Window Shopping

Happy Friday all you rocking cats and kittens...and no your eyes don't deceive you, I have in fact re vamped Vixen Von Vintage...I think it makes it a little friendlier and happy...what do you think?

Well! I have not been to any garage sales lately and I think that needs to change! There is only one month left for garage sales and then Ill have to wait until next June! I have, however, been searching kijiji...and there are some amazing things on there... for pretty decent prices! I have only been looking though, as I am trying to organize my apartment at the moment and can;t really justify buying more stuff right now. woe is me...

Here are some of the amazing things I have found though:

Arnt they great?! And all from kijiji... its amazing what some people have sitting in their basements and garages

Pan Am - Trailer

I would have loved to be an airline stewardess...its always seems so glamorous and exciting. Im really look forward to watching Pan

Thirsty Thursday- Long Island Ice Tea

Thursday certainly has snuck up on me...and so has August... why it will be here in just a few more days! Well, its still summer and that means there is still time to enjoy a cocktail on the patio or in the backyard... and perhaps inside with the window opening, blowing in a warm summer breeze.

Today's Classic Cocktail is the:

Long Island Ice Tea- one of my all time favorite cocktails, however very seldom is it done right!

What You Will Need:
0.25 oz each of: gin, vodka,spiced rum, gold tequila, triple sec
6 oz of cola ( or ice tea if you prefer)
1oz sweet and sour mix ( lemon and lime with simple syrup, shaken vigorously with ice....or bought per made)
Lemon Wedge

What to Do:
Add gin, vodka, rum, tequila, triple sec and sweet and sour mix in a Collins Glass filled with ice. Top with cola and garnish with lemon wedge

And that's it! Well, there is quit a bit of alcohol involved, so it could get a pricey if you don't have a well stocked liquor cabinet... but I think its worth it.

click pic for source

For Your Eyes Only...

Good Morning retro folk! Im feeling rather fine today! And wanted to share a little retro re-creation photo with you!

or two...

These were taken by my freind Craig Janzen, who is a lovely photographer., Please do check out his website!
http://www.craigjanzen.com/


Happy Hump Day!

Retro Recipe- Lemon Meringue Pie

Good Morning rockers and rockettes...yah, Im feeling a little rock and roll today... if only I called in sick, then Id really be a bad ass!

Well, lets get to it. Today's Retro Recipe is:

Lemon Meringue Pie

lemon is one of my all time favorite flavours!

Lemon Meringue Pie is the form we know it today came about in the 19th century. However, lemon custards, puddings and pies have been about since the medieval times; it was not until the 17th century, though, when the meringue was perfected.

Elizabeth Coane Goodfellow ( 1767-1851)is credited with introducing lemon meringue pie to America in her Philadelphia shops.

Lemon flavoured deserts and drinks are popular among the Southern US States and for many, lemon meringue pie is a traditional food.

http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpies.html#lemon

Now, for the recipe:

Crust

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup unsalted butter, diced and chilled
• 1large egg
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Filling

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 5 tablespoons cornstarch
• 5large egg yolks
• dash salt
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Meringue

• 5large egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

To Assemble

1. For crust, combine flour, sugar and salt. Cut in chilled butter until a rough crumbly texture and little bits of butter are still visible. In a small bowl, whisk egg and lemon juice. Pour all at once into flour mixture and combine just until dough comes together. Shape dough into a disc and chill for at least one hour.
2. Preheat oven to 400 °F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to just less than ¼ inch thick. Sprinkle a 9-inch pie shell with flour and line with dough. Tuck in rough edges and crimp (pinch) with your fingers. Put pie shell in freezer just for 10 minutes to rest and firm up. Once chilled, line pastry with aluminum foil (and have foil hang over crust edges to protect it) and weigh down with pie weights, dried beans or raw rice. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 375 °F and bake 15 minutes more. Remove aluminum foil and weights and bake 10 minutes more, to dry out center of the shell. Cool completely before filling.
3. For filling, whisk sugar, water, and cornstarch in a heavy-bottomed saucepot. Whisk in egg yolks and salt and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, whisking constantly. Increase heat to medium and, still whisking, cook until filling becomes glossy and thick, about 5 more minutes. Remove from heat and strain. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice and butter until butter dissolves. Pour immediately into cooled pie shell and let cool 15 minutes. Chill completely before finishing with meringue, about 4 hours.
4. For meringue, preheat oven to 350 °F. Whip egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. While whipping, gradually pour in sugar and whip on one speed less than highest until whites hold a stiff peak (the meringue stands upright when whisk is lifted). Whisk in cornstarch and dollop over chilled lemon filling. Use sweeping motions with your spatula to create swirls and peaks that look so enticing once browned. Bake pie for 10 minutes, just until meringue browns lightly. Let pie cool or chill until ready to slice.

