Friday, October 28, 2011

Amy's Old School Tips The Way Things Were

Remember when commercials had jingles and TV shows had theme songs? Advertising has evolved over the years as well as the products available.  I find it interesting the type of swag that is still used for marketing, like beer mats compared to things that aren't used anymore, like swizzle sticks! Here are some fun vintage advertising items from the Vintage Market Team.


Advertising Cereal Doll Pattern Panel 

By: LeonasOldeLinens




Advertising Wall Thermometer 

By: TwoLittleOwls


Paper Advertising Church Fan 

By: HazeyJaneVintage



Churchills Nightclub London Red Swizzle Sticks By: AmysOldSchool


Babycham Goldwell Snowball Bubblies Beer Mat 

By: Collectique


 1941 Coca- Cola tray By: ObjectRetro


Farm Advertising Rain Gauge 

By: Lisabretrostyle2


What is your favorite type of advertising swag? Do you collect anything advertising related? 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Spiders! Body Parts! Horse's Necks! Boo! Your Retro Home by retrotrend

I was looking for something fun and easy yet seasonally appropriate to make later this week when I stumbled across this recipe.
While mine probably won't look quite this lovely (or, um, disgusting, depending on how you feel about spiders), I'm excited to try them!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups toasted pecans
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, in pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 ounces thin black licorice strands, cut into 2-inch pieces
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
Chocolate curls or jimmies, optional

Directions

Line 2 baking sheets with waxed paper and lightly spray with nonstick spray. Mound 30 small clusters of pecans, about 3 or 4 pecans each, spaced a couple inches apart on the pan.

Make caramel: Warm the cream over low heat and keep warm while you cook the sugar.

Put the sugar and corn syrup and in a deep, heavy-bottomed large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring, raise heat to medium-high, and simmer until the sugar reaches the hard crack stage, or 305 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.

Whisk the butter and salt into the sugar mixture. Gradually pour in the cream and vanilla taking care since the mixture will bubble up. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar reaches soft ball stage, 240 degrees F on the thermometer, about 5 minutes more. Immediately remove from the heat and cool for a minute.

Ladle a couple tablespoons of warm caramel over some of the nut clusters, to make the spider bodies. Then press 6 pieces of licorice into the warm caramel to make the legs. Repeat with the remaining caramel and licorice. (It's helpful to have an extra hand here, since the caramel can set quickly. If caramel hardens, warm over very low heat. ) Let spiders cool 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, put the chocolates in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1-inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, 2 to 3 minutes more.)

Spoon about 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate on top of each spider. Sprinkle with jimmies or chocolate curls, if desired. Let cool until firm.

Don't forget to make yourself a ghoulish looking beverage to enjoy with your spiders!
For kids- Shirley Temples with a gummy body part floating on the top.

Imbibing adults might enjoy a Horse's Neck... don't we all?
2 oz bourbon
dashes of bitters
ginger ale
spiral lemon peel

Pour bourbon over ice cubes in a Collins glass, add bitters, fill with ginger ale, drop spiral lemon into glass and serve.

With spiders and horse's necks on the menu, how can you go wrong?

Friday, October 21, 2011

Amy's Old School Tips What Keeps You Inspired?

What inspires you when you don't feel inspired? 

What gets you to the flea market, camera or 

computer to list items when you are in a funk? 


What keeps you from throwing in the towel?

Vintage Naughty Hand Towels 

ByDaisyToad



What keeps you motivated when it feels that all the air has left your balloon? 

Vintage Built-Rite Sewing Cards 

By: BlueJunesRetroDeco 



What keeps you from closing up 
shop and holding one ginormous, awesome  garage sale?

By: AtticRat


What keeps you from throwing out the baby with the bathwater? 

What keeps you from calling it a day? 

The Do-Something Day 1982 

By: SeriousVintageYall




This is to you "long time listener, first time caller."  Please write your secrets below! 


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Come fly the friendly skies - your retro home by retrotrend

While Mad Men has my heart, Pan Am is growing on me. If you are a new viewer, or have already seen the first few episodes, why not ponder a vintage airlines themed viewing party?

