John Gannam advertisement for St. Marys Blankets; Image courtesy of Isabel Santos Pilot on Flickr.com

McCall’s magazine, Advertisement for St. Mary’s Blankets, Illustrated by John Gannam, June 1948; Image courtesy of Leifpeng on . . . → Read More: Can Bed Linens Really Lead to Ecstasy?]]>

John Gannon was an illustrator who had a gift for showing women who were ecstatic over blankets and sheets:

John Gannam advertisement for St. Marys Blankets; Image courtesy of Isabel Santos Pilot on Flickr.com

McCall’s magazine, Advertisement for St. Mary’s Blankets, Illustrated by John Gannam, June 1948; Image courtesy of Leifpeng on Flickr.com

A modern woman may wonder if bed linens can really lead to such ecstasy?

Bed linens such as these Erwin Luxury Percale (made in the USA) found on Etsy being sold by gillardgurl?

Erwin Luxury Percale, new in packages. Image courtesy of gillardgurl on Etsy.com

Erwin Luxury Percale, with image of the design. Image courtesy of gillardgurl on Etsy.com

Rett and Piglet trying out the freshly laundered sheets

I can assure you that the answer is most definitely YES!!

We love these sheets, even though they aren’t a six billion thread count Egyptian cotton from an upscale department store.  They come out of the dryer terribly wrinkled but they are 100% cotton and they were made in the United States and they don’t shrink like all of the other sheets I’ve bought over the past few years do.

I just seem to sleep so much better with these sheets.

And that will make anyone ecstatic, retro or otherwise!

I found this neatly typed recipe card in my . . . → Read More: Monday Menu: Chocolate Chip Cookie-Bars {Vintage Recipe}]]>

I loved going to my grandparents’ house on Saturdays.  My siblings and I would watch cartoons–in COLOR–on their television set.  But color TV wasn’t the only treat.  My grandmother always had a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies available for our enjoyment.  And we did!

I found this neatly typed recipe card in my grandmothers recipe box.  The first time I ate one of these chocolate chip cookie-bars, I was transported in time to my grandmother’s kitchen…even though this isn’t the recipe I remember her using.  My memory says that she probably used the iconic Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe.

These cookie-bars don’t exactly taste like Toll House cookies.  They are different but they are equally good and ideal for taking to a cookie exchange or end of the school year party because they are so very easy to make.

Ingredients
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon melted butter
2 teaspoons hot water
2/3 cup walnut meats
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Method

Blend flour, baking powder, and salt together.  Set aside.

Add sugar gradually to egg, beating thoroughly.

Add melted butter and water, then add nuts and chocolate chips, mixing thoroughly.

Add flour gradually, mixing well.

Turn mixture into an 8”x8” pan that has been greased and lined with parchment paper (for easy removal).

Bake in a 350ºF. oven for 25-30 minutes.

Cool, remove from pan and cut into squares.

By 1968, when this advertisement appeared, my very fair skin had already suffered through multiple serious burns in the intense Southern California sun. At that time, we didn’t have SPF designations. We . . . → Read More: A Better Tan?]]>

Coppertone Advertisement with Mitzi Gaynor; From Better Homes and Gardens, July 1968; Image courtesy of SugarPie HoneyBunch on Flickr.com

By 1968, when this advertisement appeared, my very fair skin had already suffered through multiple serious burns in the intense Southern California sun.  At that time, we didn’t have SPF designations.  We had “suntan oil” because we all wanted to get a nice dark tan.

Fast forward a few years decades.  As I was walking across the main quad at the university today, I was looking out at the sea of students enjoying the sunshine.  I didn’t blame them.  For three days in a row, we’ve actually had  beautiful weather in Central Illinois (never fear, though, it’s supposed to be back in the low 60s by tomorrow which will reinforce everyone’s belief that spring will never arrive this year.  But I digress…).  I, too, wanted to “lay out” and “work on my tan.”

But I haven’t tried to get a tan in almost 25 years…ever since one of my younger sister’s best friends died of skin cancer.  You see, Theresa’s death while we were still in our 20s hit home with me because  I’m very high risk for skin cancer.   I’ve been committed to getting annual skin cancer screenings.  Almost always, suspicious moles have been removed.   Fortunately, they’ve always been benign.

Except for this last time.

