A lady isn't dressed until her earrings are on!

I bet antique store owners hate me. I will ask them to open a jewelry case loaded with sparkles and sift through each piece. This can take some time. One of my favorite spots for rhinestone jewelry is Fans and Stoves in Five Points.  https://www.facebook.com/FansStovesAntiqueMall There are racks of necklaces... But my plight is my thicker-than-the-1940s neck! Girls who enjoyed their food back then didn't wear jewelry?? I have found some extenders that work, but most necklaces have tricky clasps...Also, the style then was set close to the neck, which I hate. So I sadly put many beautiful necklaces back. Maybe they will be bought by a stylish vegetarian.

What always fits? Earrings! Most earrings from the '40s and '50s have clip backs. Anyone who has withstood the vice-like grip of clip-ons really loves fashion. I know jewelers will happily remove the clip and solder on a post...if there is a pair you can't live without. My first rhinestone earrings came from Fans and Stoves in 2005. I bought them to accompany a very plain gown for a fraternity formal. I have since lost one in the many moves I've made all around Jacksonville. They are my favorite because of the sparkle and how they follow the curve of my ear.

Here I am wearing them next to my lovely friend Kim. I endured the clip-on pain for a few hours, then spent the evening massaging my lobes. If I had the earring's companion, I would have these converted to posts.

 Here's another clip pair I adore...blue bumble bees!

My friend Josette uses her clip earrings as cuff links on dress shirts.. What a great way to add a little retro to your wardrobe. I've clipped mine to my collar on a white shirt to jazz it up. 

You don't have to comb through retro or antique stores for this look. Stella and Dot offer the Naomi clusters. And shockingly they offer a clip-on version, too. Now that's retro! Email me at opisso.carter@gmail.com if you are interested....

I love the Jadite color in the Naomi... And that pale green color drew me to my new favorite earrings. My friend Janelle owns the coolest store in Downtown DeLand. Pinup Parlor carries dresses, shoes, purses, jewelry and more for the aspiring pin-up. My favorite dress in the whole world is from there... 

And you can shop Pinup Parlor online, too. Every time I visit, there is something new and exciting... I also bought my most favorite shoes from her. Seems like all my favorite things are from Pinup Parlor! These earrings were under $20 and the perfect addition to the all black wardrobe I love. 

Remember, no matter how many cookies you enjoyed over the holidays... Earrings always fit!!

Check out Pinup Parlor's site below or stop in when you visit historic Downtown DeLand. 

https://www.facebook.com/PinupParlorBoutique

Apple butter on a Saturday

I've discovered apple butter is glorified apple sauce. There's no butter involved... What a bummer. I enjoyed making this Southern treat on a Saturday. About 8 apples, apple cider, sugar, cloves and cinnamon produced a sweet batch.

 I've had it smothered over a biscuit or spread on toast. But I could see it as an accompaniment to ham or poultry. Today, I tried out something I'd like to offer on my Christmas table. My husband was the willing taste tester for apple and cheese puffs. Puff pastry envelops the apple butter and cheddar cheese, with more cheese on top.

 But can you believe it, I couldn't taste the cheese over the powerful clove and buttery pastry. I asked my hubby to rate it with 1 being "never make it again or give it to the dogs" and 10 being "Make more now!" He gave it a 7. Hmmm. I'm not happy with a 7. Improvements? I'm going to use a sharper cheddar. Also, after the egg wash on top, a sprinkle of salt and pepper is much needed. If there's anything I've learned from being in the kitchen, it's don't make anything new for company. So anything on the Christmas table needs to be troubleshot. The hubby is going to be stuffed like a Christmas goose being my "assistant." 

