Tips From A Dometic Goddess: Keep your bathroom clean and fresh-smelling!

Cleaning your bathroom may sound like an arduous task but with these easy to do tips, you and your house help will be grinning away to a clean loo in no time!

Check for clogging in the drains, WC or washbasin pipes. To de-clog, pour boiling water into the drains followed by a cup of vinegar. Do not use the bathroom for a few hours. In fact, this is best done at night. You may also try a commercial de-clogger. If the stink persists, get a plumber (a tried-tested one, preferably) to check all drainage leading to the sewage point.
General bathroom hygiene is a must. On a daily basis, clean the toilet bowl using a good commercial toilet cleaner. Opt for reliable cleaning liquid soaps to clean the washbasin and countertop. For the floors, use a squeegee to get rid of excess water, and then get your help to sweep and mop. Make sure you wipe all the sanitary fittings using a wet cloth, dry off with a fresh cloth. Also clean the mirror using a soft cloth to remove water marks.
Follow a deep-clean routine once a week. Get your help to scrub floors, wall tiles, tub and shower stall thoroughly. She can use an old toothbrush to clean any mold or fungus growing in the tile grouting and in corners. For the mirror, use a commercial glass cleaner. But make sure you never spray directly on the mirror. Instead, spray it on a pad of cloth, and wipe the glass. Finish off by rubbing with a folded newspaper.
If you are using a shower curtain, get your help to clean the ends; she needs to dip the curtain end in half a bucket of warm water with soap suds. Leave for a while and brush clean. Always spread out the curtains after bath to allow for dripping and air circulation.
Avoid dampness. Make sure there's effective cross-ventilation. Switch on the exhaust fan after you've used the bathroom. The floor must be dry. Also, never leave wet towels or bathrugs in the bathroom.
You can place potpourri in a bowl or use commercial bathroom fresheners. Choose a perfumed toilet cleaner with disinfectant. Avoid phenyl - it has a strong smell.

What Is A Domestic Goddess

A domestic goddess is a woman who keeps her home clean, uncluttered, tastefully decorated, and ordered. She is an expert in the kitchen, a delightful baker, exceptional cook and incredible entertainer. A domestic goddess always looks sexy and gorgeous. She can work in the garden, carry her partner's golf clubs, put up shelves in the house, be a wonderful mother and a nympho in the bedroom. She knows and meets her spouse's every need. A domestic goddess is full of knowledge and can talk about many subjects which might be of interest to her spouse. She encourages him to watch the football game on TV and play poker with his friends. In return, a domestic goddess is adored and admired by her spouse. As she satisfies and fulfills his every need, he has no desire or need whatsoever to stray.

My Dreams Of A 1950s Living Room

I have dreamed of having a 1950s living room for the longest time now. I hope the day I own my own home, I can go all out with a true retro 1950s look for my home. I have been looking through tons and tons of photos on the internet and it's truly exciting to even begin to imagine how it will look. I love how back in the 50s new trends in furniture design and decoration for the home were inspired by art.

Here's another photo that is just delightful to look at. This is a true dream right here.

I'd love to just turn back time in my home to the 1950s by decorating any room with retro items. Replace modern kitchen appliances with vintage replicas, such as toasters and refrigerators, and paint walls with a bright shade. Add instant glamor to any room in my home by hanging black-and-white images of 1950s entertainment icons, such as Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis and James Dean. Display framed vintage movie posters in my den or entertainment room. If I can't find original posters, prints of many popular 1950s movies, such as "Rebel Without a Cause" and "All About Eve," I heard some are available in specialty shops.

My 1950s Tumblr

Hi guys and dolls, if you want to follow my 1950s blog on Tumblr, please be sure to go to this link ♥ The 1950s

Hope you all enjoy! :)

Vintage Life Network has moved!

Hey pallies, just a quick note that Vintage Life Network has moved to http://vintagelifenetwork.socialparadox.com/ I hope you all will join me there. And remember, we are the official network of all things vintage & retro :)

Tv's Greatest Housewives

Here is my tribute to television's greatest housewives. I have compiled a few of my favorites and sorry if I missed any.


Well we definitely must start with Lucy Ricardo America's favorite redhead and housewife!




June Cleaver from Leave It To Beaver. The archetypal suburban parent and housewife of the 1950s.