The doctor removed three moles–one from my shoulder and two from my abdomen.  All three areas would have been exposed by 1960s/70s era bikinis.  Each biopsy left a wound about the size of a nickle.  The largest that has ever been removed.

One came back benign.

The other two have atypical growth that may or may not lead to cancer.  I go back in six months to see if there is any new growth.

You know when women get together and do the “If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be” thing?  Mine is that I wish I had beautiful skin.

But I don’t.  There is a 99% likelihood that I will develop some form of skin cancer sometime.  And that is why I try to be so diligent about getting the screenings.

As for the sunbathing?  Well…the advantage of protecting my skin from the sun is that I don’t have all of that sun damage that causes aging.

And looking younger is “way better” than having a tan!

Thanks for listening.

Greyhound advertisement; Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

It always comes down to what is on the inside, doesn’t it? In November, 2010, I blogged about how John Robert Powers reminds us that . . . → Read More: Wise Words of the Day: Inner Wealth]]>

I MUST develop my inner qualities, for that is where my real wealth lies. ~ Alfred Armand Montapert

Greyhound advertisement; Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

It always comes down to what is on the inside, doesn’t it?  In November, 2010, I blogged about how John Robert Powers reminds us that beauty comes from within, not from potions and paint.

And now we read that real wealth comes from within.

If we think about it, we all know that true wealth has little do with money but is really about our habits of the heart–How do we interact with others?  How do we interact with ourselves?

I think we’ve all known of monetarily successful people whose primary way of being in the world can be summarized as a “scorched earth policy.”  Outwardly, they may “have it all,” but they may be terribly unhappy.  I know I am making generalizations in order to make a point…we also all know of people where the opposite of what I’m describing is true. What is the difference between the two?  Inner wealth.

Regardless of what your bank account says, if you consistently strive for personal improvement, you will be a wealthy woman.  It all starts within you.

. . . → Read More: Wise Words of the Day: Determine What You Would Like to Be]]>

“Determine what you would like to be; then determine the books you ought to read and the things you ought to do in order to arrive at your ideal.  Then begin at once to act upon your determination.”  ~Unknown

Be Popular! Learn To Dance! (1941) Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

There are advantages to being a modern retro woman.  If I want to learn about something, there are probably a whole bunch of tutorials available on websites, blogs, and You tube that will help me get started.  My public library can obtain copies of books from other libraries and university libraries offer a scholarly approach to learning about the subject (did you know that most university/college libraries will offer courtesy library cards to people living in the community and/or will allow anyone to read the materials even if they can’t circulate?).  iTunesU and MOOCs enable me to informally take college courses on a wide range of subjects without having to worry about passing or failing.

The fact that the world, beyond encyclopedias, is at our fingertips would probably make our grandmothers swoon with envy.  Truly, the world of learning is our oyster and ours for the taking!

What have you always wanted to learn how to do or be?

I was saddened to learn about Annette Funicello’s passing last week. My first memories of her were from her beach movies with Frankie Avalon. For me, summer doesn’t begin until I’ve had a chance to watch them in all of their campy glory. Later, the Micky Mouse Club . . . → Read More: Monday Menu: Beach Blanket Beverage {Vintage Recipe}]]>

Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon.

I was saddened to learn about Annette Funicello’s passing last week.  My first memories of her were from her beach movies with Frankie Avalon.  For me, summer doesn’t begin until I’ve had a chance to watch them in all of their campy glory.  Later, the Micky Mouse Club reruns were shown every afternoon and I discovered that there was more to her than I first thought.

In honor of every beach blanket that ever existed, I offer this recipe from an early 1960s party book.  This punch was part of a luau-themed menu that didn’t seem too inspired (seemed more at home in the Midwest than on the islands) but the punch recipe jumped out at me…probably because the Beach Boys were my favorite group growing up.  The recipe makes enough for a party but I just cut the recipe in half for every day drinking from a pitcher.

Beach Boys Punch

Beach Boy Punch

Ingredients
1 quart cranberry juice
Juice of two lemons
1 pint orange juice
Ginger ale

Method

Mix the juices together.

Pour into punch bowl over a cake of ice.

Add ginger ale to taste.

Makes 2-3 quarts, depending upon how much ginger ale you add.

