Mad Men Yourself

Another long absence....sigh....sorry dear reader. The real world got in the way again. The good news is that Mad Men is back on AMC! Check out this website that allows you to make yourself as fabulous as our favorite Sterling Cooper employees.

Here's me and Don Draper.

Mad Men

If you don't watch AMC's Mad Men, you should really consider it. Not only is it a fantastic drama which has won numerous awards for its fabulosity, but it is also a major source of inspiration due to the spot on set designs and costuming, set in the late '50's/early 60's. There is nothing I don't love about this show. Season 2 just came out on DVD, so put it on your Netflix queue pronto, because Season 3 starts August 16th!



Every time I watch it all I can think is, "I want that. I want that. I want that."



The Mad women.



I have a major girl-crush on Joan. Her clothes are to die for. And she's just so together. I love a girl who knows what she wants.

Tiki Chic!

Hawaiian and Polynesian culture was all the rage in the 50's and 60's, so it is no surprise that people like me who are obsessed with this time period have a big love for all things Tiki. I am not as crazy as some people.... I don't have dreams of a totally island-themed living room or bedroom, but having a set of original vintage Tiki mugs is definitely on my wish list, and a few island decorations around the house are a must as well.

Here's a picture of a book completely devoted to collecting Tiki mugs, proof of their popularity! Love that monkey mug on the cover.


Here's a 50's island bar, completely decked out in Tiki gear.


And how fabulous is this bedroom???


Here is my own personal Tiki find. This guy came from an antique mall...I can't remember the name. It is off I-35 South, at the Tennessee Road exit by Ottawa, KS. I got this beautiful carved wood mask for $17! I've seen smaller, less cool masks in other antique stores for as much as $75. I also have a fantastic Tiki totem for the patio, but it is in storage. I'll get a good picture of him when he gets his new home.


I am planning a house warming/birthday party for my husband at the new house when we are all settled in. I found these great plates and napkins a few days ago at Walmart! They have a whole line of tropical luau party decor... grass skirts, limbo kits, blow-up tiki coolers, leis, fake coconut glasses, cute plastic cups that you can write your name on to keep track of your drink, toothpick umbrellas....the works. I got these now before they run out. I will hopefully get more of this great Tiki party stuff before it's all gone!

Midcentury Modern Swedish Serving Dishes

I don't know if it's the economy or what, but I have found some unbelievable deals in antique stores lately. These serving trays are probably the coolest things in my house, and I got them both for a steal!

Both sets are from the Swedish Smithy, whose steel is the envy of the world, they say. They look like they were wedding gifts that got tucked in the back of a closet or something and never used. Both were still in their original gift boxes, and they look like they are brand new. The one with the bowls pivots in the center for different display options.

I found them at Antiques & More in Lawrence, KS. The bowls were $20 and the trays were $12. To make this find even more exciting, I searched them on ebay when I got home and found one of them, the exact same set of small trays... for $120! Go me!

I also recently adopted this lovely red bird from the Rivermarket Antique Mall in Kansas City, MO for $12. Another great mid-century modern accessory! Now I need a proper table to display these pieces on!

My Vintage Kitchen!

Here are some pictures of a few of the vintage treasures I've found for my kitchen in the last couple years. I didn't spend much on any of these items, proof that you can have the look you want without going broke. Many of these items are new but have that vintage "look" and others were found on ebay, in thrift stores, or antique stores. It just takes a little patience to find good prices!

In this picture:
Osterizer Beehive Chrome blender, this was a wedding gift and came from Target, I believe about $50-$60

Acrylic Straw Dispenser, $10, Bed, Bath & Beyond

Hamilton Beach Classic Drink Mixer, $10, Antiques & More, Lawrence, KS (GREAT deal....these are about $60 new!)



















In this picture:
Infinity Instruments Retro Metal Wall Clock, $30, Bed, Bath & Beyond

Chrome wall-mount foil/paper towel/wax paper dispenser, $9, ebay



















In this picture:
Copper pot rack, $35, garage sale

Copper colander with brass handle, $7, Goodwill



















In this picture:
Funky wine glasses made to look like vintage paper cups, $3 each on clearance from Urban Outfitters online

















In this picture:

Kentucky Club tobacco tin, $5, found at an antique store in Omaha, NE that is no longer in business, unfortunately.

Premium Saltines cracker tin, $4, found at the Rivermarket Antique Mall in Kansas City, MO

Hamilton Beach chrome mixer, $25 on ebay (Works great! If you click on the picture and enlarge it, you can see the great atomic star detail on the nose of the mixer... fabulous!)

Vintage House & Home Advertisements

I spend a good amount of time scouring the internet for ads like these, so I thought this blog would be a good place to keep all my pictures together. My husband and I are about to move into a fabulous little ranch house that was built in 1956 and my goal is to restore it to its original glory. Luckily the house is a time capsule, with fantastic boomerang formica countertops, chrome and milk glass lighting, fold-up bamboo closet doors, a pink and gold medicine cabinet in the bathroom, a fully in-tact clothes line, and a backyard with a set of metal lounge chairs on a great little patio, complete with a tin roof. I can't wait to sit outside with a cocktail and listen to the rain on the metal roof. But I digress. These ads are meant to help me pick out paint colors and give me a heads up on what furniture and decorative items are must-haves.

Love these pinch-pleat drapes and the color scheme.


I'm not much for pink in the kitchen personally, but I love how imaginative they were in the 50's with their color choices.

The clean lines and modern look are what draw me to this time period.
"Simplify, simplify" --Henry David Thoreau

Love that red light.

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The chair! The sliding door cabinets! The blond wood! I love it all.

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