How to Carve a Turkey by Duncan Hines

How to Carve a Turkey by Duncan Hines, 1953 | Hannah & Husband

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for vintage, and one of the things I love to find are food pamphlets and small paperback cookbooks from the 1940s and 50s. These little treasures not only offer an array of recipes, but often a little peek into the era–admittedly my favorite part. So today, kicking off our Thanksgiving festivities here on the blog is this little gem from Woo-Woo’s collection: 1953’s How to Carve a Turkey by Duncan Hines. As you’ll see it was distributed by local Gulf stations to patrons all over the country.

And, look at that man. Isn’t he just precious? I’d take that well-suited man with his winking eye at my table any day of the week!

How to Carve a Turkey by Duncan Hines, 1953 | Hannah & Husband

 

The family and guests gather around the table, admire the bird, join in the prayer of thanks, and settle back in pleasant anticipation of a delicious meal and a good show–the ritual of carving the turkey. Unfortunately, the head of the house, meanwhile, has all too often been suffering the pangs of stage fright and the feeling of being faced with a long, unpleasant carving chore.

When you know how, carving is not difficult, and it is fun to put on the expected show.

How to Carve a Turkey by Duncan Hines, 1953 | Hannah & Husband

How to Carve a Turkey by Duncan Hines, 1953 | Hannah & Husband

 

Many people have decided preferences and the thoughtful host will inquire what they desire and serve accordingly. When no preference is expressed, the helping should be equal parts of light and dark meat. In all cases, a spoonful of stuffing should first be put on the plate. Serve neatly, as appearance aids appetite.

I just love that line!

How to Carve a Turkey by Duncan Hines, 1953 | Hannah & Husband

Woo-Woo had 7 children. As you may imagine, there were many things that acted as a canvas to a young artist. 

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Related Posts:

A favorite this time of year: Woo-Woo’s Recipe for Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Or, if you’re hosting this year: Thanksgiving Game Plan: 8 Days Out 

 

 

Thrift This Look: 5 Trends for F/W 2015

We get a lot of questions about our closets because we’re always looking to wear things that are just a little different. Our secret: thrifting. We love vintage stores, and the price point is almost always preferable to buying “the latest thing.” So today, I’m starting the “Thrift This Look” series where I’ll share elements you can find used to really dress up your duds. To kick things off, here are 5 trends for F/W 2015 that you can find at your local thrift store.

The School Uniform

This trend is basically the cousin of the sexy Catholic School girl–the prudish cousin that may have resting bitch face. The skirts this season are just a bit longer but the patterns are bigger and bolder than ever!

Look for: Plaid skirts.

Note: Be sure to check any wools and tweeds for moth holes. Finding these in mint condition at thrift are rare, but you may be able to use any wear to talk down the price!

The Dancing Queen

If you listen to a lot of Abba and can drop into “Superstar” stance (Mary Catherine Gallagher fans out there?) at a moment’s notice, this look is for you. I mean, let’s just say it: there are not enough opportunities to wear sequins as an adult. Shine on like the star you are, baby!

Look for: Sequins that are at least the size of nickels.

Bohemian Honey

My mother’s closet in the 70s was basically this look. (Luckily she saved at least one dress that is now in my closet!) Lay in the grass, put on a little post-Beatles John Lennon (peace, love, etc.), and wear something long and flowy. The best part? You don’t have to worry about fixing your hair.

Look for: Crimson florals on silky fabrics.

Put a Bow on It

This feels like a Portlandia sketch, but I promise it isn’t. Feminine collars that tie into neat little bows are something I remember from my earliest childhood. I feel like you’d need to have a tendency toward granny and perhaps a little amish to really pull this off, but why not?

Look for: Blouses that are feminine and collars that tie.

Comfy Chic

A big shout-out to Lenny Kravitz for this timeless mental image. This look may be as easy as an extra phone call to your grandmother. But, if you aren’t so lucky, it’s time for a trip to the wool section.

Look for: Chunky knits

Note: Thrifted sweaters often carry the eau de antique. To get rid of the vintage stench for good, check out this post. 

There you go: 5 trends to thrift for Fall! Which one is your favorite?

If you care to pop over the HGTV’s Dreams Happen blog, today I’ll be sharing my best tips for thrifting.

 

Nana

Last week, Husband’s beloved nana passed away. She will be remembered for her beautiful Georgia accent (which basically precluded all use of the letter ‘r’) and some of the biggest hair you’ve ever seen–never a strand out of place.

She's in the __ row, 2nd from the left... wearing pearls, of course!

She’s in the 4th row, 2nd from the left… wearing pearls, of course!

We took some time to look through a few old things while we were up for the funeral and came across this page from the July 1960 issue of National Geographic. I just love the colors! How perfectly ’60s. They were living in Hawaii at the time and this was snapped at her husband Ritter’s graduation.

