Treasure Box Wednesday: Thanks to Thoughtful Folks


Though winter weather is still keeping me from some serious thrifting, I'm still not feeling unappreciative-- in fact, I have quite a few things to be happy about. Like the nice folks I know who've thought of me around the holidays in such kind ways.

I thought you all might enjoy seeing a few of the exciting things I'd been sent by family, friends I've known for years, and those I've made online.

Like this fun array of items from Holland, thanks to Tracey, of Tiddlywinks...


How often does a person get a care package from the Netherlands? (If you're not Dutch, that is!) I had the best time opening this and seeing the unique items. The tricky part was to remember to take pictures of it before I started taste testing!

Tracey was extra-lovely, too, in telling me just what these products translated to be. Like the "Dubbel Spekken"...


Which she tells me translates to mean "bacon." But in fact they're long, flat marshmallows! Quite yummy-- though Tracey mentions that they don't quite roast up like traditional marshmallows. Perhaps experimentation is in order!


Here you'll see a lovely little Delft style pill box there in the upper corner, as well as this very minty and extremely square Mentos gum-- quite different from the Mentos we have here. And then these excellent little melt-in-your-mouth chocolates (I've been pacing myself on these), which are called "Koetjes Reep," which Tracey tells us means, "Cow's Bar."

Well, if the cow's want them back, I think they will have to fight me for them. The cows can just get their own. :)


Now these "Kruid Noten" are kind of addictive. They're delicious little crunchy ginger-snap type cookies, only about the size of a dime each. Tracey indicates that it basically translates to "spice nuts," and I can see why, given the crunch and flavor.

And how cool is this?...


Stickers from Holland's football team (soccer for us in the U.S.). Orange is their team color as the royal family's name there is "Oranje." And the writing on the stickers themselves root Holland on with "Go, Holland, Go!" And "We Love Orange!"

Thanks to Tracey, too, for the nifty translations. I would have been sunk without them! I'm currently preparing a package of American goodies to send to her. I've already got my Steelers item picked out, and am just filling a few things in-- I'll show you the items once I get the package safely in her hands! (I don't want to ruin her surprise.)

I thought today would also be a nice time to show you all some things I received for Christmas. Like this gorgeous green Carnival Glass style pitcher from my Dad (no, he didn't carry this on the plane, thankfully-- it weighs a ton!)...


Some sweet cottagey-looking teacups from a friend's mother...


And this amazing pink McCoy planter from my friend Josette...


I feel pretty lucky I have people like this who are so thoughtful to care what I'm interested in.

Anyway, that about does it for this Treasure Box Wednesday.


Otherwise, I hope to see you for Sunday's post! Take care and keep warm.

Extreme Entertaining: Livin’ Large with 60s Better Homes and Gardens


"A party atmosphere, a gracious hostess-- entertaining at its best!" So says this 1960s Better Homes and Gardens book, the Guide to Entertaining. Hip, happening hostesses of the time knew, this book was chock-full of all the tips and tricks needed for crazy evenings of wild, whoopin'-it-up revelry...


Okay, maybe more like strained and pained yawnfests punctuated by somewhat mentally-unstable creative displays...

Or what would happen if the cast of the Lawrence Welk show were unknowingly slipped brownies made of some questionable ingredients.

So come with me today as we examine these x-treme table settings, international joie de vivre, creative onion-and-light displays, and parties so mad the guests might just try to eat the centerpieces--

Let the good times roll!

Like this rip-roaring evening of family fun...


Folks of all ages can enjoy an evening playing the party game that all the hep young kiddies are talking about-- Skittles!

Why, just look at Granddad on the left up there. He hasn't had this much fun since he got his first Social Security check. And everyone else up there looks...

Well, they look... um...


Like...

Okay, so maybe it's not the fun-fest you'd hope for. Grandma has apparently forgotten what this game is called, and who these people are. She thinks one of them might be her nephew, but she can't be sure.

Later, she will be looking for her purse and realize she brought her husband's bowling bag instead. He'll go through it when they get home, and find she's taken some Skittles pins with her, "in case they need them." There will also be the sugar from the sugar bowl off the dining table, rolling around at the bottom of the bag. She'll claim she was just borrowing a cup for later.

Yes, Grandpa will be making her a nice appointment with Dr. Brown for this coming week.

Here we see more unbridled festivities, at a Christmas tea...


Do you get the vague feeling that woman in green deeply dislikes that woman in red? Just look at that forced smile!


She's got that look like she promised to be nice to this woman for the sake of neighbor relations, or little Timmy's PTA group. And then the moment the guests leave, she'll be talking about how she had to put up with that insufferable Mrs. Todd from down the street...

And how that woman said she'd "never seen green party punch before" and how "unusual and unique" it was: a Toddism for "I hope you don't expect to be voted room-mother anytime soon."

