My husband was on a business trip last week, I tagged along, I like when that happens!!! I poke around wherever I want - I checked out a few antique markets and a few thrift stores. I know I don't buy much any more, but really, I expected at least a couple more little things! I nearly had two Vera scarves, one scarf seemed familiar and it was priced at $5 so I wasn't taking the chance, the other scarf I had lined up to pay, there were about ten people ahead of me and one cashier open - not worth it for one scarf which wasn't even an exceptional one!
My purchases were both made at antique markets, not a thrift store purchase to be had, which is sad. The vintage merchandise in these stores is just not there now, I am so glad I have what I do and found a lot of it for great prices. And, there was one less store to shop at as all Ontario Goodwill shops closed last week.
I am always on the lookout for one of these Prince Edward Island pennants, finally, I have one..
I love vintage Valentines, the copyright on this Valentine book is 1980 so I guess we'll say it's vintage, as you can't buy these books now. Some pages are punch out, some are to be cut out - it's so cute! I plan to use some in my Pocket Letters.
I think the days of me having many thrifty find posts are coming to a screeching halt - but like I've said, I really need nothing. I still like to look though!!
I love it when I find a new recipe that's easy to make and tastes delicious. I found this "Creamy Shrimp Alfredo Pasta" today when I was browsing - the original recipewas found on NatashasKitchen.com I thank her for posting this tasty recipe!!
Creamy Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
Fettucine or Penne Pasta
Shrimp - I used 10 large shrimp for the two of us
1 tbsp. oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp. butter
1 garlic clove
1/3 cup white wine
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper, to taste
Sprinkle of Paprika
Parsley or basil for garnish
Lightly season shrimp with salt, pepper and paprika. Preheat large skillet to med/high and add 1 tbsp. oil. Add shrimp and cook 1-2 minutes per side, do not overcook. Remove shrimp to a bowl.
I started cooking the fettucine after the first step. Drain when cooked, do not rinse.
In your same frying pan, over medium/high heat, add 2 tbsp. butter, cook onion, stir in garlic and cook together. Stir in 1/3 cup white wine and reduce to 25%, scraping the bottom to deglaze the pan.
Stir in cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the top with 1/3 cup parmesan and stir until creamy and smooth. Add 1/4 tsp. paprika and season with salt and pepper.
Turn off heat and add cooked shrimp and pasta to the frying pan. Garnish with parsley or basil.
This is a definite winner, I've pinned it for future use!
My first post for 2016 and it's going to be about "Pocket Letters" because I love making them, swapping and receiving them in the mail. I started this craze back in the spring, I haven't made as many as some people, but I still feel like I'm addicted to them!!! I've met some great ladies through these swaps, some of which I continue to swap with. Honesty is a big part of it, 95% of the time everything goes smoothly, but there are always those people out there who commit to a swap and then come up with excuse after excuse why you haven't received their letter. I don't swap with them again!
That's all the letters that have arrived at my house - I really need to get bigger binders. I received 21 Christmas letters, which I placed all in the bulging binder at the top. In total there are 62 pocket letters in those binders.
After being away over Christmas, I made my first letter yesterday, to replace one that didn't reach it's destination, mine didn't make it to her either, that's so strange! She requested a winter one. Today, all the Christmas and winter things will be packed away, next up - Valentine Pocket Letters or just what ever I want!
Here's a couple of Christmas letters I made...
And a couple of regular ones that I made a while back...
I look forward to lots more fun swaps this year!!
I've been doing some baking this week but since we are going away for Christmas, I don't have to do as much and what I do make, has to travel well!
Last year I discovered "Cuban Lunch" on Instagram - we loved these and quickly became one of our favourites. People have said this was a chocolate bar, I had never heard of it - it really was, it was mostly a Western Canadian bar, made in Winnipeg by Paulin's or so I've read. This recipe was the first one I googled, so I chose that, there are other variations, I won't be changing, we like this one!
Cuban Lunch
2 c. peanut butter chips
2 c. butterscotch chips
2 c. chocolate chips
1 1/2 c. crushed ripple potato chips
1 1/2 c. peanuts (salted or unsalted)
Melt together the peanut butter, butterscotch & chocolate chips in top of double boiler (I used the microwave)
Add crushed potato chips and peanuts.
Mix together with melted chips.
Spoon into mini cupcake paper cups.
Keep in refrigerator.
This next recipe is one of my daugther's favourites - they're easy and they're good - they're Peppermint Meltaways!
Peppermint Meltaways
1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. icing sugar
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. cornstarch
In small bowl, cream butter & icing sugar until light and fluffly. Beat in extract. Combine flour & cornstarch, gradually add to creamed mixture, mix well.
Shape into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches part on ungreased pan ( I use parchment). Bake 350 - 10-12 minutes.
Frosting -
2 tbsp. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. icing sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
2-3 drops of food colouring. I use very little as I want them to be a very light pink.
In small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add icing sugar, milk, extract and food colouring. Beat until smooth.
Delicious - both of them!!!
I love this movie!!! But, I never discovered it until a couple of years ago, hard to believe because it was first shown in 1983 - my children missed the experience of this great movie! But, now they know about it!!!!
I found a little Hallmark tree ornament in the shape of the "leg lamp" from the movie, I was content with that until I was away this past weekend and saw a 20 inch lamp, I loved it but I thought it was too expensive, that was on Friday night, I thought about it all weekend, I went back on Sunday afternoon, gone - every one!! I was so disappointed - really disappointed!!!
I started searching the internet and found where I could order here in Canada, I ordered Sunday night, I had my leg lamp yesterday. Lesson learned there though, I ended up paying more but it's worth it, it's everything I had hoped for!!
If you've watched the movie, you know all about the leg lamp - how Ralphie's father won the full size lamp - "It's a Major Award", Fra-gee-lay - It must be Italian, Isn't it Glorious - and, my lamp if glorious!
When we were in Cleveland last year visiting the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame, we stopped at The Christmas Story House but it was too late in the day, it was closed. But, I did see the lamp in the window - the film was shot in Cleveland and Toronto - here's an article about the Toronto locations that were used in the film. I want to go back to Cleveland again so I can tour the house and visit the gift shop across the street!!
This is my very favourite Christmas movie!! Do you like it?
I actually found a few vintage kitschy Christmas items in the past few days, all bought at different shops, costing me less than $2 for the three items - my kind of price!
A knee hugger on gold - pure kitsch!! 25 cents!!
Why didn't I head to the Christmas section as soon as I got to this shop - there was a man browsing and he picked up three boxes of old ornaments, I got my hands on these right quick. He says - "they don't make them like this anymore" REALLY?? I kept watching him in the hopes he would put them down but no such luck. I paid 25 cents for them so I shouldn't complain!!! Hoping to collect up enough to make another wreath for next year!
I bought the two mini cups, my first two tiny ones - love those Santa cups!! $1
Vintage Christmas has been scarce so far and I'm more selective than I was - I have a lot!!
I jumped on the colouring bandwagon in the summer and I'm still on it! The summer meant colouring flowers, now it means Christmas -and I found just the perfect book.
This book by Mary Tanana has the most beautiful images, it was the last one on the shelf the day I found it, I didn't hesitate paying full price because it has just the type of pictures that I like. I posted this book on Instagram when I bought it, Mary Tanana herself commented!!!
It's a busy time of the year, I'd like to be colouring more, here are a few that I've done..
It's very hard to photograph colouring pages and get them cropped without cutting off some of the picture, especially the double pages.
I so enjoy colouring! Have you joined in yet on the colouring craze?