Edith Bunker from All In The Family. I think Edith Bunker had a great personality. I love her character. She was always so cheerful and so happy. Sometimes I wish I was more like her and I didn't let things phase me as much and I could just be happy all the time lol.


Roseanne Conner from the sitcom Roseanne, the bossy, loud, caustic, overweight, and dominant housewife.


Debra Barone from Everybody Loves Raymond the emotional, nagging wife of the title character and the most sensitive of all the Barones. However, most of it isn’t so obvious until some of the later seasons. She is often seen stressed out as a housewife, not only because she has to put up from Ray’s corny jokes and little assistance, but also because of Ray’s obnoxious, intrusive family members who often barge in uninvited and harass the later couple, leaving emotional havoc in their wake.


Harriet Nelson housewife from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.


Margaret Anderson housewife from Father Knows Best.


Laura Petrie from The Dick Van Dyke Show. Rob's wife. A stay-at-home mom and former dancer in the U.S.O. (where she met Rob).


Samantha Stephens from Bewitched. A witch that pledges to forsake her powers and become a typical suburban housewife.


Morticia Addams from The Addams Family.


Peggy Bundy from Married With Children. The lazy, self-indulgent wife. She refuses to cook or clean the house, and prefers purchasing new clothes to washing the old ones. She refuses to consider taking a job.


Marie Barone from Everybody Loves Raymond. Is the main antagonist of the sitcom, wife of Frank, and matriarch of the Barone family.
As a housewife, she excels in household duties, including cooking, cleaning, taking care and providing for her family and any other businesses that include keeping and maintaining a good household. Marie is shown to be very narcissistic, arrogant, conceited and snobbish throughout the series, particularly towards her daughter-in-law Debra and other strangers including her friends Lee and Stan, Robert’s dates and people whom Ray works with. She has very high self-esteem and proclaims herself as a positive example of what every wife, mother and woman should be.


Florida Evans from Good Times.


Alice Kramden from The Honeymooners. The deadpan housewife.


Marge Simpson from The Simpsons. The well-meaning and extremely patient mother of the Simpson family.


Lily Munster from The Munsters. The matriarch of the Munster household, Lily is an undead vampire.

And those are all of my favorite TV Greatest Housewives. To join my new forum dedicated to them go to http://tvgreatesthousewives.proboards.com/index.cgi?

ENJOY! :)

The 1950s Drive-in Movies

The drive-in's peak popularity came in the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly in rural areas, with some 4,000 drive-ins spreading across the United States. Among its advantages was the fact that a family with a baby could take care of their child while watching a movie, while teenagers with access to autos found drive-ins ideal for dates. Revenue is more limited than regular theaters since showings can only begin at twilight. There were abortive attempts to create suitable conditions for daylight viewing such as large tent structures, but nothing viable was developed.
In the 1950s, the greater privacy afforded to patrons gave drive-ins a reputation as immoral, and they were labeled "passion pits" in the media. During the 1970s, some drive-ins changed from family fare to exploitation films, as a way to offset declining patronage and revenue. In fact some producers in the 1970s would make exploitation films directly for the drive-in market. Also, during the 1970s, some drive-ins began to show pornographic movies in less family-centered time slots to bring in extra income. This became a problem because it allowed for censored materials to be available to a wide audience, some for whom viewing was illegal, and it was reliant upon the whims of local ordinances controlling such material. It also required a relatively remote location distant from populated areas such as towns and cities. This was one aspect of concern about the availability and uncontrollability of adult-centered media in the general public. The drive-in was open to abuse, such as the smuggling in of viewers in the trunks of cars to avoid paying for individual tickets. This had been a common ploy for younger patrons for decades, and eventually led to a per-car admission rate at many locations.

Many drive-ins devised very elaborate and sometimes quirky modes of comfort. Some drive-ins provided small propane heaters, attempting to entice their patrons to come in colder months. Some drive-ins provided a heating or air-conditioning system via underground ducts to heat or cool patrons. Audio systems varied greatly during the era of drive-ins. Some used portable speakers on trucks during the early days but this proved ineffective since the people in the front were blasted with sound while the people in the back could not adequately hear what was being said. One solution came in the form of small speakers which could be hooked onto the side window of the car. These caused damage to the window if one forgot to remove them before driving off, also they had a problem with sound quality and did not provide stereo sound. Later still, as in-car stereos became standard equipment, broadcast of the audio track on particular radio frequencies permitted the most efficient means of delivery.
During their height, some drive-ins used attention-grabbing gimmicks to boost attendance. They ranged from small airplane runways, unusual attractions such as a small petting zoo or cage of monkeys, actors to open their movies, or musical groups to play before the show. Some drive-ins held religious services on Sunday morning and evening, or charged a flat price per car on slow nights like Wednesday. The price was a dollar per car during "buck" nights in the 1950s and 1960s.



