Christmas Cookie Exchange

Last Friday I hosted a Christmas Cookie Exchange. There were 5 of us ladies total with lots of different cookies to try! This was the first time I'd hosted, or been to, an exchange. I think it turned out pretty well.

I made chocolate cookies with a peanut butter filling and toffee espresso fudge. This was my first time making either recipe. The cookies turned out great and the fudge made an excellent dip with graham crackers after I realized it was never going to solidify enough to be cut into squares! I don't know where I went wrong, but it was still delicious!

As for appetizers, I made mini shrimp and chicken calzones, cheesy wafers with jalapeno jelly, and rosemary bruschetta bites. Our cocktail was the Poinsettia Mimosa. All the unlinked recipes can be found in the BHG Appetizers Magazine 2010.

For my guests I picked up baskets at thrift stores so everyone had something to take the goodies home in. In the baskets I put a green dish towel and red rag that I got on clearance at Target. While at the thrift stores, I also picked up Christmas themed mugs and filled each mug with hot chocolate and green tea packets. My cookies were packaged in cute little boxes that I got at the dollar store. As for the fudge that I wanted to send home with everyone, I scooped up what I could and put it in plastic containers and added that to the baskets as well.

All in all, it was a great night of fun, food, cookies and girl time.

Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving and I thought I'd make a list of all the things I am thankful for this year.

- my health
- Scott's health
- Scott still has a job
- my amazing experiences working for NASA
- Maggie's recovery after getting into bleach
- my puppy slowly growing out of puppy-stage
- my sister living back in the US
- my parent's concern for my wellbeing
- my precious Baby Alice, she makes the house so much fun
- a more managable house to take care of
- a new sense of what's important in life
- my really amazing friends
- being forced to purge and downsize, and not missing anything that's gone
- our veterans
- Scott's family accepting me as one of their own
- Colby's long life, he came from horrible conditions and my dad brought him to our house to live for 12-13 years
- a full pantry
- being raised to believe that purchasing items from a thrift store is perfectly ok
- the beautiful fall leaves, each year the beauty amazes me
- a fantastic trip to Florida with my friend Marissa
- the opportunity to make Kitty's Vintage work
- my perfect little family; Scott, Me, Tini, Magnolia, Mr. Bella, Baby Alice and Bohdie
- the wonderful Christmas season to come, I can't wait to decorate this weekend!!


There are many more things in my life that I'm thankful for, but that could take days to write. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

My Competition

So this morning I searched Etsy Local for other vintage shops in Huntsville, AL. I found 2. After rummaging through their listings, I must say my shop is the best. Maybe I'm partial, but I really think mine is best!

After all the hard work yesterday, I made 2 sales overnight. All the hard work paid off. I'll be mailing out a skirt and a cake platter later this morning. As for today's activities, I need to run a few errands, clean up the house a bit, like any good retro homemaker would do, and photograph all the Christmas items I have for sale. I hope to have them online next week so be sure to check back!!

Lots of New Items

I decided that if I really wanted to get work done, I had to leave the house! Those sweet little kitties keep coming to me for loving and I just can't tell them no, so I'm sitting at Panera, where there are no distractions, except for asiago cheese bagels - yummo!!!

I can't believe that a week from today is Thanksgiving, where has the year gone? It's been a good year though, I must say. Lots of changes in my life have lead me to a much better place. This year I'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with my boyfriend's family. His sister is hosting and her boyfriend is frying a turkey. Since this is his first attempt, we'll see how it goes!!

As for Kitty's Vintage, we're trucking right along. A few coats, dresses and skirts have been listed so far today. Still to come are a few kitchen items and lots of books, mostly Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks, but some educational children's books are in the wings too, along with a few purses. Next week the Christmas items will be photographed and put online.

I have had this really great idea for Thanksgiving, but I can't seem to find all the pieces I need. I want to offer a full table setting. All the plates, glasses, serving pieces decorations, linens...I have found 60% of what I need, and was hoping to have it ready for this year, but that hasn't been the case. I'm still on the hunt for the dishes I need and I can't imagine that it wouldn't be ready for next year. If you like white gold and wheat, be sure to check back!

Today's Treasures

It's been a while since I've been to the local thrift stores so I thought today was the perfect day to go again and I made some great finds!!

My favorite finds:

1. A dark green velvet long sleeved maxi dress
2. A burnt orange skirt suit, very 70s chic
3. A tomato red Pyrex bowl
4. A few great Christmas items, including 5 little vintage ornaments (I think I'll be keeping those!!)

