"Love, Marilyn" and a Mid Century Housewife Update

Hi all!!!

sigh...

It's been a loooonggg week for this lady. Luckily, I have only one more ballet recital to go before I am done for the summer (well, most of the summer anyway).

Today, Honey and I had both had the day, off so we spent some much needed quality time together.

We were able to catch a great documentary on HBO called "Love, Marilyn". Have you seen it?

Its a really well done documentary with different current stars reading excerpts from Marilyn's journals. It also had interviews with some of the people closest to her. The film gave great incite into the star and what she went through during her lifetime.

I have always known a lot about Marilyn, and always considered myself a fan but this film really got me thinking about how sad her life really was. To hear about events in her own words was beautiful and tragic. She was so lost and lonely. And completely broken. I really feel for her and wish her life wasn't cut short in the manner that it was. Even Honey says she has a new found respect for Marilyn after watching the documentary. It was really touching and poignant.

After that I HAD to make Honey watch "The Seven Year Itch". Can you believe it was her first time seeing it in it's entirety? I guess that is my fault. Whenever I'm able to catch classic films online or on television I assume she's not interested and watch them on my own. In the last year I've been (gently) encouraging her to watch my classics. She resists at first, but soon gets into it and loves them. If you get a chance to see "Love, Marilyn", I highly recommend it!

Now for a Mid-Century Housewife Update:


While lounging around today I had some time to look through the new to me cookbook I got from ebay. I LOVE it. It has so much vintage scrumptiousness in it that I find myself picking it up like its a novel!!!! I was going to give you all a peek into the book but I think that I'll show the recipes as I cook them.  I  have also ordered a couple of vintage Good Housekeeping magazines for more inspiration.

I found this neat website called Open Library. It enables you to borrow ebooks for free!!! I found a copy of "America's Housekeeping Book" from 1941. I haven't gotten through the entire book yet but it has a wealth of information on homemaking. I'm sure much of it I will keep in mind even after the project is over. It has a great daily cleaning schedule that I'm going to use to help me keep track of the day to day home maintenance. I was able to alter it to fit our household.

Would you like to see what I've come up with so far??

Of course you would! So here it is (in all it's exhausting glory).

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Early Morning	Prepare Breakfast	*	*	*	*	*	*
Forenoon	Complete a light pickup around the house	*	*	*	*	*	*
		Marketing	Laundry	Thorough home clean	Thorough home clean	Plan meals for upcoming week
Noon	Prepare lunch and start initial dinner prep (such as marinating, defrosting)	*	*	*	*	*
Early Afternoon	Finish any tasks that were not completed in the morning or forenoon	*	*	*	*	*
Late Afternoon	This is time for relaxation (nap taking) . FINAL DINNER PREP	*	*	*	*	*	*
Early Evening	Dinner and after dinner dishwashing	*	*	*	*	*	*

 So that's the basic outline of what's going to happen...

Now... I was reading a few blogs and it seems as though THIS is what should  actually be happening during those time periods I laid out... Ready??

1. Throw back the covers
2. Open up the blinds and windows
3. Freshen up
4. Make and serve breakfast
5. Clean up breakfast
6. Complete a 10 minute exercise regime
7. Shower, do hair and make-up, get dressed
8. Gather a basket for tidying. As the rooms of the home are tackled, pick up items that aren’t where they belong and place them in a basket. Redistribute them where they should be as you enter a new room
9. Straighten up the living and dining room, including picking up potential clutter, light dusting, fluffing / straightening pillows, and watering plants or flowers
10. Make the beds
11. Tidy the bedroom, including light dusting
12. Hang up any clothes that may be about or ensure dirty ones are in the hamper
13. Do a light tidy of the bathroom including removing and replacing used towels, refilling toilet paper and soap (if needed) and cleaning the sink and basin area including soap dishes
14. Review the menu for the current day and the next and compare it to what’s currently available in the home. Make note of anything that needs to be prepared ahead of time or marketing (shopping) that needs to get done
15. Begin long-advance preparations for dinner (such as making dessert)
16. Wipe down kitchen work surfaces and inside the fridge
17. Dispose of garbage
18. Rinse dish cloths and hang to dry
19. Sweep or mop the kitchen floor
20. Handle errands that might take you out of the home (such as marketing, volunteering, going to the post office, getting an item fixed, etc), bookkeeping, correspondence, or indulge in a hobby
21. If returning from the grocery store, wash vegetables, wrap them and put them away. Place rest of groceries or purchases in their proper place
22. Have a quick 
23. Start advance food conditioning like crisping vegetables or thawing frozen foods
24. Handle weekly chore for the day 
25. Set the table for dinner
26. Arrange the living room for evening enjoyment (such as “the Mister’s” newspaper, book, and cigarettes)
27. Do a quick sweep of the floors and ensure entrance ways are clear
28. Prepare a special dish for dinner
29. Freshen up before the husband (or Honey's) returns from work. Consider changing into something more festive if the day dress is plain
30. Set out a tray with equipment for making cocktails, should Honey want to serve drinks before dinner
31. Greet Honey “gayly”
32. Serve dinner
33. Clear table and wash dishes
34. Pour boiling water down the sink to ensure pipes are flushed
35. If necessary, pack the Honey's lunch for the next day. Set aside a lunch tray in the refrigerator for yourself if having leftovers
36. Set table for breakfast
37. Ensure breakfast foods are available and do any make-ahead preparations for it
38. Enjoy an evening of relaxation