Over time, the economics of real estate made the large property areas increasingly expensive for drive-ins to operate successfully. Land became far too valuable for businesses such as drive-ins, which in most cases were summer-only. Widespread adoption of daylight saving time subtracted an hour from outdoor evening viewing time. These changes and the advent of color televisions, VCRs and video rentals led to a sharp decline in the drive-in popularity. Drive-ins were subject to the whim of nature as inclement weather often caused cancellations. They eventually lapsed into a quasi-novelty status with the remaining handful catering to a generally nostalgic audience, though many drive-ins continue to successfully operate in some areas.
Many drive-in movie sites remain, repurposed as storage or flea markets sites, often after residential housing or other higher value uses came to the lightly populated or unpopulated areas where the drive-ins were located. The largest drive-in theater in the world, the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop, doubles as the world's largest daily flea market. Former drive-in properties in Michigan, for example, have become industrial parks, shopping centers, indoor theaters, and even churches (as with the Former Woodland Drive-In in Grand Rapids, MI). Another example of a drive in-turned-flea market is Spotlight 88 in North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, which ended business as a drive-in after an F3 tornado destroyed much of the property on May 31, 1985. As a joke after the tornado hit, the owners put up in the "now-showing" sign Gone with the Wind.



The year 2001 marked the inception of the "Do-It-Yourself" Drive-In, which utilized contemporary tools such as LCD projectors and micro-radio transmitters. The first was the Liberation Drive-In in Oakland, California, which sought to reclaim under-utilized urban spaces such as vacant parking lots in the downtown area. The following years have seen the rise of the "guerrilla drive-in" movement, in which groups of dedicated individuals orchestrate similar outdoor film and video screenings. Showings are often organized online, and participants meet at specified locations to watch films projected on bridge pillars or warehouses. The content featured at these screenings has frequently been independent or experimental films, cult movies, or otherwise alternative programming. The best known guerilla drive-ins include the Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In in Santa Cruz, California, MobMov in San Francisco, California and Hollywood, and most recently Guerilla Drive-In Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia. A pseudo-drive-in has been launched where the cars are provided by the organizer. In the UK the Volvo's urban Starlite Drive-in will be held inside the Truman Brewery in hip East London where the urban population will get the chance to watch classic films in a fleet of convertibles served by roller-skating waitresses.



As with indoor cinemas, the concession stand, also called a snack bar, is where a drive-in earns most of its profits. As a result, much of a drive-in's promotion is oriented toward the concession stand. The typical snack bar offers any food that can be served quickly, such as hot dogs, pizza, cheeseburgers, popcorn, soft drinks, coffee, hot chocolate, ice cream, candy and french fries. To send patrons to the concession stands, trailer advertisements called snipes were projected before the feature and during any intermissions. Some drive-in theater managers added children's playgrounds between the screen and the first row of cars. Others even went as far as adding miniature railroads, merry-go-rounds, and miniature golf courses. Concrete patios for lawn chairs were available at some drive-in theaters, as well as indoor seating for the concession stand. Due to the outdoor setting of drive-in theaters, movies were shown in the evenings.

Living My Life As A 1950s Housewife And Mother

So I recently started a new blog on Tumblr dedicated to the 1950s. And I got to thinking, there is nothing I want more than to raise my son in a 1950s home. Now, I am not just talking about furniture and stuff like that. No, I'm talking about morals, beliefs and totally differen't from the way most kids nowadays are being raised. We are living in such sad, tragic times. With kids starting to do drugs at a young age, and getting into all sorts of trouble. It just doesn't feel like a safe world out there anymore for our kids to be raised or to be living in. But even though I can't do much to change what's out there, I sure have control of how my home is run. And I choose to raise my child in a good home with Christian values and I get most of my inspiration from the women of the 1950s. Things might have not been perfect back in the 50s but they sure were way better than they are now. So I hope that one day my son and future children will look back and thank me for the way I raised them. And will learn to appreciate the wonderful era of the 50s as I do. And understand why it is that we are differen't from everybody else. And I think that makes us unique. Especially in a world where everyone nowadays will just follow the crowd and go with the flow just to "fit in". Well my family will be the one to make a difference. A differen't way of thinking, a differen't way of living. All in all, a better life. What could be better?