The clothes are now in the washer and the dishes in the dishwasher. Soon they will be clean and ready to photograph and put online.

Also, I've been working hard on an inventory list. It's hard to keep up with everything I have and how much everything cost. It's coming along great and I already added everything I bought today. Now I just have to go into my "office" and finish adding everything in there.

My Little Obsession

I have a confession, my name is Megan and I'm addicted to Pyrex! All colors, all styles, all patterns. Before I decided to streamline my kitchen, I had many colors and patterns of mixing bowls and bakeware. Some of my favorites I was unwilling to part with, even though they don't match my turquoise and red kitchen.

In my quest to find and own each Pyrex pattern, I have turned to the smallest item they offer, mugs. There are 2 types of mugs, "D" handles and "C" handles. The D handles are larger, more like a coffee cup while the C handles are more like tea cups. I have 8 tea cups and 5 coffee mugs and I'm looking to expand!

For those of you who don't know much about the Pyrex brand, here's some history:

The idea for Pyrex Glassware came from the industrious wife of a Corning Glass Works scientist who was frustrated with her unreliable casserole dish. Knowing the strength of the railroad signal lantern glass her husband worked with, she begged him to bring home something she could use in the kitchen. Voilà, the Pyrex baking dish was born. Two years later, Boston department store Jordan Marsh placed the first order for Pyrex Glassware. The rest, as they say, is history.

According to Barbara E. Mauzy’s Pyrex: The Unauthorized Collectors Guide, there are 3 basic types of collectible Pyrex: Clear Pyrex Ovenware (introduced in 1915), Pyrex Flameware (1936 - 1979) and Pyrex Colors (1947 - ?). Of the three types, most people are familiar with the Colored Pyrexware because it is very distinct and there is a considerable amount of it still being used in households.

And, all Pyrex Glassware is made in the USA.

Just What I Needed

Sometimes, when you are venturing out on your own, trying something new, you are pretty unsure of yourself and your future. This has been my way of thinking for a few weeks now. But today, a long lost, recently reunited, best friend of mine gave me the boost I really needed. Living 500 miles apart it's hard to rekindle a friendship, but she makes it so easy. Calling or texting almost daily and picking out all the items in my shop that she's going to ask her family to buy her for Christmas.

She's the kind of person who tells it like it is, she doesn't sugar coat, and she expects the same from you. Her words to me today was the swift kick in the ass that I needed to have confidence in myself and believe that what I'm doing is worth my time. So, thank you Christy, I owe you so much!!

New Clothes and New Dishes

As I sit here typing this, my dishwasher is full of "new" glasses, bowls and a really great Crazy Daisy patterned pitcher. And my washing machine is full of amazing dresses and skirts. These treasures will all be ready for your viewing and purchase soon!

The other day I had a great afternoon with Susan building Halloween gingerbread houses.

I tried to make a cat out of fondant, but all I had was purple and yellow! The purple cat is kind of funny shaped and the yellow whiskers and far too long to be realistic, but I like it!!

Happy Thursday!

Weather

Today was full of tornado sirens and high winds. I'm one of those crazy midwesterners who loves storms! Storms here in Alabama are very different than storms in the midwest though. Either way, a good thunderstorm just gets my heart thumping. We had several tornados around North Alabama today and it looks like more to come, and as thankful as I am that none were around my house, I'd love a good thunderstorm today, in fact, I hear thunder now!!

As for Kitty's Vintage, lots of new things have been purchased and will soon be up for purchase!!

Thanks Susan!

Today I had a great lunch with Alli B and Susan. Sushi, yummm. Then Susan came back to pick up a jacket from Kitty's Vintage she'd seen a few months ago. Along with the jacket, she left with a green shirt dress, 4 super cute dandelion glasses and 4 pieces of Crazy Daisy Pyrex dishware.

Thanks for a fun afternoon of sushi, girl talk and playing dress up. Hope you enjoy all your new goodies!!

Time Flies

I know, it's been a month since I last posted!! Well, today I finally got back into the swing of things. I took my mannequin into the backyard and I dressed and redressed her about 20 times photographing all the dresses that will soon grace the pages of etsy. I was really proud of how the pictures turned out. Here is a preview of all the dresses and 4 fantastic swimsuits!