3 Ways to Add Soul to a Room You Don’t Use

We all have those rooms–the ones we shut the door on and try to forget the Christmas gifts we’ll never use that are piled on the chair we meant to have reupholstered. Shudder no more my friend! It’s a new year. You can do this. Here are three ways to add soul to a room you don’t use. In no time, you’ll have guests thinking, “They just know exactly what to do with their space!”

For us, that room is an upstairs bedroom. We have the one guest room that is used for guests and the other one that is used for linen storage/books/that pile for Goodwill. Sure, we could have kids some day and this space could come in super handy, but at the moment we think of it as that one other room we have to vacuum. So one weekend we took a few easy steps to add a little soul, and now it’s known as our “sitting room” thankyouverymuch.

3 Ways to Add Soul to a Room You Don't Use | Hannah & Husband

The gallery wall and rug in our “sitting room.” If you want to learn how to make the upholstered bench, click here.

3 Ways to Add Soul

Cozy things up

ie: Buy a cheap rug. You can sometimes find vintage orientals on Craigslist* or in antique malls. Another option is salvage stores. My instinct is always to look for color and pattern (hides the wine drips). But if you want a lighter look, find a white rug with some seriously soft texture.

*The one rule here is to make sure they don’t smell like smoke.

Personalize

Hang some art. Better yet, hang a lot of it. Gallery walls are a great alternative to painting walls. (Hello, renters!) When we first bought our house, I was paralyzed by the fear that I would hang something in the wrong spot. Remember, if you don’t like where you hang something, you can always move it later.

Click here for an easy way to hang a gallery wall.

Next: Books, board games, and linens. Extra rooms are a great place for storage (thus all the piles) so why not embrace that? But (pro tip) this is not the place to put your DVD collection. Think of tactile personal objects that add warmth–a shelf full of clean quilts ready to be grabbed for a spur-of-the-moment picnic perhaps!

3 Ways to Add Soul to a Room You Don't Use | Hannah & Husband

We picked this vintage hanging light up for $5 and redid it. Here’s how.

Look at Your Fixtures

Fixture: A legal concept referring to something that
is permanently attached to a property.

Think door knobs, light fixtures, outlet covers, even the hooks in the bathroom. What one fixture could you replace to make things feel a bit more you? Regardless of what you choose, this is an upgrade that makes a big impact with less than an hour of effort!

Pro Tip: Scour the vintage shops for fixtures. They always come with a bit of the story, and that’s just what you need.

Finally, a little recommended listening for your room redo. Trust me on this one…

This Used Book Inscription

There are times when I see things at vintage shops and used book stores that I simply must have. Yesterday, just such a thing happened at the used book store where I was scouring the shelves for Jen Lancaster‘s book Such a Pretty Fat. (I fell in love with Jen the moment my friend Beth sent me the link for The Tao of Martha.) Anyway, when I opened the book, I saw this message written on the inside.

Inscription in the copy of Jen Lancaster's "Such a Pretty Fat" that I bought at the used book store yesterday.

This should make you LOL while reading it.
I hope you enjoy this and please quit taking yourself so seriously.
I love you just the way you are.
Just be healthy!

I Love You!
Mom
8-30-08

You know, sometimes you just need some maternal wisdom–even if it’s not from your own mother! So your message (and mine) for today is this: Stop taking yourself so seriously! Try your best, and then trust that you’re enough. You! Just the way you are.

And also, maybe pick up a Jen Lancaster book. It really will make you “LOL.”

 

1950s Dinner Party with the “Club”

I usually don’t share too much about the “club” except for the fact that it exists and an instagram here and there, but last night we threw a 1950s dinner party. So really how could I resist?

If you remember, last year I started a book club. It was fun! We liked talking about the books we were reading, but we also just really loved each other’s company–and planning ridiculously over-the-top food and drink to accompany the discussion. So finally…

It's finally happened. Book club has officially become 'Club'...

Last night was the first gathering of the “club,” and what better way to kick things off than with a 1950s dinner party? After all, the women of the 50s were all about a good gathering of the girls, right? Garden clubs, book clubs, bridge circles… you get the picture.

Anywho, here are a few highlights:

Punch Table | Hannah & Husband

 

Hannah in Woo-Woo's dress | Hannah & Husband

I wore the only dress I have of my Woo-Woo’s. I’d never actually worn it because, in the words of one of the guests, “It’s beautiful, but the fabric feels like the upholstery on my couch.” It fit perfectly.

Humpty Dumpty Egg | Hannah & Husband

We made dishes that we found (and, in most cases, updated) in cookbooks from the era and our own family’s recipe boxes. Somewhere in the midst of the jello-d ham (totally a thing) and massive amounts of mayo and MSG, we found a few things that were pretty tasty.

Note to self: I learned that you really should never make meatloaf for a dinner party. It’s best out of the oven, which means that by the time we’d finished our punch, the main course was looking (and tasting) rather cold and sad.

50s Party Table | Hannah & Husband

Anywho, we had punch & deviled eggs to start. Then, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, pea salad, jello salad, banana pudding, and candle salad. 1950s women were all about the salad! But what is candle salad you ask? The weirdest way to serve fruit I’ve seen and also the best centerpiece ever. I’ll let you be the judge.