Lucy's Salad Recipe

Ok gals so I found this gorgeous rare article of Lucille Ball's salad recipe. It sounds very yummy and I think I am going to try making it myself. Make sure to click on the picture for a larger view so you can be able to read the recipe. ENJOY!

Inspire Your Inner Housewife.

1. Change Your Thinking

This is most important. Think of your duties in the home as something that is pleasant, creative, and fulfilling a great purpose. Not as drudgery, which is how I usually viewed it. But, with an attitude adjustment, I began to look at taking top notch care of my home in a totally different way. So, stop thinking that it's beneath you to get on your knees and scrub your floor. There is actually a lot of satisfaction from cleaning and maintaining your home. There is a sense of accomplishment with tackling projects in your home, and having a tidy orderly home for your husband to enjoy coming home to after a hard day's work.



2. Wake Up Early And Get Ready

If you're a housewife or have children at home, you need to try to wake up before they do to tackle your chores. But, first, take a shower, and get dressed down to your feet. It's amazing what I can get accomplished and the renewed sense of purpose that I have when I have showered and dressed. I look presentable, and I am ready to do what I need to do for the day.

While the kids are asleep make a list of your to-do's that you want to accomplish for the day. Try to read from the Bible and pray to help center you and keep you in a wonderful mood.



3. Create weekly menus.

It's such a lifesaver to have menus planned in advance. You can grocery shop around your menu and already know what you will be cooking. If possible, try to do most of the prep work for your dinner by lunchtime. Then you won't be as frazzled as the day progresses.



4. Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals.

Set your cleaning goals, project goals like sewing, knitting, and other hobbies, and child rearing goals. Maybe you want to be sure to teach your toddler how to count to ten by the end of the month, and you have
incremental goals in place to help you
achieve it. Maybe you want to have the garage cleaned out by the end of the month, and you set weekly goals to get it done.

5. Read websites and books for inspiration. The books that are great and inspire you to enjoy your duties in the home are : The Happy Housewife by Darla Shine, Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacey McDonald, Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin and A Woman's High Calling by Elizabeth George. My favorite website for homemaking inspiration is Ladies Against Feminism.

Becoming a domestic goddess takes time, hard work and dedication. But, it brings so many rewards and great satisfaction. Choose today to create a home that your family will love coming home to.

The Vintage Tea Drinker

As many of you know, I love tea. I am a tea drinker myself and run a site called The Victorian Tea Parlor because I am simply fascinated by tea and having tea parties. Tea is among the world’s oldest and most revered beverages. It is today’s most popular beverage in the world, next to water. Tea drinking has long been an important aspect of Chinese culture. A Chinese saying identifies the seven basic daily necessities as fuel, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.



Tea was introduced to Europe in the 1600s; it was introduced to England in 1669. At that time, the drink was enjoyed only by the aristocracy because a pound of tea cost an average British laborer the equivalent of nine months in wages. The British began to import tea in larger qualities to satisfy the rapidly expanding market. Tea became Britain’s most important item of trade from China. All classes were able to drink tea as the tea trade increased and became less of a luxury. Now, tea is low in price and readily available.



I think the victorian era was one of the most delightful eras where people enjoyed tea parties all the time. A Victorian Tea Party would be the most elegant of all. Everything in Victorian times was done lavishly. So break out the china, silver, crystal & serving pieces. The fancier the better. Before you get your house ready & prepare your food, you have to send out invitations. There are so many options here. With today’s computer programs you can make some beautiful ones at home. Tuck an actual tea bag in the invitation. Perhaps make some using paper doilies & scrapbooking supplies.



DECORATING & SERVING

You will want to make the house as pretty as possible. Fresh flowers are a must, use them everywhere. Use traditional vases, or teapots that no longer have lids. Sometimes you can find then for a bargain since they no longer have a lid! Use candles both tapers & scattered votives or tea lights. Play soft music in the background. There are even tea party music CD’s you can purchase. For tablecloths try lace or damask. Scatter silk rose petals on your table. Use real linen or fancy paper napkins.



