Link to My New Blog

Here it is for anyone interested:

www.mamaofthehouse.blogspot.com

It's the link to my new blog. Hope to see you there!!

You Can Take the Girl out of the 50's...

Hey friends...I write today to give a very brief "farewell address." Blogging about 50's homemaking has been something fun for me to do, but as you can tell by the sparse posting of late, it's difficult to be consistent with it. More than anything, it's been tough to find time to add 50's homemaking experiments into my hectic daily routine which includes regular homemaking and keeping up with my son (who is developing an iron will these days!).

So, I'm ending the Move Over, June blog and starting up a new one - one that will be mostly just fun for me, but I hope to give an accurate picture of my life - one I am realizing more than ever is blessed beyond my wildest dreams. I get to be a stay at home mom (during the week at least), I have a wonderful husband who works hard to provide for us, and an amazing son who brings me joy every day. I'd like to spend more time blogging about that which I hold dear - although that gets hectic at times, too!

I will post a link on this blog to my new blog very soon - in case anyone is interested in following or just checking in from time to time. I'm sure there will be 50's tidbits here and there in the new blog - after all, you can take the girl out of the 50's, but you can't take the 50's out of the girl!

Thanks to all for keeping up with me here! This is June Wanna-Be, signing off!

Dry-Cleaning at Home

I realize it's been over a month since my last post...and 50's living has really gone by the wayside over this crazy, busy summer. But as my husband gets ready for "back to school," and our schedule returns to somewhat normal, I look forward to keeping up with the blog...and getting my house back in order, 50's style!

With the mountains of laundry we returned to after several weeks away, I can think of no better topic to post on than laundry itself. The everyday items are easy enough to handle, but the delicate items (read: dry clean only) pose more of a problem. Especially if, like me...you don't want to pay a dry cleaner gobs of money to do what you can (maybe) do at home. At least some of the time.

Good Housekeeping's Guide to Successful Homemaking states:

Dry-cleaning at home, because of the many dangers, should not be attempted on a large scale, but occasionally it may become necessary on a small scale (p. 254).

This piqued my interest because while I have no desire to turn my home into a full-scale martinizing operation (or blow my house up), it would be nice to have a way to deal with some of the dry-clean stuff myself.

Dry-cleaning is similar to washing fine things by hand in a washbasin. You squeeze the article to remove soil, rub neckline and cuffs with extra effort, rinse, press out the moisture, and allow to dry.

This seems like a lot of steps, and I don't currently own a washbasin, although I suppose my bathtub would do just fine. Or is that really gross? I'm having trouble deciding.

Regardless, a special cleaner made for the purpose of home dry-cleaning is reccomended. So I guess the question becomes: do I really want to put that chemical stuff in the same tub I use to bathe my son? Um, NO. So clearly, a trip to the basin store aka Target is in order.

Unlike water, cleaning fluid doesn't remove creases or pleats, so pressing dry-cleaned clothing is much simpler than ironing laundered clothing.

I'm glad there's one thing about the process that's simpler. I'm going to find that magic cleaning fluid, and get started. Off to find those "dry clean only" clothes and give it a shot. Maybe I'll start with just one. That way if I ruin it, it's only one clothes casuality. God knows we can't afford more than that!

A Brief History of Wall Storage

I thought summer would bring me more chances to blog, but we've been gone off and on pretty much since it started. Everything we've been up to has been fun, but it feels like as soon as we unpack from one trip, we are back to packing for another! In fact, in just about an hour, we are leaving again for a weekend excursion to the Poconos with my immediate family. It should be a great trip and we are really looking forward to it. However, we are leaving again once we return from there (I know, we're crazy but this is the only time we have to travel since my husband is a teacher and can't take time off during the school year). That being said, I'd love to get a quick post up about something I love...decorating.

I wish I was better at decorating - my love for it mostly stems from countless hours looking wistfully at Pottery Barn catalogs and dreaming of what could be...if and when we win the lottery.

My copy of Good Housekeeping's Guide to Successful Homemaking has a whole section devoted to decorating, discussing all different types of furniture for each room of the home, providing pictures galore. Today, I will focus on bookcases, cabinets, and break fronts; I will include pictures as close as possible to the ones in my GH Guide as well as ones I've been eyeing...in my dreams, of course!

The picture at the top of the post is a Sheraton bookcase in cross-grain veneer. English, c. 1800.

Above (right) is a provincial wall cabinet in Louis XV style. Open shelves on top, graceful panels on lower portion. French, c. 1770.

It's interesting to note that each of these pieces as well as those pictured in the Good Housekeeping Guide are more or less what you would find in 1950's homes. Were antiques that popular for that long? Indeed, they are still popular today, but I guess it all depends on where you look. It seems that decor has gotten much simpler - clean lines and practicality abound more in today's furniture. For example, the picture above (left) is obviously reminiscent of the antique style but some would consider the Pottery Barn piece more functional for today's lifestyles. It's all a matter of taste, I suppose.

I guess the important thing is no matter what style you choose, be sure to choose wisely - big pieces like these are expensive. However, with a little extra TLC, these pieces can last a lifetime. I suppose that's a post for another day, though! Happy decorating (or in my case, dreaming)!

Our Own Ultimate

As I was skimming around Amy Vanderbilt's Guide to Gracious Living today, I was struck by her decision to devote an entire section to "familiar words and phrases from other languages." It caught me off guard, because although the title of her (in my opinion fabulous) book lends itself to be a guide to everyday living, I wasn't sure how having a base knowledge in other languages (especially Latin, which we all know is a dead language) is something anyone (let alone a 50's housewife) would utilize every day. Or even once a week, for that matter.

But even as I type this, I'm having an ah-ha! moment, because therein lies the appeal of the 50's housewife, right? For lore tells us of a woman rich in grace and beauty, who keeps a spotless house, has 2.5 children with impeccable manners, a husband who adores her, and he with never a wrinkle to be found on his clothing, in addition to her being cultured. She may not use Latin or French every day, or even on most days...but the one day she needs to partake in the witty repartee of her husband's business associates and their spouses, she can do so with ease. Now that is something to aspire to.

The kind of society we should seek is that which stimulates us to express ourselves verbally, that spurs our intellectual processes, that makes us want to achieve our own ultimate (p. 467).

Our own ULTIMATE! What a fantastic concept. To just be the best we can be, stealing the Army's once famous motto. When I get tired and just down and out about my lack of 50's housewife skills, I can remember the goal is truly - to achieve my own ultimate. Even if I completely fall short of perfect (which, let's be honest - not even June or Margaret can call themselves that), I will still be a blessing to my family by striving for my personal best. And, as a writer and lover of literature, it brings me great pleasure to share some of Amy's list of familiar words and phrases from the language that's dead to the world, but not to us housewives...Latin!

ex cathedra - usually used in connection with a pronouncement from the Pope. Literally, "from his chair" or "officially."

ex libris - (among) the books (of), a bookplate with the owner's name, coat of arms, etc., to be pasted on the inside cover of a book

habeas corpus - a writ or order permitting a prisoner to be produced at a stated time to determine the court's right to detain him. This is a phrase beloved by crime reporters and mystery writers.

You see? Before today, I thought habeas corpus was just a line from Legally Blonde. We're learning so much already, aren't we?!

ipso facto - by the act itself

mare nostrum - our sea. A phrase used politically by the Italians to indicate the Mediterranean. And a phrase particularly liked by editorial writers.

A word of caution here, fellow housewives, if I may. I'm guessing it wouldn't go over well in the world for Americans to start referring to the Atlantic or the Pacific as mare nostrum. Just a thought!

multum in parvo - much in little

And that's where we'll end the language lesson for today. I hope you were all taking notes, housewives. The lesson within the lesson that Amy should wish to impart is that the learned housewife is the happiest housewife. Until next time, Valete! And if you don't know what that means, I'm afraid you'll have to look it up to get the joke!

It's BadMINTON!

I've blogged quite a bit about the work involved in keeping a June-like life, but have yet to spend much time on leisure activities of the 1950's. While watching yet another episode of Father Knows Best, my interest was piqued when the episode centered around whether or not Jim was too old to play badminton. Eventually, he and Margaret skip off (in a very youthful fashion, I might add) to play badminton with another couple for the evening.

I guess it's not much different than couples playing tennis together today, but it was just funny to me because I haven't played badminton since tenth grade gym class. And also...I thought it was "badmitten"...like fingerless gloves. Seriously, I figured out I was wrong for the first time today when I tried to type "badmitten" into Google search and all the results came up for "badminton." I guess they're wrong when they say computers will never be as smart as humans.

Anyway, badminton to me, seems just a little "cuter" version of tennis. Obviously, there are the logistical differences of a shuttlecock being used instead of a ball, and the court being a bit different, but it seems similar enough. I, not being particularly adept at tennis, am actually very interested in trying out badminton (for the second time ever) sometime soon.

Before I get ahead of myself, I think it's best to consult the expert on all things, Amy Vanderbilt on the topic at hand.

A sociologist or psychiatrist could glean considerable information about any [badminton] player's personality defects by watching his behavior on the court. In this game, the man stands revealed, even in a game of mixed doubles. He has plenty of room in which to throw a tantrum or his racket, lots of space to yell and hurl taunts at his opponent, many opportunities to cheat when there is no referee and his word as a sportsman and gentleman decides whether the shuttlecock is in or out (p. 163).