Happy Holidays🎄🎅

Yo yos for Christmas

When I told my Mom no one sews anymore, she said, "I don't understand." I think Twitter has taken over the top-stitch and Netflix binging has nixed the knitting. I do have a few talented friends who can make a hat or a scarf, and one really special gal who can make clothes. But for me, I've only sewn on buttons and cross stitched over ink patterns of cats.  Over Thanksgiving, my Mom introduced me to the Clover, a plastic circular device used to make a "yo-yo." You use whatever fabric scraps you have to make these adorable mini blossoms. 

I strung mine along to make a home-spun garland.

 Mom stuffed her yo-yos and stacked them into a teeny tree finished with a bead.

Yo-yo making is the perfect thing to do while an old Christmas movie is on TV...Or when you are subjected to hours of football. 

The best thing about this project? You only have to know how to thread and knot a needle. Thank goodness. I could even do it as I ride in the car 10 hours to Tennessee this Christmas. Check out this little wreath with stuffed yo-yos from Mom. 

 I think I'm going to make another garland with leftovers from my daughter's mermaid quilt. I could make it like a little valance for her window. Yo-yos are a great project for a non-committal seamstress like me. I did feel a bit like Little House on the Prarie with a needle and thread in hand. And the result was perfectly retro.

Hey Mr. Postman-Post cards shine in home decor

I think post cards were the original Tweet. Trying to fit my squirmy, cursive sentiments on a tiny square is just like trying to Tweet in 140 characters. Impossible! You have to choose your words wisely. I used to collect postcards as a child and still have some from Vermont,  Upstate New York and North Carolina. I snagged a few in Spain, too. All retro of course. The Spanish varieties involved bullfights or spirits or festivals with a gorgeous gal.  I kept more than I sent, and framed a few. Most of them were in my classroom when I taught Spanish.

No matter where I go, I love to twirl the heavy metal postcard displays and pluck a favorite to send my parents on my travels. Aside from wanting to share my trip, their address is the only one I have memorized. 

   My Mom snagged a great deal when she bought some vintage Jacksonville post cards a few years back. These beauties are of the fold-out variety popular in the 1950s and they are in perfect condition. They arrived in plastic and the colors are so vibrant!

Each city letter hosts a point of interest in our fair city. And if you open it up, the landmarks spill open like a G-rated centerfold.

There's Memorial Park, where my husband proposed, and the Naval Air Station. I'm not quite sure where the Oriental Gardens were... Perhaps where the zoo is now? You have renderings of places now overrun with homeless and crime. Anyone who has walked through Hemming Plaza downtown would never imagine it used to look like Busch Gardens.

For the 20 pictures in this accordion fold, it only cost 1 and a half cents way back when. It would have been the perfect gift to share with someone who didn't get to share your travels. There is even a glorious description of Jacksonville inside. "There is pleasure and profit awaiting all visitors to Jacksonville," the flyer says. "It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Southeast, piquant and serious, modern as New York, with a background of ancient America." Wait. What?? "Everywhere one turns is a note of tropical loveliness, the verdant charm of Florida." That's some good writing right there. The blurb mentions our factories, bustling ports and fine homes. It would have been nice to see shoppers and workers buzzing around downtown Jacksonville in the 1950s. For now, we have our theaters and the occasional hip bar and restaurant there. It's not a place for getting dressed in your best clothes to take a Sunday stroll. No way. But all cities change. I know my hometown of DeLand, FL has. Just a little. But in a small town like DeLand, the charm of homecoming parades, small businesses and Mainstreet run deep. That's why I couldn't resist this magnet from my new favorite DeLand store, Pretty Little Things. A couple of academic types at Stetson chat under the city's name. And now it sits happily on my fridge, right under another vintage picture of my husband and me when we were college kids.

A tailgate must have! Devilishly good eggs!

Deviled eggs=fall football to me. They are a must have for watching the Florida Georgia game. I love making these salty indulgent snacks ahead of time, then unveiling them in my retro dish at the tailgate. 