And look all the big fun those women aren't having in the back... I think they're hiding because they never cared for Mrs. Todd much, either.

Of course, you can understand where some of these party-goers might wear expressions of confusion and concern when you see some of the suggested entrees. Like for this "party-time brunch"...


The yellow hedgehogs are apparently mutated butter pats. And that dripping ring o' goo they're sitting in the center of is a "coffee ring made from refrigerated breakfast rolls and Canadian-style bacon"... I wonder what that sauce is, then. Icing? Bacon grease? Gravy?

Mmmm.

Well, what do you do when one of your friends will be soon saying "Bon Voyage"?

Why, encourage them to leave that much quicker with a going away party punctuated by some... inspirational... centerpieces.


Going to Venice? How about rowing this handmade mini-canal boat onto the tablesetting?

"A night in Venice is a romantic setting. The flower laden gondola is made with strips of cardboard bent and taped together on the prow and stern. The cardboard canopy is trimmed with gummed labels and held with matchsticks."
Tape and matchsticks! You're guests will be singing "O Solo Mio" in no time!...

Or, maybe they're headed to Holland? This "delightful Dutch garden blooms with brilliance!"


"The windmill is made from a half-gallon milk carton with additional pieces cut from lightweight cardboard and sticks. Add color by covering parts of the mill with paper. Build a garden of narcissus around the windmill."
Nothing says a classy goodbye like miniature milk-carton adaptations of the place your guests will be visiting.

Or how about creating "a Viking atmosphere" for someone going to Sweden?...


"The quaint candelabra started out as a wool-winder to which have been added stubby candles and wooden gnomes nailed to the four corners. "

Because the Vikings did so love their lawn gnomes. The history section is simply filled with books about the Vikings and their proud wooden gnomes. You almost can't go to Barnes and Noble's ancient history shelves without tripping over some tale of Lief Eriksen and his lucky lawn gnome.

Or maybe you'd like to get your hula on and create your own luau, inviting all your friends and family...


Uncle Lloyd here isn't one to really know the finer things... But to his credit, he's willing to try virtually anything once. That's why he seems to be about to pile his plate with this stalk of the centerpiece flowers...


Someone please tell him bromelades are not for noshing. Remember the last time, when he ate the scented wax airfreshener? Not pretty.

Or perhaps someone you know is adventuring to see the wonders of Egypt!


"The primitive Egyptian allure of this setting is echoed by using ordinary building bricks (with ready-made holes) sprayed black and an inexpensive plaster statue. Completing the Nile scene is the place mat sprayed black to fit the scheme."

I never thought of the Nile being black before. Or Egyptian statuary. But did you know the sarcophagus of King Tut was all black once, and not the gold and red and blue we think of today? Er, yeah. Sure, it was.

And see, that is the terrific thing about these vintage decorating books-- we don't just learn about decorating... We get history, too.

And speaking of history, let's hearken back to the American South for this "Plantation Breakfast," the time where everyone wore British riding jackets, and let the hounds out, and put green plaster Staffordshire peacocks on the table...


"A Plantation Breakfast says southern hospitality and all that phrase brings to mind."

As long as it brings to mind southern England...

Yoiks and tally ho!

Well, what if you want to do a table display but don't have a big theme party in mind? "Let imagination and a few simple accessories create an ingenious centerpiece..."


"Bunches of red onions surrounding matching red candles glow even more with the addition of tiny strands of Christmas tree lights entwined among them. "
And gosh, wasn't I glad that just happened to have had 40 onions on hand? Of course, who doesn't, right?

But now, I hear you asking-- what about the kiddies in these festivities? Well, we certainly haven't forgotten them! In fact-- guess who's cooking Christmas Eve dinner?


"Turn Christmas Eve supper over to your children. It's easy for the kids to make the sandwiches and the Tomato-Chicken-Rice Combo. All the soup recipe calls for is ready-made soup in cans and water. The youngsters will enjoy their active roll in the evening's festivities and learn how to be gracious hosts and hostesses."

Am I the only one here envisioning burnt grilled cheese and tomato soup on the chandeliers? Ho, ho, ho... holy heck!

Well, that's all we have for today.


Otherwise, I'll see you this coming Wednesday, perhaps, for something else that I hope will be equally entertaining...

But I'll probably hold the onions.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Heating Things Up a Bit


I don't know about you all, but I'm tired of sub-zero temperatures and snow. I mean, yesterday it creeped up to a whopping 30 degrees instead of -2, and it felt like a heatwave.

Worse, it's affecting my... (gasp!)... thrifting! It's been so unpleasant out, I haven't dared stir from my home or office. So I decided, in protest, what would be in the Treasure Box for you this week would be photos-- photos of things that are not in my home, or anywhere near me...