Now that gives us lots to look forward to, doesn't it? It sounds very similar to what I imagine will be my son and his peers interacting in about another year or so. Nevertheless, Margaret Anderson did look so snappy in her cute little badminton outfit - maybe I'll still give it a go!

No Rest for the Weary Wife

The time has come...to say goodbye...to a favorite ritual of mine.

The daily nap.

My son has recently switched from two naps to one and it has not been a very easy transition! He's doing fine now, but there were a few days last week where my husband couldn't get home from work soon enough because I was exhausted and my poor little non-napper was, too. Finally, I figured out it was a combination of being ready to switch to one nap a day, and the dreaded teething once again.

However, when I say farewell to the siesta, it's not his I'm talking about. Hopefully he'll keep that up until he's 3 or 4! It's, well...my own nap I'm having trouble parting with!

Go ahead, judge away - but it's tiring chasing a 13 month old, and keeping non-edible items out of his mouth, and getting your finger bitten several times a day, and on and on! I get up at 6 and on good nights get to bed around 10:30 - it's been so lovely to have a nap almost any day I want one.

But this 50's housewife life is a work in progress - and as I progress...or start to see less progress than I would like - I see it's probably only going to improve if I'm willing to part with my beloved nap. I couldn't even find time to make my mincemeat yet and that post was well over a week ago! If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it all the way.

Wish me luck - and better wish my husband luck, too! I can imagine I'll be far less pleasant to be around sans-nap. If things get too out of control, Amy Vanderbilt has this advice:

A tired mother needing a bath and a nap might employ a baby-sitter to watch the baby in the playpen, sandbox, or nursery (p. 321).

Well, at least it's comforting to know that 50's housewives weren't robots after all...they got tired, too. That makes me feel at least a little better about life!

The Mystery of Mincemeat

Today, I have decided to embark on another 50's food adventure, this time from Successful Entertaining at Home. I will be making...mincemeat.

I have heard the expression "I'll make mincemeat out of you," and I have even heard of mincemeat pie, but I have no idea what mincemeat is actually comprised of (I fail to believe it is actually comprised of a person you have a beef with - pun intended).

Further research (aka typing "mincemeat" into the search box on Allrecipes.com) led me to the conclusion that there is actually meat in mincemeat. Well, huh. This leaves me with only one logical question: Who would want to eat a pie made of meat? I'm told it used to be quite common. Well, as has become my custom, I will say only this: this should be interesting.

Page 172 of my beloved 50's entertaining book suggests cooking mincemeat in a brandy sauce and serving it over vanilla ice cream.

Mincemeat Brandy Sauce

mincemeat

brandy

Put the desired amount of mincemeat for your sauce in a chafing dish, pouring enough brandy over it for flaming just before you serve it on vanilla ice cream. The brandy is lighted and when the flame dies down the sauce is spooned over the vanilla ice cream which has already been dished into the silver goblets.

This is a very attractive service one's guests will enjoy watching, and it is just as pretty when the ice cream is scooped up from a large crystal or silver bowl, to be served by the hostess on flat crystal plates and topped by the sauce from the chafing dish.

This all sounds great, but I still don't know how to make mincemeat. I suppose I will use the recipe from Allrecipes.com which can be found at:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blue-Ribbon-Mincemeat-Pie-Filling/Detail.aspx

The problem is, this mincemeat recipe makes THIRTY TWO whopping servings of the stuff, and I know it's going to be a hard sell to get my husband to try one bite. My plan is to pare down the recipe to 4 servings and serve it over vanilla ice cream (not sure if I will attempt the flambe or not!). If he starts to complain, I'll just pour a little extra brandy on top...or in a glass on the side!

I'll let you know how the mincemeat goes tonight once we've tried it for dessert. Consider this part one of the mincemeat blog. And just think: part 2 might include a rant from my husband about why 50's foods are not so commonplace anymore! Get excited!

The Lost Art of Asking

There are many things about the 1950's that I love, as you may have gathered from my previous posts. Although I haven't attained "June status" yet as a housewife, I am doing my best every day, researching and putting to use what I have learned as best I possibly can...while living in 2011. The more I learn about the fabulous 50's, the more I love about them. Sure, things weren't perfect then, and I don't expect they will ever be this side of heaven, but it seems that there was a greater sense of propriety and a shared societal understanding of what is and what is not appropriate behavior back then.

So I guess that's why I am more than just a little bit baffled that roughly 60 years later, some things have gone completely out the window.

For example, this past weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to take a "girls weekend" away to visit my best friend in Wilmington, North Carolina. We had a ball - went to the beach every day, out for nice meals, antiquing, and had plenty of great conversations. Saturday night after dinner, she wanted to take me to a rooftop bar where she and her friends often like to go. The place was great - it had a beautiful view of the city, it wasn't too crowded, and the dj was playing music I actually like. My best friend and a couple of other girls she knows were just doing our thing, having fun on the dance floor when out of nowhere my friend looks at me like a deer in headlights because she sees what's coming and I clearly don't. Some random dude has come up behind me and tries to start dancing with me (or some version of that) without even a) asking me or b) facing me.

I whip around just as this bonehead's arm is about to secure itself around my waist and promptly say: "Hi, although I really appreciate you taking the time to ask me if I want to dance, I'm hanging out with my friends. And by the way, I'm married." To which my friend added, "AND she has a baby!!" HA. That ought to do it! And with that, the rejected gentleman (and that's using the term loosely, believe me) disappeared into the crowd.

Just as we were getting back to getting our groove on, three more guys came over to us and said: "We just saw you tell those other guys you didn't want to dance with them, but..." And in my head I'm like "But what? You think you're different or special or better looking than they were?" I politely (as possible) pointed to the single ladies and went to the bar to get a drink. Momentarily, I was left to my own thoughts waiting for the bartender's attention and I couldn't help but wonder...how did we get here?!

According to Amy Vanderbilt, in the 50's, there were dance cards - not only did gentlemen ask the ladies if they would care for a dance, they basically scheduled the dances in advance! Oh, how sweet those days must have been! In the 50's (or at least at card-dance), no female was essentially danced upon unwillingly by a man with absolutely zero manners. And if a woman was asked for a dance by a man she didn't care to dance with, she had a choice in the matter - she had the option of politely refusing his polite request.

No lady need dance with anyone if for some reason she doesn't care to. But she must always be polite in her refusal (p. 218, Guide to Gracious Living).

You see the distinction? What Ms. Vanderbilt is suggesting is that there is never a place for rude behavior or speech. A woman is not a senseless object to be used however a man sees fit - most of all when the man doesn't even know the woman, or care to know her, as can only be assumed by the essential "hostage taking" that happens on dance floors in clubs today. I realize I may be coming across as prude, but I don't think women have to share my love of the 50's to share the opinion that men's dance club behavior has become an absolute abhorrence.

There were, of course, dames of the 50's who had to avoid their own awkward dance floor moments:

Girls, of course, get stuck too during interminable dances when no one asks to cut in. When no relief seems in sight either partner can suggest leaving the floor, usually under the pretext that there are too many couples dancing, that a drink, or a talk, or a walk in the air might be more fun (p. 218).

Ah, if only it were that simple again! To have the worst problem a girl could face on the dance floor be "getting stuck in an interminable dance." I do wonder how shocked women who had full dance cards in the 50's would be to see the hideous mess that has become of dancing in our society today. Because let's be honest...seeing a woman literally man-handled is shocking no matter what generation you grew up in. At least, it should be. Women nowadays put up with too much and ask for too little in return, if you ask me. I hope my son will grow up to be a gentleman and if I ever have a daughter...well, she's not leaving the house until she's 40!!!

With a Cardigan, Of Course!

I was watching Father Knows Best again today - I say it's for blog research, but it's really just so intriguing to me, watching a sitcom from so many years ago. In my defense, I do watch Maragaret Anderson like a hawk, noting all the things she does and says; I try to decipher what morsel of good 50's housewifery I can glean from her today.


The episode I watched today was the 5th in the first season, called "Live My Own Life." In this episode, Bud wants to move away from home to prove to his family he is old enough to be his own boss. It was cute and predictable, as you would expect it to be. The whole time I was watching it, I was thinking about what I could blog about. I watched and studied as Margaret put towels away, cleaned the dishes and arranged flowers in a centerpiece on the dining room table. She looked so elegant and domestic as she completed all these taks, which is something I need to work on (read: eek, it's 2 pm and I haven't hit the shower yet today!!).


The thing that interested me the most, though was when dear Mrs. Anderson sat on the couch, reading a magazine, pretending she didn't care that her darling son was about to leave the house "for good." I didn't quite catch the magazine she was reading, but it made me curious enough to do some further research: What did ladies of the 50's read in their magazines? How is it different, if at all, from what we read today?

I found a great source for upcoming blog posts online where 1950's issues of Good Housekeeping and other 50's housewife publications like The Journal of Home Economics are available to read. Today will be the first of many posts from these archives - and guess what? They have also encouraged me to include some pictures in my postings to liven things up a bit! Gee, now isn't that swell?!

Today's topic comes from the May 1950 issue of Good Housekeeping and is an update on an article of clothing that is the epitome of timelessness: the cardigan.

