Limoncello - Your Retro Home by retrotrend

Every holiday season, I make a batch of limoncello for consumption, and for gifting to friends.

The first version I made was from this Washington Post recipe.

Not being a recipe cook, I love to fiddle with soak times and ingredients- but it's a great place to start. Lime and orange peels work very well too. I adjust the sugar to taste.

A small Mason jar or flask of limoncello and some homemade caramels or cookies make for a perfect hostess gift.

Limoncello is also a wonderful addition to trifles and cocktails. A fabulous digestif, best served cold.

The yellow liquid would look smashing in these Ball jars from lisabretrostyle2.

Or in this Cranberry glass decanter set from ObjectRetro.

Do you make, bake or distill gifts for the holidays? What are some of your favorite offerings?

Amy's Old School Tips Black Friday - Cyber Monday

The Vintage Market Team is having a SALE! Now is your opportunity to get those fabulous vintage gifts with excellent prices! Just Search  vmteambfcmsale for the entire selection of Sale items! Here are the stores participating, in no particular order:

• WorldVintage
• SarahAnntiques
• VintageAndSuch
• CollectableSpectacle
• ChicVintageWear
• ArtistiekEndeavors
• CheekyVintageCloset
• CostanzaVintageCraft
• HeyChica
• ZinniaRidge
• EdibleComplex
• Retrotrend
• Retrohommevintage
• Objectretro
• AmysOldSchool

Check each stores announcement for individual details! Here are some of the great sale items included in this cool treasury created by VintageAndSuch! Happy Holiday Sale Shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best wishes to you and yours during this season of giving thanks.

XOXO, Vintage Market Team

Amy's Old School Tips Gift Guide For Guys

What better way to celebrate the season than finding unique vintage gifts for your friends and families! You can give them something that isn't the same "what's it" that every Tom, Dick and Harry is getting under the tree. Here are some fun and unique items for the guys in your life from the Vintage Market Team on Etsy!

For the beer connoisseur in your life put together a package with a vintage stein, beer mats, kegs or bar decoration along with his favorite beers! This is a gift he will really enjoy!

Vintage Stein Tankard Decorated Glass By: WorldVintage
Vintage Beer Mats By: Collectique
German Mini Beer Keg Pilsener Kulmbacher By: OpheliaVintageHome
Vintage Ceramic Bar Lamp By: SweetShopVintage

For the male movie buff you could give him an old, cool camera for decoration in a movie room or study! Give him a DVD of his favorite movie along with vintage popcorn bowls, some Jiffy Pop and a vintage movie magazine for a fun "evening in" gift. A vintage movie poster will surely "Wow" your movie buff! A perfect way to add a graphic punch to any room! 

Vintage Mansfield Holiday Metermatic 8mm Movie Camera By: DumpsterDiver
Vintage Glass Typography pOp cOrn Serving Bowl By: DoNotDestroy
Hollywood Gossip Movie Stars 1960s Screen Stories Debbie Reynolds By: Ismoyo
Original 1964 Vintage He Rides Tall Western Movie Poster By: AmysOldSchool

For the guy that is into fashion and knows how to look cool the Vintage Market Team has some fabulous items! A tie is always a safe bet and this tie ROCKS! Guys look so great in hats it is a fun accessory and could be given in a fabulous vintage hat box! This V neck sweater has the perfect colors and is sure to please! I am personally a sucker for a snap shirt! They are so rock and roll cool! 

1950s men's M Nalon red and black necktie By: TiddleywinkVintage
Vintage Green Blue Fedora Hat by Alexander By: TeaAtHomeWithOlivia

Wool Sweater V stripe Huntingdon Mens By: RetroHommieVintage

Mens Vintage Red Western Shirt with Embroidery and Sequins By: Semprevintage

This is just the tip of the iceberg! I think I may have to commit another post to gifts for men! We need to cover geekery, the avid reader, barware, sports, mid century decor... Phew! There are a lot of cool ideas for guys! Let me know your good ideas and I may include them next week! 

The Kid's Table - Your Retro Home by retrotrend

Remember sitting at the kid's table?

I don't, because I was an only child, and the only grandchild for many years. The "adult" table can be a boring place for kids of all ages.

If you are celebrating Thanksgiving (for all readers within the USA, that is!) with extended family this year, there will likely be rugrats around.

Hopefully the parents will consider bringing activities for their children to do, and hopefully those activities will not involve a hand-held video device at the table, or any other noise- making distractions.

Even for kids that enjoy turkey, stuffing, and pie, many Thanksgiving dinners can seem never ending.

Buying craft paper and using it to cover the kid's table is a wonderful option- they can draw place settings, turkeys, even other guests. A box of Crayons can go a long way!

Consider a child- friendly activity that you and the child/ children can start before the meal together. When they ask to be excused from the table, they can continue the activity alone.

For a grade- school girl, how about a knitting lesson?

Maybe bake a tray of sugar cookies at home and buy a handful of the icing squeeze tubes so that they may help decorate dessert?

Another great way to keep kids of all ages happy? Classic boardgames. I'm a fan of Monopoly, myself, but Life, Chutes & Ladders, Pictionary, et al are a wonderful way for everyone to interact post- meal.

How do you plan to celebrate Thanksgiving?

*Platter shown above is available here, from BlackRain4.

Amy's Old School Tips The Vintage Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just a couple weeks away! And while you are basting your turkey and prepping all the side dishes you can do it in vintage style from your outfit to your decor! The Vintage Market Team can set you up! 

Mid Century Serving Collection Friendship Wheat
By: CheekyVintageCloset
Vintage Turkey Baster With Glass and Tube Box
By: NowVintatge

You can look fabulous while you prepare your dinner with this vintage dress enhanced and protected by a cute apron! Matched up with vintage shoes and jewelry and you will look perfectly put together!

