Failed Resolutions, Etsy Love, and The Aqua Velva Man

It's January 30 already, and the coldest month of the year for Minnesotans is almost over! Yay! 

So, I'm curious... How are y'all doing on those New Year's resolutions that you shared at the beginning of the month?

I'm afraid that I'm not doing too well with my "Social Butterfly" goal - or my goal of losing 10 lbs. by March.

I feel a bit like the plump lady in this 1920's cartoon from The New Yorker...

It's not that I truly "wish to be alone."  I just haven't managed to find a way to fit in an active social life along with the two main after-work activities which suck up enormous amounts of my time:  blogging (and reading/commenting on other blogs) and selling on eBay & Etsy.

Those of you who have full time jobs AND blog AND sell in a shop AND manage to have a social life too - PLEASE tell me how you do it?

I feel like I'm always trying to wear too many hats at once, and it's not a pretty sight...



I'm a bit of a perfectionist (just a wee bit) and it pains me that I'm not able to devote the time necessary to looking marvelous in each of the hats that I'm wearing. 

So I'm often tempted to just say - the hell with it! - and let them all topple over and fall to the ground.  (You perfectionists out there - and I know there are plenty in BlogLand - you know what I'm talking about, don't you?)

Hey, thanks for letting me blow off a little steam.  I don't mean to be so negative.  Actually, there are some Things In My Life That Are Going Well Right Now...

1) I'm LOVING being an empty nester.  I was lonely for about 10 minutes - and after I got that out of my system, I have just been really truly enjoying my FREEDOM.

2) Etsy, Etsy, Etsy...How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...  Oh, how I adore selling on Etsy!  It's the best thing since sliced bread.  It's a perfect companion to eBay for me - and I want to thank all of you for nudging me to start selling there.

3) I've been graced with some lovely blog awards recently (thank you La Dama, Piroska, and Lady Cherry!) and am having fun coming up with a little list of bloggers that I'd like to pass the awards on to.  I'm a big procrastinator, though, so don't hold your breath for that.  In the meantime, take a peek at Lady Cherry's clever awards post:  A Night At the BLOscars.  She's so witty!

4) I've been doing the online dating thing for the past month, and...  Wait a minute, how did this slip into my list of things that are going well?  Online dating - Ugh!   To be honest, I have been a big fan of online dating in the past and have even had some success with it (short-term, obviously) - but lately the crop of interesting men seems to have dwindled.  Maybe it's just me - guess my heart isn't in it. 

Or maybe it's just that I'm still looking for this man...

"Ice Blue" Aqua Velva ad - Look magazine - December 11, 1956

I keep forgetting that the Aqua Velva Man has aged a bit.
And so have I. 

Happy Sunday!  Hope you enjoy the rest of your week.  I promise to put on my Blog Reading hat and find some time to stop by and visit soon!

Christmas Wish List: 1928 Bulova Watch, 1937 Evening In Paris Perfume, 1956 Fosta-Grantly Sunglasses...

First - a little reminder that my Vintage Christmas Giveaway ends at midnight on December 21.  Thanks to those of you who have already stopped by and left comments.  I've been having so much fun reading about your favorite holiday traditions.  Take a peek - you might get some great ideas.   Modern Suzie has a fun Christmas Eve tradition of drinking "Moose Milk" while watching Christmas movies.  Here's what's in the "milk" - egg nog, ice cream, and lots of liquor.  Sounds perfect to me!

I wish I'd had a refrigerator stocked with the makings for Moose Milk this past weekend.  I was snowed in for a few days because of a major snowstorm that swept through and dumped 15"-20" of snow on the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.  Crazy, but kind of fun - I love extremes in weather.  I guess I'm living in the right place for that!

Since I couldn't get out of the house to get any Christmas shopping done, and I didn't really feel like spending big bucks online - I just curled up on the couch with piles of vintage 1930's - 1960's magazines and did my shopping there...

Ladies Home Journal Magazine, December 1959

Can you imagine if you could magically be transported back in time to the year the magazine was printed - and be able to look through the advertisements and say, "I want this...and this...and this"... and then run off to a nearby department store, and buy them at the low prices of the day?

Well, that's the dream world I was in when I came up with this list...

Wanna go shopping with me?
Let's start small, and work our way up...