The article is short, but the writer insists:

On a summer street, cover is what you need. Cotton offers two solutions: dresses with cardigans of their own, dresses that welcome yours (p.69).

So, ladies, as we are just stepping into summer with Memorial Day just behind us, what say we all pair our sundresses with a cotton cardigan to achieve two important purposes: 1: much needed cover on a summer street and 2: to really feel the part of the 50's housewife. Perhaps if I look the part, I'll then feel the part, and then I'll just...become the part. Methinks this would be a good time to ask my dear husband for a lovely strand of pearls, no?!

Ok, so that might not happen for a while...or ever...but I do have plenty of cute sundresses and I, for one, intend to rock those frocks this summer the way June might have - with a cardigan, of course!

Clergymen...Now and Then

We've already discussed one topic of considerable discomfort this week: politics. Today I say one good controversial topic deserves another. Having done very minimal research on the topic, I'd like to discuss how religion has changed from the 50's until now. Just kidding...we'd be here all YEAR.

I would, however like to address the change in how a church congregation might have esteemed their priest or pastor in the 50's versus how people might do so today. Obviously, there can be no generalizations - every congregation is different, today, as well as in the 50's. However, because this is meant to be a short musing on the topic, generalizations will have to here suffice. My apologies in advance if anyone is somehow offended by my "trying as hard as humanly possible not to be offensive" blog post.

I think there are probaby two major differences in a clergyman's relationship to his congregation back in the 50's vs. today. And I use "his" knowing full well there are many women pastors out there. However, all the churches I have attended have been pastored by men, so forgive me for being a bit sexist...again with the generalizations, I know!

The first difference was that the clergyman was a bit of a town celebrity back in the 1950's. It was definitely noteworthy if you saw the priest while out doing errands or out for dinner at night. He had this allure of speaking in front hundreds of people on Sundays, this authority figure to be listened to very carefully. Today, he's just another guy in the supermarket. And with all the churches in a given town, he might just as soon go unnoticed all together on any given day. Well, any day but Sunday, that is.

On the way out of church, a mother may shake the priest's hand and say "Good morning, Father." And he might smile and say a cheerful good morning in return. The mother secretly envied the person in front of them to whom he responded "Oh, good morning Martha. And how's little Davy this morning?" Because he obviously knew these people. Well, at least he knew their names. In a large congregation, this would be something only a small percentage could hope for. Because although he was an authority figure in the church and possibly the community at large, he was still only human...and that's a lot of names to remember!

The 1950's priest or pastor also had an air of mystery about him. Not many in the congregation knew how he spent his days or interacted with him socially. But many families wanted to. Again, it was the celebrity-ish appeal. And the allure of being on friendly terms with a pseudo-celebrity. I'm noticing that a lot of people cared a great deal about "keeping up with the Joneses" and keeping up appearances in general in the 1950's. This is not to say that people who hung out with their pastors always had ulterior motives, but come on, admit it...people would have probably been impressed when you casually mentioned at tea the next day that you had the pastor and his wife over for dinner last night. Because they, like everyone else, want to know about him. What's he like? What's she like? Was he normal?

As a teacher's wife I compare it to a student seeing their teacher outside of the school they go to. Especially out in a social situation like having dinner with friends or taking the little one out for a walk in town - the kids often do a double-take, like "what are you doing here?" Because, as we all know, teachers, pastors, and family doctors typically stay 24/7 in their schools, churches, and offices, respectively.

And so the idea of becoming friends with a priest or pastor served two puproses: one - friendship. Two - social status.

The second major difference between the 1950's clergyman and one now is that today, on the whole, they seem a little friendlier, a little more down to earth, and that they don't want to remain under the facade that they are anything other than just a normal human being. Who just happens to know a lot about the Bible. For example, the pastor at our church uses himself as an example of what not to do almost weekly - he's humanizing himself! Which, believe me, is a lot easier to listen to and relate to than someone telling me how much better than me they are or how much "work" I have to do in order to get closer to God. Frankly, that's just not how God operates. And I like a pastor who acknowledges that!

Well anyway, thanks for enduring my "controversial" topics this week. I'm certain the next post will be business as usual. To close, I'll leave you with a bit of education from Amy Vanderbilt. When addressing a priest in writing it's:

Reverend Father or Dear Father Cullen

And wouldn't you know, it's the same darn thing if you're addressing him in person. Thanks for keeping it simple, Amy.

Until next time, God bless!!

It's About to Get Political

As my little boy just celebrated his first birthday, I have found myself thinking a lot about the world he will grow up in. We got through the first year unscathed, and I look forward to all the great times ahead of us. However, I have also found myself worrying at times for the things we may have to survive. I was a freshman in college when the September 11th attacks happened and I remember like it was yesterday how it shook me to the core. Everyone related it to what Pearl Harbor must have been like for our grandparents...a day that will live in infamy.

Thinking about our nation's politics and all the craziness a two-party system invites, I truly feel for the President and all the difficult decisions that have faced him so far as well as those that will face him in the future. Let me also be quick to say this has nothing to do with political party or even the President himself. I felt the same way about George W. Bush when he was in office. It just can't be an easy job, there's no doubt about it.

As I ponder these things, and pray for the best possible world for my son, I think it would be interesting to compare the man who was president for most of the 1950's, Dwight D. Eisenhower with our current president, Barack Obama. What similarities do these men share? What are/were the main difficulties of their presidencies? Is there really more to fear now than ever before? Or are we still dealing with the same issues of the 1950's, just in slightly different packaging? Hang with me...it's about to get political.

According to www.whitehouse.gov, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States "worked incessantly during his two terms to ease the tensions of the Cold War."

Ten presidencies later, Barack Obama is trying to fight The War on Terror and ease tensions in the Middle East.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, or "Ike" as he was referred to, enjoyed a "sweeping victory" to the presidency, as did Barack Obama. It seems like both these men campaigned around the idea of hope, which the nation so desperately needed at the time of their respective elections.

Ike and Barack both had to deal with budget issues (apparently we couldn't get our spending under control in the 50's either!) - and President Obama's are far from over. Somehow he needs to find a way to get the two parties to work together and really make the decisions that are best for the American people. And that is not a task I envy in the least!

"As desegregation of schools began, [Eisenhower] sent troops into Little Rock, Arkansas, to assure compliance with the orders of a Federal court; he also ordered the complete desegregation of the Armed Forces. 'There must be no second class citizens in this country,' he wrote." (www.whitehouse.gov). Decades later, our country has elected the first African American president. We still have a long way to go, but there is a part of me that is hopeful that we could one day live in a country where there truly aren't any people thought of as second class citizens - I'm guessing no one would have believed back in Ike's day that there ever would be an African American president!

As I read through the struggles each of these presidents has had to face, I realize that there is no way to shelter my son completely from the evils of this world. I also realize that the evils of this world haven't gotten any bigger since Eisenhower's day, though they certainly remain. Beacause of this, I believe that all presidents deserve respect as the elected leader of our nation. I don't have to agree with everything they do or say, but I will try not to be disrespectful of our country's president, no matter who they are. They have the least desirable job I can think of and everyone in the world watching them while they do it!

Amy Vanderbilt states in her Guide to Gracious Living that if you are ever in a situation in which you are addressing the president in writing, you do it this way:

"My dear Mr. President".

And you sign the letter:

"Very respectfully," (p. 437). Coincidence? I think not.

Shad NO Ring

Ugggh, I hate to start this post by complaining, but I feel I'm in a real bind here. I absolutely love all of my 50's books on entertaining and homekeeping...except for one. The cookbook. Thoughts for Food seemed like it would be a worthwhile purchase many months ago when I was starting my blog. It even came recommended by name from Amy Vanderbilt herself. But aside from my one foray into 50's cuisine, I just can't bring myself to make anything else from this book!

I'm having friends over tonight for a meeting and I thought, What a lovely way to serve them - I will plan a full 50's spread of food for them to enjoy! But as I flip through the pages of my well-worn edition of Thoughts for Food, I can't find a single menu that is entirely appealing or something I could truly accomplish before 7:30 pm when they arrive. It's now 2:19 pm. Think I'm joking?? Here's one of the menus I was contemplating, under the section titled "Guests for Sunday Night Supper":

Shad Roe Ring
Ripe Olive Roll
Cold Turkey
Assorted Cold Cuts
Cranberry Jelly
Celery Root Salad
Cheese Mixture
Crackers
Bread
Fruit Thais
Chocolate Coconut Cookies
Lebkuchen
Coffee

(p.324)

HOLY HELP ME! I mean, I look at this menu and at first I'm happy because it's essentially cold cuts with bread and cheese and cookies. Seems manageable at first glance. However, I then look at some of the recipes and my very next thought is to chuck this cookbook out the window!

First, there's the issue of Shad Roe. I believe I discussed Shad Roe in a previous post - something to the effect of: WHAT IS SHAD? WHY WOULD PEOPLE WANT TO EAT ITS ROE? WHERE WOULD ONE ACQUIRE SAID SHAD IF THEY DID? AND IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, WHY, WHY MUST IT ALWAYS BE IN A RING?!