Ummm...yeah... I'll try to get some of that done but... Holy Mother of Vintage, that's a lot of stuff to get done in a day!

In the midst of all of that I still have to carve out time to blog about the whole experience. I guess that should come before bed or when I wake up.

You know what's funny? Even though there is so much to get done the main thing on my mind is what I'll wear while doing all of it! Terrible I know!!!! Ugh!! That darn dress addiction is rearing it's ugly head again.

I think I'll go thrifting tomorrow for some aprons and maybe some pretty table settings. I'm really starting to get into this.

That's it for now. You'll be hearing from me more often now that I have a little more free time. YAY!

xoxo

What I’m Obsessing Over Today

I am in the process of collecting information for my little housewife project and I’m having so much fun. Probably too much!! I’ve been online all day looking up any and all information I can. I’m doing this while I should be marinating steak for dinner and bathing my dog but oh well… Don’t worry, the irony of the fact that I’m looking up things about domestic work all the while stuffing my face with pita chips and hummus on my sofa is not at all lost on me… In fact I thinks its hilarious!!

Anyway, I thought I’d share some cute things that I have found on the subject.
First things, first… I bought a vintage cookbook off of eBay. I know, as much as I cook you would think I already had a collection, right? Wrong. But I think this may be the beginning of something new to hoard, er, I mean collect.

I’m super excited for it to come in. It took me two days to decide on what I wanted to be my very first cookbook but I finally decided on a 1st edition, 2nd printing of Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, first published in 1953.


I haven’t received it yet but I can’t wait! I think next I’ll get the Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook. I’m holding out for a 1st Edition, 1st Printing but I heard they can get expensive so we’ll see how that pans out. As soon as the one I bought comes in I’ll give you all a sneaky peek!!

I have been browsing the internet tirelessly trying to find a book or books about what a housewife TRULY did in the mid 20th century. We all know they cooked, cleaned and took care of the children but HOW did they do it. I don’t want the idealized version (well, maybe I do but I know not every housewife if any were like Donna Reed. I would love to knock this project out of the park with my inner Donna but  I picture my housewife twin to be more Lucy than Donna). I would really like some insight into the goings on of a typical 50s household before children came into play. Was it really that much different than today? Especially sans kids. Probably, but I can’t really find much info on the subject.

I did find a book on Amazon called The Good Housekeeping Guide to Marriage. It was first published in 1938 and republished in 1949 (I ended up ordering it on my kindle because it was free if I read it on my device). It’s not really a book on housekeeping but it gives some “advice” on marriage…before you wed and while you are married. It’s obviously quite dated advice but it’s a good read. It gives insight on peoples thoughts about love and family life at the time. It also has a section on sex in the marriage. Which should be fun (funny) to read when I get to it.

I also found this super cute book and blog. The book is called “Scrumptious Treats for Vintage Housekeepers”. It’s written by Alison May. Alison also has a the cutest little blog ever called Brocante Home. Her book and blog are all about enjoying your life and making everything around you as beautiful as possible. Even housework. And she does it all with vintage flair. I’ve only just started the book but it’s adorable so far. I find her book and blog very empowering, not just for housewives but all women who love to take care of their partner/spouse and children (if they have any). Sometimes I feel a bit strange that I would rather stay home and bake than go teach. Even though I absolutely love what I do for a living I would love to be a stay at home wife/mom.  I love taking care of others. I get a sense of pride when Honey comes home to find a spotless apartment with dinner, dessert and wine waiting. I guess that’s the vintage girl in me.

