VintageEye's Blog

Vintage Eye View
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Summer Stovetop Jam

Published: 06-08-2012 08:24am
Posted In: Healthy Eating
Summer fruits are here! Luscious berries, wonderful stone fruits abound in our farmer’s markets & grocery stores. It’s one of my favorite times of the year to eat. I bake fruit into muffins, slice it over cereal as well as enjoy it just as it comes off the tree. I just can’t get enough of the stuff. A favorite way to get more fruit into my diet is stove top jam. I have never learned how to can or preserve fruit but this simple recipe is easy & does not require special equipment. Keep in mind that this method is not meant to preserve fruit for long term use. This jam is meant to be kept in the refrigerator & used within a few days. So... » Read More

Pack Up the Savings

Published: 01-07-2012 09:42am
Posted In: Eco Friendly Business Tips
You made it or found it! You listed it! Somebody bought it! Congrats! Now it’s time to send that handmade or vintage item off to your buyer.  Why not save yourself some bucks while reducing the environmental impact of your transactions? Let’s talk boxes & envelopes! Save everything! Save every box, bag & envelope you get in the mail. These can easily be repurposed or reused to provide you with free, easy to use & environmentally friendly supplies. You can place new shipping labels over the existing one or turn the whole thing inside out. Reuse everything! Save empty containers when you finish up the contents. My favorite things ... » Read More

Sweets

Published: 11-26-2011 09:00am
Posted In: Healthy Eating
Here in the south sweet potatoes are readily available, inexpensive & delicious. We even have a festival devoted to the yam in Tabor City NC. In fact if you go to the Wikipedia entry for sweets, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_potato the picture was taken about 30 minutes from my house! I was lucky enough to be gifted a giant box by a farmer I know a few years back & managed to come up with a whole mess o' ways to fix 'em! Sorry but the mere mention of *sweets* just brings the southern to the surface! In addition to the previuosly mentioned attributes, sweet potatoes are packed with nutrition-lots of fiber and vitamins. I will post a few recipe... » Read More

Sweet Potato Smoothie

Published: 11-25-2011 09:00am
Posted In: Healthy Eating
Another fabulous recipe utillizing the tasty & nutritious sweet potato. 1 cup almond milk 1 med banana 1/2 cup frozen peaches 1/2 skinnned cooked sweet potato dash nutmeg splash vanilla Blend all ingredients until smooth Delicious! Great for breakfast or a snack. Add more of less milk to desired thickness Use soy or cow's milk as you like. I store peeled & cut over ripe bananas in the freezer just for this purpose.Variation: For extra nutrition puree a handful of spinachin some milk for a few minutes then add the rest ofthe ingredients.  Enjoy!... » Read More

Eco- Friendly Artfire

Published: 11-24-2011 09:00am
Posted In: Eco Friendly Business Tips
You had a sale! Congratulations! As Artfire sellers, we all love that! Now it's time to package & ship the item to your buyer. You gather your box, invoice, wrapping & packing materials & get started. But do you stop to consider the cost of this step in the selling process to your bottom line & to the earth? No? Well, don't worry...I have! ;) I love my planet & I love saving money and this operation brings those 2 loves together. Make your own packing mulch from catalogs, magazines, junk mail & old telephone books. Here's what you need: Paper shredder Bin lined with a clean bag Old telephone books, catalogs, junk mail & magazines Grab your t... » Read More

Giant Eye View: Yard Sale Bonanza!

Published: 11-23-2011 09:00am
Posted In: Vintage Finds
I love hitting the yard sale bonanza! Church sales are always fun & are often combined with a bake sale. It's really a can't lose as even if I don't find anything to resell, I still get brownies! Our local venues usually have lots of vintage fab costume jewelry, clothing & household items as well as Thelma's caramel brownies! I also happened upon a gentleman selling his late mother's estate. She was a styling lady who kept everything. Lots of shoes from the 60s & 70s. Clothing & coats as well. A hot pink patterned pantsuit is my favorite find so far from this fellow. He has been at this for almost a year & has a sale every few months. I have b... » Read More

Giant Eye View of The Auction

Published: 11-21-2011 09:00am
Posted In: Fun at the Auction
I do love a good auction! It's great to be in the middle of the action, sorting through the goods & sizing up the competition! Whether the pickins' are a slim or lush you can always be assured of having a great time. What I enjoy almost as much as the thrill of the bid is all the different types of folks who show up at these events. You have the butterflies-flitting from pile to pile--oohing & aahing at each & every thing but buying nothing. There are hoverers-- they make piles of items every couple of yards, try to stand guard over them all & fuss if you look at anything in any of them. Then you have the scoutmasters who attempt to supply exp... » Read More

Handmade Holiday

Published: 11-18-2011 04:20pm
Posted In: Handmade Holidays
Handmade holidays mean just one thing to me...food! Roasted, mashed, sauteed, baked, cooked, fried, flambeed, blackened or fricasseed-food is the holidays for my family! My most favorite holiday food is Edna's Caribbean Fudge Pie-hands down! It is rich & delicious & easy as...well..pie! Try it! It will become a holiday favorite in your house too! Enjoy! Edna’s Caribbean Fudge Pie ¼ cup butter                                                                     3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3 eggs                          Â... » Read More

Let's Talk Tins

Published: 11-18-2011 03:45pm
Posted In: Vintage Finds
I came across the Tin Mother Lode at the Goodwill yesterday! Hinged tins, lidded tins, tin trays & tin platters!  All vintage, all colorful, all floral & one is even a Daher! Nice find, dontcha' think? I love adding a touch of granny chic to even the most modern decor & a vintage floral tin is a perfect way to do it! The accompanying dings & scratches just add to the effect. They are pretty readily available at thrift stores, yard & church sales, so go forth & mine for your own stash of tin!... » Read More

Spiced Sweet Potato Muffins

Published: 11-18-2011 03:37pm
Posted In: Healthy Eating
Onward we go with the delicious, nutritious & versatile Ipomoea Batatas or sweet potato. I came across a fabulous muffin recipe, tweaked it a bit & it has become my go to crowd pleaser breakfast treat recipe. I tried it out on the family a few years back & they have requested them at every gathering since. Spiced Sweet Potato Muffins 1 1/2 cups brown sugar lightly packed       1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup low fat yogurt plain                     1 tablespoon ground allspice 2 eggs                                                 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg 1 3/4... » Read More
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