To further my point, the recipe for Shad Roe Ring is as follows:

1 1/2 to 2 shad roe
6 eggs, separated
1 1/2 pints cream, whipped
salt, pepper

Parboil roe and put through ricer. Add yolks and seasonings; fold in stiffly beaten whites and cream. Put in buttered and floured ring, cover and set in a pan of hot water. Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees F) for one half hour (p. 324).

I rest my case. Well, not entirely.

Second, "Cheese mixture" doesn't sound all that appealing. Especially when Aloutte makes a lovely cheese dip for crackers that I'm sure doesn't involve "Pabstette cheese," as the recipe calls for...which again...I don't know what that is.

Third, "Lebkuchen," I don't know what that is either, but if a guest were to say something like, "My, this is delicious, what do you call it?" I would have to think very quickly on the fly, because I clearly do not know how to pronounce Lebkuchen! I think "Special Dessert" would scare them, and I'm not sure I'm quick enough on my feet to think of something else between now and then. And again, I'll remind you of the time. It's 2:26 pm.

With all that being said, I'm contemplating leaving Thoughts for Food out of my rotation of 50's books to post on. All I ever do is get frustrated and complain about the recipes in it. I hate to say it, but this could possibly be the one time Amy has led me astray. I'd love to find another 50's cookbook to use - something a little more every day...and I hate to say it, but truly...something a little more modern day. If any of you have thoughts or suggestions, I'm all ears! Until then, it's ADIOS to Thoughts for Food!

Behind Every Good Man...

I was watching an episode of Father Knows Best for blog research today, and I was struck by the interactions between the family members, particularly between Margaret, the mother, and Jim, Father himself. When I think of 50's family dynamics, I think of things just as the title of the show suggests: Father knows best. For some reason, that gives the impression that Mother should silently agree with whatever dear Father says.

I was thrilled to see that Margaret Anderson (bless her sweet heart) had a mind of her own. The episode I watched (on Hulu - a gift of the new millennium and something they definitely did without in the 50's!) was episode 3 of the entire series, entitled "The Motor Scooter." In this episode, Jim wants desperately to gift his teenage son Bud with a motor scooter, but Margaret disapproves. She fears Bud isn't responsible enough and/or he will get in an accident. Sounds like a typical mother from any decade to me!

Margaret, donning her pearls and baking (actually, burning) cornbread - perhaps there's hope for me yet! - puts her foot down on the matter of the motor scooter right away. Her first response is, "I'm not going to let you give it to him, Jim!"

I was astounded by the "I'm not going to let you." Father Knows Best portrays the epitome of 50's family life, and here is a wife forbidding her husband to do something. She later states (after more of Jim's pleading) "The appeal is denied, the answer is no." And although Jim won't give up the fight easily, he actually does end up listening to her. And what's more....he obeys!

As a mother (not yet of a teenager, thank God!), I can see exactly where Margaret is coming from. We are, the moment we become mothers, worriers. Creeping in to check on the baby who sleeps through the night for the first time - are they still breathing? Following 2 inches behind them with arms outstretched as they crawl around the house, ever ready to keep their head from hitting the floor or to keep the cat food out of their mouth. I can only imagine it gets worse when they start driving...and become less and less easy to follow!

Though my career as a parent is just beginning, I can also plainly see that both parents have to be on the same team. Sure there are always going to be times when parents disagree - one is a little more lenient about some things, the other a bit more strict. But presenting a united front to the kids is important. And I do like that, for the most part, that's how the Andersons operate. They keep the motor scooter a secret from Bud until they decide together that it's best if he doesn't have it.

I won't spoil the ending for you, in case you want to scoot (pun intended) over to Hulu to watch the episode yourself, but I just had to comment on the fact that even in the 50's mothers had a voice. It wasn't just "Father Knows Best;" it was also "Behind Every Good Man...!"

Care for a Spot of Tea?

Hello, friends! SO sorry to have been absent for so long! I still don't have my computer back, plus we went on vacation for a week so I have yet again been out of touch. I have a loaner computer for now, so I am hoping to get at least a few posts out a week. Fingers crossed!

In this time "away", I have been trying to live out the "June lifestyle" at home, and it's been going pretty well. I'm a little easier on myself than I once was...not sure if that's really allowed, but my boy is into everything these days, so time that was once reserved for homekeeping is now allotted for picking up knick-knacks and toys, seeing to it that no little fingers go into electrical sockets, and...then trying to catch my breath!

I have been dreaming of my next entertaining endeavor, and perusing Successful Entertaining at Home like a madwoman to answer the question: "Whom shall I entertain next?" As Mother's Day swiftly approaches, I can think of no one better than my mom and my mother-in-law, who will be coming into town in a few weeks for my son's first birthday party (another reason to celebrate!!). I found, on pg. 45 of Ms. Coggins' guide, some simple instructions for "a large tea for a guest." In my case, two guests of honor - a belated Mother's Day Tea, two weeks after Mother's Day for two wonderful women and some of my lovely lady friends who may wish to stop by. Shelley and Sherry, consider this your invitation to afternoon tea on Sunday, May 22!

Ms. Coggins writes:

Let us suppose that you are going to invite twenty-four guests, that you have a dining room where tea is to be served, and that you have a delightful friend who has agreed to pour. On your dining room table will be your most beautiful lace or linen tablecloth.

Well, Carolyn, that's supposing a lot! We will probably invite closer to 12 guests and indeed, have to be content not with a formal dining room, but with our "great room" - my fancy 50's name for our dining room/living room combined. But there is a table, as well as a buffet (possibly from the 50's!) and plenty of space for people to sit comfortably. As I have been fortunate enough to host more than one Thanksgiving in my home, I do possess a tablecloth or two for just such an occasion!

If there is room, the cups and saucers should go [at the end of the table where tea is to be served]. But for a large tea party, the cups and saucers can be placed at the left of the friend presiding at the table so that they can easily be picked up and filled as people arrive asking for tea (p. 45).

One unnerving thought has just struck me as I plan my delightful tea party...I have no teapot. We registered for and received a lovely and expensive teapot for our wedding...only to have it break a year later. Since then, I have been making tea in a medium saucepan...the same one I sometimes make Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in for dinner. There are so many un-fifties-like things about that last sentence, I don't even know where to begin. Perhaps my delightful friend who is pouring the tea will also be in possession of a teapot I can borrow for the occasion. Note to self: See which delightful friend has teapot I can borrow. Immediately.

Two stacks of small plates, with a napkin on each, would be arranged so that guests coming in can help themselves to the small cakes or dainty sandwiches invitingly arranged on the table on separate plates. These small cakes, cookies, and sandwiches are usually those most easily handled by guests, but if you wish you may serve a luscious frosted cake, or two of them if you like (p. 45).

This brings us to the question of a menu. Obviously little cakes, cookies, and sandwiches are a must. I'm thinking many of them will have to be store bought, however, because my son's birthday party is the day before and I will have spent most of my energy baking a cake for him, and getting everything ready for his big day. Perhaps if they are delicately arranged, no one will be the wiser. This I must ponder further. On second thought, who is going to question a luscious frosted cake? As long as there are plates and forks to eat it with, I think everyone will be just fine!

Because of our national preference for coffee, when a tea grows to larger and larger proportions there are often two guests pouring, one serving tea and the other serving coffee, at opposite ends of the table. The coffee urn is surrounded by cups and saucers and the same kind of plate arrangement, each bearing its own napkin, and of course, the inevitable pitcher of cream and bowl of sugar (p. 45).

If I can drudge up a coffee urn from someone, I will. If not, I have a perfectly good coffee pot to brew coffee in for anyone who wants it. It seems I will also need to find lump sugar, because isn't that just a little more fancy - nay, a little more fifties - than a bowl of granulated sugar with a teaspoon beside it?

When giving a tea with friends presiding at your table, there are always a few chairs near by so that anyone who likes can be seated to chat with friends there while having tea (p. 45).

Add that to the list: A few extra chairs. Check!

Naturally, all the guests serve themselves, going in for tea when they like, helping themselves to cakes or sandwiches, asking for hot tea when they wish it, and drinking it in the living or dining room, whatever spot seems most comfortable for them (p.45).

I like the casual, laid-back atmosphere described above. That's what I will strive for: a classic, comfortable tea party (because, who doesn't love the idea of that?) to honor two fabulous women in my life. And what girl (big or little) isn't thrilled by the idea of a formal tea? I, for one can't wait!

Friends for Dinner

I'm having friends over for dinner on Saturday night, and I'm so looking forward to it! I've been thinking about what to make, what to wear, and all the things I have to do to get the house ready before the big night. Much to my chagrin, my house is not perfectly ready for guests at the moment. I'm beginning to think that is never going to be a reality. Between my son's toys, the never ending laundry pile, and dishes galore, it's never as clean as I want it to be. It seems like no matter how much I do in a day, there's always more to do...not that I'm complaining. Though my back hurts like a 95 year old woman and I spend hours on end feeding, diapering, clothing, and chasing my little man, I remain convinced I have the best job in the world.

As I mull over the menu possibilities for Saturday, I feel torn. It would be fun to do a 50's menu from Thoughts for Food; there's a whole section of menus called "Friends for Dinner." Perfect, right? That's what I thought. Upon further investigation, I am reconsidering how fun that would actually be. Let me give you an example of one such menu, from p. 215.

