Sunday, January 26, 2014

The Oh So Glamorous 1950's Alligator Handbag...Oh My!

On my quest to find some vintage purses on ebay I came across the "Alligator Purse" of the 40's and 50's. I was thrifting with my handsome husband this weekend and we actually found a beautiful Alligator/Reptile? handbag/purse.



My alligator/reptile purse is much more understated than the ones I was browsing on ebay and etsy and honestly it may be a faux alligator. I was so surprised at what some women were carrying their lipstick and shopping lists around town in. 

Here are some photos of the Alligator purses of the 40's and 50's made in Cuba.










I really want one. I think I would get a lot of comments at the grocery store if I pulled my wallet out of this creepy/glamorous purse. Ha ha!

Thanks for reading. Happy Housewifing!





1950's Kitchen update - Jadeite Walls

Hi everyone. I've started my 1950's kitchen renovation/re-do. I chose to go with the classic colors of jade walls with pink cabinets. I went to Walmart for the paint. I brought with me a vintage 1947 Glidden advertisement I have from one of my vintage Better Homes and Gardens magazines. 



I love this kitchen with its Pennsylvania Dutch tole painting. I am not sure if I would go all out and do this to my cupboards, although it is adorable. Any ways the color in the advertisement was called "jadeite". I walked right over to the paint swatches and found almost the identical color and I looked at the swatch name and it was "pale jade". I am happy it took all of five minutes because I didn't want waste a ton of time trying to find the paint. Below are before and after photos of my kitchen walls. I was quite impressed at how this color changed the look of the room instantly setting the scene of a circa 1950's kitchen. 


Before. I started to paint and almost forgot to take a before photo. 

After the Pale Jade Paint



More kitchen updates to come. Pink cabinets next and of course I will have to find vintage hardware for them as well. 

Thanks for reading. Happy Housewifing!!!



Monday, January 20, 2014

A 2013 Poinsettia Ball, the 1950's Gal and Unflattering Modern Female Behavior

Not an actual photo but you get my jest..lol

My husband and I attended the 2013 Poinsettia Ball in December that his company requested he attend. It was decorated beautifully. We were dressed to the nine's. Unfortunately this isn't the 1950's and peoples behavior and dress made that very apparent. We didn't stay for the entire event. There was a cash bar and there was no shortage of drunk women in unflattering shiny tube dresses. Women dropping "F" bombs, couples fighting, women arguing, couple ignoring each other to text or talk on cell phones. I felt bad for many husbands at this event and a few that were actually at our table. My husband apologized for even taking me there as he didn't know that any of that would go on. I still loved going because I was with my best friend my husband and had a great excuse to wear my favorite novelty dress.  On the lighter side my husband and I were in our own little bubble and had a good time together, despite the company.


There was a nice jazz band that played oldies and newer songs. That was very nice and they did an amazing job. We danced to an old Christmas song and the song "Cruisin" originally sung by Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow. The night started out great. People were very complimentary on my "look" or dress. I was told I looked like a "doll" by one lovely lady and complimented on how I pulled the entire "vintage" look off by another. Other than my shoes and hosiery every piece I was wearing was period specific. 

We had our photos taken and I will post my favorite one with my husband and he now keeps it on his office desk.  We did leave early and went to a local restaurant together. I felt glamourus and I was so proud to be with my best friend my husband. He love's the 1950's life, how I dress and that culture and I am glad there are so many people out there like us.

My husband Joe and I at the 2013 Poinsettia Ball

Having our couples photo taken. 
My Vintage 1950's Gloves, Necklace, Clip on earrings, and Beaded clutch purse.

OK...Enough of all this Glamour, this housewife needs to get back to work.

Thanks for reading. Happy Housewifing!








1950's Housewife A.K.A Mid Century Modern Housewife Needs Her Apron's.

A 1950's housewife or Mid Century Modern housewife as we are called today in my opinion need's her apron. They are sweet, and helpful and of course complete the outfit too. They can be handmade or store bought. I prefer the handmade. I love finding an apron with embroidered details. I picture a wonderful housewife of the past sitting down after a long day, working on it in painstaking detail while the children play games on the floor and her loving husband reads the paper in his favorite chair. I get the the pleasure to wear those little apron's today. Unfortunately I have to be careful while I am out thrifting or I will end up with way too many wonderful little apron treasures. I haven't started my own personal collection...YET. Whether they are vintage half aprons or full aprons if I didn't have them something would feel incomplete in my daily tasks of laundry, cooking and cleaning. Being a 1950's Housewife is a work in progress. By adding circa 1950's vintage aprons to your wardrobe it's a simple, affordable start to living the life of of mid century modern housewife. Vintage aprons can be found at grandmas attic at yard sales and thrift stores and of course ebay and etsy. They can range from .99 to very expensive online. But if you are thrifty like me it should not cost more than $10 to purchase a handful of these 1950's vintage apron treasures. Below are photos of my first little aprons and of course I have one more on it's way in the mail.

Vintage Handmade Blue Calico Print Half Apron


Vintage Handmade Green Gingham Embroidered Half Apron

Beautiful Starburst Embroidered Apron Detail

Vintage Circa Late 1940's early 1950's Pennsylvania Dutch Half Apron
This was a store bought apron in the 40's/50's. I was so excited when I found this for $1.99 at Goodwill.

Thanks for reading. Happy Housewifing!