I am troubled by the question of what to do with a few items I have which fall under the category 'black memorabilia'. All of these items depict black mammies, and from a purely aesthetic viewpoint, I love them. The colors -- black, white, & red -- are striking. The rag doll mother and child were stitched by hand. Same with the framed appliqué canvas. And I adore cookie jars in the shapes of people or animals. A black mammy seems like a nostalgic symbol of home and hospitality.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Road Trip Play List
I'm just back from a harrowing 10-hour road trip on a snowy highway. My husband and I took turns at the wheel but mostly he drove and mostly I shouted loud warnings about trucks! Ice! Wind! Snowplow! Winter storms bring out the inner panic monster, don't they?
At least the two young men in the back behaved. I remember the days when the boys were young, and we had to strategically place four car seats based on arm span and likelihood of child to use arms for swatting, slapping, or smacking a sibling. Back then, I threatened to throw my shoes at anyone who misbehaved. Given my lousy aim, and my preponderance to wear clogs, it was an effective technique. They still talk about the time they refused to return the shoe after I flung it at them.
Read moreNot Feeling the Valentine Vibe?
On Monday, the first draft of this listicle began as an inspirational ode to love. (For new readers, most every week I try to synthesize the best of the web into a themed listicle of links, accompanied by an object in my shop that relates.)
But my valentine is away. He travels frequently for work and I struggle to find an equilibrium when he is gone. Proof: it's Wednesday, this listicle is late, and it is certainly not an ode to love. It is a tribute to the flipside of love, which isn't hate. It's confusion, loneliness, frustration.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Jennifer the Cat
One of my college kids called last week with the news that he just adopted a cat. He sent me a photo of the male cat, named Jennifer, playing in a box. Jennifer looks remarkably like these bookends and if you purchase them (here), you too can enjoy cats playing in boxes.
For those of you experiencing bad weather or cabin fever, this week's listicle is one of my best.
Read moreTakeaways from Alt Summit 2016
This week, I'm reporting back from the field of Alt Summit in Utah where I attended a four-day conference for bloggers and creative business owners. On the first day, I sat front row during the keynote speeches of some really really smart women. Give an entrepreneur time to prepare, a clicker, and a microphone and you get insights worthy of Ted Talks.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Downton Abbey's Back!
The object in the photo above is a bootjack, which one uses to remove one's riding boots if one hasn't a valet. It is available at Finder Not Keeper here.
Yes, yes, Downton Abbey is back for its final season. We are two episodes in and the show continues to employ the same old formulas that, by Jeeves, hooked us in Seasons 1-5. Julian Fellowes mixes equal parts gorgeous clothing, settings that show the glory of Merrie Old England, delicious put-downs from Granny/Dowager Countess/Violet and of course a healthy sprinkling of class struggle and snobbish frippery.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Eight Reasons to Love and Hate the Film "Joy"
How was your holiday? I saw the new Jennifer Lawrence film, "Joy", which is loosely based on the life of inventor/entrepreneur Joy Mangano. I went with some of my college kids who have been home for the past couple of weeks. It's so fun hanging out with them, but I basically had to shutter the shop. Thus, the premise of the movie about a beleaguered working mom felt very relevant personally. Maybe it does for you too.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Old School Christmas Cards
Back in the day, before camera phones and digital uploading made it easy to produce photo cards of happy family moments, people devised very creative ways to send holiday greetings through the mail.
There are a million ways to say 'Happy Holidays' with a card. The imagery and design of the card often conveyed something about the sender's
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Dolls
When my son was five, he asked for a Bubble Fairy Barbie. After years of buying Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and G.I. Joes, I couldn't wait to shop for this gift list item. As he opened the pink box, his older brothers teased him, and his growls back at them didn't make much difference. When the doll emerged, wrapped in organza wings with a drawstring cord
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Hurray for Handmade!