Baked Shad and Roe

Dill Cucumber Melba Toast

Chicken Florentine

Strawberry Compote

Macaroon Souffle

Coffee

First of all, I'm beginning to understand why they ended every meal with coffee in the 1950's...they were exhausted from all the cooking! My goodness, I can't even imagine how many hours I would spend in the kitchen if I were to attempt this. So the question remains...should I attempt this? The way I see it, I have two options. Entertain appropriately for an evening with friends in 2011, with the style and grace of a 1950's hostess. Or make a ridiculously complicated menu of ridiculously hard to find foods (Shad? As in Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego?! I'm guessing probably not).

I'm not trying to make excuses here...I know this is a blog about me trying to emulate a 1950's style homemaker. It's just that it's turning out to be...so...much...harder than I thought! I mean, I cleaned, went to the grocery store, made dinner, and baked a pie today, thank you very much! Not to mention I did everything necessary to keep a ten month old alive too. But there's still toys out and dishes in the sink...and it's almost 10:00 pm! June...I'm beginning to think you weren't completely honest with everyone...reveal your weakness! Tell me I'm not alone!

Alright, enough of my ranting. I'm definitely leaning toward a simple, fun meal for Saturday night. Something Italian with Limoncello as an after dinner drink, perhaps? That's as far as I can take the 1950's dinner customs for now, I'm afraid. Well, that and offering coffee after dinner as well. God knows I'll be needing a cup!

The Times, They Are A-Changing

I've been posting a little bit about my mom recently so I think now would be a good time to just admit it: I am her. Which is fine, because she's one of my absolute best friends and one of the people I look up to most in the world. But there's one thing about both of us that probably drives our husbands nuts. Okay, there's probably more than one, but only one is relevant right now. We tend to freak out a bit when company is coming. Well, she may freak out a bit. I go completely psycho. Seriously, just ask my husband.

The thing is, I really like having people over. I would much prefer people to come and be entertained at my house than me have to go elsewhere for an evening (and either find a babysitter or bring 6,000 lbs. of baby gear with us). I just also really like things to be perfect when people come over. Thanks, Mom.

But I'm going to venture a guess here: that's probably how my grandma was. The 50's housewife was always prepared, everything was always in its place, and the meals were always perfect. At least, that's what my literature suggests. So did 50's housewives actually like to entertain at home, or was it an obligation and a hassle more than anything else?

Carolyn Coggins, author of Successful Entertaining at Home writes:

Liking to have company is like being one of those characters who bet on the races. You simply can't help yourself.

I wish I had her attitude (though not her apparent gambling problem)! I do really like to have company, but the stress before they arrive and the mess they leave behind are just not my cup of tea. Still, I happily accept them to be able to hang out with my friends and feel like I, too, can throw a decent meal together for the ones I love. So how do I get to that place where it either a) becomes second nature to entertain fuss-free or b) I just stop caring about what people think about me so much!

In this changing world, elegance, formality, and well-staffed homes are no more our way of life than grandfather's surrey with the fringe on top. Instead, informal living and informal entertaining have forced their way into our existence.

First, I must say I am impressed with the Oklahoma! song lyric used there. Second, I guess the informal has been slowly creeping in since "the help" has been slowly creeping out. So what, exactly, does informal entertaining mean? Paper plates and cups? I confess I almost reached for them tonight because we had 5 friends over for dinner. However, I thought of June and got the regular ones. Now they are still sitting in my kitchen sink waiting to be washed. And I think...June, when did you really become a voice in my head? And how long will you be staying? And would you like to come clean my kitchen?

Informality at its best requires more common sense than servants. There always has been a dearth of thinkers, so if you have a first-class, usable mind, put it to work on your home.

My goal is informality with no stress. Think it's achievable? Ms. Coggins certainly thinks it is within the realm of possibility. I'm going to borrow her optimism and try to figure this out. Just you wait and see. Or if not, at least I'll have some fun adventures to blog about in the near future. Stay tuned!

Going to Market

As someone who loathes the grocery store, it pains me somewhat to think that in the 1950's, June and other hip housewives like her may have frequented the grocery store or "market" several times a week. Or even...every...day.

I'm sorry ladies, but I just can't bring myself to get to the grocery store every day. Is that cheating on my 50's way of living? Possibly. But have you seen what the cost of gas is these days? Holy smokes, we gotta conserve! So I'm saying it's not cheating...it's being frugal. And that is something every good 50's housewife would approve of.

Speaking of frugality, I will share some of Good Housekeeping's Guide to Successful Home Management's "Guide to Wise Eating." This section gives a helpful list of dos and don'ts for making the most of your money and time at the supermarket.

Read your local newspaper for the best food buys - you will find the market reports an excellent guide.

I have preceeded many a trip to the grocery store hunched over a weekly ad, making my list from what is on sale, as my mom has often advised. It does save money, but often I feel like I'm buying stuff we really don't want or need just because it's on sale. A definite no-no. Case in point, I once brought home pomegranates which ended up going bad before we could eat them because I truly had no idea how to eat them. I know, I know, I could've Googled...but it just slipped my mind. All I'm saying is, sometimes the weekly flyer is helpful. And sometimes it just leads to uneaten produce. Proceed with caution.

Don't wait until you get to market to plan your meals. Plan them at least a day ahead, taking into account foods on hand in refrigerator.

This, I can do. I actually exceed this pointer, seeing as how I plan my meals for the week and thus cut my trips to the store tremendously. It also does cut down waste because often, I have 7 dinners planned for the week, but when I compare my plan with our family calendar (everything we have going on for the week), I often see a couple of nights where we're busy and will not have time for a huge, sit down dinner. I know, I know...not very 50's like. But I like to consider myself a 50's woman in a 2000's world. Plus, it keeps our grocery bill down.

Prepare a businesslike marketing list. Avoid buying more than the family will eat by checking your recipe and amounts to buy.

And what, praytell makes a list businesslike? Perhaps organizing the list into sections of the store. Listing the produce all together, the meat, etc. This is something I will do from now on - I probably do waste time by scouring my list over and over, trying to read my quickly scribbled notes and checking many times to see if I missed something. Sometimes I have to backtrack in the store and go down aisles I've already been down to pick up something I forgot the first time. It's dawning on me as I write this that maybe I would hate the grocery store less (notice I didn't say like it more) if I was a little more methodical about my marketing.

It is best to go to market to buy perishables. Then you can check on quality, watch for bargins, and keep up to date on new foods.

Um...not to sound dumb, but...where else would I go to buy perishables? I'm not sure what other options were available in the 50's...the farm, perhaps? Do inform if you have insight where I lack it. And stop laughing at me (mom!).

Read descriptive labels on foods in cans, jars, and packages for information on size, amount, variety, style, number of servings, kind of syrup, uses, etc. When you find a brand you like, remember the name.

Jif. That's a brand my husband likes and he won't eat any other brand of peanut butter. I actually called him from Costco the other day and told him they didn't have Jif, they have Skippy, and would it be ok to get that instead. No, he informed me. It would not. But it just goes to show you that you have to cater every tip and bit of advice to your family. If I buy Skippy just because it's on sale and it sits in our cabinets forever, that's not really a deal, now is it? Just ask those poor, untouched pomegranates. (P.S. I did look in the Joy of Cooking for how to eat those things, and did not come away enlightened).

Often you can save by purchasing a large rather than a small package of a product you use often and know will keep well.

I know I just mentioned it, but I will just take a moment to say: Hello, Costco! I'm borderline obsessed with Costco. For non-perishables especially their deals can't be beat. And in our tiny house, it's hard to find space sometimes for everything, but it's worth having less counter space to have the DEALS. I go in there and I marvel OUT LOUD (nerd alert!) at the savings there vs. the regular grocery store or drugstore. Do I have to live with the mockery of friends and family who come to visit and can't find anything in our fridge because the ginormous mayo (my husband's) and zillions of Vitamin Waters are in the way? Yes. Again, it's worth it.

Finally, get the full weight of a product for your money. Ask the price per pound, watch the scale while purchases are being weighed, and be sure to count your change.

I can honestly say I've never used a scale in the grocery store. I know my mom has told me tales of yesteryear when store employees would be on hand in the produce section to weigh everything out for customers. Now you're pretty much on your own. Even in the deli and at the seafood counter you have to watch the scale to make sure they're giving you the correct amount. It would be nice if there was a little more man-power in the stores the way there was in the 50's. It's like stores actually cared about their customers and what families were consuming.

The last bit of advice holds true in any era, and I remember my mom giving the same advice after realizing an employee mistake one time: always count your change and pay attention. No one cares about your money more than you do.

Intimidated by Cabbage

So, obviously it's been a while.

I'm so frustrated with this whole computer business and sad that it's been keeping me from blogging. My husband has been kind enough to keep bringing home his work computer so I can check email at night, but we seem to have a zillion other things going on and it's hard to find the time to sit down and blog when I have such limited access to a computer. The good news is we shipped our computer to my brother, who is very handy in such matters and hopefully it won't be long until we have it back and running better than ever. I'm quite sure this is a problem June didn't have to deal with. GOOD GRIEF!

