Happy Monday!

It's a beautiful day!  I am so blessed!

The sun is shining and I'm heading to spend a couple of days with Tiger

and Sara and Blake

Inspired by Valentine's Day I have decided 

that February will be a 'pink' month

It will be fun to see just how much pink I have to share with you!

Meanwhile don't forget to enter my giveaway

Here through Friday Feb 3rd

Hugs,

Linda

500th Post and A Giveaway!

When I started blogging I never dreamed that 500 posts later my life would be so different

My first post was 9-1-08 and was titled

New Beginnings....this blog was to be for family and friends, and I blogged occasionally until 9-1-09. My life took a huge turn when I was 'downsized' and lost my job.  I started reading other blogs and found it so much fun, I started blogging myself for the public...little did I know!   I can't say enough about how much it has changed my life. New friends, shared interests and a creative outlet I really didn't know existed. 

My word for 2012 is CHANGE

One thing I don't want to change is the wonderful friendships I've made here.  I will continue to blog and share my life with you.  Thank you for coming along with me.  

The Giveaway!

This adorable hand made (not by me) apron

Found at a craft fair I knew it was perfect for one of you! 

Keeping with the fruit theme of the apron I'm including Apple Salt & Pepper shakers and a set of three apple serving bowls.

I'm also adding this cute rooster recipe card holder and some recipe cards to record your favorite recipes off the blogs

And lastly, since there were so many wonderful comments on my vintage cookbook post yesterday, I'm including this vintage Betty Crocker's Outdoor Cookbook!

To enter:

1) Mandatory: must be a follower of A La Carte and leave a comment saying you are a current or new follower!  

2)For a 2nd entry Leave a seperate comment telling me your favorite thing to cook outdoors!

Sorry international friends but I must limit this to USA and Canada only

I will leave this giveaway open through 

Feb 3rd and will choose a winner on Saturday Feb 4th

Thank you all for your friendship and great support! Here's to another 500 posts!

Hugs, 

Linda

Vintage Cooking With Betty

I am a really 'basic' cook!  I enjoy making healthy, inexpensive meals for my family, but what  I really enjoy is collecting

COOKBOOKS! 

I started finding vintage Betty Crocker cookbooks in the thrift stores and wanted to share some of my favorites with you!

This was my first cookbook!  Published in 1957 I was 7 years old and thought cooking with Mom was so much fun! 

Who doesn't love pigs in a blanket

 I used this cookbook with my daughters 

when they were growing up

I recently found this 'newer' edition of the Boys and Girls Cookbook...copyright 1965 and this one was printed in 1971...still way before my girls were born.  I like it and the 'updated' illustrations.  Lots of the same recipes but this one caught my eye

Didn't we all make a bunny salad as kids?

Moving on to Grown Up Cookbooks

This 1960 edition has Party recipes and ideas

Here are some fun ideas for Valentine's Day

This Outdoor Cook Book was printed in 1961

It has barbecuing, outdoor cooking and camp cooking ideas.  It's really fun to look at!

I love the illustrations for this one!

The Hostess Cookbook is from 1967 and one of my favorites...just look at the cover! 

Valentine's Dinner

Chinese New Year Buffet

This cookbook is especially fun to look at all the vintage dishes and serving pieces

The Do-Ahead Cookbook is from 1972

"Your life is crowded: you don't have the time to spend in the kitchen that your mother and grandmother did.  Wouldn't you like to put together a real home-cooked meal in the limited time you have?"  

How to make your own 'freezer meals'

Remember Swanson TV Dinners? 

I love these Betty Crocker cookbooks and have a few duplicates I'm going to list on my Etsy shop soon.  Let me know if you are interested in any of them first! 

This cookbook is not from Betty and it's not really 'vintage' but it is special to me

Printed in 1993 this was a cookbook from my church.  I had several recipes included.

This is my favorite!  It is sooooo good.  I entered a small cooking contest in my little town with this recipe and won First Place in Vegetables!  So not vintage, lol, but I am! 

I'm joining these parties  

Suzanne for Vintage Thingy Thur

Kathy for Home and Garden Thur

Diann for Thrifty Things Friday


This is post # 499....so that means the next post will be #500....
I think that will call for a giveaway! 


Hugs,
Linda

Spaghetti

The smile says it all! 

Hugs, 

Linda

Pink Saturday

It is a dark and dreary day here in North Georgia so I thought I would share some pinks to brighten up the day!  Most of you know I love my cubbies and change them for holidays and seasons.  I have a small set of cubbies painted black (found that way in the thrift store) in my bedroom on the closet shelf

It holds some of my Flamingo collection

 All of these items were found at thrift shops

I love the handle on this coffee mug

Another coffee mug and two flamingo bells

the glass one (not a good photo) was a gift from my good friend Terry!