It's Cyber Monday and I'd like to know who coined that hideous term. There's nothing wrong with internet shopping, but Cyber Monday sounds like an evil robotic cyborg named Monday who sucks cash out of your wallet and leaves you empty and staring in disbelief at the confirmation emails. In response, my Cyber Monday offering is handmade. Hand-painted. Stitched by hand. And it's on sale.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // A Few Secrets from a Busy Cook
'Tis the season to season! Family is arriving and I'm busy in the kitchen, whipping up delectables. My feet ache already so this post is short and easy. Just a few quick hints and kitchen shortcuts from me to you.
This pepper is great in stuffing. I like the very subtle smoky flavor. I also sprinkle it in cheesy potatoes for the day after Thanksgiving. The jar is pricey but lasts a long time.
Milwaukee Iron is delicious on any comfort food. It's a yummy way to jazz up plain ole frozen corn. The Spice House, here in Milwaukee, created it to commemorate the 95th anniversary of Harley-Davidson, also a Milwaukee original.
In last week's gravy recipe, I referred to French salt. This is the kind I use. My grocery store carries it.
If you have the oven space, this blasted broccoli is the best roasted vegetable recipe ever, I kid you not. I now make two trays because it gets gobbled up like popcorn. Here's the recipe from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The smaller you cut the stalks, the better. The drier the broccoli, the better. Also, the recipe states that you should use your oven's convection setting, if possible. They're right. I've tried it in a non-convection oven and it doesn't turn out nearly as crispy.
I love cranberry chutney. This year, I'm serving it with cardamom whipped cream.
If you don't want to roast an entire turkey, this recipe is super easy and yields a rich stock for gravy. I make it once a month all winter long. The next day, we have Monica's turkey sandwiches with the moist-maker middle.
Have a wonderful holiday!
P.S. The salt and pepper shakers are new in the shop. They remind me so much of my parents. My mom is peppier than a Milwaukee Bucks cheerleader and my mustachioed father is salty in that interesting, unexpected way that all immigrants share when they verbally go to town in a non-native language. Photo by Renn Kuhnen.
Weekend Listicle // Sending Love
Below are the links that brought me some comfort last weekend. I hope they help you too:
A traveler, powdered sugar, and a cell phone come together in this lovely short essay that will heal your heart.
"No one leaves home, unless home is the mouth of the shark..." by Sarah Jameel on Medium.
These are the kind of monsters that actually inspire kids.
A view of Paris from Connecticut.
My own love letter to France, written a little more than a year ago.
Weekend Listicle // Guest Etiquette
I am featuring this pretty water carafe and tumbler because its rightful place is on a bedside table, perhaps in your guest room. Yes, it is upon us! The holiday season lurks and the delicate dance between guest and host will soon commence. Lucille Ball sums up the complexity when she says of her cousin Ernie, "He stayed overnight with us for a couple of weeks once."
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Tea for Two
A few days ago, I stopped by a friend's house and she fixed me a cup of tea. That's inaccurate actually. She served me tea. With a porcelain tea set on a silver tray. It was wonderful. We curled up on her couch, batted away her hissy kitty, and drank cups and cups while talking about life, hellion children, the dangers of retail, and falling instantly in love with our better halves. I will be writing more about her in the coming season, as she is a true original.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // A Horse with No Name
A girl and her horse! The bond is real, romantic, and unbreakable. Today as I shot images of these vintage coasters, I wished I had a horse to guide me. Frankly I'm confused. I adore this blog, and I enjoy the shop but how to divide my time? Plus, I have a couple of ideas for a book. I lust after a bricks and mortar space that would be part store / part studio. I fantasize about working as an art director for the likes of Anthropologie.
Where is my horse? I want to sit on its back...
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Office Talk
I bought a desk and chair at an estate sale last week. I'm excited to style it and shoot accessories on its top, like the collection above. The detritus of a desktop changes over the years, with certain objects fading into obscurity and others surviving no matter what cultural change is afoot. Not to mention the question of work style and work space, and whether or not you thrive on clutter or find it distracting. This week's listicle is about work space:
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Pretty Baby
Last week I posted a new collection that made demented use of baby dolls. As penance for my evil ways, this week's listicle is devoted to the wholesome wondrousness of babies.