For Serving Pieces You Will Need At Least Some of the Following

Teapot Silver Or China
Sugar & Creamer
Salt & Pepper Shakers

Water Pitcher

Various Serving Trays
Tole Tray
China Serving Platters
Silver Serving Pieces
Crystal Serving Pieces
Crystal Plates
Crystal Bowls
Silverware
Pedestal Cake Plates
Porcelain or China Teacups
Pretty Plates(mix & match is OK)
Jam or Jelly Serving Jar

Demitasse or Fancy spoons

You don’t need to spend a lot of money. You can find some great bargains at your local thrift stores, flea markets & antique malls. Mix & Match is Definitely OK for teacups & saucers. Even mismatched sets are OK.


YUMMY FOOD TO SERVE

Offer your guests a variety of tea flavors. You could leave them out in a lined basket. It is fun to use decorated sugar cubes & sugar tongs too!


TEA SANDWICHES

There are many varieties of tea sandwiches you can serve. Try to find a firmer style bread, cut the crust off & cut sandwiches either diagonally so you have 2 triangle sandwiches or in 4’s for a bit smaller sandwiches. Cucumber sandwiches have long been a tea party tradition. This is an easy one that everyone likes. Just spread softened cream cheese on bread & top with thinly sliced cucumbers. Simple. For a fall or Christmas time tea try turkey & cranberry sauce sandwiches. Use your favorite egg salad or chicken salad recipe. try adding sliced almonds to your chicken salad recipe, yum! For other fillings you can use, watercress, tomatoes, cheese, deli meats, smoked salmon or ham salad. For Children spread softened cream cheese on bread & top with jelly, cut with cookie cutter. On top of the sandwich spread just a bit of softened cream cheese & dust with sprinkles!




SCONES BISCUITS COOKIES & CAKES

You cannot have a Victorian Tea Party without scones. You can find a variety of scone recipes on the internet. I have used scone mixes before as well. If you have a Panera Bread Store in your area, they have wonderful orange scones. You might like to have traditional devonshire cream, lemon curd or jelly or jams for your scones & biscuits.

Lemon Curd Recipe:
3 eggs
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup salted butter
1 cup sugar

Mix together melted butter & sugar. Add well beaten eggs & lemon juice. Place in double boiler or over simmering water. Stir continuously for 15 minutes or until thick. Allow to cool & refrigerate. Will keep for about 2 weeks.



Traditional Tea Cakes Recipe:
4 cups flour
1 cup butter
2 egg yolks, beaten
milk
1 egg white, beaten
1/4 cup sugar
Caraway seeds

Mix all ingredients together, mix to paste with a little warm milk, cover with a cloth and let stand for about an hour in a warm place. Roll out cut with round or shaped cutter & bake on lightly greased or sprayed sheet at 350 degrees until they are golden brown.

For other treats serve a variety of breads, cakes & cookies. Serve sliced banana bread, shortbread cookies, your favorite holiday cookies, lady fingers, lemon cookies or biscuits, orange cake, peach or strawberry tarts or tartlets, petit fors, applesauce cake, brownies or fudge, carrot cake, gingerbread, or tiny cupcakes.



TEA PARTY THEMES

Do you need an excuse to have a Victorian Tea Party?? Next time you host a baby or bridal shower, make it a tea party, a birthday party for a friend, a Christmas tea is always beautiful. Host one for your ladies group at church or ladies Bible study. Celebrate an anniversary, invite over your grandma, or granddaughters, let your little girl invite her friends for a fancy dress up day! Combine a tea party with an etiquette class, have a garden tea party in the summer, and of course there is always Valentine’s Day.

Last year I went to the cutest little tea room while I was on my annual trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and while I was there I decided to take a picture inside their tea room.



So whatever the reason or occasion is, if you are a tea lover as myself, then you must always find an excuse to have a lovely tea party with your friends and family. I have stumbled upon such delightful pictures of beautiful tea rooms, tea pots and tea sets that I just had to share them on my blog!


This delightful pink victorian tea parlor is simply breath-taking!



Here are some more delightful and lovely tea rooms...








Now don't you think a place like this is great to just unwind?

Vintage New Year

I hope everyone enjoyed their New Years Eve! I had a wonderful time with friends and family. But since I am a vintage gal, I couldn't let this opportunity pass by without blogging about this special holiday with vintage pictures. So here are some lovely images I found on the net of new years from years past. ENJOY! :)

1940s 1950s Woman in Party Dress for New Year's