Yes, I was noodling around with some of my extra photos from my trip to Florida last year.

Like this cutie...


Just look at that sweet whiskered face! He was down at the Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, Florida. And you'd never believe, this was a fairly distant photo that the wonders of technology allowed me to crop into this handsome portrait...

Dig those big brown eyes and teeny-tiny little ears!

He was a talented fellow, too, that sealion. He originally thought he might want to play for the Lakers...


But his jumpshot wasn't great. Sorta the same problem Shaq has, I guess. So what he discovered he really wanted to do was sing...


This just made me laugh. I'm sure the dentist has no problem checking out those molars, either.

A bit of cropping meant I could show you a closeup on our dolphin pal here, too...


And an action shot with another flippered friend...


I'd have cropped more, but I couldn't bear to cut out those gorgeous, gorgeous palm trees! Just what we need now, right?

Now we can zoom in so nicely on Mr. Polly Parrot here...

And it's funny, but I usually do get stared at by parrots. I suspect it's because of my red hair they may think I'm one of them...

I am fond of crackers and sunflower seeds.

And, you know, some of these parrots work hard for the money. No vacation in the tropics for them! No sir, this one makes daily graceful commutes on this barrel...


And then we go from parrots, to parrotfish!... Have you ever seen such coloring on a fish?


But alas-- our trip to the tropics is, as always, over too soon. We try to take time to smell the flowers, like this giant hibiscus...


We pause, to enjoy the cool greenery of a mini-rainforest...


But then... then we must slowly mosey along home...


I suppose I haven't really tortoise anything at all today, have I? :) Ah, well. There's always this coming Sunday.

Or you you check out last Sunday's post on Thrifty Tablescapes for Valentine's Day.

Keep warm, my friends!

Thrifty Valentine's Day Tablescapes and Other Decorating


Valentine's Day: love it or dread it, it seems to sneak into our stores the moment Santa has turned those reindeer Pole-bound.

Yet, if you're looking for a little post-New Year's zip for your decorating, Valentine's Day tablescapes can be a cheery, inexpensive, and even non-commercial way of brightening the home with sweet sentiments.

As mentioned in a previous post, heavily-discounted Christmas reds can transform for Valentine's Day with no work at all-- and at a fraction of the cost of actual Valentine's Day decor. And for the decorator who plans ahead, thrift stores turn up some heart-warming finds.


This tablescape was done with vintage china in pinks and greens which I already had, plus a pink-and-red roses printed tablecloth from the Salvation Army thrift store...


The centerpiece bowl was a Christmas ruby glass from Target a few years ago. It's filled with silk flowers I'd had from some other projects, but you could fill it with fresh flowers, red marbles and a candle... even stacks of small Valentines.


The 50s aluminum tumblers were from the Goodwill at about a quarter a piece. The heart shaped placemats were my one brand-new splurge last year, but were an affordable price at Target.


Virtually everything on the coordinating mantle either came from a thrift store, or was bought post-Christmas at Target. The shimmering red tree in the center was one after Christmas sale find. Ironically, you'll see almost identical items now for Valentine's Day at four times the cost...


Here you'll see a couple of empty chocolate boxes picked up at thrift stores for just $0.99 off-season... Not as much fun as emptying them yourself, of course! But entirely too pretty to pass up.


A satin vintage pillow from the Christian Laymen thrift store, a pink china candlestick from a past decorating swap, and a few 50s Valentines I got as a $6 lot from Ohio's Pottery City antique mall help complete the effect ...


For fans of romantic decorating, decorating for Valentine's Day might be easier than you think. If fact, you mayhave the makings for a display without buying a single thing! Roses in any color-- but particularly pinks and reds-- are perfect for the holiday. Fresh, silk, or paper, gather 'em together and display them in anything from ruby glass, to crystal to inexpensive milk glass.

And what about photos of loved ones, alive or long passed? Combined with Valentine's colors, working them into a tablescape can be a nod of honor to the people who touch your life.


Have you saved Valentine cards over the years? Why not display them? It's a wonderful way to share cherished memories.


Try playing around with pinks, reds, purples and whites. Just because an item wasn't made specifically for Valentine's Day doesn't mean it won't work nicely for the holiday.


And if you don't feel you have enough to work with currently? Keep your eyes peeled at thrift stores, flea markets, antique malls and post-holiday retail. In the 40s-60s, for instance, holiday planters were popular for almost every occasion. Here you'll see a little girl dressed in hearts and a heart-shaped cupid planter...


By picking up things like this around the year, you'll have what you need for a cheerful display in no time!

And me, I'm going to pretend now we don't have all that white stuff falling outside and have a nice hot tea. Hope to see you this coming Wednesday, friends!