These NW airlines swizzle sticks from Amy's Old School will get the beverages stirring!


Of course, you'll need glasses to drink out of- Eastern Airlines specimens from ObjectRetro are spot- on.

Earn your wings with a little help from ismoyo!

What's your favorite Pan Am character? Favorite airline? How old were you the first time you flew?

Friday, October 14, 2011

Amy's Old School Tips Vintage Halloween


As the days grow colder and darkness grows longer Halloween is the perfect holiday to gather friends and family together for a celebration. The Vintage Market Team has everything you need to decorate your house as well as unique vintage costume ideas for adults and children.  

DECOR

Black  Glass Tray Depression Glass By: Swoon Antiques


CHILDREN'S COSTUMES



Simplicity 8714 Super Heroes Halloween costume pattern  By: HeyChicaVintage 
1960's Jack o' Lantern Halloween Costume By: RetroRachelville

ADULT COSTUMES



Black Cat Eye Eyeglasses Glasses Frames  50s-60s By: CollectableSpectacle

Vintage 60s Blue Dress White Bead Embellishing By: SoulRust

Win the costume contest and get creative and tie the past to the present with vintage flair!  There is still time to get your purchases made in order to get your costume coordinated before Halloween! 

What are your Halloween plans and costume ideas?


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Vintage Candy! - Your Retro Home by retrotrend


I'm a fan of Squirrel Nut Zippers, myself. Not the band, the chewy, peanut toffee.


Not to mention Goetze's Caramel Creams.
And then there are Haribo Gummi Bears. That's right, Haribo. No other brand comes close.

This last pick isn't vintage, but is sure to be a classic. If you really, really like your neighborhood rug- rats, splurge on Bequet Caramels. I highly recommend the sea salt flavor. In the 5 lb. box. They keep beautifully in the freezer.
I won't even get started on my favorite chocolates (Green & Black's- either the cherry, or ginger bars. Nearly any flavor of RitterSport.)
What are your favorite (retro or modern) candies? Are they the same candies you buy for Halloween distribution?

Friday, October 7, 2011

Amy's Old School Tips Slang 1980's

The Valley Girls really had a large influence on the slang of the 80's, so much so, that their slang became known as "Valspeak". "Qualifiers such as “Like”, “Whatever”, “way”, "as if!", “totally” and “duh” were interjected in the middle of phrases and sentences as emphasizers"  (Wikipedia) Take a look! 

Totally Awesome! 
Something extremely good

Vintage Pyramid Puzzle Pyraminx Tomy Toy 

By: Ismoyo



Totally Tubular! 
Means awesome

Vintage 80s Dress

 By: BadChollaVintage


Gnarley!  
Means Cool

Don't Have a Cow! 
Meaning don't freak out

Goldwin Continental Green Ski Coat and Pants  

By: AmysOldSchool


Dude! 
(same meaning today it just got started then!)

Blazer stomper toy 4x4 mini size 

By: SelloholicMom


Like, Gag me with a spoon!  
Means Disgusting

Vintage red Wide elastic 80s rocker Belt 

By: HipandVintage


Putting together the slang of the 80's with the fashions and items of the 80's gives an interesting perspective about the decade. The colors and patterns are bold and vibrant and allot of the slang is upbeat, playful and positive!  What is your conclusion as to why the 80's had such big hair, bold colors and patterns combined with the positively slanted slang? What is your favorite slang from the 80's?

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Halloween - Your Vintage Home by retrotrend

Acid bottle from swoonantiques. Perfect for flowers.
My Halloween hint? Only buy candy you like. That way, if there is any left over, it won't go to waste.

With cheesy costumes and candy galore available everywhere this time of year, consider vintage items for home decor and unique costumes.
This corset from hipandvintage would make a wonderful basis for many period costumes.

It's MOD-ness! from CapricornOneVintage.

Hey, Sailor! shirt by semprevintage.
What was your favorite Halloween costume from years past?

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