This year, I'm headed to a party rather than the tailgate, my first time not going to the game in many years. But the eggs must be made! And eaten! There are so many ways to make deviled eggs, but I'm kind of a purist when it comes to the recipe. Mayo, yellow cheapo mustard, sweet relish, pepper and a whole egg get smashed together as the filling. Paprika must be sprinkled over top. That's it! 

I used to be terrified to boil eggs. But you really can't ruin them... Unless you really forget about them and you scorch the pan. In a saucepan with a lid, carefully place your eggs, then fill with cool water until the eggs are just covered. I always add a dash of white vinegar because I swear it makes them easier to peel. Some say it prevents a creepy green ring from coloring the yolk... But luckily I've never seen that. Set the water to boil, lid off. Boil the eggs for about a minute or so, then cover and switch the heat off. The residual heat will completely cook the eggs. After about 15 minutes, shock the eggs in an icebath. 

Peel carefully and dry completely. I say this because I have to peel eggs under running cool water or else it looks like Frankenstein peeled them for me.

I make the filling as described above and scoop the filling into a Ziplock bag. With the filling all in one corner, I snip the tip and make my own piping bag. 

The eggs aren't pretty, but I haven't cared to perfect the aesthetic, just the flavor. 

I love deviled eggs for Easter, but for football, it's an easy, inexpensive dish. What else am I lugging to the party? Buffalo chicken dip made with ranch, cream cheese, celery and cheddar and pimento cheese, of course☺️ Go Gators!

Pumpkin spice late for 40 cents? Yes, please!

I am that stereotypical girl. When Starbucks announced their PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte for you non-tweeters out there) had arrived,  I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. It's acknowledgement of the pre-holiday season. It might be cold enough to wear boots... Or just not sweat. But my friend recently posted a disturbing article about the numerous chemicals and artificial ingredients in the famed PSL... and I realized I was always a little sick to my stomach after drinking one. So when I saw a how to make your own PSL in Good Housekeeping, I told myself I would be my own barista. It was way easier than I thought. The only thing I had to buy was canned pumpkin. I had the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, water and salt already. I actually added a splash of vanilla, too. You combine all the ingredients over a simmer, whisk occasionally for 10 minutes than strain twice. I could not believe how warm and satisfyingly sweet this was! And it did have good pumpkin flavor. I topped mine with whipped cream (store bought because homemade cream would take more dishes and my sink overfloweth...) and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice.. More for my sense of smell than my taste buds. 

Now there is enough syrup for a month! It made about 2 cups and you only use a tablespoon or two at a time. The syrup will last for about a month according to the recipe, which I've shared below.  If you spend that $5 for a PSL more than you'd like to admit, make this version. Good Housekeeping states it's 40 cents a serving... Wow!☕️ Happy fall ya'll! 

COPYCAT PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE 

MAKES: 4 cups syrup (32 to 64 lattes) 

FOR THE SYRUP:
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin

FOR THE LATTE:
• 8 ounces whole milk
• 4 ounces strong brewed coffee or espresso
• Whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, for garnish (optional)

1. Prepare the syrup: Bring the sugar and 2 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking, until the sugar dissolves. Add the cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin. Simmer, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Set aside 5 minutes, then strain twice through a fine-mesh strainer into an airtight container. Refrigerate until cool. Store in the refrigerator for about 1 month. You'll end up with about 4 cups total.  

2. For each latte: Microwave the milk on High about 1 minute or until very hot. (Transfer to a blender and blend 20 seconds for extra frothy milk, if desired.) Put 1 to 2 tablespoons pumpkin spice syrup in the bottom of a mug. Top with the coffee and warm milk. Garnish with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, if desired.

Tie one on with an easy rag wreath

I do not have a craft closet. Not even a bin with glue guns, buttons and special crafty things squirreled away from years of Michael's trips. I have some leftover fabric from my classroom bulletin board and some scissors.

 All I need is the wreath skeleton and I can make an easy, homey rag wreath. 