No matter how many times we tell each other “the calories don’t count when you are at a baby shower,” the fact of . . . → Read More: Wise Words of the Day: The Body Doesn’t Lie]]>

“It is a difficult matter to argue with the belly, since it has no ears.” ~Cato

February, 1958, Woman’s Day Magazine, Diet Delight Advertisement; Image courtesy of Lobstar28 on Flickr.com

No matter how many times we tell each other “the calories don’t count when you are at a baby shower,” the fact of the matter is that we can’t negotiate with our bodies.  Our minds may be telling us that we want that super-deluxe bacon cheeseburger with the chili fries on the side but our bodies really want good, wholesome food.

I’ve always been allergic to raw tomatoes.  But cooked tomato products are starting to give me problems, too.  My body simply rejects it and tells me so by causing me to break into a rash and giving me a mildly upset stomach.  As a result, I’m avoiding anything remotely tomato-y.

I’ve also noticed that I feel better when I avoid starchy foods.  Now this is a Really Big Deal because popcorn and mashed potatoes are two of my all-time favorite foods (not mixed together, though).  I don’t feel so swollen and puffy and my sinuses aren’t getting infected what seems like every other day.

If I give in to my craving for popcorn, I end up with a sour stomach.  In essence, my body is telling me which foods are “poisoning” me and which foods aren’t.

Even if the calories don’t count, my body is still going to let me know if what I’m eating is life-giving or life-depleting.  I’m choosing life-giving.

The buns are delicious and fairly quick and easy to make thanks to Rapid Rise yeast. Instead . . . → Read More: Monday Menu: Hot Cross Buns {Vintage Recipe}]]>

Until I read the notation in my grandmother’s cookbook that Hot Cross Buns were a Good Friday tradition, I never made the connection between the crosses on top of the buns and the symbolism of Good Friday.

The buns are delicious and fairly quick and easy to make thanks to Rapid Rise yeast.  Instead of having to wait through two rises of the dough, all we have to do is let the dough rest for 10 minutes before we shape it into the buns.

Generally speaking, currants used in baking are a kind of raisin.  You will find them next to the raisins and other packaged dry fruit at the grocery store.  But if you can’t find currants, go ahead and substitute regular old raisins.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons melted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk scalded
1 envelope of Rapid Rise yeast
2 eggs
3 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup currants

Method

Combine flour, cinnamon, and yeast.  Set aside.

Add the sugar, butter and salt  to the scalded milk and let cool to 120ºF to 130ºF.

When the milk has cooled to the desired temperature, add ONE well-beaten egg.

Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients.

Add the currants and mix very thoroughly.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.

Shape into large biscuit shapes (hint: oil your hands for easy shaping) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Let rise.

Use the remaining egg, lightly beaten, to brush the tops of the buns.

Cut a cross on each bun with a sharp knife.  Bake for 20 minutes at 400ºF.

Optional: Make cross out of frosting after buns have cooled.

Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

A long time ago, when I was still teaching lifespan human development to future teachers, I would start the semester with Death and Dying rather . . . → Read More: Wise Words of the Day: How Do We Want to be Remembered?]]>

“Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”  ~Mark Twain

Image courtesy of Paul Malon on Flickr.com

A long time ago, when I was still teaching lifespan human development to future teachers, I would start the semester with Death and Dying rather than the traditional Prenatal Development.  My students’ first assignment–given the first day of class and due at the next class meeting–was to write their own eulogy and epitaph.  To say that the “tourists” would drop out in a hurry would be an understatement (“tourist” is the nickname I gave to the students who were just planning on coming to the first few classes to see if they wanted to stay in it or not…they were usually looking to see if they could get an easy “A”).  My students thought I was a bit nuts and I can’t say that I blame them.

At the second class meeting, I would explain why we were starting with Death and Dying and why they had to complete that first assignment.  You see, I wanted them to think about how they wanted their students to remember them.  Once they started to figure that out, then they could start deciding what kind of teacher they wanted to be.  You might say that their eulogy contained their “learning objectives” for their professional lives.

When my father passed away almost 15 years ago, his former students lined up to describe how “Doc” had helped them turn their lives around.  Many of them pointed out that they had become pastors or teachers because of him.  I know my next younger sister, Jan, changed careers and became a teacher as a result of the impact our father had on these former students’ lives.  (Click here to read a Los Angeles Times interview with him about his impending retirement in 1990).

Me?  I want to be remembered as someone who cared deeply for others and made a difference in people’s lives.  It is why I do what I do at the university and why I write my blogs.  Based on the feedback I’ve received, I think I’m on the right path.

How do you want to be remembered?