Kathryn Grayson, Lustre-Creme Shampoo ad - Life magazine - July 28, 1952

Wouldn't it be fun to find some unopened bottles of some of the glamorous shampoos of the 1940's and 50's like Lustre-Creme...and Drene....and Halo...

Revlon "Persian Melon" Nail Enamel ad - McCall's magazine - July 1957

I like the long sculptured stem on this Revlon nail polish.  But I love the model's dramatic gold and coral outfit even more!  I'll take those pillows too... 

Tangee "Bright 'n Clear" Lipstick ad - Life magazine - June 7, 1954

Wish those stunning jewel earrings came along with the Tangee Lipstick...



Max Factor Lipstick ad - Good Housekeeping magazine - November 1946.  Two-page Ad.

Three lipsticks in Clear Red, Blue Red and Rose Red.  Checking the chart...I'm a Brunette so I guess I'm a No. 3.  (Not very creative names, are they?)

Wembley "White Look" Ties ad - Life magazine - April 23, 1951

Aren't these men's ties gorgeous?  And just $2.00!

Fosta-Grantly "Continental" Sunglasses ad - Life magazine - June 4, 1956

These glamorous Foster Grants will be perfect for all that snow glare...

Prince Matchabelli Cologne Spray Mist ad - Life magazine - May 2, 1960. Two-page Ad

Prince Matchabelli promises:  "In This Push Button Age... He's Yours By Remote Control!"   Wouldn't that be great if it worked!

Daniel Green Satin Mule Slippers ad - Ladies Home Journal magazine - December 1959

Air Step "Vanity Case Collection" Shoe ad - Life magazine - March 5, 1951. Two-page Ad.

Did you know that "A Pretty Face Starts At Your Feet"?  A perfect excuse to buy the Daniel Green satin mules ($8)...and some Air Steps ($12 to $14)....and some warm furry rabbit fur Oomphies ($11) !

Furbelow fur boot by Oomphies ad - Good Housekeeping magazine - Sept 1946

Cannon Towels ad - Life magazine - January 9, 1950.  Two-page Ad.

Wish I could stock up on bright and thirsty Cannon towels at these great prices - 39 cents to $2.79...

Melmac Dinnerware ad - Life magazine - November 19, 1956

A few items for my kitchen...  A new set of Melmac dishes in modern atomic age shapes.  I'll take Pink, please. :-)

Anchorglass "Tulip" and "Polka Dots" Deep-Bowl Sets - Life magazine - April 12, 1954

...and some Anchor Hocking mixing bowls!  I've run across the Tulip pattern before...but not the Polka Dots.  Aren't they fun?

Pyrex Ware Serving Sets - Ladies Home Journal magazine - December 1959

What a perfect hostess I'd be if I had this Pyrex Golden Casserole in a "Shining Cradle"....or the Kaffee Klatch set...

Universal Electric Iron ad - Good Housekeeping magazine - April 1946

Isn't this Universal Cool Grip "Glider" iron a beauty?  I iron my clothes for work every morning - so I deserve a lovely iron...

Max Factor "Hi-Society" ad - Life magazine - Dec. 7, 1959

A case, mirror & lipstick all in one!  I'll take F. "Mother of Pearl" design, $4.50....and G. "Modern Florentine" design, set with a glittering gem - just $3.50!

Lady Buxton "Parisian Pleats" Leather Accessories - Ladies Home Journal magazine - December 1959

I'm not a smoker, but I'll take the whole lot - cigarette case, and lighter too!  How fun to have a red leather covered lighter with pleats!

Richard Hudnet Makeup, featuring Hollywood Star Merle Oberon - Woman's Companion magazine - December 1937

"They Teach Charm in Hollywood.  And a few lucky girls seem to be born with it...seem instinctively to make the right gestures, choose the right clothes, wear the right makeup.  It's girls like these who are quick to praise the new, certain way to beauty...Marvelous Eye-Matched Makeup."

Rhinestone Heels and Sequinned Stockings - Life magazine - January 9, 1950

These rhinestone heels, imported from France, and sequinned stockings are a bit extravagant at $30 and $25 (especially back in 1950) - but I'm worth it!

Trifari "Punctuation White" Jewelry ad - Life magazine - May 2, 1960

White jewelry to match the winter snow - just $5.00 each!



