent, I would say two of my perpetual favourite cookbooks are:



-Falling Cloudberries: A World of Family Recipes by Tessa Kiros (For me cookbooks have always been about so much more than just recipes on paper. What endears me to a title that devotes itself to the realm of food is the writer’s ability to draw me into their kitchen, their relationship with what they eat and prepare for their family, and their admiration for culinary ingredients. Few writers have mastered the skill of transmitting this information – nor presented it so exquisitely beautifully – as Tessa Kiros does in this visually lyrical tome of recipes gathered from her diverse travels around the globe.)




-The Silver Spoon (The use of the word "tome" is often applied liberally to books of all kind, but this classic Italian masterpiece (first published in 1950) truly qualifies for that prestigious title. Overflowing with more than 2000 recipes from every corner of Italy, this book jumps right to the point, filling each page with an average of two or three different recipes, from those that almost verge on being ostentatious to the most humble of “cucina povera” dishes. If you’re serious about cooking, eating, and getting to be know the world of Italian food, The Silver Spoon is worthy of a spot on your kitchen counter and bookshelf alike – it certainly has one on mine :-))


Select 1-3 recipes you would cook for your guests

{Nothing like the joy of whipping up a wonderful meal for a group of dear friends! Vintage image from 1948 of a woman hard at work baking bread from the pages of the Life Magazine photo archives.}


As some of you may know, cooking is a profound passion of mine and there are few things in this world I gather pleasure from more than preparing a meal for those dear to me. Given that many of us are still trapped in the throes of winter, I would invite every one of my dear readers over for a warming, relaxed weekend lunch, during which I’d feed you my Creamy Gala Apple, Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup, Balderson Cheddar and Fresh Thyme Country Biscuits, and Cinnamon, Vanilla Bean and Bosc Pear Bread Pudding for dessert.


What will be drinking that’s available?

{It would be so marvellously lovely to partake in afternoon tea with all you! Glamorous vintage image from ∆Sabine Davis∆’s Flickr stream.}

Sticking with the theme of ensuring we’re all toasty, I’d heat as many kettlefuls of water as needed and lay out a spread of teas and tisanes for all of us to pick and choose from. Naturally I'd ensure they were served with a selection of honeys, sugars, milk, cream, soy milk, cinnamon sticks, and citrus slices.


Tag, you’re it!


{Though this photo which hails from 1901 is technically more on the antique side, I thought it was too preciously adorable not to include in this post centred around playing tag. Image from jflangjr’s Flickr stream.}


A Vintage Chic

Just a Happy Housewife

The Frog’s Eyebrows

A Chock-Full of Rants and Raves from a Thirty-Something Mama

Roses R Red

The Art of Living Beautifully

Random Thoughts of a Very Boring Girl

Rue and Hyssop

It’s All Make-Believe, Isn’t It?

Madeleine’s Wunderkammer

I should note that if you want to carry on this game of tag, there are no real rules. I answered the same questions that Nicolette had on her blog, but you could change them up if you wanted. Please let me know if you keep this game going, I’d love to read your replies!


Thank you very much for this delightfully enjoyable tag, Nicolette dear! It was oodles of fun to escape from more mundane activities this evening and share some of my favourite books, films and recipes with my treasured readers.