All this time, I've been pining away to blog about my beloved 50's again...and thinking of all sorts of things to write about. I've been keeping a list so when the computer is returned in working order, I won't have to waste any time. I definitely want to try some more 50's dinners (shh...don't tell my husband just yet!) and I'd love to throw a cocktail party or something to try out all the tips I'm picking up in my lovely books.

Tonight, I was thumbing through Thoughts for Food and came across a recipe I would like to try. It's for...get ready...cole slaw. Now, this may seem odd for a couple of reasons:

1. Doesn't everyone know how to make cole slaw?
2. I don't really like cole slaw very much

To point number one I will say a firm: no. No, I don't know how to make cole slaw...I can guess the major ingredients, but I've never made it before. Also, I'm pretty sure there are lots of different ways to make it. And this 50's recipe features sour cream (which I love) in place of the usual mayo (which is ok with me, but not as a main ingredient). My husband, however, does not share my love of sour cream...so maybe I'll have to make this when we have people over for dinner. The last thing he'll be excited about is 4 lbs. of tasted but largely uneaten cole slaw.

Point 2 - well, you can guess why I don't like cole slaw. All that mayo. Blech, it's just too much!

So let me share the recipe I found with all of you and hopefully in the near future I can add it to my 50's cooking repitoire (which, admittedly, is small at the moment).

Cole Slaw

1/2 head cabbage
salt
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons onion juice
1/2 cup sugar
bunch of parsley, chopped
1/2 pint sour cream

Shred cabbage; salt, press with a weight, and let stand several hours. Drain off water and add vinegar, oil, onion juice, sugar, and chopped parsley. Before serving, fold in sour cream.

Now a few things about this recipe intimidate me (yes, it is possible to be intimidated by cabbage). One is: onion juice. Is this readily available in stores or is it something I'm going to have to press out of the darn things myself? Honestly, I have a hard enough time chopping onions without practically sobbing, so I'm not really sure how I'll press one without achieving a similar effect. Now you see why I've decided to blog about this particular recipe before I make it. Some of your comments have been very helpful in the past...I look forward to any advice I can get!

The next thing that worries me is that I'm supposed to "press" the salted, shredded cabbage with a weight. Umm...is this another thing I need to add to my wish list...or will my 30-lb. copy of The Joy of Cooking suffice? But that would require risking a salty, cabbage smell encroaching upon a beloved cookbook. Again, your thoughts are much appreciated.

So that's where I'll leave things for now. I'm looking forward to obtaining the ingredients and putting this slaw to the test tomorrow... or very soon, at least. If I can't find a sufficient weight, I know a pretty cute 18 lb., 12 oz. somebody who would love nothing more than to get his hands on 1/2 head of shredded cabbage...or anything else I don't want him to for that matter!

Technical Difficulties

Hello all,

Sorry to have stopped posting for a while! I'm actually having some computer problems (aka my computer completely crashed and won't even turn on) so it's been tough to be able to get to another computer and blog. Until we can get it fixed, I will have limited access to my husband's work computer, so the blogging will be quite sparse at worst and intermittent at best. I'm sad because I have so many fun things I want to write about in the future, but I'm keeping track of all of them, and I'm sure I will be back soon.

I'm hoping to have at least one new post later this week. Until then, I will leave you with at least something from the 5o's: Goodnight and good luck!

Planning the Party Around the Dress

For the past few weeks, I have been scouring Successful Entertaining at Home and I have been trying to decide when my first big entertaining (50's style, of course) event will be. I would love to have a cocktail party complete with highballs or a "hunt breakfast," complete with champagne or even just Saturday night supper with friends...complete with vino! I'm still in the deciding phase, but while I'm thinking about it, I would like to share some of Ms. Coggins' infinite wisdom on the topic of party planning.

The first piece of advice is to "be an armchair planner."

This is the business end of party giving, and you need to concentrate. Get a memorandum pad and a pencil - with a good end to bite on while you think - and settle down in the most comfortable armchair you can find (p. 19).

I like it. Get comfortable and then party plan. Perhaps I might be most comfortable planning in pjs with the fire going and a glass of...yes, vino. That really turns the planning into a party of sorts, which I'm guessing Ms. Coggins would approve of. Next, she advises us to plan the menu, as that is the focal point of any gathering.

Having decided what you will serve, right now is the time to make a grocery list and jot down on another sheet of paper Things to Be Done, for the party. Doing these now, and putting them on a spindle or wherever you can find them later, relieves you of that much of the required work.

I don't own a spindle, and I don't think I can do that sort of thing on my Kindle, so a simple notepad will have to suffice. Now I'm really starting to look forward to this party planning. Already it involves two things I love: comfort and lists. Check!

Now is the time to think about decorations, too, and any little novelty you decide might enhance your party. Jot down the supplies you'll need for these.

I had a Hawaiian themed get-together this past summer, that was very casual. My decor was those cheap plastic leis you get ten for a dollar at a party store. Much to my chagrin, no one really wanted them (they are very itchy) and I was left with many colorful things a baby could choke on strewn about my house. I may have to go very light on the decorations for any future shindigs I throw.

This may sound much more complicated than it is. By this time you have four lists - a guest list for your party, a menu, a shopping list for groceries and decorations or flowers, and a note to yourself about things to do, like "order extra ice Tuesday morning," "get candles."

More lists, huzzah!! I think I might need a whole notebook devoted solely to party planning and events...it's ok. You may take this moment to stop and make fun of me. But Carolyn and I aren't laughing with you, just so you know. Some people take their lists very seriously. And we're the ones who will be throwing the best parties.

While you are making plans, think about what you will wear to the party. Be sure the dress you wear is comfortable and that your shoes won't make your feet hurt.

That's good advice, if ever I heard it. And although I don't know the date or type of event I will soon host, I do know what I want to wear. I just so happened to have picked up a cute little black dress and heels at the mall yesterday. It's basically begging to be worn.

A good-looking hostess gown worn by you can be one way to make a quickly arranged supper at your house seem important and planned. On the other hand, if you are entertaining one person, a hostess gown may make the occasion more come-hither than you intend.

I'm not sure what qualifies a hostess gown (dress? I hear gown and prom or wedding immediately comes to mind...eek!) from a regular one, but I'm going to obey my LBD and wear it the first chance I get. Now I wish I could get Ms. Coggins (or June) on the phone to ask one last question: "Is it bad to plan the party around the dress?"

Happy Wardrobe Essentials Day!

I am giddy with anticipation as I write today's post. Tomorrow, I am taking a long awaited trip to the mall with my mom, my sister, my little boy and my nephew. Strollers will not hinder the shopping that will happen. Nor will the comments from passer-by about how cute our babies are slow us in the least. We three girls and our two little boys are about to embark on something I like to refer to as: Power Shopping 2011.

Perhaps that's being a little dramatic. But we really are going shopping tomorrow, and I think it's safe to say I'm more than a little eager. You see, I can't even remember the last time I went shopping for myself at the mall. I'm almost positive it was before my son was born in May. That's over NINE MONTHS, people! And for someone who loves to shop as much as me, it has been a true discipline to steer clear of that beautiful, sky-lighted, multi-story building known as the mall.

I probably won't be buying much, but I think I will allow myself one little thing. Hey, I went back to work recently - it's only right I should reward myself with something, right? I can't wait! But to ensure I don't go overboard and that I make the most of my purchase (singular, keep it singular), I have enlisted the help of Good Housekeeping's Guide to Successful Homemaking. There is plenty of great advice for shopping for women's clothing. I will list some of my favorites here:

1. Make a list at home - Know what you want before you shop. Consider the type of life you lead, the money you have to spend, the articles you need as against those you merely want.

Whoa, they have my number. I am quite the list-maker. And if I'm forced to make a list for the purpose of 50's living, well I guess that would be ok. However, the type of life I lead is one where I get pooped on and peed on occasionally, and the money I have to spend is, well, limited at best. I'm beginning to think I should be switching the location of the shopping trip to Salvation Army...

2. Buy twice a year for the main items of your wardrobe - Make a list in March and in September for the next months.

YES, it's MARCH 1st tomorrow! This was truly meant to be. I'll make the list tonight (a short one) and buy "the main items of my wardrobe" tomorrow. Oooh, maybe this means I can talk my husband into a little more buying since this will be one of two annual shopping trips for wardrobe essentials.

3. Don't go shopping with a group of friends - Or even with your best friend, unless you consider her taste so much better than your own that you are willing to follow her advice.

Um, no. Shopping is so much more fun with friends - especially my mom and sister! They will give me their truly honest opinions and maybe...just maybe...help me stick to the list. And, maybe, just maybe...they will defend my purchases to my husband for me.

4. If your budget is limited, buy things you can wear for several years -A well-made tailored suit or coat, bought with common sense and restraint, can be worn, with minor alterations, for five years. Good material will last that long.

So apparently I'm not the only one with a limited budget. And this is just giving me fodder for my "presentation" to my husband about why I bought what I did. Don't get me wrong, he's no tyrant. Our budget is just literally that limited.

5. Never lose sight of yourself - Be the complete egoist. Visualize yourself in the clothes you are buying.

Hmm...this shouldn't be too hard. Especially with the help of those new-fangled things called mirrors.

6. Never buy anything just because it is cheap -Look for fabric labels, good workmanship. Always it is better, when buying tailored clothes, to buy the very best you can afford.