Anywho… I guess that’s why I’m doing the experiment. I already love the idea of domestic work (most of the time) so why not do it the vintage-y way. Of course it won’t be fully authentic. Especially with cell phones, internet and our HD television but I’ll make it as 50s-ish as possible. I will TRY to limit my internet to only things that pertain to my blog. Ok, and maybe Facebook but I’ll limit it to only a few minutes a day. I have friends and family who don’t always read the blog but love to know what I’m up to.  I have to use my cell phone because we don’t have a landline but I’ll try not to text. No appliances that weren’t around in the 50s…meaning no microwave UGH!!! Even banking will only be done at a teller. I need to set a household budget based only on what Honey brings in. I also need to make a schedule of daily household things that I have to get done every day. All this for 2 weeks…if I last that long (which I probably won’t)!!!

All this is set to start a week from Tuesday. Don’t worry. My posts those weeks won’t only be about the experiment.I’ll try to get some outings in there if possible.

OHHH!! I just thought of something…Does that mean no TCM for me?!?!?! Hmmm…I think I’m allowed a classic movie or show…plus a drink…

(Quick update on the vintage store position I was supposed to be starting. Well, not sure if that’s going to happen after all…Once again my dancing wins. My studio is going to be needing me starting mid July so an extra job will be quite difficult…so we’ll see)
xoxo

A Summer Housewife

Well... I'm glad the lady in this photo is all smiles while doing dishes. I, on the other hand, have been doing household chores all day  and look more like:

Pouting all the way...

 Since Bunny and I had to cancel or flea market outing I decided that I should give my apartment some much needed lovin. My house is already in need of a mid-summer cleaning and it's not even summer yet. Honey and I have been incredibly busy the last few weeks so things are much more cluttered than usual. I just need one week to go through everything and put it all back in its place.

I mean its not "dirty". Honey has what I call a slight case of OCD. The apartment has to be a certain kind of clean at all times. Especially as far as the kitchen is concerned. But once you open certain closets...our dirty little secrets are revealed. SOOOOO much clutter. You would never know by just being in our home but open, say the living room closet, and you just may get a rouge lampshade on your head. I need to do a second spring clean. A early summer clean...

And I plan on it!!!

I'm going to have MUCH more time on my hands now that the dance season is winding down. With the exception of a new part time job as a shop girl at a vintage store (YES! I'll be working at a vintage store soon. More on that in a later post), I'll have a lot of free time. So there is no reason not to get it all done.

And of course I plan on doing it mid-century style!!!

Inspired by a series posts from Jen but never Jenn, I have decided to do my own version of her 50s Housewife Experiment. If you don't follow Jen or have not read her posts on the experiment, she did this super cute "experiment" a couple of years ago. She decided to take two weeks out of her life and live as much like a 1950's housewife that she could. That means she did EVERYTHING around the house. The cooking (complete with weird mid-century meals), cleaning, making her husband cocktails as soon as he got home...the whole nine. All while wearing a dress and heels!!!!

Her commentary on the subject is some of the wittiest blog writing I have read. I was literally laughing out loud and stopping to read Honey the funny bits!

While my writing won't be as funny as hers I plan on blogging the progress.

Yes, I know... My life is as far from an actual 50s housewife as you can get but the cooking, cleaning and taking care of Honey I do everyday anyway so lets see if I can do it the 50s way. We'll see how it goes.

I also have some fun posts coming up about different things we're doing this summer. So far I already have 3 vintage inspired events planned. One is the Liberty Belle Extravaganza at the top of the Empire Hotel here in NYC. The Extravaganza is a vintage 4th of July celebration. There are burlesque performances, live music, food and some of the best vintage fashion in NYC!!! I can't wait.

The second is actually on the 4th of July also. (Hmmm...I'm hoping to make both but that may be difficult) It is the 2nd Annual Rockabilly Night Market here in Brooklyn. Honey and I went last year and even though it rained it was a total blast. There are tons of vendors selling food, jewelry and vintage clothing. There was also a car show and live Rockabilly bands complete with a dance floor for the jivers!!

The other event is New York's annual A Midsummer Night's Swing!! I'm super excited for this because we always plan to go and never make it. Well, this time tickets are bought and paid for so it's official!
This event is a big one here in the city. It's a month long series of events where different live bands (mostly swing) play in an out door venue at Lincoln Center. There is a HUGE dance floor provided where you get a dance lesson before hand and unlimited dancing once the night officially starts. It always looks like so much fun!!! And this year Honey and I get to join in on it!! YAY!

So those are my summer plans so far. I just have to get all of my ballerinas out of the way and I'm home free to have the best vintage summer ever!!!!


2 more weeks!!! I can make it!

xoxo

If I Had a Million (Etsy) Dollars

Oh! The weather is so nice today!! Not a cloud in the sky and the temperature is perfect at 72 degrees!!! So what am I doing? I'm online looking at dresses!!! I know I should be out enjoying the weather but I can't help myself! 

