Five 1940s things to brighten your day

1. Red lipstick & nail varnish. Is there anything better than a bright red lip or a glossy red manicure? Not to a vintage girl! The color red has an amazing invigorating and uplifting effect. In fact, the signature 1940s shade Victory Red was created with just that very purpose in mind. Catching a glimpse of a cherry red lip in the mirror or those little ruby jewels on your fingertips while you cook, clean, sew, write, or whatever else you have planned, will brighten your day.

2. Handcrafts. A simple handcraft like knitting, sewing, or darning is a low cost activity that taps into the vintage make do and mend mentality of the wartime. It can also provide hours of entertainment - I enjoy working on a small project like knitting a pair of socks or a scarf that I can finish quickly for a little productivity boost. The movements of knit, purl over and over actually become quite meditative and a great way to focus your mind and relieve stress. 

3. Radio shows.  By 1940, radio shows had become so popular that over 80% of Americans had a radio at home; this era became known as the golden age of radio. With so many shows available, there was a little something for everyone - either fictional serialized dramas and spooky mysteries, or nonfiction topics such as history, cooking, comedy hours, or big band and swing concerts. Websites like Old Radio World and the 1940s Radio Station have preserved many of these radio shows for listeners even today. 

4. Hair flowers. As the morale of the 1940s was low, personal presentation was of utmost importance. To help keep spirits high, women were not only encouraged to present themselves beautifully, but also to bring beauty to others. The hair flower trend was all the rage in the 1940s as a simple way to add glamour, femininity, and a touch of whimsy to your appearance, especially as clothing production and affordability was low. Hair flowers, often made of rayon or silk, could add a pop of color to an outfit and also camouflage any imperfections in your hairstyle.

5. A strong cup of tea. Due to wartime, tea rations were scaled back to 2oz per adult per week, which averages out to around three cups a day. From 1942 onward, children received no tea allowance, and the elderly were granted an extra ration beginning in 1944. Unlike fine tea which is meant to be enjoyed plain, builders teas were created to be strong, brisk, and hold up to accompanying cream and sugar as a pick me up. Celebrate the end of 1940s wartime by brewing yourself a strong cup to fuel you through the day - with cream? Sugar? One lump or two?

— TYG

The art of domesticity

I just returned home after a weekend trip with my husband to a nearby city. Instead of driving, he suggested we take a regional train that makes it way down our part of the country. I enthusiastically agreed - there is something about trains that is just so romantic. It was such a nice ride, and I'm sure much more relaxing for my husband in contrast to navigating the freeways. I finished reading over half of my current novel! 

We visited because we bought tickets back in January for a ballet, La Sylphide. I love visiting ballets and have seen a handful of productions at this point. La Sylphide had been on my list for quite some time so I was overjoyed to find it near me. Of the Romantic period, it's one of the oldest surviving ballets and just absolutely beautiful, though the ending is rather dark. If you enjoy doses of melancholy, like me, then you probably wouldn't mind it :) The story focuses on a sylph (similar to a forest sprite) who enchants a young Scotsman and leads him through the forest to a coven of witches... I won't spoil the ending.

It was a wonderful escape into the world of the fantastical - I think we all need to reconnect with play and imagination from time to time. I know that I have to consistently seek out inspiration to help propel myself along in life. If my creative well runs dry, I begin to feel a little unsettled. Have you ever read The Artist's Way? One method the author suggests to find your creative spark again is to take yourself on artists dates - I love that. Even simple things count, like going for a walk in a new part of town, perusing a used bookstore, or spending an hour by the seaside.

I've been home for a few days now and getting back into the swing of things. I'm feeling inspired to get creative in the kitchen. I'm dreaming of shepherds pie, french onion soup, and cabbage rolls - how delicious! I'm such a contended homebody, so much so that I've been teased in the past for being a bit of a hermit who never leaves the house. But... to me, domesticity is bliss. The art of homemaking is an art. At home is where I'm in my quiet, peaceful environment and surrounded by my favorite things and pockets of beauty. Things that lift up my spirit and recharge my soul. 

 

Just because you're a homebody, or a housewife, doesn't mean you can't be worldly or cultured or creative. As Tasha Tudor said - "I enjoy doing housework, ironing, washing, cooking, dish washing. Whenever I get one of those questionnaires and they ask what is your profession, I always put down housewife. It's an admirable profession, why apologize for it. You aren't stupid because you're a housewife. When you're stirring the jam you can read Shakespeare." Isn't that lovely? We all have the ability to create a life encompassing everything we love, that's tailor made just for us.

— TYG

1950s chocolate squares

I love to bake - enjoying a homemade treat with my afternoon tea is one of my favorite indulgences. I was thumbing through my recipe folder and I came across this 1950s recipe that I decided to give a go. This is actually a depression recipe that doesn't call for any eggs and is also low on sugar. I thought this recipe was so timely as inflation is on the rise all across the world. In my neighborhood eggs have gone up in price at least a few dollars, therefore I have been baking less as I want to save our eggs for breakfast.   

This recipe was originally found in an issue of Woman's World magazine, Jan 12th 1952 - "Cakes for tea present a problem when eggs are scarce, as every mother knows" the page says. "Barbara Fare, our Cookery Expert, gives you more eggless recipes to add variety to your tea-table."  