Compliemnts of the foodnetwork

http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Dessert/Citrus/recipe.html?dishid=5471

The County Fair

Good Morning cats and kittens! How was your weekend?! Well... I haven't been out hunting for fabulous vintage finds lately, as well, I have been 1) too busy and 2) broke.

But! This weekend I plan on going to the exhibition! Where I am certain I will find much nostalgia oozing from every corner!

I live in a bigger city, so its not quite like the state fair... but I just know there's bound to be remnants of a time past.

Does your home town have an annual summer fair?!

Here is some fabulous vintage carnival ware and fare Ive found online:

1. an elephant brooch, how fitting!

2. Carnival boots!

3. Paper Ice Cream Cups- how vintage, indeed!

5. A purse fit for the fair!

6. A fabulous carnival coloured brooch

7. Vintage ride tickets

All found on Etsy of course!

Click on the picture and it will take you just where you need to be!

Thirsty Thursday- The Cosmopolitan

Its Thursday...and you know what that means! Its time for another classic cocktail!

The Cosmopolitan!
Brought back to life by the Sex and The City gals but originally enjoyed much before their time. There is some speculation over when the Cosmopolitan was created. Its believed to be in the 1970's by various bar tenders but officially, John Caine, in 1987 brought the Cosmopolitan to San Fransisco from Minnesota. There is also another story about the cocktails origin which includes bartender Cheryl Cook. She says:
"What overwhelmed me was the number of people who ordered Martinis just to be seen with a Martini glass in their hand. It was on this realization that gave me the idea to create a drink that everyone could palate and was visually stunning in that classic glass. This is what the Cosmo was based on."

Well, whoever invented it, we're glad they did!

What you will need:

1oz of vodka

1/2 oz of triple sec

1/2 oz of lime juice

1/2 oz of cranberry juice

Ice

Shaker

What to do:

Put vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice in a shaker filled with ice.

Shake!

Strain into a martini glass

Garnish with a lime wedge

How easy and delicious!

Return of the Retro Camper

Look at the fantastic retro bolero campers my boyfriends snapped photos of for me! They were both in his back alley!

I love their round shape and their retro, bright colours. They are just sitting there waiting to be taken camping and enjoyed and loved.

I know Id take mine camping all the time... if I had one...

Retro Recipe- Old Fashioned Lemonade

Hey there summer time cats and kitten! The sun is out... and well, Im stuck inside... all day... dreaming about the lovely day I will have my own vintage store and work for myself. ho hum.

Today's Retro Recipe is: Old Fashioned Lemonade... fitting, don't you think? As it is summer and very hot!

OLD FASHIONED LEMONADE

Ingredients

12 large lemons ( to make approx 3 cups of lemon juice)

1.5-2 cups of sugar ( to taste)

4 cups of cold water

Ice cubes

Directions

Juice 11 of the lemons. Pout the juice into a pitcher through a strainer to get rid of seeds

Slice the remaining lemon, remove the seeds and set aside

Stir the sugar into the lemon juice until all the sugar is dissolved

Add the water and stir until all is combined

Empty a try if ice cubes into the pitcher and add the sliced lemons!

Easy Peazy, Lemon Squeezy!

http://theseasonalgourmet.ca/2011/07/17/old-fashioned-lemonade/

The Retro Business

While in Victoria I went to tons of thrist and vinatge stores. Edmonton is not the best location for all things lovely and vintage. Victoria however, exceeded my expectations.

I saw this U-Haul building and thought it looked wonderfully retro. There was an argyl print painted on the wall in blue and yellow/cream and the word "U-HAUL" was worn just the right amount... Im not certain how old this building is... but it certainy looked oh so retro to me.

There does exist numerous vintage and retro business and signs and store fronts in Edmonton and throughout Canada, but sadly, more and more they are getting torn down or re-down. I guess the government doesn't have the same aesthetics as myself and all the other vintage lovers out there in Canada.

I also saw an old burger joint which looked like it had been closed for some time...it was covered in graffiti... nice and bright graffiti Ill admit, but I would have rather it be opened serving up milkshakes and fries

( sorry for the unpleasent photo quality- that damn sun just wouldnt cooperate)

There is one burger joint in Edmonton called Burger Baron, which is fairly retro... although it just looks kind of dirty to me... but there are quite a few of them around town. Calgary, however, has an old school drive in called Peters Drive In, which has been open since 1964! Now there's a real retro gem!

In Victoria there is a hotel called Pauls Motor Inn, which also has retro diner... which seemed to never to open... atleast not when we walked by anyway. Pauls has been open since 1938!

I suppose it doesnt have the exact same charm it use to but it had a wonderful vintage air to it.

http://www.paulsmotorinn.com/

Thirsty Thursday- Dirty Martini

Why, its Thursday already! How fabulous! Its almost the weekend! I guess we had better celebrate with another classic cocktail.

Dirty Martini

I love me a good Martini... although Im not too sure about a Dirty Martini, but it is a classis cocktails and thats what we're all about, right?