The skeletons come in many sizes, so it really depends on how much fabric you have. This is a 16 inch and I used a little less than half a yard. 

Figure out how long you want your strips, and cut about a million of them. I have no idea how many this wreath takes, but it's a lot. There are four rings in the skeleton and you want a plump wreath, so you fill every row.

Fluff and fuss, add a wooden letter with ribbon and you're done. This one took me about an hour and a half to complete from start to finish.

 Here's one with some orange, sparkly burlap thrown in for a fall feel. I made it for Mom.

You can do it!

My mom. She's always thinking and doesn't like to sit still. She had the idea of turning my tin can into a casual vase today. I love it! This makes me want to seek out good antique tin. Maybe an olive oil tin collection?

Pasta salad, your fridge clean-out meal!

When I have random bits of veggies, cheese and deli meat... It's time to make pasta salad! I always have pasta in my pantry. I happened to have the tiniest bit of Orzo pasta left. It's the rice shaped pasta that fattens up when prepared. A little bit goes a long way! I also had leftover dressing I made for an apple and Gorgonzola salad the night before. Since it's a dump and stir kind of thing, here's my ingredient list for my latest pasta salad:

Orzo pasta

Chop the following to bite size:

Genoa salami

Mozzarella pearls- a fun deli product

red pepper

Grape tomatoes

Fresh basil 

Dressing:

 1/4 cup of white or red wine vinegar

Teaspoon dry mustard

Squeeze of lemon

Teaspoon of dried oregano

Salt/ pepper

Whisk in 3/4 cup of EVOO

Enjoy:)

A quiet evening with Elvgren gals

My hubby is good at puzzles. Like, sit with saint-like patience kind of good. And it's not just because there are pin-up ladies staring back at him. But it helps! 

Gil Elvgren's gals have always been my favorite. I haven't seen every sketch Elvgren ever made, but they are often the girl-next-door type. The girl- next- door with her skirt stuck in the picket fence type.

I do know Elvgren created advertising for Coca Cola and other big name companies, but in my lifetime... I've only seen his work in books I've sought out, calendars and tattoos. And now puzzles! This one is an appreciated and unexpected surprise from my dear Dad. He didn't mind I snagged his Cars album because it had a Vargas pin-up girl on the cover! Love Alberto Vargas' work,too. But for now, I'll let hubby do the hard work on the puzzle and I'll jump in to do the easy pieces. I might not be able to break it up when we're finished...

Tart sweet

You might not think Key lime pie is retro, but it is! Refrigeration didn't reach the Florida Keys until 1930. So long-lasting, thick and creamy sweetened condensed milk was a key ingredient in this pie. It's still what's used to achieve that creamy texture and balance out the tart twang of lime. Yes, you must use Key Lime juice, so don't worry about squeezing limes. Save that for when you have to strangle pounds of citrus to make lemonade like I do.  I'm not lucky enough to have a neighbor or friend with a Key lime tree.

 

I get my Nellie & Joe's Famous Key West Lime Juice at Publix in the juice aisle. It lasts for a while in the fridge. A good thing since the recipe only calls for 3/4 cup. Luckily, I made two back to back for different guests. My husband was thankful:) When we went to the Keys during a summer trip, I made a point to try the Sunshine-state sweet every place we went. If the pie wasn't on the menu, I didn't want to eat there! (I even had Key lime chocolate truffles, and a frozen slice dipped in chocolate.) I know....I went overboard. 

My go-to recipe is a Martha Stewart version from her Every Day foods magazine/ Web site. I am the first to admit that her recipes can be convoluted and difficult. This is the most simple and no fail recipe ever! I promise!  Click the link below to be taken to Martha's recipe:)

Martha Stewart's Key Lime Pie Tart Recipe

The pie's golden hue also comes from 4 luscious egg yolks. No one said this was fat free!

Pulse graham crackers, melted butter and sugar until you get graham "sand." Press into a pretty tart pan or pie plate and bake for 10 minutes. Try to contain yourself as the smell wafts through your house!