Here's the recipe: 

Sift together 5 oz of plain flour, 2 level tsp of baking powder, and 3 level tbsp of cocoa. Rub in 1 1/2 oz of margarine (I used butter). Warm together 2 tbsp of golden syrup and 6 tbsp of milk, then pour in the dry ingredients. Beat the mixture till smooth and pour into a greased 10 inch square sandwich or cake tin. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

When cool, dip the tops of the squares into the following icing: Melt 1 oz. of margarine. Remove from heat and add 2 tbsp of cocoa 2 tbsp of sugar. Beat in, keeping pan warm over a basin of warm water. Add 1 tbsp of warm water and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and allow to set.

When cool, top each square with a dab of buttercream.  

I doubled the recipe and baked my squares in a nonstick brownie pan. They baked surprisingly fast so be sure not to over bake. I would recommend these are best served within three days, as they start to dry out slightly, so store in an airtight container if you have left over.  

I was surprised at how simply delicious these chocolate squares are. Fresh out of the oven, they were moist, rich with a slight bitterness due to the cocoa, and not overly sweet. The chopped nuts give the cakes a satisfying bite and the dollop of buttercream adds the perfect hit of sweetness.

I had my chocolate square with a cup of orange pekoe tea and it was perfect!  

I hope you try this recipe. It was so much fun to bake a little piece of history. 

— TYG 

Cat lady chic

What comes to mind when you think of a cat lady?

The most common image this term usually conjures up is an older, eccentric woman living a reclusive life in an abandoned house. She preoccupies her time by caring for and feeding a horde of stray cats who have taken up residence in her home. She is most likely unmarried, and wanders about the garden in a huge sun hat with a crooked brim and bizarrely oversized palazzo pants.

Cats have been in my life since I was a little girl and I've always felt an affection for them. My beloved Mrs. Sunflower, a beautiful long haired calico, was my best friend growing up. She'd often lie on the carpet beside me while I played with my dolls and wrote in my journal, sprawled out on the bedroom floor. As I got older, my connection to cats grew - I felt their mystique and quiet nature complemented my introverted demeanor, and my cat lady notoriety began to set in thanks to my more sociable peers.

"Little Edie" Edith Beale, a notorious "cat lady" ... and totally fab in my book!

It's a shame that the term "cat lady" is often used with a dowdy or spinsterish connotation. The cat eye, the cat walk, the kitten heel, the iconic character of catwoman... so many symbols of style and femininity stem from the similarities between cats and women. Wouldn't it make more sense to know that some of the most stylish and glamorous women in the world were, in fact, cat ladies?

Cats have enchanted us with their feline mystique since the dawn of time. With their slightly detached attitude and effortless grace, as they lounge on the chaise or leisurely groom themselves, cats are connoisseurs of comfort and pleasure. Cats are clean, fastidious creatures who inherently place importance on cultivating tidy and orderly habits from their toilette to what they choose to dine on. Similarly, felines are often domestic, home-loving creatures who enjoy nothing more than existing in the quiet comfort of their own space, enjoying the sensation of the warm sun basking through the window. The cat is also independent and famously selective about who is worthy of their time, attention, and affection.

Due to their attitude and ways of living, cats effortlessly evoke that je ne sais quoi that the Hollywood stars of yesteryear embodied that made them so fascinating. Many silver screen ladies were dedicated cat lovers and wonderfully embody the idea of cat lady chic - stylish, sensual, feminine, graceful, and just a little bit mysterious. Vivien Leigh was one of the best known cat lovers in her day. Below are some quotes I've gathered on the subject. Why not redefine the term "cat lady" and instead go forward with a newfound attitude of being cat lady chic, using these feline lessons as inspiration to live our most beautiful lives without apology? Being more feline certainly sounds like a more feminine and stylish way to be.

"As indisputably as cats have nine lives, cat ladies throughout history have dressed to the nines ... Artists throughout history have presented an equally attractive cat lady: a woman who is poised, put together and supremely confident. I believe the woman who was photographed or painted assumes an additional aura because of the cat who is tucked beside her or rests at her feet, or who cuddles comfortably on her lap, or who is draped around her as grandly as an Hermes silk scarf." ― Diane Lovejoy, whose wonderful book Cat Lady Chic inspired this post.

"Guilt isn't in the cat vocabulary. They never suffer remorse for eating too much, sleeping too long, or hogging the warmest cushion in the house. They welcome every pleasurable moment as it unravels and savor it to the full extent until a butterfly or falling leaf diverts their attention. They don't waste energy counting the number of calories they've consumed or the hours they've frittered away sunbathing. Cats don’t beat themselves up about not working hard enough. They don’t get up and go, they sit down and stay. For them, lethargy is an art form." ― Cleo by Helen Brown

"By associating with the cat, one only risks becoming richer."  ― Collete 

"Catwoman, to me, was really one of the best things I've ever done because I didn't have to think about it . I didn't have to think about, 'Oh, how do you play a cat?' I am a cat." ―Eartha Kitt

"If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.” ― Mark Twain 

― TYG