50s demi-parure by Lisner By: JojosRetroandVintage
Army Green Wool Dress By: TimelessPieces
Vintage Corelli High Heel Wing Tip Shoes
By: AmysOldSchool
BROWN BLUE PAISLEY Apron
By: AzaleaTrail

With these cute Thanksgiving cards you can send someone a sweet note who is far away! What a fun  children's book, this would be great sitting out on the coffee table for your littlest guests to enjoy while the grown ups are visiting! Why not make a fun costume for that little actress in your family. Keep her busy making up a Thanksgiving play to perform for the guests! 

Thanksgiving Greetings Postcard circa 1911
By: Sarahendepity
Vintage 1940s Thanksgiving Valentine / Pilgrims
By: ZinniaRidge
Thanksgiving Story - The Pilgrims' Party
By: HeritagePostCards
Vintage Child's Pilgrim Costume Pattern
By: HipandVintage

It is time to bring out all the lovely hand washable china and linens to make the meal extra special! I love that the cranberry serving set still has its original box! 

Vintage Crystal Cranberry or Relish Dish
By: Thisthatotherthings
Queen Bess, Lovely Shabby Chic Flatware
By: FalconandFinch
Set of Four Fancy Vintage Cocktail Napkins
By: SempreVintage
Elegant Antique Henry Alcock Floral Covered Dish
By: The China Girl

When the tryptophan kicks in and the football game is on the television, wrap up in a warm blanket and lay your head on a soft pillow and hope you don't snore! If you are actually watching the game enjoy all those fun commercials they air and make up your own jingle, since those are rare now a days, it could be a competition to see who makes the best one! 

30s 40s Football Player Doll By: HornetsNestVintage
Vintage Wool Throw in Plaid By: VintageExpedition
Vintage Needlework Pillow By: HazelHome
Dodge advertisement 1947 By:BumperStickersnMore

There is still time to purchase cool vintage items from the Vintage Market Team on Etsy and have it sent in time for your gathering! Happy Thanksgiving! 

Signature Cocktails - Your Retro Home by retrotrend

Everyone should have a signature cocktail. This is mine.

Mrs. Robinson (AKA the Suzi Quatro)

The recipe:

1/2 oz. of lemon juice

up to 1/4 oz. of Campari

3 oz. Plymouth gin

tonic (or diet, if you prefer)

Swirl lemon juice and Campari in glass. Top with gin. Add a few ice cubes and a splash of tonic. Imbibe.

Optional garnishes include berries, lemon peel, a wedge of squeezed lime, or anything else you can think up.

Signature cocktails are great for everyday enjoyment, but even more fun for parties and holidays.

Be it eggnog based, a punch or a mulled cider, festive drinks help set the mood. Champagne (or Prosecco) is a wonderful place to start, adding a bit of fruit juice and a cluster of berries can turn normal bubbly into a fabulous aperitif.

Perhaps a James bond?

one sugar cube

dashes Angostura bitters

1 oz vodka

champagne

Saturate sugar cube in champange flute with bitters, pour in vodka and fill with champgne.

Or a Ritz?

3/4 oz. orange juice

3/4 oz. cognac

1/4 oz. Cointreau

champagne

Shake first three ingredients in shaker over ice. Strain into a champagne flute, carefully fill with champagne.

What is your go- to cocktail, and why?

Amy's Old School Tips Get the Look My Week With Marilyn

In 1957 Marilyn Monroe went to England to film "The Prince and the Showgirl" with Laurence Olivier. My Week with Marilyn, is a British film that comes out November 23rd about a week she spends with an assistant named Clark while her husband, Arthur Miller, is out of the country. The romantic drama is filled with period details that can also be found from the Vintage Market Team on Etsy! 

Chic Vanilla Cream Wool by The Halle Bros By: BadChollaVintage

Vintage Sunglasses 60s Ray Ban Black and Gold 

By: CollectableSpectacle

60s Brown Satchel Purse Handbag Moda Italiana
By: OpheliaVintage

 Black Cashmere coat brown mink fur collar

By: RetroTrend

Black Velvet Hat Bow By: Soulrust

Vintage Black Clutch Purse and Gloves Set 

By: ArtDecoDame

 Sheer Stripe Dress  By: SoulRust

Fitted Sweater Jacket

By: OpheliaVintage

Confetti Lucite Bead Necklace Japan 

By: BlackRain4

The story looks intriguing and I love a heated love story in a period with fabulous fashions! Are you planning on seeing it? 

Come on, get COZY! Your retro home by retrotrend

The temperatures are falling and the leftover Halloween candy is calling your name! It's officially autumn, and the holidays are just around the corner- believe it or not.

Many will be hosting Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years or holiday parties in the coming months. It's important to make sure your home is warm and welcoming to guests, family and friends, be it for a few hours or a few days.

I'm highlighting some cozy picks that can add warmth to any home.

This throw blanket from VintageExpedition would be perfect on the arm of a sofa or the back of a chair. A wonderful companion for a book or hot chocolate.

Speaking of hot chocolate- this Hull set from twolittleowls would be perfect! Marshmallows would look lovely floating in these handsome mugs.

Fondue is always a crowd- pleaser! Make tummies happy with this set from jenscloset.

No need to fear fondue! This recipe book from ismoyo will get the cheeses melting.

Perhaps a digestif in front of the fireplace? This Dorothy Thorpe cordial set from ObjectRetro fits the bill beautifully.

What are your favorite ways to stay warm this time of year?

Here's to a happy and healthy November!