Not my prettiest one, but this was my first attempt. I have since made 2 more....and they just get better! Bake until only slightly jiggly in the middle.

Framing fabric with a vintage twist

When I was a little gal, I dabbled in cross stitching. It was the kind where the x was printed on the fabric for you...so nothing too hard. I used to love to pick out a pattern and put a piece of fabric between an embroidery hoop. I stretched and tightened the cloth until it was tight as a drum. The fabric wasn't about to budge. I used the same concept for decorating my daughter's nursery. With leftover fabric from a fabulous quilt my mother made, I chose little details I wanted to frame. 

The littlest frame was $.49! And I think the biggest was under $2! Where else can you find frames that cheap? You can find embroidery hoops at any craft store in the sewing section! 

They would be perfect for framing a logo on a favorite T-shirt from college. Just cut the fabric slightly larger than the hoop, place in between the hoops and tighten. Then snip the excess so it won't show. The final product is so light, I hung mine with push pins!

Southern inspired skillet corn!

It may look like my family eats corn every day... But when it's available and fresh, I like to use it. I love shucking the ears right in the store to make sure I'm not bringing home a rotten product. And It keeps corn silk out of your kitchen. It gets everywhere! Speaking of getting everywhere... Trying to cut corn off the cob can be a messy process. But thanks to the Food Network, I've learned a few tricks. I like to get a large bowl and find another smaller bowl that will fit snugly inside, but upside down. If it's not a perfect fit, I put a damp paper towel under the small bowl to prevent my bowl from sliding.

First, cut off the end of the cob for a steady surface. Place vertically and prop your fingers at the very top. Mind your fingers and run your knife down the cob. With this bowl method, the kernels won't pop all over the place. I've also used a bunt pan thanks to Paula Deen. It has the perfect spot to hold the corn upright, but I have found I've scarred my pan with too many taps from my knife. And it's a pain to clean in my opinion.

Skillet Corn from Southern Living

This recipe is so savory with the bacon and basil befriending heavy cream and sweet corn.

Just a tip: I make sure to get out every ingredient, utensil and pan I need prior to even preheating the oven when I cook. It makes me feel less scattered.

Ingredients: 

• 6 bacon slices
• 1/2 Vidalia onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 3 cups fresh corn kernels (about 6 ears)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Kitchen items:

• Large bowl and small bowl for corn
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Chopping knife
• Cutting board
• Two pans: I used a heavy cast-iron skillet and a saute pan.

Get started!

• 1. Cut corn kernels off the cob or drain and rinse corn if using canned variety. 
• 2. Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp; remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon, and set aside.
• 3. Sauté onion and garlic in hot drippings 5 minutes or until tender. ( I did this over medium heat.) Stir in corn; cook 5  minutes or until golden. Remove from heat.
• 4. Cook flour in a large clean skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes or until golden. DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED:) Gradually whisk in half-and-half until smooth. Add corn mixture, salt, and pepper; cook 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in butter and basil. Sprinkle each serving with bacon, and garnish, if desired.

Browning the flour-be vigilant!

I served the skillet corn with seasoned, lean pork chops which I quickly broiled. This summer dinner was a snap to put together. 

You can't even see my pork chop under the mountain of corn!

Maureen O' Hara-TCM's Star of the Month!