The salt & pepper shakers were a recent purchase from an Antique Mall when I was in Texas last fall

The candles have been gifts from friends

This creamer is one of my favorites!  It is Porcelier Vitreous China made in the USA...I've seen photos of a matching sugar bowl and teapot but have not found them at a good price yet!  

These items don't fit into the cubbies

I need to find a good way to display my growing collection of vintage Flamingos

I hope you enjoyed my 'pinks' 

I'm joining the wonderful Beverly at 

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

I hope you will stop by her blog and visit all the wonderful eye candy posts! 

Hugs,

Linda

**Edited to say that since Picnik is going away I tried a new site today BeFunky photo editing for all the photos in this post.  It was easy and pretty good.  I will miss Picnik!** 

Rodney Kent Hammered Aluminum

Do you like Hammered Aluminum?

It still seems to be an inexpensive collectible

I have found all my pieces thrifting and I have also been gifted with a few

Today I'm showing you a piece made by 

Rodney Kent a well know maker

This is a small piece and was used to hold coasters. 

 Maybe one day I'll find the matching coasters to go with it. The handle is my favorite part.

Another Rodney Kent piece I have

Is this lidded casserole holder with the tulip handle

While this piece is not in great shape I still love the design on it

Cleaning Hammered Aluminum

this is what I found

The easiest way I've found to clean them is to just spray them with an orange cleaner.  Spray it on then just let it soak for a few minutes.  In a moment your vintage aluminum serving pieces should rinse off shiny and bright. 

A good grease cutter and a soft sponge will work if you don't have orange spray.  Or use plain lemon juice and let it soak for a few minutes.

DO NOT use any kind of scrubbers or abrasive polishes.  Even salt will scratch the finish off your aluminum if you aren't careful.

I have other Hammered Aluminum pieces  I would love to share with you in a future post

Today I'm joining:

Vintage Thingy Thursday 

Potpourri Friday

Thrifty Finds Friday

Check out my post on Viewing My World as I join in the Thrifty Living Project 2012

Hugs,

Linda

Glass

I have loved clear glass for a long time

There is just something about it that appeals to me

I was going through some files and came across some random photos I thought I would share with you

All of these pieces were thrifted and are vintage

Boopie glass, Sandwich pattern glass and a refrigerator dish

More Sandwich pattern glass!  This bird has a small hole in the top to hang in a window...I just love it!

I'm joining Mosaic Monday at
Little Red House
and 
Home and Garden Thursday at
A Delightsome Life

Hugs,

My Latest Thrifty Finds

I have managed a few little trips to the thrift store since the new year started and here are my latest thrifty finds

I found these salad plates for .49 but it was 1/2 price day so for .49 total I go two of these to add to my tablescaping stash.  I love the color and the edge.

Done with Christmas but when I found one dinner plate and two cups in the Christmas Tree pattern and it was 1/2 price day...these became mine for a total of $1.23

Located in two different area's of the store I managed to find this 'almost' complete set of Pyrex Butterprint fridgies!  Missing two lids but still awesome.  Since it was Sr Disc Day I got 30% off.  I've already promised these to my friend Sherry for her booth in Laurel, MS

I will be taking her some items when I visit her on my way to Texas at the end of this month

Those are my thrifty finds from last week.  Like I said I am trying to cut back and be much more selective in my purchases! 

I'm joining Diann for 

Thrifty Things Friday

Hugs,

Happy Anniversary Rednesday!

It's been three years since the amazing Sue started her fun party Rednesday!  Go visit her today and check out all the fun red posts and a sweet giveaway!

After putting away the Christmas, the house looks so bare so I decided to decorate the cubbies with Snowmen and beautiful Red Cardinals!

Lots of red in the cubbies right now!

The top shelf has a few snowmen!  Not completely happy with it, but I will keep tweaking it.

I think that Cardinals and Snowmen just go perfectly together! 

I found a set of snowmen photo holders at the thrift and I think they are a cute addition to the cubbies

I have been collecting Cardinals for a couple of years now.  I didn't find many in 2011 but maybe this coming year will turn up a few more!

This plate is a fun thrift store find as are both of the snowmen tealight holders

I love this snowman cookie jar I found at GW last year after Christmas.  He stays out until I decorate for Valentine's Day!

This vignette is on top of my corner desk

My sweet friend Jane made this Flora Doora and asked her followers for names.  I suggested "Noelle" and she and her husband picked that name.  Jane was so sweet and sent me this charming Flora Doora for my very own!  Thank you Jane, I love it!

These are my Reds for the party!

I hope you will visit Sue at

It's A Very Cherry World

Linda