These dresses range in size from xs-xl, so if you see one you like, check the store soon! And I think the swimsuits are just fabulous, my favorite is the floral halter, probably because it contains my 2 favorite colors, red and turquoise!!

I've been working hard each day getting things ready to be listed, now all I need is a copy of Microsoft Office, which I should be getting from a friend in a few days.

Don't worry my friends, by the end of the month I hope to have everything in my possession listed for sale, lofty goal I know, but it's something I need to accomplish, not only for myself but to prove to the world that I can really do what I set my mind to.

P.S. If you look really hard at dress #8, you can see my little helper, Magnolia!!

Setting Up Shop

Things are moving right along with the "re-opening" of Kitty's Vintage. Last night some shelves were hung to store the handmade pedestals and hopefully after a weekend of hard work much more will be unpacked and accessible!

My last day of work is next Thursday, so hopefully before September all the items will be unpacked, photographed and online for your viewing pleasure! Keep checking back as sales will be announced here first.

Happy Friday!

Changes

In 14 more working days I'll be done! I'm sitting here, in my office, with no hope of finding something to do today. All my responsibilities have been taken away and I'm just being paid to sit here. Sounds fun, but I'm the kind of person who needs something to do. I'd much rather be a little stressed, but busy than bored stiff! I'm really glad this is all happening to me though, it really makes you take a step back and look at your life and what you truly want out of it. And I truly don't want to work in this setting. It's all a little pointless to me. We have meetings to talk about what to talk about in other meetings.

I am more pumped than ever for Kitty's Vintage to really get off the ground and get the jump start it needs. This change will have such a profound influence on my life, I just wish it could happen tomorrow.

I can't wait to start my new life and put this one of sitting behind a desk and going to pointless meeting after pointless meeting behind me!

Pets and Responsibility

Today's post is a little off topic, but I think it's very important to talk about.

I am an animal lover, more cats than anything, but certain dogs are alright, especially if they are trained not to jump or slobber! But, still, I can't stand to see a dog suffer any more than a cat.

Last Friday, Boyfriend got up and was leaving for work, about 5:30, and he came back inside telling me that someone had tied a dog to the utility pole in the front yard. I threw on some shoes and ran into the front yard, only to find a scared cocker spaniel tied to the pole. We quickly unchained him and put him in the backyard with our puppy to play.

When I got to work I asked all around the office trying to find a home for this poor little guy, telling his sob story of being abandoned in my yard. No one wanted him. All the no-kill shelters were full. I was beginning to panic, wondering what the fate of this sweet dog would be. I checked craigslist to see if anyone was missing a black, male cocker spaniel. No one was. Finally I placed an ad myself on craigslist and had many biters! So many people were reaching out to give him a good home.

It was such a great feeling to know he was going to be loved by a family, not chained to someone's yard. When the couple saw him for the first time, they were just so happy! I know he went to a good home.

I just don't understand how someone could do that to a pet. I'm asking you today to not just throw out your cat/dog/bird/rabbit and expect it to be ok, find it a loving home, like it deserves. My little angel cat was looking out for the dog that day and led him to my door, she knew her mama would find it a good home. I just hope this doesn't turn out to be a regular thing!!

Getting a pet is like having a child, it has certain needs that must be met and in adopting that pet, you are agreeing to care for it, for life. If a situation changes are you are no longer able to care for it, please find it a home where it can be loved and appreciated.

Seasons

Every year I find my self looking to the future seasons. I love the one I'm currently experiencing, but there is always something to look forward to.

Right now for example, in the 100+ degree Southern summer, I'm enjoying the fireflies, the fresh produce, the longer days, the sunshine, the memories of carefree summers gone by; but I'm actively awaiting the cooler autumn days. I'm excited for hot spiced (and spiked) apple cider, pumpkin treats, cooler nights, spending time by the fire, camping, friends hanging out in the cooler night air...and the holidays to come.

I'm very much the kind of person that loves to be around a group of friends, always wanting to entertain, always wanting to cook for people. Fall embodies that mindset to me. You've got weekly football games to watch, cooler weather to be out in, camping, sitting around the fire pit, weekend hiking... And then the ultimate of friend and family time, the holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas (or whichever religious holiday you celebrate), and New Years.

I'm not wishing away the time now, well, maybe I'm wishing for the time to pass until I can fully start my Kitty's Vintage venture (30 days and counting!), but I'm enjoying the summer and looking forward to the fall and the cooler weather to come!!