So...limited budget...don't buy just because it's on sale...I think the message is ultimately to buy things that are quality so you only have to buy them once in a while. There's nothing worse than buying something and having it wear out or get a hole after wearing it once. But price doesn't always suggest quality, so I'll have to consult my posse for that. See, it's a good thing they'll be there?!

7. Think before you buy novelty gadgets - When something comes into fashion publicity that is fantastic, be wary of it. No matter how stylish a fashion or trend may be, wear it only if it suits you.

I'm not really in the market for any "gadgets" per se, but who hasn't suffered from a case of buyer's remorse when they buy something that's "in," wear it once or twice, and in the blink of an eye it's "out." I tend to hold on to clothes for a looong time, so this has been especially painful for me at times...the eyesores still inhabit my closet and taunt me every time I see them.

8. When you buy dresses, coats, or suits, take time to have them fitted carefully and altered if necessary - It is a rare figure that does not need some slight alteration in a ready-made.

I thought we were talking about saving money! Sorry, but the ready-mades are going to have to work for me. I will just have to be ultra-careful in the dressing rooms and take my time to make sure the fit of anything I buy is just right.

Oh, who am I kidding? I'm going to have a 9 month old with me! I'll be lucky to get a quiet moment in the dressing room at all! Too bad he can't talk yet...it would be nice to get a guy's opinion on these things.

Country Apple Dessert

We had some friends over for dinner last night and I thought it would be fun to try out a 50's recipe on them. Unsuspecting guinea pigs, they were. I don't think any of them even know I am writing this blog, with the exception of my husband. We kept the dinner very simple, as Friday night dinners should be. My husband grilled out BBQ chicken and we had french fries to go with it. The 50's portion came at the end of the meal - country apple dessert.

I found this recipe in Successful Entertaining at Home and it, too, looked surprisingly simple and so, perfect for a Friday night. The recipe is:

To serve 6:

1 No. 2 can sliced apples (canned in sugar syrup)
butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 cup heavy cream

One more apple dish - a country apple dessert and here's how you make it. Place sliced apples with the sugar syrup in a small, shallow baking dish and dot with butter. Mix sugar, freshly grated nutmeg, and heavy cream. Pour over the apples. Cover the dish and bake in a moderate (350 degree F) oven for 30 minutes. Uncover the last 5 minutes of baking time. Serve warm.

I was a little concerned that my apples may have been Number 1 or Number 3, as opposed to Number 2 (I have no idea what that means), but they were the canned kind in syrup used for apple pie filling so I figured they would work. I had to use 2 cans (so the number 2 did come into play at some point) in order for there to be enough to serve 6.

I think it was a hit, although I realized late in the game I didn't have aluminum foil to cover the baking dish...so uncovered it went, into the oven. It was basically like baked apples, which is a favorite of mine, and this was much simpler to prepare. Of course, I cheated a bit by not grating my nutmeg freshly. But it's all the same right? Anyway, it tasted good and hit the spot after dinner. I have to admit I was a little disappointed no one shared either my love of coffee or the 50's way of serving dessert enough to indulge in after dinner coffee with me. And, to avoid my caffeine addiction coming to light, I try to avoid drinking alone.

That's all I've got for today...the little one is teething and needs a cuddle from mama. Ah, now there's something that I imagine transcends all decades.

My Dear Mr. Chief Justice

Today I learned that the Chief Justice of the United States is John G. Roberts, Junior. It's probably sad that I had no idea of this fact prior to sitting down to write this post. Also, I really don't know much about the office of Chief Justice in general. And I'm guessing I'm not the only American who could be found lacking in this area.

How does this relate to the 1950's you ask? I was perusing Amy Vanderbilt's Guide to Gracious Living and noticed a huge portion of the book dedicated to the proper etiquette for addressing all sorts of people socially, in government, in the community, and even royalty! In this day and age of email, Twitter, and Iphones, it seems totally crazy that there was once a time (only about 50 years ago!) that people primarily communicated by letter. Obviously, there were telephones also, however, even casual invitations to small social gatherings were communicated by written invitation, so I imagine communication with the higher ups in government were as well.

Which begs the question, is the art of letter writing dead? It makes me wonder. I love to write, but I honestly can't remember the last time I sat down and wrote an actual letter. I'm not including thank you cards or birthday cards here. I'm talking about a "hey, how are you? how are things? things here are great, the family is well, next month we're going to the Catskills" LETTER.

And honestly, who doesn't love getting a letter? I remember when I was a senior in high school and my boyfriend (now my husband) lived 4 hours away at college. We wrote each other letters at least once a month, even though we also talked on the phone multiple times a week. It was so thrilling to go to the mailbox and get a letter from my man. I still have all the letters and cards he ever sent me in a big envelope. What can I say, I'm a hopeless romantic. But even as a kid at camp or a freshman in college myself, letters from my parents were always so wonderful to receive. Getting a letter from someone just really shows you they care. Sure, a text or a Facebook post could get the "I'm thinking of you" message across, but a letter takes it to the next level.

I think I'll start writing more letters to people. It will be interesting to see the response I get - I think it could make some people feel awkward because we are so drifting away from anything truly personal in our society. People expect a call every so often or an email update here and there, but a heartfelt letter out of left field really has the potential to bowl someone over. I love it.

Fortunately for Mr. John G. Roberts, Junior, I won't be writing him a letter any time soon. Frankly, I just wouldn't know what to say. I'm sure he's doing a great job, and from what I gather, he's in there for life, so the way I see it, it won't make much difference what I say to him one way or the other. In case any of you are better patriots than I, I will include Ms. Vanderbilt's excerpt on how to address the Chief Justice of the United States:

Letter opening: Sir (business) My dear Mr. Chief Justice (social)
Closing: Very Truly Yours (business) Sincerely Yours (social)
Speaking to: Mr. Chief Justice
Introducing or Referring to: The Chief Justice

Pretty straightforward. And now, in case we should ever meet, the Chief Justice and I, I will be well prepared. For now, I'm off to go ponder who I'll write to first. Until next time, I remain, Very Truly Yours.

Getting Your Money's Worth

A lot of people close to me have recently asked "Why did you start your blog? How did you choose a topic for it?" Basically, I wanted to write about something that I find interesting, and for whatever reason, the 50's have always intrigued me. I am a social worker, and I love family work - the 50's family has always appealed to me, at least the way it is depicted on tv and in movies. I wanted to choose something that I wouldn't soon lose interest in, even if no one else chooses to tune in to what I have to say.

Also, I'm a terrible "housewife." Perhaps terrible is too strong a word, but at the very least, homemaking does not come naturally to me. But I so want it to. I often find myself perusing MarthaStewart.com and reading an article where she is explaining something she (and presumably most of her readers) will find relatively simple...and I'm scratching my head wondering how the heck to plant flowers, grow vegetables, or serve a whole chicken. And I'm not convinced I will ever truly "get it."

So this is my fun experiment, and if I can learn a thing or two along the way, that's good, too. I hope to benefit my family with the changes I'm going to make, and perhaps friends, too if they should be so lucky as to sample some 50's fare (excluding noodle loaf!). I read something that encouraged me in my pursuit today and I thought I would share it with you. It's from Successful Entertaining at Home, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite books. This particular passage has do with the idea of making the most of what you have and living a rich life even if you aren't, well...rich.

I read an insurance report not long ago which said that money troubles, strangely enough, were not the greatest troubles in families. Families do remarkably well at living within their means, it seems; but getting happiness from the money they have is the great problem (p. 355).

How true is that? Since my son was born in May, my husband and I went from being DINKS (double income, no kids) to OIOKs...ok, I just made that up...one income, one kid...s..not sure it works quite the same. A synonym for that is: CRAZY. We live in one of the most expensive areas of the country and my husband is a teacher...so, you know, we're not exactly rolling in the dough. However, neither of us could stomach the idea of me working full time and putting our baby boy in daycare.

The funny thing is, we have not really struggled much, despite having significantly less money than we did a year ago. I mean, I don't get Starbucks as much, and I haven't been to the mall in a while, but I don't feel as if we've really given anything up. We still have friends over for dinner, we still go out occasionally, and we live a very full life. Not to mention I get to be with my sweet boy all day and don't have to shell out an ungodly sum for daycare every month. Oh, also...we still eat, have heat, can buy food for our son, have clothes, and HD cable TV. It's funny to think about how worried we were about money only to realize we have always had everything we need. And then some. We are truly blessed.

...Living and homemaking is a business these days, as much as any other. Let's hope you get your money's worth.

I don't know about you, but I fully intend to.

What to Know about Vino

I have a confession to make: I love wine. Don't get me wrong, I'm no alkie. But I just love a glass of wine with dinner or after dinner. If I could, I would have a glass a day - and on vacation, I do. It is my alcoholic beverage of choice, no matter where I am or what the occasion. Sure, the girly drinks are tasty and cute (who doesn't love a cosmo every now and again?), but there's just something about wine that is classy, elegant, and meant to be savored.