2oz vodka

3/4 oz olive juice

1/2 oz dry vermouth

Green Olives

Put vodka,vermouth and olive juice in a chilled martinit shaker ( I hear its key that the drink be very cold)

Add Ice Cubes

Shake, Shake, Shake

Strain the liquid into a martini glass

Add Olives- either as is or on a toothpick

To spice things up, try using stuffed olives...stuffed with whatever, jalepnosn, blue cheese, etc

Welcome, Welcome, Wednesday

Rise and Shine! Its hump day! A rainy, gloomy hump day, but its mid week non the less! If you recall... from yesterdays post... I was in Victoria last week and got to do some great thrift store shopping! I swear, around every corner was a thrift store!
I also wanted to let you in on a wee secret... I am going to be starting a retro store... first on Etsy...and then who knows where else. So Victoria's thrift stores were fantastic for me new little project!

Keep your eyes peeled for a new Etsy Shop Button shortly!!! I'm excited, so you should be too! I have some great retro items ready to be unleashed onto you... or whomever!!

More photos of Victoria to come... I don't want to overwhelm you, what with the exciting news and all!

Happy Hump Day!

Retro Recipe- Homemade Popsicles

Its time for another retro recipe!! Well, it's suppose to be summer outside... even if its been raining all day... but in the hopes that the rain will stop... a summertime recipe... to cool us off once it gets warm again..

Homemade Popsicles

There are tons of popsicles recipes out there... I found this one from Bakers Royale... A strawberry shortcake popsicle!

Please check out her site... and make these popsicles!

Strawberry Shortcake Popsicle

1.5 cups of purred strawberries.

½ cup crushed vanilla Oreos

 

2 cups vanilla yogurt

 

Instructions:

1. Puree strawberries. Place Oreos in a food processor and pulse until cookies become fine crumbs. Alternatively, place Oreos in a Ziploc and using a rolling pin to crush cookies. Add crushed Oreos to the yogurt and mix until combined.

Assembly

1. To assemble as the seen in the picture, layer the yogurt portion first and let freeze for 30 minutes before adding the strawberry layer, let this second layer freeze for 30 minutes and then add the last yogurt layer. For a quick assembly, pour each layer on top of one another without any freeze time in between and then use a skewer or fork and /gently swirl for a swirled Popsicle look.

http://www.bakersroyale.com/fruit/strawberry-shortcake-popsicles/

The Fabulous Find- a fabulous find indeed!

This past weekend I was in Victoria and while there I found an amazing retro home decor store!! Their store is at 2622 Douglas street but they also sell quite a bit online, so make sure you check out their website as well. They also do rentals!! So if your in  need of some rad retro decor...I highly recomned you check of The Fabulous Finds!

The Fabulous Find- Mid Century Furnishings

The owner let me take some pictures of the store, so that I could share with you have fabulous it really is!

The store was set up just like this... like actual rooms

This green lamp is amazing...and in mint condition ( tee hee)

So cozy, just like a real home. Check out the sunburst on the wall too!

 Dinner time! A very unique dinner table only made better by the classic fishtank behind it

I loved this set up! The shapes and colours are just perfect!

 They really have everything you need to create a whole retro room. Cant you just imagine these couches and chairs in your own romper room?!

This light was made by an artist in BC...not retro per say, but retro looking for sure!

 A whole wall of retro chairs... just in case your planning a party! And a very cool bird lamp/chandalier hanging in front.

A classic hanging shade... to complete any retro room!

Alot of the items appeared to be from the 70's but they have a very unique and classic collection. Be sure to have a look on thier website to see all of the fabulous finds they have!

http://www.thefabulousfind.ca/

Thirsty Thursday- Bloody Mary

My oh my, Thursday has just snuck up on me! And what a lovely thing it is! Today's Thirsty Thursday is one of my favorite cocktails... A Bloody Mary ( not a Caesar because I'm a vegetarian and therefore don't drink Clamato juice- bleck!). The Bloody Mary's origins are unclear, but it is said to have been invented in New York ( go figure) in the early 1920's. The Bloody Mary is fantastic when you have a hangover, especailly when it is nice and cold.

The Classic Bloody Mary

1-1.5 oz of vodka

Tomato Juice ( 2 oz or so)

A dash of ground pepper and salt

A dash of Tabasco sauce ( i like a few dashes myself)

2-4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce ( if your a vegetarian like myself you can either skip it or buy vegetarian Worcestershire sauce)

A dash of lemon

Put all the indgridents in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake. Strain into a tall glass and garnish with a celery stalk.

Personally, I like mine very spicy, so i add extra pepper and tabasco sauce... play around with it to find out what you like best!

A Camping We Will Go

While out garage sale-ing this weekend, I found a rockin retro cooler!

Im thinking 80's... but maybe earlier. The colour is so lovely... and well, perfect

Yah, she has a few scratches here and there, but she only put me back $2... so I think it was worth it.

And so begings the construction of retro camping trip