Moving

I seemed to have developed a pattern of moving every 12 months or so. I've been living in Alabama for 5 years and have lived in 3 different apartments and 2 different houses, going on 3 houses. This is one pattern I'd be happy to break, moving is stressful!

Things are going well, about half of the house is there and ready to go, I've been trying to move some, unpack, move a little more, unpack more, so that when we're actually there for good the unpacking won't be quite so overwhelming. I still have way too much stuff, even though I'll be taking a truck load to the Greater Huntsville Humane Society Thrift Store this afternoon. 2200sqft to 800sqft is a huge change!! Currently Kitty's Vintage is stuffed into a closet, all boxed and wrapped. I'm having to combine 2 very large rooms into one really small one, it's going to take time, but my masterful organizing skills will be put to the test, even though the boyfriend is quite skeptical.

There are still 2 full weeks before house #1 has to be vacant and there's not a whole lot left to move except for the essentials, which we can't move until the cable is turned on!! I'll keep you posted on the move progress and when I can unbox Kitty's Vintage!!

Growing Up

It's funny how people change as they grow up. Some know from a very young age where they will go to college, what they'll do professionally, where they'll live and what kind of family they'll have. Then there are others, like me, who continuously struggle to find just the right path, their true passion buried deep inside.

I have friends from engineering school who "grew up" to be chefs or photographers or national wine producers; none of which has to do with engineering. We all thought we knew what we wanted to be, and somewhere along the line, things changed. As we grew up and matured, we realized we have the whole world to play with, nothing is off limits. If we don't like one thing or idea or place, we can change it. We were raised to believe that we can be anything we want to be, do anything we want to do, and sometimes, at the tender age of 18, our idea of a perfect career isn't going to be the same idea we have at 28.

I thought my passion was NASA, the stars, outer space, and part of me is still deeply in love with the night sky, watching 2 Space Shuttle launches were 2 of the best moments of my life and I don't regret the path I chose because it led me meet countless astronauts and send 18 crews of astronauts into space, that's a huge honor for me to have been a part of. But I'm not fulfilled. Sitting behind a desk all day in an office building full of grumpy old men is not what I had in mind. I don't have an engineer's mind, I don't think technically and mathematically. I'm a daydreamer, more abstract.

I'm sure I'll change my mind a few more times in my life about what I want to be when I grow up, but for now, I want to see Kitty's Vintage turn into a huge success. I love filling my home with incredible vintage furniture and clothing and dishes, spying the perfect piece under a pile of rubble gets my heart racing. This is my passion, at least for right now. I will soon have the time to see this venture grow, put all my time and effort into this business and hopefully see it blossom. I'd love to someday see it explode into a retail store, not just online. But for now, I'm ready to take on the online world, full time, and see how it goes. I may not have the full support of a few important people, but so many of my friends are behind me, wishing me luck and sending me perfectly worded emails at just the right time to turn my day around (thanks Shefy!) I don't see how I can fail.

The move to the new place has begun, and hopefully it'll continue smoothly so when my last day at NASA rolls around, I'll be armed and ready to dive in head first for this new life and adventure I'm about to embark on.

Patriotism

I know Independence Day was almost a week ago, but I've realized this topic is something that most Americans don't pay attention to. And that's sad.

Ever since I started dreaming about my dream house, it always had a lighted flag pole in the front yard. I still don't own my dream house, but I have proudly flown flags at all the residences I could (not much you can do in an apartment, although, I did put mini flags in my TV speakers!) My neighbor has 2 flag poles, one in the front yard and one in the back. I even have a flag tacked to the bulletin board behind my computer here at work.

I have always harped on my parents for not putting up a flag, which they still don't have, but I was going through some old family photos with my mom and found one of her mother, my Grandma Pinky, holding a flag she'd gotten as a birthday present. She looks so beautiful and so proud to have that flag. I guess that's one quality she passed on to me, patriotism.

I think in the last few decades, since I've been alive really, the United States has really taken a downturn. Sure, patriotism soared after 9-11, but we shouldn't have to wait for a national tragedy for pride for this country to resurface! In this country's hay-day, the 1940s-1950s, everything was American made, everyone was proud of what the did for a living, everyone contributed and no one just expected handouts. Meals were served at home, television programs were PG and kids said things like "golly gee" instead of cursing before kindergarten. Women were modestly dressed, unlike most of what I see today, apparently regardless of size! Little girls weren't wearing "denim underwear" as I call it and actually enjoyed time at home, with their parents.