Here is what I have been eyeing on Etsy. Most of it I would NEVER buy for myself unless it was a splurge for a special occasion. Well, my birthday is in 2 months so maybe that counts!

These are from the FABULOUS Mill Street Vintage. Who doesn't just adore this store. It has some of the prettiest dresses I've ever seen!!

( I've been eyeing this one for a while)

(This is the prettiest color ever!!)

(How cute is this 1940s number?!)

This 1940s sundress comes from Hollie Point. I love the color and the pockets!

I literally gasped when I saw this dress from Rocco Vintage. My favorite color combination.

And these from 1919 Vintage

(How darling is the blue gingham?!? Such a sweet dress. I could imagine wearing it to a romantic picnic.)

A pretty 1960s number from Trunk of Dresses. Another store that I window shop from daily.

And I LOVE this 1950s blouse from Garb Oh Vintage. 

Ahhhh... ok... now that's out of my system.

I guess I'll go out for a nice long walk with Honey and Givenchy. And maybe make some banana pudding...Yes, that sounds like a good day in the making!

P.S. Bunny and I are supposed to be getting together again this coming Sunday. If that happens I'll be sure to take pictures of our shenanigans!! 

OH!!! P.P.S! Go over to Dividing Vintage Moments. Joanna has the cutest giveaway going on. It's her Glamour Girl giveaway!!! It features a "Glamour Girls" dvd, a C.D. and vintage bracelets.

xoxo

Have a lovely day, dolls!!!

Ballerinas Up the Wazoo! plus Happy Marilyn Day!!!!!

That's how I feel!!!!!!!!

Geez!!!!

It's Spring showcase/recital season for both of my studios. Starting with a mini recital for my 3-5 year old ballerinas tomorrow morning!!!

So that means I'm feeling overwhelmed with music, sequins, fairy wands and ribbons... (which actually sounds like it would be a blast right? WRONG!!!) Which in turn means I probably won't have time to post anything of any significance until Wednesday!

I just wanted to give you guys a heads up!!

I hope your weekend and start of the week is fantastic!

See you all Wednesday.

 Gelsey Kirkland

 Audrey Hepburn

 Paris Opera Ballet 1963

 Dance Theater of Harlem circa 1969

Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov 

And It's Me!! Not a ballet pic but proof that I do dance!!! Need to find a ballet one.

(Rachel Neville Photography)

Ooops!! How did I almost forget...

HAPPY MARILYN DAY!!! Today is her birthday!!!!

LOVE this series of photos of Marilyn!!! I actually plan on recreating them...Its in the works!! I will hopefully have them before the end of the summer!

xoxo

All About Marlene... My Latest Style Obsession

I have a new obsession... I don't know why it's suddenly come up but it's there...

I'm totally obsessed with Marlene Dietrich!

And why wouldn't I be? She is the epitome of old Hollywood glam!

Marlene was born Maria Magdelene Dietrich in 1901 in Germany. When she was a child she put her first and middle names together to come up with the name Marlene.

She began her stage career as a chorus girl on the vaudeville circuit. She began to do small roles on stage and screen with her debut screen appearance in 1922. She had her first breakthrough movie roll in 1929 as Lola-Lola in "The Blue Angel". She played a cabaret singer who turns a professor's life upside down when he falls in love with her. The movie contains her signature song "Falling in Love Again".

She went on to make many movies including "Morocco" and "Shanghi Express". She defined the image of the Femme Fatale in her movies. Most of her movies had a strong sexual overtone for the time when they were released. She was sexual and unapologetic about it.


Her since of style was impeccable. She pushed the envelope between feminine and masculine. She looked amazing in pants suits and tuxedos.The film "Morocco" is the film where she famously donned a tuxedo and sang to and kissed another women.  This has made her an icon in the lesbian community (that and the fact that she supposedly took male AND female lovers in her lifetime). I've only seen the film in it's entirety once but I think I've found a link for it on youtube! I can't wait to see it again.

Here is a clip of the song!  It's totally hot for it's time! The film also earned her an Oscar nomination.

She looks incredible and you can't help but  to crush on her a little. Whether you are man or woman. I love that about her!  She proved that a woman could be appealing in a dress as well as in what was mostly considered men's wear at the time.

I'm totally thinking of getting Honey in a Marlene look for an event soon. She says she loves the look so I'm already on the hunt for 1930's style clothing for her! Can't wait!!! I'm reeling her in guys!!! Slowly but surely!

Here is the inspiration for her outfit.

How ridiculously fabulous is that!!!!!! I could go on and on posting photos of her. There are hundreds of them. Each one more gorgeous than the next.