Hannah prepping the candle salad. | Hannah & Husband

Assembling the candle salad… from Liz’s instagram

Candle Salad Recipes | Hannah & Husband

Candle Salad | Hannah & Husband

 What’s your favorite 1950s recipe? Have you ever thrown a 50s party?

Heart Hair Clip

As you know, I’ve been on a bit of a hair accessory kick lately. I love the sparkly baubles to put in my hair, but I really hate paying much for them. A few weeks ago, I showed you this Vintage Button Hair Bauble I made from some of Nana’s button collection. Today, I thought I’d show you how I made this sequined heart.

Heart Hair Bling | Hannah & Husband

For this, I just layered sequins onto a piece of wool felt one night while watching Pitch Perfect. (Seriously, how much do you adore that movie?)

Tip: Use real wool felt. It’s heftier than the cheaper synthetic stuff and will keep its shape.

Heart Hair Bling | Hannah & Husband

As you can see, this time I used a piece of paper to try to prop the clip open against the hot glue. While it did the trick or helping me not glue the clip shut, it left behind some paper. So not only does it look terrible; it also makes the piece harder to take in and out.

After experimenting a bit more, I’d just recommend holding the clip open. The glue doesn’t take very long to dry.

Heart Hair Bling | Hannah & Husband

After the last hair post, I got several questions (on the post and via social media) about how I do my hair. I’ll post a video of that soon!

Vintage Button Hair Bauble

Vintage Button Hair Bobble How-To | Hannah & Husband

When I was little, I would spend afternoons sorting through my mom’s old button collection while she sewed. So when I inherited Husband’s beautiful Nana’s vintage collection, it was like getting a jar full of gold! Since then, I’ve been trying to figure out ways to incorporate these little treasures into my everyday style. My latest idea: hair baubles! Here’s how you can make your own.

button-hair-bauble

Vintage Button Hair Bobble How-To | Hannah & Husband

First things first: Gather your materials.

  • 2 identically cut pieces of felt
  • a hair clip (you can get these from any craft store or beauty supply)
  • needle
  • thread
  • vintage buttons
  • a glue gun

Vintage Button Hair Bobble How-To | Hannah & Husband

I started by sewing buttons onto the green piece of felt that I didn’t mind showing up a little behind them. Start with the biggest ones and then fill in with smaller buttons, beads, and pearls.

Vintage Button Hair Bobble How-To | Hannah & Husband

Vintage Button Hair Bobble How-To | Hannah & HusbandNext I sewed the navy piece of felt onto the back to keep all those knots from showing.

I could have sewed the hair clip on the navy piece before doing sewing the two together, but I chose to just hot glue it on. In retrospect, sewing probably would’ve made for a prettier back.

Voilà!

 

 

 

 

Our Home Bar: Repurposed Steamer Trunk

trunk-before

The trunk (and floor) before a major overhaul

Hannah and I have always loved taking weekend drives up into the Smoky Mountains. Early in our marriage, while we were still trying to furnish our new (to us) home, we stopped at a little antique store on one of these drives. Filled primarily with the usual suspects, we did happen across one item that stood out: a vintage steamer trunk.

Joe Versus the Volcano

I’ll never let go, Jack!

We loved the look of it, and thought it would make the perfect end table or ottoman. However after a year or so, and a steadily growing liquor cabinet, we decided to repurpose the trunk. We removed four of the drawers, keeping the top for cocktail books & napkins, and creating shelving with the rest. We kept the fronts for the bottom drawers in order to hide the less attractive (or downright embarrassing) bottles. The left side had a perfect shelf at the top for a cutting board we already had, and underneath I put together a wine and glass rack with pine and a brad nailer. We liked the look of the unfinished wood enough that we’ve kept it that way.

trunk-bar-hannahandhusband-1

The steamer trunk is a conversation piece, and utilizing it as a bar has given us a beautiful and organized way to store our wine & liquor.

Plus, when the house sitter comes over, we can close it.

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Bar + Dexter photobomb on the far right

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On a related note, Hannah has a post on DIY’s Made + Remade today that will help you stock your own bar for the holiday season.

 

Get Rid of That Vintage Smell

Love getting a new vintage frock, but hate the stench that comes with it? Well, today is your lucky day! Husband is sort of like the Goodwill Whisperer. While getting his MBA, he also acquired a closet full of sport coats from the finest tailors in town–all for a going rate of about $5 each. But the vintage smell (don’t act like you don’t know) was a bit much, so, after doing some research, he found a great solution.

The secret? Vodka. It’s not just for martinis anymore…

smell-vintage-goodwill-clothing-secrets

  • Mix 2 parts vodka with 1 part distilled water in a spray bottle.
  • Spray on your garment.
  • It will dry quickly. Then, just take it to the dry cleaner for cleaning.

On second thought, the real Secret of this Belle may just be to get yourself a husband that helps with the laundry after making you a martini.