So as I sip a crisp glass of pino grigot (my favorite), I can think of nothing better to blog about than wine, and what every good 50's housewife should know about it. I must say I'm pleased it is mentioned at all, and exceedingly pleased that Carolyn Coggins devotes a section of her book to wine, as to how it should be served and enjoyed. For starters, Ms. Coggins suggests that it is not necessary to stock a zillion different types of wine glasses. In her own words:

Although your society grandmother may have had thirty-some different kinds of glasses for serving everything from an apertif to a liqueur, she had rows and rows of cupboard shelves for their storage and a staff to whisk them in and out. The illustrations showing different glasses for serving various things will interest you only if you are likewise ensconsced amidst the spaciousness of the past (p. 161).

Yes, I did just look up the definition for "apertif" on Merriam-Webster.com. An alcoholic drink taken before a meal as an appetizer. I didn't even know that was an option! Is that in addition to some light apps? Because who doesn't love a fine wine with a nice cheese and cracker plate? I think I'm definitely going to be a hostess who offers apertifs. And I think I might bring the word apertif into everyday conversation when possible. People will think I'm so classy. Like my beverage of choice.

Also, I must give Carolyn credit for being a woman who was probably ahead of her time. I don't know what her situation was, but I would hardly describe myself as "ensconsced amdist the spaciousness of the past," not only because I don't often use the word ensconsced, but also because in my house we find ourselves more cramped amidst the confines of our teeeeeny home. We hardly have room to walk when my son's swing, exersaucer, bumbo seat, and various other toys are out in the living room. So do we have room for shelves upon shelves of wine containers? Not a chance.

For the rest of us - which is the majority - the four-ounce stemmed glass is suggested for serving all wines. In it, pour two ounces or less of an apertif or dessert wine, or fill it when table wine is served.

It's nice to know I'm in the majority. One thing I'm curious about, however, is how you know when you've reached the "two ounce" mark. I could probably estimate a cup rather effectively, but that is what we like to call a healthy pour. I literally just asked my husband "If there are 8 oz. in a cup...that means that....2 oz. is 1/4 a cup...right?" Hmm...it might be time to put down the pino, Cath.

One thing I'm noticing is that the pours seem to have been a bit smaller in the 50's. For me, if I'm planning on having about a 1/2 a cup (4 oz.), why would I pour only 2 oz. to begin with? I feel I would be saving myself a trip to the kitchen and feel less like a lush if I only have "one glass," using my definition of it.

Too bad I didn't read this before I poured the pino tonight...into a stemless wine glass, to boot. I guess I'm learning more and more every day how much I have yet to learn about being a 50's housewife and hostess with the mostess. So, ok, I won't feel inadequate for having 6 total wine glasses in my house (4 without stems) and I'll start pouring less into each glass...starting.....now....

And by now I mean tomorrow!

WWJD

I'm not sure when things changed, but as far as I can tell, people used to dress a lot more thoughtfully than they do now. It seems like these days people are far more concerned with comfort than style - hello, girdles! - than they were in the 50's. Don't get me wrong, I love to be comfortable as much as the next girl, and I'd be lying if I said there weren't some days when I don modified pajamas from morning until evening because, let's face it, I often end up with upchucked Gerber as an accessory. One of the things that fascinates me most about 50's housewives is that they always seemed to be able to get things done while looking fab. I mean, let's be real - these women dusted in pearls!

From what I gather, it's not just women who were to be meticulous in their clothing and appearance. Amy Vanderbilt has plenty to say about menswear and what was appropriate or not for a man to wear to the office. Her advice to men everywhere? Be prepared.

It is safer to be dressed for any business occasion that might occur than to go to the office in clothes that might be out of place if an important client should turn up or a vital meeting be called. The beloved rainy-day suit looks shabby when the sun comes out at noon, the old tweed jacket throws a man off stride if he's suddenly precipitated into a group of men wearing directors' jackets...(p. 141).

I love how she describes this dressing up in terms of being safe. I don't think many men today (or women, for that matter) would consider their choice of wardrobe based on a very important event that might take place that day. Back then, a jacket and tie was standard attire for a working man. Obviously, there are certain professions today in which men still dress up (some even wear suits every day), but I think we are trending toward comfort and less emphasis is placed on the way we present ourselves to others.

Right out of college, I was taught that when going to a job interview, a person should wear a suit and dress not for the position they are interviewing for, but for the boss' position. But then the first day on the job, they come in dressed "business casual" (define it how you wish), and look nothing like the polished person they interviewed. I confess I have done this very thing, and it's only now that it amuses me. What I mean to say is it seems like our society is heading towards doing just the bare minimum when it comes to making appearances (and they are not, as they say, everything), rather than making an assertive statement with our clothing and appearance day in and day out. I know I probably walk and carry myself differently when I'm wearing a suit or a cocktail dress than I do when I'm bumming around in pajamas. I imagine I'm not the only one.

There's nothing worse than walking into a place where you think the dress code is _______ (insert how you are currently dressed here) and finding out it is really _______ (insert 6 times nicer than you are dressed here). My sister recently regaled me with a horrific story (well, she was horrified) of attending a cocktail party hosted by new friends one evening. She walked in the door, cute as can be in a long sweater, jeans, and fun boots. Only when she walked in the door, there was not a pair of jeans to be seen. Everywhere she looked, there were ladies in cocktail dresses, men in suits - people were dressed to the nines. She told me the story the next day in church and said, in a mortified whisper, "Cathleen, I showed up in jeggings!"

While I'm quite sure my sister was still the belle of the ball, I think most of us can relate to the feeling of..."Uh-oh... I wish someone had told me this was a fancy party," or even, "How did I miss the memo?" And I think Amy's point is just that. You won't miss the memo if are always dressed up. I don't think this means prancing around the house in heels (at least, I haven't read that chapter yet!), but I do think it means dressing up a bit more than we're used to and taking a bit more pride in the way we present ourselves to the world. For me, it will mean thinking: "What am I going to wear?," then choosing an outfit and asking: "WWJD?" What would June do?

Grammy's Coming to Town!

Since my husband's parents are on their way to visit us this weekend, I thought it appropriate to study etiquette with in-laws. I have heard countless horror stories from my married friends about meddling mother-in-laws and worse...just plain mean ones. Part of me can't imagine that otherwise normal women become heinous witches once the bride and groom say "I do," so maybe it's also that the wives become a bit more sensitive. I get the whole dynamic of a son leaving his mom's home and starting a new one with his wife (who, in my husband's case is less of a cook and housekeeper than his mother) - and I guess it is difficult for some women to be ok with that.

I, however, have been fortunate to marry into a family that is loving, kind, and even reads my blog! They have accepted me with open arms, faults and all, and I can honestly say I feel like one of the family. Having been so lucky, I find it interesting that sometimes when I start a story with, "My husband's parents are coming to visit," friends will smile sympathetically, as if to say "you'll get through it." Then I rush to say "No, no, I'm very close with my in-laws actually." It's almost as if it's ingrained in our culture to be dramatic about this relationship, particularly with reference to mother-in-laws. I guess father-in-laws are just dudes who don't make much of a fuss about such things.

Amy Vanderbilt has this to say on growing up, moving out, and the formation of a new family:

When we marry, we literally must "forsake all others" and consider the marriage bond the paramount one. The whole process of growing up is that of growing away from one's parents in the physical sense, and to a great degree in the emotional one, too (p. 497).

I guess this makes sense. I remember how exciting it was to think about living with my husband and having a place of our own. For me, it couldn't happen soon enough. We dated for 5 years and had an 8 month engagement - and at the end I just couldn't wait to wake up every morning next to the man I love and my best friend in the world. I never stopped to think about what anyone else might be thinking or feeling about it. Least of all, our mothers.

I remember coming back from our honeymoon, expecting everything to be roses, and my mom told me my sister cried her eyes out the day after I got married. Not because she wasn't happy for me, but because she had a great sense of loss, that things would be different now - and certain things would never be the same. Never again would we live in the same house together. Looking back, I realize that's kind of a big deal. And I imagine if that's the way my sister felt, perhaps my mom and mother-in-law had a bit of that sentiment, too.

Where in-laws are to be considered, especially a mother-in-law who finds it difficult to relinquish hold on her child, the very first steps in the relationship are most important. A young son-in-law, for example, should not be made to feel like a culprit because he can't call this relatively strange and sometimes seemingly hostile older woman "mother."

I'm trying not to read too much into this, but perhaps Amy's husband had issue with the elder Mrs. Vanderbilt? I can honestly say my husband has a great relationship with my family. Also, there was never any question of what we would call each other's parents. When we were teenagers dating, it was "Mr. and Mrs." I think shortly before we were engaged it switched to calling them by their first names. And I love what Amy has to say about that:

Both she and her son-in-law might be more comfortable with the modern "Mrs. Brown" or just "Jane" as if she were a contemporary. Then when the children begin to arrive, a pet name usually solves everything, and "Mrs. Brown" or "Jane" becomes comfortable old "Nanny" or "Granny" or any other variation of a child's loving title for his grandmother to everyone in the household. And somehow with little hands in hers she feels less shut out, more needed in the new living arrangement, and she usually is" (p. 497).

I won't have the chance to ask our "Grammy" whether or not this is true until she arrives tomorrow, but I have a hunch Amy is once again correct. Grammy becomes almost giddy upon seeing her baby grandson, and when she holds him, it appears as though they're in their own little world, happy as clams. And for that matter, I'm fairly certain tension or drama simply cannot exist in a room where that baby boy is smiling.

See you tomorrow, Sherry! Safe travels!