I am beyond thrilled Maureen O'Hara is Turner Classic Movie's Star of the Month! That means every Tuesday in July, I will be treated to a classic movie with one of my very favorite movie stars. Over the years, I have watched O'Hara as a film-noir femme fatale in "The Fallen Sparrow," a pirate's lady in "The Black Swan," a shy yet scrappy Irish lass in "The Quiet Man" and a wild-west woman in "McClintock!" She never plays the fainting and swooning type. Instead, she swordfights, sprints, dances, argues and charms her way through a picture. She is stunning even in black and white, but her red locks and emereld eyes are so striking in full color. It's not just that she's a familiar face to me now. I truly enjoy her acting. To me, she makes any movie better. Her co-stars aren't too shabby either with the likes of John Wayne, Dean Martin and Henry Fonda. I have yet to see all her movies, and that's why I'm so glad TCM will feature 26 of her movies . Here's a link to the movie line-up and TCM's bio....

http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/1008293%7C0/Maureen-O-Hara-Tuesdays-in-July.html

From the Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1939

I fell in love with O'Hara's acting in the "Parent Trap." I was a little girl when I first watched the movie with my parents in our upstairs loft. I truly think I have most of the lines and moment memorized. The plot is quirky, fun and so fantastic that you almost believe it could happen. But what I remember most was Maureen O'Hara's performance and screen presence. If you haven't seen the movie in a while, O'Hara's character is portrayed as uptight and clenchingly proper in her Boston home. A single mother, she dresses conservatively and never has a hair out of place. Lots of high necklines, dress suits and multi-strand pearls. As the movie progresses and she realizes she wants to re-kindle her romance with her ex-husband, her clothing and persona are more relaxed. Some of my favorite scenes are shot in the a sprawling California ranch home of her ex-husband. At this point in the movie, O'Hara isn't holding her tongue and is playing the fiesty, hot-tempered, quick-witted character she does so well. I still snort with laughter during the scene when she socks her husband in the eye.

 Shot in 1961, the movie's wardrobe for O'Hara would make the Mad Men costume department drool. Below is a photo of my particular favorite dress. Slightly off the shoulder and structured in the waist, the dress also featured a full, swing skirt to the calf. It's hard to see but she is wearing a gorgeous blue brooch of what looks like enamel forget-me-nots. Hmmm.... I don't think the flower choice was an accident now that  I think about the movie's themes... Here is the best photo I could find.

I know I could find many people who have seen more of her movies than I, but I think most would agree the "The Quiet Man" is a must-see. My husband introduced me to the movie as his pick for our wedding-anniversary movie treat. It was such a romantic choice. Set in Ireland, the film transports the viewer to the rolling hills and white-washed stone cottages of the Emerald Isle. A young John Wayne cuts a handsome character as a former American boxer. He comes to Ireland to forget a few things and find his family home. When he, and we, first see O'Hara, she's tending sheep in a field plucked from an Irish proverb. Director John Ford, or the wardrobe department,  knew what they were doing by putting O'Hara in a sky-blue jacket and scarlet-red skirt. How is this gorgeous woman tending sheep in the middle of the country? That's what John Wayne is thinking, too. (The Quiet Man won two Oscars, one for best Cinematography in Color and one for best direcor.) There are a few scenes that are a bit too much for me,  like when Wayne drags O'Hara back to the house kicking and screaming. I get the the time period they are portraying and the movie's 1952 production date. I just look at my husband and give him the, "That would NEVER happen in this house," look.

Tidbit: There is a Quiet Man festival in the town of Cong in Ireland where much of the movie was filmed. There is also a bronze statue near the town abbey of the movie characters:)

The real-life Bo-Peep.

A courtin' they will go. 

Watching movies from decades gone by is a past-time my husband and I share, so he was SHOCKED when I told him I had never seen "Miracle on 34th Street." I calmly explained it was not in my family's Christmas movie repertoire. When I sat down to watch it a few Christmases ago, I think I squealed, "Oh my God Maureen O'Hara is in this I love Maureen O'Hara!?!?!?"  And that's when my husband grinned. He knew I would love it and I do. I always think it's interesting to portray a working, and single, mother in a movie from 1947.

A young Natalie Wood and O'Hara.

Maureen O'Hara is still alive at 94 today. Her career has been storied and successful and I'm so glad she graced the screen for such a long time. Next movie on the docket? "Dance, Girl, Dance" with Lucille Ball!!