Lady Buxton Jewel Cases ad - Ladies Home Journal magazine - December 1959

Lady Buxton says that there are two ways to protect your jewels:  1. Stay up all night and guard your collection with a six-shooter.  Or 2. Keep it in your Buxton Jewel Case.    I think I'll opt for #2 and the Gold Jewel Case for $20.  Look at the pretty gold satin under the lid!

Lady Schick Electric Razors ad - The Saturday Evening Post - September 29, 1956. Two-page Ad.

The four jewel-like colors on the right are awfully pretty - at $14.95.   But I think I would prefer the "slightly more" expensive Lady Schick Goddess and Lady Schick Classic (below) in silver and gold, with individually tailored  Carrying Cases.

Evening in Paris Christmas Sets ad - Woman's Home Companion magazine - December 1937

"Take the advice of le Pere Noel, the Santa Claus of France, if you would win most fervent feminine thanks for your gifts...Give beauty, as every lady loves it best...with a French accent...Give Evening in Paris Christmas Sets."  Thirty-one sets, $1.10 to $25.00.

Sonja Henie Ice Skates ad - The Saturday Evening Post - Jan. 14, 1939

All I have to do is buy gifts of four 1-year subscriptions of Saturday Evening Post at $2 each ($8 total), send in the coupon - and these skates are mine!

Mojud "Year-Rounder" Slip ad - Life magazine - April 23, 1951

Mojud has such beautiful lingerie.  Aren't these pastel strapless, boneless slips lovely?

Borgana Dawn Beige Like-Fur Coat ad - McCall's magazine - August 1957

"Warm and Sunny When It's Icy Cold" - That's exactly what I need...

Bulova Watches advertisement - The Saturday Evening Post - Sept. 22, 1928

Love the Art Deco design of this ad.  At $75.00 (in 1928!) the "Carolyn" watch of 14 kt. solid gold, 2 diamonds and 4 emeralds is a bit extravagant - but since I'm dreaming...why not!

Royal Portable Typewriter ad - The Saturday Evening Post - August 31, 1957

I miss typewriters!  I'll take this Royal Portable with a "quick-change, no-smudge ribbon...Magic Margin...and extra light touch."   It will only cost me pennies a day and I get two full years to pay it off!

Kroeler Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Red Mohair Frieze - Life magazine - Nov. 16, 1953

My living room needs a little perk up - and this RED chair should do the trick!  Look close at the mohair "frieze" texture and the huge ottoman - perfect as an extra chair!

Admiral Television / Automatic Phonograph ad - Life magazine - March 5, 1951

This TV has a big 17-inch screen - WOW!  And the record player is automatic - very cool!

1938 Frigidaire "Meter Miser" Refrigerator ad - Woman's Home Companion magazine - December 1937

I've got an ugly 1980's beige refrigerator and I'd love to replace it with this 1938 model - as long as I can also have the refrigerator dishes with fruit decals inside...



Whirlpool Refrigerator and Freezer - McCall's magazine - July 1957. Two-page Ad.

Better yet - a PINK 1950's set!....

"New Freedom Gas Kitchen" - American Gas Association ad - Good Housekeeping 1946

...OR an entire 1946 kitchen in Red, White and Green.  It would be Christmas all year long!

Chrysler Royal car ad - The Saturday Evening Post - Jan. 14, 1939

I'd love to have any one of these three vintage car beauties!  

'57 Pontiac "Star Chief" car ad - Life magazine - November 19, 1956. Two-page Ad.

I'm partial to RED...  Do you think I'm going through a mid-life crisis?  :-)



Cadillac Car ad - Life magazine - March 17, 1961



Love the Cadillac convertible...but I'm almost as impressed by the ad design.  The French Embroidery background is from the Brooklyn Museum.  The Jeweled "V" and Crest were created by Van Cleef and Arpels.

"Ice Blue" Aqua Velva ad - Look magazine - December 11, 1956

I said that I was starting my Christmas Wish List off with small items and working my way up. 

So you might wonder why the list ends with a cheap bottle of Aqua Velva After Shave. 

Well....that's because it's the Aqua Velva MAN that I'm after - not the after shave.   That's a TALL order! 

Let's see...he was born in December 1956.  Yep, that would be just about right. :-)

Happy Holidays!  Stay warm...