I'm in the process of moving to an 800 square foot early 1950s mill-worker's house. It'll cause me a lot of down sizing, lots of purging, but I can't be more excited to get back to the basics of living, not judging worth in amounts of stuff buried in cabinets and drawers never to see the light of day, but actually choosing the things that are worthy of moving on to this next stage of life with me and letting go of the rest. Simple living, simple mindset in a not-so-simple time. At least in my house I'll know what's important, family, friends, pets, and my American flag flying proudly out front!

Sale! Sale! Sale!

I will be moving at the end of the month and the less I have to pack, the better! Kitty's Vintage is having a 25% off sale, everything in the store has been marked down, so head on over and check it out! http://www.kittysvintage.etsy.com/

A Little About Me

I realized I haven't said much of anything about myself, so here goes!

This is my Aubie

She still gave me kisses even when I dressed her up!

My name is Megan. I was born and raised in Missouri and currently reside in Alabama. I went to college at the University of Missouri-Rolla and got a degree in Aerospace Engineering. I am a Chi Omega and I have a copy of the Symphony on my desk. I love cats, especially little orange girls! I have one beautiful sister, she lives in San Francisco. I love to cook and entertain. I'm trying to figure out a way to move to Colorado next year. I'm a reader. I'm an 80's movie-and-music-aholic. I love the beach, the feel of the sand between my toes, the sound of the waves crashing, the salty air smell, it's my own personal Mecca! I have a small garden and I'm a vegetarian. I have absolutely amazing friends, most of them live far away and I miss them every day. I like cheap wine. I can't keep fingernail polish on, it chips within 10 minutes. I love family traditions and heirlooms. I'm an amature photographer. My parents were high school sweethearts and are still married, 35 years later. I'm a stargazer. I have an owl tattoo on my left foot. I love reading inspirational quotes, they really do inspire me. Coca-Cola is an addiction I'm trying to break. My favorite colors are red and turquoise. I can't wait to have a family. I miss the snow. My truck's name is JJ. I love to travel. Green tea is delicious. My best friend is my guardian angel. I'm on Team Edward. I'm a hopeless romantic and I love chick-flicks. I've seen 2 space shuttle launches and I cried both times, it was such an amazing sight. I wish I could have have been a 1950s housewife. I love a good massage. I'm quite patriotic. I have blue eyes and I don't know what my natural hair color is. Shoes are a weakness. So is chocolate. I have a bucket list, with about 900 things on it! Daisies and hibiscus are my favorite flowers. I'm a certified SCUBA diver. I try to be as green as I can. I love to shop at thrift stores, there are so many great finds. Apparently I can't stay in one apartment/house for more than a year, it's been that way since high school. I love vintage flower pins, my first one was my Grandma Pinky's. I wear huge sunglasses!

All my girls

Magnolia, Aubie, Tina

That's all I can really think of right now! There's a little about me, the girl behind Kitty's Vintage!

Your Opinion

I have posted a poll, asking which is your favorite decade, 40s, 50s, 60s or 70s.

I'd have to say mine are the 50s and 60s. The 50s for the powerful housewives who were in complete control of the household, but still let their men THINK they were in charge! Everything seemed to be centered around the home and family and I think a lot of families now-a-days could benefit from that mindset.

I'm also in love with the 60s because of the Space Race, and JackieO. I think I was born loving the stars and outerspace. Ever since I was a kid, my dad and I would go lay on the trampoline and pick out the constellations, or make up our own. I have been an avid collector of space memorabilia from the 60s and wish I could have been around to see, in my opinion, man's greatest achievement.

What are your thoughts?!

Kitty's Vintage is Expanding

As a victim of the death of NASA, I have lost my job as an engineer (secretly not too sad about that) and am putting much more effort into the success of Kitty's Vintage. Tomorrow I'm going to pick up my "new" mannequin to model all my clothing for sale. She should help me out a lot!

I also have set up a flickr account (www.flickr.com/photos/kittysvintage) to show off some of my listings and get publicity for my etsy shop: http://www.kittysvintage.etsy.com/

I have set up a twitter account: www.twitter.com/kittysvintage (I don't even have one for myself, just KV!)

I will be spending my paid 4th of July holiday working on all things vintage, dressing up the new lady (I think I need to find a good name for her) and posting many more pictures of items for sale.

Keep coming back for more details and the latest listings!!