Did you know that 20% of the time, babies cry for no reason at all? My pediatrician once told me that factoid and I believed it for a full minute before I was all, like, wait, doc, how did you figure that out? Did you ask them and they told you that they weren't hungry or sleepy or poopy? That really they were just bored? The pediatrician was my dad and he rues the day he encouraged me to question authority. Anyway, turns out this scientist has figured out how to measure a baby's thoughts.
Can't stop watching this family sit-com featuring the smiliest baby of all time. It's one of those clever shows where the family is so messed up, they're actually super loving and inspirational. (Like Roseanne or All in the Family.) Plus, Cloris Leachman is phenomenal!
Here's a cool infographic illustrating the Harvard study on most common birthdays.
My kids are grown yet I am gobbling up this parenting book. I can't stop talking about it to anyone who gives me an opening. It makes so much sense! If you experience confusion, conflict, or misunderstanding with people you love, this book might help.
An entertaining wordplay of Mary Had a Little Lamb -- for brainiacs!
The next baby gift I buy is this.
Baby On The Way, the collection photographed above is a pretty gift for a mom to be and is available here.
Weekend Listicle // Plate Psychology
Hello and Happy October! Today I'm updating the shop with new colors and a new slideshow. As I refresh the inventory to make room for new goodies, I am surprised that this collection of vintage dishes hasn't yet sold. The price seems right and the graphic pattern is of the moment. Egads! Is it the spiders?! They appeal to me -- duh -- but perhaps not to the typical buyer.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Elephants and Gilt
I listed this trio of pen and ink and arrows in the shop today. There's something about a line drawing surrounded by an ornate frame that is irresistible.
Also irresistible? Elephants. Did you know that their wrinkly skin keeps them cool in high savannah heat? Moisture trapped within the creases does not quickly evaporate. Not sure why that principle doesn't work for wrinkly fifty-year-olds with hot flashes but it doesn't.
Read moreWeekend Listicle // Love is in the Air
My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary yesterday. We spent the day with our son and his fiancée, planning their wedding celebration. It will take place next summer on our patio, and yesterday, a fair amount of time was spent discussing the weather. Whether the weather would weather the day. (Apologies to readers whose first language is not English.)
It sprinkled on our wedding, which was held on my parents' patio. It poured on my sister's wedding, which was held on my parents' patio. So I advised my son and future daughter-in-law to expect rain on our patio too.
Rain on a wedding day was once thought to be a good omen. But so was virginity, so to hell with that.
Here's this weekend's listicle loosely categorized around my weekend of l-o-v-e:
This podcast about a Persian marriage and its twisty-turvy journey kept me in the car for 45 minutes despite a very full bladder -- that's how good it is. (Sidenote: the Iranian couple's daughters are shocked and dismayed by the unexpected outcome. We listeners are thrilled.)
Erica Weiner is a Brooklyn jeweler with a vintage obsession. Her Instagram is full of stunning antique wedding bands and engagement rings. Next year is our thirtieth anniversary and I'm bookmarking this band, a reissue of an antique pattern. Very simple and pretty.
Last night, we watched Cutie and the Boxer, an independent documentary about two free-minded artists whose complex marriage and working arrangement are costly to the wife and beneficial to the husband. The first-time director won Sundance's Best Director award, among others.
Food trucks are a popular feature at weddings these days, and yesterday, we went in search of Yellow Bellies Food Truck. Milwaukee peeps, these guys book out at least a year in advance. Their food is to-die-for. Here's their schedule. Hint: they're in Cedarburg every Friday at lunchtime.
No fancy dinner reservations for us last night. Instead, I cooked the best chicken enchiladas ever. I served them with Persian saffron rice, crockpot beans, and a spinach, avocado, corn, tomato, jalapeno pepper salad. I recommend doubling the mole sauce. Divine!
Last but not least, you cannot enter into marriage until you do this.
Campy His and Hers Mugs available here at Finder Not Keeper.
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