UGH!!! That FABULOUS 30's brow!!!! swoon!!!!

Whose vintage style are you currently obsessing over!!! It's usually Audrey for me but Marlene has captured my heart lately!

xoxo

Memorial Weekend Blues...plus a little Nikki Hill and A Splash of WWII

Okay. So maybe I'm being a bit dramatic. My Memorial Weekend wasn't too bad...but it wasn't the best.

For starters, Honey and I were supposed to go to NC for her annual family reunion. Well, we couldn't find a reliable baby... I mean puppy sitter so I had to stay behind. I insisted that she go because she hasn't seen her dad and little sister in, literally, 5 years. It didn't make sense for her to stay home too. I really thought it was important for her to see her little sister. But that also made me Honeyless for the holiday weekend.

So what did I do? I sulked. Well, Friday I did. I made a run to Target to get a bath mat and tablecloth. $50 later I went home. Why is it that you can NEVER leave Target with only the things you went in there for. You go in for batteries and come out with socks, mittens, Yankee Candle Co candles, a water hose and all sorts of other random things!!!!

Oops totally off subject now. Anyway once I got home  I ate snack food and veggie burgers and drank wine.  And I watched The Lucy Show (no, not I Love Lucy, but The Lucy Show. The show she made AFTER I Love Lucy. Its on HULU if you are interested).

Saturday night I got my butt in gear and went out with Jordan from Jordan's Vintage Kitchen! It was our very first time meeting. Boy am I glad she decided to move to NYC! She's like my new vintage soul sister! We have a lot in common and are both complete dorks! LOVE HER!!! Anyway, we went to see Nikki Hill perform at a tiki bar here called Otto's Shrunken Head.

 OMG!!! I'm SOOOOO glad I got to see her perform again! I first fell in love with her in Vegas at Viva. Now I have to admit I have a sort of lady crush on her. She's a sweetie and she is FABULOUS live! It was completely crowded and sweaty and AMAZING! It felt like we were at some back in the day speakeasy or juke joint. I...LOVED...EVERY...MINUET...OF...IT!!! I think Jordan had fun too! We were both head bobbing and swaying wishing we could jive! The night was an absolute blast!!! We had so much fun in fact that I forgot to get a picture with her! It's okay. We plan on getting together again soon.

Here is a clip of a small part of the set she did.

Sunday night was filled with more sulking and cramps...yes...that happened...Moving on.

So that leaves today. Memorial Day!

Well, I decided to go to the WWII exhibit at the NY Historical Society that Bunny from Bunny's Victory blogged about in this post.

It really was a great exhibit! The  NY Historical Society did a thorough job of documenting NYC's roll in the war effort. It was filled with little tidbits of info and fabulous photographs. There was a little movie theater in the middle of it where they showed one man's war experience that he had documented in home movies.

There was one wall with a touching letter from a solider to his fiance telling her how much he loved her and how determined he was to come home to her. As you read further down you found out that the poor solider actually died in combat and was never able to see his bride to be again.

Then there was a painting as you exited the exhibit that totally made me tear up. It was a painting of NYC celebrating the end of the war. Above it was written the word PEACE. UGH! I'm totally not doing it justice but I couldn't take any pics because of museum rules. Bummer. But this was the perfect way to spend Memorial Day.

I stopped at the Museum store and picked up a copy of the exhibit's companion book and another really cool book called "Double Victory...How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win WWII"

 The companion book WWII & NYC is the perfect book to go along with the exhibit.  It literally walks you through everything you saw at the Historical Society. Here are some photos from the book...

The other book, "Double Victory" is about the role of African American women during the war. I'm only a few pages in but so far it's a great read. I wish I would have had this book when I did THIS post on the same subject. Here is a peek.

I also got some (not so great) pictures of my outfit today. It felt totally springy out so I wore a totally springy outfit. It was the perfect outfit for the weather we were having. I got tons of compliments all day! Sorry the pics aren't the best quality. Like I said, I'm by myself this weekend so these were done with the timer in our bedroom. And the lighting stinks but you can get the gist of the outfit.

I just wore a simple vintage gingham skirt with a crinoline and a white cardigan I picked up at Marshall's the other day.

Here is a camera phone pic of the hair and makeup...again, sorry for the sucky quality.

And that, my friends, was my weekend. Now that it's all said and done I guess it wasn't too shabby after all. Now I'm sitting here eating Keebler Fudge Sticks and waiting for Honey to call and say she's close!! Geez, I need her to get here soon. My snacking has been out of control!!!!

Happy Memorial Day!


xoxoxoxoxo