Hopin' and Wishin'

My kitchen progress is coming along, slowly, but surely.  Finding all the right pieces takes a lot of patience, and of course budgeting for some of the more expensive changes has to be accomplished one improvement at a time.  This year, we painted the cupboards peacock blue, created a chalkboard refrigerator and added to our collection of colorful 1950s housewares, including our pastel ceramic Monterey dishes.  My goals for 2013 are: finding the perfect retro oven (it has to be one of the harder to find 30" models), replacing the light fixture above the dining table, and re-tiling the back splash.  Maybe by 2014, I can think about new counter tops?!?

Bold indicates items that I covet, the rest is already in place. (From left to right): Our Peacock Feather blue cabinets, chalkboard fridge, white subway tile for the back splash,  vintage Pyrex, yellow wooden "eat" sign, Airstream kitchen hand towel,  1950s Wedgewood stove,  Yellow Lustro Ware canisters, "Why, yellow Gorgeous!" kitchen hand towel, mint green shake mixer, "Make Lemonade" printable,  aqua Lustro Ware reamer, gold star burst clock, pastel ceramic dishes, Amy Butler fabric in Coreopsis, George Nelson Saucer light, & mint green rotary wall phone.

What's your perfect kitchen?

XOX

Celebrating our anniversary

My husband and I are getting ready to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary on June 12th.  We wanted to get out of town and do something unique and memorable.  After a friend's recommendation of a little spot, a quick drive away, we booked our reservation.  I've been crushing on vintage campers for awhile now.  I just needed to get the husband "on board."
Meet "Sally," the 1962 Shasta travel trailer we stayed in at the Starlite Classic Campground!

We brought all the kids with us, and then my mom picked them up for a sleepover at her house.  We enjoyed some swimming...

some cannonballing...

some lizard watching...

mini golf...

and marshmallow roasting...

all before they left for grandma's house!  Here is a quick look at the inside of our camper:

The sofa pulls out into a double bed, after the tables flip up on the wall.  Of course, my luggage is vintage.

There is an identical table on the other side that comes down to maximize space.  This was my first foray into using a coffee percolator.

The mini fridge

propane stove, oven, and sink

The second pull out bed

Only Elowyn got to stay the night with us in the trailer.  We grilled out for dinner, but for breakfast I attempted to make sausage and french toast on the propane stove.  I've never cooked with propane before.  It seemed there were only two setting; fiery inferno and "off!"  I managed to cook everything perfectly, but I set the fire alarm off twice!

My husband's shirt is vintage 60s dead stock (New old stock)!

You've gotta love a fiberglass bullet planter, in pink, of course!!  Here are a couple of Sally's neighbors:

Ginny, a 1954 Aljoa Sportsman

Bailey, a 1950 Spartan Royal Mansion

The Flamingo Lounge, a 1962 Tepee, hitched to a 1958 Chevy Biscayne

A 1959 Rambler Station Wagon, hitched to "Lucy."  This would absolutely be my new car, if only it had seat belts!!

The gift shop had a small assortment of mid-century housewares and vintage clothing.  We bought the Lustroware recipe box that matches my kitchen canisters, an aqua Dritz sewing basket, and a red Lux clock.

Happy Anniversary, Darling!

Atomic House Wares

Long before genetically modified frankenfoods, Monsanto got its start in chemicals and plastics.  It's a pretty logical evolution, if you ask me.  In the late 1940s and early 50s, bright colored plastics were the wave of the future.  Lustrex was touted as a cheaper, more resilient house ware material, and items such as dishes, toys, clocks, and even radios hit the market.

Recognize those canisters? We snapped them up at an antique store!  If anyone happens across the coffee and/or flour, buy it for me and I will love you forever.  They are also available in red:

I've gathered a collection of atomic bar ware.  I purchased 7 small and 7 large orange and gold glasses at an estate sale over the weekend for .25 a piece!

I spotted these black and gold starburst glasses recently, and grabbed 7 of them as well.

Couldn't resist this atomic pitcher!  The gold diamond design looks like the harlequin pattern that was so popular in the 50s.

My favorite piece so far came from a local antique store.  I was courting it for several months, and one day walked in to find it was missing from the shelf.  I felt absolutely sick to my stomach that I had let someone else buy it!  Then, I walked around the corner and saw it sitting in another stall.  Say hello, to my turquoise and gold "chip and dip"!

Alright, now who's coming over for a drink?